bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
VLDL triglycerides inhibit HDL‐associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity: in vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Rosenblat Mira , Ward Sarah , Volkova Nina , Hayek Tony , Aviram Michael 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWe analyzed, for the first time, both in vitro and in vivo, the effect of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), or of pure triglycerides, on high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐associated paraoxonase1 (PON1) catalytic activities. Incubation of serum or HDL from healthy subjects with VLDL (0–330 μg protein/mL) significantly decreased serum PON1 lactonase or arylesterase activities by up to 11% or 24%, and HDL‐associated PON1 lactonase or arylesterase activities by up to 32% or 46%, respectively, in a VLDL dose‐dependent manner. VLDL (0–660μg protein/mL) also inhibited recombinant PON1 (rePON1) lactonase or arylesterase activities by up to 20% or 42%, respectively. Similar inhibitory effect was noted upon rePON1 incubation with pure triglyceride emulsion. Bezafibrate therapy to three hypertriglyceridemic patients (400 mg/day, for one month) significantly decreased serum triglyceride concentration by 67%, and increased serum HDL cholesterol levels by 48%. PON1 arylesterase or paraoxonase activities in the patients' HDL fractions after drug therapy were significantly increased by 86–88%, as compared to PON1 activities before treatment. Similarly, HDL‐PON1 protein levels significantly increased after bezafibrate therapy. Finally, bezafibrate therapy improved HDL biological activity, as HDL obtained after drug therapy showed increased ability to induce cholesterol efflux from J774A.1 macrophages, by 19%, as compared to HDL derived before therapy. We thus conclude that VLDL triglycerides inhibit PON1 catalytic activities, and bezafibrate therapy significantly improved HDL‐PON1 catalytic and biological activities. © 2012 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
Biologically produced nanosilver: Current state and future perspectives
Authors: Sintubin Liesje , Verstraete Willy , Boon Nico 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSilver nanoparticles are one of the most commercialized nanomaterials. They are widely applied as biocides for their strong antimicrobial activity, but also their conductive, optic and catalytic properties make them wanted in many applications. The chemical and physical processes which are used to synthesize silver nanoparticles generally have many disadvantages and are not eco‐friendly. In this review, we will discuss biological alternatives that have been developed using microorganisms or plants to produce biogenic silver. Until now, only their antimicrobial activity has been studied more into detail. In contrast, a wide range of practical applications as biocide, biosensor, and catalyst are still unexplored. The shape, size, and functionalization of the nanoparticles is defined by the biological system used to produce the nanoparticles, hence for every application a specific biological production process needs to be chosen. On the other hand, biogenic silver needs to compete with chemically produced nanosilver on the market. Large scale production generating inexpensive nanoparticles is needed. This can only be achieved when the biological production system is chosen in function of the yield. Hence, the true challenge for biogenic silver is finding the balance between scalability, price, and applicability. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2422–2436. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pharmacological evidence that D‐aspartate activates a current distinct from ionotropic glutamate receptor currents in Aplysia californica
Authors: Carlson Stephen L. , Kempsell Andrew T. , Fieber Lynne A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractD‐Aspartate (D‐Asp) activates a nonspecific cation current of unknown identity independent of L‐glutamate (L‐Glu) in neurons of Aplysia californica. Whole‐cell voltage clamp studies were conducted using primary cultures of Aplysia buccal S cluster (BSC) neurons to characterize these receptor channels pharmacologically. The N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) coagonist glycine potentiated D‐Asp currents only at −30 mV, while D‐serine did not potentiate D‐Asp currents at any amplitude. Portions of D‐Asp currents were blocked by the L‐Glu antagonists kynurenate, DL‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid (APV), (2S,3R)‐1‐(phenanthren‐2‐carbonyl)piperazine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid (PPDA), and 1,3‐dihydro‐5‐[3‐[4‐(phenylmethyl)‐1–2H‐benzimidazol‐2‐one (TCS46b), suggesting that L‐Glu channels, particularly NMDAR‐like channels, may partially contribute to D‐Asp whole‐cell currents. In contrast, L‐Glu currents were unaffected by APV, and showed greater block by kynurenate, suggesting that D‐Asp and L‐Glu act, in part, at different sites. The excitatory amino acid transport blocker DL‐threo‐b‐Benzyloxyaspartic acid (TBOA) blocked a fraction of D‐Asp currents, suggesting that currents associated with these transporters also contribute. Non‐NMDA L‐GluR antagonists that preferentially block alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxyl‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors significantly increased D‐Asp currents, suggesting a possible allosteric potentiating effect of these antagonists on D‐Asp receptors. L‐Glu‐induced currents were significantly reduced in the presence of bath‐applied D‐Asp, whereas bath‐applied L‐Glu had no effect on D‐Asp‐induced currents. The mixed effects of these agents on D‐Asp‐induced currents in Aplysia illustrate that the underlying channels are not uniformly characteristic of any known agonist associated channel type.
Emphasizing the role of Wnt5a protein expression to predict favorable outcome after radical prostatectomy in patients with low‐grade prostate cancer
Authors: Khaja Azharuddin Sajid Syed , Egevad Lars , Helczynski Leszek , Wiklund Peter , Andersson Tommy , Bjartell Anders 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWnt5a, a member of non‐canonical wingless‐related MMTV integration site family is a secreted glycoprotein that plays important roles in development and disease. Recent studies have shown that Wnt5a protein levels are up‐regulated in prostate cancer, but contrasting reports exist on the role of Wnt5a to predict outcome after radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer. Our group has recently shown that preserved high protein expression of Wnt5a in prostate cancer is associated with longer relapse‐free time after radical prostatectomy. The present tissue microarray study emphasizes the role of Wnt5a protein expression in a different, well‐defined, and independent cohort consisting of 312 prostate cancer patients. Kaplan–Meier curves plotted between Wnt5a expression and time to biochemical recurrence revealed that in low‐grade prostate cancer, patients with preserved high‐Wnt5a protein levels in their tumor cells have a lower risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy compared to patients with low‐Wnt5a protein expression. When Wnt5a protein expression was added to a Cox regression multivariate analysis, both Wnt5a protein expression and surgical margin status independently predict biochemical free survival. Herein we confirm Wnt5a positivity as a prognostic factor and show that preserved overexpression of Wnt5a protein is associated with increased time to biochemical recurrence in localized low‐grade prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy. Our results emphasize that Wnt5a can be used as a predictive biomarker, and favoring the view of Wnt5a as a future therapeutic target in prostate cancer patients with tumor cells displaying low expression of Wnt5a.
Evidence of Scrambling over Ruthenium‐based Catalysts in Supercritical‐water Gasification
Authors: Peterson Andrew A. , Dreher Marian , Wambach Jörg , Nachtegaal Maarten , Dahl Søren , Nørskov Jens K. , Vogel Frédéric 
Published: June 2012

AbstractCatalytic processes that employ Ru catalysts in supercritical water have been shown to be capable of converting organics, such as wood waste, into synthetic natural gas (CH4) with high efficiencies at relatively moderate temperatures of around 400 °C. However, the exact roles of the catalyst and the descriptors that would enable the search for other catalysts with high conversions have not been determined. In the current work, we use electronic structure calculations coupled with batch experiments to understand the interaction of methane (CH4) and water (H2O) with a common catalyst material, ruthenium, to understand the final steps of the methanation reaction. The calculations predict that when CH4 and H2O react with the Ru surface, the species will undergo rapid scrambling; interchanging most of the hydrogens with the surface before escaping as CH4 and H2O once again. We conducted experiments using CH4 as a feedstock in supercritical D2O (deuterated water) in the presence of a commercially available carbon‐supported Ru catalyst, and found this mechanism to be confirmed: nearly all reacted CH4 was converted to the fully substituted CD4 or the 3/4‐substituted CHD3 isotopomers, with less significant production of the 1/4‐ or 1/2‐substituted species CH3D and CH2D2. The experiment was repeated with an in‐house impregnated RuO2‐on‐carbon catalyst, with similar results. Although other criteria such as the ability to cleave CC and CO bonds and resistance to poisoning will also prove important, this study suggests that a characteristic of an effective catalyst for supercritical water gasification to methane is its ability to promote rapid equilibria through scrambling mechanisms.
Phase‐switching Homogeneous Catalysis for Clean Production of Biodiesel and Glycerol from Soybean and Microbial Lipids
Authors: Cao Xuefeng , Xie Haibo , Wu Zhilian , Shen Hongwei , Jing Bo 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWith the increasing concerns into the utilization of lipids as renewable resources for production of biofuels, chemicals, and materials, the efficient extraction and conversion of lipid is one of most important issues for the foundation of cost competitive lipid‐economy. In this study, we found that by using a range of “switchable solvents” from 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene to methanol, CO2, a recognized greenhouse gas, can be used as a trigger to catalyze the methanolysis of soybean and microbial lipids, and facilitate the separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and glycerol. It was found that the FAMEs can be decanted from the system in a 95.2 % conversion efficiency. The produced glycerol can be extracted from the FAMEs completely by the “switchable solvents”, and can be separated with high purity after recycling the DBU by an easy extraction process. Our primary investigation of the in situ extraction and conversion of microbial lipids from oleaginous yeast (Rhodosporidium toruloides Y4) shows that, although a 95.4 % extraction yield was achieved, the methanolysis efficiency was only 21.9 %. Our study presents an efficient and facile process for the integrated clean production of biodiesel and glycerol from soybean and microbial lipids, and the catalyst DBU can be recycled by an easy extraction process.
Unidirectional growth of α‐NiSO4·6H2O crystal by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) method
Authors: Hemmati M. , Rezagholipour Dizaji H. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractLarge cylindrical [001] direction α‐nickel sulphate hexahydrate crystal with 20 mm diameter and 140 mm length was grown from an aqueous solution by uniaxially solution‐crystallization method of Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR). The grown crystal was examined by X‐ray diffraction, UV‐Vis‐NIR spectroscopy and TGA/DTA analysis methods.
Structure and magnetism of ZnO/Co multilayers prepared by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Wang Zhanyong , Zhao Hongyang , Yao Qiwen , Xu Jiayue , Kimura Hideo 
Published: June 2012

AbstractZnO/Co multilayers were fabricated on silicate (100) substrate by a pulsed laser deposition method at room temperature. The x‐ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the as‐deposited multilayer film is composed of amorphous phase, which leads to high saturation magnetization and low coercivity. Higher coercivity is observed in the ZnO/Co films annealed at 390 °C due to the formation of crystalline metallic Co and semiconducting ZnO. But much higher annealing temperature leads to the oxidation of metallic Co and the reaction between Co and ZnO, which decreases the saturation magnetization and coercivity obviously.
Controllable thermal expansion properties of In2 − xCrxMo3O12
Authors: Wu M. M. , Zu Y. , Peng J. , Liu R. D. , Hu Z. B. , Liu Y. T. , Chen D. F. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractSolid solutions In2 − xCrxMo3O12 have been prepared via the solid state reaction method. The structural and thermal expansion properties have been characterized using X‐ray diffraction. All compounds exhibit monoclinic structure with space group P21/a at room temperature, and transform to orthorhombic structure at higher temperature. Compounds In2 − xCrxMo3O12 (x = 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3) possess strong positive thermal expansion in the monoclinic structure, while their thermal expansion coefficients of orthorhombic structure vary from negative to positive with increasing Cr content. It is worthwhile to note that In1.3Cr0.7Mo3O12 and InCrMo3O12 have near zero thermal expansion properties.
Physical properties of Zn‐ 22 wt.% Al‐ x wt.% Ce melt spun eutectoid alloy
Authors: Ahmed E. M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractZn‐ 22 wt.% Al (Zn ‐ 40 Al in atomic%) eutectoid alloys with different Cerium (Ce) contents of 0, 1, 2, and 6 (in wt.%), 0.35, 0.70 and 2.1 (in atomic%) were rapidly solidified by melt spun technique. The effects of high cooling rate and alloying element (Ce) on microstructure of the studied alloys were analyzed by X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrical resistance measurements. The results showed that the dendrites as well as grains size were refined by the additions of Ce. The main phases in melt spun alloys were α‐Al and η‐Zn, in addition to intermetallic CeZn5 and Al4Ce. Additional metastable intermetallic Al0.71Zn0.29 phase has been observed only for melt spun alloy of 6 wt.% Ce content. XRD peaks of melt spun alloys demonstrated a considerable broadening with percentage of Ce due to the grain refinement and lattice distortion. Moreover, increase of Ce content results in a decrease of Al lattice constant which could be related to formation of supersaturated solid solution of Zn and/or Ce in α‐Al. Crystallite size of all phases were in the range of nanometer scale which reflects the role of the high cooling rate and the existence of Ce as alloying element for producing nanocrystalline structure. Resistance measurements of melt spun alloys show that the relative resistance rate for the alloys of higher Ce content relaxed faster to lower value than that of lower Ce content. Electrical resistance and microstructure exhibit strongly Ce content dependence.
Fatty acids, 4‐desmethylsterols, and triterpene alcohols from Tunisian lentisc (Pistacia lentiscus) fruits
Authors: Trabelsi Hajer , Sakouhi Faouzi , Renaud Justin , Villeneuve Pierre , Khouja Mohamed L. , Mayer Paul , Boukhchina Sadok 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA comparative study was performed to determine the fatty acid, 4‐desmethylsterol and triterpenic alcohols compositions of three different Tunisian populations of Pistacia lentiscus fruit Rimel (RM), Korbous (KO), and Tebaba (TB). Fruits are rich in lipids, which varied from 39.37% (KO) to 42.48% (TB) on a dry weight basis. Qualitatively, fatty acid, sterol, mono‐ and dimethylsterol composition is identical for all populations. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid for all samples, accounting from 40.49% in TB population to 50.72% in RM population followed by the palmitic and linoleic acids. Other fatty acids are present at lower levels. Total sterol amount varied from 109.72 mg/100 g of oil (KO) to 434.26 mg/100 g of oil (RM) with an average of 248.74 mg/100 g of oil. The major 4‐desmethylsterol component in all studied Tunisian populations of P. lentiscus oil was ß‐sitosterol followed by campesterol in TB and KO, and by stigmasterol in RM. The amount of total triterpenic alcohols varied from 42.39 mg/100 g of oil in RM population to 70.41 mg/100 g oil in TB population. The quantitative difference in the fatty acids and 4‐desmethylsterols of the different populations studied could be due to the effect of geographic region and soil type.
Formulation, preparation, and stability of intravenous bufadienolides‐loaded lipid microspheres
Authors: Weng Yan , Pan Cheng , Meng Jia , Tian Bin , Xi Miaomiao , Yang Zhifu , Li Yuwen , Guan Yue , Tang Xing , Wen Aidong 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to develop a new formulation of intravenous lipid microspheres for bufadienolides (bufadienolides‐loaded lipid microspheres, BU‐LM) and investigate the stability of BU‐LM after dilution and long‐term storage. Photon correlation spectroscopy, electrophoretic light scattering, and light microscopy were used to evaluate the physical characteristics of BU‐LM. The chemical properties of bufadienolides were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The optimum BU‐LM, consisting of 10% MCT, 3.0% Lipoid S75, 0.4% F68, 0.05% sodium oleate and 2.5% glycerol, was prepared by emulsification with a high‐speed shear mixing at 10 000 rpm for 12 min and a high‐pressure homogenization at 800 bar for 8 cycles at 30°C. The BU‐LM at pH 6.48, with the particle size distribution of 175.2 ± 57.3 nm, ζ‐potential of −32.10 mV, entrapment efficiency of 86.9%, 91.7%, 92.9%, and contents of 20.8%, 31.3%, 50.4% for B, C, R, respectively, was stable after sterilization in a 121°C rotating autoclave water steam bath for 10 min. Moreover, BU‐LM had sufficient physicochemical stability after dilution with 5% glucose injection and long‐term storage at 4 ± 2°C for 18 months. BU‐LM has a great potential for clinical applications as a new drug delivery system for bufadienolides.Practical applications: Bufadienolides, mainly composed of bufalin (B), cinobufagin (C), and resibufogenin (R) have poor aqueous solubility and are chemically unstable. Currently the main marketable products of bufadienolides are solution injections, which cause serious venous irritation and in this formulation, the drug is not protected from degradation. Lipid microspheres, with the unique properties of a low cost, low toxicity, good storage stability, easy to scale up production, sustained release and targeting effect, incorporate the drugs into the interior oil phase and the oil‐water interfacial film; thus a direct contact of the drug with body fluids and tissues is prevented, which increases the stability of the drugs and minimizes the possible side effects.
Genetic characterization of mesenchymal, clear cell, and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma
Authors: Meijer Danielle , de Jong Danielle , Pansuriya Twinkal C. , van den Akker Brendy E. , Picci Piero , Szuhai Karoly , Bovée Judith V.G.M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractClear cell, mesenchymal, and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma are rare, cartilaginous tumors with limited treatment options other than surgery. Conventional chondrosarcomas have been extensively studied at the genetic level, but for rare chondrosarcoma subtypes, this is merely restricted to case reports. Information on the genetics of rare chondrosarcomas may provide insight into the etiology of these specific disease subtypes and possible alternative treatment strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to genetically characterize this subset of rare tumors. Using array CGH, we gathered genomic information of 30 rare cartilaginous tumors. In addition, we constructed tissue microarrays with 2 mm cores of 23 clear cell, 23 mesenchymal, and 45 dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas, in triplicate. Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated expression of R132H IDH1, and p53 and retinoblastoma pathways. Results were verified and further investigated with a methylation assay and MLPA for CDKN2A/p16, and IDH1/2, and TP53 mutation analysis. Array‐CGH showed numerous genomic alterations in all subtypes. However, only a limited number of recurrent alterations were detected, none of which seemed to be associated with the subtypes. The IDH1/2, p53, and retinoblastoma pathways were affected in 0, 9, and 95% of clear cell chondrosarcomas, in 0, 39, and 70% in mesenchymal chondrosarcomas, and in 50, 59, and 85% of dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas, respectively. Our results suggest an important role for the retinoblastoma pathway in all three rare chondrosarcoma subtypes investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diversity of the juxtamembrane and TKD1 mutations (Exons 13–15) in the FLT3 gene with regards to mutant load, sequence, length, localization, and correlation with biological data
Authors: Schnittger Susanne , Bacher Ulrike , Haferlach Claudia , Alpermann Tamara , Kern Wolfgang , Haferlach Torsten 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIn acute myeloid leukemia (AML) mutations in the juxtamembrane and tyrosine kinase 1 domain (exons 13–15) of the FLT3 gene (FLT3‐ITD/LM) are heterogeneous with respect to mutation load, size, and localization. We characterized length and structure of these mutations by fragment analysis and sequencing in 689 AML which were identified among 3,365 (20.5%) newly diagnosed AML (1,803 males, 1,562 females; 15.8–91.8 years). Mutations were heterogeneous in length (median: 63, range: 3–1,236 nucleotides; nt). Most frequent were sizes of 21 (8.4%) or 24 nt (6.0%). Ninety‐one different insertion sites were observed (between nt 1,788 and 1,934, according to accession “FLT3 [Ensembl/Havana merge: ENSG00000122025]” with nt 1,856 (n = 41) and 1,863 (n = 35) being most frequent. In addition, 89 different insertion end points were observed between nt 1,790 and 1,994. FLT3‐mutation/wild‐type ratio was available in 615 patients (median, 0.80; range 0.03–181.73). 128 Patients (20.8%) had ratios <0.3, 334 (54.3%) had ratio ≥0.3 <1, 118 (19.2%) ≥1, and 35 (5.7%) showed complete loss of the FLT3‐wild‐type allele. Overall (OS) and event‐free (EFS) survival were better for FLT3‐negative than FLT3mut normal karyotype patients (P = 0.078 and P = 0.004, respectively) and patients with low level FLT3‐mutations had significantly longer OS and EFS compared with high level mutations (FLT3‐mutation/wild‐type ratio ≥1) (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The length of the mutation had no prognostic impact. Mutations localized more 5′ were associated with better outcome than more 3′mutations, but no strict association to certain functional domains was detected. In conclusion, FLT3‐mutations are extremely heterogenous with mutation load being the most relevant parameter. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.