bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Involvement of volume‐sensitive Cl− channels in the proliferation of human subcutaneous pre‐adipocytes
Authors: Hu Hao , Li Dong‐Ling , Fan Lin , Ren Jun , Wang Sheng‐Peng , Jia Bing , Liu Bing‐Hang , Sun Lei , Yu Xiao‐Jiang , Zang Wei‐Jin 
Published: June 2009

Summary

Obesity is a significant challenge in terms of public health and preventive medicine. Inhibition of pre‐adipocyte proliferation is believed to be important in the proposed anti‐obesity mechanism. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay between Cl− channels and their possible involvement in the proliferation of undifferentiated human pre‐adipocytes.
Pre‐adipocytes were isolated from human abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Membrane ion currents were recorded using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Expression of the Cl− channel ClC‐3 gene and protein was determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the [3H]‐thymidine incorporation assay.
Electrophysiological recordings revealed a volume‐sensitive Cl− current (ICl.vol) expressed in pre‐adipocytes that was activated under hyposmotic conditions (external osmolarity decreased by 80%) and inhibited by the Cl− channel blocker tamoxifen.
Expression of the ClC‐3 channel gene and protein was confirmed by RT‐PCR and western blot analysis. Blocking ICl.vol with tamoxifen supressed the proliferation of pre‐adipocytes in a concentration‐dependent manner.
Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that the volume‐sensitive Cl− channel participates in regulation of the proliferation of human subcutaneous pre‐adipocytes.
Relationship between endogenous concentrations of vasoactive substances and measures of peripheral vasodilator function in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Casey Darren P , Nichols Wilmer W , Conti C Richard , Braith Randy W 
Published: June 2009

Summary

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between plasma concentrations of nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and endothelin (ET)‐1 and non‐invasive measures of peripheral vasodilator function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Twenty‐two patients with angiographic CAD underwent non‐invasive measurement of peripheral vasodilator function in the brachial conduit artery (flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) testing via ultrasound) and in the forearm resistance arteries (via venous occlusion plethysmography) during reactive hyperaemia after 5 min ischaemia. In addition, plasma NOx and ET‐1 concentrations were determined.
The plasma concentration of NOx was related to the peak brachial FMD response when expressed as either the relative (%) or absolute (mm) change in diameter (r = 0.73, P < 0.001; and r = 0.64, P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, plasma concentrations of NOx demonstrated a relationship with forearm vasodilation estimated by total forearm blood flow following 5 min ischaemia (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and the flow debt repayment of the forearm (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). Finally, ET‐1 concentrations were inversely related to FMD% (r = –0.45, P < 0.05).
The findings of the present study demonstrate a relationship between the plasma concentrations of NOx and measures of vascular reactivity in conduit and resistance arteries in patients with CAD. Therefore, measurement of plasma NOx may serve as a reliable marker for peripheral vasodilator dysfunction in patients with CAD.
Fatigue behaviour of cast magnesium alloy AZ91 microstructurally modified by friction stir processing
Authors: UEMATSU Y. , TOKAJI K. , FUJIWARA K. , TOZAKI Y. , SHIBATA H. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTFriction stir processing (FSP) was applied to cast magnesium alloy AZ91‐F to modify the as‐cast microstructure, and the effect of FSP on fatigue behaviour was discussed based on microstructural consideration, crack initiation, crack growth behaviour, and fracture surface analysis. Fully reversed axial fatigue tests have been performed using as‐cast, T5‐aged and their FSPed specimens (as‐cast/FSP and T5/FSP). It was found that both FSPed specimens exhibited significantly higher fatigue strength than the as‐cast and T5‐aged specimens. FSP resulted in the break‐up of coarse as‐cast microstructure, grain refinement of the matrix, finely dispersed precipitates and increase of hardness, thereby both the crack initiation resistance and the crack growth resistance were considerably enhanced compared with the as‐cast and T5‐aged specimens, resulting in the improved fatigue strengths of the FSPed specimens.
Fatigue life improvement for cruciform welded joint by mechanical surface treatment using hammer peening and ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification*
Authors: HAN S.‐H. , HAN J.‐W. , NAM Y.‐Y. , CHO I.‐H. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTFor the improvement of the fatigue strength for welded structures, mechanical posttreatments have been applied in various industrial fields and in most cases have been found to give substantial increases in their fatigue lives. These methods, generally, consist of the modification of weld toe geometry and the introduction of compressive residual stresses. In mechanical surface treatments, for example, PHP (pneumatic hammer peening) and UNSM (ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification), the weld profile is modified due to removed or reduced minute crack‐like flaws, and compressive residual stresses are also induced. In this study, a PHP procedure and a UNSM device were introduced, and a quantitative measure of fatigue strength improvement was performed. The fatigue strength at 2 × 106 cycles of hammer‐peened and UNSM treated on a non‐load‐carrying cruciform welded joint shows 220 and 260 MPa, respectively, which are more than two times higher than that of as‐welded specimen. Especially, the surface layer in the vicinity weld toe treated by the UNSM provides nanocrystal structure created by an ultrasonic cold forging and introduces very high welding residual stress in compression.
Ammonia‐oxidizing communities in a highly aerated full‐scale activated sludge bioreactor: betaproteobacterial dynamics and low relative abundance of Crenarchaea
Authors: Wells George F. , Park Hee‐Deung , Yeung Chok‐Hang , Eggleston Brad , Francis Christopher A. , Criddle Craig S. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryAmmonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have long been considered key to the removal of nitrogen in activated sludge bioreactors. Culture‐independent molecular analyses have established that AOB lineages in bioreactors are dynamic, but the underlying operational or environmental factors are unclear. Furthermore, the contribution of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) to nitrogen removal in bioreactors has not been studied. To this end, we investigated the abundance of AOA and AOB as well as correlations between dynamics in AOB lineages and operational parameters at a municipal wastewater treatment plant sampled weekly over a 1 year period. Quantitative PCR measurements of bacterial and archaeal ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes revealed that the bacterial homologue predominated by at least three orders of magnitude in all samples. Archaeal amoA was only detectable in ∼15% of these samples. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, we monitored AOB lineages based on amoA genes. The Nitrosomonas europaea lineage and a novel Nitrosomonas‐like cluster were the dominant AOB signatures, with a Nitrosospira lineage present at lower relative abundance. These lineages exhibited strong temporal oscillations, with one becoming sequentially dominant over the other. Using non‐metric multidimensional scaling and redundancy analyses, we tested correlations between terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles and 20 operational and environmental parameters. The redundancy analyses indicated that the dynamics of AOB lineages correlated most strongly with temperature, dissolved oxygen and influent nitrite and chromium. The Nitrosospira lineage signal had a strong negative correlation to dissolved oxygen and temperature, while the Nitrosomonas‐like (negative correlations) and N. europaea lineages (positive correlations) were inversely linked (relative to one another) to influent nitrite and chromium. Overall, this study suggests that AOA may be minor contributors to ammonia oxidation in highly aerated activated sludge, and provides insight into parameters controlling the diversity and dominance of AOB lineages within bioreactors during periods of stable nitrification.
Discordance in HIV‐1 viral loads and antiretroviral drug concentrations comparing semen and blood plasma
Authors: Lorello G , La Porte C , Pilon R , Zhang G , Karnauchow T , MacPherson P 
Published: June 2009

ObjectivesFor individuals not on antiretroviral therapy, the risk of heterosexual transmission of HIV appears negligible when blood plasma (BP) viral loads are <1500 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL. It is not clear whether this observation can be extrapolated to individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Because of differential tissue penetration, antiretroviral drug concentrations may be sufficient to maintain an undetectable viral load in the BP yet not achieve adequate levels to suppress HIV in the genital tract. Therefore, we wanted to correlate HIV viral loads and drug concentrations in semen plasma (SP) and BP.MethodsThirty‐three men were included. All were on combination antiretroviral therapy with an undetectable BP viral load for at least 1 year. Blood and semen samples were collected within 2 h of each other and tested for HIV RNA by the NucliSens QT (bioMerieux, St Laurent, QC, Canada) method; drug concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsTwo of the 33 patients (6.1%) with BP viral loads below detection had time‐matched HIV viral loads in SP ≥700 copies/mL. Both patients were on efavirenz, the SP concentrations of which were ≤10% of the levels in BP and well below the minimal therapeutic drug monitoring target concentration required to suppress HIV.ConclusionsBecause, at least in part, of poor drug penetration into the genital tract, an undetectable HIV viral load in the BP does not guarantee an undetectable viral load in semen. In view of this, caution should be taken in concluding that patients on HAART with suppressed viraemia are sexually non‐infectious.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms and serum levels in Chinese atopic dermatitis patients
Authors: Ma L , Gao X‐H , Zhao L‐P , Di Z‐H , Mchepange UO , Zhang L , Chen H‐D , Wei H‐C 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Whether BDNF gene polymorphisms are associated with Chinese AD remains totally unknown.Objective  The aim is to determine if BDNF gene C270T and G196A polymorphisms are associated with Chinese AD, and analyse the clinical relevance of BDNF gene polymorphisms and BDNF serum levels.Methods  We conducted a case‐control association analysis (160 patients and 169 controls) in Northern Chinese subjects. Genotyping was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism, and serum levels of BDNF were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results  For C270T, there were significant differences in C/T genotype distribution (P = 0.003) and T allele frequencies (P = 0.004) between AD patients and controls in the whole dataset. Higher C/T genotype frequencies were found in male AD (10.6% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.018) and in intrinsic AD (IAD; 15.79% vs. 2.91%, P = 0.008). No association between G196A polymorphism and AD was observed in the whole cohort, while A allele was much more frequent in AD patients with atopy in first‐degree relatives (65.8% vs. 34.2%, P = 0.038). Serum BDNF levels were correlated with IAD severity as measured by Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index (r = 0.576, P < 0.001).Conclusion  T allele in C270T may be a risk factor for AD, especially in IAD and male AD. A allele in G196A may be a risk factor in AD patients with atopy in first‐degree relatives. Serum BDNF levels were correlated with the severity of IAD.
Basement membrane changes in lichen planopilaris
Authors: Al‐Refu K , Goodfield M 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is an inflammatory disease that affects the scalp and tends to produce cicatricial alopecia. The inflammatory process frequently results in the disruption of the basal cell of the external root sheath of the hair follicle.Objectives  To investigate the alterations in the basement membrane zone (BMZ) in LPP by immunohistochemistry.Methods  Skin biopsies from six patients with LPP plus six normal controls were studied by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to the following BMZ components: cytokeratin 5, cytokeratin 14, BP230 (bullous pemphigoid), BP180, plectin, laminin 5, collagen IV and collagen VII.Results  The localization and staining of the hemidesmosome, laminin and collagen components were strikingly different in the inflamed follicular epithelium when compared to the uninvolved follicles or interfollicular epithelium in active LPP lesions. The hemidesmosome‐associated complexes were weakly expressed and discontinuous in involved hair follicles. The expression of laminin‐5, type IV collagen and type VII collagen was disrupted and not linear along the BMZ with finger‐like projections of the staining protruding into the dermis. The expression of the intermediate filaments was normal.Conclusion  These alterations in the BMZ in LPP may explain the abnormal healing at follicular level which leads to irreversible hair loss and scarring in this condition.
Prevalence of myocardial infarction in patients with psoriasis in central China
Authors: Xiao J , Chen L‐H , Tu Y‐T , Deng X‐H , Tao J 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjective  To explore whether the prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) was higher in psoriatics than in patients without psoriasis, and whether major cardiovascular risk factors were associated with psoriasis in central China.Methods  Data were collected at Medical Records Section of Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan Iron and Steel Company General Hospital and No. 1 Hospital of Wuhan between 1999 and 2007. Patients with psoriasis were classified as severe if they ever received a systemic therapy. And patients were classified as having risk factors if they received codes for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or smoking. Controls without psoriasis were randomly selected from the Physical Examination Centre in the Affiliated Union Hospital. Analysis was performed by using conditional logistic regression, and adjustments were made for age and sex.Results  There were 45 MIs (2.96%) within the control population and 97 (6.00%) and 118 (8.01%) MIs within the mild and severe psoriasis groups, respectively. Respective odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of cardiovascular risk factors in those with mild psoriasis than controls were as follows: obesity (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08–1.85), diabetes (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.11–1.91), hypertension (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04–1.85), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.06–1.78) and smoking (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01–1.80). Patients with severe psoriasis had higher adjusted odds of obesity (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15–1.98), diabetes (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.32–2.17), hypertension (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.06–1.88), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.11–1.84), and smoking (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.20–2.05) than patients with mild psoriasis and controls. After adjusting for systemic therapies and cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking) in addition to age and sex, for patients with mild or severe psoriasis, the OR of having an MI was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.29–2.30) and 2.01 (95% CI, 1.45–2.79), respectively.Conclusions  The prevalence of MI is higher in mild andsevere psoriasis than in patients without psoriasis in central China. In addition, MI and major cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking) are associated with psoriasis in central China.
Urinary biomarker of oxidative stress in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Nakai K , Yoneda K , Maeda R , Munehiro A , Fujita N , Yokoi I , Moriue J , Moriue T , Kosaka H , Kubota Y 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  The involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of various skin disorders has been suggested for decades. However, few clinical studies have assessed oxidative stress in skin diseases. The easiest and least invasive method to assess oxidative stress in patients may be the measurement of oxidation products in urine.Objective  This study aims to assess oxidative stress in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients.Methods  Urine samples were collected from 29 psoriasis patients (25 males and 4 females), 21 atopic dermatitis patients (14 males and 7 females) and 20 healthy controls (16 males and 4 females). The severity and extent of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis was assessed by their area and severity index. We measured nitrate as a metabolite of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde as a major lipid oxidation product, and 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG) as a DNA oxidation marker.Results  Urinary nitrate and 8‐OHdG levels, but not malondialdehyde, were significantly higher in psoriasis patients than those in healthy controls. On the contrary, only urinary nitrate level was significantly higher in atopic dermatitis patients than those in healthy controls. The severity and extent of both psoriasis and atopic dermatitis significantly correlated with urinary nitrate level and malondialdehyde level, but it did not correlate with urinary 8‐OHdG level.Conclusions  Measurement of these three urinary oxidative products is non‐invasive. Above all, measurement of urinary nitrate may be most useful in the clinical assessment of oxidative stress in both psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients. There is a possibility that urinary 8‐OHdG level may indicate the different pathogenesis between psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in East European countries
Authors: Domeika M , Savicheva A , Sokolovskiy E , Frigo N , Brilene T , Hallén A , Unemo M , Ballard RC , Ward M ,   EE SRH Network
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe present guidelines aim to provide comprehensive information regarding the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in East European countries. These recommendations contain important information for laboratory staff working with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or STI‐related issues. Individual East European countries may be required to make minor national adjustments to these guidelines as a result of lack of accessibility to some reagents or equipment, or laws in a specific country.
Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in primary cutaneous T‐ and B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Valencak J , Trautinger F , Raderer M , Chott A , Der‐Petrossian M , Ivancic‐Brandenberger E , Knobler R , Kurtaran A , Hoffmann M 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Monitoring and repeated staging is of substantial importance in many patients with primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL). For primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas (CBCL), extensive initial staging is the mainstay for correct diagnosis.Aim  To evaluate the value of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy using the radiolabeled somatostatin analog 111In‐pentetreotide in comparison to conventional imaging methods for the staging of patients with primary CTCL and primary CBCL.Methods  Twenty‐two patients (15 patients with histologically verified CTCL and 7 patients with histologically verified CBCL) were included. Stage of disease was established by physical examination, laboratory screening, skin inspection, palpation of superficial lymph nodes, sonography and computed tomography (CT) in patients with advanced clinical stage. Focally elevated tracer uptake of 111In‐pentetreotide was compared to common imaging modalities, physical aspect and digital photographs of the respective skin lesions.Results  Of the 15 patients with CTCL, only 4 (27%) showed positive scintigraphic results, but not in all sites of lymphomatous involvement. None of the five patients with mycosis fungoides in stage I, nor any of the four patients with Sézary syndrome, had a positive 111In‐ pentetreotide scan. Of the seven patients with CBCL three positive scintigraphic results (43%) could be obtained: in two patients with a follicular center lymphoma and one patient with a diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma – leg type, but again not in all apparent sites of lymphoma.Conclusions  Based on our results, we do not recommend the use of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for routine staging of patients with CTCL and CBCL. As our series includes only 22 patients, and the number of patients with rarer variants of CTCL was rather small, it might be too premature to abandon SST‐R in the staging of patients with cutaneous lymphomas.
Study on association between polymorphism of HLA‐DRB1 alleles and Behçet's disease
Authors: Shang Y‐B , Zhai N , Li J‐P , Han S‐X , Ren Q‐S , Song F‐J , Chen H‐D 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Behçet's disease (BD) is known to be associated with human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐B*51 in many ethnic groups. However, the association of HLA class II gene with BD has been described to be different according to different countries and regions.Objective  This study aims to investigate the association between polymorphism of HLA‐DRB1 alleles and BD.Methods  Forty patients with BD and 100 healthy controls were typed for HLA‐DRB1 alleles by the LABTypeTM SSO method.Results  The frequency of HLA‐DRB1*14 was significantly higher in BD patients than in controls (P < 0.05), while the frequency of HLA‐DRB1*15 was markedly lower in BD patients (P < 0.05). Regarding clinical manifestations, the frequency of HLA‐DRB1*15 was significantly decreased in BD patients with genital ulcerations compared with controls (P < 0.05); the frequency of HLA‐DRB1*14 was significantly increased in BD patients with erythema nodosum–like lesions and in BD patients with folliculitis‐like lesions when compared to controls (P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, the frequency of HLA‐DRB1*14 was significantly increased in BD patients under 20 years of age at the onset of disease (P < 0.01), while the frequency of HLA‐DRB1*15 was significantly decreased in them (P < 0.05), compared with controls.Conclusion  The results suggested that HLA‐DRB1 alleles might play an important role in the onset and clinical manifestations of BD.
A comparative view of the evolution of grasses under domestication
Authors: Glémin Sylvain , Bataillon Thomas 
Published: June 2009

SummaryCrop grasses were among the first plants to be domesticated c. 12 000 yr ago, and they still represent the main staple crops for humans. During domestication, as did many other crops, grasses went through dramatic genetic and phenotypic changes. The recent massive increase in genomic data has provided new tools to investigate the genetic basis and consequences of domestication. Beyond the genetics of domestication, many aspects of grass biology, including their phylogeny and developmental biology, are also increasingly well studied, offering a unique opportunity to analyse the domestication process in a comparative way. Taking such a comparative point of view, we review the history of domesticated grasses and how domestication affected their phenotypic and genomic diversity. Considering recent theoretical developments and the accumulation of genetic data, we revisit more specifically the role of mating systems in the domestication process. We close by suggesting future directions for the study of domestication in grasses.

Contents

Summary
273

I.
Introduction
274

II.
A brief history of domestication in grasses
275

III.
Domestication genes
278

IV.
Models of the domestication process
280

V.
Evolutionary consequences of domestication for grass genomes
281

VI.
Mating systems and the evolutionary dynamics of domestication in grasses
284

VII.
Conclusion
286

Acknowledgements
287

References
287