bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered tissue electrical properties in squamous cell carcinoma in head and neck tumors: Preliminary observations
Authors: Małecka–Massalska Teresa , Smolen Agata , Morshed Kamal 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate tissue electrical properties in patients with head and neck cancer.MethodsIn the cross‐sectional study direct bioimpedance measures (resistance, reactance, and phase angle) determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were performed on 31 patients with head and neck cancer and 31 healthy volunteers matched by age and sex as a control group.ResultsPhase angle at 50 kHz was found to be significantly lower (p = .000006) in patients with head and neck cancer than in the control group (4.69° ± 0.71 vs 5.59° ± 0.70, respectively). Resistance was significantly (p = .0002) greater in patients with head and neck cancer than in the control group (596.24 ± 96.31 ohm vs 513.73 ± 65.79 ohm, respectively).ConclusionPresurgical patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer have altered tissue electrical properties. Further observations would be valuable to calculate survival, validate the prognostic significance of phase angle, and monitor nutritional and therapeutic interventions in this patient population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Loss of immunity-supported senescence enhances susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinogenesis and progression in Toll-like receptor 2-deficient mice
Authors: Lin Heng , Yan Jun , Wang Ziyan , Hua Fang , Yu Jiaojiao , Sun Wei , Li Ke , Liu Hong , Yang Hongzhen , Lv Qi , Xue Jianfei , Hu Zhuo-Wei 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complication at the endstage of chronic inflammatory liver diseases with dismal prognosis. Targeting of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 attenuates tumor metastases; we hypothesized that blocking TLR2 might also play a crucial role in reducing hepatocarcinogenesis. Surprisingly, we found that the genetic deletion of TLR2 increased susceptibility to diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a genotoxic carcinogen that can induce HCC. Indeed, TLR2-deficient mice showed a significant increase in carcinogenesis and progression of HCC as indicated by increases in tumor nodule size, tumor volume, and animal death. The enhanced susceptibility to DEN-induced HCC was associated with a broad-spectrum reduction in the immune response to DEN-induced liver injury. We found that TLR2 deficiency caused a decrease in the infiltration of macrophages and an attenuation of apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) / p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) / nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling, which led to a decrease in the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1α/β, IL-6, and Cxcl-2 as well as suppression of autophagy flux and increases in oxidative stress and p62 aggregation in liver tissue. The defects in immune networks resulted in suppressed p21- and p16/pRb-dependent senescence, which caused an increase in proliferation and a decrease in apoptotic and autophagy-associated cell death in mouse livers. Restoring cellular senescence and autophagy flux by treating TLR2-deficient mice with IFN-γ, a T helper 1 (Th1) cytokine and positive modulator of senescence and autophagy, could attenuate the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC associated with TLR2-deficient animals. Conclusion: The loss of immune networks supporting cellular senescence and autophagy flux is attributed to enhanced susceptibility to DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis and progression in TLR2-deficient mice. These findings may be used to prevent the development of liver cancer. (Hepatology 2013)
Diffusion of new technology, health services and information after a crisis: a focus group study of the Sichuan “5.12” Earthquake
Authors: Zhou Hong , Shi Lu , Mao Yuping , Tang Juan , Zeng Yu 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYIntroductionThe Sichuan “5.12” Earthquake in 2008 occurred in a relatively underdeveloped area in China. The rainy weather, the mountainous environment and the local languages all posed major challenges to the dissemination of information and services after the disaster. By adopting a communication perspective, this study applies the diffusion of innovations theory to investigate how healthcare professionals diffused health technologies, health information and services during the rescue and relief operation.MethodThe authors conducted three focus group sessions with the health professionals who had attended to the rescue and relief work of the Sichuan “5.12” Earthquake in 2008. A range of questions regarding the diffusion of innovations were asked during these sessions.ResultsThe health professionals used their cell phones to communicate with other healthcare providers, disseminated knowledge of health risks and injuries to affected residents with pamphlets and posters and attended daily meetings at the local government offices. They reported on the shortage of maritime satellite cell phones and large‐size tents for medical use, and the absence of fully equipped ambulances. Volunteers, local health professionals and local officials provided health information and services in different ways. However, the diffusion of health information and services was less likely to reach those living next to transportation centers, in remote areas and in disaster areas neglected by the media.DiscussionNew communication devices such as cell phones and the mobile Internet enabled medical professionals to coordinate the rescue and relief work after this major natural disaster, at a time when the country's emergency response system still had plenty of room for improvement. In future, the mobile Internet should be used as a means of collecting bottom‐up disaster reports so that the media will not neglect any disaster areas as they did during the Sichuan Earthquake. Rescue relief work would have been substantially easier if medical teams had been equipped with advanced appliances such as maritime satellite cell phones. “Disaster medicine” should be treated as a separate discipline in medical schools and receive more investment. Moreover, a stronger public health emergency response system is needed for more efficient dispatch and coordination. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An association between clock genes and clock‐controlled cell cycle genes in murine colorectal tumors
Authors: Soták Matúš , Polidarová Lenka , Ergang Peter , Sumová Alena , Pácha Jiří 
Published: August 2012

AbstractDisruption of circadian machinery appears to be associated with the acceleration of tumor development. To evaluate the function of the circadian clock during neoplastic transformation, the daily profiles of the core clock genes Per1, Per2, Rev‐Erbα and Bmal1, the clock‐controlled gene Dbp and the clock‐controlled cell cycle genes Wee1, c‐Myc and p21 were detected by real‐time RT‐PCR in chemically induced primary colorectal tumors, the surrounding normal tissue and in the liver. The circadian rhythmicity of Per1, Per2, Rev‐Erbα and Dbp was significantly reduced in tumor compared with healthy colon and the rhythmicity of Bmal1 was completely abolished. Interestingly, the circadian expression of Per1, Per2, Rev‐Erbα and Dbp persisted in the colonic tissue surrounding the tumor but the rhythmic expression of Bmal1 was also abolished. Daily profiles of Wee1, c‐Myc and p21 did not exhibit any rhythmicity either in tumors or in the colon of healthy animals. The absence of diurnal rhythmicity of cell cycle genes was partially associated with ageing, because young healthy mice showed rhythmicity in the core clock genes as well as in the Wee1 and p21. In the liver of tumor‐bearing mice the clock gene rhythms were temporally shifted. The data suggest that the circadian regulation is distorted in colonic neoplastic tissue and that the gene‐specific disruption may be also observed in the non‐neoplastic tissues. These findings reinforce the role of peripheral circadian clockwork disruption for carcinogenesis and tumor progression.
Role of GRB2‐associated binder 1 in epidermal growth factor receptor‐induced signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Hoeben A. , Martin D. , Clement P.M. , Cools J. , Gutkind J.S. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite the high expression of EGFR in HNSCC, EGFR inhibitors have only limited success as monotherapy. The Grb2‐associated binder (GAB) family of adaptor proteins acts as docking/scaffolding molecules downstream of tyrosine kinase receptors. We hypothesized that GAB1 may amplify EGFR‐induced signaling in HNSCCs and therefore could play a role in the reduced sensitivity of HNSCC to EGFR inhibitors. We used representative human HNSCC cell lines overexpressing wild type EGFR, and expressing GAB1 but not GAB2. We demonstrated that baseline Akt and MAPK signaling were reduced in HNSCC cells in which GAB1 expression was reduced. Furthermore, the maximal EGF‐induced activation of the Akt and MAPK pathway was reduced and delayed, and the duration of the EGF‐induced activation of these pathways was reduced in cells with GAB1 knock‐down. In agreement with this, HNSCC cells in which GAB1 levels were reduced showed an increased sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib. Our work demonstrates that GAB1 plays an important role as part of the mechanism of by which EGFR induces induced activation of the MAPK and AKT pathway. Our results identify GAB1 as an amplifier of the EGFR‐initiated signaling, which may also interfere with EGFR degradation. These findings support the emerging notion that reducing GAB1 function may sensitize HNSCC to EGFR inhibitors, hence representing a new therapeutic target HNSCC treatment in combination with EGFR targeting agents.
P2X7 receptor in the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex contributes to tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia following trigeminal nerve injury
Authors: Ito G. , Suekawa Y. , Watanabe M. , Takahashi K. , Inubushi T. , Murasaki K. , Hirose N. , Hiyama S. , Uchida T. , Tanne K. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe present study directly addresses the roles of the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an ionotropic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) receptor, and cytokines in the induction of orofacial pain following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the infraorbital nerve (IoN).MethodsRats were anesthetized, and ligatures of 4‐0 chromic gut were tied around the IoN. A438079, a P2X7R antagonist or SB203580, a phosphorylated (p)‐p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, was infused intrathecally into CCI‐treated rats. In another group of rats, 3′‐O‐(4‐benzoylbenzoyl) adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (BzATP), a P2X7R agonist, was infused intrathecally with A438079, SB203580 or etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α receptor‐binding recombinant drug.ResultsCCI of the IoN induced tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia and up‐regulation of P2X7R, membrane‐bound TNF‐α (mTNF‐α) and soluble TNF‐α (sTNF‐α) in the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TNC). Tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia or up‐regulation of mTNF‐α and sTNF‐α in the TNC following CCI of the IoN was inhibited by A438079. SB203580 also attenuated tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia or up‐regulation of mTNF‐α, but not the up‐regulation of sTNF‐α in the TNC. Treatment of rats with BzATP induced tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia and up‐regulation of sTNF‐α and p‐p38 in the TNC. Tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia or up‐regulation of sTNF‐α following BzATP treatment was inhibited by SB203580 and etanercept.ConclusionsBased on these findings, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK via P2X7R may induce tactile allodynia/hyperalgesia, which is most likely mediated by sTNF‐α released by microglia.
Multi‐site pain and working conditions as predictors of work ability in a 4‐year follow‐up among food industry employees
Authors: Neupane S. , Virtanen P. , Leino‐Arjas P. , Miranda H. , Siukola A. , Nygård C.‐H. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated the separate and joint effects of multi‐site musculoskeletal pain and physical and psychosocial exposures at work on future work ability.MethodsA survey was conducted among employees of a Finnish food industry company in 2005 (n = 1201) and a follow‐up survey in 2009 (n = 734). Information on self‐assessed work ability (current work ability on a scale from 0 to 10; 7 = poor work ability), multi‐site musculoskeletal pain (pain in at least two anatomical areas of four), leisure‐time physical activity, body mass index and physical and psychosocial exposures was obtained by questionnaire. The separate and joint effects of multi‐site pain and work exposures on work ability at follow‐up, among subjects with good work ability at baseline, were assessed by logistic regression, and p‐values for the interaction derived.ResultsCompared with subjects with neither multi‐site pain nor adverse work exposure, multi‐site pain at baseline increased the risk of poor work ability at follow‐up, allowing for age, gender, occupational class, body mass index and leisure‐time physical activity. The separate effects of the work exposures on work ability were somewhat smaller than those of multi‐site pain. Multi‐site pain had an interactive effect with work environment and awkward postures, such that no association of multi‐site pain with poor work ability was seen when work environment was poor or awkward postures present.ConclusionsThe decline in work ability connected with multi‐site pain was not increased by exposure to adverse physical or psychosocial factors at work.
Wrapping and dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes improves electrical conductivity of protein–nanotube composite biomaterials
Authors: Voge Christopher M. , Johns Jeremy , Raghavan Mekhala , Morris Michael D. , Stegemann Jan P. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractComposites of extracellular matrix proteins reinforced with carbon nanotubes have the potential to be used as conductive biopolymers in a variety of biomaterial applications. In this study, the effect of functionalization and polymer wrapping on the dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in aqueous media was examined. Carboxylated MWCNT were wrapped in either Pluronic® F127 or gelatin. Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that covalent functionalization of the pristine nanotubes disrupted the carbon lattice and added carboxyl groups. Polymer and gelatin wrapping resulted in increased surface adsorbed oxygen and nitrogen, respectively. Wrapping also markedly increased the stability of MWCNT suspensions in water as measured by settling time and zeta potential, with Pluronic®‐wrapped nanotubes showing the greatest effect. Treated MWCNT were used to make 3D collagen–fibrin–MWCNT composite materials. Carboxylated MWCNT resulted in a decrease in construct impedance by an order of magnitude, and wrapping with Pluronic® resulted in a further order of magnitude decrease. Functionalization and wrapping also were associated with maintenance of fibroblast function within protein–MWCNT materials. These data show that increased dispersion of nanotubes in protein–MWCNT composites leads to higher conductivity and improved cytocompatibility. Understanding how nanotubes interact with biological systems is important in enabling the development of new biomedical technologies. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 101A:231–238, 2013.
Self‐assembled smooth muscle cell tissue rings exhibit greater tensile strength than cell‐seeded fibrin or collagen gel rings
Authors: Adebayo Olufunmilayo , Hookway Tracy A. , Hu Jason Z. , Billiar Kristen L. , Rolle Marsha W. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIn this study, we created self‐assembled smooth muscle cell (SMC) tissue rings (comprised entirely of cells and cell‐derived matrix; CDM) and compared their structure and material properties with tissue rings created from SMC‐seeded fibrin or collagen gels. All tissue rings were cultured statically for 7 days in supplemented growth medium (with ε‐amino caproic acid, ascorbic acid, and insulin‐transferrin‐selenium), prior to uniaxial tensile testing and histology. Self‐assembled CDM rings exhibited ultimate tensile strength and stiffness values that were two‐fold higher than fibrin gel and collagen gel rings. Tensile testing of CDM, fibrin gel and collagen gel rings treated with deionized water to lyse cells showed little to no change in mechanical properties relative to untreated ring samples, indicating that the ECM dominates the measured ring mechanics. In addition, CDM rings cultured in supplemented growth medium were significantly stronger than CDM rings cultured in standard, unsupplemented growth medium. These results illustrate the potential utility of self‐assembled cell rings as model CDM constructs for tissue engineering and biomechanical analysis of ECM material properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Silk fibroin particles as templates for mineralization of calcium‐deficient hydroxyapatite
Authors: Choi Youngeun , Cho Se Youn , Park Doo Jin , Park Hyun Ho , Heo Semi , Jin Hyoung‐Joon 
Published: August 2012

AbstractSilk fibroin particles prepared by phase separation with polyethylene oxide were coated with calcium‐deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) crystals under various pH conditions. For different pH values, the growth and the morphology of CDHA crystals on the surface of silk fibroin particles were investigated in detail by zeta potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction techniques. Negative charges formed by deprotonation of the functional groups on the surface of silk fibroin particles at high pH lead to an increase of binding affinity between the calcium ions of the CDHA crystals and the functional groups of the silk fibroin particles. Consequently, the generation of many CDHA crystals was promoted to deposit on the surface of silk fibroin particles at a high pH value. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.
The R740S mutation in the V-ATPase a3 subunit increases lysosomal pH, impairs NFATc1 translocation, and decreases in vitro osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Voronov Irina , Ochotny Noelle , Jaumouillé Valentin , Owen Celeste , Manolson Morris F , Aubin Jane E 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase), a multisubunit enzyme located at the ruffled border and in lysosomes of osteoclasts, is necessary for bone resorption. We previously showed that heterozygous mice with an R740S mutation in the a3 subunit of V-ATPase (+/R740S) have mild osteopetrosis resulting from an ∼90% reduction in proton translocation across osteoclast membranes. Here we show that lysosomal pH is also higher in +/R740S compared with wild-type (+/+) osteoclasts. Both osteoclast number and size were decreased in cultures of +/R740S compared with +/+ bone marrow cells, with concomitant decreased expression of key osteoclast markers (TRAP, cathepsin K, OSCAR, DC-STAMP, and NFATc1), suggesting that low lysosomal pH plays an important role in osteoclastogenesis. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of this inhibition, NFATc1 activation was assessed. NFATc1 nuclear translocation was significantly reduced in +/R740S compared with +/+ cells; however, this was not because of impaired enzymatic activity of calcineurin, the phosphatase responsible for NFATc1 dephosphorylation. Protein and RNA expression levels of regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1), an endogenous inhibitor of NFATc1 activation and a protein degraded in lysosomes, were not significantly different between +/R740S and +/+ osteoclasts, but the RCAN1/NFATc1 ratio was significantly higher in +/R740S versus +/+ cells. The lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine significantly increased RCAN1 accumulation in +/+ cells, consistent with the hypothesis that higher lysosomal pH impairs RCAN1 degradation, leading to a higher RCAN1/NFATc1 ratio and consequently NFATc1 inhibition. Our data indicate that increased lysosomal pH in osteoclasts leads to decreased NFATc1 signaling and nuclear translocation, resulting in a cell autonomous impairment of osteoclastogenesis in vitro. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Electronic fluxes during diels‐alder reactions involving 1,2‐benzoquinones: mechanistic insights from the analysis of electron localization function and catastrophe theory
Authors: González‐Navarrete Patricio , Domingo Luis R. , Andrés Juan , Berski Slawomir , Silvi Bernard 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBy means of the joint use of electron localization function (ELF) and Thom's catastrophe theory, a theoretical analysis of the energy profile for the hetero‐Diels‐Alder reaction of 4‐methoxy‐1,2‐benzoquinone1and methoxyethylene2has been carried out. The 12 different structural stability domains obtained by the bonding evolution theory have been identified as well as the bifurcation catastrophes (fold and cusp) responsible for the changes in the topology of the system. This analysis permits finding a relationship between the ELF topology and the evolution of the bond breaking/forming processes and electron pair rearrangements through the reaction progress in terms of the different ways of pairing up the electrons. The reaction mechanism corresponds to an asynchronous electronic flux; first, the O1C5 bond is formed by the nucleophilic attack of the C5 carbon of the electron rich ethylene2on the most electrophilically activated carbonyl O1 oxygen of1, and once the σ bond has been completed, the formation process of the second O4C6 bond takes place. In addition, the values of the local electrophilicity and local nucleophilcity indices in the framework of conceptual density functional theory accounts for the asychronicity of the process as well as for the observed regioselectivity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nickel removal characteristics of an immobilized macro fungus: equilibrium, kinetic and mechanism analysis of the biosorption
Authors: Akar Tamer , Celik Sema , Gorgulu Ari Asli , Tunali Akar Sibel 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: An immobilized new biosorbent was prepared from macro fungi Lactarius salmonicolor for the effective removal of nickel ions from aqueous media. Operating conditions were optimized as functions of initial pH, agitation time, sorbent amount and dynamic flow rate. Immobilization and biosorption mechanism were examined and the developed biosorbent was tested for the removal of nickel ions from real wastewater.RESULTS: Biosorption performance of the biomass continuously increased in the pH range 2.0–8.0. The coverage of the biosorbent surface by silica gel resulted in a significant increase in biosorption yield of nickel ions. The highest nickel loading capacity was obtained as 114.44 mg g−1 using a relatively small amount of immobilized biosorbent. Biosorption equilibrium time was recorded as 5 min. Experimental data were analyzed by different isotherm and kinetic models. Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray energy dispersive analysis confirmed the process. The sorbent exhibited relatively good recovery potential in dynamic flow mode studies. Biosorption capacity of immobilized biosorbent was noted as 14.90 mg g−1 in real wastewater.CONCLUSION: Silica gel immobilized biomass of L. salmonicolor is to be a low cost and potential biosorbent with high biosorption capacity for the removal of contaminating nickel from aqueous media. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry