bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic impact of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression in bladder cancer
Authors: Becker Markus , Szarvas Tibor , Wittschier Markus , vom Dorp Frank , Tötsch Martin , Schmid Kurt Werner , Rübben Herbert , Ergün Süleyman 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND:Recent studies have demonstrated a poor prognosis for patients who have altered expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI‐1) in several cancer types. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prognostic impact of PAI‐1 on patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder.METHODS:PAI‐1 expression was quantified using real‐time polymerase chain reaction in 91 TCCs and in 6 normal tissue specimens. PAI‐1 concentrations were analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunoadsorbent assay in plasma from 104 patients and 10 controls and in urine from 244 patients and 74 controls. PAI‐1 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin‐embedded tissues (94 tumor samples and 10 adjacent normal tissue samples). The results were analyzed in relation to clinical features and follow‐up.RESULTS:Significantly higher PAI‐1 levels were detected in tissue and plasma samples, but not in urine, from patients with bladder cancer compared with controls (P = .001 and P = .008, respectively). Elevated gene expression and plasma protein concentrations were independent of tumor stage and grade. Immunostaining revealed a subgroup of patients with single tumor cells that strongly expressed PAI‐1. These patients' survival was significantly shorter, and their clinical presentation was correlated significantly with lymph node‐positive disease.CONCLUSIONS:PAI‐1 gene expression in tissues and plasma protein levels were elevated in patients with TCC compared with controls. PAI‐1 gene or protein expression was not associated with the clinical characteristics of bladder TCC. Although the assessment of PAI‐1 expression in plasma or urine may not serve as an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with TCC, the immunohistochemical detection of single PAI‐1–positive cells may serve as a predictor of survival and a possible indicator of metastasis. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
N‐(4‐Nitrophenylsulfonyl)‐ and N‐(Fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)‐N‐ethyl Amino Acid Methyl Esters – A Practical Approach
Authors: Belsito Emilia Lucia , De Marco Rosaria , Di Gioia Maria Luisa , Liguori Angelo , Perri Francesca , Viscomi Maria Caterina 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAn efficient one‐pot preparation of N‐ethyl‐N‐4‐nitrophenylsulfonyl (nosyl) amino acid methyl esters was accomplished by a simple N‐ethylation reaction by using triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in the presence of N,N‐diisopropylethylamine. The N‐ethylated amino acid methyl esters are obtained with total retention of stereochemistry at the original chiral centers. To further broaden the scope of this methodology, the N‐ethylated nosyl‐protected compounds are easily converted in the more practical fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)‐protected derivatives. The cleavage of methyl ester by using a mild and neutral method enables the preparation of N‐ethyl amino acids that are building blocks suitable for introduction into a peptide chain. The methodology works well with both nosyl‐ and Fmoc‐based solution‐phase peptide synthesis.
Selection of aptamers for signal transduction proteins by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Tok Junie , Lai Jesyin , Leung Thomas , Li Sam Fong Yau 
Published: June 2010

AbstractHigh‐affinity aptamers for important signal transduction proteins, i.e. Cdc42‐GTP, p21‐activated kinase1 (PAK1) and MRCK (myotonic dystrophy kinase‐related Cdc42‐binding kinase) α were successfully selected in the low micro‐ to nanomolar range using non‐systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) with at least three orders of magnitude enhancement from their respective bulk affinity of naïve DNA library. In the non‐SELEX procedure, CE was used as a highly efficient affinity method to select aptamers for the desired molecular target through a process that involved repetitive steps of partitioning, known as non‐equilibrium CE of equilibrium mixtures with no PCR amplification between successive steps. Various non‐SELEX conditions including the type, concentration and pH of the run buffer were optimized. Other considerations such as salt composition of selection buffer, protein concentration and sample injection size were also studied for high stringency during selection. After identifying the best enriched aptamer pool, randomly selected clones from the aptamer pool were sequenced to obtain the individual DNA sequences. The dissociation constants (Kd) of these sequences were in the low micromolar to nanomolar range, indicating high affinity to the respective proteins. The best binders were also subjected to sequence alignment to generate a phylogenetic tree. No significant consensus region based on approximately 50 sequences for each protein was observed, suggesting the high efficiency of non‐SELEX for the selection of numerous unique sequences with high selectivity.
Analysis of the cellular Aspergillus fumigatus proteome that reacts with sera from rabbits developing an acquired immunity after experimental aspergillosis
Authors: Asif Abdul R. , Oellerich Michael , Amstrong Victor W. , Gross Uwe , Reichard Utz 
Published: June 2010

AbstractInvasive aspergillosis caused by the mould Aspergillus fumigatus is a life‐threatening lung or systemic infection in the immunocompromised host. In this study, a protective immune response against the disease was achieved in two infected rabbits, and the cellular fungal antigenic proteome that mediated such a response was investigated against the background of vaccine development efforts. Altogether, 59 different Aspergillus proteins were found becoming reactive in the course of the developing immunity, many of which are described in this context for the first time. These included proteins related to oxidative stress management, glycolysis and other metabolic pathways. As oxidative stress is suspected to be one of the major defense mechanisms, the results may indicate at least in part a continuous response of the pathogen to evade the host's immune system. In addition, proteins with suspected cell surface association or crucial function for fungal cell development were identified. As these antigens are newly recognized during the process of the developing immunoprotection, they may not only represent valuable infection markers but also importantly broaden the list of possible vaccine candidates.
Characterisation of low abundance wool proteins through novel differential extraction techniques
Authors: Plowman Jeffrey E. , Deb‐Choudhury Santanu , Thomas Ancy , Clerens Stefan , Cornellison Charisa D. , Grosvenor Anita J. , Dyer Jolon M. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractFibres from human hair and wool are characterised by two main types of proteins: intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) and keratin associated proteins (KAPs). The IFPs, comprising over 50% of the fibre, tend to dominate 2‐D electrophoretic maps, hindering identification of the less‐abundant KAPs. This has been compounded in wool fibres by the relatively limited amount of sequence information available, with approximately 35 distinct protein sequences from ten KAP families being available, in contrast to human hair, where the sequences from well over 80 proteins from 26 KAP families are known. Additional complications include the high degree of homology within these families, ranging from 70 to 95%, and the dominance of cysteine residues in a number of KAP families with their high propensity to form cross‐links. The lack of sequence information for wool KAPs has been partly overcome through the recent acquisition of new sequences. Fractionation of the proteins on the basis of their solubility with pH, urea and DTT concentration has resulted in protein extracts in which the IFP concentration has been considerably reduced. These improvements have enabled the identification of low‐abundance proteins in 2‐D electrophoretic maps and represent a significant advance in our knowledge of the wool proteome.
The removal of COD from bleaching effluents by Fenton's reagent: Effect of system parameters and kinetic study
Authors: Wang Zhaojiang , Chen Kefu , Li Jun , Mo Lihuan , Wang Qiang 
Published: June 2010

AbstractFenton's reagent was now being used as a post‐treatment procedure to eliminate the intractable pollutants in the bleaching effluents from pulp mills. To establish cost‐efficient operating conditions for the application of Fenton's reagent, the effects of operating conditions such as the dosages of H2O2, the molar ratio of [Fe2+]/[H2O2], the value of solution pH and the system temperature on the removal of COD were evaluated systematically. The results showed a suitable operating condition that yields 88.7% of COD removal was obtained at [H2O2] = 4COD(mM L−1), [Fe2+]/[H2O2] = 20:1, pH3, 90°C, reaction time 120 min. A kinetic study was carried out using a modified pseudo‐first‐order model. The results showed the COD removal for bleaching effluents by Fenton's reagent followed the first‐order reaction kinetics, and the activation energy Ea was detected to be 1.68 kJ mol−1 based on the experiments performed at different temperatures. In addition, the results of GC/MS analysis showed organic pollutants in effluents were degraded into organic acids of lower molecular weight under the attack of hydroxyl radicals generated in Fenton's reaction. The results of biodegradability assay indicated the bio‐toxic substances in the bleaching effluents were eliminated. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2011
PAPR reduction technique using pilot symbols for OFDM systems
Authors: Mahafeno Irène M. , Louët Yves , Hélard Jean‐François , Nasser Youssef , Ho Anh Tai 
Published: June 2010

AbstractHigh peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) is a critical issue in any orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, such as digital video broadcasting (DVB). Due to the nonlinearity of high power amplifier (HPA), it can result in low power efficiency and performance degradation of systems. In this paper, a tone reservation (TR) approach for PAPR reduction in OFDM systems is proposed by using pilot subcarriers simultaneously for PAPR reduction and channel estimation. At the receiver, a blind detection which avoids sending any side information (SI) is performed. The proposed approach improves the system spectral efficiency compared to the regular TR method that uses a set of useful subcarriers for PAPR reduction only. Simulation results using the current DVB‐T2 parameters demonstrate its relevance for future DVB systems.†Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copper (II) promotes the formation of soluble neurotoxic PrP oligomers in acidic environment
Authors: Wu Di , Zhang Wentao , Luo Qingying , Luo Kan , Huang Liqin , Wang Wenxi , Huang Tao , Chen Rui , Lin Yi , Pang Daiwen , Xiao Gengfu 
Published: June 2010

AbstractPrion diseases are classically considered to be “amyloid diseases” caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the brain. Recent studies identified soluble oligomers of PrP (prion protein) in damaged neuronal tissue. However, the details of PrP oligomerization are still unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that Cu2+ plays a vital role in the formation of soluble PrP oligomers. A Cu2+‐triggered structural conversion of PrP (90–231) to a β‐sheet isoform in pH 5.0 buffer was revealed by circular dichroism spectra and fluorescence measurement. Soluble oligomers were isolated by size exclusion chromatography from experimental solutions, allowing atomic force microscopy to reveal their morphology. 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that oligomeric PrP induced significant damage in and apoptosis of neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells. These results indicate that in an acidic environment, Cu2+ promotes the formation of neurotoxic soluble PrP oligomers. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 627–633, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Involvement of the JAK‐STAT pathway and SOCS3 in the regulation of adiponectin‐generated reactive oxygen species in murine macrophage RAW 264 cells
Authors: Akifusa Sumio , Kamio Noriaki , Shimazaki Yoshihiro , Yamaguchi Noboru , Nonaka Kazuaki , Yamashita Yoshihisa 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAdiponectin is a protein hormone produced by differentiating adipocytes and has been proposed to have anti‐diabetic and immunosuppressive properties. We previously reported that the globular form of adiponectin (gAd) induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), followed by caspase‐dependent apoptotic cell death in RAW 264 cells. Here, we demonstrate that gAd‐induced ROS generation and apoptosis were diminished by suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3). The phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 detected by Western blotting was highest at 20 min in gAd‐treated RAW 264 cells. This phosphorylation was inhibited by AG490, a specific inhibitor of janus‐activator kinase (JAK). The gAd‐induced ROS and NO were reduced by administration of AG490 and Jak‐2‐specific siRNA in RAW 264 cells. The gAd stimulation transiently induced SOCS3 mRNA expression and protein production. We examined SOCS3‐overexpressing RAW 264 cells to investigate the role of the JAK‐STAT pathway in gAd‐induced ROS and NO generation. SOCS3 overexpression significantly reduced both ROS and NO generation. Additionally, gAd‐induced caspase activation and apoptotic cell death were reduced in SOCS3 transfectants compared with vector control transfectants. These results suggest that the JAK‐STAT pathway, which can be suppressed by SOCS3 expression, is involved in gAd‐induced ROS and NO generation followed by apoptotic cell death. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 597–606, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alexithymia and posttraumatic stress: subscales and symptom clusters
Authors: Declercq Frédéric , Vanheule Stijn , Deheegher John 
Published: June 2010

AbstractThis study examined the relationship between the emotion‐regulating factor alexithymia and the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after critical incidents in a nonclinical sample of 136 nurses and ambulance personnel working in military facilities. The results showed that alexythima accounts for variance in PTSD symptoms. Breaking PTSD into its 4 symptom clusters, alexithymia was found to predict numbing and hyperarousal symptoms but not avoidance or reexperiencing symptoms. Finally, the rarely investigated, but clinically relevant, distinctive subdimensions of alexithymia were examined in relation to the 4 PTSD clusters. The difficulty identifying feelings subscale contributed most to the numbing and hyperarousal PTSD subscales. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66: 1–14, 2010.
A comparative study of the growth of lactic acid bacteria in a pilot scale membrane bioreactor
Authors: Jung Ilseon , Lovitt Robert W. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: A central problem in the production of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is the low productivity conventional batch systems due to end product inhibition. This work investigated the impacts of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) on the growth of four industrially important LAB and compared the growth in pH controlled STR using Lactobacillus buchneri, L. brevis, Oenococcus oeni, and Bifidobacterium longum.RESULTS: The four LAB were grown in a pH‐controlled STR batch culture and this was compared with perfusion culture of the MBR. The growth of LAB in MBR produced a far more intensive production of cells with great volumetric productivity and high cell concentrations compared with STR cultures. Total cell concentration in perfusion culture of LAB reached 13 to 23 g DCW L−1 up to 14 times higher than those obtained in the STR cultures. Overall volumetric biomass production rates in the MBR increased from 10 to 33 times that in the STR, and were organism dependent.CONCLUSION: The MBR has considerable potential for enhanced production of LAB. Limitations to growth and growth rate during perfusion culture of LAB in the MBR were from gas bubbles produced or membrane fouling. Further improvements in productivities are possible with careful design of the media, the MBR reactor and the performance characteristics of the LAB. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Kinetic study on ethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV‐01 yeast isolated from sugar cane molasses
Authors: Ortiz‐Muñiz Benigno , Carvajal‐Zarrabal Octavio , Torrestiana‐Sanchez Beatriz , Aguilar‐Uscanga Maria Guadalupe 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: Bio‐ethanol production from renewable sources, such as sugar cane, makes it a biofuel that is both renewable and environmentally friendly. One of the strategies to reduce production costs and to make ethanol fuel economically competitive with fossil fuels could be the use of wild yeast with osmotolerance, ethanol resistance and low nutritional requirements. The aim of this work was to investigate the kinetics of ethanol fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV‐01 yeast strain in a batch system at different glucose and ethanol concentrations, pH values and temperature in order to determine the optimum fermentation conditions.RESULTS: This strain showed osmotolerance (its specific growth rate (µmax) remained unchanged at glucose concentrations between 100 and 200 g L−1) as well as ethanol resistance (it was able to grow at 10% v/v ethanol). Activation energy (Ea) and Q10 values calculated at temperatures between 27 and 39 °C, pH 3.5, was 15.6 kcal mol−1 (with a pre‐exponential factor of 3.8 × 1012 h−1 (R2 = 0.94)) and 3.93 respectively, indicating that this system is biologically limited.CONCLUSIONS: The optimal conditions for ethanol production were pH 3.5, 30 °C and initial glucose concentration 150 g L−1. In this case, a maximum ethanol concentration of 58.4 g L−1, ethanol productivity of 1.8 g L−1 h−1 and ethanol yield of 0.41 g g−1 were obtained. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Microbial and toxic evaluation of raw and treated olive oil mill wastewaters
Authors: Venieri Danae , Rouvalis Angela , Iliopoulou‐Georgudaki Joan 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: Olive oil mill wastewaters (OMW) from a three‐phase system were treated in a laboratory‐scale continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) for hydrogen production. Microbiological and physicochemical characterizations of raw and anaerobically treated olive oil mill effluents were performed. Toxicity assessment was also conducted in order to determine the impact of residual waters on the aquatic environment.RESULTS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa that has the ability to utilize phenolic compounds was isolated in raw OMW, along with several gram‐negative bacteria (Serratia odorifera, Enterobacter cloacae and Aeromonas hydrophila). The dominant species in the untreated effluent appears to be Enterobacter cloacae, whereas in the treated effluent it is Citrobacter braakii. Phenols, pH, NO−2, total dissolved solids (TDS) and conductivity were the main parameters related to the observed toxicity.CONCLUSION: A significant differentiation in the microbiological flora was detected between treated and untreated effluents whereas the microbial communities were correlated to the toxicity test results, pointing to the need for further research regarding identification of the microbial flora. This can improve the treatment processes to optimize management of OMW for environmentally safe discharge. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis and biological evaluation of a radioiodinated spiropiperidine ligand as a potentialσ1receptor imaging agent
Authors: Chen Rui‐Qin , Li Yan , Zhang Qiu‐Yan , Jia Hong‐Mei , Deuther‐Conrad Winnie , Schepmann Dirk , Steinbach Jörg , Brust Peter , Wünsch Bernhard , Liu Bo‐Li 
Published: June 2010

AbstractWe report the synthesis and evaluation of 1′‐(4‐[125I]iodobenzyl)‐3H‐spiro[isobenzofuran‐1,4′‐piperidine] ([125I]Spiro‐I) as a potential SPECT tracer for imaging of σ1receptors. [125I]Spiro‐I was prepared in 55–65% isolated radiochemical yield, with radiochemical purity of >99%, via iododestannylation of the corresponding tributyltin precursor. In receptor binding studies, Spiro‐I displayed low nanomolar affinity for σ1receptors (σ1:Ki=2.75±0.12 nM; σ2:Ki=340 nM) and high subtype selectivity (σ2/σ1=124). Biodistribution in mice demonstrated relatively high concentration of radioactivity in organs known to contain σ1receptors, including the lung, kidney, heart, spleen, and brain. Administration of haloperidol 5 min prior to injection of [125I]Spiro‐I significantly reduced the concentration of radioactivity in the above‐mentioned organs. These findings suggest that the binding of [125I]Spiro‐I to σ1receptorsin vivois specific. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of optically active deuterium‐labeled homocysteine thiolactone
Authors: Shinohara Yoshihiko , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Hashimoto Takao , Ichida Kimiyoshi 
Published: June 2010

AbstractOptically pure (R)‐ and (S)‐3‐aminotetradeutero‐2‐thiophenone (D‐ and L‐[2H4]homocysteine thiolactone) for use as substrates for metabolic and pharmacokinetic studies has been prepared. The racemic [2H4]homocysteine thiolactone hydrochloride was prepared from commercially available and highly enriched DL‐[3,3,4,4‐2H4]methionine by intramolecular condensation with hydriodic acid. The racemate was derivatized with (S)‐(+)‐2‐methoxyphenylacetic acid to form the diastereomeric amides. The diastereomers were separated by silica gel column chromatography. Hydrolysis of the D‐ and L‐isomer amide in 4 M HCl–ethanol (1:2 v/v) afforded the optically pure D‐ and L‐[2H4]homocysteine thiolactone, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decameric uracil complexes around Li+
Authors: Zins Emilie‐Laure , Pepe Claude , Schröder Detlef 
Published: June 2010

AbstractElectrospray ionization (ESI) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) experiments were carried out to study decameric uracil complexes cationized with Li+ ion. A previous study has shown that, under specific experimental conditions, a particularly intense peak of the decamer U10Li+ is formed, which was referred to as an indication for so‐called ‘magic number’ cluster. In order to gain more insight on the structure of this decameric complex, here, we report experimental studies concerning the kinetics of the fragmentation. In accordance with the new experimental data, structural models were constructed and fully optimized using ab initio and density functional theory quantum chemistry calculations. The theoretical study allowed us to propose a stable gas‐phase structure which is compatible with all experimental findings. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.