bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with Serum Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Levels and Its On-Treatment Changes in Patients under Lamivudine Therapy
Authors: Chen Jinjun , Wang Zhanhui , Zhou Bin , Wang Yanjun , Hou Jinlin 
Published: January 2012

Background We aimed to investigate factors associated with serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels and its kinetics under lamivudine treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods HBsAg levels were measured with the Architect HBsAg assay (Abbott laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) in genotype B (HBV/B) or C (HBV/C) patients ( n=218). Early HBsAg kinetics in 86 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)- positive patients and long-term HBsAg changes in 45 patients with rapid and sustained viral suppression were further analysed. Results Mean HBsAg levels were higher in male ( n=181) than in female ( n=37) patients (3.59 versus 3.23 log10 IU/ ml; P=0.036), and higher in 121 HBV/B than in 97 HBV/C patients (3.68 versus 3.34 log10 IU/ml; P=0.006). In addition to HBV DNA loads ( P<0.001), male gender ( P=0.012) and HBV/B infection ( P=0.035) were independently associated with higher HBsAg levels in antiviral-naive patients. HBsAg increases (0.00–0.87 log10) were found in 28/86 patients who obtained viral suppression under 12 weeks of lamivudine therapy. Higher baseline HBsAg levels ( P=0.046), HBV/B infection ( P=0.007) and faster HBV DNA declines ( P=0.006) independently contributed to greater HBsAg decreases under 12 weeks treatment. An apparent dissociation between HBsAg and HBV DNA changes were found in 14/45 patients with rapid and sustained viral suppression, who had low baseline HBsAg levels and predominant HBV/C infection. Conclusions HBV/B and male gender were associated with higher HBsAg levels in antiviral-naive patients. Higher baseline HBsAg levels and HBV/B infection contributed to greater early HBsAg declines in HBeAg-positive patients, and might correlate with discordance between HBsAg and HBeAg or HBV DNA under long-term lamivudine treatment.
Cutting Edge: A Variant of the IL-23R Gene Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Induces Loss of MicroRNA Regulation and Enhanced Protein Production
Authors: Zwiers Antonie , Kraal Laurens , van de Pouw Kraan Tineke C. T. M. , Wurdinger Thomas , Bouma Gerd , Kraal Georg 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
IL-23R gene variants have been identified as risk factors for two major inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, but how they contribute to disease is poorly understood. In this study, we show that the rs10889677 variant in the 3′-untranslated region of the IL-23R gene displays enhanced levels of both mRNA and protein production of IL-23R. This can be attributed to a loss of binding capacity for the microRNAs (miRNAs) Let-7e and Let-7f by the variant allele. Indeed, inhibition and overexpression of these miRNAs influenced the expression of the wild type but not the variant allele. Our data clearly demonstrate a role for miRNA-mediated dysregulation of IL-23R signaling, correlated with a single nucleotide polymorphism in the IL-23R strongly associated with IBD susceptibility. This implies that this mutation, in combination with other genetic risk factors, can lead to disease through sustained IL-23R signaling, contributing to the chronicity of IBD.
Trypanosoma cruzi Immune Evasion Mediated by Host Cell-Derived Microvesicles
Authors: Cestari Igor , Ansa-Addo Ephraim , Deolindo Poliana , Inal Jameel M. , Ramirez Marcel I. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
The innate immune system is the first mechanism of vertebrate defense against pathogen infection. In this study, we present evidence for a novel immune evasion mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi, mediated by host cell plasma membrane-derived vesicles. We found that T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes induced microvesicle release from blood cells early in infection. Upon their release, microvesicles formed a complex on the T. cruzi surface with the complement C3 convertase, leading to its stabilization and inhibition, and ultimately resulting in increased parasite survival. Furthermore, we found that TGF-β–bearing microvesicles released from monocytes and lymphocytes promoted rapid cell invasion by T. cruzi, which also contributed to parasites escaping the complement attack. In addition, in vivo infection with T. cruzi showed a rapid increase of microvesicle levels in mouse plasma, and infection with exogenous microvesicles resulted in increased T. cruzi parasitemia. Altogether, these data support a role for microvesicles contributing to T. cruzi evasion of innate immunity.
A Proposed Algorithm Predictive for Cytotoxic T Cell Alloreactivity
Authors: Jöris Monique M. , van Rood Jon J. , Roelen Dave L. , Oudshoorn Machteld , Claas Frans H. J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPreviously, we showed that with an increasing number of amino acid differences in single HLA class I-mismatched molecules, the probability of T cell alloreactivity decreases. It is unlikely that every amino acid difference will affect T cell alloreactivity in a similar way; we hypothesized that the effect of an amino acid difference may be dependent on its position and/or physicochemical properties. We selected 131 patient/donor pairs with either a single HLA-A or -C mismatch in the graft-versus-host direction and that were compatible for HLA-B, -DRB1, and -DQB1. The alloreactive CTL precursor (CTLp) frequency was determined and associated with the amino acid differences between the single HLA class I mismatches. In the β sheet, only amino acids that are noncompatible in their physicochemical properties affect T cell alloreactivity, whereas in the α helices, both compatible and noncompatible amino acids affect CTLp outcome. Positions 62, 63, 73, 76, 77, 80, 99, 116, 138, 144, 147, and 163 were bivariately associated with CTLp outcome, irrespective of the total number of amino acid differences. In multivariate analysis, positions 62, 63, 73, 80, 116, 138, 144, and 163 were found to be most predictive for negative CTLp outcome. These results formed the basis for a weighted predictive mismatch score; pairs with the highest mismatch scores are estimated to be 13 times more likely to have a negative CTLp. This new algorithm may be a tool in donor selection for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
CD64 Expression Distinguishes Monocyte-Derived and Conventional Dendritic Cells and Reveals Their Distinct Role during Intramuscular Immunization
Authors: Langlet Christelle , Tamoutounour Samira , Henri Sandrine , Luche Hervé , Ardouin Laurence , Grégoire Claude , Malissen Bernard , Guilliams Martin 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Although most vaccines are administered i.m., little is known about the dendritic cells (DCs) that are present within skeletal muscles. In this article, we show that expression of CD64, the high-affinity IgG receptor FcγRI, distinguishes conventional DCs from monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs). By using such a discriminatory marker, we defined the distinct DC subsets that reside in skeletal muscles and identified their migratory counterparts in draining lymph nodes (LNs). We further used this capability to analyze the functional specialization that exists among muscle DCs. After i.m. administration of Ag adsorbed to alum, we showed that alum-injected muscles contained large numbers of conventional DCs that belong to the CD8α+- and CD11b+-type DCs. Both conventional DC types were capable of capturing Ag and of migrating to draining LNs, where they efficiently activated naive T cells. In alum-injected muscles, Mo-DCs were as numerous as conventional DCs, but only a small fraction migrated to draining LNs. Therefore, alum by itself poorly induces Mo-DCs to migrate to draining LNs. We showed that addition of small amounts of LPS to alum enhanced Mo-DC migration. Considering that migratory Mo-DCs had, on a per cell basis, a higher capacity to induce IFN-γ–producing T cells than conventional DCs, the addition of LPS to alum enhanced the overall immunogenicity of Ags presented by muscle-derived DCs. Therefore, a full understanding of the role of adjuvants during i.m. vaccination needs to take into account the heterogeneous migratory and functional behavior of muscle DCs and Mo-DCs revealed in this study.
Cullin 4B Is Recruited to Tristetraprolin-Containing Messenger Ribonucleoproteins and Regulates TNF-α mRNA Polysome Loading
Authors: Pfeiffer Jason R. , Brooks Seth A. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
TNF-α is a central mediator of inflammation and critical for host response to infection and injury. TNF-α biosynthesis is controlled by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms allowing for rapid, transient production. Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an AU-rich element binding protein that regulates the stability of the TNF-α mRNA. Using a screen to identify TTP-interacting proteins, we identified Cullin 4B (Cul4B), a scaffolding component of the Cullin ring finger ligase family of ubiquitin E3 ligases. Short hairpin RNA knockdown of Cul4B results in a significant reduction in TNF-α protein and mRNA in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells as well as a reduction in TTP protein. TNF-α message t1/2 was reduced from 69 to 33 min in LPS-stimulated cells. TNF-3′ untranslated region luciferase assays utilizing wild-type and mutant TTP-AA (S52A, S178A) indicate that TTP function is enhanced in Cul4B short hairpin RNA cells. Importantly, the fold induction of TNF-α mRNA polysome loading in response to LPS stimulation is reduced by Cul4B knockdown. Cul4B is present on the polysomes and colocalizes with TTP to exosomes and processing bodies, which are sites of mRNA decay. We conclude that Cul4B licenses the TTP-containing TNF-α messenger ribonucleoprotein for loading onto polysomes, and reduction of Cul4B expression shunts the messenger ribonucleoproteins into the degradative pathway.
A Critical Woman
Authors: Oakley Ann 
Published: January 2012

Barbara Wootton was one of the extraordinary public figures of the twentieth century. She was an outstanding social scientist, an architect of the welfare state, an iconoclast who challenged conventional wisdoms and the first woman to sit on the Woolsack in the House of Lords.
Ann Oakley has written a fascinating and highly readable account of the life and work of this singular woman, but the book goes much further. It is an engaged account of the making of British social policy at a critical period seen through the lens of the life and work of a pivotal figure. Oakley tells a story about the intersections of the public and the private and about the way her subject’s life unfolded within, was shaped by, and helped to shape a particular social and intellectual context.
Unconventional Multi‐Scale Patterning of Titanium Dioxide: A New Tool for the Investigation of Cell–Topography Interactions
Authors: Biscarini Fabio , Bianchi Michele , Chelli Beatrice , Valle Francesco , Dionigi Chiara , Bystrenova Eva , Greco Pierpaolo 
Published: January 2012

AbstractTitanium dioxide (TiO2) is a biocompatible material with important applications in the field of regenerative medicine. Here we show that a multi‐scale hierarchical architecture of TiO2, realized with sub‐micrometer polystyrene beads as templating agent patterned by “micromolding in capillaries” (MIMICs), is a viable functional tool for the systematic investigation of cell behavior with respect to a complex topographic texture of the substrate. TiO2 stripes of different width and interconnected porosity whose size ranges from a few hundred to a few tens nanometer, are obtained after thermal treatment of the precursors with concurrent removal of the templating agent. The adhesion and proliferation of two human secondary neural cell lines, i.e., 1321N1 astrocytoma and SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma, on the patterns is statistically assessed with respect to the TiO2 stripe width and porosity. Our results show that cells have a strong preference for TiO2 patterns with respect to glass, the proliferation rate is not affected by cell porosity whereas adhesion is although ligthly, whereas the response of cell density to stripe width is very different in astocytoma cells with respect to neuroblastoma cells.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct and Site‐Selective Desulfitative Arylation of Indoles with Sodium Sulfinates
Authors: Wu Mingyue , Luo Jiaying , Xiao Fuhong , Zhang Shufeng , Deng Guo‐Jun , Luo He‐An 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAn efficient method was developed for the desulfitative arylation of indoles with sodium sulfinates using palladium as catalyst and copper chloride dihydrate as oxidant. The direct arylation occurred exclusively in the C‐2 position of indoles and proceeded well for a range of different substrates.
Occupational injury and work organization among immigrant Latino residential construction workers
Authors: Grzywacz Joseph G. , Quandt Sara A. , Marín Antonio , Summers Phillip , Lang Wei , Mills Thomas , Evia Carlos , Rushing Julia , Donadio Katherine , Arcury Thomas A. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackgroundRates of occupational injury among immigrant workers are widely believed to be underestimated. The goal of this study was to enhance understanding of the burden of occupational injury and the work organization factors underlying injury among immigrant Latino residential construction workers.MethodsProspective data were obtained from a community‐based sample of Latino residential construction workers (N = 107) over a 3‐month period.ResultsTwenty‐eight participants were injured, resulting in an injury incidence rate of 55.0/100 FTE (95% CI = 41.4–71.6) during the 3‐month observation period. The injury rate involving days away from work during the observation period was 3.9/100 FTE (CI = 0.2–7.2). Injuries were elevated among roofers relative to framers and general construction workers. Roofers had elevated exposure to a variety of deleterious work organization factors.ConclusionsAlthough imprecise given the small sample, our results suggest a threefold to fourfold underestimate of the injury burden to immigrant Latino construction workers. Work organization may contribute to elevated rates of non‐fatal occupational injury, particularly among roofers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:698–706, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of mixing process on linear viscoelastic and electrical properties of ABS/MWNT nanocomposites
Authors: Mousavi Leila , Nazockdast Hossein , Mohammadi Yousef , Azizi Hamed , Saleh Zahra 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe aim of this article was to study the microstructure development and the linear melt viscoelastic properties of ABS/MWNT nanocomposites. The nanocomposite samples varying in nanotube concentration (1, 2, 4, and 8 wt %) were prepared using two different methods; solution method and direct melt compounding. Results of the melt linear viscoelastic measurements performed on the nanocomposite samples prepared by both methods showed a pronounced low frequency nonterminal behavior in storage modulus along with the viscosity upturn with greater extent for the samples prepared by the solution method. The values of low frequency storage modulus for the solution processed samples were found to be increased with increasing the nanotube content up to 3 wt % above which it is increased more significantly. These results could be related to a 3D microstructure development, the extent of which was found to be enhanced in the samples prepared by the solution method due to the improving interfacial interaction and promoting the nanotube dispersion in ABS matrix. This was supported by the SEM results of the samples. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results of the melt‐mixed and solution‐processed samples showed that Tg of the SAN is increased about 20°C at the presence of nanotube. The results are related to the chain mobility restrictions caused by physical interaction between carbon nanotubes (CNT) and polymer chains. The electrical conductivity versus CNT content for the nanocomposite samples prepared by solution method showed a percolation behavior with CNT concentration above 4 wt % which attributed to the 3D network between nanotubes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
CO2 bubble nucleation in polystyrene: Experimental and modeling studies
Authors: Guo Zhihua , Burley Adam C. , Koelling Kurt W. , Kusaka Isamu , Lee L. James , Tomasko David L. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPolymer foams are used extensively in a variety of applications. A firm understanding of bubble nucleation is vital to predict foam properties based on process conditions. However, a number of theoretical and experimental challenges have thus far limited progress in this area. We propose the use of a scaling theory to connect nucleation behavior to well understood bulk phase behavior of polystyrene‐CO2 systems, which can be predicted by equations of state, such as the Sanchez–Lacombe equation of state. Scaling theory of nucleation asserts that when the reversible work of critical nucleus formation is properly normalized and plotted against the normalized degree of supersaturation, the resulting scaling curve is insensitive to temperature and the materials being used. Once the form of the scaling function is known, it can be used to predict the nucleation barrier knowing only the initial foaming conditions and calculating only bulk thermodynamic values. Using an extension of diffuse interface theory, we determined the slope of the scaling curve near saturation. This initial slope allows us to constrain the scaling function for better predictions of the reversible work. We also performed a series of experiments to help verify the accuracy of the scaling theory. The scaled free energy barriers determined from our experiments are consistent with the scaling function so constructed, and our theoretical results qualitatively agree with those found previously. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
2‐Amino‐3‐cyano‐4‐(5‐arylisoxazol‐3‐yl)‐4H‐chromenes: Synthesis and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity
Authors: Akbarzadeh Tahmineh , Rafinejad Ali , Mollaghasem Javad Malekian , Safavi Maliheh , Fallah‐Tafti Asal , Pordeli Mahboobeh , Ardestani Sussan Kabudanian , Shafiee Abbas , Foroumadi Alireza 
Published: January 2012

AbstractA new series of 4‐aryl‐4H‐chromenes bearing a 5‐arylisoxazol‐3‐yl moiety at the C‐4 position were prepared as potential anticancer agents. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds was investigated against a panel of tumor cell lines including MCF‐7 (breast cancer), KB (nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma), Hep‐G2 (liver carcinoma), MDA‐MB‐231 (breast cancer), and SKNMC (human neuroblastoma) using the MTT colorimetric assay. Doxorubicin, a well‐known anticancer drug, was used as positive standard drug. Among the synthesized compounds, the 5‐(3‐methylphenyl)isoxazol‐3‐yl analog (7j) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against all five human tumor cell lines.
Synthesis and Characterization of Boranate Ionic Liquids (BILs)
Authors: Bürchner Mara , Erle Anna M. T. , Scherer Harald , Krossing Ingo 
Published: January 2012

AbstractStraightforward access to hydridoborate‐based ionic liquids (BILs) is provided. They fall into a barely developed area of research and are of interest as, for example, reagents for organic synthesis. A series of pure [BH4]− ILs with 1‐butyl‐2,3‐dimethylimidazolium (BMMIM), 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium (EMMIM), 1‐propyl‐1‐methylpiperidinium (PropMPip), and1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium (BMP) cations were prepared. All synthesized ILs are well soluble in CH2Cl2. We developed a procedure that gives clean products with correct elemental analyses. In contrast to earlier reports, which when conducted by us yielded only mixtures of the boranate anion with major halide contamination (maximum [BH4]− content: 77.5 %). These materials can be viewed as the starting material for the (hypothetical) hydrogen‐storage redox shuttling sequence between [BH4]− and [B12H12]2−, in which the triboranate anion [B3H8]− is a formal intermediate. Here we also developed a facile route to [B3H8]− ILs with [BMMIM]+, [EMMIM]+, [PropMPip]+, and [NBu4]+, in which Na[BH4] reacts in situ (enhanced by ultrasound) with the solvent CH2Cl2 as the oxidizing agent to give the triboranate IL in high yield and purity according to the equation: 3 [BH4]−+2 CH2Cl2+[Cat]+→[B3H8]−[Cat]++H2+2 CH3Cl+2 Cl−. We further investigated this reaction path by additional NMR spectroscopic experiments, powder‐XRD analysis, and quantum chemical DFT calculations.
Supramolecular Dendrimers: Convenient Synthesis by Programmed Self‐Assembly and Tunable Thermoresponsivity
Authors: Ghosh Partha S. , Hamilton Andrew D. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWe report here the noncovalent synthesis of thermosensitive dendrimers. Short oligoguanosine strands were linked to the focal point of a dendron by using “click chemistry”, and quadruplex formation was used to drive the self‐assembly process in the presence of metal ions. The dynamic nature of these noncovalent assemblies can be exploited to create combinatorial libraries of dendrimers as demonstrated by the co‐assembly of two components. These supramolecular dendrimers showed thermoresponsive behavior that can be tuned by varying the templating cations or the number of guanines in the oligonucleotide strand.
Subspecialty Training in Preventive Cardiology: The Current Status and Discoverable Fellowship Programs
Authors: Pack Quinn R. , Keteyian Steven J. , McBride Patrick E. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground:Preventive cardiology is currently not an American Board of Medical Specialties‐recognized subspecialty. However, several programs offer nonaccredited fellowships throughout the country. No source currently exists listing all available programs, and finding programs requires time‐intensive search strategies. Our aim was to find all current preventive cardiology fellowships in the United States and describe their basic structure, duties, and faculty.Methods:We searched the Internet, contacted national organizations, and networked through any institution thought likely to have a fellowship.Results:We found 15 programs currently offering subspecialty training in preventive cardiology but with considerably different styles, structures, duties, clinical time, lengths, and hosting departments.Conclusions:We provided a list of these programs and discussed the implications for the future of formal subspecialty preventive cardiology education. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Dr. McBride is codirector of one of the fellowship programs listed, but otherwise has no relevant disclosures. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.