bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Could a loss of memory T cells limit responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in blood leucocytes from patients chronically infected with HCV before and during pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy?
Authors: Lee S , Hammond T , Watson M W , Flexman J P , Cheng W , Fernandez S , Price P 
Published: May 2010

SummaryThe proportions and activation status of T cells may influence responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treatment outcome in patients receiving pegylated interferon (IFN)-α/ribavirin therapy. We confirmed that IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) responses to HCV are poor in HCV patients and showed that responses to HCV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens decrease during therapy. This was most apparent in patients with sustained virological response (SVR). Baseline frequencies of CD4+ effector memory (TEM) T cells were lower in SVR than non-SVR. Proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ TEM and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cells declined on therapy in SVR, as did proportions of Fas+ CD8+ TEMRA T cells. Baseline frequencies of programmed death (PD)-1-expressing CD4+ TEM and TEMRA T-cells were higher in SVR. Therapy increased percentages of PD-1+ CD4+ central memory (TCM) T cells and PD-1+ CD8+ TEM and TEMRA T cells in SVR. We conclude that successful therapy depletes circulating antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses. This paralleled decreases in proportions of effector memory T cells and higher percentages of CD4+ TCM T cells expressing PD-1.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of B cell clonality in Sjögren's syndrome patients: a diagnostic tool of clonal expansion
Authors: Guzmán L M , Castillo D , Aguilera S O 
Published: May 2010

Summary
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by clonal B cell attack of the exocrine glands and dysregulated expression of B cell-activating factor (BAFF). Based upon the current data of increased rates of lymphoid malignancy, as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is associated with SS, we propose the detection of clonal rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene in those patients as a predictor of malignant clonal expansion. To test our proposal, we examined the IgH clonal rearrangements in SS patients (60) and healthy control subjects (42) having chronic non-specific sialadenitis, to determine the presence of clonal B cells in minor labial salivary glands (MSG) of SS patients. Clonal B cell expansion was assessed by two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays: (i) semi-nested PCR, against sequences encoding framework regions FR3, FR2 and FR1c of the variable chain IgH gene in B cells present in the MSG infiltrate; and (ii) the PCR–enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, against the major and minor breakpoint regions of the Bcl-2 oncogene coupled with a variable segment of the IgH to assess the Bcl-2/JH translocation. When FR3, FR2 and FR1c primers were employed, we detected B cell monoclonality in 87% of the SS patients and 19% of the control subjects. The association between inflammation severity of the MSG pattern and the presence of B cell clonality was found to be statistically significant (P &lt; 0·01). We concluded that the presence of B cell clonality in MSG can be used as a index of an altered microenvironment favouring the development of lymphoma in SS patients.
Changes in the levels of some acute-phase proteins in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infected patients, following interleukin-2 treatment
Authors: Barbai V H , Ujhelyi E , Szlávik J , Vietorisz I , Varga L , Fey E , Füst G , Bánhegyi D 
Published: May 2010

Summary
Intermittent interleukin (IL)-2 administration to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected patients is well documented and generally used, but there is limited information about the changes of acute-phase protein (APP) levels in response to this treatment. Fifteen patients undergoing highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) treatment, with undetectable viral load, but low CD4+ cell count (&lt;300/µl), have been treated with 3·6 M IU Proleukine® administered twice daily by subcutaneous injection over 5 days. C-reactive protein (CRP), d-dimer, C3, C9, C1-inh and alpha-2HS glycoprotein levels were measured immediately before IL-2 administration, as well as on day 5 and 2–3 weeks thereafter. After IL-2 administration, both mean d-dimer and CRP levels increased significantly (P &lt; 0·001), but returned (P &lt; 0·001) to baseline within the subsequent 2–3 weeks. Alpha-2HS glycoprotein decreased immediately after IL-2 administration. No significant differences were detected in the levels of C3, C9 and C1-inh. A significant, positive correlation (r = 0·5178, P = 0·0008) was ascertained between the changes of CRP level, measured immediately before as well as 5 days after IL-2 administration, and changes in CD4 T cell counts measured 2–3 weeks before and after treatment, respectively. IL-2 administration induces rapid elevation of two major APPs (CRP, d-dimer). The positive correlation observed between the changes of CRP levels and CD4+ cell counts after IL-2 administration may indicate that the abrupt, but transitory overproduction of CRP might contribute to the CD4+ cell count-increasing effect of the drug and/ or may be associated with serious side effects.
Survival in rectal cancer is predicted by T cell infiltration of tumour-associated lymphoid nodules
Authors: McMullen T P W , Lai R , Dabbagh L , Wallace T M , De Gara C J 
Published: May 2010

SummaryLymphoid nodules are a normal component of the mucosa of the rectum, but little is known about their function and whether they contribute to the host immune response in malignancy. In rectal cancer specimens from patients with local (n = 18), regional (n = 12) and distant (n = 10) disease, we quantified T cell (CD3, CD25) and dendritic cell (CD1a, CD83) levels at the tumour margin as well as within tumour-associated lymphoid nodules. In normal tissue CD3+, but not CD25+, T cells are concentrated at high levels within lymphoid nodules, with significantly fewer cells found in surrounding normal mucosa (P = 0·001). Mature (CD83), but not immature (CD1a), dendritic cells in normal tissue are also found clustered almost exclusively within lymphoid nodules (P = &lt; 0·0001). In rectal tumours, both CD3+ T cells (P = 0·004) and CD83+ dendritic cells (P = 0·0001) are also localized preferentially within tumour-associated lymphoid nodules. However, when comparing tumour specimens to normal rectal tissue, the average density of CD3+ T cells (P = 0·0005) and CD83+ dendritic cells (P = 0·0006) in tumour-associated lymphoid nodules was significantly less than that seen in lymphoid nodules in normal mucosa. Interestingly, regardless of where quantified, T cell and dendritic cell levels did not depend upon the stage of disease. Increased CD3+ T cell infiltration of tumour-associated lymphoid nodules predicted improved survival, independent of stage (P = 0·05). Other T cell (CD25) markers and different levels of CD1a+ or CD83+ dendritic cells did not predict survival. Tumour-associated lymphoid nodules, enriched in dendritic cells and T cells, may be an important site for antigen presentation and increased T cell infiltration may be a marker for improved survival.
T cell responses induced by allergen-specific immunotherapy
Authors: Maggi E 
Published: May 2010

SummaryAllergen-specific immunotherapy is recognized as a highly effective practice in the treatment of patients with severe allergic rhinitis and/or asthma and is recommended by World Health Organization as an integrated part of allergy management strategy. Several studies have shown that allergen-specific immunotherapy, based on the administration of increasing doses of allergen, achieves a hyposensitization and reduces both early and late responses occurring during the natural exposure to the allergen itself. This is the unique antigen-specific immunomodulatory treatment in current use for human diseases. Successful immunotherapy is associated with reductions in symptoms and medication scores and improved quality of life. After interruption it usually confers long-term remission of symptoms and prevents the onset of new sensitizations in children up to a number of years. Subcutaneous immunotherapy usually suppresses the allergen-induced late response in target organs, likely due to the reduction of the infiltration of T cells, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells and neutrophils. In addition to the reduction of cells of allergic inflammation, immunotherapy also decreases inflammatory mediators at the site of allergen exposure. This review provides an update on the immunological T cell responses induced by conventional subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy, and gives a unifying view to reconciling the old dualism between immunoredirecting and immunoregulating mechanisms.
Gut hormones: emerging role in immune activation and inflammation
Authors: Khan W I , Ghia J E 
Published: May 2010

SummaryGut inflammation is characterized by mucosal recruitment of activated cells from both the innate and adaptive immune systems. In addition to immune cells, inflammation in the gut is associated with an alteration in enteric endocrine cells and various biologically active compounds produced by these cells. Although the change in enteric endocrine cells or their products is considered to be important in regulating gut physiology (motility and secretion), it is not clear whether the change plays any role in immune activation and in the regulation of gut inflammation. Due to the strategic location of enteric endocrine cells in gut mucosa, these gut hormones may play an important role in immune activation and promotion of inflammation in the gut. This review addresses the research on the interface between immune and endocrine systems in gastrointestinal (GI) pathophysiology, specifically in the context of two major products of enteric endocrine systems, namely serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine: 5-HT) and chromogranins (Cgs), in relation to immune activation and generation of inflammation. The studies reviewed in this paper demonstrate that 5-HT activates the immune cells to produce proinflammatory mediators and by manipulating the 5-HT system it is possible to modulate gut inflammation. In the case of Cgs the scenario is more complex, as this hormone has been shown to play both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions. It is also possible that interaction between 5-HT and Cgs may play a role in the modulation of immune and inflammatory responses. In addition to enhancing our understanding of immunoendocrine interaction in the gut, the data generated from the these studies may have implications in understanding the role of gut hormone in the pathogenesis of both GI and non-GI inflammatory diseases which may lead ultimately to improved therapeutic strategies in inflammatory disorders.
T cell response to viral antigens in adults and children with common variable immunodeficiency and specific antibody deficiency
Authors: Haveman L M , Scherrenburg J , Maarschalk-Ellerbroek L J , Hoek P D , Schuurman R , De Jager W , Ellerbroek P M , Prakken B J , Van Baarle D , Van Montfrans J M 
Published: May 2010

SummarySeveral T cell abnormalities have been described in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a B cell disorder of mainly unknown origin. A subset of CVID patients suffers from frequent reactivations of herpes viruses. We studied T cell function in CVID [and in a subset of paediatric patients with specific antibody deficiency (SAD)] by measuring T cell proliferation and cytokine production in response to herpes virus-antigens in paediatric CVID patients (n = 9) and paediatric SAD patients (n = 5), in adult CVID patients (n = 14) and in healthy controls. Paediatric CVID patients, but not SAD patients, displayed moderately increased CD8+ T cell proliferation in response to cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus type 6B (HHV6-B) and herpes simplex virus compared to controls. CD8+ T cell responses in adult CVID patients tended to be increased in response to cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. In response to stimulation with herpes virus antigens, the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon inducible protein (IP)-10 were produced. Overall, no major differences were detected in cytokine production upon stimulation between patients and controls, although higher IL-10 and IL-12 production was detected in paediatric patients. In conclusion, cellular immunity against herpes virus antigens appears undisturbed in CVID patients, although defects in subpopulations of CVID patients cannot be excluded.
Human skin and oral mucosal dendritic cells as ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ in allergic immune responses
Authors: Novak N , Gros E , Bieber T , Allam J-P 
Published: May 2010

SummaryRecent progress achieved by an impressive number of studies focusing upon the ontogenesis and immunobiology of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and other cutaneous dendritic cell (DC) populations as well as DCs at oral mucosal tissue has profoundly revised our understanding of the role of DCs in different tissues and microenvironments. By sensing their environment for microbial signals or allergens and bridging innate and adaptive immunity in a sophisticated manner, subtypes of DCs play a critical role in the maintenance of the immunological homeostasis in the periphery. Thereby, DCs, located directly at the interface to the environment, fulfil opposing tasks as they are key players in both the control and the generation of allergic inflammation. Furthermore, it is under ongoing debate whether DCs attenuate or aggravate allergic inflammation. As a consequence, accumulated knowledge gained in this field within the last few years has provided an excellent basis for innovative therapeutic opportunities which tend to target specifically the multi-faceted properties of DCs at distinct anatomical sites.
2D acoustic‐elastic coupled waveform inversion in the Laplace domain
Authors: Bae Ho Seuk , Shin Changsoo , Cha Young Ho , Choi Yunseok , Min Dong‐Joo 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTAlthough waveform inversion has been intensively studied in an effort to properly delineate the Earth's structures since the early 1980s, most of the time‐ and frequency‐domain waveform inversion algorithms still have critical limitations in their applications to field data. This may be attributed to the highly non‐linear objective function and the unreliable low‐frequency components. To overcome the weaknesses of conventional waveform inversion algorithms, the acoustic Laplace‐domain waveform inversion has been proposed. The Laplace‐domain waveform inversion has been known to provide a long‐wavelength velocity model even for field data, which may be because it employs the zero‐frequency component of the damped wavefield and a well‐behaved logarithmic objective function. However, its applications have been confined to 2D acoustic media.We extend the Laplace‐domain waveform inversion algorithm to a 2D acoustic‐elastic coupled medium, which is encountered in marine exploration environments. In 2D acoustic‐elastic coupled media, the Laplace‐domain pressures behave differently from those of 2D acoustic media, although the overall features are similar to each other. The main differences are that the pressure wavefields for acoustic‐elastic coupled media show negative values even for simple geological structures unlike in acoustic media, when the Laplace damping constant is small and the water depth is shallow. The negative values may result from more complicated wave propagation in elastic media and at fluid‐solid interfaces.Our Laplace‐domain waveform inversion algorithm is also based on the finite‐element method and logarithmic wavefields. To compute gradient direction, we apply the back‐propagation technique. Under the assumption that density is fixed, P‐ and S‐wave velocity models are inverted from the pressure data. We applied our inversion algorithm to the SEG/EAGE salt model and the numerical results showed that the Laplace‐domain waveform inversion successfully recovers the long‐wavelength structures of the P‐ and S‐wave velocity models from the noise‐free data. The models inverted by the Laplace‐domain waveform inversion were able to be successfully used as initial models in the subsequent frequency‐domain waveform inversion, which is performed to describe the short‐wavelength structures of the true models.
Application of the virtual refraction to near‐surface characterization at the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site‡
Authors: Nichols Josh , Mikesell Dylan , Van Wijk Kasper 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTSeismic interferometry is a relatively new technique to estimate the Green's function between receivers. Spurious energy, not part of the true Green's function, is produced because assumptions are commonly violated when applying seismic interferometry to field data. Instead of attempting to suppress all spurious energy, we show how spurious energy associated with refractions contains information about the subsurface in field data collected at the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site. By forming a virtual shot record we suppress uncorrelated noise and produce a virtual refraction that intercepts zero offset at zero time. These two features make the virtual refraction easy to pick, providing an estimate of refractor velocity. To obtain the physical parameters of the layer above the refractor we analyse the cross‐correlation of wavefields recorded at two receivers for all sources. A stationary‐phase point associated with the correlation between the reflected wave and refracted wave from the interface identifies the critical offset. By combining information from the virtual shot record, the correlation gather and the real shot record we determine the seismic velocities of the unsaturated and saturated sands, as well as the variable relative depth to the water‐table. Finally, we discuss how this method can be extended to more complex geologic models.
A strategy for automated analysis of passive microseismic data to image seismic anisotropy and fracture characteristics
Authors: Wuestefeld Andreas , Al‐Harrasi Othman , Verdon James P. , Wookey James , Kendall J. Michael 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTMonitoring of induced seismicity is gaining importance in a broad range of industrial operations from hydrocarbon reservoirs to mining to geothermal fields. Such passive seismic monitoring mainly aims at identifying fractures, which is of special interest for safety and productivity reasons. By analysing shear‐wave splitting it is possible to determine the anisotropy of the rock, which may be caused by sedimentary layering and/or aligned fractures, which in turn offers insight into the state of stress in the reservoir. We present a workflow strategy for automatic and effective processing of passive microseismic data sets, which are ever increasing in size. The automation provides an objective quality control of the shear‐wave splitting measurements and is based on characteristic differences between the two independent eigenvalue and cross‐correlation splitting techniques. These differences are summarized in a quality index for each measurement, allowing identification of an appropriate quality threshold. Measurements above this threshold are considered to be of good quality and are used in further interpretation. We suggest an automated inversion scheme using rock physics theory to test for best correlation of the data with various combinations of fracture density, its strike and the background anisotropy. This fully automatic workflow is then tested on a synthetic and a real microseismic data set.
Effect of wilting, silage additive, PEG treatment and tannin content on the distribution of N between different fractions after ensiling of three different sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) varieties
Authors: Lorenz M. M. , Eriksson T. , Udén P. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a tanniniferous, leguminous plant that has potentially beneficial effects on protein utilization in ruminants. As ensiling causes protein breakdown and elevated levels of buffer soluble N (BSN), we studied the distribution of N before and after ensiling sainfoin. Three varieties of sainfoin were either direct‐cut and frozen directly or wilted and frozen before later ensiling in mini‐silos with and without acidification with Promyr (PM; an acidifying commercial mixture of propionic and formic acid) and with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG). Extractable tannins (ET) and protein‐bound tannins (PBT) were measured with an HCl/butanol method in an attempt to correlate tannin levels to N fractions. The sainfoin silages showed good ensiling characteristics and had relatively high concentrations of undegraded protein. The effect of wilting on BSN levels (g/kg N) was dependent on sainfoin variety (P < 0·001). PEG increased and PM decreased the level of BSN in the silages (P < 0·001). PM treatment also produced less non‐protein N and ammonia‐N (P < 0·05) as compared with no additive. Addition of PEG to the silage increased the BSN‐proportion 1·8‐ and 2·6‐fold for both DM stages. A strong tannin‐protein binding effect is, therefore, confirmed in sainfoin. However, correlations between tannin levels (ET and PBT) and BSN were poor in the (non‐PEG) silages, indicating either that the HCl/butanol method is unsuitable for measuring tannin in silages or that qualitative attributes of tannins are more relevant than quantitative. The HCl/butanol method seems therefore not to be useful to predict degradation of protein in sainfoin silages.
Re‐evaluation of the liming‐fertilization interaction in grasslands on poor and acid soils
Authors: Poozesh V. , Castillon P. , Cruz P. , Bertoni G. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe effect of surface liming on herbage production in permanent grasslands is rather uncertain. To better understand the effect of liming on the grassland, a study was made with a field experiment and a pot experiment with soil from the same field. In the field, the effects of liming and NPK fertilization on the production and composition of the vegetation were studied. In pots, the effects of liming and phosphate fertilization on different grass species were analysed. The effect of NPK fertilization (+3·96 t ha−1) on the production of the original grassland was greater than that of liming (+0·68 t ha−1), which was only observed (P < 0·05) on the unfertilized plots. Liming increased the total number of species and the proportion of dicotyledons. After replacing the semi‐natural community with Dactylis glomerata L., the effects of liming (+2·37 t ha−1) and fertilization (+6·52 t ha−1) were increased. These results, together with those of the pot trial, show the important role of phosphorus in the fertilization effect, and are interpreted as a protective effect of P against aluminium toxicity.