bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemical–physical properties of TheraCal, a novel light‐curable MTA‐like material for pulp capping
Authors: Gandolfi M. G. , Siboni F. , Prati C. 
Published: April 2012

Gandolfi MG, Siboni F, Prati C. Chemical–physical properties of TheraCal, a novel light‐curable MTA‐like material for pulp capping. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 571–579, 2012.AbstractAim  To evaluate the chemical–physical properties of TheraCal, a new light‐curable pulp‐capping material composed of resin and calcium silicate (Portland cement), compared with reference pulp‐capping materials (ProRoot MTA and Dycal).Methodology  Calcium (Ca) and hydroxyl (OH) ion release over 28 days, solubility and water uptake (weight percentage variation, Δ%) at 24 h, cure depth and radiopacity of TheraCal, ProRoot MTA and Dycal were evaluated. Statistical analysis (P < 0.05) of release of ion was carried out by two‐way repeated measures anova with Tukey, whilst one‐way anova with Tukey test was used for the other tests.Results  TheraCal released significantly more calcium than ProRoot MTA and Dycal throughout the test period. TheraCal was able to alkalinize the surrounding fluid initially to pH 10–11 (3 h–3 days) and subsequently to pH 8–8.5 (7–14 days). TheraCal had a cure depth of 1.7 mm. The solubility of TheraCal (Δ−1.58%) was low and significantly less than that of Dycal (Δ−4.58%) and ProRoot MTA (Δ−18.34%). The amount of water absorbed by TheraCal (Δ +10.42%) was significantly higher than Dycal (Δ +4.87%) and significantly lower than ProRoot MTA (Δ +13.96%).Conclusions   TheraCal displayed higher calcium‐releasing ability and lower solubility than either ProRoot MTA or Dycal. The capability of TheraCal to be cured to a depth of 1.7 mm may avoid the risk of untimely dissolution. These properties offer major advantages in direct pulp‐capping treatments.
T‐cell phenotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood and lymph nodes in pulmonary sarcoidosis – indication for an airborne antigen as the triggering factor in sarcoidosis
Authors: Darlington P. , Haugom‐Olsen H. , von Sivers K. , Wahlström J. , Runold M. , Svjatoha V. , Porwit A. , Eklund A. , Grunewald J. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract.  Darlington P, Haugom‐Olsen H, von Sivers K, Wahlström J, Runold M, Svjatoha V, Porwit A, Eklund A, Grunewald J (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden). T‐cell phenotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood and lymph nodes in pulmonary sarcoidosis – indication for an airborne antigen as the triggering factor in sarcoidosis. J Intern Med 2012; 272: 465–471.Background.  An increased percentage of CD4+ T cells is usually observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with sarcoidosis. In HLA‐DRB1*03‐positive patients, such T cells express the T‐cell receptor (TCR) AV2S3+ gene segment. It is not known whether cells found in BALF reflect those in enlarged regional lymph nodes (LNs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare T‐cell phenotypes in BALF, blood and mediastinal LNs.Methods.  Fifteen patients underwent clinical investigation including bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. Blood samples were drawn, and endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration of enlarged mediastinal LNs was performed via the oesophagus. T cells from all three compartments were analysed by flow cytometry for markers of activity, differentiation and T regulatory function.Results.  The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in BALF compared with regional LNs and was also significantly higher in LNs than in blood. The CD4+ T cells were recently activated and more differentiated in BALF than in blood and LNs. There was an accumulation of T regulatory cells (FOXP3+) in LNs and a correlation between high levels of FOXP3+ cells in BALF and in LNs. In HLA‐DRB1*03‐positive patients, TCR AV2S3+ CD4+ T cells were predominantly localized within BALF.Conclusions.  The CD4+ T‐cell phenotype in BALF indicates an active ongoing specific immune response primarily localized to the alveolar space.
The Bacillus subtilis cannibalism toxin SDP collapses the proton motive force and induces autolysis
Authors: Lamsa Anne , Liu Wei‐Ting , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Pogliano Kit 
Published: April 2012

SummaryBacillus subtilis SDP is a peptide toxin that kills cells outside the biofilm to support continued growth. We show that purified SDP acts like endogenously produced SDP; it delays sporulation, and the SdpI immunity protein confers SDP resistance. SDP kills a variety of Gram‐positive bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes, as well as Escherichia coli with a compromised outer membrane, suggesting it participates in defence of the B. subtilis biofilm against Gram‐positive bacteria as well as cannibalism. Fluorescence microscopy reveals that the effect of SDP on cells differs from that of nisin, nigericin, valinomycin and vancomycin‐KCl, but resembles that of CCCP, DNP and azide. Indeed, SDP rapidly collapses the PMF as measured by fluorometry and flow cytometry, which triggers the slower process of autolysis. This secondary consequence of SDP treatment is not required for cell death since the autolysin‐defective lytC, lytD, lytE, lytF strain fails to be lysed but is nevertheless killed by SDP. Collapsing the PMF is an ideal mechanism for a toxin involved in cannibalism and biofilm defence, since this would incapacitate neighbouring cells by inhibiting motility and secretion of proteins and toxins. It would also induce autolysis in many Gram‐positive species, thereby releasing nutrients that promote biofilm growth.
Role of a Candida albicans Nrm1/Whi5 homologue in cell cycle gene expression and DNA replication stress response
Authors: Ofir Ayala , Hofmann Kay , Weindling Esther , Gildor Tsvia , Barker Katherine S. , Rogers P. David , Kornitzer Daniel 
Published: April 2012

SummaryTo explore cell cycle regulation in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans, we identified and characterized CaNrm1, a C. albicans homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Whi5 and Nrm1 transcription inhibitors that, analogous to mammalian Rb, regulate the cell cycle transcription programme during the G1 phase. CaNRM1 is able to complement the phenotypes of both whi5 and nrm1 mutants in S. cerevisiae. In C. albicans, global transcription analysis of the CaNRM1 deletion mutant reveals a preferential induction of G1‐ and G1/S‐specific genes. CaNrm1 interacts genetically with the C. albicans MBF functional homologue, and physically with its subunit CaSwi4. Similar to S. cerevisiae Whi5, CaNrm1 subcellular localization oscillates with the cell cycle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Deletion of CaNRM1 further results in increased resistance to hydroxyurea, an inhibitor of DNA replication; analysis of the expression of ribonucleotide reductase, the target of hydroxyurea, suggests that its transcriptional induction in response to hydroxyurea is regulated via CaNrm1, and biochemical analysis shows that hydroxyurea causes disruption of the interaction of CaNrm1 with CaSwi4. Furthermore, induction of the hyphal‐specific genes is dampened under certain conditions in the Canrm1−/− mutant, suggesting that the cell cycle transcription programme can influence the morphogenetic transcription programme of C. albicans.
Manganese is required for oxidative metabolism in unstressed Bradyrhizobium japonicum cells
Authors: Hohle Thomas H. , O'Brian Mark R. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryRecent studies of Mn2+ transport mutants indicate that manganese is essential for unstressed growth in some bacterial species, but is required primarily for induced stress responses in others. A Bradyrhizobium japonicum mutant defective in the high‐affinity Mn2+ transporter gene mntH has a severe growth phenotype under manganese limitation, suggesting a requirement for the metal under unstressed growth. Here, we found that activities of superoxide dismutase and the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase were deficient in an mntH strain grown under manganese limitation. We identified pykM as the only pyruvate kinase‐encoding gene based on deficiency in activity of a pykM mutant, rescue of the growth phenotype with pyruvate, and pyruvate kinase activity of purified recombinant PykM. PykM is unusual in that it required Mn2+ rather than Mg2+ for high activity, and that neither fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate nor AMP was a positive allosteric effector. The mntH‐dependent superoxide dismutase is encoded by sodM, the only expressed superoxide dismutase‐encoding gene under unstressed growth conditions. An mntH mutant grew more slowly on pyruvate under manganese‐limited conditions than did a pykM sodM double mutant, implying additional manganese‐dependent processes. The findings implicate roles for manganese in key steps in unstressed oxidative metabolism in B. japonicum.
IgG Subclasses Against Helicobacter pylori Isolates: An important Tool for Disease Characterization
Authors: Martínez‐Becerra F. , Castillo‐Rojas G. , de León S. Ponce , López‐Vidal* Y. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractHelicobacter pylori infects around 50% of the world’s population and is associated with diverse pathologies. In the most severe cases, the bacterium causes peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. The interplay between H. pylori and the host’s immune response may help to determine the specific outcome of the infection. To study the relationship between antibody subclasses and variation in immune recognition, we determined the immunoglobulin G1 and 2 (IgG1 and IgG2) titres of sera obtained from patients with different H. pylori‐associated pathologies. IgG1 and IgG2 titres were determined by ELISA in 44 sera of patients with different H. pylori‐associated diseases (peptic ulcer, bleeding peptic ulcers, gastric cancer and dyspepsia). Soluble proteins from lysates were obtained from 12 different clinical isolates from similar associated diseases. We found that soluble proteins from lysates of H. pylori strains (SPLHP) recognition patterns in these sera were highly variable. Overall, IgG2 titres were higher than the IgG1 titres in the infected patients. In particular, those with peptic ulcers showed marked elevation in IgG2/IgG1 ratios, while SPLHPs from dyspeptic patients resulted in high IgG1 titres. Our results reveal that correlation of antibody subclass titres with Th1/Th2 markers may aid pathology characterization and show a potential diagnosis that could be formally evaluated in other studies.
Langerhans Cells and T Cells Sense Cell Dysplasia in Oral Leukoplakias and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas – Evidence for Immunosurveillance
Authors: Öhman J. , Magnusson B. , Telemo E. , Jontell M. , Hasséus B. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractLeukoplakias (LPLs) are lesions in the oral mucosa that may develop into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The objective of this study was to assess presence and distribution of dendritic Langerhans cells (LCs) and T cells in patients with LPLs with or without cell dysplasia and in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Biopsy specimens from patients with leukoplakias (LPLs) with or without dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were immunostained with antibodies against CD1a, Langerin, CD3, CD4, CD8 and Ki67, followed by quantitative analysis. Analyses of epithelium and connective tissue revealed a significantly higher number of CD1a + LCs in LPLs with dysplasia compared with LPLs without dysplasia. Presence of Langerin + LCs in epithelium did not differ significantly between LPLs either with or without dysplasia and OSCC. T cells were found in significantly increased numbers in LPLs with dysplasia and OSCC. The number of CD4+ cells did not differ significantly between LPLs with and without dysplasia, but a significant increase was detected when comparing LPLs with dysplasia with OSCC. CD8+ cells were significantly more abundant in OSCC and LPLs with dysplasia compared with LPLs without dysplasia. Proliferating cells (Ki67+) were significantly more abundant in OSCC compared to LPLs with dysplasia. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed colocalization of LCs and T cells in LPLs with dysplasia and in OSCC. LCs and T cells are more numerous in tissue compartments with dysplastic epithelial cells and dramatically increase in OSCC. This indicates an ongoing immune response against cells with dysplasia.
Lithofacies and cyclicity of Mohilla evaporite basins on the rifted margin of the Levant in the Late Triassic, Makhtesh Ramon, southern Israel
Authors: BIALIK OR M. , KORNGREEN DORIT , BENJAMINI CHAIM 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMarine‐connected basins with evaporites occur beneath most extensional continental margins that originated at low‐latitudes and often are of major economic significance. Cyclicity in the evaporite lithofacies reflects the degree of restriction of the basin, overprinted by sea‐level changes, and caused by structural movements in the barrier region, whether by fault‐block rotation, footwall uplift or hanging wall subsidence, in both extensional and compressional basins. The Upper Triassic evaporites of the Ramon section in southern Israel model cyclic sedimentation in such environments. The Mohilla Formation is a carbonate–evaporate–siliciclastic succession of Carnian age that fills a chain of basins extending along the Levant margin from southern Israel to Jordan and Syria. The basins developed in half‐grabens adjacent to normal faults that formed during a period of regional extension. Evaporites of this formation are well‐exposed in outcrops at Makhtesh Ramon, the southernmost of these basins. The M2 Member of the Mohilla Formation is composed of 42 sub‐metre cycles of alternating dolostone, gypsum and calcareous shales. Field and microfacies analysis showed these cycles to conform mostly to restricted shallow and marginal marine environments, spatially limited by the uplifted shoulders of the half‐graben systems. A total of 10 facies types belonging to six depositional environments have been identified. From stacking patterns and analysis of bed to bed change, cycles can be categorized into three groupings: (i) low frequency exposure to exposure cycles that developed under eustatic or climate control; (ii) high frequency deepening/shallowing‐upward cycles, characterized by gradual transitions due to short‐term sea‐level or runoff‐event oscillations possibly referable to orbital forcing; and (iii) high frequency shallowing‐upward cycles, characterized by abrupt transitions, attributable to sporadic tectonic events affecting accommodation space or barrier effectiveness. The way facies and cycling of the sedimentary environments was deciphered in the Mohilla evaporite basin can be used to unravel the genesis of many other evaporite basins with barriers of tectonic origin.
Structural homology in the Solanaceae: analysis of genomic regions in support of synteny studies in tomato, potato and pepper
Authors: Peters Sander A. , Bargsten Joachim W. , Szinay Dóra , van de Belt José , Visser Richard G.F. , Bai Yuling , de Jong Hans 
Published: April 2012

SummaryWe have analysed the structural homology in euchromatin regions of tomato, potato and pepper with special attention for the long arm of chromosome 2 (2L). Molecular organization and colinear junctions were delineated using multi‐color BAC FISH analysis and comparative sequence alignment. We found large‐scale rearrangements including inversions and segmental translocations that were not reported in previous comparative studies. Some of the structural rearrangements are specific for the tomato clade, and differentiate tomato from potato, pepper and other Solanaceous species. Although local gene vicinity is largely preserved, there are many small‐scale synteny perturbations. Gene adjacency in the aligned segments was frequently disrupted for 47% of the ortholog pairs as a result of gene and LTR retrotransposon insertions, and occasionally by single gene inversions and translocations. Our data also suggests that long distance intra‐chromosomal rearrangements and local gene rearrangements have evolved frequently during speciation in the Solanum genus, and that small changes are more prevalent than large‐scale differences. The occurrence of sonata and harbinger transposable elements and other repeats near or at junction breaks is considered in the light of repeat‐mediated rearrangements and a reconstruction scenario for an ancestral 2L topology is discussed.
The mitochondrial genome of Malus domestica and the import‐driven hypothesis of mitochondrial genome expansion in seed plants
Authors: Goremykin Vadim V. , Lockhart Peter J. , Viola Roberto , Velasco Riccardo 
Published: April 2012

SummaryMitochondrial genomes of spermatophytes are the largest of all organellar genomes. Their large size has been attributed to various factors; however, the relative contribution of these factors to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) expansion remains undetermined. We estimated their relative contribution in Malus domestica (apple). The mitochondrial genome of apple has a size of 396 947 bp and a one to nine ratio of coding to non‐coding DNA, close to the corresponding average values for angiosperms. We determined that 71.5% of the apple mtDNA sequence was highly similar to sequences of its nuclear DNA. Using nuclear gene exons, nuclear transposable elements and chloroplast DNA as markers of promiscuous DNA content in mtDNA, we estimated that approximately 20% of the apple mtDNA consisted of DNA sequences imported from other cell compartments, mostly from the nucleus. Similar marker‐based estimates of promiscuous DNA content in the mitochondrial genomes of other species ranged between 21.2 and 25.3% of the total mtDNA length for grape, between 23.1 and 38.6% for rice, and between 47.1 and 78.4% for maize. All these estimates are conservative, because they underestimate the import of non‐functional DNA. We propose that the import of promiscuous DNA is a core mechanism for mtDNA size expansion in seed plants. In apple, maize and grape this mechanism contributed far more to genome expansion than did homologous recombination. In rice the estimated contribution of both mechanisms was found to be similar.
Antigen persistence of rapid diagnostic tests in pregnant women in Nanoro, Burkina Faso, and the implications for the diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy
Authors: Kattenberg Johanna H. , Tahita Christian M. , Versteeg Inge A. J. , Tinto Halidou , Traoré‐Coulibaly Maminata , Schallig Henk D. F. H. , Mens Petra F. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectives  To evaluate persistence of several Plasmodium antigens in pregnant women after treatment and compare diagnostics during treatment follow‐up.Methods  Thirty‐two pregnant women (N = 32) with confirmed malaria infection by a histidine‐rich protein 2 (HRP2)‐based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and microscopy were followed for 28 days after artemisinin‐based combination therapy (ACT). A Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH)‐based RDT and two ELISAs based on the detection of dihydrofolate reductase–thymidylate synthase (DHFR‐TS) and haeme detoxification protein (HDP) were compared with each other and to RT‐PCR at each visit.Results  The mean visit number (95% confidence interval) on which the HRP2‐based RDT was still positive after treatment was 3.4 (2.7–4.1) visits with some patients still positive at day 28. This is significantly later than the pLDH‐based RDT [0.84 (0.55–1.1)], microscopy (median 1, range 1–3), DHFR‐TS‐ELISA [1.7 (1.1–2.3)] and RT‐PCR (median 2, range 1–5) (P < 0.05), but not significantly later than HDP‐ELISA [2.1 (1.6–2.7)]. Lower gravidity and higher parasite density at day 0 resulted in significantly longer positive results with most tests (P < 0.05).Conclusions  HRP2 can persist up to 28 days after ACT treatment; therefore, this test is not suitable for treatment follow‐up in pregnant women and can generate problems when using this test during intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp). DHFR‐TS is less persistent than HRP2, making it a potentially interesting target for diagnosis.
Expression profiles of regulatory and helper T‐cell‐associated genes in nasal polyposis
Authors: Li C. W. , Zhang K. K. , Li T. Y. , Lin Z. B. , Li Y. Y. , Curotto de Lafaille M. A. , Shi L. , Wang D. Y. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundNasal polyposis (NP) is a Th2‐skewed inflammatory disorder, but it is unclear what role regulatory T cells (T‐reg) play in disease pathology. We investigated the expression profiles of T‐reg and T‐helper‐cell‐associated genes and their response to glucocorticosteroid (GC) treatment in Chinese patients with NP.MethodsBiopsies were obtained from 29 non‐treated NP patients for comparison with inferior turbinates collected from healthy controls. In 13 patients, NP samples were collected both before and after short‐term oral GC treatment. Levels of mRNA for T‐cell markers were determined by microarray and quantitative PCR. Cellular infiltrates were assessed by histo‐ and immunohistochemistry.ResultsFOXP3+ T‐reg were increased in GC‐naïve NP, and numbers were negatively correlated with eosinophil infiltration. Helios staining was not detected, suggesting that FOXP3+ cells in NP are not thymus‐derived T‐reg. Compared with controls, mRNA levels corresponding to T‐reg genes were significantly increased in NP (FOXP3, TGFB1, IL10, SMAD3, IL2RA, and JAK3), but transcription factors associated with Th2 (GATA3) or Th17 responses (RORc) were significantly reduced. FOXP3 mRNA levels positively correlated with other T‐reg cell markers. Microarray analysis showed that most Th2‐related markers (e.g., Eotaxin‐1, CCL13, and CCL18) were upregulated in GC‐naïve NP vs controls. GC therapy significantly suppressed eosinophilic inflammation in NP, but did not significantly alter the expression levels of T‐reg/Th2‐associated genes.ConclusionsUpregulation of FOXP3+‐inducible T‐reg cells and downregulation of Th2 and Th17 markers in NP indicate a regulatory response occurring at a site of persistent mucosal inflammation. However, immune regulation fails to control the underlying tissue pathology. Expression of T‐reg/Th2 markers after GC treatment was unaltered, suggesting that T‐cell‐driving NP inflammatory mediators are GC resistant.
Interaction of a 17q12 variant with both fetal and infant smoke exposure in the development of childhood asthma‐like symptoms
Authors: van der Valk R. J. P. , Duijts L. , Kerkhof M. , Willemsen S. P. , Hofman A. , Moll H. A. , Smit H. A. , Brunekreef B. , Postma D. S. , Jaddoe V. W. V. , Koppelman G. H. , de Jongste J. C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundGene variants on chromosome 17q12‐21 are associated with an increased risk of childhood‐onset asthma, a risk known to be modified by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).ObjectivesTo assess whether the association of rs2305480 on chromosome 17q12 in the GSDML gene with asthma‐like symptoms in the first 4 years of life is modified by smoke exposure during fetal and early postnatal life.MethodsWe used data from two independent prospective cohort studies from fetal life onwards in the Netherlands. We genotyped rs2305480 and assessed maternal smoking during pregnancy and ETS exposure at the age of 2. Asthma‐like symptoms, defined as any reported wheezing, shortness of breath or dry nocturnal cough, were reported by parents when the children were 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Analyses were based on a total group of 4461 Caucasian children.ResultsThe G risk‐allele of rs2305480 was associated with asthma‐like symptoms [overall odds ratio 1.17 (1.11, 1.24), 2.66E‐9]. The effect of rs2305480 on asthma‐like symptoms was stronger among children who were exposed to smoke during fetal life (P‐interaction = 0.04). Smoke exposure in early postnatal life was also associated with an increased effect of the 17q12 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on asthma‐like symptoms (P‐interaction = 5.06E‐4). These associations were consistent in both cohorts.ConclusionA 17q12 variant, rs2305480, was associated with asthma‐like symptoms in preschool children, and this association was modified by smoke exposure already during fetal life, and in infancy. Further investigation regarding SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with rs2305480 in relation to pathophysiological pathways is needed.