bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic study of the hepcidin gene (HAMP) promoter and functional analysis of the c.-582A > G variant
Authors: Parajes Silvia , González-Quintela Arturo , Campos Joaquín , Quinteiro Celsa , Domínguez Fernando , Loidi Lourdes 
Published: December 2010

Abstract

Background
Hepcidin acts as the main regulator of iron homeostasis through regulation of intestinal absorption and macrophage release. Hepcidin deficiency causes iron overload whereas its overproduction is associated with anaemia of chronic diseases. The aims of the study were: to identify genetic variants in the hepcidin gene (HAMP) promoter, to asses the associations between the variants found and iron status parameters, and to functionally study the role on HAMP expression of the most frequent variant.

Results
The sequencing of HAMP promoter from 103 healthy individuals revealed two genetic variants: The c.-153C > T with a frequency of 0.014 for allele T, which is known to reduce hepcidin expression and the c.-582A > G with a 0.218 frequency for allele G. In an additional group of 224 individuals, the c.-582A > G variant genotype showed no association with serum iron, transferrin or ferritin levels.
The c.-582G HAMP promoter variant decreased the transcriptional activity by 20% compared to c.-582A variant in cells from the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 when cotransfected with luciferase reporter constructs and plasmid expressing upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) and by 12-14% when cotransfected with plasmid expressing upstream stimulatory factor 2 (USF2).

Conclusions
The c.-582A > G HAMP promoter variant is not associated with serum iron, transferrin or ferritin levels in the healthy population. The in vitro effect of the c.-582A > G variant resulted in a small reduction of the gene transactivation by allele G compared to allele A. Therefore the effect of the variant on the hepcidin levels in vivo would be likely negligible. Finally, the c.-153C > T variant showed a frequency high enough to be considered when a genetic analysis is done in iron overload patients.
Effects of site-directed mutagenesis of mglA on motility and swarming of Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: Fremgen Sarah A , Burke Neal S , Hartzell Patricia L 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackgroundThemglAgene from the bacteriumMyxococcus xanthusencodes a 22kDa protein related to the Ras superfamily of monomeric GTPases. MglA is required for the normal function of A-motility (adventurous), S-motility (social), fruiting body morphogenesis, and sporulation. MglA and its homologs differ from all eukaryotic and other prokaryotic GTPases because they have a threonine (Thr78) in place of the highly conserved aspartate residue of the consensus PM3 (phosphate-magnesium binding) region. To identify residues critical for MglA function or potential protein interactions, and explore the function of Thr78, the phenotypes of 18mglAmutants were characterized.ResultsNine mutants, with mutations predicted to alter residues that bind the guanine base or coordinate magnesium, did not produce detectable MglA. As expected, these mutants were mot-dev-because MglA is essential for these processes. Of the remaining nine mutants, seven showed a wild-type distribution pattern for MglA but fell into two categories with regard to function. Five of the seven mutants exhibited mild phenotypes, but two mutants, T78D and P80A, abolished motility and development. The localization pattern of MglA was abolished in two mutants that were mot-spo-and dev-. These two mutants were predicted to alter surface residues at Asp52 and Thr54, which suggests that these residues are critical for proper localization and may define a protein interaction site. Improving the consensus match with Ras at Thr78 abolished function of MglA. Only the conservative serine substitution was tolerated at this position. Merodiploid constructs revealed that a subset of alleles, includingmglAD52A, were dominant and also illustrated that changing the balance of MglA and its co-transcribed partner, MglB, affects A-motility.ConclusionOur results suggest that GTP binding is critical for stability of MglA because MglA does not accumulate in mutants that cannot bind GTP. The threonine in PM3 of MglA proteins represents a novel modification of the highly conserved GTPase consensus at this position. The requirement for a hydroxyl group at this position may indicate that MglA is subject to modification under certain conditions. Proper localization of MglA is critical for both motility and development and likely involves protein interactions mediated by residues Asp52 and Thr54.
Interaction of the heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunit SSG-1 of Sporothrix schenckii with proteins related to stress response and fungal pathogenicity using a yeast two-hybrid assay
Authors: Pérez-Sánchez Lizaida , González Elizabeth , Colón-Lorenzo Emilee E , González-Velázquez Waleska , González-Méndez Ricardo , Rodríguez-del Valle Nuri 
Published: December 2010

Abstract

Background
Important biological processes require selective and orderly protein-protein interactions at every level of the signalling cascades. G proteins are a family of heterotrimeric GTPases that effect eukaryotic signal transduction through the coupling of cell surface receptors to cytoplasmic effector proteins. They have been associated with growth and pathogenicity in many fungi through gene knock-out studies. In Sporothrix schenckii, a pathogenic, dimorphic fungus, we previously identified a pertussis sensitive G alpha subunit, SSG-1. In this work we inquire into its interactions with other proteins.

Results
Using the yeast two-hybrid technique, we identified protein-protein interactions between SSG-1 and other important cellular proteins. The interactions were corroborated using co-immuneprecipitation. Using these techniques we identified a Fe/Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD), a glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and two ion transport proteins, a siderophore-iron transporter belonging to the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) and a divalent-cation transporter of the Nramp (n atural r esistance-a ssociated m acrophage p rotein) family as interacting with SSG-1. The cDNA's encoding these proteins were sequenced and bioinformatic macromolecular sequence analyses were used for the correct classification and functional assignment.

Conclusions
This study constitutes the first report of the interaction of a fungal G alpha inhibitory subunit with SOD, GAPDH, and two metal ion transporters. The identification of such important proteins as partners of a G alpha subunit in this fungus suggests possible mechanisms through which this G protein can affect pathogenicity and survival under conditions of environmental stress or inside the human host. The two ion transporters identified in this work are the first to be reported in S. schenckii and the first time they are identified as interacting with fungal G protein alpha subunits. The association of G protein alpha subunits to transport molecules reinforces the role of G proteins in the response to environmental signals and also highlights the involvement of fungal G protein alpha subunits in nutrient sensing in S. schenckii. These interactions suggest that these permeases could function as transceptors for G proteins in fungi.
Patient safety in out-of-hours primary care: a review of patient records
Authors: Smits Marleen , Huibers Linda , Kerssemeijer Brian , de Feijter Eimert , Wensing Michel , Giesen Paul 
Published: December 2010

Abstract

Background
Most patients receive healthcare in primary care settings, but relatively little is known about patient safety. Out-of-hours contacts are of particular importance to patient safety. Our aim was to examine the incidence, types, causes, and consequences of patient safety incidents at general practice cooperatives for out-of-hours primary care and to examine which factors were associated with the occurrence of patient safety incidents.

Methods
A retrospective study of 1,145 medical records concerning patient contacts with four general practice cooperatives. Reviewers identified records with evidence of a potential patient safety incident; a physician panel determined whether a patient safety incident had indeed occurred. In addition, the panel determined the type, causes, and consequences of the incidents. Factors associated with incidents were examined in a random coefficient logistic regression analysis.

Results
In 1,145 patient records, 27 patient safety incidents were identified, an incident rate of 2.4% (95% CI: 1.5% to 3.2%). The most frequent incident type was treatment (56%). All incidents had at least partly been caused by failures in clinical reasoning. The majority of incidents did not result in patient harm (70%). Eight incidents had consequences for the patient, such as additional interventions or hospitalisation. The panel assessed that most incidents were unlikely to result in patient harm in the long term (89%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was significantly related to incident occurrence: the likelihood of an incident increased with 1.03 for each year increase in age (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04).

Conclusion
Patient safety incidents occur in out-of-hours primary care, but most do not result in harm to patients. As clinical reasoning played an important part in these incidents, a better understanding of clinical reasoning and guideline adherence at GP cooperatives could contribute to patient safety.
The challenge of diagnosing Plasmodium ovale malaria in travellers: report of six clustered cases in french soldiers returning from West Africa
Authors: de Laval Franck , Oliver Manuela , Rapp Christophe , Pommier de Santi Vincent , Mendibil Alexandre , Deparis Xavier , Simon Fabrice 
Published: December 2010

Abstract

Background

Plasmodium ovale is responsible for 5% of imported malaria in French travellers. The clinical and biological features of six clustered cases of P. ovale malaria in an army unit of 62 French soldiers returning from the Ivory Coast are reported.

Case report
All patients were symptomatic and developed symptoms on average 50 days after their return and 20 days after the end of chemoprophylaxis (doxycycline). Clinical features included fever (6/6), mostly tertian (4/6), aches (6/6), nausea (3/6), abdominal pain (2/6), diarrhoea (2/6), or cough (2/6). Thrombocytopaenia was lower than 100,000/mm3 in half the cases only, and the haemoglobin count was normal for all patients. The diagnosis was made after at least three thick and thin blood smear searches. Parasitaemia was always lower than 0.5%. All rapid diagnostic tests were negative for HRP2 and pLDH antigens.

Discussion

Plasmodium ovale malaria is currently a problem to diagnose in travellers, notably in French soldiers returning from the Ivory Coast. Early attempts at diagnosis are difficult due to the lack of specific clinical features, the rarity of biological changes and the poor sensitivity of diagnostic tools to detect low parasitaemia. Thus, the diagnosis is commonly delayed or missed. Physicians should be aware of this diagnostic challenge to avoid relapses and provide prompt and adequate treatment with chloroquine and radical cure with primaquine.
Production and purification of VP2 protein of porcine parvovirus expressed in an insect-baculovirus cell system
Authors: Zhou Hongchao , Yao Guizhe , Cui Shangjin 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe porcine parvovirus (PPV) VP2 protein was expressed in an insect-baculovirus cell system and was purified using Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography. The recombinant 6-His-tagged VP2 protein with molecular mass (Mr) of about 64 kDa was detected by anti-his antibody and anti-PPV serum. Electron microscopy showed that the purified VP2 protein assembled into spherical particles with diameters ranging from 20 to 22 nm. The expressed VP2 was antigenically similar to the native capsid protein according to HA and a Western blotting assay performed with polyclonal antibodies collected from an outbreak of PPV in one farm. This study provides a foundation for the application of VP2 protein in the clinical diagnosis of PPV or in the vaccination against PPV in the future.
Management of nanomaterials safety in research environment
Authors: Groso Amela , Petri-Fink Alke , Magrez Arnaud , Riediker Michael , Meyer Thierry 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Despite numerous discussions, workshops, reviews and reports about responsible development of nanotechnology, information describing health and environmental risk of engineered nanoparticles or nanomaterials is severely lacking and thus insufficient for completing rigorous risk assessment on their use. However, since preliminary scientific evaluations indicate that there are reasonable suspicions that activities involving nanomaterials might have damaging effects on human health; the precautionary principle must be applied. Public and private institutions as well as industries have the duty to adopt preventive and protective measures proportionate to the risk intensity and the desired level of protection. In this work, we present a practical, 'user-friendly' procedure for a university-wide safety and health management of nanomaterials, developed as a multi-stakeholder effort (government, accident insurance, researchers and experts for occupational safety and health). The process starts using a schematic decision tree that allows classifying the nano laboratory into three
hazard
classes similar to a control banding approach (from Nano 3 - highest hazard to Nano1 - lowest hazard). Classifying laboratories into
risk
classes would require considering actual or potential exposure to the nanomaterial as well as statistical data on health effects of exposure. Due to the fact that these data (as well as exposure limits for each individual material) are not available, risk classes could not be determined. For each hazard level we then provide a list of required risk mitigation measures (technical, organizational and personal). The target 'users' of this safety and health methodology are researchers and safety officers. They can rapidly access the precautionary hazard class of their activities and the corresponding adequate safety and health measures. We succeed in convincing scientist dealing with nano-activities that adequate safety measures and management are promoting innovation and discoveries by ensuring them a safe environment even in the case of very novel products. The proposed measures are not considered as constraints but as a support to their research. This methodology is being implemented at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne in over 100 research labs dealing with nanomaterials. It is our opinion that it would be useful to other research and academia institutions as well.
Histopathological findings in varicose veins following bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy – results of an ex vivo experiment
Authors: Reich-Schupke S , Mumme A , Stücker M 
Published: December 2010

Objective To describe the histopathological changes of the vein wall caused by bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy (RFITT), and to examine influence of power and application time on the histopathological changes. Material and methods Twenty vein specimens atraumatically extracted near the saphenofemoral junction were treated by RFITT ex vivo. RFITT was applied with fixed (2 seconds) and varied (up to an impedance of 400 Ω) application time and increasing power (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 W). Specimens were processed histologically. Results RFITT induced coagulation of collagen bundles, shrinking of muscles, splitting and necrosis of the vein wall. Circumferential necrosis of intima and media was reached by a power of 20–25 W and an application time up to an impedance of 400 Ω. Only heterogeneous necrosis of intima and media in parts of the vessel was reached by lower power with long application time. Conclusion A homogeneous necrosis of the circumferential vein wall needs high power and sufficient application time.
Novel paper sizing agents from renewables. Part 1: Preparation of a paper sizing agent derived from natural plant oils
Authors: Lackinger Elisabeth , Schmid Leo , Sartori Jürgen , Isogai Akira , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Natural oils derived from linseed, rapeseed, soybean, and a special breed of sunflower were tested for the production of maleated fatty oils for paper sizing in the ene-reaction with maleic anhydride. All these maleated oils were subjected to a conventional sizing test proving their ability to hydrophobize handsheets. Natural oils having only monounsaturated fatty acid residues (oleic acid) in the triglycerides worked best by having lower product viscosity and higher yields. The optimized production procedure employs antioxidant addition, an increased maleic anhydride:triglyceride ratio of 4:1, as well as increased pressure to reduce undesired polymeric byproducts and to increase yield.
Novel paper sizing agents from renewables. Part 3: Emulsion stability and hydrolysis behavior compared to conventional sizes
Authors: Lackinger Elisabeth , Isogai Akira , Schmid Leo , Sartori Jürgen , Potthast Antje , Rosenau Thomas 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
The hydrolytic stability and sizing behavior of a new paper sizing agent based on renewable vegetable oils (maleated sunflower oil, high oleic: MSOHO) was compared to two conventional alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) specimens, a commercial sample, and a reagent-grade ASA sample. At various pH conditions as well as upon addition of Ca2+ ions, MSOHO was more stable than both ASA samples. This superior stability of MSOHO was also supported by zeta potential measurements over 1 week. Whereas for sizing of paper higher dosages of MSOHO were needed to gain certain water repellency as compared to the ASA samples, the addition of alum had a pronounced positive effect on the sizing efficiency of MSOHO. The higher stability of MSOHO made it possible to size with an MSOHO-starch emulsion that was aged for one day at room temperature, when conventional ASA-starch emulsion had long lost any sizing efficiency.
Synthesis and herbicidal activity of 5-dehydroabietyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives
Authors: Duan Wen-Gui , Li Xing-Ren , Mo Qi-Jin , Huang Jian-Xin , Cen Bo , Xu Xue-Tang , Lei Fu-Hou 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
To search for novel therapeutic compounds with higher activity, a series of novel dehydroabietic acid derivatives bearing 1,3,4-oxadiazole moieties were designed and synthesized. Ten title compounds 5-dehydroabietyl-2-alkyl thio-1,3,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized by the reaction of 5-dehydroabietyl-2-mercapto-1,3,4-oxadiazole with alkyl halide or substituted benzyl halide in ethanolic KOH. All the title compounds were analyzed and characterized by means of IR, UV-vis, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analysis. The preliminary herbicidal assay showed that almost all of the compounds exhibited an excellent growth inhibition to rape (Brassica campestris) and a certain inhibition to barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli L.) at a concentration of 100 μg ml-1.
Comparison of Crestal Bone Loss and Implant Stability Among the Implants Placed With Conventional Procedure and Using Osteotome Technique: A Clinical Study
Authors: Padmanabhan Thallam Veer , Gupta Rajiv Kumar 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
To overcome the limitations of implant placement in knife-edge ridges, Summer introduced the osteotome technique in 1994. It has been claimed that using bone condensing to prepare the implant site in soft maxillary bone avoids the risk of heat generation, and implants can be placed precisely with increased primary stability. The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the crestal bone loss exhibited by the bone around early nonfunctionally loaded implants placed with conventional implant placement technique and with Summer's osteotome technique and to evaluate whether the bone-compression technique provides better primary stability than the conventional technique. A total of 10 Uniti implants were placed in the maxillary anterior region of 5 patients. One implant site was prepared using the conventional technique with drills (control group A), and second site was prepared using the osteotome technique (experimental group B) and an MIS bone compression kit. Resonance frequency measurements (RFMs) were made on each implant at the time of fixture placement and on the 180th day after implant fixture placement. The peri-implant alveolar bone loss was evaluated radiographically. Differences between the alveolar crest and the implant shoulder in radiographs were obtained immediately after implant insertion and on the 180th day after implant placement. The RFMs demonstrated a significantly higher stability of implants in control group A than in experimental group B on the day of surgery (P  =  .026). However, no statistically significant difference in stability was found between both groups on 180th day after implant placement (P  =  .076). A significant difference was found in the crestal bone levels after 180 days of surgery between two groups (P  =  0) with less crestal bone loss with group A. Within the limitations of this study we concluded that the osteotome technique is good for the purpose for which it was introduced, that is, for knife-edge ridges, and it should not be considered a substitute for conventional procedures for implant placement.
Health Care Capacity and Allocations Among South Africa's Provinces: Infrastructure–Inequality Traps After the End of Apartheid
Authors: Stuckler David , Basu Sanjay , McKee Martin 
Published: December 2010

Objectives. We assessed the determinants of health care funding allocations among South Africa's provinces and their effects on health care from 1996 through 2007. Methods. We performed multivariate regression of funding allocation data against measures of disease burden and health system infrastructure by province. Results. Disease burden was increasingly negatively correlated with funding allocations and explained less than one quarter of the variation in allocations among provinces. Nearly three quarters of the variation in allocations was explained by preexisting hospital infrastructure and health care workers. The density of private hospitals in the preceding year was associated with greater government allocations (bprivate = 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08, 0.15), but public hospital density in the preceding year was not (bpublic = 0.05; 95% CI = −0.02, 0.11). Greater allocations were associated with a higher number of doctors (b = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.34, 0.75) but fewer nurses (b = −0.37; 95% CI = −0.72,−0.25) in the same year. Conclusions. Regions with a greater capacity to spend funds received more funding and created more infrastructure than those with greater health needs. Historical infrastructure inequalities may have created an infrastructure–inequality trap, in which the distribution of funds to those with greater “absorptive capacity” exacerbates inequalities.