bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetics of HUS: the impact of MCP, CFH, and IF mutations on clinical presentation, response to treatment, and outcome
Authors: Caprioli Jessica , Noris Marina , Brioschi Simona , Pianetti Gaia , Castelletti Federica , Bettinaglio Paola , Mele Caterina , Bresin Elena , Cassis Linda , Gamba Sara , Porrati Francesca , Bucchioni Sara , Monteferrante Giuseppe , Fang Celia J. , Liszewski M. K. , Kavanagh David , Atkinson John P. , Remuzzi Giuseppe ,   for the International Registry of Recurrent and Familial HUS/TTP
Published: April 2006

AbstractHemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy with manifestations of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment. Genetic studies have shown that mutations in complement regulatory proteins predispose to non–Shiga toxin–associated HUS (non-Stx–HUS). We undertook genetic analysis on membrane cofactor protein (MCP), complement factor H (CFH), and factor I (IF) in 156 patients with non-Stx–HUS. Fourteen, 11, and 5 new mutational events were found in MCP, CFH, and IF, respectively. Mutation frequencies were 12.8%, 30.1%, and 4.5% for MCP, CFH, and IF, respectively. MCP mutations resulted in either reduced protein expression or impaired C3b binding capability. MCP-mutated patients had a better prognosis than CFH-mutated and nonmutated patients. In MCP-mutated patients, plasma treatment did not impact the outcome significantly: remission was achieved in around 90% of both plasma-treated and plasma-untreated acute episodes. Kidney transplantation outcome was favorable in patients with MCP mutations, whereas the outcome was poor in patients with CFH and IF mutations due to disease recurrence. This study documents that the presentation, the response to therapy, and the outcome of the disease are influenced by the genotype. Hopefully this will translate into improved management and therapy of patients and will provide the way to design tailored treatments.
Antigen targeting to endosomal pathway in dendritic cell vaccination activates regulatory T cells and attenuates tumor immunity
Authors: Maksimow Mikael , Miiluniemi Mari , Marttila-Ichihara Fumiko , Jalkanen Sirpa , Hänninen Arno 
Published: April 2006

AbstractLymphoma cells are malignant cells of the T- or B-cell lineage that often express many surface markers inappropriately, yet are not recognized as abnormal by the immune system. We modeled this situation by inoculating ovalbumin-expressing E.G7-OVA lymphoma cells into mice that expressed ovalbumin as a self antigen in pancreatic islets, and investigated the efficacy of dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in these mice. Although vaccination with DC-expressing ovalbumin induced strong cytotoxic T-cell immunity, which led to clearance of E.G7-OVA lymphoma cells in naive C57BL/6 mice, DC vaccination was ineffective in mice expressing ovalbumin as a self antigen. Antigen modification to increase its processing via the endosomal processing pathway dramatically increased CD4 T-cell activation but paradoxically, impaired the protective effect of DC vaccination even in naive mice. Depletion of CD25+ T cells (regulatory T cells [Tregs]) prior to vaccination restored the efficacy of DC vaccination and allowed eradication of lymphoma also in mice expressing ovalbumin as a self antigen. We conclude that lymphoma cells may be eradicated using DC vaccination if activation of CD25+ Tregs is simultaneously inhibited, and that intentionally enhanced endosomal antigen processing in DC vaccines may shift the balance from CD4 T-cell help toward stimulation of Tregs.
The Src kinase Lyn is required for CCR5 signaling in response to MIP-1β and R5 HIV-1 gp120 in human macrophages
Authors: Tomkowicz Brian , Lee Chuhee , Ravyn Vipa , Cheung Ricky , Ptasznik Andrzej , Collman Ronald G. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractCCR5 is a receptor for several β chemokines and the entry coreceptor used by macrophage-tropic (R5) strains of HIV-1. In addition to supporting viral entry, CCR5 ligation by the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) can activate intracellular signals in macrophages and trigger inflammatory mediator release. Using a combination of in vitro kinase assay, Western blotting for phospho-specific proteins, pharmacologic inhibition, CCR5 knockout (CCR5Δ32) cells, and kinase-specific blocking peptide, we show for the first time that signaling through CCR5 in primary human macrophages is linked to the Src kinase Lyn. Stimulation of human monocyte-derived macrophages with either HIV-1 gp120 or MIP-1β results in the CCR5-mediated activation of Lyn and the concomitant Lyn-dependent activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase ERK-1/2. Furthermore, activation of the CCR5/Lyn/ERK-1/2 pathway is responsible for gp120-triggered production of TNF-α by macrophages, which is believed to contribute to HIV-1 pathogenesis. Thus, Lyn kinase may play an important role both in normal CCR5 function in macrophages and in AIDS pathogenesis in syndromes such as AIDS dementia where HIV-1 gp120 contributes to inappropriate macrophage activation, mediator production, and secondary injury.
Combined endoscopic and laparoscopic approach for palliative resection of metastatic melanoma of the stomach
Authors: Date RS , Griffiths EA , Pritchard SA , Welch I McL 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Metastatic tumours of the stomach present a clinical dilemma for the surgeon. Palliative surgical resection can alleviate symptoms and prolong survival in selected patients. However, previous studies have used open methods of surgical resection with potentially high morbidity and mortality. We describe the use of laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach for palliative resection of metastatic melanoma to highlight the benefits of this technique.

Case presentation
A 58 year old male was investigated for iron deficiency anaemia while under treatment for pulmonary metastatic malignant melanoma. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 5 cm diameter ulcer on the anterior wall of the stomach, biopsies from the ulcer confirmed metastatic melanoma. Laparoscopic wedge resection of the stomach lesion was performed without complication.

Conclusion
Laparoscopic approach has many benefits and is useful for the palliative resection of rare tumours of the stomach in order to preserve the quality of life. Its use should be considered in selected patients.
Comparative validation of the IPAQ and the 7-Day PAR among women diagnosed with breast cancer
Authors: Johnson-Kozlow Marilyn , Sallis James F , Gilpin Elizabeth A , Rock Cheryl L , Pierce John P 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The criterion-related validity and measurement bias of the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was compared to the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall (PAR).

Methods
Participants were women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and enrolled in the ongoing Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study. Women (N = 159, average age 57 years) wore an accelerometer for one week and then completed the IPAQ or the PAR.

Results
The validity correlation of the PAR was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the IPAQ (0.73 vs. 0.33, respectively). The PAR and IPAQ overestimated total physical activity by 13% vs. 247%, respectively. The PAR had better sensitivity (p = 0.14) and specificity (p < .01) than the IPAQ (100% vs. 71% and 84% vs. 59%, respectively) in predicting attainment of the ACSM physical activity guideline.

Conclusion
The PAR was superior to the IPAQ in terms of validity, measurement bias, and screening statistics.
Rim15 and the crossroads of nutrient signalling pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Swinnen Erwin , Wanke Valeria , Roosen Johnny , Smets Bart , Dubouloz Frédérique , Pedruzzi Ivo , Cameroni Elisabetta , De Virgilio Claudio , Winderickx Joris 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIn recent years, the general understanding of nutrient sensing and signalling, as well as the knowledge about responses triggered by altered nutrient availability have greatly advanced. While initial studies were directed to top-down elucidation of single nutrient-induced pathways, recent investigations place the individual signalling pathways into signalling networks and pursue the identification of converging effector branches that orchestrate the dynamical responses to nutritional cues. In this review, we focus on Rim15, a protein kinase required in yeast for the proper entry into stationary phase (G0). Recent studies revealed that the activity of Rim15 is regulated by the interplay of at least four intercepting nutrient-responsive pathways.
Synthesis and Reactions of Organoplatinum Compounds of C60, C60Ptn
Authors: Nagashima Hideo , Kato Yoshiyuki , Yamaguchi Hirofumi , Kimura Eiji , Kawanishi Teruhiko , Kato Masanao , Saito Yahachi , Haga Masaaki , Itoh Kenji 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The organoplatinum compound of C60, C60Ptn (n = 1–2), was prepared either by the reaction of C60 with Pt(dba)2 or by the thermal disproportionation of C60Ptn (n = ca. 1). The C60Ptn obtained catalyzed the hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene regardless of the platinum content. Cleavage of carbon-platinum bonds of C60Ptn (n = ca. 1) was accomplished by the reactions with phosphines or phosphites, which provided general access to (η2-C60)PtL2 [L = phosphines and phosphites].
Reaction of 2,4,6-Tri-t-butylselenobenzaldehyde with Sterically Crowded Diazo Compounds. Formation of Seleniranes
Authors: Watanabe Soichiro , Kawashima Takayuki , Okazaki Renji 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Reaction of the title stable selenoaldehyde with di-t-butyldiazomethane and 2-diazo-1,1,3,3-tetramethylindan at −50 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuCl resulted in the formation of the corresponding seleniranes.
How to Transfer Monolayer Maintaining Its Crystallographic Structure on the Water Surface by the Horizontal Drawing-up Method
Authors: Oishi Yushi , Kuri Taishi , Takashima Yoshinari , Kajiyama Tisato 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
A transfer method of fatty acid monolayer at a very low surface pressure on the water surface was developed. The electron microscopic studies revealed that the horizontal drawing-up method could transfer the monolayer onto a hydrophilic SiO substrate without any change of the crystal structure of monolayer on the water surface, even at zero surface pressure.
Novel Ammonium Ionophores Based on Glycol Dibenzyl Ethers for an Ion-Selective Electrode
Authors: Siswanta Dwi , Hisamoto Hideaki , Tohma Hajime , Yamamoto Noriko , Suzuki Koji 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Based on the finding that dibenzyl ether (DBE) exhibited a relatively high selectivity for ammonium ion relative to potassium ion, four types of dibenzyl ethers were synthesized and their ammonium ion selectivities over alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions were examined with potentiometric measurements.
Stability Analysis of Continuous-Flow Gas Lift Wells
Authors: Poblano E. , Camacho R. , Fairuzov Y. V. 
Published: April 2006

Summary
Flow instability (i.e., heading) in gas lift wells is examined in this paper. A review of previous work done in this area is also given. A model of a gas lift well was developed and validated using field data obtained in tests of a gas lift well in the Maloob field. On the basis of the model developed and the existing stability criteria, theoretical gas lift stability maps were developed and compared with the field data. The effect of the injected-gas flow rate, the injection-port size, and the tubing diameter on the flow stability was studied using the stability maps obtained in this work. It is shown how the proposed maps can be used as a simple and efficient method for predicting the stability threshold in designing gas lift systems.
Stability of an Open Hole Completed in a Limestone Reservoir With and Without Acid Treatments
Authors: Morita Nobuo , Doi Tomoki , Kinoshita Takanori 
Published: April 2006

Summary
Because a borehole in a limestone formation is more stable than expected, an openhole completion without a slotted/perforated liner has become popular recently. However, the following three items are not clear: (1) Why a borehole in a limestone formation is so stable, (2) why a borehole in a limestone formation can be completed without a liner regardless to the formation strength, and (3) the question of stability after acid treatments. To answer these questions, two types of laboratory experiments are conducted. One of them is a series of borehole stability experiments using 1.5- and 2.36- to 2.39-in.-diameter borehole in a 10.×5×10.5×17.5-in. limestone blocks with polyaxial confining pressures simulating a horizontal well with three different principal in-situ stresses. Two types of limestones are used with and without borehole acid treatments and two borehole sizes are used to check the size effect. Another type of experiment is the acid squeezing experiment, in which 15% HCl acid solution is squeezed from one end of a cylindrical core and the change of porosity, permeability, and hardness are measured throughout the cores.
The results showed the following new discoveries:
The limestones have two distinct failure envelopes. The failure plastic strain is relatively small for normal shear failure, while it becomes as much as 10 times larger when a shear failure is induced after pore collapse. One of the limestones used in these experiments has only 1,751 psi UCS, yet the borehole was unexpectedly stable. The reason was that the borehole failure is induced by a shear failure after pore collapse. It is well known that pore collapse is induced within a formation during compaction; however, a shear failure after pore collapse has never been observed when one boundary is open like an open hole. The confining stress inducing borehole failure was not significantly different between hydrostatic and directional loadings. According to the Kirsch's solution, the directional load should significantly increase the stress concentration. It is well known that the nonlinearity of rock reduces the stress concentration induced by directional loading; however, the present experiments showed that the magnitude of the reduction of stress concentration was larger than expected. Wormholes stabilize boreholes even though acidizing weakens formation. Therefore, enhancing wormholes is recommended when a borehole in a limestone formation is acidized.
Normally, because limestones are relatively strong, open holes are likely stable; however, the strength must be checked if they need to be completed without a linear protection. To help a reader applying the laboratory results to field problems, a guideline to complete an open hole without a liner protection in limestone reservoirs is provided, with calculation results using a nonlinear finite-element model.
Zero-Damaging Stimulation and Diversion Fluid: Field Cases from the Carbonate Formations in North Kuwait
Authors: Al-Mutawa Majdi , Al-Anzi Ealian , Jemmali Mohamed , Chang Frank , Samuel Elsamma , Samuel Mathew 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe high permeability contrast seen in the producing zones of the oil wells of the north Kuwait Mauddud formation makes the uniform stimulation of this carbonate formation a challenge. To achieve diversion, polymer-based fluids were used earlier but with limited success. Recently, a nonpolymeric system containing a viscoelastic-surfactant-based (VES) self-diverting acid (SDA) was used to divert and effectively stimulate entire pay zones with great success.Production logs run before and after the stimulation treatments indicate stimulation of the entire perforated intervals. Stimulation using this new system on the first 17 wells resulted in a production increase of approximately 30,000 BOPD—much higher than that expected from conventional treatments. The wells that were not producing earlier after several conventional treatments are now producing naturally after treatments using this nondamaging system. Nearly 100 wells in the same reservoir were treated with this system after successful introduction of the technology. The use of this technology is now extended to matrix stimulation of gas producers, water injectors, and disposal wells.
Impact of Transient-Flow Conditions on Electric Submersible Pumps in Sinusoidal-Well Profiles: A Case Study
Authors: Noonan S. G. , Kendrick M. A. , Matthews P. N. , Sebastiao N. , Ayling I. , Wilson B. L. 
Published: April 2006

Summary
Chevron Corp. has 13 wells producing offshore Africa with electric submersible pumps (ESPs) that experienced problems primarily caused by the transient nature of the multiphase inflow through the sinusoidal-well profiles. A study completed in 2002 used a transient multiphase simulator to model the sinusoidal sections of each producer and to calculate the conditions that the ESPs could see over the life of the well for various drawdown conditions and speeds. This paper focuses on how the results from the simulator were validated and used to reduce operational downtime and improve future ESP completion designs. This paper also will demonstrate how severe sinusoidal-well profiles impact production operations.
Investigation of a New Tool To Unload Liquids From Stripper Gas Wells
Authors: Ali Ahsan J. , Scott Stuart L. , Fehn Brad 
Published: April 2006

SummaryLiquid loading in low-production gas wells is a common problem faced in many producing regions around the world. The techniques available to remove liquids from the wellbore impose significant capital and operational costs. This study investigates a new method for unloading and restoring continuous production of low-rate (i.e., stripper) gas wells. The performance of a patented vortex-flow-modifier tool was examined using a 125-ft vertical-flow loop of 2-in.-diameter clear PVC pipe. The vortex device was found to alter the basic flow structure in the pipe, resulting in improved liquid flow. The tool was observed to reduce tubing-pressure loss by up to 17% and lower the minimum gas velocity required to lift liquids up the tubing string.
Optimal Well Placement in Heterogeneous Reservoirs Through Semianalytic Modeling
Authors: Hazlett R. D. , Babu D. K. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe need for accurate well-productivity models with arbitrary well trajectories spurred a revival in analytic solution methodology for fluid transport problems. Analytic formulations often depict single-phase flow throughout the reservoir. The Babu-Odeh horizontal-well solution for abox-shaped reservoir with spatially invariant properties is generalized here toallow closed-form solutions for heterogeneous media. A reservoir is decomposed into interacting regions, each with its own reservoir properties and associated analytic potential flow solution. Using established boundary element techniques, pressure and flux continuity are imposed at selected interface points to solve for the steady material exchange between regions. Constant pressure and zero flux features (fractures and barriers) are easily entertained at region boundaries. The 2D, pseudo steady-state solution for heterogeneous media is embedded within a reservoir performance feedback loop of a powerful gradient search method to produce a robust optimal infill well placement algorithm. Utilizing this approach, new criteria are developed concerning optimal placement of vertical wells for primary production with respect to heterogeneity, asymmetry, and anisotropy. The semianalytic method has been extended to 3D flows to serve as a compute engine for a new generation of reservoir management and optimization tools.
Application of Stream-Conversion Methods To Generate Compositional Streams From the Results of a Multimillion-Cell Black-Oil-Simulation Study of the Shaybah Field
Authors: Al-Awami Bassam , Hemanthkumar K. , Al-Awami Fatema , Mohammedali Mansour 
Published: April 2006

SummaryDetailed compositional simulation of a giant reservoir with many components is not practical. However, detailed multimillion-cell black-oil simulation of giant reservoirs is now quite feasible. In this work, we apply an efficient method to generate the compositional rates from a black-oil simulation of the giant Shaybah field.In situations in which the reservoir recovery mechanism is not dominated by compositional effects, an equation-of-state (EOS)-based stream-conversion method can be used. This stream-conversion method relies on the fact that when laboratory pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) data measured on available well-stream compositions are used to generate the black-oil PVT tables, some of the compositional information is lost. The stream-conversion model retains this valuable compositional information and applies it to each producing-well completion in the black-oil simulation at every timestep.As proof of the concept, the stream-conversion method was applied to a black-oil simulation and to a limited (eight-component) compositional simulation to generate a 17-component compositional stream, and the results were compared to the respective full EOS compositional simulation for a relatively small sector (250,000 cells) of the giant Shaybah field. The compositional stream rates are in excellent agreement with the stream-converted black-oil results. As would be expected, the computational costs of using the EOS-based compositional simulator (with 17 components) are in excess of 40 times the black-oil-simulation time for the small-sector model. In general, the stream-conversion method can be used to generate the dynamically varying compositional streams from any black-oil simulation for use in the design and operation of surface facilities and in calculating the amounts of a certain cut [e.g., natural gas liquids (NGL)] from the production streams.
Simulating Carbon Dioxide Sequestration/ECBM Production in Coal Seams: Effects of Permeability Anisotropies and the Diffusion-Time Constant
Authors: Smith Duane H. , Bromhal Grant , Sams W. Neal , Jikich Sinisha , Ertekin Turgay 
Published: April 2006

SummaryCoalbed methane now accounts for a significant fraction of domestic natural-gas production. Injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) into coal seams is a promising technology for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions and increasing ultimate production of coalbed methane. Reservoir simulations are an inexpensive method for designing field projects and predicting optimal tradeoffs between maximum sequestration and maximum methane production. Optimum project design and operation are expected to depend on the anisotropy of the permeability along the face-cleat and butt-cleat directions, the spacing between cleats, and the sorption isotherms for methane and CO2.In this work, a dual-porosity coalbed-methane simulator is used to model primary and secondary production of methane from coal for a variety of coal properties and operational parameters. It is assumed that the face and butt cleats are perpendicular to each other, with horizontal wells parallel to one type of cleat and perpendicular to the other. The well pattern consists of four horizontal production wells that form a rectangle, with four shorter horizontal wells centered within the rectangle. In the limiting case of no permeability anisotropy, the central wells form a "plus" sign within the square of production wells. All wells are operated as producers of methane and water until a specified reservoir pressure is reached, after which the central wells are operated as injectors for CO2. Production of methane continues until the CO2 concentration in the produced gas is too high.The simulation results predict the optimum lengths of the injection wells along the face- and butt-cleat directions and show how these optimum lengths depend on the permeabilities in the two directions. If the cleat spacing is sufficiently small, and diffusion of the gas through the pores to the cleats is sufficiently rapid, instantaneous sorption may be assumed. Otherwise, the field performance depends on the diffusion-time constant that characterizes the rate of transfer between the cleats and the coal matrix. The pressures at which the injection wells are operated also affect the amounts of CO2 sequestered through the pressures and volumes of the sorption isotherms.