bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Total leucocyte count, but not C-reactive protein, predicts 1-year mortality in patients with acute coronary syndromes treated with percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Ndrepepa Gjin , Braun Siegmund , Iijima Raisuke , Keta Dritan , Byrne Robert A. , Schulz Stefanie , Mehilli Julinda , Schömig Albert , Kastrati Adnan 
Published: October 2008

Although an association between elevated leucocyte count and mortality in patients with ACS (acute coronary syndromes) has been established, the independence of this association from coronary risk factors and C-reactive protein has been inadequately studied. In the present study, this prospective registry included 4329 patients with ACS treated with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention): 1059 patients with STEMI [ST-segment elevation MI (myocardial infarction)], 1753 patients with NSTEMI (non-STEMI) and 1517 patients with unstable angina. Blood samples were obtained before angiography for leucocyte count and C-reactive protein measurements. The primary outcome of this analysis was 1-year mortality. At 1 year, 345 patients (8%) had died: 45 patients in the 1st tertile, 93 patients in the 2nd tertile and 207 patients in the 3rd tertile of leucocyte count [Kaplan–Meier estimates of mortality, 3.2%, 6.4% and 14.1% with an OR (odds ratio)=2.42, 95% CI (confidence interval)1.78–3.12; P&lt;0.001 for tertile 3 compared with tertile 2 and an OR=1.99, 95% CI 1.77–2.25; P&lt;0.001 for tertile 2 compared with tertile 1]. The Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for coronary risk factors, ACS presentation, extent of coronary artery disease, C-reactive protein and other covariates identified leucocyte count with a HR (hazard ratio)=1.05 (95% CI 1.02–1.07; P&lt;0.001 for 1000 cells/mm3 increase in the leucocyte count), but not C-reactive protein (HR=1.13, 95% CI 0.95–1.34; P=0.15 for a 1 tertile increase in the C-reactive protein concentration) as an independent correlate of 1-year mortality. We conclude that elevated leucocyte count, but not C-reactive protein, predicts 1-year mortality independent of cardiovascular risk factors across the entire spectrum of patients with ACS treated with PCI.
BioCaster: detecting public health rumors with a Web-based text mining system
Authors: Collier Nigel , Doan Son , Kawazoe Ai , Goodwin Reiko Matsuda , Conway Mike , Tateno Yoshio , Ngo Quoc-Hung , Dien Dinh , Kawtrakul Asanee , Takeuchi Koichi , Shigematsu Mika , Taniguchi Kiyosu 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Summary: BioCaster is an ontology-based text mining system for detecting and tracking the distribution of infectious disease outbreaks from linguistic signals on the Web. The system continuously analyzes documents reported from over 1700 RSS feeds, classifies them for topical relevance and plots them onto a Google map using geocoded information. The background knowledge for bridging the gap between Layman's terms and formal-coding systems is contained in the freely available BioCaster ontology which includes information in eight languages focused on the epidemiological role of pathogens as well as geographical locations with their latitudes/longitudes. The system consists of four main stages: topic classification, named entity recognition (NER), disease/location detection and event recognition. Higher order event analysis is used to detect more precisely specified warning signals that can then be notified to registered users via email alerts. Evaluation of the system for topic recognition and entity identification is conducted on a gold standard corpus of annotated news articles.
Availability: The BioCaster map and ontology are freely available via a web portal at http://www.biocaster.org.
Contact: collier@nii.ac.jp
Osiris: an integrated promoter database for Oryza sativa L.
Authors: Morris Robert T. , O'Connor Timothy R. , Wyrick John J. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Summary: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important model monocot and cereal crop. While the rice genome sequence has been published and annotated, relatively little is known about the transcriptional networks that regulate rice gene expression. For this reason, we have developed Osiris, a database containing promoter sequences, predicted transcription factor (TF) binding sites, gene ontology annotation and microarray expression data for 24 209 genes in the rice genome. These tools are seamlessly integrated in the Osiris web site, allowing the user to visualize TF binding sites in multiple promoters; analyze the statistical significance of enriched TF binding sites; query for genes containing similar promoter regulatory logic or gene function and visualize the microarray expression patterns of queried or selected gene sets.
Availability: http://www.bioinformatics2.wsu.edu/Osiris
Contact: jwyrick@wsu.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Transcriptome Analysis of Proliferating Arabidopsis Endosperm Reveals Biological Implications for the Control of Syncytial Division, Cytokinin Signaling, and Gene Expression Regulation
Authors: Day Robert C. , Herridge Rowan P. , Ambrose Barbara A. , Macknight Richard C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDuring the early stages of seed development, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) endosperm is syncytial and proliferates rapidly through repeated rounds of mitosis without cytokinesis. This stage of endosperm development is important in determining final seed size and is a model for studying aspects of cellular and molecular biology, such as the cell cycle and genomic imprinting. However, the small size of the Arabidopsis seed makes high-throughput molecular analysis of the early endosperm technically difficult. Laser capture microdissection enabled high-resolution transcript analysis of the syncytial stage of Arabidopsis endosperm development at 4 d after pollination. Analysis of Gene Ontology representation revealed a developmental program dominated by the expression of genes associated with cell cycle, DNA processing, chromatin assembly, protein synthesis, cytoskeleton- and microtubule-related processes, and cell/organelle biogenesis and organization. Analysis of core cell cycle genes implicates particular gene family members as playing important roles in controlling syncytial cell division. Hormone marker analysis indicates predominance for cytokinin signaling during early endosperm development. Comparisons with publicly available microarray data revealed that approximately 800 putative early seed-specific genes were preferentially expressed in the endosperm. Early seed expression was confirmed for 71 genes using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, with 27 transcription factors being confirmed as early seed specific. Promoter-reporter lines confirmed endosperm-preferred expression at 4 d after pollination for five transcription factors, which validates the approach and suggests important roles for these genes during early endosperm development. In summary, the data generated provide a useful resource providing novel insight into early seed development and identify new target genes for further characterization.
Reproductive evaluation of elephants culled in Kruger National Park, South Africa between 1975 and 1995
Authors: Freeman Elizabeth W. , Whyte Ian , Brown Janine L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractTo reduce elephant densities and preserve biological diversity, 14,629 elephants were culled from Kruger National Park, South Africa (1967–1999). Data were catalogued between 1975 and 1996 on 2737 male and female elephants, including pregnancy and lactational status for 1620 females (≥5 years of age) and, uterine and/or ovarian characteristics for 1279. This study used these data to investigate the effects of age and precipitation on reproduction. The youngest age of conception was 8 years (n = 6) and by 12 years of age all females were sexually mature. From the age of 14 years, the percentage of reproductively active females (pregnant and/or lactating) was >90%; however, this percentage declined when females reached 50 years of age. Overall, one‐tenth of females were nonreproductive (not pregnant or lactating) at any given time, mostly in the youngest (<15 years) and oldest (>50 years) age classes. Eighteen (3.3%) of the nonpregnant females had reproductive tract pathologies, including endometrial, uterine or ovarian cysts. There was a seasonal distribution of mating activity that correlated with the rainy season. As has been demonstrated in other populations of free‐ranging African elephants, most of the females in Kruger National Park were reproductively active; however, age and climate affected reproductive activity.
Atypical serum immunofixation patterns frequently emerge in immunomodulatory therapy and are associated with a high degree of response in multiple myeloma
Authors: Mark Tomer , Jayabalan David , Coleman Morton , Pearse Roger N. , Wang Y. Lynn , Lent Richard , Christos Paul J. , Lee Joong W. , Agrawal Yash P. , Matthew Susan , Ely Scott , Mazumdar Madhu , Cesarman Ethel , Leonard John P. , Furman Richard R. , Chen‐Kiang Selina , Niesvizky Ruben 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe M‐protein is the major reference measure for response in multiple myeloma (MM) and its correct interpretation is key to clinical management. The emergence of oligoclonal banding is recognized as a benign finding in the postautologous stem cell transplantation setting (ASCT) for MM but its significance during non‐myeloablative therapy is unknown. In a study of the immunomodulatory combination BiRD, (lenalidomide and dexamethasone with clarithromycin), we frequently detected the emergence of mono‐ and oligo‐clonal immunoglobulins unrelated to the baseline diagnostic M‐protein. The new M‐proteins seen on serum immunofixation electrophoresis were clearly different in either heavy or light chain component(s) from the original M‐spike protein and were termed atypical serum immunofixation patterns (ASIPs). Overall, 24/72 (33%) patients treated with BiRD developed ASIPs. Patients who developed ASIPs compared with patients treated with BiRD without ASIPs, had a significantly greater overall response (100% vs. 85%) and complete response rates (71% vs. 23%). ASIPs were not associated with new clonal plasma cells or other lymphoproliferative processes, and molecular remissions were documented. This is the first time this phenomenon has been seen with regularity in non‐myeloablative therapy for MM. Analogous to the ASCT experience, ASIPs do not signal incipient disease progression, but rather herald robust response.
The impact of chronic multimorbidity and disability on functional decline and survival in elderly persons. A community‐based, longitudinal study
Authors: Marengoni A. , Von Strauss E. , Rizzuto D. , Winblad B. , Fratiglioni L. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract.Objective.  We aimed to disentangle the effect of chronic multimorbidity and disability on 3‐year functional decline and survival in the elderly.Design.  Prospective cohort study with a mean of follow‐up of 2.8 years.Setting.  Swedish elderly persons from the Kungsholmen Project (1987–2000).Subjects.  A total of 1099 subjects, 77–100 years old, living in the community and institutions.Main outcome measurements.  Medical diagnoses (based on clinical examination, drug use, medical records and blood tests), and functional assessment (according to Katz Index) at baseline were investigated in relation to functional decline and death occurring during follow‐up.Results.  At baseline, 12.1% of participants had disability, and 52.3% were affected by multimorbidity. During follow‐up, 363 persons died and 85 worsened in functioning. The number of chronic conditions incrementally increased the risk of functional decline [hazard ratio (HR) increased from 1.5 in subjects with one disease to 6.2 in persons with 4+ diseases]. However, this was not the case for mortality, as the HR of death was the same for people with one disease as well as 4+ diseases (HR = 2.3). Baseline disability had the highest impact on survival, independently of number of diseases [HR = 8.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.8–13.7 in subjects with one disease and HR = 7.7; 95% CI = 4.7–12.6 in those with 2+ diseases].Conclusions.  In the elderly subjects, chronic disability rather than multimorbidity emerged as the strongest negative prognostic factor for functionality and survival.
Limited tissue culture‐induced mutations and linked epigenetic modifications in F1 hybrids of sorghum pure lines are accompanied by increased transcription of DNA methyltransferases and 5‐methylcytosine glycosylases
Authors: Zhang Meishan , Xu Chunming , Yan Hongyan , Zhao Na , Von Wettstein Diter , Liu Bao 
Published: October 2008

SummaryIn plant tissue culture, developmental disturbance and mutagenic factors are involved in channeling an individual totipotent cell to an intact plant. Comparing a pair of sorghum reciprocal F1 hybrids with their parental pure lines revealed a dramatic difference in the occurrence of both genetic and DNA methylation alterations in the respective regenerated plants. In contrast to those of the pure lines, regenerated plants of hybrids exhibit significantly enhanced genetic and epigenetic stability. The genetic changes detected by amplified fragment length polymorphism and the DNA methylation alterations detected by methylation‐sensitive amplified polymorphism are intimately correlated with each other, suggesting a common mechanism underlying both kinds of instabilities. Markedly altered transcription of genes encoding four putative sorghum DNA methyltransferases and two 5‐methylcytosine glycosylases with nucleotide sequences orthologous to Arabidopsis counterparts was induced by tissue culture. The steady‐state transcript levels of these genes were negatively correlated with genetic and methylation alterations. A salient observation is that tissue culture‐induced transcription of genes encoding DNA methyltransferases and 5‐methylcytosine glycosylases in calli and/or regenerated plants of the hybrids was remarkably coordinated, but is largely uncoordinated and stochastically altered in calli and/or regenerated plants of the pure lines. We suggest that the uncoordinated regulation of expression of DNA methyltransferases and 5‐methylcytosine glycosylases is a major cause of the high incidence of genetic and DNA methylation alterations in cultures of pure lines, but coordinated up‐regulated expression of these enzymes in cultures of the F1 hybrids fortified their genetic and epigenetic stability.
Separable roles of the Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola accessory protein HrpZ1 in ion‐conducting pore formation and activation of plant immunity
Authors: Engelhardt Stefan , Lee Justin , Gäbler Yvonne , Kemmerling Birgit , Haapalainen Minna‐Liisa , Li Chun‐Mei , Wei Zhongmin , Keller Harald , Joosten Matthieu , Taira Suvi , Nürnberger Thorsten 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe HrpZ1 gene product from phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae is secreted in a type‐III secretion system‐dependent manner during plant infection. The ability of HrpZ1 to form ion‐conducting pores is proposed to contribute to bacterial effector delivery into host cells, or may facilitate the nutrition of bacteria in the apoplast. Furthermore, HrpZ1 is reminiscent of a pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that triggers immunity‐associated responses in a variety of plants. Here, we provide evidence that the ion pore formation and immune activation activities of HrpZ1 have different structure requirements. All HrpZ1 orthologous proteins tested possess pore formation activities, but some of these proteins fail to trigger plant defense‐associated responses. In addition, a C‐terminal fragment of HrpZ1 retains the ability to activate plant immunity, whereas ion pore formation requires intact HrpZ1. Random insertion mutagenesis of HrpZ1 further revealed the C terminus to be important for the PAMP activity of the protein. HrpZ1 binds to plant membranes with high affinity and specificity, suggesting that the activation of plant immunity‐associated responses by HrpZ1 is receptor‐mediated. Our data are consistent with dual roles of HrpZ1 as a virulence factor affecting host membrane integrity, and as a microbial pattern governing the activation of plant immunity during infection.
The preprophase band is a localized center of clathrin‐mediated endocytosis in late prophase cells of the onion cotyledon epidermis
Authors: Karahara Ichirou , Suda Jinsuke , Tahara Hiroshi , Yokota Etsuo , Shimmen Teruo , Misaki Kazuyo , Yonemura Shigenobu , Staehelin Lucas Andrew , Mineyuki Yoshinobu 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe preprophase band (PPB) marks the site on the plant cell cortex where the cell plate will fuse during the final stage of cytokinesis. Recent studies have shown that several cytoskeletal proteins are depleted at the PPB site, but the processes that bring about these changes are still unknown. We have investigated the membrane systems associated with the PPB regions of epidermal cells of onion cotyledons by means of serial thin sections and electron tomograms. In contrast with specimens preserved by chemical fixatives, our high‐pressure frozen cells demonstrated the presence of large numbers of clathrin‐coated pits and vesicles in the PPB regions. The vesicles were of two types: clathrin‐coated and structurally related, non‐coated vesicles. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed that the number of clathrin‐coated pits and vesicles is higher in the PPB regions than outside of these regions. Immunofluorescent microscopy using anti‐plant clathrin‐antibody confirmed this result. In contrast, no differences in secretory activities were observed. We postulate that the removal of membrane proteins by endocytosis plays a role in the formation of PPB ‘memory’ structures.
Employment preferences of public sector nurses in Malawi: results from a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Mangham Lindsay J. , Hanson Kara 
Published: October 2008

SummaryObjectives  To understand the employment preferences of Malawian public sector registered nurses, and to ascertain whether salary increases significantly affect how nurses regard their employment.Methods  A discrete choice experiment was used to assess the significance of six job attributes on nurses’ preferences over pairs of job descriptions: net monthly pay, provision of government housing, opportunities to upgrade their qualifications, typical workload, availability of resources and place of work. A multivariate model was used to estimate the extent to which nurses were willing to trade between their monetary benefits, non‐monetary benefits, and working conditions, and to determine the relative importance of the job attributes.Results  Most nurses were willing to trade among attributes, and very few appeared to have preferences that were dominated by a single job attribute. All attributes had a statistically significant influence on nurses’ preferences, and further analysis showed the rate at which they were willing to forego pay increases for other improvements in their employment conditions. Opportunities to upgrade professional qualifications, government housing and the increases in net monthly pay had the greatest impact on nurses’ employment choices.Conclusions  Salary enhancement can improve the motivation and retention of nurses, as well as improvements of employment conditions, which support existing efforts to address the health worker shortage.
Association of the CTG (−2578/−460/+405) haplotype within the vascular endothelial growth factor gene with early‐onset psoriasis
Authors: Wongpiyabovorn J. , Yooyongsatit S. , Ruchusatsawat K. , Avihingsanon Y. , Hirankarn N. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPolymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) influences the VEGF production and is subjected to genetic susceptibility of many diseases including psoriasis. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the promoter and exon 1 region [−2578(C/A), −460(C/T) and +405(C/G)] were analyzed in 154 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and in 234 ethnically matched healthy controls from Thailand. The CTG (−2578/−460/+405) haplotype frequency was higher in patients with early‐onset psoriasis (44.12%) compared with healthy controls (33.33%) (odds ratio = 1.54, 95% confidence interval = 1.08–2.18, P = 0.016, corrected P value: Pc = 0.048). The results suggest that the CTG haplotype can be used as a genetic marker for psoriasis especially the early‐onset group of Thais.
Intestinal microbiota differentially affect brush border enzyme activity and gene expression in the neonatal gnotobiotic pig
Authors: Willing B. P. , Van Kessel A. G. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryTo study microbial influence on intestinal development pertaining to nutrient digestion, two separate gnotobiotic experiments were performed, each with 16 piglets allocated to four treatment groups: germfree (GF), monoassociation with Escherichia coli, monoassociation with Lactobacillus fermentum or conventionalization with faecal bacteria (CV). Enzyme activity and gene expression of lactase phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) and aminopeptidase N (APN) were measured in isolated enterocytes, harvested on day 14, using specific substrates and quantitative PCR respectively. Enterocytes of CV pigs had reduced APN activity, but had increased gene expression relative to GF, making the specific activity:mRNA (A:G) ratio dramatically lower (p < 0.05). Similarly, LPH A:G ratio was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in enterocytes of CV pigs as compared with GF. The results of co‐incubation of L. fermentum, E. coli and faecal bacteria with APN indicate a direct relationship between enzyme inactivation and specific A:G ratio in enterocytes. We conclude that enterocyte up‐regulation of APN expression occurs as either a direct response to microbial colonization or as a feedback mechanism in response to reduced enzyme activity through microbial degradation. This mechanism may play a role in ensuring effective competition of the host with the intestinal microbiota for available nutrients.
Effect of different feeding regimes on pre‐weaning growth rumen fermentation and its influence on post‐weaning performance of lambs
Authors: Bhatt R. S. , Tripathi M. K. , Verma D. L. , Karim S. A. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryInfluence of pre‐weaning live weight on post‐weaning growth performance was assessed on thirty‐nine 15‐day‐old Indian native lambs, randomly fed in three equal groups until 180 days of age. During pre‐weaning phase lambs were maintained under feeding regimen of grazing (C‐0; Control), grazing and ad lib creep mixture supplementation (C‐AL) or grazing, with ad lib creep mixture and milk replacer supplementation (C‐ALMR). Lambs were allowed to suckle respective dam in morning and evening till 90 days of age, and fed ad lib green leaves of Ailanthus excelsa after grazing. After weaning all lambs were maintained on grazing and ad lib finisher concentrates supplementation. Pre‐weaning performance of lambs in terms of weaning weight (17.2 kg), average daily gain (ADG; 154 g) and feed conversion ratio 3.73 was higher (p < 0.01) in C‐ALMR lambs but total gain and ADG were similar among three groups during post‐weaning phase. However, improved pre‐weaning plane of nutrition and growth rate increased (p < 0.01) finishing weight (FW) of lambs in C‐AL, 33 kg and C‐ALMR, 32 kg. Dry matter intake was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in C‐AL and C‐ALMR lambs due to combined effect of feeding. Rumen pH was lowest (p = 0.049) in C‐AL lambs. Rumen ciliate protozoa population (104/ml) decreased in C‐ALMR lambs (4.3) but increased in C‐AL lambs (50.0) more so in C‐0 Lambs (19.8). Concentrate feeding of C‐AL lamb improved nutrient digestibility. Lambs of C‐0 group consumed more DM during post‐weaning phase that improved growth performance, while nutrient digestibility was not affected by pre‐weaning nutrition. Thus, pre‐weaning nutrition has significant influence on FW, however influence of milk replacer feeding on lamb growth need further studies.