bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the importance of adequately choosing the ingredients of yoghurt and enriched milk for their antioxidant activity
Authors: Jiménez Antonia M. , Murcia Maria Antonia , Parras Pilar , Martínez‐Tomé Magdalena 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe antioxidant activity of several dairy products, yoghurt enriched with green tea and lemon, fermented milk, yoghurt with strawberry pulp, ‘low‐calorie’ yoghurt with inulin and milk enriched with vitamin E and their ingredients were analysed. Yoghurt enriched with green tea and lemon showed the best lipidic antioxidant capacity. All the dairy products analysed were very good OH· radical scavengers. The dairy products analysed were unable to scavenge H2O2 except green tea. The antioxidant activity of these samples resisted high temperatures in the Rancimat test; of the ingredients analysed, the best antioxidant activity was found for vitamin E followed by green tea, pectin, Lactobacillus acidophilus, lemon pulp and cornstarch. Antioxidant activity did not suffer variations during storage at an unfavourable temperature (40 °C), as demonstrated by the linoleic acid assay. Yoghurt enriched with green tea and lemon, yoghurt with strawberry pulp and low‐calorie yoghurt with inulin produced the best results in the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay.
Developmental reorientation of transverse cortical microtubules to longitudinal directions: a role for actomyosin‐based streaming and partial microtubule‐membrane detachment
Authors: Sainsbury Frank , Collings David A. , Mackun Ken , Gardiner John , Harper John D.I. , Marc Jan 
Published: June 2008

SummaryTransversely oriented cortical microtubules in elongating cells typically reorient themselves towards longitudinal directions at the end of cell elongation. We have investigated the reorientation mechanism along the outer epidermal wall in maturing leek (Allium porrum L.) leaves using a GFP‐MBD microtubule reporter gene and fluorescence microscopy. Incubating leaf segments for 14–18 h with the anti‐actin or anti‐actomyosin agents, 20 μm cytochalasin D or 20 mm 2,3‐butanedione monoxime, inhibited the normal developmental reorientation of microtubules to the longitudinal direction. Observation of living cells revealed a small subpopulation of microtubules with their free ends swinging into oblique or longitudinal directions, before continuing to assemble in the new direction. Electron microscopy confirmed that longitudinal microtubules are partly detached from the plasma membrane. Incubating leaf segments with 0.2% 1°‐butanol, an activator of phospholipase D, which has been implicated in plasma membrane–microtubule anchoring, promoted the reorientation, presumably by promoting microtubule detachment from the membrane. Stabilizing microtubules with 10 μm taxol also promoted longitudinal orientation, even in the absence of cytoplasmic streaming. These results were consistent with confocal microscopy of live cells before and after drug treatments, which also revealed that the slow (days) global microtubule reorientation is superimposed over short‐term (hours) regional cycling in a clockwise and an anti‐clockwise direction. We propose that partial detachment of transverse microtubules from the plasma membrane in maturing cells exposes them to hydrodynamic forces of actomyosin‐driven cytoplasmic streaming, which bends or shifts pivoting microtubules into longitudinal directions, and thus provides an impetus to push microtubule dynamics in the new direction.
Tapetum‐specific location of a cation‐dependent O‐methyltransferase in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Fellenberg Christin , Milkowski Carsten , Hause Bettina , Lange Peter‐Robert , Böttcher Christoph , Schmidt Jürgen , Vogt Thomas 
Published: June 2008

SummaryCation‐ and S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine (AdoMet)‐dependent plant natural product methyltransferases are referred to as CCoAOMTs because of their preferred substrate, caffeoyl coenzyme A (CCoA). The enzymes are encoded by a small family of genes, some of which with a proven role in lignin monomer biosynthesis. In Arabidopsis thaliana individual members of this gene family are temporally and spatially regulated. The gene At1g67990 is specifically expressed in flower buds, and is not detected in any other organ, such as roots, leaves or stems. Several lines of evidence indicate that the At1g67990 transcript is located in the flower buds, whereas the corresponding CCoAOMT‐like protein, termed AtTSM1, is located exclusively in the tapetum of developing stamen. Flowers of At1g67990 RNAi‐suppressed plants are characterized by a distinct flower chemotype with severely reduced levels of the N ′,N ′′‐bis‐(5‐hydroxyferuloyl)‐N ′′′‐sinapoylspermidine compensated for by N1,N5,N10‐tris‐(5‐hydroxyferuloyl)spermidine derivative, which is characterized by the lack of a single methyl group in the sinapoyl moiety. This severe change is consistent with the observed product profile of AtTSM1 for aromatic phenylpropanoids. Heterologous expression of the recombinant protein shows the highest activity towards a series of caffeic acid esters, but 5‐hydroxyferuloyl spermidine conjugates are also accepted substrates. The in vitro substrate specificity and the in vivo RNAi‐mediated suppression data of the corresponding gene suggest a role of this cation‐dependent CCoAOMT‐like protein in the stamen/pollen development of A. thaliana.
Involvement of hydrogen peroxide in leaf abscission signaling, revealed by analysis with an in vitro abscission system in Capsicum plants
Authors: Sakamoto Masaru , Munemura Ikuko , Tomita Reiko , Kobayashi Kappei 
Published: June 2008

SummaryAlthough auxin and ethylene play pivotal roles in leaf abscission, the subsequent signaling molecules are poorly understood. This is mainly because it is difficult to effectively treat the intact abscission zone (AZ) with pharmacological reagents. We developed an in vitro experimental system that reproduces stress‐induced leaf abscission in planta. In this system, 1‐mm‐thick petiole strips, encompassing the AZ, were separated within 4 days of abscission at the AZ through cell wall degradation in an auxin depletion‐ and ethylene‐dependent manner. The system allowed us to show that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is involved in abscission signaling. Microscopic analyses revealed continuous H2O2 production by AZ cells. H2O2 scavengers and diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, suppressed in vitro abscission and cellulase expression. Conversely, the application of H2O2 promoted in vitro abscission and expression of cellulase. Ethephon‐induced abscission was suppressed by inhibitors of H2O2 production, whereas the expression of ethylene‐responsive genes was unaffected by both H2O2 and an H2O2 inhibitor. These results indicated that H2O2 acts downstream from ethylene in in vitro abscission signaling. In planta, salinity stress induced the expression of genes that respond to ethylene and reactive oxygen species, and also induced H2O2 production at the AZ, which preceded leaf abscission. These results indicate that H2O2 has roles in leaf abscission associated with ethylene both in vitro and in planta.
A proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of Oryza sativa plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane
Authors: Whiteman Sally‐Anne , Nühse Thomas S , Ashford David A , Sanders Dale , Maathuis Frans JM 
Published: June 2008

SummaryProteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of rice shoot and root tonoplast‐enriched and plasma membrane‐enriched membrane fractions were carried out to look at tissue‐specific expression, and to identify putative regulatory sites of membrane transport proteins. Around 90 unique membrane proteins were identified, which included primary and secondary transporters, ion channels and aquaporins. Primary H+ pumps from the AHA family showed little isoform specificity in their tissue expression pattern, whereas specific isoforms of the Ca2+ pump ECA/ACA family were expressed in root and shoot tissues. Several ABC transporters were detected, particularly from the MDR and PDR subfamilies, which often showed expression in either roots or shoots. Ammonium transporters were expressed in root, but not shoot, tissue. Large numbers of sugar transporters were expressed, particularly in green tissue. The occurrence of phosphorylation sites in rice transporters such as AMT1;1 and PIP2;6 agrees with those previously described in other species, pointing to conserved regulatory mechanisms. New phosphosites were found in many transporters, including H+ pumps and H+:cation antiporters, often at residues that are well conserved across gene families. Comparison of root and shoot tissue showed that phosphorylation of AMT1;1 and several further transporters may be tissue dependent.
Molecular and immunological characterization of novel weed pollen pan‐allergens
Authors: Wopfner N. , Gruber P. , Wallner M. , Briza P. , Ebner C. , Mari A. , Richter K. , Vogel L. , Ferreira F. 
Published: June 2008

Background:  Pan‐allergens like profilins, calcium‐binding proteins (CBPs), and nonspecific lipid transfer proteins have been suggested as possible specific markers for multiple pollen sensitizations, and could be used to predict cross‐sensitization/poly‐sensitization to several pollen allergens. Therefore, the purification and characterization of cross‐reacting allergens in pollen is an extremely important task towards correct allergy diagnosis.Methods:  New pan‐allergens were identified by screening a ragweed pollen cDNA library with sera of patients allergic to mugwort pollen. Resulting proteins were cloned, expressed, purified and characterized.Results:  We report complete cDNA sequences of two profilin isoforms (Amb a 8.01 and Amb a 8.02), two isoforms of a 2EF‐hand CBP (Amb a 9.01 and Amb a 9.02), a new 3EF‐hand CBP (Amb a 10) from ragweed pollen and a 2EF‐hand CBP from mugwort (Art v 5). All these proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and characterized by biochemical and immunological means.Conclusions:  The identified proteins are novel pan‐allergens and can be used as diagnostic markers for polysensitization and used in component‐resolved diagnosis.
Prediction of challenge test results by flour‐specific IgE and skin prick test in symptomatic bakers
Authors: Van Kampen V. , Rabstein S. , Sander I. , Merget R. , Brüning T. , Broding H. C. , Keller C. , Müsken H. , Overlack A. , Schultze‐Werninghaus G. , Walusiak J. , Raulf‐Heimsoth M. 
Published: June 2008

Background:  Wheat and rye flours are among the most important allergens causing occupational asthma. Usually, the diagnosis of baker’s asthma is based on inhalation challenge tests with flours.Aims of the study:  To evaluate the relevance of flour‐specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and skin prick test (SPT) in the diagnosis of baker’s asthma and to define flour‐specific IgE concentrations and wheal sizes that allow a prediction of the outcome of challenge testing.Methods:  Bronchial and nasal challenge tests with wheat (rye) flour were performed in 71 (95) symptomatic bakers. Determinations of flour‐specific IgE as well as SPTs were performed in all subjects. Analyses included the calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) at different IgE concentrations and different wheal sizes, and receiver‐operating characteristics (ROC) plots with the challenge result as gold standard.Results:  Thirty‐seven bakers were positive in the challenge with wheat flour, while 63 were positive with rye flour. Depending on the flour‐specific IgE concentrations (wheal size), PPV was 74–100% (74–100%) for wheat and 82–100% (91–100%) for rye flour, respectively. The minimal cut‐off values with a PPV of 100% were 2.32 kU/l (5.0 mm) for wheat flour and 9.64 kU/l (4.5 mm) for rye flour. The shapes of the ROC plots were similar for wheat and rye flour.Conclusion:  High concentrations of flour‐specific IgE and clear SPT results in symptomatic bakers are good predictors for a positive challenge test. Challenge tests with flours may be avoided in strongly sensitized bakers.
Pasteurization of milk proteins promotes allergic sensitization by enhancing uptake through Peyer’s patches
Authors: Roth‐Walter F. , Berin M. C. , Arnaboldi P. , Escalante C. R. , Dahan S. , Rauch J. , Jensen‐Jarolim E. , Mayer L. 
Published: June 2008

Background:  The underlying mechanisms responsible for allergic sensitization to food proteins remain elusive. To investigate the intrinsic properties (as well as the effect of pasteurization) of the milk proteins α‐lactalbumin, β‐lactoglobulin and casein that promote the induction of milk allergy.Methods:  Alteration of structure and immune‐reactivity of native and pasteurized proteins was assessed by gel filtration and ELISA. Uptake of these proteins was compared in vitro and in vivo. The biological effect was assessed by orally sensitizing C3H/HeJ mice with milk proteins followed by a graded oral challenge. Required dose to induce anaphylaxis, symptoms and mean body temperature was recorded. Antigen‐specific antibodies and cytokine production by splenocytes were analyzed.Results:  Soluble β‐lactoglobulin and α‐lactalbumin but not insoluble casein were readily transcytosed through enterocytes in vitro and in vivo. Pasteurization caused aggregation of β‐lactoglobulin and α‐lactalbumin inhibiting uptake by intestinal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, aggregation redirected uptake to Peyer’s patches, which promoted significantly higher Th2‐associated antibody and cytokine production in mice than their native counterparts. Despite this only the soluble forms of β‐lactoglobulin and α‐lactalbumin elicited anaphylaxis (following priming) when allergens were administered orally. Aggregated β‐lactoglobulin and α‐lactalbumin as well as casein required systemic administration to induce anaphylaxis.Conclusions:  These results indicate that triggering of an anaphylactic response requires two phases (1) sensitization by aggregates through Peyer’s patches and (2) efficient transfer of soluble protein across the epithelial barrier. As the majority of common food allergens tend to form aggregates, this may be of clinical importance.
Exposure to furry pets and the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Takkouche B. , González‐Barcala F.‐J. , Etminan M. , FitzGerald M. 
Published: June 2008

Background:  Exposure to pets has been implicated as a risk factor for asthma. However, this relation has been difficult to assess in individual studies because of the large potential of selection bias. We sought to examine the association between exposure to furry pets and asthma and allergic rhinitis by means of a meta‐analysis.Methods:  We retrieved studies published in any language by searching systematically Medline (1966–March 2007), Embase, LILACS and ISI Proceedings computerized databases, and by examining manually the references of the original articles and reviews retrieved. We included cohort and case–control studies reporting relative risk estimates and confidence intervals of exposure to cats, dogs and unspecified furry animals and subsequent asthma and allergic rhinitis. We excluded cross‐sectional studies and those studies that did not measure exposure but rather sensitization to pets.Results:  Thirty‐two studies were included. For asthma, the pooled relative risk related to dog exposure was 1.14 (95% CI 1.01–1.29), that related to exposure to any furry pet was 1.39 (95% CI 1.00–1.95). Among cohort studies, exposure to cats yielded a relative risk of 0.72 (95% CI 0.55–0.93). For rhinitis, the pooled relative risk of exposure to any furry pet was 0.79 (95% CI 0.68–0.93).Conclusions:  Exposure to cats exerts a slight preventive effect on asthma, an effect that is more pronounced in cohort studies. On the contrary, exposure to dogs increases slightly the risk of asthma. Exposure to furry pets of undermined type is not conclusive. More studies with exact measurement of exposure are needed to elucidate the role of pet exposures in atopic diseases.
Have the prevalence and incidence of occupational asthma and rhinitis because of laboratory animals declined in the last 25 years?
Authors: Folletti I. , Forcina A. , Marabini A. , Bussetti A. , Siracusa A. 
Published: June 2008

Background:  Data for time trends in the prevalence of occupational asthma (OA) and rhinitis (OR) are not known.Objective:  To investigate the prevalence and incidence of OA and OR over time.Methods:  We chose to review studies on the prevalence and incidence of OA and OR due to laboratory animals (LA) as a marker of changing OA and OR patterns over time and analysed 15 cross‐sectional and 4 longitudinal studies published from 1980 to 2006.Results:  The estimated prevalence of OA, defined as work‐related chest symptoms (WRCS), declined from 8.2% in 1976 to 4.2% in 2001 (P < 0.005). When defined by WRCS and positive skin prick test (SPT) to LA, the estimated prevalence of OA was 6.7% in 1977 and 2.9% in 1999 (P < 0.02). The prevalence of OR, defined by WRNS or WRNS and SPT to LA, was not related to study date but was inversely associated with mean exposure duration. In four longitudinal studies no clear trend emerged over time.Conclusions:  This review suggests a trend toward a progressive decline in the prevalence of occupational asthma due to laboratory animals, which may be due to the reduction of exposure since the early 1980s. A further reduction of exposure is needed to prevent the onset of occupational rhinitis.
Temperature‐dependent costs of parasitism and maintenance of polymorphism under genotype‐by‐environment interactions
Authors: VALE P. F. , STJERNMAN M. , LITTLE T. J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe maintenance of genetic variation for infection‐related traits is often attributed to coevolution between hosts and parasites, but it can also be maintained by environmental variation if the relative fitness of different genotypes changes with environmental variation. To gain insight into how infection‐related traits are sensitive to environmental variation, we exposed a single host genotype of the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna to four parasite isolates (which we assume to represent different genotypes) of its naturally co‐occurring parasite Pasteuria ramosa at 15, 20 and 25 °C. We found that the cost to the host of becoming infected varied with temperature, but the magnitude of this cost did not depend on the parasite isolate. Temperature influenced parasite fitness traits; we found parasite genotype‐by‐environment (G × E) interactions for parasite transmission stage production, suggesting the potential for temperature variation to maintain genetic variation in this trait. Finally, we tested for temperature‐dependent relationships between host and parasite fitness traits that form a key component of models of virulence evolution, and we found them to be stable across temperatures.
Red blood cell to plasma ratios transfused during massive transfusion are associated with mortality in severe multiply injury: a retrospective analysis from the Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie
Authors: Maegele M. , Lefering R. , Paffrath T. , Tjardes T. , Simanski C. , Bouillon B. ,   the Working Group on Polytrauma of the German Society of Trauma Surgery (DGU)
Published: June 2008

Background  To test whether an acute transfusion practice of packed red blood cells (pRBC) : fresh‐frozen plasma (FFP) 1 : 1 would be associated with reduced mortality in acute bleeding multiply injury.Methods  Retrospective analysis using the TR‐DGU database (Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie 2002–2006) on primary admissions with substantial injury (Injury Severity Score > 16) and massive transfusion (> 10 pRBCs). Seven hundred thirteen patients were divided into three groups according to the pRBC : FFP ratio transfused, that is, (i) pRBC : FFP > 1·1; (ii) pRBC : FFP 0·9–1·1 (1 : 1); and (iii) pRBC : FFP < 0·9, and mortality rates were compared.Results  Four hundred ninety‐seven (69·7%) of patients were male, the mean age was 40·1 (± 18·3) years. Injury characteristics and pathophysiological state upon emergency room arrival were comparable between groups. Out of 713, 484 patients had undergone massive transfusion with pRBC : FFP > 1·1, 114 with pRBC : FFP 0·9–1·1 (1 : 1), and 115 with pRBC : FFP < 0·9 ratios. Acute mortality (< 6 h) rates for pRBC : FFP > 1·1, pRBC : FFP 0·9–1·1 (1 : 1), and pRBC : FFP < 0·9 ratios were 24·6, 9·6 and 3·5% (P < 0·0001), 24‐h mortality rates were 32·6, 16·7 and 11·3% (P < 0·0001), and 30‐day mortality rates were 45·5, 35·1 and 24·3% (P < 0·001). The frequency for septic complications and organ failure was higher in the pRBC : FFP 0·9–1·1 (1 : 1) group, ventilator days and length of stays for intensive care unit and overall in‐hospital were highest in the pRBC : FFP < 0·9 ratio group (P < 0·0005).Conclusions  An association between pRBC : FFP transfusion ratios and mortality to favour early aggressive FFP administration was observed. Further investigation is necessary prior to recommending routine 1 : 1 or more aggressive FFP use in exsanguinating patients.
Identification of site similarities in western and central Asia using CIMMYT international wheat yield data
Authors: Lage J. , Trethowan R. M. , Hernandez E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractUnderstanding the association among wheat growing locations allows plant breeders to better target crosses and identifies locations for germplasm exchange. To examine the relationship between yield testing sites in eight countries in western/central Asia, 291 data sets from CIMMYT's different international yield nurseries were combined into one analysis as no single nursery was well represented across the region; these nurseries represented wheat germplasm specifically developed for different agro‐ecological zones including irrigated, semi‐arid, high‐rainfall, autumn‐ and spring‐sown conditions. The shifted multiplicative model was used to group individual sites into clusters. Results revealed 18 site‐by‐site combinations as ‘similar’ to each other and 23 as ‘contrasting’ at a probability level of P < 15%. CIMMYT's main yield testing site in northern Mexico proved the best predictor for the region. Within the region two sites in Turkey and Iran were identified as possible sites for future regional testing. Overall the study showed that data from different yield nurseries can be combined to improve our understanding of site associations across western/central Asia to the benefit of both international and regional wheat breeders.
Use of ccSSR markers for the determination of the purity of alloplasmic wheat in different Hordeum cytoplasms
Authors: Martín A. C. , Atienza S. G. , Barro F. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe tested three different consensus chloroplast simple sequence repeat (ccSSR) primers to identify amplified polymorphic products in Hordeum chilense, Hordeum vulgare and other Triticeae species with a double aim. First, to use chloroplast‐specific primers as an indirect method for the assessment of wheat cytoplasmic male sterile purity in seedlings during multiplication and in the development of alloplasmic lines. Second, to analyse cytoplasmic relationships among H. chilense accessions and between H. chilense and other members of the Triticeae tribe. The products from primer ccSSR‐4 were easily discriminated using agarose gel electrophoresis. Based on the lengths of amplification products, three groups were identified: the first included almost exclusively H. chilense accessions, the second contained H. vulgare accessions and the third comprised the wheat and the rest of the analysed accessions. Sequencing of PCR products revealed point mutations and insertions/deletions in addition to the expansion/contraction of the microsatellite repeat length. Data analyses of sequenced fragments revealed six groups of accessions among the material studied. No significant differences were found among H. chilense accessions.