bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The time course of biological and immunochemical allergy states induced by anisakis simplex larvae in rats
Authors: Cho T H , Park H-Y , Cho S , Sohn J , Yoon Y W , Cho J-E , Cho S-W 
Published: January 2006

Summary
Oral infection by Anisakis simplex third stage larvae (L3) frequently gives rise to an allergic response. To comprehend the allergic and immune responses induced by L3, we investigated the kinetics of specific antibody isotype expression and the time course of biological and immunochemical allergy states using sera prepared from rats orally infected with L3 twice, with an interval of 9 weeks between infections. Biological and immunochemical allergy states were analysed by RBL-2H3 exocytosis and by indirect ELISA for IgE, respectively. The peak IgM at reinfection (RI) was comparable or similar to that at primary infection (PI) both in levels analysed by indirect ELISA and in antigen recognition analysed by Western blot. IgG1 and IgG2a levels were higher and showed accelerated kinetics after RI vs. after PI. However, the level of IgG2b was substantially lower than that of IgG2a. Peak immunochemical and biological allergy states for RI were higher and were reached faster than those for PI. The peak biological allergy state was observed at 1 week postreinfection and this occurred sooner than that for the peak immunochemical allergy state found at 2 weeks postreinfection. Our analysis of the relationship between specific IgE avidity and biological allergy state did not show any meaningful correlation. These results suggest that the allergic response induced by L3 oral infection is predominantly caused by reinfection and that this is accompanied by an elevated IgM level, which further suggests that the biological allergy state might not be related to specific IgE avidity.
Regulation of local and metastatic host-mediated anti-tumour mechanisms byl-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1
Authors: Yamada M , Yanaba K , Hasegawa M , Matsushita Y , Horikawa M , Komura K , Matsushita T , Kawasuji A , Fujita T , Takehara K , Steeber D A , Tedder T F , Sato S 
Published: January 2006

SummaryMalignant melanoma is often accompanied by a host response of inﬂammatory cell infiltration that is highly regulated by multiple adhesion molecules. To assess the role of adhesion molecules, including l-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), in this process, subcutaneous primary growth and metastasis to the lung of B16 melanoma cells not expressing l-selectin, ICAM-1 or their ligands were examined in mice lacking l-selectin, ICAM-1 or both. Primary subcutaneous growth of B16 melanoma was augmented by loss of l-selectin, ICAM-1 or both, while pulmonary metastasis was enhanced by the loss of l-selectin or combined loss of l-selectin and ICAM-1. In both situations, the combined loss of l-selectin and ICAM-1 exhibited the greatest effect. This enhancement was associated generally with a reduced accumulation of natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells and also with a diminished release of interferon (IFN)-γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α but not interleukin (IL)-6. Cytotoxicity against melanoma was not defective by the absence of ICAM-1, l-selectin or both, suggesting that the enhancement of tumour growth and metastasis caused by the loss of adhesion molecules results from an impaired migration of effector cells into the tissue rather than from a suppression of the cytotoxic response. The results indicate that l-selectin and ICAM-1 contribute co-operatively to the anti-tumour reaction by regulating lymphocyte infiltration to the tumour.
Altered naive CD4 and CD8 T cell homeostasis in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: thymicversusperipheral (non-thymic) mechanisms
Authors: Duszczyszyn D A , Beck J D , Antel J , Bar-Or A , Lapierre Y , Gadag V , Haegert D G 
Published: January 2006

SummaryWe have reported previously that naive T cells from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients have T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire shifts, but the basis of these TCR repertoire shifts was uncertain. Here, we questioned whether RRMS patients have altered naive CD4 and CD8 T cell homeostasis by studying homeostatic proliferation and thymic production in RRMS patients and healthy controls. We measured thymic production by quantifying signal joint T cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs). Both naive T subsets from controls showed an age-associated decrease in sjTRECs, i.e. evidence of progressive thymic involution, but we detected no age-associated decrease in sjTRECs in RRMS patients. Instead, naive CD8 T cells from patients had lower sjTRECs (P = 0·012) and higher Ki-67 proliferation levels (P = 0·04) than controls. Naive CD4 T cell sjTRECs did not differ between patients and controls. However, in RRMS these sjTRECs correlated strongly with CD31, a marker expressed by newly generated CD4 T cells but not by naive CD4 T cells that have undergone homeostatic proliferation. HLA-DR2 positivity correlated negatively with naive CD4 T cell CD31 expression in RRMS (P = 0·002). We conclude in RRMS that naive T subsets have homeostatic abnormalities due probably to peripheral (non-thymic) mechanisms. These abnormalities could have relevance for MS pathogenesis, as naive T cell changes may precede MS onset.
Reduced number of interleukin-12 secreting cells in patients with Lyme borreliosis previously exposed to Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Authors: Jarefors S , Karlsson M , Forsberg P , Eliasson I , Ernerudh J , Ekerfelt C 
Published: January 2006

Summary
Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, respectively. Infection with A. phagocytophilum has been observed to induce immunosuppression and animal studies suggest that the bacteria might also have prolonged inhibitory effects on immune cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytokine secretion in patients exposed previously to A. phagocytophilum and currently infected with B. burgdorferi compared with patients infected with B. burgdorferi and seronegative for A. phagocytophilum. Eight patients with erythema migrans and antibodies against A. phagocytophilum, 15 patients with erythema migrans and negative A. phagocytophilum serology and 15 non-exposed healthy individuals were included in the study. Blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with Borrelia-antigen and the number of cytokine [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-12, IL-13 and interferon (IFN)-Î³]-secreting cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). This study shows that patients with a previous exposure to A. phagocytophilum and a current infection with B. burgdorferi have a lower number of Borrelia-specific cells secreting IL-12 compared to Ap seronegative patients infected with B. burgdorferi (P &lt; 0·001), indicating impairment in the ability to mount strong Th1-responses. We suggest that this mirrors a reduced Th1 response caused by A. phagocytophilum which could influence the outcome of the Borrelia infection and, speculatively, may also have implications in other conditions.
Circulating dendritic cells and interferon-α production in patients with tuberculosis: correlation with clinical outcome and treatment response
Authors: Lichtner M , Rossi R , Mengoni F , Vignoli S , Colacchia B , Massetti A P , Kamga I , Hosmalin A , Vullo V , Mastroianni C M 
Published: January 2006

SummaryDendritic cells (DC) have been characterized recently as having an important role in the initiation and control of immunological response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Blood DC have been subdivided into myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC) subsets, on the basis of differences in phenotype markers and function. Little is known about the enumeration and functional evaluation of circulating DC in patients with tuberculosis and their correlation with clinical outcome during the course of anti-tuberculous treatment. We assessed circulating mDC and pDC counts measured by a newly developed single-platform flow cytometric assay based on TruCOUNT, as well as the production of interferon (IFN)-α after in vitro stimulation by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) in 24 patients with active tuberculosis (TB) and 37 healthy donors. Absolute numbers of both DC subsets were decreased significantly in patients with active TB compared to controls. Similarly, the production of IFN-α was highly impaired. In 13 patients these parameters were assessed longitudinally, before and after the specific anti-microbial treatment. Most interestingly, in all nine patients with successful anti-tuberculous therapy there was a significant and marked increase of pDC counts and IFN-α production. In contrast, no significant longitudinal variations in DC counts and IFN-α production were observed in four patients with lack of response to specific treatment. In conclusion, active TB is associated with a defect in blood DC numbers and IFN-α production that is restored after bacterial clearance and clinical improvement, as a result of effective anti-tuberculous treatment.
Genetic and functional interaction between Ryh1 and Ypt3: two Rab GTPases that function in S. pombe secretory pathway
Authors: He Yi , Sugiura Reiko , Ma Yan , Kita Ayako , Deng Lu , Takegawa Kaoru , Matsuoka Ken , Shuntoh Hisato , Kuno Takayoshi 
Published: January 2006

We have previously isolated ypt3‐i5 mutant and showed that Ypt3 GTPase functions in the fission yeast secretory pathway. Here, the same genetic screen led to the isolation of ryh1‐i6, a mutant allele of the ryh1+ gene encoding a homolog of Rab6. The ryh1‐i6 mutant showed phenotypes that support its role in retrograde traffic from endosome to the Golgi. Interestingly, ryh1+ gene deletion was synthetically lethal with ypt3‐i5 mutation. Consistently, the over‐expression of the GDP‐conformational mutant, Ryh1T25 N, inhibited the growth of ypt3‐i5 mutant but had no effect on that of wild‐type cells. Furthermore, the over‐expression of the Ryh1T25N mutant inhibited the acid phosphatase glycosylation and exacerbated the cell wall integrity of ypt3‐i5 mutant, but had no effect on those of wild‐type cells. GFP‐Ryh1 and GFP‐Ypt3 both localized at the Golgi/endosome, but showed distinct subcellular localizations. The localization of GFP‐Ryh1 in ypt3‐i5 mutant and that of GFP‐Ypt3 in ryh1‐i6 mutant were distinct from those in wild‐type cells. In addition, Ryh1 as well as Ypt3 were shown to be involved in acid phosphatase secretion. These results suggest that Ryh1 is involved in the secretory pathway and may have a potential overlapping function with Ypt3 in addition to its role in recycling.
The objective assessment of international collaboration between pathology laboratories
Authors: Holliman R. E. , Johnson J. D. , Adjei O. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractCollaboration between clinical laboratories in different countries is widespread but rarely subject to critical analysis. We developed a management tool for assessing the quality of an international pathology laboratory collaboration. Key areas of activity were identified and relevant performance indicators were established. There was no evidence of improved staff morale arising from the project but research, education, equipment, protocols and ethics activities all had demonstrable outputs. Identification of suboptimal performance in areas of the project allowed effective improvement planning. International collaboration may consume significant resources. Objective assessment should be used to measure performance and to enhance quality.
Attributed disability: a spot of local difficulty
Authors: Peat George 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThere has been an exponential growth of publications relating to the development and application of health measurement instruments. Condition‐specific measures have formed a large part of this trend. This article questions the rationale behind the concept of condition‐specific disability, a common domain in such measures, taking musculoskeletal medicine as an example. It argues that physical functions are seldom unique to a specific condition and that measurement specificity therefore relies on attributing functional consequences to the health condition of interest. The presence of multi‐morbidity (musculoskeletal and non‐musculoskeletal), and the influence of personal and environmental factors, pose problems for attribution that have seldom been empirically investigated. Furthermore, attributing disability to a specific health condition of interest potentially limits insights into important interventions such as managing co‐morbid interactions and targeting barriers in the physical, social, and attitudinal environment. Efforts to identify regionally relevant item content and to measure participation in daily life are a step in the right direction. Attribution is not needed for either.
A systematic review on communicating with patients about evidence
Authors: Trevena Lyndal J , Heather M Davey BPsych (Hons) MPH (Hons)  , Barratt Alexandra , Butow Phyllis , Caldwell Patrina 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjective  To conduct a systematic search for (1) the effectiveness of evidence‐based communication tools to increase patient understanding of evidence, (2) effective formats for representing probabilistic information and (3) effective strategies for eliciting patient preferences about evidence. A case scenario is used to illustrate some of the difficulties of putting these results into practice.  Data sources  Systematic search of The Cochrane Library, Medline, Psychinfo, Embase and Cancerlit.Review methods  Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and high quality RCTs were included. Studies were excluded if they did not address the question, were focused on behavioural outcomes without attempting to increase understanding, were concerned with counselling as a therapeutic intervention, or were specific to communication regarding clinical trial participation.  Results  We found 10 systematic reviews of RCTs and 30 additional RCTs addressing our questions. Communication tools in most formats (verbal, written, video, provider‐delivered, computer‐based) will increase patients’ understanding but are more likely to do so if structured, tailored and/or interactive. Probabilistic information is best represented as event rates (natural frequencies) in relevant groups of people, rather than words, probabilities or summarized as effect measures such as relative risk reduction. Illustrations such as cartoons, or graphs (vertical bar charts) appear to aid understanding. Values clarification exercises may be better than standard utility techniques for eliciting preferences in individual decision making. Looking for effective evidence‐based communication tools for prostatic specific antigen testing highlighted the challenges for clinicians and consumers in accessing tools that are evidence‐based in design as well as content.Conclusion  There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the design of effective evidence‐based communication tools but variable access to such tools in practice.
A comparison of multivariable regression models to analyse cost data
Authors: Dodd Susanna , Bassi Asish , Bodger Keith , Williamson Paula 
Published: January 2006

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  Analysis of cost data is important in providing reliable information to aid budgeting decisions. Certain features of cost data, such as its typically highly skewed distribution and the need to estimate arithmetic mean costs in order to allow inferences to be made on total costs, make it difficult to analyse. Multivariable regression analysis is useful for estimating the influence of explanatory variables on cost in order to predict costs of future patients and allows for the control of variables which influence cost but whose distributions differ between comparison groups. This is especially important in the case of observational studies, where there may be no control over the balance of characteristics between the comparison groups.Method  This paper compares the appropriateness of various multivariable models of cost data by examining regression diagnostics, using as an example data collected on costs incurred in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The models compared are normal and bootstrapped multiple linear regression, median regression, gamma model with the log link and normal linear regression (NLR) of log costs.Results  Gamma modelling with the log link was found to be the most suitable model.Conclusions  Bootstrapping was found to make very little difference to conclusions from the NLR model.
Inorganic carbon acquisition in red tide dinoflagellates
Authors: ROST BJÖRN , RICHTER KLAUS‐UWE , RIEBESELL ULF , HANSEN PER JUEL 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTCarbon acquisition was investigated in three marine bloom‐forming dinoflagellates –Prorocentrum minimum, Heterocapsa triquetra and Ceratium lineatum. In vivo activities of extracellular and intracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA), photosynthetic O2 evolution, CO2 and HCO3– uptake rates were measured by membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) in cells acclimated to low pH (8.0) and high pH (8.5 or 9.1). A second approach used short‐term 14C‐disequilibrium incubations to estimate the carbon source utilized by the cells. All three species showed negligible extracellular CA (eCA) activity in cells acclimated to low pH and only slightly higher activity when acclimated to high pH. Intracellular CA (iCA) activity was present in all three species, but it increased only in P. minimum with increasing pH. Half‐saturation concentrations (K1/2) for photosynthetic O2 evolution were low compared to ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) kinetics. Moreover, apparent affinities for inorganic carbon (Ci) increased with increasing pH in the acclimation, indicating the operation of an efficient CO2 concentration mechanism (CCM) in these dinoflagellates. Rates of CO2 uptake were comparably low and could not support the observed rates of photosynthesis. Consequently, rates of HCO3– uptake were high in the investigated species, contributing more than 80% of the photosynthetic carbon fixation. The affinity for HCO3– and maximum uptake rates increased under higher pH. The strong preference for HCO3– was also confirmed by the 14C‐disequilibrium technique. Modes of carbon acquisition were consistent with the 13C‐fractionation pattern observed and indicated a strong species‐specific difference in leakage. These results suggest that photosynthesis in marine dinoflagellates is not limited by Ci even at high pH, which may occur during red tides in coastal waters.
Evaluation of carrot resistance to alternaria leaf blight in controlled environments
Authors: Pawelec A. , Dubourg C. , Briard M. 
Published: January 2006

The objective of this study was to find a technique for plant resistance screening to alternaria leaf blight (ALB), caused by the fungus Alternaria dauci, in controlled environments. Glasshouse and laboratory screening methods were compared using three cultivars and F2 genotypes segregating for ALB resistance evaluated against self‐pollinated F3 field‐grown plants. Plant disease was assessed through a disease index obtained from the size and number of symptoms on carrot leaves. The results indicated the value of glasshouse evaluation and the inadequacy of detached leaf and hypocotyl assays for carrot screening for ALB resistance. Spearman's rank correlation, applied to results obtained with both F2 plants and their progeny, indicated that the optimal evaluation stage for ALB resistance in carrot is 20 days after inoculation. This test was powerful enough to be used as a prescreening test in breeding programmes.
Growth and movement of secondary plasmodia of Plasmodiophora brassicae in turnip suspension‐culture cells
Authors: Asano T. , Kageyama K. 
Published: January 2006

Growth of secondary plasmodia of the clubroot pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae was studied in dual culture of P. brassicae and turnip suspension cells. Suspension culture of P. brassicae‐infected turnip cells was achieved by using P. brassicae‐infected callus in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0·1 mg 2,4‐D L−1 and 0·02 mg kinetin L−1. The shape of secondary plasmodia in suspension cells was spherical‐to‐subspherical. A few young plasmodia divided and became numerous spherical, small plasmodia which eventually formed a plasmodial cluster. The plasmodia fused and became vegetative plasmodia. Infected cells were significantly larger than noninfected cells. Secondary plasmodia moved within transformed turnip suspension host cells by cytoplasmic streaming of the host cells. Secondary plasmodia divided in synchrony with the transformed turnip cells.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the efficacy and safety of cyclosporin for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs
Authors: STEFFAN JEAN , FAVROT CLAUDE , MUELLER RALF 
Published: January 2006

Abstract The efficacy of cyclosporin A (CsA) for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis was evaluated based on the systematic review of prospective clinical trials published between 2001 and 2005. Ten studies with adequate design characteristics were included. These studies enrolled 799 dogs, 672 (84%) treated with CsA, 160 (20%) with placebo, 74 (9%) with oral glucocorticoids and 23 (3%) with antihistamines. Treatment duration varied from 2 weeks to 6 months. For safety analysis, data were available from 660 dogs. Lesion scores were improved from baseline in the range of 30–52%, 53–84% and 52–69% after 4, 6 and 16 weeks, respectively. The percentage of dogs with only mild pruritus rose from 0–13% at inclusion to 32–59% and 46–90% after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. In most studies, the frequency of CsA administration could be reduced to every other day in 40% to 50% of patients after 4 weeks and to twice weekly in 20–26% of the dogs after 12–16 weeks. Meta‐analysis confirmed highly significant effects of CsA compared to placebo, but none between oral CsA and glucocorticoids. The initial disease severity, age or body weight of subjects did not influence treatment success. Improvement by more than 50% over baseline of lesion scores was predictive of a better response during treatment maintenance. Vomiting and soft stools/diarrhoea were the most frequent adverse events seen at least once during the studies. These occurred in 25% and 15% of subjects, respectively. The frequency of each other type of adverse events was lower than 2.1%. In summary, the administration of CsA for the treatment of canine AD was found to be as effective as that of glucocorticoids, and adverse effects were minimal.