bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toll-like receptor-induced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion is impaired in Crohn's disease by nucleotide oligomerization domain 2-dependent and -independent pathways
Authors: Brosbøl-Ravnborg A , Hvas C L , Agnholt J , Dahlerup J F , Vind I , Till A , Rosenstiel P , Höllsberg P 
Published: November 2008

Summary
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are an integral part of the innate immune system and govern the early control of foreign microorganisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the intracellular pattern recognition receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein (NOD2, nucleotide oligomerization domain 2) are associated with Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated the impact of NOD2 polymorphisms on cytokine secretion and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) and NOD2 ligands. Based on NOD2 SNP analyses, 41 CD patients and 12 healthy controls were studied. PBMCs were stimulated with NOD2 and TLR ligands. After 18 h culture supernatants were measured using multiplex assays for the presence of human cytokines granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In CD patients, TLR-induced GM-CSF secretion was impaired by both NOD2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Moreover, TNF-α production was induced by a TLR-2 ligand, but a down-regulatory function by the NOD2 ligand, muramyl dipeptide, was impaired significantly in CD patients. Intracellular TLR ligands had minimal effect on GM-CSF, TNF-α and IL-1β secretion. CD patients with NOD2 mutations were able to secrete TNF-α, but not GM-CSF, upon stimulation with NOD2 and TLR-7 ligands. CD patients have impaired GM-CSF secretion via NOD2-dependent and -independent pathways and display an impaired NOD2-dependent down-regulation of TNF-α secretion. The defect in GM-CSF secretion suggests a hitherto unknown role of NOD2 in the pathogenesis of CD and is consistent with the hypothesis that impaired GM-CSF secretion in part constitutes a NOD2-dependent disease risk factor.
Assessing ecosystem functioning in streams affected by forest management: increased leaf decomposition occurs without changes to the composition of benthic assemblages
Authors: MCKIE BRENDAN G. , MALMQVIST BJÖRN 
Published: November 2008

Summary1. Landscape management practices that alter energetic linkages between aquatic and terrestrial habitats can affect associated ecosystem processes, and ultimately the provision of ecosystem services of importance to humanity. Such effects cannot always be inferred from current biomonitoring schemes, which are typically based on assessment of community structural parameters rather than functional attributes related to important ecosystem‐level processes.2. We investigated effects of forest clearcutting, a major landscape‐level disturbance known to alter the energetic basis of aquatic food webs, on headwater streams in northern Sweden. The key ecosystem process of leaf decomposition was measured as an index of ecosystem functioning. The biomass of detritivorous shredders was also quantified, along with various community structural parameters associated with the diversity, composition and functional guild organisation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages.3. No differences in macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity or assemblage composition were detected between forested and clearcut streams, and most functional guilds were similarly unaffected, though species density of scrapers was higher in forested than clearcut channels.4. In contrast, mass loss of two leaf species was elevated in all clearcut streams, with evidence for increases in the efficiency per degree‐day of both the microbial and detritivore mediated fractions of decomposition.5. Increased rates of leaf mass loss in the clearcut streams were associated with greater phosphate concentrations and shredder biomass, and with an increased relative abundance of broadleaves in standing stocks of benthic litter. Together, these findings indicate a more rapid transfer of energy and nutrients through the detrital pathways of our clearcut streams.6. These results demonstrate the utility of litter decomposition assays for monitoring effects of forest management on stream ecosystem functioning, and have implications for nutrient cycles in landscapes extensively influenced by forest management. The markedly different responses of our functional and structural measures to clearcutting highlight the value of incorporating methods for the functional assessment of ecosystems into biomonitoring schemes.
Virtual histology by means of high‐resolution X‐ray CT
Authors: CNUDDE V. , MASSCHAELE B. , DE COCK H.E.V. , OLSTAD K. , VLAMINCK L. , VLASSENBROECK J. , DIERICK M. , WITTE Y.D. , VAN HOOREBEKE L. , JACOBS P. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryMicro‐CT is a non‐destructive technique for 3D tomographic investigation of an object. A 3D representation of the internal structure is calculated based on a series of X‐ray radiographs taken from different angles. The spatial resolution of current laboratory‐used micro‐CT systems has come down over the last years from a few tens of microns to a few microns. This opens the possibility to perform histological investigations in 3D on a virtual representation of a sample, referred to as virtual 3D histology. The advantage of micro‐CT based virtual histology is the immediate and automated 3D visualization of the sample without prior slicing, sample preparation like decalcification, photographing and aligning. This not only permits a drastic reduction in preparation time but also offers the possibility to easily investigate objects that are difficult to slice. This article presents results that were obtained on punch biopsies of horse skin, (dental) alveolus of ponies and chondro‐osseous samples from the tarsus of foals studied with the new high resolution micro‐CT set‐up (HRXCT) at the Ghent University (Belgium) (http://www.ugct.ugent.be). This state‐of‐the‐art set‐up provides a 1 micron resolution and is therefore ideally suited for a direct comparison with standard light microscopy–based histology.
Effect of passive smoking on growth and infection rates of breast‐fed and non‐breast‐fed infants
Authors: Yılmaz Gonca , Hızlı Şamil , Karacan Candemir , Yurdakök Kadriye , Coşkun Turgay , Dilmen Uğur 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of passive tobacco smoking on growth and infection rate of infants, and to evaluate whether breast‐feeding might be protective against harmful effects of cigarette smoke.Methods:  A cross‐sectional study on 254 6–7‐month‐old infants was carried out. A questionnaire was given to mothers; and infants’ head circumference, bodyweight, height, and urinary cotinine levels were measured.Results:  Multivariate analysis of factors influencing lower respiratory tract infections showed that smoking mothers increased the rate by 9.1‐fold; breast‐feeding decreased it by 3.3‐fold; formula feeding at birth increased it by a factor of 15.2; another smoker at home increased it by a factor of 40.1. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing upper respiratory tract infections showed that smoking mothers increased the rate by a factor of 23; early formula feeding increased it by a factor of 62; breast‐feeding decreased it by a factor of 5; smoking fathers increased it by a factor of 15. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing otitis media found that smoking mothers and fathers increased it by a factor of 9.4 and 6.15, respectively, and breast‐feeding decreased it by a factor of 5.4.Conclusion:  Tobacco smoke exposure of infants has negative consequences on growth, otitis media, and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Breast‐feeding promoted the growth of infants who were passively exposed to tobacco smoke and protected them against infections. Smoking should not be permitted in households with infants. When this is impossible, breast‐feeding should be promoted to protect the infants against the health hazards of passive smoking.
On the mechanisms of fatigue facet nucleation in titanium alloys
Authors: DUNNE F. P. E. , RUGG D. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTA crystal plasticity model for near‐alpha hcp titanium alloys embodying a quasi‐cleavage failure mechanism is presented and employed to investigate the conditions necessary in order for facet nucleation to occur in cold‐dwell fatigue. A model polycrystal is used to investigate the effects of combinations of crystallographic orientations (and in particular, a rogue grain combination), the essential role of (cold) creep during hold periods in the loading cycle and the more damaging effect of a load hold rather than a strain hold in facet nucleation. Direct comparisons of model predictions are made with dwell fatigue test results. More generally, the crystal model for faceting is found to be consistent with a range of experimental observations.
Fatigue crack growth in hybrid boron/glass/aluminium fibre metal laminates
Authors: CHANG P.‐Y. , YEH P.‐C. , YANG J.‐M. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe crack growth behaviour of hybrid boron/glass/aluminium fibre metal laminates (FMLs) under constant‐amplitude fatigue loading was investigated. The hybrid FMLs consist of Al 2024‐T3 alloy as the metal layers and a mixture of boron fibres and glass fibres as the fibre layers. Two types of boron/glass/aluminium laminates were fabricated and tested. In the first type, the glass fibre/prepreg and the boron fibre/prepreg were used separately in the fibre layers, and in the second type, the boron fibres and the glass fibres were uniformly mingled together to form a hybrid boron fibre/glass fibre prepreg.An analytical model was also proposed to predict the fatigue crack growth behaviour of hybrid boron/glass/aluminium FMLs. The effective stress intensity factor at a crack tip was formulated as a function of the remote stress intensity factor, crack opening stress intensity factor, and the bridging stress intensity factor. The bridging stress acting on the delamination boundary along the crack length was also calculated based on the crack opening relations. Then, the empirical Paris‐type fatigue crack growth law was used for predicting the crack growth rates. A good correlation between the predicted and experimental crack growth rates has been obtained.
Quality matters: resource quality for hosts and the timing of epidemics
Authors: Hall Spencer R. , Knight Christine J. , Becker Claes R. , Duffy Meghan A. , Tessier Alan J. , Cáceres Carla E. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractEpidemiologists increasingly realize that species interactions (e.g. selective predation) can determine when epidemics start and end. We hypothesize here that resource quality can also strongly influence disease dynamics: epidemics can be inhibited when resource quality for hosts is too poor and too good. In three lakes, resource quality for the zooplankton host (Daphnia dentifera) was poor when fungal epidemics (Metschnikowia bicuspidata) commenced and increased as epidemics waned. Experiments using variation in algal food showed that resource quality had conflicting effects on underlying epidemiology: high‐quality food induced large production of infective propagules (spores) and high birth rate but also reduced transmission. A model then illustrated how these underlying correlations can inhibit the start of epidemics (when spore production/birth rate are too low) but also catalyse their end (when transmission becomes too low). This resource quality mechanism is likely to interface with other ones controlling disease dynamics and warrants closer evaluation.
The high prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in refractory focal epilepsy is related to recurrent seizures
Authors: Liimatainen S. , Peltola M. , Fallah M. , Kharazmi E. , Haapala A.‐M. , Peltola J. 
Published: November 2008

Background:  Previous studies have shown the association between antiphospholipid antibodies with epilepsy but there are no studies addressing the effect of seizure frequency, duration of epilepsy, epilepsy type and aetiology on the prevalence of these antibodies in well‐evaluated refractory epilepsy.Methods:  Anticardiolipin, anti‐β2‐glycoprotein I and antinuclear antibody levels were measured in 105 well‐evaluated patients with refractory focal epilepsy. Clinical determinants included the patient history, electroclinical classification and high resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging.Results:  Patients with seizures during the month prior to sampling (recent seizures) had increased prevalence of immunoglobulin (Ig) G class anticardiolipin antibodies (29%) compared with healthy controls [13%; age‐adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30–7.34] and patients with no recent seizures (11%; age‐adjusted OR: 4.00, CI: 0.84–19.02). The patients with recent seizures had increased prevalence of moderate positive IgG class anticardiolipin antibodies (12%) compared with the controls (4%) and the patients with no recent seizures (0%; age‐adjusted OR: 4.45, CI: 1.14–17.36). The prevalence of IgG class anticardiolipin antibodies was not associated with epilepsy type, duration or aetiology.Conclusion:  The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies is associated with recurrent seizures in patients with refractory focal epilepsy. The measurement of these antibodies may be useful in evaluating the outcome of epilepsy.
The roles of microRNA in cancer and apoptosis
Authors: Lynam‐Lennon Niamh , Maher Stephen G. , Reynolds John V. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractmicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, non‐protein‐coding RNAs that function to regulate gene expression. In mammals this regulation is primarily carried out by repression of translation. miRNAs play important roles in homeostatic processes such as development, cell proliferation and cell death. Recently the dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to cancer initiation and progression, indicating that miRNAs may play roles as tumour suppressor genes or oncogenes. The role of miRNAs in apoptosis is not fully understood, however, evidence is mounting that miRNAs are important in this process. The dysregulation of miRNAs involved in apoptosis may provide a mechanism for cancer development and resistance to cancer therapy. This review examines the biosynthesis of miRNA, the mechanisms of miRNA target regulation and the involvement of miRNAs in the initiation and progression of human cancer. It will include miRNAs involved in apoptosis, specifically those miRNAs involved in the regulation of apoptotic pathways and tumour suppressor/oncogene networks. It will also consider emerging evidence supporting a role for miRNAs in modulating sensitivity to anti‐cancer therapy.
Dopamine auto‐oxidation aggravates non‐apoptotic cell death induced by over‐expression of human A53T mutant alpha‐synuclein in dopaminergic PC12 cells
Authors: Zhou Zhi Dong , Kerk Sze Yen , Xiong Gao Gao , Lim Tit Meng 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn this study, we demonstrated that transient transfection and over‐expression of human mutant A53T alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) could induce expression level‐ and time‐dependent, non‐apoptotic cell death in PC12 cells, while wild‐type and mutant A30P α‐syn could not. The non‐apoptotic cell death induced by over‐expression of A53T α‐syn in PC12 cells was found to be dopamine (DA) related. It could be alleviated by nerve growth factor but not by chemicals that abrogate endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, PC12 cell death could be alleviated by N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC) as well as by l‐cysteine; but not by cell permeable tyrosinase inhibitors. NAC could prevent DA auto‐oxidation and tyrosinase‐catalyzed DA oxidation, whereas l‐cysteine could potently abrogate DA auto‐oxidation but could not prevent tyrosinase‐catalyzed DA oxidation. Both NAC and l‐cysteine could increase the reduced and total GSH levels, and concurrently decrease the oxidized GSH level in PC12 cells. On the other hand, over‐expression of human mutant A53T α‐syn could decrease the reduced and total GSH levels, and increase the oxidized GSH level in the cells. Taken together, we concluded that auto‐oxidation of endogenous DA aggravates non‐apoptotic cell death induced by over‐expression of human mutant A53T α‐syn in PC12 cells.
A comparison of methods of aesthetic assessment in root coverage procedures
Authors: Kerner Stéphane , Katsahian Sandrine , Sarfati Alexandre , Korngold Stéphane , Jakmakjian Sébastien , Tavernier Bruno , Valet Fabien , Bouchard Philippe 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAim: To evaluate the reliability of professional qualitative scoring methods used in evaluating aesthetic results after root coverage therapy and to evaluate the relationship between subjective and objective measurements.Material and Methods: A review panel of seven professional and non‐professional, trained and untrained observers used photographic records to assess the overall cosmetic results of 162 root coverage surgical procedures in 133 patients (mean follow‐up 17.51±17.37 months). Two different methods were used. In the before–after panel scoring system, observers evaluated the difference between preoperative and postoperative views, whereas in the random panel scoring system, observers rated each photograph independently.Results: For both methods, intrarater agreement ranged from substantial to almost perfect for the periodontists. The best interrater agreement was found for trained periodontists using the five‐point ordinal scale of the before–after panel scoring system (κ=0.68). Neither root coverage percentage nor gingival augmentation was correlated to cosmetic assessment.Conclusions: The before–after scoring system is an acceptable and reliable method for professional cosmetic assessment of root coverage therapy. The overall cosmetic evaluation does not appear to be related to the percentage of root coverage.
Impaired oxygen kinetics in beta‐thalassaemia major patients
Authors: Vasileiadis I. , Roditis P. , Dimopoulos S. , Ladis V. , Pangalis G. , Aessopos A. , Nanas S. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAim:  Beta‐thalassaemia major (TM) affects oxygen flow and utilization and reduces patients’ exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to assess phase I and phase II oxygen kinetics during submaximal exercise test in thalassaemics and make possible considerations about the pathophysiology of the energy‐producing mechanisms and their expected exercise limitation.Methods:  Twelve TM patients with no clinical evidence of cardiac or respiratory disease and 10 healthy subjects performed incremental, symptom‐limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and submaximal, constant workload CPET. Oxygen uptake (Vo2), carbon dioxide output and ventilation were measured breath‐by‐breath.Results:  Peak Vo2 was reduced in TM patients (22.3 ± 7.4 vs. 28.8 ± 4.8 mL kg−1 min−1, P < 0.05) as was anaerobic threshold (13.1 ± 2.7 vs. 17.4 ± 2.6 mL kg−1 min−1, P = 0.002). There was no difference in oxygen cost of work at peak exercise (11.7 ± 1.9 vs. 12.6 ± 1.9 mL min−1 W−1 for patients and controls respectively, P = ns). Phase I duration was similar in TM patients and controls (24.6 ± 7.3 vs. 23.3 ± 6.6 s respectively, P = ns) whereas phase II time constant in patients was significantly prolonged (42.8 ± 12.0 vs. 32.0 ± 9.8 s, P < 0.05).Conclusion:  TM patients present prolonged phase II on‐transient oxygen kinetics during submaximal, constant workload exercise, compared with healthy controls, possibly suggesting a slower rate of high energy phosphate production and utilization and reduced oxidative capacity of myocytes; the latter could also account for their significantly limited exercise tolerance.
Effects of Firocoxib and Tepoxalin on Healing in a Canine Gastric Mucosal Injury Model
Authors: Goodman L. , Torres B. , Punke J. , Reynolds L. , Speas A. , Ellis A. , Budsberg S. 
Published: November 2008

Background: Little is known about the effect of dual cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase inhibition on canine gastric mucosal healing.Objective: This study compares the effects of putative dual COX and 5‐lipoxygenase inhibition with that of COX‐2 selective inhibition on gastric mucosal lesion healing in dogs.Animals: Six normal adult mixed‐breed research dogs.Methods: Gastric body and pyloric lesions were induced by endoscopic biopsy. Dogs were treated with tepoxalin, firocoxib, or placebo for 7 days in a randomized 3‐way crossover study design. Healing was evaluated on days 2, 4, and 7 of treatment by endoscopic lesion scoring. Eicosanoid concentrations in plasma and at the lesion margins were determined on days 2, 4, and 7. Repeated measures analyses were performed. All hypothesis tests were 2‐sided with P < .05. Multiple comparisons were adjusted using Tukey's test.Results: Significant treatment differences were noted in the pyloric lesion area measurements. Overall, the firocoxib group had larger lesions than the placebo (P= .0469) or tepoxalin (P= .0089) groups. Despite larger pyloric lesions in the firocoxib group, mucosal prostaglandin production did not differ significantly from placebo. In contrast, the tepoxalin group had significantly lower pyloric mucosal prostaglandin production compared with the firocoxib (P < .0001) or the placebo (P < .0001) groups but pyloric lesions were not significantly larger than those of the placebo group (P= .7829).Conclusion: COX‐2 inhibition by firocoxib slowed wound healing by a mechanism independent of prostaglandin synthesis. Suppression of mucosal prostaglandin production by tepoxalin did not alter mucosal lesion healing compared with placebo.
Prospective Evaluation of Coagulation in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals
Authors: Bentz A.I. , Palmer J.E. , Dallap B.L. , Wilkins P.A. , Boston R.C. 
Published: November 2008

Background: Coagulopathy is a potentially underrecognized complication of sepsis and septic shock in critically ill neonatal foals.Hypothesis: Critically ill neonatal foals have abnormalities in coagulation that are associated with disease severity and outcome.Animals: Foals <72 hours old admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.Methods: Prospective, observational study. Blood was collected at admission, 24, and 48 hours for platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin activity and concentrations of fibrin degradation products, and fibrinogen in plasma from all foals.Results: Sixty‐three foals were enrolled and classified as Septic Shock (12), Septic (28), and Other (23). At least 1 abnormal value was found in 18/28 (64%) samples from the Septic Shock group, 66/85 (78%) from the Septic group, and 30/59 (51%) from the Other group (P= .01). Coagulopathy (3 or more abnormal values) was present in 7/28 (25%) samples in the Septic Shock group, 14/85 (16%) samples in the Septic group, and 3/59 (5%) samples in the Other group (P= .0028). Clinically detectable bleeding occurred in 8/12 (67%) Septic Shock cases, 11/28 (39%) Septic cases, and 3/23 (13%) Other cases (P= .009). Foals in Septic Shock were 12.7 times more likely to have clinical evidence of bleeding than those in the Other group (95% CI 2.3–70, P= .004). Treatment with fluids or plasma did not have a detectable effect on coagulation values.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Coagulopathy commonly occurs in critically ill neonatal foals, especially those with sepsis and septic shock.