bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum proteomic analysis focused on fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: White Ian R , Patel Keyur , Symonds William T , Dev Anouk , Griffin Philip , Tsokanas Nikos , Skehel Mark , Liu Chiang , Zekry Amany , Cutler Paul , Gattu Mahanandeeshwar , Rockey Don C , Berrey Michelle M , McHutchison John G 
Published: July 2007

Abstract

Background
Despite its widespread use to assess fibrosis, liver biopsy has several important drawbacks, including that is it semi-quantitative, invasive, and limited by sampling and observer variability. Non-invasive serum biomarkers may more accurately reflect the fibrogenetic process. To identify potential biomarkers of fibrosis, we compared serum protein expression profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and fibrosis.

Methods
Twenty-one patients with no or mild fibrosis (METAVIR stage F0, F1) and 23 with advanced fibrosis (F3, F4) were retrospectively identified from a pedigreed database of 1600 CHC patients. All samples were carefully phenotyped and matched for age, gender, race, body mass index, genotype, duration of infection, alcohol use, and viral load. Expression profiling was performed in a blinded fashion using a 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/LC-MS/MS platform. Partial least squares discriminant analysis and likelihood ratio statistics were used to rank individual differences in protein expression between the 2 groups.

Results
Seven individual protein spots were identified as either significantly increased (α2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, albumin) or decreased (complement C-4, serum retinol binding protein, apolipoprotein A-1, and two isoforms of apolipoprotein A-IV) with advanced fibrosis. Three individual proteins, haptoglobin, apolipoprotein A-1, and α2-macroglobulin, are included in existing non-invasive serum marker panels.

Conclusion
Biomarkers identified through expression profiling may facilitate the development of more accurate marker algorithms to better quantitate hepatic fibrosis and monitor disease progression.
Investigation of HIFU-induced anti-tumor immunity in a murine tumor model
Authors: Hu Zhenlin , Yang Xiao Yi , Liu Yunbo , Sankin Georgy N , Pua Eric C , Morse Michael A , Lyerly H Kim , Clay Timothy M , Zhong Pei 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackgroundHigh intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging non-invasive treatment modality for localized treatment of cancers. While current clinical strategies employ HIFU exclusively for thermal ablation of the target sites, biological responses associated with both thermal and mechanical damage from focused ultrasound have not been thoroughly investigated. In particular, endogenous danger signals from HIFU-damaged tumor cells may trigger the activation of dendritic cells. This response may play a critical role in a HIFU-elicited anti-tumor immune response which can be harnessed for more effective treatment.MethodsMice bearing MC-38 colon adenocarcinoma tumors were treated with thermal and mechanical HIFU exposure settings in order to independently observe HIFU-induced effects on the host's immunological response.In vivodendritic cell activity was assessed along with the host's response to challenge tumor growth.ResultsThermal and mechanical HIFU were found to increase CD11c+ cells 3.1-fold and 4-fold, respectively, as compared to 1.5-fold observed for DC injection alone. In addition, thermal and mechanical HIFU increased CFSE+ DC accumulation in draining lymph nodes 5-fold and 10-fold, respectively. Moreover, focused ultrasound treatments not only caused a reduction in the growth of primary tumors, with tumor volume decreasing by 85% for thermal HIFU and 43% for mechanical HIFU, but they also provided protection against subcutaneous tumor re-challenge. Further immunological assays confirmed an enhanced CTL activity and increased tumor-specific IFN-γ-secreting cells in the mice treated by focused ultrasound, with cytotoxicity induced by mechanical HIFU reaching as high as 27% at a 10:1 effector:target ratio.ConclusionThese studies present initial encouraging results confirming that focused ultrasound treatment can elicit a systemic anti-tumor immune response, and they suggest that this immunity is closely related to dendritic cell activation. Because DC activation was more pronounced when tumor cells were mechanically lysed by focused ultrasound treatment, mechanical HIFU in particular may be employed as a potential strategy in combination with subsequent thermal ablations for increasing the efficacy of HIFU cancer treatment by enhancing the host's anti-tumor immunity.
A comparison of high-mobility group-box 1 protein, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and procalcitonin in severe community-acquired infections and bacteraemia: a prospective study
Authors: Gaïni Shahin , Koldkjær Ole G , Møller Holger J , Pedersen Court , Pedersen Svend S 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Introduction
High-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) has been known as a chromosomal protein for many years. HMGB1 has recently been shown to be a proinflammatory cytokine with a role in the immunopathogenesis of sepsis. Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) has a central role in the innate immune response when the host is challenged by bacterial pathogens. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been suggested as a marker of severe bacterial infections and sepsis. The aim of the present study was to investigate levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT in a well-characterised sepsis cohort. The study plan included analysis of the levels of the inflammatory markers in relation to the severity of infection, to the prognosis and to the ability to identify patients with bacteraemia.

Methods
Patients suspected of having severe infections and admitted to a department of internal medicine were included in a prospective manner. Demographic data, comorbidity, routine biochemistry, microbiological data, infection focus, severity score and mortality on day 28 were recorded. Plasma and serum were sampled within 24 hours after admission. Levels of all studied markers (HMGB1, LBP, PCT, IL-6, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count and neutrophils) were measured with commercially available laboratory techniques.

Results
A total of 185 adult patients were included in the study; 154 patients fulfilled our definition of infection. Levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT were higher in infected patients compared with a healthy control group (P < 0.0001). Levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT were higher in the severe sepsis group compared with the sepsis group (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in levels of the inflammatory markers in fatal cases compared with survivors. Levels of all studied markers were higher in bacteraemic patients compared with nonbacteraemic patients (P < 0.05). PCT performed best in a receiver–operator curve analysis discriminating between bacteraemic and nonbacteraemic patients (P < 0.05). HMGB1 correlated to LBP, IL-6, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count and neutrophils (P < 0.001). LBP correlated to PCT, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
Levels of HMGB1, PCT and LBP were higher in infected patients compared with those in healthy controls, and levels were higher in severe sepsis patients compared with those in sepsis patients. Levels of all studied inflammatory markers (HMGB1, LBP, PCT, IL-6) and infection markers (C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, neutrophils) were elevated among bacteraemic patients. PCT performed best as a diagnostic test marker for bacteraemia.
A high utility integrated map of the pig genome
Authors: Humphray Sean J , Scott Carol E , Clark Richard , Marron Brandy , Bender Clare , Camm Nick , Davis Jayne , Jenks Andrew , Noon Angela , Patel Manish , Sehra Harminder , Yang Fengtang , Rogatcheva Margarita B , Milan Denis , Chardon Patrick , Rohrer Gary , Nonneman Dan , de Jong Pieter , Meyers Stacey N , Archibald Alan , Beever Jonathan E , Schook Lawrence B , Rogers Jane 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
Background
The domestic pig is being increasingly exploited as a system for modeling human disease. It also has substantial economic importance for meat-based protein production. Physical clone maps have underpinned large-scale genomic sequencing and enabled focused cloning efforts for many genomes. Comparative genetic maps indicate that there is more structural similarity between pig and human than, for example, mouse and human, and we have used this close relationship between human and pig as a way of facilitating map construction.

Results
Here we report the construction of the most highly continuous bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) map of any mammalian genome, for the pig (Sus scrofa domestica) genome. The map provides a template for the generation and assembly of high-quality anchored sequence across the genome. The physical map integrates previous landmark maps with restriction fingerprints and BAC end sequences from over 260,000 BACs derived from 4 BAC libraries and takes advantage of alignments to the human genome to improve the continuity and local ordering of the clone contigs. We estimate that over 98% of the euchromatin of the 18 pig autosomes and the X chromosome along with localized coverage on Y is represented in 172 contigs, with chromosome 13 (218 Mb) represented by a single contig. The map is accessible through pre-Ensembl, where links to marker and sequence data can be found.

Conclusion
The map will enable immediate electronic positional cloning of genes, benefiting the pig research community and further facilitating use of the pig as an alternative animal model for human disease. The clone map and BAC end sequence data can also help to support the assembly of maps and genome sequences of other artiodactyls.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Regulate Retinoic Acid Receptor β Expression in Neuroblastoma Cells by Both Transcriptional and Posttranscriptional Mechanisms
Authors: De los Santos Maxy , Zambrano Alberto , Sánchez-Pacheco Aurora , Aranda Ana 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) is a retinoic acid (RA)-inducible tumor suppressor, which plays an important role in the arrest of neuroblastoma cell growth. Using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, we have examined the regulation of RARβ expression by histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), considered to be promising agents in anticancer therapy. Our results show that HDACi cooperated with RA to increase RARβ mRNA levels and to activate the RARβ2 promoter in transient transfection assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the basal RARβ2 promoter that contains the RA response element was refractory to acetylation by both HDACi and RA. In addition, HDACi caused a transient increase in acetylation of a downstream RARβ2 region, even though global histones remain hyperacetylated after a prolonged treatment with the inhibitors. RA potentiated this response and maintained acetylation for a longer period. Despite the cooperation of RA with HDACi to increase transcription of the RARβ gene, these inhibitors caused a paradoxical reduction of the cellular levels of the RARβ protein in cells treated with the retinoid. This reduction is secondary to a change in the protein half-life that is decreased by the HDACi due to increased ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradation. These results show that HDACi regulate expression of the tumor suppressor gene RARβ by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms and might then modulate sensitivity to the retinoid in neuroblastoma cells.
Observation of Halide-Induced Conformational Conversion of Dinuclear Copper Complexes Having a Tetradentate Polypyridine Ligand with a p-Xylene Backbone
Authors: Nishioka Takanori , Mitsui Shigeru , Kinoshita Isamu , Koshiyama Tamami , Kato Masako 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
A dinucleating ligand consisting of thiopyridyl groups appended to a p-xylene backbone reacts with copper(I) halides to afford dinuclear copper complexes with terminal halogeno ligands, which are in equilibrium with bridging halogeno dicopper complexes formed by rearrangement and loss one of the terminal halogeno ligands. The identity of the products was confirmed by using 1H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray structure analyses.
Do Dibenzo[22–30]crown Ethers Bind Secondary Ammonium Ions to Form Pseudorotaxanes?
Authors: Tokunaga Yuji , Yoshioka Megumi , Nakamura Tatsuya , Goda Tatsuhiro , Nakata Ryuji , Kakuchi Suzuka , Shimomura Youji 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
In this study, we synthesized dibenzo[22–30]crown ethers and dumbbell-like secondary ammonium salts having stoppers of varying bulk. These crown ethers formed pseudorotaxanes with the ammonium ions in solution and in the gas phase, as evidenced using NMR spectroscopy and MS/MS spectrometry, respectively. The association constants in solution were obtained through regulation of the association and dissociation rates by varying the nature of the stopper groups of the dumbbell-like ammonium ions. The [25]- and [26]crown ether/isopropylphenyl group, the [27]- and [30]crown ether/tert-butylphenyl group, and the [22]- and [23]crown ether/furyl group were matched pairs. 1H NMR spectra of mixtures (CDCl3/CD3CN) of the crown ethers and their matched ammonium salts indicated the presence of three sets of signals in solution: those of the crown ether, the ammonium salt, and their pseudorotaxane. Integration of pertinent signals allowed the association constants of pseudorotaxanes to be determined readily. Among the [22–30]crown ethers, the highest value of the association constant was that for the [24]crown ether/dibenzylammonium ion system; the [25–30]crown ether/ammonium ion systems exhibited moderate values of their association constants [Kexp=35–114 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+PF6− as the ammonium salt at 27 °C; Kexp=21 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+TsO− at 27 °C]. The [22]- and [23]crown ethers interacted weakly [Kexp=6–14 M−1 when using (ArCH2)2NH2+TsO− at 27 °C].
Enantioselective Incorporation of Carbon Dioxide into Epoxides Catalyzed by Optically Active Cobalt(II) Complexes
Authors: Yamada Wataru , Kitaichi Yasunori , Tanaka Hirotaka , Kojima Tomohide , Sato Mitsuo , Ikeno Taketo , Yamada Tohru 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
The enantioselective chemical fixation of CO2 into an epoxide was developed using an optically active ketoiminatocobalt(II) complex as a chiral Lewis acid. In the presence of a catalytic amount of the cobalt complex and amine base, enantioselective CO2 fixation with an epoxide proceeded with kinetic resolution to afford the corresponding carbonate along with unreacted epoxide, both of which were optically active. To improve their enantioselectivities, the ligand structures of the cobalt complexes and amine bases were examined. Thus, the optimized catalytic system was successfully applied to various epoxides to obtain the corresponding optically active cyclic carbonates and to recover epoxides with good-to-high enantioselectivities.
Quantitative Analysis of Surface Functional Groups on the Amorphous Carbon in Magnetic Media with XPS Preceded by Chemical Derivatization
Authors: Kondo Hirofumi , Nishida Yasuyo 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
In thin film magnetic recording media, the carbon protective layer and the outermost lubricant layer have a significant influence on the tribological properties. It is thought that the functional groups on the surface of the carbon influence the adsorption of the lubricant. The present study describes the identification and quantification of the functional groups on the surface of magnetic thin film media based on an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) preceded by chemical derivatization. The number of functional groups on the surface of the carbon protective layer was obtained from the ratio of the fluorine and carbon in the XPS spectrum. Gas-phase chemical modification was found to be preferable as a pretreatment for surface analysis, and the number of carbonyl, hydroxy, and carboxylic acid groups were directly determined. The number of hydroxy group was higher immediately after deposition, and the carbonyl group, of which the concentration rapidly increased with exposure time to air, became the most abundant. Both groups improved the affinity of the lubricant and will probably lead to a better lubricity.
Service screening with mammography in Northern Sweden: effects on breast cancer mortality – an update
Authors: Jonsson Håkan , Bordás Pál , Wallin Hans , Nyström Lennarth , Lenner Per 
Published: July 2007

Objectives: To study the effectiveness of service screening with mammography in Northern Sweden. Setting: Two counties which invited women aged 40–74 years to service screening with mammography were compared with two counties where service screening started 5–7 years later. There were 109,000 and 77,000 women in the study and control counties, respectively. Methods: Cohorts in the study group were defined to include only breast cancer cases diagnosed after their first invitation to screening. Two outcome measures for breast cancer mortality were used; excess mortality and underlying cause of death (UCD). Detection mode was used to estimate the efficacy of screening for those women who actually attended screening. The cohorts were followed for 11 years. Results: The relative rate (RR) of breast cancer death as excess mortality and UCD for women aged 40–74 years invited to screening, compared with women not yet invited, was 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56–0.87) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.62–0.88), respectively. The largest effect was seen in women aged 40–49 years (RR = 0.64 and RR = 0.62 for excess mortality and UCD, respectively). RR in age 40–74 years for women actually screened was 0.65 (95% CI 0.51–0.84) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.57–0.86) for excess mortality and UCD, respectively. The number of women needed to screen to save one life was 912 after 11 years of follow-up. Conclusions: This study confirms previous findings in the earlier follow-up and indicates a long-term reduction of breast cancer mortality by 26–30%. The efficacy among those who actually attended screening was about 5% larger.
Lessons learnt from a population-based pilot programme for colorectal cancer screening in Catalonia (Spain)
Authors: Peris Mercè , Espinàs Josep A , Muñoz Laura , Navarro Matilde , Binefa Gemma , Borràs Josep M ,   Catalan Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot Programme Group
Published: July 2007

Study objective: To assess the feasibility of a colorectal cancer population-based screening programme in Catalonia (Spain). Design and setting: A pilot colorectal cancer screening programme based on faecal occult blood (FOB) test was introduced in February 2000 in Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain), a city of 239,000 inhabitants. Participants: All the residents from the selected area, aged 50–69 years old, were invited by mail to participate in the screening programme. Overall, 63,880 persons were invited to the first screening round and 66,534, to the second round. Colonoscopy was the first choice of procedure for the positive FOB test. Results: The participation rate was 17.2% in the first screening round and 22.3% in the second round. The overall rate of positive FOBT was 3.4% in the first round and 0.8% in the second round. In the first round, the prevalence of screen-detected cancer was 2.1 per 1000 screened people, 7.2 for high-risk adenomas (HRA) and 11.3 for neoplasm (cancer and/or adenoma). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 6.2% for cancer, 21.2% for HRA and 33.3% for advanced neoplasm. In the second round, the prevalence of screen-detected cancer was 0.9 per 1000 people screened, 2.8 per 1000 for HRA and 4.2 per 1000 for neoplasm. The PPV was 10.6% for cancer, 34.1% for HRA and 50.4% for any neoplasm. Conclusions: Regardless of the moderate participation rate, population-based colorectal cancer screening would be feasible in Catalonia, with good results in terms of prevalence of screen-detected neoplasms.
Uptake of population-based flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer: a nurse-led feasibility study
Authors: Brotherstone Hannah , Vance Maggie , Edwards Robert , Miles Anne , Robb Kathryn A , Evans Ruth E C , Wardle Jane , Atkin Wendy 
Published: July 2007

Objective: To assess uptake of once-only flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) in a community sample to determine whether FS would be viable as a method of population-based screening for colorectal cancer. Methods: All adults aged 60–64 years registered at three General Practices in North West London, UK (510 men and women) were sent a letter of invitation to attend FS screening carried out by an experienced nurse, followed by a reminder if they did not make contact to confirm or decline the invitation. The primary outcome was attendance at the endoscopy unit for a FS test. Results: Of the 510 people invited to attend, 280 (55%) underwent FS. Among non-attenders, 91 (18%) were ineligible for screening or did not receive the invitation, 19 (4%) accepted the offer of screening but were unable to attend during the study period, 52 (10%) declined the offer, 41 (8%) did not respond to the invitation, and 27 (5%) accepted the offer of screening but did not attend. Attendance among those eligible to be screened, who had received the invitation, was 67%. People from more socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods were less likely to attend (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; confidence interval [CI] = 0.84–0.96; P = 0.003). Women were more likely to attend than men (OR = 1.44; CI = 1.01–2.05; P = 0.041). Conclusions: Attendance rates in this pilot for nurse-led, population-based FS screening were higher than those reported in other FS studies, and comparable with adherence to fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) in the UK FOBT pilot. Having a female nurse endoscopist may have been responsible for increasing female uptake rates but this warrants confirmation in a larger study.
Is routine molecular screening for common α-thalassaemia deletions necessary as part of an antenatal screening programme?
Authors: Sorour Y , Heppinstall S , Porter N , Wilson G A , Goodeve A C , Rees D , Wright J 
Published: July 2007

Antenatal sickle and thalassaemia screening programmes are now established in most high prevalence areas in England. Although screening reliably detects β-thalassaemia trait, in many cases, results state that α-thalassaemia trait cannot be excluded. The detection of couples at risk of a child with hydrops fetalis is one of the aims of the national programme. We, therefore, performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the common α-thalassaemia gene deletions to assess the usefulness of this technique in routine screening practice. Between August 2001 and August 2002, of the 5092 women booked at the antenatal clinic, 425 were found to have a mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) <27 pg in the absence of β-thalassaemia trait; 189 (44.5%) had an MCH <25 pg. All 425 patients underwent PCR analysis for the common deletions: –SEA (South-East Asian), –MED (Mediterranean), − α20.5, –FIL (Filipino), − α 3.7 and − α 4.2 genotypes. In total, 130 (31%) women were positive for α-thalassaemia deletion; 86 (24.7%) were heterozygous for − α 3.7, 19 (4.4%) were homozygous for − α 3.7, 12 (2.8%) were heterozygous for − α 4.2, 1 (0.2%) was homozygous for − α 4.2, 11 (2.6%) were heterozygous for –SEA and one (0.2%) was heterozygous for the –MED genotype. Although the detection rate for α+-thalassaemia was high, a strategy of selective screening using MCH <25 pg and ethnic group (SEA, Middle East or Eastern MED) would have identified all individuals heterozygous for α0-thalassaemia. Routine molecular screening for all forms of α-thalassaemia trait is unjustified in antenatal screening.