bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The European‐Specific Mitochondrial Cluster J/T Could Confer an Increased Risk of Insulin‐Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes: An Analysis of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G Variants
Authors: Crispim D. , Canani L. H. , Gross J. L. , Tschiedel B. , Souto K. E. P. , Roisenberg I. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryThe aims of this study were to investigate the contributions of the mitochondrial DNA m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants, and also of the European‐specific mitochondrial cluster J/T, to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Caucasian‐Brazilian patients from Southern Brazil. We analyzed 347 type 2 diabetes patients and 350 control subjects. Variant frequencies in patients and control subjects were compared using χ2 tests or odds ratio. We also compared clinical and laboratory characteristics among patients with and without the variants. We found that the frequencies of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants are higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects. Moreover, haplogroups J (partially defined by the presence of the m.4216T > C variant only) and T (partially defined by the presence of both m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants) are more frequent in the type 2 diabetic group than in the control group. Patients belonging to the cluster J/T are more insulin resistant than patients of other haplogroups. In conclusion, our results indicate the association of the cluster J/T (as suggested by analyses of the m.4216T > C and m.4917A > G variants) with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Mycorrhizas and soil structure
Authors: Rillig Matthias C. , Mummey Daniel L. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryIn addition to their well‐recognized roles in plant nutrition and communities, mycorrhizas can influence the key ecosystem process of soil aggregation. Here we review the contribution of mycorrhizas, mostly focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to soil structure at various hierarchical levels: plant community; individual root; and the soil mycelium. There are a suite of mechanisms by which mycorrhizal fungi can influence soil aggregation at each of these various scales. By extension of these mechanisms to the question of fungal diversity, it is recognized that different species or communities of fungi can promote soil aggregation to different degrees. We argue that soil aggregation should be included in a more complete ‘multifunctional’ perspective of mycorrhizal ecology, and that in‐depth understanding of mycorrhizas/soil process relationships will require analyses emphasizing feedbacks between soil structure and mycorrhizas, rather than a uni‐directional approach simply addressing mycorrhizal effects on soils. We finish the discussion by highlighting new tools, developments and foci that will probably be crucial in further understanding mycorrhizal contributions to soil structure.

Contents

Summary
41

I.
Introduction
42

II.
How mycorrhizal fungi can influence soil aggregation at various scales
42

III.
Effects of fungal mycelium: a mechanistic discussion
44

IV.
Role of fungal diversity
48

V.
Emerging foci, new directions and tools
49

VI.
Conclusions
50

Acknowledgements
50

References
50
Hepatitis C and Alcohol
Authors: Regev Arie , Jeffers Lennox J. 
Published: May 2006

Background: Alcohol abuse and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently coexist in patients with chronic liver disease. It is widely believed that alcohol and HCV act synergistically in these patients to promote the development and progression of liver damage.Methods: A review of the relevant medical literature, identified by computer assisted literature search, was conducted.Results: It has been established that alcohol consumption is associated with the accelerated progression of liver injury, higher frequency of cirrhosis, and higher incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Alcohol abuse is also associated with decreased response to interferon treatment, and there are reports to suggest that patients with HCV cirrhosis, who abuse alcohol, have higher mortality than those who do not. Abstinence may reverse some of these deleterious effects of alcohol, and may even improve the ultimate response to treatment. The mechanism for the synergistic effect of alcohol and HCV is not fully understood, but has been attributed to alcohol's effect on viral replication, or to its effect on the immune system, hepatic iron content, or hepatic regeneration.Conclusions: Alcohol has a deleterious effect on HCV associated liver disease. It is recommended that patients with HCV infection abstain from alcohol consumption.
Surgical Excision of Primary Canine Rectal Tumors by an Anal Approach in Twenty‐Three Dogs
Authors: DANOVA NICHOLE A. , ROBLES‐EMANUELLI JUAN CARLOS , BJORLING DALE E. 
Published: May 2006

Objective— To describe an anal approach for excision of primary rectal tumors in dogs and to report outcome.Study Design— Retrospective study.Animals— Dogs (n=23) with primary rectal tumors.Methods— Review of medical records (1990–2000) of dogs with primary rectal neoplasia excised surgically using an anal approach with rectal prolapse. With dogs anesthetized, the rectum was prolapsed, stabilized with stay sutures during tumor excision with 1 cm margins to the level of the muscularis, then the rectal mucosa was sutured.Results— Each dog had only 1 tumor type (adenocarcinoma [8], solitary polyp [5], carcinoma [4], plasmacytoma [2], adenoma [1], leiomyoma [1], mucinous carcinoma [1], and papilloma [1]). Mean tumor volume was 3.1 cm3 (range 0.1–37.7 cm3). Postoperative complications (rectal bleeding [5], tenesmus [4]) were mild and resolved within 7 days after surgery; another dog had partial mucosal dehiscence identified at 6 days. The primary tumor was incompletely excised in 1 dog (4.3%), and local recurrence occurred 16 and 24 months after surgery in 2 dogs. Outcome beyond the immediate postoperative period was known for 18 dogs, including 2 dogs still alive. Mean postoperative disease‐free interval for these 18 dogs was 36.8 months (range 5–84 months).Conclusion— Surgical excision of tumors of the caudal rectum can be accomplished through the anus after rectal prolapse.Clinical Relevance— An anal approach facilitated by rectal prolapse should be considered as a viable option for the surgical treatment of selected cases of tumors of the caudal aspect of the rectum in dogs.
SENSORY TEXTURE RELATED TO LARGE‐STRAIN RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AGAR/GLYCEROL GELS AS A MODEL FOOD
Authors: BARRANGOU LISA M. , DRAKE MARY ANNE , DAUBERT CHRISTOPHER R. , ALLEN FOEGEDING E. 
Published: May 2006

ABSTRACTDescriptive sensory analysis and large‐strain rheological methods were used to evaluate textural characteristics of agar gels as a model food. The gels were differentiated in the same manner by sensory analysis and rheological properties (P ≤ 0.05), and significant correlations between sensory and rheological properties were reported. First bite and chew‐down sensory terms correlated with each other and with fracture properties. Specifically, the first bite sensory term “fracture force” correlated with the chew‐down sensory term “chewiness” (r = 0.99,P ≤ 0.001), and both of these sensory terms were correlated with fracture stress (σf) and modulus (r = 0.94 − 0.97,P ≤ 0.05). The first bite sensory term “deformability” was positively correlated with fracture strain (r = 0.88,P ≤ 0.05) and negatively correlated with the strain‐hardening constant (r = −0.93,P ≤ 0.05). The chew‐down property “particle breakdown” was negatively correlated withσfvalues (r = −0.97,P ≤ 0.05). For agar gels, each sensory texture term can be linked with a large‐strain mechanical property.
INFLUENCE OF ENZYMES ON THE TEXTURE OF BROWN PAN BREAD
Authors: GÁMBARO ADRIANA , GIMÉNEZ ANA , ARES GASTÓN , GILARDI VIRGINIA 
Published: May 2006

ABSTRACTEnzymes are commonly used to improve the textural quality of bread and to extend its shelf life. To study the effect of enzymes on the texture of brown pan bread, four types of bread were industrially manufactured using amylase, xylanase, a mixture of amylase : xylanase (1:1) and control (no enzyme). After baking, the bread samples were stored for 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 15 and 17 days. At each storage time, bread texture was evaluated by sensory and instrumental methods, and the overall acceptability was determined.Instrumental and sensory texture data showed that the addition of amylase or amylase : xylanase decreased the staling rate of breads. Furthermore, the use of a mixture of amylase and xylanase provided better results than the addition of amylase alone. Therefore, the results suggest that the addition of a mixture of amylase and xylanase is recommended to extend the shelf life of brown pan bread. On the other hand, the addition of xylanase resulted in an increase of the staling rate. The results suggest that when xylanase is used to improve dough machinability, the addition of amylase along with it should be considered in order to prevent an increase of staling rate.
The Effect of Protective Equipment on Cervical Spine Alignment in Collegiate Lacrosse Players
Authors: Sherbondy Paul S. , Hertel Jay N. , Sebastianelli Wayne J. 
Published: May 2006

Background Contact sports place athletes at risk for cervical spine injury. Protective helmets and shoulder pads worn by football and ice hockey athletes alter cervical spine alignment. The effect of helmet and shoulder pads on neck alignment in lacrosse athletes is not known. Hypothesis Helmets and shoulder pads worn by lacrosse athletes alter cervical spine alignment. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Sagittal plane cervical spine alignment was evaluated in 16 uninjured male collegiate lacrosse players using computed tomography. Patients were immobilized in the supine position on a standard spine board. Testing was performed without equipment, with both helmet and shoulder pads in place, and with the helmet removed. Angular measurements of the cervical spine were made and analyzed. Results The presence of both the helmet and shoulder pads caused an increase in overall cervical extension (mean, 6°) compared with the absence of both pieces of equipment (P =. 002). Helmet removal alone resulted in a mean increase in cervical flexion of 4.7° in the upper cervical spine compared with the presence of both pieces of equipment (P =. 011). Compared with the absence of equipment, shoulder pads caused increased cervical flexion in the lower cervical spine (mean, 4.4°; P =. 036). Conclusion Protective equipment worn by lacrosse athletes causes statistically significant increases in cervical extension, and its removal causes statistically significant increases in cervical flexion. This alteration is different from that previously reported for protective equipment in football and ice hockey. Clinical Relevance The authors’ recommendation is that both lacrosse helmets and shoulder pads be left in place until they can be completely removed in a controlled fashion. The effect of external equipment on neck position is different for lacrosse compared with football and ice hockey.
ADAM17 deficiency by mature neutrophils has differential effects on L-selectin shedding
Authors: Li Ying , Brazzell Jennifer , Herrera Amy , Walcheck Bruce 
Published: May 2006

AbstractL-selectin directs neutrophils to sites of inflammation, and upon their activation, surface expression of the receptor is rapidly down-regulated by ectodomain shedding. Tumor necrosis factor–α–converting enzyme (TACE, or ADAM17) is a sheddase of L-selectin; however, Adam17 gene targeting (ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn) in mice is perinatal lethal and its role in L-selectin shedding by mature neutrophils has not been determined. This was addressed here by using radiation-chimeric mice reconstituted with ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn fetal liver cells. ADAM17-deficient neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes failed to shed L-selectin in response to PMA, as did neutrophils infiltrating the inflamed peritoneum. In addition, the absence of functional ADAM17 resulted in significantly increased levels of L-selectin surface expression by peripheral-blood leukocytes, indicating the sheddase also plays a role in the constitutive cleavage of L-selectin. Interestingly, not all manners of L-selectin turnover required ADAM17. Plasma L-selectin levels were similar between ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn-chimeric and control mice, as was the shedding of L-selectin by neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. The latter process, however, was diminished by a metalloprotease inhibitor, indicating the role of a sheddase other than ADAM17. Together, our data reveal that L-selectin's surface density on neutrophils is regulated by ADAM17, but homeostatic L-selectin cleavage is not.
G-CSF and AMD3100 mobilize monocytes into the blood that stimulate angiogenesis in vivo through a paracrine mechanism
Authors: Capoccia Benjamin J. , Shepherd Rebecca M. , Link Daniel C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThere is compelling evidence that circulating angiogenic cells exist that are able to home to sites of vascular injury and stimulate angiogenesis. However, the number of angiogenic cells in the blood is low, limiting their delivery to sites of ischemia. Treatment with certain cytokines may mobilize angiogenic cells into the blood, potentially circumventing this limitation. Herein, we show that treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or AMD3100, a novel CXCR4 antagonist, significantly stimulated angiogenesis in a murine model of acute hindlimb ischemia. The kinetics of angiogenic-cell mobilization by these agents appears to be distinct, with more rapid revascularization observed in AMD3100-treated mice. Combination treatment with G-CSF and AMD3100 resulted in the earliest and most complete recovery in blood flow to the ischemic hindlimb. Adoptive transfer of mobilized blood mononuclear cells, while potently stimulating angiogenesis, did not result in the significant incorporation of donor cells into the neoendothelium. Cell-fractionation studies showed that it is the monocyte population in the blood that mediates angiogenesis in this model. Collectively, these data suggest that monocytes mobilized into the blood by G-CSF or AMD3100 stimulate angiogenesis at sites of ischemia through a paracrine mechanism.
Modeling the effects of a Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) on the apoptosis pathway
Authors: Higgs Brandon W , Dileo John , Chang Wenling E , Smith Haley B , Peters Olivia J , Hammamieh Rasha , Jett Marti , Feidler Jordan C 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundThe lack of detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of many biowarfare agents poses an immediate challenge to biodefense efforts. Many potential bioweapons have been shown to affect the cellular pathways controlling apoptosis [1–4]. For example, pathogen-produced exotoxins such as Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) and Anthrax Lethal Factor (LF) have been shown to disrupt the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway [2, 4]. To evaluate how these agents affect these pathways it is first necessary to understand the dynamics of a normally functioning apoptosis network. This can then serve as a baseline against which a pathogen perturbed system can be compared. Such comparisons can expose both the proteins most susceptible to alteration by the agent as well as the most critical reaction rates to better instill control on a biological network.ResultsWe explore this through the modeling and simulation of the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway under normal and SEB influenced conditions. We stimulated human Jurkat cells with an anti-Fas antibody in the presence and absence of SEB and determined the relative levels of seven proteins involved in the core pathway at five time points following exposure. These levels were used to impute relative rate constants and build a quantitative model consisting of a series of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that simulate the network under both normal and pathogen-influenced conditions. Experimental results show that cells exposed to SEB exhibit an increase in the rate of executioner caspase expression (and subsequently apoptosis) of 1 hour 43 minutes (± 14 minutes), as compared to cells undergoing normal cell death.ConclusionOur model accurately reflects these results and reveals intervention points that can be altered to restore SEB-influenced system dynamics back to levels within the range of normal conditions.
Late periorbital haemorrhage following functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a caution for potential day case surgery
Authors: Arya Arvind Kumar , Machin David , Al-Jassim Hadi 
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Background
Orbital complications following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) are fortunately rare. They are usually easily and rapidly recognizable.

Case presentation
We present an unusual case of a forty-five year old woman who underwent routine FESS and was not packed nasally after the procedure. Six hours later she started bleeding and nasal packs were inserted. She soon developed unilateral periorbital bruising and within hours her condition had worsened so much that the viability of the eye was thrown into question. She underwent medial and lateral canthotomies and made an uneventful post-operative recovery.

Conclusion
This rare case demonstrates that late, brisk post-operative bleeding can occur after FESS with potentially catastrophic consequences. Clinicians should be aware that discharging patients after FESS too early may lead to medico-legal problems.
A population-based study of tumor gene expression and risk of breast cancer death among lymph node-negative patients
Authors: Habel Laurel A , Shak Steven , Jacobs Marlena K , Capra Angela , Alexander Claire , Pho Mylan , Baker Joffre , Walker Michael , Watson Drew , Hackett James , Blick Noelle T , Greenberg Deborah , Fehrenbacher Louis , Langholz Bryan , Quesenberry Charles P 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Introduction
The Oncotype DX assay was recently reported to predict risk for distant recurrence among a clinical trial population of tamoxifen-treated patients with lymph node-negative, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. To confirm and extend these findings, we evaluated the performance of this 21-gene assay among node-negative patients from a community hospital setting.

Methods
A case-control study was conducted among 4,964 Kaiser Permanente patients diagnosed with node-negative invasive breast cancer from 1985 to 1994 and not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Cases (n = 220) were patients who died from breast cancer. Controls (n = 570) were breast cancer patients who were individually matched to cases with respect to age, race, adjuvant tamoxifen, medical facility and diagnosis year, and were alive at the date of death of their matched case. Using an RT-PCR assay, archived tumor tissues were analyzed for expression levels of 16 cancer-related and five reference genes, and a summary risk score (the Recurrence Score) was calculated for each patient. Conditional logistic regression methods were used to estimate the association between risk of breast cancer death and Recurrence Score.

Results
After adjusting for tumor size and grade, the Recurrence Score was associated with risk of breast cancer death in ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated and -untreated patients (P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively). At 10 years, the risks for breast cancer death in ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated patients were 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–3.9%), 10.7% (95% CI 6.3–14.9%), and 15.5% (95% CI 7.6–22.8%) for those in the low, intermediate and high risk Recurrence Score groups, respectively. They were 6.2% (95% CI 4.5–7.9%), 17.8% (95% CI 11.8–23.3%), and 19.9% (95% CI 14.2–25.2%) for ER-positive patients not treated with tamoxifen. In both the tamoxifen-treated and -untreated groups, approximately 50% of patients had low risk Recurrence Score values.

Conclusion
In this large, population-based study of lymph node-negative patients not treated with chemotherapy, the Recurrence Score was strongly associated with risk of breast cancer death among ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated and -untreated patients.
Transcriptional control of Pactolus: evidence of a negative control region and comparison with its evolutionary paralogue, CD18 (β2 integrin)
Authors: Hale J Scott , Dahlem Timothy J , Margraf Rebecca L , Debnath Irina , Weis Janis J , Weis John H 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
The mouse Pactolus and CD18 genes are highly conserved paralogues. The expression patterns of these genes are diverse in that most cells of hematopoietic lineage express CD18, but Pactolus is only expressed by maturing neutrophils. The minimal promoters of these two genes are homologous, including the conservation of two tandem PU.1-binding sites upstream of the transcriptional start site. To define the means by which these two structurally similar but functionally distinct promoters operate, a series of reporter assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, were performed. Transfection of Pactolus constructs into mouse macrophages, which do not express Pactolus, defined a negative control element within the first 100 base pairs. The presence of this negative regulatory site, distinct from the PU.1-binding site, was confirmed by EMSA oligonucleotide competition and gene reporter assays of Pactolus/CD18 chimeric constructs. Although PU.1 binding can be detected on Pactolus and CD18 minimal promoter segments with EMSA, only the CD18 promoter shows PU.1 binding in vivo, suggesting that the negative regulatory protein may block PU.1 from binding to the Pactolus promoter, thus inhibiting transcription of the gene. Sequence analysis of the negative control region in the Pactolus promoter suggested potential control by Snail and/or Smad families of transcription regulators. EMSA supershift analysis with antibodies against these proteins, using extracts from macrophages and mucosal mast cells, identified specific binding of Smuc to the promoter element, including a Smuc/PU.1/DNA trimeric complex. These data implicate Smuc as blocking Pactolus transcription in cells expressing PU.1 (and CD18) but not Pactolus.