bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—BASIC SCIENCE: The Associations among GNB3 C825T Polymorphism, Erectile Dysfunction, and Related Risk Factors
Authors: Lee Yung-Chin , Lin Hui-Hui , Wang Chii-Jye , Liu Chia-Chu , Wu Wen-Jeng , Huang Chun-Hsiung , Chang Lin-Li 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Vascular etiologies are the most common risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED). Published studies have reported the associations of GNB3 C825T polymorphism with many vascular diseases. However, there are few reports about the association between this gene polymorphism and ED.

Aim
To investigate the associations among GNB3 C825T polymorphism, ED, and related risk factors in Taiwanese subjects.

Methods
A total of 155 patients with ED and 81 healthy controls were enrolled. All men had complete clinical histories taken. The 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was used to assess erectile conditions. The GNB3 C825T polymorphisms were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Main Outcome Measures
Patients with ED were defined as those having an IIEF-5 of &lt;21.

Results
Two hundred thirty-six men were enrolled with a mean (standard deviation) age of 59.0 (10.2) years. Diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and age were the three most significant independent risk factors for ED in a multiple logistic regression analysis (P = 0.008, 0.003, and 0.007, respectively). The prevalence of DM, hypertension, and body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in GNB3 825T allele (CT/TT) carriers (P = 0.023, 0.049, and 0.035, respectively). There was no significant difference of ED prevalence between T and C allele carriers (69.1% vs. 56.2%, P = 0.07). However, the T allele carriers had significantly lower IIEF-5 scores (P = 0.02) associated with an increment of the T allele number (16.4[CC] vs. 14.4[CT] vs. 13.2[TT], P = 0.04).

Conclusions
In the present study, DM, hypertension, and BMI had significant associations with GNB3 825T allele carriers. Our results failed to show a significant association of the GNB3 C825T polymorphisms with ED prevalence. However, we cannot exclude that the presence of the T allele might influence the risk for ED severity indirectly through an increased risk for some vascular diseases.
Telemetric Intracavernosal and Intraspongiosal Pressure Monitoring
Authors: Shamloul Rany 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Despite the major breakthroughs basic research in erectile physiology experienced in the last, most of the methods used for quantitative assessment of erectile function in longitudinal studies suffer many drawbacks.

Objective
This review will focus on radiotelemetric assessment of intracavernosal (ICP) and intraspongiosal (ISP) regarding the technique, data collection, interpretation, and overall benefits.

Results
Telemetric recording of ICP and ISP allows for qualitative and quantitative assessment of erectile responses in experimental animals, a characteristic that is not possible using other techniques. This technique has many advantages that can collectively lead to production of high quality data regarding erection. The system suffers two drawbacks, its high cost and the need for surgical implantation of the transmitter.

Conclusion
The use of telemetric monitoring of ICP and ISP carries many advantages that will, hopefully, establish this technique as the gold standard method for assessment of erectile responses in the near future.
Online communities and the sharing of extraordinary restaurant experiences
Authors: Watson Pamela , Morgan Michael , Hemmington Nigel 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe use of an experiential, postmodernist approach to studying hospitality markets opens many opportunities for research with an emphasis on the consumer, not on the product. This paper uses virtual ethnography to explore how a community of foodies creates meaning, understanding and identity as a consumer ‘tribe’, through nuances in communications on an Internet blog. These foodie customers derive added value from their ‘skilled consumption’, and this is evident in their knowledgeable contributions to discussion and sharing of their experiences of restaurants. The existence of the community to whom the experience will be reported alters the nature of the experience before, during and after the act of consumption, and gives additional meaning, as a symbol of shared values and identity.
The prognostic influence of prevertebral space involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Lee C.‐C. , Chu S.‐T. , Chou P. , Lee C.‐C. , Chen L.‐F. 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prevetebral space involvement on treatment outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who were treated with radiotherapy/concurrent chemoradiotherpy or concurrent chemoradiotherpy with adjuvant chemotherapy.Design:  A retrospective review of case notes from the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital archives was performed.Setting:  A medical centre in Taiwan.Participants:  There were 145 newly diagnosed cases of NPC. Thirty‐nine patients were excluded because of the presence of distant metastasis at the time of presentation, loss of follow‐up and incomplete image information.Main outcome measures:  Pearson’s chi‐square tests were used to analyse correlation between tumour invasion and prevetebral space involvement during univariate analysis and logistic regression was applied during multivariate analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine the impact of various prognostic factors. Pearson’s chi‐square and Fisher’s exact test were also used to evaluate the correlation between failure patterns and treatment modality.Results:  A total of 106 patients with newly diagnosed NPC were enrolled in this study. Forty‐three patients (41%) in this series were found to have prevertebral space involvement. Patients with prevertebral space involvement conferred a poor overall survival rate and metastasis‐free survival rate compared with those without prevertebral space invasion (P = 0.04 and 0.02 respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that prevertebral space invasion was associated with an increased risk for distant metastasis [hazard ratio (HR) 14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–17.4; P = 0.03)] and overall survival (HR 7, 95% CI 1.1–135; P = 0.04). In patients with prevertebral space involvement, their metastasis‐free survival rate, with and without adjuvant chemotherapy, was 100% and 72.7% (P = 0.047). This phenomenon was not observed in NPC patients without prevertebral space invasion.Conclusions:  The present data revealed that prevertebral space involvement has a close relationship with survival rates and recurrence rates of patients with NPC. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with prevertebral space involvement have more recurrence and poorer survival rates and should be the group to benefit from concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Inclusion of prevertebral space involvement may be needed to predict prognosis of NPC and help us to identify the high‐risk group.
Subsidiaries of Multinational Companies: Foreign Locations Gaining Competencies?
Authors: Fuchs Martina 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn order to better understand the competitiveness of companies and with this their surrounding regions, economic geography and their related disciplines focus on topics, such as knowledge and learning. The article spotlights the acquisition of ‘competencies’ in foreign subsidiaries of multinational manufacturing companies and the necessary preconditions for such acquisition to take place. This topic is one of the most vibrant areas of research in economic geography and more specifically the debate on knowledge and learning, not least because such corporations have become exceptionally important actors in the world economy and thus extraordinarily significant for various regions.
Effect of UVR on Lake Water and Macrophyte Leachates in Shallow Andean‐Patagonian Lakes: Bacterial Response to Changes in Optical Features
Authors: Bastidas Navarro M. , Balseiro E. , Modenutti B. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify bacterial responses in two shallow lakes from Patagonia to UV‐irradiated dissolved organic matter (DOM) coming from different sources. We carried out laboratory experiments in which natural lake water and Potamogeton linguatus leachates were irradiated (UVA‐340 fluorescent tubes Q‐Panel) or kept in darkness. Natural bacterial assemblages were then incubated in four treatments: natural lake water, irradiated lake water, macrophyte leachate and irradiated macrophyte leachate. We estimated bacterial abundance, composition and activity, and changes in the optical features of DOM. Our results showed that the addition of leachates caused an increase in the DOM mean molecular size. After UV exposure, a high bacterial activity was observed in lake water treatments. On the contrary, carbon uptake by bacteria was reduced in the irradiated leachate treatment. The degree of aromatization in the leachate treatments increased and thus may contribute to a dissolved carbon less available for bacterial activity. Regarding the bacteria assemblage we observed that β‐Proteobacteria outcompete the other groups in the leachate treatments, this group being more efficient at utilizing the high molecular weight DOM. These results highlight the importance of UVR interacting with different DOM sources in bacteria responses of shallow lakes.
Nanoscale Hydroxyl Radical Generation from Multiphoton Ionization of Tryptophan
Authors: Bisby Roger H. , Crisostomo Ana G. , Botchway Stanley W. , Parker Anthony W. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractExposure of solutions containing both tryptophan and hydrogen peroxide to a pulsed (∼180 fs) laser beam at 750 nm induces luminescence characteristic of 5‐hydroxytryptophan. The results indicate that 3‐photon excitation of tryptophan results in photoionization within the focal volume of the laser beam. The resulting hydrated electron is scavenged by hydrogen peroxide to produce the hydroxyl radical. The latter subsequently reacts with tryptophan to form 5‐hydroxytryptophan. The involvement of hydroxyl radicals is confirmed by the use of ethanol and nitrous oxide as scavengers and their effects on the fluorescence yield in this system. It is postulated that such multiphoton ionization of tryptophanyl residues in cellular proteins may contribute to the photodamage observed during imaging of cells and tissues using multiphoton microscopy.
Removal of the PsaF Polypeptide Biases Electron Transfer in Favor of the PsaB Branch of Cofactors in Triton X‐100 Photosystem I Complexes from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002†
Authors: Agalarov Rufat , Byrdin Martin , Rappaport Fabrice , Shen Gaozhong , Bryant Donald A. , Van Der Est Art , Golbeck John H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractContinuous wave (CW) and transient electron paramagnetic resonance studies have implied that when PsaF is removed genetically, the double reduction of A1A is facile, the lifetime of A1A− is shorter and the ratio of fast to slow kinetic phases increases in PS I complexes isolated with Triton X‐100 (Van der Est, A., A. I. Valieva, Y. E. Kandrashkin, G. Shen, D. A. Bryant and J. H. Golbeck [2004] Biochemistry43, 1264–1275). Changes in the lifetimes of A1A− and A1B− are characteristic of mutants involving the quinone binding sites, but changes in the relative amplitudes of A1A− and A1B− are characteristic of mutants involving the primary electron acceptors, A0A and A0B. Here, we measured the fast and slow phases of electron transfer from A1B− and A1A− to FX in psaF and psaE psaF null mutants using time‐resolved CW and pump‐probe optical absorption spectroscopy. The lifetime of the fast kinetic phase was found to be unaltered, but the lifetime of the slow kinetic phase was shorter in the psaF null mutant and even more so in the psaE psaF null mutant. Concomitantly, the amplitude of the fast kinetic phase increased by a factor of 1.8 and 2.0 in the psaF and psaE psaF null mutants, respectively, at the expense of the slow kinetic phase. The change in ratio of the fast to slow kinetic phases is explained as either a redirection of electron transfer through A1B at the expense of A1A, or a shortening of the lifetime of A1A− to become identical to that of A1B−. The constant lifetime and the characteristics of the near‐UV spectrum of the fast kinetic phase favor the former explanation. A unified hypothesis is presented of a displacement of the A‐jk(1) α‐helix and switchback loop, which would weaken the H‐bond from Leu722 to A1A, accounting for the acceleration of the slow kinetic phase, as well as weaken the H‐bond from Tyr696 to A0A, accounting for the bias of electron transfer in favor of the PsaB branch of cofactors.
Immunophenotypic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid cell populations with the Cell‐Dyn Sapphire haematology analyser: method feasibility and preliminary observations
Authors: ADAM P. , SOBEK O. , SCOTT C. S. , DOLEZIL D. , KASIK J. , HAJDUKOVA L. , ADAM D. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n = 50) from patients with neurological disease (bacterial infection, viral infection, neuroborreliosis and multiple sclerosis) were analysed to characterize cell populations by fluorescent immunocytometry with the CD‐Sapphire haematology analyser. Reagent combinations applied to all CSF samples comprised CD3/CD19/HLA‐DR and CD4/CD8, with some being further analysed using CD3/CD4, CD3/CD16 and CD3/CD25 protocols. Of the 50 samples, 11 were excluded because of high proportions of nonviable cells (n = 2) or insufficient cell numbers (n = 9). Apart from bacterial infection with granulocytosis, all diagnostic groups showed high proportions (51.4–77.0%) of CD3+ T cells. There was a modest association between T‐cell and B‐cell counts, but absolute B‐cell numbers exceeded 5 cells/μl in only 7/39 cases (neuroborreliosis, n = 6; bacterial meningitis, n = 1). CD3/Ia antigen (activation) co‐expression was low and only exceeded 5% in 7/39 samples with no diagnostic correlation. Primary CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell subsets showed similar quantitative trends and CD4/CD8 co‐analysis revealed the presence in all diagnostic groups (neuroborreliosis and multiple sclerosis in particular) of a CD4+ CD8int fraction that was predominantly CD3+ and CD16− and had a morphological profile consistent with small lymphoid cells. Supplementary CD‐Sapphire cellular immunological analysis of most CSF samples is feasible using the procedure detailed in this communication.
Indole and 7‐hydroxyindole diminish Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence
Authors: Lee Jintae , Attila Can , Cirillo Suat L. G. , Cirillo Jeffrey D. , Wood Thomas K. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryIndole is an extracellular biofilm signal for Escherichia coli, and many bacterial oxygenases readily convert indole to various oxidized compounds including 7‐hydroxyindole (7HI). Here we investigate the impact of indole and 7HI on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 virulence and quorum sensing (QS)‐regulated phenotypes; this strain does not synthesize these compounds but degrades them rapidly. Indole and 7HI both altered extensively gene expression in a manner opposite that of acylhomoserine lactones; the most repressed genes encode the mexGHI‐opmD multidrug efflux pump and genes involved in the synthesis of QS‐regulated virulence factors including pyocyanin (phz operon), 2‐heptyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐quinolone (PQS) signal (pqs operon), pyochelin (pch operon) and pyoverdine (pvd operon). Corroborating these microarray results, indole and 7HI decreased production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, PQS and pyoverdine and enhanced antibiotic resistance. In addition, indole affected the utilization of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and 7HI abolished swarming motility. Furthermore, 7HI reduced pulmonary colonization of P. aeruginosa in guinea pigs and increased clearance in lungs. Hence, indole‐related compounds have potential as a novel antivirulence approach for the recalcitrant pathogen P. aeruginosa.
Domestic and International Transracial Adoption: A Synopsis of the Literature
Authors: Tuan Mia 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWhile adoptions are as ‘old as humanity itself’, transracial adoptions are a fairly recent phenomenon, particularly in the United States. This article reviews the state of transracial adoption research through an examination of the domestic and international transracial adoption literatures. Special attention is paid to the controversy that erupted in the 1970s over Black–White adoption placements and to the emergence of international adoption as the dominant form of transracial adoption.
Genotypic Resistance Analysis of the Virological Response to Fosamprenavir-Ritonavir in Protease Inhibitor-Experienced Patients in CONTEXT and TRIAD Clinical Trials
Authors: Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Flandre Philippe , Molina Jean-Michel , Katlama Christine , Yeni Patrick , Raffi Francois , Antoun Zeina , Ait-Khaled Mounir , Calvez Vincent 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to identify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease mutations associated with virological response (VR) to fosamprenavir-ritonavir (FPV/r) in 113 protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced patients randomized in both CONTEXT and TRIAD clinical trials and receiving the same dose (700/100 mg twice daily) of FPV/r. The impact of each protease mutation on the VR to FPV/r, defined as the decrease in HIV RNA at week 12, was investigated with nonparametric analyses. A step-by-step procedure was done using a Jonckheere-Terpstra (JT) test that retains the group of mutations most strongly associated with the VR. Mutations at the following 14 codons were associated with a reduced VR to FPV/r: 10, 15, 33, 46, 54, 60, 62, 63, 72, 73, 82, 84, 89, and 90. The JT procedure led to selecting the CONTEXT/TRIAD genotypic set of mutations, I15V, M46I/L, I54L/M/V, D60E, L63P/T, and I84V, as providing the strongest association with the VR (P= 1.45 × 10−11). In the nine patients with zero mutations within this set, the median decrease in HIV RNA was −2.63 log copies/ml, and was −2.22 (n= 45), −1.50 (n= 26), −0.58 (n= 23), −0.47 (n= 6), −0.13 (n= 3), and 0.04 (n= 1) log copies/ml in those with one, two, three, four, five, and six mutations, respectively. This study identified six mutations associated with VR to FPV/r. Some of these mutations are shared with the current FPV/r Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA (ANRS) resistance score, which has been cross-validated in the CONTEXT/TRIAD data set, suggesting that the current ANRS FPV/r score is a useful tool for the prediction of VR to FPV/r in PI-experienced patients.
Characterization of pUO-StVR2, a Virulence-Resistance Plasmid Evolved from the pSLT Virulence Plasmid of
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Herrero Ana , Mendoza M. Carmen , Rodicio Rosaura , Rodicio M. Rosario 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

pUO-StVR2 is a virulence-resistance plasmid which originated from pSLT of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium through acquisition of a complex resistance island, flanked by regions that provide a toxin-antitoxin system and an iron uptake system. The presence of resistance and virulence determinants on the same plasmid allows coselection of both properties, potentially increasing health risks.
Chloroquine Resistance-Conferring Mutations in
pfcrt
Give Rise to a Chloroquine-Associated H
+
Leak from the Malaria Parasite's Digestive Vacuole
Authors: Lehane Adele M. , Kirk Kiaran 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

Chloroquine resistance in the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
is conferred by mutations in the
P. falciparum c
hloroquine
r
esistance
t
ransporter (PfCRT). PfCRT localizes to the membrane of the parasite's internal digestive vacuole, an acidic organelle in which chloroquine accumulates to high concentrations and exerts its toxic effect. Mutations in PfCRT are thought to reduce chloroquine accumulation in this organelle. How they do so is the subject of ongoing debate. Recently we have shown that in the presence of chloroquine there is an increased leak of H
+
from the digestive vacuole in chloroquine-resistant but not chloroquine-sensitive parasites. Here, using transfectant parasite strains of a single genetic background and differing only in their
pfcrt
allele, we show that chloroquine resistance-conferring PfCRT mutations are responsible for this chloroquine-associated H
+
leak. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the chloroquine resistance-conferring forms of PfCRT mediate the efflux of chloroquine, in association with H
+
, from the malaria parasite's digestive vacuole.
Pharmacodynamics of Cidofovir for Vaccinia Virus Infection in an In Vitro Hollow-Fiber Infection Model System
Authors: McSharry James J. , Deziel Mark R. , Zager Kris , Weng Qingmei , Drusano George L. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

Variola major virus
remains a potent weapon of bioterror. There is currently an investigational-new-drug application for cidofovir for the therapy of variola major virus infections. Stittelaar and colleagues compared the levels of effectiveness of postexposure smallpox vaccination (Elstree-RIVM) and antiviral treatment with cidofovir or an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogue {6-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)alkoxy]-2,4-diaminopyrimidine (HPMPO-DAPy)} after lethal intratracheal infection of cynomolgus monkeys with monkeypox virus, a variola virus surrogate. Their results demonstrated that either compound was more effective than vaccination with the Ellstree vaccine (K. J. Stittelaar et al., Nature 439:745-748, 2006). An unanswered question is how to translate this information into therapy for poxvirus infections in people. In a proof-of-principle study, we used a novel in vitro hollow-fiber infection model system to determine the pharmacodynamics of vaccinia virus infection of HeLa-S3 cells treated with cidofovir. Our results demonstrate that the currently licensed dose of cidofovir of 5 mg/kg of body weight weekly with probenecid (which ameliorates nephrotoxicity) is unlikely to provide protection for patients intentionally exposed to
Variola major virus
. We further demonstrate that the antiviral effect is independent of the schedule of drug administration. Exposures (area under the concentration-time curve) to cidofovir that will have a robust protective effect will require doses that are 5 to 10 times that currently administered to humans. Such doses may cause nephrotoxicity, and therefore, approaches that include probenecid administration as well as schedules of administration that will help ameliorate the uptake of cidofovir into renal tubular epithelial cells need to be considered when addressing such treatment for people.