bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interferon‐βMediates Opposing Effects on Interferon‐γ‐dependent Interleukin‐12 p70 Secretion by Human Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cells
Authors: Nagai T. , Devergne O. , Van Seventer G. A. , Van Seventer J. M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractInterferon‐β(IFN‐β) exposure during tumour necrosis factor‐α(TNF‐α)‐induced human monocyte‐derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation augments the capacity of DC to promote the generation of T helper 1 (Th1) cells, while IFN‐βexposure during naive Th cell stimulation inhibits Th1 cell generation (Nagai et al., J Immunol, 2003171:5233–43). Investigating these contradictory outcomes of IFN‐βexposure, we find that isolated DC matured with both TNF‐αand IFN‐βsecrete more IL‐12 p70 upon CD40L stimulation than DC matured with TNF‐αalone. mAb blocking studies indicate that the basis for this enhanced IL‐12 p70 production is augmentation of two successive CD40‐dependent autocrine pathways in the DC: (1) a pathway in which low levels of IL‐12 p70, IL‐27, IL‐18 and, possibly, IL‐23 act to mediate autocrine induction of DC IFN‐γsecretion; and (2) an IFN‐γ‐initiated autocrine pathway promoting optimal DC IL‐12 p70 secretion. In contrast to the IL‐12 p70 promoting effects of IFN‐βduring DC maturation, IFN‐βpre‐treatment before CD40L stimulation was found to inhibit IFN‐γ‐mediated enhancement of DC IL‐12 p70 secretion. Thus, IFN‐βexposure during TNF‐α‐mediated DC maturation may promote Th1 polarization by increasing DC IL‐12 p70 secretion, through enhancement of autocrine‐acting IFN‐γproduction by the DC. Moreover, IFN‐βexposure during naive Th cell stimulation may inhibit Th1 cell generation by blocking the IFN‐γ‐induced signals required for optimal CD40L‐induced DC IL‐12 p70 secretion. IFN‐βpre‐treatment was also observed to inhibit CD40L‐induced DC IL‐23 secretion. Our findings may account for some of the beneficial effects of IFN‐βtherapy in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
Airway Inflammation and Bronchial Remodelling in Toluene Diisocyanate‐exposed BALB/c Mouse Model
Authors: Sun L.‐Z. , Elsayed S. , Bronstad A. M. , Van Do T. , Irgens Å. , Aardal N. P. , Aasen T. B. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractToluene diisocyanate (TDI), a highly reactive industrial chemical, is one of the leading causes of occupation‐related asthma in industrialized countries. The pathogenesis of TDI‐induced asthma, however, remains not fully understood, in part due to lack of appropriate animal models. Twenty five female BALB/c mice (age: 8 weeks) were randomly divided into 5 groups: Ovabumin (OVA); OVA peptide amino acid residues No. 323–339 (Pep); TDI; alum and physiological saline. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 25 μg OVA or pep absorbed on 300 μg alum, 300 μg alum or saline on days 0, 7 and 14. For the TDI group, mice were sensitized subcutaneously with 20 μl neat TDI on day 0; 20 μl of TDI in olive oil (1:10) on days 7 and 14; on days 21–23. Then each group was challenged intranasally with 20 μl of 1% OVA, 1% Pep, 1% TDI, 10% alum and saline respectively. On day 28, mice were killed under pentothal anesthesia. The results demonstrated that neutrophil‐dominant inflammation with a few eosinophil infiltration occurred in the peri‐bronchial and peri‐vascular regions of the lungs. This was accompanied by hyperplasia/hypertrophy of cells lining the airways and mucus production as shown by HE staining. Positive immunohistochemical MBP staining in parenchyma was also shown. Th2 cytokine IL‐4 and IgE production were significant increased 5 days after last challenge while IFN‐γ level was below the detection limit. Conclusion: the clear elevation of IL‐4 and IgE could allow to conclude a possible Th2‐like dominated allergic response in TDI‐exposed BALB/c mouse model.
The symbiotic ion channel homolog DMI1 is localized in the nuclear membrane of Medicago truncatula roots
Authors: Riely Brendan K. , Lougnon Géraldine , Ané Jean‐Michel , Cook Douglas R. 
Published: December 2006

SummaryLegumes utilize a common signaling pathway to form symbiotic associations both with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The perception of microbial signals is believed to take place at the plasma membrane, activating a cascade that converges on the nucleus where transcriptional reprogramming facilitates the symbioses. Forward genetic strategies have identified genes in this signaling pathway including Medicago truncatulaDMI1 (Doesn't Make Infections 1) that encodes a putative ion channel. Although the DMI1 homologs from Lotus japonicus, CASTOR and POLLUX, were recently reported to be localized in plastids, we report here that a functional DMI1::GFP fusion is localized to the nuclear envelope in M. truncatula roots when expressed both from a constitutive 35S promoter and from a native DMI1 promoter. Localization may be mediated in part by sequences located within the amino‐terminus of DMI1. This region of DMI1 is required for symbiotic signal transduction, and its replacement with a bona fide plastid transit peptide from the glutamine synthetase 2 gene does not restore DMI1 function. These new data place DMI1 in the nuclear envelope in close proximity to the origin of Nod‐factor‐induced calcium spiking.
Pimecrolimus 1% cream in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus in postmenopausal women
Authors: Oskay Tugba , Kaya Sezer Halime , Genç Cüneyt , Kutluay Lale 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground  Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS), a poorly recognized chronic inflammatory skin disease, may represent a therapeutic challenge. Pimecrolimus cream 1% is a nonsteroidal, selective inflammatory cytokine inhibitor that has recently been indicated for some inflammatory cutaneous diseases.Objective  To investigate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of 1% pimecrolimus cream therapy in postmenopausal women with LS.Methods  A total of 16 patients applied pimecrolimus cream 1% twice a day over the first 3 months and then as required. All the patients completed this study and were then followed up over the next 12 months. The symptoms and clinical appearance of the lesions in every subject were recorded before and after treatment using a severity scale.Results  Using pimecrolimus, most of the patients exhibited a significant improvement with respect to symptoms and the clinical appearance of the disease. After 3 months of treatment, complete remission was seen in 11 patients, partial remission in four, whereas one patient experienced no response at all. Over the subsequent 12 months of follow‐up, 10 patients exhibited complete remission while five had partial remission. Four cases with complete remission experienced a few relapses during the follow‐up period. Older patients and those with an advanced stage of the disease responded poorly. No significant side effects were observed.Conclusions  Pimecrolimus cream 1% appears to be an effective and well‐tolerated therapeutic alternative option in the treatment of early stage of vulvar LS. Pimecrolimus may reduce the incidence of flare ups, improve long‐term disease control, and enhance the patients’ quality of life, especially in postmenopausal women.
Haplotype association of IL‐8 gene with Behcet’s disease
Authors: Lee E. B. , Kim J. Y. , Zhao J. , Park M. H. , Song Y. W. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractInterleukin‐8 (IL‐8), a CXC chemokine that recruits and activates inflammatory cells, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Behcet’s disease (BD). To investigate the association of the genetic polymorphism of IL‐8 and BD, we genotyped IL‐8 −845 T/C, −738 T/A, −353 A/T, −251 A/T, +293 G/T, +678 T/C and receptors CXCR‐1 +2607 G/C and CXCR‐2 +785 C/T polymorphisms in 119 Korean patients with BD and 119 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy blood donors. Then, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes were analyzed between patients and controls. There were no SNPs associated with BD. However, the frequency of haplotype TAT inferred from SNPs, IL‐8 −353 A/T, −251 A/T and +678 T/C, was significantly higher in patients with BD than controls (5.9 vs 0.0%, P = 0.0001), as was haplotype ATC (6.7 vs 0.0%, P < 0.0001). The haplotype difference was still valid in human leukocyte antigen‐B51‐negative subjects. In conclusion, we found a significant difference in the distribution of IL‐8 gene haplotypes between patients with BD and healthy controls. These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of proinflammatory chemokine IL‐8 can contribute to the pathogenesis of BD.
Immune regulation by mesenchymal stem cells: two sides to the coin
Authors: Stagg J. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) constitute a rare population of adult stem cells that can be isolated from a simple bone marrow aspirate in the absence of prior mobilization. For this reason, MSCs are particularly attractive for cell‐based medicine. Ex‐vivo‐expanded MSCs isolated from different species, including human MSCs, have been shown to suppress the activity of a broad range of immune cells, including T cells, antigen‐presenting cells, natural killer (NK) cells and B cells. New studies have further shown that MSCs interact with NK cells, express NK cell receptor ligands, express Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), respond to TLR ligands and act as antigen‐presenting cells upon interferon‐γ stimulation. Taken together, these studies suggest that MSCs may constitute a previously unrecognized player of the immune system with dichotomy of function reminiscent of other antigen‐presenting cells. An important question that remains unanswered is whether resident MSCs actually play a role in endogenous immune responses? I here review the mechanisms of MSC‐mediated immune regulation and discuss the major roles of resident MSCs in health and disease.
Lidocaine exerts its effect on induced bronchospasm by mitigating reflexes, rather than by attenuation of smooth muscle contraction
Authors: Groeben H. , Peters J. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Lidocaine inhalation attenuates histamine‐induced bronchoconstriction, as well as bronchoconstriction elicited by mechanical irritation. This effect could be mediated by direct effects on smooth muscle or by reflex attenuation. Therefore, we evaluated whether lidocaine attenuated the bronchial response of direct smooth muscle stimulation with methacholine.Methods:  In 15 volunteers with bronchial hyperreactivity, a methacholine challenge was performed following the inhalation of lidocaine, dyclonine (which does not attenuate bronchial reactivity) or saline on three different days in a randomized, double‐blind fashion. Lung function, response to methacholine, and lidocaine and dyclonine plasma concentrations were measured.Results:  The inhaled methacholine concentration (PC20) necessary for a 20% decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was 8.8 ± 6.1 mg/ml at the screening evaluation. The sensitivity to methacholine challenge (PC20) remained unchanged regardless of which solution was inhaled (9.1 ± 7.5 mg/ml for lidocaine, 10.2 ± 9.0 mg/ml for dyclonine and 9.8 ± 8.3 mg/ml for saline; P= 0.58, means ± standard deviation). Furthermore, the inhalation of all three solutions caused a significant decrease in FEV1 from baseline (P= 0.0007), with a significantly larger effect for dyclonine than lidocaine (P= 0.0153).Conclusions:  Although both inhaled and intravenous lidocaine attenuates histamine‐evoked bronchoconstriction, it does not alter the response to methacholine. Therefore, the attenuation of bronchial reactivity by lidocaine appears to be related solely to neurally mediated reflex attenuation, rather than to the attenuation of direct constriction of airway smooth muscle.
Propofol causes more hypotension than etomidate in patients with severe aortic stenosis: a double‐blind, randomized study comparing propofol and etomidate
Authors: Bendel S. , Ruokonen E. , Pölönen P. , Uusaro A. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Vasodilatation and hypotension are thought to be harmful in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Etomidate is preferred to propofol for anaesthesia induction in haemodynamically unstable patients, but may disturb cortisol synthesis. We assessed the haemodynamic effects of etomidate vs. propofol as anaesthesia induction agents, and the effects of these drugs on cortisol concentrations, in patients with severe aortic stenosis. The main end‐point of the study was the incidence of hypotension.Methods:  Sixty‐six patients with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for elective aortic valve replacement were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomized to receive either propofol or etomidate for induction of anaesthesia. Haemodynamic parameters, i.e. mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac index (CI), were measured. If MAP decreased below 70 mmHg for more than 30 s, phenylephedrine was administered. Serum cortisol concentrations were also measured.Results:  MAP decreased in all patients (P < 0.001). MAP decreased to a greater extent in patients receiving propofol than in those receiving etomidate (P= 0.006). Patients receiving propofol needed phenylephedrine more often than those receiving etomidate (20/30 vs. 8/30, P= 0.002). CI and PCWP decreased in both groups (P < 0.001), with no difference between the groups. Patients receiving etomidate had a lower serum cortisol concentration immediately after the operation than those receiving propofol (P < 0.001), but no differences between the groups were observed on the first post‐operative morning.Conclusion:  Propofol is twice as likely as etomidate to evoke hypotension in anaesthesia induction of patients with severe aortic stenosis; however, etomidate transiently decreases post‐operative serum cortisol concentrations.
Can the Cerebral State Monitor replace the Bispectral Index in monitoring hypnotic effect during propofol/remifentanil anaesthesia?
Authors: Hoymork S. C. , Hval K. , Jensen E. W. , Raeder J. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  In 2004, the cerebral state monitor, CSM, was launched as a low‐cost alternative to the bispectral index, BIS, for monitoring depth of sleep during anaesthesia. We tested whether the two monitors would reflect hypnosis equally during propofol/remifentanil anaesthesia.Methods:  During laparoscopy or breast/surface surgery, 55 non‐paralyzed patients were monitored simultaneously with the BIS and the CSM. Trend curves for the indexes [BIS and cerebral state index (CSI)] were compared for congruence. The difference between the two indexes for the entire course was quantified, and the ability of the two monitors to separate awake from asleep during induction was described.Results:  In the majority of the patients, 87%, there was a good fit between the indexes. There were major deviations in seven patients, in whom CSI indicated that the patients were awake during parts of the course despite clinical sleep, correctly identified with the BIS. Both indexes separated awake from asleep during induction in the individual patient, but the overlap in values between patients was more pronounced for CSI.Conclusion:  CSM and BIS show some important differences in measuring hypnotic state during clinical propofol/remifentanil anaesthesia.
The functional status and perceived quality of life in long‐term survivors of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest
Authors: Harve H. , Tiainen M. , Poutiainen E. , Maunu M. , Kajaste S. , Roine R. O , Silfvast T. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Limited data exist on how long‐term survivors after pre‐hospital cardiac arrest lead their lives. This study assessed functional status and perceived quality of life in patients surviving for 15 years after successful resuscitation from witnessed out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest as a result of ventricular fibrillation.Methods:  A 15‐year follow‐up study of 59 1‐year survivors after successful pre‐hospital resuscitation who were thoroughly evaluated at 3 and 12 months after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest. Eleven patients were still alive 15 years later. Ten of them were reached and underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological and neurological examination. Cognitive performance was evaluated and compared with individual results 15 years earlier and with an age‐matched control group. The cause and time of death of the non‐survivors were established.Results:  All 10 evaluated long‐term survivors lived at home and were independent in their activities of daily living. Their mean age was 72 years. In nine patients there was no change in the present neurological status compared with the status at 1 year after resuscitation, and in one patient it had improved. Five patients were cognitively intact. In four patients mild cognitive problems had emerged or slightly progressed. All but one were satisfied with their perceived quality of life. By the time of examination, the mean survival time for the 1‐year survivors was 7 years, and the mean age at the time of death was 70 years.Conclusion:  Once good outcome after cardiac arrest is achieved, it can be maintained for more than 10 years.
Chronic acid ingestion promotes renal stone formation in rats treated with vitamin D3
Authors: Okamoto Naohiko , Aruga Seiji , Tomita Kyoichi , Takeuchi Takumi , Kitamura Tadaichi 
Published: December 2006

Objective:  Although hypercalciuria, a well‐established adverse effect of vitamin D3, can be a risk factor of renal stone formation, the risk of nephrolithiasis has not been well defined. The consumption of a diet high in acid precursors is often cited as a risk factor for the development of calcium‐based kidney stones. In the present study, we investigated the effect of chronic acid ingestion on kidney stone formation in rats treated with calcitriol (1–25[OH]2 D3).Methods:  Control rats (C‐C), calcitriol‐treated rats (C‐V; three treatments of 0.5 µg of calcitriol per week) and acid‐ingested (water containing 0.21 mol/L NH4Cl), calcitriol‐treated (three treatments of 0.5 µg of calcitriol per week) rats (A‐V) were fed in metabolic cages. After 1 month, urine, blood, kidney and bone samples were analyzed.Results:  The A‐V rats exhibited elevated serum calcium concentrations, urinary calcium and phosphate excretion, urinary type I collagen cross‐linked N‐peptide (NTx)/creatinine values, mRNA expression of osteopontin in the kidney, and renal calcium contents as well as decreased bone mineral densities, compared with the C‐C and C‐V rats. Urinary citrate excretion was lower and NaDC‐1 mRNA expression in the kidney was higher in the A‐V rats than in the C‐C and C‐V rats. Calcium phosphate kidney stones were found in the A‐V rats.Conclusions:  The ingestion of NH4Cl, an acid precursor, promotes calcium phosphate kidney stone formation in calcitriol‐treated rats. The chronic intake of a diet rich in acid precursors may be a risk factor for the development of kidney stones in subjects who are being treated with calcitriol.
Severity of erectile dysfunction in married impotent patients: Interrelationship with anthropometry, hormones, metabolic profiles and lifestyle
Authors: Paick Jae‐Seung , Yang Ji Hyun , Kim Soo Woong , Ku Ja Hyeon 
Published: December 2006

Objective:  This study was designed to evaluate the effects of risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) or cardiovascular disease on the disease severity in impotent men.Methods:  A total of 87 men, 25–75 years old (mean age, 53.4) were included in the study. Patients were evaluated with anthropometry, hormones, metabolic profiles and lifestyle. Baseline erectile function (EF) was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The severity of ED was classified into the following four grades based on the six‐item EF domain of the IIEF: severe (6–10); moderate (11–16); mild to moderate (17–21); and mild (22–25). Patients were deemed to have metabolic syndrome (MS) if they had three or more of five criteria according to National Cholesterol Education Program, with some modification.Results:  Of 87 patients, 15 patients (17.2%) had mild, 11 (12.6%) had mild to moderate, 33 (37.9%) had moderate and 28 (32.3%) had severe ED. There was no correlation between scores of IIEF or EF domain and continuous parameters. On the multivariate model used, hypertensive patients had 26‐fold higher risk (odds ratio, 26.195; 95% confidence interval, 1.463–46.072; P = 0.027) of severe ED than those without hypertension. Other factors were not significant.Conclusion:  The results of the study indicate that MS might not influence the severity of ED in impotent men. However, our findings suggest that hypertension plays a role in the disease severity in these patients.
The efficacy and safety of laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with three or more comorbidities
Authors: Naya Yukio , Tobe Toyofusa , Suyama Takahito , Araki Kazuhiro , Komiya Akira , Suzuki Hiroyoshi , Igarashi Tatsuo , Ichikawa Tomohiko 
Published: December 2006

Objectives:  Laparoscopic surgery for kidney treatment is a common procedure. However, the efficacy of this procedure in patients with several comorbidities has not been well investigated. We conducted a retrospective comparison of results of laparoscopic surgery between patients with several comorbidities and patients with no comorbidity to access the efficacy and safety of this procedure.Methods:  The subjects were 20 patients with three or more comorbidities (group A) and 46 patients with less than three comorbidities (group B). These 66 patients were 48 men and 18 women with a mean age of 62.3 years (age range, 24–83 years). The data from these two groups were compared for American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status score, previous surgical history, duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, tumor size, complications during and after surgery, conversion rates, time to oral intake, and length of hospital stay.Results:  The initial ASA score and age were significantly higher for the patients with comorbidities (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0008, respectively). All other variables before, during, and after surgery were similar for both laparoscopic groups. However, the incidence of atelectasis of laparoscopy was higher than that of open surgery.Conclusions:  Laparoscopic nephrectomy for patients with comorbidities is safe and minimally invasive. Further investigation to prevent atelectasis is necessary.
Evaluation of regional lymph node dissection in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer
Authors: Secin Fernando P , Koppie Theresa M , Salamanca Juan I Martinez , Bokhari Shahid , Raj Ganesh V , Olgac Semra , Serio Angel , Vickers Andrew , Bochner Bernard H 
Published: December 2006

Objective:  The role of the lymph node dissection (LND) in conjunction with nephroureterectomy (NU) in upper tract urothelial cell carcinoma (UT‐UCC) remains undefined. We evaluated the manner in which the LND was applied at NU, the patterns of lymph node (LN) involvement and the preoperative variables that could identify patients at high risk for lymph node metastasis (LNM).Methods:  We examined clinical, radiological and pathological records of patients who underwent NU for UT‐UCC between 1985 and 2004. The central pathology laboratory reviewed all specimens and graded tumors using the 2002 World Health Organization/International Society of Urologic Pathologists grading system.Results:  Of the NU performed in 252 patients for UT‐UCC, 105 (42%) were N0, 28 (11%) N+ and 119 (47%) Nx. Some form of LN resection was performed with NU in 53% of patients, with a median of four LN sampled (interquartile range, 2–10). After adjustment for tumor and patient characteristics, surgeon remained a significant predictor of LN resection (P < 0.0005). Of the evaluated variables, suspicious LN on preoperative computed tomography, present in 60% of N+ patients, was the only preoperative variable associated with the pathological finding of LNM (P < 0.0005).Conclusions:  LND in patients with UT‐UCC is surgeon‐dependent. Given the prognostic importance of LN status and the limited accuracy of preoperative staging of the regional LN, surgeons should perform a regional LND at the time of NU.