bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cohesin protein SMC1 represses the nuclear receptor CAR-mediated synergistic activation of a human P450 gene by xenobiotics
Authors: Inoue Kaoru , Borchers Christoph H. , Negishi Masahiko 
Published: August 2006

CAR (constitutive active/androstane receptor) regulates both the distal enhancer PBREM (phenobarbital-responsive enhancer module) and the proximal element OARE [OA (okadaic acid) response element] to synergistically up-regulate the endogenous CYP2B6 (where CYP is cytochrome P450) gene in HepG2 cells. In this up-regulation, CAR acts as both a transcription factor and a co-regulator, directly binding to and enhancing PBREM upon activation by xenobiotics such as TCPOBOP {1,4-bis-[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene} and indirectly associating with the OARE in response to OA [Swales, Kakizaki, Yamamoto, Inoue, Kobayashi and Negishi (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 3458–3466]. We have now identified the cohesin protein SMC1 (structural maintenance of chromosomes 1) as a CAR-binding protein and characterized it as a negative regulator of OARE activity, thus repressing synergy. Treatment with SMC1 small interfering RNA augmented the synergistic up-regulation of CYP2B6 expression 20-fold in HepG2 cells, while transient co-expression of spliced form of SMC1 abrogated the synergistic activation of a 1.8 kb CYP2B6 promoter. SMC1 indirectly binds to a 19 bp sequence (−236/−217) immediately downstream from the OARE in the CYP2B6 promoter. Both DNA affinity and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that OA treatment dissociates SMC1 from the CYP2B6 promoter, reciprocating the indirect binding of CAR to OARE. These results are consistent with the conclusion that SMC1 binding represses OARE activity and its dissociation allows the recruitment of CAR to the OARE, synergizing PBREM activity and the expression of the CYP2B6 gene.
Scanning peptide array analyses identify overlapping binding sites for the signalling scaffold proteins, β-arrestin and RACK1, in cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase PDE4D5
Authors: Bolger Graeme B. , Baillie George S. , Li Xiang , Lynch Martin J. , Herzyk Pawel , Mohamed Ahmed , High Mitchell Lisa , McCahill Angela , Hundsrucker Christian , Klussmann Enno , Adams David R. , Houslay Miles D. 
Published: August 2006

The cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase PDE4D5 can interact with the signalling scaffold proteins RACK (receptors for activated C-kinase) 1 and β-arrestin. Two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation analyses showed that RACK1 and β-arrestin interact with PDE4D5 in a mutually exclusive manner. Overlay studies with PDE4D5 scanning peptide array libraries showed that RACK1 and β-arrestin interact at overlapping sites within the unique N-terminal region of PDE4D5 and at distinct sites within the conserved PDE4 catalytic domain. Screening scanning alanine substitution peptide arrays, coupled with mutagenesis and truncation studies, allowed definition of RACK1 and β-arrestin interaction sites. Modelled on the PDE4D catalytic domain, these form distinct well-defined surface-exposed patches on helices-15–16, for RACK1, and helix-17 for β-arrestin. siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of RACK1 in HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) B2 cells increased β-arrestin-scaffolded PDE4D5 approx. 5-fold, increased PDE4D5 recruited to the β2AR (β2-adrenergic receptor) upon isoproterenol challenge approx. 4-fold and severely attenuated (approx. 4–5 fold) both isoproterenol-stimulated PKA (protein kinase A) phosphorylation of the β2AR and activation of ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase). The ability of a catalytically inactive form of PDE4D5 to exert a dominant negative effect in amplifying isoproterenol-stimulated ERK activation was ablated by a mutation that blocked the interaction of PDE4D5 with β-arrestin. In the present study, we show that the signalling scaffold proteins RACK1 and β-arrestin compete to sequester distinct ‘pools’ of PDE4D5. In this fashion, alterations in the level of RACK1 expression may act to modulate signal transduction mediated by the β2AR.
Effects of dietaryAstragaluspolysaccharide on growth performance and immune function in weaned pigs
Authors: Yuan S.L. , Piao X.S. , Li D.F. , Kim S.W. , Lee H.S. , Guo P.F. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a polysaccharide isolated fromAstragalus membranaceus(APS) on performance and immune responses in weaned pigs. A total of 144 crossbred pigs weaned at 26 to 30 days of age with an average initial live weight (LW) of 7·64 (s.d. 0·290) kg were randomly allotted to six diets supplemented with APS at 0, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/kg. There were six replicates (three barrow pens and three gilt pens) per diet treatment with four pigs per pen. Pigs were given foodad libitumfor 21 days and the LW and food intake were measured on days 14 and 21. Pigs were intramuscularly injected with 1 mg/kg LW ovalbumin (OVA) on day 14 to evaluate humoral immune response. Blood samples were collected on day 21 to measure leukocyte differential counts, percentage of blood CD4+and CD8+lymphocyte subsets, lymphocyte proliferation response to Concanavalin A, serum concentration of immunoglobulin G (Ig G), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and specific OVA antibody. The results showed that the average daily gain, the numbers of WBC and lymphocytes, the proportion of CD4+lymphocyte subset, and the contents of IL-2 and IFN-γ increased (P< 0·05) as pigs were fed increased supplemental level of APS during the 21 d period. However, the contents of specific OVA antibody, Ig G, IL-4, and IL-10 were not affected (P> 0·05) by dietary levels of APS. The broken line analysis and quadratic regression analysis indicate that the optimal APS supplemental level would be between 381 mg/kg and 568 mg/kg for the maximal ADG and from 324 to 563 mg/kg for immune responses. Collectively, this study suggests that dietary APS can be used as a potential immuno-modulating agent by affecting cellular immunity of weaned pigs.
Performance, lean meat proportion and behaviour of fattening pigs given a liquid diet at different animal/feeding-place ratios
Authors: Rasmussen D. K. , Weber R. , Wechsler B. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSensor feeding is a liquid feeding system for fattening pigs that is operated with a restricted animal/feeding-place ratio (AFR). The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of three different AFRs (4:1, 7:1 and 13:1, calculated with a feeding space of 33 cm per animal) on the performance and behaviour of fattening pigs (mean initial weight 26·3 (s.d. 3·3) kg, live weight at slaughter 102 (s.d. 5) kg). The pigs were housed in groups of 40 and each AFR was tested with seven groups (21 groups in total). The daily weight gain of the individual pigs was calculated from the beginning of the experiments until slaughter. Additionally, the lean meat percentage was recorded (AutoFOM). Feeding behaviour was observed by means of 24-h video recording at the ages of 14 and 17 weeks with scan sampling every 5 min. The daily weight gain decreased with increasing AFR (P<0·01) and females had lower weight gains than barrows (P<0·001). The lean meat proportion was influenced by the AFR (P<0·01) and sex of the pigs (P<0·001). Proportions were highest with the AFR 13:1 and in females. The average number of pigs feeding simultaneously was highest for the AFR of 4:1 (P<0·01). Moreover, the ingestion rate per day (kg/min) increased with increasing AFR (P<0·05). The average number of pigs waiting behind other pigs feeding at the trough was highest with the AFR 13:1 (P<0·001).In conclusion, growth performance and pig behaviour were negatively affected by an AFR of 13:1, which cannot be recommended for use with this feeding system. With an AFR of 4:1 lean meat values were low.
Isolation and sequence analysis of the floral homeotic geneBAP2inBrassica rapa
Authors: Guang-Yuan Lu , Xiao-Ming Wu , Bi-Yun Chen , Gui-Zhen Gao , Kun Xu 
Published: August 2006

AbstractTheArabidopsishomeotic geneAP2is essential for floral meristem development and organ specification. In this study, we report the isolation and sequence comparison of theAP2homologue ofBrassica rapa(BAP2). The results showed that theBAP2DNA sequence was 2138 bp in length and contained nine introns. It shared 90% identity withAP2in the coding region. The putative BAP2 polypeptide contained a nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence and two copies of highly conserved AP2 domain, suggesting thatBAP2may function similarly toAP2. Two nucleotide variations were detected in DNA sequences from wild-type and apetalousB. rapaplants at theBAP2locus, while the putative polypeptides were identical. We propose thatBAP2is not likely to be responsible for the apetalous mutation inB. rapa.
Porcine oocyte maturation in vitro under different conditions
Authors: Jun-He Hu , Chun-Rong Yang , Zhong-Ying Dou 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe effects of hormone additions at various stages and different basic media, with or without serum, on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro were studied. The results showed that the rate of maturation was not significantly different with three different stages of hormone supplement; the rate of maturation on modified TCM199 medium (54.01%) was higher than that on TCM199 (46.16%) and (47.14%), but these differences were not significant; and the rate of maturation on serum-free medium (67.10%) was significantly higher than that on medium plus serum (52.22%). Therefore, modifed tissue culture medium 199 (mTCM199)+10I U/ml pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG)+10I U/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)+2.5 IU/ml follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was a suitable medium for culture of porcine oocytes in vitro, and the rate of maturation was 67.10%.
Relationship between genetic variations of 5′-upstream and the second intron region ofH-FABPgene and IMF content in eight pig breeds and wild pig
Authors: Wei-Jun Pang , Gong-She Yang 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe genetic variations of the 5′-upstream region and the second intron of the porcineH-FABPgene were investigated by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 256 pigs, including Duroc, Large White, Landrace, Neijiang, Rongchang, Bamei pig, Hanjiang Black, Hanzhong White, and wild pigs. The effect of theH-FABPgene on intramuscular fat (IMF) content was analysed by the least square method. Results showed aHinfI-RFLP in these eight pig breeds and wild pigs, among which Large White, Bamei pig, Hanjiang Black, Hanzhong White and wild pigs presented low polymorphism, while the other breeds had intermediate polymorphism. There were noHaeIII orMspI-RFLPs in the four Chinese local pig breeds tested, but Duroc, Landrace, Large White, Hanzhong White and wild pig displayed polymorphism. Landrace, Large White and wild pigs had low levels ofHaeIII- andMspI-RFLP, while the others had intermediate polymorphism. H-FABP genotypes significantly affected IMF content (P<0.05). IMF content according to H-FABP genotypes wereHH>Hh>hh,DD<Dd<dd,AA<Aa<aa. The genetic effect values were 3.95 (HH), 3.48 (Hh), 3.23 (hh), 2.33 (DD), 2.55 (Dd), 2.97 (dd), 2.34 (AA), 2.76 (Aa) and 3.01 (aa). Results suggest that porcine meat quality may be improved by increasing the frequency of genotypeaa-dd-HHin pig breeds.
Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Analysis of Adherence to Recommendations for Routine Infection Control Practices
Authors: Castella Annalisa , Charrier Lorena , Legami Valeria Di , Pastorino Francesca , Farina Enzo Carlo , Argentero Pier Angelo , Zotti Carla Maria ,   Piemonte Nosocomial Infection Study Group
Published: August 2006

Objective.To evaluate the application of surgical site infection control procedures in general surgery departments in hospitals in the Piemonte region of Italy.Design.The descriptive study entailed 1 week of observation in the general surgery departments and 1 week of observation in the operating rooms of 49 hospitals in Piemonte; the survey was conducted in 2003.Methods.Data collection forms were designed to record information about presurgical patient preparation (form 1) and infection control practices routinely used by surgical teams (form 2).Results.A total of 856 patients were observed; 88% of operations were surgical wound class I or II; 70.6% of patients had hair removed, 28.8% showered the day before the operation; antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered in 63.3% of cases (68.4% on induction of anesthesia and 26% on the day of the operation) and was continued into the postoperative period in 43% of cases. A total of 799 operations were observed; the mean number of healthcare personnel in the operating room was 6; doors were opened an average of 12 times during an operation; 88% of the surgical team members wore a cap/hood and mask correctly; 25% of surgeons and 41% of instrument nurses wore an eye shield; preoperative hand and forearm scrubbing technique was correct in 78% of cases (surgeons, 74.6%; instrument nurses, 86.6%; and anesthesiologists, 73%).Conclusions.A comparison between the survey data and the international recommendations for SSI prevention highlighted practices that could be improved with corrective interventions. The study provided an opportunity for sharing feedback on appropriate data with healthcare personnel and was an effective instrument to audit infection control practices.
The Postoperative Bacteriuria Score A New Way to Predict Nosocomial Infection After Prostate Surgery
Authors: Girou E. , Rioux C. , Brun-Buisson C. , Lobel B. 
Published: August 2006

Objective.Urinary tract infections are the leading nosocomial urologic infections and may be a cause of added morbidity and costs, and sometimes sepsis. The aim of this study was to design a predictive score for these complications after prostate surgery.Design.Multicenter prospective survey.Setting.Eleven French urology centers.Patients.All patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) during a 3-month period.Results.The overall incidence of postoperative bacteriuria was 25.0% (95% confidence interval, 17.7%-29.5%). Almost all patients (95.7%) received antibiotic prophylaxis. A predictive postoperative bacteriuria score (POBS), with a 6-point scale of 0 to 5, was constructed on the basis of independent risk factors identified in multivariate analysis of a test sample of patients (n = 135) and tested in a validation sample (n = 73). Significantly more infections occurred in patients with a POBS of 2 or higher (87 [8%] vs 48 [50%]; P<.0001). With the test sample, this yielded a sensitivity of 77%, a specificity of 77%, a positive predictive value of 50%, a negative predictive value of 92%, and a global accuracy of 77%.Conclusions.POBS could be used to distinguish patients at risk of developing infection after TURP. This information might be useful for implementing selective prevention measures or for adjustment for differences in nosocomial infection rates when comparing data between urology centers.
Microbiology of Surgical Site Infections and Associated Antimicrobial Use Among Vietnamese Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Patients
Authors: Thu Le Thi Anh , Sohn Annette H. , Tien Nguyen Phuc , Mai Vo Thi Chi , Nho Vo Van , Hanh Tran Nguyen Trinh , Ewald Ben , Dibley Michael 
Published: August 2006

Objectives.To determine the pathogens associated with surgical site infections (SSIs) and describe patterns of antimicrobial use and resistance in orthopedic and neurosurgical patients in a large university hospital in Vietnam.Design.Prospective cohort study.Setting.Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.Patients.All patients who had operations during a 5-week study period.Results.Of 702 surgical patients, 80 (11.4%) developed an SSI. The incidence of SSI among orthopedic patients was 15.2% (48 of 315), and among neurosurgical patients it was 8.3% (32 of 387). Postoperative bacterial cultures of samples from the surgical sites were performed for 55 (68.8%) of the 80 patients with SSI; 68 wound swab specimens and 10 cerebrospinal fluid samples were cultured. Of these 78 cultures, 60 (76.9%) were positive for a pathogen, and 15 (25%) of those 60 cultures yielded multiple pathogens. The 3 most frequently isolated pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29.5% of isolates), Staphylococcus aureus (11.5% of isolates), and Escherichia coli (10.3% of isolates). Ninety percent of S. aureus isolates were methicillin resistant, 91% of P. aeruginosa isolates were ceftazidime resistant, and 38% of E. coli isolates were cefotaxime resistant. All but 1 of the 702 patients received antimicrobial therapy after surgery, and the median duration of antimicrobial therapy was 11 days. Commonly used antimicrobials included aminopenicillins and second- and third-generation cephalosporins. Two or, more agents were given to 634 (90%) of the patients, and most combination drug regimens (86%) included an aminoglycoside.Conclusions.Our data indicate that the incidence of SSI is high in our study population, that the main pathogens causing SSI are gram-negative bacteria and are often resistant to commonly used antimicrobials, that the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials after surgery is widespread, and that implementation of interventions aimed at promoting appropriate and evidence-based use of antimicrobials are needed in Vietnam.
Nose Picking and Nasal Carriage ofStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wertheim Heiman F. L. , Kleef Menno van , Vos Margreet C. , Ott Alewijn , Verbrugh Henri A. , Fokkens Wytske 
Published: August 2006

Objective.Nasal carriage ofStaphylococcus aureusis an important risk factor forS. aureusinfection and a reservoir for methicillin-resistantS. aureus. We investigated whether nose picking was among the determinants ofS. aureusnasal carriage.Setting and Participants.The study cohort comprised 238 patients who visited the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disease outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital and did not have a nose-specific complaint (defined as ENT patients) and 86 healthy hospital employees (including medical students and laboratory personnel).Measurements.All participants completed a questionnaire on behavior regarding the nose and were screened forS. aureusnasal carriage; only ENT patients underwent nasal examination by an ear, nose, and throat physician for clinical signs of nose picking.Results.Among ENT patients, nose pickers were significantly more likely than non–nose pickers to carryS. aureus(37 [53.6%] of 69 vs 60 [35.5%] of 169 patients; relative risk, 1.51 [95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.19]). Among healthy volunteers, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the self-perceived frequency of nose picking and both the frequency of positive culture results (R= 0.31;P= .004) and the load ofS. aureuspresent in the nose (R= 0.32;P= .003).Conclusion.Nose picking is associated withS. aureusnasal carriage. The role of nose picking in nasal carriage may well be causal in certain cases. Overcoming the habit of nose picking may aidS. aureusdecolonization strategies.
The Standardized Incidence Ratio as a Reliable Tool for Surgical Site Infection Surveillance
Authors: Rioux Christophe , Grandbastien Bruno , Astagneau Pascal 
Published: August 2006

Objective.To evaluate whether the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) is a more reliable tool for comparing rates and temporal trends of surgical site infection (SSI) in surgery wards than the incidence rate among patients with an National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system (NNIS) risk index category of 0.Design.Observational, prospective cohort study in a sequential SSI surveillance system.Setting.Volunteer surgery wards in a surveillance network in northern France that annually conducted SSI surveillance for 3 months from 1998 to 2000.Methods.The incidence rate was the number of SSIs divided by the number of patients included, stratified by the NNIS risk index category. SIR was the observed number of SSIs divided by the expected number computed using a multiple regression model.Results.Overall, 26,904 patients in 67 surgery wards were enrolled. Between 1998 and 2000, the SSI incidence rate among patients with NNIS risk index category 0 decreased from 2.1% to 1.4%, which was a 33% reduction (P = .002). The SIR decreased from 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.3) to 0.8 (95% CI, 0.7-0.9), which was a 20% decrease per year and an overall 33% reduction. The number of SSIs was significantly higher than expected in 17 of 201 surveillance periods over the 3 years. The classification of the wards according to the 2 indicators over the 3 years showed that wards with a high SIR did not consistently have the highest SSI incidence rate among patients with NNIS risk index category 0, partly because the type of surgical procedure and the duration of follow-up are not taken into account in the NNIS risk index.Conclusion.SIR should be considered a reliable indicator to estimate the reduction in SSI incidence that results from implementation of infection control policies and for comparison of SSI rates between wards.
Sulphate assimilation under Cd2+ stress in Physcomitrella patens – combined transcript, enzyme and metabolite profiling
Authors: ROTHER MICHAEL , KRAUSS GERD‐JOACHIM , GRASS GREGOR , WESENBERG DIRK 
Published: August 2006

ABSTRACTCd2+ causes disturbance of metabolic pathways through severe damage on several levels. Here we present a comprehensive study of Cd2+‐mediated effects on transcript, enzyme and metabolite levels in a plant without phytochelatin (PC). The moss Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) B.S.G. was stressed with up to 10 µm Cd2+ to investigate the regulation of gene transcription and activities of enzymes involved in the assimilatory sulphate reduction pathway and in glutathione biosynthesis. Real‐time PCR, specific enzyme assays as well as thiol peptide profiling techniques were applied. Upon supplementation of 10 µm Cd2+, the moss showed a more than fourfold increase in expression of genes encoding ATP sulphurylase (ATPS), adenosylphosphosulphate reductase, phosphoradenosylphosphorsulphate reductase, sulphite reductase (SiR) and γ‐glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ‐ECS). Likewise, elevated enzyme activities of γ‐ECS and glutathione synthetase were observed. Contrarily, activity of O‐acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS‐TL), responsible for biosynthesis of cysteine, was diminished. At the metabolite level, nearly doubling of intracellular cysteine and glutathione content was noted, while the moss did not produce any detectable amounts of PCs. These results suggest a Cd2+‐induced activation of the assimilatory sulphate reduction pathway as well as of glutathione biosynthesis on different levels of regulation.