bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated Expression of Transmembrane IL‐15 in Immune Cells Correlates with the Development of Murine Lupus: a Potential Target for Immunotherapy Against SLE
Authors: Bo H. , Wei X.‐Q. , Dong H. , Zhang Y. , Lv P. , Liu W. , Koutoulaki A. , Gao X.‐M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractPresentation in trans by the Interleukin‐15 receptor α chain (IL‐15Rα) has been suggested as the main mechanism for IL‐15 anchoring to the cell surface, but it is also evident that IL‐15 can exist as a transmembrane protein. We herein demonstrate that replacement of the first 41 residues of human IL‐15 (hIL‐15) with Igκ chain leader sequence resulted in secretion of most of the recombinant hIL‐15 expressed in transfectant cells, thus identifying the transmembrane region of IL‐15. A fusion protein (hIL‐15Rα‐Fc) between the extracellular domain of hIL‐15Rα and the Fc fragment of IgG1 was prepared and shown to be able to bind with transmembrane IL‐15 (tmIL‐15). The level of tmIL‐15 expression in macrophages, activated T cells and B cells from 6‐month‐old BXSB male mice, an animal model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), was significantly increased compared with that from BXSB females or young males. In addition, hIL‐15Rα‐Fc was able to block the T cell stimulating and anti‐apoptotic effect of the tmIL‐15‐positive BXSB macrophages in vitro. Intravenous administration of hIL‐15Rα‐Fc reduced the titre of autoantibodies against dsDNA and also proteinuria in aged BXSB males, implying that neutralization of IL‐15 activity in vivo may be an effective way of treating SLE.
A Novel Anti‐inflammatory Compound, Artonkin‐4′‐O‐glucoside, from the Leaves of Artocarpus tonkinensis Suppresses Experimentally Induced Arthritis*
Authors: Dang D. T. N. , Eriste E. , Liepinsh E. , Trinh T. T. , Erlandsson‐Harris H. , Sillard R. , Larsson P. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract Artocarpus tonkinenesis (Moraceae) has been used in Vietnamese traditional medicine for the treatment of backache and joint diseases since many 100 years. We have previously shown that a crude extract of A. tonkinensis elicited anti‐inflammatory effects in rat collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA), with significant improvement of disease symptoms. However, the pharmacological basis of the bioactivity of A. tonkinensis extract is not known. In the present study, we have isolated four individual active components from A. tonkinensis extract by reverse phase high‐pressure liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and their biological effects investigated. A novel biologically active flavonoid glucoside (5‐hydroxy‐8‐hydroxymethyl‐8‐methyl‐2‐[4‐(3,4,5‐trihydroxy‐6‐hydroxymethyl‐tetrahydro‐pyran‐2‐yloxy)‐phenyl]‐8H‐pyrano[3,2‐g]chromen‐4‐one) with an average molecular mass of 514.49 Da was isolated. We have named the compound artonkin‐4′‐O‐glucoside. The name ‘artonkin’ for the novel flavonoid part of the compound was coined from the Latin name of its source Artocarpus tonkinensis. The three other active flavonoid glucosides isolated and characterized were alphitonin‐4‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, maesopsin‐4‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside and kaempherol‐3‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside. All four compounds were found to cause anti‐inflammatory effect with different potencies. The anti‐inflammatory effects demonstrated in the rat model of arthritis correlate well with the inhibition of mitogen‐induced T‐cell proliferation. Furthermore, the compounds inhibit production of cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor‐α and interferon‐γ, in mitogen‐stimulated T cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. We postulate that the isolated flavonoids suppress T‐cell proliferation as well as cytokine expression and thereby contribute to an amelioration of arthritis severity in CIA.
Contribution of Intestinal Epithelial Cells to Innate Immunity of the Human Gut – Studies on Polarized Monolayers of Colon Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Ou G. , Baranov V. , Lundmark E. , Hammarström S. , Hammarström M.‐L. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe aim was to establish an in vitro model for studies of innate defence mechanisms of human intestinal epithelium. Ultrastructural characterization and determination of mRNA expression levels for apical glycocalyx and mucous components showed that polarized, tight monolayers of the colon carcinoma cell lines T84 and Caco2 acquire the features of mature‐ and immature columnar epithelial cells, respectively. Polarized monolayers were challenged with non‐pathogenic Gram+ and Gram− bacteria from the apical side and the proinflammatory cytokines interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) from the basolateral side. Immune responses were estimated as changes in mRNA expression levels for the mucous component mucin‐2 (MUC2), the glycocalyx components carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CEA‐related cell adhesion molecule‐1 (CEACAM1), CEACAM6, CEACAM7 and MUC3, the antimicrobial factors human β‐defensin‐1 (hBD1), hBD2, hBD3 and lysozyme, the chemokine IL‐8 and the cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α. Tight monolayer cells were generally unresponsive to bacterial challenge, but increased their hBD2 levels when challenged with Bacillus megaterium. T84 cells also increased their TNF‐α levels upon bacterial challenge. Tight monolayer cells responded to cytokine challenge suggesting awareness of basolateral attack. TNF‐α induced significantly increased levels of IL‐8 and TNF‐α itself in both cell lines suggesting recruitment and activation of immune cells in the underlying mucosa in vivo. Cytokine challenge also increased levels of CEACAM1, which includes two functionally different forms, CEACAM1‐L and CEACAM1‐S. In T84 cells, IFN‐γ was selective for CEACAM1‐L while TNF‐α upregulated both forms. Increased CEACAM1 expression may influence epithelial function and communication between epithelial cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes.
Private local pharmacies in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a review of interventions to enhance their role in public health
Authors: Smith Felicity 
Published: January 2009

SummaryObjectives  To review the evidence regarding the potential of pharmacy services to play an enhanced role in contributing to health care and policy initiatives in low‐ and middle‐income countries.Methods  Literature search, using computer and hand searching, to identify original research reporting the results of interventions to improve services from private local pharmacies in low‐ and middle‐income countries.Results  Eighteen studies were identified which spanned all regions: 12 evaluations of training initiatives, three studies evaluating the impact of policy of regulatory interventions, one regarding a collaboration of pharmacy services with a national TB programme, and two evaluating a pharmaceutical care initiative for patients with hypertension. A total of 14 studies used advice and recommendations to simulated clients as the primary outcome measures. Whilst most studies reported some improvements to practice, these were often small, limited to specific outcomes and believed to be short‐lived.Conclusion  The studies in this review demonstrate international interest in enhancing the place of pharmacy services in the provision and delivery of health care. But the small number of studies provides inadequate evidence on how to assure the quality of local pharmacy services can be assured, or how to develop them within a wider reform framework.
A pig–human comparative RH map comprising 20 genes on pig chromosome 13q41 that harbours the ETEC F4ac receptor locus
Authors: Ren J. , Tang H. , Yan X. , Huang X. , Zhang B. , Ji H. , Yang B. , Milan D. , Huang L. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4ac is a major cause of diarrhoea in newborn and young pigs. The locus for the intestinal ETEC F4ac receptor (F4acR) has been mapped to pig chromosome (SSC) 13q41 with known homology to human chromosome (HSA) 3q21 and q29. However, the causative gene and mutation(s) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize gene‐derived markers on SSC13q41 for fine mapping of the F4acR locus, and construct a high‐resolution pig–human comparative map to select positional candidate genes for F4acR. Pig‐specific sequence‐tagged site markers were developed for 20 genes that are located in a 6.8‐Mb region on HSA3q21 and q29, and a total of 34 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in 14 of 20 markers developed. Eighteen markers were mapped to SSC13q41, while the other two markers (PLXNA1 and KLF15) were assigned to SSC13q32 and SSC7q13, respectively, by radiation hybrid mapping. This result showed that there was a small conserved segment on SSC7 corresponding to HSA3q21. A framework map comprising 18 markers on SSC13q41 was established, refining the synteny breakpoint on SSC13q41 to a region of 12.3 centiRay. The comparative radiation hybrid (RH) map revealed three interesting candidate genes for F4acR from the human genome, viz. MUC4, MUC13 and MUC20. Linkage analysis with six marker polymorphisms revealed that MUC4 had the most significant linkage with the F4acR locus.
Estimation of (co)variance components and genetic parameters of greasy fleece weights in Muzaffarnagari sheep
Authors: Mandal A. , Neser F.W. C. , Roy R. , Rout P.K. , Notter D.R. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryVariance components and genetic parameters for greasy fleece weights of Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, India, over a period of 29 years (1976 to 2004) were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), fitting six animal models including various combinations of maternal effects. Data on body weights at 6 (W6) and 12 months (W12) of age were also included in the study. Records of 2807 lambs descended from 160 rams and 1202 ewes were used for the study. Direct heritability estimates for fleece weight at 6 (FW6) and 12 months of age (FW12), and total fleece weights up to 1 year of age (TFW) were 0.14, 0.16 and 0.25, respectively. Maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects did not significantly influence any of the traits under study. Genetic correlations among fleece weights and body weights were obtained from multivariate analyses. Direct genetic correlations of FW6 with W6 and W12 were relatively large, ranging from 0.61 to 0.67, but only moderate genetic correlations existed between FW12 and W6 (0.39) and between FW12 and W12 (0.49). The genetic correlation between FW6 and FW12 was very high (0.95), but the corresponding phenotypic correlation was much lower (0.28). Heritability estimates for all traits were at least 0.15, indicating that there is potential for their improvement by selection. The moderate to high positive genetic correlations between fleece weights and body weights at 6 and 12 months of age suggest that some of the genetic factors that influence animal growth also influence wool growth. Thus selection to improve the body weights or fleece weights at 6 months of age will also result in genetic improvement of fleece weights at subsequent stages of growth.
Riverine status and genetic structure of Chilika buffalo of eastern India as inferred from cytogenetic and molecular marker‐based analysis
Authors: Mishra B.P. , Kataria R.S. , Bulandi S.S. , Prakash B. , Kathiravan P. , Mukesh M. , Sadana D.K. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe present study aimed at assessing the status of the Chilika buffalo population of eastern India employing cytogenetic and molecular markers. The Chilika buffaloes investigated cytogenetically possess a somatic chromosome count of 50, identical to that of typical riverine buffaloes. Various diversity estimates, viz. observed number of alleles (4.68), effective number of alleles (2.79), and observed (0.487) and expected (0.602) heterozygosity across 25 heterologous microsatellite markers indicated the presence of a moderate level of genetic diversity in Chilika buffaloes, comparable with three other prominent Indian riverine buffalo breeds (Murrah, Nagpuri and Toda) included in this study. Across the four buffalo populations, mean estimates of F‐statistics from Jackknifing over loci were significantly different from zero (p < 0.05), with FIT (total inbreeding estimate) = 0.315 ± 0.038, FIS (within‐population inbreeding estimate) = 0.178 ± 0.038, and FST (population differentiation) = 0.166 ± 0.025. Inter‐breed analysis reflected Chilika buffaloes to be genetically close to Nagpuri followed by Murrah and Toda buffaloes. Factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) revealed low breed‐specific clustering of Chilika and Nagpuri buffaloes. Additionally, the neighbour‐joining tree structure of mitochondrial DNA D‐loop haplotypes indicated clear grouping of the Chilika haplotypes with the riverine buffalo. Thus the cytogenetic, microsatellite and mitochondrial data analysed in the present study classify Chilika buffalo of eastern India to be of the riverine type and not swamp‐type buffalo.
Defensins and inflammation: The role of defensins in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Ramasundara Malith , Leach Steven T , Lemberg Daniel A , Day Andrew S 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDefensins are antimicrobial peptides produced at a variety of epithelial surfaces. In the intestinal tract, they contribute to host immunity and assist in maintaining the balance between protection from pathogens and tolerance to normal flora. However, attenuated expression of defensins compromises host immunity and hence may alter the balance toward inflammation. Altered defensin production is suggested to be an integral element in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Evidence for this is shown in Crohn's disease where reduced α‐defensin levels are seen in patients with ileal disease and reduced β‐defensin levels in those with colonic involvement. Further evidence is provided by research linking nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) mutations and deficient defensin expression. However, alternate studies suggest that NOD2 status and defensin expression are independent, and that defensin deficiency is due to mucosal surface destruction as a result of inflammatory changes, indicating that reduced defensin expression is a symptom of the disease and not the cause. Although it is clear that defensin expression is altered in IBD, it is less clear whether defensin deficiency is implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD or is a consequence of the disease process. The aim of this article is to review the current knowledge of defensins in IBD and discuss their potential role in IBD pathogenesis.
Intestinal metaplasia: A premalignant lesion involved in gastric carcinogenesis
Authors: Busuttil Rita A , Boussioutas Alex 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDespite a plateau in incidence, gastric cancer remains a significant problem globally. The majority of gastric cancer is associated with histologically recognizable premalignant stages as first described by Pelayo Correa in the mid‐1970s. The mortality from gastric cancer remains high especially in Western countries where, arguably, the index of suspicion of gastric cancer in patients presenting with upper abdominal symptoms is lower than in high prevalence countries. What is the evidence that intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a premalignant condition? What should the clinician know about IM and the relative risks of progression to gastric cancer? Finally, what are the current and future strategies that may help stratify patients into high risk and low risk for the development of gastric cancer? This review focuses on gastric IM and outlines some of the literature that discusses it as a premalignant condition. It also reviews the issue of surveillance of patients with IM in order to attempt to reduce the significant mortality of gastric cancer by detection of earlier stages of disease which are eminently treatable.
Stuve Wiedemann syndrome and related syndromes: case report and possible anesthetic complications
Authors: BONTHUIS DOMINIQUE , MORAVA EVA , BOOIJ LEO H.D.J. , DRIESSEN JACQUES J. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryStuve Wiedemann syndrome (SWS) is an autosomal recessively inherited syndrome which is characterized by bowing of the long bones, camptodactyly, facial dysmorphism, hypotonia, feeding and swallowing difficulties, and respiratory distress. In most cases episodes of unexplained hyperthermia are present. Patients with SWS can develop hyperthermia in conjunction with anesthesia and surgery, and a relationship has been suggested between the syndrome and malignant hyperthermia. We describe a 3‐year‐old child diagnosed with SWS to whom we administered general anesthesia during the removal of a corneal ulcer and dilatation of the lacrimal duct. Our patient had received, uncomplicated, inhalational anesthesia five times previously for different operations. There were no anesthesia‐related complications in the present or previous perioperative periods. On one occasion the patient developed mild postoperative hyperthermia. We believe that this hyperthermia is different from the specific disorder of malignant hyperthermia and that sevoflurane can be safely used in patients with SWS. We also describe symptomatically related syndromes and their theoretical risks for anesthesia.
Are peripheral and neuraxial blocks with ultrasound guidance more effective and safe in children?
Authors: RUBIN KASIA , SULLIVAN DENISE , SADHASIVAM SENTHILKUMAR 
Published: January 2009

SummaryBackground and aims:  The efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided (USG) pediatric peripheral nerve and neuraxial blocks in children have not been evaluated. In this review, we have looked at the success rate, efficacy and complications with USG peripheral nerve blocks and compared with nerve stimulation or anatomical landmark based techniques in children.Methods:  All suitable studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE Drugs and Cochrane Evidence Based Medicine Reviews: Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews databases were identified. In addition, citation review and hand search of recent pediatric anesthesia and surgical journals were done. All three authors read all selected articles independently and a consensus was achieved. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing USG peripheral and neuraxial blocks with other techniques in children were included.Results:  Ultrasound guidance has been demonstrated to improve block characteristics in children including shorter block performance time, higher success rates, shorter onset time, longer block duration, less volume of local anesthetic agents and visibility of neuraxial structures.Conclusion:  Clinical studies in children suggest that US guidance has some advantages over more traditional nerve stimulation–based techniques for regional block. However, the advantage of US guidance on safety over traditional has not been adequately demonstrated in children except ilio‐inguinal blocks.
ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR
Authors: Pestieau Pierre 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT**:  One is used to hearing harsh statements about inefficient public services. It is not surprising to see public sector performance questioned. What is surprising is that what is meant by performance, and how it is measured, does not seem to matter much to either the critics or the advocates of the public sector. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a definition, and a way to measure the performance of the public sector or rather of its main components. Our approach is explicitly rooted in the principles of welfare and production economics. We will proceed in four stages. First of all we present what we call the ‘performance approach’ to the public sector. This concept rests on the principal‐agent relation that links a principal, i.e., the State, and an agent, i.e., the person in charge of the public sector unit, and on the definition of performance as the extent to which the agent fulfils the objectives assigned by the principal. The performance is then measured by using the notion of productive efficiency and the ‘best practice’ frontier technique. In the second stage we move to the issue of measuring the performance of some canonical components of the public sector (education, health care and railways transport), assuming that there is no constraint as to data availability. The idea is to disentangle the usual confusion between conceptual and data problems. In the third stage, we move to real world data problems. The question is then given the available data, whether it makes sense to assess and measure the performance of such public sector activities. The final stage is devoted to explaining performance or rather lack thereof. This exercise has clear implications for public policy. Finally we argue that when the scope is not components but the entirety of the public sector, one should restrict the performance analysis to outcomes and not relate them to inputs.
Are you sitting comfortably? The political economy of the body
Authors: Wilkin Peter 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the mass production of furniture in modern industrial societies and lower back pain (LBP). The latter has proven to be a major cost to health services and private industry throughout the industrialised world and now represents a global health issue as recent WHO reports on obesity and LBP reveal. Thus far there have been few co‐ordinated attempts to deal with the causes of the problem through public policy. Drawing upon a range of sources in anthropology, health studies, politics and economics, the paper argues that this a modern social problem rooted in the contingent conjuncture of natural and social causal mechanisms. The key question it raises is: what are the appropriate mechanisms for addressing this problem? This paper develops an analysis rooted in libertarian social theory and argues that both the state and the capitalist market are flawed mechanisms for resolving this problem. There remains a fundamental dilemma for libertarians, however. Whilst the state and the market may well be flawed mechanisms, they are the dominant ones shaping global political economy. To what extent can libertarians work within these structures and remain committed to libertarian goals?
Which News Moves the Euro Area Bond Market?
Authors: Andersson Magnus , Sebestyén Szabolcs , Overby Lars Jul 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
This paper explores a long dataset (1999-2005) of intraday prices on German long-term bond futures and examines market responses to major macroeconomic announcements and ECB monetary policy releases. German bond markets tend to react more strongly to the surprise component in US macro releases compared with aggregated and national euro area and UK releases, and the strength of those reactions to US releases has increased over the period considered. We also document that the numbers of German unemployed workers consistently have been known to investors before official releases.
Competition Tests with a Non-Structural Model: the Panzar–Rosse Method Applied to Germany’s Savings Banks
Authors: Gischer Horst , Stiele Mike 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
In this paper we adopt the Panzar-Rosse approach to assess the competitive conditions in the German banking market for the period from 1993 to 2002.We suggest several improvements to the empirical application of the approach and show that frequently used empirical models that apply price rather than revenue functions lead to biased results. Using disaggregated annual data from more than 400 savings banks (Sparkassen) the empirical findings indicate monopolistic competition, the cases of monopoly and perfect competition are strongly rejected. Furthermore, small banks seem to enjoy even more market power than larger institutions.