bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organization of the songbird basal ganglia, including area X
Authors: Person Abigail L. , Gale Samuel D. , Farries Michael A. , Perkel David J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractArea X is a songbird basal ganglia nucleus that is required for vocal learning. Both Area X and its immediate surround, the medial striatum (MSt), contain cells displaying either striatal or pallidal characteristics. We used pathway‐tracing techniques to compare directly the targets of Area X and MSt with those of the lateral striatum (LSt) and globus pallidus (GP). We found that the zebra finch LSt projects to the GP, substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and pars compacta (SNc), but not the thalamus. The GP is reciprocally connected with the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and projects to the SNr and motor thalamus analog, the ventral intermediate area (VIA). In contrast to the LSt, Area X and surrounding MSt project to the ventral pallidum (VP) and dorsal thalamus via pallidal‐like neurons. A dorsal strip of the MSt contains spiny neurons that project to the VP. The MSt, but not Area X, projects to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and SNc, but neither MSt nor Area X projects to the SNr. Largely distinct populations of SNc and VTA dopaminergic neurons innervate Area X and surrounding the MSt. Finally, we provide evidence consistent with an indirect pathway from the cerebellum to the basal ganglia, including Area X. Area X projections thus differ from those of the GP and LSt, but are similar to those of the MSt. These data clarify the relationships among different portions of the oscine basal ganglia as well as among the basal ganglia of birds and mammals. J. Comp. Neurol. 508:840–866, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Well‐posedness for the FENE dumbbell model of polymeric flows
Authors: Masmoudi Nader 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe prove local and global well‐posedness for the FENE dumbbell model for a very general class of potentials. Indeed, in prior local or global well‐posedness results, conditions on the strength of the singularity (or on the parameter b) were made. Here we give a proof in the general case. We also prove global existence results if the data is small or if we restrict to the co‐rotational model in dimension 2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Automated FISH analysis using dual‐fusion and break‐apart probes on paraffin‐embedded tissue sections
Authors: Alpár Donát , Hermesz Judit , Pótó László , László Renáta , Kereskai László , Jáksó Pál , Pajor Gábor , Pajor László , Kajtár Béla 
Published: April 2008

AbstractDetecting balanced translocations using tissue sections plays an important diagnostic role in cases of hematological malignancies. Manual scoring is often problematic due to truncation and overlapping of nuclei. Reports have described automated analysis using primarily tile sampling. The aim of this study was to investigate an automated fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis method using grid sampling on tissue sections, and compare the performance of dual‐fusion (DF) and break‐apart (BA) probes in this setting. Ten follicular, 10 mantle cell lymphoma, and 10 translocation‐negative samples were used to set the threshold of false positivity using IGH/CCND1, IGH/BCL‐2 DF, and IGH BA probes. The cut‐off distances of red and green signals to define fusion signals were 0.5, 1.0, and 1.2 μm for the IGH/CCND1, IGH/BCL‐2 DF, and IGH BA probes, respectively. The mean false positivity of grid units was 5.3, 11.4, and 28.1%, respectively. Ten to 14 additional samples analyzed blindly and were correctly classified using each probe. Discriminating positive and negative samples using automated analysis and grid sampling was possible with each probe, although different definitions of fusion signals were required due to the different physical distances between the DNA probes. Using the DF probes resulted in lower false positivity, which was less affected by signal numbers per grid units. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
TLR4 and S1P receptors cooperate to enhance inflammatory cytokine production in human gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Eskan Mehmet A. , Rose Beate G. , Benakanakere Manjunatha R. , Zeng Qun , Fujioka Daisuke , Martin Michael H. , Lee Menq‐Jer , Kinane Denis F. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractToll‐like receptors (TLR) are pattern recognition receptors for highly conserved microbial molecular patterns. Activation of TLR is a pivotal step in the initiation of innate, inflammatory, and immune defense mechanisms. Recent findings indicate that G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCR) may modulate TLR signaling, but it is unclear which GPCR are involved in this process. One such cooperation between GPCR and TLR can be attributed to the sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) receptor family. The S1P receptors (S1P1–5) are a family of GPCR with a high affinity for S1P, a serum‐borne bioactive lipid associated with diverse biological activities such as inflammation and healing. In this study, we show that pro‐inflammatory cytokine production, including IL‐6 and IL‐8, was increased with LPS and concomitant S1P stimulation. Furthermore, elevated cytokine production following LPS and S1P challenge in human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC) was significantly reduced when TLR4, S1P1 or S1P3 signaling was blocked. Our study also shows that S1P1 and S1P3 expression was induced by LPS in HGEC, and this elevated expression enhanced the influence of S1P in its cooperation with TLR4 to increase cytokine production. This cooperation between TLR4 and S1P1 or S1P3 demonstrates that TLR4 and GPCR can interact to enhance cytokine production in epithelial cells.
Restoring the balance: Harnessing regulatory T cells for therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Flores‐Borja Fabian , Mauri Claudia , Ehrenstein Michael R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractTreg play a vital role in the maintenance of tolerance to self antigens, thereby preventing disease through the active suppression of proliferation and pro‐inflammatory cytokine production by autoreactive T cells. Here we discuss strategies aimed at enhancing Treg function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the ultimate aim of restoring lasting tolerance but without increasing the risk of infections or cancer.See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838108
The critical contribution of TGF‐β to the induction of Foxp3 expression and regulatory T cell function
Authors: Shevach Ethan M. , Tran Dat Q. , Davidson Todd S. , Andersson John 
Published: April 2008

AbstractStimulation of mouse CD4+ T cells in the presence of TGF‐β results in the expression of Foxp3 and induction of Treg function. Stimulation of human CD4+ T cells under similar conditions results in the expression of Foxp3, but the cells lack regulatory cell function. TGF‐β expressed on the surface of Treg also induces Foxp3 expression and Treg function in responder cells. Both of these mechanisms may play a role in vivo in the induction of antigen‐specific extra‐thymic Treg.See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200738109
Combined neonatal stress and young‐adult glucocorticoid stimulation in rats reduce BDNF expression in hippocampus: Effects on learning and memory
Authors: Choy Kwok Ho Christopher , de Visser Yvonne , Nichols Nancy R. , van den Buuse Maarten 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEpidemiological studies suggest that multiple developmental disruptions are involved in the etiology of psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia. In addition, altered expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in these illnesses. In the present study, we examined the combined long‐term effect of an early stress, in the form of maternal deprivation, and a later stress, simulated by chronic young‐adult treatment with the stress hormone, corticosterone, on BDNF expression in the hippocampus of rats. To assess whether there were behavioral effects, which may correlate with the BDNF changes, learning and memory was tested in the Y‐maze test for short term spatial memory, the Morris water maze for long‐term spatial memory, and the T‐maze test for working memory. Four groups of rats received either no stress, maternal deprivation, corticosterone treatment, or both. Dorsal hippocampus sections obtained from parallel groups were used for BDNF mRNA in situ hybridization. Rats which had undergone both maternal deprivation and corticosterone treatment displayed a unique and significant 25–35% reduction of BDNF expression in the dentate gyrus (DG), and similar trends in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. These “two‐hit” animals exhibited a learning delay in the Morris water maze test, a marked deficit in the Y‐maze, but little change in the T‐maze test. However, some aspects of cognition were also altered in rats with either maternal deprivation or corticosterone treatment. This study demonstrates a persistent effect of two developmental disruptions on BDNF expression in the hippocampus, with parallel, but not completely correlative changes in learning and memory. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinico‐pathologic features and outcome of Japanese patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Niitsu Nozomi , Okamoto Masataka , Nakamine Hirokazu , Aoki Sadao , Motomura Shigeki , Hirano Masami 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe studied the clinico‐pathologic features and treatment outcome of patients with peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL). This study included 215 patients with T/natural killer (NK)‐cell lymphoma, including 59 with PTCL‐unspecified (PTCL‐U), 42 with angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AILT) and 20 with anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma (ALCL). Most of the analyses were performed on patients with AILD, ALCL and PTCL‐U. The patients with AILT and PTCL‐U tended to be older than those with ALCL. Stage III/IV disease was seen in 90.5% of the AILT cases, 55% of the ALCL cases and 67.8% of the PTCL‐U cases. In addition, 61.9% of the AILT cases had an international prognostic index (IPI) of H‐I or H risk. The 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 72.2 and 76.1% among the ALCL cases, 40.7 and 42.2% among the PTCL‐U cases and 31.2 and 49.3% among the AILT cases, respectively. Among the patients with PTCL‐U, the 5‐year PFS and OS rates in group low (L), low‐intermediate (L‐I), high‐intermediate (H‐I) or high (H) risk group of IPI were: 47.6 and 56.1%, 55.6 and 53.8%, 42.4 and 40.1% and 9.1 and 9.1%, respectively. The 5‐year PFS and OS rates in group 1, 2, 3 or 4 by prognostic index of PTCL‐U (PIT) were: 88.9 and 85.7%, 57.1 and 54.9%, 33.5 and 28.8% or 13.3 and 13.3%, respectively. The 5‐year PFS and OS rates among patients who received CHOP therapy, CyclOBEAP [cyclophosphamide (CPA), vincristine (VCR), bleomycine, etoposide, doxorubicin (DXR), prednisone (PDN)] therapy or autologous stem cell transplantation were: 22 and 25.7%, 59 and 61.7% or 33.3 and 60%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the PIT score was associated with OS and PFS. These results indicate that the presence of bone marrow (BM) involvement is an independent prognostic factor which may predict both OS and PFS. PTCL‐U is a heterogeneous disease with regard to histological type and pathological state. Because PTCL‐U is generally not responsive to CHOP therapy, new treatment strategies need to be developed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enterolactone restricts the proliferation of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line in vitro
Authors: McCann Mark J. , Gill Chris I. R. , Linton Trevor , Berrar D. , McGlynn Hugh , Rowland Ian R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEcological data suggest a long‐term diet high in plant material rich in biologically active compounds, such as the lignans, can significantly influence the development of prostate cancer over the lifetime of an individual. The capacity of a pure mammalian lignan, enterolactone (ENL), to influence the proliferation of the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line was investigated as a function of cell density, metabolic activity, expression and secretion of prostate specific antigen (PSA), cell cycle profile, and the expression of genes involved in development and progression of prostate cancer. Treatment with a subcytotoxic concentration of ENL (60 μM for 72 h) was found to reduce: cell density (57.5%, SD 7.23, p < 0.001), metabolic activity (55%, SD 0.03, p < 0.001), secretion of PSA (48.50% SD 4.74, p = 0.05) and induce apoptosis (8.33‐fold SD 0.04, p = 0.001) compared to untreated cells. Cotreatment with 10 μM etoposide was found to increase apoptosis by 50.17% (SD 0.02, p < 0.001). Additionally, several key genes (e. g. MCMs, survivin and CDKs) were beneficially regulated by ENL treatment (p < 0.05). The data suggest that the antiproliferative activity of ENL is a consequence of altered expression of cell cycle associated genes and provides novel molecular evidence for the antiproliferative properties of a pure lignan in prostate cancer.
Technical strategies to reduce the amount of “false significant” results in quantitative proteomics
Authors: Fuxius Sandra , Eravci Murat , Broedel Oliver , Weist Stephanie , Mansmann Ulrich , Eravci Selda , Baumgartner Andreas 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWhen the p‐value is set at <0.05 in statistical group comparisons, a 5% rate of “false significant” results is expected. In order to test the reliability of our 2‐DE method, we loaded each of 24 gels with equal‐sized samples (200 μg protein from pooled rat brain, pH 4–7, stained with ruthenium fluorescent stain for visualization) and statistically compared the first 12 gels with the last 12. In numerous experiments the rate of significant differences found far exceeded 5%. Several factors were identified as causing the following rates of false significant differences in spot intensities: (i) running samples in two different 2‐DE runs (42%), (ii) running second dimension gels produced in two different gel casters (16%), (iii) normalizing the entire gel instead of separately normalizing several different gel zones (11%), (iv) using IPG strips from different packages (19%), (v) dividing the whole sample into subgroups during software analysis (9%). After controlling for all these factors, the rates of “false positive” results in our experiments were regularly reduced to approximately 5%. This is an indispensable prerequisite for avoiding too high a rate of false positive results in experiments in which different subgroups are compared statistically.
Einsatz von hochfesten Stählen und Betonen bei Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen
Authors: Hanswille Gerhard , Lippes Martin 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEs wird über experimentelle und theoretische Untersuchungen zum Einsatz von hochfesten Stählen und Betonen bei Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen berichtet. Basierend auf den Nachweisverfahren in Eurocode 4‐1‐1 und DIN 18800‐5 wird ein modifiziertes vereinfachtes Nachweisverfahren für Verbundstützen mit Hochleistungswerkstoffen hergeleitet. Für Rundvollprofile, die bei hohen Tragfähigkeitsanforderungen als Einstellprofile verwendet werden, werden spezielle Untersuchungen zu den Eigenspannungen aus dem Abkühlprozess bei der Herstellung vorgestellt und die Einflüsse auf die Tragfähigkeit von Hohlprofil‐Verbundstützen erläutert.
Psychometric reevaluation of the scientific attitude inventory‐revised (SAI‐II)
Authors: Lichtenstein Michael J. , Owen Steven V. , Blalock Cheryl L. , Liu Yan , Ramirez Kacy A. , Pruski Linda A. , Marshall Carolyn E. , Toepperwein Mary Anne 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe central purposes of this study were to review the development and evolution of the Scientific Attitude Inventory (SAI) and then reevaluate the psychometric properties of the revised form of the SAI, the Scientific Attitude Inventory II (SAI‐II). The SAI‐II was administered to a convenience sample of 543 middle and high school students from five teachers in four schools in four school districts in San Antonio, Texas, at the beginning of the 2004–2005 school year. Confirmatory factor analysis on the full data set failed to support the existence of a 12‐factor structure (as proposed by the scale developers) or a one‐factor structure. The data were then randomly divided into exploratory [exploratory factor analysis (EFA)] validation and confirmatory [confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)] cross‐validation sets. Exploratory and confirmatory models yielded a three‐factor solution that did not fit the data well [χ2 (321) = 646, p < .001; RMSEA = .061 (.90 CI = .054–.068); and CFI = .81]. The three factors were labeled “Science is About Understanding and Explaining” (13 items), “Science is Rigid” (6 items), and “I Want to Be a Scientist” (8 items). The α‐coefficients for these three factors ranged from 0.59 to 0.85. Whether these identified subscales are valid will require independent investigation. In this sample, and consistent with prior publications, the SAI‐II in its current form did not have satisfactory psychometric properties and cannot be recommended for further use. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 600–616, 2008
Left ventricular pacing site in cardiac resynchronization therapy: Clinical follow‐up and predictors of failed lateral implant
Authors: Macías Alfonso , Gavira Juan‐José , Castaño Sara , Alegría Eduardo , García‐Bolao Ignacio 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe effects of the left ventricular (LV) pacing site on the clinical results of resynchronization therapy (CRT) are not well characterized. The aim of this study was to define the effect of LV lead location on clinical response and LV remodelling, and to identify predictors of failure to implant the LV lead in a lateral location.One hundred and seventy two consecutive patients were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after CRT. In 128 patients, the LV lead was implanted in the lateral region (Group 1), while 44 received an anterior implant due to anatomical or electrical factors (Group 2). Group 1 was associated with a significantly better functional outcome assessed both by NYHA class (p < 0.001) and by the six‐minute‐walk test (p = 0.01) compared with group 2. LV ejection fraction and volumes, and inter‐ and intraventricular dyssynchrony only improved significantly (p < 0.01) in group 1. The only independent predictor of a failed lateral implant was the presence of ischaemic cardiomyopathy (OR 3.29, 95% CI 2.2–13.7; p = 0.02).In conclusion, a lateral lead location results in a better functional outcome and greater reverse LV remodelling compared with anterior locations. The presence of ischaemic cardiomyopathy is a risk factor for a failed lateral LV implant.
A comparison of the effects of kaempferol and quercetin on cytokine-induced pro-inflammatory status of cultured human endothelial cells
Authors: Crespo Irene , García-Mediavilla María V. , Gutiérrez Belén , Sánchez-Campos Sonia , Tuñón María J. , González-Gallego Javier 
Published: April 2008

We investigated the effects of the flavonols kaempferol and quercetin on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial cell selectin (E-selectin), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), and on the activation of the signalling molecules NF-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1), induced by a cytokine mixture in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Inhibition of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generation did not differ among both flavonols at 1 μmol/l but was significantly stronger for kaempferol at 5–50 μmol/l. Supplementation with increasing concentrations of kaempferol substantially attenuated the increase induced by the cytokine mixture in VCAM-1 (10–50 μmol/l), ICAM-1 (50 μmol/l) and E-selectin (5–50 μmol/l) expression. A significantly inhibitory effect of quercetin on VCAM-1 (10–50 μmol/l), ICAM-1 (50 μmol/l) and E-selectin (50 μmol/l) expression was also observed. Expression of adhesion molecules was always more strongly inhibited in kaempferol-treated than in quercetin-treated cells. The inhibitory effect on iNOS and COX-2 protein level was stronger for quercetin at 5–50 μmol/l. The effect of kaempferol on NF-κB and AP-1 binding activity was weaker at high concentrations (50 μmol/l) as compared with quercetin. The present study indicates that differences exist in the modulation of pro-inflammatory genes and in the blockade of NF-κB and AP-1 by kaempferol and quercetin. The minor structural differences between both flavonols determine differences in their anti-inflammatory properties and in their efficiency in inhibiting signalling molecules.
Impact of treatment with praziquantel, silymarin and/or β-glucan on pathophysiological markers of liver damage and fibrosis in mice infected withMesocestoides vogae(Cestoda) tetrathyridia
Authors: Velebný S. , Hrčkova G. , Kogan G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMesocestoides vogaetetrathyridia infection in mice causes hepatocyte injury, hepatic granulomatous inflammmation, liver fibrosis and chronic peritonitis manifested with portal hypertension. To reduce the detrimental effect of parasites on the host liver, the effect of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel (PZQ) in combination with natural products silymarin (an antioxidant) and β-glucan (an immunomodulator) was investigated. The therapeutic effect of drugs was assessed by means of aminotransferase (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) activities, content of albumin, total proteins and hyaluronic acid (HA) in sera of ICR mice infected withM. vogaelarvae. Animals were treated with PZQ suspended in oil emulsion (Group 1), PZQ combined with silymarin incorporated into lipid microspheres (LMS) (Group 2), PZQ combined with β-glucan incorporated into liposomes (LG) (Group 3), PZQ co-administered with LMS and LG (Group 4). Untreated animals (Group 5) served as the control. Treatment of animals started at the early chronic phase of infection (day 14 p.i.) and lasted 10 days; serum samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 25, 28, 31, 35 and 45 p.i. ALT and AST activities were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in Groups 2, 3 and 4. HA content was significantly (P < 0.05 and 0.01) lower in Groups 2 and 4. Albumin levels were decreased in Groups 2 and 4, total protein concentration decreased in Groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.05 and 0.01). These results showed that combined treatment of PZQ with silymarin and/or β-glucan was able to ameliorate or suppress fibrogenesis in the liver, protect liver cells from oxidative damage and, possibly, stimulate regeneration of the parenchyma.
Delphinid spatial distribution and abundance estimates over the shelf of the Bay of Biscay
Authors: Certain G. , Ridoux V. , van Canneyt O. , Bretagnolle V. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractCertain, G., Ridoux, V., van Canneyt, O., and Bretagnolle, V. 2008. Delphinid spatial distribution and abundance estimates over the shelf of the Bay of Biscay. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 656–666. The small delphinid community (bottlenose Tursiops truncatus, common Delphinus delphis, and striped Stenella coeruleoalba dolphins) of the Bay of Biscay (100 000 km2 of continental shelf along the French Atlantic coast) has been studied here by combining strip-transect aerial surveys conducted between 2001 and 2004 and ship-based surveys conducted between 2003 and 2006. Distribution was modelled spatially in relation to several large-scale descriptors of the environment. Highest densities of small delphinids were associated with the shelf break, in particular in two hotspots located in the north and the south of the bay. Using ship-based data, we found strong spatial segregation between common and bottlenose dolphins in spring, with common dolphins associated with coastal areas (and especially river plumes) and bottlenose dolphins on the outer shelf and the shelf break. Assuming a detection probability of 1, a strip-transect abundance estimate for the small delphinid community was obtained in August 2002 with 56 500 (95% CI 29 100–90 400), but relative abundance varied across months.