bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estrogen‐dependent expression of the tissue kallikrein gene (Klk1) in the mouse uterus and its implications for endometrial tissue growth
Authors: Rajapakse Sanath , Yamano Noriko , Ogiwara Katsueki , Hirata Kensaku , Takahashi Sumio , Takahashi Takayuki 
Published: January 2007

AbstractTissue kallikrein mK1 is a serine protease involved in the generation of bioactive kinins for normal cardiac and arterial function in the mouse. In the present study, the tissue kallikrein gene Klk1, which codes for mK1, was shown to be one of the most prevalent of the Klk gene species in the uteri of adult mice, and its mRNA level was significantly higher at estrus than at diestrus. Klk1 mRNA expression was enhanced in the uteri of ovariectomized mice receiving estradiol‐17β treatment. Both endometrial epithelial and stromal cells isolated from the mice exhibited Klk1 expression at detectable levels when cultured in the presence of estradiol‐17β. mK1 was characterized using the recombinant active enzyme. mK1 had trypsin‐like activity with a strong preference for Arg over Lys in the P1 position, and its activity was inhibited by typical serine protease inhibitors. Casein, gelatin, fibronectin, collagen type IV, and high‐molecular‐weight kininogen were degraded by mK1. The single‐chain tissue‐type plasminogen activator was converted to the two‐chain form by mK1. In addition, mK1 degraded insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐3. The present data suggest that mK1 may be implicated in the growth of uterine endometrial tissues during the proliferative phase. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1053–1063, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Temporal expression of transcripts related to embryo quality in bovine embryos cultured from the two‐cell to blastocyst stage in vitro or in vivo
Authors: Corcoran Deirdre , Rizos Dimitrios , Fair Trudee , Evans Alex C.O. , Lonergan Patrick 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe post‐fertilization embryo culture environment can have a dramatic effect on the pattern of gene expression in the embryo and it is widely acknowledged that bovine embryos derived from in vitro culture are of inferior quality to those derived in vivo. The objective of this study was to examine temporal variation in the mRNA abundance of several transcription and translation factors known to differ between blastocysts produced following culture in vitro and in vivo. Embryos were recovered from two in vitro culture systems SOF1 or SOF2 at five developmental stages: 2‐ to 4‐cell, 8‐cell, 16‐cell, morula, and blastocyst. In vivo embryos were produced from superovulated and artificially inseminated heifers and recovered at approximately 40 hr or 3, 4, 5, and 7 days postinsemination. Blastocysts were also produced following in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and culture in the ewe oviduct. Analysis of relative transcript abundance for FOXO3A, EEF1G, HMG2, and REA was performed using quantitative real‐time PCR. Irrespective of culture environment each transcript followed, approximately the same general pattern of expression where relative abundance decreased dramatically from the 2‐ to 4‐cell stage to 8‐cell stage and increased from the morula to blastocyst stage (P < 0.05). Transcripts for GNBL2 were not observed between the 2‐ and 16‐cell stage of development. Relatively high expression at the 2‐ to 4‐cell indicated that these transcripts are most likely of maternal origin produced in the oocyte during growth and final maturation. A culture‐induced change in mRNA abundance of transcription and translation factors was evident in embryos that were produced not only between in vivo and in vitro culture environments but also between different in vitro culture systems. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 972–977, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A gene trap mutation of a murine homolog of the Drosophila stem cell factor Pumilio results in smaller testes but does not affect litter size or fertility
Authors: Xu Eugene Yujun , Chang Rhoda , Salmon Nicholas A. , Reijo Pera Renee A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractMembers of the Pumilio (also called PUF) gene family belong to a class of highly conserved developmental regulators that are present in both flies and humans. Much is known about the function of Pumilio genes in invertebrate development, in particular their role as stem cell factors required for maintenance and/or self‐renewal of germline stem cells in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans. It remains unknown whether Pumilio genes are also required for development in mammals; however, several lines of evidence suggest similar functions based on extensive sequence homology, similar RNA‐binding properties to their invertebrate counterparts and well‐documented interactions with germ cell factors required for fertility. Here we report characterization of a gene trap mutation that disrupts the mouse Pumilio‐2 (Pum2) gene. Our data confirm that Pumilio‐2 is expressed most abundantly in germ cells with the highest expression in undifferentiated gonocytes and spermatogonia. Furthermore, the mutation in Pum2 results in significantly smaller testes although the mutants are otherwise viable and fertile. In addition, we observed no stronger reproductive defects on a genetic background homozygous for a Pum2 null mutation and heterozygous for a Dazl mutation than Pum2 mutant alone. Thus, as in C. elegans where single members of the Pumilio gene family are dispensable for reproductive development and viability, this individual member of the Pumilio gene family in mice is also not essential for reproduction or viability. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 912–921, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PP2Cδ (Ppm1d, WIP1), an endogenous inhibitor of p38 MAPK, is regulated along With Trp53 and Cdkn2a following p38 MAPK inhibition during mouse preimplantation development
Authors: Hickson Jenny A. , Fong Barry , Watson Patricia H. , Watson Andrew J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPreimplantation embryos utilize mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling (MAPK) pathways to relay signals from the external environment to prepare appropriate responses and adaptations to a changing milieu. It is therefore important to investigate how MAPK pathways are regulated during preimplantation development. This study was conducted to investigate whether PP2Cδ (Ppm1d, WIP1) is expressed during mouse preimplantation development and to determine the influences of p38 MAPK inhibition on expression of Trp53 (p53), Ppm1d, (WIP1), and Cdkn2a (p16) during mouse preimplantation development. Our results indicate that Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a mRNAs and TRP53 and PP2Cδ proteins are expressed throughout mouse preimplantation development. Treatment of 2‐cell embryos with SB220025 (potent inhibitor of p38 MAPK α/β/MAPK 14/11) significantly increased Trp53, Ppm1d and Cdkn2a and Mapk14 mRNA levels at 12 and 24 hr. Treatment of 8‐cell embryos with SB220025 for 12 hr increased Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a mRNA levels, but not Mapk14 mRNA levels. Treatment of 8‐cell embryos for 24 hr increased Trp53, and Ppm1d mRNA levels, but decreased Cdkn2a and Mapk14 mRNA levels. Therefore, blockade of p38 MAPK activity is associated with embryo stage specific influences on Trp53, Ppm1d, Cdkn2a, and Mapk14 expression during mouse preimplantation development. These results define downstream targets of p38 MAPK during preimplantation development and indicate that the p38 MAPK pathway regulates Trp53, Ppm1d, and Cdkn2a expression. This study increases our understanding of the mechanisms controlling preimplantation development and of the interactions between preimplantation embryos and their culture environments. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 821–834, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Morphologic and histologic comparisons between in vivo and nuclear transfer derived porcine embryos
Authors: Martin L. , Besch‐Williford C. , Lai L. , Cheong H.‐T. , Im G.‐S. , Park K.‐W. , Murphy C. , Hao Y. , Ellersieck M.R. , Keisler D.H. , Schatten H. , Green J.A. , Prather R.S. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractNuclear transfer (NT) is an inefficient but invaluable tool of the biotechnology industry. This study looked at abnormalities associated with peri‐implantation NT porcine embryos. Four experimental groups were examined: nonpregnant animals, in vivo pregnant animals, NT recipients, and manipulation control embryos (MC). Embryos (Day 10, 12, or 14) were evaluated for embryonic disc diameter, gross morphology, nucleoli density, and mitotic figure index. Day 12 (P ≤ 0.03) and Day 14 (P ≤ 0.01) NT embryos had increased numbers of nucleoli, and Day 14 NT embryos had an increased (P ≤ 0.03) mitotic index compared to in vivo and MC embryos. In vivo produced Day 14 embryos had increased (P ≤ 0.01) disk diameters when compared to other embryos except for MC Day 14, which also showed increases (P ≤ 0.01) in disk diameter except when compared to in vivo produced Day 12 and Day 14 embryos. In vivo produced Day 12 had greater (P ≤ 0.03) disk diameters when compared to NT and MC embryos except for MC Day 14, and in vivo produced Day 14 embryos, which had a significantly increased (P ≤ 0.01) disk diameter. In vivo produced Day 14 embryos were morphologically more advanced (P ≤ 0.01) than Day 14 NT and MC counterparts. NT embryos develop at a slower rate than their in vivo produced counterparts. The increase in nucleoli and mitotic index of NT embryos suggest the cell cycle may be affected or the NT embryos are employing other means to compensate for slow development. The techniques used during NT also appear to compromise embryo development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 952–960, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of the reliability of central and peripheral fatigue after sustained maximal voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle
Authors: Place Nicolas , Maffiuletti Nicola A. , Martin Alain , Lepers Romuald 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to further confirm the validity of measurements for characterizing neuromuscular alterations by establishing their reliability both before and after fatigue. Thirteen men (28 ± 5 years) volunteered to participate in two separate identical sessions requiring the performance of a sustained maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with the quadriceps muscle for 2 min. MVC and transcutaneous electrical stimulations were used before and immediately after the fatiguing contraction to investigate the reliability of MVC torque, central activation, and peripheral variables (M‐wave properties, peak twitch, peak doublet) within and between sessions. Based on previous and present results, we advise the use of (1) voluntary activation level with potentiated doublet as a reference to describe central fatigue, (2) electromyographic activity of vastus lateralis muscle as a surrogate for quadriceps for both voluntary and evoked contraction, and (3) potentiated peak doublet amplitude to investigate contractile fatigue. These findings can be useful in the choice of the parameters describing central and peripheral fatigue of the quadriceps muscle in future studies. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Effects of intramuscular needle position on motor unit action potential metrics
Authors: Brownell Alexander A. , Bromberg Mark B. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIt is unclear whether there are clinically significant differences in amplitude, duration, and numbers of turns and phases if an electromyographic (EMG) study is performed near to, or far from, the end‐plate zone. The effects of temporal dispersion of arriving muscle‐fiber action potentials on quantitative motor unit action potential (MUAP) metrics were assessed in simulated and biologic muscles. Two muscle simulation models were studied with electrode recording positions near the motor end‐plate zone and 50–75 mm away. When the electrode was moved away from the end‐plate zone, averages of 20 MUAPs significantly decreased in amplitude and area, and increased in numbers of turns and phases, but there was no significant change in duration. In biologic muscles (both normal and pathologic), similar changes in average metrics were observed, but to lesser degrees; few were statistically significant. Zones of innervation in biologic muscles are broadly distributed and, during routine electrode studies, distances between random electrode placements and end‐plate zones are therefore relatively short, leading to clinically insignificant changes in quantitative MUAP metrics with distance from the end‐plate zone. Thus, electrode position within a muscle is unlikely to affect clinical MUAP interpretation. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Polyglucosan body disease myopathy: An unusual presentation
Authors: Vucic Steve , Pamphlett Roger , Wills Edward J. , Yiannikas Con 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPolyglucosan body disease (PBD) is a slowly progressive adult‐onset glycogen storage disorder that typically affects upper and lower neurons. Myopathy, as a complication of PBD has been reported rarely and clinically manifests as chronic limb‐girdle muscle weakness. We report an unusual case of PBD myopathy presenting as an asymmetric motor syndrome that clinically overlapped with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, further expanding the phenotype of this disorder. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Intraepidermal nerve fiber density as a marker of early diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Umapathi T. , Tan Wan Loo , Loke Seng Cheong , Soon Puay Cheow , Tavintharan S. , Chan Yiong Huak 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to reliably identify an early stage of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) by measuring injury to epidermal nerve fibers. We compared intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) at the ankle and thigh of 29 diabetic subjects who had no clinical or electrophysiological evidence of small‐ or large‐fiber neuropathy to that of 84 healthy controls. The mean ankle IENFD of diabetic subjects was 9.1 ± 5.0 mm and that of controls, 13.0 ± 4.8 mm (P < 0.001). The thigh IENFD did not differ significantly. The IENFD ratio (thigh IENFD divided by ankle IENFD) was 2.39 ± 1.30 in diabetic subjects and 1.77 ± 0.58 in controls (P < 0.001), indicating a length‐dependent reduction of IENFD in diabetics. Ankle IENFD remained significantly lower and the IENFD ratio higher in diabetic subjects after adjusting for age. Two subjects had parasympathetic dysfunction, two had retinopathy, and two early nephropathy. Age, height, weight, duration of diabetes, and average HbA1c did not influence IENFD among diabetic subjects. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to describe and compare the utility of various threshold values of ankle IENFD and IENFD ratio for the diagnosis of early DPN. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing DPN using ankle IENFD of less than 10 mm were 72.4% and 76.2%, respectively. Thus, asymptomatic diabetics have a measurable, length‐dependent reduction of distal epidermal nerves. Analogous to microalbuminuria in diabetic nephropathy, reliable identification and quantitation of nascent diabetic neuropathy may have potential therapeutic implications. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Kallikrein 4 is a potential mediator of cellular interactions between cancer cells and osteoblasts in metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Gao Jin , Collard Rachael L. , Bui Loan , Herington Adrian C. , Nicol David L. , Clements Judith A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBACKGROUNDProstate cancer (PCa) and bone cell interactions are critical in the metastatic phase. Kallikrein 4 (KLK4/hK4) is expressed in both PCa and mineralized tissues. We determined if KLK4/hK4 expression was associated with, and influenced by, the bone environment of metastatic PCa.METHODSImmunohistochemistry, in vitro co‐culture, cell migration, and attachment assays.RESULTShK4 was localized to tumor cells and osteoblasts in bone metastases. KLK4/hK4 increased in LNCaP and PC3 cells co‐cultured with SaOs2 cells; SaOs2 KLK4/hK4 was unchanged. Co‐culture did not affect cell proliferation but altered alkaline phosphatase activity/mRNA levels in SaOs2 cells. KLK4‐transfected PC3 cells had increased migration towards SaOs2 conditioned medium and greater attachment to the bone‐matrix proteins, collagens I and IV.CONCLUSIONShK4 expression and interaction with both tumor cells and osteoblasts suggests a role for hK4 in PCa bone metastasis. Whether this observation is unique to bone metastasis or reflects a role for hK4 in PCa metastasis generally is yet to be established. Prostate 67: 348–360, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dendritic cells program non‐immunogenic prostate‐specific T cell responses beginning at early stages of prostate tumorigenesis
Authors: Mihalyo Marianne A. , Hagymasi Adam T. , Slaiby Aaron M. , Nevius Erin E. , Adler Adam J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBACKGROUNDProstate cancer promotes the development of T cell tolerance towards prostatic antigens, potentially limiting the efficacy of prostate cancer vaccines targeting these antigens. Here, we sought to determine the stage of disease progression when T cell tolerance develops, as well as the role of steady state dendritic cells (DC) and CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) in programming tolerance.METHODSThe response of naïve HA‐specific CD4+ T cells were analyzed following adoptive transfer into Pro‐HA × TRAMP transgenic mice harboring variably‐staged HA‐expressing prostate tumors on two genetic backgrounds that display different patterns and kinetics of tumorigenesis. The role of DC and Tregs in programming HA‐specific CD4 cell responses were assessed via depletion.RESULTSHA‐specific CD4 cells underwent non‐immunogenic responses at all stages of tumorigenesis in both genetic backgrounds. These responses were completely dependent on DC, but not appreciably influenced by Tregs.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that tolerogenicity is an early and general property of prostate tumors. Prostate 67: 536–546, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interaction geometry involving planar groups in protein–protein interfaces
Authors: Saha Rudra Prasad , Bhattacharyya Rajasri , Chakrabarti Pinak 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe geometry of interactions of planar residues is nonrandom in protein tertiary structures and gives rise to conventional, as well as nonconventional (XH···π, XH···O, where X = C, N, or O) hydrogen bonds. Whether a similar geometry is maintained when the interaction is across the protein–protein interface is addressed here. The relative geometries of interactions involving planar residues, and the percentage of contacts giving rise to different types of hydrogen bonds are quite similar in protein structures and the biological interfaces formed by protein chains in homodimers and protein–protein heterocomplexes—thus pointing to the similarity of chemical interactions that occurs during protein folding and binding. However, the percentage is considerably smaller in the nonspecific and nonphysiological interfaces that are formed in crystal lattices of monomeric proteins. The CH···O interaction linking the aromatic and the peptide groups is quite common in protein structures as well as the three types of interfaces. However, as the interfaces formed by crystal contacts are depleted in aromatic residues, the weaker hydrogen bond interactions would contribute less toward their stability. Proteins 2007; © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. mucilages show cytoprotective effect on gastric mucosa in rat
Authors: Galati E. M. , Monforte M. T. , Miceli N. , Mondello M. R. , Taviano M. F. , Galluzzo M. , Tripodo M. M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractOpuntia ficus indica cladodes possess a protective action against ethanol‐induced ulcer in the rat. The major components of cladodes are carbohydrate polymers, mainly mucilages and pectin. To clarify the cytoprotective effects of cladodes on experimental ethanol‐induced ulcer in rat, mucilages and pectin were extracted and were administered instead of cladodes. The above mentioned effects induced by cladodes may be attributed to mucilages, and not significantly to pectin. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linked surveys of health services utilization
Authors: Sirken Monroe G. , Shimizu Iris M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe linked population/establishment survey (LS) of health services utilization is a two‐phase sample survey that links the sample designs of the population sample survey (PS) and the health‐care provider establishment sample survey (ES) of health services utilization. In Phase I, household respondents in the PS identify their health‐care providers during a specified calendar period. In Phase II, health‐care providers identified in Phase I report the variables of interest for all or a sample of their transactions with all households during the same calendar period.The LS has been proposed as a potential design alternative to the PS whenever the health‐care transactions of interest are hard to find or enumerate in household surveys and as a potential design alternative to the ES whenever it is infeasible or expensive to construct or maintain complete sampling provider frames that list all health‐care providers with good measures of provider size. Suppose that the non‐sampling errors are ignorable, how do the LS, PS and ES sampling errors compare? This paper addresses that question by summarizing and extending recent research findings that compare expressions of the sampling variance of (1) the LS and PS of equivalent household sample size and (2) the LS and the ES of equivalent expected health‐care provider and transaction sample sizes.The paper identifies the parameters contributing to the precision differences and assesses the conditions that favour the LS or one or the other surveys. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using hierarchical models to attribute sources of variation in consumer assessments of health care
Authors: Zaslavsky Alan M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Medicare Advantage (MA‐CAHPS) survey has provided extensive and uniform data for 8 years on the quality of Medicare health plans in the United States. The complex structure of the data makes hierarchical modelling an appropriate analytic tool. After describing the CAHPS survey and the analytic methods used in standard reports, we review research using two multilevel modelling strategies, each addressing a different aspect of the structure of the CAHPS data. The first fits a 2‐level Fay–Herriott‐type model to data aggregated by plan to estimate plan‐level correlations among summary scores on different items. By forming separate measures for healthier and sicker members of each plan, we were able to determine which items measured distinct dimensions of quality depending on health status. The second analysis evaluated the relative contributions of geography and organizational units to the various quality measures, and the amount of variation over time in each. Geographical variation predominated for aspects of member experiences that are not typically under the direct control of plans, and the geographical effects were very stable over time. Each of the two analyses can be regarded as a simplification for particular objectives of a larger underlying model. Further methodological development is needed to better characterize variation in quality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HIV viral dynamic models with dropouts and missing covariates
Authors: Wu Lang 
Published: January 2007

AbstractIn recent years HIV viral dynamic models have received great attention in AIDS studies. Often, subjects in these studies may drop out for various reasons such as drug intolerance or drug resistance, and covariates may also contain missing data. Statistical analyses ignoring informative dropouts and missing covariates may lead to misleading results. We consider appropriate methods for HIV viral dynamic models with informative dropouts and missing covariates and evaluate these methodsviasimulations. A real data set is analysed, and the results show that the initial viral decay rate, which may reflect the efficacy of the anti‐HIV treatment, may be over‐estimated if dropout patients are ignored. We also find that the current or immediate previous viral load values may be most predictive for patients' dropout. These results may be important for HIV/AIDS studies. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.