bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased carotid intima‐media thickness in remote and urban Indigenous Australians: impact of diabetes and components of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Maple‐Brown L. , Cunningham J. , Celermajer D. S. , O'Dea K. 
Published: January 2007

SummaryObjective  Indigenous Australians have rates of cardiovascular (CVD) mortality some seven to 10‐fold higher than non‐Indigenous Australians aged 25–64 years. We aimed to evaluate the impact of type 2 diabetes and components of the metabolic syndrome on carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) as a marker of cardiovascular risk in Indigenous Australians living in remote and urban environments and in Australians of European ancestry.Design, patients and measurements  CIMT was measured by high‐resolution B‐mode ultrasound imaging of the common carotid artery in 119 remote Indigenous, 144 urban Indigenous and 122 urban European Australians with and without diabetes.Results  In nondiabetic participants, CIMT was lowest in Europeans (mean (SD) 0·64 mm (0·10)), higher in urban Indigenous Australians (0·67 mm (0·12)) and highest in remote Indigenous Australians (0·73 mm (0·15), P < 0·001). CIMT was higher with diabetes with the same pattern observed between populations: 0·73 mm, 0·79 mm and 0·82 mm, respectively (P < 0·001). Traditional risk factors (age, male gender, blood pressure and HbA1c) explained 35–45% of the variance of CIMT within each population group. However, differences in CIMT between population groups were maintained after adjustment for these cardiovascular risks plus cholesterol and smoking (P < 0·001). Factor analysis revealed that variables of the metabolic syndrome, together with smoking and elevated C‐reactive protein (CRP) and urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio (ACR), are likely to explain the higher CIMT in Indigenous Australians (and the urban‐remote gradient). Unmeasured variables (genetic, psychosocial and socioeconomic) may also contribute to higher CIMT in these populations.Conclusion  Glycaemic control and metabolic syndrome components contribute significantly to premature atherogenesis in Indigenous Australians and we recommend that therapy should be targeted accordingly.
Day case haemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Miles A. J. G. , Dunkley A. J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractObjective  Day case haemorrhoidectomy in a District General Hospital. We have investigated the uptake and outcome of day case haemorrhoidectomy in a small district general hospital.Method  Case note review with completion of standard proforma for all patients undergoing haemorrhoidectomy as day case (same day admission and discharge) or inpatient over a 4‐year period.Results  Sixty patients underwent day case closed haemorrhoidectomy, 2 day case stapled haemorrhoidectomy and 1 day case open haemorrhoidectomy, whilst 18 patients were treated as in‐patients. One patient required re‐admission within 31 days for reactionary haemorrhage after day case surgery. None suffered acute urinary retention. Concomitant medical disease or emergency admission were the only reasons for exclusion from day case haemorrhoidectomy. Of the 18 patients treated as in‐patients haemorrhoidectomy two had unplanned readmission. Conclusion  Closed haemorrhoidectomy with same day discharge should be offered to all patients that require surgical treatment of haemorrhoids and do not have other contra‐indications to day case surgery.
Characteristics of the
m
2000 Automated Sample Preparation and Multiplex Real-Time PCR System for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Marshall R. , Chernesky M. , Jang D. , Hook E. W. , Cartwright C. P. , Howell-Adams B. , Ho S. , Welk J. , Lai-Zhang J. , Brashear J. , Diedrich B. , Otis K. , Webb E. , Robinson J. , Yu H. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT

We evaluated a new real-time PCR-based prototype assay for the detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
developed by Abbott Molecular Inc. This assay is designed to be performed on an Abbott
m
2000 real-time instrument system, which consists of an
m
2000
sp
instrument for sample preparation and an
m
2000
rt
instrument for real-time PCR amplification and detection. The limit of detection of this prototype assay was determined to be 20 copies of target DNA for both
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
, using serially diluted linearized plasmids. No cross-reactivity could be detected when 55 nongonococcal
Neisseria
isolates and 3 non-
C. trachomatis Chlamydia
isolates were tested at 1 million genome equivalents per reaction. Concordance with the Roche Amplicor, BDProbeTec ET, and Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 tests was assessed using unlinked/deidentified surplus clinical specimens previously analyzed with these tests. For
C. trachomatis
, concordance for positive results ranged from 93.7% to 100%, while concordance for negative results ranged from 98.2% to 100%. For
N. gonorrhoeae
, concordance for positive and negative results ranged from 91.4% to 100% and 99.3% to 100%, respectively. A workflow analysis of the prototype assay was conducted to obtain information on throughput under laboratory conditions. At 48 samples/run, the time to first result for both
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
was 4.5 h. A total of 135 patient specimens could be analyzed in 8.9 h, with 75 min of hands-on time. This study demonstrated the technical and clinical feasibility of the new Abbott real-time PCR
C. trachomatis
/
N. gonorrhoeae
assay.
Tumor suppressor PTEN is a physiologic suppressor of chemoattractant-mediated neutrophil functions
Authors: Subramanian Kulandayan K. , Jia Yonghui , Zhu Daocheng , Simms Benjamin T. , Jo Hakryul , Hattori Hidenori , You Jian , Mizgerd Joseph P. , Luo Hongbo R. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe recruitment and activation of neutrophils at infected tissues is essential for host defense against invading microorganisms. However, excessive neutrophil recruitment or activation can also damage the surrounding tissues and cause unwanted inflammation. Hence, the responsiveness of neutrophils needs to be tightly regulated. In this study, we have investigated the functional role of tumor suppressor PTEN in neutrophils by using a mouse line in which PTEN is disrupted only in myeloid-derived cells. Chemoattractant-stimulated PTEN−/− neutrophils displayed significantly higher Akt phosphorylation and actin polymerization. A larger fraction of these neutrophils displayed membrane ruffles in response to chemoattractant stimulation. In addition, chemoattractant-induced transwell migration and superoxide production were also augmented. Single-cell chemotaxis assays showed that PTEN−/− neutrophils have a small (yet statistically significant) defect in directionality. However, these neutrophils also showed an increase in cell speed. As a result, overall chemotaxis, which depends on speed and directionality, was not affected. Consistent with the increased responsivenessof PTEN−/− neutrophils, the in vivo recruitment of these cells to the inflamed peritoneal cavity was significantly enhanced. Thus, as a physiologic-negative regulator, PTEN should be a promising therapeutic target for modulating neutrophil functions in various infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Total and functional parasite specific IgE responses in Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients exhibiting different clinical status
Authors: Duarte Joana , Deshpande Prakash , Guiyedi Vincent , Mécheri Salah , Fesel Constantin , Cazenave Pierre-André , Mishra Gyan C , Kombila Maryvonne , Pied Sylviane 
Published: January 2007

AbstractBackgroundThere is an increase of serum levels of IgE duringPlasmodium falciparuminfections in individuals living in endemic areas. These IgEs either protect against malaria or increase malaria pathogenesis. To get an insight into the exact role played by IgE in the outcome ofP. falciparuminfection, total IgE levels and functional anti-parasite IgE response were studied in children and adults, from two different endemic areas Gabon and India, exhibiting either uncomplicated malaria, severe non cerebral malaria or cerebral malaria, in comparison with control individuals.Methodology and resultsBlood samples were collected from controls andP. falciparum-infected patients before treatment on the day of hospitalization (day 0) in India and, in addition, on days 7 and 30 after treatment in Gabon. Total IgE levels were determined by ELISA and functionalP. falciparum-specific IgE were estimated using a mast cell line RBL-2H3 transfected with a human Fcε RI α-chain that triggers degranulation upon human IgE cross-linking. Mann Whitney and Kruskall Wallis tests were used to compare groups and the Spearman test was used for correlations.Total IgE levels were confirmed to increase upon infection and differ with level of transmission and age but were not directly related to the disease phenotype. All studied groups exhibited functional parasite-specific IgEs able to induce mast cell degranulationin vitroin the presence ofP. falciparumantigens. Plasma IgE levels correlated with those of IL-10 in uncomplicated malaria patients from Gabon. In Indian patients, plasma IFN-γ , TNF and IL-10 levels were significantly correlated with IgE concentrations in all groups.ConclusionCirculating levels of total IgE do not appear to correlate with protection or pathology, or with anti-inflammatory cytokine pattern bias during malaria. On the contrary, theP. falciparum-specific IgE response seems to contribute to the control of parasites, since functional activity was higher in asymptomatic and uncomplicated malaria patients than in severe or cerebral malaria groups.
Innate Immune Response by Ficolin Binding in Apoptotic Placenta Is Associated with the Clinical Syndrome of Preeclampsia
Authors: Wang Chi Chiu , Yim Ka Wing , Poon Terence CW , Choy Kwong Wai , Chu Ching Yan , Lui Wai Ting , Lau Tze Kin , Rogers Michael S , Leung Tse Ngong 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Background: Unidentified circulating factors derived from placenta are thought to be responsible for the exaggerated systemic inflammation leading to preeclampsia. Our aim was to identify the circulating factors present in preeclampsia and to investigate their relationship to the underlying systemic immune response responsible for the associated clinical manifestations.
Methods: We obtained blood samples from pregnant women with and without preeclampsia and performed comparative proteomic analyses to identify the abnormal circulating factors by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight for protein separation and identification. In placentas from preeclamptic pregnancies, we evaluated the potential role of the candidate proteins identified by Western and immunohistochemical analysis. We also used proinflammatory cytokine antibody arrays to investigate local and systemic immune responses.
Results: We found that ficolins, the pattern-recognition proteins involved in the lectin-complement pathway, were differentially expressed in plasma from preeclamptic pregnancies. Ficolins were present in low concentrations in plasma but at high concentrations in the placenta, particularly in syncytiotrophoblasts undergoing apoptosis. The binding of ficolins in apoptotic trophoblasts induced innate immunity through local and systemic cytokine activation and correlated with the clinical manifestation of preeclampsia.
Conclusions: We identified specific in vivo circulating factors derived from the placenta that are responsible for the local immune recognition and systemic inflammatory response in the development of clinical manifestations of preeclampsia. These findings may have predictive value and also therapeutic applications to lessen adverse clinical outcomes of preeclampsia.
Polymorphism in an Aqua‐Bridged, Dinuclear 2‐Nitrobenzoate Complex of Cobalt(II)
Authors: Karmakar Anirban , Sarma Rupam J. , Baruah Jubaraj B. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThree polymorphs of a dinuclear, aqua‐bridged cobalt complex with the composition [Co2(μ‐OH2)(C5H5N)4(μ‐O2CC6H4‐2‐NO2)2(O2CC6H4‐2‐NO2)2] are identified and the crystal structures are determined by X‐ray crystallography. Selective crystallisation of the polymorphs can be achieved by controlling the reaction conditions as well as the crystallisation processes. The reaction of cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate with 2‐nitrobenzoic acid followed by treatment with excesspyridine leads to a mononuclear complex with the composition [Co(H2O)2(C5H5N)2(O2CC6H4‐2‐NO2)2]. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)
Human papillomavirus testing on self‐sampled cervicovaginal brushes: An effective alternative to protect nonresponders in cervical screening programs
Authors: Bais Aagje G. , van Kemenade Folkert J. , Berkhof Johannes , Verheijen René H.M. , Snijders Peter J.F. , Voorhorst Feja , Babović Milena , van Ballegooijen Marjolein , Helmerhorst Theo J.M. , Meijer Chris J.L.M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWomen not attending cervical screening programs are at increased risk of cervical cancer. We investigated in these nonresponders to what extent offering self‐sampling devices for cervicovaginal brushes for high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing would induce participation and, if so, what the yield of precursor (i.e. CIN2 or worse) lesions following self‐sampling would be. In addition, we assessed screening history of participants and costs per detected high‐grade CIN2 or worse (“CIN2+”) lesion in comparison to the regular program in the Netherlands. Nonresponders received a device for hrHPV testing (self‐sampling group, n = 2,546) or an extra recall for conventional cytology (control group, n = 284). The percentage of self‐sampling responders were compared with responders in the recall group. hrHPV positive self‐sampling responders were invited for cytology and colposcopy. CIN2+ yield and costs per detected CIN2+ were evaluated. Active response was higher in the self‐sampling than in the control group (34.2 vs. 17.6%; p < 0.001). hrHPV positive self‐sampling responders were less likely to have a prior screening history than screening participants (p < 0.001), indicating that they are regular nonresponders. hrHPV prevalence was similar (8.0 vs. 6.8%; p = 0.11), but CIN2+ yield was higher in self‐sampling responders compared to screening participants (1.67 vs. 0.97%; OR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.48–5.80; p = 0.0013). Costs per CIN2+ lesion detected via self‐sampling were in the same range as those calculated for conventional cytological screening (€8,836 vs. €7,599). Offering self‐sampling for hrHPV testing in nonresponders is an attractive adjunct to effectively increase population coverage of screening without the adverse effect of markedly increased costs per detected CIN2+ lesion. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo mutagenicity of vinyl carbamate and ethyl carbamate in lung and small intestine of F1 (Big Blue® × A/J) transgenic mice
Authors: Hernandez Lya G. , Forkert Poh‐Gek 
Published: January 2007

AbstractVinyl carbamate (VC) is a metabolite of ethyl carbamate (EC), a chemical found in alcoholic beverages and fermented foods. We undertook this study to: (i) evaluate the ability of both EC and VC to induce gene mutations in lung and various extrapulmonary tissues, and (ii) identify the type of mutations induced by the two compounds in various tissues. F1 (Big Blue® × A/J) transgenic mice harboring the lambda cII transgene were used for identification and quantitation of mutations in vivo. Time‐course studies in lung showed a plateau in mutant frequency (MF) 4 weeks after VC treatment, at which time mutations were fixed and were about 4‐fold higher than in controls. Dose‐dependent increases in MF were detected in the lung and small intestine (SI) after treatment with 15–75 mg/kg, i.p., of VC. VC was mutagenic in the lung and SI at doses of 45, 60 and 75 mg/kg. Sequencing of the cII gene in lung and SI showed that VC induced mainly A:T→G:C transitions and A:T→T:A transversions. EC was also mutagenic in the lung at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg and elicited mainly G:C→A:T transitions. A VC dose of 60 mg/kg elicited a similar level of MF as an EC dose of 1,000 mg/kg. At 4 weeks after treatment, neither VC nor EC elicited mutations in the colon, bone marrow or kidney. These results demonstrated that VC and EC are mutagenic in vivo and affirm that VC is a more potent mutagen than EC. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Magnetic properties of cobalt and manganese doped ZnO nanowires
Authors: Clavel G. , Pinna N. , Zitoun D. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe study focuses on synthesis and characterization of transition‐metal doped zinc oxide (Zn1–x Mx O), which has been theoretically predicted to be ferromagnetic at room temperature. Although this system has been under experimental study for some time, the vast majority of research conducted on this material has been done on bulk crystals or thin films. There are very few reports on the fabrication of one‐dimensional nanostructures of Zn1–x Mx O, and all of these syntheses employ high‐temperature, vapor‐phase methods. While this approach has proven quite effective for the production of a multitude of nanoscale semiconductors, gas‐phase synthesis have considerable limits on nanowire yield and reaction scalability. We present the synthesis and characterization of cobalt‐ or manganese‐doped zinc oxide (Zn1–x Cox O and Zn1–x Mnx O) nanowires grown from a solution phase synthesis.The article reports the structural and magnetic characterization of the nanowires, the effect of annealing on secondary phase precipitation and on magnetic properties. The dopant concentration was determined by EDX (Energy Dispersive X‐ray) spectroscopy, the dopant distribution by EDX and EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance). (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis of platelet activating factor by cholinephospho‐transferase in developing fetal rabbit lung
Authors: Hoffman Dennis R. , Bateman Maureen K. , Johnston John M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractDeveloping fetal lung is a possible source of the platelet activating factor (PAF, 1‐alkyl‐2‐acetyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine) present in amniotic fluid of women in labor. We have assayed the microsomal activities of a specific enzyme for the de novo synthesis of PAF in developing fetal and neonatal rabbit lung, 1‐alkyl‐2‐acetyl‐glycerol‐dependent dithiothreitol‐insensitive cholinephosphotransferase. The specific activity of this enzyme increased from 0.92 to 3.60 nmol×min−1×mg−1 protein between day 21 and day 31 of gestation. In contrast, during this same period the activity of the PAF‐biosynthetic cholinephos‐photransferase in developing rabbit kidney did not change significantly. The specific activity of the diacyl‐glycerol‐dependent, dithiothreitol‐sensitive cholinephos‐photransferase that catalyzes the final step in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis was not altered during late gestation in either fetal lung or kidney. Previously, increased amounts of pulmonary PAF had been found during the latter stages of gestation (Hoffman, Truong and Johnston (1986)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 879, 88–96) and may be attributed to increased activity of the PAF biosynthetic enzymes found in this investigation. This elevated level of PAF in fetal lung may serve to facilitate breakdown of glycogen that provides, in part, the carbon and energy source for surfactant biosynthesis. In addition, PAF may be secreted in association with surfactant into amniotic fluid in which it may interact with amnion tissue and subsequently participate in the events associated with the initiation of parturition.
Characterization of porcine omental lipids
Authors: McCluer Robert H. , Evans James E. , Kamarei Ahmad Reza , Williams Marcia A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPorcine omental lipid extracts were fractionated and the major lipid components characterized. Approximately 97% of the chloroform/methanol extract consisted of triglycerides containing primarily 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, and 18∶2 fatty acids. Small quantities of free fatty acids, cholesterol, di‐ and monoglycerides were also detected. The phospholipid fraction, obtained by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and characterized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC‐mass spectrometry, was found to consist primarily of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. The neutral glycolipids, isolated by solvent partition and Unisil column chromatography and identified by HPTLC and HPLC, were found to consist primarily of di‐, tri‐and tetraosylceramides. The complex glycolipid fraction, obtained from Folch upper phase solvent partition and characterized by HPTLC and immunoblotting, was found to consist primarily of ganglio‐, globo‐, and neolacto‐ neutral glycolipids and ganglio‐, globo‐, neolacto‐ and fucosylated gangliosides.
Lipids and lipogenic enzymes in adipose tissue of castrated male goats
Authors: Giménez María S. , Ponce de Ascheri Ana M. , Elorza de Orellano María E. , Oliveros Liliana , de Hodara Fanny Zirulnik , Bonomi Mirta R. , Giménez Luis A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractMale goats (“Criolla Argentina” breed), castrated at 45 days of age, showed altered lipid metabolism 180 days after castration as compared to control goats. Subcutaneous, perirenal and omental adipose tissues of castrated goats showed increases in fatty acid synthetase, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP‐isocitrate dehydrogenase activities. Castration increased the amount of total lipids and triglycerides, but did not modify the amount of cholesterol, phospholipid and protein in the three types of adipose tissue. The incorporation of [1‐14C]acetate into fatty acids of subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissue was increased in castrated goats in relation to noncastrated goats. Our results suggest that removal of gonadal steroids increases significantly the rate of lipogenesis in adipose tissue of male goats.
Polyphosphoinositide formation in isolated cardiac plasma membranes
Authors: Kasinathan C. , Xu Z. ‐C. , Kirchberger M. A. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPhosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) and phosphatidylinositol 4‐phosphate (PtdIns4P) kinase activities in plasma membranes isolated from canine left ventricle were partially characterized, and their sensitivity to a number of intracellular variables was established. PtdIns and PtdIns4P kinase activities were estimated by the formation of [32P]PtdIns4P and [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate ([32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2), respectively, when membranes were incubated with [γ‐32P]ATP and 0.1% Triton X‐100. Unlike [32P]‐PtdIns4P formation, [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2 formation required exogenous (PtdIns4P) substrate. [32P]‐PtdIns4P and [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2 formation were insensitive to Ca2+ at concentrations ranging from 0.1–30 μM. The hydrolysis of [32P]PtdIns4P was less than 15% under standard assay conditions for measuring its formation, and was unaffected by any of the variables tested. The apparent Km of the PtdIns kinase for ATP was 53±13 (S.E.M.) μM (N=3). ADP inhibited [32P]PtdIns4P formation competitively with respect to ATP, the Ki being 0.4 mM. The data indicate that ADP is a poor competitive inhibitor of PtdIns kinase at the concentrations which are believed to be present intracellularly normally or which may be attained during mild hypoxia provided ATP levels are maintained in the millimolar range. Hence, any response of the myocardium to α‐adrenergic hormones during mild hypoxia would be largely unimpaired by effects of Ca2+ on PtdIns and PtdIns(4,5)P2, or of ADP on PtdIns kinase activity.