bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decreased hyaluronan in airway smooth muscle cells from patients with asthma and COPD
Authors: Klagas I. , Goulet S. , Karakiulakis G. , Zhong J. , Baraket M. , Black J. L. , Papakonstantinou E. , Roth M. 
Published: March 2009

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are essential extracellular matrix molecules which regulate tissue flexibility, a parameter that is reduced in airways of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the expression of GAG and their metabolising enzymes in primary human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) obtained from healthy donors (controls) and patients with asthma or COPD.Total GAG synthesis was assessed by [3H]-glucosamine incorporation. GAG were isolated, purified, fractionated by electrophoresis and characterised using specific GAG-degrading enzymes. Secretion of hyaluronic acid (HA) by ASMC from patients with asthma or COPD was significantly decreased compared with controls. RT-PCR analysis and western blotting revealed that this decrease was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of HA synthase-1 and -2 and a significant increase of hyaluronidase-1. Furthermore, the expression of the HA receptor CD44 was significantly decreased, whereas the receptor for HA-mediated motility was not expressed in asthma or COPD.Our results indicate that there is a decreased expression of HA in asthma and COPD associated with a synergistic regulation of HA metabolising enzymes that may regulate the pathological airway remodelling in these lung diseases.
Informed participation in a randomised controlled trial of computed tomography screening for lung cancer
Authors: van den Bergh K. A. M. , Essink-Bot M. L. , van Klaveren R. J. , de Koning H. J. 
Published: March 2009

The actual lung cancer (screening) knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, reasons to participate in or decline participation, and informed decisions of subjects who decided to or decided not to participate in the Dutch-Belgian randomised controlled trial for lung cancer screening in high-risk subjects (the NELSON trial) were evaluated.A total of 2,500 high-risk subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire 3 weeks after they had received a brochure with information about the trial. Differences in knowledge, attitude and risk perception between participants and nonparticipants were analysed with logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex and smoking status.The questionnaire response of trial participants was 80% (n = 889) whereas the response of nonparticipants was low (7%, n = 97) and selective. Participants' responses to knowledge items on lung cancer as a disease were on average more often correct (mean±sd68±17%) than items on lung cancer screening (49±29%). Participants had adequate knowledge on lung cancer screening (51%) more often than the nonparticipants (38%; p = 0.009). Of the decisions regarding participation, 49% were uninformed, mainly due to insufficient knowledge. Most of the participants (99%) and 64% of the nonparticipants had a positive attitude towards lung cancer screening.Additional efforts are required to improve the knowledge and understanding of subjects who are in the process of decision-making regarding participation in a lung cancer screening trial.
Reliability of ventilatory parameters during cycle ergometry in multicentre trials in COPD
Authors: O’Donnell D. E. , Travers J. , Webb K. A. , He Z. , Lam Y-M. , Hamilton A. , Kesten S. , Maltais F. , Magnussen H. 
Published: March 2009

We studied the distribution profiles and repeatability of key exercise performance parameters in the first large multicentre trials to include these measurements in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).After a screening visit, 463 subjects with COPD (mean±sdforced expiratory volume in 1 s 43±13% predicted) completed two run-in visits before treatment randomisation. At the run-in visits, measurements were conducted at rest, at a standardised time near end-exercise (isotime) and at peak exercise during constant work rate (CWR) cycle tests at 75% of each individual’s maximum work capacity. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the test-retest repeatability of measurements of endurance time (ET), inspiratory capacity (IC), ventilation and dyspnoea intensity (Borg scale) during exercise.IC, ventilation and dyspnoea ratings were normally distributed; ET showed rightward skew (median<mean, skewness of 10.9 (much greater than zero)) with 16% of the sample exceeding 1 sdof the mean. ET was highly repeatable across run-in visits: 7.9±4.8 and 8.4±5.1 min (R = 0.84). IC values at rest, isotime and peak exercise were all highly repeatable (R≥0.87). Ventilation was repeatable over the same time-points (R≥0.92), as was dyspnoea intensity at isotime (R = 0.79) and at peak exercise (R = 0.81).In conclusion, key perceptual and ventilatory parameters can be reliably measured during CWR cycle exercise in multicentre clinical trials in moderate to very severe COPD.
Mechanisms of the noxious inflammatory cycle in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Rottner Mathilde , Freyssinet Jean-Marie , Martínez M Carmen 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Multiple evidences indicate that inflammation is an event occurring prior to infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. The self-perpetuating inflammatory cycle may play a pathogenic part in this disease. The role of the NF-κB pathway in enhanced production of inflammatory mediators is well documented. The pathophysiologic mechanisms through which the intrinsic inflammatory response develops remain unclear. The unfolded mutated protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTRΔF508), accounting for this pathology, is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), induces a stress, and modifies calcium homeostasis. Furthermore, CFTR is implicated in the transport of glutathione, the major antioxidant element in cells. CFTR mutations can alter redox homeostasis and induce an oxidative stress. The disturbance of the redox balance may evoke NF-κB activation and, in addition, promote apoptosis. In this review, we examine the hypotheses of the integrated pathogenic processes leading to the intrinsic inflammatory response in cystic fibrosis.
Missing call bias in high-throughput genotyping
Authors: Fu Wenqing , Wang Yi , Wang Ying , Li Rui , Lin Rong , Jin Li 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
The advent of high-throughput and cost-effective genotyping platforms made genome-wide association (GWA) studies a reality. While the primary focus has been invested upon the improvement of reducing genotyping error, the problems associated with missing calls are largely overlooked.

Results
To probe into the effect of missing calls on GWAs, we demonstrated experimentally the prevalence and severity of the problem of missing call bias (MCB) in four genotyping technologies (Affymetrix 500 K SNP array, SNPstream, TaqMan, and Illumina Beadlab). Subsequently, we showed theoretically that MCB leads to biased conclusions in the subsequent analyses, including estimation of allele/genotype frequencies, the measurement of HWE and association tests under various modes of inheritance relationships. We showed that MCB usually leads to power loss in association tests, and such power change is greater than what could be achieved by equivalent reduction of sample size unbiasedly. We also compared the bias in allele frequency estimation and in association tests introduced by MCB with those by genotyping errors. Our results illustrated that in most cases, the bias can be greatly reduced by increasing the call-rate at the cost of genotyping error rate.

Conclusion
The commonly used 'no-call' procedure for the observations of borderline quality should be modified. If the objective is to minimize the bias, the cut-off for call-rate and that for genotyping error rate should be properly coupled in GWA. We suggested that the ongoing QC cut-off for call-rate should be increased, while the cut-off for genotyping error rate can be reduced properly.
Discovering genes associated with dormancy in the monogonont rotifer Brachionus plicatilis
Authors: Denekamp Nadav Y , Thorne Michael AS , Clark Melody S , Kube Michael , Reinhardt Richard , Lubzens Esther 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Microscopic monogonont rotifers, including the euryhaline species Brachionus plicatilis, are typically found in water bodies where environmental factors restrict population growth to short periods lasting days or months. The survival of the population is ensured via the production of resting eggs that show a remarkable tolerance to unfavorable conditions and remain viable for decades. The aim of this study was to generate Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) for molecular characterisation of processes associated with the formation of resting eggs, their survival during dormancy and hatching.

Results
Four normalized and four subtractive libraries were constructed to provide a resource for rotifer transcriptomics associated with resting-egg formation, storage and hatching. A total of 47,926 sequences were assembled into 18,000 putative transcripts and analyzed using both Blast and GO annotation. About 28–55% (depending on the library) of the clones produced significant matches against the Swissprot and Trembl databases. Genes known to be associated with desiccation tolerance during dormancy in other organisms were identified in the EST libraries. These included genes associated with antioxidant activity, low molecular weight heat shock proteins and Late Embryonic Abundant (LEA) proteins. Real-time PCR confirmed that LEA transcripts, small heat-shock proteins and some antioxidant genes were upregulated in resting eggs, therefore suggesting that desiccation tolerance is a characteristic feature of resting eggs even though they do not necessarily fully desiccate during dormancy. The role of trehalose in resting-egg formation and survival remains unclear since there was no significant difference between resting-egg producing females and amictic females in the expression of the tps-1 gene. In view of the absence of vitellogenin transcripts, matches to lipoprotein lipase proteins suggest that, similar to the situation in dipterans, these proteins may serve as the yolk proteins in rotifers.

Conclusion
The 47,926 ESTs expand significantly the current sequence resource of B. plicatilis. It describes, for the first time, genes putatively associated with resting eggs and will serve as a database for future global expression experiments, particularly for the further identification of dormancy related genes.
Differential patterns of reactive oxygen species and antioxidative mechanisms during atrazine injury and sucrose-induced tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana plantlets
Authors: Ramel Fanny , Sulmon Cécile , Bogard Matthieu , Couée Ivan , Gouesbet Gwenola 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Besides being essential for plant structure and metabolism, soluble carbohydrates play important roles in stress responses. Sucrose has been shown to confer to Arabidopsis seedlings a high level of tolerance to the herbicide atrazine, which causes reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress. The effects of atrazine and of exogenous sucrose on ROS patterns and ROS-scavenging systems were studied. Simultaneous analysis of ROS contents, expression of ROS-related genes and activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes gave an integrative view of physiological state and detoxifying potential under conditions of sensitivity or tolerance.

Results
Toxicity of atrazine could be related to inefficient activation of singlet oxygen (1O2) quenching pathways leading to 1O2 accumulation. Atrazine treatment also increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, while reducing gene expressions and enzymatic activities related to two major H2O2-detoxification pathways. Conversely, sucrose-protected plantlets in the presence of atrazine exhibited efficient 1O2 quenching, low 1O2 accumulation and active H2O2-detoxifying systems.

Conclusion
In conclusion, sucrose protection was in part due to activation of specific ROS scavenging systems with consequent reduction of oxidative damages. Importance of ROS combination and potential interferences of sucrose, xenobiotic and ROS signalling pathways are discussed.
Transanal endoscopic microsurgery versus endoscopic mucosal resection for large rectal adenomas (TREND-study)
Authors: van den Broek Frank JC , de Graaf Eelco JR , Dijkgraaf Marcel GW , Reitsma Johannes B , Haringsma Jelle , Timmer Robin , Weusten Bas LAM , Gerhards Michael F , Consten Esther CJ , Schwartz Matthijs P , Boom Maarten J , Derksen Erik J , Bijnen A Bart , Davids Paul HP , Hoff Christiaan , van Dullemen Hendrik M , Heine G Dimitri N , van der Linde Klaas , Jansen Jeroen M , Mallant-Hent Rosalie CH , Breumelhof Ronald , Geldof Han , Hardwick James CH , Doornebosch Pascal G , Depla Annekatrien CTM , Ernst Miranda F , van Munster Ivo P , de Hingh Ignace HJT , Schoon Erik J , Bemelman Willem A , Fockens Paul , Dekker Evelien 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Recent non-randomized studies suggest that extended endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is equally effective in removing large rectal adenomas as transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). If equally effective, EMR might be a more cost-effective approach as this strategy does not require expensive equipment, general anesthesia and hospital admission. Furthermore, EMR appears to be associated with fewer complications.
The aim of this study is to compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of TEM and EMR for the resection of large rectal adenomas.

Methods/design
Multicenter randomized trial among 15 hospitals in the Netherlands. Patients with a rectal adenoma ≥ 3 cm, located between 1–15 cm ab ano, will be randomized to a TEM- or EMR-treatment strategy. For TEM, patients will be treated under general anesthesia, adenomas will be dissected en-bloc by a full-thickness excision, and patients will be admitted to the hospital. For EMR, no or conscious sedation is used, lesions will be resected through the submucosal plane in a piecemeal fashion, and patients will be discharged from the hospital. Residual adenoma that is visible during the first surveillance endoscopy at 3 months will be removed endoscopically in both treatment strategies and is considered as part of the primary treatment.
Primary outcome measure is the proportion of patients with recurrence after 3 months. Secondary outcome measures are: 2) number of days not spent in hospital from initial treatment until 2 years afterwards; 3) major and minor morbidity; 4) disease specific and general quality of life; 5) anorectal function; 6) health care utilization and costs. A cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis of EMR against TEM for large rectal adenomas will be performed from a societal perspective with respectively the costs per recurrence free patient and the cost per quality adjusted life year as outcome measures.
Based on comparable recurrence rates for TEM and EMR of 3.3% and considering an upper-limit of 10% for EMR to be non-inferior (beta-error 0.2 and one-sided alpha-error 0.05), 89 patients are needed per group.

Discussion
The TREND study is the first randomized trial evaluating whether TEM or EMR is more cost-effective for the treatment of large rectal adenomas.

Trial registration number
(trialregister.nl) NTR1422
The susceptibility of Anopheles lesteri to infection with Korean strain of Plasmodium vivax
Authors: Joshi Deepak , Choochote Wej , Park Mi-Hyun , Kim Jung-Yeon , Kim Tong-Soo , Suwonkerd Wannapa , Min Gi-Sik 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackgroundFollowing its recent re-emergence, malaria has gained renewed attention as a serious infectious disease in Korea. Three species of the Hyrcanusgroup,Anopheles lesteri, Anopheles sinensisandAnopheles pullus, have long been suspected malaria vectors. However, opinions about their vector ability are controversial. The present study was designed with the aim of determining the susceptibility of these mosquitoes to a Korean isolate ofPlasmodium vivax. Also,An. sinensisis primarily suspected to be vector of malaria in Korea, but in Thailand, the same species is described to have less medical importance. Therefore, comparative susceptibility of Thai and Korean strains ofAn. sinensiswith Thai strain ofP. vivaxmay be helpful to understand whether these geographically different strains exhibit differences in their susceptibility or not.MethodsThe comparative susceptibility ofAn. lesteri,An. sinensisandAn. pulluswas studied by feeding laboratory-reared mosquitoes on blood from patients carrying gametocytes from Korea and Thailand.ResultsIn experimental feeding with Korean strain ofP. vivax, oocysts developed inAn. lesteri,An. sinensisandAn. pullus. Salivary gland sporozoites were detected only inAn. lesteriandAn. sinensisbut not inAn. pullus. Large differences were found in the number of sporozoites in the salivary glands, withAn. lestericarrying much higher densities, up to 2,105 sporozoites in a single microscope field of 750 × 560 μM, whereas a maximum of 14 sporozoites were found in any individual salivary gland ofAn. sinensis. Similar results were obtained from a susceptibility test of two different strains ofAn. sinensisto Thai isolate ofP. vivax, and differences in vector susceptibility according to geographical variation were not detected.ConclusionThe high sporozoite rate and sporozoite loads ofAn. lesteriindicate that this species is highly susceptible to infection withP. vivax.Anopheles sinensisappears to have a markedly reduced ability to develop salivary gland infection, whilst inAn. pullus, no sporozoites were found in the salivary glands. Provided that the survival rate ofAn. lesteriis sufficiently high in the field, it would be a highly competent vector of vivax malaria.
Increased expression of heat shock protein 105 in rat uterus of early pregnancy and its significance in embryo implantation
Authors: Yuan Jin-Xiang , Xiao Li-Juan , Lu Cui-Ling , Zhang Xue-Sen , Liu Tao , Chen Min , Hu Zhao-Yuan , Gao Fei , Liu Yi-Xun 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a set of highly conserved proteins, Hsp105, has been suggested to play a role in reproduction.

Methods
Spatio-temporal expression of Hsp105 in rat uterus during peri-implantation period was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, pseudopregnant uterus was used as control. Injection of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to Hsp105 into pregnant rat uteri was carried out to look at effect of Hsp105 on embryo implantation.

Results
Expression of Hsp105 was mainly in the luminal epithelium on day 1 of pregnancy, and reached a peak level on day 5, whereas in stroma cells, adjacent to the implanting embryo, the strongest expression of Hsp105 was observed on day 6. The immunostaining profile in the uterus was consistent with that obtained by Western blot in the early pregnancy. In contrast, no obvious peak level of Hsp105 was observed in the uterus of pseudopregnant rat on day 5 or day 6. Furthermore, injection of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to Hsp105 into the rat uterine horn on day 3 of pregnancy obviously suppressed the protein expression as expected and reduced number of the implanted embryos as compared with the control.

Conclusion
Temporal and spatial changes in Hsp105 expression in pregnant rat uterus may play a physiological role in regulating embryo implantation.
EGFR and K-ras Mutations Along the Spectrum of Pulmonary Epithelial Tumors of the Lung and Elaboration of a Combined Clinicopathologic and Molecular Scoring System to Predict Clinical Responsiveness to EGFR Inhibitors
Authors: Sartori Giuliana , Cavazza Alberto , Sgambato Alessandro , Marchioni Alessandro , Barbieri Fausto , Longo Lucia , Bavieri Mario , Murer Bruno , Meschiari Emmanuela , Tamberi Stefano , Cadioli Annamaria , Luppi Fabrizio , Migaldi Mario , Rossi Giulio 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
We tested 418 neoplasms along the whole spectrum of primary lung tumor histotypes for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-ras mutations. Clinicopathologic data from 154 patients undergoing treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were retrospectively studied. A scoring system assigning a score for each positive or negative characteristic (+1, female sex, nonsmoking status, adenocarcinoma histotype, Asian ethnicity, and EGFR mutation; −1, current smoker and K-ras mutation; and 0, male sex, ex-smoker, nonadenocarcinoma histotype, and no mutations) was elaborated and tested with EGFR-TKI response.
Salivary gland–type, mucin-rich, and neuroendocrine tumors do not harbor EGFR mutations. A subset of nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, not necessarily of the bronchioloalveolar type, is related to EGFR mutations. Three probability groups significantly correlating with response to EGFR-TKIs were identified. Of note, the addition of molecular results did not significantly change the predictive value obtained by the combination of clinicopathologic characteristics alone in this scoring system.
K-ras mutations, significantly associated with the mucin-secreting type of adenocarcinoma, consistently predict lack of response in white patients.
Usefulness of EMA, GLUT-1, and XIAP for the Cytologic Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma in Body Cavity Fluids
Authors: Shen Jian , Pinkus Geraldine S. , Deshpande Vikram , Cibas Edmund S. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
We compared the effectiveness of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) with 2 newly described markers, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and an isoform of glucose transporter (GLUT-1), in the distinction between malignant mesothelioma (MM) and benign effusion (BE) in body cavity fluids. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on cell block sections from 35 cases of histologically confirmed MM and 38 BEs, using antibodies to EMA, XIAP, GLUT-1 (GLUT-1m, monoclonal; GLUT-1p, polyclonal). Results were graded based on the percentage of cells staining: negative (0%), 1+ (&lt;25%), 2+ (25%–49%), 3+ (50%–74%), and 4+ (75%–100%). The performance of each marker was compared using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. EMA demonstrated the best accuracy, with an area under the curve of 0.91 as compared with XIAP (0.67), GLUT-1m (0.74), and GLUT-1p (0.80). Based on these findings, EMA is a better marker than XIAP or GLUT-1 for the diagnosis of MM.
Predicting Polymer Serviceability for Wear Applications
Authors: Grove TH , Budinski KG 
Published: March 2009

The following limitations of present polymer wear tests are discussed: it is difficult to get feedback on service life tests; pressure-velocity (PV) and wear (K) factor tests ignore counterface wear and geometry and are best used only for “internal screening;” and standard wear tests are limited in number and scope of applicability.
The suggested approach for predicting the wear of polymers is to use published wear data for screening candidate materials and then conduct simulative tests duplicating as many operating parameters as is practical. A case history of a bearing development project is presented to illustrate this approach.