bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AtCHIP functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase of protein phosphatase 2A subunits and alters plant response to abscisic acid treatment
Authors: Luo Jinhua , Shen Guoxin , Yan Juqiang , He Cixin , Zhang Hong 
Published: April 2006

SummaryCHIP proteins are E3 ubiquitin ligases that promote degradation of Hsp70 and Hsp90 substrate proteins through the 26S proteasome in animal systems. A CHIP‐like protein in Arabidopsis, AtCHIP, also has E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and has important roles to play under conditions of abiotic stress. In an effort to study the mode of action of AtCHIP in plant cells, proteins that physically interact with it were identified. Like its animal orthologs, AtCHIP interacts with a unique class of ubiquitin‐conjugating enzymes (UBC or E2) that belongs to the stress‐inducible UBC4/5 class in yeast. AtCHIP also interacts with other proteins, including an A subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). This PP2A subunit appears to be a substrate of AtCHIP, because it can be ubiquitylated by AtCHIP in vitro and because the activity of PP2A is increased in AtCHIP‐overexpressing plants in the dark or under low‐temperature conditions. Unlike the rcn1 mutant, that has reduced PP2A activity due to a mutation in one of the A subunit genes of PP2A, AtCHIP‐overexpressing plants are more sensitive to ABA treatment. Since PP2A was previously shown to be involved in low‐temperature responses in plants, the low‐temperature‐sensitive phenotype observed in AtCHIP‐overexpressing plants might be partly due to the change in PP2A activity. These data suggest that the E3 ubiquitin ligase AtCHIP may function upstream of PP2A in stress‐responsive signal transduction pathways under conditions of low temperature or in the dark.
Incident rates of colonic neoplasia in older patients: When should we stop screening?
Authors: Harewood Gavin C , Lawlor Garrett O , Larson Mark V 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIntroduction:  Current guidelines endorse colon cancer screening every 5–10 years in patients over 50 years of age. However, there is no consensus regarding what age is appropriate to stop screening. The aim of this study was to characterize neoplasia occurrence/recurrence in a large cohort of patients ≥70 years of age undergoing colonoscopy.Methods:  The Mayo Rochester endoscopic database was reviewed to determine the incidence of colonic neoplasia in patients ≥70 years undergoing two colonoscopies at least 12 months apart between January 1996 and December 2000. Patients were classified based on (i) age: 70–74, 75–79, ≥80 years; and (ii) polyp detection on initial examination, that is, subsequent examination for screening or surveillance.Results:  Overall, 1353 patients underwent two colonoscopies at least 12 months apart (median interval 140 weeks) with removal of polyp on initial examination in 726 (53.7%) patients (surveillance cohort). On subsequent endoscopy, polyps ≥10 mm were detected in 54 (4.0%) and cancer in 13 (1.0%) patients. All age groups were well matched with respect to detection of neoplasia on index examination (P = 0.9) and polyp size on initial colonoscopy among the surveillance group (P = 0.9). Using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) for neoplasia (polyps ≥10 mm) were: 2.0 (1.50–2.73, P < 0.0001) (surveillance vs screening), 1.33 (0.96–1.79, P = 0.08) (≥80 vs 70–74), and 1.05 (0.78–1.38, P = 0.75) (75–79 vs 70–74). Adjusted hazard ratios for development of cancer were: 1.87 (1.03–3.97, P = 0.04) (surveillance vs screening), 1.73 (0.84–3.56, P = 0.13) (≥80 vs 70–74), and 1.38 (0.71–2.77, P = 0.34) (75–79 vs 70–74).Conclusions:  Prior history of neoplasia remains a strong risk factor for colorectal neoplasia development in elderly patients and should be considered when deciding the need for continuing screening/surveillance. Incident neoplasia rates in a previously screened elderly population rise slowly with advancing age although cancer rates rise more sharply. Therefore, screening still retains a role in elderly patients; however, clinical judgment is still required to individualize screening practice. As the risk of competing comorbid illnesses continues to increase over time, the threshold to perform colon screening should increase accordingly.
Suppression of Helicobacter pylori‐induced interleukin‐8 production in vitro and within the gastric mucosa by a live Lactobacillus strain
Authors: Tamura Akira , Kumai Hideshi , Nakamichi Noboru , Sugiyama Toshirou , Deguchi Ryozo , Takagi Atsusi , Koga Yasuhiro 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  Accumulating evidence indicates that interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) plays a major role in the mucosal inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 (LG21) can inhibit the H. pylori‐induced production of IL‐8.Methods:  A coculture system including MKN45 cells, H. pylori, and LG21 was established for an in vitro analysis. Biopsy specimens were obtained from H. pylori‐infected human subjects consisting of 19 men and six women.Results:  When LG21 was 1/100 less than H. pylori in a coculture system, LG21 significantly suppressed both the IL‐8 mRNA and protein generation in the coculture. Live, but not heat‐ or UV‐treated LG21, could exert the suppressive effect. However, this amount of LG21 could not suppress either the adhesion of H. pylori to the cell surface or the IL‐8 production by tumor necrosis factor‐α, which induces IL‐8 generation through the activation of the transcription. These results thus suggest that LG21 suppresses an event leading to IL‐8 production, which is specific for H. pylori‐induced IL‐8 generation, and this event is located upstream from the IL‐8 transcription but downstream from the adhesion. The measurement of the IL‐8 level using gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori‐infected subjects demonstrated that LG21 also suppresses the production of IL‐8 in the gastric mucosa.Conclusions:  Live LG21 were found to suppress H. pylori‐induced IL‐8 production in both a gastric cell line and within gastric mucosa.
Tolerance to H2 receptor antagonist correlates well with the decline in efficacy against gastroesophageal reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Furuta Kenji , Adachi Kyoichi , Komazawa Yoshinori , Mihara Takafumi , Miki Masaharu , Azumi Takane , Fujisawa Tomoo , Katsube Tomoko , Kinoshita Yoshikazu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim: The attenuated antisecretory activity of H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) during continuous administration is known as the tolerance phenomenon. The authors recently clarified that presence or absence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection influences the occurrence of the tolerance phenomenon. The aim of this study was to clarify whether tolerance to H2RA is correlated with attenuation of the inhibitory effect against gastroesophageal acid reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Methods: Ten male patients with GERD symptoms and abnormal gastroesophageal reflux were investigated by pH monitoring on days 1 and 15 of continuous oral famotidine administration at 20 mg twice daily, andH. pyloriinfection was examined using the urea breath test.Results: Intragastric and intraesophageal acidity were significantly decreased on the first day of famotidine administration, but then increased during the 15‐day administration period in seven patients who were negative forH. pylori. In contrast, the efficacy of famotidine against gastric acid secretion and gastroesophageal acid reflux was not attenuated in threeH. pylori‐positive patients. The changes in GERD symptoms were correlated with the change in the degree of gastroesophageal reflux.Conclusion: The presence or absence of tolerance to H2RA during 15‐day administration is correlated with the efficacy for inhibition of gastroesophageal acid reflux.
Does the pancreas move with respiration?
Authors: Bhasin Deepak Kumar , Rana Surinder Singh , Jahagirdar Sujeet , Nagi Birinder 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The pancreas is a retroperitoneal organ and has been classically considered to be immobile on respiration. Recent radiological studies assessing the mobility of the pancreas have challenged this traditional concept. The present study was conducted to assess the movement of pancreas with respiration using fluoroscopy, a simple and inexpensive method.Methods:  Patients with chronic pancreatitis who had either pancreatic calcification evident on fluoroscopy or an indwelling pancreatic duct stent were studied. The movement of the pancreas was assessed under fluoroscopy by measuring the displacement of the stent or calcification in relationship to the spine in maximum inspiration followed by maximum expiration.Results:  Twenty‐two patients (mean age 35.45 ± 11.29 years, 17 men) with chronic pancreatitis were included in the study. Ten patients had pancreatic calcification and 12 had an indwelling pancreatic duct stent (two in the dorsal duct, 10 in the ventral duct). In all patients, the pancreas moved downward in the craniocaudal direction on deep inspiration. Pancreatic excursion from maximum inspiration to maximum expiration ranged from 0.1 to 3.4 cm. In addition, a medial movement of the head of pancreas was also noted in most of the patients. On univariate analysis, no association was found between the range of movement and the age or sex of the patient, duration or etiology of disease, presence or absence of calcification, severity of ductal changes of chronic pancreatitis and the length or diameter of the pancreatic stent placed.Conclusion:  The pancreas moves craniocaudally with respiration and the head moves medially on inspiration.
Effects of perindopril and valsartan on expression of transforming growth factor‐β‐Smads in experimental hepatic fibrosis in rats
Authors: Xu Wei , Song Shiling , Huang Yanqing , Gong Zuojiong 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  Previous studies have shown that the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis, and blockers of the RAS may be active as an antifibrogenic goal. However, the potential role of RAS inhibition on expression transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β‐Smads in hepatic fibrosis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (perindopril) and an angiotensin II receptor blocker (valsartan) on TGF‐β1 and TGF receptor II (TRII) mRNA, Smad3 and Smad7 in fibrotic hepatic livers in rats.Methods:  Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four study groups (n = 15 for each group), including normal controls, hepatic fibrosis models, and two treated groups with either perindopril or valsartan, starting from the fourth week after being exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 4 weeks. The levels of TGF‐β and TRII mRNA in liver tissue were analyzed by RT‐PCR. The expressions of TGF‐β1, Smad3 and Smad7 in liver tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The liver histopathology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and by electron microscopy, respectively. The liver function and serum hyaluronic acid were also assayed by biochemistry and radioimmunoassay.Results:  Compared with the hepatic fibrosis models, the levels of TGF‐β1, TRII mRNA and the expression Smad3 significantly decreased in the two treated groups, and the expression of Smad7 was significantly increased in the liver of rats treated with perindopril or valsartan (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The histological changes and ultrastructure of fibrotic liver, liver function and hyaluronic acid also remarkably improved in the treated rats.Conclusions:  The angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors perindopril and valsartan have a protective effect on liver injury and can ameliorate hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4. The mechanisms may be associated with their effects of down‐regulating TGF‐β1, TRII mRNA and smad3, and up‐regulating Smad7.
Study of arteriosclerosis in patients with hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis
Authors: Furuta Kenji , Adachi Kyoichi , Arima Noriyuki , Yagi Junko , Tanaka Shino , Miyaoka Youichi , Miki Masaharu , Azumi Takane , Koshino Kenji , Ishihara Shunji , Amano Yuji , Kinoshita Yoshikazu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  It has been reported that the prevalence of hiatal hernia (HH) and reflux esophagitis (RE) increases with age, as does the degree of arteriosclerosis. However, it has not been investigated whether or not arteriosclerosis is correlated with the presence of HH and RE. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the degree of arteriosclerosis in patients with HH and RE compared with subjects without HH and RE.Methods:  We prospectively enrolled 1683 people who visited Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation for annual medical check‐ups. All subjects were investigated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the possible presence of HH and RE. Factors used for assessing cardiovascular risk were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking habits, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Arteriosclerosis was investigated by measuring systolic blood pressure, heart‐carotid pulse wave velocity (HCPWV), bilateral ankle brachial index (ABI) and heart‐ankle PWV (HAPWV).Results:  The number of patients with HH and RE was 624 (37.1%) and 143 (8.5%), respectively. The HDLC level of the patients with HH was significantly lower, and the levels of BMI, TG and arteriosclerotic parameters were higher than those of the subjects without HH after adjusting for confounding factors (sex, age and smoking and drinking habits). Cardiovascular and arteriosclerosis parameters except for TG did not differ between the subjects with and without RE.Conclusion:  Levels of arteriosclerosis parameters in patients with HH were higher than in those without HH. However, the association between arteriosclerosis and presence of RE was not clarified.
Single‐session, graded esophageal dilation without fluoroscopy in outpatients with lower esophageal (Schatzki’s) rings: A prospective, long‐term follow‐up study
Authors: Sgouros Spiros N , Vassiliadis Konstantinos , Bergele Christina , Vlachogiannakos Jiannis , Stefanidis Gerasimos , Mantides Apostolos 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  Distal esophageal (Schatzki’s) ring is a frequent cause of dysphagia. Bougienage is generally effective but relapses are common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and long‐term efficacy of single‐session graded esophageal dilation with Savary dilators, without fluoroscopic guidance, in outpatients who presented with Schatzki’s ring.Methods:  The study was performed on 44 consecutive patients with symptomatic Schatzki’s ring, detected endoscopically and/or radiologically. Graded esophageal dilation was performed as an outpatient procedure in a single session with Savary dilators, without fluoroscopic guidance. After appropriate assessment with esophageal manometry and 24 h ambulatory pHmetry, patients with documented gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were treated with omeprazole continuously. All results, including clinical follow up and technical aspects of bougienage, were recorded prospectively. The necessity for re‐dilation after documentation of the ring with endoscopy and/or radiology was considered as a relapse of the ring.Results:  In four (9%) patients a second session was necessary to ensure complete symptom relief. Two (4.5%) patients developed post‐dilation bacteremia and were managed with antibiotics as outpatients. Patients with (n = 14) or without (n = 30) GERD were comparable with respect to sex, age, body mass index, smoke and ethanol consumption, diameter of the esophageal lumen at the level of the ring, resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure, duration of dysphagia, need for taking antacids during the follow‐up period, and duration of follow‐up. There was no recurrence of the ring in patients with GERD during a mean follow‐up period of 43.8 ± 9.3 months (range 27–62 months); however, in patients without GERD, during a mean follow‐up period of 40.6 ± 12.2 months (range 10–58 months), 32% of patients relapsed after a mean 19.9 ± 10.6 months (P = 0.04).Conclusions:  Single‐session graded esophageal dilation with large caliber Savary dilators without fluoroscopic guidance can be safely used for the symptomatic relief in patients with lower esophageal (Schatzki’s) rings. GERD should be treated if present in order to prevent a symptomatic recurrence of the ring.
Analysis of differential gene expression between chronic hepatitis B patients and asymptomatic hepatitis B carriers
Authors: Tang Cuilan , Chen Zhi , Peng Guoping , Yang Zhenggang , Zhou Linfu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious global health problem, inducing a spectrum of diseases, including asymptomatic HBV carriage (ASC) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB). ASC and CHB represent different immunological states and their prognoses are diverse. To clarify molecular mechanisms underlying the two infection states, the differentially expressed genes between the two states were screened and identified.Methods:  Subtracted complementary DNA libraries by suppression subtractive hybridization, dot blot hybridization and quantitative real‐time PCR were used to identify the differentially expressed genes between subjects with CHB and those with ASC.Results:  RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CHB and ASC subjects was subjected to suppression subtractive hybridization and resulted in isolation of subtracted complementary DNA clones. Eighty‐eight randomly sampled clones were rescreened by dot blot hybridization, from which 29 clones were identified as differentially expressed genes. The differential expression of three genes was confirmed by real‐time PCR in 23 subjects with CHB and 21 with ASC.Conclusions:  Differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells between CHB and ASC have been isolated by suppression subtractive hybridization, including some new genes. Of the up‐regulated genes in CHB, most are known to be responsive to inflammatory conditions. These genes might provide clues in elucidating the mechanisms of the two different HBV infection states and designing therapeutic targets for HBV infection.
Differential effects of αCaMKII mutation on hippocampal learning and changes in intrinsic neuronal excitability
Authors: Ohno Masuo , Sametsky Evgeny A. , Silva Alcino J. , Disterhoft John F. 
Published: April 2006

Abstractα‐Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (αCaMKII) is central to synaptic plasticity but it remains unclear whether this kinase contributes to neuronal excitability changes, which are a cellular correlate of learning. Using knock‐in mice with a targeted T286A mutation that prevents the autophosphorylation of αCaMKII (αCaMKIIT286A), we studied the role of αCaMKII signaling in regulating hippocampal neuronal excitability during hippocampus‐dependent spatial learning in the Morris water maze. Wild‐type control mice showed increased excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, as assessed by a reduction in the postburst afterhyperpolarization (AHP), after spatial training in the water maze. Importantly, wild‐type mice did not show AHP changes when they were exposed to the water maze without the escape platform and swam the same amount of time as the trained mice (swim controls), thus manifesting learning‐specific increases in hippocampal CA1 excitability associated with spatial training. Meanwhile, αCaMKIIT286A mice showed impairments in spatial learning but exhibited reduced levels of AHP that were similar to wild‐type controls after water‐maze training. Notably, both trained and swim‐control groups of αCaMKIIT286A mutants showed similar increased excitability, indicating that swimming by itself is enough to induce changes in excitability in the absence of normal αCaMKII function. This result demonstrates dissociation of αCaMKII‐independent changes in intrinsic neuron excitability from learning and synaptic plasticity mechanisms, suggesting that increases in excitability per se are not perfectly correlated with learning. Our findings suggest that αCaMKII signaling may function to suppress learning‐unrelated changes during training, thereby allowing hippocampal CA1 neurons to increase their excitability appropriately for encoding spatial memories.
How Do Political Changes Influence US Bilateral Aid Allocations? Evidence from Panel Data
Authors: Fleck Robert K. , Kilby Christopher 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis paper examines the role of US domestic politics in aid allocation using panel data on 119 countries from 1960 to 1997. Employing proxies for four allocation criteria (development concerns, strategic importance, commercial importance, and democratization), we find evidence that each has influence, although the evidence is stronger for some criteria (development, commercial) than for others (strategic, democratization). Their influence depends on the composition of the US government. When the president and Congress are liberal, development concerns receive more weight than when the president and/or Congress are more conservative. When the Congress is more conservative, commercial concerns have more weight than when the Congress is liberal. These findings are important in light of current attempts to overhaul the allocation of aid.
Contests, NGOs, and Decentralizing Aid
Authors: Epstein Gil S. , Gang Ira N. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractInternational donors usually have particular goals they want to achieve with their foreign aid, e.g., poverty alleviation. In the international aid story lobbying by potential recipient groups attempting to capture the donor's support plays a potentially important role for non‐governmental organizations. We model this situation as a hierarchical contest and compare the implications of a centralized allocation process with a decentralized allocation process with non‐governmental organizations as intermediaries.
The detection of human herpesvirus‐8 DNA in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult patients with pityriasis rosea by polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Chuh AAT , Chan PKS , Lee A 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Herpesvirus‐like particles have been reported to be detectable by electron microscopy in lesional biopsy of patients with pityriasis rosea (PR). We report a study investigating the association of PR with human herpesvirus‐8 (HHV‐8) infection.Methods  Our setting is a teaching clinic affiliated to a university. We recruited eight patients aged 28–47 years (mean: 34.5 years) diagnosed with PR during a one‐year period. We collected acute blood specimens at presentation and convalescent blood specimens three to four weeks later. We also collected skin scrapings from the herald patch where present and from truncal secondary lesions.Results  We detected HHV‐8 DNA by a nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) targeting, respectively, a 233‐bp and a 160‐bp fragment of ORF 26. PCR for HHV‐8 DNA was negative in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma of acute and convalescent specimens of all patients, and negative in all skin scrapings. We detected anti‐HHV‐8 IgG and IgM antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence. Four patients had IgG antibodies against HHV‐8, but with no significant rise of titre. None were positive for anti‐HHV‐8 IgM antibody.Conclusion  We conclude that PR is not associated with HHV‐8 infection.