bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of association of soluble endothelial protein C receptor and PROCR 6936A/G polymorphism with the risk of venous thromboembolism in a prospective study
Authors: Yamagishi Kazumasa , Cushman Mary , Heckbert Susan R. , Tsai Michael Y. , Folsom Aaron R. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryPrior case–control studies reported that levels of the soluble form of the endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) were strongly controlled by the PROCR 6963A/G polymorphism and higher levels were a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We sought to prospectively examine the association of sEPCR and the 6963A/G polymorphism with the incidence of VTE. The Longitudinal Investigation of Thromboembolism Etiology (LITE) pooled data from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study on men and women aged ≥45 years. A nested case–control study of 458 incident VTE and 1038 controls was performed. sEPCR levels were distributed trimodally according to 6963A/G polymorphism. Adjusting for age, sex and race, there was no overall association between sEPCR level and VTE: odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval] for highest versus lowest quartile = 1·17[0·86–1·59]. However, higher sEPCR was associated with VTE in non‐whites (OR = 1·84[1·05–3·22]) and women (OR = 1·51[1·01–2·26]). The 6963A/G polymorphism was not associated with VTE risk (OR = 0·93[0·70–1·25]). In conclusion, sEPCR levels and the PROCR 6963A/G polymorphism were not associated overall with increased risk of VTE.
HHV‐6 DNA throughout the tissues of two stem cell transplant patients with chromosomally integrated HHV‐6 and fatal CMV pneumonitis
Authors: Hubacek Petr , Virgili Anna , Ward Katherine N. , Pohlreich David , Keslova Petra , Goldova Barbora , Markova Marketa , Zajac Miroslav , Cinek Ondrej , Nacheva Elisabeth P. , Sedlacek Petr , Cetkovsky Petr 
Published: February 2009

SummaryTwo patients with the characteristic high human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) DNA loads in peripheral blood caused by chromosomally integrated (CI) virus received a haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from a donor without CI HHV‐6. Both patients died in consequence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis. At autopsy, high amounts of CMV DNA were detected in lungs but at much lower levels in other organs. In contrast HHV‐6 DNA was detected at high levels throughout the organs with the exception of donor‐derived haematopoietic tissue. In individuals with chromosomal integration, HHV‐6 DNA is found in every tissue of recipient origin indicating inheritance through the germ line.
Three‐dimensional in vitro cell biology models of ovarian and endometrial cancer
Authors: Grun B.  , Benjamin E.  , Sinclair J.  , Timms J. F.  , Jacobs I. J.  , Gayther S. A.  , Dafou D.  
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectives:  This study aims to establish three‐dimensional (3D) cell culture models of human ovarian and endometrial cancers and to compare biological and morphological characteristics of these models with those of two‐dimensional (2D) models of the same cell lines and the primary tumours.Methods:  3D models of ovarian and endometrial cancer cell cultures were established using a Rotary Cell Culture System. Immunohistochemical profiling and differential proteomics were used to characterize biological characteristics of multicellular spheroids (MCS) formed from these cultures. These were compared to characteristics of the same cells established in 2D and of the primary tumours from which the cell lines were derived.Results:  MCSs from 3D cell cultures appeared histologically similar to the primary tumours. Immunohistochemical profiling of multiple markers, including CA125, BCL2 and p53, showed that patterns of protein expression in MCSs resemble those of the primary tumours. Proteomic profiling identified several differentially expressed protein markers between 2D and 3D cultures. These included prohibitin, which was down‐regulated in 3D cultures suggesting cells proliferate less compared to 2D cultures; and VDAC1 and annexin 4, which were up‐regulated in 3D cultures suggesting greater levels of apoptosis in 3D compared to 2D models.Conclusion:  Establishing 3D models of cancer cell lines is likely to be of value for studying the molecular and biological mechanisms of ovarian/endometrial tumour progression and for testing novel molecular targets for cancer therapy.
Phylogeography of a flooded forest specialist fish from central Amazonia based on intron DNA: the cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi
Authors: COOKE GEORGINA M. , CHAO NING L. , BEHEREGARAY LUCIANO B. 
Published: February 2009

Summary1. Historic and extant landscape structures and environmental conditions are known to influence phylogeographic patterns and population histories in organisms from Amazonia. Recent work suggests that events of the Tertiary Period have played a significant role in generating biodiversity in this exceptionally rich but understudied region. However, species distributions and population structures are also affected by recent environmental and physical changes, especially within highly dynamic ecosystems.2. The cardinal tetra is a small luminous fish native to the dynamic flooded forest ecosystems of the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins of South America. This very popular aquarium fish represents the single most important species in the ornamental fishery of the Rio Negro, an activity of high socio‐economic value for local riverine communities. Here we use a fine‐scale sampling regime and sequence data from the second intron of the Ribosomal protein S7 (S7 2) to investigate population structure, colonisation history and genealogical relationships in cardinal tetras of the Rio Negro.3. High levels of S7 2 polymorphisms revealed phylogeographic patterns across several temporal settings that appear associated with the complex dynamics of the region. Our results suggest a long history of isolation and persistence of cardinal tetra populations in the headwaters and upper regions of the Rio Negro and recent events of colonisation within the incipient Rio Negro floodplain. These colonisation events were followed by recent population expansions likely facilitated by the establishment of the extensive Rio Negro floodplain, an anabranching ecosystem of Holocene age.4. Our reconstruction of the phylogeographic history of cardinal tetras based on S7 2 intron sequence data reflects the complex influence of both geomorphological and climatic events through time in the Rio Negro basin. Our findings also indicate that in order to maintain the cardinal tetra fishery as a sustainable activity for rural Amazonians, the fishery should be restricted to the middle Rio Negro, the region of the basin where population replenishment is more likely to occur.
Inter‐ and intra‐specific differences in the number of larval instars in British populations of 24 species of stoneflies (Plecoptera)
Authors: ELLIOTT J. M. 
Published: February 2009

Summary1. Ontogenetic changes during the life cycle of aquatic insects are important not only in life‐history studies but also in evaluating food‐web structure. They require information on the growth and number of larval instars but such information is lacking for many species, including Plecoptera. Therefore, the chief objectives of the present study were to determine inter‐ and intra‐specific differences in the number of larval instars in British populations of 24 species of stoneflies, to test Dyar’s hypothesis that growth followed a geometric progression, and to synthesise this information with previously published values for four British species.2. Larvae were reared at constant temperatures in the laboratory from eggs from 63 populations (one to six populations per species). First instars from each population were divided into three batches and each batch was reared at one of three constant temperatures. For each species, the rearing temperature and source population had no significant effect on the mean size of each larval instar.3. The relationship between the geometric mean length of each instar and instar number was well described by an exponential equation (P < 0.001, r2 > 0.9 for all species), thus supporting Dyar’s hypothesis. Only one species, Brachyptera risi, had the same number of instars for males and females (12–13). For the other 15 herbivorous species and the four smaller carnivorous ones, the number of instars was higher for females than males (range 11–16 for males, 12–17 for females). The larger size of the females was due to their additional instars, not a sex difference in growth rates. In contrast, there was a clear growth separation of the sexes after the 9th or 10th instar for the four largest carnivores. The number of larval instars was highest for these four species (range 16–19 for males, 18–23 for females), and females were much larger than males.4. A multiple regression equation with data from the present and previous studies (n = 27) showed that variability in the mean length of the first instar and the maximum number of larval instars for each species accounted for 88% and 91% of the variability in the mean length of the final instar for males and females, respectively.5. Values for Plecoptera in other countries were in general agreement with those in the present study, especially in the same families. Two old, but widely quoted, high values are doubtful. The present study and four previous ones provide a sound basis for ontogenetic studies on 28 species of Plecoptera and their role in aquatic ecosystems.
The effect of ocean acidification and temperature on the fertilization and embryonic development of the Sydney rock oyster Saccostrea glomerata (Gould 1850)
Authors: PARKER LAURA M. , ROSS PAULINE M. , O'CONNOR WAYNE A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis study investigated the synergistic effects of ocean acidification (caused by elevations in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO2) and temperature on the fertilization and embryonic development of the economically and ecologically important Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata (Gould 1850). As pCO2 increased, fertilization significantly decreased. The temperature of 26 °C was the optimum temperature for fertilization, as temperature increased and decreased from this optimum, fertilization decreased. There was also an effect of pCO2 and temperature on embryonic development. Generally as pCO2 increased, the percentage and size of D‐veligers decreased and the percentage of D‐veligers that were abnormal increased. The optimum temperature was 26 °C and embryonic development decreased at temperatures that were above and below this temperature. Abnormality of D‐veligers was greatest at 1000 ppm and 18 and 30 °C (≥90%) and least at 375 ppm and 26 °C (≤4%). Finally prolonged exposure of elevated pCO2 and temperature across early developmental stages led to fewer D‐veligers, more abnormality and smaller sizes in elevated CO2 environments and may lead to lethal effects at suboptimal temperatures. Embryos that were exposed to the pCO2 and temperature treatments for fertilization and embryonic development had fewer D‐veligers, greater percentage of abnormality and reduced size than embryos that were exposed to the treatments for embryonic development only. Further at the elevated temperature of 30 °C and 750–1000 ppm, there was no embryonic development. The results of this study suggest that predicted changes in ocean acidification and temperature over the next century may have severe implications for the distribution and abundance of S. glomerata as well as possible implications for the reproduction and development of other marine invertebrates.
Water availability controls microbial temperature responses in frozen soil CO2 production
Authors: ÖQUIST MATS G. , SPARRMAN TOBIAS , KLEMEDTSSON LEIF , DROTZ STINA HARRYSSON , GRIP HARALD , SCHLEUCHER JÜRGEN , NILSSON MATS 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSoil processes in high‐latitude regions during winter are important contributors to global carbon circulation, but our understanding of the mechanisms controlling these processes is poor and observed temperature response coefficients of CO2 production in frozen soils deviate markedly from thermodynamically predicted responses (sometimes by several orders of magnitude). We investigated the temperature response of CO2 production in 23 unfrozen and frozen surface soil samples from various types of boreal forests and peatland ecosystems and also measured changes in water content in them after freezing. We demonstrate that deviations in temperature responses at subzero temperatures primarily emanates from water deficiency caused by freezing of the soil water, and that the amount of unfrozen water is mainly determined by the quality of the soil organic matter, which is linked to the vegetation cover. Factoring out the contribution of water limitation to the CO2 temperature responses yields response coefficients that agree well with expectations based on thermodynamic theory concerning biochemical temperature responses. This partitioning between a pure temperature response and the effect of water availability on the response of soil CO2 production at low temperatures is crucial for a thorough understanding of low‐temperature soil processes and for accurate predictions of C‐balances in northern terrestrial ecosystems.
Bone morphogenetic protein‐6 induces the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages
Authors: Kwon Seok J. , Lee Geun T. , Lee Jae‐Ho , Kim Wun J. , Kim Isaac Y. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryBone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily. In the present study, we investigated the effect of BMPs on the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, and in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Among the BMPs, only BMP‐6 induced iNOS expression in a time‐dependent and dose‐dependent manner in both cell types. Induction of iNOS was inhibited by both cycloheximide and actinomycin D, indicating that the induction of iNOS expression by BMP‐6 requires new protein synthesis. Mechanistic studies revealed that the BMP‐6‐induced iNOS expression requires both Smads and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) signalling pathways. Furthermore, induction of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) was necessary for iNOS induction by BMP‐6. These observations suggest that BMP‐6 stimulates macrophages to produce iNOS through IL‐1β via Smad and NF‐κB signalling pathways and that BMP‐6 may be an important regulator of macrophages.
Osteopontin is not crucial to protective immunity during murine tuberculosis
Authors: Van Der Windt Gerritje J. W. , Wieland Catharina W. , Wiersinga Willem J. , Florquin Sandrine , Van Der Poll Tom 
Published: February 2009

SummaryUpon infection with Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis, the development of a strong T helper 1 (Th1)‐mediated adaptive immune response is considered as being most important for containment of the infection. Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein that is chemotactic for inflammatory cells and has been implicated in the induction of Th1 responses and granulomatous disease. We tested the hypothesis that OPN facilitates protective immunity during M. tuberculosis infection using wild‐type (WT) and OPN knockout (KO) mice in a model of pulmonary tuberculosis. OPN expression was up‐regulated in alveolar macrophages and lymphoid cells during M. tuberculosis infection. There were no significant differences in bacterial outgrowth, inflammation or recruitment of lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells in the lungs after 2 and 5 weeks of infection. However, the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were reduced in the absence of OPN 5 weeks after infection. Similar concentrations of cytokine were observed in lungs from both WT mice and OPN KO mice; however, there was a trend towards decreased levels of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in OPN KO mice 5 weeks after infection. Despite an unaltered immune response in the early phase of tuberculosis, OPN KO mice had a modest survival advantage. Of note, both pulmonary bacterial loads and lung inflammation were reduced in these mice 31 weeks after infection. These data suggest that OPN is not crucial for protective immunity upon M. tuberculosis infection and during the late phase of tuberculosis may even be detrimental for the host.
Local irradiation of murine melanoma affects the development of tumour‐specific immunity
Authors: Liao Yu‐Pei , Wang Chun‐Chieh , Schaue Dörthe , Iwamoto Keisuke S. , McBride William H. 
Published: February 2009

SummaryRadiation therapy affects the immune system. In addition to killing radiosensitive immune cells, it can induce functional changes in those cells that survive. Our recent studies showed that the exposure of dendritic cells (DCs) to radiation in vitro influences their ability to present tumour antigen in vivo. Here we show that local radiation therapy of B16 melanoma tumours inhibits the development of systemic immunity to the melanoma antigen MART‐1. This inhibition could not be overcome by intratumoral injection of DCs expressing human MART‐1 after radiation therapy, suggesting that a form of immune suppression might have developed. On the other hand, injection of MART‐expressing DCs prior to tumour irradiation was able to prevent inhibition from developing. These results suggest that local radiation therapy may block the generation of immunity under some circumstances and that strategies may be required to prevent this and allow radiation‐induced cell death to translate fully into the development of systemic immunity.
Conceptualizing and measuring the virtuality of teams
Authors: Schweitzer Linda , Duxbury Linda 
Published: February 2009

AbstractVirtual teams (VTs) are teams whose members do not share a common workspace all of the time, and must therefore collaborate using communication and collaboration tools such as email, videoconferencing, etc. Although the body of research on VTs is quickly expanding, to date, the field has yet to produce a comprehensive and coherent foundation upon which future research can be based, and empirical findings based on a substantive sample of real VTs remain limited at this time. This study fills a void in the VT literature with respect to defining and operationalizing the construct of degree of virtuality, and responds to calls for research that studies ongoing VTs, under real conditions. Data were collected from 30 VTs working in a Canadian technology‐based organization.Degree of virtuality was defined to include three dimensions: the proportion of work time that the VT members spend working apart (team time worked virtually), the proportion of the team's members who work virtually (member virtuality) and the degree of separation of the team's members (distance virtuality). The VTs in this study were found to have varying degrees of virtuality, and although the three dimensions were not highly intercorrelated, all were found to be significantly correlated to variables that have been previously linked to VT effectiveness. The correlations were all in the expected direction (negative), indicating that higher degrees of virtuality are associated with perceived decreases in the quality of team interactions and performance. The results of this research would suggest that the more that teams move away from the proximate form, the more the traditional measures of team effectiveness are negatively impacted.
Strategies for caries risk assessment in children and adolescents at public dental clinics in a Swedish county
Authors: SARMADI ROXANA , GABRE PIA , GAHNBERG LARS 
Published: February 2009

Background.  Since caries prevalence has decreased and become polarized, high‐risk preventive strategies have been widely adopted. The underlying factors leading to assessment and management of caries risk are poorly understood.Aim.  The aim of this study was to identify the factors forming the basis for dentist's caries risk assessment in dental care for children and adolescents.Design.  From all 3372 children in a Swedish county identified as at high risk for developing caries, a sample of dental records from 432 children, aged 3–19 years, were randomly selected to be analysed in the study. Information about medical and social history, dental status, dietary habits, oral hygiene, and salivary data was obtained from the records.Results.  The results show that the only data registered in the majority of the dental records were dental status from the clinical examination and bitewing radiographs. In approximately half of the dental records, medical history and data concerning oral hygiene were registered. Dental history and dietary habits were noted in approximately 25% of the dental records, whereas other risk factors/indicators were occasionally registered.Conclusions.  Dentists mainly base their caries risk assessments on past caries experience, a reliable risk indicator for assessing the risk of being affected by caries again. In children with no experience of caries, knowledge of other risk factors/indicators needs to be available to perform a caries risk assessment. In this study, documentation of such knowledge was strongly limited.
The lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and the effect on fatigue and functional impairments
Authors: Goedendorp M. M. , Knoop H. , Schippers G. M. , Bleijenberg G. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBackground:  Little is known about the lifestyle of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and its influence on symptoms of CFS. The present study aimed to investigate the lifestyle of patients with CFS, and to assess whether lifestyle factors are related to fatigue and functional impairments.Methods:  Two hundred and forty‐seven patients fulfilling the Center for Disease Control criteria for CFS were included. Validated questionnaires were used to collect data on lifestyle factors, smoking, intake of alcohol, fat, fibres, fruit and vegetables, body mass index (BMI), fatigue severity and functional impairments.Results:  Of the CFS patients, 23% smoked, 32% had an unhealthy BMI, and none had an unhealthy alcohol intake. A majority had an unhealthy food intake: 70% had unhealthy fat, fruit and vegetable intake, and 95% had unhealthy fibre intake. Compared with the general Dutch population, significantly fewer CFS patients were overweight. Significantly more female CFS patients abstained from alcohol, and fewer male CFS patients smoked. Unhealthy lifestyle factors were not significantly associated with fatigue severity or functional impairments.Conclusions:  CFS patients tend to lead a healthier lifestyle compared to the general Dutch population. However, no relationship was found between lifestyle factors and fatigue severity and functional impairments in CFS.