bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The psychrometric control of house dust mites: a pilot study
Authors: Ucci M. , Pretlove S.E.C. , Biddulph P. , Oreszczyn T. , Wilkinson T. , Crowther D. , Scadding G. , Hart B. , Mumovic D. 
Published: October 2007

This paper describes a pilot intervention study on the effectiveness of house dust mite allergen avoidance for 12 asthmatic children (two being controls). In addition to mite allergen removal, the study included tailored advice aimed at reducing mite population growth via changes in moisture production, heating and ventilation habits. This paper focuses on the effects of this advice on household behaviour, hygrothermal conditions and mite populations. The efficacy of monitoring and modelling techniques is also discussed. The study highlighted a number of interrelated confounding factors which have to be addressed in future similar larger scale studies, but the results are promising with regards to the effectiveness of such studies. Practical application: This study suggests that in temperate climates tailored advice on moisture production, heating and ventilation habits can lead to valuable changes in hygrothermal conditions, which in turn can result in reduced mite populations. However, pre-existing adverse building conditions may hinder such changes, and the effectiveness of tailored advice and of hygrothermal modifications is often difficult to assess. It is therefore recommended that any similar larger intervention study measures ventilation rates and adequately controls for a number of confounding variables — including the effect of changes in outdoor conditions and of the removal of existing mite populations. In this respect, hygrothermal population models can play a very useful role in the assessment of study effectiveness.
Strontium can increase some osteoblasts without increasing hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Lymperi Stefania , Horwood Nicole , Marley Stephen , Gordon Myrtle Y. , Cope Andrew P. , Dazzi Francesco 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Osteoblasts are a key component in the regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche. Manipulating osteoblast numbers results in a parallel change in HSC numbers. We tested the activity of strontium (Sr), a bone anabolic agent that enhances osteoblast function and inhibits osteoclast activity, on hematopoiesis. In vitro treatment of primary murine osteoblasts with Sr increased their ability to form bone nodules, and in vivo it increased osteoblast number, bone volume, and trabecular thickness and decreased trabecular pattern factor. However, the administration of Sr had no influence on primitive HSCs, although the number of hematopoietic progenitors was higher than in control cells. When Sr-treated mice were used as donors for HSC transplantation, no difference in the engraftment ability was observed, whereas hematopoietic recovery was delayed when they were used as recipients. Despite the changes in osteoblast numbers, no increment in the number of N-cadherin+ osteoblasts and N-cadherin transcripts could be detected in Sr-treated mice. Therefore, increasing the overall number and function of osteoblasts without increasing N-cadherin+ cells is not sufficient to enhance HSC quantity and function. Our study further supports the notion that N-cadherin+ osteoblasts are fundamental in the hematopoietic niche.
Identification of distinct prognostic subgroups in low- and intermediate-1–risk myelodysplastic syndromes by flow cytometry
Authors: van de Loosdrecht Arjan A. , Westers Theresia M. , Westra August H. , Dräger Angelika M. , van der Velden Vincent H. J. , Ossenkoppele Gert J. 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) classification contributes to refined classification and prognostication of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). Flow cytometry might add significantly to diagnostic and prognostic criteria. Our analysis of bone marrow samples from 50 patients with MDS showed aberrant expression of differentiation antigens in the myelomonocytic lineage. This also accounted for refractory anemia (RA) with or without ringed sideroblasts (RS), indicating multilineage dysplasia. In 38% of patients, CD34+ myeloid blasts expressed CD5, CD7, or CD56. Flow cytometry data were translated into a numerical MDS flow-score. Flow-scores increased significantly from RA with or without RS, refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) with or without RS up to refractory anemia with excess of blasts-1 (RAEB-1) and RAEB-2. No significant differences were observed between WHO cytogenetic subgroups. Flow-scores were highly heterogeneous within International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) subgroups. Patients in progression to advanced MDS or acute myeloid leukemia had a significantly higher flow-score compared with non–transfusion-dependent patients. In 60% of patients with transfusion dependency or progressive disease, myeloid blasts expressed CD7 or CD56, in contrast to only 9% of non–transfusion-dependent patients. Moreover, all patients with pure RA with or without RS with aberrant myeloid blasts showed an adverse clinical course. In conclusion, flow cytometry in MDS identified aberrancies in the myelomonocytic lineage not otherwise determined by cytomorphology. In addition, flow cytometry identified patients at risk for transfusion dependency and/or progressive disease independent of known risk groups, which might have impact on treatment decisions and the prognostic scoring system in the near future.
Interferon regulatory factors 4 and 8 induce the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos to down-regulate pre–B-cell receptor and promote cell-cycle withdrawal in pre–B-cell development
Authors: Ma Shibin , Pathak Simanta , Trinh Long , Lu Runqing 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Pre-B lymphocytes consist of 2 distinct cell populations: large pre-B and small pre-B. The large pre-B cells are newly generated pre-B cells that express pre–B-cell receptor (pre-BCR) on the surface and are highly proliferative; small pre-B cells are derived from large pre-B cells that have down-regulated pre-BCR and withdrawn from cell cycle. The molecular events that mediate the transition from cycling pre-B to small, resting pre-B have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that interferon regulatory factors 4 and 8 (IRF4,8) suppress surrogate light chain expression and down-regulate pre-BCR in pre-B cells. Our studies further reveal that IRF4,8 induce the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos in pre-B cells, and reconstitution of expression of either one is sufficient to suppress surrogate light chain expression and down-regulate pre-BCR in pre-B cells lacking IRF4,8. Interestingly, our results also indicate that pre-B cells undergo growth inhibition and cell-cycle arrest in the presence of IRF4,8. Moreover, we provide evidence that Ikaros and Aiolos are indispensable for the down-regulation of pre-BCR and the cell-cycle withdrawal mediated by IRF4,8. Thus, IRF4,8 orchestrate the transition from large pre-B to small pre-B cells by inducing the expression of Ikaros and Aiolos.
Aminopeptidase B, a glucagon-processing enzyme: site directed mutagenesis of the Zn2+-binding motif and molecular modelling
Authors: Pham Viet-Laï , Cadel Marie-Sandrine , Gouzy-Darmon Cécile , Hanquez Chantal , Beinfeld Margery C , Nicolas Pierre , Etchebest Catherine , Foulon Thierry 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Aminopeptidase B (Ap-B; EC 3.4.11.6) catalyzes the cleavage of basic residues at the N-terminus of peptides and processes glucagon into miniglucagon. The enzyme exhibits, in vitro, a residual ability to hydrolyze leukotriene A4 into the pro-inflammatory lipid mediator leukotriene B4. The potential bi-functional nature of Ap-B is supported by close structural relationships with LTA4 hydrolase (LTA4H ; EC 3.3.2.6). A structure-function analysis is necessary for the detailed understanding of the enzymatic mechanisms of Ap-B and to design inhibitors, which could be used to determine the complete in vivo functions of the enzyme.

Results
The rat Ap-B cDNA was expressed in E. coli and the purified recombinant enzyme was characterized. 18 mutants of the H

325

E XXH X18
E
348 Zn2+-binding motif were constructed and expressed. All mutations were found to abolish the aminopeptidase activity. A multiple alignment of 500 sequences of the M1 family of aminopeptidases was performed to identify 3 sub-families of exopeptidases and to build a structural model of Ap-B using the x-ray structure of LTA4H as a template. Although the 3D structures of the two enzymes resemble each other, they differ in certain details. The role that a loop, delimiting the active center of Ap-B, plays in discriminating basic substrates, as well as the function of consensus motifs, such as RNP1 and Armadillo domain are discussed. Examination of electrostatic potentials and hydrophobic patches revealed important differences between Ap-B and LTA4H and suggests that Ap-B is involved in protein-protein interactions.

Conclusion
Alignment of the primary structures of the M1 family members clearly demonstrates the existence of different sub-families and highlights crucial residues in the enzymatic activity of the whole family. E. coli recombinant enzyme and Ap-B structural model constitute powerful tools for investigating the importance and possible roles of these conserved residues in Ap-B, LTA4H and M1 aminopeptidase catalytic sites and to gain new insight into their physiological functions. Analysis of Ap-B structural model indicates that several interactions between Ap-B and proteins can occur and suggests that endopeptidases might form a complex with Ap-B during hormone processing.
SABERTOOTH: protein structural alignment based on a vectorial structure representation
Authors: Teichert Florian , Bastolla Ugo , Porto Markus 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
The task of computing highly accurate structural alignments of proteins in very short computation time is still challenging. This is partly due to the complexity of protein structures. Therefore, instead of manipulating coordinates directly, matrices of inter-atomic distances, sets of vectors between protein backbone atoms, and other reduced representations are used. These decrease the effort of comparing large sets of coordinates, but protein structural alignment still remains computationally expensive.

Results
We represent the topology of a protein structure through a structural profile that expresses the global effective connectivity of each residue. We have shown recently that this representation allows explicitly expressing the relationship between protein structure and protein sequence. Based on this very condensed vectorial representation, we develop a structural alignment framework that recognizes structural similarities with accuracy comparable to established alignment tools. Furthermore, our algorithm has favourable scaling of computation time with chain length. Since the algorithm is independent of the details of the structural representation, our framework can be applied to sequence-to-sequence and sequence-to-structure comparison within the same setup, and it is therefore more general than other existing tools.

Conclusion
We show that protein comparison based on a vectorial representation of protein structure performs comparably to established algorithms based on coordinates. The conceptually new approach presented in this publication might assist to unify the view on protein comparison by unifying structure and sequence descriptions in this context. The framework discussed here is implemented in the 'SABERTOOTH' alignment server, freely accessible at http://www.fkp.tu-darmstadt.de/sabertooth/.
CYR61/CCN1 and WISP3/CCN6 are chemoattractive ligands for human multipotent mesenchymal stroma cells
Authors: Schütze Norbert , Schenk Rita , Fiedler Jörg , Mattes Thomas , Jakob Franz , Brenner Rolf E 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background:
CCN-proteins are known to be involved in development, homeostasis and repair of mesenchymal tissues. Since these processes implicate recruitment of cells with the potential to be committed to various phenotypes, we studied the effect of CYR61/CCN1 and WISP3/CCN6 on migration of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stroma cells (MSCs) in comparison to in vitro osteogenic differentiated MSCs using a modified Boyden chamber assay.

Results:
CYR61 and WISP3 were purified as fusion proteins with a C-terminal Fc-tag from baculovirus infected SF21 cells using protein G sepharose columns. CYR61 and WISP3 stimulated cell migration of undifferentiated MSCs in a dose-dependent manner. CYR61 and WISP3 had similar effects on committed osteogenic precursor cells. Checkerboard analysis revealed that CYR61 and WISP3 stimulated true directed cell migration (chemotaxis) of MSCs and committed osteogenic precursors. In MSCs the chemotactic activity of WISP3 but not CYR61 was mediated through integrin ανß 5.

Conclusion:
Our results indicate that CYR61 and WISP3 can function as soluble ligands transmitting chemotactic signals to human MSCs but differ in the involvement of integrin ανß 5. This may be relevant for their possible role in connective tissue repair.
Innate gene repression associated with Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle: toward a gene signature of disease
Authors: Meade Kieran G , Gormley Eamonn , Doyle Mairéad B , Fitzsimons Tara , O'Farrelly Cliona , Costello Eamon , Keane Joseph , Zhao Yingdong , MacHugh David E 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackgroundBovine tuberculosis is an enduring disease of cattle that has significant repercussions for human health. The advent of high-throughput functional genomics technologies has facilitated large-scale analyses of the immune response to this disease that may ultimately lead to novel diagnostics and therapeutic targets. Analysis of mRNA abundance in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from sixMycobacterium bovisinfected cattle and six non-infected controls was performed. A targeted immunospecific bovine cDNA microarray with duplicated spot features representing 1,391 genes was used to test the hypothesis that a distinct gene expression profile may exist inM. bovisinfected animalsin vivo.ResultsIn total, 378 gene features were differentially expressed at theP≤ 0.05 level in bovine tuberculosis (BTB)-infected and control animals, of which 244 were expressed at lower levels (65%) in the infected group. Lower relative expression of key innate immune genes, including the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) andTLR4genes, lack of differential expression of indicator adaptive immune gene transcripts (IFNG, IL2, IL4), and lowerBOLAmajor histocompatibility complex – class I (BOLA) and class II (BOLA-DRA) gene expression was consistent with innate immune gene repression in the BTB-infected animals. Supervised hierarchical cluster analysis and class prediction validation identified a panel of 15 genes predictive of disease status and selected gene transcripts were validated (n= 8 per group) by real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR.ConclusionThese results suggest that large-scale expression profiling can identify gene signatures of disease in peripheral blood that can be used to classify animals on the basis ofin vivoinfection, in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation.
The impact of severity of hypertension on association of PGC-1αGene with blood pressure and risk of hypertension
Authors: Xie Gaoqiang , Guo Dongshuang , Li Ying , Liang Shengying , Wu Yangfeng 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Little is known about the impact of severity of hypertension on the association of genes with high blood pressure, which may cause the inconsistently reported associations of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) gene with blood pressure.

Methods
A cardiovascular epidemiology survey and genotyping were performed in a population-based sample of 1642 apparently healthy residents (648 men and 994 women aged 35–91 years).

Results
After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and antihypertensive medication, G482S and +2962A/G polymorphisms were significantly associated with systolic blood pressures in hypertension patients with medication use (p = 0.023 and 0.022 for G482S and +2962A/G respectively) but not in all participants, normotensives, and patients with no medication use. Multivariable logistic models showed that the two polymorphisms were significantly associated with severe hypertension (SBP ≥ 160 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 100 mm Hg regardless of medication use), with an OR of 0.6(95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4–0.98) for S482S vs. G482G and an OR of 1.9(95% CI: 1.2–3.0) for +2962G/G vs. +2962A/A, but not with regular hypertension (SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medications), with an OR of 0.9(95% CI: 0.7–1.2) for S482S vs. G482G and an OR of 0.9(95% CI: 0.7–1.4) for +2962G/G vs. +2962A/A. Haplotype combination analyses showed a significant synthetic effect (OR of severe hypertension for persons with G482X and +2962G/G = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.5–4.4, with reference to persons with S482S and +2962A/X).

Conclusion
In this study, we found that G482S and +2962A/G polymorphisms of PGC-1α gene were only significantly associated with severe hypertension defined by occasional clinic blood pressure measurements. This finding suggested severe hypertension rather than regular hypertension should be used as the outcome in studies on association of genes with blood pressure or hypertension, in order to have a better power.
Monitoring the operational impact of insecticide usage for malaria control on Anopheles funestus from Mozambique
Authors: Casimiro Sonia LR , Hemingway Janet , Sharp Brian L , Coleman Michael 
Published: October 2007

Abstract

Background
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) has again become popular for malaria control in Africa. This combined with the affirmation by WHO that DDT is appropriate for use in the absence of longer lasting insecticide formulations in some malaria endemic settings, has resulted in an increase in IRS with DDT as a major malaria vector control intervention in Africa. DDT was re-introduced into Mozambique's IRS programme in 2005 and is increasingly becoming the main insecticide used for malaria vector control in Mozambique. The selection of DDT as the insecticide of choice in Mozambique is evidence-based, taking account of the susceptibility of Anopheles funestus to all available insecticide choices, as well as operational costs of spraying.
Previously lambda cyhalothrin had replaced DDT in Mozambique in 1993. However, resistance appeared quickly to this insecticide and, in 2000, the pyrethroid was phased out and the carbamate bendiocarb introduced. Low level resistance was detected by biochemical assay to bendiocarb in 1999 in both An. funestus and Anopheles arabiensis, although this was not evident in WHO bioassays of the same population.

Methods
Sentinel sites were established and monitored for insecticide resistance using WHO bioassays. These assays were conducted on 1–3 day old F1 offspring of field collected adult caught An. funestus females to determine levels of insecticide resistance in the malaria vector population. WHO biochemical assays were carried out to determine the frequency of insecticide resistance genes within the same population.

Results
In surveys conducted between 2002 and 2006, low levels of bendiocarb resistance were detected in An. funestus, populations using WHO bioassays. This is probably due to significantly elevated levels of Acetylcholinesterase levels found in the same populations. Pyrethroid resistance was also detected in populations and linked to elevated levels of p450 monooxygenase activity. One site had shown reduction in pyrethroid resistance since the base line in 1999.
Continuous negative extrathoracic pressure combined with high-frequency oscillation improves oxygenation with less impact on blood pressure than high-frequency oscillation alone in a rabbit model of surfactant depletion
Authors: Naito Sachie , Hiroma Takehiko , Nakamura Tomohiko 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackgroundNegative air pressure ventilation has been used to maintain adequate functional residual capacity in patients with chronic muscular disease and to decrease transpulmonary pressure and improve cardiac output during right heart surgery. High-frequency oscillation (HFO) exerts beneficial effects on gas exchange in neonates with acute respiratory failure. We examined whether continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (CNEP) combined with HFO would be effective for treating acute respiratory failure in an animal model.MethodsThe effects of CNEP combined with HFO on pulmonary gas exchange and circulation were examined in a surfactant-depleted rabbit model. After induction of severe lung injury by repeated saline lung lavage, 18 adult white Japanese rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Group 1, CNEP (extra thoracic negative pressure, -10 cmH2O) with HFO (mean airway pressure (MAP), 10 cmH2O); Group 2, HFO (MAP, 10 cmH2O); and Group 3, HFO (MAP, 15 cmH2O). Physiological and blood gas data were compared among groups using analysis of variance.ResultsGroup 1 showed significantly higher oxygenation than Group 2, and the same oxygenation with significantly higher mean blood pressure compared to Group 3.ConclusionAdequate CNEP combined with HFO improves oxygenation with less impact on blood pressure than high-frequency oscillation alone in an animal model of respiratory failure.
Exercise and postprandial lipaemia: effects on peripheral vascular function, oxidative stress and gastrointestinal transit
Authors: Clegg Miriam , McClean Conor , Davison W. Gareth , Murphy H. Marie , Trinick Tom , Duly Ellie , McLaughlin Jim , Fogarty Mark , Shafat Amir 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Postprandial lipaemia may lead to an increase in oxidative stress, inducing endothelial dysfunction. Exercise can slow gastric emptying rates, moderating postprandial lipaemia. The purpose of this study was to determine if moderate exercise, prior to fat ingestion, influences gastrointestinal transit, lipaemia, oxidative stress and arterial wall function. Eight apparently healthy males (age 23.6 ± 2.8 yrs; height 181.4 ± 8.1 cm; weight 83.4 ± 16.2 kg; all data mean ± SD) participated in the randomised, crossover design, where (i) subjects ingested a high-fat meal alone (control), and (ii) ingested a high-fat meal, preceded by 1 h of moderate exercise. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) was examined at baseline, post-exercise, and in the postprandial period. Gastric emptying was measured using the 13C-octanoic acid breath test. Measures of venous blood were obtained prior to and following exercise and at 2, 4 and 6 hours post-ingestion. PWV increased (6.5 ± 1.9 m/sec) at 2 (8.9 ± 1.7 m/sec) and 4 hrs (9.0 ± 1.6 m/sec) post-ingestion in the control group (time × group interaction, P < 0.05). PWV was increased at 2 hrs post-ingestion in the control compared to the exercise trial; 8.9 ± 1.7 vs. 6.2 ± 1.5 m/sec (time × group interaction, P < 0.05). Lipid hydroperoxides increased over time (pooled exercise and control data, P < 0.05). Serum triacylglycerols were elevated postprandially (pooled exercise and control data, P < 0.05). There were no changes in gastric emptying, cholesterol, or C-reactive protein levels. These data suggest that acute exercise prior to the consumption of a high-fat meal has the potential to reduce vascular impairments.