bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of Arabidopsis gibberellin receptors
Authors: Nakajima Masatoshi , Shimada Asako , Takashi Yoshiyuki , Kim Young‐Cheon , Park Seung‐Hyun , Ueguchi‐Tanaka Miyako , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Katoh Etsuko , Iuchi Satoshi , Kobayashi Masatomo , Maeda Tatsuya , Matsuoka Makoto , Yamaguchi Isomaro 
Published: May 2006

SummaryThree gibberellin (GA) receptor genes (AtGID1a, AtGID1b and AtGID1c), each an ortholog of the rice GA receptor gene (OsGID1), were cloned from Arabidopsis, and the characteristics of their recombinant proteins were examined. The GA‐binding activities of the three recombinant proteins were confirmed by an in vitro assay. Biochemical analyses revealed similar ligand selectivity among the recombinants, and all recombinants showed higher affinity to GA4 than to other GAs. AtGID1b was unique in its binding affinity to GA4 and in its pH dependence when compared with the other two, by only showing binding in a narrow pH range (pH 6.4–7.5) with 10‐fold higher affinity (apparent Kd for GA4 = 3 × 10−8 m) than AtGID1a and AtGID1c. A two‐hybrid yeast system only showed in vivo interaction in the presence of GA4 between each AtGID1 and the Arabidopsis DELLA proteins (AtDELLAs), negative regulators of GA signaling. For this interaction with AtDELLAs, AtGID1b required only one‐tenth of the amount of GA4 that was necessary for interaction between the other AtGID1s and AtDELLAs, reflecting its lower Kd value. AtDELLA boosted the GA‐binding activity of AtGID1 in vitro, which suggests the formation of a complex between AtDELLA and AtGID1–GA that binds AtGID1 to GA more tightly. The expression of each AtGID1 clone in the rice gid1‐1 mutant rescued the GA‐insensitive dwarf phenotype. These results demonstrate that all three AtGID1s functioned as GA receptors in Arabidopsis.
Immunohistochemistry detects mismatch repair gene defects in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hameed F. , Goldberg P. A. , Hall P. , Algar U. , Van Wijk R. , Ramesar R. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective  The clinical management of colorectal malignancies that arise via the mismatch repair gene pathway may differ from those that arise from the more common loss of heterozygosity pathway. They respond differently to chemotherapy, have a different prognosis and are associated with a raised incidence of metachronous lesions if a germline mutation is present. Established methods of detecting mismatch repair gene defects require the testing for microsatellite instability. This is expensive and requires specialized molecular biological resources and staff. An immunohistochemical method is attractive because it is far cheaper, and can be performed by most anatomical pathology laboratories. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of mismatch repair gene defects using immunohistochemistry in a group of patients who were aged ≤ 45 years at the time of diagnosis of colorectal cancer and to compare the patient survival and pathological features of tumours with and without mismatch repair gene defects.Methods  One hundred and four patients with colorectal cancer, diagnosed at 45 years or younger between January 1983 and December 2001, who had been managed at Groote Schuur Hospital, were identified from clinical records. Demographic and clinical data was collected from the clinical notes. The pathological reports were reviewed and the original histopathological slides retrieved. New tissue sections were cut from the original paraffin embedded tissue blocks to obtain both normal colonic mucosa and tumour on the same slide. There was insufficient tissue available or poor staining in 11 patients so 93 were available for the study.Results  The mismatch repair status was detected by antibodies to hMLH1 and hMSH2 gene product using a standard immunohistochemical technique. Fifty‐six (60%) of 93 tumours demonstrated normal expression of both hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein. Twenty‐five (27%) tumours did not express hMLH1 and 12 (13%) hMSH2 proteins. Comparison of the histopathological features revealed that a greater proportion of tumours with absence of either the hMLH1 or hMSH2 product were right sided, mucinous and poorly differentiated when compared to those that expressed the gene product. There was no detectable difference in overall survival or in survival of patients with Duke's C carcinoma when the groups were separated by the presence or absence of gene product.Conclusions  This study found that 40% of patients who were ≤ 45 years of age at the time of diagnosis of colorectal cancer seen at Groote Schuur Hospital have tumours which are related to the absence of expression of either hMLH1 or hMSH2 genes.
Liquidity Effects in Non‐Ricardian Economies
Authors: Bénassy Jean‐Pascal 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIt has often been found difficult to generate a liquidity effect (i.e., a negative effect of monetary injections on the nominal interest rate) in the traditional “Ricardian” stochastic dynamic model with a single infinitely lived household. We show that moving to a non‐Ricardian environment where new agents enter the economy in each period allows such a liquidity effect to be generated.
The Tax‐smoothing Hypothesis: Evidence from Sweden, 1952–1999
Authors: Adler Johan 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThis paper tests Barro's (1979) tax‐smoothing hypothesis using Swedish central government data for the period 1952–1999. According to the tax‐smoothing hypothesis, the government sets the budget surplus equal to expected changes in government expenditure. When expenditure is expected to increase, the government runs a budget surplus, and when expenditure is expected to fall, the government runs a budget deficit. The empirical evidence suggests that the model provides a useful benchmark and that tax‐smoothing behavior can explain about 60 percent of the variability in the Swedish central government budget surplus.
Efficacy of Metronidazole as Second‐Line Drug for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in the Japanese Population: A Multicenter Study in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
Authors: Matsuhisa Takeshi , Kawai Takashi , Masaoka Tatsuhiro , Suzuki Hidekazu , Ito Masayoshi , Kawamura Yo , Tokunaga Kengo , Suzuki Masayuki , Mine Tetsuya , Takahashi Shin‐ichi , Sakaki Nobuhiro 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:  With the increase in the frequency of clarithromycin‐resistant Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), there is rising concern about the decline of the eradication rate of this infection following treatment. The Tokyo Hp Study Group examined the eradication rate in response to a second‐line regimen consisting of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and metronidazole by conducting a multicenter study in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.Materials and Methods:  Two hundred and twenty‐eight patients with H. pylori infection, in whom the first‐line therapy with a PPI, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin administered for 1 week had failed to eradicate the infection, were enrolled in this study. These cases were randomly assigned to one of the two second‐line regimens containing metronidazole (PPI/AM500 or PPI/AM750) administered for 1 week. 13C‐urea breath test was performed as a diagnostic method test for H. pylori infection not earlier than 8 weeks after the second‐line therapy.Results:  Intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and per‐protocol (PP) analyses revealed an eradication rate of 87.6 and 90.6%, respectively, following PPI/AM500 treatment, and 86.9 and 88.6%, respectively, following PPI/AM750 treatment. Neither analysis revealed any significant difference in the eradication rate between PPI/AM500 and PPI/AM750 (p = .876 and .621, respectively). According to ITT and PP analyses, the eradication rates following treatment with PPI/AM500 were 85.2 and 88.5% with the use of lansoprazole, 62.5 and 62.5% with the use of omeprazole, and 93.2 and 96.5% with the use of rabeprazole, respectively. There was a significant difference in the eradication rates between PPI (omeprazole)/AM500 and PPI (rabeprazole)/AM500. In the case of PPI/AM750, the corresponding eradication rates were 84.8 and 87.0% with the use of lansoprazole, 92.9 and 92.9% with the use of omeprazole, and 92.9 and 92.9% with the use of rabeprazole, respectively. There were no significant differences in the eradication rates obtained with the use of the three PPIs.Conclusions:  Both PPI/AM500 and PPI/AM750 administered for 1 week appeared to be highly effective second‐line regimens for the treatment of H. pylori infection in Japanese patients. From the viewpoint of adverse events, PPI/AM500 appeared to be safe compared with PPI/AM750.
Asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori Infection and Iron Deficiency are Not Associated With Decreased Growth Among Alaska Native Children Aged 7–11 Years
Authors: Chimonas Marc‐Andre R. , Baggett Henry C. , Parkinson Alan J. , Muth Pam T. , Dunaway Eitel , Gessner Bradford D. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIntroduction:  Alaska Native children have high Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency prevalences, and their average height‐for‐age is lower than US reference populations. During a clinical trial to determine the impact of H. pylori treatment on iron deficiency, we evaluated the effects of H. pylori infection and treatment on growth.Materials and Methods:  We measured height and weight for children aged 7–11 years in western Alaska using village‐based measuring devices. H. pylori infection was determined by urea breath test and iron deficiency using serum ferritin. Children with H. pylori infection and iron deficiency entered the treatment phase and received iron alone or iron plus triple therapy for H. pylori. Follow‐up evaluations occurred at 2, 8, and 14 months. We evaluated the association between baseline H. pylori infection and growth; among children in the treatment phase, we also assessed the effect of H. pylori resolution on growth.Results:  At baseline, 566 (87.1%) of 650 children were infected with H. pylori. Neither height and weight, nor body mass index differed by H. pylori infection status. Of 189 children in the treatment phase, 20 (10.6%) were uninfected at all three follow‐up periods, and 54 (28.6%) were uninfected for one or two periods. Compared with continuously infected children, children in these two groups had little evidence of improvements in any of the measured growth outcomes.Conclusions:  H. pylori infection is not related to growth among Alaska Native children aged 7–11 years. Growth deficiency should not be considered an indication for H. pylori therapy.
Cardiovascular Autonomic Response to Food Ingestion in Patients with Gastritis: A Comparison Between Helicobacter pylori‐Positive and ‐Negative Patients
Authors: Lugon Jocemir Ronaldo , Moreira Mauro Diniz , De Almeida José Mentor Ramos , Silva Agostinho Soares , Esberard Eliane Cathala Bordalo , Santos Kelb Bousquet , Carvalho Angela Gouvêa , Mendes Luciana Claudia , Da Nobrega Antonio Claudio Lucas 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground:  Feeding evokes a cardiovascular response associated to an increased sympathetic drive. The role of the parasympathetic component in this regard is less clear. Improvement of postprandial vasovagal complaints after Helicobacter pylori eradication in three cases led us to assess autonomic response to feeding in H. pylori‐positive patients in search for an exacerbated parasympathetic response.Material and Methods:  Patients with mild or moderate chronic histologic gastritis were studied. Subjects with the same diagnosis but testing negative for H. pylori were used as controls. Noninvasive cardiovascular tests were applied before and after feeding.Results:  On sympathetic tests, standing postprandial blood pressure was lower than preprandially in 5/12 H. pylori‐positive patients and in 0/9 controls, p = .045. Resting postprandial BP on handgrip test was significantly lower than preprandially only in H. pylori‐positive patients (71 ± 8 versus 76 ± 6 mmHg, p = .0068). Regarding parasympathetic tests, the 4‐s unloaded exercise revealed greater initial heart rate response to unloaded cycling after feeding than preprandially again only in H. pylori‐positive patients (1.40 ± 0.20 versus 1.33 ± 0.17, p = .0195). On tests influenced by both branches of the autonomic system, a difference was seen in the chronotropic response to handgrip. Postprandial heart rate on effort of H. pylori‐positive patients was not higher than preprandially in contrast to controls [intervals between 2 consecutive R waves on electrocardiogram (R‐R intervals) of 666 ± 39 versus 685 ± 62 ms, p = .0195], suggesting blunted sympathetic activation in the former.Conclusion:  Supporting the observations that motivate the study, our findings indicate blunted sympathetic reactivity and exacerbated vagal response to feeding in H. pylori‐positive patients.
Is Language Lateralization in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients Related to the Nature of the Epileptogenic Lesion?
Authors: Briellmann Regula S. , Labate Angelo , Harvey A. Simon , Saling Michael M. , Sveller Christina , Lillywhite Leasha , Abbott David F. , Jackson Graeme D. 
Published: May 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Early acquired lesions are considered to be a risk factor for atypical language lateralization in epilepsy, whereas developmental lesions are not. Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) can be understood as an early, acquired lesion, whereas developmental tumors (DT) are thought to originate in utero. We assessed whether language lateralization differs between these groups of temporal lobe epilepsy patients. Methods: We used 3‐Tesla functional MRI (fMRI) to assess 41 patients (16 DT, 25 HS) and 50 controls, performing a noun–verb‐generation task. fMRI data were processed by using SPM2. A laterality index (LI) was calculated based on the number of activated voxels in left‐ and right‐sided frontal lobe language areas. Atypical lateralization was considered if the index was ≤0.2. Results: Patients had a lower LI (0.42 ± 0.5) than controls (0.6 ± 0.3; p ≤ 0.05), but the LI was not different between DT (0.44 ± 0.5) and HS patients (0.43 ± 0.4; p = 0.9). The frequency of atypical lateralization was increased in patients (27%) compared with controls (8%) but was similar in both patient groups (DT, 31%; HS, 24%). HS patients had an earlier onset and longer duration of epilepsy and a higher frequency of significant antecedent events (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with TLE demonstrate a deviation toward atypical language lateralization. However, language lateralization was not different between patients with presumably acquired lesions compared with patients with developmental pathology. This suggests that the nature of the temporal lobe lesion does not influence overall language lateralization.
Left‐sided Interictal Epileptic Activity Induces Shift of Language Lateralization in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An fMRI Study
Authors: Janszky Jozsef , Mertens Markus , Janszky Imre , Ebner Alois , Woermann Friedrich G. 
Published: May 2006

Summary:  Purpose: By using speech‐activated functional MRI (fMRI), we investigated whether the frequency of left‐sided interictal epileptic activity (IED: spikes or sharp waves on the EEG) is associated with atypical speech lateralization. Methods: We investigated 28 patients (13 men, aged 17–59 years) with left‐sided mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and 11 patients with right‐sided MTLE as a control population. Only patients with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis with unilateral IED were included. For fMRI of individual patients, we contrasted images sampled during covert word generation with a low‐level rest condition. With SPM99, an individual comparison for the contrast “word generation versus resting inactivity” was conducted. To characterize speech lateralization in individual patients, we calculated asymmetry indexes (AIs): the difference between activated left‐sided and right‐sided voxels was divided by all activated voxels. Analyzing long‐term EEG, the first 2 min of each hour were evaluated for the frequency of IED. Univariate associations with AIs were assessed by Pearson's correlation and by t test. When testing the independent associations, multivariate linear regression was performed. Results: The AIs in patients with left‐sided MTLE were 0.40 ± 0.53 on average (range, −0.83 to +1.0), whereas in right‐sided MTLE, they were 0.78 ± 0.15 (p = 0.029). For the further investigations, we included left‐sided MTLE patients only. The median frequency of IED was six per hour (range, 0–240). Higher IED frequency was correlated with left‐right shift of lateralization of speech fMRI activity (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Higher left‐sided spike frequency in MTLE was associated with a left–right shift of speech representation, suggesting that chronic frequent interictal activity may induce a reorganization of speech lateralization.
Fear Conditioning Is Impaired in Systemic Kainic Acid and Amygdala‐stimulation Models of Epilepsy
Authors: Kemppainen E. J. Samuli , Nissinen Jari , Pitkänen Asla 
Published: May 2006

Summary:  Purpose: The lateral nucleus of the amygdala is critical for fear conditioning, a paradigm of emotional learning, which requires recognition of an unconditioned stimulus as aversive and association of conditioned stimuli with an unconditioned stimulus. Some patients with temporal lobe epilepsy have amygdaloid damage associated with impaired emotional learning. Fear conditioning also is impaired at least in some animal models of epilepsy. We studied whether contextual or tone‐cued fear conditioning is impaired in two status epilepticus models of epilepsy and whether impairment correlates with the extent of damage in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Methods: We induced epilepsy in rats by either systemic kainic acid administration or electrical amygdala stimulation. Behavioral reactions in all phases of fear conditioning were analyzed from videotapes. Damage to the lateral nucleus of the amygdala was analyzed from thionin‐stained sections both histologically and by volumetry. Results: Immediate reflexive responses to unconditioned and conditioned stimuli were preserved, whereas the freezing response to an unconditioned stimulus was reduced. Contextual conditioning was severely impaired, whereas tone‐cued conditioning was better preserved. The lateral nucleus pathology did not correlate with impaired fear conditioning. Conclusions: These data suggest that processing of complex contextual stimuli is severely affected in experimental epilepsy, whereas conditioning to simple cues is better preserved.
A Novel Splicing Mutation in KCNQ2 in a Multigenerational Family with BFNC Followed for 25 Years
Authors: De Haan Gerrit‐Jan , Pinto Dalila , Carton Dietbrandt , Bader Adri , Witte Jorien , Peters Edith , Van Erp Gerard , Vandereyken Willem , Boezeman Eduard , Wapenaar Martin C. , Boon Paul , Halley Dicky , Koeleman Bobby P. C. , Lindhout Dick 
Published: May 2006

Summary:  Purpose: A large multigenerational family with benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNC) was revisited to identify the disease‐causing mutation and to assess long‐term outcome. Methods: We supplemented the original data with recent clinical and neurophysiologic data on patients and first‐degree relatives, including information on seizure recurrence. We conducted linkage analysis at the EBN1 and EBN2 loci, followed by mutation analysis of KCNQ2. We evaluated the qualitative effect of the KCNQ2 mutation at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level by using reverse‐transcribed total RNA isolated from leukocytes. Results: Thirteen relatives had a history of neonatal convulsions, 11 of whom showed remission within 2 months. One patient showed an atypical course of neonatal convulsions, developing photosensitive myoclonic epilepsy at age 13 years. We found suggestive linkage of the BFNC phenotype to the 20q13‐EBN1 locus (lod score, 2.03) and an intronic mutation IVS14‐6 C>A in KCNQ2 segregating with the trait in all affected members, but absent in 100 unrelated control subjects. This mutation creates a new, preferentially used, splice site. Alternative splicing adds 4 nt containing a premature stop codon to the transcript, resulting in a truncated protein after position R588. Conclusions: We detected and characterized a novel splicing mutation in the brain‐specific KCNQ2 gene by using easily accessible blood leukocytes. Aberrant splicing cosegregates with BFNC but not with photosensitivity.
Freeze‐dried rehydrated human blood platelets regulate intracellular pH
Authors: Tang Minke , Wolkers Willem F. , Crowe John H. , Tablin Fern 
Published: May 2006

BACKGROUND:  Long‐term storage of platelets (PLTs) in the dry state would greatly improve options for PLT storage. Whether trehalose‐loaded freeze‐dried and rehydrated PLTs could regulate intracellular pH (pHi) was evaluated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Previously it was shown that human PLTs can be successfully preserved by freeze‐drying with trehalose. Trehalose‐loaded freeze‐dried rehydrated PLTs and fresh control PLTs were labeled with the pH dye BCECF‐AM. pHi was measured in resting cells, cells acidified with nigericin, and cells treated with thrombin. The sodium‐proton pump was blocked by treatment with 5‐(N‐methyl‐N‐isobutyl)amiloride (MIA).RESULTS:  The pHi of rehydrated PLTs is the same as that of fresh control PLTs, 7.27 ± 0.03 (SD; n = 5) and 7.27 ± 0.02 (n = 5), respectively. Nigericin treatment of cells showed that the recovery in pHi was Na+‐dependent and followed Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. The Vmax values (ΔpH/9 sec) were 0.21 ± 0.039 (n = 3) and 0.22 ± 0.025 (n = 3) for rehydrated and control PLTs, respectively. The exchange constants were 17.7 ± 2.3 mmol per L (n = 3) and 17.0 ± 1.9 mmol per L (n = 3) for rehydrated and control PLTs, respectively. Treatment of cells with MIA showed that NHE1 remained sensitive to the inhibitor after freeze‐drying and rehydration.CONCLUSION:  The results show that the pHi regulation system is largely preserved during freeze‐drying and rehydration of PLTs.
The additional value of real‐time PCR in the quantitative detection of periodontal pathogens
Authors: Boutaga Khalil , Van Winkelhoff Arie Jan , Vandenbroucke‐Grauls Christina M. J. E. , Savelkoul Paul H. M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim: For the analysis of subgingival plaque, anaerobic bacterial culture has been the gold standard for many years. Currently, molecular microbial techniques have become available to identify and quantify target organisms with high specificity and sensitivity. The technique of real‐time polymerase chain reaction(RT‐PCR) provides a new tool to detect oral pathogens both in oral and non‐oral human infections. The aim of this study was to compare the RT‐PCR and anaerobic culture for detection and quantification of six periodontal pathogens in periodontal health and disease.Material and Methods: Subgingival plaque samples from 259 adult patients with periodontitis and 111 healthy controls were analysed with quantitative anaerobic culture and quantitative RT‐PCR for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Micromonas micros and Fusobacterium spp.Results: All species were more frequently isolated from patients than controls with both culture and RT‐PCR. P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and M. micros appeared significant markers for disease with both techniques. P. intermedia was significantly associated with periodontitis by RT‐PCR only (OR 9.7), whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans showed a significant relationship by culture only. The critical differences between culture and RT‐PCR were culture‐negative/PCR‐positive samples which amounted to 7% for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 3% for P. gingivalis, 7% for T. forsythia, 20% for P. intermedia, 6% for M. micros, and 0.8% for Fusobacterium spp. in periodontitis patients and 12%, 3%, 2%, 35%, 14% and 0%, respectively, in the periodontally healthy group. Furthermore, periodontitis individuals had significantly higher amount of all of the test species in the subgingival plaque samples compared with healthy subjects.Conclusion: RT‐PCR provides a new rapid diagnostic tool and opens the opportunity to detect small numbers of oral pathogens in clinical specimens, which are under the detection limit by culture technique.