bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new distal arthrogryposis syndrome characterized by plantar flexion contractures
Authors: Stevenson D.A. , Swoboda K.J. , Sanders R.K. , Bamshad M. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe distal arthrogryposis (DA) syndromes are a distinct group of disorders characterized by contractures of two or more different body areas. More than a decade ago, we revised the classification of DAs and distinguished several new syndromes. This revision has facilitated the identification of five genes (i.e., TNNI2, TNNT3, MYH3, MYH8, and TPM2) that encode components of the contractile apparatus of fast‐twitch myofibers and cause DA syndromes. We now report on the phenotypic features of a novel DA disorder characterized primarily by plantar flexion contractures in a large five‐generation Utah family. Contractures of hips, elbows, wrists, and fingers were much milder though they varied in severity among affected individuals. All affected individuals had normal neurological examinations; electromyography and creatinine kinase levels were normal on selected individuals. We have tentatively labeled this condition distal arthrogryposis type 10 (DA10). © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blepharophimosis, corneal vascularization, deafness, and acroosteolysis: A “new” syndrome?
Authors: Warburg Mette , Ullman Susanne , Jensen Hanne , Pedersen Hans , Kobayashi Takasi , Russell Bjørn , Tranebjaerg Lisbeth , Richard Gabriele , Brøndum‐Nielsen Karen 
Published: November 2006

AbstractWe report on a patient with blepharophimosis who after unsuccessful surgery developed progressive corneal vascularization. The patient had conductive hearing loss, acroosteolysis of the phalanges, arthropathy, loss of subcutaneous fat of the hands, feet and face, and oligospermia. He had had spontaneous pneumothorax four times. We have found no similar case reports in the literature and suggest that this is a new syndrome, which must be differentiated from hereditary mucoepithelial dysplasia, mandibuloacral dysplasia, keratitis‐ichthyosis‐deafness syndrome, Hajdu–Cheney syndrome, Penttinen syndrome, and mucopolysaccharidoses. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The reusability of induced knowledge for the automatic semantic markup of taxonomic descriptions
Authors: Cui Hong , Heidorn P. Bryan 
Published: November 2006

AbstractTo automatically convert legacy data of taxonomic descriptions into extensible markup language (XML) format, the authors designed a machine‐learning‐based approach. In this project three corpora of taxonomic descriptions were selected to prove the hypothesis that domain knowledge and conventions automatically induced from some semistructured corpora (i.e., base corpora) are useful to improve the markup performance of other less‐structured, quite different corpora (i.e., evaluation corpora). The “structuredness” of the three corpora was carefully measured. Basing on the structuredness measures, two of the corpora were used as the base corpora and one as the evaluation corpus. Three series of experiments were carried out with the MARTT (markuper of taxonomic treatments) system the authors developed to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods of using the n‐gram semantic class association rules, the element relative position probabilities, and a combination of the two types of knowledge mined from the automatically marked‐up base corpora. The experimental results showed that the induced knowledge from the base corpora was more reliable than that learned from the training examples alone, and that the n‐gram semantic class association rules were effective in improving the markup performance, especially on the elements with sparse training examples. The authors also identify a number of challenges for any automatic markup system using taxonomic descriptions.
Differential expression of CaMK‐II genes during early zebrafish embryogenesis
Authors: Rothschild Sarah C. , Lister James A. , Tombes Robert M. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractCaMK‐II is a highly conserved Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase expressed throughout the lifespan of all vertebrates. During early development, CaMK‐II regulates cell cycle progression and “non‐canonical” Wnt‐dependent convergent extension. In the zebrafish, Danio rerio, CaMK‐II activity rises within 2 hr after fertilization. At the time of somite formation, zygotic expression from six genes (camk2a1, camk2b1, camk2g1, camk2g2, camk2d1, camk2d2) results in a second phase of increased activity. Zebrafish CaMK‐II genes are 92–95% identical to their human counterparts in the non‐variable regions. During the first three days of development, alternative splicing yields at least 20 splice variants, many of which are unique. Whole‐mount in situ hybridization reveals that camk2g1 comprises the majority of maternal expression. All six genes are expressed strongly in ventral regions at the 18‐somite stage. Later, camk2a1 is expressed in anterior somites, heart, and then forebrain. Camk2b1 is expressed in somites, mid‐ and forebrain, gut, retina, and pectoral fins. Camk2g1 appears strongly along the midline and then in brain, gut, and pectoral fins. Camk2g2 is expressed early in the midbrain and trunk and exhibits the earliest retinal expression. Camk2d1 is elevated early at somite boundaries, then epidermal tissue, while camk2d2 is expressed in discrete anterior locations, steadily increasing along either side of the dorsal midline and then throughout the brain, including the retina. These findings reveal a complex pattern of CaMK‐II gene expression consistent with pleiotropic roles during development. Developmental Dynamics 236:295–305, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative analysis of Gata3 and Gata2 expression during chicken inner ear development
Authors: Lilleväli Kersti , Haugas Maarja , Pituello Fabienne , Salminen Marjo 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe inner ear is a complex sensory organ with hearing and balance functions. Gata3 and Gata2 are expressed in the inner ear, and to gain more insight into their roles in otic development, we made a detailed expression analysis in chicken embryos. At early stages, their expression was highly overlapping. At later stages, Gata2 expression became prominent in vestibular and cochlear nonsensory epithelia. In contrast to Gata2, Gata3 was mainly expressed in the developing sensory epithelia, reflecting the importance of this factor in the sensory–neural development of the inner ear. While the later expression patterns of both Gata3 and Gata2 were highly conserved between chicken and mouse, important differences were observed especially with Gata3 during early otic development, providing indications of divergent molecular control during placode invagination in mice and chickens. We also found indications that the regulatory hierarchy observed in mouse, where Gata3 is upstream of Gata2 and Fgf10, could be conserved in chicken. Developmental Dynamics 236:306–313, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Phase II analysis of paclitaxel and capecitabine in the treatment of recurrent or disseminated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region
Authors: Bentzen Jens D , Hansen Hanne Sand 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground.The aim of this phase II study was to evaluate the antitumor activity and toxicity of a non‐platin–containing regimen with paclitaxel and capecitabine.Methods.Fifty patients with recurrent or disseminated squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study. The treatment consisted of paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 once every third week and capecitabine 825 mg/m2 per oral (p.o.) twice daily (bid) for 2 weeks.Results.The overall response rate according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was 42%. Two patients had a complete response (CR), 19 patients had a partial response (PR), 14 patients had no change (NC), 12 patients had progressive disease (PD), and 3 patients were not evaluable (NE). The median survival time was 8 months. Toxicity was very moderate. Only 10% of 315 delivered treatments had to be given in reduced dose or postponed for a week or more.Conclusions.The toxicity was low and manageable. The overall response rate was comparable to the commonly used cisplatin/5‐fluorouracil regimen. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 2007
Tuning the optical properties of hyperbranched polymers through the modification of the end groups
Authors: Sun Minghao , Bo Zhishan 
Published: November 2006

AbstractDye‐capped, hyperbranched, conjugated polymers were prepared by the modification of the peripheral bromo end groups of the hyperbranched polymer core with a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction. The dye‐modified, hyperbranched polymers had high molecular weights and displayed good solubility in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and chloroform. The structure of the dye‐modified, hyperbranched polymers was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR and elemental analysis. The thermal properties of five kinds of hyperbranched polymers were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The optical properties of the dye‐capped, hyperbranched polymers were investigated with ultraviolet‐absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The hyperbranched structure could effectively reduce the aggregation of the peripheral dyes. The emission colors of the hyperbranched polymers could be easily tuned by end‐group modification. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 111–124, 2007
Dietary fish oil and vitamin E enhance doxorubicin effects in P388 tumor‐bearing mice
Authors: Liu Qi‐Yuan , Tan Benny K. H. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractIn this study, four kinds of rodent diets, CO, FO, CVe, and FVe, were sued by addition of canola oil, oil mixture (fish oil + canola oil), canola oil plus vitamin E, and oil mixture plus vitamin E, respectively, to a basic diet, AIN‐93G, to investigate the influence of dietary fish oil and vitamin E on doxorubicin (DOX) treatment in P388 ascitic mice. Animal life span (LS) and heart damage were recorded in mice fed the four different diets and treated with different doses of DOX. The optimal doses of DOX for antitumor effect as manifested by increased LS were 6.0 and 9.0 mg/kg. Both fish oil and vitamin E significantly enhanced this effect. On the other hand, DOX at 12.0 mg/kg induced severe heart damage, which was also significantly aggravated by both fish oil and vitamin E, as shown by both decreased LS and increased serum creatine phosphokinase activity. Fish oil and vitamin E appeared to enhance the antitumor effect of optimal doses of DOX but to aggravate cardiotoxicity owing to DOX overdose.
Lauric acid is desaturated to 12∶1n−3 by hepatocytes and rat liver homogenates
Authors: Legrand Philippe , Catheline Daniel , Rioux Vincent , Durand Georges 
Published: November 2006

AbstractLauric acid desaturation was investigated and described in liver homogenates and in cultured rat hepatocytes. The identification of the desaturated product of lauric acid has been performed using the oxidative cleavage method, and we showed that the obtained monoene was mainly 12∶1n−3. This result suggests that lauric acid desaturation could be the first step in the biosynthesis of α‐linolenic acid in animal cells.
Lipid, FA, and sterol composition of New Zealand green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) and tasmanian blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Authors: Murphy Karen J. , Mooney Ben D. , Mann Neil J. , Nichols Peter D. , Sinclair Andrew J. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe lipid, FA, and sterol composition of the New Zealand green lipped mussel (NZGLM, Perna canaliculus) and of the Tasmanian blue mussel (TBM, Mytilus edulis) were compared using TLC‐FID and GC‐MS. The respective mussel species were obtained from three different sites in both New Zealand (NZ) and Tasmania. Lipid class distribution of both mussel species was characterized by a high proportion of phospholipid (PL, 57–79%) and TG (10–25%), FFA (7–12%), and sterols (ST, 12–18%). The NZGLM had higher proportions of TG, FFA, and ST (P<0.01), whereas the TBM had a higher proportion of PL (P<0.01). There were higher proportions of total PUFA, saturated FA, n−3 FA, and hydroxy and nonmethyleneinterrupted FA (P<0.05) in the TBM compared with the NZGLM. The major FA in the NZGLM were 16∶0 (15–17%), 20∶5n‐3 (14–20%), and 22∶6n‐3 (11–17%). The same FA dominated lipids in the TBM, although there were significantly higher proportions of 16∶0 (P=0.000) and 22∶6 n−3 (P=0.003) and lower proportions of 20∶5n‐3 (P=0.0072) in the TBM. A novel PUFA, 28∶8n‐3, was detected in both mussels with higher amounts in the TBM, which probably reflects a greater dietary contribution of dinoflagellates for this species. Cholesterol was the dominant sterol in both mussels. Other major sterols included brassicasterol, 22‐methylcholesterol, trans‐22‐dehydrocholesterol, and desmosterol. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the NZGLM and TBM for 12 of the 20 sterols measured. Six sterols showed significant site differences for the NZGLM, and 10 for the TBM. The differences in the FA and sterol composition between the two species may be due to the diet of the NZGLM being more diatom‐derived and the diet of the TBM having a greater dinoflagellate component.
Method for analysis of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐(E)‐nonenal with solid‐phase microextraction
Authors: Uchida Tatsuhiro , Gotoh Naohiro , Wada Shun 
Published: November 2006

AbstractA simple analytical method for 4‐hydroxy‐2‐(E)‐nonenal (HNE) using solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was developed. HNE or the derivative of HNE formed by reaction with 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was extracted from the sample solution by immersing the SPME fiber into the solution, and the amount of HNE was quantified by HPLC. The extraction conditions of HNE and HNE‐DNPH were examined, using standard solutions, with respect to fiber coating, NaCl concentration, rate of stirring, adsorption temperature, and adsorption time. The recovery of HNE reached 80%, and the quantification limits of HNE and HNE‐DNPH using standard compounds were 14.1 pmol/10 mL and 486.5 fmol/10 mL, respectively. This method can be applied to the detection of HNE in oxidized oil or samples of porcine liver.
Positional distribution of FA in TAG of enzymatically modified borage and evening primrose oils
Authors: Namal Senanayake S. P. J. , Shahidi Freidoon 
Published: November 2006

AbstractStereospecific analysis was carried out to establish positional distribution of FA in the TAG of DHA, EPA, and (EPA+DHA)‐enriched oils. In this study, TAG of enzymatically modified oils were purified using a silicic acid column. The TAG were then subjected to positional distribution analysis using a modified procedure involving reductive cleavage with Grignard reagent. The results showed that in DHA‐enriched borage oil (BO), DHA was randomly distributed over the three positions of TAG, whereas γ‐linolenic acid (GLA) was mainly esterified at the sn‐2 and‐3 positions. In DHA‐enriched evening primrose oil (EPO), however, DHA and GLA were concentrated in the sn‐2 position. In EPA‐enriched BO, EPA was randomly distributed over the three positions of TAG, similar to that observed for DHA. In EPA‐enriched EPO, however, this FA was mainly located at the primary positions (sn‐1 and sn‐3) of TAG. In both oils, GLA was preferentially esterified at the sn‐2 position. In (EPA+DHA)‐enriched BO, EPA and DHA were mainly esterified at the sn‐1 and ‐3 positions of TAG, whereas GLA was mainly located at the sn‐2 position. In (EPA+DHA)‐enriched EPO, GLA was mainly located at the sn‐2 and‐3 positions; EPA was preferentially esterified at the sn‐1 and‐3 positions, and DHA was found mainly at the sn‐3 position.
FA Composition of plasma, red blood cell, and liver phospholipids of newborn piglets fed trans isomers of α‐linolenic acid
Authors: Acar Niyazi , Chardigny Jean‐Michel , Berdeaux Olivier , Almanza Simone , Sébédio Jean‐Louis 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe effects of dietary cis and trans α‐linolenic acid (18∶3n−3) on the FA composition of plasma, red blood cell, and liver phospholipids were studied in newborn piglets. Animals were fed for 14 d with one of three diets: a control diet (group A) containing cis 18∶3n−3 at a level of 2.0% of total FA, a diet (group B) in which a part of the 18∶3n−3 acid was isomerized (1.3% of cis 18∶3n−3 and 0.7% of trans 18∶3n−3), or a diet (group C) with 2.0% cis 18∶3n−3 and 0.7% trans 18∶3n−3. Feeding animals with diets containing trans 18∶3n−3 resulted in the presence of trans isomers of 18∶3n−3, trans isomers of EPA, and trans isomers of DHA in phospholipids; however, the level of total trans n−3 PUFA in tissues was less than 0.3% of total tissue FA. In group B, the reduction of dietary amounts of cis 18∶3n−3 was associated with a decrease in individual and total cis n−3 PUFA. In contrast, in group C there was no decrease in tissue n−3 PUFA despite the increased dietary level of trans 18∶3n−3. These results suggest that the isomerization of a part of dietary n−3 PUFA, leading to the reduction of their levels in the diet, could induce a decrease in n−3 PUFA in phospholipids. The physiological effects of trans PUFA are not known and should be considered in future studies.
Dolichol levels in younger and older rat hearts heterotopically transplanted in younger recipients
Authors: Cavallini Gabriella , Parentini Ilaria , Di Stefano Rossella , Maccheroni Marco , Masini Matilde , Pollera Maria , Gori Zina , Masca Franco , Bergamini Ettore 
Published: November 2006

AbstractDolichol (D) levels increase dramatically in older tissue. An understanding of the exchangeability of D between tissues may be essential in order to understand the mechanism of the abnormal accumulation associated with aging. The question was investigated by the use of organ transplantation. D‐poor hearts donated by 3‐mon‐old and D‐rich by 22‐mon‐old male Lewis rats were transplanted heterotopically in 3‐mon‐old syngenic recipients, whose peripheral tissues and liver were poor in D. Native and transplanted hearts were taken 7 and 21 d after surgery. Native hearts of 3‐mon‐ and 22‐mon‐old male Lewis rats served as control. D concentration and quantity were higher in older than in younger native hearts as expected. In the transplanted hearts, the quantity of D was unchanged, irrespective of the age of the donor and of the time of transplantation, whereas D concentration increased because of the remarkable disuse atrophy. No changes in D were observed in recipients’ tissues. It is concluded that dolichol is not redistributed via circulation from the transplanted heart to the tissues and liver of the younger recipient.
Total synthesis of 2‐methoxy‐14‐methylpentadecanoic acid and the novel 2‐methoxy‐14‐methylhexadecanoic acid identified in the sponge agelas dispar
Authors: Carballeira Néstor M. , Cruz Heidyleen , Ayala Norma L. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe phospholipid FA composition of the Carbbean sponge Agelas dispar was revisited and 40 different FA were identified. Among these a novel 2‐methoxylated FA, namely, the anteiso methyl‐branched 2‐methoxy‐14‐methylhexadecanoic acid, was identified together with the recently discovered iso methyl‐branched 2‐methoxy‐14‐methylpentadecanoic acid and the normal‐chain 2‐methoxytetradecanoic acid. The structures of the iso and anteiso methyl‐branched 2‐methoxylated FA were confirmed by total syntheses, which were accomplished in seven steps and in 45–48% overall yields. Other phospholipid FA identified in A. dispar include the unusual methyl‐branched 10, 130dimethyltetradecanoic acid, 3,7,11,15‐tetramethylhexadecanoic (phytanic) acid, and the 11‐methyloctadecanoic acid. In addition, the Δ5,9 FA (5Z, 9Z)‐15‐methyl‐5,9‐hexadecadienoic acid and (5Z, 9Z)‐5,9‐octadecadienoic acid were characterized. These findings establish alternative FA biosynthetic possibilities for these marine organisms.
Fatty acid mobilized by the vascular endothelial growth factor in human endothelial cells
Authors: Boccellino Mariarosaria , Giovane Alfonso , Servillo Luigi , Balestrieri Ciro , Quagliuolo Lucio 
Published: November 2006

AbstractRelease of FFA from membrane phospholipids was observed after incubation of umbilical cord vein‐derived endothelial cells (HUVEC) with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In particular, we found an increase of arachidonate, stearate, and palmitate in a time‐dependent manner with a peak at 30 min. The maximum increase was reached by arachidonate (4.4‐fold), followed by stearate (2.2‐fold) and palmitate (1.3‐fold). The arachidonate increase can be ascribed to the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). In fact, cells preincubated with arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, a PLA2 inhibitor, showed a marked reduction in arachidonate mobilization. The role of Ca2+ in PLA2 activation was also investigated. Cells incubated with VEGF in the presence of EGTA showed a marked decrease in arachidonate mobilization, whereas incubation with the calcium ionophore A23187 alone produced an increase in arachidonate, although to a lesser extent compared with the VEGF stimulation. Incubation with A23187 in association with PMA produced the same increase in arachidonate as the VEGF treatment. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity was also found to increase as a consequence of VEGF stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that the VEGF‐mediated activation of PLA2 in HUVEC is dependent on both MAPK‐mediated phosphorylation and Ca2+ increase. Furthermore, the increase in stearate and palmitate likely is brought about by the activation of a pathway involving phospholipase D, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP), and DAG lipase. In fact, the increase in those FFA was prevented when HUVEC were stimulated with VEGF in the presence of ethanol (which inhibits the formation of phosphatidate), propranolol (a specific inhibitor of PAP), or RHC‐80267 (a specific inhibitor of DAG lipase).
Dietary flax oil reduces renal injury, oxidized LDL content, and tissue n−6/n−3 FA ratio in experimental polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Ogborn Malcolm R. , Nitschmann Evan , Bankovic‐Calic Neda , Weiler Hope A. , Aukema Harold 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAs whole flaxseed is beneficial in the treatment of experimental renal disease, we undertook a study to determine whether previously documented benefits of whole flaxseed could be reproduced with dietary low‐lignan flax oil (FO), a rich source of α‐linolenic acid, in experimental polycystic kidney disease. Male offspring of Han:SPRD‐cy heterozygous rats were fed a synthetic diet containing FO or corn oil (CO) for 8 wk from the time of weaning. Renal inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation, cystic change, and oxidized‐LDL were assessed morphometrically. Hepatic and renal lipid composition was assessed using GC. FO feeding produced hepatic and renal enrichment of n−3 PUFA and an increase in C18∶>C18 PUFA ratios (18‐carbon PUFA compared to longer‐chain PUFA), with a reduction in proportion of hepatic long‐chain PUFA. The FO‐based diet was associated with lower mean cystic change by 29.7% (P=0.018), fibrosis by 21.7% (P=0.017), macrophage infiltration by 31.5% (P< 0.0001), epithelial proliferation by 18.7% (P=0.0035), and ox‐LDL detection by 31.4% (P<0.0001) in Han:SPRD‐cy heterozygotes. Serum creatinine was significantly lower in FO‐fed diseased animals. A small hypocholesterolemic effect was noted in all animals fed FO. FO feeding moderates renal injury, modifies the profile of substrates available for elongation to eicosanoid precursors, and inhibits the elongation of C18 PUFA in this model. The consumption of FO‐based products may prove a more practical way of obtaining health benefit than attempts to increase dietary content of unrefined seed.