bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ASSOCIATION OF POLYMORPHISMS OF THE INTERLEUKIN 18 RECEPTOR: α GENE WITH SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TUBERCULOSIS IN CHONGQING, CHINA
Authors: Jiang Li-Ping 
Published: January 2008

INTRODUCTION: The interleukin 18 (IL-18) receptor complex is a heterodimer consisting of IL-18Rα and IL-18β. Both chains are required for IL-18 signaling transduction in T cells and natural killer cells.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether polymorphisms of the IL-18Rα gene promoter were associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in Chongqing, China.
METHODS: In 123 patients (91 children and 32 adults) with tuberculosis and 249 normal controls (167 children and 82 adults) in Chongqing, we analyzed the polymorphisms at positions -69T/C and -638T/C in the promoter of IL-18Rα by using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers.
RESULTS: Allele and genotype frequencies at position -638 of the IL-18Rα gene polymorphisms were similar in patients with tuberculosis and normal controls (P &gt; .05). However, the frequency of -69/CC was significantly lower in patients with tuberculosis than in controls (χ2 = 8.484; P = .004 &lt; .05). The frequency of -69/TT was significantly higher in patients with tuberculosis than in controls (χ2 = 4.027; P = .045 &lt; .05). The frequency of allele C at position -69 in tuberculosis was significantly lower that than in controls (χ2 = 9.816; P = .002 &lt; .05). The frequency of allele C at position -69 in patients with severe tuberculosis was significantly lower than that in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (χ2 = 4.664; P = .031 &lt; .05).
CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms of the IL-18Rα gene at position -69 were associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in Chongqing. The people with allele C at position -69 may be protected against mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Moreover, the position -69 of IL-18Rα may be associated with a severe degree of tuberculosis.
PROTEOLIPID PROTEIN 1 GENE MUTATION IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH PELIZAEUS-MERZBACHER DISEASE
Authors: Jiang Yuwu , Wang Jingmin , Wu Ye , Tong Tony M. F. , Lam Stephen T. S. , Yang Yanling , Qin Jiong , Wu Xiru 
Published: January 2008

INTRODUCTION: Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder that presents with nystagmus, impaired motor development, ataxia, and progressive spasticity.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) gene in 6 Chinese patients with PMD.
METHODS: Six unrelated Chinese patients had PMD (P1–P6), and 14 individuals were from family P2. Of these 6 patients, 3 had transitional, 2 had classical, and 1 had connate PMD according to the clinical and MRI features. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Gene dosage was determined by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. All 7 exons and exon-intron boundaries of PLP1 gene were amplified and analyzed by direct DNA sequencing.
RESULTS: PLP1 duplications were identified in patients 1 through 4 with PMD. Their mothers were PLP1 duplication carriers. Both duplication carriers and normal genotypes of PLP1 were identified in the family members of patient P2. A c.517C → T (p. P173S) hemizygous missense mutation in exon 4 was found in patient 5, and his mother was a heterozygote of this mutation.
CONCLUSIONS: We identified 4 gene duplications and 1 missense mutation (p. P173S) of PLP1 gene in 5 Chinese patients with PMD. This is the first report about PLP1 mutations in patients with PMD in China.
Local cortical function after uncomplicated subdural electrode implantation
Authors: Yoshor Daniel , Bosking William H. , Lega Bradley C. , Sun Ping , Maunsell John H. R. 
Published: January 2008

Object
Although subdural electrodes are routinely used to map regional brain function, it is unknown if the presence of these implants hinders local cortical function. The authors used psychophysical methods to measure the effect of uncomplicated electrode implantation on local cortical function.

Methods
Local field potentials were used to map receptive fields (RFs) for subdural electrodes that were unilaterally implanted on early visual cortex in 4 patients. After electrode implantation, patients did a task that required them to detect an orientation change in a flashing visual stimulus that was presented either inside the mapped RF or outside the RF in the diametrically opposite portion of the other hemifield. The size of the orientation change was varied to span a wide range of behavioral performance. Psychometric curves were generated by fitting behavioral responses to a logistic function. The threshold was defined as the point at which the fitted function crossed 50% detection.

Results
Data were well fit by the logistic function in all 4 patients for both RF and non-RF conditions. None of the volunteers tested showed a statistically significant difference in detection threshold, reaction time, or in the slope of the psychometric function for stimuli presented inside or outside the RF.

Conclusions
Subdural electrodes implanted for extraoperative monitoring do not impair psychophysical performance for a task based on stimuli lying within the RF for recording electrodes. This finding suggests that these electrodes can be used reliably for accurate assessment of regional neurological function.
3,4‐Diaminobenzophenone Matrix for Analysis of Oligonucleotides by MALDI‐TOF Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Fu Yu , Xu Songyun , Pan Chensong , Ye Mingliang , Zou Hanfa 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis unit contains procedures for analysis of oligonucleotides by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry with 3,4‐diaminobenzophenone (DABP) as a matrix. This new matrix has demonstrated advantages in the analysis of oligonucleotides. With DABP as a matrix, intact oligonucleotide ions can be readily produced with lower laser powers, resulting in better detection limits, less fragmentation, and fewer alkali‐metal ion adducts compared with results obtained using conventional matrices. Minimal fragmentation and fewer alkali‐metal ion adducts were seen even at low oligonucleotide concentrations. It was also found that samples prepared with DABP are highly homogenous, therefore reducing the need to find “sweet spots” in MALDI. Finally, excellent shot‐to‐shot reproducibility, resolution, and signal‐to‐noise ratio are observed using the DABP matrix. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 31:10.12.1‐10.12.6. © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ethylene polymerization by 3‐oxa‐pentamethylene bridged asymmetric dinuclear titanocene/MAO system
Authors: Lin Feng , Zhu Bochao , Zhao Xutao , Li Xu , Sun Junquan 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAn asymmetric 3‐oxa‐pentamethylene bridged dinuclear titanocenium complex (CpTiCl2)2(η5‐η5‐C9H6(CH2CH2OCH2CH2)C5H4) (1) has been prepared by treating two equivalents of CpTiCl3 with the corresponding dilithium salts of the ligand C9H7(CH2CH2OCH2 CH2)C5H5. The complex 1 was characterized by 1H‐, 13C‐NMR, and elemental analysis. Homogenous ethylene polymerization catalyzed using complex 1 has been conducted in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). The influences ofreaction parameters, such as [MAO]/[Cat] molar ratio, catalyst concentration, ethylene pressure, temperature, and time have been studied in detail. The results show that the catalytic activity and the molecular weight (MW) of polyethylene produced by 1/MAO decrease gradually with increasing the catalyst concentration or polymerization temperature. The most important feature of this catalytic system is the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polyethylene reaching 12.4, which is higher than using common mononuclear metallocenes, as well as asymmetric dinuclear titanocene complexes like [(CpTiCl2)2(η5‐η5‐C9H6(CH2)nC5H4)] (n = 3, MWD = 7.31; n = 4, MWD = 6.91). The melting point of polyethylene is higher than 135°C, indicating highly linear and highly crystalline polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium bromide polymer electrolytes for electrochemical cell applications
Authors: Bhargav P. Balaji , Mohan V. M. , Sharma A. K. , Rao V. V. R. N. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractSodium‐ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) complexed with sodium bromide were prepared with a solution‐casting technique. The structure of these films was determined with X‐ray diffraction, and the complexation of the salt with the polymer was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies. Electrical conductivity was measured with an alternating‐current impedance analyzer in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range of 303–373 K. It was observed that the magnitude of conductivity increased with the increase in the salt concentration as well as the temperature. The nature of the charge transport in these polymer electrolyte films was determined with both Wagner's polarization technique and the Watanabe technique. The dominant conducting species were found to be ions, particularly anions. Optical absorption studies were performed in the wavelength range of 200–600 nm, and the absorption edge, direct band gap, and indirect band gap values were evaluated. Electrochemical cells were fabricated, and their discharge characteristics were studied. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis and thermal stability of a novel cycloaliphatic epoxy resin system
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Hua , Xu Wei‐Jian , Chen Fan‐Cai , Liu Ya‐Li , Lu Ming‐Xia 
Published: January 2008

AbstractA novel cycloaliphatic epoxy resin was synthesized from dicyclopentadiene, ethylene glycol, and nadic anhydride. The chemical structures of the resultant epoxy resin and its precursor were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H‐NMR, and mass spectrographic analyses. The thermal stability of the cured polymer was investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Compared with the thermal stability of the commercial cycloaliphatic epoxy resin 3,4‐epoxy cyclohexyl methyl‐3′,4′‐epoxy cyclohexyl carboxylate, a higher thermal stability for the cured polymer of the novel epoxy resin was observed. The results imply that the novel cycloaliphatic epoxy resin has good potential applications in electronic encapsulation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Encoding touch and the orbitofrontal cortex
Authors: Frey Stephen , Zlatkina Veronika , Petrides Michael 
Published: January 2008

AbstractLesion studies on nonhuman primates utilizing recognition memory tests have shown that the orbitofrontal cortex is critical for the encoding of novel information, and anatomical studies have shown that the orbitofrontal cortex forms part of a mnemonic circuit that connects limbic medial temporal areas with higher‐order lateral frontal cortical regions. Furthermore, functional neuroimaging studies have demonstrated increased activity in the orbitofrontal cortex of the human brain during the encoding of novel visual and auditory information. The present positron emission tomography study examined brain activity related to the encoding of tactile information. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in normal human subjects during the tactile exploration of novel stimuli from a related set of textures and patterns, as well as from a set of aversive tactile stimuli, was compared with CBF during a control condition involving familiar tactile stimuli. The results demonstrate that the right rostral orbitofrontal cortex is involved in the active encoding of novel tactile information, while a more caudal region of the orbitofrontal cortex, which is more closely connected with limbic and autonomic regions of the brain, was activated when subjects explored novel aversive tactile stimuli. These results suggest that the orbitofrontal cortex, through its connections with the limbic areas of the medial temporal lobe, influences the processing of incoming information and thus contributes to its encoding. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vitro gene expression analysis of nephrotoxic drugs in rat primary renal cortical tubular cells
Authors: Suzuki Hiromi , Inoue Tomoaki , Matsushita Tomochika , Kobayashi Kazuko , Horii Ikuo , Hirabayashi Yoko , Inoue Tohru 
Published: January 2008

AbstractRat primary renal cortical tubular cells were exposed to seven test substances, some with, and some without, known direct renal tubular cell toxicity. Cells were exposed to the substances at either one‐third or one‐tenth of the TC50 for cytotoxicity for 6 h or 24 h, so as not to induce cytotoxicity but to cause some transcriptional changes. Transcriptional profiles were investigated by using the Affymetrix Rat Toxicology U34 arrays, containing probes for more than 850 genes and ESTs. Four direct toxicants, cisplatin (CDDP), its less nephrotoxic analogue carboplatin (CBDCA), cephaloridine and gentamicin, were grouped together in a hierarchical clustering. In addition, the four direct toxicants affected more than 32 transcripts at their subcytotoxic concentrations at either 6 h or 24 h exposure. On the other hand, diclofenac, cyclosporine A and zinc, which are not considered to be directly toxic to tubules, affected less than 12 transcripts. Decreased Map3k12 and increased Hmox1 were commonly observed among the four direct toxicants, which appeared to be responses to cellular damage. Two platinum complexes, CDDP and CBDCA, induced similar changes, regardless of exposure duration or concentration. The types of transcriptional changes observed in this study were consistent with previously reported in vivo data, although there were some differences. These observations suggest that an in vitro gene expression analysis approach using GeneChip is feasible for screening for direct tubular toxicity of drugs and may help to clarify the underlying mechanisms of tubular toxicity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adverse effect of tannery waste leachates in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster: role of ROS in modulation of Hsp70, oxidative stress and apoptosis
Authors: Siddique Hifzur R. , Gupta Subash C. , Mitra Kalyan , Bajpai Virendra K. , Mathur Neeraj , Murthy Ramesh C. , Saxena Daya K. , Chowdhuri Debapratim K. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractLeachate is a complex chemical mixture of chemicals produced as a result of leaching of solid wastes. The potential toxicity of leachates is a major environmental health concern. The present study evaluated the role of ROS in tannery leachates induced Hsp70 expression, antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis in Drosophila. Different concentrations (0.05–2.0%) of leachates prepared from tannery waste at different pH (7.00, 4.93 and 2.88) were mixed with Drosophila food and fed to the larvae for 2–48 h to examine the different stress and apoptotic markers. A concentration‐ and time‐dependent significant increase in Hsp70 expression, ROS generation, antioxidant enzymes activities and MDA content were observed in the exposed larvae. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were delayed compared with Hsp70 expression and MDA level in the exposed organisms. Apoptotic cell death was observed in the exposed larvae at higher concentrations concurrent with a significant regression in Hsp70 along with a higher level of ROS generation. A positive correlation drawn between ROS generation and apoptotic markers and a negative correlation between apoptotic markers and Hsp70 expression at these concentrations indicated the important role of ROS in the induction of cellular damage in the exposed organisms. There was a significant generation of ROS in the larvae exposed to 0.5% of leachates which did not interfere with the protection of their cells by Hsp70 and antioxidant enzymes. However, generation of significantly higher levels of ROS in the larvae exposed to 1.0% and 2.0% leachates may decrease Hsp70 expression thus leading to mitochondria‐mediated caspase‐dependent apoptotic cell death. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcriptional regulation of the murine 1‐cys peroxiredoxin gene by the B cell‐specific activator protein, Pax5
Authors: Lee In‐Seon , Choi Won Ho , Kim Ji Young , Jeong Jin‐Yong , Kim Mi‐Jung , Nam Joo‐Hyun , Kim Jong‐Hyeok , Seo Sang‐Beom , Pak Jhang Ho 
Published: January 2008

AbstractPax5, a member of the paired box gene family of transcription factors, is a B cell‐specific activator protein (BSAP) that plays important roles in controlling the expression of lineage‐ and differentiation‐stage specific genes during B lymphopoiesis. We identified two putative Pax5 binding sites in a 668 bp of the murine 1‐cys peroxiredoxin (1‐cysPrx) promoter region. These sites were located at positions −278 to −262 and −50 to −34 from the translation start site. Gel mobility shift assays showed that recombinant Pax5 protein bound specifically to the nucleotide regions −56 to −24 (MP1 probe) and −284 to −253 (MP2 probe). Furthermore, endogenous Pax5 protein from B lymphoblast cells (IM‐9) formed a DNA‐protein complex with MP1 and MP2 probes, indicating that Pax5 binding occurs specifically at these sequences in vivo. Transient transfection studies showed that expression of exogenous Pax5 resulted in dose‐dependent increases in 1‐cysPrx promoter activity, implying that Pax5 functions as a positive transcription factor for 1‐cysPrx expression. Further transient cotransfection studies showed that coexpression of Pax5 and histone acetyltransferases (HATs), such as p300, cAMP‐response‐element‐binding protein (CBP) and p300/CBP associated factor (PCAF) enhanced the Pax5‐mediated 1‐cysPrx promoter activity. Immunoprecipitation studies indicated that Pax5 directly binds to HATs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the recruitment of Pax5 to the promoter induced histone H3 and H4 hyperacetylation of chromatin. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation of murine splenocytes resulted in coordinated expression of Pax5 and 1‐cysPrx proteins. These findings suggest that Pax5 may function as a transactivator of 1‐cysPrx gene expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 465–476, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression and modification of ARC (apoptosis repressor with a CARD domain) is distinctly regulated by oxidative stress in cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Qiang , Herman Brian 
Published: January 2008

AbstractApoptosis repressor with a CARD domain (ARC), which has been shown to protect against oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis, was initially found to be highly expressed in terminally differentiated tissues like heart and skeletal muscle. Recently, we and others have found that ARC is also expressed at high levels in multiple cancer tissues and cell lines. Here, we compared the regulation of ARC in response to oxidative stress between cancer cells and other types of cells. Similar to cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 cells, cancer cells with reduced ARC expression were significantly more sensitive to oxidative stress. However, oxidative stress did not down‐regulate ARC expression in cancer cells as it did in H9c2 cells. We further found that in H9c2 cells oxidative stress regulates ARC protein expression post‐translationally through proteasome‐mediated degradation. In cancer cell line HeLa, the majority of ARC exists in phosphorylated state in the absence of oxidative stress, whereas in H9c2 cells only marginal amount of ARC was phosphorylated under similar conditions. Our data suggest that the high level of ARC protein and the constitutive phosphorylation of ARC in cancer cells may play an important role in the protection of cancer cells against oxidative stress. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 818–825, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Image noise variance estimation using the mixed Lagrange time‐delay autoregressive model
Authors: Sim K.‐S. , Tso C.‐P. , Law K.‐K. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe mixed Lagrange time‐delay estimation autoregressive (MLTDEAR) model is proposed as a solution to estimate image noise variance. The only information available to the proposed estimator is a corrupted image and the nature of additive white noise. The image autocorrelation function is calculated and used to obtain the MLTDEAR model coefficients; the relationship between the MLTDEAR and linear prediction models is utilized to estimate the model coefficients. The forward–backward prediction is then used to obtain the predictor coefficients; the MLTDEAR model coefficients and prior samples of zero‐offset autocorrelation values are next used to predict the power of the noise‐free image. Furthermore, the fundamental performance limit of the signal and noise estimation, as derived from the Cramer–Rao inequality, is presented. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of [3H]fenobam, a radioligand for the mGlu5 receptor
Authors: Hartung Thomas , Peters Jens‐Uwe , Wichmann Jürgen , Hubschwerlen Christian , Jaeschke Georg 
Published: January 2008

AbstractFenobam is a clinically efficacious anxiolytic that acts as metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) antagonist by binding to an allosteric site. Other mGlu5 receptor antagonists such as MPEP and MTEP bind to the same allosteric site and are efficacious in preclinical models of anxiety and depression. Consequently, the allosteric‐binding site of the mGlu5 receptor is an attractive target for the discovery of novel psychiatric therapies. Radioligands of this binding site can be used for in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic studies. We report here a short synthesis of such a radioligand for the allosteric mGlu5 receptor‐binding site, [3H]fenobam. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sterols, Fatty Alcohols, and Triterpenic Alcohols in Commercial Table Olives
Authors: López‐López Antonio , Montaño Alfredo , Ruíz‐Méndez Maria Victoria , Garrido‐Fernández Antonio 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThis work supplies information on the lipids, unsaponifiable matter, sterols, and fatty and triterpenic alcohols in table olives. The mean lipid contents, unsaponifiable values, concentration of sterols and total alcohols (aliphatic and triterpenic alcohols) were 16.15 g/100 g edible portion (e.p.), 4.53 g/100 g lipid, 28.68 mg/100 g e.p. and 13.28 mg/100 g e.p., respectively. The overall mean content of cholesterol was 0.5 mg/100 g e.p., with a minimum of 0.08 mg/100 g e.p. in Manzanilla olives stuffed with “piquillo” pepper, and a maximum of 4.9 mg/100 g e.p. in Manzanilla olives stuffed with marinated anchovy strips. Table olives contain higher concentrations of phytosterols than olive oil. The chemometric analysis showed that lipids, unsaponifiable matter, sterols, and fatty and triterpenic alcohol contents in table olives were slightly affected by processing and that some misclassification was possibly related to maturation. There were also noticeable differences between cultivars.