bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient Donor for Terbium Luminescence Based on Polymer Ligand Containing Quinolinone Fluorophore
Authors: Výprachtický Drahomír , Cimrová Věra , Kukla Stanislav , Pavlačková Petra 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSummary: Polymer ligand containing a quinolinone fluorophore and carboxyl binding sites (III) was synthesized by the reaction of parent poly[styrene‐alt‐(maleic anhydride)] with 7‐amino‐4‐methylquinolin‐2(1H)‐one (I) and methanol. The ligand‐to‐metal resonance energy transfer and ligand binding properties of Tb(III)‐III complexes were investigated by steady‐state and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy in methanol or deuterated methanol and compared with those of the low‐molecular‐weight model compound, N‐[4‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydroquinolin‐7‐yl]succinamic acid (II). The long‐lived emission intensity of Tb3+ at 490, 545, 585, and 620 nm corresponding to the 5D4 → 7F6, 5D4 → 7F5, 5D4 → 7F4, and 5D4 → 7F3 transitions, respectively, was strongly increased by the addition of III (as much as 10 000 times) and decreased in the order of Tb(III)‐III ≫ Tb(III)‐II > Tb(III)‐I > Tb(III). The efficiency of energy transfer (E) was evaluated from emission intensity of the donor (III) in the presence or absence of the acceptor (Tb3+) as E = 0.71–0.94, depending on the acceptor concentration and ligand neutralization. The experimental luminescence‐decay curves were double‐exponential (τ1, τ2) with a predominating longer component (rel B1 = 85%) for Tb(III)‐III and single‐exponential (τ) for Tb(III)‐II. One or three methanol molecules were coordinated to Tb3+ in Tb(III)‐III with or without neutralization of III, respectively, whereas approximately 6.5 methanol molecules were coordinated to Tb3+ in Tb(III)‐II. Terbium ion coordinates with 7–8 molecules of methanol in methanolic solution.Schematic energy‐level diagram for fluorescence resonance energy transfer in a Tb(III)‐ligand complex.magnified imageSchematic energy‐level diagram for fluorescence resonance energy transfer in a Tb(III)‐ligand complex.
Effect of β‐Cyclodextrins on the Morphological Change of Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Shin Kyung‐moo , Dong Tungalag , He Yong , Inoue Yoshio 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSummary: The effects of β‐CD, partially methylated and per‐methylated β‐CDs on the crystallization behavior of P(3HB) have been investigated. All measurements, including FT‐IR spectra, WAXD, and DSC, showed that the details of interaction between P(3HB) and respective CDs were varied with the degree of methyl substitution of CDs. The crystallization of P(3HB) was enhanced by an addition of immiscible β‐CD, while it was restricted by the introduction of methylated CDs via the formation of miscible blend with di‐O‐methyl β‐CD and via the formation of an IC with tri‐O‐methyl β‐CD, respectively.
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Beneficial effects of tea and its polyphenols against prostate cancer
Authors: Siddiqui Imtiaz A. , Adhami Vaqar M. , Saleem Mohammad , Mukhtar Hasan 
Published: January 2006

AbstractTea, next to water, is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Depending upon the level of fermentation, tea can be categorized into three types: green (unfermented), oolong (partially fermented), and black (highly to fully fermented). In general, green tea has been found to be superior to black and oolong tea in terms of antioxidant and health promoting benefits owing to the higher content of (–)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate. Tea polyphenols comprise about one‐third of the weight of the dried leaf, and they exhibit biochemical and pharmacological activities including antioxidant activities, inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and modulation of carcinogen metabolism. Several studies demonstrate that most tea polyphenols exert their effects by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) since excessive production of ROS has been implicated in the development of a variety of ailments including cancer of the prostate gland (CaP). Using cell culture and animal model systems, molecular targets for these remarkable beneficial effects of green tea drinking on CaP prevention and therapy have been defined. Geographical and case‐control studies are showing that green tea drinking could afford CaP chemopreventive effects in human population. In this review we attempt to summarize the experimental as well as the epidemiological basis for the possible role of tea and its polyphenols for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of CaP.
Comments on ‘Piperidone derivative from Dalbergia sympathetica’
Authors: Winkler Tammo 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAlcoholic extraction of Dalbergia sympathetica leaves yielded N‐methyl‐trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L‐proline and not 3,6‐dihydroxy‐N‐methyl‐2‐piperidone, as previously reported. This is shown by the identity of the 1H and 13C NMR data of the isolated compound with those of N‐methyl‐trans‐4‐hydroxy‐L‐proline. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of the basic helix‐loop‐helix protein ITF2 in the hormonal regulation of Sertoli cell differentiation
Authors: Muir Terla , Sadler‐Riggleman Ingrid , Stevens Jeffrey D. , Skinner Michael K. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSertoli cells are a post‐mitotic terminally differentiated cell population that forms the seminiferous tubules in the adult testis and provides the microenvironment and structural support for developing germ cells. During pubertal development, Sertoli cells are responsive to follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) to promote the expression of differentiated gene products. The basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) and inhibitors of differentiation (Id) transcription factors are involved in the differentiation of a variety of cell lineages during development. Both bHLH and Id transcription factors have been identified in Sertoli cells. A yeast two‐hybrid screen was conducted using a rat Sertoli cell cDNA library to identify bHLH dimerization partners for the Id1 transcription factor. The ubiquitous bHLH protein ITF2 (i.e., E2‐2) was identified as one of the interacting partners. The current study investigates the expression and function of ITF2 in Sertoli cells. ITF2 was found to be ubiquitously expressed in all testicular cell types including germ cells, peritubular myoid cells, and Sertoli cells. Stimulation of cultured Sertoli cells with FSH or dibutryl cAMP resulted in a transient decrease in expression of ITF2 mRNA levels followed by a rise in expression with FSH treatment. ITF2 expression was at its highest in mid‐pubertal 20‐day‐old rat Sertoli cells. ITF2 was found to directly bind to negative acting Id HLH proteins and positive acting bHLH proteins such as scleraxis. Transient overexpression of ITF2 protein in cultured Sertoli cells stimulated transferrin promoter activity, which is a marker of Sertoli cell differentiation. Co‐transfections of ITF2 and Id proteins sequestered the inhibitory effects of the Id family of proteins. Observations suggest ITF2 can enhance FSH actions through suppressing the inhibitory actions of the Id family of proteins and increasing the actions of stimulatory bHLH proteins (i.e., scleraxis) in Sertoli cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Establishment of an in vitro culture system for chicken preblastodermal cells
Authors: Park Hyun Jeong , Park Tae Sub , Kim Tae Min , Kim Jin Nam , Shin Sang Su , Lim Jeong Mook , Han Jae Yong 
Published: January 2006

AbstractTo develop an alternative source for chicken pluripotent cells, we examined (1) whether undifferentiated preblastodermal cells could be subcultured in vitro for an extended period and (2) how subculturing affected the physiological properties of preblastodermal cells. The average number of preblastodermal cells was 2,397 in stage V embryos and 36,345 in stage VII embryos; stage X embryos had an average of 53,857 blastodermal cells. The average cell size decreased significantly (70.63–18.83 µm in diameter; P < 0.0001) as the embryo grew; this was closely related to a reduction in the size and number of lipid vesicles in the cell cytoplasm. The culture conditions were optimized for the stage V preblastodermal cells and the control stage X blastodermal cells. On STO feeder cells, the preblastodermal cells achieved stable growth in vitro only in HES medium or a mixed medium of the Knockout DMEM and HES media. However, more than 10 passages of preblastodermal cells at intervals of 3–4 days was possible only by using the Knockout/HES mixed medium and BRL cell‐conditioned HES medium for the primary cultures and subcultures, respectively. Colony‐forming preblastodermal cells had well‐delineated cytoplasm, which was positively stained for stem cell‐specific markers by anti‐stage‐specific embryo antigen‐1 antibody, periodic acid‐Schiff's solution, and alkaline phosphatase. When preblastodermal cells with or without culturing were transferred into the blastodermal cavity of stage X embryos, only in vitro‐cultured preblastodermal cells at stage V (4/5 = 80%) and stage VII (2/8 = 25%) induced somatic chimerism in recipient chickens. In conclusion, undifferentiated preblastodermal cells could be subcultured, and only the colony‐forming preblastodermal cells that stained positively for stem cell markers could induce somatic chimerism. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fatal Fournier's gangrene in a young adult with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Mantadakis Elpis , Pontikoglou Charalampos , Papadaki Helen A. , Aggelidakis George , Samonis George 
Published: January 2006

AbstractFournier's gangrene (FG) is a fulminant necrotizing fasciitis of the external genitalia. Few reports of FG exist in patients with hematologic malignancies. We describe a case of fatal FG in a 21‐year‐old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was receiving remission‐induction chemotherapy. Despite early local surgery, administration of appropriate antibiotics, resurgery for wider debridement and aggressive ICU support he succumbed while pancytopenic to septic shock, 26 days after initiation of chemotherapy. Multi‐drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from blood and scrotal cultures obtained at initial surgery. FG is a fulminant infection, especially in the face of profound cytopenias. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:862–864. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Runx2 phosphorylation induced by fibroblast growth factor‐2/protein kinase C pathways
Authors: Kim Byung‐Gyu , Kim Hyun‐Jung , Park Hye‐Jeong , Kim Youn‐Jeong , Yoon Won‐Joon , Lee Seung‐Jin , Ryoo Hyun‐Mo , Cho Je‐Yoel 
Published: January 2006

AbstractRunx2 is a key transcription factor in osteoblast differentiation, and its activity is regulated by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Craniosynostosis, characterized by premature suture closure, results from mutations that generate constitutively active FGF receptors (FGFRs). We previously showed that FGF/FGFR‐activated protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the expression and activity of Runx2. Activated PKCδ physically interacts with Runx2 in FGF2‐stimulated MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblastic cells. Immunopurified Runx2 protein reacted with PKCδ kinase, and a phosphorylated 1460‐Da peptide fragment (amino acids 241–252, 1380‐Da) derived from Runx2 was also detected in MS analysis. Computer analysis predicted that Ser247 in this Runx2 can be a possible phosphorylation site by PKCδ. We also showed that Runx2 activity after FGF stimulation correlates with the presence of the Runx2 Ser247 residue. The S247A (Ser → Ala) mutation confers decreased transcriptional activity on a Runx2‐responsive promoter after FGF treatment.
Proteomic analysis of pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus
Authors: Lee Ah Young , Park Sung Goo , Jang Mi , Cho Sayeon , Myung Pyung Keun , Kim Young Ran , Rhee Joon Haeng , Lee Do Hee , Park Byoung Chul 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn this study we have constructed a proteome reference map of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus. From the reference map, we identified several virulence‐related proteins, such as ToxR and ToxS, as well as numerous proteins involved in diverse cellular functions. To search for additional virulence‐related proteins, we compared the whole proteomes from the wild‐type and toxR mutant of V. vulnificus and found that several proteins were up‐ or down‐regulated in the toxR mutant. We suggest that these differentially regulated proteins whose expression is coordinately controlled by a virulence regulator ToxR, some of which are already implicated in virulence, play roles in the pathogenesis of V. vulnificus.
The cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root proteome: Protein identification and differential expression
Authors: Sheffield Jeanne , Taylor Nigel , Fauquet Claude , Chen Sixue 
Published: January 2006

AbstractUsing high‐resolution 2‐DE, we resolved proteins extracted from fibrous and tuberous root tissues of 3‐month‐old cassava plants. Gel image analysis revealed an average of 1467 electrophoretically resolved spots on the fibrous gels and 1595 spots on the tuberous gels in pH 3–10 range. Protein spots from both sets of gels were digested with trypsin. The digests were subjected to nanoelectrospray quadrupole TOF tandem mass analysis. Currently, we have obtained 299 protein identifications for 292 gel spots corresponding to 237 proteins. The proteins span various functional categories from energy, primary and secondary metabolism, disease and defense, destination and storage, transport, signal transduction, protein synthesis, cell structure, and transcription to cell growth and division. Gel image analysis has shown unique, as well as up‐ and down‐regulated proteins, present in the tuberous and the fibrous tissues. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the cassava root proteome is an important step towards further characterization of differentially expressed proteins and the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the development and biological functions of the two types of roots.
Crystallization of polyamide confined in sub‐micrometer droplets dispersed in a molten polyethylene matrix
Authors: Sánchez Manuel Salmerón , Mathot Vincent , Poel Geert Vanden , Groeninckx Gabriel , Bruls Willie 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe crystallization of submicrometer PA6 droplets dispersed in an ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer matrix, using PE‐g‐MA as a compatibilizer agent, is investigated. This system shows a nonconventional mechanical behavior at high temperatures. Up to ∼100 °C above the final melting temperature of the ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer matrix, the system shows good thermal and mechanical properties including dimensional stability. Because of the dispersed phase morphology of the system, so‐called fractionated/homogeneous crystallization takes place leading to an extra supercooling of PA6: ∼50 °C compared to the bulk PA6 crystallization temperature. Thus—though this is most probably just of interest for small‐scale research—the system can be processed at lowered temperatures while still providing exceptional high‐temperature properties. While the matrix is in the melt state when crystallization of the dispersed PA6 phase occurs, the possibility of matrix induced crystallization is absent, contrary to almost all of the ‘dispersed droplets in a matrix’ systems reported so far. The kinetics of this phenomenon is investigated in detail by DSC: the existence of fractionated/homogeneous crystallization is shown to be related to the lack of active nuclei in the dispersed droplets by means of self‐seeding experiments. The occurrence of extensive cold crystallization of PA6 in the confined environment is studied as is the crystallization kinetics, including the characterization of its time dependences showing its sporadic nature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 815–825, 2006
Comparing atomistic simulation data with the NMR experiment: How much can NOEs actually tell us?
Authors: Zagrovic Bojan , van Gunsteren Wilfred F. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSimulated molecular dynamics trajectories of proteins and nucleic acids are often compared with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data for the purposes of assessing the quality of the force field used or, equally important, trying to interpret ambiguous experimental data. In particular, nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) intensities or atom–atom distances derived from them are frequently calculated from the simulated ensembles because the distance restraints derived from NOEs are the key ingredient in NMR‐based protein structure determination. In this study, we ask how diverse and nonnative‐like an ensemble of structures can be and still match the experimental NOE distance upper bounds well. We present two examples in which simulated ensembles of highly nonnative polypeptide structures (an unfolded state ensemble of the villin headpiece and a high‐temperature denatured ensemble of lysozyme) are shown to match fairly well the experimental NOE distance upper bounds from which the corresponding native structures were derived. For example, the unfolded ensemble of villin headpiece, which is on average 0.90 ± 0.13 nm root‐mean‐square deviation away from the native NMR structure, deviates from the experimental restraints by only 0.027 nm on average. However, this artificially good agreement is largely a consequence of 1) the highly nonlinear effects ofr−6(orr−3) averaging and 2) focusing only on the experimentally observed set of NOE bounds. Namely, in addition to the experimentally observed NOEs, both simulated ensembles (especially the villin ensemble) also predict a large number of NOEs, which are not seen in the experiment. If these are taken into account, the agreement between simulation and experiment gets markedly worse, as it should, given the nonnative nature of the underlying simulated ensembles. In light of the examples given, we conclude that comparing experimental NOE distance restraints with large simulated ensembles provides just by itself only limited information about the quality of simulation. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surgical Treatment of Complex Malignant Anterior Mediastinal Tumors Invading the Superior Vena Cava
Authors: Chen Ke‐Neng , Xu Shao‐Fa , Gu Zhen‐Dong , Zhang Wei‐Min , Pan Hong , Su Wen‐Zhong , Li Ji‐You , Xu Guang‐Wei 
Published: January 2006

AbstractDetermining the appropriate surgery‐based treatment for complicated anterior mediastinal malignancies (CAMM), especially those invading the superior vena cava (SVC) and its branches, remains a challenge for general thoracic surgeons. In this report, we summarize our experience and lessons regarding this issue in order to discuss a reasonable strategy for diagnosis and treatment of CAMM. Between January 2001 and April 2003, 15 patients with CAMM invading the SVC and/or its branches with or without invasion of other neighboring organs were surgically treated in our institution by a single surgeon team. We collected clinical data from the medical charts and from surgeons’ specific notes for complicated cases, and performed a comprehensive analysis. There were 9 patients with malignant thymoma. Thymic carcinoma, teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and mixed teratoma with thymoma were diagnosed in 1 patient each. All procedures were performed via median sternotomy. Some angioplasty techniques were successfully used to resect and reconstruct the SVC. Ten of the 15 patients also underwent pulmonary resection due to involvement of pulmonary parenchyma. Four of the patients underwent perioperative chemotherapy. There were no perioperative deaths. Two patients suffered prolonged ventilation after surgery, and there were no other severe complications related to surgery. One patient died 10 months after surgery. The remaining 14 patients were still living and their progress is still monitored. As of August 2004, the median follow‐up duration for all patients was 35 months, and the disease‐free survival duration was 10–43 months. CAMM can be safely and completely resected via a median sternotomy, even if it has invaded other mediastinal structures. CAMM should be pathologically identified before initial treatment. A good outcome for patients with CAMM is possible if a suitable strategy combining accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, especially surgical resection, is established.
Objective Assessment of Small Bowel Anastomosis Skill in Trainee General Surgeons and Urologists
Authors: Shah Jyoti , Munz Yaron , Manson Joanne , Moorthy Krishna , Darzi Ara 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIntroductionThe object of this study was to compare the technical ability of general surgery and urology trainees to perform a small bowel anastomosis using a life‐like bench model.MethodsForty subjects were divided into two groups based on the stage of their training. Specialist registrars (SpRs) trained for 1 to 3 years were defined as junior SpRs, and those with 4 to 6 years of training were defined as senior SpRs. They were asked to perform a small bowel anastomosis on a standard latex model using the same equipment, suture material, and standardized instructions. Trainees were assessed by three trained observers based on a global rating scale.ResultsInterrater reliability was 0.83 for the general surgical group and 0.88 for the urology group. The median scores obtained by the junior SpRs were lower than those achieved by the senior SpRs, and general surgical trainees consistently performed better than their matched urology group. This difference reached statistical significance for the senior group.ConclusionsGlobal rating scores provide a reliable, valid method for assessing technical skills between specialties when performing a small bowel anastomosis. We provide reasons why general surgeons may be more proficient at this task than urologists. These findings have possible application to identifying trainees who need additional training and may also provide a mechanism to ensure competence in this task.
Tuberculosis of the Thyroid Gland: Review of the Literature
Authors: Bulbuloglu Ertan , Ciralik Harun , Okur Erdogan , Ozdemir Gokhan , Ezberci Fikret , Cetinkaya Ali 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjectiveThyroid tuberculosis (TTB) is a very rare condition, even in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. The aim of this article is to review and retrieve data about thyroid tuberculosis from the English‐language literature in order to gain a better understanding of the clinical characteristics of TTB.Study DesignWe performed Medline, PubMed, and library searches using the key words “thyroid tuberculosis,” “throid disease,” “tuberculosis and thyroid.” Reference lists of the articles obtained and previous reviews were also examined.ResultsWe retrieved 76 cases matching our selection criteria from the search. Review of the cases with TTB revealed a slight female preponderance. The patients reported in the literature ranged in age from 9 to 83 years, with a median age of 40 ± 16 years for men and 44 ± 17 years for women. In the articles surveyed, TTB presented with a broad spectrum of manifestations, ranging from an isolated nodule to thyrotoxicosis. It seems that diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis has recently been increasing, perhaps because of the growing incidence of tuberculosis and the diagnostic use of fine‐needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis. Although, in the past, the diagnosis was genarally made by the examination of the specimens, at present, fine‐needle aspiration cytology seems to be a useful method in diagnosis tuberculous thyroiditis.The role of surgery is limited after the diagnosis. The choice of treatment should be medical antituberculous therapy.ConclusiıonsPreoperative diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis is important because of the availability of medical treatment and the limited role of surgery. This condition should be kept in mind in evaluating patients with a thyroid nodule, in communities where the prevalence of tuberculosis is high.