bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers of inflammation and development of rheumatoid arthritis in women from two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Karlson Elizabeth W. , Chibnik Lori B. , Tworoger Shelley S. , Lee I‐Min , Buring Julie E. , Shadick Nancy A. , Manson JoAnn E. , Costenbader Karen H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association of biomarkers of inflammation with preclinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsA nested case–control study was performed using samples from 2 large, prospectively studied cohorts of women (the Women's Health Study [WHS] and the Nurses' Health Study [NHS]). Blood samples obtained prior to symptom onset in women who later developed RA were selected as incident RA cases, and 3 controls per case were randomly chosen, matched for age, menopausal status, postmenopausal hormone use, and day, time, and fasting status at the time of collection. Plasma was tested for levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (sTNFRII) (as a proxy for TNFα), and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein. Relationships between biomarkers and RA were assessed using conditional logistic regression models, adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking habits, ethnicity, and reproductive factors.ResultsIn 93 incident cases in the NHS and 77 incident cases in the WHS, the mean time between blood collection and the onset of RA symptoms was 5.2 years (range 0.3–12 years). Median IL‐6 and sTNFRII levels were significantly higher in preclinical RA cases compared with matched controls in the NHS (P = 0.03 and P = 0.003, respectively) though not in the WHS. Pooled analysis of the NHS and WHS cohorts demonstrated significant association of sTNFRII with RA (relative risk 2.0 [95% confidence interval 1.1–3.6], P for trend = 0.004), and a modest association of IL‐6 with RA (relative risk 1.4 [95% confidence interval 0.8–2.5], P for trend = 0.06).ConclusionLevels of sTNFRII, a biomarker typically associated with active RA, were elevated up to 12 years prior to the development of RA symptoms and were positively associated with incident RA in these nested case–control studies. Studies with repeated assessments of biomarkers prior to RA development may provide further insight into the timing of biomarker elevation in preclinical RA.
Interleukin‐1β and tumor necrosis factor α inhibit chondrogenesis by human mesenchymal stem cells through NF‐κB–dependent pathways
Authors: Wehling N. , Palmer G. D. , Pilapil C. , Liu F. , Wells J. W. , Müller P. E. , Evans C. H. , Porter R. M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveThe differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into chondrocytes provides an attractive basis for the repair and regeneration of articular cartilage. Under clinical conditions, chondrogenesis will often need to occur in the presence of mediators of inflammation produced in response to injury or disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 2 important inflammatory cytokines, interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), on the chondrogenic behavior of human MSCs.MethodsAggregate cultures of MSCs recovered from the femoral intermedullary canal were used. Chondrogenesis was assessed by the expression of relevant transcripts by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis and examination of aggregates by histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. The possible involvement of NF‐κB in mediating the effects of IL‐1β was examined by delivering a luciferase reporter construct and a dominant‐negative inhibitor of NF‐κB (suppressor‐repressor form of IκB [srIκB]) with adenovirus vectors.ResultsBoth IL‐1β and TNFα inhibited chondrogenesis in a dose‐dependent manner. This was associated with a marked activation of NF‐κB. Delivery of srIκB abrogated the activation of NF‐κB and rescued the chondrogenic response. Although expression of type X collagen followed this pattern, other markers of hypertrophic differentiation responded differently. Matrix metalloproteinase 13 was induced by IL‐1β in a NF‐κB–dependent manner. Alkaline phosphatase activity, in contrast, was inhibited by IL‐1β regardless of srIκB delivery.ConclusionCell‐based repair of lesions in articular cartilage will be compromised in inflamed joints. Strategies for enabling repair under these conditions include the use of specific antagonists of individual pyrogens, such as IL‐1β and TNFα, or the targeting of important intracellular mediators, such as NF‐κB.
The DERAA HLA–DR alleles in patients with early polyarthritis: Protection against severe disease and lack of association with rheumatoid arthritis autoantibodies
Authors: Carrier Nathalie , Cossette Pierre , Daniel Claude , de Brum‐Fernandes Artur , Liang Patrick , Ménard Henri A. , Boire Gilles 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo define the association of alleles encoding the HLA–DR rheumatoid arthritis (RA) protective epitope (DERAA) with the presence of RA‐associated antibodies at study inclusion and with severe outcome in patients with early polyarthritis (EPA).MethodsConsecutive EPA patients (n = 210) were evaluated early (mean of 4.8 months after diagnosis) and prospectively (for 30 months). HLA class II typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence‐specific primers, and HLA–DR alleles DERAA, RA‐associated shared epitope (SE), and non‐SE/non‐DERAA (neither SE nor DERAA) were identified. RA‐associated antibodies identified were anti‐Sa/citrullinated vimentin, anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide 2, and IgM rheumatoid factor. Severe disease was defined according to a preset threshold of joint destruction and/or functional limitation.ResultsDERAA and SE alleles were present in 62 and 110 of the 210 EPA patients, respectively. At 30 months, severe disease was present in 78 patients (37%). In contrast to SE alleles, DERAA alleles were not associated with the production of RA‐associated antibodies, but were strongly protective against severe disease at 30 months (odds ratio 0.30, P < 0.001). DERAA alleles emerged as a strong, independent protective marker on multivariate analysis. The protective effect of DERAA was seen only in patients who did not already have erosions at study inclusion, was independent of the presence of antibodies, but was not associated with spontaneous remission.ConclusionIn our EPA cohort, the presence of a DERAA sequence was a strong independent predictor of a better prognosis, but only in the absence of erosive disease that was already present at inclusion. Identification of DERAA alleles may help in managing the large subgroup of EPA patients who do not have erosions at baseline.
Ro 60 functions as a receptor for β2‐glycoprotein I on apoptotic cells
Authors: Reed Joanne H. , Giannakopoulos Bill , Jackson Michael W. , Krilis Steven A. , Gordon Tom P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveThe autoantigens 60‐kd Ro/SSA (Ro 60) and β2‐glycoprotein I (β2GPI) are both displayed on the surface membrane of apoptotic cells. Epitope‐spreading experiments have suggested that these autoantigens may be present as a complex on the apoptotic cell surface. This study was undertaken to investigate whether β2GPI interacts with Ro 60 on apoptotic cells and alters the binding of anti–Ro 60 IgG.MethodsThe interaction between soluble recombinant Ro 60 fragments and β2GPI was investigated in vitro by direct and saturation binding assays using native human β2GPI and recombinant domain deletion mutants. Binding of β2GPI to early and late apoptotic cells was assessed by multiparameter flow cytometry, and specificity of binding was determined by competitive inhibition with soluble recombinant Ro 60 and anti–Ro 60 IgG.ResultsThe Ro 60 fragment expressing a surface‐exposed epitope (apotope) bound with high affinity (Kd = ∼15 nM) to domain V of β2GPI in vitro. Beta2‐glycoprotein I bound to the surface of apoptotic cells in a dose‐dependent manner and was blocked by the Ro 60 apotope fragment. In reciprocal competitive inhibition studies, β2GPI blocked the binding of anti–Ro 60 autoantibodies to apoptotic cells in a dose‐dependent manner, and anti–Ro 60 IgG inhibited the binding of β2GPI. Moreover, β2GPI showed a 2‐fold increase in binding to apoptotic cells that overexpress Ro 60 on the surface.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that Ro 60 functions as a novel receptor for β2GPI on the surface of apoptotic cells. The formation of Ro 60–β2GPI complexes may protect against anti–Ro 60 autoantibody–mediated tissue injury.
Specific association of type 1 diabetes mellitus with anti–cyclic citrullinated peptide–positive rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Liao Katherine P. , Gunnarsson Marie , Källberg Henrik , Ding Bo , Plenge Robert M. , Padyukov Leonid , Karlson Elizabeth W. , Klareskog Lars , Askling Johan , Alfredsson Lars 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveThe co‐occurrence of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been reported in individuals and families. In this study, the strength and nature of this association were investigated at the population level in a Swedish case–control cohort.MethodsFor this case–control study, 1,419 patients with incident RA diagnosed between 1996 and 2003 were recruited from university, public, and private rheumatology units throughout Sweden; 1,674 matched control subjects were recruited from the Swedish national population registry. Sera from the subjects were tested for the presence of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and the 620W PTPN22 allele. Information on a history of diabetes was obtained by questionnaire, telephone interview, and/or medical record review. The prevalence of type 1 DM and type 2 DM was compared between patients with incident RA and control subjects and further stratified for the presence of anti‐CCP, RF, and the PTPN22 risk allele.ResultsType 1 DM was associated with an increased risk of RA (odds ratio [OR] 4.9, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.8–13.1), and this association was specific for anti‐CCP–positive RA (OR 7.3, 95% CI 2.7–20.0), but not anti‐CCP–negative RA. Further adjustment for the presence of PTPN22 attenuated the risk of anti‐CCP–positive RA in patients with type 1 DM to an OR of 5.3 (95% CI 1.5–18.7). No association between RA and type 2 DM was observed.ConclusionThe association between type 1 DM and RA is specific for a particular RA subset, anti‐CCP–positive RA. The risk of developing RA later in life in patients with type 1 DM may be attributed, in part, to the presence of the 620W PTPN22 allele, suggesting that this risk factor may represent a common pathway for the pathogenesis of these 2 diseases.
Control of Structure Dimensionality and Functional Studies of Flexible CuII Coordination Polymers
Authors: Ghosh Sujit K. , Azhakar Ramachandan , Kitagawa Susumu 
Published: February 2009

AbstractFlexibility′s the key! Control synthesis of 1D, 2D, and 3D CuII coordination polymers of flexible ligands were performed by changing the reaction conditions. One 2D compound showed solvent‐induced reversible structural transformation between crystalline and amorphous phases. The dehydrated phase of the 2D compound showed size and affinity‐based selective sorption of solvents.magnified imageFour CuII coordination polymers [Cu2(bci)2(H2O)2].3H2O (1), [Cu(tciH)(H2O)] (2), {[Cu(tci)]2 [Cu5(tci)2 (OH)2 (H2O)8]}.22H2O (3), and [Cu3(tci)2(py)4(H2O)2] (4) (bciH2: bis(2‐carboxyethyl) isocyanurate; tciH2: tris(2‐carboxyethyl) isocyanurate) were synthesized by using two flexible organic ligands at room temperature. Control synthesis of the compounds showed a variety of structural motifs, namely, one‐dimensional (1D) chains (1 and 2), 2D layers with 0D units (3), and 3D frameworks (4). The 1D chain structure of 1 is formed by the bipodal ligand bciH2 with CuII ions linked by the Cu2(CO2)4 “paddlewheel” secondary building units (SBUs). The structure of 2 is very similar to 1, where two carboxylic acid groups of the similar tripodal ligand tciH3 are used to make a 1D chain structure and one carboxylic acid group of the ligand remains protonated. Use of an excess amount of base (NaOH) deprotonated all three carboxylic acid groups to form 3, which contains an anionic 2D sheet structure neutralized by the 0D cationic Cu5 units. When pyridine was used as base, it also functioned as a co‐ligand to make 3D frameworks of 4. Compound 3 showed reversible structural transformations between crystalline and amorphous phases upon dehydration and rehydration. The dehydrated phase showed size and affinity based selective sorption, where MeOH molecules were adsorbed but MeCN and EtOH molecules with similar and larger sizes, respectively, were not adsorbed. The sorption profile of MeOH showed gate‐opening phenomenon with a hysteresis profile, which indicates dynamic structural transformations.
Tetraaryl‐Substituted Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dipyrroles: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications to Hole‐Injection Materials in OLED Devices
Authors: Tsuji Hayato , Yokoi Yuki , Mitsui Chikahiko , Ilies Laurean , Sato Yoshiharu , Nakamura Eiichi 
Published: February 2009

AbstractYes, HIMs can! A series of 2,3,6,7‐tetraarylbenzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dipyrroles (BDPs) were synthesized using zinc‐mediated double cyclization. Organic light‐emitting diodes consisting of BDP:PPB as a hole‐injection layer could be driven at a lower voltage than a PEDOT:PSS‐based device. Correlation of the IP values with the driving voltage shed some light on the mechanism of hole‐injection processes.magnified image
Defective development of sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle in fetal rats with anorectal malformation
Authors: Guan Kaoping , Li Hui , Fan Yang , Wang Weilin , Yuan Zhengwei 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND:Defects of the pelvic nerve innervation of levator ani muscle are associated with poor postoperative anorectal function in patients with anorectal malformation (ARM). We have previously shown deficient development of motoneurons innervating the levator ani muscle in rats with ARM. In this study we investigate whether there is a deficiency in the development of sensory neurons that innervate the levator ani muscle in rats with ARM.METHODS:ARM was induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU) in fetal rats. Retrograde tracer fluorogold (FG) was injected into the levator ani muscle. Serial transverse sections encompassing the entire length of the lumbosacral spinal cord were examined. The number of FG‐labeled sensory neurons was scored and compared between fetuses with ARM and normal fetuses.RESULTS:The number of FG‐labeled sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle in normal control fetuses, ETU‐fed fetuses with no malformation, low type of imperforate anus, high type of imperforate anus, and high type of imperforate anus combined with neural tube defects were determined to be (mean ± SEM) 11,804 ± 2362, 10,429 ± 1708, 2886 ± 705, 1026 ± 425, and 964 ± 445, respectively. FG‐labeled sensory neurons in fetuses with imperforate anus with or without neural tube defects were significantly fewer than in control and ETU‐fed fetuses without malformation (p < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Defective sensory neurons innervating the levator ani muscle is a primary anomaly that coexists with the alimentary tract anomaly in ARM during fetal development. Nerve innervation deficiency of the pelvic muscles contributes to the poor postoperative anorectal functions in ARM patients. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The efficient and specific isolation of the antibodies from human serum by thiophilic paramagnetic polymer nanospheres
Authors: Qian Hao , Lin ZhiYong , Xu HuaMing , Chen MingQin 
Published: February 2009

AbstractA rapid and effective method to specifically isolate the antibodies from human serum was presented based on the fast magnetic separation and specific adsorption of the novel thiophilic magnetic polymer nanospheres, which were synthesized by using miniemulsion copolymerization. After the thiophilic heterocyclic ligands of 2‐mercaptonicotinic acid were first activated via divinyl sulfone, they were immobilized on the surface of these magnetic nanospheres, through which the strong specificity to immunoglobulin G was evidently expressed in the isolation of antibodies from human serum. The mild conditions used in the process, including the physiological pH range, low temperature, and low ion strength, were so favorable for keeping the biological activity of antibodies, which resulted in their bioactivity purity to exceed 99%. The efficient isolation, simplicity process, mild conditions, and the conventional equipments required make this technology so attractive to purify antibodies from human serum. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Influence of substrate particle size and wet oxidation on physical surface structures and enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw
Authors: Pedersen Mads , Meyer Anne S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn the worldwide quest for producing biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, the importance of the substrate pretreatment is becoming increasingly apparent. This work examined the effects of reducing the substrate particle sizes of wheat straw by grinding prior to wet oxidation and enzymatic hydrolysis. The yields of glucose and xylose were assessed after treatments with a benchmark cellulase system consisting of Celluclast 1.5 L (Trichoderma reesei) and Novozym 188 β‐glucosidase (Aspergillus niger). Both wet oxidized and not wet oxidized wheat straw particles gave increased glucose release with reduced particle size. After wet oxidation, the glucose release from the smallest particles (53–149 μm) reached 90% of the theoretical maximum after 24 h of enzyme treatment. The corresponding glucose release from the wet oxidized reference samples (2–4 cm) was ∼65% of the theoretical maximum. The xylose release only increased (by up to 39%) with particle size decrease for the straw particles that had not been wet oxidized. Wet oxidation pretreatment increased the enzymatic xylose release by 5.4 times and the glucose release by 1.8 times across all particle sizes. Comparison of scanning electron microscopy images of the straw particles revealed edged, nonspherical, porous particles with variable surface structures as a result of the grinding. Wet oxidation pretreatment tore up the surface structures of the particles to retain vascular bundles of xylem and phloem. The enzymatic hydrolysis left behind a significant amount of solid, apparently porous structures within all particles size groups of both the not wet oxidized and wet oxidized particles. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Photomagnetism of a Series of Dinuclear Iron(II) Complexes
Authors: Létard Jean‐François , Carbonera Chiara , Real José Antonio , Kawata Satoshi , Kaizaki Sumio 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSpin crossover: The photomagnetic properties of a series of [{Fe(NCS)(py‐X)}2(bpypz)2] (NCS=thiocyanate, py=pyridine, X=4‐Mepy, py, 3‐Mepy, 3‐Clpy and 3‐Brpy, and bpypz=3,5‐bis(pyridine‐2‐yl)pyazolate) binuclear complexes are close to the antiferromagnetic response of [{Fe(NCS)(3,5‐dmpy)}3(bpypz)2] (3,5‐dmpy=3,5‐dimethylpyrazine), which is characterised by two iron(II) metal ions in a high‐spin (HS) electronic configuration (see figure).magnified imageThis paper describes the photomagnetic properties of a series of binuclear iron(II) complexes belonging to the [{Fe(NCS)(py‐X)}2(bpypz)2] family (NCS=thiocyanate; py=pyridine; bpypz=3,5‐bis(pyridine‐2‐yl)pyrazolate; and py‐X=4‐Mepy (1), py (3), 3‐Mepy (4), 3‐Clpy (5), and 3‐Brpy (6)). All of these complexes display a complete thermal spin transition centred between 100 and 150 K, and undergo the light‐induced excited‐spin‐state trapping (LIESST) effect at low temperatures. The T(LIESST) relaxation temperature of the photoinduced high‐spin state for each compound has been determined. For all of the complexes, it has been found that the T(LIESST) curves at low temperature are close to the antiferromagnetic response of the [{Fe(NCS)(3,5‐dmpy)}2(bpypz)2] (3,5‐dmpy=3,5‐dimethylpyridine) (7) complex that is characterised by two iron(II) metal ions in a HS electronic configuration, giving some evidence of a quantitative low spin–low spin→high spin–high spin (LS–LS→HS–HS) photoconversion process. Depending on the nature of the cooperativity, the kinetics have been treated with stretched exponential, simply exponential, or sigmoidal models. Interestingly, this series of dinuclear complexes follows a previously proposed linear relationship between the T(LIESST) and their thermal spin transition temperatures T1/2: T(LIESST)=T0−0.3T1/2. T0 for these compounds is equal to 100 K. Based on this, and by using the empirical linear relationship found between the thermal spin transition and the Hammett constant, the HS–HS properties of complex 7 have been understood as a reflection of the physical impossibility that the T(LIESST) was higher than T1/2. The close vicinity of the thermal spin‐crossover phenomenon of 7 has been successfully checked by applying hydrostatic pressure.
Disubstituted Azidotetrazoles as Energetic Compounds
Authors: Abe Takashi , Joo Young‐Hyuk , Tao Guo‐Hong , Twamley Brendan , Shreeve Jean'ne M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractBase‐catalyzed activation of the CF bond in the trifluoromethylazo‐substituted cyclic and acyclic alkanes provides a route to disubstituted azidotetrazoles. For example, the reaction of 1,2‐bis(trifluoromethylazo)ethane with four equivalents of NaN3 gave the alkyl‐bridged bis(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,2‐dimine, N,N′‐bis(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,2‐diiminoethane, in 75 % yield (see scheme).magnified imageDisubstituted azidotetrazoles are synthesized by the base‐catalyzed activation of the CF bond in the trifluoromethylazo‐substituted cyclic and acyclic alkanes. From the reaction of trans‐1,4‐bis(trifluoromethylazo)cyclohexane with four equivalents of NaN3, N,N′‐bis(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,4‐diiminocyclohexane was formed in good yield. While, from the similar reaction using cis/trans‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethylazo)cyclohexane, (5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐[6‐(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐ylimino)cyclohexenyl]amine was formed as the principal product. The structure of these new disubstituted azidotetrazoles was determined by crystal structure analysis as well as NMR and IR spectroscopy. In a similar fashion, from three trifluoromethylazo‐substituted acyclic alkanes, corresponding alkyl‐bridged N,N′‐bis(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)diiminoalkanes were obtained. For example, from 1,2‐bis(trifluoromethylazo)ethane, N,N′‐bis(5‐azido‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,2‐diiminoethane was obtained in 75 % yield. Heats of formation, detonation pressures, detonation velocities, and impact sensitivities are reported for these new disubstituted azidotetrazoles.
ChemInform Abstract: Crystal Structures of the Ln3Ag1‐δTSe7 (Ln: La—Nd, Sm, Gd—Dy, δ = 0—0.30; T: Ge, Si) Compounds.
Authors: Daszkiewicz M. , Gulay L. D. , Lychmanyuk O. S. , Pietraszko A. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Electrical Properties of K0.5Bi0.5TiO3.
Authors: Rao P. Vijaya Bhaskar , Ramana E. V. , Sankaram T. Bhima 
Published: February 2009

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.