bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Brazionis Laima , Rowley Kevin , Itsiopoulos Catherine , O'Dea Kerin 
Published: June 2008

Diabetic retinopathy increases with duration of diabetes and may be associated with carotenoid status. Carotenoids alter the pro-oxidation/antioxidation balance, and circulating levels depend largely on dietary intake. Lower levels have been reported in diabetes and age-related macular degeneration; however, little is known of the relationship between carotenoids and diabetic complications. Consequently, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma carotenoids and diabetic retinopathy. We assessed the carotenoid–retinopathy relationship in 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes in a community-based, cross-sectional study. We photodocumented retinal status and used HPLC to measure plasma carotenoid concentrations. Data for clinical and demographic variables and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy were obtained from 24 h urine and fasting blood samples, and an interviewer-assisted lifestyle questionnaire. We found that the combined lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin (non-pro-vitamin A (non-PVA) carotenoid) concentration when compared with the pro-vitamin A (PVA) carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) was significantly lower in the retinopathy than non-retinopathy group (OR 1·2 (95 % CI 1·0, 1·4)v.1·6 (95 % CI 1·4, 1·7), respectively;P = 0·009). A higher non-PVA:PVA ratio also predicted a lower risk of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 0·33 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·95);P = 0·039). Finally, a higher concentration of PVA carotenoids was associated with greater odds of diabetic retinopathy, after adjustment for risk factors (P = 0·049). We suggest synergies between carotenoids are implicated in diabetic retinopathy, independent of established risk factors. Importantly, our observations indicate dietary modulation of retinopathy risk may be possible by increasing intakes of lutein- and lycopene-rich foods.
Differential sensitivity of various human tumour-derived cell types to apoptosis by organic derivatives of selenium
Authors: Jariwalla Raxit J. , Gangapurkar Bhakti , Nakamura Daniel 
Published: June 2008

Selenium is an important trace element with anti-cancer properties. In the present study, the apoptosis-inducing effects of organic selenium derivatives, namely methyl-l-selenocysteine and selenomethionine, were evaluated in vitro on human tumour-derived cell lines from breast, liver, colon, brain, skin and a non-tumorigenic line of epithelial origin. Apoptosis was assessed by cell-death detection immunoassay on cytoplasmic cell lysates. Breast carcinoma cells were highly sensitive to the organic selenium compounds, manifesting apoptosis at concentrations as low as 0·113 μm (0·0205 μg/ml) selenium. By contrast, non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells displayed poor sensitivity to selenium, requiring a substantially high concentration of the trace element of 87·9 μm (16·0 μg/ml). The cell lines derived from hepatoma and neuroblastoma showed intermediate sensitivity, with colon carcinoma cells manifesting the lowest sensitivity to the trace element. These results indicate intrinsic differences in the sensitivity of human tumour derivatives to selenium-mediated apoptosis, providing experimental support for the development of organic selenium compounds as anti-neoplastic agents against solid tumours displaying selective apoptotic sensitivity to these compounds.
Almandine garnet phenocrysts in a ~1 Ga rhyolitic tuff from central India
Authors: PATRANABIS-DEB SARBANI , SCHIEBER JUERGEN , BASU ABHIJIT 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe report on the newly discovered almandine garnet phenocrysts in rhyolitic ignimbrites (Sukhda Tuff) in the Precambrian Churtela Shale Formation of the Chhattisgarh Supergroup in central India. SHRIMP ages of igneous zircon from the ignimbrites range from 990 Ma to 1020 Ma. These ignimbrites exhibit characteristic eutaxitic texture with compacted curvilinear glass shards with triple junctions. Quartz (commonly embayed; bluish cathodoluminescence) and albite (altered but retaining ghosts of twinning) are common phenocrysts; others are apatite, ilmenite, rutile, magnetite, zircon, monazite and garnet. There are no metamorphic or granitic xenoliths in the ignimbrites. Garnet grains occur as isolated broken isotropic crystals with sharp or corroded boundaries in a very fine-grained groundmass of volcanic ash that consists principally of albite, quartz, magnetite and glass. They do not have any systematically distributed inclusions. A few have penetratively intergrown phenocrysts of apatite, ilmenite, rutile and zircon, which we interpret as subophitic texture. Extensive SEM-BSE imaging of more than 100 grains and electron microprobe traverses across about 30 grains showed no zoning or systematic compositional variability. Common (metamorphic) garnets are usually zoned with respect to Fe–Mg–Mn and typically have mineral inclusions. We infer, therefore, that these observed garnets are not metamorphic xenocrysts. The average major oxide composition of analysed garnets from five different horizons within the Sukhda Tuff, spanning approximately 300 m of the stratigraphic section, have very small standard deviation for each element, which is suggestive of a single magmatic source. Phenocrysts of quartz, including those in contact with coexisting garnets, show blue scanning electron CL, indicating rapid cooling from high temperature; this suggests that adjacent coexisting garnets are not slowly cooled restites. We conclude, on the basis of texture, mineral chemistry and absence of any indicative xenoliths or xenocrysts, that these almandine garnets (Al78.7Py12.3Gr7.4Sp1.6) are phenocrysts within the Sukhda Tuff. Almandine of such composition is stable under high pressure. We infer that almandine crystallized at lower crustal depths in a magma that ascended very rapidly and may have erupted explosively.
HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOUR FOR CHILDHOOD MALARIA: HOUSEHOLD DYNAMICS IN RURAL SENEGAL
Authors: FRANCKEL AURÉLIEN , LALOU RICHARD 
Published: June 2008

SummaryResearch on health care behaviour in sub-Saharan Africa usually considers the mother as the reference in the household when a child is sick. The study of health care management within the family is a key issue for understanding therapeutic rationales. This study was conducted in the region of Fatick in Senegal among 902 children with malaria-related fever. The data were taken from a retrospective quantitative survey conducted in all compounds of the DSS (Demographic Surveillance Site) of Niakhar. The results show that child care-taking is fundamentally a collective process: in 70·9% of out-of-home resorts, the treatment decision was collective. The health care process of 68·1% of morbid episodes involved several individuals. The involvement of the mother, the father and other relatives in the collective management of health care followed different logics. Each care-giver had a specific and complementary function depending on gender norms, intergenerational relations and characteristics of the family unit. Family management of illness aims at optimizing financial and human resources given the economic, logistical and social constraints on health care. Nevertheless, collective management also favoured home-based care, prevented good treatment compliance and delayed the resort to health facilities. These results suggest that health education campaigns should focus on an early involvement of fathers in health care-giving and also on the strengthening of the autonomy of mothers. Mothers’ empowerment should give women more autonomy in their child’s treatment choice. Lastly, there is a need to develop community health facilities and establish shared funding at the community level.
CONSANGUINITY TRENDS AND CORRELATES IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Authors: ASSAF SHIREEN , KHAWAJA MARWAN 
Published: June 2008

SummarySecondary analysis of the trends and correlates of consanguinity in the Palestinian Territories was conducted using data from two separate surveys in 1995 and 2004. The analysis was conducted on ever-married women aged 15–54 who were asked about their relation to their husband in both surveys. A total of 16,197 women in 1995 and 4971 women in 2004 were successfully interviewed. Consanguinity was found to be widely practised in the Palestinian Territories with rates of total consanguinity reaching 45% of all marriages in 2004. Analysis was conducted with the data from the two surveys combined and this indicated that consanguinity was significantly decreasing with time after controlling for other variables. Age of the women, their age at marriage, region and locality type they lived in and their standard of living were all found to be significant predictors of consanguinity. The education level of the women was not found to be significant. After controlling for the survey year, women’s labour force status was also found to be a non-significant predictor of consanguinity. Although consanguinity was found to be significantly decreasing slowly with time after controlling for other variables, the future trends of consanguinity are not known due to the unstable political situation in the territories, which could have a direct effect on marriage patterns.
Nonlinear saturation of the Weibel instability in a dense Fermi plasma
Authors: HAAS F. , SHUKLA P. K. , ELIASSON B. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe present an investigation for the generation of intense magnetic fields in dense plasmas with an anisotropic electron Fermi–Dirac distribution. For this purpose, we use a new linear dispersion relation for transverse waves in the Wigner–Maxwell dense quantum plasma system. Numerical analysis of the dispersion relation reveals the scaling of the growth rate as a function of the Fermi energy and the temperature anisotropy. The nonlinear saturation level of the magnetic fields is found through fully kinetic simulations, which indicates that the final amplitudes of the magnetic fields are proportional to the linear growth rate of the instability. The present results are important for understanding the origin of intense magnetic fields in dense Fermionic plasmas, such as those in the next-generation intense laser–solid density plasma experiments.
Ion solitary waves in a dense quantum plasma
Authors: ELIASSON B. , SHUKLA P. K. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe existence of localized ion waves in a dense quantum plasma is established. Specifically, ion solitary waves are stationary solutions of the equations composed of the nonlinear ion continuity and ion momentum equations, together with the Poisson equation and the inertialess electron momentum equation in which the electric force is balanced by the quantum force associated with the Bohm potential that causes electron tunneling at nanoscales. The solitary ion waves are characterized by a large-amplitude electrostatic potential and ion density maxima and smaller amplitude minima on the flanks of the solitary waves. We identify the speed interval for the existence of the ion solitary waves around a quantum Mach number that is of the order of unity.
NcGRA2as a molecular target to assess the parasiticidal activity of toltrazuril againstNeospora caninum
Authors: STROHBUSCH M. , MÜLLER N. , HEMPHILL A. , GREIF G. , GOTTSTEIN B. 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARYThe treatment ofNeospora caninuminfection in the bovine host is still at an experimental stage. In contrast to thein vivosituation, a wide range of compounds have been intensively investigated in cell-culture-based assays. Tools to demonstrate efficacy of treatment have remained conventional including morphological and cell biological criteria. In this work, we present a molecular assay that allows the distinction between live and dead parasites. Live parasites can be detected by measuring the mRNA level of specific genes, making use of the specific mRNA available in live cells. TheNcGra2gene ofN. caninum, which is known to be expressed in both tachyzoites and bradyzoites, was used to establish a quantitative real-time RT-PCR, for monitoring parasite viability. Validation of the systemin vitrowas achieved usingNeospora-infected cells that had been treated for 2–20 days with 30 μg/ml toltrazuril.NcGRA2-RT-real time PCR demonstrated that a 10-day toltrazuril-treatment exerted parasitostatic activity, as assessed by the presence ofNcGRA2-transcripts, whereas after a 14-day treatment period noNcGRA2-transcripts were detected, showing that the parasites were no longer viable. Concurrently, extended culture for a period of 4 weeks in the absence of the drug following the 14-day toltrazuril treatment did not lead to further parasite proliferation, confirming the parasiticidal effect of the treatment. This assay has the potential to be widely used in the development of novel drugs againstN. caninum, with a view to distinguishing between parasiticidal and parasitostatic efficacy of given compounds.
Molecular cloning of a putative agglutination/immobilization antigen located on the surface of a novel agglutination/immobilization serotype ofCryptocaryon irritans
Authors: HATANAKA A. , UMEDA N. , HIRAZAWA N. 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARYA surface agglutination/immobilization antigen was purified from the novel agglutination/immobilization serotype (serotype G37) of the ciliated protozoanCryptocaryon irritans, a parasite of seawater fishes. Serum from fish immunized withC. irritanstheronts had agglutination/immobilization activity against therontsin vitro. However, fish and rabbit antisera raised against serotype G32 (reported previously) caused little agglutination/immobilization of serotype G37 theronts. Immunological analysis indicated that the 37 kDa theront surface membrane protein may be the agglutination/immobilization antigen of this serotype. The full-length 37 kDa antigen cDNA contained 1171 base pairs, encoding a 331–amino acid protein with hydrophobic N- and C-termini, which are characteristically found in proteins containing a C-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. In addition, the genetically characterized nucleotide sequences of the first internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA of these 2 serotypes were compared. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence of serotype G32 was identical to that of isolates from Pingtung, Taiwan, and from the USA. On the other hand, the sequences of serotype G37 were not identical to those of anyC. irritansisolate.
Characteristics of high and low energy reporting teenagers and their relationship to low energy reporting mothers
Authors: Vågstrand Karin , Lindroos Anna Karin , Linné Yvonne 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the differences in socio-economic characteristics and body measurements between low, adequate and high energy reporting (LER, AER and HER) teenagers; furthermore, to investigate the relationship to misreporting mothers.DesignCross-sectional study. Habitual dietary intake was reported in a questionnaire. Classification into LER, AER and HER using the Goldberg equation within three activity groups based on physical activity questionnaire and calculated BMR.SettingStockholm, Sweden.SubjectsFour hundred and forty-one 16–17-year-old teenagers (57 % girls) and their mothers.ResultOf the teenagers, 17–19 % were classified as HER, while 13–16 % as LER. There was a highly significant trend from HER to LER in BMI (P< 0·001) and body fat % (P< 0·001). There was also a trend in number of working hours of mother (P= 0·01), family income (P= 0·008) and number of siblings (among boys only) (P= 0·02), but not in educational level of either father or mother. HER teenagers were lean, had mothers working fewer hours with lower income and had siblings. It was more likely that an LER girl had an LER mother than an AER mother (OR = 3·32;P= 0·002).ConclusionsThe reasons for the high number of over-reporters could be many: misclassification due to growth, lacking established eating pattern due to young age or method-specific. Nevertheless, the inverted characteristic of HER compared to LER indicates that this is a specific group, worth further investigation.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities of enzymatically synthesized phenolic and vitamin glycosides
Authors: Charles Rajachristu Einstein , Ponrasu Thangavel , Sivakumar Ramaiah , Divakar Soundar 
Published: June 2008

Amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mould and β‐glucosidase from sweet almond were employed for the preparation of phenolic and vitamin glycosides of vanillin, N‐vanillylnonanamide, DL‐dopa, dopamine, curcumin, α‐tocopherol (vitamin E), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), thiamin (vitamin B1) and riboflavin (vitamin B2). Approx. 20 enzymatically prepared phenolic and vitamin glycosides were subjected to ACE (angiotensin‐converting enzyme) inhibition activity measurements, and 14 glycosides were tested for antioxidant activities. Both phenolic and vitamin glycosides exhibited IC50 values for ACE inhibition in the 0.52±0.03–3.33±0.17 mM range and antioxidant activities ranging from 0.8±0.04 to 1.18±0.06 mM. Comparable ACE inhibition values were observed between free phenols and vitamin glycosides. However, antioxidant activities of glycosides were, in general, lesser than those of free phenols. Best IC50 value for ACE inhibition were observed for 11‐O‐(D‐fructofuranosyl)thiamin (0.52±0.03 mM), 3‐hydroxy‐4‐O‐(6‐D‐sorbitol)phenylalanine (0.56±0.03 mM), 4‐O‐(β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)vanillin (0.61±0.03 mM), 4‐O‐(D‐galactopyranosyl)vanillin (0.61±0.03 mM) and pyridoxine‐D‐glucoside (0.84±0.04 mM). Similarly, best IC50 values for antioxidant activity were observed for 1,7‐O‐(bis‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)curcumin (0.8±0.04 mM), 4‐O‐(β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)vanillin (0.9±0.05 mM), 3‐hydroxy‐4‐O‐(β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1′→4)β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)phenylalanine (0.9±0.05 mM), 20‐O‐(D‐glucopyranosyl)ergocalciferol (0.9±0.05 mM) and dopamine‐D‐galactoside (0.93±0.05 mM).
Characterization, expression and localization ofS-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase from amphioxusBranchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese
Authors: Wang Yuan , Zhao Bosheng , Zhang Shicui , Qu Xiaojuan 
Published: June 2008

A cDNA clone encoding AmphiSAHH [amphioxus SAHH (S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase)] protein was isolated from a cDNA library from the gut of Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese. It contained a 1305 bp open reading frame corresponding to a deduced protein of 434 amino acid residues, with a predicted molecular mass of approx. 47.8 kDa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AmphiSAHH and sea-urchin SAHH joined together and positioned at the base of the vertebrate SAHH clade, suggesting that both AmphiSAHH and sea-urchin SAHH might share some characteristics of the archetype of vertebrate SAHH proteins. The genomic DNA sequence of AmphiSAHH contained eight exons and seven introns, which was similar to B. floridae and sea-urchin SAHH exon/intron organization. Sequence comparison suggested the evolutionary appearance of the ten exon/nine intron organization of SAHH genes after the split of invertebrates and vertebrates, after which it has been highly conserved. AmphiSAHH has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Western blotting confirmed that the enzyme has a native molecular mass of approx. 48 kDa, and the catalytic activities and NAD+/NADH binding affinity of recombinant AmphiSAHH were measured. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that SAHH was strongly expressed in hepatic caecum, gill, spermary and ovary of amphioxus.
Definitive endoderm: a key step in coaxing human embryonic stem cells into transplantable β-cells
Authors: Semb Henrik 
Published: June 2008

Using the Edmonton protocol, a number of patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus have remained insulin-independent for prolonged periods of time. In spite of this success, transplantation of islets from cadaver donors will remain a therapy for very few patients owing to a lack of donors. Thus, if cell therapy should be widely available, it will require an unlimited source of cells to serve as a ‘biological’ insulin pump. At this time, the development of β-cells from hESCs (human embryonic stem cells) has emerged as the most attractive alternative. It is envisioned that ultimate success of an in vitro approach to programme hESCs into β-cells will depend on the ability, at least to a certain degree, to sequentially reproduce the individual steps that characterizes normal β-cell ontogenesis during fetal pancreatic development, including definitive endoderm from which all gastrointestinal organs, including the pancreas, originate. In the present article, differentiation of hESCs into putative definitive endodermal cell types is reviewed.
TCF7L2 controls insulin gene expression and insulin secretion in mature pancreatic β-cells
Authors: Loder Merewyn K. , Xavier Gabriela da Silva , McDonald Angela , Rutter Guy A. 
Published: June 2008

Genetic studies have linked the risk of Type 2 diabetes with SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in the gene encoding the Wnt signalling-associated transcription factor, TCF7L2 (T-cell factor 7-like 2). The risk alleles have been associated with reduced glucose and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1)-stimulated insulin secretion. Recent evidence has suggested that inheritance of the at-risk T allele at SNP rs7903146 may increase the expression of TCF7L2 in adult human islets. However, the cellular mechanisms by which changes in TCF7L2 levels may affect insulin secretion are unclear. In the present paper, we describe the use of RNA silencing to investigate the role of TCF7L2 on insulin secretion and gene expression in rodent islets. We find that reduced TCF7L2 expression reduces glucose-simulated insulin secretion and insulin gene expression while slightly potentiating glucose stimulated changes in intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations.
Regulation of the GPR40 locus: towards a molecular understanding
Authors: Ridner Gabriela , Bartoov-Shifman Reut , Zalogin Tatyana , Avnit-Sagi Tali , Bahar Keren , Sharivkin Revital , Kantorovich Lia , Weiss Sara , Walker Michael D. 
Published: June 2008

GPR40 {FFAR1 [non-esterified (‘free’) fatty acid receptor 1]} is a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed preferentially in pancreatic β-cells. GPR40 functions as a receptor for medium and long-chain fatty acids, and has been implicated in mediating both physiological and pathological effects of fatty acids on β-cells. The GPR40 gene is encoded at an interesting chromosomal locus that contains several genes: at the 5′-end of the locus, located ∼4 kb upstream of GPR40, is CD22, a gene encoding a receptor expressed selectively in lymphocytes and involved in B-lymphocyte maturation and function. At the 3′-end of the locus are the GPR41 (FFAR3) and GPR43 (FFAR2) genes encoding receptors activated by short-chain fatty acids. The intergenic region between CD22 and GPR40 contains several evolutionarily conserved sequence blocks, among them HR2 and HR3. β-Cell-specific expression of GPR40 is controlled at the transcriptional level through HR2, a potent β-cell-specific enhancer. The mechanisms controlling cell-specific expression of the remaining genes in the cluster are unknown. Given the divergent modes of expression of the genes within the locus and their demonstrated physiological significance, it is important to analyse further the locus with a view to fully understanding the basis for transcriptional regulation of the encoded genes.