bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apoptosis in CADASIL: An in vitro study of lymphocytes and fibroblasts from a cohort of Italian patients
Authors: Formichi Patrizia , Radi Elena , Battisti Carla , Di Maio Giuseppe , Tarquini Ermelinda , Leonini Alessandra , Di Stefano Anna , Dotti Maria Teresa , Federico Antonio 
Published: January 2009

AbstractCerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary disease affecting vascular smooth muscle cells of nearly all tissues. Clinical manifestations mainly concern the central nervous system with repeated TIA/stroke, migraine, psychiatric disturbances, and cognitive decline. Minor findings have been reported in muscle, nerve, and skin. CADASIL is due to NOTCH3 gene mutations. This gene has been identified as an up‐regulator of c‐FLIP, an inhibitor of Fas‐ligand‐induced apoptosis. The aim of this study was to assess the involvement of oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis in cells from 16 Italian CADASIL patients. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and fibroblasts from CADASIL patients were exposed to 2‐deoxy‐D‐ribose (dRib), which induces apoptosis by oxidative stress. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescence microscopy for caspase‐3 activation, phosphatidylserine exposure and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. PBLs and fibroblasts from CADASIL patients showed a significantly higher response to dRib‐induced apoptosis than those of controls. PBLs from CADASIL patients also showed a significantly higher percentage of apoptotic cells than PBLs from controls, even when cultured without dRib. The greater susceptibility of PBLs and fibroblasts from CADASIL patients to dRib‐induced apoptosis suggests that NOTCH3 mutations are an important apoptotic trigger. Since PBLs from patients showed higher levels of apoptosis even in the absence of an apoptotic stimulus, cells from CADASIL patients appear to be physiologically prone to apoptotic cell death. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 494–502, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) induces angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Ferrari Giovanni , Cook Brandoch D. , Terushkin Vitaly , Pintucci Giuseppe , Mignatti Paolo 
Published: January 2009

AbstractVEGF and TGF‐β1 induce angiogenesis but have opposing effects on endothelial cells. VEGF protects endothelial cells from apoptosis; TGF‐β1 induces apoptosis. We have previously shown that VEGF/VEGF receptor‐2 (VEGFR2) signaling mediates TGF‐β1 induction of apoptosis. This finding raised an important question: Does this mechanism stimulate or inhibit angiogenesis? Here we report that VEGF‐mediated apoptosis is required for TGF‐β1 induction of angiogenesis. In vitro the apoptotic effect of TGF‐β1 on endothelial cells is rapid and followed by a long period in which the cells are refractory to apoptosis induction by TGF‐β1. Inhibition of VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling abrogates formation of cord‐like structures by TGF‐β1 with an effect comparable to that of z‐VAD, an apoptosis inhibitor. Similarly, genetic deficiency of VEGF abolishes TGF‐β1 upregulation of endothelial cell differentiation and formation of vascular structures in embryoid bodies. In vivo TGF‐β1 induces endothelial cell apoptosis as rapidly as in vitro. Inhibition of VEGF blocks TGF‐β1 induction of both apoptosis and angiogenesis, an effect similar to that of z‐VAD. Thus, TGF‐β1 induction of angiogenesis requires a rapid and transient apoptotic effect mediated by VEGF/VEGFR2. This novel, unexpected role of VEGF and VEGFR2 indicates VEGF‐mediated apoptosis as a potential target to control angiogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 449–458, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sonography of the pediatric thyroid: A pictorial essay
Authors: Chang Yun‐Woo , Hong Hyun Sook , Choi Deuk Lin 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to review the various pediatric thyroid diseases using sonographic images. These diseases included congenital hypothyroidism (dysgenesis [aplasia; ectopy; hypoplasia], dyshormonogenesis, transient hypothyroidism), thyroglossal duct cyst, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, suppurative thyroiditis, nodular hyperplasia (goiter) and thyroid mass. Thyroid sonogram is the primary method used for thyroid disease and can be used for guiding of fine needle aspiration to obtain a more accurate diagnosis for suspected thyroid lesions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2009
Spatiotemporal ablation of myelinating glia‐specific neurofascin (NfascNF155) in mice reveals gradual loss of paranodal axoglial junctions and concomitant disorganization of axonal domains
Authors: Pillai Anilkumar M. , Thaxton Courtney , Pribisko Alaine L. , Cheng Jr‐Gang , Dupree Jeffrey L. , Bhat Manzoor A. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe evolutionary demand for rapid nerve impulse conduction led to the process of myelination‐dependent organization of axons into distinct molecular domains. These domains include the node of Ranvier flanked by highly specialized paranodal domains where myelin loops and axolemma orchestrate the axoglial septate junctions. These junctions are formed by interactions between a glial isoform of neurofascin (NfascNF155) and axonal Caspr and Cont. Here we report the generation of myelinating glia‐specific NfascNF155 null mouse mutants. These mice exhibit severe ataxia, motor paresis, and death before the third postnatal week. In the absence of glial NfascNF155, paranodal axoglial junctions fail to form, axonal domains fail to segregate, and myelinated axons undergo degeneration. Electrophysiological measurements of peripheral nerves from NfascNF155 mutants revealed dramatic reductions in nerve conduction velocities. By using inducible PLP‐CreER recombinase to ablate NfascNF155 in adult myelinating glia, we demonstrate that paranodal axoglial junctions disorganize gradually as the levels of NfascNF155 protein at the paranodes begin to drop. This coincides with the loss of the paranodal region and concomitant disorganization of the axonal domains. Our results provide the first direct evidence that the maintenance of axonal domains requires the fence function of the paranodal axoglial junctions. Together, our studies establish a central role for paranodal axoglial junctions in both the organization and the maintenance of axonal domains in myelinated axons. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PPTX, a pentraxin domain‐containing protein, interacts with the T1 domain of Kv4
Authors: Harvey Margaret , Karolat Joerg , Sakai Yoshihisa , Sokolowski Bernd 
Published: January 2009

AbstractVoltage‐gated K+ (Kv) channels reside as tetramers in the membrane. The events that coordinate folding, trafficking, and tetramerization are mediated by an array of associated proteins and phospholipids whose identification is vital to understanding the dynamic nature of channel expression and activity. An interaction between an A‐type K+ channel, Kv4.2, and a protein containing a pentraxin domain (PPTX) was demonstrated in the cochlea (Duzhyy et al. [ 2005] J. Biol. Chem. 280:15165–15172). Here, we present results based on fold recognition and homology modeling that revealed the tetramerization (T1) domain of Kv4.2 as a potential docking site for interacting proteins such as PPTX. By using this model, putative sites were experimentally tested with the yeast two‐hybrid system to assay interactions between PPTX and the T1 domain of Kv4.2 wild type (wt) and mutants (mut). Results showed that amino acid residues 86 and 118 in the T1 domain are essential for interaction, because replacing these negatively charged with neutrally charged amino acids inhibits interactions. Cotransfections of Chinese hamster ovary cells with PPTX and Kv4.2wt further revealed that PPTX increases Kv4.2wt expression in vitro when analyzing total lysates, whereas interactions with Kv4.2mut resulted in a decrease. These studies suggest that portions of the T1 domain can act as docking sites for proteins such as PPTX, further underscoring the significance of this domain. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ginsenosides protect striatal neurons in a cellular model of Huntington's disease
Authors: Wu Jun , Jeong Hye Kyoung , Bulin Sarah Elizabeth , Kwon Sung Won , Park Jeong Hill , Bezprozvanny Ilya 
Published: January 2009

AbstractGinseng, the root ofPanax ginsengC.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), is a widely used herbal medicine. Ginsenosides, the active ingredients of ginseng, are the main components responsible for many beneficial actions of ginseng. In the present study, we tested 10 different ginsenosides in the previously developed in vitro Huntington's disease (HD) assay with primary medium spiny striatal neuronal cultures (MSN) from the YAC128 HD mouse model. We found that nanomolar concentrations of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rc effectively protected YAC128 medium spiny neurons from glutamate‐induced apoptosis and that Rg5 was protective at micromolar concentration. The other seven ginsenosides tested were not effective or exerted toxic effects in MSN cultures. From further experiments, we suggested that neuroprotective effects of ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, and Rg5 could correlate with their ability to inhibit glutamate‐induced Ca2+responses in cultured MSN. From these results we concluded that ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, and Rg5 offer a potential therapeutic choice for the treatment of HD and possibly other neurodegenerative disorders. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The influence of NF‐κB signal‐transduction pathways on the murine inner ear by acoustic overstimulation
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroshi , Omelchenko Irina , Shi Xiaorui , Nuttall Alfred L. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractNuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) comprises a family of inducible transcription factors that serve as important regulators of the host immune and inflammatory responses. The NF‐κB signals are activated via the canonical and/or noncanonical pathways in response to diverse stimuli. The excessive action of NF‐κB signal‐transduction pathways frequently causes self‐injurious phenomena such as allergic diseases, vascular disorders, and ischemia–reperfusion neuronal damage. In the inner ear, the role of NF‐κB has not been clarified because the activated NF‐κB signals potentially induce both cytoprotective and cytotoxic target genes after ototoxic stimulation. In the present study, we investigated the response of NF‐κB in both the canonical and noncanonical pathways to acoustic overstimulation (117 dB/SPL/2 hr) and followed the change of inflammatory factors (inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 [ICAM‐1], and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 [VCAM‐1]) in the cochlear lateral wall (CLW) and the rest of cochlea (RoC). By means of immunohistochemistry combined with confocal microscopy and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction techniques, we found the response of NF‐κB family members (NF‐κB1, 2, RelA, and RelB) at the transcription level. After the NF‐κB signaling, the inflammatory factors were significantly increased in the CLW and the RoC. Additionally, at the protein level, the prominent expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1) was observed in the tissue around the capillaries in the stria vascularis. These results show that acoustic overstimulation causes the NF‐κB signaling to overexpress the inflammatory factors in the inner ear, and the up‐regulation of the adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1) and iNOS potentially influence the hemodynamics and the cellular integrity in the stria vascularis. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Knowledge integration for enterprise resources planning application design
Authors: Krone Oliver , Syväjärvi Antti , Stenvall Jari 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIn this paper we report findings that have been collected through the use of a mixed method approach to Finnish and German public and private Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects. These are examined in order to learn the influence that organisational structures exert on employees' willingness to exchange information and knowledge for the purpose of requirements engineering (RE). RE happens in multiprofessional settings, which requires that information and knowledge are exchanged, and be made understandable to other project members. Data indicate that departmental structures facilitate the development of dedicated knowledge and language sets. However, these sets of knowledge and language decrease options for direct communication across departments. Furthermore, the decision‐making and working modes in a dedicated department have an impact on employees' motivation to engage in the exchange of information and knowledge. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary tumor thickness as a risk factor for contralateral cervical metastases in T1/T2 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bier‐Laning Carol M. , Durazo‐Arvizu Ramon , Muzaffar Kamil , Petruzzelli Guy J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:Contralateral cervical metastases represent an avoidable source of failure in squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) of the oral tongue. We sought to identify risk factors for the development of contralateral cervical metastases in T1/T2 oral tongue SCCa.Study Design:Retrospective review.Methods:We reviewed the medical records of 50 sequential cases of Stage I/II SCCa of the oral tongue treated with surgery between 1983 and 2003 at Loyola University Medical Center and Hines VA Hospital. Clinical staging, primary tumor thickness, results of neck dissection, adjuvant treatment, site and date of recurrence, and final outcome were recorded. Follow‐up ranged from 0.2 to 17 years, with a mean of 5 years. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic, Cox regression analysis, and a classification and logistic regression tree analysis.Results:The odds ratio for risk of developing contralateral neck metastasis was 5% for each 1 mm increase in tumor thickness (P = .68). The risk did not change when controlling for the presence of ipsilateral metastasis. There was a significant relationship between contralateral cervical metastases and the development of recurrent disease at any site (P = .005). Classification tree analysis determined the risk for contralateral metastases and was greatest for patients with tumors >3.75 mm thick and ≤9.5 mm thick.Conclusions:This report is the first to our knowledge that evaluates thickness as a risk factor for contralateral cervical metastasis in oral tongue SCCa. We recommend consideration be given to treating the contralateral neck in cases where the primary tumor is >3.75 mm thick. Laryngoscope, 2009
Wildfire effects on soil erodibility of woodlands in NW Spain
Authors: Varela M. E. , Benito E. , Keizer J. J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractKnowledge of soil erodibility following wildfire is of crucial importance for prioritisation of post‐fire restoration practices for soil erosion mitigation. The present work therefore aims to determine the effect of wildfire on soil erodibility for common woodlands in Galicia, NW Spain. This is done by comparing selected topsoil properties of 28 pairs of recently wildfire‐burned and neighbouring unburned sites on different geologic substrates. The soil properties were selected for their supposed importance in erodibility, and include aggregate size distribution and water aggregate stability. Comparison of the burned and unburned sites suggested that wildfire had a noticeable negative effect on aggregate size distribution but not on particle size distribution. The effect on aggregate stability was highly variable. Aggregate stability was clearly lower at the burned than unburned site in about a third of the cases and in the remaining cases either basically the same at both sites or higher at the unburned site. The differences in aggregate stability, like those in aggregate size distribution, appear to be associated with changes in organic carbon content. The impact of wildfire on soil erodibility is supposed to operate through its effect on soil organic matter and, thus, to depend strongly on fire severity. Soil erodibility is then little affected by low‐severity wildfires but markedly diminished following high‐severity wildfires. All burned topsoils were strongly to very strongly water repellent. Fire‐enhaced repellency is therefore viewed as a key factor in the post‐fire runoff and erosion processes repeatedly observed in recently burned areas in NW Spain. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of DBS, premotor rTMS, and levodopa on motor function and silent period in advanced Parkinson's disease
Authors: Bäumer Tobias , Hidding Ute , Hamel Wolfgang , Buhmann Carsten , Moll Christian K.E. , Gerloff Christian , Orth Michael , Siebner Hartwig Roman , Münchau Alexander 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a widely used and highly effective treatment for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Repetitive TMS (rTMS) applied to motor cortical areas has also been shown to improve symptoms in PD and modulate motor cortical excitability. Here, we compared clinical and neurophysiological effects of STN stimulation with those of 1 Hz rTMS given to the dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) and those following intake of levodopa in a group of PD patients with advanced disease. Ten PD patients were studied on 2 consecutive days before and after surgery. Clinical effects were determined using the UPDRS motor score. Motor thresholds, motor‐evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes during slight voluntary contraction, and the cortical silent periods (SP) were measured using TMS. Before surgery effects of levodopa and 1 Hz PMd rTMS and after surgery those of STN stimulation with or without additional levodopa were determined. Levodopa significantly improved clinical symptoms and increased the SP duration. STN stimulation improved clinical symptoms without changing the SP duration. In contrast, 1 Hz PMd rTMS was not effective clinically but normalized the SP duration. Whereas levodopa had widespread effects at different levels of an abnormally active motor network in PD, STN stimulation and PMd rTMS led to either clinical improvement or SP normalization, i.e., only partially reversed abnormal motor network activity. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
How cautious should we be when assessing apathy with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale?
Authors: Kirsch‐Darrow Lindsey , Zahodne Laura B. , Hass Chris , Mikos Ania , Okun Michael S. , Fernandez Hubert H. , Bowers Dawn 
Published: January 2009

AbstractCurrent practice often assesses apathy with a single item from the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS, item 4). Yet, the relationship between the UPDRS item 4 and the validated Apathy Scale (AS) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the operating characteristics of UPDRS item 4 in relation to the AS. Three hundred and one patients with PD were administered the AS and the UPDRS. We compared the UPDRS item 4 to the standard AS classification of ≥14 as apathetic. A receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was obtained, and sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive power were calculated. The ROC curve showed area under the curve as 0.75. A cut‐off of 1 had good sensitivity (81%) but poor specificity (53%; high false positive rate). A cut‐off point of 2 had acceptable specificity (87%) but poor sensitivity (52%, high false negative rate). Continuing to increasing the cut‐off point (e.g., 3, 4) continues to increase specificity at the expense of dramatically reducing sensitivity. These findings suggest the use of caution when screening for apathy with item 4 due to its poor sensitivity in relation to the AS. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Proteome profiling of aging in mouse models: Differential expression of proteins involved in metabolism, transport, and stress response in kidney
Authors: Chakravarti Bulbul , Seshi Beerelli , Ratanaprayul Wongrat , Dalal Neville , Lin Lawrence , Raval Alpan , Chakravarti Deb N. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAging is a time‐dependent complex biological phenomenon observed in various organs and organelles of all living organisms. To understand the molecular mechanism of age‐associated functional loss in aging kidneys, we have analyzed the expression of proteins in the kidneys of young (19–22 wk) and old (24 months) C57/BL6 male mice using 2‐DE followed by LC‐MS/MS. We found that expression levels of 49 proteins were upregulated (p ≤ 0.05), while that of only ten proteins were downregulated (p ≤ 0.05) due to aging. The proteins identified belong to three broad functional categories: (i) metabolism (e.g., aldehyde dehydrogenase family, ATP synthase β‐subunit, malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone), hydroxy acid oxidase 2), (ii) transport (e.g., transferrin), and (iii) chaperone/stress response (e.g., Ig‐binding protein, low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein associated protein 1, selenium‐binding proteins (SBPs)). Some proteins with unknown functions were also identified as being differentially expressed. ATP synthase β subunit, transferrin, fumarate hydratase, SBPs, and albumin are present in multiple forms, possibly arising due to proteolysis or PTMs. The above functional categories suggest specific mechanisms and pathways for age‐related kidney degeneration.
Vision‐based navigation through urban canyons
Authors: Hrabar Stefan , Sukhatme Gaurav 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe address the problem of navigating unmanned vehicles safely through urban canyons in two dimensions using only vision‐based techniques. Two commonly used vision‐based obstacle avoidance techniques (namely stereo vision and optic flow) are implemented on an aerial and a ground‐based robotic platform and evaluated for urban canyon navigation. Optic flow is evaluated for its ability to produce a centering response between obstacles, and stereo vision is evaluated for detecting obstacles to the front. We also evaluate a combination of these two techniques, which allows a vehicle to detect obstacles to the front while remaining centered between obstacles to the side. Through experiments on an unmanned ground vehicle and in simulation, this combination is shown to be beneficial for navigating urban canyons, including T‐junctions and 90‐deg bends. Experiments on a rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicle, which was constrained to two‐dimensional flight, demonstrate that stereo vision allowed it to detect an obstacle to the front, and optic flow allowed it to turn away from obstacles to the side. We discuss the theory behind these techniques, our experience in implementing them on the robotic platforms, and their suitability to the urban canyon navigation problem. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.