bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential neutrophil infiltration contributes to regional differences in brain inflammation in the substantia nigra pars compacta and cortex
Authors: Ji Kyung‐Ae , Eu Mi Young , Kang Seung‐Hee , Gwag Byoung Joo , Jou Ilo , Joe Eun‐Hye 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBrain inflammation is a suggested risk factor for neurodegenerative disease. Interestingly, severe inflammation in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) accelerates the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we examined the underlying mechanisms of severe inflammation in the SNpc by comparing the inflammatory process with that in the cortex. In intact brain, the densities of CD11b+ microglia were similar in the SNpc and cortex. However, lipopolysaccharide injection enhanced the CD11b+ cell number in the SNpc, but not in the cortex. Previously, we reported that CD11b and myeloperoxidase (MPO) double‐positive neutrophils infiltrate the SNpc following LPS injection (GLIA 55:1577–88). Notably, the MPO+ neutrophil number increased dramatically in the SNpc, but only slightly in the cortex. The extent of neutrophil infiltration appeared to correlate with neuronal damage. We confirmed that loss of neurons in the SNpc was significantly reduced in neutropenic rats versus normal rats following LPS injection. In addition, the densities of astrocytes were much lower in the intact SNpc, compared with the cortex. Furthermore, after LPS injection, damage of endothelial cells and astrocytes, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability was more pronounced in the SNpc. These results collectively suggest that excessive neutrophil infiltration and environmental factors, such as lower astrocyte density and higher BBB permeability, contribute to severe inflammation and neuronal death in the SNpc. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cortical responses to self and others
Authors: Hodzic Amra , Muckli Lars , Singer Wolf , Stirn Aglaja 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe extrastriate body area (EBA) is one among the multiple, functionally specialized regions of the human visual cortex exhibiting modulation by body‐related stimuli. Here we investigate whether activation patterns differ for the perception of one's own body and the bodies of others. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify body‐related brain areas and to see how these areas differentiate between images of one's own body and those of others in the absence of facial or motion cues. Whole brain explorative group‐level analysis identified body‐related blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal enhancement in five regions of the right and in one region of the left hemisphere (right: in the extrastriate visual and parietal cortex and in the precentral gyrus, left: in the extrastriate visual cortex). General linear model group‐level random effects analysis of the self–other contrast revealed self‐related responses in the extrastriate and parietal regions in the right hemisphere but also in the right middle frontal gyrus. These results suggest the existence of a cortical network for the extraction of body‐related information and another cortical network for the extraction of self‐related body information. The two networks partially overlap in the right superior and inferior parietal cortices, but are clearly segregated in the extrastriate visual cortex and in the middle frontal gyrus. In addition, we report that the classical EBA is only involved in the analysis of body‐related information but not in the assignment of body identity. The latter appears to be accomplished by a network in right hemisphere comprising the fusiform body area, regions of the superior parietal lobe, the inferior parietal cortex, and the middle frontal gyrus. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relevance of clinical trials in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Tsimberidou Apostolia M. , Estey Elihu 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPatients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are increasingly being enrolled in clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies or the National Cancer Institute. These trials routinely exclude patients who are less likely to respond (LLTR), e.g. those with Zubrod performance status >2 and levels of bilirubin or creatinine ≥2.0 mg/dL. Here we examine rates of enrollment of LLTR patients in clinical trials over the past 16 years. Overall, 2323 adults with newly diagnosed AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukaemia) were registered on clinical trials from 1991 to 2006. LLTR patients constituted a significantly smaller proportion of the patients enrolled from 1999 to 2006 than from 1991 to 1998 (p < 0.0001, considering all patients and patients 60 years or older). While 54% of patients considered ‘more likely to respond’ (MLTR) (i.e. those with performance status <3, bilirubin <2.0 mg/dL and creatinine <2.0 mg/dL) were enrolled in these studies from 1999 to 2006, only 36% of LLTR patients were enrolled during this period (p < 0.0001). Our results suggest that newer clinical trials may be less applicable to LLTR patients than previous trials. There is a need for clinical trials specific to the LLTR population, the group most in need of novel therapies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Caspase polymorphisms and genetic susceptibility to multiple myeloma
Authors: Hosgood H. Dean , Baris Dalsu , Zhang Yawei , Zhu Yong , Zheng Tongzhang , Yeager Meredith , Welch Robert , Zahm Shelia , Chanock Stephen , Rothman Nathaniel , Lan Qing 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMultiple myeloma is a haematological malignency, characterized by clonal expansion of plasma cells. However, little is known about the cause of multiple myeloma. Cancer cells must avoid apoptosis to ensure unregulated tumour formation and growth. The highly conserved caspase cascade is essential to the regulation of the apoptotic pathway. To examine if five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four caspase genes [CASP3 Ex8‐280 C > A (rs6948), CASP3 Ex8 + 567 T > C (rs1049216), CASP8 Ex14‐271 A > T (rs13113), CASP9 Ex5 + 32 G > A (rs1052576), CASP10 Ex3‐171 A > G (rs39001150)] alter multiple myeloma risk, we conducted a population‐based case‐control study of women (128 cases; 516 controls) in Connecticut. Compared to individuals with the TT genotype of CASP3 Ex8 + 567 T > C, subjects with the CC genotype had a five‐fold decreased risk of multiple myeloma (odds ratio (OR)CC = 0.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.0–1.0). Further, individuals with the AG and AA genotypes of CASP9 Ex5 + 32 G > A also experienced a decreased risk of multiple myeloma (ORAG = 0.8, 95% CI =  0.5–1.3; ORAA = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3–0.9; p‐trend = 0.02). While no previous study has evaluated the association between caspase genes and multiple myeloma, studies have found associations with lung, breast, esophageal, gastric, colorectal and cervical cancers. Our parallel study of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, which utilized the same controls, found strong evidence that caspase genes play a key role in lymphogenesis. The protective associations observed in two key caspase genes suggest that genetic variation in CASP genes may play an important role in the aetiology of multiple myeloma. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interactive silences within spontaneous early infant–father ‘dialogues’
Authors: Kokkinaki Theano 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe present longitudinal and naturalistic study aims to investigate infants' and fathers' facial expressions of emotions during pauses preceding and following spontaneous early infant–father conversation. Studying emotional expressions in the course of pauses in early infant–father interaction is important because it may extend our knowledge on how, without being able to speak, infants begin communication and develop a capacity to share understanding of what they and Significant Others (such as fathers) mean by what they do. Eleven infant–father dyads from Crete, Greece, were observed during their natural interactions at home from the second to the sixth month of life. The microanalysis of fathers' and infants' facial expressions of emotions provided evidence that: (a) in the course of pauses preceding and following early infant–father conversation, either the infant is interested in the father while the latter expresses pleasure to the infant, or the infant expresses external interest while the father is interested in the infant, (b) infants seem to attune their descending and stable emotional intensity to the same direction as their father's emotional intensity, (c) infants and fathers remain consistent in their emotional expression in the beginning and at the end of the pause, and (d) infant and paternal pleasure and interest did not change significantly across the nine age points of this study. Exploratory analysis of the relationship of paternal and infant emotional expressions across infants' birth order provided evidence of certain differences and similarities. It is proposed that pausal interruptions preceding and following free early infant–father ‘dialogues’ constitute interactive silences, since in their course there is evidence of inter‐subjective emotional coordination and intra‐subjective regulation of emotion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Periostin, secreted from stromal cells, has biphasic effect on cell migration and correlates with the epithelial to mesenchymal transition of human pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Kanno Atsushi , Satoh Kennichi , Masamune Atsushi , Hirota Morihisa , Kimura Kenji , Umino Jun , Hamada Shin , Satoh Akihiko , Egawa Shinichi , Motoi Fuyuhiko , Unno Michiaki , Shimosegawa Tooru 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPeriostin is a secretory protein that has been suggested to function as a cell adhesion molecule and promote the invasiveness or growth rate of tumors. However, little is known about the association of its expression and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is considered to play a crucial role in cancer cell metastasis. Thus, the authors investigated whether periostin could be involved in the process of EMT and the role of this gene in pancreatic cancer development. The expression of periostin was observed mainly in stromal cells but very little in cancer cells by immunohistochemistry and real‐time RT‐PCR. In vitro, pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) exhibited a much higher basal expression of periostin compared with cancer cells. Periostin secreted in the supernatant from 293T cells that expressed periostin (approximately 150 ng/ml) inhibited the migration of pancreatic cancer cells. Coculture assay revealed that periostin expression in PSC was induced by pancreatic cancer cells. To assess the direct role of periostin in pancreatic cancer cells, the authors generated pancreatic cancer cell lines that stably express periostin. The induced expression of periostin (to 150 ng/ml) altered the morphology of cancer cells, changing them from mesenchymal to epithelial phenotypes with the induction of epithelial markers and a reduction of mesenchymal markers, and showed reduced cell migration in vitro and formed smaller tumors as well as suppressed metastasis in vivo. On the other hand, high concentration of recombinant periostin (1 μg/ml) promoted cell migration with AKT activation. The findings suggest that periostin has biphasic effect on the development of pancreatic cancer. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lymphoma presenting as an echogenic periportal mass: Sonographic findings
Authors: Kim Honsoul , Kim Ki Whang , Park Mi‐Suk , Kim Hyunki 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAbdominal lymphoma usually appears as homogeneous, markedly hypoechoic masses on sonography. We report a case of primary lymphoma presenting as an extrahepatic and intrahepatic periportal echogenic mass encasing the hepatic vessels. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008.
Adaptive evolution of mammalian aromatases: lessons from Suiformes
Authors: Conley A. J. , Corbin C. J. , Hughes A. L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEstrogen synthesis evolved in chordates to control reproduction. The terminal enzyme in the cascade directly responsible for estrogen synthesis is aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) encoded by the CYP19 gene. Mammals typically have a single CYP19 gene but pigs, peccaries and other Suiformes have two or more resulting from duplication in a common ancestor. Duplication of CYP genes in the steroid synthetic cascade has occurred for only one other enzyme, also terminal, 11β‐hydroxylase P450 (P450c11). P450arom and P450c11 share common substrates and even physiological functions as possible remnants from a common P450 progenitor, perhaps an ancestral P450arom, which is supported by phylogenetic analysis. Conserved tissue‐specific expression patterns of P450arom paralogs in placenta and gonads of pigs and peccaries suggest how functional adaptation may have proceeded divergently and influenced adopted reproductive strategies including ovulation rate and litter size. Data suggest that the porcine placental paralog evolved catalytically to protect female conceptuses from testosterone produced by male siblings; the gonadal paralog to synthesize a novel, nonaromatizable testosterone metabolite (1OH‐testosterone) that may increase ovulation rate. This would represent a coevolution facilitating litter bearing as pigs diverged from peccaries. Evidence of convergence between the peccary CYP19 genes and lower tissue expression may therefore represent initiation of loss of the functional paralogs. Studies on the Suiforme aromatases provide insights into the evolution of the steroidogenic cascade and metabolic pathways in general, how it translates into physiological adaptations (altered reproductive strategies for instance), and how duplicated genes become stabilized or disappear from genomes. J. Exp. Zool. 311A:346–357, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of the state in the Turkish earthquake of 1999
Authors: Jacoby Tim , Özerdem Alpaslan 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis paper seeks to contextualise the 1999 Turkish earthquake within the institutional structure of Turkey's development. Particularly focussed upon the role—and culpability—of the state in the disaster, it outlines a number of key continuities within Turkey's political tradition. In all, it argues that Ankara's inadequate response can be understood both in terms of the persistence of these older social structures and in a more recent weakening of the public sector. Despite a pronounced sense of instrumental activism which emerged in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, the result, it is concluded, is a perpetuation of both state insularity and a fragmented pattern of civil organisation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The spleen contributes to stroke‐induced neurodegeneration
Authors: Ajmo Craig T. , Vernon Dionne O. L. , Collier Lisa , Hall Aaron A. , Garbuzova‐Davis Svitlana , Willing Alison , Pennypacker Keith R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractStroke, a cerebrovascular injury, is the leading cause of disability and third leading cause of death in the world. Recent reports indicate that inhibiting the inflammatory response to stroke enhances neurosurvival and limits expansion of the infarction. The immune response that is initiated in the spleen has been linked to the systemic inflammatory response to stroke, contributing to neurodegeneration. Here we show that removal of the spleen significantly reduces neurodegeneration after ischemic insult. Rats splenectomized 2 weeks before permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion had a >80% decrease in infarction volume in the brain compared with those rats that were subjected to the stroke surgery alone. Splenectomy also resulted in decreased numbers of activated microglia, macrophages, and neutrophils present in the brain tissue. Our results demonstrate that the peripheral immune response as mediated by the spleen is a major contributor to the inflammation that enhances neurodegeneration after stroke. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neuronal coupling via connexin36 contributes to spontaneous synaptic currents of striatal medium‐sized spiny neurons
Authors: Cummings Damian M. , Yamazaki Irene , Cepeda Carlos , Paul David L. , Levine Michael S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGap junctions provide a means for electrotonic coupling between neurons, allowing for the generation of synchronous activity, an important contributor to learning and memory. Connexin36 (Cx36) is largely neuron specific and provides a target for genetic manipulation to determine the physiological relevance of neuronal coupling. Within the striatum, Cx36 is more specifically localized to the interneuronal population, which provides the main inhibitory input to the principal projection medium‐sized spiny neurons. In the present study, we examined the impact of genetic ablation of Cx36 on striatal spontaneous synaptic activity. Patch‐clamp recordings were performed from medium‐sized spiny neurons, the primary target of interneurons. In Cx36 knockout mice, the frequencies of both excitatory and inhibitory spontaneous postsynaptic currents were reduced. We also showed that activation of dopamine receptors differentially modulated the frequency of GABAergic currents in Cx36 knockout mice compared with their wild‐type littermates, suggesting that dopamine plays a role in altering the coupling of interneurons. Taken together, the present findings demonstrate that electrical coupling of neuronal populations is important for the maintenance of normal chemical synaptic interactions within the striatum. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surface protein patterns govern morphology, proliferation, and expression of cellular markers but have no effect on physiological properties of cortical precursor cells
Authors: Magnusson Anna K. , Linderholm Pontus , Vieider Christian , Ulfendahl Mats , Erlandsson Anna 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe ability to differentiate and give rise to neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes is an inherent feature of neural stem cells, which raises hopes for cell‐based therapies of neurodegenerative diseases. However, there are many hurdles to cross before such regimens can be applied clinically. A considerable challenge is to elucidate the factors that contribute to neural differentiation. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of steering neuronal maturation by growing cortical precursor cells on microscale surface patterns of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. When the cells were encouraged to extend processes along lines of ECM proteins, they displayed a much more mature morphology, less proliferation capacity, and greater expression of a neuronal marker in comparison with cells grown in clusters on ECM dots. This implied that the growth pattern alone could play a crucial role for neural differentiation. However, in spite of the strikingly different morphology, when performing whole‐cell patch‐clamp experiments, we never observed any differences in the functional properties between cells grown on the two patterns. These results clearly demonstrate that morphological appearances are not representative measures of the functional phenotype or grade of neuronal maturation, stressing the importance of complementary electrophysiological evidence. To develop successful transplantation therapies, increased cell survival is critical. Because process‐bearing neurons are sensitive and break easily, it would be of clinical interest to explore further the differentiating capacity of the cells cultured on the ECM dot pattern, described in this article, which are devoid of processes but display the same functional properties as neurons with mature morphology. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mixture design optimization of extraction and mobile phase media for fingerprint analysis of Bauhinia variegata L.
Authors: Delaroza Fernanda , Scarminio Ieda Spacino 
Published: April 2008

AbstractTwo statistical mixture designs were used to optimize the proportions of solvents used in both the extraction medium and the reversed liquid chromatographic mobile phase to improve the quality of chromatographic fingerprints of Bauhinia variegata L extracts. For modeling, the number of peaks was used as a measure of fingerprint information. Three mobile phases, each with a chromatographic strength of two, gave good results. A methanol/water (77:23 v/v) mixture resulted in 17 peaks in the chromatographic fingerprint whereas acetonitrile/water (64.5:35.5 v/v) and methanol/acetonitrile/water (35:35:30 v/v/v) mixtures resulted in 18 and 20 peaks, respectively. The corresponding optimum solvent compositions to extract chemical substances for these three mobile phases were ethanol/acetone (25:75 v/v/v) and dichloromethane/acetone (70:30 v/v) mixtures, and pure dichloromethane, respectively. The mixture designs are useful for understanding the influence of different solvents on the strengths of the extraction medium and the mobile phase.
Analysis of amino acids in human vascular endothelial (ECV‐304) cells by microchip electrophoresis with fluorescence detection
Authors: Shi Baoxian , Huang Weihua , Cheng Jieke 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA rapid and sensitive method was developed for the analysis of amino acids by microchip electrophoresis with Hg‐lamp excitation fluorescence detection. Fluorescein‐isothiocyanate (FITC) was chosen to estimate the sensitivity of this system, and the detection limit (S/N = 3) with FITC was 1.7 nM, which showed that the system was sensitive as well as simple. Two derivatizing agents, FITC and ortho‐phthalaldehyde (OPA) were employed to label amino acids and were compared in the same fluorescence detection system with an Hg lamp as the excitation source. The separation parameters were optimized in detail. Optimum separation of OPA‐labeled amino acids was obtained in less than 200 s with 20 mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) containing 20% acetonitrile and 10 mM β‐cyclodextrin. Detection limits for amino acids (alanine (Ala), taurine (Tau), glycine (Gly), glutamic acid (Glu), and aspartic acid (Asp)) of 0.38–1.0 μM were achieved. The method was successfully applied to analysis of amino acids in human vascular endothelial cells (ECV‐304). The average amount of amino acids in single ECV‐304 cells is estimated to be 5.84 fmol for Ala, 2.78 fmol for Tau, 1.15 fmol for Gly, 3.10 fmol for Glu, and 1.30 fmol for Asp.
Enantioselective HPLC resolution of synthetic intermediates of armodafinil and related substances
Authors: Nageswara Rao Ramisetti , Shinde Dhananjay D. , Kumar Talluri Murali V. N. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractArmodafinil is a unique psychostimulant recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of narcolepsy. The chromatographic resolution of its chiral intermediates including related substances in the total synthesis of armodafinil was studied on polysaccharide‐based stationary phases, viz. cellulose tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD‐H) and amylose tris‐(3,5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralpak AD‐H) by HPLC. The effects of 1‐propanol, 2‐propanol, ethanol, and trifluoroacetic acid added to the mobile phase and of column temperature on resolution were studied. A good separation was achieved on cellulose‐based Chiralcel OD‐H column compared to amylose‐based Chiralpak AD‐H. The effects of structural features of the solutes and solvents on discrimination between the enantiomers were examined. Baseline separation with Rs >1.38 was obtained using a mobile phase containing n‐hexane–ethanol–TFA (75:25:0.15 v/v/v). Detection was carried out at 225 nm with photodiode array detector while identification of enantiomers was accomplished by a polarimetric detector connected in series. The method was found to be suitable not only for process development of armodafinil but also for determination of the enantiomeric purity of bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals.