bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylation of cytoskeleton‐associated proteins, pp58 and pp60, in tumouricidal murine peritoneal macrophages
Authors: Didier ES , Fan S , Wheeler E , Tompkins WAF 
Published: July 2007

SummaryTwo highly phosphorylated vimentin‐like proteins, pp58 and pp60, are expressed in macrophages activated in vivo to tumouricidal activity. Resident and elicited, non‐tumouricidal peritoneal macrophages displayed low and intermediate levels of phosphorylated pp58 and pp60, respectively. C3H/HeN macrophages became tumouricidal after incubation with 0middot;1 μg/mL A23187 plus 10 nmol/L 12‐phorbol 13‐myristate acetate (PMA), or 0·1 μg/mL A23187 plus 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and displayed increased phosphorylation of pp58 and pp60. LPS non‐responder C3H/HeJ macrophages were not tumouricidal nor did they show increased phosphorylation of pp58 and pp60 after incubation with LPS plus A23187 in vitro. C3H/HeJ macrophages, however, did become tumouricidal and expressed increased phosphorylation or pp58 and pp60 after incubation with A23187 and PMA. Addition of PGE2(10‐8 mol/L), resulted in down‐regulation of macrophage tumouricidal activity and decreased pp58 and pp60 phosphorylation, which was reversed by addition of indomethacin (10‐6 mol/L) to cultures with PGE2. Phosphorylation increased within 5 min after adding activating stimuli while incorporation of [35S]‐methionine into a 58 kD protein did not occur until 6 h later. No 60 kD protein synthesis was detected during the first 8 h after adding activating stimuli, indicating that previously synthesized proteins were phosphorylated during macrophage activation. These results signify a physiological role for the phosphorylation of cytoskeleton‐associated pp58 and pp60 during macrophage activation to tumour cytotoxicity.
Protective efficacy of a recombinant vaccinia virus in vaccinia‐immune mice
Authors: Andrew ME 
Published: July 2007

SummaryRecombinant viral vectors offer a potential means of vaccinating against diseases for which there are no current safe vaccines. One of the criteria on which a viral vaccine vector would be selected is that it either circulates in the human or livestock population without producing overt disease (e.g. adenovirus) or has a history as a safe vaccine (e.g. vaccinia virus). However, this selection criterion also means that the target population is likely to have circulating antibodies that are specific to the vaccine vector. Since a percentage of the world's population has been vaccinated during the World Health Organization's Smallpox Eradication Campaign, such antibody titres, which are likely to lower vaccine efficacy, have been raised as an objection to the use of recombinant vaccinia viruses as vaccines. We have tested the effect of vaccinia‐specific immunity on the protective efficacy of a recombinant virus, VV‐PR8‐HA6 (I) which expresses the haemagglutinin of the influenza virus A/PR/8/34.
Study of human epithelial cell detachment and damage: Development of a model
Authors: Venaille TJ , Mendis AHW , Warton A , Walker L , Papadimitriou JM , Robinson BWS 
Published: July 2007

SummaryDetachment of epithelial structures from underlying basement membrane(BM) represents an important component of a number of human disease processes e.g. airway and alveolar diseases, gastrointestinal ulceration, and retinal diseases. This study describes a method of evaluating human epithelial cell detachment from BM that is simple, rapid, inexpensive, quantifiable and which, because it utilizes BM rather than tissue culture plastic, more closely mimics the in vivo situation than other methods. In this model human amnionic epithelial cells attached to their underlying BM are isolated from fresh placentae and mounted in a multi‐well chemotaxis assembly. These membranes can be studied with the epithelial cell monolayer intact. Protease‐induced detachment of the epithelial cells from the underlying BM was readily quantifiable using light microscopy and spectroscopy. Following removal of the native amnionic epithelial cells, immunoperoxidase staining for the BM attachment proteins laminin, fibronectin, and type IV collagen demonstrated that these molecules remain intact. The BM could also be used as an attachment surface to reconstitute other epithelial cell monolayers. Cultured human amnionic cells and human respiratory epithelial cells were both able to attach to the denuded BM in the absence of serum (% attachment = 85 ± 15% and 92 ± 8% respectively, P = 0.8). Natural BM was a better substrate for epithelial cell attachment than tissue culture plastic in that, in the absence of serum, cultured epithelial cell attachment to tissue culture plastic was 20 ± 4% of the value for BM (P < 0.05). Furthermore, cells attached to plastic adhered less effectively than to BM in that trypsin concentrations required to induce 50% cell detachment were 0.72 ± 0.4 for plastic and 62 ± 13 BAEE U/mL for BM (P < 0.001).In view of the complex protein interactions known to be involved in the anchorage of human epithelial cells to BM, it is likely this model will be a useful tool for evaluating the mechanisms underlying human epithelial cell attachment and detachment in a variety of normal and disease situations.
Monoclonal antibodies defining immunogenic regions of pili from Bacteroides nodosus strains 198 (A1), 265 (H1) and 336 (F1)
Authors: Young D , Emery DL , Stewart DJ 
Published: July 2007

SummaryA total of 17 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) were used to analyse the antigenic structure of pilus protein from three serogroups of Bacteroides nodosus. The four MoAb which agglutinated pili were serogroup (and subgroup) specific, and the agglutinating epitope was present on the pili monomer and dependent on the intra‐chain disulfide bond.Non‐agglutinating MoAb identified two further non‐linear and serogroup‐restricted epitopes on strain 198 (A1) pili and two linear epitopes on 336 (F1) and 265 (H1) pili. Three MoAb cross‐reacted with pili from six of the eight major serogroups and recognized an epitope in the N‐terminal region of the molecule. This panel of MoAb has therefore identified at least four epitopes on pilus protein and will facilitate serotopic analyses of the immunogenicity of each epitope in sheep during vaccination against footrot.
Auranofin blocks interleukin‐6 signalling by inhibiting phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3
Authors: Kim Nam‐Hoon , Lee Mun‐Yong , Park Seon‐Joo , Choi Jeong‐Sun , Oh Mi‐Kyung , Kim In‐Sook 
Published: July 2007

SummaryAuranofin (AF) is a sulphur‐containing gold compound. Because of its anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, AF has been widely used for the therapeutic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, little is known about its mechanism of action. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the anti‐inflammatory effect of AF, we studied the effects of AF on cellular responses to interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). In HepG2 human hepatoma cells, AF markedly inhibited IL‐6‐induced phosphorylation of janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT3 translocation into the nucleus. Consistent with this, AF diminished IL‐6‐induced production of the acute‐phase proteins, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, C3 complement and α1‐acid glycoprotein, and gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, all of whose transcriptional activities are regulated by STAT3. The inhibitory activity of AF on STAT3 phosphorylation was also demonstrated in primary cells, i.e. fibroblast‐like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and rat astrocytes. Auranofin‐mediated inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation was recovered by pretreatment with antioxidants containing thiol groups. These findings suggest that the anti‐inflammatory action of AF is associated with a blockade of JAK1/STAT3 signalling. Thiol‐group‐reactive proteins may be involved in AF‐induced suppression of JAK1/STAT3 phosphorylation.
Ultrasonographic comparison of gastric motility between diabetic gastroparesis patients with and without metabolic syndrome
Authors: Sogabe Masahiro , Kimura Yoshitaka , Iwaki Hiroshi , Okita Yoshio , Hibino Shingo , Sawda Seizo , Okahisa Toshiya , Okamoto Koichi , Tsujigami Koji , Hayashi Hiroshige , Hukui Yasuo , Nakamura Toshio , Taniki Toshikatsu , Nakasono Masahiko , Muguruma Naoki , Okamura Seisuke , Ito Susumu 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Diabetic patients with poor glycemic control or long standing disease often have impaired gastric motility. Recently, metabolic factors such as blood glucose have been reported as influencing gastric motility independently of autonomic neuropathy. Many diabetic patients have metabolic syndrome, which is strongly associated with coronary and other diseases. We investigated whether metabolic syndrome influences diabetic gastroparesis patients.Methods:  We observed gastric motility ultrasonographically in diabetic gastroparesis patients including nine with and nine without metabolic syndrome. Both groups complained of upper abdominal symptoms when hospitalized to improve blood sugar control. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to rule out gastric and duodenal lesions. All had autonomic neuropathy. Gastric motility was evaluated within 3 days after admission by transabdominal ultrasonography after a test meal.Results:  Gastric emptying was 45.0 ± 13.7% in patients with and 39.1 ± 11.9% in patients without metabolic syndrome, which was not statistically significant. Frequency of gastric contractions was 8.33 ± 2.78 per 3 min in patients with metabolic syndrome and 7.44 ± 2.13 per 3 min in the others, which was not statistically significant. The motility index, which involves antral contractility, was 3.21 ± 2.18 in patients with metabolic syndrome and 2.80 ± 1.87 in the others, which was not statistically significant.Conclusions:  Metabolic syndrome did not appear to contribute to delayed gastric motility in diabetic gastroparesis.
Post‐cholecystectomy biliary strictures: Not always benign
Authors: Sharma Ajay , Behari Anu , Sikora Sadiq S , Kumar Ashok , Saxena Rajan , Kapoor Vinay K 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground:  Post‐cholecystectomy malignant biliary obstruction masquerading as benign biliary stricture (BBS) has not been reported in the literature; it presents a diagnostic and management challenge.Methods:  Of the 349 post‐cholecystectomy BBS managed at a tertiary care hospital in northern India between 1989 and 2004, 11 patients were found to have biliary malignancy. Records of these 11 patients were analyzed retrospectively for the purpose of this study.Results:  Mean age of patients with malignant biliary strictures was significantly higher (52 vs 38 years, P = 0.000); they were more likely to have jaundice (100% vs 78%, P = 0.008) and pruritus (82% vs 48%, P = 0.03). Unlike most patients with BBS referred from elsewhere to us, they had had a smooth postoperative course uncomplicated by bile leak, had a longer cholecystectomy‐presentation interval, and were more likely to have high strictures ((Bismuth type III/IV) 91% vs 49%, P = 0.008).Conclusions:  Post‐cholecystectomy biliary obstruction is not always benign. High bilirubin levels and hilar strictures, especially after an uneventful cholecystectomy, in a middle‐aged patient should raise a suspicion of underlying missed malignancy.
Suppression of heart rate variability after supramaximal exertion
Authors: Niewiadomski W. , Gąsiorowska A. , Krauss B. , Mróz A. , Cybulski G. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryWingate test is short anaerobic exercise, performed with maximal power, whereas aerobic exercise at 85% maximal heart rate (HRmax) may be performed for long period. Sustained HR elevations and changes in autonomic activity indices have been observed after latter kind of exercise. Several studies reported reduction in mean interval between consecutive R peaks in ECG (RRI) 1 h after Wingate test; however, underlying changes in autonomic activity remain elusive. In eight young males, RRI and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured daily over two 5‐day trials. Subjects exercised on third day of each trial, measurements were taken 1 h after (i) two consecutive 30‐s bouts of Wingate tests or (ii) after a 30‐min exercise at 85% HRmax, with subjects in supine rest and breathing either spontaneously or at controlled rates of 6 and 15 breaths / min. RRI was significantly shorter after Wingate and submaximal exercise, reduction of high‐ and low‐frequency components of HRV attained reliability only after Wingate tests. This pattern remained preserved for three modes of breathing: spontaneous, 6 and 15 breaths /min. After 24 and 48 h, no exercise effects were traceable. We hypothesize that (i) anaerobic exertion is followed by sustained inhibition of vagal activity, (ii) parasympathetic system plays dominant role in mediating suppression of high‐ and low‐HRV frequency components during postexercise recovery, (iii) degree of alteration of autonomic activity caused by anaerobic and strenuous aerobic exercise may be similar and (iv) normalization of vagal activity precedes normalization of sympathetic cardiac nerves activity during final stage of postexercise recovery.
The Greening of Project Finance
Authors: Hadfield‐Hill Sophie 
Published: July 2007

AbstractOver the past decade, financial institutions have become increasingly conscious of the environmental and social implications of their lending decisions. This is due to widespread environmental and social awareness within mainstream society and the rise of sophisticated nongovernmental organisations. Geography provides an insight into a range of issues related to project finance, particularly with regard to human‐environmental relationships, spatial differentiation and modes of governance. The ‘Equator Principles’ are examined focusing on the contribution that ‘Equator banks’ can make to sustainability. With a critical mass of financial institutions now theoretically in compliance with the latest revisions of the guidelines, ‘Equator Principles II,’ environmental decisions can now be made in relation to a common baseline. When conforming to the Principles, banks in theory can make responsible decisions with regard to the environment and society in regions where development projects are under consideration. However, it is essential that financial institutions and civil society collaborate and trust each other in order for both parties to achieve the desired outcomes of responsible lending and sustainable development. It is imperative that geographers expand their understanding of the project finance industry so as to identify the changes occurring within the lending sector and the consequential environmental and social impact.
Delayed decline of γ‐globin expression in infant age associated with the presence of Gγ−158 (C→T) polymorphism
Authors: GROSSO M. , AMENDOLARA M. , RESCIGNO G. , DANISE P. , TODISCO N. , IZZO P. , AMENDOLA G. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryPersistent production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in adult has ameliorative effects on hemoglobinopathies and great efforts are currently made to achieve an exhaustive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the switching in globin gene expression. One of the factors reported to be associated with the expression of fetal globin genes is the Xmn I Gγ−158 polymorphism, although it is still unclear if it is involved in this mechanism either by itself or in strong linkage disequilibrium with other loci. Here, we report a novel effect of the Xmn I Gγ−158 site that was found associated with a significant delayed decline of HbF production in infant age. The prolonged decay trend was enhanced when the Gγ−158 C→T substitution was co‐inherited with a β‐thalassemic trait. Our observations reinforce the hypothesis that this region plays an important role in the expression of the γ‐globin genes and give new insights on the intriguing and still poorly understood mechanisms of globin gene expression switching.
Compounded
Heat Transfer Enhancement in Enclosure Natural Convection by Changing the Cold Wall Shape and the
Gas Composition
Authors: Ridouane El
Hassan , Campo Antonio 
Published: July 2007

Abstract
This article addresses compound heat transfer enhancement for gaseous natural convection in closed enclosures; that is, the simultaneous use of two passive techniques to obtain heat transfer enhancement, which is greater than that produced by only one technique itself. The compounded heat transfer enhancement comes from two sources: (1) reshaping the bounded space and (2) the adequacy of the gas. The sizing of enclosures is of great interest in the miniaturization of electronic packaging that is severely constrained by space and∕or weight. The gases consist in a subset of binary gas mixtures formed with helium (He) as the primary gas. The secondary gases are nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and xenon (Xe). The steady-state flow is governed by a system of 2-D coupled mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations, in conjunction with the ideal gas equation of state. The set of partial differential equations is solved using the finite volume method, for a square and a right-angled isosceles triangular enclosure, accounting for the second-order accurate QUICK and SIMPLE schemes. The grid layouts rendered reliable velocities and temperatures for air and the five gas mixtures at high Ra=106, producing errors within 1% were 18,500 and 47,300 elements for the square and triangle enclosures, respectively. In terms of heat transfer enhancement, helium is better than air for the square and the isosceles triangle. It was found that the maximum heat transfer conditions are obtained filling the isosceles triangular enclosure with a He–Xe gas mixture. This gives a good trade-off between maximizing the heat transfer rate while reducing the enclosure space in half; the maximum enhancement of triangle∕square went up from 19% when filled with air into 46% when filled with He–Xe gas mixture at high Ra=106.
Evidence for systems-level molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis
Authors: Hernández Pilar , Huerta-Cepas Jaime , Montaner David , Al-Shahrour Fátima , Valls Joan , Gómez Laia , Capellá Gabriel , Dopazo Joaquín , Pujana Miguel Angel 
Published: July 2007

Abstract

Background
Cancer arises from the consecutive acquisition of genetic alterations. Increasing evidence suggests that as a consequence of these alterations, molecular interactions are reprogrammed in the context of highly connected and regulated cellular networks. Coordinated reprogramming would allow the cell to acquire the capabilities for malignant growth.

Results
Here, we determine the coordinated function of cancer gene products (i.e., proteins encoded by differentially expressed genes in tumors relative to healthy tissue counterparts, hereafter referred to as "CGPs") defined as their topological properties and organization in the interactome network. We show that CGPs are central to information exchange and propagation and that they are specifically organized to promote tumorigenesis. Centrality is identified by both local (degree) and global (betweenness and closeness) measures, and systematically appears in down-regulated CGPs. Up-regulated CGPs do not consistently exhibit centrality, but both types of cancer products determine the overall integrity of the network structure. In addition to centrality, down-regulated CGPs show topological association that correlates with common biological processes and pathways involved in tumorigenesis.

Conclusion
Given the current limited coverage of the human interactome, this study proposes that tumorigenesis takes place in a specific and organized way at the molecular systems-level and suggests a model that comprises the precise down-regulation of groups of topologically-associated proteins involved in particular functions, orchestrated with the up-regulation of specific proteins.
Hemodynamics in the leech: blood flow in two hearts switching between two constriction patterns
Authors: Wenning Angela , Meyer Eric P. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARY
Two tubular, segmented hearts propel blood through the closed circulatory system of the medicinal leech and switch every 20–40 beats between two constriction patterns. We showed recently that within one heartbeat cycle,heart segments on one side constrict peristaltically rear-to-front(`peristaltic heart'), followed by nearly synchronous front-to-rear constrictions in the contralateral heart segments (`synchronous heart'). Using optical recordings from intact leeches, we now characterize the hemodynamic properties of the cardiac cycle of individual heart segments in different regions to ask whether the reversal of constrictions affects flow into, out of, and along the hearts. We measured total vessel capacity in corrosion casts and blood volume in individual heart segments of dissected leeches. We show that the peristaltic heart provides the propulsive force for forward and rearward flow and supplies the peripheral circulation through segmental efferent vessels. In comparison, the synchronous heart pumps less blood, most of which enters the segmental circulation. The heart sphincter, located in the posterior section of each heart segment, directs blood flow differently in the two modes. In the peristaltic heart, the sphincter prevents backflow and promotes longitudinal, forward flow while in the synchronous heart the sphincter restricts longitudinal, rearward flow and instead promotes flow into the segmental circulation. Blood is shunted via the contractile latero-dorsal arches from the dorsal intestinal vessel into the peristaltic heart in posterior segments 14 to 18. Switching between the two constriction patterns provides nutrient-rich blood to the vascular beds on both sides.
Mechanistic bases for differences in passive absorption
Authors: Lavin Shana R. , McWhorter Todd J. , Karasov William H. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARY
Increasing evidence indicates that small birds have more extensive non-mediated, paracellular intestinal absorption of hydrosoluble compounds than do mammals, although studies have not employed uniform methodologies or demonstrated differences at the tissue level. The mechanistic bases behind apparent species differences are poorly understood. We show using uniform methodology at the whole-animal level that intact, unanesthetized pigeons had significantly higher absorption of l-arabinose and l-rhamnose, two water-soluble compounds used to measure paracellular absorption, than similarly sized laboratory rats. The species differences were also evident using perfused isolated loops of duodenum,showing that the difference in paracellular absorption occurred at the tissue level, even when d-glucose absorption rates(transcellular+paracellular) were similar between the two species. The greater absorption of these probes in pigeons could not be explained by mediated uptake of the putative paracellular probes, or by increased nominal surface area, increased villus area or increased number of tight junctions. Rats and pigeons had comparable absorption of larger probes, which is consistent with similar effective pore size of the tight junction between enterocytes. The elimination of these mechanistic explanations might suggest that pigeon intestine has relatively higher paracellular solvent drag, but pigeon duodenal segments did not have higher net water absorption than rat duodenal segments. Whatever the exact mechanism(s), the paracellular pathway of both species limits substantial (&gt;5%) fractional absorption to molecules smaller than about 4.8 Å (Mr ca. 350), and permeability to smaller molecules at the tissue level is higher in pigeons than in rats.