bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of the FABP2 A54T Mutation on Triglyceride Metabolism of Viscerally Obese Men
Authors: Berthier Marie‐Thérèse , Couillard Charles , Prud'homme Denis , Nadeau André , Bergeron Jean , Tremblay Angelo , Després Jean‐Pierre , Vohl Marie‐Claude 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective: Viscerally obese individuals are frequently characterized by a proatherogenic condition. A missense mutation (A54T) in the fatty acid binding protein type 2 (FABP2) gene has been associated with insulin resistance and obesity. This study examined the effect of this mutation on lipoprotein levels in viscerally obese hyperinsulinemic condition.Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 217 men were assigned to one of two groups based on their FABP2 A54T polymorphism.Results: The two genotypic groups showed no difference in either physiological characteristics or lipoprotein/lipid profile, before or after statistical adjustment for age. From this initial sample, 50 men accepted to have their postprandial lipid response assessed and 10 T54/A54 heterozygotes were then individually matched for visceral adipose tissue accumulation and fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) levels with 10 A54/A54 homozygotes. High‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐TG levels were significantly increased in the fasting state as well as 4 hours after the test meal (p = 0.04 and p = 0.0008, respectively) in men bearing the A54T mutation. In addition, the area under the curve of postprandial HDL‐TG levels was also significantly higher among T54/A54 heterozygotes than among A54/A54 homozygotes (p = 0.04). Interestingly, fasting TG concentrations in large TG‐rich lipoproteins (large‐TRL; Sf > 400) were correlated with HDL‐TG levels at 4 (r = 0.74, p = 0.01) and 8 hours (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) after the test meal in T54/A54 heterozygotes only.Discussion: The FABP2 A54T missense mutation may contribute to the TG enrichment of HDL in the postprandial state that, in turn, may alter the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
High-b-value diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of pancreatic cancer and mass-forming chronic pancreatitis: preliminary results
Authors: Takeuchi M. , Matsuzaki K. , Kubo H. , Nishitani H. 
Published: April 2008

Background: Mass-forming chronic pancreatitis may mimic a pancreatic cancer on dynamic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and preoperative differential diagnosis is often difficult. Recently, the usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer has been reported in several studies. Purpose: To determine whether high- b-value DWI can distinguish pancreatic cancer from benign mass-forming chronic pancreatitis. Material and Methods: Twenty pancreatic cancers and four cases of mass-forming chronic pancreatitis were evaluated by high- b-value DWI ( b=800 s/mm2). The signal intensity on DWI was visually evaluated, and the isotropic apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured. Results: All twenty pancreatic cancers showed high signal intensity (18 showed very high, two showed slightly high) on DWI. None of the mass-forming chronic pancreatitis cases showed very high intensity (three showed iso to low, one showed slightly high) on DWI. The ADCs in the pancreatic cancer and mass-forming chronic pancreatitis were 1.38±0.32×10−3 mm2/s and 1.00±0.18×10−3 mm2/s, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion: On high- b-value DWI, most pancreatic cancers showed very high signal intensity, and may hence be distinguished from benign mass-forming chronic pancreatitis based on our preliminary results.
The proteosomal degradation of fusion proteins cannot be predicted from the proteosome susceptibility of their individual components
Authors: Ilyinskii Petr O. , Meriin Anatoli B. , Gabai Vladimir L. , Usachev Evgeny V. , Prilipov Alexei G. , Thoidis Galini , Shneider Alexander M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIt is assumed that the proteosome‐processing characteristics of fusion constructs can be predicted from the sum of the proteosome sensitivity of their components. In the present study, we observed that a fusion construct consisting of proteosome‐degradable proteins does not necessarily result in a proteosome‐degradable chimera. Conversely, fusion of proteosome‐resistant proteins may result in a proteosome‐degradable composite. We previously demonstrated that conserved influenza proteins can be unified into a single fusion antigen that is protective, and that vaccination with combinations of proteosome‐resistant and proteosome‐degradable antigens resulted in an augmented T‐cell response. In the present study we constructed proteosome‐degradable mutants of conserved influenza proteins NP, M1, NS1, and M2. These were then fused into multipartite proteins in different positions. The stability and degradation profiles of these fusion constructs were demonstrated to depend on the relative position of the individual proteins within the chimeric molecule. Combining unstable sequences of either NP and M1 or NS1 and M2 resulted in either rapidly proteosome degraded or proteosome‐resistant bipartite fusion mutants. However, further unification of the proteosome‐degradable forms into a single four‐partite fusion molecule resulted in relatively stable chimeric proteins. Conversely, the addition of proteosome‐resistant wild‐type M2 to proteosome‐resistant NP–M1–NS1 fusion protein lead to the decreased stability of the resulting four‐partite multigene products, which in one case was clearly proteosome dependent. Additionally, a highly destabilized form of M1 failed to destabilize the wild‐type NP. Collectively, we did not observe any additive effect leading to proteosomal degradation/nondegradation of a multigene construct.
A comparison of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and smoking prevalence across countries
Authors: Fagerström Karl , Furberg Helena 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTAims  To examine the correlation between the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score and smoking prevalence across countries.Design  Cross‐sectional study.Setting  Fifteen studies from 13 countries with FTND score data.Participants  Samples of smokers were identified through systematic literature searches, web queries and colleagues. Smokers were considered representative of their country's smoking population if they were drawn from population‐based sources, were not seeking smoking cessation treatment and did not have significant comorbidities. Smoking prevalence data were derived from the study itself or the country's population rate of daily smoking for the study year.Measurements  A Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the direction and magnitude of the correlation between FTND score and smoking prevalence across countries.Findings  FTND scores ranged from 2.8 to 4.6. Smokers in Germany and Norway had the lowest FTND scores, while smokers in Sweden and the United States had the highest FTND scores. The prevalence of daily smoking in these countries was very different: 37% and 30% in Germany and Norway, 19% and 16% in the United States and Sweden, respectively. An inverse correlation towards higher FTND scores in countries with lower smoking prevalence was found (r =−0.73, P = 0.001). Current smokers had higher FTND scores than former smokers.Conclusions  The significant inverse correlation between FTND score and smoking prevalence across countries and higher FTND score among current smokers supports the idea that remaining smokers may be hardening. Less dependent smokers may quit more easily and remaining dependent smokers may need more intensive treatment.
Relationships among burnout, coping style and personality: Study of Japanese professional caregivers for elderly
Authors: Narumoto Jin , Nakamura Kaeko , Kitabayashi Yurinosuke , Shibata Keisuke , Nakamae Takashi , Fukui Kenji 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  To investigate relationships among burnout, coping style and personality.Methods:  Seventy‐two professional caregivers working at nursing homes in Japan were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), NEO Five‐Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI), 30‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS).Results:  GHQ (β = 0.34, P < 0.01) and emotion‐oriented coping (CISS‐E; β = 0.31, P < 0.05) were the predictors of emotional exhaustion (MBI‐EE), and neuroticism (NEO‐N; β = 0.45, P < 0.001) and age (β = ‐0.23, P < 0.05) were the predictors of depersonalization (MBI‐DP). Structural equation modeling showed that NEO‐N affected the burnout scores through CISS‐E, and that age and GHQ affected the burnout scores independently.Conclusion:  Personality affects burnout through coping style in professional caregivers.
Displacement, Estrangement and Sovereignty: Reconfiguring State Power in Urban South Africa
Authors: Landau Loren B. , Monson Tamlyn 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAcademic writing often portrays migrants as either passive victims of violence and aid recipients or as courageous heroes facing horrific indifference and hazards. This article recodes them and their activities as potent forces for reshaping practices of state power. In this depiction, displacement also becomes a lens for re-evaluating the nature of sovereignty in urban Africa. Through its focus on Johannesburg this article explores how migrant communities intentionally and inadvertently evade, erode and exploit state policies, practices and shortcomings. Rather than being bound by their ambiguous status, they exploit their exclusion to exercise forms of autonomy and freedom in their engagement with the state and its street-level manifestations. Through these interactions, displacement and the continued mobility of urban residents is generating new forms of non-state-centric urban sovereignties and new patterns of transnational governance shaped, but not controlled, by state institutions. To recognize these evolving configurations we must look beyond Manichaean perspectives to see the full nature and degree of territorial control.
A pilot study for screening blood donors in Taiwan by nucleic acid amplification technology: detecting occult hepatitis B virus infections and closing the serologic window period for hepatitis C virus
Authors: Li Lei , Chen Pei‐Jer , Chen Ming‐Hung , Chak Kin‐Fu , Lin Kuo‐Sin , Tsai Su‐Jen Lin 
Published: April 2008

BACKGROUND: Blood donors in Taiwan currently are screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by immunoassay. The risk of enzyme immunoassay (EIA)‐negative, nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT)‐reactive donations is not well understood. This study aimed to screen for such donors in Taiwan by a multiplex test (cobas TaqScreen, Roche) on a commercially available NAT system (cobas s 201 system, Roche).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: NAT was performed on donors without prescreening in pools of six and NAT‐reactive pools were then resolved to the single donation. Individual‐donor NAT–reactive samples were discriminated by a commercially available polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based diagnostic assay (COBAS AmpliScreen, Roche). Samples with EIA‐ and NAT‐discordant results were investigated with supplemental serologic and confirmatory tests. Each sample taken from follow‐up of HBV NAT yield cases was tested for HBV serologic profile, NAT, and viral load. The sensitivity and performance efficacy were also evaluated.RESULTS: The 95 percent limit of detection (LOD) for HBV, HCV, and HIV were 5.09, 11.83, and 62.53 IU per mL, respectively. Among 10,727 seronegative donations, 12 HBV NAT yield cases (0.11%) and 1 HCV NAT yield case (0.01%) were detected. Follow‐up results for 1 to 8 months showed that the HCV yield case was a window case and all HBV NAT yield cases were occult carriers.CONCLUSION: The use of NAT detected occult HBV and reduced HCV window period. The yield rate, especially occult HBV, was 10‐ to 100‐fold higher than that in developed, HBV nonendemic countries. Therefore, NAT implementation for routine donor screening in a more cost‐effective manner should contribute to safer blood transfusion in Taiwan.
Systematic Review of Emergency Physician–performed Ultrasonography for Lower‐Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Burnside Patrick R. , Brown Michael D. , Kline Jeffrey A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjectives:  The authors performed a systematic review to evaluate published literature on diagnostic performance of emergency physician–performed ultrasonography (EPPU) for the diagnosis and exclusion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).Methods:  Structured search criteria were used to query MEDLINE and EMBASE, followed by a hand search of published bibliographies. Relevance and inclusion criteria required prospective investigation of emergency department (ED) outpatients with suspected DVT; diagnostic evaluations had to consist of EPPU followed by criterion standard (radiology‐performed) imaging. Two authors independently extracted data from included studies; study quality was assessed utilizing a validated tool for quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS). Pooled data were analyzed using an unweighted summary receiver‐operating‐characteristic (SROC) curve; sensitivity and specificity were estimated using a random effects model.Results:  The initial search yielded 1,162 publications. Relevance screening and selection yielded six articles including 936 patients. Four of the six studies reported adequate blinding but a number of other methodologic flaws were identified. A random effects model yielded an overall sensitivity of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87 to 0.99) and specificity of 0.96 (95% CI = 0.87 to 0.99).Conclusions:  Systematic review of six studies suggests that EPPU may be accurate for the diagnosis of DVT compared with radiology‐performed ultrasound (US). However, given the methodologic limitations identified among the primary studies, the estimates of diagnostic test performance may be overly optimistic. Further research into EPPU for suspected DVT is needed before it can be adopted into routine clinical practice.
Colour M‐mode tissue Doppler imaging in healthy cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Koffas H. , Dukes‐McEwan J. , Corcoran B. M. , Moran C. M. , French A. , Sboros V. , Simpson K. , Anderson T. , McDicken W. N. 
Published: April 2008

Objectives:To determine whether decreased diastolic and systolic myocardial velocity gradient between the endocardium and the epicardium exist in the left ventricle of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Methods:Myocardial velocity gradient and mean myocardial velocities were measured by colour M‐mode tissue Doppler imaging in the left ventricular free wall of 20 normal cats and 17 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Results:The peak myocardial velocity gradient (sec−1) during the first (E1) (5·71±1·75versus11·38±3·1, P<0·001) and second phase (E2) (3·09±1·53versus7·02±3·1, P=0·005) of early diastole and also the maximum early diastolic myocardial velocity gradient (Emax) (6·12±2·1versus10·76±3·2, P<0·001) were reduced in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared with normal cats. Peak myocardial velocity gradient during early systole (Se) was lower in affected cats than in normal cats (6·26±2·08versus8·67±2·83, P=0·006). Affected cats had a lower peak mean myocardial velocities (mm/s) during the two isovolumic periods (IVRb and IVCb) compared with normal cats (2·97±6·76versus12·74±5·5 and 22·28±9·96versus38·65±10·1, P<0·001, respectively).ClinicalSignificance:This study shows that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cats have decreased myocardial velocity gradient during both diastole and systole and also altered myocardial motion during the two isovolumic periods. Myocardial velocity gradients recorded by colour M‐mode tissue Doppler imaging can discriminate between the healthy and diseased myocardium.
Ultra‐low Temperature Oxidation of 5,6‐Dihydroxyindole: A Novel Approach to Study Synthetic Melanogenesis†
Authors: Hatcher Lanying Q. , Simon John D. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe detailed structure of melanin remains elusive due to the complexity and insolubility of the pigment. Herein we describe a novel oxidation of 5,6‐dihydroxyindole (DHI) as a means to characterize soluble intermediates formed prior to oligomerization. The approach entails the use of a biomimetic copper‐peroxo oxidant, at ultra‐low temperature (−78°C). DHI oxidized by [LCuII(O2)CuIIL]B(C6F5)4 (L = 2,6,10‐trimethyl‐2,6,10‐triazaundecane) under argon produces the one electron oxidation product, semiquinone radical, which is spectroscopically observed at −78°C. MS analysis of the reaction mixture reveals the DHI dimer as well as other extensively oxidized DHI units.
Influence of pH upon Surface‐enhanced Enzyme‐catalyzed Luminol Chemiluminescence at Vicinity of Nanoscale‐corrugated Gold and Silver Films
Authors: Ou Meigui , Lu Guowei , Shen Hong , Descamps Armel , Marquette Christophe André , Blum Loïc Jacques , Roux Stéphane , Tillement Olivier , Cheng Bolin , Perriat Pascal 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAu and Ag biochips were fabricated to investigate the influence of pH upon the chemiluminescence (CL) of luminol at vicinity of surface‐adsorbed peroxidase. A nanoscaled‐corrugation of the metal induces an enhancement of the luminol CL which is maximal in the pH range favoring peroxidase catalysis and greater for gold than for silver. This is the proof that, in the CL process, the reactions involving peroxidase are surface‐enhanced near corrugated surfaces.
Clonal Spread of Highly β-Lactam-Resistant
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Isolates in Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Yu-Chia , Chang Kuang-Yi , Huang Yi-Chuan , Lin Hsiao-Chuan , Ho Yu-Huai , Huang Li-Min , Hsueh Po-Ren 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of 364
Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates and studied the genotypes of
S. pneumoniae
with high level β-lactam resistance in Taiwan. Clonal complexes related to Spain
23F
-1, Taiwan
19F
-14, and Taiwan
23F
-15 were responsible for the spread of isolates with high β-lactam resistance.
Selection of Replicon Variants Resistant to ACH-806, a Novel Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitor with No Cross-Resistance to NS3 Protease and NS5B Polymerase Inhibitors
Authors: Yang Wengang , Zhao Yongsen , Fabrycki Joanne , Hou Xiaohong , Nie Xingtie , Sanchez Amy , Phadke Avinash , Deshpande Milind , Agarwal Atul , Huang Mingjun 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT
We have discovered a novel class of compounds active against hepatitis C virus (HCV), using a surrogate cellular system, HCV replicon cells. The leading compound in the series, ACH-806 (GS-9132), is a potent and specific inhibitor of HCV. The selection of resistance replicon variants against ACH-806 was performed to map the mutations conferring resistance to ACH-806 and to determine cross-resistance profiles with other classes of HCV inhibitors. Several clones emerged after the addition of ACH-806 to HCV replicon cells at frequencies and durations similar to that observed with NS3 protease inhibitors and NS5B polymerase inhibitors. Phenotypic analyses of these clones revealed that they are resistant to ACH-806 but remain sensitive to other classes of HCV inhibitors. Moreover, no significant change in the susceptibility to ACH-806 was found when the replicon cellular clones resistant to NS3 protease inhibitors and NS5B polymerase inhibitors were examined. Sequencing of the entire coding region of ACH-806-resistant replicon variants yielded several consensus mutations. Reverse genetics identified two single mutations in NS3, a cysteine-to-serine mutation at amino acid 16 and an alanine-to-valine mutation at amino acid 39, that are responsible for the resistance of the replicon variants to ACH-806. Both mutations are located at the N terminus of NS3 where extensive interactions with the central hydrophobic region of NS4A exist. These data provide evidence that ACH-806 inhibits HCV replication by a novel mechanism.
Decrease of Atazanavir and Lopinavir Plasma Concentrations in a Boosted Double Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitor Salvage Regimen
Authors: von Hentig Nils , Kaykhin Pavel , Stephan Christoph , Babacan Errol , Stürmer Martin , Staszewski Schlomo , Lötsch Jörn 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT
The human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor combination of atazanavir (ATV)-lopinavir-ritonavir was reported to exhibit a mutual pharmacoenhancement of plasma lopinavir and ATV concentrations which may be beneficial for salvage patients. We identified 17 patients in our pharmacokinetic database taking this combination and found conflicting results. Plasma concentrations of both ATV and lopinavir were modestly, although not significantly, decreased when the drugs were coadministered. Therefore, patients should be selected carefully for this regimen and frequent clinical and therapeutic drug monitoring is strongly advised.
Inhibition of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Epithelial Cell Interactions by Vaginal
Lactobacillus
Species
Authors: Spurbeck Rachel R. , Arvidson Cindy Grove 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

High levels of
Lactobacillus
, the dominant genus of the healthy human vaginal microbiota, have been epidemiologically linked to a reduced risk of infection following exposure to the sexually transmitted pathogen
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
. In this work, a cell culture model of gonococcal infection was adapted to examine the effects of lactobacilli on gonococcal interactions with endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. Precolonization of epithelial cells with
Lactobacillus jensenii
,
Lactobacillus gasseri
ATCC 33323, or
L. gasseri
ATCC 9857 reduced gonococcal adherence by nearly 50%. Lactobacilli also inhibited gonococcal invasion of epithelial cells by more than 60%, which was independent of the effect on adherence. Furthermore, lactobacilli were able to displace adherent gonococci from epithelial cells, suggesting that these organisms have potential as a postexposure prophylactic. Thus, vaginal lactobacilli have the ability to inhibit gonococci at two key steps of an infection, which might have a significant effect in determining whether the gonococcus will be able to successfully establish an infection following exposure in vivo.
Cyclin D1 and CDK4 Activity Contribute to the Undifferentiated Phenotype in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Molenaar Jan J. , Ebus Marli E. , Koster Jan , Sluis Peter van , van Noesel Carel J.M. , Versteeg Rogier , Caron Huib N. 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Genomic aberrations of Cyclin D1 (CCND1), CDK4, and CDK6 in neuroblastoma indicate that dysregulation of the G1 entry checkpoint is an important cell cycle aberration in this pediatric tumor. Here, we report that analysis of Affymetrix expression data of primary neuroblastic tumors shows an extensive overexpression of Cyclin D1, which correlates with histologic subgroups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed overexpression of Cyclin D1 in neuroblasts and low Cyclin D1 expression in all cell types in ganglioneuroma. This suggests an involvement of G1-regulating genes in neuronal differentiation processes which we further evaluated using RNA interference against Cyclin D1 and its kinase partners CDK4 and CDK6 in several neuroblastoma cell lines. The Cyclin D1 and CDK4 knockdown resulted in pRb pathway inhibition as shown by an almost complete disappearance of CDK4/CDK6-specific pRb phosphorylation, reduction of E2F transcriptional activity, and a decrease of Cyclin A protein levels. Phenotype analysis showed a significant reduction in cell proliferation, a G1-specific cell cycle arrest, and, moreover, an extensive neuronal differentiation. Affymetrix microarray profiling of small interfering RNA–treated cells revealed a shift in expression profile toward a neuronal phenotype. Several new potential downstream players are identified. We conclude that neuroblastoma functionally depend on overexpression of G1-regulating genes to maintain their undifferentiated phenotype. [Cancer Res 2008;68(8):2599–609]