bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of uric acid concentrations in human tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum
Authors: Horwath‐Winter Jutta , Kirchengast Sieglinde , Meinitzer Andreas , Wachswender Christine , Faschinger Christoph , Schmut Otto 
Published: June 2008

Abstract.Purpose:  The aim of this investigation was to assess and compare levels of uric acid in human tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum in cataract patients in order to obtain information about uric acid‐dependent antioxidative status.Methods:  Reflex tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum were obtained from 103 cataract patients (52 women, 51 men). Uric acid was determined by a reversed phase chromatographic method with electrochemical detection. The Randox test was used to measure the contribution of uric acid to the total antioxidative status (TAS) of these body fluids.Results:  Mean concentrations of uric acid were 20 ± 8 μg/ml in tear fluid, 18 ± 6 μg/ml in aqueous humour and 58 ± 15 μg/ml in serum. Significantly less uric acid was found in tear fluid (p < 0.01) and aqueous humour (p < 0.01) in female cataract patients compared with male cataract patients. There was a significant positive correlation between uric acid content in tear fluid, aqueous humour and serum, respectively (p < 0.01). The contribution of uric acid to TAS (Randox test) amounted to 38% in tear fluid, 10% in aqueous humour and 37% in serum.Conclusions:  Uric acid was found in comparable amounts in tear fluid and aqueous humour, but these were two‐ to threefold lower than in serum. Female cataract patients had lower uric acid values in tear fluid and aqueous humour compared with male cataract patients. Uric acid is an important antioxidant, as proven by its contribution to TAS as determined by the Randox test. The precise role of uric acid in the antioxidative reactions in tear fluid and aqueous humour is still under debate.
A FORMULATION OF THE BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHOD FOR ACOUSTIC RADIATION AND SCATTERING FROM TWO-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES
Authors: CHEN Z.-S. , WAUBKE H. 
Published: June 2008

A code for the boundary element method (BEM) for two-dimensional acoustic radiation and scattering problems is developed. To overcome the singularity problem of the integral equations at characteristic frequencies, the Burton–Miller method is employed in the formulation. The integral equations are then discretized by using the two-nodal constant elements and a collocation procedure. The hyper and weakly singular integrals in each element containing the collocation points are computed analytically and numerically respectively (stark singularity does not appear). In outdoor acoustic, the ground surface can be seen occasionally as an infinite surface with a given constant impedance. In this case the ground surface can either be discretized by using finite and infinite boundary elements or simulated by using the Green functions for impedance half space. The method to compute such Green functions presented in Ref. 1, is improved and used in the code. A formulation of the infinite boundary element is proposed. The two BEM approaches for the impedance half space problems are tested by means of examples and the agreement is found to be good.
IMPROVING UNIVERSITY PERFORMANCE THROUGH ICT BASED KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: NUMPRASERTCHAI SOMCHAI , POOVARAWAN YUEN 
Published: June 2008

Public universities are widely regarded not only as teaching establishments but also as organizations that create new knowledge and support social communities. Due to great competition at higher education level, a number of universities have implemented strategies and tools that improve the quality of students and research results and provide several community services for building their competitiveness. Knowledge management (KM) is usually recommended as one of the important roles to improve efficiency and effectiveness in university mandates and provide many benefits to a university.Kasetsart University (KU), one of the Thailand's largest and most progressive public universities, has applied ICT based KM in its strategies in order to overcome resource scarcity and enhance its capabilities. It has developed several KM practices and projects using ICT in several activities which relate to mandates.The initial findings indicate that (1) an ICT based KM system significantly enhances the university's performance in terms of its quality of students, research results and innovative community services. (2) The specific KM practices and projects support different aspects of university mandates. This ICT based KM system has been implemented and proved to be practical. This system is suitable for the university in terms of its educational mission, research, and community services. This model could be the best practice for further improvement and could be customized to fit other universities in other developing countries.
Early Deletion and Late Positive Selection of T‐Cells Expressing a Male‐Specific Receptor in T‐Cell ReceptorTransgenic Mice
Authors: Teh Hung Sia , Kishi Hiroyuki , Scott Bernadette , Borgulya Peter , Von Boehmer Harald , Kisielow Pawel 
Published: June 2008

The ontogeny of T cells in T‐cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice, which express a transgenic
αβ heterodimer, specific for the male (H‐Y) antigen in association with H‐2Db, was determined. The transgenic α chain was expressed on about 10% of the fetal thymocytes on day
14 of gestation. About 50% of day‐15 fetal thymocytes expressed both α and β transchains and virtually all fetal thymocytes expressed the transgenicαβ
heterodimer by day 17. The
early expression of the transgenic TCR on CD4-8- thymocytes prevented the development of γδ cells, and led to accelerated growth of thymocytes and an earlier expression of CD4 and
CD8 molecules. Up to day 17, no significant differences in T‐cell development could be
detected between female and male thymuses. By day 18 of gestation, the male transgenic
thymus contained more CD4-8- thymocytes than the female transgenic thymus. The
preponderance of CD4-8- thymocytes in the male transgenic thymus increased until birth
and was a consequence of the deletion of the CD4+8+ thymocytes and their CD4-8+ precursors. By the time of birth, the male transgenic thymus contained half the number of cells as the female transgenic thymus. The deletion of autospecific precursor cells in the male
transgenic mouse began only at day 18 of gestation, despite the fact that the ligand could
already be detected by day 16.The preferential accumulation of CD4-8+ T cells, which expressed a high density of the transgenic TCR, occurred only after birth and was .obvious in 6‐week‐old female thymus.
These data support the hypothesis that the positive selection of T cells expressing this transgenic
heterodimer may involve two steps, i.e., the commitment of CD4+8+ thymocytes to the
CD4-8+ lineage following the interaction of the transgenic TCR with restricting major histocompatibility
molecules, followed by a slow conversion of CD4+8+ thymocytes into CD4-8+
T cells.In normal mice, the precursors of CD+4+8 and single positive thymocytes have the
CD4-8- CD3-J11d+ (or M1/69 +) phenotype. Because of the early expression of the transgenic
αβ heterodimer, this population was not detected in adult transgenic mice. All CD4-8- M1/
69+ cells expressed the transgenic receptor associated with CD3 and could be readily grown
in media containing T‐cell lectins and interleukin 2.
Successful Xenogeneic Transplantation in Embryos: Induction of Tolerance by Extrathymic Chick TissueGrafted into Quail
Authors: Martin Claude , Ohki-Hamazaki Hiroko , Corbel Catherine , Coltey Monique , Le Douarin Nicole M. 
Published: June 2008

In previous experiments, we have demonstrated that limb buds engrafted during
embryonic life at E4, between MHC‐mismatched chick embryos, are not only tolerated
after birth, but induce in the recipient a state of split tolerance toward cells expressing
the donor MHC haplotype: donor′s skin grafts are permanently tolerated while a
proliferative response of host′s T cells is generated in MLR by donor–type blood cells. If
the same experiment is performed, using quail embryo as a donor and chick as a
recipient, acute rejection of the quail limb starts during the first two weeks after birth,
thus suggesting that the peripheral type of tolerance induced in these experiments can
be obtained only in allogeneic but not in xenogeneic combinations.We report here the unexpected result that when a chick limb bud is grafted into a
quail at E4, it is tolerated and, like allogeneic grafts in chickens, induces adult skin‐graft
tolerance without modifying the MLR response. Similar results were obtained with
grafts from another closely related species of bird, the guinea fowl from the Phasianidae
family. In contrast, xenogeneic combinations involving more distant species (chick and
quail as recipients and duck, an Anatidae, as donor) resulted in strong and early rejection
from both recipients. As a whole, quails exhibit a greater ability than the chick to
become tolerant to antigens presented peripherally from early developmental stages. In
adult quails, however, skin grafts performed in either direction (i.e., quail to chick or the
reverse) are rejected according to a similar temporal pattern. Moreover, lymphocytes of
both species are able to respond equally well to quail or chick IL‐2. Several hypotheses
are envisaged to account for these observations. It seems likely that this type of
tolerance is directly related to antigenic load because the load in chick to quail wing
chimeras is larger than that in quail to chick chimeras. This view is supported by the
protracted delay in graft rejection observed when two quail wing buds instead of one
are grafted into chickens.
Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ) Is Produced by and Influences the Proliferative Response of Xenopus laevis Lymphocytes
Authors: Haynes Laura , Cohen Nicholas 
Published: June 2008

Both TGF/β2 and 5 have been described in the South African clawed frog Xenopus laevis
and have been cloned from the tadpole‐derived fibroblast cell line, XTC. Because TGFβ
has such a profound inhibitory effect on the mammalian immune system, this study was
performed to determine whether TGFβ: (a) has any in vitro effects on the growth of
Xenopus lymphoblasts, and (b) is produced by mitogen‐activated Xenopus lymphocytes.Following stimulation with mitogen or alloantigen, T lymphocytes from Xenopus
secrete a T‐cell growth factor (TCGF) that is functionally homologous to mammalian
interleukin‐2 (IL‐2). Both recombinant human TGFβ1 and Xenopus TGFβ5 inhibit TCGF‐induced
proliferation of Xenopus splenic blasts and this inhibition can be reversed with
anti‐pan TGFβ antiserum. The Xenopus mitogen‐induced saturated ammonium sulfate
precipitated TCGF‐containing supernatant (SAS TCGF SN) also contains latent TGFβ as
assayed on mink lung fibroblasts and Xenopus splenic blasts, and experiments utilizing
anti‐TGFβ antiserum showed that only TGFβ5 is present in this supernatant.
Antigenic Stimuli do not Influence Thymic B Lymphocytes: A Morphological and Functional Study inGerm‐Free and Conventionally Reared Piglets
Authors: Cukrowska B. , Trebichavský I. , Rossmann P. , Řeháková Z. , ŠInkora J. , Haverson K. , Lodinová-Žádníková R. , Tlaskalová-Hogenová H. 
Published: June 2008

We have recently reported that thymic B lymphocytes (TBL) are the first B‐cell subpopulation
undergoing isotype switching to IgG and IgA during embryonic life. The aim of this study is to
analyze the influence of antigenic stimulation on TBL location and activity using a germ‐free
(GF) newborn pig model, in which maternal antibodies and antigens do not affect B‐cell
development. Immunohistological analysis showed that TBL were disseminated mainly in the
thymic medulla. There were no differences in the distribution of TBL, both in GF newborn
piglets before and after colonization with Escherichia coli and in older conventionally reared
(CONV) piglets. The number of immunoglobulin (Ig)‐secreting cells measured by the ELISPOT
method was not influenced by microflora and food antigens. IgM‐positive cells secreting IgM
and CD45RC‐positive cells spontaneously producing IgM, IgG, and IgA were detected in
newborn thymus.Our findings suggest that TBL differentiation and Ig switching to IgG and IgA‐secreting cells is
not influenced by external antigens and that the thymic microenviroment plays an important role
in this process.
Glucocorticoids Induce a TH2 Response In Vitro
Authors: Ramírez Francisco 
Published: June 2008

Purified rat CD4+ T cells were activated in vitro, by the polyclonal mitogen Concanavalin A (Con A) or by
mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), in the presence or absence of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX).
They were then expanded in IL‐2 and subsequently restimulated, this time in the absence of the hormone.
The results indicate that the exposure of the cells to DEX in the primary stimulation changed the cytokine synthesis
induced by the secondary stimulation. IL‐4 production was increased by the pretreatment whereas synthesis of
IFN‐γ was diminished. Addition of DEX in the second activation suppressed all cytokine
production. In brief, the transient presence of glucocorticoids in the culture induces a change in the pattern of
cytokine production but the continuous presence causes inhibition of cytokine synthesis. Further studies in which
IL‐4 was used together with DEX showed that the cytokine potentiated the effect of the hormone.The data here presented suggest that glucocorticoids and the neuroendocrine system may be expected
to have long‐term immunological effects as well as short‐lived immunosuppressive ones. High concentration of
glucocorticoids suppress cytokine production but when steroids return to basal levels the immune response is
directed in a way that favors Th2‐type reactions. Possible implications regarding the immune response to pathogens
and autoantigens are discussed.
Human FDC express PrPc invivo and invitro
Authors: Thielen Caroline , Antoine Nadine , Mélot France , Cesbron Jean-Yves , Heinen Ernst , Tsunoda Rikiya 
Published: June 2008

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by accumulation of abnormal
prion protein (protease‐resistant prion, PrPres). PrPres accumulation is also detected in lymphoid
organs after peripheral infection. Several studies suggest that follicular dendritic cells
(FDC) could be the site of PrPres retention and amplification.Here we show that human follicular dendritic cells can express normal cellular prion protein
(PrPc) both insitu and invitro. When tonsillar cryosections were treated with anti‐PrP
antibody, the label was found on some very delicate cell extensions inside the lymphoid follicles,
especially in the germinal centres. These extensions react with DRC1 antibody, used frequently
to label FDC. Other structures labelled with anti‐PrP antibody were the keratinocytes.To confirm the ability of FDC to synthesise PrPc, we isolated FDC by a non‐enzymatic
procedure and cultured them. By cytochemistry and flow cytometry it was clearly shown that
FDC do produce PrPc.
Increased platelet sensitivity among individuals with aspirin resistance – Platelet aggregation to submaximal concentration of arachidonic acid predicts response to antiplatelet therapy
Authors: Guthikonda Sasidhar , Mangalpally Kirankumar , Patel Rajnikant , DeLao Timothy , Bergeron Angela L. , Dong Jing-Fei , Lev Eli I. , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Kleiman Neal S. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryAspirin ‘resistance’ (AR) is a phenomenon of uncertain etiology describing decreased platelet inhibition by aspirin. We studied whether (i) platelets inAR demonstrate increased basal sensitivity to a lower degree of stimulation and (ii) platelet aggregation with submaximal stimulation could predict responses to aspirin. Serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels and platelet aggregation with light transmission aggregometry (LTA ) were measured at baseline and 24 hours after 325 mg aspirin administration in 58 healthy subjects. AR was defined as the upper sixth of LTA (≥ 12%) to 1.5 mM AA. Baseline platelet aggregation with sub-maximal concentrations of agonists [ADP 2 µM, arachidonic acid (AA) 0.75 mM, collagen 0.375 and 0.5 µg/ml] was greater in AR subjects compared with non-AR subjects, but not with higher concentrations (ADP 5 µM and 20 µM, AA 1.5 mM and collagen 1 µg/ml). Post-aspirin platelet aggregation was elevated in AR subjects with both submaximal and maximal stimulation. Baseline and post-aspirin serumTxB2 were higher inAR subjects and decreased further with ex-vivo COX -1 inhibition, suggesting incompletely suppressed COX -1 activity. Pre-aspirin platelet aggregation to 0.75 AA demonstrated a dichotomous response with 29/58 subjects having aggregation ≤15% and 29/58 subjects having aggregation ≥75%. In the high aggregation group 28% had AR compared to 6% in the non-AR group (p=0.04). In conclusion, platelets in AR subjects demonstrate increased basal sensitivity to submaximal stimulation, which could predict responses to antiplatelet therapy.
Absolute risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in thrombophilic families is not increased by high thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels
Authors: Coppens Michiel , veeger Nic J. G. M. , Bom Victor J. J. , Middeldorp Saskia , Hamulyak Karly , Prins Martin H. , Büller Harry R. , van der Meer Jan , Folkeringa Nienke 
Published: June 2008

SummaryHigh levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) are a supposed risk factor for thrombosis. However, results from previous studies are conflicting. We assessed the absolute risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in subjects with high TAFI levels (>126 U/dl) versus subjects with normal levels, and the contribution of other concomitant thrombophilic defects. Relatives from four identical cohort studies in families with either deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C or protein S, prothrombin 20210A, high factor VIII levels, or hyperhomocysteinemia were pooled. Probands were excluded. Of 1,940 relatives, 187 had high TAFI levels. Annual incidences of venous thromboembolism were 0.23% in relatives with high TAFI levels versus 0.26% in relatives with normal TAFI levels (adjusted relative risk [RR] 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5–1.3). For arterial thrombosis these were 0.31% versus 0.23% (adjusted RR 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9–2.2). High levels of factor VIII, IX and XI were observed more frequently in relatives with high TAFI levels. Only high factor VIII levels were associated with an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis, independently of TAFI levels. None of these concomitant defects showed interaction with high TAFI levels. High TAFI levels were not associated with an increased risk of venous and arterial thromboembolism in thrombophilic families.
Formation of tissue factor-factor VIIa-factor Xa complex induces activation of the mTOR pathway which regulates migration of human breast cancer cells
Authors: Jiang Xiaofeng , Zhu Shimei , Panetti Tracee S. , Bromberg Michael E. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryTissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that initiates blood coagulation when complexed with activated factor VII (FVIIa).TF is constitutively expressed in a variety of tumor cells and has been implicated in cellular signaling, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. Formation of TF-FVIIa complex and generation of downstream coagulation proteases, including activated factor X (FXa) and thrombin, initiate signaling by activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs).We have previously shown thatTFFVIIa-Xa complex formation promotes phosphorylation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt/protein kinase B in human breast cancer cells. In the present study, we show that formation of TF-FVIIa-FXa complex induces phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p70 S6 kinase in a human breast cancer cell line, Adr-MCF-7. Activation of the mTOR pathway, which is probably mediated by PAR1 and/or PAR2, was associated with enhanced cell migration, a key step in the metastatic cascade. Inhibition of this pathway with the specific mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, markedly decreased cell migration induced by formation of TFFVIIa-FXa complex. These studies suggest thatTFFVIIa-mediated signaling modulates mTOR pathway activation, which regulates in part breast cancer cell migration. Targeting the TF-mediated cell signaling pathway might represent a novel strategy for the treatment of breast cancer.
An observational study of sucrose-formulated recombinant factor VIII for Japanese patients with haemophilia A
Authors: Ikegawa Chiho , koyama ChisatoYo , Haupt Verena , Delumeau Jean-Christophe 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe safety and efficacy of sucrose-formulated recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII-FS; Kogenate® FS) under usual clinical practice were evaluated for 12 months in an observational, postmarketing surveillance study conducted at 214 treatment centres throughout Japan. The study included 631 patients with haemophilia A, 80% of whom had severe or moderately-severe disease (≤2% FVIII:C).Most patients (n=477;75.6%) had >100 prior exposure days (EDs), but the study also included 62 (9.8%) patients with <20 EDs who were at high risk for inhibitor development. A total of 71,240 infusions were administered during the observation (mean, 113 ± 108 per patient). Physicians rated efficacy and tolerability of rFVIII-FS as “very good” or “good” in >99% of patients. FVIII inhibitors were observed in seven patients (5 de novo; 1 persistent/fluctuating; 1 recurrent).The overall de novo inhibitor incidence was 0.8% (5/631; or 5/599 among the subgroup of patients with negative baseline titre and no known inhibitor history).De novo cases represented 3.2% (2/62) of patients with <20 EDs at enrollment (2/57 in the no inhibitor subgroup) and 0.2 % (1/477) of patients pretreated with >100 EDs (1/452 in the no inhibitor subgroup) at enrollment. The results of this large observational study demonstrate that rFVIII-FS is both safe and efficacious as used in the usual clinical setting for the treatment of Japanese patients with mild to severe haemophiliaA. This study supports the efficacy of rFVIII-FS with an incidence of inhibitor formation no greater than in a comparable European study or previous phase III clinical studies.
Immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis is ameliorated by thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor deficiency
Authors: Bruno Nelson E. , Yano Yutaka , Takei Yoshiyuki , Qin Liqiang , Suzuki Toshinari , Morser John , D’Alessandro-Gabazza Corina N. , Mizoguchi Akira , Suzuki Koji , Taguchi Osamu , Sumida Yasuhiro , Gabazza Esteban C. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe activity of plasmin plays a critical role in the development of chronic glomerulonephritis. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a potent inhibitor of plasmin generation. We hypothesized thatTAFI is involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis because it inhibits plasmin generation. To demonstrate this hypothesis, we compared the development of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis in wild-type and TAFI-deficient mice. After six weeks of treatment with horse spleen apoferritin and lipoplysaccharide to induce glomerulonephritis, mice deficient in TAFI had significantly better renal function as shown by lower concentrations of albumin in urine and blood urea nitrogen compared to wild-type mice. In addition, the activity of plasmin and matrix metalloproteinases was significantly increased, and mesangial matrix expansion and the deposition of collagen and fibrin in kidney tissues were significantly decreased in TAFI-knockout mice as compared to their wildtype counterparts. Depletion of fibrinogen by batroxobin (Defibrase) treatment led to equalization of the renal function and the amount of collagen deposition in the kidneys of TAFI-knockout and wild-type mice with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Together these observations suggest that TAFI-mediated inhibition of plasmin generation plays a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, and that it may constitute a novel molecular target for the therapy of this disease.