bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BRAF and KRAS mutations in prostatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cho Nam‐Yun , Choi Minhee , Kim Baek‐Hee , Cho Yong‐Mee , Moon Kyung Chul , Kang Gyeong Hoon 
Published: May 2006

AbstractConstitutive activation of the kinase cascade involving RAS, RAF, MEK and ERK is common to human cancers, and mutations of KRAS and BRAF are mutually exclusive and serve as alternatives to activate the RAS/RAF/ERK signaling pathway. RAS mutations are known to occur in prostate adenocarcinomas, but little is known about BRAF mutations in these tumors. In the present study, BRAF and KRAS mutations were characterized in 206 prostate adenocarcinomas by enhanced PCR‐RFLP and direct sequencing. The identified KRAS and BRAF mutations were then analyzed with respect to preoperative serum PSA levels, Gleason scores and tumor stages. Mutations in codon 600 of BRAF were identified in 21 (10.2%) of 206 prostate adenocarcinomas. KRAS mutations in codons 12 or 13 were found in 15 (7.3%) of 206 prostate adenocarcinomas. However, no tumor specimen contained both BRAF and KRAS mutations. Prostate adenocarcinomas with a BRAF mutation tended to show higher preoperative serum PSA levels, Gleason scores and tumor stages than prostate adenocarcinomas with a KRAS mutation. The results obtained show that BRAF mutations are as uncommon as KRAS mutations in prostate adenocarcinoma. Although BRAF and KRAS are members of the same RAS/ERK signaling pathway, prostate adenocarcinomas with a BRAF mutation showed clinicopathologic features that differed from those of prostate adenocarcinoma with a KRAS mutation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Melanocortin 1 receptor variants and skin cancer risk
Authors: Han Jiali , Kraft Peter , Colditz Graham A. , Wong Jason , Hunter David J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractMelanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants are associated with red hair and fair skin color. We assessed the associations of common MC1R genotypes with the risks of 3 types of skin cancer simultaneously in a nested case–control study within the Nurses' Health Study (219 melanoma, 286 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 300 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases, and 873 controls). We found that the 151Cys, 160Trp and 294His variants were significantly associated with red hair, fair skin color and childhood tanning tendency. The MC1R variants, especially the 151Cys variant, were associated with increased risks of the 3 types of skin cancer, after controlling for hair color, skin color and other skin cancer risk factors. Carriers of the 151Cys variant had an OR of 1.65 (95% CI, 1.04–2.59) for melanoma, 1.67 (1.12–2.49) for SCC and 1.56 (1.03–2.34) for BCC. Women with medium or olive skin color carrying 1 nonred hair color allele and 1 red hair color allele had the highest risk of melanoma. A similar interaction pattern was observed for red hair and carrying at least 1 red hair color allele on melanoma risk. We also observed that the 151Cys variant contributed additional melanoma risk amongred‐haired women. The information on MC1R status modestly improved the risk prediction; the increase was significant for melanoma and BCC (p, 0.004 and 0.05, respectively). These findings indicated that the effects of the MC1R variants on skin cancer risk were independent from self‐reported phenotypic pigmentation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biological performance of a new β‐TCP/PLLA composite material for applications in spine surgery: In vitro and in vivo studies
Authors: Aunoble Stephane , Clément Denis , Frayssinet Patrick , Harmand Marie Francois , Le Huec Jean Charles 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe objective of this research was to carry out an in vitro and in vivo study of the biological performance of PLLA/β‐TCP composite materials, to estimate the scope of their potential applications in bone surgery. Samples with increasing β‐TCP (0–60% w/w) contents were processed by injection molding. The in vitro study consisted of an evaluation of inflammatory potential by assaying the IL‐1α secreted by monocytes, and then cell proliferation (counting) and phenotype expression (PAL and I collagen) in human osteogenous cells. The in vivo study was carried out using cylindrical implants of composite materials composed of composite materials containing 0 or 60% β‐TCP and pure β‐TCP, respectively. The implants were inserted in femoral sites in rabbits, using the Kathagen protocol. Each animal received a 60% implant, with either a 0 or a 100% implant in the contralateral femur, so that the materials could be compared with one another. Five animals were examined for each material and implantation period, giving a total of 30 animals. This study showed that adding increasing percentages of β‐TCP to a lactic acid polymer matrix stimulated the proliferation of human osteogenous cells and synthesis of the extracellular bone matrix in a dose‐dependent manner. In vivo results indicate that, in comparison with pure PLA, tricalcium phosphate‐containing composite materials had faster degradation kinetics, caused less inflammatory reaction, and promoted contact osteogenesis. The composite material containing 60% β‐TCP demonstrated a similar performance to pure tricalcium phosphate bone grafts in terms of osteogenesis, and is apparently compatible with the production of intra‐osseous implants for situations representing high levels of mechanical strain. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Selectively crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogels for sustained release formulation of erythropoietin
Authors: Motokawa Keiko , Hahn Sei Kwang , Nakamura Teruo , Miyamoto Hajime , Shimoboji Tsuyoshi 
Published: May 2006

AbstractA novel sustained release formulation of erythropoietin (EPO) was developed using hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. For the preparation of HA hydrogels, adipic acid dihydrazide grafted HA (HA‐ADH) was synthesized and analyzed with 1H NMR. The degree of HA‐ADH modification was about 69%. EPO was in situ encapsulated into HA‐ADH hydrogels through a selective cross‐linking reaction of bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS3) to hydrazide group (pKa = 3.0) of HA‐ADH rather than to amine group (pKa > 9) of EPO. The denaturation of EPO during HA‐ADH hydrogel synthesis was drastically reduced with decreasing pH from 7.4 to 4.8. The specific reactivity of BS3 to hydrazide at pH = 4.8 might be due to its low pKa compared with that of amine. In vitro release of EPO in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C showed that EPO was released rapidly for 2 days and then slowly up to 4 days from HA‐ADH hydrogels. When the hydrogels were dried at 37°C for a day, however, longer release of EPO up to 3 weeks could be demonstrated. According to in vivo release test of EPO from HA‐ADH hydrogels in SD rats, elevated EPO concentration higher than 0.1 ng/mL could be maintained from 7 days up to 18 days depending on the preparation methods of HA‐ADH hydrogels. There was no adverse effect during and after HA‐ADH hydrogel implantation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
AFM force spectroscopy of the fibrinogen adsorption process onto dental implants
Authors: Boukari Abdessamad , Francius Grégory , Hemmerlé Joseph 
Published: May 2006

AbstractProtein binding to implants is governed by the physicochemical properties of the biomaterial surface. The adhesion of a protein onto a solid surface is nonspecific. The aim of this study was to assess the adsorption process of fibrinogen at two different dental implants. The first biomaterial has a sand‐blasted titanium surface, whereas the second one is covered by a calcium phosphate coating. After scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy characterization of the implant surfaces, force spectroscopy has been used to determine the unbinding force of fibrinogen adsorbed at the two different substrates. Force‐measurement findings indicate that the detachment force of fibrinogen adsorbed onto both surfaces varies as a function of the interaction time. The mean strength of the unbinding forces increases with the interaction time (100 and 1000 ms, respectively). However, experimental data suggest that fibrinogen fixes to the two studied biomaterials by different mechanisms. Moreover, it appears that, after an interaction time of 1000 ms, the detachment force of the adsorbed protein is quite larger for the titanium surface than for the calcium phosphate coating. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Expression and regulation of resistin in osteoblasts and osteoclasts indicate a role in bone metabolism
Authors: Thommesen Liv , Stunes Astrid Kamilla , Monjo Marta , Grøsvik Kristin , Tamburstuen Margareth V. , Kjøbli Eli , Lyngstadaas Ståle Petter , Reseland Janne E. , Syversen Unni 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe adipose tissue is the site of expression and secretion of a range of biologically active proteins, called adipokines, for example, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin. Leptin has previously been shown to be expressed in osteoblasts and to promote bone mineralization, whereas adiponectin expression is enhanced during osteoblast differentiation. In the present study we explored the possible role of resistin in bone metabolism. We found that resistin is expressed in murine preosteoclasts and preosteoblasts (RAW 264.7, MC3T3‐E1), in primary human bone marrow stem cells and in mature human osteoblasts. The expression of resistin mRNA in RAW 264.7 was increased during differentiation and seemed to be regulated through PKC‐ and PKA‐dependent mechanisms. Recombinant resistin increased the number of differentiated osteoclasts and stimulated NFκB promoter activity, indicating a role in osteoclastogenesis. Resistin also enhanced the proliferation of MC3T3‐E1 cells in a PKA and PKC‐dependent manner, but only weakly interfered with genes known to be upregulated during differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 into osteoblasts. All together, our results indicate that resistin may play a role in bone remodeling. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 824–834, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unloading‐induced bone loss was suppressed in gold‐thioglucose treated mice
Authors: Hino K. , Nifuji A. , Morinobu M. , Tsuji K. , Ezura Y. , Nakashima K. , Yamamoto H. , Noda M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractLoss of mechanical stress causes bone loss. However, the mechanisms underlying the unloading‐induced bone loss are largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of gold‐thioglucose (GTG) treatment, which destroys ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), on unloading‐induced bone loss. Unloading reduced bone volume in control (saline‐treated) mice. Treatment with GTG‐reduced bone mass and in these GTG‐treated mice, unloading‐induced reduction in bone mass levels was not observed. Unloading reduced the levels of bone formation rate (BFR) and mineral apposition rate (MAR). GTG treatment also reduced these parameters and under this condition, unloading did not further reduce the levels of BFR and MAR. Unloading increased the levels of osteoclast number (Oc.N/BS) and osteoclast surface (Oc.S/BS). GTG treatment did not alter the basal levels of these bone resorption parameters. In contrast to control, GTG treatment suppressed unloading‐induced increase in the levels of Oc.N/BS and Oc.S/BS. Unloading reduced the levels of mRNA expression of the genes encoding osteocalcin, type I collagen and Cbfa1 in bone. In contrast, GTG treatment suppressed such unloading‐induced reduction of mRNA expression. Unloading also enhanced the levels of fat mass in bone marrow and mRNA expression of the genes encoding PPARgamma2, C/EBPalpha, and C/EBPbeta in bone. In GTG‐treated mice, unloading did not increase fat mass and the levels of fat‐related mRNA expression. These results indicated that GTG treatment suppressed unloading‐induced alteration in bone loss. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 845–852, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Plasma membrane destination of the classical Xenopus laevis progesterone receptor accelerates progesterone‐induced oocyte maturation
Authors: Martinez Silvana , Grandy Rodrigo , Pasten Pamela , Montecinos Hernán , Montecino Martín , Olate Juan , Hinrichs María Victoria 
Published: May 2006

AbstractXenopus laevis oocyte maturation is induced by the steroid hormone progesterone through a non‐genomic mechanism initiated at the cell membrane. Recently, two Xenopus oocyte progesterone receptors have been cloned; one is the classical progesterone receptor (xPR‐1) involved in genomic actions and the other a putative seven‐transmembrane‐G‐protein‐ couple receptor. Both receptors are postulated to be mediating the steroid‐induced maturation process in the frog oocyte. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the classical progesterone receptor, associated to the oocyte plasma membrane, is participating in the reinitiation of the cell cycle. Addition of a myristoilation and palmytoilation signal at the amino terminus of xPR‐1 (mp xPR‐1), increased the amount of receptor associated to the oocyte plasma membrane and most importantly, significantly potentiated progesterone‐induced oocyte maturation sensitivity. These findings suggest that the classical xPR‐1, located at the plasma membrane, is mediating through a non‐genomic mechanism, the reinitiation of the meiotic cell cycle in the X. laevis oocyte. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 853–859, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functional overexpression and characterization of human bradykinin subtype 2 receptor in insect cells using the baculovirus system
Authors: Shukla Arun Kumar , Haase Winfried , Reinhart Christoph , Michel Hartmut 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBradykinin exerts its actions via binding to B1 and B2 receptors (B1R and B2R), which are members of G protein‐coupled receptor superfamily. B2R is constitutively expressed in a variety of cells such as endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and cardiomyocytes and it is an important drug target for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. During this study, the human B2R was functionally overexpressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. The maximum expression level in Sf9 cells under optimized condition was 10 pmol/mg. This corresponds to approximately 0.25 mg active receptor per liter culture. The recombinant receptor showed high affinity for its endogenous ligand bradykinin, similar to the B2R expressed in native tissues. Functional coupling of the recombinant receptor to the endogenous Gαs protein was demonstrated via cAMP release assay upon agonist stimulation. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunogold‐labeling experiment revealed that the recombinant B2R was mainly localized intracellularly and only a minor fraction of the recombinant receptor reached the plasma membrane. To our knowledge, this is the first report of high level expression of recombinant B2R in insect cells and provides a way for large scale production and structural characterization of this receptor. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 868–877, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Amyloid β oligomerization is induced by brain lipid rafts
Authors: Kim Sang‐Il , Yi Jae‐Sung , Ko Young‐Gyu 
Published: May 2006

AbstractDetergent‐resistant lipid rafts are required for the generation of Aβ as they concentrate not only amyloid precursor protein (APP), but also the β‐ and γ‐secretase that convert APP to Aβ. Recently, Aβ has been shown to be oligomerized, which results in neuronal cytotoxicity and synaptic failure. In this study, we have demonstrated that Aβ oligomers appeared immediately after the incubation of Aβ with lipid rafts isolated from the brain tissues of rats, and were converted into few Aβ fibrils, even after longer periods of incubation. The oligomerization of Aβ was not abolished after the brain lipid rafts were treated with heat, or with protease K, implying that the lipid raft proteins were determined not to be prerequisites for Aβ oligomerization. The cholesterol present in the lipid rafts might not be essential to Aβ oligomerization because Aβ oligomerization was not prevented after the cholesterol was removed from the lipid rafts with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD). The Aβ oligomerization was accelerated by the application of lipid rafts isolated from ganglioside‐rich cells, C2C12 cells, whereas this was not observed with the lipid rafts isolated from ganglioside‐poor cells SK‐N‐MC and HeLa cells. In addition, lipid raft‐induced Aβ oligomerization was shown to be inhibited in CHO‐K1 cells which were defective with regard to ganglioside biosynthesis. This indicates that Aβ oligomerization requires gangliosides that are enriched in the lipid rafts. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 878–889, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CDC2L5, a Cdk‐like kinase with RS domain, interacts with the ASF/SF2‐associated protein p32 and affects splicing in vivo
Authors: Even Yasmine , Durieux Sandrine , Escande Marie‐Line , Lozano Jean Claude , Peaucellier Gérard , Weil Dominique , Genevière Anne‐Marie 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe human CDC2L5 gene encodes a protein of unknown physiological function. This protein is closely related to the cyclin‐dependent kinase (Cdks) family and contains an arginine/serine‐rich (RS) domain. The Cdks were first identified as crucial regulators of cell‐cycle progression, more recently they were found to be involved in transcription and mRNA processing. RS domains are mainly present in proteins regulating pre‐mRNA splicing, suggesting CDC2L5 having a possible role in this process. In this study, we demonstrate that CDC2L5 is located in the nucleoplasm, at a higher concentration in speckles, the storage sites for splicing factors. Furthermore, this localization is dependent on the presence of the N‐terminal sequence including the RS domain. Then, we report that CDC2L5 directly interacts with the ASF/SF2‐associated protein p32, a protein involved in splicing regulation. Overexpression of CDC2L5 constructs disturbs constitutive splicing and switches alternative splice site selection in vivo. These results argue in favor of a functional role of the CDC2L5 kinase in splicing regulation. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 890–904, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
2D representation of protein secondary structure sequences and its applications
Authors: Liu Liwei , Wang Tianming 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIn terms of the classification of the protein secondary structures, we propose a 2D representation of protein secondary structure sequences. The representation are used to display, analyze, and compare the secondary structure sequences. Based on this representation, we assign the structural class to the protein, and verify the advantage or disadvantage of the methods of predicted protein second structure. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 1119–1124, 2006
Accurate prediction of the blood–brain partitioning of a large set of solutes usingab initiocalculations and genetic neural network modeling
Authors: Hemmateenejad Bahram , Miri Ramin , Safarpour Mohammad A. , Mehdipour Ahmad R. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractA genetic algorithm‐based artificial neural network model has been developed for the accurate prediction of the blood–brain barrier partitioning (in logBBscale) of chemicals. A data set of 123 logBB(115 old molecules and 8 new molecules) of a diverse set of chemicals was chosen in this study. The optimum 3D geometry of the molecules was estimated by theab initiocalculations at the level of RHF/STO‐3G, and consequently, different electronic descriptors were calculated for each molecule. Indeed, logPas a measure of hydrophobicity and different topological indices were also calculated. A three‐layered artificial neural network with backpropagation of an error‐learning algorithm was employed to process the nonlinear relationship between the calculated descriptors and logBBdata. Genetic algorithm was used as a feature selection method to select the most relevant set of descriptors as the input of the network. Modeling of the logBBdata by the only quantum descriptors produced a 5:4:1 ANN structure with RMS error of validation and crossvalidation equal to 0.224 and 0.227, respectively. Better nonlinear model (RMSVand RMSCVequals to 0.097 and 0.099, respectively) was obtained by the incorporation of the logPand the principal components of the topological indices to electronic descriptors. The ultimate performances of the models were obtained by the application of the models to predict the logBBof 23 molecules that did not have contribution in the steps of model development. The best model produced RMS error of prediction 0.140, and could predict about 98% of variances in the logBBdata. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 1125–1135, 2006
Multiple pathways in conformational transitions of the alanine dipeptide: An application of dynamic importance sampling
Authors: Jang Hyunbum , Woolf Thomas B. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe present multiple dynamic transition pathways on the two‐dimensional dihedral plane between conformational states of the alanine dipeptide. The method used in this study is dynamic importance sampling (DIMS). To perform DIMS, unbiased molecular dynamic simulations are used to generate equilibrium ensembles for the alanine dipeptide within different states. Free energy surfaces on the dihedral plane are calculated from the equilibrium simulations, and four energy minima defined from the surface are used as the starting and ending points for DIMS dynamics. The DIMS method represents an important step towards finding multiple transition pathways within complex biomolecular systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 1136–1141, 2006
High efficiency of meiotic gynogenesis in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus
Authors: Rinchard Jacques , Dabrowski Konrad , Garcia‐abiado Mary‐ann 
Published: May 2006

AbstractInduction of androgenesis and gynogenesis by applying a pressure (PS) or heat shock (HS) to double the haploid chromosomal set results in progenies possessing only chromosomes from a single parent. This has never been accomplished in representatives of Agnatha. The objective of this study was to induce gynogenesis and androgenesis in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. For gynogenesis experiments, ultraviolet (UV)‐irradiated sperm was used to activate sea lamprey eggs and HS or PS were applied to inhibit the second meiotic division and consequently induce diploidy in the embryos. The UV irradiation of immobilized sperm was performed for 1 min at 1,719 J m−2. HS of 35±1°C for 2 min and PS of 9,000 psi for 4 min were applied at different times after egg activation (8, 12, 20, and 24 min or 8, 16, and 24 min for HS or PS, respectively). Regardless of the induction time of the HS, survivals at pre‐hatching stage were similar. In contrast, PS applied 8 min after activation appears to increase survival rate of pre‐hatched embryos in comparison to 16 and 24 min after activation. In control groups, without shock treatment (no diploidization), there were no survivors. All deformed, gynogenetic embryos were confirmed to be haploids and died prior to burying themselves in the sand. We confirmed by flow cytometry that progenies produced using both shock methods surviving to the next stage, burying in the substrate, were diploid gynogenetic. For the androgenesis experiments, UV‐irradiated eggs (1,719 J m−2 for 1 min) were fertilized with non‐treated sperm and HS was applied to restore diploidy of the eggs. Several attempts have been made to optimize the parameters used. HS of 35±1°C was applied 110, 140, 170, 200, and 230 min after activation for 2 min. Low yields of androgens were obtained and all animals died within a week after hatching. These techniques will allow to establish meiotic gynogenetic lines of sea lamprey for determining sex differentiation in this species and to analyze its hormonal and environmental regulation. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 306B, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.