bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms in folate and homocysteine metabolizing genes and chromosome damage in mothers of Down syndrome children
Authors: Coppedè Fabio , Colognato Renato , Bonelli Alessia , Astrea Guja , Bargagna Stefania , Siciliano Gabriele , Migliore Lucia 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe recently observed an association between combinations of polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677C > T or 1298A > C) and reduced folate carrier (RFC‐1 80G > A) genes and the risk of a Down syndrome (DS) pregnancy in young Italian women. Others have observed an association between a methionine synthase (MTR 2756A > G) gene polymorphism and the risk of a DS offspring in Italy. Moreover, in a separate study, we observed an increased frequency of both binucleated micronucleated cells (BNMN) and chromosome malsegregation events in peripheral lymphocytes of mothers of DS individuals aged less than 35 years at conception (MDS) in respect to controls. The aim of the present study was to evaluate chromosome damage, measured by means of the micronucleus assay, in peripheral lymphocytes of a group of women (n = 34) who had a DS child in young age (<35 years) and in a control group (n = 35), and to correlate them with MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C, RFC‐1 80G > A and MTR 2756A > G polymorphisms. We observed an increased frequency of BNMN in the MDS group compared to the control group (17.13 ± 8.31‰ vs. 10.28 ± 4.53‰; P < 0.001), and, in the general population, a correlation between years of age and BNMN frequency (P = 0.05). A significant correlation between the frequency of BNMN and the MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism (P = 0.038) was also found. Present results indicate that MDS are more prone to chromosome damage than control mothers; moreover the contribution of folate and homocysteine metabolizing gene polymorphisms seems to have an effect on the baseline frequency of BNMN lymphocytes. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diaphragmatic defects and limb deficiencies—Taking sides
Authors: Evans Jane A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractDiaphragmatic defects and limb deficiencies usually occur as independent anomalies, as a polytopic field defect (in which ipsilateral anomalies might be expected) or as wider pattern of defects, potentially involving disturbance of laterality or the midline (in which bilateral or contralateral defects would occur). Data on cases from previous studies and/or the literature were used to determine whether there is an association between the sides involved in the defects. The 88 adequately described cases identified included 20 with de Lange syndrome, seven with Poland anomaly, four with trisomy 18, 52 with other patterns of multiple malformations and five with diaphragmatic and limb defects alone. Evaluation of the position of the limb (left, right, bilateral) and the diaphragmatic defects (left, right, bilateral) did not show significant association in patterns of sidedness (P = 0.48). In 56% of cases, the limb deficiencies were bilateral. Among the 32 unilateral cases, 19 (59%) were ipsilateral (15 left; 4 right) and 13(41%) were contralateral (P = 0.38). Eleven of the 13 contralateral cases had left sided diaphragmatic defects and right sided limb deficiency; four had de Lange syndrome and nine had other patterns of multiple anomalies. Only cases with Poland anomaly or otherwise isolated defects showed a trend towards ipsilateral defects. Most cases with multiple congenital anomalies, had limbs defects on both the right and left (57%) or both sides of the diaphragm were affected (an additional 10%), indicating a widespread dysmorphogenetic process rather than a more restricted field defect. In other cases, defects were bilateral or, if unilateral, reflected the propensities for diaphragmatic defects to more often involve the left side, and limb defects, the right. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Demography, life history and migrations in a Mexican mantled howler group in a rainforest fragment
Authors: Arroyo‐Rodríguez Víctor , Asensio Norberto , Cristóbal‐Azkarate Jurgi 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper represents the results of a long‐term study (1996–2003) on the demographic changes over time of a Mexican mantled howler (Alouatta palliata mexicana) group in a rainforest fragment (40 ha) in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, with a follow‐up census 3 years later (2006). In addition to demographic and life history parameters, we describe six dispersal events. Our results suggest that this group has been expanding during the study period, growing from six to 12 individuals, with an annual average intrinsic growth rate of 0.07, an infant survivorship of 67%, and an average immature to female ratio of 0.90. This increase in size is probably related to the high food availability in their home range. However, fragment isolation may be negatively affecting the dispersal patterns typical of the species, which could result in a loss of genetic variability over time. Am. J. Primatol. 70:114–118, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neural regions essential for reading and spelling of words and pseudowords
Authors: Philipose Lisa E. , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Newhart Melissa , Kleinman Jonathan T. , Herskovits Edward H. , Pawlak Mikolaj A. , Marsh Elisabeth B. , Davis Cameron , Heidler‐Gary Jennifer , Hillis Argye E. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo identify dysfunctional brain regions critical for impaired reading/spelling of words/pseudowords by evaluating acute stroke patients on lexical tests and magnetic resonance imaging, before recovery or reorganization of structure–function relationships.MethodsA series of 106 consenting patients were administered oral reading and spelling tests within 24 hours of left supratentorial stroke onset. Patients underwent diffusion‐ and perfusion‐weighted magnetic resonance examination the same day to identify regions of hypoperfusion/infarct of 16 Brodmann areas.ResultsSimultaneous logistic regression analysis demonstrated that dysfunction of left Brodmann areas 40 (supramarginal gyrus) and 37 (posterior‐inferior temporal/fusiform gyrus) best predicted impairment in reading words (odds ratio [OR], 6.20 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54–24.96] and 2.71 [95% CI, 0.87–8.45], respectively), reading pseudowords (OR, 39.65 [95% CI 3.9–400.78] and 4.41 [95% CI, 1.1–17.51], respectively), spelling words (OR, 14.11 [95% CI 1.37–144.93] and 7.41 [95% CI, 1.48–37.24], respectively), and spelling pseudowords (OR, 4.84 [95% CI, 0.73–32.13] and 7.74 [95% CI, 1.56–38.51], respectively). Whole‐brain voxel‐wise analyses demonstrated voxel clusters within these regions that were most strongly associated with task deficits.InterpretationResults indicate that a shared network of regions including parts of left Brodmann areas 37 and 40 is necessary for reading and spelling of words and pseudowords. Further studies may define the precise roles of these brain regions in language. Identification of any neural regions specific to one of these tasks or one type of stimuli will require study of more patients with selective deficits. Ann Neurol 2007
Cotesia kariyai larvae need an anchor to emerge from the host Pseudaletia separata
Authors: Nakamatsu Y. , Tanaka T. , Harvey J.A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractMature larvae of the gregarious endoparasitoid Cotesia kariyai construct cocoons for pupation approximately 10 days after parasitization and emerge from their host Pseudaletia separata under a long day photo‐regime (16L8D) at 25 ± 1°C. The parasitoid larvae make capsules in the host hemocoel just prior to their emergence. These capsules function as “anchors,” which enable them to press against the host integument from inside the host. It was predicted that this anchor might be composed of silk proteins secreted from the parasitoid larvae, because a previous study showed that the anchor was made up of a glycoprotein and that the silk gland of parasitoid larvae developed from 2nd larval stage. Fibroin‐like proteins in C. kariyai larva mainly consist of two proteins with molecular masses of the 300.6 and 46.7 kDa estimated by SDS‐PAGE. The fibroin‐like proteins with the same molecular mass were detected from the anchor proteins just prior to parasitoid emergence. These results indicate that the anchor was assembled with fibrion‐like proteins and was formed just before parasitoid emergence while in the host body cavity. Injection of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibited the emergence of parasitoid larvae from the host because the anchor was decomposed by trypsin. Trypsin activity in the parasitized host hemolymph increased only after parasitoid emergence. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 66:1–8, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of boric acid‐induced oxidative stress on antioxidant enzymes and survivorship in Galleria mellonella
Authors: Hyršl Pavel , Büyükgüzel Ender , Büyükgüzel Kemal 
Published: August 2007

AbstractLarvae of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), were reared from first instar on a diet supplemented with 156, 620, 1,250, or 2,500 ppm boric acid (BA). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA, an oxidative stress indicator), and activities of the antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] were determined in the fat body and hemolymph in the 7th instar larvae and newly emerged pupae. Relative to control larvae, MDA was significantly increased in larval hemolymph, larval and pupal fat body, but decreased in the pupal hemolymph. Insects reared on diets with 156‐ and 620‐ppm BA doses yielded increased SOD activity but 1,250‐ and 2,500‐ppm doses resulted in decreased SOD activity in larval hemolymph. SOD activity was significantly increased but CAT was decreased in the larval fat body. High dietary BA treatments led to significantly decreased GST activity. However, they increased GPx activity in larval hemolymph. Dietary BA also affected larval survival. The 1,250‐ and 2,500‐ppm concentrations led to significantly increased larval and pupal mortality and prolonged development. In contrast, the lowest BA concentration increased longevity and shortened development. We infer that BA toxicity is related, at least in part, to oxidative stress management. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 66:23–31, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome‐positive adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Piccaluga Pier Paolo , Paolini Stefania , Martinelli Giovanni 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disorder, with the greatest prevalence in children, but it also affects adults, and has an increasing incidence with age. Chromosomal abnormalities in ALL have been frequently described, the most common is the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). The resulting fusion gene, BCR‐ABL1, encodes for a chimerical oncoprotein (BCR‐ABL) with constitutive tyrosine kinase activity, which leads to uncontrolled cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and impaired cell adhesion. Treating Philadelphia chromosome‐positive (Ph+) ALL patients with conventional chemotherapy has not substantially improved their long‐term outcomes. Recently, however, BCR‐ABL–targeted strategies have been successfully adopted. Imatinib is an oral competitive inhibitor of ABL with demonstrated phase 2 efficacy in patients with treatment‐naive and pretreated ALL. Despite its efficacy, imatinib may induce specific resistance in a large proportion of patients, mainly because of the occurrence of ABL1 mutations. Therefore, novel inhibitors have been developed. Dasatinib is a multitargeted kinase inhibitor of BCR‐ABL, SRC, C‐KIT, PDGFRs, and ephrin A receptor kinases. Unlike imatinib, it binds both the active and inactive BCR‐ABL as well as the majority of ABL mutants. Dasatinib is approved for treatment of imatinib‐pretreated Ph+ ALL, and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on the basis of phase 2 trials that demonstrated impressive efficacy and favorable tolerability profiles. Nilotinib is another BCR‐ABL targeted agent that is similar in structure to imatinib but has significantly greater binding affinity. It also has demonstrated promising efficacy in Ph+ ALL but is still being evaluated in phase 2 trials. In this article, the authors reviewed current knowledge on novel tyrosine‐kinase inhibitors in adult Ph+ ALL patients. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Therapy may unmask hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome that mimics aplastic anemia
Authors: Konoplev Sergej , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Lennon Patrick A. , Prajapati Sapana , Kanungo Anuradha , Lin Pei 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Rarely, patients who present with pancytopenia and are diagnosed initially with aplastic anemia (AA) subsequently develop a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). There has been controversy regarding whether the initial diagnosis of AA is correct or whether these patients have hypocellular MDS at the onset of pancytopenia.METHODS.The authors studied bone marrow (BM) specimens from patients who were diagnosed initially with AA and subsequently with MDS from a cohort of 128 consecutive patients who had AA during the period from 1993 to 2004. Cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were performed to assess for monosomy 7 retrospectively in a subset of patients.RESULTS.Twelve patients were identified (age range, 26–79 years). At the time they were diagnosed with AA, there was no evidence of dysplasia, the median BM cellularity was 5% (range, from <1% to 15%), and all patients had a normal karyotype. Therapy for 11 patients included immunomodulating agents, which were accompanied by growth factors in 4 patients and 1 patient underwent BM transplantation. One patient received growth factors only. The median interval to the diagnosis of MDS was 9 months (range, 2–43 months). The median BM cellularity was 30% (range, 5–90%), and dysplastic changes were observed in all patients. Nine patients had an abnormal karyotype, and monosomy 7 was the most common abnormality (n = 5 patients). FISH detected monosomy 7 in 6 samples at the time MDS was diagnosed and in 2 samples at the time AA was diagnosed.CONCLUSIONS.The detection of monosomy 7 in specimens that were considered AA and the short time interval to a subsequent diagnosis of MDS suggests that these patients had hypoplastic MDS at the onset of pancytopenia. Therapy may allow the detection of MDS by enhancing cell growth. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
The derivatives of the Wnt3a lineage in the central nervous system
Authors: Louvi Angeliki , Yoshida Michio , Grove Elizabeth A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe dorsal midline of the vertebrate neural tube is a source of signals that direct cell fate specification and proliferation. Using genetic fate mapping in the mouse and a previously generated Wnt3aCre line, we report here that genetically labeled cells of the Wnt3a lineage migrate widely from the dorsal midline into the dorsal half of the adult brain and spinal cord, contributing to diverse structures in the diencephalon, midbrain, and brainstem and extensively populating the rostral spinal cord. Conspicuously, many of these structures are linked in specific functional networks. Wnt3a lineage cells populate nuclei of the central auditory system from the medulla to thalamus, and the trigeminal sensory system from the cervical spinal cord to the midbrain. Our findings reveal the rich contributions of the Wnt3a lineage to a variety of brain structures and show that functionally integrated nuclei can share a molecular identity, provided by transient gene expression early in their development. J. Comp. Neurol. 504:550–569, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reproduction phase‐related variations in neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in the olfactory system, forebrain, and pituitary of the female catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)
Authors: Mazumdar Minakshi , Sakharkar Amul J. , Singru Praful S. , Subhedar Nishikant 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whether neuropeptide Y (NPY) immunoreactivity in the cells and fibers in the forebrain and pituitary of Clarias batrachus is linked to the annual reproductive cycle. A steady rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) immunoreactivity was seen in the pituitary through preparatory (February–April) and prespawning (May–June) phases; it was greatly reduced during spawning (July–August; P < 0.001) and partially replenished during postspawning (September–November; P < 0.01) through resting (December–January) phases. Although NPY immunoreactivity in olfactory receptor neurons and olfactory nerve layer in olfactory bulb was gradually augmented during resting through prespawning phases (P < 0.001), attaining a peak in spawning phase (P < 0.001), a dramatic decline was encountered during postspawning phase (P < 0.001). A similar pattern was also observed in NPY‐containing fibers of the medial olfactory tract (MOT) and pituitary. However, a different pattern of NPY immunoreactivity was observed in the neurons of nucleus entopeduncularis (NE) and nucleus preopticus periventricularis (NPP). Whereas these neurons and fibers in the forebrain showed significant augmentation during the resting through prespawning phases (P < 0.001), the immunoreactivity dramatically declined during spawning (P < 0.001) and was partially replenished in the postspawning phase. Testosterone injection of juveniles significantly augmented (P < 0.001) NPY immunoreactivity in NE neurons. We suggest that NPY cells of NE and NPP, and related fiber systems, might be involved in processing of sex steroid‐borne information and regulation of the gonadotropin‐releasing hormone‐LH axis. J. Comp. Neurol. 504:450–469, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The foraging gene of Drosophila melanogaster: Spatial‐expression analysis and sucrose responsiveness
Authors: Belay A.T. , Scheiner R. , So A.K.‐C. , Douglas S.J. , Chakaborty‐Chatterjee M. , Levine J.D. , Sokolowski M.B. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe ability to identify and respond to food is essential for survival, yet little is known about the neural substrates that regulate natural variation in food‐related traits. The foraging (for) gene in Drosophila melanogaster encodes a cGMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKG) and has been shown to function in food‐related traits. To investigate the tissue distribution of FOR protein, we generated an antibody against a common region of the FOR isoforms. In the adult brain we localized FOR to neuronal clusters and projections including neurons that project to the central complex, a cluster within the dorsoposterior region of the brain hemispheres, a separate cluster medial to optic lobes and lateral to brain hemispheres, a broadly distributed frontal‐brain cluster, axon bundles of the antennal nerve and of certain subesophageal‐ganglion nerves, and the medulla optic lobe. These newly described tissue distribution patterns of FOR protein provide candidate neural clusters and brain regions for investigation of neural networks that govern foraging‐related traits. To determine whether FOR has a behavioral function in neurons we expressed UAS‐for in neurons using an elav‐gal4 driver and measured the effect on adult sucrose responsiveness (SR), known to be higher in rovers than sitters, the two natural variants of foraging. We found that pan‐neuronal expression of for caused an increase in the SR of sitters, demonstrating a neural function for PKG in this food‐related behavior. J. Comp. Neurol. 504:570–582, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redefining epithelial progenitor potential in the developing thymus
Authors: Rossi Simona W. , Chidgey Ann P. , Parnell Sonia M. , Jenkinson William E. , Scott Hamish S. , Boyd Richard L. , Jenkinson Eric J. , Anderson Graham 
Published: August 2007

AbstractCortical and medullary epithelium represent specialised cell types that play key roles in thymocyte development, including positive and negative selection of the T cell repertoire. While recent evidence shows that these epithelial lineages share a common embryonic origin, the phenotype and possible persistence of such progenitor cells in the thymus at later stages of development remain controversial. Through use of a panel of reagents including the putative progenitor marker Mts24, we set out to redefine the stages in the development of thymic epithelium. In the early embryonic day (E)12 thymus anlagen we find that almost all epithelial cells are uniformly positive for Mts24 expression. In addition, while the thymus at later stages of development was found to contain distinct Mts24+ and Mts24– epithelial subsets, thymus grafting experiments show that both Mts24+ and Mts24– epithelial subsets share the ability to form organised cortical and medullary thymic microenvironments that support T cell development, a function shown previously to be lost in the Mts24– cells by E15 when lower cell doses were used. Our data help to clarify stages in thymic epithelial development and provide important information in relation to currently used markers of epithelial progenitors.See accompanying commentary: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200737709
The chemokine receptor CCR6 is an important component of the innate immune response
Authors: Wen Haitao , Hogaboam Cory M. , Lukacs Nicholas W. , Cook Donald N. , Lira Sergio A. , Kunkel Steven L. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn our initial studies we found that naïve CCR6‐deficient (CCR6–/–) C57BL/6 mice possessed significantly lower number of both F4/80+ macrophages and dendritic cells (DC), but higher number of B cells in the peritoneal cavity, as compared to naïve wild type (WT) controls. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages isolated from CCR6–/– mice expressed significantly lower levels of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)stimulation, as compared to WT macrophages. In a severe experimental peritonitis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), CCR6–/– mice were protected when compared with WT controls. At 24 h following the induction of peritonitis, CCR6–/– mice exhibited significantly lower levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in both the peritoneal cavity and blood. Interestingly, DC recruitment into the peritoneal cavity was impaired in CCR6–/– mice during the evolution of CLP‐induced peritonitis. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from surviving CCR6–/– mice 3 days after CLP‐induced peritonitis exhibited an enhanced LPS response compared with similarly treated WT peritoneal macrophages. These data illustrate that CCR6 deficiency alters the innate response via attenuating the hyperactive local and systemic inflammatory response during CLP‐induced peritonitis.