bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glutamine induces heat-shock protein and protects against Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced vascular hyporeactivity in rats
Authors: Jing Liang , Wu Qiong , Wang Fuzhou 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Introduction
Vascular hyporeactivity is an important problem associated with sepsis. Although the mechanism involves inflammatory pathway activation, specific therapeutic approaches have not been defined. Glutamine (Gln) has been shown to provide some anti-inflammatory effects and improve outcomes in sepsis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Gln could reduce Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced vascular hyporeactivity and evaluated the role of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) induction in this process.

Methods
Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, LPS shock, and alanyl-Gln dipeptide+LPS shock (Ala-Gln+LPS) groups. Six hours after administration of LPS, phenylephrine (PE) (0.5 to approximately 2.5 μg/kg) was applied intravenously to all groups, and the percentage increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was detected in the respective groups. The concentration-response curve of PE was obtained in tension experiments, and the average values of PE maximum efficacy (Emax) and median effective dose (EC50) were calculated. The plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected in all groups. The expressions of HSP70 from heart, liver, lung, and aorta were also assayed in all groups.

Results
The maximal percentage increase in MAP induced by PE was significantly reduced to 12.7% in the LPS shock group (P < 0.05) and was restored to 15.6% in the Ala-Gln+LPS group (P < 0.05), whereas the control group was 24.7%. The average values of PE Emax and EC50 were significantly impaired in the LPS shock group (P < 0.05) but partially restored in the Ala-Gln+LPS group (P < 0.05). The expressions of HSP70 from the heart, aorta, lung, and liver were much higher in the Ala-Gln+LPS group than those in the LPS shock group (P < 0.05). The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA were much lower in the Ala-Gln+LPS group than those in the LPS shock group.

Conclusion
Gln effectively improves vascular reactivity by inducing the expression of HSP70, reducing inflammatory cytokine release and peroxide biosynthesis in LPS shock rats. These results suggest that Gln has a potentially beneficial therapeutic effect for septic shock patients.
The death-associated protein kinase 2 is up-regulated during normal myeloid differentiation and enhances neutrophil maturation in myeloid leukemic cells
Authors: Rizzi Mattia , Tschan Mario P , Britschgi Christian , Britschgi Adrian , Hügli Barbara , Grob Tobias J , Leupin Nicolas , Mueller Beatrice U , Simon Hans-Uwe , Ziemiecki Andrew , Torbett Bruce E , Fey Martin F , Tobler Andreas 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe death-associated protein kinase 2 (DAPK2) belongs to a family of Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine kinases involved in apoptosis. During investigation of candidate genes operative in granulopoiesis, we identified DAPK2 as highly expressed. Subsequent investigations demonstrated particularly high DAPK2 expression in normal granulocytes compared with monocytes/macrophages and CD34+ progenitor cells. Moreover, significantly increased DAPK2 mRNA levels were seen when cord blood CD34+ cells were induced to differentiate toward neutrophils in tissue culture. In addition, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced neutrophil differentiation of two leukemic cell lines, NB4 and U937, revealed significantly higher DAPK2 mRNA expression paralleled by protein induction. In contrast, during differentiation of CD34+ and U937 cells toward monocytes/macrophages, DAPK2 mRNA levels remained low. In primary leukemia, low expression of DAPK2 was seen in acute myeloid leukemia samples, whereas chronic myeloid leukemia samples in chronic phase showed intermediate expression levels. Lentiviral vector-mediated expression of DAPK2 in NB4 cells enhanced, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated DAPK2 knockdown reduced ATRA-induced granulocytic differentiation, as evidenced by morphology and neutrophil stage-specific maturation genes, such as CD11b, G-CSF receptor, C/EBPε, and lactoferrin. In summary, our findings implicate a role for DAPK2 in granulocyte maturation.
ATF4 differentially regulates transcriptional activation of myeloid-specific genes by C/EBPε and C/EBPα
Authors: Gombart Adrian F , Grewal Jeffrey , Koeffler H Phillip 
Published: March 2007

AbstractDimerization between different basic region leucine zipper (ZIP) transcription factors is regarded as an important mechanism for integrating various extracellular signals to control specific patterns of gene expression in cells. The activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) protein was identified as a principal partner for the myeloid-specific transcriptional factor C/EBPε. Dimerization required the ZIP motif of each protein and redirected DNA binding of C/EBPε and ATF4 from their respective symmetric consensus sites to asymmetric C/EBP and cAMP response element sites. The C/EBPε:ATF4 heterodimer bound to the C/EBP sites in the promoters of the myeloid-specific genes encoding neutrophil elastase (NE) and the G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR). Also, the heterodimer bound a previously uncharacterized site in the promoter of the mim-1 gene at nucleotide –174. Coexpression of ATF4 and C/EBPε in the presence of c-Myb synergistically activated the mim-1 and NE promoters compared with C/EBPε plus c-Myb alone. Synergistic activation was not observed for the G-CSFR promoter and only occurred in the presence of c-myb with the NE or mim-1 promoters. In contrast, ATF4:C/EBPα dimers bound to the C/EBP sites in the G-CSFR and NE promoters, but transcriptional activation was inhibited by 30–80% in the presence or absence of c-Myb. We propose that ATF4 may regulate myeloid gene expression differentially by potentiating C/EBPε but inhibiting C/EBPα-mediated transcriptional activation.
A Twin Study of Nitric Oxide Levels Measured by Serum Nitrite/Nitrate
Authors: Retterstol Lars , Lyberg Torstein , Aspelin Trude , Berg Kåre 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNitrite and nitrate are the stable end products of the L-arginine-NO pathway, and the sum of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) is a common way to measure nitric oxide (NO) production or secretion. To uncover any genetic influence on NO, we measured NOx in serum samples from monozygotic twin pairs after an overnight fast. Heritability was estimated as intraclass correlation coefficient. We arrived at a heritability estimate of .32 (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.45) for NOx. The numerical heritability estimate was higher for females than for males (0.38 vs. 0.21), and higher for nonsmokers than for smokers (0.36 vs. 0.22). The heritability estimate of NOx was lower than the heritability estimate for other cardiovascular risk factors. This study suggests a low degree of heredity for NOx levels.
Twins Have Slightly Higher Self-Concepts Than Singletons in the Elementary School Period: A Study of South Korean Twins and Singletons
Authors: Yoon Young-Soon , Hur Yoon-Mi 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe twin method assumes that the trait under study is similar in twins and singletons so that the results from twin samples can be generalized to the singleton population. The purpose of the present study was to compare self-concept in twins and singletons matched in parental level of education. The 6 cluster scales of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (P-H) were administered to 630 singleton children and 635 twins aged 7 to 12 years. Model-fitting analyses yielded two conclusions. First, self-concept was generally similar between first- and second-born twins and between monozygotic and dizygotic twins across the 6 cluster scales of the P-H. Second, twins consistently exceeded singletons for all 6 cluster scales of the P-H. However, the effect sizes of differences between twins and singletons were small except for one scale, Physical Appearance and Attributes.
Determination of Zygosity by Questionnaire and Physical Features Comparison in Chinese Adult Twins
Authors: Gao Wenjing , Li Liming , Cao Weihua , Zhan Siyan , Lv Jun , Qin Ying , Pang Zengchang , Wang Shaojie , Chen Weijian , Chen Rongfu , Hu Yonghua 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis study reports on the determination of zygosity in Chinese adult twins by simple questionnaire and physical features comparison. The subjects were 511 twin pairs from two cities and their town areas, consisting of 371 monozygotic (MZ) and 140 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) pairs, identified by ABO blood group and multiplex polymerase chain reaction of several polymorphic short tandem repeat markers. The twins themselves responded to 8 questionnaire items, 4 items on twin similarity, and 4 items on the frequency of mistaking one twin for another by parents, relatives, teachers and strangers when they were 6 to 13 years old. Research assistants responded to 20 items regarding twins' physical features at the moment of interview. A parsimonious model established using stepwise logistic regression analysis of the 28 items showed that the total accuracy of zygosity diagnosis was 90.1%. The accuracy was 89.2% when using only the items dealing with the confusion of twins and 85.4% using only similarity. In the questionnaire, ‘facial appearance’, ‘mistaken by teachers’ and ‘mistaken by strangers’ had stronger discriminating power between MZ and DZ twins. Two physical features — ‘eyelid’ and ‘middigital hair’ — were informative to some extent. There was no statistically significant sex and area difference in the validity of such questionnaire and physical features comparison-based classification. In conclusion, questionnaire-based zygosity assessment in this Chinese adult twin sample could still be regarded as a valid and valuable classification method. Physical features comparison, however, could only provide limited information for zygosity determination.
The Relationship Between Birthweight Discordance and Perinatal Mortality of One of the Twins in a Twin Pair
Authors: Kato Noriko , Matsuda Tomohiro 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of birth-weight discordance among twins, to determine the risk cut-off point for birthweight discordance, and to clarify whether perinatal deaths are aggravated by birthweight discordance or by low birthweight itself. A population-based analysis of all twins born between 1995 and 1999 in Japan was conducted using data collected from national birth, death and stillbirth certificates. Birthweight discordance was determined as: higher birthweight minus lower birthweight divided by higher birthweight multiplied by 100. Among twins with a birthweight discordance of more than 15%, the fetal and perinatal mortality rate was higher than that of twins with a discordance of less than 15%. Ninety per cent of the relative cumulative frequency of twin live-births were within 25% of the birthweight discordance. Logistic regression analysis showed that the stillbirth of at least one of the twins is associated with the birthweight of the larger twin and birthweight discordance. It also showed that the stillbirth of both twins in the twin pair is associated with the birth-weight of larger twins and the gestational weeks. It was clarified that birthweight discordance was associated with the stillbirth of only one twin in the twin pair, and the stillbirth of both twins in the twin pair was associated with low birthweight itself.
The Latent Class Structure of ADHD Is Stable Across Informants
Authors: Althoff Robert R. , Copeland William E. , Stanger Catherine , Derks Eske M. , Todd Richard D. , Neuman Rosalind J. , Van Beijsterveldt Toos C. E. M. , Boomsma Dorret I. , Hudziak James J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPrevious studies have looked at the structure of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using latent class analysis (LCA) of Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) symptom structure. These studies have identified distinct classes of children with inattentive, hyperactive, or combined subtypes and have used these classes to refine genetic analyses. The objective of the current report is to determine if the latent class structure of ADHD subtypes is consistent across informant using the Conners' Rating Scales (CRS). LCA was applied to CRS forms from mother, father, and teacher reports of 1837, 1329 and 1048 latency aged Dutch twins, respectively. The optimal solution for boys was a 5-class solution for mothers, a 3-class solution for fathers, and a 4-class solution for teachers. For girls, a 4-class solution for mothers and a 3-class for fathers and teachers was optimal. Children placed into a class by one informant had markedly increased odds ratio of being placed into the same or similar class by the other informants. Results from LCA using Dutch twins with the CRS show stability across informants suggesting that more stable phenotypes may be accessible for genotyping using a multi-informant approach.
Subtypes of Illicit Drug Users: A Latent Class Analysis of Data From an Australian Twin Sample
Authors: Lynskey Michael T. , Agrawal Arpana , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Nelson Elliot C. , Madden Pamela A. F. , Todorov Alexandre A. , Grant Julia D. , Martin Nicholas G. , Heath Andrew C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis article applies methods of latent class analysis (LCA) to data on lifetime illicit drug use in order to determine whether qualitatively distinct classes of illicit drug users can be identified. Self-report data on lifetime illicit drug use (cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens, sedatives, inhalants, cocaine, opioids and solvents) collected from a sample of 6265 Australian twins (average age 30 years) were analyzed using LCA. Rates of childhood sexual and physical abuse, lifetime alcohol and tobacco dependence, symptoms of illicit drug abuse/dependence and psychiatric comorbidity were compared across classes using multinomial logistic regression. LCA identified a 5-class model: Class 1 (68.5%) had low risks of the use of all drugs except cannabis; Class 2 (17.8%) had moderate risks of the use of all drugs; Class 3 (6.6%) had high rates of cocaine, other stimulant and hallucinogen use but lower risks for the use of sedatives or opioids. Conversely, Class 4 (3.0%) had relatively low risks of cocaine, other stimulant or hallucinogen use but high rates of sedative and opioid use. Finally, Class 5 (4.2%) had uniformly high probabilities for the use of all drugs. Rates of psychiatric comorbidity were highest in the polydrug class although the sedative/opioid class had elevated rates of depression/suicidal behaviors and exposure to childhood abuse. Aggregation of population-level data may obscure important subgroup differences in patterns of illicit drug use and psychiatric comorbidity. Further exploration of a ‘self-medicating’ subgroup is needed.
Association Study of the Dystrobrevin-Binding Gene With Schizophrenia in Australian and Indian Samples
Authors: Holliday Elizabeth G. , Handoko Herlina Y. , James Michael R. , McGrath John J. , Nertney Deborah A. , Tirupati Sujit , Thara Rangaswamy , Levinson Douglas F. , Hayward Nicholas K. , Mowry Bryan J. , Nyholt Dale R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNumerous studies have reported association between variants in the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 (dysbindin) gene (DTNBP1) and schizophrenia. However, the pattern of results is complex and to date, no specific risk marker or haplotype has been consistently identified. The number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tested in these studies has ranged from 5 to 20. We attempted to replicate previous findings by testing 16 SNPs in samples of 41 Australian pedigrees, 194 Australian cases and 180 controls, and 197 Indian pedigrees. No globally significant evidence for association was observed in any sample, despite power calculations indicating sufficient power to replicate several previous findings. Possible explanations for our results include sample differences in background linkage dis-equilibrium and/or risk allele effect size, the presence of multiple risk alleles upon different haplotypes, or the presence of a single risk allele upon multiple haplotypes. Some previous associations may also represent false positives. Examination of Caucasian HapMap phase II genotype data spanning theDTNBP1region indicates upwards of 40 SNPs are required to satisfactorily assess all nonredundant variation withinDTNBP1and its potential regulatory regions for association with schizophrenia. More comprehensive studies in multiple samples will be required to determine whether specificDTNBP1variants function as risk factors for schizophrenia.
Heritability of Testosterone Levels in 12-Year-Old Twins and Its Relation to Pubertal Development
Authors: Hoekstra Rosa A. , Bartels Meike , Boomsma Dorret I. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to estimate the heritability of variation in testosterone levels in 12-year-old children, and to explore the overlap in genetic and environmental influences on circulating testosterone levels and androgen-dependent pubertal development. Midday salivary testosterone samples were collected on 2 consecutive days in a sample of 183 unselected twin pairs. Androgen-induced pubertal development was assessed using self-report Tanner scales of pubic hair development (boys and girls) and genital development (boys). A significant contribution of genetic effects to the variance in testosterone levels was found. Heritability was approximately 50% in both boys and girls. The remaining proportion of the variance in testosterone levels could be explained by nonshared environmental influences. The relatively high correlation between testosterone levels of opposite-sex dizygotic twins suggests that sex differences in genes influencing variation in testosterone levels have not yet developed in preand early puberty. Variance in pubertal development was explained by a large genetic component, moderate shared environmental influences, and a small nonshared environmental effect. Testosterone levels correlated moderately (r = .31) with pubertal development; the covariance between testosterone levels and pubertal development was entirely accounted for by genetic influences.
Familial Risks for Main Neurological Diseases in Siblings Based on Hospitalizations in Sweden
Authors: Hemminki Kari , Sundquist Kristina , Li Xinjun 
Published: March 2007

AbstractRecent successes in identifying the underlying genetic mechanisms for neurological diseases, particularly for their Mendelian forms, have had profound implications for their diagnostics, treatment and classification. However, there has never been an attempt to compare familial risks in a systematic way among and between the main neurological diseases. Familial risks were here defined for siblings who were hospitalized because of a neurological disease in Sweden. A nationwide database for neurological diseases was constructed by linking the Multigeneration Register of 0- to 69-year-old siblings to the Hospital Discharge Register for the years 1987 to 2001. Standardized risk ratios were calculated for affected sibling pairs by comparing them to those whose siblings had no neurological disease. There were three main results. First, it was shown that all disease groups had a familial risk, with the exception of transient ischemic attacks, and the risks could be ranked from the highest (3451) for Huntington's disease to the lowest (2.1) for inflammatory diseases. Second, increased familial risks were shown for disease subtypes for which susceptibility genes or familial clustering have not been demonstrated previously, including multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, nerve, nerve root and plexus disorders, and cerebral palsy. Third, based on the available sample size there was no convincing evidence for familial comorbidity between the disease groups, suggesting that the factors causing familial aggregation, probably usually heritable genes, are distinct for each subtype. The high familial risks for neurological disease imply heritable etiology and opportunities for identification of further susceptibility genes.
Factors Influencing the Stillbirth Rates in Single and Multiple Births in Sweden, 1869 to 1967
Authors: Eriksson Aldur W. , Fellman Johan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTemporal variations in the stillbirth rate among singletons, twins and triplets in Sweden between 1869 and 1967 were studied. Both among single and multiple births there were marked secular decreasing trends in the stillbirth rates. Based on our long time series since 1869, this study confirms that among twins and triplets the stillbirth rate was higher among same-sexed than among opposite-sexed sets. Comparisons between the stillbirth rates among twin births in urban and rural regions indicate higher stillbirth rates in rural areas. In addition, the stillbirth rates among twins of unmarried mothers were higher than those of twins of married mothers. These findings also hold for both same-sexed and opposite-sexed twin pairs. Analyses of the stillbirth rates for singletons and for different types of twins indicate that up to 1950 the risk of stillbirth among males was almost constantly between 15% to 20% higher than among females. After that the difference in the risk decreased. Comparisons with other populations were performed.
Cantrell's Pentalogy in Twins: Prenatal Diagnosis
Authors: Moreira de Sá Renato A. , de Souza Filho Gustavo P. A. , Lopes Laudelino M. , Faleiro Edson C. , Junior Joffre A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe combination of an onphalocele, an anterior thoracic wall defect and an anterior diaphragmatic defect constitutes classical Cantrell's pentalogy. We present a case of Cantrell's pentalogy diagnosed prenataly in twins with conventional and three-dimensional sonography.
Suicidal Behavior in Surviving Co-Twins
Authors: Pompili Maurizio , Galeandro Piera Maria , Lester David , Tatarelli Roberto 
Published: March 2007

AbstractRecent research has provided strong support for the existence of a familial risk for suicide, and efforts have been made to separate genetic from enviromental risk factors. Twin studies have played a major role in the identification of genetic factors, and the results indicate that the concordance rate for suicide is higher in identical than in fraternal twins (Baldessarini & Hennen, 2004). Moreover, Segal and Roy (1995) reported a significantly higher frequency of nonfatal suicidal attempts by monozygotic (MZ) than by dyzygotic (DZ) twins whose co-twins had committed suicide. However, doubts remain as to whether the increased risk of suicide in MZ twins is a response to the intense grief over the loss of a close relative, or whether a common genotype is associated with suicidal behavior. Sudden loss, which may carry a stigma in the case of a suicide, has been linked to increased persistent emotional stress and physiological changes (Epstein, 1993; Martin & Dean, 1993). A number of researchers have reported greater suicidal ideation among bereaved MZ twins as compared to DZ twins, suggesting that a loss due to suicide may increase the risk of suicidal behavior in the surviving co-twin (Segal & Bouchard, 1993; Segal & Roy, 1995; Segal et al., 1995). The aim of the present article is to address the issue of the intense grief experienced by twins after the co-twin suicide.