bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Primary care spirometry*
Authors: Derom E. , van Weel C. , Liistro G. , Buffels J. , Schermer T. , Lammers E. , Wouters E. , Decramer M. 
Published: December 2007

Primary care spirometry is a uniquely valuable tool in the evaluation of patients with respiratory symptoms, allowing the general practitioner to diagnose or exclude chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sometimes to confirm asthma, to determine the efficacy of asthma treatment and to correctly stage patients with COPD. The use of spirometry for case finding in asymptomatic COPD patients might become an option, once early intervention studies have shown it to be beneficial in these patients.The diagnosis of airway obstruction requires accurate and reproducible spirometric measurements, which should comply with the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines. Low acceptability of spirometric manoeuvres has been reported in primary care practices. This may hamper the validity of the results and affect clinical decision making. Training and refresher courses may produce and maintain good-quality testing, promote the use of spirometric results in clinical practice and enhance the quality of interpretation.Softening the stringent ATS/ERS criteria could enhance the acceptability rates of spirometry when used in a general practice. However, the implications of potential simplifications on the quality of the data and clinical decision making remain to be investigated.Hand-held office spirometers have been developed in recent years, with a global quality and user-friendliness that makes them acceptable for use in general practices. The precision of the forced vital capacity measurements could be improved in some of the available models.
Serum diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and further identification of response to therapy using SELDI-TOF-MS and tree analysis patterning
Authors: Zhang Xing , Wang Bo , Zhang Xiao-shi , Li Zhi-ming , Guan Zhong-zhen , Jiang Wen-qi 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
Currently, there are no satisfactory biomarkers available to screen for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or to identify patients who do not benefit from standard anti-cancer therapies. In this study, we used serum proteomic mass spectra to identify potential serum biomarkers and biomarker patterns for detecting DLBCL and patient responses to therapy.

Methods
The proteomic spectra of crude sera from 132 patients with DLBCL and 75 controls were performed by SELDI-TOF-MS and analyzed by Biomarker Patterns Software.

Results
Nine peaks were considered as potential DLBCL discriminatory biomarkers. Four peaks were considered as biomarkers for predicting the patient response to standard therapy. The proteomic patterns achieved a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 94% for detecting DLBCL samples in the test set of 85 samples, and achieved a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 92% for detecting poor prognosis patients in the test set of 66 samples.

Conclusion
These proteomic patterns and potential biomarkers are hoped to be useful in clinical applications for detecting DLBCL patients and predicting the response to therapy.
Expression of genes for bone morphogenetic proteins BMP-2, BMP-4 and BMP-6 in various parts of the human skeleton
Authors: Kochanowska Iwona , Chaberek Slawomir , Wojtowicz Andrzej , Marczyński Bartosz , Włodarski Krzysztof , Dytko Maria , Ostrowski Kazimierz 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
Differences in duration of bone healing in various parts of the human skeleton are common experience for orthopaedic surgeons. The reason for these differences is not obvious and not clear.

Methods
In this paper we decided to measure by the use of real-time RT-PCR technique the level of expression of genes for some isoforms of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), whose role is proven in bone formation, bone induction and bone turnover. Seven bone samples recovered from various parts of skeletons from six cadavers of young healthy men who died in traffic accidents were collected. Activity of genes for BMP-2, -4 and -6 was measured by the use of fluorescent SYBR Green I.

Results
It was found that expression of m-RNA for BMP-2 and BMP-4 is higher in trabecular bone in epiphyses of long bones, cranial flat bones and corpus mandibulae then in the compact bone of diaphyses of long bones. In all samples examined the expression of m-RNA for BMP-4 was higher than for BMP-2.

Conclusion
It was shown that m-RNA for BMP-6 is not expressed in the collected samples at all. It is postulated that differences in the level of activation of genes for BMPs is one of the important factors which determine the differences in duration of bone healing of various parts of the human skeleton.
Scope of FNAC in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors-A study from a tertiary cancer referral center in India
Authors: Rekhi Bharat , Gorad Biru D , Kakade Anagha C , Chinoy RF 
Published: December 2007

BackgroundFine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) forms one of the first diagnostic tools in the evaluation of tumors. Its role in diagnosing soft tissue tumors (STT) has been fairly documented, as well as debated. Present study was aimed at evaluating its scope in diagnosing 127 cases of soft tissue tumors.MethodsConventional Pap and MGG staining was available in all the cases. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was performed in 15 cases. Histopathological details were available in 115 cases.Results50% cases were referred for a primary diagnosis, while 26.8% & 22.8% cases were evaluated for recurrent and metastatic lesions, respectively. Extremities were the commonest sites. On FNAC, 101 cases (79.5%) were labeled as malignant, whereas 10 cases (7.9%) were labeled as benign. The remaining 16 cases (11%) were not categorized and were labeled as ‘unsure/not specified’. Histopathological confirmation in 115 cases, gave a diagnostic accuracy of 98%, with a positive predictive value of 98% in malignant cases and a negative predictive value of 100% in benign cases. Two cases were false positive. Among the various cytological categories, 60 cases (47.2%) were of spindle cell type, followed by 32 (25.2%) of round cell type and 14 cases (11%) of lipomatous type. Other 12 cases (9.4%) were of pleomorphic type; 7 (5.5%) cases of epithelioid type and remaining 2 cases were of myxoid type. All the round cell, pleomorphic and myxoid type of tumors were sarcomas, whereas 73.3% cases of spindle cell type were labeled as ‘malignant’. Exact cytological sub typing was offered in 58 cases, with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) as the most frequently sub typed tumor. The two false positive malignant cases were of fibromatosis and a pigmented schwannoma, on biopsy. Out of 28 metastatic lesions, lymph nodes were the commonest site for metastasis, with epithelioid tumors that formed highest percentage of metastatic cases.ConclusionFNAC is fairly specific and sensitive in STT diagnoses for primary, recurrent and metastatic lesions. The cytological types, especially round cell and pleomorphic sarcomas, can be quickly identified. Clinicopathological correlation with ICC as an adjunct, are valuable in exact sub typing.
Expression of junctional proteins in choroid plexus epithelial cell lines: a comparative study
Authors: Szmydynger-Chodobska Joanna , Pascale Crissey L , Pfeffer Andrew N , Coulter Cassaundra , Chodobski Adam 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
There is an increasing interest in using choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cell lines to study the properties of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). Currently, there are three major CP-derived cell lines available. Z310 and TR-CSFB3, two immortalized cell lines carrying the simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene, were derived from rat CP epithelium, whereas the CPC-2 cell line was derived from human CP carcinoma. Although these cell lines have previously been used in various functional studies, the expression of adherens junction (AJ) and tight junction (TJ) proteins in these epithelial cells has not been systematically studied. Accordingly, in the present study, we sought to characterize the expression of these junctional proteins in these three cell lines.

Methods
The cells were grown in six-well cell culture plates. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were used to characterize the expression of AJ and TJ proteins in the CP cell lines.

Results
Z310 and TR-CSFB3 cells expressed a TJ protein, occludin, and its cytosolic binding partner, zonula occludens 1, as well as an AJ protein, E-cadherin, and β-catenin, a cytoplasmic protein that interacts with E-cadherin. However, the expression of occludin and E-cadherin in TR-CSFB3 cells at both the mRNA and protein level was weaker than that found in Z301 cells. The immunocytochemical analysis also demonstrated that the staining pattern for these junctional proteins in TR-CSFB3 cells was discontinuous and the staining intensity was weaker than that observed in Z310 cells. The message for claudin 1 and claudin 2 was expressed at low levels in TR-CSFB3 cells and these cells were weakly immunopositive for claudin 1. In comparison, the message for these TJ proteins could not be detected in Z310 cells. CPC-2 cells expressed occludin, which was localized to areas of cell-cell contact, but the staining pattern for this TJ protein was found to be variable and irregular. Although CPC-2 cells expressed mRNA for claudin 1, claudin 2, and claudin 11, only claudin 1 was expressed at the protein level and it was localized to the nuclei rather than to areas of cell-cell contact. An AJ protein, E-cadherin, was also found to be mislocalized in CPC-2 cells, even though its cytosolic binding partner, β-catenin, was restricted to areas of cell-cell contact, as in normal CP.

Conclusion
The three CP cell lines analyzed in this study vary considerably with regard to the expression of AJ and TJ proteins, which is likely reflected by different barrier properties of these in vitro models of BCSFB.
A2A receptors in inflammation and injury: lessons learned from transgenic animals
Authors: Haskó György , Pacher Pál 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAdenosine regulates the function of the innate and adaptive immune systems through targeting virtually every cell type that is involved in orchestrating an immune/inflammatory response. Of the four adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, A3), A2A receptors have taken center stage as the primary anti-inflammatory effectors of extracellular adenosine. This broad, anti-inflammatory effect of A2A receptor activation is a result of the predominant expression of A2A receptors on monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, neutrophils, endothelial cells, eosinophils, epithelial cells, as well as lymphocytes, NK cells, and NKT cells. A2A receptor activation inhibits early and late events occurring during an immune response, which include antigen presentation, costimulation, immune cell trafficking, immune cell proliferation, proinflammatory cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. In addition to limiting inflammation, A2A receptors participate in tissue remodeling and reparation. Consistent with their multifaceted, immunoregulatory action on immune cells, A2A receptors have been shown to impact the course of a wide spectrum of ischemic, autoimmune, infectious, and allergic diseases. Here, we review the regulatory roles of A2A receptors in immune/inflammatory diseases of various organs, including heart, lung, gut, liver, kidney, joints, and brain, as well as the role of A2A receptors in regulating multiple organ failure and sepsis.
Reduced High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin and Elevated High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Are Synergistic Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome in a Large-Scale Middle-Aged to Elderly Population: the Shimanami Health Promoting Program Study
Authors: Tabara Yasuharu , Osawa Haruhiko , Kawamoto Ryuichi , Tachibana-Iimori Rieko , Yamamoto Miyuki , Nakura Jun , Miki Tetsuro , Makino Hideich , Kohara Katsuhiko 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjective: In Western countries, one of the most important modifiable targets for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-specific plasma protein that inversely associates with metabolic syndrome. Among several molecular isoforms, high-molecular-weight (HMW) complex is considered the active form. Increased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration also associates with metabolic syndrome, and adiponectin could modulate plasma C-reactive protein levels. Here, through cross-sectional investigation, we investigated whether reduced HMW adiponectin and increased hsCRP levels in plasma are synergistically associated with metabolic syndrome. Measurement of HMW complex of adiponectin is one of the novelties of this study.Design: We analyzed 1845 community-dwelling middle-aged to elderly subjects (62 ± 13 yr). Plasma HMW adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA. Clinical parameters were obtained from the subjects’ personal health records, evaluated at their annual medical check-up.Results: Each component of metabolic syndrome, except for raised blood pressure, showed significantly lower plasma HMW adiponectin concentrations for both men and women (P &lt; 0.001). In contrast, plasma hsCRP levels were significantly higher in subjects with metabolic disorders (P &lt; 0.001). After adjusting for other confounding factors, HMW adiponectin [log normalized, odds ratio 0.084 (95% confidence interval 0.050–0.142), P &lt; 0.001] and hsCRP [3.009 (2.175–4.163), P &lt; 0.001] were identified as independent determinants of metabolic syndrome. In addition to the direct associations, we also observed a synergistic effect between these two molecules (F = 11.8, P &lt; 0.001).Conclusions: Reduced HMW adiponectin and elevated hsCRP are synergistically associated with the accumulation of metabolic disorders. The combination of these markers would be useful for identifying at-risk populations.
Anastrozole Increases Predicted Adult Height of Short Adolescent Males Treated with Growth Hormone: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial for One to Three Years
Authors: Mauras Nelly , Gonzalez de Pijem Lilliam , Hsiang Helen Y. , Desrosiers Paul , Rapaport Robert , Schwartz I. David , Klein Karen Oerter , Singh Ravinder J. , Miyamoto Anna , Bishop Kim 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Context: The process of epiphyseal fusion during puberty is regulated by estrogen, even in males.
Objective: Our objective was to investigate whether anastrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, could delay bone age acceleration and increase predicted adult height in adolescent boys with GH deficiency.
Methods: Fifty-two adolescent males with GH deficiency treated with GH were randomized to cotreatment with anastrozole or placebo daily for up to 36 months.
Results: Fifty subjects completed 12 months, 41 completed 24 months, and 28 completed 36 months. Linear growth was comparable between groups; however, there was a significantly slower increase in bone age advancement from baseline in the anastrozole group vs. placebo group after 2 yr (+1.8 ± 0.1 vs. +2.7 ± 0.1 yr, P &lt; 0.0001) and after 3 yr (+2.5 ± 0.2 vs. +4.1 ± 0.1 yr, P &lt; 0.0001). This resulted in a net increase in predicted adult height of +4.5 ± 1.2 cm in the anastrozole group at 24 months and +6.7 ± 1.4 cm at 36 months as compared with a 1-cm gain at both time points in the placebo group. Estradiol and estrone concentrations increased less in the anastrozole group compared with placebo group. All boys on the aromatase inhibitor had normal tempo of virilization. Safety data, including glucose, and plasma lipid concentrations were comparable between groups.
Conclusions: Anastrozole increases adult height potential of adolescent boys on GH therapy while maintaining normal pubertal progression after 2–3 yr. This treatment offers an alternative in promoting growth in GH-deficient boys in puberty. Long-term follow up is needed to elucidate fully the safety and efficacy of this approach.
Attenuated Morning Salivary Cortisol Concentrations in a Population-Based Study of Persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Well Controls
Authors: Nater Urs M. , Maloney Elizabeth , Boneva Roumiana S. , Gurbaxani Brian M. , Lin Jin-Mann , Jones James F. , Reeves William C. , Heim Christine 
Published: December 2007

AbstractContext: A substantial body of research on the pathophysiology of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has focused on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation. The cortisol awakening response has received particular attention as a marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation.Objective: The objective of the current study was to evaluate morning salivary cortisol profiles in persons with CFS and well controls identified from the general population.Design and Setting: We conducted a case-control study at an outpatient research clinic.Cases and Other Participants: We screened a sample of 19,381 residents of Georgia and identified those with CFS and a matched sample of well controls. Seventy-five medication-free CFS cases and 110 medication-free well controls provided complete sets of saliva samples.Main Outcome Measures: We assessed free cortisol concentrations in saliva collected on a regular workday immediately upon awakening and 30 and 60 min after awakening.Results: There was a significant interaction effect, indicating different profiles of cortisol concentrations over time between groups, with the CFS group showing an attenuated morning cortisol profile. Notably, we observed a sex difference in this effect. Women with CFS exhibited significantly attenuated morning cortisol profiles compared with well women. In contrast, cortisol profiles were similar in men with CFS and male controls.Conclusions: CFS was associated with an attenuated morning cortisol response, but the effect was limited to women. Our results suggest that a sex difference in hypocortisolism may contribute to increased risk of CFS in women.
Patterns of Inheritance of Constitutional Delay of Growth and Puberty in Families of Adolescent Girls and Boys Referred to Specialist Pediatric Care
Authors: Wehkalampi Karoliina , Widén Elisabeth , Laine Tiina , Palotie Aarno , Dunkel Leo 
Published: December 2007

AbstractContext and Objective: Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP), more commonly observed in boys than girls, often has a familial background. We characterized the occurrence of CDGP in relatives of CDGP patients to elucidate the mechanisms influencing timing of puberty.Participants and Design: We identified 492 subjects with CDGP from hospital records of two pediatric clinics in Finland; 95 male and 29 female subjects and their first-degree relatives participated. In family members, CDGP was defined by use of growth charts (growth spurt taking place 2 sd beyond the mean). One third of the families was expanded to include also second-degree relatives with an interview-based assessment of pubertal timing.Results: Of males, 80%, and of female probands, 75% had first-degree relatives with CDGP. Of all probands, 45% had one parent (unilineal families) and 32% had two parents affected. In 2% of the families, only siblings were affected. The prevalence of CDGP in male first-degree relatives was only slightly higher than in female relatives: 79 of 148 (53%) vs. 64 of 164 (39%), respectively (P = 0.01); male to female ratio was 1.2:1. In 74% of extended unilineal pedigrees (17 of 23), the inheritance pattern of CDGP was consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.Conclusions: CDGP clusters in families. Although its inheritance likely is complex, some predisposing genetic factors may have a dominant effect. CDGP was almost as common in male and female relatives of the CDGP subjects seen at specialist care, challenging the view of a marked overall male preponderance of CDGP.
Acetylation in Nuclear Receptor Signaling and the Role of Sirtuins
Authors: Wang Chenguang , Powell Michael J. , Popov Vladimir M. , Pestell Richard G. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIt has been known since the early 1970s that nuclear receptor complexes bind DNA in association with coregulatory proteins. Characterization of these nuclear receptor coregulators has revealed diverse enzymatic activities that temporally and spatially coordinate nuclear receptor activity within the context of local chromatin in response to diverse hormone signals. Chromatin-modifying proteins, which dictate the higher-order chromatin structure in which DNA is packaged, in turn orchestrate orderly recruitment of nuclear receptor complexes. Modifications of histones include acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, sumoylation, ADP ribosylation, deimination, and proline isomerization. At this time, we understand how a subset of these modifications regulates nuclear receptor signaling. However, the effects, particularly of acetylation and demethylation, are profound. The finding that nuclear receptors are directly acetylated and that acetylation in turn directly regulates contact-independent growth has broad therapeutic implications. Studies over the past 7 yr have led to the understanding that nuclear receptor acetylation is a conserved function, regulating diverse nuclear receptor activity. Furthermore, we now know that acetylation of multiple and distinct substrates within nuclear receptor signaling pathways, form an acetylation signaling network from the cell surface to the nucleus. The finding that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylases, the sirtuins, are capable of deacetylating nuclear receptors provides a new level of complexity in the control of nuclear receptor activity in which local intracellular concentrations of NAD may regulate nuclear receptor physiology.
Against Emotional Modularity
Authors: Sousa Ronald De 
Published: December 2007

How many emotions are there? Should we accept as overwhelming the evidence in favour of regarding emotions as emanating from a relatively small number of modules evolved efficiently to serve us in common life situations? Or can emotions, like colour, be organized in a space of two, three, or more dimensions defining a vast number of discriminable emotions, arranged on a continuum, on the model of the colour cone?There is some evidence that certain emotions are specialized to facilitate certain response sequences, relatively encapsulated in their neurophysiological organization. These are natural facts. But nature, as Katherine Hepburn remarked to Humphrey Bogart, is what we were put in the world to rise above. I shall suggest that we can consider the question not merely from a scientific point of view, but from apoliticalpoint of view. And so I will try to explain how to reconcile the evidence of emotional modularity - which, as some of the contributions to the present volume illustrate, is not devoid of a certain ambiguity - with a reasonable plea for an attitude of disapproval towards the rigidities of our taxonomy.