bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Osteopontin promotes gastric cancer metastasis by augmenting cell survival and invasion through Akt‐mediated HIF‐1α up‐regulation and MMP9 activation
Authors: Song Gang , Ouyang Gaoliang , Mao Yubin , Ming Yanlin , Bao Shideng , Hu Tianhui 
Published: October 2008

AbstractOsteopontin (OPN) is a secreted, integrin‐binding matrix phosphorylated glycoprotein. OPN has been shown to facilitate the progression and metastasis of malignancies and has prognostic value in several types of cancer, including gastric cancer. However, the functional mechanism of OPN mediated metastatic growth in gastric cancer remains unclear. Here, using multiple in vitro and in vivo models, we report that OPN strongly promoted the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that OPN, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9 and hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α have statistically significant different expression patterns between well‐ and poorly differentiated tissue samples (P < 0.05). Correlations existed between OPN and MMP9, and between OPN and HIF‐1α (r1= 0.872, p1 < 0.01 and r2= 0.878, p2 < 0.01). Furthermore, OPN dramatically increased colony formation and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro and promoted tumour growth and metastasis in vivo. In addition, OPN potently protected gastric cancer cells from serum depletion‐induced apoptosis. Further study shows that OPN activated phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/Akt survival pathway and up‐regulated HIF‐1αvia binding to αvβ3 integrins in gastric cancer cells. Moreover, we found that OPN could activate MMP9 and up‐regulate MMP2. Taken together, our results suggest that the survival‐promoting function is crucial for OPN to promote the development of gastric cancer, and HIF‐1α and MMP9 may play key roles during this process. Thus, targeting OPN and its related signalling network may develop an effective therapeutic approach for the management of gastric cancer.
The polyubiquitin Ubc gene modulates histone H2A monoubiquitylation in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease
Authors: Bett John S. , Benn Caroline L. , Ryu Kwon‐Yul , Kopito Ron R. , Bates Gillian P. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHuntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the protein huntingtin (htt). HD brains are characterized by the presence of ubiquitin‐positive neuronal inclusion bodies, suggesting that disturbances in the distribution of cellular ubiquitin may contribute to disease pathology. The fact that several neurodegenerative diseases are caused by mutations in ubiquitin‐processing enzymes and that the polyubiquitin genes are required for resistance to cellular stress led us to investigate the effect of perturbing the ubiquitin system in HD. We crossed R6/2 transgenic HD mice with heterozygous polyubiquitin Ubc knockout mice (Ubc+/−) and assessed the effect on the R6/2 neurological phenotype. Although the R6/2 phenotype was largely unaffected, surprisingly we observed some subtle improvements in various behavioural activities correlating with heterozygous Ubc knockout. Interestingly, immunoblot analysis revealed that the levels of monoubiquitylated histone H2A (uH2A), a modification associated with gene repression, were significantly increased in the brains of R6/2 mice. Furthermore, the reduction of Ubc expression in R6/2; Ubc+/− mice largely prevented this increase in uH2A levels. However, we were not able to show by the use of a limited number of quantitative RT‐PCR assays that changes in the amount of uH2A in the R6/2‐Ubc mice had an effect on disease‐associated transcriptional abnormalities. These results suggest that the expression of aggregation‐prone mutant htt causes disturbances to the ubiquitin system, which may contribute to disease due to the diverse and important roles of ubiquitin.
Nutritional channels in breast cancer
Authors: Godoy Alejandro , Salazar Katherine , Figueroa Carlos , Smith Gary J. , de los Angeles Garcia Maria , Nualart Francisco J. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBreast cancers increase glucose uptake by increasing expression of the facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs), mainly GLUT1. However, little is known about the relationship between GLUT1 expression and malignant potential in breast cancer. In this study, expression and subcellular localization of GLUT1 was analysed in vivo in breast cancer tissue specimens with differing malignant potential, based on the Scarff‐Bloom‐Richardson (SBRI, II, III) histological grading system, and in vitro in the breast cancer cell lines, MDA‐MB‐468 and MCF‐7, and in MDA‐MB‐468 cells grown as xenografts in nude athymic BALB/c male mice. In situ hybridization analyses demonstrated similar levels of GLUT1 mRNA expression in tissue sections from breast cancers of all histological grades. However, GLUT1 protein was expressed at higher levels in grade SBRII cancer, compared with SBRI and SBRIII, and associated with the expression of the proliferation marker PCNA. Immunolocalization analyses in SBRII cancers demonstrated a preferential localization of GLUT1 to the portions of the cellular membrane that faced neighbouring cells and formed ‘canaliculi‐like structures’, that we hypothesize could have a potential role as ‘nutritional channels’. A similar pattern of GLUT1 localization was observed in confluent cultures of MDA‐MB‐468 and MCF‐7, and in MDA‐MB‐468 cells grown as xenografts, but not in the normal breast epithelial cell line HMEC. However, no relationship between GLUT1 expression and malignant potential of human breast cancer was observed. Preferential subcellular localization of GLUT1 could represent a physiological adaptation of a subset of breast cancer cells that form infiltrative tumours with a nodular growth pattern and that therefore need a major diffusion of glucose from blood vessels.
Intracardiac injection of erythropoietin induces stem cell recruitment and improves cardiac functions in a rat myocardial infarction model
Authors: Klopsch Christian , Furlani Dario , Gäbel Ralf , Li Wenzhong , Pittermann Erik , Ugurlucan Murat , Kundt Guenther , Zingler Christiana , Titze Ulf , Wang Weiwei , Ong Lee‐Lee , Wagner Klaus , Li Ren‐Ke , Ma Nan , Steinhoff Gustav 
Published: October 2008

AbstractErythropoietin (EPO) protects the myocardium from ischaemic injury and promotes beneficial remodelling. We assessed the therapeutic efficacy of intracardiac EPO injection and EPO‐mediated stem cell homing in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model. Following MI, EPO (3000 U/kg) or saline was delivered by intracardiac injection. Compared to myocardial infarction control group (MIC), EPO significantly improved left ventricular function (n= 11–14, P< 0.05) and decreased right ventricular wall stress (n= 8, P< 0.05) assessed by pressure‐volume loops after 6 weeks. MI‐EPO hearts exhibited smaller infarction size (20.1 ± 1.1%versus 27.8 ± 1.2%; n= 6–8, P< 0.001) and greater capillary density (338.5 ± 14.7 versus 259.8 ± 9.2 vessels per mm; n= 6–8, P< 0.001) than MIC hearts. Direct EPO injection reduced post‐MI myocardial apoptosis by approximately 41% (0.27 ± 0.03%versus 0.42 ± 0.03%; n= 6, P= 0.005). The chemoattractant SDF‐1 was up‐regulated significantly assessed by quantitative realtime PCR and immunohistology. c‐Kit+ and CD34+ stem cells were significantly more numerous in MI‐EPO than in MIC at 24 hrs in peripheral blood (n= 7, P< 0.05) and 48 hrs in the infarcted hearts (n= 6, P< 0.001). Further, the mRNAs of Akt, eNOS and EPO receptor were significantly enhanced in MI‐EPO hearts (n= 7, P< 0.05). Intracardiac EPO injection restores myocardial functions following MI, which may attribute to the improved early recruitment of c‐Kit+ and CD34+ stem cells via the enhanced expression of chemoattractant SDF‐1.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Characterization of Cytokine Production by Human Term Placenta Macrophages In Vitro
Authors: Pavlov Oleg , Pavlova Oksana , Ailamazyan Edouard , Selkov Sergei 
Published: October 2008

Problem  Macrophages are apparently the only immune cells within placenta villi, yet functions of these cells remain obscure. It has been postulated that placental macrophages accomplish regulatory roles at the fetal–maternal interface by means of wide variety of secreted cytokines. We attempt to analyze the patterns of cytokine production in an isolated population of placental macrophages.Method of study  Macrophages were obtained from term placentas in the absence of spontaneous labor. The basal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated levels of intracellular cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. The basal cytokine secretion was determined by BD™Cytometry Bead Array (BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA).Results  Intracellular IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα were detected in 31, 27, 4, and 3% CD68+ cells, respectively. Stimulation with LPS increased the proportions of cytokine‐producing CD68+ cells to 48, 50, 28, and 49%, respectively. Under basal conditions, levels of released TNFα and IL‐6, respectively, were 20‐ and 25‐fold higher when compared with IL‐1β while IL‐10 was secreted in small but detectable amounts. When a secretory activity was estimated for cytokine‐producing cells, the secretion rate for TNFα and IL‐6 overwhelmingly surpassed that for IL‐1β (TNFα:IL‐6:IL‐1β ratio was 192:145:1).Conclusion  These results suggest functional heterogeneity of the placental macrophage population and contribute to the elucidation of regulatory roles of these cells in gestation.
Ability of heifers to discriminate between familiar herdmates and members of an unfamiliar group: preference test and operant conditioning test
Authors: KOBA Yuki , MUNKSGAARD Lene , TANIDA Hajime , PEDERSEN Lene 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTUsing a preference test and operant conditioning in a Y‐maze, this experiment examined the ability of heifers to discriminate between their own familiar herdmates and member(s) of an unfamiliar group. Sixteen Danish Friesian heifers, eight older animals (360.6 ± 24.2 days of age) and eight younger ones (190.1 ± 14.1 days of age) were used. Each age group was further divided into two experimental groups. Members of each of these groups were housed together in small pens before the experiments began. In experiment 1, each of the 16 animals was allowed to approach either a familiar or an unfamiliar individual in the Y‐maze. The test was repeated 12 times, with a different unfamiliar subject for each test. In experiment 2, eight heifers were individually tested in a conditioning experiment to examine whether they could learn to discriminate between a group of their three herdmates and a group of three unfamiliar heifers. Test animals were rewarded when they chose their own group. In experiment 1, heifers did not show a preference between familiar and unfamiliar individuals. Interestingly the younger stimulus heifers but not the test animals showed an ability to discriminate between unfamiliar animals by vocalizing. In experiment 2, four of the eight test animals achieved the criterion for successful discrimination between the familiar and unfamiliar group (P < 0.003: binomial law). There was no age group difference in the ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar animals. In conclusion, heifers did not show a preference toward familiar or unfamiliar individuals; but after conditioning, some heifers could learn to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar groups.
Effect of cooking time on some nutrient and antinutrient components of bambaragroundnut seeds
Authors: OMOIKHOJE Stanley Omoh , ARUNA Mohammed Bashiru , BAMGBOSE Adeyemi Mustapha 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThe proximate composition, gross energy, mineral composition, percentage sugar, oligosaccharides and antinutrient substances of bambaragroundnut seeds subjected to different cooking times were determined. The seeds were cooked for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. Results of the proximate analysis showed that only the ether extract and ash were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced as the cooking time increased. In contrast, gross energy values significantly (P < 0.05) increased with increased cooking time. Amongst, the mineral elements assayed, calcium, magnesium and iron were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, while phosphorous, potassium, sodium and copper were reduced significantly (P > 0.05) with inreased cooking time. Percentage sucrose and glucose of bambaragroundnut seeds were significantly (P < 0.05) lowest in the raw form, but increased progressively with increased of cooking time. Raffinose and stachyose levels were reduced significantly by increased cookinf time (P < 0.05) with the least value in seeds cooked for 120 min. Trypsin inhibitor, hemagglutinin and tannin were completely eliminated in seeds cooked for 60 min or longer, but the phytin level was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) by cooking. For a significant detoxification of antinutrient substances and for optimal bioavailability of the component nutrients of bambaragroundnut seeds, an optimum cooking time of 60 min at 100°C is therefore recommended.
Determination of angiotensin‐I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides in chicken leg bone protein hydrolysate with alcalase
Authors: CHENG Fu‐Yuan , WAN Tien‐Chun , LIU Yu‐Tse , CHEN Chi‐Ming , LIN Liang‐Chuan , SAKATA Ryoichi 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThis study aims to identify peptides with angiotensin‐I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in hydrolysate from chicken leg bone protein hydrolyzed with alcalase for 4 h (A4H). The hydrolysate has demonstrated potent in vitro ACE inhibitory activity, and has been shown to attenuate the development of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A4H is competitive for ACE and was separated using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a gel filtration column (Superdex Peptide HR 10/30). The results show that A4H is a mixed non‐competitive inhibitor. Eighteen fractions were detected after separation of A4H, and most of them showed ACE inhibitory activity. Five fractions with strong ACE inhibitory activities (above 50%) were labeled from A to E. In addition, there were 10 peptides, consisting of 5–10 amino acid residues that were identified from fraction D that exhibited the strongest ACE inhibitory activity. Three of the identified peptides corresponded to peptides derived from collagen type I and chicken muscular protein. It is revealed that A4H has several peptides that possess ACE inhibitory activities.
The structure of vocalization of ewes and male lambs at pasture
Authors: NAEKAWA Hirofumi 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTWe performed an analysis of the vocalization of 161 ewes and 50 male lambs that were pastured day and night. The vocalization structures of the phonetic notations of the opened‐mouth from closed mouth /ηaee/ and /ηnaeee/ and closed‐mouth /ηηηη/ of ewes, and the opened‐mouth from closed‐mouth /ηeee/ and /ηneeee/ and closed‐mouth /ηηηη/ of male lambs were studied in terms of their audio characteristics. The items subject to analysis included duration of each vocalization, fundamental frequency, sound pressure and first formant (F1), second formant (F2), and third formant (F3). Among the male lambs, the duration of each call type showed significant differences depending on the behavior types or the target types, and the closed‐mouth to open‐mouth sounds, /ηeee/ and /ηneeee/ showed a tendency to be longer than the closed‐mouth sound of /ηηηη/. A significant correlation (r = 0.9, P < 0.05) was observed between the fundamental frequency and F1 with the /ηeee/ type of call of the male lambs when the vocalization was targeted toward the stockperson. When the ewes' behavior pattern was grazing and moving and the calling target was an ewe, the sound pressure significantly differed between /ηηηη/ and /ηnaeee/ (P < 0.05). From the analysis of the call durations, the fundamental frequencies, the sound pressures and formants, and the particular characteristics in sound structure were shown to vary according to the vocalization conditions and the situations, and where the animals were placed, even within the same call types.
Effects of dietary glucose level during late gestation on litter performance and glucose concentration in sows
Authors: HAN Young‐Keun , WANG Qi , CHO Jin‐Ho , CHEN Ying‐Jie , YOO Joo‐Sang , SHIN Seung‐Oh , KIM In‐Ho 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThe effects of feeding glucose during the 5 days before parturition on litter performance and on glucose concentration in sows were studied. At day 100 of gestation, 130 multiparous sows were assigned to the treatments. Late gestating sows were fed 0 g, 150 g, 250 g, 350 g and 450 g of glucose a day, respectively. During lactation, all sows were given free access to the same lactation diet (without glucose). One day before parturition, blood samples were collected from 30 sows (6 sows per treatment) at 10 before and 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after the meal. The supply of additional dietary glucose increased piglet birth weight (P < 0.05). Feed intake in week 1 and week 1–4 of lactation was greatest in sows fed the 0% glucose diet, least by sows fed the 18% glucose diet, and intermediate by sows fed the 6, 10, 14% glucose diets (P < 0.05). Basal glucose concentration and time of maximum glucose concentration after glucose intake were not affected by dietary treatment in the last 5 days of gestation. The sows fed the 14 and 18% glucose diets had greater maximum increase in glucose concentration than sows fed diet without glucose (P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding glucose to sows during 5 days before parturition increased birth weight of live‐born piglet and decreased sows feed intake during lactation, but did not affect the performance of sows and piglets.
Preventive Effect of S‐Allylcysteine on Membrane‐Bound Enzymes and Glycoproteins in Normal and Isoproterenol‐Induced Cardiac Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Padmanabhan Mannangatti , Rajadurai Murugan , Prince Ponnian Stanely Mainzen 
Published: October 2008

Abstract:  This study was aimed to evaluate the preventive role of S‐allylcysteine (SAC) on creatine kinase‐MB, iron, iron binding capacity, uric acid, total protein, membrane‐bound enzymes such as sodium potassium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase, calcium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase and magnesium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase, and glycoproteins such as hexose, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid in isoproterenol‐induced myocardial infarction in rats. Male albino Wistar rats were pre‐treated with SAC (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) daily for a period of 45 days. After the treatment period, isoproterenol (150 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected in rats at an interval of 24 hr for 2 days. Isoproterenol‐induced rats showed significantly (P < 0.05) increased activities of serum creatine kinase‐MB and calcium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase and magnesium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the heart, and the levels of iron and uric acid in serum and significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the levels of plasma iron binding capacity, plasma total protein, plasma albumin/globulin ratio and activity of sodium potassium‐dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the heart. Isoproterenol induction also showed a significant increase in the levels of glycoproteins in serum and the heart. Pre‐treatment with SAC (100 and 150 mg/kg) daily for a period of 45 days exhibited significant (P < 0.05) effect and altered these biochemical parameters positively. SAC (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg) treatment to normal rats did not exhibit any significant effect in any of the parameters studied. Thus, our study shows that SAC has a protective role in isoproterenol‐induced myocardial infarction in rats. The observed effects might be due to the free radical scavenging, antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties of SAC.
In vitroCYP3A4 Metabolism: Inhibition byEchinacea purpureaand Choice of Substrate for the Evaluation of Herbal Inhibition
Authors: Hansen Torstein Schrøder , Nilsen Odd Georg 
Published: October 2008

Abstract: Thein vitroCYP3A4 inhibition profiles ofEchinacea purpurea, St. John's wort and ketoconazole were evaluated by three different substrates: 7‐benzyloxy‐trifluoromethylcoumarin (BFC), 7‐benzyloxyquinoline (BQ) and testosterone. St. John's wort and ketoconazole produced similar inhibition profiles regardless of substrate. ForE. purpurea, testosterone metabolism showed a much lower CYP3A4 inhibition (IC505394 µg/ml) compared to the fluorescent substrates BFC and BQ (IC50354 and 452 mg/ml, respectively). It is suggested that the substrate/assay‐dependent effects may arise from a complex nature ofE. purpureaconstituents, involving different CYP3A4 substrate binding sites. The choice of substrate might thus be essential for evaluation of the inhibition of CYP3A4 metabolism for some herbs. A weak inhibition potential ofE. purpureatowards CYP3A4‐mediated metabolismin vitrowas confirmed by the use of three different substrates.
Cavernous Nerve Injury Using Rodent Animal Models
Authors: Canguven Onder , Burnett Arthur 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACT

Introduction
With the advance of the “nerve sparing” technique in radical pelvic surgeries, medically unaided rates of normal erectile function following surgery have improved. Precise determinations of post-surgery erection recovery, however, continue to be problematic and rates of normal erectile function range from 9% to 86%. It is understood that injury to cavernous nerves (CNs) occurs despite modern modifications of the surgery, although the precise pathophysiologic mechanisms of surgical erectile dysfunction are not completely understood.

Aim
To describe the experimental models of CN injury in small rodents, including both survival surgery (CN injury) and non-survival surgery (monitoring of intracavernosal pressure and arterial blood pressure) models. We also summarize studies on experimental procedures relating to these CN injury models and critique techniques according to their advantages and disadvantages.

Main Outcome Measure
Data from a peer review literature search on the topic of CN injury in rodent models.

Methods
A comprehensive review of the literature was performed using PubMed. “Cavernous nerve injury” and “animal model” were used as search terms, and a manual bibliographic review of cross-referenced items was performed.

Results
Assorted molecular, morphological, and physiological changes are measurable after CN injury in rodent models.

Conclusion
Various models of CN injury have been applied successfully and offer insights regarding erectile function recovery effects.
Pressure gradients, shell-crossing singularities and acoustic oscillations – application to inhomogeneous cosmological models
Authors: Bolejko K. , Lasky P. D. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Inhomogeneous cosmological models have recently become a very interesting alternative to standard cosmology. This is because these models are able to fit cosmological observations without the need for dark energy. However, due to inhomogeneity and pressureless matter content, these models can suffer from shell-crossing singularities. These singularities occur when two shells of dust collide with each other leading to infinite values of the density. In this Letter, we show that if inhomogeneous pressure is included then these singularities can be prevented from occurring over the period of structure formation. Thus, a simple incorporation of a gradient of pressure allows for more comprehensive studies of inhomogeneous cosmological models and their application to cosmology.