bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of the microsatellite in the 3' untranslated region of the CD154 gene with rheumatoid arthritis in females from a Spanish cohort: a case-control study
Authors: Martin-Donaire Trinidad , Losada-Fernandez Ignacio , Perez-Chacon Gema , Rua-Figueroa Iñigo , Erausquin Celia , Naranjo-Hernandez Antonio , Rosado Silvia , Sanchez Florentino , Garcia-Saavedra Ayoze , Citores Maria Jesus , Vargas Juan A , Perez-Aciego Paloma 
Published: September 2007

AbstractCD40–CD154 interaction is an important mediator of inflammation and has been implicated in T helper type 1-mediated autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Linkage studies have shown association of markers in the proximity of the CD154 gene. In the present work we investigated whether specific allele variants of the microsatellite in the 3' UTR of the CD154 gene might modulate the risk of RA. The study, in a case-control setting, included 189 patients and 150 healthy controls from the Canary Islands, Spain. The 24CAs allele was less represented in female patients than in controls (0.444 in controls versus 0.307 in patients, P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) 0.556, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.372 to 0.831) but not in males (0.414 versus 0.408), and only when homozygous (P = 0.012; OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.77). We also verified that CD154 association with RA was independent of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotype. A further functional study showed that after stimulation anti-CD3, CD154 mRNA was more stable in CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients with RA bearing the 24CAs allele (mRNA half-life 208 minutes) than in patients without the 24CAs allele (109 minutes, P = 0.009). However, a lower percentage of CD154+CD4+ T lymphocytes was seen in freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients carrying 24CAs alleles (mean 4.28 versus 8.12; P = 0.033), and also in CD4+ T lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 (median 29.40 versus 47.60; P = 0.025). These results were concordant with the smaller amounts of CD154 mRNA isolated from stimulated T lymphocytes with 24CAs alleles. The CD154 microsatellite therefore seems to affect the expression of the gene in a complex manner that implies not only mRNA stability. These data suggest that the CD154 microsatellite contributes to the regulation of mRNA and protein expression, although further studies will be necessary to elucidate its role in disease predisposition.
Interrelated modulation of endothelial function in Behcet's disease by clinical activity and corticosteroid treatment
Authors: Protogerou Athanase D , Sfikakis Petros P , Stamatelopoulos Kimon S , Papamichael Christos , Aznaouridis Kostas , Karatzis Emmanuil , Papaioannou Theodore G , Ikonomidis Ignatios , Kaklamanis Phedon , Mavrikakis Myron , Lekakis John 
Published: September 2007

AbstractCorticosteroids are commonly used in empirical treatment of Behçet's disease (BD), a systemic inflammatory condition associated with reversible endothelial dysfunction. In the present study we aimed to dissect the effects of clinical disease activity and chronic or short-term corticosteroid treatment on endothelial function in patients with BD. In a case-control, cross-sectional study, we assessed endothelial function by endothelium dependent flow mediated dilatation (FMD) at the brachial artery of 87 patients, who either were or were not receiving chronic corticosteroid treatment, and exhibiting variable clinical disease activity. Healthy individuals matched for age and sex served as controls. Endothelial function was also assessed in a prospective study of 11 patients before and after 7 days of treatment with prednisolone given at disease relapse (20 mg/day). In the cross-sectional component of the study, FMD was lower in patients than in control individuals (mean ± standard error: 4.1 ± 0.4% versus 5.7 ± 0.2%, P = 0.003), whereas there was a significant interaction between the effects of corticosteroids and disease activity on endothelial function (P = 0.014, two-factor analysis of variance). Among patients with inactive BD, those who were not treated with corticosteroids (n = 33) had FMD comparable to that in healthy control individuals, whereas those treated with corticosteroids (n = 15) had impaired endothelial function (P = 0.023 versus the respective control subgroup). In contrast, among patients with active BD, those who were not treated with corticosteroids (n = 20) had lower FMD than control individuals (P = 0.007), but in those who were receiving corticosteroids (n = 19) the FMD values were comparable to those in control individuals. Moreover, FMD was significantly improved after 7 days of prednisolone administration (3.7 ± 0.9% versus 7.6 ± 1.4%, P = 0.027). Taken together, these results imply that although corticosteroid treatment may impair endothelial function per se during the remission phase of the inflammatory process, it restores endothelial dysfunction during active BD by counteracting the harmful effects of relapsing inflammation.
Quantitative gait analysis as a method to assess mechanical hyperalgesia modulated by disease-modifying antirheumatoid drugs in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rat
Authors: Simjee Shabana Usman , Jawed Huma , Quadri Javeria , Saeed Sheikh Arshad 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn the present study, azothioprine, chloroquine, D-penicillamine, methotrexate and sodium aurothiomalate (gold salt) were evaluated for possible disease-modifying effects in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model of human rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Gait analysis was used to examine the role of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the development of pain. Body weights were also measured to monitor the progression of disease and the systemic antiarthritic effects of the test compounds used in this study, as well as their systemic toxicity. Our results showed that azothioprine (5 mg/kg/day), chloroquine (12.5 mg/kg/day), sodium aurothiomalate (2.5 mg/kg/day) and methotrexate (1 mg/kg/week) not only inhibited the macroscopic changes such as erythema and swelling of limbs, but also exhibited significant reversal of gait deficits seen in the untreated or saline-treated arthritic rats. No reduction in the body weights were observed in the arthritic rats treated with azothioprine, chloroquine, sodium aurothiomalate and methotrexate. D-Penicillamine (12.5 mg/kg/day), however, showed a significant reduction (P < 0.03) in the body weights of the arthritic rats over a period of 22 days; furthermore, it was unable to show any reduction in arthritic score (P < 0.1). In earlier experiments, chloroquine and methotrexate failed to suppress carageenan-induced edema, suggesting that the mode of antiarthritic action may be different from those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Since these disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are reported to have an immunomodulatory role, especially the gold salt, which influences the monocyte–macrophage system, it is suggested that the observed antiarthritic effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may be partly attributed to their immunomodulatory activity.
Role of human HGFIN/nmbin breast cancer
Authors: Metz Rebecca L , Patel Prem S , Hameed Meera , Bryan Margaret , Rameshwar Pranela 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Introduction
HGFIN, previously identified as nmb, and its homolog osteoactivin are single transmembrane proteins that are expressed in differentiated immune cells. These proteins exhibit properties that could potentiate tumorigenesis or decrease invasiveness. These seemingly opposing roles of HGFIN suggest that this protein might be central to malignancies and might also behave as a tumor suppressor. Consistent with the reported roles for HGFIN is the fact that this gene is regulated by p53 through multiple binding sites in the 5' flanking region, and is expressed in osteoblasts.

Methods
This study used siRNA to knock-out HGFIN in non-tumorigenic breast cells and ectopically expressed HGFIN in breast cancer cells. In addition, in situ hybridization studies analyzed primary breast tissues from archived breast surgeries. Reporter gene assays studied the untranslated exon 1 of HGFIN.

Results
HGFIN expression led to reduced cell growth of breast cancer cells and reduced migration. At the molecular level, reporter gene analyses determined the untranslated exon 1 to be a negative regulator of the upstream enhancing effect. Ectopic expression of wild-type p53 in breast cancer cells that expressed endogenous mutant p53 resulted in increased HGFIN reporter gene activities.

Conclusion
As the majority of cancer cells have mutations in p53, further studies on the relationship between p53 and HGFIN expression, and its role in tumor genesis and bone invasion, might uncover novel therapy targets for breast and other cancers. The results show a central role for p53 in HGFIN expression, which appears to determine the behavior of the cancer cells.
Coverage and error models of protein-protein interaction data by directed graph analysis
Authors: Chiang Tony , Scholtens Denise , Sarkar Deepayan , Gentleman Robert , Huber Wolfgang 
Published: September 2007

AbstractUsing a directed graph model for bait to prey systems and a multinomial error model, we assessed the error statistics in all published large-scale datasets for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterized them by three traits: the set of tested interactions, artifacts that lead to false-positive or false-negative observations, and estimates of the stochastic error rates that affect the data. These traits provide a prerequisite for the estimation of the protein interactome and its modules.
The LeFE algorithm: embracing the complexity of gene expression in the interpretation of microarray data
Authors: Eichler Gabriel S , Reimers Mark , Kane David , Weinstein John N 
Published: September 2007

AbstractInterpretation of microarray data remains a challenge, and most methods fail to consider the complex, nonlinear regulation of gene expression. To address that limitation, we introduce Learner of Functional Enrichment (LeFE), a statistical/machine learning algorithm based on Random Forest, and demonstrate it on several diverse datasets: smoker/never smoker, breast cancer classification, and cancer drug sensitivity. We also compare it with previously published algorithms, including Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. LeFE regularly identifies statistically significant functional themes consistent with known biology.
Compulsive hoarding: A qualitative investigation of partner and carer perspectives
Authors: Wilbram Mark. , Kellett Stephen. , Beail Nigel. 
Published: September 2007

ObjectiveThis study explores the experiences of family members caring for a person who compulsively hoards.DesignTen participants, all ‘key carers’ for a hoarding family member, were interviewed using a semi‐structured interview schedule designed for the purpose of the study.MethodsTranscribed interviews were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.ResultsFive superordinate, discrete but interconnecting themes were identified: ‘loss of normal family life’; ‘the need for understanding’; ‘coping with the situation’; ‘impact on relationships’; and ‘marginalization’. Carers' accommodation of hoarding behaviours and role isolation were examined in drawing connections between themes. Outlying themes suggesting factors protective of relationships and facilitating coping were also identified.ConclusionCarers struggled to cope with both the environmental and interpersonal impacts of the hoarding. Lacking both formal and informal networks of support, carers are in need of information and treatment options for themselves and their families. Possible avenues for future clinical and theoretical research are suggested.
Expectancies, not aroma, explain impact of lavender aromatherapy on psychophysiological indices of relaxation in young healthy women
Authors: Howard Siobhán , Hughes Brian M. 
Published: September 2007

Objectives In aromatherapy, lavender aroma is reputed to assist with relaxation. However, while there is much anecdotal evidence to that effect, the empirical literature is very inconsistent. Failure to employ adequate placebos, proper blinding, objective measures, or screening of prior beliefs about aromatherapy means that many previous findings could have been influenced by expectancy biases. The present study sought to establish whether lavender aroma and/or expectancies affect post‐stress relaxation.Design A double‐blind, 3 (aroma)×3 (instruction)×10 (time in minutes) mixed‐factorial placebo‐controlled trial.Method In a laboratory, 96 healthy undergraduate women were exposed to lavender, placebo, or no aroma during physiologically assessed relaxation after an arousing cognitive task. Where an aroma was presented, an instructional priming procedure was used to manipulate participants' expectancies about the aroma's likely impact on their ability to relax.Results Results showed no effect of aroma on galvanic skin response during relaxation. However, the nature of instructional prime was associated with relaxation patterns: when expecting the aroma to inhibit them, participants relaxed more; when expecting facilitation, participants relaxed less. The effect was not seen with regard to self‐reported relaxation (as represented by changes in state anxiety) and was independent of ratings of attitudes towards aromatherapy.Conclusions The findings imply that the previous associations of lavender aroma with assisted relaxation may have been influenced by expectancy biases, and that the relevant expectancies are easily manipulable.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Clear Water Repellent Coatings on Partially Grouted Single-Wythe Concrete Masonry Walls
Authors: Greenwald Jeffrey H. , Young Thomas C. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
The use of architectural concrete masonry to construct commercial and institutional buildings is common in the northwestern United States. By combining different block sizes, shapes, colors, and surface treatments, architects have designed many striking structures. This test program focused on the evaluation of clear water repellent coatings because they are an important component of a water resistant wall system. The number of repellents produced has grown and their chemical composition has changed during recent years. The test results will provide guidance in updating the industry recommendation used by design professionals and building owners. A total of 14 walls were constructed and tested in accordance with ASTM E 514, “Standard Test Method for Water Penetration and Leakage Through Masonry.” The walls were all constructed with materials shipped from northwest block producers and represent construction techniques used in the Pacific Northwest. Each wall was initially tested uncoated to establish a baseline performance. Afterwards, a clear water repellent was applied and each wall was retested. The walls were then tested a third time after aging outside for approximately one year. The test results will establish comparative behavior between wall assemblies.
Eine Parametrierung reduzierter stabiler Modelle und stabilisierender Regler (A Parameterization of Reduced Stable Models and Controllers)
Authors: Yousefi Amirhossein , Lohmann Boris 
Published: September 2007

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit der Stabilitätserhaltung bei der Ordnungsreduktion linearer Modelle und linearer Regler. Es wird eine Parametrierung angegeben, die ausgehend von einem Modell (oder Regler) hoher Ordnung eine große Klasse stabiler reduzierter Modelle (oder regelkreisstabilisierender reduzierter Regler) beschreibt. Hiermit können verschiedene bestehende Reduktionsverfahren, die mittels Ähnlichkeitstransformationen oder singulärer Perturbation operieren und nicht zwingend stabilisieren, sinnvoll erweitert werden.
This note addresses the problem of instability in both model and controller reduction methods based on similarity transformations. For a given model (controller) a general framework is proposed that parameterizes a large set of reduced models (controllers) that preserve the stability of the original model (closed loop system). As an application of the main results, it is shown how different reduction methods can be modified, if they fail to maintain stability.
Efficacy of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-1–Infected Children in Kenya
Authors: Song Rinn , Jelagat Justine , Dzombo Doris , Mwalimu Marietta , Mandaliya Kishorchandra , Shikely Khadija , Essajee Shaffiq 
Published: September 2007

OBJECTIVE. Few studies have investigated the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected children in resource-poor settings. This observational, retrospective analysis describes the clinical, immunologic, and virologic effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naive, HIV-infected children in Mombasa, Kenya. In keeping with a public health approach, all children were treated by using a simplified, nationally approved, triple-drug regimen.
METHODS. Clinical data and stored plasma samples from 29 children who were followed prospectively between April 2003 and October 2004 were analyzed. All children received generic formulations of nevirapine, zidovudine, and lamivudine and were evaluated at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. At each visit, weight and CD4 lymphocyte counts were measured and plasma samples were stored for analysis. HIV RNA load was determined retrospectively at baseline and 9 months after initiation of therapy.
RESULTS. The mean age of the children was 8.5 years (range: 2–16 years). At baseline, the mean CD4 count (±SD) was 182.3 × 106 cells per μL (±145.6). On treatment, CD4 counts increased step-wise by a mean of 187 × 106 cells per μL at 3 months, 293 cells per μL at 6 months, 308 cells per μL at 9 months, 334 cells per μL at 12 months, and 363 cells per μL at 15 months. The mean plasma viral load decreased from a baseline level of 622 712 to 35369 copies per mL, and at 9 months was undetectable in 55% of the patients. Mean z scores for weight for age increased from a baseline of −1.61 to −1.12 at 12 months into therapy.
CONCLUSIONS. A public health approach using 1 treatment regimen in generic form showed excellent efficacy among treatment-naive, HIV-infected children in a resource-limited country. Clinical and immunologic improvement occurred in all patients, but 9 months after the start of therapy, only 55% of the children had an undetectable viral load.
Sex Genotype and Sex Phenotype Contribute to Growth Differences between Male and Female Channel Catfish
Authors: Davis Kenneth B , Goudie Cheryl A , Simco Bill A 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus have an XX female-XY male genotypic system of sex determination, and male channel catfish grow faster than females. Through selective breeding and appropriately timed hormone administration, we have produced phenotypic male channel catfish with a YY sex genotype and female channel catfish with an XY or YY sex genotype. In this study, we evaluated the relative role of sex genotype and sex phenotype in regulating sexually dimorphic growth in this important aquaculture species. Ten families of genotypic XY male fish were produced by matings of normal XX female fish with YY male fish, and females were produced by hormonal feminization of a subsample from each family. The growth rate and body composition of sibling males and females in ponds where the sexes were maintained together were compared with those in ponds where the sexes were maintained separately. Generally, phenotypic males had higher body weight (15.25% and 11.36% when the sexes were together or separated, respectively), standard length (3.28% and 2.24%, respectively), and condition factor (2.94 and 2.65, respectively), while phenotypic females had higher liposomatic index (7.11% and 13.69%, respectively) and dress-out percentage (0.91% and 1.06%, respectively). Statistical differences between the phenotypic sexes were not as consistent as observed in previous studies with normal males and females because growth and body composition differences were enhanced when the sexes were maintained together; however, monosex culture restrained these differences. These results demonstrate that sex genotype and sex phenotype both contribute to the male growth advantage in channel catfish and provide further evidence that monosex male culture would produce an economic gain of about 5% for the industry compared with conventional mixed-sex culture.
QSAR modeling of antiradical and antioxidant activities of flavonoids using electrotopological state (E-State) atom parameters
Authors: Ray Supratim , Sengupta Chandana , Roy Kunal 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn the present paper QSAR modeling using electrotopological state atom (E-state) parameters has been attempted to determine the antiradical and the antioxidant activities of flavonoids in two model systems reported by Burda et al. (2001). The antiradical property of a methanolic solution of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the antioxidant activity of flavonoids in a β-carotenelinoleic acid were the two model systems studied. Different statistical tools used in this communication are stepwise regression analysis, multiple linear regressions with factor analysis as the preprocessing step for variable selection (FA-MLR) and partial least squares analysis (PLS). In both the activities the best equation is obtained from stepwise regression analysis, considering, both equation statistics and predictive ability (antiradical activity: R 2 = 0.927, Q2 = 0.871 and antioxidant activity: R 2 = 0.901, Q2 = 0.841).
Anomalously large kinetic isotope effect
Authors: Krinkin David 
Published: September 2007

AbstractActivated diffusion of water between macromolecules in swollen cellulose is accompanied by anomalously high kinetic isotope effects of oxygen. The separation factor of heavy-oxygen water (H218O /H216O) is thousands of permilles instead of tens of permilles according to modern Absolute Rate Theory. This anomalous separation under usual conditions is disguised by the opposing process of very fast equalization to equilibrium through water-filled cellulose pores. This process is quicker by approximately 3 orders of magnitude than diffusion through the cellulose body. As a consequence, this opposition-directed equalization virtually eliminates the results of isotope separation. To reveal this anomaly it is necessary to suppress equalization, which was the primary problem for both discovery of this anomaly and its investigation. The method of investigating the anomalous separation in cellulose was developed with suppression of this negative influence. Discussion of the theoretical nature of the anomalous kinetic isotope effect is presented. This theoretical study would probably permit the discovery and use for isotope separation of the anomalously high isotope effect for other chemical elements, in particular, for those heavier than oxygen.
Pre-treatment of growth medium with Amberlite® XAD-1180 produces higher levels of bacteriocin plantaricin 423
Authors: Todorov Svetoslav , Reenen Carol , Dicks Leon 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn this paper, we investigated the production of plantaricin 423, produced by Lactobacillus plantarum 423 in both MRS broth and partially deproteinated MRS with Amberlite XAD-1180. Improved production of plantaricin 423 was observed in MRS broth pre-treated with Amberlite XAD-1180. Precipitation of plantaricin with ammonium sulphate, followed by gel filtration chromatography and subsequent analysis on a modified tricine-SDS PAGE, significantly increased the yield and purity of plantaricin 423. This paper describes a novel method to partially deproteinate growth medium in order to facilitate bacteriocin purification.