bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of temperature on urethra to bladder micturition reflex in the awake ewe
Authors: Combrisson Helene , Allix Sebastien , Robain Gilberte 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAimsThe flow of fluid along the urethra is known to facilitate detrusor contraction during micturition. This reflex, previously described in awake ewes, helps to achieve complete bladder emptying. In anesthetized cats, another urethra to bladder reflex involving urethral cold receptors has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the urethral reflex first described in awake ewes could also be temperature‐dependent.MethodsExperiments were performed on 10 healthy ewes. Urethral flows were performed by injecting 10 ml saline (ranging from 17 to 43°C) at the level of the proximal urethra. Catheterization of the bladder was performed so that detrusor pressure was continually recorded during the experiments.ResultsUrethral flows using body temperature saline (37–39°C) consistently evoked detrusor contraction. Urethral flows using saline at temperatures between 40 and 43°C induced detrusor contractions that were not significantly different from those observed at 37–39°C. Urethral flows using saline at temperatures below 37–39°C (17–36°C) resulted in a weaker or absent detrusor contraction.ConclusionsIn ewes, we have shown that urethral to bladder micturition reflex involving mechanoreceptors is decreased at temperatures below the physiological range. It is suggested that transient receptor potential vanilloid cation channels (e.g., TRPV4 which is activated by sheer/stress flows at near‐body temperature) could be involved in this urethra to bladder reflex. In humans, this reflex has hardly been described and is still a matter of debate. Our results reinforce that its full investigation may require systematic use of a range of saline flows at different temperatures. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:290–295, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential expression and pathological significance of autocrine motility factor/glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase expression in human lung carcinomas
Authors: Dobashi Y , Watanabe H , Sato Y , Hirashima S , Yanagawa T , Matsubara H , Ooi A 
Published: October 2006

AbstractTo clarify the involvement of autocrine motility factor (AMF) in the phenotype and biological profiles of human lung carcinomas, we analysed protein and mRNA expression in a total of 180 cases. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining in 67.2%, with the highest frequency in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 90.8%) and the lowest in small cell carcinoma (SmCC; 27.8%). In SCC, the staining frequency and intensity correlated with the degree of morphological differentiation. Generally, the expression levels in immunoblotting analysis corresponded well with immunohistochemical positivity. However, there was less agreement between protein and mRNA levels: in SmCC and large cell carcinomas (LCCs), mRNA showed higher, but protein showed lower expression. Among non‐small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), AMF protein levels correlated inversely with tumour size, but tumours exhibiting lymph node metastasis showed higher mRNA expression. In cultured lung carcinoma cells which comprised all histological subtypes, AMF was detected in the lysates of all ten cell lines. Secreted AMF protein was detected in the conditioned media from six cell lines, most of which were SmCC or LCC. Thus, a particular subset of lung carcinomas secrete AMF, which may promote cell motility via autocrine stimulation through its cognate receptor and cause the biological aggressiveness seen in SmCC and LCC. Moreover, treatment by proteasome inhibitors resulted in increased cellular AMF in five cell lines, suggesting that intracellular AMF levels are regulated by both secretion and proteasome‐dependent degradation. In conclusion, AMF was detected in a major proportion of lung carcinomas, and may play a part not only in proliferation and/or progression of the tumours, but also, possibly, in the differentiation of SCC. Furthermore, higher mRNA expression may be related to the high metastatic potential of NSCLC and increased protein secretion, leading to a more aggressive phenotype, such as the invasiveness of SmCC and LCC. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pulmonary dysfunction in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: Overview, diagnostic considerations, and infectious complications
Authors: Collaco J. Michael , Gower W. Adam , Mogayzel Peter J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPulmonary complications are among the most common and serious sequelae seen in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. This two‐part review addresses the incidence and impact of pulmonary complications in pediatric HSCT patients. In this first part we review the available data for the use of diagnostic modalities in this population, including flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and open lung biopsy (OLB). We also review the many infectious pulmonary complications that may occur in pediatric HSCT recipients, utilizing the traditional chronologic divisions of neutropenic phase (0–30 days following HSCT), early phase (30–100 days), and late phase (>100 days). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:117–126. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a new subfamily of HNH nucleases and experimental characterization of a representative member, HphI restriction endonuclease
Authors: Cymerman Iwona A. , Obarska Agnieszka , Skowronek Krzysztof J. , Lubys Arvydas , Bujnicki Janusz M. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe restriction endonuclease (REase) R. HphI is a Type IIS enzyme that recognizes the asymmetric target DNA sequence 5′‐GGTGA‐3′ and in the presence of Mg2+ hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds in both strands of the DNA at a distance of 8 nucleotides towards the 3′ side of the target, producing a 1 nucleotide 3′‐staggered cut in an unspecified sequence at this position. REases are typically ORFans that exhibit little similarity to each other and to any proteins in the database. However, bioinformatics analyses revealed that R.HphI is a member of a relatively big sequence family with a conserved C‐terminal domain and a variable N‐terminal domain. We predict that the C‐terminal domains of proteins from this family correspond to the nuclease domain of the HNH superfamily rather than to the most common PD‐(D/E)XK superfamily of nucleases. We constructed a three‐dimensional model of the R.HphI catalytic domain and validated our predictions by site‐directed mutagenesis and studies of DNA‐binding and catalytic activities of the mutant proteins. We also analyzed the genomic neighborhood of R.HphI homologs and found that putative nucleases accompanied by a DNA methyltransferase (i.e. predicted REases) do not form a single group on a phylogenetic tree, but are dispersed among free‐standing putative nucleases. This suggests that nucleases from the HNH superfamily were independently recruited to become REases in the context of RM systems multiple times in the evolution and that members of the HNH superfamily may be much more frequent among the so far unassigned REase sequences than previously thought. Proteins 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Room temperature ferromagnetism in Mn ion implanted epitaxial ZnO films
Authors: Hill D. H. , Arena D. A. , Bartynski R. A. , Wu P. , Saraf G. , Lu Y. , Wielunski L. , Gateau R. , Dvorak J. , Moodenbaugh A. , Yeo Yung Kee 
Published: October 2006

AbstractEpitaxial ZnO films of ∼450 nm thicknesses were grown by MOCVD on r‐sapphire and doped by implantation of 200 keV Mn ions to a dose of 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. The structural, chemical, and magnetic properties of the films were investigated with X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and SQUID magnetometry. XRD and RBS show both Mn‐doped ZnO and pure ZnO epitaxial layers in the as‐implanted film, which is ferromagnetic at 5 K but nonmagnetic at room temperature. For the as‐implanted materials, only Mn2+ ions are observed with XAS. Post‐implantation annealing partially recovers the lattice damage and redistributes Mn into the entire ZnO film; in addition, Mn2+ ions are converted to a mixture of Mn3+ and Mn4+, and ferromagnetism is now observed above 300 K. Our results show that ion implantation is a viable route for achieving room temperature ferromagnetism in epitaxial ZnO films. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electron paramagnetic resonance study of phosphorus‐doped n‐type homoepitaxial diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Katagiri M. , Isoya J. , Koizumi S. , Kanda H. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractElectron paramagnetic resonance technique has been applied to identify the microscopic origin of the n‐type conductivity in phosphorus‐doped {111}‐homoepitaxial diamond films grown by chemical vapor deposition. The NIMS‐1 center having the D 2d symmetry with g || = 1.9983, g ^ = 2.0072 and the 31P hyperfine interaction of A || = 5.77 mT, A ⊥ = 1.21 mT at 30 K is identified to be arising from the phosphorus donors based on the number of spins which matches to the number of the electrically active phosphorus atoms in the films. The wave function of the unpaired electron is localized by 12% on the phosphorus atom with a predominant p‐character. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Thermoluminescence and other optical studies on RbBr:Tb3+ crystals
Authors: Manimozhi P. K. , Muralidharan G. , Selvasekarapandian S. , Malathi J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractOptical absorption, photoluminescence, photostimulated luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) studies on RbBr:Tb3+ crystals irradiated with X‐rays is reported. The optical absorption in the UV region confirms the presence of terbium in the host matrix in the trivalent state. Photoluminescence of these crystals exhibits characteristic Tb3+ emissions due to transitions from the 5D3 and 5D4 levels to various levels of the 7F septet. On F‐bleaching X‐irradiated crystals Z3 centers are observed. The TL glow curve indicates a two‐step thermal annihilation process for the radiatively created defects. The presence of the characteristic emissions due to terbium ions in the photostimulation at the F band confirms the participation of Tb ions in the defect‐production process. Trap parameters for the TL process are calculated and presented. Emissions under the TL glow peaks contain the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ in addition to the emission due to the recombination of the F electron with V‐type centers. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Pore Conductivity Control at the Hundred‐Nanometer Scale: An Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Létant Sonia E. , Schaldach Charlene M. , Johnson Mackenzie R. , Sawvel April , Bourcier William L. , Wilson William D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractWe report on the observation of an unexpected mechanism that controls conductivity at the 100‐nm scale on track‐etched polycarbonate membranes. Transport measurements of positively charged methyl viologen performed by absorption spectroscopy under various pH conditions demonstrate that for 100‐nm‐diameter pores at pH 2 conductivity is blocked, while at pH 5 the ions move through the membrane according to diffusion laws. An oppositely charged molecular ion, naphthalene disulfonate, in the same membrane, shows the opposite trend: diffusion of the negative ion at pH 2 and very low conductivity at pH 5. The influence of parameters such as ionic strength and membrane surface coating are also investigated. A theoretical study of the system shows that at the 100‐nm scale the magnitude of the electric field in the vicinity of the pores is too small to account for the experimental observations; rather, it is the surface trapping of the mobile ion (Cl− or Na+) that gives rise to the observed control of the conductivity. This surprising effect has potential applications for high‐throughput separation of large molecules and bio‐organisms.
Studies on the Critical Micellar Concentration and Phase Transitions of Stearoylcarnitine
Authors: Kamlekar Ravi Kanth , Swamy Musti J. 
Published: October 2006

The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of stearoylcarnitine was determined at different pH values at room temperature by fluorescence spectroscopy, monitoring the spectral changes of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS). The CMC was found to vary with pH, increasing from about 10 μM at pH 3.0 to ca. 25 μM at pH 7.0, but decreasing slightly with further increase in pH to approximately 19 μM at pH 10.0. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) shows that stearoylcarnitine dispersed in water at low concentration undergoes a broad thermotropic phase transition at 44.5°C, with a transition enthalpy of 15.0 kcal/mol. The transition temperature (Tt) shifts to ca. 50.5°C in the presence of 1 mM EDTA or when the concentration is increased significantly. The turbidity of aqueous dispersions of stearoylcarnitine was found to be considerably high at low temperatures, which decreases quite abruptly over a short temperature range, indicating that a transition occurs from a phase of large aggregates to one of much smaller aggregates, most likely micelles. The phase transition temperature was determined as 29.1°C at pH 3.0, which increased with increasing pH up to a value of 55.3°C at pH 8.6 and remains nearly constant thereafter up to pH 11.2. The pH dependence of CMC and Ttsuggest that the pKa of the carboxyl group of long chain acylcarnitines shifts to higher temperatures upon aggregation (micelles or bilayer membranes).
Prevalence and prognostic significance of atrial fibrillation in outpatients with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Authors: Corell Pernille , Gustafsson Finn , Schou Morten , Markenvard John , Nielsen Tonny , Hildebrandt Per 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIntroduction:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), with conflicting prognostic data. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence and incidence of AF in patients with HF and to determine the prognostic impact of baseline AF and the development of new onset AF.Methods and results:We included 1019 outpatients with HF due to LVSD; follow‐up time ranged from 3 to 64months. At baseline 26.4% of patients had AF. Of the 284 patients with a follow‐up ECG and baseline SR, 18.7% developed new onset AF.Patients with AF were older (p<0.001), more often male (p=0.04), and more likely to have a history of stroke (p=0.03), but were less likely to have IHD (p<0.001). Baseline rhythm was independent of LVEF and NYHA‐class. Baseline AF was associated with increased all‐cause mortality (HR 1.38; CI 1.07–1.78, p=0.01) and all‐cause mortality/hospitalisation (HR 1.43; CI 1.22–1.68, p<0.001). When adjusted for baseline covariates, baseline AF was independently associated with an increased risk of experiencing the combined endpoint (HR 1.29; CI 1.05–1.58; p=0.02), but did not predict all‐cause mortality. By multivariable analyses, new‐onset AF was associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality/hospitalisation (HR 1.45; CI 1.05–2.00; p=0.02).Conclusion:In outpatients with HF due to LVSD, AF is a common co‐morbidity, which adversely affects morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Identification and characterization of arginase II as a chondrocyte phenotype‐specific gene
Authors: Lee Hyun‐Chae , Song Woo‐Keun , Lee Young‐Sup , Chun Jang‐Soo 
Published: October 2006

AbstractWe have previously shown that activation of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase‐1 and ‐2 (ERK1/2) causes chondrocyte dedifferentiation, which contributes to the destruction of arthritic cartilage. In the present study, we identified genes involved in the ERK1/2 regulation of chondrocyte dedifferentiation. Several genes were identified by subtractive hybridization, and, of these, arginase II was selected for further functional characterization. Similar to the pattern of type II collagen expression, which is a hallmark of chondrocyte differentiation, arginase II expression was increased during chondrogenesis of mesenchymal cells. The high expression level of arginase II was decreased during dedifferentiation of chondrocytes, whereas its expression was restored during redifferentiation of the dedifferentiated chondrocytes. Inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling in chondrocytes enhanced type II collagen expression with a concomitant increase in expression and activity of arginase II. However, ectopic expression of arginase II or inhibition of its activity did not affect chondrocyte differentiation. The results collectively indicate that expression of arginase II is specific to the chondrocyte phenotype, although the expression of arginase II alone is not sufficient for articular chondrocytes to maintain a differentiated phenotype.
iubmb Life, 58: 597‐605, 2006
RNA damage and surveillance under oxidative stress
Authors: Li Zhongwei , Wu Jinhua , DeLeo Christopher J. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractRNA damage has been recently reported to increase under oxidative stress and in patients with many degenerative diseases, which has drawn attention to the consequences of RNA oxidation at the molecular and cellular levels. Under similar conditions the levels of oxidative damage in RNA are usually higher than those in DNA, which may impair protein synthesis or other RNA function. Therefore, accumulation of RNA damage must be prevented and cells have developed specific mechanisms to remove oxidatively‐damaged RNA and to block incorporation of oxidized nucleotides during RNA synthesis. Removal of oxidized RNA may be mediated by specific proteins that recognize oxidative lesions and direct the RNA degradation machinery to eliminate the damaged RNAs. During RNA synthesis, oxidized ribonucleotides are hydrolyzed or discriminated from normal ribonucleotides during transcription, preventing their incorporation into RNA. Collective evidence suggests that RNA oxidative damage is a challenging and persistent problem normally controlled through RNA surveillance mechanisms, making them critical to maintaining cellular health and preventing disease.
iubmb Life, 58: 581‐588, 2006
Petal herbivory by chrysomelid beetles (Phyllotreta sp.) is detrimental to pollination and seed production in Lepidium papilliferum (Brassicaceae)
Authors: LEAVITT HOLLIE , ROBERTSON IAN C. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract 1. Insect herbivory directed at flowers can decrease fruit and seed production by decreasing the attractiveness of a damaged flower to potential pollinators, by disrupting the transfer of pollen between pollinators and stigmas, or both.2. Effects of petal herbivory by a chrysomelid beetle (Phyllotreta sp.) on pollination and seed production in Lepidium papilliferum (Brassicaceae) were examined.3. Under natural conditions, flowers with a hole chewed in a petal produced fruit and seed at a significantly lower rate than undamaged flowers (44% vs. 80% respectively). However, when damaged and undamaged flowers were hand pollinated, there was no significant difference in fruit or seed set (84% vs. 80% respectively).4. Petal herbivory in L. papilliferum disrupts the effectiveness of insect‐mediated pollination, but it does not physically inhibit pollination or seed production.
Proposal of a new staging and grading system of the liver for primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Hiramatsu K , Aoyama H , Zen Y , Aishima S , Kitagawa S , Nakanuma Y 
Published: October 2006

Aims To define a new histological staging and grading system for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), to provide more information reflecting clinical laboratory data and the prognosis to hepatologists.Methods and results First, 17 histological lesions of PBC were scored in 188 needle liver biopsy specimens. Factor analysis yielded three independent groups of factors: factor 1 (fibrosis, fibrous piecemeal necrosis, orcein‐positive granules, bile plugs, Mallory bodies, feathery degeneration, bile duct loss and atypical ductular proliferation); factor 2 (portal inflammation, eosinophilic infiltration, lymphoid follicles, epithelioid granulomas, interface hepatitis and chronic cholangitis); and factor 3 (interface hepatitis, lobular hepatitis, acidophilic bodies and pigmented macrophages). The eight findings of factor 1, but not factors 2 and 3, were significantly correlated with clinical laboratory data and scores in the Mayo Clinic's prognostic model. Factor 1 lesions may reflect histological progression (staging), while factor 2 and 3 lesions may relate to necroinflammatory activity (grading). Then, we devised a staging and grading system using three lesions (bile duct loss, fibrosis and orcein‐positive granules) from factor 1 and three from factors 2 and 3 (chronic cholangitis, interface hepatitis and lobular hepatitis).Conclusion This new system might provide more pathological information on PBC patients for hepatologists.
ΔμH+ dependency of in vitro protein translocation into Escherichia coli inner‐membrane vesicles varies with the signal‐sequence core‐region composition
Authors: Nouwen Nico , de Kruijff Ben , Tommassen Jan 
Published: October 2006

SummarySignal sequences frequently contain α‐helix‐destabilizing amino acids in the hydrophobic core. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the conformation of signal sequences in membrane mimetic environments revealed that these residues cause a break in the α‐helix. In the precursor of the Escherichia coli outer membrane protein PhoE (pre‐PhoE), a glycine residue at position ‐10 (Gly−10) is thought to be responsible for the break in the α‐helix. We investigated the role of this glycine residue in the translocation process by employing site‐directed mutagenesis. SDS‐PAGE analysis showed drastic variations in the electrophoretic mobilities of the mutant precursor proteins, suggesting an important role of the glycine residue in determining the conformation of the signal sequence. In vivo, no drastic differences in the translocation kinetics were observed as compared with wild‐type PhoE, except when a charged residue (Arg) was substituted for Gly−10. However, the in vitro translocation of all mutant proteins into inverted inner‐membrane vesicles was affected. Two classes of precursors could be distinguished. Translocation of one class of mutant proteins (Ala, Cys and Leu for Gly−10) was almost independent of the presence of a ΔμH+, whereas translocation of the other class of precursors (wild type or Ser) was strongly decreased in the absence of the ΔμH+. Apparently, the ΔμH+ dependency of in vitro protein translocation varies with the signal‐sequence core‐region composition. Furthermore, a proline residue at position ‐10 resulted in a signal sequence that did not prevent the folding of the precursor in an in vitro trimerization assay.