bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HLA‐G protein expression as a potential immune escape mechanism in classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Authors: Diepstra A. , Poppema S. , Boot M. , Visser L. , Nolte I. M. , Niens M. , Te Meerman G.J. , Van Den Berg A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractClassical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL) is characterized by the presence of an abundant reactive infiltrate, lacking effective cytotoxic responses. Especially in Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐negative cHL, the neoplastic Hodgkin–Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells have lost protein expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, enabling escape from cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. However, downregulation of MHC class I generally induces natural killer (NK) cell activation. The paucity of NK cells in the reactive infiltrate of cHL and the systemic NK cell deficiency observed in cHL patients led us to investigate the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐G, which is known to inhibit NK‐cell‐ and CTL‐mediated cytotoxicity. By immunohistochemistry, HLA‐G protein was expressed by HRS cells in 54% (95/175) of cHL cases. This expression was associated with absence of MHC class I on the cell surface of HRS cells (P < 0.001) and EBV‐negative status (P < 0.001). Previously, genetic markers located in the proximity of the HLA‐A and HLA‐G genes had been shown to be associated with susceptibility to EBV‐positive cHL. In the present study, these markers associated with MHC class I protein expression but not with presence of HLA‐G. Our results suggest that induction of HLA‐G protein expression in HRS cells contributes to the modulation of immune responses observed in cHL.
Analysis of the 14 bp insertion and deletion polymorphism in human leukocyte antigen‐G gene in two Chinese ethnic populations
Authors: Yan W.‐H. , Lin A. , Li M. , Xu H.‐H. , Zhang Z.‐P. , Wang X.‐X. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe biological significance of human leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) is now beyond its initial concepts on the fetal–maternal immune regulation. HLA‐G in various pathophysical conditions has been investigated, such as autoimmunity, tumor, inflammation and transplantation. HLA‐G has also been postulated as a chemotherapy response marker both in protein and in genetic contexts. In the current study, a total of 640 Chinese Han and 258 Chinese She ethnic minority populations had been genotyped for the 14 bp insertion (+14 bp) and deletion (−14 bp) polymorphism in the HLA‐G gene. Significant difference was observed for both the +14 bp/+14 bp (15.2% in the Han and 6.6% in the She;P = 0.00048,Pc = 0.00097) and −14 bp/−14 bp (34.5% in the Han and 50.4% in the She;P = 1.05 × 10−5,Pc = 2.1 × 10−5) genotypes between the two populations, and similar significance was found for both +14 bp (40.3% in the Han and 28.1% in the She) and −14 bp allele distributions (P = 1.2 × 10−6,Pc = 2.4 × 10−6). Furthermore, frequencies of the 14 bp genotype and alleles both in the Chinese Han and in the Chinese She populations were compared with other ethnic populations. Data showed that dramatic variations between different ethnic populations were also observed for this polymorphism. In summary, our results indicate that heterogeneity of the 14 bp polymorphism in the HLA‐G gene among different ethnic populations is possibly the result of evolution.
Cadmium Enhances Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide and Amplifies Activities of Catalase, Peroxidases and Superoxide Dismutase in Maize
Authors: Kumar P. , Tewari R. K. , Sharma P. N. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractMaize (Zea mays L. cv. 777) plants grown in hydroponic culture were treated with 50 μm CdSO4. Growth and metabolic parameters indicative of oxidative stress and antioxidant responses were studied in leaves of plants treated with Cd. Apart from increasing lipid peroxidation and H2O2 accumulation, supply of Cd suppressed growth, fresh and dry mass of plants and decreased the concentrations of chloroplastic pigments. The activities of catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) were increased in plants supplied 50 μm Cd. Localization of activities of isoforms of these enzymes (POD, APX and SOD) on native gels also revealed increase in the intensities of pre‐existing bands. Stimulated activities of CAT, POD, APX and SOD in maize plants supplied excess Cd do not appear to have relieved plants from excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is, therefore, concluded that supply of 50 μm Cd induces oxidative stress by increasing production of ROS despite increased antioxidant protection in maize plants.
Seed Priming Enhances the Performance of Late Sown Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by Improving Chilling Tolerance
Authors: Farooq M. , Basra S. M. A. , Rehman H. , Saleem B. A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn rice–wheat systems, late sowing of wheat is the major reason of low yield. This yield reduction is principally due to lower and erratic germination, and poor crop establishment because of low temperature prevailing. The present study was conducted to explore the possibility of improving late sown wheat performance by seed priming techniques. Seed priming strategies were: on‐farm seed priming, hydropriming for 24 h, seed hardening for 12 h and osmohardening with KCl or CaCl2 for 12 h. Seed priming improved emergence, stand establishment, tiller numbers, allometry, grain and straw yield, and harvest index. However, seed priming techniques did not affect plant height, number of spikelets, number of grains and 1000 grain weight. Osmohardening with CaCl2 gave more grain and straw yield and harvest index compared with control and other priming treatments, followed by osmohardening with KCl and on‐farm seed priming. Improved yield was attributed principally to better stand establishment and improved number of fertile tillers. Seed priming techniques can be effectively used to improve the performance of late sown wheat.
Photosynthetic Acclimation to Cold as a Potential Physiological Marker of Winter Barley Freezing Tolerance Assessed under Variable Winter Environment
Authors: Rapacz M. , Tyrka M. , Kaczmarek W. , Gut M. , Wolanin B. , Mikulski W. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWinter‐hardiness is a complex trait limiting cultivation of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) with respect to the regions of temperate climate. In the present studies, we verified whether inexpensive and fast physiological markers characterizing photosynthetic acclimation to cold may provide robust characteristics of winter barley genotypes for improved frost resistance. Freezing tolerance of 28 winter barley varieties and advanced breeding lines were tested for three winters in field‐laboratory experiment and under fully controlled conditions. To increase the environmental variability of freezing tolerance, a part of the plants were also de‐acclimated under semi‐controlled conditions and re‐acclimated in laboratory before freezing tests. After controlled cold acclimation, apparent quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) as well as photochemical (qP) and non‐photochemical (NPQ) coefficients of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching were studied. Field‐laboratory method assessment of freezing tolerance gives distinct and even opposite results in subsequent years. Also de‐acclimation interacted with growth conditions in the field, giving different rankings of genotypes each year. The results obtained suggest that high level of freezing tolerance measured in laboratory, which is connected with photosynthetic acclimation to cold may be not sufficient for the expression of field resistance, especially when winter conditions are not favourable for cold acclimation.
Involvement of Gluconeogenic Pathway in Virulence of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Authors: Yang W. , Liu Y. , Chen L. , Qian G. , Liu H. , Hu B. , Liu F. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae causes bacterial leaf blight, one of the most widespread and destructive bacterial diseases of rice. A phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (ppsA)‐disrupted mutant OSPAM was generated by homologous suicide plasmid integration. The mutant was unable to grow in medium with pyruvate or C4‐dicarboxylates as the sole carbon source, compared with the wild‐type, indicating a disruption in ppsA function. The mutant showed a reduction in virulence on rice but still induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco. When the mutant was complemented, the response was recovered to wild‐type. These results suggested that X. oryzae pv. oryzae possesses only PPSA route in gluconeogenesis, which is necessary for virulence.
Variation in Aggressiveness of Stagonospora nodorum Isolates in North Dakota
Authors: Ali S. , Adhikari T. B. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), caused by Stagonospora nodorum, is an important disease in the northern Great Plains of the United States and in other wheat‐producing regions in the world. SNB can be managed by different strategies including the use of resistant cultivars. Genetic variation in the pathogen populations is one of the important factors in the development of durable resistant cultivars. Our main objective was to determine variation in aggressiveness/virulence in the 40 isolates of S. nodorum collected from various locations in North Dakota. To achieve this goal, we tested the isolates on two susceptible wheat cultivars (cvs ‘ND495’ and ‘Alsen’) and two resistant wheat cultivars (cvs ‘Erik’ and ‘Salamouni’) – two‐leaf‐stage seedlings under controlled conditions. Aggressiveness of each isolate was characterized by the two epidemiological parameters: percent necrotic leaf area (% NLA) and lesion type (LT) 8 days post‐inoculation. The isolates differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) for % NLA and LT, and were grouped into three aggressiveness groups (AG): low, medium and highly aggressive. Four isolates (S50, S57, S66 and S89) induced 18–26% NLA and were included into the low aggressive group (AG 1). Three isolates (S15, S39 and S89) induced 57–59% NLA and were considered highly aggressive (AG 3). Thirty‐three isolates were medium aggressive (AG 2). No relationship between AG and mating types was observed. There were significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in % NLA and LT among wheat cultivars. Significant wheat cultivars by isolates interaction was also demonstrated, suggesting evidence for the existence of host specificity in this system. Overall, our results indicate that S. nodorum isolates prevalent in North Dakota varied greatly in their aggressiveness and that AG 3 isolates can be utilized in breeding wheat for resistance to SNB.
Effects of relaxin and IGF‐I on capacitation, acrosome reaction, cholesterol efflux and utilization of labeled and unlabeled glucose in porcine spermatozoa
Authors: MIAH ABDUL GAFFAR , SALMA UMMAY , TAKAGI YUJI , KOHSAKA TETSUYA , HAMANO KO‐ICHI , TSUJII HIROTADA 
Published: February 2008

Aim: Relaxin and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I have pronounced effects on the male and female reproductive tracts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of relaxin and IGF‐I on the motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, cholesterol efflux and utilization of glucose in porcine spermatozoa.Methods: Swim‐up separated spermatozoa that had been washed twice were incubated at 37°C for 1 or 4 h in modified Tyrode's albumin lactate pyruvate (mTALP) medium supplemented without (control) or with relaxin (20 ng/mL) or IGF‐I (20 ng/mL) or both (10 + 10 ng/mL).Results: Progressive motility and the induction rate of capacitation and acrosome reaction were increased (P < 0.05) by relaxin and IGF‐I alone or in combination, especially after 4 h of incubation. Relaxin alone or combined with IGF‐I enhanced (P < 0.05) the cholesterol efflux after 4 h, whereas IGF‐I alone did not show any significant effect on the cholesterol efflux compared with the control at any time point. The utilization rates of labeled and unlabeled glucose increased (P < 0.05) in spermatozoa incubated with relaxin or IGF‐I alone or in combination compared with the control.Conclusion: Thus, supplementation of relaxin alone or combined with IGF‐I into the medium possibly plays a beneficial role in porcine spermatozoal prefertilization eventsin vitro. (Reprod Med Biol 2008;7: 29–36)
p‐Chloroamphetamine‐induced rat ejaculation is not associated with the preoptic nucleus or medial nucleus amygdala
Authors: YOKOSUKA MAKOTO , TAKAGI SHUNSUKE , KATOU MASAHIRO , PUDCHARAPORN KROMKHUM , GIZURARSON SVEINBJORN , ICHIKAWA MASUMI , SAITO TORU R. 
Published: February 2008

Aim:  In the rat, intraperitoneal injection of p‐chloroamphetamine (PCA), which releases central 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) from serotonergic nerve terminals, induces ejaculation, even in the absence of an estrus female or female‐related smell information. It is well known that the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and the medial nucleus amygdala (MEA) play a major role in the control of male sexual behavior in mammals. We examined whether or not neuronal activity of the MPN and/or the MEA was associated with PCA‐induced ejaculation.Methods:  Using c‐Fos immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated a difference in the neural activities of the MPN and the MEA for ejaculation during copulation with an estrus female and ejaculation by PCA injection.Results:  Increased numbers of c‐Fos‐immunoreactive (c‐Fos‐IR) cells were found in the MPN and the MEA in the brains of the mating animals, whereas in the brains of the animals undergoing PCA‐induced ejaculation there was no increase in the number of c‐Fos‐IR cells in the MPN and a small increase in the MEA.Conclusion:  Based on these results, ejaculation induced by PCA is not associated with the MPN. Moreover, the MEA is not the main act for this ejaculation. (Reprod Med Biol 2008; 7: 37–43)
Growth of follicles of various animals following ovarian grafting under the kidney capsules of immunodeficient mice
Authors: HOSOE MISA , FURUSAWA TADASHI , NOGUCHI JUNKO , TOKUNAGA TOMOYUKI 
Published: February 2008

Aim:  Various researchers have studied xenografting ovarian tissues into immunodeficient mice to accelerate the follicular growth of several mammalian species. In this study, the authors focused on the following three points in growing follicles in transplanted ovarian tissues under kidney capsules: the effects of the storage conditions of the donor ovarian tissues, the effects of donor age on the survival rates of grafted mouse ovaries, and the methods used to grow the follicles of xenografted bovine ovaries.Methods and Results:  When ovaries stored for 0, 6, 12 or 24 h at 4°C and at room temperature were transplanted under the kidney capsules of immunodeficient mice, fewer mouse and rabbit grafts survived following 24 h storage. The survival rates of bovine grafts were relatively low for all storage times. When mouse ovaries were held for 24 h at 4°C or at room temperature, low‐temperature storage effectively improved the survival rates of the grafts. Although the survival rates of grafted genital ridges containing premeiotic germ cells from fetuses and grafted ovaries from mice 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 days after birth were similar among donors of different ages, the cleavage rate of oocytes following insemination was significantly lower in the grafts from the ovaries of 80‐day‐old mice. Antral follicles formed in surviving bovine ovarian grafts. Cumulus–oocyte complexes were collected from the grafted ovaries of fetuses and calves, and the oocytes reached the metaphase II stage following culture, but they did not develop to the pronuclear stage after in vitro fertilization.Conclusion:  Our findings provide basic data on xenografting ovarian tissues into immunodeficient mice to accelerate the growth of follicles. (Reprod Med Biol 2008; 7: 45–54)
Can depth of tumour invasion predict lymph node positivity in patients undergoing resection for early rectal cancer? A comparative study between T1 and T2 cancers
Authors: Rasheed S. , Bowley D. M. , Aziz O. , Tekkis P. P. , Sadat A. E. , Guenther T. , Boello M. L. , McDonald P. J. , Talbot I. C. , Northover J. M. A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective  The present study investigated the risk of lymph node metastasis according to the depth of tumour invasion in patients undergoing resection for rectal cancer.Method  The histology of patients undergoing oncological resection with regional lymphadenectomy for rectal cancer at St Marks Hospital from 1971 to 1996 was reviewed. Of the total number of 1549 patients, 303 patients with T1 or T2 rectal cancers were selected. The tumour type, grade, evidence of vascular invasion, depth of submucosal invasion (classed into ‘sm1‐3’) were evaluated as potential predictors of lymph node positivity using univariate and multi‐level logistic regression analysis.Results  Tumour stage was classified as T1 in 55 (18.2%) and T2 in 248 (81.2%) patients. The incidence of lymph node metastasis in the T1 group was 12.7% (7/55), compared to 19% (47/247) in the T2 group. The node positive and negative groups were similar with regard to patient demographics, although the former contained a significantly higher number of poorly differentiated (P = 0.001) and extramural vascular invasion tumours (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the number of patients with sm1‐3, or T2 tumour depths within the lymph node positive and negative groups. On multivariate analysis the presence of extramural vascular invasion (odds ratio = 10.0) and tumour grade (odds ratio for poorly vs well‐differentiated = 11.7) were independent predictors of lymph node metastasis.Conclusion  Whilst the degree of vascular invasion and poor differentiation of rectal tumours were significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis, depth of submucosal invasion was not. This has important implications for patients with superficial early rectal cancers in whom local excision is being considered.
Targeted therapy in colorectal carcinoma: more than a theory
Authors: Pickering L. , Rudman S. , Ross P. J. , Leslie M. D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective  The aim of this review was to examine clinical trial data reporting the use of targeted therapies in colorectal cancer.Method  Candidate trials were identified by a comprehensive literature search.Results  The data on the use of targeted therapies; usually combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer is accumulating rapidly. These new agents will increasingly become incorporated into standard treatment schedules.Conclusion  Targeted therapy has moved rapidly from the laboratory to the clinic and is opening up potentially new and exciting areas for the development of the systemic treatment of colorectal cancer.
Free radical damage as a biomarker of bladder dysfunction after partial outlet obstruction and reversal
Authors: Lin Wei‐Yu , Guven Ahmet , Juan Yung‐Shun , Neuman Paul , Whitbeck Catherine , Chichester Paul , Kogan Barry , Levin Robert M. , Mannikarottu Anita 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVETo investigate the use of free‐radical generation as a result of protein carbonylation and nitrotyrosination to characterize the level of bladder dysfunction after partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) and reversal.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe surgically created PBOO in male New Zealand White rabbits; after 4 weeks of PBOO, one group of six rabbits was assessed, while the PBOO was relieved in two additional groups of six rabbits each that were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks after relieving the PBOO. Six sham‐operated rabbits served as controls. Sedated rabbits were assessed by cystometry and the bladders were then removed for contractile, histological and molecular studies. Western blotting was used to determine the level of carbonylation and nitrotyrosination at the protein level.RESULTSThe PBOO group had significant decreases in the contractile responses to field stimulation, ATP, carbachol and KCl. The responses to all forms of stimulation increased significantly at 4 weeks after reversal, and further increased to near normal levels by 8 weeks. Similarly, compliance and cystometric values also returned to near normal values after reversal. The hypertrophied smooth muscle of the obstructed bladders regressed to near‐normal size. There was a significant increase in the level of carbonylation and nitrotyrosination after PBOO, and a progressive decrease in the 4‐week reversal groups, nearing control values by 8 weeks.CONCLUSIONSSignificantly increased carbonylation and nitrotyrosination levels after PBOO correlated with the severe dysfunction in the obstructed rabbits. Similarly, decreased levels of oxidation and nitration correlated with the functional recovery after reversal.
Radical prostatectomy in men aged ≥70 years: effect of age on upgrading, upstaging, and the accuracy of a preoperative nomogram
Authors: Richstone Lee , Bianco Fernando J. , Shah Hiral H. , Kattan Michael W. , Eastham James A. , Scardino Peter T. , Scherr Douglas S. 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVESTo determine the effect of age on clinicopathological features, the accuracy of the preoperative nomogram, and survival after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), as there are limited data on elderly men undergoing RRP.PATIENTS AND METHODSA database of 258 men aged ≥70 years and 3777 aged <70 years who had RRP was reviewed to compare the clinicopathological features and survival between the age groups. The effect of age on the frequency of upgrading from biopsy Gleason sum 2–6 to pathology Gleason sum ≥7, and upstaging from clinical T1–T2 to pathological stage T3–T4 was also evaluated.RESULTSMen aged ≥70 years had cancers of higher clinical stage (P = 0.001), pathology Gleason sums (P = 0.01) and a lower frequency of organ‐confined disease than men aged <70 years (58.1% and 69.9%, respectively, P = 0.001). There was upgrading in 76/169 (45.0%) men aged ≥70 years and in 936/2656 (35.2%) of men aged <70 years (P = 0.01). However, age was not associated with upgrading on a multivariate analysis. Upstaging was more frequent in older than in younger men (40.2% and 29.3%, respectively, P = 0.001). Age ≥70 years was associated with upstaging on multivariate logistic regression but did not affect the accuracy of the Partin tables (P = 0.14) or Kattan nomograms (P = 0.53). There was no difference in cancer‐specific survival (96% at 10 years, P = 0.33) or biochemical progression‐free probability between the age groups (74% and 75% at 10 years, respectively, P = 0.13).CONCLUSIONSPatients aged ≥70 years are more likely to be upstaged after RRP, but this does not affect cancer control. In addition, nomograms maintain their accuracy and remain valid tools in this rapidly growing patient population.
THE UBIQUITY OF DECEPTION AND THE ETHICS OF DECEPTIVE RESEARCH
Authors: BENHAM BRYAN 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTDoes the fact that deception is widely practised – even though there is a general prohibition against deception – provide insight into the ethics of deceptive methods in research, especially for social‐behavioral research?I answer in the affirmative. The ubiquity of deception argument, as I will call it, points to the need for a concrete and nuanced understanding of the variety of deceptive practices, and thus promises an alternative route of analysis for why some deception may be permissible in social‐behavioral research. As an alternative argument it also promises to break the stalemate that emerges in debates on the ethics of deceptive methods in social‐behavioral research.In the current paper I (1) motivate and articulate the ubiquity argument in order to clarify the significance of ubiquity and discharge some initial objections. Then, on the recommendations of the ubiquity argument, I (2) highlight the importance of interpersonal relationships for understanding the ethics of deception. Following this insight I (3) provide an analysis of several features of the researcher‐participant relationship relevant to the understanding of the ethics of deception in research. I then (4) conclude the argument with some recommendations for the ethical use of deceptive methods in social‐behavioral research.