bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of LAG-3 by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is coincident with the suppression of latent membrane antigen–specific CD8+ T-cell function in Hodgkin lymphoma patients
Authors: Gandhi Maher K. , Lambley Eleanore , Duraiswamy Jaikumar , Dua Ujjwal , Smith Corey , Elliott Suzanne , Gill Devinder , Marlton Paula , Seymour John , Khanna Rajiv 
Published: June 2006

AbstractIn Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), the malignant Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells constitute only 0.5% of 10% of the diseased tissue. The surrounding cellular infiltrate is enriched with T cells that are hypothesized to modulate antitumor immunity. We show that a marker of regulatory T cells, LAG-3, is strongly expressed on infiltrating lymphocytes present in proximity to HRS cells. Circulating regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25hi CD45 ROhi, CD4+ CTLA4hi, and CD4+ LAG-3hi) were elevated in HL patients with active disease when compared with remission. Longitudinal profiling of EBV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in 94 HL patients revealed a selective loss of interferon-γ expression by CD8+ T cells specific for latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP1/2), irrespective of EBV tissue status. Intratumoral LAG-3 expression was associated with EBV tissue positivity, whereas FOXP3 was linked with neither LAG-3 nor EBV tissue status. The level of LAG-3 and FOXP3 expression on the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was coincident with impairment of LMP1/2-specific T-cell function. In vitro pre-exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to HRS cell line supernatant significantly increased the expansion of regulatory T cells and suppressed LMP-specific T-cell responses. Deletion of CD4+ LAG-3+ T cells enhanced LMP-specific reactivity. These findings indicate a pivotal role for regulatory T cells and LAG-3 in the suppression of EBV-specific cell-mediated immunity in HL.
BLISS: biding site level identification of shared signal-modules in DNA regulatory sequences
Authors: Meng Hailong , Banerjee Arunava , Zhou Lei 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackgroundRegulatory modules are segments of the DNA that control particular aspects of gene expression. Their identification is therefore of great importance to the field of molecular genetics. Each module is composed of a distinct set of binding sites for specific transcription factors. Since experimental identification of regulatory modules is an arduous process, accurate computational techniques that supplement this process can be very beneficial. Functional modules are under selective pressure to be evolutionarily conserved. Most current approaches therefore attempt to detect conserved regulatory modules through similarity comparisons at the DNA sequence level. However, some regulatory modules, despite the conservation of their responsible binding sites, are embedded in sequences that have little overall similarity.ResultsIn this study, we present a novel approach that detects conserved regulatory modules via comparisons at the binding site level. The technique compares the binding site profiles of orthologs and identifies those segments that have similar (not necessarily identical) profiles. The similarity measure is based on the inner product of transformed profiles, which takes into consideration the p values of binding sites as well as the potential shift of binding site positions. We tested this approach on simulated sequence pairs as well as real world examples. In both cases our technique was able to identify regulatory modules which could not to be identified using sequence-similarity based approaches such as rVista 2.0 and Blast.ConclusionThe results of our experiments demonstrate that, for sequences with little overall similarity at the DNA sequence level, it is still possible to identify conserved regulatory modules based solely on binding site profiles.
Rapid chemokinetic movement and the invasive potential of lung cancer cells; a functional molecular study
Authors: Fok Sandra YY , Rubin Jeffrey S , Pixley Fiona , Condeelis John , Braet Filip , Soon Lilian L 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common cause of early casualty from malignant disease in western countries. The heterogeneous nature of these cells has been identified by histochemical and microarray biomarker analyses. Unfortunately, the morphological, molecular and biological variation within cell lines used as models for invasion and metastasis are not well understood. In this study, we test the hypothesis that heterogeneous cancer cells exhibit variable motility responses such as chemokinesis and chemotaxis that can be characterized molecularly.

Methods
A subpopulation of H460 lung cancer cells called KINE that migrated under chemokinetic (no gradient) conditions was harvested from Boyden chambers and cultured. Time-lapsed microscopy, immunofluorescence microscopy and microarray analyses were then carried out comparing chemokinetic KINE cells with the unselected CON cell population.

Results
Time-lapsed microscopy and analysis showed that KINE cells moved faster but less directionally than the unselected control population (CON), confirming their chemokinetic character. Of note was that chemokinetic KINE cells also chemotaxed efficiently. KINE cells were less adhesive to substrate than CON cells and demonstrated loss of mature focal adhesions at the leading edge and the presence of non-focalized cortical actin. These characteristics are common in highly motile amoeboid cells that may favour faster motility speeds. KINE cells were also significantly more invasive compared to CON. Gene array studies and real-time PCR showed the downregulation of a gene called, ROM, in highly chemokinetic KINE compared to mainly chemotactic CON cells. ROM was also reduced in expression in a panel of lung cancer cell lines compared to normal lung cells.

Conclusion
This study shows that cancer cells that are efficient in both chemokinesis and chemotaxis demonstrate high invasion levels. These cells possess different morphological, cytoskeletal and adhesive properties from another population that are only efficient at chemotaxis, indicating a loss in polarity. Understanding the regulation of polarity in the context of cell motility is important in order to improve control and inhibition of invasion and metastasis.
Cytokine gene polymorphisms and atopic disease in two European cohorts. (ECRHS-Basel and SAPALDIA)
Authors: Imboden M , Nieters A , Bircher AJ , Brutsche M , Becker N , Wjst M , Ackermann-Liebrich U , Berger W , Probst-Hensch NM ,   SAPALDIA Team
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackgroundAtopy and allergic phenotypes are biologically characterized by an imbalanced T helper cell response skewed towards a type 2 (TH2) immune response associated with elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Polymorphisms in cytokine genes might modulate regulation of the TH1/TH2 balance. We thus aimed at reproducing our previous findings from a European study population on the association of various cytokine polymorphisms with self-reported hay fever as well as increased total and specific IgE levels in two comparable study populations.MethodsTwo prospective Caucasian cohorts were used. In the Basel center of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS, n = 418) ten distinct cytokine polymorphisms of putative functional relevance were genotyped. In the Swiss cohort Study on Air Pollution And Lung Disease In Adults (SAPALDIA, n = 6003) two cytokine polymorphisms were genotyped. The associations of these polymorphisms with atopy were estimated by covariance and logistic regression analysis.ResultsWe confirmed IL4, IL10, IL6 and IL18 as candidate genes for atopic health outcomes. In the large, well-characterized SAPALDIA cohort the IL6(-174G>C) and IL18(-137G>C) polymorphisms were associated with circulating total IgE concentrations in subjects with hay fever. The IL18(-137G>C) polymorphism was also associated with the prevalence of hay fever.ConclusionComprehensive characterization of genetic variation in extended cytokine candidate gene regions is now needed. Large study networks must follow to investigate the association of risk patterns defined by genetic predisposing and environmental risk factors with specific atopic phenotypes.
A level III sentinel lymph node in breast cancer
Authors: Bowers Kim , Liu Yiyan , Ghesani Nasrin , Kim Steve H 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
For accurate nodal staging, all blue and radioactive lymph nodes should be sampled during the sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer. We report a case of anomalous drainage in which one of the sentinel lymph nodes was unexpectedly found in the level III axillary space.

Case presentation
A 40-year-old female underwent mastectomy for extensive high-grade ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) with micro-invasion. The index lesion was located in the right upper inner quadrant. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed on the morning of surgery. Two sentinel lymph nodes were identified. At operation, 5 mls of isosulfan blue dye was injected at the same site of the radio-colloid injection. The first sentinel lymph node was found at level I and was blue and radioactive. The second sentinel node was detected in an unexpected anomalous location at level III, medial to the pectoralis minor. Both sentinel nodes were negative.

Conclusion
Sentinel node staging can lead to unexpected patterns of lymphatic drainage. For accurate staging, it is important to survey all potential sites of nodal metastasis either with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and/or rigorous examination of regional nodal basins with the intra-operative gamma probe.
Adult Leydig Cell Tumors of the Testis Caused by Germline Fumarate Hydratase Mutations
Authors: Carvajal-Carmona Luis G. , Alam N. Afrina , Pollard Patrick J. , Jones Angela M. , Barclay Ella , Wortham Noel , Pignatelli Massimo , Freeman Alex , Pomplun Sabine , Ellis Ian , Poulsom Richard , El-Bahrawy Mona A. , Berney Daniel M. , Tomlinson Ian P. M. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Context: Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) are the most common non-germ-cell neoplasms of the testis. LCTs are often hormonally active and can result in precocious virilization or in adult feminization. We identified an LCT in an affected individual from a kindred with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) and a germline fumarate hydratase (FH) mutation (N64T).
Objective: Our objective was to investigate the role of FH mutations in predisposition to LCTs.
Design: We tested for pathogenic effects of the N64T mutation and screened an additional 29 unselected adult LCTs for FH alterations. We also tested these LCTs for mutations in two genes, the LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) and the guanine nucleotide-binding protein α (GNAS) that had been implicated in LCT tumorigenesis.
Results: No mutations were found in GNAS, and one tumor had a LHCGR somatic substitution. In addition to the HLRCC case with the N64T germline FH mutation, we identified one other LCT with a previously unreported FH mutation (M411I). Both LCTs from these patients showed loss of the wild-type FH allele. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses demonstrated activation of the hypoxia/angiogenesis pathway not only in the tumors belonging to the FH mutation carriers but also in several other mutation-negative LCTs.
Conclusions: Our study shows that some LCTs are caused by FH mutations and represents one of the first reports of germline mutations in any type of adult testicular tumor.
Solvent reduced wittig olefination reactions with halo containing conjugated phosphoranes
Authors: Thiemann Thies , Tanaka Yasuko , Ideta Keiko , Mataka Shuntaro 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe Wittig reaction of carbaldehydes with alkoxycarbonylhalomethylidenetriphenylphosphoranes can be performed with ease in solventless systems. The analogous reaction of carbaldehydes with acylhalomethylidenetriphenylphosphoranes requires a small amount of solvent, such as chloroform, in order for the reaction to proceed. The products of the reaction are versatile precursors for further transformations, such as the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction.
Polychlorinated Leucine Derivatives: Synthesis of (2S,4R)‐5,5‐Dichloroleucine and Its J‐Based Analysis
Authors: Ardá Ana , Jiménez Carlos , Rodríguez Jaime 
Published: June 2006

AbstractA total synthesis of (2S,4R)‐5,5‐dichloroleucine is reported in 13 steps from (S)‐methyl 2‐(hydroxymethyl)propanoate. A density functional J‐based analysis of this compound and a comparison with that of its (2S,4S) epimer is also performed in order to complete our study of J‐configurational assignments in 1,3‐nitrogen‐containing acyclic moieties. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Regio‐ and Stereospecific Synthesis of Cholesterol Derivatives and Their Hormonal Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Schmidt Arndt W. , Doert Thomas , Goutal Sigrid , Gruner Margit , Mende Fanny , Kurzchalia Teymuras V. , Knölker Hans‐Joachim 
Published: June 2006

AbstractCholesterol is essential for the survival of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Recent studies have demonstrated that cholesterol derivatives regulate two processes in the life cycle of worms: controlling molting and inducing a specialized non‐feeding larval stage. However, the chemical structure of the cholesterol‐derived signalling molecules for these or any other functions has not yet been identified. Herein, we describe the regio‐ and stereospecific synthesis of a number of cholesterol derivatives. The lithium–ammonia reduction of 4‐cholesten‐3‐one was utilized to develop a general method for the introduction of diverse functional groups at C‐4α of 5α‐cholestan‐3β‐ol. Stereoselective functionalization at C‐7 was achieved starting from 7‐ketocholesterol derivatives. 6‐Keto‐5α‐cholestan‐3β‐ol was utilized for specific functionalizations at C‐6 and C‐7. The structure–activity relationships of the different cholesterol derivatives have been investigated by feeding worms of different genetic background with these compounds. Our study is the first step in assigning the relationships of hormonal activity in C. elegans on the substitution at different positions of cholesterol. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Comparison of different cortical connectivity estimators for high‐resolution EEG recordings
Authors: Astolfi Laura , Cincotti Febo , Mattia Donatella , Marciani M. Grazia , Baccala Luiz A. , de Vico Fallani Fabrizio , Salinari Serenella , Ursino Mauro , Zavaglia Melissa , Ding Lei , Edgar J. Christopher , Miller Gregory A. , He Bin , Babiloni Fabio 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe aim of this work is to characterize quantitatively the performance of a body of techniques in the frequency domain for the estimation of cortical connectivity from high‐resolution EEG recordings in different operative conditions commonly encountered in practice. Connectivity pattern estimators investigated are the Directed Transfer Function (DTF), its modification known as direct DTF (dDTF) and the Partial Directed Coherence (PDC). Predefined patterns of cortical connectivity were simulated and then retrieved by the application of the DTF, dDTF, and PDC methods. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and length (LENGTH) of EEG epochs were studied as factors affecting the reconstruction of the imposed connectivity patterns. Reconstruction quality and error rate in estimated connectivity patterns were evaluated by means of some indexes of quality for the reconstructed connectivity pattern. The error functions were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). The whole methodology was then applied to high‐resolution EEG data recorded during the well‐known Stroop paradigm. Simulations indicated that all three methods correctly estimated the simulated connectivity patterns under reasonable conditions. However, performance of the methods differed somewhat as a function of SNR and LENGTH factors. The methods were generally equivalent when applied to the Stroop data. In general, the amount of available EEG affected the accuracy of connectivity pattern estimations. Analysis of 27 s of nonconsecutive recordings with an SNR of 3 or more ensured that the connectivity pattern could be accurately recovered with an error below 7% for the PDC and 5% for the DTF. In conclusion, functional connectivity patterns of cortical activity can be effectively estimated under general conditions met in most EEG recordings by combining high‐resolution EEG techniques, linear inverse estimation of the cortical activity, and frequency domain multivariate methods such as PDC, DTF, and dDTF. Hum. Brain Mapp, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and Swelling Behavior of Fast‐Swelling Superabsorbent Hydrogels Based On Starch‐g‐Poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate)
Authors: Zhang Junping , Wang Li , Wang Aiqin 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: A novel fast‐swelling porous superabsorbent hydrogel was prepared by grafting acrylic acid onto corn starch through free‐radical polymerization in aqueous solution using N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker, ammonium persulfate as an initiator, sodium dodecyl sulfate and p‐octyl poly(ethylene glycol)phenyl ether as pore‐forming agents. The graft polymerization and surface morphology of the porous superabsorbents were characterized by FTIR and SEM. The results indicate that the porous superabsorbents were endowed with higher equilibrium water absorbency and faster swelling rate (they needed only 10 min to reach 90% of their equilibrium water absorbency) compared with the nonporous superabsorbents. The dewatering method employed had a significant influence on the swelling behavior of the superabsorbents and dewatering agents were useful to preserve the pores formed during the polymerization process.The equilibrium water absorbency in distilled water, for the porous and non‐porous starch‐g‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels dried through different procedures.magnified imageThe equilibrium water absorbency in distilled water, for the porous and non‐porous starch‐g‐poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels dried through different procedures.
Preparation of Clay/PMMA Nanocomposites with Intercalated or Exfoliated Structure for Bone Cement Synthesis
Authors: Wang Jyh‐Horng , Young Tai‐Horng , Lin Dar‐Jong , Sun Min‐Kuei , Huag Han‐Shiang , Cheng Liao‐Ping 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: Clay/PMMA nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of an organically modified MMT with PMMA under various process conditions. The MMT clay was initially cation exchanged with octadecylammonium to enhance its hydrophobicity and to expand the interlamellar space of the silicate plates. PMMA was then inserted into the inter‐lamellar space of the modified clay by melt blending at an elevated temperature. The effects of blending temperature, blending time, and clay/PMMA compositions on the level of expansion and homogenization were investigated. Composites with intercalated and/or exfoliated clay structure were obtained depending upon the process conditions, as confirmed by XRD diffractometry. The thermal decomposition temperature (Td) and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composites were determined, respectively, by TGA and DSC analyses. Marked improvements, up to 35 °C, of the thermal stability (Td) with respect to pure PMMA were achieved for many of the composite samples. The Tg of the composites, however, does not increase accordingly. Furthermore, a novel type of bone cement was synthesized by applying the clay/PMMA nanocomposites as a substitute for PMMA in a typical formulation. These bone cements demonstrated much higher impact strength and better cell compatibility than the surgical Simplex P cement. Therefore, the bone cements with clay/PMMA nanocomposites meet the requirement for the architectural design of orthopedic surgery.TEM images of an OA‐clay/PMMA composite.magnified imageTEM images of an OA‐clay/PMMA composite.
The odd‐dimensional Goldberg conjecture
Authors: Apostolov Vestislav , Drăghici Tedi , Moroianu Andrei 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAn odd‐dimensional version of the Goldberg conjecture was formulated and proved in [5], by using an orbifold analogue of Sekigawa's arguments in [8], and an approximation argument ofK‐contact structures with quasiregular ones. We provide here another proof of this result. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Lp estimates for the commutators of Marcinkiewicz integrals with kernels belonging to certain block spaces
Authors: Wu Huoxiong 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThis paper is devoted to the study of the Lp ‐mapping properties of the higher order commutators μ k Ω,a , μ *,k Ω,λ ,a and μ k Ω,S ,a , which are formed respectively by a BMO (ℝn ) function a (x ) and a class of rough Marcinkiewicz integral operators μ Ω, μ *Ω,λ and μ Ω,S related to the Littlewood–Paley g ‐function, the Littlewood–Paley g *λ ‐function and the Lusin area integral, respectively. By the method of block decomposition for kernel functions and Fourier transforms estimates, some new results about the Lp (ℝn ) boundedness for theses commutators are obtained. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Profinite Teichmüller theory
Authors: Boggi Marco 
Published: June 2006

AbstractFor 2g – 2 + n > 0, let Γg, n be the Teichmüller group of a compact Riemann surface of genus g with n points removed Sg, n , i.e., the group of homotopy classes of diffeomorphisms of Sg, n which preserve the orientation of Sg, n and a given order of its punctures. There is a natural faithful representation Γg, n → Out(π 1(Sg, n )). For any given finite index subgroup Γλ of Γg, n , the congruence subgroup problem asks whether there exists a finite index characteristic subgroup K of π 1(Sg, n ) such that the kernel of the induced representation Γg, n → Out(π 1(Sg, n )/K ) is contained in Γλ . The main result of the paper is an affirmative answer to this question. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Significant Improvement of the Processability of Ladder‐Type Polymers by Using Aqueous Colloidal Dispersions
Authors: Janietz Silvia , Sainova Dessislava 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSummary: It has been shown that stable aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles of the rigid‐rod ladder‐type polymer poly(benzo‐bisimidazobenzo‐phenanthroline) (BBL) can be prepared in order to facilitate BBL processing. The obtained dispersions have a controllable particle size in the range between 50 and 150 nm and, consequently, the deposition of layers by spin‐coating or drop‐casting is realized. The resultant films exhibit a particulate structure and their morphology has been characterized by means of SEM and AFM. Upon investigation of the BBL dispersions in organic field‐effect transistors an ambipolar charge carrier transport has been observed, which presumably is related to the presence of mobile ions.SEM image of a drop‐cast film of the BBL nanoparticles.magnified imageSEM image of a drop‐cast film of the BBL nanoparticles.