bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased serum high mobility group box-1 level in Churg–Strauss syndrome&#x2028;THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED
Authors: Taira T , Matsuyama W , Mitsuyama H , Kawahara K-I , Higashimoto I , Maruyama I , Osame M , Arimura K 
Published: October 2008

Summary
Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis occurring in patients with asthma and hypereosinophilia; however, its mechanisms involved in the severe tissue inflammation with vasculitis are poorly understood. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, originally identified as a DNA binding protein, also has potent pro-inflammatory and proangiogenic properties. In this study, we hypothesized that HMGB1 might be associated with CSS, and examined serum HMGB1 levels and compared those of asthma patients and healthy volunteers. We also investigated HMGB1 expression in the lesion, and eosinophil HMGB1 amount in CSS patients. We found that the serum HMGB1 levels in CSS patients were significantly higher than those of asthma patients and healthy volunteers. Eosinophils in the CSS lesion expressed HMGB1 and HMGB1 level in eosinophils from CSS patients was significantly higher than that of asthma patients, while there was no significant difference in HMGB1 levels in peripheral mononuclear cells. The serum HMGB1 level in CSS patients decreased after the steroid therapy, and showed significant positive correlations with several molecules, including soluble interleukin-2 receptor, soluble thrombomodulin, and eosinophil cationic protein in sera. We propose that HMGB1 might contribute to the pathogenesis of CSS.
Time–course of Toll-like receptor 2 expression, as a predictor of recurrence in patients with bacterial infectious diseases
Authors: Orihara K , Nagata K , Hamasaki S , Oba R , Hirai H , Ishida S , Kataoka T , Oketani N , Ogawa M , Mizoguchi E , Ichiki H , Tei C 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe clinical course of bacterial infectious diseases is often variable, especially in elderly patients. Thus, new biological markers have been sought to predict the disease outcome. Recent studies have revealed that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and/or TLR4 on circulating monocytes are significantly up-regulated in bacterial infections. However, the lack of reliable quantification methods hampers extensive study on the modulation of these molecules in response to the patient's clinical condition. In this study, we developed a new quantitative flow cytometric analysis system for TLR2. We then carried out a longitudinal study on TLR2 expression levels on monocytes from patients suffering from bacterial infectious diseases during and after antibiotic treatment. The clinical outcome divided 37 patients into ‘cure’ (n = 24) and ‘recurrence’ (n = 13) groups. A significant difference between the two groups was recognized in the TLR2 levels just after antibiotic treatment (antibody-binding sites/cell, 4395 ± 784 versus 5794 ± 1484, P &lt; 0·001). The risk of recurrence was associated significantly with TLR2 (P &lt; 0·001), but not C-reactive protein (P = 0·351) levels assayed during the first remission. Furthermore, antibiotic effectiveness was associated inversely with TLR2 levels during antibiotic administration (P &lt; 0·001). Taken together, TLR2 expression levels on monocytes provide critical information for planning treatment against bacterial infectious diseases.
Inhalation of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-derived peptides can protect against recurrent autoimmune but not alloimmune responses in the non-obese diabetic mouse
Authors: Ravanan R , Wong S F , Morgan N G , Mathieson P W , Smith R M 
Published: October 2008

Summary
Systemic administration of islet-derived antigens has been shown to protect against diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse by the induction of antigen-specific regulatory T cells. Bystander regulation to related and unrelated islet-derived antigens (intramolecular and intermolecular recognition) in this context is recognized. We tested if intranasal administration of glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD 65)-derived peptides could protect against both autoimmune and, through bystander regulation, alloimmune responses in a NOD mouse model. Spontaneously diabetic female NOD mice underwent islet transplantation from either C57Bl/6 or NOD islet donors. Islet recipients were treated with intranasal GAD 65-derived peptides or control (ovalbumin) peptide pre- and post-transplantation. In-vitro analysis of the effect of inhalation was defined using lymph node proliferation assays and supernatant analysis for cytokines. GAD 65-derived peptide inhalation resulted in significant protection against recurrent autoimmune disease, with the generation of an interleukin (IL)-10-producing immune phenotype in a syngeneic islet transplant model. This phenotype, however, was not robust enough to protect against alloimmune responses. Inhalation of GAD-derived peptides induces an immunoregulatory response that protects against recurrent autoimmune, but not alloimmune responses in the NOD mouse.
Translational Mini-Review Series on Vaccines:&#x2028;Peptide vaccines for myeloid leukaemias
Authors: Barrett A J , Rezvani K 
Published: October 2008

Summary
The graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) effect following allogeneic stem cell transplantation is clear evidence that T lymphocytes can control and eliminate myeloid leukaemias. The successful identification of a range of leukaemia specific antigens (LSA) in recent years has stimulated efforts to induce leukaemia specific T cell responses to these antigens with peptide vaccines. An ideal LSA should be restricted in its expression to leukaemia including progenitor cells, intrinsically connected with the leukaemic phenotype, and capable of inducing strong cytotoxic T cell responses to the leukaemia. Peptides from three well-characterized LSA, the breakpoint cluster region–abelson (BCR–ABL) fusion protein of chronic myelogenous leukaemia, proteinase-3 and Wilms tumour 1 protein, serve as the basis for several clinical trials using peptide and adjuvants to treat patients with a variety of myeloid malignancies. Preliminary results from these studies indicate that these peptides induce immune responses which can translate into clinical responses which include complete remissions from leukaemia. These promising early results point the way to optimizing the administration of peptide vaccines and suggest ways of combining vaccination with allogeneic stem cell transplantation to boost GVL effects.
Translational Mini-Review Series on Vaccines:&#x2028;Monitoring of human papillomavirus vaccination
Authors: Dillner J , Arbyn M , Dillner L 
Published: October 2008

Summary
Persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. Moreover, HPV type 16 (and to a lesser degree HPV type 18) is linked with more rare cancers, namely cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, oropharynx and larynx. Effective prophylactic vaccines have been developed. In this review, we briefly address immunological aspects of HPV infection and the results of HPV vaccination trials. Internationally standardized monitoring and evaluation of prophylactic HPV vaccination programmes will be essential for arriving at the most (cost-)effective strategies for cancer control.
Soil carbon sequestration in a pine forest after 9 years of atmospheric CO2 enrichment
Authors: LICHTER JOHN , BILLINGS SHARON A. , ZIEGLER SUSAN E. , GAINDH DEEYA , RYALS REBECCA , FINZI ADRIEN C. , JACKSON ROBERT B. , STEMMLER ELIZABETH A. , SCHLESINGER WILLIAM H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe impact of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on climate change may be mitigated in part by C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems as rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations stimulate primary productivity and ecosystem C storage. Carbon will be sequestered in forest soils if organic matter inputs to soil profiles increase without a matching increase in decomposition or leaching losses from the soil profile, or if the rate of decomposition decreases because of increased production of resistant humic substances or greater physical protection of organic matter in soil aggregates. To examine the response of a forest ecosystem to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations, the Duke Forest Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment in North Carolina, USA, has maintained atmospheric CO2 concentrations 200 μL L−1 above ambient in an aggrading loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation over a 9‐year period (1996–2005). During the first 6 years of the experiment, forest‐floor C and N pools increased linearly under both elevated and ambient CO2 conditions, with significantly greater accumulations under the elevated CO2 treatment. Between the sixth and ninth year, forest‐floor organic matter accumulation stabilized and C and N pools appeared to reach their respective steady states. An additional C sink of ∼30 g C m−2 yr−1 was sequestered in the forest floor of the elevated CO2 treatment plots relative to the control plots maintained at ambient CO2 owing to increased litterfall and root turnover during the first 9 years of the study. Because we did not detect any significant elevated CO2 effects on the rate of decomposition or on the chemical composition of forest‐floor organic matter, this additional C sink was likely related to enhanced litterfall C inputs. We also failed to detect any statistically significant treatment effects on the C and N pools of surface and deep mineral soil horizons. However, a significant widening of the C : N ratio of soil organic matter (SOM) in the upper mineral soil under both elevated and ambient CO2 suggests that N is being transferred from soil to plants in this aggrading forest. A significant treatment × time interaction indicates that N is being transferred at a higher rate under elevated CO2 (P=0.037), suggesting that enhanced rates of SOM decomposition are increasing mineralization and uptake to provide the extra N required to support the observed increase in primary productivity under elevated CO2.
Storms can cause Europe‐wide reduction in forest carbon sink
Authors: LINDROTH ANDERS , LAGERGREN FREDRIK , GRELLE ACHIM , KLEMEDTSSON LEIF , LANGVALL OLA , WESLIEN PER , TUULIK JANNO 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDisturbance of ecosystems is a major factor in regional carbon budgets, and it is believed to be partly responsible for the large inter‐annual variability of the terrestrial part of the carbon balance. Forest fires have so far been considered as the most important disturbance but also other forms of disturbance such as insect outbreaks or wind‐throw might contribute significantly to the largely unexplained inter‐annual variability, at least in specific regions. The effect of wind‐throw has not yet been estimated because of lack of data on how carbon fluxes are affected. The Gudrun storm, which hit Sweden in January 2005, resulted in ca. 66 million m3 of wind‐thrown stem wood on an area of ca. 272 000 ha. Using a model (BIOME‐BGC) calibrated to CO2 flux measurements at two sites, the annual net ecosystem productivity during the first year after the storm was estimated to be in the range −897 to −1259 g C m−2 yr−1. This is a much higher loss compared with harvested (clear‐cut) forests in Europe, which ranged between ca. −420 and −100 g m−2 yr−1. The reduction in the carbon sink scaled to the whole wind‐thrown area was estimated at ca. 3 million tons C during the first year. By historical data on wind‐throw in Europe combined with modelling, we estimated that the large Lothar storm in 1999 reduced the European carbon balance by ca. 16 million tons C, this is ca. 30% of the net biome production in Europe. We conclude that the impact of increased forest damage by more frequent storms in future climate change scenarios must be considered and that intermittent large wind‐throw events may explain a part of the large inter‐annual variability in the terrestrial carbon sink.
Influence of typhoons on annual CO2 flux from a subtropical, humic lake
Authors: JONES STUART E. , KRATZ TIMOTHY K. , CHIU CHIH‐YU , McMAHON KATHERINE D. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts dramatic changes in precipitation patterns over the next century. One potential method for inferring how these changes in annual precipitation and intensity of storm events will influence aquatic ecosystems is to study and model present‐day lakes that share climatic characteristics with future climate scenarios. A small lake in north‐central Taiwan provided an excellent opportunity to explore the influence of intense meteorological events on CO2 exchange between surface waters and the atmosphere. Each year Yuan Yang Lake (YYL) is influenced by multiple typhoons that pass near the island of Taiwan. This lake has been instrumented with a sensor network that monitors water column and meteorological parameters at a high temporal resolution (2–10 min intervals). Using this high‐resolution data and manually collected CO2 samples, a mass‐balance model of CO2 dynamics in YYL was developed. In addition, a generalized simulation model was used to explore how typhoon frequency, intensity, and timing impact CO2 efflux to the atmosphere. Our findings suggest that increased annual precipitation and frequency of storm events results in greater epilimnetic interaction with the watershed and hypolimnion. These interactions resulted in elevated epilimetic CO2 concentrations and therefore greater evasion of CO2 to the atmosphere.
‘Best before period once opened’ for honey samples from oceanic climates on the basis of their acidity types
Authors: Mar Cavia María del , Fernández‐Muiño Miguel A. , Francisco Huidobro José , Teresa Sancho María 
Published: October 2008

SummaryStability of food is of particular interest, as we should know the period for which a given food maintains its original quality. Acidity is a very important parameter as regards honey quality control. In this study we analysed a possible ‘best before period once opened’, regarding the evolution of acidity in honey throughout 30 months in samples from regions with oceanic climates. The study was carried out at room temperature (between 15 and 25 °C) by analysing all samples in duplicate each 5 months. We also researched the possible influence of induced granulation on the acidity evolution of honey samples, observing that as the analysis of variance showed significant differences at P‐value <0.05, this process had a significant influence on free acid and total acidity. All samples fulfilled the European Regulations regarding free acid, because no honey sample showed a free acid value higher than the limit of 50 meq kg−1. Nevertheless, all honey samples suffered a continuous decrease of pH from 20 months on (averages: from 4.1 ± 0.25 at 20 months to 4.0 ± 0.23 at 30 months), and a continuous increase of both free acid (averages: from 27.6 ± 6.22 meq kg−1 at 20 months to 33.5 ± 6.44 meq kg−1 at 30 months) and total acidity (averages: from 42.5 ± 7.60 meq kg−1 at 20 months to 44.7 ± 7.60 meq kg−1 at 30 months). On the basis of acidity types, 20 months should be considered the ‘best before period once opened’ for honey from regions with oceanic climates.
Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of lentils (Lens culinaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.), peas (Pisum sativum L.) and soybeans (Glycine max), and their quantitative changes during processing
Authors: Han Hwa , Baik Byung‐Kee 
Published: October 2008

SummaryTotal phenolic content (PC) was ∼12 mg g−1 in lentils, 2.2 mg g−1 in chickpeas, 2.3 mg g−1 in soybeans, 2.5 mg g−1 in yellow peas and 1.2 mg g−1 in green peas. Total antioxidant activity (AA) determined by ABTS (2,2′‐azinobis‐3‐ethyl‐benzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) assay was highest in lentils at around 14 μmol Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) g−1 and lowest in green peas at 1.9 μmol TEAC g−1. Bound phytochemicals contributed to 82–85% total AA in lentils. Free phytochemicals contributed more to total AA in chickpeas, yellow peas, green peas and soybeans than bound phytochemicals. AA and PC was reduced by ∼80% in lentils and <30% in yellow peas by decortication, by 16–41% in lentils, chickpeas and peas by cooking, and by 22–42% in lentils by soaking. Total AA was significantly correlated with total PC. Soybeans had the greatest ability to scavenge free radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation and chelate metals among the legumes tested. Different legumes exhibited different AA mechanisms.
A new vegetable oil from noni (Morinda citrifolia) seeds
Authors: West Brett J. , Jarakae Jensen Claude , Westendorf Johannes 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe nutritional quality and safety of oil extracted from noni (Morinda citrifolia) seeds was evaluated to determine its potential as a useful vegetable oil. The average oil content of noni seeds was found to be 124.9 g kg1. The mean linoleic acid content of crude noni seed oil was 59.4%. The average β‐sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and α‐tocopherol contents of noni seed oil were 4310, 2195, 2020, and 382 mg kg−1, respectively. No evidence of acute oral toxicity was observed for noni seed or the oil at 5 g kg−1 b.w. and 10 mL kg−1 b.w., respectively. Noni seed oil was not gentoxic in the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay or the in vitro mammalian chromosomal aberration assay. These results indicate that noni seeds may be a useful new source of vegetable oil.
The effects of soluble gas stabilisation on the quality of packed sardine fillets (Sardina pilchardus) stored in air, VP and MAP
Authors: Mendes Rogério , Pestana Carla , Gonçalves Amparo 
Published: October 2008

SummarySardine (Sardina pilchardus) is a species that for its abundance assumes great importance in the Portuguese fishing sector. In order to contribute for a better utilisation of this species, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the pre‐treatment with soluble gas stabilisation (SGS) (100% CO2 at 2 bar, during 15 and 30 min) on the quality and shelf‐life of sardine fillets, packed in air (AP), vacuum (VP) and modified atmosphere (MAP: 5% O2/35% CO2/60% N2). During the chilled storage, the quality changes were evaluated by sensory evaluation, chemical and microbiological analysis. The total volatile basic nitrogen content remained almost constant, between 16 and 19 mg N/100 g muscle, during the storage period, for all samples. The TBARs values increased with storage time, for all batches and storage conditions. The application of SGS treatment to sardine fillets, resulted in a bacteriostatic effect, contributing to the improvement of the microbiological quality of fillets. Considering a sensory criteria, the shelf‐life of SGS pre‐treated sardine fillets was found to be 5 days in AP and MAP while in VP‐treated fillets a shelf‐life of 8 days was reported. At sensory rejection, sardine fillets presented a K‐value of 30% in AP and MAP batches and 40% in VP batch.
Changes of bioactive compounds and anti‐oxidant activity during cold storage of carrots
Authors: Koca Nuray , Karadeniz Feryal 
Published: October 2008

SummaryCarotenoids, total phenolics and anti‐oxidant activity of carrots were determined during 6 months of storage at 0 °C, 85–90% relative humidity. In addition to changes in CIE colour parameters (L*, a*, b*, h and C), physicochemical properties of carrots including water soluble solids; pH and titratable acidity were evaluated. Cold storage of carrots did not affect the carotenoid levels (β‐carotene, α‐carotene and total carotenoid) except lutein, which showed a 37.5% loss. Total phenolic concentration of carrots decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over the entire storage period. The anti‐oxidant activity of carrots decreased with a level of 31% and was found correlated with total phenolics and lutein content in carrots. While CIE L* and a* parameters decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after 6 months of storage, the b* and C parameters were statistically unchanged for the first 4 months of storage, but decreased gradually for the following period.
Common date palm in Tunisia: chemical composition of pulp and pits
Authors: Saafi Emna B. , Trigui Maher , Thabet Raouf , Hammami Mohamed , Achour Lotfi 
Published: October 2008

SummaryDate pulp and seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) of a mixture of some mature common varieties called ‘Khalti’, from the South‐Eastern region of Tunisia, were evaluated for their main chemical composition. Studies were also conducted on the profiles of the extracted oil fatty acid. The following average values (on a dry‐weight basis) were obtained from the pulp and pits, respectively: total sugars 63.38% and 8.12%, reducing sugars 51.56% and 6.63%, sucrose 11.82% and 1.49%, protein 3.86% and 5.31%, oil 0.26% and 8.33%. Gas–liquid chromatography revealed that the major unsaturated fatty acid was linoleic acid (32.77%) for the pulp and oleic acid (47.66%) for the pits, while the main saturated fatty acid was palmitic acid (20.55%) for the pulp and lauric acid (17.39%) for the pits. Myristic, stearic and linolenic acids were also found in both the pulp and seeds.The uses of common dates, which are currently used only for animal feed, are assessed with suggestions for potential uses as sources of nutraceutical fructose and edible, pharmaceutical oils.
Damage inhibition during refrigerated storage of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) fillets by a presoaking in quince (Cydonia oblonga) polyphenolic extract
Authors: Fattouch Sami , Sadok Saloua , Raboudi‐Fattouch Faten , Slama Mourad Ben 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe effect of quince (Cydonia oblongaMiller) polyphenolic extract on preserving mackerel (Scomber scombrus) fillets during refrigerated (4 °C) storage for 11 days was investigated. The quince extract, mainly consisted of procyanidin B dimer (50.8%) and hydroxycinnamic acids (36.62%), was found to quench 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radicals by nearly 59.3%. As deduced from the lower peroxide value of the fillet fat fraction and the inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation, the quince extract (8.9 ± 0.4 mg phenolics mL−1) was found to prevent fish oil from oxidative deterioration compared to control samples. Moreover, the extract was found to be active forin vitroinhibiting the growth of a range of food‐borne bacteria, includingVibrio fluvialis, a halophilic bacterium responsible for a relevant number of sporadic gastroenteritis attributed to contaminated seafood. The minimal inhibition and bactericide concentration (MIC, MBC) values were about 0.37–1.2 mg of polyphenols mL−1. In a second experiment, following cold smoking of fillets, sensory attributes firmness, astringency, acidity, colour and odour were analysed. The use of multivariate statistical methods (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) revealed no significant differences between samples pre‐treated and non‐pre‐treated (control) with the quince‐phenolic extract.
Evaluation of the mechanical properties and diffusion coefficients of osmodehydrated melon cubes
Authors: Ferrari Cristhiane Caroline , Hubinger Miriam Dupas 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of osmotic agents, their concentration and temperature, on the mass transfer kinetics and mechanical properties of osmodehydrated melon cubes. Samples were immersed in a hypertonic solution of sucrose or maltose up to 8 h under controlled temperature and agitation. Water loss, sugar gain and mechanical properties were analysed throughout the process. Mass transfer kinetics was modelled according to Peleg and Fick equations. Higher water loss, lower sugar uptake and stress at rupture values more similar to fresh fruit were observed in samples treated with maltose solutions. Peleg’s model showed the best adjustment to all the experimental data, however the k1 and k2 parameters did not show a clear trend with the solution concentration or temperature increase. The effective diffusivity obtained using Fick’s equation varied from 3.93 × 10−9 to 6.45 × 10−9m2 s−1 for water loss and from 7.57 × 10−10 to 3.14 × 10−9m2 s−1 for sugar gain.