bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis
Authors: Lee Michael S. , Smith Scott D. , Galor Anat , Hoffman Gary S. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveVision loss and cerebrovascular accidents often complicate giant cell arteritis (GCA). Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy reduce the risk of stroke in other populations. We sought to determine whether antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy reduces ischemic complications in patients with GCA.MethodsA retrospective chart review for patients with GCA was conducted. Included patients fulfilled modified 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria for GCA. Collected information included demographic data, dates of antiplatelet or anticoagulant use, vision loss or stroke, and presence of bleeding complications and cerebrovascular risk factors.ResultsA total of 143 patients were included with a mean followup period of 4 years. The cohort included 109 women (76%) and 34 men (24%) with a mean age of 71.8 years. A total of 104 patients (73%) had a biopsy‐proven diagnosis. Eighty‐six patients (60.1%) had received long‐term antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, including 18 (12.6%) who did not start therapy until after an ischemic event had occurred. Antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants were not used in 57 patients (39.9%). Overall, 11 of 68 patients (16.2%) had an ischemic event while receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, compared with 36 of 75 patients (48.0%) not receiving such therapy (P < 0.0005). Univariate analysis failed to show a statistical difference between groups in regard to cerebrovascular risk factors, age, sex, or biopsy‐proven diagnosis. Bleeding complications occurred in 2 patients receiving aspirin, 1 patient receiving warfarin, and 5 patients who did not receive anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy.ConclusionAntiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy may reduce the risk of ischemic events in patients with GCA. An increased risk of bleeding complications was not observed.
Disconnect between inflammation and joint destruction after treatment with etanercept plus methotrexate: Results from the trial of etanercept and methotrexate with radiographic and patient outcomes
Authors: Landewé Robert , van der Heijde Désirée , Klareskog Lars , van Vollenhoven Ronald , Fatenejad Saeed 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the relationship between disease activity and radiographic progression of joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate (MTX), those treated with etanercept, and those treated with the combination of MTX plus etanercept.MethodsBaseline, 12‐month, and 24‐month data from the Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic and Patient Outcomes database were analyzed. The dependent variable was the 1‐year change in the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (Sharp score); therefore, 2 interval changes per patient were available. Interval change in the Sharp score was modeled by time (years), treatment, disease activity, and the interaction (disease activity × treatment). Disease activity was reflected by the time‐averaged Disease Activity Score (taDAS) and the time‐averaged C‐reactive protein (taCRP) level, which were calculated per 1‐year interval. Generalized mixed linear modeling (GMLM) was used to adjust for within‐patient correlation.ResultsGMLM confirmed a significant interaction between treatment and the taCRP level and taDAS with respect to the change in Sharp score (P = 0.012 and P = 0.03, respectively). In patients treated with MTX alone, radiographic progression increased with an increasing taCRP level or taDAS, although progression rates were low in patients whose disease was in remission and in those with low‐to‐moderate disease activity. This relationship was less clear in patients treated with etanercept and was absent in those who received combination therapy.ConclusionCombination therapy with MTX plus etanercept uncouples the classic relationship between disease activity and radiographic progression in patients with RA.
Interleukin‐1α induction of tensile weakening associated with collagen degradation in bovine articular cartilage
Authors: Temple Michele M. , Xue Yang , Chen Michael Q. , Sah Robert L. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α) induces tensile weakening of articular cartilage that is concomitant with the loss of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or the subsequent degradation of the collagen network.MethodsExplants of young adult bovine cartilage obtained from the superficial (including the articular surface), middle, and deep layers were cultured with or without IL‐1α for 1 week or 3 weeks. Then, portions of the explants were analyzed for their tensile properties (ramp modulus, strength, and failure strain); other portions of explants and spent culture medium were analyzed for the amount of GAG and the amount of cleaved, denatured, and total collagen.ResultsThe effect of IL‐1α treatment on cartilage tensile properties and content was dependent on the duration of culture and the depth of the explant from the articular surface. The tensile strength and failure strain of IL‐1α–treated samples from the superficial and middle layers were lower after 3 weeks of culture, but not after 1 week of culture. However, by 1 week of culture, IL‐1α had already induced release of the majority of tissue GAGs into the medium, without detectable loss or degradation of collagen. In contrast, after 3 weeks of culture, IL‐1α induced significant collagen degradation, as indicated by the amount of total, cleaved, or denatured collagen in the medium or in explants from the superficial and middle layers.ConclusionIL‐1α–induced degradation of cartilage results in tensile weakening that occurs subsequent to the depletion of GAG and concomitant with the degradation of the collagen network.
Composition of calcifications in children with juvenile dermatomyositis: Association with chronic cutaneous inflammation
Authors: Pachman Lauren M. , Veis Arthur , Stock Stuart , Abbott Kathy , Vicari Frank , Patel Pravin , Giczewski Diana , Webb Catherine , Spevak Lyudmila , Boskey Adele L. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveCalcific deposits develop in 20–40% of children with juvenile dermatomyositis (juvenile DM), contributing to disease morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to define the structure and composition of these deposits and to characterize their association with chronic inflammation.MethodsWe examined calcific deposits from 5 children with juvenile DM (2 boys and 3 girls). The crystal structure and mineral content of the deposits was analyzed by x‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and imaging. The protein content of the deposits, following solubilization, was assayed by Western blotting.ResultsAll 5 children had both a young age at disease onset (mean ± SD 3.3 ± 1.9 years) and, despite therapy, persistent cutaneous inflammation (mean ± SD duration 81.3 ± 58.7 months). The bone proteins, osteopontin, osteonectin, and bone sialoprotein, were identified in the protein extracts; the only mineral detected was hydroxyapatite, but the tissue was distinct from bone, with an extremely high mineral content and an irregular distribution of mineral.ConclusionThese results indicate that chronic cutaneous inflammation may contribute to the formation of hydroxyapatite‐containing pathologic calcifications in children with juvenile DM.
Assembly of DNA Nanostructures with Branched Tris‐DNA
Authors: Kuroda Takahiro , Sakurai Yoshimasa , Suzuki Yukinao , Nakamura Akiko O. , Kuwahara Masayasu , Ozaki Hiroaki , Sawai Hiroaki 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBranched tris‐DNA, in which two oligonucleotides of the same sequence and one other oligonucleotide of a different sequence are connected with a rigid central linker, was prepared chemically by using a DNA synthesizer. Two branched tris‐DNA molecules with complementary DNA sequences form dimer and tetramer as well as linear and spherical oligomer complexes. The complex formation was studied by UV/thermal denaturation, enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, and AFM imaging.
Chemolithotrophic perchlorate reduction linked to the oxidation of elemental sulfur
Authors: Ju Xiumin , Field Jim A. , Sierra‐Alvarez Reyes , Salazar Margarita , Bentley Harold , Bentley Richard 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPerchlorate (ClO) contamination of ground and surface water has been recently recognized as a widespread environmental problem. Biological methods offer promising perspectives of perchlorate remediation. Facultative anaerobic bacteria couple the oxidation of organic and inorganic electron‐donating substrates to the reduction of perchlorate as a terminal electron acceptor, converting it completely to the benign end‐product, chloride. Insoluble inorganic substrates are of interest for low maintenance bioreactor or permeable reactive barrier systems because they can provide a long‐term supply of electron donor without generating organic residuals. The main objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of utilizing elemental sulfur (S0) as an insoluble electron donor for the biological reduction of perchlorate. A chemolithotrophic enrichment culture derived from aerobic activated sludge was obtained which effectively coupled the oxidation of elemental sulfur to sulfate with the reduction of perchlorate to chloride and gained energy from the process for cell growth. The enrichment culture grew at a rate of 0.41 or 0.81 1/d in the absence and presence of added organic carbon for cell growth, respectively. The enrichment culture was also shown to carry out sulfur disproportionation to a limited extent as evidenced by the formation of sulfide and sulfate in the absence of added electron acceptor. When nitrate and perchlorate were added together, the two electron acceptors were removed simultaneously after an initial partial decrease in the nitrate concentration. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96:1073–1082. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and Evaluation of an α‐C‐Galactosylceramide Analogue that Induces Th1‐biased Responses in Human Natural Killer T Cells
Authors: Lu Xuequan , Song Liping , Metelitsa Leonid S. , Bittman Robert 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAn α‐galactosylceramide (αGalCer, 1) and its isosteric C‐glycoside analogue (2) were found to possess promising immunostimulatory activity because of their ability to activate natural killer T (NKT) cells. We report the synthesis of compound 3, a truncated nonisosteric C‐αGalCer analogue, that like 2 is not enzymatically labile at the glycosidic linkage, but has the anomeric carbon directly bonded to the C1 of the phytoceramide backbone. We compared the biological activity of the three ligands using an in vitro system with human dendritic cells as the antigen‐presenting cells and human NKT cells as the responding cells. Although 3 was a less potent agonist for NKT cells than 1 and 2, it induced cytokine production with the highest IFN‐γ:IL‐4 and IFN‐γ:IL‐13 ratios. Therefore, our data suggest that the new mimetic of αGalCer might preferentially promote Th1‐immune responses and serve as a potent adjuvant in the immunotherapy of cancer and infectious diseases.
Migration of bone marrow stromal cells in 3D: 4 Color methodology reveals spatially and temporally coordinated events
Authors: Thibault Marc M. , Buschmann Michael D. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe cytoskeleton plays a central role in many cell processes including directed cell migration. Since most previous work has investigated cell migration in two dimensions (2D), new methods are required to study movement in three dimensions (3D) while preserving 3D structure of the cytoskeleton. Most previous studies have labeled two cytoskeletal networks simultaneously, impeding an appreciation of their complex and dynamic interconnections. Here we report the development of a 4 color method to simultaneously image vimentin, actin, tubulin and the nucleus for high‐resolution confocal microscopy of bone‐marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) migrating through a porous membrane. Several methods were tested for structural preservation and labeling intensity resulting in identification of an optimized simultaneous fixation and permeabilization method using glutaraldehyde, paraformaldehyde and Triton X‐100 followed by a quadruple fluorescent labeling method. This procedure was then applied at a sequence of time points to migrating cells, allowing temporal progression of migration to be assessed by visualizing all three networks plus the nucleus, providing new insights into 3D directed cell migration including processes such as leading edge structure, cytoskeletal distribution and nucleokinesis. Colocalization of actin and microtubules with distinct spatial arrangements at the cellular leading edge during migration, together with microtubule axial polarization supports recent reports indicating the pivotal role of microtubules in directed cell migration. This study also provides a foundation for 3D migration studies versus 2D studies, providing precise and robust methods to attain new insights into the cellular mechanisms of motility. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Living markers for actin block myosin‐dependent motility of plant organelles and auxin
Authors: Holweg Carola L. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractExpression‐based techniques using recombinant actin‐binding proteins (ABPs) have been developed as advantageous means of visualising actin filaments. As actin function is linked to the movement of cellular cargoes, and overexpression of ABPs may compete with endogenous cytoskeletal proteins, such as myosins, secondary effects on cellular motility might be observed during actin visualisation. Cytoplasmic streaming and auxin transport were chosen as examples of cargo movement and investigated in two Arabidopsis thaliana lines stably transformed with fluorescently labelled talin (GFP‐mTn) or fimbrin (GFP‐FABD2). In both lines, the maximal streaming velocity of organelles was reduced to 80% in hypocotyl epidermal cells, where actin was broadly equally labelled by both ABPs. In contrast, observations of streaming and actin organisation during treatments with cytochalasin D (CD) suggested GFP‐mTn‐labelled actin to remain more stable. Furthermore, basipetal auxin transport was undisturbed in the GFP‐FABD2 line but reduced by GFP‐mTn. Remarkably, treatments with CD and 2,3‐butanedione monoxime, which immobilizes myosin by impairing its ATPase, produced not only failures in organelle movement but also in basipetal auxin transport in the wild‐type. These observations suggest that myosin is involved in processes of auxin translocation. In parallel, reduced motility in transgenic plants may be explained by a disturbed acto‐myosin interplay, if overexpressed ABPs block the processive movement of myosin along actin filaments. This report shows that the use of live markers for actin visualisation may affect motility of cellular compounds and underlines the general need for critical investigation of actin‐related processes in wild‐type as well as transgenic plants prior to further interpretation. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shroom4 (Kiaa1202) is an actin‐associated protein implicated in cytoskeletal organization
Authors: Yoder Michael , Hildebrand Jeffrey D. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAll animal cells utilize a specialized set of cytoskeletal proteins to determine their overall shape and the organization of their intracellular compartments and organelles. During embryonic development, the dynamic nature of the actin cytoskeleton is critical for virtually all morphogenic events requiring changes in cell shape, migration, adhesion, and division. The behavior of the actin cytoskeleton is modulated by a myriad of accessory proteins. Shroom3 is an actin binding protein that regulates neural tube morphogenesis by eliciting changes in cell shape through a myosin II‐dependent pathway. The Shroom‐related gene SHROOM4 (formerly called KIAA1202) has also been implicated in neural development, as mutations in this gene are associated with human X‐linked mental retardation. To better understand the function of Shrm4 in embryonic development, we have cloned mouse Shroom4 and characterized its protein product in vivo and in vitro. Shroom4 is expressed in a wide range of cell types during mouse development, including vascular endothelium and the polarized epithelium of the neural tube and kidney. In endothelial cells and embryo fibroblasts, endogenous Shroom4 co‐distributes with myosin II to a distinct cytoplasmic population of F‐actin and ectopic expression of Shroom4 in multiple cell types enhances or induces the formation of this actin‐based structure. This localization is mediated, at least in part, by the direct interaction of Shroom4 and F‐actin. Our results suggest that Shroom4 is a regulator of cytoskeletal architecture that may play an important role in vertebrate development. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Usage SLA‐based scheduling in Grids
Authors: Dumitrescu Catalin L. , Raicu Ioan , Foster Ian 
Published: September 2006

AbstractManaging usage service level agreements (uSLAs) within environments that integrate participants and resources spanning multiple physical institutions is a challenging problem. Running workloads in such environments is often a similarly challenging problem owing to the scale of the environment, and to the resource partitioning based on various sharing strategies. Also, a resource may be taken down during a job execution, be improperly set up or fail job execution. Such elements have to be taken into account whenever targeting a Grid environment for problem solving. In this paper we explore uSLA‐based scheduling on a real Grid, Grid3, by means of a specific workload (the BLAST workload) and a specific scheduling framework, GRUBER (an architecture and toolkit for resource uSLA specification and enforcement). The paper provides extensive experimental results and comparisons with other scheduling strategies. We also address, in great detail, the performance of different uSLA‐based site selection strategies and the overall performance in scheduling workloads over Grid3 with workload sizes ranging from 10 to 10 000 jobs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of computationally intensive parameter sweep applications on Internet‐based Grids of computers: the mapping of molecular potential energy hypersurfaces
Authors: Reyes S. , Muñoz‐Caro C. , Niño A. , Badia R. M. , Cela J. M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThis work focuses on the use of computational Grids for processing the large set of jobs arising in parameter sweep applications. In particular, we tackle the mapping of molecular potential energy hypersurfaces. For computationally intensive parameter sweep problems, performance models are developed to compare the parallel computation in a multiprocessor system with the computation on an Internet‐based Grid of computers. We find that the relative performance of the Grid approach increases with the number of processors, being independent of the number of jobs. The experimental data, obtained using electronic structure calculations, fit the proposed performance expressions accurately. To automate the mapping of potential energy hypersurfaces, an application based on GRID superscalar is developed. It is tested on the prototypical case of the internal dynamics of acetone. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adsorption Isotherm of CO on Pt(111) Electrodes
Authors: Cuesta Angel , del Carmen Pérez María , Rincón Alejandro , Gutiérrez Claudio 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe have determined, for the first time, the equilibrium CO coverage of Pt(111) electrodes at room temperature in 0.1 M H2SO4 as a function of the CO partial pressure using CO‐stripping cyclic voltammetry. Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy was used to confirm qualitatively the coverage values obtained.
pH‐Driven Cu2+ Translocation in Ferrocene‐Containing Ligands
Authors: Pallavicini Piersandro , Dacarro Giacomo , Mangano Carlo , Patroni Stefano , Taglietti Angelo , Zanoni Robertino 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe ligands L1H4, L2H2, and L3H4 have been synthesized, featuring two, one, and two ferrocene‐functionalized diamino‐diamido compartments, respectively. The coordination chemistry of the ligands towards Cu2+ has been fully characterized by means of potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations, which allowed us to determine the protonation constants of the ligands, the formation constants of their complexes, and their coordination geometry. L1H4 and L2H2 feature additional diaminopyridine and bis(aminoquinoline) binding sites, respectively, and are capable of the pH‐driven translocation of two and one Cu2+ cations, respectively. Electrochemical experiments (CV) coupled with pH‐metric titrations demonstrate that while the coordination of Cu2+ to the compartments more distant from ferrocene (Fc), i.e. diaminopyridine in L1H4 and bis(aminoquinoline) in L2H2 leaves the oxidation potential of Fc unchanged, the translocation of the Cu2+ cation(s) inside the diamino‐diamido compartment(s) is signaled by a peculiar lowering of the Fc oxidation potential. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Enantioselectivity of basic analytes in CZE enantioseparation under reversed‐polarity mode using sulfated β‐cyclodextrins as chiral selectors: An unusual temperature effect
Authors: Lin Chen‐Hsing , Kuo Chia‐Ming , Liu Yu‐Chih , Cheng Hsu‐Tun , Lin Wann‐Yin , Wu Jong‐Chang , Wang Li‐Fen , Lin Ching‐Erh 
Published: September 2006

AbstractTemperature effects on the enantioselectivity of basic analytes in CZE enantioseparation were studied under reversed‐polarity mode using randomly sulfate‐substituted β‐CDs (MI‐S‐β‐CD) as chiral seletors. Two catecholamines (epinephrine and isoproterenol) and two structurally related compounds (octopamine and norephedrine) were selected as test compounds in an electrophoretic system at low pH. The mobility differences between the (+)‐enantiomers and the (−)‐enantiomers of the two catecholamines and dopamine at 40°C are greater than those at 25°C with MI‐S‐β‐CD, even at a concentration as low as 0.3% w/v. Thus the enantioselectivity of these three basic analytes increases with increasing temperature. This phenomenon results from the inequality of the temperature effect on the mobility of the two enantiomers. In contrast, norephedrine behaves differently. The (+)‐enantiomers of these basic analytes were found to migrate faster than the (−)‐enantiomers. Consequently, the unusual temperature effect on the enantioselectivity can be observed when the mobility difference of the (+)‐enantiomer between 40 and 25°C is greater than that of the (−)‐enantiomer using MI‐S‐β‐CD at a concentration greater than about 0.7% w/v for enantioseparation of isoproterenol, 0.4% w/v for epinephrine, and 0.3% w/v for octopamine. This unusual temperature effect offers the advantages to enhance enantioselectivity, to improve enantioseparation, and to reduce migration times.