bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Head‐to‐head studies evaluating efficacy of pharmaco‐therapy for obesity: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Neovius M. , Johansson K. , Rössner S. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing weight loss drugs approved in the European Union were reviewed and the results analysed by meta‐analysis. Eight RCTs including 885 patients were found comparing weight loss of orlistat and sibutramine, while no study including rimonabant was found. The median study duration was 7 months (range 3–12). Four of the seven studies comparing sibutramine and orlistat mono‐therapy showed that sibutramine was significantly more efficacious for weight loss, while the remaining three showed equivalence. The weighted mean difference in weight loss was 2.2 kg (95% CI 0.5–3.9) favouring sibutramine. Three studies investigated orlistat and sibutramine as combination therapy, and two found it to be significantly better than orlistat alone, but not better than sibutramine alone. Based on these head‐to‐head RCT data, sibutramine appears to be significantly more efficacious for achieving weight loss than orlistat. This is concordant with indirect evidence from previous meta‐analyses, where the respective compounds were compared with placebo. Only four studies reported attrition, and the pooled risk ratio was 0.6 (0.3–1.4) indicating lower dropout for sibutramine. This information together with an understanding of the clinical properties of each drug should help to guide the prescribing physician in the selection of adequate drug therapy for obesity.
EVIDENCE THEORY AS A PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING NOVEL EVENTS
Authors: Fioretti Guido 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTEvidence Theory is a branch of the mathematics of uncertain reasoning that entails profound epistemological differences with respect to Probability Theory. In fact, its paradigmatic situation is the judge who must evaluate testimonies, rather than the gambler who must evaluates odds. Unlike a gambler, who faces a definite set of possibilities, a judge maybe forced to change her evaluation because of novel possibilities suggested by unexpected testimonies. In this sense, Evidence Theory provides a formalization of some among Shackles intuitions. While the details of the connections between Shackle's theory and Evidence Theory have been explored elsewhere, this article is devoted to a detailed explanation of the working of Evidence Theory. An example is discussed in detail and several domains of application are briefly sketched.
PUBLIC CAPITAL, TAXATION AND ENDOGENOUS GROWTH IN A FINITE HORIZONS MODEL
Authors: Tamai Toshiki 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTThis paper presents development of an endogenously growing finite horizons model with public capital, and investigates macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy and a change in life expectancy. Specifically regarding novel results, a growth‐maximizing income tax rate exists that is less than the elasticity of public capital to output. In addition, in the model with income tax financing, there might exist an inverted‐U‐shaped relationship between life expectancy and growth, which is consistent with some empirical evidence. In this paper, we elucidate the interaction among public capital accumulation, taxes, growth, welfare and life expectancy.
Transfer of Information Between Parents and Teachers of Children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities at Special Educational Centres
Authors: Fonteine H. , Zijlstra H. P. , Vlaskamp C. 
Published: August 2008

Background:  Because of the complexity of the problems that affect children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD), communication between parents and teachers at special educational centres is indispensable. Logs are widely used in the Netherlands although only little is known about the effectiveness and efficiency of communication logs.Method:  Sentences written in communication logs were analysed with two categorization systems. Frequencies and percentages of topics in each category were computed for teachers and for parents.Results:  Most entries concern ‘exchanging experiences’ and ‘requesting or giving information’; teachers write significantly more than parents.Conclusion:  The results show that communication logs are not very effective or efficient in relation to an adequate information transfer between parents and professionals to optimize the mutual support of children with PIMD. The article concludes with some recommendations for the practical use of these communication logs.
Use of the 1‐mm micro‐probe for metabolic analysis on small volume biological samples
Authors: Serkova Natalie J. , Freund Amy S. , Brown Jaimi L. , Kominsky Douglas J. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractEndogenous metabolites are promising diagnostic end‐points in cancer research. Clinical application of high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy is often limited by extremely low volumes of human specimens. In the present study, the use of the Bruker 1‐mm high‐resolution TXI micro‐probe was evaluated in the elucidation of metabolic profiles for three different clinical applications with limited sample sizes (body fluids, isolated cells and tissue biopsies). Sample preparation and 1H‐NMR metabolite quantification protocols were optimized for following oncology‐oriented applications: (i) to validate the absolute concentrations of citrate and spermine in human expressed prostatic specimens (EPS volumes 5 to 10 μl: prostate cancer application); (ii) to establish the metabolic profile of isolated human lymphocytes (total cell count 4 = 106: chronic myelogenous leukaemia application); (iii) to assess the metabolic composition of human head‐and‐neck cancers from mouse xenografts (biopsy weights 20 to 70 mg: anti‐cancer treatment application). In this study, the use of the Bruker 1‐mm micro‐probe provides a convenient way to measure and quantify endogenous metabolic profiles of samples with a very low volume/weight/cell count.
Platelet lysate promotes in vitro wound scratch closure of human dermal fibroblasts: different roles of cell calcium, P38, ERK and PI3K/AKT
Authors: Ranzato Elia , Mazzucco Laura , Patrone Mauro , Burlando Bruno 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThere is a growing interest for the clinical use of platelet derivates in wound dressing. Platelet beneficial effect is attributed to the release of growth factors and other bioactive substances, though mechanisms are mostly unknown. We studied wound‐healing processes of human primary fibroblasts, by exposing cells to a platelet lysate (PL) obtained from blood samples. Crystal violet and tetrazolium salt (MTS) assays showed dose–response increase of cell proliferation and metabolism. In scratch wound and transwell assays, a dose of 20% PL induced a significant increase of wound closure rate at 6 and 24 hrs, and had a strong chemotactic effect. BAPTA‐AM, SB203580 and PD98059 caused 100% inhibition of PL effects, whereas wortmannin reduced to about one third the effect of PL on wound healing and abolished the chemotactic response. Confocal imaging showed the induction by PL of serial Ca2+ oscillations in fibroblasts. Data indicate that cell Ca2+ plays a fundamental role in wound healing even without PL, p38 and ERK1/2 are essential for PL effects but are also activated by wounding per se, PI3K is essential for PL effects and its downstream effector Akt is activated only in the presence of PL. In conclusion, PL stimulates fibroblast wound healing through the activation of cell proliferation and motility with different patterns of involvement of different signalling pathways.
Serum withdrawal up‐regulates human SIRT1 gene expression in a p53‐dependent manner
Authors: Shang Linshan , Zhou Haibin , Xia Yu , Wang Hui , Gao Guimin , Chen Bingxi , Liu Qiji , Shao Changshun , Gong Yaoqin 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSIRT1, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)‐dependent histone/protein deacetylase, has been extensively studied recently for its critical role in the regulation of physiology, calorie restriction and aging. Studies on laboratory mice showed that expression of SIRT1 can be induced by starvation in a p53‐dependent manner and requires the p53‐binding sites present in the Sirt1 promoter. However, it remains to be determined whether these findings based on rodents apply to human beings. In this paper, we characterized a putative p53‐binding element in the human SIRT1 promoter that might be required for the up‐regulation of SIRT1 in response to nutritional stress. The p53‐binding site in the promoter of human SIRT1 is more deviant from the consensus sequence than the corresponding sequence in the mouse Sirt1. There is a C to A change at the second half site in human SIRT1, thus disrupting the core‐binding element CWWG in the canonical RRRCWWGYYY. To test whether such sequence change would affect its binding with p53 and the SIRT1 expression under stress, we studied various human cell lines with different p53 status and cells with ectopic expression of functionally distinct p53. We found that serum withdrawal also up‐regulates human SIRT1 gene expression in a p53‐dependent manner and that the p53‐binding element in SIRT1 is required for the up‐regulation. Thus, the mechanism responsible for the regulation of SIRT1 expression by p53 is conserved between mice and human beings.
Hip fractures and cognitive state: patient outcomes and proxies’ perceptions of the rehabilitation period
Authors: Rydholm Hedman Ann‐Marie , Heikkilä Kristina , Grafström Margareta , Strömberg Lars 
Published: August 2008

Background.  Numerous studies are available on hip fracture and rehabilitation outcomes, some mention dementia but very few from a family/proxy perspective.Aim.  To investigate whether cognitive state influences the hip fracture patients’ rehabilitation outcomes as well as the proxies’ perceptions of the 6‐month rehabilitation period.Design.  A survey with structured and unstructured questions. Statistics and content analysis.Methods.  The questionnaire was sent to 40 proxies of hip fracture patients with and without cognitive impairment, 32 replied. Statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data.Results.  In the cognitively impaired group, physical function decreased (P = 0.0241) as well as locomotion (P = 0.0005) compared to pre‐fracture. This group mainly participated in rehabilitation sessions in institutions (P = 0.0001) and their main support came from nursing staff. The cognitively impaired group assessed the rehabilitation period as being of a much lower quality than the cognitively intact group (P = 0.0048). In the impaired group, hindrances to rehabilitation were low level of staffing, and lack of access to rehabilitation resources such as physiotherapists.Conclusions and relevance for clinical practice.  Hip fracture patients are a dichotomous group and cognition is decisive for physical and social outcomes as well as type of rehabilitation support.
Dystrophia Helsinglandica: a new type of hereditary corneal recurrent erosions with late subepithelial fibrosis
Authors: Hammar Björn , Björck Erik , Lind Helena , Lagerstedt Kristina , Dellby Anette , Fagerholm Per 
Published: August 2008

Abstract.Purpose:  To describe the phenotype of an autosomal‐dominant corneal dystrophy with an early onset of recurrent corneal erosions and development of subepithelial fibrosis in the cornea, and also to exclude genetic linkage to known corneal dystrophies with autosomal‐dominant inheritance and clinical resemblance.Methods:  We describe the medical history and clinical findings in individuals from a seven‐generation family with recurrent corneal erosions. A total of 43 individuals were evaluated by ophthalmological examination. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood and polymorphic microsatellite markers were analysed to study haplotypes surrounding genes causing corneal dystrophies with similar phenotypes.Results:  Erosive symptoms usually lasted for between 1 and 10 days. By the age of 7 almost all of the affected individuals suffered from recurrent corneal erosions. The attacks generally declined in frequency and intensity from the late 20s, but all examined individuals had developed subepithelial fibrosis by the age of 37. The fibrosis generally started in the mid periphery and was followed in some family members by central fibrosis and the development of gelatinous superficial elevations. Only a marginal reduction of visual acuity was seen in a few individuals. The affected individuals did not share haplotypes for genetic microsatellite markers surrounding genes that are known to cause autosomal‐dominant corneal dystrophies.Conclusion:  We describe a new type of autosomal‐dominant corneal disorder with recurrent corneal erosions and subepithelial fibrosis not significantly affecting visual acuity.
DNA Fragmentation in Microorganisms Assessed In Situ
Authors: Fernández José Luis , Cartelle Mónica , Muriel Lourdes , Santiso Rebeca , Tamayo María , Goyanes Vicente , Gosálvez Jaime , Bou Germán 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Chromosomal DNA fragmentation may be a direct or indirect outcome of cell death. Unlike DNA fragmentation in higher eukaryotic cells, DNA fragmentation in microorganisms is rarely studied. We report an adaptation of a diffusion-based assay, developed as a kit, which allows for simple and rapid discrimination of bacteria with fragmented DNA. Intact cells were embedded in an agarose microgel on a slide, incubated in a lysis buffer to partially remove the cell walls, membranes, and proteins, and then stained with a DNA fluorochrome, SYBR Gold. Identifying cells with fragmented DNA uses peripheral diffusion of DNA fragments. Cells without DNA fragmentation show only limited spreading of DNA fiber loops. These results have been seen in several gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, as well as in yeasts. Detection of DNA fragmentation was confirmed by fluoroquinolone treatment and by DNA breakage detection-fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Proteus mirabilis
with spontaneously fragmented DNA during exponential and stationary growth or
Escherichia coli
with DNA damaged after exposure to hydrogen peroxide or antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or ampicillin, was clearly detected. Similarly, fragmented DNA was detected in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
after amphotericin B treatment. Our assay may be useful for the simple and rapid evaluation of DNA damage and repair as well as cell death, either spontaneous or induced by exogenous stimuli, including antimicrobial agents or environmental conditions.
Metabolic Microenvironmental Control by Photosynthetic Biofilms under Changing Macroenvironmental Temperature and pH Conditions
Authors: Bissett Andrew , Reimer Andreas , de Beer Dirk , Shiraishi Fumito , Arp Gernot 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTEx situ microelectrode experiments, using cyanobacterial biofilms from karst water creeks, were conducted under various pH, temperature, and constant-alkalinity conditions to investigate the effects of changing environmental parameters on cyanobacterial photosynthesis-induced calcification. Microenvironmental chemical conditions around calcifying sites were controlled by metabolic activity over a wide range of photosynthesis and respiration rates, with little influence from overlying water conditions. Regardless of overlying water pH levels (from 7.8 to 8.9), pH at the biofilm surface was approximately 9.4 in the light and 7.8 in the dark. The same trend was observed at various temperatures (4°C and 17°C). Biological processes control the calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω) in these and similar systems and are able to maintain Ω at approximately constant levels over relatively wide environmental fluctuations. Temperature did, however, have an effect on calcification rate. Calcium flux in this system is limited by its diffusion coefficient, resulting in a higher calcium flux (calcification and dissolution) at higher temperatures, despite the constant, biologically mediated pH. The ability of biological systems to mitigate the effects of environmental perturbation is an important factor that must be considered when attempting to predict the effects of increased atmospheric partial CO2pressure on processes such as calcification and in interpreting microfossils in the fossil record.
Identification of a Hypervariable Region Containing NewLegionella pneumophilaIcm/Dot Translocated Substrates by Using the ConservedicmQRegulatory Signature
Authors: Zusman Tal , Degtyar Elena , Segal Gil 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTLegionella pneumophilais an intracellular pathogen that has been shown to utilize the Icm/Dot type IV secretion system for pathogenesis. This system was shown to be composed of Icm/Dot complex components, accessory proteins, and a large number of translocated substrates. In this study, comparison of theicmQregulatory regions from manyLegionellaspecies revealed a conserved regulatory sequence that includes theicmQ−10 promoter element. Mutagenesis of this conserved regulatory element indicated that each of the nucleotides in it affects the level of expression of theicmQgene but not in a uniform fashion. A genomic analysis discovered that four additional genes inL. pneumophilacontain this conserved regulatory sequence, which was found to function similarly in these genes as well. Examination of these four genes indicated that they are dispensable for intracellular growth, but two of them were found to encode new Icm/Dot translocated substrates (IDTS). Comparison of the genomic regions encoding these two IDTS among the four availableL. pneumophilagenomic sequences indicated that one of these genes is located in a hypervariable genomic region, which was shown before to contain an IDTS-encoding gene. Translocation analysis that was performed for nine proteins encoded from this hypervariable genomic region indicated that six of them are new IDTS which are translocated into host cells in an Icm/Dot-dependent manner. Furthermore, a bioinformatic analysis indicated that additionalL. pneumophilagenomic regions that contain several neighboring IDTS-encoding genes are hypervariable in gene content.
Role of Protein Kinase A in
Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Bao Yi , Weiss Louis M. , Braunstein Vicki L. , Huang Huan 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Protein kinase A (PKA) is an important mediator of many signal transduction pathways that occur in eukaryotic cells, and it has been implicated as a regulator of stage differentiation in
Trypanosoma cruzi
. To evaluate the importance of the PKA catalytic subunit of
T. cruzi
(TcPKAc), a gene encoding a PKA inhibitor (PKI) containing a specific PKA pseudosubstrate, R-R-N-A, was subcloned into a pTREX vector and introduced into epimastigotes by electroporation. Expression of PKI has a lethal effect in this parasite. Similarly, a pharmacological inhibitor, H89, killed epimastigotes at a concentration of 10 μM. To understand the biology of PKA, identification of the particular substrates of this enzyme is essential. Using a yeast two-hybrid system, 38 candidates interacting with TcPKAc were identified. Eighteen of these were hypothetical proteins with unknown functions, while the others had putative or known functions. The entire open reading frames of eight genes presumably important in regulating
T. cruzi
growth, adaptation, and differentiation, including a type III PI3 kinase (Vps34), a putative PI3 kinase, a putative mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterase (PDEC2), a hexokinase, a putative ATPase, a DNA excision repair protein, and an aquaporin were confirmed to interact with TcPKAc in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
under the highest stringency selection conditions, and PKA phosphorylated the recombinant proteins of these genes. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the importance of cAMP-PKA signaling in this organism.
Polar Localization and Compartmentalization of ClpP Proteases during Growth and Sporulation inBacillus subtilis
Authors: Kain James , He Gina G. , Losick Richard 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTSpatial control of proteolysis is emerging as a common feature of regulatory networks in bacteria. In the spore-forming bacteriumBacillus subtilis, the peptidase ClpP can associate with any of three ATPases: ClpC, ClpE, and ClpX. Here, we report that ClpCP, ClpEP, and ClpXP localize in foci often near the poles of growing cells and that ClpP and the ATPase are each capable of polar localization independently of the other component. A region of ClpC containing an AAA domain was necessary and sufficient for polar localization. We also report that ClpCP and ClpXP proteases differentially localize to the forespore and mother cell compartments of the sporangium during spore formation. Moreover, model substrates for each protease created by appending recognition sequences for ClpCP or ClpXP to the green fluorescent protein were preferentially eliminated from the forespore or the mother cell, respectively. Biased accumulation of ClpCP in the forespore may contribute to the cell-specific activation of the transcription factor σFby preferential ClpCP-dependent degradation of the anti-σFfactor SpoIIAB.
The
amt
Gene Cluster of the Heterocyst-Forming Cyanobacterium
Anabaena
sp. Strain PCC 7120
Authors: Paz-Yepes Javier , Merino-Puerto Victoria , Herrero Antonia , Flores Enrique 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The genome of the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium
Anabaena
sp. strain PCC 7120 bears a gene cluster including three
amt
genes that, based on homology of their protein products, we designate
amt4
,
amt1
, and
amtB
. Expression of the three genes took place upon ammonium withdrawal in combined nitrogen-free medium and was NtcA dependent. The genes were transcribed independently, but an
amt4-amt1
dicistronic transcript was also produced, and expression was highest for the
amt1
gene. A mutant with the whole
amt
region removed could grow under laboratory conditions using ammonium, nitrate, or dinitrogen as the nitrogen source.
Highly Efficient In Vitro Site-Specific Recombination System Based on
Streptomyces
Phage φBT1 Integrase
Authors: Zhang Lin , Ou Xijun , Zhao Guoping , Ding Xiaoming 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The
Streptomyces
phage φBT1 encodes a site-specific integrase of the large serine recombinase subfamily. In this report, the enzymatic activity of the φBT1 integrase was characterized in vitro. We showed that this integrase has efficient integration activity with substrate DNAs containing
attB
and
attP
sites, independent of DNA supercoiling or cofactors. Both intra- and intermolecular recombinations proceed with rapid kinetics. The recombination is highly specific, and no reactions are observed between pairs of sites including
attB
and
attL
,
attB
and
attR
,
attP
and
attL
, or
attP
and
attR
or between two identical
att
sequences; however, a low but significant frequency of excision recombination between
attL
and
attR
is observed in the presence of the φBT1 integrase alone. In addition, for efficient integration, the minimal sizes of
attB
and
attP
are 36 bp and 48 bp, respectively. This site-specific recombination system is efficient and simple to use; thus, it could have applications for the manipulation of DNA in vitro.