bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lumbar Intervertebral Disk Degeneration in Athletes
Authors: Hangai Mika , Kaneoka Koji , Hinotsu Shiro , Shimizu Ken , Okubo Yu , Miyakawa Shumpei , Mukai Naoki , Sakane Masataka , Ochiai Naoyuki 
Published: September 2008

Background Several studies have reported that physical loading related to competitive sports activities is associated with lumbar intervertebral disk degeneration. However, the association between types of sports activities and disk degeneration has not been clarified. Hypothesis The frequencies of disk degeneration may vary with the competitive sport because of the different postures and actions specific to each sport. Study Design Cross-sectional study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 3. Methods Study participants were 308 well-trained university athletes (baseball players, basketball players, kendo competitors, runners, soccer players, swimmers) and 71 nonathlete university students (reference group). Disk degeneration was evaluated using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. A self-reported questionnaire concerning low back pain was also conducted. Results The proportions of the participants who had disk degeneration among the baseball players (odds ratio, 3.23) and the swimmers (odds ratio, 2.95) were significantly higher than among the nonathletes using logistic regression analysis. When all patients were grouped together, the association between lifetime experience of low back pain and participants with disk degeneration was significant, and a linear association between the degree of severest low back pain experienced and participants with disk degeneration, analyzed by a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test, was also significant. Conclusion Continuous competitive baseball and swimming activities during youth may be associated with disk degeneration. Furthermore, the study indicates that the experience of severe low back pain might be a predictor of disk degeneration in youth. The authors hope that preventive measures and management to protect against disk degeneration and low back pain in athletes will be established by further studies based on these results.
Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is more effective than dexamethasone alone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma regardless of prior thalidomide exposure
Authors: Wang Michael , Dimopoulos Meletios A. , Chen Christine , Cibeira M. Teresa , Attal Michel , Spencer Andrew , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Yu Zhinuan , Olesnyckyj Marta , Zeldis Jerome B. , Knight Robert D. , Weber Donna M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide + dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) previously treated with thalidomide. Of 704 patients, 39% were thalidomide exposed. Thalidomide-exposed patients had more prior lines of therapy and longer duration of myeloma than thalidomide-naive patients. Lenalidomide + dexamethasone led to higher overall response rate (ORR), longer time to progression (TTP), and progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo + dexamethasone despite prior thalidomide exposure. Among lenalidomide + dexamethasone-treated patients, ORR was higher in thalidomide-naive versus thalidomide-exposed patients (P = .04), with longer median TTP (P = .04) and PFS (P = .02). Likewise for dexamethasone alone-treated patients (P = .03 for ORR, P = .03 for TTP, P = .06 for PFS). Prior thalidomide did not affect survival in lenalidomide + dexamethasone-treated patients (36.1 vs 33.3 months, P > .05). Thalidomide-naive and thalidomide-exposed patients had similar toxicities. Lenalidomide + dexamethasone resulted in higher rates of venous thromboembolism, myelosuppression, and infections versus placebo + dexamethasone, independent of prior thalidomide exposure. Lenalido-mide + dexamethasone was superior to placebo + dexamethasone, independent of prior thalidomide exposure. Although prior thalidomide may have contributed to inferior TTP and PFS compared with thalidomide-naive patients, these parameters remained superior compared with placebo + dexamethasone; similar benefits compared with placebo + dexamethasone were not evident for thalidomide-exposed patients in terms of overall survival. Studies were registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT00056160 and NCT00424047.
Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure in children with muscular, chest wall or lung disease
Authors: Fauroux B. , Aubertin G. , Cohen E. , Clément A. , Lofaso F. 
Published: September 2008

Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure is proposed as a noninvasive test of inspiratory muscle strength. During this manoeuvre, the nasal pressure is supposed to reflect oesophageal pressure.The aim of the present study was to compare the nasal pressure with the oesophageal pressure during a maximal sniff in children with neuromuscular disease (NM, n = 78), thoracic scoliosis (n = 12) and cystic fibrosis (CF, n = 23).A significant correlation was observed between the sniff nasal and oesophageal pressure. The ratio of the sniff nasal/oesophageal pressure was lower in patients with CF (0.72±0.13) than in NM patients (0.83±0.17) or patients with thoracic scoliosis (0.86±0.10). In patients with CF and NM disease, this ratio was not correlated to age or spirometric data. The difference between the sniff oesophageal and nasal pressure exceeded 15 cmH2O in 17, 33 and 87% of the NM, thoracic scoliosis and CF patients, respectively.Sniff nasal pressure often underestimates the strength of inspiratory muscles in cystic fibrosis. Such an underestimation occurs more rarely in neuromuscular disease disorders and thoracic scoliosis. A normal value excludes inspiratory muscle weakness but a low value requires the measurement of the oesophageal pressure.
Autonomic and cerebrovascular abnormalities in mild COPD are worsened by chronic smoking
Authors: Bernardi L. , Casucci G. , Haider T. , Brandstätter E. , Pocecco E. , Ehrenbourg I. , Burtscher M. 
Published: September 2008

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop hypercapnia and hypoxia, two main determinants of cerebral blood flow. The current authors tested whether cerebrovascular regulation was altered in mild COPD, modified by manoeuvres acutely improving autonomic cardiovascular modulation or influenced by smoking habit.In 15 eucapnic normoxic mild COPD patients (eight smokers) and 28 age-matched controls (14 smokers), midcerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCFV), end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PET,CO2), arterial oxygen saturation (Sa,O2), ECG and blood pressure at rest were monitored during progressive hypercapnic hyperoxia, isocapnic hypoxia, slow breathing and oxygen administration. MCFV, arterial baroreflex and dynamic MCFV–blood pressure relationships were compared by phase analysis.COPD and control smokers showed higher MCFV (when corrected forPET,CO2), lower cerebrovascular resistance index and lower sensitivity to hypercapnia than nonsmokers, with equal sensitivity toSa,O2and similar phase analysis. Arterial baroreflex was depressed in all COPD patients. Slow breathing and oxygen administration improved baroreflex sensitivity and reduced MCFV in all COPD patients.Patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease show autonomic dysfunction. Chronic smoking induces cerebral vasodilation and impairs cerebrovascular control. All abnormalities can be partly corrected by improving the cardio- and cerebrovascular autonomic modulation, suggesting that functional autonomic abnormalities are already present at an early stage of disease.
Long-term effects of bosentan in patients with HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Degano B. , Yaïci A. , Le Pavec J. , Savale L. , Jaïs X. , Camara B. , Humbert M. , Simonneau G. , Sitbon O. 
Published: September 2008

Bosentan has proven 4-month efficacy in patients with HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-HIV). Herein, the long-term outcome of unselected PAH-HIV patients treated with first-line bosentan is described.Data for 59 consecutive World Health Organization (WHO) functional class II–IV PAH-HIV patients treated with first-line bosentan between May 2002 and July 2007 were analysed. HIV status, 6-min walk distance and haemodynamics were assessed at baseline, after 4 months and every 6–12 months thereafter.After 4 months, 6-min walk distance increased from 358±98 to 435±89 m and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased from 737±328 to 476±302 dyn·s·cm−5. At the final evaluation (29±15 months), 6-min walk distance remained stable and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased further to 444±356 dyn·s·cm−5. Haemodynamics normalised in 10 patients. At their last evaluation, these 10 patients were in WHO functional class I, with a 6-min walk distance of 532±52 m. Overall survival estimates were 93, 86 and 66% at 1, 2 and 3 yrs, respectively. Bosentan was safe when combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy, with no negative impact on HIV infection control.The present data confirm the long-term benefits of bosentan therapy in HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with improvements in symptoms, 6-min walk distance and haemodynamics, and with favourable overall survival.
Paradoxical movement of the lower ribcage at rest and during exercise in COPD patients
Authors: Aliverti A. , Quaranta M. , Chakrabarti B. , Albuquerque A. L. P. , Calverley P. M. 
Published: September 2008

Paradoxical inward displacement of the costal margin during inspiration is observed in many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at rest but its importance is unclear.The current authors studied 20 patients (forced expiratory volume in one second 32.6±11.7, functional residual capacity 186±32% predicted) and 10 healthy controls at rest and during symptom-limited incremental exercise. With optoelectronic plethysmography, the phase shift between pulmonary and abdominal ribcage volumes and the percentage of inspiratory time the ribcage compartments moved in opposite directions were quantified, using control data to define the normal range of movement.Eight patients showed lower ribcage inspiratory paradox at rest (P+), while 12 patients did not (P-). This was unrelated to resting lung function or exercise tolerance. Total end-expiratory chest wall volume (EEVcw) increased immediately when exercise began in P+ patients, but later in exercise in P- patients. This difference in EEVcwwas mainly due to a greater increase of end-expiratory pulmonary ribcage volume in P+ patients. During exercise, dyspnoea increased similarly in the two groups, while leg effort increased more markedly in the patients without paradox.In conclusion, lower ribcage paradox at rest is reproducible and associated with early-onset hyperinflation of the chest wall and predominant dyspnoea at end-exercise. When paradox is absent, the sense of leg effort becomes a more important symptom limiting exercise.
Effects of curcumin or dexamethasone on lung ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: Sun J. , Yang D. , Li S. , Xu Z. , Wang X. , Bai C. 
Published: September 2008

The present study aimed to investigate potential effects of curcumin (CUR) and dexamethasone (DXM) on ischaemia–reperfusion (I/R) induced lung injury in rats.Experimental rats were pre-treated with a singlei.p.dose of vehicle, CUR (50 mg·kg−1or 200 mg·kg−1) or DXM (5 mg·kg−1), 2 h before anaesthesia and subjected to left lung hilus clamping with 90-min ischaemia followed by 4 h of reperfusion.Pre-treatment with CUR (200 mg·kg−1) or DXM markedly attenuated I/R-induced barrier disruption, lung oedema, tissue inflammation, hypoxaemia 4 h after reperfusion, and overactivation of nuclear factor-κB, inflammatory cytokines, myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde.It appears that curcumin attenuates acute lung injury, probably through improving oxidative stress and inhibiting nuclear factor-κB-mediated expression of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, curcumin may be an alternative therapy for improving the outcomes of ischaemia–reperfusion-induced lung injury.
MiMiR – an integrated platform for microarray data sharing, mining and analysis
Authors: Tomlinson Chris , Thimma Manjula , Alexandrakis Stelios , Castillo Tito , Dennis Jayne L , Brooks Anthony , Bradley Thomas , Turnbull Carly , Blaveri Ekaterini , Barton Geraint , Chiba Norie , Maratou Klio , Soutter Pat , Aitman Tim , Game Laurence 
Published: September 2008

Abstract

Background
Despite considerable efforts within the microarray community for standardising data format, content and description, microarray technologies present major challenges in managing, sharing, analysing and re-using the large amount of data generated locally or internationally. Additionally, it is recognised that inconsistent and low quality experimental annotation in public data repositories significantly compromises the re-use of microarray data for meta-analysis. MiMiR, the Mi croarray data Mi ning R esource was designed to tackle some of these limitations and challenges. Here we present new software components and enhancements to the original infrastructure that increase accessibility, utility and opportunities for large scale mining of experimental and clinical data.

Results
A user friendly Online Annotation Tool allows researchers to submit detailed experimental information via the web at the time of data generation rather than at the time of publication. This ensures the easy access and high accuracy of meta-data collected. Experiments are programmatically built in the MiMiR database from the submitted information and details are systematically curated and further annotated by a team of trained annotators using a new Curation and Annotation Tool. Clinical information can be annotated and coded with a clinical Data Mapping Tool within an appropriate ethical framework. Users can visualise experimental annotation, assess data quality, download and share data via a web-based experiment browser called MiMiR Online. All requests to access data in MiMiR are routed through a sophisticated middleware security layer thereby allowing secure data access and sharing amongst MiMiR registered users prior to publication. Data in MiMiR can be mined and analysed using the integrated EMAAS open source analysis web portal or via export of data and meta-data into Rosetta Resolver data analysis package.

Conclusion
The new MiMiR suite of software enables systematic and effective capture of extensive experimental and clinical information with the highest MIAME score, and secure data sharing prior to publication. MiMiR currently contains more than 150 experiments corresponding to over 3000 hybridisations and supports the Microarray Centre's large microarray user community and two international consortia. The MiMiR flexible and scalable hardware and software architecture enables secure warehousing of thousands of datasets, including clinical studies, from microarray and potentially other -omics technologies.
The Drosophila IKK-related kinase (Ik2) and Spindle-F proteins are part of a complex that regulates cytoskeleton organization during oogenesis
Authors: Dubin-Bar Dikla , Bitan Amir , Bakhrat Anna , Kaiden-Hasson Rotem , Etzion Sharon , Shaanan Boaz , Abdu Uri 
Published: September 2008

Abstract

Background
IkappaB kinases (IKKs) regulate the activity of Rel/NF-kappaB transcription factors by targeting their inhibitory partner proteins, IkappaBs, for degradation. The Drosophila genome encodes two members of the IKK family. Whereas the first is a kinase essential for activation of the NF-kappaB pathway, the latter does not act as IkappaB kinase. Instead, recent findings indicate that Ik2 regulates F-actin assembly by mediating the function of nonapoptotic caspases via degradation of DIAP1. Also, it has been suggested that ik2 regulates interactions between the minus ends of the microtubules and the actin-rich cortex in the oocyte. Since spn-F mutants display oocyte defects similar to those of ik2 mutant, we decided to investigate whether Spn-F could be a direct regulatory target of Ik2.

Results
We found that Ik2 binds physically to Spn-F, biomolecular interaction analysis of Spn-F and Ik2 demonstrating that both proteins bind directly and form a complex. We showed that Ik2 phosphorylates Spn-F and demonstrated that this phosphorylation does not lead to Spn-F degradation. Ik2 is localized to the anterior ring of the oocyte and to punctate structures in the nurse cells together with Spn-F protein, and both proteins are mutually required for their localization.

Conclusion
We conclude that Ik2 and Spn-F form a complex, which regulates cytoskeleton organization during Drosophila oogenesis and in which Spn-F is the direct regulatory target for Ik2. Interestingly, Ik2 in this complex does not function as a typical IKK in that it does not direct SpnF for degradation following phosphorylation.
Prolonged exposure to bacterial toxins downregulated expression of toll-like receptors in mesenchymal stromal cell-derived osteoprogenitors
Authors: Mo Irene Fung Ying , Yip Kevin Hak Kong , Chan Wing Keung , Law Helen Ka Wai , Lau Yu Lung , Chan Godfrey Chi Fung 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackgroundHuman mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs, also known as mesenchymal stem cells) are multipotent cells with potential therapeutic value. Owing to their osteogenic capability, MSCs may be clinically applied for facilitating osseointegration in dental implants or orthopedic repair of bony defect. However, whether wound infection or oral microflora may interfere with the growth and osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs remains unknown. This study investigated whether proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs would be affected by potent gram-positive and gram-negative derived bacterial toxins commonly found in human settings.ResultsWe selected lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fromEscherichia coliand lipoteichoic acid (LTA) fromStreptococcus pyogenesas our toxins of choice. Our findings showed both LPS and LTA did not affect MSC proliferation, but prolonged LPS challenge upregulated the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, as assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Because toll-like receptors (TLRs), in particularly TLR4 and TLR2, are important for the cellular responsiveness to LPS and LTA respectively, we evaluated their expression profiles serially from MSCs to osteoblasts by quantitative PCR. We found that during osteogenic differentiation, MSC-derived osteoprogenitors gradually expressed TLR2 and TLR4 by Day 12. But under prolonged incubation with LPS, MSC-derived osteoprogenitors had reduced TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression. This peculiar response to LPS suggests a possible adaptive mechanism when MSCs are subjected to continuous exposure with bacteria.ConclusionIn conclusion, our findings support the potential of using human MSCs as a biological graft, even under a bacterial toxin-rich environment.
WebScipio: An online tool for the determination of gene structures using protein sequences
Authors: Odronitz Florian , Pillmann Holger , Keller Oliver , Waack Stephan , Kollmar Martin 
Published: September 2008

Abstract

Background
Obtaining the gene structure for a given protein encoding gene is an important step in many analyses. A software suited for this task should be readily accessible, accurate, easy to handle and should provide the user with a coherent representation of the most probable gene structure. It should be rigorous enough to optimise features on the level of single bases and at the same time flexible enough to allow for cross-species searches.

Results
WebScipio, a web interface to the Scipio software, allows a user to obtain the corresponding coding sequence structure of a here given a query protein sequence that belongs to an already assembled eukaryotic genome. The resulting gene structure is presented in various human readable formats like a schematic representation, and a detailed alignment of the query and the target sequence highlighting any discrepancies. WebScipio can also be used to identify and characterise the gene structures of homologs in related organisms. In addition, it offers a web service for integration with other programs.

Conclusion
WebScipio is a tool that allows users to get a high-quality gene structure prediction from a protein query. It offers more than 250 eukaryotic genomes that can be searched and produces predictions that are close to what can be achieved by manual annotation, for in-species and cross-species searches alike. WebScipio is freely accessible at http://www.webscipio.org.
Altered cellular infiltration and cytokine levels during early Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigC mutant infection are associated with late-stage disease attenuation and milder immunopathology in mice
Authors: Abdul-Majid Khairul-Bariah , Ly Lan H , Converse Paul J , Geiman Deborah E , McMurray David N , Bishai William R 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackgroundMouse virulence assessments of certainMycobacterium tuberculosismutants have revealed an immunopathology defect in which high tissue CFU counts are observed but the tissue pathology and lethality are reduced.M. tuberculosismutants which grow and persist in the mouse lungs, but have attenuated disease progression, have the immunopathology (imp) phenotype. The antigenic properties of these strains may alter the progression of disease due to a reduction in host immune cell recruitment to the lungs resulting in disease attenuation and prolonged host survival.ResultsIn this study we focused on the mouse immune response to one such mutant; theM. tuberculosisΔsigCmutant. Aerosol infection of DBA/2 and SCID mice with theM. tuberculosisΔsigCmutant, complemented mutant and wild type strain showed proliferation of mutant bacilli in mouse lungs, but with decreased inflammation and mortality in DBA/2 mice. SCID mice shared the same phenotype as the DBA/2 mice in response to the ΔsigCmutant, however, they succumbed to the infection faster. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis revealed elevated numbers of infiltrating neutrophils in the lungs of mice infected with wild type and complemented ΔsigCmutant strains but not in mice infected with the ΔsigCmutant. In addition, DBA/2 mice infected with the ΔsigCmutant had reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ in the lungs. Similarly, there was a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs of SCID mice. In contrast to the mouse model, the ΔsigCmutant had reduced initial growth in guinea pig lungs. A possible mechanism of attenuation in the ΔsigCmutant may be a reduction in neutrophilic-influx in the alveolar spaces of the lungs, and decreased proinflammatory cytokine secretion. In contrast to mouse data, theM. tuberculosisΔsigCmutant proliferates slowly in guinea pig lungs, a setting characterized by caseating necrosis.ConclusionOur observations suggest that the immunopathology phenotype is associated with the inability to trigger a strong early immune response, resulting in disease attenuation. While macrophages and T cells have been shown to be important in containingM. tuberculosisdisease our study has shown that neutrophils may also play an important role in the containment of this organism.