bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Department for Education and Skills/Department of Health Good Practice Guidance on the education of children with autistic spectrum disorder
Authors: Jones G. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCurrently, it is held by many that educational interventions are those most likely to make a significant difference to the prognosis and well‐being of a child with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, decision making about educational interventions and provision in ASD is often based on beliefs, tradition and assumptions, rather than on empirical evidence. This can lead to inappropriate or ineffective provision and can cause confusion and conflict between and within professional groups and parents. Little rigorous research evidence exists to guide decisions for children with ASD. This is true for educational practice generally, and for children with other special educational needs. Practitioners and parents alike are keen for good information on how best to educate children with ASD. It was against this background that the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Department of Health (DoH) convened a working group of experienced practitioners and parents to produce the ‘Good Practice Guidance on ASDs’. This paper explores the need for the DfES/DoH Guidance, describes its structure and content and then suggests why research evidence is sparse and how future research might be enhanced to inform practice.
Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein in a Caucasian population: a new marker of metabolic syndrome?
Authors: Stejskal D. , Karpisek M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBackground  Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A‐FABP) has been suggested as playing an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum A‐FABP as a marker of metabolic syndrome and to assess its predictive accuracy in a Caucasian population.Materials and methods  Anthropometric and serum analyses were performed for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, A‐FABP, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐c), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐c), uric acid, and glucose on 67 non‐obese, healthy subjects and 71 subjects with metabolic syndrome. Quicki‐quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC‐curve) and χ2 analysis were completed.Results  Compared with healthy controls, subjects with metabolic syndrome had a significantly higher A‐FABP serum level (mean: 42·4 vs. 23·7 µg L−1; P < 0·01). The A‐FABP serum level correlated with fasting levels of insulin (r = 0·34; P < 0·01), glucose (r = 0·21; P = 0·01), triglycerides (r = 0·4; P < 0·01), BMI (r = 0·57; P < 0·01) and waist circumference (r = 0·51; P < 0·01), but negatively with HDL‐c (r = –0·23; P < 0·01) and Quicki (r = –0·32; P < 0·01). The relationship was defined between serum A‐FABP level and metabolic syndrome diagnosis with 40% sensitivity and 99% specificity at A‐FABP level 16·4 µg L−1.Conclusions  Serum A‐FABP level might be an independent marker of metabolic syndrome in a Caucasian population.
Field evidence for stoichiometric relationships between zooplankton and N and P availability in a shallow calcareous lake
Authors: MCCARTHY VALERIE , DONOHUE IAN , IRVINE KENNETH 
Published: August 2006

Summary1. According to stoichiometric theory, zooplankters have a species‐specific elemental composition. Daphniids have a relatively high phosphorus concentration in their tissues and copepods high nitrogen. Daphniids should, therefore, be more sensitive to phosphorus limitation and copepods more sensitive to nitrogen. A 2‐year study of a shallow marl lake in the west of Ireland investigated whether population fluctuations of the two dominant taxa, Daphnia spp. and the calanoid Eudiaptomus gracilis, were associated with the availability of phosphorus and nitrogen.2. In accordance with stoichiometric predictions, Daphnia and Eudiaptomus reproduction had contrasting relationships with dietary phosphorus and nitrogen availability. Egg production by Daphnia was negatively associated with the ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) : total phosphorus (TP) and the ratio of light to TP which was used as an indirect index for seston carbon (C) : phosphorus (P). Conversely calanoid egg production had a positive relationship with the DIN : TP ratio and was unrelated to the estimated C : P (light : TP) ratio.3. Daphnia biomass was not, however, correlated with phosphorus availability, and neither was calanoid biomass correlated with nitrogen. The high ratio of DIN : TP when Daphnia dominated the zooplankton biomass and the low ratio when calanoids dominated, is consistent with Daphnia acting as a sink for phosphorus and calanoids as a sink for nitrogen and suggests consumer‐driven nutrient recycling.
Ontogenetic coupling of growth rate with RNA and P contents in five species of Drosophila
Authors: ELSER J. J. , WATTS T. , BITLER B. , MARKOW T. A. 
Published: August 2006

Summary

We studied the associations among growth rate, RNA content and P content at ∼12‐h intervals during the larval stage in five species of Drosophilids that specialize on host foods that differ substantially in P content.
Consistent with expectations based on the ‘growth rate hypothesis’ (GRH), within each species there were significant positive correlations between growth rates and RNA and P contents and in each species variation in P content was largely determined by differences in RNA content. However, there was a significant difference among species in how these three parameters were associated with each other, primarily due to differences in the intercept of the relationships rather than in their slopes.
Consistent with the GRH, we also observed positive associations among the average growth rates, RNA contents and P contents of the five species. Furthermore, these differences were broadly consistent with differences in the P content of their host resources: for example, Drosophila falleni, a species that specializes on P‐rich mushrooms, had the highest growth rates and P and RNA contents while D. pachea and D. mettleri, species that specialize in low‐P exudates from necrotic cacti and trees, had the lowest growth rates and P and RNA contents.
While data for additional species are needed, our findings provide further evidence consistent with the GRH and highlight a potential role of P limitation in shaping growth rate evolution in the Drosophilids.
Rarity in the tropics: biogeography and macroecology of the primates
Authors: Harcourt A. H. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAim To describe rarity and elucidate its biology in a tropical mammalian order, the Primates.Location Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Madagascar.Methods A review of the literature, with some additional analyses using data from the literature. A variety of definitions of rarity are used in order to describe it and to investigate its biology by correlating the degree of rarity with a variety of biological traits indicative of resource use (e.g. size of annual home range), reproductive rate (e.g. birth interval)and specialization (e.g. number of habitat types used).Results Few primate taxa occur outside the tropics, and most taxa are rare (small geographical range size or latitudinal extent, low density or both). Latitudinal extent is narrower at lower latitudes in Africa and Asia, but the potential resultant packing of taxa appears not to explain the taxonomic diversity gradient. Whilst primate species do not show the common, positive density by range size relationship, primate genera show a significant shallow slope, and primate families/subfamilies a strongly positive slope. Rare taxa are specialized, but neither use more resources nor breed more slowly than common taxa. The correlation of rarity and specialization is via geographical range: taxa with small ranges, or small ranges for their density, are specialized, but not taxa at low density. Common taxa are generalized because they consist of more differently specialized subtaxa, not because each subtaxon is generalized.Main conclusions Most primate taxa are rare, in which case most are presumably likely to go extinct. Rare primates are specialized, but do not necessarily use more resources, nor breed more slowly. Specialization as an explanation for rarity appears to work via constriction of range size, not of density. Common primates might be common (large range size) not because subtaxa or individuals are generalized, but because they are composed of more subtaxa. A consequence could be that persistence of even common taxa will depend on conservation of several populations scattered across the taxon's geographical range.
Characterization of immunoglobulin binding by schistosomes
Authors: MCINTOSH R. S. , JONES F. M. , DUNNE D. W. , MCKERROW J. H. , PLEASS R. J. 
Published: August 2006

SUMMARY Although controversial, schistosomes are believed to cloak themselves in antibody through non‐specific interactions with the immunoglobulin (Ig) molecule. The acquisition of host Ig by the schistosome may mask its foreign status and/or interfere with Fc‐dependent functions. We report experiments aimed at characterizing the interaction between Ig‐Fc and paramyosin, a schistosome Fc‐receptor previously reported to bind human IgG. We show that certain Ig classes, in particular murine IgG2b and IgG3, are not only able to bind recombinant paramyosin, but also associate with other parasite proteins. The Fc region of IgG contains four hydrophobic patches, two of which are known to interact with distinct molecules: one in the Cγ2–Cγ3 interdomain region bound by protein G, mannose binding lectin (MBL), and the neonatal Fc‐receptor (FcRn), and one at the top of the Cγ2 domain bound by phagocytic FcγRs and C1q. We provisionally discounted the involvement of these regions, since IgG binding by paramyosin did not inhibit FcγR‐mediated NADPH respiratory bursts, and protein G was unable to block IgG binding to paramyosin. Given their apparent low affinity, we postulate hydrogen bonding between reactive residues in a hydrophobic patch at the bottom of the Cγ3 domain and negatively charged Glu or Asp amino acids in paramyosin.
Immunoglobulin uptake and processing by Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: THORS C. , JOKIRANTA T. S. , MERI T. , KAIREMO K. , MERI S. , LINDER E. 
Published: August 2006

SUMMARY Intravascular Schistosoma mansoni worms seem to take up immunoglobulins from blood by surface Fc‐receptors, but the process whereby bound immunoglobulins are processed by the parasite is poorly understood. We here present morphological data suggesting that two distinct main processes are involved: Host immunoglobulins were seen at two distinct locations in the parasite: in the frontal part of the enteric tube, the oesophagus, and as a fine granular staining at the surface and in the subtegumental region. The latter staining pattern corresponds to host immunoglobulin localization in discrete organelle‐like aggregates tentatively identified as ‘discoid or elongate bodies’ at the ultrastructural level using immunogold staining. Immunoglobulin uptake by intravascular worms was also demonstrated in vivo after passive administration of 125I‐labelled rabbit and mouse immunoglobulins. Radiolabelled immunoglobulins were taken up by the worms and shown to localize as fine strands running perpendicular to the parasite surface. Our results suggest that intravascular schistosomes take up host immunoglobulins both as part of their enteric digestion and by a surface Fc‐receptor‐mediated mechanism, involving transport and processing within organelles, ‘elongate bodies’. Immunoglobulins taken up by intravascular schistosomes form a distinct organelle‐like granules, which seem to be processed within the excretory system of the parasite.
Anti‐ergotypic Immunoregulation
Authors: Quintana F. J. , Cohen I. R. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractT‐cell vaccination (TCV) controls pathogenic autoimmune T‐cell responses via two different regulatory cell populations: anti‐idiotypic and anti‐ergotypic T cells. Anti‐idiotypic T cells recognize clone‐specific determinants, like the CDR3 region of the T‐cell receptor. Anti‐ergotypic T cells recognize antigenic determinants derived from activation markers, which are upregulated by activated T cells, like CD25. In this review, we analyse the different components of the anti‐ergotypic response: (1) the target T cells, which can be CD8+ or CD4+ T cells that express TCRαβ or TCRγδ; (2) the ergotope, which can be a T cell‐restricted ergotope not expressed by other cell types or a widely expressed, shared ergotope and (3) the anti‐ergotypic T cells, which are detectable in the naive immune system, but whose numbers can be expanded during the induction of an immune response against, or as a result of TCV or specific, anti‐ergotypic vaccination. Finally, we discuss possible interactions between anti‐ergotypic regulators and other regulatory T cells. We propose that the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules by regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells may make possible the cross‐regulation of anti‐ergotypic and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, fine‐tuning immunoregulation in the mature immune system.
Regulatory T Cells and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Mudd P. A. , Teague B. N. , Farris A. D. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) constitute an important mechanism of peripheral immune tolerance. Organ‐specific autoimmune conditions, such as thyroiditis and insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus have been attributed to a breakdown of this tolerance mechanism. However, this T‐cell subset has not been well studied in patients and mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus). The information that has been gathered so far using new tools that discriminate Treg from activated T cells indicates that reduced numbers of Treg may exist in patients with lupus. In addition, potential defects in SLE Treg function have been documented in humans and mice. Our group has demonstrated equivalent proportions of thymic Treg in lupus prone and normal mice. We therefore propose that Treg function in SLE is the more important factor to address in future studies of murine lupus. Recent studies have shown that Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ligation can result in an abrogation of Treg‐mediated suppression; specifically ligation of TLR‐2, ‐4, ‐8 and ‐9. We address this new information about TLRs and Treg and propose a model for Treg tolerance breakdown to nucleic acid‐binding SLE autoantigens.
Phenotype of Genetically Regulated Thymic Involution in Young BXD RI Strains of Mice
Authors: Wang X. , Hsu H.‐C. , Wang Y. , Edwards C. K. , Yang P. , Wu Q. , Mountz J. D. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAge‐related thymic involution is a multifactorial process related to age‐related changes in intrathymic T‐cell development and cytokines. In contrast, early thymic involution, because of genetic differences that cause rapid or slow thymic involution at younger age, is less well characterized. Here, we analysed three representative rapid‐involuting strains of mice, BXD 8, 18 and 32, compared with three representative slow‐involuting strains, BXD 9, 19 and 29, all at 2 months of age. In rapid‐involuting strains compared with slow involution strains, thymocyte production, as indicated by CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell receptor recombination excision circle (TREC), were decreased. Rapid‐involution strains of mice exhibited a developmental block at the DN1 to DN2 and CD4−CD8− (DN) to CD4+CD8+ (double positive, DP) transition stages. There was also increased susceptibility to H2O2‐induced apoptosis, decreased thymic expression of IL‐7, decreased expression of an IL‐7 downstream anti‐apoptosis gene, Bcl‐2, and increased expression of a pro‐apoptotic gene, Bad. In contrast, IL‐7R expression was higher on DN thymocytes of rapid‐involution strains. The increased expression of IL‐7R was associated with an increased thymocyte proliferation in response to anti‐CD3 + IL‐7 or anti‐CD3 + IL‐12 + IL‐7. These findings indicate that, even at young age, genetic differences of IL‐7/IL‐7R regulation pathway in BXD strains of mice can lead to characteristic phenotypic changes that have been previously associated with age‐related thymic involution.
Diversity of the Ig Repertoire is Maintained With Age In Spite of Reduced Germinal Centre Cells in Human Tonsil Lymphoid Tissue
Authors: Kolar G. R. , Mehta D. , Wilson P. C. , Capra J. D. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractHumans and almost all species studied to date exhibit a decreased responsiveness to immunization and increased autoimmunity with age. While this has been observed clinically for decades, only recently has an understanding of the molecular basis for these changes begun to be appreciated. Studies of the B‐cell aspects of these changes in ageing mice and the very few reports in ageing humans have not been conclusive. Here we examine the nucleotide sequence of over 1250 VH transcripts from the tonsils of individuals of various ages for changes to the VH4 immunoglobulin repertoire. An exhaustive examination of VH, DH and JH gene segment utilization revealed a remarkable similarity of the repertoires. The extent of somatic hypermutation was fully maintained or even increased by some measures into the eighth decade of life. However, we found by middle age that the representation of naïve and germinal centre B‐cell subpopulations changed relative to total B lymphocytes in the tonsil. While the percentage of naïve and germinal centre B‐cell subpopulations changes during the second half of life, these findings suggest that even with advancing age, humans remain capable of generating an extremely diverse Ig repertoire while maintaining a similar spectrum of Ig rearrangements once the germinal centre reaction begins.
Autoantibody Determination in the Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Kurien B. T. , Scofield R. H. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that usually develops in young women aged 18–50 years and is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies. Diagnosis is difficult as SLE is a great imitator of other diseases. When SLE is suspected clinically in a patient (involvement of two or more organ systems), an initial laboratory evaluation would be antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing. If ANA is negative, SLE is unlikely and results positive at less than 1:40 strongly argue against SLE. Other explanations for organ system involvement should be pursued. Results positive at greater than 1:40 may merit further evaluation for SLE and at times referral to a rheumatologist for a full SLE evaluation. While the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE are primarily a tool for research, they may be useful clinically, in that those patients fulfilling four or more criteria are highly likely to have SLE.
Metalloproteinase‐Dependent Control of Thymocyte Differentiation and Proliferation
Authors: Haidl I. D. , Falk I. , Nerz G. , Eichmann K. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe development of T cells in the thymus is dependent on interactions between thymocytes and thymic stromal cells, on stimulation by growth factors, and on the binding to and migration along extracellular matrix (ECM) components. As metalloproteinases (MP) are involved in processes such as growth factor release and ECM modelling, we assessed the effect of MP inhibitors on T‐cell development using fetal thymic organ culture systems. MP inhibitors significantly reduced the numbers of CD4/CD8 double‐positive (DP) and mature single‐positive thymocytes generated, correlated with a reduced number of cell cycles between the double‐negative (DN)3 and DP stages. The progression of early thymocyte progenitors through the DN1–4 stages of development was also severely affected, including incomplete upregulation of CD25, decreased DN3 cell numbers, reduced rearrangement of the T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐β locus and expression of intracellular TCR‐β by fewer DN3 cells. When purified DN1 cells were utilized as donor cells in reaggregate thymic organ cultures, essentially no DP thymocytes were produced in the presence of MP inhibitors. The results suggest that MP inhibitors affect the differentiation of developing thymocytes before, and reduce proliferation after, pre‐TCR‐mediated selection.
Microdialysis for Monitoring Inflammation: Efficient Recovery of Cytokines and Anaphylotoxins Provided Optimal Catheter Pore Size and Fluid Velocity Conditions
Authors: Wælgaard L. , Pharo A. , Tønnessen T. I. , Mollnes T. E. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMicrodialysis emerges as a useful tool to evaluate tissue inflammation in a number of clinical conditions, like sepsis and transplant rejection, but systematic methodological studies are missing. This study was undertaken to determine the recovery of relevant inflammatory mediators using the microdialysis system, comparing microdialysis membranes with two different molecular weight cut‐offs at different flow rates. Twenty and 100 kDa pore sizes CMA microdialysis catheters were investigated using velocities of 0.3, 1.0 and 5.0 μl/min. Reference preparations for cytokines [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐10; m.w. 17–28 kDa] and chemokines (IL‐8, MCP‐1, IP‐10 and MIG; m.w. 7–11 kDa) were prepared from plasma after incubating human whole blood with lipopolysaccharide. Reference preparation for complement anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, C5a; m.w. 9–11 kDa) was prepared by incubating human plasma with heat‐aggregated immunoglobulin G. The reference preparations were quantified for the respective inflammatory molecules and used as medium for the microdialysis procedure. Through the 20 kDa filter only the four chemokines passed, but with low recovery (3–7%) and limited to the 1.0 μl/min velocity. The recovery with the 100 kDa filter was as follows: IL‐1β = 75%, MCP‐1 = 55%, MIG = 50%, IL‐8 = 38%, C4a = 28%, IP‐10 = 22%, C5a = 20%, C3a = 16%, IL‐6 = 11, IL‐10 = 8% and TNF‐α = 4%. The highest recovery for all chemokines and anaphylatoxins were consistently at velocity 1.0 μl/min, whereas IL‐1β and IL‐10 recovered most efficiently at 0.3 μl/min. Thus, microdialysis using catheters with a cut‐off of 100 kDa is a reliable method to detect inflammation as judged by a defined panel of inflammatory markers. These findings may have important implications for future clinical studies.
Inhibition of Monocytic Differentiation by Phosphorylation‐deficient Stat1 is Associated with Impaired Expression of Stat2, ICSBP/IRF8 and C/EBPɛ
Authors: Dimberg A. , Kårehed K. , Nilsson K. , Öberg F. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMonocytic differentiation is coordinated through the ordered activation of multiple signalling pathways, controlling transcription of specific subsets of genes that regulate the development of the mature phenotype. To identify key transcription factors involved in this process, we used the human monoblastic U‐937 cell line as a model of monocytic differentiation. U‐937 cells can be differentiated by treatment with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and 1,25α‐dihydroxycholecalciferol (VitD3), resulting in G0/G1‐arrested cells expressing monocytic surface markers. We have previously shown that ATRA‐induced differentiation and cell cycle arrest specifically requires Stat1 activation, through phosphorylation of tyrosine 701 and serine 727. In this report, we used U‐937 cells expressing phosphorylation‐deficient mutants of Stat1 (Stat1Y701F and Stat1S727A) to determine myeloid‐specific transcription factors that are activated downstream of Stat1 during induced monocytic differentiation. We demonstrate that ATRA‐induced upregulation of Stat2, ICSBP/IRF8 and C/EBPɛ, key transcription factors linked to myelomonocytic differentiation, is selectively impaired in cells expressing mutant Stat1. In contrast, ATRA‐induced expression of PU.1, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ and IRF‐1 was unaffected. Taken together, our data suggest that ATRA‐induced regulation of Stat2, ICSBP and C/EBPɛ is dependent on active Stat1, and that a failure to correctly regulate these transcription factors is associated with the inhibition of monocytic differentiation.