bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exogenous TERC alone can enhance proliferative potential, telomerase activity and telomere length in lymphocytes from dyskeratosis congenita patients
Authors: Kirwan Michael , Beswick Richard , Vulliamy Tom , Nathwani Amit C. , Walne Amanda J. , Casimir Colin , Dokal Inderjeet 
Published: November 2008

SummaryDyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited multi‐system disorder characterised by muco‐cutaneous abnormalities, bone marrow failure and a predisposition to malignancy. Bone marrow failure is the principal cause of mortality and is thought to be the result of premature cell death in the haematopoietic compartment because DC cells age prematurely and tend to have short telomeres. DC is genetically heterogeneous and patients have mutations in genes that encode components of the telomerase complex (DKC1, TERC, TERT, NOP10 and NHP2), and telomere shelterin complex (TINF2), both important in telomere maintenance. Here, we transduced primary T lymphocytes and B lymphocyte lines established from patients with TERC and DKC1 mutations with wild type TERC‐bearing lentiviral vectors. We found that transduction with exogenous TERC alone was capable of increasing telomerase activity in mutant T lymphocytes and B lymphocyte lines and improved the survival and thus overall growth of B‐lymphocyte lines over a prolonged period, regardless of their disease mutation. Telomeres in TERC‐treated lines were longer than in the untreated cultures. This is the first study of its kind in DC lymphocytes and the first to demonstrate that transduction with TERC alone can improve cell survival and telomere length without the need for exogenous TERT.
Early‐life rotavirus and norovirus infections in relation to development of atopic manifestation in infants
Authors: Reimerink J. , Stelma F. , Rockx B. , Brouwer D. , Stobberingh E. , Van Ree R. , Dompeling E. , Mommers M. , Thijs C. , Koopmans M. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryBackground
The increase in incidence of atopic diseases (ADs) in the developed world over the past decades has been associated with reduced exposure of childhood infections.Objective
To investigate the relation between early intestinal viral infections in relation to the development of atopic symptoms (eczema, wheeze and atopic sensitization) in the first and second year(s) of life.Methods
In the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, we assessed IgG seropositivity for rota‐ and norovirus (GGI.1 and GGII.4) at 1 year of age. This was related to allergic sensitization [specific immunoglobulin E (IgE)] at 1 and 2 years, and parent reported eczema and wheeze in the first 2 years, using logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders.Results
Rotavirus seropositivity (39%) was associated with an unexpected higher risk of recurrent wheeze in the first and second year of life [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.1 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.1–9.1] and persistent and new recurrent wheeze (adjusted OR 2.7 and 95% CI 1.1–6.2). No further associations were found between intestinal viral seropositivity and atopic manifestations.Conclusion
Our data did not show a clear protection by enteric viral infections in young children on development of IgE response to allergens, but rotavirus infection in the first year was a risk factor for wheeze. However, this needs to be followed up to older ages in order to establish the true importance of intestinal viral infections and especially cumulative effects in AD aetiology. Exposure to rotavirus may offer a new and interesting focus on infant wheeze and later asthma development.
Stacking velocities in the presence of overburden velocity anomalies
Authors: Blias Emil 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTLateral velocity changes (velocity anomalies) in the overburden may cause significant oscillations in normal moveout velocities. Explicit analytical moveout formulas are presented and provide a direct explanation of these lateral fluctuations and other phenomena for a subsurface with gentle deep structures and shallow overburden anomalies. The analytical conditions for this have been derived for a depth‐velocity model with gentle structures with dips not exceeding 12°. The influence of lateral interval velocity changes and curvilinear overburden velocity boundaries can be estimated and analysed using these formulas. An analytical approach to normal moveout velocity analysis in a laterally inhomogeneous medium provides an understanding of the connection between lateral interval velocity changes and normal moveout velocities. In the presence of uncorrected shallow velocity anomalies, the difference between root‐mean‐square and stacking velocity can be arbitrarily large to the extent of reversing the normal moveout function around normal incidence traveltimes. The main reason for anomalous stacking velocity behaviour is non‐linear lateral variations in the shallow overburden interval velocities or the velocity boundaries.A special technique has been developed to determine and remove shallow velocity anomaly effects. This technique includes automatic continuous velocity picking, an inversion method for the determination of shallow velocity anomalies, improving the depth‐velocity model by an optimization approach to traveltime inversion (layered reflection tomography) and shallow velocity anomaly replacement. Model and field data examples are used to illustrate this technique.
Sedimentation, fracturing and sliding on a pelagic plateau margin: the Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous succession of Rocca Busambra (Western Sicily, Italy)
Authors: BERTOK CARLO , MARTIRE LUCA 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe Jurassic succession of Rocca Busambra consists of two lithostratigraphic units: a pile of peritidal limestones several hundreds of metres thick (Inici Formation: Hettangian to Sinemurian) and a 2 to 15 m thick sequence of Rosso Ammonitico‐type pelagic limestones (Toarcian? to lowermost Berriasian). An extensive interval of non‐deposition is evidenced by a thick Fe–Mn oxide crust on the bounding disconformity and is recorded partially in the material contained within a complex network of neptunian dykes and sills. Seven lithofacies are distinguished in the Rosso Ammonitico. These lithofacies show that the Rosso Ammonitico limestones differ from most analogues both in Sicily and elsewhere: sediments are mostly grain‐supported and non‐nodular; obviously bottom currents were important during deposition of these sediments. These currents were pulsating at different frequencies and induced winnowing, intraclast production and early cement precipitation. Other Rosso Ammonitico lithosomes of Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous age, usually decimetre thick and discontinuous, overlie the Inici Formation without any Fe–Mn crust; their anomalous stratigraphical and geometrical relationships show that they were deposited on an inclined, stepped, erosional surface incised in the sub‐horizontal Inici Formation. This ancient escarpment is interpreted as the result of a mainly gravitational collapse of the margin of a pelagic plateau. Such mass wasting was probably due to the backstepping of the tectonic plateau–basin margin that is not observable directly, but may be inferred from circumstantial evidence. This observation clearly shows that tectonic activity affected the Rocca Busambra sector of the West Tethys continental margins a few tens of millions of years after the end of the rifting stage. The anomalous Rosso Ammonitico sediments are the only indication of the escarpment and their occurrence in the stratigraphic record is probably more widespread than reported in the literature. More accurate palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographic reconstructions may depend on the identification of these sediments.
Identification of cell‐wall stress as a hexose‐dependent and osmosensitive regulator of plant responses
Authors: Hamann Thorsten , Bennett Mark , Mansfield John , Somerville Christopher 
Published: November 2008

SummaryDevelopment, abiotic and biotic stress each affect the physical architecture and chemical composition of the plant cell wall, making maintenance of cell‐wall integrity an important component of many plant processes. Cellulose biosynthesis inhibition (CBI) was employed to impair the functional integrity of the cell wall, and the plant’s response to this specific stress was characterized in an Arabidopsis seedling model system. CBI caused changes in the expression of genes involved in mechanoperception, the response to microbial challenge, and lignin and cell‐wall polysaccharide biosynthesis. Following CBI, activation of a UDP‐d‐xylose 4‐epimerase gene correlated with increases in arabinose and uronic acid content in seedling cell walls. Activation of pathogen response genes, lignin deposition and lesion formation were dependent on externally supplied sugars and were suppressed by osmotic support. Lignin deposition in the root elongation zone caused by CBI was reduced in atrbohd (NADPH oxidase) mutant seedlings but increased in jasmonic acid resistant1 (jar1‐1) mutant seedlings. Phytohormone measurements showed that CBI‐induced increases in jasmonic (JA) and salicylic acids were dependent on sugar availability and prevented by osmotic support. We show that CBI activates responses commonly attributed to both abiotic and microbial challenges. Glucose/sucrose and turgor pressure are critical components in maintenance of cell‐wall integrity and the regulation of induced responses, including JA biosynthesis. Lignin deposition induced by CBI is regulated by JAR1‐1 and NADPH oxidase‐dependent signalling processes. Our results identify components of the mechanism that mediates the response to impairment of cell‐wall integrity in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Approaches to defining dual‐targeted proteins in Arabidopsis
Authors: Carrie Chris , Kühn Kristina , Murcha Monika W. , Duncan Owen , Small Ian D. , O’Toole Nicholas , Whelan James 
Published: November 2008

SummaryA variety of approaches were used to predict dual‐targeted proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. These predictions were experimentally tested using GFP fusions. Twelve new dual‐targeted proteins were identified: five that were dual‐targeted to mitochondria and plastids, six that were dual‐targeted to mitochondria and peroxisomes, and one that was dual‐targeted to mitochondria and the nucleus. Two methods to predict dual‐targeted proteins had a high success rate: (1) combining the AraPerox database with a variety of subcellular prediction programs to identify mitochondrial‐ and peroxisomal‐targeted proteins, and (2) using a variety of prediction programs on a biochemical pathway or process known to contain at least one dual‐targeted protein. Several technical parameters need to be taken into account before assigning subcellular localization using GFP fusion proteins. The position of GFP with respect to the tagged polypeptide, the tissue or cells used to detect subcellular localization, and the portion of a candidate protein fused to GFP are all relevant to the expression and targeting of a fusion protein. Testing all gene models for a chromosomal locus is required if more than one model exists.
An important role of a BAHD acyl transferase‐like protein in plant innate immunity
Authors: Zheng Zuyu , Qualley Anthony , Fan Baofang , Dudareva Natalia , Chen Zhixiang 
Published: November 2008

SummarySalicylic acid (SA) is an important regulator of plant resistance to biotrophic and hemi‐biotrophic pathogens. The enhanced pseudomonas susceptibility 1 (eps1) mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana is hypersusceptible to both virulent and avirulent strains of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Through positional cloning, the EPS1 gene was isolated and found to encode a novel member of the BAHD acyltransferase superfamily. Pathogen‐induced accumulation of SA and expression of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes were compromised in the eps1 mutant. SA could induce PR1 gene expression and restore disease resistance in the eps1 mutant. These results suggest that EPS1 functions upstream of SA and may be involved directly in synthesis of a precursor or a regulatory molecule for SA biosynthesis. Mutations of EPS1 or other genes important for SA accumulation or signaling conferred enhanced resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria brassicicola in the Nossen‐0 background but had little effect in the Columbia‐0 background. These results suggest that there is natural variation among Arabidopsis ecotypes with respect to the antagonistic cross‐talk between defense signaling pathways against various types of microbial pathogens.
Prospective comparative study of the EUS guided 25‐gauge FNA needle with the 19‐gauge Trucut needle and 22‐gauge FNA needle in patients with solid pancreatic masses
Authors: Sakamoto Hiroki , Kitano Masayuki , Komaki Takamitsu , Noda Kazu , Chikugo Takaaki , Dote Kensaku , Takeyama Yoshifumi , Das Kunal , Yamao Kenji , Kudo Masatoshi 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground and Study Aims:  The aim of this prospective study was to compare fine‐needle aspiration guided by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS‐FNA) using 25‐gauge and 22‐gauge needles with the EUS‐guided 19‐gauge Trucut needle biopsy (EUS‐TNB) in patients with solid pancreatic mass.Patients and Methods:  Twenty‐four consecutive patients with pancreatic mass underwent biopsies by both EUS‐FNA and EUS‐TNB. Three needles were compared with respect to technical success rate, tissue size obtained, overall diagnostic accuracy and accuracy for histological and cytological diagnosis.Results:  The 25‐gauge EUS‐FNA was technically easier and obtained superior overall diagnostic accuracy than the 22‐gauge and Trucut needles, especially in lesions of the pancreas head and uncinate process. Overall accuracy for the 25‐gauge, 22‐gauge and Trucut needle was 91.7%, 79.7% and 54.1%, respectively. Accuracy for cytological diagnosis irrespective the site of lesions with 25‐gauge, 22‐gauge and Trucut needles was 91.7%, 75.0%, and 45.8%, respectively. For uncinate masses, it was 100%, 33.3%, and 0.0%, respectively. These differences were significant. Among technically successful patients, the accuracy for histological diagnosis using the 25‐gauge was significantly inferior (P < 0.05) to 22‐gauge and Trucut needles and the rates were 45.8%, 78.9% and 83.3%.Conclusions:  The 25‐gauge FNA needle was significantly superior in terms of technical success rate and overall diagnostic accuracy, especially for the head and uncinate lesions, compared to the 22‐gauge and Trucut needles and could be considered ‘the best choice needle for cytological diagnosis’ of solid pancreatic lesions. If histological diagnosis is required, the 22‐gauge FNA needle and Trucut needle may be advantageous for use in head/uncinate and body/tail lesions, respectively.
Clinical features and outcomes of cirrhosis due to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis compared with cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Yatsuji Satoru , Hashimoto Etsuko , Tobari Maki , Taniai Makiko , Tokushige Katsutoshi , Shiratori Keiko 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Ethnic differences in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are well‐documented, but there has been no study on the prognosis of Japanese NASH patients with cirrhosis. Accordingly, we compared cirrhotic NASH with liver cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C (LC‐C) to clarify its clinical features and define the risk factors for death.Methods:  A prospective evaluation of the outcomes of NASH patients with severe fibrosis was started in 1990. Data on age‐ and sex‐matched patients with biopsy‐proven LC‐C were collected retrospectively and used as the control.Results:  There were 68 patients with cirrhotic NASH and 69 with LC‐C. The Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) class was similar in these two groups. Although the outcome of the NASH group was better than that of the LC‐C group, cirrhotic NASH followed a similar course to that of LC‐C; that is, complications of cirrhosis developed, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; the 5‐year HCC rate was 11.3% for NASH and 30.5% for HCV) and death (the 5‐year survival rates were 75.2% and 73.8%, respectively). HCC was the leading cause of death in both groups (NASH, 47%; HCV, 68%). The occurrence of HCC and the CTP class were significant risk factors for mortality in NASH patients according to a multivariate analysis (HCC: hazard ratio [HR] 7.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.45–25.88, CTP class A: HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.06–0.50).Conclusion:  In conclusion, the present study confirmed that cirrhotic NASH has a similar course to LC‐C. The occurrence of HCC was the strongest predictor of mortality in the NASH groups. These findings may be helpful when deciding on therapeutic interventions for NASH and also for the daily management of these patients.
Antinociceptive effect of chronic lithium on visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: The role of nitric oxide pathway
Authors: Shamshiri Hosein , Paragomi Pedram , Paydar Mehrak Javadi , Moezi Leila , Bahadori Moslem , Behfar Behnaz , Ardalan Farid A , Dehpour Ahmad R 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim: Lithium, a widely used drug in bipolar‐affective disorders, plays gastro‐protective roles. The effects of lithium on several tissues are mediated through nitric oxide (NO), which regulates gastrointestinal motility and mucosal integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of chronic lithium administration on visceral hypersensitivity and to investigate the role of NO as a potential mechanism of lithium in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome.Methods: Colitis was induced by the intracolonic administration of acetic acid. After subsidence of inflammation on the seventh experimental day, nociception and defecation parameters were measured. A subgroup of animals had been pretreated with lithium carbonate (600 mg/L) for 35 days. Thereafter, either a non‐selective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor (N‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester [L‐NAME], 10 mg/kg), a selective NOS inhibitor (aminoguanidine, 100 mg/kg), or saline were administered intraperitoneally 1 h before measurements.Results: Chronic lithium attenuated the visceral hypersensitivity, increased the nociceptive threshold, and decreased stool frequency. L‐NAME and aminoguanidine decreased the nociceptive threshold and reduced the protective effects of lithium on visceral hypersensitivity. Stool frequency was increased in both the lithium‐treated and water‐treated groups by L‐NAME administration, but not aminoguanidine. The form of defecation in the lithium‐treated rats shifted toward hard stools rather than being soft and formless, but NOS inhibitors did not change the stool consistency pattern.Conclusion: The results indicate the antinociceptive property of chronic lithium on visceral hypersensitivity. As this effect was lowered by NOS inhibitors, NO might play a role in the protective effect of lithium to some extent.
Proliferative effects of γ‐aminobutyric acid on the gastric cancer cell line are associated with extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 activation
Authors: Maemura Kentaro , Shiraishi Nanako , Sakagami Kumiko , Kawakami Ken , Inoue Takuya , Murano Mitsuyuki , Watanabe Masahito , Otsuki Yoshinori 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim: γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult mammalian brain. However, GABA is found not only in peripheral neuronal tissue, but also in many peripheral non‐neuronal tissues, and is thought to have important physiological functions in addition to neurotransmission. We previously reported that GABA participates in chondrocyte proliferation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of GABA on the proliferation of a gastric cancer cell line, KATO III.Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to examine the expression of the GABA synthesis enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and that of the GABAAand GABABreceptor subunits. The production of GABA was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The proliferative effect of GABA on KATO III cells was analyzed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay, and the activation status of mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinases (extracellular signal‐regulated kinase [ERK]‐1/2, Jun‐N‐terminal kinase, and p38) and the expression of cyclin D1 were analyzed by western blotting.Results: KATO III cells expressed GAD and GABA. More than five GABAAreceptor subunits, including the π subunit, were expressed in KATO III cells; however, GABABreceptor subunits were not seen. The addition of GABA to the medium promoted KATO III proliferation, and maximum proliferative effects were observed in the presence of 10 or 1 µM GABA. The addition of 1 µM GABA predominantly activated ERK‐1/2 among the three MAP kinases in addition to increasing cyclin D1 expression.Conclusion: GABA is able to promote KATO III cell proliferation in an autocrine or a paracrine fashion through GABAAreceptors followed by MAP kinase activation.
Photoselective vaporization of the prostate using high power (80 W) KTP laser: One year follow up of the first 101 patients in Japan
Authors: Hori Yasuhide , Kuromatsu Isao , Sugimura Yoshiki 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:  We present one year observations on Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) of 101 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to investigate its safety and efficacy.Methods:  101 patients underwent Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) using 80 W Potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate (KTP) laser 17 patients were being treated with oral anticoagulant therapy, and anticoagulants were stopped before operation. Baseline characteristics, perioperative data, adverse events and postoperative outcome were evaluated immediate postoperatively, and at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively were recorded.Results:  With all 101 patients KTP laser vaporization was performed successfully. There was minimal blood loss and none of patients need blood transfusion. No major complication occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months mean International Prostate Symptom Score index (IPSS) decreased from 20.3 preoperatively to 8.9, 6.9, 6.2 and 7.2. Mean QQL score decreased from 5.1 to 2.3, 1.7, 1.5 and 1.6. Mean urinary peak flow increased from 7.5 ml per second to 15.6, 16.7 16.7 and 16.7 respectively. Complication was mild, included transient dysuria (8.9%).Conclusions:  Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) using 80W Potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate (KTP) laser for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) proved to be an effective and safe procedure for our patients including those treated with oral anticoagulants.