bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dental pulp stem cells: what, where, how?
Authors: SLOAN ALASTAIR J. , WADDINGTON RACHEL J. 
Published: December 2008

Introduction.  It is now accepted that progenitor/stem cells reside within the post‐natal dental pulp. Studies have identified several niches of multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells, known as dental pulp stem cells, which have a high proliferative potential for self‐renewal. These progenitor stem cells are now recognized as being vital to the dentine regeneration process following injury. Understanding the nature of these progenitor/stem cell populations in the pulp is important in determining their potentialities and development of isolation or recruitment strategies for use in regeneration and tissue engineering. Characterization of these cells, and determination of their potentialities in terms of specificity of regenerative response, may help direct new clinical treatment modalities. Such novel treatments may involve controlled direct recruitment of the cells in situ and possible seeding of stem cells at sites of injury for regeneration or use of the stem cells with appropriate scaffolds for tissue engineering solutions. Such approaches may provide an innovative and novel biologically based new generation of clinical materials and/or treatments for dental disease.Aim.  This study aimed to review the body of knowledge relating to stem cells and to consider the possibility of these cell populations, and related technology, in future clinical applications.
Perceptions of internal marketing and organizational commitment by nurses
Authors: Chang Ching Sheng , Chang Hae Ching 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTitle.  Perceptions of internal marketing and organizational commitment by nurses. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to determine whether a favourable perception of internal marketing is associated with increased organizational commitment.Background.  The role of nurses in healthcare treatment is expanding, and becoming more important as time progresses. Therefore, the primary concern of business of health care is to use internal marketing strategies effectively to enhance and develop nurses’ organizational commitment and reduce turnover to promote competitive advantages for the organization.Methods.  A cross‐sectional design was used. Questionnaires were distributed in 2006 to a convenience sample of 450 Registered Nurses in two teaching hospitals in Taiwan, and 318 questionnaires were returned. Eighteen were excluded because of incomplete answers, which left 300 usable questionnaires (response rate 66·7%). Validity and reliability testing of the questionnaire proved satisfactory and Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyse the data.Results.  A favourable perception of internal marketing was associated with increased organizational commitment. Communication management had the greatest influence on organizational commitment and external activity had the smallest impact.Conclusion.  Hospital managers need to recognize the importance of internal marketing for staff retention and the survival of their organizations as competitive pressure increases. As a great deal of time and costs are involved in educating nurses, the best way to retain outstanding nurses and reduce turnover costs and personnel problems is for employers to understand the needs and expectations of their nursing staff.
Beta diversity of frogs in the forests of New Guinea, Amazonia and Europe: contrasting tropical and temperate communities
Authors: Dahl Chris , Novotny Vojtech , Moravec Jiri , Richards Stephen J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim  To test the hypothesis that animal communities within environmentally relatively uniform lowland forests are characterized by low beta diversity, both in tropical and in temperate areas.Location  Lowland forests in the basins of the Sepik and Ramu rivers in New Guinea, the Amazon river in Bolivia, and the Elbe and Dyje rivers in the Czech Republic.Methods  A network of 5–6 study sites spanning distances from 20–80 to 300–500 km in each study area was systematically surveyed for all frogs, using visual detection and call tracking. The community data were analysed for alpha and beta diversity.Results  Local (alpha) diversity of frog communities was similar in the two tropical areas, New Guinea (mean ± SE of 22 ± 1.4 species per site) and Amazonia (24 ± 1.7 species), but was significantly lower in Europe (8 ± 0.8 species). In Amazonia, 36 of the total of 70 species were recorded from single sites. In contrast, widespread species dominated in Europe, whereas New Guinea exhibited an intermediate pattern with both local and widespread species well represented. The rate of species accumulation across different sites was lowest in Europe, intermediate in New Guinea and highest in Amazonia. The regional species diversity, expressed as the combined number of species from five study sites, was 1.5 times higher than the local species diversity at a single site in Europe, 2.0 times higher in New Guinea and 2.7 times higher in Amazonia. The proportion of species shared between communities decreased with geographic distance in New Guinea and Europe, but not in Amazonia.Main conclusions  Frog communities in the lowland tropical rain forests of New Guinea and Amazonia had similar numbers of species, but differed in their beta diversity. More species in Amazonia had restricted distributions than in New Guinea. Both tropical areas had markedly higher alpha and beta diversity than the temperate area in Europe.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: biology and treatment
Authors: Jädersten M. , Hellström‐Lindberg E. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract.Optimal management of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) requires an insight into the biology of the disease and the mechanisms of action of the available therapies. This review focuses on low‐risk MDS, for which chronic anaemia and eventual progression to acute myeloid leukaemia are the main concerns. We cover the updated World Health Organization classification, the latest prognostic scoring system, and describe novel findings in the pathogenesis of 5q− syndrome. We perform in depth analyses of two of the most widely used treatments, erythropoietin and lenalidomide, discussing mechanisms of action, reasons for treatment failure and influence on survival.
The sodium‐dependentd‐glucose transport protein ofHelicobacter pylori
Authors: Psakis Georgios , Saidijam Massoud , Shibayama Keigo , Polaczek Julia , Bettaney Kim E. , Baldwin Jocelyn M. , Baldwin Stephen A. , Hope Ryan , Essen Lars‐Oliver , Essenberg Richard C. , Henderson Peter J. F. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryHelicobacter pyloriis a Gram‐negative pathogenic microaerophile with a particular tropism for the mucosal surface of the gastric epithelium. Despite its obligatory microaerophilic character, it can metabolized‐glucose and/ord‐galactose in both oxidative and fermentative pathways via a Na+‐dependent secondary active transport, a glucokinase and enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway. We have assigned the Na+‐dependent transport of glucose to the protein product of theH. pylori 1174gene. The gene was heterologously expressed in a glucose transport‐deficientEscherichia colistrain, where transport activities of radiolabelledd‐glucose,d‐galactose and 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose were restored, consistent with the expected specificity of the hexose uptake system inH. pylori.d‐Mannose was also identified as a substrate. The HP1174 transport protein was purified and reconstituted into proteoliposomes, where sodium dependence of sugar transport activity was demonstrated. Additionally the tryptophan/tyrosine fluorescence of the purified protein showed quenching by 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose,d‐mannose,d‐glucose ord‐galactose in the presence of sodium ions. This is the first reported purification and characterization of an active glucose transport protein member of the TC 2.1.7 subgroup of the Major Facilitator Superfamily, constituting the route for entry of sugar nutrients intoH. pylori. A model is derived of its three‐dimensional structure as a paradigm of the family.
Sodium‐dependent dynamic assembly of membrane complexes in sodium‐driven flagellar motors
Authors: Fukuoka Hajime , Wada Tomoyuki , Kojima Seiji , Ishijima Akihiko , Homma Michio 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThe bacterial flagellar motor is driven by the electrochemical potential of specific ions, H+ or Na+. The motor consists of a rotor and stator, and their interaction generates rotation. The stator, which is composed of PomA and PomB in the Na+ motor of Vibrio alginolyticus, is thought to be a torque generator converting the energy of ion flux into mechanical power. We found that specific mutations in PomB, including D24N, F33C and S248F, which caused motility defects, affected the assembly of stator complexes into the polar flagellar motor using green fluorescent protein‐fused stator proteins. D24 of PomB is the predicted Na+‐binding site. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the coupling ion, Na+, is required for stator assembly and that phenamil (an inhibitor of the Na+‐driven motor) inhibited the assembly. Carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone, which is a proton ionophore that collapses the sodium motive force in this organism at neutral pH, also inhibited the assembly. Thus we conclude that the process of Na+ influx through the channel, including Na+ binding, is essential for the assembly of the stator complex to the flagellar motor as well as for torque generation.
Ss‐LrpB, a transcriptional regulator from Sulfolobus solfataricus, regulates a gene cluster with a pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase‐encoding operon and permease genes
Authors: Peeters Eveline , Albers Sonja‐Verena , Vassart Amelia , Driessen Arnold J. M. , Charlier Daniel 
Published: December 2008

SummarySs‐LrpB is an Lrp‐like transcriptional regulator from Sulfolobus solfataricus. Previously, in vitro binding of Ss‐LrpB to the control region of its own gene has been extensively studied. However, nothing was known about the physiological role of this regulator yet. Here, using the knowledge of the DNA‐binding sequence specificity of Ss‐LrpB, several potential binding sites were predicted in silico in promoter regions of genes located adjacently to the Ss‐lrpB gene. These genes include an operon encoding a pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (porDAB) and two genes encoding putative permeases. In vitro protein–DNA interaction studies allowed the identification of the Ss‐LrpB binding sites in the cognate control regions. Intriguingly, the binding site organization in the por operator is identical to that in the Ss‐lrpB control region. An Ss‐lrpB gene disruption mutant was constructed and the gene expression of the above‐mentioned targets in this mutant was analysed by qRT‐PCR and compared with isogenic wild type. Our data demonstrate that in vivo Ss‐LrpB acts as an activator at the promoters of the three predicted targets. Based on these results, it appears that not all regulators belonging to the archaeal Lrp family perform a function related to the amino acid metabolism, unlike the bacterial Lrp‐like regulators.
Atypical association of DDE transposition with conjugation specifies a new family of mobile elements
Authors: Brochet Mathieu , Da Cunha Violette , Couvé Elisabeth , Rusniok Christophe , Trieu‐Cuot Patrick , Glaser Philippe 
Published: December 2008

SummaryWe describe in Streptococcus agalactiae an atypical family of conjugative transposons named TnGBSs which associates DDE transposition and conjugation. We present evidence that the transposition of TnGBS2, the prototype of this family, is catalysed by a new class of DDE transposases that are widespread in Gram‐positive bacteria. Remarkably, transposition occurs in intergenic regions, 15 or 16 bp upstream the −35 sequence of promoters, minimizing the burden on the host cell and suggesting an association between transcription and transposition. Transposition catalyses the formation of a circular intermediate that is substrate for subsequent conjugative intercellular transfer. Conjugation is initiated at an origin of transfer by a transposon‐encoded relaxase. Whereas all integrative and conjugative elements described so far encode a phage‐related integrase, TnGBS2 is the first example of conjugative transposon whose recombination is mediated by a DDE transposase. The combination of DDE transposition with conjugation implies recombination constraints linked to the physical separation of donor and recipient molecules.
Induction of Multiepitopic and Long‐Lasting Immune Responses Against Tumour Antigens by Immunization with Peptides, DNA and Recombinant Adenoviruses Expressing Minigenes
Authors: Durántez M. , López‐Vázquez A. B. , De Cerio A. L.‐D. , Huarte E. , Casares N. , Prieto J. , Borrás‐Cuesta F. , Lasarte J. J. , Sarobe P. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe development of immunization strategies to induce strong and multiepitopic T‐cell responses against tumour antigens is needed for anti‐tumour immunotherapy. However, a common finding after immunization with complex antigens is the preferential induction of immune responses against immunodominant epitopes. In this study, with the aim of inducing multiepitopic responses against several common tumour antigens, we have designed a minigene construct encoding four human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐A2‐restricted epitopes belonging to tumour antigens CEA (CEA‐691 and CEA‐571), MAGE2 (MAGE2‐157) and MAGE3 (MAGE3‐112), as well as the universal PADRE epitope recognized by T helper lymphocytes. To optimize the activation of immune responses against these epitopes, we have used different antigen formats (short peptides encompassing individual epitopes and DNA plasmids or adenoviral constructs expressing the minigene) in single or combined immunization schedules. A single immunization with either DNA plasmid or recombinant adenovirus induced a monospecific immune response against the immunodominant epitope CEA‐571, whereas immunization with the peptide pool induced responses against all epitopes. Combination of peptide priming followed by a boost with the plasmid and the recombinant adenovirus expressing the minigene induced stronger, multi‐specific and long‐lasting immune responses, overcoming the immunodominance imposed by the main T‐cell epitope. Moreover, these combined immunization strategies were able to induce responses that were able to recognize Mel624 HLA‐A2+ tumour cells expressing MAGE2. These results suggest that heterologous immunization strategies combining peptides and DNA or recombinant adenoviruses can be useful to broaden the specificity and enhance the efficacy of subunit vaccines.
Arabidopsis MYB30 is a direct target of BES1 and cooperates with BES1 to regulate brassinosteroid‐induced gene expression
Authors: Li Lei , Yu Xiaofei , Thompson Addie , Guo Michelle , Yoshida Shigeo , Asami Tadao , Chory Joanne , Yin Yanhai 
Published: December 2008

SummaryA paradox of plant hormone biology is how a single small molecule can affect a diverse array of growth and developmental processes. For instance, brassinosteroids (BRs) regulate cell elongation, vascular differentiation, senescence and stress responses. BRs signal through the BES1/BZR1 (bri1‐Ethylmethane Sulphonate suppressor 1/brassinazole‐resistant 1) family of transcription factors, which regulate hundreds of target genes involved in this pathway, yet little is known of this transcriptional network. Through microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments, we identified a direct target gene of BES1, AtMYB30, which encodes an MYB family transcription factor. AtMYB30 null mutants display decreased BR responses and enhance the dwarf phenotype of a weak allele of the BR receptor mutant bri1. Many BR‐regulated genes have reduced expression and/or hormone‐induction in AtMYB30 mutants, indicating that AtMYB30 functions to promote expression of a subset of BR target genes. AtMYB30 and BES1 bind to a conserved MYB‐binding site and E‐box sequences, respectively, in the promoters of genes that are regulated by both BRs and AtMYB30. Finally, AtMYB30 and BES1 interact with each other both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate that BES1 and AtMYB30 function cooperatively to promote BR target gene expression. Our results therefore establish a new mechanism by which AtMYB30, a direct target of BES1, functions to amplify BR signaling by helping BES1 activate downstream target genes.
The chloroplast protein RPH1 plays a role in the immune response of Arabidopsis to Phytophthora brassicae
Authors: Belhaj Khaoula , Lin Baiqing , Mauch Felix 
Published: December 2008

SummaryPlant immune responses to pathogens are often associated with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), known as the oxidative burst, and with rapid hypersensitive host cell death (the hypersensitive response, HR) at sites of attempted infection. It is generally accepted that the oxidative burst acts as a promotive signal for HR, and that HR is highly correlated with efficient disease resistance. We have identified the Arabidopsis mutant rph1 (resistance to Phytophthora 1), which is susceptible to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora brassicae despite rapid induction of HR. The susceptibility of rph1 was specific for P. brassicae and coincided with a reduced oxidative burst, a runaway cell‐death response, and failure to properly activate the expression of defence‐related genes. From these results, we conclude that, in the immune response to P. brassicae, (i) HR is not sufficient to stop the pathogen, (ii) HR initiation can occur in the absence of a major oxidative burst, (iii) the oxidative burst plays a role in limiting the spread of cell death, and (iv) RPH1 is a positive regulator of the P. brassicae‐induced oxidative burst and enhanced expression of defence‐related genes. Surprisingly, RPH1 encodes an evolutionary highly conserved chloroplast protein, indicating a function of this organelle in activation of a subset of immune reactions in response to P. brassicae. The disease resistance‐related role of RPH1 was not limited to the Arabidopsis model system. Silencing of the potato homolog StRPH1 in a resistant potato cultivar caused susceptibility to the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans.
Free distribution of insecticide treated bed nets to pregnant women in Kinshasa: an effective way to achieve 80% use by women and their newborns
Authors: Pettifor Audrey , Taylor Eboni , Nku David , Duvall Sandra , Tabala Martine , Mwandagalirwa Kashamuka , Meshnick Steve , Behets Frieda 
Published: December 2008

SummaryObjective  To determine whether long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) distributed free of charge to pregnant women at their first antenatal clinic visit in Kinshasa, DRC are used from the time of distribution to delivery and 6 months after delivery.Methods  Women were enrolled into a cohort study at their first antenatal care (ANC) visit and provided LLINs free of charge. Reported use of these nets was then measured at the time of delivery (n = 328) and in a random sample of women (n = 100) 6 months post‐delivery using an interviewer administered, structured questionnaire.Results  At baseline, only 25% of women reported having slept under a bed net the night before the interview. At the time of delivery, after being provided an LLIN for free, this increased to 79%. Six months post‐delivery (n = 100), 80% of women reported sleeping under a net with a child under the age of 5 the night before the interview.Conclusions  Freely distributed bed nets are acceptable, feasible and result in high usage. Free distribution of bed nets during antenatal clinic visits may be a highly effective way to rapidly increase the use of bed nets among both pregnant women and their newborn infants in areas with high levels of ANC attendance.
The role of eosinophil major basic protein in angiogenesis
Authors: Puxeddu I. , Berkman N. , Nissim Ben Efraim A. H. , Davies D. E. , Ribatti D. , Gleich G. J. , Levi‐Schaffer F. 
Published: December 2008

Background:  Eosinophil‐derived major basic protein (MBP) plays an active role in allergic inflammation and tissue remodelling. However, its role in angiogenesis has not been established as yet. Therefore our objective was to investigate whether MBP exhibits any direct pro‐angiogenic effects.Methods:  Rat aortic endothelial cells and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells were cultured with different concentrations of MBP and their viability (Trypan blue exclusion test), proliferation (thymidine incorporation) and capillary‐like structure formation (matrigel assay) were investigated in vitro. The angiogenic activity of MBP was then tested in vivo using the chick chorio allantoic membrane (CAM) assay.Results:  Subcytotoxic concentrations of MBP induce endothelial cell proliferation and enhance the pro‐mitogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but do not affect their VEGF release. MBP promotes capillarogenesis by endothelial cells seeded on matrigel and sprouting formation in the CAM assay. Furthermore, we have shown that the pro‐angiogenic effect of MBP is not due to its cationic charge since stimulation of the CAMs with the synthetic polycation, poly‐l‐arginine does not induce any angiogenic effects.Conclusions:  These data demonstrate that MBP has pro‐angiogenic effects in vitro and in vivo, providing a novel mechanism whereby MBP can participate in tissue inflammation and remodelling in atopic diseases.
Differential human serum‐mediated neutralization of PERV released from pig cells transfected with variants of hDAF
Authors: Okura Eiji , Ishimaru Aiko , Yamamoto Aki , Nakatsu Shino , Shirakura Ryota , Okabe Masaru , Sawa Yoshiki , Fukuzawa Masahiro , Okumura Meinoshin , Miyagawa Shuji 
Published: December 2008

Abstract:  Background:  Expression of complement regulatory proteins (CRP) on pig endothelial cells (PEC) is an effective means of avoiding induction of hyperacute rejection by human sera. However, pig endogenous retrovirus (PERV) from PEC transfected with CRP may acquire resistance to human sera. This study investigated a form of transfected CRP that is easily expressed on PERV particles.Methods:  The PEC line was transfected with the Lac Z gene and PERV‐B to investigate PERV infectivity using a Lac Z pseudo‐type assay. The cDNAs of several modified DAF (CD55) were then transfected into the PEC(Lac Z)/P‐B lines using lipofection. DAF expression was verified by FACS analysis. Complement‐dependent PEC lysis was tested to verify the complement regulatory function of the expressed DAF. HEK293 cells were incubated with PEC culture supernatants with or without human sera. The inoculated 293 cells were histochemically stained and Lac Z‐positive blue foci were counted. The rate of reduction in Lac Z‐positive cells resulting from the addition of human serum was then calculated. In addition, to assess the localization of the expressed DAF, flotation sucrose density analysis was performed.Results:  While PERV released from PEC expressing delta‐short consensus repeat 2 (delta‐SCR2) DAF (lacking CRP function) showed no change in resistance to human serum compared to control cells, PERV from cells expressing delta‐SCR1 DAF (with CRP function) showed a significant increase in resistance. The DAF‐blocking antibody assay indicated that PERV from the DAF transfectants expressed DAF molecules on the surface of the retrovirus. While delta‐SCR1 DAF (PI‐anchor form) significantly inhibited the reduction of Lac Z‐positive cells by human serum, the reduction of Lac Z‐positive cells by human serum was less inhibited in the case of transmembrane (TM)‐types of DAF–HLA‐G, modified influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and MCP (delta‐CYT form). However, the reduction in each TM‐type DAF was slightly less than that observed in naive and mock cells. The flotation sucrose density analysis of these transfectants indicated that the PI‐anchor form of DAF is a raft‐associated protein, and most TM‐types of DAF are non‐raft proteins.Conclusion:  Induction of resistance to human serum in PERV, depends on the form of the CRP tail. The CRP/TM hybrid that does not associate with lipid rafts, is a suitable form of CRP for gene transduction.