bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antioxidative and antiproliferative effects of astaxanthin during the initiation stages of 1,2‐dimethyl hydrazine‐induced experimental colon carcinogenesis
Authors: Prabhu Ponnuraj Nagendra , Ashokkumar Pandurangan , Sudhandiran Ganapasam 
Published: March 2009

AbstractColon cancer is one of the major causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Several carotenoids with antioxidant properties are reported for their chemopreventive nature. In this study, we have evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy of astaxanthin on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, total number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF), and cell proliferation in 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH)‐induced colon carcinogenesis using a rat model. DMH was induced subcutaneously at a dosage of 40 mg/kg body weight, twice a week for 2 weeks. Astaxanthin was administered before and after the DMH induction, orally at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body weight throughout the experimental period. At the end of 16 weeks, pre‐treatment with astaxanthin markedly reduced the degree of histological lesions, ACF development and also lowered the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions. Our results also showed the decreased levels of colon enzymic and non‐enzymic antioxidants and increased levels of lipid peroxidation marker levels in DMH‐induced rats, which were significantly reversed on astaxanthin administration. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that astaxanthin has an affirmative and beneficial effect against chemically induced colonic pre‐neoplastic progression in rats induced by DMH.
Treatment Practices of Mild Cognitive Impairment in California Alzheimer's Disease Centers
Authors: Weinstein Andrea M. , Barton Cynthia , Ross Leslie , Kramer Joel H. , Yaffe Kristine 
Published: March 2009

OBJECTIVES: To examine “real world” treatments for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).DESIGN: Cross‐sectional.SETTING: California Department of Public Health Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Research Centers of California.PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred seventy‐eight patients diagnosed with MCI.MEASUREMENTS: All patients underwent comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological evaluations. Logistic regression models were used to determine patient characteristics associated with use of anti‐AD medications, statins, antioxidants, and folic acid.RESULTS: One hundred sixty‐six patients (28.7%) were taking anti‐AD medications; use was associated with greater functional impairment, higher education, MCI subtype, and older age (P<.05 for all). Two hundred fifty‐two patients (43.6%) were taking statins; use was associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, myocardial infarct, male sex, and MCI subtype (P<.05 for all). One hundred fifteen patients (19.9%) were taking antioxidants; use was associated with higher education and diabetes mellitus and varied according to site (P<.05 for all). Thirty‐seven patients (6.4%) were taking folic acid; use was associated with nonwhite race, male sex, and greater functional impairment (P<.05 for all).CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with MCI are frequently being treated with “off label” cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, as well as other possible cognition‐enhancing drugs. Further investigation of the effect of treatment patterns on the clinical course of MCI is needed.
Health Beliefs toward Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Patients Admitted to Chest Pain Observation Units
Authors: Katz David A. , Graber Mark , Birrer Emily , Lounsbury Patricia , Baldwin Austin , Hillis Stephen L. , Christensen Alan J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Even after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is ruled out, observational studies have suggested that many patients with nonspecific chest pain have a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) and are at increased long‐term risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD)‐related mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the premise that evaluation in an observation unit for symptoms of possible ACS is a “teachable moment” with regard to modification of CRFs.Methods:  The authors conducted a baseline face‐to‐face interview and a 3‐month telephone interview of 83 adult patients with at least one modifiable CRF who presented with symptoms of possible ACS to an academic medical center. Existing questionnaires were adapted to measure Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs for IHD. Stage of change and self‐reported CRF‐related behaviors (diet, exercise, and smoking) were assessed using previously validated measures. The paired t‐test or signed rank test was used to compare baseline and 3‐month measures of health behavior within the analysis sample.Results:  Of the 83 study patients, 45 and 40% reported having received clinician advice regarding diet and physical activity during the observation unit encounter, respectively; 69% of current smokers received advice to quit smoking. Patients reported lower susceptibility to IHD (13.3 vs. 14.0, p = 0.06) and greater perceived benefit of healthy lifestyles (27.5 vs. 26.4, p = 0.0003) at 3‐month follow‐up compared to baseline. Patients also reported greater readiness to change and improved self‐reported behaviors at follow‐up (vs. baseline): decreased intake of saturated fat (10.1% vs. 10.5% of total calories, p = 0.005), increased fruit and vegetable intake (4.0 servings/day vs. 3.6 servings/day, p = 0.01), and fewer cigarettes (13 vs. 18, p = 0.002).Conclusions:  Observed changes in IHD health beliefs and CRF‐related behaviors during follow‐up support the idea that observation unit admission is a teachable moment. Patients with modifiable risk factors may benefit from systematic interventions to deliver CRF‐related counseling during observation unit evaluation.
T regulatory cells: aid or hindrance in the clearance of disease?
Authors: Coleman Clint A. , Muller‐Trutwin Michaela C. , Apetrei Cristian , Pandrea Ivona 
Published: March 2009

Introduction
Characteristics
Manipulation of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs
Depletion of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs
Role of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs in disease
Conclusions

AbstractCD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) are classified as a subset of T cells whose role is the suppression and regulation of immune responses to self and non‐self. Since their discovery in the early 1970s, the role of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs in both autoimmune and infectious disease has continued to expand. This review exam‐ines the recent advances on the role CD4+ CD25+ Tregs may be playing in various diseases regarding pro‐gression or protection. In addition, advances made in the purification and manipulation of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs using new cell markers, techniques and antibodies are discussed. Ultimately, an overall understanding of the exact mechanism which CD4+ CD25+ Tregs implement during disease progression will enhance our ability to manipulate CD4+ CD25+ Tregs in a clinically beneficial manner.
Stem cell and kinase activity‐independent pathway in resistance of leukaemia to BCR‐ABL kinase inhibitors
Authors: Li Shaoguang , Li Dongguang 
Published: March 2009

Introduction
Ph+ leukaemia
Leukaemic stem cells
Identification of CML stem cells in mice
BCR‐ABL kinase inhibitors do not completely eradicate CML stem cells
B‐ALL stem cells and their sensitivity to kinase inhibitors
SRC kinase may impact B‐ALL stem cell functions through activation of the downstream signalling molecule β‐catenin
Activation of SRC kinases by BCR‐ABL is independent of its kinase activity
Role of SRC kinases in the development of B‐ALL
Inhibition BCR‐ABL kinase activity and SRC kinase leads to long‐term survival of B‐ALL mice
Role of SRC kinases in progression of CML to lymphoid blast crisis
Comments and conclusions

AbstractBCR‐ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as imatinib (Gleevec) are highly effective in treating human Philadelphia chromosome‐positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in chronic phase but not in terminal acute phase; acquired drug resistance caused mainly by the development of BCR‐ABL kinase domain mutations prevents cure of the leukaemia. In addition, imatinib is ineffective in treating Ph+ B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL) and CML blast crisis, even in the absence of the kinase domain mutations. This type of drug resistance that is unrelated to BCR‐ABL kinase domain mutations is caused by the insensitivity of leukaemic stem cells to kinase inhibitors such as imatinib and dasatinib, and by activation of a newly‐identified signalling pathway involving SRC kinases that are independent of BCR‐ABL kinase activity for activation. This SRC pathway is essential for leukaemic cells to survive imatinib treatment and for CML transition to lymphoid blast crisis. Apart from BCR‐ABL and SRC kinases, stem cell pathways must also be targeted for curative therapy of Ph+ leukaemia.
Prevalence of oral pathologic findings in an ancient pre‐Columbian archeologic site in the Atacama Desert
Authors: Meller C , Urzua I , Moncada G , Von Ohle C 
Published: March 2009

Objective:  To determine the prevalence of oral pathologic findings in an ancient culture that inhabited the Atacama Desert.Materials and methods:  A systematic examination was performed on the remains of 83 individuals unearthed from a prehistoric burial ground. A total of 57 skeletal remains achieved appropriate inclusion criteria, from which estimated age at death, gender, ante‐ and postmortem tooth loss, prevalence and location of caries, apical periodontitis sequela, alveolar bone resorption and attrition were recorded.Results:  From the analyzed skeletal remains (13 male, 22 female and 22 not identifiable), the mean age estimated was 29.9 ± 13.8 years. A total of 89.4% of them presented permanent dentition with a mean ante‐mortem tooth loss of 9.0 teeth and a postmortem mean tooth loss of 14.4 teeth per subject. In all, 46.4% of the postmortem remaining permanent teeth (n = 237) showed caries lesions. Interproximal caries was most frequently observed (31.5%), followed by occlusal (25.9%) and cervical caries (19.4%). Root remnants were found in 23.1% of the cases. In addition, 58.0% of the adults presented attrition, 26.0% signs of apical periodontitis and 44.0% loss of alveolar bone support >5 mm.Conclusion:  The remains of jaws and teeth of the individuals examined in this study presented sequelae of severe oral health damage due to caries and periodontal disease.
Influence of land‐use types and climatic variables on seasonal patterns of NDVI in Mediterranean Iberian ecosystems
Authors: Durante P. , Oyonarte C. , Valladares F. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion: What is the influence of management on the functioning of vegetation over time in Mediterranean ecosystems under different climate conditions?Location: Mediterranean shrublands and forests in SE Iberia (Andalusia).Methods: We evaluated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the 1997‐2002 time series to determine phenological vegetation patterns under different historical management regimes. Three altitudinal ranges were considered within each area to explore climate × management interactions. Each phenological pattern was analysed using time series statistics, together with precipitation (monthly and cumulative) and temperature.Results: NDVI time series were significantly different under different management regimes, particularly in highly transformed areas, which showed the lowest NDVI, weakest annual seasonality and a more immediate phenological response to precipitation. The NDVI relationship with precipitation was strongest in the summer‐autumn period, when precipitation is the main plant growth‐limiting factor.Conclusions: NDVI time series analyses elucidated complex influences of land use and climate on ecosystem functioning in these Mediterranean ecosystems. We demonstrated that NDVI time series analyses are a useful tool for monitoring programmes because of their sensitivity to changes, ease of use and applicability to large‐scale studies.
Recovery of sandy beach and maritime forest vegetation on Phuket Island (Thailand) after the major Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004
Authors: Hayasaka D. , Fujiwara K. , Box E.O. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion: How rapidly has the sandy beach and maritime forest vegetation on Phuket recovered and regenerated after the impact of the major Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004? What are the characteristics of sandy beach species for regenerating their populations and the invasion patterns of originally non‐sandy beach species or other newcomers after the tsunami?Location: Phuket Island, southern Thailand.Methods: Species composition of beaches was studied on the same research plots 6 months before and 9 months after the tsunami. The changes in individual species cover before and after the tsunami were determined by χ2 tests. Change in community composition was analysed by detrended correspondence analysis. The relationship between species and environmental factors was analysed by canonical correspondence analysis.Results: The sites disturbed by the tsunami were often invaded by annuals, especially grasses and asteraceous plants, rather than by perennials. In contrast, species with clonal growth by stolons decreased significantly. Factors determining the species habitat differences were soil hardness (penetration resistance of sandy soil), per cent silt content, soil water content and beach management. Habitat differences among originally non‐sandy beach herbaceous species that expanded their population or moved to the coast after the disaster were defined by sand accretion or erosion caused by the tsunami. Many sandy beach herbaceous communities changed into Dactyloctenium aegyptium communities because of the tsunami were originally constituted by non‐sandy beach D. aegyptium with Cenchrus echinatus. Although the forest floors of most maritime forests were invaded by originally non‐sandy beach Tridax procumbens, Eleusine indica or D. aegyptium because of the tsunami, this did not result in a change in the vegetation unit, because species' loss was restricted to the understorey. In time, these forests will recover their previous community composition.Conclusions: Our results suggest that originally non‐sandy beach native species invaded the disturbed beaches rapidly after the tsunami but their habitats differ. Sites where sand accumulated on a beach because of the tsunami were invaded by D. aegyptium and E. indica, whereas soil erosion permitted invasion by Digitania adscendens. Tridax procumbens establishes rapidly on wet sites with hard soil, high per cent silt content and low beach management pressure. Sandy beach species with subterranean long rhizomes are strongly tolerant of such disasters. We concluded that the species composition of the beaches disturbed by a temporary large disaster is determined by dormancy and growth forms, with radicoid form being influential.
Prediction of Indoor Air Quality from Soil‐Gas Data at Industrial Buildings
Authors: Eklund Bart , Burrows Don 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSubslab or shallow soil‐gas data are often compared with indoor air concentration data in vapor intrusion (VI) evaluations. If no indoor air data are available or confounding sources are present, or if future scenarios are considered, the soil‐gas data may be used to estimate the indoor air concentrations due to VI. The typical approach in risk assessments is to use the 95th percentile values from a set of concentration data. For VI studies, however, this rarely is an option because the data sets tend to be quite small. Therefore, various guidance documents urge the use of maximum soil‐gas values. This may be reasonable for small residential buildings, but can lead to very conservatively biased estimates if applied to large industrial buildings with localized areas of contamination, especially given that the sampling locations may not be randomly selected and instead are biased toward worst‐case locations. By this approach, VI guidance implicitly tolerates a large percentage of false positive decision errors to minimize the number of false negative decision errors. In this paper, implications of using maximum values are discussed and illustrated with data sets from a number of large industrial buildings at various sites. An alternative approach to using maximum soil‐gas values is proposed that serves to reduce the number of false positive results while controlling the number of false negatives to an acceptable level.
Taxonomic review of the tribes Trachyscelini and Phaleriini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) from Korean coastal dunes
Authors: JUNG Boo Hee , PARK Hae Chul , KIM Jin Ill 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA taxonomic review of the sabulous tenebrionid species belonging to the tribes Trachyscelini and Phaleriini from Korean coastal dunes is presented. Six species in five genera were recognized: Phaleromela subhumeralis (Marseul, 1876), Micropedinus algae Lewis, 1894, Micropedinus pallidipennis Lewis, 1894, Emypsara riederi (Faldermann, 1833) and Trachyscelis sabuleti Lewis, 1894, as well as one new record, Phaleria atriceps (Lewis, 1894), in Korea. A key, description, habitus photographs of adults and line drawings of the aedeagus are provided with biological notes.
Beauveria bassiana infection of eggs of stored‐product beetles
Authors: LORD Jeffrey C. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was tested under maximum challenge conditions with an estimated dose of 1.1 × 105 conidia/mm2 for its effects on eggs of four of the major beetle pests of stored grain and grain products. When ambient relative humidity (RH) was 92%, hatch of fungus‐treated Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) eggs was 13% versus 58% for control eggs, and hatch of treated Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) was 17% versus 51% for controls. There was no fungus effect at RH of 48 and 73%. Fungus treatment of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus) eggs had no effect. Sectioned T. castaneum eggs demonstrated that the fungus penetrates and infects them.
Association of TBX21 T‐1993C polymorphism with viral persistence but not disease progression in hepatitis B virus carriers
Authors: Chen Song , Zhao Wenli , Tan Wenting , Xu Baoyan , Dan Yunjie , Mao Qing , Kuang Xuemei , Wang Yuming , Deng Guohong 
Published: March 2009

Aim:  Transcription factor T‐bet is responsible for the differentiation of naive T lymphocytes, and its expression level is linked with different responses to some viral infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this report we examine whether promoter polymorphisms of the TBX21 gene (encoding T‐bet) are associated with susceptibility to HBV persistence or disease progression in chronic HBV carriers.Methods:  Three previously reported promoter polymorphisms, T‐1993C, T‐1514C and G‐1499A, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Two common polymorphisms, T‐1993C and T‐1514C, were selected for genotyping in 1074 chronic HBV carriers, 310 spontaneously recovered controls and 374 HBV naive controls. Of 1074 HBV carriers, 234 were considered to be asymptomatic carriers and 840 were found to have chronic progressive liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Haplotypes were constructed for each subject and associations with the susceptibility to persistent HBV infection were estimated by logistic regression.Results:  The –1993C allele in the TBX21 promoter was significantly more common among chronic HBV carriers compared with recovered controls (χ2 = 6.65, P = 0.01). In contrast, the frequency of TT haplotype at positions –1993/–1514, was significantly higher in recovered controls than chronic HBV carriers (P = 0.0027, odds ratio = 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–2.12). In HBV carriers, the TBX21 promoter polymorphisms were not linked to disease progression.Conclusion:  The TBX21 promoter polymorphisms do not appear to be determinant of disease progression in Chinese HBV carriers. The T‐1993C polymorphism in the TBX21 promoter influences susceptibility to persistent HBV infection.
EMMPRIN (CD147) is a novel receptor for platelet GPVI and mediates platelet rolling via GPVI-EMMPRIN interaction
Authors: Seizer Peter , Borst Oliver , Langer Harald , Bültmann Andreas , Münch Götz , Herouy Yared , Stellos Konstantinos , Krämer Björn , Bigalke Boris , Büchele Berthold , Bachem Max , Vestweber Dietmar , Simmet Thomas , Gawaz Meinrad , May Andreas 
Published: March 2009

SummaryThe Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN, CD147, basigin) is an immunoglobulin-like receptor expressed in various cell types. During cellular interactions homotypic EMMPRIN-EMMPRIN interactions are known to induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases. Recently, we have identified EMMPRIN as a novel receptor on platelets. To our knowledge EMMPRIN has not been shown to serve as adhesion receptor, yet. Here we characterise platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) as a novel adhesion receptor for EMMPRIN. Human platelets were prestimulated with ADP and perfused over immobilised recombinant EMMPRIN-Fc or Fc-fragments under arterial shear conditions. ADP-stimulated platelets showed significantly enhanced rolling (but not enhanced firm adhesion) on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc compared to Fc. Pretreatment of platelets with blocking mAbs anti-EMMPRIN or anti-GPVI leads to a significant reduction of rolling platelets on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc, whereas pretreatment with blocking mAbs anti-p-selectin, anti-α4-integrin or anti-GPIIb/IIIa complex (20 μg/ml each) had no effect. Consistently, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with GPVI showed enhanced rolling (but not adhesion) on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc in comparison to nontransfected CHO cells. Similarly, CHO cells stably transfected with EMMPRIN showed enhanced rolling on immobilised GPVIFc (or EMMPRIN-Fc) compared to non transfected CHO-cells. Finally, specific binding of EMMPRIN to GPVI was demonstrated by a modified ELISA and surface plasmon resonance technology with a dissociation constant of 88 nM. Platelet GPVI is a novel receptor for EMMPRIN and can mediate platelet rolling via GPVIEMMPRIN interaction.
Procoagulant activity and phosphatidylserine of amniotic fluid cells
Authors: Liu Shuchuan , Ma Ming , Hou Jinxiao , Yu Hongjuan , Lu Chengfang , Gilbert Gary , Zhou Jin , Shi Jialan 
Published: March 2009

SummaryAmniotic fluid (AF) may induce disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) when it enters maternal circulation by breaching the placental-maternal circulation barrier. The precise mechanism of the procoagulant activity of AF is unclear, but tissue factor (TF) has been proposed to be the main cause. As one constituent of AF, AF cells accumulate and undergo apoptosis continuously. Therefore, we speculate that AF cells have procoagulant activity due to the externalisation of phosphatidylserine (PS). The present study aims to demonstrate that, in addition to TF, the PS that is externalised on AF cells is important for the procoagulant activity of AF. Ten AF samples from parturient women were analysed using lactadherin as the probe for PS. Anti-TF antibody also was used to identify TF and its associated coagulation functions in AF cells. Normal platelets, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were harvested as controls. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry was used to assess PS expression on AF cells. The procoagulant activity of AF cells was demonstrated by a plasma coagulation assay and further confirmed by factor Xase/prothrombinase assays. PS and TF were present on most AF cells, providing substantial procoagulant activity. Furthermore, factor Xase and prothrombinase assays showed that AF cells substantially enforced the activation of factor X and prothrombin. PS on AF cells is an important procoagulant source for AF. Lactadherin is an ideal anticoagulant for inhibiting the procoagulant activity of AF cells.