bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The performance of elements of a ‘level of response to alcohol’‐based model of drinking behaviors in 13‐year‐olds
Authors: Schuckit Marc A. , Smith Tom L. , Trim Ryan , Heron Jon , Horwood Jeremy , Davis John M. , Hibbeln Joseph R. ,   the ALSPAC Study Team
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTAim  The goals of this paper are to evaluate whether drinking practices among peers mediates the relationship between a low level of response (LR) to alcohol and a person's heavier drinking and alcohol‐related problems in 12–14‐year‐olds.Design  Correlations and structural equation models (SEM) were used to test a hypothesized model of the relationships among key variables in adolescents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a longitudinal birth cohort study in Bristol, England.Participants  These included 688 boys (40.4%) and girls who were offspring of the pregnant women who had been selected as ALSPAC participants in 1991 and 1992. The offspring were interviewed at about age 13 years, and those who had ever consumed a full drink completed the Self‐Report of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire indicating the number of drinks required for up to four effects early in their drinking histories. A higher number of drinks required for effects indicated a low LR per drink consumed.Findings  The SEM explained 58% of the variance of the alcohol pattern, and had good fit characteristics. A low LR was related to heavier drinking and more alcohol problems both directly and as mediated partially by drinking in peers. The model performed well across the narrow age range, and applied equally well in boys and girls.Conclusions  The perceived drinking practices of peers is a potentially important mediator of how a low LR to alcohol relates to drinking practices during early adolescence. The findings may be useful in developing approaches to prevent heavier drinking in this young group.
Economic theory and evidence on smoking behavior of adults
Authors: Sloan Frank A. , Wang Yang 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTAims To describe: (i) three alternative conceptual frameworks used by economists to study addictive behaviors: rational, imperfectly rational and irrational addiction; (ii) empirical economic evidence on each framework and specific channels to explain adult smoking matched to the frameworks; and (iii) policy implications for each framework.Methods A systematic review and appraisal of important theoretical and empirical economic studies on smoking.Results There is some empirical support for each framework. For rational and imperfectly rational addiction there is some evidence that anticipated future cigarette prices influence current cigarette consumption, and quitting costs are high for smokers. Smokers are more risk‐tolerant in the financial domain than are others and tend to attach a lower value to being in good health. Findings on differences in rates of time preference by smoking status are mixed; however, short‐term rates are higher than long‐term rates for both smokers and non‐smokers, a stylized fact consistent with hyperbolic discounting. The economic literature lends no empirical support to the view that mature adults smoke because they underestimate the probability of harm to health from smoking. In support of the irrationality framework, smokers tend to be more impulsive than others in domains not related directly to smoking, implying that they may be sensitive to cues that trigger smoking.Conclusions Much promising economic research uses the imperfectly rational addiction framework, but empirical research based on this framework is still in its infancy.
Identification of insulin resistance in Asian Indian adolescents: classification and regression tree (CART) and logistic regression based classification rules
Authors: Goel Ruchika , Misra Anoop , Kondal Dimple , Pandey Ravindra M. , Vikram Naval K. , Wasir Jasjeet S. , Dhingra Vibha , Luthra Kalpana 
Published: September 2008

SummaryObjective  Biochemical measures for assessment of insulin resistance are not cost‐effective in resource‐constrained developing countries. Using classification and regression tree (CART) and multivariate logistic regression, we aimed to develop simple predictive decision models based on routine clinical and biochemical parameters to predict insulin resistance in apparently healthy Asian Indian adolescents.Design  Community based cross‐sectional study.Subjects and patients  Data of apparently healthy 793 adolescents (aged 14–19 years) were used for analysis. WHO's multistage cluster sampling design was used for data collection.Methods and measurements  Homeostasis Model of Assessment value > 75th centile was used as cut‐off for defining the main outcome variable insulin resistance. CART was used to develop the decision tree models and multivariate logistic regression used to develop the clinical prediction score.Results  Three classification trees and an equation for prediction score were developed and internally validated.The three decision trees were termed as CART I, CART II and CART III, respectively. CART I based on anthropometric parameters alone has sensitivity 88·2%, specificity 50·1% and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (aROC) 77·8%. CART II based on anthropometric and routine biochemical parameters has sensitivity 94·5%, specificity 38·3% and aROC 73·6%. CART III based on all anthropometric, biochemical and clinical parameters together has sensitivity 70·7%, specificity 79·2% and aROC 77·4%.Prediction score for insulin resistance = 1 × (waist circumference) + 1·1 × (percentage body fat) + 1·6 × (triceps skin‐fold thickness) – 1·9 × (gender). A score cut‐off of > 0 (using values marked for each) was a marker of insulin resistance in the study population (sensitivity 82·4%, specificity 56·7%, and aROC 73·4%).Conclusion  These simple and cost‐effective classification rules may be used to predict insulin resistance and implement population based preventive interventions in Asian Indian adolescents.
Hypothyroidism is associated with signs of endothelial dysfunction despite 1‐year replacement therapy with levothyroxine
Authors: Clausen P. , Mersebach H. , Nielsen B. , Feldt‐Rasmussen B. , Feldt‐Rasmussen U. 
Published: September 2008

SummaryObjective  Hypothyroidism is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk, not fully explained by classical risk factors. Instead, endothelial dysfunction may link hypothyroidism to atherosclerosis. The effect of levothyroxine substitution on endothelial function has been sparsely studied and the results are unclear. This study tested endothelial function as estimated by concomitant measurements of endothelial dependent vascular dilatory capacity and plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor antigen in patients with hypothyroidism and further examined the impact of subsequent levothyroxine substitution.Design and patients  Sixteen consecutive patients (13 women, 3 men, aged 46 ± 11 years) with hypothyroidism were included and compared to 16 matched healthy controls (13 women, 3 men, aged 49 ± 11 years). Patients with hypothyroidism were reexamined after 3, 6 and 12 months of levothyroxine substitution.Measurements  Dilatory responses of the brachial artery to post‐ischaemic increased blood flow (endothelium‐dependent flow‐associated dilatation) and to nitroglycerin (endothelium‐independent nitroglycerin induced dilatation) were measured by ultrasound. Plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen were measured by ELISA.Results  Flow‐associated dilatation was impaired in patients with hypothyroidism as compared to controls (102·7 ± 3·6 vs. 105·6 ± 3·8%, P = 0·04) whereas no differences in plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor antigen were found. One year levothyroxine substitution did not improve flow‐associated dilatation and was associated with an increase of the plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration.Conclusions  Hypothyroid patients are characterized by endothelial dysfunction sustained despite long‐term levothyroxine substitution and potentially increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. Different estimates of endothelial dysfunction seem unequally influenced by hypothyroidism.
Increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume in type 2 diabetes mellitus and association with metabolic syndrome and severity of coronary atherosclerosis
Authors: Wang Chao‐Ping , Hsu Hui‐Ling , Hung Wei‐Chin , Yu Teng‐Hung , Chen Yen‐Hsun , Chiu Cheng‐An , Lu Li‐Fen , Chung Fu‐Mei , Shin Shyi‐Jang , Lee Yau‐Jiunn 
Published: September 2008

SummaryObjective  Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a part of visceral fat deposited around the heart between the pericardium and myocardium along the distribution of coronary arteries. EAT thickness is reported to be associated with coronary atherosclerosis; however, no study has measured EAT volume in patients with type 2 diabetes or investigate its association with coronary artery disease.Design  A hospital‐based case control study.Patients  A total of 49 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 78 nondiabetic controls were studied.Measurements  Cardiac multislice computed tomography was used to measure EAT volume, Gensini score, coronary artery calcium score and, coronary lesions. The relationships between EAT volume, markers of coronary atherosclerosis and anthropometric and biochemical parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) were investigated.Results  EAT volume was significantly higher in patients with T2DM than in nondiabetic subjects (166·1 ± 60·6 cm3 vs. 123·4 ± 41·8 cm3, P < 0·0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed independent and significant associations between EAT and diabetic status. EAT volume was significantly associated with components of MetS (BMI, waist circumference, fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol, and triglycerides levels), Gensini score, coronary lesions, coronary disease and coronary calcium scores. Univariate, multivariate and trend analyses confirmed that EAT volume was associated with MetS component clustering and the coronary atherosclerosis index.Conclusions  The analytical results indicate that EAT volume is increased in T2DM patients and is associated with unfavourable components of MetS and coronary atherosclerosis. The close anatomical relationship between EAT and the coronary arteries, combined with other evidence indicating that EAT is a biologically active adipokine‐secreting tissue, suggest that EAT participates in the pathogenesis of diabetic coronary atherosclerosis.
Increase of human papillomavirus‐16 E7‐specific T helper type 1 response in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients after radiotherapy
Authors: Delgado Félix Giovanni , Martínez Elizabeth , Céspedes María Angélica , Bravo María Mercedes , Navas María Cristina , Cómbita Rojas Alba Lucía 
Published: September 2008

SummaryIt has been suggested that tumour cell lysis by gamma‐radiation induces a tumoral antigen release eliciting an immune response. It is not clear how a specific immune response in cervical cancer patients is developed after radiotherapy. This study is an attempt to investigate the role of the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV‐16) E7‐specific T helper response before and after radiotherapy. Lymphocytes were isolated from 32 cervical cancer patients before and after radiotherapy and from 16 healthy women. They were stimulated for 12 hr with autologous HPV‐16 E7‐pulsed monocyte‐derived dendritic cells or directly with HPV‐16 E7 synthetic peptides: E751–70, E765–84 and E779–98. The cells were stained for CD4, CD69, intracellular interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) cytokines and analysed by flow cytometry. A specific CD4+ CD69+ IFN‐γ+ immune response against HPV‐16 E779–98 peptide was observed in 10 of 14 patients (71·4%) after treatment, compared with 4 of 14 (28·5%) before radiotherapy (P = 0·039); however, this response was not associated with a successful clinical response. Before treatment, 5 of 31 patients showed a HPV‐16 E779–98‐specific T helper type 2 (Th2) response. Interestingly, this response was significantly associated with a decrease in disease‐free survival (P = 0·027). These results suggest that a Th2‐type cellular response could be useful as a predictor of recurrence and poor prognosis. An increase of the HPV‐specific immune response was observed after radiotherapy; however, it is not enough to control completely the disease after treatment. Our results support that the E7‐specific T‐cell IFN‐γ response in cervical cancer patients, rather than reflecting the host’s capability of controlling tumour growth, might be an indicator for disease severity.
Adult thymus transplantation with allogeneic intra‐bone marrow–bone marrow transplantation from same donor induces high thymopoiesis, mild graft‐versus‐host reaction and strong graft‐versus‐tumour effects
Authors: Miyake Takashi , Hosaka Naoki , Cui Wenhao , Nishida Teruhisa , Takaki Takashi , Inaba Muneo , Kamiyama Yasuo , Ikehara Susumu 
Published: September 2008

SummaryAlthough allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) plus donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is performed for solid tumours to enhance graft‐versus‐tumour (GVT) effects, a graft‐versus‐host reaction (GVHR) is also elicited. We carried out intra‐bone marrow–bone marrow transplantation (IBM‐BMT) plus adult thymus transplantation (ATT) from the same donor to supply alloreactive T cells continually. Normal mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT survived for a long time with high donor‐derived thymopoiesis and mild GVHR. The percentage of CD4+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in the spleen of the mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT was lower than in normal B6 mice or mice treated with IBM‐BMT alone, but higher than in mice treated with IBM‐BMT + DLI; the mice treated with IBM‐BMT + DLI showed severe GVHR. In tumour‐bearing mice, tumour growth was more strongly inhibited by IBM‐BMT + ATT than by IBM‐BMT alone. Mice treated with IBM‐BMT + a high dose of DLI also showed tumour regression comparable to that of mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT but died early of GVHD. By contrast, mice treated with IBM‐BMT + a low dose of DLI showed longer survival but less tumour regression than the mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT. Histologically, significant numbers of CD8+ T cells were found to have infiltrated the tumour in the mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP‐biotin nick end‐labelling (TUNEL)‐positive apoptotic tumour cells also significantly increased in the mice treated with IBM‐BMT + ATT. Allogeneic IBM‐BMT + ATT thus can induce high thymopoiesis, preserving strong GVT effects without severe GVHR.
Type I Streptococcus pneumoniae carbohydrate utilizes a nitric oxide and MHC II‐dependent pathway for antigen presentation
Authors: Velez Christopher D. , Lewis Colleen J. , Kasper Dennis L. , Cobb Brian A. 
Published: September 2008

SummarySome pathogenic bacteria form thick capsules that both block immune responses through inhibition of complement deposition and phagocytosis and stimulate a weak response resulting from a lack of T‐cell involvement. Contrary to this model, capsular polysaccharides from 23 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been successfully used in a multivalent vaccine in the absence of a carrier protein. Furthermore, type I pneumococcal polysaccharide (Sp1) has been shown to activate T cells in vivo and in vitro via an uncharacterized mechanism. In the present report, we demonstrate that Sp1 utilizes the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II pathway in antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) for processing and presentation. APCs internalize and process Sp1 through a nitric oxide‐dependent mechanism and, once inside the cell, it associates with MHC II proteins in an H‐2M‐dependent manner that leads to in vivo T‐cell activation. These results establish that Sp1 activates T cells which can lead to abscess formation in mice through an H‐2M‐dependent polysaccharide antigen presentation pathway in APCs, potentially contributing to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine efficacy through the recruitment of T‐cell help.
Genomic expression analysis by single‐cell mRNA differential display of quiescent CD8 T cells from tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from in vivo liver tumours
Authors: Zhang Wei , Ding Jianqing , Qu Yan , Hu Hongliang , Lin Meihua , Datta Amit , Larson Alan , Liu George E. , Li Biaoru 
Published: September 2008

SummaryWe performed a genomic study combining single‐cell mRNA differential display and RNA subtractive hybridization to elucidate CD8 T‐cell quiescence/ignorance. By comparing actively maintained quiescent CD8 T cells from liver tumour tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with quiescent T cells at the single‐cell level, we identified differentially expressed candidate genes by high‐throughput screening and comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). While genes for the T‐cell receptor, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor, TNF‐related apoptpsis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and perforin were down‐regulated, key genes such as Tob, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β, lung Krüpple‐like factor (LKLF), Sno‐A, Ski, Myc, Ets‐2 repressor factor (ERF) and RE1‐silencing transcription factor (REST/NRSF) complex were highly expressed in the quiescent TIL CD8 cells. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) further confirmed these results. A regulation model is proposed for actively maintained quiescence in CD8 T cells, including three components: up‐regulation of the TGF‐β pathway, a shift in the MYC web and inhibition of the cell cycle.
Proteomic analysis of excretory/secretory products released by Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae early post‐infection
Authors: SMITH S. K. , NISBET A. J. , MEIKLE L. I. , INGLIS N. F. , SALES J. , BEYNON R. J. , MATTHEWS J. B. 
Published: September 2008

SUMMARYTeladorsagia circumcincta is an important parasitic nematode of domestic small ruminants. Drug resistance in this species is common so alternative methods of control are required. As animals develop immunity to T. circumcincta, vaccination is a valid option. Little is known about the antigens that play a role in stimulating immunity at this host/parasite interface. As responses generated between 1 and 5 dpi are known to affect development of these nematodes in their gastric niche, we focused on proteins released during the early stages of infection. To identify molecules potentially involved in immunity, we undertook a proteomics analysis of proteins released from larvae harvested at 1‐, 3‐ and 5‐days post‐infection (dpi). This analysis produced peptide sequence data that was used to search information available in T. circumcincta expressed sequence tag (EST) databases and enabled identification of a number of excretory/secretory (ES) proteins. Immunoblots were performed to assess the relative molecular weight of ES antigens that were targets of local IgA responses in mucus from sheep rendered immune to infection. ELISA was performed to assess antigen‐specific mucus IgA levels in individual sheep. These experiments provided preliminary evidence that the proteins identified in the larval secretome were subject to these antibody responses.
The Solanum lycopersicum auxin response factor 7 (SlARF7) regulates auxin signaling during tomato fruit set and development
Authors: De Jong Maaike , Wolters‐Arts Mieke , Feron Richard , Mariani Celestina , Vriezen Wim H. 
Published: September 2008

SummaryAuxin response factors (ARFs) are encoded by a gene family of transcription factors that specifically control auxin‐dependent developmental processes. A tomato ARF gene, homologous to Arabidopsis NPH4/ARF7 and therefore designated as Solanum lycopersicum ARF7 (SlARF7), was found to be expressed at a high level in unpollinated mature ovaries. More detailed analysis of tomato ovaries showed that the level of SlARF7 transcript increases during flower development, remains at a constant high level in mature flowers, and is down‐regulated within 48 h after pollination. Transgenic plants with decreased SlARF7 mRNA levels formed seedless (parthenocarpic) fruits. These fruits were heart‐shaped and had a rather thick pericarp due to increased cell expansion, compared with the pericarp of wild‐type fruits. The expression analysis, together with the parthenocarpic fruit phenotype of the transgenic lines, suggests that, in tomato, SlARF7 acts as a negative regulator of fruit set until pollination and fertilization have taken place, and moderates the auxin response during fruit growth.
Outward‐rectifying K+ channel activities regulate cell elongation and cell division of tobacco BY‐2 cells
Authors: Sano Toshio , Kutsuna Natsumaro , Becker Dirk , Hedrich Rainer , Hasezawa Seiichiro 
Published: September 2008

SummaryPotassium ions (K+) are required for plant growth and development, including cell division and cell elongation/expansion, which are mediated by the K+ transport system. In this study, we investigated the role of K+ in cell division using tobacco BY‐2 protoplast cultures. Gene expression analysis revealed induction of the Shaker‐like outward K+ channel gene, NTORK1, under cell‐division conditions, whereas the inward K+ channel genes NKT1 and NtKC1 were induced under both cell‐elongation and cell‐division conditions. Repression of NTORK1 gene expression by expression of its antisense construct repressed cell division but accelerated cell elongation even under conditions promoting cell division. A decrease in the K+ content of cells and cellular osmotic pressure in dividing cells suggested that an increase in cell osmotic pressure by K+ uptake is not required for cell division. In contrast, K+ depletion, which reduced cell‐division activity, decreased cytoplasmic pH as monitored using a fluorescent pH indicator, SNARF‐1. Application of K+ or the cytoplasmic alkalizing reagent (NH4)2SO4 increased cytoplasmic pH and suppressed the reduction in cell‐division activity. These results suggest that the K+ taken up into cells is used to regulate cytoplasmic pH during cell division.
Association between killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor genotypes and leprosy in Brazil
Authors: Franceschi D. S. A. , Mazini P. S. , Rudnick C. C. C. , Sell A. M. , Tsuneto L. T. , De Melo F. C. , Braga M. A. , Peixoto P. R. F. , Visentainer J. E. L. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the role of killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR) genes in leprosy immunopathogenesis. Genotyping of KIR and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probes in 165 leprosy patients. Both activating KIR2DS2 and KIR2DS3 frequencies were higher in tuberculoid leprosy (TT) patients than in lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients, and the inhibitory KIR with its ligand, KIR2DL1‐C2/C2, was elevated in TT patients in comparison to all other leprosy subgroups and controls. However, a negative association between KIR2DL3‐C1 and KIR2DL3‐C1/C1 and the TT group was identified. Borderline patients exhibited a higher frequency of KIR3DL2‐A3/11 than the controls and LL patients, and a lower frequency of KIR2DL1‐C2 than the controls and TT subgroup. Some KIR–HLA genotypes could be associated to the development of clinical forms of leprosy and should be investigated further.