bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A review of the IPCC Assessment Report Four, Part 1: the IPCC process and greenhouse gas emission trends from buildings worldwide
Authors: Levermore GJ 
Published: October 2008

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), Fourth Assessment Report, AR4, Climate Change 2007 consists of three volumes based on the work of three IPCC Working Groups (WGs). WG1 considered the scientific basis of climate change and what the climate models are showing. WG2 considered the consequences of climate change and possible adaptation to it. WG3 considered how the climate change could be mitigated. This paper briefly outlines the history of the IPCC, its purpose and outputs, including the AR4 and its relation to the Kyoto Protocol, and the IPCC authoring process. The paper then reviews the trends in carbon emissions, especially from the built environment (which are a major source of greenhouse gas, GHG, emissions in the world), and the potential mitigation reductions in carbon emissions that are considered possible and the scenarios on which they are based. Practical application: Climate change is an important topic for building services engineers, resulting in the UK in the new, performance-based Building Regulations Part L. This paper outlines the history and relevance of the IPCC for building services engineers as well as reviewing the world trends in carbon emissions from buildings and the future scenarios on which they are based. The paper emphasises the importance of buildings and building services in the context of climate change.
Conditioned blood reperfusion during angioplasty (CoBRA) treatment of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Patel Mrugesh B , Kilgore Kenneth S , Ortolano Girolamo A , Gryboski Cyndy L , Qureshi Mansoor A , Marcovitz Pamela , Naylor Keith B , Park James L , Wenz Barry , Gikakis Nicolas , Freedman Robert J , Lucchesi Benedict R , O’Neill William W 
Published: October 2008

Acute myocardial infarct (MI) results in ischemia distal to lesions which puts heart muscle at risk for reperfusion injury (RI). Neutrophils, platelets and complement are putative mediators of RI. Recent advances in filtration technology provide integrated neutrophil and platelet removal together with complement-attenuating properties in a single blood-conditioning device. The present study characterizes the properties of a blood-conditioning filter and describes its clinical effect when used in conjunction with active hemoperfusion for acute MI.The filter reduces leukocytes by 99.9998 ± 0.0002% (p<0.0001) and platelets by 99.9934 ± 0.0069% (p<0.0001). Human plasma, derived from heparinized blood that was ‘conditioned’ by filtration, was studied using the Langendorff isolated rabbit heart preparation. The deposition of membrane attack complex and the resultant functional myocardial impairments [reflected in hemodynamic and biochemical measurements, including developed pressure, coronary blood flow, lymph-derived myocardial creatine kinase (CK)] are significantly attenuated by blood conditioning. Integration of the blood-conditioning filter into an active hemoperfusion system during primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute MI (n=8) did not delay the procedure or cause any complications. Reperfusion of occluded coronary arteries with 300 cm3 of conditioned blood led to significant improvement in echocardiographic global wall motion scores (in standard deviations) following treatment (1.64 ± 0.18 to 1.45 ± 0.15, p=0.02).Initial reperfusion of totally occluded coronary arteries with conditioned blood leads to acutely improved ventricular function. Collectively, these data provide a strong indication for continued investigation of conditioned blood reperfusion in angioplasty following acute MI for the long-term effect upon recovery of salvagable myocardium.
Diabetes mellitus complicating systemic lupus erythematosus – analysis of the UCL lupus cohort and review of the literature
Authors: Cortes S , Chambers S , Jerónimo A , Isenberg D 
Published: October 2008

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often coexists with other diseases. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an example and patients with overlap SLE-DM can present with clinical features common to both disorders. In this review, we describe the patients with overlap SLE-DM, focussing on the clinical features common to both diseases that these patients can present, and on the challenges of managing such complications. A detailed review of the patients’ notes ( n = 485) was performed. At every outpatient appointment the patients’ urine was tested for glucose, protein and blood. Patients with persistent glycosuria were investigated with fasting blood glucose and a glucose tolerance test to help make the diagnosis of DM. Particular note was made of those patients whose symptoms could be due to SLE, DM or both. Nine patients with DM were identified. Three had type 1 DM, four had type 2 DM and two were considered to have steroid-induced DM. Among these patients, three had renal involvement (two with WHO class IV lupus nephritis); two had peripheral neuropathy (one had a mixed sensory and motor neuropathy, one had a sensory peripheral neuropathy); two patients had retinopathy and cataracts and one had angina. The combination of SLE and DM is uncommon but the predisposition to renal, peripheral neuropathy and retinal disease means that great care must be taken when deciding which clinical feature is due to which disease, because active SLE requires additional immunosuppression whereas DM requires optimization of the metabolic control. Interestingly, although in theory patients with SLE and DM are in double-jeopardy of developing atherosclerosis, to date, only one of our overlap patients has developed angina.
Patients with familial and sporadic onset SLE have similar clinical profiles but vary profoundly by race
Authors: Sestak AL , Nath SK , Kelly JA , Bruner GR , James JA , Harley JB 
Published: October 2008

Few large, multi-ethnic studies have examined the clinical and serologic differences between familial and sporadic SLE patients. Understanding these similarities and differences is critical for interpreting genetic studies and developing therapeutic strategies. We compiled information on 1915 patients with SLE in a large multi-racial cohort, including general demographics, pedigree structure and the specific American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria met. One patient was randomly selected from each multiplex family for analysis, yielding 554 European-Americans (EA), 373 African-Americans (AA), 193 Hispanics (HI) and 237 patients of other of mixed races. When comparing familial and sporadic patients stratified by race, lupus erythematosus (LE) cells and arthritis were increased in white familial cases ( P = 5.5 × 10−6 and P = 0.028, respectively), but no other significant differences between familial and sporadic patients were found. We found that there were profound differences in clinical profiles between races. For example, photosensitivity and malar rash were decreased in AA ( P = 1.3 × 10−13 and 1.4 × 10−7, respectively), whereas discoid rash was increased in AA ( P = 5.5×10−6). EA had significantly less renal disease ( P = 5.4×10−13), proteinuria ( P = 4 × 10−12) and anti-Sm ( P = 1.7 × 10−12) than AA or HI. We, therefore, conclude that familial and sporadic onset patients may be treated similarly with respect to clinical and genetic studies.
High-density lipoproteins are abnormal in young women with uncomplicated systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Juárez-Rojas JG , Medina-Urrutia AX , Posadas-Sánchez R , Jorge-Galarza E , Mendoza-Pérez E , Caracas-Portilla N , Cardoso-Saldaña G , Muñoz-Gallegos G , Posadas-Romero C 
Published: October 2008

Little is known about qualitative abnormalities of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We studied distribution and composition of HDL subclasses in 30 premenopausal women with uncomplicated SLE, and 18 controls matched for age and sex. Plasma and HDL lipids were determined by colorimetric enzymatic assays, HDL size distribution by native gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and apolipoproteins in HDL by sodium dodecyl sulphate denaturing PAGE. Compared with controls, SLE patients had significantly lower proportions of HDL2b (−14.7%) and higher proportions of HDL3b (+8.8%) and HDL3c (+23.3%). Cholesteryl ester (−18%) and apolipoprotein AI (−9%) were lower, whereas triglycerides (+32%) and apolipoprotein E (+27%) were higher in SLE HDL ( P < 0.05; for all). In the whole population, stepwise regression analysis showed that only insulin concentrations (R2 = 0.327) and plasma total apo AI (R2 = 0.114) accounted independently to the variance in HDL size. This study shows that HDL distribution and composition are abnormal in non-complicated SLE patients. These HDL abnormalities have been reported to be associated to impaired atheroprotective properties of HDL and prevalence of coronary heart disease. Therefore, they may contribute to the premature atherosclerosis observed in young women with SLE.
Efficiency of the DNA repair and polymorphisms of the XRCC1, XRCC3 and XRCC4 DNA repair genes in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Bassi CL , Xavier DJ , Palomino GM , Nicolucci P , Soares CP , Sakamoto-Hojo ET , Donadi EA 
Published: October 2008

Impaired DNA repair efficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been reported in some studies, mainly regarding the repair of oxidative damage, but little is known about repair kinetics towards primarily single-stranded DNA breaks. In the present study, we aimed to investigate: (a) the efficiency of SLE peripheral blood leucocytes in repairing DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation and (b) the association of DNA repair gene ( XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met and XRCC4 Ile401Thr) polymorphisms in SLE patients, considering the whole group, or stratified sub-groups according to clinical and laboratory features. A total of 163 SLE patients and 125 healthy controls were studied. The kinetics of DNA strand break repair was evaluated by the comet assay, and genotyping for DNA repair genes was performed by PCR-RFLP. Compared with controls, SLE leucocytes exhibited decreased efficiency of DNA repair evaluated at 30 min following irradiation. A significant association with DNA repair gene polymorphisms was not observed for the whole group of SLE patients; however, the XRCC1Arg399Gln polymorphism was associated with the presence of anti-dsDNA antibody. The concomitance of two DNA repair polymorphic sites was associated with the presence of neuropsychiatric manifestations and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Taken together, these results indicated that SLE leucocytes repair less efficiently the radiation-induced DNA damage, and DNA repair polymorphic sites may predispose to the development of particular clinical and laboratory features.
Changes in body composition after glucocorticoid therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Mok CC , To CH , Ma KM 
Published: October 2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in body composition after glucocorticoid treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Consecutive SLE patients were recruited for serial measurements (baseline, months 2 and 6) of bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition [bone mineral content (BMC), fat and lean mass] by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan after high-dose oral glucocorticoid therapy. Factors correlated with changes in body composition were evaluated. 29 SLE patients were studied (age 39.7 ± 11.5 years; 83% women with 29% postmenopausal; SLE duration 80.1 ± 80 months). Fourteen patients (48%) were glucocorticoid-naive. The mean maximum daily dosage of prednisolone was 32.9 ± 6.5 mg and the cumulative prednisolone dosage in 6 months was 2.7 ± 0.7 g. At 6 months, a significant drop in BMC of the trunk (−5.0 ± 2.2%; P = 0.04) and whole body (−1.2 ± 0.4%; P = 0.002) compared with baseline was observed, and so was the BMD of the hip (−1.7 ± 0.6%; P = 0.006) and whole body (−0.7 ± 0.3%; P = 0.01). A significant increase in the fat mass of the trunk (+14.5 ± 4.1%; P = 0.001) and limbs (+10.0 ± 3.2%; P = 0.004), but a non-significant drop in lean mass of the trunk (−3.3 ± 1.8%; P = 0.08) and limbs (−0.8 ± 2.4%; P = 0.75) also occurred. The changes in whole body BMC correlated significantly with age (ρ = −0.51; P = 0.02) and changes in total fat mass (ρ = 0.44; P = 0.02) but not with lean mass (ρ = −0.21; P = 0.27), gender, body mass index, smoking, prednisolone dosages or changes in BMD. In SLE patients, high-dose glucocorticoids lead to an early and rapid drop in bone mass, which is more serious in older patients and correlates with an increase in body fat.
Initial and accrued damage as predictors of mortality in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cohort study
Authors: Cardoso CRL , Signorelli FV , Papi JAS , Salles GF 
Published: October 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate whether initial and accrued organ damage measured by Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) Damage Index (SDI) predicts mortality in cohort of Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). One hundred and five outpatients with SLE were enrolled from July 2000 to March 2001; their demographics, disease manifestations, interventions and quantified disease activity (SLEDAI) were obtained. SDI was measured at baseline and at the end of follow-up. Initial and accrued SDI prognostic values for mortality were investigated by multivariate Cox survival analysis and Kaplan-Meyer survival curves. After a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 19 patients died due to disease activity, end-organ failure, cardiovascular events, cancer and infection. Deceased patients had longer disease duration and greater initial and final SDI than survivors had. After adjustment for age, sex and disease duration, both initial and final SDI ≥ 3 points were independent predictors of mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 3.0 (1.1–8.2) and 4.7 (1.6–14.5), respectively. Damage accrual during follow-up was the strongest predictor of death (HR: 5.1, 2.0–13.0). Renal and pulmonary damages were the main predictors of increased mortality risk. In conclusion, baseline and accrued damage increase mortality risk in Brazilian patients with SLE. Measures to prevent damage development and progression are urgent to reduce the mortality of patients with SLE.
Zebrafish runx1 promoter-EGFP transgenics mark discrete sites of definitive blood progenitors
Authors: Yi Ni Lam Enid , Chau Jackie Y. M. , Kalev-Zylinska Maggie L. , Fountaine Timothy M. , Mead R. Scott , Hall Christopher J. , Crosier Philip S. , Crosier Kathryn E. , Vega Flores Maria 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe transcription factor Runx1 is essential for the development of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during vertebrate embryogenesis and is transcribed from 2 promoters, P1 and P2, generating 2 major Runx1 isoforms. We have created 2 stable runx1 promoter zebrafish-transgenic lines that provide insight into the roles of the P1 and P2 isoforms during the establishment of definitive hematopoiesis. The Tg(runx1P1:EGFP) line displays fluorescence in the posterior blood island, where definitive erythromyeloid progenitors develop. The Tg(runx1P2:EGFP) line marks definitive HSCs in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros, with enhanced green fluorescent protein–labeled cells later populating the pronephros and thymus. This suggests that a function of runx1 promoter switching is associated with the establishment of discrete definitive blood progenitor compartments. These runx1 promoter–transgenic lines are novel tools for the study of Runx1 regulation and function in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The ability to visualize and isolate fluorescently labeled HSCs should contribute to further elucidating the complex regulation of HSC development.
A new method to determine tissue specific tissue factor thrombomodulin activities: endotoxin and particulate air pollution induced disbalance
Authors: Frederix Kim , Kooter Ingeborg M , van Oerle René , Fens Diane , Hamulyak Karly , Gerlofs-Nijland Miriam E , ten Cate Hugo , Spronk Henri MH 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Increase in tissue factor (TF) and loss in thrombomodulin (TM) antigen levels has been described in various inflammatory disorders. The functional consequences of such changes in antigen concentrations in the coagulation balance are, however, not known. This study was designed to assess the consequences of inflammation-driven organ specific functional properties of the procoagulant response.

Methods
Tissue specific procoagulant activity was assessed by adding tissue homogenate to normal human pool plasma and recording of the thrombin generation curve. The new technique was subsequently applied on two inflammation driven animal models: 1) mouse lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced endotoxemia and 2) spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to environmental air pollution (particulate matter (PM).

Results
Addition of lung tissue from untreated animals to human plasma suppressed the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) (175 ± 61 vs. 1437 ± 112 nM.min for control). This inhibitory effect was due to TM, because a) it was absent in protein C deficient plasma and b) lungs from TMpro/pro mice allowed full thrombin generation (ETP: 1686 ± 209 nM.min). The inhibitory effect of TM was lost after LPS administration to mice, which induced TF activity in lungs of C57Bl/6 mice as well as increased the ETP (941 ± 523 vs. 194 ± 159 nM.min for control). Another pro-inflammatory stimulus, PM dose-dependently increased TF in the lungs of spontaneously hypertensive rats at 4 and 48 hours after PM exposure. The ETP increased up to 48 hours at the highest concentration of PM (1441 ± 289 nM.min vs. saline: 164 ± 64 nM.min, p < 0.0001), suggesting a concentration- and time dependent reduction in TM activity.

Conclusion
Inflammation associated procoagulant effects in tissues are dependent on variations in activity of the TF-TM balance. The application of these novel organ specific functional assays is a useful tool to monitor inflammation-driven shifts in the coagulation balance within animal or human tissues.
Cloning and Expression of kiss2 in the Zebrafish and Medaka
Authors: Kitahashi Takashi , Ogawa Satoshi , Parhar Ishwar S. 
Published: October 2008

Newly discovered kisspeptin (metastin), encoded by the Kiss1/KISS1 gene, is considered as a major gatekeeper of puberty through the regulation of GnRH. In the present study, we cloned a novel kisspeptin gene (kiss2) in the zebrafish Danio rerio and the medaka Oryzias latipes, which encodes a sequence of 125 and 115 amino acids, respectively, and its core sequence (FNLNPFGLRF, F-F form) is different from the previously characterized kiss1 (YNLNSFGLRY, Y-Y form). Our in silico data mining shows kiss1 and kiss2 are highly conserved across nonmammalian vertebrate species, and we have identified two putative kisspeptins in the platypus and three forms in Xenopus. In the brain of zebrafish and medaka, in situ hybridization and laser capture microdissection coupled with real-time PCR showed kiss1 mRNA expression in the ventromedial habenula and the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus. The kiss2 mRNA expression was observed in the posterior tuberal nucleus and the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis during zebrafish development showed a significant increase in zebrafish kiss1, kiss2 (P &lt; 0.002), gnrh2, and gnrh3 (P &lt; 0.001) mRNA levels at the start of the pubertal phase and remained high in adulthood. In sexually mature female zebrafish, Kiss2 but not Kiss1 administration significantly increased FSH-β (2.7-fold, P &lt; 0.05) and LH-β (8-fold, P &lt; 0.01) mRNA levels in the pituitary. These results suggest that the habenular Kiss1 and the hypothalamic Kiss2 are potential regulators of reproduction including puberty and that Kiss2 is the predominant regulator of gonadotropin synthesis in fish.
Habenular kisspeptin-1 (Kiss1) and the novel hypothalamic Kiss2 are potential regulators of puberty. Kiss2 is the predominant regulator of gonadotropin synthesis in fish.
New coumarin-based anti-inflammatory drug: putative antagonist of the integrins αLβ2 and αMβ2
Authors: Bucolo Claudio , Maltese Adriana , Maugeri Francesco , Ward Keith W , Baiula Monica , Spartà Antonino , Spampinato Santi 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate putative antagonism of integrin receptors αMβ2 and αLβ2 by a novel coumarin derivative (BOL-303225-A), its efficacy in-vivo after retinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and its bioavailability in rat plasma. A cellular adhesion assay in Jurkat and U937 cells, and a flow cytometry assay with an antibody against the β2 subunit were conducted. BOL-303225-A bioavailability in rat plasma and the retinal levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) after ischaemia- reperfusion injury were evaluated after oral administration (10 mg kg−1). In-vitro cell viability assays revealed no cytotoxicity for BOL-303225-A over a wide dose range, and IC50 values of 32.3 ± 1.5 μM and 84.95 ± 2.3 μM were found for Jurkat and U937 cells, respectively. The drug showed specific binding to the αMβ2 and αLβ2 integrin receptors expressed by U937 and Jurkat cells, respectively, producing a fluorescence shift towards lower values in a concentration-dependent manner. The pharmacokinetic profile of BOL-303225-A exhibited rapid absorption following oral administration in the rat. A significant reduction of retinal MPO levels was observed in drug-treated rats. This study demonstrated that BOL-303225-A acts as an antagonist of the integrin αLβ2 and αMβ2 receptors, suggesting that this drug could be used for ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
The hydrodynamics of ribbon-fin propulsion during impulsive motion
Authors: Shirgaonkar Anup A. , Curet Oscar M. , Patankar Neelesh A. , MacIver Malcolm A. 
Published: October 2008

SUMMARYWeakly electric fish are extraordinarily maneuverable swimmers, able to swim as easily forward as backward and rapidly switch swim direction, among other maneuvers. The primary propulsor of gymnotid electric fish is an elongated ribbon-like anal fin. To understand the mechanical basis of their maneuverability, we examine the hydrodynamics of a non-translating ribbon fin in stationary water using computational fluid dynamics and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) of the flow fields around a robotic ribbon fin. Computed forces are compared with drag measurements from towing a cast of the fish and with thrust estimates for measured swim-direction reversals. We idealize the movement of the fin as a traveling sinusoidal wave, and derive scaling relationships for how thrust varies with the wavelength, frequency,amplitude of the traveling wave and fin height. We compare these scaling relationships with prior theoretical work. The primary mechanism of thrust production is the generation of a streamwise central jet and the associated attached vortex rings. Under certain traveling wave regimes, the ribbon fin also generates a heave force, which pushes the body up in the body-fixed frame. In one such regime, we show that as the number of waves along the fin decreases to approximately two-thirds, the heave force surpasses the surge force. This switch from undulatory parallel thrust to oscillatory normal thrust may be important in understanding how the orientation of median fins may vary with fin length and number of waves along them. Our results will be useful for understanding the neural basis of control in the weakly electric knifefish as well as for engineering bio-inspired vehicles with undulatory thrusters.