bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Long‐term Impaired Macrophages Functions are Already Observed Early after High‐dose Ethanol Administration
Authors: Andrade M. C. , Martins‐Filho O. A. , Coelho‐Neto J. , Mesquita O. N. , Faria A. M. C. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractHerein, we described an experimental model of high‐dose ethanol (EtOH) administration, able to induce in vitro impairment in macrophage phagocytic capacity, already observed at 24 h after the last EtOH administration. This phenomenon was characterized by enlarged time required for adhesion and internalization events. Parallel studies documented an overall impaired production of interleukin (IL)‐6 and nitric oxide (NO) production by peritoneal macrophages in EtOH‐treated mice following interferon (IFN)‐γ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimuli. Although the impaired IL‐6 response could not be restored by any of the experimental conditions tested, the lower NO response to INF‐γ and LPS was overturned by simultaneous IFN‐γ/LPS stimuli. It was interesting to notice that high‐dose EtOH administration drives peritoneal macrophages towards long‐term impairment in phagocytosis capacity with slower adhesion time, but with no impact on the time required for internalization. Moreover, 30 days after the last EtOH administration, lower IL‐6 response to INF‐γ and impaired NO production were still observed in response to IFN‐γ/LPS stimuli, with the IL‐6 response to IFN‐γ being restored by IFN‐γ/LPS stimuli. Histological studies showed that high‐dose EtOH administration led to long‐term in vivo impairment of antigen‐clearance following OVA‐driven delayed‐type‐hypersensitivity induction, characterized by the presence of a large amount of unprocessed OVA surrounded by dermal inflammatory infiltrate, suggesting defective activity of antigen‐presenting cells. Together, these findings supported our hypothesis that the poor antigen clearance in vivo may be related to the impaired macrophage function in vitro. These observations in the murine experimental model may reflect some of the consequences of EtOH consumption by humans.
Effect of HLA Genotype or CTLA‐4 Polymorphism on Cytokine Response in Healthy Children
Authors: Walldén J. , Ilonen J. , Roivainen M. , Ludvigsson J. , Vaarala O. ,   & the ABIS Study Group
Published: August 2008

AbstractType 1 diabetes (T1D) is considered to be a T‐cell‐mediated autoimmune disease in which genetic predisposition is affected by HLA class II alleles and polymorphisms in cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) gene. We tested the hypothesis whether these T1D‐related gene polymorphisms modulate cytokine response and thus contribute to the development of autoimmunity. The study includes 67 non‐diabetic children, typed for HLA class II alleles and CTLA‐4 polymorphisms (+49A/G, CT60A/G, CTBC217_1C/T). We measured cytokine secretion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with tetanus toxoid (TT), polio virus, coxsackie virus B4, pertussis toxin (PT) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). We saw higher IL‐13 response to TT in individuals with DR3–DQ2 haplotype (P = 0.002). HLA class II protective haplotype, DR2–DQ6, showed association with increased production of IFN‐γ (P < 0.001) and IL‐2 (P = 0.005) in response to polio virus. In children with the autoimmunity‐related homozygous genotypes CTLA‐4 +49G/G, CT60G/G and CTBC217_1T/T, we found enhanced PT‐ and PHA‐induced IFN‐γ production (P < 0.05). The cytokine responses to studied antigens were weakly modified by HLA class II risk haplotypes, and children with T1D‐associated HLA risk haplotypes are not specifically inclined to develop an immune response in general. Higher IFN‐γ and IL‐2 response to enterovirus in children with HLA class II protective haplotype DR2‐DQ6 could be of importance in the protection from T1D‐associated enterovirus infections. All autoimmunity related CTLA‐4 polymorphisms were associated with enhanced IFN‐γ. This suggests impaired downregulation of cellular immunity by these CTLA‐4 polymorphisms.
Modifying effects of phenotypic plasticity on interactions among natural selection, adaptation and gene flow
Authors: CRISPO E. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractDivergent natural selection, adaptive divergence and gene flow may interact in a number of ways. Recent studies have focused on the balance between selection and gene flow in natural populations, and empirical work has shown that gene flow can constrain adaptive divergence, and that divergent selection can constrain gene flow. A caveat is that phenotypic diversification may be under the direct influence of environmental factors (i.e. it may be due to phenotypic plasticity), in addition to partial genetic influence. In this case,phenotypicdivergence may occur between populations despite high gene flow that imposes a constraint ongeneticdivergence. Plasticity may dampen the effects of natural selection by allowing individuals to rapidly adaptphenotypicallyto new conditions, thus slowing adaptive genetic divergence. On the other hand, plasticity may promote future adaptive divergence by allowing populations to persist in novel environments. Plasticity may promote gene flow between selective regimes by allowing dispersers to adapt to alternate conditions, or high gene flow may result in the selection for increased plasticity. Here I expand frameworks for understanding relationships among selection, adaptation and gene flow to include the effects of phenotypic plasticity in natural populations, and highlight its importance in evolutionary diversification.
Sexual conflict is not counterbalanced by good genes in the laboratory Drosophila melanogaster model system
Authors: STEWART A. D. , HANNES A. M. , MIRZATUNY A. , RICE W. R. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSexual conflict theory is based on the observation that females of many species are harmed through their interactions with males. Direct harm to females, however, can potentially be counterbalanced by indirect genetic benefits, where females make up for a reduction in offspring quantity by an increase in offspring quality through a generic increase in offspring fitness (good genes) and/or one restricted to the context of sexual selection (sexy sons). Here, we quantify the magnitude of the good genes mechanism of indirect benefits in a laboratory‐adapted population of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that despite high‐standing genetic variance for fitness, females gain at most only a modest benefit through the good genes form of indirect benefits – far too little to counterbalance the direct cost of male‐induced harm.
Novel methylotrophic bacteria isolated from the River Thames (London, UK)
Authors: Boden Rich , Thomas Elizabeth , Savani Parita , Kelly Donovan P. , Wood Ann P. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryEnrichment and elective culture for methylotrophs from sediment of the River Thames in central London yielded a diversity of pure cultures representing several genera of Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, which were mainly of organisms not generally regarded as typically methylotrophic. Substrates leading to successful isolations included methanol, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, methanesulfonate and dimethylsulfone. Several isolates were studied in detail and shown by their biochemical and morphological properties and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to be Sphingomonas melonis strain ET35, Mycobacterium fluoranthenivorans strain DSQ3, Rhodococcus erythropolis strain DSQ4, Brevibacterium casei strain MSQ5, Klebsiella oxytoca strains MMA/F and MMA/1, Pseudomonas mendocina strain TSQ4, and Flavobacterium sp. strains MSA/1 and MMA/2. The results show that facultative methylotrophy is present across a wide range of Bacteria, suggesting that turnover of diverse C1‐compounds is of much greater microbiological and environmental significance than is generally thought. The origins of the genes encoding the enzymes of methylotrophy in diverse heterotrophs need further study, and could further our understanding of the phylogeny and antiquity of methylotrophic systems.
An Investigation Into the Diversification–Performance Relationship in the U.S. Property–Liability Insurance Industry
Authors: Elango B. , Ma Yu‐Luen , Pope Nat 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThis article investigates the relationship between product diversification and firm performance in the U.S. property–liability insurance industry using data over the 1994 through 2002 time period. Using various measures of product diversification and firm performance, we find that the extent of product diversification shares a complex and nonlinear relationship with firm performance. Our findings suggest that performance benefits associated with product diversification are contingent upon an insurer's degree of geographic diversification. Robustness tests using subsamples and market returns for public firms show consistent results.
Issues in Claims Reserving and Credibility: A Semiparametric Approach With Mixed Models
Authors: Antonio Katrien , Beirlant Jan 
Published: August 2008

AbstractUsing the statistical methodology of semi‐parametric regression and its connection with mixed models, this article revisits smoothing models for loss reserving and credibility. Apart from the flexibility inherent to all semiparametric methods, advantages of the semiparametric approach developed here are threefold. First, a Bayesian implementation of these smoothing models is relatively straightforward and allows simulation from the full predictive distribution of quantities of interest. Second, because the constructed models have an interpretation as (generalized) linear mixed models ((G)LMMs), standard statistical theory and software for (G)LMMs can be used. Third, more complicated data sets, dealing, for example, with quarterly development in a reserving context, heavy tails, semi‐continuous data, or extensive longitudinal data, can be modeled within this framework.
Racial Differences in the Demand for Life Insurance
Authors: Gutter Michael S. , Hatcher Charles B. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe objective of this article is to measure racial differences in the proportion of human capital that households protect with life insurance. Using the 2004 Survey of Consumer Finances data, racial differences in two stages of the process are tested, where it is assumed that households must decide both whether or not to purchase life insurance and how much of their human capital to insure (if they decide to purchase). Among married and cohabitating households, we find that, controlling for demographics and other factors, there is little difference in life insurance ownership between black and white households but that white households insure a larger proportion of their human capital than black households.
Assessing the Risk Potential of Premium Payment Options in Participating Life Insurance Contracts
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Schmeiser Hato 
Published: August 2008

AbstractMost life insurance contracts embed the right to stop premium payments during the term of the contract (paid‐up option). Thereby, the contract is not terminated but continues with reduced benefits and often provides the right to resume premium payments later, thus increasing the previously reduced benefits (resumption option). In our analysis, we start with a basic contract with two standard options, namely, an interest rate guarantee and annual surplus participation. Next, in addition to the features of the basic contract, a paid‐up and resumption option is included in the framework. The valuation process is not based on assumptions about a particular policyholders' exercise strategy but instead assesses the risk potential from the insurer's viewpoint by providing an upper bound for any possible exercise behavior. This approach provides important information to the insurer about the potential hazard of offering the paid‐up and resumption option. Further, the approach allows an analysis of the impact of guaranteed interest rate, annual surplus participation, and investment volatility on the values of the premium payment options.
Survival Analysis of a Household Portfolio of Insurance Policies: How Much Time Do You Have to Stop Total Customer Defection?
Authors: Brockett Patrick L. , Golden Linda L. , Guillen Montserrat , Nielsen Jens Perch , Parner Jan , Perez‐Marin Ana Maria 
Published: August 2008

AbstractCustomer‐side influences on insurance have been relatively ignored in the literature. Using the household as the unit of analysis, this article focuses on the behavior of households having multiple policies of different types with the same insurance company, and who cancel their first policy. How long after the household's cancellation of the first policy does the insurer have to retain the customer and avoid customer defection on all policies to the competition? And, what customer characteristics are associated with customer loyalty? Using logistic regression and survival analysis techniques, an assessment is made of the probability of total customer withdrawal, and the length of time between first cancellation and subsequent customer withdrawal. Using a European database spanning 54 months of household multiple policyholder behavior, the results show that cancellation of one policy is a very strong indicator that other household policies will be canceled. Further, the insurer can have time to react to retain the customer after the first cancellation, however, this time is significantly dependent on the method used to contact the company, household demographics, and the nature of the household's insurance policy portfolio. Surprisingly, core customers having three or more policies in addition to the canceled policy are more vulnerable to total defection on all policies than noncore customers. Further, the potential customer repelling effects of premium increases seem to wear out after 12 months. Strategic implications of the results are presented.
Income Drawdown Schemes for a Defined‐Contribution Pension Plan
Authors: Emms Paul , Haberman Steven 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn retirement a pensioner must often decide how much money to withdraw from a pension fund, how to invest the remaining funds, and whether to purchase an annuity. These decisions are addressed here by introducing a number of income drawdown schemes, which are relevant to a defined‐contribution personal pension plan. The optimal asset allocation is defined so that it minimizes the expected loss of the pensioner as measured by the performance of the pension fund against a benchmark. Two benchmarks are considered: a risk‐free investment and the price of an annuity. The fair‐value income drawdown rate is defined so that the fund performance is a martingale under the objective measure. Annuitization is recommended if the expected fair‐value drawdown rate falls below the annuity rate available at retirement. As an illustration, the annuitization age is calculated for a Gompertz mortality distribution function and a power law loss function.
Rates and predictors of remission and recovery during 3 years in 392 never‐treated patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Lambert M. , Naber D. , Schacht A. , Wagner T. , Hundemer H.‐P. , Karow A. , Huber C. G. , Suarez D. , Haro J. M. , Novick D. , Dittmann R. W. , Schimmelmann B. G. 
Published: August 2008

Objective:  Few studies have prospectively examined remission and recovery as well as their predictors in schizophrenia simultaneously. Aims of the study were to identify remission and recovery rates as well as their predictors in schizophrenia.Method:  392 never‐treated patients with schizophrenia were assessed over 3 years. Combined remission and recovery required concurrent achievement of symptomatic and functional remission as well as adequate quality of life for at least 6 and 24 months respectively. Predictors were analysed using stepwise logistic regression models.Results:  At 3 years, remission rates for symptoms, functioning and subjective wellbeing were 60.3%, 45.4% and 57.0%; recovery rates were 51.7%, 35.0% and 44.3%. Of those, 28.1% were in combined remission and 17.1% in combined recovery. Predictors mainly included the baseline functional status and early remission within the first 3 months.Conclusion:  The proportion of patients who met combined remission or recovery criteria is low. Early treatment adaptations in case of early non‐remission are mandatory.
Major psychoses with mixed psychotic and mood symptoms: are mixed psychoses associated with different neurobiological markers?
Authors: Bora E. , Yucel M. , Fornito A. , Berk M. , Pantelis C. 
Published: August 2008

Objective:  Evidence related to overlapping clinical and genetic risk factors in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) have raised concerns about the validity of ‘Kraepelinian dichotomy’. As controversies mainly arise in mixed psychoses that occupy the intermediate zone between schizophrenia and BD, investigating neurobiological markers of mixed psychoses may be relevant to understanding the nature of psychotic disorders.Method:  In this article, we review studies comparing magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological and electrophysiological findings in mixed psychoses with each other, as well as with more prototypical cases of schizophrenia and BD.Results:  The evidence reviewed suggests that mixed psychoses may be associated with different genetic and neurobiological markers compared with prototypical forms of schizophrenia and BD.Conclusion:  These findings may be compatible with more sophisticated versions of dimensional and continuum models or, alternatively, they may suggest that there is an intermediate third category between prototypical schizophrenia and BD.
A 12‐month follow‐up study of treating overweight schizophrenic patients with aripiprazole
Authors: Schorr S. G. , Slooff C. J. , Postema R. , Van Oven W. , Schilthuis M. , Bruggeman R. , Taxis K. 
Published: August 2008

Objective:  To investigate the feasibility of switching overweight schizophrenic patients to aripiprazole and to assess the impact of 12 months of aripiprazole treatment on weight in routine practice.Method:  This was a non‐controlled cohort study in overweight schizophrenic patients. Data were collected before treatment with aripiprazole was started and at 12‐month follow‐up.Results:  A total of 53 patients were included; of these 55% continued using aripiprazole for 12 months. Aripiprazole treatment for 12 months (P = 0.027) and stopping clozapine or olanzapine treatment (P = 0.038) predicted weight loss (≥3 kg). Patients receiving aripiprazole monotherapy (n = 16, mean −3.0 kg) had similar weight loss than patients receiving aripiprazole in addition to another antipsychotic drug (n = 13, mean −4.4 kg).Conclusion:  In routine practice once aripiprazole treatment was started, more than half of the patients remained on aripiprazole and most of them lost weight. Adding aripiprazole to clozapine gave similar weight loss as monotherapy with aripiprazole.
Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis: a clonal subcutaneous T‐cell dyscrasia
Authors: Magro Cynthia M. , Schaefer Jochen T. , Morrison Carl , Porcu Pierluigi 
Published: August 2008

Background:  Atypical lymphocytic lobular panniculitis (ALLP) is a recently described entity characterized by waxing and waning plaques. A morphologic and biologic continuum with subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma has been suggested.Methods:  Between 2003 and 2007, we encountered five patients with ALLP. Comprehensive phenotypic and molecular studies were performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.Results:  The patient population comprised four women, one man and two boys, age range of 6–42 years. All patients had a similar clinical presentation, being one of the recurrent infiltrative plaque‐like lesions. All cases showed a permeation of the interstitial spaces of the subcutis by well‐differentiated lymphocytes unaccompanied by significant fat necrosis. Molecular studies showed a clonal and/or oligoclonal profile in all cases. In all cases in which multiple biopsies were obtained, there was preservation of the identical T‐cell clonotypes at different biopsy sites and over time. No patient progressed to lymphoma. One patient achieved remission with isotrentinoin.Conclusions:  ALLP represents a form of cutaneous lymphoid dyscrasia given the relatively self‐limited nature of the eruption, albeit in the context of clinical recurrence.
Foxp3 expression in cutaneous T‐cell lymphocytic infiltrates
Authors: Solomon Garron J. , Magro Cynthia M. 
Published: August 2008

Background:  The primary function of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) is to regulate the function and proliferation of immunologically responsive T cells; the transcription factor Foxp3 is expressed by this cell populace and is held to be the standard marker for Treg cells.Design:  A variety of cutaneous T‐cell lymphocytic infiltrates were evaluated for Foxp3 expression.Results:  Of the 95 cases, 33 (35%) were reactive, 40 (42%) were prelymphomatous cutaneous T‐cell dyscrasia and 22 were (23%) T‐cell lymphoma. The reactive category included dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, hypersensitivity reactions and graft‐vs.‐host disease. The prelymphomatous dyscrasia category was represented chiefly by pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) and pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD). The Foxp3 reactivity was less than 10% for cases of dermatomyositis and lupus erythematosus, 23% for hypersensitivity cases, 0% for graft‐vs.‐host disease, 16% for the dyscrasias and 11% for the lymphomas. Intermediate grade and aggressive lymphomas had very few Foxp3+ cells (< 5%). There were fewer numbers of Foxp3+ T cells in the monoclonal variants of PLC and PPD.Conclusions:  T‐reg cells may play a role in controlling the extent of T‐cell proliferations in the skin with a lack of T‐regulatory function permissive to the development of various T‐cell disorders.
Platelet‐rich plasma suppresses osteoclastogenesis by promoting the secretion of osteoprotegerin
Authors: Ogino Y. , Ayukawa Y. , Kukita T. , Atsuta I. , Koyano K. 
Published: August 2008

Background and Objective:  Platelet‐rich plasma is characterized by containing fundamental protein growth factors. Although many in vitro studies have documented the capability of platelet‐rich plasma to induce the growth of osteoblasts or osteoblast‐like cells, the effect of platelet‐rich plasma on osteoclastogenesis has not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of platelet‐rich plasma and platelet‐poor plasma on osteoclastogenesis with rat bone marrow cell culture.Material and Methods:  Platelet‐rich plasma and platelet‐poor plasma were produced from the whole blood of rat. For cell culture, rat bone marrow cells were isolated from rat tibiae and then treated with 1,25α dihydroxy vitamin D3 and with different concentrations of platelet‐rich plasma or platelet‐poor plasma. After 4 d of culture, rat bone marrow cells were stained with tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and TRAP‐positive cells that had more than three nuclei (TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells) were counted as osteoclast‐like cells. Osteoprotegerin, known as an osteoclastogenesis‐related factor, cells was quantified using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:  Although platelet‐poor plasma had no effect on the formation of TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells, platelet‐rich plasma decreased the number of TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells in a dose‐dependent manner. The amount of osteoprotegerin produced from rat bone marrow cells and from MC3T3‐E1 cells was enhanced in platelet‐rich plasma‐treated groups.Conclusion:  Under our experimental conditions, platelet‐rich plasma decreased the formation of TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells and increased the secretion of osteoprotegerin. This study suggests that platelet‐rich plasma suppresses osteoclastogenesis, therefore inhibiting bone resorption. In addition we also demonstrated that platelet‐rich plasma increased the secretion of osteoprotegerin, an inhibitor for osteoclast formation, thus suggesting that the enhancement of osteoprotegerin secretion induces this inhibitory effect.