bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intranasal delivery of whole influenza vaccine prevents subsequent allergen‐induced sensitization and airway hyper‐reactivity in mice
Authors: Minne A. , Jaworska J. , Gerhold K. , Ahrens B. , Avagyan A. , Vanbever R. , Matricardi P. M. , Schmidt A. C. , Hamelmann E. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBackground
Infection with influenza virus has been associated with seemingly opposing effects on the development of asthma. However, there are no data about the effects of mucosal vaccination with inactivated influenza on the inception of allergic asthma.Objective
To assess the immunological effects of inhaled inactivated influenza vaccine, using two different types of flu vaccines, on the inception of allergic sensitization and allergen‐mediated airway disease in a mouse model.Methods
BALB/c mice were intranasally or intratracheally vaccinated with whole or split influenza virus vaccine (days −1 or −1, 27) before systemic sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) (days 1, 14) and repeated airway allergen challenges (days 28–30). Allergen sensitization (IgE serum levels), airway inflammation (differential cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) and airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR) (in vivo lung function) were analysed.Results
The intranasal instillation of whole influenza vaccine before allergen sensitization significantly reduced the serum levels of total and OVA‐specific IgE as well as allergen‐induced AHR. Prevention was due to an allergen‐specific shift from a predominant T helper (Th)2‐ towards a Th1‐immune response. Application of split influenza vaccine did not show the same preventive effect.Conclusion
Intranasal administration of inactivated whole influenza vaccine reduced subsequent allergen sensitization and prevented allergen‐induced AHR. Our results show that the composition of the influenza vaccine has a major influence on subsequent development of allergen‐induced sensitization and AHR, and suggest that mucosal inactivated whole influenza vaccination may represent a step towards the development of a preventive strategy for atopic asthma.
Transforming growth factor‐β2 polymorphisms are associated with childhood atopic asthma
Authors: Hatsushika K. , Hirota T. , Harada M. , Sakashita M. , Kanzaki M. , Takano S. , Doi S. , Fujita K. , Enomoto T. , Ebisawa M. , Yoshihara S. , Sagara H. , Fukuda T. , Masuyama K. , Katoh R. , Matsumoto K. , Saito H. , Ogawa H. , Tamari M. , Nakao A. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBackground
Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β plays an important role in the regulation of airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma. Recent studies suggest that TGF‐β2 is a predominant isoform expressed in severe asthma and it is also associated with airway remodelling.Objective
To determine whether the polymorphisms in TGF‐β2 are associated with childhood atopic bronchial asthma in a Japanese population.Methods
We identified a total of eight polymorphisms and characterized the linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping of the gene. Three variants in the promoter and 3′UTR were genotyped, and we conducted an association study of TGF‐β2 (childhood atopic asthma n=297, normal controls n=555). An association analysis of these variants and an expression and functional analysis were performed.Results
3′UTR 94862T >A was found to be significantly associated with the risk of childhood atopic asthma (P=0.00041). The −109→ACAA ins promoter variant was also associated with the risk of childhood atopic asthma (P=0.0037). TGF‐β2 expression was observed in both the normal and asthmatic bronchial epithelium, and both real‐time PCR and an ELISA showed a significant basal and TGF‐β1‐induced TGF‐β2 expression in the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS2B. Furthermore, the promoter variant −109→ACAA ins increased the TGF‐β2 promoter‐reporter activity in BEAS2B cells.Conclusions
Our data suggest that TGF‐β2 may therefore be involved in the development of childhood atopic asthma by means of functional genetic polymorphism. The polymorphisms in TGF‐β2 may become important information for asthma susceptibility in children.
A non‐linear regularized constrained impedance inversion
Authors: Zhang Hongbing , Shang Zuoping , Yang Changchun 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTInversion for seismic impedance is an inherently complicated problem. It is ill‐posed and band‐limited. Thus the inversion results are non‐unique and the process is unstable. Combining regularization with constraints using sonic and density log data can help to reduce these problems. To achieve this, we developed an inversion method by constructing a new objective function, including edge‐preserving regularization and a soft constraint based on a Markov random field. The method includes the selection of proper initial values of the regularization parameters by a statistical method, and it adaptively adjusts the regularization parameters by the maximum likelihood method in a fast simulated‐annealing procedure to improve the inversion result and the convergence speed. Moreover, the method uses two kinds of regularization parameter: a ‘weighting factor’λ and a ‘scaling parameter’δ. We tested the method on both synthetic and field data examples. Tests on 2D synthetic data indicate that the inversion results, especially the aspects of the discontinuity, are significantly different for different regularization functions. The initial values of the regularization parameters are either too large or too small to avoid either an unstable or an over‐smoothed result, and they affect the convergence speed. When selecting the initial values of λ, the type of the regularization function should be considered. The results obtained by constant regularization parameters are smoother than those obtained by adaptively adjusting the regularization parameters. The inversion results of the field data provide more detailed information about the layers, and they match the impedance curves calculated from the well logs at the three wells, over most portions of the curves.
Heterozygosity–fitness correlations in a bottlenecked island species: a case study on the Seychelles warbler
Authors: BROUWER L. , KOMDEUR J. , RICHARDSON D. S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe used capture–mark–recapture models to investigate the effects of both individual and parental heterozygosity, measured at microsatellite loci on the survival of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis), an endemic island species which went through a severe population bottleneck in the middle of the last century. We found that an individual's survival was not correlated with multilocus heterozygosity, or with heterozygosity at any specific locus. However, maternal, but not paternal, multilocus heterozygosity was positively associated with offspring survival, but only in years with low survival probabilities. A nestling cross‐fostering experiment showed that this was a direct maternal effect as there was an effect of the genetic mother's, but not of the social mother's, heterozygosity. Heterozygosity–fitness correlations at microsatellite markers were generally assumed to reflect genome‐wide effects. Although this might be true in partially inbred populations, such correlations may also arise as a result of local effects with specific markers being closely linked to genes which determine fitness. However, heterozygosity at the individual microsatellite loci was not correlated and therefore does not seem to reflect genome‐wide heterozygosity. This suggests that even in a small bottlenecked population, heterozygosity–fitness correlations may not be caused by genome‐wide effects. Support for the local effects hypothesis was also equivocal; although three specific loci were associated with offspring survival, including all single‐locus heterozygosities as independent predictors for the variation in survival was not supported by the data. Furthermore, in contrast to the local effects hypothesis, the loci which contributed most to the heterozygosity–survival relationship were not more polymorphic than the other loci. This study highlights the difficulties in distinguishing between the two hypotheses.
Functional analysis of the translation factor aIF2/5B in the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus
Authors: Maone Enzo , Di Stefano Michele , Berardi Alessandra , Benelli Dario , Marzi Stefano , La Teana Anna , Londei Paola 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe protein IF2/eIF5B is one of the few translation initiation factors shared by all three primary domains of life (bacteria, archaea, eukarya). Despite its phylogenetic conservation, the factor is known to present marked functional divergences in the bacteria and the eukarya. In this work, the function in translation of the archaeal homologue (aIF2/5B) has been analysed in detail for the first time using a variety of in vitro assays. The results revealed that the protein is a ribosome‐dependent GTPase which strongly stimulates the binding of initiator tRNA to the ribosomes even in the absence of other factors. In agreement with this finding, aIF2/5B enhances the translation of both leadered and leaderless mRNAs when expressed in a cell‐free protein‐synthesizing system. Moreover, the degree of functional conservation of the IF2‐like factors in the archaeal and bacterial lineages was investigated by analysing the behaviour of ‘chimeric’ proteins produced by swapping domains between the Sulfolobus solfataricus aIF2/5B factor and the IF2 protein of the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus. Beside evidencing similarities and differences between the archaeal and bacterial factors, these experiments have provided insight into the common role played by the IF2/5B proteins in all extant cells.
A small RNA downregulates LamB maltoporin in Salmonella
Authors: Bossi Lionello , Figueroa‐Bossi Nara 
Published: July 2007

SummaryIn Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, activation of σE‐dependent envelope stress response leads to the abrupt decline in the synthesis of all major outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Recent studies found that two σE‐controlled small RNAs (sRNAs), MicA and RybB, downregulate a number of OMPs. While RybB targets several different mRNAs, including ompC and ompD, MicA was up to date thought to act solely on ompA. Here we present evidence showing that MicA downregulates a second Salmonella OMP: LamB maltoporine. In strains overexpressing σE, MicA accumulation leads to a significant decrease in LamB protein and mRNA levels, as well as a reduction in β‐galactosidase activity in a strain carrying a lamB–lacZ translational fusion. The latter findings provided the basis for a genetic screen that allowed isolating point mutations in the micA gene and in its σE promoter. All alleles obtained displayed their altered regulatory phenotype from their natural chromosomal location. LamB downregulation by MicA requires a functional Hfq protein. Besides this role, confined to σE‐activated conditions, we show that loss of Hfq results in the accumulation of a lamB‐malM dimeric precursor and of malM mRNA during unchallenged growth. This suggests that Hfq normally intervenes in a mechanism that uncouples expression of the malK‐lamB‐malM operon, causing the distal portion of the transcript to be clipped off and degraded.
Fixed drug eruption to cetirizine with positive lesional patch tests to the three piperazine derivatives
Authors: Cravo Mariana , Gonçalo Margarida , Figueiredo Américo 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  The H1‐antihistamine cetirizine, a piperazine derivative widely used in daily practice, is rarely the cause of cutaneous drug reaction. Nevertheless, four cases of fixed drug eruption (FDE) as a result of this drug have been described recently. We present the case of a 45‐year‐old woman with a multilocalized FDE following oral intake of cetirizine for allergic rhinitis.Methods  Patch testing with hydroxyzine 1% and 10% in petrolatum (Chemotechnique), and with powdered Zyrtec® (cetirizine) and Xyzal® (levocetirizine) pills, prepared at 20% in water and at 20% in petrolatum, was performed in both residual lesions and healthy skin.Results  Positive results (++) to these drugs (24 h occlusion and readings at days 2 and 3) were obtained in residual lesions only. These results allowed us to confirm the drug responsible for this FDE and to study cross‐reactions between antihistamines of the same chemical family.Conclusions  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of FDE to cetirizine with positive patch testing to hydroxyzine, cetirizine, and levocetirizine. This case highlights the importance of patch testing in the study of cutaneous drug reactions, namely FDE.
Cutaneous manifestations of dengue viral infection in Punjab (north India)
Authors: Thomas Emy Aby , John Mary , Bhatia Anuradha 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Dengue infection is emerging as a public health problem in India. Despite numerous studies, there is a paucity of literature regarding the cutaneous manifestations of dengue. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence and type of cutaneous manifestations in dengue viral infection.Methods  Two hundred and fifty‐six patients with febrile illness, admitted to the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India, were studied. On the basis of the clinical criteria and laboratory tests, 124 patients were diagnosed with dengue viral infection, and these patients were investigated in detail. Serologic tests were attempted in only 84 patients, and all of these samples tested positive for anti‐dengue immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies.Results  Of the 124 patients with dengue infection, 41 (23.1%) were classified with dengue fever (DF) and 83 (66.9%) with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), four (3.2%) of whom had dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Cutaneous involvement was seen in 46.8% of patients, the most common symptom being maculopapular/morbilliform eruption (48.3%), followed by ecchymotic (27.6%), petechial (13.8%), and macular/scarlatiniform (10.3%) eruption. Maculopapular eruption was observed more in DF, whereas petechiae, ecchymosis, and mucosal involvement were seen more in DHF; 72.4% of patients with cutaneous manifestations were asymptomatic, and 27.6% had pruritus. Involvement was generalized in 48.3% of patients, with the limbs and trunk involved in 32.8% and 18.9% of patients, respectively. Mucosal involvement was seen in 29.8% of patients, with conjunctival involvement being the most common (20.9%), followed by the lips (4.8%), palate (2.4%), and tongue (1.6%).Conclusions  This study describes the variety of cutaneous features associated with dengue viral infection which may evolve during the course of the disease. As a significant proportion of patients showed cutaneous features, these manifestations, together with simple laboratory tests, will be helpful in the early diagnosis of dengue viral infection.
Postglacial intra‐lacustrine divergence of Icelandic threespine stickleback morphs in three neovolcanic lakes
Authors: ÓLAFSDÓTTIR G. Á. , SNORRASON S. S. , RITCHIE M. G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe geographical context of divergence and local adaptation of lacustrine fish is controversial. Despite recent theoretical support for sympatric and parapatric divergence, empirical studies providing unequivocal support for this remain scant. An important component of such a case would be where multiple lakes have different morphs and a range of markers, both mitochondrial and nuclear, show monophyly within lakes. Here we describe such a situation for threespine sticklebacks in three lakes in Iceland. By analysing the variation at nuclear and mitochondrial markers in several freshwater and marine populations as well as three pairs of intra‐lacustrine morphs we infer their phylogenetic relationships and colonization pattern. There were high levels of microsatellite variation in all populations and no evidence was found for either repeated colonization of marine fish or colonization from distinct glacial refugia. Intra‐lacustrine threespine stickleback morphs in all three lakes show significant genetic divergence probably indicating restricted gene flow.
Arc mRNA induction in striatal efferent neurons associated with response learning
Authors: Daberkow D. P. , Riedy M. D. , Kesner R. P. , Keefe K. A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe dorsal striatum is involved in motor‐response learning, but the extent to which distinct populations of striatal efferent neurons are differentially involved in such learning is unknown. Activity‐regulated, cytoskeleton‐associated (Arc) protein is an effector immediate–early gene implicated in synaptic plasticity. We examined arc mRNA expression in striatopallidal vs. striatonigral efferent neurons in dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum of rats engaged in reversal learning on a T‐maze motor‐response task. Male Sprague–Dawley rats learned to turn right or left for 3 days. Half of the rats then underwent reversal training. The remaining rats were yoked to rats undergoing reversal training, such that they ran the same number of trials but ran them as continued‐acquisition trials. Brains were removed and processed using double‐label fluorescent in situ hybridization for arc and preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA. In the reversal, but not the continued‐acquisition, group there was a significant relation between the overall arc mRNA signal in dorsomedial striatum and the number of trials run, with rats reaching criterion in fewer trials having higher levels of arc mRNA expression. A similar relation was seen between the numbers of PPE+ and PPE– neurons in dorsomedial striatum with cytoplasmic arc mRNA expression. Interestingly, in behaviourally activated animals significantly more PPE– neurons had cytoplasmic arc mRNA expression. These data suggest that Arc in both striatonigral and striatopallidal efferent neurons is involved in striatal synaptic plasticity mediating motor‐response learning in the T‐maze and that there is differential processing of arc mRNA in distinct subpopulations of striatal efferent neurons.
Striatal leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 mRNA is increased in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐lesioned common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) withl‐3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester‐induced dyskinesia
Authors: Hurley M. J. , Patel P. H. , Jackson M. J. , Smith L. A. , Rose S. , Jenner P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe level of leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (Lrrk2) mRNA expression was measured by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction in anterior striatum from normal and 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) that hadl‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine methyl ester (l‐DOPA)‐induced dyskinesia. The level of striatalLrrk2mRNA was increased in MPTP‐treated common marmosets that hadl‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia compared with normal animals that did not receivel‐DOPA. Marmosets that exhibited higher levels of dyskinesia had the greatest increase in striatalLrrk2mRNA.Lrrk2mRNA expression was also measured in human striatum and substantia nigra from control subjects and patients dying with Parkinson's disease. In contrast to marmoset tissue, no alteration inLrrk2mRNA expression was found in parkinsonian human brain. However, the brain was from patients who had an overall low level of dyskinesia. The correlation between striatalLrrk2mRNA levels in MPTP‐treated common marmoset striatum andl‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia indicates that LRRK2 may have a role in the molecular alterations that causel‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia.
The Effect of Board's Quality on Performance: a study of Canadian firms
Authors: Adjaoud Fodil , Zeghal Daniel , Andaleeb Syed 
Published: July 2007

We investigate the impact of board's quality as defined by a Score published in a Canadian National Newspaper on the performance of the firm. Based on the current literature, we ranked the boards of 219 Canadian firms in terms of four board characteristics: composition of the board, compensation of board members, shareholder rights, and disclosure. Then, we defined firm performance by using traditional accounting‐based measures such as ROI, ROE, EPS, and Market‐to‐book ratio and value creation‐based measures such as EVA(R) and MVA. To test the effects of board's quality on firm performance, we adopted different models of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.Our results show no significant relationships between corporate governance and performance when using traditional performance measures, such as ROI, ROE, EPS and Market‐to‐book. However, they reveal significant links between board's quality and performance when the latter is captured by value performance measures, such as market value added and economic value added.
How does ownership structure affect capital structure and firm value? Recent evidence from East Asia1
Authors: Driffield Nigel , Mahambare Vidya , Pal Sarmistha 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe present paper examines the effects of ownership structures on capital structure and firm valuation. It argues that the effects of separation of control from cash flow rights on capital structure and firm value also depend on the separation of control from management as well as on legal rules and enforcement defining investors’ protection. We obtain firm‐level panel data (three stage least squares, 3SLS) estimates from four of the East Asian countries worst affected by the last crisis. There is evidence that the general wisdom that higher control than cash flow rights may lower firm value may be reversed among owner‐managed family firms in the sample countries.
Chiari‐Like Malformation with Syringomyelia in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Long‐Term Outcome After Surgical Management
Authors: RUSBRIDGE CLARE 
Published: July 2007

Objective– To evaluate long‐term success of cranial cervical decompression for management of canine Chiari‐like malformation with syringomyelia (CM/SM).Study Design– Retrospective clinical study.Animals– Cavalier King Charles spaniels (n=15).Methods– After diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dogs had cranial cervical decompression with durotomy. Seven dogs had the durotomy patched with biocompatible collagen matrix. Clinical outcome was monitored for >12 months.Results– All dogs either improved (80%) or were unchanged (20%) postoperatively. Postoperative MRI in 6 dogs revealed persistence of syringomyelia. Seven dogs (47%) subsequently deteriorated, 0.2–2.3 years after surgery (mean, 1.3 years) and 2 dogs were eventually euthanatized as a consequence. Twelve dogs were still alive, 1–6.5 years after surgery (mean, 2.5 years).Conclusion– Cranial cervical decompression surgery is associated with low mortality and morbidity, and results in clinical improvement in most dogs. The procedure seemingly does not result in syrinx collapse and resolution. Clinical improvement may not be sustained and some dogs can be expected to deteriorate.Clinical Relevance– Cranial cervical decompression surgery may have a role in management of CM/SM. In dogs with severe pain, it can improve quality of life for several years; however, it does not appear to adequately address the primary cause of syringomyelia. Further prospective study is needed to better understand the pathogenesis and treatment of this disorder. Because this condition causes neuropathic pain but does not necessarily result in euthanasia more information is needed on appropriate pain management for these patients.