bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SPARC and Hevin expression correlate with tumour angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lau CP‐Y , Poon RT‐P , Cheung S‐T , Yu W‐C , Fan S‐T 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBoth Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) and Hevin are multifunctional matricellular glycoproteins. Recent experimental studies suggested that Hevin and SPARC together diminish angiogenesis, but their significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to correlate SPARC and Hevin expression with angiogenesis and clinicopathological features in HCC. SPARC and Hevin protein and mRNA expression in HCC specimens were assessed by immunostaining, immunoblotting, and quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Tumour microvessel density (MVD) was assessed by CD34 immunostaining. The role of SPARC and Hevin in HCC was further assessed in an in vivo nude mice xenograft model. Both SPARC and Hevin mRNA levels were significantly higher in tumours than in non‐tumourous livers. A significant correlation between tumour SPARC and Hevin mRNA levels was found. Moreover, SPARC protein localized in the tumour sinusoidal area correlated significantly with Hevin protein localized in HCC cells. Truncated forms of SPARC and Hevin proteins were detected in clinical samples. Truncated SPARC protein localized in the tumour sinusoidal area correlated significantly with tumour MVD. On the other hand, overexpression of full‐length SPARC in tumour xenografts in athymic nude mice significantly delayed tumour growth, and this delay was related to a decrease in tumour angiogenesis. Expression of Hevin protein within HCC cells was related to the presence of tumour encapsulation and the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen in clinical samples. Overexpression of Hevin in tumour xenografts also significantly delayed tumour growth. In conclusion, this study has shown that SPARC and Hevin are upregulated in HCC compared with non‐tumourous liver, and that they are inter‐related at both mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, both SPARC and Hevin were related to HCC angiogenesis and tumour progression. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of NSAID or COX‐2 inhibitor use on the initiation of antihypertensive therapy
Authors: Yood Marianne Ulcickas , Watkins Emmeline , Wells Karen , Kucera Gena , Johnson Christine Cole , Eva Lydick  
Published: October 2006

AbstractPurposeThe objective of this study was to quantify the associations between NSAIDs and COX‐2 inhibitors and risk for initiating antihypertensive therapy.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based case‐control study in a large, integrated health system in the Midwestern United States. Cases (N = 23 562) were new users of antihypertensive therapy from 1, July 1997, through 31, January 2003. Controls (N = 23 562) were randomly selected and matched to cases on age, copay, medical care utilization, sex, and index date. The main outcome measures were exposure to NSAIDs and COX‐2 inhibitors.ResultsRecent prescription NSAID use was associated with an increased risk for initiation of antihypertensive therapy (odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95%CI 1.5, 1.7) as were selective COX‐2 inhibitors (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.6, 2.1). After adjusting for age, sex, co‐payment, race, and exposure to other NSAIDs/COX‐2, each non‐selective NSAID (diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, oxaprozin) was associated with an increased risk of antihypertensive therapy initiation, with ORs ranging from 1.4 to 1.8. Recent users of COX‐2 inhibitors had an increased risk of initiating antihypertensive therapy, regardless of specific drug (celecoxib adjusted OR = 1.7 (95%CI 1.3, 2.1); rofecoxib adjusted OR = 1.7 (95%CI 1.4, 1.9)).ConclusionsA consistent increased risk of initiation of antihypertensive therapy was observed among recent users of NSAIDs and COX‐2 inhibitors. Unlike previous studies, the results indicate that the effects of rofecoxib and celecoxib are equivalent. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photo‐ and electrochemical bonding of DNA to single crystalline CVD diamond
Authors: Shin D. , Rezek B. , Tokuda N. , Takeuchi D. , Watanabe H. , Nakamura T. , Yamamoto T. , Nebel C. E. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAlkene and nitrophenyl molecules have been covalently bonded to single crystal diamond using photochemical and electrochemical techniques. The surface density of electrochemically grafted nitrophenyl groups is about 5% of a monolayer (8 × 1013 molecules/cm2) on initially H‐terminated diamond. Covalently‐bonded nitrophenyl groups on single‐crystalline diamond are characterized to have two successive reversible one‐electron transfer reactions due to a regularly‐oriented arrangement. On oxidized surface of boron doped electrodes, a slightly (10%) smaller density is detected. Photochemical attachment of alkene molecules results also in a well arranged films as detected by angle resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The density of 10‐amino‐dec‐1‐ene molecules protected with trifluoroacetic acid (“TFAAD”) is calculated to be in the range 2 × 1014 molecules/cm2. The bonding mechanism of Alkene molecules to high quality hydrogen terminated single crystalline CVD diamond has been characterized using a variety of experiments which show that photo‐excited electrons of 5 eV energy trigger the photochemical attachment. The minimum time required to achieve a monolayer attachment of TFAAD molecules on (100)(2 × 1):H diamond is discussed and compared with experimental data from XPS. The benzene and alkene linker molecules are then reacted with the heterobifunctional cross linker sulphosuccinimidyl‐4‐(N‐maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylate and finally with thiol‐modified ss‐DNA to produce a DNA‐modified diamond surface. The interaction with complementary and partially mismatched DNA is characterized by fluorescence microscopy. Microscopic properties of DNA layers on diamond have been characterized by contact‐ and oscillatory‐mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). A comparison of bonding forces, detected by contact mode AFM, reveals significant bonding strength differences. For both, electro‐ and photochemically bonded DNA, tilted molecule arrangements are detected, with angles in the range 30 ° to 46° with respect to the diamond surface. The DNA films are dense with a surface roughness of about 5 Å. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
High mobility diamonds and particle detectors
Authors: Pernegger H. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe basic properties of high‐quality CVD diamond film make them very interesting for a wide range of detectors: they are radiation hard, provide fast signals, show very low leakage current even in high radiation environments, have excellent thermal properties and can be manufactured as free‐standing detectors. This paper will give an overview of recent test results on polycrystalline and single crystal CVD diamond detectors. Large polycrystalline CVD diamonds with a charge collection distance up to 300 μm have been tested and are used to build prototype tracking detectors and beam monitors at the moment. Further irradiation studies have been carried out using a 24 GeV proton beam to test samples up to a total fluence of 1.8 × 1016 protons/cm2. Measurements on several samples of single‐crystal CVD diamonds have shown full charge collection in the detector. Results of transient‐current measurements on single crystal CVD diamonds, which are used to determine the charge carrier mobility and lifetime, show the excellent electrical properties of this material. The paper will present several different applications of CVD diamond detectors, which benefit from the recent improvements of detector‐grade diamonds. They range from tracking in High Energy Physics experiments, to high‐speed Beam Conditions Monitor at the collider experiments up to CVD diamond detectors as beam diagnostic in proton cancer therapy. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Chemical vapor deposition of homoepitaxial diamond films
Authors: Teraji Tokuyuki 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThis paper presents a review of state‐of‐the‐art reports of homoepitaxial diamond growth. Crystal growth and characterization methods that are commonly used for homoepitaxial diamond studies are first described briefly. Then, effects of each process parameter on the growth mode of homoepitaxial diamond are discussed. Methane concentration and substrate temperature were two dominant parameters that determine the growth rate and crystalline quality of diamond films, while conditions of diamond substrates including crystal orientation and pretreatments should be optimized for high‐quality diamond deposition. Attempts to increase growth rate of homoepitaxial diamond films while keeping their crystalline quality are discussed in the later section. Increase of microwave power density for plasma‐assisted chemical vapor deposition was found to be effective for the high‐rate growth of diamond. Free‐exciton recombination emission was intensively observed from homoepitaxial films grown at higher growth rate of 3.5 μm/h under the high power density condition. In addition, boron‐doped samples grown under the high‐power conditions showed high Hall mobility of 1620 cm2 V s−1 at room temperature. The plasma power density is thus one of the important parameters of diamond deposition from the viewpoint of electronic device application. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ultrafast degenerate four‐wave mixing in CuCl ultrathin films
Authors: Ichimiya M. , Ashida M. , Yasuda H. , Ishihara H. , Itoh T. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractDegenerate four‐wave mixing (DFWM) spectra of CuCl thin films with high crystalline quality and with thicknesses in the order of hundreds of nanometers have been investigated. We found that the several components appear with the enormous radiative shift below the transverse exciton energy in the DFWM spectrum and succeeded in demonstrating that the energy of each component is in good agreement with the eigenenergy for the mode structure of a size‐dependent exciton–radiation coupled system. The ultrafast response time of DFWM around 100 fs is observed in a thin film with a thickness of 187 nm, which reflects the theoretically predicted and extremely large radiative width. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Optical manipulation of CuCl nanoparticles under an excitonic resonance condition in superfluid helium
Authors: Inaba K. , Imaizumi K. , Katayama K. , Ichimiya M. , Ashida M. , Iida T. , Ishihara H. , Itoh T. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractIn order to prepare the optimal condition for the resonant optical manipulation, a lot of CuCl particles with a broad size‐distribution ranging from 10 nm to 10 μm have been directly fabricated from a bulk sample by laser ablation in superfluid helium. We irradiated these particles with the laser light covering the excitonic resonance levels of particles smaller than 100 nm in order to transport them onto a target silicon substrate by using resonant radiation force. As a result, we have observed that many particles of from 10 to 50 nm diameters adhere to the substrate. This means that these nanoparticles are transported by the resonant radiation force much stronger than the gravitational force. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Developing a Partnership Model for Cancer Screening with Community‐Based Organizations: The ACCESS Breast Cancer Education and Outreach Project
Authors: Rapkin Bruce D. , Massie Mary Jane , Jansky Elizabeth J. , Lounsbury David W. , Murphy Paulette D. , Powell Shemeeakah 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThere is growing enthusiasm for community‐academic partnerships to promote health in underserved communities. Drawing upon resources available at a comprehensive cancer center, we developed the ACCESS program to guide community based organizations through a flexible program planning process. Over a three‐year period, ACCESS partnered with 67 agencies serving various medically underserved populations. Organizations included hospitals, parishes, senior centers, harm reduction programs, and recreational facilities. Program outcomes at the organizational level were quantified in terms of introduction of new cancer information, referral or screening programs, as well as organizational capacity building. ACCESS represents a viable model for promoting partnership to transfer behavioral health programs and adapt interventions for new audiences. Plans to further evaluate and enhance this model to promote cancer screening efforts are discussed. We argue that, ultimately, formation and development of community partnerships need to be understood as a fundamental area of practice that must be systematically integrated into the mission of major academic medical institutions in every area of public health.
Stopped-Flow Kinetic Studies of the Interaction of Bovine Folate Binding Protein (FBP) and Folate
Authors: Christensen Ulla , Holm Jan , Hansen Steen Ingemann 
Published: October 2006

The kinetics of the interaction of bovine folate binding protein and folate at pH 7.4 and 5.0 were followed by measuring the changes of the intrinsic protein fluorescence intensity using the stopped-flow technique, which enables the study of reactions from the millisecond time-range. Our results immediately reject a simple one-step binding model, which requires a linear dependence of the observed rate constant on the concentration of the ligand. Thus, we are able to conclude that at pH 5.0 the interaction occurs in two steps and at pH 7.4 in three steps. Changes of fluorescence spectra at equilibrium were used to estimate the overall binding constants. Comparative studies on the binding of folate to human albumin are also reported.
Cloned Vero cell lines transfected with full‐length A‐segment or ORF1 cDNA sequence of IBDV
Authors: Ye Juxiu , Chen Qingxin , Zhou Jiyong , Li Lingyan 
Published: October 2006

AbstractRecombinant plasmids containing the A‐segment or VP2/4/3 gene of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were transfected into Vero cells. Monoclonal Vero cell lines were generated under G418 selection. Genomic (PCR/Southern blot) and transcriptional (RT‐PCR/Northern blot) analyses showed that one copy of A‐segment or VP2/4/3 or a partial gene of them was randomly and stably inserted into genomic DNA of Vero cells, and was able to transcribe corresponding mRNA. IFA/IPMA and Western blot analyses further confirmed that two of the monoclonal Vero cells with insertion of the A‐segment of IBDV into genomic DNA could stably express VP2, VP3 and VP5 proteins, one cell line only expressed VP2 protein, and three monoclonal Vero cell lines with genomic insertion of the VP2/4/3 gene of IBDV could express VP2, VP3 and VP4 proteins. Under G418 selection, integrated foreign genes can be inherited along with cellular genomic DNA during cell replications. Moreover, DNA fragmentation and caspase‐3 activity assays illustrated that cell apoptosis did not develop in monoclonal Vero cell lines expressing VP2 and VP5 proteins. The monoclonal IBDV gene‐inserted Vero cell lines developed in this study will facilitate better understanding of IBDV and other members of the Birnaviridae in an expression system that would enable investigation of virus‐host cell interactions on the cellular and molecular level.
Metabolic disturbances in chronic heart failure: A case for the “macho” approach with testosterone?!
Authors: Lainscak Mitja , Doehner Wolfram , Anker Stefan D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractChronic heart failure (CHF) primarily affects the cardiovascular system. In addition, there is strong evidence that CHF is a complex metabolic disorder. Metabolic abnormalities include insulin resistance and lack of anabolic hormone activity. To date there have been few interventional trials targeting insulin sensitivity. A recent study suggests a link between testosterone therapy and improvements in insulin sensitivity, measured using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA‐IR). We discuss this study in detail. Further studies are needed to substantiate this link and to generally explore the value of testosterone therapy in CHF patients.
Prescription of beta‐blockers in patients with advanced heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Clinical implications and survival
Authors: Dobre Daniela , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , DeJongste Mike J.L. , Lucas Carolien , Cleuren Ger , Sanderman Robbert , Ranchor Adelita V. , Haaijer‐Ruskamp Flora M. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractBackground:The effects of β‐blockers in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are not well established.Aims:To assess the association between β‐blocker prescription at discharge and mortality in a cohort of patients with advanced HF and preserved LVEF.Methods and results:We prospectively studied a cohort of 443 patients with advanced HF and preserved LVEF (LVEF≥40%). Mean age was 78years, 56% female, 33% NYHA class IV. Overall, 227 patients (51%) had a β‐blocker prescribed at discharge. Mean duration of follow‐up was 25 (±18) months. Death (all cause) occurred in 40 patients (17.6%) who were receiving a β‐blocker at discharge and 73 patients (33.8%) who were not on a β‐blocker. In multivariate Cox analysis, including adjustment for propensity score, prescription of a β‐blocker remained associated with a 43% relative mortality risk reduction (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.88, p=0.01).Conclusions:In this cohort of patients with advanced HF and preserved LVEF, prescription of a β‐blocker was associated with a significant mortality reduction. This beneficial effect of β‐blocker use needs to be further confirmed in prospective, randomised clinical trials.
Antisocial conduct: whose concern?
Authors: Wolff Sula 
Published: October 2006

The differing perceptions of practitioners in child psychiatry and general psychiatry of antisocial behaviour are outlined, and an account is given of the change of attitudes towards deviancy that has taken place in the U.K. over the past twenty years.Attention is drawn to the fact that constitutional as well as experiential factors contribute to the causation of delinquent conduct, and the characteristics of “schizoid” antisocial young people are described.A plea is made for strengthening the links in training, research and practice between the subspecialties of psychiatry, and for a renewal of psychiatric interest in the sociopathies.
Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lower eukaryotes
Authors: Uttaro Antonio D. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPolyunsaturated fatty acids have important structural roles in cell membranes. They are also intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active molecules such as eicosanoids, which mediate fever, inflammation, blood pressure and neurotransmission. Arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids are essential components of brain tissues and, through their involvement in the development of neural and retinal functions, important dietary nutrients for neonatal babies. Lower eukaryotes are particularly rich in C20‐22 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fungi and marine microalgae are currently used to produce nutraceutic oils. Other protists and algae are being studied because of the variability in their enzymes involved in polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Such enzymes could be used as source for the production of transgenic organisms able to synthesize designed oils for human diet or, in the case of parasitic protozoa, they might be identified as putative chemotherapeutic targets. Polyunsaturated fatty acids can be synthesized by two different pathways: an anaerobic one, by using polyketide synthase related enzymes, and an aerobic one, which involves the action of elongases and oxygen dependent desaturases. Desaturases can be classified into three main types, depending on which of the consecutive steps of polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis they are involved with. The enzymes may be specialized to act on: saturated substrates (type I); mono‐ and di‐unsaturated fatty acids by introducing additional double bonds at the methyl‐end site of the existing double bonds (type II); or the carboxy half ('front‐end') of polyunsaturated ones (type III). Type III desaturases require the alternating action of elongases. A description of the enzymes that have been isolated and functionally characterized is provided, in order to highlight the different pathways found in lower eukaryotes.
iubmb Life, 58: 563‐571, 2006
Dermatitis as a component of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome is associated with activation of Toll‐like receptors in epidermal keratinocytes
Authors: Kim Y M , Romero R , Chaiworapongsa T , Espinoza J , Mor G , Kim C J 
Published: October 2006

Aims Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) elicits a fetal inflammatory response such as funisitis and chorionic vasculitis. However, little is known about the changes of fetal skin during MIAC. Toll‐like receptors recognize microbial products and initiate an immune response. The aims of this study were to examine histopathological features of fetal skin exposed to MIAC and to assess the changes in Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐2 and TLR‐4 expression.Methods and results Skin samples were obtained from fetal autopsies (n = 12). The cases were classified according to the presence (n = 8) or absence (n = 4) of acute chorioamnionitis and analysed by immunohistochemistry using a panel of antibodies. Leucocytic infiltrates into the superficial dermis were observed in cases with chorioamnionitis; the majority of inflammatory cells were neutrophils, lymphocytes and histiocytes. TLR‐2 immunoreactivity in the skin was stronger in fetuses with chorioamnionitis than in those without this condition. However, immunoreactivity of TLR‐4 in the fetal skin was constitutively expressed, regardless of the presence or absence of chorioamnionitis.Conclusions This study demonstrates for the first time that fetal dermatitis can be detected and is part of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). We propose that this ‘FIRS‐associated fetal dermatitis’ is a fetal counterpart of chorioamnionitis.
Regulatory noise in prokaryotic promoters: how bacteria learn to respond to novel environmental signals
Authors: de Lorenzo Victor , Pérez‐Martín José 
Published: October 2006

SummaryVarious features of the regulation of pathways for biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds by Pseudomonas provide insights into the mechanisms by which operons evolve to acquire conditionally active promoters that permit the corresponding genes to be transcribed only when required. The regulatory noise hypothesis’proposes that transcriptional control systems develop responsiveness to new signals due to the leakiness and lack of specificity of preexisting promoters and regulators. When needed, these may become more specific through suppression of undesirable signals and further fine‐tuning of the recruited proteins to interact with distinct chemicals. This hypothesis is supported by the sophisticated regulation of α54‐dependent promoters of the TOL (toluene biodegradation) operons, which can be activated to various degrees by heterologous proteins. Such illegitimate’activation is suppressed by bent DNA structures, either static or protein induced, between promoter core elements. Therefore, not only the regulators but also the DNA sequences participate in the process that gives rise to novel specificities.