bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the morphological and biochemical changes in normal human lung fibroblasts and fibroblasts derived from lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis during FasL‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Moodley Yuben P , Caterina Paul , Scaffidi Amelia K , Misso Neil L , Papadimitriou John M , McAnulty Robin J , Laurent Geoffrey J , Thompson Philip J , Knight Darryl A 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIt is increasingly recognized that the morphological changes of apoptosis vary between cell types. This heterogeneity reflects the wide range of cellular proteins and enzymes involved in apoptotic pathways. Fibroblast apoptosis is crucial to the regression of scars and the restitution of healthy tissue during wound repair and may be aberrant in diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The biochemical and morphological changes characterizing fibroblast apoptosis are unknown and may provide insights into the specific enzymatic mediators activated in these cells. This study aimed to examine the morphological changes of fibroblast apoptosis in both primary normal lung fibroblasts (normal‐Fb) and fibroblasts obtained from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF‐Fb) and to correlate these changes with conventional biochemical markers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and video time‐lapse microscopy demonstrated no difference in the duration of fibroblast apoptosis in response to FasL (6 ± 0.3 h in normal‐Fb and 6.4 ± 0.2 h in IPF‐Fb). However, IPF‐Fb were more resistant to FasL‐induced apoptosis compared with normal‐Fb. Although the majority of morphological changes of normal‐Fb and IPF‐Fb were similar, the formation of filopodia and condensation of the cytoskeletal bundles in IPF‐Fb, and more prominent vacuolation in normal‐Fb, were the significant differences between these cell subtypes. Loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential occurred prior to caspase‐3 activation, while phosphatidylserine expression, cytokeratin‐18 cleavage, and DNA fragmentation commenced after caspase‐3 activation. These observations not only suggest that specific enzymatic effectors may be preferentially activated during fibroblast apoptosis, but also provide potential insights into the pathogenesis of IPF. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyclin D1 overexpression in thyroid tumours from a radio‐contaminated area and its correlation with Pin1 and aberrant β‐catenin expression
Authors: Nakashima Masahiro , Meirmanov Serik , Naruke Yuki , Kondo Hisayoshi , Saenko Vladimir , Rogounovitch Tatiana , Shimizu‐Yoshida Yuki , Takamura Noboru , Namba Hiroyuki , Ito Masahiro , Abrosimov Aleksander , Lushnikov Eugeny , Roumiantsev Pavel , Tsyb Anatoly , Yamashita Shunichi , Sekine Ichiro 
Published: April 2004

AbstractCyclin D1 is a target molecule transcriptionally activated by aberrant β‐catenin in Wnt signalling, while prolyl isomerase Pin1 promotes cyclin D1 overexpression directly or through accumulation of β‐catenin in cancer cells. This study aimed to elucidate whether Pin1 was involved in cyclin D1 overexpression and aberrant β‐catenin in thyroid tumourigenesis by examining 14 follicular adenomas (FAa) and 14 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). All PTCs displayed cyclin D1 overexpression and strong cytoplasmic β‐catenin and/or decreased membrane β‐catenin expression by immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of cyclin D1 mRNA was observed in 45.5% of FAs and 54.5% of PTCs by TaqMan real‐time PCR. Pin1 expression was observed in PTC by immunostaining and was confirmed by reverse transcriptase‐PCR. There was a strong correlation between cyclin D1 and Pin1/cytoplasmic/membrane β‐catenin expression (p < 0.001), and between Pin1 and cytoplasmic (p < 0.001)/membrane (p = 0.002) β‐catenin expression in thyroid tumours. Mutation of the β‐catenin gene could not be detected in PTC. Western blot analysis demonstrated high levels of cyclin D1 and β‐catenin as well as Pin1 expression in a human PTC cell line possessing wild‐type β‐catenin and APC genes. This study suggests that both cyclin D1 overexpression and aberrant β‐catenin expression are of significance in thyroid tumours. Pin1 expression appears to correlate closely with the level of cyclin D1 and aberrant β‐catenin expression in thyroid tumours such as FA and PTC. Pin1 may be an important factor in regulating cyclin D1 and β‐catenin expression during thyroid carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiparameter DNA flow‐sorting demonstrates diploidy and SDHD wild‐type gene retention in the sustentacular cell compartment of head and neck paragangliomas: chief cells are the only neoplastic component
Authors: Douwes Dekker Pieter B , Corver Willem E , Hogendoorn Pancras CW , van der Mey Andel GL , Cornelisse Cees J 
Published: April 2004

AbstractHead and neck paragangliomas are considered to be biphasic tumours, composed of two distinct cell types: chief cells and sustentacular cells. A substantial number of these tumours show mutations in the SDHD gene located at chromosome 11q23. Although there is general agreement that paragangliomas are a neoplastic proliferation of chief cells, the nature of sustentacular cells is still a matter of debate. To clarify the nature of sustentacular cells further, multiparameter DNA flow cytometry was performed utilizing S‐100 labelling as a selective marker of the sustentacular fraction simultaneously with DNA content measurement in six head and neck paragangliomas. S‐100‐positive fractions and other tumour‐cell populations were flow‐sorted and restriction digestion analysis of SDHD mutations was performed on each fraction. Flow cytometry demonstrated that the S‐100 labelled cells were diploid. Restriction digestion analysis in informative cases revealed retention of the wild‐type SDHD allele in S‐100‐positive fractions and loss of the wild‐type allele in S‐100‐negative fractions. These data strongly suggest that sustentacular cells should be regarded as a non‐neoplastic cell population that may be induced as a tumour‐specific stromal component by chief cells. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fertility in women treated with cranial radiotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Byrne Julianne , Fears Thomas R. , Mills James L. , Zeltzer Lonnie K. , Sklar Charles , Nicholson H. Stacy , Haupt Riccardo , Reaman Gregory H. , Meadows Anna T. , Robison Leslie L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackgroundFertility impairments among women treated during childhood for cancer are known to occur after some, but not all, types of anticancer therapy. Although leukemia is the most common cancer of childhood, until now fertility in survivors has not been comprehensively assessed.ProcedureWe investigated functional impairment of fertility in women who were long‐term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a retrospective cohort study. Proven fertility (defined as ever pregnant) was evaluated by self‐report among 182 females treated on protocols of the Children's Cancer Group (age at interview, 22.6 years on average) and 170 controls drawn from among the survivors' female siblings (23.4 years). The interview included psychosocial inventories designed to detect mood problems.ResultsSignificant fertility deficits were noted in female survivors treated with cranial radiotherapy (CRT) at any dose around the time of menarche (relative fertility (RF)) = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09, 0.82,P = 0.03). Controlling for marital status, mood at interview, and many fertility‐related situations did not change the association.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for fertility deficits after treatment for ALL with CRT, and, in addition, for the first time, suggests that girls treated around the time of menarche are especially at risk. Clinical confirmation of these results is needed. If gonadal damage occurs in women receiving these treatments, their risk for further sequelae, such as osteoporosis and heart disease, may be significantly raised, requiring active management and intervention. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of data mining methodologies using Japanese spontaneous reports
Authors: Kubota Kiyoshi , Koide Daisuke , Hirai Toshiki 
Published: April 2004

AbstractPurposeFive data mining methodologies for detecting a possible signal from spontaneous reports on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were compared.MethodsThe five methodologies, the Bayesian method using the Gamma Poissson Shrinker (GPS), the method employed in the UK Medicines Control Agency (MCA), the Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), the method using the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the reporting odds ratio (RORCI) and that using the 95% CI of the proportional reporting ratio (PRRCI) were compared using Japanese data obtained between 1998 and 2000.ResultsThere were all in all 38 731 drug–ADR combinations. The count of drug–ADR pairs was equal to 1 or 2 for 31 230 combinations and none of them were identified as a possible signal with the MCA or BCPNN. Similarly, the GPS detected a possible signal in none of the combinations where the count was equal to 1 but in 7.5% of the combinations where the count was equal to 2. The RORCI and PRRCI detected a possible signal in more than half of the combinations where the count was equal to 1 or 2. When the pairwise agreement on whether or not a drug–ADR combination satisfied the criteria for a possible signal was assessed for the 38 731 combinations, the concordance measure kappa was greater than 0.9 between the MCA and BCPNN and between the RORCI and PRRCI. Kappa was around 0.6 between the GPS and MCA and between the GPS and BCPNN. Otherwise, kappa was smaller than 0.2.ConclusionsThe drug–ADR combinations detected as a possible signal vary between different methodologies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alkaline‐solution‐induced crystallization in poly(butylene terephthalate)
Authors: Zhang Jialiang 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSubtle crystalline structure changes of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) specimens treated with an alkali solution at room temperature were investigated with the grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (GIXRD) analysis method. A new phenomenon was found: the aqueous alkali solution induced the crystallization of the PBT polymer. Under the GIXRD analysis condition of an incidence angle of 1°, the penetration depth of the X‐ray in PBT was less than 80 μm, and this agreed well with the rough theoretical estimation. The alkali solution adopted in this study was an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, which had a concentration of 2.5 N. Dissolved quantities of the surface layers during the alkaline treatment were found to be small. No appreciable intrinsic viscosity change due to the alkaline treatment was detected. Possible factors that might contribute to the crystallization, such as water absorption and a chemical reagent effect, were examined, and a plausible explanation for the phenomenon was developed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1938–1948, 2004
Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline/graphite conducting nanocomposites
Authors: Du X. S. , Xiao M. , Meng Y. Z. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA new method for the synthesis of exfoliated graphite and polyaniline (PANI)/graphite nanocomposites was developed. Exfoliated graphite nanosheets were prepared through the microwave irradiation and sonication of synthesized expandable graphite. The nanocomposites were fabricated via the in situ polymerization of the monomer at the presence of graphite nanosheets. The as‐synthesized graphite nanosheets and PANI/graphite nanocomposite materials were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The conductivity of the PANI/graphite nanocomposites was dramatically increased over that of pure PANI. TGA indicated that the incorporation of graphite greatly improved the thermal stability of PANI. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1972–1978, 2004
Tree and spline based association analysis of gene–gene interaction models for ischemic stroke
Authors: Cook Nancy R. , Zee Robert Y. L. , Ridker Paul M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn the biology of complex disorders, such as atherothrombosis, interactions among genetic factors may play an important role, and theoretical considerations suggest that gene–gene interactions are quite common in such diseases. We used a nested case‐control sample from the Physicians' Health Study, a randomized trial assessing the effects of aspirin and beta‐carotene on cardiovascular disease and cancer among 22071 US male physicians, to examine these relationships for ischemic stroke. Data were available on 92 polymorphisms from 56 candidate genes related to inflammation, thrombosis and lipid metabolism, assessed in 319 incident cases of ischemic stroke and 2090 disease‐free controls. We used classification and regression trees (CART) and multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) models to explore the presence of genetic interactions in these data. These models offer advantages over typical logistic regression methods in that they may uncover interactions among genes that do not exhibit strong marginal effects. Final models were selected using either the Bayes Information Criterion or cross‐validation. Model fit was assessed using 10‐fold cross‐validation of the entire selection process. Both the CART and two‐way MARS‐logit models identified an interaction between two polymorphisms linked to inflammation, the P‐selectin (val640leu) and interleukin‐4 (C(582) T) genes. Internal validation of these models, however, suggested that effects of these polymorphisms are additive. Although further external validation of these models is necessary, these methods may be valuable in exploring and identifying potential gene–gene as well as gene–environment interactions in association studies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A tree based lack‐of‐fit test for multiple logistic regression
Authors: Moons E. , Aerts M. , Wets G. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSeveral omnibus tests have been developed to assess the fit of a regression model. But many of these lack‐of‐fit tests focus on the simple regression setting. Here, we focus on multiple logistic regression. Pearson's well‐known chi‐square test statistic and the deviance statistic are no longer valid in the case that the model contains one or more continuous covariates. To overcome this difficulty, Hosmer and Lemeshow proposed a Pearson type statistic based on groups defined by the so‐called deciles of risk. We propose a test statistic that is similar in approach to the Hosmer and Lemeshow statistic in that the observations are classified into distinct groups. In the procedure proposed here however, the grouping is not according to probabilities fitted under the null model. We use a recursive partitioning algorithm to divide the sample space into different groups. This generally allows for a more powerful assessment of the model fit. Simulations are carried out to compare the results of the proposed test to that of Hosmer and Lemeshow. Three data examples illustrate the performance of the tree based lack‐of‐fit test, in comparison to several other tests. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using Latent Mixed Markov Models for the choice of the best pharmacological treatment
Authors: Reuter Martin , Hennig Juergen , Netter Petra , Buehner Markus , Hueppe Michael 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe choice of the best pharmacological treatment for an individual patient is crucial to optimize convalescence. Due to their effects on pharmacokinetics variables like gender and age are important factors when the pharmacological regimen is planned. By means of an example from anaesthesiology the usefulness of Latent Mixed Markov Models for choosing the optimal anaesthetic considering patient characteristics is demonstrated. Latent Mixed Markov models allow to predict and compare the quality of recovery from anaesthesia for different patient groups (defined by age and gender and treated with different anaesthetic regimens) in a multivariate non‐parametric approach. On the basis of observed symptoms immediately after surgery and a few days later the probabilities for the respective dynamic latent status (like health or illness) and the probabilities for transition from one status to another are estimated depending on latent class membership (patient group). Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Green tea‐induced asthma: relationship between immunological reactivity, specific and non‐specific bronchial responsiveness
Authors: Shirai T. , Reshad K. , Yoshitomi A. , Chida K. , Nakamura H. , Taniguchi M. 
Published: April 2004

SummaryBackground
The relationships between immunological reactivity and bronchial responsiveness to allergen and non‐specific bronchial responsiveness are unclear in occupational asthma caused by low molecular weight substances.Objective
We assessed the above relationships in green tea‐induced asthma, an occupational asthma of green tea factory workers, in which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a low molecular weight component of green tea leaves, is the causative agent.Methods
Subjects consisted of 21 patients suspected of having green tea‐induced asthma, on whom skin test and inhalation challenge with EGCg were performed. The skin sensitivity or end‐point titration to EGCg as a measure of immunological reactivity, together with the provocative concentrations causing a 20% or greater fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (PC20) of EGCg and methacholine, were determined.Results
We found that 11 patients had green tea‐induced asthma, with immediate asthmatic reactions in eight and dual asthmatic reactions in three. We also found that 11 of 13 patients (85%) with immunological reactivity and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness to methacholine experienced an asthmatic reaction and that no subject without immunological reactivity reacted. There were significant correlations among skin sensitivity, EGCg PC20 and methacholine PC20. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the relationship: log (EGCg PC20)=0.42 log (skin sensitivity)+1.17 log (methacholine PC20)+0.93 (r=0.796, P<0.05).Conclusion
It is concluded that bronchial responsiveness to EGCg can be highly satisfactorily predicted by skin sensitivity to EGCg and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine.
Elevated basal serum tryptase and hymenoptera venom allergy: relation to severity of sting reactions and to safety and efficacy of venom immunotherapy
Authors: Haeberli G. , Brönnimann M. , Hunziker T. , Müller U. 
Published: April 2004

SummaryBackground
Mastocytosis and/or elevated basal serum tryptase may be associated with severe anaphylaxis.Objective
To analyse Hymenoptera venom‐allergic patients with regard to basal tryptase in relation to the severity of sting reactions and the safety and efficacy of venom immunotherapy.Methods
Basal serum tryptase was measured in 259 Hymenoptera venom‐allergic patients (158 honey bee, 101 Vespula). In 161 of these (104 honey bee, 57 Vespula), a sting challenge was performed during venom immunotherapy.Results
Nineteen of the 259 patients had an elevated basal serum tryptase. Evidence of cutaneous mastocytosis as documented by skin biopsy was present in 3 of 16 patients (18.8%). There was a clear correlation of basal serum tryptase to the grade of the initial allergic reaction (P<0.0005). Forty‐one of the 161 sting challenged patients reacted to the challenge, 34 to a bee sting and 7 to a Vespula sting. Thereof, 10 had an elevated basal serum tryptase, i.e. 1 (2.9%) of the reacting and 2 (2.9%) of the non‐reacting bee venom (BV) allergic individuals, as compared to 3 (42.9%) of the reacting and 4 (8%) of the non‐reacting Vespula venom‐allergic patients. Thus, there was a significant association between a reaction to the sting challenge and an elevated basal serum tryptase in Vespula (χ2=6.926, P<0.01), but not in BV‐allergic patients. Systemic allergic side‐effects to venom immunotherapy were observed in 13.9% of patients with normal and in 10% of those with elevated basal serum tryptase.Conclusions
An elevated basal serum tryptase as well as mastocytosis are risk factors for severe or even fatal shock reactions to Hymenoptera stings. Although the efficacy of venom immunotherapy in these patients is slightly reduced, most of them can be treated successfully. Based on currently available data, lifelong treatment has to be discussed in this situation.
Assessment of cytoplasmic polymorphisms by PCR‐RFLP of the mitochondrial orfB region in wild and cultivated radishes (Raphanus)
Authors: Yamagishi H. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn order to determine the genetic relationship between wild and cultivated radish species, and those among the cultivated species, structural and sequence variations in the mitochondrial orfB gene region were studied in one cultivated and two wild species of Raphanus. Using PCR amplification patterns and RFLP of a PCR product of the region, 232 wild and 420 cultivated radish plants were classified into one of three types of orfB variation. The wild radish (especially the Japanese one) showed large polymorphism in each population with eight of 13 Japanese populations studied containing all three types, whereas cultivars were generally monomorphic. Although type 1 having Ogura male sterile cytoplasm was present with the highest frequency in Japanese wild radish, most cultivars were divided into type 2 or 3 with normal cytoplasm. Type 2 was widely distributed in European, Chinese and major Japanese varieties, while some Chinese varieties and several Japanese local radishes had type 3 cytoplasm. The comparison provides valuable information about the origin and differentiation of cultivated radishes and the relationship between cultivated and wild radishes.
Allelic variation in linolenic acid content of high erucic acid Ethiopian mustard and incorporation of the low linolenic acid trait into zero erucic acid germplasm
Authors: Velasco L. , Nabloussi A. , de Haro A. , Fernandez‐Martinez J. M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractZero erucic acid germplasm of Ethiopian mustard is characterized by high levels of linolenic acid (about 21%). Two genetic sources of low linolenic acid (N2‐4961 and HF‐186, about 5%), have been developed in a high erucic acid background. The objectives of this research were to study the genetic relationship between the two low linolenic acid lines and to transfer the trait to zero erucic acid germplasm. F1 seed generations from crosses between both lines had higher average linolenic acid concentration than both parents. F2 seeds segregated for linolenic acid content following a continuous variation from 1.8 to 7.4%, exceeding the limits of the parental distribution ranges. Transgressive recombinants with very low linolenic acid concentration (0.7‐2.7%) were confirmed in the F3 seed generation. The results suggested that N2‐4961 and HF‐186 possess alleles for low linolenic acid at different loci. Transgressive low linolenic acid F3 plants were crossed with plants of a zero erucic acid line and a selection for zero erucic, low linolenic acid was conducted. As a result, a zero erucic acid F3:4 line containing 1.5 ± 0.7% linolenic acid was developed.