bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates cell motility in cultures of the striatal progenitor cells ST14A
Authors: Cacci E. , Salani M. , Anastasi S. , Perroteau I. , Poiana G. , Biagioni S. , Augusti‐Tocco G. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractHepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a growth factor with pleiotropic effects on different cell types. It acts as a mitogen and motility factor for many epithelial cells. HGF/SF and its receptor Met are present in the developing and adult mammalian brain and control neuritogenesis of sympathetic and sensory neurons. We report that the striatal progenitor ST14A cells express the Met receptor, which is activated after binding with HGF/SF. The interaction between Met and HGF/SF triggers a signaling cascade that leads to increased levels of c‐Jun, c‐Fos, and Egr‐1 proteins, in agreement with data reported on the signaling events evoked by HGF in other cellular types. We also studied the effects of the exposure of ST14A cells to HGF/SF. By time‐lapse photography, we observed that a 24‐hr treatment with 50 ng/ml HGF/SF induced modification in cell morphology, with a decrease in cell‐cell interactions and increase of cell motility. In contrast, no effect on cell proliferation was observed. To investigate which intracellular pathway is primarily involved we used PD98059 and LY294002, two specific inhibitors of mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (MAP‐kinase/ERK‐kinase) and phosphoinositide 3‐OH kinase (PI3‐K), respectively. Cell motility in HGF/SF treated cultures was inhibited by LY294002 but not by PD98059, suggesting that PI3‐K plays a key role in mediating the HGF/SF‐induced dissociation of ST14A cells. Previous evidence of HGF stimulation of motility in nervous system has been obtained on postmitotic neurons, which have already acquired their specificity. Data reported here of a motogenic response of ST14A cell line, which displays properties of neuronal progenitors, seem of interest because they suggest that HGF could play a role in very early steps of neurogenesis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of gangliosides in an immortalized neural progenitor/stem cell line
Authors: Suetake Keiji , Liour Sean S. , Tencomnao Tewin , Yu Robert K. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractGlycosphingolipids (GSLs) are known to play important roles in cellular growth and differentiation in the nervous system. The change in expression of gangliosides is correlated with crucial developmental events and is evolutionarily conserved among many vertebrate species. The emergence of neural progenitors represents a crucial step in neural development, but little is known about the exact composition and subcellular localization of gangliosides in neural progenitor cells. The C17.2 cell line was derived after v‐myc transformation of neural progenitor cells isolated from neonatal mouse cerebellar cortex. The developmental potential of C17.2 cells is similar to that of endogenous neural progenitor/stem cells in that they are multipotential and capable of differentiating into all neural cell types. We characterized the GSL composition of C17.2 cells and found the presence of only a‐series gangliosides. Subcellular localization studies revealed that GM1 and GD1a are localized mainly on the plasma membrane and partly in the cytoplasm, both as punctate clusters. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction revealed the absence of ST‐II transcripts in C17 cells, which most likely accounts for the lack of expression of b‐ and c‐series complex gangliosides in this cell line. These data suggest that the divergence in ganglioside expression in C17.2 cells is regulated at the transcriptional level. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Precipitation changes and variability in Turkey linked to the North Atlantic oscillation during the period 1930–2000
Authors: Türkeş Murat , Erlat Ecmel 
Published: November 2003

AbstractRelationships between the variability of the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) indices and the normalized precipitation at 78 stations in Turkey, and the influences of the extreme NAO index (NAOI) episodes and the year‐to‐year and longer time‐scale variations in the NAO on the precipitation conditions were investigated. The results of the study have led to the following main conclusions and evaluations for Turkey:(i) There is a negative relationship between interannual variability of the Turkish precipitation series and the NAO indices. Negative relationships that are particularly strong in winter and partly in autumn are detected to be weaker in spring and almost non‐existent in summer. Correlation coefficients are significant at 61 stations in winter, whereas they are significant at 23 and eight stations in autumn and spring respectively. (ii) Composite precipitation means corresponding to the extreme NAOI phases mostly exhibit an apparent opposite anomaly pattern, except in summer, between the negative and positive NAOI phases. (iii) Annual, winter, spring, autumn and partly the summer composite precipitation means are mostly characterized by wetter than the long‐term average conditions during the negative NAOI phase, whereas the positive NAOI responses mostly exhibit drier than the long‐term average conditions annually and in all seasons except summer. (iv) Spatially coherent and statistically significant changes in the precipitation amounts during the extreme NAOI phases are more apparent in the west and mid Turkey. (v) Low‐frequency fluctuations in the circulation over the Atlantic have been closely linked to the coherent large‐scale precipitation anomalies that have persisted, particularly in winter, over Turkey since the early 1960s. (vi) There is a great resemblance between the spatial distribution and magnitude of the negative correlation coefficients and the spatial distribution patterns and severity of the wet (dry) conditions with negative (positive) NAOI phase, annually and in the winter and autumn seasons. (vii) The coherent regions characterized with significant correlation coefficients coincide perfectly with the coherent regions characterized by the extreme NAOI signals. These clear associations increase our confidence with the results. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Better prediction of sub‐cellular localization by combining evolutionary and structural information
Authors: Nair Rajesh , Rost Burkhard 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe native sub‐cellular compartment of a protein is one aspect of its function. Thus, predicting localization is an important step toward predicting function. Short zip code‐like sequence fragments regulate some of the shuttling between compartments. Cataloguing and predicting such motifs is the most accurate means of determining localization in silico. However, only few motifs are currently known, and not all the trafficking appears regulated in this way. The amino acid composition of a protein correlates with its localization. All general prediction methods employed this observation. Here, we explored the evolutionary information contained in multiple alignments and aspects of protein structure to predict localization in absence of homology and targeting motifs. Our final system combined statistical rules and a variety of neural networks to achieve an overall four‐state accuracy above 65%, a significant improvement over systems using only composition. The system was at its best for extra‐cellular and nuclear proteins; it was significantly less accurate than TargetP for mitochondrial proteins. Interestingly, all methods that were developed on SWISS‐PROT sequences failed grossly when fed with sequences from proteins of known structures taken from PDB. We therefore developed two separate systems: one for proteins of known structure and one for proteins of unknown structure. Finally, we applied the PDB‐based system along with homology‐based inferences and automatic text analysis to annotate all eukaryotic proteins in the PDB (http://cubic.bioc.columbia.edu/db/LOC3D). We imagine that this pilot method—certainly in combination with similar tools—may be valuable target selection in structural genomics. Proteins 2003;53:000–000. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rational proteomics I. Fingerprint identification and cofactor specificity in the short‐chain oxidoreductase (SCOR) enzyme family
Authors: Duax William L. , Pletnev Vladimir , Addlagatta Anthony , Bruenn Jeremy , Weeks Charles M. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe short‐chain oxidoreductase (SCOR) family of enzymes includes over 2000 members identified in sequenced genomes. Of these enzymes, ∼200 have been characterized functionally, and the three‐dimensional crystal structures of ∼40 have been reported. Since some SCOR enzymes are involved in hypertension, diabetes, breast cancer, and polycystic kidney disease, it is important to characterize the other members of the family for which the biological functions are currently unknown. Although the SCOR family appears to have only a single fully conserved residue, it was possible, using bioinformatics methods, to determine characteristic fingerprints composed of 30–40 residues that are conserved at the 70% or greater level in SCOR subgroups. These fingerprints permit reliable prediction of several important structure‐function features including NAD/NADP cofactor preference. For example, the correlation of aspartate or arginine residues with NAD or NADP binding, respectively, predicts the cofactor preference of more than 70% of the SCOR proteins with unknown function. The analysis of conserved residues surrounding the cofactor has revealed the presence of previously undetected CH…O hydrogen bonds in the majority of the SCOR crystal structures, predicts the presence of similar hydrogen bonds in 90% of the SCOR proteins of unknown function, and suggests that these hydrogen bonds may play a critical role in the catalytic functions of these enzymes. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A nonribosomal peptide synthetase involved in the biosynthesis of ampullosporins in Sepedonium ampullosporum
Authors: Reiber Kathrin , Neuhof Torsten , Ozegowski Jörg H. , Döhren Hans von , Schwecke Torsten 
Published: November 2003

AbstractRecently, the saprophytic ascomycete Sepedonium ampullosporum strain HKI‐0053 was isolated from a basidiomycete on account of its premature induction of pigment formation in Phoma destructiva, a process often related to the neuroleptic activity of the inducing compound. The active substance was identified as the 15‐membered peptaibol type peptide Ampullosporin. Although to date more than 300 peptaibols have been discovered, their biosynthetic machinery has not been characterized yet. By improving the culture conditions it was possible to grow S. ampullosporum in a submerged culture and to increase Ampullosporin production by more than three times to 33 mg/l at reduced fermentation times. The appearance of two high molecular weight proteins, HMWP1 (1.5 MDa) and HMWP2 (350 kDa) was closely related to the production of Ampullosporin during the course of fermentation. Both proteins showed a cross‐reaction with antibodies against a core fragment of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). Biochemical characterization of the partially purified enzymes exhibited selectivity for the substrate amino acid α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), substantiating their involvement in Ampullosporin biosynthesis. Our data suggest that Ampullosporin synthetase has been isolated, and provides the basis for the characterization of the entire biosynthetic gene cluster. Furthermore, this knowledge will enable the manipulation of its NRPS template, in order to engineer mutant strains of Sepedonium ampullosporum which could produce more potent analogues of Ampullosporin. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal Robust Control of Underactuated Manipulators via Actuation Redundancy
Authors: Maciel Benedito C. O. , Terra Marco H. , Bergerman Marcel 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn this article we focus on post‐failure control of a mechanical manipulator from the point of view of optimal control, and present a novel method for controlling the positions of the failed, passive joints in an optimal way. It used the so‐called coupling index as an optimization criterion to minimize the energy spent by the underactuated manipulator. Although the optimization is performed locally, the results indicate the validity and feasibility of the proposed theory. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Force Transmissibility Performance of Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Chang Wen‐Tung , Lin Chen‐Chou , Lee Jyh‐Jone 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIn this paper, a new force transmission index called the mean force transmission index (MFTI) is proposed, and the force transmissibility analysis procedure is established for parallel manipulators. TheMFTIis an extended definition of the force transmission index (FTI) introduced by the authors previously. It is shown that theFTIis a function of the input velocity ratio (IVR) for a multi‐DOF mechanism of the same configuration. To represent the force transmissibility by a definite value, theMFTIis defined as the mean value of the normalizedFTIs function over the whole range of theIVR. The force transmissibility analysis of two planar parallel manipulators is illustrated using theMFTImethod. The result is compared with that of the Jacobian matrix method and the joint force index (JFI) method. It shows that, especially for symmetric parallel manipulators, an approximate inverse‐proportionality relationship exists between theJFIandMFTI, and between the maximum input torque/force andMFTI. It is concluded that theMFTIcan be used as a quantitative measure of the force transmissibility performance for parallel manipulators. In the end, a design optimization problem is studied by taking the global force transmission index as the objective function. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Overexpression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Accelerates Early Vascularization and Improves Healing of Genetically Modified Cultured Skin Substitutes
Authors: Supp Dorothy M. , Boyce Steven T. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Cultured skin substitutes (CSS) lack a vascular plexus, leading to slower vascularization after grafting than split-thickness skin autograft. CSS containing keratinocytes genetically modified to overexpress vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were previously shown to exhibit enhanced vascularization up to 2 weeks after grafting to athymic mice. The present study examines whether enhanced vascularization compared with controls persists after stable engraftment is achieved and analyzes VEGF expression, wound contraction, and engraftment. Control and VEGF-modified (VEGF+) CSS were grafted onto full-thickness wounds in athymic mice. VEGF expression was detected in VEGF+ CSS 14 weeks after grafting. Graft contraction was significantly lower in VEGF+ CSS compared with controls, suggesting more stable engraftment and better tissue development. Positive HLA-ABC staining, indicating persistence of human cells, was seen in 86.7% (13/15) of grafted VEGF+ CSS, compared with 58.3% (7/12) of controls. Differences in dermal vascularization between control and VEGF+ grafts were significant 1 week after surgery, but not at later times. However, the distribution of vessels was different, with more vessels in the upper dermis of VEGF+ grafts. These results suggest that VEGF overexpression in genetically modified CSS acts to accelerate early graft vascularization and can contribute to improved healing of full-thickness skin wounds.
Does Cartoon Movie Distraction Decrease Burned Children's Pain Behavior?
Authors: Landolt M. A. , Marti D. , Widmer J. , Meuli M. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate cartoon movie viewing as a practical and low-cost intervention to decrease burned children's pain behavior during dressing changes. Thirteen children, 4 to 12 years of age, with a mean TBSA burn of 7.9% were assessed using a reversal, single-subject experimental design. The experimental condition consisted of the presentation of a cartoon movie as a nonpharmacologic intervention in conjunction with a standardized analgesic medication. In the control condition children's pain was treated with the standardized analgesic medication only. Behavioral distress was measured during the first six dressing changes postburn with the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress. No significant effect of cartoon movie distraction on observed behavioral distress in patients was found. Interrater reliability of the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress was good (κ = .87–.98). Wound debridement was found to be the most painful part of the dressing change. A simple, easily applicable, and low-cost distraction intervention such as presenting cartoon movies does not seem to be sufficiently powerful to measurably reduce burned children's distress during dressing changes. Findings are based on purely observational data. Inclusion of self-report measures in future studies might reveal intervention effects on anxiety and subjective pain perception.
Venous Thrombosis Incidence in Burn Patients
Authors: Wahl W. L. , Brandt M. M. , Ahrns K. S. , Zajkowski P. J. , Proctor M. C. , Wakefield T. W. , Greenfield L. J. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
There are few prospective data on the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in burn patients. In an on-going prospective study, hospitalized burn patients 18 years or older with an expected hospital length of stay more than 72 hours were imaged with baseline venous duplex ultrasound of all extremities within the first 48 hours after admission and weekly until discharge. Patient demographics and clinical risk factors for DVT were assessed. At the time of submission, 40 patients met screening criteria, and 30 were enrolled. Ultrasound diagnosed seven patients with 11 acute DVT for an incidence of 23%. One pulmonary embolism was documented. DVT patients had a mean age of 49 ± 23 years with an average TBSA burn of 15 ± 4% compared with those without thrombosis with a mean age of 44 ± 17 years (P = NS) and TBSA burn of 18 ± 25% (P = NS). There were no statistically significant differences for DVT patients in terms of age, number of central line days, hospital length of stay, or TBSA burned. Given the preliminary findings of this small study, we believe that all hospitalized burn patients are at risk for DVT. On-going investigation will be helpful in defining level of risk and improved prevention strategies for thromboembolic complications in burn patients.
An Initial Experience with Telemedicine in Follow-up Burn Care
Authors: Redlick F. , Roston B. , Gomez M. , Fish J. S. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Following care in a burn unit, regular outpatient visits with burn specialists are required. The practical use of telemedicine in this context is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate patient and physician satisfaction with teleconsultations in follow-up burn care and to assess the costs and benefits of these teleconsultations. Fourteen teleconsultations were conducted between a burn physician and a patient at a remote site. Patients and the physician completed evaluation questionnaires for each teleconsultation. Time-related and financial costs of the consultation service were also determined. Patients were very satisfied with their teleconsultations and found them more economical and time efficient than in-person visits. The consulting physician felt teleconsultations were as satisfactory as clinic visits for the purposes of diagnosis and burn management. Our results support the ongoing use of telemedicine in the follow-up care of burn patients.
The Effect of Silicone Gel Sheets on Perfusion of Hypertrophic Burn Scars
Authors: Musgrave Melinda A. , Umraw Nisha , Fish Joel S. , Gomez Manuel , Cartotto Robert C. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The mechanism of action of topical silicone gel sheets on hypertrophic scars is not well understood and their effect on the blood flow within hypertrophic scars has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether application of silicone gel sheets produced any acute effects on blood flow in hypertrophic burn scars. Perfusion of hypertrophic scars and adjacent normal skin was measured using a laser Doppler with and without application of silicone gel sheets. Continuous measurements were made for 5 minutes before gel application, for 30 minutes during gel application and for 5 minutes following gel removal. Surface temperature of the scar was continuously monitored. An occupational therapist, blinded to the perfusion level, rated each scar using the Vancouver Scar Scale. Eighteen scars and adjacent control sites in sixteen adult burn patients (11 male, 5 female; mean age: 42 ± 14 years) were evaluated. The mean scar age was 5.4 ± 3.7 months. The mean Vancouver Scar Scale was 5.5 ± 2.4. Hypertrophic scars demonstrated higher perfusion measurements at baseline compared to control areas (58.5 ± 19.3 flux units vs 25.0 ± 8.4 flux units;P &lt; 0.001). Application of silicone sheeting gel did not significantly alter perfusion in either the hypertrophic scar or normal tissue from the baseline measurements. However, application of silicone gel sheeting did significantly increase the mean baseline surface temperature of the hypertrophic scar from 29 ± 0.8 °C to 30.7 ± 0.6 °C (P &lt; 0.001). The mechanism of action of silicone gel sheeting probably does not involve an acute alteration in blood flow within the scar. However, surface temperature of the scar increased significantly following gel application, raising the possibility that temperature alteration is involved in the mechanism of action.
Laryngeal and Phonatory Status After Burn/Inhalation Injury: A Long Term Follow-Up Study
Authors: Casper Janina K. , Clark William R. , Kelley R. T. , Colton R. H. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Although persistent hoarseness has been recognized in patients who have sustained burn and/or smoke inhalation injuries, there is little documentation to support this observation. Furthermore, there is no quantification of either the pervasiveness of the problem or the severity of the dysphonia resulting. It was the intent of this study to examine the laryngeal condition and voice production of a group of patients who were long-term survivors of burns and inhalation injuries. Only 10 patients (8 male and 2 female) of a larger cohort were willing to return for this examination. They were ambulatory and did not require respiratory assistance, and it had been 16 to 25 years since their initial traumas. Videostrobolaryngoscopic examinations were performed and analyzed, measures of various acoustic and aerodynamic parameters were made, and severity of dysphonia was judged. Seven of the 10 subjects were rated by experienced listeners as having some degree of dysphonia. All subjects had some abnormality of the laryngeal mucosa. Stroboscopic examination was found to be helpful in identifying laryngeal abnormalities in at least half of the subjects. Early attention to these problems, many of which are treatable surgically or behaviorally or both could lead to an improved voice for the patient and for this reason an improved quality of life.
Regulating Acute Posttrauma Distress
Authors: Fauerbach James A. , Richter Linda , Lawrence John W. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The influence of emotion-approach and emotion-avoidance methods of coping on the development (cohort 1) and persistence (cohort 2) of posttraumatic stress symptoms was examined. The two coping methods and the frequency and intensity of intrusive, avoidant, and hyperarousal symptoms were assessed in separate series of 71 and 94 hospitalized acute burn-injured patients. In both samples, subjects who frequently used both mental distancing (emotion-avoidance) and venting emotions (emotion-approach), relative to subjects who used only one or neither of the two coping methods, had higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms even when controlling for baseline symptoms. Higgins' (1997) motivational framework, incorporating the needs for controllability and predictability, and Wegner's (1994) theory of mental control are used to interpret the findings.