bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antitumour activity mediated by CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes against MHC class II‐negative mouse hepatocellular carcinoma induced by dendritic cell vaccine and interleukin‐12
Authors: Homma Sadamu , Komita Hideo , Sagawa Yukiko , Ohno Tsuneya , Toda Gotaro 
Published: July 2005

SummaryWhen BALA/c mice with BNL hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated with dendritic cells fused with BNL cells (DC/BNL) and recombinant murine interleukin (IL)‐12, tumour development was significantly suppressed, whereas treatment with either DC/BNL or IL‐12 alone did not show a tumour‐suppressive effect. Antitumour activity induced by DC/BNL + IL‐12 was abrogated by depletion of CD4+ T cells, but not by depletion of CD8+ T cells or natural killer cells. Splenic CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells from DC/BNL‐treated mice showed cytotoxic activity against BNL cells after 3 days of incubation with DC/BNL, although BNL cells do not express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules even after treatment with interferon (INF)‐γ. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells killed syngeneic‐irrelevant CT26 cells and even allogeneic Hepa1‐6 cells. This cytotoxicity was blocked by concanamycin A, but not by an anti‐Fas ligand (FasL) monoclonal antibody, indicating that cytotoxic activity was mediated by perforin. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that abundant CD4+ T cells and MHC class II‐positive macrophages, but not CD8+ T cells, had infiltrated tumour tissue in mice treated with DC/BNL + IL‐12. Flow cytometric analysis of tumour‐infiltrating cells in mice treated with DC/BNL + IL‐12 showed increases in CD4+ T cells and MHC class II+ CD11b+ cells but not in CD8+ T cells or MHC class I+ CD11b+ cells. Our results suggest that, in BNL‐bearing mice treated with DC/BNL + IL‐12, tumour macrophages activated by INF‐γ produced by IL‐12‐stimulated T cells might present BNL tumour antigens and activate DC/BNL‐primed CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in a MHC class II‐dependent manner, leading to perforin‐mediated bystander killing of neighbouring MHC class II‐negative tumour cells.
Autoreactivity to self H‐2Kb peptides in TAP1–/– mice. Intravenous administration of H‐2Kb class I‐derived peptides induces long‐term survival of grafts from C57BL/6 donors
Authors: Marrero Idania , Benvenutti Luiz Alberto , Kalil Jorge , Coelho Verônica 
Published: July 2005

SummaryWe and others have previously shown that TAP1–/– mice (H‐2b) reject grafts from donors without major histocompatibility complex (MHC) disparity that express wild‐type levels of H‐2b class I molecules (C57BL/6, TAP1+/+ mice). In this same model, we also showed that subcutaneous priming of TAP1–/– mice with synthetic peptides derived from the H‐2Kb molecule accelerated graft rejection and that in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells induced a significant prolongation of graft survival, suggesting an important role for CD4 T cells. We hypothesize that, in this model, rejection is triggered by the recognition of class I molecules or derived peptides, in an inflammatory microenvironment, by a functionally altered autoreactive T‐cell repertoire that escapes the control of peripheral regulatory mechanisms. In the present study, we analysed the cellular autoreactivity induced by synthetic peptides derived from the H‐2Kb sequence in naive and TAP1–/– mice transplanted with C57BL/6 grafts, and investigated whether intravenous modulation of autoreactivity to these peptides induced transplantation tolerance. We showed that TAP1–/– mice have peripheral autoreactive T cells that recognize H‐2Kb peptides. A significant amplification of proliferation against these peptides was detected in TAP1–/– mice that rejected grafts, indicating that the inflammatory context of transplantation induced peripheral expansion of these autoreactive T cells. Furthermore, intravenous injection of H‐2Kb‐derived peptides significantly prolonged graft survival in some animals. In these mice (> 100 days graft survival), we observed intragraft inhibition of interferon‐γ and interleukin‐10 expression, suggesting that these cytokines have an active role during the rejection. In conclusion, our present data indicate that inflammatory autoreactive T cells directed against H‐2Kb peptides can be inhibited in the periphery to prolong graft survival in TAP1–/– mice.
Age, gender and litter‐related variation in T‐lymphocyte cytokine production in young pigs
Authors: De Groot Johanna , Kruijt Leo , Scholten Jan Willem , Boersma Wim J. A. , Buist Willem G. , Engel Bas , Van Reenen Cornelis G. 
Published: July 2005

SummaryThe capacity of farm animals to produce cytokines could be an important determinant of robustness and health. From research in rodents and humans it appears that the production and the balance of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 2 (Th2)‐type cytokines influences susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases. It is known that pigs show a large variation in many immune response parameters. So far the extent of individual variation in the production of Th1‐ and Th2‐type cytokines in commercial outbred pigs has not been reported. In the current experiment we determined mRNA expression, as well as protein production of cytokines in 32 pigs from eight litters. From each litter two male and two female pigs were tested at 2, 5 and 8 weeks of age. Two Th1‐type cytokines, interleukin (IL)‐2 and interferon (IFN)‐gamma, and two Th2‐type cytokines, IL‐4 and IL‐10, were measured after phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)‐stimulation of blood mononuclear cells. Cytokine production and the Th1/Th2‐ratio were highly variable. The variation in cytokine protein production was moderately consistent across ages, i.e. pigs that produced high levels of cytokine at 2 weeks of age tended to do so as well at 5 and 8 weeks of age. Cytokine production tended to increase with age, and gilts and boars differed in their IL‐2/IL‐4 ratio. Unexpectedly, age, gender and litter effects often differed for mRNA and protein production data. We hypothesize that cytokine production is a consistent trait in pigs, especially at the protein production level. Future investigations in more animals and across a wider age range are necessary.
CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells from human thymus and cord blood suppress antigen‐specific T cell responses
Authors: Wing Kajsa , Larsson Pia , Sandström Kerstin , Lundin Samuel B. , Suri‐Payer Elisabeth , Rudin Anna 
Published: July 2005

SummaryActivation of self‐reactive T cells in healthy adults is prevented by the presence of autoantigen‐specific CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (CD25+ Treg). To explore the functional development of autoantigen‐reactive CD25+ Treg in humans we investigated if thymic CD25+ Treg from children aged 2 months to 11 years and cord blood CD25+ Treg are able to suppress proliferation and cytokine production induced by specific antigens. While CD4+CD25− thymocytes proliferated in response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), tetanus toxoid and beta‐lactoglobulin, suppression of proliferation was not detected after the addition of thymic CD25+ Treg. However, CD25+ Treg inhibited interferon (IFN)‐γ production induced by MOG, which indicates that MOG‐reactive CD25+ Treg are present in the thymus. In contrast, cord blood CD25+ Treg suppressed both proliferation and cytokine production induced by MOG. Both cord blood and thymic CD25+ Treg expressed FOXP3 mRNA. However, FOXP3 expression was lower in cord blood than in thymic CD25+ T cells. Further characterization of cord blood CD25+ T cells revealed that FOXP3 was highly expressed by CD25+CD45RA+ cells while CD25+CD45RA− cells contained twofold less FOXP3, which may explain the lower expression level of FOXP3 in cord blood CD25+ T cells compared to thymic CD25+ T cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that low numbers of MOG‐reactive functional CD25+ Treg are present in normal thymus, but that the suppressive ability of the cells is broader in cord blood. This suggests that the CD25+ Treg may be further matured in the periphery after being exported from the thymus.
Molecular characterization and chromosomal mapping of porcine adipose differentiation‐related protein (ADRP)
Authors: Kim T.H. , Choi B.H. , Chang G.W. , Lee K.T. , Lee H.Y. , Lee J.H. , Kim K.S. , Park C.K. , Moran C. 
Published: July 2005

SummaryADRPplays an important role in regulating lipid storage in various cells. We investigated theADRPgene as a candidate gene for intramuscular fat deposition and marbling traits in pigs. A full‐length transcript of porcineADRPwas cloned by RT‐PCR and RACE. The porcineADRPcDNA (1848 bp) contains a 1377‐bp open reading frame, encoding a deduced protein of 459 amino acids, which has amino acid sequence identities of 89, 89, 82 and 81% with cattle, human, mouse and ratADRPgenes respectively. The genomic structure and sequence of the porcineADRPwere also analysed using a BAC clone of a Korean native pig. PigADRPcomprises eight exons spanning approximately 13 kb and is located on chromosome 1 q2.3‐q2.7 between microsatellite markersSW2185andSW974. Several sequence variations were detected from nine different pig breeds. The biological role of this gene and the mapping localization indicated that the porcineADRPis a possible candidate gene for fat deposition and marbling traits.
Analysis of properdin (BF) genotypes associated with litter size in a commercial pig cross population
Authors: Buske B. , Brunsch C. , Zeller K. , Reinecke P. , Brockmann G. 
Published: July 2005

SummaryProperdin (BF) was investigated as a candidate gene influencing litter size in a commercial pig cross population. The BF gene was chosen because of its integral role in influencing uterine epithelium growth and because several quantitative trait loci (QTL) with impact on reproductive traits have been detected near the centromere of porcine chromosome 7. A total of 123 F2 (Large White × Landrace) × Leicoma sows were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method. The sows were divided into two extreme performance groups, one with a high litter size (n = 61, ≥14.3 piglets per litter) and the other with a low litter size (n = 62, ≤11.3 piglets per litter). Although genotype and allele frequencies were uneven with 2.4% (AA), 16.3% (AB), 81.3% (BB) and 0.11 (A): 0.89 (B), the allele A was the unfavourable one, leading to less offspring. With regard to the level of significance at p < 0.05, the total number of born (TNB) and number of born alive (NBA) piglets were associated with BF genotypes. The genotype AA led to 10.55 TNB and 10.00 NBA, whereas the genotype BB led to 13.19 TNB and 12.11 NBA. The genotype AB was intermediate. In future, a systematic mating test is necessary in order to obtain more balanced genotype frequencies. Furthermore, it should be taken into consideration that the investigated polymorphism is located in an intronic region and the causative mutation is not clear yet.
Childhood vitiligo: A prospective hospital‐based study
Authors: Al‐Mutairi Nawaf , Kumar Sharma Ashok , Al‐Sheltawy Mazen , Nour‐Eldin Osama 
Published: July 2005

SUMMARYEighty‐eight consecutive children presenting with vitiligo to a hospital dermatology clinic in a 1‐year period were assessed clinically, and for autoimmune and endocrine disorders. Vitiligo started between 8 and 12 years of age in 51% of our patients. A positive family history was obtained in 27.3% of the patients. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common clinical type seen. Three patients, though clinically asymptomatic, showed antithyroid antibodies. Our results are compared with those published previously on the subject.
Fixed drug eruption with interferon‐β‐1b
Authors: Tai Yee J , Tam Mei 
Published: July 2005

SUMMARYA 32‐year‐old woman with multiple sclerosis who developed non‐injection‐site‐related fixed drug eruption with interferon‐β‐1b. Erythematous plaques started appearing 1 month after the drug was introduced, and increased in number following each administration. The histopathology of a skin biopsy was consistent with fixed drug eruption. The drug was subsequently ceased, with resolution of the rash 6 weeks later.
Borderline lepromatous leprosy presenting as a single cutaneous plaque
Authors: Armour Katherine S , Scolyer Richard A , Barnetson Ross StC 
Published: July 2005

SUMMARYA 38‐year‐old Indonesian man presented with a single anaesthetic plaque on his right forearm and no other sensory changes. His clinical presentation was consistent with tuberculoid leprosy, but histopathology of a skin biopsy from the lesion showed borderline lepromatous disease. The patient was treated with multidrug therapy for multibacillary disease. Seven months after initiation of treatment his solitary skin anaesthetic plaque became tumid, and he developed multiple small plaques on his arms, legs and face, without evident neuritis. He was clearly in a reversal reaction (type 1), which slowly resolved with treatment of prednisone.
Erythroplasia of Queyrat treated with topical methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy
Authors: Lee Michael R , Ryman William 
Published: July 2005

SUMMARYAn 82‐year‐old man presented with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the glans penis arising in erythroplasia of Queyrat. He underwent Mohs’ micrographic surgery for the invasive carcinoma. Seven weeks later, the residual erythroplasia of Queyrat was treated using photodynamic therapy. Methyl aminolevulinate cream was applied to the glans of the penis under occlusion for 3 hours and then, after local anaesthesia, irradiated with a 630‐nm red‐light‐emitting diode lamp at a dose of 37 J/cm2 for 8 min. The patient experienced some mild swelling, redness and pain, which subsided over the following 5 days. Eighteen weeks after photodynamic therapy, there had been no recurrence of the lesion, when the patient died from an unrelated cause.
Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome treated with acitretin
Authors: Lee Michael R , Wong Li‐Chuen F , Fischer Gayle O 
Published: July 2005

SUMMARYA 7‐year‐old boy born to consanguineous parents had suffered from palmoplantar keratoderma and chronic gingivitis since the age of 3 months. He was diagnosed with Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome. Genetic testing confirmed that he was homozygous with a point mutation in exon 6 of the cathepsin C gene. One year after initiating treatment with acitretin 10 mg oral daily and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole, the patient's skin remains almost lesion‐free, and he has new teeth that erupted during treatment and are free of periodontal disease.
Profile of major congenital malformations at Nizwa Hospital, Oman: 10‐year review
Authors: Sawardekar Kiran P 
Published: July 2005

Objective:  The objective of this study was to establish the profile of major congenital malformations at Nizwa Hospital, which is a major hospital in the Al‐Dakhliya region of Oman. Methods:  All births with birthweight more than 500 g were prospectively studied from January 1993 through December 2002 for a period of 10 years. A congenital anomaly register was maintained in the special care baby unit (SCBU) and details of each case were recorded after parents' interviews, clinical evaluation and relevant radiological and laboratory investigations. The major malformations were classified as multiple or single‐system abnormalities as well as genetic or non‐genetic disorders. Results:  Of the 21 988 births during the study period, 541 babies (24.6 per 1000 births) had major malformations. Of the 541 babies, 158 (29.2%) had multiple malformations and 335 (61.9%) had involvement of a single system. In 48 (8.9%) babies a complete evaluation was not possible. Of the cases with multiple abnormalities, 57 had recognized syndromes, of which 28 (49.1%) were autosomal recessive disorders. Seventy (12.9%) cases had chromosomal abnormalities. The most common systems involved in neonates with single‐system malformations were the gastrointestinal system (100 cases), the central nervous system (79 cases) and the cardiovascular system (63 cases). Although the consanguinity rate of 53.1% among Omani births almost matched with the regional average of 52.7%, it was 76% among those with major malformations. Also, there was an increased clustering of multiple abnormalities and rare recessive disorders in cases with closely related parents and grandparents. The birth prevalence of major malformations was 14.6 per 1000 in non‐Omani births as compared to 25.2 in Omani births (P < 0.05). Genetic factors could be implicated in 343 (63.4%) cases and 130 (37.9%) of these were potentially preventable. Conclusion:  Genetic disorders account for a significant proportion of congenital malformations in Oman.
Scope for improving congenital cataract blindness prevention by screening of infants (red reflex screening) in a New Zealand setting
Authors: Fry Mark , Wilson Graham A 
Published: July 2005

Objective: To assess the coverage and quality of routine red reflex screening in a single region and to consider the results in the context of the current New Zealand guidelines. Methods: All the health practitioners partaking in routine Well Child – Tamariki Ora checks in the Nelson–Tasman region were asked to complete a simple one‐page questionnaire on red reflex screening. Results: Out of 127 providers potentially involved in routine infant examinations, the response rate was 92%. Red reflex screening was not being performed at the appropriate routine infant check with an ophthalmoscope by 16% (10/61) of the general practitioners and 29% (10/35) of the midwives. Eighteen per cent of the doctors and 47% of the midwives did not understand why red reflex screening was important or what was being looked for. Conclusions: There is substantial scope for improving the coverage and quality of red reflex screening in this region to meet national guidelines. The importance and technique of examining the red reflex should be stressed in the training of both doctors and midwives who are lead maternity carers in New Zealand.
Fate of the unligated vertical vein after repair of supracardiac anomalous pulmonary venous connection
Authors: Cheung YF , Lun KS , Chau Adolphus KT , Chiu Clement SW 
Published: July 2005

Objective: To determine the fate of the unligated vertical vein after repair of isolated supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods: We reviewed the outcome of 28 patients who were diagnosed to have isolated supracardiac TAPVC and determined the fate of the unligated vertical vein. Results: Of the 28 patients, four died before surgery. The remaining 24 patients underwent surgical correction of TAPVC with (n = 5) or without (n = 19) ligation of vertical vein at a median age of 20 days (range: 1–574 days). There were no significant differences in age, weight, presence of pulmonary venous obstruction, need for preoperative inotropic and ventilatory support, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crisis and requirement of peritoneal dialysis between patients with and those without vertical vein ligation. The in‐hospital surgical mortality was 50% (12/24), with 83% (10/12) of deaths occurring before 1990. Patients who died after surgery were significantly younger (median age: 5.5 days vs 37 days, P = 0.005), lighter (3.3 ± 0.5 kg vs 3.9 ± 0.6 kg, P = 0.016), more likely to have pulmonary venous obstruction preoperatively (75% vs 12%, P = 0.039) and have undergone surgery before 1990 (83% vs 33%, P = 0.036). The 12 survivors were followed up for a median of 4.7 years (range: 2.3–18.1 years), 10 of whom had their vertical vein unligated. The vertical vein remained patent in five (50%) patients, while stenosis of pulmonary venous anastomosis was only present in one patient. Of these five patients, three had subsequently undergone surgical ligation of the vertical vein to eliminate a large left‐to‐right shunt. Conclusions: Patency of the unligated vertical vein is common after the repair of supracardiac TAPVC, even in the absence of pulmonary venous obstruction. The degree of left‐to‐right shunt through the patent vertical vein may be so significant as to warrant surgical ligation.
Clinical significance of polymicrobial bacteremia in newborns
Authors: Gupta Piyush , Kumhar Ghanshyam D , Kaur Geetinder , Ramachandran VG 
Published: July 2005

Objective:  To identify whether polymicrobial bacteremia in newborns is associated with any predisposing factors, distinguishing clinical features, or higher mortality. Methods:  Results of blood cultures obtained over a period of 1 year from neonates admitted to the paediatric ward and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital were retrospectively analysed. The study group included all cases with polymicrobial bacteremia (isolation of two or more organisms). Controls (double the number of study cases) were randomly selected from the monomicrobial group. Case records of included cases were retrieved and scrutinized. Results:  Of 770 positive cultures during the study period, 52 (6.8%) cultures were positive for more than one organism. Complete case records were retrieved for 40 polymicrobial and 78 monomicrobial cases. The two groups were comparable for maternal and neonatal parameters including: maternal and obstetric complications; period of gestation; mode of delivery; birthweight and perinatal asphyxia; clinical symptomatology; invasive therapeutic interventions; and mortality. Conclusions:  Isolation of more than one organism from the blood culture of a suspected septic newborn is not rare. It does not always represent a true invasion by multiple organisms. Polymicrobial isolation per se should not be the criterion for hastily changing the therapeutic decisions.
Advanced tubal pregnancy at 30 weeks
Authors: Koçak Idris , Daǧdemir Aynur , Yilmaz Mustafa Şadi , Üstün Cazip 
Published: July 2005

AbstractA case of advanced tubal pregnancy at 30 weeks is described. The placenta was implanted on the salpinx. Most tubal pregnancies become symptomatic within the first 12 weeks. A small number of tubal pregnancies have progressed beyond this. We present this unusual case of a 30‐week tubal pregnancy situated in the proximal half of the tube that created a diagnostic dilemma.
Landscape perspectives on agricultural intensification and biodiversity – ecosystem service management
Authors: Tscharntke Teja , Klein Alexandra M. , Kruess Andreas , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf , Thies Carsten 
Published: July 2005

AbstractUnderstanding the negative and positive effects of agricultural land use for the conservation of biodiversity, and its relation to ecosystem services, needs a landscape perspective. Agriculture can contribute to the conservation of high‐diversity systems, which may provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and biological control via complementarity and sampling effects. Land‐use management is often focused on few species and local processes, but in dynamic, agricultural landscapes, only a diversity of insurance species may guarantee resilience (the capacity to reorganize after disturbance). Interacting species experience their surrounding landscape at different spatial scales, which influences trophic interactions. Structurally complex landscapes enhance local diversity in agroecosystems, which may compensate for local high‐intensity management. Organisms with high‐dispersal abilities appear to drive these biodiversity patterns and ecosystem services, because of their recolonization ability and larger resources experienced. Agri‐environment schemes (incentives for farmers to benefit the environment) need to broaden their perspective and to take the different responses to schemes in simple (high impact) and complex (low impact) agricultural landscapes into account. In simple landscapes, local allocation of habitat is more important than in complex landscapes, which are in total at risk. However, little knowledge of the relative importance of local and landscape management for biodiversity and its relation to ecosystem services make reliable recommendations difficult.