bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factor matrix text filtering and clustering
Authors: Kostoff Ronald N. , Block Joel A. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe presence of trivial words in text databases can affect record or concept (words/phrases) clustering adversely. Additionally, the determination of whether a word/phrase is trivial is context‐dependent. Our objective in the present article is to demonstrate a context‐dependent trivial word filter to improve clustering quality. Factor analysis was used as a context‐dependent trivial word filter for subsequent term clustering. Medline records for Raynaud's Phenomenon were used as the database, and words were extracted from the record abstracts. A factor matrix of these words was generated, and the words that had low factor loadings across all factors were identified, and eliminated. The remaining words, which had high factor loading values for at least one factor and therefore were influential in determining the theme of that factor, were input to the clustering algorithm. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to show that factor matrix filtering leads to higher quality clusters and subsequent taxonomies.
An intervention study to increase knowledge and use of folic acid among relatives in neural tube defect–affected families in Washington, D.C.
Authors: Byrne Julianne , Carolan Susan , Arcement Rashad , Kozlowski Matthew , Taller Inna , Ried Stephanie , Keating Robert 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDLittle is known about the level of knowledge and use of folic acid among near relatives in U.S. families of a child with spina bifida. We hypothesized that relatives would be more knowledgeable than the general population and more likely to take folic acid. Further, we hypothesized that relatives would be more motivated by an intervention to increase their use of folic acid.METHODSWe conducted an intervention study among females in families attending a hospital spina bifida clinic in Washington, DC.RESULTSThe 231 subjects consisted of the affected individuals, mothers, sisters, and aunts. The average age was 34 years. At baseline, most (87.4%) reported that they had heard of folic acid; 37.6% were currently taking multivitamins with folic acid and 6.9% were taking folic acid tablets. The intervention significantly increased both knowledge (to 99%) and intake of folic acid from 41.9 to 48.5%. Folic acid intake increased significantly among African‐American women and women with less education, women who were older, married, with children, and nonsmokers.CONCLUSIONSThis intervention was successful in increasing folic acid intake among female relatives in spina bifida–affected families. By the end of the study, almost all women had heard of folic acid and folic acid use had increased by 16%. Among these women at higher than expected risk for having an affected child, this rate of intake, while more than the general population, still falls short of optimum. Fortification of food with folic acid may be the only way to ensure increased folic acid intake. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methamphetamine and lipid peroxidation in the rat retina
Authors: Melo Pedro , Rodrigues Lorena G. , Pinazo‐Durán Maria Dolores , Tavares Maria Amélia 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe use of psychoactive drugs during adolescence and early adult life has increased in the last few decades. It is known that developmental exposure to psychostimulants affects the sensory systems, and the retina has been shown to be a target tissue. This work was conducted to evaluate the pattern of lipid peroxidation in the rat retina following prenatal exposure to methamphetamine (MA).METHODSPregnant female Wistar rats were given MA (5 mg/kg of body weight/day; SC, in 0.9% saline) from GD 8 to 22. Offspring were sacrificed at postnatal days (PNDs) 7, 14, and 21. The retinas were homogenized, and both the total antioxidant and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured by enzymatic‐colorimetric methods. The lipid peroxidation byproducts (malondialdehyde [MDA] and MDA‐like metabolites) were measured by the thiobarbituric acid test.RESULTSTotal antioxidant levels were lower in the MA group at PND 21 in both males and females. The activity of SOD was higher in PND 7 females from the MA group. MDA levels were higher in the MA group at PND 21 in both genders.CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that prenatal‐induced MA toxicity in the retina may be related to lipid peroxidation processes and oxidative stress. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and conformational properties of protein fragments based on the Id family of DNA‐binding and cell‐differentiation inhibitors
Authors: Kiewitz Sebastian D. , Cabrele Chiara 
Published: May 2005

AbstractId proteins are dominant negative regulators of the helix–loop–helix (HLH) transcription factors and are important during development, especially by preventing cell differentiation while inducing cell proliferation. In contrast, they are poorly expressed in healthy adults but are found in several tumor types. The Id HLH motif is responsible for the inhibitory activity, whereas not much is known about the role of the N‐ and C‐termini. In the presented work, synthetic peptides reproducing the HLH, the N‐terminal region, and the C‐terminal region of the Id proteins were characterized by CD. The four HLH sequences built highly stable helical conformations, whereas the N‐ and C‐termini were unstructured, with the exception of an alanine‐rich fragment preceding the Id4 HLH motif. Deletion of the loop connecting the two helices led to helix destabilization for all four Id HLH peptides. In addition, modifications of the amino acid composition within the hydrophobic face of the helices of the Id1 HLH peptide induced conformational changes, mostly associated with loss of helix content. Moreover, a fragment containing the helix‐2 and the C‐terminus of the Id1 protein did not show any helical character. Therefore, both the helix propensity and stability of the HLH domain were shown to be strongly dependent on favorable interhelical contacts. In contrast, it is suggested that the regions beyond this domain could rather play a destabilizing role, for example, by increasing the flexibility of the folded protein. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopoly 80: 762–774, 2005This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Efficient Calculation of Many Stacking and Pairing Free Energies in DNA from a Few Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Oostenbrink Chris , van Gunsteren Wilfred F. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThrough the use of the one‐step perturbation approach, 130 free energies of base stacking and 1024 free energies of base pairing in DNA have been calculated from only five simulations of a nonphysical reference state. From analysis of a diverse set of 23 natural and unnatural bases, it appears that stacking free energies and stacking conformations play an important role in pairing of DNA nucleotides. On the one hand, favourable pairing free energies were found for bases that do not have the possibility to form canonical hydrogen bonds, while on the other hand, good hydrogen‐bonding possibilities do not guarantee a favourable pairing free energy if the stacking of the bases dictates an unfavourable conformation. In this application, the one‐step perturbation approach yields a wealth of both energetic and structural information at minimal computational cost.
Synthesis of Multi‐1,10‐phenanthroline Ligands with 1,3‐Phenylene Linkers and Their Lithium Complexes
Authors: Dietrich‐Buchecker Christiane , Colasson Benoît , Jouvenot Damien , Sauvage Jean‐Pierre 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe synthesis of two multisite ligands containing four and five 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) chelates in line, respectively, is presented. The connectors are 1,3‐phenylene linkers. The two ligands were prepared following multistep procedures, the two key reactions being the Suzuki coupling reaction between aromatic nuclei and the nucleophilic addition of aryllithium derivatives onto a phen fragment. The coordination chemistry of both ligands with Li+ions was very clean and selective, whereas their reaction with copper(I) led to intractable mixtures of insoluble complexes. The tetraphen and the pentaphen compounds afforded almost quantitatively the four‐ and five‐lithium double‐stranded helical complexes, respectively. The helical systems are probably highly wound, as indicated by NMR measurements. The pronounced strain of the 5‐Li+complex is reflected by the easy loss of a lithium cation, as shown by electrospray mass spectrometry.
The HIV‐Tat protein induces chromosome number aberrations by affecting mitosis
Authors: Battaglia Piero A. , Ponti Donatella , Naim Valeria , Venanzi Serenella , Psaila Rossana , Gigliani Franca 
Published: May 2005

AbstractTo analyze the effects of the HIV‐Tat‐tubulin interaction, we microinjected HIV‐Tat purified protein into Drosophila syncytial embryos. Following the Tat injection, altered timing of the cortical nuclear cycles was observed; specifically, the period between the nuclear envelope breakdown and anaphase initiation was lengthened as was the period between anaphase initiation and the formation of the next nuclear envelope. These two periods correspond to kinetochore alignment at metaphase and to mitosis exit, respectively. We also demonstrated that these two delays are the consequence of damage specifically induced by Tat on kinetochore alignment and on the timing of sister chromatid segregation at anaphase. Furthermore, we show that the expression of Tat in Drosophila larvae brain cells produces a significant percentage of polyploid and aneuploid cells. The results reported here indicate that Tat impairs the mitotic process and that Tat‐tubulin interaction appears to be responsible for the observed defects. The presence of polyploid and aneuploid cells is consistent with a delay or arrest in the M phase of a substantial fraction of the cells expressing Tat, suggesting that mitotic spindle checkpoints are overridden following Tat expression. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 61:129–136, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of Poly(ε‐lysine)‐Grafted Dextrans and Their pH‐ and Thermosensitive Hydrogelation with Cyclodextrins
Authors: Choi Hak Soo , Yamamoto Kaori , Ooya Tooru , Yui Nobuhiko 
Published: May 2005

AbstractTo give pH sensitivity to a thermoreversible supramolecular‐structured hydrogel system, poly(ε‐lysine) (PL), as a cationic polymer, was grafted to dextran and used for inclusion complexation with α‐cyclodextrins (α‐CDs). The synthesized graft copolymer was characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the hydrogel formation was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state 13C NMR analysis. The hydrogelation was induced from a phase‐separated structure of hydrated dextrans and hydrophobically aggregated inclusion complexes in buffer solution at pH 10.0. The prepared hydrogels showed thermoreversible gel–sol transitions as well as pH‐sensitive phase transitions, which were recorded by the changes in UV/Vis transmittance. A rapid phase transition from gel to sol was observed upon decreasing the pH value to 4.0, which resulted from the dissociation process between the protonated guest polymer and α‐CDs. The stimuli‐responsive physical properties of the hydrogels were improved by modulating the degree of substitution of the grafted PL and the combination with α‐CDs.
The insulin sensitivity, glucose sensitivity, and acute insulin response to glucose load in adolescent type 2 diabetes in Taiwanese
Authors: Pei Dee , Hsiao Chin‐Fu , Hung Yi‐Jen , Hsieh Chang‐Hsun , Fang Sandra‐Chi , Lian Wei‐Chen , Hsu Wen‐Lin , Fu Chen‐Chung , Chen Hsin‐Dean , Kuo Shi‐Wen 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackgroundInsulin sensitivity (SI), glucose sensitivity (SG), acute insulin response to glucose load (AIR), and obesity in adolescent type 2 diabetes patients (young diabetes, YDM) in Taiwan were studied.MethodsForty patients diagnosed at <22 years of age were enrolled and divided into non‐obese (NOYDM, BMI < 27 kg/m2) and obese groups (OBYDM BMI > 27 kg/m2). Adult‐onset type 2 diabetes patients (ADM) >40 years old (n = 41) and nondiabetic young adults (N) (n = 23) served as controls. Fasting plasma lipids, insulin, and glucose were measured. Homeostasis model assessment was calculated to estimate insulin sensitivity and β‐cell function. A frequent‐sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed to evaluate SI, SG, and AIR.ResultsSI and AIR were significantly lower in YDM and ADM than in N (0.92 ± 0.13, 0.8 ± 0.15 and 3.24 ± 0.47 × 10−4/U/mL for SI; 40.3 ± 20.3, 107.3 ± 50.2, 1208 ± 306.3 uU/min for AIR). SG of YDM and ADM were lower compared with N (0.014 ± 0.00138, 0.0292 ± 0.0058 vs 0.034 ± 0.0086 min−1 respectively). No difference was noted between YDM and ADM. SI and SG were not different in NOYDM and OBYDM. AIR was higher in OBYDM (83.6 ± 34.3 vs −7.6 ± 13.66 uU/min).ConclusionsYDM had defects in SI, SG, and AIR compared to N, which was similar to the pathophysiology of ADM. The results imply that YDM may be either a different subtype of diabetes or the same type of diabetes as ADM, with severe defects associated with earlier age of onset. OBYDM had higher AIR than NOYDM. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cloning and expression analysis of pos‐1 in the nematodes Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis remanei
Authors: Konwerski Jamie , Senchuk Megan , Petty Emily , Lahaie David , Schisa Jennifer A. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe Caenorhabditis elegans pos‐1 gene encodes a zinc‐finger protein that is required for germline specification during embryogenesis. The maternally provided mRNA is translationally regulated both spatially and temporally during early development. We have cloned orthologs of pos‐1 from C. briggsae and C. remanei, two Caenorhabditis species that have diverged from C. elegans by approximately 20–40 million years. Two regions in the 3′ untranslated region are highly conserved among all three species. We find that the pos‐1 RNA is expressed in the hermaphrodite and female gonads of C. briggsae and C. remanei but POS‐1 protein is not detected at high levels in C. briggsae until the 2‐cell stage of embyrogenesis. The protein expression is restricted to the germline precursors of the embryo. We conclude that pos‐1 appears to be translationally regulated in C. briggsae as it is in C. elegans and speculate the conserved 3′ UTR sequences may be involved. Developmental Dynamics 233:1006–1012, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A large Norwegian family with inherited malignant melanoma, multiple atypical nevi, and CDK4 mutation
Authors: Molven Anders , Grimstvedt Magne B. , Steine Solrun J. , Harland Mark , Avril Marie‐Françoise , Hayward Nicholas K. , Akslen Lars A. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractMutations in two loci encoding cell‐cycle‐regulatory proteins have been shown to cause familial malignant melanoma. About 20% of melanoma‐prone families bear a mutation in the CDKN2A locus, which encodes two unrelated proteins, p16INK4A and p14ARF. Mutations in the other locus, CDK4, are much rarer and have been linked to the disease in only three families worldwide. In the 1960s, a large Norwegian pedigree with multiple atypical nevi and malignant melanomas was identified. Subsequently, six generations and more than 100 family members were traced and 20 cases of melanoma verified. In this article, we report that CDK4 codon 24 is mutated from CGT to CAT (Arg24His) in this unusually large melanoma kindred. Intriguingly, one of the family members had ocular melanoma, but the CDK4 mutation could not be detected in archival tissue samples from this subject. Thus, the case of ocular melanoma in this family was sporadic, suggesting an etiology different from that of the skin tumors. The CDK4 mutation in the Norwegian family was identical to that in melanoma families in France, Australia, and England. Haplotype analysis using microsatellite markers flanking the CDK4 gene and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms within the gene did not support the possibility that there was a common founder, but rather indicated at least two independent mutational events. All CDK4 melanoma families known to date have a substitution of amino acid 24. In addition to resulting from selection pressure, this observation may be explained by the CG dinucleotide of codon 24 representing a mutational hot spot in the CDK4 gene. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ubiquitous expression of mRFP1 in transgenic mice
Authors: Zhu Huaxing , Wang Guangxue , Li Gang , Han Min , Xu Tian , Zhuang Yuan , Wu Xiaohui 
Published: May 2005

AbstractFluorescent proteins provide a powerful means to track gene expression and cellular behaviors in the study of model organisms such as mice. Among the new generation of fluorescent protein markers, the monomeric red fluorescent protein mRFP1 is particularly attractive because of its rapid maturation and minimal interference with GFP and GFP‐derived markers. Here we evaluate the utility of mRFP1 as a marker in transgenic mice. We show that high level and ubiquitous expression of mRFP1 does not affect mouse development, general physiology, or reproduction. mRFP1 expression can be readily detected with unaided eyes under daylight in transgenic mice on the albino background. The intensity of mRFP1 signals can be used to distinguish homozygous and heterozygous transgenic mice. Together, these features make mRFP1 an attractive marker for broad applications in transgenic research. genesis 42:86–90, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanism(s) of increased vascular cell adhesion on nanostructured poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) films
Authors: Miller Derick C. , Haberstroh Karen M. , Webster Thomas J. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractStudies have shown that poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) films with nanometer surface features promote vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell adhesion. The objective of this in vitro research was to begin to understand the mechanisms behind this observed increase in vascular cell adhesion. Results provided evidence that nanostructured PLGA adsorbed significantly more vitronectin and fibronectin from serum compared to conventional (or those not possessing nanometer surface features) PLGA. When separately preadsorbing both vitronectin and fibronectin, increased vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell density was observed on nanostructured (compared to conventional) PLGA. Additionally, blocking of cell‐binding epitopes of fibronectin and vitronectin significantly decreased vascular cell adhesion on nanostructured (compared to conventional) PLGA. For this reason, results of the present in vitro study demonstrated that cell adhesive proteins adsorbed in different quantities and altered bioactivity on nanostructured compared to conventional PLGA topographies, which (at least in part) may account for the documented increased vascular cell adhesion on nanostructured PLGA. In this manner, this study continues to provide evidence for the promise of nanostructured PLGA in vascular tissue engineering applications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Apheresis activity in Venezuela
Authors: Saltiel Christiane 
Published: May 2005

AbstractInterest for apheresis activity has been growing in Venezuela. In 1976 there were only a few devices; in 2003, 80 apheresis machines performed 27,675 donor apheresis procedures and 547 therapeutic procedures countrywide. We report the activity at the Metropolitan Blood Bank (the largest one of the country) in the period 1999–2003: 597 therapeutic procedures were performed in 171 patients, during 212 crisis episodes. The average age was 38 ± 16 years, 65% male and 35% female. Most of the therapeutic procedures were therapeutic plasma exchange for hematology diseases (mainly thrombotic thrombocitopenic purpura and hemophilia inhibitors), including 184 therapeutic procedures with the Autopheresis‐C (Baxter Healthcare Corp., Deerfield, IL). Most common adverse effects (3.9%) were hypotension and allergic reactions to the plasma. J. Clin. Apheresis. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apheresis in the Philippines
Authors: Narciso Carmen T. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThis is a retrospective study of 131 patients who underwent 479 therapeutic apheresis (TA) procedures at St. Luke's Medical Center, in the Philippines, from 1994 to 2003. Diseases were classified according to indication categories using the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) guidelines. Seventy‐eight percent of the patients belonged to ASFA Category I, 14% to Category II, 8% to Category III, and none in Category IV. The most common indication was for neurological disorders (62%), mainly acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (49%) and myasthenia gravis (40%). The remaining disease groups were hematologic (25%), renal and metabolic (8%), and autoimmune and rheumatic diseases (5%). Oral corticosteroids are the preference of many for the treatment of CIDP, being much less expensive than IVIG infusion or TA. Favorable response is noted in the use of the latter to prevent kidney transplant rejection through antibody removal among pre‐sensitized patients before transplantation. Complete recovery was seen in 2 of 4 patients with acute hepatic failure. The negative outcome of controlled studies in the literature has limited our utilization of TA for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunoadsorption for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura has not been performed locally due to the unavailability and prohibitive cost of affinity columns. Factors affecting the practice of TA in our country are cited. Organization of a multicenter study group and an apheresis national registry may lead to a better future of TA in the Philippines. J. Clin. Apheresis © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Post‐transcriptional gene regulation by gamma herpesviruses
Authors: Swaminathan Sankar 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) SM protein is a member of a highly conserved family of proteins present in most mammalian herpes viruses. There is a significant amount of functional and sequence divergence among the homologs encoded by the human herpes viruses, including differences in mechanism of action and varying effects on splicing and transcription. Nevertheless, in those cases where it has been studied, these proteins are essential for lytic replication of the virus. The mechanism by which SM regulates gene expression operates at the level of mRNA stability, processing, and export. SM enhances expression of EBV lytic genes and has both positive and negative effects on cellular gene expression. In addition to enhancing accumulation of EBV gene mRNAs, SM has important effects on cellular mRNAs, altering the host cell gene expression profile to facilitate viral replication. This article describes the current state of knowledge regarding the role of EBV SM in cellular and viral gene regulation and summarizes some of the similarities and differences with the ORF57 homolog from Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpes virus (KSHV/HHV8). © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.