bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differentiation- and maturation-dependent content, localization, and secretion of cystatin C in human dendritic cells
Authors: Zavašnik-Bergant Tina , Repnik Urška , Schweiger Ana , Romih Rok , Jeras Matjaž , Turk Vito , Kos Janko 
Published: April 2005

AbstractAntigen-presenting cells (APC) play a pivotal role in the initiation of the T cell-mediated and antigen-specific immune response. The suggested role of endogenous inhibitor cystatin C (CyC) is to modulate cysteine proteases (cathepsins) present in human APC. To test this hypothesis, dendritic cells (DC) were generated in vitro from isolated monocytes, and changes in content, localization, and secretion of CyC and cathepsins S, L, and H (CatS, -L, and -H, repsectively) were followed in response to interleukin-4, enabling monocyte differentiation, and to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), enabling DC maturation. A large increase in intracellular CyC accompanied the differentiation of monocytes to immature DC, also shown by strong immunolabeling of Golgi in immature DC. On DC maturation, intracellular CyC levels decreased, and CyC was mostly absent from the Golgi. On prolonged incubation of mature DC with TNF-α, CyC was found located in the proximity of the plasma membrane, indicating that the transport of CyC from Golgi was not blocked as the result of the arrested exocytosis in mature DC. The secretion of CyC ceased, consistent with the peak of the surface expression of phenotypic markers (CD40, CD54, CD80, CD83, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II), characteristic for the mature DC stage, whereas the secretion of cathepsins did not correlate with the maturation stage. The difference in localization of CyC and of CatS, -L, and -H in immature and mature DC shows that the regulatory potential of CyC toward CatS, -L, and -H inside DC is limited. However, these interactions may occur extracellularly in lymph, as suggested by the large excess of CyC over secreted CatS, -L, and -H, and they may facilitate DC migration to lymph nodes.
The influence of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy on cognitive functioning: results from an observational study
Authors: King Robert , Travers Catherine , O'Neill Sheila , Byrne Gerard , Khoo Soo Keat 
Published: April 2005

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) upon memory deficit in a group of urban Australian women. Participants and setting: A cohort of 493 women aged 40-80 years was tested as part of the Longitudinal Study of Ageing in Women (LAW study) at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. Main outcome measures: The current memory functioning of participants was evaluated using the Wechsler Memory Scale – version three (WMS-III) while pre-morbid cognitive functioning was estimated from scores on the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Memory deficit was estimated by comparing NART scores with the age-corrected scale scores of the WMS-III. Results: Overall, NART scores correlated with WMS-III scores, consistent with the expected relationship between pre-morbid functioning and current functioning. For the sample as a whole, memory deficit was evident but mostly, age appropriate. There was considerable variation as to the extent of memory deficit within the sample. When memory functioning for women with a history of five or more years of combined oestrogen plus progestogen HRT or oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) was compared with that of women who had never used HRT or ERT there was no evidence of any effect for either HRT or ERT on memory deficit. Conclusions: The use of HRT or ERT had neither a protective nor an adverse effect on memory deficit.
Conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the secretion of atherogenic lipoproteins from human HepG2 liver cells
Authors: Pal Sebely , Takechi Ryusuke , Ho Suleen S. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractStudies in healthy humans have shown that consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) significantly reduced very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) blood concentrations. We propose that decreased concentrations are due to the inhibition of VLDL production and secretion [measured by apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100)] from the liver. To investigate the effects of a mixture of CLA isomers on VLDL metabolism, HepG2 liver cells were incubated for 24h with 50μmol/L of the different fatty acids. Effects of CLA were compared to a saturated fatty acid (palmitic acid), an n-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) and no treatment (control). HepG2-cell apoB100 levels were measured using Western blotting. ApoB100 secretion was significantly decreased in cells treated with CLA (44%, p<0.005) compared to control cells and those enriched with palmitic acid. Treatment of cells with CLA also decreased intracellular cholesterol levels. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CLA reduces apoB100 production and secretion compared to saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, possibly by limiting the availability of free cholesterol (required for apoB100 production). A reduction in apoB100 production in the body would decrease the levels of VLDL and atherogenic LDL and thus reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) for monitoring oxidative stress in critically ill patients: a simple, fast and inexpensive automated technique
Authors: Selmeci László , Seres Leila , Antal Magda , Lukács Júlia , Regöly-Mérei Andrea , Acsády György 
Published: April 2005

AbstractOxidative stress is known to be involved in many human pathological processes. Although there are numerous methods available for the assessment of oxidative stress, most of them are still not easily applicable in a routine clinical laboratory due to the complex methodology and/or lack of automation. In research into human oxidative stress, the simplification and automation of techniques represent a key issue from a laboratory point of view at present. In 1996 a novel oxidative stress biomarker, referred to as advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), was detected in the plasma of chronic uremic patients. Here we describe in detail an automated version of the originally published microplate-based technique that we adapted for a Cobas Mira Plus clinical chemistry analyzer. AOPP reference values were measured in plasma samples from 266 apparently healthy volunteers (university students; 81 male and 185 female subjects) with a mean age of 21.3years (range 18–33). Over a period of 18months we determined AOPP concentrations in more than 300 patients in our department. Our experiences appear to demonstrate that this technique is especially suitable for monitoring oxidative stress in critically ill patients (sepsis, reperfusion injury, heart failure) even at daily intervals, since AOPP exhibited rapid responses in both directions. We believe that the well-established relationship between AOPP response and induced damage makes this simple, fast and inexpensive automated technique applicable in daily routine laboratory practice for assessing and monitoring oxidative stress in critically ill or other patients.
Quality control in urinary stone analysis: results of 44 ring trials (1980–2001)
Authors: Hesse Albrecht , Kruse Rolf , Geilenkeuser Wolf-Jochen , Schmidt Matthias 
Published: April 2005

AbstractUrinary stone analysis is the most important diagnostic step after stone removal from the body. The methods employed for these analyses are based on diverse analytical principles. Chemical methods are used for detecting individual ions. Infrared spectroscopy is used for examining molecular structures, and X-ray diffraction for determination of the crystalline structure of a substance. Since 1980, a twice-yearly ring trials quality control survey has been on offer to examine the quality of urinary stone analyses. A summary of the results of 44 ring trials (1980–2001) has been compiled for individual pure substances and binary (two-component) mixtures. On average, 100 laboratories have participated in these ring trials. Initially, over 80% of the participants carried out their analyses using chemical methods. In 2001, this figure decreased to a mere 13%. In contrast, a progressive increase in the use of infrared spectroscopy was observed, up to 79% of all participants employed this method. X-Ray diffraction was only employed in a small number of specialised laboratories (5–9%). The chemical methods produced a very high proportion of errors (6.5–94%) with both the pure substances and binary mixtures, whereas high error rates for infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were confined to individual substances only. Due to the poor results in the ring trials, the majority of laboratories stopped using chemical analysis, which is now considered to be obsolete. Regarding mixtures, error rates of over 10% also occurred with infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Ring trials are indispensable for the quality management of urinary stone analysis.
The number of consultant clinical chemists in the 15-nation European Union
Authors: Smit Erik , Beastall Graham , Bjorses Ulla-Maj , Candito Mirande , Fiorentini Piero 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe number of consultant clinical chemists (NCCC) in the 15-nation European Union (EU) (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) has been ascertained. These data were analysed in relation to several established national parameters, including demographics, gross domestic product (GDP), cost of healthcare, cost of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) testing and the number of physicians and pharmacists. Large differences in the population-corrected costs of IVD testing (range ∼2.4-fold) and NCCC (range ∼30-fold) were observed between the countries, which could not be satisfactorily explained by any of the parameters assessed. The differences in IVD testing and NCCC might reflect different practices in laboratory medicine across the EU, but could not be estimated independently. In recognition of the different scope of laboratory medicine practised under the title of clinical chemistry, a simple staffing model was derived in an attempt to give a better estimate of the appropriate number of consultant laboratory medicine specialists. This model allocated a fixed number of laboratory specialists per million inhabitants for the five disciplines: clinical chemistry, 10; haematology, 10; serology, 7.5; microbiology, 12.5; and blood banking, 2. The staffing model also allowed for the contribution of the primary care sector by including one full-time consultant laboratory medicine specialist for each small private laboratory and two extra consultant laboratory specialists per million inhabitants where there are not large numbers of private laboratories. Application of the model to the available data helped to reduce the variation observed in the primary analysis of NCCC (range ∼9-fold) but still revealed important differences between countries. These differences could arise from the poor quality of published data as much as from true differences in laboratory medicine practice. We conclude that a more sophisticated analysis of laboratory practice and of all professionals working in laboratory medicine disciplines would be required before any conclusions could be drawn about relative staffing, efficiency or cost effectiveness. The staffing model derived is a first step towards objective estimation of the number of consultant laboratory specialists in the EU.
Improved method to graft polyaniline on E‐glass fabric to enhance its electronic conductivity
Authors: Geetha Sivasubramanian , Kumar Konda Kannan Satheesh , Trivedi Dinesh Chandra 
Published: April 2005

AbstractA method to enhance the electronic conductivity of polyaniline grafted E‐glass fabric is described. The influence of substituted aromatic sulfonic acids as primary dopants on conductivity of the grafted polyaniline–E‐glass fabrics is studied. The conducting fabrics obtained in this method were characterized by UV‐vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction study, thermogravimetric analysis, and conductivity. Shielding effectiveness measurements on these Pan–E‐glass fabrics showed that the performance is improved (i.e., 0.01 MHz = 49 dB, 1000 MHz = 7 dB) compared to earlier studies (i.e., 0.05 MHz = 37 dB, 1000 MHz = 1 dB) without pretreatment of fabrics. Possible application of these fabrics, e.g., for dissipation of electrostatic charge, is suggested. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2316–2323, 2005
Synthesis and antitumor activity of poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐co‐maleic anhydride‐co‐vinyl acetate)
Authors: Can Hatice Kaplan , Doğan A. Lale , Rzaev Zakir M. O. , Uner Ayşegül Hasegeli , Güner Ali 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe radical‐initiated terpolymerization of 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran (DHP), maleic anhydride (MA), and vinyl acetate (VA), which were used as a donor–acceptor–donor system, was carried out in methyl ethyl ketone in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator at 65°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The synthesis and characterization of binary and ternary copolymers, some kinetic parameters of terpolymerization, the terpolymer‐composition/thermal‐behavior relationship, and the antitumor activity of the synthesized polymers were examined. The polymerization of the DHP–MA–VA monomer system predominantly proceeded by the alternating terpolymerization mechanism. The in vitro cytotoxicities of poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐alt‐maleic anhydride) [poly(DHP‐alt‐MA)] and poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐co‐maleic anhydride‐co‐vinyl acetate) [poly(DHP‐co‐MA‐co‐VA)] were evaluated with Raji cells (human Burkitt lymphoma cell line). The antitumor activity of the prepared anion‐active poly(DHP‐alt‐MA) and poly(DHP‐co‐MA‐co‐VA) polymers were studied with methyl–thiazol–tetrazolium testing, and the 50% cytotoxic dose was calculated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2352–2359, 2005
Swelling and thermal behaviors of a starch‐based superabsorbent hydrogel with quaternary ammonium and carboxyl groups
Authors: Cao Li‐Qin , Xu Shi‐Mei , Feng Shun , Wang Ji‐De 
Published: April 2005

AbstractA starch‐based superabsorbent hydrogel with quaternary ammonium and carboxyl groups is synthesized in aqueous solution. Various factors, including the initiator dose, the crosslinker dose, and the dose and the concentration of the acrylate monomer, as well as the polymerization temperature, are investigated in terms of the swelling in distilled water and in a 0.9% NaCl solution. Furthermore, the thermal degradation of the modified starch graft copolymer is studied under an air atmosphere. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2392–2398, 2005
Environmental responses of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextran) hydrogels
Authors: Chen Li , Dong Jing , Ding Yamei , Han Weijun 
Published: April 2005

AbstractA series of intelligent hydrogels (poly(NIPA‐co‐GMA‐Dex)) were synthesized by copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextran (GMA‐Dex) in aqueous solution with different ratios. Their swelling behaviors at different temperatures and in different pH and ionic strengths, and their mechanical properties were studied. It has found that poly(NIPA‐co‐GMA‐Dex) hydrogels are temperature‐, pH‐, and ionic strength‐sensitive associated with the roles of the component PNIPA and GMA‐Dex, respectively. Most significantly, poly (NIPA‐co‐GMA‐Dex) hydrogels exhibit simultaneously good swelling properties and mechanical properties. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2435–2439, 2005
Effect of vulcanizing system on the crosslink density of nitrile rubber compounds
Authors: Lawandy S. N. , Halim S. F. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe synergistic activity of binary accelerator systems in rubber vulcanization is well known. Binary accelerator systems are being widely used in industry and are becoming increasingly popular because of the fact that such mixed systems can produce a vulcanizate with superior mechanical properties compared to those of stock cured with a single accelerator. The authors have studied the performance of a binary accelerator system based on cyclohexyl benzothiazole sulfenamide (CBS), tetramethyl thiuram disulphide (TMTD) in the sulfur vulcanization of nitrile rubber. The amount of sulfur and accelerator was varied to change the network crosslink density of vulcanizates. The observed mutual activity has been discussed based on the mechanical properties and crosslink density. The physical crosslink density of the various nitrile rubber mixes was estimated using the Kinetic Theory of Elasticity. The mechanical properties of the various rubber compounds were related to the corresponding crosslink density estimated for each compound. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2440–2445, 2005
Patterned cell determination in a plant tissue: The secondary phloem of trees
Authors: Barlow Peter 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe secondary vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) of woody plants originate from a vascular cambium and develop as radially oriented files of cells. The secondary phloem is composed of three or four cell types, which are organised into characteristic recurrent cellular sequences within the radial cell files of this tissue. There is a gradient of auxin (indole acetic acid) across both the cambium and the immediately postmitotic cells within the xylem and phloem domains, and it is believed that this morphogen, probably in concert with other morphogenic factors, is closely associated with the determination and differentiation of the different cells types in each tissue. A hypothesis is developed that, in conjunction with the positional values conferred by the graded radial distribution of morphogen, cell divisions at particular positions within the cambium are sufficient to determine not only each of the phloem cell types but also their recurrent pattern of differentiation within each radial cell file. BioEssays 27: 533–541, 2005. © 2005 Wiley periodicals, Inc.
Nonsense‐mediated RNA decay: A molecular system micromanaging individual gene activities and suppressing genomic noise
Authors: Alonso Claudio R. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractNonsense‐mediated RNA decay (NMD) is an evolutionary conserved system of RNA surveillance that detects and degrades RNA transcripts containing nonsense mutations. Given that these mutations arise at a relatively low frequency, are there any as yet unknown substrates of NMD in a wild‐type cell? With this question in mind, Mendell et al.1 have used a microarray assay to identify those human genes under NMD regulation. Their results show that, in human cells, NMD regulates hundreds of physiologic transcripts and not just those containing nonsense mutations. Among the NMD targets are a number of non‐functional RNAs expressed from vestigial sequences derived from retroviral and transposable elements. These findings support the notion that NMD is a high profile post‐transcriptional mechanism micromanaging the activity of multiple gene batteries and suppressing the expression of genetic remnants. BioEssays 27:463–466, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A walk from the wild side: The genetics of domestication of livestock and crops
Authors: Goodrich Justin , Wiener Pam 
Published: April 2005

AbstractThe phenotypic variation found in domesticated plants and animals is striking, so much so that Darwin used it to illustrate the power of selection to effect change. Recent developments in genomics technologies are leading to dramatic progress in elucidating the genetic changes that occur during domestication. The Genetics Society Autumn Meeting on the genetics of domestication took place in November 2004 at the Royal Society in London, and was organised by Helen Sang (Roslin Institute, UK) and Jonathan Jones (John Innes Centre, UK). The meeting brought together many of the leading researchers on livestock and crop domestication and provided a timely and exciting account of recent progress in the field. BioEssays 27:574–576, 2005. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exo‐Mechanism Proximity‐Accelerated Alkylations: Investigations of Linkers, Electrophiles and Surface Mutations in Engineered Cyclophilin–Cyclosporin Systems
Authors: Levitsky Konstantin , Boersma Melissa D. , Ciolli Christopher J. , Belshaw Peter J. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractInvestigations on the scope and utility of exo‐mechanism proximity‐accelerated reactions in engineered receptor–ligand systems are reported. We synthesized a series of electrophilic cyclosporin (CsA) derivatives by varying electrophiles and linker lengths, prepared a series of nucleophilic cysteine mutations on the surface of cyclophilin A (Cyp), and examined their reactivity and specificity in proximity‐accelerated reactions. Acrylamide and epoxide electrophiles afforded useful reactivity and high specificity for alkylation of engineered receptors in Jurkat cell extracts. We found that remote cysteines (>17 Å from the ligand) could be alkylated with useful rates under physiological conditions. The results from mutations of the receptor surface suggest that the dominant factors governing the rates of proximity‐accelerated reactions are related to the local environment of the reactive group on the protein surface. This study defines several parameters affecting reactivity in exo‐mechanism proximity‐accelerated reactions and provides guidance for the design of experiments for biological investigations involving proximity‐accelerated reactions.
Design of Organic Semiconductors: Tuning the Electronic Properties of π‐Conjugated Oligothiophenes with the 3,4‐Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) Building Block
Authors: Turbiez Mathieu , Frère Pierre , Allain Magali , Videlot Christine , Ackermann Jörg , Roncali Jean 
Published: April 2005

AbstractHybrid oligothiophenes based on a various combinations of thiophene and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) groups have been synthesized. UV/Vis absorption spectra show that the number and relative positions of the EDOT groups considerably affect the width of the HOMO–LUMO gap and the rigidity of the conjugated system. Analysis of the crystallographic structure of two hybrid quaterthiophenes confirms that insertion of two adjacent EDOT units in the middle of the molecule leads to a self‐rigidification of the conjugated systems by intramolecular S⋅⋅⋅O interactions. Cyclic voltammetry data shows that the first oxidation potential of the oligomers decreases with increasing chain length and increasing number of EDOT groups for a given chain length. Electrochemical studies and theoretical calculations show that the positions of the EDOT units in the conjugated chain control the potential difference (ΔEp) between the first and second oxidation steps. Moving the EDOT groups from the outer to the inner positions of the conjugated system increases ΔEp. Theoretical calculations confirm that this phenomenon reflects an increase of the intramolecular coulombic repulsion between positive charges in the dication. A thin‐film field‐effect transistor was fabricated by vacuum sublimation of a pentamer with alternating thiophene–EDOT structure, and the hole mobility was determined.
Efficient Synthesis of Five‐ and Seven‐Membered‐Ring Heterocycles by Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed [3+2] and [3+4] Cycloaddition of Diazodicarbonyl Compounds with Conjugated Dienes
Authors: Rok Lee Yong , Cheol Hwang Jae 
Published: April 2005

AbstractRhodium(II)‐catalyzed reactions of diazodicarbonyl compounds with a variety of conjugated dienes have been examined. These reactions provide a simple and rapid route to dihydrofurans and dihydrooxepines with a variety of substituents on the ring. The formation of these products is interpreted in terms of a stepwise mechanism. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)