bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Myosin superfamily evolutionary history
Authors: Thompson Reid F. , Langford George M. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThe superfamily of myosin proteins found in eukaryotic cells is known to contain at least 18 different classes. Members are classified based on the phylogenetic analysis of the head domains located at the amino terminus of the polypeptide. While phylogenetic relationships provide insights into the functional relatedness of myosins within and between families, the evolutionary history of the myosin superfamily is not revealed by such studies. In order to establish the evolutionary history of the superfamily, we analyzed the representation of myosin gene families in a range of organisms covering the taxonomic spectrum. The amino acid sequences of 232 myosin heavy chains, as well as 65 organisms representing the protist, plant, and animal kingdoms, were included in this study. A phylogenetic tree of organisms was constructed based on several complementary taxonomic classification schemes. The results of the analysis support an evolutionary hypothesis in which myosins II and I evolved the earliest of all the myosin groups. Myosins V and XI evolved from a common myosin II‐like ancestor, but the two families diverged to either the plant (XI) or animal (V) lineage. Class VII myosin appeared fourth among the families, and classes VI and IX appeared later during the early period of metazoan radiation. Myosins III, XV, and XVIII appeared after this group, and X appeared during the formative phases of vertebrate evolution. The remaining members of the myosin superfamily (IV, VI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVI, and XVII) are limited in distribution to one or more groups of organisms. The evolutionary data permits one to predict the likelihood that myosin genes absent from a given species are either missing (not found yet because of insufficient data) or lost due to a mutation that removed the gene from an organism's lineage. In conclusion, an analysis of the evolutionary history of the myosin superfamily suggests that early‐appearing myosin families function as generalists, carrying out a number of functions in a variety of cell types, while more recently evolved myosin families function as specialists and are limited to a few organisms or a few cell types within organisms. Anat Rec 268:276–289, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence and clinical significance of lymphocytic foci in minor salivary glands of healthy volunteers
Authors: Radfar Lida , Kleiner David E. , Fox Philip C. , Pillemer Stanley R. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and severity of focal lymphocytic sialadenitis in minor salivary glands of healthy, asymptomatic individuals, in whom Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has been excluded.MethodsCharts of 54 healthy volunteers who had salivary gland biopsies at the National Institutes of Health from January 1992 to August 1998 were reviewed. The healthy volunteers served as control subjects in various studies of salivary dysfunction. Significant medical conditions including SS were excluded. A biopsy with a focus score (FS) >1 was regarded as positive. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the population's characteristics.ResultsThe frequency of focal lymphocytic infiltration in the healthy volunteers was about 15% (8 of 54). None of these individuals had subjective xerostomia or dry eyes. The positive FS ranged from 2 to 6. FS did not correlate with age, smoking, serologic findings, or salivary flow in these patients.ConclusionLymphocytic infiltration in minor salivary glands is not uncommon among individuals without a history of salivary gland dysfunction. This finding is in agreement with the result of a previous autopsy survey study, indicating that focal sialadenitis may occur in the absence of SS.
Comprehensive allelotyping of well‐differentiated human hepatocellular carcinoma with semiquantitative determination of chromosomal gain or loss
Authors: Nishimura Takafumi , Nishida Naoshi , Itoh Teruaki , Kuno Masato , Minata Mutsuko , Komeda Toshiki , Fukuda Yoshihiro , Ikai Iwao , Yamaoka Yoshio , Nakao Kazuwa 
Published: October 2002

AbstractAllelic imbalance (AI), which represents certain chromosomal gains or losses, has been described in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the impact of AI on the early stage of hepatocarcinogenesis has not been fully clarified. Moreover, no previous allelotype studies have identified the difference in chromosomal gain and loss that results in AI. To resolve these problems, we examined 18 well‐differentiated HCCs with comprehensive allelotyping by using 400 microsatellite markers with semiquantitative assessment of chromosomal gain or loss. To detect allelic gain effectively, the cutoff value of the allelic imbalance index was set at 0.70. Each allele showing imbalance was subjected to multiplex PCR with use of a retained allele as an internal control to determine whether the imbalance was the result of chromosomal gain or loss. High frequencies of chromosomal gains were detected at 1q (D1S196‐D1S2785, 56%), 5q (D5S647‐D5S2027, 44%), 6p (6pter‐D6S309, 33%), 7 (7pter‐D7S657, 22%), and 8q (D8S514‐qter, 44%), whereas chromosomal losses were frequently observed at 1p (1pter‐D1S234, 22%), 8p (8pter‐D8S549, 44%), and 17p (17pter‐D17S921, 28%). The extent of overall chromosomal aberration was closely related to the maximum tumor diameter (P = 0.002) and the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (P = 0.03). Recurrent chromosomal losses at 1p and 8p and gains at 1q and 8q, even in HCCs with a minimal extent of aberrant chromosomes, indicate that these alterations were critical in the early stage of hepatocarcinogenesis. On the other hand, deletions of 13q and 16q were infrequent and were seen only in the most aberrant cases, which suggested that these were late events. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Test‐retest reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the urogenital distress inventory and the incontinence impact questionnaire
Authors: Hagen Suzanne , Hanley Janet , Capewell Ann 
Published: October 2002

AbstractAims.To evaluate two quality of life measures for urinary incontinence (UI) in Scottish females.Methods.Three groups with UI from two regions in Scotland were studied. Two groups were receiving treatment for incontinence; the third was not. Women completed the UDI and IIQ twice to allow assessment of test‐retest reliability and validity. Treatment groups completed the questionnaires again, postintervention, to assess ability of the measures to detect change. Other measures used to assess validity were the SF‐36, HADS, weight of urine leaked, and number of incontinence episodes. By design, the three subject groups differed significantly in their characteristics, ensuring a diverse sample of women.Results.Analysis of reliability showed a clinically trivial but statistically significant decrease in total UDI (mean, −6.1; 95% CI, −11.0 to −1.5) and IIQ (mean, −9.7; 95% CI, −15.5 to −3.9) scores between test and retest assessments, possibly due to a research effect. Most items of the UDI (18 of 19) and IIQ (28 of 30) performed very well on test‐retest. The UDI and IIQ were valid in that higher scores (indicating more bothersomeness of symptoms/impact on daily living) were associated with greater severity of UI. Additionally the IIQ showed the expected associations with measures of anxiety and health status.Conclusions.Both the UDI and IIQ detected changes in women's conditions due to intervention. The measures had good psychometric properties, including test‐retest reliability, across subject groups. Neurourol. Urodynam. 21:534–539, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Unique biochemical and behavioral alterations in drosophilashibirets1 mutants imply a conformational state affecting dynamin subcellular distribution and synaptic vesicle cycling
Authors: Chen Mai‐Lei , Green David , Liu Lei , Lam Yung Carmen , Mukai Leona , Rao Sujata , Ramagiri Shobha , Krishnan K. S. , Engel Jeff E. , Lin Jim J.‐C. , Wu Chun‐Fang 
Published: October 2002

AbstractABSTRACTDynamin is a GTPase protein that is essential for clathrin‐mediated endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membranes. The Drosophila dynamin mutation shits1 changes a single residue (G273D) at the boundary of the GTPase domain. In cell fractionation of homogenized fly heads without monovalent cations, all dynamin was in pellet fractions and was minimally susceptible to Triton‐X extraction. Addition of Na+ or K+ can extract dynamin to the cytosolic (supernatant) fraction. The shits1 mutation reduced the sensitivity of dynamin to salt extraction compared with other temperature‐sensitive alleles or wild type. Sensitivity to salt extraction in shits1 was enhanced by GTP and nonhydrolyzable GTP‐γS. The shits1 mutation may therefore induce a conformational change, involving the GTP binding site, that affects dynamin aggregation. Temperature‐sensitive shibire mutations are known to arrest endocytosis at restrictive temperatures, with concomitant accumulation of presynaptic collared pits. Consistent with an effect upon dynamin aggregation, intact shits1 flies recovered much more slowly from heat‐induced paralysis than did other temperature‐sensitive shibire mutants. Moreover, a genetic mutation that lowers GTP abundance (awdmsf15), which reduces the paralytic temperature threshold of other temperature‐sensitive shibire mutations that lie closer to consensus GTPase motifs, did not reduce the paralytic threshold of shits1. Taken together, the results may link the GTPase domain to conformational shifts that influence aggregation in vitro and endocytosis in vivo, and provide an unexpected point of entry to link the biophysical properties of dynamin to physiological processes at synapses. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 53: 319–329, 2002
Structural, kinetic and cytotoxicity aspects of 12–28 β‐amyloid protein fragment: a reappraisal
Authors: Rabanal Francesc , Tusell Josep M. , Sastre Lluis , Quintero M. Rosa , Cruz Montse , Grillo Dolors , Pons Miquel , Albericio Fernando , Serratosa Joan , Giralt Ernest 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA chemical, structural and biological study on the β‐amyloid peptide β12–28 is reported which was carried out in order to assess the feasibility using this peptide fragment as a model of the natural β‐amyloid protein. The aggregation properties of β12–28 have been investigated by pulse field‐gradient NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained suggest that β12–28 behaviour is comparable to that of the natural β‐amyloid protein although kinetically slower. Translational diffusion coefficients obtained by NMR on an aged β12–28 solution suggest that the soluble peptide fraction is composed of oligomeric intermediates adopting an extended ellipsoidal assembly rather than a spherical one. The β12–28 peptide proved to be cytotoxic in PC12 cell cultures as monitored by the MTT assay, although a lack of reproducibility was observed in the dose‐response experiments. Copyright © 2002 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal study of delayed reproductive success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys)
Authors: Lukas Kristen E. , Barkauskas Rima T. , Maher Samantha A. , Jacobs Bonnie A. , Bauman Joan E. , Henderson Andrew J. , Calcagno James M. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractConcern over a lack of breeding success in a pair of white‐cheeked gibbons (Hylobates leucogenys) prompted a four‐part study of gibbon behavior and physiology at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Data were collected to determine the female intermenstrual interval (IMI) and identify periods of peak receptivity. Subsequent behavioral data were gathered during both female menses and estrous periods to formulate a behavioral profile for each gibbon. The female experienced a species‐typical IMI of 21.6 days and exhibited heightened levels of behavioral receptivity toward the male during estrus. The male exhibited high levels of human‐directed behavior throughout the day. Closing the exhibit to visitors did not result in higher levels of social proximity or prosocial behavior between the pair, although it did eliminate the male's human‐directed behavior during the experimental condition only. The female exhibited higher levels of social grooming, solicitation of the male, and proximity to the male when the pair was locked indoors. Based on those findings, the pair was moved to an exclusively indoor exhibit. The female's visibility to the public decreased substantially in the alternate exhibit, but there were no other significant behavioral changes. Nearly one year after the exhibit change, the female gibbon was confirmed to be pregnant. Although the results of this study cannot be used to infer causal conditions that resulted in the pregnancy, they do support the notion that systematic documentation of animal behavior and physiology may be used as a tool for monitoring reproductive behavior and informing management decisions. Zoo Biol 21:413–434, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) - an integral part of the European harmonisation of psychiatric education and practise
Authors: Schulze Thomas G. , Treichel Kai C. 
Published: October 2002

SummaryThe European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) is the umbrella organisation for national European psychiatric trainees’ organisations. It primarily aims at advancing and harmonising the quality of psychiatric education and practise. As a permanent observer member of the European Board of Psychiatry and the European Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the EFPT actively participates both in the development of educational guidelines and in the evaluation of psychiatric training institutions in Europe. Through its annually held European Forum for all Psychiatric Trainees the EFPT provides a unique opportunity for the exchange of training-related experiences and opinions on current developments in psychiatry. This is the first comprehensive overview of the history, goals, and political work of the EFPT, depicting its evolution from an informal meeting of psychiatric trainees to a recognised organisation representing over 10 000 young psychiatrists throughout Europe.
Staphylococcus sciuri
Gene
erm
(33), Encoding Inducible Resistance to Macrolides, Lincosamides, and Streptogramin B Antibiotics, Is a Product of Recombination between
erm
(C) and
erm
(A)
Authors: Schwarz Stefan , Kehrenberg Corinna , Ojo Kayode K. 
Published: October 2002

ABSTRACT

A gene which mediates inducible resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B antibiotics, designated
erm
(33), was detected on the
Staphylococcus sciuri
plasmid pSCFS1. Analysis of the
erm
(33) reading frame suggested that this gene was the product of a recombination between an
erm
(C) gene and an
erm
(A) gene. Such a recombination event is a novel observation for
erm
genes.
Identification of primary structural features that define the differential actions of IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors
Authors: Evans Caroline A. , Ariffin Shahrul , Pierce Andrew , Whetton Anthony D. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractActivation of human interleukin 3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptors, ectopically expressed in FDCP-mix multipotent cells, stimulates self-renewal or myeloid differentiation, respectively. These receptors are composed of unique α subunits that interact with common βc subunits. A chimeric receptor (hGM/βc), comprising the extracellular domain of the hGM-CSF receptor α subunit (hGM Rα) fused to the intracellular domain of hβc, was generated to determine whether hβc activation is alone sufficient to promote differentiation. hGM-CSF activation of hGM/βc, expressed in the presence and absence of the hβc subunit, promoted maintenance of primitive phenotype. This indicates that the cytosolic domain of the hGM Rα chain is required for differentiation mediated by activation of the hGM Rα, βc receptor complex. We have previously demonstrated that the α cytosolic domain confers signal specificity for IL-3 and GM-CSF receptors. Bioinformatic analysis of the IL-3 Rα and GM Rα subunits identified a tripeptide sequence, adjacent to the conserved proline-rich domain, which was potentially a key difference between them. Cross-exchange of the equivalent tripeptides between the α subunits altered receptor function compared to the wild-type receptors. Both the mutant and the corresponding wild-type receptors promoted survival and proliferation in the short-term but had distinct effects on developmental outcome. The mutated hGM Rα promoted long-term proliferation and maintenance of primitive cell morphology, whereas cytokine activation of the corresponding hIL-3 Rα mutant promoted myeloid differentiation. We have thus identified a region of the α cytosolic domain that is of critical importance for defining receptor specificity.
Melatonin: reducing the toxicity and increasing the efficacy of drugs
Authors: Reiter Russel J , Tan Dun-xian , Sainz Rosa M , Mayo Juan C , Lopez-Burillo Silvia 
Published: October 2002

Abstract
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a molecule with a very wide phylogenetic distribution from plants to man. In vertebrates, melatonin was initially thought to be exclusively of pineal origin; recent studies have shown, however, that melatonin synthesis may occur in a variety of cells and organs. The concentration of melatonin within body fluids and subcellular compartments varies widely, with blood levels of the indole being lower than those at many other sites. Thus, when defining what constitutes a physiological level of melatonin, it must be defined relative to a specific compartment. Melatonin has been shown to have a variety of functions, and research in the last decade has proven the indole to be both a direct free radical scavenger and indirect antioxidant. Because of these actions, and possibly others that remain to be defined, melatonin has been shown to reduce the toxicity and increase the efficacy of a large number of drugs whose side effects are well documented. Herein, we summarize the beneficial effects of melatonin when combined with the following drugs: doxorubicin, cisplatin, epirubicin, cytarabine, bleomycin, gentamicin, ciclosporin, indometacin, acetylsalicylic acid, ranitidine, omeprazole, isoniazid, iron and erythropoietin, pheno-barbital, carbamazepine, haloperidol, caposide-50, morphine, cyclophosphamide and l-cysteine. While the majority of these studies were conducted using animals, a number of the investigations also used man. Considering the low toxicity of melatonin and its ability to reduce the side effects and increase the efficacy of these drugs, its use as a combination therapy with these agents seems important and worthy of pursuit.
Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by L-carnitine in isolated aorta from normotensive and hypertensive rats
Authors: Herrera María Dolores , Bueno Rosario , de Sotomayor María Alvarez , Pérez-Guerrero Concepción , Vázquez Carmen M , Marhuenda Elisa 
Published: October 2002

Abstract
The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanism of the vasodilatory effect induced by L-carnitine. Relaxation produced by L-carnitine was studied in rat aortic rings with and without functional endothelium, pre-contracted with phenylephrine by adding cumulative doses of L-carnitine (10−7 to 10−3 M). The relaxation evoked by L-carnitine reached higher values in aortic rings from spontaneously hypertensive rats than those obtained in arteries from normotensive rats; no relaxation was produced in de-endothelialized arteries. However, in the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine (3 × 10−5 M, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), Ro 68070 (10−4 M, a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor-thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist) or ICI 192605 (10−5 M, a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist) the relaxant response to L-carnitine was significantly inhibited. These results show that L-carnitine induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta and the mechanism of this relaxation appeared to be mostly mediated by endothelial production of nitric oxide but also could involve prevention of the action of cyclooxygenase endothelial products acting on the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor.
Fluorophotometric Determination of an Equilibrium Constant for the Formation of a Molecular Complex between Fluoranthene and Benzene in Solution
Authors: Enomoto Shigendo , Kumagai Ken-ichi , Hasegawa Miki , Kobayashi Michio , Hoshi Toshihiko 
Published: October 2002

Abstract
A fluorophotometric method was used to obtain equilibrium constants for the formation of a van der Waals molecular complex between fluoranthene and benzene in the ground state. The equilibrium constant for the above-mentioned complex formation is estimated to be 0.13 dm3 mol−1, which compares well with that (K = 0.15 dm3 mol−1) obtained from a traditional electronic absorption method.
Kinetics of the Oxidation of Heterocyclic Aldehydes by Quinolinium Dichromate
Authors: Chaubey Girija Shankar , Das Simi , Mahanti Mahendra Kumar 
Published: October 2002

Abstract
Quinolinium dichromate in sulfuric acid oxidizes heterocyclic aldehydes (2-furaldehyde, 2-pyrrolecarbaldehyde, 2-thiophenecarbaldehyde) to the corresponding acids in a 50% (v/v) acetic acid–water medium. The kinetic data on the rates of oxidation of the substrates have been discussed with reference to the aldehyde hydration equilibria. The kinetic results support a mechanistic pathway proceeding via a rate-determining oxidative decomposition of the chromate ester of the aldehyde hydrate.
Biochemical analysis of pleural fluid: what should we measure?
Authors: Tarn Anne C , Lapworth Ruth 
Published: October 2002

Biochemical examination of pleural fluid is usually done to try to identify the cause of a pleural effusion. The various analytes that have been suggested for this are reviewed and evaluated. Distinguishing whether the effusion is an exudate or transudate is a pragmatic first step, with further investigations dictated by the clinical features and these results. Total protein and lactate dehydrogenase were used first; Light's criteria were published in 1972 and since then additional markers including cholesterol, bilirubin and albumin gradient plus combinations of these have been proposed. Although combination testing does improve the sensitivity for diagnosis of an exudate, this is at the expense of specificity. Measurement of fluid to serum ratios appears to confer no advantage, and if a single test is required total protein performs as well as any. Additional tests may be useful in specific circumstances: pleural fluid pH may aid decisions over drainage of a parapneumonic effusion; glucose may indicate an effusion associated with rheumatoid arthritis; and adenosine deaminase may help with the diagnosis of tuberculous effusions.
Reference intervals for thyroid hormones in pregnant Chinese women
Authors: Panesar N S , Li C Y , Rogers M S 
Published: October 2002

Objective: To establish gestation-related reference intervals for thyroid hormones in a Chinese population. Materials and methods: A prospective study with 343 healthy pregnant women (5-41 weeks) and 63 non-pregnant controls. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) (and human chorionic gonadotrophin) were measured by immunoassays. The median, 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles at 4-week intervals werecalculated. Data were also analysedfor significant trends using ANOVA. Results: Free T3 decreased during pregnancy, whereas free T4 initially increased, peaking between 9-13 weeks and then decreased, the decline becoming significant by week 21. TSH mirrored changes in free T4. Conclusion : The gestation-related reference intervals for thyroid hormones should alleviate the misinterpretation of thyroid function in pregnancy.