bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mannan‐Binding Lectin Recognizes Structures on Ischaemic Reperfused Mouse Kidneys and is Implicated in Tissue Injury
Authors: Møller‐Kristensen M. , Wang W. , Ruseva M. , Thiel S. , Nielsen S. , Takahashi K. , Shi L. , Ezekowitz A. , Jensenius J. C. , Gadjeva M. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractOrgan damage as a consequence of ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) is a major clinical problem in an acute renal failure and transplantation. Ligands on surfaces of endothelial cells that are exposed due to the ischaemia may be recognized by pattern recognition molecules such as mannan‐binding lectin (MBL), inducing complement activation. We examined the contribution of the MBL complement pathway in a bilateral renal I/R model (45 min of ischaemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion), using transgenic mice deficient in MBL‐A and MBL‐C [MBL double knockout (MBL DKO)] and in wildtype (WT) mice. Kidney damages, which were evaluated by levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, showed that MBL DKO mice were significantly protected compared with WT mice. MBL DKO mice, reconstituted with recombinant human MBL, showed a dose‐dependent severity of kidney injury increasing to a comparable level to WT mice. Acute tubular necrosis was evident in WT mice but not in MBL DKO mice after I/R, confirming renal damages in WT mice. MBL ligands in kidneys were observed to be present after I/R but not in sham‐operated mice. C3a (desArg) levels in MBL DKO mice were decreased after I/R compared with that in WT mice, indicating less complement activation that was correlated with less C3 deposition in the kidneys of MBL DKO mice. Our data implicate a role of MBL in I/R‐induced kidney injury.
Treatment of Experimental Arthritis with M2000, a Novel Designed Non‐Steroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drug
Authors: Mirshafiey A. , Cuzzocrea S. , Rehm B. , Mazzon E. , Saadat F. , Sotoude M. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe current study was planned to explore the therapeutic potency of M2000 (β‐D‐mannuronic acid), a novel designed non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) in adjuvant‐induced arthritis model. Arthritis was induced in Lewis rats by a single intradermal injection (0.1 ml) of heat‐killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (0.3 mg) in Freund's incomplete adjuvant into the right footpad. Fourteen days after injection of adjuvant, the contralateral left footpad volume was measured. The animals with paw volumes 0.37 ml greater than normal paws were then randomized into treatment groups. Orally and intraperitoneally administrations of test drugs (M2000, 40/mg/kg/day and indomethacin, 2/mg/kg/day) were started on day 15 post‐adjuvant injection and continued until final assessment on day 25. The left hind limb was removed for histological evaluation. The WEHI‐164 cell line was used for assaying tolerability and matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP‐2) activity. MMP‐2 activity was assessed using zymography. Pharmacotoxicology study was carried out on animal models based on the evaluation of serum and urine determinants, histology of kidney, gastrointestinal tolerability and body temperature. Results showed that the orally administration as well as intraperitoneally injection of M2000 to arthritic rats induced a significant reduction in paw oedema. Histopathological assessment showed a reduced inflammatory cells infiltrate in joints of treated rats, as well as the number of osteoclasts present in the subchondral bone, tissue oedema and bone erosion in the paws were markedly reduced following M2000 therapy. Cytotoxicity analysis of M2000 showed a much higher tolerability compared with other tested drugs (diclofenac, piroxicam and dexamethasone). The inhibitory effect of M2000 in MMP‐2 activity was significantly greater than that of dexamethasone and of piroxicam at a concentration of 200 µg/ml. Moreover, the toxicological study revealed that M2000 had no influence on serum (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, triglyceride and cholesterol) and urine (urea and urinary protein excretion) determinants, glomerular histology and body temperature in normothermic rats and had no ulcerogenic effects on rats' stomach. Our data show that M2000, as a novel NSAID, could be strongly suggested as the safest anti‐inflammatory drug for long‐term administration.
CTL‐Based Cancer Preventive/Therapeutic Vaccines for Carcinomas: Role of Tumour‐Associated Carbohydrate Antigens
Authors: Franco A. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractIn this study, we discuss the use of glycopeptides containing tumour‐associated carbohydrate antigens (TACA) as preventive vaccines for carcinomas. The results of our recent studies suggest that CD8+ cytotoxic T cells are capable of recognizing small TACA in a conventional class I MHC‐restricted fashion. TACA‐specific T‐cell receptors are highly degenerate and their fine specificity includes the glycosylated amino acid linker together with the sugar moiety. TF, a disaccharide and Tn, its immediate precursor, are TACA largely expressed in carcinomas that can be successfully used as vaccines when conjugated to designer peptide backbones with optimal binding affinity for class I MHC molecules.
Use of Monoclonal Antibodies in Blocking ELISA Detection of Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus in Faeces of Piglets
Authors: Rodák L. , ŠMíd B. , Nevoránková Z. , Valíček L. , Smítalová R. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryMonoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) nucleoprotein (N) and membrane protein (M) were prepared and used for the comparative assessment of three blocking ELISA variants to detect TGEV. The competitive blocking ELISA format showed the highest sensitivity, allowing detection of 103TCID50TGEV/ml in culture medium. Ninety‐nine porcine field faecal samples obtained from 37 herds affected with diarrhoea were examined, and various TGEV levels were found in nine samples from six herds. However, only in three samples were significant TGEV concentrations demonstrated. The relationship between incidence of TGEV gastroenteritis and the spread of porcine respiratory coronavirus infection in pig farms is discussed.
Anti‐microbial Susceptibility of Streptococcus spp. Isolated from Bovine Mastitis in Argentina
Authors: Denamiel G. , Llorente P. , Carabella M. , Rebuelto M. , Gentilini E. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe in vitro susceptibility to penicillin G, erythromycin and clindamycin was determined by the disc diffusion test and by E‐test for a total of 47 streptococcal strains (three Streptococcus uberis, 36 Streptococcus agalactiae, eight Streptococcus dysgalactiae spp. dysgalactiae) isolated from bovine intramammary infections in Argentina. Moreover, resistance phenotypes of erythromycin‐resistant streptococcal isolates was characterized. MIC90 of penicillin G, erythromycin and clindamycin for S. agalactiae were 0.75, 8.0 and 12.0 μg/ml respectively. Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin was detected in 13 (27.6%) and 12 (25.5%) isolates respectively. No isolate was resistant to penicillin G. Resistance against macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B (MLSB) represented by the constitutive MLSB phenotype was present in 11 (23.4%) erythromycin‐resistant isolates and two isolates (4.3%) expressed the M phenotype. The inducible MLSB phenotype was not identified. Results suggest that beta‐lactams are the first‐line antibiotics when treating streptococcal udder infections; however, the continuous monitoring of the antibiotic resistance is essential, as the emergence of resistant strains has become a growing concern on the therapy of bovine mastitis.
Studies on Johne's Disease in Egyptian Cattle
Authors: Salem M. , Zeid A. A. , Hassan D. , El‐Sayed A. , Zschoeck M. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryJohne's disease (JD) or paratuberculosis is a serious problem of cattle industry worldwide. For a long period of time, Egypt was considered to be free of JD. In the present study, 2150 Egyptian cattle were examined clinically for JD. Among these, samples from 160 cows were investigated for the presence ofMycobacterium aviumssp.paratuberculosisusing various laboratory methods including direct microscopic examination, faecal culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to the data obtained by the culture method, positive results could be observed for 75 cows from three of five investigated districts in Egypt. Comparably investigated samples from 40 cows of one known positive flock from Hesse, Germany yielded positive reactions for 20 cows. The present study is the first description of JD in Egypt.
Immunohistochemical Identification of Campylobacter fetus in Natural Cases of Bovine and Ovine Abortions
Authors: Campero C. M. , Anderson M. L. , Walker R. L. , Blanchard P. C. , Barbano L. , Chiu P. , Martínez A. , Combessies G. , Bardon J. C. , Cordeviola J. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryAn immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure for the detection of Campylobacter fetus antigens using an avidin–biotin complex technique was performed on formalin fixed bovine and ovine fetal tissues from 26 natural cases of Campylobacter spp. abortion (four ovine and 22 bovine). The species of Campylobacter isolated included C. fetus ssp. venerealis from 13 bovine fetuses, C. fetus ssp. fetus from two ovine and one bovine fetus, Campylobacter jejuni from seven bovine fetuses, Campylobacter lari from two ovine fetuses and an unspeciated Campylobacter species in one bovine fetus. Histologic lesions identified in the aborted fetuses included placentitis, serositis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, hepatitis and encephalitis. Campylobacter fetus antigens were identified by IHC in 13 of 13 bovine fetuses from which C. fetus ssp. venerealis was isolated and in two of two ovine fetuses from which C. fetus ssp. fetus was isolated. The IHC stains were negative in tissues from seven bovine fetuses from which C. jejuni was isolated, one bovine fetus infected with C. fetus ssp. fetus, one bovine fetus infected with the unspeciated Campylobacter and two ovine fetuses infected with C. lari. In positive cases, the IHC stain most frequently identified bacteria in the lung and gastrointestinal tract. The C. fetus IHC procedure performed on formalin fixed tissues is a practical tool for the diagnosis of natural cases of ovine and bovine abortion caused by C. fetus.
QTc dispersion in haemodialysis patients with cardiac complications
Authors: NAKAMURA SATOKO , OGATA CHINAMI , AIHARA NAOHIKO , SASAKI OSAMU , YOSHIHARA FUMIKI , NAKAHAMA HAJIME , INENAGA TAKASHI , KIMURA GENJIRO , KAWANO YUHEI 
Published: May 2005

SUMMARY:Background and Aims:  QTc dispersion (Maximum − Minimum QTc interval on a standard 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG)) is a useful predictor of tachyarrhythmic events and related sudden cardiac death. Recent studies have reported that QTc dispersion is prolonged in patients receiving haemodialysis (HD), and it is often further prolonged following HD treatment. In the present study, we examine whether the patients who are susceptible to prolongation of QTc dispersion by HD are prone to life‐threatening cardiovascular events and related deaths.Methods:  Forty‐eight patients with cardiac symptoms such as chest pain (n = 32), arrhythmia (n = 2) or heart failure (n = 14) and receiving chronic HD treatment (40 males and eight females) were subjected to the present study. Twenty‐six of a total 48 patients were given a diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) by coronary angiography. Ten patients had cerebrovascular accidents and 11 patients had peripheral vascular disease. After the ECG recording, a prospective follow up was conducted for 37 ± 24 months.Results:  During the follow‐up period, 30 patients had cardiac events, and 23 including 18 cardiovascular deaths occurred as outcomes. Throughout the total period, patients who showed prolongation of QTc dispersion after HD had cardiovascular deaths with higher incidence than those did not show the prolongation.Conclusions:  We consider that prolongation of QTc dispersion after HD treatment can predict the prognosis of patients with renal failure bearing cardiac complications. Great care is necessary for such patients if they show longer QTc dispersion and/or susceptibility for further prolongation after HD treatment.
Bone mineral density and urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐ d‐glucosaminidase activity in paediatric patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria
Authors: SKALOVA SYLVA , PALICKA VLADIMIR , KUTILEK STEPAN 
Published: May 2005

SUMMARY:Background:  Idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) is defined as hypercalciuria that persists after correction of dietary inbalances and has no detectable causes. Patients with IH have a higher prevalence of osteoporosis. Defective reabsorption of calcium by the renal tubule is considered a likely mechanism of IH. N‐acetyl‐beta‐ d‐glucosaminidase (NAG) is a lysosomal enzyme that is a very sensitive marker of renal tubular impairment.Methods:  Fifteen patients (nine boys and six girls, mean age 12.4 ± 4.0 years) with IH (urinary calcium excretion >0.1 mmol/kg per 24 h) had their bodyweight, height, body mass index (BMI), urinary NAG/creatinine ratio (U‐NAG/Cr) and 24‐h urinary calcium excretion (U‐Ca/24 h) assessed. L1–L4 bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry and volumetric BMD (BMDvol) was calculated. The obtained results were expressed as Z‐scores.Results:  The values of basic anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly from the values of the reference population and there was a tendency to short stature, which did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.08). The values of calciuria and U‐NAG/Cr were significantly higher while BMD was significantly lower when compared to the reference values (P < 0.0006, P < 0.006 and P < 0.001, respectively). Inverse and significant correlations were found between U‐Ca/24 h and  BMD, U‐Ca/24 h and body height, and U‐Ca/24 h and BMDvol (r = −0.64 and −0.70, respectively, P < 0.01; r = −0.55, P < 0.05), while there was no correlation between U‐NAG/Cr and U‐Ca/24 h, nor between BMD and weight or BMD and BMI.Conclusion:  Tubular impairment is highly probable in children with IH, but there is a poor relationship with the degree of calcium leakage. Idiopathic hypercalciuria should be considered as a risk factor for stunted growth and low bone mass.
Polyomavirus nephropathy after renal transplantation: A single centre experience
Authors: KIM HYUN CHUL , HWANG EUN AH , HAN SEUNG YEUP , PARK SUNG BAE , PARK KWAN KYU 
Published: May 2005

SUMMARY:Background:  Polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVN) in renal transplant recipients has been observed with increasing frequency recently and has emerged as a cause of allograft failure linked to highly potent new immunosuppressive regimens containing tacrolimus or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).Methods:  Polyomavirus associated nephropathy was identified in nine out of 182 patients who received renal transplantation between October 1998 and July 2003. PVN was confirmed by allograft biopsy. The clinical records of these nine patients were reviewed, as were all of the allograft biopsies. Electron microscopy was performed in all nine cases. After the diagnosis of PVN, maintenance immunosuppression was reduced. The clinical course and outcome of the PVN patients were reviewed in relation to manipulation of immunosuppressive agents.Results:  There were nine cases of PVN in renal transplant recipients and the incidence of PVN was 4.9%. All patients with PVN were under triple immunosuppression comprising tacrolimus and MMF. The mean time to a diagnosis of PVN was 7.8 months after transplantation. Three of the nine patients received antirejection therapy prior to PVN. Seven out of nine PVN patients presenting acute allograft dysfunction were initially treated with high‐dose intravenous steroid pulse or OKT3 before reduction of the immunosuppression. After reduction of the immunosuppression, seven patients stabilized their renal function. Two (22%) lost their grafts due to persistent PVN and chronic rejection. Two (22%) patients later developed acute rejection after reduction of the immunosuppression.Conclusion:  PVN can cause allograft dysfunction and graft loss. Renal allograft recipients who are at risk of PVN should be routinely screened with urine cytology and quantitative measurements of viral load in the blood, particularly patients who had graft dysfunction. Early diagnosis and judicious alteration of immunosuppressive agents might permit a superior prognosis and reduce the graft loss from PVN in renal transplant recipients.
Multiaxial fatigue of rubber: Part I: equivalence criteria and theoretical aspects
Authors: MARS W. V. , FATEMI A. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates commonly used approaches for fatigue crack nucleation analysis in rubber, including maximum principal strain (or stretch), strain energy density and octahedral shear strain criteria. The ability of these traditional equivalence criteria, as well as a recent equivalence criterion (the cracking energy density) to predict multiaxial fatigue behaviour is explored. Theoretical considerations are also introduced relating to the applicability of various fatigue life analysis approaches. These include the scalar nature of traditional equivalence criteria, robustness of the criteria investigated for a wide range of multiaxial loadings, effects of crack closure and applications to non‐proportional multiaxial loadings. It is shown that the notion of a stress or strain amplitude tensor used for the analysis of multiaxial loading in metals is not appropriate in the analysis of rubber due to nonlinearity associated with finite strains and near incompressibility. Taken together, these considerations illustrate that traditional criteria are not sufficiently consistent or complete to permit confident analysis of arbitrary multiaxial loading histories, and that an analysis approach specific to the failure plane is needed. Of the three traditional criteria, maximum principal strain is shown to match most closely to the cracking energy density criterion, in terms of a failure locus in principal stretch space.
Effect of stress ratio on fatigue behaviour in SiC particulate‐reinforced aluminium alloy composite
Authors: TOKAJI K. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTAxial fatigue tests have been performed at three different stress ratios, R, of −1, 0 and 0.4 using smooth specimens of an aluminium alloy composite reinforced with SiC particulates of 20 μm particle size. The effect of stress ratio on fatigue strength was studied on the basis of crack initiation, small crack growth and fracture surface analysis. The stress ratio dependence of fatigue strength that has been commonly observed in other materials was obtained, in which fatigue strength decreased with increasing stress ratio when characterized in terms of stress amplitude. At R=−1, the fatigue strength of the SiCp/Al composite was the same as that of the unreinforced alloy, but at R= 0 and 0.4 decreased significantly, indicating a detrimental effect of tensile mean stress in the SiCp/Al composite. The modified Goodman relation gave a fairly good estimation of the fatigue strength at 107 cycles in the unreinforced alloy, but significantly unconservative estimation in the SiCp/Al composite. At R= 0 and 0.4, cracks initiated at the interfaces between SiC particles and the matrix or due to particle cracking and then grew predominantly along the interfaces, because debonding between SiC particles and the matrix occurred easily under tensile mean stress. Such behaviour was different from that at R=−1. Therefore, it was concluded that the decrease in fatigue strength at high stress ratios and the observed stress ratio dependence in the SiCp/Al composite were attributed to the different fracture mechanisms operated at high stress ratios.
Multiaxial fatigue of rubber: Part II: experimental observations and life predictions
Authors: MARS W. V. , FATEMI A. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTFatigue experiments were conducted with an axial‐torsion specimen covering a wide range of stretch biaxiality and a range of fatigue lives between 103 and 2 × 106 cycles. These experiments include combined torsion–compression, pure torsion, combined torsion–tension and pure axial tension. Both in‐phase and out‐of‐phase combinations of axial and torsion loading were considered. The multiaxial fatigue experiments described provide empirical evidence from which an understanding of the mechanics of the fatigue process in rubber can be developed. Each of the four equivalence parameters described in Part I has been applied to the axial‐torsion fatigue experiments described in this paper (Part II). These results provide the basis for an analysis of the effects of multiaxial loading on fatigue life, and an assessment of the degree to which the various equivalence parameters are able to rationalize the results in a unified way. For the combined axial and shear strain histories in this study, the maximum principal strain criterion gave the best correlation to fatigue life. Strain energy density gave the worst correlation. The cracking energy density criterion was generally found to give good correlation of fatigue crack nucleation lives from combined axial‐torsion tests. Because it provides a plane‐specific analysis, this criterion appears to be particularly well suited for use in crack nucleation analyses of multiaxial strain histories.
Evidence on the corrosion‐induced hydrogen embrittlement of the 2024 aluminium alloy
Authors: PETROYIANNIS P. V. , KAMOUTSI E. , KERMANIDIS AL. TH. , PANTELAKIS S. G. , BONTOZOGLOU V. , HAIDEMENOPOULOS G. N. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTThe present work aims to provide evidence of corrosion‐induced hydrogen embrittlement of the aircraft aluminium alloy 2024. An extensive experimental investigation involving metallographic and fractographic analyses as well as mechanical testing was performed. The corrosion exposure led to a moderate reduction in yield and ultimate tensile stress and a dramatic reduction in tensile ductility. Metallographic investigation of the specimens revealed a hydrogen‐rich embrittled zone just below the corrosion layer. Furthermore, fractographic analyses showed an intergranular fracture at the specimen surface followed by a zone of quasi‐cleavage fracture and further below an entirely ductile fracture. Mechanical removal of the corroded layers restored the yield and ultimate stress almost to their initial values but not the tensile ductility. The tensile ductility was restored to the level of the uncorroded material only after heat treatment at 495°C. Measurement of hydrogen evolution with temperature showed that by heating the corroded alloy at 495°C, the trapped hydrogen is released.
Effects of antiretroviral treatment on blood–brain barrier integrity and intrathecal immunoglobulin production in neuroasymptomatic HIV‐1‐infected patients
Authors: Abdulle S , Hagberg L , Gisslén M 
Published: May 2005

ObjectivesTo study the effect of antiretroviral combination therapy on blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity and intrathecal immunoglobulin G (IgG) production.MethodsLumbar punctures were performed on 38 neurologically asymptomatic, treatment‐naïve HIV‐1‐infected patients prior to and during treatment at intervals of approximately 4 months, 1 year and 2 years. Albumin ratio and IgG index were analysed as markers of BBB integrity and intrathecal IgG synthesis.ResultsHIV‐1 RNA decreased to <50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of all patients and in the plasma of all but one patient. Only 5% of patients had elevated albumin ratio values at baseline, while 56% had an elevated IgG index. There was no significant reduction of the albumin ratio or the IgG index. After 2 years of treatment all patients had normal albumin ratio values, while 41% still had increased IgG index levels.ConclusionsUp to 2 years after the initiation of treatment, the favourable impact of antiretroviral combination treatment on CSF viral load was not accompanied by a similar reduction of intrathecal IgG production. BBB function, measured as the albumin ratio, was not significantly changed in this cohort of neurologically asymptomatic HIV‐1‐infected patients.