bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive Factors of In‐Hospital Mortality in Older Patients Admitted to a Medical Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Bo Mario , Massaia Massimiliano , Raspo Silvio , Bosco Francesca , Cena Paola , Molaschi Mario , Ap  , Fabris Fabrizio 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To identify prognostic factors that are independently predictive of in‐hospital mortality in older patients hospitalized in a medical intensive care unit (MICU).DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.SETTING: A MICU in an Italian university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 65 and older consecutively admitted to the MICU directly from the first‐aid unit.MEASUREMENTS: Upon admission, the following variables were examined: demographics, clinical history (diabetes mellitus, active neoplasm, cognitive impairment, immobilization, pressure ulcers, use of nutritional support, home oxygen therapy), physiopathology (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II), and cognition/function (activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental activity of daily living (IADL), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ)). The vital status of the patient at the end of hospitalization was recorded.RESULTS: Over a period of 10 months, 659 patients were recruited (mean age ± standard deviation = 76.6 ± 7.5; 352 men and 307 women). There were 97 deaths (14.71%). The following factors proved to be significantly associated with in‐hospital mortality: old age, low body mass index (BMI) values, low values of albumin, high scores on APACHE II, functional impairment (ADL, IADL), cognitive impairment (SPMSQ), history of cognitive deterioration, history of confinement to bed, and presence of pressure ulcers. Using multivariate analysis, the following variables were independently predictive of in‐hospital mortality: lack of independence in ADLs (P < .001), moderate‐to‐severe cognitive impairment on SPMSQ (P < .001), score on APACHE II (P = .002), and low BMI values (P = .031).CONCLUSION: The prognosis of older patients hospitalized in medical intensive care units depends not only on the acute physiological impairments, but also on a series of preexisting conditions, such as loss of functional independence, severe and moderate cognitive impairment, and low BMI.
Quantum Statistics of Interacting Particles; General Theory and Some Remarks on Properties of an Electron Gas
Authors: Montroll Elliott W. , Ward John C. 
Published: December 2004

A systematic generalization of the Mayer cluster integral theory has been developed to deal with the quantum statistics of interacting particles. The grand partition function appears in a natural way and the cluster integrals are integrals over propagators which are derived from the Green's function solution of the Bloch equation (which follows from the Schroedinger equation by replacing it/ℏ by β = 1/kT). Every cluster integral can be represented by a hybrid of a Mayer graph and a Feynman diagram in (β, r) space.
The generalization of classical ring cluster integrals has been analyzed. It is shown that in the case of the electron gas the classical limit of the contribution of these integrals to the grand partition function yields the Debye-Huckel theory while the low temperature limit leads to the Gell-Mann—Brueckner equation for the correlation energy of the ground state.
A prescription is given for the construction of the cluster integral associated with any given diagram.
OPEC and Natural Gas
Authors: Bakhtiari A.M. Samsam , Shahbudaghlou F. 
Published: December 2004

This paper reviews the involvement of OPEC Member Countries in the natural gas industry in the past, present and future. It notes a tenfold increase in marketed production and a fourfold rise in re‐injection since 1970. Collectively, Members now hold 41 per cent of the world’s proven gas reserves and account for 20 per cent of exports. Individually, four of these countries hold positions 2–5 in the world gas reserve rankings.Within OPEC, however, there remains an emphasis of oil over gas, not least because of oil’s favourable position with regard to revenue‐generation and profitability.As global gas demand continues on its upward growth curve in a more environmentally aware world, OPEC’s gas horizons will widen. OPEC’s strong reserve base will give its Members an undeniable role to play on the future global gas stage. However, these countries will give priority to domestic usage, particularly re‐injection schemes.
Risk measurement for oil and gas exploration: the marriage of geological and financial techniques
Authors: Stauffer Thomas 
Published: December 2004

A method is presented for fully risking projects, such as exploration ventures or the acquisition of undeveloped reserves. The expected value of an exploration project overstates the “value”, because it does not reflect the uncertainty in the project, as measured by its variance or standard deviation. If the expected value is calculable, then the risk–adjusted value (RAV) can also be calculated. The RAV depends additionally upon the size of the exploration budget, compared with the project, and also upon the “price of risk”. That price is incorporated from the finance literature. The technique permits answering three related questions:1) the risk–adjusted rate of return for a given project;2) the risk–adjusted value of that project; or3) the risk premium appropriate for a particular project, given the size of the firm’s exploration budget.
Explaining, and explaining with, economic nationalism
Authors: Pickel Andreas 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.This article rejects the widely held view that economic nationalism is an anachronistic economic doctrine in the age of globalisation. Rather than being the opposite of economic liberalism, as the conventional view maintains, economic nationalism is better understood as a generic phenomenon that can accommodate almost any doctrinal content, including economic liberalism. Economic nationalism is not so much about the economy as it is about the nation, as illustrated by literature on economic nations and national economic cultures. Such a broader conception of economic nationalism is then placed in the context of a larger ‘nationalising mechanism’ that sheds new light on a variety of phenomena discussed in the globalisation debate, such as economic performance, state disintegration, or cultural conflict, and success or failure in post‐communist systemic change.
Activation of multiple antiviral defence mechanisms by salicylic acid
Authors: Singh Davinder P. , Moore Catherine A. , Gilliland Androulla , Carr John P. 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYThe plant signal molecule salicylic acid (SA) can induce resistance to a wide range of pathogen types. In the case of viruses, SA can stimulate the inhibition of all three main stages in virus infection: replication, cell‐to‐cell movement and long‐distance movement. Induction of resistance by SA appears to depend, in part, on downstream signalling via the mitochondrion. However, evidence has recently emerged that SA may stimulate a separate downstream pathway, leading to the induction of an additional mechanism of resistance based on RNA interference. In this review our aims are to document these recent advances and to suggest possible future avenues of research on SA‐induced resistance to viruses.
Potato oxysterol binding protein and cathepsin B are rapidly up‐regulated in independent defence pathways that distinguish R gene‐mediated and field resistances to Phytophthora infestans
Authors: Avrova Anna O. , Taleb Nawsheen , Rokka Veli‐Matti , Heilbronn Jacqueline , Campbell Edward , Hein Ingo , Gilroy Eleanor M. , Cardle Linda , Bradshaw John E. , Stewart Helen E. , Fakim Yasmina Jaufeerally , Loake Gary , Birch Paul R. J. 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYSuppression subtractive hybridization was used to isolate the genes which are specifically up‐regulated in the biotrophic phase of the incompatible interaction between a potato genotype, 1512 c(16), containing the resistance gene R2, and a Phytophthora infestans isolate containing the avirulence gene Avr2. Eight cDNAs were up‐regulated in the biotrophic phase of the incompatible interaction. Seven of these were also up‐regulated in the compatible interaction, but not until late in the necrotrophic phase. Amongst the sequences to be isolated were genes encoding the cysteine protease cathepsin B, StCathB, and an oxysterol binding protein, StOBP1; equivalent genes are involved in programmed cell death (PCD) processes in animals, but have yet to be implicated in such processes in plants. Whereas StOBP1 was up‐regulated early in potato plants containing either R gene‐mediated or moderate to high levels of field resistance, the highest levels of up‐regulation of StCathB were observed early in R gene‐mediated resistance but gradually increased from the early to late stages of field resistance, revealing these genes to be components of independent defence pathways and providing a means of distinguishing between these forms of resistance. StOBP1 was up‐regulated by oligogalacturonides (plant cell wall breakdown products generated by pectinase activities), indicating that it is also a component of a general, non‐specific defence pathway and is unlikely to play a role in PCD. In contrast, the expression of StCathB was unaffected by oligogalacturonide treatment, further associating its up‐regulation specifically with the gene‐for‐gene interaction.
Echinococcus multilocularis proliferation in mice and respective parasite 14‐3‐3 gene expression is mainly controlled by an αβ+ CD4+ T‐cell‐mediated immune response
Authors: Dai Wen Juan , Waldvogel Andreas , Siles‐Lucas Mar , Gottstein Bruno 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe role of specific B lymphocytes and T‐cell populations in the control of experimental Echinococus multilocularis infection was studied in µMT, nude, T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐β–/–, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐I–/– and MHC‐II–/– mice. At 2 months postinfection, the parasite mass was more than 10 times higher in nude, TCR‐β–/– and MHC‐II–/– mice than in infected C57BL/6 wild‐type (WT) mice, and these T‐cell‐deficient mice started to die of the high parasite load at this time‐point. In contrast, MHC‐I–/– and µMT mice exhibited parasite growth rates similar to those found in WT controls. These findings clearly point to the major role that CD4+ αβ+ T cells play in limiting the E. multilocularis proliferation, while CD8+ T and B cells appeared to play a minor role in the control of parasite growth. In the absence of T cells, especially CD4+ or αβ+ T cells, the cellular immune response to infection was impaired, as documented by the lack of hepatic granuloma formation around the parasite and by a decreased splenocyte responsiveness to concanavalin A (Con A) and parasite antigen stimulation. Surprisingly, in T‐cell‐deficient mice, the ex vivo expression of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and other inflammatory cytokines (except for interleukin‐6) were increased in association with a high parasite load. Thus, the relative protection mediated by CD4+ αβ+ T cells against E. multilocularis infection seemed not be IFN‐γ dependent, but rather to rely on the effector's function of CD4+ αβ+ T cells. The local restriction of parasite germinal cell proliferation was reflected by a regulatory effect on the expression of 14‐3‐3 protein within the parasite tissue in T‐cell‐deficient mice. These results provide a strong indication that the CD4+ αβ+ T‐cell‐mediated immune response contributes to the control of the parasite growth and to the regulation of production of the parasite 14‐3‐3 protein in metacestode tissues.
Investigation of alpha nascent polypeptide‐associated complex functions in a human CD8+ T cell ex vivo expansion model using antisense oligonucleotides
Authors: Al‐Shanti N. , Steward C. G. , Garland R. J. , Rowbottom A. W. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryIn order to determine molecules involved in the differentiation and proliferation of human CD8+ cells, two ex vivo expansion models were established: coculture of freshly purified human CD8+ cells with irradiated autologous feeders (AF) or stimulation with anti‐CD3. Two different proliferation kinetics of CD8+ cells and expression patterns of CD57 were observed between these conditions. Differential display reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction was applied to investigate the differential expression of mRNA species between CD8+ CD57+ and CD8+ CD57– populations. A differentially expressed RNA species called alpha nascent polypeptide associated complex (α NAC) was found at a higher level in CD8+ CD57– cells than in CD8+ CD57+ cells. In the presence of AF, the expression of α NAC was reduced on culturing whilst proliferation increased. Similarly, in cultures stimulated with anti‐CD3, α NAC reverted to its inactive form and differentiation and proliferation increased. Using a phosphorothioate‐modified oligodeoxynucleotide antisense directed specifically against α NAC mRNA, protein expression was inhibited and increased CD8+ cell proliferation and CD25 expression were observed irrespective of the culture conditions. This suggests that α NAC protein is antiproliferative molecule. This is the first description of the function of the α NAC protein in human CD8+ T cells.
Understanding thymus‐independent antigen‐induced reduction of thymus‐dependent immune responses
Authors: Lindroth Karin , Mastache Elena Fernández , Roos Izaura , Fernández África González , Fernández Carmen 
Published: December 2004

SummaryDeficiencies in immune responses against polysaccharides can have direct consequences for patients, and therefore, a better understanding of these immune reactions is crucial. We have studied the immune response against the polysaccharide dextran B512 (Dx). Administration of immunogenic doses of thymus‐independent (TI) Dx reduces the immunoglobulin G1 response to later challenges with a thymus‐dependent (TD) form of Dx. We investigated if this suppression is a general phenomenon caused not only by Dx but also by other TI antigens, and examined possible mechanisms contributing to this unresponsiveness. We show that clonal exhaustion is not involved in modulating subsequent responses, nor is signalling via FcγRIIB or other antibody mediated pathways. The reduced TD response is not an exclusive Dx phenomenon; it is also induced by TI antigen oxazolone (Ox). However, responses against the hapten dinitrophenyl (DNP) are not affected, indicating that the TI priming negative effect is not a general process. This may be explained by the restricted immune response to both Dx and Ox, in contrast to the unrestricted DNP response. Our conclusion from these experiments is that the underlying mechanism for the TI‐induced reduction of latter TD responses is a property of the TI activation itself.
Ca2+ influx shutdown in neutrophils induced by Fas (CD95) cross‐linking
Authors: Ayub Khurram , Laffafian Iraj , Dewitt Sharon , Hallett Maurice B. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryIn neutrophils, as in most other cell types, Ca2+ signalling is important for a number of cellular activities. Although inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate‐mediated release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores is a necessary prelude, it is the Ca2+ influx that is responsible for many of the neutrophil responses. We report here that although elevations of cytosolic Ca2+ do not accompany Fas‐mediated apoptosis in neutrophils, the Ca2+ influx component of the response to N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (FMLP) becomes selectively inactived as the neutrophils progress towards accelerated apoptosis induced by Fas (CD95) cross‐linking. After 4 hr incubation at 37°, untreated neutrophils display an exaggerated Ca2+ influx phase in response to FMLP. This was absent in neutrophils that had been Fas‐activated at the same time. No Ca2+ influx component was demonstrable by the removal of extracellular Ca2+ or by Ca2+ channel blockade with Ni2+ and no Mn2+ influx was detectable. The defect could not be attributed to a decrease in receptor sensitivity, receptor coupling or receptor number because the release of stored Ca2+ remained constant during incubation and was unaffected by Fas activation. Ca2+ influx became uncoupled from store release before detectable gross morphological changes or phosphatidyl serine externalization and was also insensitive to caspase 3 and 8 inhibitors. These results suggest a mechanism other than caspase‐mediated proteolytic damage to components important for Ca2+ influx.
Multiple cleavage sites for polymeric immunoglobulin receptor
Authors: Asano Masatake , Takenouchi‐Ohkubo Nobuko , Matsumoto Naoyuki , Ogura Yoshitaka , Nomura Hirofumi , Suguro Hisashi , Moro Itaru 
Published: December 2004

SummaryHuman polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) was expressed in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells using a recombinant vaccinia virus transfection system. Cleavage of pIgR on the cell surface was partially inhibited by the proteinase inhibitor, leupeptin. We addressed the question whether some particular regions of pIgR could affect the efficient cleavage of this molecule, with the following results: (1) a mutant lacking the entire cytoplasmic region resulted in release of secretory component (SC) into the culture supernatant much faster than wild‐type; (2) a pIgR mutant lacking the entire extracellular domain 6, the region containing the susceptible cleavage sites, could be cleaved and released as a mutant SC. The transport kinetics of this mutant between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi or Golgi and the cell surface was equivalent to wild‐type pIgR. Our results indicate that although the main cleavage site is in domain 6, at least one other cleavage site may exist.
Ubiquitin‐fusion degradation pathway plays an indispensable role in naked DNA vaccination with a chimeric gene encoding a syngeneic cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope of melanocyte and green fluorescent protein
Authors: Zhang Manxin , Ishii Kazunari , Hisaeda Hajime , Murata Shigeo , Chiba Tomoki , Tanaka Keiji , Li Yang , Obata Chikage , Furue Masutaka , Himeno Kunisuke 
Published: December 2004

SummaryAntitumour immunity against murine melanoma B16 was achieved by genetic immunization with a naked chimeric DNA encoding a fusion protein linking green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the N‐terminus of a major CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope of tyrosinase‐related protein 2 (TRP‐2181−188) of murine melanoma, designated as pGFP‐TRP‐2. Tumour growth was profoundly suppressed in C57BL/6 mice immunized with pGFP‐TRP‐2, while mice vaccinated with pTRP‐2 showed rapid tumour growth and died within 40 days after tumour challenge. Splenocytes of mice immunized with pGFP‐TRP‐2 showed high CTL activity specific for TRP‐2181−188. GFP‐TRP‐2 expressed in COS‐7 cells was rapidly degradated in vitro and the degradation was almost completely prevented by adding a proteasome inhibitor, MG‐132, in the culture. Furthermore, the antimelanoma immunity induced by genetic immunization with pGFP‐TRP‐2 was completely cancelled in mice deficient in proteasome activator PA28α/β. Taken together, GFP‐TRP‐2 processed by cytosolic proteasome played a central role in breaking peripheral tolerance to a melanoma/melanocyte antigen, TRP‐2181−188, by activating CD8+ CTL specific for TRP‐2181−188. TRP‐2181−188 fused to GFP may be readily cut off from GFP by the ubiquitin‐fusion degradation (UFD) pathway and efficiently presented to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, resulting in effective induction of CD8+ T cells specific for the CTL epitope. Furthermore, CD4+ T cells specific for GFP were shown to play a crucial role in the antimelanoma immunity, probably potentiating activity of TRP‐2‐specific CTL and/or the ‘ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway’. It is noteworthy to document that genetic immunization with pGFP plus pTRP‐2181−188 failed to exert the antitumour immunity.
Cross‐presentation: dendritic cells and macrophages bite off more than they can chew!
Authors: Brode Sven , Macary Paul A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryAs immunologists, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms which underlie the presentation of antigens derived from extracellular or ‘exogenous’ sources to CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) has been limited. This process, termed ‘cross‐presentation’, has been linked to the elicitation of protective CTL responses against tumours and may be extremely important in generating immune responses against clinically relevant pathogens that do not infect tissues of haemopoietic origin. It is now known that cross‐presentation of exogenous antigens on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I occurs through several distinct cellular pathways. In this review we outline and discuss some recent advances in our understanding of these pathways.
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli flagellin‐induced interleukin‐8 secretion requires Toll‐like receptor 5‐dependent p38 MAP kinase activation
Authors: Khan Mohammed A. S. , Kang Jian , Steiner Theodore S. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryEnteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an emerging enteric pathogen that causes acute and chronic diarrhoea in a number of clinical settings. EAEC diarrhoea involves bacterial aggregation, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells and elaboration of several toxigenic bacterial mediators. Flagellin (FliC‐EAEC), a major bacterial surface protein of EAEC, causes interleukin (IL)‐8 release from several epithelial cell lines. The host response to flagellins from E. coli and several other bacteria is mediated by Toll‐like receptor 5 (TLR5), which signals through nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) to induce transcription of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. p38 mitogen‐activating protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK) is a member of a family of stress‐related kinases that influences a diverse range of cellular functions including host inflammatory responses to microbial products. We studied the role of p38 MAPK in FliC‐EAEC‐induced IL‐8 secretion from Caco‐2 human intestinal epithelial cells and THP‐1 human monocytic cells. We found that IL‐8 secretion from both cell types is dependent on p38 MAPK, which is phospho‐activated in response to FliC‐EAEC. The role of TLR5 in p38 MAPK‐dependent IL‐8 secretion was verified in HEp‐2 cells transiently transfected with a TLR5 expression construct. Activation of interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase (IRAK) was also observed in Caco‐2 and TLR5‐transfected HEp‐2 cells after exposure to FliC‐EAEC. Finally, we demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK reduced IL‐8 transcription and mRNA levels, but did not affect NF‐κB activation. Collectively, our results suggest that TLR5 mediates p38 MAPK‐dependent IL‐8 secretion from epithelial and monocytic cells incubated with FliC‐EAEC, and that this effect requires IL‐8 promoter activation independent of NF‐κB nuclear migration.