bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Differentially Regulate Toll-Like Receptor 4-Mediated Activation of NF-κB and Interleukin-8 Expression
Authors: Ryan Kieran A. , Smith Michael F. , Sanders Michael K. , Ernst Peter B. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been identified as a transmembrane protein involved in the host innate immune response to gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Upon activation by LPS recognition, the TIR domain of TLR4 signals through MyD88 to activate the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway, a critical regulator of many proinflammatory genes, including interleukin-8 (IL-8). Emerging evidence suggests that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can contribute to diverse signaling pathways, including the LPS-induced cascade. In the present study we investigated the role of ROS in TLR-mediated signaling. PurifiedEscherichia coliLPS, a highly specific TLR4 agonist, elicited an oxidative burst in the monocyte-like cell line THP-1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This oxidative burst was shown to be dependent on the presence of TLR4 through transfection studies in HEK cells, which do not normally express this protein, and with bone marrow-derived macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice, which express a mutated TLR4 protein. LPS-stimulated IL-8 expression could be blocked by the antioxidantsN-acetyl-l-cysteine and dimethyl sulfoxide at both the protein and mRNA levels. These antioxidants also blocked LPS-induced IL-8 promoter transactivation as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. These data provide evidence that ROS regulate immune signaling through TLR4 via their effects on NF-κB activation.
Rapid Expression of Chemokines and Proinflammatory Cytokines in Newly Hatched Chickens Infected withSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium
Authors: Withanage G. S. K. , Kaiser Pete , Wigley Paul , Powers Claire , Mastroeni Pietro , Brooks Heather , Barrow Paul , Smith Adrian , Maskell Duncan , McConnell Ian 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTPoultry meat and eggs contaminated withSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis orSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium are common sources of acute gastroenteritis in humans. However, the exact nature of the immune mechanisms protective againstSalmonellainfection in chickens has not been characterized at the molecular level. In the present study, bacterial colonization, development of pathological lesions, and proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine gene expression were investigated in the liver, spleen, jejunum, ileum, and cecal tonsils in newly hatched chickens 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after oral infection withSalmonellaserovar Typhimurium. Very high bacterial counts were found in the ileum and cecal contents throughout the experiment, whereasSalmonellastarted to appear in the liver only from 24 h postinfection. Large numbers of heterophils, equivalent to neutrophils in mammals, and inflammatory edema could be seen in the lamina propria of the intestinal villi and in the liver. Interleukin 8 (IL-8), K60 (a CXC chemokine), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 β, and IL-1β levels were significantly upregulated in the intestinal tissues and in the livers of the infected birds. However, the spleens of the infected birds show little or no change in the expression levels of these cytokines and chemokines. Increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (up to several hundred-fold) correlated with the presence of inflammatory signs in those tissues. This is the first description of in vivo expression of chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines in response to oral infection withSalmonellain newly hatched chickens.
Role of Biofilm-Associated Protein Bap in the Pathogenesis of Bovine
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cucarella Carme , Tormo M. Ángeles , Úbeda Carles , Trotonda M. Pilar , Monzón Marta , Peris Critòfol , Amorena Beatriz , Lasa Íñigo , Penadés José R. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
is a common cause of intramammary infections, which frequently become chronic, associated with the ability of the bacteria to produce biofilm. Here, we report a relationship between the ability to produce chronic bovine mastitis and biofilm formation. We have classified bovine mastitis
S. aureus
isolates into three groups based on the presence of particular genetic elements required for biofilm formation: group 1 (
ica
+
bap
+
), group 2 (
ica
+
,
bap
negative), and group 3 (
ica
negative,
bap
negative). Overall, animals naturally infected with group 1 and 2 isolates had a lower milk somatic cell count than those infected with isolates of group 3. In addition, Bap-positive isolates were significantly more able to colonize and persist in the bovine mammary gland in vivo and were less susceptible to antibiotic treatments when forming biofilms in vitro. Analysis of the structural
bap
gene revealed the existence of alternate forms of expression of the Bap protein in
S. aureus
isolates obtained under field conditions throughout the animal's life. The presence of anti-Bap antibodies in serum samples taken from animals with confirmed
S. aureus
infections indicated the production of Bap during infection. Furthermore, disruption of the
ica
operon in a
bap
-positive strain had no effect on in vitro biofilm formation, a finding which strongly suggested that Bap could compensate for the deficiency of the PIA/PNAG product (a biofilm matrix polysaccharide). Altogether, these results demonstrate that, in the bovine intramammary gland, the presence of Bap may facilitate a biofilm formation connected with the persistence of
S. aureus
.
Localization of BmpA on the Exposed Outer Membrane ofBorrelia burgdorferiby Monospecific Anti-Recombinant BmpA Rabbit Antibodies
Authors: Shin Junghee J. , Bryksin Anton V. , Godfrey Henry P. , Cabello Felipe C. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTBmpA (P39) is an immunodominant chromosomally encodedBorrelia burgdorferiprotein. The potential strong cross-reactivity of anti-BmpA antibodies with the other members of this paralogous protein family and the previous use of antibodies whose reactivity to the other Bmp proteins was uncharacterized have resulted in continued controversy over its localization inB. burgdorferi. In an effort to provide a definitive demonstration of the localization of BmpA, rabbit antibodies raised to recombinant BmpA (rBmpA) were rendered monospecific by absorption with rBmpB. This reagent did not react with rBmpB, rBmpC, or rBmpD in dot immunobinding, detected only a single 39-kDa band and a single 39-kDa, pI 5.0 spot on one- and two-dimensional immunoblots ofB. burgdorferilysates, respectively, and immunoprecipitated a single 39-kDa protein from these lysates. It detected BmpA in the Triton X-114-soluble and -insoluble fractions ofB. burgdorferi, suggesting association with both inner and outer bacterial cell membranes. Treatment of intactB. burgdorferiwith proteinase K partially digested BmpA, consistent with a limited surface exposure on the outer bacterial membrane, a suggestion confirmed by immunofluorescence of unfixedB. burgdorfericultured in vitro and in vivo. Anti-rBmpA antibody was bacteriostatic forB. burgdorferiB31 in culture, again suggesting localization of BmpA on the exposed spirochetal outer surface. Surface localization of BmpA, growth inhibition by anti-rBmpA antibodies, and the previously reported conservation ofbmpAin differentB. burgdorferisensu lato strains may indicate that BmpA plays an essential role inB. burgdorferibiology.
Identification of a Novel
Citrobacter rodentium
Type III Secreted Protein, EspI, and Roles of This and Other Secreted Proteins in Infection
Authors: Mundy Rosanna , Petrovska Liljana , Smollett Katherine , Simpson Nandi , Wilson Rebecca K. , Yu Jun , Tu Xuanlin , Rosenshine Ilan , Clare Simon , Dougan Gordon , Frankel Gad 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Citrobacter rodentium
is a member of a group of pathogens that colonize the lumen of the host gastrointestinal tract via attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion formation.
C. rodentium
, which causes transmissible colonic hyperplasia in mice, is used as an in vivo model system for the clinically significant A/E pathogens enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
. These bacteria all contain a pathogenicity island called the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which encodes a type III secretion system that is designed to deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are involved in the subversion of host eukaryotic cell functions to the benefit of the bacterium. In this study we used mutant strains to determine the effects of the
C. rodentium
LEE-encoded effectors EspF, EspG, EspH, and Map on virulence in the mouse model. In addition, we identified a novel secreted protein, EspI encoded outside the LEE, whose secretion is also dependent on a functional type III secretion system. Mutant strains with each of the effectors investigated were found to be outcompeted by wild-type bacteria in mixed-infection experiments in vivo, although the effects of EspF and EspH were only subtle. In single-infection experiments, we found that EspF, EspG, and EspH are not required for efficient colonization of the mouse colon or for the production of hyperplasia. In contrast, strains producing EspI and Map had significant colonization defects and resulted in dramatically reduced levels of hyperplasia, and they exhibited very different growth dynamics in mice than the wild-type strain exhibited.
Porphyromonas gingivalis
-Specific Immunoglobulin G Prevents
P. gingivalis
-Elicited Oral Bone Loss in a Murine Model
Authors: Gibson Frank C. , Gonzalez Dario A. , Wong Jodie , Genco Caroline Attardo 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

Active immunization with
Porphyromonas gingivalis
whole-cell preparations has been shown to prevent
P. gingivalis
infection and oral bone loss. Employing passive antibody transfer and opsonization, we demonstrate with this study that immunization-elicited
P. gingivalis
-specific immunoglobulin G facilitates clearance of
P. gingivalis
in a subcutaneous chamber model and prevents
P. gingivalis
-elicited oral bone loss.
Protein Serine/Threonine Kinase StkP Positively Controls Virulence and Competence in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Echenique Jose , Kadioglu Aras , Romao Susana , Andrew Peter W. , Trombe Marie-Claude 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACT

In the
Streptococcus pneumoniae
genome,
stkP
, encoding a membrane-associated serine/threonine kinase, is not redundant (L. Novakova, S. Romao, J. Echenique, P. Branny, and M.-C. Trombe, unpublished results). The data presented here demonstrate that StkP belongs to the signaling network involved in competence triggering in vitro and lung infection and bloodstream invasion in vivo. In competence, functional StkP is required for activation of
comCDE
upstream of the autoregulated ring orchestrated by the competence-stimulating peptide. This is the first description of positive regulation of
comCDE
transcription in balance with its repression by CiaRH.
Is risk of fast bowling injury in cricketers greatest in those who bowl most? A cohort of young English fast bowlers
Authors: Gregory P L , Batt M E , Wallace W A 
Published: March 2004

Objectives:To determine whether young fast bowlers are exceeding directives limiting bowling and how incidence of fast bowling injury varies with amount of bowling.Methods:A prospective cohort study of injuries sustained by 70 fast bowlers (mean (SD) age 15.3 (2.4) years) was undertaken. Bowlers were recruited from the Centres of Excellence of three “First Class” counties in England in January 1998. Details of injuries were collected by telephone questionnaire every six weeks for six months from each bowler. The number of balls bowled in matches and practices by each bowler was recorded. The cohort was divided into groups according to the number of balls bowled in the study period, and bowling injury incidences were calculated for each group.Main outcome measures:All injuries caused by bowling and interfering with bowling.Results:Telephone follow up was achieved when planned on 97.9% of occasions. There were 23 bowling injuries reported in the study period that met the inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of bowling injury in the study period was 32.8 per 100 fast bowlers. The incidence of bowling injury for the 15 bowlers who bowled less than 1000 balls in the study period was 20.0 per 100 fast bowlers. The incidence for the 32 who bowled 1000–2000 balls was 37.5 per 100 fast bowlers. The incidence for the 14 who bowled 2000–3000 balls was 35.7 per 100. The incidence for the nine who bowled more than 3000 balls was 33.3 per 100.Conclusions:The expected increased incidence of bowling injury in young fast bowlers who bowl most was not observed, although more than 12% exceeded the recommended limit.
Hormonal responses during prolonged exercise are influenced by a selective DA/NA reuptake inhibitor
Authors: Piacentini M F , Meeusen R , Buyse L , De Schutter G , De Meirleir K 
Published: March 2004

Objective:A decrease in dopamine activity is thought to lead to a reduction in motivation and arousal and therefore to the “central” component of fatigue. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a dopamine (DA) noradrenaline (NA) reuptake inhibitor, bupropion (Zyban™), on exercise performance and on the hormonal response to exercise.Methods:Eight healthy well trained male cyclists (Wattmax397±15 W) participated in the study. Subjects completed one maximal exercise test (to determine maximal power output Wattmax), and two endurance performance tests (time trials) in a double blind randomised cross-over design. Subjects took either placebo capsules (lactose) or 2×300 mg bupropion (BUP). Blood samples were collected for adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), prolactin, cortisol, growth hormone, beta-endorphins, and catecholamines.Results:Performance was not influenced by BUP (placebo: 89±1 min; BUP 2×300 mg: 89±0.7 min). All hormones increased during exercise in all trials. Cortisol plasma concentrations were significantly higher in the BUP trial at rest, at min 60, and at the end of exercise, while beta-endorphins were higher in the BUP trial at the end of exercise and during recovery, and ACTH at the end of exercise.Conclusion:From the present results, we can conclude that bupropion had a more marked central noradrenergic effect (compared to dopaminergic) on the hormonal response to exercise, but no effect on the outcome of performance.
Non-participation in sports injury research: why football players choose not to be involved: Table 1
Authors: Braham R , Finch C , McCrory P 
Published: March 2004

Objective:To ascertain the reasons behind players not participating in a sports safety research project.Methods:During the preseason, 10 Australian football clubs volunteered 23 teams to participate in a protective equipment randomised controlled trial, the Australian Football Injury Prevention Project (AFIPP). All players from these teams were invited to participate. Players who did not agree to participate in AFIPP were surveyed about their reasons for non-involvement.Results:110 football players (response rate 63.6%) completed the non-responder survey and cited the two main reasons behind non-involvement in the project as “I did not know about the project” (39.4%) and “I was not at training when the research team visited” (36.5%).Conclusions and implications:Preseason may not be the best time for maximal player recruitment in community based sports safety research. Enhanced communication between researchers and players at community level football clubs during the recruitment phase is likely to improve response rates.
Revalidation for general practitioners: randomised comparison of two revalidation models
Authors: Bruce David , Phillips Katie , Reid Ross , Snadden David , Harden Ronald 
Published: March 2004

AbstractObjective To compare two models of revalidation for general practitioners.Design Randomised comparison of two revalidation models.Setting Primary care in Tayside, Scotland.Participants 66 Tayside general practitioners (principals and non-principals), 53 of whom completed the revalidation folders.Interventions Two revalidation models: a minimum criterion based model with revalidation as the primary purpose, and an educational outcome model with emphasis on combining revalidation with continuing professional development.Main outcome measures Feasibility and acceptability of each approach and effect on the doctor's continuing professional development. The ability to make a summative judgment on completed models and whether either model would allow patient groups to have confidence in the revalidation process.Results The criterion model was preferred by general practitioners. For both models doctors reported making changes to their practice and felt a positive effect on their continuing professional development. Summative assessment of the folders showed reasonable inter-rater reliability.Conclusions The criterion model provides a practical and acceptable model for general practitioners to use when preparing for revalidation.
SIMULATED ELECTROCORTICAL ACTIVITY AT MICROSCOPIC, MESOSCOPIC AND GLOBAL SCALES
Authors: WRIGHT J. J. , RENNIE C. J. , LEES G. J. , ROBINSON P. A. , BOURKE P. D. , CHAPMAN C. L. , GORDON E. , ROWE D. L. 
Published: March 2004

The interaction of large populations of neurons gives rise to electrical events in the brain, which can be observed at several spatial scales. We show that mutually consistent explanations and simulation of experimental data can be achieved for cortical gamma activity, synchronous oscillation, and the main features of the EEG power spectrum including the cerebral rhythms, and evoked potentials. These simulations include consideration of dendritic and synaptic dynamics, AMPA, NMDA and GABA receptors, and intracortical and cortical/subcortical interactions. The dynamic properties exhibited in the simulations, Hebbian synaptic modification regulated by a limited set of innate "reward" mechanisms, and infomax principles, can be combined to yield an explanation of elementary adaptive learning.
COMPARING SYNONYMOUS CODON USAGE OF ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED GENES WITH NON-ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED GENES IN HUMAN GENOME
Authors: MA FEI , ZHUANG YONGLONG , CHEN LIMING , LIN LUPING , LI YANDA , XU XIAOFENG , CHEN XUEPING 
Published: March 2004

It is becoming clear that alternative splicing plays an important role in expanding protein diversity. However, the previous studies on codons usage did not distinguish alternative splicing from non-alternative splicing. Do codon usage patterns hold distinctions between them? Thus, we attempted to systematically compare the differences of synonymous codon usage patterns between alternatively and non-alternatively spliced genes by analyzing the large datasets from human genome. The results indicated:(1) There are highly significant differences in the average Nc values between non-alternatively spliced genes and the longer isoform genes as well as the shorter isoform genes, and the level of codon usage bias of non-alternatively spliced genes is to some extent higher than that in alternatively spliced genes.(2) Very extensive heterogeneity of G+C content in silent third codon position (GC3s) was evident among these genes, and it could be also shown there are highly significant differences in the average GC3s values between non-alternatively spliced genes and the longer isoform genes as well as the shorter isoform genes.(3) The Nc-plots and correspondence analysis reveal that codon usage bias are mainly dominated by mutation bias, and no correlation between gene expression level and synonymous codon biased usage is found in human genes.(4) Overall codon usage data analysis indicated that the C-ending codons usage has a highly significant differences between the longer isoform genes and non-alternatively spliced genes as well as the shorter isoform genes, it further found out that there is no significant differences of C-ending codons usage between the shorter isoform genes and non-alternatively spliced genes.Finally, our results seem to imply that alternative splicing gene may originate from non-alternative splicing gene, and may be created by DNA mutation or gene fusion, and be retained through nature selection and adaptive evolution.
AN EXTENSIBLE ARCHITECTURE-BASED FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATION LANGUAGES
Authors: FINK TORSTEN , OTTO KARSTEN 
Published: March 2004

The dynamic and heterogeneous nature of distributed systems makes the development of distributed applications a difficult task. Various tools, such as middleware systems, component systems, and coordination languages, offer support the application developer at different levels. There are several coordination systems that integrate such tools into a complete environment to build applications from heterogeneous components. To achieve extensibility they usually have a layered architecture: an application is first mapped to a middle layer and then to a target system. But this approach hides the specific features of a target system from the developer, as they are not represented in the middle layer, and often induces additional run-time overhead. In this paper, we introduce the extensible coordination framework ECF that allows developers to build efficient distributed applications which exploit the specific features of the target systems. Support for target systems and application domains are encapsulated by extension modules. Modules can be built on top of other modules to support refined functionality.
Cross-Linking of Human Amniotic Membrane by Glutaraldehyde
Authors: Spoerl Eberhard , Wollensak Gregor , Reber Friedemann , Pillunat Lutz 
Published: March 2004

<i>Purpose:</i> The transplantation of cryopreserved human amniotic membrane has been introduced recently for the reconstruction of the ocular surface. However, in some diseases the transplant usually dissolves rather quickly and early detachment may occur. Therefore, we tried to stabilize the amniotic transplant by applying glutaraldehyde for collagen cross-linking of the membrane. <i>Methods:</i> 18 human amnions were prepared. 4 × 4 cm pieces of amnion were treated with 0.1% glutaraldehyde solution for 30 min. Biomechanical force-elongation measurements were performed and resistance to enzymatic digestion by 0.1% collagenase solution was tested and compared to cryopreserved and untreated fresh amnion. 8 patients with various ocular surface defects were treated with cross-linked amnion and compared to 5 patients with cryopreserved amnion. <i>Results:</i> The force of the amnion cross-linked with glutaraldehyde at 2.5 mm elongation was increased statistically significant by 175% versus fresh amnion and 76.8% versus the cryopreserved amnion. Glutaraldehyde-treated membranes were virtually completely resistant to enzymatic digestion, while fresh and cryopreserved amnions were dissolved completely by day 7. In patients, the cross-linked membrane was preserved for up to 90 days without any signs of dissolution of the membrane and good transparency. <i>Conclusions:</i> Collagen cross-linking using glutaraldehyde leads to a significant increase in the biomechanical strength and enzymatic resistance of amnion, better transparency and less wrinkling. The cross-linked membrane does not dissolve for months and is well suited for the surface reconstruction of the cornea.