bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical relevance of a newly identified HLA‐A24‐restricted minor histocompatibility antigen epitope derived from BCL2A1, ACC‐1, in patients receiving HLA genotypically matched unrelated bone marrow transplant
Authors: Nishida Tetsuya , Akatsuka Yoshiki , Morishima Yasuo , Hamajima Nobuyuki , Tsujimura Kunio , Kuzushima Kiyotaka , Kodera Yoshihisa , Takahashi Toshitada 
Published: December 2004

SummaryMinor histocompatibility antigens (mHAs) are major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐associated peptides, which trigger T‐cell responses that mediate graft versus host disease (GVHD) and graft versus leukaemia effects. We recently identified a new mHA epitope, termed ACC‐1, which is presented by HLA‐A*2402 and encoded by BCL2A1, whose expression is restricted to haematopoietic cells including leukaemic cells. HLA‐A24/ACC‐1 tetramer detected the presence of ACC‐1‐specific CD8+ cells in the peripheral blood of a patient up to 7 months following transplantation, and these tetramer‐positive cells were expandable in vitro by ACC‐1 peptide stimulation. A retrospective analysis of 320 patients with HLA‐A*2402 who had received a human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypically matched unrelated donor through the Japan Marrow Donor Programme was conducted to determine whether ACC‐1 disparity is associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as GVHD. Among these patients, ACC‐1 disparity was detected in 55 (17·2%) donor/recipient pairs. After adjusting for known risk factors, the hazard ratios or odds ratios of acute and chronic GVHD, relapse and disease‐free survival were not statistically different between patients receiving ACC‐1 compatible and incompatible transplantation. These data suggest that disparity of haematopoietic cell‐specific mHA, ACC‐1, is unlikely at least to augment GVHD, and that T cells specific for ACC‐1 may also be used for immunotherapy of recurring leukaemia without GVHD.
Association between thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor genotype and levels in plasma: comparison of different assays
Authors: Guimarães A. H. C. , van Tilburg N. H. , Vos H. L. , Bertina R. M. , Rijken D. C. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen levels exhibit a large interindividual variability in which genetic control seems to play a major role. However, recent reports have questioned the association between TAFI concentration and genotype, suggesting that variable antibody reactivity towards TAFI isoforms, particularly the Thr325Ile polymorphism (1040C/T), may lead to artefacts in TAFI antigen levels. In order to compare assay outcome we determined plasma TAFI levels in 92 healthy individuals, using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (commercial antibodies), an electroimmunoassay (in‐house antibodies) and a commercial chromogenic assay (Actichrome® TAFI). Each individual was genotyped for the −438A/G and 1040C/T polymorphisms in the TAFI gene. TAFI levels were significantly associated with genotype in both antigen and chromogenic assays. All assays displayed significant correlations with each other. Linear regression and Bland–Altman agreement analysis in the genotype subgroups showed that neither the genotype nor the concentration affected the relationship between the Actichrome® TAFI and the electroimmunoassay. In contrast, the ELISA/Actichrome® TAFI and the ELISA/electroimmunoassay relationships were concentration‐ and genotype‐dependent. Our results demonstrate that artefacts may arise when measuring TAFI antigen levels by ELISA. Nevertheless, the electroimmunoassay and the Actichrome® TAFI assay support a genotype‐related variation of TAFI concentration.
Mid‐trimester fetal blood‐derived adherent cells share characteristics similar to mesenchymal stem cells but full‐term umbilical cord blood does not
Authors: Yu Minjun , Xiao Zhifeng , Shen Li , Li Lingsong 
Published: December 2004

SummaryStem cell transplantation is a promising treatment for many conditions. Although stem cells can be isolated from many tissues, blood is the ideal source of these cells due to the ease of collection. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been paid increased attention because of their powerful proliferation and pluripotent differentiating ability. But whether MSCs reside in blood (newborn umbilical cord blood and fetal or adult peripheral blood) is also debatable. The present study showed that MSC‐like cells could be isolated and expanded from 16–26 weeks fetal blood but were not acquired efficiently from full‐term infants’ umbilical cord blood (UCB). Adherent cells separated from postnatal UCB were heterogeneous in cell morphology. Their proliferation capacity was limited and they were mainly CD45+, which indicated their haematopoietic derivation. On the contrary, MSC‐like cells shared a similar phenotype to bone marrow MSCs. They were CD34− CD45− CD44+ CD71+ CD90+ CD105+. They could be induced to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic and neural lineage cells. Single cell clones also showed similar phenotype and differentiation ability. Our results suggest that early fetal blood is rich in MSCs but term UCB is not.
Human haematopoietic stem cells that mediate long‐term in vivo engraftment are not susceptible to infection by human cytomegalovirus
Authors: Crapnell Kirsten B. , Almeida‐Porada Graca , Khaiboullina Svetlana , St. Jeor Steve C. , Zanjani Esmail D. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryA human/sheep xenograft model was used to evaluate whether long‐term engrafting haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are susceptible to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. CD34+ Lin− HSC were isolated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) from the bone marrow (BM) of HCMV‐positive and HCMV‐negative normal donors. Cells from the latter group were infected in vitro with HCMV. HCMV DNA was detected in both cell populations by nested‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cells were transplanted into separate groups of fetal sheep at concentrations of 1·3–5·0 × 105 cells per fetus. Multilineage human haematopoietic cell engraftment, including CD34+ cells, was detected in the BM and peripheral blood of recipients up to 16 months post‐transplant as assessed by FACS analysis and PCR for HLA‐DQα. Levels of engraftment varied (1·2–24·3%) but no sheep exhibited HCMV‐positive cells. To ensure that our inability to detect HCMV‐positive cells was not due to immune‐elimination of HCMV‐infected cells, 3·8–10 × 105 HCMV‐positive uncharacterized BM stromal cells were transplanted into fetal sheep. At 5 weeks post‐transplant several organs were HLA‐DQα‐ and HCMV‐positive, confirming that HCMV was detectable. These results provide evidence that the long‐term engrafting HSC is not a primary target of HCMV and suggest that HCMV infection of human haematopoietic cells is exercised at the level of committed progenitors.
Spleen neoangiogenesis in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
Authors: Barosi Giovanni , Vittorio Rosti , Margherita Massa , Luca Viarengo G. , Alessandro Pecci , Vittorio Necchi , Isabella Ramaioli , Rita Campanelli , Monia Marchetti , Mario Bazzan , Umberto Magrini 
Published: December 2004

SummaryNeoangiogenesis is an integral component of bone marrow myeloproliferation in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). As extramedullary haematopoiesis is a constitutive feature of MMM, we studied spleen neoangiogenesis by a computerized image analysis in MMM patients. Compared with five normal subjects, spleen CD34‐staining capillary vascular density (CVD) was 2·1–3·03 times higher than the upper range of normal in six of the 15 (40%) MMM patients. CD8‐staining sinusoidal vascular density (SVD) was constantly normal or lesser than normal and was inversely correlated with CVD (R = −0·53; P = 0·04). In MMM patients who did not receive cytoreductive or radiation therapy in the month before splenectomy (n = 9), the CVD was a significant determinant of spleen size (R = 0·88; P = 0·04). In MMM patients, the number of spleen CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells was increased from 1·2 to 98 times the upper limit of normal, and predicted the expansion of CVD (R = 0·57; P = 0·03). A population of cells expressing the CD34+/CD133+/VEGFR‐2+ angiopoietic phenotype was present in the blood and spleen of five of seven patients. These results document that neoangiogenesis is an integral component of spleen re‐localization of haematopoietic stem cells and suggest a cellular mechanism for spleen neoangiogenesis.
Distribution and life history of Euphausia pacifica off northeastern Japan
Authors: TAKI KENJI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe abundance, spawning, growth pattern and life span of Euphausia pacifica were examined using widely collected samples off the Japanese coast of the North Pacific. Adults were widely distributed in the Oyashio area [OW; temperature at 100‐m depth (T100) ≤ 5°C] and the transitional area (5°C < T100 ≤ 15°C) throughout the year, but the occurrence of large adults (>15 mm) was limited to OW and the cold waters of the transitional area (CW; 5°C < T100 ≤ 10°C). Spawning occurred in OW and the transitional area throughout the year, especially in CW in spring but rarely in winter. Two modal cohorts of adults were consistently recognized in OW and CW. Cohorts of small males and females (10–11 mm length), which newly appeared in spring, grew remarkably to about 17 mm from the following spring to early summer, followed by a long period of little growth during spring–winter. Then, both male and female cohorts grew slowly and steadily after summer to a maximum of 18–19 mm by the following spring. The cohort of males disappeared after spring, but the females (about 20 mm length) were still being observed up until late summer. If the cohort of small adults is assumed to develop mainly from the spring hatching, the life span of male and female E. pacifica can be estimated to be 24 and 28 months, respectively, off northeastern Japan.
Daily rhythm and seasonal variation of feeding habit of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in relation to their migration and oceanographic conditions off Japan
Authors: SUGISAKI HIROYA , KURITA YUTAKA 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSeasonal and diel variation of feeding activities of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) were examined following their annual migration cycle in North Pacific waters adjacent to Japan in relation to oceanographic conditions, especially abundance and composition of zooplankton collected in surrounding waters. A high gut fullness and low degree of digestion of the gut contents were frequently observed during the dusk period during the 24‐h cycle for all seasons. In spring and summer saury were distributed in the Kuroshio–Oyashio transitional region and the Oyashio (cold current) area, where they mainly fed on the euphausiid, Euphausia pacifica, and had a higher gut fullness than the other seasons. Their feeding activity decreased in fall, and increased in winter, the spawning season, although they were distributed in an area of poor food conditions in the Kuroshio warm current area. Their distribution in the Kuroshio–Oyashio transitional region and the Oyashio area allow utilization of adult euphausiids, E. pacifica which is a significant food source.
Decadal changes in reproduction of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) off the Pacific coast of northern Japan
Authors: HAMATSU TOMONORI , YABUKI KEIZOU , WATANABE KAZUTOSHI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe examined stock fecundity, abundance of eggs and larvae, and catch per haul of age 0 walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, and considered the relationship between reproduction, recruitment and the ocean environment off the Pacific coast of northern Japan for the period between 1985 and 1996. To calculate stock fecundity, we estimated age at maturity and fecundity, and expanded estimates to the expected age composition of the population as estimated by Virtual Population Analysis. Eggs and larvae were collected by research cruises in the main spawning ground in and around Funka Bay. Catch in number of age 0 per haul were obtained from catch statistics. Annual stock fecundity decreased in the late 1980s, from 97 billion eggs in 1986 to 74 billion in 1990, and increased in the 1990s, to 137 billion in 1995. Abundance of eggs and larvae, and catch of age 0 per haul, were high in the late 1980s; however, they were low or intermediate in the 1990s. The steepness of the spawner recruitment relationship in the 1990s was different from the late 1980s, based on positive relationships between stock fecundity and catch of age 0 per haul in each decade. Sea surface temperature in the main spawning ground around Funka Bay was low in the late 1980s, but high in 1990s. We conclude that the decadal‐scale change in the ocean environment around the main spawning ground between the 1980s and the 1990s caused a change in the reproduction and recruitment of walleye pollock.
Diel changes in vertical distribution patterns of zooplankton and walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) off the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido, Japan, estimated by the volume back scattering strength (Sv) difference method
Authors: MIYASHITA KAZUSHI , TETSUMURA KOUTAROU , HONDA SATOSHI , OSHIMA TATSUKI , KAWABE RYO , SASAKI KEI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn this study, we tried to accurately discriminate between zooplankton and walleye pollock using a quantitative echosounder at two frequencies (38 and 120 kHz). To estimate the abundance of walleye pollock and zooplankton (mainly Euphausia pacifica), an acoustic and trawling survey with bongo net sampling and CTD (X‐CTD) was conducted during June 2001 off the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Neocalanus copepods and E. pacifica were predominant in almost all the net samples. One size class of Neocalanus copepods (mean TL ± SD = 2.0 ± 1.1 mm, N = 1 044 080) and two size classes of E. pacifica (mean TL ± SD = 6.1 ± 2.2 mm, N = 13,099; mean TL ± SD = 15.4 ± 3.6 mm, N = 7628) were collected. The distribution patterns of these two classes and of walleye pollock were identified using the volume back scattering strength (Sv) difference method. On the continental shelf, the walleye pollock schools (small walleye pollock: mainly age 1 and 2) overlapped with almost all zooplankton layers during both day (near the sea bottom and mid‐water) and night (mid‐water and sea surface). Near and offshore of the continental shelf break, during day, the walleye pollock schools (large walleye pollock: mainly older than age 3) overlapped with almost all zooplankton layers near the sea bottom, but during night, the large walleye pollock schools (which were mainly distributed near the sea bottom) showed little overlap with most zooplankton layers (which were mainly distributed between mid‐water and sea surface). This result suggests differences in feeding strategies between small and large walleye.
Modeling the influence of oceanic‐climatic changes on the dynamics of Pacific saury in the northwestern Pacific using a life cycle model
Authors: TIAN YONGJUN , AKAMINE TATSURO , SUDA MAKI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA life cycle model for Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) was developed to clarify the possible causes of interannual and decadal variability in its abundance. In the model, the population of saury is composed of two spawning cohorts: one spawned in the Kuroshio region during autumn–winter and the other spawned in the Kuroshio‐Oyashio Transition Zone during winter–spring. The life cycle of saury was divided into six stages: namely egg, larval, juvenile, young, immature and adult stages. The life cycle model combines growth, survival, fishing and reproductive processes, in which the effects of sea surface temperature (SST) in the Kuroshio region and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on the winter‐spawning cohorts, the effects of SST in the Oyashio region on the spring‐spawning cohorts, and the effects of fishing on the two spawning cohorts are taken into account. Results of basic modeling, in which environments are assumed stable and the stock is affected by fishing only, shows that the interannual fluctuations in the abundance are small and could hardly explain the observed large annual changes in abundance. On the contrary, results of modeling incorporating the effects of oceanic‐climatic changes corresponded well with actual interannual‐decadal variations in abundance. These results suggest the following environmental effects: (1) SST in the Kuroshio region affects decadal changes in abundance; (2) ENSO events influence the survival of the winter spawning cohort and result in large interannual variations in the abundance. It is concluded that large‐scale climatic and oceanic changes strongly affect the abundance of saury.
Life histories of Eucalanus bungii and Neocalanus cristatus (Copepoda: Calanoida) in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean
Authors: TSUDA ATSUSHI , SAITO HIROAKI , KASAI HIROMI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractLife cycles of the large suspension‐feeding copepods, Eucalanus bungii and Neocalanus cristatus were investigated by seasonal sampling in the western subarctic Pacific. Eucalanus bungii has a diapause from August to March at copepodite stages between copepodite 3 (C3) and C6 female. We propose that individuals with early birth dates are young of overwintering C5 and C6‐females that develop to C4 in their birth year, while individuals with late birth dates are young of overwintering C4 that develop to C3 in their birth year. Thus, a majority of the population has annual generations alternating with biennial generations. Neocalanus cristatus showed life history almost identical to the population in the Alaskan gyre. Timing of the life cycle in N. cristatus is very close to that in the eastern subarctic gyre, but that of E. bungii is 2 months earlier than in the eastern subarctic. This difference is probably caused by the timing difference in the maximum primary production in the two areas and the plasticity of the life cycle strategy in E. bungii.
Seasonal changes in the reproduction of three oncaeid copepods in the surface layer of the Kuroshio Extension
Authors: NAKATA KAORU , ITOH HIROSHI , ICHIKAWA TADAFUMI , SASAKI KATSUYUKI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractSeasonal changes in reproduction rates of three dominant oncaeids, Oncaea media, O. venusta f. venella and O. venusta f. –1, and effects of environmental factors on them were examined in the surface layer (0–30 m) in the Kuroshio Extension and adjacent waters off the Pacific coast of central Japan. The biomass of oncaeid copepods peaked in spring, and remained at about 14% of total copepod biomass throughout the year. Monthly mean specific egg production rates of O. media, O. venusta f. –1 and O. venusta f. venella ranged from 0 to 0.038 day−1, from 0.026 to 0.051 day−1 and from 0.022 to 0.049 day−1, respectively, and were relatively higher from winter to spring. Specific egg production rates of both O. media and O. venusta f. venella were positively related to primary production in the euphotic layer. Analysis of temperature effects on reproduction parameters indicated that low temperature was one cause for high specific egg production rates of O. venusta f. –1 in winter, mainly because of an increase in clutch size. Environmental factors thus affect reproduction of the dominant oncaeids in the surface layer of the Kuroshio Extension, and an increase in temperature and decline in primary production would reduce their reproduction.
Environmental factors affecting larval growth of Pacific saury, Cololabis saira, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
Authors: OOZEKI YOSHIOKI , WATANABE YOSHIRO , KITAGAWA DAIJI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractEnvironmental factors affecting larval growth of the Pacific saury, Cololabis saira, were analyzed from specimens sampled in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in winter, spring and autumn, 1992–94. Body length at 5 days before sampling was individually estimated by back‐calculation from otolith increment widths and recent growth rate was determined. Recent growth rates of saury larvae were significantly different among seasons and years. Results of multiple regression analysis between the recent growth rate and environmental factors indicated that sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration and copepodite stage Copepoda concentration were positively correlated with the growth rate of saury larvae. Annual and seasonal variations of larval growth were largely explained by these environmental factors.
Trophodynamic modeling of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Doto area, northern Japan: model description and baseline simulations
Authors: YAMAMURA ORIO 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAn age‐structured trophodynamic model was constructed to quantitatively analyze factors affecting post‐settlement mortality and growth of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the Doto area, the main nursery ground of the Japan Pacific population. The model included (i) multiple age classes of pollock, (ii) a generic predator, (iii) fisheries, and (iv) major prey of pollock. Major processes considered were (i) recruitment, (ii) bottom‐up control of somatic growth, (iii) mortality because of predation, cannibalism and fishing, (iv) size‐selective prey selection, (v) temperature‐dependent bioenergetics such as conversion efficiency and daily consumption rate, and (vi) production and advective supply of prey. By assuming that pollock select prey based upon both relative abundance and predator–prey size relationships, the model accurately simulated seasonal and ontogenetic variations in the diet. However considering ontogenetic segregation, the model showed that, due to cannibalism, newly recruited fish would be totally consumed within 6 months after settlement. By considering segregation (10% overlap during spring and 0.1% during other seasons), an agreement of diet between the simulation and empirical data averaged 82.7% for the different seasons and fish sizes. Euphausiids, the most important prey of pollock, suffered the highest predation impact (22.2 ± 5.3 WWg m−2 yr−1) exceeding annual production in the model domain (17.2 ± 0.1 WWg m−2 yr−1), indicating that an advective supply of prey is necessary to support the pollock population. The daily ration of pollock during spring and summer averaged at 1.2 and 0.6% BW day−1 for small (≤200 mm) and large (>200 mm) pollock, respectively; this daily ration was reduced by half during autumn and winter.