bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tolerance to the substitution of buried apolar residues by charged residues in the homologous protein structures
Authors: Balaji S. , Aruna S. , Srinivasan N. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractOccurrence and accommodation of charged amino acid residues in proteins that are structurally equivalent to buried non‐polar residues in homologues have been investigated. Using a dataset of 1,852 homologous pairs of crystal structures of proteins available at 2Å or better resolution, 14,024 examples of apolar residues in the structurally conserved regions replaced by charged residues in homologues have been identified. Out of 2,530 cases of buried apolar residues, 1,677 of the equivalent charged residues in homologues are exposed and the rest of the charged residues are buried. These drastic substitutions are most often observed in homologous protein pairs with low sequence identity (<30%) and in large protein domains (>300 residues). Such buried charged residues in the large proteins are often located in the interface of sub‐domains or in the interface of structural repeats, Beyond 7Å of residue depth of buried apolar residues, or less than 4% of solvent accessibility, almost all the substituting charged residues are buried. It is also observed that acidic sidechains have higher preference to get buried than the positively charged residues. There is a preference for buried charged residues to get accommodated in the interior by forming hydrogen bonds with another sidechain than the main chain. The sidechains interacting with a buried charged residue are most often located in the structurally conserved regions of the alignment. About 50% of the observations involving hydrogen bond between buried charged sidechain and another sidechain correspond to salt bridges. Among the buried charged residues interacting with the main chain, positively charged sidechains form hydrogen bonds commonly with main chain carbonyls while the negatively charged residues are accommodated by hydrogen bonding with the main chain amides. These carbonyls and amides are usually located in the loops that are structurally variable among homologous proteins. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thermodynamic effects of replacements of pro residues in helix interiors of maltose‐binding protein
Authors: Prajapati R.S. , Lingaraju G.M. , Bacchawat Kiran , Surolia Avadhesha , Varadarajan Raghavan 
Published: November 2003

AbstractIntroduction of Pro residues into helix interiors results in protein destabilization. It is currently unclear if the converse substitution (i.e., replacement of Pro residues that naturally occur in helix interiors would be stabilizing). Maltose‐binding protein is a large 370‐amino acid protein that contains 21 Pro residues. Of these, three nonconserved residues (P48, P133, and P159) occur at helix interiors. Each of the residues was replaced with Ala and Ser. Stabilities were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a function of pH and by isothermal urea denaturation studies as a function of temperature. The P48S and P48A mutants were found to be marginally more stable than the wild‐type protein. In the pH range of 5–9, there is an average increase in Tm values of P48A and P48S of 0.4°C and 0.2°C, respectively, relative to the wild‐type protein. The other mutants are less stable than the wild type. Analysis of the effects of such Pro substitutions in MBP and in three other proteins studied to date suggests that substitutions are more likely to be stabilizing if the carbonyl group i‐3 or i‐4 to the mutation site is not hydrogen bonded in the wild‐type protein. Proteins 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The occurrence of peptaibols and structurally related peptaibiotics in fungi and their mass spectrometric identification via diagnostic fragment ions
Authors: Degenkolb Thomas , Berg Albrecht , Gams Walter , Schlegel Brigitte , Gräfe Udo 
Published: November 2003

AbstractPeptaibols and related peptide antibiotics (peptaibiotics) display diagnostically useful fragmentation patterns during mass spectrometry (FAB‐MS, ESI‐CID‐MS/MS and CID‐MSn). The paper compiles fragmentation data of pseudo‐molecular ions reported in the literature as a guide to the rational identification of recurrently isolated and new peptaibols and peptaibiotics. Taxonomic and ecological aspects of microorganisms producing peptaibols and peptaibiotics are discussed. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Channel properties of template assembled alamethicin tetramers
Authors: Duclohier Hervé , Alder Glenn , Kociolek Karol , Leplawy Miroslaw T. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe multiple conductance levels displayed by the antibiotic alamethicin in planar lipid bilayers is explained by a dynamic ‘barrel‐stave’ model, the conducting pore resulting from the aggregation of up to ten helical amphipathic helical monomers. However, the precise assignment of an oligomerization state to a particular single‐channel conductance substate is far from being experimentally clear. In addition, it could be useful to tailor a given channel geometry to selectively allow the permeation of solutes with different molecular sizes, whilst retaining a high voltage‐dependence. To control the aggregation state of the channel, the TASP (template assembled synthetic proteins) strategy was applied to synthesize structurally defined oligomers, i.e. dimer, trimer, tetramer. The modulation of conductance properties of three alamethicin tetramers with the length and flexibility of the linkers of the ‘open’ or linear template is described. It is shown that the introduction of an alanine between the contiguous lysines to which are tethered C‐terminally modified alamethicin helical monomers stabilizes the open channel states, whereas the alanine substitution by Pro‐Gly, a reverse beta‐turn promoting motif, increases voltage‐dependence and leads to single‐channel conductance values more in line with the expected ones from a tetrameric bundle. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solvent effect on intramolecular hydrogen bonds in push–pull conjugated molecules
Authors: Bouchy Alain , Rinaldi Daniel , Rivail Jean‐Louis 
Published: November 2003

AbstractA series of molecules leading to resonance‐assisted hydrogen bonding has been investigated by means of Becke's three‐parameter functional and the gradient‐corrected functional of Lee, Yang, and Parr/6‐311G(d,p) computations. The solvent (carbon tetrachloride) is simulated by the self‐consistent reaction field model. The influence of the molecular structure on the intramolecular proton transfer is analyzed. The effect of the solvent on the geometry of the hydrogen bonds and on the frequency of the stretching modes of the groups involved in these bonds is noticeable. A linear relationship between the vibrational frequency and the bond length is found. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
A Two Degree of Freedom Gripper Actuated by SMA with Flexure Hinges
Authors: Bertetto A. Manuello , Ruggiu M. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractA gripper prototype was designed and built. It is made by a rigid structure articulated by compliant hinges. Its kinematics consists of both parallel and angular finger motion. The movements were designed to be independent from each other and auto‐adaptive as well. The motions were driven by Ni‐Ti shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The recovery position is achieved by the elastic force exerted by the flexure hinges in the case of parallel motion and by an axial spring in the case of angular motion. Both the actuators and the hinges were experimentally characterized by suitable test rigs. The gripper prototype was tested and it showed to be able to reach the design performances. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inpatient Depression in Persons with Burns
Authors: Ptacek J. T. , Patterson David R. , Heimbach David M. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
In this investigation the authors collected data regarding trait anxiety, well-being, and depression from 209 men and women who had been screened for prior psychiatric diagnosis and treated in an acute-care setting for burn injuries. Well-being was measured in reference to the month before the burn injury, whereas level of depression was self-rated by patients within 2 days of hospitalization, 5 days later, and 5 days after that. Ratings of depression were also obtained 1 month after hospital discharge. Results indicated that few patients rated their depression as severe at any point in time. Depression scores decreased significantly across the hospitalization period and were correlated with burn size, trait anxiety, and well-being. Depression ratings after discharge were significantly related to depression scores obtained at the end of the inpatient phase of the study. Although most patients did not report experiencing severe levels of depression, the stability of scores across time suggests the usefulness of early screening procedures. Catching such problems early may head off longer-term difficulties.
A Survey of Risk Factors for Burns in the Elderly and Prevention Strategies
Authors: Redlick F. , Cooke A. , Gomez M. , Banfield J. , Cartotto R. C. , Fish J. S. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Elderly burn patients suffer from greater morbidity and mortality than younger patients with similar burn extents. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for burn injuries in the elderly to develop an effective preventive program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 20 elderly (≥65 years of age) burn survivors on the circumstances surrounding their burn injury and on burn prevention. A control group of 20 nonburned elderly completed a similar survey only on burn prevention. The majority of burned subjects believed that their injury was preventable (85%). The home was the commonest location for burn injury (70%), and scalds (50%) and flame burns (25%) were the most common etiologies. Most subjects felt that a burn prevention program would be useful (95%) and television, news, and posters were the preferred sources of prevention information. Compared with the burn group, the control group had more risk factors for burn injury. However, the control group also took more active preventive measures. Burn prevention campaigns for elderly should focus on reducing flame and scald burns that occur in the home, preferably using television, news, and poster media.
THE 2002 MOYER AWARD
Authors: Wray Curtis J. , Mayes Theresa , Khoury Jane , Warden Glenn D. , Gottschlich Michele 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Severe burn injury results in profound metabolic derangements. Recently, we have shown that vitamin D metabolism is disturbed after burn injury. Vitamin D is essential for calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and skeletal bone integrity. The role of vitamin D on magnesium homeostasis is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of vitamin D deficiency on serum electrolytes. Forty-one pediatric burn patients with a mean (± SEM) total body surface area burn of 53.1 ± 2.9% and full-thickness injury of 44.2 ± 4.1% were studied from July 1996 to December 2000. The mean age of the patients was 6.5 ± 0.8 years. Patients were studied for 6 weeks after admission to the hospital. Blood samples were obtained weekly for serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25D), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D), and daily for calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Total intravenous (IV) replacement of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus was also quantitated retrospectively. Bivariate and multivariate correlational analysis was used for statistical comparison. For the study duration, multivariate analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between 25D and serum calcium (r = .47, P &lt; .05) and 1,25D and calcium (r = .27, P &lt; .05). Overall, calcium had a positive correlation with phosphorus and a negative correlation with IV calcium replacement (ie, patients with lower calcium received more IV replacement). During the initial week of hospitalization (week 0), decreased 25D (mean 11.6 ng/ml; normal range 15–57 ng/ml) and 1,25D (mean 13.9 pg/ml; normal range 15–75 pg/ml) did not correlate with any other measured variable. In week 1, 1,25D (mean 15.2 ng/ml) had a positive correlation (r = .410, P &lt; .05) with calcium (mean 7.70 mg/dl). Hypovitaminosis D observed in burn injury correlates with serum calcium and phosphorus abnormalities. Early after injury (&lt;1 week) there was no observed correlation between vitamin D and other variables possibly because of the effects of burn shock. After 1 week, vitamin D appears to significantly effect phosphorus homeostasis. The relationship between vitamin D and magnesium is not well established. These results may indicate a role for vitamin D replacement therapy during the initial phase of burn resuscitation.
Current Management of Purpura Fulminans: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Warner P. M. , Kagan R. J. , Yakuboff K. P. , Kemalyan N. , Palmieri T. L. , Greenhalgh D. G. , Sheridan R. L. , Mozingo D. W. , Heimbach D. M. , Gibran N. S. , Engrav L. , Saffle J. R. , Edelman L. S. , Warden G. D. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Seven burn centers performed a 10-yr retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with purpura fulminans. Patient demographics, etiology, presentation, medical and surgical treatment, and outcome were reviewed. A total of 70 patients were identified. Mean patient age was 13 yr. Neisseria meningitidis was the most common etiologic agent in infants and adolescents whereas Streptococcus commonly afflicted the adult population. Acute management consisted of antibiotic administration, volume resuscitation, ventilatory and inotropic support, with occasional use of corticosteroids (38%) and protein C replacement (9%). Full-thickness skin and soft-tissue necrosis was extensive, requiring skin grafting and amputations in 90% of the patients. One fourth of the patients required amputations of all extremities. Fasciotomies when performed early appeared to limit the level of amputation in 6 of 14 patients. Therefore, fasciotomies during the initial management of these patients may reduce the depth of soft-tissue involvement and the extent of amputations.
Pain Control in a Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial Comparing Moist Exposed Burn Ointment and Conventional Methods in Patients With Partial-Thickness Burns
Authors: Ang Erik , Lee S.-T. , Gan Christine S.-G. , Chan Y.-H. , Cheung Y.-B. , Machin D. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Conventional management of partial-thickness burn wounds includes the use of paraffin gauze dressing, frequently with topical silver-based antibacterial creams. Some creams form an overlying slough that renders wound assessment difficult and are painful upon application. An alternative to conventional management, moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO), has been proposed as a topical agent that may accelerate wound healing and have antibacterial and analgesic properties. One hundred fifteen patients with partial-thickness burns were randomly assigned to conventional (n = 58) or MEBO treatment (n = 57). A verbal numerical rating score of pain was made in the morning, after burn dressing, and some 8 hours later. Patient pain profiles were summarized by locally weighted regression smoothing technique curves and the difference between treatments estimated using multilevel regression techniques. Mean verbal numerical rating scale pain levels (cm) in week 1 for all patients were highest at 3.2 for the after dressing assessment, lowest in the evening at 2.6, and intermediate in the morning at 3.0. This pattern continued at similar levels in week 2 and then declined by a mean of 0.5 in all groups in week 3. There was little evidence to suggest a difference in pain levels by treatment group with the exception of the postdressing pain levels in the first week when those receiving MEBO had a mean level of 0.7 cm (95% confidence interval, 0.2 to 1.1) lower than those on conventional therapy. MEBO appeared to bring greater pain relief for the postdressing assessment during the first week after burns. This initial relief, together with comparable pain levels experienced on other occasions, indicates that MEBO could be an alternative to conventional burns management.
Comparison of Surface Swab Cultures and Quantitative Tissue Biopsy Cultures to Predict Sepsis in Burn Patients: A Prospective Study
Authors: Sjöberg T. , Mzezewa S. , Jönsson K. , Robertson V. , Salemark L. 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the possibility of predicting septicemia in burn patients by using wound surface and tissue culture techniques as well as blood cultures. Fifty patients with full-thickness burn wounds covering at least 10% of the total body surface area were included. Signs of septicemia were noted in 21 patients (42%) and 29 patients died (58%). The bacterial colonization of the burn wounds consisted mainly of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sepsis was better correlated to quantitative burn tissue biopsy cultures than surface swab cultures but the time needed for processing limits its predictive and therapeutic value.
The Tibialis Anterior Muscle Flap for Full-Thickness Tibial Burns
Authors: Sood Rajiv , Ranieri Jaime , Murthy Vimal , Weber Karen 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Full-thickness burn wounds to the tibia present a challenging coverage problem. If skin grafting fails, few local options exist, and free tissue transfer may be required for coverage. We report on the use of the tibialis anterior muscle flap to cover longitudinal tibial defects in five extremities in four patients. These patients sustained 80, 55, 40, and 11% total body surface area burns. Postoperatively, all five extremity wounds healed with full coverage of the tibia. Minimal deficits in ankle inversion and eversion resulted, but all patients are fully capable of walking and able to bear weight. We feel that the tibialis anterior muscle flap is a safe, reliable, technically simple alternative for coverage of the burned tibia.
Postburn Galactorrhea With Refractory Hypertrophic Scars: Role of Obesity Under Scrutiny
Authors: Saraiya Hemant 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Postburn galactorrhea, although relatively uncommon, is a complex problem to treat. Three of 25 female premenopausal patients who were admitted during the years 1995 to 2001 with more than 40% TBSA burns developed this problem. All three patients were obese according to body mass index and other clinical criteria. It was observed that the additional disturbance of equilibrium of hypothalamus because of burn injury, which is already disturbed as per se in obese patients, precipitates sustained release of prolactin, leading to galactorrhea. Hyperinsulinemia because of obesity and associated reactive metabolic response of burn trauma contribute to the stimulation of prolactin secretion and sustained hyperprolactinemia. Interestingly, our patients who developed postburn galactorrhea also developed refractory hypertrophic scars not readily amenable to preventive and conservative therapeutic treatment methods. The responsible factor for its development can be a rise in prolactin levels with interplay of other hormones, such as melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), from the anterior pituitary. Repeated serum prolactin measurements and early control of rising levels during the burn treatment, particularly in obese patients, are recommended. Early and vigorous measures to prevent scar hypertrophy also are advocated. In our study, we failed to correlate chest wall burns with galactorrhea.
Shear Stress Increases ICAM-1 and Decreases VCAM-1 and E-selectin Expressions Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Chiu Jeng-Jiann , Lee Pei-Ling , Chen Cheng-Nan , Lee Chih-I , Chang Shun-Fu , Chen Li-Jing , Lien Sheng-Chieh , Ko Ya-Chen , Usami Shunichi , Chien Shu 
Published: November 2003

Objective—Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are subjected to shear stress and cytokine stimulation. We studied the interplay between shear stress and cytokine in modulating the expression of adhesion molecule genes in ECs.Methods and Results—Shear stress (20 dynes/cm2) was applied to ECs prior to and/or following the addition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Shear stress increased the TNF-α–induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) at both mRNA and surface protein levels, but decreased the TNF-α–induced expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. Transfection studies using promoter reporter gene constructs of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin demonstrated that these shear stress modulations of gene expression occur at the transcriptional levels. After 24-hour preshearing followed by 1 hour of static incubation, the effect of preshearing on TNF-α–induced ICAM-1 mRNA expression vanished. The recovery of the TNF-α–induced VCAM-1 and E-selectin mRNA expressions following preshearing, however, required a static incubation time of >6 hours (complete recovery at 24 hours). Pre- and postshearing caused a reduction in the nuclear factor-κB-DNA binding activity induced by TNF-α in the EC nucleus.Conclusions—Our findings suggest that shear stress plays differential roles in modulating the TNF-α–induced expressions of ICAM-1 versus VCAM-1 and E-selectin genes in ECs.
Induction of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)–specific CD4- and CD8-mediated T-cell responses using RNA-transfected dendritic cells
Authors: Müller Martin R. , Tsakou Garyfalia , Grünebach Frank , Schmidt Susanne M. , Brossart Peter 
Published: November 2003

AbstractRecently, it was demonstrated that transfection of dendritic cells (DCs) with tumor-derived RNA can elicit effective T-cell responses. This technique does not require the definition of the tumor antigen or HLA haplotype of the patients. We applied this approach to induce HLA class I– and class II–restricted T-cell responses directed against malignant cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Here, we show that DCs generated from monocytes of patients with B-CLL induce leukemia-specific cytotoxic and proliferative T-cell responses on transfection with total RNA isolated from autologous leukemic B lymphocytes. Standard 51Cr-release assays showed specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I–restricted cytotoxic activity against the autologous leukemic B cells and DCs transfected with CLL-RNA, whereas nonmalignant B cells were spared. The specificity of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response was confirmed using cold target inhibition assays and by blocking HLA class I molecules. Furthermore, we established a protocol for the amplification of whole B-CLL mRNA. The use of DCs transfected with in vitro amplified B-CLL mRNA elicited specific T-cell responses similar to the results obtained with native mRNA. These data suggest that vaccinations using DCs transfected with RNA might be a potent new strategy in the treatment of CLL.