bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma vitamin E, total antioxidant status and vascular function in young adults
Authors: Leeson C. P. M. , Mann A. , Kattenhorn M. , Deanfield J. E. , Lucas A. , Muller D. P. R. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground Epidemiological studies have reported an inverse relationship between vitamin E status and coronary heart disease. This relationship has not, however, been confirmed by the majority of intervention studies, which have been carried out relatively late in the disease process. The protective effects of vitamin E may be more important earlier in life, before vascular changes have become established. This study investigated whether dietary vitamin E could prevent preclinical arterial changes in young adults relevant to the development of cardiovascular disease.Materials and methods Measures of vascular function (arterial distensibility and endothelial‐dependent and ‐independent vascular responses) were assessed by noninvasive high resolution ultrasound and related to plasma vitamin E and total antioxidant concentrations in 326 adults, aged 20–28 years.Results Neither vitamin E (alone or adjusted for lipids) nor total antioxidant status were significantly related to vascular endothelial function or arterial distensibility in either sex. There was no threshold level of vitamin E above which vascular function improved and neither vitamin E nor total antioxidant status interacted with any risk factor, such as smoking or increased low‐density lipoprotein concentrations.Conclusions Neither plasma vitamin E concentrations nor total antioxidant status achieved by dietary intake during young adulthood were related to vascular endothelial function or arterial distensibility.
Clinical and genetic features underlying the response of patients with bronchial asthma to treatment with a leukotriene receptor antagonist
Authors: Mastalerz L. , Nizankowska E. , Sanak M. , Mejza F. , Pierzchalska M. , Bazan‐Socha S. , Bestynska‐Krypel A. , Cmiel A. , Szczeklik A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground Treatment with antileukotriene drugs results in clinical improvement in many, though not all, patients with asthma. It can be hypothesized that the subpopulation of asthmatic patients, characterized by aspirin intolerance and cysteinyl‐leukotriene overproduction, might profit most from antileukotriene treatment.Materials and methods We compared the clinical response to montelukast in two well‐matched groups of patients with mild asthma: 26 aspirin‐intolerant asthmatics (AIAs) and 33 aspirin‐tolerant asthmatics (ATAs). We also searched for possible predictors of the clinical response among the parameters reflecting the expression and production of cysteinyl‐leukotrienes (cys‐LTs). This was an 8‐week, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial.Results Following a 3‐week montelukast 10 mg day−1 treatment compared with placebo, there was a statistically significant reduction in the mean daytime and nocturnal asthma symptoms and β2‐agonist use, as well as a significant improvement in the morning and evening peak expiratory flows and quality of life. Both groups showed a similar significant improvement in the parameters studied. Clinical response did not correlate with the baseline urinary LTE4 excretion level. Improvement of asthma was observed mostly in patients with a low baseline and non‐IL‐5 inducible expression of LTC4 synthase (LTC4S) mRNA in eosinophils. There was a trend toward a better response in carriers of LTC4S allele C, but no relationship to the CC10 genetic polymorphism.Conclusions No difference in the clinical response to the montelukast treatment was observed between the AIAs and the ATAs.
Effect of insulin on protein phosphatase 2A expression in muscle in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Højlund K. , Poulsen M. , Staehr P. , Brusgaard K. , Beck‐Nielsen H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) acts on a number of enzymes involved in the insulin regulation of glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of insulin on PP2A expression in skeletal muscles of type 2 diabetic and control subjects.Material and methods Ten type 2 diabetic and 10 matched, control subjects were studied using the euglycaemic‐hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique combined with indirect calorimetry. Immunoreactive protein levels of the catalytic α subunit of PP2A (PP2A‐Cα) were measured in biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle obtained in the basal and insulin‐stimulated state.Results In type 2 diabetic subjects insulin‐mediated glucose disposal, glucose oxidation and nonoxidative glucose metabolism were reduced, whereas lipid oxidation was increased (all P < 0·05). Insulin down‐regulated PP2A‐Cα expression in skeletal muscle of the control subjects (P < 0·05) but not in the type 2 diabetic subjects. In the control subjects, the insulin‐mediated decrease in PP2A‐Cα correlated with the insulin‐mediated increase in glucose disposal, glucose oxidation, nonoxidative glucose metabolism (all P < 0·05) and decrease in lipid oxidation (P < 0·01). In the type 2 diabetic subjects these relationships were absent.Conclusions Down‐regulation of PP2A‐Cα expression by insulin in skeletal muscle seems to be associated with a normal insulin action on glucose storage, glucose and lipid oxidation. Impaired down‐regulation of PP2A‐Cα expression by insulin may be a marker for insulin resistance and contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
Ratio between serum IL‐8 and pepsinogen A/C: a marker for atrophic body gastritis
Authors: Sanduleanu S. , Bruïne A. D. E. , Biemond I. , Stridsberg M. , Jonkers D. , Lundqvist G. , Hameeteman W. , Stockbrügger R. W. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground and aims Elevated serum gastrin and a low pepsinogen A/C ratio are well‐recognized markers for atrophic body gastritis (ABG). We have shown that the presence of body atrophy is also associated with elevated serum pro‐inflammatory cytokines. This study tested the hypothesis that serum cytokines provide additional information to gastrin and pepsinogens in screening for ABG.Methods Two hundred and twenty‐six consecutive patients were investigated on referral for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: 150 were patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, receiving acid inhibitory medication either with proton pump inhibitors (n = 113) or with histamine2‐receptor antagonists (n = 37), and 76 were nontreated controls, who had normal endoscopic findings. Gastric mucosal biopsies were sampled for histological examination (Sydney classification). Serum samples were analyzed for gastrin, chromogranin A (CgA), and pepsinogens A and C by RIA, and for the interleukins (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8 by ELISA.Results Subjects with ABG had significantly higher serum gastrin (P < 0·01) and serum CgA (P < 0·01) levels and significantly lower pepsinogen A/C ratios (P < 0·001) than those without ABG. Additionally, serum IL‐1β, IL‐6 and, especially, IL‐8 levels were significantly higher in the subjects with than in those without ABG (P < 0·0001, for all cytokines). To optimize the detection of body atrophy we defined the ABG index: the ratio between the simultaneously measured IL‐8 and pepsinogen A/C. The area under the ROC curve for the ABG index was significantly greater than that for serum gastrin and for serum pepsinogen A/C alone (0·91 ± 0·029 vs. 0·72 ± 0·042, and vs. 0·83 ± 0·031, P = 0·018 and P = 0·049). Using the ABG index at a cut‐off value of 1·8 pg mL−1, 91% of the cases were classified correctly.Conclusions The ratio between serum IL‐8 and pepsinogen A/C accurately predicts the presence of ABG. We therefore propose the ABG index as a noninvasive screening test for ABG in population‐based studies.
Strong linkage disequilibrium of TAP1*0301 and TAP2D alleles with the HLA A1‐B35‐DRB1*1104‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0603 extended haplotype in Ashkenazi Jews
Authors: Mora B. , Battat S. , Grillo R. , Safirman C. , Israel S. , Brautbar C. , Mazzilli M. C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractOn the basis of data collected during the 12th International Histocompatibility Workshop, we postulated a possible linkage disequilibrium between the TAP1C allele and the DRB1*1104‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0603 haplotype characteristic of Ashkenazi Jews. In order to confirm and extend this preliminary observation, a group of 34 subjects carrying this haplotype was analysed for TAP1 and TAP2 polymorphisms and compared with two control groups sharing either the DRB1 or the DQA1 and DQB1 alleles with the test group. The TAP1*0301 and TAP2D alleles were found to be strongly associated with the entire haplotype, but not with the DRB1*1104 or the DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0603 alleles when carried separately. These data show a strong linkage disequilibrium of TAP1*0301 and TAP2D alleles with the DRB1*1104‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0603 haplotype of Ashkenazi Jews, extended on the centromeric and telomeric side to the DPB1*0201 and A1‐B35 alleles, respectively.
Polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene encoding human allograft inflammatory factor‐1
Authors: Turner D. M. , Pravica V. , Sinnott P. J. , Hutchinson I. V. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryWe have identified a new single nucleotide polymorphism within the promoter region of the human allograft inflammatory factor (AIF‐1) gene. The polymorphism, defined by Genbank accession number AF097515, was characterized as a C/T single base pair substitution at position −932. The T allele is associated with both HLA‐DR2 and HLA‐B7. Also, this allele creates the consensus binding site for the E‐box that has high affinity for the basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors.
PCR‐RFLP typing detects new HLA‐DRB1 alleles: DRB1*13022, DRB1*1336 and DRB1*1435
Authors: Tréjaut J. , Kennedy A. , Hobart D. , Le T. , Greville W. D. , Ng G. , Taverniti A. , Dunckley H. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIt is difficult to resolve all heterozygous combinations of the HLA‐DRB1*03, *08, *11, *12, *13 and *14 allele group in a one‐step generic HLA‐DRB1 typing system. Therefore, it is common to employ a secondary technique utilizing group‐specific primers to amplify this group of alleles separately from the other HLA‐DRB1, ‐DRB3, ‐DRB4 and ‐DRB5 alleles. This paper describes a polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method for broad typing of the HLA‐DRB1*03, *08, *11, *12, *13 and *14 alleles which, as well as being time‐efficient and cost‐effective, has so far allowed the detection of 10 new alleles. The new alleles were identified after following up unusual or novel PCR‐RFLP patterns. Of the 10 novel alleles found so far with this method, seven have been described previously while three, DRB1*13022, DRB1*1336 and DRB1*1435, are presented here.
No linkage of the interleukin‐4 receptor locus on chromosome 16p11.2‐12.1 with sarcoidosis in German multiplex families
Authors: Bohnert A. , Schürmann M. , Hartung A. , Hackstein H. , Müller‐Quernheim J. , Bein G. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryWe typed 241 members of 62 sarcoidosis families with 136 affected siblings for three single nucleotide polymorphisms of the interleukin‐4 receptor alpha‐chain gene (IL4R). Allele frequencies in patients were compared to those of healthy unrelated control individuals. The segregation of the three‐point IL4R haplotypes completed by two flanking highly polymorphic microsatellite polymorphisms revealed no evidence for linkage of the IL4R gene locus with sarcoidosis.
Two bi‐allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter region of the horse tumour necrosis factor α gene
Authors: Matiašovic J. , Lukeszová L. , Hořín P. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryPrimers based on GenBank sequences within the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the human and horse tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) genes were designed and used to amplify a 522‐bp product. Sequencing of five clones derived from five independent PCRs obtained from three different animals of three different breeds (Old Kladruber, Akhal‐Teke and Shetland Pony) revealed a high level of sequence identity to the TNF‐α promoter regions of other species. The existing GenBank horse sequences were confirmed and extended upstream by 230 nucleotides. Based on the sequence obtained, a new horse‐specific forward primer was designed to amplify a 213‐bp PCR product, which was screened for polymorphism using single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Three allelic variants of the horse TNF‐α gene were identified and sequenced (GenBank accession numbers ADF 349558–60). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms explained the existence of the three SSCP alleles detected: C/T and T/C single base pair substitutions at positions 137 and 147, respectively. Differences in allelic frequencies between Old Kladruber and Akhal‐Teke breeds were observed.
A novel DRB1*09 allelic sequence in the Jing ethnic minority of China
Authors: Lin J. , Liu Z.‐H. , Chen W. , Jia Z. , Pan D. , Fu Y. , Zhang F. , Xu A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA new DRB1 allele, DRB1*0902, has been identified in an individual of the Jing ethnic minority. Its sequence was confirmed by sequencing of PCR products and clones. This allele differed by three nucleotides from DRB1*09012 at positions 157, 161 and 166, and resulted in amino acid motif substitution from VAES to DAEY.
Unbalanced amounts of HLA‐DQA1 allele mRNA: DQA1*03 shows high and DQA1*0501 low amounts of mRNA in heterozygous individuals
Authors: Donner H. , Seidl C. , Rau H. , Herwig J. , Seifried E. , Usadel K. H. , Badenhoop K. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryGenes of the HLA‐DR, DQ region confer strong susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A possible mechanism of susceptibility is a difference in the amounts of transcripts of predisposing and neutral or protective haplotypes. In this study we developed an assay to compare the amounts of mRNA of two distinct HLA‐DQA1 alleles in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of heterozygous individuals, using a quantitative RT‐PCR with an internal standard covering all HLA‐DQA1 specifities. We also developed an algorithm to calculate the amounts of mRNA for two distinct alleles in heterozygous individuals based on the comparison to the same internal standard. In total, 37 HLA‐DQA1 heterozygous individuals were analysed, including patients with IDDM (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 23). Intra‐individually, we observed different amounts of mRNA for different HLA‐DQA1 alleles in the order: HLA‐DQA1*03 > *01 > *0201 > *05. This order was observed in all individuals. We also observed a variation in the ratio of these unbalanced amounts of mRNA in individuals with the same HLA‐DQA1 allele combinations. In all allele combinations the average ratio was increased in patients with IDDM compared to the control samples. HLA‐DQA1*03 positive and DQA1*03, *05 heterozygous patients had the highest average ratios. Nevertheless, based on limited sample numbers, these differences did not reach significance. We therefore conclude that variations between HLA‐DQA1 alleles are not limited to the nucleotide sequence but are also found at the level of amounts of mRNA.
Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) interleukin‐2: sequence analysis reveals high nucleotide and amino acid identity with interleukin‐2 of cattle and other ruminants
Authors: Sreekumar E. , Premraj A. , Saravanakumar M. , Rasool T. J. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA 4400‐bp genomic sequence and a 332‐bp truncated cDNA sequence of the interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) gene of Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The coding sequence of the buffalo IL‐2 gene was assembled from the 5′ end of the genomic clone and the truncated cDNA clone. This sequence had 98.5% nucleotide identity and 98% amino acid identity with cattle IL‐2. Three amino acid substitutions were observed at positions 63, 124 and 135. Comparison of the predicted protein structure of buffalo IL‐2 with that of human and cattle IL‐2 did not reveal significant differences. The putative amino acids responsible for IL‐2 receptor binding were conserved in buffalo, cattle and human IL‐2. The amino acid sequence of buffalo IL‐2 also showed very high identity with that of other ruminants, indicating functional cross‐reactivity.
Analysis of −631 and −475 interleukin‐2 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Fedetz M. , Alcina A. , Fernández O. , Guerrero M. , Delgado C. , Matesanz F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryWe have analysed the interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms −475 A/T and −631 G/A, relative to the initiation codon, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in healthy controls. Both groups showed a very low frequency of T at −475 and A at −631. Our results suggest that these polymorphisms do not contribute to MS susceptibility.
Nitrogen mineralization potential of organomineral size separates from soils with annual straw incorporation
Authors: Christensen B. T. , Olesen J. E. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryWith annual incorporation of straw, soil N mineralization is expected to increase whereby requirements for fertilizer N inputs may be reduced. Samples of whole soil, clay (< 2 μm), silt (2–20 μm) and sand (20–2000 μm) sized organomineral separates from three soils with annual additions of straw ranging from 0 to 12 t ha–1 were leached after 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of incubation at 20°C, to determine the content of NH4 + NO3. A three‐pool model using first order kinetics and fixed rate constants (N1, k1 = 0.231 day–1; N2, k2 = 0.00693 day–1; N3, k3 = 0) was fitted to the mineralization data.The mineralizability of whole soil N (mg N g–1 N) differed among soil types. Straw generally increased the fast N1 and the passive N3 pool while the medium‐term N2 pool was reduced in size. The N1, N2 and N3 averaged 0.8, 2.6 and 96.6% of the whole soil N, respectively.The N mineralizability increased in the order: sand < silt < clay. The lability of N in a given size separate was almost similar across soil types and straw managements. The active N pools (N1 + N2) averaged 7.1% of the clay N and 2.2% of the silt N. The main difference was related to the N2 pool, which accounted for 5.5% in clay and 1.2% in silt.Mineral N produced during incubation ranged from 63 to 105 kg N ha–1. Effects of straw disposal were small (< 11 kg N ha–1). Maximum response was at 4 t straw ha–1; adding more straw diminished mineralization of N.Long‐term annual incorporation of cereal straw contributes mainly soil N with a slow turnover.
Model analysis of the effects of soil age, fires and harvesting on the carbon storage of boreal forest soils
Authors: LISKI J. , ILVESNIEMI H. , MÄKELÄ A. , STARR M. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryPotential causes for changes in the amounts of carbon (C) stored in the soils of boreal forests were studied by measuring the C in the soil along a 5000‐year chronosequence in coastal western Finland and using a simple dynamic model of decomposition. The amount of soil C stabilized at an age of about 2000 years. This suggests that the youth of many boreal soils does not make them sinks for atmospheric C. Simulated repeated fires kept the amount of soil C reduced by about 25%, but if fires were prevented then the C in the soil increased. Stored C may thus be less than the potential storage where fires are frequent, and it could be increased by preventing fires. Simulated clear‐cutting caused a temporary 5–10% decrease in the amount of soil C over a 20‐year period after the harvesting. It also caused a long‐term decrease in the amount of soil C such that, after two 100‐year rotations, the amount had been decreased by 14%. Stored C is almost certainly less than the potential storage and decreasing where forests are harvested.
Mineral N dynamics in bare and cropped Leucaena leucocephala and Dactyladenia barteri alley cropping systems after the addition of 15N‐labelled leaf residues
Authors: VANLAUWE B. , DIELS J. , DUCHATEAU L. , SANGINGA N. , MERCKX R. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn tropical cropping systems with few external inputs, efficient management of mineral N derived from added organic residues is essential for the proper functioning of the system. We studied the dynamics of mineral nitrogen (N) in the top 100 cm of soil with a system of tensiometers and suction cups after applying 15N‐labelled Leucaena leucocephala and Dactyladenia barteri residues to bare and cropped microplots installed in the respective alley cropping systems, and followed the fate of the N for two maize‐cowpea rotations (1992 and 1993).Fifty days after applying the residues (DDA), 20% of the added residue N was found in the soil profile of the bare Leucaena treatment, and 5% under Dactyladenia, compared with 5% and 1%, respectively, where cropped. All values decreased to about 1% after 505 days. In the cropped soil, no mineral N derived from the residues was lost by leaching during the first 6 weeks.As the maize grew, the soil profile was gradually depleted of nitrate to near Zero in the Dactyladenia treatment, whereas during the cowpea season the amount of nitrate N increased to 36 kg N ha−1 for the Leucaena treatment, and 26 kg N ha−1 for the Dactyladenia treatment. The soil of the bare microplots contained substantially more nitrate N (98 and 47 kg N ha‐1 during the first year on average, under Leucaena and Dactyladenia, respetively) than that of the cropped microplots, except during the 1993 cowpea season. Nitrate residing in the subsoil (80–100 cm) in the bare treatments was not readily leached to deeper soil. The risk of losses of native mineral N was greatest during the first 50 DAA and to a lesser extent during the cowpea seasons. Improved management of the hedgerows could increase the potential of the hedgerow trees to recycle mineral N.
Modelling soil organic matter changes in ley–arable rotations in sandy soils of Northeast Thailand
Authors: WU J. , O'DONNELL A. G. , SYERS J. K. , ADEY M. A. , VITYAKON P. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe effects of a 3‐year ley‐arable rotation (2 years under grass, legume or a grass‐legume mixture, followed by 1 year under cassava) on the organic C content of upland sandy soils in Northeast Thailand were evaluated using four field trials (Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Mahasarakham and Udon Thani). At all sites under the existing management system of continuous cassava, soil organic C decreased by 9‐20% during the 3‐year experiment. The carbon model developed at Rothamsted (RCM‐26) predicted that soil organic C would decrease consistently under continuous cassava until it reached very small amounts (0.2–0.3%). This was the case for all sites, except Chaiyaphum, where soil organic C had already declined to 0.1%. Evaluatin the rotations using RCM‐26 showed that introducing a ley could increase soil organic C, except at Udon Thani where the organic C exceeded 0.47% before the start of the experiment. The data obtained with the rotations showed that RCM‐26 could be used to predict the effects of changes in management on organic C content in the upland sandy soils of Norrtheast Thailand over the 3 years. To compensate for an underestimation of the effects of soil moisture deficit on the decomposition rates of organic matter, we propose that because of the prolonged dry season (from December to the following May) soil moisture deficit and the rate‐modifying factor for moisture (Am) should be estimated independently of crop cover. Furthermore, to accommodate the very slow decomposition during this time, (Am) should be allowed to decrease to 0.1. Adopting this simple modification provides a more realistic estimate of the organic C inputs needed to simulate the content of soil organic C measured before trials began.