bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between PON1 L/M55 Polymorphism and Plasma Lipoproteins in Two Canadian Aboriginal Populations
Authors: Fanella Sergio , Harris Stewart B. , Young T. Kue , Hanley Anthony J.G. , Zinman Bernard , Connelly Philip W. , Hegele Robert A. 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Serum paraoxonase circulates on a subfraction of high density lipoproteins and appears to use phospholipids on both low and high density lipoprotein particles as a physiological substrate. This functional relationship could explain the reported associations between common variation in the PON1 gene—at codons 55 and 192—and phenotypes related to atherosclerosis and lipoprotein metabolism. We evaluated associations between plasma lipoproteins and PON1 L/M55, PON1 Q/R192 and PON2 A/G148 polymorphisms in samples from two Canadian aboriginal populations, namely the Oji-Cree and the Inuit. In diabetic Oji-Cree, we found that carriers of PON1 M55 had a higher mean plasma triglyceride concentration than non-carriers. In non-diabetic Oji-Cree, we found that carriers of PON1 M55 had higher mean plasma concentrations of total and low density lipoporetein cholesterol and apo B than non-carriers. In Inuit, we found that carriers of PON1 M55 had higher mean plasma concentrations of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol than non-carriers. The other polymorphic markers were not associated with variation in any plasma lipoprotein trait. Thus, the PON1 M55 allele appeared to be associated with deleterious changes in the plasma lipoprotein profile from two independent Canadian aboriginal samples. These results suggest that common variation in PON1 codon 55 is associated with variation of intermediate traits in plasma lipoprotein metabolism in aboriginal
Integrons: an Antibiotic Resistance Gene Capture and Expression System
Authors: Ploy Marie-Cécile , Lambert Thierry , Couty Jean-Pierre , Denis François 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Bacteria can transfer genetic information to provide themselves with protection against most antibiotics. The acquisition of resistance gene arrays involves genetic mobile elements like plasmids and transposons. Another class of genetic structures, termed integrons, have been described and contain one or more gene cassettes located at a specific site. Integrons are defined by an intI gene encoding an integrase, a recombination site attI and a strong promoter. At least six classes of integrons have been determined according to their intI gene. Classes 1, 2 and 3 are the most studied and are largely implicated in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. A gene cassette includes an open reading frame and, at the 3′-end, a recombination site attC. Integration or excision of cassettes occur by a site-specific recombination mechanism catalyzed by the integrase. However, insertion can occur, albeit rarely, at non-specific sites leading to a stable situation for the cassette. Cassettes are transcribed from the common promoter located in the 5′-conserved segment and expression of distal genes is reduced by the presence of upstream cassettes. Most gene cassettes encode antibiotic resistant determinants but antiseptic resistant genes have also been described. Integrons seem to have a major role in the spread of multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria but integrons in Gram-positive bacteria were described recently. Moreover, the finding of super-integrons with gene-cassettes coding for other determinants (biochemical functions, virulence factors) in Vibrio isolates dating from 1888 suggests the likely implication of this multi-component cassette-integron system in bacterial genome evolution before the antibiotic era and to a greater extent than initially believed.
Levels of C-Telopeptide Fragments of Collagen Type I Enable the Monitoring and Early Adjustment of Clodronate Therapy in Patients with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Authors: Borean Alessio , Prà Marina De , Farina Giorgio , Nalin Paolo , Rizzotti Paolo 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
We monitored the efficacy of therapy with clodronate, a bisphosphonate drug, in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, using urinary immunoenzymatic assay of C-telopeptide of collagen type I, an eight amino acid fragment (collagen fragment) of the C-telopeptide of the α1-chain of collagen type I (EKAHDGGR). The analysis of the dynamics of collagen fragment concentrations (a marker of bone resorption) during treatment suggests the possibility of early modulation and customization of therapy based on the levels of this marker. This could enable improved control over secondary effects and side effects of clodronate therapy. Pharmacologic inhibition of bone resorption by osteoclasts could be indirectly responsible for the increase in parathyroid hormone found during treatment with clodronate. Increased levels of parathyroid hormone are probably necessary to stimulate residual osteoclast activity and are sufficient for the maintenance of calcium-phosphate homeostasis in a new pharmacologically-induced equilibrium. Outside this context the levels of parathyroid hormone of certain patients would be considered pathologic.
Probable Involvement of Cathepsin D in the Degradation of β2-Microglobulin in Acidic Urine
Authors: Yamamoto Hideaki , Yamada Toshiyuki , Itoh Yoshihisa 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Instability of β2-microglobulin in acidic urine was investigated by identifying an associated protease from normal urine. Degradation was completely blocked by pepstatin, an aspartic protease inhibitor, and the counterpart of the inhibitor was thus sought. The molecular weight of the counterpart was similar to that of the inhibitor, while its cleavage site on β2-microglobulin was identical in three products generated in purified β2-microglobulin in normal acidified urine (pH 5.0–5.5) and those generated by direct reaction between purified β2-microglobulin and cathepsin D in acetic acid (pH 5.0). On Western blotting, the presence of cathepsin D was demonstrated immunochemically in urine, and its urinary concentration correlated well with degree of β2-microglobulin degradation. All these findings strongly suggest that cathepsin D is a major urinary acid protease involved in the degradation of β2-microglobulin.
Autoantibodies against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Correlate with Achilles Tendon Xanthomas
Authors: Okada Masahiko , Miida Takashi , Fujiwara Akira , Inomata Noriyoshi 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Although there is increasing evidence for anti-oxidized low-densitiy lipoprotein (LDL) autoantibodies in human sera, their diagnostic utility remains controversial. We examined the difference in autoantibody titers between patients with Achilles tendon xanthoma and control subjects. Fifteen hyperlipidemic patients with Achilles tendon xanthoma (group A+) and 94 hyperlipidemic patients without Achilles tendon xanthoma (group A−) were studied. Quantification of anti-oxidized LDL and anti-native LDL autoantibodies was performed using an ELISA method. To calculate antibody titers, we used the ratio between the spectrophotometric reading of anti-oxidized LDL and anti-native LDL wells. Using oxidized LDL that was purified by gel-permeation chromatography as antigen, immunoglobulin G level differed significantly between groups A+ and A− (p ＜ 0.01). In contrast, using native and oxidized LDL as antigens without chromatographical purification revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, immunoglobulin autoantibody titer did not correlate with age, body mass index, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglyceride in the entire group of subjects. Thus, immunoglobulin G autoantibody values appear to correlate with Achilles tendon xanthoma.
Regulation of the Hepatic Endothelin System in Advanced Biliary Fibrosis in Rats
Authors: Rothermund Lars , Leggewie Stefan , Schwarz Anja , Thöne-Reinecke Christa , Cho Jae Jin , Bauer Christian , Paul Martin , Neumayer Hans-H. , Schuppan Detlef , Hocher Berthold 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze the hepatic endothelin system and its regulation in liver cirrhosis due to bile duct obstruction. Wistar rats were subjected for 6 weeks to: 1) sham operation; 2) bile duct obstruction; 3) bile duct obstruction and the selective oral endothelin A receptor antagonist LU 135252; 4) bile duct obstruction and oral silymarin, a hepatoprotective and antifibrotic compound. We determined tissue concentrations of endothelin-1 and big-endothelin-1 by ELISA and the density of both endothelin receptor subtypes in plasma membrane fractions by Scatchard analysis.
The hepatic endothelin system in liver cirrhosis due to chronic bile duct obstruction is characterized by a simultaneous up-regulation of both endothelin-1 tissue concentration (7.2 fold compared to sham operation; p<0.001) as well as the density of both endothelin receptor subtypes (ETA 7.4-fold, ETB 4.9-fold, p<0.001, respectively) suggesting a synergistic activation of the hepatic endothelin system in this rat model of non-inflammatory cirrhosis. Treatment with proven antifibrotic agents such as silymarin or a selective endothelin-A-receptor blocker (LU 135252) did not reduce the activity of the hepatic endothelin system, suggesting that the hepatic endothelin system is not activated by the fibrotic process itself.
The Effect of a Gender Difference in the Apolipoprotein E Gene DNA Polymorphism on Serum Lipid Levels in a Serbian Healthy Population
Authors: Stanković Sanja , Glišic Sanja , Alavanatić Dragan 
Published: October 2004

AbstractTo date, no data have been available on relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and lipid levels in Serbian populations. Blood samples were obtained from 591 healthy normal individuals (193 women and 398 men). A 244 bp sequence of the apolipoprotein E gene including the two polymorphic sites was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. After digestion withHhal, DNA fragments were visualized by microplate array diagonal gel electrophoresis. In men, levels of both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among the three apolipoprotein E genotype groups differed significantly (p <0.05). The ε2 allele was associated with lower concentrations of both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, where the ε4 allele had the opposite effects. No significant effects of apolipoprotein E polymorphism on serum lipid levels were observed in women. The presented data could be taken into consideration in any future disease risk evaluation in this population.
Transformation in the PC-Aided Biochemical Data Analysis
Authors: Meloun Milan , Hill Martin , Militky Jiří , Kupka Karel 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Data transformations enable expression of original data in a new scale, more suitable for data analysis. In computer-aided interactive analysis of biochemical and clinical data an exploratory data analysis often finds that the sample distribution is systematically skewed or does not accept a sample homogeneity. Under such circumstances the original data should be transformed. The power transformation and the Box-Cox transformation improve sample symmetry and also stabilize variance. Both the Hines-Hines selection graph and the plot of logarithm of a maximum likelihood function allow selection of an optimum transformation parameter. The proposed procedure of data transformation in univariate data analysis is illustrated on a determination of 17-hydroxypregnenolone in umbilical blood of a population of newborns. Lower levels of free 5-ene steroids in umbilical blood and elevated levels of 5-ene steroid sulfates indicate a congenital sex-specific placental sulfatase insufficiency. After examination of statistical assumptions by diagnostic plots of an exploratory data analysis the best estimate of a mean value of 17-hydroxypregnenolone is derived.
Sequential C3 and C4 Levels in Human Milk in Relation to Prematurity and Parity
Authors: Trégoat Virginie , Montagne Paul , Cuillière Marie-Louise , Béné Marie-Christine , Faure Gilbert C. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractSimilarly to many immune molecules of human milk, C3 and C4 levels decrease during lactation. We investigated the influence, over the first three weeks of lactation, of both prematurity and parity on the sequential evolution of these levels. Milk C3 and C4 concentrations were measured by immunonephelometry in 494 individual samples collected from 76 lactating mothers. C3 and C4 concentrations were higher in milk from preterm or primiparous mothers. The major differences were observed in milk from days 5–8 and 9–20, likely due to pronounced interindividual variations in levels of days 1–4 milk. Milk from mothers of precocious (33 weeks' gestation or less) preterm newborns presented higher concentrations and a slower decrease of C3 and C4 levels than that from mothers of late (33–37 weeks' gestation) preterm newborns, when compared to term mothers. Finally, the inversion of the C3/C4 ratio occuring over time, previously reported, appeared later in milk from mothers of preterm newborns. The influence of prematurity was even greater in primiparous than in multiparous mothers. Both C3 and C4 levels therefore appear to be influenced in human milk by the parity and prematurity of the delivery. Mothers from preterm newborns seem to provide higher levels of C3 for a longer period post delivery.
Measurement of Purines in Urine by Capillary Electrophoresis for Estimating the Degree of Hypoxia in Infants
Authors: Prezelj Marija , Neubauer David , Derganc Meta 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe describe a simple, rapid and reproducible method for measuring hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid in urine samples of infants by capillary electrophoresis with an uncoated fused silica capillary and ultraviolet detection. Conditions were 40mmol/l borate buffer pH 9.4 with sodium dodecyl sulphate (0.1mol) 3s hydrodynamic load and the voltage 20kV. The calibration curves for hypoxanthine and xanthine were linear to 150μmol/l and for uric acid to 300μmol/l. The limits of detection for hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid were 0.5, 2.0 and 20μmol/l, respectively. Analytical recovery of the three purines ranged from 93 to 105%. Overall CVs were <5.2%. Using this method, we measured purine concentrations in the urine samples of 103 infants, divided into three groups, according to different degrees of hypoxia. There was a significant difference among the three groups only in hypoxanthine concentrations. In 35 urine samples from the control group, 43 urine samples from infants with a history of an apparent life threatening episode and in 25 urine samples from infants with infantile apnoea, the mean concentrations of hypoxanthine (mean ± SD) were 13.1 ± 4.0, 25.1 ± 8.1 and 58.2 ± 17.4 μmol/mmol creatinine, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the purine measurement was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.
Can Age and Sex Related Reference Intervals Be Derived for Non-Healthy and Non-Diseased Individuals from Results of Measurements in Primary Health Care?
Authors: Kallner Anders , Gustavsson Elisabeth , Hendig Eva 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Reference intervals in clinical chemistry are commonly based on results of measurements in reference populations or are taken from the literature. A reference population should represent a defined group of individuals and be as similar as possible to the patients under investigation. Frequently, reference populations have been recruited from institutionalised healthy young people who do not necessarily fulfill these criteria. In the present study we describe the temporal changes in 37 commonly measured quantities in men and women from childhood to late in life. The samples were collected in the primary health care and sorted according to an assumed decision by the physician. The emerging group of individuals forms a reference population that was regarded as “non-diseased” and the results of measurements in this population are reference values. A remaining group of “non-healthy” were likewise identified for comparison. The central 95 percentile was wider than those usually assigned to the quantities whereas the medians almost coincided. In the “non-healthy” group the medians were shifted in a direction that would be expected from pathophysiology aspects.
Associations of Apolipoprotein E Concentration and Polymorphism with Lipids and Apolipoprotein Levels in Chinese from Beijing and Shanghai
Authors: Xia Yongjing , Sass Catherine , Shen Xia , Siest Gérard , Visvikis Sophie 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
The association of apolipoprotein E concentration and common polymorphism (codons 112/158) with lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations was studied in two Chinese healthy population samples from Beijing (n=99) and Shanghai (n=67). Body mass index and apolipoproteins E and AI and triglyceride concentrations were significantly different between the two populations (0.001<p<0.05), but apolipoprotein E common allele frequencies were not significantly different. Apolipoprotein E concentration was independently associated with apolipoproteins B and AI, total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the Beijing group, but only with total cholesterol and apolipoprotein AI concentrations in the Shanghai group. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism was significantly associated with apolipoproteins E and AI, and triglyceride concentrations in the Beijing subjects (0.001<p<0.01), whereas apolipoprotein E polymorphism was significantly related only to apolipoprotein E concentration in the Shanghai group (p<0.001). This preliminary study with a limited number of subjects shows that the relations between both apolipoprotein E genotypes and concentration with lipid traits are not the same in the two studied Chinese populations.
Diagnostic Value of Uric Acid to Differentiate Transudates and Exudates
Authors: Uzun Kürsat , Vural Hüseyin , Ozer Faruk , Imecik Oktay 
Published: October 2004

AbstractUric acid is known to be an end product of purine metabolism. Increases in uric acid may be found in clinical conditions associated with tissue hypoxia. We have investigated the value of uric acid to differentiate between a transudate and exudate. In this study, we measured uric acid in the pleural fluid and the serum of 110 patients, 30 women and 80 men with a mean age of 49.5±19 years. Light's criteria were used to differentiate between a transudate and exudate.Mean serum uric acid was 496.7±153.4 μmol/l in patients with transudates and 291.3±143.1 μmol/l in patients with exudates. Mean pleural fluid uric acid was 487.7±165 μmol/l in patients with transudates and 279.9±142.1 μmol/l in patients with exudates. These data showed that the levels of serum and pleural uric acid were higher in transudates than exudates (p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between pleural fluid/serum uric acid ratio of the two patient groups (p>0.05). The specificity and sensitivity of pleural uric acid for diagnosis of transudate effusions were 73% and 80.6%, respectively. The specificity and sensitivity of pleural uric acid for diagnosis of transudate effusions from exudates without malignancy were 71.8% and 91.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of pleural lactate dehydrogenase for diagnosis of exudates were 82% and 89%; the sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid/serum lactate dehydrogenase were 85% and 89%; the sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid/serum protein were 91% and 89%, respectively. Using all three of Light's criteria together, the sensitivity was 91% and its specificity was 94%.Our findings indicate that determination of uric acid in pleural fluid may be of diagnostic value in differential diagnosis of transudates and exudates. The sensitivity of pleural uric acid measurement was higher for exudates without malignancy. However, Light's criteria remain the best means of separating transudates from exudates.
Changes of the Coagulation and Fibrinolysis System in Malignancy: Their possible Impact on Future Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
Authors: Korte Wolfgang 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe interaction between malignant cell growth and the coagulation and fibrinolysis system has been a well known phenomenon for decades. During recent years, this area of research has received new attention. Experimental data suggest a role for the coagulation and fibrinolysis system in tumor development, progression and metastasis. Also, clinical research suggests that targeting the coagulation system or fibrinolysis system might influence the course of malignant disease beneficially. This paper reviews data on various hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters in malignancy; the possible use of such parameters as risk markers in oncology patients; and possible targets of anti-neoplastic therapies using anticoagulant and/or antifibrinolytic strategies. Current evidence suggests that the tissue factor/factor VIIa pathway mediates the most abundant procoagulant stimulus in malignancy via the increase in thrombin generation. Tissue factor has been suggested to mediate pro-metastatic properties via coagulation-dependent and coagulation-independent pathways; tissue factor has also been implicated in tumor neo-angiogenesis. However, so far no model has been validated that would allow the use of tissue factor in its soluble or insoluble form as a marker for risk stratification in tumor patients. On the other hand, there is now good evidence that parts of the fibrinolytic system, such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor (“uPAR”), can be used as strong predictors of outcome in several types of cancer, specifically breast cancer. Observation of various treatment options in patients with thomboembolic disease and cancer as well as attempts to use anticoagulants and/or therapies modulating the fibrinolytic system as anti-neoplastic treatment strategies have yielded exciting results. These data indicate that anticoagulant therapy, and specifically low molecular weight heparin therapy, is likely to have anti-neoplastic effects; and that their use in addition to chemotherapy will probably improve outcome of tumor treatment in certain types of cancer. However, the body of clinical data is still relatively small and the question whether or not we should routinely consider the coagulation and/or fibrinolysis system as therapeutic targets in cancer patients is yet to be answered.
Antioxidant Status, Erythrocyte Membrane Lipid Peroxidation and Osmotic Fragility in Malignant Lymphoma Patients
Authors: Abou-Seif Mossad A.M. , Rabia Ahmad , Nasr Mohammad 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
We studied erythrocyte and leukocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) and osmotic fragility and plasma L-ascorbic acid and L-dehydroascorbic acid levels in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) before and after treatment. SOD activity was elevated in leukocytes of ALL and HD patients before treatment, and borderlike-significantly elevated in leukocytes of the same patients after treatment in comparison to the control subjects. SOD activity was not changed in NHL patients before or after chemotherapy. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were elevated in the three groups of lymphomas before and after treatment. MDA level and osmotic fragility of red blood cells of patients with lymphomas were increased before and after treatment in comparison to the control group. Plasma L-ascorbic acid concentrations were decreased, whereas L-dehydroascorbic acid concentrations were increased in ALL, HD and NHL patients before and after treatment. There were also significant differences in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, concentrations of antioxidants, MDA and osmotic fragility in the most of the malignant lymphoma patients. The present data suggest that hematological complications and autoimmune hemolytic anemia might be attributed to the oxidative stress produced by malignant lymphomas.