bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weight loss regulates inflammation‐related genes in white adipose tissue of obese subjects
Authors: ClÉment Karine , Viguerie Nathalie , Poitou Christine , Carette Claire , Pelloux VÉronique , Curat Cyrile A. , Sicard Audrey , Rome Sophie , Benis Arriel , Zucker Jean‐Daniel , Vidal Hubert , Laville Martine , Barsh Gregory S. , Basdevant Arnaud , Stich Vladimir , Cancello Raffaella , Langin Dominique 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTAdipose tissue produces inflammation and immunity molecules suspected to be involved in obesity‐related complications. The pattern of expression and the nutritional regulation of these molecules in humans are poorly understood. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of subcutaneous white adipose tissue from 29 obese subjects during very low calorie diet (VLCD) using cDNA microarray and reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The patterns of expression were compared with that of 17 non‐obese subjects. We determined whether the regulated genes were expressed in adipocytes or stromavascular fraction cells. Gene expression profiling identified 100 inflammation‐related transcripts that are regulated in obese individuals when eating a 28 day VLCD but not a 2 day VLCD. Cluster analysis showed that the pattern of gene expression in obese subjects after 28 day VLCD was closer to the profile of lean subjects than to the pattern of obese subjects before VLCD. Weight loss improves the inflammatory profile of obese subjects through a decrease of proinflammatory factors and an increase of anti‐inflammatory molecules. The genes are expressed mostly in the stromavascular fraction of adipose tissue, which is shown to contain numerous macrophages. The beneficial effect of weight loss on obesity‐related complications may be associated with the modification of the inflammatory profile in adipose tissue.— Clément, K., Viguerie, N., Poitou, C., Carette, C., Pelloux, V., Curat, C. A., Sicard, A., Rome, S., Benis, A., Zucker, J.‐D., Vidal, H., Laville, M., Barsh, G. S., Basdevant, A., Stich, V., Cancello R., Langin, D. Weight loss regulates inflammation‐related genes in white adipose tissue of obese subjects. FASEB J. 18, 1657–1669 (2004)
Plant Proteins That Interact with VirB2, theAgrobacterium tumefaciensPilin Protein, Mediate Plant Transformationw⃞
Authors: Hwang Hau-Hsuan , Gelvin Stanton B. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAgrobacterium tumefaciens uses a type IV secretion system (T4SS) to transfer T-DNA and virulence proteins to plants. The T4SS is composed of two major structural components: the T-pilus and a membrane-associated complex that is responsible for translocating substrates across both bacterial membranes. VirB2 protein is the major component of the T-pilus. We used the C-terminal–processed portion of VirB2 protein as a bait to screen an Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA library for proteins that interact with VirB2 in yeast. We identified three related plant proteins, VirB2-interacting protein (BTI) 1 (BTI1), BTI2, and BTI3 with unknown functions, and a membrane-associated GTPase, AtRAB8. The three BTI proteins also interacted with VirB2 in vitro. Preincubation of Agrobacterium with GST-BTI1 protein decreased the transformation efficiency of Arabidopsis suspension cells by Agrobacterium. Transgenic BTI and AtRAB8 antisense and RNA interference Arabidopsis plants are less susceptible to transformation by Agrobacterium than are wild-type plants. The level of BTI1 protein is transiently increased immediately after Agrobacterium infection. In addition, overexpression of BTI1 protein in transgenic Arabidopsis results in plants that are hypersusceptible to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Confocal microscopic data indicate that GFP-BTI proteins preferentially localize to the periphery of root cells in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, suggesting that BTI proteins may contact the Agrobacterium T-pilus. We propose that the three BTI proteins and AtRAB8 are involved in the initial interaction of Agrobacterium with plant cells.
The management of side‐effects during therapy for hepatitis C
Authors: Aspinall R. J. , Pockros P. J. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryThe results of interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection have substantially improved in recent years, such that the majority of patients in randomized‐controlled trials now achieve a sustained virological response. However, adverse effects are commonplace, often disabling and may lead to interruption or cessation of therapy with subsequent loss of efficacy. Constitutional, neuropsychiatric and haematological reactions have proved particularly troublesome. In this review, we discuss these adverse effects in more detail and highlight recent advances in their management.
Sleep dysfunction in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease: prevalence and response to GERD therapy, a pilot study
Authors: Chand N. , Johnson D. A. , Tabangin M. , Ware J. C. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryBackground : There is little information on the prevalence of pathological sleep disorders in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and whether pharmacological treatment of patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease will lead to improvement in sleep.Aims:  This pilot study determined the prevalence of sleep disorder in patients with erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, correlated subjective (questionnaire) and objective (actigraphy – a watch worn on the wrist that monitors motion to help differentiate sleep from awake states) assessment of sleep dysfunction and determined whether therapeutic resolution of oesophageal symptoms was associated with an improvement in sleep.Methods : Eighteen patients with erosive gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease received esomeprazole 40 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Assessments at 0, 4 and 8 weeks included: Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and ambulatory wrist actigraphy.Results : Unrecognized sleep disturbance occurred in 81% of this cohort of patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and erosive oesophagitis. Median reflux syndrome score (heartburn and acid regurgitation) on Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale decreased from 2 at baseline to 0 at weeks 4 and 8 (P ≤ 0.0001). Median global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score decreased from 8.50 at baseline to 4.50 at week 4 (P = 0.002) and to 7.00 at week 8 (P = 0.043). There were no significant changes in actigraphy measurements.Conclusions : Sleep disturbance is common in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease with erosive oesophagitis. This study which is the first to evaluate sleep abnormalities and gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease using a validated questionnaire, demonstrates that in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, sleep improvement, may be effected by gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease therapy. Actigraphy may be inappropriate for measurement of sleep disturbance in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease patients.
Tolerability of spironolactone in patients with chronic heart failure – a cautionary message
Authors: Witham Miles D. , Gillespie Neil D. , Struthers Allan D 
Published: November 2004

AimTo assess how well heart failure patients tolerate spironolactone in routine clinical practice.DesignRetrospective analysis of 226 patients attending a specialist heart failure clinic.ResultsOne hundred and thirty of 226 (57.5%) patients tried spironolactone at least once. Forty‐four of 130 (33.8%) discontinued spironolactone due to side‐effects after a mean of 11.1 months; 59/141 (41.8%) trials of spironolactone resulted in at least one side‐effect; therapy was stopped in 30/141 (21.3%) trials due to raised potassium or creatinine. Significant risk factors for raised potassium/creatinine were age and baseline potassium level.ConclusionsPotentially serious side‐effects are common despite appropriate use of spironolactone.
TAFI polymorphisms at amino acids 147 and 325 are not risk factors for cerebral infarction
Authors: Akatsu Hiroyasu , Yamagata Hidehisa , Chen Yusen , Miki Tetsuro , Kamino Kouzin , Takeda Masatoshi , Campbell William , Kondo Ikuko , Kosaka Kenji , Yamamoto Takayuki , Okada Hidechika 
Published: November 2004

SummaryThrombin‐activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) was reported as an anaphylatoxin‐inactivating enzyme generated by proteolytic cleavage of its zymogen, and is the same enzyme as that first designated by our group as procarboxypeptidase R (proCPR). Its level in plasma appears to influence vascular disease. In addition, TAFI activity is strongly influenced by genetic polymorphism, especially at amino acids 147 and 325. We investigated whether these TAFI polymorphisms would act as a risk factor for cerebral infarction (CI) by examining 253 samples in which the diagnosis was cliniconeuropathologically confirmed. We found little that was statistically significant in terms of these polymorphisms among patients with no vascular problems or in a population‐based control group. In the present study of an elderly Japanese group, our samples revealed a lower percentage of the Ile allele at Thr/Ile‐325 compared with western counterparts. Although patients with severe infarcts had a lower percentage of the Ile allele (10%) at amino acid position 325 compared with the slightly and moderately affected patients and the population‐based control group (15–18%), no statistical significance was found. None of our results showed any statistical correlation between TAFI polymorphisms and CI.
Analyses for binding of the transferrin family of proteins to the transferrin receptor 2
Authors: Kawabata Hiroshi , Tong Xiangjun , Kawanami Takafumi , Wano Yuji , Hirose Yuko , Sugai Susumu , Phillip Koeffler H. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryTransferrin receptor 2α (TfR2α), the major product of the TfR2 gene, is the second receptor for transferrin (Tf), which can mediate cellular iron uptake in vitro. Homozygous mutations of TfR2 cause haemochromatosis, suggesting that TfR2α may not be a simple iron transporter, but a regulator of iron by identifying iron‐Tf. In this study, we analysed the ligand specificity of TfR2α using human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and TfR2α‐stably transfected and expressing cells and flow‐cytometric techniques. We showed that human TfR2α interacted with both human and bovine Tf, whereas human TfR1 interacted only with human Tf. Neither human TfR1 nor TfR2α interacted with either lactoferrin or melanotransferrin. In addition, by creating point mutations in human TfR2α, the RGD sequence in the extracellular domain of TfR2α was shown to be crucial for Tf‐binding. Furthermore, we demonstrated that mutated TfR2α (Y250X), which has been reported in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis, also lost its ability to interact with both human and bovine Tf. Although human TfR1 and TfR2α share an essential structure (RGD) for ligand‐binding, they have clearly different ligand specificities, which may be related to the differences in their roles in iron metabolism.
The near‐surface information gap for time and depth imaging
Authors: Vesnaver A. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe shallowest few hundred metres of the earth cannot be adequately imaged by conventional seismic when tuned for deeper targets. Adding independent measurements (such as uphole or shallow refraction surveys) reduces this information gap, but in some arid areas (such as Saudi Arabia) the near‐surface complexities are not well resolved, even in this way. The joint tomographic inversion of different wave types can contribute to reducing these ambiguities further, by complementing the different penetration ranges and propagation directions of reflected, refracted and diving waves. Here, we demonstrate the weakness of diving waves when used alone, and the value of complementing them by available reflected and refracted arrivals.
Lupus erythematosus tumidus
Authors: Choonhakarn Charoen , Poonsriaram Aram , Chaivoramukul Jaruwan 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackground  Lupus erythematosus tumidus (LET) is a rare form of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus that characteristically presents as a succulent, erythematous plaques on sun‐exposed areas. The histopathological change that primarily distinguishes LET from other variants of cutaneous lupus erythematosus is the lack of alterations of the dermo–epidermal junction and epidermis. Our purpose was to describe 15 cases of LET from Thailand.Methods  The records of 15 patients diagnosed with LET at Srinagarind Hospital Medical School between 1995 and 2002 were reviewed on the following aspects: clinical manifestation, laboratory investigation, direct immunofluorescence study, phototesting, histopathological findings, clinical course, and treatment.Results  All 15 patients consisted of 10 females and five males. The mean age at onset was 38.8 years. The lesions more commonly affect the face and trunk. One patient had concomitant discoid lupus erythematosus and two developed systemic involvement 4 and 6 months after LET. Direct immunofluorescence studies all showed negative results. Positive phototest reactions were detected in five of 10 tested patients: four with ultraviolet A and B and one with ultraviolet A only. Most patients responded well to chloroquine phosphate and the remainder successfully improved with methotrexate, topical and systemic corticosteroids.Conclusion  Our data demonstrate the features of LET that are repeatable and characteristic. Lupus erythematosus tumidus in this study was more common in women, and photosensitivity reactions of the patients were seen less frequently compared with those in the earlier report of Kuhn et al2. Furthermore, two of 15 patients exhibited systemic involvement in the course of their disease.
Pyoderma gangrenosum: clinicopathologic correlation and proposed diagnostic criteria
Authors: Su W. P. Daniel , Davis Mark D. P. , Weenig Roger H. , Powell Frank C. , Perry Harold O. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPyoderma gangrenosum is a rare but significant cause of ulcerations. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Herein, we suggest diagnostic criteria and some historical perspectives on the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum.
Periventricular and Subcortical Leukoencephalopathy in two Dachshund Puppies
Authors: Rentmeister K. , Schmidbauer S. , Hewicker‐Trautwein M. , Tipold A. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryTwo wirehaired dachshund puppies were presented with generalized tremor and gait abnormalities characterized by mild ataxia, tetraparesis and slightly abnormal proprioception. Neurological examination led to the suspicion of a diffuse generalized white matter lesion. Computerized tomography and pathological examination revealed a remarkable unilateral dilatation of the lateral ventricles in each dog. Histopathological examination showed a severe reduction of stainable myelin, widespread mild perineuronal oedema with vacuolations and multifocal reactive astrocytosis affecting the subcortical and deep periventricular white, and to a lesser degree, grey matter of the cerebral hemispheres, most prominently at the level of the optic chiasm. Axons showed a moderately reduced packing density; some axons were irregularly shaped and slightly thickened. There was no evidence of myelin breakdown products and neurones appeared to be well preserved. Brain stem, cerebellum and spinal cord were normal, as was the peripheral nervous system. This leukoencephalopathy in two dachshund puppies most closely resembles human periventricular leukomalacia caused by pre‐ or perinatal hypoxia‐ischaemia.
Epidemiological Study of Non‐contagious Intramammary Infections in Nine Commercial Dairy Herds following aStaphylococcus aureusControl Programme
Authors: Zecconi A. , Piccinini R. , Fox L. K. 
Published: November 2004

SummaryChanges in prevalence in intramammary infection, by pathogen type, in herds applying a stringent contagious mastitis control programme was studied. Enrollment of 1651 lactating cows and collection of milk samples was made in this ancillary study to a cohort study of the dynamics of mastitis prevalence after adoption of a strict contagious mastitis control programme that targeted the elimination of mastitis caused byStaphylococcus aureus. Nine commercial dairies in Italy were used. Aseptic collection of milk samples from all lactating cows was performed at the time of enrollment, from all cows within 7–14 days of entering the lactating herd after the date of enrollment, and from all lactating cows at 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14 months after the date of enrollment. Prevalence of intramammary infection by pathogen type was determined from culture of milk samples. Application of the strict contagious mastitis programme did not lead to an increased risk of non‐contagious mastitis. The risk of coliform, environmental streptococcal and coagulase‐negative staphylococcal intramammary infections decreased after adoption of the programme. The data reported herein indicate that the overall risk for any intramammary infections decreases with adoption of a strict contagious mastitis programme, and that such a programme therefore does not necessarily lead to an increase in environmental mastitis.
Inhibition of brain mitochondrial respiration by dopamine and its metabolites: implications for Parkinson's disease and catecholamine‐associated diseases
Authors: Gluck Martin R. , Zeevalk Gail D. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA structure–potency study examining the ability of dopamine (DA), its major metabolites and related amine and acetate congeners to inhibit NADH‐linked mitochondrial O2 consumption was carried out to elucidate mechanisms by which DA could induce mitochondrial dysfunction. In the amine studies, DA was the most potent inhibitor of respiration (IC50 7.0 mm) compared with 3‐methoxytryramine (3‐MT, IC50 19.6 mm), 3,4‐dimethoxyphenylethylamine (IC50 28.6 mm), tyramine (IC50 40.3 mm) and phenylethylamine (IC50 58.7 mm). Addition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors afforded nearly complete protection against inhibition by phenylethylamine, tyramine and 3,4‐dimethoxyphenylethylamine, indicating that inhibition arose from MAO‐mediated pathways. In contrast, the inhibitory effects of DA and 3‐MT were only partially prevented by MAO blockade, suggesting that inhibition might also arise from two‐electron catechol oxidation and quinone formation by DA and one‐electron oxidation of the 4‐hydroxyphenyl group of 3‐MT. In the phenylacetate studies, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) was equipotent with DA in inhibiting respiration (IC50 7.4 mm), further implicating the catechol reaction as the cause of inhibition. All other carboxylate congeners; phenylacetic acid (IC50 13.0 mm), 4‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid (IC50 12.1 mm), 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA, IC50 12.0 mm) and 3,4‐dimethoxyphenylacetic acid (IC50 10.2 mm), were equipotent respiratory inhibitors and two‐ to fourfold more potent than their corresponding amine. These latter findings suggest that the phenylacetate ion can also contribute independently to mitochondrial inhibition. In summary, mitochondrial respiration can be inhibited by DA and its metabolites by four distinct MAO‐dependent and independent mechanisms.
Examining predictors and consequences of information seeking in close relationships
Authors: Afifi Walid A. , Dillow Megan R. , Morse Christopher 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe management of information in close relationships plays a critical role in our well‐being (e.g., S. Petronio, 2002). Since relational partners often desire to be “in the know” about one another, the relative absence of inquiry into the process of information seeking in close relationships is puzzling. Recently, W. Ickes, J. W. Dugosh, J. A. Simpson, and C. L. Wilson (2003) examined that process and showed important ways in which the motivation to acquire relationship‐threatening information may be harmful to relationships. We extend their work and apply the newly developed Theory of Motivated Information Management (W. A. Afifi, & Weiner, 2004) to close relationships. In addition, we test the consequences of information seeking for short‐term changes in relationship commitment. Two hundred and twenty‐two participants thought of something that their relational partner did or said for which they wanted more information, then completed 2 surveys, 3 weeks apart, measuring cognitive and behavioral factors related to the information‐management process. Results reveal several factors that influence the seeking of information in close relationships (e.g., issue importance, anxiety, expected outcomes, and perceived efficacy), show benefits of an indirect search for information in the face of negative expectancies, and suggest several directions for future research.
Familial suicide behaviour: association with probands suicide attempt characteristics and 5‐HTTLPR polymorphism
Authors: Correa H. , Campi‐Azevedo A. C. , De Marco L. , Boson W. , Viana M. M. , Guimarães M. M. , Costa E. , Miranda D. M. , Romano‐Silva M. A. 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  There is compelling evidence that a serotonergic dysfunction may play a major role in suicide behaviour and it has also been demonstrated that suicide is, at least partially, genetically determined. Thus, the serotonin‐related genes are the major candidates. Previously a functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5‐HTTLPR) was identified and the presence of the short allele (S) was found to be associated with a lower level of expression of the gene and lower levels of 5‐HT uptake when compared with the long allele (L).The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between family suicide behaviour history and probands’ suicide attempt (SA) history, SA characteristics and 5‐HTTLPR genotype.Method:  We genotyped 237 probands (major depressed or schizophrenic patients) and used a semistructured interview to determine probands’ SA characteristics and first‐ and second‐degree family suicidal behaviour.Results:  An association between suicidal family history and proband's SA but not with SA characteristics and probands genotype was found.Conclusion:  Our results suggest that multiple biological and environmental factors underlie familial transmission of suicidal behaviour.
Prediction of mortality at age 40 in Danish males at high and low risk for alcoholism
Authors: Knop J. , Penick E. C. , L. Mortensen E. , Nickel E. J. , Gabrielli W. F. , Jensen P. , Mednick S. A. 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  This prospective high‐risk study examined the influence of father's alcoholism and other archival‐generated measures on premature death.Method:  Sons of alcoholic fathers (n = 223) and sons of non‐alcoholic fathers (n = 106) have been studied from birth to age 40. Archival predictors of premature death included father's alcoholism, childhood developmental data, and diagnostic information obtained from the Psychiatric Register and alcoholism clinics.Results:  By age 40, 21 of the 329 subjects had died (6.4%), a rate that is more than two times greater than expected. Sons of alcoholic fathers were not more likely to die by age 40. Premature death was associated with physical immaturity at 1‐year of age and psychiatric/alcoholism treatment. No significant interactions were found between risk and archival measures.Conclusion:  Genetic vulnerability did not independently predict death at age 40. Death was associated with developmental immaturities and treatment for a psychiatric and/or substance abuse problem.