bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Massive multicystic dilatation of the uterine wall with myometrial venous thrombosis during pregnancy
Authors: Uotila J. , Dastidar P. , Martikainen P. , Kirkinen P. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe present a pregnancy complicated by multicystic dilatation of the uterine wall during the second trimester, leading to massive uterine distension, anemia and preterm Cesarean section. The cystic changes detected by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging involved the whole uterine wall surrounding the entire amniotic cavity. Histopathological examination revealed the benign nature of the cystic changes, which represented dilated and thrombosed venous lacunae. Disturbed venous drainage, combined with local thrombosis, was likely to have led to the collection of a large volume of blood in the uterine wall and the subsequent multicystic change of the myometrium. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Riemann problem for a class of resonant hyperbolic systems of balance laws
Authors: Goatin Paola , LeFloch Philippe G. 
Published: August 2004

We solve the Riemann problem for a class of resonant hyperbolic systems of balance laws. The systems are not strictly hyperbolic and the solutions take their values in a neighborhood of a state where two characteristic speeds coincide. Our construction generalizes the ones given earlier by Isaacson and Temple for scalar equations and for conservative systems. The class of systems under consideration here includes, in particular, a model from continuum physics that describes the evolution of a fluid flow in a nozzle with discontinuous cross-section.

Résumé
Nous résolvons le problème de Riemann pour une classe de systèmes hyperboliques non-conservatifs et résonants. Ces systèmes ne sont pas strictement hyperboliques et les solutions considérées prennent leurs valeurs au voisinage d'un état constant où deux des vitesses caractéristiques coincident. Notre construction généralise celle donnée précédemment par Isaacson et Temple pour les équations scalaires et les systèmes conservatifs. La classe générale de systèmes étudiée ici comprend, en particulier, un modèle important de la dynamique des milieux continus qui décrit l'évolution d'un fluide dans une tuyère dont la section est discontinue.
Comparison results and steady states for the Fujita equation with fractional Laplacian
Authors: López-Mimbela José Alfredo , Birkner Matthias , Wakolbinger Anton 
Published: August 2004

We study a semilinear PDE generalizing the Fujita equation whose evolution operator is the sum of a fractional power of the Laplacian and a convex non-linearity. Using the Feynman–Kac representation we prove criteria for asymptotic extinction versus finite time blow up of positive solutions based on comparison with global solutions. For a critical power non-linearity we obtain a two-parameter family of radially symmetric stationary solutions. By extending the method of moving planes to fractional powers of the Laplacian we prove that all positive steady states of the corresponding equation in a finite ball are radially symmetric.

Résumé
Nous étudions une équation de réaction-diffusion semilinéaire (généralisant l'équation de Fujita), dont l'opérateur d'évolution est la somme d'une puissance fractionnelle du Laplacien et d'une non-linéarité convexe. A l'aide de la représentation de Feynman–Kac nous exhibons des critères entrainant l'extinction asymptotique, respectivement l'explosion en temps fini, de solutions positives. Ces critères s'obtiennent en comparant avec des solutions globales. Pour une certaine puissance critique de la non-linéarité nous obtenons une famille paramétrisée de solutions stationnaires à symétrie radiale. Par extension de la méthode de déplacement d'hyperplans à des puissances fractionnelles du Laplacien, nous prouvons que toute solution positive stationnaire de l'équation correspondante dans une boule finie comporte une symétrie radiale.
Peptides complexed with the protein HSP70 generate efficient human cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses
Authors: Javid B. , MacAry P.A. , Oehlmann W. , Singh M. , Lehner P.J. 
Published: August 2004

Microbial HSPs (heat-shock proteins) are implicated in the induction of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response. We set out to determine whether peptides complexed with HSP70 generate efficient CTL (cytolytic T-lymphocyte) responses. Human dendritic cells pulsed with peptide-loaded microbial HSP70 complexes generate potent antigen-specific CTL responses. Using fluorescence anisotropy, we have calculated the peptide-binding affinity of mycobacterial HSP70 (KD=14 μM) and show that 120 pM HSP70-bound peptide is sufficient to generate a peptide-specific CTL response that is four orders of magnitude more efficient than the peptide alone. Through the generation of mycobacterial HSP70 truncations, we find that the minimal 136 amino acid, mycobacterial HSP70 peptide-binding domain is sufficient to generate CTL responses. The design of an HSP70 mutant, in which the peptide-binding site of HSP70 is filled with a bulky hydrophobic residue, leads to a large decrease in the peptide-binding affinity. This mutant HSP70 retains stimulatory capacity but is unable to generate CTL and has separated antigen delivery from immunostimulation of dendritic cells.
BCG (Bacille Calmette–Guérin) HspCs (heat-shock protein–peptide complexes) induce T-helper 1 responses and protect against live challenge in a murine aerosol challenge model of pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Colaco C.A.L.S. , Bailey C.R. , Keeble J. , Walker K.B. 
Published: August 2004

The need for an effective TB (tuberculosis) vaccine remains acute, with tuberculosis still one of the major killers worldwide and 3 million new infections annually. We report here on the immune responses elicited by HspCs (heat-shock protein–peptide complexes) isolated from BCG (Bacille Calmette–Guérin) vaccine. These HspCs elicit both the appropriate cellular and protective immune responses required to merit their further development as TB vaccine candidates.
Functional domains of HSP70 stimulate generation of cytokines and chemokines, maturation of dendritic cells and adjuvanticity
Authors: Lehner T. , Wang Y. , Whittall T. , McGowan E. , Kelly C.G. , Singh M. 
Published: August 2004

Microbial HSP70 (heat-shock protein 70) consists of three functionally distinct domains: an N-terminal 44 kDa ATPase portion (amino acids 1–358), followed by an 18 kDa peptide-binding domain (amino acids 359–494) and a C-terminal 10 kDa fragment (amino acids 495–609). Immunological functions of these three different domains in stimulating monocytes and dendritic cells have not been fully defined. However, the C-terminal portion (amino acids 359–610) stimulates the production of CC chemokines, IL-12 (interleukin-12), TNFα(tumour necrosis factor α), NO and maturation of dendritic cells and also functions as an adjuvant in the induction of immune responses. In contrast, the ATPase domain of microbial HSP70 mostly lacks these functions. Since the receptor for HSP70 is CD40, which with its CD40 ligand constitutes a major co-stimulatory pathway in the interaction between antigen-presenting cells and T-cells, HSP70 may function as an alternative ligand to CD40L. HSP70–CD40 interaction has been demonstrated in non-human primates to play a role in HIV infection, in protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and in conversion of tolerance to immunity.
Increased Glutathione Biosynthesis Plays a Role in Nickel Tolerance in Thlaspi Nickel Hyperaccumulators[W]
Authors: Freeman John L. , Persans Michael W. , Nieman Ken , Albrecht Carrie , Peer Wendy , Pickering Ingrid J. , Salt David E. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWorldwide more than 400 plant species are now known that hyperaccumulate various trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn), metalloids (As) and nonmetals (Se) in their shoots. Of these, almost one-quarter are Brassicaceae family members, including numerous Thlaspi species that hyperaccumulate Ni up to 3% of there shoot dry weight. We observed that concentrations of glutathione, Cys, and O-acetyl-l-serine (OAS), in shoot tissue, are strongly correlated with the ability to hyperaccumulate Ni in various Thlaspi hyperaccumulators collected from serpentine soils, including Thlaspi goesingense, T. oxyceras, and T. rosulare, and nonaccumulator relatives, including T. perfoliatum, T. arvense, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Further analysis of the Austrian Ni hyperaccumulator T. goesingense revealed that the high concentrations of OAS, Cys, and GSH observed in this hyperaccumulator coincide with constitutively high activity of both serine acetyltransferase (SAT) and glutathione reductase. SAT catalyzes the acetylation of l-Ser to produce OAS, which acts as both a key positive regulator of sulfur assimilation and forms the carbon skeleton for Cys biosynthesis. These changes in Cys and GSH metabolism also coincide with the ability of T. goesingense to both hyperaccumulate Ni and resist its damaging oxidative effects. Overproduction of T. goesingense SAT in the nonaccumulator Brassicaceae family member Arabidopsis was found to cause accumulation of OAS, Cys, and glutathione, mimicking the biochemical changes observed in the Ni hyperaccumulators. In these transgenic Arabidopsis, glutathione concentrations strongly correlate with increased resistance to both the growth inhibitory and oxidative stress induced effects of Ni. Taken together, such evidence supports our conclusion that elevated GSH concentrations, driven by constitutively elevated SAT activity, are involved in conferring tolerance to Ni-induced oxidative stress in Thlaspi Ni hyperaccumulators.
Ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells: a second neural tube‐derived cell population
Authors: Dickinson Douglas P. , Machnicki Michal , Ali Mohammed M. , Zhang Zhanying , Sohal Gurkirpal S. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractTwo embryological fates for cells of the neural tube are well established. Cells from the dorsal part of the developing neural tube emigrate and become neural crest cells, which in turn contribute to the development of the peripheral nervous system and a variety of non‐neural structures. Other neural tube cells form the neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). This has led to the neural crest being treated as the sole neural tube‐derived emigrating cell population, with the remaining neural tube cells assumed to be restricted to forming the CNS. However, this restriction has not been tested fully. Our investigations of chick, quail and duck embryos utilizing a variety of different labelling techniques (DiI, LacZ, GFP and quail chimera) demonstrate the existence of a second neural tube‐derived emigrating cell population. These cells originate from the ventral part of the cranial neural tube, emigrate at the exit/entry site of the cranial nerves, migrate in association with the nerves and populate their target tissues. On the basis of its site of origin and route of migration we have named this cell population the ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells. VENT cells also differ from neural crest cells in that they emigrate considerably after the emigration of neural crest cells, and lack expression of the neural crest cell antigen HNK‐1. VENT cells are multipotent, differentiating into cell types belonging to all four basic tissues in the body: the nerve, muscle, connective and epithelium. Thus, the neural tube provides at least two cell populations – neural crest and VENT cells – that contribute to the development of the peripheral nervous system and various non‐neural structures. This review describes the origin of the idea of VENT cells, and discusses evidence for their existence and subsequent fates.
The Reform of the UK's Auditor Independence Framework after the Enron Collapse: An Example of Evidence‐based Policy Making
Authors: Fearnley Stella , Beattie Vivien 
Published: August 2004

Following the collapse of Enron, the UK government set up a high level group of regulators and ministers to co‐ordinate a review of the UK regulatory framework, including the key area of auditor independence. The Accountancy Foundation Review Board (Review Board), which was at the time responsible for the independent oversight of the UK accountancy professional bodies, took the leading role in the auditor independence review.A programme of research was set up by the Review Board and studies were provided by other bodies. The results of the research were compiled into a paper which underpinned the Review Board's recommendations for change. This was fed into the government review process. In this paper, the research is summarised and the Review Board's evidence‐based recommendations are presented and compared with the government's final position. Few differences are found. Insights are provided into the nature of the regulatory reform process and the quality of the evidence which underpinned it.
DNA hypermethylation in gastric cancer
Authors: Kim T. Y. , Jong H.‐S. , Jung Y. , Kim T.‐Y. , Kang G. H. , Bang Y.‐J. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground : Transcriptional silencing of tumour suppressor genes by DNA hypermethylation plays a crucial role in the progression of gastric cancer. Many genes involved in the regulation of cell cycle, tissue invasion, DNA repair and apoptosis have been shown to be inactivated by this type of epigenetic mechanism.Results : Recent studies have demonstrated that DNA hypermethylation begins early in cancer progression, and in some cases, may precede the neoplastic process. Ageing is associated with DNA hypermethylation, and may provide a mechanistic link between ageing and cancer. Several reports have indicated that Epstein−Barr virus‐related gastric cancer is associated with a high frequency of DNA hypermethylation, suggesting that viral oncogenesis might involve DNA hypermethylation with inactivation of tumour suppressor genes. Hypermethylation of hMLH1 with the resulting loss of its expression is known to cause microsatellite instability, which reflects genomic instability associated with defective DNA mismatch repair genes in the tumour.Conclusions : In conclusion, recent studies demonstrate that DNA hypermethylation is a crucial mechanism of inactivation of tumour suppressor genes in gastric cancer. A better understanding of DNA hypermethylation will provide us with new opportunities in the diagnosis and therapy of gastric cancer.
Enhanced airway inflammation and decreased subepithelial fibrosis in interleukin 6‐deficient mice following chronic exposure to aerosolized antigen
Authors: Qiu Z. , Fujimura M. , Kurashima K. , Nakao S. , Mukaida N. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground
Airway inflammation and remodelling are characteristic features of chronic asthma.Objective
To elucidate the role of interleukin (IL)‐6 in airway responses to chronic antigen exposure.Methods
We compared airway inflammation, subepithelial collagen deposition, cytokine mRNA expression, and airway responsiveness between IL‐6‐deficient and wild‐type (WT) mice following sensitization and repeated exposure to ovalbumin (OVA) three times a week for 8 weeks.Results
The repeated exposure to OVA induced infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes into the airway, and caused thickening of the basement membrane and subepithelial fibrosis. IL‐6‐deficient mice exhibited more pronounced infiltration of these cells, a thinner basement membrane, and decreased subepithelial fibrosis, compared with WT mice. The repeated OVA exposure increased expression of IL‐4, IL‐13, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), and transforming growth factor‐β1 mRNA in WT mice. Among these factors, expression of IL‐13 and MCP‐1 mRNA was further enhanced in IL‐6‐deficient mice, compared with WT mice. However, both WT and IL‐6‐deficient mice exhibited similar levels of airway responsiveness to increasing doses of methacholine, even after repeated exposure to OVA.Conclusion
These results suggest that IL‐6 has dual roles in the chronic phase of asthma: down‐regulation of inflammatory cell infiltration and enhancement of airway remodelling.
Atopic disease and its determinants – a focus on the potential role of childhood infection
Authors: Resch A. , Schlipköter U. , Crispin A. , Behrendt H. , Heinrich J. , Wichmann H. E. , Ring J. , Schäfer T. ,   the KORA study group
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground
Atopic diseases develop on a genetic background and are modulated by environmental factors among which some infectious diseases are thought to have a protective influence.Objective
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of infectious diseases in younger ages, bacterial and viral, on atopic diseases and sensitization to aero‐ and foodallergens in adults.Methods
A population‐based sample of 4262 subjects aged 25–74 years were interviewed concerning their history of infectious disease within the first 18 years of life. Information about allergic disease, including atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis (AR), and asthma was obtained. A blood sample was drawn and analysed for allergen‐specific IgE antibodies against food‐ and aeroallergens.Results
Multiple logistic regression analyses identified viral infection to be associated with AR (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.39; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.13–1.72) and sensitization to aeroallergens (OR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.05–1.41). Bacterial disease was a negative predictor for atopy development in the subgroup of patients sensitized to nutritional allergens with concomitant atopic eczema (OR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.11–0.99), AR (OR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.42–1.07), or asthma (OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.19–0.87). Influences of viral and bacterial infection on AR differed with regard to family history of atopic disease.Conclusion
In our study population, history of viral infection was consistently positively associated with AR. Our data suggests that bacterial infections might be preventive for specific subgroups of atopy.
Monitoring response to treatment in asthma management: food for thought
Authors: Scichilone N. , Deykin A. , Pizzichini E. , Bellia V. , Polosa R. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that is characterized by episodic symptoms. In this regard, asthma management has classically involved periodic re‐assessment by the health‐care provider, during which therapy is altered mainly based on clinical and physiological parameters, such as assessment of symptoms, spirometry and peak expiratory flow monitoring. In this context, various markers of airway inflammation (e.g. eosinophils in the induced sputum, nitric oxide in the exhaled air) have been proposed to assess the severity of asthma and to adjust the therapy accordingly. The evaluation of airway hyper‐responsiveness with different stimuli has also been suggested as a new tool to monitor asthma. However, the lack of definite relationships between airway inflammation and asthmatic symptoms strongly limit the use of markers of asthma severity in the clinical setting. Therefore, the need of new tools to assess the severity of asthma is raised. The ideal measurement employed to establish the proper asthmatic therapy should be safe, non‐invasive, easy to perform, reproducible and accurate, and have the capability to monitor the changes induced by the therapeutic interventions. A careful review of the available techniques, and the evaluation of their sensitivity and specificity in the clinical setting is warranted.
Resiquimod, a new immune response modifier from the family of imidazoquinolinamines, inhibits allergen‐induced Th2 responses, airway inflammation and airway hyper‐reactivity in mice
Authors: Quarcoo D. , Weixler S. , Joachim R.A. , Stock P. , Kallinich T. , Ahrens B. , Hamelmann E. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground
Allergen‐induced sensitization and airway disease are the results of adverse immune reactions against environmental antigens that may be prevented or inhibited by immune modifying strategies.Objective
To investigate the effects of the novel immune response modifier resiquimod (R‐848), from the family of imidazol‐derivates, in a murine model of allergen‐mediated Th2‐immune responses and concomitant airway inflammation and airway hyper‐reactivity.Methods
BALB/c mice were systemically sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) on days 1 and 14 and challenged with OVA aerosol on days 28 and 29. R‐848 was applied intranasally to sensitized animals once prior to the first allergen airway challenge, on day 27.Results
A single application of R‐848 significantly reduced numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and inhibited mucus gland hyperplasia, compared with sensitized and challenged controls. Associated with the decrease in airway inflammation, single intranasal treatment with R‐848 abolished the development of airway hyper‐reactivity after allergen sensitization and airway challenges. Additionally, Th2‐cytokine production in lung tissues from sensitized and R‐848‐treated animals was reduced, whereas IL‐12 and IFN‐γ production was increased, compared with non‐treated sensitized mice.Conclusion
These data indicate that R‐848 effectively inhibits allergen‐induced airway inflammation and hyper‐reactivity by modulation of increased Th2‐immune responses.
Effect of mite‐impermeable mattress encasings and an educational package on the development of allergies in a multinational randomized, controlled birth‐cohort study – 24 months results of the Study of Prevention of Allergy in Children in Europe
Authors: Horak F. , Matthews S. , Ihorst G. , Arshad S. H. , Frischer T. , Kuehr J. , Schwieger A. , Forster J. ,   the SPACE study group
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground
Sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) is an important risk factor for the development of asthma and allergic disease in childhood. Higher levels of HDM allergen are linked to increased sensitization to HDM.Objective
To study the effect of mite‐impermeable mattress encasings and an educational package on the development of allergies in a newborn cohort.Methods
Six hundred and ninety‐six newborns at high risk of developing allergies were enrolled in three European countries (Germany, Austria, UK) in a prospective, randomized, controlled birth‐cohort study. Children were randomly assigned to an intervention and control group. Intervention measures included the use of mite‐impermeable mattress encasings for the child's bed and a simple educational package on allergen avoidance. The control group received basic information about allergies. Children were followed up at age 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.Results
80.9% of the children were followed up to the age of 24 months. No difference in the prevalence of sensitization to HDM (control vs. intervention group: 8.4% vs. 6.1%, P=0.33) or the development of symptoms (recurrent wheezing 10.3% vs. 10.7%, nocturnal cough 12.5% vs. 12.5%) or allergic diseases (asthma 3.5% vs. 5.1%, eczema 20.0% vs. 19.6%, rhinitis 28.9% vs. 25.8%) could be found between the control and intervention group.Conclusion
In this study, HDM avoidance did not show a protective effect on the development of sensitization to HDM or symptomatic allergy in children at age 24 months.