bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age‐related differentiations of Th1/Th2 cytokines in newborn infants
Authors: Protonotariou Efthimia , Malamitsi-Puchner Ariadne , Rizos Demetrios , Papagianni Basiliki , Moira Evangelia , Sarandakou Angeliki , Botsis Demetrios 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate age‐related differentiation of immune response in newborns by measuring serum concentrations of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) during the perinatal period.Subjects and methods: Fifty‐seven healthy term neonates, their mothers and 25 healthy adults (controls) age‐matched to the mothers were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in the umbilical cord (UC), and in first‐day (1N) and fifth‐day (5N) neonatal samples, compared with those in maternal serum (MS) and control serum samples.Results: Serum IL‐2 concentrations in the UC were markedly elevated compared with those in MS and controls (p < 0.0001), decreasing significantly thereafter up to 5N (p < 0.001). IL‐4 serum concentrations did not differ significantly between the UC, 1N and 5N samples; they were, however, markedly elevated compared with those in MS (p < 0.001, p < 0.0007 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and controls (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.006, respectively). IFN‐γ serum concentrations were significantly lower in the UC compared with those in controls (p < 0.04), increasing significantly up to 5N (p < 0.03). Both IFN‐γ/IL‐2 and IFN‐γ/IL‐4 ratios increased significantly in 5N, compared with those in the UC (p < 0.001 and p < 0.03).Conclusion: Our findings indicate a differential cytokine balance at birth with enhanced expression of IL‐2 and IL‐4 against IFN‐γ. However, a regularization of immune response seems to proceed quickly during the early neonatal life.
Involvement of steroids in anti‐inflammatory effects of PK11195 in a murine model of pleurisy
Authors: da Silva Marcelo Barreto Spillere , Farges Roseli Coimbra , Fröde Tânia Silvia 
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND: Studies on peripheral benzodiazepine receptor function have yielded a diverse list of activities of which the anti‐inflammatory effects need to be further examined.Aims: To evaluate the role of steroids, nitric oxide and adenosine‐deaminase in the anti‐inflammatory effect of PK11195.Methods: Pleurisy was induced by intrapleural injection of carrageenan in mice pre‐treated or not with PK11195. Leukocytes, exudation, adenosine‐deaminase (ADA) activity and nitric oxide (NO) level were measured. Steroid involvement was evaluated by pre‐treatment with D,L‐aminogluthetimide before PK11195.Results: Leukocytes, exudation and NO levels were reduced by PK11195 in the early (4 h) phase. In the late (48 h) phase, PK11195 decreased leukocytes and ADA activity. D,L‐aminogluthetimide reversed the effect of PK11195 on exudate (4 h), as well as total and differential leukocytes and NO levels (48 h).Conclusions: Steroids, NO and ADA are implicated in the anti‐inflammatory action of PK11195.
Anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulating effects of clarithromycin in patients with cystic fibrosis lung disease
Authors: Pukhalsky Alexander L. , Shmarina Galina V. , Kapranov Nikolai I. , Kokarovtseva Svetlana N. , Pukhalskaya Daria , Kashirskaja Natalia J. 
Published: May 2004

BACKGROUND and aim: Macrolide antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of suppurative lung diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common inherited fatal disease in the Caucasian population. This condition is characterized by secondary Pseudomonas infection resulting in neutrophil infiltration within the airways. The aim of the study was to investigate the evolution of inflammatory process in CF patients receiving long‐term clarithromycin therapy.Methods: Twenty‐seven CF patients (mean age, 12 years) were enrolled into the study. Beside the basic therapy the patients were treated with clarithromycin at a dose of 250 mg every other day orally. All patients were routinely examined every 3 months. Blood and sputum were collected before clarithromycin treatment and then again 3, 6 and 12 months after the drug prescription. Cytokine concentrations (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐8, interleukin‐4, interferon‐γ) in the sputum and plasma were assayed. Peripheral blood lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin was also evaluated.Results: Clarithromycin treatment resulted in a marked reduction of the cytokine levels both in the sputum and plasma specimens. At the same time, the interferon‐γ/interleukin‐4 ratio has been significantly elevated. In addition, a sustained increase of peripheral blood lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin was demonstrated. These changes were associated with a significant improvement of the lung function.Conclusions: The beneficial effect of the prolonged treatment of CF patients with a 14‐membered ring macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin seems to be associated not only with down‐regulation of the inflammatory response, but also with immunological changes including the switch from Th2 to Th1 type response.
Use of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and cortisone may prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Authors: Turkoz Yusuf , Er Hamdi , Borazan Mehmet , Yılmaz Harun , Mızrak Bülent , Parlakpınar Hakan , Çigremis Yılmaz 
Published: May 2004

PURPOSE: To investigate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and cortisone prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).Methods: Twenty pigmented rabbits were used in this study. All rabbits except controls received an intravitreal injection of 0.15 ml (75,000 U) of platelet‐rich plasma into their left eye. The animals were divided into four groups: group I was treated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml (15 μmol/kg) of CAPE for 3 days, group II received 0.15 ml (4 mg/kg) of intravitreal cortisone, group III received nothing (blank group), and group IV (control group) received only 1 ml of 1% ethanol intraperitoneally daily for 3 days. Proliferative changes were graded in a masked fashion by indirect ophthalmoscopy for a 15‐day follow‐up period. The malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and total nitrite (NO) levels were measured in the vitreous humor.Results: The grades of PVR were B‐C in group I, and C‐D in group II. The PVR grade in the control group was C‐D. The mean MDA level in group I (4.0±0.8 μmol/l) was significantly lower than in the blank group (6.0 μmol/l) (p < 0.05). The mean GSH level in group I (71.0±11.2 μmol/l) was significantly different than in the blank group (p < 0.05). The MDA and GSH levels in group II were 4.7±0.6 μmol/l and 53.8±7.8 μmol/l, respectively. Both these levels were not significantly different from the blank group (p < 0.05). The NO levels in both treatment groups were significantly lower than in the blank group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: These findings suggest an inhibitory effect of CAPE on PVR. The inhibitory effect was supported by lower MDA and NO with higher GSH levels in treatment groups than in the blank group. There was no detected significant effect of cortisone for preventing PVR experimentally.
Salivary levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α in oral lichen planus
Authors: Pezelj-Ribaric Sonja , Prso Ivana Brekalo , Abram Maja , Glazar Irena , Brumini Gordana , Simunovic-Soskic Marica 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVE: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa, presenting in various clinical forms. The etiology of OLP is still unknown but mounting evidence points to the immunologic basis of this disorder.Aim: Our study was undertaken to quantify the salivary levels of pro‐inflammatory tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) in the reticular and the erosive/atrophic forms of OLP, compared with age‐matched healthy control volunteers.Subjects and methods: Whole saliva from 40 patients with active lesions of OLP, as well as from 20 healthy persons, was investigated for the presence of TNF‐α by enzyme immunoassay.Results: Salivary TNF‐α levels were significantlly increased in patients with OLP in comparison with healthy subjects. The presence of TNF‐α showed positive correlation to clinical forms of OLP, being significantly higher in the erosive/atrophic type than in the reticular type of disease.Conclusion: Saliva provides an ideal medium for the detection of pro‐inflammatory markers of the oral cavity. In patients with OLP, TNF‐α levels in saliva are elevated, correlating with the severity of illness. Salivary TNF‐α analysis may be a useful diagnostic tool and a potential prognostic marker in OLP.
The presence of promatrix metalloproteinase‐3 and its relation with different categories of coal workers′ pneumoconiosis
Authors: Altin Remzi , Kart Levent , Tekin İshak , Armutcu Ferah , Tor Meltem , Örnek Tacettin 
Published: May 2004

Extracellular matrix formation (ECM) and remodeling are critical events related to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Matrix metalloproteinases play an essential role in degrading and remodeling the ECM. In this study, we tried to show the presence and correlation of promatrix metalloproteinase‐3 (proMMP‐3) (the inactive form of metalloproteinase‐3) levels in coal workers′ pneumoconiosis (CWP) with different categories.The study population consisted of 44 coal miners with CWP (pos CWP). Coal miners without CWP (neg CWP, n = 24) and non‐underground personnel (controls, n = 17) were taken as controls. All coal miners were stable and had no systemic infection or disease. Standard posterio‐anterior chest radiographs and pulmonary function tests were performed to exclude any diseases other than CWP. Serum proMMP‐3 was analysed using the sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturer′s instructions (The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK).Mean proMMP‐3 values of the all three groups were compared and a significant statistical difference obtained (p < 0.001). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between categories of the disease and proMMP‐3 values (p < 0.05). The effects of age, exposure duration and cigarette smoking on proMMP‐3 values in coal miners with CWP were investigated. There were no correlations between age, smoking and proMMP‐3 values. However, a positive correlation was found between exposure duration and proMMP‐3 values (r = 0.447, p = 0.008).In conclusion, proMMP‐3 (prostromelysin 1) may play an essential role in degrading and remodeling the ECM in workers with pneumoconiosis. ProMMP‐3 may also reflect the stage of pneumoconiosis disease.
Effect of glucose concentration on peritoneal inflammatory cytokines in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Sayarlioglu Hayriye , Topal Cevat , Sayarlioglu Mehmet , Dulger Haluk , Dogan Ekrem , Erkoc Reha 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVE: It is known that glucose concentrations of peritoneal dialysis solutions are detrimental to the peritoneal membrane. In order to determine the effect of glucose concentration on cytokine levels of peritoneal fluid of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, a cross‐sectional study was performed.Methods: Nine non‐diabetic CAPD patients participated in two 8‐h dwell sessions of overnight exchanges in consecutive days, with 1.36% and 3.86% glucose containing peritoneal dialysis solutions (Baxter‐Eczacıbaşı). Peritoneal dialysis fluid tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐6 levels were measured.Results: TNF‐α levels after 1.36% and 3.86% glucose used dwells were 23±14 pg/ml and 28±4 pg/ml, respectively (p = 0.78). The IL‐6 levels were 106±57 pg/ml and 115±63 pg/ml (p = 0.81), respectively.Conclusion: In our in vivo study we found that the glucose concentration of the conventional lactate‐based CAPD solution has no effect on basal IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels of peritoneal fluid. Further in vivo studies with non‐lactate‐based CAPD solutions are needed in order to determine the effect of glucose concentration per se on cytokine release.
Detection of Glycosylase, Endonuclease and Methyltransferase Enzyme Activities Using Immobilized Oligonucleotides
Authors: Sudina Anna , Volkov Eugeny , Oretskaya Tatiana , Naryshkin Nikolai , Ivanovskaya Marina , Kubareva Elena 
Published: May 2004

AbstractA novel rapid assay for detection of DNA glycosylase, restriction endonuclease, and DNA methyltransferase enzyme activities is presented. The assay is based on enzyme‐dependent label release (in case of glycosylase and endonuclease), or non‐release (in case of methyltransferase) into solution from end‐labeled DNA immobilized on solid support (CPG or Tenta Gel S‐NH2). The assay has been validated for monitoring activity of repair enzyme uracil‐DNA glycosylase, restriction endonucleases SsoII, MvaI and EcoRII and (cytosine‐5)‐DNA methyltransferase SsoII. Two types of labels have been tested and found compatible with the assay: radioactive (32P) and fluorescent (rhodamine B and fluorescein). The enzyme activity is estimated as a ratio of the label released into solution to the total amount of the label. Use of fluorescent labeling facilitates detection while use of solid phase‐immobilized substrates facilitates product separation, improved assay sensitivity, and increases throughput of assay. Proposed technique provides an estimate of enzyme activity but not its specific activity. Thus, the assay will most valuable in the applications where rapid estimation of enzyme activity is necessary.
IUBMB Life, 56: 139‐143, 2004
The Role of Protein Misfolding in the Pathogenesis of Human Diseases
Authors: Ellisdon Andrew M. , Bottomley Stephen P. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe ability of proteins to fold into complex three‐dimensional shapes is truly amazing. Given the difficulty of the reaction it is perhaps unsurprising that many proteins in vivo are unable to fold correctly. These misfolded proteins are generally recognized by the cell's quality control machinery and dealt with through degradation. However in an increasing number of diseases, such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and α1‐antitrypsin deficiency, misfolded protein accumulates both within and outside the cell. This aggregated protein is able to evade the normal cellular responses and in some cases even disable it. In this review we present an overview of protein misfolding and examine recent data which is beginning to reveal the mechanisms by which protein aggregates are toxic to cells.
IUBMB Life, 56: 119‐123, 2004
Differential Expression of Mycothiol Pathway Genes: Are they Affected by Antituberculosis Drugs?
Authors: Hayward Don , Wiid Ian , van Helden Paul 
Published: May 2004

AbstractMycothiol (MSH) is the major cellular thiol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). We hypothesize that the mycothiol‐dependent detoxification pathway may serve an important role during oxygen stress management in M. tuberculosis, derived from normal aerobic metabolism, the macrophage environment and through the action of anti‐tubercular antibiotics, such as Isoniazid (INH). Total mRNA and DNA were isolated from M. bovis BCG at different stages of growth in 7H9 mycobacterial medium. Three genes involved in mycothiol metabolism and encoding the enzymes mycothiol S‐conjugate amidase (Mca, Rv1082), NADPH dependend mycothiol reductase (mtr, Rv2855), and N‐Acetyl‐1‐D‐myo‐Inosityl‐2‐Amino‐2‐Deoxy‐alpha‐D‐Glucopyranoside Deacetylase (GlcNAc‐Ins deacetylase, Rv1170 or mshB) were investigated for genomic rearrangements and expression. The results show that the genomic domains of the genes remain conserved in evolutionary diverse and unrelated M. tuberculosis isolates. The genes encoding enzymes implicated in mycothiol reduction, mtr (Rv2855) and the mycothiol‐dependant detoxification of electrophilic agents, Mca (Rv1082), are shown to be actively transcribed during logarithmic M. bovis BCG growth. The gene encoding GlcNAc‐Ins deacetylase (the rate limiting mycothiol biosynthesis step) shows induction in the presence of INH. Antisense oligonucleotides to both GlcNAc‐Ins deacetylase (Rv1170) and mtr (Rv2855) mRNA affect mycobacterial growth. In conclusion the results presented here suggest that these enzymes are sensitive to free radical generating antituberculosis drugs and may be useful targets for new drug development.
IUBMB Life, 56: 131‐138, 2004
Retracted: Nutritional Flavonoids Modulate Estrogen Receptor α Signaling
Authors: Virgili Fabio , Acconcia Filippo , Ambra Roberto , Rinna Alessandra , Totta Pierangela , Marino Maria 
Published: May 2004

AbstractEstrogen receptor α (ERα) mediates 17β‐estradiol (E2) actions through the transcription of E2‐sensitive target genes. In addition, rapid non‐genomic signaling (e.g., MAPK/ERK) occurs. It is now well accepted that these rapid membrane‐initiated responses account for E2‐related cancer. Beside many beneficial effects on human health, nutritional flavonoids exert protective and anticarcinogenic effects on E2‐related cancer. The mechanism underlying these effects seems to be related to flavonoids antioxidant properties and/or to their ability to alter signal transduction protein kinases. In addition, an antiestrogenic activity has been proposed but not yet defined. However, the identification and characterization of the responsible mechanisms for flavonoid antitumoral effects is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the possibility that the antimitogenic effects of flavonoids are transduced by modulating ERα‐mediated rapid signaling. The ability of two flavonoids, the flavanone naringenin and the flavanol quercetin, with respect of E2, to induce ERα activities has been studied in the human cervix epitheloid carcinoma cell line (HeLa) devoid of any estrogen receptors and rendered E2‐sensitive by transient transfection with a human ERα expression vector. Our results indicate that flavonoids act as E2 mimetic on ERα transcriptional activity, whereas they impair the activation of rapid signaling pathways committed to E2‐induced proliferation. The resulting decoupling of ERα signal transduction could be proposed as a new mechanism in the protective effects of flavonoids against E2‐related cancer.
IUBMB Life, 56: 145‐151, 2004
Symmetry Preservation in the Evolution of the Genetic Code
Authors: Hornos José Eduardo M. , Braggion Lígia , Magini Marcio , Forger Michael 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe standard genetic code is found to exhibit an exact symmetry under a finite group of order 4 known in mathematics as the Klein group. The same symmetry is also present in almost all non‐standard codes, mitochondrial as well as nuclear. Analysis of the phylogenetic tree for the evolution of the mitochondrial codes reveals that all changes along the main line of evolution preserve this symmetry, with a tendency towards symmetry enhancement. In the side branches of the evolutionary tree, the majority of changes also respect the symmetry. The few exceptional cases where it is broken correspond to reassignments that appear to be unstable or incomplete. Since the Klein group emerges naturally from the symplectic model for the prebiotic evolution that has led to the standard code, we interpret these results as lending support to the hypothesis that this symmetry has been selected during the evolution of the genetic code, not only before but also after establishment of the standard code.
IUBMB Life, 56: 125‐130, 2004
Src Kinase‐Dependent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Transactivation in PPARγ Ligand‐Induced Suppression of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Interference with Salivary Mucin Synthesis
Authors: Slomiany Bronislaw L. , Slomiany Amalia 
Published: May 2004

AbstractPeroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has emerged recently as an important participant in the resolution of inflammation by conveying signals that lead to mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade activation. In this study, we report that PPARγ activation leading to the impedance of P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibitory effect on salivary mucin synthesis requires epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) participation. We show that activation of PPARγ with a specific agonist, ciglitazone, prevents the LPS‐induced reduction in mucin synthesis, and the effect is reflected in a marked decrease in apoptosis, caspase‐3 activity and NO generation. The impedance by ciglitazone of the LPS‐induced reduction in mucin synthesis was countered (up to 68.9%) in a dose‐dependent fashion by a specific inhibitor of EGFR kinase, PD153035, as well as wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K). Moreover, the inhibitory effect of ciglitazone on the LPS‐induced reduction in mucin synthesis and upregulation in apoptosis, caspase‐3 activity, and NO generation was blunted by a selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase Src, PP2, responsible for ligand‐independent EGFR transactivation. These findings indicate that PPARγ activation leading to the suppression of P. gingivalis LPS inhibition of salivary mucin synthesis involves Src kinase‐dependent EGFR transactivation.
IUBMB Life, 56: 153‐159, 2004
Characterization of COBRA1 in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Using a New Polyclonal Antibody against COBRA1
Authors: Zhu Jianhua , Song Santai , Jiang Zefei , Yan Jinghua , Lu Qiujun , Huang Cuifen , Ye Qinong 
Published: May 2004

AbstractMutations in the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 predispose individuals to breast and ovarian cancers. Cofactor of BRCA1 (COBRA1), a novel protein, was isolated as a BRCA1‐interacting protein. However, the role of COBRA1 in breast cancer is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that COBRA1 mRNA was differentially expressed in breast cancer cell lines by semi‐quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain PCR (RT‐PCR). We developed a highly specific rabbit polyclonal anti‐COBRA1 antibody using GST‐COBRA1 fusion protein. In most cases, the levels of COBRA1 protein in breast cancer cell lines detected by Western blotting with the anti‐COBRA1 antibody correlated with those of COBRA1 mRNA. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that COBRA1 was a nuclear protein. Endogenously expressed COBRA1 interacted with the nuclear protein BRCA1 in human breast cancer cells. These data suggest that the COBRA1 antibody may be a useful tool to investigate functions of COBRA1 in cancers and that, like BRCA1, COBRA1 may regulate various nuclear events in breast cancer cells.
IUBMB Life, 56: 161‐166, 2004
MICRURGICAL STUDIES IN CELL PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Reznikoff Paul 
Published: May 2004

I. The Plasmalemma.
1. On the plasmalemma of amebæ CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl better than it does NaCl, and still better than it does KCl. MgCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of NaCl better than it does LiCl and still better than it does KCl.
2. CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl and of KCl better than does MgCl2: MgCl2 antagonizes NaCl better than does CaCl2.
II. The Internal Protoplasm.
3. The antagonizing efficiency of CaCl2 and of MgCl2 are highest against the toxic action of KCl on the internal protoplasm, less against that of NaCl, and least against that of LiCl.
4. CaCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of LiCl better than does MgCl2: MgCl2 antagonizes the toxic action of NaCl and of KCl better than does CaCl2.
5. LiCl antagonizes the toxic action of MgCl2 on the internal protoplasm more effectively than do NaCl or KCl, which have an equal antagonizing effect on the MgCl2 action.
III. The Nature of Antagonism.
6. When the concentration of an antagonizing salt is increased to a toxic value, it acts synergistically with a toxic salt.
7. No case was found in which a potentially antagonistic salt abolishes the toxic action of a salt unless it is present at the site (surface or interior) of toxic action.
8. Antagonistic actions of the salts used in these experiments are of differing effectiveness on the internal protoplasm and on the surface membrane.