bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An anti‐inflammatory oligopeptide produced by Entamoeba histolytica down‐regulates the expression of pro‐inflammatory chemokines
Authors: Utrera‐Barillas Dolores , Velazquez Juan R. , Enciso Antonio , Muñoz Cruz Samira , Rico Guadalupe , Curiel‐Quesada Everardo , Teran Luis M. , Kretschmer Roberto R. 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYAxenically grown Entamoeba histolytica produces a pentapeptide (Met‐Gln‐Cys‐Asn‐Ser) with anti‐inflammatory properties that, among others, inhibits the in vitro and in vivo locomotion of human monocytes, sparing polymorphonuclear leucocytes from this effect [hence the name originally given: Monocyte Locomotion Inhibitory Factor (MLIF)]. A synthetic construct of this peptide displays the same effects as the native material. We now added MLIF to resting and PMA‐stimulated cells of a human monocyte cell line and measured the effect upon mRNA and protein expression of pro‐inflammatory chemokines (RANTES, IP‐10, MIP‐1α, MIP‐1β, MCP‐1, IL‐8, I‐309 and lymphotactin) and the shared CC receptor repertoire. The constitutive expression of these chemokines and the CC receptors was unaffected, whereas induced expression of MIP‐1α, MIP‐1β, and I‐309, and that of the CCR1 receptor – all involved in monocyte chemotaxis – was significantly inhibited by MLIF. This suggests that the inhibition of monocyte functions by MLIF may not only be exerted directly on these cells, but also – and perhaps foremost – through a conglomerate down‐regulation of endogenous pro‐inflammatory chemokines.
IFN‐γ is associated with risk of Schistosoma japonicum infection in China
Authors: Shen L. , Zhang Z. S. , Wu H. W. , Weir R. E. , Xie Z. W. , Hu L. S. , Chen S. Z. , Ji M. J. , Su C. , Zhang Y. , Bickle Q. D. , Cousens S. N. , Taylor M. G. , Wu G. L. 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARYBefore the start of the schistosomiasis transmission season, 129 villagers resident on a Schistosoma japonicum‐endemic island in Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, 64 of whom were stool‐positive for S. japonicum eggs by the Kato method and 65 negative, were treated with praziquantel. Forty‐five days later the 93 subjects who presented for follow‐up were all stool‐negative. Blood samples were collected from all 93 individuals. S. japonicum soluble worm antigen (SWAP) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) stimulated IL‐4, IL‐5 and IFN‐γ production in whole‐blood cultures were measured by ELISA. All the subjects were interviewed nine times during the subsequent transmission season to estimate the intensity of their contact with potentially infective snail habitats, and the subjects were all re‐screened for S. japonicum by the Kato method at the end of the transmission season. Fourteen subjects were found to be infected at that time. There was some indication that the risk of infection might be associated with gender (with females being at higher risk) and with the intensity of water contact, and there was evidence that levels of SEA‐induced IFN‐γ production were associated with reduced risk of infection.
Convergence and Divergence of Random Series
Authors: Pakes Anthony G. 
Published: February 2004

SummaryThis paper amplifies Daley's (1981) criteria for absolute convergence of certain random series by providing a sufficient condition which also is necessary if the summands are independent. Conditions for unconditional and conditional convergence are also given. These results are used to obtain a substantially complete picture of the behaviour of random Dirichlet series of a fairly general type. Behaviour of the partial sums of divergent series is discussed, with particular attention to Dirichlet series.
Kernel Estimation of the Spectral Density of Stationary Random Closed Sets
Authors: Böhm Stephan , Heinrich Lothar , Schmidt Volker 
Published: February 2004

SummaryA non‐parametric kernel estimator of the spectral density of stationary random closed sets is studied. Conditions are derived under which this estimator is asymptotically unbiased and mean‐square consistent. For the planar Boolean model with isotropic compact and convex grains, an averaged version of the kernel estimator is compared with the theoretical spectral density.
Powers and Products of Regenerative Phenomena
Authors: Kingman J.F.C. 
Published: February 2004

SummaryThe simultaneous occurrence of two independent regenerative phenomena defines a third, whose p‐function is the product of the first two. Thus integer powers of p‐functions are p‐functions. The corresponding result for non‐integer powers (with exponent α > 1) has been proved for discrete time phenomena and for standard continuous time phenomena. There are still open questions, notably whether the class of Markov p‐functions is closed under non‐integer powers. These questions are addressed by means of a new technique which relates the atoms of the canonical measure to ‘kinks’ in the p‐function. This provides new information even for products of p‐functions.
Prediction Regions for Bivariate Extreme Events
Authors: Hall Peter , Tajvidi Nader 
Published: February 2004

SummaryThis paper suggests using a mixture of parametric and non‐parametric methods to construct prediction regions in bivariate extreme‐value problems. The non‐parametric part of the technique is used to estimate the dependence function, or copula, and the parametric part is employed to estimate the marginal distributions. A bootstrap calibration argument is suggested for reducing coverage error. This combined approach is compared with a more parametric one, relative to which it has the advantages of being more flexible and simpler to implement. It also enjoys these features relative to predictive likelihood methods. The paper shows how to construct both compact and semi‐infinite bivariate prediction regions, and it treats the problem of predicting the value of one component conditional on the other. The methods are illustrated by application to Australian annual maximum temperature data.
The Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of a Lithuanian translation in an adolescent sample
Authors: Zukauskiene Rita , Sondaite Jolanta 
Published: February 2004

Zukauskiene, R. & Sondaite, J. (2004). The Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of a Lithuanian translation in an adolescent sample. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 157–162.The present study provides a preliminary validation of the Lithuanian version of the Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire (SAQ, Nurmi, et al., 1995), a self‐reported measure of social and cognitive behavioral strategies. An attempt to validate SAQ subscales was made by correlating them with the Youth Self‐Report (Achenbach, 1991) and school grades. This was done with a sample of 14‐ to 17‐year‐old adolescents (N= 734). The results showed that although internal consistency reliabilities were good, they were lower when compared with the original version of SAQ. The SAQ subscales were moderately associated with various validity criteria, such as anxiety/depression, withdrawal, social problems and somatic complaints and school grades. Results also showed moderate correlations between similar strategic components across achievement and affiliative situations. The results provide preliminary evidence for concurrent validity of the Lithuanian version of SAQ.
The problems with the validity of the diagnosis of brain death
Authors: Sundin‐Huard Deborah , Fahy Kathleen 
Published: February 2004

Summary• The diagnosis of brain death as ‘death’ and organ transplantation have been closely historically linked since the mid twentieth century• It will be argued in this article that the development of a neurological definition of death was introduced to justify the removal of fresh viable organs for transplantation• Brain death cannot be diagnosed reliably using ‘established practices’• Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of raised intracranial pressure has challenged our understanding of brain death• We need to move forward in our conceptualization of phenomenon of profound coma associated with massive brain damage• If examination for ‘brain death’ is to be carried out at all, there needs to be an examination and re‐evaluation of practices and protocols
Drugs used to promote diuresis: a treatment for fluid balance charts?
Authors: Cleaver Neal 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARY• Renal failure is a complex process characterized by the retention of nitrogenous waste products, electrolyte disturbances and decreased urine production• Diuretics are often prescribed as a treatment for decreased renal functioning• Diuretics induce urine production by different mechanisms of action• Diuretic therapy has not been found to decrease mortality nor decrease the need for further intervention• The current development of national framework standards will provide guidelines for the treatment of all patients suffering acute renal failure
Sand Fly Saliva EnhancesLeishmania amazonensisInfection by Modulating Interleukin-10 Production
Authors: Norsworthy Nilufer B. , Sun Jiaren , Elnaiem Dia , Lanzaro Gregory , Soong Lynn 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTAfter transmission through the bite of female sand flies,Leishmaniaspp. can cause a broad spectrum of disease manifestations collectively known as leishmaniases.L. amazonensisis endemic in South America, where it causes cutaneous, diffuse cutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, we have provided evidence that salivary gland extracts (SGE) ofLutzomyia longipalpisenhancesL. amazonensisinfection. BALB/c mice infected intradermally in the ear with 105metacyclic promastigotes ofL. amazonensistogether with SGE (equivalent to 0.5 gland) showed an early onset of disease and larger lesions that contained ∼3-log-units more parasites than did controls. To determine the potential mechanism underlying this enhancement, we assessed cytokine production via reverse transcriptase PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mice coinjected with parasites and SGE displayed higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA in the ear tissues, as well as higher levels of IL-10 in supernatants of restimulated draining lymph node (LN) cells, than did controls. Flow cytometric analysis revealed high frequencies of IL-10-producing CD4+and CD8+T cells in the draining LN of mice coinjected with the parasite and SGE. In addition, we examined bone marrow derived-macrophage cultures and detected increased IL-10 but decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in cells exposed to SGE prior to infection withL. amazonensis. Together, these results imply that the sand fly saliva facilitatesLeishmaniaevasion of the host immune system by modulating IL-10 production.
STAT1 Is Essential for Antimicrobial Effector Function but Dispensable for Gamma Interferon Production duringToxoplasma gondiiInfection
Authors: Gavrilescu L. Cristina , Butcher Barbara A. , Del Rio Laura , Taylor Gregory A. , Denkers Eric Y. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTThe opportunistic protozoanToxoplasma gondiiis a prototypic Th1-inducing pathogen inducing strong gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokine responses that are required to survive infection. Intracellular signaling intermediate STAT1 mediates many effects of IFN-γ and is implicated in activation of T-bet, a master regulator of Th1 differentiation. Here, we show thatT. gondii-infected STAT1-null mice fail to upregulate the IFN-γ-dependent effector molecules inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IGTP, and LRG-47, which are required for mice to survive infection. Both T-bet and interleukin-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2) failed to undergo normal upregulation in response toT. gondii. Development of IFN-γ-producing CD4+and CD8+T lymphocytes was severely curtailed in the absence of STAT1, but a substantial level of STAT1-independent non-T-cell-derived IFN-γ was induced. Absence of STAT1 also resulted in increased IL-4, Arg1, Ym1, and Fizz1, markers of Th2 differentiation and alternative macrophage activation. Together, the results show thatT. gondiiinduces STAT1-dependent T-lymphocyte and STAT1-independent non-T-cell IFN-γ production, but that effector functions of this type 1 cytokine cannot operate in the absence of STAT1, resulting in extreme susceptibility to acute infection.
Aerosolized Gamma Interferon (IFN-γ) Induces Expression of the Genes Encoding the IFN-γ-Inducible 10-Kilodalton Protein but Not Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Lung during Tuberculosis
Authors: Raju Bindu , Hoshino Yoshihiko , Kuwabara Kenichi , Belitskaya Ilana , Prabhakar Savita , Canova Antony , Gold Jeffrey A. , Condos Rany , Pine Richard I. , Brown Stuart , Rom William N. , Weiden Michael D. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTGamma interferon (IFN-γ) is critical in the immune response againstMycobacterium tuberculosis. In an ongoing trial of aerosol IFN-γ in conjunction with standard drug therapy, we have observed activation of IFN signaling in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from tuberculosis (TB) patients. We hypothesized that aerosol IFN-γ treatment of pulmonary TB would increase expression of genes important for the control of TB. We investigated the expression of downstream genes by measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the chemokine IFN-inducible 10-kDa protein (IP-10) by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. In vitro,M. tuberculosisinduced IP-10, and IFN-γ stimulated this further, with no effect on iNOS expression. We studied 21 patients with pulmonary TB and 7 healthy subjects. Similar to the in vitro model, IP-10 mRNA was increased in BAL cells from TB patients and was augmented after treatment with aerosolized IFN-γ. TB was also associated with elevated iNOS mRNA, but aerosolized IFN-γ did not further enhance expression. Genomic analysis identified 1,300 of 4,058 genes expressed in BAL cells from six TB patients before and after 1 month of therapy, including aerosolized IFN-γ. However, only 15 genes were differentially regulated by IFN-γ. We conclude that iNOS and IP-10 mRNA expression is increased in TB but that aerosol IFN-γ treatment increases expression of few genes in the human lung.
Exogenous Gamma and Alpha/Beta Interferon Rescues Human Macrophages from Cell Death Induced byBacillus anthracis
Authors: Gold Jeffrey A. , Hoshino Yoshihiko , Hoshino Satomi , Jones Marcus B. , Nolan Anna , Weiden Michael D. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTDuring the recent bioterrorism-related outbreaks, inhalational anthrax had a 45% mortality in spite of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, underscoring the need for better adjuvant therapies. The variable latency between exposure and development of disease suggests an important role for the host's innate immune response. Alveolar macrophages are likely the first immune cells exposed to inhalational anthrax, and the interferon (IFN) response of these cells comprises an important arm of the host innate immune response to intracellular infection withBacillus anthracis. Furthermore, IFNs have been used as immunoadjuvants for treatment of another intracellular pathogen,Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We established a model ofB. anthracisinfection with the Sterne strain (34F2) which contains lethal toxin (LeTx). 34F2was lethal to murine and human macrophages. Treatment with IFNs significantly improved cell viability and reduced the number of germinated intracellular spores. Infection with 34F2failed to induce the latent transcription factors signal transducer and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and ISGF-3, which are central to the IFN response. Furthermore, 34F2reduced STAT1 activation in response to exogenous alpha/beta IFN, suggesting direct inhibition of IFN signaling. Even though 34F2has LeTx, there was no mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 cleavage and p38 was normally induced, suggesting that these early effects ofB. anthracisinfection in macrophages are independent of LeTx. These data suggest an important role for both IFNs in the control ofB. anthracisand the potential benefit of using exogenous IFN as an immunoadjuvant therapy.
Organ Injury and Cytokine Release Caused by Peptidoglycan Are Dependent on the Structural Integrity of the Glycan Chain
Authors: Myhre Anders E. , Stuestøl Jon Fredrik , Dahle Maria K. , Øverland Gunhild , Thiemermann Christoph , Foster Simon J. , Lilleaasen Per , Aasen Ansgar O. , Wang Jacob E. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTSeveral studies have implicated a role of peptidoglycan (PepG) as a pathogenicity factor in sepsis and organ injury, in part by initiating the release of inflammatory mediators. We wanted to elucidate the structural requirements of PepG to trigger inflammatory responses and organ injury. Injection of native PepG into anesthetized rats caused moderate but significant increases in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin (markers of hepatic injury and/or dysfunction) and creatinine and urea (markers of renal dysfunction) in serum, whereas PepG pretreated with muramidase to digest the glycan backbone failed to do this. In an ex vivo model of human blood, PepG containing different amino acids induced similar levels of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and IL-10, as determined by plasma analyses (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Hydrolysis of theStaphylococcus aureuscross-bridge with lysostaphin resulted in moderately reduced release of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, whereas muramidase digestion nearly abolished the ability to induce cytokine release and IL-6 mRNA accumulation in CD14+monocytes compared to intact PepG. However, additional experiments showed that muramidase-treated PepG synergized with lipopolysaccharide to induce TNF-α and IL-10 release in whole blood, despite its lack of inflammatory activity when administered alone. Based on these studies, we hypothesize that the structural integrity of the glycan chain of the PepG molecule is very important for the pathogenic effects of PepG. The amino acid composition of PepG, however, does not seem to be essential for the inflammatory properties of the molecule.
Biological Activities ofBacteroides forsythusLipoproteins and Their Possible Pathological Roles in Periodontal Disease
Authors: Hasebe Akira , Yoshimura Atsutoshi , Into Takeshi , Kataoka Hideo , Tanaka Saori , Arakawa Shinichi , Ishikura Hiroaki , Golenbock Douglas T. , Sugaya Tsutomu , Tsuchida Nobuo , Kawanami Masamitsu , Hara Yoshitaka , Shibata Ken-ichiro 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTBacteroides forsythusis a gram-negative, anaerobic, fusiform bacterium and is considered to be an etiological agent in periodontal disease. A lipoprotein fraction prepared fromB. forsythuscells by Triton X-114 phase separation (BfLP) activated human gingival fibroblasts and a human monocytic cell line, THP-1, to induce interleukin-6 production and tumor necrosis factor alpha production. BfLP was found to be capable of inducing nuclear factor-κB translocation in human gingival fibroblasts and THP-1 cells. By using Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells transfected with Toll-like receptor genes together with a nuclear factor-κB-dependent CD25 reporter plasmid, it was found that signaling by BfLP was mediated by Toll-like receptor 2 but not by CD14 or Toll-like receptor 4. BfLP induced apoptotic cell death in human gingival fibroblasts, KB cells (an oral epithelial cell line), HL-60 cells (a human myeloid leukemia cell line), and THP-1 cells but not in MOLT4 cells (a T-cell leukemia cell line). Caspase-8, an initiator caspase in apoptosis, was found to be activated in these cells in response to BfLP stimulation. Thus, this study suggested that BfLP plays some etiological roles in oral infections, especially periodontal disease, by induction of cell activation or apoptosis.
Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase of
Streptococcus oralis
Functions as a Coadhesin for
Porphyromonas gingivalis
Major Fimbriae
Authors: Maeda Kazuhiko , Nagata Hideki , Yamamoto Yumiko , Tanaka Muneo , Tanaka Junko , Minamino Naoto , Shizukuishi Satoshi 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACT

Cohesive interactions between
Porphyromonas gingivalis
and plaque-forming bacteria, such as
Streptococcus oralis
, are considered to play an important role in the colonization of
P. gingivalis
in periodontal sites. Although
P. gingivalis
fimbriae have been reported to mediate coaggregation with
S. oralis
, the
S. oralis
molecule involved has not been identified. We identified the coadhesin of
S. oralis
ATCC 9811 and purified it by affinity column chromatography. We found that the molecular mass of the purified protein was approximately 40 kDa. Dot blot and Western blot assays showed binding of the 40-kDa protein to
P. gingivalis
fimbriae. Further, turbidimetric assays showed that the coadhesin inhibited coaggregation between
P. gingivalis
and
S. oralis
in a dose-dependent manner. Analyses of the amino-terminal sequences of the protein and its lysyl endopeptidase-cleaved fragments revealed that the coadhesin was identical to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Next, we cloned the gene that encodes
S. oralis
GAPDH and found that the sequence had a high degree of homology with the sequences of GAPDHs of various bacteria, including
Streptococcus gordonii
and
Fusobacterium nucleatum
. To confirm the contribution of
S. oralis
GAPDH to the interaction with
P. gingivalis
, a recombinant GAPDH protein was generated in
Escherichia coli
; this protein bound to
P. gingivalis
fimbriae and had an inhibitory effect on coaggregation. These results suggest that
S. oralis
GAPDH functions as a coadhesin for
P. gingivalis
fimbriae. In addition, considering the high degree of homology of the GAPDHs of various bacteria, those of other plaque-forming bacteria also may contribute to the colonization of
P. gingivalis
.
Effect of Neutralizing Transforming Growth Factor β1 on the Immune Response againstMycobacterium tuberculosisin Guinea Pigs
Authors: Allen Shannon Sedberry , Cassone Lynne , Lasco Todd M. , McMurray David N. 
Published: February 2004

ABSTRACTTransforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a cytokine which has been shown to suppress the antimycobacterial immune responses of humans and experimental animals. In this study, the contributions of TGF-β to cytokine production in vivo were investigated by using the established guinea pig model of tuberculous pleurisy.Mycobacterium bovisBCG-vaccinated guinea pigs were injected intrapleurally with heat-killed virulentMycobacterium tuberculosis. Eight days following induction of an antigen-specific pleural effusion, guinea pigs were injected intrapleurally with anti-TGF-β1 or isotype control antibody. The following day, pleural exudates were removed, and the fluid volume and characteristics of the infiltrating cells were determined. Pleural fluid was analyzed for total interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) protein levels by using appropriate bioassays. RNA from pleural effusion cells was examined to determine TGF-β1, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and interleukin-8 mRNA levels by using real-time PCR. Proliferative responses of pleural effusion lymphocytes were examined in response to concanavalin A and purified protein derivative (PPD) in vitro. Treatment with anti-TGF-β1 resulted in decreased pleural fluid volume and decreased cell numbers in the pleural space along with an increased percentage of lymphocytes and a decreased percentage of neutrophils. The bioactive TNF protein levels in pleural fluid were increased in guinea pigs treated with anti-TGF-β1, while the bioactive IFN protein concentrations were not altered. Expression of TGF-β1 and TNF-α mRNA was significantly increased following TGF-β1 neutralization. Finally, PPD-induced proliferative responses of pleural cells from anti-TGF-β1-treated animals were significantly enhanced. Thus, TGF-β1 may be involved in the resolution of this local, mycobacterial antigen-specific inflammatory response.