julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of apical sodium-chloride cotransporter and basolateral chloride channels is responsible for the maintenance of salt-sensitive hypertension
2008-05-15

We investigated which of the NaCl transporters are involved in the maintenance of salt-sensitive hypertension. Milan hypertensive (MHS) rats were studied 3 mo after birth. In MHS, compared with normotensive strain (MNS), mRNA abundance, quantified by competitive PCR on isolated tubules, was unchanged, both for Na + /H + isoform 3 (NHE3) and Na + -K + -2Cl − (NKCC2), but higher (119%, n = 5, P &lt; 0.005) for Na + -Cl − (NCC) in distal convoluted tubules (DCT). These results were confirmed by Western blots, which revealed: 1) unchanged NHE3 in the cortex and NKCC2 in the outer medulla; 2) a significant increase (52%, n = 6, P &lt; 0.001) of NCC in the cortex; 3) α- and β-sodium channels [epithelial Na + channel (ENaC)] unaffected in renal cortex and slightly reduced in the outer medulla, while γ-ENaC remained unchanged. Pendrin protein expression was unaffected. The role of NCC was reinforced by immunocytochemical studies showing increased NCC on the apical membrane of DCT cells of MHS animals, and by clearance experiments demonstrating a larger sensitivity ( P &lt; 0.001) to bendroflumethiazide in MHS rats. Kidney-specific chloride channels (ClC-K) were studied by Western blot experiments on renal cortex and by patch-clamp studies on primary culture of DCT dissected from MNS and MHS animals. Electrophysiological characteristics of ClC-K channels were unchanged in MHS rats, but the number of active channels in a patch was 0.60 ± 0.21 ( n = 35) in MNS rats and 2.17 ± 0.59 ( n = 23) in MHS rats ( P &lt; 0.05). The data indicate that, in salt-sensitive hypertension, there is a strong upregulation, both of NCC and ClC-K along the DCT, which explains the persistence of hypertension.
INTEGRAL observations of the variability of OAO 1657-415
2008-05-15

The Galactic Plane Scan (GPS) was one of the core observation programmes of the INTEGRAL satellite. The highly variable accreting pulsar OAO 1657-415 was frequently observed within the GPS. We investigate the spectral and timing properties of OAO 1657-415 and their variability on short and long time scales in the energy range 6-160 keV. During the time covered by the INTEGRAL observations, the pulse period evolution shows an initial spin-down, which is followed by an equally strong spin-up. In combining our results with historical pulse period measurements (correcting them for orbital variation) and with stretches of continuous observations by BATSE, we find that the long-term period evolution is characterised by a long-term spin-up overlayed by sets of relative spin-down/spin-up episodes, which appear to repeat quasi-periodically on a 4.8 yr time scale. We measure an updated local ephemeris and confirm the previously determined orbital period with an improved accuracy. The spectra clearly change with pulse phase. The spectrum measured during the main peak of the pulse profile is particularly hard. We do not find any evidence of a cyclotron line, wether in the phase-averaged spectrum or in phase-resolved spectra.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lung Tissue: Influence of Body Positioning, Breathing and Oxygen Inhalation on Signal Decay Using Multi-Echo Gradient-Echo Sequences
2008-05-15

The proposed method allows for the computation of color-encoded T2* maps and FWHM maps of lung parenchyma in good image quality using datasets acquired at 0.2 T. The technique is robust and sensitive to physiological changes of lung magnetic resonance properties, eg, due to the type of body positioning or oxygen breathing.
Summary of session B3: analytic approximations, perturbation methods and their applications
2008-05-15

The paper summarizes the parallel session B3 {\\\\em Analytic approximations,\\nperturbation methods, and their applications} of the GR18 conference. The talks\\nin the session reported notably recent advances in black hole perturbations and\\npost-Newtonian approximations as applied to sources of gravitational waves.\\n
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon‐ and Nitrogen‐Centered (Z) Trigonal Prismatic Tungsten Clusters of the Formula Type A[W6ZCl18].
2008-05-15

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Regiospecific and Highly Flexible Synthesis of 1,4,5‐Trisubstituted 2‐Sulfanylimidazoles from Structurally Diverse Ethanone Precursors.
2008-05-15

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of 1,5‐Methano‐3‐benzazocines by Intramolecular Buchwald—Hartwig Arylation of 2‐Piperidinones.
2008-05-15

Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
The microglial/macrophagic response at the tumour–brain border of invasive meningiomas
2008-05-16

Aims: Little is known about the immune response of the brain to invasive meningiomas. The present study was based upon the hypothesis that the microglial/macrophagic response towards brain‐invasive meningiomas is dependent on the intactness of the pial‐glial basement membrane. Methods: We immunostained sections from 40 brain‐invasive meningiomas that were graded according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 criteria. Thirty‐three tumours were histologically WHO grade II (18, ‘otherwise benign’, and 15, ‘otherwise atypical’), and seven, grade III. Microglial/macrophagic cells were labelled with antibodies directed against major histocompatibility complex class II, CD68, CD14 and CD163. Anti‐collagen IV was used to visualize basement membranes. Results: Twenty‐five per cent (10/40) meningiomas (1/18 WHO grade II ‘otherwise benign’, 3/15 grade II ‘otherwise atypical’ and 6/7 WHO grade III) contained microglial/macrophagic cells at the tumour–brain border. The presence of these cells correlated with the absence of the pial‐glial basement membrane (BM) and with WHO grade III. The monocytic response was of two kinds: one consisted of a dense layer of mononuclear cells at the tumour–brain border in nine cases, the other of an elevated number of microglial cells expressing CD14 or CD163 (two cases). Conclusions: The immune response at the tumour–brain interface correlates with the absence of the pial‐glial BM and with malignancy grade. It remains to be established whether the mononuclear cells at the tumour–brain border are native microglia or blood‐derived macrophages.
EGR‐1 is Regulated by N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate‐Receptor Stimulation and Associated with Patient Survival in Human High Grade Astrocytomas
2008-05-16

Abstract Early growth response‐1 (EGR‐1) is considered a central regulator in tumor cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis and a promising candidate for gene therapy in human astrocytomas. However, conflicting data have been reported suggesting that both tumor promoting and anti‐tumor activity of EGR‐1 and its regulation, expression and prognostic significance still remain enigmatic. Our study explored EGR‐1 expression and regulation in astrocytomas and its association with patient survival. As we detected two EGR‐1 mRNA variants, one containing a N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐receptor (NMDA‐R) responsive cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE), further experiments were performed to determine the functional role of this pathway. After NMDA stimulation of SV‐FHAS and neoplastic astrocytes, real‐time polymerase chain reaction showed an increase of the CPE, containing EGR‐1 splice variant only in astrocytoma cells. The surface expression and functionality of NMDA‐R were demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis and measurement of increased intracellular Ca 2+ . EGR‐1 was mainly restricted to tumor cells expressing NMDA‐R and significantly up‐regulated in astrocytic tumors compared with normal brain. Further, EGR‐1 expression was significantly ( P &lt; 0.007) associated with enhanced patient survival and was an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis in high grade astrocytomas. The NMDA‐R‐mediated EGR‐1 expression, therefore, seems to be a promising target for novel clinical approaches to astrocytoma treatment.
Altered Expression of Mismatch Repair Proteins Associated with Acquisition of Microsatellite Instability in a Clonal Model of Human T Lymphocyte Aging
2008-05-17

The DNA mismatch repair system, the main postreplicative correction pathway in eukaryotic cells, has been shown to be involved in the acquisition of genetic damage during the aging of normal somatic cells, including those of the immune system. Previously, we showed that some but not all human T cell clones (TCC) in an in vitro culture aging model develop microsatellite instability (MSI), which is associated with altered expression of mismatch repair genes. Here, we analyzed levels of mismatch repair proteins as well as the corresponding mRNAs and related this to the development of microsatellite instability in TCC. Msh2, Msh3, Msh6, Pms1, and Pms2 protein expression was quantified by Western blotting. We found that clones not manifesting microsatellite instability in this in vitro model of T cell replicative aging, induced by persistent antigenic stimulation, maintain normal transcriptional control and coordination among the mismatch repair system genes, while clones which do manifest MSI display a general deregulation of gene expression, which is likely to contribute to its occurrence.
The ontogeny of the shell in side‐necked turtles, with emphasis on the homologies of costal and neural bones
2008-05-19

Abstract Although we are starting to understand the molecular basis of shell development based on the study of cryptodires, basic comparative ontogenetic data for the other major clade of living turtle, the pleurodires, are largely missing. Herein, the developmental and phylogenetic relation between the bony shell and endoskeleton of Pleurodira are examined by studying histological serial sections of nine specimens of three different species, including an ontogenetic series of Emydura subglobosa . Emphasis is given to the portion of the carapace in which ribs and vertebral spinous processes become part of the carapace. Central questions are how neurals and costals are formed in pleurodiran turtles, whether costals and neurals are of endoskeletal or exoskeletal origin, and what ontogenetic factors relate to neural reduction of some Pleurodira. The neurals and costals do not develop as independent ossification centers, but they are initial outgrowths of the periosteal collar of endoskeletal ribs and neural arches. Slightly later in development, the ossification of both shell elements continues without a distinct periosteum but by metaplastically ossifying precondensed soft‐tissue integumentary structures. Through ontogeny, ribs of the turtles studied are closely associated with the hypaxial intercostalis musculature while epaxial interspinalis musculature connects the neural arches. We here propose an alternative structural hypothesis for the neural reduction and, ultimately, the complete loss of the neural series. The complete reduction of neurals in Emydura spp. may be linked to heterochrony, accompanied by a restricted influence of epaxial musculature and epidermal–dermal interaction in shell bone formation. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: A comparison of 11-gauge and 8-gauge needles in benign breast disease
2008-05-19

Our data show that there are no relevant differences between the 8-gauge and 11-gauge needle when used for VB. Under sonographic guidance, the use of the 8-gauge needle is recommended for firm breast tissue due to its sharp scalpel point and especially for complete removal of benign lesions. We did not find any advantages in the use of the larger 8-gauge needle compared to the 11-gauge needle in the mammography setting. The utilisation costs of the 8-gauge needle are somewhat higher.
Fatty liver and HDL-cholesterol: just a matter of quantity?
2008-05-19

Konstantinos Kantartzis, Hans-Ulrich Haring & Norbert Stefan† †Author for correspondence University of Tubingen, Department of Internal Medicine, Otfried-Muller-Str 10, D-72076 Tubingen, Germany Tel.: +49 7071 298 0390; Fax: +49 7071 295 974; norbert.stefan@ med.uni-tuebingen.de ‘...fatty liver directly, and/or by inducing insulin resistance, contributes to an atherogenic serum lipid profile and may also play a role in the regulation of the quality of HDL.’
Paleotectonic Position of the Strandja Massif and Surrounding Continental Blocks Based on Zircon Pb-Pb Age Studies
2008-05-20

Detrital zircon ages from metasedimentary rocks of the Strandja massif have been used to reveal its tectonic history, initial position, and some aspects of the Paleozoic motion of this continental block within the Tethyan domain. The age of the metamorphic basement of northwestern Turkey has thus far been uncertain. Estimates of the depositional age of metasedimentary rocks range from Precambrian to late Paleozoic, hindering correlation of the massif with other tectonic units. In this study, new evaporation Pb-Pb ages of detrital zircons show that biotite schists constituting the central part of the metamorphic basement were deposited later than 430 Ma and prior to 315 Ma. Biotite schists exposed along the southern boundary of the basement were deposited between 300 and 271 Ma. Episodes of pre-Carboniferous magmatic activity that are inferred from detrital ages cluster around 460-433, 575-525, 700-600, 875-800, 1050-950, 2200-2100, and 2450 Ma. Some of these age ranges correlate with the ages of Late Carboniferous inherited zircons in orthogneisses (315-300 Ma) of the Strandja massif. Pan-African or/and Cadomian ages at 575-525 and 700-650 Ma, respectively, are characteristic of magmatic events in other continental blocks of Turkey (e.g., the Istanbul Zone), as well as in crystalline complexes of surrounding regions—e.g., Crete, the Cyclades massif, the Vardar Zone, and the Sredna Gora Zone. The magmatic history of the source areas of the Strandja detrital zircons prior to the Ordovician is correlative with both the Avalonian and the Armorican tectonic units of Western Europe. Zircon core ages obtained from Late Carboniferous orthogneisses in the Strandja massif are correlated with units derived from the North African sector of Gondwana because of the absence of Mesoproterozoic ages. The basement metasediments of the Strandja massif reveal heterogeneous source areas, which were fed by the North African (Armorica) and the South American (Avalonia) basements. The presence of Mesoproterozoic zircon ages in metasediments of the Strandja massif indicates the proximity of the Strandja massif to Avalonian (or Baltica) derived units during the Late Silurian-Carboniferous interval.
Extended In Vitro Expansion of Adult, Mobilized CD34+Cells Without Significant Cell Senescence Using a Stromal Cell Coculture System with Single Cytokine Support
2008-05-20

The macrophage colony-stimulating factor-deficient bone marrow stromal cell line OP9, derived from osteopetrotic mice, is known to support hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion as well as hematopoietic differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Coculture of HSC in the OP9 system requires cytokine support to achieve significant cell expansion. Recently, we reported extensive expansion without cell senescence of cord blood (CB)-derived HSC cocultured with OP9 stromal cells for more than 18 weeks with a single cytokine support using human thrombopoietin (TPO). In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of the OP9/TPO coculture system to sustain long-term hematopoiesis of adult, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor mobilized human peripheral blood (PB) CD34(+) cells. Maximum cell expansion was attained during the first 4 weeks of coculture. At the same time, the maximum progenitor cell expansion was demonstrated by the production of colony-forming cells and cobblestone area-forming cells. In contrast to the expansion of CB CD34(+) cells, PB CD34(+) cells showed termination of cultures after 8 weeks, independent of the cell expansion rates attained. The evaluation of cell senescence by assessing the telomere length in most cultures showed no relevant telomere shortening, despite rapid decrease in telomerase activity. Interestingly, increases in telomere length were demonstrated. In conclusion, OP9/TPO system provides extensive stem cell expansion without concomitant telomere erosion for both CB and adult CD34(+) cells. Termination of adult CD34(+) cell cocultures seems to be independent of telomere length.
Biaryl Formation from 5-(2-Bromobenzyl)-Substituted Piperidin-2-ones via Palladacycles
2008-05-21

The reaction of piperdin-2-ones with a 2-bromobenzyl substituent in the 5-position in the presence of a palladium catalyst leads to biaryl compounds. Their formation can be explained via initial C-H insertion of the aryl palladium species into the allylic C-H bond of the piperidinone. This eventually leads to a metallacycle containing Pd(II) that inserts another aryl bromide, promoting the formation of the biaryl bond.
Iridium Coordination Compounds of Stanna-closo-dodecaborate
2008-05-21

The reaction of Vaska's complex [IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2] with stanna-closo-dodecaborate [SnB11H11]2− (1) resulted in the formation of the trigonal bipyramidal iridium(I) compound [Ir(SnB11H11)2(CO)(PPh3)2]3− (2). In this compound, one stannaborate moiety can be readily substituted with CO or ethylene at RT and atmospheric pressure to give the trigonal bipyramidal compounds [Et4N][Ir(SnB11H11)(CO)2(PPh3)2] (3) and [Me4N][Ir(SnB11H11)(CO)(C2H4)(PPh3)2] (4). Oxidative addition of H2 was accomplished by the reaction of 2 with H2, yielding the iridium(III) compound [Et3NMe][IrH2(SnB11H11)(CO)(PPh3)2] (5), whereas the protonation of 2 resulted in the formation of [Et3NMe]2[IrH(SnB11H11)2(CO)(PPh3)2] (6). All compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.
Lichen aureus with clonal T cells in a child possibly induced by regular consumption of an energy drink
2008-05-21

Lichen aureus is a rare disease of unknown origin that is classified under the group of pigmented purpuric dermatoses. Its most important differential diagnosis is both clinically and histologically mycosis fungoides, into which the disease can proceed in very rare cases. We describe an unusual multilocular lichen aureus possibly induced by the almost daily consumption of an energy drink. An 11‐year‐old boy presented with a history of asymptomatic ochre patches on his extremities and abdomen occurring after regular consumption of an energy drink. Histologic examination showed a band‐like lymphocytic infiltrate, containing hemosiderin deposits and extravasal erythrocytes adjacent to dermal blood vessels, in the iron‐stain detection of hemosiderin. Because of these findings, lichen aureus was diagnosed. After a 2‐month abstention from the energy drink, no new lesions appeared and the present lesions grew pale and finally disappeared. The case shows a rare multilocular lichen aureus, which disappeared after the consumption of an energy drink was stopped. The ingredients of the energy drink are an example of a possible trigger of the disease.
Intravitreal bevacizumab in postoperative pseudophakic cystoid macular edema: Does it really work?
2008-05-21

In their article about primary intravitreal bevacizumab for the management of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME), Arevalo et al.1 found an improvement of best corrected visual acuity in more that 70% of treated eyes. These results are strikingly better than those we have reported. Apart from a moderate decrease in central retinal thickness, we found almost no beneficial effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on postoperative CME unresponsive to standard therapy.2 What might be the explanation for the discrepancy between these 2 studies? Postoperative CME (Irvine-Gass syndrome) is usually self-limiting and resolves spontaneously, with up to 75% of patients achieving improved visual acuity within 6 months of onset. Only a minority of patients show no improvement after a trial of noninvasive treatment modalities such as topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory eyedrops, systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, or simply observation.3–5 However, the condition becomes a therapeutic challenge when it persists for several months. Unfortunately, Arevalo et al. do not comment on the duration of CME in individual patients. It would be interesting to know whether the patients who responded to intravitreal bevacizumab had just been diagnosed with postoperative CME or had had the condition for a prolonged period as the response to therapy is dependent on the duration of CME. There is no information about the onset of the CME prior to the bevacizumab injection. The authors report only that the mean interval between cataract surgery and the intravitreal injection was 13 months (range 1 to 60 months).The median would be far more informative as this would indicate whether the study population consisted predominantly of acute or chronic cases of postoperative CME. Moreover, to mention only the period of time after cataract surgery is misleading because the edema often occurs many weeks or months after cataract surgery. In addition, no data on prior or additional therapy are provided. We hypothesize that the study population of Arevalo et al. consisted largely of acute cases of postoperative CME that may have improved on their own or with topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs or any other noninvasive treatment. Thus, we doubt whether there is a rationale at this time for intravitreal bevacizumab, which remains an invasive procedure, as a primary treatment for Irvine-Gass syndrome.
Integration of tail-anchored proteins into the mitochondrial outer membrane does not require any known import components
2008-05-22

Tail-anchored proteins form a distinct class of membrane proteins that are found in all intracellular membranes exposed to the cytosol. These proteins have a single membrane insertion sequence at their C-terminus and display a large N-terminal portion to the cytosol. Despite their importance for various cellular processes, the mechanisms by which these proteins are recognized at and inserted into their corresponding target membrane remained largely unclear. Here we address this issue and investigate the biogenesis of tail-anchored proteins residing in the mitochondrial outer membrane. To that goal we developed a highly specific assay to monitor the membrane insertion of the model tail-anchored protein Fis1. Using this assay, we show that in contrast to all other import pathways in yeast mitochondria, none of the import components at the outer membrane is involved in the insertion process of Fis1. Both the steady-state levels of Fis1 and its in vitro insertion into isolated mitochondria were unaffected when mitochondria mutated in known import factors were analyzed. Fis1 was inserted into lipid vesicles, and importantly, elevated ergosterol contents in these vesicles inhibited this insertion. Collectively, these results suggest that Fis1 is inserted into mitochondria in a novel pathway where the unique lipid composition of the mitochondrial outer membrane contributes to the selectivity of the process. Thus, this work demonstrates a novel role for lipids in the biogenesis of mitochondrial protein.