julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Changes of fibrosis-related parameters after high- and low-LET irradiation of fibroblasts
2001-01-01

RBE for clonogenic survival as well as for fibrosis-related parameters for high-energy carbon ions are slightly above unity. Low-energy carbon ions with a higher LET are more efficient than X-rays, whereas the RBE of nickel ions is below unity. The results obtained for the differentiation pattern and protein production of porcine fibroblasts after irradiation with X-rays and high-energy carbon ions are in agreement with those obtained with human fibroblasts. An accumulation of fibrocytes with a concomitant increase in ECM protein production could be seen after in vitro irradiation. There is no indication of a higher RBE for fibrosis-related parameters compared with other endpoints (survival, chromosomal and DNA damage). The dose- and LET-dependence suggest that premature differentiation is a survival strategy after radiation damage.
Control of the Ferric Citrate Transport System of Escherichia coli : Mutations in Region 2.1 of the FecI Extracytoplasmic-Function Sigma Factor Suppress Mutations in the FecR Transmembrane Regulatory Protein
2001-01-01

ABSTRACT Transcription of the ferric citrate transport genes is initiated by binding of ferric citrate to the FecA protein in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli K-12. Bound ferric citrate does not have to be transported but initiates a signal that is transmitted by FecA across the outer membrane and by FecR across the cytoplasmic membrane into the cytoplasm, where the FecI extracytoplasmic-function (ECF) sigma factor becomes active. In this study, we isolated transcription initiation-negative missense mutants in the cytoplasmic region of FecR that were located at four sites, L13Q, W19R, W39R, and W50R, which are highly conserved in FecR-like open reading frames of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Pseudomonas putida , Bordetella pertussis , Bordetella bronchiseptica , and Caulobacter crescentus genomes. The cytoplasmic portion of the FecR mutant proteins, FecR 1–85 , did not interact with wild-type FecI, in contrast to wild-type FecR 1–85 , which induced FecI-mediated fecB transport gene transcription. Two missense mutations in region 2.1 of FecI, S15A and H20E, partially restored induction of ferric citrate transport gene induction of the fecR mutants by ferric citrate. Region 2.1 of ς 70 is thought to bind RNA polymerase core enzyme; the residual activity of mutated FecI in the absence of FecR, however, was not higher than that of wild-type FecI. In addition, missense mutations in the fecI promoter region resulted in a twofold increased transcription in fecR wild-type cells and a partial restoration of fec transport gene transcription in the fecR mutants. The mutations reduced binding of the Fe 2+ Fur repressor and as a consequence enhanced fecI transcription. The data reveal properties of the FecI ECF factor distinct from those of ς 70 and further support the novel transcription initiation model in which the cytoplasmic portion of FecR is important for FecI activity.
A randomized trial of amifostine in patients with high-dose VIC chemotherapy plus autologous blood stem cell transplanation*
2001-01-01

This pilot study evaluates the degree of side effects during high-dose chemotherapy (HD-VIC) plus autologous bone marrow transplant (HDCT) and its possible prevention by the cytoprotective thiol-derivate amifostine. Additionally, the in-patient medical costs of both treatment arms were compared. 40 patients with solid tumours were randomized to receive HD-VIC chemotherapy with or without amifostine (910 mg/m(2)at day 1-3) given as a short infusion prior to carboplatin and ifosfamide. Patients were stratified according to pretreatment. HDCT consisted of an 18 h infusion of carboplatin (500 mg/m(2/)d over 18 h), ifosfamide (4 g/m(2)/d over 4 h) and etoposide (500 mg/m(2)/d) all given for 3 consecutive days. All patients received prophylactic application of G-CSF (5 microg kg(-1)subcutaneously) to ameliorate neutropenia after treatment. Patients were monitored for nephrotoxicity, gastrointestinal side effects, haematopoietic recovery, as well as frequency of fever and infections. The median fall of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 10% from baseline in the amifostine group (105 to 95 ml min(-1)) and 37% in the control patient group (107 to 67 ml min(-1)) (P< 0.01). Amifostine-treated patients revealed a less pronounced increase in albumin and low molecular weight protein urinary excretion. Stomatitis grade III/IV occurred in 25% without versus 0% of patients with amifostine (P = 0.01). Acute nausea/vomiting was frequently observed immediately during or after the application of amifostine despite intensive antiemetic prophylaxis consisting of 5-HT3-receptor antagonists/dexamethasone/trifluorpromazine. However, delayed emesis occurred more often in the control patients. Engraftment of neutrophil (> 500 microl(-1))and thrombocytes (> 25 000 microl(-1))were observed at days 9 versus 10 and 10 versus 12, respectively, both slightly in favour of the amifostine arm. In addition, a lower number of days with fever and a shortened duration of hospital stay were observed in the amifostine arm. The reduction of acute toxicity observed in the amifostine arm resulted in 30% savings in costs for supportive care (Euro 4396 versus Euro 3153 per patient). Taking into account the drug costs of amifostine, calculation of in-patient treatment costs from the start of chemotherapy to discharge revealed additional costs of Euro 540 per patient in the amifostine arm. This randomized pilot study indicates that both organ and haematotoxicity of HD-VIC chemotherapy can be ameliorated by the use of amifostine. Additionally, a nearly complete preservation of GFR was observed in amifostine-treated patients which may be advantageous if repetitive cycles of HDCT are planned. Larger randomized trials evaluating amifostine cytoprotection during high-dose chemotherapy are warranted.
Tattoo Pigment Mimics Positive Sentinel Lymph Node in Melanoma
2001-01-01

A 42-year-old man with metastasizing melanoma from an unknown primary is presented. Initially a subcutaneous metastasis in the scapular region and a single lung metastasis were resected. Thorough examinations did not show any evidence of a primary tumour. From the site of the metastasis on the right scapular region, lymphoscintigraphy with axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed. One axillary lymph node could be identified intra-operatively with the gamma probe as sentinel node. The sentinel node and 4 adjacent lymph nodes clinically showed black pigmentation. However, histopathological examination of the lymph nodes did not detect micrometastases. The pigmentation of the lymph nodes was due to decorative tattoos of the scapular skin.
Assessment of denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in screening for mutations in connexin 26 (GJB2)
2001-01-01

Mutations in the gene GJB2 encoding connexin 26 (Cx26), a gap junction protein, have been shown to be responsible for a majority of recessive nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment in children. Over 60 different mutations in Cx26 have been reported. To obviate the need for direct sequencing of each specimen, a variety of screening techniques have been used to detect mutations in Cx26. However, each of these methods has significant shortcomings including expense, time consumption, and limited sensitivity. Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) has been recently introduced as a rapid and highly sensitive method of detecting sequence alterations. We have assessed the efficacy of DHPLC as a screening assay for detecting mutation in Cx26 coding region in 154 patients with hereditary hearing impairment. The GJB2 coding exon was amplified in one or two fragments, analyzed by DHPLC, and sequenced. Sequence analysis identified sequence variations in 34 patients concordant with abnormal DHPLC results. Three novel Cx26 mutations were identified: a single base pair substitution 511G>A, a 4 bp insertion 504insAACG, and a 3 bp deletion 358delAGG in three unrelated patients. In 120 patients with normal Cx26 sequence, DHPLC was normal. These results yield sensitivity and specificity of 100% for DHPLC-based detection of Cx26 mutations, and demonstrate that DHPLC is a highly sensitive and specific method of screening for sequence variations in Cx26 that is time and labor efficient. Further, our experience suggests that DHPLC screening alone followed by DNA sequencing only when DHPLC is abnormal may be adequate for identification of all sequence alterations in Cx26.
Discrete Hodge-Operators: An Algebraic Perspective
2001-01-01

Discrete differential forms should be used to deal with the discretization of boundary value problems that can be stated in the calculus of differential forms.This approach preserves the topological features of the equations.Yet, the discrete counterparts of the metricdependent constitutive laws remain elusive.I introduce a few purely algebraic constraints that matrices associated with discrete material laws have to satisfy.It turns out that most finite element and finite volume schemes comply with these requirements.Thus convergence analysis can be conducted in a unified setting.This discloses basic sufficient conditions that discrete material laws have to meet in order to ensure convergence in the relevant energy norms.
HLA‐DQB1*0501–Restricted Th1 Type Immune Responses toPlasmodium falciparumLiver Stage Antigen 1 Protect against Malaria Anemia and Reinfections
2001-01-01

Protective immunity against Plasmodium falciparum requires constant exposure to the pathogen. T cell-mediated immune responses are induced by T cell epitopes of pre-erythrocytic stage antigens of P. falciparum and involve HLA-restricted CD4 and CD8 cells. Cytotoxic T cell responses to a conserved epitope of P. falciparum liver stage antigen (LSA) type 1 are restricted by the HLA class I allele Bw53. The role of HLA class II alleles in mediating cellular responses against P. falciparum LSA-1 has not yet been demonstrated. In a longitudinal study performed for >4 years, associations were found between the HLA class II allele DQB1*0501 and protection from malaria anemia and malarial reinfections in Gabonese children. Children carrying DQB1*0501 had a higher frequency of interferon-gamma responses to LSA-1 T cell epitopes, compared with noncarriers.
Lipase-catalyzed irreversible transesterification of 1-(2-furyl)ethanol using isopropenyl acetate
2001-01-01

Asymmetric acetylation of racemic 1-(2-furyl)ethanol with the innocuous acyl donor isopropenyl acetate catalyzed by lipases in organic media afforded the chiral alcohol and acetate in high enantiomeric excess (up to 99%). The effect of molecular sieves as well as organic solvents on the kinetic resolution were studied. An effective separation of the enantiomers of both substrate and product was performed using gas chromatography on the chiral stationary phase heptakis-(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin.
Unilateral Thalamic Edema in Internal Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Is it Mostly Left?
2001-01-01

Thrombotic occlusion of the internal cerebral veins is a particularly dangerous form of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) as it causes venous infarction of the thalami. Because both thalami drain into the vein of Galen and straight sinus, bilateral thalamic involvement is frequently encountered in internal CVT. However, unilateral thalamic edema may also occur, even if all internal cerebral veins are occluded. This suggests collateral venous drainage of the thalami, which is commonly insufficient in internal CVT. Patients with unilateral congestion of the thalamus, including 3 patients reported here, had mostly left-sided involvement, indicating that right-sided unilateral thalamic involvement in CVT may be clinically silent.
Polymorphic Changes of Thiamine Hydrochloride During Granulation and Tableting
2001-01-01

Thiamine hydrochloride was granulated using an instrumented fluidized bed granulator (Hüttlin HKC 05-TJ). Granules consisting of pure thiamine hydrochloride were produced using an aqueous solution of thiamine hydrochloride as the granulating liquid. The effects of process variables such as inlet air temperature, spray rate, and amount of granulating liquid on granule properties are described. Particle size distributions of granules depended mainly on the amount of granulating liquid sprayed into the powder bed. Granules were tableted on a rotary tablet press at four different compression forces. Crushing strengths and disintegration times of all tablets were found to be very low after manufacture, but increased considerably after 4 months of storage at room temperature. Granular materials showed "caking" under the same storage conditions. These changes could be attributed to alterations of the polymorphic form of thiamine hydrochloride. The water-free form, being present directly after granulation, absorbs humidity very fast and is transformed into the monohydrate, which is stable at room temperature. Loss of water takes place during the drying phase of the granulation process and on storage of the substance at temperatures of 50 degrees C and 80 degrees C. During storage at room temperature while exposed to humidity, a transformation into the hemihydrate was observed. This polymorph is transformed during thermal analysis at about 190 degrees C to a water-free form that is stable at higher temperatures.
An isoform–specific interaction of the membrane anchors affects mammalian adenylyl cyclase type V activity
2001-01-01

The nine membrane‐bound mammalian adenylyl cyclases (ACs) contain two highly diverged membrane anchors, M1 and M2, with six transmembrane spans each and two conserved cytosolic domains which coalesce into a pseudoheterodimeric catalytic unit. Previously, the catalytic segments, bacterially expressed as soluble proteins, were characterized extensively whereas the function of the membrane domains remained unexplored. Using the catalytic C1 and C2 domains of AC type V we employed the membrane anchors from type V and VII ACs for construction of enzymes with duplicated, inverted, fully swapped and chimeric membrane anchors. Further, in the M1 membrane domain individual transmembrane spans were removed or exchanged between type V and VII ACs. The constructs were expressed in HEK293 cells, the expression levels and membrane localization was assessed by Western blotting. Cell‐free basal, forskolin‐, GTPγS‐and G sα /GTPγS‐stimulated AC activities were determined. The results demonstrate that enzymatic activities were only maintained when the M1 and M2 membrane domains were derived from either AC V or VII. Constructs with chimeric membrane domains, i.e. M1 from type V and M2 from type VII AC or vice versa , were essentially inactive although the expression levels and membrane localization appeared to be normal. The data indicate a functionally important interaction of the membrane domains of ACs in that they seem to interact in a pair‐like, isoform delimited manner. This interaction directly impinges on the formation of the catalytic interface. We propose that protein–protein interactions of the AC membrane domains may constitute another, yet unexplored level of AC regulation.
A Novel Use of the Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp Technique to Estimate Insulin Sensitivity of Systemic Lipolysis
2001-01-01

The aim of the present study was to assess whether a standard hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp can provide an estimate for the antilipolytic insulin sensitivity. For this purpose, we infused 9 non-obese, healthy volunteers with [2H5]glycerol and used the glycerol rate of appearance (Ra) in plasma as an index for systemic lipolysis during a standard (1 mU/kg x min, 120 min) and a 3-step (0.1, 0.25, 1.0 mU/kg x min) hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. The insulin concentration, which half-maximally suppressed lipolysis (EC50) in the three-step clamp, was considered to be the gold standard for the antilipolytic insulin sensitivity. Glycerol Ra decreased from 1.53+/-0.11 micromol/kg x min to 0.60+/-0.09 micromol/kg x min (p <0.001) during the standard clamp. The decrease in Ra at most time points during the standard clamp significantly correlated with the EC50. The highest correlation for the % decrease of glycerol Ra from baseline was found at 60 min (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) making this parameter a useful index for the antilipoytic insulin sensitivity. Neither plasma glycerol nor plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations were significantly correlated with the EC50. In conclusion, the standard hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in combination with isotopic determination of glycerol Ra provides a reasonable estimate for the antilipolytic insulin sensitivity. In healthy subjects, the parameter best suited to estimate the insulin EC50 (by linear correlation) was the percentage decrease of glycerol Ra at 60 min.
Bagremycin A and B, Novel Antibrotics from Streptomyces sp. Tue 4128.
2001-01-01

Two novel secondary metabolites, bagremycin A (2) and B (3), were detected in the culture filtrate of Streptomyces sp. Tü 4128 by HPLC-diode-array screening. They are phenol esters of 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid with a derivative of p-coumaric acid and show a moderate activity against gram-positive bacteria and some fungi.
Miniaturization of enantioselective gas chromatography.
2001-01-01

In the context of the Titan Chiral Organics Explorer (TCOE) mission, the theoretical and practical aspects of the miniaturization of enantioselective gas chromatography are discussed. The use of short columns (0.5-10 m) with a conventional inside diameter of 250 microm is proposed. The inside diameter should be increased for vacuum-assisted GC-MS using a restrictor at the inlet of the capillary. The feasibility of cryogenic enantioselective gas chromatography is demonstrated. The hitherto elusive use of chiral mobile phase additives in enantioselective gas chromatography is proposed.
Streptocidins A-D, Novel Cyclic Decapeptide Antibiotics Produced by Streptomyces sp. Tue 6071. I. Taxonomy, Fermentation, Isolation and Biological Activities.
2001-01-01

Four novel cyclic homodecapetide antibiotics, streptocidins A-D were detected in the mycelium extract of Streptomyces sp. Tü 6071 by HPLC-diode-array and HPLC-electrospray-mass-spectrometry screening. The peptides which were closely related in structure to the tyrocidines and gramicidins of Bacillus brevis show antibiotic activities against Gram-positive bacteria.
Hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans (Flegel’s Disease) – Lack of Response to Treatment with Tacalcitol and Calcipotriol
2001-01-01

Hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans (HLP) or Flegel’s disease is a rare dermatosis characterized by asymptomatic hyperkeratotic papules predominantly located on the lower extremities. Lesional and non-lesional epidermis samples were studied by light- and electron-microscopic examination. The main ultrastructural finding was the presence of structurally altered Odland bodies/membrane-coating granules. Different therapeutic options for HLP have been reported, but none of the treatments was shown to be consistently effective. Here, we report on a patient with Flegel’s disease who did respond to topical 5-fluorouracil, whereas topical vitamin D&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; synthetics were ineffective.
Dysphonia Subsequent to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Comparative Perceptual, Acoustic and Electroglottographic Analyses
2001-01-01

We tested the applicability of the Goettinger Hoarseness Diagram (GHD) for quantitative evaluation of voice disorders after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and compared the obtained data with those from established voice analysis systems such as the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP), electroglottography (EGG) and perceptual ratings using sustained vowel productions from 10 patients with TBI dysarthrophonia at late stages postinjury and of 10 healthy control speakers. Statistical analyses revealed significant intergroup differences with respect to various acoustic and perceptual measures, i.e., irregularity component, noise component, noise-to-harmonic ratio, shimmer, jitter, roughness, creakiness, strained-strangledness, hypernasality. By contrast, the considered EGG estimates, i.e., open quotient and speed quotient, did not allow for separation of patients and controls. In addition, the two GHD components exhibited close correlations to perceived roughness and creakiness, on the one hand, and breathiness and, to some degree, nasality, on the other, whereas the MDVP parameters failed to differentiate between these two perceptual modes of phonation.
The Activity of Ozone Against Plasmodium Falciparum
2001-01-01

Abstract Ozone has strong antimicrobial activity and reactive oxygen intermediates play an important role in the immune defense against microbial infections. We investigated the effect of ozone on the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. A laboratory adapted P. falciparum strain was ozonated with 80 μg/ml ozone and the growth determined for 4 days. A strong growth inhibitory effect up to a factor of 2.6 to 6.7 on Day 4 was seen, depending on the basal parasitemia. A growth inhibitory effect was also observed when parasites were added after ozonation of the culture medium. Ozonated leucocytes co-incubated with P. falciparum did not inhibit parasite growth. The results show that ozone is active against intracellular infectious agents that do not come in direct contact with ozone.
Radiation sensitivity and apoptosis in human lymphoma cells
2001-01-01

Based on Bcl-2 as a positional marker, radiation-induced apoptosis can be divided into two stages: the initiation/decision phase, characterized by a breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and the execution phase, characterized by caspase activation. The execution phase had no influence on survival, whereas the initiation/decision phase controls immediate survival. However, abrogation of both phases did not influence radiation sensitivity.
The first broad-band X-ray images and spectra of the 30 Doradus region in the LMC
2001-01-01

We present the XMM-Newton first light image, taken in January 2000 with the EPIC pn camera during the instrument's commissioning phase, when XMM-Newton was pointing towards the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The field is rich in different kinds of X-ray sources: point sources, supernova remnants (SNRs) and diffuse X-ray emission from LMC interstellar gas. The observations are of unprecedented sensitivity, reaching a few 10^32 erg/s for point sources in the LMC. We describe how these data sets were analysed and discuss some of the spectroscopic results. For the SNR N157B the power law spectrum is clearly steeper than previously determined from ROSAT and ASCA data. The existence of a significant thermal component is evident and suggests that N157B is not a Crab-like but a composite SNR. Most puzzling is the spectrum of the LMC hot interstellar medium, which indicates a significant overabundance of Ne and Mg of a few times solar.
Adult Gaucher disease in association with primary malignant bone tumors
2001-01-01

Because there is a relatively high incidence of malignant disorders of the bone, the study suggested that malignant disorders have to be included in the differential diagnosis of painful lytic lesions in patients who have GD. Evaluation of the expense and value of enzyme therapy to patients who have GD should be undertaken with regard to the incidence of malignant disorders and patient survival.