julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Scaffold protein harmonin (USH1C) provides molecular links between Usher syndrome type 1 and type 2
2005-11-21

Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent cause of combined deaf-blindness in man. USH is clinically and genetically heterogeneous with at least 11 chromosomal loci assigned to the three USH types (USH1A-G, USH2A-C, USH3A). Although the different USH types exhibit almost the same phenotype in human, the identified USH genes encode for proteins which belong to very different protein classes and families. We and others recently reported that the scaffold protein harmonin (USH1C-gene product) integrates all identified USH1 molecules in a USH1-protein network. Here, we investigated the relationship between the USH2 molecules and this USH1-protein network. We show a molecular interaction between the scaffold protein harmonin (USH1C) and the USH2A protein, VLGR1 (USH2C) and the candidate for USH2B, NBC3. We pinpoint these interactions to interactions between the PDZ1 domain of harmonin and the PDZ-binding motifs at the C-termini of the USH2 proteins and NBC3. We demonstrate that USH2A, VLGR1 and NBC3 are co-expressed with the USH1-protein harmonin in the synaptic terminals of both retinal photoreceptors and inner ear hair cells. In hair cells, these USH proteins are also localized in the signal uptaking stereocilia. Our data indicate that the USH2 proteins and NBC3 are further partners in the supramolecular USH-protein network in the retina and inner ear which shed new light on the function of USH2 proteins and the entire USH-protein network. These findings provide first evidence for a molecular linkage between the pathophysiology in USH1 and USH2. The organization of USH molecules in a mutual 'interactome' related to the disease can explain the common phenotype in USH.
Enhanced episodic‐like memory and kindling epilepsy in a rat model of tuberous sclerosis
2005-11-21

Abstract Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a common neurological autosomal‐dominant syndrome caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. TSC starts in early childhood and is characterized by cerebral hamartomas (benign tumours), severe epilepsy and cognitive deficits such as mental retardation and autism. The hamartomas are characterized by loss of the remaining wild‐type TSC allele, and clinical data implicate cerebral hamartomas in the generation of epileptic seizures, which may play a significant role in the development of mental retardation. The TSC2 mutation predicts alterations in mitogen‐associated protein kinase (MAPK) and, together with the TSC1 mutation, in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathways. Both pathways are involved in neuronal plasticity. We therefore hypothesized that the heterozygous mutation itself, besides cerebral hamartomas, contributes to the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits and possibly also epilepsy. Here, we show that young adult TSC2+/– rats, which are virtually free of cerebral hamartomas, exhibit enhanced episodic‐like memory and enhanced responses to chemically‐induced kindling. The activation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the hippocampus results in stronger induction of phospho‐p42‐MAPK in TSC2+/– rats than in wild‐type animals. Thus, the cognitive phenotype and, possibly, epilepsy in TSC patients may result not only from the focal hamartomatous lesions but also, from altered neuronal plasticity in the heterozygous tissue.
Pairing properties of nucleonic matter employing dressed nucleons
2005-11-21

A survey of pairing properties of nucleonic matter is presented that includes the off-shell propagation associated with short-range and tensor correlations. For this purpose, the gap equation has been solved in its most general form employing the complete energy and momentum dependence of the normal self-energy contributions. The latter correlations include the self-consistent calculation of the nucleon self-energy that is generated by the summation of ladder diagrams. This treatment preserves the conservation of particle number unlike approaches in which the self-energy is based on the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approximation. A huge reduction in the strength as well as temperature and density range of - pairing is obtained for nuclear matter as compared to the standard BCS treatment. Similar dramatic results pertain to pairing of neutrons in neutron matter.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Body Trunk Using a Single-Slab, 3-Dimensional, T2-weighted Turbo-Spin-Echo Sequence With High Sampling Efficiency (SPACE) for High Spatial Resolution Imaging
2005-11-22

The achievement of 3-dimensional, T2-weighted TSE magnetic resonance imaging with isotropic and high spatial resolution and interactive 3-dimensional visualization essentially improve the diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance imaging.
Center Flux Correlation in SU(2) Yang-Mills Theory
2005-11-23

By using the method of center projection, the center vortex part of the gauge field is isolated and its propagator is evaluated in the center Landau gauge, which minimizes the open 3-dimensional Dirac volumes of nontrivial center links bounded by the closed 2-dimensional center vortex surfaces. The center field propagator is found to dominate the gluon propagator (in the Landau gauge) in the low momentum regime and to give rise to a power-law correction proportional to p(-2.9(1)) at high momentum. The screening mass of the center vortex field vanishes above the critical temperature of the deconfinement phase transition, which naturally explains the second order nature of this transition consistent with the vortex picture. Finally, the ghost propagator of the maximal center gauge is found to be infrared finite and, thus, shows that the coset fields play no role for confinement.
Temozolomide: A Milestone In the Pharmacotherapy of Brain Tumors
2005-11-24

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an alkylating agent earlier approved for recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma and approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in the USA and Europe in 2005. TMZ shows good blood-brain barrier penetration and exhibits a favorable side effect profile. Its key mode of action appears to be methylation at N(7) and O(6)-positions of guanine. The level of expression and activity of the DNA repair enzyme O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase is thought to be a major predictor of response to TMZ. The demonstration of prolonged survival when TMZ was added to radiotherapy in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 26981/22981/NCIC CE.3 trial has been a breakthrough in the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The early preliminary evidence for activity in recurrent malignant gliomas further resulted in a broad evaluation of TMZ for other tumors in neuro-oncology, mainly low-grade gliomas, brain metastases and primary cerebral lymphomas.
Evaluation and validation of a new risk score (CLEOPATRA score) to predict the probability of premature delivery for patients with threatened preterm labor
2005-11-25

Abstract Objective To develop a clinically useful tool to predict the probability of preterm delivery in patients with threatened preterm labor. Methods One hundred and seventy patients with preterm labor between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation were included. Preterm delivery &lt; 37 weeks of gestation was the main endpoint of the study. The data were randomized and split into an evaluation set ( n = 85) and a validation set ( n = 85). The evaluation set was subjected to stepwise backward logistic regression analysis to quantify the relative impact of four potential risk factors, including individual patient factors, results of a rapid fetal fibronectin assay, and sonographic measurement of cervical length. Using the constant of the logistic regression analysis and the beta‐coefficients for the identified risk factors the individual probability of preterm delivery for each woman of the validation dataset was calculated. The area under a receiver–operating characteristics curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the discriminating power of the score. Results The overall rate of preterm delivery was 27.1%. The logistic regression analysis was performed for the potential predictors of spontaneous preterm delivery, identified by univariate analysis. These were positive fetal fibronectin, cervical length, previous preterm delivery and maternal age. Two risk factors were independent predictors of preterm delivery and were included in the CLEOPATRA I (clinical evaluation of preterm delivery and theoretical risk assessment) score: cervical length measurement and previous preterm delivery were associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery (odds ratio, 7.65 and 6.74, respectively). Since fetal fibronectin assay is not available at all institutions worldwide, it was excluded from the initial model. In the CLEOPATRA II model the risk factors fetal fibronectin and previous preterm delivery were associated with higher risk of preterm delivery, with odds ratios of 17.9 and 4.56, respectively. The discrimination power (AUC) obtained from the models were: CLEOPATRA I, 0.69 (95% CI, 0.56–0.82); CLEOPATRA II, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.69–0.93). Conclusion In symptomatic women the risk for preterm delivery can be predicted best with the CLEOPATRA II score based on fetal fibronectin and previous preterm delivery. Copyright © 2005 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.
Template‐Free Synthesis and Assembly of Single‐Crystalline Tungsten Oxide Nanowires and their Gas‐Sensing Properties
2005-11-28

A nonaqueous approach that involves the reaction of tungsten isopropoxide with benzyl alcohol leads to tungsten oxide nanowire bundles without the use of any additional structure-directing templates. The bundles consist of crystalline nanowires with highly uniform diameters of about 1 nm and aspect ratios exceeding 500 (see picture). Gas-sensing tests show a high sensitivity to NO2. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2006/z502823_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
KCNQ1-dependent transport in renal and gastrointestinal epithelia
2005-11-28

Mutations in the gene encoding for the K + channel α-subunit KCNQ1 have been associated with long QT syndrome and deafness. Besides heart and inner ear epithelial cells, KCNQ1 is expressed in a variety of epithelial cells including renal proximal tubule and gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells. At these sites, cellular K + ions exit through KCNQ1 channel complexes, which may serve to recycle K + or to maintain cell membrane potential and thus the driving force for electrogenic transepithelial transport, e.g., Na + /glucose cotransport. Employing pharmacologic inhibition and gene knockout, the present study demonstrates the importance of KCNQ1 K + channel complexes for the maintenance of the driving force for proximal tubular and intestinal Na + absorption, gastric acid secretion, and cAMP-induced jejunal Cl - secretion. In the kidney, KCNQ1 appears dispensable under basal conditions because of limited substrate delivery for electrogenic Na + reabsorption to KCNQ1-expressing mid to late proximal tubule. During conditions of increased substrate load, however, luminal KCNQ1 serves to repolarize the proximal tubule and stabilize the driving force for Na + reabsorption. In mice lacking functional KCNQ1, impaired intestinal absorption is associated with reduced serum vitamin B12 concentrations, mild macrocytic anemia, and fecal loss of Na + and K + , the latter affecting K + homeostasis.
Template‐Free Synthesis and Assembly of Single‐Crystalline Tungsten Oxide Nanowires and their Gas‐Sensing Properties
2005-11-28

Ein wasserfreier Ansatz, die Reaktion von Wolframisopropoxid mit Benzylalkohol, führt zu Wolframoxid-Nanodrahtbündeln, ohne dass ein strukturdirigierendes Templat zugegeben werden muss. Die Bündel bestehen aus kristallinen Nanodrähten mit einheitlichen Durchmessern um 1 nm und Aspektverhältnissen über 500 (siehe Bild). Gassensortests zeigen eine hohe Empfindlichkeit für NO2. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2001/2006/z502823_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
siRNA binding proteins of microglial cells: PKR is an unanticipated ligand
2005-11-28

Abstract Small interfering RNA (siRNA), double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) 21–23 nucleotides (nt) long with two nt 3′ overhangs, has been shown to mediate powerful sequence‐specific gene silence in mammalian cells through RNA interference (RNAi). Due to its high efficiency and high specificity siRNA has been used as a powerful post genomic tool and a potent therapeutic candidate. However, there is still a lot to learn about the mobility of siRNA inside cells and the cellular factors that might interfere with the specificity and activity of siRNA. Microglia are the brain's effector cells of the innate immune system and suitable targets in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we show the cellular uptake and intracellular distribution of siRNA in murine microglial N9 cells. siRNA was internalized by microglial N9 cells without transfection reagent and mainly localized to the endosomes However, no significant gene silencing effects were observed. Its cellular uptake and cellular distribution pattern were similar with that of a same length single stranded DNA (ssDNA). Further, cellular binding proteins of siRNA were purified and identified by mass spectrometry. Negative control siRNA and siRNA targeted to β‐actin were used in this part of experiment. Most of the siRNA binding proteins for negative control siRNA and siRNA targeted to β‐actin were dsRNA‐binding proteins, such as dsRNA‐dependent protein kinase R (PKR). Furthermore, both control siRNA and siRNA targeted to β‐actin activated PKR in N9 cells, which suggest that siRNA might cause off‐target effects through activation of PKR. J. Cell. Biochem. 97: 1217–1229, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MRI‐compatible incubation chamber for cell culture experiments
2005-11-28

Abstract Purpose To develop an incubation chamber that is compatible with MRI, while avoiding sources of error due to the experimental setup. Materials and Methods Two identical and gas‐tight chambers were constructed of PlexiglasTM. The temperature and the CO 2 concentration were adjustable. Temperature variations within and between both chambers were measured. The pH values of the cell culture media were measured under different environmental settings. For each environment a colony formation test was carried out. The homogeneity of the magnetic field inside the chambers was estimated by phantom tests. Results The temperature variations within the chambers were &lt;0.3°C, and the variation between the chambers was on average &lt;0.05°C. After eight hours the pH values of the cell culture media were 7.47 and 7.48 in the reference and measurement chambers, respectively; 7.41 in the CO 2 incubator; and 8.73 in ambient air. In colony formation tests the survival fraction in the PlexiglasTM chamber was comparable to that in the CO 2 incubator. No distortions of the magnetic field from the incubation chamber were observed. Conclusion The incubation system presented can provide the conditions of a CO 2 incubator without alteration of the magnetic flux density. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The therapeutic use of dendritic cells transfected with tumour RNA
2005-11-28

AbstractRecently, it was shown that dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with ribonucleic acid (RNA) coding for a tumour-associated antigen (TAA) or whole tumour RNA are able to induce potent antigen and tumour-specific T cell responses directed against multiple epitopes. The feasibility and efficacy of this approach was tested and analysed in different settings by administration of RNA-transfected DCs in patients with cancer or infectious diseases. In some cases, clinical responses were observed, but the overall effectiveness of this approach has to be demonstrated in further clinical trials.Keywords:: dendritic cellsimmunotherapyRNA
XMM-Newton observations of the microquasars GRO J1655-40 and GRS 1915+105
2005-11-28

We present results of a sequence of XMM-Newton observations of the two microquasars GRO J1655-40 and GRS 1915+105. The observations were preformed using the EPIC-pn camera in the Burst mode. The observations of GRO J1655-40 in a bright state have made possible a substantial improvement in the calibration of the Burst mode, with determination of the rate dependence of the Charge Transfer Efficiency (CTE). We detect He-like Fe K-shell absorption features in the EPIC-pn spectrum of GRO J1655-40, indicating the presence of a highly ionized absorber, and clear absorption features at 0.71 and 0.72 keV in the RGS spectrum, most probably identified as blueshifted Fe XVIII.
A shift of visual spatial attention is selectively associated with human EEG alpha activity
2005-11-29

Abstract Event‐related potentials and ongoing oscillatory electroencephalogram (EEG) activity were measured while subjects performed a cued visual spatial attention task. They were instructed to shift their attention to either the left or right visual hemifield according to a cue, which could be valid or invalid. Thereafter, a peripheral target had to be evaluated. At posterior parietal brain areas early components of the event‐related potential (P1 and N1) were higher when the cue had been valid compared with invalid. An anticipatory attention effect was found in EEG alpha magnitude at parieto‐occipital electrode sites. Starting 200 ms before target onset alpha amplitudes were significantly stronger suppressed at sites contralateral to the attended visual hemifield than ipsilateral to it. In addition, phase coupling between prefrontal and posterior parietal electrode sites was calculated. It was found that prefrontal cortex shows stronger phase coupling with posterior sites that are contralateral to the attended hemifield than ipsilateral sites. The results suggest that a shift of attention selectively modulates excitability of the contralateral posterior parietal cortex and that this posterior modulation of alpha activity is controlled by prefrontal regions.
Persistent Epstein-Barr viral reactivation in young African children with a history of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria
2005-11-29

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Plasmodium falciparum have overlapping distributions and are thought to have causal interactions, particularly with regard to the aetiology of endemic Burkitt's lymphoma. Using real-time PCR, we quantified and compared EBV DNA levels in the blood before and after antimalarial treatment of age- and gender-matched groups of Gabonese children who presented with either mild or severe P. falciparum malaria. Following treatment, the prevalence of EBV DNA declined in the mild malaria group but increased in the severe malaria group, and a significantly higher proportion of the latter had EBV DNA detectable in their blood when they were healthy and parasite free (67% vs. 39%; P=0.013). High EBV DNA loads were associated with more malaria attacks and with elevated plasma concentrations of both TNF-alpha and IL-12p40. Significantly more under 5 year olds had EBV DNA, highlighting the strong age dependence of the interaction between the two pathogens. These findings confirm that EBV is reactivated during acute P. falciparum malaria but, importantly, also reveal that: (i) EBV activity persists at a higher frequency in children with a history of severe malaria; and (ii) higher peripheral blood EBV DNA loads are associated with susceptibility to more frequent P. falciparum episodes and with altered cytokine activity.
Bilateral ocular surface squamous neoplasia after wood dust exposure
2005-11-29

To the Editor:Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) includes conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia with dysplasia, conjunctival carcinoma in situ and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)....
Pyrrole-Based Partial Peptidic Mimic of Neurotensin (8-13): Design and Synthesis (Experimental Section)
2005-11-29

The synthesis of pyrrole-based semipeptidic mimic of neuropeptide neurotensin (8-13) [NT(8-13)] is described. The design of this NT mimic is based on substitution of indole by a pyrrole nucleus. Keywords: Neurotensin, partial peptidic mimic, drug design, synthesis
View-dependent tetrahedral meshing and rendering
2005-11-29

Interactive exploration of huge tetrahedral meshes is required by many applications but the limitations of the current hardware do not allow for the full dataset to be rendered at interactive frame rates. Multi resolution representations are an important tool to adapt the tetrahedral mesh complexity to the current viewing parameters in real time rendering environments.We present a meshing framework that builds a compact multi resolution representation for large tetrahedral meshes. A preprocessing step simplifies the mesh into a binary vertex hierarchy which is used at run time to adapt the mesh to viewing parameters. Exploiting the redundancy in the connectivity information of the mesh enables us to store the vertex hierarchy compactly such that a vertex split or edge collapse can be performed by knowing incremental updates only.We integrated this multiresolution representation into a volume rendering environment that supports direct volume rendering as well as a new point based rendering approach.
Invasion of Hematopoietic Cells into the Brain of Amyloid Precursor Protein Transgenic Mice
2005-11-30

The significance of the peripheral immune system in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis remains controversial. To study the CNS invasion of hematopoietic cells in the course of cerebral amyloidosis, we used a green fluorescence protein (GFP)-bone marrow chimeric amyloid precursor protein transgenic mouse model (APP23 mice). No difference in the number of GFP-positive invading cells was observed between young APP23 mice and nontransgenic control mice. In contrast, in aged, amyloid-depositing APP23 mice, a significant increase in the number of invading ameboid-like GFP-positive cells was found compared with age-matched nontransgenic control mice. Interestingly, independent of the time after transplantation, only a subpopulation of amyloid deposits was surrounded by invading cells. This suggests that not all amyloid plaques are a target for invading cells or, alternatively, all amyloid plaques attract invading cells but only for a limited time, possibly at an early stage of plaque evolution. Immunological and ultrastructural phenotyping revealed that macrophages and T-cells accounted for a significant portion of these ameboid-like invading cells. Macrophages did not show evidence of amyloid phagocytosis at the electron microscopic level, and no obvious signs for T-cell-mediated inflammation or neurodegeneration were observed. The observation that hematopoietic cells invade the brain in response to cerebral amyloidosis may hold an unrecognized therapeutic potential.