julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
The −913 G/A Glutamine:Fructose-6-Phosphate Aminotransferase Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Measures of Obesity and Intramyocellular Lipid Content in Nondiabetic Subjects
2005-03-01

Increases in glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT) protein levels directly activate flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. This pathway has been involved as a fuel sensor in energy metabolism and development of insulin resistance. We screened the 5'-flanking region of the human GFAT gene for polymorphisms and subsequently genotyped 412 nondiabetic, metabolically characterized Caucasians for the two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at positions -913 (G/A) and -1412 (C/G) with rare allele frequencies of 42% and 16%, respectively. The -913 G SNP was associated with significantly higher body mass index and percent body fat in men (P = 0.02 and 0.004, respectively), but not in women (P = 0.47 and 0.26, respectively). In the subgroup of individuals (n = 193) who underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, an association of the -913 G SNP with insulin sensitivity independent of body mass index was not detected. Moreover, the -913 G allele in a group of 71 individuals who had undergone magnetic resonance spectroscopy was associated with higher intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) in tibialis anterior muscle (4.21 +/- 0.31 vs. 3.36 +/- 0.35; P = 0.04) independent of percent body fat and maximal aerobic power. The -1412 SNP had no effect on percent body fat, insulin sensitivity, or IMCL. In conclusion, we identified two polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of GFAT, of which the -913 SNP seems to alter the risk for obesity and IMCL accumulation in male subjects.
An intrusion injury as an example of interdisciplinary aspects in dental traumatology: a case report.
2005-03-01

Traumatic injury to teeth presents a considerable challenge for the practitioner. Very often a variety of oral tissues are involved, such as enamel, dentin, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and mucosa. Extraoral lesions are often another focus of attention for the patient and the practitioner. To cover all these various demands and necessities in a proper and adequate manner, a sound knowledge and experience of many different dental fields is needed. This case report presents the treatment of an 8-year-old girl during which surgical, restorative, endodontic, and orthodontic practices cooperated to achieve an adequate rehabilitation of the patient.
Evaluation of a British-German postgraduate course in clinical pharmacy
2005-03-01

Since 1997, a 4 week postgraduate course in clinical pharmacy has been offered annually at the University of Tubingen (Germany) in cooperation with the School of Pharmacy, University of London (United Kingdom). The course combines a theoretical and a practice-based module; a concept which is unique in Germany, but well established in the UK. The present study evaluated whether former participants found the course useful for their daily practice. A structured questionnaire was sent to all former participants (n=102), 66 (65%) responded; 63 pharmacists (95%) found the course subjects useful. A total of 61 respondents (92%) were involved in 223 clinical pharmacy projects which were related to course subjects, including drug information services, participation in ward rounds and patient counselling. A lack of time was identified as the main barrier to implementing such services. Pharmacists felt more competent to work with doctors after completion of the course (40, 61%) though this was subjective. This collaborative programme helped to share expertise in teaching and clinical pharmacy practice across countries.
MMF and eye disease
2005-03-01

Immunosuppressive treatment has shown to be effective in various ocular inflammatory disorders. Factors limiting their use are the individual response and the rate of side effects. This report summarizes our knowledge about the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), uveitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), prevention of graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and scleritis. Controlled studies have been performed for prevention of graft rejection after PK, showing MMF as effective in the prevention of graft rejection as cyclosporine A. In experimental uveitis, MMF has been demonstrated to be highly effective in prevention of retinal destruction. A number of studies have now shown that MMF also seems effective in uveitis. There are also studies with smaller patient groups which point out the effectiveness of MMF in OCP, AKC, and scleritis. In most of the studies, the spectrum of side effects was small, compared to other immunosuppressives.
A Meshing Scheme for Efficient Hardware Implementation of Butterfly Subdivision Using Displacement Mapping
2005-03-01

Displacement mapping is an effective technique for encoding the high levels of detail of surface models using coarse triangle meshes and displacement maps. These maps are 2D representations containing the distances between the coarse mesh and the surface to represent. Displacement maps have been used in many applications such as ray tracing, image warping, and volume rendering. In this article, we propose modifications to our previous grouping strategy, a new subdivision strategy based on the Modified Butterfly algorithm and new heuristics for the adaptive subdivision procedure, and, finally, the corresponding modifications on our hardware proposal. A meshing scheme and an adaptive subdivision strategy based on displacement mapping reduce the bottleneck between the CPU and graphics pipeline common in high-performance graphics systems.
Radioligands for brain imaging of the kappa-opioid system.
2005-03-01

The opioid receptor system is an essential part of the brain reward system, and the presence of μ-, ∂-, and κ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system is well documented ([1][1],[2][2]). Understanding of opioid receptor availability and function, however, is based mainly on animal
TGF-beta3 inhibits pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats.
2005-03-01

TGF-beta3 inhibits gastric acid secretion when given prior to as well as after pentagastrin treatment. This implicates both a preventive and a therapeutic role of TGF-beta3 in gastroduodenal ulcer disease.
Human Rights by Moral Intervention
2005-03-01

Human Rights by Moral Intervention Get access Die Macht der Menschenrechte: Internationale Normen, kommunikative Prozesse und politischer Wandel in den Ländern des Südens [The Power of Human Rights: International Norms, Communicative Action, and Political Change in Developing Nations]. By Risse Thomas Jetschke Anja Schmitz Hans Peter. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2002. 226 pp., $20.00 (ISBN: 3-7890-7891-3). Andreas Hasenclever Andreas Hasenclever Center for International Relations, University of Tuebingen, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Studies Review, Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2005, Pages 63–66, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-9488.2005.00458.x Published: 09 June 2005
Peter Philipp. Logisch-philosophische Untersuchungen, edited by Ingolf Max and Richard Raatsch, Perspectives in Analytical Philosophy, vol. 20. de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1998, xvii + 433 pp.
2005-03-01

Peter Philipp. Logisch-philosophische Untersuchungen, edited by Ingolf Max and Richard Raatsch, Perspectives in Analytical Philosophy, vol. 20. de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1998, xvii + 433 pp. - Volume 11 Issue 1
Stimulation of erythrocyte ceramide formation by platelet-activating factor
2005-03-02

Osmotic erythrocyte shrinkage leads to activation of cation channels with subsequent Ca2+ entry and stimulates a sphingomyelinase with subsequent formation of ceramide. Ca2+ and ceramide then activate a scramblase leading to breakdown of phosphatidylserine asymmetry of the cell membrane. The mediators accounting for activation of erythrocyte sphingomyelinase and phosphatidylserine exposure remained elusive. The study demonstrates that platelet-activating factor (PAF) is released from erythrocytes upon hyperosmotic cell shrinkage. The experiments further disclose the presence of PAF receptors in erythrocytes and show that PAF stimulates the breakdown of sphingomyelin and the release of ceramide from erythrocytes at isotonic conditions. PAF further triggers cell shrinkage (decrease of forward scatter) and phosphatidylserine exposure (annexin binding) of erythrocytes. The stimulation of annexin-binding is blunted by a genetic knockout of PAF receptors, by the PAF receptor antagonist ABT491 or by inhibition of sphingomyelinase with urea. In conclusion, PAF activates an erythrocyte sphingomyelinase and the then formed ceramide leads to the activation of scramblase with subsequent phosphatidylserine exposure.
Ligand-Binding Studies on Light Riboflavin Synthase from Bacillus subtilis
2005-03-03

Light riboflavin synthase of Bacillus subtilis is a trimer of identical subunits. The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of a four-carbon moiety from one molecule of 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine to a second molecule of this compound. Binding of substrate and product analogues to the enzyme was studied by analytical ultra-centrifugation and fluorescence titration. The ligands used in these experiments inhibit the enzyme activity competitively. Each enzyme subunit was shown to bind two molecules each of various analogues of the enzyme substrate, 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine, at nonidentical sites. On the other hand, each subunit binds only one molecule of the product, riboflavin, or 5-nitroso-6-ribitylamino-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione, an analogue of the second product. The complex of the enzyme with the substrate analogue, 7-methyl-8-ribityllumazine, was studied by absorbance and difference absorbance measurements. The data suggest that binding of the lumazine to the donor site of the enzyme involves a nucleophilic attack at carbon 7 of the lumazine ring with formation of a covalent hydrate or a related structure.
Effect of the tumor promoter phenobarbital on the pattern of global gene expression in liver of connexin32‐wild‐type and connexin32‐deficient mice
2005-03-04

Abstract The antiepileptic drug phenobarbital (PB) is used frequently as a model tumor promoter in rodent liver. It is believed to increase the probability of cancer by accelerating the clonal expansion of cells transformed during tumor initiation. The molecular mechanism underlying this process is only partly understood but seems to require the function of connexin32 (Cx32), one of the 2 gap junction proteins expressed in hepatocytes. PB mediates transcriptional activation of various genes in liver but which of these are relevant for tumor promotion is unknown. We have used oligonucleotide microarrays to identify genes differentially modulated in expression by PB in liver of Cx32‐wild‐type and Cx32‐null mice. Mice of both strains were kept on PB containing (0.05%) or control diet for 2 weeks. Total liver RNA was isolated from 3 mice per experimental group and reverse transcribed; cDNAs were hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays and a gene‐by‐gene linear model was used for statistical analysis of data. Five genes were identified as induced or repressed in untreated Cx32‐null as compared to untreated Cx32‐wild‐type mice. PB affected the expression of 53 genes, of which 13 code for members of Phase‐I/II of drug metabolism, and 12 genes were differentially affected in expression by PB in Cx32‐null as compared to Cx32‐wild‐type mice. Among the differentially affected genes that could be verified by quantitative RT‐PCR or Western analysis were the insulin like growth factor binding protein‐1 , retinol dehydrogenase‐6 and the Y‐chromosomally located gene Dby , among which may be a candidate of relevance for PB‐mediated tumor promotion. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Granulocytes govern the transcriptional response, morphology and proliferation of Candida albicans in human blood
2005-03-07

Summary Survival in blood and escape from blood vessels into tissues are essential steps for the yeast Candida albicans to cause systemic infections. To elucidate the influence of blood components on fungal growth, morphology and transcript profile during bloodstream infections, we exposed C. albicans to blood, blood fractions enriched in erythrocytes, polymorphonuclear or mononuclear leukocytes, blood depleted of neutrophils and plasma. C. albicans cells exposed to erythrocytes, mononuclear cells, plasma or blood lacking neutrophils were physiologically active and rapidly switched to filamentous growth. In contrast, the presence of neutrophils arrested C. albicans growth, enhanced the fungal response to overcome nitrogen and carbohydrate starvation, and induced the expression of a large number of genes involved in the oxidative stress response. In particular, SOD5 , encoding a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored superoxide dismutase localized on the cell surface of C. albicans , was strongly expressed in yeast cells that were associated with neutrophils. Mutants lacking key genes involved in oxidative stress, morphology or virulence had significantly reduced survival rates in blood and the neutrophil fraction, but remained viable for at least 1 h of incubation when exposed to erythrocytes, mononuclear cells, plasma or blood lacking neutrophils. These data suggest that C. albicans genes expressed in blood were predominantly induced in response to neutrophils, and that neutrophils play a key role during C. albicans bloodstream infections. However, C. albicans is equipped with several genes and transcriptional programmes, which may help the fungus to counteract the attack of neutrophils, to escape from the bloodstream and to cause systemic infections.
A bacterial hormone (the SCB1) directly controls the expression of a pathway‐specific regulatory gene in the cryptic type I polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces coelicolor
2005-03-07

Summary Gamma‐butyrolactone signalling molecules are produced by many Streptomyces species, and several have been shown to regulate antibiotic production. In Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) at least one γ‐butyrolactone (SCB1) has been shown to stimulate antibiotic production, and genes encoding proteins that are involved in its synthesis ( scbA ) and binding ( scbR ) have been characterized. Expression of these genes is autoregulated by a complex mechanism involving the γ‐butyrolactone. In this study, additional genes influenced by ScbR were identified by DNA microarray analysis, and included a cryptic cluster of genes for a hypothetical type I polyketide. Further analysis of this gene cluster revealed that the pathway‐specific regulatory gene, kasO , is a direct target for regulation by ScbR. Gel retardation and DNase I footprinting analyses identified two potential binding sites for ScbR, one at −3 to −35 nt and the other at −222 to −244 nt upstream of the kasO transcriptional start site. Addition of SCB1 eliminated the DNA binding activity of ScbR at both sites. The expression of kasO was growth phase regulated in the parent (maximal during transition phase), undetectable in a scbA null mutant, and constitutively expressed in a scbR null mutant. Addition of SCB1 to the scbA mutant restored the expression of kasO , indicating that ScbR represses kasO until transition phase, when presumably SCB1 accumulates in sufficient quantity to relieve kasO repression. Expression of the cryptic antibiotic gene cluster was undetectable in a kasO deletion mutant. This is the first report with comprehensive in vivo and in vitro data to show that a γ‐butyrolactone‐binding protein directly regulates a secondary metabolite pathway‐specific regulatory gene in Streptomyces .
A Putative Function for the Arabidopsis Fe–Phytosiderophore Transporter Homolog AtYSL2 in Fe and Zn Homeostasis
2005-03-08

Although Arabidopsis thaliana does not produce phytosiderophores (PS) under Fe deficiency, it contains eight homologs of the metal-PS/metal-nicotianamine (NA) transporter ZmYS1 from maize. This study aimed to investigate whether one of the closest Arabidopsis homologs to ZmYS1, AtYSL2, is involved in metal-chelate transport. Northern analysis revealed high expression levels of AtYSL2 in Fe-sufficient or Fe-resupplied roots, while under Fe deficiency transcript levels decreased. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analysis of transgenic plants expressing an AtYSL2 promoter::beta-glucuronidase gene further allowed the detection of down-regulated AtYSL2 gene expression under Zn and Fe deficiency. In contrast to ZmYS1, AtYSL2 did not mediate metal-PS or metal-NA transport in yeast mutants defective in Cu or Fe uptake, nor did AtYSL2 mediate Fe(II)-NA-, Fe(III)-NA- or Ni(II)-NA-inducible currents when assayed by two-electrode voltage clamp in Xenopus oocytes. Moreover, truncation of the N-terminus to remove putative phosphorylation sites that might trigger autoinhibition did not confer functionality to AtYSL2. A direct growth comparison of yeast cells transformed with AtYSL2 in two different yeast expression vectors showed that transformation with empty pFL61 repressed growth even under non-limiting Fe supply. We therefore conclude that the yeast complementation assay previously employed does not allow the identification of AtYSL2 as an Fe-NA transporter. Transgenic plants expressing an AtYSL2 promoter::beta-glucuronidase gene showed expression in root endodermis and pericycle cells facing the meta-xylem tubes. Taken together, our investigations support an involvement of AtYSL2 in Fe and Zn homeostasis, although functionality or substrate specificity are likely to differ between AtYSL2 and ZmYS1.
Molecular cloning of the mouse IMINO system: an Na+- and Cl−-dependent proline transporter
2005-03-08

Neurotransmitter transporters of the SLC6 family play an important role in the removal of neurotransmitters in brain tissue and in amino acid transport in epithelial cells. Here we demonstrate that the mouse homologue of slc6a20 has all properties of the long-sought IMINO system. The mouse has two homologues corresponding to the single human SLC6A20 gene: these have been named XT3 and XT3s1. Expression of mouse XT3s1, but not XT3, in Xenopus laevis oocytes induced an electrogenic Na+-and-Cl−-dependent transporter for proline, hydroxyproline, betaine, N-methylaminoisobutyric acid and pipecolic acid. Expression of XT3s1 was found in brain, kidney, small intestine, thymus, spleen and lung, whereas XT3 prevailed in kidney and lung. Accordingly we suggest that the two homologues be termed ‘XT3s1 IMINOB’ and ‘XT3 IMINOK’ to indicate the tissue expression of the two genes.
Interleukin-6 acts as insulin sensitizer on glycogen synthesis in human skeletal muscle cells by phosphorylation of Ser473 of Akt
2005-03-08

Previous studies showed an insulin-“desensitizing” action of IL-6 on glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes. We recently found no inhibition of the proximal steps of the insulin signal cascade in human skeletal muscle cells. Because these data indicate a possible tissue-specific effect of IL-6, we investigated the influence of IL-6 on insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis in these cells. At first, we found that incubation of the cells with 20 ng/ml IL-6 alone induced phosphorylation of Ser 473 of Akt, but not of Thr 308 time dependently and we observed that IL-6 augments insulin-induced Ser 473 and Thr 308 phosphorylation in the low nanomolar range of insulin. Moreover, IL-6 increased insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3. Accordingly, IL-6 enhanced glycogen synthesis in the presence of 3 and 10 nM insulin, whereas IL-6 alone had only a marginal effect. IL-6 treatment of C57Bl/6 mice readily stimulated phosphorylation of Ser 473 in skeletal muscle. Our result that IL-6 did not induce Ser 473 phosphorylation in the liver of these mice suggests a tissue-specific effect. Together, our data demonstrate a novel insulin-sensitizing function of IL-6 on glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle cells and indicate that IL-6 exerts cell/tissue-specific effects on insulin action.
Exhumation and relief history of the Southern Carpathians (Romania) as evaluated from apatite fission track chronology in crystalline basement and intramontane sedimentary rocks
2005-03-08

The combination of apatite fission track ( FT) thermochronology from basement units and the FT age distributions of apatites in the Miocene intramontane sedimentary rocks allows describing the exhumation history of the central segment of the Southern Carpathians, Romania. Exhumation and cooling from the total track annealing temperature (&gt; 120 degrees C) of the Cozia and Cibin massifs occurred in the Palaeocene - Early Eocene. Between the Eocene and Middle Miocene, there was a stagnation period concerning vertical displacement; the presently exposed part of the basement was buried in shallow depth. The present crests of the Cozia and Cibin Mountains were at temperatures around 80 degrees C and 50 degrees C, respectively. The second exhumation period occurred in Middle Miocene times. The magnitude of the Miocene vertical displacement is on the order of the present-day relief. The vertical apatite FT age distribution in the basement and the age clusters in the sedimentary rocks prove that the levels of the crests were already close to the surface in Palaeogene times. Therefore, the post-Palaeocene erosional removal from the crest zones is very limited.
Impact of Coulomb interactions on the performance of a low energy focused ion beam system
2005-03-08

The effects of Coulomb interactions on a low energy (3keV) ion beam system are analyzed numerically using the example of a realistic laboratory setup. Several possible operation modes for this model system are initially assessed on the basis of classical particle-optical calculations, i.e. based on the determination of aberration coefficients and corresponding aberration discs. The impact of interactions is then discussed using data from direct ray-tracing software. [Programs used for calculations: OPTICS and IMAGE packages by Munro’s Electron Beam Software (MEBS) Ltd., London.] The ion probe size is determined from the particle distribution in the plane of least confusion using a robust and objective method that allows direct comparison with aberration-optical results. It will be shown that the consideration of Coulomb interactions is essential to low energy ion-optical design. While some of the conclusions drawn from aberration-based analysis at least remain qualitatively valid, others are strongly misleading or even wrong.