tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional regulation of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in rat hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Komal Ramani, Maria Lauda Tomasi
Journal: Hepatology (2012)

Methionine adenosyltransferases (MATs) are critical enzymes that catalyze the formation of the methyl donor S-adenosyl methionine (SAM). The MAT2A gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit α2, is induced in dedifferentiated liver. We previously demonstrated that MAT2A expression is enhanced in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and that silencing this gene reduces HSC activation. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanisms responsible for the transcriptional regulation of the MAT2A gene in HSCs. We identified peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) response elements (PPREs) in the rat MAT2A promoter. The PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone (RSG) promoted quiescence in the activated rat HSC cell line (BSC) or culture-activated primary rat HSCs, decreased MAT2A expression and promoter activity, and enhanced PPARγ binding to MAT2A PPREs. In vivo HSC activation in bile duct-ligated rats lowered PPARγ interaction with MAT2A PPREs. Silencing PPARγ increased MAT2A transcription, whereas overexpressing it had the opposite effect, demonstrating that PPARγ negatively controls this gene. Site-directed mutagenesis of PPREs abolished PPARγ recruitment to the MAT2A promoter and its inhibitory effect on MAT2A transcription in quiescent HSCs. PPRE mutations decreased the basal promoter activity of MAT2A in activated HSCs independent of PPARγ, indicating that other factors might be involved in PPRE interaction. We identified PPARβ binding to wild-type but not to mutated PPREs in activated cells. Furthermore, silencing PPARβ inhibited MAT2A expression and promoter activity. Forced expression of MAT2A in RSG-treated HSCs lowered PPARγ and enhanced PPARβ expression, thereby promoting an activated phenotype.We identified PPARγ as a negative regulator of MAT2A in quiescent HSCs. A switch from quiescence to activation abolishes this control and allows PPARβ to up-regulate MAT2A transcription.
What degree of maternal metabolic control in women with type 1 diabetes is associated with normal body size and proportions in full-term infants?
Authors: G Mello, E Parretti, F Mecacci, P La Torre, R Cioni, D Cianciulli, G Scarselli
Journal: Diabetes Care (2000)

OBJECTIVE: To assess what degree of maternal metabolic control in women with type 1 diabetes is associated with normal fetal growth and results in normal neonatal body proportions in a group of full-term infants. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated the anthropometric characteristics of 98 full-term singleton infants born to 98 Caucasian women with type 1 diabetes enrolled within 12 weeks of gestation. The type 1 diabetic mother-infant pairs were divided into three groups on the basis of the daily glucose levels reached during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (group 1: 37 mother-infant pairs with an average daily glucose level during the second and third trimesters of &amp;lt; or =95 mg/dl; group 2: 37 mother-infant pairs with an average daily glucose level during the second trimester of &amp;gt;95 mg/dl and during the third trimester of &amp;lt; or =95 mg/dl; group 3: 24 mother-infant pairs with an average daily glucose level during the second and third trimesters of &amp;gt;95 mg/dl; control group: 1,415 Caucasian mother-infant pairs with full-term singleton pregnancies and normal glucose challenge test screened for gestational diabetes. RESULTS: Infants of diabetic mothers in group 1 were similar to those of the control group in birth weight and in other anthropometric parameters. In contrast, offspring of diabetic mothers of groups 2 and 3 showed an increased incidence of large-for-gestational-age infants, significantly greater means of ponderal index and thoracic circumferences, and significantly smaller cranial/thoracic circumference ratios with respect to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that, in diabetic pregnancies, only overall daily glucose values &amp;lt; or =95 mg/dl throughout the second and third trimesters can avoid alterations in fetal growth.
Very short telomere length by flow fluorescence in situ hybridization identifies patients with dyskeratosis congenita
Authors: Blanche P. Alter, Gabriela M. Baerlocher, Sharon A. Savage, Stephen J. Chanock, Babette B. Weksler, Judith P. Willner, June A. Peters, Neelam Giri, Peter M. Lansdorp
Journal: Blood (2007)
Nitric oxide - a newly discovered chemical transmitter in human skin
Authors: R. WELLER
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1997)

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by many cells in the body. Low concentrations of NO have homeostatic roles in the circulation and nervous system, whereas high concentrations are biocidal, cytocidal and have immunomodulatory roles. The place of NO in the skin has recently become the focus of much attention, and this review highlights studies on the part played by NO in health and disease.
In patients with early inflammatory polyarthritis, ACPA positivity, younger age and inefficacy of the first non-biological DMARD are predictors for receiving biological therapy: results from the Norfolk Arthritis Register
Authors: S. M. M. Verstappen, M. Lunt, D. K. Bunn, D. G. I. Scott, D. P. M. Symmons
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2011)

<h3>Objectives</h3> To identify baseline disease-related predictors in patients with early inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) for starting subsequent biological therapy and to determine if patients who failed their first non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) within 6 months were more likely to need biological therapy. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients with early IP recruited between 1990 and 1994 (cohort 1) and between 2000 and 2004 (cohort 2) in the Norfolk Arthritis Register were included in this study. The association between possible predictors with the start of biological therapy was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. <h3>Results</h3> 32/407 (7.9%) patients in cohort 1 and 45/416 (10.8%) patients in cohort 2 received biological therapy during follow-up. In both cohorts, anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positivity (cohort 1, HR 7.62, 95% CI 2.46 to 23.58; cohort 2, HR 4.68, 95% CI 2.23 to 9.78) was the strongest predictor for starting biological therapy. In cohort 2, younger patients (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99) and patients who failed their first non-biological DMARD within 6 months due to inefficacy were also more likely to receive biological therapy (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.27). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Patients with early IP who are ACPA positive, are younger or who fail their first non-biological DMARD due to inefficacy within 6 months are more likely to need biological therapy.
DNA Vaccines Targeting Tumor Antigens to B7 Molecules on Antigen-Presenting Cells Induce Protective Antitumor Immunity and Delay Onset of HER-2/Neu-Driven Mammary Carcinoma
Authors: Arjen Sloots, Cristina Mastini, Florian Rohrbach, Robert Weth, Claudia Curcio, Ute Burkhardt, Elke Jäger, Guido Forni, Federica Cavallo, Winfried S. Wels
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Purpose: Presentation of tumor antigens by professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) is critical for the induction of tumor-specific T-cell responses. To facilitate targeted delivery of tumor antigens to APC, we generated DNA vaccines that encode secreted fusion proteins consisting of the extracellular domain of CTLA-4 for binding to costimulatory B7 molecules on APC, fused to residues 1 to 222 of human ErbB2 (HER-2) or a corresponding 224 residues fragment of its rat homologue Neu. Experimental Design: Induction of humoral and cellular immune responses and antitumoral activity of the DNA vaccines were tested in murine tumor models with transfected renal carcinoma cells expressing the respective antigens and in transgenic BALB-neuT mice developing spontaneous Neu-driven mammary carcinomas. Results: Vaccination of BALB/c mice with CTLA-4-ErbB2222 plasmid DNA markedly improved tumor-free survival on challenge with ErbB2-expressing Renca cells in comparison with untargeted ErbB2222, accompanied by induction of stronger ErbB2-specific antibody and CTL responses. Likewise, a CTLA-4 vaccine carrying the unrelated NY-ESO-1 cancer-germline antigen was more effective than untargeted NY-ESO-1 in the protection of mice from challenge with NY-ESO-1-expressing tumor cells. Importantly, antitumoral activity of such a CTLA-4 fusion vaccine could be reproduced in immunotolerant BALB-neuT mice, where a corresponding CTLA-4-Neu224 DNA vaccine markedly delayed the onset of spontaneous Neu-driven mammary carcinomas. Conclusions: Our results show that plasmid DNA vaccines for in vivo expression of tumor antigens targeted to APC induce potent immune responses and antitumoral activities, providing a rationale for further development of this approach for specific cancer immunotherapy.
Reversibility of Structural and Functional Damage in a Model of Advanced Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Warangkana Pichaiwong, Kelly L. Hudkins, Tomasz Wietecha, Tri Q. Nguyen, Chiraporn Tachaudomdach, Wei Li, Bardia Askari, Takahisa Kobayashi, Kevin D. O’Brien, Jeffrey W. Pippin, Stuart J. Shankland, Charles E. Alpers
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2013)

The reversibility of diabetic nephropathy remains controversial. Here, we tested whether replacing leptin could reverse the advanced diabetic nephropathy modeled by the leptin-deficient BTBR ob/ob mouse. Leptin replacement, but not inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), resulted in near-complete reversal of both structural (mesangial matrix expansion, mesangiolysis, basement membrane thickening, podocyte loss) and functional (proteinuria, accumulation of reactive oxygen species) measures of advanced diabetic nephropathy. Immunohistochemical labeling with the podocyte markers Wilms tumor 1 and p57 identified parietal epithelial cells as a possible source of regenerating podocytes. Thus, the leptin-deficient BTBR ob/ob mouse provides a model of advanced but reversible diabetic nephropathy for further study. These results also suggest that restoration of lost podocytes is possible but is not induced by RAAS inhibition, possibly explaining the limited efficacy of RAAS inhibitors in promoting repair of diabetic nephropathy.
Primary extragenital disseminated cutaneous donovanosis
Authors: V.N. Sehgal, N.L. Sharma, N.C. Bhargava, M. Nayar, M. Chandra
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

An extremely unusual case of non-venereal primary cutaneous donovanosis with distinctive evolution and morphology is described. Spread occurred by auto-inoculation and by direct continuity.
SLE retinopathy: evaluation by fluorescein angiography.
Authors: J G Lanham, T Barrie, E M Kohner, G R Hughes
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1982)

Fifty-two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined by fluorescein angiography, and retinopathy was detected in 15. Three patterns of retinopathy were discerned: 4 patients had disc vasculitis, 6 had multiple cotton-wool spots, and 5 had a normal fundal appearance but fluorescein leakage on angiography. One patient had arterial occlusive disease with retinal neovascularisation and another had extensive venous disease. With 3 exceptions retinopathy was found only in patients with active SLE. No association was discovered between retinopathy and cerebral disease; in particular, fluorescein angiography did no assist the diagnosis of mild cerebral lupus.
Calreticulin Destabilizes Glucose Transporter-1 mRNA in Vascular Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells Under High-Glucose Conditions
Authors: Hana Totary-Jain, Tally Naveh-Many, Yael Riahi, Nurit Kaiser, Jürgen Eckel, Shlomo Sasson
Journal: Circulation Research (2005)

Substrate autoregulation of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) mRNA and protein expression provides vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells a sensitive mechanism to adapt their rate of glucose transport in response to changing glycemic conditions. Hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of glucose transport is particularly important in protecting these cells against an excessive influx of glucose and consequently increased intracellular protein glycation and generation of free radicals; both are detrimental in the development of vascular disease in diabetes. We aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of high glucose-induced downregulation of GLUT-1 mRNA expression in primary bovine aortic vascular endothelial (VEC) and smooth muscle (VSMC) cell cultures. Using RNA mobility shift, UV cross-linking, and in vitro degradation assays, followed by mass-spectrometric analysis, we identified calreticulin as a specific destabilizing trans-acting factor that binds to a 10-nucleotide cis-acting element (CAE(2181-2190)) in the 3'-untranslated region of GLUT-1 mRNA. Pure calreticulin accelerated the rate of GLUT-1 mRNA-probe degradation in vitro, whereas overexpression of calreticulin in vascular cells decreased significantly the total cell content of GLUT-1 mRNA and protein. The expression of calreticulin was augmented in vascular cells exposed to high glucose in comparison with low-glucose conditions. Similarly, increased expression of calreticulin was observed in aortae of diabetic Psammomys obesus in comparison with normoglycemic controls. These data suggest that CAE(2181-2190)-calreticulin complex, which is formed in VSMC and VEC exposed to hyperglycemic conditions, renders GLUT-1 mRNA susceptible to degradation. This interaction underlies the process of downregulation of glucose transport in vascular cells under high-glucose conditions.
Synovial fluid beta 2 microglobulin and hydroxyproline fractions in rheumatoid arthritis and nonautoimmune arthropathies.
Authors: D Manicourt, H Brauman, S Orloff
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1980)

Fourteen patients with classical and definite seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 5 patients with microcrystalline arthritis, and 7 patients with osteoarthrosis were studied with respect to markers of newly synthesised collagen (synovial NDOH pro levels); markers of connective tissue resorption (synovial DOH pro and NBH levels); markers of lymphoid tissue activity (synovial and plasma beta 2m levels). Higher amounts of NDOH pro in RA synovial fluid are compatible with the hypothesis of a local connective tissue production as suggested by Uitto et al. on basis of a higher protocollagen proline hydroxylase activity in RA synovial tissue. DOH pro and NBH do not differ significantly in synovial fluid from RA or gouty patients, but the correlations between these forms of OH pro and, respectively, synovial lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes are indicative of different processes of connective tissue remodelling in the 2 conditions. Synovial beta 2m levels are a direct function of total synovial lymphocyte counts independently of the type of arthropathy being explored. The ratio of synovial to plasma beta 2m is systematically above unity in RA patients only.
Glutamine synthetase gene evolution in bacteria.
Authors: G Pesole, C Gissi, C Lanave, C Saccone
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1995)

The evolution of the prokaryotic glutamine synthase (GS) genes, namely the GSI and GSII isoforms, has been investigated using the second codon positions, which have previously proven to behave as a good molecular clock. Our data confirm the early divergence between prokaryotic and eukaryotic GSII before the splitting between plants and animals. The phylogenetic tree of the GSI isoforms shows Archaebacteria to be more closely related to Eubacteria than to Eukaryotes. This finding is confirmed by the phylogenetic analysis carried out on both large and small subunits of rRNA. However, differently from the rRNA analyses, Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota Archaebacteria, as well as high- and low-GC gram-positive bacteria, appear to be polyphyletic. We provide evidence that the observed polyphyly of Archaebacteria might be only apparent, resulting from a gene duplication event preceding the split between Archaebacteria and Eubacteria and followed by the retention of only one isoform in the extant lineages. Both gram-negative bacteria and high-GC gram-positive bacteria, which appear closely related, have GS activity regulated by an adenylylation/deadenylylation mechanism. A lateral gene transfer from Archaebacteria to low-GC eubacteria is invoked to explain the observed polyphyly of gram-positive bacteria.
Effect of magnesium on anginal attack induced by hyperventilation in patients with variant angina.
Authors: H Miyagi, H Yasue, K Okumura, H Ogawa, K Goto, S Oshima
Journal: Circulation (1989)

To examine whether or not magnesium suppresses coronary spasm, the effect of magnesium infusion on anginal attacks induced by hyperventilation was studied in 20 patients with variant angina. In all patients, anginal attacks associated with ischemic ST segment changes on the electrocardiogram were repeatedly induced by hyperventilation. The study was performed in the early morning successively for 3 days. On days 1 and 3 (control studies), 50 minutes before the hyperventilation test, a 5% glucose solution was infused as a placebo. On day 2 (magnesium study), 50 minutes before the hyperventilation test, magnesium sulfate (0.27 mM/kg body wt) was infused during a 20-minute period. During the control studies, anginal attack was induced by hyperventilation in all 20 patients, whereas during the magnesium study, anginal attack was induced by hyperventilation in only six (30%) of the 20 patients (p less than 0.001 vs. control studies). The changes in arterial blood pH and PCO2 caused by hyperventilation were not significant between the control study and the magnesium study. Mean serum magnesium concentration increased from 2.2 +/- 0.2 to 6.0 +/- 0.5 mg/dl immediately after infusing magnesium and was 4.5 +/- 0.6 mg/dl before the hyperventilation test during the magnesium study. We conclude that magnesium suppresses anginal attacks induced by hyperventilation in patients with variant angina.
Prevalence and Natural Course of Aging-Associated Cognitive Decline in a Population-Based Sample of Young-Old Subjects
Authors: Peter Schönknecht, Johannes Pantel, Andreas Kruse, Johannes Schröder
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2005)

"Mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits in older age that exceed age-related cognitive decline but do not fulfill criteria for dementia. Affected subjects are assumed to be at higher risk for the development of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known about the group of young-old subjects with respect to the prevalence and natural course of cognitive decline.Within the population-based Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on Adult Development and Aging, neuropsychological functioning was assessed in 500 community-dwelling young-old subjects of two German urban regions who were born during 1930-1932. The participants were carefully screened for physical and mental health and reexamined 4 years later. The concept of "aging-associated cognitive decline" was applied.At baseline, 13.4% of the subjects fulfilled criteria for aging-associated cognitive decline. Four years later, the prevalence rates for rose to 23.6%; 52.3% of the subjects initially classified as having aging-associated cognitive decline retained the diagnosis at follow-up. Although subjects with aging-associated cognitive decline showed a reduced performance in all neuropsychological domains addressed, a significant decline was confined to delayed verbal memory test performance during the 4-year follow-up period in relation to comparison subjects. Aging-associated cognitive decline did not predict conversion to dementia during the follow-up interval.In young-old community-dwelling individuals, aging-associated cognitive decline is a frequent condition with a high temporal stability. During a 4-year follow-up, subjects with aging-associated cognitive decline deteriorated specifically in measures of episodic memory, underscoring the value of the respective deficits in characterizing "mild cognitive impairment."
Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes (GoKinD) Study
Authors: Patricia W. Mueller, John J. Rogus, Patricia A. Cleary, Yuan Zhao, Adam M. Smiles, Michael W. Steffes, Jean Bucksa, Therese B. Gibson, Suzanne K. Cordovado, Andrzej S. Krolewski, Concepcion R. Nierras, James H. Warram
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2006)

The Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes (GoKinD) study is an initiative that aims to identify genes that are involved in diabetic nephropathy. A large number of individuals with type 1 diabetes were screened to identify two subsets, one with clear-cut kidney disease and another with normal renal status despite long-term diabetes. Those who met additional entry criteria and consented to participate were enrolled. When possible, both parents also were enrolled to form family trios. As of November 2005, GoKinD included 3075 participants who comprise 671 case singletons, 623 control singletons, 272 case trios, and 323 control trios. Interested investigators may request the DNA collection and corresponding clinical data for GoKinD participants using the instructions and application form that are available at http://www.gokind.org/access. Participating scientists will have access to three data sets, each with distinct advantages. The set of 1294 singletons has adequate power to detect a wide range of genetic effects, even those of modest size. The set of case trios, which has adequate power to detect effects of moderate size, is not susceptible to false-positive results because of population substructure. The set of control trios is critical for excluding certain false-positive results that can occur in case trios and may be particularly useful for testing gene-environment interactions. Integration of the evidence from these three components into a single, unified analysis presents a challenge. This overview of the GoKinD study examines in detail the power of each study component and discusses analytic challenges that investigators will face in using this resource.
Chondrolectin Is a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker and a Therapeutic Target for Lung Cancer
Authors: Ken Masuda, Atsushi Takano, Hideto Oshita, Hirohiko Akiyama, Eiju Tsuchiya, Nobuoki Kohno, Yusuke Nakamura, Yataro Daigo
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Purpose: This study aims to identify molecules that might be useful as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and as targets for the development of new molecular therapies for lung cancer. Experimental Design: We screened for genes that were highly transactivated in a large proportion of 120 lung cancers by means of a cDNA microarray representing 27,648 genes and found chondrolectin (CHODL) as a candidate. Tumor tissue microarray was applied to examine the expression of CHODL protein and its clinicopathologic significance in archival non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues from 295 patients. A role of CHODL in cancer cell growth and/or survival was examined by siRNA experiments. Cellular invasive effect of CHODL on mammalian cells was examined by Matrigel assays. Results: Immunohistochemical staining revealed that strong positivity of CHODL protein was associated with shorter survival of patients with NSCLC (P = 0.0006), and multivariate analysis confirmed it to be an independent prognostic factor. Treatment of lung cancer cells with siRNAs against CHODL suppressed growth of the cancer cells. Furthermore, induction of exogenous expression of CHODL conferred growth and invasive activity of mammalian cells. Conclusions: CHODL is likely to be a prognostic biomarker in the clinic and targeting CHODL might be a strategy for the development of anticancer drugs. Clin Cancer Res; 17(24); 7712–22. ©2011 AACR.