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Characteristic Profile (characteristic + profile)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	57%

Selected Abstracts

Variable Selection in High-Dimensional Multivariate Binary Data with Application to the Analysis of Microbial Community DNA Fingerprints

BIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2002
J. D. Wilbur
Summary. In order to understand the relevance of microbial communities on crop productivity, the identification and characterization of the rhieosphere soil microbial community is necessary. Characteristic profiles of the microbial communities are obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16s rDNA from soil extracted DNA. These characteristic profiles, commonly called community DNA fingerprints, can be represented in the form of high-dimensional binary vectors. We address the problem of modeling and variable selection in high-dimensional multivariate binary data and present an application of our methodology in the context of a controlled agricultural experiment. [source]

Selective expansion of CD16highCCR2, subpopulation of circulating monocytes with preferential production of haem oxygenase (HO)-1 in response to acute inflammation

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
K. Mizuno
Summary Monocytes are composed of two distinct subpopulations in the peripheral blood as determined by their surface antigen expressions, profiles of cytokine production and functional roles played in vivo. We attempted to delineate the unique functional roles played by a minor CD16highCCR2, subpopulation of circulating monocytes. They produced significant levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-,, but very low levels of IL-10 upon in vitro stimulation. Characteristic profiles of cytokine production were confirmed by stimulating purified subpopulations of monocytes after cell sorting. It was noteworthy that freshly isolated CD16highCCR2, monocyte subpopulations produced significant levels of haem oxygenase (HO)-1, whereas the major CD16lowCCR2+ subpopulation produced little. These results were contrary to the generally accepted notion that the CD16highCCR2, monocyte subpopulation plays a predominantly proinflammatory role in vivo. The CD16highCCR2, subpopulation increased in Kawasaki disease and influenza virus infection. In accord with this, HO-1 mRNA expression by mononuclear cells was significantly increased in these illnesses. These results indicate that CD16highCCR2, subpopulations are of a distinct lineage from CD16lowCCR2+ monocytes. More importantly, they may represent a monocyte subpopulation with a unique functional role to regulate inflammation by producing HO-1 in steady state in vivo. [source]

Characterization of hydroxyaromatic compounds in vegetable oils by capillary electrophoresis with direct injection in an oil-miscible KOH/propanol/methanol medium

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 17 2005
Carla R. B. Mendonça
Abstract The separation of hydroxyaromatic compounds in vegetable oils, including synthetic antioxidants (3- tert -butyl-4-hydroxyanisol and 2,6-di- tert -butyl-4-hydroxytoluene), E-vitamers and other natural oil components, by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis in an oil-miscible background electrolyte (BGE) was investigated. The BGE contained 40,mM KOH in a methanol/1-propanol (PrOH) mixture (15:85 v/v). The oil samples were 1:1 diluted with PrOH and directly injected in the capillary. Under negative polarity (cathode at the injection end), the anionic solutes moved faster than the electroosmotic flow, being well-resolved among them and from the triacylglycerols. Using virgin palm, extra virgin olive, wheat germ, virgin soybean and other oils, the capability of the procedure to quickly yield a characteristic profile of the biophenols present in the sample was demonstrated. The , -, (,,+,,)- (as unresolved pair) and , -tocopherols of a soybean oil sample were quantified. [source]

Short communication: Analysis of CD4+ T-cell gene expression in allergic subjects using two different microarray platforms

ALLERGY, Issue 3 2008
N. N. Hansel
Background:, Allergic diseases are thought to involve dysregulated activation of T cells including CD4+ lymphocytes. T-cell activation results in changes in gene expression, but the optimal method to study gene expression profiles in T cells, and how this changes over time, are not known. Methods:, Circulating CD4+ T cells were obtained from subjects with atopic asthma, nonatopic asthma or nonallergic controls, and total mRNA was rapidly isolated. Atopy was defined as positive skin prick test to one of nine allergens. Gene expression was analyzed using hybridization and Affymetrix® oligonucleotide arrays (Hu133A and Hu133B chips, n = 84), or by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a pathway-targeted array (Human Th1,Th2,Th3 RT2 ProfilerTM PCR Array, Superarray, n = 16). Results:, Using Affymetrix arrays, it was difficult to discern a dominant allergy-associated profile because of heterogeneity in gene expression profiles. In contrast, a Th2-like signature was evident using RT-PCR arrays with increased expression of expected genes (e.g. IL-4, 5, 9, and 13, all P < 0.05) as well as unexpected gene transcripts (e.g. osteopontin). Gene expression profiles were relatively stable over time in circulating CD4+ T cells from two subjects using both platforms. Conclusions:, Unstimulated CD4+ T cells isolated from allergic subjects express a characteristic profile of genes when analyzed using RT-PCR based microarrays. [source]

CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are increased whilst CD3+CD4,CD8,,,TCR+ Double Negative T cells are decreased in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma which correlates with disease burden

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Sylvia Feyler
Summary Increased levels of naturally occurring regulatory T cells (TReg cells) have been found in a variety of solid tumours and haematological malignancies. In multiple myeloma (MM), evidence suggests that TReg cells are increased though controversy exists with regards to their function and no relationship to disease stage and treatment has been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate significantly elevated levels of functional CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ TReg cells in a large cohort of patients with MM as well as monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) in comparison to age-matched, healthy controls. The frequency of Double Negative TReg cells was also evaluated, demonstrating that these cells were reduced in patients with MM. Furthermore, a characteristic profile of immunomodulatory cytokines in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with MM and MGUS was demonstrated, compared with healthy controls. This data adds further evidence to the understanding of the role of TReg cell subsets in tumour immunology and the fundamentals of the host/tumour immune conflict. [source]

A narrow deletion of 7q is common to HCL, and SMZL, but not CLL

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
Claus Lindbjerg Andersen
Abstract: To further characterise the genetic background of the two closely related B-lymphocytic malignancies hairy cell leukaemia (HCL), and splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) we have identified characteristic copy number imbalances by comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH). Based on these findings, areas of special interest were fine mapped, and relevant probes constructed for use in interphase-fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) investigations. Thus, using the CGH data from 52 HCL and 61 SMZL patients, we identified the characteristic profiles of copy number imbalances for both diseases. These were a gain of 5q13-31 (19%) and loss of 7q22-q35 (6%) for HCL, and gain of 3q25 (28%), loss of 7q31 (16%), and gain of 12q15 (16%) for SMZL. A partial loss of 7q unsual for low-malignant B-cell diseases was found to be common to the two diseases. This loss was therefore fine mapped with BAC/PAC clones. Fine mapping revealed that in SMZL the minimal lost region covers 11.4 Mb spanning from 7q31.33 to 7q33 located between sequence tagged site (STS)-markers SHGC-3275 and D7S725. This area was distinct from the commonly deleted 7q region of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukaemia (MDS/AML). A FISH probe specific for the 7q region was constructed. Using this probe in an interphase-FISH investigation we showed the minimal lost 7q-region of HCL and SMZL to be one and the same. In one HCL case, this investigation furthermore showed the extent of the deleted region to be below the detection limit of CGH, whereas interphase-FISH screening of 36 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cases showed no deletion of the 7q area. In conclusion, we have identified characteristic profiles of copy number imbalances in HCL and SMZL and fine mapped the minimal extent of a commonly lost 7q area of special interest. We hypothesise that this region may contain (a) gene(s) important for the pathology of HCL and SMZL. [source]