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LR
Terms modified by LR Selected AbstractsMan1, an inner nuclear membrane protein, regulates left,right axis formation by controlling nodal signaling in a node-independent mannerDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2008Akihiko Ishimura Abstract Man1, an inner nuclear membrane protein, regulates transforming growth factor , signaling by interacting with receptor-associated Smads. In Man1 -deficient (Man1,/,) embryos, vascular remodeling is perturbed by misregulation of Smad activity. Here, we show that Man1,/, embryos exhibit abnormal heart morphogenesis including the looping abnormality. We searched for the molecular basis underlying the heart abnormalities and found that the left side-specific genes responsible for left,right (LR) asymmetry, Nodal, Lefty2, and Pitx2, were expressed bilaterally in the lateral plate mesoderm and that their expression was enhanced significantly in mutants. Notably, Lefty1, a marker for the midline barrier, was maintained in Man1,/, mutants. Crossing Man1,/+ with Nodal hypomorphs (Nodalneo/+), in which Nodal signaling in the node is disrupted, to generate double homozygous embryos (Man1,/,; Nodalneo/neo) revealed that the bilateral Nodal was retained in Man1,/,; Nodalneo/neo embryos. These results suggest that Man1 regulates LR asymmetry by controlling Nodal signaling in a node-independent manner. Developmental Dynamics 237:3565,3576, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mice with mutations in Mahogunin ring finger-1 (Mgrn1) exhibit abnormal patterning of the left,right axisDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2006Christina D. Cota Abstract Mahogunin Ring Finger 1 (Mgrn1) encodes a RING-containing protein with ubiquitin ligase activity that has been implicated in pigment-type switching. In addition to having dark fur, mice lacking MGRN1 develop adult-onset spongy degeneration of the central nervous system and have reduced embryonic viability. Observation of complete situs inversus in a small proportion of adult Mgrn1 mutant mice suggested that embryonic lethality resulted from congenital heart defects due to defective establishment and/or maintenance of the left,right (LR) axis. Here we report that Mgrn1 is expressed in a pattern consistent with a role in LR patterning during early development and that many Mgrn1 mutant embryos show abnormal expression of asymmetrically expressed genes involved in LR patterning. A range of complex heart defects was observed in 20,25% of mid-to-late gestation Mgrn1 mutant embryos and another 20% were dead. This finding was consistent with 46,60% mortality of mutants by weaning age. Our results indicate that Mgrn1 acts early in the LR signaling cascade and is likely to provide new insight into this developmental process as Nodal expression was uncoupled from expression of other Nodal-responsive genes in Mgrn1 mutant embryos. Our work identifies a novel role for MGRN1 in embryonic patterning and suggests that the ubiquitination of MGRN1 target genes is essential for the proper establishment and/or maintenance of the LR axis. Developmental Dynamics 235:3438,3447, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] ThinPrep Pap tests in patients with endometrial cancer: A histo-cytological correlationDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 7 2007Jianhong Zhou M.D. Abstract The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate cytological diagnoses of endometrial cancers in ThinPrep Pap tests with the histological diagnoses. ThinPrep specimens from 67 patients within 12 mo of the histological diagnosis of endometrial cancer were studied. Of this study sample, 89.6% had abnormal Pap tests. Abnormal Pap tests occurred in 96.8, 68.4, and 100% of patients with grades 1, 2, or 3 endometrial cancers, respectively. Of patients with endocervical involvement, 88.9% had positive or suspicious Pap tests, compared with 41.1% without endocervical involvement (LR = 7.85, P < 0.01). Of patients with ,50% myometrial invasion, 78.9% had positive or suspicious Pap tests, compared with 34.8% with less than 50% invasion (LR = 10.97, P < 0.01). Positive or suspicious Pap tests were found in 59.5 and 32.1% of those with tumors ,3 cm or <3cm, respectively (LR = 4.85, P < 0.05). Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:448,453. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Spread and current potential distribution of an alien grass, Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees, in the southwestern USA: comparing historical data and ecological niche modelsDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2006Heather Schussman ABSTRACT The potential distribution of alien species in a novel habitat often is difficult to predict because factors limiting species distributions may be unique to the new locale. Eragrostis lehmanniana is a perennial grass purposely introduced from South Africa to Arizona, USA in the 1930s; by the 1980s, it had doubled its extent. Based on environmental characteristics associated with its introduced and native range, researchers believed that E. lehmanniana had reached the limits of its distribution by the early 1990s. We collected data on E. lehmanniana locations from various land management agencies throughout Arizona and western New Mexico and found new records that indicate that E. lehmanniana has continued to spread. Also, we employed two modelling techniques to determine the current potential distribution and to re-investigate several environmental variables related to distribution. Precipitation and temperature regimes similar to those indicated by past research were the most important variables influencing model output. The potential distribution of E. lehmanniana mapped by both models was 71,843 km2 and covers a large portion of southeastern and central Arizona. Logistic regression (LR) predicted a potential distribution of E. lehmanniana more similar to this species current distribution than GARP based on average temperature, precipitation, and grassland species composition and recorded occurrences. Results of a cross-validation assessment and extrinsic testing showed that the LR model performed as well or better than GARP based on sensitivity, specificity, and kappa indices. [source] Development of a Rapid Single-Drop Analysis Biosensor for Screening of Phenanthrene in Water SamplesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 20 2004Abstract Detection techniques for biosensors often require bulky instruments or cells that are not feasible for in-field analysis. Our single-drop cell design, optimized in this work, comprised a screen-printed three-electrode (SPE), strip in horizontal position onto which a volume of 100,,L of sample or substrate solution was placed to ensure electrical contact (complete circuit). Together with optimized linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), parameters for the detection of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP), the system was applied to a biosensor for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in environmental samples. A limit of detection (LOD), of 0.15,ppb was achieved for a model system with an IC50 value of 0.885 ppb and a linear range (LR), of 0.2,10,ppb. Application of the single drop analysis (SDA), format to a PAH biosensor gave a LOD of 1.4,ppb for detection of phenanthrene with an IC50 value of 29.3,ppb and linear range of 2,100,ppb. Proof of concept is shown with spiked sample analysis of phenanthrene in matrices such as sea, river and tap water. [source] Folate deficiency in human peripheral blood lymphocytes induces chromosome 8 aneuploidy but this effect is not modified by riboflavinENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 1 2010Juan Ni Abstract Chromosome 8 aneuploidy is a common event in certain cancers but whether folate (F) deficiency induces chromosome 8 aneuploidy is not known. Furthermore the impact of riboflavin (R) deficiency, which may alter activity of a key enzyme in folate metabolism, on these events is unknown. Therefore, the aim of our research was to test the following hypotheses: (a) F deficiency induces chromosome 8 aneuploidy; (b) chromosome 8 aneuploidy is affected by F deficiency to a similar degree as chromosome 17 and (c) R deficiency aggravates the risk of aneuploidy caused by F deficiency. These hypotheses were tested in long-term cultures of lymphocytes from twenty female healthy volunteers (aged 30,48 years). Lymphocytes were cultured in each of the four possible combinations of low (L) and high (H) F (LF, 20 nmol/L, HF 200 nmol/L, respectively) and L and H R (LR 1 nmol/L, HR 500 nmol/L, respectively) media (LFLR, LFHR, HFLR, HFHR) for 9 days. Chromosomes 8 and 17 aneuploidy was measured in mononucleated (MONO) and cytokinesis-blocked binucleated (BN) cells using dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with fluorescent centromeric probes specific for chromosomes 8 and 17. Culture in LF media (LFLR or LFHR) induced significant and similar increases in frequencies of aneuploidy of chromosomes 8 and 17 (P < 0.001) relative to culture in HF media (HFLR or HFHR). There was no significant effect of R concentration on aneuploidy frequency for either chromosome. We conclude that F deficiency is a possible cause of chromosome 8 aneuploidy. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Characteristics of microcystin production in the cell cycle of Microcystis viridisENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Keishi Kameyama Abstract The correlation between the content of three microcystins (types LR, RR and YR) and the cell cycle of an axenic strain of Microcystis viridis, NIES-102, was investigated under conditions of high (16 mg L,1) and low (1.0 mg L,1) nitrate (NO3 -N) concentrations. Each phase of the cell cycle was identified using a flow cytometer equipped with a 488-nm argon laser using SYTOX Green dye, which binds specifically to nucleic acids and can be exited by the wavelength (Ex/Em: 504/523 nm on DNA). Microcystin concentration showed a positive linear correlation with DNA concentration. The microcystin content of the cells changed remarkably as the cell cycle process proceeded, with maximum content in the G2/M phase and minimum content in the G0/G1 phase. Under a condition of high NO3 -N concentration, the ratio of the total content in the G0/G1 phase to that in the G2/M phase was about 6:1. In contrast, for the two batch cultures the total content was 1.3-fold greater in the G2/M phase. The compositions of the three microcystins also changed along with the cell cycle process, although there was little difference in composition that was related to NO3 -N concentration. Therefore, there were distinctive compositions specific to each phase of the cycle, and the cell cycle of the M. viridis strain was more strongly responsible for both the quantity and the types of microcystin production than was the effect of NO3 -N concentration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 19: 20,25, 2004. [source] The effect of food rations on tissue-specific copper accumulation patterns of sublethal waterborne exposure in Cyprinus carpioENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2007Shodja Hashemi Abstract Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were fed to two different food rations, 0.5% body weight (low ration [LR]) and 5% body weight (high ration [HR]), and were exposed to sublethal (1 ,M) copper levels for 28 d in softened Antwerp (Belgium) city tap water (Ca2+, 79.3 mg/L; Mg2+, 7.4 mg/L; Na+, 27.8 mg/L; pH 7.5,8.0). Copper accumulations in the liver, gills, kidney, anterior intestine, posterior intestine, and muscle were determined. Copper accumulation in the gills, liver, and kidney of LR fish was significantly higher than in HR fish. The only time copper uptake in HR fish was significantly higher than in LR fish was in the posterior intestine after two weeks of exposure. No difference was found between the two rations in the anterior intestine. Copper accumulation in the liver of both feeding treatments occurred in a time-dependent manner and did not reach steady state in any treatment. On the contrary, copper concentration in the gills reached a steady state for both HR and LR fish within the first week of exposure. No copper accumulation was found in muscle tissues of either treatment. Copper concentration dropped to control levels in all tissues, except liver tissue, two weeks after the exposure ended. Our studies indicated that copper uptake was influenced by the food ration in carp. The difference in copper accumulation probably is related to the amount of dietary NaCl and different rates of metallothionein synthesis. Low food availability provides less Na+ influx and leads to increased brachial uptake of Na+ and copper. In addition, it has been shown that starved animals show increased levels of metallothionein, possibly causing higher copper accumulation. [source] REVIEW: Human and laboratory rodent low response to alcohol: is better consilience possible?ADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010John C. Crabbe ABSTRACT If people are brought into the laboratory and given alcohol, there are pronounced differences among individuals in many responses to the drug. Some participants in alcohol challenge protocols show a cluster of ,low level of responses to alcohol' determined by observing post-drinking-related changes in subjective, motor and physiological effects at a given dose level. Those individuals characterized as having low level of response (LR) to alcohol have been shown to be at increased risk for a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence (AD), and this relationship between low LR and AD appears to be in part genetic. LR to alcohol is an area where achieving greater consilience between the human and the rodent phenotypes would seem to be highly likely. However, despite extensive data from both human and rodent studies, few attempts have been made to evaluate the human and animal data systematically in order to understand which aspects of LR appear to be most directly comparable across species and thus the most promising for further study. We review four general aspects of LR that could be compared between humans and laboratory animals: (1) behavioral measures of subjective intoxication; (2) body sway; (3) endocrine responses; and (4) stimulant, autonomic and electrophysiological responses. None of these aspects of LR provide completely face-valid direct comparisons across species. Nevertheless, one of the most replicated findings in humans is the low subjective response, but, as it may reflect either aversively valenced and/or positively valenced responses to alcohol as usually assessed, it is unclear which rodent responses are analogous. Stimulated heart rate appears to be consistent in animal and human studies, although at-risk subjects appear to be more rather than less sensitive to alcohol using this measure. The hormone and electrophysiological data offer strong possibilities of understanding the neurobiological mechanisms, but the rodent data in particular are rather sparse and unsystematic. Therefore, we suggest that more effort is still needed to collect data using refined measures designed to be more directly comparable in humans and animals. Additionally, the genetically mediated mechanisms underlying this endophenotype need to be characterized further across species. [source] Variable Coordination Modes of Benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazones , Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of Some Ruthenium ComplexesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 29 2008Swati Dutta Abstract Reaction of benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazones [H2LR, where H2 stands for the two protons, the hydrazinic proton, and the phenyl proton at the ortho position, with respect to the imine function and R (R = OCH3, CH3, H, Cl, and NO2) for the para substituent] with [Ru(PPh3)2(CO)2Cl2], carried out in refluxing ethanol, afforded monomeric complexes of type [Ru(PPh3)2(CO)(HLR)(H)]. The crystal structure of the [Ru(PPh3)2(CO)(HLNO2)(H)] complex was determined. The thiosemicarbazone ligand is coordinated to the ruthenium center as a bidentate N,S-donor ligand forming a four-membered chelate ring. When the reaction of the thiosemicarbazones with [Ru(PPh3)2(CO)2Cl2] was carried out in refluxing toluene, a family of dimeric complexes of type [Ru2(PPh3)2(CO)2(LR)2] were obtained. The crystal structure of [Ru2(PPh3)2(CO)2(LCl)2] was determined. Each thiosemicarbazone ligand is coordinated to one ruthenium atom, by dissociation of the two protons, as a dianionic tridentate C,N,S-donor ligand, and at the same time the sulfur atom is also bonded to the second ruthenium center. 1H NMR spectra of the complexes of both types are in excellent agreement with their compositions. All the dimeric and monomeric complexes are diamagnetic (low-spin d6, S = 0) and show intense absorptions in the visible and ultraviolet regions. Cyclic voltammetry of the [Ru(PPh3)2(CO)(HLR)(H)] and [Ru2(PPh3)2(CO)2(LR)2] complexes show the ruthenium(II),ruthenium(III) oxidation within 0.48,0.73 V vs. SCE followed by a ruthenium(III),ruthenium(IV) oxidation within 1.09,1.47 V vs. SCE. Potentials of both the oxidations are found to correlate linearly with the electron-withdrawing character of the substituent R. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source] CLINICAL STUDY: Abnormalities in cortical and transcallosal inhibitory mechanisms in subjects at high risk for alcohol dependence: a TMS studyADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 3-4 2008Kesavan Muralidharan ABSTRACT Central nervous system (CNS) hyperexcitability and a resulting state of behavioral undercontrol are thought to underlie the vulnerability to early-onset alcohol dependence (AD). The aim of this study was to explore the differences in the functioning of cortical inhibitory systems, utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in subjects at high risk (HR) and low risk (LR) for AD and to examine the relationship between CNS inhibition and behavioral undercontrol. Right-handed HR (n = 15) and LR (n = 15) subjects, matched for age, gender, height, weight and education, were assessed for psychopathology and family history of alcoholism using the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism and the Family Interview for Genetic Studies. Following single-pulse TMS, an electromyogram recorded from the right opponens pollicis muscle was used to measure the silent periods at different stimulus intensities. HR subjects had significantly shorter contralateral and ipsilateral (iSP) silent periods and a relatively higher prevalence of ,absent' iSP. They had significantly higher mean externalizing symptoms scores (ESS) than LR subjects, and there was a significant negative correlation between iSP duration and ESS. These preliminary findings suggest that HR subjects have relative impairments in corticocortical and transcallosal inhibitory mechanisms. The consequent state of CNS hyperexcitability may be etiologically linked to the excess of externalizing behaviors observed in this population, which is thought to be a predisposition to a higher risk of developing early-onset alcoholism. [source] Human alcoholism studies of genes identified through mouse quantitative trait locus analysisADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Marissa A. Ehringer Coding region DNA sequence variants have been recently identified in several QTL candidate genes in a mouse model of differential sensitivity to alcohol [inbred long-sleep (ILS) and inbred short-sleep (ISS)]. This work has been extended into a human population characterized for their initial level of response to alcohol (LR). The coding region of one of the most promising of these candidate genes, zinc finger 133 (Znf133), has been sequenced completely in 50 individuals who participated in alcohol challenges at approximately age 20 and have been followed subsequently for the last 15 years. PCR products were obtained for the protein coding region of ZNF133 using human genomic DNA and directly sequenced using automated sequencers. Novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by analyzing the sequence data using a suite of bioinformatics programs including Consed, Phred, Phrap and Polyphred. Five human SNPs were detected, two that correspond to amino acid changes in the protein, two that are silent DNA changes and one located in an intron. In this small sample, no significant association between any of the SNPs and alcohol diagnosis was detected. A follow-up of these SNPs in a larger sample should allow a more definitive conclusion to be reached. Significantly, the data presented here demonstrate the feasibility of directly testing genes in human alcoholic populations that had been identified first by comparative DNA sequencing of candidate genes located within mouse alcohol-related QTLs, even without detailed knowledge of the gene's function. [source] Individual differences in the effects of chronic prazosin hydrochloride treatment on hippocampal mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptorsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2007Mohamed Kabbaj Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the noradrenergic regulation of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in high responder (HR) and low responder (LR) male rats, an animal model of individual differences in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and vulnerability to drugs of abuse. The effects of a chronic treatment with the noradrenergic ,1 antagonist (1-[4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-quinazolinyl]-4-[2-furanylcarbonyl] piperazine) hydrochloride (prazosin) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p., 35 days) were assessed on stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) secretion and on hippocampal MRs and GRs in adrenally intact rats. In order to ascertain whether the effects of chronic prazosin treatment on hippocampal MRs and GRs were direct or indirect, through prazosin-induced CORT secretion, we also assessed the effects of the same treatment on adrenalectomized rats with CORT substitutive therapy. When compared with LR rats, HR rats exhibited a delayed return to the basal level of CORT following acute restraint stress; this was associated with a lower binding of MRs and GRs in HR rats than in LR rats. Chronic prazosin treatment had no effect in HR animals but markedly reduced hippocampal MRs and GRs, and increased stress-induced CORT secretion in LR rats. In LR adrenalectomized rats, prazosin reduced hipppocampal MRs but did not change GRs. Our results provide evidence of a differential regulation by noradrenaline of hippocampal MRs and GRs in HR and LR rats. These data could have clinical implications in terms of individual differences in the resistance to antidepressant treatments and individual differences in drug abuse. [source] Cellular prion protein/laminin receptor: distribution in adult central nervous system and characterization of an isoform associated with a subtype of cortical neuronsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 10 2004Hasna Baloui Abstract The 67-kDa LR protein was originally discovered as a non-integrin laminin receptor. Several more recent in vitro studies demonstrated the function of 67-kDa LR and its related ,precursor' form 37-kDa LRP as receptors of cellular prion protein and their implication in abnormal prion protein propagation in vitro. In addition, expression of both proteins was shown to increase considerably in the brain of scrapie-infected mice and hamsters. While LRP/LR are thus likely to play important roles in neuronal cell adhesion, survival and homeostasis and during pathological disorders, little is known so far about their fine cellular distribution in adult central nervous system. Using immunocytochemistry and western blotting, we show here that the 67-kDa LR is the major receptor form in adult rat brain and spinal cord, expressed within the cytoplasm and at the plasma membrane of most neurons and in a subset of glial cells. The overall distribution of LR correlates well with that reported for laminin-1 but also with brain regions classically associated with prion-related neurodegeneration. In contrast to LR, the 37-kDa LRP form is much less abundant in adult than in postnatal central nervous system. Characterization of a novel antibody allowed us to study the distribution across tissues of cell membrane-associated LRP. Interestingly, this form is almost exclusively found on a subclass of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cortical interneurons known to degenerate during the early stages of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Our demonstration of local differences in the expression of particular LRP/LR isoforms may be a first step towards unraveling their specific molecular interactions. [source] Effects of Lung Volume on Parasternal Pressure-Generating Capacity in DogsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Anthony F. DiMarco Previous studies have suggested that the optimum length for force generation of the parasternal intercostal (PS) muscles is well above functional residual capacity (FRC). We further explored this issue by examining the pressure-generating capacity of the PS muscles as a function of lung volume in anaesthetized dogs. Upper thoracic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was used to electrically activate the PS muscles. Changes in airway pressure and parasternal resting length (LR) during airway occlusion were monitored over a wide range of lung volumes during SCS. To assess the effects of parasternal contraction alone, SCS was performed following phrenicotomy and section of the external intercostal, levator costae and triangularis sterni muscles. With increasing lung volume, there were progressive decrements in the capacity of the PS muscles to produce changes in airway pressure. The relationship between PS pressure generation and lung volume was similar to a previous comparable assessment of the external intercostal muscles. The PS muscles shortened during passive inflation and also shortened further (by > 20% of LR) during SCS. Total shortening (passive plus active) increased progressively with increasing lung volume. Our results indicate that the capacity of the PS muscles to produce changes in airway pressure (a) falls progressively with increasing lung volume and (b) is similar to that of the external intercostal muscles. We speculate that the fall in PS pressure-generating capacity is related, in part, to progressive reductions in end-inspiratory length. [source] oleed, a medaka Polycomb group gene, regulates ciliogenesis and left,right patterningGENES TO CELLS, Issue 12 2009Daisuke Arai Left-right (LR) patterning is an essential part of the animal body plan. Primary cilia are known to play a pivotal role in this process. In humans, genetic disorders of ciliogenesis cause serious congenital diseases. A comprehensive mechanism that regulates ciliogenesis has not been proposed so far. Here, we show that EED, a core member of the Polycomb group (PcG) genes and a presumed player in many epigenetic processes, is required for ciliogenesis and subsequent LR patterning in the medaka fish, Oryzias latipes. Moderate knockdown of oleed, a medaka homolog of EED, preferentially caused situs inversus. In the affected embryo, the cilia in Kupffer's vesicle showed various defects in their structure, position and motility. Furthermore, we demonstrated that oleed maintains the expression of Noto, which, in mice, regulates ciliogenesis and LR patterning. This study provides the first evidence for the involvement of epigenetic plasticity in LR patterning through ciliogenesis. [source] LPXN, a member of the paxillin superfamily, is fused to RUNX1 in an acute myeloid leukemia patient with a t(11;21)(q12;q22) translocationGENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 12 2009Hai-Ping Dai RUNX1 (previously AML1) is involved in multiple recurrent chromosomal rearrangements in hematological malignances. Recently, we identified a novel fusion between RUNX1 and LPXN from an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient with t(11;21)(q12;q22). This translocation generated four RUNX1/LPXN and one LPXN/RUNX1 chimeric transcripts. Two representative RUNX1/LPXN fusion proteins, RL and RLs, were both found to localize in the nucleus and could bring the CBFB protein into the nucleus like the wild-type RUNX1. Both fusion proteins inhibit the ability of RUNX1 to transactivate the CSF1R promoter, probably through competition for its target sequences. Unlike RL and RLs, the LPXN/RUNX1 fusion protein LR was found to localize in the cytoplasm. Thus, we believe it has little impact on the transcriptional activity of RUNX1. We also found that fusion proteins RL, RLs, LR, and wild-type LPXN could confer NIH3T3 cells with malignant transformation characteristics such as more rapid growth, the ability to form colonies in soft agar, and the ability to form solid tumors in the subcutaneous tissue of the BALB/c nude mice. Taken together, our data indicated that the RUNX1/LPXN and LPXN/RUNX1 fusion proteins may play important roles in leukemogenesis and that deregulation of cell adhesion pathways may be pathogenetically important in AML. Our study also suggests that LPXN may play an important role in carcinogenesis. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The sedimentary structure of the Lomonosov Ridge between 88°N and 80°NGEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2005Wilfried Jokat SUMMARY While the origin of the 1800-km-long Lomonosov Ridge (LR) in the Central Arctic Ocean is believed to be well understood, details on the bathymetry and especially on the sediment and crustal structure of this unique feature are sparse. During two expeditions in 1991 and 1998 into the Central Arctic Ocean several high quality seismic lines were collected along the margin of the ridge and in the adjacent Makarov Basin (MB). The lines collected between 87°36,N and 80°N perpendicular to and along the LR show a sediment starved continental margin with a variety of geological structures. The different features may reflect the different geological histories of certain ridge segments and/or their different subsidence histories. The sediments in the deep MB have thicknesses up to 2.2 km (3 s TWT) close to the foot of the ridge. At least in part basement reflections characteristics suggest oceanic crust. The acoustically stratified layers are flat lying, except in areas close to the ridge. Seismic units on the LR can be divided into two units based on refraction velocity data and the internal geometry of the reflections. Velocities <3.0 km s,1 are considered to represent Cenozoic sediments deposited after the ridge subsided below sea level. Velocities >4.0 km s,1 are associated with faulted sediments at deeper levels and may represent acoustic basement, which was affected by the Late Cretaceous/Early Cenozoic rift events. Along large parts of the ridge the transition of the two units is associated with an erosional unconformity. Close to the Laptev Sea such an erosional surface may not be present, because of the initial great depths of the rocks. Here, the deeper strata are affected by tectonism, which suggests some relative motion between the LR and the Laptev Shelf. Stratigraphic correlation with the Laptev Sea Shelf suggests that the ridge has not moved as a separate plate over the past 10 Myr. The seismic and regional gravity data indicate that the ridge broadens towards the Laptev Shelf. Although the deeper structure may be heavily intruded and altered, the LR appears to extend eastwards as far as 155°E, a consequence of a long-lived Late Cretaceous rift event. The seismic data across LR support the existence of iceberg scours in the central region of the ridge as far south as 81°N. However, no evidence for a large erosional events due to a more than 1000-m-thick sea ice cover is visible from the data. South of 85°N the seismic data indicate the presence of a bottom simulating reflector along all lines. [source] Nutrient constraints to tropical agroecosystem productivity in long-term degrading soilsGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 12 2008SOLOMON NGOZE Abstract Soil degradation is one of the most serious threats to sustainable crop production in many tropical agroecosystems where extensification rather than intensification of agriculture has occurred. In the highlands of western Kenya, we investigated soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) constraints to maize productivity across a cultivation chronosequence in which land-use history ranged from recent conversion from primary forest to 100 years in continuous cropping. Nutrient treatments included a range of N and P fertilizer rates applied separately and in combination. Maize productivity without fertilizer was used as a proxy measure for indigenous soil fertility (ISF). Soil pools of mineral nitrogen, strongly bound P and plant-available P decreased by 82%, 31% and 36%, and P adsorption capacity increased by 51% after 100 years of continuous cultivation. For the long rainy season (LR), grain yield without fertilizer declined rapidly as cultivation age increased from 0 to 25 years and then gradually declined to a yield of 1.6 Mg ha,1, which was maintained as time under cultivation increased from 60 to 100 years. LR grain yield in the old conversions was only 24% of the average young conversion grain yield (6.4 Mg ha,1). Application of either N or P alone significantly increased grain yield in both the LR and short rainy (SR) seasons, but only application of 120 kg N ha,1 on the old conversion increased yield by >1 Mg ha,1. In both SR and LR, there was a greater average yield increment response to N and P when applied together (ranging from 1 to 3.8 Mg ha,1 for the LR), with the greatest responses on the old conversions. The benefit,cost ratio (BCR) for applying 120 kg N ha,1 alone was <1 except on the old conversions, while BCRs were>1 for applying 25 kg P ha,1 alone at all levels of conversion for both seasons. Application of both N (120 kg N ha,1) and P (25 kg P ha,1) on the old conversions resulted in the greatest BCRs. This study clearly indicates that maize productivity responses to N and P fertilizer are significantly affected by the age of cultivation and its influence on ISF, but that loss of productivity can be restored rapidly when these limiting nutrients are applied. Management strategies should consider ISF and economic factors to determine optimal N and P input requirements for achieving and sustaining profitable crop production on degraded soils. [source] Relevance between lipid metabolism-associated genes and rat liver regenerationHEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2008Cunshuan Xu Aim:, Lipids are important in constituting cell structure and participating in many biological processes, particularly in energy supplementation to cells. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the action of lipid metabolism-associated genes on rat liver regeneration (LR). Methods:, Lipid metabolism-associated genes were obtained by collecting website data and retrieving related articles, and their expression changes in the regenerating rat liver were checked by the Rat Genome 230 2.0 array. Results:, In total, 280 genes involved in lipid metabolism were proven to be LR-associated by comparing the gene expression discrepancy between the partial-hepatectomy and sham-operation groups. The initial and total expression numbers of these genes occurring in the initial phase, G0/G1 transition, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and structure,functional rebuilding of LR were 128, 33, 135, 6, and 267, 147, 1026, 306, respectively, illustrating that these genes were initially expressed mainly in the initiation stage and functioned in different phases. Upregulation (850 times) and downregulation (749 times), as well as 25 types of expression patterns, showed that the physiological and biochemical activities were diverse and complicated in LR. Conclusion:, According to the results of the chip detection, it was presumed that fatty acid synthesis at 24,66 h, leukotriene and androgen synthesis at 16,168 h, prostaglandin synthesis at 2,96 h, triglyceride synthesis at 18,24 h, glycosphingolipid synthesis at 0.5,66 h, metabolism of phosphatidyl inositol and sphingomyelin at 2,16 h, and cholesterol catabolism at 30,168 h were enhanced. Throughout almost the whole LR, the genes participating in estrogen, glucocorticoid, and progesterone synthesis, and triglyceride catabolism were upregulated, while phospholipid and glycosphingolipid catabolism were downregulated. [source] Novel conversion of 6H -1,3,5-oxathiazine S -oxides into 3H -1,2,4-dithiazoles by treating with Lawesson's reagentHETEROATOM CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2004Islam Md. Treatment of 6H-1,3,5-oxathiazine S -oxides by Lawesson's reagent (LR) at high temperature furnished 3H-1,2,4-dithiazoles in moderate to good yields. Deoxygenation of 6H-1,3,5-oxathiazine S -oxides was performed by LR in the presence of EtOH. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:208,215, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20011 [source] Hippocampus modulates the behaviorally-sensitizing effects of nicotine in a rat model of novelty-seeking: Potential role for mossy fibersHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 10 2007Amrinder S. Bhatti Abstract Present experiments investigate interactions between a rat model of the novelty-seeking phenotype and psychomotor sensitization to nicotine (NIC) in adolescence, and the potential role of hippocampal mossy fibers in mediating the behaviorally-sensitizing effects of NIC. Outbred rats were phenotype-screened as high-responders (HR; locomotor reactivity to novelty score ranking in the upper third of the population) or low-responders (LR; locomotor reactivity to novelty score ranking in the lower third of the population). In Experiment 1, both phenotypes were trained with four NIC injections (at 3-d intervals on postnatal days 33,44), and lidocaine microinfusion was used to temporarily inactivate the hippocampal hilus at each NIC injection. Systemic saline and microinjection of artificial cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) were used as controls. During NIC training, lidocaine inactivation caused augmented locomotor response to NIC in HRs compared to LRs irrespective of injection days. Following 1 week of abstinence, all animals were challenged with a low dose of NIC. During challenge, previously NIC/CSF trained LRs and HRs were divided into two; one half receiving lidocaine inactivation of the hippocampal hilus and the other half receiving CSF control microinjection. Only HRs showed behavioral sensitization to the challenge dose of NIC, which was enhanced with lidocaine inactivation. In Experiment 2, a single NIC exposure was found sufficient to induce sensitization to the challenge dose of NIC in HRs, and concurrently an enlarged supra-pyramidal mossy fiber (SP-MF) terminal field. The increase in the SP-MF volume in HRs was greater with repeated NIC training. In both single and repeated NIC training cases, a significant positive morphobehavioral correlation was observed between challenge NIC-induced locomotion and the SP-MF terminal field volume. These findings suggest that the HR hippocampal mossy fibers are vulnerable to neuroadaptive alterations induced by NIC, which may be a substrate for the observed behavioral vulnerability to NIC. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Homogeneity analysis of Turkish meteorological data setHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 8 2010Sinan Sahin Abstract The missing value interpolation and homogeneity analysis were performed on the meteorological data of Turkey. The data set has the observations of six variables: the maximum air temperature, the minimum air temperature, the mean air temperature, the total precipitation, the relative humidity and the local pressure of 232 stations for the period 1974,2002. The missing values on the monthly data set were estimated using two methods: the linear regression (LR) and the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. Because of higher correlations between test and reference series, EM algorithm results were preferred. The homogeneity analysis was performed on the annual data using a relative test and four absolute homogeneity tests were used for the stations where non-testable series were found due to the low correlation coefficients between the test and the reference series. A comparison was accomplished by the graphics where relative and absolute tests provided different outcomes. Absolute tests failed to detect the inhomogeneities in the precipitation series at the significance level 1%. Interestingly, most of the inhomogeneities detected on the temperature variables existed in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is considered that theseinhomogeneities were mostly caused by non-natural effects such as relocation. Because of changes at topography at short distance in this region intensify non-random characteristics of the temperature series when relocation occurs even in small distances. The marine effect, which causes artifical cooling effect due to sea breezes has important impact on temperature series and the orograhpy allows this impact go through the inner parts in this region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype distribution in invasive cervical cancers in France: EDITH study ,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2008Jean-Luc Prétet Abstract Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in France. Since human papillomavirus (HPV) is the necessary cause of ICC, the aim of this study was to assess the type-specific prevalence of HPV in ICC in France in order to locally evaluate the potential benefit of an HPV 16/18 L1 virus-like particles (VLP) vaccination. A total of 516 histological specimens collected in 15 centers were analyzed. Among them, 86% had a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) whereas 14% were adenocarcinomas (ADC). HPV genotyping was performed using the INNO-LiPA assay allowing the specific detection of 24 HPV genotypes both high risk (HR) and low risk (LR). The overall HPV prevalence in ICC was 97%. The most prevalent genotypes were HPV 16 (73%) and HPV 18 (19%) followed by HPV 31 (7%), 33, 68, 45, 52 and 58 (4.1,2.3%). HPV 16 and/or 18 were associated with 82% of ICC, 10% being HPV 16 and 18 coinfections. While HPV 16 was the most prevalent type in both SCC (74%) and ADC (64%), HPV 18 was by far more prevalent in ADC (37%) compared to SCC (16%; p < 0.001). Multiple infections with at least two different HR HPV genotypes were observed in 22% of ICC. Given the high HPV 16/18 prevalence and taking into account possible production of crossneutralizing antibodies against other HPV types, HPV 16/18 L1 VLP vaccination would be expected to significantly reduce the burden of ICC in France. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Childhood trauma has dose-effect relationship with dropping out from psychotherapeutic treatment for bulimia nervosa: A replicationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 2 2001Jennifer Mahon Abstract Objective The primary goal of this study was to replicate the finding that experiences of childhood trauma have a dose-effect relationship with dropping out from psychotherapeutic treatment for bulimia nervosa. It also aimed to replicate logistic regression findings that parental break-up predicts dropping out. Method The cohort consisted of 114 women consecutively presenting to an outpatient eating disorders clinic with bulimia nervosa or atypical bulimia nervosa. Data were gathered using a retrospective, case-note approach and were analysed using logistic regression (LR). A correlation technique was employed to assess the presence of a dose-effect relationship between experiences of trauma in childhood and dropping out. LR models were double cross-validated between this and an earlier cohort. Results The dose-effect relationship between experiences of childhood trauma and dropping out was confirmed. Witnessing parental break-up in childhood again predicted dropping out of treatment in adulthood. Cross-validation of LR equations was unsuccessful. Discussion These results strongly suggest that experiences of childhood trauma have a dose-effect relationship with dropping out. Parental break-up is a stable predictor of dropping out. It is possible that these experiences influence attachment style, particularly the ability to make and maintain a trusting relationship with a psychotherapist. Clinical implications are discussed. © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 30: 138,148, 2001. [source] Determinants of antipsychotic medication use among older people living in aged care homes in AustraliaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 5 2010Prasad S. Nishtala Abstract Objective To investigate determinants of antipsychotic medication use among older people living in aged care homes in Australia. Design Retrospective study of a random sample of de-identified medication reports using cross-sectional data gathered between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2008 in Australia. Subjects The mean (SD) age of the residents was 84.0 (9.0) years. Seventy-five per cent were females. Measures Resident demographics, clinical characteristics, medical diagnoses and prescribed medication were systematically recorded. Logistic regression (LR) models were used to determine predictors for any antipsychotic, atypical and conventional antipsychotic use. Results Twenty-three per cent of the residents were prescribed one or more antipsychotics. In the LR model, factors for predicting the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for any antipsychotic medication use were agitation (7.11, 95% CI 3.15,16.03), challenging behaviours (7.47, 95% CI 2.53,22.10), dementia (2.35, 95% CI 1.36,4.06), dementia with mood disorder (0.39, 95% CI 0.16,0.92), paranoia (6.70, 95% CI 1.08,41.55), psychosis (14.79, 95% CI 3.64,60.00) and any psychiatric diagnosis (3.30, 95% CI 1.82,6.00). Use of atypical antipsychotic medication was significant for agitation (4.58, 95% CI 2.05,10.23), aggression (2.25, 95% CI 1.05,4.78), challenging behaviours (8.01, 95% CI 2.76,23.24), dementia (3.64, 95% CI 1.99,6.67), dementia with mood disorder (0.16, 95% CI 0.06,0.43), psychosis (16.51, 95% CI 4.28,63.66) and any psychiatric diagnosis (4.44, 95% CI 2.33,8.46). Conclusions Psychiatric diagnosis, psychosis and dementia were associated with significantly greater odds for the use of antipsychotic medications. Older people suffering from dementia and comorbid mood disorders treated with antidepressants were less likely to be prescribed atypical antipsychotics. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] High score on the Relative Stress Scale, a marker of possible psychiatric disorder in family carers of patients with dementiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2007Ingun Ulstein Abstract Objective To compare the scores on the Relative Stress Scale (RSS) with those on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and to establish a cut-off score for RSS in order to distinguish carers with symptoms of psychiatric disorders from those without. Methods One hundred and ninety-four carers of 194 patients suffering from dementia according to ICD-10 were included in the study. Burden of care was assessed by the 15-items RSS, and psychiatric symptoms by means of the GHQ-30 and the 30-items GDS. A case score above 5 on GHQ and above 13 on GDS were used to define carers with probable psychiatric morbidity. Sensitivity (SS), specificity (SP), accuracy and likelihood ratio for a positive test (LR+) were calculated for different cut-points of the RSS. Results Fifty-six percent of the carers had a GHQ score above 5, and 22% had a GDS score above 13. A two-step cluster analysis using 192 of the 194 carers, identified three groups of carers; a low risk group for psychiatric morbidity (LRG), 82 carers with GHQ,,,5 and GDS,,,13; a medium risk group (MRG), 69 carers with GHQ,>,5 and GDS,,,13; and a high-risk group (HRG), 40 carers with GHQ,>,5 and GDS,>,13. The optimal RSS cut-off to distinguish between the LRG and the others was,>,23 (SS 0.72, SP 0.82, accuracy 0.76, LR,+,4.0), whereas the optimal cut-off to separate the HRG from the others was,>30 (SS 0.74, SP 0.87, accuracy 0.84, LR,+,5.7). Conclusion The RSS is a useful instrument to stratify carers according to their risk of psychiatric morbidity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] High-resolution images from compressed low-resolution video: Motion estimation and observable pixelsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMAGING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2004L. D. Alvarez Abstract In this article, we address the problem of obtaining a high-resolution (HR) image from a compressed low-resolution (LR) video sequence. Motion information plays a critical role in solving this problem, and we determine which pixels in the sequence provide useful information for calculating the high-resolution image. The bit stream of hybrid motion compensated video compression methods includes low-resolution motion-compensated images; we therefore also study which pixels in these images should be used to increase the quality of the reconstructed image. Once the useful (observable) pixels in the low-resolution and motion-compensated sequences have been detected, we modify the acquisition model to only account for these observations. The proposed approach is tested on real compressed video sequences and the improved performance is reported. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 14, 58,66, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.20008 [source] Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of IndiaJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2004Neelesh Dahanukar Abstract Aim, To study (1) the large-scale distribution patterns of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India; (2) the endemism and uniqueness of the fishes in various zones; and (3) the threat status of fishes by categorizing them under low risk (LR), vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN) and critically endangered (CR). Location, The Western Ghats of India. Methods, The scientific literature describing the freshwater fishes of the Western Ghats was reviewed. Data describing the lists of the species were extracted and complied. The species accumulation curve was plotted using Michaelis,Menten-like equation. The Western Ghats was divided into six zones and similarity of the species was calculated using Jacquard's index. Results, Literature to date records 288 species belonging to 12 orders, 41 families and 109 genera, of which 118 species are endemic and 51 are unique. However, the species accumulation curve shows that there might be 345 species in this region, indicating that 16% species have not been recorded to date. An analysis of the distribution pattern of fishes in the Western Ghats suggests that the southern region is more diverse than the northern and central regions. The southern region shows high endemism and high uniqueness while the northern region shows high endemism but less uniqueness. The similarity index between the zones indicates that as the distance between the zones increases similarity decreases. The status of 105 of 288 species was not known due to data deficiency but among the remaining 183 species, 58 species were categorized as LR, 41 as VU, 54 as EN, 24 as CR while the remaining six species were introduced. Conclusions, The distribution patterns of fishes in the Western Ghats are discussed in accordance with the geography of Western Ghats, its climatic conditions and ,Satpura Hypothesis'. The threat status of fishes found in Western Ghats suggests that at least 41% of fish fauna is threatened by either being VU, EN or CR. Implication of potent conservation measures is necessary to conserve the fish fauna of Western Ghats. [source] Modulation of clinical expression of plaque-induced gingivitis: response in aggressive periodontitis subjectsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Leonardo Trombelli Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize the gingival inflammatory response to de novo plaque accumulation in subjects treated for aggressive periodontitis (AP). The gingival inflammatory response of the AP subjects was retrospectively compared with that of periodontally healthy individuals (PH) matched for exposure to plaque and of periodontally healthy subjects previously identified as "high responders" (HR) and "low responders" (LR). Materials and Methods: 13 AP subjects and 26 matched PH subjects participated in a 21-day experimental gingivitis trial. Plaque index (PlI), Gingival index (GI), gingival crevicular fluid volume (GCF) and angulated bleeding score (AngBS) were recorded at days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Cumulative plaque exposure (CPE), i.e. PlI over time, was also calculated. Results: GCF was significantly higher in AP compared with PH group at each observation interval (p0.001). In addition, GCF was significantly higher in AP group compared with either LR or HR groups at each observation interval (p<0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that susceptibility to gingival inflammation in response to de novo plaque accumulation may be related to susceptibility to periodontitis. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||