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Potential Contributors (potential + contributor)
Selected AbstractsUnderstanding the pathology and mechanisms of type I diabetic bone lossJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2007*Article first published online: 1 NOV 200, Laura R. McCabe Abstract Type I (T1) diabetes, also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is characterized by little or no insulin production and hyperglycemia. One of the less well known complications of T1-diabetes is bone loss which occurs in humans and animal models. This complication is receiving increased attention because T1-diabetics are living longer due to better therapeutics, and are faced with their existing health concerns being compounded by complications associated with aging, such as osteoporosis. Both male and female, endochondrial and intra-membranous, and axial and appendicular bones are susceptible to T1-diabetic bone loss. Exact mechanisms accounting for T1-diabetic bone loss are not known. Existing data indicate that the bone defect in T1-diabetes is anabolic rather than catabolic, suggesting that anabolic therapeutics may be more effective in preventing bone loss. Potential contributors to T1-diabetic suppression of bone formation are discussed in this review and include: increased marrow adiposity, hyperlipidemia, reduced insulin signaling, hyperglycemia, inflammation, altered adipokine and endocrine factors, increased cell death, and altered metabolism. Differences between T1-diabetic- and age-associated bone loss underlie the importance of condition specific, individualized treatments for osteoporosis. Optimizing therapies that prevent bone loss or restore bone density will allow T1-diabetic patients to live longer with strong healthy bones. J. Cell. Biochem. 102: 1343,1357, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The functional impact of anxiety sensitivity in the chronically physically illDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 4 2005Sonya B. Norman Ph.D. Abstract The symptoms and physical limitations resulting from chronic physical illness often diminish physical functioning. Comorbidity of chronic physical illness and an anxiety disorder is associated with greater impairment in functioning than chronic illness alone. One potential contributor to anxiety in the chronically ill is anxiety sensitivity (AS). The goal of this study was to explore the role of AS on functioning in the chronically ill. Participants were 267 primary care patients. Logistic regression showed that physical AS (but not social or psychological), controlling for age, gender, and negative affect, was associated with hypertension, heart disease, and high cholesterol (P<.01). Higher AS was associated with poorer vitality, mental functioning, and social functioning (P<.05). AS may be a correlate of poorer adjustment to chronic illness. Depression and Anxiety 21:154,160, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Interleukin-4 downregulates CD127 expression and activity on human thymocytes and mature CD8+ T cellsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Angela M. Crawley Abstract Signaling via the IL-7 receptor complex (IL-7R,/CD127 and IL-2R,/CD132) is required for T-cell development and survival. Decreased CD127 expression has been associated with persistent viral infections (e.g. HIV, HCV) and cancer. Many IL-2R,-sharing (,C) cytokines decrease CD127 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mice (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-15) and in humans (IL-2, IL-7), suggesting a common function. IL-4 is of particular interest as it is upregulated in HIV infection and in thyroid and colon cancers. The role of IL-4 in regulating CD127 expression and IL-7 activity in human thymocytes and mature CD8+ T cells is unknown and was therefore investigated. IL-4 decreased CD127 expression on all thymocyte subsets tested and only on naïve (CD45RA+) CD8+ T cells, without altering membrane-bound CD127 mRNA expression. Pre-treatment of thymocytes or CD8+ T cells with IL-4 inhibited IL-7-mediated phosphorylation of STAT5 and decreased proliferation of CD8+ T cells. By downregulating CD127 expression and signaling on developing thymocytes and CD8+ T cells, IL-4 is a potential contributor to impaired CD8+ T-cell function in some anti-viral and anti-tumor responses. These findings are of particular consequence to diseases such as HIV, HCV, RSV, measles and cancer, in which CD127 expression is decreased, IL-7 activity is impaired and IL-4 concentrations are elevated. [source] Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism frequency in normotensive children with a positive family history of essential hypertensionJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 12 2009Lale Camci Aim: To evaluate the possible relationship between blood pressure (BP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in normotensive children with a positive family history of essential hypertension (EHT). Material and Methods: Three hundred seventy-six randomly selected normotensive schoolchildren (147 boys, 229 girls) between the ages of seven and 17 years were enrolled. Children were subdivided into a ,first-degree relative group' and a ,second-degree relative group' according to the presence of EHT in parents or grandparents, respectively. BP was measured twice from the right arm and the systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean BP were recorded. ACE gene I/D polymorphism was performed from all studied children and frequency od DD, ID and ID allele were analysed in each study group. Results: Allelic frequencies of the DD genotype of the ACE gene were higher in children with a positive history in the first- (36.2%) and second-degree (38.3%) relatives for EHT than the controls (30.7%) (P < 0.05 for both). Children with a positive family history of EHT and a DD genotype, had significantly higher SBP, DBP and MBP levels (P < 0.05) than the children with ID or II genotypes. Conclusion: We found that the ACE gene DD genotype was common and that BP levels were higher in Turkish children with a positive family history of EHT and DD genotype. Because the presence of DD allele might be the one of the potential contributor of EHT pathogenesis, further studies needed in large cohort for long term follow-up for EHT in children with DD allele. [source] Augmented currents of an HCN2 variant in patients with febrile seizure syndromesANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2010Leanne M. Dibbens PhD The genetic architecture of common epilepsies is largely unknown. HCNs are excellent epilepsy candidate genes because of their fundamental neurophysiological roles. Screening in subjects with febrile seizures and genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus revealed that 2.4% carried a common triple proline deletion (delPPP) in HCN2 that was seen in only 0.2% of blood bank controls. Currents generated by mutant HCN2 channels were ,35% larger than those of controls; an effect revealed using automated electrophysiology and an appropriately powered sample size. This is the first association of HCN2 and familial epilepsy, demonstrating gain of function of HCN2 current as a potential contributor to polygenic epilepsy. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:542,546 [source] arNOX activity of saliva as a non-invasive measure of coenzyme Q10 response in human trialsBIOFACTORS, Issue 1-4 2008D. James Morré arNOX is a coenzyme Q10 -inhibited, aging-related ECTO-NOX protein of the cell surface also present in sera. It is capable of Superoxide generation measured as Superoxide dismutase-inhibited reduction of ferricytochrome c and is a potential contributor to atherogenic risk. Here, we report an arNOX activity of saliva of older individuals also inhibited by coenzyme Q10. The activity first appears after age 30 to a near maximum at about age 55. Those surviving beyond age 55 usually have reduced arNOX activities. Our studies demonstrate significant (25 to 30%) reduction of arNOX levels with coenzyme Q10 supplementation of 60 mg (2 × 30 mg) per day for 28 days. Activity correlated with age. Response to coenzyme Q10 increased with age being greatest between ages 60 and 65. Saliva arNOX levels varied in a regular pattern throughout the day so it was important that samples be collected at approximately the same time each day for comparative purposes. The coenzyme Q10 response was reversible and within 12 h after the last intake of coenzyme Q10, the salivary arNOX levels returned to base line. The findings suggest that salivary arNOX provides a convenient and non-invasive method to monitor arNOX levels in clinical coenzyme Q10 intervention trials with the response levels paralleling those seen with serum and cellular arNOX. [source] CONTRIBUTIONS AND ELECTIONS WITH NETWORK EXTERNALITIESECONOMICS & POLITICS, Issue 1 2005Adam Meirowitz This paper develops a model of campaign contributions and electoral competition. Contributors have separable preferences over policy and the electoral success of the candidate they support, as in influence buying. Policy preferences are single peaked over a single policy dimension. A candidate's chances of victory are increasing in the relative size of her war chest. In equilibrium, potential contributors balance incentives to donate to a candidate that is desirable on policy grounds and ensuring that they back the likely winner. With exogenous candidate positions, we find conditions under which, in equilibrium, contributors donate to the candidate that is less desirable on policy grounds solely because they consider the candidate viable. We also find that there is a degree of indeterminacy, wherein multiple equilibria inducing different lotteries over the final policy often exist. With endogenous candidate locations, we find that while median policies are always supportable as equilibrium, it is often the case that any pair of candidate locations is supportable in equilibrium. These results suggest that in settings with substantial influence buying, median policy interests may not be represented. [source] Surface damage analysis of retrieved highly crosslinked polyethylene tibial components after short-term implantation,JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008B. M. Willie Abstract The use of highly crosslinked polyethylene (PE) in the knee remains controversial, because of reduced fatigue fracture properties of the material. The current study investigated postmelt surface damage as well as potential contributors to this damage in retrieved highly crosslinked PE tibial components, after short-term in vivo durations. Retrieved conventional PE tibial components were examined for comparison, as well as unused time zero highly crosslinked and conventional PE tibial components for inherent manufacturing surface characterization. Predominant surface damage modes on highly crosslinked PE components were machine mark loss and abrasion, while conventional PE components primarily had machine mark loss, abrasion, and delamination. In vivo duration, PE thickness, and conformity of the design were significant predictors of surface damage on retrieved conventional PE components. Donor weight and the conformity of the design were significant predictors of surface damage on retrieved highly crosslinked PE components. This retrieval data on highly crosslinked PE tibial components suggest that in vivo wear occurred, observed as postmelt surface damage. The highly crosslinked Durasul material examined in this retrieval study appeared to outperform the conventional PE components made from 4150 resin, ram-extruded and ,-sterilized in air, but not the conventional components made from 1020 resin, compression molding and , sterilization in nitrogen. Early retrieval data of highly crosslinked PE tibial components are important to serve as a benchmark to be compared with future longer-term retrieval studies investigating whether surface damage translates to clinically relevant particulate wear debris generation and PE clinical performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008 [source] Role of executive dysfunction in predicting frequency and severity of violenceAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2010Megan Hancock Abstract The adverse consequences of violence on society are tremendous. The proportion of offenders incarcerated for violent offenses is large, and the cost of keeping these offenders incarcerated is startling. Understanding and treating the causal underpinnings of violent crime is of utmost importance for individuals and society as a whole. Several factors have been identified as potential contributors to violent crime, including cognitive deficits in executive functioning [Hoaken et al., 2007]. To investigate this further, 77 offenders from Fenbrook Institution, a federal facility, were tested on a battery of executive functioning measures. Offenders were found to have broad and pervasive dysfunction in their executive abilities. In addition, specific scores from the battery were found using regression techniques, to predict the frequency and severity of past violent offending but not nonviolent offending. This speaks of the possibility of a new type of correctional rehabilitation program, one that focuses on the rehabilitation of basic executive functions. Aggr. Behav. 36:338,349, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Adolescents' Attachment Representations and Their Capacity for Intimacy in Close RelationshipsJOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE, Issue 1 2007Ofra Mayseless A secure state of mind with regard to attachment, as assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), as well as attachment styles as assessed by questionnaires (the two most prevalent facets of attachment representations assessed in adolescence and adulthood) were examined as potential contributors to adolescents' capacity for intimacy. Eighty male Israeli adolescents were administered the two measures and reported on their impulsiveness during their senior year of high school. Four years later, at the end of their mandatory military service, they were interviewed regarding their capacity for intimacy, and they filled out questionnaires. State of mind with regard to attachment and attachment styles uniquely predicted capacity for romantic intimacy and affective relationships with friends. Impulsiveness interacted with attachment security (benefiting dismissing and avoidant participants, and hampering secure ones) in predicting romantic intimacy. The discussion underscores the distinctiveness and importance of different facets of attachment representations to close relationships with peers. [source] Cathepsin K deficiency partially inhibits, but does not prevent, bone destruction in human tumor necrosis factor,transgenic mice,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 2 2008Uta Schurigt Objective Cathepsin K is believed to have an eminent role in the pathologic resorption of bone. However, several studies have shown that other proteinases also participate in this process. In order to clarify the contribution of cathepsin K to the destruction of arthritic bone, we applied the human tumor necrosis factor (hTNF),transgenic mouse model, in which severe polyarthritis characterized by strong osteoclast-mediated bone destruction develops spontaneously. Methods Arthritis was evaluated in hTNF-transgenic mice that were either wild-type for cathepsin K (CK+/+), heterozygous for cathepsin K (CK+/,), or deficient in cathepsin K (CK,/,). Arthritic knee joints were prepared for standard histologic assessment aimed at establishing a semiquantitative score for joint destruction and quantification of the area of bone erosion. Additionally, microfocal computed tomography was performed to visualize bone destruction in mice with the different CK genotypes. CK+/+ and CK,/, osteoclasts were generated in vitro, and their proteinase expression profiles were compared by complementary DNA array analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and activity assays. Results Although the area of bone erosion was significantly reduced in hTNF-transgenic CK,/, mice, the absence of cathepsin K did not completely protect against inflammatory bone lesions. Several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cathepsins were expressed by in vitro,generated CK,/, osteoclasts, without marked differences from CK+/+ osteoclasts. MMP activity was detected in CK,/, osteoclasts, and MMP-14 was localized by immunohistochemistry in inflammatory bone erosions in hTNF-transgenic CK,/, mice, suggesting MMPs as potential contributors to bone destruction. Additionally, we detected a reduction in osteoclast formation in cathepsin K,deficient mice, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion The results of our experiments raise doubts about a crucial role of cathepsin K in arthritic bone destruction. [source] Local helioseismology in the SDO HMI/AIA data analysis pipelineASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 3-4 2007R. S. Bogart Abstract Local helioseismology techniques will play a principal role in the pipeline processing of data from HMI to produce standard data products suitable for scientific analysis. Many of these techniques are undergoing rapid development, and it is expected that new or enhanced algorithms and models will be contributed by members of the community. We describe the design and implementation of the data analysis environment of the SDO Joint Science Operations Center for the benefit of potential contributors and users. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Biorefinery systems , potential contributors to sustainable innovationBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 3 2010Maria Wellisch Abstract Sustainable biorefineries have a critical role to play in our common future. The need to provide more goods using renewable resources, combined with advances in science and technology, has provided a receptive environment for biorefinery systems development. Biorefineries offer the promise of using fewer non-renewable resources, reducing CO2 emissions, creating new employment, and spurring innovation using clean and efficient technologies. Lessons are being learned from the establishment of first-generation biofuel operations. The factors that are key to answering the question of biorefinery sustainability include: the type of feedstock, the conversion technologies and their respective conversion and energy efficiencies, the types of products (including coproducts) that are manufactured, and what products are substituted by the bioproducts. The BIOPOL review of eight existing biorefineries indicates that new efficient biorefineries can revitalize existing industries and promote regional development, especially in the R&D area. Establishment can be facilitated if existing facilities are used, if there is at least one product which is immediately marketable, and if supportive policies are in place. Economic, environmental, and social dimensions need to be evaluated in an integrated sustainability assessment. Sustainability principles, criteria, and indicators are emerging for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts. Practical assessment methodologies, including data systems, are critical for both sustainable design and to assure consumers, investors, and governments that they are doing the ,right thing' by purchasing a certain bioproduct. If designed using lifecycle thinking, biorefineries can be profitable, socially responsible, and produce goods with less environmental impact than conventional products , and potentially even be restorative!. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] | ||||||||||||||||