bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The rates of maize growth and lignin biosynthesis change after root‐applied chalcone
Authors: CHEN WEIJUN , YUN MIN‐SOO , DENG FAN , YOGO YASUHIRO
Published: September 2005

The effects of root‐applied chalcone at 0.15 mmol L−1 on the growth and lignin biosynthesis in maize were investigated. The contents of 4‐coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL, EC 6.2.1.12) substrates in maize shoots were increased more rapidly in the samples with chalcone application than in the control and the increase occurred at ≤ 3 h after the application (HAA). The lignin content was reduced by chalcone at ≤ 6 HAA. The shoot growth was suppressed by chalcone at ≤ 9 HAA. Consequently, the results suggest that chalcone suppressed maize growth by inhibiting monolignol biosynthesis.
Effects of surfactants and simulated rainfall on the efficacy of the Engame formulation of glyphosate in johnsongrass, prickly sida and yellow nutsedge
Authors: MOLIN WILLIAM T. , HIRASE KANGETSU
Published: September 2005

The effects of surfactants and simulated rain were investigated on the efficacy of Engame and Roundup Ultramax formulations of glyphosate on johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L.), prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.) and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.). Flame surfactant provided the greatest enhancement of Engame efficacy and the effect was species‐dependent. Flame enhanced the activity of Engame on johnsongrass and yellow nutsedge but not on prickly sida. Engame and Engame plus Flame were more active than Roundup Ultramax on a glyphosate acid‐equivalent basis on johnsongrass without rain, and on yellow nutsedge with or without rain. The Engame and Roundup Ultramax activities on johnsongrass were similar with rain, and rain occurring between five and 30 min after treatment diminished their activities to < 38% of the control. With the addition of Flame surfactant, Engame activity on johnsongrass increased, such that 50% and 80% of the control were realized, even with rain occurring between five and 15 min after treatment, respectively. Engame and Roundup Ultramax provided better control of prickly sida than of johnsongrass following a rain event. The addition of Flame surfactant to Engame did not enhance the activity on prickly sida. Yellow nutsedge control with Engame and Engame plus Flame was greater than with Roundup Ultramax and rain had little effect on control regardless of the length of the rain‐free period. These results demonstrated that the activities of Engame, Engame plus Flame and Roundup Ultramax were species‐dependent and surfactant‐dependent.
Evaluation of the allelopathic activity of five Oxalidaceae cover plants and the demonstration of potent weed suppression by Oxalis species
Authors: SHIRAISHI SAYAKA , WATANABE IZUMI , KUNO KATSUJI , FUJII YOSHIHARU
Published: September 2005

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the usefulness of Oxalis spp. as allelopathic ground‐cover plants for weed management. Some Oxalis spp. have previously been reported to possess strong allelopathic activities but few studies have been conducted on their activities in fields. This study aimed to investigate allelopathic activities and the possibility of weed suppression in five species of common Oxalis: shamrock oxalis (Oxalis articulata Savigny), Bowie's woodsorrel (Oxalis bowiei Lindl.), trefoil (Oxalis brasiliensis Lodd. ex Knowl. et West.), lucky clover (Oxalis deppei Lodd. ex Sweet) and Oxalis hirta L. The effects of the leachates from dry leaves and the exudates from living roots of these plant species were tested in laboratory experiments. The leachates from O. articulata, O. bowiei, O. deppei and O. hirta and the exudates from O. deppei caused > 84% inhibition of the radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings, but no effect was observed on the seed germination of lettuce. In the field experiment, O. deppei significantly reduced the weed population in July. A significant relationship was observed between the weed population and the percentage ground coverage of Oxalis spp. In contrast to the weed population, a significant relationship was observed between the weed above‐ground biomass and the allelopathic activity of exudates from Oxalis spp.
Rhizome dynamics in Calystegia japonica Choisy and Calystegia hederacea Wall. in relation to overwintering
Authors: ITO MISAKO , TAKAGI KEIKO , YOSHINO MASAHIRO
Published: September 2005

Calystegia japonica Choisy and Calystegia hederacea Wall., common perennial weeds throughout cropped and uncropped land in Japan, are known to regenerate mostly by rhizomes. The rhizome dynamics of the two species were investigated, focusing on their overwintering characteristics. The dry weight of rhizomes continued to increase for 6–7 weeks after the decrease in weight of the aerial parts began, then it decreased in winter because of the partial death and consequent fragmentation of the rhizomes. Overwintering as naturally fragmented rhizomes is a unique characteristic of the two Calystegia spp. as it is not observed in other rhizomatous weeds that maintain systematic connections at least during the following regeneration in spring. In C. japonica, rhizome degradation was more pronounced and more systematic than in C. hederacea, where thicker fragments that included apices remained. Qualitative changes in C. japonica rhizomes, such as increases in dry matter accumulation and starch, and a temporary decrease in sprouting ability, seem to relate to this specialized survival mechanism. Calystegia hederacea did not show either specialization or preparation for overwintering in its rhizome. The adaptability of Calystegia weeds to annual crop fields can be attributed to their capacity to regenerate from naturally fragmented rhizomes.
Inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth by hound’s‐tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.) seed leachate
Authors: RASHID ABDUR , FURNESS NANCY H. , ELLIS BRIAN E. , UPADHYAYA MAHESH K.
Published: September 2005

The leaching of phenolics from decoated seeds, seed coats and pericarps of hound’s‐tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.), factors affecting leaching, and seed germination and seedling growth inhibitory activities of the leachate were investigated. Embryonic axes and cotyledons contained a large amount of methanol‐soluble phenolic substances. Decoated seeds released phenolics into an aqueous incubation medium and this solution was capable of inhibiting root elongation of several grassy and broadleaf species, but not of hound’s‐tongue. The leachate and the phenolic fraction of the leachate inhibited germination of bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegnaria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve [syn. Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. and J. G. Sm.]). The non‐phenolic fraction of the leachate did not inhibit seed germination or root and shoot elongation of bluebunch wheatgrass. Low oxygen and an increasing temperature significantly increased the amount of phenolic substances leached from decoated seeds. Increased leaching of phenolic substances related to an increasing temperature was associated with the loss of seed viability. Further investigation of the role of water‐extractable hound’s‐tongue seed phenolics in the interaction of this species with its biotic environment under field conditions is needed to determine the ecological significance of these findings.
Herbage mass, nutritive value and palatability of five grass weeds for cattle in the northern Tohoku region in Japan
Authors: NASHIKI MAMORU , NARITA HIRONOBU , HIGASHIYAMA YUMI
Published: September 2005

The objective of this grazing study was to determine the herbage mass, nutritive value and palatability of five grass weed species (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn, Paspalum thunbergii Kunth, Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler, Setaria glauca (L.) Beauv. and Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv. var. crus‐galli) as feeds compared with six forage cultivars (Lolium perenne L., two Lolium multiflorum cultivars and three Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv. cultivars). The herbage mass of weed species, with the exception of S. glauca, was most prevalent in August. The total amounts of herbage mass of weed species (except E. indica) were close to those of the Lolium cultivars, but lower than those of the E. crus‐galli cultivars. During the summer, weed species (except E. crus‐galli var. crus‐galli) contained favorable levels of total digestible nutrients (TDN), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and mineral contents, and exhibited adequate calcium (Ca):phosphorus (P) ratios of 1:2. All weed species had the recommended ratios of potassium (K):(Ca + [magnesium] Mg) < 2.2:1. By autumn, the summertime levels of nutritive values (TDN, CP, ADF and NDF) in the weed species had severely deteriorated, in contrast with those of the forage cultivars. However, they maintained satisfactory mineral content levels and Ca:P and K:(Ca + Mg) ratios (with the exception of E. indica with poor Ca:P ratios and E. crus‐galli var. crus‐galli with poor P content and Ca:P ratios). All weed species were acceptable to cattle, although there were some differences in palatability among the species.
Phytotoxic effects of Parthenium hysterophorus residues on three Brassica species
Authors: SINGH HARMINDER PAL , BATISH DAIZY RANI , PANDHER JASVIR KAUR , KOHLI RAVINDER KUMAR
Published: September 2005

A study was conducted to assess the phytotoxicity of residues of Parthenium hysterophorus, an exotic invasive weed, towards the growth of three Brassica species (Brassica campestris, Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa). The early growth of crops, measured in terms of seedling length and dry weight, was significantly reduced when grown in soil amended with varying amounts of Parthenium residues. A direct relationship was observed between the amount of residue incorporated in the soil and growth reduction. This adverse effect on Brassica crops indicates the presence of some growth‐retardatory substances which are possibly released by the residues into the soil medium. In order to test this, aqueous extracts (1, 2, and 4%) of residues were prepared. It was observed that, in a laboratory bioassay, these extracts severely reduced the early growth of Brassica species, thereby indicating the presence of some water‐soluble, inhibitory principles in Parthenium residues. A significant amount of the phenolics, the largest group of secondary metabolites usually implicated in allelopathy, was estimated in residue extracts, as well as in residue‐incorporated soil. The phenolic content increased with increasing residue concentration, thereby showing their direct involvement in the observed growth inhibitions. Therefore, the study establishes that Parthenium residues exert an allelopathic influence on the early growth of Brassica crops by releasing water‐soluble phenolics into the soil.
Is it necessary to separate clinical stage T1c from T2 prostate adenocarcinoma?
Authors: Armatys Sandra A. , Koch Michael O. , Bihrle Richard , Gardner Thomas A. , Cheng Liang
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that prostate cancer patients with clinical stage cT1c and cT2 have similar outcomes and clinicopathological features, and should be grouped together.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From a series of men with prostate cancer who had a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP), we assessed those with cT1c (223) and cT2 (65) adenocarcinoma. All RP specimens were totally embedded and whole‐mounted; tumour volume was measured using the grid method. Clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed.

RESULTS

Patients with cT2 tumours were more likely to have a higher Gleason score (P = 0.04) and final pathological stage (P = 0.05) than those with cT1c tumours. There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.92), preoperative PSA level (P = 0.17), prostate weight (P = 0.34), tumour volume (P = 0.16), surgical margin status (P = 0.86), multifocality (P = 0.92), the presence of perineural invasion (P = 0.09), or high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.99) between patients with clinical stage cT1c and those with cT2 tumours. There was no difference in PSA recurrence between patients with clinical stage T1c and those with cT2 tumours (P = 0.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with clinical stage cT2 tumours have a higher Gleason score and advanced pathological stage than tumours detected because of a high serum PSA level (cT1c). These results suggest that clinical stage cT1c tumours should be separated from clinical stage cT2 disease, but the PSA recurrence rate for both tumour stages is similar, indicating a need for further evaluation and refinement of the current clinical staging system.
Defining the minimum hospital case‐load to achieve optimum outcomes in radical cystectomy
Authors: McCabe John E. , Jibawi Abdullah , Javle Pradip
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To define ‘high‐’ and ‘low‐’ volume hospitals for radical cystectomy, and the minimum caseload required for a hospital to achieve optimum outcomes, as a relationship between increasing surgical case volume and improved outcomes in radical urological surgery has been suggested in recent North American studies.

METHODS

All cystectomies for urological cancer in England over 5 years were analysed from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. The data were analysed statistically to describe the relationship between each hospital's annual case volume and two outcome measures: in‐hospital mortality rate (MR) and hospital stay.

RESULTS

In all, there were 6317 cystectomies in 210 centres, with an overall MR of 5.6%. There was a significant inverse correlation (−0.733, P < 0.01) between hospital case volume and MR. Applying 95% confidence intervals, the minimum caseload required to achieve optimum outcomes was 11 procedures/year. Increasing the caseload beyond this minimum did not produce a significant reduction in MR.

CONCLUSION

Analysis of HES data confirms an inverse relationship between hospital caseload and mortality for radical cystectomy. A caseload of 11 operations/year is associated with the lowest MR.
A 2‐year follow‐up after rotoresection of the prostate: a prospective study
Authors: Wadie Bassem S. , Shehab El‐Dein Ahmed B. , Mosbah Ahmed , Elhalwagy Samer M. , Ghoneim Mohamed A.
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the success of rotoresection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), after a follow‐up of 24 months.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The 24 patients who were the subject of a previous report were followed for up to 24 months; only one patient was lost to follow‐up.

RESULTS

The mean (sd) American Urologic Association‐7 score decreased from 20.5 (3.8) before surgery to 1.12 (1.56) at 24 months; the mean maximum urinary flow rate increased from 8.7 (2.1) to 21.8 (8.5) mL/s, and the mean total prostate volume decreased from 36.5 (12.9) to 21 (7.9) mL. Early complications were urinary tract infection in 10 patients and mild stress urinary incontinence in 11. One patient had a urethral stricture and another had a posterior urethral stone at 6 months; both were treated successfully with good urinary flow rates thereafter. At 24 months, 23 patients had sterile urine and were continent.

CONCLUSION

Thus far, rotoresection of the prostate is a safe and effective method for treating BPH. The hospital stay was short and the functional results excellent at up to 24 months.
Assessment of bothersomeness and impact on quality of life of urinary incontinence in women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK
Authors: Papanicolaou Sotiria , Hunskaar Steinar , Lose Gunar , Sykes David
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To assess the bothersomeness and impact on quality of life (QoL) of urinary incontinence in community‐dwelling women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A detailed follow‐up questionnaire was mailed to 2960 randomly‐selected women who had reported symptoms of urinary incontinence in an earlier survey of 29 500 representative households in four European countries. In the second questionnaire, women were asked about the severity of their symptoms, the impact of urinary incontinence on their QoL, and how bothersome their incontinence was.

RESULTS

A total of 1573 women responded to the follow‐up questionnaire, of which >80% reported that their urinary incontinence symptoms were bothersome. The greatest negative effect appeared to be on physical activities, confidence, self‐perception and social activities, with a statistically significant correlation between an increase in bothersomeness and an increase in severity of symptoms. Similarly, a negative impact on QoL was associated with an increase in severity of incontinence. The variables: country, urinary incontinence type, severity, age, number of medical conditions and number of leakages had a statistically significant influence on the bother and the validated incontinence QoL (I‐QoL) questionnaire scores.

CONCLUSION

The extent to which women are bothered by their urinary incontinence and report that their symptoms have a negative impact on their QoL is largely subjective. In determining the most appropriate management, physicians should consider the experience of being incontinent as unique to each individual.
Adherens junctions of the human detrusor
Authors: Wagener Nina , Reitz André , Pfitzenmaier Jesco , Pannek Jürgen , Bastian Patrick J. , Büttner Reinhard , Müller Stefan C. , Hohenfellner Markus , Haferkamp Axel
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To immunohistochemically identify the protein composition of adherens junctions, which couple smooth muscle cells mechanically, and to confirm their decrease in different bladder dysfunctions, as studies in geriatric bladder dysfunction show fewer such junctions in patients with detrusor overactivity (DO) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Detrusor biopsies were obtained from video‐urodynamically evaluated patients with neurogenic DO (NDO, 31 patients), BOO (six patients) and from six patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with stable, unobstructed detrusors (serving as controls). Specimens were fixed, paraffin‐embedded, sectioned, stained with a polyclonal pan‐cadherin antibody, monoclonal α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin antibodies, and a monoclonal integrin‐β1 antibody. All antibodies were known to react with proteins of adherens junctions. Two examiners unaware of sample origin evaluated the sections qualitatively and using a semiquantitative scale. The results were correlated with the patient groups.

RESULTS

Specific immunohistochemical staining of pan‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin could not be detected in any detrusor smooth muscle compartment, but was present in the urothelium. There was integrin‐β1 reactivity in the basement membranes of bladder smooth muscle cells in 38 of 43 detrusor biopsies. There were no differences among the three groups.

CONCLUSION

The known proteins of cell‐cell adherens junctions are not part of the cell‐cell junctions of detrusor smooth muscle. The specific staining of integrin‐β1 indicates either the presence of cell‐matrix junctions or of cell‐cell junctions within the human detrusor. Further studies are needed to identify the complete protein composition of adherens junctions within smooth muscle cells.
A prospective study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy and durability of response of intravesical injection of botulinum toxin type A into detrusor muscle in patients with refractory idiopathic detrusor overactivity
Authors: Rajkumar Govindaraj N. , Small Douglas R. , Mustafa Abdul W. , Conn Graeme
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVES

To assess, in a prospective study, whether botulinum toxin A (BTXA) injected into the detrusor muscle is safe and well tolerated, produces significant changes in urodynamic variables, if the effect is durable, as measured by the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Questionnaire (BFLUTS), and to assess changes in quality of life, as measured by the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ), when it is used to manage idiopathic detrusor overactivity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a single‐centre, prospective unrandomized study of 15 women to assess the efficacy of a single dose of 300 units of BTXA injected intravesically into the detrusor muscle, under cystoscopic control. Patient evaluation included a full history and examination, frequency/volume charts, BFLUTS and KHQ scores, and a conventional urodynamic study at baseline and at 6 weeks after treatment. Symptomatic improvement was assessed at 6 weeks and every 4 weeks thereafter until baseline values were reached.

RESULTS

All 15 patients completed the study; 14 noted an improvement in urgency and frequency immediately after treatment. There were no major adverse effects reported to date. The volume at first desire to void increased in 13 patients (P < 0.006), the maximum cystometric capacity increased in 10 (P < 0.011) and six of the 15 had no evidence of detrusor overactivity; in the remaining eight the volume at first overactive contraction increased in six (P < 0.0023) and the volume at first overactivity incontinence increased in 11 (P < 0.005). The median modified projected isovolumetric pressure decreased significantly (P = 0.01), from 69 to 45. The improvement in frequency appeared to last up to 24 weeks, and that in urinary incontinence up to 20 weeks. The overall improvement in quality of life was maintained up to 24 weeks.

CONCLUSION

BTXA appears to be a safe treatment with good clinical efficacy in refractory idiopathic detrusor overactivity; the effects seem to last 20–24 weeks.
Urological manifestations of chronic schistosomal myeloradiculopathy
Authors: Gomes Cristiano M. , Hisano Marcelo , Machado Luis R. , Figueiredo Jose A. , Lucon Antonio M. , Trigo‐Rocha Flavio E.
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical and urodynamic features of patients with chronic voiding dysfunction secondary to schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SM), as the clinical involvement of the spinal cord is a well recognized complication of Schistosomiasis mansoni infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records and urodynamic studies of 26 consecutive patients (17 males and nine females, aged 8–58 years) with chronic neurological and urinary symptoms secondary to SM. The voiding function history, radiological and urodynamic findings and therapeutic approaches were reviewed. Patients with and without upper urinary tract complications were compared in terms of age, duration of voiding dysfunction and urodynamic pattern.

RESULTS

The most common urinary symptoms were difficulty in emptying the bladder (17 patients, 65%), urinary incontinence (14, 54%), and urgency and frequency (13, 50%). Laboratory and radiographic evaluation showed urinary tract infection in eight (30%) patients, bilateral hydronephrosis in five (19%) and bladder calculi in five (19%). Urodynamics showed detrusor overactivity with detrusor‐external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD) in 14 patients (54%), detrusor arreflexia in six (23%), detrusor overactivity with no dyssynergia in four (15%), and detrusor underactivity in two (8%). Comparing patients with and without upper tract complications showed no differences in age and duration of urinary symptoms, but there was a significant association of detrusor overactivity with DESD and upper urinary tract complications (P = 0.04). Urological management consisted of antibiotics, clean intermittent catheterization, anticholinergic medication and stone removal, as appropriate. Conservative treatment failed in three patients and they required an injection with botulinum‐A toxin into the detrusor (two) or ileocystoplasty (one).

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic SM behave clinically like those with other causes of spinal cord disease and neurogenic bladder dysfunction requiring lifelong surveillance. The severity of illness in these patients should re‐emphasize the need for early recognition and treatment of this condition, to prevent or reverse the neurological deficits.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with subnormal serum levels of free testosterone in men
Authors: Rhoden Ernani L. , Ribeiro Eduardo P. , Teloken Claudio , Souto Carlos A.V.
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and serum levels of free (FT) and total (TT) testosterone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross‐sectional study was carried out including 746 men, of whom 116 (15.6%) were diabetics. Both groups, diabetic and nondiabetic, were paired according to age. Body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR) were calculated, and a stratification analysis correlating DM and elevated BMI (>25 kg/m2) and WHR (>1) with the presence of subnormal FT and TT levels was performed.

RESULTS

FT and TT serum levels were subnormal in 46% and 34% of diabetics, respectively, and in 24% and 23% of nondiabetics. Subnormal FT levels were strongly correlated with DM (odds ratio (OR) 2.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–4.1) but not with elevated BMI (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0–2.0). Subnormal TT levels were more strongly associated with elevated BMI and WHR (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.7–3.9 and 2.0; 1.4–2.9) than with DM (1.7; 1.1–2.6 and 2.0; 1.3–3.2).

CONCLUSION

These data strongly suggest that DM is associated with subnormal FT levels, and that TT levels are influenced more by obesity and central adiposity.
Interaction between neurotransmitter antagonists and effects of sacral neuromodulation in rats with chronically hyperactive bladder
Authors: Riazimand Seyed‐Hossein , Mense Siegfried
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVE

To investigate to what extent antagonists of spinal neurotransmitters interact with the effects of sacral neuromodulation in a rat model of a chronically hyperactive urinary bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In female rats the urinary bladder was instilled with turpentine oil 2.5% to induce cystitis. After surviving for 10 days the rats were anaesthetized with urethane, the bladder catheterized and connected to a pressure transducer. Stimulating electrodes were placed in the sacral foramina bilaterally. The spinal cord was exposed by a laminectomy, and a small pool was placed on the cord for intrathecal administration of neurotransmitter antagonists. Sacral neuromodulation was applied before and after administering the antagonists. The antagonists used were: memantine, an antagonist for N‐methyl‐ d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors; CNQX, an antagonist for non‐NMDA receptors, and L‐NAPNA, a blocker of nitric oxide synthase.

RESULTS

With no electrical neuromodulation, memantine and L‐NAPNA abolished the cystitis‐induced bladder contractions for ≈ 4 and ≈ 37 min, respectively. The effect of CNQX was similar to that of artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Electrical sacral modulation with no antagonists also transiently abolished the bladder contractions; at the highest intensity used, the pause was 2–3 min. Superfusion of the spinal cord with CNQX reduced this effect of neuromodulation significantly, whereas memantine had no influence, and L‐NAPNA increased the neuromodulation‐induced pause.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that non‐NMDA receptors are involved in the effects of sacral neuromodulation, whereas NMDA receptors appear to have no role. Nitric oxide is essential for maintaining the chronic hyperactive state of the urinary bladder.
Time from dosing to sexual intercourse attempts in men taking tadalafil in clinical trials
Authors: Shabsigh Ridwan , Burnett Arthur L. , Eardley Ian , Sharlip Ira D. , Ellsworth Pamela I. , Garcia Carmen S. , Natanegara Fanni , Ahuja Sanjeev
Published: September 2005

Associate Editor  Michael G. Wyllie

Editorial Board  Ian Eardley, UK  Jean Fourcroy, USA  Sidney Glina, Brazil  Julia Heiman, USA  Chris McMahon, Australia  Bob Millar, UK  Alvaro Morales, Canada  Michael Perelman, USA  Marcel Waldinger, Netherlands

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and treated with tadalafil use the 36‐h duration of effect of the drug, and to discern if the timing of intercourse attempts is influenced by patient age, baseline severity of ED, or previous experience with sildenafil citrate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In 11 multicentre, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies, 2102 patients with ED were randomized to a maximum of one dose per day of tadalafil 10 or 20 mg (1464 men), or placebo (638 men) with no time restrictions before attempting sexual activity after the dose. A post hoc analysis was used to determine the proportion of men with ED who attempted sexual intercourse during various intervals (>0 to ≤ 1, >1 to ≤ 4, and >4 to ≤ 36, including >12 to ≤ 36 h) after dosing with tadalafil or placebo over a 12‐week period. Patients were stratified by age, baseline severity of ED, and previous history of sildenafil use.

RESULTS

Of patients in different age groups and various ED severity, ≥ 79% and ≥ 53% chose to attempt sexual intercourse at least once during the 12‐week treatment period at 4–36 and 12–36 h, respectively, after taking tadalafil. Regardless of previous experience with sildenafil, about a third of patients using tadalafil attempted intercourse a mean of at least once per week at 4–36 h after the dose over 12 weeks. Furthermore, 58% of patients attempted intercourse at least once during two intervals (>1 to ≤ 4 h and >12 to ≤ 36 h) after separate doses of tadalafil.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of age, ED severity, or previous experience with sildenafil, most patients attempted sexual intercourse at least once at 12–36 h after one dose of tadalafil over a 12‐week treatment period. Furthermore, by engaging in sexual intercourse at both earlier and later intervals after separate doses, most patients on treatment did not adhere to a fixed schedule of intimacy and thus took advantage of the 36‐h duration.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated sorghum transformation using a mannose selection system
Authors: Gao Zhensheng , Xie Xueju , Ling Yan , Muthukrishnan Subbarat , Liang George H.
Published: September 2005

A dual‐marker plasmid containing the selectable marker gene, manA, and the reporter gene, sgfp, was used to transform immature sorghum embryos by employing an Agrobacterium‐mediated system. Both genes were under the control of the ubi1 promoter in a binary vector pPZP201. The Escherichia coli phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) gene, pmi, was used as the selectable marker gene and mannose was used as the selective agent. The sgfp gene encoding green fluorescence protein (GFP) was the reporter gene and served as a visual screening marker. A total of 167 transgenic plants were obtained from nine different embryogenic callus lines grown on a selection medium containing 1%−2% mannose. Embryoids and shoots regenerated via embryogenesis, that showed strong GFP fluorescence, were selected from two sorghum genotypes: C401, an inbred line, and Pioneer 8505, a commercial hybrid. The GFP accumulation in transgenic plants was observed with a dissecting stereomicroscope. The integration and expression of the manA gene was confirmed by Southern blot and Western blot analyses, and the feasibility of manA selection was demonstrated by the chlorophenol red (CPR) assay. Our results indicated that transgenes segregated in the Mendelian fashion in the T1 generation. The conversion of mannose to a metabolizable fructose carbon source is beneficial to plants. In addition, except in soybean and a few legumes, no endogenous PMI activity has been detected in plant species, indicating that PMI is useful in the transformation of sorghum. In addition, PMI has no sequence homology to known allergens. Optimization of this selection system for sorghum transformation provides an efficient way to produce transgenic plants without using antibiotic or herbicidal agents as selectable markers, and our results showed that the transformation efficiency reached 2.88% for Pioneer 8505 and 3.30% for C401, both values higher than in previously published reports.
Manganese peroxidase from the white‐rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium is enzymatically active and accumulates to high levels in transgenic maize seed
Authors: Clough Richard C. , Pappu Kameshwari , Thompson Kevin , Beifuss Katherine , Lane Jeff , Delaney Donna E. , Harkey Robin , Drees Carol , Howard John A. , Hood Elizabeth E.
Published: September 2005

Manganese peroxidase (MnP) has been implicated in lignin degradation and thus has potential applications in pulp and paper bleaching, enzymatic remediation and the textile industry. Transgenic plants are an emerging protein expression platform that offer many advantages over traditional systems, in particular their potential for large‐scale industrial enzyme production. Several plant expression vectors were created to evaluate the accumulation of MnP from the wood‐rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium in maize seed. We showed that cell wall targeting yielded full‐length MnP, whereas cytoplasmic localization resulted in multiple truncated peroxidase polypeptides as detected by immunoblot analysis. In addition, the use of a seed‐preferred promoter dramatically increased the expression levels and reduced the negative effects on plant health. Multiple independent transgenic lines were backcrossed with elite inbred corn lines for several generations with the maintenance of high‐level expression, indicating genetic stability of the transgene.
Up‐regulation of sucrose synthase and UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase impacts plant growth and metabolism
Authors: Coleman Heather D. , Ellis Dave D. , Gilbert Margarita , Mansfield Shawn D.
Published: September 2005

The effects of the overexpression of sucrose synthase (SuSy) and UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) on plant growth and metabolism were evaluated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi). T1 transgenic plants expressing either gene under the control of a tandem repeat cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (2×35S) or a xylem‐localized 4CL promoter (4‐coumarate:CoA ligase; 4CL) were generated, and reciprocally crossed to generate plants expressing both genes. Transcript levels, enzyme activity, growth parameters, fibre properties and carbohydrate content of stem tissue were quantified. The expression profiles of both genes confirmed the expression pattern of the promoters: 2×35S expressed more strongly in leaves, while 4CL expression was highest in stem tissue. In‐depth plant characterization revealed that the single‐transgene lines showed significant increases in the height growth compared with corresponding control lines. The double‐transgene plants demonstrated an additive effect, proving to be even taller than the single‐transgene parents. Several of these lines had associated increases in soluble sugar content. Although partitioning of storage carbohydrates into starch or cellulose was not observed, the increased height growth and increases in soluble carbohydrates suggest a role for SuSy as a marker in sink strength and lend credit to the function of UGPase in a similar role. The up‐regulation of these two genes, although not increasing the percentage cellulose content, was effective in increasing the total biomass, and thus the overall cellulose yield, from a given plant.
TAX REFORMS IN EAST ASIAN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: Motivations, directions, and implications
Authors: Asher Mukul G
Published: September 2005

This first presents an overview of the level and structure of taxation in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. It then briefly reviews the available literature on tax reform, country by country. It finally gives a comparative analysis, focusing primarily on tax mix and tax structure, and the importance attached to tax administration.
Selected Land Reforms in East and Southeast Asia: Their Origins and Impacts
Authors: Dorner Peter , Thiesenhusen William C
Published: September 2005

Agrarian reforms in the four case study countries examined here came about by outside influence (Korea and Taiwan), revolutionary uprising (People's Republic of China), and legislation (Philippines). In the last case, the reforms remain very incomplete. In Taiwan and South Korea, reforms initially promoted a more equitable distribution of resources and income. This widened the domestic market, lessened underemployment and joblessness in both agriculture and industry, increased profitability in manufacturing, and established more equitable development patterns. In these economies, a national market has preceded (or accompanied) development of world markets. Land reform is not a once‐and‐for‐all phenomenon. Resources and incomes can concentrate again in the absence of proper government policies. There is no necessary correlation between land reform, economic improvement, and democratic forms of government.
Comparative and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Warr Peter G.
Published: September 2005

This paper reviews the relevance of the concepts of comparative and competitive advantage for the developing countries of the Asian‐Pacific region. It argues that the competitive advantage supporters' attack on the comparative advantage concept rests partly on a misunderstanding of comparative advantage and partly on a false analogy–that between the determinants of the success of a single firm and the success of a nation. The central theme is that for a developing country, as for any other, while competitive advantage may be relevant for the performance of firms, comparative advantage remains as relevant as ever for the performance of the nation.
Income Distribution in East Asian Developing Countries: an update
Authors: Krongkaew Medhi
Published: September 2005

This paper portrays recent trends in income distribution in eight countries of the developing East and Southeast Asian region. The available data indicate that the distribution of income in the more developed Asian NIEs, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, has tended to become more unequal in recent years. The ASEAN‐4 countries offer an interesting contrast. With the exception of Thailand, the distributions of income in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines have shown a trend towards greater equality. The experiences of the East Asian developing countries have demonstrated that sustained GDP growth with full employment could be a most favourable factor explaining the reduction of inequality.
Military Expenditure and the Arms Trade in the Asian‐Pacific Region
Authors: Soesastro Hadi
Published: September 2005

The trend towards further reductions in world military expenditure does not seem to be shared by most Asian‐Pacific countries. Military expenditure in the region continues to expand, but the military burden (the proportion of military expenditure in GDP) and the military share (the share of military expenditure in central government expenditure) are declining in most Asian‐Pacific countries. This is largely due to sustained high economic growth in the region. Thus far, the military burden has not had an adverse effect on the region's economic growth, but continued expansion of military expenditure is not sustainable in countries where the military share is high. Asian‐Pacific countries are vigorously developing, modernizing and upgrading their indigenous arms production capabilities. This effort has been aided not only by the availability of financial resources but also by the changing nature of the international arms market that offers attractive package deals, including various licensing, co‐production and offset manufacturing arrangements.
China's Economic Reforms 1987–1993: growth and cycles
Authors: Watson Andrew
Published: September 2005

China is rapidly becoming one of the world's largest economies. The fact that this growth occurred in the absence of a coherent reform strategy and despite many sharp fluctuations and internal political conflicts has compounded the challenges for economic analysis. This literature review presents a summary of discussion of the Chinese economy since the surveys by Yunwing Sung and Thomas Chan (1987) and Cyril Lin (1988).
APEC Beyond Bogor: an open economic association in the Asian‐Pacific region
Authors: Elek Andrew
Published: September 2005

The Bogor Declaration of APEC leaders, on 15 November, 1994, is an important milestone in the evolution of economic co‐operation in the Asia‐Pacific. To be effective, implementation will need to go well beyond the elimination of ‘traditional’ barriers to trade, such as tariffs and quotas, which are no longer the most strategic obstacles to international economic transactions. It will also be essential to accelerate efforts to reduce the transaction costs imposed by divergent approaches to standards, commercial legislation and administrative procedures, as well as to develop an effective approach to dispute settlement. The pragmatic way forward is to retain APEC's commitment to open regionalism, promoting the integration of the Asian‐Pacific region while avoiding needless discrimination against the rest of the world. An early start is possible only if APEC continues to reject an unnecessary diversion of effort to turn APEC into a preferential trading arrangement.
Industry Policy in East Asia
Authors: Smith Heather
Published: September 2005

This survey examines the role of industry policy in the industrialisation of East Asian economies since the early 1980s. The first section outlines the neoclassical' model and the interventionist literature that has arisen to challenge it. It distinguishes three strands in this literature: the ‘structuralist’ and the ‘strategic’ trade models and the ‘fair trade’ argument. The following sections evaluate the empirical evidence for Northeast and Southeast Asian economies, discuss the analytical and empirical validity of the interventionist literature and in conclusion draw attention to the diminished relevance of industry policy, given the rapid market‐driven integration taking place in the Asian‐Pacific region.
Financial Development in Asia: some analytical issues
Authors: Fry Maxwell J.
Published: September 2005

Twenty‐two years ago, Ronald McKinnon and Edward Shaw highlighted some of the deleterious effects of financial repression‐interest rate ceilings, high reserve requirements, directed credit policies, and discriminatory taxation of financial intermediaries. Both books presented some theoretical underpinnings for policy recommendations, based in large part on reforms in Taiwan (early 1950s) and Korea (mid‐l960s), that were already in vogue. Since 1973 there has been a literature explosion in the field of financial development, much of it focused on the Asian experience. This article constitutes the third in a series of articles which surveys the literature on financial development in Asia for the period 1988–94.
Papua New Guinea: longer term developments and recent economic problems
Authors: Duncan Ron , Temu Ila
Published: September 2005

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has much to learn from the Indonesian economic experience of coping with one booming sector while creating an environment in which the economy could generate jobs. PNG's macroeconomic policy adjustments to the boom‐bust cycles which characterise its economy work extremely well by comparison to most other developing countries experiencing the same difficulties. At the microeconomic level, policy improvement has been harder, with the rhetoric far out‐distancing the actual advances. The challenge is to improve the productivity of the agricultural sector, to raise the education levels, and to attract investment to provide employment. At present the investment environment is bleak because of the deteriorating law and order situation.
East Asian Export Competitiveness: New Measures and Policy Implications
Authors: Lloyd P. J. , Toguchi Hisako
Published: September 2005

This paper demonstrates the remarkable competitiveness of East Asian countries in world export markets for manufactures and develops some policy implications, both for developed and other developing economies. Using constant market share analysis, applied to data for exports from three East Asian countries–Korea, China and Indonesia–to markets in the industrially advanced economies (IAEs), it shows that East Asian countries have increased their share, not merely in IAE imports, but in total IAE market sales at the expense of exporters from other countries and of domestic IAE producers.
The Philippines: Economic Developments and Prospects
Authors: Bautista Romeo M. , Lamberte Mario B.
Published: September 2005

The recent acceleration of economic growth in the Philippines is remarkable, especially in the context of the dramatic slide in its economic position relative to neighbouring East Asian economies since the early 1960s. It has stimulated discussion–both locally and overseas–of the contributing influences and of the economy's ability to sustain the growth momentum. This paper reviews the relevant literature, focusing on the following factors: political stability, macroeconomic balance, microeconomic efficiency, and equity. Past experience with boom‐bust cycles warrants a cautious view of the longer‐term prospects of the Philippine economy. Among other major obstacles, the poor state of public finance and low domestic saving rate stand in the way of a stable and self‐sustained growth. In some respects, however, the recent performance holds promise as only the first step in the path being taken towards more rapid economic growth that is sustainable and equitable.
Evidence‐based Engagement in the Voluntary Sector: Lessons from Canada
Authors: Laforest Rachel , Orsini Michael
Published: September 2005

The shift towards governance and greater reliance on third parties in the design, implementation and evaluation of policy has created new pressures to ensure that policies are designed and delivered in a consistent and effective manner. In the interest of improving transparency, accountability, effectiveness and efficiency, governments in Canada and in the UK, as in many industrialized countries, have begun to emphasize the need for evidence‐based policy‐making. As a result, knowledge and research have become key assets in the production of policy. Yet, with their current capacity and knowledge base wanting, governments have increasingly relied on the knowledge and information of external actors and have afforded greater authority to them on this basis. This has created a situation in which evidence‐based inputs are given greater weight. This shift has particular implications for voluntary sector organizations whose basis for intervention has lain historically with the interests that they represent. Already, in the Canadian case many national organizations have seen their focus shift to research activities under the impetus of new funding initiatives explicitly encouraging activities grounded in knowledge and policy analysis. Moreover, policy guidelines have been elaborated in order to enhance the sector's capacity to contribute to the development of policy in a depoliticized manner. Using a series of interviews conducted with representatives from national voluntary organizations in Canada, this article explores the implications of such a shift for the voluntary sector in Canada, and asks whether the Canadian case holds some lessons for voluntary sector–state relations in other jurisdictions.
“Not a Cigarette Paper Between Us”: Integrated Inspection of Children's Services in England
Authors: Hudson Bob
Published: September 2005

Children's services in England are undergoing their most radical transformation since 1948 following the passage of the Children Act 2004. A key part of these changes is the legal requirement to have an Integrated Inspection Framework to assess the extent to which the new Children's Services Authorities have succeeded in meeting five key outcomes—being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well‐being. To this end, up to ten national inspectorates have to coordinate their activities to a hitherto unparalleled extent. This article describes the nature and scale of the new remit and identifies a number of unresolved issues that could impede progress. It is argued that the policy has the hallmarks and accompanying limitations of a top–down exercise in policy formulation and implementation.