bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low testosterone levels and decline in physical performance and muscle strength in older men: findings from two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Schaap Laura A. , Pluijm Saskia M. F. , Deeg Dorly J. H. , Penninx Brenda W. , Nicklas Barbara J. , Lips Paul , Harris Tamara B. , Newman Anne B. , Kritchevsky Steve B. , Cauley Jane A. , Goodpaster Bret H. , Tylavsky Frances A. , Yaffe Kristine , Visser Marjolein ,   for the Health ABC study
Published: July 2007

Objective  Progressive declines in serum levels of testosterone parallel the decline in physical performance and muscle strength in ageing men, although findings are not conclusive. We examined whether levels of testosterone were associated with 3‐year decline in physical performance and muscle strength in older men.

Design  Longitudinal data were available for 486 men (mean age 74·9 years, SD 6·4) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA) and 1071 well‐functioning men (mean age 73·7 years, SD 2·8) from the Health, Ageing and Body Composition (Health ABC) study.

Measurements  Three‐year change in physical performance score and grip strength according to categories of total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels.

Results  The mean 3‐year change in physical performance was –1·1 (SD 2·7, –13·6%) in LASA and –0·3 (SD 1·5, –2·9%) in Health ABC. The mean 3‐year change in grip strength was –9·7 kg (SD 12·2, –13·2%) in LASA and –4·4 kg (SD 11·4,–5·8%) in Health ABC. Low levels of TT were not associated with decline in physical performance or with decline in muscle strength [e.g. mean change in physical performance –1·09 (SD 0·26) in the lowest quartile (Q1) and –0·88 (0·24) in the highest quartile (Q4) of total testosterone in LASA, and –0·26 (0·07) vs.–0·36 (0·11) in Health ABC]. Similar results were found for FT.

Conclusions  Low levels of TT and FT were neither associated with 3‐year decline in physical performance nor with 3‐year decline in muscle strength in two independent samples of older men.
New role for majors in Atta leafcutter ants
Authors: EVISON SOPHIE E. F. , RATNIEKS FRANCIS L. W.
Published: July 2007

Abstract 1. Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) leafcutter ants display the most polymorphic worker caste system in ants, with different sizes specialising in different tasks. The largest workers (majors) have large, powerful mandibles and are mainly associated with colony defence.

2. Majors were observed cutting fallen fruit and this phenomenon was investigated in the field by placing mango fruit near natural Atta laevigata and Atta sexdens colonies in São Paulo State, Brazil.

3. Ants cutting the fruit were significantly heavier (mean = 49.1 mg, SD = 11.1 mg, n= 90) than the ants carrying the fruit back to the nest (mean = 20.9 mg, SD = 9.2 mg, n= 90).

4. Fruit pieces cut by majors were small (mean = 15.9 mg), approximately half the weight of leaf pieces (mean = 28.5 mg) cut and carried by media foragers. It is hypothesised that it is more difficult to cut large pieces from three‐dimensional objects, like fruit, compared to two‐dimensional objects, like leaves, and that majors, with their longer mandibles, can cut fruit into larger pieces than medias.

5. The study shows both a new role for Atta majors in foraging and a new example of task partitioning in the organisation of foraging.
Statins: a perspective for left ventricular hypertrophy treatment
Authors: Simko F.
Published: July 2007

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), despite its adaptive nature, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Achievement of LVH regression is thus considered a principal therapeutic aim. However, regression of LVH induced by various therapeutic means may exhibit differing patterns, with variable biological implications. Inhibitors of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (statins) have been shown to induce prevention or regression of LVH in different models of pathological myocardial growth. In addition to reduction of LV mass, statins were shown to reduce myocardial fibrosis, increase capillary density network and attenuate electrical instability of the hypertrophied heart. Most importantly, statins improved systolic and diastolic LV function and even decreased mortality. The inhibition of hypertrophic growth was only partly achieved by reduction of haemodynamic overload. Direct mechanisms, such as inhibition of neurohumoral activation in the myocardial tissue, attenuated production of growth factors and markers of inflammation and reduction of oxidative stress also seem to participate. The protective effect of statins was associated with the inhibition of expression and activation of small guanosintriphosphate‐binding proteins such as Ras and Rho, which control the intensity of oxidative stress, the production and availability of nitric oxide, and the expression of genes involved in myocardial growth. In addition to reduction of LV mass, statins may also improve the prognosis of LVH independently of their lipid‐lowering effect.
Assessment of the universality and utility of a set of conserved mitochondrial COI primers in insects
Authors: Zhang D. ‐X. , Hewitt G. M.
Published: July 2007

A set of mitochondrial COI primers has been studied by genomic PCR and many primer combinations shown to work universally well across Insects. They are able to amplify various amplicons with different variability which enables the selection of a particular amplicon as a suitable DNA marker for a project. The potential usefulness of different amplicons is examined, with analysis on published study cases employing these regions. With respect to their variability, amplicons UEA5/UEA6, UEA7/UEA8 and UEA5/UEA8 could be useful for low‐ to mid‐level phylogenetic analysis, i. e. from species, genus to‐perhaps family level depending on taxa involved. UEA5/UEA6 will be too conserved for intraspecific studies. Amplicons UEA3/UEA4 and UEA9/UEA10 would be better suited to low‐level phylogenetic investigations, such as analysis of relationships among closely related species and population genetic studies. However, these guidelines should not be over‐generalized for the reasons given. Amplification conditions of various primer combinations, and general problems in the use of conserved PCR primers are discussed.
A Drosophila melanogaster hobo‐white+ vector mediates low frequency gene transfer in D. virilis with full interspecific white+ complementation
Authors: Gomez S. P. , Handler A. M.
Published: July 2007

Transformation of a Drosophila virilis white mutant host strain was attempted using a hobo vector containing the D. melanogaster mini‐white+ cassette (H[w+, hawN]) and an unmodified or heat shock regulated hobo transposase helper. Two transformant lines were recovered with the unmodified helper (HFL1), one containing only the white+ marked vector, and a sibling line containing the vector as well as an HFL1 helper integration. An approximate total transformation frequency of 1% is deduced. A high frequency of wing and eye morphology mutants were also observed, suggesting that hobo may have mobilized a related element in D. virilis. The data reaffirms a relatively low transformation vector activity for the hobo transposon in D. virilis; however, nearly full interspecific expression of the white+ marker supports its possible function in other species as well.
Phylogeny and potential transmission routes of midgut‐associated endosymbionts of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae)
Authors: Aksoy S. , Chen X. , Hypsa V.
Published: July 2007

Many tsetse species (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbour two morphologically different intracellular endosymbiotic microorganisms associated with gut tissue: primary (P) and secondary (S) endosymbionts. The P‐endosymbionts of tsetse (Wigglesworthia glossinidia) are sequestered in specialized epithelial cells, bacteriocytes, which form a structure (bacteriome) in the anterior portion of the gut. Phylogenetic characterization of P‐endosymbionts from the three subgenera of genus Glossina has shown that these organisms constitute a distinct lineage within the γ‐subdivision of Proteobacteria and have evolved concordantly with their insect host species, suggesting an evolutionarily ancient association for this symbiosis. The S‐endosymbiont is a smaller (1–2 μm) gram‐negative rod and is harboured in midgut epithelial cells. Its phylogenetic characterization from Glossina morsitans morsitans had shown that it is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae within the γ‐3 subdivision of the Proteobacteria, closely related to enteric bacteria. Some tsetse species harbour a third bacterium in their reproductive tissue, which was shown phylogenetically to belong to the Wolbachia pipientis assemblage of microorganisms.

Here, we show that S‐endosymbionts from five tsetse species, representing all three subgenera, form a cluster of closely related microorganisms, based on their almost identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. This high similarity provides strong evidence of recent independent acquisition of S‐endosymbionts by individual tsetse species, unlike Wigglesworthia which displays concordant evolution with host insect species. A PCR‐based assay and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was developed to localize the S‐endosymbionts and Wigglesworthia in ovary, egg, milk‐gland and spermatheca tissues in order to investigate the potential routes for the vertical transmission of these symbionts to the intrauterine larvae. Only S‐endosymbionts were found to infect milk gland tissue, suggesting that milk gland secretions represent a route of transmission for these symbionts into the developing larva. The ovary tissue was found to harbour only Wolbachia, confirming its transovarial transmission, whereas the mode of transmission of Wigglesworthia remains unknown.
Synchronization of Aedes albopictus mosquito cells using hydroxyurea
Authors: Gerenday A. , Blauwkamp T. Shepard , Fallen A. M.
Published: July 2007

We have established conditions for use of hydroxyurea, a reversible inhibitor of DNA synthesis, to synchronize the division cycle of a continuous cell line from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus. In the range of 0.15‐0.25 mM hydroxyurea, an 18 h treatment, followed by removal of the drug, results in effective synchronization. When combined with the partial synchronization that occurs within 10 h of dilution and plating, more than 80% of cells treated with hydroxyurea could be recovered in the synthesis (S) phase of the cell cycle during the 4 h period after removal of the drug. The degree of synchrony was enhanced when cells were exposed to two consecutive hydroxyurea treatments spaced 10 h apart. Synchronized cells expressed maximal levels of a reporter gene when transfected immediately after removal of hydroxyurea. This is the first description of effective chemical synchronization of an insect cell line using hydroxyurea.
FISH landmarks for Aedes aegypti chromosomes
Authors: Brown S. E. , Knudson D. L.
Published: July 2007

Aedes aegypti metaphase chromosome landmarks have been developed so that each chromosome of the haploid genome can be unambiguously identified and oriented by fluorescence In situ hybridization (FISH) and digital imaging microscopy. The FISH tags were derived from three cosmids that contain repetitive Ae. aegypti sequences and their unique FISH tagging characteristics are demonstrated. The sequence of the three chromosomal tags revealed that the chromosome 1 tag is an 18S fragment from the ribosomal cistron, and the other two chromosomal tags are repeats found in Ae, aegypti with no apparent similarity to known sequences. A single plasmid that contains the three chromosome tag sequences has been constructed to simplify future FISH physical mapping.
The pain response of the postoperative newborn
Authors: Côté Judith J. , Morse Janice M. RN PhD(Nurs) , James Susan G.
Published: July 2007

The amount of pain experienced by the postoperative newborn remains one of The most challenging problems in neonatology. In this study, ethological methods were used to examine behaviours for 12 hours, commencing 24 hours postoperatively in three male full‐term infants following chest surgery. The infants' facial expressions, body postures and movements were coded each minute from videotapes. The infants' heart rates and respiratory rates were also continuously recorded. Behavioural data were analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The six‐factor solution accounted for 61.6% of the variance and indetified indices of acute distress, subacute pain, quiet alertness, drowsiness and sleeping. Changes were evident when comparing behavoural or physiological varibles before and after the administration of analgesia, treatments, nursing care or environmental noise. The authors conclude that ethological methods are appropiate to examine this problem, and recommend that the study be replicated.
Responsibility and autonomous nursing practice
Authors: Holden Robyn J.
Published: July 2007

In this paper, the consequences were there greater autonomy in nursing practice, are considered. Autonomous practice imples accountability which entabils both personal and professional responsibility: a personal responsibility to endorse ethical conduct consistent with professional practice; and and a professional responsibility to exercise discretionary powers to the ultimate benefit of the patient. of the patient. In this context, discretionary responsibility implies; recognizing a patient's wants may not be consistent with a patient's needs; abstaining form collusion with noncompliant patients; supporting the patient's right to refuse treatement only after full psychological exploration; understanding the psychological ramifications of informed consent from a practitioner and recipient point of view; maintaining appropriate personal and professional boundaries; and fostering collegiate relationships with the medical fratenity grounded on egalitarian principles. The author provides a philosophical and psychological analysis of responsibility in an effort to achieve a deeper understanding of the relationship this has with the concepts of ‘freedom’ and ‘accountability’
Patients' rights and the admission and discharge process
Authors: Klop Renata , van Wijmen Frans C.B. , Philipsen Hans
Published: July 2007

This study examines what patients' admission to and discharge from hospital means for nurses in their relations with patients. The study focuses on the rights of patients and the rights and duties of nurses working in a general hospital and in the community. The ‘information standard’ is introduced, consisting of three conceptions: informed consent, informed referral and informed discharge. Indepth interview have been conducted with patients (n=11) and nurses (n=22) to elucidate views on and personal experience of the admission and discharge process, in relation to the information standard. The interviews have been analysed by means of qualitative research methods. The results show that patients did not complain about the admission and discharge process, and that they were not informed about the information exchange between nurses working in hospital and in the community. In addition, community nurses were often not informed about a patient's admission to hospital. Nursing programmes for home care were arranged by community nurses and hospital nurses without co‐ordination, resulting in unsuitable nursing care.
Adolescent girls' experience of witnessing marital violence: a phenomenological study
Authors: Bennett Lorna
Published: July 2007

The impact of witnessing marital violence on children and adolescents has only recently come to the attention of family violence researchers. The research emphasis has been on the behavioural effects of exposure to marital violence, with boys from these homes surfacing as the most visible victims. Girls, who some researchers believe show a less visible response, have been a largely neglected group. This phenomenological study explored experiential aspects of exposure to marital violence, focusing on the perspective of five adolescent girls. Data analysis followed the phenomenological method. Seven essential themes that expressed the meaning of this experience for participants were identified. The themes are described and implications for nursing practice and further research are discussed.
Preliminary investigations of symptom distress in two cancer patient populations: evaluation of a measurement instrument
Authors: Holmes Susan
Published: July 2007

The study reports the results of a preliminary investigation into the incidence of symptom distress in two cancer patient populations – those receiving chemotherapy and those undergoing radiotherapy – and discusses the further evaluation of a symptom distress scale. The scale is found to be both reliable and valid for use in both patient populations. The results indicate that, although overall symptom distress is similar between chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients, there is considerable individual variation in the extent of that distress and the symptoms causing distress may differ between the groups. As in previous studies, tiredness was the most common complaint. Those patients receiving chemotherapy also complained of an inability to concentrate, mood changes and alterations in appearance. Those undergoing radiotherapy most commonly reported significant distress due to pain, altered appearance, constipation and appetite change. The findings suggest that the Symptom Distress Scale may be a useful addition to the assessment of individual patients and may provide a means by which the effects of interventions, designed to alleviate physical distress, could be evaluated.
Perception of situational stress associated with hospitalization among selected Nigerian patients
Authors: MSC Boluwaji Reuben Fajemilehin RN BNSC , PhD Adebisi Omorilewa Fabayo RN
Published: July 2007

The study identified those hospital experiences perceived as stressful during hospitalization by patients, which will help clinical nurses to modify the nursing care provided. A Hospital Stress Rating Scale questionnaire of 40 items tested for reliability and validity was used to elicit responses from 100 patients from the medical and surgical wards of the selected health care institutions. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study reveals that the most frequently perceived stressful hospital experiences for all the respondents were those related to social isolation, economy, inconveniences of the physical environment and unconcerned attitudes of hospital personnel.
Biogeography of the world: a case study from cyphophthalmid Opiliones, a globally distributed group of arachnids
Authors: Boyer Sarah L. , Clouse Ronald M. , Benavides Ligia R. , Sharma P. , Schwendinger Peter J. , Karunarathna I. , Giribet G.
Published: July 2007

Aim  To test the hypothesis that continental drift drives diversification of organisms through vicariance, we selected a group of primitive arachnids which originated before the break‐up of Pangaea and currently inhabits all major landmasses with the exception of Antarctica, but lacks the ability to disperse across oceanic barriers.

Location  Major continental temperate to tropical landmasses (North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australia) and continental islands (Bioko, Borneo, Japan, Java, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra).

Methods  Five kb of sequence data from five gene regions for more than 100 cyphophthalmid exemplars were analysed phylogenetically using different methods, including direct optimization under parsimony and maximum likelihood under a broad set of analytical parameters. We also used geological calibration points to estimate gross phylogenetic time divergences.

Results  Our analyses show that all families except the Laurasian Sironidae are monophyletic and adhere to clear biogeographical patterns. Pettalidae is restricted to temperate Gondwana, Neogoveidae to tropical Gondwana, Stylocellidae to Southeast Asia, and Troglosironidae to New Caledonia. Relationships between the families inhabiting these landmasses indicate that New Caledonia is related to tropical Gondwana instead of to the Australian portion of temperate Gondwana. The results also concur with a Gondwanan origin of Florida, as supported by modern geological data.

Main conclusions  By studying a group of organisms with not only an ancient origin, low vagility and restricted habitats, but also a present global distribution, we have been able to test biogeographical hypotheses at a scale rarely attempted. Our results strongly support the presence of a circum‐Antarctic clade of formerly temperate Gondwanan species, a clade restricted to tropical Gondwana and a Southeast Asian clade that originated from a series of early Gondwanan terranes that rifted off northwards from the Devonian to the Triassic and accreted to tropical Laurasia. The relationships among the Laurasian species remain more obscure.
Estimation of the seed dispersal kernel from exact identification of source plants
Authors: ROBLEDO‐ARNUNCIO JUAN J. , GARCÍA CRISTINA
Published: July 2007

The exact identification of individual seed sources through genetic analysis of seed tissue of maternal origin has recently brought the full analytical potential of parentage analysis to the study of seed dispersal. No specific statistical methodology has been described so far, however, for estimation of the dispersal kernel function from categorical maternity assignment. In this study, we introduce a maximum‐likelihood procedure to estimate the seed dispersal kernel from exact identification of seed sources. Using numerical simulations, we show that the proposed method, unlike other approaches, is independent of seed fecundity variation, yielding accurate estimates of the shape and range of the seed dispersal kernel under varied sampling and dispersal conditions. We also demonstrate how an obvious estimator of the dispersal kernel, the maximum‐likelihood fit of the observed distribution of dispersal distances to seed traps, can be strongly biased due to the spatial arrangement of seed traps relative to source plants. Finally, we illustrate the use of the proposed method with a previously published empirical example for the animal‐dispersed tree species Prunus mahaleb.
Function and molecular architecture of the Yersinia injectisome tip complex
Authors: Broz Petr , Mueller Catherine A. , Müller Shirley A. , Philippsen Ansgar , Sorg Isabel , Engel Andreas , Cornelis Guy R.
Published: July 2007

By quantitative immunoblot analyses and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we determined that the needle of the Yersinia enterocolitica E40 injectisome consists of 139 ± 19 YscF subunits and that the tip complex is formed by three to five LcrV monomers. A pentamer represented the best fit for an atomic model of this complex. The N‐terminal globular domain of LcrV forms the base of the tip complex, while the central globular domain forms the head. Hybrids between LcrV and its orthologues PcrV (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) or AcrV (Aeromonas salmonicida) were engineered and recombinant Y. enterocolitica expressing the different hybrids were tested for their capacity to form the translocation pore by a haemolysis assay. There was a good correlation between haemolysis, insertion of YopB into erythrocyte membranes and interaction between YopB and the N‐terminal globular domain of the tip complex subunit. Hence, the base of the tip complex appears to be critical for the functional insertion of YopB into the host cell membrane.
Agonistic Anti‐4‐1BB Antibody Promotes the Expansion of Natural Regulatory T Cells While Maintaining Foxp3 Expression
Authors: Zhang P. , Gao F. , Wang Q. , Wang X. , Zhu F. , Ma C. , Sun W. , Zhang L.
Published: July 2007

The engagement of the 4‐1BB (CD137) co‐stimulatory pathway promotes the activation and proliferation of conventional CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, but the role of 4‐1BB co‐stimulation in CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) is less clear. In particular, whether 4‐1BB stimulation affects the expression of Foxp3, a master gene for Treg, is unknown. This study demonstrates that co‐stimulation of 4‐1BB engaged by an agonistic antibody promotes the proliferation of Treg in a dependent manner of low‐concentration interleukin‐2 in vitro. The 4‐1BB‐expanded Treg maintain Foxp3 expression and their ability to suppress conventional CD4+ T cells and their feature to produce no interleukin‐2. However, the 4‐1BB‐expanded Treg produce increased levels of interferon‐γ, whose significance is unknown. Thus, 4‐1BB co‐stimulation plays a role in the expansion of functional CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells without adversely affecting their suppressive activity.
Recruitment of prospective donors: what do they expect from a homepage of a blood transfusion service?
Authors: Moog R. , Fourné K.
Published: July 2007

summary In times of shrinking donor population, the recruitment of donors is of utmost importance. Recruitment can be done by personal communication, advertisement/information, classical mass media (newspaper, radio, TV) or new computerized media. The aim of this study was to gain information about the donors’ demands of an Internet presentation of a blood transfusion service. Between October and December 2004 inclusive, prospective donors were asked to complete a survey about the impact of Internet information for blood donors. The survey contained questions measuring demographics, education and motivation for blood donation. In addition, the survey included questions that measured Internet access, duration of online time and donors’ demands for an Internet presentation of a blood transfusion service. Donors were asked to tick a box with predefined answers. In cases where no options were applied, donors were requested to specify their answers. One hundred and fourteen prospective donors (71 female, 43 male) with a median age of 25 years (range 18–57 years) completed the survey. Most donors (57·9%) were 18–30 years old. Forty‐two (36·8%) of the surveyed donors were repeat donors, whereas 72 (63·2%) were first‐time donors. The majority of donors were informed about blood donation from relatives or friends (70·7% repeat donors and 67·7% first‐time donors). Most of them had Internet access (85·7% repeat donors and 90·3% first‐time donors). Exclusive use of private access was more often reported in repeat donors (77·8%), whereas both private and professional access was more frequently used in first‐time donors (32·3%). Most donors used the Internet access daily, followed by weekly and monthly use. Multiple answers were given about the importance of desired information about the topic ‘blood donation’. Both first‐time and repeat donors wanted to be informed about organizational details of blood donation such as opening times, eligibility criteria, donation process and the kind of donation, e.g. whole blood donation or apheresis donation. Information about the use of the donated blood products, remuneration and laboratory tests performed were also required. The Internet is an important new tool for the recruitment of prospective donors. Donors want to be informed about organizational details of the donation. In the meantime, we have implemented a homepage for our transfusion service meeting the demands of prospective donors.
Efficacy of cell saver in reducing homologous blood transfusions during OPCAB surgery: a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Goel P. , Pannu H. , Mohan D. , Arora R.
Published: July 2007

summary Despite the refinements in surgical technique, rates of homologous blood transfusion (HBT) in cardiac surgery remain high. The adverse effects of blood transfusion are well documented. Retransfusion of shed mediastinal blood reduces the requirement for HBTs during conventional coronary artery bypass grafting. However, some studies have found that autotransfusion leads to bleeding diathesis and paradoxical increase in blood transfusions. Through this prospective randomized trial, we have studied the safety and efficacy of this modality in patients undergoing off‐pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Fifty patients enrolled in the study and 49 fulfilled the study criteria. They were randomly divided into group C (cell saver) and group N (non‐cell saver). Whereas the cell saver group received processed shed autologous blood and homologous blood if necessary, the non‐saver group was transfused homologous blood only. The threshold for transfusion was haemoglobin of 9 g dL−1 in both the groups. The cell saver group required significantly less number of HBTs (1·6 ± 1·2 vs. 2·4 ± 1·3 units). The incidence of re‐exploration was zero in both the groups. The mean mediastinal drainage in both the groups was not significantly different (355 ± 196 vs. 316 ± 119·8 mL). The number of patients requiring any blood transfusion however was very high. All the patients in the non‐saver group and 20 (83%) of the patients in the saver group received homologous blood. During OPCAB surgery, the use of cell saver reduced the requirement for HBT. Its use is not associated with any clinically significant bleeding diathesis.
Extended storage of granulocyte concentrates mobilized by G‐CSF with/without dexamethasone and collected by bag separation method
Authors: Mochizuki K , Kikuta A , Ohto H , Nemoto K , Ito M , Sano H , Akaihata M , Suzuki H
Published: July 2007

summary The aim of this study was to examine the extended storage of granulocyte concentrates mobilized by granulocyte‐colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) with/without dexamethasone (DEX) and collected by a bag separation method. Ten healthy adult volunteers donated blood three times: twice after granulocyte mobilization by (1) injecting G‐CSF at 3 μg kg−1 subcutaneously (s.c.) and (2) injecting G‐CSF at 3 μg kg−1 s.c. + DEX at 8 mg per oral and once (3) for a baseline control without any forms of mobilization. Granulocytes were collected by a bag separation method. The functions (phagocytosis and oxidative killing levels), viability and levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐8, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐α of granulocytes were measured. The average numbers of granulocytes collected from 200‐mL samples of whole blood from the G‐CSF and G‐CSF + DEX groups were 35·1 × 108 and 49·4 × 108, respectively. Phagocytosis level, oxidative killing level and the viability of the granulocytes mobilized by G‐CSF with/without DEX were well maintained for up to 72 h of storage after collection. The levels of the cytokines increased in a time‐dependent manner. The in vitro phagocytosis level, oxidative killing level and the viability of granulocytes mobilized by G‐CSF with/without DEX and collected by bag separation method can be maintained for as long as 72 h after collection.
Human erythrovirus B19 and blood transfusion – an update
Authors: Parsyan A. , Candotti D.
Published: July 2007

summary Erythrovirus (parvovirus) B19 (B19) is a common human pathogen. It is a non‐enveloped single‐strand DNA virus packaging its genome in small tight capsids consisting of viral VP1 and VP2 proteins. It is now accepted that B19 is a relatively quickly evolving virus having diverged in several genetic variants recently identified. The main route of B19 transmission is respiratory, with a majority of infections occurring during childhood and manifesting as erythema infectiousum. B19 can also be transmitted vertically and via blood transfusion and organ transplantation. The majority of adult populations show immunological evidence of previous exposure to B19. Although the immune response is able to clear infection and provide life‐long protection against B19, recent data suggest that in some, if not the majority, of individuals the acute phase of infection is followed by viral persistence in the blood or other tissues regardless of the host’s immunocompetence. Transmission of B19 by blood and blood products and its resistance to common viral inactivation methods raises several blood safety questions, still unanswered. The diversity of B19 strains and the ability of the virus to persist in the presence of specific antibodies raise the issue of transmissibility by transfusion not so much to immunocompetent recipients but rather to the large proportion of recipients in whom there is some degree of immunodeficiency. The ability of the virus to reactivate in immunodeficient recipients may create difficulties in differentiating between transfusion transmission and reactivation.
Anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer in dermatological practice
Authors: Herat Asoka , Whitfeld Margot , Hillman Richard
Published: July 2007

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia is considered to be a precursor lesion of invasive anal cancer. It is now increasingly recognized in high‐risk groups, such as men who have sex with men and HIV‐infected patients. Human papillomaviruses are considered to be an important aetiological agent in both anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer. Dermatologists are likely to encounter these conditions among the differential diagnoses to be considered in high‐risk patients presenting with perianal and anal lesions. Anal cancer rates are also increasing among the HIV‐infected and HIV‐non‐infected population. The successful treatment of anal intraepithelial neoplasia may reduce the risk of subsequent development of anal cancer. However, current therapies for anal intraepithelial neoplasia may be associated with treatment‐related morbidity and are not well validated. It is currently not proven that they reduce the likelihood of the development of anal cancer. Nevertheless, screening for anal intraepithelial neoplasia is being advocated for high‐risk groups and may become standard dermatological care for these patients. In view of recent developments in the understanding of this condition, this article reviews the current understanding of anal intraepithelial neoplasia and its treatment from a dermatological perspective.
Sweet's syndrome in an Australian hospital: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Anavekar Namrata S , Williams Richard , Chong Alvin H
Published: July 2007

A retrospective analysis was performed of patients meeting the clinicopathological diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome identified over a 10‐year period, in a metropolitan hospital. Nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Two patients had preceding streptococcal infection, two had associated inflammatory bowel disease, two had idiopathic Sweet's syndrome, and three had an underlying malignancy, one of whom was receiving granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor. Although only three patients were found to have an elevated white cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C‐reactive protein was elevated in all patients when measured. There was a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, with variations in lesion distribution and the presence/absence of systemic symptoms such as fever and arthralgia. Fever was observed in two‐thirds of cases. Seven patients responded to oral corticosteroids, while one patient cleared spontaneously and one patient was lost to follow up. As erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C‐reactive protein was elevated in all cases when measured, it may be a useful diagnostic tool.
Formaldehyde‐induced urticarial vasculitis
Authors: Pellizzari Michael , Marshman Gillian
Published: July 2007

A 40‐year‐old male medical student presented with urticarial vasculitis secondary to occupational formaldehyde exposure. Serum sickness and delayed pressure urticaria also featured prominently during his illness. Initial symptom control was achieved with oral prednisolone (25 mg/day tapered to zero over 2 weeks) and oral antihistamine therapy (fexofenadine 180 mg once daily, promethazine 20 mg once daily, ranitidine 150 mg twice daily); however, subsequent exposures to formaldehyde produced transient symptom flares that broke through the prednisolone cover. A complete recovery occurred only after strict elimination of all exposure to formaldehyde, both occupationally and in the home environment, was achieved.
Schnitzler's syndrome: Successful treatment with anakinra
Authors: Crouch Rohan , Akhras Victoria , Sarkany Robert
Published: July 2007

A 44‐year‐old man presented with a 2‐year history of an intermittent urticarial rash, malaise, weight loss, night sweats, headaches and bone pains. Initial investigations indicated an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white cell count and a monoclonal immunoglobulin‐M paraprotein. Histological examination revealed a perivascular mixed inflammatory infiltrate with leukocytoclasis, nuclear dust without fibrinoid necrosis and extravasated red blood cells. A diagnosis of Schnitzler's syndrome was made. Over an 8‐year period, the patient was treated with continuous oral prednisone (minimum dose 20 mg/day) combined with multiple systemic agents. He was commenced on anakinra, a recombinant form of human interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist, at a dose of 100 mg injected subcutaneously daily. On review 1 week later, the patient's systemic symptoms had resolved, and his previously elevated white cell count and inflammatory markers had normalized. The use of anakinra in our patient resulted in resolution of symptoms and has enabled cessation of oral prednisone. Our patient remains symptom free on anakinra after 14 months of follow up.
Blue lunulae: Argyria and hypercopprecaemia
Authors: Kalouche Hassan , Watson Alan , Routley Douglas
Published: July 2007

A 42‐year‐old woman presented with blue lunulae in association with argyria and hypercopprecaemia. The argyria was caused by the regular ingestion of colloidal silver in water over an extended period of time. The raised copper may have contributed to the nail discolouration, and was believed to be due either to ingestion of copper‐containing multivitamin tablets or as an acute‐phase reactant. We believe that the ease of access to, and lack of stringent regulatory controls over, food supplements and alternative medicines may cause similar cases in the future. We therefore recommend that all patients should be routinely questioned on their use of over‐the‐counter preparations and alternative medicines.
Pruritic eruption with reticular pigmentation: Confluent and reticulate papillomatosis
Authors: Dogan Gursoy
Published: July 2007

A 28‐year‐old man presented with a 2‐year history of a pruritic eruption on his neck, chest, back, axillae, and antecubital and pubic areas. The patient had been previously treated with topical and systemic antifungal therapy for a long time, but showed no response. Examination revealed the typical clinical and histological features of confluent and reticulate papillomatosis. The patient responded well to oral doxycycline.
Niche width collapse in a resilient top predator following ecosystem fragmentation
Authors: Layman Craig A. , Quattrochi John P. , Peyer Caroline M. , Allgeier Jacob E.
Published: July 2007

Much research has focused on identifying species that are susceptible to extinction following ecosystem fragmentation, yet even those species that persist in fragmented habitats may have fundamentally different ecological roles than conspecifics in unimpacted areas. Shifts in trophic role induced by fragmentation, especially of abundant top predators, could have transcendent impacts on food web architecture and stability, as well as ecosystem function. Here we use a novel measure of trophic niche width, based on stable isotope ratios, to assess effects of aquatic ecosystem fragmentation on trophic ecology of a resilient, dominant, top predator. We demonstrate collapse in trophic niche width of the predator in fragmented systems, a phenomenon related to significant reductions in diversity of potential prey taxa. Collapsed niche width reflects a homogenization of energy flow pathways to top predators, likely serving to destabilize remnant food webs and render apparently resilient top predators more susceptible to extinction through time.
On the stability of populations of mammals, birds, fish and insects
Authors: Sibly Richard M. , Barker Daniel , Hone Jim , Pagel Mark
Published: July 2007

A key concern for conservation biologists is whether populations of plants and animals are likely to fluctuate widely in number or remain relatively stable around some steady‐state value. In our study of 634 populations of mammals, birds, fish and insects, we find that most can be expected to remain stable despite year to year fluctuations caused by environmental factors. Mean return rates were generally around one but were higher in insects (1.09 ± 0.02 SE) and declined with body size in mammals. In general, this is good news for conservation, as stable populations are less likely to go extinct. However, the lower return rates of the large mammals may make them more vulnerable to extinction. Our estimates of return rates were generally well below the threshold for chaos, which makes it unlikely that chaotic dynamics occur in natural populations – one of ecology’s key unanswered questions.
Nephrolithiasis in identical twins: the impact of nature vs nurture
Authors: Haleblian George E. , Cantor David A. , Sur Roger L. , Assimos Dean G. , Preminger Glenn M.
Published: July 2007

In a unique paper from the USA, authors look at the interplay between environmental, genetic and anatomical factors in the development of kidney stones. They suggest that additional controlled studies of monozygotic stone‐forming twins are required for further elaboration of this interaction.

OBJECTIVE

To assess possible underlying metabolic abnormalities in three sets of monozygotic twins, to evaluate the interplay among the factors of kidney stone formation, a complex multifactorial process influenced by environmental, genetic and anatomical factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three sets of identical twins with either cystine or calcium oxalate stones were identified. Demographic data, medical histories and the results of 24‐h urine testing, with samples collected on self‐selected diets, were reviewed and analysed.

RESULTS

The cystinuric twins had very similar cystine excretion rates, while stone activity was significantly more pronounced in one. Metabolic abnormalities were concordant in one set of twins with calcium oxalate stones, both being hypercalciuric and hyperuricosuric. However, metabolic abnormalities were discordant in the other pair, one twin with hypercalciuria and the other with hypocitraturia. Two of the three pairs had low urinary volume.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support previous observations that environmental, genetic and potentially, anatomical factors play roles in kidney‐stone formation. Additional controlled studies of monozygotic stone‐forming twins might help to define the interplay between environmental and genetic factors, and allow the identification of susceptibility genes involved in stone generation.
Genetic impact on prostate anatomical variability during ageing: role of CYP17, SRD5A2 and androgen receptor genes polymorphisms
Authors: Larré Stéphane , Hamadeh Hikmat , Azzouzi Abdel Rahmene , Vallancien Guy , Cochand‐Priollet Beatrix , Cancel‐Tassin Géraldine , Cussenot Olivier
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of genetic determinism on individual variability in age‐related prostate changes, as defining ‘normal’ anatomy in prostate gland ageing is a challenge because the variability of changes in prostate morphology increases with age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We assessed the influence of androgen‐ and oestrogen‐regulating genetic polymorphisms on age‐related weight and stromal‐ratio changes in the prostate, using an anatomical, autopsy‐based study. We quantified weight and glandular/stromal ratio in 85 autopsy prostates from men aged > 50 years. We genotyped allelic variants of androgen‐regulating genes [androgen receptor (CAG repeats) and type II 5‐α reductase (TA repeat and V89L)] and an oestrogen‐regulating gene (A1/A2 variants of the 17α‐hydroxylase (CYP17)).

RESULTS

There was a fair negative correlation between prostate weight and the number of CAG repeats (r = −0.32, P = 0.003); the group with ≤ 19 CAG repeats had heavier prostates than the ≥ 20 group (P = 0.015). The stromal ratio was higher in the group with 20–23 CAG repeats (P = 0.02) and in the A2A2 group of the CYP17 polymorphism (P = 0.016) compared with the other groups mixed together.

CONCLUSION

A low number of CAG repeats is associated with higher prostate weights. The A2A2 genotype of CYP17 is associated with a higher stromal ratio.
Genome‐wide analysis for micro‐aberrations in familial exstrophy of the bladder using array‐based comparative genomic hybridization
Authors: Reutter Heiko , Hoischen Alexander , Ludwig Michael , Stein Raimund , Radlwimmer Bernhard , Engels Hartmut , Wolffenbuttel Katja P. , Weber Ruthild G.
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVE

Exstrophy of the bladder (EB) is part of the bladder‐exstrophy‐epispadias complex (BEEC). Because familial occurrence of BEEC is rare, exogenous factors are thought to play a major role in the etiology of most BEEC cases. We aimed to investigate a possible genetic basis of BEEC in a consanguineous kindred of Moroccan origin with three members showing the same phenotypic expression of BEEC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The three affected males (two cousins and their maternal uncle) all presenting with nonsyndromic classic EB, were born in Morocco or The Netherlands. One Moroccan patient had an open bladder surface for 22 years due to late surgical reconstruction, avoided upright posture and developed severe lumbar scoliosis. Because three maternally related males from a consanguineous family living in different environments are affected, a genetic basis for EB is likely in this family. To screen for chromosomal aberrations and micro‐aberrations in the two patients who were still alive, conventional karyotyping and array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH) were used on DNA‐microarrays with a genome‐wide average resolution of <0.5 Mb.

RESULTS

Chromosome banding revealed normal karyotypes. By array‐CGH, one of 8000 clones was aberrant in both affected cousins. This clone from 1p21.1 contained the AMY1B, AMY2B, AMY2A genes coding for salivary and pancreatic amylases.

CONCLUSION

The aberration detected by array‐CGH in both affected cousins is a known copy‐number variant and most likely unrelated to the EB‐phenotype. Nevertheless, in this family the nonsyndromic EB could be a monogenic disorder inherited in an autosomal‐recessive or X‐linked fashion.
The Level and Nature of Autistic Intelligence
Authors: Dawson Michelle , Soulières Isabelle , Ann Gernsbacher Morton , Mottron Laurent
Published: July 2007

Autistics are presumed to be characterized by cognitive impairment, and their cognitive strengths (e.g., in Block Design performance) are frequently interpreted as low-level by-products of high-level deficits, not as direct manifestations of intelligence. Recent attempts to identify the neuroanatomical and neurofunctional signature of autism have been positioned on this universal, but untested, assumption. We therefore assessed a broad sample of 38 autistic children on the preeminent test of fluid intelligence, Raven's Progressive Matrices. Their scores were, on average, 30 percentile points, and in some cases more than 70 percentile points, higher than their scores on the Wechsler scales of intelligence. Typically developing control children showed no such discrepancy, and a similar contrast was observed when a sample of autistic adults was compared with a sample of nonautistic adults. We conclude that intelligence has been underestimated in autistics.