bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquired hypercoagulable state in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Ducloux Didier , Kazory Amir
Published: January 2004

Stable renal transplant recipients manifest a chronic hypercoagulable state with an increased risk of thromboembolic complications, which appears to be multifactorial. While this group of patients could present the known risk factors for thromboembolism in the general population (e.g. diabetes, cancer, pregnancy), they may also suffer from other situations which are mostly related to transplantation and are consequently specific to them. Here, we review briefly the clinical aspects and controversies of the most important of these factors including immunosuppressive agents, antiphospholipid antibodies, hyperhomocysteinemia, pre-transplant dialysis modality, and posttransplant erythrocytosis. In addition, other more recent topics including hypercysteinemia, recurrent proteinuria, and acute CMV infection are discussed.
Maternal thrombophilias are not associated with early pregnancy loss
Authors: Paidas Michael , Funai Edmund , Kuczynski Edward , Lockwood Charles , Roqué Henry
Published: January 2004

We investigated the association between inherited and acquired maternal thrombophilias and adverse pregnancy events. A cohort of 491 patients with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes was evaluated for activated protein C resistance, factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations, hyperhomocysteinemia, deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C and S and both anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulants. The study had an 80% power to detect a 15% difference in the prevalence of thrombophilia for 1st trimester loss. In our high-risk cohort the presence of 1 maternal thrombophilia or more than one thrombophilia were found to be protective of recurrent losses at < 10 weeks (1 thrombophilia: OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33–0.92; >1 thrombophilia: OR: 0.48, 95%CI:0.29–0.78). In contrast, the presence of maternal thrombophilia(s) was modestly associated with an increased risk of losses ≥ 10 weeks (1 thrombophilia: OR:1.76, 95%CI: 1.05–2.94, >1 thrombophilia: OR:1.66, 95%CI:1.03–2.68). Women who experienced only euploid losses were not more likely to have an identified thrombophilia than women who experienced only aneuploid losses (OR 1.03; 0.38–2.75). The presence of maternal thrombophilia was associated with an increased risk of fetal loss after 14 weeks, fetal growth restriction, abruption and preeclampsia. There was a significant “dose-dependent” increase in the risk of abruption (OR:3.60, 95%CI: 1.43–9.09) and preeclampsia (OR:3.21, 95%CI:1.20–8.58). In conclusion, these data indicate maternal thrombophilias are not associated with pregnancy wastage prior to 10 weeks of gestation.
Systematic review of studies of self-management of oral anticoagulation
Authors: Berghold Andrea , Sawicki Peter , Siebenhofer Andrea
Published: January 2004

This work is aimed at assessing the evidence for the possible improvement of therapeutic control of anticoagulation, reduction of major bleedings, thromboembolism and improvement of treatment-related quality of life in patients with self-managed oral anticoagulation therapy versus oral anticoagulation patients on routine care. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified using the COCHRANE LIBRARY, MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1966 to 2003. RCTs were selected involving patients with oral anticoagulation, which were designed to compare a self-management group to a routine care group. Abstracts and keywords were screened and, in the case of potential inclusion, evaluated. We identified nine potentially relevant trials. Five were excluded for the following reasons: double publication, the patients involved performed only selftesting, or the results of the trial were only published as an abstract. Ultimately, four randomised controlled studies fulfilled the criteria for inclusion. Anticoagulation control: Statistical analysis was not possible because of the great variety of international normalised ratio measurements per patient between the different studies. Comparing the four studies, there was no difference in oral anticoagulation control between self-management care and management by a specialised anticoagulation clinic. In comparison with routine care by general practitioners, self-management care was found to be better. Major bleeding, arterial and venous thromboembolism: Data were available for all studies; however, the studies were either underpowered or obviously not valid and therefore not suitable for statistical analysis. Treatment-related quality of life: Data were available for two studies, which showed that self-management could clearly improve treatment-related quality of life. Patients’ self-management can improve the quality of oral anticoagulation as an indirect parameter of a reduced risk for thromboembolic and bleeding complications. Self-management oral anticoagulation treatment is safe and improves treatment-related quality of life. Patients’ self-management is safe and can improve the quality of anticoagulation control, however, no valid long term study has yet actually demonstrated reduction of bleeding and thromboembolic events.
Moderate-intensity exercise suppresses platelet activation and polymorphonuclear leukocyte interaction with surface-adherent platelets under shear flow in men
Authors: Liao Chang-Hui , Wang Jong-Shyan
Published: January 2004

The reciprocal modulation of platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activities is important in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and inflammation. This study investigated how moderate exercise affects shear-induced platelet activation and subsequent PMNs interaction with platelet-related thrombi under shear flow. Sixteen sedentary healthy men engaged in moderate exercise (about 60% V·O2max) on a bicycle ergometer. Platelet activation, PMNs interaction with surface-adherent platelets, and PMN-dependent inhibition of platelet activation under shear flow were measured both before and immediately after exercise. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) moderate exercise was associated with lower extents of shear-induced platelet adhesion and aggregation, binding of von Willbrand factor (vWF) to platelets, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa activation and P-selectin expression on platelet than at rest; (2) the velocity and percentage of rolling PMNs increased while the number of PMNs remaining bound to surface-adherent platelets decreased after moderate exercise; (3) although treating the PMNs with oxidized-low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) enhanced PMNs interaction with surface-adherent platelets, moderate exercise suppressed the enhancement of platelet-PMN interaction by Ox-LDL; (4) moderate exercise decreased platelet [Ca2+]i
elevation induced by ADP and platelet [Ca2+]i
levels mediated by PMN and Ox-LDL-treated PMN; and (5) plasma and PMN-derived nitric oxide metabolites and plasma vWF antigen and activity increased after moderate exercise, whereas plasma and platelet-derived soluble P-selectin levels remained unchanged in response to exercise. Therefore, we conclude that moderate-intensity exercise suppresses shear-induced platelet activation and subsequent PMNs adhesion to platelets deposited at sites of vascular injury under flow, thereby reducing the risks of vascular thrombosis and inflammation.
Hepatic Steatosis: A Mediator of the Metabolic Syndrome. Lessons From Animal Models
Authors: den Boer M. , Voshol P.J. , Kuipers F. , Havekes L.M. , Romijn J.A.
Published: January 2004

Epidemiological studies in humans, as well as experimental studies in animal models, have shown an association between visceral obesity and dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, attention has been focused on the excessive accumulation of triglycerides (TG) in the liver as part of this syndrome. In this review, important principles of the pathophysiological involvement of the liver in the metabolic syndrome obtained in rodent models are summarized. We focus on non-alcoholic causes of steatosis, because the animal experiments we refer to did not include alcohol as an experimental condition. In general, there is continuous cycling and redistribution of non-oxidized fatty acids between different organs. The amount of TG in an intrinsically normal liver is not fixed but can readily be increased by nutritional, metabolic, and endocrine interactions involving TG/free fatty acid (FFA) partitioning and TG/FFA metabolism. Several lines of evidence indicate that hepatic TG accumulation is also a causative factor involved in hepatic insulin resistance. Complex interactions between endocrine, metabolic, and transcriptional pathways are involved in TG-induced hepatic insulin resistance. Therefore, the liver participates passively and actively in the metabolic derangements of the metabolic syndrome. We speculate that similar mechanisms may also be involved in human pathophysiology.
Nox4 as the Major Catalytic Component of an Endothelial NAD(P)H Oxidase
Authors: Ago Tetsuro , Kitazono Takanari , Ooboshi Hiroaki , Iyama Teruaki , Han Youn Hee , Takada Junichi , Wakisaka Masanori , Ibayashi Setsuro , Utsumi Hideo , Iida Mitsuo
Published: January 2004

Background—

Recent evidence has suggested that reactive oxygen species are important signaling molecules in vascular cells and play a pivotal role in the development of vascular diseases. The activity of NAD(P)H oxidase has been identified as the major source of reactive oxygen species in vascular endothelial cells. However, the precise molecular structure and the mechanism of activation of the oxidase have remained poorly understood.

Methods and Results—

Here, we investigated the molecular identities and the superoxide-producing activity of endothelial NAD(P)H oxidase. We found that Nox4, a homologue of gp91phox/Nox2, was abundantly expressed in endothelial cells. The expression of Nox4 in endothelial cells markedly exceeded that of other Nox proteins, including gp91phox/Nox2, and was affected by cell growth. Using electron spin resonance and chemiluminescence, we measured the superoxide production and found that the endothelial membranes had an NAD(P)H-dependent superoxide-producing activity comparable to that of the neutrophil membranes, whereas the activity was not enhanced by the 2 recombinant proteins p47phox and p67phox, in contrast to that of the neutrophil membranes. Downregulation of Nox4 by an antisense oligonucleotide reduced superoxide production in endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusions—

These findings suggest that Nox4 may function as the major catalytic component of an endothelial NAD(P)H oxidase.
Conditional Cardiac Overexpression of Endothelin-1 Induces Inflammation and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Mice
Authors: Yang Li L. , Gros Robert , Kabir M. Golam , Sadi Almuktafi , Gotlieb Avrum I. , Husain Mansoor , Stewart Duncan J.
Published: January 2004

Background—

Myocardial expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors ET
A
and ET
B
is increased in heart failure. However, the role of ET-1 and its signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of myocardial diseases is unclear.

Methods and Results—

Human ET-1 cDNA was placed downstream of a promoter responsive to a doxycycline (DOX)-regulated transcriptional activator (tTA). This line (ET
+
) was bred with one harboring cardiac myocyte-restricted expression of tTA (αMHC-tTA). Myocardial ET-1 peptide levels were significantly increased in binary transgenic (BT, ET
+
/tTA
+
) compared with nonbinary transgenic (NBT, ET
+
/tTA
−
; ET
−
/tTA
+
; ET
−
/tTA
−
) or DOX-treated BT littermates (40.1±4.7 versus 2.6±1.2 fmol/mL,
P
<0.003). BT mice demonstrated progressive mortality between 5 and 11 weeks after DOX withdrawal, associated with left ventricular dilatation and contractile dysfunction (peak +dP/dT, 4673±468 versus 5585±658 mm Hg/s,
P
<0.05). An interstitial inflammatory infiltrate, including macrophages and T lymphocytes, was evident in the myocardium of BT mice, associated with sequential increases in nuclear factor-κB translocation and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. Significant prolongation of survival was observed with the combined ET
A
/ET
B
antagonist LU420627 (n=8,
P
<0.05) in BT mice but not the ET
A
-selective antagonist LU135252 (n=5,
P
=0.9), consistent with an important role for ET
B
in this model.

Conclusions—

These are the first data to demonstrate that cardiac overexpression of ET-1 is sufficient to cause increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and an inflammatory cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure and death.
Clinical Features of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Hsue Priscilla Y. , Giri Kamini , Erickson Sara , MacGregor John S. , Younes Naji , Shergill Amandeep , Waters David D.
Published: January 2004

Background—

Patients with HIV infection exhibit increased rates of coronary events; however, the clinical features of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in HIV-infected patients have not been well defined.

Methods and Results—

Between 1993 and 2003, 68 HIV-infected patients were hospitalized with ACS. We compared the clinical features and outcome of these patients with those of 68 randomly selected control patients with ACS without HIV. HIV patients were on average more than a decade younger than controls and more likely to be male and current smokers and to have low HDL cholesterol. They were less likely than controls to have diabetes or hyperlipidemia, and their TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) risk scores on admission were significantly lower. At coronary angiography, the number of vessels with >50% stenosis was 1.3±1.0 in HIV patients and 1.9±1.2 in controls (
P
=0.007). Restenosis developed in 15 of 29 HIV patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention compared with 3 of 21 controls (52% versus 14%,
P
=0.006).

Conclusions—

HIV patients with ACS are younger and more likely to be males and current smokers and to have low HDL cholesterol levels compared with other ACS patients. Their TIMI risk scores are lower, and they are more likely to have single-vessel disease; however, their restenosis rates after percutaneous coronary intervention are unexpectedly high.
Assessment of Renal Functional Phenotype in Mice Lacking gp91
PHOX
Subunit of NAD(P)H Oxidase
Authors: Haque Mohammed Z. , Majid Dewan S. A.
Published: January 2004

To determine the role of endogenous superoxide (O
2
−
) in the kidney, we assessed renal hemodynamics and excretory function in gp91
PHOX
(a NAD(P)H oxidase subunit) gene knockout (KO) mice and compared these findings with those of wild-type (WT) strain C57BL/6 mice. Renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were determined by PAH and inulin clearances respectively in anesthetized mice (n=8 in each group). There were higher baseline RBF (4.3±0.4 versus 2.5±0.2 mL/min per gram;
P
<0.002) and lower renal vascular resistance (RVR) (16±1.4 versus 29±2.3 mm Hg/mL/min per gram;
P
<0.0001) in KO compared with WT without a significant difference in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (67±2 versus 71±2 mm Hg) and GFR (0.66±0.09 versus 0.73±0.05 mL/min per gram) between the strains. Intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) (2 ng/min per gram of body weight) for 30 minutes caused a lesser degree of decreases in RBF (−8% versus −33%) and of increases in RVR (+73% versus +173%) in KO compared with WT. GFR was increased (43%) in KO but not in WT during Ang II infusion. Urinary excretion of nitrate/nitrite was higher in conscious KO (n=5) than in WT (n=5), indicating an increase in nitric oxide bioavailability that could be the cause of high RBF and low RVR in KO. These data indicate that gp91
PHOX
, a subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase, plays a regulatory role in the maintenance of renal vascular tone. These results also suggest that the mechanism of Ang II-mediated renal vascular action involves concomitant generation of O
2
−
.
Modifier Locus on Mouse Chromosome 3 for Renal Vascular Pathology in AT
1A
Receptor-Deficiency
Authors: Le Thu H. , Fogo Agnes B. , Salzler Harmony R. , Vinogradova Tania , Oliverio Michael I. , Marchuk Douglas A. , Coffman Thomas M.
Published: January 2004

We previously showed that the phenotype of mice with targeted disruption of the gene encoding the AT
1A
receptor (
Agtr1a
), the major murine AT
1
receptor isoform, is strongly influenced by recessive genetic modifiers derived from the C57BL/6 or 129 inbred strains. To further evaluate the genetic modifiers on the C57BL/6 background, we performed backcrosses between F
1
(C57BL/6×129) and C57BL/6
Agtr1a
−/−
mice and analyzed the progeny, focusing on the development of structural lesions in the renal vasculature. In affected animals, these lesions are characterized by medial thickening of small arteries and arterioles in the kidney that are reminiscent of vascular lesions in patients with nephrosclerosis. Among 180 consecutive progeny, 170 (94%) survived to completion of the study. On masked pathological examination at age 8 months, 86 had intermediate to severe vascular lesions whereas 84 had no detectable lesions. Based on a hypothetical model of a single recessive modifier locus arising from the C57BL/6 background, the observed proportion of affected animals among the backcross progeny was not statistically different from that predicted by χ
2
analysis (51% versus 50%;
P
=0.88). We next performed genomic microsatellite analysis in a subset of 121 backcross progeny using a panel of markers spanning ≈15 cM intervals across the mouse genome. By 2-point analysis, we found a region spanning 5 cM on chromosome 3, with significant linkage to the development of renal vascular lesions (LOD score: 3.3 to 3.8).
Relationship Between Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthetase Genotype and Systemic Vascular Function
Authors: Summar Marshall L. , Gainer James V. , Pretorius Mias , Malave Hector , Harris Stephanie , Hall Lynn D. , Weisberg Alec , Vaughan Douglas E. , Christman Brian W. , Brown Nancy J.
Published: January 2004

Endothelial cells can convert
l
-citrulline to
l
-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide. The present study tests the hypothesis that a C-to-A nucleotide transversion (T1405N) in the gene-encoding carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1, the enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in
l
-citrulline formation, influences nitric oxide metabolite concentrations or nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in humans. Bradykinin (100, 200, and 400 ng/min) was infused via brachial artery in 106 (CC:AC:AA=40:54:12) healthy subjects. Sodium nitroprusside (1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 μg/min) was also infused in 87 (CC:AC:AA=31:46:10) subjects. Forearm blood flow was measured by plethysmography and blood samples were collected for tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen, nitric oxide metabolites, and cyclic GMP. There was a significant relationship between carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 genotype and nitric oxide metabolites, such that nitric oxide metabolite concentrations were highest in individuals homozygous for the C allele (mean±SD, 14.0±8.5 μmol/L), lowest in individuals homozygous for the A allele (9.1±3.1 μmol/L), and intermediate (11.8±6.6 μmol/L) in heterozygotes (
P
=0.036). There was a significant effect of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 genotype on forearm blood flow during bradykinin (
P
=0.028), such that the vasodilator response was greatest in C allele homozygotes (22.2±9.1 mL/min/100 mL at 400 ng/min), least in A allele homozygotes (13.6±6.2 mL/min/100 mL), and intermediate (19.4±10.7 mL/min/100 mL) in heterozygotes. Similarly, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 genotype influenced forearm blood flow during nitroprusside (maximal flow 19.2±8.3, 18.1±8.3, and 11.5±4.9 mL/min/100 mL in the CC:AC:AA groups, respectively;
P
=0.022). In contrast, there was no effect of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 genotype on the nitric oxide–independent tissue-type plasminogen activator response to bradykinin (
P
=0.943). These data indicate that a polymorphism in the gene encoding carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 influences nitric oxide production as well as vascular smooth muscle reactivity.
Retinal Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is Mediated by Angiotensin Type 1 and Type 2 Receptors
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Lassila Markus , Cooper Mark E. , Cao Zemin
Published: January 2004

Angiotensin II is a known stimulus for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This action of angiotensin II is mediated by the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor. However, the role of the angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptor subtype in inducing VEGF expression has been controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of AT2 receptor blockade on VEGF expression in the retina, initially in experimental diabetic rats induced by injection of streptozotocin. The AT1 receptor antagonist, valsartan, or the AT2 receptor antagonists, PD123319, were administered to diabetic rats for 4 weeks. Increased gene and protein expressions of VEGF, as assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining, respectively, were observed in the retina in diabetic rats. Treatment with either valsartan or PD123319 attenuated retinal VEGF expression. To further explore the link between angiotensin receptor subtypes and VEGF expression, valsartan, or PD123319 were administered to rats that were infused with angiotensin II for 2 weeks. VEGF expression was also increased in the retina from angiotensin II infused rats, and this was attenuated by valsartan and PD123319. These findings suggest that VEGF expression is modulated by AT1 and AT2 receptors, thereby implicating angiotensin II receptor subtypes in retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
Early Death: Mortality among Young Children in New York, Chicago, and New Orleans
Authors: Condran Gretchen A. , Lentzner Harold R.
Published: January 2004

The high mortality of nineteenth-century cities included excess summer mortality among infants and young children. Data from New York City, New Or-leans, and Chicago from 1870 to 1917 and earlier data from New York City permit an examination of this high summer mortality and its decline during the early twentieth century in relation to changes in infant feeding practices, sanitation projects to improve water supplies and methods of waste disposal, and efforts to improve the quality of milk.
Immigration, Culture, and Child Labor in the United States, 1880–1920
Authors: Gratton Brian , Moen Jon
Published: January 2004

Alarmed by child labor in factories and mills, Progressive-era reformers criticized immigrants and immigrant cultures for sanctioning exploitation of their young. Neither qualitative nor quantitative appraisals find much evidence that ethnicity had any important effect on the likelihood that a child would work. Relative and absolute poverty were more important influences. Under all conditions, black children were much more likely to work. The use of children as workers, customary in all rural societies including that of the American family farm, reappeared in industrial settings and then quickly declined. Higher male earnings, technological shifts, and changes in law and culture compelled children to become students instead of wage earners.
The Evolution of Unemployment Relief in Great Britain
Authors: Boyer George R.
Published: January 2004

The history of unemployment relief in Britain from 1834 to 1911 was not a “unilinear progression in collective benevolence,” culminating in unemployment insurance. The combination of poor relief and private charity to assist cyclically unemployed workers from 1834 to 1870 was more generous, and more certain, than the relief provided for the unemployed under the various policies adopted from 1870 to 1911. A major shift in policy occurred in the 1870s, largely in response to the crisis of the Poor Law in the 1860s. Because the new policy—a combination of self-help and charity—proved unable to cope with the high unemployment of cyclical downturns, Parliament in 1911 bowed to political pressure for a national system of relief by adopting the world's first compulsory system of unemployment insurance.
Early American Family and Legal History: New Ideas
Authors: Menard Russell R.
Published: January 2004

Recent work about the method of family reconstitution and economic history raises serious doubts about the demographic and economic premises that underlie much of the existing scholarship about early American family history. As a result, early American family history—one of the new social history's crowning achievements during the 1960s—is now in disarray. Some scholars see the new microhistorical studies of the colonial family as an effort to sidestep these difficulties by ignoring demographic and materialist perspectives. However, such cultural approaches may well intensify the crisis by challenging the image of the early American family as a loving institution incapable of violent conflict.
Two's Company, Three's a Crowd: Differences in Dominance Relationships in Isolated Versus Socially Embedded Pairs of Fish
Authors: Chase Ivan , Tovey Craig , Murch Peter
Published: January 2004

We performed experiments with cichlid fish to test whether several basic aspects of dominance were the same in isolated pairs as in pairs within a social group of three or four. We found that the social context, whether a pair was isolated or within a group, strongly affected the basic properties of dominance relationships. In particular, the stability of relationships over time, the replication of relationships in successive meetings, and the extent of the loser effect were all significantly less in socially embedded pairs than in isolated pairs. We found no significant winner effect in either isolated or socially embedded pairs. These findings call into question many current approaches to dominance that do not consider social context as an important factor in dominance behavior. These findings also cast serious doubt on the validity of empirical and theoretical approaches based on dyadic interactions. Among these approaches are game theoretic models for the evolution of aggressive behavior, experimental designs evaluating how asymmetries in attributes influence the outcome of dominance
Regulation of Worker Activity in the Primitively Eusocial Wasp Ropalidia Cyathiformis
Authors: Gadagkar Raghavendra , Kardile Sujata
Published: January 2004

Ropalidia marginata, traditionally regarded as a primitively eusocial wasp species appears to have acquired some features reminiscent of highly eusocial species. Queens are behaviorally passive individuals, yet maintain complete reproductive monopoly and probably use pheromones to achieve this. Regulation of worker foraging is achieved by the workers themselves in a decentralized, self-organized manner. If there are other species in the genus Ropalidia that do not show such relatively 'advanced' features, this genus can provide an attractive model system to investigate the evolutionary transition from the primitively eusocial to the highly eusocial state. Here, we therefore investigate the congeneric Ropalidia cyathiformis and demonstrate that in contrast to R. marginata, it appears to be a typical primitively eusocial species. As expected therefore, and in striking contrast with R. marginata, R. cyathiformis queens are the most, or among the most, dominant, active and interactive individuals and their behavior is consistent with the possibility that they suppress worker reproduction and regulate worker foraging in a relatively centralized manner. Upon removal of the queen, a potential queen with levels of aggression even higher than that of the queen, becomes apparent immediately. Such a potential queen appears to take over inhibition of worker reproduction and regulation of worker foraging by mechanisms similar to that used by the queen so that, there is no disruption in foraging and brood care. We suggest that comparative studies of
Female Dominance and Social Structure in Alaotran Gentle Lemurs
Authors: Waeber  , Hemelrijk
Published: January 2004

Lemur social systems have the striking social feature, that adult females consistently evoke submissive behaviour of adult males. In the Alaotran gentle lemur, Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis, however, female dominance has not been studied yet. Here we confirm female dominance over males on the basis of a 5-month field study of the social behaviour of four groups, in the Lake Alaotra marshland of eastern Madagascar. Further, we found that dominant individuals initiated aggressive interactions significantly more often than lowerranking ones, they initiated group movements more often and higher-ranking individuals were groomed more often. The spatial configuration was remarkable, since individuals were closer in space to those more distant in rank.
Female Co-Dominance in a Virtual World: Ecological, Cognitive, Social and Sexual Causes
Authors: Wantia Jan , Dätwyler Marc , Hemelrijk Charlotte
Published: January 2004

In male-dominant primate species, females are sometimes dominant to some or all males of a group. In this paper, we show a number of variables that increase female dominance over males in a model called DomWorld. This model is relevant, because its results have shown to resemble those of typical egalitarian and despotic macaques. Variables that increase female co-dominance are intensity of aggression, group cohesion, a clumped distribution of food, a similar diet for the sexes and sexual attraction (by one sex to the other, but not mutually). We explain that in these cases female co-dominance increases due to more interactions between the sexes (under certain conditions), and as a consequence of all factors that increase the development of the hierarchy (i.e. a higher number of interactions, more interactions per sex, a higher intensity of aggression and a clearer spatial structure). We suggest model-guided studies of female dominance in real animals.
Models of Dominance Hierarchy Formation: Effects of Prior Experience and Intrinsic Traits
Authors: Beacham Jeffery
Published: January 2004

Results of experimental research are used to develop theoretical models of dominance hierarchy formation that incorporate effects of prior aggressive experience and body size. A combination of analytical models and computer simulations confirm previous theoretical treatments showing that intrinsic attributes such as body size fail to account for the degree of hierarchy linearity observed in nature for typical within-group variance of such attributes. Moreover, these models explain the mathematical dynamics of the operation of winner/loser effects during hierarchy formation. Additionally, I present an analysis of these models which shows that the degree to which relationships of component triads (all combinations of three individuals in a group) within a hierarchy develop sequentially can have a significant effect on linearity and is an emergent feature of prior experience effects that previously has not been examined. I explain how this feature can operate through physical and behavioral features of social groups that increase physical proximity of subgroups within a larger group, thus increasing the probability of sequential relationship development in component triads, which in turn provides the conditions for winner/loser effects to significantly increase the probability of component triad transitivity and hierarchy linearity.
The Evolution of Social Dominance I: Two-player Models
Authors: Hengeveld Geerten , Van Doorn G. Sander , Weissing Franz
Published: January 2004

A difference in dominance rank is an often-used cue to resolve conflicts between two animals without escalated fights. At the group level, adherence to a dominance convention efficiently reduces the costs associated with conflicts, but from an individual's point of view, it is difficult to explain why a low ranking individual should accept its subordinate status. This is especially true if, as suggested by several authors, dominance not necessarily reflects differences in fighting ability but rather results from arbitrary historical asymmetries. According to this idea, rank differentiation emerges from behavioural strategies, referred to as winner and loser effects, in which winners of previous conflicts are more likely to win the current conflict, whereas the losers of previous conflicts are less likely to do so. In order to investigate whether dominance, based on such winner and loser effects, can be evolutionarily stable, we analyse a game theoretical model. The model focuses on an extreme case in which there are no differences in fighting ability between individuals at all. The only asymmetries that may arise between individuals are generated by the outcome of previous conflicts. By means of numerical analysis, we find alternative evolutionarily stable strategies, which all utilize these asymmetries for conventional conflict resolution. One class of these strategies is based on winner and loser effects, thus generating evolutionarily stable dominance relations even in the absence of differences in resource holding potential.
The Evolution of Social Dominance II: Multi-Player Models
Authors: Van Doorn G. Sander , Weissing Franz , Hengeveld Geerten
Published: January 2004

The social hierarchies observed in natural systems often show a high degree of transitivity. Transitive hierarchies do not only require rank differentiation within pairs of individuals but also a higher level ordering of relations within the group. Several authors have suggested that the formation of linear hierarchies at the group level is an emergent property of individual behavioural rules, referred to as winner and loser effects. Winner and loser effects occur if winners of previous conflicts are more likely to escalate the current conflict, whereas the losers of previous conflicts are less likely to do so. According to this idea, an individual's position in a hierarchy may not necessarily reflect its fighting ability, but may rather result from arbitrary historical asymmetries, in particular the history of victories and defeats. However, if this is the case, it is difficult to explain from an evolutionary perspective why a low ranking individual should accept its subordinate status. Here we present a game theoretical model to investigate whether winner and loser effects giving rise to transitive hierarchies can evolve and under which conditions they are evolutionarily stable. The main version of the model focuses on an extreme case in which there are no intrinsic differences in fighting ability between individuals. The only asymmetries that may arise between individuals are generated by the outcome of previous conflicts. We show that, at evolutionary equilibrium, these asymmetries can be utilized for conventional conflict resolution. Several evolutionarily stable strategies are based on winner and loser effects and these strategies give rise to transitive hierarchies.
Seasonal distribution of free-living nematodes in the Körsch, a coarse-grained submountain carbonate stream in southwest Germany
Authors: Beier Stefanie , Traunspurger Walter
Published: January 2004

The temporal distribution of the nematode fauna in the upper 5 cm sediment of the streambed of a small submountain carbonate stream (Körsch, Germany) was investigated over a 1-year period. The total nematode density was low during summer, autumn and winter and reached a maximum value of 2238 individuals/10 cm2 in spring. The fresh weight biomass of nematodes ranged from 13.5 to 1313 μg/10 cm2. Deposit-feeders (76% of total fauna) and suction-feeders (15%) were the two dominant feeding-types. Of the 12042 nematodes examined, 9% were gravid females, 29% females, 3% males and 59% juveniles. At least 113 species were present. The relatively low value of the Shannon-Wiener index of diversity (3.28) is not the consequence of a low number of species, but of the presence of the Eumonhystera filiformis Bastian, 1865/vulgaris-group (de Man, 1880) and the E. pseudobulbosa von Daday, 1896/sp.-group at a much higher frequency (50% of total fauna) than other taxa. The density of E. filiformis/vulgaris and E. pseudobulbosa/sp. and both deposit- and suction-feeders was low during summer, autumn and winter and showed highest values in spring, similar to the variation in abundance of total nematode density. Throughout the year, nematodes were found in both depth layers analysed (0-2 and 2-5 cm), but higher mean annual densities occurred in the upper layer (77% of all nematodes). The higher population densities in the upper sediment were independent of feeding-type, age structure or species. The calculation of the Maturity Index and the percentage of Secernentea indicates 'good status' water quality at the analysed sampling site.
Radopholus duriophilus sp. n. (Nematoda: Pratylenchidae) from Western Highland of Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Chau , Subbotin Sergei , Madani Mehrdad , Trinh Phap , Moens Maurice
Published: January 2004

A new species of the genus Radopholus associated with durian (Durio zibetinus
M.) in the Western Highland of Vietnam is described as Radopholus
duriophilus sp. n. The new species is close to R. similis, but is
distinguished from R. similis by the position of the excretory pore located
posterior to pharyngo-intestine junction (vs at level of pharyngo-intestine
junction), oval shape sperm (vs rod-like), four incisures terminating far
behind position of phasmid (vs three incisures terminating at or just behind
phasmid), and bursa in male never reaching tail terminus (vs bursa reaching
tail terminus). Females of R. duriophilus sp. n. differ from R. nativus
females by stylet length (16.5-19 vs 19-23 μm), oval or kidney-shaped sperm
(vs rod-like), four incisures at level of phasmid (vs three) and their
areolated lateral field (vs not areolated). The position of excretory pore
of both female and male is located posterior to pharyngo-intestine junction
(vs at level or anterior to pharyngo-intestine junction). Females of R.
duriophilus sp. n. differ from R. clarus females by stylet length (16.5-19
vs 19-21 μm) and areolated lateral field (vs no areolation). Females of R.
duriophilus sp. n. differ from R. musicola females by their lateral field
with equidistant incisures at mid-body (vs two deep outer folds and two
faint shallow inner incisures), oval or kidney-shaped sperm (vs rod-like),
and rounded terminus tail (vs sharply pointed). The species also sp. n.
differ in male stylet length (11.5-15 vs 8.8-12 μm). Females of R.
duriophilus sp. n. differ from R. bridgei females by stylet length (16.5-19
vs 15-17.5 μm), median bulb length (11-16.5 vs 11-13 μm), length of hyaline
tail (3-11 vs not more than 4 μm), and lateral field areolated for entire
body (vs not areolated except irregularly on neck and tail). The male
differs by stylet length (11.5-15 vs 10-12 μm) and length of the hyaline
portion (4-9 vs 1-4 μm). In addition, the relatively high level of ITS
sequence divergence of the new species from R. similis populations and the
presence of nucleotide autapomorphies support a separate specific status for
these durian populations. Results of surveys revealed that R. duriophilus
sp. n. is rather widely distributed in durian orchards and associated with
decline and death of trees in many durian nursery gardens. Densities of
nematode population reached thousands of individuals per g of root
samples.
Identification of Bursaphelenchus spp. isolated from Chinese packaging wood imported to Austria
Authors: Tomiczek Christian , Braasch Helen , Burgermeister Wolfgang , Metge Kai , Hoyer Ute , Brandstetter Martin
Published: January 2004

Bursaphelenchus spp. found in packaging wood (pallets, crates, dunnage)
imported with other goods from China to Austria in 1999 were identified, and
their possible vector species of wood- and bark-breeding insects were
recorded. Of the inspected consignments of coniferous and deciduous wood, 43
(78%) were either contaminated with insects or nematodes or showed grubholes
or galleries of wood- and bark-breeding insects. Of the 33 samples of
coniferous packaging wood with symptoms of insect attack, 48.5% had been
attacked by longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), with 11 samples harbouring
living stages of Monochamus, the vector of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B.
mucronatus. Living stages of non-European Scolytidae, possibly vectors of
other Bursaphelenchus spp., were found in seven samples. Nematodes were
found in 24 consignments, of which nine (=27% of the 33 coniferous wood
samples) were contaminated with Bursaphelenchus spp. Seven samples contained
B. mucronatus (East Asian genotype), whereas B. thailandae and B. aberrans
were each found in two samples which were also contaminated with B.
mucronatus. Morphological features and measurements for the three species
found and ITS-RFLP patterns for B. thailandae and B. mucronatus are
presented. Bursaphelenchus thailandae and B. aberrans were found for the
first time in wood transported over long distances. Bursaphelenchus
thailandae is recorded for the first time from China and its ITS-RFLP
profile, enabling differentiation of the species from 17 other
Bursaphelenchus spp., is presented.
Geographical distribution, insect and fungal host preferences and annual fluctuation of parasitism of the entomophagous and mycetophagous nematode, Contortylenchus genitalicola (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae), a parasite of the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Authors: Kosaka Hajime
Published: January 2004

Contortylenchus genitalicola Kosaka & Ogura, 1993 is a tylenchid nematode that has both an insect-parasitic and a fungal feeding phase. It is known to be parasitic on and reduce reproductive potentials of the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus, the vector of pine wilt disease. Geographical distribution, insect and fungal host preferences and annual fluctuation of parasitism of C. genitalicola were investigated by dissection of more than 5000 insects and by culturing C. genitalicola on four species of fungi. Contortylenchus genitalicola was observed only in M. alternatus and was found in 14 of the 18 localities sampled in Japan, from the northernmost to southernmost distribution area of M. alternatus. In the culture experiments, C. genitalicola multiplied only on an unidentified fungus that was originally isolated from a C. genitalicola larva recovered from an M. alternatus adult. The annual pattern of parasitism of C. genitalicola in M. alternatus fluctuated between 2.4-8.2 and 6.4-28.2%, respectively, in two localities monitored for 5 and 7 years. This study shows that, in Japan, C. genitalicola coexists with M. alternatus both geographically and temporally.
GOSPEL TRADITION AND SALVATION IN JUSTIN THE GNOSTIC
Authors: van den Broek Roelof
Published: January 2004

Justin's Gnostic system, as described in Hippolytus, Refutatio V, 23-27, deviates in many aspects from those of the great Gnostic teachers of the second century. One of the most interesting features of his doctrine is the idea that the creation of the world and the procreation of human beings preceded the origin of evil and are fundamentally good. Another is the view that Jesus was a prophet, who finally brought the message that should already have been proclaimed by the Jewish prophets. This study focuses on Justin's use of Gospel traditions and the role of Jesus in the process of salvation. An analysis of the allusions to Gospel traditions in the section about Jesus shows that Justin most probably knew the Gospels of Luke and John and borrowed from them what was suitable to his own myth. It is argued that Justin most probably came from a Jewish-Christian background, since his interpretation of Jesus as the last prophet and his positive ideas about the creation and marriage have their closest parallels in Jewish Christianity and some religious groups related to it.
Characterization of DNA-binding-dependent and -independent functions of SCL/TAL1 during human erythropoiesis
Authors: Ravet Emmanuel , Reynaud Damien , Titeux Monique , Izac Brigitte , Fichelson Serge , Roméo Paul-Henri , Dubart-Kupperschmitt Anne , Pflumio Françoise
Published: January 2004

The transcription factor TAL1 has major functions during embryonic hematopoiesis and in adult erythropoiesis and megakaryocytopoiesis. These functions rely on different TAL1 structural domains that are responsible for dimerization, transactivation, and DNA binding. Previous work, most often done in mice, has shown that some TAL1 functions do not require DNA binding. To study the role of TAL1 and the relevance of the TAL1 DNA-binding domain in human erythropoiesis, we developed an approach that allows an efficient enforced wild-type or mutant TAL1 protein expression in human hematopoietic CD34+ cells using a lentiviral vector. Differentiation capacities of the transduced cells were studied in a culture system that distinguishes early and late erythroid development. Results indicate that enforced TAL1 expression enhances long-term culture initiating cell (LTC-IC) potential and erythroid differentiation of human CD34+ cells as shown by increased βglobin and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) gene expressions and erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-Es), erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-Es), and glycophorin A-positive (GPA+) cell productions. Enforced expression of a TAL1 protein deleted of its DNA-binding domain (named ΔbTAL1) mimicked most TAL1 effects except for the LTC-IC enhancement, the down-regulation of the CD34 surface marker, and the GPA+ cell production. These results provide the first functional indications of DNA-binding-dependent and -independent roles of TAL1 in human erythropoiesis. (Blood. 2004;103:3326-3335)
Imatinib and plasmacytoid dendritic cell function in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Mohty Mohamad , Jourdan Eric , Mami Naira Ben , Vey Norbert , Damaj Ghandi , Blaise Didier , Isnardon Daniel , Olive Daniel , Gaugler Béatrice
Published: January 2004

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are crucial effectors in innate immunity. In this study, we show that imatinib, a potent inhibitor of BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase activity, in the presence of Flt3-Ligand, could induce CD34+ progenitors from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to give rise in vitro to typical BDCA-2+ type I interferon-producing PDCs. The effect of imatinib on PDC generation was related to up-regulation of Flt3 on leukemic CD34+ progenitors. Moreover, patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who were in complete cytogenetic or molecular response after imatinib treatment restored their blood PDCs both quantitatively and functionally comparable to healthy donors, in contrast to patients not responding to imatinib, further confirming that disease response to imatinib is accompanied by restoration of PDC function in vivo. These findings provide evidence that response to imatinib is capable to restore some DC-related immune functions in CML that might be beneficial for long-term disease control. (Blood. 2004;103:4666-4668)