bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review: cardiovascular safety profile of 5‐HT4 agonists developed for gastrointestinal disorders
Authors: Tack J. , Camilleri M. , Chang L. , Chey W. D. , Galligan J. J. , Lacy B. E. , Müller‐Lissner S. , Quigley E. M. M. , Schuurkes J. , De Maeyer J. H. , Stanghellini V.
Published: February 2012

Background

The nonselective 5‐HT4 receptor agonists, cisapride and tegaserod have been associated with cardiovascular adverse events (AEs).

Aim

To perform a systematic review of the safety profile, particularly cardiovascular, of 5‐HT4 agonists developed for gastrointestinal disorders, and a nonsystematic summary of their pharmacology and clinical efficacy.

Methods

Articles reporting data on cisapride, clebopride, prucalopride, mosapride, renzapride, tegaserod, TD‐5108 (velusetrag) and ATI‐7505 (naronapride) were identified through a systematic search of the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase and Toxfile. Abstracts from UEGW 2006–2008 and DDW 2008–2010 were searched for these drug names, and pharmaceutical companies approached to provide unpublished data.

Results

Retrieved articles on pharmacokinetics, human pharmacodynamics and clinical data with these 5‐HT4 agonists, are reviewed and summarised nonsystematically. Articles relating to cardiac safety and tolerability of these agents, including any relevant case reports, are reported systematically.

Two nonselective 5‐HT4 agonists had reports of cardiovascular AEs: cisapride (QT prolongation) and tegaserod (ischaemia). Interactions with, respectively, the hERG cardiac potassium channel and 5‐HT1 receptor subtypes have been suggested to account for these effects. No cardiovascular safety concerns were reported for the newer, selective 5‐HT4 agonists prucalopride, velusetrag, naronapride, or for nonselective 5‐HT4 agonists with no hERG or 5‐HT1 affinity (renzapride, clebopride, mosapride).

Conclusions

5‐HT4 agonists for GI disorders differ in chemical structure and selectivity for 5‐HT4 receptors. Selectivity for 5‐HT4 over non‐5‐HT4 receptors may influence the agent's safety and overall risk–benefit profile. Based on available evidence, highly selective 5‐HT4 agonists may offer improved safety to treat patients with impaired GI motility.
Control of intra‐oesophageal pH in patients with Barrett's oesophagus on omeprazole‐sodium bicarbonate therapy
Authors: Gerson L. B. , Mitra S. , Bleker W. F. , Yeung P.
Published: February 2012

Background

Approximately 30–40% of patients with Barrett's oesophagus (BE) patients manifest abnormal oesophageal pH profiles despite proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.

Aim

To determine control of oesophageal reflux using Bravo pH monitoring in patients BE on omeprazole‐sodium bicarbonate oral suspension powder (Ome‐NaBic) 40 mg twice daily.

Methods

Initial pH monitoring off PPI for 1 week was performed. All patients underwent repeat pH testing on Ome‐NaBic administered before breakfast and at bedtime after 21–28 days of therapy depending upon the prior PPI therapy. The goal was to enroll 30 subjects, however, the trial was terminated prematurely when the sponsor lost financing due to a change in business strategy.

Results

A total of 88 patients responded to the study invitation, 27 patients signed informed consent, and 21 patients underwent pH testing of PPI. A total of 15 patients completed the protocol (13 men, 2 women). Demographic information for patients completing at least one Bravo study included a mean (±s.d.) age 62 ± 9 years; body mass index 31 ± 8 kg/m2 (range 23–48); mean BE length of 2.6 ± 2 cm; 9 (43%) patients with long segment BE. All (100%) patients demonstrated normalisation of supine pH on both days of Ome‐NaBic therapy. One patient (6%) demonstrated abnormal upright reflux on the second day of monitoring on Ome‐NaBic therapy; all the other patients demonstrated normal pH scores on therapy.

Conclusions

Administration of twice daily Ome‐NaBic demonstrated control of nocturnal oesophageal reflux in 100% of patients with Barrett's oesophagus, and complete control of oesophageal pH during 97% of the 24‐h recording periods.
Systematic review: faecal transplantation for the treatment of Clostridium difficile‐associated disease
Authors: Guo B. , Harstall C. , Louie T. , Veldhuyzen van Zanten S. , Dieleman L. A.
Published: February 2012

Background

Management of recurrent Clostridium difficile‐associated disease (CDAD), particularly in elderly patients, remains clinically challenging. Faecal transplantation (FT) may restore normal microbiota and break the cycle of recurrent CDAD.

Aim

To critically appraise the clinical research evidence on the safety and effectiveness of FT compared with standard care in the treatment of patients with CDAD.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted by a research librarian to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2011. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews and Web of Science were searched using the following Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords, alone or in combination: Clostridium infections/Clostridium difficile/pseudomembranous/colitis/faeces/rectal/colon flora/gastrointestinal/nasogastric tube/enema/donor/transplant/infusion/bacteriotherapy/human probiotic infusion. Methodological quality of the included case series studies was assessed in terms of patient selection criteria, consecutive recruitment, prospective data collection, reporting of lost to follow‐up, and follow‐up rates.

Results

No controlled studies were found. Based on the weak evidence from seven full‐text case series studies of 124 patients with recurrent/refractory CDAD, FT appears to be a safe and effective procedure. In most cases (83%) symptoms improved immediately after the first FT procedure, and some patients stayed diarrhoea free for several months or years.

Conclusions

Although these results appear to be promising, the treatment effects of faecal transplantation cannot be determined definitively in the absence of a control group. Results from randomised controlled trials that compare faecal transplantation to oral vancomycin without or with a taper regimen will help to better define the role of faecal transplantation in the management of recurrent CDAD.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: Developing and delivering clinical pharmacology in pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Richards Duncan
Published: February 2012

The challenges of developing new medicines are well known. Effective application of clinical pharmacology expertise is vital to the successful evaluation of potential new medicines. In drug development, this depends on effective integration of diverse skills. Many of these are currently in short supply, but through innovative partnerships between industry and academia there is an opportunity to reinvigorate the discipline by nurturing these key skills to the benefit of both partners. Specific areas of focus should be experimental medicine, modelling and simulation, and translational skills.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: The roles of clinical pharmacologists in UK universities
Authors: Webb David John
Published: February 2012

Clinical pharmacologists in universities play major roles in research and teaching and provide important contributions to National Health Service (NHS) activities, such as work for research ethics, drug and therapeutics, and clinical governance committees. Their research extends from preclinical studies using drugs to understand physiology and the mechanisms of disease to large‐scale clinical trials and population studies. This work is truly translational, with a focus on drugs and medicines and an emphasis on efficacy and safety. The lack of an organ base has allowed clinical pharmacologists to follow their interests wherever they lead, but their visibility has been hampered by successive earlier versions of the General Medical Council's Tomorrow's Doctors document, which undermined some of the necessary scientific underpinning of medical practice and reduced the time clinical pharmacologists had to interact with medical students and recently qualified doctors at the point of choosing their careers. Additional problems have arisen from the stifling effect of the European Union Clinical Trials Directive, and its UK interpretation, on clinical research. For future success, clinical pharmacologists need to embrace translational research, use recent changes to Tomorrow's Doctors, linked to the creation of safe prescribing skills, to spend more face‐to‐face time with their students, fight for a simplification and proportionate regulation of research, and persuade doctors, health service planners and the government of the importance of clinical pharmacology for UK clinical research, the NHS, patient safety and creation of health and wealth.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: How should training of graduates in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics be delivered and assessed?
Authors: Jackson Peter
Published: February 2012

The UK postgraduate curriculum in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT) incorporates the common competencies required of all physicians and shows how trainees from other specialties, including primary care, can train in CPT. Various models of training and assessment are possible. Evolution of the current system to meet new challenges would maintain an established tradition, with a ready source of training funds. However, this would require greater input from all consultants in CPT, including the training and assessment of trainees. A joint venture with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine would have the advantage, if the Faculty agreed, of introducing ready‐made curriculum modules and assessment tools that have been accepted by the General Medical Council. However, extra modules relevant to CPT would have to be constructed to complement the common areas already in the pharmaceutical medicine curriculum, and there would be a perceived loss of the independence that clinical pharmacologists currently enjoy when making decisions about manufacturers' products. Abandoning externally approved training in CPT would allow the specialty to devise its own training and assessment in the necessary skills. Critically, however, this would impair the status of the specialty and would incur loss of financial support from postgraduate Deaneries. To attract high‐calibre trainees, we must completely define CPT training and assessment structures. Most clinical pharmacologists seem to prefer to allow the current structures to evolve under external guidance. However, this will not succeed unless all trained clinical pharmacologists contribute to development of both the curriculum and specific assessment tools, and open their teaching and assessment skills to scrutiny.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: Monitoring drug therapy
Authors: Buclin Thierry , Gotta Verena , Fuchs Aline , Widmer Nicolas , Aronson Jeffrey
Published: February 2012

Drug development has improved over recent decades, with refinements in analytical techniques, population pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) modelling and simulation, and new biomarkers of efficacy and tolerability. Yet this progress has not yielded improvements in individualization of treatment and monitoring, owing to various obstacles: monitoring is complex and demanding, many monitoring procedures have been instituted without critical assessment of the underlying evidence and rationale, controlled clinical trials are sparse, monitoring procedures are poorly validated and both drug manufacturers and regulatory authorities take insufficient account of the importance of monitoring.

Drug concentration and effect data should be increasingly collected, analyzed, aggregated and disseminated in forms suitable for prescribers, along with efficient monitoring tools and evidence‐based recommendations regarding their best use. PK–PD observations should be collected for both novel and established critical drugs and applied to observational data, in order to establish whether monitoring would be suitable. Methods for aggregating PK–PD data in systematic reviews should be devised.

Observational and intervention studies to evaluate monitoring procedures are needed. Miniaturized monitoring tests for delivery at the point of care should be developed and harnessed to closed‐loop regulated drug delivery systems. Intelligent devices would enable unprecedented precision in the application of critical treatments, i.e. those with life‐saving efficacy, narrow therapeutic margins and high interpatient variability.

Pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies and academic clinical pharmacologists share the responsibility of leading such developments, in order to ensure that patients obtain the greatest benefit and suffer the least harm from their medicines.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: The roles of clinical pharmacologists in formulating medicines policy locally
Authors: Reynolds D. John M. , Barker Charlotte I. S.
Published: February 2012

Specialists in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) can add value in day‐to‐day NHS activities in several ways. They provide a breadth of expertise that is not organ‐based or disease‐specific and that is based on an intimate knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness, safety and cost‐effectiveness of pharmacological interventions. More than any other professional group, they can address the growing need for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching to be based on ‘thoughtful therapeutics’, not just the mechanics of prescribing. CPT specialists can and do take the lead in making local and national policy decisions relating to drug usage and they should be involved in local commissioning decisions. Because of the breadth of experience embraced by CPT, many clinical pharmacologists have taken on local and national senior clinical leadership roles. CPT needs to demonstrate to the NHS, and in particular to trainees, that a CPT post in the NHS is a legitimate and rewarding career path, where they can use their hard earned CPT skills and expertise to the benefit of the NHS as a whole.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: Provision of medicines information: the example of the British National Formulary
Authors: Kendall Martin , Enright Duncan
Published: February 2012

A national war formulary, published during the Second World War, was succeeded by hardback books called British National Formularies (BNFs), which were produced by the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society about every 3 years until 1976. In 1981 a greatly revised and improved softback version was published and it has been revised and published twice a year since. It has acquired a reputation for being reliable, relevant and up to date. In 2005 the BNF for Children (BNFC) appeared and it has been revised and published every year since. Both BNFs have been used extensively in training prescribers and dispensers, they have supported increasing numbers of ‘non‐medical’ prescribers and overseas use has grown.

The current challenge is to provide the BNF data electronically, as three examples show. First, the contents of the BNF and BNFC are available digitally at BNF.org and BNFC.org, and via mobile devices, which require internet access, or as a download, which does not. Secondly, FormularyComplete is a system that enables hospitals, regions, or even countries to create their own formularies, by adding information on costs, local policies and drug availability to an intranet version of the BNF, a data source that cannot be modified. Thirdly, the BNF is working with others to provide the BNF data as computer‐readable content, to support electronic prescribing and medicines management.

Whatever systems are used, the information on drugs must be reliable and, ideally, all prescribers and dispensers in the UK should be guided by the same data source.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: From basic to clinical neuropharmacology: targetophilia or pharmacodynamics?
Authors: Green A. Richard , Aronson Jeffrey K.
Published: February 2012

Historically, much drug discovery and development in psychopharmacology tended to be empirical. However, over the last 20 years it has primarily been target oriented, with synthesis and selection of compounds designed to act at a specific neurochemical site. Such compounds are then examined in functional animal models of disease. There is little evidence that this approach (which we call ‘targetophilia’) has enhanced the discovery process and some indications that it may have retarded it. A major problem is the weakness of many animal models in mimicking the disease and the lack of appropriate biochemical markers of drug action in animals and patients. In this review we argue that preclinical studies should be conducted as if they were clinical studies in design, analysis, and reporting, and that clinical pharmacologists should be involved at the earliest stages, to help ensure that animal models reflect as closely as possible the clinical disease. In addition, their familiarity with pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic integration (PK–PD) would help ensure that appropriate dosing and drug measurement techniques are applied to the discovery process, thereby producing results with relevance to therapeutics. Better integration of experimental and clinical pharmacologists early in the discovery process would allow observations in animals and patients to be quickly exchanged between the two disciplines. This non‐linear approach to discovery used to be the way research proceeded, and it resulted in productivity that has never been bettered. It also follows that occasionally ‘look‐see’ studies, a proven technique for drug discovery, deserve to be reintroduced.
An agenda for UK clinical pharmacology: Pharmacoepidemiology
Authors: Evans Stephen J. W.
Published: February 2012

Current concerns over the safety of medicines once they have been marketed mean that pharmacoepidemiology is of increasing importance. There are three main areas in which further research is needed.

1 To improve the methods used to make causal inference of effects of medicines and to raise the quality of the reporting and critical appraisal tools, so that the strengths and weaknesses of the new methods can be judged.

2 To apply the methods in areas where randomized trials cannot easily be done, such as in pregnancy.

3 To use electronic health records as fully as possible, using linkage between different databases, ensuring the data are of as high quality as possible.

Public health and public perceptions mean that much of pharmacoepidemiology must be done using non‐industry funding sources.
Thyroid Bethesda reporting category, ‘suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma’, pitfalls and clues to optimize the use of this category
Authors: Mahajan A. , Lin X. , Nayar R.
Published: February 2012

A. Mahajan, X. Lin and R. Nayar

Thyroid Bethesda reporting category, ‘suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma’, pitfalls and clues to optimize the use of this category

Objective:  The Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology classifies the indeterminate categories based on their differing risks of malignancy, as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (FLUS) and suspicious for malignancy. The vast majority of cases of the last category are suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of the present study was to identify the pitfalls and clues to improve the usage of the suspicious category as well as improve its outcome of malignancy.

Methods:  We reviewed the cytological features on air dried Diff‐Quik® and alcohol‐fixed Papanicolaou smears from 54 thyroid fine needle aspirates (FNAs) with surgical follow‐up that were originally diagnosed as suspicious. Procedure data/specimen adequacy was correlated and follow‐up histology reports were reviewed after our cytological review was completed. Incidental PTC that was not the target of the FNA was excluded from the calculations for correlation.

Results:  In our cytological review, we retained a diagnosis of suspicious in 18 of the 54 cases and the remaining 36 were re‐categorized as follows: 6 malignant, 10 neoplasm (which is used in our centre instead of FLUS) and 20 AUS. The reasons for overcall of suspicious cases included pseudopapillae, syncytial sheets, nuclear grooves and pinpoint nucleoli in chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and Hürthle cell neoplasms, and intranuclear inclusions in parathyroid adenoma, hyalinizing trabecular adenoma and mesenchymal repair. The primary reasons for undercall of PTC as suspicious included cystic aspirates with minor features of PTC such as histiocytoid cells, bubblegum colloid, syncytial sheets and cellular swirls. Cases with cytoplasm similar to Hürthle cells were also noted to cause difficulty in accurate classification.

Conclusions:  Recognition of these pitfalls and clues can help improve diagnosis, patient treatment and consequently reduce the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies.
Transcriptionally‐active high‐risk human papillomavirus is rare in oral cavity and laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas – a tissue microarray study utilizing E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization
Authors: Lewis Jr James S. , Ukpo Odey C. , Ma Xiao‐Jun , Flanagan John J. , Luo Yuling , Thorstad Wade L. , Chernock Rebecca D.
Published: February 2012

Lewis J S Jr, Ukpo O C, Ma X‐J, Flanagan J J, Luo Y, Thorstad W L & Chernock R D  (2012) Histopathology 60, 982–991

Transcriptionally‐active high‐risk human papillomavirus is rare in oral cavity and laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas – a tissue microarray study utilizing E6/E7 mRNA in situ hybridization

Aims:  Human papillomavirus is well established in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma as both causative and prognostic, but its significance in non‐oropharyngeal tumours is unclear. In particular, the significance of finding viral DNA is not known. We sought to evaluate nonoropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas for transcriptionally‐active human papillomavirus and to compare this with the presence of viral DNA.

Methods:  We evaluated an 87 patient tissue microarray cohort of oral cavity and laryngeal/hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas for high risk human papillomavirus DNA and E6 and E7 mRNA transcripts by in situ hybridization, and for p16 expression by immunohistochemistry.

Results:  We found only two of the 73 (2.7%) evaluable cases to harbour transcriptionally‐active human papillomavirus. Both of these tumours were from the larynx, one was positive for human papillomavirus DNA by in situ hybridization, and both were extensively positive for p16. All oral cavity and hypopharyngeal tumours were negative for human papillomavirus.

Conclusions:  Transcriptionally‐active human papillomavirus appears to be rare in laryngeal, hypopharyngeal, and oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas. As such, it appears unlikely to be a ‘driver’ or to be clinically significant in most established tumours.
An improved procedure for low‐temperature embedding of high‐pressure frozen and freeze‐substituted plant tissues resulting in excellent structural preservation and contrast
Authors: HILLMER S. , VIOTTI C. , ROBINSON D.G.
Published: February 2012

Here we describe refinements in the processing of high‐pressure frozen samples of delicate plant tissues for immuno‐electron microscopy. These involve: shortened freeze‐substitution schedules, lower temperatures during processing and polymerisation, the avoidance of temperature fluctuations and the optimisation of heat transfer from the specimens using small disposable aluminium containers. The application of these modifications leads to very good structural preservation and selective membrane contrast. As a result, the versatility of the method is increased since not only immuno‐electron microscopical studies can be performed but often the quality is also quite suitable for structural investigations.
Keeping Birds of a Feather Together
Authors: Goodson James L.
Published: February 2012

Vertebrate species display extreme variation in grouping behaviours, ranging from solitary living to the aggregation of thousands of animals. Comparisons of territorial and gregarious species reveal differences in the distributions of several neuropeptide receptor types, primarily within the lateral septum, and the presence of neuropeptide neurones that encode social valence (positive–negative). Experiments show that these neural elements potently influence decisions about group size.
Hepatitis C virus‐specific immune responses in noninjecting drug users
Authors: Zeremski M. , Makeyeva J. , Arasteh K. , Des Jarlais D. C. , Talal A. H.
Published: February 2012

Summary.  Noninjection drug use, although recognized as an emerging risk factor for acquisition of other blood‐born pathogens, is still unconfirmed as a route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. Our goal was to measure HCV exposure and prevalence in noninjection drug users (NIDUs). Fifty‐seven NIDUs were screened by extensive questionnaire to exclude prior injection drug use and evaluated for HCV‐specific serologic and cellular immune responses. HCV‐specific T‐cell responses were measured using interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay with overlapping HCV peptides covering the entire HCV genome. Fifteen individuals who never used illicit drugs served as negative controls. Eleven people with no history of injecting drug use (19.3%) were HCV seropositive: seven with chronic HCV infection and four with previously resolved infection. Of 51 NIDUs with ELISpot results, HCV‐specific cellular immunity was detected in 5 (9.8%). These responses were relatively weak and narrow. We did not find significant associations between HCV‐specific immune responses and noninjection drug use practices. Subjects with HCV‐specific immunity, however, were significantly more likely to have bought sex in the past 6 months, to have had more casual partners of the opposite sex in the last 6 months, and those partners were more likely to have ever injected drugs compared to subjects without HCV‐specific immunity. In summary, we found serologic or cellular HCV‐specific immune responses in 27.5% of NIDUs. Our results suggest that sexual behaviour associated with noninjection drug use might be a risk factor for HCV acquisition. Additional studies are needed to precisely determine the practices that lead to HCV exposure among this population.
Targeting of csgD by the small regulatory RNA RprA links stationary phase, biofilm formation and cell envelope stress in Escherichia coli
Authors: Mika Franziska , Busse Susan , Possling Alexandra , Berkholz Janine , Tschowri Natalia , Sommerfeldt Nicole , Pruteanu Mihaela , Hengge Regine
Published: February 2012

RprA is a small regulatory RNA known to weakly affect the translation of σS (RpoS) in Escherichia coli. Here we demonstrate that csgD, which encodes a stationary phase‐induced biofilm regulator, as well as ydaM, which encodes a diguanylate cyclase involved in activating csgD transcription, are novel negatively controlled RprA targets. As shown by extensive mutational analysis, direct binding of RprA to the 5′‐untranslated and translational initiation regions of csgD mRNA inhibits translation and reduces csgD mRNA levels. In the case of ydaM mRNA, RprA base‐pairs directly downstream of the translational start codon. In a feedforward loop, RprA can thus downregulate > 30 YdaM/CsgD‐activated genes including those for adhesive curli fimbriae. However, during early stationary phase, when csgD transcription is strongly activated, the synthesis of csgD mRNA exceeds that of RprA, which allows the accumulation of CsgD protein. This situation is reversed when csgD transcription is shut off – for instance, later in stationary phase or during biofilm formation – or by conditions that further activate RprA expression via the Rcs two‐component system. Thus, antagonistic regulation of csgD and RprA at the mRNA level integrates cell envelope stress signals with global gene expression during stationary phase and biofilm formation.
The role of olfaction in aphid host location
Authors: WEBSTER BEN
Published: February 2012

Aphids are major economic pests of many of the worlds' crops, causing damage directly by feeding and by acting as vectors for plant viruses. By understanding how aphids locate their host plants, it may become possible to develop new means of controlling populations by taking advantage of these natural host location/nonhost avoidance behaviours. Aphids have also become important model organisms in the study of insect–plant interactions and an improved understanding of host location in aphids could yield insights into the behaviour and ecology of other insect orders. The use of olfaction by host‐seeking aphids is well documented and, in recent years, considerable information has been gained on how volatiles can encode host identity and suitability, as well as the specific behaviours they elicit from aphids. The purpose of this review is to highlight the major findings on how aphids respond behaviourally to volatile compounds and how they can use them to locate their host plants and avoid unsuitable hosts.
Mixed colonies of two species of congeneric stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apinae, Meliponini) display environmentally‐acquired and endogenously‐produced recognition signals
Authors: SEPTANIL MOEMA P. B. , MATEUS SIDNEI , TURATTI IZABEL C. , NUNES TÚLIO M.
Published: February 2012

Nestmate recognition is fundamental for the maintenance of social organization in insect nests. It is becoming well recognized that cuticle hydrocarbons mediate the recognition process, although the origin of recognition cues in stingless bees remains poorly explored. The present study investigates the effects of endogenously‐produced and environmentally‐acquired components in cuticular hydrocarbons in stingless bees. The tests are conducted using colonies of Plebeia droryana Friese and Plebeia remota Holmberg. Recognition tests are performed with four different groups: conspecific nestmates, conspecific non‐nestmates, heterospecifics and conspecific, genetically‐related individuals that emerge in a heterospecific nest. This last group is produced by introducing brood cells of P. droryana into a P. remota colony, and the resulting adult bees are tested for acceptance 10 days after emergence. For all groups, 15 individuals are sampled for chemical analysis. The results show the acceptance of all conspecific nestmates, and the rejection of almost every conspecific non‐nestmate and every heterospecific bee. Genetically‐related individuals emerging from heterospecific nests present intermediate rejection (66.7% rejection). Chemical analysis shows that P. droryana individuals emerging in a P. remota nest have small amounts of alkene and diene isomers found in P. remota cuticle that are not found in workers from the natal nest. The data clearly show that the majority of the compounds present in P. droryana cuticle are endogenously produced, although a few unsaturated compounds are acquired from the environment, increasing the chemical differences and, consequently, the rejection percentages.
Cycles of Aggression in the Male Three‐spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
Authors: Wilz Kenneth J.
Published: February 2012

Data were collected to determine whether there are intrinsic, short‐term cycles of aggression during the reproductive stage in the male three‐spined stickleback. The subjects were studied in the lab, where model ♀♀ were presented for 10 + min. The frequency of courtship behavior, biting, and a variety of nest activities were measured, as a function of time. It was found that biting does undergo regular and striking internal fluctuations, and that this is correlated with the cycling of a number of other behaviors.
Experimente zur Etho‐Ökologie der Beziehungen zweier Fischarten (Gymnocephnluscernua, Percidae;Bliccabjoerkna, Cyprimdae)
Authors: Winkler Hans
Published: February 2012

The interspecific relations between two potentially competing fish species were investigated experimentally. Three equally sized individuals of each Blicca bjocrkna and Gymnoccphalus cernua were kept both alone and together and exposed to two conditions of food‐supply. Distribution in space, aggregation, and aggression were recorded. Blicca associated with Gymnocephalus. Deprivation of food led to more interspecific aggression Blicca and to more intraspecific aggression in Gymnocephalus.
Inter‐ and Intraspecific Variation in the Calls of Three Species of Grassfinches of the Subgenus Poephila (Gould) (Estrildidae)
Authors: Zann Richard
Published: February 2012

To investigate the nature of the microevolutionary and ontogenetic processes that modify the behaviour of grassfinches variation in the structure, function and frequency of call‐notes was studied in captive and free‐living birds. 94 wild‐caught birds and 149 aviary‐reared offspring of the Poephila subgenus were studied; they belonged to three species each of which consisted of two races which together exhibit a spectrum of evolving forms. The calls were analyzed on a sonagraph. The size of the repertoire differed between the species and within one of them. Variation in the contact calls correlated with variation in colours of beak and plumage. The adult calls developed from the juvenile begging calls.
Angeborene Orientierungsvorgänge im Freßablauf bei Trottellummen (Uria aulge aalge Pont.)
Authors: Oberholzer Alex
Published: February 2012

Guillemots (Uria aalge) swallow fish head first when they are fed, when they pick up fish from the ground and when hunting. The responsible orientation processes in the first two situations are, investigated. Experiments on over 300 hand — reared chicks, partly food — naive, showed that when they are fed, swallowing the fish head first results from a combination of orientation processes on the part of the parent and the chick. When picking up fish it results solely from characteristics of the fish. It is explained why the Taxis theory does not seem applicable. Instead of this the study is based on the theory of orientation processes.
Freilanduntersuchungen zum Kampf‐ und Sexualverhalten des europäischen Wildschweines (Sus scrofa L.)
Authors: Beuerle Wilfried
Published: February 2012

This ethogram of the fighting and sexual behaviour of European wild hogs is supposed to serve as a basis for further research on the social behaviour of Sus scrofa L.

The observations were recorded in writing respectively on cassette recorder as well as photographed and filmed. Behaviour patterns of the European wild hogs which were wrongly interpreted or not yet described could be documented. Being comparatively original, omnivorous social Artiodactyla, Suidae are well comparable with other Artiodactyla, with Perissodactyla, Carnivora and their domesticated types.

There might also be references to the origin and development of behaviour patterns in various zoological categories or on reductions of social behaviour in domestication.
Ursachen und Konsequenzen von Aggressivität bei Etroplus maculatus. (Cichlidae, Pisces)
Authors: Reyer Heinz‐Ulrich
Published: February 2012

Increased aggressive activity between ♂ and ♀ in isolated pairs of Etroplus maculatus. has hitherto been explained either by the drive hypothesis or by the external stimulus hypothesis. In an attempt to investigate these two hypotheses the partners of 48 pairs were separated and their aggressiveness towards their mirrored images and their non‐aggressive activities were recorded the following day and again 4 days later after 180 brief presentations of an adjacent compartment. For both sexes aggressiveness was lowered if this compartement was empty (isolation) and heightened if it held the original mate. ♂y also reacted more aggressively on seeing conspecific strangers of both sexes. There was no significant alteration of non‐aggressive activities in any of the series. The increase of aggressiveness caused by the presence of the mate was normally offset by various investigated mechanisms preventing its eruption against the partner. Attacks only occurred if the equilibrium between aggressiveness and inhibition was disturbed. All results and those of other authors are discussed; it is concluded that the behaviour of E. maculatus. can be better explained in terms of external stimulation than in terms of an endogenous production of aggressive drive energy.
Sozialstruktur und ökologische Spezialisierung von verwandten Fischen (Pomacentridae)
Authors: Fricke Hans W.
Published: February 2012

4 different social types were found in 21 pomacentrid fish of the Red Sea. Eco‐ and ethological factors are linked with each social type. Species of one type are ecologically similarly specialized. A hypothetical flow diagram describes the influence of independant environmental factors on several behavioural aspects and the social type. The social types are independant of taxonomic relationships. Several species are able to live in different social types due to differences in local environmental settings.
Microbial population in the rumen of swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as influenced by coconut oil and mangosteen peel supplementation
Authors: Pilajun R. , Wanapat M.
Published: February 2012

Four, rumen fistulated swamp buffalo bulls were used to study microbial populations in the rumen when supplemented with coconut oil and mangosteen peel. Animals were randomly assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four treatments were un‐supplemented (Control), supplementation with coconut oil at 50 g/kg (CO5), supplementation with mangosteen peel at 30 g/kg (MP3) and supplementation with CO5 and MP3 (COM), of total DM intake. Animals received concentrate at 10 g/kg of BW, and rice straw was given ad libitum. Abundance of total bacteria was increased by CO5 supplementation, whereas populations of protozoa and Fibrobacter succinogenes were reduced by CO5 and COM supplementation. Dietary supplementation did not affect methanogen, Ruminococcus flavefaciens or Ruminococcus albus abundances. Dietary treatments changed denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) band patterns of methanogens and protozoa when compared with the control group, especially when supplemented with MP3. Supplementation of COM resulted in the greatest difference in pattern of DGGE bands for total bacteria compared with the control. Coconut oil and mangosteen peel supplementation resulted in changing of rumen microbial abundances and communities; however, combination of them could be more benefit to improve rumen fermentation of swamp buffalo fed on rice straw.
Lupus vulgaris: Difficulties in diagnosis
Authors: Rhodes Julia , Caccetta Tony Philip , Tait Clare
Published: February 2012

Lupus vulgaris is one of the most common forms of cutaneous tuberculosis. It presents a diagnostic challenge due to its paucibacillary nature. This is a report of a case of a delayed diagnosis of lupus vulgaris, presenting as perianal and peristomal plaques, followed by a review of the diagnostic tools for lupus vulgaris and their limitations.
Mechanisms mediating propofol protection of pulmonary epithelial cells against lipopolysaccharide‐induced cell death
Authors: Gu Xiaoxia , Lu Yan , Chen Ji , He Huijuan , Li Peng , Yang Teng , Li Longxuan , Liu Gang , Chen Yanfang , Zhang Liangqing
Published: February 2012

Propofol (2,6‐diisopropylphenol) is an anaesthetic agent with anti‐oxidant properties. The aim of the present study was to determine whether propofol can protect pulmonary epithelial (A549) cells against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cell death and, if so, the mechanisms involved.

The effects of LPS alone and in combination with propofol on A549 cell death were investigated. Cell viability was determined using the colourimetric 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2 thiazoyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptotic A549 cells were detected by flow cytometry, as propidium iodide‐negative and annexin‐V‐positive cells, and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP–digoxigenin nick end‐labelling (TUNEL). Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspase 9 activity, Ca2+ concentrations and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analysed by immunofluorescent methods. Aconitase 2 (ACO2), microtubule‐associated light chain 3 (LC3) and beclin‐1 levels were evaluated using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and/or western blot analysis.

Exposure of A549 cells to 1–50 μg/mL LPS for 3–24 h resulted in the concentration‐ and time‐dependent induction of cell death. Cell apoptosis accounted for approximately 77% of cell death induced by LPS. Propofol (5–150 μmol/L) concentration‐dependently inhibited LPS‐induced A549 cell death. This protective effect of propofol was accompanied by prevention of LPS‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction (reductions in MMP, ACO2 expression and ATP) and was associated with the inhibition of LPS‐induced activation of apoptotic signals (caspase 9 activity, ROS overproduction and Ca2+ accumulation). In addition, propofol blocked LPS‐induced overexpression of the autophagy‐associated proteins LC3 and beclin‐1.

The data indicate that propofol protects A549 cells against LPS‐induced apoptosis, and probably autophagy, by blocking LPS‐induced activation of ROS/caspase 9 pathways and upregulation of LC3 and beclin‐1, respectively.
Threatened mammals become more predatory after small‐scale prescribed fires in a high‐rainfall rocky savanna
Authors: RADFORD IAN J.
Published: February 2012

Understanding mechanisms underlying fire regime effects on savanna fauna is difficult because of a wide range of possible trophic interactions and feedbacks. Yet, understanding mechanisms underlying fauna dynamics is crucial for conservation management of threatened species. Small savanna mammals in northern Australia are currently undergoing widespread declines and regional extinctions partly attributable to fire regimes. This study investigates mammal trophic and ecosystem responses to fire in order to identify possible mechanisms underlying these declines. Mammal trophic responses to fire were investigated by surveying mammal abundance, mammal diet, vegetation structure and non‐mammal fauna dynamics in savannas six times at eight sites over a period of 3 years. Known site‐specific fire history was used to test for trophic responses to post‐fire interval and fire frequency. Mammal and non‐mammal fauna showed only minor responses of post‐fire interval and no effect of fire frequency. Lack of fauna responses differed from large post‐fire vegetation responses. Dietary analysis showed that two mammal species, Dasyurus hallucatus and Isoodon auratus, increased their intake of large prey groups in recently burnt, compared to longer unburnt vegetation. This suggests a fire‐related change in trophic interactions among predators and their prey, after removal of ground‐layer vegetation. No evidence was found for other changes in food resource uptake by mammals after fire. These data provide support for a fire‐related top‐down ecosystem response among savanna mammals, rather than a bottom‐up resource limitation response. Future studies need to investigate fire responses among other predators, including introduced cats and dingoes, to determine their roles in fire‐related mammal declines in savannas of northern Australia.
Basolateral amygdala encodes upcoming errors but not response conflict
Authors: Kashtelyan Vadim , Tobia Steven C. , Burton Amanda C. , Bryden Daniel W. , Roesch Matthew R.
Published: February 2012

Adaptive behavior depends on the detection of potential errors so that ongoing behavior might be corrected. Here, we ask whether basolateral amygdala (ABL) might serve this function by examining activity in rats performing a task in which errors were induced by pitting two behavioral responses against each other. This response competition or conflict was created by forcing rats to respond away from the direction in which they were freely choosing on the majority of trials. Rats were slower and less accurate on these incongruent trial types. We found that activity in ABL fired more strongly prior to errant responses, but did not signal the potential for errors on correctly performed incongruent trials. These data support a role for ABL in processing errors prior to their occurrence and suggest that ABL is not involved in monitoring conflict so that ongoing behavior might be corrected.
Magnetosomes eliminate intracellular reactive oxygen species in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR‐1
Authors: Guo Fang Fang , Yang Wei , Jiang Wei , Geng Shuang , Peng Tao , Li Ji Lun
Published: February 2012

Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize magnetic particles called magnetosomes that cause them to orient to their external magnetic fields. However, the physiological significance and other possible functions of these magnetosomes have not been explored in detail. In this study, we have investigated the biological functions of magnetosomes with respect to their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR‐1. To assess the changes in ROS levels under different conditions, cells were cultured under aerobic or micro‐aerobic conditions in medium containing high and low amounts of iron. To ensure that the observed results were not due to nonspecific interactions, reactions were carried out using a mutant deficient in synthesizing magnetite (mamO‐deficient mutant), its complementary strain or the wild‐type MSR‐1. We observed that the levels of intercellular ROS under micro‐aerobic conditions with high‐iron medium were much higher when the non‐synthetic Fe3O4 crystals mutant Mu21‐415 was employed for the assay, compared with the wild‐type or complementary strain, or when conditions were aerobic with low‐iron medium. These results indicated that magnetosomes function in the scavenging of intracellular ROS. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the magnetosomes exhibit peroxidase‐like properties, by using the earlier reported in vitro horseradish peroxidase assay for artificial magnetic nanoparticles. In addition to possessing peroxidase‐like activity, the magnetosomes also exhibited a more enzymatic kinetic response, suggesting that proteins on the membranes of the magnetosomes likely contribute to the enzymatic activity. This is the first study to demonstrate that magnetosomes play an important role in decreasing or eliminating ROS.
An assessment approach for application of spermatic data in phylogenetic analyses: within the genus Moenkhausia Eigenmann, 1903 (Characiformes: Characidae)
Authors: Santana Júlio C. O. , Baicere‐Silva Clarianna M. , Gusmão‐Pompiani Priscila , Benine Ricardo C. , Quagio‐Grassiotto Irani
Published: February 2012

Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure from 21 species of Moenkhausia and others related genera are described. To evaluate the phylogenetic signals, 18 unordered characters were utilized in implied weighting analysis through the program TNT 1.1. Four variations of spermiogenesis were found. In the earliest spermatids, the nucleus can be positioned lateral, eccentric, strongly eccentric or nearly medial in relation to the distal centriole. The nuclear rotation can be present or absent. These spermiogenesis processes are related or intermediate to Type I and Type III. Taking into account the degrees of nuclear rotation during the spermiogenesis and other characteristics, distinct forms of spermatozoa are observed among the species analyzed. The phylogenetic analysis yielded a single most parsimonious tree with fit value 2.70000 and the topology obtained founds Moenkhausia as non‐monophyletic. However, some hypothesis of relationships previously proposed viz the clade 20, which contains the type species Moenkhausia xinguensis, is recovered herein. This clade is supported by five synapomorphies, and it allows the supposition that these species constitute a monophyletic group. The whole topology is presented and discussed.