bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The usefulness of antiplatelet prescriptions for the identification of patients with atherothrombosis in primary care: a Dutch cross‐sectional study
Authors: van de Steeg‐van Gompel Caroline H. P. A. , Wensing Michel , Braspenning Jozé , De Smet Peter A. G. M.
Published: June 2011

Rationale, aims and objectives  Patients with atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) should receive specific treatments, including lipid‐lowering medication. In order to optimize treatment for patients with ACD in primary care, an efficient method to identify all these patients is needed. We aimed to assess which method serves best to identify all patients with ACD in Dutch primary care: morbidity records, antiplatelet prescribing records or a combination of these.

Methods  In a cross‐sectional study in 45 Dutch general practices, computerized medical records of all patients with any cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular symptoms or cardiovascular medication were analysed.

Results  Of the 7280 patients with a recorded indisputable indication for antiplatelet therapy, 4715 (64.8%) could be identified by means of antiplatelet prescriptions. Of the patients with a recorded indisputable indication for antiplatelets but without any antiplatelet prescription, 28.9% received a vitamin K antagonist. Of the 8718 patients with antiplatelet therapy, 5697 (65.3%) could be identified by means of a recorded indisputable or possible indication for antiplatelet therapy. Female patients, patients younger than 60 years old and patients having a recorded diagnosis of angina pectoris or diabetes had a higher risk to be missed by antiplatelet prescribing records.

Conclusion  Morbidity records and prescribing records should be used both in order to identify all patients with ACD in primary care. Patients who use antiplatelet prescriptions but do not have a recorded ACD deserve extra attention, because they are either treated without a good indication for antiplatelet therapy (overtreatment) or need a correction of their morbidity records.
Automating the process of critical appraisal and assessing the strength of evidence with information extraction technology
Authors: Lin Jou‐Wei , Chang Chia‐Hsuin , Lin Ming‐Wei , Ebell Mark H. , Chiang Jung‐Hsien
Published: June 2011

Background  Critical appraisal, one of the most crucial steps in the practice of evidence‐based medicine, is expertise‐dependent and time‐consuming. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate an automated text‐mining system that could determine the evidence level provided by a medical article.

Methods  A text processor was designed and built to interpret the abstracts of medical literature. The system extracted information about: (1) the impact factor of the journal; (2) study design; (3) human subject involvement; (4) number of subjects; (5) P‐value; and (6) confidence intervals. We used a classification tree algorithm (C4.5) to create a decision tree using supervised classification. Each article was categorized into evidence level A, B or C, and the output was compared to that determined by domain experts (the reference standard).

Results  We used a corpus of 3180 cardiovascular disease original research articles, of which 1108 were previously assigned evidence level A, 1705 level B and 367 level C by domain experts. The abstracts were analysed by our automated system and an evidence level was assigned. The algorithm accurately classified 85% of the articles. The agreement between computer and domain experts was substantial (κ‐value: 0.78). Cross‐validation showed consistent results across repeated tests.

Conclusion  The automated engine accurately classified the evidence level. Misclassification might have resulted from incomplete information retrieval and inaccurate data extraction. Further efforts will focus on assessing relevance and using additional study design features to refine evidence level classification.
Von Willebrand factor predicts major bleeding and mortality during oral anticoagulant treatment
Authors: Lind M. , Boman K. , Johansson L. , Nilsson T. K. , Järvholm L. Slunga , Jansson J.‐H.
Published: June 2011

Abstract.  Lind M, Boman K, Johansson L, Nilsson TK, Slunga Järvholm L, Jansson J‐H (Address: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Örebro University Hospital). Von Willebrand factor predicts major bleeding and mortality during oral anticoagulant treatment. J Intern Med 2012; 271: 239–246.

Aims.  Oral anticoagulation (OAC), predominantly with warfarin, is an effective treatment to prevent thromboembolic events. Serious bleeding is a frequent and feared treatment complication. In this longitudinal cohort study of OAC‐treated patients, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels and risk of bleeding complications, cardiovascular mortality and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and results.  A total of 719 patients receiving warfarin treatment were observed for a mean duration of 4.2 years. All bleeding complications causing hospitalization were registered and classified into clinically relevant bleeding (CRB) and major bleeding. Ischaemic stroke, peripheral arterial embolism, myocardial infarction, and death were also recorded. We identified 113 cases of CRB and 73 of major bleeding. In total, 161 deaths occurred during follow‐up with cardiovascular disease identified as the cause of death in 110 patients. Patients in the highest tertile of VWF had a significantly increased risk of bleeding complications: hazard ratio (HR) 2.53 (95% CI 1.41–4.56) for major bleeding and HR 2.19 (95% CI 1.38–3.48) for CRB. VWF, expressed either in tertiles or as a continuous variable, showed a significant association with cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.40–2.01) and all‐cause mortality (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.52–2.05). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the findings remained significant after adjusting for age, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and creatinine.

Conclusions.  Patients with high levels of VWF had an increased risk of bleeding complications, cardiovascular mortality and all‐cause mortality during OAC treatment. Our findings imply that the use of VWF as a risk marker for thromboembolic events is complicated by the association of VWF with bleeding complications.
Immunohistochemical characterization of γ‐secretase activating protein expression in Alzheimer's disease brains
Authors: Satoh J. , Tabunoki H. , Ishida T. , Saito Y. , Arima K.
Published: June 2011

J. Satoh, H. Tabunoki, T. Ishida, Y. Saito and K. Arima (2012) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology38, 132–141

Immunohistochemical characterization of γ‐secretase activating protein expression in Alzheimer's disease brains

Aims: A recent study showed that γ‐secretase activating protein (GSAP), derived from a C‐terminal fragment of pigeon homolog (PION), increases amyloid‐β (Aβ) production by interacting with presenilin‐1 (PS1) and the β‐secretase‐cleaved C‐terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein (APP‐CTF). In the study, knockdown of GSAP reduces production of Aβ and plaque formation in the brain of APPswe and PS1ΔE9 double transgenic mice without affecting the Notch‐dependent pathway. Therefore, GSAP is an ideal target for designing γ‐secretase modulators with least side effects in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, at present, the precise distribution of GSAP in AD brains remains to be characterized. Methods: By immunohistochemistry, we studied GSAP expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of 11 aged AD and 17 age‐matched control cases. Results: GSAP immunoreactivity exhibited distinct morphological features, such as fine granular cytoplasmic deposits, dense nodular and patchy deposits, beads and string‐like deposits, and diffuse dot‐like deposits. In both AD and control brains, a fairly small subset of cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurones expressed fine granular cytoplasmic deposits, while diffuse dot‐like deposits were more frequently found in the neuropil and neuronal processes, particularly enriched in the hippocampal CA2 and CA3 regions. Among GSAP‐immunoreactive deposits, dense nodular and patchy deposits, located in the neuropil and closely associated with PS1 expression and Aβ deposition, indicated the most distinguishing features of AD pathology. Conclusions: Aberrant regulation of GSAP expression plays a key role in acceleration of γ‐cleavage of APP‐CTF and accumulation of Aβ in AD brains.
Long‐term behavioural consequences of infant feeding: the limits of observational studies
Authors: Kramer Michael S. , Fombonne Eric , Matush Lidia , Bogdanovich Natalia , Dahhou Mourad , Platt Robert W.
Published: June 2011

Kramer MS, Fombonne E, Matush L, Bogdanovich N, Dahhou M, Platt RW. Long‐term behavioural consequences of infant feeding: the limits of observational studies. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2011; 25: 500–506.

Observational (non‐experimental) studies of the association between infant feeding and subsequent child or adult behaviour are prone to residual confounding by subtle differences in psychological attributes and interactional styles of mothers who breast feed vs. those who formula‐feed. We followed up 13 889 6.5‐year‐old Belarusian children who participated in a large cluster‐randomised trial of a breast‐feeding promotion intervention. Behaviour was evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), completed independently by the children's parents and teachers. We compared the results of experimental (intention‐to‐treat, ITT) and observational analyses (based on feeding actually received), both adjusted for clustering. Observational analyses were additionally adjusted for geographical region, urban vs. rural residence, child's sex, age at follow‐up, birthweight, and maternal and paternal education. No differences between the randomised experimental vs. control groups were observed in ITT analyses. In contrast, small but statistically significant associations with weaning prior to 3 months were observed for parent and teacher SDQ scores on total difficulties, conduct problems and hyperactivity, even after multivariable adjustment. The absence of associations based on ITT analyses, in contrast with the significant associations based on observed breast‐feeding duration, strongly suggests that the latter are biased by residual confounding.
Resistance to liver fluke infection in the natural sheep host is correlated with a type‐1 cytokine response
Authors: PLEASANCE J. , WIEDOSARI E. , RAADSMA H. W. , MEEUSEN E. , PIEDRAFITA D.
Published: June 2011

Indonesian thin‐tail (ITT) sheep can resist infection with Fasciola gigantica but not F. hepatica and presents an ideal model to investigate the mechanisms of liver fluke resistance in a natural host. This study examines the local and systemic immune responses of sheep during Fasciola infection and demonstrates that different anatomical tissues display distinct cytokine profiles consistent with liver fluke migration. The study also reveals a significant difference in the cytokine and antibody profiles of ITT sheep infected with F. gigantica compared with F. hepatica, with a higher ratio of IL‐4/IFN‐γ mRNA expression and specific IgG1/IgG2 antibodies strongly correlating with pathology. Interestingly, the significant type‐1 cytokine profile occurred in the lymph node closest to the site of infection at a time when the effective immune response against F. gigantica liver flukes is thought to occur. When the same F. gigantica infection in the resistant ITT sheep was compared with the susceptible Merino breed, the resistant type‐1 phenotype against liver fluke infection was only observed in the ITT sheep. These studies provide the first evidence to suggest that the induction of an early type‐1 immune response in this natural sheep host may be responsible for the ability to resist liver fluke infection.
Role of scuticociliate proteinases in infection success in turbot, Psetta maxima (L.)
Authors: PIAZZON C. , LAMAS J. , LEIRO J. M.
Published: June 2011

Scuticociliatosis caused by Philasterides dicentrarchi is one of the most severe diseases of farmed turbot, Psetta maxima (L.). Immunized fish showed elevated levels of specific antibodies (Ab), which caused the destruction of parasites through the activation of complement by the alternative and classical pathways. By using affinity chromatography on bacitracin–sepharose columns, we demonstrated the existence of high levels of parasite proteinases in the serum and, to a lesser extent, in the ascitic fluid of experimentally infected fish, and the absence of such proteinases in the serum of uninfected fish. Serum from uninfected fish displayed haemolytic activity against sheep red blood cells. However, incubation of this serum with parasite proteinases led to a decrease in serum haemolytic activity, suggesting that proteinases are able to destroy fish complement. Proteinases isolated from serum or ascitic fluid of infected fish were also able to degrade turbot Ab. Preincubation of turbot serum containing specific Ab for P. dicentrarchi with the proteinases led to a significant decrease in the killing activity of the serum. The results confirm that P. dicentrarchi proteinases in serum from infected fish may provide a mechanism for circumventing normal host immunity by inactivating the Ab and complement factors required for complement activation.
Hydrogen peroxide modulates the dynamic microtubule cytoskeleton during the defence responses to Verticillium dahliae toxins in Arabidopsis
Authors: YAO LIN‐LIN , ZHOU QUN , PEI BAO‐LEI , LI YING‐ZHANG
Published: June 2011

The molecular mechanisms of signal transduction of plants in response to infection by Verticillium dahliae (VD) are not well understood. We previously showed that NO may act as an upstream signalling molecule to trigger the depolymerization of cortical microtubules in Arabidopsis. In the present study, we used the wild‐type, and atrbohD and atrbohF mutants of Arabidopsis to explore the mechanisms of action of H2O2 signals and the dynamic microtubule cytoskeleton in defence responses. We demonstrated that H2O2 may also act as an upstream signalling molecule to regulate cortical microtubule depolymerization. The depolymerization of the cortical microtubules played a functional role in the signalling pathway to mediate the expression of defence genes. The results indicate that H2O2 modulates the dynamic microtubule cytoskeleton to trigger the expression of defence genes against V. dahliae toxins (VD‐toxins) in Arabidopsis.
Impact of irradiance on the C allocation in the coastal marine diatom Skeletonema marinoi Sarno and Zingone*
Authors: NORICI ALESSANDRA , BAZZONI ANNA MARIA , PUGNETTI ALESSANDRA , RAVEN JOHN A. , GIORDANO MARIO
Published: June 2011

Elemental stoichiometry and organic composition were investigated in an Adriatic strain of Skeletonema marinoi, cultured at 25 [low light (LL)] and 250 [high light (HL)]µmol photon m−2 s−1. Inorganic carbon acquisition, fixation and allocation, and silicic acid and orthophosphate uptake were also studied. The C : P ratio was below the Redfield ratio, especially at LL. In HL cells, N quota was halved, C quota was similar, silica quota was lower, growth rate and long‐term net primary productivity were almost doubled, relative to LL cells. The HL : LL cell quota ratios were 6 for lipid, 0.5 for protein and 0.4 for carbohydrate. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPc) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activities were unaffected by the growth irradiance; phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPck) was 2.5‐fold more active in LL cells. This suggests that in S. marinoi, C4 photosynthesis is unlikely, PEPc is anaplerotic and PEPck may be involved in the conversion of lipid C to carbohydrates, especially in LL cells. Because about 50% of the cost for the production of an HL cell is caused by lipid biosynthesis, we propose that the preferential allocation of C to lipid at HL takes advantage of the relatively high volume‐based energy content of lipids, in an organism that reduces its size at each vegetative cell division.
Genomic clustering of cyanogenic glucoside biosynthetic genes aids their identification in Lotus japonicus and suggests the repeated evolution of this chemical defence pathway
Authors: Takos Adam M. , Knudsen Camilla , Lai Daniela , Kannangara Rubini , Mikkelsen Lisbeth , Motawia Mohammed S. , Olsen Carl E. , Sato Shusei , Tabata Satoshi , Jørgensen Kirsten , Møller Birger L. , Rook Fred
Published: June 2011

Cyanogenic glucosides are amino acid‐derived defence compounds found in a large number of vascular plants. Their hydrolysis by specific β‐glucosidases following tissue damage results in the release of hydrogen cyanide. The cyanogenesis deficient1 (cyd1) mutant of Lotus japonicus carries a partial deletion of the CYP79D3 gene, which encodes a cytochrome P450 enzyme that is responsible for the first step in cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis. The genomic region surrounding CYP79D3 contains genes encoding the CYP736A2 protein and the UDP‐glycosyltransferase UGT85K3. In combination with CYP79D3, these genes encode the enzymes that constitute the entire pathway for cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis. The biosynthetic genes for cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis are also co‐localized in cassava (Manihot esculenta) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), but the three gene clusters show no other similarities. Although the individual enzymes encoded by the biosynthetic genes in these three plant species are related, they are not necessarily orthologous. The independent evolution of cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis in several higher plant lineages by the repeated recruitment of members from similar gene families, such as the CYP79s, is a likely scenario.
Interplay of MYB factors in differential cell expansion, and consequences for tomato fruit development
Authors: Machemer Katja , Shaiman Oxana , Salts Yehiam , Shabtai Sara , Sobolev Irina , Belausov Eduard , Grotewold Erich , Barg Rivka
Published: June 2011

We previously identified SlFSM1 as an early fruit‐specific gene encoding a short protein harboring a non‐canonical SANT/MYB‐like domain. Here, we investigated the role of FSM1 during fruit development in tomato and its mode of action. By analyzing tomato plants ectopically expressing FSM1, we established that it negatively affects cell expansion, particularly of those cells with the highest potential to expand, such as those residing inner to the vascular bundles in the fruit pericarp. This function of FSM1 differs from that of the snapdragon FSM1‐like gene, RAD, which through an antagonistic activity with DIV participates in establishing floral asymmetry. Revealing an additional component of the FSM1/RAD regulatory complex, we show here that FSM1 physically interacts with FSB1, a previously uncharacterized factor harboring an atypical MYB repeat. We also demonstrate that FSB1 physically interacts with the transcription factor MYBI, a homolog of DIV. Our results show that the formation of the FSB1–MYBI complex is competed by FSM1, which recognizes in FSB1 the same region as MYBI does. Taken together, these studies expose a function for the FSM1/FSB1/MYBI complex in controlling tomato cell expansion, while revealing a mechanism by which competing MYB–MYB interactions could participate in the control of gene expression.
High‐resolution live imaging of plant growth in near physiological bright conditions using light sheet fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Maizel Alexis , von Wangenheim Daniel , Federici Fernán , Haseloff Jim , Stelzer Ernst H.K.
Published: June 2011

Most plant growth occurs post‐embryonically and is characterized by the constant and iterative formation of new organs. Non‐invasive time‐resolved imaging of intact, fully functional organisms allows studies of the dynamics involved in shaping complex organisms. Conventional and confocal fluorescence microscopy suffer from limitations when whole living organisms are imaged at single‐cell resolution. We applied light sheet‐based fluorescence microscopy to overcome these limitations and study the dynamics of plant growth. We designed a special imaging chamber in which the plant is maintained vertically under controlled illumination with its leaves in the air and its root in the medium. We show that minimally invasive, multi‐color, three‐dimensional imaging of live Arabidopsis thaliana samples can be achieved at organ, cellular and subcellular scales over periods of time ranging from seconds to days with minimal damage to the sample. We illustrate the capabilities of the method by recording the growth of primary root tips and lateral root primordia over several hours. This allowed us to quantify the contribution of cell elongation to the early morphogenesis of lateral root primordia and uncover the diurnal growth rhythm of lateral roots. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach at varying spatial and temporal scales by following the division of plant cells as well as the movement of single endosomes in live growing root samples. This multi‐dimensional approach will have an important impact on plant developmental and cell biology and paves the way to a truly quantitative description of growth processes at several scales.
Political will for better health, a bottom‐up process
Authors: De Ceukelaire Wim , De Vos Pol , Criel Bart
Published: June 2011

Lately, different voices in the global public health community have drawn attention to the interaction between the State and civil society in the context of reducing health inequities. A rights‐based approach empowers people not only to claim their rights but also to demand accountability from the State. Lessons from history show that economic growth does not automatically have positive implications for population health. It may even be disruptive in the absence of strong stewardship and regulation by national and local public health authorities. The field research in which we have been involved over the past 20 years in the Philippines, Palestine, Cuba, and Europe confirms that organized communities and people’s organizations can effectively pressure the state into action towards realizing the right to health. Class analysis, influencing power relations, and giving the State a central role have been identified as three key strategies of relevant social movements and NGOs. More interaction between academia and civil society organizations could contribute to enhance and safeguard the societal relevance of public health researches. Our own experience made us discover that social movements and public health researchers have a lot to learn from one another.
Is routine dengue vector surveillance in central Brazil able to accurately monitor the Aedes aegypti population? Results from a pupal productivity survey
Authors: Pilger Daniel , Lenhart Audrey , Manrique‐Saide Pablo , Siqueira Joao Bosco , da Rocha Welington Tristão , Kroeger Axel
Published: June 2011

Objective  To assess how well the Aedes aegypti infestation rapid survey, Levantamento Rapido de Indice para Aedes aegypti (LIRAa), is able to accurately estimate dengue vector densities and target the most important breeding sites in Goiania, Brazil.

Methods  In February 2009, a pupal productivity survey was conducted in 2 districts of the city of Goiania, central Brazil. The results were compared to those of LIRAas conducted in the same districts during the months before and after the pupal productivity survey.

Results  In the pupal productivity survey, 2 024 houses were surveyed and 2 969 water‐holding containers were inspected. Discarded small water containers most frequently contained immature Ae. aegypti. The most pupal‐productive containers were elevated water tanks, roof gutters and water holding roofs. Combined, these three containers accounted for <40% of all positive containers but produced >70% of all pupae. In the two districts where the pupal productivity survey was conducted, the house indices were 5.1 and 4.6 and the Breteau indices were 5.9 and 6.0. In contrast, the two LIRAs conducted in the same two districts resulted in an average house index of 1.5 and Breteau index of 2.5, with discarded items identified as the most frequently infested container type.

Conclusion  Both the LIRAa and the pupal productivity survey identified discarded items as being most frequently infested with immature stages of Ae. aegypti, but the pupal productivity survey showed that elevated containers produced the greatest proportion of Ae. aegypti pupae (a proxy measure of adult vector density) and that the values of the Stegomyia indices were substantially underestimated by LIRAa. Although both surveys differ considerably in terms of sampling method and manpower, in the case of this study the LIRAa did not accurately identify or target the containers that were the most important to adult mosquito production.
Do poor people use poor quality providers? Evidence from the treatment of presumptive malaria in Nigeria
Authors: Onwujekwe Obinna , Hanson Kara , Uzochukwu Benjamin
Published: June 2011

Objective  To determine the differences in the quality of treatment for presumptive malaria received by different socio‐economic status (SES) groups in Nigeria.

Methods  The study was conducted in southeast Nigeria. A household survey was used to collect data on patterns of use of different providers for treatment of adult and childhood malaria. The quality of services provided by different provider types was assessed using treatment vignettes. Quality scores for the different providers were computed based on their responses to the different points raised in the vignettes. Patterns of household treatment seeking for fever were disaggregated by SES, and then weighted by quality score to indicate the overall quality‐weighted utilization by SES and the average quality of a visit by a member of each SES group. Equity ratios (poorest/least poor) provided the measure of inequity in quality‐weighted utilization of different providers.

Results  In treatment of adult malaria, higher SES groups used more of public and private hospitals, while lower SES groups used more of traditional healers. In case of children, higher SES used more of healthcare centres and private hospitals and lower SES groups used more of pharmacy shops. The lowest quality of services was measured among laboratories, patent medicine dealers (PMDs), mixed goods shops and pharmacies, all of which are private. The highest scores were observed among the two types of public providers (public hospital and healthcare centres). The quality of treatment services utilised by consumers decreased as SES decreased. However, when the quantity normalized index was used this SES disparity almost disappeared. The resulting equity ratio was 0.96 for adults and 0.94 for children.

Conclusion  Everybody used poor quality malaria treatment services but the poor people used providers with poor quality malaria treatment services more than others. The major driver of disparities in use of different providers by different SES was the greater number of visits of the higher SES groups, rather than the higher quality of the providers they used. Interventions should be developed to improve quality of treatment seeking behaviour and provision practices.
The influence of post‐emergence weed harrowing on selectivity, crop recovery and crop yield in different growth stages of winter wheat
Authors: RUEDA‐AYALA V P , RASMUSSEN J , GERHARDS R , FOURNAISE N E
Published: June 2011

Rueda‐Ayala VP, Rasmussen J, Gerhards R & Fournaise NE (2011). The influence of post‐emergence weed harrowing on selectivity, crop recovery and crop yield in different growth stages of winter wheat. Weed Research51, 478–488.

Crop tolerance and weed control in winter wheat were investigated to evaluate the influence of post‐emergence weed harrowing at different crop growth stages on selectivity, crop recovery and crop yield. The importance of growth stage was investigated in autumn (Denmark) and spring (Germany). Selectivity was chosen as a measure of the relationship between weed control and crop soil cover, with crop recovery as a measure of how crop yield was affected by soil cover in the absence of weeds. Selectivity was unaffected by crop growth stage in autumn and spring. In autumn, 80% weed control was associated with 6% crop soil cover, whereas in spring, 80% weed control corresponded to 26% crop soil cover. Crop recovery was higher in late growth stages in autumn and spring. With 25% crop soil cover, crop yield losses occurred in the ranges of 1–4% in autumn and 0.3–0.8% in spring. Weed control experiments revealed that the maximum crop yield response to harrowing was comparable with herbicide treatment. The average yield gain was 13% in autumn (Denmark) and 27% in spring (Germany). This study contributes parameter estimates that can be used in future models to evaluate optimum harrowing intensity.
Sequencing of a single HLA‐B genotype including two rare alleles allows the detection of a new allele, B*44:130
Authors: Planelles D. , Balas A. , Montoro J. A. , Roig R. , Vicario J. L.
Published: June 2011

The novel HLA‐B*44:130 allele was found in a Spanish donor. B*44:130 differs from B*44:40 by four nucleotide changes at codons 11, 12 and 24, producing three amino acid replacements, 11A>S, 12M>V and 24T>S.
Identification of a novel HLA‐B allele, B*35:01:25, by sequence‐based typing in a Korean individual
Authors: Lee M.‐Y. , Oh S. H. , Kim H. R. , Park N. , Jun J. H.
Published: June 2011

The new allele B*35:01:25 showed a single nucleotide substitution compared with B*35:01:01 at codon 238 (GAT/GAC).
A novel HLA‐B*48 allele, B*48:01:03, identified by sequence‐based typing
Authors: Kang J.‐E. , Hwang S.‐H. , Song E.‐J. , Kwon O.‐J. , Kim H.‐H.
Published: June 2011

A new allele HLA‐B*48:01:03 showed one nucleotide difference with B*48:01:01 at codon 269 (CCC‐>CCT).
Sequence‐based HLA high‐resolution typing of a bone marrow donor/recipient pair shows the novel HLA allele DQB1*06:43
Authors: Tao S.‐D. , Wang W. , Zhu F.‐M. , Lv H.‐J. , Yan L.‐X.
Published: June 2011

The novel HLA‐DQB1*06:43 allele differs from HLA‐DQB1*06:01:01 in one nucleotide substitution at codon 73 in exon 2.
Identification of a novel HLA‐C*02 allele, HLA‐C*02:02:09
Authors: Todorova K. , Schulze H. , Dautert C. , Arnold R. , Salama A. , Schoenemann C.
Published: June 2011

We report HLA‐C*02:02:09 as a novel allele with a transition C‐>T at position 354.
The family of maize D‐type cyclins: genomic organization, phylogeny and expression patterns
Authors: Buendía‐Monreal Manuel , Rentería‐Canett Ilenia , Guerrero‐Andrade Octavio , Bravo‐Alberto Carlos E. , Martínez‐Castilla León P. , García Elpidio , Vázquez‐Ramos Jorge M.
Published: June 2011

Cyclin proteins, associated to cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs), play fundamental roles in cell cycle control as they constitute a very important driving force to allow cell cycle progression. D‐type cyclins (CycDs) are important both for interpreting external mitogenic signals and in the control of the G1 phase. The maize (Zea mays) genome appears to contain at least 17 different CycD genes, and they fall into the subgroups previously described for other plants. Maize CycDs have been named according to identity percentages of the corresponding orthologs in rice and Arabidopsis. In silico analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic cyclin domains in each maize CycD gene and showed that their genomic organization is similar to their orthologs in rice and Arabidopsis. The expression of maize CycD genes was followed in seeds, during germination in the presence/absence of exogenously added hormones, and also in different plantlet tissues (mesocotyl, root tips and first leaf). Most cyclins were expressed in germinating seeds and at least in one of the plantlet tissues tested; almost all of the detected cyclins show an accumulating pattern of mRNA along germination (0–24 h) and higher levels in root tissue. Interestingly, some cyclins show high levels in non‐proliferating tissues as leaf. Addition of auxins or cytokinins does not seem to importantly modify transcript levels; on the other hand, addition of abscisic acid repressed the expression of several cyclins. The role of each CycD during germination and plant growth and its interaction with other cell cycle proteins becomes a topic of the highest interest.
Effects of phosphorus availability and genetic variation of leaf terpene content and emission rate in Pinus pinaster seedlings susceptible and resistant to the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis
Authors: Blanch J.‐S. , Sampedro L. , Llusià J. , Moreira X. , Zas R. , Peñuelas J.
Published: July 2011

We studied the effects of phosphorus fertilisation on foliar terpene concentrations and foliar volatile terpene emission rates in six half‐sib families of Pinus pinaster Ait. seedlings. Half of the seedlings were resistant to attack of the pine weevil Hylobius abietis L., a generalist phloem feeder, and the remaining seedlings were susceptible to this insect. We hypothesised that P stress could modify the terpene concentration in the needles and thus lead to altered terpene emission patterns relevant to plant–insect signalling. The total concentration and emission rate ranged between 5732 and 13,995 μg·g−1 DW and between 2 and 22 μg·g−1 DW·h−1, respectively. Storage and emission were dominated by the isomers α‐ and β‐pinene (77.2% and 84.2% of the total terpene amount amassed and released, respectively). In both resistant and susceptible families, P stress caused an increase of 31% in foliar terpene concentration with an associated 5‐fold decrease in terpene emission rates. A higher terpene content in the leaves implies that the ‘excess carbon’, available under limiting growth conditions (P scarcity), is allocated to terpene production. Sensitive families showed a greater increase in terpene emission rates with increasing P concentrations, which could explain their susceptibility to H. abietis.
Effects of a prebiotic, Immunogen®, on feed utilization, body composition, immunity and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in the common carp Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus) fingerlings
Authors: Ebrahimi Gh. , Ouraji H. , Khalesi M. K. , Sudagar M. , Barari A. , Zarei Dangesaraki M. , Jani Khalili K. H.
Published: June 2011

This study evaluated the effects of a commercial prebiotic, Immunogen, on feed utilization, growth rate, immunity promotion and carcass composition of the common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. The fingerlings were adopted for 2 weeks and then reared in triplicate groups in 250‐l tanks (n = 15 per tank with average initial weights of 11.12 ± 0.55 g). The fish fed on five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets containing different levels of Immunogen (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.5 g prebiotic/kg diet) to apparent satiation thrice a day for 8 weeks. Weight gain showed no differences among the groups fed different Immunogen levels. Both feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing Immunogen levels from 0.5 to 1.5 g/kg diet. The highest protein content (p < 0.05) was found in the fish fed a diet containing 2.5 g/kg prebiotic. Haematological parameters and plasma total protein concentration were also significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the fingerlings fed diets containing 1.5 and 2.5 g/kg prebiotic in relation to the control. The control fish contained the highest mean of total bacterial counts. The lowest mean (p < 0.05) of total bacterial counts was observed in the fish fed the diet containing 2.5 g/kg Immunogen. The present study reveals that a dietary Immunogen supplementation from 1 to 1.5 g/kg is capable to improve the feed efficiency and growth performance of C. carpio fingerlings as well as their resistance to A. hydrophila infection.
Adult diet and exposure to semiochemicals influence male mating success in Ceratitis rosa (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Quilici S. , Schmitt C. , Vidal J. , Franck A. , Deguine J. P.
Published: June 2011

The Natal fruit fly, Ceratitis rosa (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a major pest of fruit crops in Reunion island. The sterile insect technique (SIT), which has frequently been used against some fruit fly species, could also contribute to the control of this pest. However, mass‐rearing procedures and irradiation can strongly reduce the mating competitiveness of males. In this study, we investigated the influence of two essential oils [ginger root oil (GRO) and orange oil (OO)] on the males of C. rosa, in terms of attractiveness and effect on mating success. The influence of adult food regime on mating success of the males was also studied.

During tests in choice situation between the two oils, mature males were more attracted to GRO compared with OO. This was not the case when males had not reached their sexual maturity, which indicates that this attractiveness is age‐dependent. The addition of proteins to the adult diet increased the mating competitiveness of the males, compared with males fed with sugar only. Males fed with a ‘full’ diet (sugar and hydrolysed yeast) accounted for 85% of all matings compared with 15% for those fed with a sugar‐only diet. Results were similar for wild males and for males from a laboratory‐reared colony. Exposure of the males to both types of oils significantly increased the mating competitiveness of sugar‐fed males, while only the exposure to GRO was able to increase that of males previously fed with a ‘full’ diet. This study provides promising results for the improvement of male competitiveness in the perspective of SIT programmes against C. rosa in the future.
Inference without significance: measuring support for hypotheses rather than rejecting them
Authors: Gerrodette Tim
Published: June 2011

Despite more than half a century of criticism, significance testing continues to be used commonly by ecologists. Significance tests are widely misused and misunderstood, and even when properly used, they are not very informative for most ecological data. Problems of misuse and misinterpretation include: (i) invalid logic; (ii) rote use; (iii) equating statistical significance with biological importance; (iv) regarding the P‐value as the probability that the null hypothesis is true; (v) regarding the P‐value as a measure of effect size; and (vi) regarding the P‐value as a measure of evidence. Significance tests are poorly suited for inference because they pose the wrong question. In addition, most null hypotheses in ecology are point hypotheses already known to be false, so whether they are rejected or not provides little additional understanding. Ecological data rarely fit the controlled experimental setting for which significance tests were developed. More satisfactory methods of inference assess the degree of support which data provide for hypotheses, measured in terms of information theory (model‐based inference), likelihood ratios (likelihood inference) or probability (Bayesian inference). Modern statistical methods allow multiple data sets to be combined into a single likelihood framework, avoiding the loss of information that can occur when data are analyzed in separate steps. Inference based on significance testing is compared with model‐based, likelihood and Bayesian inference using data on an endangered porpoise,Phocoena sinus. All of the alternatives lead to greater understanding and improved inference than provided by a P‐value and the associated statement of statistical significance.
Seed and forage yield of advanced generation synthetics of berseem clover derived from partly inbred parents under different harvesting regimes
Authors: Iannucci Anna , Annicchiarico Paolo
Published: June 2011

With 1 figure and 6 tables

Selfing of potential parents in outbred species could favour the elimination of deleterious recessive alleles and accumulation of favourable alleles with additive genetic effects. This study assessed the effects of five selfing levels (from S0 to S4) and two genetic bases (wide, six parental populations; narrow, three populations) on the seed and forage yields and the leaf/stem dry‐weight ratio of the Syn‐1 and Syn‐2 generations of synthetic varieties of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) obtained from parents selected for self‐fertility. The material was evaluated over 2 years in southern Italy under three crop management schemes. The management with one forage harvest at early flowering before seed harvest maximized both the seed and forage yields. One cycle of selfing produced the highest selection gains for the seed and forage yields. The genetic bases had less influence on production traits than the selfing levels, but the wide‐based synthetics tended to outyield the narrow‐based ones. The effects of the selfing generations and the genetic bases were largely additive and consistent across the treatments, years and generations of synthetics.
Identification of anthracnose resistance in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) and its incorporation into breeding lines
Authors: Adhikari Kedar N. , Thomas Geoff , Buirchell Bevan J. , Sweetingham Mark W.
Published: June 2011

With 3 tables

Lupin anthracnose [caused by Colletotrichum lupini (Bondar) Nirenberg, Feiler & Hagedorn] first occurred in commercial crops in Western Australia (WA) in 1996 and severely affected the lupin industry, particularly in the northern grain belt of WA. Subsequent studies led to the identification of good sources of resistance to the disease in narrow‐leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.). However, a reliable source of resistance was lacking in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) until recently. Screening of accessions obtained from various parts of the globe yielded three putative sources of resistance. Crosses were made between the resistant lines and other breeding lines. Consequently, several breeding lines have been developed with a partial resistance to the disease. This is the first report on the development of anthracnose resistance in yellow lupin. This level of resistance should provide enough protection to grow yellow lupin in southwest of WA as this region does not have blue lupin (Lupinus cosentinii Guss.), a perpetual natural host of the anthracnose pathogen.
Plasma cell infiltrates and renal allograft outcomes in indigenous and non‐indigenous people of the Northern Territory of Australia
Authors: ROGERS NATASHA M , LAWTON PAUL D , JOSE MATTHEW D
Published: June 2011

Introduction:  Plasma cell‐rich rejection is a distinct histological phenomenon associated with poor renal allograft outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander (ATSI) transplant recipients have poorer allograft survival and higher rates of acute rejection. We sought to determine whether a higher incidence of plasma cell‐rich infiltrates (PCIR) could account for poorer survival.

Methods:  Renal transplant biopsies performed in recipients from the Northern Territory of Australia between 1985 and 2007 were reviewed and correlated with outcome. Biopsies were designated PCIR positive when plasma cells constituted >10% of the interstitial infiltrate.

Results:  Four hundred and seventy‐seven biopsies from 177 recipients (108 ATSI) were performed. Median graft survival was shorter for recipients with PCIR: 4.0 years (interquartile range 2.18–6.41) versus 5.4 years (2.0–9.99) (P = 0.013). ATSI recipients had higher rates of plasma cell‐rich rejection (RR 1.76, 95% CI 1.43–2.17, P < 0.0001), which occurred earlier (251 vs 869 days, P = 0.03) compared with non‐indigenous recipients. On multivariate analysis, PCIR did not independently influence allograft survival. There was a correlation between PCIR and panel reactive antibody peak >20% (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03–1.56, P = 0.025), ≥5 human leukocyte antigen mismatches (RR 1.91, 1.41–2.58, p < 0.0001), increasing post‐transplant infection rate (>10 infections RR 5.11, 1.69–15.5, P = 0.004), and subsequent death from septicaemia (RR 1.6, 1.17–2.18, P = 0.003).

Conclusion:  PCIR is associated with infection and markers of chronic immunological stimulation but does not independently contribute to inferior renal allograft outcomes, even in ATSI recipients.
Biochemical, cytological and histopathological examination of sudden unexpected death in infancy
Authors: Emura Iwao , Usuda Hiroyuki
Published: June 2011

To evaluate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), four sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) and four sudden deaths in children over 1 year of age were examined. In the SUDI cases, increased numbers of scavenger receptor A positive (SRA+) cells (4/4), numerous platelet aggregates (3/4), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α+ cells (4/4) were observed in the peripheral blood (PB) smear preparations. Macrophage colony stimulating factor, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α and IL‐1β all exceeded the normal levels. Minute foci of inflammatory lung injury (4/4), numerous platelet emboli in lungs and among cardiac myocytes (3/4) and appreciable contraction band necrosis (1/4) were observed. And neutrophils accumulated in the capillaries of injured organs and endothelial cells were extensively injured. From these findings, cytokine abnormality induced by SRA+ cells in PB was considered to play an important role in the development of tissue injury, and platelet emboli or contraction band necrosis might have been the leading cause of death in our SUDI cases. Patients with characteristics thought to be similar to our SUDI cases were included in the SIDS group; cytokine abnormality was considered to be one of the underlying mechanisms in SIDS.
Prevalence of anxiety and depression among chronic bronchitis patients and the associated factors
Authors: DE MIGUEL DÍEZ JAVIER , HERNÁNDEZ BARRERA VALENTíN , PUENTE MAESTU LUIS , CARRASCO GARRIDO PILAR , GÓMEZ GARCÍA TERESA , JIMÉNEZ GARCÍA RODRIGO
Published: June 2011

Background and objective:  Patients with COPD, including those with chronic bronchitis (CB), have a high risk of suffering from psychiatric disorders. Although depression has always received greater attention in these patients, most of the published studies have been of poor methodological quality. Anxiety has received less attention than depression among COPD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients with CB and to identify associated factors.

Methods:  This was a descriptive, epidemiological population‐based study. The study was based on individual data obtained from the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey. Subjects aged 40 years and over were selected for the study. Individuals with CB were identified using a specific questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics and health‐related variables were analysed.

Results:  Of the 20 060 subjects selected, 1320 were categorized as having CB (6.5%). The prevalence of anxiety was 15.6% among subjects with CB and 9.4% among those without the disease (P < 0.01). Variables that were independently and significantly associated with anxiety among CB patients were female gender, increased age and concomitant comorbidities. The prevalence of depression was 15.9% among subjects with CB and 7.6% among those without the disease (P < 0.05). Variables associated with depression among CB patients were female gender, middle age, poorer self‐perception of health status, concomitant comorbidities, abstemiousness and the need for emergency room attendance in the previous year.

Conclusions:  Anxiety or depression is around twice as frequent among CB patients as it is among those without CB. Variables associated with anxiety or depression among CB patients included female gender and concomitant comorbidities.