bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Other non-Fasciola trematode infections
Authors: Lloyd Sheelagh , Soulsby Lord
Published: January 2012

A large variety of trematodes result in millions of fish- and other food-borne human infections annually. These are mostly in Asia but some more widespread. Man may be an important or occasional definitive host acquiring infection from eating fish, frogs, snails, crustaceans, ants, and water plants, and from drinking water. Consumption of these raw/undercooked produces human infection. Adult flukes occur in the biliary system, intestine, lungs, and occasionally ectopically.
Capillariosis
Authors: Nithikathkul Choosak , Saichua Prasert , Royal Louis , Cross John H.
Published: January 2012

Capillaria species are members of the superfamily Trichinelloidae. These worms have a filamentous thin anterior end and a slightly thicker oesophagus which is surrounded by glandular cells or stichocytes. This oesophageal pattern is called stichosomal oesophagus. Capillaria species are parasites which are found in many vertebrate animals. More than two hundred species have been reported in several vertebrate species, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals (Cross 1992; Chitwood et al. 1968), but only three species infect humans. These are Capillaria hepatica , C. aerophila and C. philippinensis (McCarthy and Moore 2000). Of these intestinal capillariosis, a fish-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by C. philippinensis , is the most important. Humans acquire the parasite, C. philippinensis, by eating uncooked or raw freshwater fish (Cross and Basaca-Sevilla 1991). The disease is endemic mainly in Philippines and Thailand where there are many reported fatalities.

Although C . hepatica is found in rodents worldwide, only a few cases of hepatic capillariosis have been reported in humans from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. The infection is acquired by the ingestion of embryonated eggs from the soil. Female worms deposit eggs in the liver tissue and granulomas develop around the egg. The eggs are released after the rodent is eaten and the liver digested. Eggs pass in the faeces and are deposited in the soil where they embryonate. Avoidance of contaminated soil would prevent human infection and destruction of rodents would control animal infections.

Only 12 cases of human infection caused by Capillaria aerophila have been reported, the majority from Russia. The parasite is found within tissue of the respiratory passages of canines and felines worldwide.

Anatrichosoma cutaneum (Nematoda, Trichosomoididae), also included in this chapter, is primarily a subcutaneous parasite of monkeys, but there are two reports of cutaneous infections in humans resulting in serpiginous lesions in the skin of the soles, palms, and nasal passages. In addition there is a further suspected case isolated from a breast nodule and a possible case of mucosal lesions in the mouth reported. Whole monkey colonies can be infected with this parasite and control is difficult.
Zoonotic infections with filarial nematodes
Authors: Paintal Harman S. , Chitkara Rajinder K.
Published: January 2012

Filarial nematodes have been known to cause human disease for many centuries. Lymphatic filariasis is a common disease in the developing part of the world and much has been written about diagnosis and treatment of this scourge. Wuchereria , Brugia and Onchocerca (especially O. volvulus) have a wide pattern of distribution with severe morbidity. Given the years of scientific work in this field, many drugs that work against these parasites are available today and are attempting to control these infections. In this chapter, the focus is on those filarial nematodes that do not have humans as their primary host. Instead, the filarial organisms that usually parasitize other animals and cause human infection due to a variety of factors are discussed. These factors include: 1. Proximity of humans to the primary host, 2. Proximity of humans to the vector, 3. Changing ecology with introduction of different animals (both host and vector) into new environments, 4. Increasing human mobility, 5. Special scenarios concerning humans, including altered immune function (immunosuppressed due to drugs, auto-immune illness, immunosuppressive diseases), There has been a recent interest in this field because newer diagnostic techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, DNA primers and electron microscopy have become widespread in use. This will eventually enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of infections with these seemingly rare filarial organisms.

Much of the early work in this field was done in a few specialized centers. As information about these parasites (through the worldwide web) and diagnostic techniques are now widely available, it is our hope that more work regarding these nematodes will be carried out in the developing countries where these infections are common. In this chapter, we focus on Dirofi laria, Meningonema, Loaina, Dipetalonema and certain species of Onchocerca and Brugia.
Trichinellosis
Authors: Pozio Edoardo
Published: January 2012

Trichinellosis is caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella. These zoonotic parasites show a cosmopolitan distribution in all the continents, but Antarctica. They circulate in nature by synanthropic-domestic and sylvatic cycles. Today, eight species and four genotypes are recognized, all of which infect mammals, including humans, one species also infects birds, and two other species infect also reptiles.

Parasites of the genus Trichinella are unusual among the other nematodes in that the worm undergoes a complete developmental cycle, from larva to adult to larva, in the body of a single host, which has a profound influence on the epidemiology of trichinellosis. When the cycle is complete, the muscles of the infected animal contain a reservoir of larvae, capable of long-term survival. Humans and other hosts become infected by ingesting muscle tissuescontaining viable larvae.

The symptoms associated with trichinellosis vary with the severity of infection, i.e. the number of viable larvae ingested, and the time after infection. The capacity of the worm population to undergo massive multiplication in the body is a major determinant. Progression of disease follows the biological development of the parasite. Symptoms are associated first with the gastrointestinal tract, as the worms invade and establish in the small intestine, become more general as the body responds immunologically, and finally focus on the muscles as the larvae penetrate the muscle cells and develop there. Although Trichinella worms cause pathological changes directly by mechanical damage, most of the clinical features of trichinellosis are immunopathological in origin and can be related to the capacity of the parasite to induce allergic responses.

The main source of human infection is raw or under-cooked meat products from pig, wild boar, bear, walrus, and horses, but meat products from other animals have been implicated. In humans, the diagnosis of infection is made by immunological tests or by direct examination of muscle biopsies using microscopy or by recovery of larvae after artificial digestion. Treatment requires both the use of anthelmintic drugs to kill the parasite itself and symptomatic treatment to minimize inflammatory responses.

Both pre-slaughter prevention and post-slaughter control can be used to prevent Trichinella infections in animals. The first involves pig management control as well as continuous surveillance programmes. Meat inspection is a successful post-slaughter strategy. However, a continuous consumer education is of great importance in countries where meat inspection is not mandatory.
Zoonotic hookworm infections
Authors: Bowman Dwight D.
Published: January 2012

Hookworms on occasion cause creeping lesions in the superficial layers of the human skin that have been designated as cutaneous larva migrans for the purpose of contrasting the condition with visceral larva migrans. Currently, the disease is presenting most commonly to physicians specializing in tropical or travel medicine in patients who have just visited a tropical beach and are presenting with serpiginous tracks in their skin. The serpiginous tracts can persist for week, and are often pruritic, may be associated with accompanying bulla, and can rarely lead to secondary sequelae. The larval are likely to penetrate ultimately to deeper tissues, where they may be persisting in the tissues of humans in the same fashion as they would within the tissues of any other vertebrate paratenic host.

Most hookworm larvae are capable of penetrating the skin and causing lesions that are similar to cutaneous larvae migrans. However, the geographic distribution of cases still seems to suggest that only one species, A. braziliense, is the offending species. The other species appear to spend less time in the skin of the human host, and if they do cause lesions, they appear to produce lesions that are more vesicular or that cause disease of a markedly shorter duration. It seems that the development of improved molecular methods will ultimately lead to the means of more carefully discrimination the geographical location of the offending species and may someday be able to identify specific larvae from lesions.

There are other manifestations of zoonotic hookworm infection. These include the infection of the human intestinal tract with the adults of the canine/feline hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum; the induction of cases of eosinophilic colitis in people with the canine hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum; suspected cases of ocular larva migrans due to hookworm larvae, and the rare case of cutaneous larva migrans due to hookworm species that are only rarely associated with human infections.
Scabies and other mite infections
Authors: Mounsey K. E. , Walton S. F.
Published: January 2012

Acariasis in humans and animals is caused by a diversity of parasitic mites taxonomically grouped into the class Arachnida, subclass Acari. The zoonotic species that can transfer from birds and animals to man (e.g. Cheyletiella spp; Dermanyssus spp and Ornithonyssus spp) are important in that they often cause major skin irritation or a hypersensitivity reactions or alternatively act as vectors of diseases such as scrub typhus. Like ticks the lifecycle of mites involves four life stages of development. The female mite lays eggs on the host or in the environment; the eggs hatch into larvae and pass through two nymphal stages. All stages have eight legs except the six-legged larva. Transmission is predominantly via direct contact between hosts; however fomites have been recognised as a potential source of infestation although the importance of this is variable and dependent on the ability of the mite to survive in the environment. The geographic range of most zoonotic species is worldwide although some varieties may be rare or non-existent in some countries. No developmental change or propagation of the organism occurs during the transmission.
Development of definitions of suicidal behaviours
Authors: Bertolote José M
Published: January 2012

This chapter covers definitions of suicidal behaviours and how they vary over time, reflecting predominant philosophies and schools of thought. The limitations in the quality of information about suicide mortality, as a common feature affecting the whole vital registration system, are discussed. Coordinated efforts should be made to strengthen those systems, paying attention to the specificity of sociocultural factors’ influence on defining, recording and reporting suicide as a cause of death.
A global perspective on the magnitude of suicide mortality
Authors: Bertolote José M , Fleischmann Alexandra
Published: January 2012

The lay press and clinical literature usually address suicide in terms of individual cases, whereas the epidemiological literature refers to rates, that is, the proportion of the sum of individual cases divided by a given population basis. Actually, both approaches have their place in a discussion on a worldwide perspective of suicide mortality; accordingly, in this chapter, both will be used, in order to better understand some of the implications of suicide. With a particular view to the prevention of suicide, it is important to use disaggregated rates, at least by gender and age, in order to identify specific groups at risk for suicide. In addition, information about the methods used for suicide is essential, as it has been demonstrated that the restriction of access to methods can reduce suicide.
Suicide attempts in New Zealand and Australia
Authors: Pirkis Jane , Beautrais Annette , Durkee Tony
Published: January 2012

New Zealand and Australia both have national suicide prevention strategies in place. Initially, the prevention activities delivered through these strategies focused on completed suicide only. More recently, there has been an acknowledgement that suicidal behaviours occur on a gradient and attempted suicide is a significant problem in its own right. It is estimated that for every completed suicide, there are approximately fifty suicide attempts carried out by females and ten by males.

In both countries, suicide attempts are the highest among young people, however, national population-based surveys suggest that, overall, nearly 0.5 per cent of the adult population makes a suicide attempt in a given year. It is evident suicide attempts are a major public health problem and must be addressed accordingly. This chapter examines the epidemiology of suicide attempts in the two countries, drawing on hospitalization data and data from population-based surveys and commenting on how the findings can inform prevention activities.
Social theories of suicide
Authors: Mäkinen Ilkka Henrik
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, some social theories in relation to suicide are presented together with examples from actual research. Although an individual act, suicide can be studied as a collective phenomenon, for example, as the relative number of cases that occur in different groups. Most social-scientific theories of suicide consider these not only as accumulations of individual observations, but also as results of social-level properties, events, and processes. The social environment in its different forms is thought to be connected with suicidal behaviour in multiple ways—the reasons for, the performance of, and the communication about the act all have strong social components. The currents in social research into suicide coincide largely with those in the social sciences more generally, with a preponderance, however, of structuralist studies following in the footsteps of Emile Durkheim.
Suicide in men
Authors: Rutz Wolfgang , Rihmer Zoltán
Published: January 2012

Male life expectancy in Europe is between 5–15 years lower than that of women. This might, in part, be related to the fact that men in general approach and consume medical services only half as often as females. Between 70–90 per cent of all suicides are committed in a clinical condition of major depression and, paradoxically, men commit suicide 3–10 times more often than women in spite of being only half or less frequently diagnosed as depressive than women. Male depressive symptoms are different from those reported by females, mainly because of men’s alexythymic difficulty in recognizing and reporting depressive symptoms. In addition, male depression can manifest itself as abusive, aggressive or antisocial behaviour. Moreover, in the case of suicidal behaviour, males more frequently use violent or lethal methods. Training of health care workers on earlier and better detection of male depression (including the use of the Gotland male Depression Scale) and increasing public awareness for depression are promising tools in the prevention of suicide in males.
Risk for suicidal behaviour in personality disorders
Authors: Stanley Barbara , Jones Jennifer
Published: January 2012

While borderline personality disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are the only two disorders in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders IV that list suicidal behaviour as a criterion, studies have shown that other personality disorders also increase one’s risk for suicide. Among Axis II personality disorders, suicide has also been found to be associated with antisocial personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder, and there is a possibility that schizoid personality disorder increases the risk for suicide (Duberstein and Conwell 1997). Moreover, stressful life events, such as those involving interpersonal distress and loss, confer a significant risk for those with personality disorders, possibly due to poor coping strategies. Reliable instruments with good psychometric properties need to be established that are sensitive to detecting Axis II personality disorders. This chapter reviews the literature on suicidal behaviours in personality disorders.
Treatment of suicide attempts and suicidal patients in psychiatric care
Authors: Mehlum Lars
Published: January 2012

No other known risk factor has such a high suicide prevention potential as a psychiatric disorder. However, to release this potential psychiatric care needs to be made more available to suicidal individuals, and there is a necessity to establish a continuity of care between hospital and outpatient treatment for patients who have been admitted after a suicide attempt. In this chapter important aspects of the psychiatric treatment of suicidal individuals are described. The importance of conducting systematic and repeated clinical risk assessments, providing treatments targeted at the patient’s needs and instigating safety measures according to the actual risk level is re-inforced. Treatment standards should be kept high through continuous staff education measures, clinical supervision, adherence to written procedures, and should be improved through suicide review procedures whenever there has been a severe suicidal incident within the context of the clinical unit.
Early detection of mental ill-health, harmful stress and suicidal behaviours
Authors: Marušič Andrej , Jurišić Brigita , Kozel Dejan , Mirjanič Milan , Petrović Ana , Svetičič Jerneja , Zorko Maja
Published: January 2012

Success in early detection of harmful stress, mental ill-health, and suicidal behaviour is substantially dependent on system solutions at the macro level. Suicide prevention interventions and strategies can only be effective if cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills, at different stages of the suicidal process and on different vulnerable groups are combined. In this chapter, traditionally well-known vulnerable groups, such as people with depression and alcohol misuse, are discussed at different stages of the suicidal process, in order to increase early detection. Early recognition is also important in demographic groups that have been neglected to date in suicide prevention, such as mothers with pre-natal and post-natal mental disorders, persons with diabetes mellitus, spinal cord injury disabilities and adult childhood cancer survivors, as well as young vulnerable people for whom harmful stress can be a suicidal trigger. In regard to the implementation and process optimization of individual interventions, lessons from management and, in particular, from social marketing, can provide a key contribution.
Suicide prevention in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Murad M
Published: January 2012

Pakistan is a developing country located in South Asia, with a population of approximately 162 million, 97 per cent of which are Muslims. Suicide is a condemned act in Islam. Historically, suicide was rare, but over the last decade or so has become a major public health problem in Pakistan (Khan and Prince 2003). Despite this, there are no official statistics from Pakistan. National rates are neither known nor reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) (World Health Organization 2001).

Under Pakistani law (based on the tenets of Islam), both suicide and deliberate self-harm (DSH) are illegal acts, which are punishable with a term in jail and a financial penalty. People avoid going to government hospitals, where suicidal acts are registered. Many seek treatment from private hospitals that neither diagnose suicide nor report them to police. Suicide and DSH are, therefore, underreported in Pakistan (Khan and Reza 1998).
Physiological framework for adaptation of stomata to CO
2
from glacial to future concentrations
Authors: Franks Peter J. , Leitch Ilia J. , Ruszala Elizabeth M. , Hetherington Alistair M. , Beerling David J.
Published: January 2012

In response to short-term fluctuations in atmospheric CO
2
concentration,
c
a
, plants adjust leaf diffusive conductance to CO
2
,
g
c
, via feedback regulation of stomatal aperture as part of a mechanism for optimizing CO
2
uptake with respect to water loss. The operational range of this elaborate control mechanism is determined by the maximum diffusive conductance to CO
2
,
g
c(max)
, which is set by the size (
S
) and density (number per unit area,
D
) of stomata on the leaf surface. Here, we show that, in response to long-term exposure to elevated or subambient
c
a
, plants alter
g
c(max)
in the direction of the short-term feedback response of
g
c
to
c
a
via adjustment of
S
and
D
. This adaptive feedback response to
c
a
, consistent with long-term optimization of leaf gas exchange, was observed in four species spanning a diverse taxonomic range (the lycophyte
Selaginella uncinata
, the fern
Osmunda regalis
and the angiosperms
Commelina communis
and
Vicia faba
). Furthermore, using direct observation as well as flow cytometry, we observed correlated increases in
S
, guard cell nucleus size and average apparent 1C DNA amount in epidermal cell nuclei with increasing
c
a
, suggesting that stomatal and leaf adaptation to
c
a
is linked to genome scaling.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide: a driver of photosynthetic eukaryote evolution for over a billion years?
Authors: Beerling David J.
Published: January 2012

Exciting evidence from diverse fields, including physiology, evolutionary biology, palaeontology, geosciences and molecular genetics, is providing an increasingly secure basis for robustly formulating and evaluating hypotheses concerning the role of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO
2
) in the evolution of photosynthetic eukaryotes. Such studies span over a billion years of evolutionary change, from the origins of eukaryotic algae through to the evolution of our present-day terrestrial floras, and have relevance for plant and ecosystem responses to future global CO
2
increases. The papers in this issue reflect the breadth and depth of approaches being adopted to address this issue. They reveal new discoveries pointing to deep evidence for the role of CO
2
in shaping evolutionary changes in plants and ecosystems, and establish an exciting cross-disciplinary research agenda for uncovering new insights into feedbacks between biology and the Earth system.
Social demography of alcohol‐related harm to children in Australia
Authors: Laslett Anne‐Marie , Ferris Jason , Dietze Paul , Room Robin
Published: January 2012

Aims  This study seeks to establish the prevalence alcohol‐related harms to children (ARHC) that occur because of others' drinking in the general population and examine how this varies by who was reported to have harmed the child and socio‐demographic factors.

Design and setting  A randomly selected cross‐sectional national population telephone survey undertaken in 2008 in Australia.

Participants  A total of 1142 adult respondents who indicated they lived with or had a parental/carer role for children.

Measurements  Questions included whether children had been negatively affected in any way, left unsupervised or in an unsafe situation, verbally abused, physically hurt or exposed to serious family violence because of others' drinking in the past year.

Findings  Twenty‐two per cent of respondents reported children had been affected because of another's drinking in the past year; 3% reported substantial harm. Respondents most commonly reported that children were verbally abused because of others' drinking (9%). Participants in single‐carer households were more likely to report ARHC than participants in households with two carers, and participants who drank weekly were more likely to report ARHC than those who did not drink.

Conclusions  Almost a quarter of those with a caring role for children in Australia reported that a child or children with whom they lived or for whom they were responsible have been affected adversely by others' alcohol consumption in the past year. The problem extends across the social spectrum, but children in single‐parent homes may be at higher risk.
Review article: probiotics for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome – focus on lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Clarke G. , Cryan J. F. , Dinan T. G. , Quigley E. M.
Published: January 2012

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood, yet highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID). The withdrawal, due to adverse events, of a number of pharmacological agents that were approved for the treatment of IBS has left a therapeutic vacuum for patients suffering from the disorder.

Aim

To review, summarise and critically evaluate current knowledge of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) used to treat IBS.

Methods

We assessed a comprehensive range of relevant literature from Pubmed, Medline and online sources based on our definition of LAB which included both typical and atypical species, covering Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, Enterococci, Streptococci and Bacilli.

Results

Of the 42 trials evaluated examining the efficacy of LAB in IBS, 34 reported beneficial effects in at least one of the endpoints or symptoms examined, albeit with tremendous variation in both the magnitude of effect and the choice of outcome under consideration. However, numerous concerns have been expressed over deficits of trial design and execution relating to strain selection, optimum dosage, mode of action, safety and long‐term tolerability in a disorder that can persist throughout the lifetime of affected individuals.

Conclusions

Progress in the field will require an improved understanding of how the microbiota impacts on health and disease, adequately powered long‐term multicentre trials and the embracing of bench to bedside approaches. Recent incremental advances suggest these areas are being addressed and that the future holds much promise for the use of lactic acid bacteria in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
Omission of in vivo T‐cell depletion promotes rapid expansion of naïve CD4+ cord blood lymphocytes and restores adaptive immunity within 2 months after unrelated cord blood transplant
Authors: Chiesa Robert , Gilmour Kimberly , Qasim Waseem , Adams Stuart , Worth Austen J. J. , Zhan Hong , Montiel‐Equihua Claudia A. , Derniame Sophie , Cale Catherine , Rao Kanchan , Hiwarkar Prashant , Hough Rachel , Saudemont Aurore , Fahrenkrog Cristián S. , Goulden Nick , Amrolia Persis J. , Veys Paul
Published: January 2012

Umbilical cord blood transplant (UCBT) is associated with impaired early immune reconstitution. This might be explained by a lower T‐cell dose infused, the naivety of cord blood T‐cells and the use of in vivo T‐cell depletion. We studied the pattern of early immune reconstitution and the clinical outcome of children undergoing unrelated UCBT when in vivo T‐cell depletion was omitted. Thirty children affected by malignancies (46%) or immunodeficiencies (54%) underwent an unrelated UCBT. Prospective assessment of immune reconstitution and clinical outcome was performed. We observed an unprecedented CD4+ T‐cell reconstitution, with a median cell count at 30 and 60 d post UCBT of 0·3 × 109/l and 0·56 × 109/l, respectively. Early T‐cell expansion was thymic‐independent, with a rapid shift from naïve to central memory phenotype and early regulatory T‐cell recovery. Viral infections were frequent (63%) but resolved rapidly in most cases and virus‐specific T‐lymphocytes were detected within 2 months post‐UCBT. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) was frequent (grade II = 34%, grade III–IV = 16%) but steroid responsive, and the incidence of chronic GvHD was low (14%). The omission of in vivo T‐cell depletion promotes a unique thymic‐independent CD4+ T‐cell reconstitution after unrelated UCBT in children. We postulate that this relates to the specific immunological and ontological qualities of fetal‐derived lymphocytes.
A practical review of geostatistical processing applied to geophysical data: methods and applications
Authors: Bourges Matthieu , Mari Jean‐Luc , Jeannée Nicolas
Published: January 2012

Nowadays, geostatistics is commonly applied for numerous gridding or modelling tasks. However, it is still under used and unknown for classical geophysical applications. This paper highlights the main geostatistical methods relevant for geophysical issues, for instance to improve the quality of seismic data such as velocity cubes or interpreted horizons. These methods are then illustrated through four examples. The first example, based on a gravity survey presents how a geostatistical interpolation can be used to filter out a global trend, in order to better define real anomalies. In the second case study, dedicated to refraction surveying, geostatistical filtering is used to filter out acquisition artefacts and identify the main geological structures. The third one is an example of porosity being integrated geostatistically with a seismic acoustic impedance map. The last example deals with geostatistical time to depth conversion; the interest of performing geostatistical simulations is finally discussed.
The PFA‐100® does not predict delta‐granule platelet storage pool deficiencies
Authors: SLADKY J. L. , KLIMA J. , GROOMS L. , KERLIN B. A. , O’BRIEN S. H.
Published: January 2012

Summary.  There are no published reports investigating the ability of the platelet function analyzer (PFA‐100®) to detect the presence of delta‐granule platelet storage pool deficiencies (δ‐PSPD), a common mild bleeding disorder. Prior studies of the PFA‐100® and congenital platelet disorders have been limited by small numbers of patients with a variety of disorders. We examined PFA‐100® results in a large paediatric patient population diagnosed specifically with δ‐PSPD, and determined the relationship between PFA‐100® and platelet electron microscopy (the gold standard for diagnosis). This study is a retrospective review of patients <19 years of age diagnosed with δ‐PSPD at Nationwide Children’s Hospital from 2008 to 2010. To examine the correlation between PFA‐100® and average number of granules per platelet we used Spearman’s Rho as a non‐parametric measure of dependence. A total of 105 patients diagnosed with δ‐PSPD were included, of which 99 patients underwent PFA‐100® testing. Of those tested 46% had at least one abnormal closure time, whereas 16% had abnormal results for both cartridges. We found no statistical correlation between C‐EPI closure time and average number of granules per platelet (ρ= −0.0095, P‐value = 0.9328), nor between C‐ADP closure time and the average number of granules (ρ = 0.0315, P‐value = 0.7798). The PFA‐100®, a widely used screening test for suspected bleeding disorders, did not correlate with presence or severity of δ‐PSPD as determined by platelet electron microscopy. When evaluating patients with suspected bleeding disorders, PFA‐100® alone cannot be used to rule out the presence of a δ‐PSPD.
Caries prevalence associated with Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in Japanese schoolchildren
Authors: OKADA MITSUGI , KAWAMURA MAKOTO , ODA YUKI , YASUDA RIE , KOJIMA TARO , KURIHARA HIDEMI
Published: January 2012

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 342–348

Background.  Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are known to be associated with dental caries in humans.

Aim.  We used a polymerase chain reaction method to detect S. mutans and S. sobrinus in 128 Japanese schoolchildren and then compared their presence with the dental caries experience.

Design.  Plaque samples were collected from all erupted tooth sites with a sterile toothbrush, and dental examinations were performed to determine the numbers of decayed and filled teeth in primary (dft) and permanent (DFT) dentition using the WHO caries diagnostic criteria. Fisher’s PLSD test was employed to compare caries scores between combinations of the detected bacteria.

Results.  Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus were present in 38.3% and 68.0%, respectively, whereas 14.8% were positive for S. mutans alone, 44.5% for S. sobrinus alone, and 23.5% for both S. mutans and S. sobrinus, with 17.2% negative for both. The DFT, dft, and total (DFT + dft) scores for subjects positive for both S. mutans and S. sobrinus were significantly higher than those positive for S. mutans alone (P < 0.05, in triplicate).

Conclusion.  These results suggest that schoolchildren harbouring both S. mutans and S. sobrinus have a significant higher dental caries experience in both permanent and primary teeth as compared to those with S. mutans alone.
The importance of environmental heterogeneity and spatial distance in generating phylogeographic structure in edaphic specialist and generalist tree species of Protium (Burseraceae) across the Amazon Basin
Authors: Fine Paul V. A. , Zapata Felipe , Daly Douglas C. , Mesones Italo , Misiewicz Tracy M. , Cooper Hillary F. , Barbosa C. E. A.
Published: January 2012

Aim  Edaphic heterogeneity may be an important driver of population differentiation in the Amazon but remains to be investigated in trees. We compared the phylogeographic structure across the geographic distribution of two Protium (Burseraceae) species with different degrees of edaphic specialization: Protium alvarezianum, an edaphic specialist of white‐sand habitat islands; and Protium subserratum, an edaphic generalist found in white sand as well as in more widespread soil types. We predicted that in the edaphic specialist, geographic distance would structure populations more strongly than in the edaphic generalist, and that soil type would not structure populations in the edaphic generalist unless habitat acts as a barrier promoting population differentiation.

Location  Tropical rain forests of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon, Guyana and French Guiana.

Methods  We sequenced 1209–1211 bp of non‐coding nuclear ribosomal DNA (internal transcribed spacer and external transcribed spacer) and a neutral low‐copy nuclear gene (phytochrome C) from P. subserratum (n = 65, 10 populations) and P. alvarezianum (n = 19, three populations). We conducted a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, constructed maximum parsimony haplotype networks and assessed population differentiation among groups (soil type or geographic locality) using analysis of molecular variance and spatial analysis of molecular variance.

Results  The edaphic specialist exhibited considerable genetic differentiation among geographically distant populations. The edaphic generalist showed significant genetic differentiation between the Guianan and Amazon Basin populations. Within Peru, soil type and not geographic distance explained most of the variation among populations. Non‐white‐sand populations in Peru exhibited lower haplotype/nucleotide diversity than white‐sand populations, were each other’s close relatives, and formed an unresolved clade derived from within the white‐sand populations.

Main conclusions  Geographic distance is a stronger driver of population differentiation in the edaphic specialist than in the generalist. However, this difference did not appear to be related to edaphic generalism per se as adjacent populations from both soil types in the edaphic generalist did not share many haplotypes. Populations of the edaphic generalist in white‐sand habitats exhibited high haplotype diversity and shared haplotypes with distant white‐sand habitat islands, indicating that they have either efficient long‐distance dispersal and/or larger ancestral effective population sizes and thus retain ancestral polymorphisms. These results highlight the importance of edaphic heterogeneity in promoting population differentiation in tropical trees.
Genetic consequences of glacial survival: the late Quaternary history of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) in North America
Authors: Breen Amy L. , Murray David F. , Olson Matthew S.
Published: January 2012

Aim  Beringia, the unglaciated region encompassing the former Bering land bridge, as well as the land between the Lena and Mackenzie rivers, is recognized as an important refugium for arctic plants during the last ice age. Compelling palaeobotanical evidence also supports the presence of small populations of boreal trees within Beringia during the Last Glacial Maximum. The occurrence of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) in Beringia provides a unique opportunity to assess the implications of persistence in a refugium on present‐day genetic diversity for this boreal tree species.

Location  North America.

Methods  We sequenced three variable non‐coding regions of the chloroplast genome (cpDNA) from 40 widely distributed populations of balsam poplar across its North American range. We assessed patterns of genetic diversity, geographic structure and historical demography between glaciated and unglaciated regions of the balsam poplar’s range. We also utilized a coalescent model to test for divergence between regions.

Results  Levels of genetic diversity were consistently greater for populations at the southern margin (θW = 0.00122) than in the central (θW = 0.00086) or northern (θW = 0.00034) regions of the current distribution of balsam poplar, and diversity decreased with increasing latitude (R2 = 0.49, P < 0.01). We detected low, but significant, structure (FCT = 0.05, P = 0.05), among regions of P. balsamifera’s distribution. The cpDNA genealogy was shallow, however, showing an absence of highly differentiated chloroplast haplotypes. Coalescent analyses supported a model of divergence between the southern ice margin and the northern unglaciated region of balsam poplar’s distribution, but analyses of other regional comparisons did not converge.

Main conclusions  The palaeobotanical record supports the presence of a Beringian refugium for balsam poplar, but we were unable to definitively identify the presence of known refugial populations based on genetic data alone. Balsam poplar populations from Beringia are not a significant reservoir of cpDNA diversity today. Unique alleles that may have been present in the small, isolated populations that survived within Beringia were probably lost through genetic drift or swamped by post‐glacial, northward migration from populations south of the ice sheets.
The dose–response relation for the antinociceptive effect of morphine in a fish, rainbow trout
Authors: JONES S. G. , KAMUNDE C. , LEMKE K. , STEVENS E. D.
Published: January 2012

Jones, S. G., Kamunde, C., Lemke, K., Stevens, E. D. The dose–response relation for the antinociceptive effect of morphine in a fish, rainbow trout. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 563–570.

There have been suggestions that analgesics be used by fish researchers. But in the absence of dose–response data for morphine, this suggestion seems imprudent. The purpose of the present study was to develop a dose–response relationship in fish using six doses of morphine. The response (movement of the fins or tail) to a noxious stimulus (electrical shock to the face region) was monitored before and after a dose of morphine intraperitoneally (i.p.). The i.p. dose of morphine ED50 in rainbow trout was 6.7 ± 0.8 mg/kg (n = 12 at each dose). The plasma morphine concentration EC50 was 4.1 ± 1.5 mg/L. In a second experiment, rainbow trout tested with equal amounts of morphine and naloxone (30 mg/kg) showed that the antinociceptive effect of morphine was blocked by naloxone. It has been suggested that stress‐induced analgesia has been a confounding factor in some fish studies. However, plasma cortisol levels in our study indicated that stress was not a confounding factor in the present experiments. The ED50 for morphine in fish was higher than that reported for humans or other mammals. Our observation showing a dose–response relation for morphine using a noxious stimulus supports arguments for its effectiveness as an antinociceptive drug in fish.
Dissection of genotype–phenotype associations in rice grains using metabolome quantitative trait loci analysis
Authors: Matsuda Fumio , Okazaki Yozo , Oikawa Akira , Kusano Miyako , Nakabayashi Ryo , Kikuchi Jun , Yonemaru Jun‐Ichi , Ebana Kaworu , Yano Masahiro , Saito Kazuki
Published: January 2012

A comprehensive and large‐scale metabolome quantitative trait loci (mQTL) analysis was performed to investigate the genetic backgrounds associated with metabolic phenotypes in rice grains. The metabolome dataset consisted of 759 metabolite signals obtained from the grains of 85 lines of rice (Oryza sativa, Sasanishiki × Habataki back‐crossed inbred lines). Metabolome analysis was performed using four mass spectrometry pipelines to enhance detection of different classes of metabolites. This mQTL analysis of a wide range of metabolites highlighted an uneven distribution of 802 mQTLs on the rice genome, as well as different modes of metabolic trait (m‐trait) control among various types of metabolites. The levels of most metabolites within rice grains were highly sensitive to environmental factors, but only weakly associated with mQTLs. Coordinated control was observed for several groups of metabolites, such as amino acids linked to the mQTL hotspot on chromosome 3. For flavonoids, m‐trait variation among the experimental lines was tightly governed by genetic factors that alter the glycosylation of flavones. Many loci affecting levels of metabolites were detected by QTL analysis, and plausible gene candidates were evaluated by in silico analysis. Several mQTLs profoundly influenced metabolite levels, providing insight into the control of rice metabolism. The genomic region and genes potentially responsible for the biosynthesis of apigenin‐6,8‐di‐C‐α‐l‐arabinoside are presented as an example of a critical mQTL identified by the analysis.
Galectin‐9 induced by dietary synbiotics is involved in suppression of allergic symptoms in mice and humans
Authors: de Kivit S. , Saeland E. , Kraneveld A. D. , van de Kant H. J. G. , Schouten B. , van Esch B. C. A. M. , Knol J. , Sprikkelman A. B. , van der Aa L. B. , Knippels L. M. J. , Garssen J. , van Kooyk Y. , Willemsen L. E. M.
Published: January 2012

Background:

Prebiotic galacto‐ and fructo‐oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS) resembling non‐digestible oligosaccharides in human milk reduce the development of atopic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Galectins are soluble‐type lectins recognizing β‐galactoside containing glycans. Galectin‐9 has been shown to regulate mast cell degranulation and T‐cell differentiation. In this study, the involvement of galectin‐9 as a mechanism by which scGOS/lcFOS in combination with Bifidobacterium breve M‐16V protects against acute allergic symptoms was investigated.

Methods:

Mice were sensitized orally to whey, while being fed with a diet containing scGOS/lcFOS and Bifidobacterium breve M‐16V (GF/Bb) or a control diet. Galectin‐9 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in the intestine and measured in the serum by ELISA. T‐cell differentiation was investigated in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) as well as in galectin‐9‐exposed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures. Sera of the mice were evaluated for the capacity to suppress mast cell degranulation using a RBL‐2H3 degranulation assay. In addition, in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled multicenter trial, galectin‐9 levels were measured in the sera of 90 infants with atopic dermatitis who received hydrolyzed formulae with or without GF/Bb.

Results:

Galectin‐9 expression by intestinal epithelial cells and serum galectin‐9 levels were increased in mice and humans following dietary intervention with GF/Bb and correlated with reduced acute allergic skin reaction and mast cell degranulation. In addition, GF/Bb enhanced Th1‐ and Treg‐cell differentiation in MLN and in PBMC cultures exposed to galectin‐9.

Conclusions:

Dietary supplementation with GF/Bb enhances serum galectin‐9 levels, which associates with the prevention of allergic symptoms.
MicroRNA‐23b promotes tolerogenic properties of dendritic cells in vitro through inhibiting Notch1/NF‐κB signalling pathways
Authors: Zheng J. , Jiang H.‐Y. , Li J. , Tang H.‐C. , Zhang X.‐M. , Wang X.‐R. , Du J.‐T. , Li H.‐B. , Xu G.
Published: January 2012

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to regulate the inflammatory response in various cell types. However, the ability of miRNAs to modulate dendritic cells (DCs) function for allergen immunotherapy is unclear.

Objective:

To assess the role of miR‐23b in the regulation of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced DC differentiation and function and to investigate the related molecular mechanisms.

Methods:

Bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were generated from murine bone marrow progenitor cells and subsequently stimulated with OVA to examine the profile of miRNA expression. After transfection with miR‐23b reagents, DCs were evaluated for endocytic ability, surface marker expression, cytokine secretion and CD4+ T‐cell differentiation. The possible roles of the Notch and NF‐κB signalling pathways were also evaluated. Human monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) were similarly evaluated as well.

Results:

Significant upregulation of miR‐23b was observed in BMDCs pulsed with OVA. Following miR‐23b transfection, BMDCs showed decreased OVA uptake, increased IL‐10 production, decreased IL‐12 production and an enhanced capacity to promote FoxP3+ CD4+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) differentiation. In addition, inactivation of the Notch1 and NF‐κB signalling pathways were observed. Conversely, inhibition of miR‐23b in BMDCs resulted in the opposite effects. In human MDDCs, miRNA23b transfection similarly increased IL‐10 and decreased IL‐12 production, and that treated human MDDCs induced increased FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells.

Conclusion:

Our findings provide evidence that miR‐23b is capable of inducing tolerogenic DC activity and Treg responses in vitro through the inhibition of the Notch1 and NF‐κB signalling pathways; thus, miR‐23b might represent a therapeutic target for the management of allergic diseases.
Production of Nuclear Transfer Embryos by Using Somatic Cells Isolated From Milk in Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Golla K , Selokar NL , Saini M , Chauhan MS , Manik RS , Palta P , Singla SK
Published: January 2012

Contents

Somatic cells in milk are a potential source of nuclei for nuclear transfer to produce genetically identical animals; this is especially important in animals that are susceptible to risks of bacterial infection on biopsy collection. In this study, a minimum of 10 milk samples were collected from each of the three buffaloes representing Murrah breed. All the samples were processed immediately and cell colonies were obtained. Cell colonies from one buffalo (MU‐442) survived beyond 10 passages and were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and used in nuclear transfer experiments. In culture, these cells expressed vimentin, indicating they were of fibroblast origin similar to ear cells. We compared the effectiveness of cloning using those milk‐derived fibroblast (MDF) cells and fibroblast cells derived from the ear derived fibroblast (EDF). Fusion and cleavage rates of MDF‐NT and EDF‐NT embryos were found to be similar (92.43 ± 1.28% vs 94.98 ± 1.24%, and 80.27 ± 1.75% vs 84.56 ± 3.73%, respectively; p > 0.01); however, development to blastocyst stage and total cell number was higher for EDF‐NT embryos (50.24 ± 2.54%, 227.14 ± 13.04, respectively, p < 0.01), than for MDF‐NT embryos (16.44 ± 0.75%, 170.57 ± 4.50 respectively). We conclude that somatic cells from milk can be cultured effectively and used as nucleus donor to produce cloned blastocyst‐stage embryos.