bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
European guidelines for the accreditation of Sleep Medicine Centres
Authors:   STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE EUROPEAN SLEEP RESEARCH SOCIETY
Published: May 2006

This document describes guidelines for accreditation of Sleep Medicine Centres in Europe. These guidelines are the result of a consensus procedure, in which representatives of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and representatives of different European National Sleep Societies (ENSS) were involved. The information obtained during different rounds of consultation was gathered and processed by the members of the Steering Committee of the ESRS. The scope of the guidelines is to define the characteristics of multidisciplinary Sleep Medicine Centres (SMCs), in terms of requirements regarding staff, operational procedures and logistic facilities. Accreditation of SMCs is proposed to be the responsibility of the individual ENSS. The Accreditation Guidelines may thus be considered an instrument for the national societies to develop new or standardize existing accreditation questionnaires, as well as procedures for visiting the site, drafting the accreditation report, and finally, granting the accreditation. The Accreditation Guidelines are meant to be a line of action, that ideally should be followed as close as possible, but that may be subject to certain exceptions, depending on local customs or regulations.
Eosinophil cationic protein damages protoscoleces in vitro and is present in the hydatid cyst
Authors: RAMOS A. L. , DISCIPIO R. G. , FERREIRA A. M.
Published: May 2006

Eosinophils are locally recruited during the establishment and chronic phases of cystic hydatidosis. This study provides evidence that eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), one of the major components of eosinophil granules, can damage Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces (PSC). The toxicity of ECP was investigated in vitro by following parasite viability in the presence of this protein. ECP was found to damage PSC at micromolar concentrations; the effect was blocked by specific antibodies and heparin, and was more severe than the one caused by similar concentrations of RNase A, suggesting that the cationic nature of ECP, and not its ribonuclease activity, is involved in toxicity. This observation may highlight the capacity of eosinophils to control secondary hydatidosis, derived from PSC leakage from a primary cyst. To further assess the relevance of the previous result during infection, the presence of eosinophil proteins was investigated in human hydatid cysts. ECP was found to be strongly associated with the laminated layer of the cyst wall, and present at micromolar concentrations in the hydatid fluid. Overall, these results demonstrate that eosinophils degranulate in vivo at the host–parasite interface, and that the released ECP reaches concentrations that could be harmful for the parasite.
Three grape CBF/DREB1 genes respond to low temperature, drought and abscisic acid
Authors: XIAO HUOGEN , SIDDIQUA MAHBUBA , BRAYBROOK SIOBHAN , NASSUTH ANNETTE
Published: May 2006

The C‐repeat (CRT)‐binding factor/dehydration‐responsive element (DRE) binding protein 1 (CBF/DREB1) transcription factors control an important pathway for increased freezing and drought tolerance in plants. Three CBF/DREB1‐like genes, CBF 1–3, were isolated from both freezing‐tolerant wild grape (Vitis riparia) and freezing‐sensitive cultivated grape (Vitis vinifera). The deduced proteins in V. riparia are 63–70% identical to each other and 96–98% identical to the corresponding proteins in V. vinifera. All Vitis CBF proteins are 42–51% identical to AtCBF1 and contain CBF‐specific amino acid motifs, supporting their identification as CBF proteins. Grape CBF sequences are unique in that they contain 20–29 additional amino acids and three serine stretches. Agro‐infiltration experiments revealed that VrCBF1b localizes to the nucleus. VrCBF1a, VrCBF1b and VvCBF1 activated a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene behind CRT‐containing promoters. Expression of the endogenous CBF genes was low at ambient temperature and enhanced upon low temperature (4 °C) treatment, first for CBF1, followed by CBF2, and about 2 d later by CBF3. No obvious significant difference was observed between V. riparia and V. vinifera genes. The expression levels of all three CBF genes were higher in young tissues than in older tissues. CBF1, 2 and 3 transcripts also accumulated in response to drought and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, indicating that grape contains unique CBF genes.
Regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana 14‐3‐3 gene expression by γ‐aminobutyric acid
Authors: LANCIEN MURIEL , ROBERTS MICHAEL R.
Published: May 2006

The function in plants of the non‐protein amino acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is poorly understood. In this study, we show that GABA down‐regulates the expression of a large subset of 14‐3‐3 gene family members in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in a calcium, ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA)‐dependent manner. Gene expression is not affected when seedlings are supplied with glutamate (GLU), a precursor of GABA. The repression of 14‐3‐3 gene expression by GABA is dependent on functional ethylene and ABA signalling pathways, because the response is lost in the etr1‐1, abi1‐1 and abi2‐1 mutants. Calcium measurements show that in contrast to GLU, GABA does not elicit a cytoplasmic calcium elevation, suggesting that the GABA response is unlikely to be mediated by GLU receptors (GLRs), as has been suggested previously. We suggest that in addition to its role as a stress‐related metabolite, GABA may regulate gene expression in A. thaliana, including members of the 14‐3‐3 gene family.
Characterization of the Arabidopsis thermosensitive mutant atts02 reveals an important role for galactolipids in thermotolerance
Authors: CHEN JUNPING , BURKE JOHN J. , XIN ZHANGUO , XU CHANGCHENG , VELTEN JEFF
Published: May 2006

Plants are constantly challenged with various abiotic stresses in their natural environment. Elevated temperatures have a detrimental impact on overall plant growth and productivity. Many plants increase their tolerance to high temperatures through an adaptation response known as acquired thermotolerance. To identify the various mechanisms that plants have evolved to cope with high temperature stress, we have isolated a series of Arabidopsis mutants that are defective in the acquisition of thermotolerance after an exposure to 38 °C, a treatment that induces acquired thermotolerance in wild‐type plants. One of these mutants, atts02, was not only defective in acquiring thermotolerance after the treatment, but also displayed a reduced level of basal thermotolerance in a 30 °C growth assay. The affected gene in atts02 was identified by positional cloning and encodes digalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase 1 (DGD1) (the atts02 mutant was, at that point, renamed dgd1‐2). An additional dgd1 allele, dgd1‐3, was identified in two other mutant lines displaying altered acquired thermotolerance, atts100 and atts104. Expression patterns of several heat shock proteins (HSPs) in heat‐treated dgd1‐2 homozygous plants were similar to those from identically treated wild‐type plants, suggesting that the thermosensitivity in the dgd1‐2 mutant was not caused by a defect in HSP induction. Lipid analysis of wild‐type and mutant plants indicated a close correlation between the ability to acquire thermotolerance and the increases in digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) level and in the ratio of DGDG to monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG). Thermosensitivity in dgd1‐2 and dgd1‐3 was associated with (1) a decreased DGDG level and (2) an inability to increase the ratio of DGDG to MGDG upon exposure to a 38 °C sublethal temperature treatment. Our results suggest that the DGDG level and/or the ratio of DGDG to MGDG may play an important role in basal as well as acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis.
Estimating stomatal conductance with thermal imagery
Authors: LEINONEN I. , GRANT O. M. , TAGLIAVIA C. P. P. , CHAVES M. M. , JONES H. G.
Published: May 2006

Most thermal methods for the study of drought responses in plant leaves are based on the calculation of ‘stress indices’. This paper proposes and compares three main extensions of these for the direct estimation of absolute values of stomatal conductance to water vapour (gs) using infrared thermography (IRT). All methods use the measured leaf temperature and two environmental variables (air temperature and boundary layer resistance) as input. Additional variables required, depending on the method, are the temperatures of wet and dry reference surfaces, net radiation and relative humidity. The methods were compared using measured gs data from a vineyard in Southern Portugal. The errors in thermal estimates of conductance were of the same order as the measurement errors using a porometer. Observed variability was also compared with theoretical estimates of errors in estimated gs determined on the basis of the errors in the input variables (leaf temperature, boundary layer resistance, net radiation) and the partial derivatives of the energy balance equations used for the gs calculations. The full energy balance approach requires accurate estimates of net radiation absorbed, which may not be readily available in field conditions, so alternatives using reference surfaces are shown to have advantages. A new approach using a dry reference leaf is particularly robust and recommended for those studies where the specific advantages of thermal imagery, including its non‐contact nature and its ability to sample large numbers of leaves, are most apparent. Although the results suggest that estimates of the absolute magnitude of gs are somewhat subjective, depending on the skill of the experimenter at selecting evenly exposed leaves, relative treatment differences in conductance are sensitively detected by different experimenters.
Cadmium effect on oxidative metabolism of pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots. Imaging of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide accumulation in vivo
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ‐SERRANO MARÍA , ROMERO‐PUERTAS MARÍA C. , ZABALZA ANA , CORPAS FRANCISCO J. , GÓMEZ MANUEL , DEL RÍO LUIS A. , SANDALIO LUISA M.
Published: May 2006

Growth of pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants with 50 µm CdCl2 for 15 d produced a reduction in the number and length of lateral roots, and changes in structure of the principal roots affecting the xylem vessels. Cadmium induced a reduction in glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASC) contents, and catalase (CAT), GSH reductase (GR) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activities. CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was also diminished by the Cd treatment, although Mn‐SOD was slightly increased. CAT and CuZn‐SOD were down‐regulated at transcriptional level, while Mn‐SOD, Fe‐SOD and GR were up‐regulated. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels by fluorescence and confocal laser microscopy (CLM) showed an over‐accumulation of O2.− and H2O2, and a reduction in the NO content in lateral and principal roots. ROS overproduction was dependent on changes in intracellular Ca+2 content, and peroxidases and NADPH oxidases were involved. Cadmium also produced an increase in salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) contents. The rise of ET and ROS, and the NO decrease are in accordance with senescence processes induced by Cd, and the increase of JA and SA could regulate the cellular response to cope with damages imposed by cadmium.
Can Rapoport's rule explain tree species richness along the Himalayan elevation gradient, Nepal?
Authors: Bhattarai Khem Raj , Vetaas Ole R.
Published: May 2006

Rapoport's rule applied to an elevation gradient predicts a positive correlation between elevation ranges and elevation. This is supposed to be caused by the increasing magnitude of the climatic extremes at higher elevations, and thus, it is deduced that species richness should decrease with increasing elevation. The distribution of 614 tree species was used to test Rapoport's elevational rule along a gradient from 100 to 4300 m a.s.l., in the Nepalese Himalaya. The relationship between species richness and elevation was analysed by using generalized linear models (GLM). Generalized additive models (GAM) were used to examine the relationship between elevational range and the elevational mid‐point of a species along the gradient. The widest elevation ranges are observed at mid‐elevations, and narrow elevation ranges are observed at both ends of the gradient. This does not support Rapoport's elevation rule, as proposed by Stevens. There is a peak in species richness between 900 and 1000 m, and not in the tropical lowland as projected by Rapoport's elevation rule.
Differential sensitivities of pathogens in red cell concentrates to Tri‐P(4)‐photoinactivation
Authors: Trannoy L. L. , Terpstra F. G. , De Korte D. , Lagerberg J. W. M. , Verhoeven A. J. , Brand A. , Van Engelenburg F. A. C.
Published: May 2006

Background and Objectives  Photodynamic treatment (PDT) with the cationic porphyrin, mono‐phenyl‐tri‐(N‐methyl‐4‐pyridyl)‐porphyrin chloride [Tri‐P(4)], has previously been shown to be effective at inactivating vesicle stomatitis virus (VSV) in red cell concentrates (RCC) with limited damage to red blood cells (RBC). The aim of this study was to determine the pathogen‐inactivating capacity of PDT with Tri‐P(4) for a broader range of pathogens and to establish the associated effect on in vitro RBC quality.

Materials and Methods  A series of viruses and bacteria was spiked into 60% RCC. Pathogen inactivation was determined after PDT with 25 µm Tri‐P(4) and red light up to 360 kJ/m2. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected cells were evaluated for cell death induction, and RCC were analysed for the induction of haemolysis and ATP content.

Results  For the lipid‐enveloped viruses bovine viral diarrhoea virus, HIV and pseudorabies virus, and for the Gram positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and the Gram‐negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Yersinia enterolitica, inactivation of ≥ 5 log10 was measured after 60 min of PDT with Tri‐P(4). The required treatment time to achieve this level of inactivation was four times longer than required for VSV. For cell‐associated HIV, only 1·7 log10 of inactivation was found, despite clear induction of cell death of HIV‐infected cells. The non‐enveloped virus, canine parvovirus, was completely resistant to the treatment. PDT of RCC with Tri‐P(4) for 60 min, and subsequent storage in AS‐3, resulted in 4% haemolysis after 35 days of storage. The ATP content of untreated and treated RBC declined with similar kinetics during storage.

Conclusions  PDT of RCC with Tri‐P(4) for 60 min inactivates a wide range of pathogens, but not cell‐associated HIV and a non‐enveloped virus, and compromises RBC quality. This reduces the suitability of PDT with Tri‐P(4) for red cell sterilization. Therefore, further improvements in the treatment procedures to potentiate pathogen inactivation and to preserve RBC integrity will be required to generate an effective treatment for sterilizing RCC.
Effect of Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐4 (BMP‐4) on Adipocyte Differentiation from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Taha M. F. , Valojerdi M. R. , Mowla S. J.
Published: May 2006

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate spontaneously into various lineages in vitro. However, spontaneous commitment of ES cells to the adipocyte lineage is rare. In the present study, bone morphogenic protein‐4 (BMP‐4) is described as a factor inducing adipocyte differentiation from ES cells at a high rate. For this reason, ES‐cell‐derived embryoid bodies (EBs) in suspension cultures were exposed to different doses of BMP‐4 for 5 days before they were plated onto gelatin‐coated tissue culture plates. Moreover, the effect of serum‐containing and serum‐free media in three different combinations was assessed. Plated EBs, stained with Sudan Black and processed for transmission and scanning electron microscopy, were observed daily for adipocyte formation. Treatment with BMP‐4 resulted in the appearance of adipocyte clusters in EBs’ outgrowth, depending on the doses applied. Early in differentiation, many small fat droplets were observed in adipocytes, while later on they coalesced and formed a few large fat droplets. Adipocyte clusters had a fibrillar and vascular stroma, and each adipocyte was surrounded with a reticular external lamina. Furthermore, the appearance and development of adipocytes and their changes following 2–3 weeks of starvation mimicked live adipose tissue. In fact, understanding the biological activity of growth and differentiation factors is needed to regulate and direct stem cell differentiation to specific cell types in vitro.
The Oral Cavity of the Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Abbate F. , Germanà G. P. , De Carlos F. , Montalbano G. , Laurà R. , Levanti M. B. , Germanà A.
Published: May 2006

The zebrafish is a common model for developmental studies including those regarding tooth, palate and tongue. Nevertheless, little information is available about the morphology of the oral cavity in this teleost, especially in adult animals. In this study we used light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to describe in detail the morphology of the oral cavity of adult zebrafish. The oral cavity could be divided into three different zones: the outer containing the lips, the intermediate corresponding to the internal valves and the internal that corresponds to the tongue. In the upper and lower intermediate zones, there were semilunar shaped valves, more prominent in the upper part. The internal lower zones correspond to the palate and the tongue, which is an individualized structure filled with numerous transversal ridges. Both the intermediate and internal zones were covered by a stratified epithelium containing numerous mucous and rodlet cells. Present data provide the first description of the morphology and structure of the oral cavity in the adult zebrafish and might serve as a baseline for developmental studies of the oral cavity using this teleost as a model.
Identification and characterization of polymorphisms within the 5′ flanking region, first exon and part of first intron of bovine GH gene
Authors: Ferraz A. L. J. , Bortolossi J. C. , Curi R. A. , Ferro M. I. T. , Ferro J. A. , Furlan L. R.
Published: May 2006

The aim of the present study was to identify and characterize polymorphisms within the 5′ flanking region, first exon and part of first intron of the bovine growth hormone gene among different beef cattle breeds: Nelore (n = 25), Simmental (n = 39), Simbrasil (n = 24), Simmental × Nelore (n = 30), Canchim × Nelore (n = 30) and Angus × Nelore (n = 30). Two DNA fragments (GH1, 464 bp and GH2, 453 bp) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and then used for polymorphism identification by SSCP. Within the GH1 fragment, five polymorphisms were identified, corresponding to three different alleles: GH1.1, GH1.2 and GH1.3 (GenBank: AY662648, AY662649 and AY662650, respectively). These allele sequences were aligned and compared with bovine GH gene nucleotide sequence (GenBank: M57764 and AF118837), resulting in the identification of five insertion/deletions (INDELs) and five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In the GH2 fragment two alleles were identified, GH2.1 and GH2.2 (GenBank: AY662651 and AY662652, respectively). The allele sequences were compared with GenBank sequences (M57764, AF007750 and AH009106) and three INDELs and four SNPs were identified. In conclusion, we were able to identify six new polymorphisms of the bovine GH gene (one INDEL and five SNPs), which can be used as molecular markers in genetic studies.
Genetic and permanent environmental variability of twinning in Thoroughbred horses estimated via three threshold models
Authors: Wolc A. , Bresińska A. , Szwaczkowski T.
Published: May 2006

Twinning is a serious problem in Thoroughbred horses, as most of the multiple pregnancies are miscarried and live foals present lower performance values. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and repeatability of twinning in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 12648 pregnancies of 2033 Thoroughbred mares born between 1929 and 1994 in 11 studs were included. The analysis was performed by the use of AI‐REML algorithm under three threshold animal models. The first model included effects of stud, mare's birth period and interaction between them as fixed. The second model included the interaction between the stud and mare's birth period as random, whereas in the third model stud effects were also treated as random. The models were compared based on the deviances. Phenotypic and genetic trends were evaluated as well. The twinning rate was 3.5%. The study involved 443 twins and two triplets. Heritability estimates varied from 0.24 (model III) to 0.29 (model I), whereas repeatability estimates ranged from 0.33 (model I) to 0.34 (model III). The fluctuations of average annual genetic effects may result from segregation of the major gene in the population.
Epistatic kinship a new measure of genetic diversity for short‐term phylogenetic structures – theoretical investigations
Authors: Flury C. , Tietze M. , Simianer H.
Published: May 2006

The epistatic kinship describes the probability that chromosomal segments of length x in Morgan are identical by descent. It is an extension from the single locus consideration of the kinship coefficient to chromosomal segments. The parameter reflects the number of meioses separating individuals or populations. Hence it is suggested as a measure to quantify the genetic distance of subpopulations that have been separated only few generations ago. Algorithms for the epistatic kinship and the extension of the rules to set up the rectangular relationship matrix are presented. The properties of the epistatic kinship based on pedigree information were investigated theoretically. Pedigree data are often missing for small livestock populations. Therefore, an approach to estimate epistatic kinship based on molecular marker data are suggested. For the epistatic kinship based on marker information haplotypes are relevant. An easy and fast method that derives haplotypes and the respective frequencies without pedigree information was derived based on sampled full‐sib pairs. Different parameters of the sampling scheme were tested in a simulation study. The power of the method decreases with increasing segment length and with increasing number of segments genotyped. Further, it is shown that the efficiency of the approach is influenced by the number of animals genotyped and the polymorphism of the markers. It is discussed that the suggested method has a considerable potential to allow a phylogenetic differentiation between close populations, where small sample size can be balanced by the number, the length, and the degree of polymorphism of the chromosome segments considered.
New SNPs in the IGF2 gene and association between this gene and backfat thickness and lean meat content in Large White pigs
Authors: Vykoukalová Z. , Knoll A. , Dvořák J. , Čepica S.
Published: May 2006

IGF2‐in3‐G3072A is a causative mutation for paternally expressed quantitative trait loci on the p arm of porcine chromosome 2 with substantial effect on muscle growth and backfat thickness. The linkage disequilibrium between IGF2‐in3‐G3072A and IGF2‐in7‐G162C (IGF2‐NciI) in four breeds and associations between these polymorphisms and growth and meat performance in pigs of the Large White breed were analysed. A significant effect of these polymorphisms on backfat thickness and lean meat content was found. In addition, we identified two new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 7 of the gene. The existence of complete linkage disequilibrium between IGF2‐in3‐G3072A locus in the population under study where the locus segregated and SNPs in intron 7 of the IGF2 gene detectable with simple and reliable polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques (G162C, C179G and G186T) offer possibilities to use these SNPs for genotyping of quantitative trait nucleotide in Large White and Landrace breeds.
Evaluation of genetic diversity in Japanese Brown cattle population by pedigree analysis
Authors: Honda T. , Fujii T. , Nomura T. , Mukai F.
Published: May 2006

The Japanese Brown is the second most common domestic beef breed in Japan. However, nowadays this breed is facing reduction in numbers because of pressure from a profitable domestic breed. This breed is uniformly characterized by its brown coat colour, but is comprised of two isolated sub‐breeds, Kumamoto and Kouchi, each possessing a different gene pool. Pedigree analyses were carried out for the two sub‐breeds using the pedigree records of animals born from 1970 to 2000. The effective population size has been found to be consistently reducing during the last three decades in both sub‐breeds. The current effective sizes were estimated to be 25.5 and 6.0 for the Kumamoto and Kouchi sub‐breeds, respectively. The estimate of the effective number of founders (Nef) in the Kumamoto sub‐breed decreased from 152.1 to 74.4; that of non‐founders (Nenf), from 41.7 to 5.3; and that of founder genome equivalents (Nge), from 32.7 to 4.9. The corresponding changes in the Kouchi sub‐breed were from 108.2 to 79.4, 16.2 to 4.1, and 14.1 to 3.9. Increasing differences between the two genetic diversity indices in the sub‐breeds indicate that the greater part of the reduction of genetic diversity can be attributed to genetic drift that accumulated in the non‐founder generations. A comparison with published estimates for several cattle breeds suggests the extremely limited genetic diversity of Japanese Brown. In addition to the avoidance of further reduction of genetic diversity, it will be important to counteract the process of breed decline by establishing a production system to efficiently utilize the unique characteristics of this breed and by developing links between the breed and products with market value.
Analysis of β‐tubulin Gene Fragments from Benzimidazole‐sensitive and ‐tolerant Cercospora beticola
Authors: Davidson R. M. , Hanson L. E. , Franc G. D. , Panella L.
Published: May 2006

Cercospora leaf spot of sugar beet, caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, is a major foliar pathogen on sugar beet. Fungicide sprays have been used extensively to manage Cercospora leaf spot, including the benzimidazole fungicides. Resistance to benzimidazoles has been observed in isolates of C. beticola. The precise genetics of this resistance is not known in this fungus. We tested benzimidazole‐tolerant and ‐sensitive isolates and found a single mutation in the β‐tubulin gene of benzimidazole‐tolerant isolates that corresponds to a mutation known to confer benzimidazole tolerance in other ascomycetes. This mutation is predicted to cause a change from glutamic acid to alanine in the protein product. Isolates containing this mutation further show an increased sensitivity to an N‐phenylcarbamate, as would be predicted based on the mutant phenotype found in other filamentous fungi. Only a single mutation was found in isolates from different regions of the United States, isolated in different growing seasons.
Sensitive and Specific Digoxigenin‐labelled RNA Probes for Routine Detection of Citrus tristeza virus by Dot‐blot Hybridization
Authors: Barbarossa L. , Savino V.
Published: May 2006

A non‐radioactive dot‐blot hybridization assay for the successful detection of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) RNA in total nucleic acid extracts of infected citrus was developed. Two digoxigenin (DIG)‐labelled minus‐sense riboprobes, complementary to the coat protein gene sequence of a Chinese and an Apulian CTV isolate were synthesized. Several citrus tissues were evaluated as optimal virus source and leaf petioles were found appropriate material for reliable detection. The hybridization assay showed a detection limit corresponding to 0.2 mg of fresh infected tissue. The riboprobes allowed CTV detection in isolates from different geographical areas, grown in the screenhouse or in the field, resulting in similar hybridization patterns. The infected trees were tested during different seasons with positive results, although from July to August most of the samples gave a weaker hybridization signal, compared to other seasons. The high sensitivity and reliability of the molecular hybridization assay described make it a good alternative to serological methods for CTV detection.
Natural Infection of Tobacco by Colombian Datura virus in Poland, Germany and Hungary
Authors: Schubert J. , Doroszewska T. , Chrzanowska M. , Sztangret‐Wiśniewska J.
Published: May 2006

In 2004, a virus infection of tobacco with a so far unknown virus was observed in three Central European countries, Poland, Germany and Hungary. By means of cloning and sequencing of a partial cDNA of the virus the causal agent was identified as Colombian Datura virus (CDV). Comparison of the sequences of cloned cDNAs of isolates from all three locations together with phylogenetical analysis revealed that they were closely related to each other and already published isolates, but of different origin. Polyclonal antibodies were produced which reacted specifically with CDV. They were used for immunocapture reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In future they can be used for the virus survey in tobacco.
Spatial Analysis Based on Variance of Moving Window Averages
Authors: Wu B. M. , Subbarao K. V. , Ferrandino F. J. , Hao J. J.
Published: May 2006

A new method for analysing spatial patterns was designed based on the variance of moving window averages (VMWA), which can be directly calculated in geographical information systems or a spreadsheet program (e.g. MS Excel). Different types of artificial data were generated to test the method. Regardless of data types, the VMWA method correctly determined the mean cluster sizes. This method was also employed to assess spatial patterns in historical plant disease survey data encompassing both airborne and soilborne diseases. The results obtained using the VMWA method were generally different from those obtained with Lloyd's index of patchiness and beta‐binomial distribution methods, were in partial agreement with the results from spatial analysis by distance indices, and were highly consistent with the results from semivariogram and spatial autocorrelation analysis methods. Results demonstrated that the VMWA method can be applied to many types of data, including binomial diseased or healthy plant counts, incidence, severity, and number of diseased plants or pathogen propagules although directional and edge effects may limit its application.
Immunohistochemical study of immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis with antibodies to the immunoglobulin light chain variable region
Authors: Hoshii Yoshinobu , Kiyama Makiko , Cui Dan , Kawano Hiroo , Ishihara Tokuhiro
Published: May 2006

To detect immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue sections by immunohistochemistry, polyclonal antibodies were generated against synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acids 1–19 of the Ig λ light chain V λ VI subgroup (anti‐V λ VI (1–19)) and the Ig κ light chain Vκ I subgroup (anti‐Vκ I (1–19)). Anti‐V λ VI (1–19) antibody reacted with amyloid deposits in 21 of 22 Aλ amyloidosis cases, and anti‐Vκ I (1–19) antibody reacted with amyloid deposits in 10 of 11 Aκ amyloidosis cases. Immunoreactivity varied in intensity by case and within specimens. Surprisingly, amyloid deposits were positive for anti‐V κ I (1–19) staining in one case of Aλ amyloidosis. Analysis of anti‐V λ VI (1–19) and anti‐Vκ I (1–19) antibody reactivity by ELISA showed some cross‐reactivity with peptides other than antigen peptides. The antibodies were not reactive in all cases of AL amyloidosis examined but may be useful, together with anti‐Ig constant region antibodies, for immunohistochemical diagnosis of AL amyloidosis.
Human papillomavirus localization in cervical adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma using in situ polymerase chain reaction: Review of the literature of human papillomavirus detection in these carcinomas
Authors: Ogura Kanako , Ishi Kazuhisa , Matsumoto Toshiharu , Kina Katsunari , Nojima Michio , Suda Koichi
Published: May 2006

Many studies have suggested that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of the cervical adenocarcinoma. However, the prevalence of HPV infection in cervical adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma varies among the studies. Cervical adenocarcinoma (24 cases) and adenosquamous carcinoma (16 cases), including the underlying non‐neoplastic epithelium were examined for HPV‐DNA using in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which enabled visualization of the localization on a glass slide. In adenocarcinoma, HPV‐DNA was found in 13 cases (54%) and in eight cases in underlying non‐neoplastic epithelium, resulting in a total of 21 positive cases (88%). In adenosquamous carcinoma, HPV‐DNA was detected in 12 cases (75%) and and the HPV‐DNA localization of each component was pure adenocarcinoma, 28.6%; mixed, 54.5%; and pure squamous cell carcinoma, 83.3%. In the underlying non‐neoplastic epithelium, HPV‐DNA was found more frequently in the squamous epithelium (73.3%) than the cervical glands (6.3%). In conclusion, HPV‐DNA was detected in 54% of adenocarcinoma, and the rate was elevated by HPV localization in the underlying non‐neoplastic epithelium. HPV infection in the underlying squamous epithelium might be related to the carcinogenesis, even in cervical adenocarcinoma. HPV‐DNA localization was different in each component of adenosquamous carcinoma.
Prognostic factors of phyllodes tumor of the breast
Authors: Roa Juan Carlos , Tapia Oscar , Carrasco Paula , Contreras Enrique , Araya Juan Carlos , Muñoz Sergio , Roa Iván
Published: May 2006

The phyllodes tumor is characterized by its tendency to recur locally and occasionally to metastasize. The purpose of the present paper was to assess the prognostic value of clinical–morphological characteristics in patients with phyllodes tumor. Forty‐seven cases of phyllodes tumors was studied; the World Health Organization classification was used and follow up was obtained. A total of 51%, 28% and 21% of the tumors were classified as benign, borderline and malignant, respectively. The adherence (P = 0.01), size >10 cm (P = 0.001), high mitotic activity (P = 0.03), infiltrative tumor margin (P = 0.0002) and type of surgery in malignant tumors (P = 0.02) proved to be good predictors of relapse. The presence of pain (P = 0.03), postmenopausal status (P < 0.04), heavy cellular pleomorphism (P = 0.007), high mitotic activity (P = 0.002), tumoral grade (P = 0.006) and metastasis (P < 0.00001) were prognostic factors of poor survival. Tumoral grade and some clinical–morphological characteristics of patients with phyllodes tumors have a significant impact on the prediction of its biological behavior.
Ciliated hepatic cyst without smooth muscle layer: A variant of ciliated hepatic foregut cyst?
Authors: Sato Yasunori , Kitagawa Satoshi , Zen Yoh , Minato Hiroshi , Nakanuma Yasuni
Published: May 2006

The ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare lesion that may arise from remnants of the embryonic foregut. Its wall is lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, and is characterized by the presence of bundles of smooth muscle. Herein is presented two cases of ciliated hepatic cyst without smooth muscle layer. One case was an incidental autopsy finding, and the other was a surgically resected cystic lesion of the liver. Both cysts were <2.0 cm in diameter, and were located subcapusularly in the medial segment (S4) of the liver. The histological appearance of the two cases was identical. They had an epithelial lining of ciliated pseudostratified cells with occasional goblet cells, and lacked a smooth muscle layer, as shown by the actin immunostaining. The lining epithelium contained cells positive for immunohistochemical staining of surfactant apoprotein A, suggesting the embryonic foregut origin of the cysts and differentiation toward bronchiolar structures, rather than ciliated metaplasia of the epithelium of the simple (cholangiogenic) cyst. It is considered that ciliated hepatic cysts of the present case are a rare histological variant of CHFC where the smooth muscle layer is inconspicuous or absent.
Utilization of eye care services in Victoria
Authors: Müller Andreas , Vu Hien T , Ferraro John G , Keeffe Jill E , Taylor Hugh R
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Purpose:  To determine baseline eye care utilization by older Victorians in order to assess change in 2 years after an eye health promotion campaign.

Methods:  A letter of invitation to participate was sent to all people aged 70–79 years in randomly selected Melbourne postcode areas. A questionnaire was designed to allow gathering of eye health‐related information. Eye exams included autorefraction, frequency doubling technology and non‐mydriatic fundus photography. Results were compared with the Melbourne Vision Impairment Project .

Results:  A total of 1695 people with a mean age of 74 years were recruited. The overall proportion with visual impairment was 8% (134/1695), of which 27% (36/134) was due to non‐refractive causes. Only 31% (11/36) of visually impaired people knew about low‐vision services, of whom 20% (7/36) had used them. Of all people with diabetes, only 52% (96/184) had a dilated eye exam within the recommended 2 years (Melbourne Vision Impairment Project 44%).

Conclusions:  Compliance rates with recommendations for 2‐yearly eye exams for people with diabetes have not improved since the last major eye health study in Victoria 10 years ago. The same is true for the rate of undiagnosed glaucoma, suggesting that messages about eye examinations need to be promoted for older people at high risk of vision loss, for example, those with diabetes and at risk of vision loss from glaucoma.
Sodium hyaluronate in trabeculectomy: effect on early complications
Authors: Gulkılık Gokhan , Kocabora Selim , Engın Gunay , Taskapılı Muhittin , Yılmazlı Cemil , Kucuksahın Hasan
Published: May 2006

Abstract

Purpose:  To evaluate the effect of sodium hyaluronate on the early complications of trabeculectomy.

Methods:  In this prospective study, trabeculectomy was performed in 51 eyes of 51 patients with different types of glaucoma. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. In 24 eyes (study group) sodium hyaluronate was injected into the anterior chamber after suturing the scleral flap. In the remaining 27 eyes (control group) only balanced salt solution was injected. Visual acuities, intraocular pressures and early complications were evaluated.

Results:  Preoperative mean intraocular pressures were similar in the two groups (34.5 ± 18.7 mmHg in the study group and 37.2 ± 18.1 mmHg in the control group). In the first postoperative day mean intraocular pressure difference was significant (16.8 ± 7.1 mmHg in the study group and 9.0 ± 6.6 mmHg in the control group, P < 0.01). There was significant difference in occurrence of hypotony (8.3% study vs. 40.7% control), anterior chamber shallowing (8.3% study vs. 37% control) and choroidal detachment (none in study vs. 33.3% control) between the two groups (P < 0.01). Early intraocular pressure peak, occurred more common in the study group (20.8%) than in the control group (11.1%), but the difference was not significant (P > 0.01). Hyphema occurred in two (8.3%) eyes in the study group, and three (11.1%) in the control group. This was not significant (P > 0.01). The clearance time of blood from the anterior chamber (less than 1 week) was also similar in the two groups.

Conclusion:  Sodium hyaluronate‐assisted trabeculectomy decreased the incidence of early postoperative complications like anterior chamber shallowing, choroidal detachment and hypotony, but it did not have any effect on hyphema or its clearance.
Selective tuning of cortical sound‐feature processing by language experience
Authors: Tervaniemi M. , Jacobsen T. , Röttger S. , Kujala T. , Widmann A. , Vainio M. , Näätänen R. , Schröger E.
Published: May 2006

In ‘quantity‐languages’, such as Japanese or Finnish, sound duration is linguistically relevant. We showed that quantity‐language speakers were superior to speakers of a non‐quantity language in discriminating the duration of even non‐speech sounds. In contrast, there was no group difference in the discrimination of sound frequency. This result, obtained both by behavioural and neural indices at attentive and automatic levels of processing, indicates precise feature‐specific tuning of the auditory‐cortex functions by the mother tongue.
Short periods of concordant binocular vision prevent the development of deprivation amblyopia
Authors: Mitchell Donald E. , Kind Peter C. , Sengpiel Frank , Murphy Kathryn
Published: May 2006

Based in part on deprivation studies, it is generally agreed that the development of vision and of the central visual pathways of higher mammals such as cats and primates is experience‐dependent. Past deprivation experiments employed periods of exclusively abnormal early visual input. Because of the absence of any normal visual input, such studies indicate only the extremes to which the visual system can change in response to visually driven activity (i.e. its capabilities) rather than provide insight into the role of early visual input in normal development (i.e. what it actually does). We examined the possibility that certain visual input, i.e. normal concordant binocular vision, may be more efficacious than others with respect to its effects on the developing visual system and on vision. On a daily basis, one type of visual input, i.e. normal binocular experience (BE), was pitted against abnormal (monocular exposure, ME) input in order to see if one was more effective. We show that 2 h of daily normal concordant, but not discordant, BE outweighs or protects against as much as 5 h of daily abnormal input to permit the development of normal grating acuity and alignment accuracy in the two eyes. Further, we show that splitting the period of BE into two 1‐h periods straddling the period of ME was ineffective, thereby indicating the 2 h of BE each day must be continuous to protect against the development of amblyopia.
ERP and fMRI correlates of endogenous and exogenous focusing of visual‐spatial attention
Authors: Natale E. , Marzi C. A. , Girelli M. , Pavone E. F. , Pollmann S.
Published: May 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the neural correlates of the functional distinction underlying attentional mechanisms of endogenous‐sustained and exogenous‐transient spatial selection. We recorded event related potentials (ERPs) and used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in separate experiments while subjects performed a simple reaction time (RT) to the same visual stimulus displayed to one of several field locations. Endogenous‐sustained or exogenous‐transient focusing of attention onto target location were obtained by presenting the stimulus in blocks of same‐point vs. randomised‐point trials, respectively. Same‐point stimuli yielded overall faster RT than randomised stimuli, indicating a facilitating effect of endogenous‐sustained spatial attention on the perceptual processing of the impending stimulus. Moreover, same‐point vs. randomised presentations revealed significant increases in the fMRI signal in the bilateral lingual and fusiform gyri as well as in the right calcarine sulcus, in conjunction with a larger amplitude of the posterior P1 component of ERPs, but no modulation of the amplitude of the N1 component. Rather, a larger amplitude of N1 was found in the reverse contrast, randomised minus same‐point trials, which revealed increases in the fMRI signal along the posterior left superior frontal sulcus and bilaterally in the superior precuneus. These findings indicate that N1 indexes exogenous orienting of attention and is likely to represent the activity of frontal and parietal components of the attention network involved in eliciting attention changes. In contrast, the effects of those changes, resulting in a modulation of activation in visual occipital areas, are indexed by P1.
Intrinsic bursting of immature CA3 pyramidal neurons and consequent giant depolarizing potentials are driven by a persistent Na+ current and terminated by a slow Ca2+‐activated K+ current
Authors: Sipilä Sampsa T. , Huttu Kristiina , Voipio Juha , Kaila Kai
Published: May 2006

The CA3 area of the mature hippocampus is known for its ability to generate intermittent network activity both in physiological and in pathological conditions. We have recently shown that in the early postnatal period, the intrinsic bursting of interconnected CA3 pyramidal neurons generates network events, which were originally called giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs). The voltage‐dependent burst activity of individual pyramidal neurons is promoted by the well‐known depolarizing action of endogenous GABA on immature neurons. In the present work, we show that a persistent Na+ current, I‐Nap, accounts for the slow regenerative depolarization that triggers the intrinsic bursts in the neonatal rat CA3 pyramidal neurons (postnatal day 3–6), while a slow Ca2+‐activated K+ current, sI‐K(Ca), is primarily responsible for the postburst slow afterhyperpolarization and consequent burst termination. In addition, we exploited pharmacological data obtained from intracellular recordings to study the mechanisms involved in network events recorded with field potential recordings. The data as a whole indicate that I‐Nap and sI‐K(Ca) are involved in the initiation and termination, respectively, of the pyramidal bursts and consequent network events underlying GDPs.
L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia in adult rats with a unilateral 6‐OHDA lesion of dopamine neurons is paralleled by increased c‐fos gene expression in the subthalamic nucleus
Authors: Soghomonian Jean‐Jacques
Published: May 2006

Levodopa (L‐DOPA), the metabolic precursor of dopamine, is widely used as a pharmacological agent for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, long‐term L‐DOPA use results in abnormal involuntary movements such as dyskinesias. There is evidence that abnormal cell signaling in the basal ganglia is involved in L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays a key role in the circuitry of the basal ganglia and in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. However, the contribution of the STN to L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesias remains unclear. The objective of this work was to study the effects of acute or chronic systemic administration of L‐DOPA to adult rats with a unilateral 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) lesion of dopamine neurons on c‐fos expression in the STN and test the hypothesis that these effects correlate with L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesias. c‐fos mRNA expression was measured in the STN by in situ hybridization histochemistry at the single cell level. Our results confirm earlier evidence that the chronic administration of L‐DOPA to rats with a unilateral 6‐OHDA lesion increases c‐fos expression in the STN. We also report that c‐fos expression can be increased following an acute injection of L‐DOPA to 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats but not following a chronic injection of L‐DOPA to sham‐operated, unlesioned rats. Finally, we provide evidence that the occurrence and severity of dyskinesia is correlated with c‐fos mRNA levels in the ipsilateral STN. These results suggest that altered cell signaling in the STN is involved in some of the behavioral effects induced by systemic L‐DOPA administration.