bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genotype–phenotype relationship for six common polymorphisms in genes affecting platelet function from 286 healthy subjects and 160 patients with mucocutaneous bleeding of unknown cause
Authors: Martínez Constantino , Antón Ana Isabel , Corral Javier , Quiroga Teresa , Panes Olga , Lozano María Luisa , González‐Conejero Rocío , Teruel Raúl , Navarro‐Núñez Leyre , Pereira Jaime , Mezzano Diego , Vicente Vicente , Rivera José
Published: April 2009

Polymorphisms affecting platelet receptors and intracellular proteins have been extensively studied in relation to their potential influence in thrombosis and haemorrhages. However, few reports have addressed their impact on platelet function, with contradictory results. Limitations of these studies include, among others, small number of patients, the platelet functional parameters analyzed and their known variability in the healthy population. We studied the effect of six polymorphisms [ITGB3 1565T > C (HPA‐1), GPIBA variable number tandem repeat and 524C > T (HPA‐2), ITGA2 807C > T, ADRA2A 1780A > G, and TUBB1 Q43P] on platelet function in 286 healthy subjects and their potential pathogenetic role in 160 patients with hereditary mucocutaneous bleeding of unknown cause. We found no effect of any of these polymorphisms on platelet aggregation, secretion, PFA‐100®, and thrombin generation in platelet rich plasma. Furthermore, patients and controls showed no significant differences in the frequency of any of these polymorphisms. Thus, our study demonstrated that polymorphisms in genes affecting platelet function do not influence significantly major platelet functions and appear irrelevant in the pathogenesis of bleeding disorders.
Osteopontin is involved in migration of eosinophils in asthma
Authors: Takahashi A. , Kurokawa M. , Konno S. , Ito K. , Kon S. , Ashino S. , Nishimura T. , Uede T. , Hizawa N. , Huang S‐K , Nishimura M.
Published: April 2009

Background
Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein with a wide range of functions, and is involved in various inflammatory diseases. However, the role of OPN in eosinophilic airway inflammation is unclear.

Objective
To elucidate the role of OPN in eosinophilic airway inflammation.

Methods
OPN protein levels in induced sputum from asthmatic patients and healthy controls were measured. Eosinophil migration assays were performed in the presence or absence of OPN, a blocking antibody (Ab) recognizing its integrin‐binding domain (2K1) and an anti‐integrin α4 Ab (P1H4). In the mouse asthma model, the levels of eosinophilia were examined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) from ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized and ‐challenged mice with or without administration of an Ab (M5) corresponding to human 2K1.

Results
Levels of OPN in induced sputum were significantly higher in asthmatic patients when compared with healthy controls. In addition, levels of OPN were correlated with the percentage of sputum eosinophils. OPN induced significant migration of human eosinophils and this effect was inhibited by 2K1 and P1H4. M5 significantly attenuated OVA‐induced eosinophilia in BALFs.

Conclusion
These results indicate that OPN plays a role in the migration of eosinophils into the airways and may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.
On the International Code of Area Nomenclature (ICAN)
Authors: Zaragüeta‐Bagils René , Bourdon Estelle , Ung Visotheary , Vignes‐Lebbe Régine , Malécot Valéry
Published: April 2009

A recent work proposed a new naming system for biogeographical areas: the International Code of Area Nomenclature (ICAN). This system aims to standardize area names used in biogeography and constitutes a key step towards maturity of this discipline. We point out a number of issues in this first version of ICAN. These include the lack of distinction between classification and nomenclature, the use of ranks, the criteria of area definition, the conflation of diagnosis and description, the ambiguous use of valid/available, and the system of amendments. We suggest postponing the initial date of application of this code until consistent rules are provided.
Perceived stress as a risk factor for changes in health behaviour and cardiac risk profile: a longitudinal study
Authors: Rod N. H. , Grønbæk M. , Schnohr P. , Prescott E. , Kristensen T. S.
Published: April 2009

Objective.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term effects of stress on changes in health behaviour and cardiac risk profile in men and women.

Design.  A prospective cohort study.

Setting.  The Copenhagen City Heart Study, Denmark.

Subjects.  The analyses were based on 7066 women and men from the second (1981–1983) and third (1991–1993) wave of the Copenhagen City Heart Study. All participants were asked questions on stress and health behaviour and they had their weight, height, blood pressure and level of blood lipids measured by trained personnel.

Main outcome measures.  Changes in health behaviour (smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, overweight) and cardiac risk profile (cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes).

Results.  Individuals with high levels of stress compared to those with low levels of stress were less likely to quit smoking (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.41–0.83), more likely to become physically inactive (1.90; 1.41–2.55), less likely to stop drinking above the sensible drinking limits (0.43; 0.24–0.79), and stressed women were more likely to become overweight (1.55; 1.12–2.15) during follow‐up. Men and women with high stress were more likely to use antihypertensive medication (1.94; 1.63–2.30), and stressed men were more than two times as likely to develop diabetes during follow‐up (2.36; 1.22–4.59).

Conclusion.  This longitudinal study supports a causal relation between stress and cardiovascular diseases mediated through unfavourable changes in health behaviour and cardiac risk profile.
Coronal tooth structure in root‐treated teeth prepared for complete and partial coverage restorations
Authors: MURPHY F. , MCDONALD A. , PETRIE A. , PALMER G. , SETCHELL D.
Published: April 2009

Summary  This in vivo study assessed the remaining coronal tooth structure in teeth prepared for complete and partial coverage restorations using 3D‐scanning and a Tooth Restorability Index (TRI). The cuspal coverage preparation designs selected by 10 postgraduate dentists and 10 general dental practitioners were recorded in a questionnaire. Eighteen patients had molar root treatment completed at the Eastman Dental Hospital and were prescribed a coronal‐radicular amalgam core and cast restoration. Each tooth was prepared in vivo by one operator for a cast restoration. Two clinical impressions were made to produce two dies: one of remaining coronal tooth structure before crown preparation and a second die of coronal tooth structure in vivo after crown preparation. For teeth prepared for partial coverage in vivo (n = 13), a third die was prepared in vitro representing remaining tooth structure after complete coverage preparation. The three dies were of tooth structure prior to core placement. All dies (n = 31) were scanned using a laser profilometer and the volume of remaining tooth structure calculated. Four observers scored 31 dies using the TRI. The percentage loss of coronal tooth volume following a complete instead of a partial coverage preparation varied from 3·29% to 45·23% and the mean TRI fell from 10·7 to 7·5 units. There was a strong correlation between mean TRI and scanned volume of tooth structure (P = 0·013). Over 50% of the dentists altered their initial choice of restoration design from complete to partial coverage. Complete coverage preparations removed more tooth structure than partial coverage.
Intra‐cortical excitability in healthy human subjects after tongue training
Authors: BAAD‐HANSEN L. , BLICHER J. U. , LAPITSKAYA N. , NIELSEN J. F. , SVENSSON P.
Published: April 2009

Summary  Training of specific muscles causes plastic changes in corticomotor pathways which may underlie the effect of various clinical rehabilitation procedures. The paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) technique can be used to assess short interval intra‐cortical inhibitory (SICI) and intra‐cortical facilitatory (ICF) networks. This study examined changes in SICI and ICF in tongue motor cortex after tongue training in 11 healthy volunteers using ppTMS. Paired pulse TMS was applied to the ‘hot‐spot’ for the tongue motor cortex and motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from tongue muscles. In tongue motor cortex, bilateral SICI (P < 0·019) and ICF (P < 0·001) was detected before and after training. There were no significant effects of training on single MEPs or SICI/ICF (P > 0·063). The success rate improved during training (P < 0·001) and changes in success were correlated to changes in single MEP amplitude (P < 0·006) but not to SICI/ICF (P > 0·113). This first study of SICI/ICF after tongue training showed no training‐related changes in intra‐cortical inhibitory or facilitatory networks. However, there was an association between task performance and changes in corticomotor excitability. Further studies are required to determine the clinical utility of muscle specific training for oral rehabilitation purposes.
Molecular phylogenetic biodiversity assessment of arctic and boreal ectomycorrhizal Lactarius Pers. (Russulales; Basidiomycota) in Alaska, based on soil and sporocarp DNA
Authors: GEML JÓZSEF , LAURSEN GARY A. , TIMLING INA , MCFARLAND JACK M. , BOOTH MICHAEL G. , LENNON NIALL , NUSBAUM CHAD , TAYLOR D. LEE
Published: April 2009

Despite the critical roles fungi play in the functioning of ecosystems, especially as symbionts of plants and recyclers of organic matter, their biodiversity is poorly known in high‐latitude regions. In this paper, we discuss the molecular diversity of one of the most diverse and abundant groups of ectomycorrhizal fungi: the genus Lactarius Pers. We analysed internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences from both curated sporocarp collections and soil polymerase chain reaction clone libraries sampled in the arctic tundra and boreal forests of Alaska. Our genetic diversity assessment, based on various phylogenetic methods and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) delimitations, suggests that the genus Lactarius is diverse in Alaska, with at least 43 putative phylogroups, and 24 and 38 distinct OTUs based on 95% and 97% internal transcribed spacer sequence similarity, respectively. Some OTUs were identified to known species, while others were novel, previously unsequenced groups. Non‐asymptotic species accumulation curves, the disparity between observed and estimated richness, and the high number of singleton OTUs indicated that many Lactarius species remain to be found and identified in Alaska. Many Lactarius taxa show strong habitat preference to one of the three major vegetation types in the sampled regions (arctic tundra, black spruce forests, and mixed birch‐aspen‐white spruce forests), as supported by statistical tests of UniFrac distances and principal coordinates analyses (PCoA). Together, our data robustly demonstrate great diversity and nonrandom ecological partitioning in an important boreal ectomycorrhizal genus within a relatively small geographical region. The observed diversity of Lactarius was much higher in either type of boreal forest than in the arctic tundra, supporting the widely recognized pattern of decreasing species richness with increasing latitude.
Can phosphorus limitation contribute to the maintenance of sex? A test of a key assumption
Authors: NEIMAN M. , THEISEN K. M. , MAYRY M. E. , KAY A. D.
Published: April 2009

Why sex is so common remains unclear; what is certain is that the predominance of sex despite its profound costs means that it must confer major advantages. Here, we use elemental and nucleic acid assays to evaluate a key element of a novel, integrative hypothesis considering whether sex might be favoured because of differences in body composition between sexuals and asexuals. We found that asexual Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand snail, have markedly higher bodily phosphorus and nucleic acid content per unit mass than sexual counterparts. These differences coincide with and are almost certainly linked to the higher ploidy of the asexuals. Our results are the first documented body composition differences between sexual and asexual organisms, and the first detected phenotypic difference between sexual and asexual P. antipodarum, an important natural model system for the study of the maintenance of sex. These findings also verify a central component of our hypothesis that competition between diploid sexuals and polyploid asexuals could be influenced by phosphorus availability.
Traditional Amerindian cultivators combine directional and ideotypic selection for sustainable management of cassava genetic diversity
Authors: DUPUTIÉ A. , MASSOL F. , DAVID P. , HAXAIRE C. , McKEY D.
Published: April 2009

Plant domestication provides striking examples of rapid evolution. Yet, it involves more complex processes than plain directional selection. Understanding the dynamics of diversity in traditional agroecosystems is both a fundamental goal in evolutionary biology and a practical goal in conservation. We studied how Amerindian cultivators maintain dynamically evolving gene pools in cassava. Farmers purposely maintain diversity in the form of phenotypically distinct, clonally propagated landraces. Landrace gene pools are continuously renewed by incorporating seedlings issued from spontaneous sexual reproduction. This poses two problems: agronomic quality may decrease because some seedlings are inbred, and landrace identity may be progressively lost through the incorporation of unrelated seedlings. Using a large microsatellite dataset, we show that farmers solve these problems by applying two kinds of selection: directional selection against inbred genotypes, and counter‐selection of off‐type phenotypes, which maintains high intra‐landrace relatedness. Thus, cultural elements such as ideotypes (a representation of the ideal phenotype of a landrace) can shape genetic diversity.
Short‐term assessment of dung beetle response to carbosulfan treatment against desert locust in Sudan
Authors: Eriksson H. , Isaksson D.
Published: April 2009

The beneficial role of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is well known. Potential risks to these beetles from the widespread use of insecticides against the desert locust, a significant plant pest in Africa, the Near East and South West Asia, have not been studied previously. Short‐term responses of dung beetles to carbamate carbosulfan (Marshal®, ultra low‐volume formulation, 100 g active ingredient ha−1) were assessed during desert locust control operations at five sites within two major biotopes:Acacia tortilisshrubland and cultivated wetland; on the Red Sea Coast of Sudan. The study took place during January–February 2004. At each site, fresh dung from Zebu cows was placed in areas targeted for desert locust control. Dung pats were placed in plots in two areas and left for 24 h, before and after insecticide application. Beetles were extracted by floatation. There was a significant decrease in abundance between the pre‐ and post‐spray period in treated areas for the Scarabaeinae speciesOnthophagus margaritifer(a dark colour morph). In contrast, it was found thatAphodius lucidusand beetles at the subfamily level of Aphodiinae increased in numbers after insecticide treatment. Mortality and sublethal impacts as well as a repellent effect of the insecticide may explain the decrease inOnthophagus margaritifer, while the increase in Aphodiinae beetles could be an indirect response to lower numbers of Scarabaeinae beetles in competing for the same resource. These organisms and the applied methodology may be useful for environmental monitoring of desert locust control, thus further studies are suggested. The assessment also revealed a marked difference between the two biotopes with high abundance and species richness of dung beetles inA. tortilisshrubland, while these measures were low in the cultivated wetland. Five new species of dung beetles for Sudan were found in this study.
Co‐localization of quantitative trait loci for foliar disease resistance in sorghum
Authors: Mohan S. M. , Madhusudhana R. , Mathur K. , Howarth C. J. , Srinivas G. , Satish K. , Reddy R. N. , Seetharama N.
Published: April 2009

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of resistance to three foliar diseases, viz. target leaf spot, zonate leaf spot and drechstera leaf blight was undertaken in sorghum using 168 F7 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between ‘296B’ (resistant) and ‘IS18551’ (susceptible) parents. The genomic region flanked by plant colour locus (Plcor) and simple sequence repeat marker Xtxp95 on chromosome SBI‐06 harboured disease‐response QTL for all the three diseases caused by different fungal pathogens. It is hypothesized that this region on sorghum chromosome SBI‐06 could harbour a cluster of disease‐response loci to different pathogens as observed in the syntenic regions on rice chromosome 4 and maize chromosome 2. The information gained in this study can be used in deploying marker‐assisted selection for foliar resistance and map‐based isolation of important disease resistance genes in sorghum.
Clinical effectiveness of steroid pulse therapy combined with tonsillectomy in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy presenting glomerular haematuria and minimal proteinuria
Authors: KAWAGUCHI TAKEHIKO , IEIRI NORIO , YAMAZAKI SHIN , HAYASHINO YASUAKI , GILLESPIE BRENDA , MIYAZAKI MARIKO , TAGUMA YOSHIO , FUKUHARA SHUNICHI , HOTTA OSAMU
Published: April 2009

Aim:  The effectiveness of steroid pulse therapy combined with tonsillectomy (ST) has been shown in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) patients with moderate or severe urinary abnormalities. The present study aimed to clarify whether the effectiveness may be extrapolated to IgAN with minor urinary abnormalities, and whether the effectiveness may depend on the histological severity with minor urinary abnormalities.

Methods:  Data on 388 IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsies between 1987 and 2000 in Sendai Shakaihoken Hospital, who presented glomerular haematuria and minimal proteinuria (≤0.5 g/day) at baseline, were analyzed. Cox regression was used to examine associations between baseline use of ST and subsequent clinical remission (CR), defined as negative proteinuria by dipstick and urinary erythrocytes of less than 1/high‐power field. The instrumental variable method was also used to overcome confounding by treatment indication.

Results:  During a median follow up of 24 months, we observed 170 CR cases. Patients receiving ST were younger and showed a better case‐mix profile. Patients with ST had a significantly higher rate of CR than patients without tonsillectomy or steroid pulse in an unadjusted (hazard ratio (HR) = 5.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.33–9.12, P < 0.001) or adjusted Cox model (HR = 4.65, 95% CI = 2.43–8.88, P < 0.001). Less severe histological findings were substantially associated with higher CR rate in ST group. Adjusting for confounding by treatment indication showed an attenuated but still significant effect of ST (HR = 3.10, 95% CI = 2.02–4.77, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:  ST significantly increased the probability of CR in IgAN patients with glomerular haematuria and minimal proteinuria, and it was more effective in those with less severe histological findings.
Portsea Modified Clinical Technique: Evaluation of an Expanded Optometric Vision Screening Protocol for Children
Authors: WALTERS JEAN
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT  A new screening protocol, the Portsea Modified Clinical Technique, is evaluated in terms of the results acquired from screening 5,597 Australian children. The nature of the vision defects detected is examined. The significance of these defects to children and their amenability to optometric treatment is discussed. The expanded screening battery provides a broad clinical profile including information about the accommodative and vergence system. A detailed referral schedule has been devised which should facilitate the application of this protocol.
Pyrosequencing analysis of endosymbiont population structure: co‐occurrence of divergent symbiont lineages in a single vesicomyid host clam
Authors: Stewart Frank J. , Cavanaugh Colleen M.
Published: April 2009

Bacteria–eukaryote endosymbioses are perhaps the most pervasive co‐evolutionary associations in nature. Here, intracellular chemosynthetic symbionts of deep‐sea clams (Vesicomyidae) were analysed by amplicon pyrosequencing to explore how symbiont transmission mode affects the genetic diversity of the within‐host symbiont population. Vesicomyid symbionts (Gammaproteobacteria) are presumed to be obligately intracellular, to undergo nearly strict vertical transmission between host generations, and to be clonal within a host. However, recent data show that vesicomyid symbionts can be acquired laterally via horizontal transfer between hosts or uptake from the environment, potentially creating opportunities for multiple symbiont strains to occupy the same host. Here, genotype‐specific PCR and direct sequencing of the bacterial internal transcribed spacer initially demonstrated the co‐occurrence of two symbiont strains, symA and symB (93.5% nt identity), in 8 of 118 Vesicomya sp. clams from 3 of 7 hydrothermal vent sites on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. To confirm multiple strains within individual clams, amplicon pyrosequencing of two symbiont loci was used to obtain deep‐coverage measurements (mean: ∼1500× coverage per locus per clam) of symbiont population structure. Pyrosequencing confirmed symA–symB co‐occurrence for two individuals, showing the presence of both genotypes in amplicon pools. However, in the majority of clams, the endosymbiont population was remarkably homogenous, with > 99.5% of sequences collapsing into a single symbiont genotype in each clam. These results support the hypothesis that a predominantly vertical transmission strategy leads to the fixation of a single symbiont strain in most hosts. However, mixed symbiont populations do occur in vesicomyids, potentially facilitating the exchange of genetic material between divergent symbiont lineages.
How is Well‐Being Related to Membership in New Religious Movements? An Application of Person–Environment Fit Theory
Authors: Namini Sussan , Appel Claudia , Jürgensen Ralph , Murken Sebastian
Published: April 2009

Ongoing public discussion about the consequences of membership in new religious movements (NRMs) and the lack of studies concerning the relationship between the fit of the person with his or her NRM and well‐being together call for a theoretically based investigation of the phenomenon. Hence, this German study on new members of three NRMs applied person–environment fit theory to investigate whether the fit between persons’ needs for autonomy and relatedness, on the one hand, and the commensurate supplies of the groups, on the other, are related to well‐being and mental health. The regression model followingEdwards (1994)predicted satisfaction with religious affiliation, mental health, and depression, but not life satisfaction and anxiety. Results indicate that, for autonomy and relatedness, well‐being measures tend to decrease as supplies exceed needs. Little support was found for a moderator effect of centrality of religiosity. Overall, findings encourage the application of person–environment fit theory to the study of membership in (new) religious groups and call for further research.

L’actuel débat public sur les conséquences de l’adhésion à un nouveau mouvement religieux et l’absence d’études sur la relation entre l’adaptation de la personne à son groupe et son bien‐être nécessitent une investigation fondée théoriquement. D’où cette recherche allemande sur les nouveaux membres de trois de ces mouvements: on est parti de la théorie de l’adéquation personne‐environnement pour savoir si l’ajustement entre les besoins personnels d’autonomie et autres besoins analogues d’une part, et les réponses du groupe dans ce domaine d’autre part, étaient reliés au bien‐être et à la santé mentale. Le modèle de régression d’Edwards (1994)porte sur la satisfaction concernant l’engagement religieux, la santé mentale et la dépression, mais pas sur l’anxiété et la satisfaction liée à l’existence. Les résultats indiquent que, pour ce qui est de l’autonomie et ce qui en dépend, les mesures relatives au bien‐être ont tendance à décroître à mesure que l’offre excède les attentes. L’effet modérateur de la centralité de la religiosité n’a pas vraiment été confirmé. Globalement, ce que l’on a obtenu est en faveur de l’application de la théorie de l’ajustement personne‐environnement à l’étude de l’adhésion à de (nouveaux) groupes religieux et incite à développer d’autres recherches.
URBAN CLUSTERS AS GROWTH FOCI*
Authors: Portnov Boris A. , Schwartz Moshe
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT Urban clusters are geographic concentrations of urban places, some of which may include major cities. Unlike agglomerations, whose geographic boundaries are clearly delineated, urban clusters have “variable” boundaries, with each urban settlement being part of its “own” cluster of populated places, located within its commuting range. As our study indicates, the effect of clustering on urban growth is not uniform: it appears to be positive in low density clusters, and negative in densely populated ones. In particular, outside densely populated areas, towns surrounded by other localities tend to evince higher rates of population growth than their “lone” counterparts.
CELL‐CORRECTED RAS METHOD (CRAS) FOR UPDATING OR REGIONALIZING AN INPUT–OUTPUT MATRIX
Authors: Mínguez Roberto , Oosterhaven Jan , Escobedo Fernando
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT The RAS method is used to update or regionalize a single matrix such that it conforms to new row and column totals. This paper presents a correction of the RAS method (CRAS) that uses cell variation distributions calculated from multiple matrices of different periods or different regions. After the solution of the regular RAS, an additional optimization problem is solved that produces the most likely cell‐corrections to the regular RAS solution. To test the behavior of CRAS, several simulations with a time series of input–output tables for The Netherlands for 1968–1986 are made. They show that—in situations of structural change—applying CRAS improves the regular RAS estimate. The method will also be applicable to traffic, trade, and migration matrices.
Crunch Time: A Policy to Avoid the ‘Announcement Effect’ when Terminating a Subsidy
Authors: Gürtler Marc , Sieg Gernot
Published: April 2009

If the government announces the termination of a subsidy paid for an irreversible investment under uncertainty, investors might decide to realize their investment so as to obtain the subsidy. These investors might have postponed an investment if future payment were assured. Depending on the degree of uncertainty and the time preference, the termination of the subsidy might cost the government more in toto than granting the subsidy on a continuing basis. A better strategy would be to reduce the subsidy in parts rather than to terminate the subsidy in its entirety.
On the Fairness of Early-Retirement Provisions
Authors: Breyer Friedrich , Hupfeld Stefan
Published: April 2009

A crucial parameter for increasing the retirement age is the early retirement discount of the public pension system. Critics of the present German system argue that the downward adjustment of the pension for early retirees is too small compared with a ‘fair’ system and thus encourages early retirement. We discuss several notions of ‘fairness’ of early-retirement provisions and propose a concept called ‘distributive neutrality’, which states that the ratio between total benefits and total contributions should not depend systematically on the individual’s ability. By applying this concept to the German retirement benefit formula and taking empirically estimated relationships between annual income (as a proxy for ability), life expectancy and retirement age into account, we show that at the present discount rate of 3.6% per year there is redistribution from low to high earners, which, surprisingly, could be attenuated by raising the discount rate.
Survey on the Shadow Economy and Undeclared Earnings in OECD Countries
Authors: Feld Lars P. , Schneider Friedrich
Published: April 2009

In most OECD countries the policy instrument of choice to prevent people from working in the shadows has been deterrence. While deterrence is well founded from a theoretical point of view, the empirical evidence on its success is weak: tax policies and state deregulation appear to work much better. The discussion of the recent literature underlines that in addition to economic opportunities, the overall situation in the labor market and unemployment are crucial for an understanding of the dynamics of the shadow economy.
What Happens to New-Onset Headache in Children That Present to Primary Care? A Case-Cohort Study Using Electronic Primary Care Records
Authors: Kernick D , Stapley S , Campbell J , Hamilton W
Published: April 2009

The aim was to describe the consulting behaviour and clinical outcomes of children presenting with headache in primary care. This was a historical cohort study using data from the UK General Practitioner Research Database. Cases were children aged 5-17 years who presented to primary care with primary headache (migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache) or undifferentiated headache (no further descriptor). Controls were age, sex and practice matched. Their records were examined for consultations, referrals, relevant treatments and specific diseases in the subsequent year. Children with headache ( n = 48 575) were identified and matched to controls. At presentation, 9321 (19.2%) of headaches were labelled primary, 549 (1.1%) secondary and 38 705 (79.7%) received no formal diagnosis. Of the latter group, 2084 (5.4%) received a primary headache diagnosis in the subsequent year. Following a diagnosis of migraine, 258 (3.5%) had received a triptan and 1598 (21%) were using propranolol or pizotifen. Total consultations were higher in cases than in controls in the year before the headache: cases ages 5-8 years, mean (S.D.) 5.0 (4.0) consultations; controls 4.0 (3.5) consultations. In 1 year controls had 43 430 consultations, of which 256 (0.6%) were for headache, of whom 64 (25%) were referred to secondary care. Headache was a risk factor for benign and malignant tumours, cerebrovascular disease, primary disorders of raised intracranial pressure and depression. This risk was reduced if a diagnosis of a primary headache disorder could be made. Although there is an increased likelihood of a serious pathology with headache presentations, the risk is small particularly if a diagnosis of a primary headache is made. General practitioners are likely to be underdiagnosing migraine. This study can inform management guidelines for new presentations of headache in primary care, particularly when a secondary pathology is suspected.
An unbiased stereological study on subpopulations of rat liver macrophages and on their numerical relation with the hepatocytes and stellate cells
Authors: Santos Marta , Marcos Ricardo , Santos Nádia , Malhão Fernanda , Monteiro Rogério A. F. , Rocha Eduardo
Published: April 2009

Studies on liver macrophages have elucidated their key roles in immunological, fibrotic and regenerative responses, and shown that macrophages are not a homogeneous population. In the rat, two sets of liver macrophages coexist, identified by ED1 and ED2 antibodies. Those sets have different quantitative responses in liver injuries and may have different tasks throughout the injury and recovery phases. Nevertheless, the total number (N), number per gram (N g−1) and proportion of those macrophages in relation to other liver cells has never been quantified using design‐based stereology. Thus, we combined immunocytochemistry with those tools to produce an unbiased estimate of the N of ED1+ and of ED2+ cells. A smooth fractionator sampling scheme was applied to the liver of five male Wistar rats (3 months old), to obtain systematic uniform random sections (30 µm thick); these were immunostained with the monoclonal antibodies: ED1, a pan‐macrophagic marker; and ED2, which identifies the completely differentiated macrophages, i.e. Kupffer cells. The N of ED1+ cells was 340 × 106, estimated with a coefficient of error (CE) of 0.04, and that of ED2+ cells was 283 × 106, with a CE of 0.05. These figures correspond to 10.7% and 8.9%, respectively, of the total liver cells. The new data constitute reference values for correlative inferences. Also, the methodological strategy, by its accuracy and precision, is valuable for future investigations on the liver cell composition in various models of disease, and especially for studying the more subtle variations that occur during the injury and recovery phases.
Performance of colposcopy in five sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Muwonge R , Mbalawa CG , Keita N , Dolo A , Nouhou H , Nacoulma M , Malanda JN , Koulibaly M , Bayo S , Sankaranarayanan R ,   IARC Multicentre Study Group on Cervical Cancer Early Detection
Published: April 2009

Objective  The performance of colposcopy provided in a screening study in five African countries was evaluated.

Design  Cross‐sectional study.

Setting  Burkina Faso, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry, Mali and Niger.

Population  Women aged 25–59 years.

Methods  A total of 29 294 women participated in a cervical screening study in the five study sites, and newly trained local doctors performed colposcopy and directed biopsies as indicated. Using meta‐analytical tools, four measures of colposcopy performance at different thresholds of colposcopic abnormalities were assessed. Sources of heterogeneity were also assessed.

Main outcome measures  Proportions of women receiving biopsies, adequate biopsies and women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Results  Among 28 553 women with satisfactory colposcopy, 3101 had a colposcopic diagnosis of probable low‐grade or worse lesions and 1128 probable high‐grade or worse lesions. Overall, the measures that reached the set standards were proportion of biopsy taken at colposcopy threshold of probable high‐grade or worse lesions (95%, 95% CI 90–100%) and proportion of adequate biopsy samples. The set standards were not met for the proportions of women diagnosed with CIN at different colposcopic abnormality thresholds. Detection of CIN2 or worse lesions increased with increasing colposcopic abnormality.

Conclusions  The performance of colposcopy in some of the African sites studied was comparable to that previously observed in other studies. With appropriate training, monitoring, continuing practice and quality assurance, adequate standards of colposcopy can be attained in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Transfusional fetal complications after single intrauterine death in monochorionic multiple pregnancy are reduced but not prevented by vascular occlusion
Authors: O’Donoghue K , Rutherford MA , Engineer N , Wimalasundera RC , Cowan FM , Fisk NM
Published: April 2009

Objective  To document co‐twin death/pregnancy loss and brain injury after single intrauterine death (sIUD) in monochorionic pregnancies.

Design  A total of 135 pregnancies with sIUD were reviewed for co‐twin IUD, miscarriage and abnormal antenatal and postnatal neuro‐imaging.

Setting  A tertiary referral fetal medicine unit from 2000 to 2007.

Population or Sample  All cases referred with a single fetal death in monochorionic pregnancy, including those where sIUD was spontaneous or occurred after fetoscopic laser treatment, or resulted from selective termination by cord occlusion with bipolar diathermy or intrafetal vascular ablation with interstitial laser.

Methods  Clinical details and ultrasound findings of the study population were retrieved from ultrasound and institutional databases. Delivery and neonatal outcome data were obtained from discharge summaries supplemented by individual chart review.

Main outcome measures  Co‐twin death or pregnancy loss and neurologic injury assessed on antenatal ultrasound and MR‐imaging.

Results  A total of 81 sIUDs resulted from vascular occlusive feticide (diathermy or interstitial laser), 22 followed placental laser and 32 were spontaneous. In 22 pregnancies (16.8%), the co‐twin died in utero and eight pregnancies miscarried (6.1%). Antenatal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 76/91 (83.5%) continuing pregnancies detected antenatal brain injury in five (6.6%). Three infants (two not scanned antenatally) had abnormalities detected postnatally. Brain abnormality was detected less often after procedure related (2.6%, 2/77) than spontaneous sIUD (22.2%, 6/27, P = 0.003) and after early compared with late gestation sIUD (3.6%, 4/111 versus 20.0%, 4/20; P = 0.02).

Conclusions  We confirm substantial co‐twin loss (22.9%) after monochorionic sIUD, but a low risk of antenatally acquired MRI‐identified brain injury, suggesting this risk has been overestimated. Procedures restricting inter‐twin transfusion reduce, but do not negate risk of brain injury.
Do mtDNA deletions drive premature aging in mtDNA mutator mice?
Authors: Kraytsberg Yevgenya , Simon David K. , Turnbull Douglas M. , Khrapko Konstantin
Published: April 2009

Deletions in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have long been suspected to be involved in mammalian aging, but their role remains controversial. Recent research has demonstrated that relatively higher levels of mtDNA deletions correlate with premature aging in mtDNA mutator mice, which led to the conclusion that premature aging in these mice is driven by mtDNA deletions. However, it is reported here that the absolute level of deletions in mutator mice is quite low, especially when compared with the level of point mutations in these mice. It is thus argued that the available data are insufficient to conclude that mtDNA mutations drive premature aging in mtDNA mutator mice. It remains possible that clonal expansion of mtDNA deletions may result in sufficiently high levels to play a role in age‐related dysfunction in some cells, but assessing this possibility will require studies of the distribution of these deletions among different cell types and in individual cells.
Phthalate Exposure Through Food and Consumers’ Risk Perception of Chemicals in Food
Authors: Dickson‐Spillmann Maria , Siegrist Michael , Keller Carmen , Wormuth Matthias
Published: April 2009

Phthalates have been detected in various types of retail foods. Consumers' exposure to phthalates is common. Consumers are concerned about chemicals in food. Our aim was to investigate the relationships between consumers' exposure to phthalates through food, consumers' interest in a natural and healthy diet, risk perception of food chemicals, and consumers' diet patterns. We collected data through a mail survey in the adult Swiss‐German population (N = 1,200). We modeled exposure to di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) based on a food frequency questionnaire and phthalate concentrations reported from food surveys. Using rating scales, we assessed risk perceptions of chemicals in food and interest in a natural and healthy diet. Higher risk perceptions and higher natural and healthy diet interest were associated with higher daily doses of DEHP, BBP, and DEP. No health risk from phthalates in food was identified for the vast majority of the population. Four consumers' diet clusters were discerned, with differences in phthalate exposure, risk perceptions, and interest in a natural and healthy diet. This study shows that even those consumers who express strong interest in natural food and low acceptance of food chemicals, and who try to make respective food choices, are exposed to contaminants such as phthalates.
Highlights of Programmatic, Interdisciplinary Research on Writing
Authors: Berninger Virginia W.
Published: April 2009

An overview of research topics and findings from an interdisciplinary, programmatic line of research on writing over the past 25 years is presented. The cross–sectional assessment studies (grades 1 to 9) showed which measures uniquely explained variance in handwriting, spelling, and composing and thus validated their use in assessment. These and the longitudinal studies (grades 1 to 5 and 3 to 7) contributed to knowledge of the cognitive processes of writing, within a working memory architecture that orchestrates multiple component processes in time to achieve specific writing goals, especially the translation of ideas into words, syntax, and text, and transcription (handwriting and spelling) by pen and by keyboard. Combined brain imaging and behavioral studies of writing have provided converging evidence for brain–behavior relationships for handwriting, spelling, and composing and for the role of temporally coordinated working memory, including an orthographic loop with a graphic–motor envelope for word production. A series of instructional studies for at–risk writers, which was taught to all levels of language to overcome working memory inefficiencies, were organized according to the developmental steppingstones in writing acquisition and show that writing problems can be prevented. Other studies with older, struggling writers validated effective instructional approaches for helping struggling writers become reading–writers who integrate both written language skills in literacy learning.
Connecting the Dots in a Research Program to Develop, Implement, and Evaluate Strategic Literacy Interventions for Struggling Readers and Writers
Authors: Englert Carol Sue
Published: April 2009

This article follows the development of three literacy programs that were designed by researchers at Michigan State University to support struggling readers and writers. The literacy interventions focus on strategy instruction in both writing and reading, and they culminate in the development of an integrated reading–writing program to support the acquisition of read–to–learn and write–to–learn strategies in the content areas. The common thread that unifies the programs is an emphasis on text structure instruction with the provision of instructional scaffolds to support students’ participation in a literacy discourse and strategies in advance of independent performance.
Human papillomavirus 16 E6/E7‐immortalized human gingival keratinocytes with epithelial mesenchymal transition acquire increased expression of cIAP‐1, Bclx and p27Kip1
Authors: Chamulitrat Walee , Sattayakhom Apsorn , Herold‐Mended Christel , Stremmel Wolfgang
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in neoplastic invasion and metastasis. We have previously generated six cell lines from human gingival mucosal keratinocytes immortalized by E6/E7 of human papillomavirus type 16. Ldk and NuB1 lines represented EMT phenotype and other four lines represented cobblestone non‐EMT phenotype. These cell lines were utilized as model cells to determine whether inhibitors of apoptosis proteins and cell‐cycle regulators were molecular players during EMT. EMT cells exhibited increased expression of vimentin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor1 and the ability to form tubules on Matrigel as well as to grow anchorage independently. We found that EMT cells expressed significantly elevated levels of cIAP‐1, Bclx and p27kip higher than non‐EMT cells. These proteins could therefore be used as intrinsic indicators of EMT of human gingival keratinocytes.
T‐Cell tropism of simian T‐cell leukaemia virus type 1 and cytokine profiles in relation to proviral load and immunological changes during chronic infection of naturally infected mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)
Authors: Souquière Sandrine , Mouinga‐Ondeme Augustin , Makuwa Maria , Beggio Paola , Radaelli Antonia , De Giuli Morghen Carlo , Mortreux Franck , Kazanji Mirdad
Published: April 2009

Background  Although a wide variety of non‐human primates are susceptible to simian T‐cell leukaemia virus type 1 (STLV‐1), little is known about the virological or molecular determinants of natural STLV‐1 infection.

Methods  We determined STLV‐1 virus tropism in vivo and its relation to the immune response by evaluating cytokine production and T‐cell subsets in naturally infected and uninfected mandrills.

Results  With real‐time PCR methods, we found that STLV‐1 in mandrills infects both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; however, proviral loads were significantly higher (P = 0.01) in CD4+ than in CD8+ cells (mean STLV‐1 copies number per 100 cells (± SD) was 7.8 ± 8 in CD4+ T cells and 3.9 ± 4.5 in CD8+ T cells). After culture, STLV‐1 provirus was detected in enriched CD4+ but not in enriched CD8+ T cells. After 6 months of culture, STLV‐1‐transformed cell lines expressing CD3+, CD4+ and HLADR+ were established, and STLV‐1 proteins and tax/rex mRNA were detected. In STLV‐1 infected monkeys, there was a correlation between high proviral load and elevated levels of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐6, IL‐10, interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α. The two monkeys with the highest STLV‐1 proviral load had activated CD4+HLADR+ and CD8+HLADR+ T‐cell subsets and a high percentage of CD25+ in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Conclusions  Our study provides the first cellular, immunological and virological characterization of natural STLV‐1 infection in mandrills and shows that they are an appropriate animal model for further physiopathological studies of the natural history of human T‐cell leukaemia viruses.
Thiamin diphosphate in biological chemistry: exploitation of diverse thiamin diphosphate‐dependent enzymes for asymmetric chemoenzymatic synthesis
Authors: Müller Michael , Gocke Dörte , Pohl Martina
Published: April 2009

Thiamin diphosphate‐dependent enzymes participate in numerous biosynthetic pathways and catalyse a broad range of reactions, mainly involving the cleavage and formation of C–C bonds. For example, they catalyse the nonoxidative and oxidative decarboxylation of 2‐keto acids, produce 2‐hydroxy ketones and transfer activated aldehydes to a variety of acceptors. Moreover, they can also catalyse C–N, C–O and C–S bond formation. Because of their substrate spectra and different stereospecificity, these enzymes extend the synthetic potential for asymmetric carboligations appreciably. Different strategies have been developed to identify new members of this promiscuous enzyme class and the reactions they catalyse. This enabled us to introduce solutions for longstanding synthetic problems, such as asymmetric cross‐benzoin condensation. Moreover, through a combination of protein structure analysis, enzyme and substrate engineering, and screening methods we explored additional stereochemical routes that have not been described previously for any of these interesting enzymes.
Activation loop 3 and the 170 loop interact in the active conformation of coagulation factor VIIa
Authors: Persson Egon , Olsen Ole H.
Published: April 2009

The initiation of blood coagulation involves tissue factor (TF)‐induced allosteric activation of factor VIIa (FVIIa), which circulates in a zymogen‐like state. In addition, the (most) active conformation of FVIIa presumably relies on a number of intramolecular interactions. We have characterized the role of Gly372(223) in FVIIa, which is the sole residue in activation loop 3 that is capable of forming backbone hydrogen bonds with the unusually long 170 loop and with activation loop 2, by studying the effects of replacement with Ala [G372(223)A]. G372A‐FVIIa, both in the free and TF‐bound form, exhibited reduced cleavage of factor X (FX) and of peptidyl substrates, and had increased Km values compared with wild‐type FVIIa. Inhibition of G372A‐FVIIa·sTF by p‐aminobenzamidine was characterized by a seven‐fold higher Ki than obtained with FVIIa·sTF. Crystallographic and modelling data suggest that the most active conformation of FVIIa depends on the backbone hydrogen bond between Gly372(223) and Arg315(170C) in the 170 loop. Despite the reduced activity and inhibitor susceptibility, native and active site‐inhibited G372A‐FVIIa bound sTF with the same affinity as the corresponding forms of FVIIa, and burial of the N‐terminus of the protease domain increased similarly upon sTF binding to G372A‐FVIIa and FVIIa. Thus Gly372(223) in FVIIa appears to play a critical role in maturation of the S1 pocket and adjacent subsites, but does not appear to be of importance for TF binding and the ensuing allostery.