bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlated evolution of life history and host range in the nonphotosynthetic parasitic flowering plants Orobanche and Phelipanche (Orobanchaceae)
Authors: SCHNEEWEISS G. M.
Published: November 2006

Most members of the nonphotosynthetic parasitic genera Orobanche and Phelipanche (Orobanchaceae) have narrow host ranges, and, as they grow on perennial hosts, are (at least potentially) perennial themselves. A few species, however, have wide host ranges and grow on annual hosts, and are thus (at least facultatively) annuals themselves. Among the latter are the weedy species, which include economically important pest taxa such as Orobanche crenata or Phelipanche aegyptiaca. Using a phylogenetically based maximum likelihood approach, which takes phylogenetic and branch length uncertainty into account, we can show that the life trait host range and life history evolve in a correlated fashion. This supports the hypothesis that parasite specialization is associated with predictable resources (i.e. long‐lived hosts) and generalism with unpredictable ones (i.e. short‐lived hosts), a pattern often found in animal parasites. The mechanisms and temporal sequence of the life trait changes and their interrelations remain speculative.
The effects of reproduction on courtship, fertility and longevity within and between alternative male mating tactics of the horned beetle, Onthophagus binodis
Authors: SIMMONS L. W. , KOTIAHO J. S.
Published: November 2006

Life history theory provides a powerful tool to study an organism's biology within an evolutionary framework. The notion that males face a longevity cost of competing for and displaying to females lies at the core of sexual selection theory. Likewise, recent game theory models of the evolution of ejaculation strategies assume that males face a trade‐off between expenditure on the ejaculate and expenditure on gaining additional matings. Males of the dung beetle Onthophagus binodis adopt alternative reproductive tactics in which major males fight for and help provision females, and minor males sneak copulations with females that are guarded by major males. Minor males are always subject to sperm competition, and consistent with theoretical expectation, minor males have a greater expenditure on their ejaculate than major males. We used this model system to seek evidence that mating comes at a cost for future fertility and/or male expenditure on courtship and attractiveness, and to establish whether these traits vary between alternative mating tactics. We monitored the lifespan of males exposed to females and nonmating populations, and sampled males throughout their lives to assess their fertility and courtship behaviour. We found a significant longevity cost of reproduction, but no fertility cost. On average, males from mating populations had a lower courtship rate than those from nonmating populations. This small effect, although statistically nonsignificant, was associated with significant increases in the time males required to achieve mating. Minor males had lower courtship rates than major males, and took longer to achieve mating. Although we did not measure ejaculate expenditure in this study, the correlation between lower courtship rate and longer mating speed of minor males documented here with their greater expenditure on the ejaculate found in previous studies, is consistent with game theory models of ejaculate expenditure which assume that males trade expenditure on gaining matings for expenditure on gaining fertilizations.
The ineffectiveness of insecticide seed coatings and planting‐time soil insecticides as Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte population suppressors
Authors: Furlan L. , Canzi S. , Di Bernardo A. , Edwards C. R.
Published: November 2006

Abstract:  The effect of any management strategy on pest population levels must be researched and determinations need to be made as to how that strategy might work based on the control objectives. In certain areas of Europe, the objective is to contain or eradicate the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, population. In order to evaluate the impact of insecticide seed coatings and/or planting‐time applications of insecticides as WCR population suppressors, plot trials and large field observations were carried out in Italy over a 5‐year period. Larval, pupal and adult densities, along with root damage ratings, were estimated at different locations. Data from these studies revealed that the number of WCR adults emerging from untreated plots did not differ from the number of beetles emerging from those treated with insecticides, whether as seed coating or in‐furrow applications. Both seed insecticide coatings (imidacloprid, fipronil, thiamethoxam, tefluthrin) and soil insecticides applied in‐furrow (chlorpyrifos, diazinon, tefluthrin) did not reduce the number of beetles emerging from monoculture fields, either in plot trials or large field observations. Observations in the USA had previously shown that soil insecticides applied at planting time partially protected basal roots from economic damage, but did not reduce corn rootworm populations. Similarly, in Europe, it has been demonstrated that not only the application of soil insecticides at planting time but also insecticide seed coatings have no role in the containment and/or eradication of WCR. Although insecticide seed coatings and soil insecticides applied in‐furrow may provide protection against economic damage to roots, these management strategies do not have an impact on WCR populations and therefore are useless in WCR containment and eradication programmes.
Organic mulches vs. black plastic in organic strawberry: does it make a difference for ground beetles (Col., Carabidae)?
Authors: Tuovinen T. , Kikas A. , Tolonen T. , Kivijärvi P.
Published: November 2006

Abstract: Carabid beetles were sampled by pitfall traps in May–September 2002 and 2003 in an experimental organic strawberry field in seven different mulching row treatments and in fescue‐growing row spaces to determine the effect of mulches on carabid activity–density and species composition. There were no differences between treatments or row spaces in total numbers of all carabid species in either season. Of the 67 identified species and 4374 individuals, the most trapped ones wereClivina fossor(11.7% of total catch),Dyschirius globosus(10.2%),Patrobus atrorufus(9.3%),Pterostichus niger(8.8%),Bembidion properans(7.4%),Pterostichus melanarius(6.0%),Bembidion lampros(5.7%),Pterostichus crenatus(5.7%),Amara communis(4.1%),Trechus secalis(3.9%),Pterostichus strenuus(3.9%),Loricera pilicornis(3.1%),Harpalus rufipes(2.8%) andCarabus nemoralis(2.6%). Large carabid speciesP. nigerandP. melanariuswere trapped more in all mulched rows than in row spaces, andC. nemoraliswas trapped more in the mixture of pine woodchip/buckwheat husk mulch than in row spaces, barley straw and birch woodchip mulch. The small but abundant speciesP. atrorufuswas trapped more in buckwheat husk mulch than in row spaces andB. properansin row spaces than in buckwheat husk mulch.H. rufipes, being also a pest in strawberry, was trapped more in cut grass mulch than in row spaces. The Shannon H′ diversity index was significantly higher in the mixture of pine woodchip/buckwheat husk mulch than in black plastic, buckwheat husk mulch or in row spaces, and in birch woodchip and cut grass mulches than in row spaces. The results of trapping studies show the species preference to the specific mulches, and reflect positive or negative effect of mulches on carabid diversity with consequences to plant protection.
Distribution of the endosymbiotic bacterium Cardinium in Chinese populations of the carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Liu Y. , Miao H. , Hong X.‐Y.
Published: November 2006

Abstract:  ‘Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Cardinium)’ from the Bacteroidetes group is a symbiont that has recently received attention as a reproductive manipulator of its arthropod hosts. Though the spatial distribution of symbionts depends heavily on that of their hosts, evidence has shown that dispersal limitations also have effect on some micro‐organisms. In order to estimate the distribution of Cardinium in Chinese populations of the carmine spider mite, twenty seven geographical populations of Tetranychus cinnabarinus were collected and screened, using Cardinium‐specific primers for the 16S ribosomal DNA. Six geographical populations collected between 30° and 36°N tested positive for the presence of Cardinium, whereas it could not be detected in populations collected between 19°–29°N and 37°–46°N, suggesting that the symbiont is not evenly distributed, comparing with a wider distribution of Wolbachia previously reported in the same populations. In addition, the infection rates of Cardinium seem to increase from the south to the north of China. All the six Cardinium‐infected populations were found to be doubly infected with Wolbachia. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA gene sequence of Cardinium shows a close relationship between Cardinium in Chinese carmine spider mite and symbionts found in other species in the Tetranychidae.
Genetic Differentiation of Rice and Non‐rice Populations of Magnaporthe grisea from North‐western Himalayas using Native Protein and Isozyme Polymorphisms
Authors: Rathour R. , Sharma R. , Sharma V.
Published: November 2006

Native protein and isozyme markers were used to analyse the population structure of rice, finger millet (Eleusine coracana), jungle rice (Echinochloa colonum), goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) infecting isolates of Magnaporthe grisea from the north‐western Himalayan region of India. Both protein and isozyme analyses revealed a high level of genetic diversity among different host‐limited populations of the pathogen including those infecting rice. Cluster analysis of protein and isozyme data permitted the grouping of isolates in accordance with their host specificity. A close association was observed between specific esterase and shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) isozyme electromorphs and the host specificity of the isolates, indicating that these electromorphs might be linked to the genes conditioning host specialization. Cluster analysis indicated the presence of two lineages in M. grisea species complex: first lineage with moderate bootstrap support was constituted by the isolates from rice, finger millet, goosegrass and jungle rice and a second statistically robust lineage was represented by the isolates from crabgrass. Subpopulations of the pathogen attacking rice and weeds in the same field were genetically distinct and the isolates from different hosts never exhibited a same multilocus haplotype. The overall results indicated that M. grisea populations infecting different hosts were genetically isolated and there was no gene flow among rice and non‐rice isolates of the pathogen.
Transmission of Hop Latent and Hop Mosaic Carlaviruses by Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae
Authors: Crowle D. R. , Pethybridge S. J. , Wilson C. R.
Published: November 2006

Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Myzus persicae, polyphagous aphid species commonly found within hop gardens in Australia, were confirmed as vectors of hop latent virus (HpLV) and hop mosaic virus in glasshouse trials. Both vectors transmitted either virus with equivalent efficiency. This is the first record of HpLV transmission by an aphid other than Phorodon humuli. Furthermore, aphids feeding on single infected plants, sequentially on plants infected with one virus and then the other or on co‐infected source plants did not influence transmission efficiency of either virus, nor was the frequency of co‐transmission affected by the order of virus acquisition. The role of these vectors in carlavirus epidemics in Australian hop gardens is discussed.
Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers for Trichoderma species and Antagonism Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Causing Chickpea Wilt
Authors: Dubey S. C. , Suresh M.
Published: November 2006

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to examine the genetic variability among 10 isolates of Trichoderma representing three species and their ability to antagonize Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris causing chickpea wilt using dual culture assay and volatile and non‐volatile compound production. Using 10 oligonucleotide primers, we are able to distinguish among the species of Trichoderma. Primer OPA 13 efficiently differentiated all the isolates of Trichoderma in to their species except T2 of Trichoderma viride. Some of the other primer as Primer OPA 10 also showed species‐specific banding pattern. These species of Trichoderma were evaluated against the pathogen. All the isolates of the fungal antagonists caused significant reduction in the mycelial growth of the pathogen in vitro. The principle mechanism of mycoparasitism was observed as coiling of antagonistic hyphae around the pathogen hyphae and lysis.
Isolation and Characterization of Resistance Gene Homology Sequence from Wheat
Authors: Wang H. Y. , Yang W. X. , Zhang L. R. , Meng Q. F. , Liu D. Q. , Zhang T.
Published: November 2006

Two pairs of primers were designed according to the amino acid conserved regions of reported plant disease resistance gene which encode proteins that contain nucleotide‐binding site (NBS) and leucine‐rich repeats (LRR). Two resistance gene analogues (RGAs) had been obtained, which were named as S2A2 and LRR1, from the RNA of TcLr35 containing Lr35 gene conferring resistance against wheat leaf rust by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). S2A2 had 539 bp encoding 177 amino acids and LRR1 had 215 bp encoding 58 amino acids. Homology search in GenBank showed that S2A2 was 91% identical to a resistance gene homology EST sequence of barley. BLASTp analysis showed that S2A2 contained the conserved motifs of NB‐ARC: P‐loop, kinase 2, kinase 3a and transmembrance domain and the amino acid of LRR1 was 74% identical to Xa21. Northern hybridization showed that these RGAs expression was not induced by Puccinia triticina inoculation, indicating that they are constitutive genes with low abundance in wheat. 3′RACE‐PCR was carried out with gene‐specific primers and the 3′‐universal primer provided in the kit. An amplified fragment of 567 bp that overlapped with the LRR1 sequence by 184 bp was obtained. A 598 bp fragment was determined to be the sequence of LRR1 except the 5′cDNA end encoding a predicted polypeptide of 153 amino acid containing three LRR repeats. The fragment also contained 84 bp untranslated region (UTR) at 3′‐ends and 21 bp poly(A) tail. The study paved the way for the cloning of Lr35 or the resistance‐related gene.
Atomic Force Microscopy for Direct Imaging and Nanoscale Morphometry of the Rice False Smut Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens
Authors: Kim K. W.
Published: November 2006

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used for direct imaging and nanoscale morphometry of spined conidia of Ustilaginoidea virens. Basic components of AFM include a piezoscanner, a cantilever and a photodiode for surface scanning and image formation. Topographic imaging by AFM exhibited surface topographic images of ‘untreated’ conidia at the comparable spatial resolution with conventional scanning electron microscopy. Numerical analysis of the surface parameters over 1.0 × 1.0 μm2 scan areas revealed a variety of mean height (239.5 ± 124.7 nm), root‐mean‐squared roughness (78.2 ± 31.8 nm), surface area (1.8 ± 0.6 μm2), and volume (239.6 ± 124.7 nm3) from acquired topographic images. These results suggest that AFM imaging and surface analysis can provide insights into a comprehensive understanding of fungal spores at the nanoscale level, opening a new venue in plant pathology and its related research areas.
Molecular Detection of Fusarium foetens in Begonia
Authors: De Weerdt M. , Zijlstra C. , Van Brouwershaven I. R. , Van Leeuwen G. C. M. , De Gruyter J. , Kox L. F. F.
Published: November 2006

Fusarium foetens is a new destructive pathogen on Begonia. This fungus is morphologically difficult to distinguish from other known Fusarium species. Moreover, the currently used assays for identification of this species require isolation and growth of the fungus which make the process time consuming. This study describes the development of a gel‐based conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and a real‐time PCR test for fast, practical, sensitive and specific detection of F. foetens. The gel‐based PCR test presented amplifies a 275‐bp fragment of the elongation factor (EF)‐1α region. The real‐time PCR test was based on the mitochondrial small subunit sequence of F. foetens. Both tests are suitable to detect F. foetens in cultures as well as in infected plant materials and offer potential for routine detection purposes.
Molecular Diversity in Puccinia triticina Isolates from Ethiopia and Germany
Authors: Mebrate S. A. , Dehne H. W. , Pillen K. , Oerke E. C.
Published: November 2006

A total of 43 isolates of the wheat leaf rust fungus, Puccinia triticina Eriks, collected from Ethiopia and Germany were analysed for their genetic diversity using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. Out of 18 EcoRI/MseI primer combinations screened, 15 produced 219 highly polymorphic fragments. The average AFLP difference between pairs of the leaf rust isolates (26 from Ethiopia, 17 from Germany) was calculated using Dice's genetic similarity (GS) coefficient. The overall GS for the 43 isolates was 0.67 ± 0.13. The Ethiopian leaf rust isolates had lower average GS (0.63 ± 0.13) than the German ones (0.76 ± 0.10). A cluster analysis and a two‐dimensional principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) grouped the 43 isolates into two significantly different (P ≤ 0.01) clusters. Isolates in cluster I (35 isolates) had an average GS of 0.76 ± 0.06 while the isolates in cluster II (8 isolates) had an average GS of 0.55 ± 0.12. Isolates were also grouped into three regions of collection, central Ethiopia, south and south‐east Ethiopia, and Germany. The regions were significantly different at P ≤ 0.01 indicating regional variation in terms of molecular diversity of the leaf rust isolates studied. Each isolate, however, had a unique AFLP fingerprint. The results indicated that the leaf rust population in central Ethiopia is genetically distinct and this might be related to the predominant cultivation of durum wheat cultivars in this area.
Effect of Diaporthe/Phomopsis Species Isolated from Soyabean and Abutilon theophrasti on Soybean Seed Germination
Authors: Vrandecic K. , Jurkovic D. , Cosic J.
Published: November 2006

Twelve isolates of Diaporthe/Phomopsis species from soybean (six isolates) and Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) (six isolates) were studied for their pathogenicity to soybean and their effect on soybean seed germination and seedling survival after artificial seed inoculation. The following criteria were taken into consideration: number of germinated and rotten seeds, seedlings with necrosis, germ length and length of necrotic lesion. All tested Diaporthe/Phomopsis isolates caused seeds rot. P. longicolla isolates from soybean plants (PL1 and PL2) and isolates from velvetleaf (AbPL1 and AbPL2) exhibited statistically significant decrease in germ growth. These germs were only 1.0–1.8 cm long. No relation between length of germs and length of necrosis was found. The highest percentage of decayed seedlings was determined in the isolates AbPL1 and 2 as well as in PS 1 and PL 1 20 days after inoculation. Results of our research showed that Diaporthe/Phomopsis species from velvetleaf could be more pathogenic on soybean than isolates of the same species from soybean.
Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum Strains Show Diversity in Production of and Response to N‐acyl Homoserine Lactones
Authors: Jafra S. , Jalink H. , Van Der Schoor R. , Van Der Wolf J. M.
Published: November 2006

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp.carotovorum (Pcc) is a plant pathogen, which can cause soft rot in a wide range of plants. A regulatory network controls the synthesis of virulence factors, mainly plant cell wall degrading enzymes, in a cell density dependent manner. Small signalling molecules, N‐acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), activate the synthesis of exoenzymes when cell density exceeds a certain threshold value (quorum sensing). Thin layer chromatography in conjunction with AHL indicator strains were used for characterization of AHL molecules produced by different wild‐type (WT) Pcc strains isolated from various hosts. Two groups of Pcc strains were found: one group with N‐(3‐oxo‐hexanoyl)‐L‐HSL (OHHL) molecule as a dominant (e.g. 71) and another group two containing N‐(3‐oxo‐octanoyl)‐L‐HSL (OOHL) as the dominant AHL, but also producing N‐(octanoyl)‐L‐HSL (OHL) and OHHL molecules (e.g. SCC3193). Pcc hsl‐negative mutants and their parental WT strains (71 and SCC3193), were used to study the response to single synthetic AHL analogues or AHLs extracted from cultures of different bacteria when co‐inoculated into wells in potato slices. Mutants varied in their response to the addition of single AHL analogues or AHLs extracted from the cultures of different bacteria. OHHL restored the ability to macerate tuber tissue of both mutants and synthetic OHL of SCC3193 mutant. Symptoms developed on leaves of in vitro grown potato plants inoculated with the WT strains but not with the mutants, even not with added AHL homologues. However, plant stress determined by chlorophyll fluorescence imaging showed a response to the mutants when AHLs were supplemented, that also restored maceration ability in the potato tuber slice assay.
In vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity of ghrelin: Attenuation of gastric ischemic injury in the rat
Authors: El Eter Eman , Al Tuwaijiri Ali , Hagar Hanan , Arafa Maha
Published: November 2006

Background and Aim:  Gherlin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS‐R), is produced by stomach cells. It regulates food intake, gastric secretion and motility. However, its role as a protective agent in gastric ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to: (i) test the in vivo effect of peripherally administered ghrelin on gastric I/R‐induced lesions in rats; and (ii) investigate in vitro the effect of ghrelin on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by human polymorphoneuclear (PMN) cells.

Methods:  The present study was carried out on three groups of rats (six per group): control (sham–operated), I/R (clamping of celiac artery for 30 min and reperfusion for 1 h), and I/R + ghrelin (200 ng/kg i.v., 15 min before ischemia and before reperfusion, respectively). Histological assessment of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections was performed and immunostaining with inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) antibody were performed on a gastric paraffin embedded section. Oxidative stress markers thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) were measured in gastric tissue homogenates. Serum lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) was determined. Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) was assayed in gastric tissue homogenate. Gastric permeability was assessed calorimetrically using Evans blue dye. In vitro studies were carried out on isolated human PMN cells incubated with ghrelin and tested for ROS generation as measured by chemiluminecence (CL).

Results:  Peripheral administration of ghrelin attenuated gastric injury by reducing ulceration, tissue congestion, cellular infiltration and vascular permeability. Serum level of LDH and tissue content of TNF‐α were markedly reduced. A decrement in TBARS and an increment in GSH were observed. Ghrelin treatment attenuated iNOS protein expression which was upregulated by gastric ischemic injury. In vitro studies showed for the first time that ghrelin inhibited ROS generation by human PMN in a dose‐dependent manner.

Conclusions:  These results provide evidence that peripherally administered ghrelin protects against gastric I/R injury. We also demonstrated that this protection is possibly accomplished through the antioxidant activity of ghrelin observed in vivo and in vitro.
Significant correlations between severe fatty liver and risk factors for metabolic syndrome
Authors: Hsiao Pi‐Jung , Kuo Kung‐Kai , Shin Shyi‐Jang , Yang Yi‐Hsin , Lin Wen‐Yi , Yang Jeng‐Fu , Chiu Chao‐Chin , Chuang Wan‐Long , Tsai Tong‐Rong , Yu Ming‐Lung
Published: November 2006

Background and Aim:  It is known that ultrasonography (US) cannot differentiate between non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis. However, US can accurately estimate the severity of the steatosis. The clinical significance of severe hepatic fatty change by US has not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of the fatty liver, classified by US, and the degree of metabolic disorders with insulin resistance.

Methods:  In 16 486 Taiwanese patients, severity of fatty change on US was classified as follows: group A (n = 6950), absence of fatty change; group B (n = 8694), mild; and group C (n = 842), severe fatty liver change. Biometabolic parameters included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and serum creatinine. Nominal logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio for different degrees of fatty liver.

Results:  The frequencies of obesity, hypertension, glucose intolerance and hypertriglyceridemia were all significantly higher in group C than in group A or B (P < 0.0001), and the mean values of BMI, BP, fasting glucose, triglyceride and ALT were also higher in group C (P < 0.0001). High BMI (≥30 kg/m2) appears to be the most important factor for progression from mild to severe fatty liver in both sexes.

Conclusions:  The presence of severe fatty liver by US correlated significantly with the prevalence and degree of hypertension, abnormal glucose and triglyceride metabolism. Patients with severe fatty liver could be at an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and should be screened regularly for metabolic disorders. The physician may also evaluate ALT and hepatic fat content by US in patients with metabolic syndrome. Evaluating the severity of fatty liver by US may be useful because it correlates with the status of hyperinsulinemia, the risks of developing cardiovascular disease, and the threshold for oxidative stress.
Thymosin alpha 1 improves severe acute pancreatitis in rats via regulation of peripheral T cell number and cytokine serum level
Authors: Yao Weiyan , Zhu Qi , Yuan Yaozong , Qiao Minmin , Zhang Yongping , Zhai Zukang
Published: November 2006

Aim:  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of thymosin alpha 1 (TA1) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats.

Methods:  Healthy Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 72) were randomly divided into four groups: control group, SAP group, and two TA1 treated groups. SAP was induced by injection of 5% sterile sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct (BPD), after which TA1 was given subcutaneously at 0 and 2 h at a dose of 100 μg/kg. The rats were killed at 3, 6 and 12 h, respectively. Serum amylase and lipase, interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), pancreatic wet/dry weight ratio and the percentage of CD3/CD4+/CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured. Next, 30 rats were randomly divided into three groups (each group containing 10 animals): SAP group (S) and two TA1 treated groups. The effects of TA1 on the survival of SAP were assessed 72 h after the induction of SAP.

Results:  There was no significant change in the serum amylase and lipase levels after TA1 administration. Levels of serum IL‐1β, TNF‐α and pancreatic wet/dry weight ratio were significantly reduced after TA1‐treatment. Application of TA1 significantly balanced CD3/CD4+/CD8+ T cells of PBMC and improved histological scores and the survival rate.

Conclusion:  TA1 can reduce pancreatic inflammation by regulating differentiation of CD3/CD4+ T cells and decreasing the release of cytokines, thus attenuates pancreatic severity in SAP rats.
Short and long term efficacy of high intensity focused ultrasound therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Yu‐Yuan , Sha Wei‐Hong , Zhou Yong‐Jian , Nie Yu‐Qiang
Published: November 2006

Background:  The aim of this study was to investigate the short and long term efficacy of high intensity focused ultrasound therapy (HIFU) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:  Patients with surgically unresectable HCC received either HIFU plus supportive treatment (HIFU group, n = 151) or supportive treatment only (control group, n = 30), according to their willingness. Short term efficacy, including improvement in tumor imaging parameters, decrease in serum α‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels, symptom relief (i.e. Karnofsky Performance Status and numerical rating scales) and response rates, and long term efficacy, including an increase in survival rates and improvement of quality of life (QOL), was monitored.

Results:  Tumor imaging parameters, serum AFP levels and symptom scores improved significantly in the HIFU group compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). In the HIFU group, a complete and a partial response were achieved in 28.5% (n = 43) and 60.3% (n = 91) of cases, respectively, while the rates were 0% and 16.7% (n = 5), respectively, in the control group. The overall response rate (88.8%) was significantly greater in the HIFU group (16.7%) than in the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, the 1‐ and 2‐year survival rates were 50.0% and 30.9%, respectively, in the HIFU group, which were significantly greater than those (3.4% and 0%, respectively) in the control group (both P < 0.01). The QOL score was 83.1 ± 8.0 at 3 months after HIFU, which was significantly greater than the pre‐HIFU score (67.7 ± 5.9) and the score at 3 months after treatment (69.0 ± 8.5) in the control group (both P < 0.05). No severe complications occurred during and after HIFU.

Conclusion:  HIFU is an effective and safe ablation therapy with satisfactory short and long term efficacy for patients with advanced HCC.
TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 polymorphisms and Crohn's disease in a New Zealand Caucasian cohort
Authors: Hong Jiwon , Leung Euphemia , Fraser Alan G , Merriman Tony R , Vishnu Prakash , Krissansen Geoffrey W
Published: November 2006

Background and Aim:  Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) have been identified as susceptibility genes for Crohn's disease (CD) in some, but not all, studies. Here we examined the association between candidate disease‐susceptibility polymorphisms in the TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 genes and CD in a New Zealand Caucasian population.

Methods:  The frequency of gene polymorphisms was examined in 182 CD patients and in 188 ethnically matched controls by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) analysis.

Results:  We could not detect any significant difference in the allele frequencies of polymorphisms in the TLR2 (R753Q, 0.029 vs 0.016, P = 0.25), TLR4 (D299G and T399I, 0.085 vs 0.071, P = 0.49; and 0.085 vs 0.082, P = 0.90), and TLR9 (−1237T/C, 0.154 vs 0.148, P = 0.82) genes between controls and patients, respectively. There was no evidence that the variant TLR alleles were associated with disease phenotype. However, combination of the datasets of published studies with our dataset confirmed that the TLR4 polymorphism 299G (P = 0.0005; OR of 1.42 [95% CI 1.17–1.74]) and the TLR9 polymorphism −1237C (P = 0.0416; OR of 1.33 [95% CI 1.01–1.75]) are associated with CD.

Conclusions:  There was no evidence that the above variants of the TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 genes are major risk factors for CD or influence disease phenotype in our New Zealand case–control study. Nevertheless, the significance of the TLR4 299G and TLR9−1237C associations with CD worldwide was confirmed by a meta‐analysis test using our datasets and datasets from previously published studies.
Post‐infectious gastroparesis: Clinical and electerogastrographic aspects
Authors: Naftali Timna , Yishai Ron , Zangen Tsili , Levine Arie
Published: November 2006

Aims:  Post‐infectious gastroparesis (PIGP) is a subgroup of idiopathic gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to identify post‐viral gastroparesis and to characterize clinical and electrogastrographic aspects of the disease and their usefulness as a diagnostic tool.

Methods:  Patients diagnosed with gastroparesis were defined as PIGP if they had a clear history of an acute viral illness prior to the development of their symptoms. All patients underwent evaluation of gastric emptying and electrogastrography (EGG).

Results:  Seven patients met the criteria for diagnosis of PIGP. Patients' age ranged from 3 months to 47 years. A specific virus was identified in two patients (one cytomegalovirus [CMV] and one Epstein‐Barr virus [EBV]). EGG was pathological in six out of seven patients. In four out of seven patients, symptoms resolved spontaneously within 4 weeks to 12 months, three patients had improved but were still symptomatic at the time of the writing of this work.

Conclusion:  We conclude that post‐infectious gastroparesis is an uncommon and often over looked condition. It is self‐limiting in most cases. EGG is pathological in most patients.
Utility of liver biopsy in bone marrow transplant patients
Authors: Chahal Prabhleen , Levy Cynthia , Litzow Mark R , Lindor Keith D
Published: November 2006

Abstracts

Background and Aim:  Hepatic dysfunction is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in bone marrow transplant recipients. During the complex clinical management of these patients, liver biopsies may be obtained during evaluation of abnormal liver tests. The purpose of our study was to assess the safety and use of liver biopsy in this patient population.

Methods:  In total, 1700 bone marrow transplants were performed at our institution from June 1982 to December 2002. Data from patients who underwent liver biopsy after their transplant were reviewed once they were identified through a computerized medical index system. Impact of the histological diagnosis on subsequent patient management was obtained from clinical records. The histological diagnosis made by dedicated hepatopathologists was used as the ‘gold standard’ to assess the reliability of clinical diagnosis.

Results:  Sixty‐one patients, comprising 39 males and 22 females, had a liver biopsy performed (27 transjugular, 29 percutaneous, four laparoscopic, one not specified). As a result of liver biopsy, management was changed in 37% of patients and included addition of medical therapy in 11 and cessation of therapy in five patients. Complications from the liver biopsy were observed in 15 (25%) patients and involved 10 cases of pain or bleeding at the biopsy site, four subcapsular hemorrhages, and one arrhythmia leading to death.

Conclusion:  Liver biopsy, although infrequently obtained during the assessment of hepatic dysfunction in the bone marrow transplant population, can serve as an important diagnostic tool with a significant impact on the clinical management of these patients. Although we observed a higher complication rate, the majority of them were minor.
Vowel processing evokes a large sustained response anterior to primary auditory cortex
Authors: Hewson‐Stoate Nicola , Schönwiesner Marc , Krumbholz Katrin
Published: November 2006

The present study uses electroencephalography (EEG) and a new stimulation paradigm, the ‘continuous stimulation paradigm’, to investigate the neural correlate of phonological processing in human auditory cortex. Evoked responses were recorded to stimuli consisting of a control sound (1000 ms) immediately followed by a test sound (150 ms). On half of the trials, the control sound was a noise and the test sound a vowel; to control for unavoidable effects of spectral change at the transition, the roles of the stimuli were reversed on the other half of the trials. The acoustical properties of the vowel and noise sounds were carefully matched to isolate the response specific to phonological processing. As the unspecific response to sound energy onset has subsided by the transition to the test sound, we hypothesized that the transition response from a noise to a vowel would reveal vowel‐specific processing. Contrary to this expectation, however, the most striking difference between vowel and noise processing was a large, vertex‐negative sustained response to the vowel control sound, which had a fast onset (30–50 ms) and remained constant throughout presentation of the vowel. The vowel‐specific response was isolated using a subtraction technique analogous to that commonly applied in neuroimaging studies. This similarity in analysis methodology enabled close comparison of the EEG data collected in the present study with relevant functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) literature. Dipole source analysis revealed the vowel‐specific component to be located anterior and inferior to primary auditory cortex, consistent with previous data investigating speech processing with fMRI.
Developmental changes of neurotrophin mRNA expression in the layers of rat visual cortex
Authors: Patz Silke , Wahle Petra
Published: November 2006

Neurotrophins are essential factors for the structural, neurochemical and functional maturation of the brain including developmental and adult plasticity. Northern blots and polymerase chain reaction revealed the expression of neurotrophin 4 (NT4), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the cortex. The cellular producers of NT3 and BDNF have been characterized by anatomical methods as being mostly pyramidal, and the tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor is expressed by many cortical neurons. However, these methods have so far failed to identify the cells producing NT4 and NGF mRNA. These factors are much lower in expression than, e.g. BDNF, and apparently remain below detection levels of in situ hybridization. Given their specific actions on cell types and afferent systems, knowledge about the producing cell types is highly desirable. To narrow down on the producing cell types, we quantified by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) the developmental changes of BDNF, NT3, NT4, NGF and TrkB mRNA expression in total visual cortex lysates, and in the cortical layers dissected by tangential cryostat sectioning. We found dramatic changes in laminar expression of NT3 and NGF, mild changes of NT4, and no changes of BDNF and TrkB mRNA. For instance, NT3 is important early on for thalamocortical axons, and we found transient peaks of NT3 mRNA expression first in layer VI, then in layer IV. NT4 mRNA was in layers IV and VI, suggesting NT4 protein production in thalamorecipient layers, but peak expression gradually shifted to upper layers as did NGF expression. The layer‐specific developmental expression shifts of neurotrophin mRNAs correlate with morphogenetic processes.
Abnormal associative encoding in orbitofrontal neurons in cocaine‐experienced rats during decision‐making
Authors: Stalnaker Thomas A. , Roesch Matthew R. , Franz Theresa M. , Burke Kathryn A. , Schoenbaum Geoffrey
Published: November 2006

Recent evidence has linked exposure to addictive drugs to an inability to employ information about adverse consequences, or outcomes, to control behavior. For instance, addicts and drug‐experienced animals fail to adapt their behavior to avoid adverse outcomes in gambling and reversal tasks or after changes in the value of expected rewards. These deficits are similar to those caused by damage to the orbitofrontal cortex, suggesting that addictive drugs may cause long‐lasting changes in the representation of outcome associations in a circuit that includes the orbitofrontal cortex. Here we test this hypothesis by recording from orbitofrontal neurons in a discrimination task in rats previously exposed to cocaine (30 mg/kg i.p. for 14 days). We found that orbitofrontal neurons recorded in cocaine‐experienced rats failed to signal the adverse outcome at the time a decision was made in the task. The loss of this signal was associated with abnormal changes in response latencies on aversive trials. Furthermore, upon reversal of the cue–outcome associations, orbitofrontal neurons in cocaine‐treated rats with enduring reversal impairments failed to reverse their cue‐selectivity, while orbitofrontal neurons in cocaine‐treated rats with normal performance showed an increase in the plasticity of cue‐selective firing after reversal. These results provide direct neurophysiological evidence that exposure to cocaine can cause behaviorally relevant changes in the processing of associative information in a circuit that includes the orbitofrontal cortex.
Novel temporal configurations of stimuli produce discrete changes in immediate‐early gene expression in the rat hippocampus
Authors: Amin Eman , Pearce John M. , Brown Malcolm W. , Aggleton John P.
Published: November 2006

Changes in limbic brain activity in response to novel configurations of visual stimuli were assessed by quantifying two immediate‐early genes, c‐fos and zif268. Rats were first trained to use distal, visual cues to support radial‐arm maze performance. Two separate sets of visual cues were used, one in the morning (Set A) and the other in the afternoon (Set B). On the final day the experimental group was tested with a novel configuration created by combining four of the eight visual cues from Set A with four of the eight visual cues from Set B. Although each individual cue was in a familiar location, the combination of cues was novel. Comparisons with a control group revealed discrete decreases in Fos centred in the hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex. The hippocampal c‐fos findings produced a dissociation with the perirhinal cortex, where no change was observed. Other regions seemingly unaffected by the novel stimulus configuration included the postrhinal, entorhinal and parietal cortices. Zif268 levels in the experimental group increased in the anterior ventral thalamic nucleus. Although previous studies have shown how the rat hippocampus is involved in responding to the spatial rearrangement of visual stimuli, the present study examined temporal rearrangement. The selective immediate‐early gene changes in the hippocampus and two closely related sites (retrosplenial cortex and anterior ventral thalamic nucleus) when processing the new stimulus configuration support the notion that the hippocampus is important for learning the ‘relational’ or ‘structural’ features of arrays of elements, be they spatial or temporal.
Face‐ and gaze‐sensitive neural responses in children with autism: a magnetoencephalographic study
Authors: Kylliäinen Anneli , Braeutigam Sven , Hietanen Jari K. , Swithenby Stephen J. , Bailey Anthony J.
Published: November 2006

Face and gaze processing were studied using magnetoencephalography in 10 children with autism and 10 normally developing children, aged between 7 and 12 years. The children performed two tasks in which they had to discriminate whether images of faces presented sequentially in pairs were identical. The images showed four different categories of gaze: direct gaze, eyes averted (left or right) and closed eyes but there was no instruction to focus on the direction of gaze. Images of motorbikes were used as control stimuli. Faces evoked strong activity over posterior brain regions at about 100 ms in both groups of children. A response at 140 ms to faces observed over extrastriate cortices, thought to be homologous to the N170 in adults, was weak and bilateral in both groups and somewhat weaker (approaching significance) in the children with autism than in the control children. The response to motorbikes differed between the groups at 100 and 140 ms. Averted eyes evoked a strong right lateralized component at 240 ms in the normally developing children that was weak in the clinical group. By contrast, direct gaze evoked a left lateralized component at 240 ms only in children with autism. The findings suggest that face and gaze processing in children with autism follows a trajectory somewhat similar to that seen in normal development but with subtle differences. There is also a possibility that other categories of object may be processed in an unusual way. The inter‐relationships between these findings remain to be elucidated.
Contralateral inhibitory and excitatory frequency response maps in the mammalian cochlear nucleus
Authors: Ingham Neil J. , Bleeck Stefan , Winter Ian M.
Published: November 2006

There is increasing evidence that the responses of single units in the mammalian cochlear nucleus can be altered by the presentation of contralateral stimuli, although the functional significance of this binaural responsiveness is unknown. To further our understanding of this phenomenon we recorded single‐unit (n = 110) response maps from the cochlear nucleus (ventral and dorsal divisions) of the anaesthetized guinea pig in response to presentation of ipsilateral and contralateral pure tones. Many neurones showed no evidence of input from the contralateral ear (n = 41) but other neurones from both ventral and dorsal cochlear nucleus showed clear evidence of contralateral inhibitory input (n = 61). Inhibitory response patterns were divided into two groups. In 36 neurones, contralateral tone‐evoked inhibition was closely aligned with the ipsilateral excitatory response map (± 0.33 octaves) often extending to low stimulus levels. In 25 neurones, higher threshold contralateral inhibitory responses were found, mostly centred at frequencies greater than 0.33 octaves below the ipsilateral excitation. A few neurones (n = 8) exhibited responses consistent with excitatory input from the contralateral ear, which was closely aligned with the ipsilateral excitation, and were found exclusively in the dorsal cochlear nucleus. The latency of the contralateral interaction was, on average, longer than the ipsilateral latency. Interaural level difference curves are similar to other reports from the cochlear nucleus. Our results are consistent with the idea that contralateral interactions arise from a variety of direct and indirect neuronal projections.
CaV3 T‐type calcium channel isoforms differentially distribute to somatic and dendritic compartments in rat central neurons
Authors: McKay Bruce E. , McRory John E. , Molineux Michael L. , Hamid Jawed , Snutch Terrance P. , Zamponi Gerald W. , Turner Ray W.
Published: November 2006

Spike output in many neuronal cell types is affected by low‐voltage‐activated T‐type calcium currents arising from the Cav3.1, Cav3.2 and Cav3.3 channel subtypes and their splice isoforms. The contributions of T‐type current to cell output is often proposed to reflect a differential distribution of channels to somatic and dendritic compartments, but the subcellular distribution of the various rat T‐type channel isoforms has not been fully determined. We used subtype‐specific Cav3 polyclonal antibodies to determine their distribution in key regions of adult Sprague–Dawley rat brain thought to exhibit T‐type channel expression, and in particular, dendritic low‐voltage‐activated responses. We found a selective subcellular distribution of Cav3 channel proteins in cell types of the neocortex and hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellar input and output neurons. In general, the Cav3.1 T‐type channel immunolabel is prominent in the soma/proximal dendritic region and Cav3.2 immunolabel in the soma and proximal‐mid dendrites. Cav3.3 channels are distinct in distributing to the soma and over extended lengths of the dendritic arbor of particular cell types. Cav3 distribution overlaps with cell types previously established to exhibit rebound burst discharge as well as those not recognized for this activity. Additional immunolabel in the region of the nucleus in particular cell types was verified as corresponding to Cav3 antigen through analysis of isolated protein fractions. These results provide evidence that different Cav3 channel isoforms may contribute to low‐voltage‐activated calcium‐dependent responses at the somatic and dendritic level, and the potential for T‐type calcium channels to contribute to multiple aspects of neuronal activity.