bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The pathology of Plasmodium chabaudi infection is not ameliorated by the secreted filarial nematode immunomodulatory molecule, ES‐62
Authors: LAMB T. J. , VOISINE C. , KOERNIG S. , EGAN C. A. , HARNETT W. , LANGHORNE J.
Published: April 2007

ES‐62 is a phosphorylcholine‐containing glycoprotein secreted by filarial nematodes. This molecule has been shown to reduce the severity of inflammation in collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a model of rheumatoid arthritis, via down‐regulation of anti‐collagen type 1 immune responses. Malaria parasites induce a pro‐inflammatory host immune response and many of the symptoms of malaria are immune system‐mediated. Therefore we have asked whether the immunomodulatory properties of ES‐62 can down‐regulate the severity of malaria infection in BALB/c mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi. We have found that ES‐62 has no significant effect on the course of P. chabaudi parasitaemia, and does not significantly affect any of the measures of malaria‐induced pathology taken throughout infection.
The Control of Stem Eelworm in Tulips by Organophosphorus Compounds
Authors: Oliff K. E. , Hague N. G. M. , Kondrollochis M.
Published: April 2007

Dipping tulip bulbs in aqueous solutions of several organophosphorus compounds controlled infestations of Ditylenchus dipsaci. One of the chemicals, thionazin, has been used commercially with good results.
Viruses occurring in Plantago species in England
Authors: HAMMOND JOHN
Published: April 2007

Eight viruses were detected in a survey of Plantago species in England during 1977–80. Two of these were identified as previously described viruses (ribgrass mosaic virus and plantain virus A), while six are believed to be newly recorded (plantain virus X and plantain viruses 4–8). These are tentatively classified as a potexvirus, a caulimovirus, a potyvirus, a carlavirus, and two isometric viruses with properties similar to the tobacco necrosis virus group and the tombusviruses, respectively. The large number of virus types known to infect Plantago species indicates that these plants have a broad raoge of susceptibihty to plant viruses, and may act as reservoirs of viruses able to infect crops, although none of the viruses detected in the present survey is known to be of importance in British agriculture.
Aspects of narcissus smoulder epidemiology
Authors: O'NEILL T. M. , MANSFIELD J. W. , LYON G. D.
Published: April 2007

The range of symptoms caused by the narcissus smoulder pathogen Botrytis narcissicola is described. Healthy bulbs inoculated with B. narcissicola, or grown in soil containing sclerotia, showed lesions in the shoot on emergence (primary symptoms). In commercial fields, B. narcissicola was commonly isolated from the bulb neck and leaf sheath of plants with primary symptoms. Plants infected by B. narcissicola one season, either with natural primary symptoms or following artificial inoculation, frequently emerged with smoulder symptoms the following season. About 40% of B. narcissicola sclerotia were viable after burial in soil for 9 months. It is suggested that infected bulbs and sclerotia present in soil are the major sources of smoulder outbreaks. Secondary infection by conidia was enhanced by damaging leaves, and open stalk ends left after flower picking were found to provide an important site for infection development. B. narcissicola was isolated from bulb necks when plants with symptoms of secondary infection had died down, A disease cycle is postulated and suggestions for controlling smoulder are discussed with reference to the cycle.
Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays for study of serological relationships and detection of three luteoviruses
Authors: D'ARCY CLEORA J. , HEWINGS ADRIANNA D.
Published: April 2007

Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems were used to examine serological relationships and to detect three luteoviruses; a vector‐non‐specific strain of barley yellow dwarf virus from Illinois (BYDV‐PAV‐IL), a strain of beet western yellows virus from California (BWYV‐CA) and a dwarfing strain of soybean dwarf virus from Japan (SDV‐D). Indirect ELISA (IND‐ELISA) systems detected distant reciprocal serological relationships among all three viruses. This is the first report of a serological relationship between a vector‐non‐specific strain of BYDV and any strain of SDV. Double antibody sandwich ELISA (DAS‐ELISA) systems detected the purified homologous viruses at concentrations as low as 1.6 ng/ml. hut did not detect heterologous viruses as concentrated as 800 ng/ml. In contrast, when DAS‐ELISA systems were used for detection of the three viruses in sap extracts from infected plants some weak but significant (P=0.05) heterologous reactions occurred. The BYDV‐PAV‐IL DAS‐ELISA system usually detected BWYV‐CA and sometimes detected SDV‐D; the BWYV‐CA DAS‐ELISA system never detected BYDV‐PAV‐IL and rarely detected SDV‐D; the SDV‐D DAS‐ELISA system sometimes detected BYDV‐PAV‐IL and consistently detected BWYV‐CA.
Pre‐operative predeposit autologous donation in children presenting for elective surgery: a review
Authors: Lauder G. R.
Published: April 2007

summaryPredeposit Autologous blood donation (PAD) in children decreases the life‐time complications associated with allogeneic blood. These complications include transmission of known or unknown pathogens and alloimmunization against future blood transfusions, organ transplants and pregnacies. In view of the potential long term benefits of PAD should it be considered a component of paediatric blood conservation programs. This paper reviews the literature to explore the risk of benefit analysis of adopting PAD in paediatric practice.
Collection strategies and cryopreservation of umbilical cord blood
Authors: Skoric D. , Balint B. , Petakov M. , Sindjic M. , Rodic P.
Published: April 2007

summary The aim of this study was to compare (a) two different umbilical cord blood (UCB) collection methods while the placenta is still in the uterus (in utero), and (b) to evaluate the efficacy of four cryopreservation protocols based on UCB haematopoiestic stem cell (HSC) recovery. We analysed UCB samples collected with our original collection system designed for active Syringe/Flush/Syringe method or by standard in utero method. For comparing different cryopreservation procedures, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) at final concentration of 5 and 10% was used and combined with our own controlled‐rate or uncontrolled‐rate cryopreservation. A total of 99 samples were collected. A significantly higher UCB volume, total nucleated cell and mononuclear cell were seen following the first collection strategy (n= 49; mean ± SD, 103 ± 35·4 mL; 12·34 ± 5·27 × 108; 595 ± 3·47 × 106) vs. the second strategy (n= 50; 86 ± 29·3 mL; 9·87 ± 4·47; 424 ± 2·82 × 106) respectively (P < 0·01). The discard rate was 14% for the first and 36% for the second collection strategy (P < 0·01). It was shown that the most efficient procedure was the controlled‐rate protocol combined with lower (5%) DMSO concentration. Using active Syringe/Flush/Syringe method, we collected UCB with greater volumes and with lower discard rate compared to the standard by gravity technique. The data presented also showed much better recovery of UCB cells when controlled‐rate freezing procedure and 5% DMSO were combined.
Attitudes towards blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Sampath S. , Ramsaran V. , Parasram S. , Mohammed S. , Latchman S. , Khunja R. , Budhoo D. , Poon King C. , Charles K. S.
Published: April 2007

summary The aims of this study were to determine the factors that influence blood donation in different demographic groups in a multi‐ethnic, multicultural community, and to devise a strategy for a national campaign to increase voluntary non‐remunerated blood donations.

The majority (87%) of blood donations in Trinidad and Tobago are replacement donations. Seventy per cent of the country’s transfusion needs are not met. In 1998, the World Health Assembly recommended that reliance on replacement donations should be phased out due to their association with an increased risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections.

An observer‐administered questionnaire was completed by 1423 respondents in a multi‐ethnic borough in central Trinidad. Respondents were classified as donors or non‐donors and grouped by age, race, religion, employment status and highest level of education. The prevalence of a history of blood donation and the factors that encouraged donation or conversely discouraged donation in each demographic group were recorded.

A total of 1146 (81·2%) respondents had never donated blood. Of the 277 (18·8%) who had previously donated, replacement for a family member or friend was the most common reason (86·9%). The prevalence of donation was low in all racial, religious, gender, educational and age groups. However, there were significant demographic variations. The majority (71·3%) of non‐donors cited a lack of information as a major reason for non‐donation and expressed a willingness to donate if access to information and donation facilities were improved.

Voluntary blood donation in Trinidad and Tobago could be greatly increased by a national education campaign and increased accessibility to donation centres. This would ensure a safer and more reliable blood supply.
Peritubular capillary C4d deposition and renal outcome in post‐transplant IgA nephropathy
Authors: Choi Jung , Cho Yong Mee , Yang Won Seok , Park Tae‐Jin , Chang Jai Won , Park Su‐Kil
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  Backgrounds:  Immunological staining of the transplanted kidney for C4d in peritubular capillaries (C4dPTC) has emerged as a useful method to detect antibody‐mediated rejection in situ. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the prevalence of C4dPTC deposition in allograft renal biopsies diagnosed of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and analysed its clinical significance.

Method:  Sixty‐six biopsy specimens of post‐transplant IgAN, which were obtained to evaluate azotemia and/or heavy proteinuria, were examined by immunohistochemical staining of the paraffin sections with polyclonal antibody for C4d.

Results:  C4d was stained positively in peritubular capillaries in 16 (24%) of the 66 cases. The C4dPTC‐negative (n=50) and C4dPTC‐positive groups (n=16) were not different in recipient gender, age, donor age, type of donor (living vs. cadaveric), interval from transplantation to graft biopsy (41.6± 21.8 vs. 48.3±26.1 months) and post‐biopsy follow‐up period (60.3±23.3 vs. 56.9±25.4 months). During the follow‐up period, 12 of 50 (24%) although the incidence of graft failure was not different by the C4d deposition in peritubular capillaries, intervals from renal biopsy to graft failure tended to be shorter in C4dPTC‐positive cases than C4dPTC‐negative cases. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the renal allograft function of the C4dPTC‐positive group deteriorated more rapidly than that of the C4dPTC‐negative group (p<0.05). Histologically, the C4dPTC‐positive group had findings suggestive of acute cellular rejection more commonly than the C4dPTC‐negative group (p<0.01).

Conclusions:  Evidence of humoral rejection, as demonstrated by C4dPTC deposition, was concurrently present in significant portions of post‐transplant IgAN biopsy specimens and was associated with more rapid deterioration of renal function. These results suggest that C4dPTC positivity needs to be determined at the time of biopsy even in cases of post‐transplant glomerulonephritis and immunosuppression may need to be modified accordingly.
Twenty‐five consecutive isolated intestinal transplants in adult patients: a five‐yr clinical experience
Authors: Lauro A. , Zanfi C. , Ercolani G. , Dazzi A. , Golfieri L. , Amaduzzi A. , Grazi G.L. , Vivarelli M. , Cescon M. , Varotti G. , Del Gaudio M. , Ravaioli M. , Pironi L. , Pinna A.D.
Published: April 2007

Abstract: Patients and Methods:  Between December 2000 and December 2005, 25 isolated intestinal transplants from cadaveric donors have been performed for short gut syndrome (short bowel syndrome, 52%), chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (24%), Gardner syndrome (16%), radiation enteritis (4%) and massive intestinal angiomatosis (4%). Indications for transplantation were: loss of venous access, recurrent sepsis due to central line infection, major electrolyte and fluid imbalance. Liver dysfunction was present in 13 cases. All patients were adult; median age was 36.3 yr and mean weight at transplantation 61.6 kg. All recipients were on life‐threatening parenteral nutrition for a mean time of 23.7 months. Mean donor/recipient body weight ratio was 1.08. Rejection monitoring was accomplished by graft ileoendoscopies and intestinal biopsies through the temporary ileostomy. Our immunosuppressive regimen was based on induction therapy with three different protocols: daclizumab for induction, tacrolimus and steroids as maintenance therapy; alemtuzumab for induction and low‐dose tacrolimus as maintenance; thymoglobulinTM for induction and maintenance based on low‐dose tacrolimus. Closure of the abdomen at the end of transplantation represented a technical problem with several options performed: graft reduction, only skin closure, prothesic meshes, abdominal closure in two steps, cutaneous flaps and abdominal wall transplant in one case.

Results:  The mean hospital stay was 37 days. The mean follow‐up 27 months. Twenty patients are alive (80%) with two‐ and five‐yr patient survival rate of 80% and 66%; mortality rate was 20% due to sepsis in all cases. Our two‐ and five‐yr graft survival rate is 76% and 64%, graftectomy rate was 16%. Sixteen grafts are working properly, with no need of parenteral nutrition. We diagnosed 35 mild acute cellular rejection (ACRs), seven moderate ACRs and three severe ACRs (two needed graftectomy). We experienced two episodes of chronic rejection biopsy‐proven. RapamicineTM was added in case of renal failure or biopsy‐proven intestinal rejection. Graft‐vs.‐host disease was not seen in our series while post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease in two cases. After discharge, the most common indication for medical support was dehydration. The abdominal wall transplant did not experience any rejection.

Discussion and Conclusions:  Induction therapy has reduced the amount of postoperative immunosuppressive agents, especially in the first period, lowering the risk of renal failure and sepsis and the mucosal surveillance protocol for early detection of rejection dramatically reduced the number of severe ACR.
Successful superselective arterial embolization for post‐traumatic high‐flow priapism
Authors: Takao Tetsuya , Osuga Keigo , Tsujimura Akira , Matsumiya Kiyomi , Nonomura Norio , Okuyama Akihiko
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  We report a case of high‐flow priapism treated successfully with superselective embolization of the cavernous artery. An 18‐year‐old man presented to our hospital 12 days after having been struck in the perineum by the corner of a skateboard. Immediately after the injury, he suffered painless sustained incomplete erection. High‐flow priapism was diagnosed on the basis of cavernosal blood gas analysis and color Doppler ultrasonography findings. Right internal pudendal arteriography showed blood pooling in the cavernosum as a result of a broken artery. We identified the precise position of the arterial–venous fistula and embolized it superselectively with gelatin sponge particles. The fistula disappeared completely. One year later, the patient’s erectile function was completely restored, and there had been no recurrence of the priapism. According to the American Urological Association guidelines, conservative treatment should be attempted first for high‐flow priapism. In our review of the literature, superselective arterial embolization could be an alternative treatment after more than 3 weeks of conservative treatment.
Impact of salvage therapy for biochemical recurrence on health‐related quality of life following radical prostatectomy
Authors: Namiki Shunichi , Saito Seiichi , Tochigi Tatsuo , Ioritani Naomasa , Terai Akito , Arai Yoichi
Published: April 2007

Objective:  To determine the impact of salvage therapy for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) recurrence on the health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP).

Methods:  Between January 2000 and December 2003, a total of 249 patients who underwent RP were available for 2‐year follow up. Of the respondents, 203 men did not show evidence of recurrence (group A), and 46 men received salvage hormonal therapy and/or radiotherapy after RP because of a rise in PSA (group B). The general and prostate‐target HRQOL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short Form and University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, respectively. Patients completed the HRQOL instruments by mail at baseline and at 24 months after RP.

Results:  All of the patients completed both questionnaires. At baseline no significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the HRQOL domains. There were significant improvements in mental health and social function for the patients without biochemical recurrence postoperatively. Repeated measure anova revealed significantly different patterns of alteration in several general HRQOL domains among the treatment groups. The urinary and bowel domains were equivalent between the two treatment groups at baseline and 24 months after RP. The patients treated with salvage hormonal therapy tended to show delayed recovery of sexual function.

Conclusion:  Using a self‐administered questionnaire, biochemical recurrence following RP was found to impose a substantial burden in patients with localized prostate cancer.
Prostate‐specific antigen half‐life and pretreatment prostate‐specific antigen: Crucial predictors for prostate‐specific antigen trend in delayed‐combined androgen blockade therapy
Authors: Soga Norihito , Onishi Takehisa , Arima Kiminobu , Sugimura Yoshiki
Published: April 2007

Purpose:  To elucidate the crucial predictors for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) trends and determine the usage of anti‐androgen treatment during delayed‐combined androgen blockade (CAB) leading to a PSA level below 0.2 ng/mL.

Materials and Methods:  From January 2001 to December 2004, 105 prostate cancer patients were enrolled. Medical castration and anti‐androgen treatment were used sequentially and termed delayed‐CAB. The first goal was to maintain an undetectable PSA level. The nadir PSA was determined after medical castration only. Anti‐androgen was given if a PSA level of more than 0.2 ng/mL was observed and the subsequent PSA response was assessed. All cases were divided into two groups based on whether the PSA was lower (n = 59) or higher (n = 46) than 0.2 ng/mL. An analysis of the difference between the two groups was calculated.

Results:  The median of the initial PSA level in the lower group was lower than in the higher group with a 95% cut‐off level of 40 ng/mL. The median PSA half‐life in the lower group was also reduced with a 95% cut‐off of 3.6 months. In a multivariate analysis, the pretreatment PSA level and the PSA half‐life exhibited a significant correlation between the two groups. Anti‐androgen treatment was given to 26 cases in the higher group. The PSA increased in one case, decreased to less than 0.2 ng/mL in 17 cases and remained over 0.2 ng/mL in eight cases.

Conclusion:  Both the PSA half‐life and the pretreatment PSA level were useful markers for predicting the PSA trends to determine the optimal use of anti‐androgen treatment during delayed‐CAB.
Distinguishing splenosis from local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma using a technetium sulfur colloid scan
Authors: Umemoto Susumu , Miyoshi Yasuhide , Nakaigawa Noboru , Yao Masahiro , Takebayashi Shigeo , Kubota Yoshinobu
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  Heterotropic splenic tissue in renal fossa is characteristically asymptomatic and is usually an incidental finding that has been reported to mimic renal or adrenal tumors. A 55‐year‐old man with renal cell carcinoma had undergone radical nephrectomy together with splenectomy because of disrupture of the splenic capsule. During a follow‐up examination, three nodules were detected by computed tomography scan in the splenorenal area and they slowly enlarged. Although local recurrence was highly suspected, we decided to rule out splenosis. We successfully diagnosed these masses as ectopic splenic tissues by a technetium sulfur colloid scan and unnecessary surgical exploration was avoided.
Effect of experimentally induced Escherichia coli epididymo‐orchitis and ciprofloxacin treatment on rat spermatogenesis
Authors: Demir Aslan , Türker Polat , Önol Fikret Fatih , Sirvanci Serap , Findik Ayfer , Tarcan Tufan
Published: April 2007

Abstract:  We investigated the effects of epididymo‐orchitis and ciprofloxacin on rat testicular histology and spermatogenesis. The control group underwent left orchiectomy. The second group received oral ciprofloxacin (150 mg/kg/day) for 10 days. Escherichia coli (106 cfu/mL, 0.1 mL) was injected into the proximal right ductus deferens in the third group. The fourth group received ciprofloxacin treatment 48 h after E. coli inoculation. In groups 3 and 4, bilateral orchiectomy was performed 14 days after the challenge. In healthy rats, ciprofloxacin caused recognizable histological damage associated with a mild decrease in testicular volume and sperm concentration. Infected testicles in groups 3 and 4 revealed severe histological damage associated with severe testicular atrophy and impaired spermatogenesis that were more significant in infected rats which received ciprofloxacin treatment. Contralateral testicles in these animals showed similar histopathological changes to a lesser extent. The results of our study suggest a gonadotoxic potential for ciprofloxacin and this potential in humans should be addressed with further studies.
Technique of anterior urethra urethroplasty using tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa
Authors: Mathur Raj Kumar , Himanshu Aggarwal , Sudarshan Odiya
Published: April 2007

Objective:  Over previous years, urethral stricture has constantly created a great problem in efforts to find a permanent cure for it. We describe a technique of anterior urethroplasty using tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa.

Methods:  After a midline penoscrotal incision, the bulbar or penile urethra along with corpus spongiosum was dissected from the corpora cavernosa. Urethra was then rotated dorsally and the stricture was opened along its whole length. The walls of the slit urethra, along with the tunica albuginea of the corpus spongiosum, were sutured to the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa at the 5 and 7 o'clock position after passing an all silicon catheter. We performed this technique on 79 male patients, having anterior urethral stricture, ranging 18–60 years of age (mean, 46 years). The etiology of stricture was trauma in 54, instrumentation in 12, infection in 10 and unknown in three. Follow ups were done at 4, 12 and 24 months by assessing patients' satisfaction rate along with a pre‐ and postoperative urethrogram, labeled as ‘good’, ‘fair’ and ‘poor’.

Results:  Good and fair results were considered as successful. The overall success rate was 94.9%. The success rate remained same at 4 months (64 + 11) and decreased to 93.7% (63 + 11) at 12 months and 89.9% (61 + 10) at 24 months.

Conclusion:  These observations show that anterior urethroplasty using tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa have produced satisfactory results and are comparable with any other technique of urethroplasty. Thus, we strongly recommend the use of tunica albuginea of corpora cavernosa for anterior urethroplasty, which is histologically similar and anatomically located near the stricture.
Clinical and pathological data of 10 malignant pheochromocytomas: Long‐term follow up in a single institute
Authors: Huang Kuo‐How , Chung Shiu‐Dong , Chen Shyh‐Chyan , Chueh Shih‐Chieh , Pu Yeong‐Shiau , Lai Ming‐Kuen , Lin Wei‐Chou
Published: April 2007

Background:  Malignant pheochromocytomas are rare. Many controversies still exists in clinical practice. We report the clinical and histological data of long‐term follow up in 10 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma.

Methods:  The clinical charts of 10 patients with malignant pheochromocytoma from a single institute were reviewed. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed at surgery. All patients had metastases in sites where chromaffin tissue was normally absent.

Results:  The median follow‐up period was 5.5 years (range, 2–20 years). Extra‐adrenal tumors occurred in four patients including paraganglioma tumors in three cases and bladder tumor in one case. Regional lymph node metastases were noted in six patients. Distant metastases were located in the lungs of two patients, in the bones of two patients and in the liver of one patient. Histological characteristics were not helpful for diagnosis of malignancy and for prediction of prognosis. Metastases were present in postoperative pathology in seven patients. In another three patients, metastases were discovered 6 months to 10 years after surgery. Three patients received chemotherapy and one patient received combination therapy of high‐dose 131I‐meta‐iodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG) therapy and chemotherapy. All patients achieved long‐term survival except for two who died of metastasis 1.5 years and 2 years after diagnosis.

Conclusions:  Early complete resection and adjunctive lymphadenectomy can cure malignancy. Close long‐term follow up for more than 10 years after surgery is necessary in patients with pheochromocytoma. The possibility of malignancy should be kept in mind even though the initial pathology is benign.
Impact of various modifiers on calcium oxalate crystallization
Authors: Kulaksizoglu Sevsen , Sofikerim Mustafa , Cevik Cemal
Published: April 2007

Objective:  This work focuses on the behavior of in vitro calcium oxalate crystallization. The effects of several compounds on the kinetics of calcium oxalate crystallization were examined.

Methods:  Rates of nucleation and aggregation of calcium oxalate crystals were derived from 30‐min time‐course measurements of optic density at 620 nm after mixing solutions containing calcium chloride and sodium oxalate at 37°C, pH 5.7. The maximum increase of optic density with time, termed SN, mainly reflects maximum rate of formation of new particles and thus crystal nucleation. After equilibrium has been reached, optic density decreases. No new particles were formed due to crystal aggregation. SA (the maximum slope of decrease of optic density at 620 nm with time, representing crystal aggregation) is derived from the maximum decrease in optic density.

Results:  Among the modifiers studied, citrate decreased both SN and SA (P < 0.001). Magnesium was also found to inhibit the rate of nucleation and crystal aggregation, but it appeared in a non‐concentrated manner. Nucleation and aggregation inhibition ratios were related inversely to concentration of albumin (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:  The growth and agglomeration of calcium oxalate crystals are differently modulated by various compounds. The treatments aiming at inhibiting crystallization of calcium oxalate can be better defined by these findings. And new treatment modalities can be developed.
Effects of olprinone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, on ischemic acute renal failure
Authors: Anas Chabouk , Ozaki Takenori , Maruyama Shoichi , Yamamoto Tokunori , Gotoh Momokazu , Ono Yoshinari , Matsuo Seiichi
Published: April 2007

Objective: Renal ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) is unavoidable and is still one of the major problems in renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of olprinone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, on renal IRI.

Methods: After a right nephrectomy, renal IRI was induced in rats. Olprinone was given in two different ways: sustained systemic administration and transient local administration to the kidney. Control rats were treated with saline. Using a magnifying endoscope, the renal blood flow speed was measured at 23 h after reperfusion. Then, blood samples were collected, and kidney specimens were taken for histological study. In order to study the mechanism, we performedin vitroexperiments, using human proximal renal tubular cells (HK‐2) incubated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α along with olprinone or saline, and interleukin (IL)‐8 was measured in the culture supernatant.

Results: In the saline group, the blood flow speed (BFS) was greatly reduced compared to that in normal kidneys. In both olprinone‐treated groups, BFS of the renal microcirculation significantly increased, tubular damage and macrophage infiltration attenuated, and renal function greatly improved. Olprinone inhibited the increase in the IL‐8 levels resulting from the incubation of HK‐2 with TNF‐α.

Conclusions: Our study successfully demonstrates that olprinone has renoprotective properties when applied locally as well as systemically. The results suggest that olprinone might be clinically useful in renal transplantation for the donor kidney, the recipient, and even in treating acute renal failure.
The pallial basal ganglia pathway modulates the behaviorally driven gene expression of the motor pathway
Authors: Kubikova Lubica , Turner Elena A. , Jarvis Erich D.
Published: April 2007

The discrete neural network for songbird vocal communication provides an effective system to study neural mechanisms of learned motor behaviors in vertebrates. This system consists of two pathways − a vocal motor pathway used to produce learned vocalizations and a vocal pallial basal ganglia loop used to learn and modify the vocalizations. However, it is not clear how the loop exerts control over the motor pathway. To study the mechanism, we used expression of the neural activity‐induced gene ZENK (or egr‐1), which shows singing‐regulated expression in a social context‐dependent manner: high levels in both pathways when singing undirected and low levels in the lateral part of the loop and in the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA) of the motor pathway when singing directed to another animal. Here, we show that there are two parallel interactive parts within the pallial basal ganglia loop, lateral and medial, which modulate singing‐driven ZENK expression of the motor pathway nuclei RA and HVC, respectively. Within the loop, the striatal and pallial nuclei appear to have opposing roles; the striatal vocal nucleus lateral AreaX is required for high ZENK expression in its downstream nuclei, particularly during undirected singing, while the pallial vocal lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium is required for lower expression, particularly during directed singing. These results suggest a dynamic molecular interaction between the basal ganglia pathway and the motor pathway during production of a learned motor behavior.
Activity regulates the expression of AMPA receptor subunit GluR4 in developing visual cortex
Authors: Akaneya Yukio
Published: April 2007

In the developing visual cortex, the expression of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit GluR4 precedes that of the other AMPAR subunits GluR1–3, and then declines to become almost absent in adults. The current study shows that the neuronal activity regulates the expression of GluR4 by a culture system in vitro and a dark‐rearing (DR) system in vivo. Membrane depolarization by treatment of cultured neurons of the visual cortex with a high concentration of KCl (35 mm; HK) promoted a decline in the expression of GluR4. This effect of HK on the expression of GluR4 was significantly blocked by the addition of an N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, (D)‐2‐amino‐5‐phosphonovaleric acid (APV), but not by the voltage‐sensitive calcium channel antagonist nifedipine. Moreover, the Ca2+–calmodulin‐dependent kinase (CaMKII) inhibitor KN62 and the cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H‐89 blocked this effect, which suggests the involvement of Ca2+ influx via NMDAR and the subsequent activation of CaMKII and PKA. Conversely, the MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059 promoted the effect of HK on the expression of GluR4. Significantly, APV, KN62, H‐89 and PD98059 either promoted or inhibited the expression of GluR4 even in normal KCl (5 mm) conditions. The developmental change in the expression of GluR4 was significantly attenuated in DR in vivo, and the results suggest that neuronal activity such as visual experience may be involved in the mechanism of the expression of GluR4, which is mediated by NMDAR and tuned by certain protein kinases at an early developmental stage in the visual cortex.
Inhibitory effect of voluntary movement preparation on cutaneous heat pain and laser‐evoked potentials
Authors: Le Pera D. , Brancucci A. , De Armas L. , Del Percio C. , Miliucci R. , Babiloni C. , Restuccia D. , Rossini P. M. , Valeriani M.
Published: April 2007

In our study, preparation of voluntary movement was used to physiologically activate the motor cortex areas and the effect of this activation on CO2 laser‐evoked potentials (LEPs) was explored. LEPs were recorded from 31 scalp electrodes in 10 healthy subjects after painful stimulation of the right C6–C7 skin dermatomes. LEP stimuli were delivered in the time interval between a visual warning stimulus followed after 1 s. by an imperative stimulus. The imperative stimulus triggered: (i) no task in the baseline condition (Pain); (ii) flexion–extension movements of the second finger of the right hand in the movement condition (Pain + Movement); (iii) cognitive task (mathematic computation) in the distraction condition (Pain + Cognition). The experimental conditions were also repeated during application of laser stimuli on the left C6–C7 skin dermatomes. Compared with the baseline condition (no task required), during preparation of right‐hand voluntary movement there was a significant reduction in LEP amplitude and subjective pain rating after right‐ but not after left‐hand stimulation, which suggests that the observed effect cannot be attributed to a nonspecific reduction in attention toward painful stimulus. During preparation of a cognitive task, LEP amplitude was reduced compared to baseline. Our results represent the first neurophysiological suggestion that physiological activation of the motor cortex, occurring during movement preparation, inhibits cortical pain processing by a centrifugal mechanism.
Molecular markers distinguishing supragranular and infragranular layers in the human prefrontal cortex
Authors: Arion Dominique , Unger Travis , Lewis David A. , Mirnics Károly
Published: April 2007

The human neocortex is organized into six layers that are differentiated by the size and packing density of their constituent neurons. The gene products that guide the establishment of this lamination have been studied extensively, but the gene expression gradients present across the layers of the adult human neocortex are mostly unknown. As the supragranular (SG) and infragranular (IG) layers of the human prefrontal cortex (PFC) differ in their connectivity and developmental time course, we hypothesized that the SG and IG layers will show distinct differences in their transcriptomes. To test this prediction, we used laser capture microdissection coupled with DNA microarray transcriptome profiling. Sixty‐nine genes exhibited robust and highly consistent expression differences between the SG and IG layers. For six selected markers, in addition to validating the microarray findings, in situ hybridization revealed a complex, subpopulation‐specific neuronal distribution. The markers we identified are likely to be related to the functional differences between the SG and IG layers of the human PFC and can be used for assessing alterations in structure and function of this cortical region in human brain disorders.
Mobile phone emission modulates interhemispheric functional coupling of EEG alpha rhythms
Authors: Vecchio Fabrizio , Babiloni Claudio , Ferreri Florinda , Curcio Giuseppe , Fini Rita , Del Percio Claudio , Rossini Paolo Maria
Published: April 2007

We tested the working hypothesis that electromagnetic fields from mobile phones (EMFs) affect interhemispheric synchronization of cerebral rhythms, an important physiological feature of information transfer into the brain. Ten subjects underwent two electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, separated by 1 week, following a crossover double‐blind paradigm in which they were exposed to a mobile phone signal (global system for mobile communications; GSM). The mobile phone was held on the left side of the subject head by a modified helmet, and orientated in the normal position for use over the ear. The microphone was orientated towards the corner of the mouth, and the antenna was near the head in the parietotemporal area. In addition, we positioned another similar phone (but without battery) on the right side of the helmet, to balance the weight and to prevent the subject localizing the side of GSM stimulation (and consequently lateralizing attention). In one session the exposure was real (GSM) while in the other it was Sham; both sessions lasted 45 min. Functional interhemispheric connectivity was modelled using the analysis of EEG spectral coherence between frontal, central and parietal electrode pairs. Individual EEG rhythms of interest were delta (about 2–4 Hz), theta (about 4–6 Hz), alpha 1 (about 6–8 Hz), alpha 2 (about 8–10 Hz) and alpha 3 (about 10–12 Hz). Results showed that, compared to Sham stimulation, GSM stimulation modulated the interhemispheric frontal and temporal coherence at alpha 2 and alpha 3 bands. The present results suggest that prolonged mobile phone emission affects not only the cortical activity but also the spread of neural synchronization conveyed by interhemispherical functional coupling of EEG rhythms.
Novel stimulus‐induced calcium efflux in Drosophila mushroom bodies
Authors: Peng Yueqing , Guo Aike
Published: April 2007

The mushroom body (MB) is an important part of the Drosophila brain, and is involved in many behaviors, including olfactory learning and memory and some visual cognition. However, the physiological properties of MB neurons remain elusive. Here we used a calcium‐imaging technique to study calcium signals in Drosophila MB. We found that, rather than increasing calcium spread, electrical stimuli dramatically decreased calcium signals in the terminals of MB fibers. This novel calcium decrease occurred at all developmental stages from larvae to adults, but was specific for certain regions of the MB neurons. GABA receptor blockade promoted calcium propagation through the MB fibers, but did not disrupt the stimulus‐induced decrease in calcium. Furthermore, this decrease in calcium was independent of extracellular calcium concentration and was not due to altered uptake by intracellular calcium stores and mitochondria. Rather, we found that inhibition of sodium–calcium exchangers significantly attenuated the stimulus‐induced decrease in calcium, whereas the decrease persisted when membrane calcium pumps were blocked. Our findings indicate that MB neurons exhibit a novel stimulus‐induced calcium efflux, which may be importantly regulated by sodium–calcium exchangers in the Drosophila MB.
Umami: a delicious flavor formed by convergence of taste and olfactory pathways in the human brain
Authors: McCabe Ciara , Rolls Edmund T.
Published: April 2007

Umami taste is produced by glutamate acting on a fifth taste system. However, glutamate presented alone as a taste stimulus is not highly pleasant, and does not act synergistically with other tastes (sweet, salt, bitter and sour). We show here that when glutamate is given in combination with a consonant, savory, odour (vegetable), the resulting flavor can be much more pleasant. Moreover, we showed using functional brain imaging with fMRI that the glutamate taste and savory odour combination produced much greater activation of the medial orbitofrontal cortex and pregenual cingulate cortex than the sum of the activations by the taste and olfactory components presented separately. Supralinear effects were much less (and significantly less) evident for sodium chloride and vegetable odour. Further, activations in these brain regions were correlated with the pleasantness and fullness of the flavor, and with the consonance of the taste and olfactory components. Supralinear effects of glutamate taste and savory odour were not found in the insular primary taste cortex. We thus propose that glutamate acts by the nonlinear effects it can produce when combined with a consonant odour in multimodal cortical taste‐olfactory convergence regions. We propose the concept that umami can be thought of as a rich and delicious flavor that is produced by a combination of glutamate taste and a consonant savory odour. Glutamate is thus a flavor enhancer because of the way that it can combine supralinearly with consonant odours in cortical areas where the taste and olfactory pathways converge far beyond the receptors.
Spinal cord injury‐induced immune depression syndrome (SCI‐IDS)
Authors: Riegger Tino , Conrad Sabine , Liu Kai , Schluesener Hermann J. , Adibzahdeh Mahdi , Schwab Jan M.
Published: April 2007

Infections are among the leading causes of death in spinal cord‐injured patients, and are associated with hampered wound healing, prolonged hospitalization and impaired neurological recovery. We have analysed fluctuations of immune cell populations in an experimental rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI) by FACS analysis compared with sham‐operated controls to detect the responses specifically induced by SCI. Further, to illustrate the impact of SCI only animals did not receive methylprednisolone in order to exclude confounding iatrogenic factors. Experimental SCI of rats induced a depletion of ED9+ monocytes (< 45%, P < 0.01), CD3+ T‐lymphocytes (< 35%, P < 0.01), CD45 RA+ B‐lymphocytes (< 25%, P < 0.01), MHC class II+ (< 40%, P < 0.01) and OX‐62+ dendritic cells (< 50%, P = 0.032) within the first week after SCI. HIS 48+ granulocytes remained on levels similar to sham‐operated controls. Our data suggest that experimental SCI induces early onset of an immune suppression that we refer to as SCI‐immune depression syndrome. Iatrogenic application of methylprednisolone in patients suffering may worsen the immune suppression. A deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this novel syndrome might be essential to decrease mortality, costs (time of hospitalization) and to protect the intrinsic neurological recovery potential following SCI.
Differential expression of nuclear lamin, the major component of nuclear lamina, during neurogenesis in two germinal regions of adult rat brain
Authors: Takamori Yasuharu , Tamura Yasuhisa , Kataoka Yosky , Cui Yilong , Seo Saori , Kanazawa Takenori , Kurokawa Kiyoshi , Yamada Hisao
Published: April 2007

Lamins are major structural proteins of the nuclear envelope. Three lamin subtypes, A/C, B1 and B2, predominate in mammalian somatic cells. While the expression levels of lamins in several tissues are known to change during cell differentiation, lamin expression is poorly understood in the nervous system. To investigate the expression of lamins during neuronal differentiation in the mammalian adult brain, we performed immunohistochemical studies on lamins A/C, B1 and B2 in two neurogenic regions of rat brain: the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle. In particular, three types of cells were analysed using confocal microscopy: GFAP‐positive cells as primary progenitor (stem) cells, PSA‐NCAM‐positive cells as subsequent neuronal progenitor cells, and NeuN‐positive mature neurons. GFAP‐positive cells possesed lamin A/C (++), B1 (++) and B2 (++), PSA‐NCAM‐positive cells possessed lamin A/C (–), B1 (+++) and B2 (+), and mature neurons possessed lamin A/C (++), B1 (+) and B2 (+++), in both neurogenic regions. These observations showed that the compositions of expressing lamin subtypes are distinct in particular differentiation stages during neurogenesis in the adult rat brain. Our results suggest that the alteration of nuclear lamina structure is coupled with the progression of neuronal differentiation.
Spatial and temporal frequency selectivity of neurons in the middle temporal visual area of new world monkeys (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: Lui Leo L. , Bourne James A. , Rosa Marcello G. P.
Published: April 2007

Information about the responses of neurons to the spatial and temporal frequencies of visual stimuli is important for understanding the types of computations being performed in different visual areas. We characterized the spatiotemporal selectivity of neurons in the middle temporal area (MT), which is deemed central for the processing of direction and speed of motion. Recordings obtained in marmoset monkeys using high‐contrast sine‐wave gratings as stimuli revealed that the majority of neurons had bandpass spatial and temporal frequency tuning, and that the selectivity for these parameters was largely separable. Only in about one‐third of the cells was inseparable spatiotemporal tuning detected, this typically being in the form of an increase in the optimal temporal frequency as a function of increasing grating spatial frequency. However, most of these interactions were weak, and only 10% of neurons showed spatial frequency‐invariant representation of speed. Cells with inseparable spatiotemporal tuning were most commonly found in the infragranular layers, raising the possibility that they form part of the feedback from MT to caudal visual areas. While spatial frequency tuning curves were approximately scale‐invariant on a logarithmic scale, temporal frequency tuning curves covering different portions of the spectrum showed marked and systematic changes. Thus, MT neurons can be reasonably described as similarly built spatial frequency filters, each covering a different dynamic range. The small proportion of speed‐tuned neurons, together with the laminar position of these units, are compatible with the idea that an explicit neural representation of speed emerges from computations performed in MT.
Effects of the GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline and gabazine on stimulus‐induced sharp wave‐ripple complexes in adult rat hippocampus in vitro
Authors: Behrens C. J. , Van Den Boom L. P. , Heinemann U.
Published: April 2007

Hippocampal sharp wave‐ripple‐complexes (SPW‐Rs) are characterized by slow field potential transients superimposed by ripples with a frequency of ∼200 Hz. In epileptic humans and rats frequencies of such transient network oscillations can reach up to 500 Hz potentially due to loss of functional inhibition. Therefore, we investigated whether GABAA receptor antagonists increased ripple frequency during SPW‐Rs. Within area CA3, SPW‐Rs were induced by repeated stimulation of stratum radiatum in area CA1 of adult Wistar rat hippocampal slices. Intracellular recordings showed that in approximately 50% of recorded CA3 pyramidal cells SPW‐Rs were accompanied by compound excitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of ∼10 mV superimposed by up to four action potentials (APs). The remaining cells responded with a compound inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) during SPW‐Rs. The GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline (BMI) or gabazine (SR‐95531) led to a transition of SPW‐Rs into prolonged bursts with a significant increase in amplitude and duration reminiscent of recurrent epileptiform discharges (REDs). Ripple frequencies increased from ∼190 Hz to ∼300 Hz. In naïve slices SR‐95531 and BMI also evoked REDs with similar incidence and high frequency ripple frequencies of ∼240 Hz. Elevations in extracellular potassium concentration during REDs were approximately 20‐fold higher than those observed during SPW‐Rs. Intracellular recordings revealed bursts that were characterized by a large (> 25 mV) prolonged depolarization superimposed by up to 40 APs in close synchrony with extracellularly recorded ripples. Our results suggest that the generation of high frequency ripples, which are also observed in epileptic humans and rats, could indicate a loss of functional inhibition.