bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scavenging by vertebrates: behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives on an important energy transfer pathway in terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: DeVault Travis L. , Rhodes, Jr. Olin E. , Shivik John A.
Published: July 2003

Carrion use by terrestrial vertebrates is much more prevalent than conventional theory implies, and, rather than a curiosity of animal behavior, is a key ecological process that must be accounted for. Human aversion to rotted substances and difficulties associated with identifying scavenged material in studies of food habits have contributed to the relative lack of information concerning scavenging behavior in vertebrates. Several lines of evidence, however, suggest that carrion resources are more extensively used by vertebrates than has been widely assumed: 1) a substantial number of animals die from causes other than predation and become available to scavengers, 2) a wide variety of vertebrate scavengers, rather than microbes or arthropods, consume most available carcasses, and 3) intense competition exists between vertebrate scavengers and decomposers, especially in warm climates. Although vultures are best adapted to use carrion, nearly all vertebrate predators are also scavengers to some extent. The costs and benefits associated with carrion use influences the evolution of scavenging behavior in vertebrates, resulting in a continuum of facultative scavengers that use carrion to varying degrees. The realized usage of carrion by a vertebrate species is influenced by the speed and efficiency with which it forages, its visual and olfactory abilities, and its capacity for detoxifying products of decomposition. A deeper understanding of carrion use by facultative scavengers will improve our knowledge of community and ecosystem processes, especially the flow of energy through food webs.
Can noise induce chaos?
Authors: Dennis Brian , Desharnais Robert A. , Cushing J. M. , Henson Shandelle M. , Costantino R. F.
Published: July 2003

An important component of the mathematical definition of chaos is sensitivity to initial conditions. Sensitivity to initial conditions is usually measured in a deterministic model by the dominant Lyapunov exponent (LE), with chaos indicated by a positive LE. The sensitivity measure has been extended to stochastic models; however, it is possible for the stochastic Lyapunov exponent (SLE) to be positive when the LE of the underlying deterministic model is negative, and vice versa. This occurs because the LE is a long‐term average over the deterministic attractor while the SLE is the long‐term average over the stationary probability distribution. The property of sensitivity to initial conditions, uniquely associated with chaotic dynamics in deterministic systems, is widespread in stochastic systems because of time spent near repelling invariant sets (such as unstable equilibria and unstable cycles). Such sensitivity is due to a mechanism fundamentally different from deterministic chaos. Positive SLE's should therefore not be viewed as a hallmark of chaos. We develop examples of ecological population models in which contradictory LE and SLE values lead to confusion about whether or not the population fluctuations are primarily the result of chaotic dynamics. We suggest that “chaos” should retain its deterministic definition in light of the origins and spirit of the topic in ecology. While a stochastic system cannot then strictly be chaotic, chaotic dynamics can be revealed in stochastic systems through the strong influence of underlying deterministic chaotic invariant sets.
Ruminant diversification as an adaptation to the physicomechanical characteristics of forage.
Authors: Clauss Marcus , Lechner‐Doll Matthias , Streich W. Jürgen
Published: July 2003

The validity of Hofmann's classification of ruminants into browsers/“concentrate selectors”, intermediate feeders and grazers/“grass and roughage eaters” and of his consecutive physiological postulates has repeatedly been questioned. In contrast to former concepts, which all focused on the chemical characteristics of the respective forages, we propose a new hypothesis on the main driving force of ruminant diversification, namely the physicomechanical characteristics of the respective forages. In contrast to browse, grass tends to stratify and form a “fibrous raft” in the reticulorumen. The significantly more capacious forestomachs of grazers, and the significantly thicker rumen pillars (indicating the strength of reticulorumen muscle equipment) of their forestomachs, are interpreted as particular adaptations to this forage characteristic. With these parameters, we present, for the first time, two single morphological measurements that allow the statistical reconstruction of Hofmann's classification. A small forestomach capacity and the lack of strong reticulorumen muscles in browsers would explain the observed exclusiveness with which browsers avoid grass forage under natural conditions, which we confirmed using two datasets on the composition of the natural diet. Both rumen pillar thickness and relative forestomach capacity were significantly correlated to the grass content of the natural diet, respectively. Our functional interpretation was also supported by a stepwise regression analysis with the proportion of grass in the natural diet as dependent variable and the rumen pillar thickness, the relative forestomach capacity, and the body weight as independent variables, which revealed significant equations.
Do individual branches of immune defence correlate? A comparative case study of scavenging and non‐scavenging birds
Authors: Blount Jonathan D. , Houston David C. , Møller Anders Pape , Wright Jonathan
Published: July 2003

Costs of immunity are widely believed to play an important role in life history evolution, but most studies of ecological immunology have considered only single aspects of immune function. It is unclear whether we should expect correlated responses in other aspects of immune function not measured, because individual branches of immune defence may differ in their running costs and thus may compete unequally for limiting resources, resulting in negatively correlated evolution. In theory such selection pressure may be most intense where species are hosts to more virulent parasites, thus facing a higher potential cost of parasitism. These issues are relatively unstudied, but could influence the efficacy of attempting to estimate the scale and cost of host investment in immune defence. Here, in a comparative study of birds we found that species that scavenge at carcasses, that were hypothesised to be hosts to virulent parasites, had larger spleens for their body size and higher blood total leukocyte concentrations (general measures of immune function) than non‐scavengers. These results support the hypothesis that scavengers are subject to strong parasite‐mediated selection on immune defences. However, measures of specific branches of immune function revealed that scavengers had a relatively lower proportion of lymphocytes than phagocytic types of leukocytes, suggesting robust front line immune defences that could potentially reduce the need for mounting relatively energetically costly lymphocyte‐dependent immune responses. Following experimental inoculation, scavengers produced significantly larger humoral immune responses, but not cell‐mediated immune responses, than non‐scavengers. However, the sizes of cell‐mediated and humoral immune responses were not correlated across species. These results suggest that single measures of immune defence may not characterise the overall immune strategy, or reveal the likely costs involved.
Do non‐additive effects on decomposition in litter‐mix experiments result from differences in resource quality between litters?
Authors: Smith Victoria C. , Bradford Mark A.
Published: July 2003

Differences in resource quality between litter species have been postulated to explain why litter‐mixtures may decompose at a different rate to that which would be predicted from single species litters (termed ‘non‐additive effects’). In particular, positive, non‐additive effects of litter‐mixing on decomposition have been explained by differences in initial nitrogen concentration between litter species. This interpretation is confounded because litter species that differ in nitrogen content also differ by a number of other resource quality attributes. Thus, to investigate whether initial nitrogen concentration does account for positive, non‐additive effects of litter‐mixing, we mixed grass litters that differed in initial nitrogen concentration but not species or structural plant part identity, and then followed mass loss from the litter‐mixes over time. We used the litterbag technique and three grass species for which a gradient of four distinct initial nitrogen concentrations had been generated. We produced all no‐ to four‐mix compositions of litter qualities for each species. Litter from different species was never mixed.

Contrary to what would be predicted, we found that when litters of the same species but with different initial nitrogen concentrations were mixed, that negative, non‐additive effects on decomposition were generally observed. In addition, we found that once mixed, increasing litter quality richness from two to four mixtures had no significant, non‐additive effect on decomposition. Litter quality composition explained little of the experimental variation when compared to litter quality richness, and different compositions generally behaved in the same manner. Our findings challenge the commonly held assumption that differences in nitrogen concentration between plant species are responsible for positive, non‐additive effects of litter‐mixing on decomposition.
Model‐supervised kernel smoothing for the estimation of spatial usage
Authors: Matthiopoulos Jason
Published: July 2003

The analysis of telemetry data obtained from tagged animals often requires that a smooth surface of spatial usage is fitted to the observations. Well‐established statistical techniques for doing this, such as kernel smoothing (KS), are based on asymptotic arguments that guarantee the convergence of their estimates to the truth with increasing sample size. Often, in addition to telemetry data, ecologists have access to a wealth of information relating to the animals’ distribution and movement. This additional information is potentially useful for the estimation of spatial usage but currently remains unused by existing methods. In this paper, I outline and begin the validation of model‐supervised kernel smoothing (MSKS), a modification of KS that uses such information to supervise surface‐fitting to telemetry data. MSKS initially requires an ad‐hoc synthesis of all the available information, excluding telemetry, into an auxiliary usage surface (the model). This is then combined with the kernel‐smoothed telemetry data into a hybrid surface that is the weighted average of the two. Automatic selection of the smoothing coefficient and the weight associated with the model is done by means of likelihood cross‐validation. I examine the performance of MSKS first, by extensive, numerical exploration on simulated data in one‐dimensional space and second, on two‐dimensional data obtained from an individual‐based simulation of a central‐place forager. The results for different models and sample sizes indicate that MSKS has three important properties. Firstly, it generally outperforms KS by an extent that depends on the quality of the auxiliary model. Secondly, when the auxiliary model is not informative, MSKS automatically reverts to a similar output as KS. Finally, in practical terms, MSKS is easy to implement and adds little to the computational requirements already made by KS methods. I illustrate the application of MSKS and further validate its performance on satellite telemetry data collected from a grey seal on the east coast of Scotland.
Evolution of tolerance: the genetic basis of a host's resistance against parasite manipulation
Authors: Hansen Mette H. H. , Koella Jacob C.
Published: July 2003

Despite considerable theoretical advances in the evolutionary biology of host–parasite systems, our knowledge of host–parasite coevolution in natural systems is often limited. Among the reasons for the lag of experimental insight behind theory is that the parasite's virulence is not a simple trait that is controlled by the parasite's genes. Rather, virulence can be expressed in several traits due to the subtle interactions between the host and the parasite. Furthermore, the host might evolve tolerance to the parasite if there is sufficient genetic variance to reduce the detrimental effect of the parasite on these traits. We studied the traits underlying virulence and the genetic potential to evolve tolerance to infection in the host–parasite system Aedes aegypti–Brachiola algerae. We reared the mosquitoes in a half‐sib design, exposed half of the individuals in each full‐sib family to the parasite and measured several life history traits – juvenile mortality, age at pupation and adult size – of infected and uninfected individuals. Virulence was due in large part to a delay of the mosquito's age at pupation by about 10%. Although this imposes strong selection pressure on the mosquito to resist the parasite, all of the mosquitoes were infected, implying a lack of resistance. Furthermore, although additive genetic variance was present for other traits, we found no indication of additive genetic variation for the age at pupation, nor for the delay of pupation due to infection, implying no potential for the evolution of tolerance. Overall, the results suggest that in this host–parasite system, the host has little evolutionary control over the expression of the parasite's virulence.
Influence of adult and egg predation on reproductive success of Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)
Authors: Tanhuanpää Miia , Ruohomäki Kai , Kaitaniemi Pekka
Published: July 2003

We studied the effects of predation and oviposition activity on reproductive success of a late‐season moth, Epirrita autumnata by exposing adult females and eggs to predation in their natural habitat in two successive years. Daily survival rates of adult females ranged from 0.4 to 0.8, average being 0.7. Most predation occurred during nights and was caused by harvestmen and other invertebrate predators. Avian predation did not have an effect on adult survival rates, most likely because of the lateness of E. autumnata flight season. Eggs were also preyed upon by invertebrate predators, although a notable proportion of egg mortality was attributable to causes other than predation. Daily survival rates of eggs were more than 0.99. Using modeling based on empirical data on eclosion of female adults, their oviposition behavior and survival rates of adults and eggs, the daily survival rates were translated into population level consequences. Adult predation was estimated to decrease reproductive success of non‐outbreaking E. autumnata by 60–85 percent and egg mortality by 20–40 percent. Predation on adult lepidopterans is a mortality factor potentially as relevant as predation in any other life history stage and thus, should not be ignored in studies of population regulation.
Strong indirect interactions of Tarsonemus mites (Acarina: Tarsonemidae) and Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)
Authors: Lombardero María J. , Ayres Matthew P. , Hofstetter Richard W. , Moser John C. , Lepzig Kier D.
Published: July 2003

Phoretic mites of bark beetles are classic examples of commensal ectosymbionts. However, many such mites appear to have mutualisms with fungi that could themselves interact with beetles. We tested for indirect effects of phoretic mites on Dendroctonus frontalis, which attacks and kills pine trees in North America. Tarsonemus mites are known to carry ascospores of Ophiostoma minus, which tends to outcompete the mutualistic fungi carried by D. frontalis. Experimental additions and removals of mites from beetles demonstrated that Tarsonemus propagate O. minus in beetle oviposition galleries. Furthermore, the abundance of Tarsonemus and O. minus tended to covary in nature. These results verified a strong mutualism between Tarsonemus and O. minus. Results also indicated that O. minus is an antagonist of D. frontalis: beetle larvae seldom survived in the presence of O. minus (compared to 83% survival elsewhere). Apparently, this is an indirect result of O. minus outcompeting the two species of mycangial fungi that are critical to beetle nutrition. Thus, Tarsonemus mites close a loop of species interactions that includes a commensalism (mites and beetles), a mutualism (mites and O. minus), asymmetric competition (O. minus and mycangial fungi), and another mutualism (mycangial fungi and beetles). This interaction system produces negative feedback that could contribute to the endogenous population dynamics of D. frontalis. Reproductive rate of Tarsonemus was more temperature‐sensitive than beetle generation time (which constrains the time for mite reproduction within a tree). This differential temperature sensitivity produces a narrow range of temperatures (centred at 27°C) in which mite reproduction per D. frontalis generation can attain its maximum of 100 mites/beetle. Consequently, seasonal oscillations in temperature are predicted to produce oscillations in the D. frontalis community, and climatic differences between regions could influence the community to dampen or exacerbate the cyclical outbreak dynamics of D. frontalis.
Foraging and mate‐finding in the silver Y moth, Autographa gamma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under the risk of predation
Authors: Skals Niels , Plepys Dainius , Löfstedt Christer
Published: July 2003

Animal foraging and reproductive behaviour is influenced by other simultaneous demands such as predator avoidance. The trade‐offs between these demands may depend on sex or mating experience. This study demonstrates that the olfactory‐mediated foraging and mate‐seeking behaviours in the silver Y moths, Autographa gamma, are affected by auditory cues mimicking their bat predators. Both males and females changed their foraging behaviour under simulated predation risk. Fewer moths reached the odour source following sound stimulation and the time to find the odour source increased by up to 250%. However, there were no significant differences between male and female ability to reach the plant odour source or the duration of the flight towards the source when stimulated with ultrasound. Hence females are not more cautious than males when observed in the same behavioural context. Risk‐taking in males was independent of whether they were flying toward a flower odour or sex pheromones having equal attractive value. This indicates that the trade‐off between olfactory and acoustic cues is independent the type of odour. Mated females were not as strongly affected by sound as non‐mated, indicating that flower odours have a higher adaptive value for mated females, suggesting that some processes following mating experience influence the trade‐off between flower odours and simulated bat sounds.
Spatial dynamics in breeding performance of a predator: the connection to prey availability
Authors: Ranta Esa , Byholm Patrik , Kaitala Veijo , Saurola Pertti , Lindén Harto
Published: July 2003

Using nationwide long‐term data on goshawk and grouse populations in Finland we study the spatial dynamics of the numbers of breeding northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) pairs, goshawk brood size and offspring sex ratio and their connection to the abundance of grouse. Our first large‐scale data comprise of observations on goshawk nests during 1986–2001 pooled to 21 different regions. The second set are annual (1989–1998) observations of brood size and offspring sex ratio (females over the sum of females and males) in goshawk nests all over the country, aggregated to 50 km grid level (n=28 grid units). The third set comprises counts (1989–2001) of four species of woodland grouse, split to adults and juveniles, also given in the same 50 km grid units. Using these data, we show that the annual numbers of northern goshawk nests in the different regions fluctuate in synchrony. Synchrony is also found in long‐term fluctuations of northern goshawk brood size and offspring sex ratio. Moreover, synchrony is found in annual numbers of grouse juveniles and adults, the main prey for the northern goshawk. In the brood size and offspring sex ratio of the goshawk, as well as in the annual numbers of grouse juveniles and adults the degree of synchrony falls off with increasing distance. However, only in sex ratios and in grouse dynamics are the slopes of synchrony vs distance roughly matching. We also found that sex ratio either vs grouse juveniles or grouse adults has a more matching spatial dimension (50 km radius) that sex ratio vs brood size. These observation lend support to the hypothesis that goshawk offspring sex ratio and grouse abundance are interconnected. Despite the reason, consequences of spatial coupling in sex ratio could have repercussions on other life history events.
Morphology dependent foraging efficiency in perch: a trade‐off for ecological specialization?
Authors: Svanbäck Richard , Eklöv Peter
Published: July 2003

Trade‐offs in foraging efficiency leading to divergent natural selection between and within populations exploiting different resources are thought to be a primary cause of trophic polymorphism. In this study we focused on the trade‐offs in foraging efficiency and growth in a polymorphic perch population. Specifically, we related habitat‐specific growth and diet of perch to perch morphology. In a subsequent laboratory study we experimentally tested the trade‐off by testing the efficiency of perch with different morphology feeding on pelagic (Daphnia sp., Chaoborus sp.) and littoral (mayfly larvae) food resources. The feeding performance was tested in different physical environments to see if we could predict growth patterns in the field based on foraging rate and behavior of perch.

In the field study, we found that the perch from the littoral and the pelagic zones differed in both morphology and diet. Within the littoral zone the deeper‐bodied individuals grew faster compared to the more streamlined individuals, whereas the opposite pattern was found in the pelagic zone. In the aquarium experiments, perch from the littoral zone had higher capture rates on the pelagic prey types in vegetation trials and on mayfly larvae in both open water and vegetation trials. The pelagic perch had higher capture rates on the pelagic prey types in open water trials. The littoral perch had lower search velocity than the pelagic perch in open water trials whereas the opposite pattern was found in vegetation trials. The attack velocity of the pelagic perch was also higher than that of the littoral perch independent of vegetation structure. Our results suggest that there is a functional trade‐off between performance in alternate habitats and general body form in perch. Such trade‐offs may promote divergent natural selection and could be the mechanism that give rise to and upholds the pattern in the field.
Histopathological analysis and demonstration of EBV and HIV p‐24 antigen but not CMV expression in labial minor salivary glands of HIV patients affected by diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome
Authors: Rivera Helen , Nikitakis Nikolaos G. , Castillo Sleygh , Siavash Hessam , Papadimitriou John C. , Sauk John J.
Published: July 2003

Background:  The diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) in HIV patients is characterized by the persistence of CD8‐circulating lymphocytes and lymphocytic infiltration, predominantly in salivary glands.

Methods:  We examined seven HIV‐positive patients with bilateral parotid enlargement and sicca symptoms. Minor labial salivary gland biopsies were performed in all patients and submitted for histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry for CD4, CD8, cytomegalovirus (CMV), LMP–EBV protein, and HIV p‐24 protein.

Results:  In all cases, lymphocytic infiltration of the minor salivary glands, mainly periductal, was found. Acinar atrophy, ductal ectasia, and mild to moderate fibrosis were also observed. We noticed strong immunohistochemical reaction for LMP–EBV and p‐24 proteins in ductal cells in all cases, while staining for CMV was consistently negative. The lymphocytes were positive for CD8, but consistently negative for CD4.

Conclusions:  A role of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and HIV, but not CMV, in the pathogenesis of DILS, is suggested by our immunohistochemical findings.
Construction of large area organotypical cultures of oral mucosa and skin
Authors: Igarashi M. , Irwin C. R. , Locke M. , Mackenzie I. C.
Published: July 2003

Background:  Skin and oral mucosal keratinocytes grown in vitro usually lose their normal patterns of differentiation, unless grown as organotypical cultures that are constructed by allowing collagen gels containing fibroblasts to contract before they are plated with keratinocytes and raised to the air/medium interface. However, the contraction process tends to produce small irregular cultures.

Methods:  To generate uniformly differentiating large cultures, we have investigated several aspects of the factors involved in the culture construction. By adjusting the number of fibroblasts used and by plating the matrices with keratinocytes prior to contraction, cultures of up to 72 cm2 were constructed.

Results:  The cultures retained almost the full surface areas of the original matrices and showed uniform patterns of epithelial plating and differentiation. Immunostaining for cytokeratins and integrins indicated restoration of in vitro phenotypes similar to those of the epithelial tissues of origin.

Conclusions:  These methods successfully generate cultures required for certain types of investigations and tissues that are suitable for clinical use as grafts.
Synergistic enhancement of collagenous protein synthesis by human gingival fibroblasts exposed to nifedipine and TNF‐alpha in vitro
Authors: Johnson Roger B.
Published: July 2003

Background:  Gingival overgrowth occurs in patients receiving nifedipine. Gingival inflammation may be an etiologic factor.

Methods:  Gingival fibroblasts were either exposed to (i) 0–500 ng/ml TNF‐alpha or 10−7 m nifedipine or (ii) 0–500 ng/ml TNF‐alpha + 10−7 m nifedipine for 7 days. 3H‐proline was used to quantify collagenous protein synthesis.

Results:  Both TNF‐alpha and 10−7 m nifedipine significantly decreased cell proliferation, and 10−7 m nifedipine + 500 ng/ml TNF‐alpha reversed these effects. Collagenous protein synthesis was significantly reduced by TNF‐alpha and was significantly enhanced by either 10−7 m nifedipine or 5–500 ng/ml TNF‐alpha + 10−7 m nifedipine.

Conclusions:  Our data report that nifedipine reverses the primary effects of TNF‐alpha on collagenous protein synthesis. Patients with gingivitis could be susceptible to gingival overgrowth during nifedipine therapy as a result of synergistic effects of these agents on fibroblast metabolism, which occurs irrespective of reduced cell numbers.
Comparative study of HPV prevalence in Japanese and North‐east Chinese oral carcinoma
Authors: Tang Xiaofei , Jia Lin , Ouyang Jie , Takagi Minoru
Published: July 2003

Background:  Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in the development of oral carcinoma. However, the reported prevalence of HPV in oral carcinoma has varied widely.

Methods:  The prevalence of HPV 16, 18 and 33 was investigated in Japanese and North‐east Chinese oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of p53 protein was examined immunohistochemically.

Results:  HPV 16 and 18 were detected in 7 (23.3%) and 10 (33.3%) of 30 Japanese and 11 (36.7%) and 5 (16.7%) of 30 Chinese samples, respectively. HPV 16 and 18 coinfection was detected in 3/30 Japanese and 2/30 Chinese samples. HPV 33 was not detected. There was no significant correlation between HPV 16 and 18 and the sites, gender, age and histological grade. The prevalence of both HPV 16 and 18 was similar and higher in the Japanese and North‐east Chinese samples (46.7% each). HPV 16 or/and 18 infection or/and p53 overexpression were in 22 (73.3%) of 30 Japanese samples and 24 (80.0%) of 30 North‐east Chinese samples, respectively.

Conclusions:  HPV 16/18 infection or/and p53 overexpression may play an important role in developing some OSCCs. and the presence of HPV sequences and mutant p53 are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
Modulation of KGF‐1 gene expression in oral fibroblasts by ripe areca nut extract
Authors: Ko Shun‐Yao , Lin Shu‐Chun , Chang Kuo‐Wei , Liu Chung‐Ji , Chang Shu‐Shin , Lu Suu‐Yi , Liu Tsung‐Yun
Published: July 2003

Background:  Areca chewing is a common habit of Asians, leading to a high propensity for a variety of oral diseases in this population. This research aimed to study the expression level of genes in oral fibroblast cell lines in response to exposure to ripe areca nut extract (rANE).

Methods:  Fifteen oral fibroblast cell lines obtained from individuals aged 20–77 years were established. Treatment of a cell line with 40 µg/ml rANE for 24 h was performed to achieve RNA for cDNA microarray analysis.

Results:  Among some 320 genes exhibiting detectable expression levels, 14 were up‐regulated and 26 were down‐regulated more than 2.5‐fold. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis suggested that up‐regulation of IL‐6 expression and down‐regulation of PDGFR, APP‐1 and KGF‐1 expressions in multiple cell lines assayed, were compatible with the results of the microarray analysis. Using quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR analysis, a remarkable down‐regulation of KGF‐1 expression in response to 40 µg/ml rANE, ranging 1.5–ninefold as compared to controls, was found in 60% (9/15) of the cell lines.

Conclusion:  This study established a novel toxicogenomic database for rANE. The down‐regulation of KGF‐1 expression in oral fibroblast cell lines potentially impairs the proliferation of overlying keratinocytes, which could partially explain the frequent epithelial atrophy observed in chronic areca chewers in vivo.
Synovial osteochondromatosis accompanying an ossified articular disk in the temporomandibular joint: a case report
Authors: Shibuya Tomoaki , Kino Koji , Kitamura Yuri , Takahashi Testu
Published: July 2003

A 51‐year‐old woman was referred for pain in the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the trismus. Conventional radiography showed a radiopaque area in the disk, which suggested calcification. At surgery, multiple, round‐to‐ovoid cartilagenous nodules were found in the joint cavity. Synovectomy and diskectomy were carried out via a pre‐auricular incision to remove the nodules. Examination under light microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of synovial osteochondromatosis (SOC). The disk contained a large ossified mass. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of SOC accompanied by ossification of a large part of the disk.
Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia: high incidence of gingival squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bagan Jose V. , Jimenez Yolanda , Sanchis Jose M. , Poveda Rafael , Milian Mari A. , Murillo Judith , Scully Crispian
Published: July 2003

Background:  Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a multifocal and progressive lesion of the oral mucosa, often associated with papillomavirus, seen mainly in older females, and characterized by a high recurrence rate and high rate of transformation into verrucous or oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical characteristics of a substantial group of patients with PVL, evaluating the characteristics of those who developed cancer, and comparing them with a group of patients with OSCC but no preceding PVL.

Methods:  A group of 30 patients with PVL was studied for the clinical aspects and characteristics, age, sex, location, recurrence, the appearance of new lesions, and the frequency of development of oral cancer. A disease control group was formed with 110 patients with OSCC chosen randomly from among those treated in the same Service in this period of time. The patients were grouped as PVL and no cancer (Group 1); PVL developing cancer (Group 2) and patients with OSCC without clinical lesions associated with PVL (Group 3).

Results:  The average age of the PVL patients (Groups 1 and 2 combined) was 70.97 ± 12.73 years, of which 80% were women. Only 23.3% were cigarette smokers. The area most frequently affected with PVL was the lower gingiva. Recurrence after treatment was seen in 86.7%, and new lesions appeared in 83.3%. Many (63.3%) developed cancer (Group 2). Comparison of Groups 2 and 3 patients showed that those with PVL developing cancer were more likely to develop gingival carcinoma and also to be older, more often females, and less likely to smoke tobacco.

Conclusion:  Cancer developing in patients with PVL manifested particularly on the gingiva.
Aggressive, multifocal oral verrucous leukoplakia: proliferative verrucous leukoplakia or not?
Authors: Ghazali Naseem , Bakri Marina Mohd , Zain Rosnah Binti
Published: July 2003

Background:  Some oral verrucal lesions may constitute parts of the clinicopathological spectrum of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL). Because of its idiopathic yet sinister nature, it is possible that PVL may exist in other populations. The aim of this study was to review the clinicopathological features of persistent, multifocal, oral verrucal lesions in Malaysian population.

Methods:  Patients with multifocal oral verrucal lesions were selected from surgical and histopathological records.

Results:  Nine patients of diverse ethnicity with 43 biopsies were reviewed. The mean age at the presentation was 62 years. The most frequent sites affected were gum, sulci, cheek and tongue. Indulgence in risk habits was reported in about 70% of patients. Four cases developed multifocal carcinoma from multifocal leukoplakia.

Conclusions:  In retrospect, none of the cases fulfilled the original PVL criteria, although three cases were suggestive of PVL. Nevertheless, these findings do not necessarily preclude the existence of PVL as a clinicopathological entity in Malaysian population.
Distribution and toxicity resulting from adenoviral vector administration to a single salivary gland in adult rats
Authors: O'Connell Brian C. , Zheng Changyu , Jacobson‐Kram David , Baum Bruce J.
Published: July 2003

Background:  We examined the distribution and toxicity associated with a single salivary gland administration of a recombinant adenoviral vector, AdCMVH3, encoding human histatin 3.

Methods:  Adult rats received different doses of AdCMVH3 (0, 106, 3 × 107, and 109 pfu; 50 µl) via the right submandibular gland and were followed for 15 days. Food consumption, weight gain, clinical appearance, and serum chemistry were monitored, and a necropsy was performed. Vector distribution was examined by polymerase chain reaction, and selected saliva samples were tested for replication‐competent adenovirus (RCA).

Results:  All animals survived to sacrifice (days 2, 8, and 15), and appeared normal clinically. There were no differences in food consumption, weight gain, and serum chemistry. The only consistent necropsy findings were lymphoid infiltrates and necrosis in the target submandibular glands of high‐dosage animals. AdCMVH3 detection was virus dose dependent, decreased with time, and at low dose preferentially observed in the targeted gland. No RCA was detected.

Conclusions:  Salivary gland administration of 109 pfu AdCMVH3 elicits an initial focal pathologic response and wide tissue distribution. There is no associated systemic toxicity up to 15 days, and lower doses are primarily found in glands.
Wegener's granulomatosis presenting with otologic and neurologic symptoms: clinical and pathological correlations
Authors: Bucolo Sebastiano , Torre Valerio , Montemagno Alberto , Beatrice Fabio
Published: July 2003

A case of Wegener's granulomatosis in a 59‐year‐old woman is reported. The disease first involved the parotid gland, the brain stem and the spinal cord, then running a rapidly progressive course as systemic pathology. Anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (cANCA) levels raised as renal failure set in. Renal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis and an appropriate therapy was adopted.
Les fissures discursives dans Le Premier homme
Authors: Gay‐Crosier Raymond
Published: July 2003

Partant de la fonction productive que Michel Foucault associe au terme « discours », je me propose d’étudier le paradoxe de la proximité distante que permet l’écriture autobiographique à peine dissimulée. Chez Camus, celle‐ci reflète aussi son penchant pour l'anonymat (le « on‐dit » foucaldien). Les manques originels, les béances existentielles que relate Le Premier homme sont captés par des silences éloquents, des fissures discursives génératrices du texte. Ces fissures masquent, tout en les articulant, la pudeur naturelle avec laquelle l'auteur traite les questions personnelles qui ne cessent de le hanter. Je choisirai trois segments qui éclairent admirablement la manière dont le silence et l'absence génèrent paradoxalement plus de sens que tous les mots avec lesquels le fils‐écrivain, faute de mieux, se voit forcé de décrire son univers et de préparer sa confession jamais exécutée. Ces scènes reprennent et modulent le maître‐thème du roman : l'impossible quête d'identité. En fin de compte, celle‐ci se heurte non pas au mur impénétrable du silence mais à celui de l'inadéquation des mots, fussent‐ils nombreux. Au‐delà de son aspect fragmentaire accidentel, Le Premier homme confirme le statut solitaire de l’œuvre, « cette absence d'exigence qui ne permet jamais de la dire achevée ni inachevée », selon le constat de Maurice Blanchot. Dans cette optique, le fragment du Premier homme rejoint les travaux aussi inutiles qu'exemplaires de Sisyphe dont la monstruosité, que l'auteur assume, est attribuable à l'excès de lucidité.
Space, the Body, and the Text in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Authors: Wardi Eynel
Published: July 2003

This paper addresses the interrelations of space, the body, and textuality in Blake's poetics of expansion in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. It ponders the experience of the embodied imagination as it figures, and is configured, in the unfolding of the textual spaces of the Marriage by their implied author and his readers alike. Blake's poetics of expansion is discussed in view of the models of textuality and the phenomenology of imagination projected by the Marriage, and with reference to concepts drawn from Merleau‐Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception.
“The black image – Framed in silver worn to shreds by kisses” A study of Byzantine cultural influences on Gunnar Ekelöf's later poetry1
Authors: Oxenstierna Elena V.
Published: July 2003

This article provides an analysis of the complex of motifs within the Swedish poet Gunnar Ekelöf's (1907–1968) Diwan‐trilogy (1965–1967), which is influenced by, and frequently refers to, the Byzantine sacred art and tradition. The following motifs are analysed in depth: Naming, and theological characteristics of the iconographies of God's Mother; the black image; the sacred room of the Byzantine church; Jesus versus Adam; and the motifs of mother and child, pain. water and thirst, Jesus Christ, and Nothing and No One. Based primarily on the concepts of intertextuality, and particularly M. Riffaterre's theoretical propositions within this field, the article demonstrates affinity between the Byzantine‐Orthodox art and tradition, and the poetic complex of motifs.
Comparison between Cytokine Concentration in Follicular Fluid of Poor and High Responder Patients and their Influence of ICSI‐outcome
Authors: Hammadeh M. E. , Fischer‐Hammadeh C. , Georg T. , Rosenbaum P. , Schmidt W.
Published: July 2003

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the cytokine concentration in follicular fluid (FF) of low and high responder intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) patients and to find out the impact of these cytokines in FF on ICSI outcome.

DESIGN: The levels of insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I, IL‐6, IL‐8, epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), granulocyte‐macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) were measured from low and high responder ICSI patients, the results were compared between the two groups and their influence on ICSI outcome was analysed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 49 low (G.I) and 34 high (G.II) responder patients were enrolled in this study. FF was collected at the time of oocyte retrieval and measured either by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (IL‐6, IL8, EGF, PDGF, GM‐CSF) or radio immuno assay (IGF‐I).

RESULTS: The concentration of IL‐6 (pg/mL), IL‐8 (pg/mL), IGF‐I (ng/mL), PDGF (pg/mL), EGF (pg/mL), GM‐CSF (pg/mL) in G.I was 6.0 ± 4.3, 288.1 ± 139.2, 0.416 ± 0.089, 249.8 ± 150.1, 9.12 ± 5.5 and 1.45 ± 2.10 and the corresponding value in G.II was 7.4 ± 4.8, 208.6 ± 64.0, 0.431 ± 0.094, 387.6 ± 36.0, 8.9 ± 5.4 and 1.8 ± 3.3, respectively. Only the PDGF concentration showed a significant (P = 0.007) difference between the two groups. Besides, negative correlations were found between PDGF and fertilization rate (r = −0.287; P = 0.046) of G.I. The mean number of retrieved (6.4 ± 2.3 versus. 15.7 ± 5.4) and fertilized (3.6 ± 1.6 versus 7.0 ± 4.5) oocytes differ significantly (P = 0.001) between the two groups. The fertilization rate was significantly higher in G.I than in G.II (60.9 ± 25.1 versus 43.4 ± 20.7%).

CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between IGF‐I, IL‐6, IL‐8, EGF and GM‐CSF concentrations of low and high responder patients. Besides, PDGF was significantly (P = 0.007) higher in high responder compared with low responder patients. Moreover, in poor responder patients, a negative correlation was found between PDGF and fertilization rate. However, the cytokine levels in FF of the patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for ICSI could not be used as a marker of oocyte fertilization and implantation potential.
Analyses of Dendritic Cell Subsets in Pregnancy
Authors: Yoshimura T. , Inaba M. , Sugiura K. , Nakajima T. , Ito T. , Nakamura K. , Kanzaki H. , Ikehara S.
Published: July 2003

PROBLEM: Changes in the frequency of dendritic cell (DC) subsets in the peripheral blood were analyzed as pregnancy progressed, and the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on myeloid and lymphoid DC subsets were phenotypically and functionally examined.

METHOD OF STUDY: Two major subsets of DCs were prepared from the peripheral blood by flowcytometry. Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and adhesion/costimulatory molecules were examined before and after culture with hCG. hCG receptors on both DC subsets were analyzed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

RESULTS: The frequency of myeloid DCs increased in the late stage of pregnancy, while that of lymphoid DCs gradually decreased. The addition of hCG (physiological concentrations in pregnancy) to cultures induced the maturation of both DC subsets in conjunction with increases in the expression of adhesion/costimulatory molecules, their stimulatory activities in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte/leukocyte reaction, and cytokine secretion (interleukin‐12 and interferon‐γ). hCG receptors were found in both DC subsets by RT‐PCR, suggesting that these stimulatory activities of hCG are mediated by hCG receptors on the DCs.

CONCLUSIONS: hCG can modulate immune responses through the activation of myeloid and lymphoid DCs.
Cloning Adult Farm Animals: A Review of the Possibilities and Problems Associated with Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
Authors: Edwards J. L. , Schrick F. N. , McCracken M. D. , Van Amstel S. R. , Hopkins F. M. , Welborn M. G. , Davies C. J.
Published: July 2003

In 1997, Wilmut et al. announced the birth of Dolly, the first ever clone of an adult animal. To date, adult sheep, goats, cattle, mice, pigs, cats and rabbits have been cloned using somatic cell nuclear transfer. The ultimate challenge of cloning procedures is to reprogram the somatic cell nucleus for development of the early embryo. The cell type of choice for reprogramming the somatic nucleus is an enucleated oocyte. Given that somatic cells are easily obtained from adult animals, cultured in the laboratory and then genetically modified, cloning procedures are ideal for introducing specific genetic modifications in farm animals. Genetic modification of farm animals provides a means of studying genes involved in a variety of biological systems and disease processes. Moreover, genetically modified farm animals have created a new form of ‘pharming’ whereby farm animals serve as bioreactors for production of pharmaceuticals or organ donors. A major limitation of cloning procedures is the extreme inefficiency for producing live offspring. Dolly was the only live offspring produced after 277 attempts. Similar inefficiencies for cloning adult animals of other species have been described by others. Many factors related to cloning procedures and culture environment contribute to the death of clones, both in the embryonic and fetal periods as well as during neonatal life. Extreme inefficiencies of this magnitude, along with the fact that death of the surrogate may occur, continue to raise great concerns with cloning humans.
Impaired Reproduction of Histamine Deficient (histidine‐decarboxylase Knockout) Mice is Caused Predominantly by a Decreased Male Mating Behavior
Authors: Pár Gabriella , Szekeres‐Barthó Júlia , Buzás Edit , Pap Erna , Falus András
Published: July 2003

PROBLEM: Histamine induces a Th2 shift. As successful allopregnancy is characterized by a peripheral Th2 dominance, we investigated the role of histamine in reproduction.

METHOD OF STUDY: HDC knockout (HDC−/−) or wild‐type (HDC+/+) mice kept on histamine‐deficient or normal diet were mated. Appearance of vaginal plugs indicated day 0.5 of pregnancy. On day 10.5 uteri were inspected. Splenic IFN‐γ production and cytotoxic activity were determined.

RESULTS: In HDC+/+ or HDC−/− females on normal diet, plugs appeared between 3 and 6 days. In 80% of the (HDC−/−)/(HDC−/−) matings on histamine‐deficient diet, no vaginal plugs were observed for more than 1 month. After replacing males with the wild type, plugs appeared within 3 days. In HDC−/− mice, litter size was lower than in HDC+/+ animals. Cytotoxicity and IFN‐γ production were significantly increased in non‐pregnant histamine‐deficient mice, but not in pregnant mice.

CONCLUSION: Histamine affects male mating behavior, but is not indispensable for successful pregnancy.
Immunization of Naïve Mice with Mouse Laminin‐1 Affected Pregnancy Outcome in a Mouse Model
Authors: Matalon Shelly Tartakover , Blank Miri , Matsuura Eiji , Inagaki Junko , Nomizu Motoyoshi , Levi Yair , Koike Takao , Shere Yaniv , Ornoy Asher , Shoenfeld Yehuda
Published: July 2003

PROBLEM: Laminins have important roles during placental and embryonic development. The aim of our study was to determine if active immunization of mice with laminin‐1 could elicit an autoimmune response, and induce features of reproductive failure.

METHOD OF STUDY: BALB/c mice were immunized with mouse laminin‐1. Autoantibodies to laminin‐1 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Pregnant mice were killed on day 14 of pregnancy and examined for pregnancy outcome.

RESULTS: Mice immunized with laminin‐1 developed elevated levels of anti‐laminin‐1 auto‐antibodies contrary to the control group. A higher fetal resorption rate was found in the laminin‐1 immunized group (23.8%) compared with that of the control group (12.2%), and was even higher in the subgroup of those animals with very high levels of anti‐laminin‐1 (P < 0.01). Laminin‐1 immunized mice also had lower fetal and placental weights.

CONCLUSIONS: Active immunization with laminin‐1 followed by elevated circulating anti‐laminin‐1 antibodies results in reproductive failure manifested by a higher fetal resorption rate.