bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible Tumor‐initiating and ‐promoting Activity of p‐Methylcatechol and Methylhydroquinone in the Pyloric Mucosa of Rat Stomach
Authors: Furihata Chie , Oguchi Shinobu , Matsushima Taijiro
Published: August 2005

The possible tumor‐promoting and tumor‐initiating activities of p‐methylcatechol and methylhydroquinone in the pyloric mucosa of male F344 rats were studied. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) were used as markers of tumor promotion and DNA single strand scission and unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) as markers of tumor initiation. The compounds were administered by gastric intubation and results were compared with those after administration of catechol. p‐Methylcatechol at doses of 60 to 180 mg/kg body weight dose‐dependently induced up to 20‐fold increase in ODC activity and 9‐fold increase in RDS with maxima 24 h after its administration, but it did not induce significant DNA single strand scission or UDS. Methylhydroquinone at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight induced up to 6‐fold increase in ODC activity 24 h, and 5‐fold increase in RDS 16 h after its administration, but the induction was not dose‐dependent. At a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight it induced DNA single strand scission, but not UDS. These results and previous findings show that the possible tumor‐promoting activities of catechol are several times higher than those of p‐methylcatechol and 10 times higher than those of methylhydroquinone.
Molecular Heterogeneity of the PML Gene Rearrangement in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Prevalence and Clinical Significance
Authors: Fukutani Hisashi , Naoe Tomoki , Yoshida Hitoshi , Yamamori Shunji , Ohno Ryuzo
Published: August 2005

We determined the breakpoints of the RAR‐α and PML genes in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells from 40 patients using Southern blot analysis. We also analyzed the relationship between the location of breakpoints, the clinical features of APL and the response to all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). While the breakpoints of the RAR‐α gene were consistently within intron 2, we found two major clusters in the breakpoints of the PML gene. The two breakpoint clusters in the PML gene were separated by 10 kb; 5’breakpoints were in intron 3, and 3’breakpoints were around introns 5 and 6. Twenty percent of the patients had 5’breakpoints in the PML gene and 70% had 3’breakpoints. No rearrangement was observed in the remaining 10% of patients in spite of the presence of t(15;17) translocation. There was no relationship between the location of the PML breakpoints, the clinical features at diagnosis and the response to ATRA.
Purification and Characterization of NF‐R2 that Regulates the Expression of the Human Multidrug Resistance (MDR1) Gene
Authors: Takatori Toshiro , Ogura Mitsuo , Tsuruo Takashi
Published: August 2005

NF‐R2 is a DNA‐binding protein that interacts with the MDR1 gene proximal promoter sequence. We previously reported that NF‐R2 binds within the promoter's — 126 and — 102 regions, which contain the ATTCAGTCA motif. In the present study, we have purified NF‐R2 from the nuclear extract of K562/ADM cells, a multidrug‐resistant cell line derived from human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells, using sequential chromatography on Sephacryl S‐300, DEAE‐Sepharose, heparin‐Sepharose and a DNA affinity column consisting of a repetitive synthetic ATTCAGTCA motif coupled to Sepharose. NF‐R2 runs as a single protein of 75 kDa on SDS‐PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). CAT (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) expression assay and gel mobility shift competition assay with mutated promoters revealed that the ATTCAGTCA motif is a positive regulatory element of MDR1 gene and that the motif is important for NF‐R2 binding. These results suggest that NF‐R2 may be involved in the positive regulation of the MDR1 gene transcription.
Morphometric Analysis of Colonic Adenomatous Polyps
Authors: Tsuno Nelson , Muto Tetsuichiro , Kubota Yoshiro , Sawada Toshio , Nagawa Hirokazu
Published: August 2005

Morphometric evaluation of adenomas of the colon to determine their degree of dysplasia is still controversial, since subjective factors influence the decision concerning benignancy or malignancy. Some indices have been proposed to assist in categorizing intermediate lesions into benign or malignant. However, these indices show a wide range of distribution. To evaluate the reliability of one such index, the index of structural atypism (ISA, area of glands/area of stroma), we studied polyps as a whole, and found great variability of index values within a single polyp.
Transforming Growth Factor‐β CD4+ T cells Tumor‐bearing state Immunosuppression Enhanced Production of TGF‐β and a Progressive Increase in TGF‐β Susceptibility of Anti‐tumor CD4+ T Cell Function
Authors: Li Xiao‐Fei , Takiuchi Hidekazu , Zou Jian‐Ping , Katagiri Tatsuo , Yamamoto Norihiko , Nagata Takako , Ono Shiro , Fujiwara Hiromi , Hamaoka Toshiyuki
Published: August 2005

The present study deals with the effect of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) on anti‐tumor immune responsiveness at various stages of the tumor‐bearing state. Spleen cells from BALB/c mice bearing a syngeneic tumor (CSA1M) 1–3 wk after inoculation with CSA1M cells produced interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and macrophage‐activating factor (MAF)/interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) upon in vitro culture without addition of exogenous tumor antigens. This lymphokine production was achieved through collaboration between anti‐CSA1M CD4+ T cells and antigen‐presenting cells that had been pulsed with CSA1M tumor antigens in vivo in the tumor‐bearing state. The IL‐2‐producing capacity of CD4+ T cells reached the maximal level as early as one week after tumor implantation but decreased with the progress of tumor‐bearing stages. In contrast, the capacity of CD4+ T cells to produce MAF/IFN‐γ was not affected but was maintained at high levels even late in the tumor‐bearing state. The addition of recombinant TGF‐β (rTGF‐β) to cultures of spleen cells from various tumor‐bearing stages resulted in the suppression of lymphokine production. However, the magnitude of the TGF‐β‐induced suppression varied depending on which tumor‐bearing stages of splenic cells were tested as a responding cell population; it was slight in cells from early (1–3 wk) tumor‐bearing stages but increased in cells from donor mice at later tumor‐bearing stages. Thus, spleen cells from late tumor‐bearing stages with weak but significant IL‐2‐producing and considerable MAF/IFN‐γ producing capacities failed to produce these lymphokines when rTGF‐β was present in cultures. A progressive increase in the TGF‐β susceptibility was also observed for IL‐4‐producing Th2 as well as IL‐2/MAF‐producing Th1 cells. In addition, increased levels of TGF‐β were detected in plasma from tumor‐bearing mice at late stages. Taken together, these results indicate that tumor‐bearing mice exhibit enhanced production of TGF‐β as well as a progressive increase in the susceptibility of anti‐tumor CD4+ T cells to TGF‐β‐induced suppressive mechanisms.
Antimetastatic Effect by Anti‐adhesion Therapy with Cell‐adhesive Peptide of Fibronectin in Combination with Anticancer Drugs
Authors: Saiki Ikuo , Yoneda Junya , Kobayashi Hideo , Igarashi Yu , Komazawa Hiroyuki , Ishizaki Yukuo , Kato Ikunoshin , Azuma Ichiro
Published: August 2005

We have investigated the therapeutic effect of CH‐271 fusion polypeptide containing both cell‐binding domain (C‐274) and heparin‐binding domain (H‐271) of fibronectin in combination with anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) or mitomycin C (MMC) on tumor metastasis of different types of tumors. CH‐271 fusion polypeptide alone significantly inhibited both liver and lung metastasis when it was co‐injected with L5178Y‐ML25 T‐lymphoma, RAW117‐H10 B‐lymphoma or B16‐BL6 melanoma cells, and spontaneous lung metastasis of B16‐BL6 melanoma cells when administered i.v. seven times before or after surgical excision of the primary tumors. Combined treatments with CH‐271 and either DOX or MMC significantly inhibited liver and lung metastasis of lymphoma or melanoma cells respectively, as compared with either treatment alone or the untreated control. Administrations of CH‐271 and DOX in combination substantially prolonged the survival time of mice injected i.v. with L5178Y‐ML25 cells. CH‐271 or DOX was effective for inhibiting the invasion of LS178Y‐ML25 cells into Matrigel in a concentration‐dependent manner. Our previous study has shown that CH‐271‐mediated inhibition of tumor invasion may be due in part to the anti‐cell adhesive property without affecting the cell growth, whereas the anti‐invasive effect of DOX was established to have resulted from the growth inhibition of tumor cells. Moreover, the combination of CH‐271 with DOX provided a more effective inhibition of tumor invasion into Matrigel than did either alone. Thus, we have demonstrated that the combination of anti‐cell adhesive CH‐271 and anticancer drugs such as DOX or MMC, i.e. anti‐adhesion therapy and chemotherapy, is a new approach that offers enhanced (additive) inhibitory effects on tumor metastasis and invasion.
Cytokines Induce Uridine Phosphorylase in Mouse Colon 26 Carcinoma Cells and Make the Cells More Susceptible to 5′‐Deoxy‐5‐fluorouridine
Authors: Eda Hiroyuki , Fujimoto Kaori , Watanabe Shin‐ichi , Ishikawa Tohru , Ohiwa Toshio , Tatsuno Kenji , Tanaka Yutaka , Ishitsuka Hideo
Published: August 2005

The antiproliferative activity of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FUra) and 5′‐deoxy‐5‐fluorouridine (5′‐dFUrd), used in combination with typical cytokines and growth factors, was investigated in mouse colon 26 carcinoma cells. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin‐1a (IL‐1α), and interferon γ (IFNγ) at low doses showing < 50% inhibition of cell growth by themselves enhanced the susceptibility of the cells to the activity of 5′‐dFUrd. In particular, a mixture of these cytokines greatly enhanced the activity of 5′‐dFUrd and 5‐FUra by up to 12.4‐ and 2.7‐fold, respectively, whereas the activity of other cytostatics was only slightly changed (< 1.5‐fold). Basic fibroblast growth factor also increased the susceptibility, but only to 5′‐dFUrd. This preferential enhancement of the activity of 5′‐dFUrd would be due to induction by the cytokines of uridine phosphorylase (Urd Pase), by which 5′‐dFUrd is converted to 5‐FUra. TNFα, IL‐1α, IFNγ, and a mixture of these factors increased the enzyme activity by up to 3.7‐fold in colon 26 cells. Consequently, the anabolism of 5′‐dFUrd to fluoronucleotides and the incorporation of 5‐FUra into RNA in colon 26 cells were increased by TNFα treatment. In addition, the increase by the cytokine mixture in the susceptibility to 5′‐dFUrd was abolished by an inhibitor of Urd Pase, 2,2′‐anhydro‐5‐ethyluridine. These results indicate that induction of Urd Pase activity by cytokines is a critical event that increases the susceptibility to 5′‐dFUrd.
Cognitive biases toward alcohol‐related words and executive deficits in polysubstance abusers with alcoholism
Authors: Noël Xavier , Van der Linden Martial , D’Acremont Mathieu , Colmant Maud , Hanak Catherine , Pelc Isidore , Verbanck Paul , Bechara Antoine
Published: August 2005

Aim  To study cognitive biases for alcohol‐related cues on executive function tasks involving mental flexibility and response inhibition in polysubstance abusers with alcoholism.

Design  The responses to alcohol‐related cues of detoxified polysubstance abusers with alcoholism and of non‐addicts were compared.

Setting  The University of Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

Participants  Thirty detoxified polysubstance abusers with alcoholism (PSA) and 30 healthy non‐substance abusers (CONT).

Measurements  Using the ‘Alcohol Shifting Task’, a variant of the go/no‐go paradigm, we measured the response times and the accuracy of responses to targets and distracters. Sometimes the alcohol‐related words were the targets for the ‘go’ response, with neutral words as distracters, sometimes the reverse. Several shifts in the type of the target occurred during the task.

Findings  Relative to CONT, PSA were generally slower to respond to targets, but the group difference was smaller when alcohol‐related words were the targets. A signal detection analysis also indicated that relative to CONT, the PSA had more difficulties discriminating between targets and distracters (low d′), and they showed more signs of decision bias (low C), reflecting increased readiness to respond to both targets and distracters. However, these discrimination and inhibition deficits were more pronounced when alcohol‐related words were the targets. Furthermore, the weaknesses in RT and C were more pronounced in PSA after shifting the targets from alcohol‐related to neutral words, or vice versa.

Conclusions  These results suggest that PSA have cognitive biases towards information related to alcohol, and that these biases, as well as the poor executive functions (lower mental flexibility and response inhibition) revealed in PSA might be responsible for their failure to maintain abstinence.
The effects of alcohol expectancies on drinking behaviour in peer groups: observations in a naturalistic setting
Authors: Bot Sander M. , Engels Rutger C. M. E. , Knibbe Ronald A.
Published: August 2005

Aims  To study the functionality of alcohol expectancies in predicting drinking behaviour in existing peer groups of young adults in a ‘naturalistic’ setting.

Design and setting  Young adults were invited to join an experiment with their peer group in a bar annex laboratory. During a ‘break’ of 50 minutes in this experiment, their activities, social behaviour and drinking behaviour were observed with digital video and audio equipment.

Participants  Twenty‐eight peer groups were involved in this study. A peer group consisted of seven to nine people, with relationships ranging from intimate relations and close friendships to being acquaintances. A total of 238 participants were involved.

Measurements  Information of the drinking behaviour from observations and questionnaire data on alcohol expectancies provide the opportunity to look at how and which expectancies are related to actual drinking patterns. Multiple regression and multi‐level analyses were applied.

Findings  Expectancies on the positive and arousing effects of alcohol consumption were related to alcohol consumption in a naturalistic, social drinking situation, in addition to group effects of drinking. Expectancies on the negative and sedative effects of drinking, however, were not related to drinking.

Conclusions  The findings indicate that among young adults observed in a peer group and naturalistic drinking setting, positive expectancies about the effects of alcohol and expectancies about the effects of alcohol on arousal are related positively to drinking level.
Lower cognitive test scores observed in alcohol abstainers are associated with demographic, personality, and biological factors: the PATH Through Life Project
Authors: Anstey Kaarin J. , Windsor Timothy D. , Rodgers Bryan , Jorm Anthony F. , Christensen Helen
Published: August 2005

Aims  To identify variables that explain the association between alcohol abstention and cognitive performance. We hypothesized that demographic and personality variables would be important for explaining the association in all age  cohorts,  but  that  health  variables  would  be  more  important  in the older age‐cohorts.

Design  Three age cohorts (20–24, 40–44, 60–64 years) were sampled randomly, yielding a total of 7485 participants, with data from 602 alcohol abstainers and 4158 light or moderate drinkers used in this study.

Setting  The sample was drawn from the cities of Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia.

Measurements  Scales measuring demographic, health and personality variables and cognitive and physical tests were administered. Participants drinking at hazardous or harmful levels were excluded from the analysis.

Findings  A range of demographic and physical function measures were found to explain partially the finding of abstainers having lower cognitive test scores. The effects of independent variables were largest in the 60–64‐year‐old age group with a trend for physical variables such as lung function and grip strength to become more important in the older age groups. In the 20–24‐year‐olds, the majority of the effect remained unexplained.

Conclusion  There is evidence that poorer cognitive test performance by abstainers reflects in part selection effects and poorer physical functioning, but does not appear to be due to mental or physical health conditions or personality.
Prevalence and predictors of research participant eligibility criteria in alcohol treatment outcome studies, 1970–98
Authors: Humphreys Keith , Weingardt Kenneth R. , Horst Doyanne , Joshi Asha A. , Finney John W.
Published: August 2005

Aims  To describe the eligibility criteria (i.e. study participant inclusion and exclusion rules) employed in alcohol treatment outcome research and to identify predictors of their use.

Design  The eligibility criteria of 683 alcohol treatment outcome studies conducted between 1970 and 1998 were coded reliably into 14 general categories. Predictors of the use of eligibility criteria were then examined.

Findings  Patients were most often ruled ineligible for research studies because of their level of alcohol problems (39.1% of studies), comorbid psychiatric problems (37.8%),  past  or  concurrent  utilization  of  alcohol  treatment  (31.8%),  co‐occurring  medical  conditions  (31.6%),  and  because  they  were  deemed  non‐compliant and unmotivated (31.5%). The number of eligibility criteria employed in studies increased from the 1970s through the 1990s, and was positively associated with funding from the US National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and from the private sector, lack of an inpatient/residential treatment condition, presence of a pharmacotherapy, and use of a randomized, multiple‐condition design. Principal investigators with doctoral degrees used more eligibility criteria than those with lower degrees.

Conclusion  Participant eligibility criteria are extensively employed in alcohol treatment outcome research, and vary significantly across historical periods, funders and research designs. Researchers should report the details of subject eligibility criteria and excluded patients more fully, and, evaluate how eligibility criteria affect the cost, feasibility, and generalizability of treatment outcome research.
An examination of early smoking experiences and smoking status in a national cross‐sectional sample
Authors: O'Connor Richard J. , Kozlowski Lynn T. , Vandenbergh David J. , Strasser Andrew A. , Grant Michael D. , Vogler George P.
Published: August 2005

Aims  To extend previous work showing lightheadedness from and liking for smoking to be associated with continued smoking while controlling for demographics and social influences that can also contribute to progression to established smoking.

Design and setting  Random digit dialing telephone survey conduced on 3383 never smokers, non‐smokers, former smokers and current smokers in the continental United States.

Measurements  Demographic information (sex, race, age, education level), smoking history, reactions to early experiences with smoking (lightheadedness, liking), whether parents, siblings or friends smoked when respondent was a teenager,

Findings  Lightheadedness and liking interacted—those who liked smoking (regardless of lightheadedness) were very likely to progress to established smoking, while non‐likers who experienced lightheadedness were more likely than non‐likers who did not experience lightheadedness to progress. These results held even after adjusting for demographic (sex, age, race, education) and social influences (parents, siblings and friends smoking).

Conclusions  Lightheadedness from early smoking appears to be associated with having smoked 100 cigarettes only among those who report not liking early smoking. Overall, this study supports the literature suggesting that early experiences, particularly liking smoking, are associated with becoming a regular smoker.
G‐banding and molecular cytogenetic analyses of marginal zone lymphoma
Authors: Aamot Hege Vangstein , Micci Francesca , Holte Harald , Delabie Jan , Heim Sverre
Published: August 2005

We analysed the acquired chromosomal aberrations of 22 marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) patients by various genome‐wide cytogenetic techniques, such as G‐banding, multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (M‐FISH), cross‐species colour banding (RxFISH), and comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH), as well as FISH with locus‐specific probes. Patients with an abnormal chromosome 3 (n = 11), the most frequently rearranged chromosome, showed a shorter median survival than patients with a normal chromosome 3 (n = 11, 74 months vs. 219 months, P < 0·03). Four of five patients with nodal MZL had chromosome 3 abnormalities and patients with nodal MZL had a shorter median survival than patients in the other morphological subgroups of MZL (P < 0·003). CGH analysis showed only gains of chromosome material, namely of chromosome regions 3p12–25, 3q12–21, 3q23–28, 12q13–15, 12q22–24, 19p13 and 19q13 in two to four cases each (20–40%). In two MZL, the novel unbalanced translocation der(13)t(3;13)(q24;p11) was detected as the sole karyotypic rearrangement, indicating that gain of 3q24‐qter could be an important event in the pathogenesis of these lymphomas. Another two cases showed, in addition to other abnormalities, a t(4;14)(p13;q32). Both these lymphomas had involvement of the IGH gene at 14q32, and one of them also of the RHOH/TTF gene at 4p13, which encodes a new member of the RHO protein subfamily.
Expression of the p75 neurotrophin receptor in acute leukaemia
Authors: Beutel Gernot , Meyer Johann , Ma Liping , Yin Songmei , Eder Matthias , von Neuhoff Nils , Wilkens Ludwig , Wei Jing , Hertenstein Bernd , Heil Gerhard , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Ganser Arnold , Li Zhixiong , Baum Christopher
Published: August 2005

The dLNGFR is a cytoplasmically deleted form of the low‐affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR, also known as p75NTR). Recently, we observed a myeloid leukaemia in mice transplanted with dLNGFR‐modified bone marrow cells. Retroviral‐mediated expression of dLNGFR was suspected to contribute to the murine leukaemia. This led us to investigate the expression of p75NTR in human leukaemia. Expression of p75NTR was observed in nine of 119 (8%) adult patients with acute leukaemia by flow cytometry analysis, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (26%). These results support further detailed analyses of neurotrophin receptors and downstream signalling pathways in haematological malignancies.
Specialist educational intervention for acute inpatient mental health nursing staff: service user views and effects on nursing quality
Authors: Richards David , Bee Penny , Loftus Samantha , Baker John , Bailey Lorna , Lovell Karina
Published: August 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study to evaluate the impact of an innovative 18‐day educational intervention for acute ward‐based mental healthcare nursing staff on documented quality of nursing care and on service user views of that care.

Background.  There are grave concerns internationally about the quality of inpatient mental health care for people with acute psychiatric problems. It is claimed that specialist educational courses are needed to improve these services. However, whilst such courses may lead to positive learning outcomes for participants, the impact on the actual care of service users is unknown.

Method.  An uncontrolled before‐and‐after evaluation of three acute mental health wards from different United Kingdom National Health Service trusts was carried out. Quality of nursing care was evaluated by extracting documentary evidence from service user records, assessed by two independent researchers according to predefined quality criteria. The views of a purposive sample of mental health service users, currently receiving services from the three designated wards, were ascertained by semi‐structured interview.

Results.  Both documentary evidence and service user views revealed some important baseline deficiencies in the quality of care offered at the study sites. Following the educational intervention, statistically significant improvements were observed in the quality of care planning, initial assessments and the provision of therapeutic care. No statistically significant changes were observed in the quality of risk assessments, medication management or external agency involvement.

Conclusions.  Education can have an impact on nursing care but may not be sufficient alone to change mental healthcare practices on acute inpatient wards in the radical manner demanded by policymakers and service user lobby groups. Educational interventions need to be implemented in conjunction with organizational changes that are specifically designed to maximize the opportunities presented by a newly skilled and positive workforce.
Sympathetic nervous control of the cerebral circulation in sleep
Authors: LOOS NATHALIE , GRANT DANIEL A. , WILD JENNENE , PAUL SEANA , BARFIELD CHARLES , ZOCCOLI GIOVANNA , FRANZINI CARLO , WALKER ADRIAN M.
Published: August 2005

Cerebral vessels are extensively innervated by sympathetic nerves arising from superior cervical ganglia, and these nerves might play a protective role during the large arterial pressure surges of active sleep (AS). We studied lambs (n = 10) undergoing spontaneous sleep–wake cycles before and after bilateral removal of the superior cervical ganglia (SCGx, n = 5) or sham ganglionectomy (n = 5). Lambs were instrumented to record cerebral blood flow (CBF, flow probe on the superior sagittal sinus), carotid arterial pressure (Pca), intra‐cranial pressure (Pic), cerebral perfusion pressure (Pcp = Pca−Pic) and cerebral vascular resistance (CVR). Prior to SCGx, CBF (mL min−1) was significantly higher in AS than in Quiet Sleep (QS) and Quiet Wakefulness (QW) (17 ± 2, 13 ± 3, and 14 ± 3 respectively, mean ± SD, P < 0.05). Following SCGx, baseline CBF increased by 34, 31, and 29% respectively (P < 0.05). CVR also decreased in all states by ∼25% (P < 0.05). During phasic AS, surges of Pca were associated with transient increases in Pcp, Pic and CBF. Following SCGx, peak CBF and Pic during surges became higher and more prolonged (P < 0.05). Our study is the first to reveal that tonic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) constricts the cerebral circulation and restrains baseline CBF in sleep. SNA is further incremented during arterial pressure surges of AS, limiting rises in CBF and Pic, possibly by opposing vascular distension as well as by constricting resistance vessels. Thus, SNA may protect cerebral microvessels from excessive distension during AS, when large arterial blood pressure surges are common.
Performance and alertness effects of caffeine, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil during sleep deprivation
Authors: WESENSTEN NANCY J. , KILLGORE WILLIAM D. S. , BALKIN THOMAS J.
Published: August 2005

Stimulants may provide short‐term performance and alertness enhancement during sleep loss. Caffeine 600 mg, d‐amphetamine 20 mg, and modafinil 400 mg were compared during 85 h of total sleep deprivation to determine the extent to which the three agents restored performance on simple psychomotor tasks, objective alertness and tasks of executive functions. Forty‐eight healthy young adults remained awake for 85 h. Performance and alertness tests were administered bi‐hourly from 8:00 hours day 2 to 19:00 hours day 5. At 23:50 hours on day 4 (after 64 h awake), subjects ingested placebo, caffeine 600 mg, dextroamphetamine 20 mg, or modafinil 400 mg (n = 12 per group). Performance and alertness testing continued, and probe tasks of executive function were administered intermittently until the recovery sleep period (20:00 hours day 5 to 8:00 hours day 5). Bi‐hourly postrecovery sleep testing occurred from 10:00 hours to 16:00 hours day 6. All three agents improved psychomotor vigilance speed and objectively measured alertness relative to placebo. Drugs did not affect recovery sleep, and postrecovery sleep performance for all drug groups was at presleep deprivation levels. Effects on executive function tasks were mixed, with improvement on some tasks with caffeine and modafinil, and apparent decrements with dextroamphetamine on others. At the doses tested, caffeine, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil are equally effective for approximately 2–4 h in restoring simple psychomotor performance and objective alertness. The duration of these benefits vary in accordance with the different elimination rates of the drugs. Whether caffeine, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil differentially restore executive functions during sleep deprivation remains unclear.
Sleep paralysis episode frequency and number, types, and structure of associated hallucinations
Authors: CHEYNE J. A.
Published: August 2005

Sleep paralysis (SP) episodes are often accompanied by vivid hallucinoid experiences that have been found to fall into three major categories thought to be organized according to intrinsic rapid eye movement (REM) processes. Prior research has, however, combined data for individuals with varying degrees of experience with SP episodes, rendering interpretations of the source of this structure ambiguous. The present study of 5799 current SP experients compares the nature and structure of the hallucinations of novice SP experients with those reporting varying numbers of episodes. Both qualitative and quantitative differences were found in reported hallucinations as a function of episode frequency, although the underlying three‐factor structure of the hallucinoid experiences was highly similar for all groups. Novice experients’ reports were, however, characterized by clearer differentiation of factors, likely because of a tendency of experienced SP experients to conflate experiences across episodes. Age and age of onset of SP episodes were associated with differences in the variety and types of hallucinations but not their underlying structure. Earlier onset of SP episodes was also associated with more frequent episodes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the basic form and patterning of hallucinatory experiences is a result of intrinsic processes, independent of prior experience, likely associated with underlying REM neurophysiology.
Mapping the actual and original distribution of the ecosystems and the chorological types for conservation planning in Colombia
Authors: Van Wyngaarden Willem , Fandiño‐Lozano Martha
Published: August 2005

A key requirement for systematic conservation planning is the availability of good quality and comparable data about the biodiversity. However, for many highly diverse countries, this information is not available. Here we present the methodology and the results of the three‐part construction of a conservation planning database in Colombia: (1) the actual distribution of the ecosystems; (2) their original‐potential distribution, which is important to calculate fixed targets for conservation; and (3) the chorological types, which are groups of spatial related ecosystems that account for biodiversity process that operate at larger scales. The procedure consists of integrating the results of the interpretation of satellite images, and the construction of ecological diagrams and biogeographical regions. The limits of the original‐potential ecosystems in the transformed landscapes can either still be seen on the images or are reconstructed on the base of the information from the ecological diagrams. The chorological types are constructed by clustering of ecosystems on the base of the shared boundary length. The implementation for Colombia resulted in maps of 337 ecosystems and 63 chorological types. This database was successfully used for the identification of the priorities for conservation.
Local species richness of Central European hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae): a lesson taught by local faunal lists
Authors: Keil Petr , Konvicka Martin
Published: August 2005

Published quantitative descriptions of local species assemblages represent a rich and little explored source of information exploring macroecological patterns. We used this source of data to estimate determinants of syrphid species richness in Central Europe. We examined the influence of three census‐related covariates and five environmental variables on the observed or standardized (by rarefaction) species richness of 163 local syrphid assemblages. We also compared a large data set collected by a single author with a compilation of various sources. The covariates had mostly significant effects: increasing sample size and increasing sampling effort caused an asymptotic increase in species richness. The most effective collecting technique was entomological net, followed by malaise and colour traps. After taking into account the influence of covariates, the effects of geographical environmental variables (altitude, latitude and longitude) were more important than the effects of habitat variables. Syrphid richness exhibited a hump‐shaped response to altitude and a latitudinal peak in the central areas of Central Europe. Our approach illustrates the potential of literature data for studying large‐scale variation among local species assemblages.
Species introduced from nearby sources have a more homogenizing effect than species from distant sources: evidence from plants and fishes in the USA
Authors: McKinney Michael L.
Published: August 2005

Biotic homogenization is occurring in many biota as widespread introduced species are replacing unique native species. Although efforts to document homogenization have increased, no studies have explicitly compared the homogenizing effects of species introduced from distant areas to the homogenizing effects of species introduced from more proximate areas. The author analysed three data sets, at different scales and in different taxa, that distinguish species introduced from distant sources (e.g. outside the US) from species introduced from less distant sources (e.g. within the United States). These data include: plant introductions among eight major US cities and fish introductions among 12 US states and among 10 watersheds from New York state. The authors found that, for all data sets, species introduced from less distant sources (within the US) have a greater homogenizing effect on community composition than species from more distant sources (outside the US). In agreement with other studies, the author also find that, in terms of absolute numbers, introductions from nearby sources are far more frequent than introduction of species from distant sources. While tentative, these findings point out the importance of considering species introduced from nearby areas (e.g., extralimital native species) when discussing biotic homogenization from human activities.
Subtelomeric chromosome aberrations: still a lot to learn
Authors: Moog U , Arens YHJM , Van Lent‐Albrechts JCM , Huijts PEA , Smeets EEJ , Schrander‐Stumpel CTRM , Engelen JJM
Published: August 2005

Cryptic subtelomeric chromosome aberrations are a significant cause of mental retardation (MR). More than 4000 patients have been investigated, and the mean overall prevalence of subtelomeric rearrangements has been found to be 5.2%. In order to contribute to knowledge on the clinical presentation of subtelomeric rearrangements, we retrospectively studied patients with unexplained MR who had been evaluated for subtelomeric abnormalities by different fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. Hundred and two patients had an unexplained combination of MR with dysmorphism, congenital anomalies, and/or a positive family history and were investigated by total subtelomeric (TS) FISH (89/102), or by total painting (TP) in an obligate carrier in the case of familial MR (13/102). In 59 additional patients, a sequence‐specific FISH was performed on clinical indication. In the 102 patients studied by TS or TP, six pathogenic aberrations (5.9%) were found in addition to one polymorphism. In total, eight clinically significant subtelomeric aberrations were found in the 161 index patients; four of these eight aberrations were familial. We report on the clinical presentation of all patients with an aberration and review the relevant literature. Factors complicating the interpretation of subtelomeric rearrangements are discussed, such as the occurrence of variants, clinical variability, and limited knowledge of the phenotype.
Antioxidant defense in the leaves of C3 and C4 plants under salinity stress
Authors: Stepien Piotr , Klobus Grazyna
Published: August 2005

The effect of salt stress (50, 100 and 150 mM of NaCl) on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC. 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC. 1.11.1.11), glutathione reductase (GR, EC. 1.6.4.2) enzymes and also on the rate of lipid peroxidation in terms of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) content and photosynthetic capacity in two wheat (C3 plants) and two maize (C4 plants) varieties was studied. In the non‐salined control plants, the antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly higher for maize than for wheat. Adding salt to the nutrient solution increased the level of antioxidants in leaves of both maize and wheat. The first substantial response to salinity was found for SOD on the 2nd day, whereas changes occurred for APX on the 4th day and for GR on the 4th/5th day of salt treatment. Although SOD activity increased considerably more in wheat (C3), it never reached as high levels as in maize (C4) grown in the same treatment combinations. The total increase in APX activity was similar for wheat and maize, whereas GR activity was higher in leaves of maize. Lipid peroxidation analyses showed an increase in TBARS contents in both plants' species grown under salinity that corresponded to the damage that occurred in secondary oxidative stress. However, as a result of advanced antioxidant defense in maize, the TBARS quantities did not elevate to as high level as in wheat. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed a considerable decrease in the efficiency of PS II and electron‐transport chain (ETC). Assimilation rate of CO2 decreased in both plant groups; however, in C4 maize, we observed a much better capacity to preserve the photosynthetic apparatus against overproduction of ROS. Results suggest that efficient antioxidant defense plays an important role in maize, the C4 plant, resistance to environmental stresses like salinity or drought.
The function of SULTR2;1 sulfate transporter during seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Awazuhara Motoko , Fujiwara Toru , Hayashi Hiroaki , Watanabe‐Takahashi Akiko , Takahashi Hideki , Saito Kazuki
Published: August 2005

SULTR2;1 is a low‐affinity sulfate transporter expressed in the vascular tissues of roots and leaves for interorgan transport of sulfate in Arabidopsis thaliana. Transgenic Arabidopsis carrying a fusion gene construct of SULTR2;1 5′‐promoter region and β‐glucuronidase coding sequence (GUS) demonstrated that within the reproductive tissues, SULTR2;1 is specifically expressed in the bases and veins of siliques and in the funiculus, which connects the seeds and the silique. The antisense suppression of SULTR2;1 mRNA caused decrease of sulfate contents in seeds and of thiol contents both in seeds and leaves, as compared with the wildtype (WT). The effect of antisense suppression of SULTR2;1 on seed sulfur status was determined by introducing a sulfur‐indicator construct, p35S::βSRx3:GUS, which drives the expression of GUS reporter under a chimeric cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter containing a triplicate repeat of sulfur‐responsive promoter region of soybean β‐conglycinin β subunit (βSRx3). The mature seeds of F1 plants carrying both the SULTR2;1 antisense and p35S::βSRx3:GUS constructs exhibited significant accumulation of GUS activities on sulfur deficiency, as compared with those carrying only the p35S::βSRx3:GUS construct in the WT background. These results suggested that SULTR2;1 is involved in controlling translocation of sulfate into developing siliques and may modulate the sulfur status of seeds in A. thaliana.
Increase in the level of arabinoxylan–hydroxycinnamate network in cell walls of wheat coleoptiles grown under continuous hypergravity conditions
Authors: Wakabayashi Kazuyuki , Soga Kouichi , Kamisaka Seiichiro , Hoson Takayuki
Published: August 2005

Changes in the amount and composition of cell wall constituents in response to continuous hypergravity stimuli were studied in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) coleoptiles. The lengths of coleoptiles grown under hypergravity (300 g) conditions for 2–4 days from germination stage were 60–70% of those of 1 g control. However, the net amounts of hemicellulosic polysaccharides and cellulose in hypergravity‐treated coleoptiles increased progressively as much as those in the control coleoptiles. As a result, their contents per unit length of coleoptile largely increased under hypergravity conditions. In the hemicellulose fraction, the amounts of arabinose and xylose, the major components of the fraction, prominently increased in response to hypergravity. When hemicellulosic polysaccharides were separated into neutral and acidic polymers by an anion‐exchange column, the amounts of the acidic fraction consisting of (glucurono)arabinoxylans were higher in hypergravity‐treated coleoptiles than in control coleoptiles. The amounts of cell wall‐bound ferulic acid and diferulic acid (DFA) increased dramatically in both 1 g control and hypergravity‐treated coleoptiles. Particularly, the amounts of DFA in hypergravity‐treated coleoptiles were significantly higher than those in control coleoptiles during the incubation period. These results suggest that continuous hypergravity increases the rigid network structures via arabinoxylan–hydroxycinnamate cross‐links within cell wall architecture in wheat coleoptiles. These structures may have a load‐bearing function and contribute to construct the stable cell wall against the gravitational force.
Carbon isotope ratios of plants and occurrences of C4 species under different soil moisture regimes in arid region of Northwest China
Authors: Wang Guoan , Han Jiamao , Zhou Liping , Xiong Xiaogang , Wu Zhenhai
Published: August 2005

Carbon isotope ratio of leaf dry matter, δ13C, was measured on species occurring within Baiyin desert community, consisting of valley, slope and ridge microhabitats, and within Shandan desert community, consisting of Gobi desert and seasonal flooded creek microhabitats, in Northwest China. δ13C of C3 species increased with a decrease in soil water availability, suggesting that water‐use efficiency (WUE) increased with decreasing soil moisture, whereas for all C4 species, δ13C tended to decrease with decreasing soil water availability, suggesting that WUE also increased with decreasing soil moisture. Above results indicated that water‐use pattern was conservative under drought for C4 and C3 plants. In this present study, C4 species' occurrences within different microhabitats were investigated and C4 plants were observed to be absent and/or scarce within relatively lower soil moisture microhabitats, whereas they occurred and/or even had a high abundance within relatively higher soil moisture microhabitats, suggesting limited moisture available was a key factor of limiting C4 distribution in arid region of Northwest China.
Prenatal Development of the Caudal Vena Cava in Mammals: Review of the Different Theories with Special Reference to the Dog
Authors: Cornillie P. , Simoens P.
Published: August 2005

Several items of the development of the caudal vena cava in domestic animals are still controversial. In particular, the origin of the lumbar segment of the caudal vena cava is equivocally described. According to different theories it originates from the right‐sided supracardinal, caudal cardinal, sacrocardinal, lateral sympathetic or subcardinal veins. In this review, all five theories are compared with each other and discussed in the light of anatomical variations observed in eight dogs. Species‐specific diversity, erratic observations because of technical artefacts, and biased interpretation of the original data are three major reasons for the dissimilarity between the five theories, but they cannot explain all differences. Further studies by using modern techniques such as microvascular corrosion casting and non‐invasive three‐dimensional microtomography are necessary to better understand the normal development and to explain the variations in domestic animal species.
Immunohistochemical Study on the Distribution and Relative Frequency of Endocrine Cells in the Stomach of the Malayan Pangolin, Manis javanica
Authors: Nisa C. , Kitamura N. , Sasaki M. , Agungpriyono S. , Choliq C. , Budipitojo T. , Yamada J. , Sigit K.
Published: August 2005

The distribution and relative frequency of six kinds of endocrine cells in the stomach of the Malayan pangolin, Manis javanica were studied immunohistochemically using the avidin–biotin–peroxidase complex method. The stomach of the pangolin has three regions of mucous gland, one oxyntic gland and one pyloric gland. Cells immunoreactive for chromogranin, serotonin, somatostatin, BPP and glucagon were detected in all of the gastric glands, while gastrin‐immunoreactive cells were found in the entire gastric gland except for the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of endocrine cells in the mucous gland and pyloric gland was mainly from the middle to apical portions of the glands. The endocrine cells were rare or not detected in the basal portion of all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland, but they were also found in the basal portion of the oxyntic gland. The distribution pattern of the endocrine cells in the mucous and pyloric glands suggested that this position facilitates a quick response to the luminal ingesta. The wide distribution of gastrin‐immunoreactive cells in all of the mucous glands and pyloric gland was the most remarkable finding. This distribution suggests a major function of gastrin‐immunoreactive cells for the digestive process in the Malayan pangolin stomach.
Morphoquantitative Aspects of NADH‐Diaphorase Myenteric Neurons in the Ileum of Diabetic Rats Treated with Acetyl‐l‐Carnitine
Authors: Alves A. M. P. , Alves É. P. B. , Fregonesi C. E. P. T. , Defani M. A. , Stabille S. R. , Evangelista C. C. B. , Dos Santos C. A. , de Miranda Neto M. H.
Published: August 2005

In this work, we investigated the effect of the acetyl‐l‐carnitine (ALC) supplementation (200 mg/kg/day) on the myenteric neurons of the ileum of rats made diabetic by streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, i.v.). Four groups were used: diabetic (D), diabetic supplemented with ALC (DC), control (C) and control supplemented with ALC (CC). After 15 weeks of diabetes induction the animals were killed and the ileum was collected and subjected to whole‐mount preparation to evidence the myenteric neurons through the histochemical technique of the NADH‐diaphorase. The density of neurons seen in 12.72 mm2 of ileum showed no difference among the groups, although in group D it was 22% smaller than in group C, while group DC was 9% smaller to group CC. The profiles of the cell bodies (PC) of 1000 neurons per group were analysed. The neurons PC in group D decreased (P < 0.0001) when compared with other groups and increased (P < 0.0001) when compared with group DC. The incidence of neurons with a PC inferior to 200 μm2 was larger in group D. The frequency of neurons with a PC higher than 200 μm2 in group DC was close to those seen in groups C and CC. We concluded that ALC eases the loss of neurons and makes the incidence of myenteric neurons with a PC higher than 200 μm2 similar to the control rats.