bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Er, Yb)-co-doped multifunctional ZnO transparent hybrid materials: fabrication, luminescent and magnetic properties
Authors: Yang Lixin , Wang Xuefeng , Li Zhaoguo , Liu Peng , Liu Fangmin , Ge Shuibing , Song Fengqi , Liu Bin , Shi Yi , Zhang Rong
Published: March 2011

We report the successful fabrication of (Er3+, Yb3+)-co-doped ZnO transparent hybrid materials by controlling compositions and crystallization. The singly precipitated ZnO nanocrystals were preferentially oriented along the c-axis on the glass surface, leading to an intense luminescence at the bandgap energy of ZnO. The Er3+ and Yb3+ ions assembled around the low-phonon-energy ZnO nanocrystals, achieving an enhanced two-photon upconversion emission in the visible region. In addition, the glass ceramic exhibited typical paramagnetism with antiferromagnetic interactions. The multifunctional combination in such a low-cost, easily shapable and environmentally friendly bulk material may find a wide range of device applications.
Structural and optical properties of CuO layered hexagonal discs synthesized by a low-temperature hydrothermal process
Authors: Abaker M , Umar Ahmad , Baskoutas S , Kim S H , Hwang S W
Published: March 2011

Layered hexagonal discs of CuO were synthesized on a large scale via low-temperature hydrothermal growth process at 130 °C using copper nitrate, hexamethylenediamine and NH4OH. The detailed morphological investigations by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly revealed that the synthesized CuO structures are made by the well layer-by-layer accumulation of several sheets which arranged themselves in such a special manner that they exhibit the hexagonal discs of CuO. The detailed structural characterizations of the hexagonal CuO discs were done by high-resolution TEM and x-ray diffraction which confirmed that the synthesized structures possessing well nanocrystalline nature and monoclinic structure. The purity and composition of the synthesized products were examined using energy dispersive spectroscopy, elemental mapping and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Using UV–Vis spectroscopy at room temperature we obtained indirect and direct band gap values slightly blue shifted to the bulk values. Finally, a plausible growth mechanism has been proposed for the formation of CuO layered hexagonal discs.
Faster exact maximum parsimony search with XMP
Authors: White W. Timothy J. , Holland Barbara R.
Published: March 2011

Motivation: Despite trends towards maximum likelihood and Bayesian criteria, maximum parsimony (MP) remains an important criterion for evaluating phylogenetic trees. Because exact MP search is NP-complete, the computational effort needed to find provably optimal trees skyrockets with increasing numbers of taxa, limiting analyses to around 25–30 taxa. This is, in part, because currently available programs fail to take advantage of parallelism.

Results: We present XMP, a new program for finding exact MP trees that comes in both serial and parallel versions. The serial version is faster in nearly all tests than existing software. The parallel version uses a work-stealing algorithm to scale to hundreds of CPUs on a distributed-memory multiprocessor with high efficiency. An optimized SSE2 inner loop provides additional speedup for Pentium 4 and later CPUs.

Availability: C source code and several binary versions are freely available from http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wtwhite/xmp. The parallel version requires an MPI implementation, such as the freely available MPICH2.

Contact:  w.t.white@massey.ac.nz; barbara.holland@utas.edu.au

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Histological Mechanisms of the Resistance Conferred by the Ma Gene Against Meloidogyne incognita in Prunus spp.
Authors: Khallouk Samira , Voisin Roger , Van Ghelder Cyril , Engler Gilbert , Amiri Saïd , Esmenjaud Daniel
Published: March 2011

The Ma gene from Myrobalan plum is a TNL gene that confers a high-level resistance to all root-knot nematodes of major economic importance, including Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica, M. arenaria, and M. enterolobii. The nematode behavior in the roots and the corresponding histological mechanisms of the Ma resistance to M. incognita in the resistant (R) accessions of the plum ‘P.2175’ and the interspecific hybrid P.2175 × almond-peach ‘35’, carrying the Ma1 allele (Ma1/ma), were characterized in comparison with the susceptible (S) accessions in the plum ‘P.2032’ and the interspecific hybrid P.2175 × almond-peach ‘253’ (ma/ma). Second-stage juveniles (J2s) were inoculated in micropropagated plantlets grown in soil substrate under controlled conditions at 25°C. Nematodes penetrated both R and S plants preferentially along the apical zone or close to the young lateral buds and moved via similar routes. Then they migrated into the cortex downward in the direction of the apex and turned up in the meristematic apical region to colonize the differentiating stele. In R accessions, motile J2s neither swelled nor developed into J3s, and initiation of feeding sites was never observed. This complete absence of gall symptoms is associated with cell necroses and corresponding hypersensitive-like reaction (HLR) phenotypes occurring either in the stele or in the meristematic apical region or in the cortex. Nematode attacks often disorganized the meristematic apical tissues of R accessions, which induced the development of subterminal lateral roots replacing primary terminal apices and, thus, provided an active resistance reaction to HLR damage.
Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity to social stress and adolescent cannabis use: the TRAILS study
Authors: van Leeuwen Andrea Prince , Creemers Hanneke E. , Greaves‐Lord Kirstin , Verhulst Frank C. , Ormel Johan , Huizink Anja C.
Published: March 2011

Aims  To investigate the relationship of life‐time and repeated cannabis use with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to social stress in a general population sample of adolescents.

Design  Adolescents who reported life‐time or repeated cannabis use, life‐time or repeated tobacco use and never use of either cannabis or tobacco were compared with respect to their HPA axis reactivity during the Groningen Social Stress Task (GSST), which was based on the Trier Social Stress Task.

Setting  A large prospective population study of Dutch adolescents [the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) study].

Participants  A total of 591 adolescents (51% male) who participated in the GSST, which was an additional measurement during the third assessment wave.

Measurements  HPA axis stress‐reactivity was indexed by four cortisol samples collected before, during and after the GSST. Furthermore, all adolescents in our study completed self‐reported questionnaires on life‐time and repeated cannabis and tobacco use. Models were adjusted for sex, recent alcohol use, experimental session risk status, socio‐economic status, mood and time of the experimental session.

Findings  Life‐time cannabis users had significantly lower stress‐reactivity levels when compared to abstainers [odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, confidence interval (CI) = 0.55–0.85, P < 0.01] and life‐time tobacco users (OR = 0.79, CI = 0.64–0.98, P < 0.05). In addition, repeated cannabis users also exhibited lower stress‐reactivity levels when compared to life‐time ever users of either tobacco or cannabis (OR = 0.74, CI = 0.53–0.98, P < 0.05).

Conclusions  Lower hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal‐axis stress‐reactivity in adolescents is related specifically to life‐time and repeated cannabis use.
Evidence for involvement of Dicer‐like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase proteins in gene silencing in Phytophthora infestans
Authors: VETUKURI RAMESH R. , AVROVA ANNA O. , GRENVILLE‐BRIGGS LAURA J. , VAN WEST PIETER , SÖDERBOM FREDRIK , SAVENKOV EUGENE I. , WHISSON STEPHEN C. , DIXELIUS CHRISTINA
Published: March 2011

Gene silencing may have a direct or indirect impact on many biological processes in eukaryotic cells, and is a useful tool for the determination of the roles of specific genes. In this article, we report silencing in Phytophthora infestans, an oomycete pathogen of potato and tomato. Gene silencing is known to occur in P. infestans, but its genetic basis has yet to be determined. Genes encoding the major components of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, Dicer‐like (Pidcl1), Argonaute (Piago1–5) and RNA‐directed RNA polymerase (Pirdr1), were identified in the P. infestans genome by comparative genomics, together with families of other genes potentially involved in gene silencing, such as histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferases, DEAD helicases, chromodomain proteins and a class 1 RNaseIII. Real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction demonstrated transcript accumulation for all candidate genes throughout the asexual lifecycle and plant infection, but at different levels of mRNA abundance. A functional assay was developed in which silencing of the sporulation‐associated Picdc14 gene was released by the treatment of protoplasts with in vitro‐synthesized double‐stranded RNAs homologous to Pidcl1, Piago1/2 and histone deacetylase Pihda1. These results suggest that the components of gene silencing, namely Dicer‐like, Argonaute and histone deacetylase, are functional in P. infestans. Our data demonstrate that this oomycete possesses canonical gene silencing pathways similar to those of other eukaryotes.
Molecular and biochemical characterization of JAK3 deficiency in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency over 20 years after bone marrow transplantation: implications for treatment
Authors: Bozzi F. , Lefranc G. , Badolato R. , Schumacher R. F. , Khalil G. , Loiselet J. , Bresciani S. , O'Shea J. J. , Vezzoni P. , Notarangelo L. D. , Candotti F.
Published: March 2011

Summary. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) comprises a heterogenous group of disorders that are fatal unless treated by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The most common form of SCID (T−B+ SCID) is due to mutations of either the common gamma chain (γc) or of γc‐coupled JAK3 kinase.

We report an unusual JAK3 defect in a female who was successfully treated >20 years ago with a BMT using her HLA‐identical father as the donor. Persistence of genetically and biochemically defective autologous B cells, associated with reconstitution of cellular and humoral immunity, suggests that integrity of the γc‐JAK3 signalling pathway is not strictly required for immunoglobulin production.
Identification of sole parvalbumin as a major allergen: study of cross‐reactivity between parvalbumins in a Spanish fish‐allergic population
Authors: Perez‐Gordo M. , Cuesta‐Herranz J. , Maroto A. S. , Cases B. , Ibáñez M. D. , Vivanco F. , Pastor‐Vargas C.
Published: March 2011

Background
Fish allergy is becoming an important health problem in Spain, a country with the third highest level of fish consumption after Japan and Portugal. The most common fish allergens are parvalbumins. In our area, the most widely consumed fish species are lean, such as whiff (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and sole (Solea solea). Adverse reactions to fish are usually related to these species, a fact that is largely unknown to allergists in other countries.

Objective
The aim of this study was to identify and purify the major allergen implicated in allergic response to sole and evaluate the IgE cross‐reactivity of purified parvalbumins from whiff and sole, which are phylogenetically close, and more distant species (i.e. cod and salmon).

Methods
Eighteen Spanish fish‐allergic patients with a positive history of type I allergy to fish were recruited from the clinic. Total protein extracts and purified parvalbumins from whiff and sole were tested for their IgE‐binding properties by combining two‐dimensional Western blotting and mass spectrometry. The extent of cross‐reactivity between these parvalbumins along with cod and salmon parvalbumins was investigated by IgE ELISA inhibition assay.

Results
An IgE‐binding spot of approximately 14 kDa was identified as parvalbumin and confirmed as a major allergen in sole extract, which is recognized by almost 70% of the patients. Whiff parvalbumin was recognized by 83.4% of the patients. High cross‐reactivity was determined for all purified parvalbumins by IgE inhibition assay.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Sole and whiff parvalbumin were confirmed as major allergens. The parvalbumins of sole, whiff, cod and salmon were highly cross‐reactive, thus suggesting a high amino acid sequence identity between them.

Cite this as: M. Perez‐Gordo, J. Cuesta‐ Herranz, A. S. Maroto, B. Cases, M. D. Ibáñez, F. Vivanco and C. Pastor‐Vargas, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 750–758.
Embryonic stem cell factors undifferentiated transcription factor‐1 (UFT‐1) and reduced expression protein‐1 (REX‐1) are widely expressed in human skin and may be involved in cutaneous differentiation but not in stem cell fate determination
Authors: Reinisch Christina M. , Mildner Michael , Petzelbauer Peter , Pammer Johannes
Published: March 2011

Undifferentiated transcription factor‐1 (UTF‐1) and reduced expression protein‐1 (REX‐1) are used as markers for the undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells. Because no highly specific cytochemical marker for epidermal stem cells has yet been identified, we investigated the expression pattern of these markers in human epidermis and skin tumours by immunohistochemistry and in keratinocyte cell cultures. Both presumed stem cell markers were widely expressed in the epidermis and skin appendages. Distinct expression was found in the matrix cells of the hair shaft. Differentiation of human primary keratinocytes (KC) in vitro strongly downregulated UTF‐1 and REX‐1 expression. In addition, REX‐1 was upregulated in squamous cell carcinomas, indicating a possible role of this transcription factor in malignant tumour formation. Our data point to a role for these proteins not only in maintaining KC stem cell populations, but also in proliferation and differentiation of matrix cells of the shaft and also suprabasal KC.
Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in crucian carp (Carassius auratus cuvieri) after a single intramuscular or oral administration
Authors: ZHAO H.‐Y. , ZHANG G.‐H. , BAI L. , ZHU S. , SHAN Q. , ZENG D.‐P. , SUN Y.‐X.
Published: March 2011

Zhao, H.‐Y., Zhang, G.‐H., Bai, L., Zhu, S., Shan, Q., Zeng, D.‐P., Sun Y.‐X. Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in crucian carp (Carassius auratus cuvieri) after a single intramuscular or oral administration. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.34, 460–463.

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FF) was studied in plasma after a single dose (40 mg/kg) of intramuscular (i.m.) or oral gavage (p.o.) administration to crucian carp (Carassius auratus cuvieri) in freshwater at 25 °C. Ten fish per sampling point were examined after treatment. The data were fitted to two‐compartment open models follow both routes of administration. The estimates of total body clearance (CLb), volume of distribution (Vd/F), and absorption half‐life (T1/2(ka)) were 0.067 L/h/kg and 0.145 L/h/kg, 2.21 L/kg and 1.04 L/kg, 2.75 and 1.54/h following i.m. and p.o. administration, respectively. After i.m. injection, the elimination half‐life (T1/2(β)) was calculated to be 38.2h, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) to be 16.82 μg/mL, the time to peak plasma FF concentration (Tmax) to be 1.50 h, and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) to be 597.4 μg/mL·h. Following p.o. administration, the corresponding estimates were 2.17 h, 29.32 μg/mL, 1.61 h, and 276.1 μg/mL·h.
Potential role of soluble B7‐H3 in liver immunopathogenesis during chronic HBV infection
Authors: Luan Y. , Ju J. , Luo L. , Zhang Z. , Wang J. , Zhu D.‐M. , Cheng L. , Zhang S.‐Y. , Chen L. , Wang F.‐S. , Wang S.
Published: March 2011

Summary.  Immune‐mediated mechanisms have been implicated in liver pathogenesis and subsequent progression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Costimulatory molecules, the important regulators of immune responses, participate in the regulation of liver pathology in HBV infection. However, the role of B7‐H3 (CD276, a new member of B7 family) in this process has not been investigated. In this study, we detected abundant soluble B7‐H3 (sB7‐H3) in the plasma of patients with chronic HBV infections. The increase of the plasma B7‐H3 was associated with the progression of liver cirrhosis and accompanied by decreased expression of B7‐H3 on hepatocytes. The identification analysis suggests that the plasma B7‐H3 might be derived from the membrane‐bound B7‐H3 on hepatocytes. A functional study showed that immobilized (4Ig) B7‐H3Ig fusion protein could inhibit TCR‐induced proliferation and IFN‐γ secretion of T cells, which could be partially blocked by soluble B7‐H3flag fusion protein. These results suggest that the reduced expression of B7‐H3 in the livers might temper the inhibition of T‐cell responses mediated by B7‐H3 expressed on hepatocytes and thus promote the hepatic inflammation and hepatitis progression in the chronic HBV‐infected patients.
Co‐occurrence of argyrophilic grain disease in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Soma K. , Fu Y.‐J. , Wakabayashi K. , Onodera O. , Kakita A. , Takahashi H.
Published: March 2011

K. Soma, Y.‐J. Fu, K. Wakabayashi, O. Onodera, A. Kakita and H. Takahashi (2012)Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology38,54–60

Co‐occurrence of argyrophilic grain disease in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Aims:Phosphorylated TDP‐43 (pTDP‐43) is the pathological protein responsible for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Recently, it has been reported that accumulation of pTDP‐43 can occur in the brains of patients with argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), in which phosphorylated 4‐repeat tau is the pathological protein. To elucidate the association of ALS with AGD, we examined the brains from 37 consecutively autopsied patients with sporadic ALS (age range 45–84 years, mean 71.5 ± 9.0 years).Methods:Sections from the frontotemporal lobe were stained with the Gallyas‐Braak method and also immunostained with antibodies against phosphorylated tau, 4‐repeat tau and pTDP‐43.Results:Fourteen (38%) of the 37 ALS patients were found to have AGD. With regard to staging, 5 of these 14 cases were rated as I, 4 as II and 5 as III. pTDP‐43 immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of positive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in the affected medial temporal lobe in many cases (93% and 64%, respectively). On the other hand, pTDP‐43‐positive small structures corresponding to argyrophilic grains were observed only in one case. A significant correlation was found between AGD and the Braak stage for neurofibrillary pathology (stage range 0–V, mean 2.1). However, there were no significant correlations between AGD and any other clinicopathological features, including dementia.Conclusions:The present findings suggest that co‐occurrence of AGD in ALS is not uncommon, and in fact comparable with that in a number of diseases belonging to the tauopathies or α‐synucleinopathies.
Consumer involvement in topic and outcome selection in the development of clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Tong Allison , Lopez‐Vargas Pamela , Howell Martin , Phoon Richard , Johnson David , Campbell Denise , Walker Rowan G , Craig Jonathan C
Published: March 2011

Background  Consumer involvement in guideline development is advocated, but minimal participation, such as a nominated consumer representative on a guideline working group, can inhibit their decision‐making power and contribution. Little is known about how to involve consumers more effectively in guideline development.

Objective  To describe a targeted approach for involving consumers actively in guideline development, by focusing on topic and outcome selection, and to discuss the impact on content and structure of the final guideline.

Design  Descriptive study.

Setting and participants  Patients and carers (n = 24) from a tertiary hospital in Sydney attended three structured peer‐facilitated workshops to complete group‐based exercises on topic and outcome selection for guidelines for early stage chronic kidney disease. These workshops were run in parallel with the guideline‐writing group. For each exercise, participants formed small groups and facilitated their own discussion, recorded their responses and presented them to the wider group. The topics and outcomes identified were fed back to the guideline writers.

Results  The participants actively engaged in the workshop discussions and articulated topics and outcomes they perceived should be included in clinical guidelines. Four main changes to guideline‐related outputs were observed. A new guideline subtopic was introduced, guidelines were consumer‐endorsed, guideline recommendations and suggestions for clinical care were augmented with consumer‐focused issues, and plain English guidelines were developed.

Conclusions  Consumer workshops in parallel and feeding into guideline development can be a feasible and effective approach for active consumer contribution. This process can inform the development of both consumer‐focused guidelines for clinicians and specific versions for consumers.
Clinical characteristics and molecular analysis of three Chinese children with Omenn syndrome
Authors: Zhang Zhi‐Yong , Zhao Xiao‐Dong , Jiang Li‐Ping , Liu En‐Mei , Cui Yu‐Xia , Wang Mo , Wei Hong , Yu Jie , An Yun‐Fei , Yang Xi‐Qiang
Published: March 2011

To cite this article: Zhang Z‐Y, Zhao X‐D, Jiang L‐P, Liu E‐M, Cui Y‐X, Wang M, Wei H, Yu J, An Y‐F, Yang X‐Q. Clinical characteristics and molecular analysis of three Chinese children with Omenn syndrome. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; 22: 482–487.

Omenn syndrome (OS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder and presents symptoms of severe combined immunodeficiency characterized by erythrodermia, eosinophilia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and elevated serum IgE levels. OS has been found to be caused by mutations in RAG1 or RAG2 gene that result in partial V(D)J recombination activity. No study on OS has been reported in Chinese children so far. In this study, the genotype and phenotypes of three infants with OS from three unrelated Chinese families were investigated. All the three children had most of the characteristics of OS except normal serum IgE level. Compound heterozygosity mutations in RAG1 gene (1983 G>A; 2444 C>T and 2219 C>T; 3127 C>G) were identified in two cases, and a homozygous deletion mutation with a premature stop codon was found at residue 2302 of RAG1 gene (2302delT, I729X) in the remaining case, including three novel mutations (2302delT, I729X; 2219 C>T, R699W; and 3127 C>G, Y1001X). Spectratyping analysis of T‐cell receptor β‐chain variable region (TCRVβ) gene rearrangement was performed in case 1 and case 2. All the 25 TCRVβ subfamilies presented monoclonal or oligoclonal peaks in case 1 and 11 TCRVβ subfamilies were very weak or even absent in case 2. This was the first report about OS in Chinese children. Molecular genetic testing represents an important tool for early confirmed diagnosis and may allow accurate carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis.
The effect of Kawasaki disease on childhood allergies – a sibling control study
Authors: Liew Woei Kang , Lim Chee Wen Terence , Tan Teng Hong , Wong Keng Yean , Tai Bee Choo , Quek Swee Chye , Bever Hugo van
Published: March 2011

To cite this article: Liew WK, Lim CWT, Tan TH, Wong KY, Tai BC, Quek SC, Bever HV. The effect of Kawasaki disease on childhood allergies – a sibling control study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2011; 22: 488–493.

Objective:  Kawasaki disease (KD) is a multisystem inflammatory vasculitis of childhood, with widespread T‐helper cell type 1 immune activation. We hypothesize that children who suffered from KD will have a lower risk of developing allergic diseases.

Study design:  This was a cross‐sectional study, recruiting children with a history of KD, together with well sibling controls. All children underwent the standardized core ISAAC questionnaire for allergy, physical examination and skin prick test evaluation. McNemar’s test was employed to evaluate the effect of Kawasaki disease on allergy. Multivariable analysis based on mixed‐effects logistic regression model was used to adjust for potential confounding effect of age and gender.

Results:  One hundred and eighty‐six children (93 KD sibling pairs) completed the above evaluation. Allergic rhinitis was more common in patients with KD (crude OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.11–5.62, p = 0.024) when compared with controls. The effect was further intensified after accounting for the potential confounding effect of age and gender (adjusted OR = 2.90; 95% CI 1.27–6.60). Children in whom KD occurred beyond the age of 12 months had more allergic rhinitis (crude OR 4.00, 95% CI 1.29–16.44, p = 0.012), ‘any’ allergies (crude OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.19–15.52, p = 0.019) and Blomia tropicalis sensitization (crude OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.02–7.28, p = 0.043) when compared with their sibling controls. Interestingly, children in whom KD course resulted in no coronary artery abnormalities have more allergic rhinitis (crude OR 8.50, 95% CI 2.02–75.85, p = 0.003) and ‘any’ allergies (crude OR 5.00, 95% CI 1.41–26.94, p = 0.011), when compared with their sibling controls.

Conclusion:  Kawasaki disease may be a risk factor for subsequent allergic diseases. We postulate that KD occurs more frequently in children at risk of immune disequilibrium, with an abnormal inflammatory response initially, and subsequently more allergic manifestations.
Donor specific antibodies after transplantation
Authors: Platt Jeffrey L. , Cascalho Marilia
Published: March 2011

Platt JL, Cascalho M. Donor specific antibodies after transplantation. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 686–690. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  The detection of donor‐specific antibodies after organ transplantation might provide an incisive way to monitor allo‐specific immunity and predict graft outcome. Still, the availability of new assays for these antibodies prompts us to pose some questions about results that might be observed. These questions include whether the antibodies detected in the blood are a sensitive measure of alloimmunity, whether the detected antibodies are truly specific for the donor and whether they are noxious for the graft. Here, we explain why answers to these questions might interest the basic scientist and clinician.
Graft fibrosis in patients with biliary atresia after pediatric living‐related liver transplantation
Authors: Ueno Takehisa , Tanaka Natsumi , Ihara Yoshiyuki , Takama Yuichi , Yamada Hiroyuki , Mushiake Sotaro , Fukuzawa Masahiro
Published: March 2011

Ueno T, Tanaka N, Ihara Y, Takama Y, Yamada H, Mushiake S, Fukuzawa M. Graft fibrosis in patients with biliary atresia after pediatric living‐related liver transplantation.  Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 470–475. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Although an LDLT can successfully treat biliary atresia (BA), some patients develop liver fibrosis or inflammation. To study the incidence and risk factors associated with these complications, we performed serial protocol biopsies. Twenty‐four patients with BA who received a pediatric LDLT underwent protocol biopsies. All patients received standard tacrolimus‐based immunosuppression and steroids. The last available biopsies were assessed. The mean age at the time of transplant was 4.8 yr and the follow‐up period ranged from 1.2 to 12.3 yr. The GRWR ranged from 0.8% to 4.5%. The mean time from transplantation to the latest biopsy was 4.7 yr. No complications occurred with the biopsy protocol. The last available biopsies for 13 (54%) and 4 (17%) patients indicated grade 1 and grade 2 portal fibrosis, respectively, and 14 patients (54%) had inflammation. No ductopenia was detected. A younger age at LDLT was significantly correlated with graft fibrosis (p = 0.036). These results indicate that biopsy‐proven fibrosis can be detected in patients with BA after LDLT, even in the context of normal liver function blood tests. Therefore, a serial biopsy is a safe and effective follow‐up procedure for pediatric LDLT.
Can Helicobacter pylori‐associated dyspepsia be categorized as functional dyspepsia?
Authors: Suzuki Hidekazu , Nishizawa Toshihiro , Hibi Toshifumi
Published: March 2011

Evidence for an association between H. pylori and functional dyspepsia (FD) is uncertain. In the present review, we focused the special relevance of H. pylori infection to the development dyspepsia from the aspects of pathogensis, clinical efficacy of eradication of H. pylori in the West and in the East. Although clinical trials conducted to evaluate the efficacy of H. pylori eradication treatment for FD, including non‐ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), have yielded conflicting results, it is quite clear that H. pylori eradication treatment is effective at least in a subset of FD patients. In contrast to the previous results obtained in studies of Western populations, the result of a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial conducted in a Singapore suggests that patients with FD could benefit from H. pylori eradication therapy, with as much as a 13‐fold increase in the chance of symptom resolution. Especially in Asia, H. pylori should not be overlooked when considering the pathophysiology of FD. H. pylori‐associated dyspepsia might be dealt as a different disease entity from FD.
Current understanding of pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia
Authors: Miwa Hiroto , Watari Jiro , Fukui Hirokazu , Oshima Tadayuki , Tomita Toshihiko , Sakurai Jun , Kondo Takashi , Matsumoto Takayuki
Published: March 2011

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a disorder in which upper abdominal symptoms occur in the absence of organic disease that explains them. Many pathogenic factors have been proposed for FD, including motility abnormalities, visceral hypersensitivity, psychosocial factors, excessive gastric acid secretion, Helicobacter pylori, genetics, environment, diet, lifestyle, and post‐infectious FD. Many of those pathogenic factors are also common to irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders, so understanding FD offers a glimpse into the nature of functional gastrointestinal disorders in general. Motility abnormalities and visceral hypersensitivity are thought to be important in the manifestation of FD symptoms, but the other factors are also thought to contribute by interacting and modifying motility and visceral hypersensitivity.
Visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Kanazawa Motoyori , Hongo Michio , Fukudo Shin
Published: March 2011

Altered central processing, abnormal gastrointestinal motility and visceral hypersensitivity may be possible major pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). These factors affect each other and are probably associated with development of IBS symptoms.

It has been confirmed that lower pain threshold to colonic distention was observed in most of patients with IBS than healthy subjects. We have investigated pain perception of the descending colon among different subtypes of IBS. There was no difference in pain threshold to colonic distention between IBS with diarrhea and constipation. Some brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may play a major role for generating pain and/or pain‐related emotion in humans. IBS patients showed greater activation in the perigenual ACC during painful rectal distention compared with healthy subjects.

Inflammation, stress and the combination of both stimuli can induce significant increase in visceral sensitivity in animal models. Serotonin (5‐HT) can modulate visceral perception. It has been thought that 5‐HT3 receptors may play an important role for conveying visceral sensation from the gut. Corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) may also modulate visceral pain hypersensitivity in IBS. CRH receptor‐1 antagonist significantly prevented an increase in gut sensitivity in rats. It has been demonstrated that non‐specific CRH receptor antagonist α‐helical CRH significantly reduced abdominal pain score during gut stimulus in patients with IBS.

In conclusion, visceral hypersensitivity is common in IBS patients and probably plays a major role in development of the symptoms and both central and peripheral factors may enhance the pain sensitivity.
A review of the irritable bowel syndrome investigation on epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathophysiology in China
Authors: Liu Jinsong , Hou Xiaohua
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent functional disorder with poor understanding on its pathogenesis and pathology. China has huge amount of population and have a lot of literatures on IBS in Chinese publications. The aim of this article was to review the reported investigations on IBS in China and discuss the difference between China and other country.

Methods:  Literatures pertaining IBS epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, which published in the high level journals in china and SCI journals after 1998 were reviewed.

Result:  In the general health population, 5–6% meets the Rome II IBS criteria. Intestinal infection, food intolerance, genetic factor and psychological disturbance were responsible for the pathogenesis of IBS. In IBS patients, the impaired reaction to rectal distension, abnormal gastrointestinal motility, impaired autonomic nerve function, weakened colon epithelium connection, altered cerebral neuclei activation were the main pthophysiological findings.

Conclusion:  Comparing to the findings from other area, literatures from China provided more evidences on epidemiological data of IBS in China, post‐infection IBS, visceral hypertension and gastrointestinal motility abnormalities in IBS. This detailed literature review may help the understanding and promoting the future studies on IBS.
Community‐based study on psychological comorbidity in functional gastrointestinal disorder
Authors: Wu Justin CY
Published: March 2011

Functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is one of the commonest digestive diseases worldwide. Current evidence supports a bio‐psycho‐social pathophysiological model for FGID, which underscores the importance of psychological and social factors in development of FGID. Concomitant psychological disorders, which include anxiety, depression and somatization, have been shown to be associated with FGID in both specialist and community‐based studies. This suggests that the association is genuine rather than biased observation in referral centers. Furthermore, psychological distress such as depression, anxiety and phobia are strongly correlated with severity of FGID symptoms.

There are biologically plausible mechanisms that support the causal role of psychological disorders in FGID. Psychological distress, in particular anxiety, can induce aggravation of visceral hyperalgesia as well as hypervigilance in FGID patients. This leads to poorer quality of life and increased utilization of healthcare service in addition to worsening of symptoms.

Despite the numerous reports on the potential therapeutic value of psychotropic agents and psychological intervention, the importance of screening for concomitant psychological disorder in FGID patients has not been fully recognized in daily practice. Most FGID patients tend to have very low awareness of their mood symptoms, which lead to delayed diagnosis, deterioration of disease and unnecessary investigations. Many of these patients may be reluctant to accept the diagnosis of concomitant psychological disorders and therefore a good doctor‐patient rapport and therapeutic relationship are essential for management of these patients.
Post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome: The past, the present and the future
Authors: Ghoshal Uday C , Ranjan Prabhat
Published: March 2011

Background:  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), once thought to be a psychosomatic disease, is being considered to be more organic. Post‐infectious IBS (PI‐IBS), defined as acute onset IBS (by Rome criteria) after gastrointestinal infection in an individual without prior IBS with two or more of the followings: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a positive stool culture. The recent and old literature of PI‐IBS will be reviewed. Future directions for research will be presented.

Methods:  Literature on PI‐IBS was reviewed by electronic search and cross references of these papers.

Results:  Interest in studies on PI‐IBS, which was described five to six decades ago, re‐surfaced recently. 3.6 to 32% patients with acute gastroenteritis develop PI‐IBS during 3–12 month follow‐up. PI‐IBS is commonly diarrhea predominant. Factors implicated in development include nature of pathogens, duration and severity of diarrhea, younger age, female gender and psychological co‐morbidities like anxiety and depression. The pathogenesis of PI‐IBS is largely related to continuing gut inflammation due to inability of the host to contain the inflammatory reaction, altered gut microbiota, increased intestinal permeability, muscle hyper‐contractility and visceral hypersensitivity. There could be an overlap between PI‐IBS and post‐infectious malabsorption syndrome (PI‐MAS), popularly known as tropical sprue.

Conclusions:  Development of IBS in a subset of patients with acute gastroenteritis is uncontested. This is expected to open a paradigm shift in understanding the pathogenesis of IBS. Future studies should address the issue of overlap of PI‐IBS and PI‐MAS. Exploring the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of PI‐IBS may help to design preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Functional dyspepsia, H. pylori and post infectious FD
Authors: Fock Kwong Ming
Published: March 2011

Background:  Functional Dyspepsia has been defined by Rome III as the presence of one or more chronic dyspepsia symptoms in the absence of any organic, systemic, or metabolic disease that is likely to explain the symptoms. Delayed gastric emptying, antral hypomotility and altered intestinal motility, decreased gastric accommodation, H.pylori infection, enhanced visceral sensitivity, abnormal duodenal sensitivity to acid, carbohydrate maldigestion and psychological factors have all been identified in subgroups of patients with functional dyspepsia.

Relationship between H.pylori, FD and post infectious FD:  The relationship between H. pylori infection and functional dyspepsia is controversial. H.pylori infection is present in a minority of patients with FD. Symptoms and abnormalities of function such as gastric emptying have not been consistently shown to be related to H.pylori infection. However, meta‐analysis has shown that H.pylori eradication therapy in FD results in a small but statistically significant effect in H.pylori positive FD (relative risk reduction 10%). Guidelines for Helicobacter pylori infection have therefore strongly recommended H.pylori eradication therapy in H.pylori positive FD patients. Post‐infectious dyspepsia has been described as a distinct clinical entity, based on a large retrospective study that showed a subset of dyspeptic patients who had a history suggestive of post‐infectious dyspepsia. In a prospective study, investigators in Spain have found that development of dyspepsia was increased fivefold at 1 year after acute Salmonella gastroenteritis. In post‐infectious FD patients, early satiety, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting are frequently reported together with a higher prevalence of impaired gastric accommodation. More recently, infectious FD has been found to be associated with persisting focal T‐cell aggregates, decreased CD4+ cells and increased macrophage counts in the duodenum for several moths after acute infection. This suggests impaired ability of the immune system to terminate the inflammatory response after acute insult.

Conclusion:  In conclusion, H. pylori infections, as well as other gut infections, have been associated with a subset of FD patients. Treatment of underlying infections can potentially lead to improvement in this group of patients.
Food intolerance in functional bowel disorders
Authors: Gibson Peter R
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  Food‐related symptoms are commonly described by patients with functional bowel disorders, but dietary change as an evidence‐based therapy has not been part of routine management strategies. This reviews aims to discuss strategies commonly applied.

Method:  Published literature was reviewed.

Results:  Traditional approaches involve elimination diets followed by placebo‐controlled reintroduction of specific foods, which is tedious at best and not applied in routine practice. Pathogenically‐based approaches include determining what food components are inducing food hypersensitivity responses using specific biomarkers, but this is probably applicable to a small proportion of patients only and has met with only limited success. Food bioactive chemicals, such as salicylates, have been targeted, but there is a paucity of quality evidence for or against this approach. In contrast, targeting poorly absorbed dietary components that might induce luminal distension via osmotic effects and rapid fermentation (FODMAPs) has been successful and the efficacy of the dietitian‐delivered low FODMAP diet is now supported by high quality evidence. Improvement of all symptoms of FBD in three out of four patients has been achieved. The diet may potentially improve stool frequency in patients with an ileal pouch or a high output ileostomy, or functional symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. FODMAPs in enteral formulas may also be responsible for diarrhoea induced by enteral nutrition.

Conclusion:  Dietary restriction of FODMAPs is an effective therapy in the majority of patients with functional bowel symptoms and, provided dietitians are trained in the technique, should be first line therapy.
An audit of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance manometry in the assessment of dysphagia
Authors: Burgess Nicholas G , Wyeth John W
Published: March 2011

Background:  Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance (MII) Monitoring is a method of examining oesophageal bolus transit without the need for radiation. In combination with oesophageal manometry it allows correlation of bolus transit with peristaltic activity. The clinical application of impedance manometry is still being refined. This audit looked to examine whether impedance manometry had advantages over standard manometry in assessment of patients with dysphagia.

Methods:  41 patients with the presenting symptom of dysphagia were assessed by combined MII and oesophageal manometry at a Wellington Hospital between February 2008 and December 2009. Each underwent manometry and MII using standardised techniques.

Findings:  Achalasia was diagnosed in 23 patients (56.1%), Ineffective oesophageal motility (IEM) in 5 patients (12.2%), Diffuse oesophageal Spasm (DES) in 7 patients (17.1%), and Nutcracker oesophagus in 2 patients (4.9%). 4 patients had normal manometry studies (9.8%). All patients with achalasia, IEM, and DES had abnormal bolus transit. All patients with normal manometry had abnormal bolus transit. Both patients with nutcracker oesophagus had normal bolus transit. 4 patients with achalasia had undergone previous Hellers myotomy. Two of these patients (50.0%) now had normal LES relaxation pressures, but all four still had abnormal oesophageal peristalsis and abnormal bolus transit.

Interpretation:  Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance manometry has advantages over standard manometry in characterising the physiological abnormalities associated with dysphagia. Patients in this study had severe defects including achalasia where bolus transit was invariably poor meaning little further information was gained. Extension of this study to include a wider group of patients with dysphagia may yield different results.
Lewy body‐related α‐synucleinopathy in the spinal cord of cases with incidental Lewy body disease
Authors: Tamura Takuya , Yoshida Mari , Hashizume Yoshio , Sobue Gen
Published: March 2011

Incidental Lewy body disease (ILBD) represents the early asymptomatic phase of Lewy body diseases (LBD), including idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Although pathological disturbances in the spinal cord, which connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system, plays an important role, the pathology of ILBD has not been adequately examined. Eighteen ILBD and eight age‐matched LBD cases were enrolled in the present study. LB‐related pathology was immunohistochemically evaluated using anti‐phosphorylated α‐synuclein (pαSyn) antibodies, revealing LB‐related pathology in the spinal cords of 15 (83.3%) of the ILBD cases. Attempts were made to identify the early pattern of pαSyn deposition in the spinal cord by comparing the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments in detail. Most pαSyn‐positive structures were distributed in and around the autonomic nuclei of the spinal cord. The intermediolateral nuclei in the thoracic segments (Th/IML) were the most frequently and severely affected region, suggesting that Th/IML are the first structures affected. Furthermore, following analysis of the distribution pattern of the pαSyn‐positive structures, it is suspected that LB‐related pathology progresses toward the caudal vertebrae by involving neurons in the spinal cord that are vulnerable to αSyn. It should be noted that the ILBD cases enrolled in the present study were in an earlier stage than the PD cases enrolled in the previous study, and that the present study provides new, previously undescribed information.
Isolation of bacteriophage host strains of Bacteroides species suitable for tracking sources of animal faecal pollution in water
Authors: Gómez‐Doñate Marta , Payán Andrey , Cortés Ivania , Blanch Anicet R. , Lucena Francisco , Jofre Juan , Muniesa Maite
Published: March 2011

Microbial source tracking (MST) methods allow the identification of specific faecal sources. The aim is to detect the sources of faecal pollution in a water body to allow targeted, efficient and cost‐effective remediation efforts in the catchment. Bacteriophages infecting selected host strains of Bacteroides species are used as markers to track faecal contaminants in water. By using a suitable Bacteroides host from a given faecal origin, it is possible to specifically detect bacteriophages of this faecal origin. It can thus be used to detect specific phages of Bacteroides for MST. With this objective, we isolated several Bacteroides strains from pig, cow and poultry faeces by applying a previously optimized methodology used to isolate the host strains from humans. The isolated strains belonged to Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. These strains, like most Bacteroides species, detected phages of the Siphoviridae morphology. Using the newly isolated host strains for phage enumeration in a range of samples, we showed that these detect phages in faecal sources that coincide with their own origin (70–100% of the samples), and show no detection or very low percentages of detection of phages from other animal origins (from 0 to 20% of the samples). Only strains isolated from pig wastewater detected phages in 50% of human sewage samples. Nevertheless, those strains detecting phages from faecal origins other than their own detected fewer phages (2–3 log10 pfu·100 ml−1) than the phages detected by the specific strain of the same origin. On the basis of our results, we propose that faecal source tracking with phages infecting specific Bacteroides host strains is a useful method for MST. In addition, the method presented here is feasible in laboratories equipped with only basic microbiological equipment, it is more rapid and cost‐effective than other procedures and it does not require highly qualified staff.