bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate control on the long‐term anomalous changes of zooplankton communities in the Northwestern Mediterranean
Authors: MOLINERO JUAN CARLOS , IBANEZ FRÉDÉRIC , SOUISSI SAMI , BUECHER EMMANUELLE , DALLOT SERGE , NIVAL PAUL
Published: November 2007

In marine ecosystems, pelagic copepods, chaetognaths and jellyfish play a key role in matter and energy flow. While copepods support most food webs and the biological pump of carbon into the deep ocean, chaetognaths and jellyfish may affect the strength of the top‐down control upon plankton communities. In this study, we show that the main events in the long‐term variability of these functional groups in the Northwestern Mediterranean were tightly linked to changes of climate forcing of the North Atlantic sector. Large‐scale climate forcing has altered the pelagic food‐web dynamics through changes in biological interactions, competition and predation, leading to substantial changes manifested as bursts or collapses in zooplankton populations, and consequently to a major change ca. 1987. These events become more frequent in the 1980s and the early 1990s in the studied zooplankton functional groups suggesting a shift in the functioning of the pelagic ecosystem. The environmental modifications and the results reported here are therefore, indicators of a regime change pointing to a more regeneration‐dominated system in the study area. We suggest a chain of mechanisms, whereby climate variation has modified the long‐term dynamics of pelagic copepods, chaetognaths and jellyfish in the Ligurian Sea.
Physicians’ perceptions of adherence to prophylactic clotting factor infusions
Authors: THORNBURG C. D.
Published: November 2007

Summary.  The objective of this study was to investigate whether paediatric Haemophilia Treatment Centre (HTC) physicians are concerned about poor adherence to prophylaxis and if such concerns decrease prescription of prophylaxis in patients with haemophilia. Fifty‐nine HTC physicians completed a written survey based on self‐report of individual practice. Fifty‐one (86%) prescribed prophylaxis on a routine basis. Overall, 32 (54%) believed that 76–100% of the patients on prophylaxis infuse ≥80% of the recommended prophylaxis doses and 25 (42%) believed that 51–75% of the patients infuse ≥80% of the doses. Physicians utilize multi‐modal methods to make this assessment. Forty‐eight (81%) respondents identified that perceptions of patient non‐adherence decrease their prescription of prophylaxis. In fact, 30% decided not to prescribe prophylaxis for individual patients within the last year secondary to concerns about non‐adherence. Strategies should be developed to improve the implementation of prophylaxis.
A Leishmania infantum cytosolic tryparedoxin activates B cells to secrete interleukin‐10 and specific immunoglobulin
Authors: Menezes Cabral Sofia , Leal Silvestre Ricardo , Moreira Santarém Nuno , Costa Tavares Joana , Franco Silva Ana , Cordeiro‐da‐Silva Anabela
Published: November 2007

The immune evasion mechanisms of pathogenic trypanosomatids involve a multitude of phenomena such as the polyclonal activation of lymphocytes, cytokine modulation and the enhanced detoxification of oxygen reactive species. A trypanothione cascade seems to be involved in the detoxification process. It was recently described and characterized a tryparedoxin (LiTXN1) involved in Leishmania infantum cytoplasmatic hydroperoxide metabolism. LiTXN1 is a secreted protein that is up‐regulated in the infectious form of the parasite, suggesting that it may play an important role during infection. In the present study, we investigated whether recombinant LiTXN1 (rLiTXN1) affects T‐ and B‐cell functions in a murine model. We observed a significant increase in the CD69 surface marker on the B‐cell population in total spleen cells and on isolated B cells from BALB/c mice after in vitro rLiTXN1 stimulus. Activated B‐cells underwent further proliferation, as indicated by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation. Cytokine quantification showed a dose‐dependent up‐regulation of interleukin (IL)‐10 secretion. B cells were identified as a source of this secretion. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of rLiTXN1 into BALB/c mice triggered the production of elevated levels of rLiTXN1‐specific antibodies, predominantly of the immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes, with a minimum reactivity against other heterologous antigens. Taken together, our data suggest that rLiTXN1 may participate in immunopathological processes by targeting B‐cell effector functions, leading to IL‐10 secretion and production of specific antibodies.
Evaluation of different methods for monitoring incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under fluoride varnish therapy
Authors: FERREIRA JAINARA MARIA SOARES , SILVA MILTON FERNANDO ANDRADE , OLIVEIRA ANDRESSA FEITOSA BEZERRA , SAMPAIO FÁBIO CORREIA
Published: November 2007

Background.  There are only a few studies relating visual inspection methods and laser fluorescence when monitoring regression of incipient carious lesions.

Aim.  The purpose of this study was to monitor incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under varnish fluoride therapy using visual inspection methods and laser fluorescence (LF).

Design.  Active white spot lesions (n = 111) in upper front teeth of 36 children were selected. The children were subjected to four or eight applications of fluoride varnish in weekly intervals. The visual systems were activity (A) and maximum dimension in millimetres (D). They were applied together with LF readings (L) in the beginning of the study (W1), in the 5th week (W5), and in the 9th (W9) week.

Results.  The mean (SD) of L values in W5 and W9 were 5.6 (3.8) and 4.5 (3.3), respectively; both were significantly different from the initial score of 7.4 (5.1) in W1. There was a positive correlation between D and L in W5 (r = 0.25) and W9 (r = 0.36; P < 0.05). The mean (SD) values of L were lower following the activity criteria.

Conclusions.  Our findings support the finding that incipient carious lesions in smooth surfaces under fluoride therapy can be monitored by laser fluorescence and visual inspection methods.
Chemotaxis mediated by NarX–FrzCD chimeras and nonadapting repellent responses in Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: Xu Qian , Black Wesley P. , Mauriello Emilia M. F. , Zusman David R. , Yang Zhaomin
Published: November 2007

Myxococcus xanthus requires gliding motility for swarming and fruiting body formation. It uses the Frz chemosensory pathway to regulate cell reversals. FrzCD is a cytoplasmic chemoreceptor required for sensing effectors for this pathway. NarX is a transmembrane sensor for nitrate from Escherichia coli. In this study, two NarX–FrzCD chimeras were constructed to investigate M. xanthus chemotaxis: NazDF contains the N‐terminal sensory module of NarX fused to the C‐terminal signalling domain of FrzCD; NazDR is similar except that it contains a G51R mutation in the NarX domain known to reverse the signalling output of a NarX–Tar chimera to nitrate. We report that while nitrate had no effect on the wild type, it decreased the reversal frequency of M. xanthus expressing NazDF and increased that of M. xanthus expressing NazDR. These results show that directional motility in M. xanthus can be regulated independently of cellular metabolism and physiology. Surprisingly, the NazDR strain failed to adapt to nitrate in temporal assays as did the wild type to known repellents. The lack of temporal adaptation to negative stimuli appears to be a general feature in M. xanthus chemotaxis. Thus, the appearance of biased movements by M. xanthus in repellent gradients is likely due to the inhibition of net translocation by repellents.
Mutations that alter the regulation of the chb operon of Escherichia coli allow utilization of cellobiose
Authors: Kachroo Aashiq H. , Kancherla Aswani K. , Singh Nongmaithem S. , Varshney Umesh , Mahadevan Subramony
Published: November 2007

Wild‐type strains of Escherichia coli are normally unable to metabolize cellobiose. However, cellobiose‐positive (Cel+) mutants arise upon prolonged incubation on media containing cellobiose as the sole carbon source. We show that the Cel+ derivatives carry two classes of mutations that act concertedly to alter the regulation of the chb operon involved in the utilization of N,N′‐diacetylchitobiose. These consist of mutations that abrogate negative regulation by the repressor NagC as well as single base‐pair changes in the transcriptional regulator chbR that translate into single‐amino‐acid substitutions. Introduction of chbR from two Cel+ mutants resulted in activation of transcription from the chb promoter at a higher level in the presence of cellobiose, in reporter strains carrying disruptions of the chromosomal chbR and nagC. These transformants also showed a Cel+ phenotype on MacConkey cellobiose medium, suggesting that the wild‐type permease and phospho‐β‐glucosidase, upon induction, could recognize, transport and cleave cellobiose respectively. This was confirmed by expressing the wild‐type genes encoding the permease and phospho‐β‐glucosidase under a heterologous promoter. Biochemical characterization of one of the chbR mutants, chbRN238S, showed that the mutant regulator makes stronger contact with the target DNA sequence within the chb promoter and has enhanced recognition of cellobiose 6‐phosphate as an inducer compared with the wild‐type regulator.
Integration of two essential virulence modulating signals at theErwinia chrysanthemi pelgene promoters: a role for Fis in the growth‐phase regulation
Authors: Lautier Thomas , Blot Nicolas , Muskhelishvili Georgi , Nasser William
Published: November 2007

Production of the essential virulence factors, called pectate lyases (Pels), in the phytopathogenic bacteriumErwinia chrysanthemiis controlled by a complex regulation system and responds to various stimuli, such as the presence of pectin or plant extracts, growth phase, temperature and iron concentration. The presence of pectin and growth phase are the most important signals identified. Eight regulators modulating the expression of thepelgenes (encoding Pels) have been characterized. These regulators are organized in a network allowing a sequential functioning of the regulators during infection. Although many studies have been carried out, the mechanisms of control of Pel production by growth phase have not yet been elucidated. Here we report that afismutant ofE. chrysanthemishowed a strong increase in transcription of thepelgenes during exponential growth whereas induction of expression in the parental strain occurred at the end of exponential growth. This reveals that Fis acts to prevent an efficient transcription ofpelgenes at the beginning of exponential growth and also provides evidence of the involvement of Fis in the growth‐phase regulation of thepelgenes. By usingin vitroDNA–protein interactions and transcription experiments, we find that Fis directly represses thepelgene expression at the transcription initiation step. In addition, we show that Fis acts in concert with KdgR, the main repressor responding to the presence of pectin compounds, to shut down thepelgene transcription. Finally, we find that active Fis is required for the efficient translocation of the Pels in growth medium. Together, these data indicate that Fis tightly controls the availability of Pels during pathogenesis by acting on both their production and their translocation in the external medium.
Unravelling a histone code for malaria virulence
Authors: Comeaux Christy A. , Duraisingh Manoj T.
Published: November 2007

Epigenetic phenomena have been shown to play a role in the regulated expression of virulence genes in several pathogenic organisms, including the var gene family in Plasmodium falciparum. A better understanding of how P. falciparum can both maintain a single active var gene locus through many erythrocytic cycles and also achieve successive switching to different loci in order to evade the host immune system is greatly needed. Disruption of this tightly co‐ordinated expression system presents an opportunity for increased clearance of the parasites by the immune system and, in turn, reduced mortality and morbidity. In the current issue of Molecular Microbiology, Lopez‐Rubio and colleagues investigate the correlation of specific post‐translational histone modifications with different transcriptional states of a single var gene, var2csa. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation is used to demonstrate that different histone methylation marks are enriched at the 5′ flanking and coding regions of active, poised or silenced var genes. They identify an increase of H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 in the 5′ flanking region of an active var locus and expand on an earlier finding that H3K9me3 is enriched in the coding regions of silenced var genes. The authors also present evidence that H3K4me2 bookmarks the active var gene locus during later developmental stages for expression in the subsequent asexual cycle, hinting at a potential mechanism for transcriptional ‘memory’. The stage is now set for work generating a complete catalogue of all histone modifications associated with var gene regulation as well as functional studies striving to uncover the precise mechanisms underlying these observations.
Variation in the pathogenicity of two Turnip mosaic virus isolates in wild UK Brassica rapa provenances
Authors: Pallett D. W. , Cooper J. I. , Wang H. , Reeves J. , Luo Z. , Machado R. , Obermeier C. , Walsh J. A. , Kearsey M. J.
Published: November 2007

Brassica rapa can be infected with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) as a result of manual inoculation or aphid transmission, but infected plants have not been found in the field. In this study, B. rapa plants grown from seed collected from two field sites in southern England were mechanically inoculated with one of two distinct isolates (pathotypes) of TuMV under glasshouse conditions. These had either been isolated from Brassica oleracea growing wild in Wales, (GBR 83, pathotype 3) or Dorset (GBR 98, pathotype 1). Use of ELISA as an index of infection in manually inoculated B. rapa showed that although seed provenance had a small effect on the proportion of plants infected, the biggest factor was the virus isolate. Both virus isolates infected both lines of B. rapa, but invaded at different rates, although both resulted in easily discernible symptoms. The severity of symptoms was not related to amounts of virus in the infected plants. A significantly greater proportion of plants were infected with GBR 83 at 45 days post‐inoculation (d.p.i.) than GBR 98. but GBR 98 caused significantly more severe and obvious symptoms as well as greater mortality at 119 d.p.i., in plants from both sites than GBR 83.
Palaeoenvironments, palaeogeography, and physiography of a large, shallow, muddy ramp: Late Cenomanian‐Turonian Kaskapau Formation, Western Canada foreland basin
Authors: VARBAN BOGDAN L. , GUY PLINT A.
Published: November 2007

The Kaskapau Formation spans Late Cenomanian to Middle Turonian time and was deposited on a low‐gradient, shallow, storm‐dominated muddy ramp. Dense well log control, coupled with exposure on both proximal and distal margins of the basin allows mapping of sedimentary facies over about 35 000 km2. The studied portion of the Kaskapau Formation is a mudstone‐dominated wedge that thins from 700 m in the proximal foredeep to 50 m near the forebulge about 300 km distant. Regional flooding surfaces permit mapping of 28 allomembers, each of which represent an average of ca 125 kyr. More than 200 km from shore, calcareous silty claystone predominates, whereas 100 to 200 km offshore, mudstone and siltstone predominate. From about 30 to 100 km offshore, centimetre‐bedded very fine sandstone and mudstone record along‐shelf (SSE)‐directed storm‐generated geostrophic flows. Five to thirty kilometres from shore, decimetre‐bedded hummocky cross‐stratified fine sandstone and mudstone record strongly oscillatory, wave‐dominated flows whereas some gutter casts indicate shore‐oblique, apparently mostly unidirectional geostrophic flows. Nearshore facies are dominated by swaley cross‐stratified or intensely bioturbated clean fine sandstone, interpreted as recording, respectively, areas strongly and weakly affected by discharge from distributary mouths. Shoreface sandstones grade locally into river‐mouth conglomerates and sandstones, including conglomerate channel‐fills up to 15 m thick. Locally, brackish lagoonal shelly mudstones are present on the extreme western margin of the basin.

There is no evidence for clinoform stratification, which indicates that the Kaskapau sea floor had extremely low relief, lacked a shelf‐slope break, and was probably nowhere more than a few tens of metres deep. The absence of clinoforms probably indicates a long‐term balance between rates of accommodation and sediment supply. Mud is interpreted to have been transported >250 km offshore in a sea‐bed nepheloid layer, repeatedly re‐suspended by storms. Fine‐grained sediment accumulated up to a ‘mud accommodation envelope’, perhaps only 20 to 40 m deep. Continuous re‐working of the sea floor by storms ensured that excess sediment was redistributed away from areas that had filled to the ‘accommodation envelope’, being deposited in areas of higher accommodation further down the transport path. The facies distributions and stratal geometry of the Kaskapau shelf strongly suggest that sedimentary facies, especially grain‐size, were related to distance from shore, not to water depth. As a result, the ‘100 to >300 m’ depth interpreted from calcareous claystone facies for the more central parts of the Interior Seaway, might be a significant overestimate.
Loss of the vacuolar cation channel, AtTPC1, does not impair Ca2+ signals induced by abiotic and biotic stresses
Authors: Ranf Stefanie , Wünnenberg Petra , Lee Justin , Becker Dirk , Dunkel Marcel , Hedrich Rainer , Scheel Dierk , Dietrich Petra
Published: November 2007

The putative two‐pore Ca2+ channel TPC1 has been suggested to be involved in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. We show that AtTPC1 co‐localizes with the K+‐selective channel AtTPK1 in the vacuolar membrane. Loss of AtTPC1 abolished Ca2+‐activated slow vacuolar (SV) currents, which were increased in AtTPC1‐over‐expressing Arabidopsis compared to the wild‐type. A Ca2+‐insensitive vacuolar cation channel, as yet uncharacterized, could be resolved in tpc1‐2 knockout plants. The kinetics of ABA‐ and CO2‐induced stomatal closure were similar in wild‐type and tpc1‐2 knockout plants, excluding a role of SV channels in guard‐cell signalling in response to these physiological stimuli. ABA‐, K+‐, and Ca2+‐dependent root growth phenotypes were not changed in tpc1‐2 compared to wild‐type plants. Given the permeability of SV channels to mono‐ and divalent cations, the question arises as to whether TPC1 in vivo represents a pathway for Ca2+ entry into the cytosol. Ca2+ responses as measured in aequorin‐expressing wild‐type, tpc1‐2 knockout and TPC1‐over‐expressing plants disprove a contribution of TPC1 to any of the stimulus‐induced Ca2+ signals tested, including abiotic stresses (cold, hyperosmotic, salt and oxidative), elevation in extracellular Ca2+ concentration and biotic factors (elf18, flg22). In good agreement, stimulus‐ and Ca2+‐dependent gene activation was not affected by alterations in TPC1 expression. Together with our finding that the loss of TPC1 did not change the activity of hyperpolarization‐activated Ca2+‐permeable channels in the plasma membrane, we conclude that TPC1, under physiological conditions, functions as a vacuolar cation channel without a major impact on cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis.
Short communication: Lupin allergy in peanut‐allergic children and teenagers
Authors: Shaw J. , Roberts G. , Grimshaw K. , White S. , Hourihane J.
Published: November 2007

Background:  Lupin has now been introduced into food production in the UK. There is a concern that, on account of cross‐reactivity, peanut‐allergic children are at high risk for lupin allergy.

Aims:  To investigate the prevalence of lupin sensitization and allergy in children with peanut allergy compared with atopic controls.

Methods:  Children (<18 years) were recruited. Peanut‐allergic subjects either had a convincing history of peanut allergy with diagnostic peanut skin prick test (SPT) or specific‐immunoglobulin E (IgE) results or a positive food challenge. Control subjects were atopic but not peanut‐allergic. All subjects had SPT to peanut and lupin. Sensitized subjects were offered a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled lupin challenge. Lupin allergy was defined as objective immediate hypersensitivity reaction at food challenge.

Results:  Forty‐seven peanut‐allergic children and 46 atopic controls were recruited. Sixteen peanut‐allergic children were sensitized to lupin [34%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 21–49%]. Nine were challenged to lupin. Two reacted (itchy mouth and urticaria; itchy mouth and 20% drop in peak expiratory flow rate) giving a minimum prevalence of lupin allergy in peanut‐allergic children of 4.0% (95% CI: 1–15%). Atopic controls were significantly (P = 0.001) less likely to be sensitized to lupin (4%, 95% CI: 1–15%) and had smaller wheals and serum‐specific IgE results. None of the atopic controls reacted on lupin challenge, giving a rate of allergy in the atopic controls of 0% (95% CI: 0–8%).

Conclusions:  A small but significant number of children with peanut allergy are allergic to lupin. Sensitization to lupin is much rarer in nonpeanut‐allergic atopic subjects.
Re‐establishment of clinal variation in flowering time among introduced populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, Lythraceae)
Authors: MONTAGUE J. L. , BARRETT S. C. H. , ECKERT C. G.
Published: November 2007

Range expansion during biological invasion requires that invaders adapt to geographical variation in climate, which should yield latitudinal clines in reproductive phenology. We investigated geographic variation in life history among 25 introduced populations ofLythrum salicaria, a widespread European invader of North American wetlands. We detected a strong latitudinal cline in initiation of flowering and size at flowering, which paralleled that reported among native populations. Plants from higher latitudes flowered earlier and at a smaller size than those from lower latitudes, even when raised in a uniform glasshouse. Early flowering was associated with greatly reduced reproductive output, but this was not associated with latitudinal variation in abundance, and probably did not result from a genetic correlation between time to and size at flowering. As introduction to North Americac.200 years ago,L. salicariahas re‐established latitudinal clines in life history, probably as an evolutionary response to climatic selection.
The Influence of Relatedness, Neighbourhood and Overall Distance on Colony Mate Recognition in a Polydomous Ant
Authors: Wilgenburg Ellen van
Published: November 2007

The ‘dear enemy phenomenon’ predicts that territorial animals respond less aggressively towards more familiar neighbours than towards unfamiliar conspecifics if potential losses to strangers are more costly than potential losses to neighbours. Conversely, territorial animals should respond more aggressively to neighbours, if potential losses to them are more costly than potential losses to strangers. In social insects the question of how colony members distinguish neighbours from strangers, however, is intertwined with the more general question of how colony members discriminate themselves from non‐colony members; both genetic and spatial distance can correlate with levels of inter‐colonial aggression. In this paper I disentangle the role of experience, genetic and spatial distance on inter‐colonial aggression in a polydomous population ofIridomyrmex purpureus. InI. purpureus,aggression is related to the spatial distance between colonies irrespective of genetic similarity. Spatial distance affected aggression in two different ways. First, workers were more likely to exhibit aggression towards alien conspecifics of adjoining rather than non‐adjoining territories, suggesting the opposite of the dear enemy phenomenon. Second, workers were more often aggressive towards conspecifics of more distant colonies, implying that environmental cues play a role in the recognition system ofI. purpureus.
Disparity between Adult and Juvenile American Robins Turdus migratorius Foraging for Ground Invertebrates and Cherry Fruits
Authors: Vanderhoff E. Natasha , Eason Perri K.
Published: November 2007

Although it has long been known that juveniles often have foraging skills inferior to those of adults, it has generally been assumed that animal prey are more difficult to capture than fruit, and thus that juveniles foraging on fruit should be similar to adults in their efficiency. To examine these ideas, we investigated the abilities of juvenile and adult American robins Turdus migratorius to forage for ground invertebrates and fruits of the black cherry tree Prunus serotina. We hypothesized that juveniles, lacking the experience of adults, would not have the skills of adults and therefore would be less proficient invertebrate and fruit foragers. Juveniles captured 69% of invertebrates at which they struck compared with 80% of adults’ strikes that ended in capture. However, juveniles made more strikes than adults, so mean prey capture per minute was the same. Juveniles were also less skilled fruit foragers. Juveniles were twice as likely as adults to fail to pick a cherry (55% of adults’ vs. 28% of juveniles’ attempts ended in success). However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of juveniles and adults that dropped a cherry once it was picked. As a result of their low levels of success, juveniles consumed about half the number of cherries per minute as did adults. Contrary to prior assumptions, skills involved in fruit foraging may not be so easily acquired and many omnivorous species, like the American robin, must learn both invertebrate and fruit foraging skills.
Heterobasidion on Abies nordmanniana in north‐eastern Turkey
Authors: Doğmuş‐Lehtijärvi H. T. , Lehtijärvi A. , Korhonen K.
Published: November 2007

Occurrence of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. was investigated in 15 coniferous stands in the Giresun and Pontic Mountains in north‐eastern Turkey. Basidiocarps of the fungus were found in 11 stands. Fifty‐two basidiocarp specimens of Heterobasidion were collected from stumps of Abies nordmanniana ssp. nordmanniana and two from stumps of Picea orientalis. Pure cultures were isolated from the basidiocarps and identified with the aid of mating tests. Forty‐five (90%) of the specimens collected from A. nordmanniana were identified as H. abietinum and five (10%) as H. annosum s.s. The former species was also found twice on P. orientalis. This is the first report of H. annosum s.s. for Turkey and the first report of H. abietinum on P. orientalis. Heterobasidion abietinum seems to be mostly a saprotroph on A. nordmanniana.
Phytophthora cambivora in Oregon and its pathogenicity to Chrysolepis chrysophylla
Authors: Saavedra A. , Hansen E. M. , Goheen D. J.
Published: November 2007

A new canker disease causing mortality of golden chinquapin trees [Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Dougl.) Hjelmqvist], in Oregon was recently observed. Most of the symptomatic or dead trees were located near roads. The cankers on the lower boles of trees are similar to those caused by species of Phytophthora on other trees in western North America. The cankers in the inner bark were reddish‐orange in colour and extended upward from necrotic roots. Phytophthora cambivora (Petri) Buisman was isolated from the cankers; identity was confirmed by morphological comparison with known isolates and internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis. Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation of chinquapin seedlings and mature trees. Seven of nine isolates from chinquapin were A2 mating type; 27 of 28 isolates from other hosts in Oregon and Washington were A1 mating type.
Plummer–Vinson syndrome successfully treated by endoscopic dilatation
Authors: Enomoto Masaru , Kohmoto Madoka , Arafa Usama Ahmed , Shiba Masatsugu , Watanabe Toshio , Tominaga Kazunari , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Saeki Yoshihiko , Higuchi Kazuhide , Nishiguchi Shuhei , Shiomi Susumu , Osugi Haruji , Kinoshita Hiroaki , Arakawa Tetsuo
Published: November 2007

Plummer–Vinson (Paterson–Brown–Kelly) syndrome is uncommon nowadays. Although iron repletion improves its symptoms, endoscopic dilatation of associated esophageal webs is sometimes required. The case is described of a 69‐year‐old woman with Plummer–Vinson syndrome who was successfully treated by endoscopic bougienage. The patient had a longstanding history of anemia and slowly progressive dysphagia of solid food. Laboratory data on admission showed iron deficiency anemia (red blood cell count 402 × 104/µL, hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL, serum iron 8 µg/dL, and serum ferritin 2.4 ng/mL). Radiographic esophagography revealed two circumferential webs at the level of the cervical esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a severe upper esophageal stricture caused by a smooth mucosal diaphragm. The patient was prescribed 40 mg of intravenous iron supplements daily for 30 days; her anemia improved but the dysphagia did not. Endoscopic bougienage was performed with the use of Celestin dilators of serially increasing diameters. The webs were easily disrupted without complications. The patient’s dysphagia resolved shortly after the treatment and did not recur. This experience indicates that endoscopic bougienage is safe, effective, and relatively easy to perform in patients with severe esophageal stenosis.
Lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma of the esophagus: Report of a case with non‐progressive behavior
Authors: Nakasono Masahiko , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Suzuki Masaharu , Takizawa Hiromitsu , Okitsu Hiroshi , Okamura Seisuke , Muguruma Naoki , Ito Susumu , Sano Toshiaki
Published: November 2007

Lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma (LELC) of the esophagus is extremely rare and the prognosis has been described to be favorable. Herein, the case is reported of esophageal LELC showing non‐progressive course for 1 year. The patient was a 70‐year‐old Japanese man with a submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. The tumor was endoscopically regarded as a benign leiomyoma. One year after the first endoscopic examination, the size of the lesion remained unchanged despite no treatment. Histologically, the tumor showed undifferentiated carcinoma associated with dense lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration. Lymphoid follicles surrounded the tumor cell nests. Immunohistochemically, Ki‐67 labeling index of the tumor cells were 76.0%, and there were few single‐strand DNA‐positive apoptotic cells. In situ hybridization using a digoxigen‐labeled Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded small RNA (EBER)‐1 riboprobe failed to detect the presence of EBV infection. Physicians should be aware that esophageal LELC endoscopically mimics benign submucosal tumor. This case may demonstrate that esophageal LELC is a slow‐growing tumor and it is related to immune reaction.
Discrepant effects of inducible nitric oxide synthase modulation on systemic and splanchnic endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and expression in cirrhotic rats
Authors: Malyshev Eugene , Tazi Khalid A , Moreau Richard , Lebrec Didier
Published: November 2007

Background: Arterial vasodilatation, which is a major factor in the pathogenesis of the hyperkinetic circulatory state and portal hypertension in cirrhosis, is due to arterial nitric oxide (NO) overproduction secondary to endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) upregulation. However, in cirrhosis, the respective roles of eNOS and iNOS isoforms in NO overproduction are still unknown and the effect of iNOS modulation on eNOS activity and expression has not been evaluated in the systemic or splanchnic vessels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of modulating aortic and superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) iNOS on arterial eNOS activity and expression in rats with cirrhosis.

Methods: eNOS and iNOS protein expression and eNOS activity (assessed by its phosphorylation at serine 1177) were measured in the aortas and SMA in untreated and treated cirrhotic rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), N‐iminoethyl‐L‐lysine (L‐NIL), a selective iNOS inhibitor, and LPS plus L‐NIL.

Results: LPS administration significantly increased eNOS and iNOS protein expression and eNOS activity in the aortas of both sham‐operated and cirrhotic rats. However, in SMA, LPS administration induced a decrease in eNOS protein expression and activity and an increase in iNOS protein expression.

Conclusion: The results of this study may explain the worsening of the hyperdynamic state in cirrhosis during septic shock by direct LPS‐induced eNOS activation in large systemic vessels, and its inhibition in concomitant small splanchnic vasculature by iNOS synthesized NO.
Frequency scale for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease predicts the need for addition of prokinetics to proton pump inhibitor therapy
Authors: Miyamoto Masaki , Haruma Ken , Takeuchi Keisuke , Kuwabara Masao
Published: November 2007

Background and Aim:  Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy cannot cure all cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and combination therapy with prokinetics and PPI achieves symptomatic improvement for some GERD patients. Few studies have been performed to predict the need for prokinetics.

Methods:  Subjects were 163 patients (64 male, mean age 53.1 ± 16.6 years) with GERD symptoms. They were evaluated using the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG), a GERD‐specific questionnaire developed in Japan1 and endoscopy. They were administered with rabeprazole 10 mg daily. At 12 and 24 weeks of treatment, subjects were offered a choice of four treatment regimens according to their degree of satisfaction (1, no need for further treatment; 2, opt for continued PPI treatment; 3, step‐down to H2RA; 4, dissatisfied with present treatment, so opt for combination treatment with prokinetics, mosapride 5 mg tid).

Results:  The choice of treatment after 12 weeks of treatment placed 79.1% of subjects in the satisfied group (1, 21; 2, 98; 3, 10). After 24 weeks, 98.2% of subjects were in the satisfied group. Pretreatment FSSG scores were significantly higher in the dissatisfied group (4, 17.4 ± 1.4) than in the satisfied group (1, 12.3 ± 1.3; 2, 12.8 ± 0.8; 3, 10.2 ± 1.8) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  The satisfaction rate with these treatment regimens was 98.2% at 24 weeks, suggesting that combination therapy with prokinetics was effective for patients dissatisfied with PPI monotherapy. The FSSG is a useful predictor of the necessity for combination therapy.
Confocal endomicroscopy for in vivo detection of microvascular architecture in normal and malignant lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Liu Hong , Li Yan‐Qing , Yu Tao , Zhao You‐An , Zhang Jian‐Ping , Zhang Jian‐Na , Guo Yu‐Ting , Xie Xiang‐Jun , Zhang Ting‐Guo , Desmond Paul V
Published: November 2007

Background and Aim:  Confocal laser endomicroscopy allows subsurface analysis of gastrointestinal mucosa during ongoing endoscopy. The present study assessed the feasibility of in vivo detecting superficial vascular architecture by confocal endomicroscopy in normal upper gastrointestinal mucosa and malignant lesions.

Methods:  Early gastric cancer in eight patients, superficial esophageal carcinoma in six patients, and asymptomatic normal control in 10 patients were studied by confocal endomicroscopy. The characteristic of endomicroscopic microvascular architecture from normal and malignant mucosa was described and images were evaluated.

Results:  Confocal endomicroscopy enabled clear visualization of the vascular networks of gastroesophageal mucosa. Honeycomb‐like and coil‐shaped regular microvascular architecture surrounding gastric pits were visible in the normal gastric body and antrum, respectively. Differentiated gastric cancerous mucosa showed hypervascularity and various caliber microvessels with irregular shapes. Undifferentiated gastric cancers disclosed a hypovascularity and irregular short branch vessels. Normal squamous epithelium had regular intraepithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCLs) directed toward the luminal surface. In superficial esophageal squamous carcinoma, dilated IPCLs were visible at the upper layer of the squamous mucosa. In esophageal adenocarcinoma, abnormal microvascular architecture showed tortuous and various calibers blood vessels. Of all the images, 41% were graded as good quality. The mean kappa value for interobserver agreement for the prediction of cancerous mucosa was 0.792.

Conclusions:  Confocal laser endomicroscopy system could yield very clear images of superficial microvascular network in the gastroesophageal mucosal layer both in malignant and normal mucosa. Endomicroscopic observation of vascular architecture may be of assistance in the identification of early gastroesophageal cancers.
Safety of i.v. administration of redback spider antivenom
Authors: Isbister G. K.
Published: November 2007

It is unclear what the risk of allergic reactions is with appropriately given dilute i.v. redback spider antivenom (RBSAV). Ninety‐five i.v. administrations of RBSAV referred from January 2001 to November 2006 were reviewed. All patients had local pain, 72% radiating pain, 57% diaphoresis and 39% systemic effects. Four patients (4%) had immediate systemic hypersensitivity reactions: none were severe, one was moderate and three mild. In 32 patients followed up for 2 weeks, three (10%) developed serum sickness. RBSAV given i.v. had a low reaction rate.
Application of the distributed dislocation technique for calculating cyclic crack tip plasticity effects
Authors: CODRINGTON J. , KOTOUSOV A.
Published: November 2007

This paper describes a method for modelling cyclic crack tip plasticity effects based on the distributed dislocation technique (DDT). A strip‐yield model is utilised to allow for the determination of the crack opening displacement, size of the plastic zones and in the case of a fatigue crack, the wake of plasticity. The DDT can be easily implemented for a wide range of cracked geometries with reliable control over the accuracy and convergence. Thickness effects can also be incorporated through a recently obtained solution for an edge dislocation in an infinite plate of finite thickness. Results for finite length cracks that have had limited growth, such that there is no plastic wake, are presented for a range of applied loads andR‐ratios. Further results are provided for a steady‐state fatigue crack in a plate of finite thickness. The present results are compared with analytical solutions and they show an excellent agreement.
Hydrogen‐enhanced cracking of 2205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: TSAY L. W. , YOUNG M. C. , SHIN C.‐S. , CHAN S. L. I.
Published: November 2007

Tensile and fatigue crack growth tests of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) were performed in laboratory air, gaseous hydrogen at 0.2 MPa and saturated H2S solution. The longitudinal specimen showed a lesser degradation of tensile properties than the transverse ones in saturated H2S solution. The orientation of specimens with respect to rolling direction had little influence on the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) of the alloy in air. Furthermore, 2205 duplex stainless steel was susceptible to hydrogen‐enhanced fatigue crack growth.

Transmission electron micrographs, in addition to X‐ray diffraction, revealed that the strain‐induced austenite to martensite transformation occurred near the crack surface within a rather narrow depth. Fatigue fractography of the specimens tested in air showed mainly transgranular fatigue fracture with a small amount of flat facet fracture. Furthermore, extensive quasi‐cleavage fracture of 2205 duplex stainless steel was associated with the hydrogen‐enhanced crack growth.
Microbial distribution of Accumulibacter spp. and Competibacter spp. in aerobic granules from a lab‐scale biological nutrient removal system
Authors: Lemaire Romain , Yuan Zhiguo , Blackall Linda L. , Crocetti Gregory R.
Published: November 2007

Granular sludge for simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) was generated and studied in a lab‐scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR was monitored for 450 days during which the biomass was transformed from flocs to granules, which persisted for the last 130 days of operation. Short sludge settling time was employed to successfully generate the granules, with the 10th and 90th percentiles of diameter being 0.7 and 1.6 mm respectively. Good phosphorus removal and nitrification occurred throughout the SBR operation but only when granules were generated were denitrification and full nutrient removal complete. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and oxygen microsensors were used to study the granules at a microscale. Accumulibacter spp. (a polyphosphate‐accumulating organism, PAO) and Competibacter spp. (a glycogen non‐polyphosphate‐accumulating organism, GAO) were the most abundant microbial community members (together 74% of all Bacteria) and both are capable of denitrification. In the aerobic period of the SBR operation, the oxygen penetrated 250 μm into the granules leaving large anoxic zones in the centre part where denitrification can occur. In granules > 500 μm in diameter, Accumulibacter spp. was dominant in the outermost 200 μm region of the granule while Competibacter spp. dominated in the granule central zone. The stratification of these two populations between the outer aerobic and inner anoxic part of the granule was highly significant (P < 0.003). We concluded that the GAO Competibacter spp., and not the PAO Accumulibacter spp., was responsible for denitrification in this SBR. This is undesirable for SNDPR as savings in carbon demand cannot be fulfilled with phosphorus removal and denitrification being achieved by different groups of bacteria.
Paralysis of nematodes: shifts in the transcriptome of the nematode‐trapping fungus Monacrosporium haptotylum during infection of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Fekete Csaba , Tholander Margareta , Rajashekar Balaji , Ahrén Dag , Friman Eva , Johansson Tomas , Tunlid Anders
Published: November 2007

The transcriptional response in the parasitic fungus Monacrosporium haptotylum and its nematode host Caenorhabditis elegans were analysed during infection using cDNA microarrays. The array contained 2684 fungal and 372 worm gene reporters. Dramatic shifts occurred in the transcriptome of M. haptotylum during the different stages of the infection. An initial transcriptional response was recorded after 1 h of infection when the traps adhered to the cuticle, but before immobilization of the captured nematodes. Among the differentially expressed genes were two serine protease genes (spr1 and spr2), and several homologues to genes known to be regulated in other pathogenic fungi. After 4 h, when approximately 40% of the nematodes were paralysed, we identified an upregulated cluster of 372 fungal genes which were not regulated during the other phases of the infection. This cohort contained a large proportion (79%) of genes that appear to be specific for M. haptotylum and closely related species. These genes were of two different classes: those translating into presumably functional peptides and those with no apparent protein coding potential (non‐coding RNAs). Among the infection‐induced C. elegans genes were those encoding antimicrobial peptides, protease inhibitors and lectins.
Design and testing of ‘genome‐proxy’ microarrays to profile marine microbial communities
Authors: Rich Virginia I. , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , DeLong Edward F.
Published: November 2007

Microarrays are useful tools for detecting and quantifying specific functional and phylogenetic genes in natural microbial communities. In order to track uncultivated microbial genotypes and their close relatives in an environmental context, we designed and implemented a ‘genome‐proxy’ microarray that targets microbial genome fragments recovered directly from the environment. Fragments consisted of sequenced clones from large‐insert genomic libraries from microbial communities in Monterey Bay, the Hawaii Ocean Time‐series station ALOHA, and Antarctic coastal waters. In a prototype array, we designed probe sets to 13 of the sequenced genome fragments and to genomic regions of the cultivated cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus MED4. Each probe set consisted of multiple 70‐mers, each targeting an individual open reading frame, and distributed along each ∼40–160 kbp contiguous genomic region. The targeted organisms or clones, and close relatives, were hybridized to the array both as pure DNA mixtures and as additions of cells to a background of coastal seawater. This prototype array correctly identified the presence or absence of the target organisms and their relatives in laboratory mixes, with negligible cross‐hybridization to organisms having ≤ ∼75% genomic identity. In addition, the array correctly identified target cells added to a background of environmental DNA, with a limit of detection of ∼0.1% of the community, corresponding to ∼103 cells ml−1 in these samples. Signal correlated to cell concentration with an R2 of 1.0 across six orders of magnitude. In addition, the array could track a related strain (at 86% genomic identity to that targeted) with a linearity of R2 = 0.9999 and a limit of detection of ∼1% of the community. Closely related genotypes were distinguishable by differing hybridization patterns across each probe set. This array's multiple‐probe, ‘genome‐proxy’ approach and consequent ability to track both target genotypes and their close relatives is important for the array's environmental application given the recent discoveries of considerable intrapopulation diversity within marine microbial communities.
Simultaneous analysis of microbial identity and function using NanoSIMS
Authors: Li Tianlun , Wu Ting‐Di , Mazéas Laurent , Toffin Laurent , Guerquin‐Kern Jean‐Luc , Leblon Gérard , Bouchez Théodore
Published: November 2007

Identifying the function of uncultured microbes in their environments today remains one of the main challenges for microbial ecologists. In this article, we describe a new method allowing simultaneous analysis of microbial identity and function. This method is based on the visualization of oligonucleotide probe‐conferred hybridization signal in single microbial cells and isotopic measurement using high‐resolution ion microprobe (NanoSIMS). In order to characterize the potential of the method, an oligonucleotide containing iodized cytidine was hybridized on fixed cells of Escherichia coli cultured on media containing different levels of 13C or 15N. Iodine signals could clearly be localized on targeted cells and the isotopic enrichment could be monitored at the single‐cell level. The applicability of this new technique to the study of in situ ecophysiology of uncultured microorganisms within complex microbial communities is illustrated.