bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histology of waxflower (Chamelaucium spp.) flower infection by Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Dinh S. Q. , Joyce D. C. , Irving D. E. , Wearing A. H.
Published: August 2010

Botrytis cinerea infects waxflower (Chamelaucium spp.) flowers and can induce them to abscise from their petioles before disease becomes evident. Botrytis cinerea infection of flowers was studied on two waxflower cultivars by light and electron microscopy. Pot‐grown waxflower flowers were harvested, inoculated with aqueous suspensions of B. cinerea conidia, incubated at 20–22°C and >95% RH and examined within 96 h post‐inoculation (hpi). Conidial germination on petals started 4 hpi, penetration via germ tube tips was 6 hpi and protoappressoria were formed 8 hpi. Germination on petals approximately doubled every 4–6 h to 18 hpi. Conidial germination was ca. 50% at 22–24 hpi. Botrytis cinerea infected most waxflower flower organs, including petals, anthers and filaments, stigma and hypanthium, within 24 hpi. Hyaline and lobate appressoria were observed 36 hpi. Infection cushions on stamen bases were formed 36 hpi by saprophytic hyphae that originated from anthers. This infection process can give rise to tan‐coloured symptoms typical of botrytis disease that radiate from this part of the flower. Subcuticular hyphae were present at high density near stamen bases and evidently resulted from multiple penetrations from single infection cushions. The subcuticular hyphae grew within the hypanthium and towards the centre of the floral tube. When flower abscission occurred, floral tube tissues close to the abscission zone remained uninfected. This observation infers possible transmission of a signal (e.g. ethylene) upon B. cinerea infection. Thus, B. cinerea causes flower abscission apparently as a defence response.
Increased resistance to fusarium wilt in transgenic tobacco lines co‐expressing chitinase and wasabi defensin genes
Authors: Ntui V. O. , Azadi P. , Thirukkumaran G. , Khan R. S. , Chin D. P. , Nakamura I. , Mii M.
Published: August 2010

Marker‐free transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) lines containing a chitinase (ChiC) gene isolated from Streptomyces griseus strain HUT 6037 were produced by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation. One marker‐free transgenic line, TC‐1, was retransformed with the wasabi defensin (WD) gene, isolated from Wasabia japonica. Of the retransformed shoots, 37% co‐expressed the ChiC/WD genes, as confirmed by western and northern analyses. Southern blot analysis showed that no chromosomal rearrangement was introduced between the first and the second transformation. Transgenic lines either expressing ChiC or WD, or co‐expressing both genes were challenged with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. nicotianae (Fon). Assessment of in vitro plant survival in the presence of Fon showed that transgenic lines co‐expressing both genes had significantly enhanced protection against the fungus (infection indices 0·0–1.·2) compared with corresponding isogenic lines expressing either of the genes (infection indices 2·5–9·8). Whole‐plant infection indices in transgenic lines were significantly related (r = 0·93, P < 0·01) to the extent of root colonization of the host, which ranged from 2·1% to 11·3% in lines co‐expressing both genes, and from 16·8% to 37·7% in lines expressing just one of the genes (compared with 86·4% in non‐transformed controls). Leaf extracts of transgenic lines also inhibited mycelial growth of Fon in vitro and caused hyphal abnormalities.
Quantifying cropping practices in relation to inoculum levels of Fusarium graminearum on crop stubble
Authors: Guo X. W. , Fernando W. G. D. , Bullock P. , Sapirstein H.
Published: August 2010

This study was conducted in 58 producer‐field locations in Manitoba from 2003 to 2006 to understand how cropping practices influence Fusarium graminearum inoculum levels on stubble of various crops, including wheat, collected from the soil surface. Colonies per m2 (CN) were determined and converted to base‐10 logarithm values (log10CN). Mean log10CN of the sampled field for various crops and groups of crops grown in the 3 years prior to sampling were tested to find significant differences. Average log10CN values were also used to determine significant differences between tillage systems and the effect of number of years. Average log10CN values for zero and minimum tillage systems were not different but were significantly higher than values for conventional tillage. A series of three crop rotation scenarios were tested using weighted log10CN values for crop, tillage, their interaction and their squared terms in step‐wise regression models to identify which model was the best predictor of log10CN. This was selected as the cropping practice index (CPI) model and was expressed as: CPI = 1·98423 + 0·55975 (C2 × C1 × T)2 + 0·4390 (C2 × T)2, where C1, C2 and T represent the weighted log10CN values for crops grown 1 and 2 years previously and tillage system, respectively. R2 value for this model was 0·933 (P < 0·0001). The reliability of the CPI model was tested using jack‐knife full cross‐validation regression. The resulting R2 was 0·899. The CPI model was tested using data collected from seven wheat fields in 2006 (R2 = 0·567). The relationship between CPI and FHB index (R2 = 0·715) was significant.
Nature vs nurture: genetic susceptibility and weight loss in hepatic steatosis
Authors: Huang K
Published: August 2010

Apolipoprotein C3 gene variants in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease

Petersen et al. (2010)

The New England Journal of Medicine 362(12): 1082–1089.
Genetic variation in herbivore resistance and tolerance: the role of plant life‐history stage and type of damage
Authors: MUOLA A. , MUTIKAINEN P. , LAUKKANEN L. , LILLEY M. , LEIMU R.
Published: August 2010

Information of the patterns of genetic variation in plant resistance and tolerance against herbivores and genetic trade‐offs between these two defence strategies is central for our understanding of the evolution of plant defence. We found genetic variation in resistance to two specialist herbivores and in tolerance to artificial damage but not to a specialist leaf herbivore in a long‐lived perennial herb. Seedlings tended to have genetic variation in tolerance to artificial damage. Genetic variation in tolerance of adult plants to artificial damage was not consistent in time. Our results suggest that the level of genetic variation in tolerance and resistance depends on plant life‐history stage, type of damage and timing of estimating the tolerance relative to the occurrence of the damage, which might reflect the pattern of selection imposed by herbivory. Furthermore, we found no trade‐offs between resistance and tolerance, which suggests that the two defence strategies can evolve independently.
Testing hybridization hypotheses and evaluating the evolutionary potential of hybrids in mangrove plant species
Authors: LO E. Y. Y.
Published: August 2010

Natural hybridization is of marked importance from global to local biological diversity. In mangroves, species ranges overlap extensively with one another and species share a long overlap of flowering time. Although hybridization has been suggested, patterns of hybridization and the evolutionary potential of hybrids are not yet fully understood. This study provides molecular evidence for the parental origins and status of hybrids in the dominant mangrove genus Rhizophora based on comparisons of chloroplast and nuclear phylogenies and estimations of genetic relatedness and structure from inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that almost all species can act as maternal parents to hybrids and that hybridization can be bidirectional. Bayesian analyses indicate that hybrids are simple F1s, and no trace of backcrossing was detected within populations. Hybridization, for the most part, occurs almost only locally and dispersal of hybrid individuals is limited beyond the hybrid sites.
Comparing three different methods to detect selective loci using dominant markers
Authors: PÉREZ‐FIGUEROA A. , GARCÍA‐PEREIRA M. J. , SAURA M. , ROLÁN‐ALVAREZ E. , CABALLERO A.
Published: August 2010

We carried out a simulation study to compare the efficiency of three alternative programs (dfdist, detseld and bayescan) to detect loci under directional selection from genome‐wide scans using dominant markers. We also evaluated the efficiency of correcting for multiple testing those methods that use a classical probability approach. Under a wide range of scenarios, we conclude that bayescan appears to be more efficient than the other methods, detecting a usually high percentage of true selective loci as well as less than 1% of outliers (false positives) under a fully neutral model. In addition, the percentage of outliers detected by this software is always correlated with the true percentage of selective loci in the genome. Our results show, nevertheless, that false positives are common even with a combination of methods and multitest correction, suggesting that conclusions obtained from this approach should be taken with extreme caution.
‘Wrong blood in tube’: solutions for a persistent problem
Authors: Ansari S. , Szallasi A.
Published: August 2010

Background and Objectives  This study was performed to determine the incidence of ‘wrong blood in tube’ (WBIT)‐type errors at our institution during the past 5 years, to analyse their root cause and to evaluate the efficacy of preventive measures that have been implemented since 2006.

Methods  All reports of mislabelled and miscollected specimens detected between January 2005 and December 2009 were reviewed. Of these, WBIT‐type errors were further analysed as they represent a major risk for mistransfusion.

Results  Between 2005 and 2009, 59 373 type and screens were performed at our institution and a total of 26 major errors (WBIT) were identified. Of the errors, eight were detected by discrepant typing results (in comparison with historic blood type), six were discovered by the clinical service and 12 were identified in the blood bank by other means. Our estimated ‘raw’ WBIT rate (1 in 2283 samples) is comparable to that (1:2262) in the published literature. Since 2006, our nursing policy mandates that ‘all type, screen and cross will have two witnesses to the correct ID of the patient and labeling is done at the bedside at the time of the draw.’ This has reduced (from 11 in 2006 to 5 in 2007), but did not eliminate, our WBIT problem that persisted into 2008 and 2009 (three and seven incidents, respectively). Since 2009, we also require a second, independently drawn sample in previously un‐typed patients who are likely to be transfused.

Conclusion  We conclude that WBITs continue to represent a leading cause of potential mistransfusions at our institution. Changes in nursing (two witnesses to correct ID) and/or blood bank policy (check‐type with a second specimen) may reduce, but not eliminate, this persistent problem. Clearly, additional safety measures are required to prevent WBIT‐type errors.
Persistently low fruiting success in the Mediterranean pipevine Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae): a multi‐year study
Authors: Berjano R. , Arista M. , Ortiz P. L. , Talavera S.
Published: August 2010

Low fruit set is common in many plant species and may be caused by a variety of factors, such as predation, resource limitation or deficient pollination, or it may be an evolutionary strategy. In this paper, we investigate factors that affect fruit set in Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae), a Mediterranean pipevine found in southwest Spain. Fruit production was monitored in two populations over 4 years (2002–2005), and the causes of flower or fruit loss were determined. Experimental hand‐pollinations were performed, and germinated pollen grains on the stigmas of open‐pollinated flowers were quantified. Fruit set was always very low (4–14%). Floral abscission initially reduced reproductive output by more than 50%; then herbivory (6–12%) and fruit abortion (8–26%) caused further reductions. Given that the number of efficiently pollinated flowers was always higher than that of ripe fruits, and that xenogamous hand‐pollination did not increase fruit set in relation to open‐pollination, the final fruit production of A. baetica seems not to be pollen‐limited. Fruit abortion of effectively pollinated flowers supports the idea that resource availability limits fruit set. In A. baetica, fruit abortion could lead to mate selection of the best quality fruits. Moreover, the initiated fruits that finally abort could also satiate predators, contributing to increase progeny fitness.
Plant metallothioneins – metal chelators with ROS scavenging activity?
Authors: Hassinen V. H. , Tervahauta A. I. , Schat H. , Kärenlampi S. O.
Published: August 2010

Metallothioneins (MTs) are ubiquitous cysteine‐rich proteins present in plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. In plants, MTs are suggested to be involved in metal tolerance or homeostasis, as they are able to bind metal ions through the thiol groups of their cysteine residues. Recent reports show that MTs are also involved in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The interplay between these roles is not entirely clear. Plants have many MT isoforms with overlapping expression patterns, and no specific role for any of them has been assigned. This review is focused on recent findings on plant MTs.
Sex‐selective Predation by Threespine Sticklebacks on Sea Lice: A Novel Cleaning Behaviour
Authors: Losos Craig J. C. , Reynolds John D. , Dill Lawrence M.
Published: August 2010

Cleaning interactions have been described in a wide range of fish species and other taxa. We observed a novel cleaning behaviour during a study of the transmission dynamics of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) between juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in the Broughton Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada. Experiments showed that sticklebacks significantly reduced the number of sea lice on individual juvenile salmon. Adult female lice were preferentially consumed by sticklebacks, and gravid female lice also experienced egg string cropping. Overall, 76% of gravid female lice experienced either consumption, egg string cropping, or both by sticklebacks. This preference by sticklebacks for female parasites may stem from female lice being larger than males and the added nutritional value of egg strings on gravid females. Cleaning by sticklebacks can potentially have an impact on sea louse populations on wild juvenile salmon.
Behavioral Isolation Based on Visual Signals in a Sympatric Pair of Darter Species
Authors: Williams Tory H. , Mendelson Tamra C.
Published: August 2010

Elaborate visual communication signals characterize many animal lineages. Often sex‐limited, these signals are generally assumed to result from sexual selection, and in many cases, their evolution is thought to play a central role in speciation. The co‐evolution of male visual signals and female preferences is hypothesized to result in behavioral isolation between divergent lineages; however, for many lineages characterized by elaborate visual signals, the importance of visual differences in behavioral isolation is not well established. Darters (fish genus Etheostoma) are particularly appropriate for examining the role of visual signals in behavioral isolation. They comprise one of the most diverse groups of North American freshwater fish, and nearly every species is characterized by unique nuptial coloration. Multiple darter species co‐exist in sympatric populations, indicating that reproductive barriers are central to maintaining these extraordinarily diverse color patterns. This study demonstrates the presence of behavioral isolation between a pair of distinctly colored sympatric darter species, Etheostoma barrenense and Etheostoma zonale, through experimental observations using an artificial stream. In addition, a series of dichotomous mate‐choice trials indicate that females prefer conspecific males over heterospecifics based on visual differences alone. We therefore provide the first evidence that visual signals are a critical trait maintaining behavioral isolation in darters, a lineage of fishes with spectacular diversification in visual communication.
Use of fungal biosystematics and molecular genetics in detection and identification of wood‐decay fungi for improved forest management
Authors: Glaeser J. A. , Lindner D. L.
Published: August 2010

Advances in fungal biosystematics and molecular genetics have clarified relationships among the wood‐decay fungi and are providing new tools for their detection and identification. Species complexes of forest pathogens, including those withinHeterobasidion, Armillaria, Laetiporus,andPhellinus, are being resolved. The ability to isolate fungal DNA directly from wood without in intermediate culturing step will greatly facilitate sampling and disease detection and has applications in forest disease management, hazard tree assessment, invasive species detection, and carbon cycling, sequestration and climate change research. Recent changes in fungal nomenclature and their application to forest pathology are discussed.
Increased Ca2+ sensitivity of myofibrillar tension in ischaemic vs dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lee Samuel , Lu Rong , Müller‐Ehmsen Jochen , Schwinger Robert HG , Brixius Klara
Published: August 2010

1. There is evidence that different aetiologies of heart failure, especially ischaemic vs dilated cardiomyopathy (ICM and DCM, respectively), may influence the prognosis of patients with this disease. Patients with ICM have a worse prognosis than those with DCM; the mechanisms underlying this difference have not yet been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are changes in myofibrillar function depending on the aetiology of human heart failure.

2. Ca2+‐dependent tension (DT) and actomyosin ATPase acitivity (MYO) in Triton X‐skinned fibre preparations of the left ventricular myocardium from patients with heart failure due to ICM (n = 5) and DCM (n = 5) were measured. Tension‐dependent ATP consumption was calculated by the ratio of DT and MYO (‘tension cost’). Non‐failing myocardium (NF) from donor hearts, which could not be transplanted because of technical reasons, was evaluated as a control.

3. Although DT was reduced, the myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity of DT and MYO, as well as tension cost, were increased in preparations from ICM and DCM myocardium compared with NF. The Ca2+ sensitivity of DT and MYO was significantly increased in ICM compared with DCM preparations, resulting in more economic cross‐bridge cycling in ICM than in DCM.

4. In conclusion, ICM is associated with an increased Ca2+ sensitivity of myofibrillar tension and ATPase activity accompanied by decreased tension cost compared with DCM. Thus, the worse prognosis associated with ICM does not seem to be due to differences in myofibrillar function.
Role of Ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (Rac2), NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species in diallyl disulphide‐induced apoptosis of human leukaemia HL‐60 cells
Authors: Yi Lan , Ji Xiao‐Xia , Tan Hui , Lin Min , Tang Yi , Wen Ling , Ma Yan‐Hua , Su Qi
Published: August 2010

1. Diallyl disulphide (DADS) has potential as a chemopreventive and therapeutic agent. Previous studies have reported that Ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (Rac2), a regulatory subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex, is upregulated in DADS‐induced apoptosis in human leukaemia HL‐60 cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Rac2, NADPH oxidase and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in DADS‐induced apoptosis.

2. Expresssion of the Rac2 gene along with that of five other genes of NADPH oxidase subunits were in HL‐60 cells measured by Sybergreen quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. RNA interference was used to test the effect of Rac2. Protein expression was evaluated using western blot analysis and ROS levels were measured by 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH‐DA) fluorescence. DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect apoptotic cells.

3. Levels of Rac2 gene and protein were significantly upregulated and NADPH oxidase was activated in DADS‐induced apoptosis. Pretreatment of HL‐60 cells with small interfering (si) RNAs to inhibit Rac2 blocked DADS‐induced apoptosis. Diallyl disulphide‐induced intracellular ROS production was increased in phorbol myristate acetate‐stimulated cells, but decreased in Rac2 siRNA‐treated cells. In Rac2 siRNA‐treated cells, activator protein‐1 and caspase 3 levels decreased, c‐myc protein levels were increased and p38 protein levels were unchanged compared with Rac2‐competent, DADS‐treated cells.

4. These results demonstrate that NADPH oxidase is the main source of DADS‐induced ROS. In addition, Rac2 selectively activates the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase pathway, but not the p38 pathway, in DADS‐induced apoptosis. So, Rac2, NADPH oxidase and ROS have a critical role in DADS‐induced apoptosis in human leukaemia HL‐60 cells.
Perception, attitudes and knowledge regarding the 2009 swine‐origin influenza A (H1N1) virus pandemic among health‐care workers in Australia
Authors: Tebruegge Marc , Pantazidou Anastasia , Ritz Nicole , Connell Tom , Bryant Penelope , Donath Susan , Curtis Nigel
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To determine the perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of Australian health‐care workers (HCWs) regarding the novel, swine‐origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S‐OIV) outbreak that reached the country in early May 2009.

Methods:  Self‐administered, anonymous Web‐based survey conducted during the early stages of the S‐OIV pandemic. Participants comprised hospital‐ and community‐based medical and nursing staff, medical students, allied health professionals, laboratory staff and administrative personnel.

Results:  Of the 947 participants surveyed, 59.4% were not convinced that Australia was sufficiently prepared for an influenza pandemic. Only 17.6% of the participants stated they were prepared to work unconditionally during a pandemic; 36.5% stated they would work if they had access to antiviral treatment; 27.9% would if provided with antiviral prophylaxis; and 7.5% would refuse to work. In addition, 37.5% of the participants responded they would refuse or avoid being involved in screening suspected cases. A total of 47.7% admitted to possessing a personal supply of antivirals or having considered this option. Only 48.0% provided a realistic estimate of the mortality associated with an influenza pandemic at a population level. HCWs overestimating the mortality risk and HCWs believing the efficacy of antiviral prophylaxis to be low were significantly less likely to be prepared to work (P= 0.04 and P= 0.0004, respectively).

Conclusions:  To ensure adequate staffing during an influenza pandemic, preparedness plans should anticipate significant levels of absenteeism by choice. Interventions aimed at increasing staff retention during a pandemic require further evaluation.
Diagnosing daytime bladder symptoms in children with nocturnal enuresis: A comparison of brief parental questionnaire with in‐depth, physician‐elicited, assessment
Authors: Sureshkumar Premala , Caldwell Patrina HY , Craig Jonathan C
Published: August 2010

Aims:  To assess the accuracy of brief parental questionnaire reporting of daytime bladder symptoms in children with nocturnal enuresis and compare with in‐depth reporting elicited by physician assessment, for diagnosing monosymptomatic and non‐monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

Methods:  A cross‐sectional study of consecutive children attending an outpatient nocturnal enuresis clinic at a tertiary paediatric hospital participated in the study. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire as part of routine assessment at their first visit which was compared with a detailed clinical assessment by the physician involving eliciting a thorough history from the parent and child.

Results:  Parents of 585 children participated in the study (mean age 9.2 years, range 5.0–17.5 years). Sixty percent of children were males. There was poor agreement between initial parental reporting and physician diagnosis of monosymptomatic and non‐monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (Kappa = 0.3, 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.37), mainly because parents underreport daytime incontinence and urgency compared with physician‐elicited information (43% vs. 69% and 66% vs. 87%, respectively).

Conclusions:  Parents underreport daytime symptoms by 20–25%. Reliance on a brief parental history without prompting by physicians for daytime symptoms for diagnosing type of nocturnal enuresis may be misleading and result in suboptimal management.
Assisted exercise improves bone strength in very low birthweight infants by bone quantitative ultrasound
Authors: Chen Hsiu‐Lin , Lee Chia‐Ling , Tseng Hsing‐I , Yang San‐Nan , Yang Rei‐Cheng , Jao Hsiao‐Ching
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To evaluate whether assisted exercise could prevent the development of osteopenia of prematurity, we performed assisted exercise in the study group of very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants.

Methods:  Sixteen premature infants with birthweight below 1500 g were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into the exercise (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups. Assisted exercise involved full extension and flexion range of motion of the upper and lower extremities by a trained nurse with a schedule of 5 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. Bone strength was determined by quantitative ultrasound measurement of tibial bone speed of sound every 2 weeks during the study period.

Results:  No difference in gender, birthweight, and gestation age between the exercise and control groups was noted. There was statistically significant less tibial bone speed of sound decrease in the exercise group on the sixth and eighth week of life. During the study period, there were no statistically significant differences in blood biochemistry data, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin, between the two groups.

Conclusions:  This study revealed that early assisted exercise could improve bone strength in very low birthweight infants. The biochemical markers of bone metabolism, osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin, could not be the indicators for early diagnosis of osteopenia of prematurity.
Allergy is an important factor in asthma exacerbation: A Pro/Con Debate
Authors: CUSTOVIC Adnan , SIMPSON Angela , BARDIN Philip G. , LE SOUËF Peter
Published: August 2010

Allergy and allergens have been implicated in asthma and it has historically been assumed that deteriorating asthma is related to allergen exposure. In the current pro/con debate some leading academics and researchers in the field consider this notion in the light of recent evidence. They conclude that allergy does not directly cause exacerbations but suggest that it may contribute to acute asthma in a different fashion. Possibilities that are proposed by the authors include specific allergy phenotypes acting as risk factors for virus‐associated exacerbations or alternatively that allergy may be implicated in the blunted innate immune responses detected in asthma.
Detection and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cardiovascular clinic: Evaluation using a hand held FEV1/FEV6 meter and questionnaire
Authors: WADA Hiroshi , NAKANO Yasutaka , NAGAO Taishi , OSAWA Makoto , YAMADA Hideto , SAKAGUCHI Chikara , MATSUMOTO Tetsuya , TSUTAMOTO Takayoshi , ITO Makoto , HORIE Minoru
Published: August 2010

Background and objective:  COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prevalence continues to increase. Although spirometry is indispensable for the diagnosis of COPD, other simple and reliable tools are necessary for screening of COPD because spirometry is not widely available. This study investigated the usefulness of a combination of an electronic FEV1/FEV6 meter (PiKo‐6) with a COPD questionnaire as a screening method in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Methods:  The PiKo‐6 and the COPD questionnaire of the International Primary Care Airways Group were used to screen patients attending a cardiovascular outpatient clinic. Patients with FEV1/FEV6 < 70% were defined as having airflow limitation. Patients diagnosed with airflow limitation underwent spirometry. Using data from the PiKo‐6 and the COPD questionnaire, patients were assigned to a COPD group or a non‐COPD group. The relationship between PiKo‐6 measurements and spirometry was also evaluated.

Results:  Among 753 patients, 82 (10.9%) showed airflow limitation when assessed with the PiKo‐6. Of these patients, 79 (10.5%) were assigned to the COPD group. FEV1, FEV6 and FEV1/FEV6, as measured with the PiKo‐6, correlated significantly with FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC, respectively, as measured by spirometry (r = 0.865, 0.751 and 0.57). Among the cardiovascular comorbidities, heart failure and ischaemic heart disease showed slightly stronger associations with airflow limitation (13.8% and 12.5%, respectively).

Conclusions:  Combination of the PiKo‐6 with a COPD questionnaire may be a useful and feasible method of identifying undiagnosed COPD patients attending a cardiovascular outpatient clinic.
Tracheal aspirate Gram stain has limited sensitivity and specificity for detecting Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: TETENTA Sodienye , METERSKY Mark L.
Published: August 2010

Background and objective:  The increasing incidence of respiratory infections due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus has resulted in increased empirical use of antibiotics active against this pathogen. There are limited data available as to whether the Gram stain of respiratory tract secretions accurately predicts growth of S. aureus. We theorized that the distinctive morphology of S. aureus would allow rapid, accurate identification of the organism in respiratory secretions.

Methods:  The authors reviewed all available Gram stains of tracheal aspirates sent to our hospital's microbiology laboratory between 1 April 2008 and 31 October 2008, while blinded to the culture result, and recorded the presence or absence of organisms with a morphology consistent with S. aureus. These results were correlated with the semiquantitative culture result.

Results:  Among 136 tracheal aspirates studied, 50 (37%) grew S. aureus. The Gram stain was read as positive for organisms consistent with S. aureus in 34 of these. Among 86 samples that did not grow S. aureus, the Gram stain was read as negative in 62. Therefore, the Gram stain had a sensitivity of 68%, a specificity of 72%, a negative predictive value of 80% and a positive predictive value of 59% for culture of S. aureus. False negative Gram stains were more likely when the culture revealed only rare or small growth of S. aureus (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:  In this study, the tracheal aspirate Gram stain read by an experienced clinician who was not a microbiologist, was not accurate enough to reliably predict the growth of S. aureus.
Real‐time Virtual Sonography for navigation during targeted prostate biopsy using magnetic resonance imaging data
Authors: Miyagawa Tomoaki , Ishikawa Satoru , Kimura Tomokazu , Suetomi Takahiro , Tsutsumi Masakazu , Irie Toshiyuki , Kondoh Masanao , Mitake Tsuyoshi
Published: August 2010

Objectives:  To evaluate the effectiveness of the medical navigation technique, namely, Real‐time Virtual Sonography (RVS), for targeted prostate biopsy.

Methods:  Eighty‐five patients with suspected prostate cancer lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in this study. All selected patients had at least one negative result on the previous transrectal biopsies. The acquired MRI volume data were loaded onto a personal computer installed with RVS software, which registers the volumes between MRI and real‐time ultrasound data for real‐time display. The registered MRI images were displayed adjacent to the ultrasonographic sagittal image on the same computer monitor. The suspected lesions on T2‐weighted images were marked with a red circle. At first suspected lesions were biopsied transperineally under real‐time navigation with RVS and then followed by the conventional transrectal and transperineal biopsy under spinal anesthesia.

Results:  The median age of the patients was 69 years (56–84 years), and the prostate‐specific antigen level and prostate volume were 9.9 ng/mL (4.0–34.2) and 37.2 mL (18–141), respectively. Prostate cancer was detected in 52 patients (61%). The biopsy specimens obtained using RVS revealed 45/52 patients (87%) positive for prostate cancer. A total of 192 biopsy cores were obtained using RVS. Sixty‐two of these (32%) were positive for prostate cancer, whereas conventional random biopsy revealed cancer only in 75/833 (9%) cores (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:  Targeted prostate biopsy with RVS is very effective to diagnose lesions detected with MRI. This technique only requires additional computer and RVS software and thus is cost‐effective. Therefore, RVS‐guided prostate biopsy has great potential for better management of prostate cancer patients.
Diversity of virus–host systems in hypersaline Lake Retba, Senegal
Authors: Sime‐Ngando Télesphore , Lucas Soizick , Robin Agnès , Tucker Kimberly Pause , Colombet Jonathan , Bettarel Yvan , Desmond Elie , Gribaldo Simonetta , Forterre Patrick , Breitbart Mya , Prangishvili David
Published: August 2010

Remarkable morphological diversity of virus‐like particles was observed by transmission electron microscopy in a hypersaline water sample from Lake Retba, Senegal. The majority of particles morphologically resembled hyperthermophilic archaeal DNA viruses isolated from extreme geothermal environments. Some hypersaline viral morphotypes have not been previously observed in nature, and less than 1% of observed particles had a head‐and‐tail morphology, which is typical for bacterial DNA viruses. Culture‐independent analysis of the microbial diversity in the sample suggested the dominance of extremely halophilic archaea. Few of the 16S sequences corresponded to known archeal genera (Haloquadratum, Halorubrum and Natronomonas), whereas the majority represented novel archaeal clades. Three sequences corresponded to a new basal lineage of the haloarchaea. Bacteria belonged to four major phyla, consistent with the known diversity in saline environments. Metagenomic sequencing of DNA from the purified virus‐like particles revealed very few similarities to the NCBI non‐redundant database at either the nucleotide or amino acid level. Some of the identifiable virus sequences were most similar to previously described haloarchaeal viruses, but no sequence similarities were found to archaeal viruses from extreme geothermal environments. A large proportion of the sequences had similarity to previously sequenced viral metagenomes from solar salterns.
Evolutionary and functional diversity of thePseudomonastype IVa pilin island
Authors: Giltner Carmen L. , Rana Navpreet , Lunardo Michael N. , Hussain Anne Q. , Burrows Lori L.
Published: August 2010

InPseudomonas aeruginosa,most proteins involved in type IVa pilus (T4aP) biogenesis are highly conserved except for the major pilin PilA and the minor pilins involved in pilus assembly. Here we show that each of the five major pilin alleles is associated with a specific set of minor pilins, and unrelated strains with the same major pilin type have identical minor pilin genes. The sequences of the minor pilin genes of strains with group III and V pilins are identical, suggesting that these groups diverged recently through further evolution of the major pilin cluster. Both gene clusters are localized on a single ‘pilin island’ containing putative tRNA recombinational hotspots, and a similar organization of pilin genes was identified in otherPseudomonasspecies. To address the biological significance of group‐specific differences, cross‐complementation studies using group II (PAO1) and group III (PA14) minor pilins were performed. Heterologous minor pilins complemented twitching motility to various extents except in the case of PilX, which was non‐functional in non‐native backgrounds. A recombinant PA14 strain expressing the PAO1 minor pilins regained motility only upon co‐introduction of the PA14pilXgene. Comparison of PilX and PilQ secretin sequences from group II, III and V genomes revealed discrete regions of sequence that co‐varied between groups. Our data suggest that changes in PilX sequence have led to compensatory changes in the PilQ secretin monomer such that heterologous PilX proteins are no longer able to promote opening of the secretin to allow pili to appear on the cell surface.
Tunica‐sparing ossified Peyronie’s plaque excision
Authors: Eisenberg Michael L. , Smith James F. , Shindel Alan W. , Lue Tom F.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (non‐consecutive series) Level of Evidence 3b

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Peyronie’s disease with heterotopic, ossified plaques require surgical removal. While conventional tunical excision techniques risk erectile and sensory compromise, we describe a tunical‐sparing technique which maintains potency with durable results.

OBJECTIVE

Ossified Peyronie’s plaques may require surgical excision because of the palpable problems and penile curvature that result. As tunical excision can result in impotence and decrease penile sensation, we describe a novel method of tunical preserving excision of such lesions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated 12 men with dorsal penile curvature between 10° and 90°. Penile plaque size ranged from 1 to 5 cm. 80% had painful erections. An artificial erection was induced with intracavernous injection of papaverine to assess penile deformity. Via a circumcising or ventral incision, plication sutures were placed to correct penile curvature. A lateral longitudinal corporotomy was made and the calcified/ossified portion was dissected free from the tunica albuginea/plaque of the corpora cavernosa. Watertight tunical closure was then performed.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, 80% of men reported erections always adequate for intercourse and normal sensation with a mean follow‐up of 7 months (range 2.1–14.5 months). All patients required simultaneous penile plication to ensure a straight phallus. Pathologic evaluation of plaque specimens all showed bone fragments.

CONCLUSION

Tunica‐sparing excision of the ossified/calcified portion of Peyronie’s plaques shows a durable benefit for large, ossified lesions and maintains potency and penile sensation.
Application of simplified Fuhrman grading system in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Hong Sung K. , Jeong Chang W. , Park Ji H. , Kim Hyung S. , Kwak Cheol , Choe Gheeyoung , Kim Hyeon H. , Lee Sang E.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Previously, some have suggested that the four‐tiered conventional Fuhrman grading system for clear cell renal cell carcinoma is unnecessarily complex. To ease the process of grading, simplified (two‐ or three‐tiered) versions of conventional Fuhrman grading system have been proposed in the literature.

Our results showed that the three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system can be considered as an appropriate option in the application of a nuclear grading system to the prognostication of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of simplified (two‐ or three‐tiered) Fuhrman grading systems as prognostic indicators in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

By reviewing records, various clinicopathological factors were assessed in 431 patients who received surgical management for clear‐cell RCC. A conventional four‐tiered Fuhrman grading system was compared with a modified two‐tiered grading system (Fuhrman grades I and II were combined as one class, and grades III and IV as another) and also with a three‐tiered grading system (only grades I and II were combined).

Efficacies of grading systems were assessed via univariate analyses and multivariate models for prediction of cancer‐specific survival.

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, the four‐tiered and three‐tiered grading systems showed similar accuracies (76.5 vs 76.2%, P = 0.614) for predicting cancer‐specific survival, which were greater than that of the two‐tiered system (72.5%; both P < 0.05).

Of the three grading systems, only the three‐tiered system was an independent predictor of cancer‐specific survival in multivariate analysis (P = 0.046).

When receiver operating characteristic‐derived areas under the curve (AUCs) of multivariate models for predicting cancer‐specific survivals were assessed, AUCs for models including the three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system and the conventional four‐tiered Fuhrman grading system were the same (95.3%), followed by that of a model incorporating the two‐tiered grading system (95.1%).

CONCLUSION

A modified, three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system can be considered an appropriate option in the application of a nuclear grading system to the prognostication of clear‐cell RCC in both univariate analysis and multivariate model setting.
Five year Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite‐based quality of life outcomes after prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Parker Walter R. , Wang Rou , He Chang , Wood Jr David P.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research) Level of Evidence 2c

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Previous studies typically assessed early outcomes (≤2 years) after prostatectomy often without individual pre‐operative scores for comparison. Our study followed patients and provides long term results, five years post‐operatively, and compared results to patients own baseline scores across all domains within EPIC.

OBJECTIVE

To document the Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite (EPIC) results for men followed for 5 years after radical prostatectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

EPIC and demographic information were prospectively obtained from 434 patients who received questionnaires preoperatively and 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months postoperatively. Paired t‐tests compared scores at individual time points. Percentage return to baseline was calculated at all postoperative time points and multivariate analyses evaluated postoperative trends.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 63.4 years. Mean urinary function and incontinence worsen after prostatectomy, with recovery stable 12 months after surgery. Mean urinary bother returned to baseline by 4 months post‐prostatectomy. Some 55.8% and 77.5% of patients return to their urinary function and bother baselines, respectively, 1 year after surgery. Mean sexual function and bother both declined after surgery, with new stable baselines achieved by 24 and 36 months post‐prostatectomy, respectively. Of the patients, 24.2% returned to their sexual function baseline by 24 months. No postoperative improvement was noted in mean sexual bother until the 12 months post‐prostatectomy. Of the patients, 36.8% returned to their sexual bother baseline by 36 months. Minimal change was noted in the bowel and hormonal domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Mean urinary function and incontinence did not recover to preoperative baseline after prostatectomy, although it did not add distress because mean urinary bother returned to pre‐prostatectomy levels. Mean sexual function declined post‐prostatectomy, with continued recovery up to 24 months. Sexual bother recovered later but, once it reached a new baseline, the distress does not lessen with time, probably indicating an inability to adjust to their functional loss.
Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase suppresses referred hyperalgesia induced by bladder inflammation
Authors: Merriam Fabiola Voznika , Wang Zun‐Yi , Hillard Cecilia J. , Stuhr Kara L. , Bjorling Dale E.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• To determine (i) the presence of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in the urinary bladder; (ii) whether or not endogenous fatty acid ethanolamides are synthesized by the bladder; (iii) the effects of FAAH inhibition on referred hyperalgesia associated with acute bladder inflammation in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

• Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed to detect FAAH in the bladder. Acrolein (1 mM, 400 µL) was instilled into bladders of female Wistar rats to induce cystitis. Referred mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed by application of Von Frey monofilaments to the hind paws.

• Animals were killed 4, 24, 48 and 72 h after acrolein instillation, and the fatty acid ethanolamide content of bladders was measured using isotope‐dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

• Other rats were treated with the FAAH inhibitor URB597 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) after the induction of cystitis, and the mechanical sensitivity of the hind paws was determined.

RESULTS

• Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting showed the presence of FAAH in the bladder, with greatest abundance in the urothelium.

• Acrolein‐induced cystitis increased fatty acid ethanolamide content (including anandamide) in the bladder in a time‐dependent manner. Inhibition of FAAH diminished referred hyperalgesia associated with acute bladder inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

• The results obtained in the present study indicate that (i) FAAH is present in the urinary bladder; (ii) fatty acid ethanolamides are increased during bladder inflammation; (iii) inhibition of FAAH could be an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of bladder pain.

• These results raise the possibility that inhibitors of enzymes responsible for metabolism of fatty acid ethanolamides could inhibit pain associated with bladder inflammation.
Surgical management after active surveillance for low‐risk prostate cancer: pathological outcomes compared with men undergoing immediate treatment
Authors: Dall’Era Marc A. , Cowan Janet E. , Simko Jeffrey , Shinohara Katsuto , Davies Benjamin , Konety Badrinath R , Meng Maxwell V. , Perez Nannette , Greene Kirsten , Carroll Peter R.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case control) Level of Evidence 3b

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The risks of delayed radical prostatectomy for men who progress on active surveillance are largely unknown. Two series have reported that prostatectomy after active surveillance has similar results to immediate therapy. Our data add to this growing body of evidence that appropriately selected men with prostate cancer can undergo active surveillance with delayed prostatectomy without added risk of missing an opportunity for cure as the majority of tumours remain organ confined.

OBJECTIVE

• To compare the pathological outcomes of men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) after a period of active surveillance (AS) with those of a similar risk group undergoing immediate surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• We identified men through our institutional database who underwent RP within 6 months of diagnosis or after a period of AS. The primary outcome of the present study was Gleason upgrade to ≥7 after prostatectomy.

• Pathological stage and positive surgical margin rate were assessed as secondary outcomes. Binomial logistic regression models were used to determine associations of treatment subgroups with pathological upgrade, upstage and positive margins.

RESULTS

• Thirty‐three men with initially low‐risk cancer features underwent RP after a median (range) of 18 (7–76) months of AS. A total of 278 men with low‐risk disease features underwent immediate RP within 6 months of diagnosis. Rates of Gleason upgrading to ≥7, pathological category pT3 and positive surgical margins did not differ significantly from the immediate RP group.

• On multivariate analysis of low‐risk patients, adjusting for baseline pathological features, treatment group (AS followed by prostatectomy vs immediate prostatectomy) was not associated with Gleason upgrading (odds ratio, OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.12–1.04), non‐organ‐confined disease (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.32–8.65) or positive surgical margins at prostatectomy (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.16–5.76).

CONCLUSION

• The present analysis did not show an association between RP after a period of AS and adverse pathological features for men with low‐risk disease.