bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young adult sexual health: current and prior sexual behaviours among non-Hispanic white US college students
Authors: Higgins Jenny A. , Trussell James , Moore Nelwyn B. , Davidson J. Kenneth
Published: February 2010

Background: Less is known about the sexual health of young adults than about adolescents, despite 20 to 24-year-olds’ greater risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections. This paper provides information on college students’ prior and current sexual practices including oral sex, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and masturbation. Methods: We analysed data from a cross-sectional sexuality survey of students from two university campuses in the USA, one Mid-western and one South-western (n = 1504). The sample consisted of non-Hispanic white, never-married students who identified as heterosexual. Results: Of 16 possible combinations of four sexual activities (solitary masturbation, oral sex, vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse), only four contained more than 5% of respondents: masturbation, oral sex and vaginal intercourse (37%); oral sex and vaginal intercourse only (20%); all four (14%); and none (8%). Twenty percent had ever engaged in anal intercourse. Women were significantly less likely than men to have ever masturbated (48 v. 92%). Analyses exhibited several sexual health challenges, including lack of verbal sexual consent, alcohol use proximal to sex and lack of contraceptive use. Conclusions: Although few young adults are substituting it for vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse is increasingly common and safer sex efforts should encourage condom use during both sexual activities. Masturbation should be encouraged as an alternative to higher risk sexual practices and an essential aspect of sexual well being. Finally, practitioners should continue to address specific threats to college students’ sexual health, including alcohol use and non-verbal consent.
HIV result giving. Is it time to change our thinking?
Authors: Healey Loretta M. , O'Connor Catherine C. , Templeton David J.
Published: February 2010

Background: Ensuring patients receive post-test discussion when collecting HIV test results is an integral component of the HIV testing process. New South Wales Health Department (NSW Health) policy recommends that all patients be given their HIV results in person. We assessed the number of patients who returned for HIV test results to Royal Prince Alfred Sexual Health Clinic in Sydney, Australia, and predictors of return. Methods: The files of 218 patients having consecutive HIV tests from the beginning of January to the end of April 2007 were manually reviewed. Non-consenting patients and those returning to the clinic for another reason were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with return for HIV results in person within 4 weeks of having the test. Results: Seventy-two of 159 patients (45%) returned for their HIV result within 4 weeks of testing. Independent predictors of return were male gender (P = 0.041), attending the outreach men-only (v. base) clinic (P = 0.017), first HIV test at the clinic (P = 0.002) and sex overseas in the past year (P = 0.048). Conclusion: Over one-half of patients did not collect their HIV results in person and thus did not receive any post-test discussion. The strongest predictor of return for HIV test results was having a first HIV test at the clinic. Current NSW Health policy is failing to achieve high levels of HIV post-test discussion. For many patients, giving results by telephone may be a more appropriate strategy to ensure HIV post-test discussion.
Estimating Attributable Mortality Due to Nosocomial Infections Acquired in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Januel Jean-Marie , Harbarth Stephan , Allard Robert , Voirin Nicolas , Lepape Alain , Allaouchiche Bernard , Guerin Claude , Lehot Jean-Jacques , Robert Marc-Olivier , Fournier Gérard , Jacques Didier , Chassard Dominique , Gueugniaud Pierre-Yves , Artru François , Petit Paul , Robert Dominique , Mohammedi Ismaël , Girard Raphaëlle , Cêtre Jean-Charles , Nicolle Marie-Christine , Grando Jacqueline , Fabry Jacques , Vanhems Philippe
Published: February 2010

Background.

The strength of the association between intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired nosocomial infections (NIs) and mortality might differ according to the methodological approach taken.

Objective.

TO assess the association between ICU-acquired NIs and mortality using the concept of population-attributable fraction (PAF) for patient deaths caused by ICU-acquired NIs in a large cohort of critically ill patients.

Setting.

Eleven ICUs of a French university hospital.

Design.

We analyzed surveillance data on ICU-acquired NIs collected prospectively during the period from 1995 through 2003. The primary outcome was mortality from ICU-acquired NI stratified by site of infection. A matched-pair, case-control study was performed. Each patient who died before ICU discharge was defined as a case patient, and each patient who survived to ICU discharge was denned as a control patient. The PAF was calculated after adjustment for confounders by use of conditional logistic regression analysis.

Results.

Among 8,068 ICU patients, a total of 1,725 deceased patients were successfully matched with 1,725 control Patients. The adjusted PAF due to ICU-acquired NI for patients who died before ICU discharge was 14.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.4%—14.8%). Stratified by the type of infection, the PAF was 6.1% (95% CI, 5.7%–6.5%) for pulmonary infection, 3.2% (95% CI, 2.8%–3.5%) for central venous catheter infection, 1.7% (95% CI, 0.9%–2.5%) for bloodstream infection, and 0.0% (95% CI, –0.4% to 0.4%) for urinary tract infection.

Conclusions.

ICU-acquired NI had an important effect on mortality. However, the statistical association between ICU-acquired NI and mortality tended to be less pronounced in findings based on the PAF than in study findings based on estimates of relative risk. Therefore, the choice of methods does matter when the burden of NI needs to be assessed.
Decreased likelihood of response to cardiac resynchronization in patients with severe heart failure
Authors: Vidal Bàrbara , Delgado Victoria , Mont Lluís , Poyatos Sílvia , Silva Etelvino , Ángeles Castel María , Tolosana José M. , Berruezo Antonio , Brugada Josep , Sitges Marta
Published: February 2010

Aims

We hypothesized that a very advanced stage of dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with lower response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods and results

A consecutive cohort of 147 patients was studied before device implantation and at 12 months follow‐up. All patients were in NYHA functional class III–IV and had left‐ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction 24 ± 7%) and a wide QRS (171 ± 29 ms). A patient who was alive without heart transplantation and had improved by at least 10% in the 6 min walking test at 12 months follow‐up was considered a clinical responder. Fifty‐four patients (36%) did not respond to CRT (15 cardiac deaths, 4 heart transplantations). Quality of life indicators (>41 points), LV end‐diastolic volumes (>200 mL) and mitral regurgitant orifice area (>16 mm2) at baseline were independent predictors of response to CRT. Patients were assigned 1 point for each predictive parameter. Patients with higher scores showed a significantly higher likelihood of non‐response to CRT (χ2 = 12 891, P = 0.005).

Conclusion

The results show that non‐responder patients have a more advanced stage of the disease, which suggests that CRT should be indicated earlier in the disease process.
On the application potential of gold nanoparticles in nanoelectronics and biomedicine
Authors: Homberger Melanie , Simon Ulrich
Published: February 2010

Ligand-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are of high interest to research dedicated to future technologies such as nanoelectronics or biomedical applications. This research interest arises from the unique size-dependent properties such as surface plasmon resonance or Coulomb charging effects. It is shown here how the unique properties of individual AuNPs and AuNP assemblies can be used to create new functional materials for applications in a
technical
or
biological
environment. While the term
technical environment
focuses on the potential use of AuNPs as subunits in nanoelectronic devices, the term
biological environment
addresses issues of toxicity and novel concepts of controlling biomolecular reactions on the surface of AuNPs.
Problems faced by food-caching corvids and the evolution of cognitive solutions
Authors: Grodzinski Uri , Clayton Nicola S.
Published: February 2010

The scatter hoarding of food, or caching, is a widespread and well-studied behaviour. Recent experiments with caching corvids have provided evidence for episodic-like memory, future planning and possibly mental attribution, all cognitive abilities that were thought to be unique to humans. In addition to the complexity of making flexible, informed decisions about caching and recovering, this behaviour is underpinned by a motivationally controlled compulsion to cache. In this review, we shall first discuss the compulsive side of caching both during ontogeny and in the caching behaviour of adult corvids. We then consider some of the problems that these birds face and review the evidence for the cognitive abilities they use to solve them. Thus, the emergence of episodic-like memory is viewed as a solution for coping with food perishability, while the various cache-protection and pilfering strategies may be sophisticated tools to deprive competitors of information, either by reducing the quality of information they can gather, or invalidating the information they already have. Finally, we shall examine whether such future-oriented behaviour involves future planning and ask why this and other cognitive abilities might have evolved in corvids.
What scatter-hoarding animals have taught us about small-scale navigation
Authors: Gould Kristy L. , Kelly Debbie M. , Kamil Alan C.
Published: February 2010

Many animals use cues for small-scale navigation, including beacons, landmarks, compasses and geometric properties. Scatter-hoarding animals are a unique system to study small-scale navigation. They have to remember and relocate many individual spatial locations, be fairly accurate in their searching and have to remember these locations for long stretches of time. In this article, we review what is known about cue use in both scatter-hoarding birds and rodents. We discuss the importance of local versus global cues, the encoding of bearings and geometric rules, the use of external compasses such as the Sun and the influence of the shape of experimental enclosures in relocating caches or hidden food. Scatter-hoarding animals are highly flexible in how and what they encode. There also appear to be differences in what scatter-hoarding birds and rodents encode, as well as what scatter-hoarding animals in general encode compared with other animals. Areas for future research with scatter-hoarding animals are discussed in light of what is currently known.
Local v. microhabitat influences on the fish fauna of tidal pools in north‐east Brazil
Authors: Godinho W. O. , Lotufo T. M. C.
Published: February 2010

This study explored the influence of microhabitat characteristics, such as sandy, rocky and algal bottom, holes, area and depth, on tide‐pool fish descriptors (evenness, total number of fish, diversity and species richness). Even when the rockpool microhabitats differed amongst beaches, the tidal fish assemblages were closely grouped by site rather than by characteristics of the tide pools. Fish assemblages were mostly represented by juvenile fishes from 29 species, of which 14 were observed in only one of the three sites. This indicates that sites, rather than microhabitat association, might play a major role for the rockpool ichthyofauna in north‐east Brazil.
No sex‐specific markers detected in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus by AFLP
Authors: Gao Z. X. , Wang H. P. , Yao H. , Tiu L. , Wang W. M.
Published: February 2010

The amplified fragment‐length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was used to identify sex‐specific markers in bluegill sunfish. A total of 12 835 loci were produced by 256 primer combinations, of which nine (0·73‰) exhibited presumed sex‐associated amplifications in the pooled samples; however, none of which revealed sex specificity upon individual evaluation.
Metazoan parasites as biological tags for stock discrimination of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri
Authors: Luque J. L. , Cordeiro A. S. , Oliva M. E.
Published: February 2010

Examination of 248 adult specimens of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri from five localities along the Brazilian coast revealed 8735 parasites belonging to 41 metazoan species. Samples from Ceará to Bahia and Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina showed a high level of correct assignation (92 and 87%, respectively) and cross assignation (i.e. almost all specimens misidentified in Ceará were assigned to Bahia and almost all specimens misidentified in Bahia were classified as Ceará), so samples were pooled in the northern and south‐eastern samples, and Rio Grande do Sul was considered a southern area. Eight parasite species were characteristic of the northern localities, five species were found just in the area associated with south‐eastern localities and two species were characteristic of the southern area providing first evidence of stock discreteness. The multivariate discriminant analysis successfully discriminated three groups of localities associated with three stocks of M. furnieri in Brazil: a northern stock associated with Ceará and Bahia, a south‐eastern stock related to Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina and a southern stock in the area of Rio Grande do Sul, which could be considered as the northern limit of the stock associated with the Common Fishing Zone of Uruguay and Argentina.
Exposure of eggs to solar UV‐B leads to reduced hatching rates in two sparid fishes, red sea bream Pagrus major and black sea bream Acanthopagrus schlegeli
Authors: Fukunishi Y. , Masuda R. , Yamashita Y.
Published: February 2010

Hatching success was examined under exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) using filters to give three different light conditions [C1: UV‐B, UV‐A and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), C2: UV‐A and PAR, C3: PAR] in red Pagrus major and black Acanthopagrus schlegeli sea bream. Hatching rate of both species was reduced by an exposure over a 2 day period to UVR and was not significantly different between two species under the three light conditions.
Structure of the kidney in the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae with reference to osmoregulation
Authors: Jarial M. S. , Wilkins J. H.
Published: February 2010

The morphology of the nephrons of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae was investigated by light microscopy. Each nephron is composed of a large renal corpuscle with well‐vascularized glomerulus, non‐ciliated neck segment, proximal convoluted tubule divided into distinct first and second segments, non‐ciliated intermediate segment, distal tubule, collecting tubule and collecting duct. The parietal layer of the Bowman's capsule of the renal corpuscle is composed of low cuboidal cells. The short non‐ciliated neck segment is lined by cuboidal epithelium. The first and second proximal segments display a prominent brush border and contain amorphous material in their lumen. The second proximal segment differs from the first segment in having taller columnar epithelium and a relatively narrow lumen. The intermediate segment is lined by non‐ciliated columnar epithelium and its lumen appears empty. The distal tubule is narrow in diameter and its cuboidal epithelium is devoid of intercalated cells. A unique feature of L. chalumnae is having binucleate cells in the tubule and collecting duct epithelium. The renal arteries have poorly developed tunica media and its cells contain granular material. The structure of L. chalumnae nephrons correlates well with their osmoregulatory function and resembles those of euryhaline teleosts.
Formation and structure of egg envelopes in Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii (Acipenseriformes: Acipenseridae)
Authors: ŻElazowska M.
Published: February 2010

The covering of the eggs in Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii consists of three envelopes (the vitelline envelope, chorion and extrachorion) and is equipped with multiple micropyles. The most proximal to the oocyte is the vitelline envelope that consists of four layers of filamentous and trabecular material. The structural components of this envelope are synthesized by the oocyte (primary envelope). The chorion encloses the vitelline envelope. The extrachorion covers the external surface of the egg. Examination of the arrangement of layers that comprise the egg envelopes together with the ultrastructure of follicular cells revealed that the chorion and extrachorion are secondary envelopes. They are secreted by follicular cells and are built of homogeneous material. During formation of egg envelopes, the follicular cells gradually diversify into three morphologically different populations: 1) cells covering the animal oocyte region (cuboid), (2) main body cells (cylindrical) and (3) micropylar cells. The apical surfaces of follicular cells from the first two populations form processes that remain connected with the oocyte plasma membrane by means of gap junctions. Micropylar cells are located at the animal region of the oocyte. Their apical parts bear projections that form a barrier to the deposition of materials for egg envelopes, resulting in the formation of the micropylar canal.
Molecular adaptations in haemoglobins of notothenioid fishes
Authors: Giordano D. , Russo R. , Coppola D. , Di Prisco G. , Verde C.
Published: February 2010

Since haemoglobins of all animal species have the same haem group, differences in their properties, including oxygen affinity, electrophoretic mobility and pH sensitivity, must result from the interaction of the prosthetic group with specific amino‐acid residues in the primary structure. For this reason, fish globins have been the subject of extensive studies in recent years, not only for their structural characteristics, but also because they offer the possibility to investigate the evolutionary history of these ancient molecules in marine and freshwater species living in a great variety of environmental conditions. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the structure, function and phylogeny of haemoglobins of notothenioid fishes. On the basis of crystallographic analysis, the evolution of the Root effect is analysed. Adaptation of the oxygen transport system in notothenioids seems to be based on evolutionary changes, involving levels of biological organization higher than the structure of haemoglobin. These include changes in the rate of haemoglobin synthesis or in regulation by allosteric effectors, which affect the amount of oxygen transported in blood. These factors are thought to be more important for short‐term response to environmental challenges than previously believed.
Subcellular distribution of S100A4 and its transcriptional regulation under hypoxic conditions in gastric cancer cell line BGC823
Authors: Zhang Ruixiu , Fu Hao , Chen Danqi , Hua Jun , Hu Yanping , Sun Kailai , Sun Xiuju
Published: February 2010

It is well known that S100A4 is overexpressed in many tumors and involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. But the regualtion of it is ill understood. We previously found that hypoxia mimicking cobalt chloride (CoCl2) enhanced the mRNA and protein expressions of the S100A4 gene in the gastric cancer cell line BGC823. In this study we found that S100A4 also displayed increased expression in BGC823 cells after exposure to real hypoxia (2.5% O2) as that by CoCl2 treatment. Moreover, S100A4 protein showed different subcellular distribution under real hypoxia compared with that by CoCl2 treatment or in normoxic conditions. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanism by which hypoxia regulates the expression of S100A4, we analyzed the regulatory sequences of the genes by bioinformatics and found a putative hypoxia responsive element (HRE) motif in the first intron of S1004. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay showed that it is responsive to hypoxia. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) binds to the functional HRE in vitro and in vivo. The results provide evidence that S100A4 is a hypoxia‐inducible gene, whose transcription is stimulated at least partly through the interaction of HIF‐1 and HRE located at +329 to +334 of S100A4.

(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 1141–1146)
Mating behaviour, life history and adaptation to insecticides determine species exclusion between whiteflies
Authors: Crowder David W. , Horowitz A. Rami , De Barro Paul J. , Liu Shu‐Sheng , Showalter Ann M. , Kontsedalov Svetlana , Khasdan Vadim , Shargal Amihai , Liu Jian , Carrière Y.
Published: February 2010

1. Negative interspecific interactions, such as resource competition or reproductive interference, can lead to the displacement of species (species exclusion).

2. Here, we investigated the effect of life history, mating behaviour and adaptation to insecticides on species exclusion between cryptic whitefly species that make up the Bemisia tabaci species complex. We conducted population cage experiments independently in China, Australia, the United States and Israel to observe patterns of species exclusion between an invasive species commonly referred to as the B biotype and three other species commonly known as biotypes ZHJ1, AN and Q.

3. Although experimental conditions and species varied between regions, we were able to predict the observed patterns of exclusion in each region using a stochastic model that incorporated data on development time, mating behaviour and resistance to insecticides.

4. Between‐species variation in mating behaviour was a more significant factor affecting species exclusion than variation in development time. Specifically, the ability of B to copulate more effectively than other species resulted in a faster rate of population increase for B, as well as a reduced rate of population growth for other species, leading to species exclusion. The greater ability of B to evolve resistance to insecticides also contributed to exclusion of other species in some cases.

5. Results indicate that an integrative analysis of the consequences of variation in life‐history traits, mating behaviours and adaption to insecticides could provide a robust framework for predicting species exclusion following whitefly invasions.
Structural and chemical composition studies of pulsed laser deposited β‐Al‐Mg thin films
Authors: RADZISZEWSKA A.
Published: February 2010

In this work, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and also an energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were used to examine the morphology, structure and chemical composition of the β‐Al3Mg2 thin films. The β‐Al‐Mg thin films were produced by pulsed laser deposition. For the laser fluence (q) of 1.6 J/cm2 the amorphous structure was observed while for the higher fluence (13.8 J/cm2) nanocrystalline grains were visible. The micrometer‐sized droplets were also observed in the films deposited at higher laser fluence. It was found that the thickness of β‐Al‐Mg films was equal to 95 nm and 260 nm for laser fluence of 1.6 J/cm2 and 13.8 J/cm2, respectively. Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy of thin films revealed that those that were deposited at 1.6 J/cm2 were characterized by the congruent transfer of the composition of the target to the substrate (Si). However, the contents of aluminium and magnesium varied on the cross‐section of films deposited at fluence of 13.8 J/cm2.
The symmetry of precession electron diffraction patterns
Authors: MORNIROLI J.‐P. , STADELMANN P. , JI G. , NICOLOPOULOS S.
Published: February 2010

The integrated intensity of the diffracted beams present on microdiffraction precession patterns can be used to infer the ‘ideal’ symmetry, i.e. the symmetry which takes into account both the position and the intensity of the diffracted beams on a diffraction pattern. It is shown that this symmetry is connected with the 11 Laue classes on conventional electron precession patterns and with the centro‐ and non‐centrosymmetrical point groups on unconventional precession patterns obtained without ‘descan’.
Determining parentage and relatedness from genetic markers sheds light on patterns of marine larval dispersal
Authors: HEDGECOCK DENNIS
Published: February 2010

Population connectivity, the extent to which geographically separated subpopulations exchange individuals and are demographically linked, is important to the scientific management of marine living resources. In theory, the design of a marine protected area, for example, depends on an explicit understanding of how dispersal of planktonic larvae affects metapopulation structure and dynamics (Botsford et al. 2001). In practice, for most marine metazoans with planktonic larvae, the mean and variance of the distances that larvae disperse are unobservable quantities, owing to the small sizes of larvae and the very large volumes through which they are distributed. Simulation of dispersal kernels with models that incorporate oceanography and limited aspects of larval biology and behaviour, coupled with field studies of larval distribution, abundance, and settlement, have provided the best available approaches to date for understanding connectivity of marine populations (Cowen et al. 2006). On the other hand, marine population connectivity has often been judged by spatial variation in the frequencies of alleles and genotypes, although the inherent limitations of this indirect approach to measuring larval dispersal have often been overlooked (Hedgecock et al. 2007). More recently, researchers have turned to genetic methods and highly polymorphic markers that can provide direct evidence of population connectivity in the form of parentage or relatedness of recruits (e.g. Jones et al. 2005). In this issue, Christie et al. (2010) provide a particularly elegant example, in which both indirect and novel direct genetic methods are used to determine the major ecological processes shaping dispersal patterns of larval bicolour damselfish Stegastes partitus, a common and widespread reef fish species in the Caribbean Basin (Fig. 1).

 The bicolour damselfish Stegastes partitus shows substantial self‐recruitment of juveniles to their natal coral reef habitat. Below, a male guarding an artificial nest made from PVC pipe; differential reproductive success of parents or differential survival of egg clutches or the larvae that hatch from them may account for signals of sweepstakes reproductive success in this species (photo credits: top, Bill Harward; bottom, Darren Johnson).

image
Genomic islands of speciation or genomic islands and speciation?
Authors: TURNER THOMAS L. , HAHN MATTHEW W.
Published: February 2010

Populations of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, are comprised of at least two reproductively isolated, sympatric populations. In this issue, White et al. (2010) use extensive sampling, high‐density tiling microarrays, and an updated reference genome to clarify and expand our knowledge of genomic differentiation between these populations. It is now clear that DNA near the centromeres of all three chromosomes are in near‐perfect disequilibrium with each other. This is in stark contrast to the remaining 97% of the assembled genome, where fixed differences between populations have not been found, and many polymorphisms are shared. This pattern, coupled with direct evidence of hybridization in nature, supports models of “mosaic” speciation, where ongoing hybridization homogenizes variation in most of the genome while loci under strong selection remain in disequilibrium with each other. However, unambiguously demonstrating that selection maintains the association of these pericentric “speciation islands” in the face of gene flow is difficult. Low recombination at all three loci complicates the issue, and increases the probability that selection unrelated to the speciation process alters patterns of variation in these loci. Here, we discuss these different scenarios in light of this new data.
The volume perspective: a comparison of two excisional treatments for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (laser versus LLETZ)
Authors: Phadnis SV , Atilade A , Young MPA , Evans H , Walker PG
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Phadnis S, Atilade A, Young M, Evans H, Walker P. The volume perspective: a comparison of two excisional treatments for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (laser versus LLETZ). BJOG 2010;117:615–619.

Objective  To compare two excisional treatments, laser cone biopsy and large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ), in terms of the volume of tissue removed, and to determine the relation between the height and the total volume of the cone specimen.

Design  Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting  Large teaching hospital in London.

Population  A total of 1136 eligible excisional treatments (laser cone or large loop excision of the transformation zone, LLETZ).

Methods  Eligible excisional treatments (laser cone or LLETZ) performed between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2007 in our colposcopy unit were identified using the Infoflex® database. The total volume of the cone biopsy was calculated mathematically using the data provided in the histopathology reports.

Main outcome measures  The volume of the cone biopsy was compared with the technique of excision and the histology grades.

Results  Three hundred and thirty‐nine laser cone biopsies were performed, whereas 797 LLETZ biopsies were recorded, during the study period. There was no difference in the mean age in the two groups. However, there is a proportional increase in the volume of the cone as the height of the cone increases, and a significant number of the values are skewed, suggesting that the diameter of the base of the cone contributes significantly to the total volume. Laser cone biopsies (median volume 1.84 cm3, 95% CI 1.98–2.54 cm3) account for a larger volume of tissue excised compared with LLETZ (median volume 0.78 cm3, 95% CI 0.91–1.02 cm3) (P < 0.0001). This relationship is not altered when the two procedures are stratified for grade of lesion, i.e. excision for low‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (laser median volume 1.55 cm3, 95% CI 1.46–2.06; LLETZ median volume 0.62 cm3, 95% CI 0.73–0.88 cm3) (P < 0.0001) or high‐grade CIN (laser median volume 1.84 cm3, 95% CI 2.11–2.53 cm3; LLETZ median volume 0.82 cm3, 95% CI 0.94–1.07 cm3) (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions  The volume of cervical tissue removed during laser conisation is significantly more than that removed with LLETZ. The indication of the cone biopsy does influence the volume of tissue removed.
Modulation of A1 adenosine receptor expression by cell aggregation and long‐term activation of A2a receptors in cultures of avian retinal cells: involvement of the cyclic AMP/PKA pathway
Authors: Pereira Mariana R. , Hang Vanusa R. , Vardiero Eliza , De Mello Fernando G. , Paes‐de‐Carvalho Roberto
Published: February 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 661–673.

The expression of A1 and A2a adenosine receptors is developmentally regulated in the chick retina, but little is known about the factors important for this regulation. Here, we show that cell aggregation and cAMP analogs promote a dramatic increase in A1 receptor expression. Importantly, a long‐term stimulation of A2a receptors also promotes an increase of A1 receptor expression accompanied by a down‐regulation of A2a receptors. Chick embryo retina cultures grown in the form of aggregates or dispersed cells accumulate cAMP when stimulated with dopamine or the adenosine agonist 2‐chloroadenosine. However, inhibition of dopamine‐dependent cAMP accumulation by 2‐chloroadenosine was observed in aggregate cultures but not in dispersed cell cultures. Accordingly, A1 receptor binding sites were detected in aggregate cultures, but were low or absent from dispersed cell cultures. Interestingly, an increase of A1 binding sites was detected when dispersed cell cultures were treated for 5 days with permeable cAMP analogs, the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin or A2a receptor agonists. Although a significant amount of A1 receptor protein was detected in dispersed cell cultures by western blot or immunocytochemistry, the long‐term stimulation of A2a receptors also promoted an increase of the A1 receptor protein and mRNA, indicating that A2a receptors and cAMP were regulating transcription and/or translation of A1 receptors. We also found an increase of A1 receptors in locations in or near the membrane after treatment with A2a agonist. The long‐term stimulation of retinal explants with A2a agonist also promoted an increase of A1 receptor protein. The results indicate that A2a receptors and the cAMP‐dependent protein kinase pathway are involved in the regulation of A1 receptor expression during retinal development.
Circulating Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and regulatory T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: WANG JIU‐PING , ZHANG YE , WEI XIN , LI JUN , NAN XUE‐PING , YU HAI‐TAO , LI YU , WANG PING‐ZHONG , BAI XUE‐FAN
Published: February 2010

Wang J‐P, Zhang Y, Wei X, Li J, Nan X‐P, Yu H‐T, Li Y, Wang P‐Z, Bai X‐F. Circulating Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and regulatory T cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C. APMIS 2010; 118: 261–70.

The mechanism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) involvement in innate immune responses and immune modulation has not been well characterized. In the present work, we studied Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4, which were recently recognized as the important components of innate immunity, as well as CD4+ CD25+ CD127low/− regulatory T cells (Tregs), which actively suppress pathological and physiological immune response during HCV infection. The study involved 31 chronic hepatitis C patients and 20 healthy controls. TLR2 and TLR4 expression in peripheral blood monocytes and the number of Tregs were examined by flow cytometric analysis. Overexpression of TLR2 and TLR4 was found in chronic hepatitis C patients as compared with controls. Furthermore, increased cytokine production, including that of β‐interferon, tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐8, was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from chronic hepatitis C patients after challenge with TLR2 and TLR4 agonists. The number of Tregs was significantly higher in chronic hepatitis C patients and the increased Tregs were associated with HCV genotype 1b. In vitro studies demonstrated that circulating Tregs suppress T‐cell responses in chronic hepatitis C patients. Significant correlations were found between the viral load and Treg number and between TLR2 and TLR4 level in chronic hepatitis C patients. Taken together with other published data, these results suggest that TLR2, TLR4, and Tregs correlate closely with chronic HCV infection.
β‐Secretase cleavage is not required for generation of the intracellular C‐terminal domain of the amyloid precursor family of proteins
Authors: Sala Frigerio Carlo , Fadeeva Julia V. , Minogue Aedín M. , Citron Martin , Van Leuven Fred , Staufenbiel Matthias , Paganetti Paolo , Selkoe Dennis J. , Walsh Dominic M.
Published: February 2010

The amyloid precursor family of proteins are of considerable interest, both because of their role in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis and because of their normal physiological functions. In mammals, the amyloid precursor protein (APP) has two homologs, amyloid precursor‐like protein (APLP) 1 and APLP2. All three proteins undergo ectodomain shedding and regulated intramembrane proteolysis, and important functions have been attributed to the full‐length proteins, shed ectodomains, C‐terminal fragments and intracellular domains (ICDs). One of the proteases that is known to cleave APP and that is essential for generation of the amyloid β‐protein is the β‐site APP‐cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Here, we investigated the effects of genetic manipulation of BACE1 on the processing of the APP family of proteins. BACE1 expression regulated the levels and species of full‐length APLP1, APP and APLP2, of their shed ectodomains, and of their membrane‐bound C‐terminal fragments. In particular, APP processing appears to be tightly regulated, with changes in β‐cleaved APPs (APPsβ) being compensated for by changes in α‐cleaved APPs (APPsα). In contrast, the total levels of soluble cleaved APLP1 and APLP2 species were less tightly regulated, and fluctuated with BACE1 expression. Importantly, the production of ICDs for all three proteins was not decreased by loss of BACE1 activity. These results indicate that BACE1 is involved in regulating ectodomain shedding, maturation and trafficking of the APP family of proteins. Consequently, whereas inhibition of BACE1 is unlikely to adversely affect potential ICD‐mediated signaling, it may alter other important facets of amyloid precursor‐like protein/APP biology.
FOUR EXTREMITY FRACTURES IN A PATIENT WITH RENAL OSTEODYSTROPHY
Authors: Cift Hakan , Unay Koray , Ozkan Korhan , Akcal Mehmet Akif , Eceviz Engin
Published: February 2010

Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) is the skeletal complication of chronic kidney disease. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and 125 dihydroxy vitamin D3 deficiency are the major causative factors in ROD. Musculoskeletal problems remain among the main limitations of the quality of life of renal failure patients. In this report, a 60‐year‐old male with four extremity fractures due to a minor trauma was presented. The patient had been receiving haemodialysis for seven years due to hypertensive nephropathy. Our case emphasises the importance of multispecialty approach to the investigation and treatment of patients with ROD.
SPANISH NEPHROLOGY NURSES’ VIEWS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS CARING FOR DYING PATIENTS
Authors: Ho Tai Mooi , Barbero Eva , Hidalgo Carlota , Camps Carme
Published: February 2010

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are increasingly elderly with increasing numbers of co‐morbidites. Some may not be suitable for dialysis, some will choose to withdraw from treatment after a period of time and some will reach the end of their lives while still on dialysis. Studies have shown nurses’ attitudes towards caring for dying patients affect the quality of care. A descriptive study was conducted to explore Spanish nurses’ views and attitudes in this context and to assess any relationship between demographic variables and attitudes. Two measurement tools were used: a demographic survey and the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale—Form B. Two hundred and two completed questionnaires were returned. Although respondents demonstrated positive attitudes in this domain, 88.9% viewed end‐of‐life (EOL) care as an emotionally demanding task, 95.3% manifested that addressing death issue require special skills and 92.6% reported that education on EOL care is necessary. This paper suggests strategies which could ease the burden in this area of care.
Are Aβ and Its Derivatives Causative Agents or Innocent Bystanders in AD?
Authors: Robakis Nikolaos K.
Published: February 2010

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by neurodegeneration in neocortical regions of the brain. Currently, Aβ-based theories, including amyloid depositions and soluble Aβ, form the basis of most therapeutic approaches to AD. It remains unclear, however, whether Aβ and its derivatives are the primary causative agents of neuronal loss in AD. Reported studies show no significant correlations between brain amyloid depositions and either degree of dementia or loss of neurons, and brain amyloid loads similar to AD are often found in normal individuals. Furthermore, behavioral abnormalities in animal models overexpressing amyloid precursor protein seem independent of amyloid depositions. Soluble Aβ theories propose toxic Aβ42 or its oligomers as the agents that promote cell death in AD. Aβ peptides, however, are normal components of human serum and CSF, and it is unclear under what conditions these peptides become toxic. Presently, there is little evidence of disease-associated abnormalities in soluble Aβ and no toxic oligomers specific to AD have been found. That familial AD mutations of amyloid precursor protein, PS1 and PS2 promote neurodegeneration suggests the biological functions of these proteins play critical roles in neuronal survival. Evidence shows that the PS/γ-secretase system promotes production of peptides involved in cell surface-to-nucleus signaling and gene expression, providing support for the hypothesis that familial AD mutations may contribute to neurodegeneration by inhibiting PS-dependent signaling pathways.
Tau Kinase I Overexpression Induces Dentate Gyrus Degeneration
Authors: Avila Jesús , Gómez de Barreda Elena , Engel Tobias , Pérez Mar , Martín-Maestro Patricia , Fuster-Matanzo Almudena , Goñi-Oliver Paloma , Lucas José J. , Hernández Félix
Published: February 2010

Familial Alzheimer gene mutations result in a signaling mechanism that converges, downstream, in the activation of GSK3 activity. We have generated a GSK3 transgenic mouse model to study the consequences of GSK3 activation. In this model, dentate gyrus is degenerated in a process in which phosphorylated tau can be involved.
Possible Role of Tau in Mediating Pathological Effects of apoE4 in vivo prior to and following Activation of the Amyloid Cascade
Authors: Inbar Dafna , Belinson Haim , Rosenman Hanna , Michaelson Daniel M.
Published: February 2010

Injection of the neprilysin inhibitor thiorphan into the brain induces the accumulation of Aβ in hippocampal CA1 neurons and septal neurons in apoE4 knock-in mice but not in mice that express the corresponding Alzheimer’s disease benign isoform apoE3. We investigated the possible role of tau phosphorylation in mediating this synergistic pathological cross talk between apoE4 and the amyloid cascade. This revealed that in both apoE4 and apoE3 mice, activating the amyloid cascade by inhibiting neprilysin triggers the accumulation of AT100 phosphorylated tau in the perikarya of CA1 neurons. In contrast, in the septum this treatment elevated the level of phosphorylation of the tau AT100 epitope only in the apoE4 mice. This suggests that tau-related processes by themselves do not mediate the synergistic pathological effects of apoE4 and Aβ in CA1 neurons. However, tau and cytoskeletal-related mechanisms may mediate the synergistic pathological effects of apoE4 and Aβ in the septum. The basal levels of tau phosphorylation are also affected by the apoE genotype. This effect, which is associated with hyperphosphorylation of the tau AT8 epitope, is most prominent in hippocampal CA3 neurons. This suggests that the apoE4 mice are already stressed under nonstimulated conditions and that AT8 tau phosphorylation may contribute to their increased susceptibility to brain insults.
‘Prion-Like’ Propagation of Mouse and Human Tau Aggregates in an Inducible Mouse Model of Tauopathy
Authors: Sydow Astrid , Mandelkow Eva-Maria
Published: February 2010

Background: Aggregates of the tau protein are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Various transgenic mouse models have been generated to study the aggregation process. Since wild-type tau is highly soluble and does not aggregate readily, most models make use of tau mutations that occur in human frontotemporal dementias and are more prone to aggregate. These mouse models show neurofibrillary tangles similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease. However, since the mice contain both endogenous wild-type mouse tau and exogenous human mutant tau, the relative contribution of these components to the aggregates has been a matter of debate. Objective:Using a new set of regulatable transgenic mouse models, we sought to determine whether mouse tau coaggregates with human tau when it is switched on. Furthermore, we asked what type of tau remains in the aggregates after switching off the expression of exogenous tau. Methods: We generated doxycycline-inducible transgenic mice expressing either full-length human tau or the tau repeat domain (tauRD). In addition, both types of human tau derivatives were expressed in a ‘proaggregant’ form (with the frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 mutation ΔK280), or in an ‘antiaggregant’ form (with additional proline mutations to block β-structure and aggregation). Results:The proaggregant tauRD mice develop tangles rapidly after induction, the antiaggregant mice do not. Analysis by biochemistry and immunohistology reveals that the tangles contain both exogenous and endogenous mouse tau. After switching off the proaggregant tauRD, tangles persist for extended periods. However, they are composed entirely of mouse tau. Conclusions:Mouse tau and exogenous human tau can coaggregate in transgenic models of tauopathy. The aggregates are in dynamic equilibrium with their subunits, so that exogenous tau disappears when its expression is switched off. Once the seeds of aggregation are generated by the foreign tau species, they propagate in a ‘prion-like’ fashion within the cell even after the foreign tau has disappeared.
Amyloid-β-Derived Diffusible Ligands Cause Impaired Axonal Transport of Mitochondria in Neurons
Authors: Wang Xinglong , Perry George , Smith Mark A. , Zhu Xiongwei
Published: February 2010

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia predominantly affecting the elderly. It is believed that soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are involved in the pathogenesis of AD, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Objectives: Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction likely plays a critical role in Aβ-induced neuronal degeneration. Previously, we demonstrated that Aβ-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs) induce reduced mitochondrial density in neurites, and we suspect that an impaired mitochondrial trafficking might be involved, which is tested in this study. Methods: Using live cell imaging, anterograde and retrograde transport of mitochondria in primary hippocampal neurons treated with sub-lethal doses of ADDLs was measured. Results: We found that ADDLs induced significant impairment in both anterograde and retrograde transport of mitochondria along axons. Conclusion: These results suggest that an impaired mitochondrial transport likely contributes to ADDL-induced abnormal mitochondrial distribution and dysfunction and also reinforce the idea that axonal transport is likely involved in AD pathogenesis.
Urinary Angiotensinogen Accurately Reflects Intrarenal Renin-Angiotensin System Activity
Authors: Urushihara Maki , Kondo Shuji , Kagami Shoji , Kobori Hiroyuki
Published: February 2010

Background: We recently reported that immunoreactivity of intrarenal angiotensinogen (AGT) is significantly increased in IgA nephropathy patients. Meanwhile, we have developed direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to measure plasma and urinary AGT (UAGT) in humans. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that UAGT levels are increased in chronic glomerulonephritis patients. Methods: We analyzed 100 urine samples from 70 chronic glomerulonephritis patients (26 from IgA nephropathy, 24 from purpura nephritis, 8 from lupus nephritis, 7 from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and 5 from non-IgA mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis) and 30 normal control subjects. Results: UAGT–creatinine ratio (UAGT/UCre) was correlated positively with diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0326), urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (p < 0.0001), urinary protein–creatinine ratio (p < 0.0001) and urinary occult blood (p = 0.0094). UAGT/UCre was significantly increased in chronic glomerulonephritis patients not treated with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers compared with control subjects (p < 0.0001). Importantly, glomerulonephritis patients treated with RAS blockers had a marked attenuation of this augmentation (p = 0.0021). Conclusion: These data indicate that UAGT are increased in chronic glomerulonephritis patients and treatment with RAS blockers suppressed UAGT. The efficacy of RAS blockade to reduce the intrarenal RAS activity can be confirmed by measurement of UAGT in chronic glomerulonephritis patients.