bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New parenteral anticoagulants in development
Authors: Gómez-Outes Antonio , Suárez-Gea Maria Luisa , Lecumberri Ramón , Rocha Eduardo , Pozo-Hernández Carmen , Vargas-Castrillón Emilio
Published: November 2010

The therapeutic armamentarium of parenteral anticoagulants available to clinicians is mainly composed by unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), fondaparinux, recombinant hirudins (i.e. bivalirudin, desirudin, lepirudin) and argatroban. These drugs are effective and safe for prevention and/or treatment of thromboembolic diseases but they have some drawbacks. Among other inconveniences, UFH requires regular anticoagulant monitoring as a result of variability in the anticoagulant response and there is a risk of serious heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT). LMWH, fondaparinux and recombinant hirudins are mainly cleared through the kidneys and their use in patients with severe renal insufficiency may be problematic. LMWH is only partially neutralized by protamine while fondaparinux and recombinant hirudins have no specific antidote. Novel anticoagulants in development for parenteral administration include new indirect activated factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors (idrabiotaparinux, ultra-low-molecular-weight heparins [semuloparin, RO-14], new LMWH [M118]), direct FXa inhibitors (otamixaban), direct FIIa inhibitors (flovagatran sodium, pegmusirudin, NU172, HD1-22), direct FXIa inhibitors (BMS-262084, antisense oligonucleotides targeting FXIa, clavatadine), direct FIXa inhibitors (RB-006), FVIIIa inhibitors (TB-402), FVIIa/tissue factor inhibitors (tifacogin, NAPc2, PCI-27483, BMS-593214), FVa inhibitors (drotrecogin alpha activated, ART-123) and dual thrombin/FXa inhibitors (EP217609, tanogitran). These new compounds have the potential to complement established parenteral anticoagulants. In the present review, we discuss the pharmacology of new parenteral anticoagulants, the results of clinical studies, the newly planned or ongoing clinical trials with these compounds, and their potential advantages and drawbacks over existing therapies.
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with rib fractures: a case report
Authors: Yuan Bosi , Jin Xinxin , Zhu Renmin , Zhang Xiaohua , Liu Jiong , Wan Haijun , Lu Heng , Shen Yunzhu , Wang Fangyu
Published: November 2010

Background

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare multiple gastrointestinal polyposis. Up till now, many complications of CCS have been reported in the literature, but rib fracture is not included.

Case Presentation

We report a case of a 58-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with a 6-month history of frequent diarrhea, intermittent hematochezia and a weight loss of 13 kg. On admission, physical examination revealed alopecia of the scalp, hyperpigmentation of the hands and soles, and dystrophy of the fingernails. Laboratory data revealed hypocalcaemia and hypoproteinemia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, video capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy revealed various sizes of generalized gastrointestinal polyps. Histological examination of the biopsy specimens obtained from the stomach and the colon showed adenomatous polyp and inflammatory polyp respectively. Thus, a diagnosis of CCS was made. After treatment with corticosteroids for 24 days and nutritional support for two months, his clinical condition improved. Two months later, he was admitted to our hospital for the second time with frequent diarrhea and weight loss. The chest radiography revealed fractures of the left sixth and seventh ribs. Examinations, including emission computed tomography, bone densitometry test, and other serum parameters, were performed, but could not identify the definite etiology of the rib fractures. One month later, the patient suffered from aggravating multiple rib fractures due to the ineffective treatment, persistent hypocalcaemia and malnutrition.

Conclusions

This is the first case of a CCS patient with multiple rib fractures. Although the association between CCS and multiple rib fractures in this case remains uncertain, we presume that persistent hypocalcaemia and malnutrition contribute to this situation, or at least aggravate this rare complication. Besides, since prolonged corticosteroid therapy will result in an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture, CCS patients who accept corticosteroid therapy could be potential victims of rib fracture.
Chromosomal abnormalities in spontaneous abortion after assisted reproductive treatment
Authors: Kim Ji Won , Lee Woo Sik , Yoon Tae Ki , Seok Hyun Ha , Cho Jung Hyun , Kim You Shin , Lyu Sang Woo , Shim Sung Han
Published: November 2010

Background

We evaluated cytogenetic results occurring with first trimester pregnancy loss, and assessed the type and frequency of chromosomal abnormalities after assisted reproductive treatment (ART) and compared them with a control group. We also compared the rate of chromosomal abnormalities according to infertility causes in ICSI group.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis was made of all patients who were referred to the Genetics Laboratory of Fertility Center of CHA Gangnam Medical Center from 2005 to 2009 because of clinical abortion with a subsequent dilation and evacuation (D&E) performed, and patients were grouped by type of conception as follows: conventional IVF (in vitro fertilization) (n = 114), ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) (n = 140), and control (natural conception or intrauterine insemination [IUI]) (n = 128). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results

A total 406 specimens were referred to laboratory, ten abortuses were excluded, and in 14 cases, we did not get any spontaneous metaphase, chromosomal constitutions of 382 specimens were successfully obtained with conventional cytogenetic methods. Overall, 52.62% of the miscarriages were found to be cytogenetically abnormal among all patients, the frequency was 48.4% in the control group, 54.3% of miscarriages after ICSI and 55.3% after conventional IVF (p = 0.503). The most prevalent abnormalities were autosomal trisomy, however, nine (11.69%) sex chromosome aneuploidy were noted in the ICSI group vs. four (6.45%) and two (3.23%) cases in the conventional IVF group and control group. We compared chromosomal abnormalities of miscarriages after ICSI according to infertility factor. 55.71% underwent ICSI due to male factors, 44.29% due to non-male factors. ICSI group having male factors showed significantly higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities than ICSI group having non-male factors (65.8% vs. 34.2%, p = 0.009, odds ratio = 1.529, 95% CI = 1.092-2.141).

Conclusions

There is no increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities due to ART was found with the exception of a greater number of sex chromosomal abnormalities in the ICSI group with male factor infertility. Therefore, these alterations could be correlated with the underlying parental risk of abnormalities and not with the ICSI procedure itself.
Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology
Authors: Cryan Paul M , Meteyer Carol Uphoff , Boyles Justin G , Blehert David S
Published: November 2010

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is causing unprecedented declines in several species of North American bats. The characteristic lesions of WNS are caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans, which erodes and replaces the living skin of bats while they hibernate. It is unknown how this infection kills the bats. We review here the unique physiological importance of wings to hibernating bats in relation to the damage caused by G. destructans and propose that mortality is caused by catastrophic disruption of wing-dependent physiological functions. Mechanisms of disease associated with G. destructans seem specific to hibernating bats and are most analogous to disease caused by chytrid fungus in amphibians.
Peripheral Nerve Injury and TRPV1-Expressing Primary Afferent C-Fibers Cause Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier
Authors: Beggs Simon , Liu Xue Jun , Kwan Chun , Salter Michael W
Published: November 2010

Background:

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays the crucial role of limiting exposure of the central nervous system (CNS) to damaging molecules and cells. Dysfunction of the BBB is critical in a broad range of CNS disorders including neurodegeneration, inflammatory or traumatic injury to the CNS, and stroke. In peripheral tissues, the vascular-tissue permeability is normally greater than BBB permeability, but vascular leakage can be induced by efferent discharge activity in primary sensory neurons leading to plasma extravasation into the extravascular space. Whether discharge activity of sensory afferents entering the CNS may open the BBB or blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) remains an open question.

Results:

Here we show that peripheral nerve injury (PNI) produced by either sciatic nerve constriction or transecting two of its main branches causes an increase in BSCB permeability, as assessed by using Evans Blue dye or horseradish peroxidase. The increase in BSCB permeability was not observed 6 hours after the PNI but was apparent 24 hours after the injury. The increase in BSCB permeability was transient, peaking about 24–48 hrs after PNI with BSCB integrity returning to normal levels by 7 days. The increase in BSCB permeability was prevented by administering the local anaesthetic lidocaine at the site of the nerve injury. BSCB permeability was also increased 24 hours after electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve at intensity sufficient to activate C-fibers, but not when A-fibers only were activated. Likewise, BSCB permeability increased following application of capsaicin to the nerve. The increase in permeability caused by C-fiber stimulation or by PNI was not anatomically limited to the site of central termination of primary afferents from the sciatic nerve in the lumbar cord, but rather extended throughout the spinal cord and into the brain.

Conclusions:

We have discovered that injury to a peripheral nerve and electrical stimulation of C-fibers each cause an increase in the permeability of the BSCB and the BBB. The increase in permeability is delayed in onset, peaks at about 24 hours and is dependent upon action potential propagation. As the increase is mimicked by applying capsaicin to the nerve, the most parsimonious explanation for our findings is that the increase in permeability is mediated by activation of TRPV1-expressing primary sensory neurons. Our findings may be relevant to the development of pain and neuroplastic changes in the CNS following nerve injury. In addition, our findings may provide the basis for developing methods to purposefully open the BBB when needed to increase brain penetration of therapeutic agents that might normally be excluded by an intact BBB.
RBP-J is not required for granule neuron progenitor development and medulloblastoma initiated by Hedgehog pathway activation in the external germinal layer
Authors: Julian Elaine , Hallahan Andrew R , Wainwright Brandon J
Published: November 2010

Background

The Notch signalling pathway plays crucial roles in neural development, functioning by preventing premature differentiation and promotion of glial cell fates. In the developing cerebellum Notch pathway components are expressed in granule neuron progenitors of the external germinal layer (EGL) but the precise function of Notch in these cells is unclear. The Hedgehog pathway is also crucial in cerebellar development, mainly via control of the cell cycle, and persistent activation of the pathways leads to the cerebellar tumour medulloblastoma. Interactions between Hedgehog and Notch have been reported in normal brain development as well as in Hedgehog pathway induced medulloblastoma but the molecular details of this interaction are not known and we investigate here the role of Notch signalling in the development of the EGL and the intersection between the two pathways in cerebellar granule neuron progenitors and in medulloblastoma.

Results

RBP-J is the major downstream effector of all four mammalian Notch receptors and the RBP-J conditional mouse facilitates inactivation of canonical Notch signals. Patched1 is a negative regulator of Hedgehog signalling and the Patched1 conditional mouse is widely used to activate Hedgehog signalling via Patched1 deletion in specific cell types. The conditional mouse lines were crossed with a Math1-Cre line to delete the two genes in granule neuron progenitors from embryonic day 10.5. While deletion of only Patched1 as well as Patched1 together with RBP-J leads to formation of medulloblastoma concomitant with disorganisation of cell layers, loss of RBP-J from granule neuron progenitors has no obvious effect on overall cerebellar morphology or differentiation and maturation of the different cerebellar cell types.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that even though Notch signalling has been shown to play important roles in cerebellar development, signalling via RBP-J is surprisingly not required in granule neuron progenitors. Furthermore, RBP-J inactivation in these cells does not influence the formation of medulloblastoma initiated by Hedgehog pathway activation. This may suggest a requirement of Notch in cerebellar development at a different developmental stage or in a different cell type than examined here - for example, in the neural stem cells of the ventricular zone. In addition, it remains a possibility that, in granule neuron progenitors, Notch may signal via an alternative pathway without the requirement for RBP-J.
Multi-cancer computational analysis reveals invasion-associated variant of desmoplastic reaction involving INHBA, THBS2 and COL11A1
Authors: Kim Hoon , Watkinson John , Varadan Vinay , Anastassiou Dimitris
Published: November 2010

Background

Despite extensive research, the details of the biological mechanisms by which cancer cells acquire motility and invasiveness are largely unknown. This study identifies an invasion associated gene signature shedding light on these mechanisms.

Methods

We analyze data from multiple cancers using a novel computational method identifying sets of genes whose coordinated overexpression indicates the presence of a particular phenotype, in this case high-stage cancer.

Results

We conclude that there is one shared "core" metastasis-associated gene expression signature corresponding to a specific variant of stromal desmoplastic reaction, present in a large subset of samples that have exceeded a threshold of invasive transition specific to each cancer, indicating that the corresponding biological mechanism is triggered at that point. For example this threshold is reached at stage IIIc in ovarian cancer and at stage II in colorectal cancer. Therefore, its presence indicates that the corresponding stage has been reached. It has several features, such as coordinated overexpression of particular collagens, mainly COL11A1 and other genes, mainly THBS2 and INHBA. The composition of the overexpressed genes indicates invasion-facilitating altered proteolysis in the extracellular matrix. The prominent presence in the signature of INHBA in all cancers strongly suggests a biological mechanism centered on activin A induced TGF-β signaling, because activin A is a member of the TGF-β superfamily consisting of an INHBA homodimer. Furthermore, we establish that the signature is predictive of neoadjuvant therapy response in at least one breast cancer data set.

Conclusions

Therefore, these results can be used for developing high specificity biomarkers sensing cancer invasion and predicting response to neoadjuvant therapy, as well as potential multi-cancer metastasis inhibiting therapeutics targeting the corresponding biological mechanism.
Baseline severe anaemia should not preclude use of zidovudine in antiretroviral‐eligible patients in resource‐limited settings
Authors: Kiragga Agnes N , Castelnuovo Barbara , Nakanjako Damalie , Manabe Yukari C
Published: November 2010

Background

Stavudine is no longer recommended as part of first‐line therapy for patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda. Most patients are currently initiated on zidovudine‐containing regimens, which can induce anaemia. We investigated the risk factors for early severe anaemia in the first six months of ART initiation.

Methods

We defined baseline (ART initiation) anaemia as haemoglobin (Hb) ≤9.5 g/dL, baseline severe anaemia as Hb ≤8 g/dL, and early severe anaemia as Hb ≤8 g/dL within six months of ART initiation. Risk factors for the development of early severe anaemia were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

In total, 5494 patients initiated ART, 821 (15%) had baseline anaemia, and 296 (5%) had baseline severe anaemia. Early severe anaemia occurred in 109 (4%) of 3105 patients who had at least one Hb measurement in the first six months on ART. Patients with baseline anaemia had a larger increase in Hb (median g/dL [IQR]) within the first six months compared with non‐anaemic patients (2.9 [1.7, 4.6] vs. 0.7 [‐0.2, 1.7], p < 0.0001). Having a new tuberculosis episode OR 3.69 (95% CI 1.64 ‐ 8.32), MCV <80fL OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.01‐ 2.52) and baseline severe anaemia OR 5.27 (95% CI 3.00 ‐ 9.26) were associated with early severe anaemia. Initiation on a zidovudine‐based regimen was not associated with an increased risk of early severe anaemia.

Conclusions

Among patients in an urban HIV clinic in Uganda, severe anaemia is modestly prevalent at ART initiation and improves with ART in the majority of patients. These data suggest that baseline severe anaemia should not be used as a criterion for avoiding the use of zidovudine in patients initiating ART in resource‐limited settings.
Circulating microRNAs as blood-based markers for patients with primary and metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Roth Carina , Rack Brigitte , Müller Volkmar , Janni Wolfgang , Pantel Klaus , Schwarzenbach Heidi
Published: November 2010

Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRs) are interesting new diagnostic targets that may provide important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of breast cancer. Here we evaluated, for the first time, the feasibility and clinical utility of circulating miRs as biomarkers for the detection and staging of breast cancer.

Methods

The relative concentrations of breast cancer-associated miR10b, miR34a, miR141 and miR155 were measured in the blood serum of 89 patients with primary breast cancer (M0, n = 59) and metastatic disease (M1, n = 30), and 29 healthy women by a TaqMan MicroRNA Assay.

Results

The relative concentrations of total RNA (P = 0.0001) and miR155 (P = 0.0001) in serum significantly discriminated M0-patients from healthy women, whereas miR10b (P = 0.005), miR34a (P = 0.001) and miR155 (P = 0.008) discriminated M1-patients from healthy controls. In breast cancer patients, the changes in the levels of total RNA (P = 0.0001), miR10b (P = 0.01), miR34a (P = 0.003) and miR155 (P = 0.002) correlated with the presence of overt metastases. Within the M0-cohort, patients at advanced tumor stages (pT3 to 4) had significantly more total RNA (P = 0.0001) and miR34a (P = 0.01) in their blood than patients at early tumor stages (pT1 to 2).

Conclusions

This pilot study provides first evidence that tumor-associated circulating miRs are elevated in the blood of breast cancer patients and associated with tumor progression.
Disruption of Mks1 localization to the mother centriole causes cilia defects and developmental malformations in Meckel-Gruber syndrome
Authors: Cui Cheng , Chatterjee Bishwanath , Francis Deanne , Yu Qing , SanAgustin Jovenal T. , Francis Richard , Tansey Terry , Henry Charisse , Wang Baolin , Lemley Bethan , Pazour Gregory J. , Lo Cecilia W.
Published: November 2010

Meckel-Gruber syndrome (MKS) is a recessive disorder resulting in multiple birth defects that are associated with mutations affecting ciliogenesis. We recovered a mouse mutant with a mutation in the Mks1 gene (Mks1del64-323) that caused a 260-amino-acid deletion spanning nine amino acids in the B9 domain, a protein motif with unknown function conserved in two other basal body proteins. We showed that, in wild-type cells, Mks1 was localized to the mother centriole from which the cilium was generated. However, in mutant Mks1del64-323 cells, Mks1 was not localized to the centriole, even though it maintained a punctate distribution. Resembling MKS patients, Mks1 mutants had craniofacial defects, polydactyly, congenital heart defects, polycystic kidneys and randomized left-right patterning. These defects reflected disturbance of functions subserved by motile and non-motile cilia. In the kidney, glomerular and tubule cysts were observed along with short cilia, and cilia were reduced in number to a near-complete loss. Underlying the left-right patterning defects were fewer and shorter nodal cilia, and analysis with fluorescent beads showed no directional flow at the embryonic node. In the cochlea, the stereocilia were mal-patterned, with the kinocilia being abnormally positioned. Together, these defects suggested disruption of planar cell polarity, which is known to regulate node, kidney and cochlea development. In addition, we also showed that Shh signaling was disrupted. Thus, in the neural tube, the floor plate was not specified posteriorly even as expression of the Shh mediator Gli2 increased. By contrast, the Shh signaling domain was expanded in the anterior neural tube and anterior limb bud, consistent with reduced Gli3-repressor (Gli3R) function. The latter probably accounted for the preaxial digit duplication exhibited by the Mks1del64-323 mutants. Overall, these findings indicate that centriole localization of Mks1 is required for ciliogenesis of motile and non-motile cilia, but not for centriole assembly. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize a role for the B9 domain in mother centriole targeting, a possibility that warrants further future investigations.
Atg8 regulates vacuolar membrane dynamics in a lipidation-independent manner in Pichia pastoris
Authors: Tamura Naoki , Oku Masahide , Sakai Yasuyoshi
Published: November 2010

Atg8 is a ubiquitin-like protein that is required, along with its lipidation system, for autophagy in all eukaryotic cells. The lipidated form of Atg8 is anchored on the autophagosomal membrane during autophagy. Here, we demonstrate a previously unknown role for Atg8 in vacuolar membrane dynamics. In the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, vacuoles were found to fuse to become a single spherical vacuole during adaptation from glucose- to methanol-containing medium. Atg8 is responsible for the vacuolar fusion in P. pastoris during this adaptation to methanol. Although vacuole fusion required processing of Atg8 at the C-terminus, it did not require lipidation of Atg8 for autophagy. This is the first report of the function of any Atg8 protein family member in a process other than autophagy that is independent of lipidation.
Anatomy of the hindlimb musculature in the cursorial caviomorphDasyprocta azaraeLichtenstein, 1823 (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae): functional and evolutionary significance
Authors: García-Esponda César M. , Candela Adriana M.
Published: November 2010

The musculature of the hindlimb of the cursorial caviomorphDasyprocta azaraeis described and functionally evaluated, together with osteological associated traits. Our results show that several features are indicative of emphasized parasagittal movements and stabilized joints. Mm. glutei are relatively well developed, in agreement with an enhanced extension of the hip joint. The relative elongation of the ischium indicates an improved mechanical advantage of the hamstring muscles, required for powerful extension of the hip. M. iliopsoas would act mainly as a protractor of the femur rather than as a rotator. M. peroneus brevis, an evertor and plantarflexor of the foot, is absent. The inversion of the pes would be reduced, such as expressed by the marked reduction of the m. tibialis caudalis. Osteological characters are arranged to facilitate parasagittal movements and to restrict joint mobility. Some features ofDasyprocta(e.g., presence of a gluteal tongue of m. gluteus medius, reduction in number of m. lumbricales, presence of a gluteal crest of the ilium) are interpreted as potential synapomorphies of cavioids. Other features associated to cursoriality (absence of mm. peroneus brevis, reduction of m. tibialis caudalis) would have been acquired independently in the extreme cursorial cavioidsDasyproctaandDolichotis.
Capacitance Measurements of Regulated Exocytosis in Mouse Taste Cells
Authors: Vandenbeuch Aurelie , Zorec Robert , Kinnamon Sue C.
Published: November 2010

Exocytosis, consisting of the merger of vesicle and plasma membrane, is a common mechanism used by different types of nucleated cells to release their vesicular contents. Taste cells possess vesicles containing various neurotransmitters to communicate with adjacent taste cells and afferent nerve fibers. However, whether these vesicles engage in exocytosis on a stimulus is not known. Since vesicle membrane merger with the plasma membrane is reflected in plasma membrane area fluctuations, we measured membrane capacitance (Cm), a parameter linearly related to membrane surface area. To investigate whether taste cells undergo regulated exocytosis, we used the compensated tight-seal whole-cell recording technique to monitor depolarization-induced changes inCmin the different types of taste cells. To identify taste cell types, mice expressing green fluorescent protein from the TRPM5 promoter or from the GAD67 promoter were used to discriminate type II and type III taste cells, respectively. Moreover, the cell types were also identified by monitoring their voltage–current properties. The results demonstrate that only type III taste cells show significant depolarization-induced increases inCm, which were correlated to the voltage-activated calcium currents. The results suggest that type III, but neither type II nor type I cells exhibit depolarization-induced regulated exocytosis to release transmitter and activate gustatory afferent nerve fibers.
Peptide-Induced Modulation of Synaptic Transmission and Escape Response inDrosophilaRequires Two G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
Authors: Klose Markus K. , Dason Jeffrey S. , Atwood Harold L. , Boulianne Gabrielle L. , Mercier A. Joffre
Published: November 2010

Neuropeptides are found in both mammals and invertebrates and can modulate neural function through activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRS). The precise mechanisms by which many of these GPCRs modulate specific signaling cascades to regulate neural function are not well defined. We usedDrosophila melanogasteras a model to examine both the cellular and behavioral effects of DPKQDFMRFamide, the most abundant peptide encoded by the dFMRF gene. We show that DPKQDFMRFamide enhanced synaptic transmission through activation of two G-protein-coupled receptors,Fmrf Receptor(FR) andDromyosupressin Receptor-2 (DmsR-2). The peptide increased both the presynaptic Ca2+response and the quantal content of released transmitter. Peptide-induced modulation of synaptic function could be abrogated by depleting intracellular Ca2+stores or by interfering with Ca2+release from the endoplasmic reticulum through disruption of either the ryanodine receptor or the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor. The peptide also altered behavior. Exogenous DPKQDFMRFamide enhanced fictive locomotion; this required both theFRandDmsR-2. Likewise, both receptors were required for an escape response to intense light exposure. Thus, coincident detection of a peptide by two GPCRs modulates synaptic function through effects of Ca2+-induced Ca2+release, and we hypothesize that these mechanisms are involved in behavioral responses to environmental stress.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of the Asian Fish Tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea) in the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte)
Authors: Bean Megan G. , Bonner Timothy H.
Published: November 2010

Recent collections of the Asian fish tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in the Rio Grande have raised concern about the potential impacts on Rio Grande endemic and imperiled fishes. The objectives of this study were to determine distribution and definitive hosts of the Asian fish tapeworm within the Rio Grande drainage and to quantify occurrences and abundances. In total, 1,992 fish spanning 11 families were collected and examined for Asian fish tapeworms in the Rio Grande and the Pecos and Devils rivers. The parasite was collected from red shiners Cyprinella lutrensis, Tamaulipas shiners Notropis braytoni, sand shiners N. stramineus, river carpsuckers Carpiodes carpio, plains killifish Fundulus zebrinus, western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis, blue suckers Cycleptus elongatus, blacktail shiners Cyprinella venusta, proserpine shiners Cyprinella proserpina, and Manantial roundnose minnow Dionda argentosa, with the latter four species being new host records. Monthly collections of red shiners from Big Bend National Park exhibited prevalence levels above 15% in January–March and December and below 10% during April–June and October. With over 50% of the Rio Grande icthyofauna in Texas considered imperiled, the occurrence and pathological effects of the Asian fish tapeworm in combination with reduced water quantity and quality and increased habitat fragmentation are of concern for these taxa.
Mortality of Centrarchid Fishes in the Potomac Drainage: Survey Results and Overview of Potential Contributing Factors
Authors: Blazer V. S. , Iwanowicz L. R. , Starliper C. E. , Iwanowicz D. D. , Barbash P. , Hedrick J. D. , Reeser S. J. , Mullican J. E. , Zaugg S. D. , Burkhardt M. R. , Kelble J.
Published: November 2010

Skin lesions and spring mortality events of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu and selected other species were first noted in the South Branch of the Potomac River in 2002. Since that year morbidity and mortality have also been observed in the Shenandoah and Monocacy rivers. Despite much research, no single pathogen, parasite, or chemical cause for the lesions and mortality has been identified. Numerous parasites, most commonly trematode metacercariae and myxozoans; the bacterial pathogens Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas salmonicida, and Flavobacterium columnare; and largemouth bass virus have all been observed. None have been consistently isolated or observed at all sites, however, nor has any consistent microscopic pathology of the lesions been observed. A variety of histological changes associated with exposure to environmental contaminants or stressors, including intersex (testicular oocytes), high numbers of macrophage aggregates, oxidative damage, gill lesions, and epidermal papillomas, were observed. The findings indicate that selected sensitive species may be stressed by multiple factors and constantly close to the threshold between a sustainable (healthy) and nonsustainable (unhealthy) condition. Fish health is often used as an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health, and these findings raise concerns about environmental degradation within the Potomac River drainage. Unfortunately, while much information has been gained from the studies conducted to date, due to the multiple state jurisdictions involved, competing interests, and other issues, there has been no coordinated approach to identifying and mitigating the stressors. This synthesis emphasizes the need for multiyear, interdisciplinary, integrative research to identify the underlying stressors and possible management actions to enhance ecosystem health.
Observations and Treatment of Nitzschia sturionis on Atlantic Sturgeon from Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Matsche Mark A. , Flowers James R. , Markin Erin L. , Stence Charles P.
Published: November 2010

From 2004 to 2008, 10% of Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus examined during a bycatch study of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay were infested with the trematode Nitzschia sturionis on the skin and gills. The parasite intensity increased on 75% of infested fish 4–24 months after being placed in captivity. Mean parasite intensity increased to a greater extent on the skin (up to 100-fold) than on the gills (up to16-fold). Atlantic sturgeon that were infested with N. sturionis gained weight at a reduced rate or lost weight compared with uninfested fish. Skin lesions associated with N. sturionis progressed from a few reddened foci to hemorrhagic ulcers and depigmentation, while gill lesions showed a less-dramatic progression. Host tissues identified in the intestinal ceca of N. sturionis consisted primarily of malpighian cells, but small amounts of blood were also found in worms attached to lesions in the skin and gills. An Atlantic sturgeon infested with approximately 500 worms was successfully treated with a 3-h bath of praziquantel at 10 mg/L. This first report of N. sturionis from Chesapeake Bay extends the parasite's reported southern range in North America.
Behavioral changes in Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected by Toxocara canis larvae
Authors: Chieffi Pedro P. , Aquino Renata T.R. , Pasqualotti Maria A. , Ribeiro Manoel Carlos S.A. , Nasello Antonia G.
Published: November 2010

Toxocara canis is a common canine nematode parasite and one of its possible transmission mechanisms is the predation of infected rodents by canids. Fifty Rattus norvegicus were used to study behavioral alterations in rodents infected by T. canis larvae. The rats were divided into three groups: G1, 20 rats infected with 300 T. canis eggs; G2, 20 rats infected with 2,000 T. canis eggs; and G3, 10 non-infected rats. Thirty and 60 days post-infection, rats from all the groups were submitted to an open-field apparatus for five min and subsequently, to an elevated plus-maze apparatus, again for five min. The data obtained indicated improvement in mobility (total locomotion time and rearing frequency) and exploratory behavior in infected rats, principally in G2, which provides some support for the hypothesis that behavioral alterations in rodents infected by Toxocara canis larvae enhance the transmission rate of this ascarid to dogs.
Tetralichine trilobites from the Upper Ordovician of Oklahoma and Virginia and phylogenetic systematics of the Tetralichini
Authors: Carlucci Jesse R. , Westrop Stephen R. , Amati Lisa
Published: November 2010

New material, including a complete exoskeleton, from the Bromide Formation of Oklahoma, allows a complete evaluation ofProbolichasPhleger, 1936 and necessitates a quantitative revision of the lichid tribe Tetralichini Phleger, 1936. A strict consensus tree of nine equally parsimonious trees generated from a branch and bound analysis indicates that the genusProbolichasis monophyletic, and should no longer be restricted as synonymous with, or as a sub-clade ofAmphilichasRaymond, 1905. The genusApatolichasWhittington, 1963 is revised as a synonym ofAmphilichas, and the Tetralichini is defined as clade with three genera:Amphilichas, Probolichas, andLyralichasWeber, 1948.Probolichas kristiaefrom the Bromide Formation andAmphilichas effnensisfrom the Effna Formation of Virginia are new species.
An isolated pterygotid ramus (Chelicerata: Eurypterida) from the Devonian Beartooth Butte Formation, Wyoming
Authors: Lamsdell James C. , Legg David A.
Published: November 2010

An isolated ramus of the pterygotid eurypteridJaekelopteruscf.howellifrom the Early Devonian (Pragian) Beartooth Butte Formation (Cottonwood Canyon, north-western Wyoming) is described. Pterygotid taxonomy and synonymy is briefly discussed with the generaPterygotus, AcutiramusandJaekelopterusshown to be potential synonyms. The use of cheliceral denticulation patterns as a generic-level character is discouraged in light of variations within genera and its unsuitability as a major characteristic in the other eurypterid families.
Pharmacokinetics of penicillin antibiotics: intravenous-to-oral switch therapy
Authors: Marušič Alenka , Locatelli Igor , Mrhar Aleš
Published: October 2010

Farmakokinetika Penicilinskih Antibiotikov: Preklop iz Intravenske na Peroralno Terapijo

Penicilinski antibiotiki delujejo baktericidno in spadajo med časovno odvisne antibiotike. Za večino penicilinov je značilna kratka razpolovna doba eliminacije. Benzilpenicilini se po peroralni aplikaciji ne absorbirajo, ampicilin in kloksacilin se sicer absorbirata, vendar slabo, medtem ko se amoksicilin skoraj v celoti absorbira. Pri slednjem je smotrno z intravenske terapije preklopiti na peroralno, če lahko s peroralno aplikacijo dosežemo plazemske koncentracije penicilina, primerljive s tistimi po intravenski aplikaciji, t. j. enako povprečno plazemsko koncentracijo penicilina v stacionarnem stanju. Posledično lahko pričakujemo enako učinkovitost obeh aplikacij. Smiselnost preklopne terapije je treba proučiti predvsem s stališča bolnika, saj ni primerna za bolnike, ki so v kritičnem stanju in imajo močno zvišano telesno temperaturo ali malabsorbcijski sindrom. Prednost preklopne terapije pa je v tem, da zmanjša pojavnost flebitisa in seps. V članku sta obravnavana dva primera preklopne terapije. Na osnovi farmakokinetičnih simulacij in indeksov učinkovitosti protibakterijskega zdravljenja je pokazana primerljivost intravenske terapije z ampicilinom in peroralne terapije z amoksicilinom, medtem ko preklopna terapija pri zdravljenju osteomielitisa s kloksacilinom ostaja nedorečena. Na podlagi predstavljenih primerov članek ilustrativno prikazuje, da ustrezna razlaga farmakokinetičnih parametrov bistveno pripomore k pravočasnemu preklopu z intravenske na peroralno terapijo s penicilinom. Takšna terapija je bolniku bolj prijazna, poleg tega pa prispeva k zniževanju stroškov za zdravljenje z zdravili v bolnišnicah ob še vedno varni in učinkoviti farmakoterapiji bakterijskih okužb.
Migration forcée et urbanisation de crise : l'Afrique subsaharienne dans une perspective historique
Authors: Pérouse de Montclos Marc-Antoine
Published: November 2010

En Afrique subsaharienne, les processus d’urbanisations résultant de situations de crise mettent en évidence l’existence de citadins qui n’ont pas choisi d’aller en ville et qui y ont été poussés par des circonstances imprévues, même si l’analyse de leur déplacement révèle également une certaine part de libre arbitre quant aux choix des destinations finales. Cette catégorie d’habitants oblige à revenir sur les caractéristiques qui président à des migrations forcées. Historiquement, les types de contraintes sont en effet fort variés, de la capture à la réduction en esclavage en passant par les razzias, les catastrophes naturelles, les famines, les réquisitions du colonisateur, les confiscations de terres ou les exodes liés à des troubles politiques. Toutes les migrations forcées ne débouchent pas non plus sur la création de villes ex nihilo. En revanche, les exodes ruraux sous la contrainte alimentent souvent les flux vers les agglomérations existantes. Cet article vise ainsi à suivre l’évolution des pratiques et des procédures migratoires liées à des situations de crise.
Meaningful Use of a Standardized Terminology to Support the Electronic Health Record in New Zealand
Authors: Honey M. , Wilson S. , Monsen K.
Published: November 2010

Meaningful use is a multidimensional concept that incorporates complex processes; workflow; interoperability; decision support; performance evaluation; and quality improvement. Meaningful use is congruent with the overall vision for information management in New Zealand. Health practitioners interface with patient information at many levels, and are pivotal to meaningful use at the interface between service providers, patients, and the electronic health record. Advancing towards meaningful use depends on implementing a meaningful interface terminology within the electronic health record. The Omaha System is an interface terminology that is integrated within Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT®), and has the capacity to disseminate and capture information at the point of care because its codes are simple defined terms. Two community nursing and allied health providers who are considering using the Omaha System in clinical systems for gathering intervention and outcomes data within the personal EHR include Nurse Maude and the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society. Help4U is investigating using the Omaha System as a way to standardise health terminology for consumer use. The Omaha System is also a good fit with the Midwifery and Maternity Providers Organisation (MMPO) existing clinical information system to describe and capture data about interventions currently recorded as free text. As a country that promotes access to affordable primary care and free hospital care, within an environment constrained by resource limitations, maximizing the use of data is key to demonstrating health outcomes for the population.
Characterization of submicron aerosols at a rural site in Pearl River Delta of China using an Aerodyne High-Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
Authors: Huang X.-F. , He L.-Y. , Hu M. , Canagaratna M. R. , Kroll J. H. , Ng N. L. , Zhang Y.-H. , Lin Y. , Xue L. , Sun T.-L. , Liu X.-G. , Shao M. , Jayne J. T. , Worsnop D. R.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region in South China is one of the most economically developed regions in China, but it is also noted for its severe air pollution due to industrial/metropolitan emissions. In order to continuously improve the understanding and quantification of air pollution in this region, an intensive campaign was executed in PRD during October–November 2008. Here, we report and analyze Aerodyne High-Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometer measurements at Kaiping, a rural site downwind of the highly-polluted central PRD area, to characterize the general features of submicron particulate pollution in the regional air. The mean measured PM1 mass concentration was 33.1 ± 18.1 μg m−3 during the campaign and composed of organic matter (33.8%), sulfate (33.7%), ammonium (14.0%), nitrate (10.7%), black carbon (6.7%), and chloride (1.1%), which is characterized by high fractions of inorganic ions due to huge emissions of SO2 and NOx in PRD. The average size distributions of the species (except BC) were all dominated by an accumulation mode peaking at ~450 nm in vacuum aerodynamic diameter. Calculations based on high-resolution organic mass spectra indicate that C, H, O, and N on average contributed 56.6, 7.0, 35.1, and 1.3% to the total organic mass, respectively, corresponding to an organic matter mass to organic carbon mass ratio (OM/OC) of 1.77 ± 0.08. Based on the high-resolution organic mass spectral dataset observed, Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis differentiated the organic aerosol into three components, i.e., biomass burning (BBOA) and two oxygenated (LV-OOA and SV-OOA) organic aerosols, which on average accounted for 24.5, 39.6 and 35.8% of the total organic mass, respectively. The BBOA showed strong features of biomass burning emissions and has been mainly attributed to field rice straw burning after harvest. The LV-OOA and SV-OOA were found to correspond to more aged (and thus less-volatile) and fresher (and semi-volatile) secondary organic aerosol, respectively. Analysis of meteorological influence supported that regional transport from the central PRD area was the major origin of the PM1 components observed at the Kaiping site.
Hygroscopic properties of atmospheric aerosol particles over the Eastern Mediterranean: implications for regional direct radiative forcing under clean and polluted conditions
Authors: Stock M. , Cheng Y. F. , Birmili W. , Massling A. , Wehner B. , Müller T. , Leinert S. , Kalivitis N. , Mihalopoulos N. , Wiedensohler A.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. This work examines the effect of direct radiative forcing of aerosols in the eastern Mediterranean troposphere as a function of air mass composition, particle size distribution and hygroscopicity, and relative humidity (RH). During intensive field measurements on the island of Crete, Greece, the hygroscopic properties of atmospheric particles were determined using a Hygroscopicity Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (H-TDMA) and a Hygroscopicity Differential Mobility Analyzer – Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (H-DMA-APS). Like in several studies before, the H-TDMA identified three hygroscopic sub-fractions of particles in the sub-μm range: a more hygroscopic group, a less hygroscopic group and a nearly hydrophobic particle group. The hygroscopic particle growth factors at 90% RH were a significant function of particle mobility diameter (Dp): 1.42 (± 0.05) at 30 nm compared to 1.63 (± 0.07) at 250 nm. The H-DMA-APS identified up to three hygroscopic sub-fractions at mobility diameters of 1.0 and 1.2 μm. All data recorded between 12 August and 20 October, 2005 were classified into four distinct synoptic-scale air mass types distinguishing between different regions of origin (western Mediterranean vs. the Aegean Sea) as well as the degree of continental pollution (marine vs. continentally influenced). The hygroscopic properties of particles with diameter Dp ≥ 150 nm showed the most pronounced dependency on air mass origin, with growth factors in marine air masses exceeding those in more continentally influenced air masses. Particle size distributions and hygroscopic growth factors were employed to calculate aerosol light scattering coefficients at ambient RH using a Mie model. A main result was the pronounced enhancement of particle scattering over the eastern Mediterranean due to hygroscopic growth, both in the marine and continentally influenced air masses. When RH reached its daytime values around 70–80% in summer, up to 50–70% of the calculated visibility reduction was due to the hygroscopic growth of the particles by water compared to the effect of the dry particles alone. The estimated aerosol direct radiative forcings for both, marine and continentally influenced air masses were negative indicating a net cooling of the atmosphere due to the aerosol. The radiative forcing ΔFr was, nevertheless, dominated by the total aerosol concentration most of the time: ΔFr was typically more negative for continentally influenced aerosols (ca. −4 W m−2) compared to rather clean marine aerosols (ca. −1.5 W m−2). When RH occasionally reached 90% in marine air, ΔFr even reached values down to −7 W m−2. Our results emphasize, on the basis of explicit particle hygroscopicity measurements, the relevance of ambient relative humidity for the radiative forcing of regional atmospheres.
Cross-evaluation of modelled and remotely sensed surface soil moisture with in situ data in southwestern France
Authors: Albergel C. , Calvet J.-C. , de Rosnay P. , Balsamo G. , Wagner W. , Hasenauer S. , Naeimi V. , Martin E. , Bazile E. , Bouyssel F. , Mahfouf J.-F.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. The SMOSMANIA soil moisture network in Southwestern France is used to evaluate modelled and remotely sensed soil moisture products. The surface soil moisture (SSM) measured in situ at 5 cm permits to evaluate SSM from the SIM operational hydrometeorological model of Météo-France and to perform a cross-evaluation of the normalised SSM estimates derived from coarse-resolution (25 km) active microwave observations from the ASCAT scatterometer instrument (C-band, onboard METOP), issued by EUMETSAT and resampled to the Discrete Global Grid (DGG, 12.5 km gridspacing) by TU-Wien (Vienna University of Technology) over a two year period (2007–2008). A downscaled ASCAT product at one kilometre scale is evaluated as well, together with operational soil moisture products of two meteorological services, namely the ALADIN numerical weather prediction model (NWP) and the Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) analysis of Météo-France and ECMWF, respectively. In addition to the operational SSM analysis of ECMWF, a second analysis using a simplified extended Kalman filter and assimilating the ASCAT SSM estimates is tested. The ECMWF SSM estimates correlate better with the in situ observations than the Météo-France products. This may be due to the higher ability of the multi-layer land surface model used at ECMWF to represent the soil moisture profile. However, the SSM derived from SIM corresponds to a thin soil surface layer and presents good correlations with ASCAT SSM estimates for the very first centimetres of soil. At ECMWF, the use of a new data assimilation technique, which is able to use the ASCAT SSM, improves the SSM and the root-zone soil moisture analyses.