bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Ammonia Secretion and pH Modulation on Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum coccodes on Tomato Fruit
Authors: Alkan N. , Fluhr R. , Sherman A. , Prusky D.
Published: July 2008

Colletotrichum coccodes was found to alkalinize the decaying tissue of tomato fruit via accumulation and secretion of ammonia. Alkalinization dynamics caused by ammonia secretion from growing hyphae was examined microscopically using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2′,7′-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. Values of pH of 7.9 observed in the host tissue close to the hyphal tips declined to pH 6.0 at 10 mm away from the hyphal tip, which was a value that was still higher than that detected in the healthy tissue, pH 4.2. Ammonia accumulation at the infection site depended on the initial environmental pH. Treatments with low (4.0) pH buffer at the infection site resulted in high levels of ammonia secretion and increased virulence of C. coccodes compared with similar treatments with buffer at pH 7.0. Significantly, mutants of C. coccodes defective in nitrogen utilization, nit–, and areA– were impaired in ammonia secretion and showed reduced decay development. The reduced infection rate of nit– mutants could be complemented by adding glutamine at the infection site. Thus, ammonia accumulation is a critical factor contributing to C. coccodes pathogenicity on tomato fruit. The results show that the initial acidic pH of the fruit is conducive to ammonia secretion and the subsequent alkalinization of the infection site, and facilitates fungal virulence and the transformation from the quiescent-biotrophic to active-necrotrophic state.
2R,3R-Butanediol, a Bacterial Volatile Produced by Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, Is Involved in Induction of Systemic Tolerance to Drought in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Cho Song Mi , Kang Beom Ryong , Han Song Hee , Anderson Anne J. , Park Ju-Young , Lee Yong-Hwan , Cho Baik Ho , Yang Kwang-Yeol , Ryu Choong-Min , Kim Young Cheol
Published: July 2008

Root colonization of plants with certain rhizobacteria, such as Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6, induces tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Tolerance to drought was correlated with reduced water loss in P. chlororaphis O6-colonized plants and with stomatal closure, indicated by size of stomatal aperture and percentage of closed stomata. Stomatal closure and drought resistance were mediated by production of 2R,3R-butanediol, a volatile metabolite of P. chlororaphis O6. Root colonization with bacteria deficient in 2R,3R-butanediol production showed no induction of drought tolerance. Studies with Arabidopsis mutant lines indicated that induced drought tolerance required the salicylic acid (SA)-, ethylene-, and jasmonic acid-signaling pathways. Both induced drought tolerance and stomatal closure were dependent on Aba-1 and OST-1 kinase. Increases in free SA after drought stress of P. chlororaphis O6-colonized plants and after 2R,3R-butanediol treatment suggested a primary role for SA signaling in induced drought tolerance. We conclude that the bacterial volatile 2R,3R-butanediol was a major determinant in inducing resistance to drought in Arabidopsis through an SA-dependent mechanism.
Erwinia amylovora Type Three–Secreted Proteins Trigger Cell Death and Defense Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Degrave A. , Fagard M. , Perino C. , Brisset M. N. , Gaubert S. , Laroche S. , Patrit O. , Barny M.-A.
Published: July 2008

Erwinia amylovora is the bacterium responsible for fire blight, a necrotic disease affecting plants of the rosaceous family. E. amylovora pathogenicity requires a functional type three secretion system (T3SS). We show here that E. amylovora triggers a T3SS-dependent cell death on Arabidopsis thaliana. The plants respond by inducing T3SS-dependent defense responses, including salicylic acid (SA)-independent callose deposition, activation of the SA defense pathway, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and part of the jasmonic acid/ethylene defense pathway. Several of these reactions are similar to what is observed in host plants. We show that the cell death triggered by E. amylovora on A. thaliana could not be simply explained by the recognition of AvrRpt2ea by the resistance gene product RPS2. We then analyzed the role of type three-secreted proteins (T3SPs) DspA/E, HrpN, and HrpW in the induction of cell death and defense reactions in A. thaliana following infection with the corresponding E. amylovora mutant strains. HrpN and DspA/E were found to play an important role in the induction of cell death, activation of defense pathways, and ROS accumulation. None of the T3SPs tested played a major role in the induction of SA-independent callose deposition. The relative importance of T3SPs in A. thaliana is correlated with their relative importance in the disease process on host plants, indicating that A. thaliana can be used as a model to study their role.
Phloem Unloading of Potato virus X Movement Proteins Is Regulated by Virus and Host Factors
Authors: Mekuria Tefera , Bamunusinghe Devinka , Payton Mark , Verchot-Lubicz Jeanmarie
Published: July 2008

To determine the requirements for viral proteins exiting the phloem, transgenic plants expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the Potato virus X (PVX) triple gene block (TGB)p1 and coat protein (CP) genes were prepared. The fused genes were transgenically expressed from the companion cell (CC)-specific Commelina yellow mottle virus (CoYMV) promoter. Transgenic plants were selected for evidence of GFP fluorescence in CC and sieve elements (SE) and proteins were determined to be phloem mobile based on their ability to translocate across a graft union into nontransgenic scions. Petioles and leaves were analyzed to determine the requirements for phloem unloading of the fluorescence proteins. In petioles, fluorescence spread throughout the photosynthetic vascular cells (chlorenchyma) but did not move into the cortex, indicating a specific barrier to proteins exiting the vasculature. In leaves, fluorescence was mainly restricted to the veins. However, in virus-infected plants or leaves treated with a cocktail of proteasome inhibitors, fluorescence spread into leaf mesophyll cells. These data indicate that PVX contributes factors which enable specific unloading of cognate viral proteins and that proteolysis may play a role in limiting proteins in the phloem and surrounding chlorenchyma.
Evidence for the Involvement in Nodulation of the Two Small Putative Regulatory Peptide-Encoding Genes MtRALFL1 and MtDVL1
Authors: Combier Jean-Philippe , Küster Helge , Journet Etienne-Pascal , Hohnjec Natalija , Gamas Pascal , Niebel Andreas
Published: July 2008

Nod factors are key bacterial signaling molecules regulating the symbiotic interaction between bacteria known as rhizobia and leguminous plants. Studying plant host genes whose expression is affected by Nod factors has given insights into early symbiotic signaling and development. Here, we used a double supernodulating mutant line that shows increased sensitivity to Nod factors to study the Nod factor-regulated transcriptome. Using microarrays containing more than 16,000 70-mer oligonucleotide probes, we identified 643 Nod-factor-regulated genes, including 225 new Nod-factor-upregulated genes encoding many potential regulators. Among the genes found to be Nod factor upregulated, we identified and characterized MtRALFL1 and MtDVL1, which code for two small putative peptide regulators of 135 and 53 amino acids, respectively. Expression analysis confirmed that these genes are upregulated during initial phases of nodulation. Overexpression of MtRALFL1 and MtDVL1 in Medicago truncatula roots resulted in a marked reduction in the number of nodules formed and in a strong increase in the number of aborted infection threads. In addition, abnormal nodule development was observed when MtRALFL1 was overexpressed. This work provides evidence for the involvement of new putative small-peptide regulators during nodulation.
Genome-Scale Mutagenesis and Phenotypic Characterization of Two-Component Signal Transduction Systems inXanthomonas campestrispv.campestrisATCC 33913
Authors: Qian Wei , Han Zhong-Ji , Tao Jun , He Chaozu
Published: July 2008

The gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is the causal agent of black rot disease of cruciferous plants. Its genome encodes a large repertoire of two-component signal transduction systems (TCSTSs), which consist of histidine kinases and response regulators (RR) to monitor and respond to environmental stimuli. To investigate the biological functions of these TCSTS genes, we aimed to inactivate all 54 RR genes in X. campestris pv. campestris ATCC 33913, and successfully generated 51 viable mutants using the insertion inactivation method. Plant inoculation identified two novel response regulator genes (XCC1958 and XCC3107) that are involved in virulence of this strain. Genetic complementation demonstrated that XCC3107, designated as vgrR (virulence and growth regulator), also affects bacterial growth and activity of extracellular proteases. In addition, we assessed the survival of these mutants under various stresses, including osmotic stress, high sodium concentration, heat shock, and sodium dodecyl sulfate exposure, and identified a number of genes that may be involved in the general stress response of X. campestris pv. campestris. Mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization of RR genes in this study will facilitate future studies on signaling networks in this important phytopathogenic bacterium.
Mouse let-7 miRNA populations exhibit RNA editing that is constrained in the 5′-seed/ cleavage/anchor regions and stabilize predicted mmu-let-7a:mRNA duplexes
Authors: Reid Jeffrey G. , Nagaraja Ankur K. , Lynn Francis C. , Drabek Rafal B. , Muzny Donna M. , Shaw Chad A. , Weiss Michelle K. , Naghavi Arash O. , Khan Mahjabeen , Zhu Huifeng , Tennakoon Jayantha , Gunaratne Gemunu H. , Corry David B. , Miller Jonathan , McManus Michael T. , German Michael S. , Gibbs Richard A. , Matzuk Martin M. , Gunaratne Preethi H.
Published: July 2008

Massively parallel sequencing of millions of <30-nt RNAs expressed in mouse ovary, embryonic pancreas (E14.5), and insulin-secreting beta-cells (βTC-3) reveals that ∼50% of the mature miRNAs representing mostly the mmu-let-7 family display internal insertion/deletions and substitutions when compared to precursor miRNA and the mouse genome reference sequences. Approximately, 12%–20% of species associated with mmu-let-7 populations exhibit sequence discrepancies that are dramatically reduced in nucleotides 3–7 (5′-seed) and 10–15 (cleavage and anchor sites). This observation is inconsistent with sequencing error and leads us to propose that the changes arise predominantly from post-transcriptional RNA-editing activity operating on miRNA:target mRNA complexes. Internal nucleotide modifications are most enriched at the ninth nucleotide position. A common ninth base edit of U-to-G results in a significant increase in stability of down-regulated let-7a targets in inhibin-deficient mice (Inha−/−). An excess of U-insertions (14.8%) over U-deletions (1.5%) and the presence of cleaved intermediates suggest that a mammalian TUTase (terminal uridylyl transferase) mediated dUTP-dependent U-insertion/U-deletion cycle may be a possible mechanism. We speculate that mRNA target site-directed editing of mmu-let-7a duplex-bulges stabilizes “loose” miRNA:mRNA target associations and functions to expand the target repertoire and/or enhance mRNA decay over translational repression. Our results also demonstrate that the systematic study of sequence variation within specific RNA classes in a given cell type from millions of sequences generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies (“intranomics”) can be used broadly to infer functional constraints on specific parts of completely uncharacterized RNAs.
Immunolocalization of Solanaceous SUT1 Proteins in Companion Cells and Xylem Parenchyma: New Perspectives for Phloem Loading and Transport
Authors: Schmitt Bianca , Stadler Ruth , Sauer Norbert
Published: July 2008

Leaf sucrose (Suc) transporters are essential for phloem loading and long-distance partitioning of assimilates in plants that load their phloem from the apoplast. Suc loading into the phloem is indispensable for the generation of the osmotic potential difference that drives phloem bulk flow and is central for the long-distance movement of phloem sap compounds, including hormones and signaling molecules. In previous analyses, solanaceous SUT1 Suc transporters from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were immunolocalized in plasma membranes of enucleate sieve elements. Here, we present data that identify solanaceous SUT1 proteins with high specificity in phloem companion cells. Moreover, comparisons of SUT1 localization in the abaxial and adaxial phloem revealed higher levels of SUT1 protein in the abaxial phloem of all three solanaceous species, suggesting different physiological roles for these two types of phloem. Finally, SUT1 proteins were identified in files of xylem parenchyma cells, mainly in the bicollateral veins. Together, our data provide new insight into the role of SUT1 proteins in solanaceous species.
A Novel Type of Thioredoxin Dedicated to Symbiosis in Legumes
Authors: Alkhalfioui Fatima , Renard Michelle , Frendo Pierre , Keichinger Corinne , Meyer Yves , Gelhaye Eric , Hirasawa Masakazu , Knaff David B. , Ritzenthaler Christophe , Montrichard Françoise
Published: July 2008

Thioredoxins (Trxs) constitute a family of small proteins in plants. This family has been extensively characterized in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), which contains six different Trx types: f, m, x, and y in chloroplasts, o in mitochondria, and h mainly in cytosol. A detailed study of this family in the model legume Medicago truncatula, realized here, has established the existence of two isoforms that do not belong to any of the types previously described. As no possible orthologs were further found in either rice (Oryza sativa) or poplar (Populus spp.), these novel isoforms may be specific for legumes. Nevertheless, on the basis of protein sequence and gene structure, they are both related to Trxs m and probably have evolved from Trxs m after the divergence of the higher plant families. They have redox potential values similar to those of the classical Trxs, and one of them can act as a substrate for the M. truncatula NADP-Trx reductase A. However, they differ from classical Trxs in that they possess an atypical putative catalytic site and lack disulfide reductase activity with insulin. Another important feature is the presence in both proteins of an N-terminal extension containing a putative signal peptide that targets them to the endoplasmic reticulum, as demonstrated by their transient expression in fusion with the green fluorescent protein in M. truncatula or Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. According to their pattern of expression, these novel isoforms function specifically in symbiotic interactions in legumes. They were therefore given the name of Trxs s, s for symbiosis.
Enhanced Tolerance to Oxidative Stress in Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants Expressing Proteins of Unknown Function
Authors: Luhua Song , Ciftci-Yilmaz Sultan , Harper Jeffery , Cushman John , Mittler Ron
Published: July 2008

Over one-quarter of all plant genes encode proteins of unknown function that can be further classified as proteins with obscure features (POFs), which lack currently defined motifs or domains, or proteins with defined features, which contain at least one previously defined domain or motif. Although empirical data in the form of transcriptome and proteome profiling suggest that many of these proteins play important roles in plants, their functional characterization remains one of the main challenges in modern biology. To begin the functional annotation of proteins with unknown function, which are involved in the oxidative stress response of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants that constitutively expressed 23 different POFs (four of which were specific to Arabidopsis) and 18 different proteins with defined features. All were previously found to be expressed in response to oxidative stress in Arabidopsis. Transgenic plants were tested for their tolerance to oxidative stress imposed by paraquat or t-butyl hydroperoxide, or were subjected to osmotic, salinity, cold, and heat stresses. More than 70% of all expressed proteins conferred tolerance to oxidative stress. In contrast, >90% of the expressed proteins did not confer enhanced tolerance to the other abiotic stresses tested, and approximately 50% rendered plants more susceptible to osmotic or salinity stress. Two Arabidopsis-specific POFs, and an Arabidopsis and Brassica-specific protein of unknown function, conferred enhanced tolerance to oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that tolerance to oxidative stress involves mechanisms and pathways that are unknown at present, including some that are specific to Arabidopsis or the Brassicaceae.
Six novel mutations of the ADAR1 gene in patients with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria: Histological observation and comparison of genotypes and clinical phenotypes
Authors: KONDO Taisuke , SUZUKI Tamio , MITSUHASHI Yoshihiko , ITO Shiro , KONO Michihiro , KOMINE Mayumi , AKITA Hirotaka , TOMITA Yasushi
Published: July 2008

Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH), is a pigmentary genodermatosis of autosomal dominant inheritance. Since we clarified that the disease is caused by a mutation of the adenosine deaminase acting on the RNA 1 gene (ADAR1) in 2003, the molecular pathogenesis of a peculiar clinical feature of the disease has been expected to be clarified. We examined five familial cases and one sporadic case of Japanese families with DSH. The mutation analyses were done with single‐strand conformation polymorphism/heteroduplex (SSCP/HD) analysis and direct sequencing of ADAR1. The DNA analysis of each patient revealed one missense mutation (p.F1091S), two nonsense mutations (p.C893X, p.S581X) and three frame‐shift mutations (p.E498fsX517, p.F1091fsX1092, p.L855fsX856). Visual and electron microscopic findings showed abundant melanin pigment deposited all over the basal layer, and enlarged melanocytes with long dendrites located in the pigmented lesions with small or immature melanosomes scattered sparsely in the cytoplasm, but in the adjacent keratinocytes many small melanosomes were singly dispersed or aggregated. The hypopigmented areas showed little melanin deposition and reduced numbers of melanocytes in which much degenerative cytoplasmic vacuole formation could be observed by electron microscopy. Herein, we report six cases of DSH with six novel mutations. The variety of their clinical phenotypes even in the pedigree may suggest the presence of factors other than the ADAR1 gene influencing the extent of the clinical skin lesion. Microscopic findings suggest that the clinical appearance must have developed directly by melanocyte variations mainly induced by the ADAR1 gene mutations.
Role of foods in irregular aggravation of skin lesions in children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: UENISHI Toshiaki , SUGIURA Hisashi , TANAKA Toshihiro , UEHARA Masami
Published: July 2008

Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease that especially affects children and adolescents. Many environmental factors have been recognized as relevant in aggravating skin lesions of the disease. However, it remains to be determined whether foods play a role in worsening of skin lesions in children with atopic dermatitis. In the present study, we investigated whether foods play a role in irregular aggravation of skin lesions in children with the disease. The study population consisted of 69 patients aged 3–15 years with atopic dermatitis. They were hospitalized and open challenge tests were performed with suspected foods. Photographs of representative skin lesion sites were taken at baseline and before and after the challenge. We determined challenge‐positive foods by evaluating the comparable before/after challenge photographs. One to three (average, 1.9) challenge‐positive foods were confirmed in 52 (75%) of the 69 patients examined. Predominant offending foods were chocolate, cheese and yogurt. Specific immunoglobulin E values to offending foods were mostly negative. We asked patients to exclude challenge‐positive foods from their diets. They were then discharged and followed up for 3 months at our outpatient clinic. Exclusion of the offending foods for 3 months brought about a remarkable improvement in the disease. These results suggest that foods play an important role in irregular aggravation of skin lesions in children with atopic dermatitis.
Prevalence of skin diseases among pediatric patients in Turkey
Authors: TAMER Emine , ILHAN Mustafa N. , POLAT Muhterem , LENK Nurdan , ALLI Nuran
Published: July 2008

The pediatric population is composed of persons under 16 years of age, and few studies are available on the dermatological diseases of this group. In the present study, data on a total of 6300 pediatric patients admitted between the years 2004–2006 were analyzed. Hospital‐based patient registry records were used for data collection. The data were analyzed according to age, sex and time of admittance. A female preponderance (53%) was observed, and adolescents (12–16 years old) constituted the largest group within the patient population (47.6%). A total of 125 dermatoses were recorded. Acne vulgaris was the most prevalent dermatosis (12.4%), followed by atopic dermatitis (11.8%), contact dermatitis (11.3%), warts (9.5%), seborrheic dermatitis (4.3%) and impetigo (4.1%). Atopic dermatitis was the most frequently seen dermatosis in both infants and preschool‐age children, whereas contact dermatitis was more prevalent in school‐age children, and acne vulgaris was more prevalent in the adolescent group. The frequencies of some diseases showed seasonal variations. Acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, xerosis and alopecia areata were more common in winter. In contrast, insect bites, vitiligo, dyshidrotic eczema, impetigo and tinea corporis were more common in summer. Studies of the pediatric population, which constitutes the cornerstone of the community, can play an important role in determining the policies of protective medicine and public health. New studies will help us to better understand the frequency of dermatological diseases in the pediatric population according to age, gender and season, and take precautions with regard to these conditions.
Expression of nestin in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in comparison to dermatofibroma
Authors: MORI Toru , MISAGO Noriyuki , YAMAMOTO Osamu , TODA Shuji , NARISAWA Yutaka
Published: July 2008

Making a differential diagnosis to distinguish dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) from dermatofibroma (DF) is occasionally difficult. In those instances, CD34 and factor XIIIa have been used as valuable differential markers. The histogenesis of DFSP, however, remains uncertain and controversial, although it is generally thought to be a neuromesenchymal neoplasm. Nestin is an intermediate filament protein that was first observed in neuroectodermal stem cells. We investigated the expression of nestin in order to distinguish between DFSP and DF in combination with the use of conventional markers, CD34 and factor XIIIa. The nestin expression was investigated in tissue specimens from 16 DFSP cases and 30 DF cases. The expression of other differential markers such as CD34, factor XIIIa, CD163 and CD10 was also observed in these samples. Fifteen (94%) of 16 cases of DFSP showed the expression of nestin, whereas only four (13%) of 30 cases of DF showed the expression of nestin. Most of the DFSP cases showed a diffuse positive reaction in more than half of the tumor cells. In contrast, DF cases with nestin expression showed a partial positive reaction. Nestin is considered to be a useful and additional marker in combination with CD34, factor XIIIa and CD163 in order to distinguish between DFSP and DF. The frequent expression of nestin in DFSP may therefore indicate that DFSP is derived from putative, multipotent neuromesenchymal cells.1
Dermatological legal claims in Japan
Authors: OGAWA Sachiko , ISOGAWA Naoyuki , USHIRO Shin , AYUZAWA Junko , FURUE Masutaka
Published: July 2008

Health‐care safety management has recently been highlighted for patient safety. However, specialist‐based risks in clinical settings have hardly been discussed in Japan so far. A review of dermatological legal claims may delineate these risks. This study examined court precedents from the databases “Courts in Japan” and LEX/DB. Thirty‐four dermatology‐related civil cases were found from 1968–2006. Of the 34 cases, 32 (94%) were judged and two (6%) were retried. Of these 32 cases, 11 (34%) were appealed to higher courts. Among the 34 litigations, the defendants of eight (23%) were dermatology specialists, 20 (59%) were non‐dermatologists and six (18%) of unknown specialty. The defendants’ negligence was determined at either level in court in 25 of the 34 cases. The negligence in these 25 cases was categorized into five groups: (i) delayed diagnosis (none); (ii) complication during diagnosis procedure (one, 4%); (iii) inappropriate treatment (nine, 36%); (iv) complication during treatment procedure (10, 40%); and (v) insufficient informed consent (five, 20%). The present study may help to improve strategies for health‐care safety management in the dermatological field in Japan.
Case of linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis associated with acquired hemophilia
Authors: ARAKAKI Osao , YAMAMOTO Yu‐ichi , AWAZAWA Ryoko , NONAKA Kimiko , TAIRA Kiyohito , ASATO Yutaka , HAGIWARA Keisuke , OYAMA Bungo , ISHII Norito , HASHIMOTO Takashi , UEZATO Hiroshi
Published: July 2008

Linear immunoglobulin (Ig)A bullous dermatosis is a rare autoimmune subepidermal bullous dermatosis caused by circulating IgA autoantibodies directed against the antigens at the basement membrane zone. Most linear IgA bullous dermatosis cases are idiopathic, but some are associated with the use of certain drugs, infections, lymphoproliferative disorders, internal malignancies, autoimmune disorders, collagen diseases or, very rarely, other skin diseases, including autoimmune bullous diseases. Acquired hemophilia is also rare; it is a coagulation disease caused by anti‐factor VIII IgG antibodies. Acquired hemophilia has been reported to be associated with malignant tumors, pregnancy or postpartum, drug reactions, collagen diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and skin diseases such as psoriasis and pemphigus. We report a case of hemophilia acquired during the course of linear IgA bullous dermatosis and review reported cases of autoimmune bullous dermatoses associated with acquired hemophilia.
Successful treatment with bosentan for refractory digital ulcers in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: NAGAI Yayoi , SHIMIZU Akira , ISHIKAWA Osamu
Published: July 2008

We report a 32‐year‐old woman with a 12‐year history of systemic lupus erythematosus. Physical examination revealed indurated plaques with small ulcers on her extremities and trunk, which were histologically diagnosed as lupus erythematosus profundus. On her arms and knees, multiple small calcified nodules were noted in the dermis and subcutis. An elevated level of anti‐phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies was noted. She had been suffering from digital ulcers on the left fourth finger. Despite conservative therapies, new ulcers appeared on other fingers. After the administration of bosentan, no new lesion has developed. Bosentan, recognized as a choice of treatments for digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis, is worth trying in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with refractory digital ulcers.
Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma on the palm with pulmonary metastases
Authors: NISHIMOTO Junko , AMOH Yasuyuki , NIIYAMA Shiro , TAKASU Hiroshi , KATSUOKA Kensei
Published: July 2008

A 41‐year‐old Japanese male had aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases. He had an asymptomatic, solitary, dome‐shaped, skin‐colored firm nodule on his left palm for half year. The tumor consisted of multiple lobules of anaplastic epithelial cells with central necrosis. The neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for cytokeratin and S‐100 protein. Two years after the lesion was removed, pulmonary nodular lesions were found on chest X‐ray. On histopathological examination, the pulmonary biopsy specimens showed lobular proliferation of acantholytic tumor cells and some ductal structures associated with papillary projections. Five years after the initial removal of the lesion, the patient was referred to our hospital because of a recurrent skin nodule on his left palm. The recurrent skin tumor was found to have lobular proliferation of anaplastic cells. On immunohistochemistry, the pulmonary metastasis and the palmar skin nodules were identical. The tumor was diagnosed as an aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma. This report is a rare case of aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma that was diagnosed based on the histopathology of the pulmonary metastases, which showed ductal structures associated with papillary projections.
Key findings from the WHO collaborative study on substitution therapy for opioid dependence and HIV/AIDS
Authors: Lawrinson Peter , Ali Robert , Buavirat Aumphornpun , Chiamwongpaet Sithisat , Dvoryak Sergey , Habrat Boguslaw , Jie Shi , Mardiati Ratna , Mokri Azarakhsh , Moskalewicz Jacek , Newcombe David , Poznyak Vladimir , Subata Emilis , Uchtenhagen Ambrose , Utami Diah S. , Vial Robyn , Zhao Chengzheng
Published: July 2008

Aims  Opioid substitution treatment has been studied extensively in industrialized countries, but there are relatively few studies in developing/transitional countries. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of opioid substitution treatment (OST) in less resourced countries.

Design  Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting  Purposively selected OST sites in Asia (China, Indonesia, Thailand), Eastern Europe (Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine), the Middle East (Iran) and Australia.

Participants  Seven hundred and twenty‐six OST entrants.

Measurements  Participants were interviewed at treatment entry, 3 and 6 months. Standardized instruments assessed drug use, treatment history, physical and psychological health, quality of life, criminal involvement, blood‐borne virus (BBV) risk behaviours and prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C.

Findings  Participants were predominantly male, aged in their early 30s and had attained similar levels of education. Seroprevalence rates for HIV were highest in Thailand (52%), followed by Indonesia (28%) and Iran (26%), and lowest in Australia (2.6%). Treatment retention at 6 months was uniformly high, averaging approximately 70%. All countries demonstrated significant and marked reductions in reported heroin and other illicit opioid use; HIV (and other BBV) exposure risk behaviours associated with injection drug users (IDU) and criminal activity, and demonstrated substantial improvement in their physical and mental health and general wellbeing over the course of the study.

Conclusions  OST can achieve similar outcomes consistently in a culturally diverse range of settings in low‐ and middle‐income countries to those reported widely in high‐income countries. It is associated with a substantial reduction in HIV exposure risk associated with IDU across nearly all the countries. Results support the expansion of opioid substitution treatment.
Mitigating risky sexual behaviors among Russian narcology hospital patients: the PREVENT (Partnership to Reduce the Epidemic Via Engagement in Narcology Treatment) randomized controlled trial
Authors: Samet Jeffrey H. , Krupitsky Evgeny M. , Cheng Debbie M. , Raj Anita , Egorova Valentina Y. , Levenson Suzette , Meli Seville , Bridden Carly , Verbitskaya Elena V. , Kamb Mary L. , Zvartau Edwin E.
Published: July 2008

Aim  To assess the effectiveness of a sexual risk reduction intervention in the Russian narcology hospital setting.

Design, setting and participants  This was a randomized controlled trial from October 2004 to December 2005 among patients with alcohol and/or heroin dependence from two narcology hospitals in St Petersburg, Russia.

Intervention  Intervention subjects received two personalized sexual behavior counseling sessions plus three telephone booster sessions. Control subjects received usual addiction treatment, which did not include sexual behavior counseling. All received a research assessment and condoms at baseline.

Measurements  Primary outcomes were percentage of safe sex episodes (number of times condoms were used ÷ by number of sexual episodes) and no unprotected sex (100% condom use or abstinence) during the previous 3 months, assessed at 6 months.

Findings  Intervention subjects reported higher median percentage of safe sex episodes (unadjusted median difference 12.7%; P = 0.01; adjusted median difference 23%, P = 0.07); a significant difference was not detected for the outcome no unprotected sex in the past 3 months [unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–3.1; adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.7–3.3].

Conclusions  Among Russian substance‐dependent individuals, sexual behavior counseling during addiction treatment should be considered as one potential component of efforts to decrease risky sexual behaviors in this HIV at‐risk population.
Venlafaxine dependence in a patient with a history of alcohol and amineptine misuse
Authors: Quaglio Gianluca , Schifano Fabrizio , Lugoboni Fabio
Published: July 2008

Background  Venlafaxine is an inhibitor of neuronal serotonin and noradrenaline re‐uptake and a weak inhibitor of dopamine re‐uptake. There was no indication of problems of abuse/dependence during the clinical trials.

Case description  A 53‐year‐old client with a history of alcohol and amineptine misuse and a long history of recurrent depression, for which he was prescribed venlafaxine tablets. Over time, he increased the dosage to 50 tablets daily (3750 mg). Large venlafaxine dosages produced amphetamine‐like effects, due possibly to the related increase in dopamine turnover. Once hospitalized for detoxification, the patient had a symptomatology which was consistent with a serotonergic discontinuation syndrome.

Conclusions  Physicians should be aware that patients with a history of drug and alcohol abuse might develop venlafaxine dependence.
Relationship between white matter volume and cognitive performance during adolescence: effects of age, sex and risk for drug use
Authors: Silveri Marisa M , Tzilos Golfo K. , Yurgelun‐Todd Deborah A.
Published: July 2008

Aim  Familial drug abuse history has been shown to have an impact on cognitive development during adolescence. The present study examined the relationship between white matter volume and cognitive processing speed in adolescents with and without a familial substance abuse history.

Participants  The sample comprised 33 female and male adolescents stratified by risk (family history positive, FH+) and low‐risk (FH−) groups.

Measurements  Gray and white matter volumes were measured by segmenting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. The neurocognitive test battery included tests that assessed processing speed, verbal ability and mental flexibility.

Findings  Age‐related differences in neuropsychological functioning were seen but did not differ by risk group status, although there was some evidence for an age × gender effect. Information processing speed (digit symbol and Stroop word color naming) was correlated significantly with white matter volume; however, this pattern was observed only in FH− females. Cognitive performance and tissue volumes did not differ significantly between risk groups.

Conclusions  Age‐related differences in neuropsychological functioning were seen that might, in larger samples, prove to be related to risk for substance abuse in adolescents who have not yet initiated drug use.
The effects of different analgesic regimens on transcutaneous CO2 after major surgery
Authors: McCormack J. G. , Kelly K. P. , Wedgwood J. , Lyon R.
Published: July 2008

Ventilatory impairment may be detected by a rise in transcutaneous carbon dioxide levels (PtcCO2). This observational study assessed the clinical utility of PtcCO2 monitoring in the postoperative period, and quantified the effect of different peri‐operative analgesic regimens on postoperative respiratory function. Following pre‐operative baseline PtcCO2 recording, continuous PtcCO2 monitoring was performed in 30 patients after major colorectal surgery for up to 24 h. Mean postoperative values of PtcCO2 were 1.3 kPa (95% CI 1.0–1.5) higher than pre‐operative values (p < 0.001). Patients receiving intravenous opioid patient controlled analgesia had a significantly higher elevation in postoperative PtcCO2 compared to patients receiving epidural infusion analgesia, 1.8 kPa (CI 1.5–2.1) vs 0.7 kPa (CI 0.5–0.9) respectively (p < 0.001). The mean rise in PtcCO2 following a single intravenous bolus of morphine delivered via PCA was 0.05 kPa (SEm 0.01), peaking at 12 min post‐dose. The transcutaneous capnometer successfully recorded data for 98% of the total time it was applied to patients.
Significance of the injection timing of ephedrine to reduce the onset time of rocuronium
Authors: Han D. W. , Chun D.‐H. , Kweon T. D. , Shin Y.‐S.
Published: July 2008

We postulated that the onset time of rocuronium can be accelerated effectively if it is administered at the time when the effect of ephedrine on cardiac output has reached its maximum. Seventy‐five male, anaesthetised, patients were randomly allocated to three groups. Ephedrine 70 μg.kg−1 was administered at 4 min (Early) or 30 s (Late) before administering rocuronium. The control group received saline at 4 min and at 30 s before rocuronium. The onset time of rocuronium in the Early group was significantly shorter than in the Control group, but there was no difference in the onset time between the Late and Control groups. There were no significant differences in the intubating conditions of the three groups. Ephedrine 70 μg.kg−1 can reduce the onset time of rocuronium effectively if rocuronium is administered at 4 min following the ephedrine injection, when the effect of ephedrine on cardiac output is expected to reach its maximum.
Anaesthesia for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy
Authors: Yao C.‐L. , Trinh T. , Wong G. T. C. , Irwin M. G.
Published: July 2008

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a treatment modality for tissue ablation with an expanding range of indications. It is helpful to understand its basic principles, the physiological changes induced, and the pathophysiology of the patient groups undergoing HIFU. HIFU is usually performed in a radiology suite, and requires co‐ordinated efforts between the radiologist/surgeon and anaesthetist during ablation therapy to enhance accuracy of treatment and patient safety. Planning of the equipment, ventilation strategies and drugs needed during the procedure would reduce potential anaesthetic and procedure‐related complications.
Distinguishing salt welds from shale detachments on the inner Texas shelf, western Gulf of Mexico
Authors: McDonnell Angela , Hudec Michael R. , Jackson Martin P. A.
Published: July 2008

Detachment surfaces have important implications for structural restoration, burial‐history and thermal modeling, hydrocarbon migration, and diagenesis. We present criteria to distinguish salt welds from shale detachments based on geophysical data from the inner Texas shelf. Here, the Paleogene detachment has been variously interpreted as salt or shale by different people. A newly reprocessed 8200 km2 (3200 mi2) 3D seismic volume provides excellent imaging of this detachment, which separates growth‐faulted Oligocene–Miocene strata from the underlying, gently folded Cretaceous–Eocene section. Key criteria to evaluate detachment origins include seismic amplitude response, geometry, and relationship to supradetachment and subdetachment reflections. We argue that the detachment is a salt weld because (a) it is imaged as a high‐amplitude, discrete reflection; (b) it has a ramp‐flat geometry, cutting across underlying reflections; (c) it locally forms bowl‐shaped depotroughs interpreted as former diapiric salt feeders; (d) it is overlain by seismically incoherent pods having high‐amplitude tops and bases interpreted as remnant salt; and (e) in the depotroughs associated with former diapiric salt feeders the detachment has hints of upturned strata just beneath (possible halokinetic sequences). The inferred weld represents the evacuated remains of a patchy salt canopy emplaced across the study area during the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene. Preliminary examination beyond our study area suggests that this discontinuous canopy may have extended across most of the modern Texas shelf. Most of the salt was expelled from the canopy by loading from prograding Oligo–Miocene deltaic deposits.
Night, day, sunrise, sunset: do fish under snow and ice recognize the difference?
Authors: JURVELIUS JUHA , MARJOMÄKI TIMO J.
Published: July 2008

1. Although boreal lakes are ice‐covered for several months annually, little is known about the behaviour of fish under ice. To consider the reasons for diel vertical migrations (DVM) it is important to compare periods under ice as opposed to under open water. Echosounding provides a tool for non‐intrusive continuous monitoring of fish, even in winter.

2. Changes in the vertical distribution of fish through six 48‐h periods were monitored using a stationary, mounted echosounder that beamed vertically either from the bottom up or from the surface down from February to April, 2003. The up‐beaming and down‐beaming transducers were run alternately for 24 h each over the 48‐h period. Standard echo analysis software was used to detect fish traces and estimate the vertical and temporal distribution of fish abundance. Fish were sampled with a winter seine.

3. Prominent diel vertical migration in response to changing light level was detected throughout the study period (late winter to spring). Fish were highest in the water column at sunset and sunrise. In daylight, most detected fish were well below 10‐m depth. The number of fish detected was greatest during the night when they occurred throughout almost the whole water column, sometimes with a considerable number very close to the ice. Fish were mostly vendace and whitefish.

4. It became evident from data from the up‐beaming transducer that at night fish may occupy the layer closest to the surface. These fish would not have been detected if we had only used the down‐beaming transducer. The overall pattern of DVM in winter was very similar to that in summer. The results support the suggestion that DVM is a genetically fixed behavioural trait responding to the contemporary level of illumination.
Impacts of agricultural land use on ecosystem structure and whole‐stream metabolism of tropical Cerrado streams
Authors: GÜCKER BJÖRN , BOËCHAT IOLA G. , GIANI ALESSANDRA
Published: July 2008

1. The tropical Cerrado savannah, the second‐largest South American biome, is undergoing the most rapid land‐use change in South America, including a wholesale shift from native vegetation to pasture and cropland. However, the consequences of this development for aquatic ecosystem functioning remain unclear. In this study, we investigated how agriculture affects chemical, physical and biological characteristics of headwater streams in the Brazilian Cerrado, and how these changes relate to an important ecosystem function, i.e. ecosystem metabolism.

2. Three paired samplings of pristine and agricultural streams were conducted considering the most abundant morphotypes of Cerrado streams. Nutrient concentrations, stream morphometry and hydrodynamics, sediment transport, as well as benthic microbial biomass (BMB), and its chlorophyll a (Chl‐a) content were measured. In parallel, whole‐stream gross primary production (GPP) and community respiration (CR) were estimated using a diel open‐channel dissolved O2 change technique.

3. Agricultural streams had consistently higher nutrient concentrations, less variability in channel morphology, smaller channel cross‐sectional areas, smaller transient storage zones, higher current velocities and higher boundary shear stresses than pristine streams. At base flow, agricultural streams exhibited a midstream band of shifting sediments, while pristine streams had stable sediments. Both agricultural and pristine streams were dominated by thick microbial mats. Due to differences in hydrodynamics and sediment stability, these microbial mats covered the entire stream bed in pristine streams, but were restricted to the stream margins in agricultural streams.

4. As a result, BMB of agricultural streams was diminished by a factor of 7.5 compared to pristine streams. Interestingly, CR of agricultural streams was diminished only by a factor of 2.0, because higher BMB‐specific respiration efficiencies, potentially due to increased nutrient availability, compensated for lower BMB due to physical stress. Similarly, the 3.3‐fold elevated GPP in agricultural compared to pristine streams was only to a minor degree due to increased benthic Chl‐a, but mainly a result of 2.4‐fold higher Chl‐a‐specific primary production efficiencies, potentially due to increased nutrient availability.

5. In conclusion, agriculture impacted the studied Cerrado streams through two antagonistic mechanisms: physical stress resulted in decreased BMB and whole‐stream CR by preventing BMB accrual in the central streambed, but higher nutrient availability led to increased primary production and respiration efficiencies in marginal zones, as well as higher whole‐stream GPP. Finally, measures of whole‐stream metabolism were useful indicators of stream ecosystem health and allowed for the differential assessment of the effects of physical stress and eutrophication.
Virulent Salmonella enterica infections can be exacerbated by concomitant infection of the host with a live attenuated S. enterica vaccine via Toll‐like receptor 4‐dependent interleukin‐10 production with the involvement of both TRIF and MyD88
Authors: Foster Gemma L. , Barr Tom A. , Grant Andrew J. , McKinley Trevelyan J. , Bryant Clare E. , MacDonald Andrew , Gray David , Yamamoto Masahiro , Akira Shizuo , Maskell Duncan J. , Mastroeni Pietro
Published: July 2008

During systemic disease in mice, Salmonella enterica grows intracellularly within discrete foci of infection in the spleen and liver. In concomitant infections, foci containing different S. enterica strains are spatially separated. We have investigated whether functional interactions between bacterial populations within the same host can occur despite the known spatial separation of the foci and independence of growth of salmonellae residing in different foci. In this study we have demonstrated that bacterial numbers of virulent S. enterica serovar Typhimurium C5 strain in mouse tissues can be increased by the presence of the attenuated aroA S. Typhimurium SL3261 vaccine strain in the same tissue. Disease exacerbation does not require simultaneous coinjection of the attenuated bacteria. SL3261 can be administered up to 48 hr after or 24 hr before the administration of C5 and still determine higher tissue numbers of the virulent bacteria. This indicates that intravenous administration of a S. enterica vaccine strain could potentially exacerbate an established infection with wild‐type bacteria. These data also suggest that the severity of an infection with a virulent S. enterica strain can be increased by the prior administration of a live attenuated vaccine strain if infection occurs within 48 hr of vaccination. Exacerbation of the growth of C5 requires Toll‐like receptor 4‐dependent interleukin‐10 production with the involvement of both Toll/interleukin‐1 receptor‐domain‐containing adaptor inducing interferon‐β and myeloid differentiation factor 88.