bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Getting into Hospitals in a Big Way”: The Corporate Transformation of Hospital Care in Australia
Authors: Barnett J Ross , Brown Laurie J
Published: March 2006

In many countries the provision of hospital services has changed from a cottage industry with many small operators to an industry in which large corporate chains are now starting to predominate. Transnational corporations have increasingly invested in the provision of hospital services when traditional areas of investment have become no longer attractive. Although corporate involvement in the provision of hospital services has become an issue of considerable significance in recent years, geographers have paid little attention to such trends. Within Australia, changes in access to capital and shifts in investment, the role of the state regulatory environment, and, to a lesser extent, the emergence of corporate managerialism are the key factors underpinning corporate transformation. A case study of Mayne Health Ltd, formerly the largest corporate provider of hospital care, is used to illustrate such trends. The corporate transformation has been geographically uneven at both the state and local levels and reflects local variation especially in state regulatory environments and the extent to which corporate providers have entered into new public–private partnerships at the local level. We suggest that the implications of such trends are far from clear and that more research is needed on this fundamental restructuring of hospital services.
Culture and Development: Taking Culture Seriously in Development for Andean Indigenous People
Authors: Radcliffe Sarah A , Laurie Nina
Published: March 2006

In this paper we develop a critical analysis of the new paradigm of culture and development, in which culture is taken seriously as a factor in development thinking and policy. Our analysis aims to understand how and where concepts of culture have come into development thinking and planning. Viewing cultures as multiple and development as a set of culturally embedded practices and meanings, our approach raises issues about how development paradigms have adopted explicit concepts of culture and/or carried within them implicit cultural norms. In this paper we develop a postcolonial and poststructuralist account sensitive to the historically and geographically variable and contested nature of the connections of culture with development, and analyze the ways in which ‘culturally appropriate development’ is thought and practiced in the Andes.
The geochemistry of soils on a catena on sedimentary rock at Nam Phong, north-east Thailand
Authors: Thanachit Suphicha , Suddhiprakarn Anchalee , Kheoruenromne Irb , Gilkes Robert J.
Published: March 2006

The elemental composition of size fractions of soils on the Nam Phong catena, north-east Thailand, has been determined. The catena can be divided into 6 geomorphic positions: summit, shoulder, upper midslope, lower midslope, footslope and toeslope positions where soils have developed on sedimentary rocks under a tropical savannah climate. Factor analysis was used to interpret the large dataset and to determine profile and spatial trends in geochemistry. Silica is the major component of the soils on this catena, reflecting the presence of much quartz in the silt and sand fractions in soils at all landscape positions. Smaller amount of Al and Fe are also present; these elements are associated with the presence of kaolin and iron oxides. Factor analysis shows systematic differences in chemical composition between soils on higher positions and the soil on the lowest position in the landscape. Small variations in the chemical compositions of the whole soil, fine sand and silt between upslope soils are recognised. Soils on the summit, shoulder, midslope, and footslope exhibit little within-profile variation in chemical composition and the compositions of the profiles overlap closely. The Al affinity group (Al, Co, Ca, Mg, K, Sr, Cs, Rb, Ga, Zn, Ni, Li, Mn, Ti) increases in abundance in the toeslope soil, which is clearly different in chemical composition from the soils on higher positions. For the clay fraction, the differences in concentration of both the Si group (Si, Ni, Mn, Co, Mg, K, Ba, Pb) and Ca group (Ca, Zn, Cu, Sr, Cr, P) result in soils on toeslope and footslope positions being distinctly different from upslope soils, which have similar compositions. Soils at all positions show moderate variation in chemical composition of the clay with depth. The small variations in the chemical compositions of upslope soils on the Nam Phong catena are due to different degrees of weathering of the same parent rock, whereas soil on the toeslope position has a quite different elemental composition, possibly due to a different parent rock and the authigenesis of minerals in this landscape position where leached ions accumulate.
Speciation distribution of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in contaminated Phaeozem in north-east China using single and sequential extraction procedures
Authors: Guo G. L. , Zhou Q. X. , Koval P. V. , Belogolova G. A.
Published: March 2006

Knowledge of the total content of trace metals is not enough to fully assess the environmental impact of polluted soils. For this reason, the determination of metal speciation in soil is important to evaluate its mobilisation capacity and behaviour in the environment. The sequential extraction procedure was used to separate 4 heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) from contaminated Phaeozem in north-east China into 5 operationally defined geochemical species: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe–Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, and residues. Neutral salts, dilute acids, and chelating reagents were used as single extractants for the functionally defined speciation. In the sequential extraction, the residual fraction was the most abundant pool for Pb, Cu, and Zn. A major portion (40–84%) of Pb, Cu, and Zn was associated with the residue. The speciation distribution of Pb, Cu, and Zn in the surface samples was similar to that in the subsurface, with residues > bound to organic matter > bound to Fe–Mn oxides > bound to carbonates > exchangeable. A significant amount (32–47%) of Cd persisted in the potential availability of the exchangeable fraction. The main part of Cd fractionation in the surface soil samples comprised exchangeable, carbonate, and Fe–Mn oxide fractions, whereas in the subsurface it comprised the residual and exchangeable phases. EDTA can be regarded as an extractant for assessing the plant-available species of Cd, Cu, and Zn; NH4Cl released electrostatically weakly bound metals and was used to estimate the mobile species. Assuming that metal mobility and bioavailability are related to their solubility and the contents in typical plants in the contaminated Phaeozem, Cd would be the main potential risk to animal health and groundwater safety in the area.
CpG-induced tyrosine phosphorylation occurs via a TLR9-independent mechanism and is required for cytokine secretion
Authors: Sanjuan Miguel A. , Rao Navin , Lai Kuei-Tai A. , Gu Yin , Sun Siquan , Fuchs Anja , Fung-Leung Wai-Ping , Colonna Marco , Karlsson Lars
Published: March 2006

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize molecular patterns preferentially expressed by pathogens. In endosomes, TLR9 is activated by unmethylated bacterial DNA, resulting in proinflammatory cytokine secretion via the adaptor protein MyD88. We demonstrate that CpG oligonucleotides activate a TLR9-independent pathway initiated by two Src family kinases, Hck and Lyn, which trigger a tyrosine phosphorylation–mediated signaling cascade. This cascade induces actin cytoskeleton reorganization, resulting in cell spreading, adhesion, and motility. CpG-induced actin polymerization originates at the plasma membrane, rather than in endosomes. Chloroquine, an inhibitor of CpG-triggered cytokine secretion, blocked TLR9/MyD88-dependent cytokine secretion as expected but failed to inhibit CpG-induced Src family kinase activation and its dependent cellular responses. Knock down of Src family kinase expression or the use of specific kinase inhibitors blocked MyD88-dependent signaling and cytokine secretion, providing evidence that tyrosine phosphorylation is both CpG induced and an upstream requirement for the engagement of TLR9. The Src family pathway intersects the TLR9–MyD88 pathway by promoting the tyrosine phosphorylation of TLR9 and the recruitment of Syk to this receptor.
CHMP5 is essential for late endosome function and down-regulation of receptor signaling during mouse embryogenesis
Authors: Shim Jae-Hyuck , Xiao Changchun , Hayden Matthew S. , Lee Ki-Young , Trombetta E. Sergio , Pypaert Marc , Nara Atsuki , Yoshimori Tamotsu , Wilm Bettina , Erdjument-Bromage Hediye , Tempst Paul , Hogan Brigid L.M. , Mellman Ira , Ghosh Sankar
Published: March 2006

Charged MVB protein 5 (CHMP5) is a coiled coil protein homologous to the yeast Vps60/Mos10 gene and other ESCRT-III complex members, although its precise function in either yeast or mammalian cells is unknown. We deleted the CHMP5 gene in mice, resulting in a phenotype of early embryonic lethality, reflecting defective late endosome function and dysregulation of signal transduction. Chmp5−/− cells exhibit enlarged late endosomal compartments that contain abundant internal vesicles expressing proteins that are characteristic of late endosomes and lysosomes. This is in contrast to ESCRT-III mutants in yeast, which are defective in multivesicular body (MVB) formation. The degradative capacity of Chmp5−/− cells was reduced, and undigested proteins from multiple pathways accumulated in enlarged MVBs that failed to traffic their cargo to lysosomes. Therefore, CHMP5 regulates late endosome function downstream of MVB formation, and the loss of CHMP5 enhances signal transduction by inhibiting lysosomal degradation of activated receptors.
The epithelial–mesenchymal transition: new insights in signaling, development, and disease
Authors: Lee Jonathan M. , Dedhar Shoukat , Kalluri Raghu , Thompson Erik W.
Published: March 2006

The conversion of an epithelial cell to a mesenchymal cell is critical to metazoan embryogenesis and a defining structural feature of organ development. Current interest in this process, which is described as an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), stems from its developmental importance and its involvement in several adult pathologies. Interest and research in EMT are currently at a high level, as seen by the attendance at the recent EMT meeting in Vancouver, Canada (October 1–3, 2005). The meeting, which was hosted by The EMT International Association, was the second international EMT meeting, the first being held in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia in October 2003. The EMT International Association was formed in 2002 to provide an international body for those interested in EMT and the reverse process, mesenchymal–epithelial transition, and, most importantly, to bring together those working on EMT in development, cancer, fibrosis, and pathology. These themes continued during the recent meeting in Vancouver.

Discussion at the Vancouver meeting spanned several areas of research, including signaling pathway activation of EMT and the transcription factors and gene targets involved. Also covered in detail was the basic cell biology of EMT and its role in cancer and fibrosis, as well as the identification of new markers to facilitate the observation of EMT in vivo. This is particularly important because the potential contribution of EMT during neoplasia is the subject of vigorous scientific debate (Tarin, D., E.W. Thompson, and D.F. Newgreen. 2005. Cancer Res. 65:5996–6000; Thompson, E.W., D.F. Newgreen, and D. Tarin. 2005. Cancer Res. 65:5991–5995).
Mechanism of β4 Subunit Modulation of BK Channels
Authors: Wang Bin , Rothberg Brad S. , Brenner Robert
Published: March 2006

Large-conductance (BK-type) Ca2+-activated potassium channels are activated by membrane depolarization and cytoplasmic Ca2+. BK channels are expressed in a broad variety of cells and have a corresponding diversity in properties. Underlying much of the functional diversity is a family of four tissue-specific accessory subunits (β1–β4). Biophysical characterization has shown that the β4 subunit confers properties of the so-called “type II” BK channel isotypes seen in brain. These properties include slow gating kinetics and resistance to iberiotoxin and charybdotoxin blockade. In addition, the β4 subunit reduces the apparent voltage sensitivity of channel activation and has complex effects on apparent Ca2+ sensitivity. Specifically, channel activity at low Ca2+ is inhibited, while at high Ca2+, activity is enhanced. The goal of this study is to understand the mechanism underlying β4 subunit action in the context of a dual allosteric model for BK channel gating. We observed that β4's most profound effect is a decrease in Po (at least 11-fold) in the absence of calcium binding and voltage sensor activation. However, β4 promotes channel opening by increasing voltage dependence of Po-V relations at negative membrane potentials. In the context of the dual allosteric model for BK channels, we find these properties are explained by distinct and opposing actions of β4 on BK channels. β4 reduces channel opening by decreasing the intrinsic gating equilibrium (L0), and decreasing the allosteric coupling between calcium binding and voltage sensor activation (E). However, β4 has a compensatory effect on channel opening following depolarization by shifting open channel voltage sensor activation (Vho) to more negative membrane potentials. The consequence is that β4 causes a net positive shift of the G-V relationship (relative to α subunit alone) at low calcium. At higher calcium, the contribution by Vho and an increase in allosteric coupling to Ca2+ binding (C) promotes a negative G-V shift of α+β4 channels as compared to α subunits alone. This manner of modulation predicts that type II BK channels are downregulated by β4 at resting voltages through effects on L0. However, β4 confers a compensatory effect on voltage sensor activation that increases channel opening during depolarization.
Roles of K149, G352, and H401 in the Channel Functions of ClC-0: Testing the Predictions from Theoretical Calculations
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Dong , Li Yong , Yu Wei-Ping , Chen Tsung-Yu
Published: March 2006

The ClC family of Cl− channels and transporters comprises membrane proteins ubiquitously present in species ranging from prokaryotes to mammals. The recently solved structures of the bacterial ClC proteins have provided a good model to guide the functional experiments for the eukaryotic Cl− channels. Theoretical calculations based on the bacterial ClC structures have identified several residues critical for the Cl− binding energy in the Cl− transport pathway. It was speculated that the corresponding residues in eukaryotic Cl− channels might play similar roles for the channel functions. In this study, we made a series of mutations in three such residues in eukaryotic ClC Cl− channels (K149, G352, and H401 in ClC-0) and studied the functional consequences on the channel properties. A cysteine modification approach was also employed to evaluate the electrostatic effects of the charge placed at these three positions. The experimental results revealed that among the three residues tested, K149 plays the most important role in controlling both the gating and the permeation functions of ClC-0. On the other hand, mutations of H401 alter the channel conductance but not the gating properties, while mutations of G352 result in very little functional consequence. The mutation of K149 into a neutral residue leucine (K149L) shifts the activation curve and leads to flickery channel openings. The anion permeability ratios derived from bi-ionic experiments are also significantly altered in that the selectivity of Cl− over other anions is decreased. Furthermore, removing the positive charge at this position reduces and increases, respectively, the accessibility of the negatively and positively charged methane thiosulfonate reagents to the pore. The control of the accessibility to charged MTS reagents and the regulation of the anion permeation support the idea that K149 exerts an electrostatic effect on the channel function, confirming the prediction from computational studies.
Absence of veno‐occlussive disease in a cohort of multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation with targeted busulfan dosage
Authors: Clopés A. , Sureda A. , Sierra J. , Queraltó J. M. , Broto A. , Farré R. , Moreno E. , Brunet S. , Martino R. , Mangues M. A.
Published: March 2006

Abstract:  Background: Plasma concentrations of oral busulfan (BU) were measured in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) with a double alkylating conditioning protocol in order to individualise doses of BU based on individual pharmacokinetic parameters and to reduce toxicities related to BU exposure. Patients and methods: Forty‐four consecutive patients with MM participating in the co‐operative Spanish protocol were prospectively evaluated. Conditioning regimen prior to autologous infusion consisted of BU followed by melphalan. BU pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated for each patient after the first dose based on measured concentrations and subsequent doses were modified as necessary to achieve target exposure. Results: Mean BU exposure (AUCss) (±DS) before dosage modification range from 3192 to 12 180 ng h/mL. Twenty‐six out of 44 (59%) patients required dose adjustment. None of the patients developed hepatic veno‐occlusive disease (VOD). Grade ≥ II oropharyngeal mucositis was observed in the majority of patients (95%) and the severity of mucositis increased with increasing average steady‐state BU plasma concentration. There were four treatment‐related deaths: two patients died from multiorgan failure and two of respiratory infections. Of the remaining 40 patients, 15 were in complete remission with negative immunofixation, 21 in partial remission and four in stable disease 3 months after ASCT. Conclusions: The results of the present study show the variability in BU pharmacokinetic parameters and suggest the possible relationship between toxicities and BU exposure. Individualising BU dosage in MM patients undergoing ASCT we observed the absence of VOD.
Cytokine expression profiles of bovine lymph nodes: effects ofMycobacterium bovisinfection and bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccination
Authors: Widdison S , Schreuder L J , Villarreal-Ramos B , Howard C J , Watson M , Coffey T J
Published: March 2006

Cytokine expression in lymph nodes from cattle inoculated intranasally with Mycobacterium bovis was compared to that of non-infected animals using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effect of M. bovis infection, 4 months post-challenge, was to suppress the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-6. Expression of interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12 was maintained. Animals vaccinated with bacille Calmette–Guérin responded differently to challenge with M. bovis. In particular, no decrease in expression of IL-4 or IL-6 was observed following challenge of vaccinated animals and decreased IFN-γ was detected. Also, vaccinated animals had higher levels of IL-4 and IL-10 transcripts compared to unvaccinated animals following challenge. These changes in cytokine expression levels led to a significant shift in the IFN-γ/IL-4 or IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio within the lymph node following challenge. Challenged animals generally showed a strong Th1 bias that was not seen in animals vaccinated prior to challenge. An inverse correlation between the level of pathology and bacterial load within the lymph node and the expression of IL-4, IL-10 and TNF was also observed. These results suggest that in the lymph nodes of cattle with established tuberculosis and a persisting bacterial infection, maintenance of the pro-inflammatory response in combination with a suppressed anti-inflammatory response may control the infection but contribute to host-induced tissue damage. Vaccination, which reduces the bacterial load and consequently the IFN-γ response, may result in less suppression of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Enhanced immunogenicity and antitumour effects with heterologous prime-boost regime using vaccines based on MG7-Ag mimotope of gastric cancer
Authors: Lin T , Liang S , Meng F , Han Q , Guo C , Sun L , Chen Y , Liu Z , Yu Z , Xie H , Ding J , Fan D
Published: March 2006

MG7-Ag, gastric cancer-associated antigen, has been shown to be immunogenic and has been used as marker molecule for prognosis. In a previous study, we developed an oral DNA vaccine based on MG7-Ag mimotope. However, we failed to detect cellular immune response using the oral MG7-Ag mimotope DNA vaccine. To induce significant T cell response, we developed a recombinant adenovirus vaccine based on MG7-Ag mimotope and evaluated the efficacy and protective effects of heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol with an oral DNA vaccine previously developed. We found that both vaccines were able to elicit a significant humoral response against MG7-Ag, while the highest serum titre MG7 antibody was detected in mice immunized with the heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol. Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay demonstrated that the heterologous prime-boost immunization strategy was more efficient in inducing T cell response than the homologous prime-boost strategy. In the tumour challenge assay, 2 of 5 mice immunized with the heterologous prime-boost protocol were tumour free, while none of the mice in homologous prime-boost groups or control groups was tumour free. Those tumour-bearing mice in the heterologous prime-boost regime had smaller tumour masses than their counterparts in the homologous prime-boost groups or control groups. Therefore, our study suggests that vaccines against MG7-Ag induce significant immune response against gastric cancer, and that the heterologous prime-boost protocol using different types of vaccines could achieve better protective effect than the homologous prime-boost protocol.
PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor suppresses mesangial cell proliferation involving STAT3 activation
Authors: Hirai T , Masaki T , Kuratsune M , Yorioka N , Kohno N
Published: March 2006

Proliferation of mesangial cells is a hallmark of glomerular disease, and understanding the regulatory mechanisms is critically important. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mesangial cell proliferation and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and to determine whether the PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI 571 inhibited mesangial cell proliferation via modulation of STAT3. In this study, we investigated for the first time, the glomerular expression of phosphorylated STAT3 in paraffin sections from animals with experimental mesangial proliferative glomeronephritis. Phosphorylated STAT3 colocalized with many proliferating mesangial cells. We also demonstrated that treatment with STI 571 reduced mesangial cell proliferation and phosphorylated STAT3 signalling both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, STI 571 treatment reduced the number of glomerular mesangial cells positive for both phosphorylated STAT3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In summary, phosphorylated STAT3 is strongly expressed during mesangial cell proliferation and STI 571 induced suppression of mesangial cell proliferation involves inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 signalling.
A to G transitions at 260, 386 and 437 in DAZL gene are not associated with spermatogenic failure in Indian population
Authors: Thangaraj K. , Deepa S.R. , Pavani K. , Gupta N. J. , Reddy P. , Reddy A. G. , Chakravarty B. N. , Singh L.
Published: March 2006

The autosomal DAZL (Deleted‐in‐Azoospermic‐Like) gene, mapped to the short arm of the human chromosome 3, is the precursor for the Y‐chromosomal DAZ cluster, which encodes for putative RNA‐binding proteins. Mutations in the DAZL have been reported to be associated with spermatogenic failure in Taiwanese population but not in Caucasians. As there was no study on Indian populations, we have analysed the entire coding sequences of exons 2 and 3 of DAZL in a total of 1010 men from Indian subcontinent, including 660 infertile men with 598 non‐obstructive azoospermia, 62 severe oligozoospermia and 350 normozoospermic fertile control men, to investigate whether mutation(s) in the DAZL is associated with male infertility. Interestingly, none of our samples (1010) showed A386G (T54A) mutation, which was found to be associated with spermatogenic failure in Taiwanese population. In contrast, A260G (T12A) mutation was observed in both infertile and normozoospermic fertile control men, without any significant association with infertile groups (χ2 = 0.342; p = 0.556). Similarly, we have found a novel A437G (I71V) mutation, which is also present in both infertile and normozoospermic fertile control men without any significant difference (χ2 = 0.476; p = 0.490). Our study clearly demonstrates the complete absence of the A386G (T54A) mutation in Indian subcontinent and the other two mutations – A260G (T12A) and A437G (I71V) – observed are polymorpic. Therefore, we conclude that these mutations in the DAZL gene are not associated with male infertility in Indian subcontinent.
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in the treatment of premature ejaculation
Authors: Wang W. F. , Minhas S. , Ralph D. J.
Published: March 2006

To date, there is no FDA‐approved therapy for premature ejaculation (PE). Recently, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5‐Is) have been demonstrated to have encouraging results in the treatment of PE by a few studies. The aim of this review was to assess the updated manuscripts and thereafter present the practical recommendations and possible mechanisms concerning PDE5‐Is for treating PE. Using MEDLINE, we searched and assessed the peer manuscripts published from 1 January 1996 to 1 September 2005 about PDE5‐Is for treating PE. The results show that the number of patients in all the reports is very few and most of the studies do not employ double‐blinded and placebo‐controlled tests, though they are prospective and randomized. Therefore, the results and conclusions might be biased. PDE5‐Is are suggested to be used in PE with old age or associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), or to be employed alone or in combination with selective‐serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) when SSRIs fail to treat PE; behavioural therapy is proposed to be used for preventing the recurrence of PE following withdrawal of PDE5‐Is. In addition, for the PE patient with a definite aetiological cause, the aetiology should be cured first, if PE still exists, followed by PDE‐Is prescription. Possible mechanisms that are involved include relaxing the smooth muscles of vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate and urethra; decreasing the central sympathetic output; inducing peripheral analgesia; prolonging the duration of erection; and increasing confidence, the perception of ejaculatory control, overall sexual satisfaction, and decreasing the post‐orgasmic refractory time to achieve a second erection after ejaculation. Well‐designed multicentre studies are urgently warranted to further elucidate the efficacies and safety as well as mechanisms of PDE5‐Is in the treatment of PE.
Optimization of osmotic dehydration of melons followed by air‐drying
Authors: Teles Ulisses M. , Fernandes Fabiano A. N. , Rodrigues Sueli , Lima Andréa S. , Maia Geraldo A. , Figueiredo Raimundo W.
Published: March 2006

Osmotic dehydration represents a technological alternative to reduce post‐harvest losses of fruits. In this work, the influence of the osmotic solution concentration and osmotic solution to fruit weight ratio was examined on the osmotic dehydration of melons under vacuum. The process of osmotic dehydration followed by air‐drying was studied and modelled so that it could be optimised. The developed model has been validated with experimental data and simulations have shown that how the operating conditions affect the process. An optimisation was done using the model in order to search for the best operating condition that would reduce the total processing time.
Endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation in forearm is impaired in stroke patients
Authors: STENBORG A. , TERENT A. , LIND L.
Published: March 2006

Objectives.  To investigate endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation (EDV) in stroke patients.

Design.  Cross‐sectional.

Setting.  University referral hospital.

Subjects.  We studied 23 stroke patients (65–75 years old) who did not have atrial fibrillation or Warfarin treatment. Forty‐six age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls and another 32 controls matched also for hypertension and medication were used for comparisons.

Methods.  Endothelium‐dependent vasodilatation was measured with venous occlusive plethysmography of forearm blood flow during intra‐brachial infusion of acetylcholine. Endothelium‐independent vasodilatation (EIDV) was evaluated by infusion of sodium nitroprusside.

Results.  Stroke patients showed significantly lower EDV (P < 0.001) compared with healthy controls when measured with acetylcholine‐stimulated forearm blood flow. The difference between these groups remained significant also after correction for blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose and cholesterol. There was also significant difference in EDV between hypertension‐matched controls and healthy controls. However, EIDV was significantly reduced in stroke patients (P < 0.01), but not in the hypertensive group, when compared with healthy controls.

Conclusion.  An impaired EDV was seen in both stroke patients and hypertensive‐matched controls, while an impaired EIDV was seen in the stroke patients only, suggesting a more severe vasodilatory dysfunction in stroke patients than could be explained by a high blood pressure only.
Clinical implications of hypermucoviscosity phenotype in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: association with invasive syndrome in patients with community‐acquired bacteraemia
Authors: LEE H.‐C. , CHUANG Y.‐C. , YU W.‐L. , LEE N.‐Y. , CHANG C.‐M. , KO N.‐Y. , WANG L.‐R. , KO W.‐C.
Published: March 2006

Background.  Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Gram‐negative bacillus usually forming glistening mucoid colonies with viscid consistency on the culture plate, is a common pathogen causing various clinical infection patterns. However, little is known about the clinical implications of this mucoid character.

Objective.  The purposes of this study, therefore, were to investigate the frequency of hypermucoviscosity (HV) in bacteraemic isolates of K. pneumoniae, and determine the significance of any association between HV and various clinical manifestations.

Design.  Retrospective observational study.

Patients.  Patients diagnosed with K. pneumoniae bacteraemia at a community‐based university hospital between June 1999 and June 2001 were enrolled in this analysis.

Measurements.  Clinical data concerning comorbid diseases and infection patterns was collected. K. pneumoniae bacteraemic isolates were examined for the presence of HV using a modified string test. The clinical impact of HV and risk factors for the invasive syndrome were assessed using statistical analysis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect magA, a gene related to HV phenotype.

Results.  Overall, 200 (64.9%) of the 308 cases of K. pneumoniae bacteraemia were community‐acquired infections. Compared with hospital‐acquired K. pneumoniae bacteraemia (HA‐KpB), community‐acquired K. pneumoniae bacteraemia (CA‐KpB) was more likely to be monomicrobial in nature (83.5% vs. 64.8%; P < 0.001) and caused by HV strains (41.5% vs. 14.8%; P < 0.001). The prevalence rate of magA among HV phenotypical K. pneumoniae strains was 24.1%. Patients infected with HV‐positive strains were more likely to have the distinctive invasive syndrome (i.e. liver abscess, meningitis, pleural empyaema or endophthalmitis) than those infected with HV‐negative variants (37.3% vs. 6.8%; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, showed that HV phenotype in K. pneumoniae strains (OR 8.86; 95% CI, 3.70–21.25; P < 0.001) was positively associated with the development of the invasive syndrome in CA‐KpB cases.

Conclusions.  The HV phenotype of K. pneumoniae bacteraemic isolates was associated with the development of a distinctive invasive syndrome. Identification of the HV phenotype should prompt clinicians to initiate aggressive investigations for invasive diseases.
Further protection studies using recombinant forms of Haemonchus contortus cysteine proteinases
Authors: REDMOND D. L. , KNOX D. P.
Published: March 2006

Significant levels of protection against Haemonchus contortus have been achieved in sheep by vaccination with a cysteine proteinase‐enriched fraction (TSBP) isolated from the gut of adult parasites. Protection is associated with three cathepsin B‐like cysteine proteinases (hmcp 1, 4 & 6). Lambs vaccinated with these proteinases, expressed in bacteria as glutathione S‐transferase fusion proteins, had significantly reduced (38%) worm burdens compared to challenge controls although, intriguingly, egg output was unaffected. Here, a repeat trial with similar results is reported and protection obtained compared to that induced by vaccination with the predicted mature forms of hmcp1, 4 and 6 expressed in bacteria as non‐fusion proteins. Sheep immunized with a cocktail of these non‐fusion proteins had reduced faecal egg counts of 27% (P = 0·17) and worm burdens of 29% (P = 0·01) compared to controls. High levels of host serum IgG were detected in GST‐hmcp and non‐fusion hmcp‐immunized animals, although no correlation with protection could be determined. Sera from these groups bound to the microvillar surface of the gut of H. contortus.
Resistance to Schistosoma mansoni by transplantation of APO Biomphalaria tenagophila
Authors: BARBOSA L. , CALDEIRA R. L. , CARVALHO O. S. , VIDIGAL T. H. D. A. , JANNOTTI‐PASSOS L. K. , COELHO P. M. Z.
Published: March 2006

Transplantation of the haematopoietic organ from Biomphalaria tenagophila (Taim strain, RS, Brazil), resistant to Schistosoma mansoni, to a highly susceptible strain (Cabo Frio, RJ, Brazil) of the same species, showed in the recipient snails resistance against the trematode, when a successful transplant occurred. The success of transplantation could be confirmed by a typical molecular marker of the Taim strain in haemocytes of the recipients (350 bp detected by PCR‐RFLP). The recipient snails which did not present the donor marker in haemocytes (unsuccessful transplantation) were infected with the parasite. The use of an atoxic modelling clay for closing the hole in the transplantation site reduced significantly the mortality caused by bleeding after transplantation procedures.
The roles of olfaction and vision in host‐plant finding by the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella
Authors: Couty Aude , Van Emden Helmut , Perry Joe N. , Hardie JIM , Pickett John A. , Wadhams Lester J.
Published: March 2006

Abstract.  The relative roles of olfaction and vision in the crepuscular host‐finding process of a major lepidopteran pest of cruciferous crops, the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella are investigated in a series of laboratory and semi‐field experiments. Flying female moths use volatile plant chemical cues to locate and to promote landing on their host, even in complex mixed‐crop environments in large cages. Multiple regression analysis shows that both the plant position (front, middle or back rows) and the type of plant (host plant, nonhost plant) are needed to explain the distribution of insects in such a mixed‐crop situation. This strong plant position effect indicates that, when host plants are present in a mixture, foraging P. xylostella are more likely to alight on the first row of the plants. The findings are discussed with regard to current theories of host‐plant location by phytophagous insects and the possible implications for integrated pest management.
Oogenesis in the date stone beetle, Coccotrypes dactyliperda, depends on symbiotic bacteria
Authors: Zchori‐Fein Einat , Borad Chandresh , Harari Ally R.
Published: March 2006

Abstract.  It has been suggested that sex ratio distorting symbionts are involved in the sex determination and female‐biased sex ratios observed in strongly inbred scolytid beetles. Coccotrypes dactyliperda (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) is a species in which mother‐son‐ and sib‐mating occur inside the date seeds it inhabits, and the sex ratios produced are highly skewed toward females. In the present study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and antibiotic treatments are applied to determine the possible role of Bacteria in this system. PCR with primers specifically designed to target the 16S rDNA gene in all Bacteria reveals the presence of Wolbachia and Rickettsia in control beetles, but not in antibiotic‐treated individuals. Virgin females fed with antibiotics lay no eggs, and no sign of oogenesis is detected compared with all‐male progeny of virgin control females. Mated females fed with antibiotics lay significantly fewer eggs than control females, with a strong effect of female age at the time of antibiotic feeding on the number of eggs laid. The study suggests that symbiotic bacteria are not involved in female‐biased sex ratios but are required for oogenesis in C. dactyliperda. The specific role each of the bacteria (Wolbachia and Rickettsia) plays in the oogenesis remains to be determined.
Effects of diapause duration on future reproduction in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi: positive or negative?
Authors: Wang Xiao‐Ping , Xue Fang‐SEN , Hua AI , Ge Feng
Published: March 2006

Abstract.  Cabbage beetles, Colaphellus bowringi, undergoing an imaginal summer and winter diapause in the soil, show a great difference in diapause duration (from several months to more than 3 years) under natural conditions. The effects of diapause duration on future reproduction in the beetle are investigated at 25 °C with an LD 14 : 10 h photoperiod and under natural conditions. The fecundity of postdiapause adults with a short diapause of 5 months and nondiapause adults is similar, showing that a short diapause has no affect on reproduction, whereas the longevity of postdiapause adults with a short diapause of 5 months is significantly shorter than nondiapause adults, showing that a short diapause has a negative affect on longevity. The mean total egg production per female and longevities of postdiapause adults with long diapause periods of 16, 22, 29 and 34 months are similar to nondiapause adults, but the mean daily egg production per female is significantly higher than nondiapause adults, showing that extended diapause has a positive effect on postdiapause reproduction. The offspring of postdiapause parents require a relatively shorter time for egg development compared with the offspring of nondiapause parents, showing that diapause has a positive effect on their offspring's performance. However, there are no significant differences among offspring performance in terms of survival, adult longevity, mean egg production per female and mean daily egg production per female.
Armillaria species on tea in Kenya identified using isozyme and DNA sequence comparisons
Authors: Mwenje E. , Wingfield B. D. , Coetzee M. P. A. , Nemato H. , Wingfield M. J.
Published: March 2006

The aim of this study was to identify seven Armillaria isolates obtained from diseased tea bushes in Kenya using pectic enzyme profiles, PCR‐RFLP and IGS‐I DNA sequence data. The combination of these identification methods confirmed the presence of three distinct Armillaria groups. One of these groups resembled Zimbabwean group I (A. fuscipes). The second group was phylogenetically closely related to A. mellea ssp. nipponica. The third group was different from all other African isolates examined, but had isozyme patterns, especially of pectin methylesterases (PMEs), similar to those of isolates related to A. mellea ssp. nipponica. Analyses of sequence data suggested that this group is phylogenetically closely related to A. hinnulea from Australia and New Zealand.
Novel microsatellite markers for the analysis of Phytophthora infestans populations
Authors: Lees A. K. , Wattier R. , Shaw D. S. , Sullivan L. , Williams N. A. , Cooke D. E. L.
Published: March 2006

Co‐dominant microsatellite molecular markers for Phytophthora infestans were developed and their potential for monitoring the genetic variation in populations was demonstrated in the UK, across Europe and worldwide. Markers were developed according to two strategies. First, several thousand P. infestans expressed sequence tag (EST) and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) sequences were screened for the presence of simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs, and, of these, 100 candidate loci were selected for further investigation. Primer pairs developed to these loci were tested against a panel of 10 P. infestans isolates and approximately 10% were shown to be polymorphic and therefore appropriate for further testing. Secondly, the construction and screening of a partial genomic library resulted in the development of one additional polymorphic marker. The resulting 12 SSR markers were converted to higher‐throughput fluorescence‐based assays and used in combination with two previously published markers to characterize a wider collection of 90 P. infestans isolates from the UK and six other countries. Several isolates from the closely related species P. mirabilis, P. ipomoea and P. phaseoli collected from around the world were also genotyped using these markers. Amongst the 90 isolates of P. infestans examined, considerable SSR diversity was observed, with 68 different genotypes and an average of 3·9 (range 2–9) alleles per locus. When other Phytophthora species were genotyped, all loci were successfully amplified and the majority were polymorphic, indicating their transferability for the potential study of other closely related taxa.
Molecular cloning and life‐stage expression pattern of a new chorismate mutase gene from the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria
Authors: Long H. , Wang X. , Xu J.
Published: March 2006

A putative chorismate mutase (CM) gene, Ma‐cm‐1, was isolated from the nematode Meloidogyne arenaria. The predicted protein (named MA‐CM‐1) with amino‐terminal signal peptides was significantly similar to CMs in M. javanica, M. incognita, Globodera pallida and bacteria. Secondary structure prediction of MA‐CM‐1 indicated that it also had the three conserved alpha‐helix domains present in Escherichia coli CMs. RT‐PCR analysis showed that Ma‐cm‐1 was transcribed in both the preparasitic second stage and early postinfection juveniles. In situ mRNA hybridization revealed that the transcripts of Ma‐cm‐1 accumulated specifically in the two subventral oesophageal gland cells of M. arenaria. The widespread existence of CMs in the sedentary endoparasitic nematodes indicates that this enzyme is a key element in the host–parasite interaction.
Heart transplantation: Literature review 2004–2005
Authors: Dipchand Anne I.
Published: March 2006

Abstract: This is the second review in a series aimed at providing succinct summaries of the recent medical literature pertinent to pediatric heart transplantation and aimed at the practicing clinician. It is meant to be comprehensive but not all inclusive. Important articles published over 2004 and 2005 are summarized.
Selection of donors for living donor liver transplantation in a single center of a developing country: Lessons learned from the first 100 cases
Authors: Pacheco‐Moreira Lucio F. , Enne Marcelo , Balbi Elizabeth , Halpern Marcia , Peixoto Aline , Cerqueira Alexandre , Moreira Eliane , Araujo Cristina , Pereira João Luiz , Martinho José Manoel
Published: March 2006

Abstract: The selection of donors for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is one of the most important features in this kind of surgery. The aim of this study is to describe our initial experience in the donor evaluation process. From December 2001 to January 2005, 104 donors were evaluated for 70 recipients (65 potential donors were evaluated for 39 adult recipients, and 39 donors for 31 pediatric recipients). Only 30 donors were able to donate: 13 for the adult group, and 17 for the pediatric one. In general, the utilization rate of potential donors was 28.8% (30/104). For the adult patients, 65 potential donors were seen to perform 13 LDLT, which represents a utilization rate of potential donors of 20%. For the pediatric patients, this rate was 43.6%. The exclusion criteria were clinical in 22 cases (21%), anatomical in 13 cases (13%), psychosocial in nine cases (9%), and others in 12 (12%). Death of recipients led to excludsion 18 of donors (17%). Thirty‐three percent of adults and 55% of pediatric recipients who had at least one potential donor to start the evaluation process were able to identify a living donor. In conclusion, the first limit for LDLT is the rigorous donor evaluation.
Demography, altruism, and the benefits of budding
Authors: Gardner A. , West S. A.
Published: March 2006

It is now widely appreciated that competition between kin inhibits the evolution of altruism. In standard population genetics models, it is difficult for indiscriminate altruism towards social partners to be favoured at all. The reason is that while limited dispersal increases the kinship of social partners it also intensifies local competition. One solution that has received very little attention is if individuals disperse as groups (budding dispersal), as this relaxes local competition without reducing kinship. Budding behaviour is widespread through all levels of biological organization, from early protocellular life to cooperatively breeding vertebrates. We model the effects of individual dispersal, budding dispersal, soft selection and hard selection to examine the conditions under which altruism is favoured. More generally, we examine how these various demographic details feed into relatedness and scale of competition parameters that can be included into Hamilton's rule.
Wheat Cultivars Adapted to Post‐Heading High Temperature Stress
Authors: Tewolde H. , Fernandez C. J. , Erickson C. A.
Published: March 2006

The existence of genetic variation in wheat for tolerance to high temperature stress has been reported but cultivars released for a particular production system often are not characterized. The objective of this study was to identify and describe the characteristics of wheat cultivars adapted to production systems with risks of high temperature during the post‐heading period. Fifteen diverse wheat cultivars and one unreleased genotype were evaluated at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Uvalde, TX, during two seasons characterized by daily maximum temperatures as high as 36 °C. Measurements during both seasons included days to heading, days to physiological maturity and grain yield. Large and significant (P < 0.05) grain yield differences were measured among cultivars within each season. Yield varied between 2979 and 4671 kg ha−1 in the first season and between 1916 and 5200 kg ha−1 in the second season. Late planting in the second season delayed heading date resulting in the post‐heading period to coincide with periods of high temperatures. Cultivars that headed early, in general, yielded better than cultivars that headed later within each season with yield reduction of 35.3 kg ha−1 in the first season and 91.0 kg ha−1 in the second season for every 1 day delay in heading after mid‐March. Early‐heading cultivars outperformed later‐heading cultivars because of two distinct advantages: the early‐heading cultivars had longer post‐heading and, therefore, longer grain filling period than the later‐heading cultivars. In addition, early‐heading cultivars completed a greater fraction of the grain filling earlier in the season when air temperatures were lower and generally more favourable. The advantage of earlier‐heading cultivars was also manifested in the amount of green leaves retained to anthesis. Earlier‐heading cultivars produced fewer total leaves per tiller but retained more green leaves and lost fewer leaves to senescence at anthesis than later‐heading cultivars. The results suggest that early heading is an important and effective single trait defining wheat cultivars adapted to production systems prone to high temperature stress during the post‐heading period.