bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic interaction between trifluorothymidine and docetaxel is sequence dependent
Authors: Bijnsdorp I.V. , Kruyt F.A. , Gokoel S. , Fukushima M. , Peters G.J.
Published: November 2008

Docetaxel is a microtubule inhibitor that has actions in the S and G2–M phase of the cell cycle. The pyrimidine trifluorothymidine (TFT) induces DNA damage and an arrest in the G2–M phase. TFT, as part of TAS‐102, has been clinically evaluated as an oral chemotherapeutic agent in colon and gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal administration sequence of TFT and docetaxel and to investigate the underlying mechanism of cytotoxicity. Drug interactions were examined by sulforhodamine B assays and subsequent combination index analyses, and for long‐term effects the clonogenic assay was used. A preincubation with docetaxel was synergistic in sulforhodamine B (combination index 0.6–0.8) and clonogenic assays, and was accompanied by a time‐dependent cell death induction (17–36%), the occurrence of polynucleation (22%), and mitotic spindle inhibition as determined by flow cytometry and immunostaining. Interestingly, administration of TFT followed by the combination displayed strong antagonistic activity, and was accompanied by less polynucleation and cell death induction than the synergistic combinations. Western blotting showed that the G2–M‐phase arrest (25–50%) was accompanied by phosphorylation of Chk2 and dephosphorylation of cdc25c in the synergistic combinations. Together, this indicates that synergistic activity requires docetaxel to initiate mitotic failure prior to the activation of TFT damage signaling, whereas antagonism is a result of TFT cell cycle‐arrested cells being less susceptible to docetaxel. Caspase 3 activation was low after docetaxel, suggestive of caspase‐independent mechanisms of cell death. Taken together, our models indicate that combination treatment with docetaxel and TFT displays strong synergy when docetaxel is given first, thus providing clues for possible clinical studies. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 2302–2308)
Non‐transmissible Sendai virus encoding granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor is a novel and potent vector system for producing autologous tumor vaccines
Authors: Inoue Hiroyuki , Iga Mutsunori , Nabeta Haruka , Yokoo Tomoko , Suehiro Yoko , Okano Shinji , Inoue Makoto , Kinoh Hiroaki , Katagiri Toyomasa , Takayama Koichi , Yonemitsu Yoshikazu , Hasegawa Mamoru , Nakamura Yusuke , Nakanishi Yoichi , Tani Kenzaburo
Published: November 2008

The recent clinical application of granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF)‐transduced autologous tumor vaccines revealed substantial antitumor activity and valuable clinical results. However, for these vaccines to be optimally effective, the antitumor efficacies must be improved. Recently, Sendai virus (SeV) vectors, which are cytoplasmic RNA vectors, have emerged as safe vectors with high gene transduction. In the current study, the in vivo therapeutic antitumor efficacies of irradiated GM‐CSF‐transduced mouse renal cell carcinoma (RENCA) vaccine cells mediated by either fusion gene‐deleted non‐transmissible SeV encoding mouse GM‐CSF (SeV/dF/G) or adenovirus (E1, E3 deleted serotype 5 adenovirus) encoding mouse GM‐CSF (AdV/G) (respectively described as irRC/SeV/GM or irRC/AdV/GM) were compared in RENCA‐bearing mice. The results showed that the antitumor effect was equivalent between irRC/SeV/GM and irRC/AdV/GM cells, even though the former produced less GM‐CSF in vitro. The cell numbers of activated (CD80+, CD86+, CD80+CD86+) dendritic cells in lymph nodes from mice treated with irRC/AdV/GM or irRC/SeV/GM cells were increased significantly compared with those of mice treated with the respective controls, at both the earlier and later phases. In an in vitro cytotoxicity assay, splenocytes harvested from mice treated with both irRC/SeV/GM and irRC/AdV/GM cells showed tumor‐specific responses against RENCA cells. The restimulated splenocytes harvested from mice treated with irRC/SeV/GM or irRC/AdV/GM cells produced significantly higher levels of interleukin‐2, interleukin‐4, and interferon‐γ compared with their respective controls (P < 0.05). Furthermore, vaccination with irRC/AdV/GM or irRC/SeV/GM cells induced significantly enhanced recruitment of the cytolytic effectors of CD107a+CD8+ T cells and CD107a+ natural killer cells into tumors compared with those induced by their respective controls (P < 0.05). Taken together, our results suggest that the SeV/dF/G vector is a potential candidate for the production of effective autologous GM‐CSF‐transduced tumor vaccines in clinical cancer immune gene therapy. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 2315–2326)
Effectiveness of current treatment approaches for benzodiazepine discontinuation: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Parr Jannette M. , Kavanagh David J. , Cahill Lareina , Mitchell Geoffrey , Young Ross McD.
Published: November 2008

Aims  To assess the effectiveness of current treatment approaches to assist benzodiazepine discontinuation.

Methods  A systematic review of approaches to benzodiazepine discontinuation in general practice and out‐patient settings was undertaken. Routine care was compared with three treatment approaches: brief interventions, gradual dose reduction (GDR) and psychological interventions. GDR was compared with GDR plus psychological interventions or substitutive pharmacotherapies.

Results  Inclusion criteria were met by 24 studies, and a further eight were identified by future search. GDR [odds ratio (OR) = 5.96, confidence interval (CI) = 2.08–17.11] and brief interventions (OR = 4.37, CI = 2.28–8.40) provided superior cessation rates at post‐treatment to routine care. Psychological treatment plus GDR were superior to both routine care (OR = 3.38, CI = 1.86–6.12) and GDR alone (OR = 1.82, CI = 1.25–2.67). However, substitutive pharmacotherapies did not add to the impact of GDR (OR = 1.30, CI = 0.97–1.73), and abrupt substitution of benzodiazepines by other pharmacotherapy was less effective than GDR alone (OR = 0.30, CI = 0.14–0.64). Few studies on any technique had significantly greater benzodiazepine discontinuation than controls at follow‐up.

Conclusions  Providing an intervention is more effective than routine care. Psychological interventions may improve discontinuation above GDR alone. While some substitutive pharmacotherapies may have promise, current evidence is insufficient to support their use.
Early pubertal maturation in the prediction of early adult substance use: a prospective study
Authors: Hayatbakhsh Mohammad R. , Najman Jake M. , McGee Tara R. , Bor William , O'Callaghan Michael J.
Published: November 2008

Aims  To examine whether self‐reporting a later stage of pubertal development in early adolescence predicts young adults' use of illicit drugs.

Design  Population‐based prospective birth cohort study.

Setting  Follow‐up of a cohort of mothers and their children, recruited between 1981 and 1983.

Participants  Cohort of 2710 young adults who completed a self‐report questionnaire about their use of cannabis and amphetamines at the 21‐year follow‐up.

Measurements  Young adults' use of cannabis and amphetamines were measured at the 21‐year follow‐up. Stage of pubertal development was assessed at the 14‐year follow‐up. Potential confounding and mediating variables were assessed between birth and when the child was 14 years.

Findings  Of 2710 young adults, 49.9% (47.3 females and 52.7% males) reported that they had used cannabis and 21.0% (18.9% females and 23.3% males) reported that they had used amphetamines and cannabis by 21 years. In multivariate analyses, adolescents with a later stage of puberty were more likely to use cannabis or amphetamines in young adulthood. This association was not confounded by mother's education or child's gender and age. Part of the relationship was explained by the higher frequency of child externalizing behaviour at 14 years.

Conclusions  The findings warrant further attention to puberty as a sensitive period in an individual's development. With regard to prevention, there is a need to understand more about the pathways between pubertal development, child behaviour problems and substance use.
A substrate peptide for the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase
Authors: Böhmer Frank‐D. , Uecker Andrea
Published: November 2008

FLT3 (fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3) is frequently activated by mutation in acute myeloid leukemia, and is therefore under study as a drug target. Testing and characterization of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is facilitated by the availability of efficient peptide substrates. Searching for FLT3 peptide substrates using phosphorylation experiments on peptide arrays and in solution revealed that the peptide F‐T‐D‐R‐L‐Q‐Q‐Y8‐I‐S‐T‐R‐G‐L‐G is efficiently phosphorylated (apparent Km 10 μmol/l), with Y8 as the phosphorylated site. This peptide presents a novel tool for identifying and characterizing FLT3 kinase inhibitors.
The biocompatible polysaccharide chitosan enhances the oral tolerance to type II collagen
Authors: Porporatto C , Canali M M , Bianco I D , Correa S G
Published: November 2008

Chitosan is a mucoadhesive polysaccharide that promotes the transmucosal absorption of peptides and proteins. At mucosal sites chitosan exhibits immunomodulatory activities and stimulates the release of regulatory cytokines. Herein we evaluated the effect of the co-administration of chitosan in the tolerance to type II collagen (CII) using an experimental model of arthritis. Rats were fed diluent (acetic acid), 1 mg CII, 1 mg chitosan or 1 mg CII + 1 mg chitosan during 5 days before immunization with CII in Freund's complete adjuvant. Systemic effects were evaluated in draining lymph nodes after antigenic challenge or during the clinical evolution of arthritis. Specific antibodies, proliferation against CII and the production of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin-10 were assessed. Clinical signs were observed 13–15 days after primary immunization. The CII : chitosan group presented the lowest incidence and developed moderate arthritis, with reduced levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)G2a anti-CII, a limited proliferation in draining lymph nodes and a lower release of IFN-γ after restimulation with CII. Our results demonstrate that chitosan enhances the tolerance to an articular antigen with a decrease in the inflammatory responses and, as a consequence, an improvement in clinical signs.
Mercury and silver induce B cell activation and anti-nucleolar autoantibody production in outbred mouse stocks: are environmental factors more important than the susceptibility genes in connection with autoimmunity?
Authors: Abedi-Valugerdi M
Published: November 2008

Environmental and predisposing genetic factors are known to play a crucial role in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases. With respect to the role of environmental factors, it is not known how and to what extent they contribute to the initiation and exacerbation of systemic autoimmunity. In the present study, I considered this issue and asked if environmental factors can induce autoimmunity in the absence of specific susceptible genes. The development of genetically controlled mercury- and silver-induced B cell activation and anti-nucleolar autoantibodies (ANolA) production in genetically heterozygous outbred Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) and Black Swiss mouse stocks were analysed. Four weeks of treatment with both mercury and silver induced a strong B cell activation characterized by increased numbers of splenic antibody-secreting cells of at least one or more immunoglobulin (Ig) isotype(s) in all treated stocks. The three stocks also exhibited a marked increase in the serum IgE levels in response to mercury, but not silver. More importantly, in response to mercury a large numbers of ICR (88%), NMRI (96%) and Black Swiss (100%) mice produced different levels of IgG1 and IgG2a ANolA (a characteristic which is linked strictly to the H-2 genes). Similarly, but at lower magnitudes, treatment with silver also induced the production of IgG1 and IgG2a ANolA in 60% of ICR, 75% of NMRI and 100% of Black Swiss mice. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that long-term exposure to certain environmental factors can activate the immune system to produce autoimmunity per se, without requiring specific susceptible genes.
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease may have a transforming growth factor-β-, interleukin (IL)-2- or IL-10-deficient state induced by intrinsic neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Ebert E C , Panja A , Das K M , Praveen R , Geng X , Rezac C , Bajpai M
Published: November 2008

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are considered to be immunologically mediated disorders that share certain features with murine models of colitis. Whether any of these models are physiologically relevant to the human condition remains controversial. The hypothesis is that increased amounts of antibodies neutralizing transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin (IL)-2 or IL-10 create a relative immunodeficient state in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predisposes to disease. To evaluate this, serum samples from patients with UC or CD and from normal healthy individuals were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antibodies recognizing TGF-β were most prevalent in UC (P < 0·01); anti-IL-10 antibodies were elevated in CD (P < 0·05), while anti-IL-2 antibodies were the same for all three groups. Importantly, the percentage of IBD patients with at least one of the antibody levels greater than any control value was 30% for UC and 33% for CD. To verify the presence of these antibodies, immobilized TGF-β was exposed to UC sera and the attached proteins identified by Western blot assay. The proteins proved to be exclusively immunoglobulin (Ig) G. To evaluate the neutralizing activity of these antibodies, cytokine-specific IgG from subjects in each group of patients was incubated with TGF-β, IL-2 or IL-10 before addition to a bioassay with changes in viability determined by a colorimetric analysis. Antibodies from most individuals in all three groups neutralized the action of each cytokine. This study shows that about one-third of IBD patients may have a relative deficiency of TGF-β, IL-2 or IL-10 due to an increase in neutralizing antibodies in their sera.
Transition process of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) from paediatric to the adult health care service: a hospital‐based approach
Authors: Cadario F. , Prodam F. , Bellone S. , Trada M. , Binotti M. , Trada M. , Allochis G. , Baldelli R. , Esposito S. , Bona G. , Aimaretti G.
Published: November 2008

Introduction  The outcomes of different types of transitions of young people with chronic diseases have been poorly investigated.

Objective  To evaluate and compare a structured transition from the paediatric diabetes services (PDS) into the adult diabetic services (ADS) with an unstructured one.

Design  We retrospectively investigated 62 adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes discharged from the PDS from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2004. Thirty‐two patients (group A) were transferred to the ADS of the same hospital with an unstructured method (letter) and 30 patients after a structured transfer planned with adult physicians (group B). We analysed the date of the first admission in ADS, the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), the clinic attendance rate in PDS and in the first year in ADS, and a phone questionnaire on the transition experience.

Results  The duration of the transfer was longer in A than in B with a lack of medical assistance during the unstructured transition (P < 0·001). At the first visit in ADS, before any medical intervention, HbA1c was improved in B compared to the last in PDS (P < 0·01), and had a trend in worsening in A. After 1 year in the ADS there was a better clinical attendance, and a lower HbA1c in B than in A (P < 0·05). All the subjects of group B reported a favourable opinion for the structured transition (P < 0·0001).

Conclusion  The transition process plays an important role in diabetic care and a structured plan is mandatory to avoid to lose the patients and to get worse their health.
Ultrasound of peripheral nerves in acromegaly: changes at 1‐year follow‐up
Authors: Resmini Eugenia , Tagliafico Alberto , Nizzo Raffaella , Bianchi Federico , Minuto Francesco , Derchi Lorenzo , Martinoli Carlo , Ferone Diego
Published: November 2008

Context  We have previously demonstrated peripheral nerve enlargement in acromegaly.

Objective  The aim of this study was to use ultrasound (US) to assess any changes in the peripheral nerves of patients with acromegaly 1 year after the first evaluation.

Patients  We prospectively examined the median and ulnar nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) in 34 non‐diabetic, patients with acromegaly (18 females and 16 males; 18–79 years) and 34 age‐, sex‐, BMI‐matched controls, using a 17–5 MHz US probe.

Intervention  The median nerve was examined at the mid‐forearm (MN‐f) and at the carpal tunnel (MN‐Ct) levels; the ulnar nerve at mid‐forearm (UN‐f) and at distal arm (UN‐a). Patients were grouped according to the clinical control of the disease: ‘improved’; ‘always controlled’; ‘always uncontrolled’; and ‘worsened’.

Results  The median nerve at mid‐forearm (MN‐f), the ulnar nerve at mid‐forearm (UN‐f) and at distal arm (UN‐a) were significantly reduced after 1‐year follow‐up in all patients (P < 0·001, P < 0·008, P < 0·012, respectively). In the ‘improved’ group, there was a significant reduction of median nerve CSA examined at mid‐forearm (MN‐f) (P = 0·02), and distal arm ulnar nerve CSA (UN‐a) (P = 0·002). In the other groups no statistically significant differences in ultrasound parameters were recorded. However, UN‐a, UN‐f, MN‐f, MN‐ct were still significantly higher in all groups compared with controls (P < 0·001).

Conclusion  These data demonstrate that median and ulnar nerves CSA are reduced after 1 year follow‐up, in line with the reduction of GH/IGF‐I levels. However, as the control of the disease incompletely reverts nerve enlargement, this phenomenon could be only partially reversible.
Organic matter availability structures microbial biomass and activity in a Mediterranean stream
Authors: ARTIGAS JOAN , ROMANÍ ANNA M. , GAUDES AINHOA , MUÑOZ ISABEL , SABATER SERGI
Published: November 2008

1. We compared microbial biomass (bacteria, fungi, algae) and the activity of extracellular enzymes used in the decomposition of organic matter (OM) among different benthic substrata (leaves, coarse and fine substrata) over one hydrological year in a Mediterranean stream.

2. Microbial heterotrophic biomass (bacteria plus fungi) was generally higher than autotrophic biomass (algae), except during short periods of high light availability in the spring and winter. During these periods, sources of OM shifted towards autochthonous sources derived mainly from algae, which was demonstrated by high algal biomass and peptidase activity in benthic communities.

3. Heterotrophic activity peaked in the autumn. Bacterial and fungal biomass increased with the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose compounds from leaf material. Later, lignin decomposition was stimulated in fine (sand, gravel) and coarse (rocks, boulders and cobbles) substrata by the accumulation of fine detritus.

4. The Mediterranean summer drought provoked an earlier leaf fall. The resumption of the water flow caused the weathering of riparian soils and subsequently a large increase in dissolved organic carbon and nitrate, which led to growth of bacteria and fungi.
Use of aniline blue to distinguish live and dead crustacean zooplankton composition in freshwaters
Authors: BICKEL SAMANTHA L. , TANG Kam W. , GROSSART HANS‐PETER
Published: November 2008

1. Traditional zooplankton sampling methods do not account for the presence of zooplankton carcasses, which could lead to a biased understanding of the ecological role of zooplankton.

2. The aniline blue staining method for the differentiation between live and dead freshwater crustacean zooplankton was adapted for field application and the accuracy of the new protocol was tested in the laboratory. Detailed descriptions of the characteristic staining patterns of individuals are provided. The adapted staining method was subsequently applied in a field study to assess the live–dead zooplankton composition in the oligotrophic Lake Stechlin and the eutrophic Lake Dagow in Germany.

3. The modified aniline blue staining method accurately identified percentages of mixed live and dead crustacean zooplankton, making it suitable for quantifying live–dead compositions of copepods and cladocerans in freshwater samples.

4. On average 6% and 8% of the zooplankton were identified as dead in Lake Stechlin and Lake Dagow, respectively. Within each lake there were no significant spatial variations in the horizontal or vertical distribution of zooplankton carcasses. Nor did the percentage of dead zooplankton differ between day and night.

5. The aniline blue staining method provides an effective, simple and economical means for more systematic study of the occurrence and fate of crustacean zooplankton carcasses in freshwaters.
Analysing forest recovery after wildfire disturbance in boreal Siberia using remotely sensed vegetation indices
Authors: CUEVAS‐GONZÁLEZ MARÍA , GERARD FRANCE , BALZTER HEIKO , RIAÑO DAVID
Published: November 2008

Wildfires have major effects on forest dynamics, succession and the carbon cycle in the boreal biome. They are a significant source of carbon emissions, and current observed changes in wildfire regimes due to changes in climate could affect the balance of the boreal carbon pool. A better understanding of postwildfire vegetation dynamics in boreal forests will help predict the future role of boreal forests as a carbon sink or source. Time series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Shortwave Infrared Index (NDSWIR) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite were used to investigate whether characteristic temporal patterns exist for stands of different ages in the Siberian boreal forests and whether their postwildfire dynamics are influenced by variables such as prewildfire vegetation cover. Two types of forests, evergreen needle‐leaf (ENF) and deciduous needle‐leaf (DNF), were studied by analysing a sample of 78 burned forest areas. In order to study a longer time frame, a chronosequence of burned areas of different ages was built by coupling information on location and age provided by a forest burned area database (from 1992 to 2003) to MODIS NDVI and NDSWIR time series acquired from 2001 to 2005. For each of the burned areas, an adjacent unburned control plot representing the same forest type was selected, with the aim of separating the interannual variations caused by climate from changes in NDVI and NDSWIR behaviour due to a wildfire. The results suggest that it takes more than 13 years for the temporal NDVI and NDSWIR signal to recover fully after wildfire. NDSWIR, which is associated to canopy moisture, needs a longer recovery period than NDVI, which is associated to vegetation greenness. The results also suggest that variability observed in postwildfire NDVI and NDSWIR can be explained partially by the dominant forest type: while 13 years after a fire NDVI and NDSWIR are similar for ENF and DNF, the initial impact appears to be greater on the NDVI and NDSWIR of ENF, suggesting a faster recovery by ENF.
Carbon dioxide balance of a fen ecosystem in northern Finland under elevated UV‐B radiation
Authors: HAAPALA JAANA K. , MÖRSKY SAMI K. , SAARNIO SANNA , RINNAN RIIKKA , SUOKANERVA HANNE , KYRÖ ESKO , LATOLA KIRSI , MARTIKANEN PERTTI J. , HOLOPAINEN TOINI , SILVOLA JOUKO
Published: November 2008

The effect of elevated UV‐B radiation on CO2 exchange of a natural flark fen was studied in open‐field conditions during 2003–2005. The experimental site was located in Sodankylä in northern Finland (67°22′N, 26°38′E, 179 m a.s.l.). Altogether 30 study plots, each 120 cm × 120 cm in size, were randomly distributed between three treatments (n=10): ambient control, UV‐A control and UV‐B treatment. The UV‐B‐treated plots were exposed to elevated UV‐B radiation level for three growing seasons. The instantaneous net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and dark respiration (RTOT) were measured during the growing season using a closed chamber method. The wintertime CO2 emissions were estimated using a gradient technique by analyzing the CO2 concentration in the snow pack. In addition to the instantaneous CO2 exchange, the seasonal CO2 balances during the growing seasons were modeled using environmental data measured at the site. In general, the instantaneous NEE at light saturation was slightly higher in the UV‐B treatment compared with the ambient control, but the gross photosynthesis was unaffected by the exposure. The RTOT was significantly lower under elevated UV‐B in the third study year. The modeled seasonal (June–September) CO2 balance varied between the years depending on the ground water level and temperature conditions. During the driest year, the seasonal CO2 balance was negative (net release of CO2) in the ambient control and the UV‐B treatment was CO2 neutral. During the third year, the seasonal CO2 uptake was 43±36 g CO2‐C m−2 in the ambient control and 79±45 g CO2‐C m−2 in the UV‐B treatment. The results suggest that the long‐term exposure to high UV‐B radiation levels may slightly increase the CO2 accumulation to fens resulting from a decrease in microbial activity in peat. However, it is unlikely that the predicted development of the level of UV‐B radiation would significantly affect the CO2 balance of fen ecosystems in future.
Climate change, human land use and future fires in the Amazon
Authors: COCHRANE MARK A. , BARBER CHRISTOPHER P.
Published: November 2008

There is increasing consensus that the global climate will continue to warm over the next century. The biodiversity‐rich Amazon forest is a region of growing concern because many global climate model (GCM) scenarios of climate change forecast reduced precipitation and, in some cases, coupled vegetation models predict dieback of the forest. To date, fires have generally been spatially co‐located with road networks and associated human land use because almost all fires in this region are anthropogenic in origin. Climate change, if severe enough, could alter this situation, potentially changing the fire regime to one of increased fire frequency and severity for vast portions of the Amazon forest. High moisture contents and dense canopies have historically made Amazonian forests extremely resistant to fire spread. Climate will affect the fire situation in the Amazon directly, through changes in temperature and precipitation, and indirectly, through climate‐forced changes in vegetation composition and structure. The frequency of drought will be a prime determinant of both how often forest fires occur and how extensive they become. Fire risk management needs to take into account landscape configuration, land cover types and forest disturbance history as well as climate and weather. Maintaining large blocks of unsettled forest is critical for managing landscape level fire in the Amazon. The Amazon has resisted previous climate changes and should adapt to future climates as well if landscapes can be managed to maintain natural fire regimes in the majority of forest remnants.
Increase in soil organic carbon stock over the last two decades in China's Jiangsu Province
Authors: LIAO QILIN , ZHANG XUHUI , LI ZHIPENG , PAN GENXING , SMITH PETE , JIN YANG , WU XINMIN
Published: November 2008

Estimates of regional and national topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change may help evaluating the soil role in mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through carbon (C) sequestration in soils. However, understanding of the exact mitigation role is often constrained by the uncertainty of the stock estimation associated with different methodologies. In this paper, a soil database of topsoil (0–20 cm) SOC measurements of Jiangsu Province, China, obtained from a soil survey in 1982, and from a geological survey in 2004, was used to analyze the variability of topsoil SOC among soil groups and among soil regions, and to estimate the change in SOC stocks that have occurred in the province over the last two decades. The soil survey data was obtained from measurements of 662 690 randomly collected samples, while the geological survey data was from 24 167 samples taken using a 2 km × 2 km grid. Statistical analysis was conducted on SOC values for 1982 and 2004 for different categories of soil groups, soil regions, and administrative municipalities, respectively. Topsoil SOC storage was then calculated and the provincial topsoil SOC stock was estimated for each sampling time. There were remarkable differences in SOC levels between soil groups and soil regions and different municipalities. The grid sampling with the geological survey in 2004 yielded smaller variability of topsoil SOC averages, both with soil groups and with soil spatial distribution than the random sampling method used in 1982. Variation of SOC was greater with soil groups than with soil regions in both sampling times, although it was less variable across soil taxonomic categories than within a spatial category. Little variance of the SOC level with soil groups could be explained by clay content. However, the prevalence of paddy fields in the total cropland area governed the regional and municipal average SOC levels. The average provincial topsoil SOC content increased from 9.45 g kg−1 in 1982 to 10.9 g kg−1 in 2004, and the total provincial topsoil SOC stock was enhanced from 149.0±58.1 Tg C in 1982 to 173.2±51.4 Tg C in 2004, corresponding to a provincial average SOC sequestration rate of 0.16±0.09 t C ha−1 yr−1. The SOC sequestration trend for the last two decades could be, in part, attributed to the enhanced agricultural production, symbolized by the grain yield per hectare. The results of SOC stock changes suggest a significant C sequestration in soils of Jiangsu, China, during 1980–2000, with paddy management playing an important role in regional SOC storage and sequestration capacity.
Impact of twenty‐first century climate change on diadromous fish spread over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
Authors: LASSALLE G. , ROCHARD E.
Published: November 2008

Climate change is expected to drive species ranges towards the poles and to have a strong influence on species distributions. In this study, we focused on diadromous species that are of economical and ecological importance in the whole of Europe. We investigated the potential distribution of all diadromous fish regularly encountered in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East (28 species) under conditions predicted for twenty‐first century climate change. To do so, we investigated the 1900 distribution of each species in 196 basins spread across all of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Four levels were used to semiquantitatively describe the abundance of species, that is missing, rare, common and abundant. We then selected five variables describing the prevailing climate in the basins, the physical nature of the basins and reflecting historical events known to have affected freshwater fish distribution. Logistic regressions with a four‐level ordinal response variable were used to develop species‐specific models. These predictive models related the observed distribution of these species in 1900 to the most explanatory combination of variables. Finally, we selected the A2 SRES scenario and the HadCM3 (Hadley Centre Coupled Model version 3) global climate model (GCM) to obtain climate variables (temperature and precipitation) at the end of this century. We used these 2100 variables in our models and obtained maps of climatically suitable and unsuitable basins, percentages of contraction or expansion for each species. Twenty‐two models were successfully built, that is there were five species for which no model could be established because their distribution range was too narrow and the Acipenser sturio model failed during calibration. All the models selected temperature or/and precipitation as explanatory variables. Responses to climate change were species‐specific but could be classified into three categories: little or no change in the distribution (five species), expansion of the distribution range (three species gaining suitable basins mainly northward) and contraction of the distribution (14 species losing suitable basins). Shifting ranges were in accordance with those found in other studies and underlined the high sensitivity of diadromous fish to modifications in their environment.
Change in CO2 balance under a series of forestry activities in a cool‐temperate mixed forest with dense undergrowth
Authors: TAKAGI KENTARO , FUKUZAWA KARIBU , LIANG NAISHEN , KAYAMA MASAZUMI , NOMURA MUTSUMI , HOJYO HAJIME , SUGATA SADAO , SHIBATA HIDEAKI , FUKAZAWA TATSUYA , TAKAHASHI YOSHIYUKI , NAKAJI TATSURO , OGUMA HIROYUKI , MANO MASAYOSHI , AKIBAYASHI YUKIO , MURAYAMA TAKESHI , KOIKE TAKAYOSHI , SASA KAICHIRO , FUJINUMA YASUMI
Published: November 2008

To evaluate the effects on CO2 exchange of clearcutting a mixed forest and replacing it with a plantation, 4.5 years of continuous eddy covariance measurements of CO2 fluxes and soil respiration measurements were conducted in a conifer‐broadleaf mixed forest in Hokkaido, Japan. The mixed forest was a weak carbon sink (net ecosystem exchange, −44 g C m−2 yr−1), and it became a large carbon source (569 g C m−2 yr−1) after clearcutting. However, the large emission in the harvest year rapidly decreased in the following 2 years (495 and 153 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively) as the gross primary production (GPP) increased, while the total ecosystem respiration (RE) remained relatively stable. The rapid increase in GPP was attributed to an increase in biomass and photosynthetic activity of Sasa dwarf bamboo, an understory species. Soil respiration increased in the 3 years following clearcutting, in the first year mainly owing to the change in the gap ratio of the forest, and in the following years because of increased root respiration by the bamboo. The ratio of soil respiration to RE increased from 44% in the forest to nearly 100% after clearcutting, and aboveground parts of the vegetation contributed little to the RE although the respiration chamber measurements showed heterogeneous soil condition after clearcutting.
Primary production dynamics and climate variability: ecological consequences in semiarid Chile
Authors: DE LA MAZA MARIANO , LIMA MAURICIO , MESERVE PETER L. , GUTIÉRREZ JULIO R. , JAKSIC FABIAN M.
Published: November 2008

Increase in rainfall variability has important consequences for organisms in arid and semiarid regions around the world. In South American and Australian deserts, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon greatly influences rainfall patterns, and therefore the dynamics of plant communities. However, the field data needed to assess the effect of climate change on vegetational patterns is difficult to obtain because of the large spatial scale required for such studies. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) characteristics allow the use of several indexes related to vegetational structure. Due to its direct relationship with primary productivity, it is possible to obtain several measures of annual productivity. These include annual plant yield, annual maximum yield, onset of ‘greening‐up’ and senescence phases, length of the ‘green’ season, vegetation peak, and therefore, the periods when more or less food is available for herbivores. After verification with ground‐truth measures, we used NDVI data from two semiarid localities in north‐central Chile (Fray Jorge and Aucó) to determine the relationship between rainfall patterns and vegetation cover and productivity related to El Niño phenomenon. With this information we gauge the influence of climatic processes on primary productivity in western South America, an area subject to strong climate variability. We predict significant variation in Chilean semiarid regions due to climate change, affecting mainly the extent and timing of annual growth season of vegetation, and also including a shorter and delayed greening‐up season. Also, we predict that important decreases in rainfall levels will not have strong effects on primary production in these semiarid ecosystems.
Impacts of an anomalously warm year on soil nitrogen availability in experimentally manipulated intact tallgrass prairie ecosystems
Authors: VERBURG PAUL S. J. , JOHNSON DALE W. , SCHORRAN DAVID E. , WALLACE LINDA L. , LUO Y. , ARNONE III JOHN A.
Published: November 2008

Global climate change can potentially increase the frequency of climate anomalies. Anomalously warm years may cause an increase in soil nitrogen (N) availability by stimulating N mineralization. To date, most studies addressing the effects of ecosystem warming have been conducted in relatively cold ecosystems and few studies have addressed impacts of interannual as opposed to continuous, multiyear warming. In this study, 12 intact soil monoliths were excavated from a tallgrass prairie site near Purcell, Oklahoma, USA and divided among four large flux chambers (EcoCELLs). During the first year, all four EcoCELLs were subjected to Oklahoma air temperatures and precipitation. During the second year, air temperature in two EcoCELLs was increased by 4 °C throughout the year resulting in an increase in soil temperature of 2.3 °C at 7.5 cm depth. During the third and fourth years, temperatures in the warmed EcoCELL returned back to ‘normal’ conditions. During the warming year, vegetation N content was not significantly affected by the warming treatment suggesting no change in N availability. Other N availability indicators (soil solution chemistry, leaching, and N adsorption by ion exchange resins) did not show any effect of warming. Soil solution, leaching, and ion exchange resins showed a large pulse of NH4+at the start of the study most likely due to disturbance caused by monolith excavation and transport but these effects were short‐lived and had disappeared before the treatment started. The lack of a clear warming effect may be explained by a reduction in soil moisture in the warming treatments compared with the controls offsetting a potential stimulation of N mineralization in response to increased temperatures. As a result, effects of an anomalously warm year on N availability in warmer ecosystems may be small compared with colder ecosystems but are likely to depend on soil moisture status.
Strong relationship between coral bleaching and growth anomalies in massive Porites
Authors: McCLANAHAN TIM R. , WEIL E. , MAINA J.
Published: November 2008

Reports of coral diseases are increasing and may result from human land use and climate change conditions such as increased water temperature, coral bleaching, runoff from land, and changes in the ecology of heavily fished reefs. We examined a stable coral syndrome or a growth anomaly [Porite growth anomaly (PGA)] (skeletal tissue anomaly, hyperplasia, or ‘tumor’) that was present in 0–15% of massive Porites colonies in 12 Kenyan reef lagoons. At the level of the calice morphology, this growth anomaly showed larger calices with less distance between calices and some calices with higher than normal numbers of septa, which indicate the influence of microboring organisms. Scanning electron micrographs of affected corals revealed a high abundance of fungal hyphae, a potential microboring pathogenic agent. To test the hypothesis that the PGA covaries with environmental variables, we evaluated its prevalence in relationship to 16 parameters of water quality, temperature, intensity of bleaching, benthic composition, and management at the end of the 2005 warm season. Stepwise regression models found eight environmental variables significantly associated with the frequency of the PGA, and the site's bleaching intensity was the most strongly associated variable. When bleaching intensity was removed from the dataset, the concentration of phosphorus was the one significant and positively associated variable, which suggest that the other significant environmental variables were associated with bleaching and not the growth anomalies. Our hypothetical model of causation is that the patchy loss of symbionts, often associated with bleaching, reduces calcification, increases susceptibility to pathogens, and allows endolithic fungi to perforate the skeleton creating a porous and anomalous growth of the skeleton. Consequently, we suggest that the frequency of skeletal growth anomalies is expected to increase with the frequency of coral bleaching.
Prevention of haemarthrosis in a murine model of acute joint bleeding
Authors: VALENTINO L. A. , HAKOBYAN N. , KAZARIAN T. , SORENSEN B. B. , TRANHOLM M.
Published: November 2008

Summary.  Preservation of normal joint function in patients with haemophilia is a goal of modern therapy. Regular injections of anti‐haemophilic factor concentrate reduce the risk of joint bleeding, the optimal regimen for which remains under investigation. The goals of the experiment described here are: (i) to assess the capacity of a murine model of severe haemophilic arthropathy to predict the likelihood of success of a test product to prevent joint bleeding and the complications that follow and (ii) to compare the effectiveness of recombinant human activated factor VII (rFVIIa) to recombinant human factor VIII (rFVIII) to prevent acute joint bleeding in the mouse model of haemarthrosis. Mice lacking expression of FVIII received a single intravenous injection of human rFVIII (280 U kg−1), rFVIIa (10 mg kg−1) or vehicle prior to blunt trauma injury to the knee joint. Mice receiving rFVIII and rFVIIa developed less injury‐induced joint bleeding, swelling and loss of range of motion compared to mice pretreated with vehicle. Despite the reduction in clinical symptoms, synovial hyperplasia was evident in all groups after 7 days although less pronounced in mice receiving rFVIII and rFVIIa. The data under these experimental conditions demonstrate: (i) that this model can be used to evaluate novel therapies designed to prevent joint bleeding (prophylaxis) and (ii) both rFVIII and rFVIIa reduced acute haemarthrosis but did not completely prevent synovitis, the sequelae of blood induced joint injury.
Prophylaxis in 10 patients with severe haemophilia A and inhibitor: different approaches for different clinical situations
Authors: JIMÉNEZ‐YUSTE V. , ALVAREZ M. T. , MARTÍN‐SALCES M. , QUINTANA M. , RODRIGUEZ‐MERCHAN C. , LOPEZ‐CABARCOS C. , VELASCO F. , HERNÁNDEZ‐NAVARRO F.
Published: November 2008

Summary.  The effect of bypassing agents is not as predictable as replacement therapy with the deficient factor in inhibitor patients. Consequently, these patients have more levels of arthropathy than patients without inhibitors. Prophylaxis for inhibitor patients has gained attention over the last decade and some papers have reported that bypassing agents could work in the prevention of arthropathy. However, there is a lack data to support any specific agent or regimen or even to recommend their use in different clinical conditions. We report ten patients with haemophilia A and inhibitors treated prophylacticaly with bypassing agents (5 with FEIBA and 5 with NovoSeven). The variable conditioning the choice of one agent or the other was the intention to initiate of immune tolerance induction therapy (ITI) in the future. In 8/10 patients (4 in FEIBA group and 4 in rFVIIa group) there was a decrease of bleeding episodes while 9/10 maintained or increased their joint range of motion (ROM). In the rFVIIa prophylaxis group, prophylaxis can be considered primary since all of them had had less than one joint bleed before prophylaxis. Economic analysis showed that prophylaxis is an expensive treatment. In our experience both agents seem to be safe and effective in reducing the number of bleeds in patients with inhibitors. The anamnestic response provoked by FEIBA could be an issue while awaiting a decline in titres before ITI can be initiated and so rFVIIa may be the best option for prophylaxis in patients with inhibitors who have not yet begun ITI.
Areas and algorithms: evaluating numerical approaches for the delimitation of areas of endemism in the Canary Islands archipelago
Authors: Carine Mark A. , Humphries Christopher J. , Guma I. Rosana , Reyes‐Betancort J. Alfredo , Santos Guerra Arnoldo
Published: November 2008

Aim Areas of endemism are the fundamental units of cladistic biogeographical analysis but there is no consensus on the most appropriate method for their delimitation. In this paper, the relative performance of a number of algorithmic approaches for the delimitation of areas of endemism is investigated within the context of the Canary Islands flora, and areas of endemism within the Canary Islands archipelago are defined.

Location The Canary Islands.

Methods A data matrix comprising the distributions of 609 endemic spermatophyte taxa (c. 90% of the endemic flora) scored on a 10 × 10 km UTM grid was analysed using: (1) UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) clustering of Jaccard and Kulczynski similarity coefficient matrices, (2) parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), and (3) the programndm(eNDeMism). The performance of each method was then determined by the extent to which the resulting areas of endemism met three criteria: (1) possession of two or more strict endemic taxa, (2) diagnosability, and (3) geographical contiguity.

Results Each of the four methods resulted in substantially different sets of areas.ndmanalysis resolved 17 areas of endemism consistent with all three criteria, and collectively these accounted for 59% of all cells. In the hierarchical analyses none of the methods recovered more than eight areas of endemism, and the total coverage of cells ranged from 13% to 33% when the results were confined to intra‐island areas of endemism.

Main conclusions ndmoutperforms hierarchical clustering methods in terms of both the number of intra‐island areas of endemism delimited that meet the three evaluation criteria and the total coverage of those areas.ndmmay also be considered preferable because it is non‐hierarchical, incorporates spatial information into the delimitation of areas, and permits overlap between areas of endemism where there is evidence to support it. The results support the use ofndmas the most appropriate method currently available for the delimitation of areas of endemism. The areas of endemism identified by thendmanalysis are discussed.
Expression of Leptin Receptor by Glial Cells of the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius: Possible Involvement in Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Dallaporta M. , Pecchi E. , Pio J. , Jean A. , Horner K. C. , Troadec J. D.
Published: November 2008

Leptin, an adipocyte‐derived hormone, regulates food intake and body weight by acting principally on the hypothalamus, which displays the highest expression of leptin receptor (Ob‐R). Nevertheless, other regions of the brain express Ob‐R and constitute leptin’s target sites. The dorsal vagal complex (DVC), an integrative centre of autonomic functions located in the caudal brainstem, is one of these structures. Leptin, by acting through the DVC, affects autonomic and neuroendocrine functions, such as control of food intake and gastric motility. In the present study, we observed Ob‐R labelling within the DVC in cells that correspond to neuronal cell bodies. We showed for the first time Ob‐R expression in a subpopulation of glial fibrillary acid protein positive cells located at the border between the area postrema and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). These glial cells exhibit an atypical morphology consisting of unbranched processes that radiate rostro‐caudally from the fourth ventricle wall. In vitro, the glial cells exhibited both long and short Ob‐R expression with a preferential expression of the Ob‐Ra and‐f isoforms. Interestingly, using i.v and i.c.v. injection of the fluorescent tracer hydroxystilbamidine, we provided evidence that these cells may constitute a diffusion barrier which might regulate entry of molecules into the NTS. Finally, modulation of energy status, by acute or chronic reduction of food intake, modulated especially the short Ob‐R isofoms in the DVC. In the light of these results, we hypothesise that Ob‐R positive glial cells of the DVC participate in the transport of leptin into the brainstem and thus contribute to regulation of energy homeostasis.