bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutational study in thePDHA1gene of 40 patients suspected of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency
Authors: Quintana E , Gort L , Busquets C , Navarro‐Sastre A , Lissens W , Moliner S , Lluch M , Vilaseca MA , De Meirleir L , Ribes A , Briones P ,   PDH Working Group
Published: December 2009

Quintana E, Gort L, Busquets C, Navarro‐Sastre A, Lissens W, Moliner S, Lluch M, Vilaseca MA, De Meirleir L, Ribes A, Briones P, PDH Working Group. Mutational study in thePDHA1gene of 40 patients suspected of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency.

We screened forPDHA1mutations in 40 patients with biochemically demonstrated PDHc deficiency or strong clinical suspicion, and found changes with probable pathological significance in 20. Five patients presented new mutations: p.A169V, c.932_938del, c.1143_1144 ins24, c.1146_1159dup and c.510‐30G> A, this latter is a new undescribed cause of exon 6 skipping. Another four mutations have been found, and previously reported, in our patients: p.H113D, p.P172L, p.Y243del and p.Y369Q. Eleven patients presented seven known mutations: p.R127Q, p.I166I, p.A198T, p.R263G, p.R302C, p.R378C and c.1142_1145dup. The latter three were found in more than one unrelated patient: p.R302C was detected in a heterozygous girl and a mosaic male, p.R378C in two males and finally, c.1142_1145dup in three females; only one in 20 mothers was found to be a carrier (p.R263G).

Apart from those 20 patients, the only alteration detected in one girl with clear PDHc and PDH‐E1 deficiency was the silent change c.396A> C (p.R132R), and other eight PDHc deficient patients carry combinations of known infrequent polymorphisms that are overrepresented among our 20 unsolved patients. The importance of these changes on PDH activity is unclear.

Investigations in the other PDHc genes are in course in order to elucidate the genetic defect in the unresolved patients.
Experts' opinions on ethical issues of genetic research into Alzheimer's disease: results of a Delphi study in the Netherlands
Authors: Van Der Vorm A , Van Der Laan AL , Borm G , Vernooij‐Dassen M , Olde Rikkert M , Van Leeuwen E , Dekkers W
Published: December 2009

van der Vorm A, van der Laan AL, Borm G, Vernooij‐Dassen M, Rikkert MO, van Leeuwen E, Dekkers W. Experts' opinions on ethical issues of genetic research into Alzheimer's disease: results of a Delphi study in the Netherlands.

Most publications on the ethical aspects of genetic research into Alzheimer's Disease (AD) concentrate on the differences between the opinions of professionals and non‐professionals. Differences in rating of morally relevant issues between groups of professionals have not yet been described. A modified Delphi study in two rounds was held to identify differences between groups of experts (i.e. clinicians, representatives of patient organisations, ethicists and persons with a commercial background). The strongest correlation was found between the opinions of ethicists and representatives of patient organisations (0.67) and between clinicians and ethicists (0.62). Moderate correlation (0.55) was found between the opinions of clinicians and representatives of patient organisations. Persons with a commercial background showed a weak correlation with clinicians (0.41), ethicists (0.35) and representatives of patient organisations (0.30). These differences in rating of morally relevant issues between various professional groups are relevant for clinical practice and dementia care, particularly the different rating of prenatal diagnosis found between clinicians and representatives of patient organisations. Interdisciplinary consultations between various professional groups –including at least researchers, clinicians and ethicists –are recommended to guarantee that all considerations will be incorporated into the debate on ethical issues of genetic research into AD.
Does family history predict the age at onset of new breast cancers in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation‐positive families?
Authors: Panchal S , Bordeleau L , Poll A , Llacuachaqui M , Shachar O , Ainsworth P , Armel S , Eisen A , Sun P , Narod SA
Published: December 2009

Panchal S, Bordeleau L, Poll A, Llacuachaqui M, Shachar O, Ainsworth P, Armel S, Eisen A, Sun P, Narod SA. Does family history predict the age at onset of new breast cancers in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation‐positive families?

Women who carry BRCA mutations are advised to begin breast cancer screening based on the age‐specific risks of breast cancer development. It is not clear to what extent the family history of breast cancer influences age of onset. We evaluated the use of family history to predict the age of breast cancer onset in BRCA mutation carriers. Pedigrees from an Ontario‐based registry were reviewed to identify the index case of breast cancer (most recent diagnosis) and other family cases of breast cancer. The youngest age of breast cancer diagnosis and mean age at breast cancer diagnosis in the other family cases were compared to the age of onset in the index case. The 260 BRCA1 and 213 BRCA2 pedigrees were reviewed. In BRCA2 families, the index case was diagnosed on average at 44.4 years when the youngest reported family case was less than or equal to 35 years, compared to 51.9 years when the earliest cases were diagnosed after age 50 (p = 0.04). A modest trend was seen for BRCA1 carriers, but this was not statistically significant. To a small extent, the onset of breast cancer in a BRCA2 mutation carrier can be predicted from her family history of cancer, however, the trend is modest and should not alter clinical recommendations regarding initiation of screening.
Gene copy number variation and common human disease
Authors: Fanciulli M , Petretto E , Aitman TJ
Published: December 2009

Fanciulli M, Petretto E, Aitman TJ. Gene copy number variation and common human disease.

Variation in gene copy number is increasingly recognized as a common, heritable source of inter‐individual differences in genomic sequence. The role of copy number variation is well established in the pathogenesis of rare genomic disorders. More recently, germline and somatic copy number variation have been shown to be important pathogenic factors in a range of common diseases, including infectious, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric diseases and cancer. In this review, we describe the range of methods available for measuring copy number variants (CNVs) in individuals and populations, including the limitations of presently available assays, and highlight some key examples of common diseases in which CNVs have been shown clearly to have a pathogenic role. Although there has been major progress in this field in the last 5 years, understanding the full contribution of CNVs to the genetic basis of common diseases will require further studies, with more accurate CNV assays and larger cohorts than have presently been completed.
Factors influencing infection of Acacia mearnsii by the wilt pathogen Ceratocystis albifundus in South Africa
Authors: Heath R. N. , Van Der Linde M. , Groeneveld H. , Wingfield B. D. , Wingfield M. J. , Roux J.
Published: December 2009

It is well known that species of Ceratocystis, which cause canker and wilt diseases on trees, require wounds for infection. In this regard, a number of physical and environmental factors influence the success of wound colonization by these fungi. The aim of this study was to consider the influence of wound age, stem diameter and colonization of wounds by Ophiostoma quercus on the success of infection by Ceratocystis albifundus, an important wilt pathogen of Acacia mearnsii in southern and eastern Africa, under field conditions. This was performed by doing controlled inoculations on Acacia mearnsii trees, of different diameters, with C. albifundus at different time intervals after wounding and after pre‐inoculation of wounds with O. quercus at the time of wounding. The success of infection by C. albifundus decreased significantly from 8 h after wounding and was higher on stems of greater diameter. Pre‐infection of wounds by O. quercus reduced the infection success of C. albifundus. The overall results showed that managing wounds created during forestry operations by treating wounds with naturally occurring, non‐virulent fungi, such as O. quercus, could reduce the prevalence of infections by C. albifundus.
Phenotypic differences among three clonal lineages of Phytophthora ramorum
Authors: Elliott M. , Sumampong G. , Varga A. , Shamoun S. F. , James D. , Masri S. , Grünwald N. J.
Published: December 2009

There are three major clonal lineages of Phytophthora ramorum present in North America and Europe named NA1, NA2, and EU1. Twenty‐three isolates representing all three lineages were evaluated for phenotype including (i) aggressiveness on detached Rhododendron leaves and (ii) growth rate at minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures. Closely related species P. foliorum and P. hibernalis were included in phenotypic tests since these species are encountered in nursery surveys for P. ramorum. Isolates from the NA2 and EU1 lineages were the most aggressive and isolates from the NA1 group were the least aggressive. The NA1 lineage of P. ramorum was the most variable in aggressiveness and growth rate. The variability in the NA1 lineage was due to the presence of non‐wild type (nwt) isolates. There was no significant difference in growth rate among NA1 wild type (wt), NA2, and EU1 lineages at any temperature tested. The difference between wt and nwt P. ramorum isolates is discussed.
Phytotoxins produced by the oak pathogen Discula quercina
Authors: Maddau L. , Perrone C. , Andolfi A. , Spanu E. , Linaldeddu B. T. , Evidente A.
Published: December 2009

Two phytotoxic metabolites, p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and indol‐3‐aldehyde, were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods from solid cultures of Discula quercina, an endophytic fungal pathogen frequently associated with oak decline in Italy. In addition, the fungus produced an unusual acyclic keto acid as a major metabolite, which was identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods as 5‐oxo‐6E,8E‐octadecadienoic acid. In leaf puncture assays on Quercus suber and Q. ilex leaves, indol‐3‐aldehyde proved to be more toxic than p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, while 5‐oxo‐6E,8E‐octadecadienoic acid was inactive even at the highest concentration used (1 mg ml−1). Although indol‐3‐aldehyde is a known microbial metabolite, its phytotoxic activity has hitherto not been reported. This report is the first to describe the production of phytotoxic compounds by D. quercina.
High gene flow promotes the genetic homogeneity of the fish goby Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810) from Mar Menor coastal lagoon and adjacent marine waters (Spain)
Authors: Vergara‐Chen Carlos , González‐Wangüemert Mercedes , Marcos Concepción , Pérez‐Ruzafa Ángel
Published: December 2009

The extreme environmental variability of coastal lagoons suggests that physical and ecological factors could contribute to the genetic divergence among populations occurring in lagoon and open‐coast environments. In this study we analysed the genetic variability of lagoon and marine samples of the sand goby, Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810) (Pisces: Gobiidae), on the SW Spain coast. A fragment of mitochondrial DNA control region (570 bp) was sequenced for 196 individuals collected in five localities: Lo Pagan, Los Urrutias and Playa Honda (Mar Menor coastal lagoon), and Veneziola and Mazarrón (Mediterranean Sea). The total haplotype diversity was h = 0.9424 ± 0.0229, and the total nucleotide diversity was π = 0.0108 ± 0.0058. Among‐sample genetic differentiation was not significant and small‐scale patterns in the distribution of haplotypes were not apparent. Gene flow and dispersal‐related life history traits may account for low genetic structure at a small spatial scale. The high genetic diversity found in P. marmoratus increases its potential to adapt to changing conditions of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.
Misalignments of rest–activity rhythms in inpatients with schizophrenia
Authors: Kodaka Manami , Tanaka Satoshi , Takahara Madoka , Inamoto Atsuko , Shirakawa Shuichiro , Inagaki Masatoshi , Kato Nobumasa , Yamada Mitsuhiko
Published: December 2009

Aims:  Rest–activity rhythms of human beings generally synchronize to a 24‐h time cue. Very few detailed research studies have examined rest–activity rhythms in patients with schizophrenia. The present study aimed to explore (i) rest–activity rhythms in patients with schizophrenia, and (ii) factors relevant to their rhythm characteristics.

Methods:  We selected only inpatients for this research, because the time cue for inpatients was considered more standardized than that of outpatients. Sixteen inpatients with schizophrenia wore an ActiTrac accelerometer‐based activity monitor (IM Systems Inc., Baltimore, USA) for eight consecutive days to measure their activity. We used a χ2 periodogram to compute rest–activity rhythms from the activity data, whereby the χ2 value amplitude was regarded as an index of regularity. We conducted non‐parametric tests to identify factors relevant to rhythm cycles and patterns.

Results:  Half of the participants exhibited prolonged rest–activity cycles, and 25% also had irregular rest–activity patterns defined by insufficient χ2 value amplitude, even though they were clearly under a 24‐h time cue. Participants with misaligned rest–activity rhythms had attended daytime non‐medical treatment programs less frequently, and had received more anti‐anxiety/hypnotic medications than those with proper rhythms.

Conclusion:  Changes in rest–activity rhythms by optimizing pharmacological and non‐pharmacological treatment could improve social adjustment or quality of life in patients with schizophrenia.
Unique histological characteristics of Scedosporium that could aid in its identification
Authors: Kimura Masatomo , Maenishi Osamu , Ito Hiroyuki , Ohkusu Kiyofumi
Published: December 2009

Scedosporium prolificans has been increasingly recognized as an etiological agent of disseminated mycelial infections in profoundly immunocompromised patients. Reported herein is a case of disseminated S. prolificans infection in a patient undergoing anti‐neoplastic chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Antemortem blood culture yielded S. prolificans, which was confirmed on conventional morphological examination and polymerase chain reaction‐based DNA sequencing targeting internally transcribed spacer regions. Histopathology of autopsy specimens indicated fungal infection in the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract, with the development of hemorrhagic and ischemic necrosis. The infecting fungus had developing septate hyphae and was identified as belonging to the genus Scedosporium, on in situ hybridization of tissue. The combination of haphazardly branching hyphae and lemon‐shaped conidia appeared to be the most useful distinguishing features to allow differentiation of this fungus from other filamentous fungi in tissue. Three other unique histopathological characteristics of the fungus were noted: (i) parallel hyphae bridged at right angles to produce letter‐H patterns; (ii) intravascular conidiation; and (iii) purple conidia in tissue, though these are usually described as brown in most text books. Precise histopathology, in addition to other techniques such as in situ hybridization, can aid in the identification of etiological fungi.
Spinal needle design and size affect the incidence of postdural puncture headache in children
Authors: APILIOGULLARI SEZA , DUMAN ATES , GOK FUNDA , AKILLIOGLU ISAK
Published: December 2009

Background:  In adults, pencil point spinal needles are known to be less traumatic and hence to be superior compared with cutting point needles in respect of postpuncture complications. In children, only a few trials have evaluated the difference in the incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDPH) using spinal needles with different tip designs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate and the incidence of PDPH and backache following spinal anesthesia (SA) with the two types of needles currently in use for children.

Methods:  This is a retrospective study of prospectively collected data. The success rate and postpuncture complications of 26G cutting point (Atraucan®) spinal needle were compared with 27G pencil point (Pencan®) spinal needle in 414 children aged 2–17 years undergoing surgery with SA.

Results:  Both needles had similar first‐attempt success rates: 87% in the cutting point group and 91% in the pencil point group (P = 0.16). Pencil point needles caused less PDPH compared to cutting point needles; 0.4% vs 4.5%, respectively (P = 0.005). Both needles caused similar backache (P = 0.08). No severe neurologic symptom was reported for both needles.

Conclusion:  The data suggest that 27G pencil point spinal needles lead to less PDPH compared to 26G cutting point spinal needles in children.
Extraordinarily widespread and fantastically complex: comparative biology of endosymbiotic bacterial and fungal mutualists of insects
Authors: Gibson Cara M. , Hunter Martha S.
Published: December 2009

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 223–234

Endosymbiosis is a pervasive, powerful force in arthropod evolution. In the recent literature, bacterial symbionts of insects have been shown to function as reproductive manipulators, nutritional mutualists and as defenders of their hosts. Fungi, like bacteria, are also frequently associated with insects. Initial estimates suggest that insect–fungal endosymbionts are hyperdiverse, yet there has been comparatively little research investigating the roles that fungi play in their insect hosts. In many systems in which the bacterial symbionts are well‐characterized, the possible presence of fungi has been routinely ignored. Why has there been so little research on this important group of symbionts? Here, we explore the differences between fungal and bacterial endosymbiotic insect mutualists. We make predictions about why a bacterium or fungus might be found associated with an insect host given particular ecological, physiological, or evolutionary conditions. We also touch on the various hurdles for studying fungal vs. bacterial endosymbionts and potential future research directions.
Ability of stress‐related volatiles to attract and induce attacks by Xylosandrus germanus and other ambrosia beetles
Authors: Ranger Christopher M. , Reding Michael E. , Persad Anand B. , Herms Daniel A.
Published: December 2009

Xylosandrus germanus typically colonizes physiologically‐stressed deciduous hosts but it is increasingly being recognized as a key pest of ornamental nursery stock. We tested the attractiveness of common plant stress‐related volatiles to ambrosia beetles occupying the nursery agroecosystem, as well as their ability to induce attacks on selected trees. Experiments were conducted in Ohio, U.S.A.

Stress volatile attractiveness was first assessed by positioning traps baited with acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol in ornamental nurseries. Cumulative trap counts confirmed that ethanol was the most attractive stress‐related volatile to X. germanus. Methanol‐baited traps were slightly attractive to X. germanus, whereas traps baited with acetaldehyde and acetone were not attractive to any ambrosia beetle.

A series of tree injection experiments were also conducted to determine the ability of these volatiles to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles under field conditions. Injection of ethanol into Magnolia virginiana induced the largest number of attacks, whereas injection of acetaldehyde induced more attacks than methanol or acetone. Xylosandrus germanus was the most predominant species emerging from M. virginiana injected with each of the stress‐related volatiles. No attacks by wood‐boring beetles were observed on water injected or uninjected control trees.

Solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry confirmed the emission of acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and methanol after their injection into M. virginiana.

Xylosandrus germanus has an efficient olfactory‐based mechanism for differentiating among host volatile cues. Injecting select trees with stress‐related volatiles, particularly ethanol, shows promise as a trap tree strategy for X. germanus and other ambrosia beetles.
Syndecan‐1 expression in prostate cancer and its value as biomarker for disease progression
Authors: Brimo Fadi , Vollmer Robin T. , Friszt Matthew , Corcos Jacques , Bismar Tarek A.
Published: December 2009

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between syndecan‐1 (CD138) expression and prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated syndecan‐1 expression using a recently constructed tissue microarray of prostatic samples taken from 243 patients, corresponding to 1400 cores, with 69.8%, 5.6%, 17.6% and 7% of the cores representing localized prostate cancer, high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, benign prostate tissue and hormone refractory/metastatic disease, respectively.

RESULTS

Metastatic cases had the highest frequency and membranous staining intensity for syndecan‐1 overexpression, followed by hormone refractory and localized disease (83.3% vs 34.8% and 25.7%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the frequency of membranous syndecan‐1 expression between localized prostate cancer and benign glands (25.7% vs 24.7% of cases, respectively). However, benign glands showed significantly higher intensity staining than localized prostate cancer. We found no significant association between syndecan‐1 expression and any of the following: Gleason score, pathological stage, surgical margin status and biochemical recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The current available evidence, from the present and previous studies, show that syndecan‐1 is not an independent predictor of recurrence or tumour‐specific survival, diminishing its significance as a clinical marker.
Extraprostatic extension of prostatic adenocarcinoma on needle core biopsy: report of 72 cases with clinical follow‐up
Authors: Miller Jeremy S. , Chen YingBei , Ye HuiHui , Robinson Brian D. , Brimo Fadi , Epstein Jonathan I.
Published: December 2009

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To describe the histological findings and prognosis that are associated with extraprostatic extension (EPE) on needle core biopsy of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrieved 99 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma with EPE at initial diagnosis on biopsy from the consultation files of one of the authors between 1997 and 2009. The 72 cases that had available clinical follow‐up data formed the basis of this study.

RESULTS

The mean (range) age of the patients was 64 (48–87) years, the median (mean, range) serum prostatic specific antigen level was 7.8 (64.8, 0.3–1505) ng/mL, and 60 of the patients (83%) had abnormalities on a digital rectal examination. The mean (range) number of malignant cores was 7.7 (1–23); the mean percentage of carcinoma in each core was 69.6%, and that in the core(s) with EPE was 76.8%. The mean Gleason score in the core(s) with EPE was 8, with a mean highest Gleason score per case of 8.4. Perineural invasion was detected in 54 cases (75%). Ten of 11 patients treated surgically had EPE on the radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen; also six had positive resection margins, five showed invasion into the seminal vesicles and one had lymph node metastasis. The Gleason scores in nine of the RP specimens did not differ from the highest grade found in the associated biopsies (score 9 in three, 8 in two, 7 in four); in one case it increased (from score 6 to 8) and in one it decreased (from score 9 to 8). Patients were followed for a mean (median, range) of 2.9 (2, 0.1–9) years, with metastases identified in 29 (40%); 10 (14%) died from the disease.

CONCLUSION

EPE on needle core biopsy of the prostate is strongly associated with extensive, high‐grade prostatic adenocarcinoma, such that its usefulness as an isolated prognostic factor is relatively limited.
Narrow‐band imaging cystoscopy to evaluate bladder tumours – individual surgeon variability
Authors: Herr Harry , Donat Machele , Dalbagni Guido , Taylor Jennifer
Published: December 2009

Study Type – Diagnosis (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b

OBJECTIVE

To assess individual urologist variability using narrow‐band imaging (NBI) cystoscopy to evaluate bladder tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 50 patients underwent white‐light and NBI cystoscopy to evaluate for recurrent bladder tumours. Endoscopic images in each patient were independently viewed by four urologists assessing presence or absence of tumour. Their findings were correlated with biopsy results.

RESULTS

In all, 26 patients had recurrent tumour and 24 had benign histology. There were no significant differences among urologists detecting recurrent tumour or in determining final pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

There does not appear to be a ‘learning curve’ for adapting to NBI‐surveillance cystoscopy in patients with bladder cancer.
Long‐term data on the survival of patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy in the prostate‐specific antigen era
Authors: Isbarn Hendrik , Wanner Manuela , Salomon Georg , Steuber Thomas , Schlomm Thorsten , Köllermann Jens , Sauter Guido , Haese Alexander , Heinzer Hans , Huland Hartwig , Graefen Markus
Published: December 2009

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To examine the long‐term rates of biochemical recurrence (BCR)‐free survival, cancer‐specific mortality (CSM)‐free survival, and overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate cancer treated with open radical prostatectomy (RP) in the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) era.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study comprised 436 patients who were treated with RP between 1992 and 1997 at our institution. None received adjuvant/salvage therapy in the absence of BCR. The BCR‐free, CSM‐free and OS rates

were defined using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Multivariable Cox‐regression models were used to test the effect of age, preoperative PSA level, neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, pT stage, lymph node status, RP Gleason sum and surgical margin status on BCR.

RESULTS

The median follow‐up of censored patients was 122, 128, and 132 months for, respectively, BCR‐free, CSM‐free and OS estimates. The 10‐year event‐free survival rates for the same endpoints were 60%, 94% and 86%, respectively. Preoperative PSA level, RP Gleason sum, pT stage, lymph node status, and surgical margin status were independent predictors of BCR (all adjusted P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to evaluate the long‐term cancer control outcomes after RP from a European country in the PSA era. Our data indicate that RP provides excellent long‐term survival rates in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. Although ≈40% of patients have BCR after 10 years of follow‐up, the CSM rate after 10 years is as low as 6%.
Patterns and controls of the variability of radiation use efficiency and primary productivity across terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Garbulsky Martín F. , Peñuelas Josep , Papale Dario , Ardö Jonas , Goulden Michael L. , Kiely Gerard , Richardson Andrew D. , Rotenberg Eyal , Veenendaal Elmar M. , Filella Iolanda
Published: December 2009

Aim  The controls of gross radiation use efficiency (RUE), the ratio between gross primary productivity (GPP) and the radiation intercepted by terrestrial vegetation, and its spatial and temporal variation are not yet fully understood. Our objectives were to analyse and synthesize the spatial variability of GPP and the spatial and temporal variability of RUE and its climatic controls for a wide range of vegetation types.

Location  A global range of sites from tundra to rain forest.

Methods  We analysed a global dataset on photosynthetic uptake and climatic variables from 35 eddy covariance (EC) flux sites spanning between 100 and 2200 mm mean annual rainfall and between −13 and 26°C mean annual temperature. RUE was calculated from the data provided by EC flux sites and remote sensing (MODIS).

Results  Rainfall and actual evapotranspiration (AET) positively influenced the spatial variation of annual GPP, whereas temperature only influenced the GPP of forests. Annual and maximum RUE were also positively controlled primarily by annual rainfall. The main control parameters of the growth season variation of gross RUE varied for each ecosystem type. Overall, the ratio between actual and potential evapotranspiration and a surrogate for the energy balance explained a greater proportion of the seasonal variation of RUE than the vapour pressure deficit (VPD), AET and precipitation. Temperature was important for determining the intra‐annual variability of the RUE at the coldest energy‐limited sites.

Main conclusions  Our analysis supports the idea that the annual functioning of vegetation that is adapted to its local environment is more constrained by water availability than by temperature. The spatial variability of annual and maximum RUE can be largely explained by annual precipitation, more than by vegetation type. The intra‐annual variation of RUE was mainly linked to the energy balance and water availability along the climatic gradient. Furthermore, we showed that intra‐annual variation of gross RUE is only weakly influenced by VPD and temperature, contrary to what is frequently assumed. Our results provide a better understanding of the spatial and temporal controls of the RUE and thus could lead to a better estimation of ecosystem carbon fixation and better modelling.
Scandalous Scarcities: Black Slave Women, Plantation Domesticity, and Travel Writing in Nineteenth‐Century Cuba
Authors: FINCH AISHA K.
Published: December 2009

This article draws on the writing of North American and European travelers to illustrate the ways in which enslaved black women became central to Cuba's visions of colonial prosperity in the mid‐nineteenth century. Such literature highlights the anxieties that plagued Cuban colonial elites as the slave trade consistently brought fewer African women than men to the island. As mothers, wives, and caretakers of domestic space, black and African women became critical to planters' dreams of continued wealth and stability. To further encourage this idealized culture of respectable domesticity, white Cuban elites erected slave cabins and barracks whose physical arrangements could increase slaves' compulsion to marry, and enhance managers' ability to survey and oversee the enslaved populations. Thus white Cuban elites hoped that enslaved women – and the ideas about marriage, home, and family such women were thought to inspire – would help to produce plantation regimes as orderly and disciplined as they were prosperous.
Insuring against earthquakes: simulating the cost‐effectiveness of disaster preparedness
Authors: De Hoop Thomas , Ruben Ruerd
Published: December 2009

Ex‐ante measures to improve risk preparedness for natural disasters are generally considered to be more effective than ex‐post measures. Nevertheless, most resources are allocated after an event in geographical areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters. This paper analyses the cost‐effectiveness of ex‐ante adaptation measures in the wake of earthquakes and provides an assessment of the future role of private and public agencies in disaster risk management. The study uses a simulation model approach to evaluate consumption losses after earthquakes under different scenarios of intervention. Particular attention is given to the role of activity diversification measures in enhancing disaster preparedness and the contributions of (targeted) microcredit and education programmes for reconstruction following a disaster. Whereas the former measures are far more cost‐effective, missing markets and perverse incentives tend to make ex‐post measures a preferred option, thus occasioning underinvestment in ex‐ante adaptation initiatives.
A national system for disseminating information on victims during mass casualty incidents
Authors: Adini Bruria , Peleg Kobi , Cohen Robert , Laor Danny
Published: December 2009

Immediate provision of information to the public is vital during mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Failure to implement rapidly a communication response system may result in the public overwhelming hospitals. This paper shares Israel's experience in developing and maintaining a national system for supplying information on the location and identification of casualties. ADAM interfaces online with hospitals' patient registration systems, and allows for immediate electronic transfer of designated data. The system permits information centres to access information on which hospital has admitted identified and unidentified casualties. The latter are photographed at the entrance to the hospital and the picture is stored in ADAM. The system enables hospitals and municipalities to ensure immediate availability and accessibility of information and thus (in our belief) mitigate the concerns of family and friends. Use of such an interface system is recommended as an integral element of emergency preparedness.
Determinants of coverage in Community‐based Therapeutic Care programmes: towards a joint quantitative and qualitative analysis
Authors: Guerrero Saúl , Myatt Mark , Collins Steve
Published: December 2009

One of the most important elements behind the success of Community‐based Therapeutic Care (CTC) programmes for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition has been their ability to achieve high levels of coverage. In CTC, coverage is measured using the Centric System Area Sampling (CSAS) method, which provides accurate and reliable estimates of programme coverage as well as information on the primary reasons for non‐attendance. Another important feature of CTC programmes is their use of socio‐cultural assessments to determine potential barriers to access and to develop context‐specific responses. By analysing data on non‐attendance provided by CSAS surveys, in conjunction with data from socio‐cultural assessments, it is possible to identify common factors responsible for failures in programme coverage. This paper focuses on an analysis of data from 12 CTC programmes across five African countries. It pinpoints three common factors (distance to sites, community awareness of the programme, and the way in which rejections are handled at the sites) that, together, account for approximately 75 per cent of non‐attendance.
ETHICAL ISSUES IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH ON MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS
Authors: MUNTHE CHRISTIAN , RADOVIC SUSANNA , ANCKARSÄTER HENRIK
Published: December 2009

This paper analyses ethical issues in forensic psychiatric research on mentally disordered offenders, especially those detained in the psychiatric treatment system. The idea of a ‘dual role’ dilemma afflicting forensic psychiatry is more complicated than acknowledged. Our suggestion acknowledges the good of criminal law and crime prevention as a part that should be balanced against familiar research ethical considerations. Research aiming at improvements of criminal justice and treatment is a societal priority, and the total benefit of studies has to be balanced against the risks for research subjects inferred by almost all systematic studies. Direct substantial risks must be balanced by health benefits, and normal informed consent requirements apply. When direct risks are slight, as in register‐based epidemiology, lack of consent may be counter‐balanced by special measures to protect integrity and the general benefit of better understanding of susceptibility, treatment and prevention. Special requirements on consent procedures in the forensic psychiatric context are suggested, and the issue of the relation between decision competence and legal accountability is found to be in need of further study. The major ethical hazard in forensic psychiatric research connects to the role of researchers as assessors and consultants in a society entertaining strong prejudices against mentally disordered offenders.
AGAINST RISK‐BENEFIT REVIEW OF PRISONER RESEARCH
Authors: CHWANG ERIC
Published: December 2009

The 2006 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, ‘Ethical Considerations for Research Involving Prisoners’, recommended five main changes to current US Common Rule regulations on prisoner research. Their third recommendation was to shift from a category‐based to a risk‐benefit approach to research review, similar to current guidelines on pediatric research. However, prisoners are not children, so risk‐benefit constraints on prisoner research must be justified in a different way from those on pediatric research. In this paper I argue that additional risk‐benefit constraints on prisoner research are unnecessary: the current Common Rule regulations, omitting category‐based restrictions but conjoined with the IOM report's other four main recommendations, ensure that prisoner research is as ethical as non‐prisoner research is. I explain why four problems which which may be more prevalent in prisons and which risk‐benefit constraints may seem to address – coercion, undue inducements, exploitation, and protection from harm – are in fact not solved by adding further risk‐benefit constraints on prisoner research.
PRISONER RESEARCH – LOOKING BACK OR LOOKING FORWARD?
Authors: THOMAS DAVID L.
Published: December 2009

Much has been written about prisoner research and the controversies surrounding prisoners as human subjects. The Institute of Medicine recently released a report addressing some of these issues. This report, which generated further controversy, needs to be fully discussed in the literature and certain aspects are examined in this work. Further, in the body of literature there has been little acknowledgement of the concept of the right of prisoners to be involved in research. This needs to be pursued from an ethical perspective and eventually a legal one. This paper explores that concept and documents some facilities in which a prisoner's right to research has occurred.
C‐reactive protein and leucocyte activation in psoriasis vulgaris according to severity and therapy
Authors: Coimbra S , Oliveira H , Reis F , Belo L , Rocha S , Quintanilha A , Figueiredo A , Teixeira F , Castro E , Rocha‐Pereira P , Santos‐Silva A
Published: December 2009

Background  Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease and psoriatic lesions have shown leucocyte infiltration.

Objectives  We aimed to study C‐reactive protein (CRP) and leucocyte activation markers/inhibitors as potential monitors of psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods  A cross‐sectional (n = 73) and a longitudinal study (before, at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of therapy; n = 47) was performed; 10 patients started topical treatment, 17 narrow‐band ultraviolet light B (NBUVB) and 20 psolaren associated to UVA (PUVA); psoriasis severity was defined by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI).

Results  Compared with control (n = 38), we found higher CRP levels, total leukocyte/neutrophil count, elastase, lactoferrin and α1‐antitrypsin. Increasing PASI was linked to increasing CRP and a trend to higher elastase and lactoferrin, suggesting that worsening enhances inflammatory response with neutrophil activation. CRP correlated with PASI, total leucocytes, neutrophils, elastase, lactoferrin and α1‐antitrypsin. NBUVB and PUVA presented similar effects.

Conclusion  We propose CRP as a useful marker of psoriasis severity that could be used to monitor psoriasis and its treatment, and, together with PASI and elastase, could also be used as a global index of severity.
Candida balanitis: risk factors
Authors: Lisboa C , Santos A , Dias C , Azevedo F , Pina‐Vaz C , Rodrigues A
Published: December 2009

Background  The amount of available information on the prevalence and incidence of candida balanitis is still surprisingly scarce.

Objectives  To determine the prevalence of candida colonization and candida balanitis in men attending a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic. To identify risk factors associated with candida balanitis.

Methods  During a 36‐month period, a cross‐sectional study was carried out on consecutive men attendees of the STD clinic in Hospital S. João, Porto. Clinical and epidemiological data were recorded. Specimen collection from the glans penis and the coronal sulcus followed two procedures: a cotton tipped swab and the direct impression on the surface of CHROMagar Candida medium. Risk factors were considered singly and in combination through logistic regression models.

Results  Among 478 men enrolled, the prevalence of candida colonization was 26.2% and the prevalence of candida balanitis was 18%. Candida colonization was strongly associated with an age above 60 years (OR = 3.375; 95% CI: 1.547–7.362) and with the presence of other cause of balanitis apart from Candida organisms (OR: 2.466; 95% CI: 1.491–4.078). An age above 40 years (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.005–4.500), diabetes mellitus (OR: 19.390; 95% CI: 7.789–48.273) and more than ten candida colonies recovered by culture (OR: 9.586; 95% CI: 2.682–34.263) were risk factors for candida balanitis.

Conclusions  This study highlights the impact of factors other than sexual behaviours upon the epidemiology of this infection. For both candida colonization and infection, age was an important risk factor. Diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor for candida balanitis. More than ten colonies recovered from culture are associated with clinical signs and symptoms.
Body size variation in insects: a macroecological perspective
Authors: Chown Steven L. , Gaston Kevin J.
Published: December 2009

Body size is a key feature of organisms and varies continuously because of the effects of natural selection on the size‐dependency of resource acquisition and mortality rates. This review provides a critical and synthetic overview of body size variation in insects from a predominantly macroecological (large‐scale temporal and spatial) perspective. Because of the importance of understanding the proximate determinants of adult size, it commences with a brief summary of the physiological mechanisms underlying adult body size and its variation, based mostly on findings for the model speciesDrosophila melanogasterandManduca sexta. Variation in nutrition and temperature have variable effects on critical weight, the interval to cessation of growth (or terminal growth period) and growth rates, so influencing final adult size. Ontogenetic and phylogenetic variation in size, compensatory growth, scaling at the intra‐ and interspecific levels, sexual size dimorphism, and body size optimisation are then reviewed in light of their influences on individual and species body size frequency distributions. Explicit attention is given to evolutionary trends, including gigantism, Cope's rule and the rates at which size change has taken place, and to temporal ecological trends such as variation in size with succession and size‐selectivity during the invasion process. Large‐scale spatial variation in size at the intraspecific, interspecific and assemblage levels is considered, with special attention being given to the mechanisms proposed to underlie clinal variation in adult body size. Finally, areas particularly in need of additional research are identified.
Effect of natural starter culture activity on ethanol content in fermented dairy products
Authors: ZAJŠEK KATJA , GORŠEK ANDREJA
Published: December 2009

The influence of kefir grains’ activation time on kefir pH changes and ethanol production was investigated. The proposed exponential pH model was used successfully to describe any decrease in pH during 24 h fermentation. Furthermore, the influence was investigated of differently active kefir grains on the correlation between ethanol and yeast population in grains and kefir drink respectively. Results showed that longer‐activated grains produce more ethanol and have a larger number of yeasts than grains, which are activated for only a few days. The number of yeasts in a kefir product also increases over the grains’ activation time.
Indigenous enzymatic activities in ovine and caprine milks
Authors: MOATSOU GOLFO
Published: December 2009

The objective of this review paper is the presentation of research findings about enzymes of ovine and caprine milks taking into consideration the bovine milk indigenous enzymatic activities as a reference. Information about indigenous enzymatic activities in these milk types focuses mainly on plasmin, lipoprotein lipase and on the enzymes that are used as thermal treatment indicators, i.e. alkaline phosphatase, and lactoperoxidase. Further research including the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the enzymatic activities is necessary.
Production of proteinaceous antifungal substances from Lactobacillus brevis NCDC 02
Authors: FALGUNI PATRA , SHILPA VIJ , MANN BIMLESH
Published: December 2009

Forty standard Lactobacillus cultures were checked for their antifungal properties against nine standard fungi. Yeasts were found to be more resistant than moulds. Lactobacillus brevis NCDC 02 was selected for further studies due to the maximum antifungal activity and proteinaceous nature of antifungal substance production. The optimum production of antifungal substances was at 37°C for 48 h and at the initial pH of 6–7 of the medium. The antifungal substances were heat‐ and pH‐stable. The antifungal substances were found to be hydrophobic and their molecular weight was found to be more than 1 kDa and less than 5 kDa.
Intermittent hypoxia during sleep induces reactive gliosis and limited neuronal death in rats: implications for sleep apnea
Authors: Aviles‐Reyes Rolando Xavier , Angelo Maria Florencia , Villarreal Alejandro , Rios Hugo , Lazarowski Alberto , Ramos Alberto Javier
Published: December 2009

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 854–869.

Sleep apnea (SA) can be effectively managed in humans but it is recognized that when left untreated, SA causes long‐lasting changes in neuronal circuitry in the brain. Recent neuroimaging studies gave suggested that these neuronal changes are also present even in patients successfully treated for the acute effects of SA. The cellular mechanisms that account for these changes are not certain but animal models of intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep have shown neuronal death and impairment in learning and memory. Reactive gliosis has a drastic effect on neuronal survival and circuitry and in this study we examined the neuro‐glial response in brain areas affected by SA. Glial and neuronal alterations were analyzed after 1, 3, 5 and 10 days of exposure to IH (8 h/day during the sleep phase, cycles of 6 min each, 10–21% O2) and observed significant astroglial hyperplasia and hypertrophy in parietal brain cortex and hippocampus by studying gliofibrillary acidic protein, Vimentin, S100B and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression. In addition, altered morphology, reduced dendrite branching and caspase activation were observed in the CA‐1 hippocampal and cortical (layers IV–V) pyramidal neurons at short exposure times (1–3 days). Surprisingly, longer exposure to IH reduced the neuronal death rate and increased neuronal branching in the presence of persistent reactive gliosis. Up‐regulation of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) and mdr‐1, a HIF‐1α target gene, were observed and increased expression of receptor for advanced end glycated products and its binding partner S100B were also noted. Our results show that a low number of hypoxic cycles induce reactive gliosis and neuronal death whereas continuous exposure to IH cycles reduced the rate of neuronal death and induced neuronal branching on surviving neurons. We hypothesize that HIF‐1α and S100B glial factor may improve neuronal survival under hypoxic conditions and propose that the death/survival/re‐growth process observed here may underlie brain circuitry changes in humans with SA.