bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review: role of acid, weakly acidic and weakly alkaline reflux in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Boeckxstaens G. E. , Smout A.
Published: May 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 334–343

Background  The importance of weakly acidic and weakly alkaline reflux in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is gaining recognition.

Aim  To quantify the proportions of reflux episodes that are acidic (pH <4), weakly acidic (pH 4–7) and weakly alkaline (pH >7) in adult patients with GERD, and to evaluate their correlation with symptoms.

Methods  Studies were identified by systematic PubMed and Embase searches. Data are presented as sample‐size weighted means and 95% confidence intervals.

Results  In patients with GERD taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), 80% (76–84%) of reflux episodes were weakly acidic or weakly alkaline and 83% (78–88%) of reflux symptom episodes were associated with weakly acidic or weakly alkaline reflux episodes. In patients with GERD not taking a PPI, 63% (59–67%) of reflux episodes were acidic and 72% (57–87%) of reflux symptom episodes were associated with acid reflux episodes. Six studies presented data separately for weakly alkaline reflux, which accounted for <5% of all reflux episodes, both on and off PPI therapy.

Conclusions  Weakly acidic reflux underlies the majority of reflux episodes in patients with GERD on PPI therapy, and is the main cause of reflux symptoms occurring despite PPI therapy.
Immune regulatory effects of simvastatin on regulatory T cell-mediated tumour immune tolerance
Authors: Lee K J , Moon J Y , Choi H K , Kim H O , Hur G Y , Jung K H , Lee S Y , Kim J H , Shin C , Shim J J , In K H , Yoo S H , Kang K H , Lee S Y
Published: May 2010

Statins are potent inhibitors of hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and have emerged as potential anti-cancer agents based on preclinical evidence. In particular, compelling evidence suggests that statins have a wide range of immunomodulatory properties. However, little is known about the role of statins in tumour immune tolerance. Tumour immune tolerance involves the production of immunosuppressive molecules, such as interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) by tumours, which induce a regulatory T cell (Treg) response. In this study, we investigated the effect of simvastatin on the production of IL-10, TGF-β and IDO production and the proliferation of Tregs using several cancer cell lines, and Lewis lung cancer (3LL) cells-inoculated mouse tumour model. Simvastatin treatment resulted in a decrease in the number of cancer cells (3LL, A549 and NCI-H292). The production of the immune regulatory markers IL-10, TGF-β in 3LL and NCI-H292 cells increased after treatment with simvastatin. The expression of IDO and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) transcription factor was also increased in the presence of simvastatin. In a murine 3LL model, there were no significant differences in tumour growth rate between untreated and simvastatin-treated mice groups. Therefore, while simvastatin had an anti-proliferative effect, it also exhibited immune tolerance-promoting properties during tumour development. Thus, due to these opposing actions, simvastatin had no net effect on tumour growth.
Clusterin expression is associated with decreased disease‐free survival of patients with colorectal carcinomas
Authors: Redondo Maximino , Rodrigo Isabel , Alcaide Julia , Tellez Teresa , Roldan María J , Funez Rafael , Diaz‐Martin Aurelio , Rueda Antonio , Jiménez Eugenio
Published: May 2010

Redondo M, Rodrigo I, Alcaide J, Tellez T, Roldan M J, Funez R, Diaz‐Martin A, Rueda A & Jiménez E (2010) Histopathology 56, 932–936 Clusterin expression is associated with decreased disease‐free survival of patients with colorectal carcinomas

Aims:  It has been demonstrated that increased clusterin expression is involved in malignant progression and that anticlusterin treatment leads to selective apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathological significance of clusterin expression in human colorectal carcinomas.

Methods and results:  The expression of clusterin was examined in 31 adenomas and 103 colorectal carcinomas. Normal epithelial cells were always negative for clusterin expression, but clusterin expression was present in 16% (5/31) of adenomas and this percentage increased in colorectal carcinomas (30%, 31/103). Immunopositivity always presented an apical cytoplasmic pattern. The expression level of clusterin did not correlate with age, gender, grade or stage. However, its expression was significantly associated with a decrease in disease‐free survival (P < 0.05). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, clusterin expression remained a significant independent predictor.

Conclusions:  Clusterin expression may have a role in colonic carcinogenesis and may help identify patients with more aggressive tumours who may benefit from targeted therapy.
Match or mismatch: the influence of phenology on size‐dependent life history and divergence in population structure
Authors: Borcherding Jost , Beeck Peter , DeAngelis Donald L. , Scharf Werner R.
Published: May 2010

1. In gape‐limited predators, body size asymmetries determine the outcome of predator–prey interactions. Due to ontogenetic changes in body size, the intensity of intra‐ and interspecific interactions may change rapidly between the match situation of a predator–prey system and the mismatch situation in which competition, including competition with the prey, dominates.

2. Based on a physiologically structured population model using the European perch (Perca fluviatilis), analysis was performed on how prey density (bream, Abramis brama), initial size differences in the young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) age cohort of the predator, and phenology (time‐gap in hatching of predator and prey) influence the size structure of the predator cohort.

3. In relation to the seasonality of reproduction, the match situation of the predator–prey system occurred when perch hatched earlier than bream and when no gape‐size limitations existed, leading to decreased size divergence in the predator age cohort. Decreased size divergence was also found when bream hatched much earlier than perch, preventing perch predation on bream occurring, which, in turn, increased the competitive interaction of the perch with bream for the common prey, zooplankton; i.e. the mismatch situation in which also the mean size of the age cohort of the predator decreased.

4. In between the total match and the mismatch, however, only the largest individuals of the perch age cohort were able to prey on the bream, while smaller conspecifics got trapped in competition with each other and with bream for zooplankton, leading to enlarged differences in growth that increased size divergence.

5. The modelling results were combined with 7 years of field data in a lake, where large differences in the length‐frequency distribution of YOY perch were observed after their first summer. These field data corroborate that phenology and prey density per predator are important mechanisms in determining size differences within the YOY age cohort of the predator.

6. The results demonstrate that the switch between competitive interactions and a predator–prey relationship depended on phenology. This resulted in pronounced size differences in the YOY age cohort, which had far‐reaching consequences for the entire predator population.
Drivers of growth variation in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): an elasticity analysis approach
Authors: Davidson R. Scott , Letcher Benjamin H. , Nislow Keith H.
Published: May 2010

1. Estimating the relative importance of factors affecting key vital rates is an essential challenge for population ecology. In spite of a large literature on individual growth rates of north temperate‐zone fishes, relative effect sizes for the wide range of abiotic and biotic factors affecting fish growth are not well characterized, strongly limiting our ability to predict the effects of environmental change on fish populations.

2. We applied generalized linear mixed models to data from a long‐term (nine cohorts over 10 years) individual‐based (7685 records from 4203 individuals) study of stream‐dwelling juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to estimate the relative importance and interactive effects of stream discharge, water temperature and population density on season‐specific growth rates. The model explained a large proportion (r2 = 0·95) of observed variation in growth.

3. Elasticity analysis was used to estimate the relative importance of model variables on growth in length for Atlantic salmon between age 0+ autumn and the end of age 1+ winter. Effects of population density were substantially weaker than effects of discharge and temperature across all seasons. Opposing among‐season temperature effects reduced the overall importance of temperature on growth in contrast to discharge, where effects were generally positive among seasons. Consistent among‐season effects and a greater range of observed variation combined to increase the effect of discharge on growth compared to temperature.

4. These results suggest that robust predictions of body growth in north temperate stream fishes will need to include season‐specific estimates of variation in both abiotic (temperature and discharge) and biotic (density) factors, but that variation in discharge will dominate growth responses.
Vertical distribution, flight behaviour and evolution of wing morphology in Morpho butterflies
Authors: DeVries P. J. , Penz Carla M. , Hill Ryan I.
Published: May 2010

1. Flight is a key innovation in the evolution of insects that is crucial to their dispersal, migration, territoriality, courtship and predator avoidance. Male butterflies have characteristic territoriality and courtship flight behaviours, and females use a characteristic flight behaviour when searching for host plants. This implies that selection acts on wing morphology to maximize flight performance for conducting important behaviours among sexes.

2. Butterflies in the genus Morpho are obvious components of neotropical forests, and many observations indicate that they show two broad categories of flight behaviour and flight height. Although species can be categorized as using gliding or flapping flight, and flying at either canopy or understorey height, the association of flight behaviour and flight height with wing shape evolution has never been explored.

3. Two clades within Morpho differ in flight behaviour and height. Males and females of one clade inhabit the forest understorey and use flapping flight, whereas in the other clade, males use gliding flight at canopy level and females use flapping flight in both canopy and understorey.

4. We used independent contrasts to answer whether wing shape is associated with flight behaviour and height. Given a single switch to canopy habitation and gliding flight, we compared contrasts for the node at which the switch to canopy flight occurred with the distribution of values in the two focal clades. We found significant changes in wing shape at the transition to canopy flight only in males, and no change in size for either sex. A second node within the canopy clade suggests that other factors may also be involved in wing shape evolution. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that natural selection acts differently on male and female butterfly wing shape and indicate that the transition to canopy flight cannot explain all wing shape diversity in Morpho.

5. This study provides a starting point for characterizing evolution of wing morphology in forest butterflies in the contexts of habitat selection and flight behaviour. Further, these observations suggest that exploring wing shape evolution for canopy and understorey species in other insects may help understand the effects of habitat destruction on biological diversity.
Biogeographical affinities of the New Caledonian biota: a puzzle with 24 pieces
Authors: Heads Michael
Published: May 2010

Aim  The distributions of many New Caledonian taxa were reviewed in order to ascertain the main biogeographical connections with other areas.

Location  Global.

Methods  Panbiogeographical analysis.

Results  Twenty‐four areas of endemism (tracks) involving New Caledonia and different areas of Gondwana, Tethys and the central Pacific were retrieved. Most are supported by taxa of lower and higher plants, and lower and higher animals.

Main conclusions  Although parts of New Caledonia were attached to Gondwana for some time in the mid‐Cretaceous, most of the New Caledonian terranes formed as oceanic island arcs and sections of sea floor bearing seamounts. The flora and fauna have evolved and survived for tens of millions of years as metapopulations on ephemeral islands. Later, the biotas were juxtaposed and fused during terrane accretion. This process, together with the rifting of Gondwana, explains the biogeographical affinities of New Caledonia with parts of Gondwana, Tethys and the Pacific.
How to cope with a superior enemy? Plant defence strategies in response to annual herbivore outbreaks
Authors: Miler Oliver , Straile Dietmar
Published: May 2010

1. The perfoliate pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus L. constitutes large monospecific macrophyte patches in many Central European lakes. Correlative evidence from the field suggests that P. perfoliatus is under an increasing grazing pressure during its short vegetation period from May to September due to seasonal outbreaks of the aquatic moth Acentria ephemerella Denis & Schiffermüller. We used a mesocosm experiment to determine the influence of A. ephemerella herbivory on P. perfoliatus shoot development and resting bud production and to study the defence strategies of this macrophyte.

2. Herbivory resulted in a reduction of the P. perfoliatus vegetation period by more than 2 months thereby reducing the average resting bud size and the overall resting bud biomass sevenfold. This suggests that besides its severe immediate effects, herbivory affects P. perfoliatus growth and dynamics also during the subsequent season.

3. As a response to herbivory P. perfoliatus translocated nutrients (phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)) from leaves towards buds. Acentria ephemerella larvae had a high P content, implying P limitation of larval growth especially within the herbivory treatment. This suggests that at least the P translocation from leaves towards resting buds may be viewed as an anti‐predator strategy rather than as a nutrient conservation strategy.

4. Acentria ephemerella herbivory changed the allocation strategy of P. perfoliatus in the size versus number of resting buds: only the number, but not the size of resting buds was reduced under shoot grazing by Acentria ephemerella. This change in the number versus size trade‐off might allow the plant to produce a minimum resting bud size necessary for successful sprouting in the next spring.

5. Synthesis. Overall, our results suggest an escape syndrome (after Agrawal & Fishbein, Ecology, 87 (2006) S132) as a defence strategy against herbivory for P. perfoliatus, consisting of a shortening of the growth period, a translocation of nutrients and a change in allocation strategy. The increased plant senescence that was accompanied by the shortening of the growth period has further implications for the usage of macrophyte patches as a habitat for invertebrates and fishes and for the structure of littoral food webs.
Noise effects and filtering in controlled light exposure microscopy
Authors: HOEBE R.A. , VAN NOORDEN C.J.F. , MANDERS E.M.M.
Published: May 2010

Phototoxicity and photobleaching are major limitations of fluorescence live‐cell microscopy. A straightforward way to limit phototoxicity and photobleaching is reduction of the excitation light dose, but this causes loss of image quality. In confocal fluorescence microscopy, the field of view is illuminated uniformly whereas in controlled light exposure microscopy, illumination is controlled per pixel on the basis of two illumination strategies. The controlled light exposure microscopy foreground strategy discriminates between bright and weak foreground. Bright foreground pixels are illuminated with a reduced light dose resulting in limited excitation of fluorophores and consequently limited phototoxicity and photobleaching. The controlled light exposure microscopy background strategy discriminates between foreground and background. Pixels that are judged to be background are also illuminated with a reduced light dose. The latter illumination strategy may introduce artefacts due to the stochastic character of photon flow. These artefacts are visible as erratic ‘darker pixels’ in the foreground with a lower pixel value than the neighbouring pixels. This paper describes a special adaptive image processing filter that detects and corrects most of the ‘darker pixels’. It opens the possibility to use controlled light exposure microscopy even in high noise (low signal to noise ratio) imaging to further reduce phototoxicity and photobleaching.
Functional comparison of catalase genes in the elimination of photorespiratory H2O2 using promoter‐ and 3′‐untranslated region exchange experiments in the Arabidopsis cat2 photorespiratory mutant
Authors: HU YE‐QIN , LIU SHENG , YUAN HONG‐MEI , LI JING , YAN DA‐WEI , ZHANG JIAN‐FENG , LU YING‐TANG
Published: May 2010

Photorespiration‐associated production of H2O2 accounts for the majority of total H2O2 in leaves of C3 plants and is mainly eliminated by catalases. In Arabidopsis, lack of CAT2, but not CAT1 or CAT3, results in growth suppression and a marked accumulation of H2O2 in leaves. To evaluate the contribution of individual catalase genes and their promoters to catalase function, we investigated the growth suppression and H2O2 accumulation phenotypes of Arabidopsis derivatives expressing catalase genes from heterologous CAT promoters in a cat2 mutant background. The expression of CAT2 from the CAT2 promoter restored the wild‐type phenotype in a cat2‐1 mutant, while CAT1 and CAT3 promoter‐driven expression of CAT2 did not. Ectopic expression of CAT3 from the CAT2 promoter also restored the normal phenotype, unlike that of CAT1 which required replacement of the CAT1 3′‐untranslated region (UTR) with that of CAT2. These results demonstrated that the photorespiratory role of CAT2 is determined mainly by the regulation of its promoter activity. The 3′‐UTR of CAT2 was vital for controlling CAT2 protein levels under photorespiratory conditions. Identification of component of heterotetramers catalase isoforms suggested that there is some functional redundancy between CAT2 and CAT1 and CAT3.
Weighing abiotic and biotic influences on weed seed predation
Authors: DAVIS A S , RAGHU S
Published: May 2010

Davis AS & Raghu S (2010). Weighing abiotic and biotic influences on weed seed predation. Weed Research50,402–412.

Weed seed predation is an important ecosystem service supporting weed management in low‐external‐input agroecosystems. Current knowledge of weed seed predation focuses on biotic mechanisms, with less undersatanding of the relative impact of abiotic variables. In order to quantify relative contributions of abiotic and biotic variables to weed seed predation rates, a field study was made within a maize crop in central Illinois, USA, in 2005 and 2006. From late July through to mid‐October, weekly measurements of Abutilon theophrasti, Ambrosia trifida and Setaria faberi seed removal rates by invertebrate and vertebrate granivores, and seed losses because of abiotic processes were recorded. Weed seed rain was measured concurrently in contiguous plots, as were air temperature, precipitation, wind speed, thermal units and invertebrate activity‐density. Statistical models supported the possibility that higher‐level trophic interactions were contributing to variation in seed predation rates. Approaching granivory in agroecosystems as a food web may help future attempts to regulate this ecosystem service.
Autumn growth of Elytrigia repens, Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis at high latitudes in an outdoor pot experiment
Authors: TØRRESEN K S , FYKSE H , RAFOSS T
Published: May 2010

Tørresen KS, Fykse H & Rafoss T (2010). Autumn growth of Elytrigia repens, Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis at high latitudes in an outdoor pot experiment. Weed Research50, 353–363.

Autumn growth of weeds (i) provides an opportunity for mechanical and chemical control in autumn and (ii) can be important for weed survival and infestation in the following spring. Growth characteristics of Elytrigia repens, Cirsium arvense and Sonchus arvensis in autumn were studied in 2004 and 2005, on plants of different origins and developmental stages (planted at various times from May to August). The plants were grown outdoors in large pots and were assessed during September and October each year. The study showed that (i) all species grew in autumn, but growth ceased and the species withered at different times; S. arvensis first, followed by C. arvense and then E. repens and (ii) less developed (i.e. younger) plants grew later in the autumn. This was demonstrated by leaf area development and biomass distribution during autumn. Older plants had a greater total biomass with relatively more rhizomes or creeping roots than younger plants. In young plants of C. arvense and S. arvensis, the biomass of creeping roots increased during autumn. The total biomass, however, changed little during autumn. These growth patterns indicate that E. repens will be the easiest, S. arvensis the most difficult and C. arvense in between, regarding control of these species in autumn.
Therapeutic efficacy of topical OLEOZON® in patients suffering from onychomycosis
Authors: Menéndez Silvia , Falcón Leopoldina , Maqueira Yordana
Published: May 2010

The results of the use of ozonised sunflower oil (OLEOZON®) in the treatment of onychomycosis, based on its known antimycotic action and good skin tolerance, by means of a controlled randomised phase III assay are presented. A total of 400 outpatients were randomly divided into two groups: experimental, treated with topical OLEOZON®, two times per day and control, treated also two times per day, with ketoconazole cream 2%, for 3 months. A patient was considered cured when the sick nails regained the normal colour, growth and thickness, with a negative mycological study. In the experimental group, a regression of signs was achieved from the first month of treatment, while in the control group, it was obtained after the third month of treatment. All patients treated with OLEOZON® had improvement in their condition (9.5%) or were cured (90.5%). However, in the control group, only 13.5% of patients were cured, 27.5% improved and 59% remained the same, with significant differences between both the groups. After 1 year of follow‐up, experimental and control groups presented 2.8% and 44.4% of relapses, respectively. Topical OLEOZON® demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of onychomycosis, superior to that of ketoconazole. No side effects were observed.
Changes in renal markers and acute kidney injury after marathon running
Authors: MCCULLOUGH PETER A , CHINNAIYAN KAVITHA M , GALLAGHER MICHAEL J , COLAR JAMES M , GEDDES TIMOTHY , GOLD JEFFREY M , TRIVAX JUSTIN E
Published: May 2010

Background:  The impact of marathon running on kidney function has not been previously described.

Methods:  From 425 marathon runners, 13 women and 12 men were randomly selected and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood/urine biomarkers were performed 4 weeks before (baseline), immediately after (peak), and 24 h after the race (recovery).

Results:  Participants were 38.7 ± 9.0 years old and completed the marathon in 256.2 ± 43.5 min. A total of 10/25 (40.0%) met the Acute Kidney Injury Network definition of acute kidney injury (AKI) based on a rise in serum creatinine. There were parallel and similar mean rises in serum creatinine and cystatin C from baseline, to peak, and return to normal in recovery. Urine neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin rose from 8.2 ± 4.0 to 47.0 ± 28.6 and returned to 10.6 ± 7.2 ng/mL, P < 0.0001. Likewise, the mean urinary kidney injury molecule‐1 levels were 2.6 ± 1.6, 3.5 ± 1.6 and 2.7 ± 1.6 ng/mL (P = 0.001). The mean and minimum pre‐ and post‐IVC (inferior vena cava) diameters by MRI were 24.9, 18.8 and 25.3, 17.5 mm, respectively, suggesting that runners were not volume depleted at the first post‐race measurement.

Conclusion:  Approximately 40% of marathon runners experience a transient rise in serum creatinine that meets criteria of AKI with a parallel elevation of cystatin C, and supportive elevations of neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule‐1 in the urine. All biomarker elevations resolved by 24 h. These data suggest that AKI with a transient and minor change in renal filtration function occurs with the stress of marathon running. The impact of repetitive episodes of AKI with long‐distance running is unknown.
Cord blood thyroid‐stimulating hormone and free T4 levels in Turkish neonates: Is iodine deficiency still a continuing problem?
Authors: Kışlal Fatih , Çetinkaya Semra , Dilmen Uğur , Yaşar Handan , Teziç Tahsin
Published: May 2010

Background:  The objectives of this study were to determine the cord blood thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (FT4) levels in Turkish neonates and to determine whether these variables reveal iodine deficiency.

Methods:  We collected 818 cords from healthy mothers at parturition and measured levels of FT4 and TSH. We also measured cord blood FT4 and TSH levels in different stages of gestation and gender. We grouped the neonates according to cord serum TSH levels, either being less (Group A) or greater (Group B) than 10 mIU/L. Group A included 589 neonates (300 girls [51%] and 289 boys [49%]) and Group B included 229 neonates (105 girls [45%] and 124 boys [55%]).

Results:  The percentage of subjects with cord blood TSH < 10 mIU/L and >10 mIU/L was 72% and 28%, respectively. Although cord TSH levels in Group B were greater than those in Group A (P < 0.001), cord blood FT4 levels in Group B were lower than those in Group A (P < 0.05). There was no difference between both sex in terms of birthweight and maternal age. TSH and FT4 levels did not vary according to neonate sex during gestation, except for from week 37 to 41. TSH levels of male neonates at the 41st week of gestation were higher than those of female neonates (P < 0.05). There were no effects of birthweight on TSH and FT4 levels if the neonate was lighter than 2500 g at birth. TSH levels of male neonates were higher than those of female neonates when their birthweights were <2500 g (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in TSH levels according to birthweights in male neonates.

Conclusion:  Our data provide the normative data for cord blood TSH and FT4 levels in Turkish neonates and show that iodine deficiency is a still a public health problem in Turkey. These measurements can be useful for detection and verification of hypothyroidism in a screening program for congenital hypothyroidism as well as evaluation of the success of the iodination program.
Natural history and predictive risk factors of prolonged unconjugated jaundice in the newborn
Authors: Gundur Narasimhappa M. , Kumar Praveen , Sundaram Venkataseshan , Thapa Babu R. , Narang Anil
Published: May 2010

Background:  This study aimed to investigate the natural course and risk factors for prolonged unconjugated jaundice (PUJ) in neonates.

Methods:  This was a prospective descriptive study conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital of Northern India. The study included neonates who presented with clinical jaundice beyond 14 days of age. A detailed history, clinical examination and investigations were performed in all. All were followed till the normalization of clinical jaundice or up to 8 weeks of age, whichever was earlier. The key outcome measure was time to normalization of PUJ. Predictive risk factors for PUJ were analyzed by comparing with matched controls. Regression analysis was done for independent predictive risk factors of PUJ.

Results:  A total of 71 infants presented with prolonged jaundice (PJ). Out of these, 66 infants (93%) had PUJ. Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency was the most commonly identified association of PUJ (24%). The median duration of jaundice in infants with PUJ was 5 weeks (range: 5–8). PJ in siblings (OR 2.9 [1.1–7.6]), oxytocin use during labor (OR 3.4 [1.1–10.4]) and G6PD deficiency (OR 4.0 [1.1–14.1]) were independent predictors of PUJ.

Conclusions:  Irrespective of the etiology, by 8 weeks, PUJ disappeared in all infants. G6PD deficiency was the most common association of PUJ. A history of PJ in siblings, use of oxytocin during labor and G6PD deficiency were independent predictors for PUJ.
Intracellular magnesium and tolerance against hypoxia in immature rat heart
Authors: Sato Tomoyuki , Watanabe Makino , Kishiro Masahiko , Nagata Satoru , Shimizu Toshiaki , Okada Takao
Published: May 2010

Background:  Neonatal hearts show greater resistance to hypoxia than adult hearts do, but the mechanism is unclear. In immature rat hearts, we examined the association between high tolerance for hypoxia and the kinetics of magnesium (Mg), which has myocardial protective effects in adult hearts.

Methods:  The hearts of 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, and 10‐week‐old rats were Langendorff perfused and subjected to 45 min hypoxia and 30 min reoxygenation. The myocardial Mg content was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results:  In 1‐week‐old rat hearts, the tension‐rate product recovered more immediately with reoxygenation than in the other groups, and aspartate aminotransferase release did not increase throughout the experiment. In 10‐week‐old rat hearts, total tissue Mg content decreased significantly with reoxygenation (607.0 ± 22.9 µg/g dry weight) from its control level (793.2 ± 16.7 µg/g dry weight). However, in neonates, the total tissue Mg did not decrease with reoxygenation.

Conclusions:  The high resistance against hypoxia‐reoxygenation injury in neonatal rat hearts is caused, at least in part, by a high ability to maintain myocardial Mg.
Wall motion velocities of ascending aorta measured by tissue Doppler imaging in obese children
Authors: Pac Feyza Aysenur , Guray Yesim , Polat Tugcin Bora
Published: May 2010

Background:  Obesity is associated with the development of early cardiovascular abnormalities such as atherosclerotic lesions. Arterial stiffness may be an indicator of early vascular changes signaling the development of vascular disease. The objective of the current study was to screen aortic elastic properties with tissue Doppler imaging in obese children.

Methods:  We examined 37 obese children and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched normal subjects. Anthropometric measurements and metabolic risk profile were assessed in a physical examination and with blood taking. The subjects were divided into two subgroups: those with and without metabolic syndrome. Internal aortic systolic and diastolic diameters by M‐mode echocardiography and aortic systolic upper‐wall tissue velocity by tissue Doppler imaging were measured 3 cm above the aortic valve. Aortic distensibility and aortic stiffness index were calculated using accepted formulae.

Results:  Aortic stiffness parameters and both tissue Doppler peak systolic and diastolic velocities differed significantly in obese children compared to controls. Among the subgroups, children with metabolic syndrome had a lower aortic stiffness index, aortic distensibility and tissue Doppler velocities. However, only peak diastolic velocities significantly differed between obese children without metabolic syndrome and controls. Homeostatic model scores, diastolic blood pressures and pulse pressures were the strongest to correlate with peak diastolic velocity (r=−0.88, P < 0.001, r=−0.62, P= 0.001 and, r= 0.55, P= 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:  Tissue Doppler imaging is a feasible and sensitive method to identify aortic stiffness in obese children. Reduced aortic diastolic velocity is the most prominent early vascular change detected in obese children before metabolic syndrome occurs.
Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome: a rare disease with fascinating history
Authors: Karamanou M. , Androutsos G.
Published: May 2010

In our paper, we present the fascinating story of Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome. A rare self‐induced iron deficiency anaemia caused by surreptitious blood‐letting. The French haematologist Jean Bernard first described the syndrome and named it after the heroine of Barbey d' Aurevilly's novel The Story without a Name. This factitious anaemia presents a great challenge for physicians even today, both in diagnosis and in therapy.
Staying within the lines: the formation of visuospatial boundaries influences multisensory feature integration
Authors: Fiebelkorn Ian C. , Foxe John J. , Schwartz Theodore H. , Molholm Sophie
Published: May 2010

The brain processes multisensory features of an object (e.g., its sound and shape) in separate cortical regions. A key question is how representations of these features bind together to form a coherent percept (the ‘binding problem’). Here we tested the hypothesis that the determination of an object’s visuospatial boundaries is paramount to the linking of its multisensory features (i.e., that the refinement of attended space through the formation of visual boundaries establishes the boundaries for multisensory feature integration). We recorded both scalp and intracranial electrophysiological data in response to Kanizsa‐type illusory contour stimuli (in which pacman‐like elements give the impression of a single object), their non‐illusory counterparts, and auditory stimuli. Participants performed a visual task and ignored sounds. Enhanced processing of task‐irrelevant sounds when paired with attended visual stimuli served as our metric for multisensory feature integration [e.g., Busse et al. (2005) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 102: 18751–18756]. According to our hypothesis, task‐irrelevant sounds paired with Kanizsa‐type illusory contour stimuli (which have well‐defined boundaries) should receive enhanced processing relative to task‐irrelevant sounds paired with non‐illusory contour stimuli (which have ambiguous boundaries). The scalp data clearly support this prediction and, combined with the intracranial data, advocate for an important extension of models for multisensory feature integration. We propose a model in which (i) the visual boundaries of an object are established through processing in occipitotemporal cortex, and (ii) attention then spreads to cortical regions that process features that fall within the object’s established visual boundaries, including its task‐irrelevant multisensory features.
Sensory‐specific clock components and memory mechanisms: investigation with parallel timing
Authors: Gamache Pierre‐Luc , Grondin Simon
Published: May 2010

A challenge for researchers in the time‐perception field is to determine whether temporal processing is governed by a central mechanism or by multiple mechanisms working in concert. Behavioral studies of parallel timing offer interesting insights into the question, although the conclusions fail to converge. Most of these studies focus on the number‐of‐clocks issue, but the commonality of memory mechanisms involved in time processing is often neglected. The present experiment aims to address a straightforward question: do signals from different modalities marking time intervals share the same clock and/or the same memory resources? To this end, an interval reproduction task involving the parallel timing of two sensory signals presented either in the same modality or in different modalities was conducted. The memory component was tested by manipulating the delay separating the presentation of the target intervals and the moment when the reproduction of one of these began. Results show that there is more variance when only visually marked intervals are presented, and this effect is exacerbated with longer retention delays. Finally, when there is only one interval to process, encoding the interval with signals delivered from two modalities helps to reduce variance. Taken together, these results suggest that the hypothesis stating that there are sensory‐specific clock components and memory mechanisms is viable.
Enhancing multisensory spatial orienting by brain polarization of the parietal cortex
Authors: Bolognini Nadia , Olgiati Elena , Rossetti Angela , Maravita Angelo
Published: May 2010

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that induces polarity‐specific excitability changes in the human brain, therefore altering physiological, perceptual and higher‐order cognitive processes. Here we investigated the possibility of enhancing attentional orienting within and across different sensory modalities, namely visual and auditory, by polarization of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), given the putative involvement of this area in both unisensory and multisensory spatial processing. In different experiments, we applied anodal or sham tDCS to the right PPC and, for control, anodal stimulation of the right occipital cortex. Using a redundant signal effect (RSE) task, we found that anodal tDCS over the right PPC significantly speeded up responses to contralateral targets, regardless of the stimulus modality. Furthermore, the effect was dependant on the nature of the audiovisual enhancement, being stronger when subserved by a probabilistic mechanism induced by blue visual stimuli, which probably involves processing in the PPC. Hence, up‐regulating the level of excitability in the PPC by tDCS appears a successful approach for enhancing spatial orienting to unisensory and crossmodal stimuli. Moreover, audiovisual interactions mostly occurring at a cortical level can be selectively enhanced by anodal PPC tDCS, whereas multisensory integration of stimuli, which is also largely mediated at a subcortical level, appears less susceptible to polarization of the cortex.
A guide to eliciting and using expert knowledge in Bayesian ecological models
Authors: Kuhnert Petra M. , Martin Tara G. , Griffiths Shane P.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 900–914

Expert knowledge in ecology is gaining momentum as a tool for conservation decision‐making where data are lacking. Yet, little information is available to help a researcher decide whether expert opinion is useful for their model, how an elicitation should be conducted, what the most relevant method for elicitation is and how this can be translated into prior distributions for analysis in a Bayesian model. In this study, we provide guidance in using expert knowledge in a transparent and credible manner to inform ecological models and ultimately natural resource and conservation decision‐making. We illustrate the decisions faced when considering the use of expert knowledge in a model with the help of two real ecological case studies. These examples are explored further to examine the impact of expert knowledge through ‘priors’ in Bayesian modeling and specifically how to minimize potential bias. Finally, we make recommendations on the use of expert opinion in ecology. We believe if expert knowledge is elicited and incorporated into ecological models with the same level of rigour provided in the collection and use of empirical data, expert knowledge can increase the precision of models and facilitate informed decision‐making in a cost‐effective manner.
The genome of the Gram‐positive metal‐ and sulfate‐reducing bacterium Desulfotomaculum reducens strain MI‐1
Authors: Junier Pilar , Junier Thomas , Podell Sheila , Sims David R. , Detter John C. , Lykidis Athanasios , Han Cliff S. , Wigginton Nicholas S. , Gaasterland Terry , Bernier‐Latmani Rizlan
Published: May 2010

Spore‐forming, Gram‐positive sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) represent a group of SRB that dominates the deep subsurface as well as niches in which resistance to oxygen and dessication is an advantage. Desulfotomaculum reducens strain MI‐1 is one of the few cultured representatives of that group with a complete genome sequence available. The metabolic versatility of this organism is reflected in the presence of genes encoding for the oxidation of various electron donors, including three‐ and four‐carbon fatty acids and alcohols. Synteny in genes involved in sulfate reduction across all four sequenced Gram‐positive SRB suggests a distinct sulfate‐reduction mechanism for this group of bacteria. Based on the genomic information obtained for sulfate reduction in D. reducens, the transfer of electrons to the sulfite and APS reductases is proposed to take place via the quinone pool and heterodisulfide reductases respectively. In addition, both H2‐evolving and H2‐consuming cytoplasmic hydrogenases were identified in the genome, pointing to potential cytoplasmic H2 cycling in the bacterium. The mechanism of metal reduction remains unknown.
Energy and the tempo of evolution in amphibians
Authors: Wright Shane D. , Gillman Len N. , Ross Howard A. , Keeling D. Jeanette
Published: May 2010

Aim  The evolutionary speed hypothesis (ESH) attempts to explain global patterns of species richness on the basis that rates of molecular evolution and speciation in warmer climates have led to a greater accumulation of taxa at lower latitudes. A substantial alternative hypothesis to the ESH is the tropical conservatism hypothesis (TCH). However, recent tests of the TCH, using amphibians as the model taxon, have relied on the assumption that rates of molecular evolution are stable across latitudes and elevations. Here, we test for the first time for systematic variation in rates of molecular evolution across latitude and elevation among amphibians.

Location  The dataset is geographically diverse with samples from all continents except Antarctica and also from many of the earth's major tropical–warm temperate archipelagos.

Methods  We tested for substitution rate heterogeneity across climatically varying habitats with the mitochondrial RNA genes 12S and 16S. Thus, we report here on our findings for amphibians – a taxon whose phylogenetic and trophic contexts are remote from those previously tested – using genes that have also not been examined before. The study utilized paired contrasts of sister species (188 species across 18 families, including both caudates and anurans) that are spatially separated in either latitudinal or elevational dimensions.

Results  We found substantially faster substitution rates for species living in warmer habitats (P= 0.001–0.002) at both lower latitudes (P < 0.02) and lower elevations (P < 0.01).

Main conclusions  The consistency of these results with the previous studies that used quite different organisms – and in this instance also using different genes – suggests that this is a ubiquitous pattern in nature consistent with the predictions of the ESH. Recent tests of the TCH that, in estimating diversification rates, have relied on the assumption that DNA evolution occurs at a constant rate across latitudes and elevations, require reconsideration in light of the findings presented here. Our results indicate that greater caution is required when estimating dates of divergence using DNA sequence data.
Crop planting dates: an analysis of global patterns
Authors: Sacks William J. , Deryng Delphine , Foley Jonathan A. , Ramankutty Navin
Published: May 2010

Aim  To assemble a data set of global crop planting and harvesting dates for 19 major crops, explore spatial relationships between planting date and climate for two of them, and compare our analysis with a review of the literature on factors that drive decisions on planting dates.

Location  Global.

Methods  We digitized and georeferenced existing data on crop planting and harvesting dates from six sources. We then examined relationships between planting dates and temperature, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration using 30‐year average climatologies from the Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (CRU CL 2.0).

Results  We present global planting date patterns for maize, spring wheat and winter wheat (our full, publicly available data set contains planting and harvesting dates for 19 major crops). Maize planting in the northern mid‐latitudes generally occurs in April and May. Daily average air temperatures are usually c. 12–17 °C at the time of maize planting in these regions, although soil moisture often determines planting date more directly than does temperature. Maize planting dates vary more widely in tropical regions. Spring wheat is usually planted at cooler temperatures than maize, between c. 8 and 14 °C in temperate regions. Winter wheat is generally planted in September and October in the northern mid‐latitudes.

Main conclusions  In temperate regions, spatial patterns of maize and spring wheat planting dates can be predicted reasonably well by assuming a fixed temperature at planting. However, planting dates in lower latitudes and planting dates of winter wheat are more difficult to predict from climate alone. In part this is because planting dates may be chosen to ensure a favourable climate during a critical growth stage, such as flowering, rather than to ensure an optimal climate early in the crop's growth. The lack of predictability is also due to the pervasive influence of technological and socio‐economic factors on planting dates.
The duration of migration of Atlantic Anguilla larvae
Authors: Bonhommeau Sylvain , Castonguay Martin , Rivot Etienne , Sabatié Richard , Le Pape Olivier
Published: May 2010

Oceanic larvae of the European (Anguilla anguilla) and American (A. rostrata) eels have to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the Sargasso Sea to European or North American coasts before entering continental habitats. In some European rivers, eel recruitment is now <1% of levels in the 1980s. A better understanding of the effects of anthropogenic pressures and environmental fluctuations on eel larvae and subsequent recruitment is a prerequisite to build efficient management plans. The present paper provides insight into the critical oceanic phase of the eel life cycle with a focus on the duration of the larval migration whose estimates varies between 7 months and more than 2 years in both species. Does this range correspond to a natural variability in larval duration or does it stem from methodological artefacts? We first review the different methods used to estimate the duration of larval migration and critically describe their possible sources of misinterpretation. We then evaluate the consistency of these methods with the current knowledge about the ecology and physiology of eel larvae and the physical oceanography. While a moderate discrepancy in migration duration was found between methods for the American eel, the discrepancy was large in the European eel. In this species, otolith microstructure studies indicated migration durations between 7 and 9 months, while other methods pointed to durations of about 2 years. We show that estimates in favour of a long migration duration seem more robust to methodological caveats than methods estimating short durations of migration.