bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toluene diisocyanate enhances human bronchial epithelial cells' permeability partly through the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway
Authors: Zhao H. , Peng H. , Cai S‐X , Li W. , Zou F. , Tong W.
Published: July 2009

Background
Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a recognized chemical asthmogen; yet, the mechanisms of its toxicity have not been elucidated.

Objective
To investigate the influence of TDI on the permeability of human bronchial epithelial cell (HBE; HBE135‐E6E7) monolayers in vitro, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these cells.

Methods
TDI–human serum albumin (HSA) conjugates were prepared by a modification of Son's method. Fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labelled dextran and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate the effects of TDI–HSA on HBE135‐E6E7 permeability. RT‐PCR and ELISA were used to evaluate VEGF gene expression and protein release from HBE135‐E6E7 cells stimulated by TDI–HSA. A VEGF‐neutralizing antibody was used in monolayer permeability experiments to determine the role of the VEGF pathway in this process.

Results
TDI–HSA significantly increased the permeability coefficients of HBE135‐E6E7 monolayers (P<0.01). TDI–HSA treatment significantly increased the expression of VEGF165 and VEGF189 genes (P<0.01). ELISA showed that TDI significantly induces VEGF release from HBE135‐E6E7 cells. Cells treated with TDI–HSA and VEGF‐neutralizing antibody had significantly lower permeability coefficients than cells treated with TDI–HSA only (P<0.01), but still significantly higher than control cells (P<0.01). Cells treated with TDI–HSA had fewer tight junctions (TJs) than control and HSA‐treated cells, and addition of the anti‐VEGF antibody did not restore the original number of TJs.

Conclusion
TDI increases the permeability of HBE cell monolayers, partly through a VEGF‐mediated pathway. This suggests the importance of VEGF in TDI‐induced pulmonary diseases, but shows that other pathways may be involved in the pathogenic process.
Supervised control of the carrot fly in the Netherlands; insights from a dirty dataset1
Authors: Groot T. V. M. , Everaarts T. C. , Loosjes M.
Published: July 2009

‘De Groene Vlieg’ (the Green Fly) is an independent company offering various services concerning integrated pest management in open field agriculture in the Netherlands. One such service is the supervised control of carrot fly (Psila rosae). From 1993 to 2008 the company has monitored the carrot fly population on a total of nearly 65 000 hectares resulting in an extensive dataset. The data was not collected according to proper experimental methods, hence it is titled dirty, but the size of the dataset does allow valuable insights to be gained. De Groene Vlieg monitors the carrot fly population on each field separately. Sticky traps are collected weekly and flies are counted in the laboratory. Growers receive messages containing advice regarding when to apply insecticides and they are responsible for doing so. Overall, over a third of the fields require no spraying at all and for 75% of the fields growers are advised to spray three times or less. One insight from the dataset is that small carrots require more insecticide treatments than large carrots (‘winter carrots’). Reasons for this difference are probably both regional and cultural. Additionally, focusing on a small and uniform area reveals that carrot fly population dynamics are highly variable between years. Another insight is that sowing date has a large effect on the number of insecticide sprayings that are required. Fields sown before the first flight have more flies in the second flight than fields sown later. Comparison of biological and conventional carrot fields shows that carrot fly populations are similar for the first flight. However, during the second flight the number of flies is much higher on organic fields than on conventional ones. Finally, insecticide seed treatment with chlorfenvinphos to control the reproduction of the first flight appears slightly more efficient than supervised control. However, supervised control seems as efficient as seed treatment with clothianidin and beta cyfluthrin.
Carrot fly (Psila rosae) control in Switzerland – current strategies and prospective developments*
Authors: Baur R. , Sauer C. , Krauss J. , Keller M.
Published: July 2009

Carrot fly (Psila rosae) control in Switzerland appears not to have been a major problem during the years 1985–2000. However, reports on crop losses due to increased damage, and yield lots not complying with raised quality standards, have become more frequent in recent years. Carrot fly control has clearly become more difficult because the fly’s population dynamics have changed (3 generations instead of 2) and due to changes in the cropping system. Furthermore, some insecticides with high efficacy, such as soil insecticides, are no longer available. Seed treatments with various insecticides were tested as potential alternatives to no longer approved soil insecticides, but these were not efficient enough when infestation pressure was high. Spraying, mainly with pyrethroids against the flies landing on carrot leaves, proved to be successful in some plots if the flight of adult flies was monitored with sticky traps and the timing of the insecticide treatments was adequate. However, in other cases treatment efficacy was low, presumably due to less precise timing of the applications. In conclusion, current experience on supervised chemical control indicates that strategies can be adapted, but Swiss agricultural research stations are not yet able to provide the growers with validated recommendations.
State of the art regarding carrot fly control in practice and possibilities in the future for Western and Northern Europe1
Authors: Ester A. , Van Rozen K.
Published: July 2009

The carrot fly (Psila rosae) is a major pest of umbelliferous crops, particularly in carrot production. This pest is present in temperate regions of Northern and Western Europe and also in the warm and dry climate of Central and Southern Europe. Currently, control strategies are limited and there may be a bottleneck of pest control solutions in the future. In practice, growers in the Netherlands mainly rely on a commercial, supervised control system which monitors the carrot fly population pressure. Possibilities to control the carrot fly after exceeding an economical threshold are reduced due to a lack of efficient chemical insecticides. Another option is the use of seed treatment to protect the carrots against the larvae developed from the first flight of the carrot flies for 12–14 weeks after sowing. The state of the art of the carrot fly pest and control possibilities are hereby discussed. Bottlenecks in control of carrot flies are highlighted and described.
Anoplophora glabripennis first finding in wood packaging material in Denmark1
Authors: Scheel C.
Published: July 2009

In 2008 a few specimens of Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian Longhorn Beetle), were found for the first time in Denmark. The finding was connected with granite imported in wooden crates, although the wood packaging material was marked as outlined in ISPM no. 15. Activities on tracing back and official actions are described. A survey was performed to detect establishment of any further A. glabripennis having possibly escaped the crates. An information campaign for public awareness and for importers of granite was organised. Finally lessons learned are described.
Eradication campaign for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Cyprus1
Authors: Melifronidou‐Pantelidou A.
Published: July 2009

Rhynchohorus ferrugineus (red palm weevil) was first recorded in Cyprus in September 2006 on 4 palm trees (Phoenix canariensis) in a hotel garden in the coastal area of Lemesos. All infested plants from the first point of outbreak were removed and burned. Intensive monitoring showed that R. ferrugineus was present in the areas of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos. In the Famagusta area a consignment of palm trees was found to be infested and measures for the destruction of the consignment were taken. From the results of monitoring, the areas of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos were placed under close supervision and infested zones and buffer zones were created. In the area of Famagusta there was no trapping of adult insects, however a demarcated area was created and will remain under close supervision for a period of 3 years. The establishment of demarcated areas was carried out according to the provisions of the EU Decision 2007/365/EC. The measures taken in the infested and buffer zones were mainly the application of chemicals through the crown of the susceptible palm plants and the removal of heavily infested palms. Since burning proved not to be an efficient method, the heavily infested palm plants were buried in approved areas, after chemical spraying. In addition the NPPO, of Cyprus has taken measures in training all plant health inspectors in the identification and handling of infested palm trees and public awareness about R. ferrugineus. Surveys continue throughout Cyprus with the use of pheromone traps and eradication measures continue within the demarcated areas with the aim of eradicating of this pest.
Eradication of the first outbreak of Xanthomonas fragariae in the United Kingdom
Authors: Matthews‐Berry S. S. , Reed P. J.
Published: July 2009

Xanthomonas fragariae was identified in the UK in strawberry fruiting crops in October 2004. As this pathogen had not been confirmed in the UK before and is listed as a quarantine organism by the EU and EPPO, emergency official action was taken to contain and eventually eradicate this pest. In order to eradicate this disease the affected growers were given the option of either destroying the crop to eradicate the disease immediately or maintaining the infected plants for the life of the crop for fruit production with hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the disease to uninfected crops. The affected growers chose to maintain the crops with hygiene measures to contain the disease. The crops continued to be monitored and no further symptoms were identified in either the infected crop or other crops on the farms.
Anoplophora glabripennisinfestation (col.: cerambycidae) in Italy
Authors: Herard F. , Maspero M. , Ramualde N. , Jucker C. , Colombo M. , Ciampitti M. , Cavagna B.
Published: July 2009

In June 2007, the Asian longhorned beetleAnoplophora glabripennis(Motschulsky) was found at Corbetta, in Lombardy, 23 km west of Milan, Italy. The invasive exotic pest was observed in four host trees, one sycamore mapleAcer pseudoplatanusL. and three silver birchesBetula pendulaRothmahler. During summer 2007, 20 living and 107 deadA. glabripennisbeetles were collected on or around the infested trees. The dissection of the infested material showed that 287 beetles emerged from the trees during previous years and 158 living larvae of varied ages were still developing in April, 2008. Fortunately, it appears that predation by birds on early stage larvae developing under the bark, played a major role in limiting the developing pest population.A. glabripennisis native to China and Korea where it is considered as a serious pest of many deciduous trees including maples, poplars, and willows. During the last decade, it was accidentally introduced into the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany and France in wood packaging material of goods imported from China. The current discovery in Italy is the first record of the Asian pest in this country.
Guidance on sampling to detect pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in trees, wood and insects
Authors: Schröder T. , McNamara D. G. , Gaar V.
Published: July 2009

The pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is the causal agent of pine wilt disease. It is a quarantine pest for most countries in the world. Surveys for the occurrence of the nematode may be necessary in the framework of internationally agreed phytosanitary standards, in order to delimit infested areas or to demonstrate the absence of B. xylophilus and thus to identify pest free areas. Import inspections of wood and wood products also need sound monitoring systems. It is obvious that the quality of survey/monitoring, as well as the results of diagnosis, are strongly dependent on the sampling procedure. Although, in the literature, numerous results of surveys and monitoring are documented, sampling procedures vary and there is no scientific or statistically based sampling system published for B. xylophilus. The current paper relates background information concerning the biology of the nematode, its vector beetles and the development of pine wilt disease and the influence of these factors on sampling procedures, and attempts to define a more systematic methodology.
Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae: the woodland perspective
Authors: Tracy D. R.
Published: July 2009

Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae were first identified in Great Britain (GB) in 2002 and 2003 respectively, although both are believed to have been present for perhaps 10–20 years. Public gardens have been badly affected by these pathogens, but British woodlands are also considered at risk as a number of tree species have been found to be susceptible to the pathogens. The principal host of both Phytophthoras in GB is Rhododendron ponticum, which is arguably our most invasive weed species. It is found extensively in GB, especially along the west coast which has ideal climatic conditions for its growth and spread. In 2004 the Forestry Commission surveyed 1479 woodlands where R. ponticum was present, and in 2008 both infected and non‐infected R. ponticum were cleared from approximately 1200 ha of woodlands in England and Wales where P. ramorum had been found. No clearance to date has taken place in Scotland. In the case of a positive finding in a garden or woodland, all woodlands with rhododendron within a 3 km radius of such a finding are to be surveyed. As both pathogens are notifiable any positives must be eradicated or contained through the serving of an official phytosanitary notice. Ministerial approval has now been given to a joint Defra and Forestry Commission initiative to undertake inter alia the removal of host plants (primarily rhododendrons) infected with these sporulating pathogens in woodlands and the wider environment in England and Wales. A similar programme will be effected in Scotland where the Forestry Commission is working with the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate.
Deletion mutants of AP‐1 adaptin subunits display distinct phenotypes in fission yeast
Authors: Ma Yan , Takeuchi Mai , Sugiura Reiko , Sio Susie O. , Kuno Takayoshi
Published: July 2009

Adaptins are subunits of the heterotetrameric (β/μ/γ/σ) adaptor protein (AP) complexes that are involved in clathrin‐mediated membrane trafficking. Here, we show that in Schizosaccharomyces pombe the deletion strains of each individual subunit of the AP‐1 complex [Apl2 (β), Apl4 (γ), Apm1 (μ) and Aps1 (σ)] caused distinct phenotypes on growth sensitivity to temperature or drugs. We also show that the Δapm1 and Δapl2 mutants displayed similar but more severe phenotypes than those of Δaps1 or Δapl4 mutants. Furthermore, the Δapl2Δaps1 and Δapl2Δapl4 double mutants displayed synthetic growth defects, whereas the Δaps1Δapl4 and Δapl2Δapm1 double mutants did not. In pull‐down assay, Apm1 binds Apl2 even in the absence of Aps1 and Apl4, and Apl4 binds Aps1 even in the absence of Apm1 and Apl2. Consistently, the deletion of any subunit generally caused the disassociation of the heterotetrameric complex from endosomes, although some subunits weakly localized to endosomes. In addition, the deletion of individual subunits caused similar endosomal accumulation of v‐SNARE synaptobrevin Syb1. Altogether, results suggest that the four subunits are all essential for the heterotetrameric complex formation and for the AP‐1 function in exit transport from endosomes.
Yield and stability of yield of single‐ and multi‐clover grass‐clover swards in two contrasting temperate environments
Authors: Frankow‐Lindberg B. E. , Halling M. , Höglind M. , Forkman J.
Published: July 2009

Diversity of clovers in grass‐clover swards may contribute to greater herbage yields and stability of yield. This possible effect was evaluated in an experiment carried out over three harvest years at two contrasting sites, differing in precipitation and soil composition, using mixed swards containing either one, two or three clover species sown together with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.). The clover species were red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) sown in various proportions in a total of ten treatments. All swards were fertilized with nitrogen with amounts that increased from year to year, and three harvests were taken in three consecutive years. There was a significant interaction between site and species mixture on total dry matter (DM) yields (range 27–32 tonnes ha−1) and DM yields of clovers (range 5–15 tonnes ha−1); red clover as a single species or in a mixture was superior at the dry site while multi‐clover species mixtures were superior at the wet site. Alsike clover was the least productive species of clover. Stability of yield of clovers was generally higher by including white and red clover in the seed mixture but total DM yield was not.
Improved criterion‐referenced assessment in indirect tracking of haemophilia A using a 0.23 cM‐resolution dense polymorphic marker set
Authors: MACHADO F. B. , DUARTE L. P. , MEDINA‐ACOSTA E.
Published: July 2009

Summary.  In haemophilia A, linkage analysis with coagulation factor VIII (F8) intragenic and/or neighbouring extragenic short tandem repeats (STRs) enables indirect tracking F8 pathogenic allelic variant‐carriers. Even where DNA sequencing is available, linkage analysis still has a role if no causative or candidate mutation is unveiled. The cumulative heterozygosity rate of the available multiplexed STRs haplotyping assays rarely reaches 100%. This means that in a proportion of women these loci are uninformative. The norm‐referenced assessment is based on at least one informative marker criterion. We reasoned that by typing a dense market set, spanning a small fraction of recombination, we should be able to improve assessment. The aim of this study was to improve criterion‐referenced assessment in polymorphism segregation analyses using a low‐recombination fraction and dense informative STRs set. The multiplex quantitative fluorescence PCR assay comprises four novel tetranucleotide and pentanucleotide STRs distant ≤0.15 cM from the F8 gene, and three F8 intragenic dinucleotide STRs, mapped to a 0.23 cM interval spanning the F8 on human chromosome band Xq28. We determined heterozygosity rates and allele frequencies from 100 unrelated healthy females. To investigate about segregation stability, we typed 50 true trios (mother, daughter and father) and 50 true mother‐and‐son duos from the general population. The heterozygosity rates for the extragenic markers ranged 0.49–0.76. The 0.23 cM‐resolution heptaplex rendered a cumulative heterozygosity of 0.89 for a minimum of two informative markers, with at least one F8 intragenic. The heptaplex assay enabled improving the criterion‐referenced assessment in indirect carrier‐detection.
CD4+ T‐cell activation is differentially modulated by bacteria‐primed dendritic cells, but is generally down‐regulated by n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Brix Susanne , Lund Pia , Kjaer Tanja M. R. , Straarup Ellen M. , Hellgren Lars I. , Frøkiær Hanne
Published: July 2009

Appropriate activation of CD4+ T cells is fundamental for efficient initiation and progression of acquired immune responses. Here, we showed that CD4+ T‐cell activation is dependent on changes in membrane n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and is dynamically regulated by the type of signals provided by dendritic cells (DCs). Upon interaction with DCs primed by different concentrations and species of gut bacteria, CD4+ T cells were activated according to the type of DC stimulus. The levels of CD80 were found to correlate to the levels of expression of CD28 and to the proliferation of CD4+ T cells, while the presence of CD40 and CD86 on DCs inversely affected inducible costimulator (ICOS) and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) levels in CD4+ T cells. For all DC stimuli, cells high in n‐3 PUFAs showed reduced ability to respond to CD28 stimulation, to proliferate, and to express ICOS and CTLA‐4. Diminished T‐cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 signalling was found to be responsible for n‐3 PUFA effects. Thus, the dietary fatty acid composition influences the overall level of CD4+ T‐cell activation induced by DCs, while the priming effect of the DC stimuli modulates CD80, CD86 and CD40 levels, thereby affecting and shaping activation of acquired immunity by differential regulation of proliferation and costimulatory molecule expression in CD4+ T cells.
The detection and management of root resorption lesions using intraoral radiography and cone beam computed tomography – an in vivo investigation
Authors: Patel S. , Dawood A. , Wilson R. , Horner K. , Mannocci F.
Published: July 2009

Aim  To compare the accuracy of intraoral periapical radiography with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the detection and management of resorption lesions.

Methodology  Digital intraoral radiographs and CBCT scans were taken of patients with internal resorption (n = 5), external cervical resorption (n = 5) and no resorption (controls) (n = 5). A ‘reference standard’ diagnosis and treatment plan was devised for each tooth. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, as well as the reproducibility of each technique were determined for diagnostic accuracy and treatment option chosen.

Results  The intraoral radiography ROC Az values were 0.780 and 0.830 for diagnostic accuracy of internal and external cervical resorption respectively. The CBCT ROC Az values were 1.000 for both internal and external cervical resorption. There was a significantly higher prevalence (P = 0.028) for the correct treatment option being chosen with CBCT (%) compared with intraoral radiographs (%).

Conclusion  CBCT was effective and reliable in detecting the presence of resorption lesions. Although digital intraoral radiography resulted in an acceptable level of accuracy, the superior accuracy of CBCT may result in a review of the radiographic techniques used for assessing the type of resorption lesion present. CBCT’s superior diagnostic accuracy also resulted in an increased likelihood of correct management of resorption lesions.
Phenotypic differences between coagulase‐negative staphylococci isolated from seminal fluid of healthy men and men suffering from chronic prostatitis syndrome
Authors: Ivanov Iuri B. , Gritsenko Viktor A. , Kuzmin Michael D.
Published: July 2009

Chronic prostatitis syndrome (CPS) is a common urologic condition that many clinicians find difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. The most common causative agents of CPS among Gram‐positive bacteria are coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CNS). We compared phenotypic properties among CNS isolated from semen of healthy men and patients with CPS. A significantly higher proportion of CPS strains demonstrated inhibition of lysozyme and platelet microbicidal protein. Identifying these phenotypic characteristics in clinical laboratories would be helpful to differentiate which staphylococcal bacteriospermia case should be treated and which should not.
Application of edge detection method based on image quality gradient for twin detection
Authors: CHEN D. , LUI G.‐T. , KUO J.‐C.
Published: July 2009

An image quality based method was applied to quantitatively analyse the contribution of electrodeposited copper twinning. This method, based on the image quality as obtained from electron backscattering diffraction, involves three processes: hexagonal edge detection, thinning algorithm and twin determination. The twin density determined by the new algorithm was 65.61% which is higher than the twin density, 57.44% as determined by the Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM) analysis. The newly developed algorithm provides an alternative to twin boundary detection.
The effects of manual therapy and exercise directed at the cervical spine on pain and pressure pain sensitivity in patients with myofascial temporomandibular disorders
Authors: LA TOUCHE R. , FERNÁNDEZ‐DE‐LAS‐PEÑAS C. , FERNÁNDEZ‐CARNERO J. , ESCALANTE K. , ANGULO‐DÍAZ‐PARREÑO S. , PARIS‐ALEMANY A. , CLELAND J. A.
Published: July 2009

Summary  No studies have investigated the effects of the treatments directed at the cervical spine in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Our aim was to investigate the effects of joint mobilization and exercise directed at the cervical spine on pain intensity and pressure pain sensitivity in the muscles of mastication in patients with TMD. Nineteen patients (14 females), aged 19–57 years, with myofascial TMD were included. All patients received a total of 10 treatment session over a 5‐week period (twice per week). Treatment included manual therapy techniques and exercise directed at the cervical spine. Outcome measures included bilateral pressure pain threshold (PPT) levels over the masseter and temporalis muscles, active pain‐free mouth opening (mm) and pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and were all assessed pre‐intervention, 48 h after the last treatment (post‐intervention) and at 12‐week follow‐up period. Mixed‐model anovas were used to examine the effects of the intervention on each outcome measure. Within‐group effect sizes were calculated in order to assess clinical effect. The 2 × 3 mixed model anova revealed significant effect for time (F = 77·8; P < 0·001) but not for side (F = 0·2; P = 0·7) for changes in PPT over the masseter muscle and over the temporalis muscle (time: F = 66·8; P < 0·001; side: F = 0·07; P = 0·8). Post hoc revealed significant differences between pre‐intervention and both post‐intervention and follow‐up periods (P < 0·001) but not between post‐intervention and follow‐up period (P = 0·9) for both muscles. Within‐group effect sizes were large (d > 1·0) for both follow‐up periods in both muscles. The anova found a significant effect for time (F = 78·6; P < 0·001) for changes in pain intensity and active pain‐free mouth opening (F = 17·1; P < 0·001). Significant differences were found between pre‐intervention and both post‐intervention and follow‐up periods (P < 0·001) but not between the post‐intervention and follow‐up period (P > 0·7). Within‐group effect sizes were large (d > 0·8) for both post‐intervention and follow‐up periods. The application of treatment directed at the cervical spine may be beneficial in decreasing pain intensity, increasing PPTs over the masticatory muscles and an increasing pain‐free mouth opening in patients with myofascial TMD.
Population genetic analysis reveals a long‐term decline of a threatened endemic Australian marsupial
Authors: HANSEN BIRGITA D. , HARLEY DANIEL K. P. , LINDENMAYER DAVID B. , TAYLOR ANDREA C.
Published: July 2009

Since European colonization, Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) has declined across its range to the point where it is now only patchily distributed within the montane ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria. The loss of large hollow‐bearing trees coupled with inadequate recruitment of mature ash forest has been predicted to result in a reduction in population size of up to 90% by 2020. Furthermore, bioclimatic analyses have suggested additional reductions in the species’ distribution under a variety of climate change scenarios. Using a panel of 15 highly resolving microsatellite markers and mitochondrial control region sequence data, we infer past and present gene flow. Populations in the northern part of the core range were highly admixed, and showed no signs of either current or historical barriers to gene flow. A marginal, isolated and inbred population at Yellingbo was highly genetically differentiated, both in terms of current and historic genetic structure. Sequence data confirmed the conclusions from earlier genetic simulation studies that the Yellingbo population has been isolated from the rest of the species range since before European‐induced changes to the montane landscape, and formed part of a larger genetic unit that is now otherwise extinct. Historic loss of maternal lineages in the Central Highlands of Victoria was detected despite signals of immigration, indicating population declines that most probably coincided with changes in climate at the end of the Pleistocene. Given ongoing habitat loss and the recent (February 2009) wildfire in the Central Highlands, we forecast (potentially extensive) demographic declines, in line with predicted range reductions under climate change scenarios.
Population genomics of marine fishes: identifying adaptive variation in space and time
Authors: NIELSEN EINAR E. , HEMMER‐HANSEN JAKOB , LARSEN PETER FOGED , BEKKEVOLD DORTE
Published: July 2009

Studies of adaptive evolution have experienced a recent revival in population genetics of natural populations and there is currently much focus on identifying genomic signatures of selection in space and time. Insights into local adaptation, adaptive response to global change and evolutionary consequences of selective harvesting can be generated through population genomics studies, allowing the separation of the effects invoked by neutral processes (drift‐migration) from those due to selection. Such knowledge is important not only for improving our basic understanding of natural as well as human‐induced evolutionary processes, but also for predicting future trajectories of biodiversity and for setting conservation priorities. Marine fishes possess a number of features rendering them well suited for providing general insights into adaptive genomic evolution in natural populations. These include well‐described population structures, substantial and rapidly developing genomic resources and abundant archived samples enabling temporal studies. Furthermore, superior possibilities for conducting large‐scale experiments under controlled conditions, due to the economic resources provided by the large and growing aquaculture industry, hold great promise for utilizing recent technological developments. Here, we review achievements in marine fish genomics to date and highlight potential avenues for future research, which will provide both general insights into evolution in high gene flow species, as well as specific knowledge which can lead to improved management of marine organisms.
Fine‐scale geographical structure of genetic diversity in inland wild beet populations
Authors: ARNAUD JEAN‐FRANÇOIS , FÉNART STÉPHANE , GODÉ CÉCILE , DELEDICQUE SYLVIE , TOUZET PASCAL , CUGUEN JOËL
Published: July 2009

Introgression arising from crop‐to‐wild gene flow provides novel sources of genetic variation in plant species complexes. Hybridization within the Beta vulgaris species complex is of immediate concern; crop lineages (B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) hybridize easily with their wild relatives (B. vulgaris ssp. maritima) thereby threatening wild beet gene diversity with genetic swamping. Hybridization ‘hotspots’ occur in European seed production areas because inland ruderal wild beets occur and reproduce in sympatry with cultivated beets. We studied gene flow occurring between seed‐producing cultivars and ruderal wild B. vulgaris in southwestern France to determine whether feral beets, arising from unharvested cultivated seed, represent an opportunity for crop‐to‐wild gene flow. We surveyed 42 inland ruderal beet populations located near seed production fields for nucleo‐cytoplasmic variation and used a cytoplasmic marker diagnostic of cultivated lines. Occurrence of cultivated‐type cytoplasm within ruderal populations clearly reflected events of crop seed escape. However, we found no genetic signatures of nuclear cultivated gene introgression, which suggests past introgression of cultivated cytoplasm into a wild nuclear background through seed escape rather than recent direct pollen flow. Overall, patterns of genetic structure suggested that inland ruderal wild beet populations act as a metapopulation, with founding events involving a few sib groups, followed by low rates of seed or pollen gene flow after populations are established. Altogether, our results indicate that a long‐lived seed bank plays a key role in maintaining cultivated‐type cytoplasm in the wild and highlight the need for careful management of seed production areas where wild and cultivated relatives co‐occur.
SpxA1, a novel transcriptional regulator involved in X‐state (competence) development in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Turlan Catherine , Prudhomme Marc , Fichant Gwennaele , Martin Bernard , Gutierrez Claude
Published: July 2009

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a naturally transformable human pathogen. Genome and phylogenetic analyses uncovered two Spx‐like global transcriptional regulators, SpxA1 and SpxA2, encoded by S. pneumoniae. spxA1 and spxA2 are not essential, but their simultaneous inactivation is lethal. SpxA1 represses transcription of the early competence operon comCDE and thereby negatively regulates the initiation of the X‐state (competence). The molecular basis of this repression could be similar to that of SpxA of Bacillus subtilis, involving a specific interaction with the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase. S. pneumoniae lacks an SOS‐like stress response and the X‐state is proposed to be a general stress response mechanism in this species. In light of this, SpxA1‐dependent repression could act to sense environmental or metabolic stresses and prevent launching of the X‐state in the absence of stress.
Vibrio VopQ induces PI3‐kinase‐independent autophagy and antagonizes phagocytosis
Authors: Burdette Dara L. , Seemann Joachim , Orth Kim
Published: July 2009

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram‐negative bacterium responsible for gastroenteritis acquired from the consumption of contaminated shellfish. This bacterium harbours two type III secretion systems, one on each chromosome. The type III secretion system on chromosome I induces cell death by a temporally controlled sequence of events that is caspase‐independent and first involves induction of autophagy, followed by cellular rounding, and finally cellular lysis. VopQ is a type III secreted effector that is necessary for the induction of autophagy as mutant strains lacking VopQ are attenuated in their ability to induce autophagy during infection. VopQ is sufficient to induce rapid autophagy as demonstrated by microinjection of recombinant VopQ into GFP‐LC3 HeLa cells. Our results demonstrate that VopQ is both necessary and sufficient for induction of autophagy during V. parahaemolyticus‐mediated cell death and this effect is independent of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinases but requires Atg5. Furthermore, induction of VopQ‐mediated autophagy prevents recruitment of the necessary cellular machinery required for phagocytosis of V. parahaemolyticus during infection. These data provide important insights into the mechanism used by V. parahaemolyticus to cause disease.
Differential afferent sensitivity to mucosal lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli in the rat jejunum
Authors: Liu C. Y. , Mueller M. H. , Rogler G. , Grundy D. , Kreis M. E.
Published: July 2009

Abstract  Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome may develop subsequent to acute bacterial enteritis. We therefore hypothesized that intestinal afferents may develop hypersensitivity upon exposure to luminal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from pathogens but not from commensal bacteria and that this may be prostaglandin mediated. Extracellular recordings of jejunal afferents were obtained in vivo from male Wistar rats (n = 5 per group; 300–400 g). Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (E‐LPS), Salmonella typhimurium (S‐LPS) or vehicle were infused into the intestinal lumen at 5 mg mL−1. The selective 5‐HT3‐receptor agonist 2‐methyl‐5‐HT (2m5‐HT, 15 μgkg−1, i.v.) was administered at 15‐min intervals before and up to 2 h after S‐LPS administration. Intraluminal E‐LPS had no effect on mesenteric afferent nerve discharge at baseline. By contrast, afferent discharge increased from 21.7 ± 0.3 impsec−1 to 28.8 ± 3.4 impsec−1 40 min after S‐LPS administration (mean ± SEM; P < 0.05) and reached 38.8 ± 4.1 impsec−1 after 2 h (P < 0.05). The afferent response to 2m5‐HT was enhanced 30 min following S‐LPS by 30.9 ± 3.9% (P < 0.05) and remained elevated thereafter. The increase in baseline discharge and sensitivity to 2m5‐HT following S‐LPS was prevented by pretreatment with naproxen (COX inhibitor, 10 mgkg−1 i.v.) or AH‐6809 (EP1/EP2 receptor antagonist, 1 mg kg−1). Intestinal afferents do not alter their discharge rate to LPS from E. coli but to LPS from the pathogenic bacterium S. typhimurium. The latter response entails afferent sensitisation to 2m5‐HT that depends on prostanoid release. This acute sensitisation may prime the intestinal afferent innervation for a later development of persistent hypersensitivity.
Geographical distribution and epidemiological features of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, based on the isoenzyme analysis of 1048 strains
Authors: Pratlong Francine , Dereure Jacques , Ravel Christophe , Lami Patrick , Balard Yves , Serres Ghislaine , Lanotte Geneviève , Rioux Jean‐Antoine , Dedet Jean‐Pierre
Published: July 2009

A series of 1048 Leishmania strains from Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, isolated between 1981 and 2005, were studied by isoenzyme analysis. The strains were obtained from humans, rodents, dogs and sandflies from 33 countries. The four typically dermotropic species, Leishmania major, L. tropica, L. aethiopica and L. killicki, were found. The viscerotropic species L. donovani and L. infantum, which can occasionally be responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis, are not considered in this paper. Leishmania major was the least polymorphic species (12 zymodemes, 638 strains). Leishmania tropica was characterized by a complex polymorphism varying according to focus (35 zymodemes, 329 strains). Leishmania aethiopica, a species restricted to East Africa, showed a high polymorphism, in spite of a limited number of strains (23 zymodemes, 40 strains). Leishmania killicki, mainly restricted to Tunisia had a single zymodeme for 39 strains. Recently a parasite close to L. killicki (one zymodeme, two strains) was isolated in Algeria, which lead us to revise the taxonomic status of this taxon.
Decision tree algorithm in deciding hospitalization for adult patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever in Singapore
Authors: Lee V. J. , Lye D. C. , Sun Y. , Leo Y. S.
Published: July 2009

Objectives  To develop a simple decision tree for clinicians to decide between hospitalization and outpatient monitoring of adult dengue patients.

Method  Retrospective cohort study on all laboratory‐diagnosed dengue patients admitted in 2004 to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological data were collected, and cases classified as dengue fever (DF) or dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) using World Health Organization criteria. To develop the decision tree, we used chi‐squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) with bi‐way and multi‐way splitting. The resulting trees were pruned to achieve the highest sensitivity with the shortest tree.

Results  In 2004, 1973 probable and confirmed adult dengue patients were admitted; DF comprised 1855 (94.0%) and DHF 118 (6.0%) of the cases. The best decision tree prediction had three branches, consisting of a history of clinical bleeding, serum urea, and serum total protein. This decision tree had a sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 0.46, positive predictive value of 7.5%, and negative predictive value of 100%. The overall accuracy of the decision tree was 48.1%. The test sensitivity and specificity compared favourably with other predictive probability equations and sophisticated laboratory tests, and would prevent 43.9% of mild DF cases from hospitalization.

Conclusions  A simple decision tree is effective in predicting DHF in the clinical setting for adult dengue infection.
Reducing costs and operational constraints of dengue vector control by targeting productive breeding places: a multi‐country non‐inferiority cluster randomized trial
Authors: Tun‐Lin W. , Lenhart A. , Nam V. S. , Rebollar‐Téllez E. , Morrison A. C. , Barbazan P. , Cote M. , Midega J. , Sanchez F. , Manrique‐Saide P. , Kroeger A. , Nathan M. B. , Meheus F. , Petzold M.
Published: July 2009

Objectives  To test the non‐inferiority hypothesis that a vector control approach targeting only the most productive water container types gives the same or greater reduction of the vector population as a non‐targeted approach in different ecological settings and to analyse whether the targeted intervention is less costly.

Methods  Cluster randomized trial in eight study sites (Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Kenya, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines), with each study area divided into 18–20 clusters (sectors or neighbourhoods) of approximately 50–100 households each. Using a baseline pupal‐demographic survey, the most productive container types were identified which produced ≥55% of all Ae. aegypti pupae. Clusters were then paired based on similar pupae per person indices. One cluster from each pair was randomly allocated to receive the targeted vector control intervention; the other received the ‘blanket’ (non‐targeted) intervention attempting to reach all water holding containers.

Results  The pupal‐demographic baseline survey showed a large variation of productive container types across all study sites. In four sites the vector control interventions in both study arms were insecticidal and in the other four sites, non‐insecticidal (environmental management and/or biological control methods). Both approaches were associated with a reduction of outcome indicators in the targeted and non‐targeted intervention arm of the six study sites where the follow up study was conducted (PPI, Pupae per Person Index and BI, Breteau Index). Targeted interventions were as effective as non‐targeted ones in terms of PPI. The direct costs per house reached were lower in targeted intervention clusters than in non‐targeted intervention clusters with only one exception, where the targeted intervention was delivered through staff‐intensive social mobilization.

Conclusions  Targeting only the most productive water container types (roughly half of all water holding container types) was as effective in lowering entomological indices as targeting all water holding containers at lower implementation costs. Further research is required to establish the most efficacious method or combination of methods for targeted dengue vector interventions.
Maternal mortality in Syria: causes, contributing factors and preventability
Authors: Bashour Hyam , Abdulsalam Asmaa , Jabr Aisha , Cheikha Salah , Tabbaa Mohammed , Lahham Moataz , Dihman Reem , Khadra Mazen , Campbell Oona M. R.
Published: July 2009

Objectives  To describe the biomedical and other causes of maternal death in Syria and to assess their preventability.

Methods  A reproductive age mortality study (RAMOS) design was used to identify pregnancy related deaths. All deaths among women aged 15–49 reported to the national civil register for 2003 were investigated through home interviews. Verbal autopsies were used to ascertain the cause of death among pregnancy related maternal deaths, and causes and preventability of deaths were assessed by a panel of doctors.

Results  A total of 129 maternal deaths were identified and reviewed. Direct medical causes accounted for 88%, and haemorrhage was the main cause of death (65%). Sixty nine deaths (54%) occurred during labour or delivery. Poor clinical skills and lack of clinical competency were behind 54% of maternal deaths. Ninety one percent of maternal deaths were preventable.

Conclusions  The causes of maternal death in Syria and their contributing factors reflect serious defects in the quality of maternal care that need to be urgently rectified.
Allergen IgE‐isotype‐specific suppression by maternally derived monoclonal anti‐IgG‐idiotype
Authors: Tanasa R. I. , Trad A. , Lange H. , Grötzinger J. , Lemke H.
Published: July 2009

Background:  The dramatic increase of IgE‐mediated allergic diseases in western countries demonstrates the urgent need for new therapeutic or prophylactic approaches. In mice, a prophylactic long‐lasting allergen‐specific suppression of IgE responsiveness is induced by maternal IgG antibodies to allergens like ovalbumin, phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) or ovomucoid. As neonatal application or maternally derived pathogen‐reactive antibodies (idiotypes) as well as corresponding anti‐idiotypes can induce anti‐microbial protection, we probed the transgenerational IgE‐suppressive mechanism with a syngeneic monoclonal anti‐idiotypic antibody.

Methods:  The monoclonal bee‐venom‐phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2)‐reactive IgG antibody MS613 (idiotype) or the corresponding syngeneic anti‐idiotype II/2‐19 were injected during the first 2 days postpartum to the dams. Immunization of offspring with minute doses of IgE‐inducing bvPLA2 was started at an adult age of 3½ months.

Results:  The postnatal transfer of the anti‐bvPLA2 idiotype MS613 or the corresponding anti‐idiotype II/2‐19 induced long‐lasting allergen‐specific IgE suppression in a dose‐dependent manner, while the IgG response to the allergen developed normally. Quantitatively, the anti‐idiotype was more effective than idiotype. Molecular modeling of the idiotype‐anti‐idiotype complex and its comparison with the bvPLA2 structure revealed that the anti‐idiotype does not mimic bvPLA2 epitopes and thus can not be regarded as an internal image antibody and, consequently, does not function as a surrogate antigen.

Conclusions:  Idiotypic network reactivity is at least one major factor for induction of transgenerational IgE suppression by maternal IgG antibodies. If applicable to humans, these data suggest the possibility of a prophylactic and possibly therapeutic treatment of IgE‐mediated allergic diseases with anti‐idiotypic antibodies.
Efficacy of desloratadine in intermittent allergic rhinitis: a GA2LEN study
Authors: Bousquet J. , Bachert C. , Canonica G. W. , Mullol J. , Van Cauwenberge P. , Bindslev Jensen C. , Fokkens W. J. , Ring J. , Keith P. , Lorber R. , Zuberbier T. ,   The ACCEPT‐1 study group
Published: July 2009

Background:  The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines proposed a classification for allergic rhinitis based on the duration of symptoms (intermittent, persistent) rather than on the time of allergen exposure (seasonal, perennial). There is no placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trial on intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) to date. Desloratadine (DL) is recommended for the first‐line treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

Objectives:  To assess the efficacy and safety of DL in subjects with IAR based on the ARIA classification.

Methods:  Patients over 12 years of age with IAR were assessed over 15 days of treatment with DL 5 mg once daily (n = 276) or placebo (n = 271). The primary endpoint was the AM/PM reflective total 5 symptom score (T5SS). Secondary endpoints included AM/PM instantaneous T5SS and individual symptoms, therapeutic response, symptom severity by visual analogue scale, and quality‐of‐life.

Results:  The mean reduction of AM/PM reflective T5SS was significantly greater with DL than with placebo over 15 days (−3.01 vs−2.13, P < 0.001) and on each individual day (P < 0.05). Mean AM instantaneous T5SS was reduced significantly with DL compared to placebo as early as day 2 (−1.84 vs−0.89; P < 0.001). The therapeutic response and improvement in quality‐of‐life were significantly greater with DL than with placebo (P < 0.001 for each). The frequency of treatment‐related adverse events was low and similar between DL (7.2%) and placebo (7.0%).

Conclusions:  This is the first large trial to show that treatment can be effective in IAR. Desloratadine was effective and safe.