bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ConceptGen: a gene set enrichment and gene set relation mapping tool
Authors: Sartor Maureen A. , Mahavisno Vasudeva , Keshamouni Venkateshwar G. , Cavalcoli James , Wright Zachary , Karnovsky Alla , Kuick Rork , Jagadish H.V. , Mirel Barbara , Weymouth Terry , Athey Brian , Omenn Gilbert S.
Published: December 2009

Motivation: The elucidation of biological concepts enriched with differentially expressed genes has become an integral part of the analysis and interpretation of genomic data. Of additional importance is the ability to explore networks of relationships among previously defined biological concepts from diverse information sources, and to explore results visually from multiple perspectives. Accomplishing these tasks requires a unified framework for agglomeration of data from various genomic resources, novel visualizations, and user functionality.

Results: We have developed ConceptGen, a web-based gene set enrichment and gene set relation mapping tool that is streamlined and simple to use. ConceptGen offers over 20 000 concepts comprising 14 different types of biological knowledge, including data not currently available in any other gene set enrichment or gene set relation mapping tool. We demonstrate the functionalities of ConceptGen using gene expression data modeling TGF-beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metabolomics data comparing metastatic versus localized prostate cancers.

Availability: ConceptGen is part of the NIH's National Center for Integrative Biomedical Informatics (NCIBI) and is freely available at http://conceptgen.ncibi.org. For terms of use, visit http://portal.ncibi.org/gateway/pdf/Terms%20of%20use-web.pdf

Contact:  conceptgen@umich.edu; sartorma@umich.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Water Extract of Ashwagandha Leaves Limits Proliferation and Migration, and Induces Differentiation in Glioma Cells
Authors: Kataria Hardeep , Shah Navjot , Kaul Sunil C. , Wadhwa Renu , Kaur Gurcharan
Published: December 2009

Root extracts of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) are commonly used as a remedy for a variety of ailments and a general tonic for overall health and longevity in the Indian traditional medicine system, Ayurveda. We undertook a study to investigate the anti‐proliferative and differentiation‐inducing activities in the water extract of Ashwagandha leaves (ASH‐WEX) by examining in glioma cells. Preliminary detection for phytochemicals was performed by thin‐layer chromatography. Cytotoxicity was determined using trypan blue and MTT assays. Expression level of an hsp70 family protein (mortalin), glial cell differentiation marker [glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)] and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) were analyzed by immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting. Anti‐migratory assay was also done using wound‐scratch assay. Expression levels of mortalin, GFAP and NCAM showed changes, subsequent to the treatment with ASH‐WEX. The data support the existence of anti‐proliferative, differentiation‐inducing and anti‐migratory/anti‐metastasis activities in ASH‐WEX that could be used as potentially safe and complimentary therapy for glioma.
Brazilian Green Propolis Inhibits Inflammatory Angiogenesis in a Murine Sponge Model
Authors: Moura Sandra Aparecida Lima de , Ferreira Mônica Alves Neves Diniz , Andrade Silvia Passos , Reis Maria Leticia Costa , Noviello Maria de Lourdes , Cara Denise Carmona
Published: December 2009

Angiogenesis and inflammation are persistent features of several pathological conditions. Propolis, a sticky material that honeybees collect from living plants, has been reported to have multiple biological effects including anti‐inflammatory and anti‐neoplasic activities. Here, we investigated the effects of water extract of green propolis (WEP) on angiogenesis, inflammatory cell accumulation and endogenous production of cytokines in sponge implants of mice over a 14‐day period. Blood vessel formation as assessed by hemoglobin content and by morphometric analysis of the implants was reduced by WEP (500 mg kg−1 orally) compared to the untreated group. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased progressively in the treated group but decreased after Day 10 in the control group. Accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages was determined by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) activities, respectively. Neutrophil accumulation was unaffected by propolis, but NAG activity was reduced by the treatment at Day 14. The levels TGF‐β1 intra‐implant increased progressively in both groups but were higher (40%) at Day 14 in the control implants. The pro‐inflammatory levels of TNF‐α peaked at Day 7 in the control implants, and at Day 14 in the propolis‐treated group. Our results indicate that the anti‐inflammatory/anti‐angiogenic effects of propolis are associated with cytokine modulation.
Improved viability of populations with diverse life-history portfolios
Authors: Greene Correigh M. , Hall Jason E. , Guilbault Kimberly R. , Quinn Thomas P.
Published: December 2009

A principle shared by both economists and ecologists is that a diversified portfolio spreads risk, but this idea has little empirical support in the field of population biology. We found that population growth rates (recruits per spawner) and life-history diversity as measured by variation in freshwater and ocean residency were negatively correlated across short time periods (one to two generations), but positively correlated at longer time periods, in nine Bristol Bay sockeye salmon populations. Further, the relationship between variation in growth rate and life-history diversity was consistently negative. These findings strongly suggest that life-history diversity can both increase production and buffer population fluctuations, particularly over long time periods. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of biocomplexity beyond spatio-temporal aspects of populations, and suggest that maintaining diverse life-history portfolios of populations may be crucial for their resilience to unfavourable conditions like habitat loss and climate change.
Shrewd alliances: mixed foraging associations between treeshrews, greater racket-tailed drongos and sparrowhawks on Great Nicobar Island, India
Authors: Oommen Meera Anna , Shanker Kartik
Published: December 2009

Mixed-species foraging associations may form to enhance feeding success or to avoid predators. We report the costs and consequences of an unusual foraging association between an endemic foliage gleaning tupaid (Nicobar treeshrew
Tupaia nicobarica
) and two species of birds; one an insectivorous commensal (greater racket-tailed drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus
) and the other a diurnal raptor and potential predator (
Accipiter
sp.). In an alliance driven, and perhaps engineered, by drongos, these species formed cohesive groups with predictable relationships. Treeshrew breeding pairs were found more frequently than solitary individuals with sparrowhawks and were more likely to tolerate sparrowhawks in the presence of drongos. Treeshrews maintained greater distances from sparrowhawks than drongos, and permitted the raptors to come closer when drongos were present. Treeshrew foraging rates declined in the presence of drongos; however, the latter may provide them predator avoidance benefits. The choice of the raptor to join the association is intriguing; particular environmental resource states may drive the evolution of such behavioural strategies. Although foraging benefits seem to be the primary driver of this association, predator avoidance also influences interactions, suggesting that strategies driving the formation of flocks may be complex and context dependent with varying benefits for different actors.
The fluid dynamics of canine olfaction: unique nasal airflow patterns as an explanation of macrosmia
Authors: Craven Brent A. , Paterson Eric G. , Settles Gary S.
Published: December 2009

The canine nasal cavity contains hundreds of millions of sensory neurons, located in the olfactory epithelium that lines convoluted nasal turbinates recessed in the rear of the nose. Traditional explanations for canine olfactory acuity, which include large sensory organ size and receptor gene repertoire, overlook the fluid dynamics of odorant transport during sniffing. But odorant transport to the sensory part of the nose is the first critical step in olfaction. Here we report new experimental data on canine sniffing and demonstrate allometric scaling of sniff frequency, inspiratory airflow rate and tidal volume with body mass. Next, a computational fluid dynamics simulation of airflow in an anatomically accurate three-dimensional model of the canine nasal cavity, reconstructed from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans, reveals that, during sniffing, spatially separate odour samples are acquired by each nostril that may be used for bilateral stimulus intensity comparison and odour source localization. Inside the nose, the computation shows that a unique nasal airflow pattern develops during sniffing, which is optimized for odorant transport to the olfactory part of the nose. These results contrast sharply with nasal airflow in the human. We propose that mammalian olfactory function and acuity may largely depend on odorant transport by nasal airflow patterns resulting from either the presence of a highly developed olfactory recess (in macrosmats such as the canine) or the lack of one (in microsmats including humans).
Retinal development and function in a ‘blind’ mole
Authors: Carmona F. David , Glösmann Martin , Ou Jingxing , Jiménez Rafael , Collinson J. Martin
Published: December 2009

Animals adapted to dark ecotopes may experience selective pressure for retinal reduction. No previous studies have explicitly addressed the molecular basis of retinal development in any fossorial mammal. We studied retinal development and function in the Iberian moleTalpa occidentalis, which was presumed to be blind because of its permanently closed eyes. Prenatal retina development was relatively normal, with specification of all cell types and evidence of dorsoventral regionalization. Severe developmental defects occurred after birth, subsequent to lens abnormalities. ‘Blind’ Iberian moles had rods, cones and rod nuclear ultrastructure typical of diurnal mammals. DiI staining revealed only contralateral projections through the optic chiasm. Y-maze experiments demonstrated that moles retain a photoavoidance response. Over-representation of melanopsin-positive retinal ganglion cells that mediate photoperiodicity was observed. Hence, molecular pathways of eye development in Iberian moles retain the adaptive function of rod/cone primary vision and photoperiodicity, with no evidence that moles are likely to completely lose their eyes on an evolutionary time scale.
Grapheme-colour synaesthesia improves detection of embedded shapes, but without pre-attentive ‘pop-out’ of synaesthetic colour
Authors: Ward Jamie , Jonas Clare , Dienes Zoltan , Seth Anil
Published: December 2009

For people with synaesthesia letters and numbers may evoke experiences of colour. It has been previously demonstrated that these synaesthetes may be better at detecting a triangle made of 2s among a background of 5s if they perceive 5 and 2 as having different synaesthetic colours. However, other studies using this task (or tasks based on the same principle) have failed to replicate the effect or have suggested alternative explanations of the effect. In this study, we repeat the original study on a larger group of synaesthetes (
n
= 36) and include, for the first time, an assessment of their self-reported colour experiences. We show that synaesthetes do have a general advantage over controls on this task. However, many synaesthetes report no colour experiences at all during the task. Synaesthetes who do report colour typically experience around one third of the graphemes in the display as coloured. This is more consistent with theories of synaesthesia in which spatial attention needs to be deployed to graphemes for conscious colour experiences to emerge than the interpretation based on ‘pop-out’.
Lost in translation or deliberate falsification? Genetic analyses reveal erroneous museum data for historic penguin specimens
Authors: Boessenkool Sanne , Star Bastiaan , Scofield R. Paul , Seddon Philip J. , Waters Jonathan M.
Published: December 2009

Historic museum specimens are increasingly used to answer a wide variety of questions in scientific research. Nevertheless, the scientific value of these specimens depends on the authenticity of the data associated with them. Here we use individual-based genetic analyses to demonstrate erroneous locality information for archive specimens from the late nineteenth century. Specifically, using 10 microsatellite markers, we analysed 350 contemporary and 43 historic yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) specimens from New Zealand's South Island and sub-Antarctic regions. Factorial correspondence analysis and an assignment test strongly suggest that eight of the historic specimens purportedly of sub-Antarctic origin were in fact collected from the South Island. Interestingly, all eight specimens were obtained by the same collector, and all are currently held in the same museum collection. Further inspection of the specimen labels and evaluation of sub-Antarctic voyages did not reveal whether the erroneous data are caused by incorrect labelling or whether deliberate falsification was at play. This study highlights a promising extension to the well-known applications of assignment tests in molecular ecology, which can complement methods that are currently being applied for error detection in specimen data. Our results also serve as a warning to all who use archive specimens to invest time in the verification of collection information.
Adaptive winter survival strategies: defended energy levels in juvenile Atlantic salmon along a latitudinal gradient
Authors: Finstad Anders G. , Berg Ole Kristian , Forseth Torbjørn , Ugedal Ola , Næsje Tor F.
Published: December 2009

Current knowledge suggests that patterns of energy storage and depletion in animals are governed by behavioural trade-offs between risks associated with feeding and future energy demands. However, the length of adverse periods varies over geographical or climatic gradients. To explore the potential for genotypic sources of variation in behavioural trade-offs, we compared the winter energy-depletion patterns among 13 wild populations of juvenile Atlantic salmon (
Salmo salar
L.) along a latitudinal gradient (58–70°N) and performed common-environment experiments of energy-state-dependent feeding. In the wild, winter lipid-depletion rates were lower for northern than for southern populations. The variation in spring lipid levels among the population was lower than autumn variation, with storage lipid levels clustered close to critical limits for survival. In semi-natural stream channels with natural food supply, hatchery-reared fish originating from northern populations showed a positive scaling of feeding activity with decreasing energy levels, whereas southern populations did not. In conclusion, juvenile Atlantic salmon from northern populations defend their energy levels more strongly than fish from southern populations. Adaptive variation in feeding activity appears important for this difference. Thus, the present study shows a link between geographical patterns in storage energy trajectories and adaptive differences in state-dependent feeding motivation.
Atractiellomycetes belonging to the ‘rust’ lineage (Pucciniomycotina) form mycorrhizae with terrestrial and epiphytic neotropical orchids
Authors: Kottke Ingrid , Suárez Juan Pablo , Herrera Paulo , Cruz Dario , Bauer Robert , Haug Ingeborg , Garnica Sigisfredo
Published: December 2009

Distinctive groups of fungi are involved in the diverse mycorrhizal associations of land plants. All previously known mycorrhiza-forming Basidiomycota associated with trees, ericads, liverworts or orchids are hosted in Agaricomycetes, Agaricomycotina. Here we demonstrate for the first time that Atractiellomycetes, members of the ‘rust’ lineage (Pucciniomycotina), are mycobionts of orchids. The mycobionts of 103 terrestrial and epiphytic orchid individuals, sampled in the tropical mountain rainforest of Southern Ecuador, were identified by sequencing the whole ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and part of 28S rDNA. Mycorrhizae of 13 orchid individuals were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Simple septal pores and symplechosomes in the hyphal coils of mycorrhizae from four orchid individuals indicated members of Atractiellomycetes. Molecular phylogeny of sequences from mycobionts of 32 orchid individuals out of 103 samples confirmed Atractiellomycetes and the placement in Pucciniomycotina, previously known to comprise only parasitic and saprophytic fungi. Thus, our finding reveals these fungi, frequently associated to neotropical orchids, as the most basal living basidiomycetes involved in mycorrhizal associations of land plants.
Biomechanics of the unique pterosaur pteroid
Authors: Palmer Colin , Dyke Gareth J.
Published: December 2009

Pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the Mesozoic, had wing membranes that were supported by their arm bones and a super-elongate fourth finger. Associated with the wing, pterosaurs also possessed a unique wrist bone—the pteroid—that functioned to support the forward part of the membrane in front of the leading edge, the propatagium. Pteroid shape varies across pterosaurs and reconstructions of its orientation vary (projecting anteriorly to the wing leading edge or medially, lying alongside it) and imply differences in the way that pterosaurs controlled their wings. Here we show, using biomechanical analysis and considerations of aerodynamic efficiency of a representative ornithocheirid pterosaur, that an anteriorly orientated pteroid is highly unlikely. Unless these pterosaurs only flew steadily and had very low body masses, their pteroids would have been likely to break if orientated anteriorly; the degree of movement required for a forward orientation would have introduced extreme membrane strains and required impractical tensioning in the propatagium membrane. This result can be generalized for other pterodactyloid pterosaurs because the resultant geometry of an anteriorly orientated pteroid would have reduced the aerodynamic performance of all wings and required the same impractical properties in the propatagium membrane. We demonstrate quantitatively that the more traditional reconstruction of a medially orientated pteroid was much more stable both structurally and aerodynamically, reflecting likely life position.
Visual gaze control during peering flight manoeuvres in honeybees
Authors: Boeddeker Norbert , Hemmi Jan M.
Published: December 2009

As animals travel through the environment, powerful reflexes help stabilize their gaze by actively maintaining head and eyes in a level orientation. Gaze stabilization reduces motion blur and prevents image rotations. It also assists in depth perception based on translational optic flow. Here we describe side-to-side flight manoeuvres in honeybees and investigate how the bees’ gaze is stabilized against rotations during these movements. We used high-speed video equipment to record flight paths and head movements in honeybees visiting a feeder. We show that during their approach, bees generate lateral movements with a median amplitude of about 20 mm. These movements occur with a frequency of up to 7 Hz and are generated by periodic roll movements of the thorax with amplitudes of up to ±60°. During such thorax roll oscillations, the head is held close to horizontal, thereby minimizing rotational optic flow. By having bees fly through an oscillating, patterned drum, we show that head stabilization is based mainly on visual motion cues. Bees exposed to a continuously rotating drum, however, hold their head fixed at an oblique angle. This result shows that although gaze stabilization is driven by visual motion cues, it is limited by other mechanisms, such as the dorsal light response or gravity reception.
Sex allocation in yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) depends on nutritional constraints on production of large last eggs
Authors: Saino Nicola , Romano Maria , Caprioli Manuela , Ambrosini Roberto , Rubolini Diego , Fasola Mauro
Published: December 2009

Male and female offspring can differ in their susceptibility to pre-natal (e.g. egg quality) and post-natal (e.g. sib–sib competition) conditions, and parents can therefore increase their individual fitness by adjusting these maternal effects according to offspring sex. In birds, egg mass and laying/hatching order are the main determinants of offspring viability, but these effects can act differently on each sex. In a previous study, relatively large last-laid (c-)eggs of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) were more likely to carry a female embryo. This suggests compensatory allocation of maternal resources to daughters from c-eggs, which suffer reduced viability. In the present study, we supplemented yellow-legged gulls with food during the laying period to experimentally test whether their nutritional conditions were responsible for the observed covariation between c-egg sex and mass. As predicted, food supplementation enhanced female c-eggs' mass more than that of male c-eggs. Thus, this experiment indicates that mothers strategically allocated their resources to c-eggs, possibly in order to compensate for the larger susceptibility of daughters to hatching (and laying) order. The results also suggested that mothers decided on resource allocation depending on the sex of already ovulated c-eggs, rather than ovulating ova of either sex depending on food availability.
Oscillatory Growth in Lily Pollen Tubes Does Not Require Aerobic Energy Metabolism
Authors: Rounds Caleb M. , Hepler Peter K. , Fuller Sasha J. , Winship Lawrence J.
Published: December 2009

Oscillatory tip growth in pollen tubes depends on prodigious amounts of energy. We have tested the hypothesis that oscillations in the electron transport chain lead to growth oscillations in lily (Lilium formosanum). Using three respiratory inhibitors, oligomycin, antimycin A, and cyanide, we find that pollen tube growth is much less sensitive to respiratory inhibition than respiration is. All three block respiration at concentrations severalfold lower than necessary to inhibit growth. Mitochondrial NAD(P)H and potentiometric JC-1 fluorescence, employed as markers for electron transport chain activity, rise rapidly in response to oligomycin, as expected. Pollen tube growth stops for several minutes before resuming. Subsequent growth has a lower mean rate, but continues to oscillate, albeit with a longer period. NAD(P)H fluorescence no longer exhibits coherent oscillations, and mitochondria no longer congregate directly behind the apex: they distribute evenly throughout the cell. Postinhibition growth relies on aerobic fermentation for energy production as revealed by an increase in ethanol in the media. These data suggest that oscillatory growth depends not on a single oscillatory pacemaker but rather is an emergent property arising from a number of stable limit cycles.
DISC1 duplication in two brothers with autism and mild mental retardation
Authors: Crepel A , Breckpot J , Fryns J‐P , De la Marche W , Steyaert J , Devriendt K , Peeters H
Published: December 2009

Crepel A, Breckpot J, Fryns J‐P, De la Marche W, Steyaert J, Devriendt K, Peeters H. DISC1 duplication in two brothers with autism and mild mental retardation.

We describe the identification and delineation of an inherited 2.07 Mb microduplication in 1q42.2 in two brothers with autism and mild mental retardation. Since this duplication was not present in 1577 Belgian persons, we consider this as an extremely rare variant which has the potential to provide further insight into the genetics of autism. The duplication contains seven genes including the DISC1 gene, an interesting candidate gene that has been associated to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and Asperger syndrome. In this report we describe additional analyses undertaken to investigate the causal relationship of the duplication to the autism phenotype. We conclude that the 1q42.2 microduplication probably confers susceptibility to autism in the current family. This study is a typical illustration of the difficult interpretation of causality of a very rare variant in neuropsychiatric disease and the challenge of genetic counselling in a particular family.
Hand‐assisted versus total laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: comparison and technique evolution at a single center in Taiwan
Authors: Lai I‐Rue , Yang Ching‐Yao , Yeh Chi‐Chuan , Tsai Meng‐Kun , Lee Po‐Huang
Published: December 2009

Lai I‐R, Yang C‐Y, Yeh C‐C, Tsai M‐K, Lee P‐H. Hand‐assisted versus total laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: comparison and technique evolution at a single center in Taiwan. Clin Transplant 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2009.01173.x. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Purpose:  To compare the outcome of hand‐assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (HLDN) and total laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (TLDN) in a single center.

Methods:  The demographics, complications, and outcomes were compared between successfully performed 51 HLDN and 42 TLDN.

Results:  The patients’ demographics including body mass index were all similar. Four conversions were excluded for the outcome analysis. The operation time of HLDN group (188 ± 62 min) was shorter, although not significantly, than that of TLDN group’s (207 ± 30 min) (p = 0.065). However, the operation time of the first 24 cases (237 ± 66 min) was significantly longer than that of the later 69 performed (180 ± 35 min). The warm ischemia time was shorter in HLDN (2.5 ± 1.3 min) compared to that of TLDN (4.1 ± 1.7 min) (p < 0.01), but the serum creatinine values (mg/dL) of recipients were equivalent (HLDN/TLDN = 1.18 ± 0.3:1.14 ± 0.3, p = 0.587). There was no difference in the length of hospital stay (6.7 vs. 6.4 d, p = 0.475). There was no graft loss, but one ureter stricture (HLDN group) and one urinary leakage (TLDN group) were recorded.

Conclusions:  Both HLDN and TLDN are effective and safe as reflected in graft functions and limited complications. There was a learning curve in establishing the technique of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
Salt Tolerance is Associated with Differences in Ion Accumulation, Biomass Allocation and Photosynthesis in Cowpea Cultivars
Authors: Praxedes S. C. , De Lacerda C. F. , DaMatta F. M. , Prisco J. T. , Gomes‐Filho E.
Published: December 2009

Cowpea is widely cultivated in arid and semi‐arid regions of the world where salinity is a major environmental stress that limits crop productivity. The effects of moderate salinity on growth and photosynthesis were examined during the vegetative phase of two cowpea cultivars previously classified as salt‐tolerant (Pitiúba) and salt‐sensitive (TVu). Two salt treatments (0 and 75 mm NaCl) were applied to 10‐day‐old plants grown in nutrient solution for 24 days. Salt stress caused decreases (59 % in Pitiúba and 72 % in TVu) in biomass accumulation at the end of the experiment. Photosynthetic rates per unit leaf mass, but not per unit leaf area, were remarkably impaired, particularly in TVu. This response was unlikely to have resulted from stomatal or photochemical constraints. Differences in salt tolerance between cultivars were unrelated to (i) variant patterns of Cl− and K+ tissue concentration, (ii) contrasting leaf water relations, or (iii) changes in relative growth rate and net assimilation rate. The relative advantage of Pitiúba over TVu under salt stress was primarily associated with (i) restricted Na+ accumulation in leaves paralleling an absolute increase in Na+ concentration in roots at early stages of salt treatment and (ii) improved leaf area (resulting from a larger leaf area ratio coupled with a larger leaf mass fraction and larger specific leaf area) and photosynthetic rates per unit leaf mass. Overall, these responses would allow greater whole‐plant carbon gain, thus contributing to a better agronomic performance of salt‐tolerant cowpea cultivars in salinity‐prone regions.
Effect of β‐Carotene Supply During Close‐up Dry Period on the Onset of First Postpartum Luteal Activity in Dairy Cows
Authors: Kawashima C , Nagashima S , Sawada K , Schweigert FJ , Miyamoto A , Kida K
Published: December 2009

Contents

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of β‐carotene supply during the close‐up dry period on the onset of first postpartum luteal activity in dairy cows. Twelve cows were supplied with 2000 mg of β‐carotene (20 g Rovimix®β‐Carotene containing 10%β‐carotene; DSM Nutrition Japan K.K., Tokyo, Japan) by oral administration daily from day 21 before expected calving date to parturition. Fourteen cows (control) did not receive β‐carotene supplementation. Blood samples were obtained on days 21, 14 and 7 before expected calving date and on days 1, 7, 14, 21 postpartum. When the plasma progesterone concentration exceeded 1 ng/ml by day 21 postpartum, luteal activity was assumed to have been initiated. The result showed that serum β‐carotene concentrations in the β‐carotene cows were higher than in the control cows during the experimental period (p < 0.01). The number of cows with the onset of luteal activity by day 21 postpartum was 9/12 in the β‐carotene cows and 4/14 in the control cows (p < 0.05). Retinol, certain metabolic parameters and metabolic hormones concentrations did not differ between β‐carotene and control cows. In addition, serum retinol concentration in β‐carotene cows without luteal activity was lower than in β‐carotene cows with luteal activity (p < 0.05), and serum gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase concentration in β‐carotene cows with luteal activity (p < 0.05) and control cows without luteal activity (p < 0.01) was higher than in control cows with luteal activity. In conclusion, β‐carotene supply during the close‐up dry period may support the onset of luteal activity during early lactation in dairy cows.
Leukotrienes Affect Secretory Function of Ovarian Cells In Vitro*
Authors: Korzekwa AJ , Acosta TJ , Miklewicz M , Okuda K , Lee SH , Skarzynski DJ
Published: December 2009

Contents

The aim of this study was to determine which cells are the source of production and target for leukotriene (LTs) action within the bovine ovary. Luteal (CL, days 14–16 of the oestrous cycle), steroidogenic cells (LSC) and endothelial cells (LEC) of the bovine corpus luteum (CL), and granulosa cells (GC) were isolated enzymatically, cultured in a monolayer and incubated with LTC4, LTB4, Azelastine (an antagonist of LTC4) or Dapsone (an antagonist of LTB4). Then cells were collected for determination of mRNA expression for LT receptors (LTRs) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO) by real time RT‐PCR, and media were collected for determination of prostaglandin (PG)E2, F2α, progesterone (P4; LSC only), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1; LEC only) and 17‐β oestradiol (E2; GC only). The greatest mRNA expression for LTR‐II and 5‐LO were found in LEC, whereas LTR‐I mRNA expression did not differ among cell types. The level of PGE2 increased after LTs treatment in each type of ovarian cell, excluding LTC4 treatment in LEC. The secretion of PGF2α was also increased by LTs, but decreased after LTB4 treatment of LSC. In GC cultures, both LTs stimulated E2 secretion; in LEC cultures, LTB4 stimulated whereas LTC4 inhibited P4 secretion; in LEC cultures, LTC4 stimulated but LTB4 inhibited ET‐1 secretion. The results show that LTs are produced locally and are involved in PGs production/secretion in all examined cells (LSC, LEC and GC) of bovine ovary. Leukotriene treatment modulate secretion of E2, by GC, P4 by LSC and ET‐1 by LEC, which indicates that LTs are involved in regulation of ovarian secretory functions.
Sir William Mackenzie: sympathetic ophthalmia and glaucoma before ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Serpell Geoffrey
Published: December 2009

One of the practitioners of probably the oldest surgical specialty, ophthalmic, was the eminent Scottish ophthalmologist, Sir William Mackenzie. Educated in Edinburgh, he moved to Glasgow, and described and named sympathetic ophthalmia before the time of the ophthalmoscope, well defining his powers of observation and deduction. Founding the Glasgow Eye Infirmary, his ‘Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Eye’ appeared in English in four editions (1850–1884) and in French and German. In this also appears the first full and clear account of glaucoma. Both he and the illustrator of his book, Wharton Jones, moved to Glasgow because of rather indefinite connections with Robert Knox, the anatomist, who was allegedly helped by the bodysnatchers, Burke and Hare. Mackenzie and his book were highly regarded before the revolutionary ophthalmoscope. He was knighted and appointed Surgeon Oculist to the Queen in Scotland.
Plasticity of synaptic inhibition in mouse spinal cord lamina II neurons during early postnatal development and after inactivation of the glycine receptor α3 subunit gene
Authors: Rajalu M. , Müller U. C. , Caley A. , Harvey R. J. , Poisbeau P.
Published: December 2009

Synaptic inhibition mediated by GABAAreceptors and glycine receptors (GlyRs) in the outer laminae of the spinal cord dorsal horn efficiently filters ascending nociceptive messages, controlling pathological pain symptoms. However, although many studies have utilized transgenic models to study spinal nociceptive processing, very little is known about the development of functional inhibitory synapses onto these interneurons in mice. Here we report that most interneurons in lamina II are placed under phasic control by both GABAergic and glycinergic synapses, a number of which exhibit dual GABA/glycine co‐release. A developmental switch is also apparent: a subpopulation of lamina II interneurons controlled exclusively by either GABAergic or glycinergic synapses becomes detectable only after postnatal days 15 and 21, respectively. Using mice older than postnatal day 21, we also characterized the plastic changes in glycinergic transmission resulting from the inactivation of the GlyR α3 subunit gene, a key player in inflammatory pain pathways. This allowed us to demonstrate that synapses containing GlyR α3 contribute in large part to synaptic inhibition in lamina II. InGlra3knockout mice, we found that synaptic currents at the remaining glycinergic synapses, containing GlyR α1, showed faster decay kinetics with unchanged amplitudes but increased frequency. These findings explain the absence of any basal nociceptive hypersensitivity inGlra3knockout mice, as GlyR α1 is still available for mediating synaptic inhibition at lamina II synapses, but cannot be modulated by the prostaglandin–E‐prostanoid type 2 (EP2) receptor–protein kinase A signalling cascade. Our results clearly demonstrate that presynaptic GABA/glycine release properties are influenced by the nature and complexity of postsynaptic inhibitory receptor subtypes.
The glycine transporter GlyT1 controlsN‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid receptor coagonist occupancy in the mouse retina
Authors: Reed Brian T. , Sullivan Steven J. , Tsai Guochuan , Coyle Joseph T. , Esguerra Manuel , Miller Robert F.
Published: December 2009

We examined the role of GlyT1, the high‐affinity glycine transporter, in the mouse retina with an emphasis on the role of glycine as a coagonist of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors. We pursued this objective by studying heterozygote mice deficient in the GlyT1 transporter (GlyT1−/+) and compared those results with wild‐type (WT) littermate controls (GlyT1+/+). Capillary electrophoresis was used to separate and quantitatively measure glycine release from isolated retina preparations; pharmacologically blocking GlyT1 with N‐[3‐([1,1‐biphenyl]‐4‐yloxy)‐3‐(4‐fluorophenyl)propyl]‐N‐methylglycine in the WT retina generated a significantly larger accumulation of glycine into the bathing environment when compared with the GlyT1−/+retinas. The relative occupancy state of the NMDA receptor coagonist sites was tested using whole‐cell recordings from ganglion cells while bath applying D‐serine or D‐serine + NMDA. The interpretation of these studies was simplified by blocking post‐synaptic inhibition with picrotoxinin and strychnine. NMDA receptor coagonist sites were more saturated and less enhanced by D‐serine in the GlyT1−/+mice compared with the WT controls. Immunoblots of NMDA receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) in WT and GlyT1−/+animals showed that the NR1 subunits were identical. These observations are discussed in view of contemporary issues about NMDA receptor coagonist function in the vertebrate retina and the role of glycine vs. D‐serine as the endogenous coagonist.
Genome‐wide gene expression profiling in GluR1 knockout mice: key role of the calcium signaling pathway in glutamatergically mediated hippocampal transmission
Authors: Zhou Rulun , Holmes Andrew , Du Jing , Malkesman Oz , Yuan Peixiong , Wang Yun , Damschroder‐Williams Patricia , Chen Guang , Guitart Xavier , Manji Husseini K.
Published: December 2009

α‐Amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) convey fast synaptic transmission in the CNS and mediate various forms of hippocampal plasticity. Disruption of glutamate receptor type 1 (GluR1), a member of the AMPAR family, causes synaptic alterations and learning/memory deficits in mice. To gain mechanistic insight into the synaptic and behavioral changes associated with GluR1 deletion, hippocampal genome‐wide expression profiling was conducted using groups of GluR1 knockout (KO) mice and their wild‐type littermates. Regulation of 38 genes was found to be altered more than 30% (P < 0.01, n = 8), and seven of these genes were studied with additional quantitative experiments. A large portion of the altered genes encoded molecules involved in calcium signaling, including calcium channel components, calcium‐binding proteins and calcium‐calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II subunits. At the protein level, we further evaluated some genes in the calcium pathway that were altered in GluR1 KO mice. Protein levels of two key molecules in the calcium pathway – GluR, ionotropic, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate‐1 and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II alpha – showed similar changes to those observed in mRNA levels. These findings raise the possibility that calcium signaling and other plasticity molecules may contribute to the hippocampal plasticity and behavioral deficits observed in GluR1 KO mice.
Impact of Sim1 gene dosage on the development of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus
Authors: Duplan Sabine Michaëlle , Boucher Francine , Alexandrov Lubomir , Michaud Jacques L.
Published: December 2009

The bHLH‐PAS transcription SIM1 is required for the development of all neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus. Mice with a loss of Sim1 die within a few days of birth, presumably because of the lack of a PVN and SON. In contrast, mice with a decrease of Sim1 survive, are hyperphagic and become obese. The mechanism by which Sim1 controls food intake remains unclear. Here we show that the development of specific PVN and SON cell types is sensitive to Sim1 gene dosage. Sim1 haploinsufficiency reduces the number of vasopressin (AVP)‐ and oxytocin‐producing cells in the PVN by about 50 and 80%, respectively, but does not affect the development of Crh, Trh and Ss neurons. A decrease of AVP‐producing cells increases the sensitivity of Sim1 heterozygous mice to chronic dehydration. Moreover, retrograde labelling showed a 70% reduction of PVN neurons projecting to the dorsal vagal complex, raising the possibility that a decrease of these axons contributes to the hyperphagia of Sim1+/− mice. Sim1 haploinsufficiency is thus associated with a decrease of several PVN/SON cell types, which has the potential of affecting distinct homeostatic processes.
Dermoscopic features of Bowen’s disease in Asians
Authors: Mun J‐H , Kim S‐H , Jung D‐S , Ko H‐C , Kwon K‐S , Kim M‐B
Published: December 2009

Background  Previously, dermoscopic features of Bowen’s disease (BD) were extensively investigated in two studies, but there were some discrepancies. The dispute necessitated a further study concerning the dermoscopic features of BD.

Objective  To describe the dermoscopic features of BD in Asians and to assess dermoscopy as a post‐treatment monitoring tool of BD.

Materials and methods  Dermoscopic examinations of histopathologically diagnosed 26 BD lesions were performed to evaluate for the presence of various dermoscopic features. In addition, the correlating changes of dermoscopic features and histopathological results before and after treatments were assessed in five patients with BD.

Results  Dermoscopically, 10 lesions were pigmented and 16 lesions were non‐pigmented. The most frequent dermoscopic findings of BD were vascular structures (96%) and a scaly surface (96%). Among vascular structure, glomerular vessels were most frequently observed (77%). The other vascular structures in our study were linear irregular vessels, dotted vessels, polymorphous/atypical vessels and arborizing vessels. Among five patients who had been treated with either photodynamic therapy or 5% imiquimod cream, four patients revealed disappearance of dermoscopic vascular structures, but one patient showed remaining vascular structures after treatment. Skin biopsy from treated lesions disclosed clearance of BD in four patients who had no vascular structures but remaining BD in the patient whose dermoscopic finding displayed no disappearance of vascular structures.

Conclusions  Vascular structures, especially glomerular vessels plus a scaly surface, were common dermoscopic findings of BD in Asians. In addition, existence of dermoscopic vascular structures after treatment appears to be associated with residual disease.
Authors’ willingness for second‐opinion teledermatology in difficult‐to‐manage cases: ‘an online survey’
Authors: Kanthraj GR
Published: December 2009

Background  Expert non‐availability for an instant difficult‐to‐manage case may limit the online discussion group to provide second‐opinion teledermatology for registered dermatologists. Author‐based second‐opinion teledermatology (AST) is proposed and assessment of authors’ response to answer queries and their willingness to participate in teledermatology consultation is analysed.

Materials and methods  Authors of 292 articles from seven non‐open access dermatology and three general medical journals addressing difficult‐to‐manage cases from June 2007 to December 2008 participated in this online dermatology authors’ survey. Authors’ response to reprint requests, answer literature queries and willingness to offer second‐opinion teledermatology were the main outcome measures. Perceived views were also documented.

Results  The scores for reprints requests vs. received were (χ2 = 13.57, n = 292), P = 0.000. The scores for articles read, analysed and literature queries sent vs. authors answered were (χ2 = 11.09, n = 190), P = 0.001. The scores for authors responded to reprints vs. willing to offer second‐opinion teledermatology consultation were (χ2 = 5.65, n = 190), P = 0.017 and authors responded to reprint requests, answered queries and willing to offer second‐opinion (χ2 = 5.65, n = 190), P = 0.017.

Conclusion  A dermatologist obtains literature, answered queries and constructive suggestions with additional informative material and pools second‐opinions from the authors using their e‐mail to deliver quality health care. AST is an alternative to online discussion group for second‐opinion teledermatology practice in difficult‐to‐manage cases. Uniform international laws are to be framed to facilitate telemedicine care for a difficult‐to‐manage case.
Psoriasis is independently associated with psychiatric morbidity and adverse cardiovascular risk factors, but not with cardiovascular events in a population‐based sample
Authors: Schmitt J , Ford DE
Published: December 2009

Background  Psoriasis may significantly reduce quality of life. Previous studies reported an association of psoriasis and cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular events. The extent to which psoriasis is associated with psychiatric morbidity and the role of psychiatric comorbidity as a potential confounder of the association between psoriasis and cardiovascular morbidity require further investigation.

Objectives  To study the association between psoriasis, psychiatric morbidity and cardiovascular morbidity.

Methods  Case–control study utilizing an interdisciplinary administrative outpatient database from Germany. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of prevalent psoriasis within the study period (2003–2004) (n = 3147, mean age 57 years) were individually matched for age and gender with 3147 controls without psoriasis. The relationship of psoriasis with psychiatric morbidities (depression, stress‐related disorders, behaviour disorders and schizophrenic disorders), cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidaemia) and cardiovascular events [myocardial infarction (MI), stroke] was investigated using logistic and linear regression models.

Results  Crude analyses suggested an association of psoriasis with depression, stress‐related disorders, behaviour disorders and cardiovascular risk factors, but not with MI [odds ratio (OR) 1.14; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81–1.62] or stroke (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.61–1.54). Multivariate models controlling for age, gender and consulting behaviour indicated that psoriasis is independently associated with depression (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.20–1.86), stress‐related disorders (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.22–1.62), behaviour disorders (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.05–2.39), diabetes (OR 1.21 95% CI 1.04–1.40), hypertension (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.18–1.51), dyslipidaemia (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.07–1.55), and obesity (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.39–1.90). For each psychiatric condition, the likelihood of being affected significantly increased with each physician visit due to psoriasis, suggesting that the risk of psychiatric comorbidity increases with the severity of psoriasis.

Conclusion  Psoriasis appears to be independently associated with major psychiatric disorders and with cardiovascular risk factors, but not with cardiovascular events.
To speciate, or not to speciate? Resource heterogeneity, the subjectivity of similarity, and the macroevolutionary consequences of niche‐width shifts in plant‐feeding insects
Authors: Nyman Tommi
Published: December 2009

Coevolutionary studies on plants and plant‐feeding insects have significantly improved our understanding of the role of niche shifts in the generation of new species. Evolving plant lineages essentially constitute moving islands and archipelagoes in resource space, and host shifts by insects are usually preceded by colonizations of novel resources. Critical to hypotheses concerning ecological speciation is what happens immediately before and after colonization attempts: if an available plant is too similar to the current host(s), it simply will be incorporated into the existing diet, but if it is too different, it will not be colonized in the first place. It thus seems that the probability of speciation is maximized when alternative hosts are at an ‘intermediate’ distance in resource space. In this review, I wish to highlight the possibility that resource similarity and, thus, the definition of ‘intermediate’, are subjective concepts that depend on the herbivore lineage's tolerance to dietary variation. This subjectivity of similarity means that changes in tolerance can either decrease or increase speciation probabilities depending on the distribution of plants in resource space: insect lineages with narrow tolerances are likely to speciate by ‘island‐hopping’ on young, species‐rich plant groups, whereas more generalized lineages could speciate by shifting among resource archipelagoes formed by higher plant taxa. Repeated and convergent origins of traits known to broaden or to restrict host‐plant use in multiple different insect groups provide opportunities for studying how tolerance and resource heterogeneity may interact to determine speciation rates.