bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contourite origin for shelf and upper slope sand sheet, offshore Antarctica
Authors: Rodriguez Antonio B. , Anderson John B.
Published: July 2004

A widespread (3200 km2), thick (10 cm to > 100 cm) sand deposit exists on the continental shelf and upper slope offshore of the Pennell Coast, Antarctica. The sand body occurs at water depths between 200 and 1200 m. The mean grain size of the sand varies from 3·3 phi to 1·2 phi, and the composition is dominantly volcanic. The only source for this volcanic material is Cape Adare, a volcanic headland. Sands are transported up to 70 km from Cape Adare by a westward‐flowing circumpolar boundary current that impinges on the upper slope and shelf. Radiocarbon dates from the sand and from the glacial unit beneath it indicate that the deposit formed within the past 9000 years. The occurrence of this sand sheet demonstrates the ability of contour currents to assemble extensive sand bodies on the shelf and upper slope and the relatively rapid rate at which these deposits may form.
Morphology and distribution of fossil soils in the Permo‐Pennsylvanian Wichita and Bowie Groups, north‐central Texas, USA: implications for western equatorial Pangean palaeoclimate during icehouse–greenhouse transition
Authors: Tabor Neil John , Montañez Isabel P.
Published: July 2004

Analysis of stacked Permo‐Pennsylvanian palaeosols from north‐central Texas documents the influence of palaeolandscape position on pedogenesis in aggradational depositional settings. Palaeosols of the Eastern shelf of the Midland basin exhibit stratigraphic trends in the distribution of soil horizons, structure, rooting density, clay mineralogy and colour that record long‐term changes in soil‐forming conditions driven by both local processes and regional climate. Palaeosols similar to modern histosols, ultisols, vertisols, inceptisols and entisols, all bearing morphological, mineralogical and chemical characteristics consistent with a tropical, humid climate, represent the Late Pennsylvanian suite of palaeosol orders. Palaeosols similar to modern alfisols, vertisols, inceptisols, aridisols and entisols preserve characteristics indicative of a drier and seasonal tropical climate throughout the Lower Permian strata. The changes in palaeosol morphology are interpreted as being a result of an overall climatic trend from relatively humid and tropical, moist conditions characterized by high rainfall in the Late Pennsylvanian to progressively drier, semi‐arid to arid tropical climate characterized by seasonal rainfall in Early Permian time. Based on known Late Palaeozoic palaeogeography and current hypotheses for atmospheric circulation over western equatorial Pangea, the Pennsylvanian palaeosols in this study may be recording a climate that is the result of an orographic control over regional‐scale atmospheric circulation. The trend towards a drier climate interpreted from the Permian palaeosols may be recording the breakdown of this pre‐existing orographic effect and the onset of a monsoonal atmospheric circulation system over this region.
Scale and timing of Rare Earth Element redistribution in the Taconian foreland of New England
Authors: Bock Barbara , Hurowitz J. A. , Mclennan S. M. , Hanson G. N.
Published: July 2004

Clastic sedimentary rocks, deposited on eastern North America in response to the Taconian Orogeny, commonly have Sm/Nd isotope relationships indicating substantial isotope disturbance near or subsequent to the time of sedimentation that may be associated with severe depletion in light rare earth elements (LREE). Affected units [Normanskill Formation (Austin Glen and Pawlet Members), Frankfort Formation and Perry Mountain Formation] are widely separated both geographically (western New York to western Maine) and stratigraphically (Middle Ordovician to Silurian). A model is proposed for the most likely explanation of the observed REE and Sm/Nd isotope relationships involving a two‐stage process. In the first stage, REE are redistributed on a mineralogical scale (dissolution/precipitation on a sample scale) often with the involvement of REE‐enriched trace phases such as apatite and monazite. This stage typically takes place during diagenesis but may also take place later during metamorphism and/or recent weathering, and results in isotope re‐equilibration on a sample scale. The second stage occurs when one or more of these phases is redissolved and REE are transported on large advective scales. Where LREE‐enriched phases are involved, this gives rise to LREE depletion in whole rocks. The timing of this second stage cannot be constrained from Sm/Nd isotope data and may take place at any time subsequent to the isotope re‐equilibration. Such complex histories of REE redistribution may result in serious errors in estimating Nd model ages but not in estimating the Nd isotope composition at the age of sedimentation. Thus, Sm/Nd ratios even of unmetamorphosed sedimentary rocks have to be carefully evaluated before the calculation of depleted mantle model ages for the provenance.
Time course of coagulation parameters, cytokines and adhesion molecules in Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Authors: Vogetseder Alexander , Ospelt Caroline , Reindl Markus , Schober Maria , Schmutzhard Erich
Published: July 2004

We studied 38 patients with malaria tropica over a period of 5 days during antiparasitic therapy. Serum or plasma levels of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), the soluble vascular adhesion molecule (sVCAM) and the soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sICAM) were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Protein C and antithrombin III activity were analysed by chromogenic tests and protein S activity by a clotting test. Antithrombin III, protein C and protein S activity was significantly lower in patients with severe malaria and displayed a highly significant increase in activity over the time of evaluation. Levels of sVCAM and sICAM were increased for the whole study period, but no significant differences were found between severe and mild malaria cases. Serum IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐10 levels were significantly higher in patients with severe malaria, whereas no significant differences were found for TNF‐α. IL‐6 and IL‐10 decreased significantly over 5 days during schizontocidal therapy. Our data show an impairment of the coagulation system which correlates with pro‐inflammatory cytokines and therefore with the severity of the disease.
Determinants of health‐seeking behaviour for schistosomiasis‐related symptoms in the context of integrating schistosomiasis control within the regular health services in Ghana
Authors: Danso‐Appiah A. , De Vlas S. J. , Bosompem K. M. , Habbema J. D. F.
Published: July 2004

Morbidity control of schistosomiasis through integration within existing health care delivery systems is considered a potentially sustainable and cost‐effective approach. We conducted a questionnaire‐based field study in a Ghanaian village endemic for both urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis to determine whether infected individuals self‐reported to health centres or clinics and to identify factors that influenced their decision to seek health care. A total of 317 subjects were interviewed about having signs and symptoms suggestive of schistosomiasis: blood in urine, painful urination, blood in stool/bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, swollen abdomen and fatigue within 1 month of the day of the interview. Fever (for malaria) was included as a disease of high debility for comparison. Around 70% with blood in urine or painful urination did not seek health care, whilst diarrhoea, blood in stool, abdominal pain and fever usually led to action (mainly self‐medication, with allopathic drugs being used four to five times more often than herbal treatment). On average 20% of schistosomiasis‐related signs and symptoms were reported to health facilities either as the first option or second and third alternative by some of those that self‐medicated. A few of those who visited a clinic or health centre as first option still self‐medicated afterwards. Children under 10 years and adults were more likely to seek health care than teenagers. Also, females were more likely to visit a health facility than males of the same age groups. Socio‐economic status and duration of symptoms did not appear to affect health‐seeking behaviour. ‘Do not have the money’ (43%) and ‘Not serious enough’ (41%) were the commonest reasons for not visiting a clinic, reported more frequently by lower and higher socio‐economic classes, respectively, for both urinary or intestinal schistosomiasis. The regular health service shows some potential in passive control of schistosomiasis as some, but far too few, people visit a health facility as first or second option.
The recent emergence of Leishmania tropica in Jericho (A'riha) and its environs, a classical focus of L. major
Authors: Al‐Jawabreh A. , Schnur L. F. , Nasereddin A. , Schwenkenbecher J. M. , Abdeen Z. , Barghuthy F. , Khanfar H. , Presber W. , Schönian G.
Published: July 2004

Between 1997 and 2002, 49 strains of Leishmania were isolated from the cutaneous lesions of Palestinians living in and around Jericho. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1‐PCR) was applied to their cultured promastigotes and to 207 individuals’ skin scrapings spotted on filter‐papers, 107 of which proved positive for leishmanial DNA. Species identification was performed by restricting the ITS1‐PCR amplification products from the cultured promastigotes and the amastigotes in the scrapings with the endonuclease HaeIII. Of the 49 cultures, 28 (57%) were L. major and 21 (43%) were L. tropica. Of the 107 dermal samples tested directly, 53 (49.5%) were infected with L. major, 52 (48.5%) with L. tropica and two remained unidentified. This is the first time L. tropica has been exposed in the population of the Jericho area and on such a large scale. The itinerant behaviour of some of this population precludes categorically declaring that L. tropica has recently become established in this classical focus of L. major. For this and although 88.2% of the cases of L. tropica claimed not to have travelled out of the vicinity of Jericho, local infected sand fly vectors of L. tropica must be caught, identified and, if possible, shown to harbour infections, and, if one exists, an animal reservoir host should also be exposed to endorse whether the cases caused by L. tropica were imported or autochthonous.
Two new cytoforms of the Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Malawi and Tanzania and potential onchocerciasis vectors
Authors: Krüger A. , Kalinga A. K. , Post R. J. , Maegga B. T. A.
Published: July 2004

During a distribution survey of Simulium damnosum s.l. around the Tukuyu onchocerciasis focus at the northern tip of Lake Malawi/Nyasa (Tanzania), we discovered two new cytoforms of the S. damnosum complex in onchocerciasis‐free areas. The Nyika form is related to Simulium thyolense, a vector of onchocerciasis, and can be identified by the new inversion 3L‐L on the long arm of chromosome 3. It was found breeding in five rivers in northern Malawi and neighbouring Tanzania and is assumed to be zoophilic. The Njombe form represents a member of the Sanje group of the complex and is characterized by the new diagnostic inversion 2L‐35 on chromosome 2. So far, it is only known from around Njombe town in southern Tanzania, where it breeds at remarkably high altitudes. Anthropophily for the Njombe form is well known. The medical importance and systematic position of the new forms within the S. damnosum complex are discussed.
Prospects for new tuberculosis treatment in Africa
Authors: Mwinga A. , Bernard Fourie P.
Published: July 2004

Health services in Africa are being overburdened by a continuous increase of cases of tuberculosis (TB), largely resulting from the large pool of infected individuals becoming co‐infected with HIV. To help deal with the situation, TB treatment schedules need to be shorter and simpler, with minimal contact between the patient and the service provider required, if the problems of non‐compliance and of ineffective service provision are to be overcome. Various drugs not marketed for use in the treatment of TB are currently under investigation for their potential roles in the simplification or shortening of treatment schedules. These mainly include the long‐acting rifamycins and the fluoroquinolones. Furthermore, new drug development is focused on an understanding of the host–pathogen interaction leading to infection, latency and disease. Of these, latency is least understood. The use of molecular diversity and combinatorial chemistry, proteomics, and the use of the whole genome to discover drug targets are expected to produce new lead compounds for turning into drugs to treat active, latent and multi‐drug‐resistant TB more effectively in the foreseeable future.
New vaccines against tuberculosis
Authors: Mark Doherty T.
Published: July 2004

In September 2000, recognizing the effect of communicable diseases as obstacles to development in poorer countries, the European Commission assembled a special round table on ‘accelerated action targeted at major communicable diseases within the context of poverty reduction’. The three major communicable diseases discussed were tuberculosis (TB), malaria and HIV. One outcome of this discussion was a workshop examining issues related to the fight against TB in Africa, which took place in Gorée, Sénégal, in May 2001. The timing was propitious, as new vaccines for TB (recombinant MVA and BCG, and adjuvanated recombinant fusion proteins or peptide constructs), are just beginning to enter human clinical trials. All but the last of these have shown promise in animal models, up to and including non‐human primates, and all are strongly immunogenic and apparently safe. Humans trials for safety and efficacy are thus the logical next step. This review summarizes recent advances in tuberculosis vaccine development, with a special emphasis on issues raised at the Gorée meeting about testing and deploying new generation vaccines in TB‐endemic areas such as Africa.
Giant porokeratosis
Authors: Bozdağ Kübra Eren , Bıçakçı Hülya , Ermete Murat
Published: July 2004

Porokeratosis is a disorder of keratinization characterized by annular plaques with an atrophic center surrounded by a raised, keratotic wall. It has several clinical forms including a porokeratosis of Mibelli, giant porokeratosis, linear porokeratosis, disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, palmoplantar porokeratosis and punctate porokeratosis. We report a patient with the rare condition of giant porokeratosis. Several variants of porokeratosis coexist in our patient.
How unemployment duration affects social assistance receipt: evidence from Finland
Authors: Saarela Jan
Published: July 2004

This article reports on a study of the impact of unemployment duration on the probability of becoming a social assistance recipient and on the time spent on social assistance. The data are taken from a local Finnish labour market consisting of the cohort of unemployed people at a given date (n = 2,274). The data are linked to information about the number of months recipients received social assistance during the subsequent year. Count data regression models of the hurdle type are estimated. The results of the analysis suggest that the impact of unemployment duration on the probability of becoming a social assistance recipient is explained to a large extent by changes in the distribution of types of unemployment benefits between people with different lengths of time spent in unemployment. Unemployment assistance recipients are more likely to become social assistance recipients and to spend longer periods on social assistance than are recipients of unemployment insurance because the unemployment benefits for the latter are higher. Among social assistance recipients, time spent on the transfer increases with unemployment duration only for those who are in frequent need of assistance.
Does gender ideology explain differences between countries regarding the involvement of women and of men in paid and unpaid work?
Authors: Nordenmark Mikael
Published: July 2004

Women spend more time doing household work than men, and men spend more time working at paying jobs outside the home than women. But studies also show that there are major differences between countries regarding the degree to which women and men involve themselves in different kinds of labour activity. The main aim of the article is to analyse the significance of gender ideology when studying differences between countries regarding the involvement of women and men in paid and unpaid work. The analysis is based on national random samples from ten OECD countries that were collected within the framework of ISSP 1994. The conclusions are: (a) gender ideology has an impact in all the studied countries on the degree to which women and men involve and engage themselves in labour and (b) gender ideology partially explains the differences between countries regarding women's and men's involvement in paid and unpaid work.
The socio‐cultural context of child marriage in a Bangladeshi village
Authors: Chowdhury Farah Deeba
Published: July 2004

This article focuses on the reasons for child marriage in a Bangladeshi village. Although the mean age of marriage for women in Bangladesh is currently 20.2, nearly half of all girls are married before the age of 18. In Bangladesh, female sexuality is controlled through early marriage and the custom of purdah, which limits the social interactions between men and women. The methodology of this research was participant observation, supplemented by questionnaires, discussions, interviews and the construction of case studies. The study was conducted in a village in Bangladesh, and looked at why the rural people of Bangladesh marry off their daughters at an early age, whether they think that they will profit from it, and how. Cost‐benefit analysis in exchange theory provides the theoretical framework. This study finds that child marriage occurs as a result of the profit‐making motive of the people of Bangladesh, despite the huge costs to the individuals involved, the local community and society as a whole.
Unemployment compensation and the use of social assistance among second‐generation immigrants in Sweden
Authors: Hammarstedt Mats , Ekberg Jan
Published: July 2004

Previous studies have shown that the participation of first‐generation immigrants in the Swedish income security system deviates from that of the native population. However, so far there has been no research that has focused on this issue where second‐generation immigrants are concerned. This study shows that the rates of participation in different parts of the income security system vary considerably between different groups of second‐generation immigrants. Second‐generation immigrants whose parents come from Western Europe have low participa‐tion rates in all the studied parts of the income security system. Their participation rates are even lower than for natives with both parents born in Sweden. Second‐generation immigrants with parents from southern Europe and from outside Europe, on the other hand, have very high participation rates in especi‐ally social assistance. The differences between the groups are of course to a great extent explained by differences in their labour market situation. According to the findings of the study, there are reasons to be concerned about the future labour market integration of second‐generation immigrants with parents of non‐European origin.
Atopy patch test with house dust mite allergen – an IgE‐mediated reaction?
Authors: Holm L. , Matuseviciene G. , Scheynius A. , Tengvall Linder M.
Published: July 2004

Background:  The eczema reaction in the atopy patch test (APT) is proposed to be immunoglobulin (Ig)E mediated, but can take place also in individuals lacking allergen‐specific IgE in serum. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of allergen‐specific serum IgE for the APT reaction.

Methods:  Ten patients with reproducible positive APT to extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, five patients with (group A) and five patients without (group B) detectable serum‐IgE to D. pteronyssinus, were tested with extract of D. pteronyssinus on normal skin for 6, 24, 48 and 72 h. Skin biopsies were taken and analysed for cell infiltrates, eosinophils (EG2), IgE, FcɛRI, CD1a, CD4, CD8 and metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9).

Results:  The number of IgE+, CD4+, EG2+ and MMP9+ cells increased with time in group A. FcɛRI+ cells and CD8+ cells increased with time in both groups. A correlation was found between the levels of D. pteronyssinus‐specific serum‐IgE and the score of dermal cell infiltrates at 72 h. The three patients with the highest values of allergen‐specific IgE also had the highest expression of EG2+ cells and the highest APT scores.

Conclusions:  Our study strengthens the hypothesis that the IgE molecule has a key role, at least as an amplifier, in the APT reaction.
Elevated interleukin‐18 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: Katoh S. , Matsumoto N. , Matsumoto K. , Fukushima K. , Matsukura S.
Published: July 2004

Background:  Interleukin (IL)‐18 can induce Th2 cytokine production particularly in collaboration with IL‐2. Accumulation of Th2 cells and increased levels of Th2 cytokines are found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia (EP). To evaluate the role of IL‐18 in the pathogenesis of EP, we measured the concentration of IL‐2, IL‐12, IL‐18, and Th2 cytokines in BALF from patients with EP.

Methods:  The concentrations of interferon (IFN)‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐13, and IL‐18 in BALF were measured in patients with idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), with idiopathic chronic eosinophilicpneumonia (CEP), with sarcoidosis and healthy volunteers (HV).

Results:  The BALF concentrations of Th2 cytokines, IL‐5, IL‐10, and IL‐13, were higher in patients with EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL‐2 level in BALF was higher in EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL‐18 and IL‐12 (p40 + p70) levels were higher in patients with EP than sarcoidosis, while the level of IL‐12 (p70) was below the detection limit in patients with EP. There was a significant correlation between IL‐2 level and both IL‐5 and IL‐13 in BALF of patients with EP.

Conclusions:  Our findings suggest that IL‐18 may contribute to Th2 cytokine‐dominant responses in patients with EP in collaboration with IL‐2.
Sinus CT scans and mediator release in nasal secretions after nasal challenge with cypress pollens
Authors: Piette V. , Bousquet C. , Kvedariene V. , Dhivert‐Donnadieu H. , Crampette L. , Senac J.‐P. , Bousquet J. , Demoly P.
Published: July 2004

Background:  Involvement of paranasal sinuses has been suggested in allergic rhinitis but not clearly demonstrated.

Aims:  To investigate the relationship between intermittent allergic rhinitis and computerized tomography (CT).

Methods:  Twenty patients with intermittent rhinitis and sensitized to cypress pollens underwent unilateral nasal provocation tests (NPTs) using increasing concentrations of cypress pollens out of the pollen season. Sinus CT‐scans were carried out just before a NPT and 24 h later. Nasal lavage was carried out just before a NPT, 30 min after a positive challenge and again 24 h later. Leucotriene C4/D4, intracellular adhesion molecule‐1 and eosinophil cationic protein were measured in nasal secretions.

Results:  Thirteen patients (65%) showed an alteration in their CT‐scans after allergen challenge. Ten of them showed sinus changes controlateral to their allergenic provocation. Radiological changes mainly affected the osteomeatal complex and the ethmoid sinuses. Pre‐existing abnormalities (13 of 20 cases) mainly concerned the maxillary sinuses. There was no correlation between CT‐scan abnormalities and levels of mediators released in nasal secretions.

Conclusions:  We have shown that nasal allergen challenge can produce radiological changes in the paranasal sinuses. This mainly concerned the ethmoid sinuses.
The lymphocyte transformation test in the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity
Authors: Pichler W. J. , Tilch J.
Published: July 2004

Diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity is difficult, as an enormous amount of different drugs can elicit various immune‐mediated diseases with distinct pathomechanism. The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) measures the proliferation of T cells to a drug in vitro– from which one concludes to a previous in vivo reaction due to a sensitization. This concept of the LTT has been confirmed by the generation of drug‐specific T‐cell clones and the finding that drugs can directly interact with the T‐cell receptor, without previous metabolism or need to bind to proteins.

In this review, technical aspects and usefulness of this test for the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity are discussed. The main advantage of this test is its applicability with many different drugs in different immune reactions, as drug‐specific T cell are almost always involved in drug hypersensitivity reactions. Its main disadvantages are that an in vitro proliferation of T cells to a drug is difficult to transfer to the clinical situation and that the test per se is rather cumbersome and technically demanding. In addition, its sensitivity is limited (for β‐lactam allergy it is in the range of 60–70%), – although at least in our hands – it is higher than of other tests for drug hypersensitivity diagnosis. Consequently, drug hypersensitivity diagnosis needs to rely on a combination of history and different tests, as none of the single tests available has per se a sufficiently good sensitivity. Within this setting, the LTT has proven to be a useful test for the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions and helped to better understand these reactions. Further work on the simplification of this test and systematic evaluation of its sensitivity and specificity in some main groups of drugs are necessary to make this test more widely available.
Treatment emergent affective switch: a controlled study
Authors: Tamada RS , Issler CK , Amaral JA , Sachs GS , Lafer B
Published: July 2004

Objective:  To study the clinical features of treatment emergent affective switch (TEAS) in comparison with spontaneous mania.

Methods:  Twelve patients with TEAS within a 12‐week period (average) of starting standard antidepressant medication were compared with 12 patients with spontaneous mania.

Results:  Patients with TEAS were older, had longer duration of illness, more previous episodes, higher prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism, and reported more previous episodes of mania associated with antidepressant use. TEAS was less severe, with a lower incidence of psychotic symptoms, lower Young Mania Rating Scale index score and rarely required hospitalization. The interval from intervention to response and remission was similar in both groups.

Conclusion:  TEAS was less severe, but had similar duration when compared with spontaneous mania. These results cannot directly answer the question of whether there is a causal relationship between antidepressant use and TEAS. While it is also possible that patients with longer duration of illness and higher cycle frequencies are more likely to experience episodes, it is difficult to attribute lesser severity of TEAS episodes to these clinical factors. Our observations are consistent with the suggestion that patients with longer duration of illness and previous history of TEAS may be at a greater risk of switching to mania during the use of antidepressants.
Psychoeducation in bipolar patients with comorbid personality disorders
Authors: Colom Francesc , Vieta Eduard , Sánchez‐Moreno José , Martínez‐Arán Anabel , Torrent Carla , Reinares María , Goikolea José Manuel , Benabarre Antonio , Comes Mercè
Published: July 2004

Background:  The co‐occurrence of personality and bipolar disorders is quite common. Bipolar patients with personality disorders have been described as having poorer outcome than ‘pure’ bipolar patients. However, from a combined‐approach point of view, a little has been done to improve the course of these patients. Psychoeducation has shown its efficacy in the prevention of relapses in the bipolar population but, to date, no data is available on its efficacy in the management of bipolar patients with personality disorders.

Method:  The present study shows a subanalysis from a single‐blind randomized prospective clinical trial on the efficacy of group psychoeducation in bipolar I patients. Bipolar patients fulfilling DSM‐IV criteria for any personality disorder were randomized to either psychoeducational treatment or a non‐structured intervention. There were 22 patients in the control group and 15 in the psychoeducation group. All patients received naturalistic pharmacological treatment as well. The follow‐up phase comprised 2 years where all patients continued receiving naturalistic treatment without psychological intervention and were assessed monthly for several outcome measures.

Results:  At the end of the follow‐up phase (2 years), a 100% of control group patients fulfilled criteria for recurrence versus a 67% in the psychoeducation group (p < 0.005). Patients included in the psychoeducation group had a higher time‐to‐relapse and a significantly lower mean number of total, manic and depressive relapses. No significant differences regarding the number of patients who required hospitalization were found but the mean duration of days spent in the hospitalization room was significantly higher for the patients included in the control group.

Conclusion:  Psychoeducation may be a useful intervention for bipolar patients with comorbid personality disorders. Further studies should address the efficacy of specifically tailored interventions for this common type of patients.
MMPI as a measure of subthreshold and residual psychopathology among the offspring of lithium responsive and non‐responsive bipolar parents
Authors: Demidenko Natasha , Grof Paul , Alda Martin , Deshauer Dorian , Duffy Anne
Published: July 2004

Objectives:  In bipolar adults, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) can detect residual symptoms and confirm completeness of remission, thus helping to predict response to lithium prophylaxis. In the high‐risk and early onset bipolar populations, the association of the MMPI with clinical course and treatment response has not yet been studied. The present study compares MMPI profiles completed by the well or remitted offspring of two groups of bipolar parents divided on the basis of parental response to long‐term lithium.

Methods:  As part of an ongoing prospective longitudinal high‐risk study, offspring of bipolar parents determined to either respond or not respond to long‐term lithium monotherapy completed the MMPI. At the time of MMPI completion, offspring were determined to be either well (unaffected) or clinically remitted (affected but euthymic) based on repeated prospective KSADS‐PL format interviews conducted by a research psychiatrist and reviewed on a blind consensus basis.

Results:  While there was no difference in the MMPI scores between subgroups of unaffected offspring, there was a significant difference in profiles between remitted offspring. Specifically, affected offspring of lithium non‐responders showed significantly higher average scores on scales 6, 8 and 0 compared with affected offspring of lithium responders. These findings are consistent with the differences in MMPI profiles taken at optimum between the respective parent subgroups.

Conclusions:  The findings confirm the clinical observation that the affected offspring of lithium responders suffer from episodic fully remitting mood disorders, while the affected offspring of lithium non‐responders suffer from mood disorders with incomplete remission. Further, the nature of the residual symptoms as indicated by the abnormal MMPIs support the view of heterogeneity of the bipolar diagnosis. The relevance to treatment response is discussed.
Detailed structure of lipid A isolated from lipopolysaccharide from the marine proteobacterium Marinomonas vaga ATCC 27119T
Authors: Krasikova Inna N. , Kapustina Natalie V. , Isakov Vladimir V. , Dmitrenok Andrey S. , Dmitrenok Pavel S. , Gorshkova Natalie M. , Solov'eva Tamara F.
Published: July 2004

The chemical structure of a novel lipid A, the major component of the lipopolysaccharide from the marine gamma‐proteobacterium Marinomonas vaga ATCC 27119T, was determined by compositional analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and MS. It was found to be β‐1,6‐glucosaminobiose 1‐phosphate acylated with (R)‐3‐[dodecanoyl(dodecenoyl)oxy]decanoic acid {C10 : 0 (3O‐C12 : 0 [3O‐C12 : 1])} or (R)‐3‐(decanoyloxy)decanoic acid [C10 : 0 (3O‐C10 : 0)], (R)‐3‐hydroxydecanoic acid [C10 : 0 (3OH)], and (R)‐3‐[(R)‐3‐hydroxydecanoyloxy]decanoic acid (C10 : 0 {3O‐[C10 : 0 (3OH)]}) at the 2, 3, and 2′ positions, respectively. It showed low lethal toxicity, which is probably related to specific structural attributes. The absence of a fatty acid at the 3′ position and a phosphoryl group at the 4′ position and also the presence of an amide‐linked (R)‐3‐hydroxyalkanoic acid that is further O‐acylated with another (R)‐3‐hydroxyalkanoic acid, distinguish M. vaga lipid A from other such molecules.
The optimization of protein secondary structure determination with infrared and circular dichroism spectra
Authors: Oberg Keith A. , Ruysschaert Jean‐Marie , Goormaghtigh Erik
Published: July 2004

We have used the circular dichroism and infrared spectra of a specially designed 50 protein database [Oberg, K.A., Ruysschaert, J.M. & Goormaghtigh, E. (2003) Protein Sci. 12, 2015–2031] in order to optimize the accuracy of spectroscopic protein secondary structure determination using multivariate statistical analysis methods. The results demonstrate that when the proteins are carefully selected for the diversity in their structure, no smaller subset of the database contains the necessary information to describe the entire set. One conclusion of the paper is therefore that large protein databases, observing stringent selection criteria, are necessary for the prediction of unknown proteins. A second important conclusion is that only the comparison of analyses run on circular dichroism and infrared spectra independently is able to identify failed solutions in the absence of known structure. Interestingly, it was also found in the course of this study that the amide II band has high information content and could be used alone for secondary structure prediction in place of amide I.
Biosynthesis of isoprenoids
Authors: Gabrielsen Mads , Rohdich Felix , Eisenreich Wolfgang , Gräwert Tobias , Hecht Stefan , Bacher Adelbert , Hunter William N.
Published: July 2004

In the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, the conversion of 2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol 4‐phosphate into its cyclic diphosphate proceeds via nucleotidyl intermediates and is catalyzed by the products of the ispD, ispE and ispF genes. An open reading frame of Campylobacter jejuni with similarity to the ispD and ispF genes of Escherichia coli was cloned into an expression vector directing the formation of a 42 kDa protein in a recombinant E. coli strain. The purified protein was shown to catalyze the transformation of 2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol 4‐phosphate into 4‐diphosphocytidyl‐2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol and the conversion of 4‐diphosphocytidyl‐2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol 2‐phosphate into 2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol 2,4‐cyclodiphosphate at catalytic rates of 19 µmol·mg−1·min−1 and 7 µmol·mg−1·min−1, respectively. Both enzyme‐catalyzed reactions require divalent metal ions. The C. jejuni enzyme does not catalyze the formation of 2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol 3,4‐cyclophosphate from 4‐diphosphocytidyl‐2C‐methyl‐d‐erythritol, a side reaction catalyzed in vitro by the IspF proteins of E. coli and Plasmodium falciparum. Comparative genomic analysis show that all sequenced α‐ and ε‐proteobacteria have fused ispDF genes. These bifunctional proteins are potential drug targets in several human pathogens (e.g. Helicobacter pylori, C. jejuni and Treponema pallidum).
The transmembrane domain of subunit b of the Escherichia coli F1FO ATP synthase is sufficient for H+‐translocating activity together with subunits a and c
Authors: Greie Jörg‐Christian , Heitkamp Thomas , Altendorf Karlheinz
Published: July 2004

Subunit b is indispensable for the formation of a functional H+‐translocating FO complex both in vivo and in vitro. Whereas the very C‐terminus of subunit b interacts with F1 and plays a crucial role in enzyme assembly, the C‐terminal region is also considered to be necessary for proper reconstitution of FO into liposomes. Here, we show that a synthetic peptide, residues 1–34 of subunit b (b1−34) [Dmitriev, O., Jones, P.C., Jiang, W. & Fillingame, R.H. (1999) J. Biol. Chem.274, 15598–15604], corresponding to the membrane domain of subunit b was sufficient in forming an active FO complex when coreconstituted with purified ac subcomplex. H+ translocation was shown to be sensitive to the specific inhibitor N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and the resulting FO complexes were deficient in binding of isolated F1. This demonstrates that only the membrane part of subunit b is sufficient, as well as necessary, for H+ translocation across the membrane, whereas the binding of F1 to FO is mainly triggered by C‐terminal residues beyond Glu34 in subunit b. Comparison of the data with former reconstitution experiments additionally indicated that parts of the hydrophilic portion of the subunit b dimer are not involved in the process of ion translocation itself, but might organize subunits a and c in FO assembly. Furthermore, the data obtained functionally support the monomeric NMR structure of the synthetic b1−34.
Identification of three proteins that associate in vitro with the Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis G‐rich telomeric strand
Authors: Fernández Maribel F. , Castellari Rafael R. , Conte Fábio F. , Gozzo Fábio C. , Sabino Adão A. , Pinheiro Hildete , Novello José C. , Eberlin Marcos N. , Cano Maria I. N.
Published: July 2004

The chromosomal ends of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis contain conserved 5′‐TTAGGG‐3′ telomeric repeats. Protein complexes that associate in vitro with these DNA sequences, Leishmania amazonensis G‐strand telomeric protein (LaGT1‐3), were identified and characterized by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and UV cross‐linking using protein fractions purified from S100 and nuclear extracts. The three complexes did not form (a) with double‐stranded DNA and the C‐rich telomeric strand, (b) in competition assays using specific telomeric DNA oligonucleotides, or (c) after pretreatment with proteinase K. LaGT1 was the most specific and did not bind a Tetrahymena telomeric sequence. All three LaGTs associated with an RNA sequence cognate to the telomeric G‐rich strand and a complex similar to LaGT1 is formed with a double‐stranded DNA bearing a 3′ G‐overhang tail. The protein components of LaGT2 and LaGT3 were purified by affinity chromatography and identified, after renaturation, as ≈ 35 and ≈ 52 kDa bands, respectively. The ≤ 15 kDa protein component of LaGT1 was gel‐purified as a UV cross‐linked complex of ≈ 18–20 kDa. Peptides generated from trypsin digestion of the affinity and gel‐purified protein bands were analysed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The fingerprint and amino acid sequence analysis showed that the protein components of LaGT2 and of LaGT3 were, respectively, similar to the kinetoplastid Rbp38p and to the putative subunit 1 of replication protein A of Leishmania spp., whereas the ≤ 15 kDa protein component of LaGT1 was probably a novel Leishmania protein.
Expression of heme oxygenase‐1 is repressed by interferon‐γ and induced by hypoxia in human retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Udono‐Fujimori Reiko , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Takeda Kazuhisa , Furuyama Kazumichi , Kaneko Kiriko , Takahashi Shigeru , Tamai Makoto , Shibahara Shigeki
Published: July 2004

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is essential for maintenance of photoreceptors and normally functions under conditions enriched with reactive oxygen species. RPE therefore expresses various defense enzymes against oxidative stress, including heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1). HO‐1 catalyzes heme breakdown to release iron, carbon monoxide, and biliverdin, which is reduced to bilirubin, a potent radical scavenger. HO‐1 expression is induced by various environmental factors, which has been established as a defense mechanism. To explore the hypothesis that the expression level of HO‐1 is reduced in those RPE cells under certain conditions, we analyzed the effects of interferon‐γ and hypoxia, each of which represses the expression of HO‐1 mRNA in other types of human cells. Expression levels of HO‐1 mRNA were reduced by interferon‐γ in two human RPE cell lines, D407 and ARPE‐19, which was consistently associated with the induction of mRNA for Bach1, a transcriptional repressor for the HO‐1 gene. On the other hand, HO‐1 and Bach1 mRNAs were induced by hypoxia in D407 cells but remained unchanged in ARPE‐19 cells, suggesting that Bach1 is not a sole regulator for HO‐1 expression. The hypoxia‐mediated induction of HO‐1 mRNA in D407 cells depends on gene transcription and protein synthesis, as judged by the effects of their inhibitors. The half‐life of HO‐1 mRNA did not change during hypoxia. Thus, hypoxia may increase transcription of the HO‐1 gene through a certain protein factor in RPE cells. These results indicate that RPE cells maintain retinal homeostasis by repressing or inducing the expression of HO‐1, depending on the microenvironment.
Induction of Systemic Resistance by Bacillus cereus Against Tomato Foliar Diseases Under Field Conditions
Authors: Silva H. S. A. , Romeiro R. S. , Carrer Filho R. , Pereira J. L. A. , Mizubuti E. S. G. , Mounteer A.
Published: July 2004

The ability of a rhizobacterium to protect tomato plants against naturally occurring diseases as well as to improve crop yield under field conditions was studied. The rhizobacterium was introduced to the plants through seed microbiolization. Treatments consisted of different frequencies of fungicide (Chlorothalonyl) sprayings (5, 10 or 20 applications) of tomato plants grown from either microbiolized or non‐microbiolized seeds over a 90‐day evaluation period. Treatment of non‐microbiolized seeds without fungicide application was included as a control. The progress of the following three naturally occurring diseases was evaluated in the field and quantified: early blight (Alternaria solani), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and septoria leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici). All treatments resulted in reduced disease severity when compared with the control treatment. Highest final fruit yields were found after treatment of plants grown from non‐microbiolized seeds and sprayed with fungicide 20 times over 90 days, and for treatment of plants from microbiolized seeds that received 10 fungicide spray applications, although all treatments increased yield over that obtained in the control treatment. The results demonstrate that combined rhizobacterial and chemical treatments in the field may permit reducing fungicidal spraying frequency while at the same time increasing crop yields.
Potential of Allyl Isothiocyanate to Control Rhizoctonia solani Seedling Damping Off and Seedling Blight in Transplant Production
Authors: Dhingra O. D. , Costa M. L. N. , Silva G. J.
Published: July 2004

The synthetic mustered flavouring essential oil, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), was evaluated for its effect on suppression of Rhizoctonia solani growth in vitro, and in field soils for reducing inoculum density, saprophytic substrate colonization and seedling damping off and blight using snap bean and cabbage as indicator plants. In vitro growth was completely inhibited at the concentration of 50 μl/l. Inoculum density and saprophytic substrate colonization by the fungus in soil were not affected by AITC concentrations of 50 or 75 μl/kg soil. The inoculum density estimation by the use of soil‐drop technique created an artefact leading to an erroneous conclusion that the fungus was eradicated from soil within 1–3 days after AITC treatment at 150 or 200 μl/kg soil. The saprophytic substrate colonization showed that although the activity of R. solani was greatly reduced, the fungus still colonized 45% of the substrate units at these concentrations, and up to 100% at lower concentrations within 1 day after treatment. At higher concentrations the recovery rate from the substrates gradually declined over time to <6%. Drenching R. solani infested sandy‐loam or silty‐clay‐loam soil with water containing the emulsified AITC to provide 150 or 200 μl/l soil, a few days prior to planting, gave over 90% disease control in snap bean and cabbage, with no apparent phytotoxic effect. The effect of AITC was not influenced by the physical soil texture. AITC appears to have a good potential to replace methyl bromide fumigation of the substrate used for transplant production.
Molecular Distinctions Between Phytophthora capsici and Ph. tropicalis Based on ITS Sequences of Ribosomal DNA
Authors: Zhang Z. G. , Zhang J. Y. , Zheng X. B. , Yang Y. W. , Ko W. H.
Published: July 2004

Among four species of Phytophthora tested, only Ph. capsici and Ph. tropicalis showed the same length for DNA sequence for both internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and ITS2 of ribosomal DNA. Phytophthora palmivora and P. nicotianae have lengths different from each other, and from the other two species. Although A1 and A2 types of Ph. capsici differ from each other by only one nucleotide, there are 10 different nucleotides between A1 and A2 types of Ph. tropicalis. Phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS sequences identified four clades each consisting A1 and A2 mating types of same species. The neighbor‐joining and maximum parsimony trees show that Ph. tropicalis (A2) is clustered with the clade of two isolates of Ph. capsici before joining the clade of A1 and two other isolates of Ph. tropicalis from GenBank. Our results support the separation of Ph. tropicalis and demonstrate the need to sequence more than a single isolate of a species in the study of molecular phylogeny of Phytophthora. The phylogenetic trees also suggest that Ph. tropicalis (A2) may represent a transitional isolate in the process of species evolution.
Association of the Hydrolytic Enzyme Chitinase against Rhizoctonia solani in Rhizobacteria‐treated Rice Plants
Authors: Radjacommare R. , Kandan A. , Nandakumar R. , Samiyappan R.
Published: July 2004

Twenty‐two strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from the rhizosphere soil of nine plant species were screened in vitro for their inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of the rice sheath blight fungus, Rhizoctonia solani. Of the 22 strains, two promising strains (Pf1 and FP7) were assessed for their effect on seedling vigour and their ability to promote growth in vitro of four cultivars of rice. Both bacterial strains induced systemic resistance in rice cv. IR 50, which is susceptible to sheath blight. After inoculation of the sheaths with the pathogen, Pseudomonas‐treated plants showed an increase in chitinase activity significantly higher than that of untreated control plants. A twofold increase in chitinase activity occurred 2 days after inoculation of plants with the pathogen. Western blot analysis of chitinase indicated the expression of 28 and 38 kDa proteins in rice sheaths against R. solani. Increased induction of the pathogenesis‐related chitinase isoform in Pseudomonas‐treated rice in response to R. solani infection indicates that the induced chitinase has a definite role in suppressing disease development.