bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of atmospheric CO2 concentration and defoliation on the growth of Themeda triandra
Authors: Wand S. J. E. , Midgley G. F.
Published: September 2004

The effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration (700 μmol mol−1) on defoliated (three clippings at 3‐week intervals) and undefoliated plants were determined for the C4 grass Themeda triandra, Forsk. The elevated CO2 concentration significantly increased leaf regrowth following defoliation, and total leaf production was greatest in this treatment. Shoot biomass of undefoliated plants was also increased under the elevated CO2 concentration treatment. The primary effect of the elevated CO2 concentration in both defoliated and undefoliated plants was an increase in individual leaf length and mass of dry matter, linked to a higher leaf water content and increased photosynthetic rates at the canopy level. Photosynthetic down‐regulation at the leaf level occurred, but this was compensated for by increased assimilation rates and greater canopy leaf area at the elevated CO2 concentration. Increases in leaf and sheath growth of defoliated plants in the elevated CO2 concentration treatment were lost following a final 3‐week reversion to ambient CO2 concentration, but occurred in plants exposed to the elevated CO2 concentration for the final 3‐week period only. In conclusion, elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration increases shoot growth via increased leaf extension, which is directly dependent on stimulation of concurrent photosynthesis. CO2 responsiveness is sustained following moderate defoliation but is reduced when plants experience reduced vigour as a result of maturation or high frequency of defoliation.
Grazing legumes in Europe: a review of their status, management, benefits, research needs and future prospects
Authors: Rochon J. J. , Doyle C. J. , Greef J. M. , Hopkins A. , Molle G. , Sitzia M. , Scholefield D. , Smith C. J.
Published: September 2004

In many parts of Europe there has been a net decline in the use of forage legumes since the 1980s, despite the reputed value of legumes for low‐input livestock production systems. The political environment within which livestock farming in much of Europe operates (Common Agricultural Policy) is shifting the balance of economic advantage towards legumes and away from high usage of inorganic fertilizer. This has already been found for legume and grass–legume silages when compared with grass silages with a potential economic gain for farmers averaging 137 € ha−1, corresponding to an annual benefit for the European livestock farming sector of as much as € 1300 million.

Recent literature has shown that legume‐based grazing systems have the ability to reduce environmental problems by increasing the efficiency of N use and by avoiding a high transient surplus of soil mineral N. From the perspective of livestock nutrition, when forage legumes contain moderate levels of secondary compounds, such as condensed tannins and flavonoids, they offer considerable advantages including increased efficiency of N utilization within the digestive tract, reduced incidence of bloat hazard and higher resilience to parasites.

Nevertheless, these benefits are partially counterbalanced in both temperate and Mediterranean regions by difficulties in establishment, maintenance and management under grazing. To gain knowledge on mixed grass–legume pastures, further research is required on: (i) the development of sustainable systems of livestock production which can maintain sward persistence and agricultural production under environmental stress; (ii) increasing knowledge of soil–plant–animal relations for a wide range of leguminous species, and under different soil types and climatic situations; and (iii) the benefits for consumers of food produced from low‐input livestock production systems.
The implications of controlling grazed sward height for the operation and productivity of upland sheep systems in the UK: 7. Sustainability of white clover in grass/clover swards with reduced levels of fertilizer nitrogen
Authors: Sibbald A. R. , Marriott C. A. , Agnew R. D. M. , Dalziel A. J. I.
Published: September 2004

The sustainability of white clover in grass/clover swards of an upland sheep system, which included silage making, was studied over 5 years for four nitrogen fertilizer rates [0 (N0), 50 (N50), 100 (N100) and 150 (N150) kg N ha−1]. A common stocking rate of 6 ewes ha−1 was used at all rates of N fertilizer with additional stocking rates at the N0 fertilizer rate of 4 ewes ha−1 and at the N150 fertilizer rate of 10 ewes ha−1. Grazed sward height was controlled, for ewes with their lambs, from spring until weaning in late summer by adjusting the proportions of the total area to be grazed in response to changes in herbage growth; surplus pasture areas were harvested for silage. Thereafter sward height was controlled on separate areas for ewes and weaned lambs. Areas of pasture continuously grazed in one year were used to make silage in the next year. For treatments N0 and N150, white clover stolon densities (s.e.m.) were 7670 (205·4) and 2296 (99·8) cm m−2, growing point densities were 4459 (148·9) and 1584 (76·0) m−2 and growing point densities per unit length of stolon were 0·71 (0·015) and 0·67 (0·026) cm−1 respectively, while grass tiller densities were 13 765 (209·1) and 18 825 (269·9) m−2 for treatments N0 and N150 respectively. White clover stolon density increased over the first year from 780 (91·7) cm m−2 and was maintained thereafter until year 5, reaching 8234 (814·3) and 2787 (570·8) cm m−2 for treatments N0 and N150 respectively. Growing point density of white clover increased on treatment N0 from 705 (123·1) m−2 to 2734 (260·7) m−2 in year 5 and it returned to the initial level on treatment N150 having peaked in the intermediate years. Stolon density of white clover was maintained when the management involved the annual interchange of continuously grazed and ensiled areas. The non‐grazing period during ensiling reduced grass tiller density during the late spring and summer, when white clover has the most competitive advantage in relation to grass. The increase in stolon length of white clover in this period appears to compensate for the loss of stolon during periods when the sward is grazed and over winter when white clover is at a competitive disadvantage in relation to grass. The implications for the management of sheep systems and the sustainability of white clover are discussed.
Changes in incisor dentition of sheep influence biting force
Authors: Hongo A. , Zhang J. , Toukura Y. , Akimoto M.
Published: September 2004

The grazing behaviour by sheep, after the loss of the temporary incisors and before their replacement with the permanent incisors, was compared with that after the first pair of permanent incisors had completely developed in grazing experiments, conducted from June to September 2001, with three Suffolk castrated male sheep, born in late‐March 2000. A new method was developed to investigate bite mass and bite force, using hand‐constructed swards, which were composed of groups of four (4L), eight (8L), twelve (12L), sixteen (16L) and twenty (20L) leaves of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) arranged 15 cm apart. Each group of leaves was attached to a separate three‐directional load cell.

The period of time between loss of temporary incisors and the complete eruption of permanent incisors was c. 1 month. The number of bites per group of leaves increased with increasing leaf density. The number of bites per group of leaves was higher after the loss of temporary incisors than with the permanent incisors. The number of leaves per bite and dry‐matter (DM) intake per bite were almost twice as great with permanent incisors than after the loss of temporary incisors; DM intakes per bite force were 3·9–4·9 mg N−1 and 1·7–2·6 mg N−1 respectively. After the loss of temporary incisors, the proportion of forward‐direction forces accounted for 0·805 of the forces in the 4L treatment and 0·155–0·317 of the forces in the 8L–20L treatments. In contrast, the proportion of forward‐direction forces accounted for only 0·292 in the 4L treatment and 0·026–0·163 in the 8L–20L treatments with permanent incisors. The angles of bite forces were almost the same (54·7–56·3°) when sheep used a forward direction, and were 51·3–57·3° when sheep used a backward direction.
Sleep problems in children with autism
Authors: Gail Williams P. , Sears Lonnie L. , Allard AnnaMary
Published: September 2004

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, and the presence of repetitive‐ritualistic behaviors. Sleep problems are frequently reported by parents of children with autism with prevalence estimates of 44–83% for sleep disorders in this population. To better understand sleep in autism, we surveyed sleep problems in 210 children with autism using a Likert‐based questionnaire for parent report. The most frequently reported sleep problems included difficulty in falling asleep, restless sleep, not falling asleep in own bed, and frequent wakenings. Least frequently reported sleep problems were sleep walking, morning headaches, crying during sleep, apnea, and nightmares. When surveys were divided into mental retardation (MR)/not MR categories, no significant differences were identified in frequencies of reported sleep problems except for waking at night which occurred much more frequently in the MR group. There was also no difference in sleep problems related to age of the child other than nocturnal enuresis. An association was noted between certain medical problems and sleep problems. Vision problems, upper respiratory problems, and runny nose were associated with decreased nighttime sleep. Vision problems, poor appetite, and poor growth were associated with increased nighttime waking. Poor appetite and poor growth were associated with decreased willingness to fall asleep. This study confirms a high prevalence of sleep problems reported by parents of children with autism and points to the need for more systematic research as an initial step in developing treatment strategies.
Changes in fronto‐posterior functional coupling at sleep onset in humans
Authors: Gennaro Luigi De , Vecchio Fabrizio , Ferrara Michele , Curcio Giuseppe , Rossini Paolo Maria , Babiloni Claudio
Published: September 2004

The aim of this study was to assess the functional coupling between anterior and posterior areas as induced by the sleep onset process. The functional coupling was indexed by an analysis of spectral coherence and directed transfer function (DTF) from electroencephalographic (EEG) data. As it has been reported that more anterior areas first synchronize sleep EEG activity, we hypothesized a fronto‐posterior direction of the cortical functional coupling during the sleep onset process. Ten normal right‐handed male students slept for two‐nights (one adaptation, one baseline) in the laboratory, with standard polysomnographic recordings. Spectral coherence and DTF were computed on data recorded by anterior (FzA1) and posterior (PzA1, OzA1) derivations. EEG coherence at the delta/theta band was higher during the presleep period than the sleep onset period, while EEG coherence at the alpha band was higher during the sleep onset period than the presleep period. The DTF findings indicated a prevalence of the occipital‐to‐frontal information flow at delta/theta and alpha bands during the presleep period and a prevalence of the frontal‐to‐parieto‐occipital information flow at all bands during the sleep onset period. The coherent pattern of changes in EEG coherence and in DTF values at sleep onset lends further support to the notion of sleep as a local process, showing that the sleep onset process is subserved by the functional coordination of a cortical fronto‐posterior network. In this network, prefrontal areas may play a leading role in the propagation of synchronizing signals conveyed at frequencies spanning delta to beta rhythms.
Sleep disorders in Taiwanese children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Huang Yu‐Shu , Chen Ning‐Hung , Li Hsueh‐Yu , Wu Yu‐Yu , Chao Chia‐Chen , Guilleminault Christian
Published: September 2004

To assess obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with a control group. The ADHD was diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version IV (DSM‐IV) criteria on successively seen elementary school children aged 6–12 years referred to a psychiatric clinic for suspected ADHD. A standardized interview (Kiddie‐SADS‐E), parents and teacher questionnaires, neuropsychological testing, and nocturnal polysomnography were completed for each child. Eighty‐eight children (77 boys) with ADHD and 27 controls were involved in the study. Fifty children with ADHD (56.8%) had an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) >1 event h−1 and 17 (19.3%) had an AHI >5 event h−1. Nine children (10.2%) had a periodic limb movement index (PLMI) >5 events h−1. There is one child with AHI >1 and none with a PLMI > 5 in the control group. In the test of variables of attention (TOVA), the response time was significantly worse in ADHD with sleep disorders than those without them. The child behavior checklist (CBCL) showed a significant difference between groups in the hyperactivity subscale. The diagnostic criteria for ADHD based on DSM‐IV do not differentiate between children with or without sleep disorders. Evaluation of sleep disorders should be considered before starting drug treatment for ADHD.
Experimentally induced arousals during sleep: a cross‐modality matching paradigm
Authors: Kato T. , Montplaisir J. Y. , Lavigne G. J.
Published: September 2004

Micro‐arousals occur spontaneously or in response to exogenous and endogenous sensory input during sleep. The function of micro‐arousals remains unclear, for example, whether it reflects a disturbance or a preparatory response to environmental changes. The goal of this study was to assess arousal responsiveness when two types of sensory stimulations were used: auditory (AD) alone and the addition of a vibrotactile (VT) sensation. Ten normal sleepers participated in three nights of polygraphic recordings. The first night was for habituation and to rule out sleep disorders, and the second to collect baseline sleep data. During the third night, AD and VT + AD stimuli, with three levels of intensities for auditory and vibratory signals, were randomly given to induce arousal responses in sleep stages 2, 3 and 4 and rapid eye movement (REM). The frequency of the arousal responses increased with stimulus intensity for all sleep stages and was lowest in stages 3 and 4. In non‐REM (NREM) sleep, combined VT + AD stimulation induced more frequent and more intense arousal responses than AD alone. In REM sleep, more frequent micro‐arousals rather than awakenings were triggered by combined stimulations. In stage 2, the response rate of total induced K‐complexes did not differ between both types of stimulations while more K‐complexes followed by arousals were evoked by the combined VT + AD stimulation than by the AD alone. The induced arousals were associated with an increase in heart rate in all sleep stages. An increase in suprahyoid muscle tone was observed in NREM sleep only, REM being not associated with a rise in muscle tone following experimental stimulation. Most leg and body movements occurred in response to induced awakenings. These results suggest that the cross‐modality sensory stimuli triggered more arousal responses in comparison with single‐modality stimuli. In an attempt to wake a sleeping subject, the addition of a tactile stimulation, such as shaking the shoulder, is an effective strategy that increases the arousal probability.
Corticospinal excitability during laughter: implications for cataplexy and the comparison with REM sleep atonia
Authors: Overeem Sebastiaan , Reijntjes Robert , Huyser Wesseline , Jan Lammers Gert , Gert van Dijk J.
Published: September 2004

Cataplexy is usually seen as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep atonia occurring at an inopportune moment. REM sleep atonia is the result of postsynaptic inhibition, i.e. inhibition of alpha motor neurones. Although this may explain the suppression of H‐reflexes during REM sleep, cataplexy and laughter, it is not the only explanation. Presynaptic inhibition, in which afferent impulses are prevented from reaching motor neurones, is an alternative. Testing H‐reflexes and magnetic‐evoked potentials (MEPs) helps to tell them apart: in postsynaptic inhibition MEPs and H‐reflexes change in tandem, while H‐reflexes may decrease independent of MEPs with other inhibition modes. We studied motor inhibition during laughter, the strongest trigger for cataplexy. H‐reflexes were evoked every 2 s in the soleus muscle in 10 healthy subjects watching comical video fragments. MEPs were evoked when H‐reflexes decreased during laughter, and, as a control, when subjects did not laugh. Pairs of MEPs and the immediately preceding H‐reflexes were studied. Compared with the control condition, laughter caused mean MEP area to increase by 60% (P = 0.006) and mean H‐reflex amplitude to decrease by 33% (P = 0.008). This pattern proves that postsynaptic inhibition cannot have been the sole influence. The findings do not prove which mechanisms are involved; one possibility is that the decrease in H‐reflex amplitude was the result of presynaptic inhibition, and that cortical and/or spinal facilitation accounted for increased MEPs. Regardless, the pattern differs fundamentally from the reported mechanism of REM sleep atonia. Existing scanty data on cataplexy suggest a pattern of H‐reflexes and MEPs similar to that during laughter, but this needs further study.
Transport of ricin and 2S albumin precursors to the storage vacuoles of Ricinus communis endosperm involves the Golgi and VSR‐like receptors
Authors: Jolliffe Nicholas A. , Brown Joanna C. , Neumann Ulla , Vicré Maïte , Bachi Angela , Hawes Chris , Ceriotti Aldo , Roberts Lynne M. , Frigerio Lorenzo
Published: September 2004

We have studied the transport of proricin and pro2S albumin to the protein storage vacuoles of developing castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) endosperm. Immunoelectron microscopy and cell fractionation reveal that both proteins travel through the Golgi apparatus and co‐localize throughout their route to the storage vacuole. En route to the PSV, the proteins co‐localize in large (>200 nm) vesicles, which are likely to represent developing storage vacuoles. We further show that the sequence‐specific vacuolar sorting signals of both proricin and pro2SA bind in vitro to proteins that have high sequence similarity to members of the VSR/AtELP/BP‐80 vacuolar sorting receptor family, generally associated with clathrin‐mediated traffic to the lytic vacuole. The implications of these findings in relation to the current model for protein sorting to storage vacuoles are discussed.
Intron retention is a major phenomenon in alternative splicing in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ner‐Gaon Hadas , Halachmi Ronit , Savaldi‐Goldstein Sigal , Rubin Eitan , Ophir Ron , Fluhr Robert
Published: September 2004

Alternative splicing (AS) combines different transcript splice junctions that result in transcripts with shuffled exons, alternative 5′ or 3′ splicing sites, retained introns and different transcript termini. In this way, multiple mRNA species and proteins can be created from a single gene expanding the potential informational content of eukaryotic genomes. Search algorithms of AS forms in a variety of Arabidopsis databases showed they contained an unusually high fraction of retained introns (above 30%), compared with 10% that was reported for humans. The preponderance of retained introns (65%) were either part of open reading frames, present in the UTR region or present as the last intron in the transcript, indicating that their occurrence would not participate in non‐sense‐mediated decay. Interestingly, the functional distribution of the transcripts with retained introns is skewed towards stress and external/internal stimuli‐related functions. A sampling of the alternative transcripts with retained introns were confirmed by RT‐PCR and were shown to co‐purify with polyribosomes, indicating their nuclear export. Thus, retained introns are a prominent feature of AS in Arabidopsis and as such may play a regulatory function.
The glycan substrate of the cytosolic (Pho 2) phosphorylase isozyme from Pisum sativum L.: identification, linkage analysis and subcellular localization
Authors: Fettke Joerg , Eckermann Nora , Poeste Simon , Pauly Markus , Steup Martin
Published: September 2004

The subcellular distribution of starch‐related enzymes and the phenotype of Arabidopsis mutants defective in starch degradation suggest that the plastidial starch turnover is linked to a cytosolic glycan metabolism. In this communication, a soluble heteroglycan (SHG) from leaves of Pisum sativum L. has been studied. Major constituents of the SHG are galactose, arabinose and glucose. For subcellular location, the SHG was prepared from isolated protoplasts and chloroplasts. On a chlorophyll basis, protoplasts and chloroplasts yielded approximately 70% and less than 5%, respectively, of the amount of the leaf‐derived SHG preparation. Thus, most of SHG resides inside the cell but outside the chloroplast. SHG is soluble and not membrane‐associated. Using membrane filtration, the SHG was separated into a <10 kDa and a >10 kDa fraction. The latter was resolved into two subfractions (I and II) by field‐flow fractionation. In the protoplast‐derived >10 kDa SHG preparation the subfraction I was by far the most dominant compound. β‐Glucosyl Yariv reagent was reactive with subfraction II, but not with subfraction I. In in vitro assays the latter acted as glucosyl acceptor for the cytosolic (Pho 2) phosphorylase but not for rabbit muscle phosphorylase. Glycosidic linkage analyses of subfractions I and II and of the Yariv reagent reactive glycans revealed that all three glycans contain a high percentage of arabinogalactan‐like linkages. However, SHG possesses a higher content of minor compounds, namely glucosyl, mannosyl, rhamnosyl and fucosyl residues. Based on glycosyl residues and glycosidic linkages, subfraction I possesses a more complex structure than subfraction II.
Early experience with two‐dose daclizumab in the prevention of acute rejection in cardiac transplantation
Authors: Joyal Dominique , Cantarovich Marcelo , Cecere Renzo , Giannetti Nadia
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Background:  Daclizumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the interleukin‐2 receptor. It has been used as induction therapy in heart transplantation with repeated administrations over several weeks. At our institution, we use a two‐dose regimen of daclizumab based on its extended half‐life. We sought to determine the incidence of acute rejection with 2‐dose daclizumab in cardiac transplantation.

Methods:  Eighteen consecutive heart transplants performed at a single center were analyzed retrospectively. Patients received daclizumab (2 mg/kg) within 8 h of cardiac transplantation and a second dose (1 mg/kg) 2 wk thereafter. Maintenance immunosupression included mycophenolate mofetil, prednisone and either cyclosporine or tacrolimus, based on side‐effect profile. The endpoint was the incidence of acute rejection as defined by a histologic grade >2 according to the classification of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Results:  Four patients had acute rejections (all were 3A) during the first 3 months post‐transplantation. All four patients had rejection at the first biopsy and only two had rejection thereafter. None of the rejections were hemodynamically significant and no patients were hospitalized. All except one rejection was seen in the context of low 2‐h cyclosporine levels. The two‐dose regimen was easier to administer on an outpatient basis and resulted in lower cost.

Conclusions:  This preliminary report suggests that induction therapy with a two‐dose regimen of daclizumab appears to be safe and well tolerated in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation.
Effect of combined T‐ and B‐cell depletion of allogeneic HLA‐mismatched bone marrow graft on the magnitude and kinetics of Epstein–Barr virus load in the peripheral blood of bone marrow transplant recipients
Authors: Liu Daorong , Tammik Charlotte , Zou Jie‐Zhi , Ernberg Ingemar , Masucci Maria G. , Ringden Olle , Levitsky Victor
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Recipients of T‐cell‐depleted bone marrow (BM) transplants (BMT) frequently develop Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) preceded by a rapid and prominent increase of EBV load in the peripheral blood. The level of this increase positively correlates with the incidence of PTLD. Using a semiquantitative PCR assay we compared the blood levels of EBV‐DNA in patients transplanted with either T‐cell or T‐ and B‐cell‐depleted human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐mismatched BM grafts. Combined T‐ and B‐cell depletion correlated with significantly lower maximal levels of EBV load, which were reached with slower kinetics. These data indicate that B‐cell depletion of BM can be used for prophylaxis of PTLD in BM transplant recipients and can affect the long‐term balance between EBV and its host.
The fate of glomerular mesangial IgA deposition in the donated kidney after allograft transplantation
Authors: Ji Shuming , Liu Min , Chen Jinsong , Yin Liping , Sha Guozhu , Chen Huiping , Liu Zhihong , Li Leishi
Published: September 2004

Objective:  To investigate the fate of the mesangial IgA deposits in the donor kidney after allograft transplantation.

Methodology:  Routine pre‐transplant cadaveric donor kidney biopsy and repeated renal biopsies were performed at months 1, 3, and 6 after renal transplantation. The patients, 342 in number, were divided into IgA positive deposition kidney group (group A, n = 83) and non‐IgA deposition kidney group (group B, n = 259). There were no significant differences between the two groups’ sex, age, time of hemodialysis, warm ischemia time, cold ischemia time, complement‐dependent cytotoxicity, level of panel‐reactive assay, and the distribution of original disease.

Results:  Recipients in group A received donor kidney with glomerular mesangial proliferation and marked diffuse granular IgA deposition. All of them showed edema, nephrotic range protienuria, microhematuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypertension, and delayed graft function. Borderline change was higher in group A than in group B, 37.3 and 16.2% (p < 0.001), respectively. Acute allograft rejection was higher in group A than in group B, 31.3 and 19.3% (p < 0.001), respectively. The glomerular mesangial IgA deposits gradually disappeared from the mesangial regions in grafts of acute rejection. Graft survival in both groups was not significant, being 93.8 and 95.6% in 1 yr, and 86.7 and 88.3% in 3 yr.

Conclusion:  Clinical features of the recipients which received from donor kidney with glomerular mesangial proliferation and marked diffuse granular IgA deposition: edema, proteinuria, microhematuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypertension, and delayed graft function. The presence of IgA deposits on donated kidney, by a possible increase of the immunogenicity of these kidneys, might be a cause of increased rejection. There were no significant differences between the two groups on long‐term allograft survival.
Renal transplants from non‐heart beating paracetamol overdose donors
Authors: Gok Muhammed A , Gupta Ajay , Olschewski Peter , Bhatti Aftab , Shenton Brian K , Robertson Helen , Soomro Naeem , Talbot David
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Introduction:  Non‐heart beating donors (NHBD) are widely encouraged to avert the critical shortage in the kidney donor pool. Ischaemic injury at the time of cardiac arrest in the NHBD is more pronounced and therefore the kidneys resulting are considered marginal. This review describes our experience with four kidneys from two controlled NHBDs who were exposed to paracetamol intoxication and subsequently were treated with mannitol prior to organ donation.

Materials and method:  Two patients with fulminant liver failure following paracetamol overdose were referred as ‘withdrawal of treatment’ NHBD. As the two patients had developed hepatic encephalopathy they were treated with mannitol to reduce intra‐cerebral oedema. The two donors were oligoanuric for at least 24 h prior to cardiac arrest. Following cardiac arrest, in situ perfusion was carried out and the kidneys were removed. One pair of kidneys were machine perfused while the second pair of kidneys were cold stored prior to transplantation.

Results:  Pre‐transplant assessment of NHBD kidneys resulted in three of four kidneys being transplanted. The NHBD kidneys exhibited a period of delayed graft function (DGF). The early transplant biopsies showed evidence of diffuse cytoplasmic vacuolation. These histological features disappeared with time and the renal function improved until the time of discharge.

Discussion:  Non‐heart beating donor kidneys are considered marginal and the effect of mannitol and paracetamol drug intoxication will induce reversible sub‐lethal injury. A period of dialysis is inevitable in clearing the reactive intermediates of mannitol and paracetamol. The kidneys behaved as traditional controlled NHBD at time of discharge.
Association of Helicobacter pylori with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome after bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Takatsuka Hiroyuki , Wakae Takeshi , Toda Akinari , Itoi Hisayuki , Okada Masaya , Misawa Mahito , Hara Hiroshi , Kakishita Eizo
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) has attracted attention as a complication of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS) after BMT was studied. Among 74 consecutive patients undergoing transplantation, six developed TTP/HUS (the TTP/HUS group) and 68 did not (controls). These six patients were compared with the other 68 patients to investigate differences of the IL‐12 and 8 levels, H. pylori and various clinical characteristics. The patients who developed TTP/HUS seemed not apparently different from those who did not in background characteristics, except that they had a significantly higher H. pylori‐positive rate (p < 0.05). In the TTP/HUS group, however, the levels of interleukin‐12 and interleukin‐8 increased significantly during the leukocyte recovery after BMT and at the onset of TTP/HUS, respectively, to 45.8 ± 57.6 pg/mL and 274.8 ± 65.9 pg/mL (p < 0.05 for both), when compared with their levels of 5.0 pg/mL in the control group. Thus, H. pylori may play a role in the pathogenesis of TTP/HUS after BMT, with cytokines (interleukin‐8 and interleukin‐12) also being involved.
Efficacy of etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with hematological malignancies
Authors: Toubai Tomomi , Tanaka Junji , Mori Akio , Hashino Satoshi , Kobayashi Sumiko , Ota Shuichi , Miura Yoko , Kato Naoko , Kahata Kaoru , Izumiyama Ko , Yonezumi Masakatu , Chiba Koji , Kondo Takeshi , Toyoshima Nobuyasu , Asaka Masahiro , Imamura Masahiro
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Introduction:  A combination of fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) with etoposide (VP‐16) and cyclophosphamide (CY) as a preconditioning regimen (VP/CY/TBI) has been reported to be safe and effective for both adults and children undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo‐BMT). However, the reported doses of VP‐16 were different. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a VP‐16 (at less than the usual dose)/CY/TBI regimen for adults with hematological malignancies who are required to receive allo‐BMT.

Patients and methods:  Thirty‐eight patients received VP‐16, CY and TBI (VP/CY/TBI) as a preconditioning regimen for allo‐BMT. Twenty‐one patients were in first complete remission (1CR), six patients were in second remission (2CR) and 11 patients were in non‐remission status (non‐CR) before allo‐BMT. These patients received allo‐BMT from related donors (n = 14) and unrelated donors (n = 24). The preconditioning regimen consisted of VP‐16 (15 mg/kg/d for 2 d), CY (60 mg/kg/d for 2 d) and 12 Gy TBI in six fractions for 3 d.

Results:  Two patients died on day 30 after transplantation. The median follow‐up period for all patients was 35.0 months (range 0.8–159.6 months). At the time of analysis, 10 patients had died. Seven of those 10 patients died because of relapse. The estimated 5‐yr disease‐free survival (DFS) rates for all cases and acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases were 73.6, 66.7 and 100%, respectively. The estimated 5‐yr DFS rates for 1CR, 2CR and non‐CR cases were 90.5, 83.3 and 40.9%, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:  Based on these findings, we suggest that a VP/CY/TBI regimen is effective and safe for adult patients with hematological malignancies in 1CR and 2CR.
Factors associated with primary and secondary graft failure following cadaveric kidney transplant*
Authors: Weiss‐Salz Inbal , Mandel Micha , Galai Noya , Nave Irit , Boner Geoffrey , Mor Eytan , Nakache Richard , Simchen Elisheva ,   Israeli Transplantation Consortium
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  The risk profile for primary renal graft failure is largely unknown because of its inclusion with secondary failures or its exclusion from analysis. This study compares characteristics of the cadaveric transplant recipients who experienced primary failure, secondary failures or survived with a functioning graft for at least 6 months. Medical records of all cadaveric kidney‐transplant patients performed in Israel over a 3‐yr period 1997–2000 were reviewed. Fisher's exact test and multinomial regression models were used to assess the association of demographic, pre‐operative and operative risk factors with the two types of failure outcomes. Of 325 grafts, 54 (16.6%) failed of which half were primary failures. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant trend of increasing proportion of patients with specific risk factors from the functioning grafts group to the secondary and to the primary graft failure groups. Independent risk factors for primary graft failure included ‘surgical complications’, ‘donor's age ≥60 yr’, ‘waiting for transplant ≥6 yr’, and ‘human leukocyte antigen‐DR (HLA‐DR) mismatch’, based on the multivariate model. These factors may reflect the scarcity of organ donations in Israel, which leads to a prolonged waiting time, higher tolerance for HLA‐DR mismatches, and utilization of kidneys from elderly donors.
The microextraction of RNA from archival cardiac allografts embedded in paraffin
Authors: Bledsoe Brian , Groshart Kenneth , Zhang Quaing , Quasney Michael , Dosanjh Amrita
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  One of the difficulties encountered in studying rejection in patients is the availability of tissue. The goal of our study was to isolate RNA from archival allograft tissue, and to demonstrate that it is of suitable quality for further molecular experimentation. Thirty‐two paraffin embedded cardiac and five renal allograft archival samples were obtained after IRB approval, from a total of 18 transplant patients (13 cardiac/five renal transplant patients) from a search of the University of Tennessee's teaching hospitals. RNA was extracted from the paraffin blocks and amplified by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Grade 3A and higher and non‐rejection samples were tested. In addition, normal mouse liver tissue was isolated for comparison. Negative control samples were also included. RT‐PCR amplification of 18s RNA, 324 bp target sequences, revealed readily detectable bands. Only one block that was 3 years old did not yield detectable RNA secondary to presumed degradation. The negative control showed no bands at 324 bp. We conclude that RNA from archived allograft tissue can be used for further experiments. The use of this tissue offers some distinct advantages when studying correlation of gene expression with clinical outcome and therapeutic response.
Heel ultrasonography is not a good screening tool for bone loss after kidney and pancreas transplantation
Authors: Mack‐Shipman Lynn R , O'Grady Donna M , Erickson Judi M , Walker Craig W , Moore Timothy E , Burkman Tab W , Lane James T , Larsen Jennifer L
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  Background:  Solid organ transplant recipients, particularly simultaneous pancreas kidney recipients, are at high fracture risk. We tested whether quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) of the heel predicts bone mineral density (BMD) by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in solid organ transplant recipients.

Methods:  Thirty‐eight transplant recipients (22 Female/16 Male) were studied. Spine and hip BMD was measured with a Hologic DXA scanner. ‘Stiffness’ of the heel was measured with a Lunar Ultrasound densitometer and compared with BMD by DXA. Contributing factors to bone loss were also assessed.

Results:  Mean age was 43.1 ± 1.3 yr. Simultaneous pancreas‐kidney, kidney, and pancreas alone transplant recipients were assessed. Mean time post‐transplantation was 3.0 ± 0.6 yr. Mean DXA spine T‐score was −1.15 ± 0.22 (mean ± SEM) and hip T‐score was −1.22 ± 0.20. There was no difference in mean T‐score between women and men at the hip or spine. Mean right heel stiffness T‐score was −0.97 ± 0.25. There was no correlation between QUS and DXA at either the hip or spine in women or men. QUS had a false negative rate for identifying osteopenia or osteoporosis of 17% compared with DXA. The false positive rate for identifying osteopenia was 61%.

Conclusions:  The QUS is an unacceptable tool for identifying those at risk for bone loss after kidney or pancreas transplantation.
Renal transplantation offers a better survival in HCV‐infected ESRD patients
Authors: Sezer Siren , Ozdemir Fatma Nurhan , Akcay Ali , Arat Zubeyde , Boyacıoglu Sedat , Haberal Mehmet
Published: September 2004

Abstract:  The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been found to adversely affect the morbidity and mortality rates in the dialysis population. Renal transplantation is a treatment option after a careful pre‐transplant evaluation. We designed this study to find the impact of HCV infection on patient survival, co‐morbidity and allograft survival in a selected group of hemodialysis (HD) and transplant population. We retrospectively analyzed 116 renal transplant patients (94 HCV‐negative, 22 HCV‐positive) and 136 HD patients (106 HCV‐negative, 30 HCV‐positive) who had renal transplantation or underwent dialysis before 1996. The HCV‐infected patients were evaluated by liver biopsy for the absence of advanced liver disease before transplantation. There was no clinical or laboratory decompensation of liver disease in transplant and dialysis patient groups. The overall 5‐yr survival rates were 85.2% for renal transplant recipients and 74.5% for those on HD. The comparison results revealed a significant difference between HCV‐infected patients with and without transplantation. The 3‐yr renal allograft survival rates were comparable in HCV‐positive and ‐negative patients, but the risk of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and graft failure were higher at the fifth year in HCV‐positive patients. In conclusion, renal transplantation should the preferred therapy in HCV‐infected dialysis patients as it improves the survival rates. The presence of HCV infection increases the CAN rate and the influence on allograft survival is evident at the fifth year of assessment.
The Process and Causes of Fledging in a Cavity‐Nesting Passerine Bird, the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Authors: Johnson L. Scott , Rauch Robin L. , Dellone Sara N.
Published: September 2004

Little is known about the process or causes of fledging or nest‐leaving in passerine birds because researchers can rarely predict when fledging will occur in a given nest. We used continuous videotaping of nests to both document the process of fledging in the house wren, Troglodytes aedon, a small, cavity‐nesting songbird, and test hypotheses as to what might cause fledging to begin. Fledging began any time from 14 to 19 d after hatching commenced. Slower‐developing broods fledged later than faster‐developing broods. Fledging typically began within 5 h of sunrise and over 80% of all nestlings fledged before noon. All nestlings fledged on the same day at 65% of nests and over two consecutive days in most other nests. We found no evidence that fledging was triggered by changes in parental behaviour. Parental rate of food delivery to nestlings did not decline during a 3‐h period leading up to the first fledging, nor was the rate of feeding just prior to the first fledging lower than the rate at the same time the day before. Moreover, parents did not slow the rate of food delivery to nests after part of the brood had fledged. Hatching is asynchronous in our study population which creates a marked age/size hierarchy within broods. At most nests, the first nestling to fledge was the most well‐developed nestling in the brood or nearly so (as measured by feather length). This suggests that fledging typically begins when the most well‐developed nestlings in the brood reach some threshold size. However, at about one‐fifth of nests, the first nestling to fledge was only moderate in size. At these nests, severe competition for food may have caused smaller, less competitive nestlings to fledge first to increase their access to food. We found no strong support for the suggestion that the oldest nestlings delay fledging until their least‐developed nestmate reaches some minimum size, although further experimental work on this question is warranted.
Relationship between Serum Testosterone, Dominance and Mating Success in Père David's Deer Stags
Authors: Chunwang Li , Zhigang Jiang , Yan Zeng , Caie Yan
Published: September 2004

We conducted an experiment in the Beijing Milu Park to study the social behavior of male Père David's deer, and related social behavior to social position and serum testosterone level of the stags during rut. We classified the stags into three rank classes according to their rutting behavior: ‘harem master’, ‘challenger’ and ‘bachelor’. We monitored the behaviors of four ‘harem masters’, five ‘challengers’ and five ‘bachelors’, and analyzed serum testosterone levels in blood samples of those 14 stags using radioimmunoassay. We defined the effectiveness value, E = A/T, to assess the effectiveness of herding or mating attempts made by stags (‘T’ represents the frequency of herding or mating attempts made by a stag and ‘A’ represents the frequency of herding or mating attempts accepted by hinds). We found that: (1) the ‘harem masters’ and the ‘challengers’ displayed more frequent rut and locomotive behaviors but fewer ingestion behaviors than the ‘bachelors’; (2) serum testosterone levels in the ‘harem masters’ and the ‘challengers’ were higher than that in the ‘bachelors’; (3) effectiveness value of herding attempts differed significantly between the three types of stags, being highest in the ‘harem masters’ and the lowest in the ‘bachelors’; and (4) effectiveness value of mating attempts was significantly greater for the ‘harem masters’ than for the ‘challengers’. We conclude that: (1) reproductive behavior of the Père David's deer stags is strongly associated with social rank; (2) social roles of Père David's deer stags during the rut are related to the testosterone secretion; and (3) rank class affects the mating opportunity of the stags.
Queen Execution and Caste Conflict in the Stingless Bee Melipona beecheii
Authors: Wenseleers Tom , Hart Adam G. , Ratnieks Francis L. W. , Quezada‐Euán Javier J. G.
Published: September 2004

Caste conflict theory predicts that worker‐destined individuals in insect colonies may try to develop as queens in order to gain greater direct reproduction. In situations where females can determine their own caste fate (‘self‐determination’), this is expected to lead to overproduction of queens. Theoretical predictions are supported by patterns of queen production in Melipona stingless bees. In Melipona, queens and workers are similar in size and develop in identical, mass‐provisioned, sealed cells, a situation which permits self‐determination. In line with predictions, many Melipona females, up to 16%, selfishly develop as queens. Although these observations fit the predictions of caste conflict theory, some of the underlying assumptions remain incompletely tested. In particular, whether immature females can actually determine their own caste fate and whether queen production is really excessive rather than just an insurance against accidental queen loss? Here we test these assumptions. Queens and workers in colonies of Melipona beecheii in Yucatan, Mexico, had the same dry mass, showing that queen development is not conditional on above‐average food provisioning. This supports the assumption that individuals can completely control their caste fate. Observations of 30 introduced virgin queens in three colonies showed that queens were killed rapidly and had a life expectancy of just 47 h. A second method, using the number of virgin queens in natural colonies, also indicated a short life span, estimated at 27 h. Rapid and efficient culling of virgin queens supports the hypothesis that queen production is excessive and results from caste fate conflict. In addition, we provide, for the first time, detailed behavioural descriptions of queen killing in this species.
Communal Spawning in the Common Frog Rana temporaria– Egg Temperature and Predation Consequences
Authors: Håkansson Pia , Loman Jon
Published: September 2004

Females of the common frog, Rana temporaria, spawn synchronously at communal breeding sites, forming a communal egg mass of individual spawn clumps. A total of four spawning sites were studied. In the centre of the communal egg mass, daily maximum temperature was higher and minimum temperature lower than further out. Spawn clumps in the centre of the communal egg mass developed faster than single spawn clumps. In the centre of the egg masses, some spawn clumps suffered almost total egg mortality. This was probably the consequence of a cold spell with sub‐zero temperatures in combination with a tendency for low minimum temperatures in the centre. In a laboratory study, worm leeches, Erpobdella spp., fed readily on eggs of common frog, while horse leeches, Haemopis sanguisuga, hardly ate any eggs. At the spawning sites, most worm leeches were found in single spawn clumps, far from the communal egg mass. Females which spawned late, when most of the spawning was over, preferred to spawn in the centre of the communal egg mass. This suggests that there is a net advantage for eggs in spawn clumps laid in the centre.