bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The physiology of world‐class sprint skiers
Authors: Sandbakk Ø. , Holmberg H.‐C. , Leirdal S. , Ettema G.
Published: May 2010

The present study investigated the physiological characteristics of eight world‐class (WC) and eight national‐class (NC) Norwegian sprint cross country skiers. To measure the physiological response and treadmill performance, the skiers performed a submaximal test, a peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) test, and a peak treadmill speed (Vpeak) test in the skating G3 technique. Moreover, the skiers were tested for G3 acceleration outdoors on asphalt and maximal strength in the lab. The standard of sprint skating performance level on snow was determined by International Ski Federation points, and the training distribution was quantified. WC skiers showed 8% higher VO2peakand twice as long a VO2plateau time at the VO2peaktest, and a higher gross efficiency at the submaximal test (allP<0.05). Furthermore, WC skiers showed 8% higherVpeak(P<0.05), but did not differ from NC skiers in acceleration and maximal strength. WC skiers performed more low‐ and moderate‐intensity endurance training and speed training (bothP<0.05). The current results show that aerobic capacity, efficiency, and high speed capacity differentiate WC and NC sprint skiers and it is suggested that these variables determine sprint skiing performance.
Joining the Immunological Dots in Recurrent Miscarriage
Authors: Bansal Amolak Singh
Published: May 2010

Citation Bansal AS. Joining the immunological dots in recurrent miscarriage. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010

While raised cellular immunity mediated by T helper (Th) 1 type cells may be harmful for the developing embryo/foetus, it is likely that Th2 type immunity may be helpful. The role of natural killer (NK) cells is presently underestimated, although they are clearly important in angiogenesis and the coordinated invasion of the decidua by the trophoblast. Deficient T regulatory cell (Treg) function is evident in women with recurrent miscarriage particularly when this occurs in early pregnancy. The role of the pro‐inflammatory Th17 cells is presently unclear. However, early evidence suggests that excessive Th17 activity may promote miscarriage and preterm delivery. This may relate to the ability of these cells to produce those cytokines that encourage Th1 and NK cell activity. As such recurrent miscarriage may be caused not only by chromosomal abnormalities, autoimmunity and uterine abnormalities but also by subclinical uterine infection and inflammation which by stimulating interleukin 6 favours Th17 development over Tregs. This review examines the role of these different cells in early pregnancy and suggests a schema that may join the dots of the immunological puzzle called pregnancy. Finally, suggestions are made as to how inappropriate immunity in recurrent miscarriage may be down‐regulated using currently available therapies.
Trauma to an implant‐supported crown that was saved by the fixation screw: a case report
Authors: Den Hartog Laurens , Meijer Henny J.A. , Stellingsma Kees , Santing Hendrik J. , Raghoebar Gerry M.
Published: May 2010

Abstract –  A traumatic impact to an implant‐supported crown might damage the implant, restoration and peri‐implant tissues. Ideally, only a small prosthetic retreatment is needed for restoration, as complicated prosthetic retreatments or surgical retreatments in particular, could be very inconvenient for the patient. However, there is a deficiency in literature on how the implant, restoration and surrounding tissues generally react to impact forces. This report demonstrates a case of trauma to an implant‐supported crown in the maxillary anterior zone resulting in a displacement of the implant crown. After careful examination and follow‐up, it appeared that only the fixation screw was damaged, whereas the implant, restoration and peri‐implant tissues remained unharmed. Thanks to the protective qualities of the implant system, an easy prosthetic retreatment could restore the implant‐supported crown and a surgical retreatment was prevented.
Lack of promoter IV‐driven BDNF transcription results in depression‐like behavior
Authors: Sakata K. , Jin L. , Jha S.
Published: May 2010

Transcription of Bdnf is controlled by multiple promoters, in which promoter IV contributes significantly to activity‐dependent Bdnf transcription. We have generated promoter IV mutant mice [brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐KIV] in which promoter IV‐driven expression of BDNF is selectively disrupted by inserting a green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐STOP cassette within the Bdnf exon IV locus. BDNF‐KIV animals exhibited depression‐like behavior as shown by the tail suspension test (TST), sucrose preference test (SPT) and learned helplessness test (LHT). In addition, BDNF‐KIV mice showed reduced activity in the open field test (OFT) and reduced food intake in the novelty‐suppressed feeding test (NSFT). The mutant mice did not display anxiety‐like behavior in the light and dark box test and elevated plus maze tests. Interestingly, the mutant mice showed defective response inhibition in the passive avoidance test (PAT) even though their learning ability was intact when measured with the active avoidance test (AAT). These results suggest that promoter IV‐dependent BDNF expression plays a critical role in the control of mood‐related behaviors. This is the first study that directly addressed the effects of endogenous promoter‐driven expression of BDNF in depression‐like behavior.
Women's Sense of Coherence related to their infant feeding experiences
Authors: Thomson Gill , Dykes Fiona
Published: May 2010

Given the overwhelming evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding, and yet the low prevalence rates in the UK, it is crucial to understand the influences on women's infant feeding experiences to target and promote effective support. As part of an evaluation study of the implementation of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Community Award within two primary (community‐based) care trusts in North West England, 15 women took part in an in‐depth interview to explore their experiences, opinions and perceptions of infant feeding. In this paper, we have provided a theoretical interpretation of these women's experiences by drawing upon Aaron Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory. The SOC is a global orientation to how people are able to cope with stressors and maintain a sense of well‐being. The three constructs that underpin the SOC are ‘comprehensibility’ (one must believe that one understands the life challenge), ‘manageability’ (one has sufficient resources at one's disposal) and ‘meaningfulness’ (one must want to cope with the life challenge). In this paper, our interpretations explore how infant feeding is influenced by the ‘comprehensibility’, ‘manageability’ and ‘meaningfulness’ of this event; contextualized within a wider socio‐cultural perspective. The findings of this paper offer a unique means through which the influences on women's experiences of infant feeding may be considered. Recommendations and suggestions for practice in relation to the implementation of the BFI have also been presented.
New insights into structure–function relationships of oxalyl CoA decarboxylase from Escherichia coli
Authors: Werther Tobias , Zimmer Agnes , Wille Georg , Golbik Ralph , Weiss Manfred S. , König Stephan
Published: May 2010

The gene yfdU from Escherichia coli encodes a putative oxalyl coenzyme A decarboxylase, a thiamine diphosphate‐dependent enzyme that is potentially involved in the degradation of oxalate. The enzyme has been purified to homogeneity. The kinetic constants for conversion of the substrate oxalyl coenzyme A by the enzyme in the absence and presence of the inhibitor coenzyme A, as well as in the absence and presence of the activator adenosine 5′‐diphosphate, were determined using a novel continuous optical assay. The effects of these ligands on the solution and crystal structure of the enzyme were studied using small‐angle X‐ray scattering and X‐ray crystal diffraction. Analyses of the obtained crystal structures of the enzyme in complex with the cofactor thiamine diphosphate, the activator adenosine 5′‐diphosphate and the inhibitor acetyl coenzyme A, as well as the corresponding solution scattering patterns, allow comparison of the oligomer structures of the enzyme complexes under various experimental conditions, and provide insights into the architecture of substrate and effector binding sites.

Structured digital abstract

MINT‐7717846: EcODC (uniprotkb:P0AFI0) and EcODC (uniprotkb:P0AFI0) bind (MI:0407) by X‐ray scattering (MI:0826)

MINT‐7717834: EcODC (uniprotkb:P0AFI0) and EcODC (uniprotkb:P0AFI0) bind (MI:0407) by X‐ray crystallography (MI:0114)
The silencing of adenine nucleotide translocase isoform 1 induces oxidative stress and programmed cell death in ADF human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Lena Annalisa , Rechichi Mariarosa , Salvetti Alessandra , Vecchio Donatella , Evangelista Monica , Rainaldi Giuseppe , Gremigni Vittorio , Rossi Leonardo
Published: May 2010

Adenine nucleotide translocases (ANTs) are multitask proteins involved in several aspects of cell metabolism, as well as in the regulation of cell death/survival processes. We investigated the role played by ANT isoforms 1 and 2 in the growth of a human glioblastoma cell line (ADF cells). The silencing of ANT2 isoform, by small interfering RNA, did not produce significant changes in ADF cell viability. By contrast, the silencing of ANT1 isoform strongly reduced ADF cell viability by inducing a non‐apoptotic cell death process resembling paraptosis. We demonstrated that cell death induced by ANT1 depletion cannot be ascribed to the loss of the ATP/ADP exchange function of this protein. By contrast, our findings indicate that ANT1‐silenced cells experience oxidative stress, thus allowing us to hypothesize that the effect of ANT1‐silencing on ADF is mediated by the loss of the ANT1 uncoupling function. Several studies ascribe a pro‐apoptotic role to ANT1 as a result of the observation that ANT1 overexpression sensitizes cells to mitochondrial depolarization or to apoptotic stimuli. In the present study, we demonstrate that, despite its pro‐apoptotic function at a high expression level, the reduction of ANT1 density below a physiological baseline impairs fundamental functions of this protein in ADF cells, leading them to undertake a cell death process.
Effects of Matrine and Oxymatrine on Catalytic Activity of Cytochrome P450s in Rats
Authors: Yuan Fang , Chen Jie , Wu Wen‐jin , Chen Su‐zhen , Wang Xue‐ding , Su Zeng , Huang Min
Published: May 2010

Abstract: Matrine and oxymatrine are the major bioactive compounds extracted from the root ofSophora flavescensAit, which have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicines. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of matrine or oxymatrine on hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Matrine (15, 75 and 150 mg/kg) or oxymatrine (36, 180 and 360 mg/kg) was administered to rats for 14 days and the activities of CYP450 were measured by the quantification of the metabolites from multiple CYP450 probe substrates, using validated liquid chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC‐MS/MS) and high‐performance liquid chromatography methods. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CYPs were determined by quantitative real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis respectively. Interactions between matrine or oxymatrine and human constitutive androstane (CAR), pregnane X receptor were evaluated by means of the reporter gene assay in CV‐1 cells. Our study showed that matrine and oxymatrine significantly induced the activity and gene expression of CYP2B1 in a dose‐dependent manner; matrine (150 mg/kg) slightly induced the mRNA and protein expression of CYP2E1 and mildly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of CYP3A1 in rats. Matrine or oxymatrine could activate human CAR and induce the CYP2B reporter construct in CV‐1 cells. These results reveal that matrine and oxymatrine can induce the activity and expression of CYP2B1/2 in rats, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the activation of CAR.
Effects of Testosterone Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction in Hypogonadal Men with the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Giltay Erik J. , Tishova Yuliya A. , Mskhalaya George J. , Gooren Louis J.G. , Saad Farid , Kalinchenko Svetlana Y.
Published: May 2010

Introduction

Low testosterone levels in men are associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as with depressive symptoms, low vitality, and sexual dysfunction.

Aim

To assess the effects of testosterone administration on these subjective symptoms, which have not extensively been studied in hypogonadal men with the MetS.

Main Outcome Measures

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-IA), Aging Males’ Symptoms (AMS) scale, and International Index of Erectile Function 5-item (IIEF-5) scale at baseline, 18 and 30 weeks were analysed using multilevel analysis.

Methods

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase III trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00696748), 184 men suffering from both the MetS and hypogonadism were included. They were treated for 30 weeks with either parenteral testosterone undecanoate (TU; 1,000 mg IM TU, at baseline, and after 6 and 18 weeks; Nebido®) or placebo injections, 105 (92.9%) men receiving TU and 65 (91.5%) receiving placebo completed the 30-week trial.

Results

The 184 men were aged mean 52.1 years old (standard deviation [SD] 9.6; range 35–69), with a mean body mass index of 35.5 kg/m2 (SD 6.7; range 25.1–54.8), and a mean total testosterone level of 8.0 nmol/L (SD 4.0). There were significant improvements in BDI-IA (mean difference vs. placebo after 30 weeks: −2.5 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.9; −4.1; P = 0.003), AMS (−7.4 points; 95% CI: −4.3; −10.5; P <0.001), and IIEF-5 (+3.1 points; 95% CI: +1.8; +4.4; P <0.001). The effects on the BDI-IA, AMS, and IIEF-5 were strongest in men with baseline total testosterone levels <7.7 mmol/L (i.e., median value).

Conclusions

TU administration may improve depressive symptoms, aging male symptoms and sexual dysfunction in hypogonadal men with the MetS. The beneficial effects of testosterone were most evident in men with the lowest baseline total testosterone levels.
Genome‐wide haplotype association analysis and gene prioritization identify CCL3 as a risk locus for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhang R. , Sun P. , Jiang Y. , Chen Z. , Huang C. , Zhang X. , Zhang R.
Published: May 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease caused by a complex interaction of multiple genetic variants and environmental factors. The association between RA and genetic susceptibility loci has been observed in many different populations, and most studies have focused on univariate analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms. We performed a genome‐wide haplotype association study and prioritized RA‐related genes within 100 kb in either direction of significant haplotypes (P < 0.0001), based on their similarity to known RA susceptibility genes. The results showed that the chemokine CCL3 was associated with susceptibility to RA. A haplotype that located CCL3 on chromosome 17q12 had significant correlation with RA (P = 7.56E‐05), and the global similarity score of CCL3 was ranked in the top of all RA‐related genes, excluding known susceptibility genes (P = 8.42E‐07). Our findings provide further evidence for the potential importance of the chemokine CCL3 in RA, and will facilitate the further understanding of its role in immunological regulation and the pathogenesis of RA.
Association of longevity with IL‐10 −1082 G/A and TNF‐α−308 G/A polymorphisms
Authors: Khabour O. F. , Barnawi J. M.
Published: May 2010

Cytokines are crucial for the regulation of inflammation development in humans. Many studies have shown that variations in cytokine genes might play a role in determining human longevity. This study examined the changes in the gene pool relevant to the −308 G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α gene and the −1082 G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐10 gene with aging and survival selection occurs in the Jordanian population. IL‐10 −1028 G/A and TNF‐α−308 G/A were genotyped in 119 randomly selected elderly subjects (41 women and 78 men) with a mean age of 90.2 years and young control subjects of 118 (46 women and 72 men) with a mean age of 31.9 years. No significant differences were found in the genotype and allele frequencies of TNF‐α gene variants between the two groups (P > 0.05) while the IL‐10 genotype and allele frequencies were significantly associated with longevity in men (P < 0.05) but not in women (P < 0.05). Thus, IL‐10 −1028 G/A polymorphism seems to play a role in the pathway to longevity in Jordanian men.
The rate of MEFV gene mutations in hematolymphoid neoplasms
Authors: Celik S. , Erikci A. A. , Tunca Y. , Sayan O. , Terekeci H. M. , Umur E. E. , Torun D. , Tangi F. , Top C. , Oktenli C.
Published: May 2010

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of MEFV gene mutations, the gene responsible for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), in patients with hematolymphoid neoplasm. The rate of the five most common MEFV gene mutations (M694V, M680I, V726A, M694I and E148Q) was determined in 46 patients with hematolymphoid neoplasm. We found a high frequency of carriers in patients with multiple myeloma (60%) and acute lymphocytic leukaemia (33.3%), whereas patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (9%) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (5%) had a low mutation carrier rate. There is no MEFV gene mutation in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. Furthermore, the statistically significant predominance of strong heterozygous mutations such as M694V and M680I in patients with hematolymphoid neoplasm; none had own and/or family history compatible with FMF, is interesting. In conclusion, we found a high frequency of carriers for MEFV gene in patients with multiple myeloma and acute lymphocytic leukaemia. The data of our study may provide some new insights in understanding of individual genetic differences in susceptibility to these neoplasms.
The Weaver Wasp: Spinning Fungus into a Nest
Authors: Ruiz‐González Mario X. , Corbara Bruno , Leroy Céline , Dejean Alain , Orivel Jérôme
Published: May 2010

Wasp nests range from simple to complex structures made of paper or mud. Here, we show that a Neotropical wasp of the genusNitelabuilds its nest entirely by weaving endophytic fungal hyphae and spider silk harvested from the leaves growing in the understory of the rain forest in French Guiana.
Natural Hybridization betweenRhododendron delavayiandR. cyanocarpum(Ericaceae), from Morphological, Molecular and Reproductive Evidence
Authors: Ma Yong‐Peng , Zhang Chang‐Qin , Zhang Jing‐Li , Yang Jun‐Bo
Published: May 2010

The natural hybridization that occurs between two sympatric species ofRhododendronsubgenusHymenanthesin Yunnan, China, was investigated. In field observations, it was noted that the putative hybrids betweenR. delavayiFranch. andR. cyanocarpum(Franch.) Franch. ex W.W. Sm. had intermediate morphologies. On the basis of morphology, chloroplast DNA (trnL‐rpl32) and nuclear DNA (waxy), hybrids and parental species were identified. Hybridization occurred in both directions, but was asymmetrical, withR. delavayias the major maternal parent. Reciprocal hand pollination treatments showed that either species, as pollen donor or pollen receiver, could produce fruits. It was noted that fruit set varied among treatments. The same pollinators (bumblebees) were shared in both parental species. From these results, we conclude that individuals with intermediate morphologies are indeed of hybrid origin from natural hybridization betweenR.cyanocarpumandR. delavayi. Furthermore, we presume the hybridization at the study site could have been initiated by habitat disturbance in the 1950s, and we may hence witness the early stages of hybrid swarm formation.
Fast Isolation of Highly Active Photosystem II Core Complexes from Spinach
Authors: Wang Zhao‐Gai , Xu Tian‐Hua , Liu Cheng , Yang Chun‐Hong
Published: May 2010

Purification of photosystem II (PSII) core complexes is a time‐consuming and low‐efficiency process. In order to isolate pure and active PSII core complexes in large amounts, we have developed a fast method to isolate highly active monomeric and dimeric PSII core complexes from spinach leaves by using sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. By using a vertical rotor the process was completed significantly faster compared with a swing‐out rotor. In order to keep the core complexes in high activity, the whole isolation procedure was performed in the presence of glycine betain and pH at 6.3. The isolated pigment‐protein complexes were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, absorption spectroscopy, 77 K fluorescence spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. Our results show that this method is a better choice for quick and efficient isolation of functionally active PSII core complexes.
H2 reformation in post-shock regions
Authors: Cuppen H. M. , Kristensen L. E. , Gavardi E.
Published: May 2010

H2 formation is an important process in post-shock regions, since H2 is an active participant in the cooling and shielding of the environment. The onset of H2 formation therefore has a strong effect on the temperature and chemical evolution in the post-shock regions. We recently developed a model for H2 formation on a graphite surface in warm conditions. The graphite surface acts as a model system for grains containing large areas of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon structures. Here, this model is used to obtain a new description of the H2 formation rate as a function of gas temperature that can be implemented in molecular shock models. The H2 formation rate is substantially higher at high gas temperatures as compared to the original implementation of this rate in shock models, because of the introduction of H atoms which are chemically bonded to the grain (chemisorption). Since H2 plays such a key role in the cooling, the increased rate is found to have a substantial effect on the predicted line fluxes of an important coolant in dissociative shocks [Oi] at 63.2 and 145.5 μm. With the new model, a better agreement between the model and observations is obtained. Since one of the goals of Herschel/PACS will be to observe these lines with higher spatial resolution and sensitivity than the former observations by Infrared Space Observatory-LWS, this more accurate model is very timely to help with the interpretation of these future results.
FUNGAL COLONIZATION OF PU‐ERH TEA IN YUNNAN
Authors: ZHAO Z.J. , TONG H.R. , ZHOU L. , WANG E.X. , LIU Q.J.
Published: May 2010

Pu‐erh tea is a popular beverage in Southeast Asia, especially in many areas of China. Natural fungal inoculation and fermentation form its special quality and function in health care. At the same time, a common assumption is that unknown fungi from natural inoculation may pose a risk for safety of drinking the beverage, leading to an urgent need for a thorough fungal survey of Pu‐erh tea. The present paper reports the natural fungal colonizations isolated from 60 representative samples. The results of the survey showed that the fungal colonizations were isolated from all the samples studied, ranging from 1.6 × 103 to 1.16 × 105 cfu/g, and 62 isolates were identified to belong to 41 species of 19 genera, including 13 species of Aspergillus and seven species of Penicillium, and 21 species of other genera. The predominant fungi were yeasts and different species of the genus Aspergillus. The concrete species of the dominant fungi varied with environment conditions of various production places. Sample parameters such as water content, AW, pH, polyphenol content were recorded, though they appeared to have no obvious effects on the total number of fungi, whereas processing and storage methods evidently affected total number of fungi. Some species of fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp. and Fusarium culmorum, etc., which maybe excrete toxic metabolites, were isolated in the survey. Further evaluation on the safety of these fungi isolated from Pu‐erh tea products is needed.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study investigated the fungal colonizatins exisiting in Pu‐erh tea and some parameters concerning the storage of Pu‐erh tea. These findings will help to evaluate the safety of Pu‐erh tea products, and also facilitate the formulation of microbiologically sound methods for the manufacture and storage of Pu‐erh tea, especially for the supervision of microbic fermentation during the process of ripe Pu‐erh tea manufacture, thus contributing to avoid the contamination from toxigenic or potentially toxic fungi, and to ensure the safety of drinking Pu‐erh tea.
CONTROL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN HAM DELI LOAVES USING ORGANIC ACIDS
Authors: LLOYD T. , ALVARADO C.Z. , MCKEE S.R. , BERRANG M.E.
Published: May 2010

Combinations of organic acids, sodium lactate (SL; Fisher Scientific Co. LLC., Pittsburgh, PA), potassium lactate (PL; City Chemical LLC., West Haven, CT) and sodium diacetate (SD; Spectrum Chemical MFG. Corp., Gardena, CA), were applied in the raw product and as a post‐cook dip to determine their inhibitory effect on Listeria monocytogenes in ham deli loaves. Loaves were formulated with an organic acid as an ingredient, cooked, cooled, inoculated with streptomycin‐resistant L. monocytogenes and then dipped in an organic acid treatment. Treatments consisted of PL in the raw product and PL in the dip, PL with SL/PL/SD dip, SL/SD with PL dip, and SL/SD with SL/PL/SD dip. Loaves were examined on a weekly basis for 56 days. Treatments containing PL with SL/PL/SD, SL/SD with PL, and SL/SD with SL/PL/SD had similar inhibition effects on L. monocytogenes from day 0 to day 42 (P < 0.05). On day 56, the PL with SL/PL/SD and the SL/SD with SL/PL/SD treatments were similar (P < 0.05). The PL with SL/PL/SD, SL/SD with PL, and SL/SD with SL/PL/SD treatments increased the lag phase of L. monocytogenes compared with distilled water control (P < 0.05).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Including a food grade organic acid‐based product in the formulation and as a post‐cook dip treatment can result in the slower growth of Listeria monocytogenes in deli ham loaves. This approach could provide meat processors with a useful method for controlling this deadly pathogen in ready‐to‐eat meat products.
OCCURRENCE OF AFLATOXIN M1 IN RAW MILK FROM SOUTH KOREA WINTER SEASONS USING AN IMMUNOAFFINITY COLUMN AND HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
Authors: KIM HO JIN , LEE JI EUN , KWAK BYUNG‐MAN , AHN JANG‐HYUK , JEONG SEUNG‐HWAN
Published: May 2010

The contamination level of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk samples produced in South Korea during the winter season was investigated using immunoaffinity column chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a fluorescence detector. Among the test samples collected from 100 cattle ranches in 2008 and 2009, none were contaminated with AFM1 over the maximum level (0.5 µg/L) set by South Korea and U.S. regulatory agencies. Seven percent of the tested samples obtained in 2008 were not contaminated with AFM1; however, this increased to 34% for samples obtained in 2009. The percent of samples with an AFM1 concentration in the range of 0.05–0.10 µg/L decreased from 21% in 2008 to 4% in 2009. In this study, the level of AFM1 in raw milk was determined to be very low and safe for market milk process.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study, the first time in South Korea, contamination of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw milk, during 2 years seasons was investigated using immunoaffinity column and high performance liquid chromatography. This was a large survey for AFM1 level in the raw milk samples from 100 dairy ranches. The result can be used as reference data to understand the current occurrence of AFM1 and estimate the contamination levels of AFM1 in various dairy products in South Korea.
A PCR METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OFLISTERIA MONOCYTOGENESBASED ON A NOVEL TARGET SEQUENCE IDENTIFIED BY COMPARATIVE GENOMIC ANALYSIS
Authors: ZHANG DANDAN , ZHANG LIDA , WANG DAPENG , SUO BIAO , SHI XIANMING
Published: May 2010

Listeria monocytogenesis an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that is a serious health hazard worldwide. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the detection ofL. monocytogenesusing a novel species‐specific target sequence (a region oflmo0754gene) identified by a comparative genomic approach. An internal amplification control was incorporated into this PCR system. The assay allowed amplification of a 331‐bp fragment only from the genomic DNA ofL. monocytogenesstrains and not from otherListeriaspecies, as well as some non‐Listeriaspecies. The detection limit of the PCR assay was 55 copies/PCR withL. monocytogenesgenomic DNA. Applying this PCR assay to artificially contaminated milk samples, low levels ofL. monocytogenes(1–10 cfu/mL of milk) were detected after 6–9 h incubation in selective culture enrichment (UVM1).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A novel species‐specific target sequence was identified by a comparative genomic approach that offered a new molecular diagnostic marker for specific detection ofListeria monocytogenes.Using this target, a PCR assay with an internal amplification control was developed and shown to be specific, sensitive and applicable to the detection ofL. monocytogenesfrom artificially contaminated foods. Moreover, this comparative genomic approach could also provide a new tool in mining unique targets for other bacteria with the increasing availability of public data of genome sequences.
DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMERS FOR DETECTION OF MULTIPLE CERVID SPECIES IN ANIMAL FEED
Authors: SHINODA NAOKI , TAKAGI MASAMI , HAYAKAWA TOSHIAKI , ONODERA TAKASHI , SUGIURA KATSUAKI
Published: May 2010

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of mammal or ruminant tissue is used for ensuring compliance with animal feed regulations for BSE protection. In the event of a positive result using the group‐specific primers for mammal or ruminant, it is necessary to identify likely species sources of the contamination. To investigate contaminated species tissue, species‐specific primer can be used such as primers for cattle, sheep or deer. Although primers for single cervid species were reported, there are risks such as false negative result or non‐availability for feed, because they are not designed for inspection of feed and for detection of multiple cervid species. In this study, we have developed primers to detect multiple cervid species in feed. The primers we developed were designed from the whole mtDNA sequences of eleven cervid species. This primer set created 133‐bp DNA fragment from various deer mtDNA, and no amplification were observed from nontarget species, several feed materials and formula feed at the same length of the target PCR product. The detection limit was 0.1 pg of the mtDNA.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Because existing PCR primers for cervid species are designed to detect specific cervid species, they may produce false negative results when they are used for detecting deer in general. Moreover, animal feed contains various kinds of materials and some of them may become a inhibitor of the primers. The PCR method in this study is available to be used for an investigation for the contaminated cervid species in feed or feed materials. To avoid the false negative result, a consensus sequence for designing group‐specific primers was created from 11 cervid mtDNA sequences, using a computer program. This primer set differentiates various cervid species from non‐cervid species in feed.
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OFCAMPYLOBACTERSPP ISOLATED FROM CHICKENS AND HUMANS IN CENTRAL ITALY
Authors: CAMPANA R. , PATRONE V. , FEDERICI S. , FULVI S. , BAFFONE W.
Published: May 2010

Campylobacter jejuniandCampylobacter colistrains, isolated from slaughtered chickens and human feces, were examined for their susceptibility to six antibiotics (ampicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin, levofloxacin, nalidixic acid and trimethoprim) by broth microdilution, for minimum inhibitory concentration determination, and disc diffusion assays. For the 32C. jejuniisolates, the highest levels of resistance were to trimethoprim (65.6% of the isolates by broth microdilution and 62.5% by disc diffusion) and cefotaxime (62.5% by both methods). Comparable levels of resistance to these antibiotics were found in the 24C. coliisolates. Statistically significant differences were found between allC. coliisolates for cefotaxime (P = 0.0043) using disc diffusion. A high proportion ofC. jejuniisolates show resistance to nalidixic acid using both the broth microdilution (59.4%) and disc diffusion (56.2%) methods.C. colistrains were resistant to this antibiotic showing proportions of 75% when tested by broth microdilution and 70.8% by disc diffusion.

Multidrug resistance was detected in 21.8% and 62.5% ofC. jejuniandC. colistrains, respectively, by broth microdilution test and in 28.1% and 75% ofC. jejuniandC. colistrains by disc diffusion method. None of the isolates showed the same pattern of multidrug resistance.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The massive use of antibiotics in modern animal husbandry for the treatment and prevention of diseases can result in the development of antibiotic resistance in zoonotic bacteria, likeCampylobacter. In turn, the consumption of infected food of animal origin may represent a vehicle of transmission of resistant bacteria to humans.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the antibiotic resistance distributions ofCampylobacter jejuniandCampylobacter colistrains arising from both animal and human origins, in particular resistance to antibiotics commonly used in human therapies. This can contribute to evaluate the sanitary risks of foods intended for human consumption, especially those of animal source.
RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND DISORDER: HOW MUCH IS “BIAS”, AND HOW MUCH IS SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT DIFFERENCES?*
Authors: HIPP JOHN R.
Published: May 2010

This study attempted to disentangle the extent to which residents are systematically biased when reporting on the level of crime or disorder in their neighborhood. By using a unique sample of households nested in household clusters, this study teased out the degree of systematic bias on the part of respondents when perceiving crime and disorder. The findings are generally consistent with theoretical expectations of which types of residents will perceive more crime or disorder and contrast with the generally mixed results of prior studies that used an inappropriate aggregate unit when assuming that residents live in the same social context of crime or disorder. Estimating ancillary models on a sample of respondents nested in tracts produced mixed results that mirror the existing literature. This article shows that Whites consistently perceive more crime or disorder than their neighbors. It also shows that females, those with children, and those with longer residence in the neighborhood perceive more crime or disorder than their neighbors.
POVERTY, INFANT MORTALITY, AND HOMICIDE RATES IN CROSS‐NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: ASSESSMENTS OF CRITERION AND CONSTRUCT VALIDITY*
Authors: MESSNER STEVEN F. , RAFFALOVICH LAWRENCE E. , SUTTON GRETCHEN M.
Published: May 2010

This article assesses the extent to which the infant mortality rate might be treated as a “proxy” for poverty in research on cross‐national variation in homicide rates. We have assembled a pooled, cross‐sectional time‐series data set for 16 advanced nations from the 1993–2000 period that includes standard measures of infant mortality and homicide and contains information on the following commonly used “income‐based” poverty measures: a measure intended to reflect “absolute” deprivation and a measure intended to reflect “relative” deprivation. With these data, we assess the criterion validity of the infant mortality rate with reference to the two income‐based poverty measures. Also, we estimate the effects of the various indicators of disadvantage on homicide rates in regression models, thereby assessing construct validity. The results reveal that the infant mortality rate is correlated more strongly with “relative poverty” than with “absolute poverty,” although much unexplained variance remains. In the regression models shown here, the measure of infant mortality and the relative poverty measure yield significant positive effects on homicide rates, whereas the absolute poverty measure does not exhibit any significant effects. The results of our analyses suggest that it would be premature to dismiss relative deprivation in cross‐national research on homicide, and that disadvantage is conceptualized and measured best as a multidimensional construct.
JUDGES' UNEQUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO EXTRALEGAL DISPARITIES IN IMPRISONMENT*
Authors: WOOLDREDGE JOHN
Published: May 2010

How do judges in the same court system contribute differentially to extralegal disparities in sentencing? Analyses of felony sentencing in an urban Ohio trial court uncovered two distinct but equal‐sized groups of judges that differed in the magnitude of extralegal correlates to imprisonment. Within the group of judges reflecting substantive extralegal correlates to prison sentences, demographic correlates (based on defendants' race, sex, age, and the interaction between them) were more pervasive across judges relative to social demographic correlates (based on education, residence length, and means of financial support). The directions of significant relationships involving a defendant's race, age, and means of support also were inconsistent across judges. These interjudge differences suggest that analyses of cases pooled across judges at either the jurisdiction or the state level might over‐ or understate the relevance of particular attribution theories of sentencing disparities.
RACE, CODE OF THE STREET, AND VIOLENT DELINQUENCY: A MULTILEVEL INVESTIGATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD STREET CULTURE AND INDIVIDUAL NORMS OF VIOLENCE*
Authors: STEWART ERIC A. , SIMONS RONALD L.
Published: May 2010

The study outlined in this article drew on Elijah Anderson's (1999) code of the street perspective to examine the impact of neighborhood street culture on violent delinquency. Using data from more than 700 African American adolescents, we examined 1) whether neighborhood street culture predicts adolescent violence above and beyond an adolescent's own street code values and 2) whether neighborhood street culture moderates individual‐level street code values on adolescent violence. Consistent with Anderson's hypotheses, neighborhood street culture significantly predicts violent delinquency independent of individual‐level street code effects. Additionally, neighborhood street culture moderates individual‐level street code values on violence in neighborhoods where the street culture is widespread. In particular, the effect of street code values on violence is enhanced in neighborhoods where the street culture is endorsed widely.
PARTICIPATION AND FREQUENCY DURING CRIMINAL CAREERS ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN*
Authors: PETRAS HANNO , NIEUWBEERTA PAUL , PIQUERO ALEX R.
Published: May 2010

Recent advances and debates surrounding general and developmental as well as static and dynamic theories of crime can be traced to the 1986 National Academy of Science's Report on criminal careers and the discussion it generated. A key point of contention has been regarding the interpretation of the age–crime curve. According to Gottfredson and Hirschi (1986), the decline in the age–crime curve in early adulthood reflects decreasing individual offending frequency (λ) after the peak. Blumstein et al. (1986) claimed that the decline in the aggregate age–crime curve also could be attributable to the termination of criminal careers, and the average value of l could stay constant (or increase with age) for those offenders who remain active after that peak. Using data from the Criminal Career and Life Course Study—including information on criminal convictions across 60 years of almost 5,000 persons convicted in the Netherlands—and applying a two‐part growth model that explicitly distinguishes between participation and frequency, the study outlined in this article assessed the participation–frequency debate. Results suggest that the decline in the age–crime curve in early adulthood reflects both decreasing individual offending participation and frequency after the peak, that the probabilities of participation and frequency are significantly related at the individual level, and that sex and marriage influence both participation and frequency.
Tubular reabsorption and diabetes‐induced glomerular hyperfiltration
Authors: Persson P. , Hansell P. , Palm F.
Published: May 2010

Elevated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a common observation in early diabetes mellitus and closely correlates with the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Hyperfiltration has been explained to be the result of a reduced load of sodium and chloride passing macula densa, secondarily to an increased proximal reabsorption of glucose and sodium by the sodium‐glucose co‐transporters. This results in an inactivation of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), leading to a reduced afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction and subsequently an increase in GFR. This hypothesis has recently been questioned due to the observation that adenosine A1‐receptor knockout mice, previously shown to lack a functional TGF mechanism, still display a pronounced hyperfiltration when diabetes is induced. Leyssac demonstrated in the 1960s (Acta Physiol Scand58, 1963:236) that GFR and proximal reabsorption can work independently of each other. Furthermore, by the use of micropuncture technique a reduced hydrostatic pressure in Bowman’s space or in the proximal tubule of diabetic rats has been observed. A reduced pressure in Bowman’s space will increase the pressure gradient over the filtration barrier and can contribute to the development of diabetic hyperfiltration. When inhibiting proximal reabsorption with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, GFR decreases and proximal tubular pressure increases. Measuring intratubular pressure allows a sufficient time resolution to reveal that net filtration pressure decreases before TGF is activated which highlights the importance of intratubular pressure as a regulator of GFR. Taken together, these results imply that the reduced intratubular pressure observed in diabetes might be crucial for the development of glomerular hyperfiltration.
Prenatal data impacts common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) growth parameters estimated by length‐at‐age curves
Authors: Neuenhoff Rachel D. , Cowan Daniel F. , Whitehead Heidi , Marshall Christopher D.
Published: May 2010

Abstract

Compilation of marine mammal demographic data is central to management efforts. However, marine mammal length‐at‐age growth curves demonstrate limitations. Physiological growth parameters of terrestrial mammals are typically estimated using curvilinear models fit to size‐at‐age data along a time series from conception to senescence. The difficulty of collecting and aging prenatal cetaceans is addressed here, and growth parameters of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along coastal Texas were estimated using length‐at‐age information from a broader scope of age classes, including late‐term fetuses. A Gompertz growth curve fit to pre‐ and postnatal data underestimated size parameters, but demonstrated similar growth rate constants (k) to an exclusively postnatal model. However, when growth parameters were broken out, the absolute growth rate (G) and rate of growth decay (g) decreased (0.44 from 0.27 and 0.55 from 0.39, respectively), which underscores the importance of reporting k in its expanded form (G/g). Although the Gompertz fits most age classes well, it cannot explain growth in all age classes. We argue that a novel sigmoidal model would be more useful for inference.
Extensive FUS‐Immunoreactive Pathology in Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Basophilic Inclusions
Authors: Huang Eric J. , Zhang Jiasheng , Geser Felix , Trojanowski John Q. , Strober Jonathan B. , Dickson Dennis W. , Brown, Jr Robert H. , Shapiro Barbara E. , Lomen‐Hoerth Catherine
Published: May 2010

Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with basophilic inclusions is a well‐recognized entity. However, the molecular underpinnings of this devastating disease are poorly understood. Here, we present genetic and neuropathological characterizations in two young women with fatal rapidly progressive ALS with basophilic inclusions. In one case, a germline mutation (P525L) was detected in the fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene, whereas no mutation was identified in the other case. Postmortem examination in both cases revealed severe loss of spinal motor neurons with remaining neurons showing basophilic inclusions that contain abnormal aggregates of FUS proteins and disorganized intracellular organelles, including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In both patients, the FUS‐positive inclusions were also detected in neurons in layers IV–V of cerebral cortex and several brainstem nuclei. In contrast, spinal motor neurons in patients with late‐onset sporadic ALS showed no evidence of abnormal accumulation of FUS protein. These results underscore the importance of FUS mutations and pathology in rapidly progressive juvenile ALS. Furthermore, our study represents the first detailed characterizations of neuropathological findings in rapidly progressive juvenile ALS patients with a mutation in the FUS/TLS gene.
Hypertension Treatment and Control Among 28 Physician Practices Across the United States: Results of the Hypertension: Assessment of Treatment to Target (HATT) Study
Authors: Belletti Daniel A. , Zacker Christopher , Wogen Jenifer
Published: May 2010

J Clin Hypertens(Greenwich). 2010;12:603–612. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chart reviews were conducted at 28 US physician practices to evaluate blood pressure (BP) management. The cross‐sectional study included 8250 adult patients diagnosed with hypertension. The primary outcome variable was BP control (BP <140/90 mm Hg for nondiabetic and <130/80 mm Hg for diabetic patients). Mean body mass index was 30.9 kg/m2, 49% were obese, 54% were women, mean age was 64.9 years, and 25% had diabetes. Mean BP was 132.2/77.8 mm Hg, and 55.8% of study participants had controlled BP. Patients with uncontrolled BP were more likely to be obese or African American, and more than twice as likely to have diabetes. Almost 1 in 5 nondiabetic patients (18%), and 38% of diabetic patients, were above goal BP by >10 mm Hg systolic or >5 mm Hg diastolic; among these patients, 36% used 0 or 1 antihypertensive medication, and 32% used 2 medications. Opportunity exists to improve BP control in this population.