bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased intracellular H2O2 availability preferentially drives glutathione accumulation in vacuoles and chloroplasts
Authors: QUEVAL GUILLAUME , JAILLARD DANIELLE , ZECHMANN BERND , NOCTOR GRAHAM
Published: August 2010

One biochemical response to increased H2O2 availability is the accumulation of glutathione disulphide (GSSG), the disulphide form of the key redox buffer glutathione. It remains unclear how this potentially important oxidative stress response impacts on the different sub‐cellular glutathione pools. We addressed this question by using two independent in situ glutathione labelling techniques in Arabidopsis wild type (Col‐0) and the GSSG‐accumulating cat2 mutant. A comparison of in situ labelling with monochlorobimane (MCB) and in vitro labelling with monobromobimane (MBB) revealed that, whereas in situ labelling of Col‐0 leaf glutathione was complete within 2 h incubation, about 50% of leaf glutathione remained inaccessible to MCB in cat2. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzymatic assays showed that this correlated tightly with the glutathione redox state, pointing to significant in vivo pools of GSSG in cat2 that were unavailable for MCB labelling. Immunogold labelling of leaf sections to estimate sub‐cellular glutathione distribution showed that the accumulated GSSG in cat2 was associated with only a minor increase in cytosolic glutathione but with a 3‐ and 10‐fold increase in plastid and vacuolar pools, respectively. The data are used to estimate compartment‐specific glutathione concentrations under optimal and oxidative stress conditions, and the implications for redox homeostasis and signalling are discussed.
Genetic diversity of the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii and development of a SCAR marker for this guava‐damaging species
Authors: Tigano M. , De Siqueira K. , Castagnone‐Sereno P. , Mulet K. , Queiroz P. , Dos Santos M. , Teixeira C. , Almeida M. , Silva J. , Carneiro R.
Published: August 2010

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the genetic variability of Meloidogyne enterolobii by molecular markers, and develop species‐specific molecular markers for application in detection. Sixteen M. enterolobii isolates from different geographical regions (Brazil and other countries) and hosts were used in this study. The identification and purification of the populations were carried out based on isoenzyme phenotype. The DNA amplification of the intergenic region (IGS) of the rDNA and of the region between the cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) and 16S rRNA genes (mtDNA) produced specific fragments of the expected size for this nematode, i.e. 780 and 705 bp, respectively. Intraspecific variability among the isolates was evaluated with three different neutral molecular markers: AFLP, ISSR and RAPD. The results showed a low level of diversity among the isolates tested, indicating that M. enterolobii is a genetically homogeneous root‐knot nematode species. The RAPD method allowed the identification of a species‐specific RAPD fragment for M. enterolobii. This fragment was cloned and sequenced, and from the sequence obtained, a set of primers was designed and tested. The amplification of a 520‐bp‐long fragment occurred only for the 16 isolates of M. enterolobii and not for the 10 other Meloidogyne species tested. In addition, positive detection was achieved in a single individual female, egg‐mass and second stage juvenile of this nematode. This SCAR species‐specific marker for M. enterolobii represents a new molecular tool to be used in the detection of this nematode from field samples and as a routine diagnostic test for quarantine devices.
The R30Q DLG5 variant is not associated with celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease in the Spanish population
Authors: Dema B. , Fernández‐Arquero M. , Maluenda C. , Polanco I. , Figueredo M. A. , De La Concha E. G. , Urcelay E. , Núñez C.
Published: August 2010

Alterations in intestinal epithelial permeability could underlie inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and celiac disease (CeD) etiology, as supported by previous association studies. One related gene, DLG5 [discs, large homologue 5 (Drosophila)], has been associated with IBD in several populations and with CeD in the Dutch population. We tried to confirm the involvement of DLG5 in CeD performing a case‐control study (725 CeD patients and 803 controls) by analysing the R30Q variant (rs1248696). Genetic frequencies did not significantly differ between groups (P > 0.80) and the meta‐analysis with the Dutch data did not show any association. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of R30Q in IBD risk (858 patients), as discordant results were previously obtained. No association was detected. Our study does not support the effect of the R30Q DLG5 variant in CeD or IBD predisposition in the Spanish population.
Aspergillus thyroiditis in a renal transplant recipient mimicking subacute thyroiditis
Authors: Solak Y. , Atalay H. , Nar A. , Ozbek O. , Turkmen K. , Erekul S. , Turk S.
Published: August 2010

Y. Solak, H. Atalay, A. Nar, O. Ozbek, K. Turkmen, S. Erekul, S. Turk. Aspergillus thyroiditis in a renal transplant recipient mimicking subacute thyroiditis. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 178–181. All rights reserved

Abstract: Fungal pathogens are increasingly encountered after renal transplantation. Aspergillus causes significant morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Fungal thyroiditis is a rare occurrence owing to unique features of the thyroid gland. Most cases are caused by Aspergillus species and have been described in immunocompromised patients. Presentation may be identical with that of subacute thyroiditis, in which hyperthyroidism features and painful thyroid are the prominent findings. Diagnosis can be ascertained by fine‐needle aspiration of thyroid showing branching hyphae of Aspergillus. We describe a renal transplant patient who developed Aspergillus thyroiditis as part of a disseminated infection successfully treated with voriconazole.
Co‐variation between the intensity of behavioural manipulation and parasite development time in an acanthocephalan–amphipod system
Authors: FRANCESCHI N. , BOLLACHE L. , CORNET S. , BAUER A. , MOTREUIL S. , RIGAUD T.
Published: August 2010

Pomphorhynchus laevis, a fish acanthocephalan parasite, manipulates the behaviour of its gammarid intermediate host to increase its trophic transmission to the definitive host. However, the intensity of behavioural manipulation is variable between individual gammarids and between parasite populations. To elucidate causes of this variability, we compared the level of phototaxis alteration induced by different parasite sibships from one population, using experimental infections ofGammarus pulexbyP. laevis. We used a naive gammarid population, and we carried out our experiments in two steps, during spring and winter. Moreover, we also investigated co‐variation between phototaxis (at different stages of infection, ‘young’ and ‘old cystacanth stage’) and two other fitness‐related traits, infectivity and development time. Three main parameters could explain the parasite intra‐population variation in behavioural manipulation. The genetic variation, suggested by the differences between parasite families, was lower than the variation owing to an (unidentified) environmental factor. Moreover, a correlation was found between development rate and the intensity of behavioural change, the fastest growing parasites being unable to induce rapid phototaxis reversal. This suggests that parasites cannot optimize at the same time these two important parameters of their fitness, and this could explain a part of the variation observed in the wild.
Differential niche modification by males and females of a dioecious herb: extending the Jack Sprat effect
Authors: SÁNCHEZ‐VILAS J. , PANNELL J. R.
Published: September 2010

Males and females of dioecious plants often differ in morphological, physiological and life‐history traits, probably as a result of their different requirements for reproduction. We found that the growth and reproductive effort of individuals of the dioecious herb Mercurialis annua depended on whether males or females had been growing in the soil previously. This suggests that males and females of M. annua differentially modify the soil in which they are growing. Our study indicates that sexual dimorphism in dioecious plants can give rise to increased environmental heterogeneity as a consequence of sex‐specific niche modification.
Lactadherin functions as a probe for phosphatidylserine exposure and as an anticoagulant in the study of stored platelets
Authors: Hou J. , Fu Y. , Zhou J. , Li W. , Xie R. , Cao F. , Gilbert G. E. , Shi J.
Published: August 2010

Background and Objectives  Annexin V, the long established standard method of measuring phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, is not the most suitable probe for the study of stored platelets because of calcium dependence and low sensitivity under 8% PS exposure. The aim of this study was to show lactadherin as a sensitive probe for PS exposure and an effective anticoagulant for stored platelets.

Materials and Methods  PS exposure and the associated procoagulant activity of platelets in 20 platelet concentrate units were investigated by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, coagulation time analysis and enzymatic assays. Annexin V and lactadherin were utilized separately in this study.

Results  Using lactadherin, we identified higher levels of PS exposure on the platelets and microparticles compared to detection using annexin V by flow cytometry. Lactadherin staining showed earlier PS exposure localized to platelets membrane in the earlier stage of storage. Subsequently, PS was distributed on the narrow rim of the plasma membrane and blebbing vesicles. Lactadherin or annexin V (32 nm) prolonged coagulation time 2·4 fold versus twofold. The production of thrombin and intrinsic/extrinsic factor Xase were inhibited approximately 85∼90% and 65∼70% by lactadherin and annexin V, respectively.

Conclusion  Lactadherin can provide the quantification and location of PS exposure on banked platelets in the absence of agonists. Furthermore, lactadherin is a more effective anticoagulant for inhibiting the procoagulant activity of stored platelets compared with annexin V.
Distribution of Diego blood group alleles and identification of four novel mutations on exon 19 of SLC4A1 gene in the Chinese Han population by polymerase chain reaction sequence–based typing
Authors: Xu X. G. , He J. , He Y. M. , Tao S. D. , Ying Y. L. , Zhu F. M. , Lv H. J. , Yan L. X.
Published: September 2010

Background  The Diego blood group system plays an important role in transfusion medicine. Genotyping of DI1 and DI2 alleles is helpful for the investigation into haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) and for the development of rare blood group databases. Here, we set up a polymerase chain reaction sequence–based typing (PCR‐SBT) method for genotyping of Diego blood group alleles.

Study Design and Methods  Specific primers for exon 19 of the solute carrier family 4, anion exchanger, member1 (SLC4A1) gene were designed, and our PCR‐SBT method was established and optimized for Diego genotyping. A total of 1053 samples from the Chinese Han population and the family members of a rare proband with DI1/DI1 genotype were investigated by the PCR‐SBT method. An allele‐specific primer PCR (PCR‐ASP) was used to verify the reliability of the PCR‐SBT method.

Results  The frequencies of DI1 and DI2 alleles in the Chinese Han population were 0·0247 and 0·9753, respectively. Six new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the sequenced regions of the SLC4A1 gene, and four novel SNPs located in the exon 19, in which one SNP could cause an amino acid alteration of Ala858Ser on erythrocyte anion exchanger protein 1. The genotypes for Diego blood group were identical among 41 selected samples with PCR‐ASP and PCR‐SBT.

Conclusion  The PCR‐SBT method can be used in Diego genotyping as a substitute of serological technique when the antisera is lacking and was suitable for screening large numbers of donors in rare blood group databases.
Functional analysis of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthase (SS) in sugarcane (Saccharum) cultivars
Authors: Verma A. K. , Upadhyay S. K. , Verma P. C. , Solomon S. , Singh S. B.
Published: August 2010

Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14) and sucrose synthase (SS; EC 2.4.1.13) are key enzymes in the synthesis and breakdown of sucrose in sugarcane. The activities of internodal SPS and SS, as well as transcript expression were determined using semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR at different developmental stages of high and low sucrose accumulating sugarcane cultivars. SPS activity and transcript expression was higher in mature internodes compared with immature internodes in all the studied cultivars. However, high sugar cultivars showed increased transcript expression and enzyme activity of SPS compared to low sugar cultivars at all developmental stages. SS activity was higher in immature internodes than in mature internodes in all cultivars; SS transcript expression showed a similar pattern. Our studies demonstrate that SPS activity was positively correlated with sucrose and negatively correlated with hexose sugars. However, SS activity was negatively correlated with sucrose and positively correlated with hexose sugars. The present study opens the possibility for improvement of sugarcane cultivars by increasing expression of the respective enzymes using transgene technology.
Neonatal community‐acquired pneumonia: Pathogens and treatment
Authors: Wang Hua , Tang Jun , Xiong Ying , Li Xihong , Gonzalez Fernando , Mu Dezhi
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To analyse the bacterial pathogens and drug sensitivities for neonatal community‐acquired pneumonia.

Methods:  Seven hundred sixty sputum samples from newborns with community‐acquired pneumonia were cultured to determine microbial organisms present and their drug sensitivities.

Results:  Of the 760 specimens, 425 grew pathogens for a 55.9% positive rate. Among the 425 positive cultures, 278 grew gram‐negative organisms (65.4%), 142 grew gram‐positive organisms (33.3%), while 5 grew fungus (1.3%). The most common gram‐negative organisms were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae, while the most common gram‐positive organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. To the gram‐negative organisms, the most sensitive drugs were meropenem, imipenem and amikacin, while to the gram‐positive ones were vancomycin, teicoplanin and quinupristin/dalfopristin.

Conclusions:  The most common causative bacteria were gram‐negative organisms, which were highly sensitive to Meropenem, Imipenem and Amikacin, yet often treatable with more focused antibiotic coverage, which depended on the bacterium identified.
Parent‐perceived barriers to participation in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Authors: Vogts Nicole , Mackey Anna H. , Ameratunga Shanthi , Stott N. Susan
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To pilot the use of the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) questionnaire to ascertain information regarding barriers to participation experienced by a sample of New Zealand children with cerebral palsy.

Methods:  The CHIEF questionnaire was administered to parents/caregivers of a consecutive sample of 32 children with cerebral palsy attending a paediatric tertiary clinic in Auckland. Twenty‐three children walked independently, 5 used walking aides and four used a wheelchair. Twenty‐four of the 32 parent‐respondents provided contextual feedback for their responses and wider issues relating to the topic.

Results:  The barriers to participation most commonly reported by parents were attitudes at school (72%) and in the community (56%), difficulties accessing personal equipment (59%), and the natural environment and built surroundings (56%). Contextual information from families generally supported their answers to the questionnaire but highlighted that some parents had confused the ‘not applicable’ and ‘never’ options. Discrepancy between scores on the policy‐related questions and later contextual feedback suggested that the policy subscale did not fully capture family concerns about limited availability of public funding for equipment, therapy, and educational support.

Conclusions:  The CHIEF instrument proved easy to use in a clinic setting. However, parent‐respondent feedback highlighted the difficulties in interpreting responses to some items when the instrument is used in isolation to quantify environmental barriers to participation. The results highlight the need to develop research approaches and tools that can explore barriers to participation by children with cerebral palsy taking account of socio‐economic and other relevant contextual information.
The social determinants of early child development: An overview
Authors: Maggi Stefania , Irwin Lori J. , Siddiqi Arjumand , Hertzman Clyde
Published: August 2010

Aim:  This paper offers an overview of the current state of knowledge of the critical social determinants of child development and the complex ways in which these can influence health trajectories.

Methods:  We conducted an overview of the research conducted by medical and social scientists in the attempt to uncover the conditions under which children reach optimal health and developmental.

Results:  The first years of life represent a critical period during which trajectories of health vulnerability are determined by the complex interplay between biological, genetic, and environmental conditions.

Conclusions:  There are fundamental principles of optimal child development that apply to all human beings, regardless of language and culture.
Interpersonal violence hospitalisations for adolescents: A population‐based study
Authors: Meuleners Lynn B , Lee Andy H , Hendrie Delia
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To investigate the incidence and nature of interpersonal violence hospitalisations for victims aged 11–18 years and to identify subgroups at risk of repeat hospital admissions.

Methods:  A population‐based, retrospective study of interpersonal violence from 1990 to 2004 was undertaken, using linked hospital morbidity and mental health records for adolescents in Western Australia.

Results:  A total of 3607 adolescents incurred 4094 violence hospitalisations during the study period. Of this cohort, 2992 (83%) were between 15 and 18 years of age. Younger victims aged 11–14 years with a previous mental illness admission were at increased risk of a subsequent hospitalisation for violence when compared to those without (hazard ratio (HR) 2.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83–4.31). Adolescents aged 15–18 years were at increased risk to incur a second violence episode if they were female (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.23–1.75), Indigenous (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.51–2.22), living in rural (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.26–2.04) or remote areas (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.56–2.47) and had a previous mental illness admission (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.30–1.86).

Conclusions:  The identification of victim subgroups at high risk of repeat hospitalisations is important for preventing interpersonal violence. Adolescents with a mental illness should be specifically targeted for attention.
Relationship between birth head circumference and adulthood quality of life in Chinese people
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhang Zhen‐xin , Han Shao‐mei , Hu Hong‐tao , Xiao Xin‐hua , Gong Xiao‐ming , Chen Xia , Wang Zi‐shi , Liu Ai‐min
Published: August 2010

Aim:  To determine the relationship between birth size and later QOL for Chinese people.

Methods:  Birth data of 1074 subjects were obtained from obstetric birth records of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All subjects are interviewed face to face with the 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey scale by trained investigators. Linear regression model was used to analyse the relationship between QOL and birth head circumference of the subjects after adjusting for the childhood and adulthood characteristics. The relationship was described with regression coefficients (B) and its 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results:  The mean weighted score of QOL was 88.1 ± 9.1, ranging from 76.8 to 100. Larger birth head circumference meant higher adulthood QOL total score (P= 0.001). After controlling the adulthood confounders, as compared to larger head circumference (≥33 cm), small (<31 cm) and medium head circumferences (31–33 cm) meant lower adulthood QOL scores (B=−2.356, P= 0.005 and B=−1.645, P= 0.014, respectively). The increase of head circumference by 1 cm was associated with 0.480 (95% CI: 0.141, 0.820) increase of QOL score after adjusting adulthood confounders (P= 0.006).

Conclusions:  This study validated the relationship between birth head circumference and QOL in later life. Smaller head circumference at birth could predict worse adulthood QOL at above 50 years old.
The effect and mechanism of action of carbocysteine on airway bacterial load in rats chronically exposed to cigarette smoke
Authors: SUN Li , TANG Lifeng , XU Yan , WANG Shouqin , LI Yaming , KANG Jian
Published: August 2010

Background and objective:  Carbocysteine (S‐carboxymethylcysteine) is a mucoactive drug with in vitro free radical scavenging and anti‐inflammatory properties. Several clinical trials have indicated that carbocysteine reduces exacerbation rates in COPD. In the present study, the effect of carbocysteine on the airway load of Haemophilus influenzae was assessed in rats chronically exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). In addition, the effects of carbocysteine on airway mucus hypersecretion and mucociliary clearance (MCC) associated with the adherence and clearance of H. influenzae were investigated.

Methods:  Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, carbocysteine vehicle, CS exposure and carbocysteine treatment groups. After 12 weeks, rats were selected for quantitative inoculation of H. influenzae. BAL fluid and lungs were collected aseptically after 3 h for quantitative culture of H. influenzae. MCC was measured by quantifying the clearance of 99mTc‐Sc. Goblet cell metaplasia and the presence of mucoid matter were evaluated by Alcian blue/periodic acid‐Schiff staining. Mucin 5AC (Muc5AC) expression was detected by western blotting and real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR.

Results:  Exposure to CS increased airway H. influenzae load, aggravated mucus hypersecretion and delayed MCC. Treatment with carbocysteine decreased airway H. influenzae load, and attenuated airway mucus hypersecretion, with improved MCC associated with adherence and clearance of H. influenzae.

Conclusions:  These results suggest that carbocysteine may be beneficial in patients with COPD by increasing the clearance of bacteria and decreasing bacterial load.
Osteopontin levels are elevated in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: UENO Takuya , MIYAZAKI Eishi , ANDO Masaru , NUREKI Shin‐ichi , KUMAMOTO Toshihide
Published: August 2010

Background and objective:  Osteopontin is a key cytokine involved in pro‐inflammatory T helper type 1 (Th1)‐associated immune responses, which has recently been implicated in allergic diseases. We investigated the pathogenic role of osteopontin in eosinophilic pneumonia.

Methods:  The concentrations of osteopontin and Th1‐ or Th2‐associated cytokines were measured in BAL fluid (BALF) from 41 patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, including those with acute (AEP, n = 12), chronic (CEP, n = 16), or drug‐induced eosinophilic pneumonia (DEP, n = 13). The results were compared with those from patients with other interstitial lung diseases. Immunocytochemistry and double immunofluorescence labelling were performed to determine the cellular source of osteopontin.

Results:  Osteopontin was significantly elevated in BALF from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia as compared with BALF from patients with drug‐induced interstitial pneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, or sarcoidosis, and also compared with BALF from healthy volunteers. Osteopontin concentrations elevated at the time of exacerbation decreased during clinical improvement, either spontaneously or as a result of corticosteroid therapy. Elevated concentrations of CXCL10, CCL17 and IL‐10 were also detected in BALF from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia. Osteopontin concentrations in BALF of AEP patients were correlated with IL‐5, as well as IL‐10, CCL11, CCL17 and CXCL10 concentrations. In AEP and DEP patients, serum osteopontin concentrations were also elevated. Double immunofluorescence labelling showed that in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia, osteopontin was expressed in lung eosinophils.

Conclusions:  Osteopontin is likely to contribute to the development of inflammation in patients with eosinophilic pneumonia.
Validation of five contemporary prognostication systems for primary pancreatic endocrine neoplasms: results from a single institution experience with 61 surgically treated cases
Authors: Goh Brian K. P. , Chow Pierce K. H. , Tan Yu‐Meng , Cheow Peng‐Chung , Chung Yaw‐Fui A. , Soo Khee‐Chee , Wong Wai‐Keong , Ooi London L.P. J.
Published: August 2010

Background:  Presently, several systems for the prognostication of pancreatic endocrine neoplasms (PENs) exist and the most appropriate classification system has not been clearly defined. This study aims to validate the performance of the 2004 World Health Organization (WHO), European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), American Joint Committee for Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging and Bilimoria criteria in a cohort of patients with PENs who underwent surgery at a single institution.

Methods:  This study is a retrospective review of 61 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for PEN. Actuarial disease‐specific survival (DSS) of all 61 patients and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) of 53 patients who had curative resection were analysed.

Results:  On univariate analyses, tumour size ≥50 mm, non‐curative resection, lymph node involvement, presence of distant metastases, presence of necrosis, mitotic count ≥2/10 hpf and poor differentiation were associated with decreased DSS. Tumour size ≥50 mm, lymph node involvement, lymphovascular invasion, presence of necrosis and mitotic count ≥2/10 hpf were associated with decreased actuarial RFS. All five staging systems were useful in stratifying the 61 patients according to actuarial DSS. However, the MSKCC grading and ENETS grading systems were not statistically significant in stratifying DSS in the 61 patients. In the 53 patients who underwent curative resection, the WHO, ENETS, MSKCC, AJCC staging and the MSKCC grading systems were successful in stratifying the patients according to actuarial RFS. However, the Bilimoria scoring and ENETS grading systems were not useful in prognosticating these 53 patients.

Conclusion:  All five classification systems were useful for the prognostication of surgically treated PENs in our patient cohort.
Mitochondrial haplogroups associated with lifestyle‐related diseases and longevity in the Japanese population
Authors: Nishigaki Yutaka , Fuku Noriyuki , Tanaka Masashi
Published: September 2010

Recently published results on the association between metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction or atherothrombotic cerebral infarction and Japanese major haplogroups based on the comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial genome polymorphisms (mtSNP) in the coding region of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and longevity‐related haplogroups are described in the present review. Our aim was to provide information that would allow us to predict the genetic risk for lifestyle‐related diseases and thereby contribute to the primary prevention of these conditions. The mitochondrial genome variation is so large that a given haplogroup might consist of various subhaplogroups carrying unique and presumably functional mtSNP. The frequency of each subhaplogroup is sometimes only a few percent. Therefore, large‐scale association study is necessary for elucidating the impact of each subhaplogroup on the susceptibility to various common diseases. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2010; 10 (Suppl. 1): S221–S235.
Calcium dependence of the priming, activation and inactivation of ryanodine receptors in frog motor nerve terminals
Authors: Soga‐Sakakibara Satoko , Kubota Masakazu , Suzuki Sinichi , Akita Tenpei , Narita Kazuhiko , Kuba Kenji
Published: August 2010

We studied the effects of varying extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) and Ca2+ channel density and intracellular loading of Ca2+ chelators on stimulation‐induced rises in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in frog motor nerve terminals with Ca2+ imaging. The slowly waxing and waning components of rises in [Ca2+]i induced by repetitive tetani were suppressed by blockers of Ca2+ pumps of the endoplasmic reticulum (thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid) and a blocker of ryanodine receptors [8‐(N,N‐diethylamino)octyl 3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride] without affecting the initial quickly‐rising component, thus reflecting the priming (and then subsequent rapid activation) and inactivation phases of Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release (CICR) from the endoplasmic reticulum. A short tetanus‐induced rise in [Ca2+]i was proportional to [Ca2+]o, whereas the component of CICR was non‐linearly related to [Ca2+]o with saturation at 0.9 mm. The progressive blockade of Ca2+ channels by ω‐conotoxin GVIA caused proportional decreases in CICR and short tetanus‐induced [Ca2+]i rises. Intracellular loading of BAPTA and EGTA reduced the magnitude of CICR as well as short tetanus‐induced rises in [Ca2+]i with a greater effect of BAPTA than EGTA on CICR. The time to peak and the half decay time of CICR were prolonged by a low [Ca2+]o or Ca2+ channel blocker or [Ca2+]i chelators. These results suggest that ryanodine receptors sense the high [Ca2+]i transient following single action potentials for triggering CICR, whereas the priming and inactivation processes of CICR sense a slower, persisting rise in [Ca2+]i during and after action potential trains. A model is presented that includes CICR activation in elementary units.
A comparative molecular analysis of water‐filled limestone sinkholes in north‐eastern Mexico
Authors: Sahl Jason W. , Gary Marcus O. , Harris J. Kirk , Spear John R.
Published: August 2010

Sistema Zacatón in north‐eastern Mexico is host to several deep, water‐filled, anoxic, karstic sinkholes (cenotes). These cenotes were explored, mapped, and geochemically and microbiologically sampled by the autonomous underwater vehicle deep phreatic thermal explorer (DEPTHX). The community structure of the filterable fraction of the water column and extensive microbial mats that coat the cenote walls was investigated by comparative analysis of small‐subunit (SSU) 16S rRNA gene sequences. Full‐length Sanger gene sequence analysis revealed novel microbial diversity that included three putative bacterial candidate phyla and three additional groups that showed high intra‐clade distance with poorly characterized bacterial candidate phyla. Limited functional gene sequence analysis in these anoxic environments identified genes associated with methanogenesis, sulfate reduction and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. A directed, barcoded amplicon, multiplex pyrosequencing approach was employed to compare ∼100 000 bacterial SSU gene sequences from water column and wall microbial mat samples from five cenotes in Sistema Zacatón. A new, high‐resolution sequence distribution profile (SDP) method identified changes in specific phylogenetic types (phylotypes) in microbial mats at varied depths; Mantel tests showed a correlation of the genetic distances between mat communities in two cenotes and the geographic location of each cenote. Community structure profiles from the water column of three neighbouring cenotes showed distinct variation; statistically significant differences in the concentration of geochemical constituents suggest that the variation observed in microbial communities between neighbouring cenotes are due to geochemical variation.
Sensing of environmental signals: classification of chemoreceptors according to the size of their ligand binding regions
Authors: Lacal Jesús , García‐Fontana Cristina , Muñoz‐Martínez Francisco , Ramos Juan‐Luis , Krell Tino
Published: August 2010

Central to the different forms of taxis are methyl‐accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). The increasing number of genome sequences reveals that MCPs differ enormously in sequence, topology and genomic abundance. This work is a one‐by‐one bioinformatic analysis of the almost‐totality of MCP genes available and a classification of motile bacteria according to their lifestyle. On average, motile archaea have 6.7 MCP genes per genome whereas motile bacteria have more than twice as much. We show that the number of MCPs per genome depends on bacterial lifestyle and metabolic diversity, but weakly on genome size. Signal perception at an MCP occurs at the N‐terminal ligand binding region (LBR). Here we show that around 88% of MCPs possess an LBR that remains un‐annotated in SMART. MCPs can be classified into two clusters according to the size of the LBR. Cluster I receptors have an LBR between 120 and 210 amino acids whereas cluster II receptors have larger LBRs of 220–299 amino acids. There is evidence that suggests that some cluster II LBRs are composed of two cluster I LBRs. Further evidence indicates that other cluster II LBRs might harbour novel sensor domains. Cluster II receptors are dominant in archaea whereas cluster I receptors are prevalent in bacteria. MCPs can be classified into six different receptor topologies and this work contains a first estimation of the relative abundance of different receptor topologies in bacteria and archaea. Topologies involving extracytoplasmic sensing are prevalent in bacteria whereas topologies with cytosolic signal recognition are abundant in archaea.
Bleeding after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: Lessons learned the hard way
Authors: Martin Aaron D. , Nunez Rafael N. , Humphreys Mitchell R.
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate is rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative and in some institutions a replacement for standard transurethral resection of the prostate. It has been proven to have at least equivalent outcomes to the TURP and noted to be exceptionally hemostatic. This study shares some caveats regarding bleeding after HoLEP.

OBJECTIVE

To examine specific causes of postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in order to enhance preoperative screening and counseling.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a retrospective review of a single surgeon’s experience of 130 consecutive HoLEPs was performed to specifically examine patients requiring perioperative blood transfusions. All patients from August 2007 to April 2009 who underwent a HoLEP at our institution since its inception were included. These patients’ charts were reviewed to gain insight into their bleeding diathesis. A case series report was compiled and compared with the relevant published literature.

RESULTS

Of the 130 patients, eight (6.7%) were found to require transfusion postoperatively. Four of these patients required a second operation for completion. These patients had a variety of causes for increased bleeding and subsequent transfusion including: chronic anticoagulation (n = 1), significant cardiac disease requiring maintenance of hemoglobin (n = 4), sepsis with secondary disseminated intravascular coagulation (n = 1), large prostate size (>150 g) (n = 4), underlying prostate cancer (n = 1) and inadequate anesthesia during the procedure leading to patient movement (n = 1). All patients made a full recovery with satisfactory urinary symptom improvement except for one patient with residual incontinence at last follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the many benefits of holmium laser enucleation, all patients should be counseled regarding the real potential for postoperative blood transfusion. When feasible, any known bleeding risk should be minimized by the surgeon as long it is done safely for the benefit of the patient considering their co‐morbidities.
Urinary nerve growth factor in women with overactive bladder syndrome
Authors: Liu Hsin‐Tzu , Chen Chia‐Yen , Kuo Hann‐Chorng
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Urinary nerve growth factor levels were higher in women with OAB‐dry and OAB‐wet compared to the controls. The link between female OAB and risk factors such as obesity and menopause has not been determined yet.

This study found ageing, menopause, or higher BMI did not influence the urinary NGF levels in OAB women. Higher urinary NGF levels in OAB women could be an inflammatory disorder unrelated to ageing or obesity.

OBJECTIVE

• To measure urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) in women with overactive bladder (OAB)‐dry and OAB‐wet and investigate the association of urinary NGF expression with these factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• Differentiation between OAB‐wet and OAB‐dry was based on symptoms and a 3‐day voiding diary.

• Urinary NGF levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

• The urinary NGF levels were compared among controls, OAB‐dry and OAB‐wet subgroups, and also between OAB patients ≥55 years and <55 years, as well as between patients with a body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) <20, 20–30 and >30.

RESULTS

• A total of 113 women with OAB‐dry, 106 with OAB‐wet and 84 controls were enrolled. The urinary NGF/creatinine (Cr) levels were significantly highest in OAB‐wet (2.13 ± 3.87) and second highest in OAB‐dry (0.265 ± 0.59) compared to controls (0.07 ± 0.21).

• Analysis of urinary NGF or NGF/Cr levels among controls, OAB‐dry and OAB‐wet groups by age and BMI showed no significant differences, except for the OAB‐dry group.

• Urinary NGF/Cr was not significantly correlated with age (P= 0.088) or BMI (P= 0.886) in women with OAB‐dry and OAB‐wet.

CONCLUSIONS

• Urinary NGF levels were significantly higher in women with OAB‐dry and even higher in women with OAB‐wet.

• The urinary NGF level was not associated with ageing, menopause or higher BMI either in controls or OAB patients.
An exploration of knowledge and attitudes related to pre‐pregnancy care in women with diabetes
Authors: Spence M. , Alderdice F. A. , Harper R. , McCance D. R. , Holmes V. A.
Published: September 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 1385–1391 (2010)

Aims  Pre‐pregnancy care optimizes pregnancy outcome in women with pre‐gestational diabetes, yet most women enter pregnancy unprepared. We sought to determine knowledge and attitudes of women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes of childbearing age towards pre‐pregnancy care.

Methods  Twenty‐four women (18 with Type 1 diabetes and six with Type 2 diabetes) aged 17–40 years took part in one of four focus group sessions: young nulliparous women with Type 1 diabetes (Group A), older nulliparous women with Type 1 diabetes (Group B), parous women with Type 1 diabetes (Group C) and women with Type 2 diabetes of mixed parity (Group D).

Results  Content analysis of transcribed focus groups revealed that, while women were well informed about the need to plan pregnancy, awareness of the rationale for planning was only evident in parous women or those who had actively sought pre‐pregnancy advice. Within each group, there was uncertainty about what pre‐pregnancy advice entailed. Despite many women reporting positive healthcare experiences, frequently cited barriers to discussing issues around family planning included unsupportive staff, busy clinics and perceived social stereotypes held by health professionals.

Conclusions  Knowledge and attitudes reported in this study highlight the need for women with diabetes, regardless of age, marital status or type of diabetes, to receive guidance about planning pregnancy in a motivating, positive and supportive manner. The important patient viewpoints expressed in this study may help health professionals determine how best to encourage women to avail of pre‐pregnancy care.
JUSTIFYING A POLICY MIX FOR POLLUTION CONTROL: A REVIEW OF ECONOMIC LITERATURE
Authors: Lehmann Paul
Published: September 2010

AbstractThis paper provides a review of economic studies analysing the use of multiple policies – a so‐called policy mix – to cope with single pollution problems. To guide and structure the review, an analytical framework is developed and applied. The framework integrates transaction costs into the analysis of pollution problems and policies to overcome them. Moreover, it understands a pollution externality not only as a market failure but more generally as the failure of private governance structures. Based on this insight, two rationales for using a policy mix are identified. First, a policy mix may help to correct for multiple reinforcing failures of private governance structures, such as pollution externalities and technological spillovers. Second, a policy mix can be employed if the implementation of single first‐best policies brings about high transaction costs, e.g. when marginal pollution damages are heterogeneous or polluters are unlikely to comply with the policy. For each rationale, the relevant literature is presented. Based on the review, avenues for future research are identified.
Phospholipid and triacylglycerol profiles modified by PLD suppression in soybean seed
Authors: Lee Junghoon , Welti Ruth , Schapaugh William T. , Trick Harold N.
Published: August 2010

Phospholipase D (PLD) is capable of hydrolyzing membrane phospholipids, producing phosphatidic acid. To alter phospholipid profiles in soybean seed, we attenuated PLD enzyme activity by an RNA interference construct using the partial sequence from a soybean PLDα gene. Two transgenic soybean lines were established by particle inflow gun (PIG) bombardment by co‐bombarding with pSPLDi and pHG1 vectors. The lines were evaluated for the presence and expression of transgenes thoroughly through the T4 generation. PLD‐suppressed soybean lines were characterized by decreased PLDα enzyme activity and decreased PLDα protein both during seed development and in mature seeds. There was no change in total phospholipid amount; however, the PLD‐attenuated transgenic soybean seed had higher levels of di18 : 2 (dilinoleoyl)‐phosphatidylcholine (PC) and ‐phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in seeds than the non‐transgenic lines. The increased polyunsaturation was at the expense of PC and PE species containing monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids. In addition to increased unsaturation in the phospholipids, there was a decrease in unsaturation of the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction of the soybean seeds. Considering recent evidence for the notion that desaturation of fatty acids occurs in the PC fraction and that the PC → DAG (diacylglycerol) → TAG pathway is the major route of TAG biosynthesis in developing soybean seed, the current data suggest that PLDα suppression slows the conversion of PC to TAG. This would be consistent with PLD playing a positive role in that conversion. The data indicate that soybean PLD attenuation is a potentially useful approach to altering properties of edible and industrial soybean lecithin.
Getting ‘Lucky’ with Gettier
Authors: Church Ian M.
Published: August 2010

Abstract: In this paper I add credence to Linda Zagzebski's (1994) diagnosis of Gettier problems (and the current trend to abandon the standard analysis) by analyzing the nature of luck. It is widely accepted that the lesson to be learned from Gettier problems is that knowledge is incompatible with luck or at least a certain species thereof. As such, understanding the nature of luck is central to understanding the Gettier problem. Thanks by and large to Duncan Pritchard's seminal work, Epistemic Luck, a great deal of literature has been developed recently concerning the nature of luck and anti‐luck epistemology. The literature, however, has yet to explore the very intuitive idea that luck comes in degrees. I propose that once luck is recognized to admit degrees even the slightest non‐zero degree (of the relevant sort) precludes knowledge. Connecting this to Zagzebski's thesis, I propose that a given theory of warrant must guarantee truth in order to avoid Gettier counterexamples (or subsequently deny that warrant bears any relationship to the truth whatsoever), simply because a sufficient standard analysis of knowledge cannot allow for knowledge that is even marginally lucky.
Prevalence of benign cutaneous disease among Oxford renal transplant recipients
Authors: Lally A , Casabonne D , Imko‐Walczuk B , Newton R , Wojnarowska F
Published: August 2010

Background  The burden of malignant and benign cutaneous disease among renal transplant recipients (RTR) is substantial. Little attention is given to non‐malignant skin problems in the literature despite their potential impact on quality of life or on aesthetics – which may contribute to poor compliance with immunosuppressive medications post‐transplantation.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to examine prevalence of benign cutaneous disease in a group of RTRs and identify risk factors for individual cutaneous conditions.

Methods  All cutaneous findings were recorded in a single full body skin examination of 308 RTRs. Data on medical, transplant and medication history were obtained from questionnaire and medical records. Odds ratios were calculated to look at associations between benign cutaneous diseases and various potential risk factors after controlling for gender, age, time since transplantation and skin type.

Results  Cutaneous infections such as viral warts (38%), fungal infection (18%) and folliculitis (27%) were common and usually chronic. A range of pilosebaceous unit disorders were observed with hypertrichosis being strongly associated with ciclosporin (P < 0.0001). Other iatrogenic cutaneous effects included gingival hyperplasia (27%) and purpura (41%). We identified seborrhoeic warts and skin tags in 55% and 33% respectively. Inflammatory dermatoses were rare (< 2%) apart from seborrhoeic dermatitis (9.5%).

Discussion  In this first comprehensive study on prevalence of benign cutaneous diseases in a UK transplant population, a wide range of skin disorders was identified. It is therefore important that RTRs have access to dermatology services post‐transplantation for appropriate management of benign cutaneous conditions as well as early detection of cutaneous malignancy and education regarding risks of sun exposure.