bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Silver nitrate cauterisation, does concentration matter?
Authors: M. Amin , F. Glynn , S. Phelan , P. Sheahan , P. Crotty , D. McShane
Published: June 2007

Keypoints

• Epistaxis from the anterior septum is frequently treated with a topical application of silver nitrate. There are two concentrations commercially available and in use by otolaryngologists, these are 75% and 95% silver nitrate. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the histological effect of the two different silver nitrate concentrations on mucosal tissue at a fixed contact time of 5 s.

• Twelve children undergoing routine tonsillectomy were included in this study. Prominent blood vessels on the mucosal surface of the tonsils were identified and a single vessel on each tonsil was selected for application of either 75% or 95% concentration of silver nitrate for 5 s.

• Depth of penetration across the tonsil tissue was measured following application of the two different silver nitrate concentrations.

• This study demonstrated a significant difference in depth of tissue penetration with the 95% averaging a twofold increase in penetration depth.

• It is likely that the increased depth of penetration with 95% silver nitrate may increase the risk of complication of nasal cautery such as septal perforation, particularly in patients undergoing repeated or bilateral nasal cautery.
Primary hyperparathyroidism: do perioperative biochemical variables correlate with parathyroid adenoma weight or volume?
Authors: Randhawa P.S. , Mace A.D. , Nouraei S.A.R. , Stearns M.P.
Published: June 2007

Objectives:  To investigate the relationship between clinical variables and biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis and parathyroid adenoma size, in patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. To determine the potential clinical utility of the findings in preoperative planning and prediction of postoperative hypocalcaemia.

Design:  Retrospective data analysis.

Participants:  Ninety‐two patients treated surgically for primary hyperparathyroidism caused by a solitary parathyroid adenoma between 1996 and 2006.

Main outcome measures:  Complete data was obtained for 77 participants including patient demographics, perioperative calcium, parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels, adenoma weight and histological dimensions. Multiple and binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between clinical and biochemical variables and adenoma weight and volume. Similar analysis was used to identify predictors of postoperative hypocalcaemia.

Setting:  University Teaching Hospital Otolaryngology Department.

Results:  The mean age at presentation was 59 years. The mean preoperative calcium and PTH levels were 2.86 ± 0.2 mmol/L and 17.2 ± 12.3 ng/L, respectively, falling to 2.3 ± 0.01 and 4.1 ± 2.7 postoperatively. The mean adenoma weight was 1.71 ± 1.41 g. No correlation existed between clinical variables and preoperative biochemical markers of calcium homeostasis and adenoma weight or volume. There was a weak correlation between the preoperative to postoperative change in calcium and PTH levels {[δCa2+] vs. [δPTH]} (r = 0.24; P < 0.05) but no predictors of postoperative hypocalcaemia could be identified.

Conclusions:  Biochemical parameters will not accurately predict the size of a parathyroid adenoma. The size of a parathyroid adenoma does not correlate with postoperative calcium levels and is therefore not useful as a predictor of postoperative hypocalcaemia.
Spatial and temporal variation in brook trout and brown trout proportional stock densities in Wisconsin streams
Authors: Fayram A. H.
Published: June 2007

Abstract  Proper interpretation of measures used to describe fish populations requires knowledge of the measure's inherent spatial and temporal variation. Proportional stock density (PSD), the ratio of ‘quality‐length’ fish to ‘stock‐length’ fish multiplied by 100, is commonly used as a measure of population size structure; PSD values range from 0 to 100. Spatial and temporal variation in brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), and brown trout Salmo trutta L., PSD scores in Wisconsin are described and tested to determine if variation differed by stream order and ecoregion. Neither stream order nor ecoregion significantly affected variation of PSD scores. The mean standard deviation of PSD scores over time at a site was 12.49 for brook trout populations and 12.95 for brown trout populations. The mean standard deviation of PSD scores between sites in the same stream was 15.07 for brook trout populations and 12.50 for brown trout populations. Sampling frequency required to characterise a PSD score of a single population of trout in Wisconsin streams with a degree of precision equal to the amount of observed temporal variation is approximately 14 sites for brook trout and 20 sites for brown trout.
Foraging tactics in alternative heterochronic salamander morphs: trophic quality of ponds matters more than water permanency
Authors: DENOEL MATHIEU , WHITEMAN HOWARD H , WISSINGER SCOTT A.
Published: June 2007

1. In lentic freshwater habitats, the composition of animal assemblages shifts along a gradient from temporary to permanent basins. When habitats with different degrees of permanence are at the scale of the home range of species, they constitute alternatives in terms of energy acquisition through feeding.

2. In this context, previous studies showed an advantage of metamorphic over paedomorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) in temporary ponds which are only available to metamorphs. The aim of this study was to establish whether salamanders obtain similar benefits in ponds that do not differ in water permanence and whether salamanders shifted from detrimental to advantageous ponds. To this end, we determined the feeding habits, body condition and movement patterns of the two morphs in a complex of four permanent and four temporary ponds.

3. Consistent with previous studies, metamorphs consumed higher‐quality diets than paedomorphs in term of energy intake. However, these differences occurred because metamorphs consumed fairy shrimp in a single temporary pond. Individual movement patterns confirmed that most of the metamorphs used different aquatic habitats both within and between years and that most of them moved from permanent ponds for breeding towards the most profitable temporary pond in terms of foraging.

4. These results indicate that habitat selection by salamanders is optimal in term of energy intake in metamorphs that use high quality ponds independently of hydroperiod. It seems that both spatial and temporal variation can influence the relative foraging success of each morph.
RNA polymerase I transcription obstructs condensin association with 35S rRNA coding regions and can cause contraction of long repeat in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Johzuka Katsuki , Horiuchi Takashi
Published: June 2007

In many eukaryotic cells, the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) is composed of a highly repetitive structure. Previously, we reported the isolation of condensin mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that were defective in carrying long rDNA repeat due to the loss of the replication fork barrier (RFB) protein Fob1p; thus the repeat in the mutants were dramatically contracted. The reintroduction of the FOB1 gene suppressed the contraction of the repeat. It was found that condensin mainly localized at the RFB site in a FOB1‐dependent fashion. Here, we show that RNA polymerase I transcription interferes with condensin association with 35S rRNA coding regions in fob1 cells and causes dramatic contraction of rDNA repeat in the fob1 condensin double mutant. Inactivation of RNA polymerase I suppresses the dramatic contraction of the rDNA repeat in the fob1 condensin double mutant. These results suggest that association of condensin with the RFB site outside the active transcription region avoids the dramatic contraction of the rDNA repeat. We also found that the stimulation of RNA polymerase II transcription within the rDNA repeat decreased condensin association with actively transcribed regions. Thus, a characteristic of condensin is that its association with the chromatin is interfered by transcription.
Physical and functional interaction between mortalin and Mps1 kinase
Authors: Kanai Masayuki , Ma Zhiyong , Izumi Hideki , Kim Song‐Hee , Mattison Christopher P. , Winey Mark , Fukasawa Kenji
Published: June 2007

Mortalin is a member of Hsp70 chaperoning protein family involved in various cellular functions. Through the search of the kinases that mortalin physically interact with, we identified Mps1 as such a kinase. Mps1 kinase has been implicated in the regulation of centrosome duplication and mitotic checkpoint response. Mortalin binds to Mps1, and is phosphorylated by Mps1 on Thr62 and Ser65. The phosphorylated mortalin then super‐activates Mps1 in a feedback manner. Mortalin has been previously shown to localize to centrosomes, and to be involved in the regulation of centrosome duplication. We found that centrosomal localization of mortalin depends on the presence of Mps1. Moreover, Mps1‐associated acceleration of centrosome duplication depends on the presence of mortalin and super‐activation by the Thr62/Ser65 phosphorylated mortalin.
Meeting Report: Ninth and Tenth Workshops of the European Paediatric Network for Haemophilia Management (PedNet)
Authors: KURNIK K. , THOMAS A. E. ,   ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN PAEDIATRIC NETWORK FOR HAEMOPHILIA MANAGEMENT (PEDNET)
Published: June 2007

Summary.  This meeting report presents an overview of the discussions at the ninth and tenth workshops of the European Paediatric Network for Haemophilia Management (PedNet) that occurred in 2005 and 2006. Among numerous topics, a major theme of these workshops was the formation of inhibitors to replacement factor.
A subgroup of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with an infiltrating replacement growth pattern and a resemblance to reactive proliferating bile ductules: ‘bile ductular carcinoma’
Authors: Kozaka K , Sasaki M , Fujii T , Harada K , Zen Y , Sato Y , Sawada S , Minato H , Matsui O , Nakanuma Y
Published: June 2007

Aims:  The histogenesis and biological behaviour of peripheral intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (peripheral CC) remain unclarified. The aim of this study was to examine the growth pattern of peripheral CC (24 cases) in comparison with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 27 cases) and metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma (MCA, 24 cases).

Methods and results:  Tumour/surrounding liver borders were classified as: (i) fibrous encapsulation, (ii) compressive growth, and (iii) infiltrating replacement. Nineteen of 24 peripheral CCs showed (iii), whereas 23 of 27 HCCs showed (i) and 17 of 24 MCAs showed (ii). In (iii), carcinoma cells infiltrated the surrounding liver without compression, and hepatic supporting vascular structures such as portal tracts were secondarily incorporated into the tumour. In (i) and (ii), the surrounding liver was compressed and no or few portal tracts were incorporated within the tumour. Fifteen of 24 peripheral CCs were composed of carcinoma cells resembling reactive bile ductules and these cells were positive for neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), a marker of proliferating bile ductules. The remaining nine peripheral CCs were composed of ordinary adenocarcinoma and negative for NCAM.

Conclusions:  A subgroup of peripheral CCs with an infiltrating replacement growth pattern resembles reactive bile ductules and expresses NCAM. ‘Bile ductular carcinoma’ may be a better term for this subgroup.
Not all free‐living microorganisms have cosmopolitan distributions – the case ofNebela (Apodera) vasCertes (Protozoa: Amoebozoa: Arcellinida)
Authors: Smith Humphrey G. , Wilkinson David M.
Published: June 2007

Aim To review and critically assess the evidence that the testate amoeba speciesNebela vasdoes not have a cosmopolitan distribution, in contradiction to the paradigm of microbial distribution that ‘everything is everywhere’.

Location Terrestrial and wetland habitats world‐wide.

Methods Relevant data were assembled on the morphology, ecology and global geographical distribution ofN. vasfrom a comprehensive literature review of published original records. The data were collated, analysed and summarized. The roles of long‐term and short‐term agents of dispersal are discussed.

Results A clear and repeated pattern has been elucidated of a microbial species, with a distinctive and unmistakeable morphology, that inhabits acid, damp terrestrial and wetland habitats in the southern cool‐temperate and sub‐Antarctic zones – including similar high‐altitude habitats in the Tropics. It is almost entirely confined to the Gondwanaland continents and Southern Hemisphere islands. It is definitively absent from Holarctic regions. It is proposed that the continental distribution ofN. vasis a consequence of continental drift following its original speciation in the Mesozoic or earlier, whereas its distribution on sub‐Antarctic islands (glaciated in the Pleistocene) has been effected by dispersal from South America by wind around the Southern Ocean.

Main conclusion Nebela vasis a proven instance of a microbial species that does not have a cosmopolitan distribution.
Oestrogen Regulates the Expression and Function of Dopamine Transporters in Astrocytes of the Nigrostriatal System
Authors: Karakaya S. , Kipp M. , Beyer C.
Published: June 2007

Dopamine is actively and specifically eliminated from the extracellular space by astrocytes and neurones through dopamine transporters (DAT) and, afterwards, either recycled into vesicles or metabolised. The availability of dopamine reflects a critical point in the regulation of dopamine activity within the nigrostriatal circuit under normal and pathological conditions. From previous studies, we know that oestrogen regulates the efficacy of dopaminergic neurones at the synaptic level and improves dopamine function during Parkinson's disease. Accordingly, we investigated the contribution of local astroglial for extracellular dopamine elimination and the impact of oestrogen on DAT expression and activity. Using neonatal striatal and midbrain astrocyte cultures, we could demonstrate that astrocytes possess a specific dopamine uptake machinery and express DAT at considerable levels. The application of 17β‐oestradiol decreased the expression of DAT by 80% and 60% in midbrain and striatal astroglia cultures, respectively. The unspecific dopamine transporters (OCT3, VMAT2) were not detected in astroglia. Functionally, oestrogen exposure inhibited the clearance of dopamine from the extracellular space by 45% and 35% compared to controls in midbrain and striatal astroglia, respectively. The effect on DAT expression and activity was completely antagonised by the oestrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182 780. In conclusion, our data suggest that the positive reinforcement of dopamine transmission under physiological conditions and the alleviative impact of oestrogen under pathological conditions may be the result of a decline in DAT expression and therefore delayed dopamine uptake by astroglia.
Structure, castability and mechanical properties of commercially pure and alloyed titanium cast in graphite mould
Authors: CHENG W. W. , JU C. P. , LIN J. H. CHERN
Published: June 2007

summary 

 This report is a study of structure, castability, mechanical properties as well as corrosion behaviour of titanium doped with up to 5 weight percentage (wt%) of a series of alloy elements, including Ta, Mo, Nb, Hf, Zr, Sn, Bi and Ag. The results indicate that, with addition of 1 wt% alloy element, Bi and Mo were most effective in enhancing the castability of titanium. With more alloy elements added, the castability values of most alloys more or less decreased. Except Ti–Mo system, all Ti alloys with a fine acicular morphology had the same crystal structure (hcp) as that of c.p. Ti with a typical lath type morphology. When 3 wt% or more Mo was added, a finer orthorhombic α’’ phase was formed. The microhardness and bending strength values of Ti alloys were all higher than those of c.p. Ti. Among all alloys, Ti–Mo system exhibited the highest hardness and strength level. For a certain alloy, the bending strength did not necessarily increase with its alloy content. Except Ti‐5Zr and Ti–Mo alloys, the bending moduli of most alloy systems were not much different from that of c.p. Ti. All alloys showed an excellent resistance to corrosion in Hanks’ solution at 37 °C.
The effect of core framework designs on the fracture loads of all‐ceramic fixed partial dentures on posterior implants
Authors: KOKUBO Y. , TSUMITA M. , SAKURAI S. , TORIZUKA K. , STEYERN P. VULT VON , FUKUSHIMA S.
Published: June 2007

summary  This study evaluated the fracture loads of three‐unit all‐ceramic bridges on implants; the core frameworks of the bridges were made of zirconium oxide. Three core framework designs were fabricated according to the design of the bars between the retainers: (i) straight, (ii) curved in the occlusal direction, or (iii) curved in the gingival direction. A static load was applied at the centre of the pontic, and the mean initial crack and final fracture loads were measured and compared. The core framework curved in the occlusal direction had the highest final fracture loads; there were significant differences (P < 0·05) in the mean final fracture load, whereas initial fracture load, which fractured of veneered porcelain, did not show significant differences among three designs. The all‐ceramic bridges on the implants made with Procera zirconium core frameworks had high final fracture load. The core framework design that curved in the occlusal direction helped the framework withstand the occlusal load, which results in reliable prostheses, especially in the molar region.
Type VI secretion is a major virulence determinant in Burkholderia mallei
Authors: Schell Mark A. , Ulrich Ricky L. , Ribot Wilson J. , Brueggemann Ernst E. , Hines Harry B. , Chen Dan , Lipscomb Lyla , Kim H. Stanley , Mrázek Jan , Nierman William C. , DeShazer David
Published: June 2007

Burkholderia mallei is a host‐adapted pathogen and a category B biothreat agent. Although the B. mallei VirAG two‐component regulatory system is required for virulence in hamsters, the virulence genes it regulates are unknown. Here we show with expression profiling that overexpression of virAG resulted in transcriptional activation of ∼60 genes, including some involved in capsule production, actin‐based intracellular motility, and type VI secretion (T6S). The 15 genes encoding the major sugar component of the homopolymeric capsule were up‐expressed > 2.5‐fold, but capsule was still produced in the absence of virAG. Actin tail formation required virAG as well as bimB, bimC and bimE, three previously uncharacterized genes that were activated four‐ to 15‐fold when VirAG was overproduced. Surprisingly, actin polymerization was found to be dispensable for virulence in hamsters. In contrast, genes encoding a T6S system were up‐expressed as much as 30‐fold and mutations in this T6S gene cluster resulted in strains that were avirulent in hamsters. SDS‐PAGE and mass spectrometry demonstrated that BMAA0742 was secreted by the T6S system when virAG was overexpressed. Purified His‐tagged BMAA0742 was recognized by glanders antiserum from a horse, a human and mice, indicating that this Hcp‐family protein is produced in vivo during infection.
Expression switching in the stevor and Pfmc‐2TM superfamilies in Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Lavazec Catherine , Sanyal Sohini , Templeton Thomas J.
Published: June 2007

Plasmodium falciparum possesses two multigenic families, var and rif, the products of which are expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes, where via antigenic variation they contribute to malaria pathogenesis and evasion of antibody‐mediated host immunity. The products of two smaller gene families, stevor and Pfmc‐2TM, also localize to the erythrocyte membrane, although it is not known if they undergo antigenic switching. Herein we use gene‐specific quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) to investigate the transcription pattern of the stevor and Pfmc‐2TM gene families, in both primary and second generation clonal lines of the P. falciparum isolate, NF54. We show that: (i) the expression of stevor and Pfmc‐2TM families is clonally variant, (ii) the expression of stevor and Pfmc‐2TM families undergoes switching, and (iii) switching rates vary among different variants and different isogenic clones at rates higher than 2% per generation. In addition, we show that chromosomal telomeric deletions are common in clonal lines and result in a spectrum of deletion genotypes. These findings provide evidence that the stevor and Pfmc‐2TM gene families play a role in P. falciparum antigenic variation.
Aphid responses to plants with genetically manipulated phloem nutrient levels
Authors: PESCOD K. V. , QUICK W. P. , DOUGLAS A. E.
Published: June 2007

Abstract Aphids (Myzus persicae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aulacorthum solani) are reared on potato plants with phloem sucrose concentrations reduced by up to two‐fold by expressing the antisense of the sucrose‐H+ symporter (StSUT1) gene. The performance of My. persicae and A. solani on the antisense plants is comparable or superior to that on the wild‐type plants, but Ma. euphorbiae increases more slowly on the antisense plants than on the wild‐type and fails to feed from the antisense line with the lowest phloem sucrose concentration. Electrical monitoring by electical penetration graphs reveals that Ma. euphorbiae either do not locate the sieve elements or withdraw their stylets prematurely from the sieve elements of these plants. This difference between Ma. euphorbiae and the other aphid species may reflect interspecific variation in response both to the low phloem sucrose in transgenic plants and to pleiotropic effects of the transgene on the wider physiology of the plants. All aphid species perform well on plants with phloem sucrose concentrations that, when administered via chemically‐defined diets, support little or no aphid growth. These results illustrate the need for caution in extrapolating conclusions reached for diet‐reared aphids to aphids on plants, and demonstrate the importance of plant‐based experiments for studies of the nutritional physiology of aphids.
Methods for improving the visualization and deconvolution of isotopic signals
Authors: TCHERKEZ GUILLAUME , GHASHGHAIE JALEH , GRIFFITHS HOWARD
Published: June 2007

Stable isotopes and their associated mechanistic frameworks have provided the means to model biological transformations from inorganic sources to organic sinks, and their impact on long‐term terrestrial carbon reservoirs. However, stable isotopes have also the potential to diagnose the mechanisms by which biological systems operate, when using ‘multidimensional’ analyses of the isotopic outputs. For this purpose, we suggest that isotopic signals may be treated as mathematical vectors to reveal their interrelationships. These visualizations may be achieved, thanks to multidimensional representations (the ‘isotopology’ method), or by appreciating the colinearity of isotopic vectors to develop a clustering analysis (the ‘isotopomic’ method) similar to that used in molecular biology. Both methods converge to the same mathematical form, i.e. both lead to a covariation approach. Using simple practical examples, we argue that such procedures allow the deconvolution of plant biological systems by revealing the hierarchy of contributory physiological processes.
Intravascular large cell lymphoma
Authors: Reyes‐Castro Magdalena , Vega‐Memije Elisa
Published: June 2007

A 19‐year‐old female presented at our hospital with a 1‐year history of a 5‐cm indurated nontender lesion on the left shoulder. Two months later, a similar lesion appeared in the left mammary region, accompanied by necrosis and fever.

At admission to our department, she presented disseminated lesions in the left submandibular region, the sternal area and the posterior part of the upper and lower extremities.

The lesions were indurated erythematous‐violaceous plaques affecting the adipose tissue, some with ulcerations and necrotic crusting (Fig. 1). The first histopathological report was thrombosis of the capillary vessels and focal vasculitis (Fig. 2).

Ulceration and necrotic crusting lesion in the left mammary region

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Histopathology showing dilation of thrombosed vessels with fibrin deposits (hematoxylin and eosin, magnification ×244)

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A biopsy from a lesion on the left thigh showed dilated vessels with large atypical intravascular cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and numerous atypical mytoses in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Some of these cells were immersed in fibrin thrombi or in the perivascular connective tissue (Fig. 3). An immunohistochemical study was positive for the common leukocytic antigen and for the B‐cell phenotype. The diagnosis was large B‐cell lymphoma. The patient persisted with a high fever, dry cough, pericardial effusion complicated by an abscess and left pleural effusion. She died before systemic workings for lymphoma could be carried out, and before chemotherapy could be attempted.

Histopathology showing atypical intravascular lymphocytes (hematoxylin and eosin, magnification ×366)

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“Unknown Risks” of non‐steroid topical medications for atopic dermatitis
Authors: McNeill Anne Marie , Koo John Y. M.
Published: June 2007

Introduction  Tacrolimus ointment is a nonsteroid treatment for atopic dermatitis which is both effective and has a minimal side‐effect profile. However, some clinicians may be reluctant to use tacrolimus ointment due to the “unknown risks”, meaning those that have not been uncovered in human studies conducted thus far. Therefore, the available animal data regarding the “unknown risks” of topical tacrolimus therapy are reviewed, and a discussion of the interpretation of this available but limited data is presented.

Animal studies  Some of the fear on the part of clinicians regarding the use of topical tacrolimus may come from the results of animal studies which showed an increase in lymphoma and UV‐induced skin cancer after treatment with topical tacrolimus in animal models of carcinogenesis. However, rigorous assessment of these studies suggest that it is somewhat likely that these represent a species‐specific response to tacrolimus in an animal already predisposed to tumor formation, and therefore may not be relevant in assessing the possibility of an increased human health risk.

Conclusions  Animal and human studies suggest that topical tacrolimus is a safe alternative to topical steroids, with the major known adverse effect being a transient burning sensation, compared with the known adverse effects of topical steroids, including long‐lasting ones. Therefore, in the opinion of the authors, currently available data, including animal studies, does not suggest that “unknown risks” of topical tacrolimus need be any more concerning than the known side‐effects of the topical steroids.
Physiological effects of ultrasound mist on fibroblasts
Authors: Lai Jengyu , Pittelkow Mark R.
Published: June 2007

Background  Chronic wounds present an increasing challenge in healthcare and consume a substantial portion of healthcare cost. Although new treatments have been developed, treatment success has not been improved greatly. Ultrasound has long been employed in medicine. Its unique ability to deliver energy makes it an ideal candidate as a wound care modality. We proposed that ultrasound would differentially affect intracellular signaling pathways and, with the ability to assess this effect using a noncontact form of ultrasound, were provided with a means to test this proposal.

Methods  The cellular morphology, mitogenic activities, expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and transforming growth factor β‐1 (TGF‐β1), and activation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways of dermal fibroblasts were studied after ultrasound treatment. Untreated and scrape‐wounded fibroblasts were utilized as controls.

Results  There was no difference in morphology observed, except for vacuolization in ultrasound‐treated fibroblasts. Mitogenic activities were similar between ultrasound‐treated and scrape‐wounded fibroblasts. Ultrasound‐treated fibroblasts exhibited a much earlier increase in KGF expression, ERK activation, and JNK activation. The ERK/JNK ratio was increased markedly in ultrasound‐treated fibroblasts.

Conclusion  We conclude that ultrasound induces cellular responses that may be beneficial to wound healing.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria infection after mesotherapy: Preliminary report of 15 cases
Authors: Sañudo Alejandra , Vallejo Fernando , Sierra Martha , Hoyos Juan G. , Yepes Sandra , Wolff Juan Carlos , Correa Luis A. , Montealegre Carlos , Navarro Pilar , Bedoya Elina , Sanclemente Gloria
Published: June 2007

Background  Mesotherapy is an increasingly used technique which is currently causing several mycobacterial infections owing to contaminated substances being injected, and also to poor aseptic measures being held by nonprofessional practitioners.

Patients and methods  We collected 15 cases of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection after mesotherapy in a 6‐month period.

Results  All patients were female with ages ranging from 19 to 52 years; the main substances injected were procaine and lecithin, and the time between mesotherapy and the appearance of the lesions varied between 1 and 12 weeks. Clinical lesions were mostly nodules and abscesses, which were localized in the abdomen and buttocks in the majority of cases. The main patient complaint was local pain but some presented with systemic symptoms such as fever and malaise. Biopsies reported granulomatous chronic inflammation in the majority of cases. Skin cultures were positive for NTM and Mycobacterium chelonae.

Discussion and conclusions  Mesotherapy not performed with quality controlled substances can be a predisposing factor for NTM infection.
Nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis with angiokeratoma
Authors: Gao Jian , Li Chunying , Liu Ling , Gao Tianwen
Published: June 2007

A 35‐year‐old woman presented with a nodular growth on her right buttock. She had more than a 20‐year history of multiple, asymptomatic, smooth, skin‐colored papules involving her right buttock. The lesions had increased in number over time and had become yellowish or pale red with coalescing nodules exhibiting irregular surfaces. There was no general malaise. Ten years earlier, a diagnosis of connective tissue nevus was made on the basis of a biopsy obtained at a local hospital, but the patient declined treatment at that time. During the past 10 years, the lesions had continued to develop. The medical and social history was otherwise unremarkable, and a general physical examination was negative except for the skin lesions. Cutaneous examination showed soft, yellowish or pale red to violaceous papules and nodules of various sizes with wrinkled surfaces, coalescing into plaques. The lesions were aggregated on her right buttock and extended onto the thigh. The biggest nodule, with a coarse and dry surface, was 40 mm in diameter (Fig. 1). Histopathologic examination of the largest nodule revealed hyperkeratosis and epidermal hyperplasia with elongated rete ridges. There were thin‐walled, ectatic papillary dermal vessels engorged with red blood cells and masses of mature adipose cells throughout the dermis (Fig. 2) (Tianwen G, Jianfang S. Non‐epidermal related. In: Tianwen G, Jianfang S, eds. Current Dermatopathology. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2001: 349–410). A diagnosis of nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis with angiokeratoma was made. The patient declined excision.

Soft, yellowish or pale red to violaceous coalescing papules and nodules of various sizes, involving the right buttock and extending onto the thigh; the largest nodule has a coarse, dry surface

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Histopathology reveals hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia with elongated rete ridges, and thin‐walled ectatic and engorged vessels in the papillary dermis; there are multiple large aggregates of mature adipose cells throughout the dermis (hematoxylin and eosin, ×20)

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4IgB7‐H3 is the major isoform expressed on immunocytes as well as malignant cells
Authors: Zhou Y.‐H. , Chen Y.‐J. , Ma Z.‐Y. , Xu L. , Wang Q. , Zhang G.‐B. , Xie F. , Ge Y. , Wang X.‐F. , Zhang X.‐G.
Published: June 2007

Human B7‐H3, a novel member of B7 family, has two isoforms (2IgB7‐H3 and 4IgB7‐H3). As costimulatory functions of both isoforms are not clarified, there has been much discussion on their expression patterns, T‐cell responses, etc. This study generated two specific mouse anti‐human 2IgB7‐H3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (7D7 and 10F1), whose specificities are quite different from those of the available B7‐H3 mAb (21D4) by competition assay. The use of antibodies indicated that B7‐H3 was found to have different expression patterns on monocyte‐derived dendritic cells, that is the isoform 2IgB7‐H3 is tended to express on immature dendritic cells (iDCs), whereas 4IgB7‐H3 could be detected in the whole process of maturation of dendritic cells. The isoform 4IgB7‐H3 was shown in the immunohistochemistry assay to be more widely expressed than 2IgB7‐H3 in human benign and malignant hepatic tissues. Furthermore, flow cytometry and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction indicated that 4IgB7‐H3 rather than 2IgB7‐H3 was the major isoform on many human tumor cell lines. In addition, both 2IgB7‐H3‐ and 4IgB7‐H3‐transfected cells could promote T‐cell proliferation, which could be blocked by 7D7 mAb. These two novel antibodies may shed light on the function of the two B7‐H3 isoforms.
A novel HLA‐G allele (HLA‐G*0108) with an alpha‐3 domain amino acid change
Authors: Moscoso J. , Serrano‐Vela J. I. , Perez‐Saborido B. , Moreno E. , Arnaiz‐Villena A.
Published: June 2007

HLA‐G non classical class I locus shows a comparatively low polymorphism. It encodes for tolerogenic HLA molecules that may be important in autoimmunity and transplant (and foetal) rejection control. HLA‐G molecules give negative signals to Natural Killer and T lymphocytes. In the present paper, a new allele, HLA‐G*08, is described, which may be useful for monitoring transplants and for HLA and disease studies.
Allelic diversity in KIR2DL4 in a bone marrow transplant population: description of three novel alleles
Authors: Shulse C. , Steiner N. K. , Hurley C. K.
Published: June 2007

Genomic DNA sequencing was used to identify alleles of KIR2DL4 from 78 unrelated individuals involved in hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Eight known alleles were observed. Three new alleles, KIR2DL4*00203, *00502, *0080104, which differ from known alleles at the nucleotide but not at the protein sequence level, were also identified.
Association of interleukin‐18 gene polymorphism (−607A/A genotype) with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Hirankarn N. , Manonom C. , Tangkijvanich P. , Poovorawan Y.
Published: June 2007

Polymorphisms in the gene promoter can lead to different levels of cytokine expression and let some individuals have unique immune responses. Therefore, the association of single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin (IL)‐18 promoter region in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was examined. The results demonstrated the significant involvement of genotype A/A at position −607 in patients (n = 140) when compared with healthy individuals (n = 140) [OR (95% CI) = 2.62 (1.36–5.09), Pc= 0.009]. The frequencies of −607A/A, C/A, C/C genotypes were 27.86%, 48.57% and 23.57% in chronic HBV patients and 12.80%, 59.30% and 27.90% in healthy controls, respectively. No significant association at the position −137 was found between the two groups. The frequencies of −607A/−137G haplotype homozygosity were higher in the chronic HBV patients (17.14%) than in the controls (8.57%) [OR (95% CI) = 2.21 (1–4.93), P = 0.05], although this was not statistically significant when corrected for multiple comparison (Pc= 0.40). In conclusion, this study proposes that A/A genotype at position −607 in IL‐18 gene can be used as a new genetic maker in Thai population for predicting chronic hepatitis B development.
Th2‐mediated anti‐tumour immunity: friend or foe?
Authors: Ellyard J. I. , Simson L. , Parish C. R.
Published: June 2007

The concept that the immune system can recognise tumour cells and either eliminate them (tumour immune surveillance) or select for immunologically resistant variants (immunoediting) is gaining general acceptance by immunologists. In terms of an adaptive immune response to cancer, however, much of the research has focused on the response of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes to tumour‐specific antigens and the production of Th1 cytokines by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In contrast, Th2‐mediated immunity has traditionally been viewed as favouring tumour growth, both by promoting angiogenesis and by inhibiting cell‐mediated immunity and subsequent tumour cell killing. While there is evidence that components of type 2 inflammation, such as B cells and interleukin‐10, do promote tumour growth, there are also many studies demonstrating the anti‐tumour activity of CD4+ Th2 cells, particularly in collaboration with tumour‐infiltrating granulocytes, such as eosinophils. In this review, we examine all the components of type 2 immunity and their effects on tumour growth. Collectively, from this analysis, we conclude that there is a great potential for the development of Th2‐mediated immunotherapies that harness the cytotoxic activity of eosinophils.
Infectious diseases in pediatric transplantation: Literature review 2005–2006
Authors: Danziger‐Isakov Lara
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Staying up to date with the medical literature has become increasingly challenging in the current era of expanded peer review publications and new biomedical journals. Contributing to this issue, research related to infectious diseases and transplantation appear in a wide selection of available journals. This review is intended to highlight the aspects of infectious diseases related to solid organ or bone marrow transplantation.
Arterial‐venous fistulas following pediatric liver transplant case studies
Authors: Falkenstein Kathleen , Flynn Louise , Dunn Stephen , Baldridge Alan
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  AV fistula is a rare but serious complication following pediatric liver transplant and may lead to graft loss. Our aim was to describe two pediatric centers' experience with the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of children who presented with AV fistulas post‐liver transplantation We report five cases of late arterio‐portal fistula following liver transplantation. Four children were successfully treated with coil embolization. All of the children in this series had liver biopsies within 2–6 months of their AV fistula diagnosis. All biopsies were performed using a Bard Monopty 18 gauge needle with no ultrasound guidance and only one pass per biopsy. Two children also had PTC 4–8 months prior to their diagnosis of AV fistula. Three of the five children in this series had GI bleeds requiring banding or sclerotherapy. The other two had varices found on CT scan. All five cases in this series had ascites on their initial presentation. Four out of the five children had a history of non‐compliance and the other child had a history of malabsorption and chronic diarrhea.
Effects of early resource limitation and compensatory growth on lifetime fitness in the ladybird beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Authors: DMITRIEW C. , ROWE L.
Published: June 2007

Acceleration of growth following a period of diet restriction may result in either complete or partial catch‐up in size. The existence of such compensatory growth indicates that organisms commonly grow at rates below their physiological maxima and this implies a cost for accelerated growth. We examined patterns of accelerated growth in response to temporary resource limitation, and assayed both short and long‐term costs of this growth in the ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis. Subsequent to the period of food restriction, accelerated growth resulted in complete compensation for body sizes, although we observed greater larval mortality during the period of compensation. There were no effects on female fecundity or survivorship within 3 months of maturation. Females did not discriminate against males that had undergone compensatory growth, nor did we observe effects on male mating behaviour. However, individuals that underwent compensatory growth died significantly sooner when deprived of food late in adult life, suggesting that longer‐term costs of compensatory growth may be quite mild and detectable only under stressful conditions.
Individual MHC class I and MHC class IIBdiversities are associated with male and female reproductive traits in the three‐spined stickleback
Authors: JÄGER I. , EIZAGUIRRE C. , GRIFFITHS S. W. , KALBE M. , KROBBACH C. K. , REUSCH T. B. H. , SCHASCHL H. , MILINSKI M.
Published: June 2007

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are indispensable for pathogen defence in vertebrates. With wild‐caught three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) we conducted the first study to relate individual reproductive parameters to both MHC class I and II diversities. An optimal MHC class IIBdiversity was found for male nest quality. However, male breeding colouration was most intense at a maximal MHC class I diversity. One MHC class I allele was associated with male redness. Similarly, one MHC class IIBallele was associated with continuous rather than early female reproduction, possibly extending the reproductive period. Both alleles occurred more frequently with increasing individual allele diversity. We suggest that if an allele is currently not part of the optimum, it had not been propagated by choosy females. The parasite against which this allele provides resistance is therefore unlikely to have been predominant the previous year – a step to negative frequency‐dependent selection.
Sources of resistance to Watermelon Chlorotic Stunt Virus in melon
Authors: Yousif M. T. , Kheyr‐Pour A. , Gronenborn B. , Pitrat M. , Dogimont C.
Published: June 2007

Watermelon Chlorotic Stunt Virus (WmCSV) is a bipartite geminivirus residing in the genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae) and is whitefly transmitted (Bemisia tabaci). WmCSV infects members of the Cucurbitaceae, and represents a considerable threat to melon and watermelon crops in Sudan, Yemen, and Iran. One hundred twenty‐eight melon accessions, mostly collected from Sudan, were screened in the open‐field in Sudan under severe whitefly inoculation pressure in order to identify sources of resistance to WmCSV. One WmCSV resistant line HSD 2445‐005 selected from this first screening along with 22 new melon accessions were agro‐inoculated with an infectious Sudanese clone of WmCSV. Ten accessions exhibited resistance to WmCSV infection upon agro‐inoculation. Six of them were confirmed to have complete resistance to WmCSV through graft‐inoculation as well as multiple field trials in Sudan. These lines include the Sudanese accession HSD 2445‐005, the South African accession PI 282448, and three Indian accessions: 90625, PI 124112, and PI 414723. Resistant plants exhibited no disease symptoms, and virus DNA could not be detected by hybridization with a WmCSV‐specific probe.
Quantitative trait loci for soil‐penetrating ability of roots in durum wheat
Authors: Kubo K. , Elouafi I. , Watanabe N. , Nachit M. M. , Inagaki M. N. , Iwama K. , Jitsuyama Y.
Published: June 2007

Increasing root penetration (RP) ability into hard soil is important to improve drought resistance in durum wheat. Traits related to RP ability were evaluated in 110 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between ‘Jennah Khetifa’ and ‘Cham1’ using paraffin‐Vaseline (PV) discs. QTL analyses were made for the number of roots penetrating the PV disc (PVRN), total number of seminal and crown roots (TRN), RP index (PVRN/TRN) and root dry weight (DW). ‘Jennah Khetifa’ had higher PVRN, RP index and root DW values than ‘Cham1’, and the RILs showed significant differences for these traits. Two closely‐linked markers, Xgwm617a and Xgwm427b, on the long arm of chromosome 6A were associated with PVRN and RP index. For root DW, a QTL was linked to marker Xgwm11 on chromosome 1B. Alleles of ‘Jennah Khetifa’ were associated with increased PVRN, RP index and root DW. No QTL was detected for TRN in this mapping population. The absence of co‐located QTLs suggested that RP ability was controlled separately from TRN and root DW. Although the population size and number of replications were small, this study helps in understanding the complexity of root growth and the potential of marker‐assisted selection for selecting genotypes with high RP ability in durum wheat populations.
Cytogenetic analysis of F1, F2 and BC1 plants from intergeneric sexual hybridization between Sinapis alba and Brassica oleracea by genomic in situ hybridization
Authors: Wei W. H. , Zhang S. F. , Wang L. J. , LI J. , Chen B. , Wang Z. , Luo L. X. , Fang X. P.
Published: June 2007

By intergeneric sexual hybridization between Sinapis alba and Brassica oleracea, F1, F2 and BC1 progeny plants were produced. S. alba plants (genome SS, 2n = 24) were pollinated with B. oleracea (genome CC, 2n = 18), and the fertile F1 plants were pollinated with B. oleracea to obtain BC1 plants. GISH analysis showed that 10 out of 12 F1 plants had 12 S. alba chromosomes (one full S chromosome set) and nine B. oleracea chromosomes (one C chromosome sets), representing the expected hybrids. However, two F1 plants had 12 S chromosomes and 18 C chromosomes (two C chromosome sets), indicating unexpected hybrids. A maximum of three trivalents between C and S chromosomes were identified at metaphase I of semi‐fertile F1 pollen mother cells (PMCs), which indicates homology and chromosome pairing between these two genomes. The C genome had obviously been doubled in two F2 plants from selfed semi‐fertile F1 plants. BC1 plants consisted of 18 C chromosomes and different numbers of one, five and six additional S chromosomes, respectively. Monosomic alien addition lines developed in the present study can be used for B. oleracea breeding and Sinapis alba gene mapping.
Relationships between seed oil content and fatty acid composition in high stearic acid sunflower
Authors: Velasco L. , Pérez‐Vich B. , Fernández‐Martínez J. M.
Published: June 2007

The high stearic acid sunflower mutant CAS‐3 is characterized by a low seed oil content, which might represent a constraint for the commercial production of high stearic acid sunflower oil. The objective of the present research was to investigate the relationships between fatty acid profile and seed oil content in CAS‐3. Plants of CAS‐3 were reciprocally crossed with plants of breeding line ADV‐37, with high oil content and standard fatty acid profile. Oil content and fatty acid composition were measured in individual F2 seeds and F2 plants (F3 seeds averaged). Both F2 seeds and F2 plants from the cross ADV‐37 × CAS‐3 had a significantly higher oil content than those from the reciprocal cross, which indicated the existence of cytoplasmic effects in the genetic control of the trait. A consistent negative correlation between oil content and palmitic acid and a positive correlation between oil content and oleic acid were detected both in F2 seeds and F2 plants. Conversely, no consistent correlation between oil content and stearic acid was observed, which suggested the feasibility of simultaneous selection for both traits.