bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of HAP4 in glucose-derepressed yeast cells reveals respiratory control of glucose-regulated genes
Authors: Lascaris Romeo , Piwowarski Jan , van der Spek Hans , de Mattos Joost Teixeira , Grivell Les , Blom Jolanda
Published: April 2004

A link between control of respiration and glucose repression in yeast is reported. The HAP4 gene was overexpressed in a Δmig1 deletion background, generating a mutant in which respiratory function is stimulated and glucose repression is diminished. Although this combination does not result in derepression of genes encoding proteins involved in respiratory function, it nevertheless generates resistance against 2-deoxyglucose and hence contributes to more derepressed growth characteristics. Unexpectedly, overexpression of HAP4 in the Δmig1 deletion strain causes strong repression of several target genes of the Mig1p repressor. Repression is not restricted to glucose growth conditions and does not require the glucose repressors Mig2p or Hxk2p. It was observed that expression of the SUC2 gene is transiently repressed after glucose is added to respiratory-growing Δmig1 cells. Additional overexpression of HAP4 prevents release from this novel repressed state. The data presented show that respiratory function controls transcription of genes required for the metabolism of alternative sugars. This respiratory feedback control is suggested to regulate the feed into glycolysis in derepressed conditions.
Regulation of catabolic enzymes during long-term exposure of Delftia acidovorans MC1 to chlorophenoxy herbicides
Authors: Benndorf Dirk , Davidson Ian , Babel Wolfgang
Published: April 2004

Delftia acidovoransMC1 is able to grow on chlorophenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid (2,4-DCPP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid as sole sources of carbon and energy. High concentrations of the potentially toxic organics inhibit the productive degradation and poison the organism. To discover the target of chlorophenoxy herbicides inD. acidovoransMC1 and to recognize adaptation mechanisms, the response to chlorophenoxy acids at the level of proteins was analysed. The comparison of protein patterns after chemostatic growth on pyruvate and 2,4-DCPP facilitated the discovery of several proteins induced and repressed due to the substrate shifts. Many of the induced enzymes, for example two chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenases, are involved in the metabolism of 2,4-DCPP. A stronger induction of some catabolic enzymes (chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase TfdCII, chloromuconate cycloisomerase TfdD) caused by an instant increase in the concentration of 2,4-DCPP resulted in increased rates of productive detoxification and finally in resistance of the cells. Nevertheless, the decrease of the (S)-2,4-DCPP-specific 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase in 2D gels reveals a potential bottleneck in 2,4-DCPP degradation. Well-known heat-shock proteins and oxidative-stress proteins play a minor role in adaptation, because apart from DnaK only a weak or no induction of the proteins GroEL, AhpC and SodA was observed. Moreover, the modification of elongation factor Tu (TufA), a strong decrease of asparaginase and the induction of the hypothetical periplasmic protein YceI point to additional resistance mechanisms against chlorophenoxy herbicides.
Analysis of genetic polymorphisms affecting the four phospholipase C (plc) genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex clinical isolates
Authors: Viana-Niero C. , de Haas P. E. , van Soolingen D. , Leão S. C.
Published: April 2004

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome contains four highly related genes which present significant similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa genes encoding phospholipase C enzymes. Three of these genes, plcA, plcB and plcC, are organized in tandem (locus plcABC). The fourth gene, plcD, is located in a different region. This study investigates variations in plcABC and plcD genes in clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium africanum and ‘Mycobacterium canettii’. Genetic polymorphisms were examined by PCR, Southern blot hybridization, sequence analysis and RT-PCR. Seven M. tuberculosis isolates contain insertions of IS6110 elements within plcA, plcC or plcD. In 19 of 25 M. tuberculosis isolates examined, genomic deletions were identified, resulting in loss of parts of genes or complete genes from the plcABC and/or plcD loci. Partial plcD deletion was observed in one M. africanum isolate. In each case, deletions were associated with the presence of a copy of the IS6110 element and in all occurrences IS6110 was transposed in the same orientation. A mechanism of deletion resulting from homologous recombination of two copies of IS6110 was recognized in a group of genetically related M. tuberculosis isolates. Five M. tuberculosis isolates presented major polymorphisms in the plcABC and plcD regions, along with loss of expression competence that affected all four plc genes. Phospholipase C is a well-known bacterial virulence factor. The precise role of phospholipase C in the pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis is unknown, but considering the potential importance that the plc genes may have in the virulence of the tubercle bacillus, the study of isolates cultured from patients with active tuberculosis bearing genetic variations affecting these genes may provide insights into the significance of phospholipase C enzymes for tuberculosis pathogenicity.
A DNA adenine methylase mutant of Shigella flexneri shows no significant attenuation of virulence
Authors: Honma Yasuko , Fernández Reinaldo E. , Maurelli Anthony T.
Published: April 2004

Mutants of Salmonella defective in DNA adenine methylase (dam) have been reported to be attenuated for virulence and to provide protective immunity when used as vaccine strains. To determine whether these observations could be extended to Shigella, a dam mutant of Shigella flexneri 2a was characterized and examined for the role of dam in pathogenesis. The Shigella dam mutant showed some unique characteristics; however, it retained virulence in vivo as well as in vitro. The mutant invaded cultured L2 monolayer cells as efficiently as the wild-type parent, but its intracellular growth was suppressed up to 7 h post-invasion. Furthermore, the invading dam mutant formed smaller plaques in cell monolayers compared to the parent strain. However, the mutant produced keratoconjunctivitis in the Sereny test in guinea pigs only slightly more slowly than the wild-type. While the effect of the dam mutation on virulence was modest, the rate of spontaneous mutation in the dam mutant was 1000-fold greater compared with the wild-type. The virulence and high mutability displayed by the dam mutant of Sh. flexneri suggest that a general anti-bacterial pathogen vaccine strategy based on mutations in dam needs to be re-evaluated.
Flagella and curli fimbriae are important for the growth of Salmonella enterica serovars in hen eggs
Authors: Cogan T. A. , Jørgensen F. , Lappin-Scott H. M. , Benson C. E. , Woodward M. J. , Humphrey T. J.
Published: April 2004

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is unable to multiply in the albumen of fresh eggs and must gain access to the yolk contents in order to multiply to a high level (>106 c.f.u. per ml egg contents). As human Salmonella infections resulting from the consumption of infected eggs more frequently involve serovar Enteritidis phage type (PT) 4 than other serovars or PTs, a number of isolates of various S. enterica serovars were examined for their ability to multiply to a high level in eggs over a period of 8 days storage at 20 °C. Their behaviour was compared to that of a range of defined fimbrial and flagella mutants of S. Enteritidis. Strains that did not express flagella were unable to multiply in eggs, and those deficient for curli fimbriae, including strains of S. Enteritidis PT6, displayed high-level growth in significantly fewer eggs than those able to express curli. Most S. Enteritidis strains multiplied to a high level in between 5 and 10 % of eggs during 8 days storage. One PT4 strain, though, showed high levels of growth in more than 25 % of eggs over this period, significantly higher than the other PTs or the two other isolates of PT4 tested. This ability may be important for the association of PT4 infection with the consumption of eggs.
Enzymes and genes of taurine and isethionate dissimilation in Paracoccus denitrificans
Authors: Brüggemann Chantal , Denger Karin , Cook Alasdair M. , Ruff Jürgen
Published: April 2004

Growth of theα-proteobacteriumParacoccus denitrificansNKNIS with taurine or isethionate as sole source of carbon involves sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase (Xsc), which is presumably encoded by anxscgene in subgroup 3, none of whose gene products has been characterized. The genome of theα-proteobacteriumRhodobacter sphaeroides2.4.1 was interpreted to contain a nine-gene cluster encoding the inducible dissimilation of taurine, and this deduced pathway included a regulator, a tripartite ATP-independent transporter, taurine dehydrogenase (TDH; presumably TauXY) as well as Xsc (subgroup 3), a hypothetical protein and phosphate acetyltransferase (Pta). A similar cluster was found inP. denitrificansNKNIS, in contrast to an analogous cluster encoding an ATP-binding cassette transporter inParacoccus pantotrophus. Inducible TDH, Xsc and Pta were found in extracts of taurine-grown cells of strain NKNIS. TDH oxidized taurine to sulfoacetaldehyde and ammonium ion with cytochromecas electron acceptor. Whereas Xsc and Pta were soluble enzymes, TDH was located in the particulate fraction, where inducible proteins with the expected masses of TauXY (14 and 50 kDa, respectively) were detected by SDS-PAGE. Xsc and Pta were separated by anion-exchange chromatography. Xsc was effectively pure; the molecular mass of the subunit (64 kDa) and the N-terminal amino acid sequence confirmed the identification of thexscgene. Inducible isethionate dehydrogenase (IDH), Xsc and Pta were assayed in extracts of isethionate-grown cells of strain NKNIS. IDH was located in the particulate fraction, oxidized isethionate to sulfoacetaldehyde with cytochromecas electron acceptor and correlated with the expression of a 62 kDa protein. Strain NKNIS excreted sulfite and sulfate during growth with a sulfonate and no sulfite dehydrogenase was detected. There is considerable biochemical, genetic and regulatory complexity in the degradation of these simple molecules.
Relations between macroscopic and microscopic adhesion of Streptococcus mitis strains to surfaces
Authors: Vadillo-Rodríguez Virginia , Busscher Henk J. , Norde Willem , de Vries Joop , van der Mei Henny C.
Published: April 2004

Application of physico-chemical models to describe bacterial adhesion to surfaces has hitherto only been partly successful due to the structural and chemical heterogeneities of bacterial surfaces, which remain largely unaccounted for in macroscopic physico-chemical characterizations of the cell surfaces. In this study, the authors attempted to correlate microscopic adhesion of a collection of nine Streptococcus mitis strains to the negatively charged, hydrophilic silicon nitride tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) with macroscopic adhesion of the strains to a negatively charged, hydrophilic glass in a parallel-plate flow chamber. The repulsive force probed by AFM upon approach of the tip to a bacterial cell surface ranged from 1·7 to 7·7 nN depending on the strain considered and was found to correspond to an activation barrier, governing initial, macroscopic adhesion of the organisms to the glass surface. Moreover, maximum distances at which attractive forces were probed by the AFM upon retraction of the tip (120 to 1186 nm) were related to the area blocked by an adhering bacterium, i.e. the distance kept between adhering bacteria. Bacterial desorption could not be related to adhesive forces as probed by the AFM, possibly due to the distinct nature of the desorption process occurring in the parallel-plate flow chamber and the forced detachment in AFM.
The role of the Shigella flexneri
yihE gene in LPS synthesis and virulence
Authors: Edwards-Jones Bryn , Langford Paul R. , Kroll J. Simon , Yu Jun
Published: April 2004

Previously, the authors have shown that inactivation of Shigella flexneri
yihE, a gene of unknown function upstream of dsbA, which encodes a periplasmic disulphide catalyst, results in a global change of gene expression. Among the severely down-regulated genes are galETKM, suggesting that the yihE mutant, Sh54, may inefficiently produce the UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose required for LPS synthesis. This paper demonstrates that LPS synthesis in Sh54 is impaired. As a result, Sh54 is unable to polymerize host cell actin, due to aberrant localization of IcsA, or to cause keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pigs. Furthermore, Sh54 is more sensitive to some antimicrobial agents, and exhibits epithelial cytotoxicity characteristic of neither wild-type nor dsbA mutants. Supplying galETK in trans restores LPS synthesis and corrects all the defects. Hence, it is clear that the Shigella yihE gene is important not only in regulating global gene expression, as shown previously, but also in virulence through LPS synthesis via regulating the expression of the galETK operon.
Translocation of transposition-deficient (Tnd PKLH2-like) transposons in the natural environment: mechanistic insights from the study of adjacent DNA sequences
Authors: Kholodii Gennady , Mindlin Sofia , Gorlenko Zhosefine , Petrova Mayya , Hobman Jon , Nikiforov Vadim
Published: April 2004

A family of plasmid-borne DNA fragments of different length, apparently inherited from an ancient plasmid, has been identified in the world population of environmentalAcinetobacterstrains. These fragments, named PPFs (parentalplasmid DNAfragments), were ≥99·8 % identical to each other in the common regions, and contained in their central region a variant of an aberrant mercury-resistance transposon (TndPKLH2) that has lost its transposition genes. As a rule, recombinogenic elements were found at the breakpoints of identity between the different PPFs. Of these recombinogenic elements, a newly identified IS6family element, a transposon, or a resolvase gene interrupted one end of the PPFs. At the opposite end, the breakpoint of some PPFs was mapped to the recombination point within, in each case, a different variant of aressite (RS2), whilst in other PPFs, this end was eroded by insertion of a newly identified IS6family element. On the basis of DNA sequence data, possible mechanisms of translocation of defective TndPKLH2-like elements via recombination events implicating the nearbyres(resolution) site and IS element are proposed.
TCA cycle activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a function of the environmentally determined specific growth and glucose uptake rates
Authors: Blank Lars M. , Sauer Uwe
Published: April 2004

Metabolic responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to different physical and chemical environmental conditions were investigated in glucose batch culture by GC-MS-detected mass isotopomer distributions in proteinogenic amino acids from 13C-labelling experiments. For this purpose, GC-MS-based metabolic flux ratio analysis was extended from bacteria to the compartmentalized metabolism of S. cerevisiae. Generally, S. cerevisiae was shown to have low catabolic fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Notably, respiratory TCA cycle fluxes exhibited a strong correlation with the maximum specific growth rate that was attained under different environmental conditions, including a wide range of pH, osmolarity, decoupler and salt concentrations, but not temperature. At pH values of 4·0 to 6·0 with near-maximum growth rates, the TCA cycle operated as a bifurcated pathway to fulfil exclusively biosynthetic functions. Increasing or decreasing the pH beyond this physiologically optimal range, however, reduced growth and glucose uptake rates but increased the ‘cyclic’ respiratory mode of TCA cycle operation for catabolism. Thus, the results indicate that glucose repression of the TCA cycle is regulated by the rates of growth or glucose uptake, or signals derived from these. While sensing of extracellular glucose concentrations has a general influence on the in vivo TCA cycle activity, the growth-rate-dependent increase in respiratory TCA cycle activity was independent of glucose sensing.
Evolution of genomic islands by deletion and tandem accretion by site-specific recombination: ICESt1-related elements from Streptococcus thermophilus
Authors: Pavlovic Guillaume , Burrus Vincent , Gintz Brigitte , Decaris Bernard , Guédon Gérard
Published: April 2004

The 34 734-bp integrative and potentially conjugative element (putative ICE) ICESt1 has been previously found to be site-specifically integrated in the 3′ end of the fda locus of Streptococcus thermophilus CNRZ368. Four types of genomic islands related to ICESt1 are integrated in the same position in seven other strains of S. thermophilus. One of these elements, ICESt3, harbours conjugation and recombination modules closely related to those of ICESt1 and excises by site-specific recombination. Two other types of elements, CIME19258 and CIME302, are flanked by site-specific attachment sites closely related to attL and attR of ICESt1 and ICESt3, whereas ΔCIME308 only possesses a putative attR site; none of these three elements carry complete conjugation and recombination modules. ICESt1 contains a functional internal recombination site, attL′, that is almost identical to attL of CIME19258. The recombination between attL′ and attR of ICESt1 leads to the excision of the expected circular molecule (putative ICE); a cis-mobilizable element (CIME) flanked by an attL site and an attB′ site remains integrated into the 3′ end of fda. Furthermore, sequences that could be truncated att sites were found within ICESt1, ICESt3 and CIME302. All together, these data suggest that these genomic islands evolved by deletion and tandem accretion of ICEs and CIMEs resulting from site-specific recombination. A model for this evolution is proposed and its application to other genomic islands is discussed.
The MspA porin promotes growth and increases antibiotic susceptibility of both Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Mailaender Claudia , Reiling Norbert , Engelhardt Harald , Bossmann Stefan , Ehlers Stefan , Niederweis Michael
Published: April 2004

Porins mediate the diffusion of hydrophilic solutes across the outer membrane of mycobacteria, but the efficiency of this pathway is very low compared to Gram-negative bacteria. To examine the importance of porins in slow-growing mycobacteria, the major porin MspA of Mycobacterium smegmatis was expressed in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. Approximately 20 and 35 MspA molecules per μm2 cell wall were observed in M. tuberculosis and M. bovis BCG, respectively, by electron microscopy and quantitative immunoblot experiments. Surface accessibility of MspA in M. tuberculosis was demonstrated by flow cytometry. Glucose uptake was twofold faster, indicating that the outer membrane permeability of M. bovis BCG to small and hydrophilic solutes was increased by MspA. This significantly accelerated the growth of M. bovis BCG, identifying very slow nutrient uptake as one of the determinants of slow growth in mycobacteria. The susceptibility of both M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis to zwitterionic β-lactam antibiotics was substantially enhanced by MspA, decreasing the minimal inhibitory concentration up to 16-fold. Furthermore, M. tuberculosis became significantly more susceptible to isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin. Fluorescence with the nucleic acid binding dye SYTO 9 was 10-fold increased upon expression of mspA. These results indicated that MspA not only enhanced the efficiency of the porin pathway, but also that of pathways mediating access to large and/or hydrophobic agents. This study provides the first experimental evidence that porins are important for drug susceptibility of M. tuberculosis.
Functional and structural analysis of members of the TorD family, a large chaperone family dedicated to molybdoproteins
Authors: Ilbert Marianne , Méjean Vincent , Iobbi-Nivol Chantal
Published: April 2004

The trimethylamineN-oxide (TMAO) reductase TorA, a DMSO reductase family member, is a periplasmic molybdoenzyme ofEscherichia coli. The cytoplasmic protein TorD acts as a chaperone for TorA, allowing the efficient insertion of the molybdenum cofactor into the apoform of the enzyme prior to its secretion. This paper demonstrates that TorD is a member of a large family of prokaryotic proteins that are structurally related. Moreover, their genes generally belong to operons also encoding molybdoenzymes of the DMSO reductase family. Both the TorD and the DMSO reductase families present a similar phylogenetic organization, suggesting a co-evolution of these two families of proteins. This hypothesis is also supported by the fact that the TorD and DmsD chaperones cannot replace each other and thus appear dedicated to specific molybdopartners. Interestingly, it was found that the positive effect of TorD on TorA maturation, and the partial inhibitory effect of DmsD and homologues, are independent of the TorA signal sequence.
PsfR, a factor that stimulates psbAI expression in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942
Authors: Thomas Colleen , Andersson Carol R. , Canales Shannon R. , Golden Susan S.
Published: April 2004

In this paper a gene (psfR) is reported that regulatespsbAIactivity inSynechococcus elongatus, a unicellular photoautotrophic cyanobacterium that carries out oxygenic (plant-type) photosynthesis and exhibits global circadian regulation of gene expression. InS. elongatus, a family of threepsbAgenes encodes the D1 protein of the photosystem II reaction centre. Overexpression ofpsfRresults in increased expression ofpsbAI, but does not affect the circadian timing ofpsbAIexpression.psfRoverexpression affected some, but not all of the genes routinely surveyed for circadian expression. PsfR acts (directly or indirectly) on thepsbAIbasal promoter region.psfRknockout mutants exhibit wild-typepsbAIexpression, suggesting that other factors can regulatepsbAIexpression in the absence of functional PsfR. PsfR contains two receiver-like domains (found in bacterial two-component signal transduction systems), one of which lacks the conserved aspartyl residue required for phosphoryl transfer. PsfR also contains a GGDEF domain. The presence of these domains and the absence of a detectable conserved DNA-binding domain suggest that PsfR may regulatepsbAIexpression via protein–protein interactions or GGDEF activity (the production of cyclic dinucleotides) rather than direct interaction with thepsbAIpromoter.
The Complexity of the Left Periphery: Evidence from Piedmontese
Authors: Goria Cecilia
Published: April 2004

Central to this paper is the relation, in Piedmontese, between verb–interrogative clitic inversion and main wh–questions introduced by the complementizer che (wh+che). Parry (1998a) takes these structures to be in complementary distribution, claiming that che preempts V–to–C movement in interrogative inversion and destroys the licensing environment for interrogative clitics. In this paper, I argue for the revision of this claim. Building on Chomsky’s (1995) checking theory, I propose an analysis of Piedmontese interrogatives in the spirit of Roberts and Roussou’s (1999) dissociation of features [wh] and [Q]. I maintain that interrogative V–to–C movement and matrix wh+che questions target different CPs, hence the verb in C and che do not compete for the same position. Factors other than syntactic ones are responsible for the rare use of interrogative clitics in wh+che structures. The analysis presented in this paper supports the complexity of the Left Periphery proposed by Rizzi (1997).
Morphology and evolution of waterscorpion male genitalia (Heteroptera: Nepidae)
Authors: Keffer Steven L.
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  Male genitalia were comprehensively surveyed across the aquatic true bug family Nepidae. One hundred and forty‐one species in thirteen of fourteen genera and all five nepid tribes were dissected and studied. A family level description of waterscorpion male genitalia is provided that seeks to clarify the divisions of the phallus by comparison with the heteropteran male genitalia groundplan and with the phallus of the sister group of Nepidae, Belostomatidae. A comparative study of genitalia at the genus level revealed sixteen morphological groups that do not correspond precisely to the fourteen genera within the family. For example, there are distinct morphological groups within genera, e.g. two groups in Telmatotrephes and eight in Ranatra. By contrast, six genera, Borborophilus, Borborophyes, Laccotrephes, Montonepa, Nepella and Paranepa, form two groups. These morphological groups are the terminal units in a phylogenetic analysis based on twenty‐six male genital characters. The trees resulting from the analysis are distinctly different from Mahner's phylogenetic hypothesis for the family, which was based largely on nonreproductive traits. A hypothesis explaining the discordance of phylogenetic hypotheses generated from reproductive vs nonreproductive characters is presented.
Higher‐level phylogeny of Hydrophilinae (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) based on larval, pupal and adult characters
Authors: Archangelsky Miguel
Published: April 2004

Abstract. A phylogenetic analysis, at a tribal and subtribal level, of the subfamily Hydrophilinae was conducted. The analysis was based on twenty‐nine taxa (twenty‐three genera) and 148 characters (fifty‐eight from immature stages and bionomics, and ninety from adults). According to the present study, Hydrophilinae is monophyletic, and except for the tribe Hydrophilini which appears as polyphyletic (it includes the subtribes Hydrophilina, Hydrobiina, and Acidocerina), the remaining tribes are monophyletic. The tribes Berosini and Chaetarthriini form the basal clade of Hydrophilinae. One unexpected result is the relationship between the subtribe Hydrobiina and the tribe Sperchopsini, which form a well‐supported clade. The final tree has the following structure: (((((Sperchopsini Hydrobiina) (Anacaenini Laccobiini)) Acidocerina) Hydrophilina) (Berosini Chaetarthriini)). The results partially disagree with the phylogeny presented by Hansen, in 1991, which was based mostly on adult characters. Several evolutionary trends are briefly discussed: the types of egg case, the morphology of the clypeolabrum, mouthparts, legs, and breathing adaptations in larvae.
Phylogenetic systematics of Archembiidae (Embiidina, Insecta)
Authors: Szumik Claudia A.
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  A cladistic analysis of the American genera of Embiidae is presented, using fifty‐seven representative taxa and ninety‐four morphological characters. The results support the elevation (and significant re‐delimitation) of the subfamily Archembiinae to family level; as delimited here, Archembiidae, revised status, includes the genera Ecuadembia n.gen., Calamoclostes Enderlein, Archembia Ross, Embolyntha Davis, Xiphosembia Ross, Ochrembia Ross, Dolonembia Ross, Conicercembia Ross, Neorhagadochir Ross, Pachylembia Ross, Rhagadochir Enderlein, Litosembia Ross, Navasiella Davis, Ambonembia Ross, Malacosembia Ross, Biguembia Szumik, Gibocercus Szumik and Pararhagadochir Davis. The results also indicate that some genera recently proposed are unjustified and therefore they are synonymized: Argocercembia Ross (a junior synonym of Embolyntha), Brachypterembia Ross (Neorhagadochir), Scelembia Ross (Rhagadochir), Ischnosembia Ross (Ambonembia) and Aphanembia Ross (Biguembia); all new synonymy. The new genus Ecuadembia is described (type species Archembia arida Ross). Ischnosembia surinamensis (Ross) is returned to the genus Pararhagadochir. The following species synonymies are established: Archembia lacombea Ross 1971 = Archembia kotzbaueri (Navas 1925), Archembia peruviana Ross 2001 = Archembia batesi (MacLachlan 1877), and Conicercembia septentrionalis (Mariño & Márquez 1988) = Conicercembia tepicensis Ross 1984; all new synonymy. The family Archembiidae, and all its constituent genera, are diagnosed and described. The genus Microembia Ross (originally described as an Embiidae) is transferred to Anisembiidae. Pachylembiinae, Scelembiinae, and Microembiinae proposed by Ross are unsupported by the present cladistic analysis.1
Taxonomy, cladistics and biogeography of Coenosopsia Malloch (Diptera, Anthomyiidae) and its significance to the evolution of anthomyiids in the Neotropics
Authors: Nihei Silvio Shigueo , De Carvalho Claudio José Barros
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  The anthomyiid fly genus Coenosopsia Malloch contained five species geographically restricted to the forests of the New World, from southern U.S.A. to southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. Two new species are described here from the Brazilian Cerrado: C. ferrari sp.n. and C. michelseni sp.n. Viviparity in C. brasiliensis Michelsen and C. peruviana Michelsen is reported and discussed. A cladistic analysis of the genus was performed using Fannia bahiensis Albuquerque (Fanniidae), Polietina orbitalis (Stein) (Muscidae), Anthomyia pluripunctata (Albuquerque), Delia platura (Meigen) and Phaonantho benevola Couri (Anthomyiidae) as outgroups. The analysis was carried out using three character weighting schemes: equal, successive and implied weighting. In the phylogenetic relationship ((C. ferrari, C. brasiliensis) (C. peruviana (C. prima (C. michelseni (C. floridensis, C. mexicana))))), two major clades were found, one distributed mainly in southeastern South America and the other from northwestern South America to southern North America. Reconciling the phylogeny with the available distributional data, a biogeographical analysis of the genus is proposed and discussed. The pattern found for Coenosopsia corroborated a previously proposed model of vicariance events for the Neotropical region. Although the presence of anthomyiid fauna in the region was explained previously on the basis of the North‐to‐South America dispersal, we suggest an alternative hypothesis, that of a Gondwanan origin for the Neotropical anthomyiids.
Drug use by Brazilian students: associations with family, psychosocial, health, demographic and behavioral characteristics
Authors: De Micheli Denise , Formigoni Maria Lucia O. S.
Published: April 2004

Aims  In the last few years, epidemiological studies in Brazil have detected significant increases in the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs by adolescents; however, there is a paucity of data on the factors associated with this use.

Objectives  To assess the prevalence of drug use by students from public schools in a Brazilian city and to evaluate the influence of age, school achievement, family, psychosocial, health, demographic and behavioural characteristics on regular drug use.

Design  This cross‐sectional study was conducted using a representative sample of 6417 students attending public schools in the city of Barueri, Brazil and included adolescents from the 5th grade of elementary school to the 3rd year of high school. The Brazilian version of the Drug Use Screening Inventory (DUSI‐R) was administered in the classroom by trained educational advisers without teachers being present.

Findings  Prevalence rates for the previous month were: alcohol: 48%, tobacco: 22.5%, cannabis: 14%, inhalants/solvents: 5%, cocaine: 3%, tranquillizers: 0.5%, amphetamines: 0.9%, anabolic steroids: 0.1% and ecstasy: 0.9%. With the exceptions of tranquillizers and amphetamines, the older students reported significantly higher frequencies and amounts of drug use than the younger ones. Boys reported a significantly higher consumption of alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy than girls, as well as higher percentages of frequent/heavy use. Logistic regression analysis detected that poor school achievement, a poor or bad relationship with those with whom they live, studying in the evening period, presence of antisocial behaviour, family problems and friends who use drugs were factors significantly associated with drug use.

Conclusions  The findings suggest that preventive programmes should be more comprehensive in scope, rather than focusing only on information about the negative consequences of drug use.
Depression and hostility as predictors of long‐term outcomes among opiate users
Authors: Rao Sandhya R. , Broome Kirk M. , Simpson D. Dwayne
Published: April 2004

Aims  This study used data from the national Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS) to investigate the associations that pre‐treatment depression and hostility have with drug use and criminal behavior at 1 year and 5 year follow‐up in patients with and without additional treatment involvement in the year prior to each follow‐up.

Design  Following a naturalistic, non‐experimental evaluation design, admissions to methadone treatment were followed up approximately 1 and 5 years later. Data analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression.

Setting  Eighteen programs from DATOS were included.

Participants  An analytic sample consisting of 727 patients at 1 year follow‐up and 432 patients at 5 year follow‐up was included.

Findings  Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that greater depression predicted less drug use in the year preceding each follow‐up, whereas greater hostility predicted increased drug use and more arrests at each follow‐up. Furthermore, these predictive relationships appeared only among individuals not involved in additional treatment.

Conclusions  Depression and hostility showed opposite associations with outcomes, underscoring the need to assess these psychological conditions separately and tailor treatment plans appropriately.
Hepatitis C and its risk management among drug injectors in London: renewing harm reduction in the context of uncertainty
Authors: Rhodes Tim , Davis Mark , Judd Ali
Published: April 2004

Aim  Recognizing the dearth of qualitative research on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection associated with injecting drug use in the UK, this paper summarizes qualitative insights from a study exploring the social relations of HCV risk management among drug injectors in London.

Method  Adopting an inductive approach to data collection and analysis, 59 depth tape‐recorded qualitative interviews were undertaken in 2001 with drug injectors recruited via drug user networks.

Results  While access to injecting equipment was reportedly good, needle and syringe sharing continued in exceptional circumstances and in the context of ‘trust relationships’. Analyses of drug injectors’ accounts of variations of ‘I never share’ showed that this construction denoted less a descriptor of actual risk behaviour than presentation of perceived risk status. Paraphernalia sharing, including spoons and filters, was common. There was much confusion and uncertainty concerning HCV knowledge, including its medical and transmission risks. Injectors were aware of the provisionality and partiality of their HCV knowledge. Confusion also surrounded the meaning of HCV antibody test results, with some feeling that their positive diagnosis had been ‘trivialized’ by their experiences of HCV testing. Injectors tended to make sense of HCV risk in relation to HIV. With most viewing HCV prevalence as high and HCV transmission as an inevitable consequence of injecting, HCV risk was perceived as ubiquitous and unavoidable.

Conclusions  There is an urgent need to renew UK policies of harm reduction in order to support perceptions that HCV is avoidable and preventable.
New Mexico's 1998 drive‐up liquor window closure. Study I: effect on alcohol‐involved crashes
Authors: Lapham Sandra C. , Gruenwald Paul J. , Remer Lillian , Layne Larry
Published: April 2004

Aims  To determine the spatial relationship between drive‐up liquor window locations and alcohol‐related traffic crashes for 2 years before and after New Mexico banned drive‐through alcohol sales.

Design  Current liquor licenses, crash data, roadway information and US Census data were used in this analysis. Cross‐sectional and longitudinal regression analyses were applied to the entire state, and to Albuquerque only.

Findings  Of all NM liquor licenses, 189 (9%) included drive‐up sales, which co‐occurred with on‐ or off‐premise licenses (94%). The rate of non‐pedestrian alcohol‐related crashes relative to non‐pedestrian total crashes showed an increasing trend prior to closure and a decreasing trend after the closure. Cross‐sectional analyses in Albuquerque revealed that the percentage of alcohol‐involved crashes was not related to densities of on‐ or off‐premise outlets per kilometer of roadway, or to percentage of drive‐up outlets. Statewide, the percentage of drive‐up outlets was not significantly related to the percentage of alcohol‐related crashes within census tracts but was associated positively with the percentage of alcohol‐related crashes in surrounding census tracts. There was no statistically significant relationship between number of drive‐ups and percentage of alcohol‐related crashes in either longitudinal model.

Conclusions  Despite the declining rate of alcohol‐related crashes following closure of drive‐up liquor windows, both in Albuquerque and statewide, regression models using spatial data do not demonstrate definitively an association between the decline and the closure of the drive‐up liquor windows.
Effect of pre‐treatment with nicotine patch on withdrawal symptoms and abstinence rates in smokers subsequently quitting with the nicotine patch: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schuurmans Macé M. , Diacon Andreas H. , Van Biljon Xandra , Bolliger Chris T.
Published: April 2004

Aims  To determine whether 2‐week pre‐treatment with transdermal nicotine influences withdrawal symptoms or success rate of subsequent smoking cessation using nicotine patches.

Design  Randomized controlled trial.

Setting  Smoking cessation clinic.

Participants  Healthy smokers (n = 200, 45% female) were allocated randomly to either active nicotine‐patch (AP, 15 mg daily, n = 100) or placebo‐patch (PP, n = 100) pre‐treatment. Baseline characteristics were well balanced except for daily cigarette consumption: mean (± SD) 23.1 (8) and 26.4 (11) for AP and PP groups, respectively (P = 0.021).

Intervention  At the screening visit (− 2 weeks) subjects were counselled and started pre‐treatment with daily patches (AP or PP). From the quit date (week 0) onwards all subjects received active nicotine patches for 12 weeks (15 mg daily for 8 weeks, 10 and 5 mg daily for 2 weeks each) and counselling.

Measurements  Follow‐up visits included measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide at the quit date, 2, 6, 10 and 26 weeks. Subjects documented daily cigarette consumption and severity of withdrawal symptoms (Wisconsin scale) from − 2 weeks to week 2. Outcome measures were withdrawal symptoms composite score and abstinence rates.

Findings  There was no significant difference in withdrawal symptoms, but more subjects in the AP group were smoke‐free during the 6‐month study period. Overall sustained abstinence was documented in 17% of subjects at 6 months; 22% and 12% for AP and PP, respectively (P = 0.03). Retrospective subgroup analysis showed for subjects smoking >16 cigarettes/day sustained cessation rates were 22% and 9% for AP and PP, respectively (P = 0.01). No difference in adverse event rates was observed.

Conclusions  Nicotine patch pre‐treatment before cessation did not reduce early withdrawal symptoms but increased sustained abstinence rates at 6 months. The nicotine pre‐treatment was equally effective in light and heavy smokers.
Addiction and spirituality
Authors: Cook Christopher C. H.
Published: April 2004

Background  Spirituality is a topic of increasing interest to clinicians and researchers interested in addiction.

Aims  To clarify the way(s) in which the concept of spirituality is understood and employed in practice by clinicians and researchers who publish papers on addiction and spirituality, and to develop a definition or description of spirituality which might receive widespread assent within the field.

Design  A descriptive study of 265 published books and papers on spirituality and addiction.

Findings  The study revealed a diversity and lack of clarity of understanding of the concept of spirituality. However, it was possible to identify 13 conceptual components of spirituality which recurred within the literature. Among these conceptual components of spirituality, ‘relatedness’ and ‘transcendence’ were encountered most frequently. ‘Meaning/purpose’, ‘wholeness (non‐)religiousness’ and ‘consciousness’ were encountered less frequently in the papers on addiction and spirituality than in an unsystematically ascertained sample of papers concerned with spirituality in relation to other areas of psychology and medicine. However, biases in the literature are notable. For example, the great majority of publications are from North America and the field is dominated by interest in Twelve‐Step and Christian spirituality.

Conclusion  Spirituality, as understood within the addiction field, is currently poorly defined. Thirteen conceptual components of spirituality which are employed in this field are identified provisionally and a working definition is proposed as a basis for future research.
Twenty‐year trends in illicit drug use among young Israelis completing military duty
Authors: Neumark Yehuda D. , Grotto Itamar , Kark Jeremy D.
Published: April 2004

Aim  This study examines patterns of illicit drug use in a national sample of young men and women in Israel over a 20‐year period.

Design  Annual cross‐sectional data are analysed from an ongoing systematic sample of soldiers being discharged from active military service during the years 1982–2001.

Setting  An anonymous questionnaire is self‐administered to soldiers on the day of discharge in an unsupervised setting.

Participants  Between 1200 and 2800 individuals participated in the survey annually. A total of 40 518 people were included in the analysis. This sample frame is reflective of all Israel Defense Forces (IDF) releasees below the rank of Captain. Military recruits in Israel comprised about 80% of the country's 18‐year‐old Jewish male cohort in any given year, and about two‐thirds of the female population of this age.

Findings  Time‐trends of drug use in Israel parallel those in the United States and European countries, although at much lower rates. Several indicators suggest a recent increase, particularly among women. Drug use is strongly inversely related to education level. Marijuana accounts for 65–75% of drug use in this young adult population.

Conclusion  Jewish cultural background and the military policy of zero tolerance are assumed contributors to the low drug use levels. Recent upward trends suggest that intensified prevention, surveillance and research efforts are in order.
The contribution of research to Australian policy responses to heroin dependence 1990–2001: a personal retrospection*
Authors: Hall Wayne
Published: April 2004

Periodic public concern about heroin use has been a major driver of Australian drug policy in the four decades since heroin use was first reported. The number of heroin‐dependent people in Australia has increased from several hundreds in the late 1960s to around 100 000 by the end of the 1990s. In this paper I do the following: (1) describe collaborative research on heroin dependence that was undertaken between 1991 and 2001 by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre; (2) discuss the contribution that this research may have made to the formulation of policies towards the treatment of heroin dependence during a period when the policy debate crystallized around the issue of whether or not Australia should conduct a controlled trial of heroin prescription; and (3) reflect on the relationships between research and policy‐making in the addictions field, specifically on the roles of investigator‐initiated and commissioned research, the interface between researchers, funders and policy‐makers; and the need to be realistic about the likely impact of research on policy and practice.
Self‐expanding metal stents for the palliation of malignant gastroduodenal obstruction in patients unsuitable for surgical bypass
Authors: Lindsay J. O. , Andreyev H. J. N. , Vlavianos P. , Westaby D.
Published: April 2004

Background : The primary therapeutic goals in patients with gastroduodenal obstruction secondary to advanced malignancy are the re‐introduction of an enteral diet and early discharge. The endoscopic placement of expandable metal stents has been proposed as an alternative technique for palliation in patients not suitable for surgery.

Aim : To review our experience with gastroduodenal metal stent insertion for the palliation of malignant gastric and duodenal obstruction.

Methods : A retrospective review was conducted of the notes of all patients who underwent gastroduodenal stent insertion in our unit.

Results : Forty patients (mean age, 64.5 years; range, 34–93 years) underwent insertion of an enteral stent for malignant gastroduodenal obstruction. The primary tumour was gastric in 20 patients, pancreatico‐biliary in 15 and metastatic in five. A stent was successfully placed in all cases. Thirty‐two patients have subsequently died, the median (range) survival being 7 weeks (1 week to 10 months). Thirty‐three patients (82.5%) were discharged from hospital. During follow‐up, 12 patients (30%) returned to a solid diet, 20 (50%) required a soft diet, six (15%) tolerated liquids and two (5%) were unable to tolerate any enteral nutrition.

Conclusion : The use of enteral stents achieves good palliation, allowing discharge from hospital and re‐introduction of an enteral diet.
SR 48692, a specific neurotensin receptor antagonist, has no effect on oesophageal motility in humans
Authors: Zerbib F. , Piche T. , Charles F. , Galmiche J.‐P. , Bruley Des Varannes S.
Published: April 2004

Background : The administration of exogenous neurotensin can reduce the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, but it is unclear whether this effect is pharmacological or physiological.

Aim : A specific neurotensin receptor antagonist (SR 48692) was used to assess the effect of endogenous neurotensin on lower oesophageal sphincter function.

Methods : Twenty‐four healthy male subjects were included in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized, cross‐over study designed to determine the effects of two single doses (90 and 300 mg, preceded by a loading dose) of SR 48692 on the resting lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations, primary oesophageal peristalsis and oesophageal acid exposure. Oesophageal pH and motility recordings were performed during 1 h of fasting and 3 h post‐prandially. Plasma neurotensin‐like immunoreactivity release was determined by radioimmunoassay.

Results : During fasting, the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation rate and reflux episodes were similar with the two doses of SR 48692 and placebo. Meal ingestion induced a rise in plasma neurotensin‐like immunoreactivity, a decrease in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and an increase in both the transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation rate and the number of reflux episodes, which were not significantly modified by SR 48692. SR 48692 did not affect oesophageal primary peristalsis.

Conclusion : This study shows that SR 48692, a specific neurotensin 1 receptor antagonist, has no effect on oesophageal motility in humans.