bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial DNA (COI) analyses reveal that amphipod diversity is associated with environmental heterogeneity in deep‐sea habitats
Authors: Knox Matthew A. , Hogg Ian D. , Pilditch Conrad A. , Lörz Anne‐Nina , Hebert Paul D. N. , Steinke Dirk 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe relationship between species diversity and environmental parameters is poorly understood for the mobile macrofauna of deep‐sea habitats due to under‐sampling and subsequent lack of accurate taxonomic information. To redress this, cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) DNA sequences were used to estimate species diversity and to compare phoxocephalid amphipod assemblages among 20 stations encompassing a range of environmental conditions. Two regions, east (Chatham Rise) and west (Challenger Plateau) of New Zealand were sampled to depths of 200–1200 m with an epibenthic sled. Using a comparison among identified morphospecies, we found a clear gap in sequence divergences between 6% and 13% and used a 6% threshold to designate molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), as a surrogate to putative species. DNA sequences (n = 297) revealed high total diversity (n = 49 MOTUs), as well as high beta diversity (28 MOTUs found at single location only). Novel phoxocephalid MOTUs were found at most stations, especially on Challenger Plateau and the flanks of Chatham Rise. Analyses of interstation assemblages revealed a major split between regions, indicating minimal overlap in taxon distributions. A cluster of highly similar stations was identified, broadly distributed over the crest of Chatham Rise, in association with elevated food availability, probably resulting from higher surface productivity and relatively shallow depth. Accordingly, multivariate analysis revealed a strong correlation between phoxocephalid assemblages and food supply. This study highlights the value of molecular approaches, in particular COI sequences, for quantifying and comparing diversity in under‐sampled and/or under‐studied taxa.
Genome‐wide patterns of divergence and gene flow across a butterfly radiation
Authors: Nadeau Nicola J. , Martin Simon H. , Kozak Krzysztof M. , Salazar Camilo , Dasmahapatra Kanchon K. , Davey John W. , Baxter Simon W. , Blaxter Mark L. , Mallet James , Jiggins Chris D. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe Heliconius butterflies are a diverse recent radiation comprising multiple levels of divergence with ongoing gene flow between species. The recently sequenced genome of Heliconius melpomene allowed us to investigate the genomic evolution of this group using dense RAD marker sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of 54 individuals robustly supported reciprocal monophyly of H. melpomene and Heliconius cydno and refuted previous phylogenetic hypotheses that H. melpomene may be paraphylectic with respect to H. cydno. Heliconius timareta also formed a monophyletic clade closely related but distinct from H. cydno with Heliconius heurippa falling within this clade. We find evidence for genetic admixture between sympatric populations of the sister clades H. melpomene and H. cydno/timareta, particularly between H. cydno and H. melpomene from Central America and between H. timareta and H. melpomene from the eastern slopes of the Andes. Between races, divergence is primarily explained by isolation by distance and there is no detectable genetic population structure between parapatric races, suggesting that hybrid zones between races are not zones of secondary contact. Our results also support previous findings that colour pattern loci are shared between populations and species with similar colour pattern elements. Furthermore, this pattern is almost unique to these genomic regions, with only a very small number of other loci showing significant similarity between populations and species with similar colour patterns.
The nucleoid‐associated protein Fis directly modulates the synthesis of cellulose, an essential component of pellicle–biofilms in the phytopathogenic bacterium Dickeya dadantii
Authors: Prigent‐Combaret Claire , Zghidi‐Abouzid Ouafa , Effantin Géraldine , Lejeune Philippe , Reverchon Sylvie , Nasser William 
Published: August 2012

SummaryBacteria use biofilm structures to colonize surfaces and to survive in hostile conditions, and numerous bacteria produce cellulose as a biofilm matrix polymer. Hence, expression of the bcs operon, responsible for cellulose biosynthesis, must be finely regulated in order to allow bacteria to adopt the proper surface‐associated behaviours. Here we show that in the phytopathogenic bacterium, Dickeya dadantii, production of cellulose is required for pellicle–biofilm formation and resistance to chlorine treatments. Expression of the bcs operon is growth phase‐regulated and is stimulated in biofilms. Furthermore, we unexpectedly found that the nucleoid‐associated protein and global regulator of virulence functions, Fis, directly represses bcs operon expression by interacting with an operator that is absent from the bcs operon of animal pathogenic bacteria and the plant pathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium. Moreover, production of cellulose enhances plant surface colonization by D. dadantii. Overall, these data suggest that cellulose production and biofilm formation may be important factors for surface colonization by D. dadantii and its subsequent survival in hostile environments. This report also presents a new example of how bacteria can modulate the action of a global regulator to co‐ordinate basic metabolism, virulence and modifications of lifestyle.
Tandem attenuators control expression of the Salmonella mgtCBR virulence operon
Authors: Lee Eun‐Jin , Groisman Eduardo A. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe mgtCBR operon from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium specifies the virulence protein MgtC, the Mg2+ transporter MgtB and the regulatory peptide MgtR. The mgtCBR transcript includes a long leader region harbouring two short open reading frames (ORFs). Translation of these ORFs is anticipated to impact the formation of particular stem‐loop structures and control transcription of the coding region by an attenuation‐like mechanism. We previously reported that ORF mgtM enables Salmonella to promote transcription of the mgtC and mgtB coding regions when experiencing a rise in cytoplasmic ATP levels. We now show that the proline codon‐rich ORF mgtP mediates an increase in transcription of the mgtC and mgtB coding regions under conditions predicted to decrease the levels of proline‐charged tRNAPro. The high ATP and low proline signals act independently in an additive form. Replacing conserved mgtP proline codons with codons specifying other amino acids abolished the response to proline limitation but had no effect on the response to ATP. Substitution of conserved adenine nucleotides in mgtM abolished the response to ATP but had no effect in the response to proline limitation. This provides a singular example of a leader mRNA with tandem attenuators responding to different signals.
Intranasal Co‐delivery with the Mouse Zona Pellucida 3 and GM‐CSF Expressing Constructs Enhances Humoral Immune Responses and Contraception in Mice
Authors: Ma X. , Li J. , Zhang F. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractGranulocyte–monocyte colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) regulates the function of antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) and has been broadly used as the adjuvant. Here, we tested whether intranasal delivery of GM‐CSF can improve the contraception of mouse zona pellucida 3 (mZP3) DNA vaccine. Our results showed that co‐administration of GM‐CSF and mZP3 DNA vaccine increased the levels of secretory IgA (sIgA) and IgG antibodies in vaginal washes and serum, respectively. Co‐administration enhanced Th2 responses through improving the maturation of dendritic cells. Importantly, GM‐CSF significantly reduced the fertility rate and mean litter size induced by mZP3 DNA vaccine alone without interfering the normal follicular development. These data suggest that GM‐CSF could be used as adjuvant to develop immunocontraceptive vaccine.
Gentamicin in Combination with Ascorbic Acid Regulates the severity of Staphylococcus aureus Infection–Induced Septic Arthritis in Mice
Authors: Mal P. , Dutta S. , Bandyopadhyay D. , Dutta K. , Basu A. , Bishayi B. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTo study the effects of gentamicin in combination with ascorbic acid on septic arthritis, mice were infected with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and treated with gentamicin, which was given at 5 mg/kg after 24 h of infection, followed by ascorbic acid, given at 20 mg/kg body weight after 2 h of gentamicin treatment. Mice were sacrificed at 3, 9, 15 days post‐infection (dpi). Combined treatment of infected mice with gentamicin and ascorbic acid eradicated the bacteria from the blood, spleen and synovial tissue and showed a significant gross reduction in arthritis, reduced serum levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ). S. aureus‐infected mice have demonstrated the disturbed antioxidant status measured in terms of cellular antioxidants like reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. The same were ameliorated when the animals were co‐treated with gentamicin along with ascorbic acid.
Robotic ultrasound probe for tumor identification in robotic partial nephrectomy: Initial series and outcomes
Authors: Kaczmarek Bartosz F , Sukumar Shyam , Petros Firas , Trinh Quoc‐Dien , Mander Navneet , Chen Roger , Menon Mani , Rogers Craig G 
Published: August 2012

Objectives:  Accurate tumor identification during partial nephrectomy is essential for successful tumor control. Intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography is useful for tumor localization, but the ultrasound probe is controlled by the assistant rather than the surgeon. We evaluated our initial experience using a robotic ultrasound probe that is controlled by the console surgeon.Methods:  Partial nephrectomy was carried out in 22 consecutive patients between November 2010 and March 2011. A robotic ultrasound probe under console surgeon control was used in all the cases. All patients had at least 1 year follow up.Results:  Mean patient age was 59 years and mean tumor size was 2.7 cm. There were six hilar tumors (27%) and 21 (95%) endophytic tumors. Mean R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score was 6.9 (range 6–9). Mean operative time was 205.7 min and mean warm ischemia time was 17.9 min (range 6–28 min). All patients had negative tumor margins and were free of disease recurrence at a mean follow up of 13 months.Conclusion:  The use of a robotic ultrasound probe during partial nephrectomy allows the surgeon to optimize tumor identification with maximal autonomy, and to benefit from the precision and articulation of the robotic instrument during this key step of the partial nephrectomy procedure.
Intravesical hyaluronic acid for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: A comparative randomized assessment of different regimens
Authors: Lai Ming‐Chih , Kuo Yuh‐Chen , Kuo Hann‐Chorng 
Published: August 2012

Objectives:  To compare the clinical effectiveness of different regimens of intravesical hyaluronic acid instillation for patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.Methods:  A total of 60 patients (age 16–77 years) diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. A total of 30 patients were assigned to receive four weekly intravesical instillations of 40 mg of hyaluronic acid followed by five monthly instillations (hyaluronic acid‐9 group). Another 30 patients received 12 intravesical instillations of 40 mg hyaluronic acid every 2 weeks (hyaluronic acid‐12 group). Symptomatic changes after hyaluronic acid treatments were assessed using Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Indexes, pain visual analog scale, functional bladder capacity, frequency and nocturia in voiding diary, maximum flow rate, voided volume, postvoid residual volume, and Quality of Life Index at 1, 3 and 6 months.Results:  Of the 60 patients, 59 were evaluable at the end of the study. The Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index and total score, pain visual analog scale, functional bladder capacity, maximum flow rate, and Quality of Life Index improved significantly after 6 months in both groups. The frequency and voided volume improved significantly only in the hyaluronic acid‐12 group. However, patients with moderate and marked improvement were clinically similar in both groups. The measured variables did not differ between the two groups over the course of the study.Conclusion:  No significant difference was noted in the therapeutic effect between two hyaluronic acid instillation regimens for treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome patients. Both groups showed significant improvement in symptom scores and Quality of Life Index.
Functional variant in methionine synthase reductase decreases the risk of Down syndrome in China
Authors: Wang Shao‐Shuai , Feng Ling , Qiao Fu‐Yuan , Lv Juan‐Juan 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAim:  Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of human mental retardation and the genes involved in homocysteine/folate metabolism may play important roles in this condition. Methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) is one of the key regulatory enzymes involved in the metabolic pathway of homocysteine. We investigated whether the polymorphism C524T of the MTRR gene is associated with DS.Method:  A total of 104 mothers of children born with DS and 184 healthy mothers were included. The polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Plasma folate and total plasma homocysteine (t‐Hcy) concentrations were also measured.Results:  Significant differences in the distributions of C524T alleles were observed between case and control mothers; a decreased risk of DS was associated with the 524TT genotype (OR = 0.34), CT + TT genotype (OR = 0.60). The mean t‐Hcy value in the case group was higher than the mean value in the control group. t‐Hcy concentrations were lower in TT homozygote than CC homozygote among the cases but not among the controls.Conclusion:  MTRR C524T polymorphism decreases the risk of DS in the Chinese population.
Hypoxia inducible factor‐1α‐mediated activation of survivin in cervical cancer cells
Authors: Bai Haitao , Ge Shengfang , Lu Jian , Qian Guanxiang , Xu Rang 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAim:  Hypoxia, a characteristic of almost all types of solid tumors, has been associated with poor outcome in a number of human malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxia‐induced activation of the human survivin gene promoter in cervical HeLa cells.Material and Methods:  Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HIF‐1α and survivin in cervical cancer samples and normal cervical samples. Under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, the expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)‐1α and survivin in cervical cancer HeLa cells was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Luciferase reporter assays was used to investigate the molecular mechanisms in hypoxia‐induced survivin activation. We also studied the effect of HIF‐1α overexpression on the expression of survivin in cervical cancer HeLa cells.Results:  Significant HIF‐1α and survivin overexpression is associated with cervical cancer, and HIF‐1α protein expression is strongly correlated with survivin protein expression. In cervical cancer cell line (HeLa), hypoxia upregulated both HIF‐1α and survivin expression. Moreover, luciferase reporter assays using survivin core promoter demonstrated that survivin transcription was activated under hypoxia conditions and was associated with HIF‐1α overexpression. The transcriptional activation of reporter genes in response to hypoxia is independent of potential HIF‐1α‐responsive element, located between −86 and −82 regions. HIF‐1α overexpression significantly activated survivin expression.Conclusion:  Our results demonstrate that survivin expression is upregulated following the induction of HIF‐1α by hypoxia resulting from tumor formation, possibly leading to tumor progression. These findings have potential implication in developing novel cancer therapy targeting HIF‐1.
Screening for and management of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional study comparing two protocols
Authors: Nessa Ashrafun , Rashid Mohammad Harun Ur , E‐Ferdous Noor , Chowdhury Afroza 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the feasibility of the ‘see and treat’ protocol for the management of high‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) at a colposcopy clinic in Bangladesh.Material and Methods:  A cross‐sectional and comparative study was carried out between two periods on 358 colposcopy‐diagnosed high‐grade CIN at the colposcopy clinic of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). During the first period (January 2005 to June 2008), 181 colposcopy‐diagnosed high‐grade CIN patients had cervical biopsy by punch biopsy forceps and histology‐confirmed high‐grade CIN were treated by loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). During the second period (July 2008 to December 2009), 177 colposcopy‐diagnosed high‐grade CIN were treated by LEEP at their first visit.Results:  During the first and second periods, 48 of 87 and 55 of 73 histology‐proven high‐grade CIN cases, respectively, received treatment. Among the study population, 37.3% women who had normal or CIN‐I in histology were treated unnecessarily in the second period. The compliance of treatment improved by 20% and failure to receive treatment fell by 20%; these changes were statistically significant (P = 0.006).Conclusion:  ‘See and treat’ protocol is a well‐accepted, feasible and useful option for management of high‐grade CIN in Bangladesh. It reduces the number of visits to the clinic and failure to receive treatment.
Functional properties of dopamine neurons and co‐expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the dorsal raphe nucleus and ventro‐lateral periaqueductal grey
Authors: Dougalis Antonios G. , Matthews Gillian A. C. , Bishop Matthew W. , Brischoux Frédéric , Kobayashi Kazuto , Ungless Mark A. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and ventrolateral periaqueductal grey (vlPAG) regions contain populations of dopamine neurons, often considered to be a dorsal caudal extension of the A10 group [mostly found in the ventral tegmental area (VTA)]. Recent studies suggest they are involved in promoting wakefulness and mediate some of the antinociceptive and rewarding properties of opiates. However, little is known about their electrophysiological properties. To address this, we used Pitx3‐GFP and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐GFP mice to carry out targeted whole‐cell recordings from this population in acute brain slices. We found that DRN/vlPAG dopamine neurons have characteristics similar to most VTA dopamine neurons, but distinct from dorsal raphe serotonin neurons. They fire broad action potentials at a relatively slow, regular rate, exhibit a hyperpolarization‐activated inward current and delayed repolarization, and show spike‐frequency adaptation in response to prolonged depolarization. In addition, they receive fast excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. Moreover, we found co‐expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in small, periaqueductal dopamine neurons, but generally not in larger, more ventral dopamine neurons.
Intrastriatal excitotoxic lesion or dopamine depletion of the neostriatum differentially impairs response execution in extrapersonal space
Authors: Lelos M. J. , Harrison D. J. , Dunnett S. B. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractDysfunction of the neostriatum, a primary feature of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, has been found to result in impaired localisation of, and reaction to, contralateral stimuli. On the basis of previous findings, it is hypothesised that, with increasing eccentricity of the response option, striatal cell loss may impair response localisation at the furthest levels of eccentricity, whereas dopamine (DA) depletion may not impact adversely upon responses executed in this extrapersonal space. In order to elucidate more fully the function of the striatum, the present study examined the differential impact of unilateral DA depletion or excitoxic lesion on response execution in ipsilateral and contralateral space at up to four levels of eccentricity. The results confirmed that, after both types of striatal dysfunction, the sensory ability to detect stimuli remains intact, whereas the ability to direct responses in absolute contralateral space is impaired. Distinct differences in the profiles of impairment were, however, evident, with a marked increase in response omissions observed after DA depletion, which may reflect decreased motivational processing, and recovery of function observed in rats with excitotoxic lesions, which suggests the ability to re‐learn. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that, after cell loss, responding in near contralateral space is controlled by competing striata, whereas responding in extrapersonal space relies on the contralateral hemisphere. These results have implications for understanding the role of the striatum in egocentrically defined response localisation, as well as for unravelling the behavioural impact of striatal cell loss or aberrant DA transmission observed in neurodegenerative diseases.
Proactive inhibitory control varies with task context
Authors: Wardak Claire , Ramanoël Stephen , Guipponi Olivier , Boulinguez Philippe , Ben Hamed Suliann B 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe goal of executive control is to adjust our behaviour to the environment. It involves not only the continuous planning and adaptation of actions but also the inhibition of inappropriate movements. Recently, a proactive form of inhibitory control has been shown, demonstrating that actions can be withheld, in an uncertain environment, thanks to the proactive locking of the mechanism by which motor commands are triggered (e.g. while waiting at traffic lights in a dense pedestrian zone, one will refrain in anticipation of a brisk acceleration when the green light comes on). However, little is known about this executive function and it remains unclear whether the overall amount of inhibitory control can be modulated as a function of the context. Here, we show that the level of this control varies parametrically as a function of the exogenous and endogenous factors setting the task context. We also show that the level of implemented proactive inhibitory control is dynamically readjusted to match the implicit temporal structure of the environment. These observations are discussed in relation to possible underlying functional substrates and related neurological and psychiatric pathologies.