bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fine Structure of the Plasmodia and Myxospore of Ellipsomyxa gobioides n. sp. (Myxozoa) Found in the Gallbladder of Gobioides broussonnetii (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Lower Amazon River
Authors: Azevedo Carlos , Videira Marcela , Casal Graça , Matos Patrícia , Oliveira Elsa , Al‐Quraishy Saleh , Matos Edilson 
Published: June 2013

AbstractA fish infecting myxosporean Ellipsomyxa gobioides n. sp. is described in the gallbladder of the Amazonian dragon fish Gobioides broussonnetii. Irregular disporous plasmodia (up to ~30 μm in diameter) with long branched and anastomosed pseudopodia were found attached to the gallbladder wall. Mature ellipsoid myxospores occurring floating in the bile measured 6.8 (6.5–7.0) μm (n = 30) long, 7.2 (6.9–7.5) μm (n = 15) wide, and 13.1 (12.8–13.5) (n = 25) thick. They had smooth thin valves elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the straight central transverse sutural line. The two ellipsoidal polar capsules (PC) opened some distance from the sutural line on opposite sides, each measuring 4.6 (4.3–4.8) μm (n = 15) long and 2.5 (2.1–2.7) μm (n = 20) wide. Distance between PC 3.5 (3.1–3.8) μm (n = 15) in apical view. The polar filament was isofilar and consisted of a single coil with five or six turns. The objective of this study was to characterize this new species based on its morphological differences from the three previously described species. This is the first reported species of genus Ellipsomyxa from among the South American fauna.
Morphological and Ribosomal DNA‐based Characterization of Six Antarctic Ciliate Morphospecies from the Amundsen Sea with Phylogenetic Analyses
Authors: Kim Sun Young , Choi Joong Ki , Dolan John R. , Shin Hyoung Chul , Lee SangHoon , Yang Eun Jin 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe characterized six tintinnid ciliates from Antarctic waters using molecular markers and morphological traits: Amphorellopsis quinquealata, Codonellopsis gaussi, Cymatocylis convallaria, Cy. calyciformis, Cy. drygalskii, and Laackmanniella prolongata. The 100% similarity in SSU‐ITS1‐5.8S rDNA‐ITS2‐partial LSU rDNA sequences among Cy. convallaria, Cy. calyciformis, and Cy. drygalskii is supportive of synonymy. Codonellopsis gaussi and L. prolongata also showed high levels of similarity in SSU rDNA (99.83%) and the D2 domain of LSU rDNA (95.77%), suggesting that they are closely related. Phylogenetic analysis placed Cymatocylis in the Rhabdonellidae, Amphorellopsis in the Tintinnidae and L. prolongata/Co. gaussi within the Dictyocystidae.
A New Heterotrophic Dinoflagellate from the North‐eastern Pacific, Protoperidinium fukuyoi: Cyst–Theca Relationship, Phylogeny, Distribution and Ecology
Authors: Mertens Kenneth N. , Yamaguchi Aika , Takano Yoshihito , Pospelova Vera , Head Martin J. , Radi Taoufik , Pieńkowski Anna J. , de Vernal Anne , Kawami Hisae , Matsuoka Kazumi 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe cyst–theca relationship of Protoperidinium fukuyoi n. sp. (Dinoflagellata, Protoperidiniaceae) is established by incubating resting cysts from estuarine sediments off southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, and San Pedro Harbor, California, USA. The cysts have a brown‐coloured wall, and are characterized by a saphopylic archeopyle comprising three apical plates, the apical pore plate and canal plate; and acuminate processes typically arranged in linear clusters. We elucidate the phylogenetic relationship of P. fukuyoi through large and small subunit (LSU and SSU) rDNA sequences, and also report the SSU of the cyst‐defined species Islandinium minutum (Harland & Reid) Head et al. 2001. Molecular phylogenetic analysis by SSU rDNA shows that both species are closely related to Protoperidinium americanum (Gran & Braarud 1935) Balech 1974. Large subunit rDNA phylogeny also supports a close relationship between P. fukuyoi and P. americanum. Three subgroups in total are further characterized within the Monovela group. The cyst of P. fukuyoi shows a wide geographical range along the coastal tropical to temperate areas of the North‐east Pacific, its distribution reflecting optimal summer sea‐surface temperatures of ~14–18 °C and salinities of 22–34 psu.
Molecular Phylogeny of Marine Gregarine Parasites (Apicomplexa) from Tube‐forming Polychaetes (Sabellariidae, Cirratulidae, and Serpulidae), Including Descriptions of Two New Species of Selenidium
Authors: Wakeman Kevin C. , Leander Brian S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSelenidium is a genus of gregarine parasites that infect the intestines of marine invertebrates and have morphological, ecological, and motility traits inferred to reflect the early evolutionary history of apicomplexans. Because the overall diversity and phylogenetic position(s) of these species remain poorly understood, we performed a species discovery survey of Selenidium from tube‐forming polychaetes. This survey uncovered five different morphotypes of trophozoites (feeding stages) living within the intestines of three different polychaete hosts. We acquired small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences from single‐cell (trophozoite) isolates, representing all five morphotypes that were also imaged with light and scanning electron microscopy. The combination of molecular, ecological, and morphological data provided evidence for four novel species of Selenidium, two of which were established in this study: Selenidium neosabellariae n. sp. and Selenidium sensimae n. sp. The trophozoites of these species differed from one another in the overall shape of the cell, the specific shape of the posterior end, the number and form of longitudinal striations, the presence/absence of transverse striations, and the position and shape of the nucleus. A fifth morphotype of Selenidium, isolated from the tube worm Dodecaceria concharum, was inferred to have been previously described as Selenidium cf. echinatum, based on general trophozoite morphology and host association. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rDNA sequences resulted in a robust clade of Selenidium species collected from tube‐forming polychaetes, consisting of the two new species, the two additional morphotypes, S. cf. echinatum, and four previously described species (Selenidium serpulae, Selenidium boccardiellae, Selenidium idanthyrsae, and Selenidium cf. mesnili). Genetic distances between the SSU rDNA sequences in this clade distinguished closely related and potential cryptic species of Selenidium that were otherwise very similar in trophozoite morphology.
Morphology, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny of Anteholosticha multicirrata n. sp. (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) with a Note on Morphogenesis of A. pulchra (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2003
Authors: Park Kyung‐min , Jung Jae‐ho , Min Gi‐sik 
Published: June 2013

AbstractTwo marine urostylid ciliates, Anteholosticha multicirrata n. sp. and Anteholosticha pulchra (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2003, were collected from South Korea. These species were identified based on morphology, morphogenesis, and SSU rRNA gene sequence comparison. Anteholosticha multicirrata n. sp. is characterized by the following features: body size 90–125 × 30–45 μm in vivo, shape slender to ellipsoidal in outline, with yellow‐greenish cortical granules distributed along and between dorsal kineties and cirri; single contractile vacuole positioned on left at mid‐body; three frontal, five to seven frontoterminal, one buccal, one to two pretransverse and four to six transverse cirri; three complete dorsal kineties; one left and one right marginal cirral row; about 117 macronuclear nodules; and three to four micronuclei observed during morphogenesis. In addition, based on the observations of morphogenesis, we found that A. pulchra has pretransverse cirri, which were not described in detail in previous studies. Nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was used to analyse their phylogenetic relationship, and the gene tree supports that the genus Anteholosticha is a highly polyphyletic group.
Immunological abnormalities associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
Authors: Guilhem A. , Malcus C. , Clarivet B. , Plauchu H. , Dupuis‐Girod S. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjectiveHereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder related to mutations in one of the coreceptors to the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily (ALK1 or endoglin). Besides the obvious vascular symptoms (epistaxis and arteriovenous malformations), patients have an unexplained high risk of severe bacterial infections. The aim of the study was to assess the main immunological functions of patients with HHT using the standard biological tests for primary immunodeficiencies.Design, setting and subjectsA prospective single‐centre study of 42 consecutive adult patients with an established diagnosis of HHT was conducted at the National French HHT Reference Center (Lyon). Lymphocyte subpopulations and proliferation capacity, immunoglobulin levels and neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis, oxidative burst and chemotaxis were assessed.ResultsInnate immunity was not altered in patients with HHT. With regard to adaptive immunity, significant changes were seen in immunological parameters: primarily, a lymphopenia in patients with HHT compared with healthy control subjects affecting mean CD4 (642 cells μL−1 vs. 832 cells μL−1, P < 0.001), CD8 (295 cells μL−1 vs. 501 cells μL−1, P < 0.0001) and natural killer (NK) cells (169 cells μL−1 vs. 221 cells μL−1, P < 0.01), associated with increased levels of immunoglobulins G and A. This lymphopenia mainly concerned naïve T cells. Proliferation capacities of lymphocytes were normal. Lymphopenic patients had a higher frequency of iron supplementation but no increase in infection rate. Lower levels of immunoglobulin M and a higher rate of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations were found amongst patients with a history of severe infection.ConclusionsPatients with HHT exhibit immunological abnormalities including T CD4, T CD8 and NK cell lymphopenia and increased levels of immunoglobulins G and A. The observed low level of immunoglobulin M requires further investigation to determine whether it is a specific risk factor for infection in HHT.
miR‐223: infection, inflammation and cancer
Authors: Haneklaus M. , Gerlic M. , O'Neill L. A. J. , Masters S. L. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractExpression of the microRNA miR‐223 is deregulated during influenza or hepatitis B infection and in inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, leukaemia and lymphoma. Although this may also be the result of the disease per se, increasing evidence suggests a role for miR‐223 in limiting inflammation to prevent collateral damage during infection and in preventing oncogenic myeloid transformation. Validated targets for miR‐223 that have effects on inflammation and infection include granzyme B, IKKα, Roquin and STAT3. With regard to cancer, validated targets include C/EBPβ, E2F1, FOXO1 and NFI‐A. The effect of miR‐223 on these targets has been documented individually; however, it is more likely that miR‐223 affects multiple targets simultaneously for key processes where the microRNA is important. Such processes include haematopoietic cell differentiation, particularly towards the granulocyte lineage (where miR‐223 is abundant) and as cells progress down the myeloid lineage (where miR‐223 expression decreases). NF‐κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome are important inflammatory mechanisms that are dampened by miR‐223 in these cell types. The miRNA can also directly target viruses such as HIV, leading to synergistic effects during infection. Here we review the recent studies of miR‐223 function to show how it modulates inflammation, infection and cancer development.
Patterns of oral mucosa lesions in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: comparison and agreement between oral medicine and dermatology
Authors: Fortuna Giulio , Lozada‐Nur Francina , Pollio Annamaria , Aria Massimo , Cepeda‐Valdes Rodrigo , Marinkovich Matt Peter , Bruckner Anna L. , Salas‐Alanís Julio Cesar 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundThe oral mucosa in patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) can be affected with different lesions and degrees of severity. However, patterns of oral lesions in distinct types of EB are still unclear.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and distribution of four types of lesions (erythema, erosion, atrophy, and blister) for each oral site and to calculate the interobserver reliability for each type of lesion in each site.MethodsNinety‐two patients with different EB types were assessed independently by an oral medicine specialist and a dermatologist. The degree of agreement was calculated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsThe most affected oral site was the tongue, with the most frequent lesion being erythema and atrophy [54(58.7%) patients] for the oral medicine specialist and erosion [54(58.7%) patients] for the dermatologist. Patients with recessive dystrophic EB‐severe generalized (RDEB‐sev gen) showed the highest mean of sites involved by each lesion for both oral medicine and dermatology. The interobserver reliability on the total of lesions was excellent on only 3 sites: lower lip (ICC: 0.89; 95%CI:0.83–0.92), hard palate (ICC:0.85; 95%CI:0.72–0.91), and tongue (ICC:0.89; 95%CI:0.84–0.92), whereas the interobserver reliability calculated for each single oral lesion showed a lower agreement.ConclusionTotal distribution of sites involved by four types of lesions was higher in RDEB‐sev gen than in the rest of EB types, with a predominance of erythema followed by erosion. The agreement on the type of lesion was found to be poor‐moderate for many oral sites.
Selection, genome‐wide fitness effects and evolutionary rates in the model legume Medicago truncatula
Authors: Paape Timothy , Bataillon Thomas , Zhou Peng , J. Y. Kono Tom , Briskine Roman , Young Nevin D. , Tiffin Peter 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSequence data for >20 000 annotated genes from 56 accessions of Medicago truncatula were used to identify potential targets of positive selection, the determinants of evolutionary rate variation and the relative importance of positive and purifying selection in shaping nucleotide diversity. Based upon patterns of intraspecific diversity and interspecific divergence, c. 50–75% of nonsynonymous polymorphisms are subject to strong purifying selection and 1% of the sampled genes harbour a signature of positive selection. Combining polymorphism with expression data, we estimated the distribution of fitness effects and found that the proportion of deleterious mutations is significantly greater for expressed genes than for genes with undetected transcripts (nonexpressed) in a previous RNA‐seq experiment and greater for broadly expressed genes than those expressed in only a single tissue. Expression level is the strongest correlate of evolutionary rates at nonsynonymous sites, and despite multiple genomic features being significantly correlated with evolutionary rates, they explain less than 20% of the variation in nonsynonymous rates (dN) and <15% of the variation in either synonymous rates (dS) or dN:dS. Among putative targets of selection were genes involved in defence against pathogens and herbivores, genes with roles in mediating the relationship with rhizobial symbionts and one‐third of annotated histone‐lysine methyltransferases. Adaptive evolution of the methyltransferases suggests that positive selection in gene expression may have occurred through evolution of enzymes involved in epigenetic modification.
Comparison of two series of non‐invasive instruments used for the skin physiological properties measurements: the ‘Soft Plus’ from Callegari S.p.A vs. the series of detectors from Courage & Khazaka
Authors: Hua W. , Xie H. , Chen T. , Li L. 
Published: June 2013

BackgroundThe invasive measuring techniques are of great help in the evaluation of skin physiological functions and topical formulation. The reproducibility and accuracy of the instrument are crucial.AimsThe aim of this study is to reveal the differences and correlations in measuring skin hydration, pH, sebum, elasticity and melanin on the forearm or faces between two commercially available series of instruments.Materials & Methods20 subjects were enrolled to be measured by the two series of instruments. The measurements by each series were performed on the left/right side of the body randomly. The pH, sebum, elasticity and melanin measurements were performed on the faces in different areas, while the hydration measurements were operated on the forearms before and after wet dressing, respectively.ResultsPositive correlations were found in the values of skin SC hydration, pH, sebum and melanin detected by the two series. The values related to skin elasticity measured by the two instruments were statistically negative correlated. The Soft Plus series has higher variation in detecting skin hydration, pH, and melanin than the instruments from Courage & Khazaka.DiscussionThe differences of the two series must be instrument related. The difference in level of measurement can be due either to differences in the design of the probe, to differences in time for measurement, to differences in left/right part of the body or a combination of these three.ConclusionThe two series have significant correlations. The instruments from CK are more reproducible.
Environmental Salmonella in Agricultural Fair Poultry Exhibits in Colorado
Authors: Pabilonia K. L. , Cadmus K. J. , Lingus T. M. , Bolte D. S. , Russell M. M. , Van Metre D. C. , Erdman M. M. 
Published: June 2013

SummarySalmonella enterica is a common zoonotic pathogen in humans. Transmission typically occurs through consumption of contaminated food products or contact with infected animals, including poultry or their environment. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of Salmonella contamination in the environment in poultry exhibits at agricultural fairs. Samples were collected from cages, feed, floors and tables in the exhibit and cultured for Salmonella. At least one environmental sample was positive for Salmonella in 10 of 11 fairs (91%), and Salmonella was isolated from 28 of 55 environmental samples (50.9%). Eleven different serotypes were detected. Results of this study demonstrate that environmental surfaces at agricultural fairs can be contaminated with Salmonella and could potentially serve as a route of transmission to bird owners and the general public. Poultry owners and the general public should be educated about the risks of Salmonella infection from the poultry exhibit environment. Agricultural fairs should consider instituting policies and practices to improve hygiene and mitigate the risk of zoonotic salmonellosis.
Sex‐specific effects of exercise ancestry on metabolic, morphological and gene expression phenotypes in multiple generations of mouse offspring
Authors: Guth Lisa M. , Ludlow Andrew T. , Witkowski Sarah , Marshall Mallory R. , Lima Laila C. J. , Venezia Andrew C. , Xiao Tao , Ting Lee Mei‐Ling , Spangenburg Espen E. , Roth Stephen M. 
Published: June 2013

New findings
What is the central question of this study?How does parental exercise training directly and/or transgenerationally affect offspring phenotypes over two generations of mice?
What is the main finding and what is its importance?We observed preliminary evidence that parental exercise training can influence health‐related phenotypes (e.g. body and fat mass, muscle gene expression) in mouse offspring. These findings indicate that parental exercise may be another environmental factor (like altered nutrition) capable of influencing offspring phenotypes in adulthood.
Early life and preconception environmental stimuli can affect adult health‐related phenotypes. Exercise training is an environmental stimulus affecting many systems throughout the body and appears to alter offspring phenotypes. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of parental exercise training, or ‘exercise ancestry’, on morphological and metabolic phenotypes in two generations of mouse offspring. The F0 C57BL/6 mice were exposed to voluntary exercise (EX) or sedentary lifestyle (SED) and bred with like‐exposed mates to produce an F1 generation. The F1 mice of both ancestries were sedentary and killed at 8 weeks or bred with littermates to produce an F2 generation, which was also sedentary and killed at 8 weeks. Small but broad generation‐ and sex‐specific effects of exercise ancestry were observed for body mass, fat and muscle mass, serum insulin, glucose tolerance and muscle gene expression. The F1 EX females were lighter than F1 SED females and had lower absolute tibialis anterior and omental fat masses. Serum insulin was higher in F1 EX females compared with F1 SED females. The F2 EX females had impaired glucose tolerance compared with F2 SED females. Analysis of skeletal muscle mRNA levels revealed several generation‐ and sex‐specific differences in mRNA levels for multiple genes, especially those related to metabolic genes (e.g. F1 EX males had lower mRNA levels of Hk2, Ppard, Ppargc1a, Adipoq and Scd1 than F1 SED males). These results provide preliminary evidence that parental exercise training can influence health‐related phenotypes in mouse offspring.
Treatment of muscle mechanoreflex dysfunction in hypertension: effects of L‐arginine dialysis in the nucleus tractus solitarii
Authors: Leal Anna K. , Mitchell Jere H. , Smith Scott A. 
Published: June 2013

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?Does increasing NO production within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) affect mechanoreflex function in normotensive and hypertensive rats?
What is the main finding and its importance?Dialysis of 1 μm l‐arginine, an NO precursor, within the NTS significantly attenuated the pressor response to muscle stretch in normotensive and hypertensive rats. In contrast, 10 μm l‐arginine had no effect in normotensive animals, while increasing and decreasing the pressor and tachycardic responses to stretch, respectively, in hypertensive rats. This suggests that increasing NO within the NTS using lower doses of l‐arginine can partly normalize mechanoreflex overactivity in hypertensive rats, whereas the effects of larger doses are equivocal.
The blood pressure response to exercise is exaggerated in hypertension. Recent evidence suggests that an overactive skeletal muscle mechanoreflex contributes significantly to this augmented circulatory responsiveness. Sensory information from the mechanoreflex is processed within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of the medulla oblongata. Normally, endogenously produced nitric oxide within the NTS attenuates the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) induced by mechanoreflex stimulation. Thus, it has been suggested that decreases in NO production in the NTS underlie the generation of mechanoreflex dysfunction in hypertension. Supporting this postulate, it has been shown that blocking NO production within the NTS of normotensive rats reproduces the exaggerated pressor response elicited by mechanoreflex activation in hypertensive animals. What is not known is whether increasing NO production within the NTS of hypertensive rats mitigates mechanoreflex overactivity. In this study, the mechanoreflex was selectively activated by passively stretching hindlimb muscle before and after the dialysis of 1 and 10 μm l‐arginine (an NO precursor) within the NTS of decerebrate normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Stretch induced larger elevations in MAP in SHRs compared with WKY rats. In both groups, dialysis of 1 μm l‐arginine significantly attenuated the pressor response to stretch. However, at the 10 μm dose, l‐arginine had no effect on the MAP response to stretch in WKY rats, while it enhanced the response in SHRs. The data demonstrate that increasing NO availability within the NTS using lower doses of l‐arginine partly normalizes mechanoreflex dysfunction in hypertension, whereas higher doses do not. The findings could prove valuable in the development of treatment options for mechanoreflex overactivity in this disease.