bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder – diagnostic concepts
Authors: Bauer Michael , Beaulieu Serge , Dunner David L , Lafer Beny , Kupka Ralph 
Published: August 2009

Objectives:  This paper reviews the literature to examine the DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for rapid cycling in bipolar disorder.Methods:  Studies on the clinical characteristics of rapid cycling bipolar disorder were reviewed. To identify relevant papers, literature searches using PubMed and MEDLINE were undertaken.Results:  First observed in the prepharmacologic era, rapid cycling subsequently has been associated with a relatively poor response to pharmacologic treatment. Rapid cycling can be conceptualized as either a high frequency of episodes of any polarity or as a temporal sequence of episodes of opposite polarity. The DSM‐IV defines rapid cycling as a course specifier, signifying at least four episodes of major depression, mania, mixed mania, or hypomania in the past year, occurring in any combination or order. It is estimated that rapid cycling is present in about 12–24% of patients at specialized mood disorder clinics. However, apart from episode frequency, studies over the past 30 years have been unable to determine clinical characteristics that define patients with rapid cycling as a specific subgroup. Furthermore, rapid cycling is a transient phenomenon in many patients.Conclusions:  While a dimensional approach to episode frequency as a continuum between the extremes of no cycling and continuous cycling may be more appropriate and provide a framework to include ultra‐rapid and ultradian cycling, the evidence does not exist today to refine the DSM‐IV definition in a less arbitrary manner. Continued use of the DSM‐IV definition also enables comparisons between past and future studies, and it should be included in the next release of the ICD. Further scientific investigation into rapid cycling is needed. In addition to improving the diagnostic criteria, insight into neurophysiologic mechanisms of mood switching and episode frequency may have important implications for clinical care.
Schizoaffective disorder: diagnostic issues and future recommendations
Authors: Malhi Gin S , Green Melissa , Fagiolini Andrea , Peselow Eric D , Kumari Veena 
Published: August 2009

Objective:  Difficulties surrounding the classification of mixed psychotic and affective syndromes continue to plague psychiatric nosology. This paper addresses the controversy regarding the diagnostic validity of schizoaffective disorder (SAD), a diagnosis that is used in both DSM‐IV and ICD‐10 and one that encroaches on both schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD).Methods:  A systematic synthesis of clinical and empirical literature, including evidence from cognitive, neurobiological, genetic, and epidemiological research, was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the utility of the SAD classification.Results:  Distinctions between the diagnostic categories of SCZ, SAD and BD are not clearly demarcated by findings from neuropsychological, neuroimaging, molecular neurobiology, or genetic epidemiology studies. On the contrary, convergent evidence purports overlap across current diagnostic boundaries in the heritability and pathophysiology of psychotic and affective disorders. However, there are some disorder‐specific findings.Conclusions:  Schizoaffective disorder is a prototypic boundary condition that epitomizes the pitfalls of the current categorical classification system. Future revisions to the DSM should consider the implementation of one of two alternative models to account for individuals presenting with mixed psychotic and affective symptoms. These include the views that (i) SAD is a comorbid set of symptoms that occur as a by‐product of two separate disorders (SCZ and BD) or, that (ii) SAD exists as the mid‐point on a continuum between SCZ and BD, such that the incorporation of these two disorders onto one dimension may be a suitable alternative. Hence the category SAD should be omitted in future revisions of DSM, allowing the development of meaningful nomenclature that rests upon further rigorous investigation of differences and similarities between disorders.
Females benefit from multiple mating but not multiple mates in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides
Authors: HOUSE C. M. , WALLING C. A. , STAMPER C. E. , MOORE A. J. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractMale reproductive success generally increases with number of mates but this need not be true for females. If females are the limiting sex, as few as one mate can be optimal. Despite the theoretical differences driving multiple mating in the sexes, multiple mating is the norm rather than the exception. Empirical investigations are therefore required to determine why females mate with multiple males. Both nonadaptive (correlated responses to selection on males, given the mean mating rates have to be the same) and adaptive (direct or indirect fitness benefits) can drive the evolution of multiple mating in females. Females of the burying beetle Nicorphorus vespilloides often mate repeatedly with the same male, but this appears to be a correlated response to selection on males rather than reflecting direct benefits to females for multiple mating. However, an unexamined alternative to this nonadaptive explanation is that females benefit by mating with multiple different males and therefore are selected for general promiscuity. Here we examine if mating polyandrously provides fitness benefits by examing the effects of number of mates (1, 2 or 3), mating system (monogamous, polyandrous) and their interaction. The only significant influence was mating more than once. This did not depend on type of mating. We suggest that unlike most other species examined, in N. vespilloides mating with the same male repeatedly or with several different males reflects an indiscriminate willingness to mate as a result of correlated selection on males for high rates of mating.
Evolution of sexual size dimorphism in grouse and allies (Aves: Phasianidae) in relation to mating competition, fecundity demands and resource division
Authors: LISLEVAND T. , FIGUEROLA J. , SZÉKELY T. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractSexual size dimorphism (SSD) is often assumed to be driven by three major selective processes: (1) sexual selection influencing male size and thus mating success, (2) fecundity selection acting on females and (3) inter‐sexual resource division favouring different size in males and females to reduce competition for resources. Sexual selection should be particularly strong in species that exhibit lek polygyny, since male mating success is highly skewed in such species. We investigated whether these three selective processes are related to SSD evolution in grouse and allies (Phasianidae). Male‐biased SSD increased with body size (Rensch’s rule) and lekking species exhibited more male‐biased SSD than nonlekking ones. Directional phylogenetic analyses indicated that lekking evolved before SSD, but conclusions were highly dependent on the body size traits and chosen model values. There was no relationship between SSD and male display agility, nor did resource division influence SSD. Although clutch mass increased with female body size it was not related to the degree of SSD. Taken together, the results are most consistent with the hypothesis that lekking behaviour led to the evolution of male‐biased SSD in Phasianidae.
Pollen competition as an asymmetric reproductive barrier between two closely relatedSilenespecies
Authors: RAHMÉ J. , WIDMER A. , KARRENBERG S. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractReproductive barriers are important determinants of gene flow between divergent populations or species. We studied pollen competition as a post‐mating reproductive barrier betweenSilene dioicaandS. latifolia. Gene flow between these species is extensive, but early‐generation hybrids are rare. In an experiment with conspecific, heterospecific and 50 : 50 mixed pollinations in the two species, pollination treatments did not significantly affect seed set and seed weight. However, molecular determination of siring success after mixed pollinations showed that fewer than expected hybrids were produced inS. latifolia(18% hybrids) but not inS. dioica(51% hybrids). This constitutes an asymmetric post‐mating reproductive barrier and likely contributes to the rarity of early‐generation hybrids. Our study shows that pollen competition can be an effective barrier to hybridization between closely related species that likely acts in concert with other reproductive barriers.
Iron overload and toxicity: the hidden risk of multiple blood transfusions
Authors: Shander A. , Cappellini M. D. , Goodnough L. T. 
Published: August 2009

Background  The quantity of iron in body is carefully regulated, primarily by control of iron absorption, and excess total body iron can be extremely toxic. Since humans have no mechanism for elimination of excess iron, multiple transfusions of red blood cells, which are required for the management of a number of disorders, inevitably result in iron overload. Cumulative iron overload, in turn, leads to iron toxicity with organ dysfunction and damage.Materials  This review examines the relationship between iron metabolism and hematologic disorders treated with multiple transfusions, with emphasis on the diagnosis and current methods of management of iron overload and toxicity in transfusion‐dependent patients. Primarily using key words, we identified and reviewed more than 100 pertinent articles in English and other languages in the Medline database plus an additional number of abstracts of presentations at recent meetings of relevant scientific associations.Results  Transfusion‐dependent disorders include those characterized by decreased red blood cell production, increased red blood cell destruction, or chronic blood loss. Patients receiving chronic transfusion therapy should be screened and monitored for iron overload, yet in our opinion, this is not always done routinely. Once iron overload has been identified, it should be treated to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality from iron toxicity, which particularly affects the liver and heart.Conclusion  Increased awareness of the risks of iron overload from chronic transfusion therapy should result in greater use of interventions such as iron chelation to reduce total body iron and the risk of long‐term sequelae.
Influence of cellulose fibre length on faecal quality, mineral excretion and nutrient digestibility in cat
Authors: Prola L. , Dobenecker B. , Mussa P. P. , Kienzle E. 
Published: August 2009

SummaryIn dogs, faeces quality and nutrients digestibility were affected by different types of cellulose (Wichert et al., 2002). In this study, it was investigated whether there are comparable effects of cellulose type in cats. Seven adult, healthy cats were fed a moist commercial complete cat food with three different cellulose type added at a level of 4% for a 1 week period. Faeces quality was between 1 and 3 on the scale used from 1 to 5. The addition of long fibre cellulose resulted in significantly firmer faeces. Addition of cellulose decreased the digestibility of dry matter and energy, whereas the impact on protein and fat digestibility was not significant. The type of cellulose affected faecal bulk and faecal water excretion. Faecal excretion of sodium and potassium was exponentially correlated to faecal water, faecal bulk and to a lesser extent to faecal dry matter excretion. Faecal calcium, magnesium and phosphorus excretion showed an exponential correlation to faecal dry matter excretion. A weaker correlation existed in all three elements to faecal bulk, whereas the effect of faecal water excretion was small. Results suggest a remarkable likeness between cats and dogs with regard to the digestive physiology of major minerals.
Effects of adding liquiddl‐methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid to drinking water on growth performance and small intestinal morphology of nursery pigs
Authors: Kaewtapee C. , Krutthai N. , Poosuwan K. , Poeikhampha T. , Koonawootrittriron S. , Bunchasak C. 
Published: August 2009

SummaryThis study was conducted to evaluate the effect of adding liquiddl‐methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (LMA) to drinking water on growth performance, small intestinal morphology and volatile fatty acids in the caecum of nursery pigs. Twenty‐four crossbred pigs (Large White × Landrace, BW ∼18 kg) were divided into three groups with four replications of two piglets each. The piglets received drinking water without (control), with 0.05 or 0.10% LMA. The results indicated that adding LMA at 0.10% to drinking water significantly increased their weight gain, average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) and tended to improve the feed conversion ratio. Adding LMA to drinking water significantly increased their water intake and significantly reduced the pH of drinking water (p < 0.01), thus total plate count (p < 0.01) andEscherichia coliin drinking water was reduced (p < 0.05), while the total number of bacteria in the caecum was not significantly affected. Liquiddl‐methionine hydroxy analogue free acid supplementation in drinking water tended to decrease pH in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, colon and rectum. Furthermore, adding LMA at 0.10% significantly increased villous height in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05), and the villous height:crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.01) was higher, whereas acetic acid concentration in the caecum was significantly lower than in the control group. It could be concluded that adding LMA to drinking water improved growth performance of the nursery pigs because of high water quality and high nutrient utilization caused by an improvement of small intestinal morphology (not from nutritional effect of methionine source).
QTL analysis on plant height and flowering time in Brassica napus
Authors: Mei D. S. , Wang H. Z. , Hu Q. , Li Y. D. , Xu Y. S. , Li Y. C. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractTo identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling plant height (PH) and flowering time (FT), a high stalk/later bloom Brassica napus line ‘2091’ was crossed with a dwarf/early bloom mutant ‘99CDAM’. A segregating population with 145 F2:3 lines was constructed and grown in field for 2 years. Based on this population, a linkage map consisting of 199 amplified fragment length polymorphism and 42 simple sequence repeat loci was constructed. The LOD threshold of 3.0 was used for declaring the existence of putative QTL. In total, seven QTL related to PH were identified, accounting for 8.5–28.6% of phenotypic variation, respectively, of which two QTL were identified in both years. Six QTL for FT were detected, accounting for 8.1–30.4% of phenotypic variation individually, of which two QTL were identified in both years. The main QTL of PH and FT were both mapped on linkage group 13, with overlapped creditable regions. QTL ph17 and ft17 existed at the same location. These might be the genetic base for the significant correlation observed between PH and FT.
Effect of Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin on Plasma Concentrations of Insulin‐like Growth Factor I, Insulin and Membrane Integrity of Bull Spermatozoa
Authors: Vieira MB , Bianchi I , Madeira EM , Roll VFB , Oliveira CA , Viau P , Pivato I , Severo NC , Del Pino FAB , Schneider A , Corrêa MN 
Published: August 2009

ContentsThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of the exogenous recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on plasma concentrations of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I), insulin and semen quality of bulls. Twenty bulls (Aberdeen Angus and Brangus) were divided by breed into two groups. Placebo group was injected with NaCl 0.9% (s.c.) and treatment group with rbST (s.c., 500 mg) at days 0 and 14 of the experiment. Immediately after semen collection, blood samples were taken on days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 of the experiment. Semen was also collected on day 70 of the experiment. Evaluation of sperm motility was performed at pre‐freezing and post‐thawing stage, whereas assessment of sperm membrane integrity was performed after freezing and thawing. Analysis of data revealed that the effect of treatment and treatment‐by‐collection day on plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin was not significant. However, mean plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin were affected (p < 0.0001) by days of blood sampling. Effect of treatment and treatment‐by‐collection day on motility of spermatozoa was similar (p > 0.05) at pre‐freezing and post‐thawing stage. Intactness of plasmalemma and tail membrane of spermatozoa at post‐thawing stage was higher (p < 0.05) in rbST‐treated group than in control. In conclusion, rbST did not affect plasma concentrations of IGF‐I and insulin, however, it did improve post‐thaw sperm membrane integrity.
Carbocisteine inhibits oxidant‐induced apoptosis in cultured human airway epithelial cells
Authors: YOSHIDA Motoki , NAKAYAMA Katsutoshi , YASUDA Hiroyasu , KUBO Hiroshi , KUWANO Kazuyoshi , ARAI Hiroyuki , YAMAYA Mutsuo 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Increased oxidant levels have been associated with exacerbations of COPD, and L‐carbocisteine, a mucolytic agent, reduces the frequency of exacerbations. The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of L‐carbocisteine on oxidant‐induced COPD exacerbations were examined in an in vitro study of human airway epithelial cells.Methods:  In order to examine the antioxidant effects of L‐carbocisteine, human tracheal epithelial cells were treated with L‐carbocisteine and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cell apoptosis was assessed using a cell death detection ELISA, and the pathways leading to cell apoptosis were examined by measurement of caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 by western blot analysis with fluorescent detection.Results:  The proportion of apoptotic cells in human tracheal epithelium was increased in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner, following exposure to H2O2. Treatment with L‐carbocisteine reduced the proportion of apoptotic cells. In contrast, H2O2 did not increase the concentration of LDH in supernatants of epithelial cells. Exposure to H2O2 activated caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, and L‐carbocisteine inhibited the H2O2‐induced activation of these caspases. L‐carbocisteine activated Akt phosphorylation, which modulates caspase activation, and the inhibitors of Akt, LY294002 and wortmannin, significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of L‐carbocisteine on H2O2‐induced cell apoptosis.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that in human airway epithelium, L‐carbocisteine may inhibit cell damage induced by H2O2 through the activation of Akt phosphorylation. L‐carbocisteine may have antioxidant effects, as well as mucolytic activity, in inflamed airways.
Serratia marcescens sepsis outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Arslan Ugur , Erayman Ibrahim , Kirdar Sevin , Yuksekkaya Serife , Cimen Omer , Tuncer Inci , Bozdogan Bülent 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground:  Contaminated parenteral nutrition (PN) is an important source of infection in neonates. Many organisms have been reported to cause contamination resulting in outbreaks in intensive care units. The aim of the present study was to investigate an outbreak caused by Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods:  This was a descriptive study of an outbreak of sepsis in an NICU of a university teaching hospital. The outbreak was detected in seven patients from 10 to 12 December 2005 following the administration of PN. Extensive environmental samplings for culture were performed. The clonal relationship among isolates was tested using pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis, random amplification of polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction and plasmid DNA typing.Results:  Serratia marcescens was found in blood cultures from infected newborns and from in‐use PN solutions. Gestational age of the seven babies ranged from 28 to 34 weeks (median, 32 weeks), birthweight ranged from 1000 g to 2190 g (median, 1469 g), and postnatal age ranged from 8 to 22 days. The mortality rate was 14.3%. All these strains of S. marcescens had the same antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the same genomic DNA profile. Plasmid typing, as well as RAPD‐PCR showed that all isolates had the same profile.Conclusion:  The source of the nosocomial sepsis in seven neonates was the PN solution. Contamination may occur during storage or repeated handling during PN preparation.
Roles of opioid receptor subtypes in mediating alcohol‐seeking induced by discrete cues and context
Authors: Marinelli Peter W. , Funk Douglas , Harding Stephen , Li Zhaoxia , Juzytsch Walter , Lê A. D. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the effects of selective blockade of the delta (DOP) or mu (MOP) opioid receptors on alcohol‐seeking induced by discrete cues and context. In Experiment 1, rats were trained to self‐administer alcohol in an environment with distinct sensory properties. After extinction in a different context with separate sensory properties, rats were tested for context‐induced renewal in the original context following treatment with the DOP receptor antagonist naltrindole (0–15 mg/kg, i.p.) or the MOP receptor antagonist D‐Phe‐Cys‐Tyr‐D‐Trp‐Orn‐Thr‐Pen‐Thr‐NH2(CTOP) (0–3 μg/4 μL, i.c.v.). In Experiment 2, reinstatement was tested with the presentation of a discrete light + tone cue previously associated with alcohol delivery, following extinction without the cue. The effects of naltrindole (0–5 mg/kg, i.p.) or CTOP (0–3 μg/4 μL, i.c.v.) were assessed. For context‐induced renewal, 7.5 mg/kg naltrindole reduced responding without affecting locomotor activity. Both doses of CTOP attenuated responding in the first 15 min of the renewal test session; however, total responses did not differ at the end of the session. For discrete‐cue‐induced reinstatement, 1 and 5 mg/kg naltrindole attenuated responding but CTOP had no effect. We conclude that whereas DOP receptors mediate alcohol‐seeking induced by discrete cues and context, MOP receptors may play a modest role only in context‐induced renewal. These findings point to a differential involvement of opioid receptor subtypes in the effects of different kinds of conditioned stimuli on alcohol‐seeking and support a more prominent role for DOP receptors.
Regulation of motor patterns by the central spike‐initiation zone of a sensory neuron
Authors: Daur Nelly , Nadim Farzan , Stein Wolfgang 
Published: August 2009

AbstractSensory feedback from muscles and peripheral sensors acts to initiate, tune or reshape motor activity according to the state of the body. Yet, sensory neurons often show low levels of activity even in the absence of sensory input. Here we examine the functional role of spontaneous low‐frequency activity of such a sensory neuron. The anterior gastric receptor (AGR) is a muscle–tendon organ in the crab stomatogastric nervous system whose phasic activity shapes the well‐characterized gastric mill (chewing) and pyloric (filtering) motor rhythms. Phasic activity is driven by a spike‐initiation zone near the innervated muscle. We demonstrate that AGR possesses a second spike‐initiation zone, which is located spatially distant from the innervated muscle in a central section of the axon. This initiation zone generates tonic activity and is responsible for the spontaneous activity of AGR in vivo, but does not code sensory information. Rather, it is sensitive to the neuromodulator octopamine. A computational model indicates that the activity at this initiation zone is not caused by excitatory input from another neuron, but generated intrinsically. This tonic activity is functionally relevant, because it modifies the activity state of the gastric mill motor circuit and changes the pyloric rhythm. The sensory function of AGR is not impaired as phasic activity suppresses spiking at the central initiation zone. Our results thus demonstrate that sensory neurons are not mere reporters of sensory signals. Neuromodulators can elicit non‐sensory coding activity in these neurons that shapes the state of the motor system.