bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Staphylococcus intermedius group of bacterial pathogens: species re‐classification, pathogenesis and the emergence of meticillin resistance
Authors: Ross Fitzgerald J. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract Staphylococcus intermedius has been long regarded as the common cause of pyoderma in dogs and other animals. Despite its clinical importance, our understanding of the population genetics and pathogenesis of S. intermedius is limited. This review summarizes recent studies which have explored the genetic diversity of S. intermedius isolates resulting in a re‐classification of the species and the identification of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius as the common canine pyoderma pathogen. Also discussed will be the recent identification and spread of meticillin‐resistant strains of S. pseudintermedius in the context of their molecular evolution. While our understanding of S. pseudintermedius pathogenesis is very limited, it is hoped that current genome sequencing studies will result in fresh impetus for studies of disease pathogenesis and for the design of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of canine pyoderma.
Use of the D‐dimer assay for diagnosing thrombosis in cases of canine cutaneous vasculitis
Authors: Rosser Edmund J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to measure D‐dimer concentrations and assess their value in diagnosis of thrombosis in three groups of dogs; (i) dogs with cutaneous vasculitis without histopathological evidence of thrombosis; (ii) dogs with cutaneous vasculitis with histopathological evidence of thrombosis; and (iii) pruritic dogs with erythematous skin and underlying allergic skin disease. D‐dimer test results were reported as negative at <250 ng/mL, and positive at ≥250 ng/mL. Ten dogs with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and/or cutaneous adverse food reaction were enrolled in the study, and the D‐dimer results were <250 ng/mL (eight dogs) and 250–500 ng/mL (two dogs). Twenty‐six dogs with a diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis had blood samples submitted for D‐dimer analysis at the time of the initial submission of skin biopsies and results were: 15 had cutaneous vessel thrombi present with a D‐dimer of >500–1000 ng/mL (14 dogs) and >1000 ng/mL (one dog); 11 dogs had no histological evidence of thrombi with a D‐dimer of <250 ng/mL (four dogs), 250–500 ng/mL (three dogs) and >500–1000 ng/mL (four dogs). However, two of four dogs with a D‐dimer of >500–1000 ng/mL without histological evidence of thrombi developed necrotic skin lesions over the next 24–48 h. In conclusion, a D‐dimer >500 ng/mL is strong evidence to support the current presence or subsequent development of cutaneous vessel thrombosis, and a D‐dimer of <500 ng/mL correlates well with the absence of cutaneous vessel thrombi and necrotic skin lesions. No dogs with histopathological evidence of thrombi had a false‐negative D‐dimer.
Immunohistochemical evaluation of filaggrin polyclonal antibody in atopic and normal beagles
Authors: Marsella Rosanna , Samuelson Don , Harrington Lisa 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn human atopic dermatitis (AD), impairments in skin barrier function are emphasized and hypothesized to increase risk of allergic sensitization. Filaggrins, crucial proteins for keratinization, are decreased in lesional and nonlesional human atopic skin. As canine AD shares numerous similarities with the human counterpart, this study aimed to evaluate a polyclonal antibody against human filaggrin in atopic beagles sensitized to house dust mites (HDM) and normal healthy dogs. The effects of HDM exposure on immunostaining and clinical signs were evaluated in both groups. Positive immunohistochemical staining with anti‐filaggrin antibody was evaluated both objectively and subjectively by two blinded investigators. Pearson correlation test showed significant correlation between objective and subjective scores, both at baseline and after allergen exposure (r = 0.80; P = 0.0017 and r = 0.75; P = 0.013 respectively). Analysis of variance showed significant effect of time (P = 0.01) with immunostaining being higher in baseline samples than after HDM exposure. It also showed a significant group × time interaction (P = 0.02) with immunostaining not changing significantly over time in atopic dogs, while decreasing in normal dogs after HDM exposure. An independent t‐test showed that, at baseline, atopic beagles had significantly less positive immunostaining than controls (P = 0.009) and that, after HDM exposure, there was no significant difference between groups. No correlation existed between clinical scores and immunostaining. In atopic dogs immunostaining was characterized by faint granular staining, while normal samples showed discrete intense staining. Moreover, immunostaining was present in all epidermal layers in many samples, suggesting cross‐reactivity of the antibody used with other epidermal proteins besides filaggrin.
Comparison of two dermoscopic techniques in the diagnosis of clinically atypical pigmented skin lesions and melanoma: seven‐point and three‐point checklists
Authors: Gereli Muge Celebi , Onsun Nahide , Atilganoglu Ulviye , Demirkesen Cuyan 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  Over the past decade, many dermoscopic criteria and algorithmic methods have been developed for the early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.Objective  To compare the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the seven‐point and three‐point checklist methods in a series of dermoscopic images. The diagnostic value of dermoscopic criteria was also determined on the basis of their frequency.Methods  Forty‐eight preoperative dermoscopic images of histopathologically proven melanoma lesions and 48 preoperative dermoscopic images of clinically atypical but histopathologically proven nonmelanoma pigmented skin lesions were reviewed retrospectively. The seven‐point and three‐point checklist methods were used to assess each lesion. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows 15.0, descriptive statistical tests, and screening tests were used for statistical analyses.Results  The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the seven‐point checklist method were 87.50%, 16.17%, 51.22%, and 57.14%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the three‐point checklist method were 89.58%, 31.25%, 56.58%, and 75%, respectively.Conclusion  The three‐point checklist was observed to be a superior screening test. The seven‐point checklist provided a more detailed analysis, especially for thin melanomas. In comparison with the seven‐point method, the three‐point method may be useful for less experienced observers when they need to obtain greater diagnostic accuracy.
Differential expression of ezrin in epithelial skin tumors: cytoplasmic ezrin immunoreactivity in squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Park Hye‐Rim , Min Soo Kee , Min Kwangseon , Jun Sun‐Young , Seo Jinwon , Kim Kwang Ho , Choi Jaewook 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  Ezrin is a cytoskeleton linker protein that is actively involved in regulating the growth and metastatic capacity of cancer cells. The purpose of the study was to assess the expression pattern of ezrin in normal skin and various epithelial neoplasms.Methods  We used immunohistochemical techniques to examine the expression of ezrin in paraffin‐embedded tissues of squamous cell carcinoma (n = 23), basal cell carcinoma (n = 10), Bowen’s disease (n = 10), actinic keratosis (n = 10), keratoacanthoma (n = 9), seborrheic keratosis (n = 5), psoriasis vulgaris (n = 5), and normal control skin (n = 5).Results  In Bowen’s disease, actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma, and seborrheic keratosis, ezrin was dominantly expressed in the cell membrane except for the cornified layer. In squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens, the percentage of ezrin‐positive cells was increased compared with Bowen’s disease, actinic keratosis, keratoacanthoma, and seborrheic keratosis. Especially in SCC samples, ezrin expression was markedly expressed in the cytoplasm. In addition, there was a correlation between the pattern of ezrin expression and tumor differentiation in SCC. Basal cell carcinoma showed intense and diffuse staining especially in the solid growth pattern.Conclusions  Our findings suggest that dysregulation of ezrin may be important in the development of cutaneous epithelial malignancies and tumor grade. We suggest that the cytoplasmic localization of ezrin may be useful in the diagnosis of skin SCC.
Severe aphthous stomatitis associated with oral calcineurin and mTOR inhibitors
Authors: Habib Nancy , Salaro Cristina , Al‐Ghaithi Khalid , Phelps Robert G. , Saggar Sarika , Cohen Steven R. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackground  Aphthous stomatitis, a common mucocutaneous disorder, is a well accepted complication of sirolimus therapy. This association has been reported less frequently with tacrolimus.Case  We present an 11‐year old male with Budd‐Chiari syndrome who experienced profound worsening of chronic aphthous ulcers after immunosuppressive therapy was changed from tacrolimus to sirolimus.Conclusion  Since these drugs are used widely in the pediatric transplantation population, this report serves to heighten awareness of this debilitating phenomenon, and to stress the importance of exercising caution when sirolimus and tacrolimus are administered in combination to pediatric patients.
Pest insect immigration warning by an atmospheric dispersion model, weather radars and traps
Authors: Leskinen M. , Markkula I. , Koistinen J. , Pylkkö P. , Ooperi S. , Siljamo P. , Ojanen H. , Raiskio S. , Tiilikkala K. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractIn an experimental set‐up in and around Helsinki, Finland (60°N, 25°E), we have detected pest insect immigration using weather radars and insect traps in the field. This study was part of a project to develop a system to give warning of a possible arrival of long‐range migrant insect pests. Bird‐cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, and diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, were found on the ground following migrations in warm airstreams at the end of May 2007. This migration episode was successfully forecast by the meteorologists in the project team. For the summer 2008, we developed a pest insect immigration alarm system based on SILAM, a Finnish Meteorological Institute atmospheric dispersion model. The first important pest insect immigration occurred in late June, bringing bird‐cherry aphids. Our alarm system correctly produced a warning of this immigration. We studied the migration path in the observed events in 2007 and 2008 with the help of the atmospheric dispersion model. Weather radars frequently showed rain echo over the area, but there was also a lot of echoes originating from the migrating insects. Using the polarimetric weather radar in Helsinki, we could differentiate insects from other sources of echoes. Insects were common in layers below 1 km, and were observed up to height of about 2.5 km. Using Doppler weather radars we were able to observe the speed and direction of the migration. The experiment showed that an atmospheric dispersion model is an effective tool for predicting the movement of airborne migrants. The alarm system would work still better, if the sources of the immigrants were known in more detail. In addition, the very simple modelling of airborne migration should be refined. Weather radars, and especially polarimetric systems, are able to detect insect migrations and reveal details of the phenomenon not obtainable by other means.
Comparison of fesoterodine and tolterodine extended release for the treatment of overactive bladder: a head‐to‐head placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Herschorn Sender , Swift Steven , Guan Zhonghong , Carlsson Martin , Morrow Jon D. , Brodsky Marina , Gong Jason 
Published: December 2009

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1bOBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and tolerability of fesoterodine 8 mg with tolterodine extended‐release (ER) 4 mg and placebo in a randomized clinical trial of patients with an overactive bladder (OAB).PATIENTS AND METHODSIn this 12‐week double‐blind, double‐dummy, placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trial, eligible patients reported OAB symptoms for ≥3 months and recorded ≥8 voids and ≥1 urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) episode per 24 h in 3‐day bladder diaries at baseline. Patients were randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio to fesoterodine (4 mg for 1 week then 8 mg for 11 weeks); tolterodine ER 4 mg; or placebo (with sham dose escalation for tolterodine ER and placebo). Endpoints were changes from baseline to week 12 in UUI episodes (primary endpoint), total and nocturnal voids, urgency episodes, severe urgency episodes, and frequency‐urgency sum per 24 h; mean voided volume per void (MVV); and the OAB questionnaire (OAB‐q), Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), and Urgency Perception Scale (UPS). Safety and tolerability were assessed and summarized over the 12‐week study period.RESULTSFesoterodine (636 patients) significantly improved UUI episodes at week 12 (primary endpoint) compared with tolterodine ER (641 patients; P = 0.017) and placebo (313 patients; P < 0.001). Fesoterodine also produced significantly greater improvements than tolterodine ER in MVV (P = 0.005). Fesoterodine significantly improved all diary endpoints compared with placebo (P < 0.001), except for nocturnal voids (P = 0.327). Tolterodine ER significantly improved all diary endpoints vs placebo (P < 0.001), except for nocturnal voids (P = 0.506) and MVV (P = 0.103). Diary dry rates (the proportion of patients reporting no UUI episodes at endpoint among those with one or more UUI episodes at baseline) were significantly higher with fesoterodine (64%) than with tolterodine ER (57%; P = 0.015) and placebo (45%; P < 0.001). Improvements in PPBC, UPS and OAB‐q scale and domain scores at week 12 were all significantly better with fesoterodine than placebo (all P < 0.001) and tolterodine ER (all P < 0.05) except for the OAB‐q Sleep domain vs tolterodine ER (P = 0.081). Dry mouth and constipation rates were 28% and 5% in the fesoterodine group, 16% and 4% in the tolterodine ER group, and 6% and 3% with placebo, respectively. Discontinuations due to treatment‐emergent adverse events were 6%, 4% and 2% in the fesoterodine, tolterodine ER, and placebo groups, respectively.CONCLUSIONIn patients with OAB, fesoterodine 8 mg showed superior efficacy over tolterodine ER 4 mg and placebo in reducing UUI episodes (primary endpoint) and in improving most patient‐reported outcome measures. Both active treatments were well tolerated.
Long‐term changes in blood pressure following orlistat and sibutramine treatment: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Johansson K. , Sundström J. , Neovius K. , Rössner S. , Neovius M. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryPrevious meta‐analyses investigating blood pressure effects of anti‐obesity drugs have included studies using non‐licensed doses, but not data from head‐to‐head studies. Furthermore, although diabetes is an important comorbidity in obesity, variation in blood pressure effects across diabetes status has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to estimate the effects on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of orlistat and sibutramine. Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane controlled trials register and reference lists of identified articles from 1990 to February 2009 were searched. All placebo‐controlled randomized controlled trials of 12‐month duration or randomized head‐to‐head studies of any duration on adults using standard doses were included. Studies/study arms were excluded if they only evaluated weight maintenance after weight loss. Randomized controlled trials were identified, subjected to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and reviewed. Random effects models were used for assessment of weighted mean differences. Eighteen placebo‐controlled (12 orlistat, 5540 patients; 6 sibutramine, 1495 patients) and four head‐to‐head trials (348 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Three orlistat and three sibutramine studies examined overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), as did two head‐to‐head trials. Mean baseline SBP ranged from 119 to 153 mmHg, and mean DBP from 69 to 98 mmHg. Overall, the placebo‐controlled SBP change was −1.9 (95% CI; −2.7, −1.1) mmHg for orlistat, and 0.5 (−1.1, 2.1) mmHg for sibutramine. The corresponding values for DBP were −1.5 (−2.2, −0.8) and 1.7 (0.7, 2.6). Compared with patients without diabetes, diabetic patients treated with orlistat experienced smaller and non‐significant reductions of SBP (−0.9; −2.6, 0.7 vs. −2.2; −3.0, −1.3) and DBP (−1.0; −2.4, 0.3 vs. −1.6; −2.4, −0.8). For sibutramine, higher on‐treatment elevations in SBP (1.6; −1.3, 4.5 vs. 0.1; −1.8, 2.0) and DBP (2.4; 0.6, 4.1 vs. 1.4; 0.3, 2.5) were seen in patients with vs. without diabetes. In head‐to‐head trials, the overall differences between sibutramine and orlistat were small and non‐significant for both SBP (1.0; −2.3, 4.3) and DBP (−0.2; −2.9, 2.5). In conclusion, in the studies using approved sibutramine doses, the drug caused significant elevations in DBP, while the overall SBP effect was near null. Moreover, absence of a blood pressure‐lowering effect of orlistat ad a higher DBP elevation by sibutramine were observed for persons with diabetes. Head‐to‐head studies indicated that an indirect comparison of placebo‐adjusted blood pressure effects may overestimate the adverse effects associated with sibutramine, but these studies were small, of shorter duration and of lower quality.
Mirrors of Wales – Life Story as National Metaphor: Case Studies of R. J. Derfel (1824–1905) and Huw T. Edwards (1892–1970)
Authors: WARD PAUL , WRIGHT MARTIN 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe public representation of the lives of individuals forms part of a long literary tradition and biography has often had a didactic purpose. Frequently the purpose was to use life stories as national metaphors, to instil ideas of how nations should behave. In this way, individuals acted as mirrors of the nation. This article examines two case studies in Wales: R. J. Derfel, nineteenth‐century socialist, and Huw T. Edwards, twentieth‐century trade unionist and Labour politician turned nationalist. It does so in order to explore how their life stories were constructed, by them and others, as representative of Welsh national experience. It considers responses to such acts of contrivance, by the press and the people, in order to investigate the cultural mentalities of Welsh society in which the biographies were read and consumed.
Wnt/β‐catenin signalling regulates cardiomyogenesis via GATA transcription factors
Authors: Martin Jennifer , Afouda Boni A. , Hoppler Stefan 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA functioning heart muscle is required continuously throughout life. During embryonic development the heart muscle tissue differentiates from mesoderm that has heart‐forming potential. Heart‐forming potential in the embryonic mesoderm is regulated by pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors, such as members of the GATA and NK‐2 transcription factor families. Subsequent heart muscle differentiation involves the expression of cytoskeletal proteins, including myosins and troponins. Different Wnt signalling pathways have various functions in heart development. So‐called ‘canonical’ (Wnt/β‐catenin‐mediated) signalling has a conserved role in vertebrate heart development, regulating and restricting heart development and subsequent heart muscle differentiation. Here we investigated the way in which Wnt/β‐catenin signalling functionally interacts with the GATA family of pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors to regulate subsequent heart muscle differentiation. We used whole Xenopus embryos as an accessible experimental model system for vertebrate heart development. Our experiments confirmed that activation of Wnt signalling results in reduced gata gene expression, as well as reduced gene expression of other pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors and heart muscle differentiation markers. Remarkably, we discovered that when GATA function is experimentally restored, the expression of other pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors and heart muscle differentiation markers is rescued. These findings, obtained from whole‐embryo experiments, show that Wnt signalling regulates heart development at the level of GATA factors, confirming earlier results from tissue‐culture experiments. Furthermore, our rescue experiments in Xenopus embryos revealed differences in functional activity between the various GATA transcription factors involved in heart development. We discovered that GATA4 is more efficient at reinstating the gene expression of other pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors, whereas GATA6 is more potent at promoting the expression of genes associated with terminal heart muscle differentiation. In conclusion, our findings show that the inhibition of heart development by Wnt/β‐catenin signalling during organogenesis is mediated by the loss of expression of GATA pro‐cardiogenic transcription factors and reveal functional differences between those GATA factors in heart development.
Plant sphingolipids: decoding the enigma of the Sphinx
Authors: Pata Mickael O. , Hannun Yusuf A. , Ng Carl K‐Y. 
Published: December 2009

SummarySphingolipids are a ubiquitous class of lipids present in a variety of organisms including eukaryotes and bacteria. In the last two decades, research has focused on characterizing the individual species of this complex family of lipids, which has led to a new field of research called ‘sphingolipidomics’. There are at least 500 (and perhaps thousands of) different molecular species of sphingolipids in cells, and in Arabidopsis alone it has been reported that there are at least 168 different sphingolipids. Plant sphingolipids can be divided into four classes: glycosyl inositol phosphoceramides (GIPCs), glycosylceramides, ceramides, and free long‐chain bases (LCBs). Numerous enzymes involved in plant sphingolipid metabolism have now been cloned and characterized, and, in general, there is broad conservation in the way in which sphingolipids are metabolized in animals, yeast and plants. Here, we review the diversity of sphingolipids reported in the literature, some of the recent advances in our understanding of sphingolipid metabolism in plants, and the physiological roles that sphingolipids and sphingolipid metabolites play in plant physiology.

Contents

Summary
611

I.
Introduction
611

II.
Ceramide metabolism
613

III.
Physiological functions of plant sphingolipid classes
622

IV.
Conclusion
626

Acknowledgements
627

References
627
Formation and stability of oxygen‐rich bubbles that shape photosynthetic mats
Authors: BOSAK T. , BUSH J. W. M. , FLYNN M. R. , LIANG B. , ONO S. , PETROFF A. P. , SIM M. S. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractGas release in photic‐zone microbialites can lead to preservable morphological biosignatures. Here, we investigate the formation and stability of oxygen‐rich bubbles enmeshed by filamentous cyanobacteria. Sub‐millimetric and millimetric bubbles can be stable for weeks and even months. During this time, lithifying organic‐rich laminae surrounding the bubbles can preserve the shape of bubbles. Cm‐scale unstable bubbles support the growth of centimetric tubular towers with distinctly laminated mineralized walls. In environments that enable high photosynthetic rates, only small stable bubbles will be enclosed by a dense microbial mesh, while in deep waters extensive microbial mesh will cover even larger photosynthetic bubbles, increasing their preservation potential. Stable photosynthetic bubbles may be preserved as sub‐millimeter and millimeter‐diameter features with nearly circular cross‐sections in the crests of some Proterozoic conical stromatolites, while centrimetric tubes formed around unstable bubbles provide a model for the formation of tubular carbonate microbialites that are not markedly depleted in 13C.