bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of new polymorphic regions and differentiation of cultivated olives (Olea europaea L.) through plastome sequence comparison
Authors: Mariotti Roberto , Cultrera Nicolò GM , Díez Concepcion Muñoz , Baldoni Luciana , Rubini Andrea 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background
The cultivated olive (Olea europaea L.) is the most agriculturally important species of the Oleaceae family. Although many studies have been performed on plastid polymorphisms to evaluate taxonomy, phylogeny and phylogeography of Olea subspecies, only few polymorphic regions discriminating among the agronomically and economically important olive cultivars have been identified. The objective of this study was to sequence the entire plastome of olive and analyze many potential polymorphic regions to develop new inter-cultivar genetic markers.

Results
The complete plastid genome of the olive cultivar Frantoio was determined by direct sequence analysis using universal and novel PCR primers designed to amplify all overlapping regions. The chloroplast genome of the olive has an organisation and gene order that is conserved among numerous Angiosperm species and do not contain any of the inversions, gene duplications, insertions, inverted repeat expansions and gene/intron losses that have been found in the chloroplast genomes of the genera Jasminum and Menodora, from the same family as Olea.
The annotated sequence was used to evaluate the content of coding genes, the extent, and distribution of repeated and long dispersed sequences and the nucleotide composition pattern. These analyses provided essential information for structural, functional and comparative genomic studies in olive plastids. Furthermore, the alignment of the olive plastome sequence to those of other varieties and species identified 30 new organellar polymorphisms within the cultivated olive.

Conclusions
In addition to identifying mutations that may play a functional role in modifying the metabolism and adaptation of olive cultivars, the new chloroplast markers represent a valuable tool to assess the level of olive intercultivar plastome variation for use in population genetic analysis, phylogenesis, cultivar characterisation and DNA food tracking.
Social support and Quality of Life: a cross-sectional study on survivors eight months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Authors: Ke Xiong , Liu Chaojie , Li Ningxiu 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake resulted in extensive loss of life and physical and psychological injuries for survivors. This research examines the relationship between social support and health-related quality of life for the earthquake survivors.

Methods
A multistage cluster sampling strategy was employed to select participants from 11 shelters in nine counties exposed to different degrees of earthquake damage, for a questionnaire survey. The participants were asked to complete the Short Form 36 and the Social Support Rating Scale eight months after the earthquake struck. A total of 1617 participants returned the questionnaires. The quality of life of the survivors (in the four weeks preceding the survey) was compared with that of the general population in the region. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and canonical correlation analysis were performed to determine the association between social support and quality of life.

Results
The earthquake survivors reported poorer quality of life than the general population, with an average of 4.8% to 19.62% reduction in scores of the SF-36 (p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those with stronger social support were more likely to have better quality of life. The canonical correlation analysis found that there was a discrepancy between actual social support received and perceived social support available, and the magnitude of this discrepancy was inversely related to perceived general health (rs = 0.467), and positively related to mental health (rs = 0.395).

Conclusion
Social support is associated with quality of life in the survivors of the earthquake. More attention needs to be paid to increasing social support for those with poorer mental health.
Hypoxic regulation of cytoglobin and neuroglobin expression in human normal and tumor tissues
Authors: Emara Marwan , Turner A Robert , Allalunis-Turner Joan 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background
Cytoglobin (Cygb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are recently identified globin molecules that are expressed in vertebrate tissues. Upregulation of Cygb and Ngb under hypoxic and/or ischemic conditions in vitro and in vivo increases cell survival, suggesting possible protective roles through prevention of oxidative damage. We have previously shown that Ngb is expressed in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines, and that expression of its transcript and protein can be significantly increased after exposure to physiologically relevant levels of hypoxia. In this study, we extended this work to determine whether Cygb is also expressed in GBM cells, and whether its expression is enhanced under hypoxic conditions. We also compared Cygb and Ngb expression in human primary tumor specimens, including brain tumors, as well as in human normal tissues. Immunoreactivity of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), a hypoxia-inducible metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of CO2 to bicarbonate, was used as an endogenous marker of hypoxia.

Results
Cygb transcript and protein were expressed in human GBM cells, and this expression was significantly increased in most cells following 48 h incubation under hypoxia. We also showed that Cygb and Ngb are expressed in both normal tissues and human primary cancers, including GBM. Among normal tissues, Cygb and Ngb expression was restricted to distinct cell types and was especially prominent in ductal cells. Additionally, certain normal organs (e.g. stomach fundus, small bowel) showed distinct regional co-localization of Ngb, Cygb and CA IX. In most tumors, Ngb immunoreactivity was significantly greater than that of Cygb. In keeping with previous in vitro results, tumor regions that were positively stained for CA IX were also positive for Ngb and Cygb, suggesting that hypoxic upregulation of Ngb and Cygb also occurs in vivo.

Conclusions
Our finding of hypoxic up-regulation of Cygb/Ngb in GBM cell lines and human tumor tissues suggests that these globin molecules may be part of the repertoire of defense mechanisms that allow cancer cells to survive in hypoxic microenvironments.
Focusing on optic tectum circuitry through the lens of genetics
Authors: Nevin Linda M , Robles Estuardo , Baier Herwig , Scott Ethan K 
Published: September 2010

Abstract
The visual pathway is tasked with processing incoming signals from the retina and converting this information into adaptive behavior. Recent studies of the larval zebrafish tectum have begun to clarify how the 'micro-circuitry' of this highly organized midbrain structure filters visual input, which arrives in the superficial layers and directs motor output through efferent projections from its deep layers. The new emphasis has been on the specific function of neuronal cell types, which can now be reproducibly labeled, imaged and manipulated using genetic and optical techniques. Here, we discuss recent advances and emerging experimental approaches for studying tectal circuits as models for visual processing and sensorimotor transformation by the vertebrate brain.
An arthropod cis-regulatory element functioning in sensory organ precursor development dates back to the Cambrian
Authors: Ayyar Savita , Negre Barbara , Simpson Pat , Stollewerk Angelika 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBackgroundAn increasing number of publications demonstrate conservation of function of cis-regulatory elements without sequence similarity. In invertebrates such functional conservation has only been shown for closely related species. Here we demonstrate the existence of an ancient arthropod regulatory element that functions during the selection of neural precursors. The activity of genes of theachaete-scute(ac-sc) family endows cells with neural potential. An essential, conserved characteristic of proneural genes is their ability to restrict their own activity to single or a small number of progenitor cells from their initially broad domains of expression. This is achieved through a process called lateral inhibition. A regulatory element, the sensory organ precursor enhancer (SOPE), is required for this process. First identified inDrosophila, the SOPE contains discrete binding sites for four regulatory factors. The SOPE of theDrosophila asensegene is situated in the 5' UTR.ResultsThrough a manual comparison of consensus binding site sequences we have been able to identify a SOPE in UTR sequences ofasense-like genes in species belonging to all four arthropod groups (Crustacea, Myriapoda, Chelicerata and Insecta). The SOPEs of the spiderCupiennius saleiand the insectTribolium castaneumare shown to be functional in transgenicDrosophila. This would place the origin of this regulatory sequence as far back as the last common ancestor of the Arthropoda, that is, in the Cambrian, 550 million years ago.ConclusionsThe SOPE is not detectable by inter-specific sequence comparison, raising the possibility that other ancient regulatory modules in invertebrates might have escaped detection.
Presenilin-1 regulates induction of hypoxia inducible factor-1α: altered activation by a mutation associated with familial Alzheimer's disease
Authors: De Gasperi Rita , Sosa Miguel A Gama , Dracheva Stella , Elder Gregory A 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background
Mutations in presenilin-1 (Psen1) cause familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Both hypoxia and ischemia have been implicated in the pathological cascade that leads to amyloid deposition in AD. Here we investigated whether Psen1 might regulate hypoxic responses by modulating induction of the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α).

Results
In fibroblasts that lack Psen1 induction of HIF-1α was impaired in response to the hypoxia mimetic cobalt chloride, as well as was induction by insulin and calcium chelation. Reintroduction of human Psen1 using a lentiviral vector partially rescued the responsiveness of Psen1-/- fibroblasts to cobalt chloride induction. HIF-1α induction did not require Psen1's associated γ-secretase activity. In addition, the failure of insulin to induce HIF-1α was not explicable on the basis of failed activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway which activated normally in Psen1-/- fibroblasts. Rather we found that basal levels of HIF-1α were lower in Psen1-/- fibroblasts and that the basis for lower constitutive levels of HIF-1α was best explained by accelerated HIF-1α degradation. We further found that Psen1 and HIF-1α physically interact suggesting that Psen1 may protect HIF-1α from degradation through the proteasome. In fibroblasts harboring the M146V Psen1 FAD mutation on a mouse Psen1 null background, metabolic induction of HIF-1α by insulin was impaired but not hypoxic induction by cobalt chloride. Unlike Psen1-/- fibroblasts, basal levels of HIF-1α were normal in FAD mutant fibroblasts but activation of the insulin-receptor pathway was impaired. Interestingly, in Psen1-/- primary neuronal cultures HIF-1α was induced normally in response to cobalt chloride but insulin induction of HIF-1α was impaired even though activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway by insulin proceeded normally in Psen1-/- neuronal cultures. Basal levels of HIF-1α were not significantly different in Psen1-/- neurons and HIF-1α levels were normal in Psen1-/- embryos.

Conclusions
Collectively these studies show that Psen1 regulates induction of HIF-1α although they indicate that cell type specific differences exist in the effect of Psen1 on induction. They also show that the M146V Psen1 FAD mutation impairs metabolic induction of HIF-1α, an observation that may have pathophysiological significance for AD.
Dynamic instability of genomic methylation patterns in pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Ooi Steen KT , Wolf Daniel , Hartung Odelya , Agarwal Suneet , Daley George Q , Goff Stephen P , Bestor Timothy H 
Published: September 2010

Abstract

Background
Genomic methylation patterns are established during gametogenesis, and perpetuated in somatic cells by faithful maintenance methylation. There have been previous indications that genomic methylation patterns may be less stable in embryonic stem (ES) cells than in differentiated somatic cells, but it is not known whether different mechanisms of de novo and maintenance methylation operate in pluripotent stem cells compared with differentiating somatic cells.

Results
In this paper, we show that ablation of the DNA methyltransferase regulator DNMT3L (DNA methyltransferase 3-like) in mouse ES cells renders them essentially incapable of de novo methylation of newly integrated retroviral DNA. We also show that ES cells lacking DNMT3L lose DNA methylation over time in culture, suggesting that DNA methylation in ES cells is the result of dynamic loss and gain of DNA methylation. We found that wild-type female ES cells lose DNA methylation at a much faster rate than do male ES cells; this defect could not be attributed to sex-specific differences in expression of DNMT3L or of any DNA methyltransferase. We also found that human ES and induced pluripotent stem cell lines showed marked but variable loss of methylation that could not be attributed to sex chromosome constitution or time in culture.

Conclusions
These data indicate that DNA methylation in pluripotent stem cells is much more dynamic and error-prone than is maintenance methylation in differentiated cells. DNA methylation requires DNMT3L in stem cells, but DNMT3L is not expressed in differentiating somatic cells. Error-prone maintenance methylation will introduce unpredictable phenotypic variation into clonal populations of pluripotent stem cells, and this variation is likely to be much more pronounced in cultured female cells. This epigenetic variability has obvious negative implications for the clinical applications of stem cells.
Modal synthesis of belt-rib structures
Authors: Hasse A , Zuest I , Campanile L F 
Published: September 2010

In contrast to conventional mechanisms, compliant mechanisms exploit structural flexibility to produce controllable large deformations. Belt-rib airfoils are shape-adaptable lightweight structures based on this idea. A belt-rib structure originally consists of a deformable closed shell (belt) whose kinematic degrees of freedom are constrained by inner stiffeners called spokes. Using standard spoke elements, the possible profile changes of the airfoil are limited. The purpose of the work reported in the current article is to define an inner stiffening structure based on numerical topology optimization in order to realize arbitrary profile changes. A ground structure with moveable connection points within the external belt represents the set of possible topologies and shapes. A new modal objective function for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms with selective compliance is introduced. The optimization problem is approached by using genetic algorithms. The applicability of the current procedure is validated by a profile shape adaptation example. For this purpose, an initial profile shape and a target profile shape are defined. The outcome of the procedure is a complex inner stiffening structure, which fulfils the imposed requirements. The solution is validated by modal analysis based on an finite-element model. Furthermore, the structural behaviour is experimentally investigated.
Pharmacological treatment in patients with C4, C5 and C6 venous disease
Authors: Gohel M S , Davies A H 
Published: September 2010

Background A range of surgical, endovenous, physical and medical treatments are available for patients with chronic venous disease. The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence for pharmacological agents used for the treatment of chronic venous disease. Methods A literature search was performed using Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases. The initial search terms ‘varicose vein’, ‘venous ulcer’, ‘venous disease’ and ‘lipodermatosclerosis’ were used to identify relevant clinical studies of pharmacotherapy in patients with chronic venous disease (C4–C6). Results A huge range of naturally occurring and synthetic drugs have been studied in patients with chronic venous disease. For patients with C4 venous disease, micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF), oxerutin, rutosides and calcium dobesilate may reduce venous symptoms and oedema. MPFF and pentoxifylline have been shown to improve venous ulcer healing when used in addition to multilayer compression bandaging. The clinical benefits of other medications remain unproven. Reliability of meta-analyses was limited by study heterogeneity, small sample sizes and lack of long-term follow-up. Conclusions In prospective randomized studies, MPFF (Daflon®), other flavonoid derivatives and pentoxifylline have demonstrated clinical benefits in patients with C4–C6 venous disease. Pharmacotherapy should be part of a range of treatment options in the modern management of patients with chronic venous disorders.
Chitosan arrests bleeding in major hepatic injuries with clotting dysfunction: an in vivo experimental study in a model of hepatic injury in the presence of moderate systemic heparinisation
Authors: Millner Russell , Lockhart Alan S , Marr Rebecca 
Published: September 2010

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of two chitosan formulations, Omni-Stat® granules and Celox Gauze®, in a model of major hepatic injury in the presence of clotting dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Major hepatic injuries in moderately heparinised swine were treated with either Omni-Stat® granules or Celox Gauze® as compared to control plain gauze. RESULTS Plain gauze control failed to stop the bleeding in 13 of 14 attempts. Omni-Stat® arrested the bleeding in 18 of 18 attempts, providing it was in contact with the bleeding surface. Celox Gauze® arrested bleeding in 5 out of 6 attempts initially, and with further pressure in the sixth. CONCLUSIONS The results support the evidence that chitosan-derived products act independently of classical clotting pathways and should be effective in patients who suffer major liver injury even in the presence of clotting dysfunctions.
UK survey of the present role of ear, nose and throat surgeons in lacrimal surgery
Authors: Al-Shaikh Salim , Javed Faisal , Fincham Gregory , Latif Mohamed , Bhutta Mahmood 
Published: September 2010

INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to evaluate the current involvement of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons in lacrimal surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A postal survey was distributed to 796 practicing UK consultant otorhinolaryngologists listed at the drfoster website. RESULTS Overall, 531 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 66.7%. Of these, 108 (20.6%) respondents indicated they were involved in lacrimal surgery. The majority of otolaryngologists seem to work in collaboration with ophthalmologists. In our survey, 98% (106) perform endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Most respondents believed lacrimal intubation and dilation to have limited success, endoscopic DCR to have moderate success and external DCR to have high success. CONCLUSIONS Lacrimal surgery is carried out in a spirit of collaboration with ophthalmologists rather than competition. Endoscopic DCR is the favoured surgical procedure of otolaryngologists. The perceived success rate for endoscopic DCR reported in this survey coincides with that reported in the literature.
How clean is your scope? A completed audit cycle of the disinfection of nasendoscopes
Authors: Lakhani Raj , Smithard Abigail , Bleach Nigel 
Published: September 2010

INTRODUCTION Correct disinfection of nasendoscopes is essential to address both the potential iatrogenic transmission of infection and to avoid injury from the chemicals used. MATERIALS AND METHODS Standards-based audit of the disinfection of nasendoscopes against the ENT UK guidelines, ervention: instructional poster and staff training session. The disinfection process was re-audited one month later. RESULTS A total of 10 sessions and 31 cleaning episodes were audited in the first cycle (C1). A total of 12 sessions and 36 cleaning episodes were re-audited in the second cycle (C2). Clinic set-up results: there was a marked improvement in the checking of the expiry date (C1 = 5/10; C2 = 10/12; P ≤ 0.001) and recording the date for the solution to be discarded (C1 = 0/10; C2 = 10/12; P ≤ 0.048). Each cleaning episode results: an improvement in transportation in a ‘dirty bag’ (C1 = 0/31; C2 = 19/36; P ≤ 0.001), washing of the scope (C1 = 0/31; C2 = 36/36; P ≤ 0.001), adequate disinfection time (C1 = 16/31; C2 = 33/36; P≤ 0.001), rinsing and drying with alcohol swab (C1 = 0/31; C2 = 35/36; P ≤ 0.001) and placing of the scope in a ‘clean bag’ for storage (C1 = 0/31; C2 = 35/36; P ≤ 0.001) was seen after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of a poster and training in the disinfection of nasendoscopes proved successful in improving compliance with the published guidelines. These simple measures were simple, cheap and effective to institute. The benefit of improving the disinfection of nasendoscopes to patients, doctors and the organisations that they work in is clear.
Dieulafoy's lesion: current trends in diagnosis and management
Authors: Baxter M , Aly EH 
Published: September 2010

BACKGROUND Dieulafoy's lesion is a relatively rare, but potentially life-threatening, condition. It accounts for 1–2% of acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, but arguably is under-recognised rather than rare. Its serious nature makes it necessary to include it in the differential diagnosis of obscure GI bleeding. The aim of this study was to review the current trends in the diagnosis and management of Dieulafoy's lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using Medline, a literature search was performed for articles published in English, using the search words ‘Dieulafoy'(s)’ and ‘gastrointestinal bleeding’. All retrieved papers were analysed and the findings are summarised in this review. RESULTS There is no consensus on the treatment of Dieulafoy's lesions. Therapeutic endoscopy can control the bleeding in 90% of patients while angiography is being accepted as a valuable alternative to endoscopy for inaccessible lesions. Currently, surgical intervention is kept for failure of therapeutic endoscopic or angiographic interventions and it should be guided by pre-operative localisation. CONCLUSIONS Advances in endoscopy have increased the detection of Dieulafoy's lesions and decreased the mortality from 80% to 8.6%. There are recent encouraging reports on the successful use of laparoscopic surgery in managing symptomatic Dieulafoy's lesions.