bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tumour necrosis factor antagonists and inflammatory bowel diseases: a national practice survey
Authors: OUSSALAH A. , ROBLIN X. , LAHARIE D. , FILIPPI J. , FLAMANT M. , FAURE P. , PHELIP J.‐M. , BIGARD M.‐A. , PEYRIN‐BIROULET L. 
Published: July 2009

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 30, 854–863SummaryBackground  Although the use of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists is increasingly codified, several unresolved issues remain.Aim  To conduct a French national survey on TNF antagonists use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods  A postal questionnaire was sent to all French gastroenterologists among whom 450 prescribe TNF antagonists for IBD. Only anti‐TNF prescribers were invited to respond.Results  A total of 333 questionnaires could be analysed, which represented a rate of survey completeness of 74%. Scheduled maintenance infliximab treatment was prescribed by 92% of gastroenterologists. In Crohn’s disease in remission after 1 year of TNF antagonists, 77.4% of physicians continued treatment. In luminal Crohn’s disease, 97% of hospital practitioners introduced infliximab as first‐line anti‐TNF therapy vs. 78% of physicians with nonhospital activity (P = 0.002); only 22.5% of gastroenterologists opted for adalimumab as first‐line therapy. In Crohn’s disease in remission after 6 months of azathioprine in combination with infliximab, 63.8% of practitioners discontinued azathioprine. In case of pregnancy during anti‐TNF treatment, 35.1% of physicians discontinued therapy at the time of conception and did not administer anti‐TNF therapy during pregnancy.Conclusions  The attitudes of French gastroenterologists generally reflect the recommendations regarding the use of anti‐TNF and concomitant immunosuppressive therapy in IBD.
Toluene diisocyanate enhances human bronchial epithelial cells' permeability partly through the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway
Authors: Zhao H. , Peng H. , Cai S‐X , Li W. , Zou F. , Tong W. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryBackground
Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a recognized chemical asthmogen; yet, the mechanisms of its toxicity have not been elucidated.Objective
To investigate the influence of TDI on the permeability of human bronchial epithelial cell (HBE; HBE135‐E6E7) monolayers in vitro, and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these cells.Methods
TDI–human serum albumin (HSA) conjugates were prepared by a modification of Son's method. Fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labelled dextran and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate the effects of TDI–HSA on HBE135‐E6E7 permeability. RT‐PCR and ELISA were used to evaluate VEGF gene expression and protein release from HBE135‐E6E7 cells stimulated by TDI–HSA. A VEGF‐neutralizing antibody was used in monolayer permeability experiments to determine the role of the VEGF pathway in this process.Results
TDI–HSA significantly increased the permeability coefficients of HBE135‐E6E7 monolayers (P<0.01). TDI–HSA treatment significantly increased the expression of VEGF165 and VEGF189 genes (P<0.01). ELISA showed that TDI significantly induces VEGF release from HBE135‐E6E7 cells. Cells treated with TDI–HSA and VEGF‐neutralizing antibody had significantly lower permeability coefficients than cells treated with TDI–HSA only (P<0.01), but still significantly higher than control cells (P<0.01). Cells treated with TDI–HSA had fewer tight junctions (TJs) than control and HSA‐treated cells, and addition of the anti‐VEGF antibody did not restore the original number of TJs.Conclusion
TDI increases the permeability of HBE cell monolayers, partly through a VEGF‐mediated pathway. This suggests the importance of VEGF in TDI‐induced pulmonary diseases, but shows that other pathways may be involved in the pathogenic process.
Yield and stability of yield of single‐ and multi‐clover grass‐clover swards in two contrasting temperate environments
Authors: Frankow‐Lindberg B. E. , Halling M. , Höglind M. , Forkman J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractDiversity of clovers in grass‐clover swards may contribute to greater herbage yields and stability of yield. This possible effect was evaluated in an experiment carried out over three harvest years at two contrasting sites, differing in precipitation and soil composition, using mixed swards containing either one, two or three clover species sown together with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.). The clover species were red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) sown in various proportions in a total of ten treatments. All swards were fertilized with nitrogen with amounts that increased from year to year, and three harvests were taken in three consecutive years. There was a significant interaction between site and species mixture on total dry matter (DM) yields (range 27–32 tonnes ha−1) and DM yields of clovers (range 5–15 tonnes ha−1); red clover as a single species or in a mixture was superior at the dry site while multi‐clover species mixtures were superior at the wet site. Alsike clover was the least productive species of clover. Stability of yield of clovers was generally higher by including white and red clover in the seed mixture but total DM yield was not.
CD4+ T‐cell activation is differentially modulated by bacteria‐primed dendritic cells, but is generally down‐regulated by n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Brix Susanne , Lund Pia , Kjaer Tanja M. R. , Straarup Ellen M. , Hellgren Lars I. , Frøkiær Hanne 
Published: July 2009

SummaryAppropriate activation of CD4+ T cells is fundamental for efficient initiation and progression of acquired immune responses. Here, we showed that CD4+ T‐cell activation is dependent on changes in membrane n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and is dynamically regulated by the type of signals provided by dendritic cells (DCs). Upon interaction with DCs primed by different concentrations and species of gut bacteria, CD4+ T cells were activated according to the type of DC stimulus. The levels of CD80 were found to correlate to the levels of expression of CD28 and to the proliferation of CD4+ T cells, while the presence of CD40 and CD86 on DCs inversely affected inducible costimulator (ICOS) and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) levels in CD4+ T cells. For all DC stimuli, cells high in n‐3 PUFAs showed reduced ability to respond to CD28 stimulation, to proliferate, and to express ICOS and CTLA‐4. Diminished T‐cell receptor (TCR) and CD28 signalling was found to be responsible for n‐3 PUFA effects. Thus, the dietary fatty acid composition influences the overall level of CD4+ T‐cell activation induced by DCs, while the priming effect of the DC stimuli modulates CD80, CD86 and CD40 levels, thereby affecting and shaping activation of acquired immunity by differential regulation of proliferation and costimulatory molecule expression in CD4+ T cells.
The detection and management of root resorption lesions using intraoral radiography and cone beam computed tomography – an in vivo investigation
Authors: Patel S. , Dawood A. , Wilson R. , Horner K. , Mannocci F. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim  To compare the accuracy of intraoral periapical radiography with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the detection and management of resorption lesions.Methodology  Digital intraoral radiographs and CBCT scans were taken of patients with internal resorption (n = 5), external cervical resorption (n = 5) and no resorption (controls) (n = 5). A ‘reference standard’ diagnosis and treatment plan was devised for each tooth. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, as well as the reproducibility of each technique were determined for diagnostic accuracy and treatment option chosen.Results  The intraoral radiography ROC Az values were 0.780 and 0.830 for diagnostic accuracy of internal and external cervical resorption respectively. The CBCT ROC Az values were 1.000 for both internal and external cervical resorption. There was a significantly higher prevalence (P = 0.028) for the correct treatment option being chosen with CBCT (%) compared with intraoral radiographs (%).Conclusion  CBCT was effective and reliable in detecting the presence of resorption lesions. Although digital intraoral radiography resulted in an acceptable level of accuracy, the superior accuracy of CBCT may result in a review of the radiographic techniques used for assessing the type of resorption lesion present. CBCT’s superior diagnostic accuracy also resulted in an increased likelihood of correct management of resorption lesions.
Phenotypic differences between coagulase‐negative staphylococci isolated from seminal fluid of healthy men and men suffering from chronic prostatitis syndrome
Authors: Ivanov Iuri B. , Gritsenko Viktor A. , Kuzmin Michael D. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryChronic prostatitis syndrome (CPS) is a common urologic condition that many clinicians find difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. The most common causative agents of CPS among Gram‐positive bacteria are coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CNS). We compared phenotypic properties among CNS isolated from semen of healthy men and patients with CPS. A significantly higher proportion of CPS strains demonstrated inhibition of lysozyme and platelet microbicidal protein. Identifying these phenotypic characteristics in clinical laboratories would be helpful to differentiate which staphylococcal bacteriospermia case should be treated and which should not.
Application of edge detection method based on image quality gradient for twin detection
Authors: CHEN D. , LUI G.‐T. , KUO J.‐C. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryAn image quality based method was applied to quantitatively analyse the contribution of electrodeposited copper twinning. This method, based on the image quality as obtained from electron backscattering diffraction, involves three processes: hexagonal edge detection, thinning algorithm and twin determination. The twin density determined by the new algorithm was 65.61% which is higher than the twin density, 57.44% as determined by the Orientation Imaging Microscopy (OIM) analysis. The newly developed algorithm provides an alternative to twin boundary detection.
Population genetic analysis reveals a long‐term decline of a threatened endemic Australian marsupial
Authors: HANSEN BIRGITA D. , HARLEY DANIEL K. P. , LINDENMAYER DAVID B. , TAYLOR ANDREA C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSince European colonization, Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) has declined across its range to the point where it is now only patchily distributed within the montane ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria. The loss of large hollow‐bearing trees coupled with inadequate recruitment of mature ash forest has been predicted to result in a reduction in population size of up to 90% by 2020. Furthermore, bioclimatic analyses have suggested additional reductions in the species’ distribution under a variety of climate change scenarios. Using a panel of 15 highly resolving microsatellite markers and mitochondrial control region sequence data, we infer past and present gene flow. Populations in the northern part of the core range were highly admixed, and showed no signs of either current or historical barriers to gene flow. A marginal, isolated and inbred population at Yellingbo was highly genetically differentiated, both in terms of current and historic genetic structure. Sequence data confirmed the conclusions from earlier genetic simulation studies that the Yellingbo population has been isolated from the rest of the species range since before European‐induced changes to the montane landscape, and formed part of a larger genetic unit that is now otherwise extinct. Historic loss of maternal lineages in the Central Highlands of Victoria was detected despite signals of immigration, indicating population declines that most probably coincided with changes in climate at the end of the Pleistocene. Given ongoing habitat loss and the recent (February 2009) wildfire in the Central Highlands, we forecast (potentially extensive) demographic declines, in line with predicted range reductions under climate change scenarios.
Population genomics of marine fishes: identifying adaptive variation in space and time
Authors: NIELSEN EINAR E. , HEMMER‐HANSEN JAKOB , LARSEN PETER FOGED , BEKKEVOLD DORTE 
Published: July 2009

AbstractStudies of adaptive evolution have experienced a recent revival in population genetics of natural populations and there is currently much focus on identifying genomic signatures of selection in space and time. Insights into local adaptation, adaptive response to global change and evolutionary consequences of selective harvesting can be generated through population genomics studies, allowing the separation of the effects invoked by neutral processes (drift‐migration) from those due to selection. Such knowledge is important not only for improving our basic understanding of natural as well as human‐induced evolutionary processes, but also for predicting future trajectories of biodiversity and for setting conservation priorities. Marine fishes possess a number of features rendering them well suited for providing general insights into adaptive genomic evolution in natural populations. These include well‐described population structures, substantial and rapidly developing genomic resources and abundant archived samples enabling temporal studies. Furthermore, superior possibilities for conducting large‐scale experiments under controlled conditions, due to the economic resources provided by the large and growing aquaculture industry, hold great promise for utilizing recent technological developments. Here, we review achievements in marine fish genomics to date and highlight potential avenues for future research, which will provide both general insights into evolution in high gene flow species, as well as specific knowledge which can lead to improved management of marine organisms.
Fine‐scale geographical structure of genetic diversity in inland wild beet populations
Authors: ARNAUD JEAN‐FRANÇOIS , FÉNART STÉPHANE , GODÉ CÉCILE , DELEDICQUE SYLVIE , TOUZET PASCAL , CUGUEN JOËL 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIntrogression arising from crop‐to‐wild gene flow provides novel sources of genetic variation in plant species complexes. Hybridization within the Beta vulgaris species complex is of immediate concern; crop lineages (B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) hybridize easily with their wild relatives (B. vulgaris ssp. maritima) thereby threatening wild beet gene diversity with genetic swamping. Hybridization ‘hotspots’ occur in European seed production areas because inland ruderal wild beets occur and reproduce in sympatry with cultivated beets. We studied gene flow occurring between seed‐producing cultivars and ruderal wild B. vulgaris in southwestern France to determine whether feral beets, arising from unharvested cultivated seed, represent an opportunity for crop‐to‐wild gene flow. We surveyed 42 inland ruderal beet populations located near seed production fields for nucleo‐cytoplasmic variation and used a cytoplasmic marker diagnostic of cultivated lines. Occurrence of cultivated‐type cytoplasm within ruderal populations clearly reflected events of crop seed escape. However, we found no genetic signatures of nuclear cultivated gene introgression, which suggests past introgression of cultivated cytoplasm into a wild nuclear background through seed escape rather than recent direct pollen flow. Overall, patterns of genetic structure suggested that inland ruderal wild beet populations act as a metapopulation, with founding events involving a few sib groups, followed by low rates of seed or pollen gene flow after populations are established. Altogether, our results indicate that a long‐lived seed bank plays a key role in maintaining cultivated‐type cytoplasm in the wild and highlight the need for careful management of seed production areas where wild and cultivated relatives co‐occur.
SpxA1, a novel transcriptional regulator involved in X‐state (competence) development in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Turlan Catherine , Prudhomme Marc , Fichant Gwennaele , Martin Bernard , Gutierrez Claude 
Published: July 2009

Summary Streptococcus pneumoniae is a naturally transformable human pathogen. Genome and phylogenetic analyses uncovered two Spx‐like global transcriptional regulators, SpxA1 and SpxA2, encoded by S. pneumoniae. spxA1 and spxA2 are not essential, but their simultaneous inactivation is lethal. SpxA1 represses transcription of the early competence operon comCDE and thereby negatively regulates the initiation of the X‐state (competence). The molecular basis of this repression could be similar to that of SpxA of Bacillus subtilis, involving a specific interaction with the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase. S. pneumoniae lacks an SOS‐like stress response and the X‐state is proposed to be a general stress response mechanism in this species. In light of this, SpxA1‐dependent repression could act to sense environmental or metabolic stresses and prevent launching of the X‐state in the absence of stress.
Vibrio VopQ induces PI3‐kinase‐independent autophagy and antagonizes phagocytosis
Authors: Burdette Dara L. , Seemann Joachim , Orth Kim 
Published: July 2009

Summary Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram‐negative bacterium responsible for gastroenteritis acquired from the consumption of contaminated shellfish. This bacterium harbours two type III secretion systems, one on each chromosome. The type III secretion system on chromosome I induces cell death by a temporally controlled sequence of events that is caspase‐independent and first involves induction of autophagy, followed by cellular rounding, and finally cellular lysis. VopQ is a type III secreted effector that is necessary for the induction of autophagy as mutant strains lacking VopQ are attenuated in their ability to induce autophagy during infection. VopQ is sufficient to induce rapid autophagy as demonstrated by microinjection of recombinant VopQ into GFP‐LC3 HeLa cells. Our results demonstrate that VopQ is both necessary and sufficient for induction of autophagy during V. parahaemolyticus‐mediated cell death and this effect is independent of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinases but requires Atg5. Furthermore, induction of VopQ‐mediated autophagy prevents recruitment of the necessary cellular machinery required for phagocytosis of V. parahaemolyticus during infection. These data provide important insights into the mechanism used by V. parahaemolyticus to cause disease.
Differential afferent sensitivity to mucosal lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli in the rat jejunum
Authors: Liu C. Y. , Mueller M. H. , Rogler G. , Grundy D. , Kreis M. E. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract  Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome may develop subsequent to acute bacterial enteritis. We therefore hypothesized that intestinal afferents may develop hypersensitivity upon exposure to luminal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from pathogens but not from commensal bacteria and that this may be prostaglandin mediated. Extracellular recordings of jejunal afferents were obtained in vivo from male Wistar rats (n = 5 per group; 300–400 g). Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (E‐LPS), Salmonella typhimurium (S‐LPS) or vehicle were infused into the intestinal lumen at 5 mg mL−1. The selective 5‐HT3‐receptor agonist 2‐methyl‐5‐HT (2m5‐HT, 15 μgkg−1, i.v.) was administered at 15‐min intervals before and up to 2 h after S‐LPS administration. Intraluminal E‐LPS had no effect on mesenteric afferent nerve discharge at baseline. By contrast, afferent discharge increased from 21.7 ± 0.3 impsec−1 to 28.8 ± 3.4 impsec−1 40 min after S‐LPS administration (mean ± SEM; P < 0.05) and reached 38.8 ± 4.1 impsec−1 after 2 h (P < 0.05). The afferent response to 2m5‐HT was enhanced 30 min following S‐LPS by 30.9 ± 3.9% (P < 0.05) and remained elevated thereafter. The increase in baseline discharge and sensitivity to 2m5‐HT following S‐LPS was prevented by pretreatment with naproxen (COX inhibitor, 10 mgkg−1 i.v.) or AH‐6809 (EP1/EP2 receptor antagonist, 1 mg kg−1). Intestinal afferents do not alter their discharge rate to LPS from E. coli but to LPS from the pathogenic bacterium S. typhimurium. The latter response entails afferent sensitisation to 2m5‐HT that depends on prostanoid release. This acute sensitisation may prime the intestinal afferent innervation for a later development of persistent hypersensitivity.
Geographical distribution and epidemiological features of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, based on the isoenzyme analysis of 1048 strains
Authors: Pratlong Francine , Dereure Jacques , Ravel Christophe , Lami Patrick , Balard Yves , Serres Ghislaine , Lanotte Geneviève , Rioux Jean‐Antoine , Dedet Jean‐Pierre 
Published: July 2009

SummaryA series of 1048 Leishmania strains from Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, isolated between 1981 and 2005, were studied by isoenzyme analysis. The strains were obtained from humans, rodents, dogs and sandflies from 33 countries. The four typically dermotropic species, Leishmania major, L. tropica, L. aethiopica and L. killicki, were found. The viscerotropic species L. donovani and L. infantum, which can occasionally be responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis, are not considered in this paper. Leishmania major was the least polymorphic species (12 zymodemes, 638 strains). Leishmania tropica was characterized by a complex polymorphism varying according to focus (35 zymodemes, 329 strains). Leishmania aethiopica, a species restricted to East Africa, showed a high polymorphism, in spite of a limited number of strains (23 zymodemes, 40 strains). Leishmania killicki, mainly restricted to Tunisia had a single zymodeme for 39 strains. Recently a parasite close to L. killicki (one zymodeme, two strains) was isolated in Algeria, which lead us to revise the taxonomic status of this taxon.
Decision tree algorithm in deciding hospitalization for adult patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever in Singapore
Authors: Lee V. J. , Lye D. C. , Sun Y. , Leo Y. S. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryObjectives  To develop a simple decision tree for clinicians to decide between hospitalization and outpatient monitoring of adult dengue patients.Method  Retrospective cohort study on all laboratory‐diagnosed dengue patients admitted in 2004 to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological data were collected, and cases classified as dengue fever (DF) or dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) using World Health Organization criteria. To develop the decision tree, we used chi‐squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) with bi‐way and multi‐way splitting. The resulting trees were pruned to achieve the highest sensitivity with the shortest tree.Results  In 2004, 1973 probable and confirmed adult dengue patients were admitted; DF comprised 1855 (94.0%) and DHF 118 (6.0%) of the cases. The best decision tree prediction had three branches, consisting of a history of clinical bleeding, serum urea, and serum total protein. This decision tree had a sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 0.46, positive predictive value of 7.5%, and negative predictive value of 100%. The overall accuracy of the decision tree was 48.1%. The test sensitivity and specificity compared favourably with other predictive probability equations and sophisticated laboratory tests, and would prevent 43.9% of mild DF cases from hospitalization.Conclusions  A simple decision tree is effective in predicting DHF in the clinical setting for adult dengue infection.