bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Next-Generation Systemic Acquired Resistance
Authors: Luna Estrella , Bruce Toby J.A. , Roberts Michael R. , Flors Victor , Ton Jurriaan 
Published: December 2011

AbstractSystemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a plant immune response to pathogen attack. Recent evidence suggests that plant immunity involves regulation by chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation. We investigated whether SAR can be inherited epigenetically following disease pressure by Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000). Compared to progeny from control-treated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; C1), progeny from PstDC3000-inoculated Arabidopsis (P1) were primed to activate salicylic acid (SA)-inducible defense genes and were more resistant to the (hemi)biotrophic pathogens Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis and PstDC3000. This transgenerational SAR was sustained over one stress-free generation, indicating an epigenetic basis of the phenomenon. Furthermore, P1 progeny displayed reduced responsiveness of jasmonic acid (JA)-inducible genes and enhanced susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. This shift in SA- and JA-dependent gene responsiveness was not associated with changes in corresponding hormone levels. Instead, chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that SA-inducible promoters of PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE1, WRKY6, and WRKY53 in P1 plants are enriched with acetylated histone H3 at lysine 9, a chromatin mark associated with a permissive state of transcription. Conversely, the JA-inducible promoter of PLANT DEFENSIN1.2 showed increased H3 triple methylation at lysine 27, a mark related to repressed gene transcription. P1 progeny from the defense regulatory mutant non expressor of PR1 (npr1)-1 failed to develop transgenerational defense phenotypes, demonstrating a critical role for NPR1 in expression of transgenerational SAR. Furthermore, the drm1drm2cmt3 mutant that is affected in non-CpG DNA methylation mimicked the transgenerational SAR phenotype. Since PstDC3000 induces DNA hypomethylation in Arabidopsis, our results suggest that transgenerational SAR is transmitted by hypomethylated genes that direct priming of SA-dependent defenses in the following generations.
Birth weight is inversely associated with blood pressure and serum aldosterone and cortisol levels in children
Authors: Martinez‐Aguayo Alejandro , Aglony Marlene , Bancalari Rodrigo , Avalos Carolina , Bolte Lillian , Garcia Hernan , Loureiro Carolina , Carvajal Cristian , Campino Carmen , Inostroza Andrea , Fardella Carlos 
Published: December 2011

SummaryContext  Low birth weight has been independently associated with adult hypertension, and renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in this connection.Objective  To characterize the associations between birth weight (BW) and serum aldosterone (SA), serum cortisol, plasma renin activity (PRA) and blood pressure (BP).Design  Cross‐sectional study.Subjects  Children from the community born at a gestational age >32 weeks.Methods  Systolic and diastolic BP indices (SBPi and DBPi) were calculated using the observed BP/50th percentile BP for gender, age and stature. BW was transformed to a standard deviation score (SDS) for gestational age, whereas SA, serum cortisol and PRA were transformed using the natural log.Results  We selected 288 subjects between the ages of 4·9 and 15·5 years (Females, 50%). After adjusting for body mass index (BMI) SDS and Tanner, multiple regression analysis revealed that BW (SDS) was both independently and inversely associated with the natural log of SA (β = −0·065; P = 0·039), the natural log of serum cortisol (β = −0·064; P = 0·009), SBPi (β = −0·012; P = 0·020) and DBPi (β = −0·023; P = 0·002). An association was not observed with PRA (P = 0·178) and aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) (P = 0·452). Serum cortisol levels were positively associated with SA (r = 0·125; P = 0·034), while an association with PRA (P = 0·251) and ARR (P = 0·052) was not observed.Conclusions  The results of this study demonstrate an inverse association between birth weight and blood pressure and serum aldosterone and cortisol levels. This association is independent of BMI and Tanner, suggesting foetal programming of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.
CETP‐mediated cholesteryl ester enrichment of apoB subclasses in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Bagdade John D. , Knight‐Gibson Carolyn , Simpson Nancy , Gerkin Richard , Alaupovic Petar , Reardon Christopher 
Published: December 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (7): 709–716AbstractObjective  Accelerated cholesteryl ester transfer (CET) in patients with types 1 (T1D) and 2 diabetes enhances the atherogenicity of the apoB‐containing CE acceptor lipoproteins. The study of lipoprotein density fractions cannot identify which of the five immunologically distinct apoB subclasses function as CE acceptors because they are heterogeneous and present in very low‐, intermediate‐ and low density lipoproteins (VLDL, IDL and LDL, respectively). In order to design lipid‐modifying therapies that specifically target these CE‐enriched lipoprotein particles, it is necessary to first characterize their CE acceptor function.Methods and Results  To identify the CE acceptors, we estimated CE net mass transfer to the apoB subclasses LpB:C, LpB:E + LpB:C:E, LpB and LpAII:B:C:D:E from changes in neutral lipids measured by gas chromatography following their separation by sequential immunoaffinity chromatography in the plasma of 12 patients with T1D and six control subjects. In both groups, CE was distributed equally to LpB:E + LpB:C:E and LpB:C. In the T1D CE acceptors, however, both the magnitude of the increase (18% vs. 10%; P < 0·01) and the per particle mass of CE transferred were significantly greater than in controls (T1D: 2·29 μmol ± 2·1 vs. control 0·43 ± 0·43/mg apoB; P < 0·047).Conclusion  While LpB:E + LpB:C:E and LpB:C functioned as CE acceptors in both groups, these subclasses increased their CE content to a greater degree and accrued more CE per particle in the patients with T1D. As this disturbance in lipoprotein remodelling may increase the cholesterol burden and potential atherogenicity of these apoB subclasses, it may be a previously unrecognized factor that increases cardiovascular risk in patients with T1D.
On the brink of extinction? How climate change may affect global chelonian species richness and distribution
Authors: Ihlow Flora , Dambach Johannes , Engler Jan O. , Flecks Morris , Hartmann Timo , Nekum Sven , Rajaei Hossein , Rödder Dennis 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAnthropogenic global climate change has already led to alterations in biodiversity patterns by directly and indirectly affecting species distributions. It has been suggested that poikilothermic animals, including reptiles, will be particularly affected by global change and large‐scale reptile declines have already been observed. Currently, half of the world's freshwater turtles and tortoises are considered threatened with extinction, and climate change may exacerbate these declines. In this study, we assess how global chelonian species richness will change in the near future. We use species distribution models developed under current climate conditions for 78% of all extant species and project them onto different Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios for 2080. We detect a strong dependence of temperature shaping most species ranges, which coincide with their general temperature‐related physiological traits (i.e., temperature‐dependent sex determination). Furthermore, the extent and distribution of the current bioclimatic niches of most chelonians may change remarkably in the near future, likely leading to a substantial decrease of local species abundance and ultimately a reduction in species richness. Future climatic changes may cause the ranges of 86% of the species to contract, and of these ranges, nearly 12% are predicted to be situated completely outside their currently realized niches. Hence, the interplay of increasing habitat fragmentation and loss due to climatic stress may result in a serious threat for several chelonian species.
Biogeography and diversification of colletid bees (Hymenoptera: Colletidae): emerging patterns from the southern end of the world
Authors: Almeida Eduardo A. B. , Pie Marcio R. , Brady Seán G. , Danforth Bryan N. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAim The evolutionary history of bees is presumed to extend back in time to the Early Cretaceous. Among all major clades of bees, Colletidae has been a prime example of an ancient group whose Gondwanan origin probably precedes the complete break‐up of Africa, Antarctica, Australia and South America, because modern lineages of this family occur primarily in southern continents. In this paper, we aim to study the temporal and spatial diversification of colletid bees to better understand the processes that have resulted in the present southern disjunctions.Location Southern continents.Methods We assembled a dataset comprising four nuclear genes of a broad sample of Colletidae. We used Bayesian inference analyses to estimate the phylogenetic tree topology and divergence times. Biogeographical relationships were investigated using event‐based analytical methods: a Bayesian approach to dispersal–vicariance analysis, a likelihood‐based dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis model and a Bayesian model. We also used lineage through time analyses to explore the tempo of radiations of Colletidae and their context in the biogeographical history of these bees.Results Initial diversification of Colletidae took place at the Late Cretaceous (≥ 70 Ma). Several (6–14) lineage exchanges between Australia and South America via Antarctica during the Late Cretaceous and Eocene epochs could explain the disjunctions observed between colletid lineages today. All biogeographical methods consistently indicated that there were multiple lineage exchanges between South America and Australia, and these approaches were valuable in exploring the degree of uncertainty inherent in the ancestral reconstructions. Biogeographical and dating results preclude an explanation of Scrapterinae in Africa as a result of vicariance, so one dispersal event is assumed to explain the disjunction in relation to Euryglossinae. The net diversification rate was found to be highest in the recent history of colletid evolution.Main conclusions The biogeography and macroevolutionary history of colletid bees can be explained by a combination of Cenozoic vicariance and palaeoclimatic changes during the Neogene. The austral connection and posterior break‐up of South America, Antarctica and Australia resulted in a pattern of disjunct sister lineages. Increased biome aridification coupled with floristic diversification in the southern continents during the Neogene may have contributed to the high rates of cladogenesis in these bees in the last 25–30 million years.
More academics in regular schools? The effect of regular versus special school placement on academic skills in Dutch primary school students with Down syndrome
Authors: de Graaf G. , van Hove G. , Haveman M. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  Studies from the UK have shown that children with Down syndrome acquire more academic skills in regular education. Does this likewise hold true for the Dutch situation, even after the effect of selective placement has been taken into account?Method  In 2006, an extensive questionnaire was sent to 160 parents of (specially and regularly placed) children with Down syndrome (born 1993–2000) in primary education in the Netherlands with a response rate of 76%. Questions were related to the child's school history, academic and non‐academic skills, intelligence quotient, parental educational level, the extent to which parents worked on academics with their child at home, and the amount of academic instructional time at school. Academic skills were predicted with the other variables as independents.Results  For the children in regular schools much more time proved to be spent on academics. Academic performance appeared to be predicted reasonably well on the basis of age, non‐academic skills, parental educational level and the extent to which parents worked at home on academics. However, more variance could be predicted when the total amount of years that the child spent in regular education was added, especially regarding reading and to a lesser extent regarding writing and math. In addition, we could prove that this finding could not be accounted for by endogenity.Conclusion  Regularly placed children with Down syndrome learn more academics. However, this is not a straight consequence of inclusive placement and age alone, but is also determined by factors such as cognitive functioning, non‐academic skills, parental educational level and the extent to which parents worked at home on academics. Nevertheless, it could be proven that the more advanced academic skills of the regularly placed children are not only due to selective placement. The positive effect of regular school on academics appeared to be most pronounced for reading skills.
Asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasites in blood donors in Yaoundé
Authors: Noubouossie D. , Tagny C. T. , Same‐Ekobo A. , Mbanya D. 
Published: December 2011

Background: Malaria can be transmitted through blood transfusion, but there is paucity of data concerning transfusion‐transmitted malaria in Cameroun.Objective: To determine prevalence of malaria infection and association with epidemiological and clinical data obtained from donors' responses.Methods: Microscopic examination of stained thick and thin blood smears for the detection, quantification and specification of Plasmodium sp was performed on 493 blood donors in two main hospitals in Yaoundé during October and November 2007.Results: Overall 6·5% of blood donors were detected positive for Plasmodium sp infection: 90·6% was Plasmodium falciparum and 9·4% was Plasmodium malariae. Parasite counts ranged from 80 to 800 µL−1 with a median of 320 µL−1. Asexual and sexual forms were found in 75·9 and 24·1% of cases, respectively. Age, sex, type of blood donor (voluntary non‐remunerated vs familial/replacement) and fate of blood donation (selected vs discarded) did not affect the prevalence of malaria carriage. The lack of malaria prophylaxis as well as the manifestation of malaria symptoms within 2 weeks and 1 month preceding blood donation were significantly associated with high frequency of parasites carriage.Conclusion: Malaria parasites carriage is frequent among blood donors in Yaoundé. These data seem to describe high‐risk donor profile and may help improving blood safety related to transfusion‐transmitted malaria in Cameroon.
Increasing access to the MDR‐TB surveillance programme through a collaborative model in western Kenya*
Authors: Park Paul H. , Magut Cornelius , Gardner Adrian , O’yiengo Dennis O. , Kamle Lydia , Langat Bernard K. , Buziba Nathan G. , Carter E. Jane 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjective  Kenya, like many resource‐constrained countries, has a single mycobacterial laboratory, centrally located in Nairobi, with capacity for drug‐susceptibility testing (DST) – the gold standard in diagnosing drug‐resistant tuberculosis. We describe and evaluate a novel operational design that attempts to overcome diagnostic delivery barriers.Methods  Review of the public DST programme identified several barriers limiting access: lack of programme awareness amongst physicians, limited supplies, unreliable transport and no specimen tracking methods. Staff visited 19 clinic sites in western Kenya and trained healthcare providers in regard to the novel diagnostics model. Provincial laboratory registries were reviewed to assess utilization of DST services prior to and after programme modification.Results  Onsite training consisted of the inclusion criteria for re‐treatment patients – the high‐priority group for DST. Additionally, infrastructural support established a stable supply chain. An existing transport system was adapted to deliver sputum specimens. Task shifting created an accession and tracking system of specimens. During the 24 months post‐implementation, the number of re‐treatment specimens from the catchment area increased from 9.1 to 23.5 specimens per month. In comparing annual data pre‐ and post‐implementation, the proportion of re‐treatment cases receiving DST increased from 24.7% (n = 403) to 32.5% (n = 574) (P < 0.001), and the number of multidrug‐resistant (MDR) TB cases increased from 5 to 10 cases.Conclusion  The delivery model significantly increased the proportion of re‐treatment cases receiving DST. Barriers to accessing the national MDR‐TB surveillance programme can be overcome through an operational model based on pragmatic use of existing services from multiple partners.
Analysis of allergen immunotherapy studies shows increased clinical efficacy in highly symptomatic patients
Authors: Howarth P. , Malling H.‐J. , Molimard M. , Devillier P. 
Published: December 2011

To cite this article: Howarth P, Malling H‐J, Molimard M, Devillier P. Analysis of allergen immunotherapy studies shows increased clinical efficacy in highly symptomatic patients. Allergy 2012; 67: 321–327.Abstract
Background:  The assessment of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) efficacy in the treatment for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) symptoms is challenging. Allergen immunotherapy differs from symptomatic therapy in that while symptomatic therapy treats patients after symptoms appear and aims to reduce symptoms, AIT is administered before symptoms are present and aims to prevent them. Thus, clinical studies of AIT can neither establish baseline symptom levels nor limit the enrolment of patients to those with the most severe symptoms. Allergen immunotherapy treatment effects are therefore diluted by patients with low symptoms for a particular pollen season. The objective of this analysis was to assess the effect possible to achieve with AIT in the groups of patients presenting the most severe allergic symptoms.
Methods:  Study centres were grouped into tertiles categorized according to symptom severity scores observed in the placebo patients in each centre (low, middle and high tertiles). The difference observed in the average score in each tertile in active vs placebo‐treated patients was assessed. This allowed an estimation of the efficacy that could be achieved in patients from sites where symptoms were high during the pollen season.
Results:  An increased treatment effect was observed in the most severe patients and was independent of the study analysed and symptom score used.
Conclusions:  The use of a tertile approach to analyse efficacy in AIT in SAR clinical studies can give a more accurate assessment of potential clinical benefit.
Effect of pegylated interferon‐α‐2a treatment on mental health during recent hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: Alavi Maryam , Grebely Jason , Matthews Gail V , Petoumenos Kathy , Yeung Barbara , Day Carolyn , Lloyd Andrew R , Van Beek Ingrid , Kaldor John M , Hellard Margaret , Dore Gregory J , Haber Paul S ,   the ATAHC Study Group
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Pegylated interferon (PEG‐IFN) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has neuropsychiatric side effects. Data on the effect of HCV treatment on mental health among injecting drug users (IDUs) are limited. We assessed mental health during treatment of recently acquired HCV, within a predominantly IDU population.Methods:  Participants with HCV received PEG‐IFN‐α‐2a (180 µg/week) for 24 weeks; HCV/HIV received PEG‐IFN with ribavirin. Depression was assessed using the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with depression at enrolment and during treatment. Also, the effect of depression prior to and during treatment on sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed.Results:  Of 163 participants, 111 received treatment (HCV, n = 74; HCV/HIV, n = 37), with 76% ever reporting IDU. At enrolment, 16% had depression (n = 25). In adjusted analysis, depression at enrolment occurred less often in participants full‐/part‐time employed (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06, 0.82, P = 0.023) and more often in recent IDUs (AOR 3.04; 95% CI: 1.19, 7.72, P = 0.019). During treatment, 35% (n = 31) developed new‐onset depression. In adjusted analysis, poorer social functioning (higher score) was associated with new‐onset depression (score ≤ 9 vs score ≥ 17; OR 5.69; 95% CI: 1.61, 20.14, P = 0.007). SVR was similar among participants with and without depression at enrolment (60% vs 61%, P = 0.951) and in those with and without new‐onset depression (74% vs 63%, P = 0.293).Conclusions:  Although depression at enrolment and during treatment was common among participants with recent HCV, neither influenced SVR. Participants with poor social functioning may be most at risk of developing depression during HCV therapy.
Characteristics of intestinal lamina propria dendritic cells in a mouse model of postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Long Yanqin , Wang Wenfeng , Wang Huan , Hao Liangcheng , Qian Wei , Hou Xiaohua 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI‐IBS), which results from inflammation has been emphasized a lot recently. Dendritic cells (DCs) may contribute to intestinal mucosal immune activation in the pathogenesis of PI‐IBS. This study tested the hypothesis that phenotype and function of intestinal lamina propria DCs (LPDCs) changed in the development of a PI‐IBS mouse model.Methods:  Mice infected with Trichinella spiralis underwent abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) to evaluate visceral sensitivity. LPDCs were isolated and purified by intestine digestion and magnetic label‐based technique. Surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. Endocytic activity, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and chemotaxis were studied. Cytokine production of the LPDCs cocultured with CD4+ T cells was determined.Results:  Intestinal inflammation resolved after 8 weeks infection with sustained visceral hyperalgesia. Surface markers CD86 and MHCII were lower in the acute infection group, but increased in the PI‐IBS stage. Enhanced ability of endocytic activity and decreased abilities to attract and stimulate CD4+ T cell proliferation were in the acute infection group. However, LPDCs in the PI‐IBS stage showed weakened endocytic ability with enhanced abilities to attract and stimulate CD4+ T cell proliferation. Cocultured LPDCs with CD4+ T cells showed a predominant Th2 response in the acute infection stage, and more important roles of Th1, Th17 responses in the PI‐IBS stage.Conclusions:  The hypothesis was supported that the phenotype and function of LPDCs changed in the development of PI‐IBS, which induced the maintenance of intestinal mucosal immune activation and might provide a clue for the treatment of the disease.