bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac mortality in β‐thalassemia major: resting but not dobutamine stress echocardiography predicts mortality among initially cardiac disease‐free patients in a prospective 12‐year study
Authors: Hahalis George , Kourakli Alexandra , Gerasimidou Ioanna , Kalogeropoulos Andreas P. , Sitafidis George , Papageorgiou Urania , Davlouros Periklis , Grapsas Nikos , Zoumbos Nicholas C. , Alexopoulos Dimitrios 
Published: November 2009

AimsCardiac death remains the principal cause of mortality in β‐thalassemia major (β‐TM). Echocardiography may provide additional information, incremental to haematological profile, both for guiding chelation therapy and to assess prognosis.Methods and resultsBetween 1993 and 1995, 36 patients with β‐TM and normal cardiac function and 25 normal volunteers underwent evaluation using resting and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed at baseline and repeated after 2 years. The primary endpoint was cardiac mortality. During a 12‐year observation period, seven patients (19%) died from heart failure. All seven deaths occurred among the cohort of 12 patients with median ferritin concentrations ≥2800 ng/mg. In addition, a resting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), 60% was also associated with increased late mortality. In multivariate analysis, increased serum ferritin levels and reduced LVEF but not DSE or other haematological variables were independent survival determinants.ConclusionResting LVEF provides prognostic information that is additional to ferritin levels among patients with β‐TM.
First Report of Botrytis cinerea Causing Gray Mold of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Greece
Authors: Bardas G. A. , Tzelepis G. D. , Lotos L. , Karaoglanidis G. S. 
Published: November 2009

Pomegranate is rapidly increasing in production in Greece. During August of 2008 in the region of Larisa (central Greece), preharvest fruit rot was observed on pomegranate (cv. Kapmaditika) that caused losses estimated at 10%. Symptoms first appeared as small spots on the fruits that later increased in size and developed into expanded, dark brown lesions. Internally, tissues were soft and brown with gray mycelia and conidiophores observed. Affected fruits decayed completely during 2 months of storage (5 to 6°C), causing yield losses of up to 20%. To isolate the casual agent, conidia and conidiophores were scraped aseptically from the internal tissues, suspended in sterile water, and streaked onto the surface of potato dextrose agar (PDA). Single hyphal tips were transferred to PDA, and the isolated fungus was identified as Botrytis cinerea Pers.:Fr. on the basis of morphological characteristics (2). B. cinerea was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues. Colonies of B. cinerea on PDA were at first colorless and became gray to brown with the development of lemon-shaped conidia (average 7.5 × 9 μm). Sclerotia were black and varied in size (1.4 to 4.5 × 1.5 to 2.7 mm) and shape (2). Pathogenicity of the isolated fungus was tested by wound inoculating five mature pomegranate fruits (cv. Kampaditika) after surface sterilization with 5% sodium hypochlorite. Plugs of the fungus (5 mm in diameter) obtained from the colony margins were transferred onto a 3- × 3-mm wound on the surface of sterilized fruit. Sterile PDA plugs were used to inoculate five control pomegranate fruits. Fruit were incubated at 22°C and 80% relative humidity in the dark. Extensive decay, similar to that observed on diseased fruits in the field, was observed on inoculated fruits 7 days after inoculation, whereas control fruits showed no decay. The pathogen was reisolated from internal rotten tissues of inoculated fruit, but not from the noninoculated control fruits. Fruit rot of pomegranate caused by B. cinerea has been reported previously in the United States (1) and China (3). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of B. cinerea causing gray mold of pomegranate in Greece. References: (1) A. M. French. California Plant Disease Host Index. Calif. Dept. Food Agric., Sacramento, 1989. (2) W. B. Hewitt. Compendium of Grape Diseases. American Phytopathological Society, 1994. (3) Z. Zhang. Flora Fungorum Sinicorum 26:277, 2006.
First Report of Penicillium glabrum Causing Fruit Rot of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Greece
Authors: Bardas G. A. , Tzelepis G. D. , Lotos L. , Karaoglanidis G. S. 
Published: November 2009

During September and October of 2008 in the region of Larisa (central Greece), postharvest fruit rot was observed on pomegranate (cv. Kapmaditika), which is rapidly increasing in production in Greece, causing losses of 10 to 20% after 2 months of cold storage (5 to 6°C). Infected fruits showed green conidiophores in the calyx area, while internal symptoms consisted of soft, brown tissue that became covered with green mycelium and conidiophores. To isolate the casual agent, conidia and conidiophores were scraped aseptically from the internal fruit rot, suspended in sterile water, and streaked onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). Single hyphal tips were then transferred to new PDA plates. A fungus consistently isolated from the infected tissues was identified as Penicillium glabrum (Wehmer) Westling on the basis of morphological criteria, with conidiophores smooth or finely roughened and conidia in compact columns, glubose to subglubose, approximately 3.0 μm, with walls somewhat echinulate (1). The identification was confirmed by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region spanning ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 of the ribosomal DNA (2). The nucleotide sequence was submitted to GenBank (Accession No. FN313540). The pathogenicity of the isolated fungus was tested on five mature pomegranate fruit (cv. Kampaditika) after being surface sterilized with 5% sodium hypochlorite. A plug (5 mm in diameter) obtained from the margins of a P. glabrum colony was transferred to wounds (3 × 3 mm) made with a scalpel in the surface of fruit. Fruit inoculated with sterile PDA plugs served as controls. Fruit were incubated at 22°C and 80% relative humidity in the dark. Extensive decay, similar to that observed on diseased fruit in the field, was observed on the inoculated fruit 7 days after inoculation, whereas control fruit showed no decay. The pathogen was reisolated from inoculated fruit but not from the noninoculated fruit. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. glabrum causing postharvest fruit rot of pomegranates in Greece. References: (1) C. Thom and K. B. Raper. Page 176 in: A Manual of the Penicillia. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1949. (2) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.
First Report of Orange Rust of Sugarcane Caused by Puccinia kuehnii in Mexico, El Salvador, and Panama
Authors: Flores R. C. , Loyo J. R. , Ojeda R. A. , Rangel O. C. A. , Cerón F. A. , Márquez W. , Guerra-Moreno A. S. , Hernandez-Ibarra H. M. , González R. E. , Castlebury L. A. , Dixon L. J. , Glynn N. C. , Comstock J. C. , Flynn J. , Amador J. 
Published: November 2009

Symptoms of sugarcane orange rust were observed on July 17, 2008 on sugarcane cvs. Mex 57-1285, Mex 61-230, and Co 301 (a clone received in Mexico in 1953) at the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Caña de Azúcar en Tuxtla Chico, Chiapas, Mexico. In El Salvador, from August 2008 through January 2009, rust symptoms were observed on cv. CP 72-2086 (previously resistant to brown rust caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. & P. Syd.) in 117 dispersed sugarcane-production fields in various localities of El Salvador. Likewise, rust symptoms were first observed on sugarcane cv. SP 74-8355 (more than 25% severity and considered resistant to brown rust) at Natá, Coclé Province in Panama from January to February 2008. Dried herbarium leaf samples of sugarcane rust-infected leaves collected in El Salvador and Mexico were sent to the ARS, USDA Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory in Beltsville MD for identification. Panamanian samples were collected similarly and analyzed at the CALESA Biotechnology Laboratory. Morphological features of uredinial lesions and urediniospores were distinct from those of P. melanocephala and consistent with P. kuehnii E. J. Butler observed previously on specimens from Florida, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua (1–3). Analysis of the ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 and 28S large subunit rDNA sequences of the rust on infected cvs. Mex 57-1285, Mex 61-230, and Co 301 (BPI 878930, 879139, and 879140; GenBank Accession Nos. GO283006, GO283004, and GO283005, respectively) from Mexico and cv. CP 72-2086 from three locations in El Salvador (BPI 879135, 879136, and 879137; GenBank Accession Nos. GO283009, GO283007, and GO283008, respectively) all confirmed the identification of P. kuehnii. Similar analysis of the ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 rDNA sequence for the rust infecting cv. SP 74-8355 (GenBank Accession No. GO281584) confirmed the identification of P. kuehnii in Panama. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. kuehnii causing orange rust disease of sugarcane in El Salvador, Mexico, and Panama. These findings also confirm the wider distribution of orange rust in the Western Hemisphere. References: (1) E. Chavarria et al. Plant Dis. 93:425, 2009. (2) J. C. Comstock et al. Plant Dis. 92:175, 2008. (3) W. Ovalle et al. Plant Dis. 92:973, 2008.
First Report of Crown and Root Rot Caused by Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A on Dodonaea viscosa in Italy
Authors: Polizzi G. , Aiello D. , Vitale A. , Kato M. , Hyakumachi M. 
Published: November 2009

Florida hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq.) is an evergreen bush or small tree native to Australia and a member of the Sapindaceae. During September of 2008, a crown and root rot of D. viscosa was observed on 1-year-old potted plants in a commercial nursery in eastern Sicily, Italy. More than 15% of the plants showed disease symptoms. Infected plants were characterized by a lack of vigor. Roots and crowns were partially or completely destroyed, and as a consequence, infected plants were often wilted. Early in the disease development, roots and crowns showed brown lesions. Successively, mature crown lesions turned dark brown. Diseased tissues were surface disinfested for 1 min in 1% NaOCl, rinsed in sterile water, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 100 mg/liter of streptomycin sulfate, and then incubated at 25°C. A binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) species was consistently isolated from affected tissue of plants. Fungal colonies were white with floccose, aerial hyphae. Hyphal cells were determined to be binucleate when stained with 1% safranin O and 3% KOH solution (1) and examined at ×400. Anastomosis groups were determined by pairing isolates with five different tester isolates of BNR AG-A on 2% water agar in petri plates (3). Anastomosis was observed with all tester isolates. The rDNA-ITS of one isolate of BNR (DISTEF-DV2) was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. AB514569) (2). The sequence from this isolate exhibited 99% homology with BNR AG-A (GenBank Accession No. AY738628). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on potted, healthy, 8-month-old plants of D. viscosa. Twenty plants were inoculated by placing 1/cm2 plugs of PDA from 5-day-old mycelial cultures near the base of the stem. The same number of plants was treated with 1/cm2 PDA plugs as controls. Plants were kept at 25°C and 95% relative humidity on a 12-h fluorescent light/dark regimen. Root and crown rots, identical to those observed in the nursery, appeared 30 days after inoculation, and all the inoculated plants died within 2 months. Control plants remained healthy. Binucleate Rhizoctonia was reisolated from symptomatic tissues, completing Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world of BNR AG-A causing disease on Florida hopbush. References: (1) R. J. Bandoni. Mycologia 71:873, 1979. (2) M. Hyakumachi et al. Phytopathology 95:784, 2005. (3) C. C. Tu and J. W. Kimbrough. Mycologia 65:941, 1973.
Differential Sodium and Potassium Transport Selectivities of the Rice OsHKT2;1 and OsHKT2;2 Transporters in Plant Cells
Authors: Yao Xuan , Horie Tomoaki , Xue Shaowu , Leung Ho-Yin , Katsuhara Maki , Brodsky Dennis E. , Wu Yan , Schroeder Julian I. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractNa+ and K+ homeostasis are crucial for plant growth and development. Two HKT transporter/channel classes have been characterized that mediate either Na+ transport or Na+ and K+ transport when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and yeast. However, the Na+/K+ selectivities of the K+-permeable HKT transporters have not yet been studied in plant cells. One study expressing 5′ untranslated region-modified HKT constructs in yeast has questioned the relevance of cation selectivities found in heterologous systems for selectivity predictions in plant cells. Therefore, here we analyze two highly homologous rice (Oryza sativa) HKT transporters in plant cells, OsHKT2;1 and OsHKT2;2, that show differential K+ permeabilities in heterologous systems. Upon stable expression in cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Bright-Yellow 2 cells, OsHKT2;1 mediated Na+ uptake, but little Rb+ uptake, consistent with earlier studies and new findings presented here in oocytes. In contrast, OsHKT2;2 mediated Na+-K+ cotransport in plant cells such that extracellular K+ stimulated OsHKT2;2-mediated Na+ influx and vice versa. Furthermore, at millimolar Na+ concentrations, OsHKT2;2 mediated Na+ influx into plant cells without adding extracellular K+. This study shows that the Na+/K+ selectivities of these HKT transporters in plant cells coincide closely with the selectivities in oocytes and yeast. In addition, the presence of external K+ and Ca2+ down-regulated OsHKT2;1-mediated Na+ influx in two plant systems, Bright-Yellow 2 cells and intact rice roots, and also in Xenopus oocytes. Moreover, OsHKT transporter selectivities in plant cells are shown to depend on the imposed cationic conditions, supporting the model that HKT transporters are multi-ion pores.
Clinical trial: oral colon‐release parnaparin sodium tablets (CB‐01‐05 MMX®) for active left‐sided ulcerative colitis
Authors: CELASCO G. , PAPA A. , JONES R. , MORO L. , BOZZELLA R. , SURACE M. M. , NACCARI G. C. , GASBARRINI G. 
Published: November 2009

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 375‐386SummaryBackground  The administration of parnaparin sodium as oral colon‐release tablets (CB‐01‐05 MMX®) has been proposed as a novel approach for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).Aim  To assess the efficacy and the tolerability of 8 weeks’ oral daily administration of 210 mg of parnaparin sodium compared with placebo in subjects treated with stable‐doses of oral aminosalicylates.Methods  This multicenter, randomized, double‐blind proof of concept trial compared the efficacy of CB‐01‐05 MMX® 210 mg tablets to placebo in 141 subjects with mild to moderately active left‐sided UC treated with stable‐doses of aminosalicylates. The efficacy was assessed by clinical activity index (CAI), endoscopic index (EI) and histological score (HS).Results  A total of 121 subjects (61 in test group and 60 in control group) formed the per protocol (PP) population. After 8 weeks of treatment, clinical remission was achieved in 83.6% of the CB‐01‐05 MMX® group, and in 63.3% in the comparator group (P = 0.011). This effect was also significantly evident in the test group at week 4 (P = 0.028). A significant difference was also detected in rectal bleeding, (disappeared respectively in 75.4% and 55.0%; P = 0.018), and in mucosal friability (recovered respectively in 80.3% and in 56.7%; P = 0.005).Conclusions  CB‐01‐05 MMX® was safe and significantly effective in treating subjects with mild‐to‐moderate left‐sided UC treated with stable‐doses of aminosalicylates.
Systematic review: molecular chemoprevention of colorectal malignancy by mesalazine
Authors: LYAKHOVICH A. , GASCHE C. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryBackground  Mesalazine (mesalamine) (5‐ASA) is considered an anti‐inflammatory drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. It is well tolerated by most patients and induces mucosal healing specifically in ulcerative colitis. Besides its anti‐inflammatory properties, 5‐ASA has been studied for cancer inhibitory activities as it seems to reduce colorectal cancer incidence in patients using this drug for long periods of time. However, detailed molecular mechanisms of drug action are vague.Aims  To evaluate known molecular mechanisms of 5‐ASA on chemoprevention of colorectal malignancy.Methods  Systematic review with search terms ‘5 aminosalicylic acid, mesalazine, 5‐ASA, mesalazine, molecular mechanisms, chemoprevention’ between 2006 and August 2009.Results  A total of 48 studies were retrieved that link 5‐ASA chemopreventive properties to five distinct pathways. These include interference with cell cycle progression (12 references), scavenging of reactive oxygen‐ or nitrogen‐derived metabolites (16 references), TNF‐α/TGF‐ß signalling (11 references), WNT/β‐catenin signalling (5 references) and anti‐bacterial properties (4 references).Conclusions  In the recent years, a large amount of molecular data has accumulated supporting the notion that 5‐ASA biological effects interfere with colorectal cancer development. These molecular pathways are of special interest in the search for 5‐ASA’s molecular target(s) and development of novel chemopreventive compounds. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 31, 202–209
The effect of terbutaline on the absorption of pulmonary administered insulin in subjects with asthma
Authors: Petersen Astrid H. , Korsatko Stefan , Köhler Gerd , Wutte Andrea , Olschewski Horst , Sparre Thomas , Råstam Jacob , Wollmer Per , Pieber Thomas R. 
Published: November 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • People with mild and moderate asthma have been shown to absorb less inhaled insulin than healthy subjects.• In people with moderate asthma, the administration of a bronchodilator before inhalation of insulin has been shown to lead to increased uptake of inhaled insulin compared with no prior administration of bronchodilator. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This study is the first to show that in people with asthma, reduction of bronchoconstriction leads to increased absorption of inhaled insulin.• This study illustrates that due to the effect of terbutaline on glucose metabolism, the effect of insulin on plasma glucose is complex when terbutaline is administered concomitantly.AIM To investigate the effect of prior administration of a bronchodilator on the absorption of inhaled insulin in people with asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids.METHODS A single‐centre, randomized, open‐label, two‐period cross‐over trial was carried out in 41 nondiabetic subjects with asthma treated with inhaled steroids, with reversible bronchoconstriction (Rev+; n= 25) or without reversible bronchoconstriction (Rev−; n= 16). A dose of 0.10 U kg−1 inhaled human insulin was administered on each dosing day with or without prior administration of the bronchodilator terbutaline (in random order).RESULTS Prior administration of terbutaline led to a 44% increase in absorption of insulin over 6 h for the Rev+ group compared with no prior administration of bronchodilator [ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.44 (1.13, 1.82), P= 0.004], whereas no effect was seen for the Rev− or the whole group. The maximum insulin concentration (Cmax) increased by 34% for the Rev+ group (P = 0.018) and 17% for the whole group (P= 0.046), whereas no significant effect of prior terbutaline administration was seen for Rev−. The time to Cmax was not significantly different for the Rev+ group, whereas it was approximately 30% longer after bronchodilator administration for the Rev− group (P= 0.044) and the whole group (P= 0.032).CONCLUSIONS In people with asthma and reversible bronchoconstriction, the administration of a bronchodilator prior to administration of inhaled insulin led to increased absorption of insulin, whereas no effect on insulin absorption in subjects without significant reversibility could be detected.
Pravastatin administration does not induce detrimental effects on hemodynamics and collaterals of portal hypertensive rats
Authors: Chang Ching‐Chih , Wang Sun‐Sang , Huang Hui‐Chun , Lee Jing‐Yi , Lee Fa‐Yauh , Lin Han‐Chieh , Lee Shou‐Dong 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aims:  The 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitor can enhance endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and induce vasodilatation. The vasodilatory effect may be detrimental to portal‐systemic collaterals due to aggravating the shunting degrees. The present study investigated the effects of pravastatin, a HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitor, on the collateral vascular responsiveness to endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and portal‐systemic shunting in portal hypertensive rats.Methods:  The partial portal vein‐ligated (PVL) rats received either pravastatin (25 mg/kg per day) or distilled water since 2 days prior to until 7 days after ligation. On the 8th day following hemodynamic measurements, the collateral vascular responsiveness to ET‐1 was evaluated by an in situ collateral perfusion model. The shunting degrees of collaterals were evaluated by constructing vascular flow‐pressure curves and color microsphere study, respectively. PVL rats underwent pre‐incubation with: (i) Krebs solution (control); or Krebs solution plus (ii) 2 × 10−5 M pravastatin; (iii) pravastatin + Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine (10−4 M); and (iv) pravastatin + indomethacin (10−5 M), followed by ET‐1 (10−10–10−7 M) administration to evaluate the collateral vascular responsiveness.Results:  In chronic study, pravastatin did not modify systemic and portal hemodynamics and collateral vascular responsiveness to ET‐1. The resistances of flow‐pressure curves and the microsphere study demonstrated similar shunting degrees between both groups. Furthermore, pravastatin pre‐incubation didn't reduce collateral perfusion pressure to ET‐1.Conclusion:  Chronic pravastatin administration does not induce detrimental effects on hemodynamics and collaterals in PVL rats, nor does it influence the shunting degree. In addition, it does not modify the vasoconstrictive effect of ET‐1 on the collaterals of PVL rats.
Can acid (pH) refluxes predict multichannel intraluminal impedance refluxes? A correlation study
Authors: Misra Sudipta 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The present study aims to explore if and when acid (pH) refluxes can predict refluxes detected by multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) studies. This correlation may indicate whether pH probe‐only and MII‐pH studies are interchangeable.Methods:  Prospective observational cross sectional study of symptomatic children (below 18 years) who had MII‐pH studies done for gastroesophageal reflux. Clinical data were extracted from patient records. Non‐parametric tests, Pearson's ρ and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for data analysis.Results:  A total of 153 children were included in the study and 62% were on acid suppression. Indices for acid and MII refluxes correlated with each other only in those without acid suppression. This correlation was lost in children on acid suppression. There was no statistically significant difference in acid or MII reflux indices in children with or without acid suppression. Like acid reflux, indices for MII refluxes had good correlation with each other irrespective of acid suppression. Liquid and mixed MII refluxes showed excellent correlation with respective types of proximally migrating refluxes. The values for MII reflux indices derived from our patient population were in broad agreement with available pediatric and adult data.Conclusions:  A pH probe‐only study in patients without acid suppression may reflect both acid and volume (MII) reflux activities adequately and can substitute for MII‐pH study. The observed excellent correlation between acid and MII refluxes with proximal migration may justify using pH probe‐only studies for extra esophageal symptoms in patients without acid suppression.