bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of elevated CO2 on grain yield and quality of wheat: results from a 3‐year free‐air CO2 enrichment experiment
Authors: Högy P. , Wieser H. , Köhler P. , Schwadorf K. , Breuer J. , Franzaring J. , Muntifering R. , Fangmeier A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractSpring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. TRISO) was grown for three consecutive seasons in a free‐air carbon dioxide (CO2) enrichment (FACE) field experiment in order to examine the effects on crop yield and grain quality. CO2 enrichment promoted aboveground biomass (+11.8%) and grain yield (+10.4%). However, adverse effects were predominantly observed on wholegrain quality characteristics. Although the thousand‐grain weight remained unchanged, size distribution was significantly shifted towards smaller grains, which may directly relate to lower market value. Total grain protein concentration decreased significantly by 7.4% under elevated CO2, and protein and amino acid composition were altered. Corresponding to the decline in grain protein concentration, CO2 enrichment resulted in an overall decrease in amino acid concentrations, with greater reductions in non‐essential than essential amino acids. Minerals such as potassium, molybdenum and lead increased, while manganese, iron, cadmium and silicon decreased, suggesting that adjustments of agricultural practices may be required to retain current grain quality standards. The concentration of fructose and fructan, as well as amounts per area of total and individual non‐structural carbohydrates, except for starch, significantly increased in the grain. The same holds true for the amount of lipids. With regard to mixing and rheological properties of the flour, a significant increase in gluten resistance under elevated CO2 was observed. CO2 enrichment obviously affected grain quality characteristics that are important for consumer nutrition and health, and for industrial processing and marketing, which have to date received little attention.
Development of Y‐chromosome‐Specific SCAR Markers Conserved in Taurine, Zebu and Bubaline Cattle
Authors: Alves BCA , Hossepian de Lima VFM , Moreira‐Filho CA 
Published: July 2009

ContentsSex pre‐selection of bovine offsprings has commercial relevance for cattle breeders and several methods have been used for embryo sex determination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be a reliable procedure for accomplishing embryo sexing. To date, most of the PCR‐specific primers are derived from the few single‐copy Y‐chromosome‐specific gene sequences already identified in bovines. Their detection demands higher amounts of embryonic genomic material or a nested amplification reaction. In order to circumvent this, limitation we searched for new male‐specific sequences potentially useful in embryo sexing using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay reproducibility problems can be overcome by its conversion into Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) markers. In this work, we describe the identification of two bovine male‐specific markers (OPC16323 and OPF101168) by means of RAPD. These markers were successfully converted into SCARs (OPC16726 and OPF10984) using two pairs of specific primers.Furthermore, inverse PCR (iPCR) methodology was successfully applied to elongate OPC16323 marker in 159% (from 323 to 837 bp). Both markers are shown to be highly conserved (similarity ≥95%) among bovine zebu and taurine cattle; OPC16323 is also highly similar to a bubaline Y‐chromosome‐specific sequence. The primers derived from the two Y‐chromosome‐specific conserved sequences described in this article showed 100% accuracy when used for identifying male and female bovine genomic DNA, thereby proving their potential usefulness for bovine embryo sexing.
Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer: risk factors
Authors: Bertelsen C. A. , Andreasen A. H. , Jørgensen T. , Harling H. ,   on behalf of the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective  The study aimed to identify risk factors for clinical anastomotic leakage (AL) after anterior resection for rectal cancer in a consecutive national cohort.Method  All patients with an initial first diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma were prospectively registered in a national database. The register included 1495 patients who had had a curative anterior resection between May 2001 and December 2004. The association of a number of patient‐ and procedure‐related factors with clinical AL after anterior resection was analysed in a cohort design.Results  Anastomotic leakages occurred in 163 (11%) patients. In a multivariate analysis, the risk of AL was significantly increased in patients with tumours located below 10 cm from the anal verge if no faecal diversion was undertaken (OR 5.37 5 cm (tumour level from anal verge), 95% CI 2.10–13.7, OR 3.57 7 cm, CI 1.81–7.07 and OR 1.96 10 cm, CI 1.22–3.10), in male patients (OR 2.36, CI 1.18–4.71), in smokers (OR 1.88, CI 1.02–3.46), and perioperative bleeding (OR 1.05 for intervals of 100 ml blood loss, CI 1.02–1.07).Conclusion  Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for low rectal tumours is related to the level, male gender, smoking and perioperative bleeding. Faecal diversion is advisable after total mesorectal excision of low rectal tumours in order to prevent AL.
Physiological, psychological and behavioural characteristics of men and women with faecal incontinence
Authors: Maeda Y. , Vaizey C. J. , Hollington P. , Stern J. , Kamm M. A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground  The factors leading to faecal incontinence in males are less well understood than those in females. In this prospective study we aimed to compare the physiological, anatomical, psychological and behavioural characteristics of male and female patients presenting with symptoms of faecal incontinence.Method  One hundred and nine patients presenting with symptoms of faecal incontinence were studied. They underwent anorectal physiological studies, endoanal ultrasonography, and completed a St Mark’s Incontinence Score, a locally developed pad questionnaire, a bowel symptom questionnaire, the Short Form 36 (SF‐36) Health Survey questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory.Results  Thirty‐four men (mean age 59 years, SD 14 years, range 33–80) and 75 women (mean age 55 years, SD 15 years, range 21–86) participated in the study. Twenty‐one patients (38% of men and 11% of women) had normal manometry and endoanal ultrasonography. There was no significant difference in the resting pressures of men compared with women, but men had significantly higher squeeze pressures. Rectal capacity was significantly higher in men but anal and rectal electrosensitivities were the same. Men placed a tissue at the anus more commonly than women while women were more likely to use a pad and to carry a spare pair of underwear around with them. Psychological profiles were very similar in the two sexes.Conclusions  Nearly 40% of men with faecal incontinence report it in the absence of a definable functional or structural sphincter abnormality. There are differences in physiological characteristics and coping behaviours of men and women with faecal incontinence.
Growth pattern in the muscular layer reflects the biological behaviour of colorectal cancer
Authors: Ueno H. , Hase K. , Hashiguchi Y. , Ishiguro M. , Kajiwara Y. , Shimazaki H. , Mochizuki H. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective  To determine the clinical value of evaluating the cancer morphology in muscularis propria (MP) for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.Method  A total of 994 patients with advanced CRC were reviewed in terms of two distinctive growth patterns in the MP: (i) horizontal spread between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers (H‐spread) and (ii) ‘streaming’ spread between the muscle bundles of the circular muscle layer (S‐spread).Results  The incidence of H‐spread (n = 153) and S‐spread (n = 150) showed a positive correlation with tumour‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage and both exerted a negative impact on postoperative survival. Adverse morphology in the MP (H‐spread and/or S‐spread) was consistent with a high grade of vascular invasion and budding in the extramural layer, as also with unfavourable fibrotic stromas in the reactive fibrous zone; the 5‐year survival rate in patients with such features was 64.2%, which was lower than that in those without (86.5%, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that adverse morphology was an independent prognostic determinant, along with T‐ and N ‐stage. As the mode of H‐spread, perineural invasion in the myenteric plexus was found to be predominant over lymphatic spread on the basis of S100 and CD34 immunostaining, but neural cell adhesion molecule expression, whether on cancer cells or on neural cells, was not significant for this growth pattern.Conclusion  A particular group of CRCs ingeniously utilizes the thin space between muscle fascicles for development in the MP. Although the biological mechanism remains unknown, this distinctive growth pattern could be a useful indicator to identify CRC patients at high risk of recurrence.
Ligneous conjunctivitis in a plasminogen‐deficient dog: clinical management and 2‐year follow‐up
Authors: Torres María‐Dolores , Leiva Marta , Tabar María‐Dolores , Naranjo Carolina , Pastor Josep , Peña Teresa 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA 1‐year‐old‐female Yorkshire Terrier was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (VTH‐UAB) (Spain) with a 6‐month history of unilateral chronic proliferative conjunctivitis and intermittent vomiting and cough. Several medical and surgical treatment efforts to manage conjunctival lesions had resulted in no improvement of the clinical signs. Complete general and ophthalmic examinations revealed several proliferative ‘wood‐like’ masses in the conjunctiva, oral cavity and an interscapular subcutaneous nodule. Conjunctival and buccal biopsies were performed as diagnostic procedures. A diagnosis of ligneous conjunctivitis was made on the basis of histopathology findings and clinical presentation. The only biochemical abnormalities found were severe proteinuria and low plasminogen activity in plasma. No other analytical abnormalities were observed. Topical treatment with heparin and anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs have controlled the ophthalmological clinical signs. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a dog with plasminogen deficiency and ligneous conjunctivitis with a long survival period and 2‐year follow‐up.
Outbreak of ocular disease associated with naturally‐acquired canine herpesvirus‐1 infection in a closed domestic dog colony
Authors: Ledbetter Eric C. , Kim Sung G. , Dubovi Edward J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective To describe clinical and virological findings of an outbreak of ocular disease attributed to naturally‐acquired primary canine herpesvirus‐1 (CHV‐1) infection in a closed domestic dog colony.Animals studied Twenty‐seven 10‐ to 16‐week‐old laboratory Beagles.Procedure Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed and ocular samples collected for CHV‐1 polymerase chain reaction and virus isolation.Results The prevalence of ocular morbidity was 100% in examined dogs. Lesions were restricted to the ocular surface and included bilateral conjunctivitis (100% of dogs); punctate, dendritic, or geographic ulcerative keratitis (26% of dogs); and non‐ulcerative keratitis (19% of dogs). Conjunctival petechiae were detected in 22% of dogs. Punctate and dendritic corneal ulcers were frequently organized into discrete groups or linear arrangements. Non‐ulcerative keratitis appeared clinically as a perilimbal ring of superficial corneal vascularization and leukocyte infiltration. CHV‐1 was detected in ocular samples by polymerase chain reaction or virus isolation in all dogs sampled.Conclusions In susceptible populations of domestic dogs, CHV‐1 may be associated with outbreaks of highly contagious ocular infection in the absence of concurrent overt systemic disease. This naturally‐acquired outbreak of CHV‐1 infection provides an opportunity to report the spectrum and prevalence of ocular lesions associated with primary ocular CHV‐1 infection in dogs. Conjunctivitis was the most frequent ocular lesion detected. Ulcerative and non‐ulcerative keratitis were less prevalent and of variable clinical appearance. Dendritic ulcerative keratitis, a classic and relatively specific ocular lesion associated with alphaherpesvirus infection, was detected in < 20% of dogs.
Robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy in men aged ≥70 years
Authors: Greco Kristin A. , Meeks Joshua J. , Wu Simon , Nadler Robert B. 
Published: July 2009

OBJECTIVESTo assess the outcomes of elderly men with prostate cancer treated with robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), because more healthy elderly men will present with localized prostate cancer and many will seek surgical treatment as the population ages.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 2005 and 2008, 203 men had RARP performed by one surgeon; patients were categorized into two groups based on their age (≥70 vs <70 years). All data were recorded prospectively in an institutional approved database.RESULTSOf the 203 men, 23 (11%) were aged ≥70 years; the older men had similar baseline characteristics as younger men, and had characteristics during and after surgery comparable to those in younger men. The pathological RARP Gleason grade was significantly greater in older men. Surgical complications were not significantly different between the groups. Continence rates were significantly lower in older men at 6 months after surgery, but returned to levels equivalent to those in younger men within 12 months after surgery. Older patients took significantly longer to be capable of driving after surgery.CONCLUSIONSThe outcomes of RARP in elderly men are largely comparable to those in younger men, with the exception of higher pathological Gleason grade, a transient delay in return of continence, and taking longer to return to driving after surgery. Advanced chronological age should not be a contraindication for RARP in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, but expectations should be managed preoperatively.
Dicoumarol enhances doxorubicin‐induced cytotoxicity in p53 wild‐type urothelial cancer cells through p38 activation
Authors: Matsui Yoshiyuki , Watanabe Jun , Ding Sentai , Nishizawa Koji , Kajita Yoichiro , Ichioka Kentaro , Saito Ryoichi , Kobayashi Takashi , Ogawa Osamu , Nishiyama Hiroyuki 
Published: July 2009

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of a combined treatment of 3–30‐methylene‐bis[4‐hydroxycoumarin] (dicoumarol) with doxorubicin for the treatment of urothelial cancer, as doxorubicin is a common chemotherapeutic agent but its therapeutic efficacy is limited.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe synergistic effect of dicoumarol with chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, doxorubicin and paclitaxel was evaluated in RT112 urothelial cancer cells. Then, dicoumarol‐mediated enhancement of doxorubicin‐induced cytotoxicity was screened in urothelial cancer cell lines with different p53 statuses or RT112 stable transfectants with a dominant‐negative mutant of p53 (p53DN). To clarify the importance of the modification of p53 function by dicoumarol to enhance doxorubicin toxicity, the change in the p53‐p21 pathway and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)‐mitochondria pathway by the combined treatment were elucidated by Western blot analysis. Finally, the effect of p21 knockdown in the susceptibility to doxorubicin was examined with RT112 stable transfectants with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of p21.RESULTSDicoumarol significantly increased the susceptibility of RT112 cells to cisplatin and doxorubicin, but not to paclitaxel in RT112 cells. Dicoumarol (100 µm) also enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in other bladder cancer cell lines with wild‐type p53 (wt‐p53; three times in 253J and 13 times in KK47), but not in those with mutant‐type p53 (TCCsup, J82 and EJ) or in RT112 p53DN. The combined treatment with dicoumarol suppressed p53/p21 induction by doxorubicin and resulted in sequential p38 MAPK activation, myeloid cell leukaemia 1 suppression and caspase cleavage. The synergistic effect of doxorubicin/dicoumarol was suppressed by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 and, furthermore, p21 knockdown with shRNA transfection made RT112 cells six times more susceptible to doxorubicin with p38 MAPK activation.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that concomitant use of dicoumarol could enhance the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in urothelial cancer cells with wt‐p53 through the p53/p21/p38 MAPK pathways. This combined treatment may provide a new therapeutic option to overcome chemoresistance in bladder cancer.
Pelvic‐floor imaging using three‐dimensional ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the long term follow‐up of the bladder‐exstrophy‐epispadias complex
Authors: Ebert Anne K. , Falkert Andreas , Brandl Roland , Hirschfelder Horst , Koller Michael , Rösch Wolfgang H. 
Published: July 2009

Study Type – Therapy (case control) Level of Evidence 3bOBJECTIVETo investigate whether established pelvic floor variables can be used to predict the risk of uterine prolapse after surgery and to compare two different operative strategies, pelvic adaptation with functional reconstruction and an open pelvis with urinary diversion, as a congenital bony pelvis and pelvic floor defect predisposes females with bladder‐exstrophy‐epispadias complex (BEEC) to uterine prolapse.PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe conducted a cross‐sectional study using perineal three‐dimensional ultrasonography (3D‐US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to describe pelvic floor anatomy in 19 women with BEEC (mean age 27.3 years) and five controls, with the outcome evaluated by a semi‐structured interview. The analysis of 3D‐US and MRI was conducted by two independent investigators.RESULTSOf the 19 women with BEEC, 13 initially had a functional bladder reconstruction, six a urinary diversion with removal of the exstrophic bladder, and 12 women had closure of the pelvis either by traction bandage or osteotomy, and in the other seven the symphysis was not approximated. Four patients had a complete and one a mild uterine prolapse. After a mean follow‐up of 24 years, the mean symphyseal diastasis was 4.5 cm after symphyseal approximation, 9.0 cm without symphyseal approximation in BEEC and 0.49 cm in controls. The mean levator hiatus was 4.9 cm on 3D‐US and 4.1 cm on MRI after symphyseal approximation, 5.9 and 7.6 cm without symphyseal approximation and 4.2 and 3.2 cm in controls, respectively. The respective mean levator angle was 86.6° and 87.3° after symphyseal approximation, 104.1° and 101.3° without and 71.3° and 45.5 in controls. Prolapse was statistically significantly more common in patients with no symphyseal approximation.CONCLUSIONThis is the first study showing that perineal 3D‐US is useful for pelvic floor imaging in BEEC. Established pelvic floor variables might be useful for predicting the risk of pelvic organ prolapse in BEEC.
Checks and Balances on Political Budget Cycles: Cross‐Country Evidence
Authors: Streb Jorge M. , Lema Daniel , Torrens Gustavo 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYPrevious empirical work on political budget cycles (PBCs) implicitly assumes the executive has full discretion over fiscal policy. Instead, we ask what happens when legislative checks and balances limit executive discretion. We find that legislative checks and balances moderate PBCs in countries with high compliance with the law. More effective checks and balances help to explain why cycles are weaker in developed countries and in established democracies. When the discretional component of executive power is isolated, there are significant cycles in all democracies.
Iron in obesity. An ancient micronutrient for a modern disease
Authors: Zafon C. , Lecube A. , Simó R. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryIron is a necessary constituent of several macromolecules involved in cell metabolism, but, at the same time, it could be a potentially dangerous element. For this reason iron balance must be finely regulated. At present, obesity has been recognized as a worldwide public health problem. Excess body fat is associated with increased all‐cause mortality and increased risk for several medical morbidities. Many studies have shown that obesity might increase the risk of iron deficiency but, at the same time, obese subjects exhibit high serum ferritin levels. Recent studies seem to indicate that obesity is associated with iron deficiency although the aetiology appears to be multifactorial and includes (i) A decrease in iron food intake; (ii) An impairment of intestinal iron uptake and iron release from stores because of an overexpression of hepcidin and (iii) Inadequate iron bioavailability because of inflammation. In addition, abnormal ferritin concentrations can be explained by chronic inflammation rather than by iron overload. The aim of the present article is to review current knowledge of iron and obesity.
Overweight and obesity in infants and pre‐school children in the European Union: a review of existing data
Authors: Cattaneo A. , Monasta L. , Stamatakis E. , Lioret S. , Castetbon K. , Frenken F. , Manios Y. , Moschonis G. , Savva S. , Zaborskis A. , Rito A. I. , Nanu M. , Vignerová J. , Caroli M. , Ludvigsson J. , Koch F. S. , Serra‐Majem L. , Szponar L. , Van Lenthe F. , Brug J. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryThe objective of this study was to synthesize available information on prevalence and time trends of overweight and obesity in pre‐school children in the European Union. Retrieval and analysis or re‐analysis of existing data were carried out. Data sources include WHO databases, Medline and Google, contact with authors of published and unpublished documents. Data were analysed using the International Obesity Task Force reference and cut‐offs, and the WHO standard. Data were available from 18/27 countries. Comparisons were problematic because of different definitions and methods of data collection and analysis. The reported prevalence of overweight plus obesity at 4 years ranges from 11.8% in Romania (2004) to 32.3% in Spain (1998–2000). Countries in the Mediterranean region and the British islands report higher rates than those in middle, northern and eastern Europe. Rates are generally higher in girls than in boys. With the possible exception of England, there was no obvious trend towards increasing prevalence in the past 20–30 years in the five countries with data. The use of the WHO standard with cut‐offs at 1, 2 and 3 standard deviations yields lower rates and removes gender differences. Data on overweight and obesity in pre‐school children are scarce; their interpretation is difficult. Standard methods of surveillance, and research and policies on prevention and treatment, are urgently needed.
Performance Concern, Contingent Self‐worth, and Responses to Repeated Achievement Failure in Second Graders
Authors: Smiley Patricia A. , Coulson Sheri L. , Greene Joelle K. , Bono Katherine L. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIndividual differences in emotion, cognitions, and task choice following achievement failure are found among four‐ to seven‐year‐olds. However, neither performance deterioration during failure nor generalization after failure—aspects of the helpless pattern in 10‐year‐olds—have been reliably demonstrated in this age group. In the present study, 78 second graders worked on a series of unsolvable and solvable puzzles and then on a figure‐matching task. We assessed levels of performance concern and performance‐contingent self‐worth, and their relations to performance during and after failure. As predicted, performance concern and performance‐contingent self‐worth were independent self‐regulatory processes. Performance concern was related to strategy use during and after failure and performance‐contingent self‐worth was related to postfailure performance. These results provide empirical support for Burhans and Dweck's model of the origins of individual differences in motivation. Similarities in behaviors and mechanisms of effect for children's and adults' responses to failure are discussed.