bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of black tea on histological and immunohistochemical changes in pancreatic tissues of normal and streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice (Mus musculus)
Authors: Manikandan Ramar , Sundaram Ramalingam , Thiagarajan Raman , Sivakumar Mullaivanam Ramasamy , Meiyalagan Velayutham , Arumugam Munusamy 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of hot water extract of black tea in regenerating β cells in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice. Light microscopic examination of pancreatic sections of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice showed the acinar cells to be small, shrunken, and with deteriorated β cells. The dose of streptozotocin not only altered the function of β cells but also damaged the acinar region. The changes in acinar cells were coarsening of endoplasmic reticulation suggesting alteration in their secretory function. The control pancreatic tissue showed well‐defined granulated islets and dark β cells when stained with chrome hematoxylin and phloxine. Interestingly, pancreatic sections of diabetic mice fed with black‐tea extract showed regeneration of β cells and acinar region appeared normal with increased numbers of β cells. To understand the probable mechanism of action of black‐tea extract, we analyzed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by immunohistochemistry and the results showed an increased iNOS levels in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic pancreas, and such high iNOS levels were inhibited in black‐tea extract treated mice. According to histological results obtained, it can be concluded that the black‐tea extract helps in regeneration of damaged pancreas and protects pancreatic β cells by its antioxidant action against nitrosative stress in streptozotocin‐induced diabetes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gene expression analysis of immunostained endothelial cells isolated from formaldehyde‐fixated paraffin embedded tumors using laser capture microdissection—A technical report
Authors: Kaneko Tomoatsu , Okiji Takashi , Kaneko Reika , Suda Hideaki , Nör Jacques E. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractLaser capture microdissection (LCM) allows microscopic procurement of specific cell types from tissue sections that can then be used for gene expression analysis. In conventional LCM, frozen tissues stained with hematoxylin are normally used to the molecular analysis. Recent studies suggested that it is possible to carry out gene expression analysis of formaldehyde‐fixated paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues that were stained with hematoxylin. However, it is still unclear if quantitative gene expression analyses can be performed from LCM cells from FFPE tissues that were subjected to immunostaining to enhance identification of target cells. In this proof‐of‐principle study, we analyzed by reverse transcription‐PCR (RT‐PCR) and real time PCR the expression of genes in factor VIII immunostained human endothelial cells that were dissected from FFPE tissues by LCM. We observed that immunostaining should be performed at 4°C to preserve the mRNA from the cells. The expression of Bcl‐2 in the endothelial cells was evaluated by RT‐PCR and by real time PCR. Glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase and 18S were used as house keeping genes for RT‐PCR and real time PCR, respectively. This report unveils a method for quantitative gene expression analysis in cells that were identified by immunostaining and retrieved by LCM from FFPE tissues. This method is ideally suited for the analysis of relatively rare cell types within a tissue, and should improve on our ability to perform differential diagnosis of pathologies as compared to conventional LCM. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Revitalization of a diastemal tooth primordium in Spry2 null mice results from increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis
Authors: Peterkova Renata , Churava Svatava , Lesot Herve , Rothova Michaela , Prochazka Jan , Peterka Miroslav , Klein Ophir D. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAn understanding of the factors that promote or inhibit tooth development is essential for designing biological tooth replacements. The embryonic mouse dentition provides an ideal system for studying such factors because it consists of two types of tooth primordia. One type of primordium will go on to form a functional tooth, whereas the other initiates development but arrests at or before the bud stage. This developmental arrest contributes to the formation of the toothless mouse diastema. It is accompanied by the apoptosis of the rudimentary diastemal buds, which presumably results from the insufficient activity of anti‐apoptotic signals such as fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). We have previously shown that the arrest of a rudimentary tooth bud can be rescued by inactivating Spry2, an antagonist of FGF signaling. Here, we studied the role of the epithelial cell death and proliferation in this process by comparing the development of a rudimentary diastemal tooth bud (R2) and the first molar in the mandibles of Spry2−/− and wild‐type (WT) embryos using histological sections, image analysis and 3D reconstructions. In the WT R2 at embryonic day 13.5, significantly increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation were found compared with the first molar. In contrast, increased levels of FGF signaling in Spry2−/− embryos led to significantly decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation in the R2 bud. Consequently, the R2 was involved in the formation of a supernumerary tooth primordium. Studies of the revitalization of rudimentary tooth primordia in mutant mice can help to lay the foundation for tooth regeneration by enhancing our knowledge of mechanisms that regulate tooth formation. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 312B:292–308, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo secretion of the mouse immunoglobulin G Fc fragment from rat submandibular glands
Authors: Racz Gabor Z. , Perez‐Riveros Paola , Adriaansen Janik , Zheng Changyu , Baum Bruce J. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBackgroundSalivary glands have been proposed as target organs for gene therapy. They secrete endogenous, as well as transgenic proteins, in a polarized manner. Transgene‐encoded regulated pathway proteins primarily follow the regulated pathway in rat salivary glands and are secreted into saliva in an exocrine manner. Conversely, constitutive pathway proteins generally are secreted more basolaterally and thus follow the endocrine route. In the present study, we studied in vivo the sorting of the mouse immunoglobulin G2b Fc fragment, which is physiologically secreted via the constitutive pathway.MethodsAdenoviral vectors encoding the Fc fragment and human growth hormone were delivered into rat and mouse submandibular glands in vivo to compare their serum‐to‐saliva distribution. We also compared the intracellular localization of the Fc fragment and growth hormone by confocal microscopy.ResultsWe found that the Fc fragment was secreted almost entirely into the bloodstream from rat and mouse submandibular glands via a constitutive or constitutive‐like pathway. This sorting behaviour is clearly different from that of transgenic human growth hormone, which is secreted in a regulated pathway, both in neuroendocrine cells and as a transgenic protein from salivary gland cells. We also found that simultaneously expressed human growth hormone and the mouse Fc fragment do not appear to influence each other's sorting behaviour. The Fc fragment showed a primarily basal localization, whereas growth hormone showed an apical localization, in rat submandibular gland acinar cells.ConclusionsThe results obtained in the present study indicate that the mouse Fc fragment is a useful model protein for examining the basolateral versus apical secretory pathways employed by transgenic secretory proteins in salivary glands. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of nitric oxide and nitrogen on seedling emergence, ion accumulation, and seedling growth under salinity in the euhalophyte Suaeda salsa
Authors: Song Jie , Shi Gongwei , Xing Song , Chen Min , Wang Baoshan 
Published: May 2009

AbstractRecently nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a key signal molecule in plants. However, little is known about the role of NO in the salt tolerance of halophytes. Effects of the NO donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nitrate (NO$ _3^- $) on growth and ion accumulation in the euhalophyte Suaeda salsa under salinity were investigated in the present study. The results showed that higher SNP supply increased seedling emergence, but SNP had no effect on shoot growth and the concentrations of Na+, K+, Cl–, and NO$ _3^- $. Higher NO$ _3^- $ had no effect on seedling emergence of the species. Shoot Cl– decreased, but NO3– increased markedly, with a higher NO$ _3^- $ supply. The decrease in the estimated contribution of Cl– to the osmotic potential was compensated for by an increase in that of NO$ _3^- $. It appears that NO$ _3^- $ plays an important osmotic role in S. salsa under high salinity with a higher NO$ _3^- $ supply, and this trait may increase salt tolerance of the species under high salinity.
Pore‐size distribution and particle arrangement in fragipan and nonfragipan horizons
Authors: Falsone Gloria , Bonifacio Eleonora 
Published: May 2009

AbstractFragipan is a widely distributed subsoil horizon that induces severe limitations to plant growth and land use, mainly because of its high bulk density. In this work, we evaluated the pore‐size distribution through the analysis of the cumulative curve of intruded mercury volume in some soils with fragipan horizons. This approach provides information also about the arrangement of particles, thus we compared the results obtained for fragipan and nonfragipan horizons to relate porosity and particle arrangement with the specific physical properties of fragipans. The total volume of intruded mercury did not allow to discriminate between fragipan and nonfragipan horizons. However, from the variation of the pore volume as a function of the radius, two modal classes of pores were found, coarse and fine, respectively. The fine‐pore class arose from the arrangement of clay particles, and its volume was correlated to clay contents (r = 0.787) and to clay packing density (r = –0.621). The clay fractions in fragipans were less densely packed than in the other B horizons, even if they had similar clay contents. The coarser‐pore modal class is known to arise from the interactions between clay, silt, and sand particles, and its volume was different among horizons. Fragipan had a low volume of this modal pore class. In addition, a packing density for the coarser phase of 0.74, corresponding to a rhombohedral packing, was found only in fragipans. Thus, the low permeability and high bulk density of fragipans are linked to specific arrangements of the particles: an open packing of the clay phase is associated to an extremely dense packing of silt and sand. This combination is not present in any other soil horizon.
Arsenic accumulation by rice grown in soil treated with roxarsone
Authors: Liu Chen‐Wuing , Lin Ching‐Chieh , Jang Cheng‐Shin , Sheu Guey‐Rong , Tsui Lo 
Published: May 2009

AbstractPoultry litter is widely used as a fertilizer for lowland rice in Taiwan and China. However, the organic‐arsenic compound roxarsone (additive of poultry feed) in poultry litter can be absorbed by the plants and the resulting arsenic (As) contamination may pose a serious threat to human health. This study used various amounts of poultry litter contaminated with roxarsone in pot experiments to evaluate the effect of roxarsone on rice agronomic parameters and the bioaccumulation of total and inorganic As in rice‐plant tissues. Rice‐grain yield decreased significantly with increasing As content of the soil, and the critical threshold that killed rice was 200 mg roxarsone (kg soil)–1. The As concentrations in root, straw, leaf, husk, and grain increased with increasing soil As (p< 1%). At 100 mg roxarsone per kg of soil, the As concentration in the rice grain exceeded the statutory permissible limit of 1.0 mg As (kg dry weight)–1and at 25 mg roxarsone (kg soil)–1, the inorganic As concentrations in grains exceeded the statutory limit of 0.15 mg of inorganic As kg–1in China. For all treatments, the As concentrations in various plant tissues at maturity follow the order: root > stem > leaf > husk > grain. Arsenite was the predominant species in root, straw, and grain, while arsenate was the predominant species in leaf and husk. No significant difference existed between the amounts of arsenite and arsenate when various amounts of poultry litter were applied. This result illustrates that large amounts of added roxarsone are not only toxic to rice but also accumulate in grains in the inorganic As forms, potentially posing a threat to human healthviathe food chain.
An efficient combination of supercritical fluid extraction and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography to extract and purify homoisoflavonoids from Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker‐Gawler
Authors: Ma Chengjun , Li Gang , Zhang Juan , Zheng Qiusheng , Fan Xiao , Wang Zhenhua 
Published: May 2009

AbstractSupercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract homoisoflavonoids from Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker‐Gawler. The optimization of parameters was carried out using an orthogonal test L9 (3)4 including pressure, temperature, dynamic extraction time and the amount of modifier. The process was then scaled up by 100 times with a preparative SFE system under the optimized conditions of 25 MPa, 55°C, 4.0 h and 25% methanol as a modifier. Then crude extracts were separated and purified by high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/ACN/water (1.8:1.0:1.0:1.2:1.0 v/v). There three homoisoflavonoidal compounds including methylophiopogonanone A 6‐aldehydo‐isoophiopogonone A, and 6‐formyl‐isoophiopogonanone A, were successfully isolated and purified in one step. The collected fractions were analyzed by HPLC. In each operation, 140 mg crude extracts was separated and yielded 15.3 mg of methylophiopogonanone A (96.9% purity), 4.1 mg of 6‐aldehydo‐isoophiopogonone A (98.3% purity) and 13.5 mg of 6‐formyl‐isoophiopogonanone A (97.3% purity) respectively. The chemical structure of the three homoisoflavonoids are identified by means of ESI‐MS and NMR analysis.
The self‐presentation and self‐development of serious wildlife tourists
Authors: Curtin Susanna 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe notion of self‐concept and choice of tourism products has yet to be applied to wildlife tourism. The question of how consumers perceive themselves is considered fundamental to understanding purchase and consumption behaviours. This ethnographic study is based upon ‘serious’ wildlife tourism participants, for whom studying fauna and flora is the primary motivation for travel. The findings demonstrate how the ‘culture’ of ‘serious’ wildlife tourism is made up of individuals who differentiate themselves from other tourists in terms of dress, behaviour, development of skills, equipment and intellectual capital, illustrated by their desire to scope, identify and photograph wildlife. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in soil nitrogen availability due to stand development and management practices on semi‐arid sandy lands, in northern China
Authors: Chen F. S. , Zeng D. H. , Fahey T. J. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractSoil nitrogen (N) availability is one of the limiting factors for plant growth on sandy lands. Little is known about impacts of afforestation on soil N availability and its components in southeastern Keerqin sandy lands, China. In this study, we measured N transformation under sandy Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.) plantations of different ages (grassland, young, middle‐aged, close‐to‐mature) and management practices (non‐grazing and free‐grazing) during the growing seasons using the ion exchange resin bag method. Results showed that, for all plots and growing season, soil NH‐N, NO‐N, mineral N, and relative nitrification index, varied from 0·18 to 1·54, 0·96 to 22·05, 1·23 to 23·58 µg d−1 g−1 dry resin, and 0·76 to 0·97, respectively, and NO‐N dominated the available N amount due to intense nitrification in these ecosystems. In general, the four indices significantly increased in the oldest plantation, with corresponding values in non‐grazing sites lower than those in free‐grazing sites (p < 0·05). Our studies indicated that it is a slow, extended process to achieve improvement in soil quality after afforestation of Mongolian pine in the study area. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The association between mutations in the lysosomal protein glucocerebrosidase and parkinsonism
Authors: DePaolo John , Goker‐Alpan Ozlem , Samaddar Ted , Lopez Grisel , Sidransky Ellen 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA body of work has emerged over the past decade demonstrating a relationship between mutations in glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA), the gene implicated in Gaucher disease (GD), and the development of parkinsonism. Several different lines of research support this relationship. First, patients with GD who are homozygous for mutations in GBA have a higher than expected propensity to develop Parkinson's disease (PD). Furthermore, carriers of GBA mutations, particularly family members of patients with GD, have displayed an increased rate of parkinsonism. Subsequently, investigators from centers around the world screened cohorts of patients with parkinsonism for GBA mutations and found that overall, subjects with PD, as well as other Lewy body disorders, have at least a fivefold increase in the number of carriers of GBA mutations as compared to age‐matched controls. In addition, neuropathologic studies of subjects with parkinsonism carrying GBA mutations demonstrate Lewy bodies, depletion of neurons of the substantia nigra, and involvement of hippocampal layers CA2–4. Although the basis for this association has yet to be elucidated, evidence continues to support the role of GBA as a PD risk factor across different centers, synucleinopathies, and ethnicities. Further studies of the association between GD and parkinsonism will stimulate new insights into the pathophysiology of the two disorders and will prove crucial for both genetic counseling of patients and family members and the design of relevant therapeutic strategies for specific patients with parkinsonism. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical and physiological assessments for elucidating falls risk in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Latt Mark D. , Lord Stephen R. , Morris John G.L. , Fung Victor S.C. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe study aims were to devise (1) a fall risk screen for people with PD using routine clinical measures and (2) an explanatory (physiological) fall risk assessment for guiding fall prevention interventions. One hundred thirteen people with PD (age 66 ± 95% CI 1.6 years) underwent clinical assessments and quantitative tests of sway, gait, strength, reaction time, and lower limb sensation. Participants were then followed up for 12 months to determine fall incidence. In the follow‐up year, 51 participants (45%) fell one or more times whereas 62 participants (55%) did not fall. Multivariate analyses of routine clinical measures revealed that a fall in the past year, abnormal axial posture, cognitive impairment, and freezing of gait were independent risk factors for falls and predicted 38/51 fallers (75%) and 45/62 non‐fallers (73%). A multivariate model combining clinical and physiological measures that elucidate the pathophysiology of falls identified abnormal posture, freezing of gait, frontal impairment, poor leaning balance, and leg weakness as independent risk factors. This model correctly classified 39/51 fallers (77%) and 51/62 non‐fallers (82%). Patients with PD at risk of falls can be identified accurately with routine clinical assessments and quantitative physiological tests. Many of the risk factors identified are amenable to targeted intervention. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Alzheimer's disease and corticobasal degeneration presenting as corticobasal syndrome
Authors: Hu William T. , Rippon Gregory W. , Boeve Bradley F. , Knopman David S. , Petersen Ronald C. , Parisi Joseph E. , Josephs Keith A. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe aim of this article is to compare patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and corticobasal degeneration pathology (CBD) presenting as corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Clinicopathologic series was used. Five patients with AD and 11 patients with CBD were clinically diagnosed with CBS. Patients with AD pathology had an earlier age of onset than patients with CBD pathology (58 vs. 68 years, P = 0.004), but the two groups had similar disease duration and core features of CBS. Tremors were only present in CBD cases (73%, P = 0.026), but myoclonus was more common in AD than CBD (80 vs. 18%, P = 0.036). Neuropsychological testing showed similar degrees of memory impairment and attentional deficits. 99mTc‐HMPAO SPECT imaging demonstrated parietal hypoperfusion in AD patients and frontotemporal hypoperfusion in CBD patients. AD patients with clinical CBS have similar characteristics to CBD patients. Functional brain imaging may have greater utility than the clinical and neuropsychological features in differentiating AD presenting as CBS from CBD. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Evolution of stereotypies in adolescents and women with Rett syndrome
Authors: Vignoli Aglaia , La Briola Francesca , Canevini Maria Paola 
Published: May 2009

AbstractStereotypies in Rett syndrome (RTT) are a diagnostic hallmark present in all stages of the disease, but descriptions of movement disorders in adults are very scant. Among 30 patients with RTT followed‐up at San Paolo Hospital in Milan, we selected those aged ≥14 years and studied 12 patients (mean age 18. 6 years, range: 14–31) with MECP2 mutations. Mean age at stereotypies onset was 19.4 months; stereotypies at onset tend to be maintained during evolution, while new stereotyped movements can be detected in the follow‐up. All patients still present stereotypies involving separated or joined hands: most frequently mouthing, pill rolling, and twisting. We underline that stereotyped movements persist in older patients and can be useful to suspect RTT diagnosis in adult age in otherwise unclassified patients. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Bradykinesia, muscle weakness and reduced muscle power in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Allen Natalie E. , Canning Colleen G. , Sherrington Catherine , Fung Victor S.C. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractMuscle power (force × velocity) could clarify the relationship between weakness and bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aims of this study were to determine if patients with PD were weaker and/or less powerful in their leg extensor muscles than a neurologically normal control group and to determine the relative contributions of force and movement velocity/bradykinesia to muscle power in PD. Forty patients with PD and 40 controls were assessed. Strength in Newtons (N) was measured as the heaviest load the participant could lift. Power in Watts (W) was measured by having the participant perform lifts as fast as possible. The PD group were 172 N weaker (95% CI 28–315) and 124 W less powerful at peak power (95% CI 32–216) than controls. However, velocity at maximal power was only reduced compared with controls when lifting light to medium loads. When lifting heavy loads bradykinesia was no longer apparent in the PD group. These results suggest that reduced muscle power in PD at lighter loads arises from weakness and bradykinesia combined, but at heavier loads arises only from weakness. The absence of bradykinesia in the PD group when lifting heavy loads warrants further investigation. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society