bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in fish serum correlates with pathogenicity
Authors: Nagai T , Nakai T 
Published: March 2011

Abstract Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates, obtained from ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, three species of salmonids and two species of cyprinids in Japan, were used in this study. Bacteria were inoculated to serum prepared from ayu or red spotted masu trout (RSMT), Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae, and incubated at 18 °C for 24 h. All isolates (n = 19) from ayu grew well with a 9‐ to 116‐fold increase of CFU in ayu serum, while CFU decreased markedly in RSMT serum. In contrast, isolates (n = 17) from fish species other than ayu exhibited no growth in ayu serum, but some isolates from salmonids survived or grew (1.2–23.5 fold increase of CFU) in RSMT serum. The isolates that could not survive or grow in ayu and RSMT sera grew well in both heat‐inactivated sera of ayu and RSMT. Experimental infection by intraperitoneal injection showed that ayu isolates examined were all pathogenic to ayu but not to RSMT, while none of the isolates from salmonids and cyprinids were pathogenic to ayu but some showed pathogenicity to RSMT. These results indicate that the in vitro growth ability of F. psychrophilum isolates in fish serum correlates well with their pathogenicity to fish, particularly in ayu.
Cryptic diversity and female host specificity in a parasitoid where the sexes utilize hosts from separate orders
Authors: HAYWARD ALEXANDER , MCMAHON DINO P. , KATHIRITHAMBY JEYARANEY 
Published: March 2011

AbstractInvestigating complex parasitic life cycles is important for understanding the major fitness components that drive the evolution of host–parasite systems. The rare condition of heterotrophic heteronomy, in which the sexes utilize disparate host taxa, is a poorly understood complex parasitic lifestyle. One of only two known examples occurs in the Myrmecolacidae, an unusual family of the parasitoid order Strepsiptera (Insecta), in which males parasitize ants while females parasitize grasshoppers, crickets, and praying mantids. Here, we reconstruct the evolutionary pattern and timescale of host‐use in a set of morphologically cryptic myrmecolacid taxa currently identified as Caenocholax fenyesi. We find that (i) C. fenyesi contains at least ten cryptic lineages consistent with separate species; (ii) Fossil evidence suggests a very low molecular clock rate and an ancient origin for cryptic lineages; (iii) Diversity among Caenocholax species is partitioned by geography and host association of the female; and (iv) Switches in host usage are uncoupled between the sexes, with changes in female host preference accompanying diversification. This study represents the first phylogeographical analysis of any strepsipteran, and the first molecular examination of host‐use for a heterotrophic heteronomous taxon. Our results have implications for the understanding of evolution, host usage and estimated species richness in parasitic taxa.
Scanning the European corn borer (Ostrinia spp.) genome for adaptive divergence between host‐affiliated sibling species
Authors: MIDAMEGBE AFIWA , VITALIS RENAUD , MALAUSA THIBAUT , DELAVA ÉMILIE , CROS‐ARTEIL SANDRINE , STREIFF RÉJANE 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIt has recently been shown that the European corn borer, a major pest of maize crops, is actually composed of two genetically differentiated and reproductively isolated taxa, which are found in sympatry over a wide geographical range in Eurasia. Each taxon is adapted to specific host plants: Ostrinia nubilalis feeds mainly on maize, while O. scapulalis feeds mainly on hop or mugwort. Here, we present a genome scan approach as a first step towards an integrated molecular analysis of the adaptive genomic divergence between O. nubilalis and O. scapulalis. We analysed 609 AFLP marker loci in replicate samples of sympatric populations of Ostrinia spp. collected on maize, hop and mugwort, in France. Using two genome scan methods based on the analysis of population differentiation, we found a set of 28 outlier loci that departed from the neutral expectation in one or the other method (of which a subset of 14 loci were common to both methods), which showed a significantly increased differentiation between O. nubilalis and O. scapulalis, when compared to the rest of the genome. A subset of 12 outlier loci were sequenced, of which 7 were successfully re‐amplified as target candidate loci. Three of these showed homology with annotated lepidopteran sequences from public nucleotide databases.
The complexity of the adherence‐response relationship in tuberculosis treatment: why are we still in the dark and how can we get out?
Authors: van den Boogaard Jossy , Boeree Martin J. , Kibiki Gibson S. , Aarnoutse Rob E. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryNon‐adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is a major challenge to global TB control because it increases the risk of treatment failure, relapse and the emergence of drug‐resistant TB. Although the problem is widely acknowledged, there is still no clarity about the exact impact of different levels and patterns of non‐adherence on treatment outcome. This hampers the provision of adequate advice to patients and clinicians, and it challenges the development and evaluation of adherence‐promoting interventions. In this article, we explain why we are still in the dark with respect to predicting how different types of non‐adherence to TB treatment affect treatment outcome. We show that we lack uniformity in how we define and measure non‐adherence, that we have no easily accessible treatment success indicators, and that the relationship between treatment adherence and outcome is influenced by a number of pathogenic, immunological and pharmacological factors that are only partly understood. We conclude that an integral ‘bench and bedside approach’ that incorporates experimental studies with in vitro models and animals, as well as observational studies in patients with TB, is needed to help us get out of the dark regarding the adherence‐response relationship in TB treatment.
Effect of tank‐mixed blended green adjuvants on glyphosate efficacy in four winter crop weed species
Authors: MENENDEZ J , CAMACHO D , FERNANDEZ‐CEREJIDO M C , BASTIDA F 
Published: March 2011

MenendezJ, CamachoD, Fernandez‐CerejidoMC & BastidaF (2011). Effect of tank‐mixed blended green adjuvants on glyphosate efficacy in four winter crop weed species.Weed Research51, 344–352.SummaryThe effect of four ‘green’ blended adjuvants on the effectiveness of glyphosate on the grass speciesAlopecurus myosuroides,Lolium rigidumandAvena fatuaand the broad‐leaved speciesChenopodium albumwas studied. The adjuvants used in the experiments were alkylpolysaccharide derivatives and several by‐products derived from the food industry, including modified lecithins. The parameters of theED50, spray retention, contact angle, leaf coverage, foliar uptake and translocation were compared. The effect onED50values of the presence of adjuvants in the spraying solution varied, depending on the species. All the adjuvants tested failed to increase glyphosate effectiveness inL. rigidum, but promising results were obtained for the other three species, where one (A. myosuroides) to four (A. fatua) adjuvants showed better results than unamended controls. Retention, contact angle and absorption/translocation parameters studied could not individually explain the enhancement effect observed in some of the mixtures. However, there was a relationship between high retention values and glyphosate effectiveness, which was modulated by the presence/absence of high contact angle droplets, resulting in thick, discrete glyphosate spots, rather than thin leaf‐covering herbicide layers. The analysis of these two variables may be an easy way to predict the effectiveness of herbicide formulations, by presenting concentration‐dependant uptake patterns.
Interactive effects of salinity and phosphorus availability on growth, water relations, nutritional status and photosynthetic activity of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Authors: Talbi Zribi O. , Abdelly C. , Debez A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe interactive effects of salinity and phosphorus availability on growth, water relations, nutritional status and photosynthetic activity were investigated in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Manel). Seedlings were grown hydroponically under low or sufficient phosphorus (P) supply (5 or 180 μmol KH2PO4 plant−1 week−1, respectively), with or without 100 mm NaCl. Phosphorus deficiency or salinity significantly decreased whole plant growth, leaf water content, leaf osmotic potential and gas exchange parameters, with a more marked impact of P stress. The effect of both stresses was not additive since the response of plants to combined salinity and P deficiency was similar to that of plants grown under P deficiency alone. In addition, salt‐treated plants exposed to P deficiency showed higher salt tolerance compared to plants grown with sufficient P supply. This was related to plant ability to significantly increase root:shoot DW ratio, root length, K+/Na+ ratio, leaf proline and soluble sugar concentrations and total non‐enzymatic antioxidant capacity, together with restricting Na+ accumulation in the upper leaves. As a whole, our results indicate that under concomitant exposure to both salt and P deficiency, the impact of the latter constraint is pre‐dominant.
Pollinator directionality as a response to nectar gradient: promoting outcrossing while avoiding geitonogamy
Authors: Fisogni A. , Cristofolini G. , Rossi M. , Galloni M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPlants with multiple flowers could be prone to autonomous self‐pollination and insect‐mediated geitonogamy, but physiological and ecological features have evolved preventing costs related to autogamy. We studied the rare perennial herb Dictamnus albus as a model plant, with the aim of describing the plant–pollinator system from both plant and pollinator perspectives and analysing features that promote outcrossing in an entomophilous species. The breeding system and reproductive success of D. albus were investigated in experimental and natural conditions, showing that it is potentially self‐compatible, but only intra‐inflorescence insect‐mediated selfing is possible. Nectar analysis showed gender‐biased production towards the female phase, which follows the male phase, and during flowering, full blooming is found in flowers at the bottom of the raceme. Among a wide spectrum of insect visitors, three genera (Bombus, Apis, Megachile) were found to be principal pollinators. A study of insect behaviour showed a tendency towards bottom‐to‐top flights for the most important pollinators Bombus spp. and Apis mellifera: upward movements on the racemes could be explained by foraging behaviour, from more to less rewarding flowers. In accordance with the ‘declining reward hypothesis’, bumblebees and honeybees leave the plant when gain of reward is low, after which few flowers are visited, reducing the chance of self‐pollen transfer among flowers. Intra‐flower self‐pollination is prevented in D. albus by protandry and herkogamy, while the nectar‐induced sequential pattern of pollinator visits avoids geitonogamy and tends to maximise pollen export, promoting outcrossing. All these features for preventing selfing benefit plant fitness and population genetic structure.
Development of a cost‐effective pyrosequencing approach for SNP genotyping in barley
Authors: Silvar Cristina , Perovic Dragan , Casas Ana M. , Igartua Ernesto , Ordon Frank 
Published: March 2011

With 1 figure and 1 tableAbstractAn improved, efficient, reliable and cost‐effective pyrosequencing protocol for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping in plants is described. Labelling of the PCR products, required for the single‐stranded pyrosequencing assay, is carried out in a one‐step PCR with a universal biotinalyted M13 primer of 19‐bp. A ratio of 1 : 10 of tailed primer to M13 primer in a 15‐μl reaction volume turned out to be best suited for a successful identification of different alleles based on known SNPs. This technology allows cost‐effective SNP genotyping in plant genomes for loci of interest at an overall low cost in a short period of time and is therefore best suited for marker‐based selection procedures.
Clofazimine‐induced enteropathy in treatment‐resistant nodular vasculitis
Authors: Kieu Violet , Williams Richard , Hill Prue , Kelly Rob 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTWe report a chronic case of nodular vasculitis that responded to oral clofazimine 300 mg daily. The condition had previously responded to moderate dose oral prednisolone, 50 mg daily, but would recur with weaning. Multiple corticosteroid‐sparing agents were trialled, however these were either ineffective or poorly tolerated. The introduction of clofazimine enabled prednisolone dose reduction, not achieved with other agents, to 22.5 mg daily, and was associated with complete suppression of disease activity. Unfortunately the patient developed a clofazimine‐induced enteropathy and the treatment was ceased after almost 2 years of therapy. Cessation of clofazimine was associated with a flare of the condition. Clofazimine should be considered as a corticosteroid‐sparing agent in resistant cases of nodular vasculitis. Clinicians should be aware of clofazimine‐induced enteropathy as a potentially serious complication of the therapy.
Incipient retinal vein occlusion following immunotherapy of periorbital basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Hong Esther , Cooper Alan 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTWe report a case of retinal vein occlusion in a 54‐year‐old woman following treatment with topical imiquimod for a superficial basal cell carcinoma of the temple. Signs and symptoms resolved rapidly upon ceasing treatment. Although they are uncommon, it is important to recognise and promptly manage ophthalmic complications related to treatment with imiquimod in order to prevent serious sequelae such as macular oedema and neovascularization.
Urinary transforming growth factor‐β1 in children with obstructive uropathy
Authors: ZIEG JAKUB , BLAHOVA KVETA , SEEMAN TOMAS , BRONSKY JIRI , DVORAKOVA HANA , PECHOVA MARTA , JANDA JAN , MATOUSOVIC KAREL 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Obstructive uropathies (OU) in childhood constitute one of the major causes of chronic renal insufficiency. Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) is considered to be the major fibrogenic growth factor. The aim of the present study was to investigate urinary TGF‐β1 levels in children with obstructive and non‐obstructive uropathies (NOU).Methods:  This study involved 19 children with OU, 11 children with non‐obstructive hydronephrosis and 21 healthy children. Urinary TGF‐β1, proteinuria, microalbuminuria and urinary α1‐microglobulin were measured, and renal function was assesed. The results were statistically analyzed.Results:  Mean urinary TGF‐β1 concentrations in patients with OU were significantly higher than those with NOU (4.14 ± 0.67 creatinine vs 1.80 ± 0.24 pg/mmol creatinine, P < 0.05) and healthy controls (1.66 ± 0.28 pg/mmol creatinine, P < 0.05). Positive correlations of urinary TGF‐β1 concentrations with proteinuria (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001) and urinary α1‐microglobulin (r = 0.82, P = 0.0002) were found in patients with OU.Conclusion:  Children with OU have higher urinary TGF‐β1 than children with NOU. Urinary TGF‐β1 may be a useful non‐invasive tool for the differential diagnosis between OU and NOU in children. A positive correlation of TGF‐β1 with markers of renal tissue damage in patients with OU was found.
Association of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 4 (5‐HTR4) gene polymorphisms with asthma
Authors: KIM TAE‐HOON , AN SUNG‐HYE , CHA JI‐YEON , SHIN EUN‐KYONG , LEE JI‐YEON , YOON SANG‐HYUK , LEE YOUNG‐MOK , UH SOO‐TAEK , PARK SUNG‐WOO , PARK JONG‐SOOK , KIM YOUNG‐HOON , CHOI JAE‐SUNG , LEE SOO‐OK , PARK BYUNG‐LAE , SHIN HYUNG‐DOO , PARK CHOON‐SIK 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The neurotransmitter, 5‐hydroxytryptamine, acts as an immunomodulator by stimulating the release of inflammatory cytokines and regulating the function of dendritic cells and monocytes. The 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (HTR4) gene is located in a region previously linked to an increased risk of asthma and atopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HTR4 and asthma.Methods:  Thirty‐two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in HTR4 were investigated by direct sequencing of 24 DNA samples from unrelated Korean subjects.Results:  The 32 genetic variants comprised 22 intronic SNP, two SNP in the 3′‐untranslated region (exon 7) and eight SNP in the 3′‐downstream region. Logistic regression analysis showed that two intronic polymorphisms were significantly associated with the risk of asthma. Two minor HTR4 alleles, +142828G > A and +122769G > A, occurred at significantly higher frequencies in the asthmatic group than in the healthy control group (49.59% vs 42.29%, P = 0.003, and 47.99% vs 40.35%, P = 0.008, respectively), and these differences remained significant after correction for multiple testing (P = 0.05, dominant mode of inheritance; and P = 0.03, dominant mode, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed three haplotype blocks. The frequency of haplotype 1 in block 2 was significantly higher in asthmatics (P = 0.003, dominant mode), whereas the frequency of haplotype 4 in block 3 was significantly lower in asthmatics (P = 0.0009, dominant mode).Conclusions:  SNP and haplotypes of the HTR4 gene were associated with the asthma phenotype and genetic variation of HTR4 may affect susceptibility to the development of asthma.
Prognostic value of dual‐time‐point 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis
Authors: UMEDA YUKIHIRO , DEMURA YOSHIKI , MORIKAWA MIWA , AMESHIMA SHINGO , TSUCHIDA TATSURO , FUJIBAYASHI YASUHISA , OKAZAWA HIDEHIKO , ISHIZAKI TAKESHI 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The value of dual‐time‐ point 18F‐FDG PET was investigated to predict the prognosis of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.Methods:  Twenty‐one patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis underwent 18F‐FDG PET examinations at two time points: an early scan at 60 min and a delayed scan at 180 min after injection of 18F‐FDG. Standardized uptake values (SUVs) at the two time points and the retention index (RI‐SUV) calculated from these were evaluated. To evaluate disease progression, all patients underwent chest CT 1 year after 18F‐FDG PET. Using these results, the accuracy of 18F‐FDG PET parameters and 67Ga uptake for predicting disease persistence were compared, and the correlations between those parameters and serum markers were assessed.Results:  RI‐SUV was significantly higher in patients with increased or unchanged pulmonary lesions at follow‐up CT (persistent group; 21.3 ± 9.6%) than in patients with improved pulmonary lesions (improved group; −9.2 ± 28.6%, P = 0.0075). The diagnostic accuracy of RI‐SUV in the persistent group was significantly greater than that of early SUV or 67Ga uptake, and serum soluble IL‐2 receptor showed a significant correlation with RI‐SUV.Conclusions:  RI‐SUV showed better diagnostic accuracy compared with early SUV or 67Ga uptake, in patients with persistent lung involvement at 1 year. It may be a useful measure of persistent inflammation in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Comparison of high‐dose salmeterol/fluticasone and moderate‐dose salmeterol/fluticasone plus low‐dose mometasone in patients with severe persistent asthma
Authors: KURASHIMA KAZUYOSHI , KAGIYAMA NAHO , TAKAYANAGI NOBORU , SUGITA YUTAKA 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The effects of adding a second inhaled corticosteroid with a different particle size, compared with using an increased dose of a single inhaled corticosteroid, were assessed in patients with persistent asthma.Methods:  This was an open‐label study of Japanese asthma patients over 20 years of age. After a 1‐month run‐in period, 36 patients with inadequate control while using salmeterol/fluticasone propionate 50/250 µg (SFC50/250) bd, were randomized to receive SFC50/500 bd or SFC50/250 plus mometasone 100 µg bd (SFC50/250/MF100) for 2 months.Results:  Both treatments resulted in improvements in morning and evening PEF. There were no significant changes in FEV1, maximum mid‐expiratory flow, maximum expiratory flow rate at 50%, maximum expiratory flow rate at 25% or exhaled NO (FENO) in the SFC50/500 group. On the other hand, there were significant improvements in FEV1% (+12.2%, P = 0.0142), %maximum mid‐expiratory flow (+28.9%, P = 0.0181), %MEF50 (+32.4%, P = 0.0206) and %MEF25 (+30.3%, P = 0.0113) in the SFC50/250/MF100 group. The changes in FENO (−23.2% (P = 0.0157) in the SFC50/250/MF100 group and −14.5% (not significant) in the SFC50/500 group) did not differ significantly between the groups.Conclusions:  In patients with severe persistent asthma, addition of low‐dose mometasone to SFC50/250 improved spirometric parameters, FENO and PEF, while an increase in dose from SFC50/250 to SFC50/ 500 only improved PEF.
Genetic structure among populations in the endemic Hawaiian Plantago lineage: insights from microsatellite variation
Authors: DUNBAR‐CO STEPHANIE , WIECZOREK ANIA M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractEndemic Hawaiian species in the genus Plantago show considerable morphological and ecological diversity. Despite their variation, a recent phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence data showed that the group is monophyletic and that sequence variation among species and morphotypes is low. This lack of sequence polymorphisms resulted in an inability to resolve species and population affinities within the most recently derived clade of this lineage. To assess species boundaries, population genetic structure and interpopulation connectivity among the morphologically and ecologically distinct populations within this clade, genetic variation was examined using eight microsatellite loci. Within‐population genetic diversity was found to be lowest in the Maunaiu, Hawai'i population of the endangered P. hawaiensis, and highest in the large P. pachyphylla population from 'Eke, West Maui. Isolation by distance across the range of populations was detected and indicated restricted dispersal. This result is likely to be attributable to few interisland dispersal events in the evolutionary history of this lineage. Genetic differentiation within islands tended to be higher among populations occurring in contrasting bog and woodland habitats, suggesting ecological barriers to gene flow and the potential role of ecological divergence in population diversification. Overall, these results are consistent with findings from phylogenetic analysis of the entire lineage. Our data bring new insights regarding patterns of dispersal and population genetic structure to this endemic and endangered group of island taxa. As island environments become increasingly fragmented, information of this type has important implications for the successful management of these fragile populations and habitats.