bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trichoderma harzianum and its Metabolite 6‐Pentyl‐alpha‐pyrone Suppress Fusaric Acid Produced by Fusarium moniliforme
Authors: El‐Hasan A. , Walker F. , Buchenauer H. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe interaction of the pathogen Fusarium moniliforme and two antagonistic Trichoderma harzianum isolates was studied especially with respect to their secondary metabolites fusaric acid (FA) and 6‐pentyl‐alpha‐pyrone (6PAP). Among 10 isolates of F. moniliforme screened for FA production on maize kernels, the isolate 8 accumulated the highest amount of FA (678 μg/g). Mycelial growth and production of FA by isolate 8, determined in different liquid media revealed that the highest biomass and FA were produced in Czapek Dox Broth (CDB) followed by Richard’s solution. The amount of FA per gram mycelial dry weight reached its maximum in CDB and Richard’s solution after 14 days of incubation. Mycelial growth and conidia production of both Trichoderma isolates (T16 and T23) were retarded by increasing concentrations of FA in agar medium. At FA concentration of 300 mg/ml the radial mycelial growth of the isolates T16 and T23 were retarded by 32.5% and 45%, respectively. Conidia production was diminished in a similar extent as mycelial growth. Both T. harzianum isolates were capable to degrade FA in potato dextrose broth medium, particularly when lower doses of FA were present. In the presence of 50 mg/ml FA in the culture medium, the isolates T23 and T16 reduced FA by 51.4% and 88.4%, respectively, 9 days post‐inoculation. The antifungal metabolite 6PAP, isolated from T. harzianum T23 cultures, was introduced at different concentrations into 2‐day‐old cultures of F. moniliforme. After further 5 days of incubation of F. moniliforme in the presence of 6PAP, the FA contents per gram mycelial dry weight were significantly decreased compared to control cultures where 6PAP was absent. Dosages of 300 and 400 mg/l of 6PAP in the cultures retarded FA accumulations by 62.5% and 77.2%, respectively. The current results, however, provided the first evidence for activity of 6PAP, as a Trichoderma secondary metabolite, on degrading/synthesis suppression of the Fusarium toxin FA.
A Novel Gene Involved in Lesion Formation in Magnaporthe grisea
Authors: Yang J. , Li H. , Liu L. , Su Y. , Li J. B. , Chang Q. , Qu L. J. , Wang Y. Y. , Zhu Y. Y. , Li C. Y. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTo date, a number of genes that are expressed in the early stages of infection have been reported, while few genes that are expressed during the course of colonization, after the initiation of plant infection, have been studied. Plant inoculations, real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gene cloning, protein expression and bioinformatics analysis were combined to identify a novel gene, MgNIP04, in the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the amino acid sequence contained a signal peptide. The wounded inoculation resulted in necrosis specks when the total expressed proteins including MBP‐MgNIP04 was inoculated on the wounded rice leaves, which demonstrated the protein directly interacted with rice. The real‐time PCR result of infected leaves showed that it is upregulated during late stages of infection of rice. Additionally, the copies of the gene expression absolute quantity of the gene were 7.61 × 102, 1.06 × 103, 1.31 × 103, 4.13 × 103, and 4.00 × 103, at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h postinoculation (HPI), respectively. The higher copies of MgNIP04 were found at 96 and 168 HPI. The copies of MgNIP04 in mycelia of Y98‐63C, Y99‐16, 94‐64‐1b and 95‐23‐4a were significantly lower than those of infected leaves. Through the above bioinformatics and experimental analysis, our result suggested that the MgNIP04 was novel pathogenicity‐related protein in rice blast fungus.
Detection of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pini’ in Pinus sylvestris trees in Poland
Authors: ŚLiwa H. , Kaminska M. , Korszun S. , Adler P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAbnormal shoot branching was observed in Pinus sylvestris trees in Poland. These abnormalities resulted in the formation of dense, ball‐like structures with dwarfed needles. The presence of phytoplasma in the needles of branched and surrounding symptomless shoots was demonstrated using nested‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal primer pairs that amplified phytoplasma 16S rDNA, as well as using restriction fragment length polymorphic analysis of PCR products. Comparison of nucleotide sequences of DNA samples from three P. sylvestris trees with ball‐like structures revealed that their fragments of 16S rDNA were identical. The nucleotide sequence showed more than 99% similarity with the corresponding fragments of sequence of ‘Candidatus phytoplasma pini’.
The European Exenatide study of long‐term exenatide vs. glimepiride for type 2 diabetes: rationale and patient characteristics
Authors: Kazda C. , Gallwitz B. , Simó R. , Guzmán J. R. , Kraus P. , Nicolay C. , Rose L. , Schernthaner G. 
Published: September 2009

Aim: To describe the rationale for the European Exenatide (EUREXA) clinical study and describe the characteristics of the patient cohort. Methods: EUREXA is a multinational study of long‐term effects of add‐on exenatide vs. glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes and failure of diet/lifestyle plus metformin monotherapy. Metformin failure was defined as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5% and patients were overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25 to < 40 kg/m2). The primary end point is time to failure of combination treatment, defined from HbA1c concentration according to current criteria. At baseline, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, fasting blood was taken for lipid profile and patients were randomized to add‐on exenatide (5 μg b.i.d. for 4 weeks then 10 μg b.i.d.) or glimepiride (1 mg/day titrated to maximum dose). Results: A total of 1039 patients were entered in the study, with mean (± s.d.) age 57.2 ± 9.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 32.4 ± 4.1 kg/m2, duration of diabetes 5.6 ± 4.5 years and HbA1c 7.4 ± 0.7%. A history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was present for 64.8% of patients overall and duration of diabetes was statistically significantly longer for patients with CVD than without (p = 0.010). Lipid abnormalities were reported for 48.9% of patients and 40.9% were taking at least one lipid‐lowering medication. Conclusion: Patients included in the EUREXA study had early failure of glucose control with metformin and presented typical features of type 2 diabetes: overweight/obesity and high prevalence of lipid abnormalities and CVD. In this population, the effects of exenatide vs. glimepiride will be evaluated over at least 2.5 years.
Sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c knockdown protected INS‐1E cells from lipotoxicity
Authors: Li J. , Liu X. , Ran X. , Chen J. , Li X. , Wu W. , Huang H. , Huang H. , Long Y. , Liang J. , Cheng J. , Tian H. 
Published: September 2009

Objective: The reduction in insulin secretory capacity and β‐cell mass has been attributed, at least partially, to lipotoxicity, which may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. Chronic free fatty acids (FFA) exposure impairs pancreatic β‐cell function and induces β‐cell apoptosis. This study is to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Research design and methods: We exposed INS‐1E pancreatic β‐cell line to palmitate or oleate, and measured the glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). The effect of FFA on sterol regulatory element‐binding protein (SREBP)‐1c lipogenic pathway, and expression of genes involved in β‐cell functions, including AMPK (AMP‐activated protein kinase), UCP‐2 (uncoupling protein‐2), IRS‐2 (insulin receptor substrate‐2), PDX‐1 (pancreatic duodenal homeobox‐1), GLUT‐2 (glucose transporter‐2) and B cell lymphoma/leukaemia‐2 (Bcl‐2) were investigated. Apoptosis of these exposed cells was determined by MitoCapture, Annexin V‐Cy3 or terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling assay. Cell lipid accumulation was measured by oil red O staining or TG extraction. Also SREBP‐1c expression knockdown were used. Results: FFA treatment resulted in SREBP‐1c overexpression, impaired GSIS, lipid accumulation, apoptosis of INS‐1E cells. In addition, the expression of lipogenic genes and UCP‐2 were upregulated, but AMPK, IRS‐2, PDX‐1, GLUT‐2 and Bcl‐2 were downregulated in the exposed cells. However, these lipotoxic effects of FFA were largely prevented by induction of a SREBP‐1c small interfering RNA. Conclusions: These data suggest a strong correlation between FFA treatment and SREBP‐1c activation in INS‐1E cells. SREBP‐1c might be a major factor responsible for β‐cell lipotoxicity, and SREBP‐1c knockdown could protect INS‐1E cells from lipotoxicity, which is implicating a therapeutic potential for treating diabetes related to lipotoxicity.
Analysis of glycaemic control and weight change in patients initiated with human or analog insulin in an US ambulatory care setting
Authors: McAdam‐Marx C. , Bouchard J. , Aagren M. , Nelson R. , Brixner D. 
Published: September 2009

Background: Insulin is a mainstay in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and is a recommended option in patients with type 2 diabetes who fail to maintain glycaemic control on other non‐insulin therapies. The purpose of this study was to describe patient characteristics and evaluate changes in glycaemic control and weight in patients treated with insulin in an ambulatory care setting. Methods: Patients with diabetes were identified from the General Electric electronic medical record (EMR) database (1 September 2004 to 30 April 2008). Patients were ≥18 years, insulin naï ve, newly treated with monoinsulin therapy (index date). Baseline characteristics were identified overall and stratified by insulin type (basal, mixed, and rapid). Basal insulins were described by human versus analog and for insulin detemir and insulin glargine. Change in haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and weight from baseline (45 days pre‐ to 15 days postindex date) to 6 months (±90 days) were compared. Regression analyses were used to evaluate HbA1C outcomes across insulins and for the likelihood of gaining 0.9 kg (2 lbs) for detemir versus glargine controlling for baseline characteristics. Results: A total of 12 136 patients were included. A majority were initiated on a basal insulin (64.7%) followed by mixed (20.8%) and rapid (14.4%). Basal users had significantly higher mean body weight and lower mean baseline HbA1C than mixed users (p < 0.001 for all), and were significantly older, had higher baseline HbA1C and higher baseline body mass index (BMI) than rapid insulin users (p < 0.001 for all). Glargine patients had a significantly higher mean baseline HbA1C (p = 0.003) than detemir patients. The adjusted reduction in HbA1C was greater for rapid insulin than for mixed or basal insulin (p ≤ 0.05). The adjusted differences in HbA1C between basal human and basal analog insulins and between detemir and glargine were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Patients using detemir were 30% less likely to gain 0.9 kg or more than glargine users (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HbA1C outcomes in the ambulatory care setting were generally not different between insulin classes. The likelihood of weight gain was less with insulin detemir than with insulin glargine. Thus, real‐world weight outcomes for basal analog insulin may differ by specific product.
A national survey of the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Italy
Authors: Binkin N. , Fontana G. , Lamberti A. , Cattaneo C. , Baglio G. , Perra A. , Spinelli A. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryTo estimate the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity among Italian schoolchildren and to examine geographic differences and present and future implications for health care, we used data from a nationwide representative survey performed in May 2008 among third‐grade students in 18 of Italy's 21 regions. Cluster sampling was used to identify classes for participation. The study population included all children aged 8–9 years whose parents agreed to opt‐out consent. Parents, children and teachers completed brief questionnaires, and children were weighed and measured by trained staff using standardized equipment. Consent was obtained for 97% of 50 197 third‐graders, of whom 44 676 (89%) met study inclusion criteria. Obesity levels (defined using International Obesity Task Force cut‐offs) ranged from 7.5% (95% confidence intervals 6.7–8.2) in the north to 16.6% (95% confidence intervals 15.8–17.4) in the south. Behaviours known to be associated with obesity also showed geographic differences. The estimated burden of obesity‐related pathologies also increased from north to south. These findings suggest the need for community as well as individual interventions in all areas of the country but with particular attention to the south.
Relative changes in resting energy expenditure during weight loss: a systematic review
Authors: Schwartz A. , Doucet É. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryA more comprehensive understanding of the effects of weight loss on the changes in resting energy expenditure (EE) is relevant. A MEDLINE search was performed to identify studies with information relevant to this systematic review. From this search, the mean rate of resting EE decrease relative to weight loss was calculated from 90 available publications. A decrease of resting EE relative to weight loss of −15.4 ± 8.7 kcal kg−1 was observed from 2996 subjects. No sex differences were noted in the overall resting EE decrease relative to weight loss. However, a significant sex differences was seen with pharmacological interventions, which seemed to depress the resting EE relative to weight loss to a greater extent in men than in women (P < 0.05). A greater drop in resting EE relative to weight loss was observed for short interventions (more than 2 but less than 6 weeks) when compared with long interventions (<6 weeks) (–27.7 ± 6.7 vs. −12.8 ±  7.1 kcal kg−1) (P < 0.001). Men and women have a similar decrease in resting EE relative to weight loss except in the case of pharmacological interventions. Short interventions also produced greater resting EE losses relative to weight loss.
Lower limb involvement in adult‐onset primary dystonia: frequency and clinical features
Authors: Martino D. , Macerollo A. , Abbruzzese G. , Bentivoglio A. R. , Berardelli A. , Esposito M. , Fabbrini G. , Girlanda P. , Guidubaldi A. , Liguori R. , Liuzzi D. , Marinelli L. , Morgante F. , Sabetta A. , Santoro L. , Defazio G. 
Published: September 2009

Background and purpose:  Despite the growing number of reports describing adult‐onset primary lower limb dystonia (LLD) this entity has never been systematically evaluated in the general population of patients with primary adult‐onset dystonia.Methods:  From outpatients with adult‐onset primary dystonia attending nine Italian University centres for movement disorders we consecutively recruited 579 patients to undergo a standardized clinical evaluation.Results:  Of the 579 patients assessed, 11 (1.9%) (8 women, 3 men) had LLD, either alone (n = 4, 0.7%) or as part of a segmental/multifocal dystonia (n = 7, 1.2%). The age at onset of LLD (47.9 ± 17 years) was significantly lower than the age at onset of cranial dystonias (57.9 ± 10.7 years for blepharospasm, and 58.9 ± 11.8 years for oromandibular dystonia) but similar to that of all the other adult‐onset primary dystonias. The lower limb was either the site of dystonia onset (36.4%) or the site of dystonia spread (63.6%). In patients in whom LLD was a site of spread, dystonia seemed to spread following a somatotopic distribution. Only one patient reported a recent trauma involving the lower limb whereas 36.4% of the patients reported pain at the site of LLD. Only 64% of our patients needed treatment for LLD, and similarly to previously reported cases, the most frequently tried treatments was botulinum toxin and trihexyphenidyl.Conclusion:  The lower limb is an uncommon but possible topographical site of dystonia in adulthood that should be kept in consideration during clinical evaluation.
Horizontal stretching concept in oncologic dermatologic surgery of the face
Authors: Amici JM , Bailly JY , Taieb A 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  Skin cancer surgery is usually performed on the face, and more specifically on and around the midfacial apertures. Each defect generated by the exeresis of a face tumor can be repaired by various advancement, rotation or transposition flaps techniques. Therefore the choice of the closure axis of a defect and its cicatricial and orificial consequences is decisive.Results  The closure of a defect is usually made by symmetrically suturing its edges, across the incision axis according to the rule of halves. However, the closure axis of a defect is intentional and characterized by the subcutaneous suture axis which determines the induced tension orientation, and thus the possible displacement of the aperture free margins. The horizontal stretching principle guarantees the lack of impact on the 3 major apertures of the midfacial frame: eye, nostril and mouth.Conclusions  This biomechanical concept is decisive to repair midfacial defect with functional and aesthetic results. It also provides objective arguments for the reparative techniques prioritization and the ability to codify those to be recommended as first‐line treatment in the surgical management of the face cutaneous tumours.
Transposition of line‐length discrimination in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus)1
Authors: MANABE KAZUCHIKA , MURATA MINAMI , KAWASHIMA TAKASHI , ASAHINA KIYOSHI , OKUTSU KENJI 
Published: September 2009

AbstractFour penguins (Spheniscus demersus) were trained to discriminate line length in a simultaneous discrimination task. After the birds' performances reached a discrimination criterion, the reinforcement ratio was decreased to .33. After the ratio of correct trials reached .90 in three successive sessions with a partial reinforcement procedure, probe‐test sessions were introduced. In the probe‐test trials, untrained lines were presented paired with the trained lines. The four probe‐test trials were mixed into 45 discrimination trials. In the probe‐test trials, the penguins that had been trained to peck shorter lines pecked the untrained shorter line rather than the longer line that was reinforced in the discrimination trials. In contrast, those birds that had been trained to peck the longer line pecked the untrained longer line, rather than the shorter line which was reinforced in the discrimination trials. All four birds demonstrated transposition in the line‐length discrimination task.
Predictive behavior and causal learning in animals and humans1
Authors: SAWA KOSUKE 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe ability to learn causal relationships between external events is important for animals, including human beings, in order to select appropriate predictive behavior. Historically, associative theories have claimed that the association between events is crucial, and automatic bottom‐up processes play a role in achieving this goal, particularly in animals. Although associative theories could give a parsimonious explanation for predictive behavior in animals without the concept of causality, recently, several experiments have shown evidence that even rats can acquire and use causal knowledge to predict possible future events. In this article, I review the major contribution of associative theories to predictive behavior and also theoretical advances in causal reasoning in animals as strong counter‐evidence.
Elephant psychology: What we know and what we would like to know
Authors: IRIE NAOKO , HASEGAWA TOSHIKAZU 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAlthough elephants are well‐known and one of the most popular species among people, their behavior and cognitive abilities have not been studied very extensively. But recently, more and more researchers are becoming interested in studying their cognition, particularly their general intelligence, including causal reasoning and mirror self recognition, memory, and numerical cognition. Although genetically elephants are more closely related to the small‐brained aardvarks and manatees than to primates, they hold enormous potential in their cognitive skills. Also, studying their cognition is important from the point of view of animal welfare in captivity.
Concrete thinking or ideographic language: which is the reason for Chinese people's higher imagery‐generation abilities?
Authors: Liang Beichen , Cherian Joseph , Liu Yili 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn this study, we attempted to separate the effects of culture and language on imagery generation. By asking subjects from China, Singapore and the US to read Chinese and/or English messages, we found that culture, as opposed to language of the message, drives Chinese people's imagery‐generation capabilities. Indeed, people from mainland China generated more images than both Singaporean Chinese people and Americans, even when tested in English. This is because their dominant way of thinking is concrete. Bilingual Singaporean Chinese subjects generated the same number of images when exposed to English and Chinese stimuli because they are equally adept at abstract and concrete thinking. However, their imagery‐generation ability could be manipulated by priming abstract or concrete thinking.
Neuroprotective effect ofl‐dopa on dopaminergic neurons is comparable to pramipexol in MPTP‐treated animal model of Parkinson’s disease: a direct comparison study
Authors: Shin Jin Young , Park Hyun‐Jung , Ahn Young Hwan , Lee Phil Hyu 
Published: September 2009

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra. Levodopa (l‐dopa) and dopamine agonists have been most commonly used for symptomatic treatment. However, there are discrepancies between clinical and experimental data with respect to the neuroprotective effects of these drugs on dopaminergic neurons. In this study, to determine whetherl‐dopa is toxic or dopamine agonist is neuroprotective to dopaminergic neurons, we evaluated the neuroprotective properties ofl‐dopa and the pramipexol (PPX), one of dopamine agonists, with a focus on the regulatory effects of the anti‐oxidant properties and cell survival or apoptotic signal pathways in the same experimental design, using 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated PD animals. The glutathione level in MPTP‐treated mice was significantly increased by PPX administration but not by L‐dopa treatment. The expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase in MPTP‐treated mice was significantly increased only withl‐dopa treatment. Treatment with eitherl‐dopa or PPX in MPTP‐treated mice led to significantly decreased expressions of JNK phosphorylation, Bax, and cytochromecand to an increased level of Bcl‐2 expression with a similar degree, compared with the levels in MPTP‐only treated mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that bothl‐dopa and PPX increased significantly survival of dopaminergic neurons in MPTP‐treated mice. Our study demonstrated that bothl‐dopa and PPX had comparable neuroprotective properties for dopaminergic neurons in MPTP‐treated PD animal models, through modulation of cell survival and apoptotic pathways.