bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Social cohesion among kin, gene flow without dispersal and the evolution of population genetic structure in the killer whale (Orcinus orca)
Authors: PILOT M. , DAHLHEIM M. E. , HOELZEL A. R. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractIn social species, breeding system and gregarious behavior are key factors influencing the evolution of large‐scale population genetic structure. The killer whale is a highly social apex predator showing genetic differentiation in sympatry between populations of foraging specialists (ecotypes), and low levels of genetic diversity overall. Our comparative assessments of kinship, parentage and dispersal reveal high levels of kinship within local populations and ongoing male‐mediated gene flow among them, including among ecotypes that are maximally divergent within the mtDNA phylogeny. Dispersal from natal populations was rare, implying that gene flow occurs without dispersal, as a result of reproduction during temporary interactions. Discordance between nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenies was consistent with earlier studies suggesting a stochastic basis for the magnitude of mtDNA differentiation between matrilines. Taken together our results show how the killer whale breeding system, coupled with social, dispersal and foraging behaviour, contributes to the evolution of population genetic structure.
Effect of male age on sperm traits and sperm competition success in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Authors: GASPARINI C. , MARINO I. A. M. , BOSCHETTO C. , PILASTRO A. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractDeleterious mutations can accumulate in the germline with age, decreasing the genetic quality of sperm and imposing a cost on female fitness. If these mutations also affect sperm competition ability or sperm production, then females will benefit from polyandry as it incites sperm competition and, consequently, minimizes the mutational load in the offspring. We tested this hypothesis in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), a species characterized by polyandry and intense sperm competition, by investigating whether age affects post‐copulatory male traits and sperm competition success. Females did not discriminate between old and young males in a mate choice experiment. While old males produced longer and slower sperm with larger reserves of strippable sperm, compared to young males, artificial insemination did not reveal any effect of age on sperm competition success. Altogether, these results do not support the hypothesis that polyandry evolved in response to costs associated with mating with old males in the guppy.
Rapid spread of male‐killing Wolbachia in the butterfly Hypolimnas bolina
Authors: DUPLOUY A. , HURST G. D. D. , O’NEILL S. L. , CHARLAT S. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractReproductive parasites such as Wolbachia can spread through uninfected host populations by increasing the relative fitness of the infected maternal lineage. However, empirical estimates of how fast this process occurs are limited. Here we use nucleotide sequences of male‐killing Wolbachia bacteria and co‐inherited mitochondria to address this issue in the island butterfly Hypolimnas bolina. We show that infected specimens scattered throughout the species range harbour the same Wolbachia and mitochondrial DNA as inferred from 6337 bp of the bacterial genome and 2985 bp of the mitochondrial genome, suggesting this strain of Wolbachia has spread across the South Pacific Islands at most 3000 years ago, and probably much more recently.
Need for sharp phenotypes in QTL detection for calving traits in dairy cattle
Authors: Seidenspinner T. , Bennewitz J. , Reinhardt F. , Thaller G. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryThe aim of the study was to investigate whether parity‐specific phenotypes provide a clearer picture of quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting calving traits in German Holsteins than breeding values estimated across parities. In experiment I, approximate daughter yield deviations were calculated by applying a univariate sire model assuming unrelated sires used as phenotypes in a QTL mapping study. These results were compared with those obtained using deregressed estimated breeding values obtained from the routine German sire evaluation (experiment II). In experiment I, 17 chromosome‐wise significant QTL were found for the first parity, but only 12 for the second parity. Only three QTL for maternal stillbirth, located on BTA7, 15 and 23, showed an experiment‐wise significance. Experiment II revealed 15 chromosome‐wise significant QTL. The results differed markedly between first and second parity within experiment I, as well as between experiment I and II. The present study showed that parity‐specific daughter yield deviations are beneficial for mapping QTL for calving traits. Furthermore, it is expected that the use of sharper phenotypes will also be advantageous for QTL fine mapping and the identification of candidate genes.
Calculating economic values for growth and functional traits in non‐dairy sheep
Authors: Wolfová M. , Wolf J. , Milerski M. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryA bio‐economic model including a computer program was developed where a large number of parameters can be modified to describe a great variety of production systems. Economic values for up to 27 traits can be calculated. Seasonal feeding is considered and protein requirement in addition to net energy may be taken into account when calculating feed requirement. Furthermore, the model allows for the evaluation of individual parts of the growth curve. The model was applied to the Czech Suffolk breed used in pure‐breeding. An extensive pasture system with spring lambing and sale of surplus progeny for slaughter after weaning or after a finishing period was assumed. The economic values (in Euro cent per ewe, per year and per genetic standard deviation of the trait) were as follows: 9.9 for birth weight, −72.6 for mature weight, 142, 32.1 and 16.9 for growth rates till weaning, in rearing of breeding animals and in fattening, respectively, 19.9 and 101 for conception rate of female lambs and ewes, respectively, 690 for litter size per ewe lambing, 172 for productive lifetime of ewes, 402 and 503 for survival rate of lambs at lambing and till weaning, respectively, and 16.5 for fleece weight.
Screening 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms for extreme value of glycolytic potential and drip loss in pigs
Authors: Kamiński S. , Koćwin‐Podsiadła M. , Sieczkowska H. , Help H. , Zybert A. , Krzęcio E. , Antosik K. , Brym P. , Wójcik E. , Adamczyk G. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryLow heritability of meat quality traits and the lack of their systematic registration in breeding programs have encouraged the search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within genes coding the proteins involved in muscle and fat metabolism. In this report, a panel of 52 SNPs was used to find which alleles and genotypes are more/less frequent in groups of pigs differentiated by extreme value of glycolytic potential (GP) and drip loss (DL). The analysis was carried out in 52 fatteners (chosen from 246 pigs), of which 28 were Landrace and 27 Landrace × Yorkshire. Two designs were performed: I, fatteners were divided into two groups showing extreme value of GP (<125 versus >145), II, fatteners were divided into two groups showing extreme value of DL (<6.0 versus >6.0). Allele frequency differences between the phenotypic groups of extreme GL or DL were not influenced by the breed. The frequency of 52 SNPs alleles for each of group was calculated and a chi‐squared test was used to estimate the significance of differences in allele frequencies between alternative groups in each experimental design. Three SNPs (DECR1, PPARGC1, MC4R) and another two (CYP21, SFRS1) showed significant differences between groups of extreme GP and DL, respectively. To exemplify and validate potential associations of candidate SNPs for GP and DL, 293 fatteners representing three commercial breeds/crosses (95 Landrace, 66 Landrace × Yorkshire and 132 Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc were genotyped for DECR1 and CYP21 by PCR‐RFLP assays. DECR1 showed significant associations with GP in Landrace and Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc fatteners. CYP21 showed significant associations with DL in all breeds/crosses. Interestingly, the CYP21 polymorphism revealed adverse associations trend in Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc pigs in comparison to Landrace and Landrace × Yorkshire fatteners.
Economic weights of production and functional traits for Holstein‐Friesian cattle in Hungary
Authors: Komlósi I. , Wolfová M. , Wolf J. , Farkas B. , Szendrei Z. , Béri B. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryA bio‐economic model was used to estimate economic values of 15 milk production, functional, growth and carcass traits for Hungarian Holstein‐Friesian cattle. The calculations were carried out for the situation in Hungary from 2000 to 2007, assuming no production quotas. The marginal economic values were defined as partial derivatives of the profit function with respect to each trait in a production system with dairy cow herds and with sales of surplus male calves. The economic weights for maternal and direct components of traits were calculated multiplying the marginal economic values by the number of discounted expression summed over a 25‐year investment period for 2‐year‐old bulls (candidates for selection). The standardized economic weight (economic weight × genetic standard deviation) of the trait or trait component expressed as percentage of the sum of the standardized economic weights for all traits and trait components represented the relative economic importance of this trait or trait component. The highest relative economic importance was obtained for milk yield (25%), followed by productive lifetime of cows (23%), protein yield and the direct component of a cow’s total conception rate (9% each), the maternal effect of the total conception rate of cows and the somatic cell score (approximately 7% each), fat yield (5%) and mature weight of cows and daily gain in rearing of calves (approximately 4% each). Other functional traits (clinical mastitis incidence, calving difficulty score, total conception rate of heifers and calf mortality) reached a relative economic importance between 0.5% and 2%. Birth weight and dressing percentage were least important (<0.5%). Based on these results, the inclusion of productive lifetime and cow fertility in the breeding programme for Holstein‐Friesian cattle in Hungary is advisable.
Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) on Fresh and Cryopreserved Buffalo Sperm Functions During Incubation at 37°CIn Vitro
Authors: Garg A , Kumaresan A , Ansari MR 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe magnitude of damage to buffalo spermatozoa during incubation with different levels of H2O2was assessed. A total number of 24 ejaculates from four Murrah buffalo bulls were analysed in the study. Each ejaculate was split into two parts (part I and II). Part I was extended in Tris–egg yolk–citrate extender (20% egg yolk:7% glycerol), equilibrated (4 h at 5°C) and cryopreserved in 0.5‐ml French straws and stored in liquid nitrogen. The other part was utilized for fresh semen studies. The sperm in fresh, equilibrated and frozen–thawed semen was separated by centrifugation (1500 g; 15 min) and were washed with sperm TALP. The sperm cells were re‐suspended in incubation TALP at the rate of 108sperm cells per millilitre and incubated with 0, 10, 25, and 50 μmH2O2per ml at 37°C. Sperm motility, viability and intact acrosome percentages were assessed at 15‐min intervals up to 60 min of incubation. Lipid peroxidation levels of sperm were assessed at 0 and 60 min of incubation. The results of the experiment revealed that sperm motility decreased drastically during incubation with H2O2. Among the different levels of H2O2, the 50‐μmH2O2‐incorporated group had significantly (p < 0.05) higher malonaldehyde (MDA) level than the other groups. In the 50‐μmH2O2‐incorporated group, the MDA levels in fresh, equilibrated and frozen–thawed semen after incubation for 60 min were 961.6 ± 12.7, 991.8 ± 10.3 and 1234.9 ± 9.6 nmper 109spermatozoa respectively. An inverse relationship was observed between sperm motility, viability, intact acrosome percentages and concentration of H2O2and duration of incubation. The decrease in sperm functions with duration of incubation and concentration of H2O2was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in frozen–thawed than fresh and equilibrated spermatozoa.
Observations in febrile children with round air space opacities
Authors: Fretzayas Andrew , Moustaki Maria , Alexopoulou Efthimia , Liapi Olga , Nicolaidou Polyxeni , Priftis Konstantinos N. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  Community‐acquired pneumonia in children is rarely depicted as round opacity. The aim of the present study was therefore to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of round pneumonia in children.Methods:  The clinical series consisted of 30 children aged 1–7 years (mean age, 3.4 ± 1.8 years) who were compared to an equal number of children with segmental or lobar pneumonia aged 3–11 years (mean age, 5.5 ± 2.7 years).Results:  Round pneumonia was localized more often in the lower lobe (17/30), and the right side was more commonly affected (20/30). The same, however, was the case for the control group. The two groups were not different regarding the severity of the disease but cough was much more common in the control patients. The white blood cells were considerably higher in round pneumonia, whereas the other inflammatory indices were not significantly different. All round consolidations responded promptly to antibiotics and resolved radiographically in 8 weeks.Conclusion:  Round consolidations in febrile children associated with elevated inflammatory indices seem to be attributed to round pneumonia, which responds promptly to antibiotics without complications.
Inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review on the value of diagnostic testing in primary care
Authors: Jellema P. , van Tulder M. W. , van der Horst H. E. , Florie J. , Mulder C. J. , van der Windt D. A. W. M. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAim  The clinical presentation of inflammatory bowel disease in primary care represents a diagnostic challenge as its symptoms are heterogeneous and common. To assist the primary care physician, we have summarized the available evidence on diagnostic tests in patients with abdominal symptoms.Method  We searched PubMed and Embase and screened references. Studies were selected if the design was a primary diagnostic study. Patients were adults attending with nonacute abdominal symptoms. Tests included clinical assessment, blood or faecal tests or abdominal ultrasonography. Quality assessment using a modified version of the QUADAS tool and data extraction was performed by two reviewers independently. Diagnostic two‐by‐two tables and pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity are given. We refrained from pooling when there was considerable clinical or statistical heterogeneity.Results  A total of 24 studies were included. While the diagnostic performance of the individual symptoms was highly variable (range sensitivity 0.0–0.96, specificity 0.09–1.0), the performance of symptom‐based classification systems was both more consistent and better (sensitivity 0.65–1.0, specificity 0.17–0.82). Among faecal and blood tests, calprotectin was studied most frequently and showed the best results (sensitivity 0.61–1.0, specificity 0.71–1.0). Statistical pooling for ultrasonography resulted in a sensitivity of 0.73 (0.65–0.80) and a specificity of 0.95 (0.91–0.97).Conclusion  Although calprotectin and ultrasonography showed consistent and promising findings, none of the studies was performed in primary care. To assist primary care physicians in diagnostic decision making, we urgently need high quality studies performed in primary care.
Laparoscopy for recurrent Crohn’s disease: how do the results compare with the results for primary Crohn’s disease?
Authors: Pinto R. A. , Shawki S. , Narita K. , Weiss E. G. , Wexner S. D. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAim  To assess the feasibility and outcomes of reoperative laparoscopic‐assisted surgery for recurrent Crohn’s disease compared with index laparoscopic resections.Method  A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed from 2001 to 2008 on patients who had primary laparoscopy (group I) or reoperative laparoscopy for Crohn’s disease (group II). Data collection included demographic and surgical data, and postoperative outcomes.Results  One hundred and thirty patients were included in this study, distributed as follows: group I, 80 patients with a mean age of 35 years; and group II, 50 patients with a mean age of 42 years. Preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists score and body mass index were similar in both groups. Patients in group II had a longer period of disease (15.5 vs 8.9 years in groups I and II, respectively; P = 0.0002). Immunosuppressive therapy had been utilized in 66 (82.5%) and in 42 (84%) patients in groups I and II, respectively. Ileocolic resection was the most commonly performed procedure in both groups (82%), followed by subtotal colectomy. Conversion rates were 18.7 and 32% in groups I and II, respectively (P = 0.09). The mean operative time (182 vs 201 min) and mean blood loss (161 vs 202 ml) were not significantly different (P > 0.05); however, the overall incisional length was significantly longer in group II (6.7 vs 11.4 cm, P = 0.045). A stoma was created in 17 and 16% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. Overall, early postoperative complications were not statistically significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05); anastomotic leak occurred in four (5%) and one (2%) patients (P = 0.65), and abdominal abscess in three (3.75%) and four (8%) patients (P = 0.56), in groups I and II, respectively. Reoperative rates were 10 and 6% (P = 0.53), and mean hospital stay was similar in groups I and II respectively (6.7 vs 7.5 days, respectively; P = 0.3266). There was no mortality.Conclusion  The results of laparoscopic‐assisted resection for recurrent Crohn’s disease are similar to those for primary resection.
Inguinal lymph node metastases are recognized with high frequency in rectal adenocarcinoma invading the dentate line. The histological features at the invasive front may predict inguinal lymph node metastasis
Authors: Hamano T. , Homma Y. , Otsuki Y. , Shimizu S. , Kobayashi H. , Kobayashi Y. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAim  Inguinal lymph node (ILN) metastasis occurs with high frequency in some of the patients with lower rectal cancer. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for ILN metastasis in patients with low rectal adenocarcinoma.Method  We retrospectively analysed 156 patients with lower rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent radical resection (R0) at a single institution.Results  Twenty‐five (16%) patients had a tumour that invaded the dentate line, seven of whom had ILN metastasis. Invasion of the dentate line was significantly associated with a high rate of ILN metastasis, worse prognosis and local recurrence than with a tumour not invading the dentate line (P = 0.03). A Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed the histological characteristics at the invading front (Hif) also to be a risk factor for ILN metastasis.Conclusion  Tumours which invade the dentate line have a high rate of ILN metastases and worse cancer specific end‐points. The presence of poorly differentiated or mucinous adenocarcinoma components is an indication for bilateral groin irradiation.
In humans the adiponectin receptor R2 is expressed predominantly in adipose tissue and linked to the adipose tissue expression of MMIF‐1
Authors: Kos K. , Wong S. P. Y. , Huda M. S. B , Çakir M. , Jernas M. , Carlsson L. , Kerrigan D. , Wilding J. P. H. , Pinkney J. H. 
Published: November 2009

In this study, the regional adipose tissue‐adiponectin (AT‐ADN) and adiponectin receptor (R1 and R2) expression and their relation with metabolic parameters, circulating and AT‐derived cytokine expressions were compared. Paired subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were taken from 18 lean and 39 obese humans, AT‐mRNA expression of adipokines analysed by RT‐PCR and corresponding serum levels by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). R1 and R2 adipocyte expression was compared with 17 other human tissues.ADN‐gene expression was lower in VAT than SCAT [mean (SD) 1.54 (1.1) vs. 2.84 (0.87); p < 0.001], and lower in obese subjects (VAT : p = 0.01;SCAT : p < 0.001). SCAT‐ADN correlated positively with serum ADN (r = 0.33;p = 0.036) but not VAT‐ADN. AT expressions of ADN and macrophage migration inhibiting factor (MMIF), IL18 and cluster of differentiation factor 14 (CD14) in both depots showed inverse correlations. R1 and R2 were expressed ubiquitously and R2 highest in SCAT, and this is much higher (×100) than R1 (×100). R expression was similar in lean and obese subjects and unrelated to the metabolic syndrome, however, receptors correlated with VAT‐MMIF (R 1: r = 0.4;p = 0.008;R 2: r = 0.35,p = 0.02) and SCAT‐MMIF expression (R 2: r = 0.43;p = 0.004).Unlike ADN, its receptors are expressed in many human tissues. Human R2 expression is not highest in the liver but in AT where it is associated with MMIF expression. The adiponectin‐dependent insulin‐sensitizing action of thiazolidinediones is thus probably to differ amongst species with weaker effects on the human liver.
Frequency of zoledronic acid to prevent further bone loss in osteoporotic patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer
Authors: Wadhwa Vivek K. , Weston Robin , Parr Nigel J. 
Published: November 2009

Study Type – Therapy (RCT) Level of Evidence 1bOBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of zoledronic acid (ZA) in osteoporotic patients with prostate cancer receiving either luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone agonists (LHRHA, which accelerate bone loss) or bicalutamide (which preserves bone mineral density, BMD) as androgen‐deprivation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and many patients are osteoporotic at presentation, with others becoming so on treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSFifty‐eight osteoporotic men with non‐metastatic prostate cancer were followed for 3 years. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either LHRHA (29) or bicalutamide (29). All received 4 mg ZA 3‐monthly for 1 year. BMD was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry at four times: 1 year before ZA; immediately before ZA; after five infusions; and 1 year afterwards. Bone turnover markers (BTMs) were measured at 3‐monthly intervals on ZA and 1 year later. All patients had radiography of the thoracolumbar spine at baseline and after ZA.RESULTSPatients on LHRHA showed a 4.9% decrease in BMD before ZA, a 1.6% increase after ZA and a 3.0% decrease 1 year later, compared to 2.0% increase, 7.8% increase and 1.9% decrease, respectively, in those on bicalutamide. BTMs decreased significantly after ZA. Seven patients (12%) had vertebral fractures at baseline, with none deteriorating at 1 year; two (3.5%) developed mandibular osteonecrosis.CONCLUSIONBefore ZA, BMD decreased on LHRHA, but was maintained on bicalutamide. Treatment with 3‐monthly ZA increased BMD and suppressed BTMs in osteoporotic patients both on LHRHA and bicalutamide, but to a greater extent in the latter. However, 1 year after the last infusion, BMD declined, suggesting that annual administration is inadequate in these patients. The optimum frequency might be related to BMD at time of bisphosphonate initiation.