bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The landscape genetics of infectious disease emergence and spread
Authors: BIEK ROMAN , REAL LESLIE A. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe spread of parasites is inherently a spatial process often embedded in physically complex landscapes. It is therefore not surprising that infectious disease researchers are increasingly taking a landscape genetics perspective to elucidate mechanisms underlying basic ecological processes driving infectious disease dynamics and to understand the linkage between spatially dependent population processes and the geographic distribution of genetic variation within both hosts and parasites. The increasing availability of genetic information on hosts and parasites when coupled to their ecological interactions can lead to insights for predicting patterns of disease emergence, spread and control. Here, we review research progress in this area based on four different motivations for the application of landscape genetics approaches: (i) assessing the spatial organization of genetic variation in parasites as a function of environmental variability, (ii) using host population genetic structure as a means to parameterize ecological dynamics that indirectly influence parasite populations, for example, gene flow and movement pathways across heterogeneous landscapes and the concurrent transport of infectious agents, (iii) elucidating the temporal and spatial scales of disease processes and (iv) reconstructing and understanding infectious disease invasion. Throughout this review, we emphasize that landscape genetic principles are relevant to infection dynamics across a range of scales from within host dynamics to global geographic patterns and that they can also be applied to unconventional ‘landscapes’ such as heterogeneous contact networks underlying the spread of human and livestock diseases. We conclude by discussing some general considerations and problems for inferring epidemiological processes from genetic data and try to identify possible future directions and applications for this rapidly expanding field.
Immune Compartmentalization of T cell Subsets in Chemically‐induced Breast Cancer
Authors: Fahmi T. , Esendagli G. , Yilmaz G. , Kansu E. , Guc D. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn cancer, the phenotype and/or the function of T cells may differ according to their distribution through immune‐associated tissues, namely immune compartments. Here, in N‐methyl‐N‐nitrosourea (MNU)‐induced mammary carcinomas of rat as a relevant model for human breast tumors, the impact of tumor burden on the T cell subsets populating the tumor microenvironment, the tumor‐adjacent and ‐opposite mammary lymph nodes, and the spleen was assessed. In the tumors, ratio of CD8+ cytotoxic and CD4+ helper T cells were not significantly different than other immune compartments. On the other hand, most of these cells were further identified with CD4+ CD25hi or CD4+ Foxp3+, CD8+ Foxp3+ regulatory phenotype. The selective presence of Tregs in the mammary tumors but not in neighboring‐mammary tissue was also confirmed by the expression of Treg‐associated genes. The percentage of CD161+ NKT cells was also significantly increased especially in the tumors and mammary lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes of tumor‐bearing animals, in contrast to the spleen, total amount of CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells were increased but both of these compartments harbored high numbers of CD4+ CD25hi Treg cells. TGF‐β was determined as the major suppressive cytokine secreted by the immune cells of tumor‐bearing animals, in addition, proliferation capacity of the T cells was diminished. Hence, the differential distribution of T cell subsets through the spleen, the mammary lymph nodes and the tumor mass in MNU‐induced mammary tumor‐bearing animals may contribute to a tumor‐associated immunosuppression.
Histopathological, Immunohistochemical, Lectinhistochemical and Molecular Findings in Spontaneous Bovine Abortions by Campylobacter fetus
Authors: Morrell EL , Barbeito CG , Odeón CA , Gimeno EJ , Campero CM 
Published: July 2010

ContentsBovine campylobacteriosis (BC) is a venereal disease caused by Campylobacter fetus characterized by temporary infertility with mild endometritis, early embryonic death and occasional abortions. The objectives of this study were to describe and identify C. fetus in spontaneous bovine abortion on the basis of histopathological, immunohistochemical, lectinhistochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The most frequent foetal lesion was neutrophilic bronchopneumonia and interstitial pneumonia. Other commonly observed lesions included non‐suppurative interstitial enteritis, hepatitis, pericarditis, myositis, myocarditis, and meningitis. In this study, C. fetus fetus was phenotypically classified in all bovine foetuses from lungs and abomasal fluids. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed positive stained Campylobacter organisms with typical morphology. Lectin binding patterns not showed great differences between the infected and the non‐infected groups. The most important changes were a minor peanut agglutinin (PNA) and DBA binding in the alveolar cells of the lungs and DBA globet cells in some of the C. fetus–positive foetuses. Individual variations in each lectin binding pattern complicate the evaluation of the lectins results. All foetuses positive to IHC were positive by PCR. Better efficiency of PCR was obtained from abomasal fluids than from lung tissues. The association of culture and phenotypic techniques with histopathology, IHC and PCR allowed a better characterization and description of BC.
Evidence for suppression of spinal glial activation by dexmedetomidine in a rat model of monoarthritis
Authors: Xu Bo , Zhang Wei‐Shi , Yang Jia‐ Le , Lû Ning , Deng Xiao‐Ming , Xu Hua , Zhang Yu‐Qiu 
Published: July 2010

Summary1. Spinal glial cells play a key role in developing and maintaining allodynia and hyperalgesia following tissue inflammation. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2‐adrenoceptor (α2‐AR) agonist, has exhibited a significant analgesic effect in various rodent models of chronic pain. However, whether spinal glial activation is involved in the analgesic effect of dexmedetomidine remains unknown. The present study investigated whether spinal administration of dexmedetomidine could antagonize glial activation in the spinal dorsal horn and attenuate thermal hyperalgesia in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)‐induced ankle joint monoarthritic (MA) rats.2. Unilateral intra‐articular injection of CFA produced a robust activation of microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord, which was associated with the development and maintenance of thermal hyperalgesia. Repeated lumbar puncture (LP) administration of dexmedetomidine (10 μg) significantly attenuated MA‐induced thermal hyperalgesia in a cumulative manner. Monoarthritis‐induced spinal glial activation was also suppressed following dexmedetomidine application. The α2A‐AR, essential for the antinociceptive effects of α2‐AR agonists, was detected in spinal neurons and glia, as well as in dorsal root ganglion primary afferent neurons, which may be implicated in dexmedetomidine‐induced suppression of spinal glial activation and antihyperalgesic effects.3. These data provide the first evidence that blocking spinal glial activation is involved in the analgesic action of dexmedetomidine.
When is family history obtained? – Lack of timely documentation of family history among overweight and hypertensive paediatric patients
Authors: Benson Lacey , Baer Heather J. , Greco Peter J. , Kaelber David C. 
Published: July 2010

Aim:  Taking a detailed family history is an inexpensive way for healthcare providers to screen patients for increased risk of various chronic conditions. Documentation of family history, however, has been shown to be incomplete in the majority of patient charts. The current study examines when family history is collected within the context of the development and diagnosis of chronic conditions in paediatrics, using hypertension and overweight/obesity as examples.Methods:  We analysed family history data from the electronic medical records of 5485 overweight/obese and 774 hypertensive children and adolescents in a large, urban medical system in northeast Ohio. Manual review of 200 charts was also performed.Results:  Family history information was entered prior to the development of hypertension in 13.5% of hypertensive patients with a family history of hypertension, and it was entered prior to the development of abnormal weight in 35.5% of overweight/obese patients with a family history of obesity or a related condition. Of patients with a relevant family history who received an actual diagnosis for either of these conditions, only 16.7% of hypertensive and 33.3% of overweight/obese patients had this family history documented prior to diagnosis.Conclusions:  These results imply that paediatric providers may not use family history as a screening tool for assessing future risk of obesity and hypertension, but instead gather this information after these chronic conditions have developed, making it difficult to implement preventative or screening strategies based on familial risk.
Diagnostic accuracy of a questionnaire and simple home monitoring device in detecting obstructive sleep apnoea in a Chinese population at high cardiovascular risk
Authors: GANTNER Dashiell , GE Ji‐Yong , LI Li‐Hua , ANTIC Nick , WINDLER Sam , WONG Keith , HEELEY Emma , HUANG Shao‐Guang , CUI Ping , ANDERSON Craig , WANG Ji‐Guang , MCEVOY Doug 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  OSA is a common condition associated with cardiovascular (CV) morbidity. It remains underdiagnosed globally in part due to the limited availability and technical requirements of polysomnography (PSG). The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of two simple methods for diagnosing OSA.Methods:  Consecutive subjects identified from a community register with high CV risk were invited to complete the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire and undergo simultaneous, home, overnight PSG and ApneaLink device oximetry and nasal pressure recordings. The relative accuracies of the Berlin Questionnaire, oximetry and nasal pressure results in diagnosing PSG‐defined moderate‐severe OSA were assessed.Results:  Of 257 eligible high CV risk subjects enrolled, 190 completed sleep studies and 143 subjects' studies were of sufficient quality to include in final analyses. Moderate‐severe OSA was confirmed in 43% of subjects. The Berlin Questionnaire had low overall diagnostic accuracy in this population. However, ApneaLink recordings of oximetry and nasal pressure areas had high diagnostic utility with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.933 and 0.933, respectively. At optimal diagnostic thresholds, oximetry and nasal pressure measurements had similar sensitivity (84% vs 86%) and specificity (84% vs 85%). Technical failure was lower for oximetry than nasal pressure (5.8% vs 18.9% of tests).Conclusions:  In patients with high CV risk overnight single‐channel oximetry and nasal pressure measurements may provide high diagnostic accuracy and offer an accessible alternative to full PSG.
Decoding glutamate receptor activation by the Ca2+ sensor protein hippocalcin in rat hippocampal neurons
Authors: Dovgan A. V. , Cherkas V. P. , Stepanyuk A. R. , Fitzgerald D. J. , Haynes L. P. , Tepikin A. V. , Burgoyne R. D. , Belan P. V. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractHippocalcin is a Ca2+‐binding protein that belongs to a family of neuronal Ca2+sensors and is a key mediator of many cellular functions including synaptic plasticity and learning. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in hippocalcin signalling remain illusive. Here we studied whether glutamate receptor activation induced by locally applied or synaptically released glutamate can be decoded by hippocalcin translocation. Local AMPA receptor activation resulted in fast hippocalcin‐YFP translocation to specific sites within a dendritic tree mainly due to AMPA receptor‐dependent depolarization and following Ca2+influx via voltage‐operated calcium channels. Short local NMDA receptor activation induced fast hippocalcin‐YFP translocation in a dendritic shaft at the application site due to direct Ca2+influx via NMDA receptor channels. Intrinsic network bursting produced hippocalcin‐YFP translocation to a set of dendritic spines when they were subjected to several successive synaptic vesicle releases during a given burst whereas no translocation to spines was observed in response to a single synaptic vesicle release and to back‐propagating action potentials. The translocation to spines required Ca2+influx via synaptic NMDA receptors in which Mg2+ block is relieved by postsynaptic depolarization. This synaptic translocation was restricted to spine heads and even closely (within 1–2 μm) located spines on the same dendritic branch signalled independently. Thus, we conclude that hippocalcin may differentially decode various spatiotemporal patterns of glutamate receptor activation into site‐ and time‐specific translocation to its targets. Hippocalcin also possesses an ability to produce local signalling at the single synaptic level providing a molecular mechanism for homosynaptic plasticity.
Patterns of diel activity and species richness in young and small fishes of European streams: a review of 20 years of point abundance sampling by electrofishing
Authors: Copp Gordon H 
Published: July 2010

AbstractOriginally developed to assess the relative abundance of ≥1+ fishes in large rivers, point abundance sampling by electrofishing (PASE) was adapted for 0+ fishes in the mid‐1980s. Being both economical and widely applicable, PASE for 0+ fish has become a commonly used sampling approach in Europe, but its use for estimating 0+ fish density and species richness has attracted particular concern because of size and species selectivity. As such, this review is both timely and necessary. It summarizes the development of PASE and evaluates its various applications: studies of 0+ fish community composition, relative abundance and density, species richness (S), population size structure, larval and juvenile growth dynamics, microhabitat use, diel dynamics of species–species and species–microhabitat interactions, and the analysis of data emanating from PASE databases. The use and potential misuse of replicate sampling in estimates of S are examined, with PASE data from various European rivers re‐analysed to assess geographical patterns in 0+ fish S. Comparisons of PASE and other approaches for estimating 0+ fish density and species richness have all demonstrated PASE to be cost‐effective and relatively reliable, but sampling accuracy and precision do decrease as fishes enter the juvenile period of development.
Shareholder Voting and Directors' Remuneration Report Legislation: Say on Pay in the UK
Authors: Conyon Martin , Sadler Graham 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTManuscript Type:EmpiricalResearch Question/Issue:The paper investigates the determinants of shareholder voting and its relation to CEO pay in the UK. The context of the study is the Directors' Remuneration Report (DRR) Regulations of 2002. This legislation gave shareholders a mandatory non‐binding vote on boardroom pay in the UK.Research Findings/Insights:First, we find that less than 10 per cent of shareholders abstain or vote against the mandated Directors' Remuneration Report (DRR) resolution. This percentage is falling over time. Second, investors are more likely to vote against DRR resolutions compared to non‐pay resolutions. Third, shareholders are more likely to vote against general executive pay resolutions, such as stock options, long‐term incentive plans, and bonus resolutions compared to non‐pay resolutions. Forth, firms with higher CEO pay attract greater voting dissent. Fifth, there is little evidence that CEO pay is lower in firms that previously experienced high levels of shareholder dissent. In addition, there is little evidence that the fraction of CEO equity pay, representing owner‐manager alignment, is greater in such firms. Currently, we find limited evidence that, on average, “say on pay” materially alters the subsequent level and design of CEO compensation.Theoretical/Academic Implications:The study provides new insights on shareholder voting and CEO pay. Theoretically, shareholder voting is endogenously determined.Practitioner/Policy Implications:The study provides insights for practitioners and policy makers interested in shareholder rights, the effects on corporate governance, and say on pay in the UK. Shareholder voting appears to have limited effects on curbing excess CEO pay. Boards and compensation committees may want to communicate better policies on executive compensation to avert shareholder dissent.
Designing Simulation Experiments with Controllable and Uncontrollable Factors for Applications in Healthcare
Authors: Dehlendorff Christian , Kulahci Murat , Andersen Klaus Kaae 
Published: July 2010

SummaryWe propose a new methodology for designing computer experiments that was inspired by the split-plot designs that are often used in physical experimentation. The methodology has been developed for a simulation model of a surgical unit in a Danish hospital. We classify the factors as controllable and uncontrollable on the basis of their characteristics in the physical system. The experiments are designed so that, for a given setting of the controllable factors, the various settings of the uncontrollable factors cover the design space uniformly. Moreover the methodology allows for overall uniform coverage in the combined design when all settings of the uncontrollable factors are considered at once.
Age‐specific patterns of unsatisfactory results for conventional Pap smears and liquid‐based cytology: data from two randomised clinical trials
Authors: Castle PE , Bulten J , Confortini M , Klinkhamer P , Pellegrini A , Siebers AG , Ronco G , Arbyn M 
Published: July 2010

Please cite this paper as: Castle P, Bulten J, Confortini M, Klinkhamer P, Pellegrini A, Siebers A, Ronco G, Arbyn M. Age‐specific patterns of unsatisfactory results for conventional Pap smears and liquid‐based cytology: data from two randomised clinical trials. BJOG 2010;117:1067–1073.Objective  To investigate the rate of unsatisfactory cervical cell samples in liquid‐based cytology (LBC) versus conventional cytology (CC) by age.Design  Randomised clinical trials.Setting  Population‐based cervical cancer screening in the Netherlands and Italy.Population  Asymptomatic women invited for screening enrolled in two randomised trials: Netherlands ThinPrep® versus conventional cytology (NETHCON; 39 010 CC, 46 064 LBC) and New Technologies in Cervical Cancer Screening (NTCC; 22 771 CC, 22 403 LBC).Methods  Comparison of categorical variables using Pearson’s chi‐square test, logistic regression and trend tests.Main outcome measures  Proportion of unsatisfactory samples, ratio of LBC versus CC, and variation by 5‐year group.Results  In NETHCON, a lower percentage of LBC samples were judged to be unsatisfactory compared with CC samples (0.33 versus 1.11%). There was no significant trend in unsatisfactory results by age group for conventional cytology (Ptrend = 0.54), but there was a trend towards an increasing percentage of unsatisfactory results with increasing age for LBC (Ptrend < 0.001). In NTCC, a lower percentage of LBC samples were judged to be unsatisfactory compared with conventional cytology (2.59 versus 4.10%). There was a decrease in the unsatisfactory results by age group with conventional cytology (Ptrend < 0.001) and with LBC (Ptrend = 0.01), although the latter trend arose from the 55–60‐years age group (Ptrend = 0.62 when excluding this group).Conclusions  The clinical trial in which the results were collected and the cytologic method used were the most important determinants of unsatisfactory cytology. In all situations, the proportion of unsatisfactory samples was lower in LBC compared with CC. The effects of age depended on the criteria used to define unsatisfactory results.
Effects of induced hyperthermia on pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine in rats
Authors: Guilhaumou Romain , Boulamery Audrey , Deluca Bénédicte , Deturmeny Elisabeth , Bruguerolle Bernard 
Published: July 2010

AbstractRopivacaine is a local anaesthetic used for epidural anaesthesia and postoperative pain relief. Hyperthermia is a very common sign of infection associated with variations in physiological parameters, which may influence drugs pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of induced hyperthermia on ropivacaine pharmacokinetics in rats. Two groups of six rats were given a single subcutaneous ropivacaine injection. Hyperthermia‐induced animals were placed in a water bath to obtain a stable mean core temperature of 39.7 °C. After blood samples collection, ropivacaine serum concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Two other groups of six rats were sacrificed 30 min after ropivacaine injection to determine serum and tissues (brain and heart) concentrations. Our results (median ± inter quartile range) reveal a significant increase of the total apparent clearance (0.0151 ± 0.000800 L/min vs. 0.0134 ± 0.00134 L/min), apparent volume of distribution (Vd) (2.19 ± 0.27 L vs. 1.57 ± 0.73 L) and a significant decrease in exposure (488 ± 50.6 mg.min/L vs. 572 ± 110 mg.min/L) in induced‐hyperthermia group. We observed a significant increase in brain ropivacaine concentration in hyperthermic rats (8.39 ± 8.42 μg/g vs. 3.48 ± 3.26 μg/g) and no significant difference between cardiac concentrations in the two groups (5.38 ± 4.83 μg/g vs. 3.73 ± 2.44 μg/g). Results suggest a higher tissular distribution of ropivacaine and an increase in blood–brain barrier permeability during hyperthermia. The hyperthermia‐induced increase in Vd could be responsible for an increase in cerebral ropivacaine toxicity. These experimental data provide a basis for future clinical investigations in relation to local anaesthetic use in hyperthermic patients.
Lipoxin A4 attenuates zymosan‐induced arthritis by modulating endothelin‐1 and its effects
Authors: Conte FP , Menezes‐de‐Lima O , Verri WA , Cunha FQ , Penido C , Henriques MG 
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a lipid mediator involved in the resolution of inflammation. Increased levels of LXA4 in synovial fluid and enhanced expression of the formyl peptide receptor 2/lipoxin A4 receptor (FPR2/ALX) in the synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis patients have been reported. Endothelins (ETs) play a pivotal pro‐inflammatory role in acute articular inflammatory responses. Here, we evaluated the anti‐inflammatory role of LXA4, during the acute phase of zymosan‐induced arthritis, focusing on the modulation of ET‐1 expression and its effects.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The anti‐inflammatory effects of LXA4, BML‐111 (agonist of FPR2/ALX receptors) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) pre‐ and post‐treatments were investigated in a murine model of zymosan‐induced arthritis. Articular inflammation was assessed by examining knee joint oedema; neutrophil accumulation in synovial cavities; and levels of prepro‐ET‐1 mRNA, leukotriene (LT)B4, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and the chemokine KC/CXCL1, after stimulation. The direct effect of LXA4 on ET‐1‐induced neutrophil activation and chemotaxis was evaluated by shape change and Boyden chamber assays respectively.KEY RESULTS LXA4, BML‐111 and ASA administered as pre‐ or post‐treatment inhibited oedema and neutrophil influx induced by zymosan stimulation. Zymosan‐induced preproET‐1 mRNA, KC/CXCL1, LTB4 and TNF‐α levels were also decreased after LXA4 pretreatment. In vitro, ET‐1‐induced neutrophil chemotaxis was inhibited by LXA4 pretreatment. LXA4 treatment also inhibited ET‐1‐induced oedema formation and neutrophil influx into mouse knee joints.CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION LXA4 exerted anti‐inflammatory effects on articular inflammation through a mechanism that involved the inhibition of ET‐1 expression and its effects.