bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Telomere hypervariability in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: FARMAN MARK L. , KIM YUN‐SIK 
Published: April 2010

SUMMARYThe gray leaf spot disease of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue is caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (anamorph = Pyricularia oryzae). A collection of single‐copy and repetitive DNA markers was used to investigate genetic diversity among 22 isolates of the gray leaf spot pathogen. The single‐copy DNA markers revealed only three polymorphisms among 95 restriction fragments spanning ∼0.6% of the genome. In addition, Southern hybridization analysis and mating tests revealed that all isolates possessed the MAT1‐2 mating‐type allele. Fingerprinting of repetitive DNA loci using the Pot2 and MGR583 probes also revealed a high degree of genetic similarity (> 85%) among isolates. These data are consistent with the gray leaf spot pathogens having a recent evolutionary origin. In contrast to the results obtained with probes for internal chromosome loci, a telomere probe revealed that the chromosome ends of the very same isolates are highly divergent, with most isolates sharing less than 20% fingerprint similarity with any other isolate. Telomere mutations arise extremely frequently and changes in telomere fingerprint profiles were readily observed during vegetative growth and among cultures derived from single spores isolated from agar medium and from lesions on perennial ryegrass leaves.
Calorie restriction: what recent results suggest for the future of ageing research
Authors: Smith Daniel L. , Nagy Tim R. , Allison David B. 
Published: April 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (5): 440–450AbstractBackground Calorie Restriction (CR) research has expanded rapidly over the past few decades and CR remains the most highly reproducible, environmental intervention to improve health and extend lifespan in animal studies. Although many model organisms have consistently demonstrated positive responses to CR, it remains to be shown whether CR will extend lifespan in humans. Additionally, the current environment of excess caloric consumption and high incidence of overweight/obesity illustrate the improbable nature of the long‐term adoption of a CR lifestyle by a significant proportion of the human population. Thus, the search for substances that can reproduce the beneficial physiologic responses of CR without a requisite calorie intake reduction, termed CR mimetics (CRMs), has gained momentum.Material and methods Recent articles describing health and lifespan results of CR in nonhuman primates and short‐term human studies are discussed. Additional consideration is given to the rapidly expanding search for CRMs.Results The first results from a long‐term, randomized, controlled CR study in nonhuman primates showing statistically significant benefits on longevity have now been reported. Additionally, positive results from short‐term, randomized, controlled CR studies in humans are suggestive of potential health and longevity gains, while test of proposed CRMs (including rapamycin, resveratrol, 2‐deoxyglucose and metformin) have shown both positive and mixed results in rodents.Conclusion Whether current positive results will translate into longevity gains for humans remains an open question. However, the apparent health benefits that have been observed with CR suggest that regardless of longevity gains, the promotion of healthy ageing and disease prevention may be attainable.
Effect of honey on gastric emptying of infants with protein energy malnutrition
Authors: Shaaban Sanaa Youssef , Abdulrhman Mamdouh Abdulmaksoud , Nassar May Fouad , Fathy Rasha Adel 
Published: April 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (5): 383–387AbstractBackground  Patients with protein‐energy malnutrition (PEM) have delayed gastric emptying time (GET) which may affect nutritional rehabilitation. This study was designed to examine the effect of honey on GET during nutritional rehabilitation of PEM patients.Patients and methods  Thirty patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two equal groups. One group received conventional nutritional rehabilitation therapy and the other received honey in addition. They were compared with 20 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. History taking, clinical examination and laboratory tests were performed for enrolled cases and GET was assessed using abdominal ultrasonography. These parameters were performed before and 2 weeks after nutritional rehabilitation.Results  The GET was significantly delayed in the PEM groups compared with the controls. Further significant delay occurred in the honey supplemented group after nutritional rehabilitation, while the un‐supplemented group showed significant shortening of GET. The improvement of anthropometric measurements and laboratory parameters was equally noticed in the two PEM groups upon nutritional rehabilitation but their rate of change was distinctly higher, although non‐significant, in the group supplemented with honey.Conclusion  Honey supplementation increased GET in PEM patients with positive effect on the improvement in the anthropometric measurements and serum albumin which makes us wonder that this delay in GET might be primarily a compensatory phenomenon and it was augmented by the use of honey. Larger scale studies with longer term follow up are recommended to further clear this point and assess any changes in the absorptive indices in honey supplemented PEM patients.
VEGF‐D△N△C mediated angiogenesis in skeletal muscles of diabetic WHHL rabbits
Authors: Roy Himadri , Bhardwaj Shalini , Babu Mohan , Lähteenvuo Johanna E. , Ylä‐Herttuala Seppo 
Published: April 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (5): 422–432AbstractBackground  Arterial occlusive disease is often associated with diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia which may reduce angiogenic potential of several growth factors. Accordingly, the usefulness of therapeutic angiogenesis in the presence of diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia has remained unclear. We evaluated angiogenic effects of the mature form of vascular endothelial growth factor‐D (VEGF‐D△N△C) in skeletal muscles in the presence of severe diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia.Methods  Intra muscular injections of adenoviruses encoding human VEGF‐D△N△C (AdVEGF‐D△N△C) were given in the hind limbs of a group of diabetic hypercholesterolaemic rabbits and adenoviruses encoding LacZ (AdLacZ) were used as a control. All animals were killed 6 days after the gene transfer.Results  Capillary count, capillary area, capillary permeability and perfusion were significantly higher in the AdVEGF‐D△N△C transduced muscles compared with the AdLacZ controls. Expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and VEGF receptor(R)‐2 were also significantly increased in the VEGF‐D△N△C transduced muscles, along with an increased expression of angiopoietins (Angs) and neuropilin‐2 (NP‐2). Furthermore, VEGF‐D△N△C gene transfer to the skeletal muscles increased localized recruitment of cells with endothelial progenitor‐like characteristics.Conclusions  VEGF‐D△N△C gene transfer can induce efficient angiogenesis in the presence of severe diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia by upregulating eNOS and VEGFR‐2 expression. VEGF‐D△N△C appears to be a promising agent for inducing therapeutic angiogenesis even in cases with severe diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia.
Influence of sediment organic enrichment and water alkalinity on growth of aquatic isoetid and elodeid plants
Authors: RAUN ANE LØVENDAHL , BORUM JENS , SAND‐JENSEN KAJ 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Lake eutrophication has increased phytoplankton blooms and sediment organic matter. Among higher plants, small, oligotrophic rosette species (isoetids) have disappeared, while a few tall, eutrophic species (elodeids) may have persisted. Despite recent reduction of nutrient loading in restored lakes, the vegetation has rarely regained its former composition and coverage. Patterns of recovery may depend on local alkalinity because HCO3− stimulates photosynthesis of elodeids and not of isoetids. In laboratory growth experiments with two isoetids (Lobelia dortmanna and Littorella uniflora) and two elodeids (Potamogeton crispus and P. perfoliatus), we test whether organic enrichment of lake sediments has a long‐lasting influence by: (i) reducing plant growth because of oxygen stress on plant roots and (ii) inhibiting growth more for isoetids than elodeids. We also test whether (iii) increasing alkalinity (from 0.17 to 3.20 meq. L−1) enhances growth and reduces inhibition of organic sediment enrichment for elodeids but not for isoetids.2. In low organic sediments, higher oxygen release from roots of isoetids than elodeids generated oxic conditions to greater sediment depth for Lobelia (4.3 cm) and Littorella (3.0 cm) than for Potamogeton species (1.6–2.2 cm). Sediment oxygen penetration depth fell rapidly to 0.4–1.0 cm for all four species at even modest organic enrichment and oxygen consumption in the sediments. Roots became shorter and isoetid roots became thicker to better supply oxygen to apical meristems.3. Growth of elodeids was strongly inhibited across all levels of organic enrichment of sediments being eight‐fold lower at the highest enrichment compared to the unenriched control. Leaf biomass of isoetids increased three‐fold by moderate organic enrichment presumably because of greater CO2 supply from sediments being their main CO2 source. At higher organic enrichment, isoetid biomass was reduced, leaf chlorophyll declined up to 10‐fold, root length declined from 7 to <2 cm and mortality rose (up to 50%) signalling high plant stress.4. Lobelia was not affected by HCO3− addition in accordance with its use of sediment CO2. Biomass of elodeids increased severalfold by rising alkalinity from 0.17 to 3.20 meq. L−1 in accordance with their use of HCO3− for photosynthesis, while the negative impact of organically enriched sediments remained.5. Overall, root development of all four species was so strongly restricted in sediments enriched with labile organic matter that plants if growing in situ may lose root anchorage. Other experiments demonstrate that this risk is enhanced by greater water content and reduced consolidation in organically rich sediments. Therefore, formation of more muddy and oxygen‐demanding sediments during eutrophication will impede plant recovery in restored lakes while high local alkalinity will help elodeid recovery.
Inaccurate or disparate temperature cues? Seasonal acclimation of terrestrial and aquatic locomotor capacity in newts
Authors: Šamajová Pavlína , Gvoždík Lumír 
Published: April 2010

Summary 1. Many organisms respond to seasonal temperature fluctuations by the reversible modification of whole‐animal performance. Semiaquatic ectotherms, which possess this acclimatory capacity in swimming speed, lack the plastic response in terrestrial locomotor performance and vice versa. Theory predicts that the presence of reversible (seasonal) thermal acclimation or fixed phenotypes depends on the predictability of future thermal conditions (i.e. accuracy of temperature cues) in a given environment. Alternatively, comparative data suggest that thermal acclimation is induced by disparate temperature cues in water and on land. 2. We tested both predictions by examining the seasonal acclimation response in thermal sensitivity of maximal swimming and running speed in adult alpine newts, Ichthyosaura (formerly Triturus) alpestris. 3. Following the seasonal variation in environmental temperatures, we exposed newts to 5 °C from November to March and, after a gradual temperature increase, to either a constant (15 °C) or fluctuating (10–20 °C) thermal regime from May to June. At the end of each treatment, we measured newt swimming and running capacity at five temperatures (range 5–25 °C). In the field, hourly temperatures were recorded in various aquatic and terrestrial microhabitats to obtain information about the predictability of thermal conditions in both environments. 4. Seasonal acclimation shaped the thermal sensitivity of swimming speed under both constant and fluctuating temperature treatments. Thermal sensitivity of running speed was markedly modified by a fluctuating thermal regime so that newts ran at the highest test temperature faster than cold‐acclimated individuals. Natural thermal environment contained a similar proportion of predictable variation in water and on land. 5. Complex seasonal acclimation of locomotor capacity in newts was influenced by the disparate thermal cues, i.e. mean acclimation temperature or diel temperature fluctuations, rather than by the different accuracy of these cues in water and on land. Future confrontations of theory with empirical data will require more attention not only on the assumptions of adaptive thermal acclimation but also on the ecologically relevant thermal conditions during acclimation experiments.
Male health status, signalled by courtship display, reveals ejaculate quality and hatching success in a lekking species
Authors: Chargé Rémi , Saint Jalme Michel , Lacroix Frédéric , Cadet Adeline , Sorci Gabriele 
Published: April 2010

Summary 1. The information content of secondary sexual traits and the benefits gathered by choosy females are at the heart of sexual selection theory. Indicator models of sexual selection assume that secondary sexual traits reflect the phenotypic/genetic quality of their bearers and that females gather benefits from choosing these high‐quality males. 2. Here, we tested the idea that courtship display reflects the health status in a bird species with a lek‐based mating system, the houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata). A group of males was treated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the cell wall of the bacterium Escherichia coli during the seasonal peak of courtship display, while another group of males was injected with a phosphate‐buffered saline solution (PBS) as a control. We then monitored the effect of the treatment on both courtship display and ejaculate quality. Finally, females were artificially inseminated with semen from LPS and PBS males, which allowed us to assess the effect of the immunological treatment on reproduction. 3. We found that the inflammatory challenge reduced courtship display and semen quality compared to controls. Interestingly, males that better resisted to the immune challenge in terms of courtship display also better resisted in terms of ejaculate quality. Early reproductive failure was increased when females were artificially inseminated with semen from immune‐activated males. Failure of eggs laid by females inseminated with LPS semen was due to a reduced fertilization power of sperm of LPS males or to increased embryo mortality in the very early stage of embryo development. As a consequence, hatching rate was reduced for females inseminated with semen collected from LPS males. 4. These results show that by assessing male courtship display, females may gain insight into the current phenotypic/genetic quality of mates and gather fitness benefits in terms of reproductive success.
New aspects on treatment modalities for thromboembolic episodes
Authors: Schulman S. 
Published: April 2010

Abstract.  Schulman S (McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden). New aspects on treatment modalities for thromboembolic episodes (Review). J Intern Med 2010; 268: 109–119.Venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been treated with a glycosaminoglycan, followed by a vitamin K antagonist during the past 60 years. During the past two decades the glycosaminoglycans have undergone refinement, allowing for simplification of care for these patients, but parenteral administration is still required. Therefore, the current completion of phase III trials with selective, predictable and orally available anticoagulants with rapid onset brings promise for a change in paradigm in the treatment of VTE in the next few years. Whereas these efforts will lead to further simplification of the therapy there are also trials conducted to advance the treatment by rapid resolution of the thromboembolism in order to improve long‐term outcome. Catheter‐directed thrombolysis, perhaps also with thrombus fragmentation and stent insertion, if demonstrated to be successful for the reduction of the postthrombotic syndrome, will only be an alternative for a minority of patients due to the complexity, risks and cost of therapy. This treatment increases the complexity at the same time as new drug regimens offer simplicity. This review focuses on the novel therapies for VTE although the new anticoagulants will also play a major role in the management of arterial disease, which will be briefly presented.
Synchronous infection with Mycobacterium chelonae and Paecilomyces in a heart transplant patient
Authors: Kim J.‐E. , Sung H. , Kim M.‐N. , Won C.‐H. , Chang S.‐E. , Lee M.‐W. , Choi J.‐H. , Moon K.‐C. 
Published: April 2010

J.‐E. Kim, H. Sung, M.‐N. Kim, C.‐H. Won, S.‐E. Chang, M.‐W. Lee, J.‐H. Choi, K.‐C. Moon. Synchronous infection with Mycobacterium chelonae and Paecilomyces in a heart transplant patient. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 80–83. All rights reservedAbstract: A 41‐year‐old male who was 3 years status post heart transplant presented with a 3‐month history of painful erythematous nodules and ulcers on his lower legs and right hand. First, Mycobacterium chelonae infection was revealed through several biopsies with molecular sequence analysis, and combination treatment, including clarithromycin, was started. During the treatment, lesions of the legs showed an improvement, but a fluctuant erythematous nodule on the thumb did not respond. Repetitive biopsy from the thumb ultimately identified Paecilomyces species and the patient was treated with itraconazole and terbinafine sequentially. Our case is the first report, to our knowledge, of synchronous infection with non‐tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and Paecilomyces in a solid organ transplant recipient. Our findings highlight the importance of recognizing cutaneous NTM infections or deep mycoses, as well as the importance of choosing an appropriate treatment.
Mapping resistance to the bird cherry‐oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) in barley
Authors: Cheung W. Y. , Di Giorgio L. , Åhman I. 
Published: April 2010

With 4 figures and 3 tables AbstractAphid resistance is a desirable trait in barley to combat the spread of the barley yellow dwarf virus and also to reduce the direct damage that aphids can inflict on cereals. A significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on barley chromosome 3H was mapped based on a doubled‐haploid population derived from F1 of the cross ‘Lina’ × ‘5172‐28:4’ that showed segregation for resistance to bird cherry‐oat aphid. This QTL explained 9% of the variance in aphid growth and is a novel QTL for aphid resistance to bird cherry‐oat aphid. Combining this QTL on chromosome 3H with another major QTL on chromosome 2H would potentially provide a more durable and higher level of resistance. Depending on the prevalent species in the cultivated areas, pyramiding resistance to other aphid species such as the corn leaf aphid and the Russian wheat aphid will provide greater protection to the plant in the field against both aphids and barley yellow dwarf virus.
Improving the Quality of Miniature Pig Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Blastocysts: Aggregation of SCNT Embryos at the Four‐cell Stage
Authors: Terashita Y , Sugimura S , Kudo Y , Amano R , Hiradate Y , Sato E 
Published: April 2010

ContentsMiniature pigs share many similar characteristics such as anatomy, physiology and body size with humans and are expected to become important animal models for therapeutic cloning using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). In the present study, we observed that miniature pig SCNT blastocysts possessed a lower total number of nuclei and a lower percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells than those possessed by in vitro fertilized (IVF) blastocysts. To overcome these problems, we evaluated the applicability of aggregating miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage. We showed that (i) aggregation of two or three miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage improves the total number of nuclei and the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells in blastocysts, and (ii) IVF blastocysts with low cell numbers induced by the removal of two blastomeres at the four‐cell stage did not exhibit a decrease in the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells. These results suggest that the aggregation of miniature pig SCNT embryos at the four‐cell stage can be a useful technique for improving the quality of miniature pig SCNT blastocysts and indicating that improvement in the percentage of POU5F1‐positive cells in aggregated SCNT embryos is not simply the consequence of increased cell numbers.
Effect of CPS14217C>A genotype on valproic‐acid‐induced hyperammonemia
Authors: Yagi Mariko , Nakamura Tsutomu , Okizuka Yo , Oyazato Yoshinobu , Kawasaki Yoko , Tsuneishi Shuichi , Sakaeda Toshiyuki , Matsuo Masafumi , Okumura Katsuhiko , Okamura Noboru 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground:  In order to clarify the factors causing hyperammonemia and to predict occurrences during treatment with valproic acid (VPA), we investigated the effect of the genetic polymorphism of carbamoyl‐phosphate synthase 1 (CPS14217C>A) on susceptibility of hyperammonemia, together with the effect of coadministration of other anticonvulsants.Methods:  Seventy‐nine patients with epilepsy were enrolled, and five of them had hyperammonemia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.Results:  The aspartate aminotransferase level in the patients with hyperammonemia was significantly higher than that in those without hyperammonemia. The risk of hyperammonemia was significantly influenced by the number of anticonvulsants concomitantly administered with VPA. Also, the distribution of the CPS14217C>A genotype differed depending on whether the patients had hyperammonemia or not. No significant effects of CPS14217 genotypes and the number of anticonvulsants coadministered with VPA on the serum concentrations of VPA were observed. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the concomitant administration of two or more anticonvulsants with VPA and the heterozygous or homozygous carrier state of the A allele of the CPS14217C>A polymorphism were independent risk factors for developing hyperammonemia.Conclusions:  These findings suggested that in epileptic patients undergoing VPA therapy, CPS14217A polymorphism and the number of coadministered anticonvulsants would be considered as risk factors for hyperammonemia, even if the serum VPA concentrations were controlled.
The Enzyme Droplets of Vertebrate Kidney
Authors: Pugh D. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe properties and distribution of enzyme droplets of kidney, liver, and gut of several vertebrates were investigated.Qualitative and quantitative differences in enzyme content existed in droplets from different sources. There was usually a closer correlation between the properties of the inclusions and their tissue origin than between the droplets of different organs obtained from one animal. The most noticeable specific characteristic was the relatively low acid phosphatase content of the lizard tissues. In all animals the enzyme droplets of liver and gut were considerably smaller than those of the proximal region of the nephron. The collecting ducts of bird and lizard kidneys possessed droplets of a different composition from those of the proximal segment, these bodies were considered to be associated with external secretion rather than with renal function.
Endotheliochorial Placentation in a Pangolin, Manis tetradactyla
Authors: Heath Everett , Amachree Mara 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe placenta of a pangolin, Manis tetradactyla, was examined grossly and histologically. The placenta was arranged in longitudinal bands of 2–3 mm width. Microscopically there was a deep labyrinth and an underlying layer of distended endometrial glands. A narrow junctional zone was present containing syncytiotrophoblast. Thoughout the labyrinth cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast were observed in contact with maternal capillaries. The placentation was considered to be endotheliochorial in type.