bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A SCAR molecular marker to distinguish Bursaphelenchus mucronatus from the pinewood nematode, B. xylophilus
Authors: Chen F.‐M. , Negi S. , Ye J.‐R. 
Published: November 2010

SummaryBursaphelenchus mucronatus is closely related to the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease. B. xylophilus became a devastating pest when it was introduced in the Far East; however, B. mucronatus is considered to have low virulence. Morphological similarities between B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus make the accurate morphological identification of both species difficult. Thus, it has become important to pay attention towards B. mucronatus impact and the need of discrimination of these two species. To distinguish among the two species, a B. mucronatus‐specific sequence‐characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker has been developed. The specific Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragment of B. mucronatus, OPY01‐M850 was excised from agarose gels and purified. The gel‐purified fragment was cloned into the pGEM®‐T Vector and subjected to sequencing. Based on the sequenced RAPD fragments, a number of SCAR primers were designed. It is demonstrated that OPY01‐M850 through primers Y01F/R can be transformed into a B. mucronatus‐specific SCAR‐Y01‐M609 marker. Primers set Y01F/R had high specificity that could be used for the discriminative identification of B. mucronatus versus B. xylophilus.
Long‐term outcomes of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding after CT enterography: Does negative CT enterography predict lower long‐term rebleeding rate?
Authors: Shin Jae Kook , Cheon Jae Hee , Lim Joon Seok , Park Jae Jun , Moon Chang Mo , Jeon Soung Min , Lee Jin Ha , Hong Sung Pil , Kim Tae Il , Kim Won Ho 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Computed tomography enterography (CTE) is a promising modality for small bowel imaging. However, the role of CTE in the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) has not been established. We investigated the efficacy of CTE in diagnosing OGIB and the long‐term outcomes based on CTE findings, with special reference to negative CTE.Methods:  A total of 63 consecutive patients who had undergone CTE for OGIB were enrolled, and their pre‐ and post‐CTE clinical data were collected. “Specific treatments” were defined as treatments directly aimed at resolving presumed bleeding causes, including hemostasis and operation, while “non‐specific treatments” were defined as symptomatic treatments for anemia.Results:  Among 60 patients for whom long‐term follow‐up data were available, positive lesions were found in 16 patients (26.7%). The overall rebleeding rate was 21.7% during a mean follow up of 17.6 ± 4.7 months. There was no significant difference in the cumulative rebleeding rates between patients with positive and negative CTE results (P = 0.241). All patients who received specific treatments after CTE did not rebleed (0/8). In positive CTE patients, specific treatments significantly reduced the rebleeding rate (P = 0.023).Conclusions:  CTE has a high rate of detecting overt OGIB. However, negative CTE results do not predict lower long‐term rebleeding, and such patients with OGIB should be closely observed. In patients with positive CTE, more vigorous management significantly reduces the incidence of rebleeding.
Update on uncommon pleural effusions
Authors: RYU Jay H. , TOMASSETTI Sara , MALDONADO Fabien 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTAlthough infections, malignancies and heart failure are responsible for the majority of pleural effusions, there are many other causes and several uncommon but distinctive types of pleural fluid. For this update we have chosen several uncommon forms of pleural effusions or disorders in which there have been recent advances in our understanding over the past several years. Chylothorax, pseudochylothorax and urinothorax are associated with characteristic clinical contexts and pleural fluid parameters but are likely underdiagnosed. Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disorder that can be associated with chylothorax and manifests multisystem features. Recognition of these entities is important because each of these disorders is associated with distinctive aetiology and management modalities. Correct diagnosis depends on the clinician's awareness of the clinical contexts and manifestations along with diagnostic pleural fluid findings in these disorders.
Quantitative localisation of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAAreceptor subunits on hippocampal pyramidal cells by freeze‐fracture replica immunolabelling
Authors: Kasugai Yu , Swinny Jerome D. , Roberts J. David B. , Dalezios Yannis , Fukazawa Yugo , Sieghart Werner , Shigemoto Ryuichi , Somogyi Peter 
Published: November 2010

AbstractHippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, which receive γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic input from at least 18 types of presynaptic neuron, express 14 subunits of the pentameric GABAAreceptor. The relative contribution of any subunit to synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors influences the dynamics of GABA and drug actions. Synaptic receptors mediate phasic GABA‐evoked conductance and extrasynaptic receptors contribute to a tonic conductance. We used freeze‐fracture replica‐immunogold labelling, a sensitive quantitative immunocytochemical method, to detect synaptic and extrasynaptic pools of the alpha1, alpha2 and beta3 subunits. Antibodies to the cytoplasmic loop of the subunits showed immunogold particles concentrated on distinct clusters of intramembrane particles (IMPs) on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane on the somata, dendrites and axon initial segments, with an abrupt decrease in labelling at the edge of the IMP cluster. Neuroligin‐2, a GABAergic synapse‐specific adhesion molecule, co‐labels all beta3 subunit‐rich IMP clusters, therefore we considered them synapses. Double‐labelling for two subunits showed that virtually all somatic synapses contain the alpha1, alpha2 and beta3 subunits. The extrasynaptic plasma membrane of the somata, dendrites and dendritic spines showed low‐density immunolabelling. Synaptic labelling densities on somata for the alpha1, alpha2 and beta3 subunits were 78–132, 94 and 79 times higher than on the extrasynaptic membranes, respectively. As GABAergic synapses occupy 0.72% of the soma surface, the fraction of synaptic labelling was 33–48 (alpha1), 40 (alpha2) and 36 (beta3)% of the total somatic surface immunolabelling. Assuming similar antibody access to all receptors, about 60% of these subunits are in extrasynaptic receptors.
Perioperative complications in children with Apert syndrome: a review of 509 anesthetics
Authors: Barnett Sarah , Moloney Claire , Bingham Robert 
Published: November 2010

SummaryObjectives:  To perform a retrospective, anesthesia case note review in children with Apert Syndrome.Aim:  To identify perioperative complications in this group of patients.Background:  Apert syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by craniosynostosis, craniofacial anomalies, and severe symmetrical syndactyly (cutaneous and bony fusion) of the hands and feet. Children with this syndrome require general anesthetics for a number of different operations and procedures. Our institution has records of 71 children with Apert syndrome. Analysis of their general anesthetic records was undertaken, and the incidence of perioperative complications was investigated.Methods:  A retrospective case note review was performed on 61 children with Apert syndrome over a 14‐year period. There were a total of 509 general anesthetics administered to these children during this period of time.Results:  There were a total of 31 perioperative respiratory complications occurring in 21 patients (6.1% of the total cases). Twenty‐three of these complications were supraglottic airway obstruction (4.5% of total cases).Conclusions:  We found there to be a low incidence of major perioperative major complications in this group of patients. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of these children have obstructive sleep apnoea and may develop supraglottic airway obstruction on induction and emergence from anesthesia due to the associated mid‐face anatomical abnormalities.
Niche construction in the light of niche theory
Authors: Kylafis Grigoris , Loreau Michel 
Published: November 2010

Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 82–90AbstractEcological niche construction, the process whereby an organism improves its environment to enhance its growth and persistence, is an important missing element of niche theory. Niche theory has mainly focused on niche‐deteriorating processes, such as resource consumption, predation and competition, which have negative effects on population growth. Here, we integrate niche construction explicitly into modern niche theory. We use a graphical approach to analyse how a species’ niche‐improving impacts interplay with niche‐deteriorating impacts to modify its response to the environment. In a model of two consumers that compete for one limiting resource and one predator, we show how niche construction modifies the traditional niche‐deteriorating impacts of its agent or of competing species, and hence the potential for species coexistence. By altering the balance between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects, niche construction can either generate net interspecific facilitation or strengthen interspecific competition. The adaptive benefit derived from niche construction also strongly affects the realized niche of a niche‐constructing species.
Role of positron emission tomography in urological oncology
Authors: Rioja Jorge , Rodríguez‐Fraile Macarena , Lima‐Favaretto Ricardo , Rincón‐Mayans Anibal , Peñuelas‐Sánchez Iván , Zudaire‐Bergera Juan Javier , Parra Raul O. 
Published: November 2010

• Positron emission tomography (PET) is a diagnostic tool using radiotracers to show changes in metabolic activities in tissues. We analysed the role of PET and PET/computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis, staging, and follow‐up of urological tumours.• A critical, non‐structured review of the literature of the role of PET and PET/CT in urological oncology was conducted.• PET and PET/CT can play a role in the management of urological malignancies. For prostate cancer, the advances in radiotracers seems promising, with novel radiotracers yielding better diagnostic and staging results than 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG). In kidney cancer, PET and PET/CT allow a proper diagnosis before the pathological examination of the surgical specimen. For testis cancer, PET and PET/CT have been shown to be useful in the management of seminoma tumours. In bladder cancer, these scans allow a better initial diagnosis for invasive cancer, while detecting occult metastases.• PET and its combined modality PET/CT have shown their potential in the diagnosis of urological malignancies. However, further studies are needed to establish the role of PET in the management of these diseases. Future applications of PET may involve fusion techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging with PET.
p53‐Associated Parkin‐like cytoplasmic protein (Parc) short‐interfering RNA (siRNA) alters p53 location and biology of Peyronie’s disease fibroblasts
Authors: Mulhall John P. , Barnas Jennifer , Kobylarz Keith , Mueller Alexander 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case control) Level of Evidence 3bOBJECTIVE • To evaluate the impact of p53‐associated Parkin‐like cytoplasmic protein (Parc) short‐interfering RNA (siRNA) on the location of p53 as well as the biology of Peyronie’s disease (PD) plaque‐derived fibroblasts after Parc knockdown.PATIENTS AND METHODS • Plaque tissue was excised from men with stable PD undergoing penile reconstructive surgery and used to produce cultured PD plaque‐derived fibroblasts.• Immunofluorescence (IF) and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were then used to define the location of p53 and Parc before and after siRNA.• Nuclear fractionation studies were used to assess the chronology of translocation of p53 from cytoplasm to nucleus on Parc knockdown.• The terminal transferase dUTP Nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay was used to assess the apoptotic indices of the PD fibroblasts after Parc knockdown.RESULTS • IF and PCR showed high cytoplasmic levels of p53 and Parc before siRNA. On IF, there was little or no p53 present within the nucleus before Parc knockdown.• After Parc siRNA, IF showed translocation of p53 to the fibroblast nucleus, while Parc levels dropped significantly, but what Parc remained was confined to the cytoplasm with none present in the nucleus.• Nuclear fractionation studies using RT‐PCR confirmed this translocation phenomenon and showed the chronology of the event. All p53 had moved from the cytoplasm to the nucleus within 16 h of Parc siRNA.• On TUNEL assay, apoptotic indices increased dramatically after Parc siRNA.CONCLUSIONS • These data prove that Parc is a cytoplasmic anchor for p53 in PD plaque‐derived fibroblasts and may be the primary cause of the stabilization and defunctionalization of p53 in these cells.• These findings support Parc as a novel target for PD pharmacotherapy, perhaps using human siRNA technologies once commercially available.
Low dose of ketoconazole in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma resistant to pharmacological castration
Authors: Procopio Giuseppe , Guadalupi Valentina , Giganti Maria Olga , Mariani Luigi , Salvioni Roberto , Nicolai Nicola , Capone Filippo , Valdagni Riccardo , Bajetta Emilio 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Ketoconazole is an inhibitor of adrenal androgen synthesis which carries on the anti‐tumour activity by interfering with different enzymes, cytochrome P450 14‐α‐demethylase, C 17,20 lyase and C 17 α‐hydroxylase. Some studies have shown an anti‐tumour activity of ketoconazole employed at different dose levels following the failure of androgen‐suppressive therapies.Patients refractory to pharmacological castration and/or chemotherapy could have an additional benefit in terms of disease control from the use of low dose of ketoconazole. The safety profile was good.OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of ketoconazole in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From April 2008 to November 2009, 37 patients with CRPC have been treated with ketoconazole. The primary endpoint was the prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) response; the secondary endpoints were progression‐free survival and safety profile.
Ketoconazole was administered by oral route at a dose of 200 mg every 8 h continuous dosing until the onset of serious adverse events or disease progression.
The study was based on a two‐step design with an interim efficacy analysis carried out on the first 12 patients accrued.

RESULTS

Main characteristics of population were: median age 75 years (range 60–88); baseline mean PSA 28.8 ng/mL (4.3–1000); 30 patients previously challenged with at least two lines of hormone therapy; 15 patients previously treated with chemotherapy.
Biochemical responses accounted for: two complete responses (5%), six partial responses (16%), 13 patients with stable disease (35%), and 14 with progressive disease (38%). Of 15 patients resistant to chemotherapy, overall disease control (complete plus partial responses plus stable disease) was recorded in seven of them.
Treatment was feasible without inducing grade 3–4 adverse events. The most common grade 1–2 adverse events were asthenia (27%), vomiting (8%) and abdominal pain (8%).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with low‐dose ketoconazole is feasible and well tolerated. The efficacy was satisfactory in patients previously treated with chemotherapy.
Oncological outcomes after laparoscopic and open radical nephroureterectomy: results from an international cohort
Authors: Walton Thomas J. , Novara Giacomo , Matsumoto Kazumasa , Kassouf Wassim , Fritsche Hans‐Martin , Artibani Walter , Bastian Patrick J. , Martínez‐Salamanca Juan I. , Seitz Christian , Thomas Stephen A. , Ficarra Vincenzo , Burger Maximilian , Tritschler Stefan , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Shariat Shahrokh F. 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Despite widespread adoption of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) for upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC), few studies have confirmed that it shares equivalent oncological outcomes with conventional open nephroureterectomy.This second large multicentre study confirms oncological equivalence for ONU and LNU in cohorts of both low and high risk patients.OBJECTIVE• To compare oncological outcomes in patients undergoing open radical nephroureterectomy (ONU) with those in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephroureterectomy (LNU).PATIENTS AND METHODS• A total of 773 patients underwent radical nephroureterectomy at nine centres worldwide; 703 patients underwent ONU and 70 underwent LNU.• Demographic, perioperative and oncological outcome data were collected retrospectively.• Statistical analysis of data was performed using chi‐squared, Mann–Whitney U‐ and log‐rank tests, and Cox regression analyses.• The median (interquartile range) follow‐up for the cohort was 34 (15–65) months.RESULTS• The two groups were well matched for tumour stage, presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and concomitant carcinoma in situ (CIS).• There were more high‐grade tumours (77.1% vs. 56.3%; P < 0.001) but fewer lymph node positive patients (2.9% vs. 6.8%; P= 0.041) in the LNU group.• Estimated 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was 73.7% and 63.4% for the ONU and LNU groups, respectively (P= 0.124) and estimated 5‐year cancer‐specific survival (CSS) was 75.4% and 75.2% for the ONU and LNU groups, respectively (P= 0.897).• On multivariable analyses, which included age, gender, race, previous endoscopic treatment for bladder cancer, technique for distal ureter management, tumour location, pathological stage, grade, lymph node status, LVI and concomitant CIS, the procedure type (LNU vs. ONU) was not predictive of RFS (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.80; P= 0.534) or CSS (HR 0.96; P= 0.907).CONCLUSION• The present study is the second large, independent, multicentre cohort to show oncological equivalence between ONU and LNU for well selected patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer, and the first to suggest parity for the techniques in patients with unfavourable disease.
R D Lawrence Lecture 2010^. The brain as a target organ in Type 2 diabetes: exploring the links with cognitive impairment and dementia
Authors: Strachan M. W. J. 
Published: November 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 141–147 (2011)AbstractType 2 diabetes is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but the precise underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Very high blood glucose concentrations are associated with mood changes and poor memory function, possibly by causing alterations in cerebral blood flow or osmotic changes in neurones, and correction of acute hyperglycaemia appears beneficial. Chronic hyperglycaemia may cause structural changes in the brain, such as cerebral microvascular disease, and there are strong associations between the presence of retinal microvascular abnormalities and cognitive function. Functional insulin deficiency in the brain may also be a factor, but trials with rosiglitazone in people with diabetes and other trials in people with Alzheimer's disease have shown no specific benefit of insulin sensitization. There is an association between hypoglycaemia and cognitive impairment in people with Type 2 diabetes; part of that association may simply be a consequence of the fact that people with cognitive impairment find it more difficult to manage their diabetes and so are more prone to hypoglycaemia. The potential for hypoglycaemia to cause harm to the brain has been debated for many years, and the issue remains unresolved. An ongoing prospective study of risk factors for cognitive impairment in people with Type 2 diabetes (Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study) should improve our understanding of the aetiology of cognitive impairment and inform the design of future intervention trials.
Form and Substance in Legal Reasoning: Two Conceptions
Authors: NIEMI MATTI ILMARI 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThere are two possible ways to understand form and substance in legal reasoning. The first refers to the distinction between concepts and their applications, whereas the second concentrates on the difference between authoritative and non‐authoritative reasons. These approaches refer to the formalistic and positivistic conceptions of the law, the latter being the author's point of departure. Nevertheless, they are both helpful means of analysis in legal interpretation. Interpretation is divided into formal and substantive justification. They have certain functions and they are utilized in interaction. Authoritative reasons and formal reasoning constitute the necessary point of departure. However, substantive reasons are also necessary in order to justify choices included in interpretation. In addition to formal and substantive reasoning, the role of legal concepts is analysed.
Altruistic Dynamic Pricing with Customer Regret
Authors: Rotemberg Julio J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA model is considered in which firms internalize the costly regret that consumers experience when prices change unexpectedly. This regret is greater when prices change by more, and this can explain why the actual size of price increases for firms with rigid prices is less sensitive to inflation than in models with fixed costs of changing prices. Regret costs of this form also lead to more variable price changes than fixed costs do. Last, the practice of announcing price increases in advance is easier to rationalize with regret concerns by consumers than with more standard approaches to price rigidity.
Employment Fluctuations with Downward Wage Rigidity: The Role of Moral Hazard*
Authors: Costain James , Jansen Marcel 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe study the cyclical dynamics of job creation and destruction when workers' effort is not perfectly observable. The no‐shirking constraint may amplify fluctuations in hiring by making firms' surplus share procyclical, and may cause a burst of inefficient firing when a downturn begins. But quantitatively, it mainly raises the cost of motivating marginal workers in booms, since firms cannot commit to keep them in recessions, and thereby strongly damps the countercyclical fluctuations in the separation rate. This implies a robust Beveridge curve, but casts doubt on Ramey and Watson's (1997)“contractual fragility” mechanism and worsens Shimer's (2005a)“volatility puzzle”.
Downward Wage Rigidities and Optimal Monetary Policy in a Monetary Union*
Authors: Fahr Stephan , Smets Frank 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper analyses the implications of heterogeneity in the type of downward wage rigidity (nominal or real) for optimal monetary policy in a monetary union with asymmetric wage adjustment costs. Indexation in one region of the union reduces optimal grease inflation in the presence of common productivity shocks. Large common shocks may have sizeable and persistent effects on the intra‐union terms of trade, whereby the region characterized by downward real wage rigidity adjusts with a persistent loss of competitiveness. In response to asymmetric productivity shocks, there is no role for grease inflation because relative price changes facilitating the real wage changes dominate the adjustment mechanism.