bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of new DNA markers linked to the Fusarium wilt resistance locus Fom‐1 in melon
Authors: Tezuka T. , Waki K. , Kuzuya M. , Ishikawa T. , Takatsu Y. , Miyagi M. 
Published: July 2010

With 5 figures and 2 tables AbstractUse of resistance genes would be the most effective way to address Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis in melon. In this study, based on the BAC 31O16 sequence which contains the cluster of melon resistance gene homologue, we developed four new DNA markers linked to Fom‐1, a dominant resistance gene against F. oxysporum f.sp. melonis races 0 and 2. Linkage analysis using 125 F2 plants derived from the cross between P11 (fom‐1fom‐1) and MR‐1 (Fom‐1Fom‐1) indicated that Fom‐1 was located between CAPS markers C‐MRGH12 and 62‐CAPS at a distance of 0.4 and 1.2 cM, respectively. Map position of Fom‐1 was confirmed using another mapping population consisting of 104 recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross P11 × MR‐1. The analysis of 43 fixed lines and 27 commercial F1 hybrids showed that the developed DNA markers linked to Fom‐1 correctly predicted the genotype in relation to the variety, suggesting that the region around the Fom‐1 locus is very polymorphic or there is no linkage disequilibrium between the locus and the marker loci.
Cattle, weather and water: mapping Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections in humans in England and Scotland
Authors: Money P. , Kelly A. F. , Gould S. W. J. , Denholm‐Price J. , Threlfall E. J. , Fielder M. D. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryEntero‐haemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a zoonotic pathogen, responsible for a relatively small number of food poisoning and illness outbreaks each year, when compared with other food‐borne bacteria capable of causing infections in the population. Nevertheless, E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterial pathogen associated with severe human illnesses including bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uremic syndrome occurring in both outbreak and sporadic settings. In England and Wales approximately 1% of all laboratory‐confirmed cases of food poisoning are the result of E. coli O157:H7; however, in Scotland this figure increases to 3%. When the size of the population is taken into account and the rate of E. coli O157:H7 confirmed cases per 100 000 population is examined, the rate of E. coli 0157:H7 infections in Scotland is much greater than England and Wales. The routes of transmission have changed over time, with new routes of transmission such as farm visits emerging. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 has a seasonal dependency, with greater faecal shedding of the organism in the warmer months; this is directly mirrored in the increased reporting of E. coli O157:H7 infection among hospitalized patients. This review attempts to suggest why this phenomenon occurs, paying particular attention to weather, animal movement and private water supplies.
Improvement of stress tolerance of wheat and barley by modulation of expression of DREB/CBF factors
Authors: Morran Sarah , Eini Omid , Pyvovarenko Tatiana , Parent Boris , Singh Rohan , Ismagul Ainur , Eliby Serik , Shirley Neil , Langridge Peter , Lopato Sergiy 
Published: July 2010

SummaryTranscription factors have been shown to control the activity of multiple stress response genes in a coordinated manner and therefore represent attractive targets for application in molecular plant breeding. We investigated the possibility of modulating the transcriptional regulation of drought and cold responses in the agriculturally important species, wheat and barley, with a view to increase drought and frost tolerance. Transgenic wheat and barley plants were generated showing constitutive (double 35S) and drought‐inducible (maizeRab17) expression of theTaDREB2andTaDREB3transcription factors isolated from wheat grain. Transgenic populations with constitutive over‐expression showed slower growth, delayed flowering and lower grain yields relative to the nontransgenic controls. However, both theTaDREB2andTaDREB3transgenic plants showed improved survival under severe drought conditions relative to nontransgenic controls. There were two components to the drought tolerance: real (activation of drought‐stress‐inducible genes) and ‘seeming’ (consumption of less water as a result of smaller size and/or slower growth of transgenics compared to controls). The undesired changes in plant development associated with the ‘seeming’ component of tolerance could be alleviated by using a drought‐inducible promoter. In addition to drought tolerance, bothTaDREB2andTaDREB3transgenic plants with constitutive over‐expression of the transgene showed a significant improvement in frost tolerance. The increased expression ofTaDREB2andTaDREB3lead to elevated expression in the transgenics of 10 otherCBF/DREBgenes and a large number of stress responsiveLEA/COR/DHNgenes known to be responsible for the protection of cell from damage and desiccation under stress.
H63D polymorphism in the hemochromatosis gene is associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in China
Authors: He X. , Lu X. , Hu J. , Xi J. , Zhou D. , Shang H. , Liu L. , Zhou H. , Yan B. , Yu L. , Hu F. , Liu Z. , He L. , Yao X. , Xu Y. 
Published: July 2010

Background and purpose:  The H63D polymorphism in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene has been reported as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Europe and America, but no data have been reported for Asia. Here, we investigated the possible association between H63D and sporadic ALS (sALS) in a Chinese Han population.Methods:  A total of 195 individuals with sALS from three centers in China and 405 unrelated healthy controls were recruited. All subjects were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.Results:  Sporadic ALS was significantly related to the H63D polymorphism in heterozygous carriers (odds ratio 3.10, 95%CI: 1.49–6.47, P = 0.002).Conclusions:  The HFE H63D polymorphism may contribute to the development of sALS in Chinese.
Treatment of pigmented purpuric dermatoses with Narrow‐band UVB: a report of six cases
Authors: Fathy H , Abdelgaber S 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackground  Pigmented purpuric dermatoses (PPD) are a group of chronic disorders that pose a therapeutic challenge.Objective  In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB UVB) in the treatment of PPD.Patients and methods  Six patients of PPD were treated with NB UVB: one patient had Majocchi's purpura and five had Schamberg's disease. NB UVB was given on three weekly basis till clearance, then maintenance treatments were scheduled as twice weekly for 3 weeks and once weekly for another 3 weeks. The patients were followed up to 1 year.Results  Successful treatment was achieved in all treatment patients after 24–28 NB UVB treatments and maintenance of nine treatments. Only two patients showed flare of their lesions after stoppage of NB UVB and efficiently controlled with further 14 NB UVB treatments.Conclusion  NB UVB is effective in the treatment of PPD and should be considered as a treatment option for PPD.
An association of TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism and severity/phenotype of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Potaczek DP , Nastalek M , Okumura K , Wojas‐Pelc A , Undas A , Nishiyama C 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBackground  Toll‐like receptor 2 gene (TLR2) –16934A>T polymorphism has been shown to be associated with severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) as measured using severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Moreover, TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism has been associated with atopy and allergic disorders in farmers’ children.Objective  The aim of this study was to evaluate an association between TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism and AD phenotype, including disease severity and concomitant atopic diseases, or potential serum markers of AD severity and also to find a molecular background of the clinical associations.Methods  Genotyping for TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism was performed in 130 consecutive adult ambulatory patients with AD. Total serum (TS) IgE levels, serum tryptase, plasma interleukin‐6 and C‐reactive protein were measured. In addition, luciferase assay and electrophoretic‐mobility shift assay were conducted to assess the effect of –16934A>T polymorphism on transcriptional activity.Results  There was an inverse association of TLR2–16934TT genotype and/or –16934T allele with SCORAD, but not with TS IgE, tryptase or inflammatory markers. Interestingly, –16934AA genotype and/or –16934A allele were overrepresented in AD patients with concomitant asthma or a family history of atopy. In a subgroup analysis, TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism was associated with SCORAD, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis or family history of atopy in AD patients with TS IgE ≥106 IU/mL but not in those having TS IgE <106 IU/mL. Functional analyses showed that TLR2–16934T allele is associated with higher luciferase activity in human monocytic THP‐1 cells and preferential binding of the THP‐1‐derived nuclear protein.Conclusion  TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism could be a genetic predictor of AD severity, the coexistence of asthma or atopic conjunctivitis as well as a family history of atopic diseases, especially in subjects having higher TS IgE. TLR2–16934A>T polymorphism affects transcriptional activity, which may at least in part account for the clinical associations observed for the –16934A>T polymorphism.
‘I Feel Pain’– audit of communication skills and understanding of pain and health needs with people with learning disabilities
Authors: Beacroft Monica , Dodd Karen 
Published: July 2010

Accessible summary People with learning disabilities describe pain in terms of feelings or emotions. Staff and doctors do not use pain recognition tools or communication aids. People with learning disabilities often do not tell staff or family carers that they are in pain. If they do, they are unlikely to be given pain medication, and more likely to be taken to the doctors. People with learning disabilities mostly know who is their doctor and understand what the doctor does. The majority of people said that the doctor explained what was wrong with them, what the medication was for and how often they needed to take it. This research matters to people with learning disabilities. It is important that staff and carers recognise and manage pain well. Since this audit a pain training pack for staff and carers has been developed and is being used and booklets for both people with learning disabilities and staff and carers have been developed and given out.SummaryAn audit was conducted across Surrey to investigate pain recognition and management with people with learning disabilities. This section of the audit looked at what people with learning disabilities understood and experienced when they had pain compared to good practice from the literature. The results show that people with learning disabilities struggle to discuss pain effectively, and that little use is made of additional communication aids. People with learning disabilities rely on others to deal with their pain, but may not tell people that they are in pain. The most common response to having pain is to go to the doctors, and many people were not offered pain medication by staff. It was also reported that other alternative strategies were not used to manage pain. Although most people did not make the decision as to whether they needed to see their doctor, most people knew who their doctor was and reported good experiences in terms of information sharing once at the appointment. Further work has since been undertaken in Surrey to address the concerns raised in this audit through the development of information booklets on pain recognition and management for people with learning disabilities and for staff and family carers, together with the development and roll out of pain training.
Self‐efficacy and stress of staff managing challenging behaviours of people with learning disabilities
Authors: Cudré‐Mauroux Annick 
Published: July 2010

Accessible summary

The professional caregivers of persons with learning disabilities are the focus of this research. They have been shown to experience high levels of stress when they have to face challenging behaviours. This stress may also affect the persons under their care as they can respond to them in an inappropriate way.
The way professional caregivers believe in their competencies to help the persons showing challenging behaviours plays a great role in their stress experience.
Some ideas for research are presented to help professional caregivers to increase their feeling of competency in situations of challenging behaviours.

SummarySelf‐efficacy has been reported to play a significant role in stress levels of parents facing challenging behaviours of their children with learning disabilities. The role of self‐efficacy has also been found to affect the stress levels of professional caregivers in such situations. To understand the implications of staff self‐efficacy in stressful situations of challenging behaviours, its inscription in transactional stress process will be considered. As a result, this study investigates this relationship through a qualitative design. Semi‐structured interview format was selected. Theoretical indicators of self‐efficacy regarding particular stress stages were identified in a categorical analysis. A case study method was used to promote the apparition of ecological data and enhance comprehension of inter‐influences. Findings highlight the importance of adequate measures of self‐efficacy regarding its insertion in particular contexts. Moreover, different forms of self‐efficacy related to the coping process are suggested.
Community and Individual Race/Ethnicity and Home Health Care Use among Elderly Persons in the United States
Authors: Kirby James B. , Lau Denys T. 
Published: July 2010

Objective. To investigate whether the interaction between individual race/ethnicity and community racial/ethnic composition is associated with health‐related home care use among elderly persons in the United States.Data Sources. A nationally representative sample of community‐dwelling elders aged 65+ from the 2000 to 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (N=23,792) linked to block group‐level racial/ethnic information from the 2000 Decennial Census.Design. We estimated the likelihood of informal and formal home health care use for four racial/ethnic elderly groups (non‐Hispanic [NH] whites, NH‐blacks, NH‐Asians, and Hispanics) living in communities with different racial/ethnic compositions.Principal Findings. NH‐Asian and Hispanic elders living in block groups with ≥25 percent of residents being NH‐Asian or Hispanic, respectively, were more likely to use informal home health care than their counterparts in other block groups. No such effect was apparent for formal home health care.Conclusions. NH‐Asian and Hispanic elders are more likely to use informal home care if they live in communities with a higher proportion of residents who share their race/ethnicity. A better understanding of how informal care is provided in different communities may inform policy makers concerned with promoting informal home care, supporting informal caregivers, or providing formal home care as a substitute or supplement to informal care.
Time Is Money: Opportunity Cost and Physicians' Provision of Charity Care 1996–2005
Authors: Wright David Bradley 
Published: July 2010

Objective. To test whether physicians' provision of charity care depends on their hourly wage.Data Sources. Secondary data from four rounds of the Community Tracking Study (CTS) Physician Survey (1996–2005). Data are nationally representative of nonfederal office‐ and hospital‐based physicians spending at least 20 hours per week on patient care.Study Design. A two‐part model with site‐level fixed effects, time trend variables, and site–year interactions is used to model the relationship between physicians' hourly wage and both their decision to provide any charity care and the amount of charity care provided. Salaried and nonsalaried physicians are modeled separately.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Data from each round of the CTS were merged into a single cross‐sectional file with 38,087 physician‐year observations.Principal Findings. The association between physician's hourly wage and the likelihood of providing charity care is positive for salaried physicians and negative for nonsalaried physicians. Among physicians providing any charity care, hourly wage is positively associated with the amount of charity care provided regardless of salaried status. Practice characteristics are also significant.Conclusions. The financial considerations of salaried physicians differ significantly from those of nonsalaried physicians in the decision to provide charity care, but factor similarly into the amount of charity care provided.
Demographic characteristics and prevalence of serologic markers among blood donors who use confidential unit exclusion (CUE) in São Paulo, Brazil: implications for modification of CUE polices in Brazil
Authors: de Almeida‐Neto Cesar , Liu Jing , Wright David J. , Mendrone‐Junior Alfredo , Takecian Pedro L. , Sun Yu , Ferreira Joao Eduardo , de Alencar Fischer Chamone Dalton , Busch Michael P. , Sabino Ester Cerdeira ,   For the NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study‐II (REDS‐II), International Component
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated demographic profiles and prevalence of serologic markers among donors who used confidential unit exclusion (CUE) to assess the effectiveness of CUE and guide public policies regarding the use of CUE for enhancing safety versus jeopardizing the blood supply by dropping CUE.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of whole blood donations at a large public blood center in São Paulo from July 2007 through June 2009, compared demographic data, and confirmed serologic results among donors who used and who have never used CUE (CUE never).RESULTS: There were 265,550 whole blood units collected from 181,418 donors from July 2007 through June 2009. A total of 9658 (3.6%) units were discarded, 2973 (1.1%) because CUE was used at the current donation (CUE now) and 6685 (2.5%) because CUE was used in the past (CUE past). The CUE rate was highest among donors with less than 8 years of education (odds ratio [OR], 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.51‐3.08). CUE now donations were associated with higher positive infectious disease marker rates than CUE never donations (OR, 1.41; CI, 1.13‐1.77), whereas CUE past donations were not (OR, 1.04; CI, 0.75‐1.45).CONCLUSION: The CUE process results in a high rate of unit discard. CUE use on an individual donation appears predictive of a high‐risk marker‐positive donation and, thus, appears to contribute modestly to blood safety. The policy of discarding units from donors who have previously CUE‐positive donations does not improve safety and should be discontinued.
Obama Plan May Spur Proliferation
Authors: WOOLSEY R. JAMES 
Published: July 2010

Is President Barack Obama's proposal for zero nuclear weapons realistic? Will it make the world more secure, or more prone to wars since they are no longer unthinkable?To evaluate this bold strategic initiative, we have invited comments from two former US secretaries of state, a former director of the CIA and the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency who led the hunt for Saddam's non‐existent weapons of mass destruction on the eve of the Iraq war.
Urokinase and its receptor in follicular and inflammatory cysts of the jaws
Authors: Serratì Simona , Panzardi Irene , Margheri Francesca , Chillà Anastasia , Torre Eugenio , Fibbi Gabriella , Tonelli Paolo , Del Rosso Mario 
Published: July 2010

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 753–759Objective:  Proteases are considered critical in peri‐cystic tissue degradation required in jaw cyst expansion. We studied the expression of the plasminogen activation system (plasminogen activators; their inhibitor type‐1, PAI‐1; the receptor for the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator, uPAR) in follicular and inflammatory cysts of the jaw, to identify a possible role of this system in jaw cyst enlargement.Materials and Methods:  Jaw cysts were collected by therapeutic enucleation. ELISA and casein zymography were used to measure and characterize plasminogen activators in cyst fluid. By immunohistochemistry we examined the presence of uPAR in cyst walls and inflammatory cells, and by Western blotting the molecular forms of uPAR within the cyst fluid.Results:  Inflammatory cysts fluid contained higher amounts of plasminogen activators of the urinary‐type (uPA), and lower amounts of PAI‐1, when compared to follicular cysts fluid. Epithelial layers of both types of cysts and inflammatory cells expressed uPAR. Native 3‐domain uPAR was scarcely detectable within cysts, where its cleavage was accounted for by uPA.Conclusion:  These data suggest a plasminogen activation‐dependent mechanism of cyst enlargement, where only the outward uPAR expressed on epithelial cells and on inflammatory cells direct the peri‐cystic protease cascade, in a way similar to tumor enlargement within tissues.
The road to ruin: the formation of disease‐associated oral biofilms
Authors: Jakubovics NS , Kolenbrander PE 
Published: July 2010

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 729–739The colonization of oral surfaces by micro‐organisms occurs in a characteristic sequence of stages, each of which is potentially amenable to external intervention. The process begins with the adhesion of bacteria to host receptors on epithelial cells or in the salivary pellicle covering tooth surfaces. Interbacterial cell–cell binding interactions facilitate the attachment of new species and increase the diversity of the adherent microbial population. Microbial growth in oral biofilms is influenced by the exchange of chemical signals, metabolites and toxic products between neighbouring cells. Bacterial cells on tooth surfaces (dental plaque) produce extracellular polymers such as complex carbohydrates and nucleic acids. These large molecules form a protective matrix that contributes to the development of dental caries and, possibly, to periodontitis. The identification of key microbial factors underlying each step in the formation of oral biofilms will provide new opportunities for preventative or therapeutic measures aimed at controlling oral infectious diseases.
Smoking and matrix metalloproteinases, neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase in chronic periodontitis
Authors: Özçaka Ö , Bıçakcı N , Pussinen P , Sorsa T , Köse T , Buduneli N 
Published: July 2010

Oral Diseases (2010) 17, 68–76Objectives:  To investigate possible relationship between smoking and serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase‐8,‐9 (MMP‐8, MMP‐9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases‐1 (TIMP‐1), neutrophil elastase (NE), myeloperoxidase (MPO) in chronic periodontitis (CP) patients relative to periodontally healthy subjects.Methods:  Serum samples were obtained from 111 subjects before initiation of any periodontal intervention. Fifty‐five CP patients (39 non‐smokers, 16 smokers) and 56 periodontally healthy subjects (39 non‐smokers, 17 smokers) were recruited. Serum concentrations of MMP‐8 were determined by IFMA and MPO, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, NE concentrations by ELISA. ANCOVA and Pearson correlation analysis was utilized for statistical analysis.Results:  Serum MPO, NE concentrations were higher in smoker CP than non‐smoker CP patients (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas these were similar in smoker, non‐smoker periodontally healthy groups (P > 0.05). TIMP‐1 concentration was higher in non‐smoker CP than smoker CP group (P < 0.05). MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios were higher in smoker CP than non‐smoker CP group (P = 0.01). MMP‐8 concentrations, MMP‐8/TIMP‐1 and MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios in CP group were not significantly different from those in periodontally healthy group (P > 0.05).Conclusions:  Our findings of significantly elevated serum MMP‐9, MPO, NE together with decreased TIMP‐1 in smoker CP patients than non‐smokers support that smoking together with periodontal destruction may expose/predispose to cardiovascular diseases.