bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the trail of a cereal killer: recent advances in Fusarium graminearum pathogenomics and host resistance
Authors: KAZAN KEMAL , GARDINER DONALD M. , MANNERS JOHN M. 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThe ascomycete fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (sexual stage: Gibberella zeae) causes the devastating head blight or scab disease on wheat and barley, and cob or ear rot disease on maize. Fusarium graminearum infection causes significant crop and quality losses. In addition to roles as virulence factors during pathogenesis, trichothecene mycotoxins (e.g. deoxynivalenol) produced by this pathogen constitute a significant threat to human and animal health if consumed in respective food or feed products. In the last few years, significant progress has been made towards a better understanding of the processes involved in F. graminearum pathogenesis, toxin biosynthesis and host resistance mechanisms through the use of high‐throughput genomic and phenomic technologies. In this article, we briefly review these new advances and also discuss how future research can contribute to the development of sustainable plant protection strategies against this important plant pathogen.
RD‐CODOX‐M/IVAC with rituximab and intrathecal liposomal cytarabine in adult Burkitt lymphoma and ‘unclassifiable’ highly aggressive B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Corazzelli Gaetano , Frigeri Ferdinando , Russo Filippo , Frairia Chiara , Arcamone Manuela , Esposito Gennaro , De Chiara Annarosaria , Morelli Emanuela , Capobianco Gaetana , Becchimanzi Cristina , Volzone Francesco , Saggese Mariangela , Marcacci Giampaolo , De Filippi Rosaria , Vitolo Umberto , Pinto Antonio 
Published: November 2011

SummarySpecific trials on adult Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and ‘unclassifiable’ lymphomas with features intermediate between BL and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (BL/DLBCL) are advocated which include substantial numbers of older patients, to improve treatment feasibility, while countering risks of systemic and central nervous system (CNS) recurrences. We prospectively evaluated a modified CODOX‐M/IVAC (CODOX‐M: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, high‐dose methotrexate; IVAC: ifosfamide, etoposide and high‐dose cytarabine) regimen by the addition of rituximab (R) and liposome‐encapsulated cytarabine (D) to increase antitumour activity and halve the number of intrathecal treatments. Thirty adults (40% >60 years) with BL (n = 15) and BL/DLBCL (n = 15) were accrued. Primary endpoints were progression‐free survival (PFS), CNS recurrence, and liposomal cytarabine‐associated toxicity. Eighty percent of patients received the whole treatment programme, the remaining cases received at least three full courses. Application of the RD‐CODOX‐M/IVAC regimen resulted in remarkable 4‐year PFS (78%) and complete remission (CR) rates (93%). However, PFS was significantly lower in patients older than 60 years as compared to younger ones (49%vs 93%, P = 0·03; median, 36 months), despite high actual dose‐intensity, CR rate and tolerability. Reduced‐intensity intratechal prophylaxis through liposomal cytarabine was effective because the CNS failure rate was low (3·4%) and without severe neurological toxicities. The RD‐CODOX‐M/IVAC strategy is feasible and highly effective, but improving outcomes in elderly patients remains a priority.
Gonadotrophin secretion pattern in anorchid boys from birth to pubertal age: pathophysiological aspects and diagnostic usefulness
Authors: Grinspon Romina P. , Ropelato María G. , Bedecarrás Patricia , Loreti Nazareth , Ballerini María G. , Gottlieb Silvia , Campo Stella M. , Rey Rodolfo A. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryContext  The biphasic ontogeny of serum gonadotrophins observed in normal children also exists in girls with gonadal dysgenesis, although with higher levels. However, limited data exist in prepubertal boys with anorchia.Objective  To investigate whether the existence of testicular tissue is required for gonadotrophin downregulation in boys. Secondarily, we analysed the prevalence of high gonadotrophins and its diagnostic value to assess the presence or absence of testes in childhood.Study design  In a retrospective, semi‐longitudinal study, we compared serum gonadotrophin levels in 35 boys with anorchia aged 0–18 years, in 29 bilaterally cryptorchid boys with abdominal testes and in 236 normal boys.Results  In anorchid boys, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were abnormally high in the first months after birth, then decreased progressively. LH decreased more readily than FSH and dropped to normal values in up to 70% of anorchid patients before the usual age of pubertal onset, when both gonadotrophins increased again to very high levels. In cryptorchid boys, FSH was elevated in a significantly (P < 0·0001) lower proportion of cases. Below the age of 6 years, FSH below 2 IU/l ruled out anorchia and LH above 5 IU/l confirmed anorchia with high accuracy. Between 6 and 11 years, FSH or LH levels above 5 IU/l were highly specific for the absence of testes.Conclusions  The U‐shaped pattern of serum gonadotrophins observed in normal males from birth to puberty was also found in anorchid boys, but with gonadotrophin levels considerably elevated. Serum gonadotrophin levels may normalize in anorchid boys during late childhood only to rise again at puberty. The presence of testicular tissue results in restrain of gonadotrophin secretion in most patients, even if the testes are cryptorchid.
Fine epitope mapping within the pathogenic thyroglobulin peptide 2340–2359: minimal epitopes retaining antigenicity across various MHC haplotypes are not necessarily immunogenic
Authors: Hatzioannou Aikaterini , Alevizaki Maria , Carayanniotis George , Lymberi Peggy 
Published: November 2011

SummaryWe have previously reported that the 20‐mer peptide p2340 (amino acids 2340–2359), of human thyroglobulin (Tg) has the unique feature that it causes experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in mouse strains bearing high‐responder (HR) or low‐responder (LR) MHC haplotypes in Tg‐induced EAT. In this study, we have employed fine epitope mapping to examine whether this property of p2340 is the result of recognition of distinct or shared minimal T‐cell epitopes in the context of HR or LR MHC class II molecules. Use of overlapping peptides showed that a core minimal 9‐mer epitope (LTWVQTHIR, amino acids 2344–2352) was recognized by p2340‐primed T cells from both HR (H2k,s) and LR (H2b,d) strains, whereas a second 9‐mer epitope (HIRGFGGDP, amino acids 2350–2358) was antigenic only in H2s hosts. Truncation analysis of LTWVQTHIR and HIRGFGGDP peptides delineated them as the minimal epitopes recognized by p2340‐primed T cells from the above strains. Subcutaneous challenge of all mouse strains with the 9‐mer core peptide LTWVQTHIR in adjuvant elicited specific lymph node cell proliferative responses and mild EAT only in HR hosts, highlighting this sequence as a minimal pathogenic Tg peptide in EAT. The 9‐mer peptide HIRGFGGDP was not found to be immunogenic in H2s hosts. These data demonstrate that minimal T‐cell epitopes, defined as autoantigenic in hosts of various MHC haplotypes, are not intrinsically immunogenic. Activation of naive autoreactive T cells may require contributions from flanking residues within longer peptide sequences encompassing these epitopes.
Identification ofYersinia ruckerifrom diseased salmonid fish by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Wortberg F , Nardy E , Contzen M , Rau J 
Published: November 2011

AbstractYersinia ruckeriis the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), which mainly affects salmonid fish. Isolates ofY. ruckerifrom diseased salmonid fish were obtained over a 6‐year period from eight fish farms in the State of Baden‐Württemberg, Southwest Germany. The strains were characterized by biochemical methods and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) combined with artificial neural network analysis. These methods were complemented by 16S rDNA sequencing for several isolates. The set of strains from these fish farms included sorbitol‐positive, gelatinase‐positive and non‐motileY. ruckeri. These variants were differentiated with an advanced FT‐IR module, which is part of a higher‐ranking method including more than 200 well‐definedYersiniastrains against a background of more than 1000 other Gram‐negative isolates. Validation of the newly constructed method yielded 97.4% ofY. ruckeriidentified correctly on the species level. Thus, the FT‐IR analysis enables distinction of allY. ruckerifrom otherYersiniaspecies (e.g. fish‐borneY. enterocolitica) and other Enterobacteriaceae typically misidentified because of similar biochemical reaction profiles, especiallyHafnia alvei. The differentiation of sorbitol‐positive variants ofY. ruckeriusing FT‐IR was demonstrated.
Multiple lines of evidence for demographic and range expansion of a temperate species (Hyla sarda) during the last glaciation
Authors: BISCONTI ROBERTA , CANESTRELLI DANIELE , COLANGELO PAOLO , NASCETTI GIUSEPPE 
Published: November 2011

AbstractMany temperate species experienced demographic and range contractions in response to climatic changes during Pleistocene glaciations. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary history of the Tyrrhenian tree frogHyla sarda, a species inhabiting the Corsica–Sardinia island system (Western Mediterranean basin). We used sequence analysis of two mitochondrial (overall 1229 bp) and three nuclear (overall 1692 bp) gene fragments to assess the phylogeography and demographic history of this species, and species distribution modelling (SDM) to predict its range variation over time. Phylogeographic, historical demographic and SDM analyses consistently indicate thatH. sardadoes not conform to the scenario generally expected for temperate species but rather underwent demographic and range expansion mostly during the last glacial phase. Palaeogeographic data and SDM analyses suggest that such expansion was driven by the glaciation‐induced increase in lowland areas during marine regression. This unusual scenario suggests that at least some temperate species may not have suffered the adverse effects of glacial climate on their population size and range extent, owing to the mitigating effects of other glaciations‐induced palaeoenvironmental changes. We discuss previous clues for the occurrence of such a scenario in other species and some possible challenges with its identification. Early phylogeographic literature suggested that responses to the Pleistocene glacial–interglacial cycles were expected to vary among species and regions. Our results point out that such variation may have been greater than previously thought.
Infection routes for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in apetalous and fully petalled winter oilseed rape
Authors: Young C. S. , Werner C. P. 
Published: November 2011

Near‐isogenic lines (NILs) of apetalous (AP) and fully petalled (FP) winter oilseed rape were used to investigate infection by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which occurs mainly via infected petals adhering to leaves in FP oilseed rape. AP1 flowers had an average of 1·4 and 0·8 petals per flower in field and polytunnel experiments, respectively. In field experiments there were no significant differences between counts of FP1 petals, FP1 stamens and AP1 stamens adhered to leaves during flowering. At any one sample time, significantly more stamens tested positive for S. sclerotiorum on AP1 than FP1 NILs, e.g. in 2004, at early flowering 37·5% and 24·2% of stamens tested positive on AP1 and FP1 NILs, respectively. In polytunnel experiments, there were significantly more sclerotinia lesions per plant in the FP1 than in the AP1 NIL. The AP1 NIL did not avoid infection completely, probably because it produced some petals, and lesions were initiated from adhered stamens as well as petals. However, while 8·5% and 16·3% of petals initiated lesions in FP1 and AP1 NILs, respectively, only 2·5% and 1·0% of stamens initiated lesions in FP1 and AP1 NILs, which suggests stamens may be less infective than petals. In field experiments the AP1 NIL had significantly less incidence of sclerotinia stem rot than the FP1 NIL in 2004 (4·9% and 7·0%, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in stem rot incidence between AP and FP lines in 2005 (3·6% and 4·3%, respectively) or 2006 (5·5% and 3·9%, respectively).
Responses of avocado to laurel wilt, caused byRaffaelea lauricola
Authors: Ploetz R. C. , Pérez‐Martínez J. M. , Smith J. A. , Hughes M. , Dreaden T. J. , Inch S. A. , Fu Y. 
Published: November 2011

Laurel wilt, caused byRaffaelea lauricola, threatens native and non‐native species in the Lauraceae in the south‐eastern USA. Avocado,Persea americana, is the most important agricultural suscept of laurel wilt. Grafted plants (clonal scions on seedling rootstocks) of 24 cultivars were screened against the disease in the field from 2008 to 2010. Disease was induced with either mycelial plugs or conidial suspensions ofR. lauricola. There were significant differences in the severity of disease that developed on different cultivars, and West Indian cultivars were most susceptible (P < 0·05). Simmonds, a West Indian cultivar that comprises 35% of the commercial production in Florida, was consistently susceptible and was used as a standard genotype in different studies. Disease severity increased significantly on cv. Simmonds as plant size (stem diameter) increased (P < 0·0042). In greenhouse studies, internal (sapwood) and external disease severities on cv. Simmonds were correlated (P < 0·0001), and a threshold was evident, in that external symptoms developed only after moderately severe symptoms had developed internally. Latent infection was uncommon;R. lauricolawas usually isolated on a semiselective medium or detected via qPCR only from discoloured xylem of inoculated cv. Simmonds. As basipetal movement of the pathogen was common, its movement among trees via root grafts is probable. Greater understanding is needed of the movement ofR. lauricolain naturally and artificially infected trees, and whether sufficient tolerance exists in avocado to assist in the management of this important new disease.
Malaria prevalence and treatment of febrile patients at health facilities and medicine retailers in Cameroon
Authors: Mangham Lindsay J. , Cundill Bonnie , Achonduh Olivia A. , Ambebila Joel N. , Lele Albertine K. , Metoh Theresia N. , Ndive Sarah N. , Ndong Ignatius C. , Nguela Rachel L. , Nji Akindeh M. , Orang‐Ojong Barnabas , Wiseman Virginia , Pamen‐Ngako Joelle , Mbacham Wilfred F. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjective  To investigate the quality of malaria case management in Cameroon 5 years after the adoption of artemisinin‐based combination therapy (ACT). Treatment patterns were examined in different types of facility, and the factors associated with being prescribed or receiving an ACT were investigated.Methods  A cross‐sectional cluster survey was conducted among individuals of all ages who left public and private health facilities and medicine retailers in Cameroon and who reported seeking treatment for a fever. Prevalence of malaria was determined by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in consenting patients attending the facilities and medicine retailers.Results  Among the patients, 73% were prescribed or received an antimalarial, and 51% were prescribed or received an ACT. Treatment provided to patients significantly differed by type of facility: 65% of patients at public facilities, 55% of patients at private facilities and 45% of patients at medicine retailers were prescribed or received an ACT (P = 0.023). The odds of a febrile patient being prescribed or receiving an ACT were significantly higher for patients who asked for an ACT (OR = 24.1, P < 0.001), were examined by the health worker (OR = 1.88, P = 0.021), had not previously sought an antimalarial for the illness (OR = 2.29, P = 0.001) and sought treatment at a public (OR = 3.55) or private facility (OR = 1.99, P = 0.003). Malaria was confirmed in 29% of patients and 70% of patients with a negative result were prescribed or received an antimalarial.Conclusions  Malaria case management could be improved. Symptomatic diagnosis is inefficient because two‐thirds of febrile patients do not have malaria. Government plans to extend malaria testing should promote rational use of ACT; though, the introduction of rapid diagnostic testing needs to be accompanied by updated clinical guidelines that provide clear guidance for the treatment of patients with negative test results.
Multiple squamous cell carcinomas in the setting of psoriasis treated with etanercept: a report of four cases and review of the literature
Authors: Brewer Jerry D. , Hoverson Schott Alyssa R. , Roenigk Randall K. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackground Psoriasis is a common, chronic, hyperproliferative disease of the skin characterized by overexpression of type 1 cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α. There is concern that antitumor necrosis factor agents such as etanercept may increase the incidence of cutaneous malignancies; however, the data are conflicting. Our objective was to further understand the characteristics and association of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) development in patients with psoriasis who used etanercept.Methods Four patients with psoriasis were identified as having SCCs in the setting of etanercept. The histories of these patients were reviewed retrospectively.Results All four patients had lifelong psoriasis. The mean time of SCC onset was 11 months after etanercept therapy was begun (range, 1–17 months), and the number of SCCs in each patient ranged from five to more than 50.Conclusions Currently, reports are conflicting about the effect of etanercept on SCC development. We present the first case series of patients in whom SCC developed in the setting of etanercept therapy. More research is needed to better characterize the effects of etanercept on the development and behavior of SCC in patients with psoriasis.
Sevoflurane vs. propofol in patients with coronary disease undergoing mitral surgery: a randomised study
Authors: BIGNAMI E. , LANDONI G. , GERLI C. , TESTA V. , MIZZI A. , FANO G. , NUZZI M. , FRANCO A. , ZANGRILLO A. 
Published: November 2011

BackgroundMyocardial ischemic damage is reduced by volatile anaesthetics in patients undergoing low‐risk coronary artery bypass graft surgery; few and discordant results exist in other settings. We therefore performed a randomised controlled trial (sevoflurane vs. propofol) to compare cardiac troponin release in patients with coronary disease undergoing mitral surgery.MethodsPatients with coronary artery disease undergoing mitral surgery were randomly allocated to receive either sevoflurane (50 patients) or propofol (50 patients) as main hypnotic. The primary endpoint of the study was peak post‐operative cardiac troponin release defined as the maximum value among the post‐operative values measured at intensive care unit arrival, 4 h later, on the first and second post‐operative day.ResultsThere was no significant difference in post‐operative peak troponin release, the median (25th–75th percentiles) values being 14.9 (10.1–22.1) ng/ml and 14.5 (8.8–17.6) ng/ml in the sevoflurane and propofol groups, respectively (P = 0.4). Fentanyl administration was different between the two groups: 1347 ± 447 μg in patients receiving sevoflurane and 1670 ± 469 μg in those receiving propofol, P = 0.002. The 1‐year follow‐up identified two patients who died in the propofol group (one myocardial infarction and one low cardiac output syndrome) and one in the sevoflurane group (myocardial infarction).ConclusionIn this study, patients with coronary artery disease undergoing mitral surgery did not benefit from the cardioprotective properties of halogenated anaesthetics. Sevoflurane anaesthesia was not associated to lower cardiac troponin release when compared with propofol anaesthesia.
Protection by remote ischemic preconditioning during coronary artery bypass graft surgery with isoflurane but not propofol – a clinical trial
Authors: KOTTENBERG E. , THIELMANN M. , BERGMANN L. , HEINE T. , JAKOB H. , HEUSCH G. , PETERS J. 
Published: November 2011

BackgroundRemote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) of the myocardium by limb ischemia/reperfusion may mitigate cardiac damage, but its interaction with the anesthetic regimen is unknown. We tested whether RIPC is associated with differential effects depending on background anesthesia. Specifically, we hypothesized that RIPC during isoflurane anesthesia attenuates myocardial injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and that effects may be different during propofol anesthesia.MethodsIn a randomized, single‐blinded, placebo‐controlled prospective study, serum troponin I concentration (cTnI) (baseline, and 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively) were measured during isoflurane/sufentanil or propofol/sufentanil anesthesia with or without RIPC (three 5‐min periods of intermittent left upper arm ischemia with 5 min reperfusion each) in non‐diabetic patients (n = 72) with three‐vessel coronary artery disease (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01406678).ResultsRIPC during isoflurane anesthesia (n = 20) decreased the area under the cTnI time curve (cTnI AUC) (−50%, 190 ± 105 ng/ml × 72 h vs. 383 ± 262 ng/ml × 72 h, P = 0.004), and the peak (7.3 ± 3.6 ng/ml vs. 11.8 ± 5.5, P = 0.004) and serial (P < 0.041) postoperative cTnI when compared to isoflurane alone (n = 19). In contrast, RIPC during propofol anesthesia (n = 14) did not alter the cTnI AUC [263 ± 157 ng/ml × 72 h vs. 372 ± 376 ng/ml × 72 h (n = 19), P = 0.318] or peak postoperative cTnI (10.1 ± 4.5 ng/ml vs. 12 ± 8.2, P = 0.444). None of the patients experienced harm or side effects from the intermittent left arm ischemia.ConclusionThus, RIPC during isoflurane but not during propofol anesthesia decreased myocardial damage in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Accordingly, effects of RIPC evoked by upper limb ischemia/reperfusion depend on background anesthesia, with combined RIPC/isoflurane exerting greater beneficial effects under conditions studied.
The axon initial segment in nervous system disease and injury
Authors: Buffington Shelly A. , Rasband Matthew N. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe axon initial segment (AIS), with its dense clusters of voltage‐gated ion channels decorating the axonal membrane, regulates action potential initiation and modulation. The AIS also functions as a barrier to maintain axodendritic polarity, and its precise axonal location contributes to the fine‐tuning of neuronal excitability. Therefore, it is not surprising that mutations in AIS‐related genes, disruption of the molecular organization of the AIS and altered AIS ion channel expression, function, location and/or density are emerging as key players in neurological disorders. Here, we consider the role of the AIS in nervous system disease and injury.