bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy of localized scleroderma
Authors: Lu Kecheng , Chen Jianxin , Zhuo Shuangmu , Zheng Liqin , Jiang Xingshan , Zhu Xiaoqin , Zhao Jingjun 
Published: September 2009

Background/purpose: A real‐time, non‐invasive method will confer a benefit for the diagnosis and treatment of localized scleroderma (LS) in the clinic. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the potential of multiphoton laser scanning microscopy (MPLSM) for diagnosing LS and monitoring the treatment response in vivo.Methods: Three sclerodermatous skin specimens and two normal skin specimens were investigated using MPLSM based on two‐photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG). MPLSM consists of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser and a scanning inverted microscope. Several parameters such as the epidermal thickness, the orientation ratio index of collagen bundles (ORICB), the spacing of collagen fibrin as well as the SHG to TPEF index of the dermis (STID) were developed to quantitatively discriminate the sclerodermatous skin from the normal skin.Results: The morphological differences were visualized obviously in the TPEF/SHG images of human skin (normal and sclerodermatous). The values of the developed parameters in normal skin were significantly different from that in sclerodermatous skin (P<0.05).Conclusion: MPLSM could discriminate the sclerodermatous skin from the normal skin. With the advent of the clinical portability of typical MPLSM, this technique has great potential for application in the in vivo diagnosis of LS as well as for monitoring the treatment response.
Computer‐aided calibration for visual estimation of vegetation cover
Authors: Gallegos Torell Åsa , Glimskär Anders 
Published: September 2009

AbstractQuestion: What precision and accuracy of visual cover estimations can be achieved after repeated calibration with images of vegetation in which the true cover is known, and what factors influence the results?Methods: Digital images were created, in which the true cover of vegetation was digitally calculated. Fifteen observers made repeated estimates with immediate feedback on the true cover. The effects on precision and accuracy through time were evaluated with repeated proficiency tests. In a field trial, cover estimates, before and after calibration, were compared with point frequency data.Results: Even a short time of calibration greatly improves precision and accuracy of the estimates, and can also reduce the influence of different backgrounds, aggregation patterns and experience. Experienced observers had a stronger tendency to underestimate the cover of narrow‐leaved grasses before calibration. The field trial showed positive effects of computer‐based calibration on precision, in that it led to considerably less between‐observer variation for one of the two species groups.Conclusions: Computer‐aided calibration of vegetation cover estimation is simple, self‐explanatory and time‐efficient, and might possibly reduce biases and drifts in estimate levels over time. Such calibration can also reduce between‐observer variation in field estimates, at least for some species. However, the effects of calibration on estimations in the field must be further evaluated, especially for multilayered vegetation.
Abundance of climbing plants in a southern temperate rain forest: host tree characteristics or light availability?
Authors: Carrasco‐Urra Fernando , Gianoli Ernesto 
Published: September 2009

AbstractQuestion: In a southern temperate rain forest, we addressed three questions: (1) Does the abundance of climbing plants increase with light availability? (2) Do host tree species differ in their susceptibility to vine infestation? (3) How does the relationship between host tree trunk diameter and relative abundance of vines vary with their climbing mechanism?Location: Two sites in the temperate evergreen rain forest of southern Chile: Puyehue (40°39′S, 72°09′W; 350 m a.s.l.) and Pastahue (42°22′S, 73°49′W; 285 m a.s.l.).Methods: We sampled vines in 60 25‐m2 plots, with 20 plots in each of three light environments: mature forest, forest edges and canopy gaps. In each plot, for every tree ≥1.50‐m tall of any diameter we counted and identified all climbing plant individuals at a height of 1.30 m. We also counted, measured (trunk diameter at 1.30 m) and identified all these trees, and determined prevalence of vine infestation for each tree species.Results: Light availability in forest plots did not affect vine abundance when the number and size of host trees was taken into account. Overall, vine abundance increased with host tree trunk diameter. Tree species did not differ in the prevalence of vine infestation. The relative abundance of stem twiners and adhesive climbers decreased and increased with trunk diameter, respectively. The densities of stem twiners and adhesive climbers were negatively correlated across the forest.Conclusion: We provide further evidence that the pattern of vine abundance is independent of light availability in southern temperate rain forests, in contrast to results commonly reported for tropical rain forests. We also show that support suitability across the forest varies with the mechanism by which vines climb, probably due in part to biomechanical constraints and in part to vine interspecific competition, a virtually unexplored ecological factor.
Estimation of breeding values from large‐sized routine carcass data in Japanese Black cattle using Bayesian analysis
Authors: ARAKAWA Aisaku , IWAISAKI Hiroaki , ANADA Katsuhito 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTVolumes of official data sets have been increasing rapidly in the genetic evaluation using the Japanese Black routine carcass field data. Therefore, an alternative approach with smaller memory requirement to the current one using the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) and the empirical best linear unbiased prediction (EBLUP) is desired. This study applied a Bayesian analysis using Gibbs sampling (GS) to a large data set of the routine carcass field data and practically verified its validity in the estimation of breeding values. A Bayesian analysis like REML‐EBLUP was implemented, and the posterior means were calculated using every 10th sample from 90 000 of samples after 10 000 samples discarded. Moment and rank correlations between breeding values estimated by GS and REML‐EBLUP were very close to one, and the linear regression coefficients and the intercepts of the GS on the REML‐EBLUP estimates were substantially one and zero, respectively, showing a very good agreement between breeding value estimation by the current GS and the REML‐EBLUP. The current GS required only one‐sixth of the memory space with REML‐EBLUP. It is confirmed that the current GS approach with relatively small memory requirement is valid as a genetic evaluation procedure using large routine carcass data.
Concentrations of ketone body and antidiuretic hormone in cerebrospinal fluid in response to the intra‐ruminal administration of butyrate in suckling calves
Authors: IRIKI Tsunenori , TAMURA Kazuyoshi , ISHII Mana , TANAKA Hiroyuki , MIYAMOTO Tsuyoshi , ONDA Ken 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism by which ketone bodies increase antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. Four male Holstein calves (5 weeks of age) were utilized. Four levels of butyrate (0 g, 11 g, 22 g and 44 g) were administrated intra‐ruminally in a 4 × 4 Latin square design and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, six‐position lumbar puncture), blood plasma and urine were collected. The concentration of total plasma and CSF protein was 5.5–5.6 g/dL and 27.5–28.3 mg/dL, respectively. CSF concentrations of a specific ketone body, 3‐hydroxybutyric acid, were significantly higher in the 22 g and 44 g butyrate groups than in the control group. CSF concentrations of ADH in the 11 g and 44 g butyrate groups were significantly higher than in the control group. Plasma concentration of 3‐hydroxybutyric acid was increased by intraruminal administration of butyrate within 15 min in a dose‐dependent manner, and it was higher in the 22 g and 44 g butyrate group than in the control group from 15 min to 4 h. With the exception of the 11 g butyrate group, plasma concentrations of ADH also increased in response to butyrate treatment, and it was higher in the 44 g butyrate group than in the 22 g butyrate group from 15 min to 1.5 h. The duration of the elevated plasma concentrations of ADH was shorter than that of the plasma concentration of 3‐hydroxybutyric acid. The relationship between the plasma concentrations of ADH and 3‐hydroxybutyric acid was statistically significant but the correlation between the two concentrations was not high. Butyrate treatment elevated the plasma concentration of ADH and also resulted in reduced urine volume and increased urine osmolality. Haematocrit (Ht) values, and the osmolality of CSF and plasma were not different among the groups. Our results suggested that the increased ADH secretion observed in suckling calves fed dry feeds was caused by butyrate‐derived ketone body that crossed the blood‐brain barrier rapidly.
An insertion/deletion variant of a thymine base in exon 2 of the porcine beta 3‐adrenergic receptor gene associated with loin eye muscle area
Authors: HIROSE Kensuke , NAKAMURA Mariko , TAKIZAWA Tatsuya , FUKAWA Kazuo , ITO Tetsuya , UEDA Masayuki , SASAKI Takashi , TANAKA Kazuaki 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTAn insertion/deletion variant of a thymine base (T5 and T6) in exon 2 of porcine beta 3‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene has been described. In the current study, we made an association study between the ADRB3 polymorphisms and production traits in 735 Duroc pigs. The allele frequencies for the T5 and T6 alleles in our study population were 0.433 and 0.567, respectively. Any associations between ADRB3 genotype and average daily weight gain during test period, or backfat thickness and intramuscular fat content were not detected in either sex. However the size of the loin eye muscle area (EMA) was significantly associated with ADRB3 genotypes in gilts. T6‐homozygous gilts had a higher mean of EMA (40.6 ± 0.6 cm2) than T5‐homozygous (38.1 ± 0.4 cm2, P = 0.002) and heterozygous (38.8 ± 0.3 cm2, P = 0.034) gilts. This association was not detected in males. In addition, a multiple traits animal model best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) analysis revealed that the T6‐homozygous genotype had positive effects on breeding value of EMA. Accordingly, we suggest that ADRB3 polymorphism has the potential to be an important genetic marker for prediction of EMA in Duroc pigs.
Oral disease experience of older adults seeking oral health services
Authors: Ahluwalia Kavita P. , Cheng Bin , Josephs Philip K. , Lalla Evanthia , Lamster Ira B. 
Published: September 2009

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00311.x

Oral disease experience of older adults seeking oral health services Objective:  The objective of this investigation was to describe the dental disease (dental caries and alveolar bone loss) experience in a sample of community‐dwelling older adults who regularly utilize dental services in New York City.Background:  Public financing for dental care directed at older adults in the United States is minimal. Improved preventive methods, primarily the use of fluorides, have resulted in declines in tooth loss, and concomitant increase in risk for dental diseases among older adults. While the oral disease burden in institutionalized elderly and those unable to access services is well‐documented, the dental care needs of older adults who access dental services are not well documented.Materials and Methods:  Radiographic and record review were used to determine prevalence of dental caries, alveolar bone loss, frequency of service utilization, and medical status in this cross‐sectional investigation of a sample of older adults (N = 200) using dental services at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.Results:  Only 9% of the sample was completely edentulous, the mean DMFT was 19.9 and mean alveolar bone loss was 3.6 mm. Missing and Decayed Teeth accounted for 57.8% and 6.5% of the total caries burden respectively. Missing Teeth and alveolar bone loss increased with increasing age, but there was no increase in Decayed Teeth.Conclusions:  While access to and utilization of dental services may result in improved tooth retention, older adults who use dental services continue to have dental care needs, especially periodontal care needs.
Disappearance of gender‐related difference in the toxicity of benzotriazole ultraviolet absorber in juvenile rats
Authors: Hirata‐Koizumi Mutsuko , Matsuyama Takashi , Imai Toshio , Hirose Akihiko , Kamata Eiichi , Ema Makoto 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT2‐(2′‐hydroxy‐3′,5′‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl)benzotriazole (HDBB) is an ultraviolet absorber used in plastic resin products, such as building materials and automobile components. In oral repeated dose toxicity studies using 5‐ or 6‐week‐old rats, this chemical induced hepatic histopathological changes, such as hypertrophy accompanied with eosinophilic granular changes and focal necrosis of hepatocytes, and male rats showed nearly 25 times higher susceptibility to the toxic effects than females. Castration at approximately 4 weeks of age markedly reduced the sex‐related variation in HDBB toxicity, but some difference, less than five times, remained between male and female castrated rats. Following oral HDBB administration to male and female juvenile rats from postnatal days 4–21, such gender‐related difference in toxic susceptibility was not detected; therefore, it is speculated that the determinants of susceptibility to HDBB toxicity are differentiated between sexes after weaning. In young rats given HDBB, there was no gender‐related difference in plasma HDBB concentration, and no metabolites were detected in the plasma of either sex. HDBB induced lauric acid 12‐hydroxylase activity in the liver and this change was more pronounced in males than in females. These findings indicate that HDBB could show hepatic peroxisome proliferation activity, and the difference in the susceptibility of male and female rats to this effect might lead to marked gender‐related differences in toxicity.
Effects of carbon dioxide deficiency and metal toxicity on biological oxygen demand
Authors: Berkun Mehmet 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIn this study, the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) deficiency on the biological growth under respirometric conditions, first‐ and second‐order biological oxygen demand (BOD) progressions using two different BOD measurement techniques and metal toxicity effects on the respirometric BOD are investigated. The effects of CO2 deficiency in the growth of bacteria and related effects on the first‐ and second‐stage BOD progressions are investigated using various media with respirometers in comparison with the BOD dilution method. CO2 deficiency causes significant retardations on the growth of bacteria and the second‐stage respirometric BOD values are suppressed. CO2 seems to be an essential nutrient for the growth of microorganisms and for the oxygen uptake progressing rates. HgCl2, HgSO4, CuSO4, K2Cr2O7, ZnSO4 and Al2(SO4)3 inorganic metal compounds cause significant retardations in the respirometric BOD values obtained from a synthetic autotrophic medium. Effects are found to be dependent on the applied concentrations of these chemicals in the medium.
Single‐beat estimation of the left ventricular end‐systolic pressure–volume relationship in patients with heart failure
Authors: Ten Brinke E. A. , Klautz R. J. , Verwey H. F. , Van Der Wall E. E. , Dion R. A. , Steendijk P. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAim:  The end‐systolic pressure–volume relationship (ESPVR) constructed from multiple pressure–volume (PV) loops acquired during load intervention is an established method to asses left ventricular (LV) contractility. We tested the accuracy of simplified single‐beat (SB) ESPVR estimation in patients with severe heart failure.Methods:  Nineteen heart failure patients (NYHA III‐IV) scheduled for surgical ventricular restoration and/or restrictive mitral annuloplasty and 12 patients with normal LV function scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were included. PV signals were obtained before and after cardiac surgery by pressure‐conductance catheters and gradual pre‐load reductions by vena cava occlusion (VCO). The SB method was applied to the first beat of the VCO run. Accuracy was quantified by the root‐mean‐square‐error (RMSE) between ESPVRSB and gold‐standard ESPVRVCO. In addition, we compared slopes (EES) and intercepts (end‐systolic volume at multiple pressure levels (70–100 mmHg: ESV70–ESV100) of ESPVRSB vs. ESPVRVCO by Bland–Altman analyses.Results:  RMSE was 1.7 ± 1.0 mmHg and was not significantly different between groups and not dependent on end‐diastolic volume, indicating equal, high accuracy over a wide volume range. SB‐predicted EES had a bias of −0.39 mmHg mL−1 and limits of agreement (LoA) −2.0 to +1.2 mmHg mL−1. SB‐predicted ESVs at each pressure level showed small bias (range: −10.8 to +9.4 mL) and narrow LoA. Two‐way anova indicated that differences between groups were not dependent on the method.Conclusion:  Our findings, obtained in hearts spanning a wide range of sizes and conditions, support the use of the SB method. This method ultimately facilitates less invasive ESPVR estimation, particularly when coupled with emerging noninvasive techniques to measure LV pressures and volumes.
Social support and networks in health promotion of older people: a case study in Brazil
Authors: Rocha Semiramis Melani Melo , Nogueira Maria Lúcia , Cesario Manuel 
Published: September 2009

Aim.  This research aimed at identifying social support for older people and their families.Background.  The Brazilian National Policy for Older People’s Health, created in 1998, is based on the promotion of healthy ageing, aiming at encouraging older people to remain in their environment and independently exert their functions in society. Nursing has engaged in this process, seeking to provide integrated care to the older person and family.Method.  A case study with multiple participants was carried out. The inclusion criteria were families of older people over 70 years old who attended a Family Health Unit in the interior of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected between April and June, 2007. In‐depth interviews, genograms and ecomaps were used to collect data, which were categorized by thematic content analysis.Results.  Three families participated in this study, totalling seven participants.Conclusions.  The older people’s families depend on institutional networks for their health maintenance. Spirituality and religion are mixed and are very expressive sources of support.Relevance to clinical practice.  Assessing social support and networks can favour nursing interventions in order to intensify social interactions, promote leisure and help the families of older people to cope with life changes.
Recent advances and hurdles in melanoma immunotherapy
Authors: Jandus Camilla , Speiser Daniel , Romero Pedro 
Published: September 2009

SummaryWorldwide incidence of malignant melanoma has been constantly increasing during the last years. Surgical excision is effective when primary tumours are thin. At later disease stages patients often succumb, due to failure of metastasis control. Therefore, great efforts have been made to develop improved strategies to treat metastatic melanoma patients. In the search for novel treatments during the last two decades, immunotherapy has occupied a prominent place. Numerous early phase immunotherapy clinical trials, generally involving small numbers of patients each time, have been reported: significant tumour‐specific immune responses could often be measured in patients upon treatments. However, clinical responses remain at a dismal low rate. In some anecdotal cases, objective clinical benefit was more frequently observed among immune responders than immune non‐responders. This clearly calls for a better understanding of protective immunity against tumours as well as the cross talk taking place between tumours and the immune system. Here we discuss advances and limitations of specific immunotherapy against human melanoma in the light of the literature from the last 5 yr.
New insights into the active site structure and catalytic mechanism of tyrosinase and its related proteins
Authors: Olivares Concepcion , Solano Francisco 
Published: September 2009

SummaryTyrosinases are widely distributed in nature. They are copper‐containing oxidases belonging to the type 3 copper protein family, together with catechol oxidases and haemocyanins. Tyrosinases are essential enzymes in melanin biosynthesis and therefore responsible for pigmentation of skin and hair in mammals, where two more enzymes, the tyrosinase‐related proteins (Tyrps), participate in the pathway. The structure and catalytic mechanism of mammalian tyrosinases have been extensively studied but they are not completely understood because of the lack of information on the tertiary structure. The availability of crystallographic data of one plant catechol oxidase and one bacterial tyrosinase has improved the model of the three‐dimensional structure of the active site of the enzyme. Furthermore, sequence comparison of tyrosinase and the Tyrps reveals that the three orthologue proteins share many key structural features, because of their common origin from an ancestral gene, although the specific residues responsible for their different catalytic capabilities have not been identified yet.This review summarizes our current knowledge of tyrosinase and Tyrps structure and function and describes the catalytic mechanism of tyrosinase and Dct/Tyrp2, which are better characterized.
Cholestasis enhances liver ischemia/reperfusion‐induced coagulation activation in rats
Authors: Kloek Jaap J. , Levi Marcel , Heger Michal , Van Der Loos Chris M. , Gouma Dirk J. , Van Gulik Thomas M. 
Published: September 2009

Aim:  Cholestasis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major liver surgery. An additional risk is induced when vascular inflow occlusion is applied giving rise to liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The role of the coagulation system in this type of injury is elusive. The aim of the current study was to assess activation of coagulation following hepatic I/R injury in cholestatic rats.Methods:  Male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups and subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) or sham laparotomy. After 7 days, both groups underwent 30 min partial liver ischemia. Animals were sacrificed before ischemia or after 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h reperfusion.Results:  Plasma AST and ALT levels were higher after I/R in cholestatic rats (P < 0.05). Hepatic necrosis, liver wet/dry ratio and neutrophil influx were increased in the BDL group up to 48 h reperfusion (P < 0.05). Liver synthetic function was decreased in the BDL group as reflected by prolonged prothrombin time after 6 h and 24 h reperfusion (P < 0.05). I/R in cholestatic rats resulted in a 12‐fold vs. 7‐fold (P < 0.01) increase in markers for thrombin generation and a 6‐fold vs. 2‐fold (P < 0.01) increase in fibrin degradation products (BDL vs. control, respectively). In addition, the cholestatic rats exhibited significantly decreased levels of antithrombin (AT) III and increased levels of the fibrinolytic inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) during reperfusion.Conclusions:  Cholestasis significantly enhances I/R‐induced hepatic damage and inflammation that concurs with an increased activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis.