bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kinship of long‐term associates in the highly social sperm whale
Authors: ORTEGA‐ORTIZ JOEL G. , ENGELHAUPT DANIEL , WINSOR MARTHA , MATE BRUCE R. , RUS HOELZEL A. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe evolution of stable social groups can be promoted by both indirect and direct fitness benefits. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) are highly social, with a hierarchical social structure based around core groups of adult females and subadults, a rare level of complexity among mammals. We combined long‐term satellite tracking (ranging from 11 to 607 days) of 51 individual sperm whales with genetic kinship analysis to assess the pattern of kin associations within and among coherent social units. Unlike findings for other species with similar social structure, we find no consistent correlation between kinship and association apart from close associations between two pairs of first‐order relatives. A third pair of first‐order relatives did not associate, and overall, the mean relatedness was the same within as among social groups. However, social behaviour can also be promoted by ecological factors such as resource dispersion. We assessed putative foraging behaviour during travel from the satellite‐tracking data, which suggested that prey resources were dispersed and unpredictable, a condition that could promote living in groups.
Cerebral subcortical small vessel disease and its relation to cognition in elderly subjects: a pathological study in the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) cohort
Authors: Smallwood A. , Oulhaj A. , Joachim C. , Christie S. , Sloan C. , Smith A. D. , Esiri M. 
Published: September 2011

A. Smallwood, A. Oulhaj, C. Joachim, S. Christie, C. Sloan, A. D. Smith and M. Esiri (2012) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology38, 337–343Cerebral subcortical small vessel disease and its relation to cognition in elderly subjects: a pathological study in the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) cohortBackground: Subcortical small vessel disease (SVD) is known to contribute to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, but understanding about the extent of its influence is limited because there is a lack of consensus about how this pathology should be assessed. Methods: In this study we have made use of a simple, novel, image‐matching scoring system to assess the extent of SVD in a group of 70 cases from the prospectively assessed Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) cohort. These cases were found at autopsy to have cerebrovascular disease and no other pathology except Braak stage 4 or less tau pathology, and insufficient amyloid plaque pathology to meet Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Pathology scores for SVD were correlated with cognitive scores [Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and cognitive section of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMDEX) (CAMCOG)] at the last clinical assessment before death. Results: The severity of SVD pathology was inversely related to cognitive score before death (P < 0.008 for MMSE and P < 0.024 for CAMCOG). Thirty‐one per cent and 33% of cases were rated as demented by MMSE or CAMCOG respectively. The degree of dementia was generally mild. Age did not influence severity of SVD. Conclusions: An image‐based scoring system for SVD in a group of 70 elderly subjects enabled the severity of SVD pathology to be assessed with results that showed a significant correlation between SVD pathology severity and cognitive impairment.
Effect of individual suppression of RBCS multigene family on Rubisco contents in rice leaves
Authors: OGAWA SHUN , SUZUKI YUJI , YOSHIZAWA RYUICHI , KANNO KEIICHI , MAKINO AMANE 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTIn higher plants, a small subunit of Rubisco is encoded for by an RBCS multigene family in the nuclear genome. However, it is unknown how each multigene member contributes to the accumulation of Rubisco holoenzyme. Here, four RBCS genes that are highly expressed in leaf blaedes of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were individually suppressed by RNAi, and the effects on leaf Rubisco content were examined at seedling, vegetative and reproductive stages. Rubisco contents in each transgenic line declined irrespective of growth stage, and the ratios of Rubisco‐N to total N were 66–96% of wild‐type levels. The mRNA levels of the suppressed RBCS genes declined significantly, whereas those of the unsuppressed ones did not change drastically. These results indicate that four RBCS genes all contribute to accumulation of Rubisco holoenzyme irrespective of growth stage and that suppression of one RBCS gene is not fully compensated by other RBCS genes. Additionally, the mRNA levels of the large subunit of Rubisco showed a change similar to that of total RBCS mRNA level irrespective of genotype and growth stage. These results suggest that gene expression of RBCS and RBCL is regulated in a coordinated manner at the transcript level in rice.
Characterization and Comparison of ‘Standard’ and ‘Young’ Tumour‐Infiltrating Lymphocytes for Adoptive Cell Therapy at a Danish Translational Research Institution
Authors: Donia M. , Junker N. , Ellebaek E. , Andersen M. H. , Straten P. T. , Svane I. M. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAdoptive cell therapy (ACT) with ex vivo expanded tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in combination with IL‐2 is an effective treatment for metastatic melanoma. Modified protocols of cell expansion may allow the treatment of most enrolled patients and improve the efficacy of adoptively transferred cells. The aims of this study were to establish and validate the novel ‘Young TIL’ method at our institution and perform a head‐to‐head comparison of clinical‐grade products generated with this protocol opposed to the conventional ‘Standard TIL’, which we are currently using in a pilot ACT trial for patients with melanoma. Our results confirm that ‘Young TILs’ display an earlier differentiation state, with higher CD27 and lower CD56 expression. In addition, CD8+ TILs expressing CD27 had longer telomeres compared with the CD27−. A recently described subset of NK cells, endowed with a high expression of CD56 (CD56bright), was detected for the first time in both types of cultures but at a higher frequency on Young TILs. Young and Standard TILs’ reactivity against autologous tumours was similar, with significant expression of TNF‐α/IFN‐γ/CD107a by CD8+ TILs detected in all cultures analysed. However, either slow expansion with high‐dose IL‐2 only or large numerical expansion with a rapid expansion protocol, which is required for current therapeutic protocols, significantly modified TIL phenotype by reducing the frequency of less differentiated, cancer‐specific TILs. These studies further support the adoption of the Young TIL method in our current ACT trial and highlight the importance of continuous quality control of expansion protocols.
Raa4 is a trans‐splicing factor that specifically binds chloroplast tscA intron RNA
Authors: Glanz Stephanie , Jacobs Jessica , Kock Vera , Mishra Arti , Kück Ulrich 
Published: September 2011

SummaryDuring trans‐splicing of discontinuous organellar introns, independently transcribed coding sequences are joined together to generate a continuous mRNA. The chloroplast psaA gene from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii encoding the P700 core protein of photosystem I (PSI) is split into three exons and two group IIB introns, which are both spliced in trans. Using forward genetics, we isolated a novel PSI mutant, raa4, with a defect in trans‐splicing of the first intron. Complementation analysis identified the affected gene encoding the 112.4 kDa Raa4 protein, which shares no strong sequence identity with other known proteins. The chloroplast localization of the protein was confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy, using a GFP‐tagged Raa4 fusion protein. RNA‐binding studies showed that Raa4 binds specifically to domains D2 and D3, but not to other conserved domains of the tripartite group II intron. Raa4 may play a role in stabilizing folding intermediates or functionally active structures of the split intron RNA.
Protracted abstinence from distinct drugs of abuse shows regulation of a common gene network
Authors: Le Merrer Julie , Befort Katia , Gardon Olivier , Filliol Dominique , Darcq Emmanuel , Dembele Doulaye , Becker Jerome A. J. , Kieffer Brigitte L. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAddiction is a chronic brain disorder. Prolonged abstinence from drugs of abuse involves dysphoria, high stress responsiveness and craving. The neurobiology of drug abstinence, however, is poorly understood. We previously identified a unique set of hundred mu‐opioid receptor‐dependent genes in the extended amygdala, a key site for hedonic and stress processing in the brain. Here we examined these candidate genes either immediately after chronic morphine, nicotine, Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol or alcohol, or following 4 weeks of abstinence. Regulation patterns strongly differed among chronic groups. In contrast, gene regulations strikingly converged in the abstinent groups and revealed unforeseen common adaptations within a novel huntingtin‐centered molecular network previously unreported in addiction research. This study demonstrates that, regardless the drug, a specific set of transcriptional regulations develops in the abstinent brain, which possibly contributes to the negative affect characterizing protracted abstinence. This transcriptional signature may represent a hallmark of drug abstinence and a unitary adaptive molecular mechanism in substance abuse disorders.
The endogenous opioid system in human alcoholics: molecular adaptations in brain areas involved in cognitive control of addiction
Authors: Bazov Igor , Kononenko Olga , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Kuntić Vesna , Sarkisyan Daniil , Taqi Malik M. , Hussain Muhammad Z. , Nyberg Fred , Yakovleva Tatjana , Bakalkin Georgy 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTThe endogenous opioid system (EOS) plays a critical role in addictive processes. Molecular dysregulations in this system may be specific for different stages of addiction cycle and neurocircuitries involved and therefore may differentially contribute to the initiation and maintenance of addiction. Here we evaluated whether the EOS is altered in brain areas involved in cognitive control of addiction including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dl‐PFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and hippocampus in human alcohol‐dependent subjects. Levels of EOS mRNAs were measured by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), and levels of dynorphins by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in post‐mortem specimens obtained from 14 alcoholics and 14 controls. Prodynorphin mRNA and dynorphins in dl‐PFC, κ‐opioid receptor mRNA in OFC and dynorphins in hippocampus were up‐regulated in alcoholics. No significant changes in expression of proenkephalin, and µ‐ and δ‐opioid receptors were evident; pro‐opiomelanocortin mRNA levels were below the detection limit. Activation of the κ‐opioid receptor by up‐regulated dynorphins in alcoholics may underlie in part neurocognitive dysfunctions relevant for addiction and disrupted inhibitory control.
Dexmedetomidine attenuates remote lung injury induced by renal ischemia‐reperfusion in mice
Authors: GU J. , CHEN J. , XIA P. , TAO G. , ZHAO H. , MA D. 
Published: September 2011

BackgroundRenal ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) may cause acute lung injury (ALI). The mortality of combined acute kidney injury and ALI is extremely high. Dexmedetomidine, an α2 adrenergic agonist, exerts potent anti‐inflammatory and organoprotective effects in addition to its sedative and analgesic properties. We sought to elucidate whether dexmedetomidine can attenuate lung injury following renal I/R in a murine model of renal I/R.MethodsAdult C57BL/6J male mice were randomized to five groups: sham‐operated control (Sham); renal I/R (I/R); intraperitoneal injection of dexmedetomidine 25 μg/kg before ischemia (pre‐dex) and after perfusion (post‐dex); combination of α2 adrenergic antagonist atipamezole 250 μg/kg prior to dexmedetomidine pre‐treatment (atip‐dex). Kidney I/R was induced by bilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 min and followed by 6 h reperfusion. The pulmonary tissues were harvested for histopathological evaluation, wet/dry ratio measurement, biochemical analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determination of Inter‐cellular adhesion molecule (ICAM‐1) and Tumor necrosis factor – alpha (TNF‐α) mRNA.ResultsRenal IR induced significant pulmonary injuries, increased wet/dry ratio together with the enhanced of MPO activities and increased ICAM‐1 and TNF‐α mRNA level. Both pre‐ and post‐treatment with dexmedetomidine markedly reduced lung edema and inflammatory response and lowered MPO activity and ICAM‐1 and TNF‐α mRNA expression. The protective effects of dexmedetomidine in the lung were partially reversed by atipamezole, but there were no effect on ICAM‐1 and TNF‐α mRNA expression level.ConclusionsDexmedetomidine is capable of attenuating remote lung injury induced by renal IR via both α2 adrenoceptors dependent and independent mechanisms.
Photoplethysmographic and pulse pressure variations during abdominal surgery
Authors: HØISETH L. Ø. , HOFF I. E. , SKARE Ø. , KIRKEBØEN K. A. , LANDSVERK S. A. 
Published: September 2011

BackgroundRespiratory variations in pulse pressure (ΔPP) predict fluid responsiveness during mechanical ventilation. Variations in pulse oximetry plethysmography amplitude (ΔPOP) are proposed as a non‐invasive alternative. Large variations in ΔPOP and poor agreement between ΔPP and ΔPOP are found in intensive care unit patients. General anaesthesia is suggested to reduce variability of ΔPOP and improve agreement between the variables. We evaluated the variability of the agreement between and the diagnostic values of ΔPP and ΔPOP during ongoing open abdominal surgery. The variability of diagnostic methods in specific clinical conditions is important, as this reflects the stability over time during which clinical decisions are made.MethodsObservational study during open abdominal surgery in general anaesthesia. ΔPP and ΔPOP were calculated semi‐automatically from recording periods of approximately 5 min both before and after fluid challenges. Fluid responsiveness was evaluated by changes in stroke volume (oesophageal Doppler) after 250 ml colloid.ResultsThirty‐four fluid challenges were performed in 25 patients. Variance both within registration periods and between patients were significantly larger for ΔPOP than for ΔPP (54.1% vs. 22.1% and 69.6% vs. 22.6%, respectively, both P < 0.001). Limits of agreement with a regression‐based correction were ± 13.9%. Areas under receiver operating characteristics curves for fluid responsiveness were 0.67 for ΔPP and 0.72 for ΔPOP.ConclusionsAnalysis of raw signals during open abdominal surgery documents that the variance of ΔPOP is larger than of ΔPP, with wide limits of agreement between ΔPP and ΔPOP. The diagnostic values of ΔPP and ΔPOP are relatively poor.
Hospital and long‐term outcomes of ICU‐treated severe community‐ and hospital‐acquired, and ventilator‐associated pneumonia patients
Authors: KARHU J. , ALA‐KOKKO T. I. , YLIPALOSAARI P. , OHTONEN P. , LAURILA J. J. , SYRJÄLÄ H. 
Published: September 2011

BackgroundOur purpose was to analyse the association of pneumonia types with hospital and long‐term outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU)‐treated pneumonia patients.MethodsThe occurrence of pneumonia was retrospectively evaluated among prospectively registered patients admitted into a mixed university‐level ICU during a 14‐month period. Their age, severity of underlying disease, malignancy, immunosuppressive therapy and organ dysfunctions were recorded, as well as the length of hospital stay and short‐ and long‐term mortalities.ResultsThere were 117 severe community‐acquired pneumonia (SCAP), 66 hospital‐acquired pneumonia (HAP) and 25 ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) cases among the 817 patients admitted. ICU and hospital mortality did not differ between pneumonia groups. VAP and HAP patients had more malignant underlying diseases than SCAP patients (P < 0.001). HAP patients were older than SCAP and VAP patients (P = 0.023). The admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores did not differ between the groups (P > 0.90). The patients with VAP had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment maximum scores compared with patients with SCAP and HAP (P < 0.001). In an adjusted multivariate logistic regression model, there were no significant differences in odds ratios for hospital mortality between the three pneumonia types. Mortality among the hospital survivors during the 12‐month follow‐up period was 18% (16/89) in the SCAP group, 35% (18/51) in the HAP group and 41% (7/17) in the VAP group (P = 0.023).ConclusionThe type of pneumonia (i.e. SCAP, HAP or VAP) had no significant association with hospital mortality, whereas the SCAP patients had the lowest 1‐year mortality.
Characterization of Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia grisea) from Black Oat in Brazil
Authors: Urashima Alfredo Seiiti , Silva Cristina Perbelini 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBlast caused by Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia grisea) is a disease that occurs in many important gramineous plants in Brazil such as rice, wheat, triticale and barley. In 2005, the presence of this disease was reported on black oat (Avena strigosa) at different locations of Parana state. Due to little information of M. grisea that is infecting this host, this work aimed to characterize it at molecular, sexual and pathogenic level. DNA analysis showed that M. grisea from black oat formed a homogenous and genetic distinct group of its own, different from other hosts, including rice, wheat, triticale and barley. Isolate 15720 was an exception, because it was similar to wheat isolate. There was no sexual compatibility between M. grisea from oat and other tested hosts. In pathogenic terms, isolates of M. grisea from oat infected triticale, wheat, rye, millet, barley, sorghum and rice; cross‐inoculation was positive with wheat, triticale, rice and barley.
Pelvic Dimensions in Phenotypically Double‐muscled Belgian Blue cows
Authors: Kolkman I , Hoflack G , Aerts S , Laevens H , Lips D , Opsomer G 
Published: September 2011

ContentsSome anatomical characteristics of 507 Belgian Blue (BB) cattle, withers height (WH), heart girth (HG), the distance between the two tubera coxae (TcTc) and the distance between the two tubera ischiadica (TiTi), were compared with the internal pelvic measurements of width, height and area. Mean values were 58.9 ± 6.2 cm for TcTc, 14.6 ± 2.3 cm for TiTi, 15.2 ± 2.1 cm for pelvic width (PW), 18.8 ± 1.9 cm for pelvic height (PH) and 288.5 ± 60.9 cm2 for pelvic area (PA). Cows that calved per vaginam had larger WH (p < 0.05), TcTc (p < 0.05) and TiTi (p < 0.001) and internal pelvic measurements [PH and PA (p < 0.001)] compared with those whose parturition was managed by caesarean section (CS): Correlations between internal pelvic measurements and TcTc were higher (r = 0.58–0.63) than TiTi (r = 0.22–0.28). Correlations between other external body measures such as HG and WH with the internal pelvic measurements were even higher for HG (r = 0.69–0.74) and for WH (r = 0.67–0.74). HG and WH, together with internal pelvic measures, may be added to estimated breeding values (EBV’s) that should assist breeders in selecting cows that can calve per vaginam, thereby reducing the breed’s dependence on elective CS for maintaining its unique characteristics.
Determination of fluid status in haemodialysis patients with whole body and calf bioimpedance techniques
Authors: LIU LI , ZHU FANSAN , G RAIMANN JOCHEN , THIJSSEN STEPHAN , SIPAHIOGLU MURAT H , WYSTRYCHOWSKI GREGORY , KITZLER THOMAS , TETTA CIRO , WABEL PETER , KOTANKO PETER , LEVIN NATHAN W 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ability of widely used bioimpedance techniques to assess dry weight (DW) and to predict a state of normal hydration in haemodialysis patients whose post‐dialysis weight had been gradually reduced from baseline in successive treatments over time.Methods:  Calf bioimpedance spectroscopy (cBIS) was employed to determine DW (DWcBIS) as defined by flattening of an intradialytic continuously measured resistance curve and by normalized resistivity (nRho) being in the gender‐specific normal range. The wECV/TBW ratio was determined by ‘classical’ wrist‐to‐ankle whole body bioimpedance spectroscopy (wBIS); in addition, a novel whole body model (WBM) based on wBIS was used to predict normal hydration weight (NHWWBM).Results:  Twenty‐one haemodialysis patients were studied; 11 ± 6 measurements were performed per patient. Nine patients reached DWcBIS (DWcBIS group), while 12 patients remained fluid‐overloaded (non‐DWcBIS group). Change in wECV as measured by wBIS accounted for 46 ± 23% in DWcBIS group, which was higher than in non‐DWcBIS group (33 ± 48%, P < 0.05) of actual weight loss at the end of study. In both groups the wECV/TBW ratio did not change significantly between baseline and study end. Mean predicted NHWWBM at baseline was 3.55 ± 1.6 kg higher than DWcBIS. The difference in DWcBIS and NHWWBM was 1.97 ± 1.0 kg at study end.Conclusion:  WBM could be useful to predict a target range of normal hydration weight particularly for patients with substantial fluid overload. The cBIS provides an accurate reference for the estimation of DW so that combined use of cBIS and WBM is promising and warrants further studies.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in pregnant Japanese women in Hokkaido
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Yamada Takashi , Morikawa Mamoru , Cho Kazutoshi , Endo Toshiaki , Sato Sawako Seto , Saito Tsuyoshi , Sengoku Kazuo , Minakami Hisanori 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAim:  No maternal mortality from pandemic (H1N1) 2009 occurred in Japan. However, the reasons for this lack of maternal deaths remain unknown. This study was performed to investigate how many pregnant women were infected, how many women took antiviral drugs for prophylaxis or treatment, and the rate of vaccination effectiveness.Material and Methods:  A questionnaire study was given to 20 500 postpartum women before leaving obstetric facilities between December 2009 and May 2010 in Hokkaido, asking about antiviral drugs, vaccination, and infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009.Results:  Approximately one‐third (n = 7535) of women given the questionnaires responded. Of these, 268 women (3.5%) indicated that they had contracted influenza. 353 (4.7%) women took antiviral drugs for prophylaxis after close contact with an infected person and 140 (39.7%) of 353 women finally contracted influenza during or after prophylaxis with antiviral drugs, accounting for 52.2% (140/268) of all patients. 229 (85.4%) of 268 patients took antiviral drug for treatment and 6 (2.2%) needed hospitalization, but not mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit. 196 of 268 (73.1%) patients were already infected before the availability of a vaccine. Among 7328 candidates for vaccination, 4921 (67.2%) were vaccinated. Infection occurred in 0.22% (11/4921) and 2.1% (50/2407) of vaccinated and non‐vaccinated women, respectively.Conclusion:  Frequent use of antiviral drugs for prophylaxis and treatment may partially explain the low infection rate and no maternal mortality from pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Japan. Vaccination reduced infection by 89% in pregnant Japanese women.