bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sorbaria sorbifolia is a New Host for Rhodococcus fascians
Authors: Miller Marilyn L. , Putnam Melodie L. 
Published: April 2010

This work confirms S. sorbifolia as a newly identified host for R. fascians. This finding indicates woody plants may be at risk of disease in those nurseries that grow a range of woody and non-woody materials close together in the same location. Accepted for publication 22 January 2010. Published 8 April 2010.
Sedation for oocyte retrieval using target controlled infusion of propofol and incremental alfentanil delivered by non‐anaesthetists
Authors: Edwards J. A. , Kinsella J. , Shaw A. , Evans S. , Anderson K. J. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryOocyte retrieval is a procedure where sedation is recommended. This paper presents the process of setting up a new, non‐anaesthetist delivered service in our institution, the development of safety systems and the audit data we have used to assure quality, effectiveness and safety. Logbook data were collected for 4342 cases, with detailed audit data collected for 260 cases. Safety is acceptable with a respiratory adverse incident rate of 0.5/1000 (95% CI 0.1–1.6/1000 cases). Unplanned, direct anaesthetic assistance was required in 3.5/1000 cases (95% CI 1.7–5.3/1000 cases). Anaesthetic advice was required in 7.5% cases (95% CI 4.2–10.7%) at the inception of the service, but rarely once established: 0.6% (95% CI 0.2–1.0%). Nearly all patients (99%) would have the same sedation method again, no patients required admission, and patients’ co‐operation was judged by the operating surgeon as very good or good in 91% of cases.
Vancomycin dosing assessment in intensive care unit patients based on a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulation
Authors: Revilla Natalia , Martín‐Suárez Ana , Pérez Marta Paz , González Félix Martín , Fernández de Gatta María del Mar 
Published: April 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Despite the frequent use of vancomycin in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, few studies aimed at characterizing vancomycin population pharmacokinetics have been performed in this critical population.• Population pharmacokinetics coupled with pharmacodynamic analysis, in order to optimize drug exposure and hence antibacterial effectiveness, has been little applied in these specific patients. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Our population model characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of vancomycin in adult ICU patients, higher distribution volume values (V) being observed when the patient's serum creatinine (CrSe) was greater than 1 mg dl−1.• Age and creatinine clearance (CLcr) were identified as the main covariates explaining the pharmacokinetic variability in vancomycin CL.• Our pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) simulation should aid clinicians to select initial vancomycin doses that will maximize the rate of response in the ICU setting, taking into account the patient's age and renal function as well as the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus.AIMTo estimate the vancomycin pharmacokinetic profile in adult ICU patients and to assess vancomycin dosages for increasing the likelihood of optimal exposure.METHODSFive hundred and sixty‐nine concentration–time data from 191 patients were analysed using a population pharmacokinetic approach (NONMEN™). External model evaluation was made in 46 additional patients. The 24 h area under the concentration–time curve (AUC(0,24 h)) was derived from the final model. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for S. aureus were obtained from the EUCAST database. AUC(0,24 h) : MIC ≥ 400 was considered as PK/PD efficacy index. The probability of different dosages attaining the target considering different strains of S. aureus and patient subgroups was estimated with Monte Carlo simulation.RESULTSVancomycin CL showed a significant dependence on patient age and renal function whereas CrSe > 1 mg dl−1 increased V more than twofold. For our representative ICU patient, 61 years, 73 kg, CrSe= 1.4 mg dl−1, measured CLCr= 74.7 ml min−1, the estimated values were CL = 1.06 ml min−1 kg−1 and V= 2.04 l kg−1. The cumulative fraction of response for a standard vancomycin dose (2 g day−1) was less than 25% for VISA strains, and 33% to 95% for susceptible S. aureus, depending on patient characteristics.CONCLUSIONSSimulations provide useful information regarding the initial assessment of vancomycin dosing, the conventional dosing regimen probably being suboptimal in adult ICU patients. A graphic approach provides the recommended dose for any selected probability of attaining the PK/PD efficacy target or to evaluate the cumulative fraction of response for any dosing regimen in this population.
Absence of large intragenic rearrangements in the DPYD gene in a large cohort of colorectal cancer patients treated with 5‐FU‐based chemotherapy
Authors: Paré Laia , Paez David , Salazar Juliana , Del Rio Elisabeth , Tizzano Eduardo , Marcuello Eugenio , Baiget Montserrat 
Published: April 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the enzyme responsible for the elimination of approximately 80% of the administered dose of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU).• Mutations in the DPD‐coding gene have been shown to increase the risk of severe toxicity in 5‐FU treated patients.• The IVS14+1G>A is the most common DPYD mutation. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • The intragenic rearrangements of DPYD using multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were studied for the first time in a large series of 234 colorectal cancer patients treated with 5‐FU‐containing chemotherapy.• No deletions or duplications of one or more DPYD exons were detected. The presence of the IVS14+1G>A mutation was also excluded.• These data show that neither the large genomic rearrangements in the DPYD gene nor the IVS14+1G>A mutation are responsible for the serious toxicity associated with a 5‐FU containing regimen in this cohort of Spanish patients.AIMSTo study the relationship between the toxicity associated with a 5‐FU‐based therapy and the presence of (i) the large intragenic rearrangements in the DPYD gene and (ii) the IVS14+1G>A mutation.METHODSWe used the multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification technique (MLPA) to study genomic DNA from 234 colorectal cancer patients treated with 5‐FU‐based chemotherapy.RESULTSWe did not detect any deletion/duplication in the DPYD gene. The presence of the IVS14+1G>A mutation was also excluded.CONCLUSIONSNeither the large genomic rearrangements in the DPYD gene nor the IVS14+1G>A mutation play a significant role in the development of serious toxicity associated with a 5‐FU containing regimen.
Spectrum of molecular defects in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia includes ASXL1 mutations
Authors: Sugimoto Yuka , Muramatsu Hideki , Makishima Hideki , Prince Courtney , Jankowska Anna M. , Yoshida Nao , Xu Yinyan , Nishio Nobuhiro , Hama Asahito , Yagasaki Hiroshi , Takahashi Yoshiyuki , Kato Koji , Manabe Atsushi , Kojima Seiji , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryMutations in NF1, PTPN11, NRAS, KRAS and CBL have been reported to play a pathogenetic role in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML), a rare myelodyplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm occurring in children. Recently, mutations in ASXL1 were identified in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and other myeloid malignancies. We sequenced exon 12 of ASLX1 in 49 JMML patients, and found 2 novel heterozygous (nonsense and frameshift) mutations, one occurring as a sole lesion, the other was in conjunction with a PTPN11 mutation. ASXL1 cooperates with KDM1A in transcriptional repression and thereby ASXL1 mutations may synergize with or mimic other JMML‐related mutations.
Optimizing legume content and forage yield of mown white clover–Italian ryegrass mixtures through nitrogen fertilization and grass row spacing
Authors: Annicchiarico P. , Tomasoni C. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractMixed swards of white clover–grass mixtures in highly productive environments often fail to reach the minimum recommended annual clover proportion of about 0·30. This study assessed the effect on clover content and total dry matter (DM) yield of two spring N applications (0 and 45 kg N ha−1) and two distances between drilled grass‐rows (0·18 and 0·36 m) over 3 years for mown swards of white clover–Italian ryegrass (Trifolium repens–Lolium multiflorum) in binary mixtures in northern Italy. An additional aim was to determine the advantage of association of grass–clover compared with grass and clover monocultures. On average, N fertilization of mixtures resulted in almost 9% higher total yield (P < 0·01; mean response = 18·1 kg of total DM per kg of N) but decreased the clover proportion (0·250 vs. 0·312). Wider grass‐row spacing increased clover proportion (0·327 vs. 0·234; P < 0·01) with no reduction of total DM yield. N fertilization × grass‐row spacing interaction occurred only for clover content (P < 0·01). Without N fertilization, mixtures out‐yielded clover and grass pure stands. With N fertilization, at double rate to pure grass, yields from mixtures were greater than from clover and comparable to Italian ryegrass.
Simvastatin induces Foxp3+ T regulatory cells by modulation of transforming growth factor‐β signal transduction
Authors: Kim Yong Chan , Kim Kee Kwang , Shevach Ethan M. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryStatins are widely used drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. A number of recent studies have suggested that statins also have pleiotropic effects on immune responses and statins have proven to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in animal models. Foxp3+ T regulatory cells are a unique subset of CD4+ T cells that mediate immunosuppression. Foxp3+ T cells develop in the thymus, but can also be induced in peripheral sites in the presence of transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). We demonstrate here that simvastatin blockade of the mevalonate pathway can mediate induction of mouse Foxp3+ T cells and that simvastatin can synergize with low levels of TGF‐β to induce Foxp3+ T cells. The effects of simvastatin are secondary to a blockade of protein geranylgeranylation, are mediated at late time‐points after T‐cell activation, and are associated with demethylation of the Foxp3 promoter. One major effect of simvastatin was inhibition of the induction of Smad6 and Smad7, inhibitory Smads that inhibit TGF‐β signalling. Our results suggest that one mechanism responsible for the immunosuppressive effects of statins is the ability to promote the generation of Foxp3+ T regulatory cells.
Memory T‐cell trafficking: new directions for busy commuters
Authors: Marelli‐Berg Federica M. , Fu Hongmei , Vianello Fabrizio , Tokoyoda Koji , Hamann Alf 
Published: April 2010

SummaryThe immune system is unique in representing a network of interacting cells of enormous complexity and yet being based on single cells travelling around the body. The development of effective and regulated immunity relies upon co‐ordinated migration of each cellular component, which is regulated by diverse signals provided by the tissue. Co‐ordinated migration is particularly relevant to the recirculation of primed T cells, which, while performing continuous immune surveillance, need to promptly localize to antigenic sites, reside for a time sufficient to carry out their effector function and then efficiently leave the tissue to avoid bystander damage. Recent advances that have helped to clarify a number of key molecular mechanisms underlying the complexity and efficiency of memory T‐cell trafficking, including antigen‐dependent T‐cell trafficking, the regulation of T‐cell motility by costimulatory molecules, T‐cell migration out of target tissue and fugetaxis, are reviewed in this article.
DM influences the abundance of major histocompatibility complex class II alleles with low affinity for class II‐associated invariant chain peptides via multiple mechanisms
Authors: Rinderknecht Cornelia H. , Roh Sujin , Pashine Achal , Belmares Michael P. , Patil Namrata S. , Lu Ning , Truong Phi , Hou Tieying , Macaubas Claudia , Yoon Taejin , Wang Nan , Busch Robert , Mellins Elizabeth D. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryDM catalyses class II‐associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP) release, edits the repertoire of peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, affects class II structure, and thereby modulates binding of conformation‐sensitive anti‐class II antibodies. Here, we investigate the ability of DM to enhance the cell surface binding of monomorphic antibodies. We show that this enhancement reflects increases in cell surface class II expression and total cellular abundance, but notably these effects are selective for particular alleles. Evidence from analysis of cellular class II levels after cycloheximide treatment and from pulse‐chase experiments indicates that DM increases the half‐life of affected alleles. Unexpectedly, the pulse‐chase experiments also revealed an early effect of DM on assembly of these alleles. The allelically variant feature that correlates with susceptibility to these DM effects is low affinity for CLIP; DM‐dependent changes in abundance are reduced by invariant chain (CLIP) mutants that enhance CLIP binding to class II. We found evidence that DM mediates rescue of peptide‐receptive DR0404 molecules from inactive forms in vitro and evidence suggesting that a similar process occurs in cells. Thus, multiple mechanisms, operating along the biosynthetic pathway of class II molecules, contribute to DM‐mediated increases in the abundance of low‐CLIP‐affinity alleles.
Shade avoidance: an integral component of crop–weed competition
Authors: PAGE E R , TOLLENAAR M , LEE E A , LUKENS L , SWANTON C J 
Published: April 2010

PageER, TollenaarM, LeeEA, LukensL & SwantonCJ (2010). Shade avoidance: an integral component of crop–weed competition.Weed Research50, 281–288.SummaryCrop–weed competition is comprised of both resource dependent and resource independent processes. While many studies have focused on the role that resource dependant competition plays in reducing crop yields, few have investigated whether resource independent effects may contribute to these losses. In this study, we identify the red‐to‐far‐red ratio as a variable that contributing to resource independent competition and tested the hypothesis that the expression of shade avoidance in response to weeds reduces maize fitness (i.e., kernel number) in the absence of resource dependent competition. Seedlings were grown in a field fertigation system under two light quality environments: an ambient and a low red‐to‐far‐red ratio environment, which were designed to simulate weed‐free and weedy conditions respectively. Plants that expressed classic shade avoidance characteristics set fewer kernels per plant and partitioned less biomass to the developing ear. Shade avoidance also doubled the plant‐to‐plant variability in these yield parameters (i.e., kernel number and harvest index) without affecting the mean or frequency distribution of shoot biomass at maturity. We propose that shade avoidance should be viewed as an integral component of the process of competition. This resource independent response precedes and conditions the crop seedling for the onset of resource dependent competition.
Donor screening algorithm for exclusion of thrombophilia during evaluation of living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Ogawa Hayato , Fujimoto Yasuhiro , Yamamoto Koji , Hata Taigo , Nagai Shunji , Kamei Hideya , Arikawa Takashi , Nakamura Taro , Kiuchi Tetsuya 
Published: April 2010

Ogawa H, Fujimoto Y, Yamamoto K, Hata T, Nagai S, Kamei H, Arikawa T, Nakamura T, Kiuchi T. Donor screening algorithm for exclusion of thrombophilia during evaluation of living donor liver transplantation.  Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 277–282. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has evolved based on the premise that donor safety is most important. In 2005, we encountered a donor who developed a pulmonary embolism during the early post‐operative period. As it is important for donors to be healthy, most risk factors related to perioperative thrombosis, such as obesity, age, and malignancy are used as exclusion criteria during the evaluation process. We speculated that thrombophilia not detected by conventional laboratory examinations may cause post‐operative thrombotic complications and should be investigated by application of additional parameters, including protein S, protein C, antithrombin III, anti‐β2‐glycoprotein I antibodies (anti‐β2GPI), and lupus anticoagulant. From July 2005 to June 2007, we evaluated 44 donor candidates for LDLT using our novel algorithm for screening of thrombophilia, which revealed two suspected candidates (one with low protein S, one with low protein C, and positive anti‐β2GPI findings), who were subsequently excluded from the donor pool. Thereafter, all donor hepatectomies, which included two borderline donors given anticoagulants perioperatively, were performed without complications. Four donors (two suspected, two borderline) would not have been recognized without additional screening. In conclusion, we were able to detect thrombophilia and avoid donor thrombosis using additional screening criteria and our novel algorithm.
Gene Expression of Spag6 in Chick Central Nervous System
Authors: Hamada T. , Teraoka M. , Imaki J. , Ui‐Tei K. , Ladher R. K. , Asahara T. 
Published: April 2010

With 5 figuresSummaryUsing a differential display method, we identified sperm‐associated antigen 6 (Spag6) as a gene with a dynamic expression profile within the chick embryonic spinal cord. The expression of Spag6 gradually decreased along with spinal cord development. Spag6 expression was detected adjacent to the ventricular zone of the spinal cord at embryonic day (E) 4. At E6, Spag6 was apparent in the ventral ventricular zone adjacent to floor plate and the surrounding region close to the ventricular zone, with additional weak expression at the adjacent region to the ventral horn. At E10, the Spag6 mRNA can be detected slightly in the ventral ventricular zone and surrounding region of dorsal ventricular zone. In the E6 hindbrain, Spag6 was detected in the roof, the ventricular zone adjacent to floor plate and the surrounding regions of the ventricular zones. In the E6 caudal diencephalon, Spag6 expression was detected adjacent to the ventricular zone. As Spag6 was expressed in areas containing ependymal progenitor cells and in the borders of undifferentiated regions, Spag6 may be involved in the development of ependymal cells and in the differentiation process of neuronal cells in chick neural organs.
Mango Malformation Disease in South China Caused by Fusarium proliferatum
Authors: Zhan Ru‐Lin , Yang Shun‐Jin , Ho Hon‐Hing , Liu Feng , Zhao Yan‐Long , Chang Jin‐Mei , He Yan‐Biao 
Published: April 2010

AbstractA total of 13 Fusarium isolates were obtained from samples of malformed mango seedlings from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China, and five morphologically similar isolates were confirmed causing the disease by satisfying Koch’s postulates. One typical isolate (MG4) was selected for detailed morphological and molecular studies. Based on the following morphological characteristics, isolate MG4 was identified as Fusarium proliferatum: white aerial mycelium on PSA (potato sucrose agar: potato 200 g; sucrose 15 g; agar 18 g; distilled water 1000 ml) medium; hyaline reverse of colonies on PSA; production of pink pigment on rice medium and the production of conidia on branched conidiophore with monophialides bearing false heads of conidia. On carnation leaf agar medium, the microconidia were ovate to elongated ovoid, 0–1 septate, 3.1–10.2 × 1.5–2.2 μm; the macroconidia were fusiform, 3–5 septate, 18–38 × 1.8–2.4 μm, whereas chlamydospores and sexual structures were absent on all media used. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed by its high similarity (99.8–100%) in the sequence alignment of rDNA‐ITS 1 and 4 with both isolates of F. proliferatum in the GenBank database.
Childhood asthma and GOLD‐defined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Shirtcliffe P. , Marsh S. , Travers J. , Weatherall M. , Beasley R. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground: Current understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is that it results from an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate the strength of association of various known risk factors for COPD.Methods: Detailed written questionnaires, full pulmonary function tests and atopy testing were completed in 749 people, aged 25–75 years, recruited from a random population sample. COPD was defined, using Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, as a post‐bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio <0.7.Results: The prevalence of COPD was higher in men (OR 1.7 (95% CI 1.1–2.7)) and increased with increasing age (OR per decade older 2.1 (95% CI 1.7–2.7)). COPD was more frequent in current and ex‐smokers and increased with increasing pack years (OR per 10 pack years 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.5)). On a logit scale, a diagnosis of asthma as a child conferred a similar risk as an increase in age of 22 years or 62 pack years of cigarette smoking.Conclusion: Childhood asthma emerged with the strongest association for GOLD‐defined COPD. Possible explanations for this are suggested, including limitations of the current GOLD spirometric definition of COPD, a chance observation because of the high prevalence of both disorders in this population, or alternatively childhood asthma is a risk factor for COPD.
Eliciting views of Australian pharmaceutical industry employees on collaboration and the concept of Quality Use of Medicines
Authors: Wang N. , Lipworth W. L. , Ritchie J. E. , Williams K. M. , Day R. O. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground: Pharmaceutical industry involvement in biomedicine has produced major benefits but has also caused concern. At present, there is no consensus as to how medical and government organizations should relate to the pharmaceutical industry and this is partly due to the absence of systematic study of the various alternatives. In Australia industry cooperation has been elicited through the ‘Quality Use of Medicines’ (QUM) framework within the ‘National Medicines Policy’. Little is known about the way employees of pharmaceutical companies respond to the QUM policy and strategies.Aims: To examine the engagement of the Australian pharmaceutical industry with QUM with a view to assisting medical, government and consumer organizations who may wish to collaborate with industry.Methods: We carried out a qualitative study using in‐depth, semistructured interviews with industry employees, primarily from medical and regulatory affairs departments.Results: Employees of pharmaceutical companies claim that collaboration is important, and that they are altruistic and committed to QUM. At the same time, there is little evidence from this study to support the notion that QUM has brought about structural changes to industry or is positioned as the central goal or framework in designing a company's operational strategies. Moreover, there is a significant degree of ambivalence towards governments and medical organizations.Conclusions: Employees within the pharmaceutical industry claim a commitment to collaboration and QUM. While these claims cannot be taken entirely at face value, there is potential for meaningful collaboration with industry.