bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular epidemiological survey of haemoglobinopathies in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China
Authors: Xiong F , Sun M , Zhang X , Cai R , Zhou Y , Lou J , Zeng L , Sun Q , Xiao Q , Shang X , Wei X , Zhang T , Chen P , Xu X 
Published: March 2010

Xiong F, Sun M, Zhang X, Cai R, Zhou Y, Lou J, Zeng L, Sun Q, Xiao Q, Shang X, Wei X, Zhang T, Chen P, Xu X. Molecular epidemiological survey of haemoglobinopathies in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China.Accurate and up‐to‐date data on the frequency of haemoglobinopathies among the populations of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where haemoglobinopathies are most endemic in China, are required. In our study, a total of 5789 samples obtained from members of the Han, Zhang, and Yao ethnic groups in six geographical areas of Guangxi Province were analysed systematically in terms of both haematological and molecular parameters. The results presented that the total heterozygote frequency of thalassaemias and other haemoglobinopathies was 24.51%, of which 17.55% was due to α‐thalassaemia, 6.43% to β‐thalassaemia, 0.38% to structural haemoglobin variants, and 0.16% to δ‐thalassaemia. The mutational spectrum among the local population for each type of disorder was described, including the first report on the true prevalence of three silent α thalassemia defects, −α3.7/(4.78%), −α4.2/(1.61%) and Hb Westmead (αWSα/) (1.57%) and of δ‐thalassemia resulting from five novel and two rare mutations never before identified in Chinese individuals. Comparison of the frequencies of α‐globin mutations among the ethnic groups showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the Han (15.71%) and Zhuang (20.12%), and between the Han (15.71%) and Yao (20.84%) ethnic groups. In addition, we have performed the first extensive study of haematological parameters of the Hb Westmead mutation using a group of Chinese subjects with compound heterozygosity for this variant and an α‐thalassaemia deletion. The knowledge gained in this study will enable us to estimate the health burden in this high‐risk population and to elucidate the various genetic alterations that underlie haemoglobinopathies.
Partial paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 6 in monozygotic twins with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus and macroglossia
Authors: Suzuki S , Fujisawa D , Hashimoto K , Asano T , Maimaiti M , Matsuo K , Tanahashi Y , Mukai T , Fujieda K 
Published: March 2010

Suzuki S, Fujisawa D, Hashimoto K, Asano T, Maimaiti M, Matsuo K, Tanahashi Y, Mukai T, Fujieda K. Partial paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 6 in monozygotic twins with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus and macroglossia.Transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) usually develops within the first few weeks of life and resolves at a median age of 3 months. In most of the cases, TNDM is caused by the over‐expression of a paternally expressed imprinted PLAGL1 locus on chromosome 6q24. The most frequent manifestation other than TNDM is intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and in some cases macroglossia. We investigated monozygotic twins who had macroglossia without IUGR. Both of the twins developed insulin‐dependent hyperglycemia within the first week of life, which subsequently resolved. DNA profiling with polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed for polymorphic microsatellite markers of chromosome 6. The six informative markers, located between 6p24 and 6q15, showed normal biparental inheritance. However, the six distal informative markers, located between 6q23.2 and the 6q telomeric region, showed the absence of a maternal allele and the presence of a single paternal allele. The monosomy of the 6q telomeric region was not confirmed by chromosome banding showing 46, XX. These findings provide further evidence that partial paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 6 (pUPD6) causes TNDM. The phenotypes other than diabetes observed in patients with partial pUPD6 may differ from those observed in patients with complete pUPD6.
Local adaptation does not always predict high mating success
Authors: CORREIA L. , YEAMAN S. , WHITLOCK M. C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe hypothesis that adaptation to local environments can increase mating success was tested using ten replicate lines of Drosophila melanogaster adapted either to 16 °C or to 25 °C. Competitive mating trials at both temperatures were performed with males taken from a pair of lines, one adapted to each temperature. There was no average increase in mating success for males adapted to the local environment. Although one pair of lines showed the expected pattern, another pair showed the reverse pattern. More data are needed on this hypothesis, preferably with lines that have more strongly adapted to local environments.
Impact of plant flowering phenology on the cost/benefit balance in a nursery pollination mutualism, with honest males and cheating females
Authors: DUFAY M. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis study documents the flowering phenology and its potential consequences on a nursery pollination mutualism between a dioecious plant, in which honest male plants, but not cheating females, allow the specific pollinator to reproduce within inflorescences. Very few pollinators were found to emerge during plant anthesis, leading to a low (if any) potential benefit through pollen dispersal. This opens the question why male plants do not also cheat their pollinators. Female plants flowered late in the season, when many males had just achieved their own anthesis, which increased the efficiency of pollen transfer. Finally, some late‐flowering males reached their anthesis simultaneously with females, which open the possibility for pollinator to choose between honest males and cheating females. Nevertheless, female plants were found to produce fruits, even though fruit production was limited by pollen (and pollinator) supply, meaning that cheating was not entirely retaliated by the mutualistic partner.
Regulation of stress response is heritable and functionally linked to melanin‐based coloration
Authors: ALMASI B. , JENNI L. , JENNI‐EIERMANN S. , ROULIN A. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractSexual selection theory posits that ornaments can signal the genetic quality of an individual. Eumelanin‐based coloration is such an ornament and can signal the ability to cope with a physiological stress response because the melanocortin system regulates eumelanogenesis as well as physiological stress responses. In the present article, we experimentally investigated whether the stronger stress sensitivity of light than dark eumelanic individuals stems from differential regulation of stress hormones. Our study shows that darker eumelanic barn owl nestlings have a lower corticosterone release after a stressful event, an association, which was also inherited from the mother (but not the father) to the offspring. Additionally, nestlings sired by darker eumelanic mothers more quickly reduced experimentally elevated corticosterone levels. This provides a solution as to how ornamented individuals can be more resistant to various sources of stress than drab conspecifics. Our study suggests that eumelanin‐based coloration can be a sexually selected signal of resistance to stressful events.
Parasites and deleterious mutations: interactions influencing the evolutionary maintenance of sex
Authors: PARK A. W. , JOKELA J. , MICHALAKIS Y. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe restrictive assumptions associated with purely genetic and purely ecological mechanisms suggest that neither of the two forces, in isolation, can offer a general explanation for the evolutionary maintenance of sex. Consequently, attention has turned to pluralistic models (i.e. models that apply both ecological and genetic mechanisms). Existing research has shown that combining mutation accumulation and parasitism allows restrictive assumptions about genetic and parasite parameter values to be relaxed while still predicting the maintenance of sex. However, several empirical studies have shown that deleterious mutations and parasitism can reduce fitness to a greater extent than would be expected if the two acted independently. We show how interactions between these genetic and ecological forces can completely reverse predictions about the evolution of reproductive modes. Moreover, we demonstrate that synergistic interactions between infection and deleterious mutations can render sex evolutionarily stable even when there is antagonistic epistasis among deleterious mutations, thereby widening the conditions for the evolutionary maintenance of sex.
Cross‐resistance of Cry1Ab‐selected Asian corn borer to other Cry toxins
Authors: Xu L. , Wang Z. , Zhang J. , He K. , Ferry N. , Gatehouse A. M. R. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe Asian corn borer,Ostrinia furnacalis(Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is the most important insect pest of maize in China. Despite the proven track record of biotechBacillus thuringiensis(Bt) maize to provide an effective means to control lepidopteran pests such as the European corn borerOstrinia nubilalis(Hübner), these crops have not been commercialized in China. However, Cry1Ab‐ and Cry1F‐expressing maize derived from genetic transformation events MON810 (Monsanto),Bt11 (Syngenta) and TC1507 (Pioneer, DuPont) as well as Cry1Ah‐, Cry1A‐ (a Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac hybrid toxin), and Cry1Ac‐, Cry1Ie‐expressing maize developed by the Chinese institutions have been shown to effectively suppressO. furnacalisin field trials. The development of resistance in target pests is a major threat to the use ofBtmaize. A strain ofO. furnacalisselected with Cry1Ab protein incorporated into artificial diet developed more than 100‐fold resistance to Cry1Ab after 35 generations of selection, and readily consumed Cry1Ab‐expressing maize silks. Although LC50s of the selected insect strain were not progressively increased, and even decreased in the following generations, these insects (ACB‐AbR) could survive on Cry1Ab‐expressing maize tissue after 51 generations of selection. In addition, susceptibility of ACB‐AbR to a number of otherBttoxins to which the selected strains had not previously been exposed, was significantly decreased. The highest level of cross‐resistance was observed with Cry1Ah (131‐fold), followed by Cry1Ac (36‐fold). A low level of cross‐resistance (6‐fold) to Cry1F was also detected. In contrast, ACB‐AbR was equally susceptible to Cry1Ie as the unselected control strain. These results indicate that the availability of multiple toxins could improve resistance management strategies, provided that the potential for cross‐resistance among toxins is not an issue.
Effective aerosol delivery during high‐frequency ventilation in neonatal pigs
Authors: SOOD Beena G. , SHEN Yimin , LATIF Zahid , GALLI Bob , DAWE Elizabeth J. , HAACKE E. Mark 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Pulmonary delivery of aerosols during high‐frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has not been studied in vivo. This study investigated the pulmonary delivery of aerosolized gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd‐DTPA) in a HFOV circuit in piglets using MRI to visualize contrast excretion in the kidneys.Methods:  Four ventilated piglets (3–7 days old, 1.7–2.4 kg at birth) received aerosolized Gd‐DTPA in a HFOV circuit for different durations of time (60, 30, 20 and 10 min). Aerosols were generated using the MiniHeart jet nebulizer. As MR‐compatible HFOV was not available, aerosolized Gd‐DTPA was administered in the HFOV circuit outside the MR suite followed by MRI 10–20 min later. T1‐weighted spin echo sequences were obtained using the Bruker/Siemens 4T MR scanner.Results:  Enhancement of the kidneys was observed 10 min after aerosol initiation in piglets who received Gd‐DTPA aerosol for 60, 30 and 20 min in the HFOV circuit but not in the piglet who received aerosol for 10 min. Renal concentration of Gd‐DTPA, determined from the signal intensity, increased linearly with time until 40 min post Gd‐DTPA delivery.Conclusions:  Effective pulmonary aerosol delivery during HFOV was confirmed by contrast visualization in the kidneys within 30 min of aerosol initiation reflecting, alveolar absorption, glomerular filtration and renal concentration.
CCL22 is involved in the recruitment of CD4+CD25high T cells into tuberculous pleural effusions
Authors: WU Cong , ZHOU Qiong , QIN Xue‐Jun , QIN Shou‐Ming , SHI Huan‐Zhong 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and Objective:  CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells are increased in tuberculous pleural effusions (TPE). However, the mechanism by which CD4+CD25high T cells infiltrate into the pleural cavity is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the chemokines CCL22 and CCL17 are present in TPE, and the chemoattractant activity of these chemokines for infiltration of CD4+CD25high T cells into the pleural space.Methods:  The concentrations of CCL22 and CCL17 were measured in pleural effusions from 33 patients with tuberculous pleurisy, 21 patients with pleural bacterial infections and 18 patients with transudative pleural effusions. T lymphocyte subsets in pleural effusions were assessed by flow cytometry. Pleural effusion cells were analysed for the expression of CCL22. The chemoattractant activity of CCL22 for CD4+CD25high T cells was assessed in vitro.Results:  The frequency of CD4+CD25high T cells was significantly higher in TPE than in blood. High concentrations of CCL22 were detected in tuberculous effusions, but not in bacterial effusions or transudates. Macrophages and T cells in TPE expressed CCL22. Tuberculous pleural fluid was chemotactic for CD4+CD25high T cells in vitro, and anti‐CCL22 antibody partly inhibited this chemotactic activity.Conclusions:  CCL22 appeared to be increased in TPE compared with bacterial pleural effusions or transudates. CCL22 may be responsible for the infiltration of CD4+CD25high T cells into the pleural space of patients with tuberculous pleurisy.
The long‐term impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome on pulmonary function, exercise capacity and health status
Authors: NGAI Jenny C. , KO Fanny W. , NG Susanna S. , TO Kin‐Wang , TONG Mabel , HUI David S. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in 2003 and its long‐term sequelae remain largely unclear. This study examined the long‐term outcome of pulmonary function, exercise capacity, health and work status among SARS survivors.Methods:  A prospective cohort study of SARS patients at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong was conducted, with serial assessments of lung function, 6MWD and 36 item Short Form General Health Survey at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after disease onset. The work status was also recorded.Results:  Serial assessments were completed by 55 of the 123 (39.9%) subjects, of whom 27 were health‐care workers (HCW). The mean age of the group was 44.4 (SD 13.2) years and 19 (34.5%) were males. At 24 months, 10 (18.2%), 9 (16.4%), 6 (10.9%) and 29 (52.7%) subjects had FEV1, FVC, TLC and DLCO < 80% of predicted values, respectively. The mean (SD) 6MWD increased significantly from 439.0 (89.1) m at 3 months to 460.1 (102.8) m at 6 months (P 0.016) and became steady after 6 months. However, 6MWD and 36 item Short Form General Health Survey scores were lower than the normal population throughout the study. Moreover, 29.6% of HCW and 7.1% of non‐HCW had not returned to work 2 years after illness onset.Conclusions:  This 2‐year study of a selected population of SARS survivors, showed significant impairment of DLCO, exercise capacity and health status persisted, with a more marked adverse impact among HCW.
Targeting abnormal airway vascularity as a therapeutical strategy in asthma
Authors: PARK Hee Sun , KIM Sun Young , KIM So Ri , LEE Yong Chul 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways, characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and airflow limitation with acute bronchoconstriction, swelling of the airway wall, chronic mucus plug formation and airway wall remodelling. Functional and structural changes in the vasculature of asthmatic airways have been documented, and the signalling mechanisms are complex and have recently attracted much attention. The vascular changes may affect inflammatory cell recruitment, airway hyperresponsiveness and the regulation of airway calibre, and further, the level of disease control. Many critical factors are involved in the pathophysiological regulation of vascular changes in bronchial asthma, and the actions of these factors must be very carefully orchestrated. By better understanding the complicated actions of each factor, we may be able to advance further in asthma treatment.
Elevated alveolar nitric oxide concentration after environmental challenge in hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Authors: SHIRAI Toshihiro , IKEDA Masaki , MORITA Satoru , ASADA Kazuhiro , SUDA Takafumi , CHIDA Kingo 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTWe describe a 57‐year‐old male patient admitted to hospital with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) that resolved without treatment. The total and alveolar nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were measured on initial admission and after re‐exposure to his home environment. Following environmental exposure he became ill again, alveolar NO concentration was increased to the same level as on initial admission and impaired pulmonary function and radiologic abnormalities were found. It suggested a diagnosis of environmentally induced HP. The clinical value of measuring alveolar NO as an acute‐phase reactant in HP is demonstrated in this patient.
CysA2: A candidate serodiagnostic marker for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: CHOI Go‐Eun , EOM Sun‐Ho , JUNG Ki‐Hwan , SON Ji‐Woong , SHIN A‐Rum , SHIN Sung‐Jae , KIM Ki‐Hye , CHANG Chulhun L. , KIM Hwa‐Jung 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  It is important to identify and test serologically active antigens in order to devise a mixture of antigens or peptides that is most useful for serodiagnosis. This study evaluated the serodiagnostic potential of CysA2, which has not previously been described as a serological antigen, together with those of PstS1, HspX, antigen 85 complex and CFP‐10 proteins.Methods:  Serum IgG antibody titres against each antigen and a mixture of the antigens were measured by ELISA, in subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis and in healthy control subjects.Results:  CysA2 showed diagnostic value comparable to that of PstS1 and HspX. Mixtures of these three proteins provided the highest diagnostic sensitivity. CysA2 was useful for identifying patients who did not react to HspX or PstS1, and was most valuable in increasing the sensitivity of testing. Furthermore, CysA2 efficiently overcame the limitation associated with use of PstS1, that is, significantly lower sensitivity for subjects who are negative for acid‐fast bacilli.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that CysA2 can be used in combination with HspX and/or PstS1 to increase the accuracy of tuberculosis diagnoses.
Drug‐resistant tuberculosis: Past, present, future
Authors: CHIANG Chen‐Yuan , CENTIS Rosella , MIGLIORI Giovanni Battista 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTIn a population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, random chromosomal mutation that results in genetic resistance to anti‐tuberculosis (TB) drugs occurs at a relatively low frequency. Anti‐TB drugs impose selection pressure so that mycobacterial mutants gradually outnumber susceptible bacilli and emerge as the dominant strains. Resistance to two or more anti‐TB drugs represents cumulative results of sequential mutation. The fourth report on global anti‐TB drug resistance provides the latest data on the extent of such problem in the world. The median prevalence of multi‐drug‐resistant TB (MDR‐TB) in new TB cases was 1.6%, and in previously treated TB cases 11.7%. Of the half a million MDR‐TB cases estimated to have emerged in 2006, 50% were in China and India. The optimal duration of any given combination of anti‐TB drugs for treatment of MDR‐ and extensively drug‐resistant TB (XDR‐TB) has not been defined in controlled clinical trials. Standardized treatment may be feasible for MDR‐TB patients not previously treated with second‐line drugs, but a different strategy needs to be applied in the treatment of MDR‐TB patients who have received second‐line drugs before. Unfortunately, the reliability of drug susceptibility testing of most second‐line anti‐TB drugs is still questionable. Drug‐resistant TB is not necessarily less virulent. Findings from modelling exercise warned that if MDR‐TB case detection and treatment rates increase to the World Health Organization target of 70%, without simultaneously increasing MDR‐TB cure rates, XDR‐TB prevalence could increase exponentially. Prevention of development of drug resistance must be accorded the top priority in the era of MDR‐/XDR‐TB.
Exercise‐induced wheeze: Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide‐directed management
Authors: COWAN Douglas C. , HEWITT Richard S. , COWAN Jan O. , PALMAY Rochelle , WILLIAMSON Avis , LUCAS Samuel J.E. , MURRELL Carissa J. , THOMAS Kate N. , TAYLOR D. Robin 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Exercise‐induced wheeze (EIW) is common. Several treatment options exist. Patients with low fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) are unlikely to be steroid‐responsive and might benefit from non‐steroidal therapies. We assessed: the efficacy of cromoglycate, formoterol and montelukast in patients with EIW and low FENO (<35 ppb) in a randomized cross‐over trial, and the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroid in a high FENO (>35 ppb) group.Methods:  Patients had EIW and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to mannitol and/or exercise. Those with low FENO (n = 19) received cromoglycate (20 mg inh. bd + before challenge tests), formoterol (12 µg inh. bd + before challenge tests) and montelukast (10 mg p.o. od), each for 2 weeks. Those with high FENO (n = 20) took inhaled fluticasone (500 µg) daily for 4 weeks. Primary end‐points were: 50% reduction in maximum FEV1 %fall (clinical protection) and decrease in AHR to mannitol.Results:  In patients with low FENO, cromoglycate, formoterol and montelukast significantly decreased AHR to mannitol in 63%, 61% and 47% of patients, respectively. In this group, the magnitude of exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) was significantly reduced with montelukast and formoterol; between‐treatment differences were not significant. Of 6/19 with low FENO and EIB, protection occurred in 67% (cromoglycate), 83% (formoterol) and 50% (montelukast), respectively. In the high FENO group, AHR to mannitol and EIB decreased significantly with fluticasone (P < 0.001, P = 0.005, respectively), and protection occurred in 7/8 (88%) with EIB.Conclusions:  In patients with EIW and low FENO, the number of ‘responders’ to cromoglycate, formoterol and montelukast was similar. In a high FENO population the response to inhaled corticosteroid was highly significant and comparable to previous studies.