bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are plant pathogen populations adapted for encounter with their host? A case study of phenological synchrony between oak and an obligate fungal parasite along an altitudinal gradient
Authors: DESPREZ‐LOUSTAU M.‐L. , VITASSE Y. , DELZON S. , CAPDEVIELLE X. , MARÇAIS B. , KREMER A. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBiotrophic fungal pathogens are expected to have adapted to their host plants for phenological synchrony, to optimize the possibility of contacts leading to infections. We investigated the patterns and causes of variation in phenological synchrony in the oak‐powdery mildew pathosystem, a major disease in natural ecosystems. The study was carried out along an altitudinal gradient, representing a wide temperature range, in mature oak stands. Both sporulation (pathogen infective stage) and oak flushing (host susceptible stage) were delayed with increasing elevation, but with a significantly different sensitivity for the two species. This resulted in a variable host–pathogen synchrony along the gradient. A common garden experiment did not give evidence of among‐population genetic differentiation (past adaptation) for fungal phenology. This could be explained by the high phenotypic variation in phenology within host populations, precluding selection on fungal phenology at the population scale, but possibly favouring adaptation at the within‐population scale. Phenotypic plasticity was the major cause of the observed variation in the phenology of the fungal populations.
When assumptions on visual system evolution matter: nestling colouration and parental visual performance in birds
Authors: RENOULT J. P. , COURTIOL A. , KJELLBERG F. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractComparative studies in visual ecology of birds often rely on several assumptions on the evolution of avian vision. In this study, we show that when these assumptions are not upheld, conclusions may be strongly affected. To illustrate this purpose, we reanalysed the data of Avilés & Soler (J. Evol. Biol.22: 376–386, 2009) who demonstrated that nestling gape colouration in altricial birds is associated with visual system. We show that a slight change in analysis methodology leads to opposite conclusions. Such conflicting result raises the problem of applying powerful methods developed for continuous variables to a small sample and a small number of independent events of qualitative visual system shift in comparative analyses. Further, we show that the current trend to assume strong phylogenetic inertia of avian visual systems is contradicted by data and that the sequencing of the SWS1 opsin gene should be considered as an alternative approach.
Nestling coloration is adjusted to parent visual performance in altricial birds irrespective of assumptions on vision system for Laniidae and owls, a reply to Renoult et al.
Authors: AVILÉS J. M. , SOLER J. J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractWe have recently published support to the hypothesis that visual systems of parents could affect nestling detectability and, consequently, influences the evolution of nestling colour designs in altricial birds. We provided comparative evidence of an adjustment of nestling colour designs to the visual system of parents that we have found in a comparative study on 22 altricial bird species. In this issue, however, Renoult et al. (J. Evol. Biol., 2009) question some of the assumptions and statistical approaches in our study. Their argumentation relied on two major points: (1) an incorrect assignment of vision system to four out of 22 sampled species in our study; and (2) the use of an incorrect approach for phylogenetic correction of the predicted associations. Here, we discuss in detail re‐assignation of vision systems in that study and propose alternative interpretation for current knowledge on spectrophotometric data of avian pigments. We reanalysed the data by using phylogenetic generalized least squares analyses that account for the alluded limitations of phylogenetically independent contrasts and, in accordance with the hypothesis, confirmed a significant influence of parental visual system on gape coloration. Our results proved to be robust to the assumptions on visual system evolution for Laniidae and nocturnal owls that Renoult et al. (J. Evol. Biol., 2009) study suggested may have flawed our early findings. Thus, the hypothesis that selection has resulted in increased detectability of nestling by adjusting gape coloration to parental visual systems is currently supported by our comparative data.
Efficacy of pymetrozine against Myzus persicae and in reducing potato virus Y transmission on tobacco plants
Authors: Margaritopoulos J. T. , Tsamandani K. , Kanavaki O. M. , Katis N. I. , Tsitsipis J. A. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractForty‐four parthenogenetic lineages of Myzus persicae s.l. (Sulzer) from tobacco crops and peach orchards located in various regions of Greece were examined to determine their response to the insecticide pymetrozine using leaf‐dip bio‐assays. The results show that the aphid has not developed resistance, as all lineages exhibited resistance factors bellow 6.0. In transmission experiments of potato virus Y (PVY) using a lineage of the tobacco‐adapted subspecies M. persicae nicotianae Blackman on tobacco plants, one foliar application with pymetrozine provided adequate protection for 7 days. Pymetrozine significantly reduced both virus acquisition and inoculation compared with the untreated control and the reduction was comparable to a mineral oil application. These results are discussed in terms of the advantage of incorporating pymetrozine as a compound of pest management strategies against M. persicae s.l. and for control of non‐persistent viruses, especially in crops such as tobacco because of the high selection pressure from neonicotinoids resulting in potential of resistance developing in aphid populations.
Long‐term results after excision of breast mass using a vacuum‐assisted biopsy device
Authors: Yom Cha Kyong , Moon Byung In , Choe Kuk Jin , Choi Hye Young , Park Yong Lai 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  The excision of breast lesions using an ultrasound‐guided vacuum‐assisted biopsy device (VABD) is a widely used technique for the diagnosis and treatment of breast disease, but the results of long‐term follow‐up after VABD excision of benign breast tumours have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of long‐term follow‐up after complete excision of benign breast tumours using an ultrasound‐guided VABD.Methods:  This is a retrospective clinical study. Between January 2001 and December 2004, patients who had undergone VABD excision of benign breast tumours and been followed up by clinical examination and ultrasonography for 2 years or more were included.Results:  One hundred eighty‐four cases representing 153 patients were studied. The median follow‐up period was 33 months (range, 24–67 months). All lesions were histologically benign. The mean size of the lesions was 1.09 ± 0.57 cm (range, 0.3–3.03 cm). Within 2 years after VABD excision, residual lesions were detected in 10% of patients sonographically, but after 2 years or more, residual masses were found in 6.5% of patients. Scar changes also decreased from 36.0% to 15.8% during the period of follow‐up. Finally, the benign breast tumours were completely excised without residual masses in 93.5% of the participant patients. Residual masses developed in two fibroadenoma cases (1.08%); one was re‐excised and the other was followed serially.Conclusion:  Ultrasound‐guided VABD excision is a minimally invasive technique for the complete removal of benign breast tumours. The results of this long‐term follow‐up of VABD excisions are comparable to conventional methods.
Outcome of endoscopy surveillance for Barrett's oesophagus
Authors: Bright Tim , Schloithe Ann , Bull Jeff A. , Fraser Robert J. , Bampton Peter , Watson David I. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  Endoscopic surveillance of individuals with Barrett's oesophagus is undertaken to detect early stage oesophageal malignancy. The impact of a surveillance programme on endoscopy resources and disease detection is uncertain.Methods:  In 2004, we commenced a structured Barrett's oesophagus surveillance programme. The surveillance protocol specifies surveillance interval and number of oesophageal biopsies required according to previous endoscopy and biopsy findings. The first 3 years of surveillance were reviewed to assess programme adherence, impact on endoscopy resources and the incidence of high‐grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in patients undergoing surveillance.Results:  Four hundred five patients were enrolled in the surveillance programme, and 776 patient years of endoscopy follow‐up were analysed. Four‐quadrant biopsies every 2 cm throughout the Barrett's oesophagus were performed in 89.8% of endoscopies. A total of 93.7% of patients had surveillance endoscopy performed at the appropriate time interval. Formalizing surveillance was followed by a decrease in the mean time interval for endoscopy surveillance from 16 months to 15 months, although the mode endoscopy surveillance interval lengthened from 1 year to 2 years. The mean number of biopsies per endoscopy increased from 5.9 to 7. In four patients, T1 stage oesophageal adenocarcinoma was identified, and in six patients, high‐grade dysplasia was identified (combined incidence of adenocarcinoma/high‐grade dysplasia 1 per 77.6 endoscopy years of follow‐up).Conclusions:  Structured Barrett's surveillance detects malignant progression at an early stage, which provides opportunities for curative surgical or endoscopic intervention. Formalizing surveillance resulted in a high rate of adherence to agreed guidelines and rationalized the use of endoscopy resources without significantly increasing workload.
Association of carotid artery atheromatous plaque types with cerebral perfusion
Authors: Gao Dong Yan , Varcoe Ramon L. , Niesche John W. , Lennox Andrew R. , Haindl Walter , Frawley John Edmond 
Published: November 2009

AbstractBackground:  In an attempt to define the association of internal carotid artery atheromatous plaque morphology with potential cerebral ischaemia, we have investigated the relationship of different carotid plaque types with defects in cerebral perfusion.Methods:  In 130 patients requiring surgical correction of internal carotid artery stenoses greater than 70%, defects in cerebral perfusion due to both haemodynamic insufficiency and intracerebral vessel occlusion were identified using single photon emission computed tomography scans (SPECT). Carotid artery plaques in these patients were classified as homogeneous or heterogeneous based on preoperative Doppler Duplex Scanning and on the macroscopic characteristics of the plaques recorded by the surgeon during carotid endarterectomy, with sub‐classification into potentially embolus‐generating and non‐ embolus‐generating plaques. In individual patients, plaque types were then correlated with the perfusion defects found in the SPECT scans.Results:  Of 130 patients, 112 (86%) had cerebral perfusion defects. In 56 asymptomatic patients in the study, 48 (85.7%) had perfusion defects as did 64 (86.5%) of 74 symptomatic patients. Cerebral infarcts were seen in 41 (31.5%). Occlusive infarcts (66%) were twice as frequent as haemodynamic insufficiency infarcts (34%). Eighteen patients with small cerebral infarcts on SPECT scanning gave no medical history of cerebral symptoms. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that there was no statistically identifiable association between carotid plaque type and the generation of cerebral symptoms or infarction.Conclusion:  This study found that internal carotid plaque morphology has no statistically significant association with perfusion defects, symptoms or cerebral infarction in patients with significant internal carotid artery stenosis. Also, it is suggested that haemodynamic cerebral infarction may be more common that previously believed (34% of infarcts identified in the study). Further, it is suggested that plaque morphology alone is not an indication for carotid endarterectomy.
Cyanoacrylate embolization of endoleaks after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Buckenham Timothy , McKewen Michael , Laing Andrew , Roake Justin , Lewis David , Gordon Malcolm K. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractIntroduction:  Type II endoleaks occur in up to a fifth of endoluminal repairs for abdominal aortic aneurysms and are commonly treated when aortic sac expansion can be demonstrated. Technical failure is common when catheter‐guided particulates or coil embolic agents are used. Presented here is a feasibility study using catheter‐directed N‐butyl‐2‐cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl, Braun, Tuttlingen, Germany) embolotherapy.Method:  A retrospective review of the case notes of patients undergoing embolization procedures for type II endoleaks with expanding sacs was performed from this centre's cohort of endoluminal aortic repair patients under surveillance. Data on patients with type II endoleaks who were treated with either or both cyanoacrylate and coil embolization were extracted. The outcomes were then compared.Results:  In total, five cases were identified, and four of these cases had both coil and glue embolization. Technical success was defined as endoleak closure proven on follow‐up computed tomographic imaging. Technical success was achieved in all four patients treated with intra‐sac cyanoacrylate. One case treated initially with coil embolization was successful. All patients had a computed tomographic scan at 3 months. One minor complication occurred that resolved without treatment.Discussion:  Type II endoleaks after EVAR with expanding sacs require treatment. Percutaneous catheter‐directed cyanoacrylate embolization offers an alternative to coil or particulate embolization and, in this series, was found to be more likely to result in endoleak closure.
Avian hippocampal role in space and content memory
Authors: Kahn Meghan C. , Bingman Verner P. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe present study examined whether the hippocampal formation of homing pigeons (Columba livia) was necessary for learning the contents of different goal locations in an open‐field, laboratory environment. Results showed that, although control animals were able to distinguish between two goal locations that contained food items of different quality, pigeons with bilateral hippocampal lesions were impaired in goal‐quality discrimination, even though non‐spatial cues could have been used to distinguish between goal locations. Probe trials further revealed that the hippocampal formation‐lesioned pigeons were impaired in the use of space to recognize goal locations as well as having a poorer capacity to integrate spatial information with the visual features of food bowls. These results promote a revised view of avian hippocampal memory function, one in which the avian hippocampal formation is critical not only for learning the spatial properties of goal locations but also for learning what happens at goal locations in an animal’s environment.
Early processing in the human lateral occipital complex is highly responsive to illusory contours but not to salient regions
Authors: Shpaner Marina , Murray Micah M. , Foxe John J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHuman electrophysiological studies support a model whereby sensitivity to so‐called illusory contour stimuli is first seen within the lateral occipital complex. A challenge to this model posits that the lateral occipital complex is a general site for crude region‐based segmentation, based on findings of equivalent hemodynamic activations in the lateral occipital complex to illusory contour and so‐called salient region stimuli, a stimulus class that lacks the classic bounding contours of illusory contours. Using high‐density electrical mapping of visual evoked potentials, we show that early lateral occipital cortex activity is substantially stronger to illusory contour than to salient region stimuli, whereas later lateral occipital complex activity is stronger to salient region than to illusory contour stimuli. Our results suggest that equivalent hemodynamic activity to illusory contour and salient region stimuli probably reflects temporally integrated responses, a result of the poor temporal resolution of hemodynamic imaging. The temporal precision of visual evoked potentials is critical for establishing viable models of completion processes and visual scene analysis. We propose that crude spatial segmentation analyses, which are insensitive to illusory contours, occur first within dorsal visual regions, not the lateral occipital complex, and that initial illusory contour sensitivity is a function of the lateral occipital complex.
Large‐scale reorganization of corticofugal fibers after neonatal hemidecortication for functional restoration of forelimb movements
Authors: Takahashi Masahito , Vattanajun Anusara , Umeda Tatsuya , Isa Kaoru , Isa Tadashi 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAs an experimental model to study the mechanism of large‐scale network plasticity of the juvenile brain, functional compensation after neonatal brain damage was studied in rats that received unilateral decortication at postnatal day 5. These animals exhibited a marked ability in reaching and grasping movements in the contralesional side of the forelimb when tested at 10–14 weeks of age. Additional lesion of the sensorimotor cortex in the remaining contralesional hemisphere at this stage resulted in severe impairment of both forelimbs. It was suggested that the sensorimotor cortex on the contralesional side was controlling the movements of both forelimbs. Following the injection of an anterograde tracer into the remaining sensorimotor cortex, the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex were found to issue aberrant projections to the contralateral red nucleus, contralateral superior colliculus, contralateral pontine nuclei, ipsilateral dorsal column nucleus and ipsilateral gray matter of the cervical spinal cord, all of which appeared to be necessary for the control of contralesional forelimb movements. These results suggest that the forelimb movements on the contralesional side were compensated by large‐scale reorganization of the corticofugal axons from the remaining sensorimotor cortex.
Colorectal foreign bodies: a systematic review
Authors: Kurer M. A. , Davey C. , Khan S. , Chintapatla S. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAim  To perform a systematic review of the published reports on retained colorectal foreign bodies (CFBs) to collate the features and formulate a simple management plan based on the available evidence.Method  An extensive search was carried out to identify articles on CFBs. The search was carried out on electronic databases Cinahl, Embase, Medline, PubMed and PsychInfo from 1950 to January 2009. Internet journals were also scoured and a general search was carried out using the search engine ‘Google’. Papers published in languages other than English were not included.Results  This review covers a total of 193 patients with 196 presentations. There were 188 men and 5 women, a ratio of approximately 37:1. The mean age at presentation was 44.1 years (SD 16.6) in the single case reports and 39.3, 40 and 60.8 years in the three case series. Household objects, such as bottles and glasses, accounted for the largest percentage (42.2%) of inserted objects. Presentation for treatment occurred most often within 24 h of insertion and the majority of objects were removed transanally using manual manipulation with or without the use of a variety of tools, or via a scope.Conclusions  The incidence of CFBs is disproportionately higher in men. Various techniques for removal are available, including some that are minimally invasive. The appropriate technique will depend on the size and surface of the retained object and the presence of complications such as perforation or obstruction.
Retracted: Early supplementation of parenteral nutrition is capable of improving quality of life, chemotherapy‐related toxicity and body composition in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma undergoing palliative treatment: results from a prospective, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Hasenberg T. , Essenbreis M. , Herold A. , Post S. , Shang E. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractAim  Patients suffering from advanced colorectal cancer can experience unintended weight loss and/or treatment‐induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Based on current evidence, the routine use of parenteral nutrition (PN) for patients with colorectal cancer is not recommended. This study evaluates the effect of PN supplementation on body composition, quality of life (QoL), chemotherapy‐associated side effects and survival in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.Method  Eighty‐two patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving a palliative chemotherapy were prospectively randomized to either oral enteral nutrition supplement (PN‐) or oral enteral nutrition supplement plus supplemental PN (PN+). Every 6 weeks body weight, body mass index (BMI), chemotherapy‐associated side effects and caloric intake were assessed, haemoglobin and serum albumin were measured. Body composition was assessed by body impedance analysis, and QoL was evaluated by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQC30 questionnaire.Results  No differences were evident at baseline between the groups for age, sex, diagnosis, weight, BMI or QoL. A difference in BMI was observed by week 36, whereas differences of the mean body cell mass could be observed from week 6, albumin dropped significantly in the PN‐ group in week 36 and QoL showed significant differences from week 18. Chemotherapy‐associated side effects were higher in PN‐. The survival rate was significantly greater in the PN+ group.Conclusion  A supplementation with PN slows weight loss, stabilizes body‐composition and improves QoL in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Furthermore, it can reduce chemotherapy‐related side effects.