bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms of histamine‐metabolizing enzymes and clinical manifestations of asthma and allergic rhinitis
Authors: García‐Martín E. , García‐Menaya J. , Sánchez B. , Martínez C. , Rosendo R. , Agúndez J. A. G. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBackground
Polymorphisms of enzymes involved in histamine biodisposition may affect clinical symptoms in diseases related to histamine, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis (AR).Objective
This study aims to analyse two common polymorphisms in genes coding for histamine‐metabolizing enzymes in patients with allergic diseases.Methods
Five‐hundred and sixty‐five individuals participated in the study, including 270 unrelated patients with asthma and/or AR recruited from a single centre and 295 healthy volunteers. Participants were analysed for the presence of Thr105Ile and His645Asp amino acid substitutions at histamine N‐methyltransferase (HNMT) and diamine oxidase (amiloride binding protein 1) enzymes, respectively, by amplification‐restriction procedures.Results
The variant HNMT allele frequencies were slightly higher among patients with asthma [16.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.0–20.0] and among patients with rhinitis (13.2, 95% CI 10.3–16.1) as compared with healthy subjects (11.5 95% CI 8.9–14.1). The variant ABP1 allele frequencies were similar among patients with asthma (30.8%, 95% CI 25.7–35.9), rhinitis (28.7, 95% CI 24.8–32.6) and healthy subjects (26.8 95% CI 23.2–30.3). Individuals carrying mutated ABP1 alleles presented allergy symptoms with significantly lower IgE levels as compared with individuals without mutated genes, with a significant gene‐dose effect (P<0.001). In addition, the percentage of individuals presenting symptoms without eosinophilia was significantly higher among homozygous carriers of ABP1 variant alleles (P<0.020) as compared with the rest of the atopic patients.Conclusion
There is a lack of association between the allelic variants studied and the risk of developing allergic asthma and rhinitis. However, patients carrying the His645Asp polymorphism of ABP1 are more prone to developing symptoms with lower IgE levels.
Effect of weight loss induced by gastric bypass on proinflammatory interleukin‐18, soluble tumour necrosis factor‐α receptors, C‐reactive protein and adiponectin in morbidly obese patients
Authors: Vilarrasa N. , Vendrell J. , Sánchez‐Santos R. , Broch M. , Megia A. , Masdevall C. , Gomez N. , Soler J. , Pujol J. , Bettónica C. , Aranda H. , Gómez J. M. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryObjective  Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine whose role in human obesity has recently been suggested. The aim of our study was to analyse in morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric bypass, the relationship of IL‐18 with insulin resistance and with proinflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor‐α receptors, sTNFR), C‐reactive protein (CRP) and with adiponectin.Design  Observational and prospective study.Patients  Sixty‐five morbidly obese patients, aged 45 ± 8·9 years, were studied before and 12 months after gastric bypass.Measurements  We analysed plasma concentrations of IL‐18, sTNFR, CRP and adiponectin.Results  Plasma concentrations of sTNFR2, IL‐18 and CRP were decreased and adiponectin significantly increased after bypass surgery. In the multiple regression analysis, preoperative values of IL‐18 remained significantly associated with preoperative triglycerides (β = 0·47, P = 0·005) and TNFR2 (β = 0·47, P = 0·004). R2 for the model = 0·38. Postoperative IL‐18 concentrations in the multiple regression analysis were significantly associated with postoperative homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) (β = 0·092, P = 0·019) and triglycerides (β = 0·40, P = 0·036). R2 for the model = 0·46. IL‐18 did not correlate with body mass index, fat mass, fat‐free mass or body fat. No relationship was either found between adiponectin and IL‐18, TNFR1 and ‐2 and CRP.Conclusions  Massive weight loss induced by gastric bypass reduces IL‐18, TNFR2 and CRP. IL‐18 might be a marker of the chronic inflammatory process underlying insulin resistance but its lack of association with anthropometric and body composition parameters does not support a major secretion by human adipocytes. IL‐18 and sTNFR1 and ‐2 do not play a main role in the inhibition of the secretion of adiponectin.
Natural hybridization between a clonally propagated crop, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and a wild relative in French Guiana
Authors: DUPUTIÉ ANNE , DAVID PATRICE , DEBAIN CHANTAL , MCKEY DOYLE 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBecause domestication rarely leads to speciation, domesticated populations often hybridize with wild relatives when they occur in close proximity. Little work has focused on this question in clonally propagated crops. If selection on the capacity for sexual reproduction has been relaxed, these crops would not be expected to hybridize with their wild relatives as frequently as seed‐propagated crops. Cassava is one of the most important clonally propagated plants in tropical agriculture. Gene flow between cassava and wild relatives has often been postulated, but never demonstrated in nature. We studied a population of a wild Manihot sp. in French Guiana, which was recently in contact with domesticated cassava, and characterized phenotypes (10 morphological traits) and genotypes (six microsatellite loci) of individuals in a transect parallel to the direction of hypothesized gene flow. Wild and domesticated populations were strongly differentiated at microsatellite loci. We identified many hybrids forming a continuum between these two populations, and phenotypic variation was strongly correlated with the degree of hybridization as determined by molecular markers. Analysis of linkage disequilibrium and of the diversity of hybrid pedigrees showed that hybridization has gone on for at least three generations and that no strong barrier prevents admixture of the populations. Hybrids were more heterozygous than either wild or domesticated individuals, and phenotypic comparisons suggested heterosis in vegetative traits. Our results also suggest that this situation is not uncommon, at least in French Guiana, and demonstrate the need for integrated management of wild and domesticated populations even in clonally propagated crops.
Meeting review: American Genetics Association Symposium on the genetics of speciation
Authors: ORTIZ‐BARRIENTOS DANIEL , KANE NOLAN C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractYeast can be engineered to carry human chromosomes; highly diverged ducks can produce viable, fertile offspring; and mitochondrial genes can move between widely divergent groups of plants. Some sunflower or oak species have porous genomes; mice, crickets, birds, and butterflies form hybrid zones; and bacterial lineages have been exchanging genes for several billion years. Even so, nature is discrete and full of species. Here, we discuss some of the ingredients that make nature discrete and can lead to clustering even in the presence of gene flow. Many of these results have been recently published, in this issue and elsewhere, and were discussed at the Genetics of Speciation Symposium held at the annual meeting of the American Genetics Association, Vancouver, Canada, in 2006.
Variation in multiple paternity in natural populations of a free‐spawning marine invertebrate
Authors: JOHNSON SHERI L. , YUND PHILIP O. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFor free‐spawning marine invertebrates, fertilization processes control the genetic diversity of offspring. Each egg can potentially be fertilized by a sperm from a different male, and hence genetic diversity within a brood varies with levels of multiple paternity. Yet, few studies have characterized the frequency of multiple paternity in natural spawns. We analysed patterns of multiple paternity in two populations of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri using microsatellites. Because previous studies have shown that at moderate to high population densities, competition among male‐phase B. schlosseri colonies results in the nearest male dominating the paternity of a brood, we specifically tested the effect of population density on patterns of paternity. Paternity was estimated using three multilocus indices: minimum number of fathers, counts of sperm haplotypes, and effective paternity (KE). Multiple paternity was evident in more than 92% of the broods analysed, but highly variable, with a few broods displaying unequal contributions of different males. We found no effect of population density on multiple paternity, suggesting that other factors may control paternity levels. Indirect benefits from increasing the genetic diversity of broods are a possible explanation for the high level of multiple paternity in this species.
Annotatingebonyon the fly
Authors: KOHN MICHAEL H. , WITTKOPP PATRICIA J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe distinctive black phenotype ofebonymutants has made it one of the most widely used phenotypic markers inDrosophilagenetics. Without doubt,ebonyshowcases the fruits of the fly community's labours to annotate gene function. As of this writing, FlyBase lists 142 references, 1277 fly stocks, 15 phenotypes and 44 alleles. In addition to its namesake pigmentation phenotype,ebonymutants affect other traits, including phototaxis and courtship. With phenotypic consequences ofebonyvariants readily apparent in the laboratory, does natural selection also see them in the wild? In this issue ofMolecular Ecology, Pool & Aquadro investigate this question and found signs of natural selection on theebonygene that appear to have resulted from selection for darker pigmentation at higher elevations in sub‐Saharan populations ofDrosophila melanogaster. Such findings from population genomic analysis of wild‐derived strains should be included in gene annotations to provide a more holistic view of a gene's function. The evolutionary annotation ofebonyadded by Pool & Aquadro substantiates that pigmentation can be adaptive and implicates elevation as an important selective factor. This is important progress because the selective factors seem to differ between populations and species. In addition, the study raises issues to consider when extrapolating from selection at the molecular level to selection at the phenotypic level.
Dry type leishmanial lymphadenitis presented as two large parotid and cervical masses
Authors: Esfandiarpour I. , Dabiri S. H. , Yousefi K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Cutaneous leishmanisis (CL) is a common disease in Iran, particularly in Kerman and Bam and Kerman province. Lymphadenitis resulting from leishmania tropica (dry type) with, or without, cutaneous lesion is rare. Localized leishmanial lymphadenitis (LLA) is a specific clinico‐pathologic presentation of inflammatory changes caused by leishmanial parasites or antigen within an isolated lymph node without any systemic manifestation.Case report  A 55‐year‐old Iranian woman presented with two slow growing large nodules (masses) on the left preauricular and the left cervical areas. The nodules were large, painless, mobile, multilobulated, and associated with a small skin papule on the left‐side of the cheek distal to the masses.Results  Histopathologic examination of both the skin lesion and the lymph nodes suggested the leishmanial etiology of skin papule and lymphadenitis. The Leishman‐bodies (amastigotes) were demonstrated in two lymph nodes and a skin lesion. The clinical picture plus pathological finding and the response to meglumine‐antimoniate confirmed LLA.Conclusion  Lymph node involvement is another rare manifestation of dissemination of infection with dermotropic leishmania. This presentation of CL should not be treated with the ordinary local treatments such as curettage, cryotherapy or surgical excision.
The cuticular purse string suture: a modified purse string suture for the partial closure of round postoperative wounds
Authors: Cohen Philip R. , Martinelli Paul T. , Schulze Keith E. , Nelson Bruce R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  The purse string suture can be used to provide primary closure for small skin defects or as a partial closure for larger round wounds. The size of the defect is reduced secondary to the tension placed on the suture, which uniformly advances the skin from the entire periphery of the wound.Methods  We reviewed retrospectively the features of 98 consecutive patients for whom a total of 100 cuticular purse string sutures were used to partially close their postoperative surgical defects. The location and types of the tumors removed were also summarized.Results  Postoperative wounds were created following Mohs’ micrographic excision of nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma, 44; squamous cell carcinoma, 25), wide local excision of melanoma (29), or conservative excision of benign cutaneous neoplasms (two). The incidence of purse string suture for partial closure of each tumor was 4.1% for basal cell carcinoma, 7.3% for squamous cell carcinoma, and 46.3% for melanoma. The tumors were equally distributed on the trunk, head and neck, and extremities; however, purse string closures for basal cell carcinomas were more frequent on the trunk, head, and neck, relative to squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas, which were more common on the extremities. Concurrent medical problems and/or the use of an agent with anticoagulant or antiplatelet effects were noted in more than 50% of patients. Absorbable material of thicker diameter was most frequently used for the suture, and the postoperative wound area decreased by 6–90% (mean, 60%) following purse string partial closure. The suture was usually removed after 3–4 weeks. Postoperative complications occurred in six patients: allergic contact dermatitis in two, wound infection in two, exuberant granulation tissue in one, and hypertrophic scar in one. All of the wounds healed completely with either a round or linear scar.Conclusion  The cuticular purse string suture is a rapid and simple procedure that provides complete or partial closure of round skin defects and excellent long‐term cosmetic and functional results. This closure provides uniform tension to the wound, enhances hemostasis at the tissue edge, and significantly decreases the size of the defect. Partial wound closure with the purse string suture may be advantageous following the local excision of melanoma, either as definitive surgical wound management or as a temporary partial wound closure prior to subsequent complete repair of the surgical defect. The purse string suture is also useful following nonmelanoma skin cancer removal in patients who insist on maintaining an active lifestyle in the immediate postoperative period, who are receiving one or more systemic anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents, and who have large surgical wounds that would require either a skin graft or a local cutaneous flap in order to close the postoperative defect.
Abundant, diverse, and consequentialPelements segregate in promoters of small heat‐shock genes inDrosophilapopulations
Authors: CHEN B. , WALSER J.‐C. , RODGERS T. H. , SOBOTA R. S. , BURKE M. K. , ROSE M. R. , FEDER M. E. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe present study extends evidence thatDrosophilaheat‐shock genes are distinctively evolvable because of insertion of transposable elements by examining the genotypic diversity and phenotypic consequences of naturally occurringPelement insertions in the proximal promoter regions of two small heat‐shock genes. Detailed scrutiny of two populations revealed 16 distinctivePtransposable elements collectively segregating in proximal promoters of two small heat‐shock genes,Hsp26andHsp27. These elements vary in size, orientation and insertion site. Frequencies ofPelement‐containing alleles varied from 5% to 100% in these populations. TwoHsp26elements chosen for detailed study,RsP26andD2Pm, reduced or abolishedHsp26expression respectively. TheRsP26element increased or did not affect inducible tolerance of high temperature, increased fecundity, but decreased developmental rate. On the other hand, theD2Pmelement decreased thermotolerance and fecundity. In lines subjected to experimental evolution, the allelic frequency of theRsP26Pelement varied considerably, and was at lower frequencies in lines selected for increased longevity and for accelerated development than in controls. Transposable element insertions into smallHspgenes inDrosophilapopulations can have dramatic fitness consequences, and therefore create variation on which selection can act.
Basal metabolic rate: heritability and genetic correlations with morphological traits in the zebra finch
Authors: RØNNING B. , JENSEN H. , MOE B. , BECH C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractStudies of genetic variation in metabolic traits have so far not focused on birds. In our study population of captive zebra finches we found evidence for a significant heritable genetic component in basal metabolic rate (BMR). Heritability of all morphological traits investigated (body mass, head length, tars length and wing length) was significantly larger than zero. All traits were positively phenotypically correlated. Eight of 10 genetic correlations presented in this study differed significantly from zero, all being positive, suggesting the possibility of correlated responses to any selection acting on the traits. When conditioned on the genetic variance in body mass, the heritability of BMR was reduced from 25% to 4%. Hence, our results indicate that genetic changes in BMR through directional selection are possible, but the potential for adaptation independent of body mass may be limited.
Direct comparison between transrectal and transperineal extended prostate biopsy for the detection of cancer
Authors: Kawakami Satoru , Yamamoto Shinya , Numao Noboru , Ishikawa Yuichi , Kihara Kazunori , Fukui Iwao 
Published: July 2007

Aim:  To establish whether extended transrectal (TR) and extended transperineal (TP) biopsies are equivalent in detecting prostate cancer.Methods:  Due to an elevated prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) greater than 2.5 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination findings, 783 men underwent a transrectal ultrasound‐guided three‐dimensional 26‐core biopsy, a combination of TR 12‐core and TP 14‐core biopsies. Using recursive partitioning, the best combination of sampling sites that gave the highest cancer detection rate at a given number of biopsy cores was selected either with a TR or a TP approach. The cancer detection rate and characteristics of detected cancers were compared between the TP 14‐core and the TR 12‐core biopsies and between selected subset biopsy schemes.Results:  Prostate cancer was detected in 283 of the 783 men (36%). There was no statistical difference in cancer detection rate or in the characteristics of detected cancers between TP 14‐core and TR 12‐core biopsies. As far as the best combination of sampling sites was selected, there was no statistical difference in cancer detection rates or in the characteristics of detected cancers between the TP and the TR subset biopsy schemes up to 12 cores. TP and TR biopsies performed equally, regardless of a history of negative biopsy, a digital rectal examination finding, the PSA level or the prostate volume.Conclusions:  We demonstrated for the first time that extended TP biopsy is as effective as its TR counterpart in detecting cancer and the characteristics of detected cancers, as far as sampling sites are selected to maximize the cancer detection rate.
Prognostic impact of carbonic anhydrase IX expression in human renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Sandlund Johanna , Oosterwijk Egbert , Grankvist Kjell , Oosterwijk‐Wakka Jeannette , Ljungberg Börje , Rasmuson Torgny 
Published: July 2007

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic information of carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX expression in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as increased expression of CA IX is correlated with a worse prognosis in several malignancies.PATIENTS AND METHODSCA IX expression was assessed in RCC tumours from 228 patients, using a tissue microarray technique on archival material. The expression was related to RCC cell type, Tumour‐Node‐Metastasis (TNM) stage, nuclear grade and survival.RESULTSCA IX expression was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in 183 conventional than in 31 papillary RCC and 14 chromophobe RCC. For conventional RCC there was no correlation of CA IX expression with TNM stage or nuclear grade. To evaluate the prognostic information conventional RCC tumours were subdivided arbitrarily into three groups according to the CA IX expression, of 0–10%, 11–90% and 91–100% expression, respectively. Patients with tumours with 0–10% expression had a less favourable prognosis than those with 11–90% and 91–100% expression (P = 0.012, and 0.001), respectively. A multivariate analysis of prognostic factors for patients with conventional RCC showed that TNM stage, nuclear grade and CA IX were independent predictors of prognosis.CONCLUSIONThese results show that CA IX expression is higher in conventional than other RCC cell types; furthermore, patients with conventional RCC with low CA IX expression had a less favourable prognosis.
Plain abdominal radiography with transabdominal native tissue harmonic imaging ultrasonography vs unenhanced computed tomography in renal colic
Authors: Mitterberger Michael , Pinggera Germar Michael , Pallwein Leo , Gradl Johannes , Feuchtner Gudrun , Plattner Raffael , Neururer Richard , Bartsch Georg , Strasser Hannes , Frauscher Ferdinand 
Published: July 2007

In the first paper in this section, the authors from Austria compare plain film plus transabdominal native‐tissue harmonic ultrasonography with unenhanced CT for the diagnosis of urinary calculi in patients with acute flank pain. In this prospective study, they found that CT is the most accurate method of diagnosis, but that the other method of diagnosis compared favourably, with excellent results.OBJECTIVETo compare plain film kidney, ureter and bladder radiography (KUB) with transabdominal native tissue harmonic imaging ultrasonography (NTHI‐US) vs unenhanced computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of urinary calculi in patients with acute flank pain.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 112 patients who presented to the urological department with clinical suspicion of ureteric calculi were included. These patients had KUB with NTHI‐US and unenhanced CT. Of the 112 patients, 14 were lost to follow‐up and therefore excluded. For the remaining 98 patients (53 men, 45 women; mean age 43.3 years, range: 19–74) the KUB with NTHI‐US findings were compared with the CT findings, which served as the ‘gold standard’.RESULTSIn all, 75 patients were confirmed to have ureteric calculi. KUB with transabdominal NTHI‐US detected 72 of the 75 patients with calculi (sensitivity 96%, specificity 91%, and accuracy 95%). Unenhanced CT detected urolithiasis in all 75 patients (sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 100%). Both techniques showed further extra‐urinary pathologies.CONCLUSIONThis prospective study shows that CT is the most accurate technique for detecting urolithiasis. However, KUB with transabdominal NTHI‐US is an alternative to unenhanced CT with comparable results.
Fire the manager to improve performance? Managerial turnover and incentives after privatization in the Czech Republic
Authors: Fidrmuc Jana P. , Fidrmuc Jan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper analyses the effect of the introduction of managerial incentives and new human capital on enterprise performance immediately after privatization in the Czech Republic. We find weak evidence for the presence of managerial incentives: only from 1997, 3 to 4 years after privatization, does poor performance significantly increase the probability of managerial change. Nevertheless, replacing the managing director in a newly privatized firm improves subsequent performance. This indicates that the privatized firms operate below potential under the incumbent management. We show that the institutional framework matters as well: managerial turnover improves performance only if the management is closely interconnected with the board of directors and thus holds effective executive authority.