bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interleukin‐6 is essential for Staphylococcal exotoxin B‐induced T regulatory cell insufficiency in nasal polyps
Authors: Xu G. , Xia J. H , Zhou H. , Yu C. Z. , Zhang Y. , Zuo K. J. , Shi J. B. , Li H. B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryBackground
The pathogenesis of nasal polyps is still unclear. There is increasing evidence indicating that Staphylococcal aureus (S. aureus) is associated with the formation of nasal polyps, but the mechanism has not been well documented to date.Methods
We stimulated cultured nasal polyps and turbinate tissues with Staphylococcal exotoxin B (SEB), detected the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐2, IL‐6, and IL‐8) and T cell cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, and IL‐17) in the supernatants, and evaluated mRNA expression (T‐bet, GATA‐3, Foxp3, and RORγt) and frequencies of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) in nasal tissues. We also evaluated the effects of blocking IL‐6 with monoclonal antibodies to T cell profiles in cultured nasal tissues stimulated by SEB.Results
Levels of IL‐6, IFN‐γ and IL‐4 increased significantly in SEB‐stimulated nasal polyps. Meanwhile, mRNA expressions of T‐bet and GATA‐3 were significantly up‐regulated, while Foxp3 was inhibited and the frequencies of CD4+CD25+ Tregs were decreased after SEB stimulation. After blocking IL‐6, the levels of IL‐10 and Foxp3 mRNA, as well as the frequencies of CD4+CD25+ Tregs, were significantly increased, while IFN‐γ and IL‐4 production and the mRNA expression of T‐bet and GATA‐3 were significantly inhibited.Conclusions
SEB is able to modulate pro‐inflammatory factors, T‐helper type 1/Th2 profiles and suppress Treg activity in cultured nasal polyps, which were rescued by blocking IL‐6 activity. Therefore, IL‐6 is essential for SEB‐induced Treg insufficiency in nasal polyps.
Responses of an araneophagic assassin bug, Stenolemus bituberus, to spider draglines
Authors: WIGNALL ANNE E. , TAYLOR PHILLIP W. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract 1. Animals, as they move through their environment, leave traces of their passage that can be informative to others and convey significant advantages to the animal producing them. However, such traces may also reveal presence, location or identity to enemies.2. We studied an araneophagic (‘spider‐eating’) assassin bug, Stenolemus bituberus (Heteroptera, Reduviidae), testing whether it associated with areas containing chemotactile traces (e.g. draglines, excreta) left behind by nine sympatric spider species. Stenolemus bituberus were presented with a choice between a substrate containing draglines and a clean substrate. Each hour, for a duration of 12 h, we recorded which substrate was occupied.3. Stenolemus bituberus tended to associate especially with draglines left by spiders from the genus Achaearanea, their most common prey in nature.4. These results suggest that S. bituberus exploits draglines from these spiders as cues for indicating prey presence. We also found an increasing tendency to associate with draglines from some spider species through the day, which may be related to circadian patterns or slower response times of some individuals.
Adaptive management of an environmental watering event to enhance native fish spawning and recruitment
Authors: KING A. J. , WARD K. A. , O’CONNOR P. , GREEN D. , TONKIN Z. , MAHONEY J. 
Published: March 2009

Summary1. A common goal of many environmental flow regimes is to maintain and/or enhance the river’s native fish community by increasing the occurrence of successful spawning and recruitment events. However, our understanding of the flow requirements of the early life history of fish is often limited, and hence predicting their response to specific managed flow events is difficult. To overcome this uncertainty requires the use of adaptive management principles in the design, implementation, monitoring and adjustment of environmental flow regimes.2. The Barmah‐Millewa Forest, a large river red gum forest on the Murray River floodplain, south‐east Australia, contains a wide variety of ephemeral and permanent aquatic habitats suitable for fish. Flow regulation of the Murray River has significantly altered the natural flood regime of the Forest. In an attempt to alleviate some of the effects of river regulation, the Forest’s water regime is highly managed using a variety of flow control structures and also receives targeted Environmental Water Allocations (EWA). In 2005, the largest environmental flow allocated to date in Australia was delivered at the Forest.3. This study describes the adaptive management approach employed during the delivery of the 2005 EWA, which successfully achieved multiple ecological goals including enhanced native fish spawning and recruitment. Intensive monitoring of fish spawning and recruitment provided invaluable real‐time and ongoing management input for optimising the delivery of environmental water to maximise ecological benefits at Barmah‐Millewa Forest and other similar wetlands in the Murray‐Darling Basin.4. We discuss possible scenarios for the future application of environmental water and the need for environmental flow events and regimes to be conducted as rigorous, large‐scale experiments within an adaptive management framework.
Diversity patterns of stygobiotic crustaceans across multiple spatial scales in Europe
Authors: MALARD FLORIAN , BOUTIN CLAUDE , CAMACHO ANA I. , FERREIRA DAVID , MICHEL GEORGES , SKET BORIS , STOCH FABIO 
Published: March 2009

Summary1. Using species distribution data from 111 aquifers distributed in nine European regions, we examined the pairwise relationships between local species richness (LSR), dissimilarity in species composition among localities, and regional species richness (RSR). In addition, we quantified the relative contribution of three nested spatial units – aquifers, catchments and regions – to the overall richness of groundwater crustaceans.2. The average number of species in karst and porous aquifers (LSR) varied significantly among regions and was dependent upon the richness of the regional species pool (RSR). LSR–RSR relationships differed between habitats: species richness in karstic local communities increased linearly with richness of the surrounding region, whereas that of porous local communities levelled off beyond a certain value of RSR.3. Dissimilarity in species composition among aquifers of a region increased significantly with increasing regional richness because of stronger habitat specialisation and a decrease in the geographic range of species among karst aquifers. Species turnover among karst aquifers was positively related to RSR, whereas this relationship was not significant for porous aquifers.4. The contribution of a given spatial unit to total richness increased as size of the spatial unit increased, although 72% of the overall richness was attributed to among‐region diversity. Differences in community composition between similar habitats in different regions were typically more pronounced than between nearby communities from different habitats.5. We conclude by calling for biodiversity assessment methods and conservation strategies that explicitly integrate the importance of turnover in community composition and habitat dissimilarity at multiple spatial scales.
Restoring lakes by using artificial plant beds: habitat selection of zooplankton in a clear and a turbid shallow lake
Authors: SCHOU MAJBRITT OVERGÅRD , RISHOLT CASPER , LAURIDSEN TORBEN L. , SØNDERGAARD MARTIN , GRØNKJÆR PETER , JACOBSEN LENE , BERG SØREN , SKOV CHRISTIAN , BRUCET SANDRA , JEPPESEN ERIK 
Published: March 2009

Summary1. Return of large‐bodied zooplankton populations is of key importance for creating a shift from a turbid to a clear‐water state in shallow lakes after a nutrient loading reduction. In temperate lakes, recovery is promoted by submerged macrophytes which function as a daytime refuge for large zooplankton. However, recovery of macrophytes is often delayed and use of artificial plant beds (APB) has been suggested as a tool to enhance zooplankton refuges, thereby reinforcing the shift to a clear‐water state and, eventually, colonisation of natural plants.2. To further evaluate the potential of APB in lake restoration, we followed the day–night habitat choices of zooplankton throughout summer in a clear and a turbid lake. Observations were made in the pelagic and littoral zones and in APB in the littoral representing three different plant densities (coverage 0%, 40% and 80%).3. In the clear lake, the zooplankton (primarily Daphnia) were mainly found in the pelagic area in spring, but from mid‐May they were particularly abundant in the APB and almost exclusively so in mid‐June and July, where they appeared in extremely high densities during day (up to 2600 ind. L−1). During night Daphnia densities were overall more equally distributed between the five habitats. Ceriodaphnia was proportionally more abundant in the APB during most of the season. Cyclopoids were more abundant in the high APB during day but were equally distributed between the five habitats during night.4. In the turbid lake, however, no clear aggregation was observed in the APB for either of the pelagic genera (Daphnia and Bosmina). This may reflect a higher refuge effect in the open water due to the higher turbidity, reduced ability to orient to plant beds and a significantly higher fish density (mainly of roach, Rutilus rutilus, and perch, Perca fluviatilis) in the plant beds than in the clear lake. Chydorus was found in much higher proportions among the plants, while cyclopoids, particularly the pelagic Cyclops vicinus, dominated in the pelagic during day and in the pelagic and high density plants during night.5. Our results suggest that water clarity is decisive for the habitat choice of large‐bodied zooplankton and that introduction of APB as a restoration measure to enhance zooplankton survival is only a useful tool when water clarity increases following loading reduction. Our results indicate that dense APB will be the most efficient.
A comparison of bacteria and benthic invertebrates as indicators of ecological health in streams
Authors: LEAR G. , BOOTHROYD I. K. G. , TURNER S. J. , ROBERTS K. , LEWIS G. D. 
Published: March 2009

Summary1. We set out to evaluate the reliability of bacterial communities as an indicator of freshwater ecological health.2. Samples of epilithic biofilm were taken over a 1‐year period from four streams, each impacted by varying degrees of human modification. The bacteria within each sample were characterised using a whole community DNA fingerprinting technique (automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis). Spatial and temporal differences in community structure between samples were visualised using multi‐dimensional scaling and quantified using permutational multivariate anova. Macrobenthic invertebrates, which are commonly used as indicators of stream ecological health, were also sampled for comparison.3. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear gradient in macroinvertebrate community structure between sites exposed to increased human impact. Bacterial communities, however, could only distinguish the most impacted site from the remainder.4. Additional research is required to increase the sensitivity of bacterial community analyses before endorsing their use as an indicator of freshwater ecological health.
TGF‐β1 dampens the susceptibility of dendritic cells to environmental stimulation, leading to the requirement for danger signals for activation
Authors: Ohtani Tomoyuki , Mizuashi Masato , Nakagawa Satoshi , Sasaki Yoshinori , Fujimura Taku , Okuyama Ryuhei , Aiba Setsuya 
Published: March 2009

SummaryIn contrast to its favourable effects on Langerhans cell (LC) differentiation, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 has been reported to prevent dendritic cells from maturing in response to tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We first characterized the effects of TGF‐β1 on dendritic cell function by testing the response of TGF‐β1‐treated monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) to maturation stimuli that LCs receive in the epidermis, namely, haptens, ATP and ultraviolet (UV). TGF‐β1 treatment, which augmented E‐cadherin and down‐regulated dendritic cell‐specific ICAM3‐grabbing non‐integrin on MoDCs, significantly suppressed their CD86 expression and hapten‐induced expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α mRNA and protein. As TGF‐β1‐treated MoDCs lacked Langerin expression, we demonstrated the suppressive effects of TGF‐β1 on haematopoietic progenitor cell‐derived dendritic cells expressing both CD1a and Langerin. These suppressive effects of TGF‐β1 increased with the duration of treatment. Furthermore, TGF‐β1‐treated MoDCs became resistant to apoptosis/necrosis induced by high hapten, ATP or UV doses. This was mainly attributable to dampened activation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TGF‐β1‐treated MoDCs. Notably, although ATP or hapten alone could only induce CD86 expression weakly and could not augment the allogeneic T‐cell stimulatory function of TGF‐β1‐treated MoDCs, ATP and hapten synergized to stimulate these phenotypic and functional changes. Similarly, 2,4‐dinitro, 1‐chlorobenzene (DNCB) augmented the maturation of TGF‐β1‐treated MoDCs upon co‐culture with a keratinocyte cell line, in which ATP released by the hapten‐stimulated keratinocytes synergized with the hapten to induce their maturation. These data may suggest that TGF‐β1 protects LCs from being overactivated by harmless environmental stimulation, while maintaining their ability to become activated in response to danger signals released by keratinocytes.
New dimensions in endodontic imaging: Part 2. Cone beam computed tomography
Authors: Patel S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractCone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been specifically designed to produce undistorted three‐dimensional information of the maxillofacial skeleton, including the teeth and their surrounding tissues with a significantly lower effective radiation dose compared with conventional computed tomography (CT). Periapical disease may be detected sooner using CBCT compared with periapical views and the true size, extent, nature and position of periapical and resorptive lesions can be assessed. Root fractures, root canal anatomy and the nature of the alveolar bone topography around teeth may be assessed. The aim of this paper is to review current literature on the applications and limitations of CBCT in the management of endodontic problems.
Canal transportation and centring ability of RaCe rotary instruments
Authors: Pasternak‐Júnior B. , Sousa‐Neto M. D. , Silva R. G. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim  Evaluate, through computerized tomography, canal transportation and centring ability of RaCe rotary instruments after preparation of mesiobuccal root canals in maxillary molar teeth.Methodology  Twenty‐seven teeth were submitted to three cone beam tomographic analyses, one preoperatively, and two after preparation with file size 35, .02 taper and size 50, .02 taper. Canal transportation and centring ability were measured with reference to the distance between the noninstrumented portion of the root canals and the mesial and distal periphery of the root, compared with images obtained after the preparation with size 35 and 50 instruments.Results  Canal transportation after preparation with the size 35 file was 0.030 ± 0.253 mm and after the size 50 file was 0.057 ± 0.317 mm. The centring ratio values after preparation with the size 35 file was 0.42 ± 0.32 and after the size 50 file was 0.54 ± 0.29, with no significant statistical difference between the groups.Conclusions  RaCe instruments allowed the preparation of curved root canals with preparation diameters larger than those normally used with minimal canal transportation and adequate centring ability.
Nurse‐led vs. conventional physician‐led follow‐up for patients with cancer: systematic review
Authors: Lewis Ruth , Neal Richard D. , Williams Nefyn H. , France Barbara , Wilkinson Clare , Hendry Maggie , Russell Daphne , Russell Ian , Hughes Dyfrig A. , Stuart Nicholas S.A. , Weller David 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTitle.  Nurse‐led vs. conventional physician‐led follow‐up for patients with cancer: systematic review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a systematic review of the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of nurse‐led follow‐up for patients with cancer.Background.  As cancer survivorship increases, conventional follow‐up puts a major burden on outpatient services. Nurse‐led follow‐up is a promising alternative.Data sources.  Searches were conducted covering a period from inception to February 2007 of 19 electronic databases, seven online trial registries, five conference proceedings reference lists of previous reviews and included studies.Review methods.  Standard systematic review methodology was used. Comparative studies and economic evaluations of nurse‐led vs. physician‐led follow‐up were eligible. Studies comparing different types of nurse‐led follow‐up were excluded. Any cancer was considered; any outcome measure included.Results.  Four randomised controlled trials were identified, two including cost analyses. There were no statistically significant differences in survival, recurrence or psychological morbidity. One study showed better HRQL measures for nurse‐led follow‐up, but one showed no difference, two showed a statistically significant difference for patient satisfaction, but two did not. Patients with lung cancer were more satisfied with nurse‐led telephone follow‐up and more were able to die at home. Patients with breast cancer thought patient‐initiated follow‐up convenient, but found conventional follow‐up more reassuring. One study showed the cost of nurse‐led follow‐up to be less than that of physician‐led follow‐up, but no statistical comparison was made.Conclusion.  Patients appeared satisfied with nurse‐led follow‐up. Patient‐initiated or telephone follow‐up could be practical alternatives to conventional care. However, well‐conducted research is needed before equivalence to physician‐led follow‐up can be assured in terms of survival, recurrence, patient well‐being and cost‐effectiveness.
Support for family carers of children and young people with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviour: what stops it being helpful?
Authors: Wodehouse G. , McGill P. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground  Many family carers find the support they receive in respect of their child's challenging behaviour unhelpful. This study sought to identify carer perceptions of the ways in which support is unhelpful and how it could be more helpful.Methods  Thirteen mothers, caring for a child with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour, were interviewed. Parental perceptions and concerns regarding support received were investigated. Transcribed interviews were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.Results  Parents reported problems with generic disability services including accessing good services, obtaining relevant information, working relationships with professionals and issues with respite provision. Concerns were also expressed about challenging behaviour‐specific provision including ineffective strategies being suggested, an apparent lack of expertise, insufficient input and their child's exclusion from services.Conclusions  More preventative approaches, more widespread adoption of effective behaviour management and improved partnership between professionals and families appear needed. Increasing family support may be ineffective if not accompanied by greater insight into the factors related to effectiveness and recognition of the role of informal support.
Evaluation of the Kudoh swab method for the culturing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rural areas
Authors: Jaspe Rossana C. , Rojas Yeimy M. , Flores Lalis A. , Sofia Toro E. , Takiff Howard , De Waard Jacobus H. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryObjective  To compare the simple, swab ‘Kudoh method’ for culturing Myobacterium tuberculosis from sputum samples, to the standard Petroff digestion‐decontamination procedure. The Kudoh method, which requires no centrifugation and takes only 4–5 min per sample, was also evaluated for its performance in a rural setting.Methods  Two hospital laboratories in Caracas, Venezuela processed 314 sputum samples, in parallel, with both methods. Separately, sputum specimens were cultured with the Kudoh swab method in a field environment with minimal laboratory facilities.Results  In the hospital laboratories, the sensitivity of the Kudoh swab method was comparable to that of the standard Petroff culture procedure. The swab method also performed satisfactorily in the field, improving the diagnostic sensitivity by 21% over microscopic examination alone.Conclusion  The Kudoh swab method is an acceptable alternative for culturing mycobacteria that is particularly suitable for rural laboratories lacking adequate infrastructure for the Petroff method.
Serum lipid profile: a predictor of clinical outcome in dengue infection
Authors: Suvarna Jyoti Chandrashekar , Rane Pankaj P 
Published: March 2009

SummaryObjectives  To correlate serum lipoproteins levels with dengue severity, clinical outcome (patient survival), bleeding severity, capillary leakage, supportive care requirement and hospital stay duration.Methods  Single centre, prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital. Subjects: 50 (1 month–18 years) dengue fever cases and 50 age and sex matched non‐febrile controls. Methods: patients were classified (WHO criteria) as dengue fever (DF), dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Bleeding score; serum triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL was determined. Statistical analysis was done using Chi‐squared test with continuity correction, Unpaired t‐test, anova with post hoc test, Binary logistic and multinomial regression.Results  18 (36%) patients were DF, 19 (38%) DHF and 13 (26%) DSS. Lowest cholesterol, VLDL levels seen in DSS and highest in DF. Mean cholesterol level is significantly lower in expired patients and patients with third spacing. Severe bleeding significantly correlated with cholesterol level and hepatic dysfunction but not with platelet count or coagulopathy. Duration of intravenous fluid requirement and packed cell requirement negatively correlated with HDL and cholesterol levels. Fresh frozen plasma requirement negatively correlated with TG, HDL, VLDL and cholesterol levels. Platelet transfusion requirement and duration of hospital stay did not correlate with lipid levels. Intensive care and ventilator requirement negatively correlated with cholesterol level; inotrope requirement negatively correlated with HDL level. Ventilator requirement correlated negatively with TG levels also.Conclusions  Lipid profile changes accompany dengue infection, some of which may indicate severity and guide therapy.