bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LONG‐TERM FOLLOW UP OF PATIENTS WITH SMALL GASTROINTESTINAL STROMAL TUMORS IN THE STOMACH USING ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY‐GUIDED FINE‐NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY
Authors: Sawaki Akira , Mizuno Nobumasa , Takahashi Kuniyuki , Nakamura Tsuneya , Tajika Masahiro , Kawai Hiroki , Isaka Toshifumi , Imaoka Hiroshi , Okamoto Yasuyuki , Aoki Masatoshi , Inoue Hiroyuki , Salem Ahmed AS , Yatabe Yasushi , Yamao Kenji 
Published: December 2005

Background:  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are defined by positive immunohistochemical staining for KIT or CD34 and thus are generally diagnosed after surgery. Because small GIST are rarely diagnosed before surgery, the clinical course of these small tumors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to follow changes in size and configuration of small GIST that were pathologically confirmed using endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB).Methods:  Between July 1997 and December 2003, 16 tumors in 16 patients (10 men and 6 women) with an immunohistochemical diagnosis of GIST were regularly followed in our hospital. The median patient age when EUS‐FNAB was performed was 62 years (range 26–82 years) and the median follow‐up period was 4.9 years (range 0.5–9.6 years).Results:  Fourteen tumors showed no remarkable changes in size and shape during follow up compared with the initial diagnosis. Two tumors enlarged: one tumor approximately doubled its diameter in 8 years and the other tumor increased from 1.8 cm at diagnosis to up to 10 cm after only 2 years. Doubling time of the latter tumor was calculated as 3.1 months.Conclusions:  We conclude that EUS‐FNAB might be a good modality for final diagnosis of GIST without surgery, and that GIST without rapid growth on follow up can be endoscopically followed.
Identification and characterization of ectosymbionts of distinct lineages in Bacteroidales attached to flagellated protists in the gut of termites and a wood‐feeding cockroach
Authors: Noda Satoko , Inoue Tetsushi , Hongoh Yuichi , Kawai Miho , Nalepa Christine A. , Vongkaluang Charunee , Kudo Toshiaki , Ohkuma Moriya 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBacterial attachments to nearly the entire surface of flagellated protists in the guts of termites and the wood‐feeding cockroach Cryptocercus are often observed. Based on the polymerase chain reaction‐amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the rod‐shaped, attached bacteria (ectosymbionts) of several protist species from five host taxa and confirmed their identity by fluorescence in situ hybridizations. These ectosymbionts are affiliated with the order Bacteroidales but formed three distinct lineages, each of which may represent novel bacterial genera. One lineage consisted of the closely related ectosymbionts of two species of the protist genus Devescovina (Cristamonadida). The second lineage comprised three phylotypes identified from the protist Streblomastix sp. (Oxymonadida). The third lineage included ectosymbionts of the three protist genera Hoplonympha, Barbulanympha and Urinympha in the family Hoplonymphidae (Trichonymphida). The ultrastructural observations indicated that these rod‐shaped ectosymbionts share morphological similarities of their cell walls and their point of attachment with the protist but differ in shape. Elongated forms of the ectosymbionts appeared in all the three lineages. The protist cells Streblomastix sp. and Hoplonympha sp. display deep furrows and vane‐like structures, but these impressive structures are probably evolutionarily convergent because both the host protists and their ectosymbionts are distantly related.
Growth of nutrient‐replete Microcystis PCC 7806 cultures is inhibited by an extracellular signal produced by chlorotic cultures
Authors: Dagnino Denise , De Abreu Meireles Diogo , De Aquino Almeida João Carlos 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe frequency of cyanobacterial blooms has been increasing all over the world. These blooms are often toxic and have become a serious health problem. The aim of this work was to search for population density control mechanisms that could inhibit the proliferation of the toxic bloom‐forming genus Microcystis. Microcystis PCC 7806 cultured for long periods in liquid ASM‐1 medium loses its characteristic green colour. When a medium of chlorotic cultures is added to a nutrient‐replete culture, cell density increase is drastically reduced when compared with controls. Inhibition of cell proliferation occurs in Microcystis cultures from any growth stage and was not strain‐specific, but other genera tested showed no response. Investigations on the mechanism of growth inhibition showed that cultures treated with the conditioned medium acquired a pale colour, with pigment concentration similar to that found in chlorotic cultures. Ultrastructural examination showed that the conditioned medium induced thylakoid membrane disorganization, typical of chlorotic cells, in nutrient‐replete cultures. An active extract was obtained and investigations showed that activity was retained after heating and after addition of an apolar solvent. This indicates  that  activity  of  the  conditioned  medium from chlorotic cells results from non‐protein, apolar compound(s).
Experimental simulation of transmission of an obligate aphid pathogen with aphid flight dispersal
Authors: Chen Chun , Feng Ming‐Guang 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe wide dispersal of Entomophthorales‐caused mycoses that usually regulate aphid populations is most likely to be associated with the flight of infected alates. This hypothesis was examined via simulated flight and postflight colonization of Myzus periscae alates exposed to spore showers of Pandora neoaphidis, a common obligate aphid pathogen prevalent world wide. A total number of 407 alates were showered in different batches, then individually flown in a computer‐monitoring flight mill system and reared on cabbage leaves for 14‐day free reproduction and contagious infection within progeny colonies at 20–23°C. On average, 80.6% of them flew 2.6 km in 1–5 h, survived 3.2 days, produced 5.3 nymphs, and transmitted their infection to progeny successfully. However, 9.8% of the flown alates left no progeny although they survived at least 1 day prior to mycosis while the rest were not mycosed, producing significantly more nymphs during the first week. The flight distances of the infected (0.01–10.2 km) or uninfected alates (0.1–8.3 km) were exponentially correlated to the flight time (r 2 ≥ 0.98). When grouped by the flight ranges of <1.0, 1.0–3.0, 3.0–5.0 and >5.0 km, the number of live aphids and the proportion of mycosed individuals per progeny colony over colonization days fit well to a complex logistic model (r 2 = 0.984) and modified Gompertz model (r 2 = 0.978) respectively. Both models included flight distance, postflight survival time, premycosis fecundity and primary infection rate as independent variables to affect the developmental rates. The results highlight the significant role of infected alates in the wide dispersal of P. neoaphidis‐caused mycoses among aphids.
Identification of peptide metabolites of Microcystis (Cyanobacteria) that inhibit trypsin‐like activity in planktonic herbivorous Daphnia (Cladocera)
Authors: Czarnecki Olaf , Henning Manfred , Lippert Indra , Welker Martin 
Published: December 2005

SummaryCyanobacteria are recognized as producers of a broad variety of bioactive metabolites. Among these, the peptides synthesized by the non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase pathway occur in high structural variability. One class of cyanobacterial peptides, the cyanopeptolins or micropeptins, have been shown to be strong inhibitors of vertebrate serine proteases, like trypsin. In the present study we screened extracts of ten strains of the unicellular cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. for their potential to inhibit trypsin‐like activity in the planktonic crustacea Daphnia, the main herbivores in freshwater ecosystem. Respective standardized IC50's varied for nearly two orders of magnitude. In HPLC fractions we could identify mainly cyanopeptolins as active compounds by MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. Cyanopeptolins were found in 22 structural variants with 13 variants produced by one strain alone. Peptides of the microviridin class were moderately active while no activity was evident for microginins and microcystins. Among the cyanopeptolins only those were active that had an arginine or lysine residue N‐terminal to the modified amino acid 3‐amino‐6‐hydroxy‐piperidone. Structural variants that had a tyrosine residue at this particular position did not inhibit trypsin‐like activity. The highly variable composition of the side chain of cyanopeptolins had no marked effect on the activity. Among the six cyanobacterial strains we tested intensively two did not produce any cyanopeptolins and were accordingly less active as crude extracts. The present study underlines the potential importance of the biochemistry of cyanobacteria for the feeding ecology of a planktonic herbivore.
Composition of microbial communities in hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) contaminated soils from Spain revealed with a habitat‐specific microarray
Authors: Neufeld Josh D. , Mohn William W. , De Lorenzo Victor 
Published: December 2005

SummaryMicroarray technology was used to characterize and compare hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) contaminated soils from Spain. A library of 2290 hypervariable 16S rRNA gene sequences was prepared with serial analysis of ribosomal sequence tags (SARST) from a composite of contaminated and uncontaminated soils. By designing hybridization probes specific to the 100 most abundant ribosomal sequence tags (RSTs) in the composite library, the RST array was designed to be habitat‐specific and predicted to monitor the most abundant polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified phylotypes in the individual samples. The sensitivity and specificity of the RST array was tested with a series of pure culture‐specific probes and hybridized with labelled soil PCR products to generate hybridization patterns for each soil. Sequencing of prominent bands in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprints derived from these soils provided a means by which we successfully confirmed the habitat‐specific array design and validated the bulk of the probe signals. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling revealed correlations between probe signals and soil physicochemical parameters. Among the strongest correlations to total HCH contamination were probe signals corresponding to unknown Gamma Proteobacteria, potential pollutant‐degrading phylotypes, and several organisms with acid‐tolerant phenotypes. The strongest correlations to alpha‐HCH were probe signals corresponding to the genus Sphingomonas, which contains known HCH degraders. This suggests that the population detected was enriched in situ by HCH contamination and may play a role in HCH degradation. Other environmental parameters were also likely instrumental in shaping community composition in these soils. The results highlight the power of habitat‐specific microarrays for comparing complex microbial communities.
Geomicrobiological exploration and characterization of a novel deep‐sea hydrothermal system at the TOTO caldera in the Mariana Volcanic Arc
Authors: Nakagawa Tatsunori , Takai Ken , Suzuki Yohey , Hirayama Hisako , Konno Uta , Tsunogai Urumu , Horikoshi Koki 
Published: December 2005

SummaryNovel hydrothermal activities accompanying effluent white smokers and elemental sulfur chimney structures at the north‐east lava dome of the TOTO caldera depression in the Mariana Volcanic Arc have been explored and characterized by geochemical and microbiological surveys. White smoker hydrothermal fluids were observed in the potential hydrothermal activity centre of the field and represented the maximal temperature of 170°C and the lowest pH of 1.6. The chimney structures, all consisting of elemental sulfur (sulfur chimney), were also unique to the TOTO caldera hydrothermal field. Microbial community structures in a sulfur chimney and its formation hydrothermal fluid with a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide (15 mM) have been investigated by culture‐dependent and ‐independent analyses. 16S rRNA gene clone analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that ɛ‐Proteobacteria dominated the microbial communities in the sulfur chimney structure and formed a dense microbial mat covering the sulfur chimney surface. Archaeal phylotypes were consistently minor components in the communities and related to the genera Thermococcus, Pyrodictium, Aeropyrum, and the uncultivated archaeal group of ‘deep‐sea hydrothermal vent euryarchaeotal group’. Cultivation analysis suggested that the chemolithoautotrophs might play a significant ecological role as primary producers utilizing gas and sulfur compounds provided from hydrothermal fluids.
Complete long‐term survival data from a trial of adjuvant chemotherapy vs control after radical cystectomy for locally advanced bladder cancer
Authors: LEHMANN JAN , FRANZARING LUDGER , THÜROFF JOACHIM , WELLEK STEFAN , STÖCKLE MICHAEL 
Published: December 2005

OBJECTIVESTo report the long‐term follow‐up of patients with locally advanced bladder cancer treated with either adjuvant combined chemotherapy with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin/epirubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC/MVEC) or no additional treatment after radical cystectomy, to examine various survival endpoints and factors associated with long‐term survival.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween May 1987 and December 1990, 49 patients undergoing radical cystectomy for locally advanced bladder cancer were randomized to observation only or adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with three cycles of MVAC/MVEC (methotrexate 30 mg/m2 on day 1, 15 and 22; vinblastine 3 mg/m2 on day 2, 15 and 22; doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 or epirubicin 45 mg/m2 on day 2; and cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 2 of a 28‐day cycle). Data were obtained for progression‐free, overall and tumour‐specific survival.RESULTSIn all, 23 patients were randomized to the control arm and 26 to treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy. The trial intended to accrue 100 patients but was stopped after an interim analysis showed a marked difference in progression free‐survival when these first 49 patients had been randomized. The intent‐to‐treat analysis, including hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals and point estimates at 10 years for control vs adjuvant chemotherapy, was as follows: progression‐free survival HR 2.84 (1.46–5.54; P= 0.002), 13.0% vs 43.7%; overall survival HR 1.75 (0.95–3.23; P= 0.069), 17.4% vs 26.9%; and tumour‐specific survival HR 2.52 (1.28–4.99; P= 0.007), 17.4% vs 41.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe long‐term results further support the use of adjuvant‐combined chemotherapy with cisplatin‐based regimens after radical cystectomy for locally advanced bladder cancer, as this significantly improves progression‐free and tumour‐specific survival.
Comparison of standard transurethral resection, transurethral vapour resection and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for managing benign prostatic hyperplasia of >40 g
Authors: GUPTA NARMADA , SIVARAMAKRISHNA  , KUMAR RAJEEV , DOGRA PREM N. , SETH AMLESH 
Published: December 2005

OBJECTIVESTo compare the safety and efficacy of two alternatives for surgically treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), i.e. transurethral vapour resection of the prostate (TUVRP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP), with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), the standard surgical therapy, as treating large prostates is associated with greater morbidity, and to date there is no simultaneous comparison of these three methods.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe prospectively randomized 150 patients (50 in each group) with BPH and glands of >40 g to undergo either TURP, TUVRP or HOLEP. The evaluation before treatment included urine culture, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level estimation, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), and transabdominal ultrasonography to estimate prostate size and postvoid urine residue (PVR). The operative duration, blood loss, resected tissue weight, change in levels of haemoglobin and serum sodium, nursing contact time, duration of catheterization, and complications were noted. After surgery patients were reassessed for the IPSS, Qmax and PVR at 6 months and 1 year.RESULTSThe patients in all three groups had comparable characteristics before surgery. The mean operating duration and intraoperative irrigant used for TUVRP was less than for HOLEP or TURP, and blood loss with HOLEP and TUVRP was less than with TURP (all P < 0.001). Postoperative irrigation, nursing contact time, and catheter duration were significantly less for HOLEP than TURP or TUVRP, and for TUVRP than TURP. At follow‐up, patients in all groups had a significant improvement from baseline in IPSS, Qmax, and PVR, but the differences between the groups were not significant at 6 months or 1 year.CONCLUSIONSHOLEP and TUVRP are both acceptable alternatives to TURP for treating large prostate glands, with less perioperative morbidity and comparable efficacy at 6 months and 1 year.
K+ channel expression in prostate epithelium and its implications in men with chronic prostatitis
Authors: LIANG CHAO‐ZHAO , GUO QING‐KUI , HAO ZONG‐YAO , YANG SEN , WANG DE‐BIN , WU LI‐XIN , LIU CHENG , WANG KE‐XIAO , ZHANG XUE‐JUN 
Published: December 2005

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the Kv1.3 K+ channel on the pathogenesis of chronic prostatitis.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe expression of the Kv1.3 K+ channel in prostatic epithelia was detected using streptavidin/peroxidase immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 75 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, including 42 with and 33 without chronic inflammation. All of the men were sampled in our hospital between January 2000 and December 2003.RESULTSThere was strong and moderate immunostaining in 14 of the prostatic epithelial specimens with inflammation and in 21 from patients without inflammation, compared to 28 and 12 with low staining, respectively (chi‐squared, P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSThe expression of the Kv1.3 K+channel was lower in prostatic epithelial cells from patients with chronic inflammation than from those without. Opening the Kv1.3 K+ channel could promote the efflux of K+ from the cells, causing an increase in [K+] in the prostate cavity. The increase in [K+] can then infiltrate the stroma through the epithelial gap, exciting the nerve fibres and causing pain and other clinical symptoms.
Lower pole pelvi‐ureteric junction obstruction in duplicated collecting systems
Authors: GONZALEZ FRANCISCO , CANNING DOUGLAS A. , HYUN GRACE , CASALE PASQUALE 
Published: December 2005

Authors from Philadelphia revisit their extensive experience in lower‐pole PUJ obstruction in duplicated collecting systems, finding that this occurred in 2.05% of duplicated systems. They found an apparent increase in the incidence of this anomaly in boys, and in those with complete duplications. In the second paper in this section, authors from Belgrade describe calibration and dilatation with topical steroids in the treatment of stenosis of the neourethral meatus after hypospadias repair.OBJECTIVETo determine the incidence and efficacy of treatment for pelvi‐ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO, the most common cause of hydronephrosis in the fetal kidney) in duplicated systems.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively assessed patients with PUJO in a duplex collecting system, reviewing each case for age, sex, anatomy, presenting symptoms and type of management.RESULTSFrom 1994 to 2004, 1413 patients were identified to have hydronephrosis; 243 of them had pyeloplasty for PUJO, and five (2%) involved the lower pole of a duplicated collecting system. In two of the patients the presentation was prenatal hydronephrosis (mean age at diagnosis 6 weeks) and the remainder presented with flank pain and pyelonephritis (mean age 5 years); all were boys. There was only one incomplete duplication (Y type). Four patients had a dismembered pyeloplasty and one a ureteric calycostomy. Vesico‐ureteric reflux was present in three patients and two required common sheath reimplantation. On a radioisotope scan during the follow‐up (mean 12 months) the five patients showed an improvement and no evidence of functional obstruction.CONCLUSIONThe incidence of PUJO in duplicated systems was 2%; treatment should be individualized and requires a careful preoperative evaluation. This anomaly appears to be more common in boys and in completely duplicated systems.
Italian validation of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires
Authors: TUBARO ANDREA , ZATTONI FILIBERTO , PREZIOSO DOMENICO , SCARPA ROBERTO M. , PESCE FRANCESCO , RIZZI CARLO A. , SANTINI AMBRA M. , SIMONI LUCIA , ARTIBANI WALTER ,   THE FLOW STUDY GROUP
Published: December 2005

OBJECTIVETo validate the Italian version of two questionnaires for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), i.e. the long (LF) and the short form (SF) of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ).METHODSTwo native Italian speakers and a native English speaker collaborated with clinical investigators through a multistep process to obtain a consensus version of the questionnaires. The resulting Italian versions were then pre‐tested during a pilot study on 16 women for the LF and 10 for the SF. The final versions of the ICIQ‐LF and ICIQ‐SF were administered to two samples of consecutive female patients, aged ≥ 18 years, who had been having LUTS for ≥ 3 months, with respectively 82 and 50 women. Internal consistency and test‐retest reliability were then assessed; to evaluate the latter, a subset of patients (25 for the ICIQ‐LF and 42 for ICIQ‐SF) was re‐rated. To test the capacity of the questionnaires to discriminate women with or without LUTS (respectively cases and controls), a sample of healthy women was also enrolled and assessed.RESULTSBoth scales showed good psychometric properties overall. The correlation coefficient between ratings was > 0.75 in both questionnaires, and the discriminant power between cases and controls was confirmed for both scales. The ICIQ‐SF showed good internal consistency for the total score (Cronbach's α 0.90). The sections of the ICIQ‐LF ‘impact of incontinence on everyday life’, ‘emotional aspects’, ‘urinary symptoms’ and the degree of bother seemed to be internally consistent (Cronbach's α > 0.70); there was a weak relationship for items related to ‘sexual matters’ (Cronbach's α 0.38).CONCLUSIONThe Italian version of both questionnaires is a valid and robust instrument which can now be used reliably both in daily practice and in clinical research.