bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia‐based habitat compression of tropical pelagic fishes
Authors: PRINCE ERIC D. , GOODYEAR C. PHILLIP 
Published: March 2006

AbstractLarge areas of cold hypoxic water occur as distinct strata in the eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) and Atlantic oceans as a result of high productivity initiated by intense nutrient upwelling. We show that this stratum restricts the depth distribution of tropical pelagic marlins, sailfish, and tunas by compressing the acceptable physical habitat into a narrow surface layer. This layer extends downward to a variable boundary defined by a shallow thermocline, often at 25 m, above a barrier of cold hypoxic water. The depth distributions of marlin and sailfish monitored with electronic tags and average dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature profiles show that this cold hypoxic environment constitutes a lower habitat boundary in the ETP, but not in the western North Atlantic (WNA), where DO is not limiting. Eastern Pacific and eastern Atlantic sailfish are larger than those in WNA, where the hypoxic zone is much deeper or absent. Larger sizes may reflect enhanced foraging opportunities afforded by the closer proximity of predator and prey in compressed habitat, as well as by the higher productivity. The shallow band of acceptable habitat restricts these fishes to a very narrow surface layer and makes them more vulnerable to over‐exploitation by surface gears. Predictably, the long‐term landings of tropical pelagic tunas from areas of habitat compression have been far greater than in surrounding areas. Many tropical pelagic species in the Atlantic Ocean are currently either fully exploited or overfished and their future status could be quite sensitive to increased fishing pressures, particularly in areas of habitat compression.
Effects of predation and nutrient enrichment on a food web with edible and inedible prey
Authors: STEVENS M. HENRY H. , STEINER CLAIRE E. 
Published: March 2006

Summary1. Trophic heterogeneity, or differences in edibility or resource consumption among species within a single trophic level, is widespread in natural food webs. Here, we test simple food web models that incorporate trophic heterogenity and that make robust predictions regarding food web responses to nutrient enrichment. To test these predictions, we assembled simple food webs consisting of an inedible alga, a mixed assemblage of bacteria, and a protist bacterivore in laboratory microcosms of contrasting nutrient concentrations.2. Several results were consistent with model predictions. First, increasing nutrient concentration caused an increase in the abundance of the inedible alga, but only in the presence of the bacterivore. Secondly, nutrient enrichment increased the abundance of bacteria, but only in the absence of their bacterivore. Last, nutrient enrichment had no effect on abundance of the bacterivore.3. Two results were not consistent with model predictions. First, at low nutrient concentrations, the presence of the bacterivore increased the abundance of bacteria. Secondly, although the abundances of the bacterivore and bacteria were positively correlated, some of the lowest abundances of both occurred in the high nutrient treatment. Thus, while our results were generally consistent with several simple food web models, additional explanations are required for selected food web responses.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV): A Ring Test Performed in Germany to Assess RT‐PCR Detection Methods
Authors: Truyen U. , Wilhelm S. , Genzow M. , Schagemann G. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major pathogen of swine. Due to genetic variation between the European and the US genotype as well as within both genotypes detection of PRRSV is a diagnostic challenge. This paper reports on a ring test to compare different established reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction methods applied routinely in 16 different laboratories in Germany. Three different sets of samples were sent to the laboratories which were to be analysed as follows: (i) basis package: detection of PRRS (yes/no); (ii) differentiation package I: differentiation of EU and US genotypes; and (iii) differentiation package II: differentiation of EU field isolates and EU vaccine strain. A total of 80% of the samples of the basic package were analysed correctly, the analysis of the differentiation package I revealed 61.82% correctly tested samples and the two laboratories that analysed the differentiation package II showed only one correct result. The ring test showed that the majority of incorrect diagnoses were false‐negative results.
Extended Phylogeny of Equine Arteritis Virus: Division into New Subgroups
Authors: Mittelholzer C. , Stadejek T. , Johansson I. , Baule C. , Ciabatti I. , Hannant D. , Paton D. , Autorino G. L. , Nowotny N. , Belák S. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryTo determine a conclusive phylogeny, equine arteritis viruses from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, South Africa and other parts of the world were analysed by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing. The nucleotide sequences corresponding to the variable part of the large glycoprotein GP5, specified by open reading frame 5, were compared and added to a previously published phylogenetic tree in which a clear division between ‘European’ and ‘American’ type viruses had been established. Adding the sequences determined in this study and new sequences retrieved from GenBank revealed additional diversity and new subgroups.
Serodiagnostic Comparison Between Two Methods, ELISA and Surface Plasmon Resonance for the Detection of Antibody Titres of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Authors: Kim T. J. , Cho H. S. , Park N. Y. , Lee J. I. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryA protein chip based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was developed for measuring the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antibody titres using a recombinant 30‐kDa fragment of P97 adhesin as an antigen. The diagnostic potential of this SPR assay, for detecting the antibody titres to the M. hyopneumoniae 30‐kDa protein, was compared with that of conventional ELISA using 70 pig serum samples taken from six pig farms. The SPR assay was found to be highly specific and sensitive. Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between the SPR and ELISA titres (n = 70, r = 0.898, P < 0.01). Therefore, this recombinant 30‐kDa protein can be used as an antigen for serological studies, and the SPR, which is a label‐free method, is expected to be a valuable and reproducible tool in the serodiagnosis of M. hyopneumoniae infection.
Normal Somatic Cell Count and Subclinical Mastitis in Murrah Buffaloes
Authors: Dhakal I. P. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThis study was conducted to investigate the normal somatic cell count (SCC) and to define subclinical mastitis in Murrah buffaloes. Data were collected from 60 clinically normal buffaloes stationed at five farms of Chitwan Nepal and Buffalo Research Center, Hissar, India. Somatic cell count was measured using the Newman–Lampert staining technique. The upper limit of SCC was determined ≥200 000/ml of milk based on the mean ± 2SD of a total SCC. Abnormal data of the SCC was repeatedly removed, which lie beyond the values of more than mean + 2SD until all the data come to lie within (mean + 2SD). Averages of SCC of right front and right hind quarters were significantly higher than left front and left hind quarters. Nearly 94% of California mastitis test (CMT) negative quarters were having somatic cells ≥200 000/ml. The mean SCC of CMT positive quarter was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than CMT negative quarters. Subclinical mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of samples with SCCs ≥200 000/ml with positive bacterial cultures. Subclinical mastitis was found in 21.7% buffaloes and 8% of the quarter foremilk samples. Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in subclinical mastitis milk.
Complications and the learning curve for a laparoscopic nephrectomy at a single institution
Authors: KANNO TORU , SHICHIRI YASUMASA , OIDA TOMOYUKI , KANAMARU HIROSHI , TAKAO NORIYASU , SHIMIZU YOSUKE 
Published: March 2006

Background:  We assessed our experiences in performing a laparoscopic nephrectomy, with regard to complications and the learning curve, during a 4‐year period.Methods:  Between November 2000 and October 2004, a total of 78 laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed at our institution (37 radical nephrectomies, 30 nephroureterectomies and 11 simple nephrectomies). The patient charts were retrospectively reviewed to identify any operative and postoperative complications, and also to evaluate the operating time.Results:  A total of eleven complications (14.1%) occurred in our series (nine operative and two postoperative complications). All operative complications were due to vascular injuries (n = 9), five (2.6%) of which required an open conversion. The operating time and the rates of complications decreased significantly as the surgeons’ experiences increased.Conclusion:  A laparoscopic nephrectomy could be performed as safely as previously reported. In addition, the learning curve for a laparoscopic nephrectomy appeared to be good over the initial 50 procedures at our institution.
Do children with primary nocturnal enuresis have a retarded bone age? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: NUHOĞLU BARIS̨ , AYYILDIZ ALI , FIDAN VECIHI , CEBECI ÖZDEN , KOS̨AR UĞUR , GERMIYANOĞLU CANKON 
Published: March 2006

Objective:  Nocturnal enuresis is a common pediatric problem, the etiology of which is unclear. In recent years, various studies have been published stating that children with nocturnal enuresis exhibit growth and skeletal maturation retardation.Methods:  In this cross‐sectional study, we included 27 patients (16 boys, 11 girls) between the ages of 6 and 14 years who had presented with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) complaints. We included in the evaluation 19 healthy subjects (12 boys, 7 girls), who were the siblings of the children with PNE, as the control group.Results:  The patients in both groups were similar in chronological age, bone age, height and weight, with no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion:  The two groups in our study consisted of the same genetic background. Thus, our results were found to be different from the previous studies.We have concluded that there is no direct relationship between enuresis nocturnal and skeletal maturation.
Endoscope‐assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy
Authors: YAMADA YOSHIAKI , NAKAMURA KOGENTA , AOKI SHIGEYUKI , TAKI TOMOHIRO , KOKUBO HIROTO , MATSUBARA HIROYUKI , TOBIUME MOTOI , HONDA NOBUAKI 
Published: March 2006

Objective:  To assess the clinical efficacy of endoscope‐assisted minilaparotomic radical retropubic prostatectomy (EAM‐RRP) compared with conventional radical retropubic prostatectomy (cRRP).Methods:  From September 2001 to December 2003, 30 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated by EAM‐RRP. The surgical manipulation was performed through the wound with thoracoscopic assistance, using standard surgical instruments. In all cases, 800 mL of blood was collected from the patient for autotransfusion. For both EAM‐RRP and cRRP, the internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes were dissected before the prostate removal. Clinical indicators such as operation time, blood loss, and duration of postoperative urine incontinence were analysed in the two groups.Results:  The postoperative period before ambulation and the duration of postoperative urine incontinence were significantly shorter after EAM‐RRP than after cRRP, while no significant difference was found in operation time, blood loss, and duration of urethral catheterization. None of the cases required allotransfusion.Conclusion:  EAM‐RRP, which had a shorter postoperative period before ambulation and continence, is considered a safe and useful technique for radical prostatectomy.
Four year clinical statistics of iridium‐192 high dose rate brachytherapy
Authors: SHIGEHARA KAZUYOSHI , MIZOKAMI ATSUSHI , KOMATSU KAZUTO , KOSHIDA KIYOSHI , NAMIKI MIKIO 
Published: March 2006

Background:  We evaluated the efficacy and complications of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy using iridium‐192 (192Ir) combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in patients with prostate cancer.Methods:  Ninety‐seven patients underwent 192Ir HDR brachytherapy combined with EBRT at our institution between February 1999 and December 2003. Of these, 84 patients were analysed in the present study. 192Ir was delivered three times over a period of 2 days, 6 Gy per time, for a total dose of 18 Gy. Interstitial application was followed by EBRT at a dose of 44 Gy. Progression was defined as three consecutive prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) rises after a nadir according to the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology criteria. The results were classified into those for all patients and for patients who did not undergo adjuvant hormone therapy.Results:  The 4‐year overall survival of all patients, the nonadjuvant hormone therapy group (NAHT) and the adjuvant hormone therapy group (AHT) was 87.2%, 100%, and 70.1%, respectively. The PSA progression‐free survival rate of all patients, NAHT, and AHT was 82.6%, 92.0%, and 66.6%, respectively. Of all patients, the 4‐year PSA progression‐free survival rates of PSA < 20 and PSA ≥ 20 groups were 100%, and 46.8%, respectively. According to the T stage classification, PSA progression‐free survival rates of T1c, T2, T3, and T4 were 100%, 82.8%, 100%, and 12.1%, respectively. Prostate‐specific antigen progression‐free survival rates of groups with Gleason scores (GS) < 7 and GS ≥ 7 were 92.8% and 60.1%, respectively. Of NAHT, PSA progression‐free survival of PSA < 20 was 100% vs 46.8% for PSA ≥ 20, that of T1c was 100% vs 75% for T2, and that of GS < 7 was 100% vs 75% for GS ≥ 7. No significant intraoperative or postoperative complications requiring urgent treatment occurred except cerebellum infarction.Conclusions:  192Ir HDR brachytherapy combined with EBRT was as effective as radical prostatectomy and had few associated complications.
Is chronic inflammatory change in the prostate the major cause of rising serum prostate‐specific antigen in patients with clinical suspicion of prostate cancer?
Authors: CHANG SUNG‐GOO , KIM CHUL‐SOO , JEON SEUNG HYUN , KIM YOUN‐WHA , CHOI BO YOUL 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  To evaluate the cause of elevated prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) in patients with transrectal needle biopsy negative for prostate cancer.Methods:  Serum PSA concentration, prostate volume, and pathologic findings were examined in 223 patients with negative biopsy for prostate cancer. The degree of prostate inflammation was determined by the extent and degree of inflammation shown by biopsy specimens and is expressed as an inflammation score (range: 0–36).Results:  A significant correlation was found between PSA concentration and prostate total volume (P = 0.0001). Prostate chronic inflammation showed no correlation with PSA concentration (P = 0.485, F = 0.488). After allocating patients to normal PSA (≤4 ng/mL) and high PSA (>4 ng/mL) groups, we found that serum PSA concentrations in both groups were predominantly affected by prostate total volume.Conclusions:  An increase in prostate volume appears to be the major contributor to a high serum PSA concentration in patients with negative biopsy for prostate cancer. However, in contrast to previous reports, there was no correlation between the degree of prostate chronic inflammation and serum PSA concentrations.
Prenatal testicular torsion: Ultrasonographic features, management and histopathological findings
Authors: ARENA FRANCESCO , NICÒTINA PIERO ANTONIO , ROMEO CARMELO , ZIMBARO GIOVANNI , ARENA SALVATORE , ZUCCARELLO BIAGIO , ROMEO GIUSEPPE 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  To highlight the ultrasonographic features of prenatal torsion of the testis in utero (IUTT) at presentation, the neonatal management and the histological findings postorchiectomy or biopsy.Methods:  Seven newborns underwent emergency exploration for IUTT. All patients underwent a sonography and real‐time color Doppler ultrasound study of the scrotum before any surgical procedure. A histological examination was performed in the removed specimens.Results:  Sonography of the scrotum revealed enlarged, heterogeneous testes. In all cases the color and power Doppler did not reveal any flow signal on the affected side. Four newborn with unilateral testicular torsion underwent orchiectomy and contralateral orchidopexy. In one neonate after detorsion and with the absence of gangrenous changes and a reassuring biopsy, a twisted testis could be treated conservatively with orchidopexy. In another case, the parents, acknowledging the inviability of the affected testis, gave consent only for a biopsy of the testis. In the neonate with bilateral IUTT, bilateral testicular biopsies were performed. Histology of the removed testes variably showed interstitial red cell extravasion and coagulation or hemorrhagic necrosis. Light microscopy of the preserved testis highlighted surviving seminiferous tubules, with gonocytes, spermatogonia and fetal Sertoli cells.Conclusions:  An early diagnosis and treatment in IUTT is essential. Surgical exploration should be always performed through the inguinal route. In bilateral IUTT testes should be left to try to assure, as long as possible, a residual Leydig cell function.
Cytokeratin‐20 and seminal vesicle secretory protein VI as possible marker proteins in urinary bladder preneoplastic lesions induced by N‐butyl‐N‐(4‐hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine
Authors: KIM HYUNG‐JEE , SOHNG INHO , HWANG CHEOL‐HO , PARK JI‐YOUNG 
Published: March 2006

Background:  A simple and non‐invasive methods for the diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder are needed for the prevention of invasive tumor. A proteomic technology has recently been developed to facilitate protein profiling of biological mixtures. We tried to detect the marker proteins by proteomic approach during the initiation stages on N‐butyl‐N‐(4‐hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)‐induced bladder carcinogenesis in rats.Methods:  Ten rats in group A were given 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 12 weeks. Other 10 rats in group B with 10 rats were designated as a control group and were not given BBN. Whole urinary bladders of all rats were excised at 12 weeks from the beginning of the experiment. Conventional proteomics was performed with high resolution 2‐dimension gel electrophoresis followed by computational image analysis and protein identification using mass spectrometry.Results:  A comparison of urinary bladder hyperplasia tissue with control tissue showed that five proteins; actin γ2 propeptide, cytokeratin‐20 (CK‐20), proapolipoprotein, α2 actin (α‐cardiac actin) and heat shock 27 kDa protein‐1 were over‐expressed in hyperplastic tissues. Three proteins; transcription factor myocardin, seminal vesicle secretory protein VI (SVS‐VI) precursor and hypothetical protein RMT‐7 were under‐expressed in hyperplastic tissues.Conclusion:  In our animal mode, BBN‐induced urinary bladder mucosal hyperplasia resulted in an increase in the expression of five proteins and a decrease in the expression of three proteins. Of these, CK‐20 and SVS‐VI seem to be of particular interest. However other method such as Western blotting seems to be needed for confirmation of these proteins and more information on human bladder tissue is needed for clinical application.
Importance of C16 ceramide accumulation during apoptosis in prostate cancer cells
Authors: ETO MASATOSHI , BENNOUNA JAAFAR , HUNTER ORIANA C. , LOTZE MICHAEL T. , AMOSCATO ANDREW A. 
Published: March 2006

Aim:  Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is one of the most frequently diagnosed non‐cutaneous cancers and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths among men in the United States. To fully understand the role of ceramide during apoptosis induced by androgen ablation, we modified the levels of intracellular ceramide by pharmacological agents as well as through serum deprivation in androgen‐dependent and independent cell lines.Methods:  Ceramide levels were modified using N‐oleoylethanolamine (NOE), sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) as well as through serum deprivation, in LNCaP, DU145 and PC‐3 prostate cancer cells. Various methods including nonyl acridine orange staining, propidium iodide staining/cell cycle analysis and lipid analysis were utilized.Results:  Our results demonstrate that the inhibition of acid ceramidase by NOE enhances the intracellular ceramide levels induced by androgen ablation in androgen‐dependent LNCaP cells, and is accompanied by an increase in apoptotic cells. Sphingosine 1‐phosphate had no effect in rescuing LNCaP cells from apoptosis induced by androgen ablation. Our results also show that serum deprivation causes intracellular ceramide accumulation and apoptosis in androgen‐independent prostate cancer cells.Conclusions:  Our studies indicate that the increase in intracellular ceramide itself, but not the balance between ceramide and S1P, determines whether LNCaP cells undergo apoptosis. Our results also show that the increase in intracellular ceramide strongly correlates with apoptosis induced by serum deprivation even in androgen‐independent prostate cancer cell lines.
Levetiracetam: Antiepileptic Properties and Protective Effects on Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Experimental Status Epilepticus
Authors: Gibbs Julie E. , Walker Matthew C. , Cock Hannah R. 
Published: March 2006

Summary: Purpose:To assess the anticonvulsant activity of the novel antiepileptic drug, levetiracetam (LEV) in a model of self‐sustaining limbic status epilepticus, and to measure the consequence of LEV treatment on the pattern of mitochondrial dysfunction known to occur after status epilepticus (SE).Methods:The rat perforant pathway was stimulated for 2 h to induce self‐sustaining status epilepticus (SSSE). Stimulated rats were assigned to one of three treatment groups, receiving intraperitoneal injections of saline, 200 mg/kg LEV, or 1,000 mg/kg LEV, 15 min into SSSE and at 3 times over the next 44‐h period. All animals received diazepam after 3‐h SSSE to terminate seizures. Forty‐four hours later, the hippocampi were extracted and prepared for electrochemical high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to measure reduced glutathione levels, and for spectrophotometric assays to measure activities of mitochondrial enzymes (aconitase, α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, complex I, and complex II/III). These parameters were compared between treatment groups and with sham‐operated rats.Results:LEV administration did not terminate seizures or have any significant effect on spike frequency, although rats that received 1,000 mg/kg LEV did exhibit improved behavioral seizure parameters. Significant biochemical changes occurred in saline‐treated stimulated rats compared with shams: with reductions in glutathione, α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, aconitase, citrate synthase, and complex I activities. Complex II/III activities were unchanged throughout. Rats that received 1,000 mg/kg LEV had significantly improved biochemical parameters, in many instances, comparable to sham control levels.Conclusions:Despite continuing seizures, administration of LEV (1,000 mg/kg) protects against mitochondrial dysfunction, indicating that in addition to its antiepileptic actions, LEV may have neuroprotective effects.