bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced lung function predicts increased fatality in future cardiac events. A population‐based study
Authors: ENGSTRÖM G. , HEDBLAD B. , JANZON L. 
Published: November 2006

Abstract.Objective.  Moderately reduced lung function in apparently healthy subjects has been associated with incidence of coronary events. However, whether lung function is related to the fatality of the future events is unknown. This study explored whether reduced forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in initially healthy men is related to the fatality of the future coronary events.Design.  Prospective cohort study.Setting.  Population‐based study from Malmö, Sweden.Subjects.  A total of 5452 healthy men, 28–61 years of age.Main outcome measures.  Incidence of first coronary events was monitored over a mean follow‐up of 19 years. The fatality of the future events was studied in relation to FEV and FVC.Results.  A total of 589 men suffered a coronary event during follow‐up, 165 of them were fatal during the first day. After risk factors adjustment, low FEV or FVC were associated with incidence of coronary events (fatal or nonfatal) and this relationship was most pronounced for the fatal events. Amongst men who subsequently had a coronary event, the case‐fatality rates were higher in men with low FEV or FVC. Adjusted for risk factors, the odds ratio for death during the first day was 1.00 (reference), 1.63 (95% CI: 0.9–3.1), 1.86 (1.0–3.5) and 2.06 (1.1–3.9), respectively, for men with FVC in the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and lowest quartiles (trend: P < 0.05). FEV showed similar relationships with the fatality rates.Conclusion.  Apparently healthy men with moderately reduced lung function have higher fatality in future coronary events, with a higher proportion of coronary heart disease deaths and less nonfatal myocardial infarction.
Genetic structure and reproductive strategy of the ant Cardiocondyla elegans: strictly monogynous nests invaded by unrelated sexuals
Authors: LENOIR J.‐C. , SCHREMPF A. , LENOIR A. , HEINZE J. , MERCIER J.‐L. 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Cardiocondyla elegans is a Mediterranean ant that nests on river banks. It rears only wingless (ergatoid) males that live peacefully in the same nest as opposed to other species of the same genus, which have both peaceful, winged and mutually aggressive ‘ergatoid’ males. Using microsatellite analysis, we investigated the genetic structure of 21 colonies from three different locations as well as the parentage of sexuals of two colonies of C. elegans. We show that C. elegans is strictly monogynous, and that its nests can contain foreign sexuals. The presence of alien sexuals inside ant nests is described for the first time and probably counteracts inbreeding resulting from matings between siblings. In the laboratory, aggression tests showed that workers only allow alien males to enter their nests, while all winged female sexuals attempting to enter were attacked. Nevertheless, the presence of alien female sexuals in nests in the field seems to result from active carrying behaviour by workers during the reproductive period.
Clinical and Para‐clinical Findings of a Recent Outbreaks of Peste des Petits Ruminants in Iran
Authors: Abdollahpour G. , Raoofi A. , Najafi J. , Sasani F. , Sakhaie E. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryPeste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and infectious viral disease of domestic and wild small ruminants characterized by fever, erosive stomatitis, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and pneumonia. Goats are usually more severely affected than sheep. Peste des petits ruminants is caused by a paramyxovirus of the Morbillivirus genus. In March 2004, a flock of sheep in Tehran province with 430 deaths was visited. According to the history taken from the owner, at disease onset most of the deaths were recorded from adult sheep, 3 weeks later lambs (2 weeks to 4 months of age) showed the highest death rate. All animals from 3 months age received rinderpest vaccine 1 month after onset. Many of the lambs died just a few hours after their first sucking of the colostrum from infected mothers. Most of them showed very acute form of disease and died a few hours after onset of clinical signs. In clinical examinations most of the cases showed severe depression, high fever (41°C), anorexia, mocopulurent nasal discharge, erosive and necrotic stomatitis (dental path, hard palate and cheeks), diarrhoea and dehydration. Para‐clinical findings including histopathological, serological and haematological examinations also confirmed the presence of PPR in this flock. PPR outbreaks have been frequent in Iran in recent years. Further, we suggest that PPR is not a recent invader of Iran. The main difference in clinical signs between this outbreak and the same in other reports is that goats did not show any obvious signs of PPR. This might be due to the number of the goats (>1% of the flock) and keeping them separate from the sheep. The present article reviews the details of this outbreak in Iran.
Predictors of seminal vesicle invasion before radical prostatectomy
Authors: TSURUMAKI YUZURI , TOMITA KYOICHI , KUME HARUKI , YAMAGUCHI TAKUHIRO , MORIKAWA TEPPEI , TAKAHASHI SATORU , TAKEUCHI TAKUMI , KITAMURA TADAICHI 
Published: November 2006

Aim: To predict whether or not seminal vesicle invasion is present before radical prostatectomy, the relationships between clinical parameters and seminal vesicle invasion were analyzed.Methods: A review was conducted of 187 patients who had been clinically diagnosed with stages A2, B0, B1, B2 or C prostate cancer and who had undergone radical prostatectomy without neoadjuvant therapy. The parameters analyzed for potential predictors of seminal vesicle invasion before radical prostatectomy included age, clinical stage, serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level at biopsy, tumor differentiation of biopsy specimens and percentage of cancer positive cores by biopsy. For percentage of cancer positive cores by biopsy, 143 of 187 patients who underwent transrectal sextant biopsy or more than six transrectal ultrasound guided core biopsies were evaluated. These parameters were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify predictors for seminal vesicle invasion.Results: The median age was 66.8 years (range 51–77 years). Of 187 patients, 27 (14.4%) had seminal vesicle invasion confirmed pathologically. There were significant differences in all parameters except for age between patients with positive and negative seminal vesicle invasion on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum PSA level, tumor differentiation of biopsy specimens and percentage of cancer positive cores were significant independent predictors of seminal vesicle invasion.Conclusions: The results showed serum PSA level, tumor differentiation of biopsy specimens and percentage of cancer positive cores by biopsy before radical prostatectomy may be useful predictors for seminal vesicle invasion.
Predictors of skin self‐examination in subjects attending a pigmented lesion clinic in Italy
Authors: Carli P , Nardini P , Chiarugi A , Crocetti E , Salvini C , Carelli G , De Giorgi V 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground  Skin self‐examination (SSE) is associated with thinner melanomas in both North American and Italian patients. The knowledge of conditions associated with SSE may help in refining educational strategies for the prevention of melanoma.Objective  The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of SSE and the factors associated with SSE in subjects followed at a specialized pigmented lesion clinic (PLC) in Italy.Patients/methods  A series of 299 consecutive subjects who visited the Florence PLC was investigated by means of a self‐administered questionnaire regarding SSE habits. The statistical association between SSE and selected variables was examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.Results  In the univariate analysis, variables significantly associated with SSE were: green/blue eyes, phototype I/II, the presence of large numbers of common acquired and atypical melanocytic naevi, sunscreen use, having had a previous PLC examination, and having received a leaflet explaining SSE. SSE was less frequent in women using sunbeds and more frequent in those performing breast self‐examination. Using the multivariate model, which included all the variables associated with SSE in the previous analysis, we found that, among males, the only variable significantly associated with SSE was the report of having received a leaflet explaining SSE [odds ratio (OR) 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–7.38]. Among females, having had a previous consultation at a PLC was significantly associated with SSE (OR 4.84, 95%CI 1.57–14.93); this might be because of the explanation and advice about skin cancer prevention customarily provided as a part of the PLC consultation at our department.Conclusion  Educational tools, including a leaflet explaining SSE and counselling given within previous PLC visits, seem to play a crucial role in promoting SSE habits in subjects followed at a specialized PLC consultation.
Do Hospitals Provide Lower Quality Care on Weekends?
Authors: Becker David J. 
Published: November 2006

Objective. To examine the effect of a weekend hospitalization on the timing and incidence of intensive cardiac procedures, and on subsequent expenditures, mortality and readmission rates for Medicare patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Data Sources. The primary data are longitudinal, administrative claims for 922,074 elderly, nonrural, fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with AMI from 1989 to 1998. Annual patient‐level cohorts provide information on ex ante health status, procedure use, expenditures, and health outcomes.Study Design. The patient is the primary unit of analysis. I use ordinary least squares regression to estimate the effect of weekend hospitalization on rates of cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, and bypass surgery (in various time periods subsequent to the initial hospitalization), 1‐year expenditures and rates of adverse health outcomes in various periods following the AMI admission.Principal Findings. Weekend AMI patients are significantly less likely to receive immediate intensive cardiac procedures, and experience significantly higher rates of adverse health outcomes. Weekend admission leads to a 3.47 percentage point reduction in catheterization at 1 day, a 1.52 point reduction in angioplasty, and a 0.35 point reduction in by‐pass surgery (p<.001 in all cases). The primary effect is delayed treatment, as weekend–weekday procedure differentials narrow over time from the initial hospitalization. Weekend patients experience a 0.38 percentage point (p<.001) increase in 1‐year mortality and a 0.20 point (p<.001) increase in 1‐year readmission with congestive heart failure.Conclusions. Weekend hospitalization leads to delayed provision of intensive procedures and elevated 1‐year mortality for elderly AMI patients. The existence of measurable differences in treatments raises questions regarding the efficacy of a single input regulation (e.g., mandated nurse staffing ratios) in enhancing the quality of weekend care. My results suggest that targeted financial incentives might be a more cost‐effective policy response than broad regulation aimed at improving quality.
A Long‐term Follow‐up of Zonisamide Monotherapy
Authors: Fukushima Katsuyuki , Seino Masakazu 
Published: November 2006

Summary:  Objectives: Several studies have reported the safety and efficacy of zonisamide monotherapy, but studies on its long‐term outcomes are limited. This chart review was conducted to evaluate the long‐term outcomes of zonisamide monotherapy. Methods: The charts were reviewed for 77 patients treated with zonisamide as monotherapy for 6–180 months between May 1985 and December 2003. Outcomes were analyzed by the following subcategories: patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy or with antiepileptic drug–resistant epilepsy, the type of epilepsy, patient age, and treatment period. Results: Of a total of 77 patients, 49 patients (64%) attained 50% or more reduction of seizure frequency and of those patients 38 (49%) attained 75% or more reduction, with 18 patients (24%) becoming seizure‐free from 6 to 180 (median 80.6 ± 43.6) months of follow‐up. Thirty‐eight patients (49%) continued zonisamide monotherapy as of December 2003. Proportions of patients having 75% or more reduction in seizure frequency in subcategories were as follows; 56% in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and 48% in patients whose treatment was switched to zonisamide monotherapy owing to lack of efficacy of or adverse reaction to previous antiepileptic drugs; 60% in patients with localization‐related epilepsies and 38% in patients with generalized epilepsies; and 49% in pediatric patients and 50% in adult patients. Conclusion: Long‐term zonisamide monotherapy was efficacious in a wide range of patients with epilepsy. Zonisamide did not seem to exhibit a reduction in efficacy during long‐term use of up to 180 months.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3 expression and activation is dysregulated in actinic cheilitis
Authors: Cury Patricia R. , Furuse Cristiane , De Araújo Ney S. , De Araújo Vera C. 
Published: November 2006

Background:  The present study evaluates the signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3 (STAT‐3) expression and activation in actinic cheilitis (AC) and the relationship of this protein with the degree of epithelial dysplasia.Methods:  Twenty‐five cases of AC were analyzed. Normal lip mucosa was used as a control group. AC lesions were graded as mild, moderate and severe dysplasias. Immunohistochemistry for STAT‐3 and phospho‐STAT‐3 (STAT‐3P) was performed using the biotin‐streptavidin‐peroxidase method, and the sections were evaluated by three blinded examiners.Results:  In normal lip mucosa, only cytoplasmic expression of STAT‐3 was observed in the basal and parabasal layers. In AC, STAT‐3 was expressed in the cell cytoplasm of the epithelial layers, except in the superficial layer. Nuclear expression of STAT‐3 in occasional basal and parabasal cells was seen in moderate and severe dysplasias. In normal lip mucosa, nuclear expression of STAT‐3P was found throughout the epithelium, except in the superficial layers, and it was more intense in the deeper layers. In AC, STAT‐3P was also expressed in all layers, except for the superficial layer. However, in moderate and severe dysplasias, some epithelial cells exhibited loss of STAT‐3P expression.Conclusion:  In AC, STAT‐3 expression depends on the degree of dysplasia, and STAT‐3 activation is dysregulated compared with normal tissue.
Taxonomy of the genus Scatella Robineau‐Desvoidy (Diptera: Ephydridae) in Korea
Authors: SUH Sang Jae , KWON Yong Jung 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe genus Scatella Robineau‐Desvoidy, including S. callosicosta Bezzi, S. nipponica Miyagi, S. paludum (Meigen) and S. stagnalis (Fallén), is reported for the first time in Korea. A key to the Korean species, and reports of their domestic localities, are given. Some illustrations of male and female genitalic structures are included.
Effects of temperature and soil moisture on survival of eggs of the mosquito Psorophora columbiae (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: LEE Dong‐Kyu , OLSON Jimmy K. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe results of laboratory tests indicated the average survival rates for Psorophora columbiae eggs remained quite high for all of the egg populations exposed to a temperature of 27°C (range 83.0–100.0% survival) after 96 days of exposure, except for the non‐diapausing eggs on dry soil (66.3%). In regard to the exposure of egg populations to moderately cold temperatures (i.e. 8°C, 4°C and −2°C) for periods of up to 16 days, survival rates for egg populations exposed to 8°C continued to remain relatively high (average >85%) for the remainder of the experimental exposure period (i.e. 96 days). Diapausing Ps. columbiae eggs were more tolerant (82.0% survival) to low temperatures (−2°C) than non‐diapausing eggs (2.4% survival) for 64 days, particularly at temperatures of and below 4°C. Diapausing and non‐diapausing eggs were similar in their ability to survive under high temperatures (34°C and 38°C). High soil moisture (30–40%) or substrate moisture (95% relative humidity) content appeared to enhance the ability of the mosquito eggs to survive both low and high temperature extremes.
Microevolution of Cytochrome
bd
Oxidase in Staphylococci and Its Implication in Resistance to Respiratory Toxins Released by
Pseudomonas
Authors: Voggu Lalitha , Schlag Steffen , Biswas Raja , Rosenstein Ralf , Rausch Christian , Götz Friedrich 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Staphylococcus aureus
are opportunistic pathogens and frequently coinfect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.
P. aeruginosa
secretes an arsenal of small respiratory inhibitors, like pyocyanin, hydrogen cyanide, or quinoline N-oxides, that may act against the commensal flora as well as host cells. Here, we show that with respect to their susceptibility to these respiratory inhibitors, staphylococcal species can be divided into two groups: the sensitive group, comprised of pathogenic species such as
S. aureus
and
S. epidermidis
, and the resistant group, represented by nonpathogenic species such as
S. carnosus
,
S. piscifermentans
, and
S. gallinarum
. The resistance in the latter group of species was due to
cydAB
genes that encode a pyocyanin- and cyanide-insensitive cytochrome
bd
quinol oxidase. By exchanging
cydB
in
S. aureus
with the
S. carnosus
-specific
cydB
, we could demonstrate that CydB determines resistance. The resistant or sensitive phenotype was based on structural alterations in CydB, which is part of CydAB, the cytochrome
bd
quinol oxidase. CydB represents a prime example of both microevolution and the asymmetric pattern of evolutionary change.
Pip, a Novel Activator of Phenazine Biosynthesis in
Pseudomonas chlororaphis
PCL1391
Authors: Girard Geneviève , Barends Sharief , Rigali Sébastien , van Rij E. Tjeerd , Lugtenberg Ben J. J. , Bloemberg Guido V. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

Secondary metabolites are important factors for interactions between bacteria and
other organisms.
Pseudomonas chlororaphis
PCL1391 produces the
antifungal secondary metabolite phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN) that
inhibits growth of
Fusarium oxysporum
f. sp.
radius
lycopersici
the causative agent of tomato foot and root rot. Our
previous work unraveled a cascade of genes regulating the PCN
biosynthesis operon,
phzABCDEFGH
. Via a genetic screen, we
identify in this study a novel TetR/AcrR regulator, named Pip
(
p
henazine
i
nducing
p
rotein), which is
essential for PCN biosynthesis. A combination of a phenotypical
characterization of a
pip
mutant, in
trans
complementation assays of various mutant strains, and electrophoretic
mobility shift assays identified Pip as the fifth DNA-binding protein
so far involved in regulation of PCN biosynthesis. In this regulatory
pathway, Pip is positioned downstream of PsrA (
Pseudomonas
sigma factor regulator) and the stationary-phase sigma factor RpoS,
while it is upstream of the quorum-sensing system PhzI/PhzR. These
findings provide further evidence that the path leading to the
expression of secondary metabolism gene clusters in
Pseudomonas
species is highly
complex.
A Type Ib ParB Protein Involved in Plasmid Partitioning in a Gram-Positive Bacterium
Authors: Yin Ping , Li Tai-Yuan , Xie Mao-Hua , Jiang Lina , Zhang Yi 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTOur current understanding of segregation of prokaryotic plasmids has been derived mainly from the study of the gram-negative bacterial plasmids. We previously reported a replicon of the cryptic plasmid from a gram-positive bacterium,Leifsonia xylisubsp.cynodontis. The replicon contains a putative plasmid partition cassette including a Walker-type ATPase followed by open reading frame 4 without sequence homologue. Here we reported that theorf4gene was essential for maintaining the plasmid stability inL. xylisubsp.cynodontis. Furthermore, the purified orf4 protein specifically and cooperatively bound to direct repeat sequences located upstream of theparAgene in vitro, indicating thatorf4is aparBgene and that the direct repeat DNA sequences constitute a partition site,parS. The location ofparSand the features of ParA and ParB proteins suggest that this plasmid partition cassette belongs to type Ib, representing the first type Ib cassette identified from a gram-positive bacterial plasmid.
Selective Repression of Translation by the Brome Mosaic Virus 1a RNA Replication Protein
Authors: Yi Guanghui , Gopinath K. , Kao C. Cheng 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT
Differential expression of viral replication proteins is essential for successful infection. We report here that overexpression of the brome mosaic virus (BMV) 1a protein can repress viral RNA replication in a dosage-dependent manner. Using RNA replication-incompetent reporter constructs, repression of translation from BMV RNA1 and RNA2 was observed, suggesting that the effect on translation of the BMV RNA replication proteins is responsible for the decrease in RNA levels. Furthermore, repression of translation by 1a required the B box in the 5′-untranslated region (5′ UTR); BMV RNA3 that lacks a B box in its 5′ UTR is not subject to 1a-mediated translational inhibition. Mutations in either the methyltransferase or the helicase-like domains of 1a reduced the repression of replication and translation. These results suggest that in addition to its known functions in BMV RNA synthesis, 1a also regulates viral gene expression.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism frequency in a set of selected lines of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Ravel Catherine , Praud Sébastien , Murigneux Alain , Canaguier Aurélie , Sapet Frédéric , Samson Delphine , Balfourier François , Dufour Philippe , Chalhoub Boulos , Brunel Dominique , Beckert Michel , Charmet Gilles 
Published: November 2006

Information on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in hexaploid bread wheat is still scarce. The goal of this study was to detect SNPs in wheat and examine their frequency. Twenty-six bread wheat lines from different origins worldwide were used. Specific PCR-products were obtained from 21 genes and directly sequenced. SNPs were discovered from the alignment of these sequences. The overall sequence polymorphism observed in this sample appears to be low; 64 single-base polymorphisms were detected in ~21.5 kb (i.e., 1 SNP every 335 bp). The level of polymorphism is highly variable among the different genes studied. Fifty percent of the genes studied contained no sequence polymorphism, whereas most SNPs detected were located in only 2 genes. As expected, taking into account a synthetic line created with a wild Triticum tauschii parent increases the level of polymorphism (101 SNPs; 1 SNP every 212 bp). The detected SNPs are available at http://urgi.versailles.inra.fr/GnpSNP . Data on linkage disequilibrium (LD) are still preliminary. They showed a significant level of LD in the 2 most polymorphic genes. To conclude, the genome size of hexaploid wheat and its low level of polymorphism complicate SNP discovery in this species.