bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired germ cell development due to compromised cell cycle progression in Skp2-deficient mice
Authors: Fotovati Abbas , Nakayama Keiko , Nakayama Keiichi I 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The gonads are responsible for the production of germ cells through both mitosis and meiosis. Skp2 is the receptor subunit of an SCF-type ubiquitin ligase and is a major regulator of the progression of cells into S phase of the cell cycle, which it promotes by mediating the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of p27, an inhibitor of cell proliferation. However, the role of the Skp2-p27 pathway in germ cell development remains elusive.

Results
We now show that disruption of Skp2 in mice results in a marked impairment in the fertility of males, with the phenotypes resembling Sertoli cell-only syndrome in men. Testes of Skp2
-/- mice manifested pronounced germ cell hypoplasia accompanied by massive apoptosis in spermatogenic cells. Flow cytometry revealed an increased prevalence of polyploidy in spermatozoa, suggesting that the aneuploidy of these cells is responsible for the induction of apoptosis. Disruption of the p27 gene of Skp2
-/- mice restored germ cell development, indicating that the testicular hypoplasia of Skp2
-/- animals is attributable to the antiproliferative effect of p27 accumulation.

Conclusion
Our results thus suggest that compromised cell cycle progression caused by the accumulation of p27 results in aneuploidy and the induction of apoptosis in gonadal cells of Skp2
-/- mice. The consequent reduction in the number of mature gametes accounts for the decreased fertility of these animals. These findings reinforce the importance of the Skp2-p27 pathway in cell cycle regulation and in germ cell development.
Why do we treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? What we want to obtain and to avoid for our patients. SOSORT 2005 Consensus paper
Authors: Negrini Stefano , Grivas Theodoros B , Kotwicki Tomasz , Maruyama Toru , Rigo Manuel , Weiss Hans Rudolf ,   the members of the Scientific society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT)
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackgroundMedicine is a scientific art: once science is not clear, choices are made according to individual and collective beliefs that should be better understood. This is particularly true in a field like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, where currently does not exist definitive scientific evidence on the efficacy either of conservative or of surgical treatments.Aim of the studyTo verify the philosophical choices on the final outcome of a group of people believing and engaged in a conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.MethodsWe performed a multifaceted study that included a bibliometric analysis, a questionnaire, and a careful Consensus reaching procedure between experts in the conservative treatment of scoliosis (SOSORT members).ResultsThe Consensus reaching procedure has shown to be useful: answers changed in a statistically significant way, and 9 new outcome criteria were included. The most important final outcomes were considered Aesthetics (100%), Quality of life and Disability (more than 90%), while more than 80% of preferences went to Back Pain, Psychological well-being, Progression in adulthood, Breathing function, Scoliosis Cobb degrees (radiographic lateral flexion), Needs of further treatments in adulthood.DiscussionIn the literature prevail outcome criteria driven by the contingent treatment needs or the possibility to have measurement systems (even if it seems that usual clinical and radiographic methods are given much more importance than more complex Disability or Quality of Life instruments). SOSORT members give importance to a wide range of outcome criteria, in which clinical and radiographic issues have the lowest importance.ConclusionWe treat our patients for what they need for their future (Breathing function, Needs of further treatments in adulthood, Progression in adulthood), and their present too (Aesthetics, Disability, Quality of life). Technical matters, such as rib hump or radiographic lateral alignment and rotation, but not lateral flexion, are secondary outcomes and only instrumental to previously reported primary outcomes. We advocate a multidimensional, comprehensive evaluation of scoliosis patients, to gather all necessary data for a complete therapeutic approach, that goes beyond x-rays to reach the person and the family.
On the Quantitative Genetics of Mixture Characters
Authors: Gianola Daniel , Heringstad Bjorg , Odegaard Jorgen 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Finite mixture models are helpful for uncovering heterogeneity due to hidden structure. Quantitative genetics issues of continuous characters having a finite mixture of Gaussian components as statistical distribution are explored in this article. The partition of variance in a mixture, the covariance between relatives under the supposition of an additive genetic model, and the offspring–parent regression are derived. Formulas for assessing the effect of mass selection operating on a mixture are given. Expressions for the genetic and phenotypic correlations between mixture and Gaussian traits and between two mixture traits are presented. It is found that, if there is heterogeneity in a population at the genetic or environmental level, then genetic parameters based on theory treating distributions as homogeneous can lead to misleading interpretations. Some peculiarities of mixture characters are: heritability depends on the mean values of the component distributions, the offspring–parent regression is nonlinear, and genetic or phenotypic correlations cannot be interpreted devoid of the mixture proportions and of the parameters of the distributions mixed.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci for Malaria Parasite Susceptibility in the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti
Authors: Zhong Daibin , Menge David M , Temu Emmanuel A , Chen Hong , Yan Guiyun 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti has been the subject of extensive genetic research due to its medical importance and the ease with which it can be manipulated in the laboratory. A molecular genetic linkage map was constructed using 148 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and six single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) markers. Eighteen AFLP primer combinations were used to genotype two reciprocal F2 segregating populations. Each primer combination generated an average of 8.2 AFLP markers eligible for linkage mapping. The length of the integrated map was 180.9 cM, giving an average marker resolution of 1.2 cM. Composite interval mapping revealed a total of six QTL significantly affecting Plasmodium susceptibility in the two reciprocal crosses of Ae. aegypti. Two common QTL on linkage group 2 were identified in both crosses that had similar effects on the phenotype, and four QTL were unique to each cross. In one cross, the four main QTL accounted for 64% of the total phenotypic variance, and digenic epistasis explained 11.8% of the variance. In the second cross, the four main QTL explained 66% of the variance, and digenic epistasis accounted for 16% of the variance. The actions of these QTL were either dominance or underdominance. Our results indicated that at least three new QTL were mapped on chromosomes 1 and 3. The polygenic nature of susceptibility to P. gallinaceum and epistasis are important factors for significant variation within or among mosquito strains. The new map provides additional information useful for further genetic investigation, such as identification of new genes and positional cloning.
Modified Hudson–Kreitman–Aguadé Test and Two-Dimensional Evaluation of Neutrality Tests
Authors: Innan Hideki 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThere are a number of polymorphism-based statistical tests of neutrality, but most of them focus on either the amount or the pattern of polymorphism. In this article, a new test called the two-dimensional (2D) test is developed. This test evaluates a pair of summary statistics in a two-dimentional field. One statistic should summarize the pattern of polymorphism, while the other could be a measure of the level of polymorphism. For the latter summary statistic, the polymorphism-divergence ratio is used following the idea of the Hudson–Kreitman–Aguadé (HKA) test. To incorporate the HKA test in the 2D test, a summary statistic-based version of the HKA test is developed such that the polymorphism–divergence ratio at a particular region of interest is examined if it is consistent with the average of those in other independent regions.
A Defect in Protein Farnesylation Suppresses a Loss of Schizosaccharomyces pombe tsc2+, a Homolog of the Human Gene Predisposing to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Authors: Nakase Yukiko , Fukuda Keiko , Chikashige Yuji , Tsutsumi Chihiro , Morita Daisuke , Kawamoto Shinpei , Ohnuki Mari , Hiraoka Yasushi , Matsumoto Tomohiro 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Mutations in the human Tsc1 and Tsc2 genes predispose to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a disorder characterized by the wide spread of benign tumors. Tsc1 and Tsc2 proteins form a complex and serve as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) for Rheb, a GTPase regulating a downstream kinase, mTOR. The genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe contains tsc1+ and tsc2+, homologs of human Tsc1 and Tsc2, respectively. In this study we analyzed the gene expression profile on a genomewide scale and found that deletion of either tsc1+ or tsc2+ affects gene induction upon nitrogen starvation. Three hours after nitrogen depletion genes encoding permeases and genes required for meiosis are less induced. Under the same condition, retrotransposons, G1-cyclin (pas1+), and inv1+ are more induced. We also demonstrate that a mutation (cpp1-1) in a gene encoding a β-subunit of a farnesyltransferase can suppress most of the phenotypes associated with deletion of tsc1+ or tsc2+. When a mutant of rhb1+ (homolog of human Rheb), which bypasses the requirement of protein farnesylation, was expressed, the cpp1-1 mutation could no longer suppress, indicating that deficient farnesylation of Rhb1 contributes to the suppression. On the basis of these results, we discuss TSC pathology and possible improvement in chemotherapy for TSC.
Numerous and Rapid Nonstochastic Modifications of Gene Products in Newly SynthesizedBrassica napusAllotetraploids
Authors: Albertin Warren , Balliau Thierry , Brabant Philippe , Chèvre Anne-Marie , Eber Frédérique , Malosse Christian , Thiellement Hervé 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPolyploidization is a widespread process that results in the merger of two or more genomes in a common nucleus. To investigate modifications of gene expression occurring during allopolyploid formation, the Brassica napus allotetraploid model was chosen. Large-scale analyses of the proteome were conducted on two organs, the stem and root, so that &gt;1600 polypeptides were screened. Comparative proteomics of synthetic B. napus and its homozygous diploid progenitors B. rapa and B. oleracea showed that very few proteins disappeared or appeared in the amphiploids (&lt;1%), but a strikingly high number (25–38%) of polypeptides displayed quantitative nonadditive pattern. Nonstochastic gene expression repatterning was found since 99% of the detected variations were reproducible in four independently created amphiploids. More than 60% of proteins displayed a nonadditive pattern closer to the paternal parent B. rapa. Interspecific hybridization triggered the majority of the deviations (89%), whereas very few variations (∼3%) were associated with genome doubling and more significant alterations arose from selfing (∼9%). Some nonadditive proteins behaved similarly in both organs, while others exhibited contrasted behavior, showing rapid organ-specific regulation. B. napus formation was therefore correlated with immediate and directed nonadditive changes in gene expression, suggesting that the early steps of allopolyploidization repatterning are controlled by nonstochastic mechanisms.
A Textual Problem in the Epistolary of Guarino
Authors: Thomson Ian 
Published: April 2006

In Remigio Sabbadini's edition of the epistolary of Guarino Veronese, Letter 192 (Vol. 1, 306-307) ends as follows: ‘Vale mea suavitas; valeat et primaria femina θεoδωρα a sua filia Tadea, quae illam tantopere amat, sitit, ardet oculis et animo, ut iam nunc ascensionem meditetur.’ Sabbadini notes in his critical apparatus: ‘ascensionem non capisco. Forse a me secessionem.’ I hope to show, however, that the text is sound.By its subscription we know that Letter 192 was written at Verona on October 15. On internal evidence Sabbadini conclusively assigns it to 1420. The addressee was Guarino's Venetian friend, Andrea Zulian. Teodora was Zulian's second wife, whom he wed in 1415.3 Taddea was Guarino's wife, no relation to Teodora; the word filia was simply a term of affectionate respect.
Glorious Apollo: Poetic and Political Themes in the First Opera
Authors: Hanning Barbara Russano 
Published: April 2006

Historians of early opera have occasionally noted the appropriateness of Orpheus’ appearance as artistic spokesman for the new art form. Poet-singer par excellence of antiquity, whose music shook the very depths of the universe as he retrieved Eurydice from the Underworld, Orpheus surely appealed to the early opera composers and their humanist program—to recreate the moving power of an entirely sung drama by forging a new union of poetry, music, and gesture.In the history of opera, however, primacy of place must be given to the god Apollo, for the legend of Apollo and Daphne was the subject of the first favola per musica, La Dafne, written by Ottavio Rinuccini, with music composed by Jacopo Corsi and Jacopo Peri, and first performed in 1598 at Corsi's home in Florence.
The History Never Written: Bards, Druids, and the Problem of Antiquarianism in Poly Olbion
Authors: Curran John E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe rise of antiquarianism in late Elizabethan/early Jacobean England posed a threat to the common and traditional notion of continuity through time of British institutions and culture, including the transmission of historical texts. This threat was a major preoccupation for the poet Michael Drayton, and his response to it can be examined in his depictions of bards and druids in Poly Olbion. Conservatives in the historiographical debate put forth these ancient British poet/priests as an explanation for how ancient British history could have been transmitted through the centuries. But while Drayton in the Poly Olbion certainly uses bards and druids in a concerted attempt to imagine continuity, he reveals some latent suspicions of the truth - that ancient British culture was irretrievably lost.
Gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in men with unexplained anemia and low normal ferritin values
Authors: Wang Sa A. , Fadare Oluwole , Nagar Anil , Shafi Nelofar Q. , Rose Michal G. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: Most practice guidelines recommend endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in men and postmenopausal women with anemia and a serum ferritin less than 20–40 ng/ml. The diagnostic yield of endoscopy in patients with anemia, no GI symptoms or signs, and low normal ferritin is not known.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the yield of upper and lower GI endoscopic evaluations in anemic patients with ferritin levels between 40 and 100 ng/ml.Design: A retrospective review of patients' charts was conducted.Subjects and methods: Patients at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System who underwent GI endoscopic evaluation for the sole indication of anemia and ferritin in the low normal range (40–100 ng/ml) were included in this study.Measurements: Incidence of pathology of the upper and lower GI tract was determined.Results: We identified 54 male patients who had a ferritin level of 40–100 ng/ml and no GI symptoms or known GI bleeding. Upper GI findings (malignancy, peptic ulcers, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, arteriovenous malformations) were found in 14/47 cases (30%). Lower gastrointestinal findings, including large tubular adenomas and arteriovenous malformation, were identified in 3/53 cases (6.7%).Conclusion: Our study supports GI endoscopy in anemic patients with ferritin between 40 and 100 ng/ml, even in the absence of GI symptoms or documented bleeding. Am. J. Hematol. 81:324–327, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Retracted: Notch‐1 down‐regulation by curcumin is associated with the inhibition of cell growth and the induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Zhang Yuxiang , Banerjee Sanjeev , Li Yiwei , Sarkar Fazlul H. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDNotch signaling plays a critical role in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and thereby may contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, the down‐regulation of Notch signaling may be a novel approach for pancreatic cancer therapy. It has been reported that curcumin down‐regulates many genes that are known to promote survival and also up‐regulates genes that are known promoters of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. It also has been reported that there is cross‐talk between Notch‐1 and another major cell growth and apoptotic regulatory pathway, the nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) pathway, which is down‐regulated by both curcumin and reduction of Notch‐1 levels. However, to the authors' knowledge to date, no studies have determined whether the down‐regulation of Notch‐1 signaling, resulting in the inactivation of NF‐κB activity, contributes to curcumin‐induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.METHODSThe authors used multiple molecular approaches, such as the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, an apoptosis assay, gene transfection, real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction analysis, Western blot analysis, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay to measure the DNA binding activity of NF‐κB.RESULTSCurcumin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Notch‐1, Hes‐1, and Bcl‐XL expression levels concomitantly were down‐regulated by curcumin treatment. These results correlated with the inactivation of NF‐κB activity and increased apoptosis induced by curcumin. The down‐regulation of Notch‐1 by small‐interfering RNA prior to curcumin treatment resulted in enhanced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis.CONCLUSIONSThe current results provide the first demonstration to the authors' knowledge that the Notch‐1 signaling pathway is associated mechanistically with NF‐κB activity during curcumin‐induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cells. These results suggest that the down‐regulation of Notch signaling by curcumin may be a novel strategy for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Once daily, oral, outpatient quinolone monotherapy for low‐risk cancer patients with fever and neutropenia
Authors: Rolston Kenneth V. I. , Manzullo Ellen F. , Elting Linda S. , Frisbee‐Hume Susan E. , McMahon Leslie , Theriault Richard L. , Patel Shreyaskumar , Benjamin Robert S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of empiric, oral, outpatient quinolone monotherapy in 40 adult patients with fever and neutropenia who were at low risk for serious medical complications.METHODSPatients with breast cancer or sarcoma who presented with fever and neutropenia and were identified as low risk received empiric, oral, quinolone monotherapy (gatifloxacin at a dose of 400 mg once daily). Patients who had a significant source/focus of infection on presentation were excluded. After an initial observation period of 4 to 8 hours in the emergency center, the remainder of their management was ambulatory. Patients were evaluated for response to therapy, development of complications and/or the need for hospital admission, and drug‐related adverse events.RESULTSThree of 43 patients studied were ineligible medically because of the presence of Common Toxicity Criteria (version 3.0) Grade >2 mucositis. Of the 40 eligible patients, 38 patients (95%) responded to gatifloxacin monotherapy, although 1 patient requested hospital admission (92% response for ambulatory management). The mean duration of therapy was 7 days, and the median number of days from enrollment to defervescence was 4 days. There were no serious medical complications, no drug‐related adverse events, and no deaths on study or during 30 days of follow‐up.CONCLUSIONSThe results from this study indicated that outpatient quinolone monotherapy in low‐risk febrile neutropenic patients is safe, effective, and well received. These conclusions need to be validated in a randomized trial. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
(Tetramethylcyclobutadiene)cobalt Complexes with Tricarbollide Ligands (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 9/2006)
Authors: Mutseneck Elena V. , Perekalin Dmitry S. , Holub Josef , Lyssenko Konstantin A. , Petrovskii Pavel V. , Štíbr Bohumil , Kudinov Alexander R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe cover picture shows the isomerization sequence of cobaltatricarbollides (C4Me4)Co(C3B8H11) prepared by using convenient synthons of the (C4Me4)Co fragment. The isomerization is associated with progressive space separation of the negatively charged carbon atoms and correlates well with the calculated relative stabilities of non‐methylated analogs. Introduction of an amino substituent at the cage carbon atom dramatically reduces the rearrangement barrier and changes the pathway of the process. Details are discussed in the article by A. R. Kudinov et al. on p. 1737 ff.
Toward brain correlates of natural behavior: fMRI during violent video games
Authors: Mathiak Klaus , Weber René 
Published: April 2006

AbstractModern video games represent highly advanced virtual reality simulations and often contain virtual violence. In a significant amount of young males, playing video games is a quotidian activity, making it an almost natural behavior. Recordings of brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during gameplay may reflect neuronal correlates of real‐life behavior. We recorded 13 experienced gamers (18–26 years; average 14 hrs/week playing) while playing a violent first‐person shooter game (a violent computer game played in self‐perspective) by means of distortion and dephasing reduced fMRI (3 T; single‐shot triple‐echo echo‐planar imaging [EPI]). Content analysis of the video and sound with 100 ms time resolution achieved relevant behavioral variables. These variables explained significant signal variance across large distributed networks. Occurrence of violent scenes revealed significant neuronal correlates in an event‐related design. Activation of dorsal and deactivation of rostral anterior cingulate and amygdala characterized the mid‐frontal pattern related to virtual violence. Statistics and effect sizes can be considered large at these areas. Optimized imaging strategies allowed for single‐subject and for single‐trial analysis with good image quality at basal brain structures. We propose that virtual environments can be used to study neuronal processes involved in semi‐naturalistic behavior as determined by content analysis. Importantly, the activation pattern reflects brain‐environment interactions rather than stimulus responses as observed in classical experimental designs. We relate our findings to the general discussion on social effects of playing first‐person shooter games. Hum Brain Mapp, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.