bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive impairment in Aboriginal people with heavy episodic patterns of alcohol use
Authors: Cairney Sheree , Clough Alan , Jaragba Muriel , Maruff Paul 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTBackground  With chronic alcohol abuse, cognitive studies suggest that progressive cognitive decline may precede more serious and irreversible neurological syndromes. The early detection of cognitive impairment may therefore aid in the prevention of permanent brain damage. Despite the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse among Aboriginal Australians, the effects on brain function have never been studied in this population and a lack of appropriate assessment tools has prevented the development of such research.Aims  To determine the impact of long‐term and heavy episodic alcohol use on cognitive function in Aboriginal people.Design  Cross‐sectional comparing heavy episodic alcohol users with non‐alcohol users.Setting  Two remote Aboriginal communities in north‐east Arnhem Land, northern Australia.Subjects  The control group consisted of 24 non‐drinkers (15 males, nine female) and the heavy episodic group consisted of 20 people (19 males, one female) who had been drinking alcohol in a heavy episodic style (median 14 drinks per occasion) for a mean of 8.9 years (SD = 5.0).Measurements  Interview to obtain demographic information, substance abuse history and symptoms of mental health and wellbeing, together with a computerized cognitive assessment battery (CogState Ltd).Findings  Compared with non‐drinkers, heavy episodic drinkers showed reduced psychomotor speed (P = 0.04) and reduced accuracy when performing tasks of attention (P = 0.045), working memory (P = 0.04), implicit memory (P = 0.03) and associate learning and memory (P = 0.001).Conclusions  Specific cognitive abnormalities that suggest frontostriatal abnormalities and have been observed in association with chronic alcoholism in other populations were observed among Aboriginal Australians who were heavy episodic alcoholic users.
Contemporary evolution of secondary sexual traits in the wild
Authors: SVENSSON E. I. , GOSDEN T. P. 
Published: May 2007

SummarySexual selection has been studied intensively, and is often strong in natural populations. Theoretical models, comparative studies and laboratory selection experiments all suggest that evolution driven by sexual selection should be rapid and common.However, there are relatively few documented cases of the contemporary evolution of secondary sexual traits in natural populations. Moreover, the causes are not always due to sexual selection, but often due to altered natural selection regimes, or an altered balance between natural and sexual selection.Here we discuss recent empirical studies that have demonstrated the contemporary evolution of secondary sexual traits in natural populations. Our examples include both continuous traits and discrete polymorphisms. Taxa in which the contemporary (rapid) evolution of secondary sexual traits have been demonstrated include fish, insects, mammals, reptiles and birds. The evolutionary rates of these changes range from 0·005 to 0·570 haldanes (arithmetic mean = 0·14; geometric mean = 0·095; median = 0·12).The relative rarity of examples could be explained by different genetic architectures of sexually selected traits compared with naturally selected traits, or by sexual selection regimes not being sustained in the long term. These factors could potentially slow down evolutionary rates of secondary sexual traits and make the detection of the contemporary evolution empirically more difficult.Promising and underutilized approaches to sexual selection research include reciprocal transplant experiments and estimation of sexual isolation between conspecific populations.
Evolution on ecological time‐scales
Authors: CARROLL S. P. , HENDRY A. P. , REZNICK D. N. , FOX C. W. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryEcologically significant evolutionary change, occurring over tens of generations or fewer, is now widely documented in nature. These findings counter the long‐standing assumption that ecological and evolutionary processes occur on different time‐scales, and thus that the study of ecological processes can safely assume evolutionary stasis. Recognition that substantial evolution occurs on ecological time‐scales dissolves this dichotomy and provides new opportunities for integrative approaches to pressing questions in many fields of biology.The goals of this special feature are twofold: to consider the factors that influence evolution on ecological time‐scales – phenotypic plasticity, maternal effects, sexual selection, and gene flow – and to assess the consequences of such evolution – for population persistence, speciation, community dynamics, and ecosystem function.The role of evolution in ecological processes is expected to be largest for traits that change most quickly and for traits that most strongly influence ecological interactions. Understanding this fine‐scale interplay of ecological and evolutionary factors will require a new class of eco‐evolutionary dynamic modelling.Contemporary evolution occurs in a wide diversity of ecological contexts, but appears to be especially common in response to anthropogenic changes in selection and population structure. Evolutionary biology may thus offer substantial insight to many conservation issues arising from global change.Recent studies suggest that fluctuating selection and associated periods of contemporary evolution are the norm rather than exception throughout the history of life on earth. The consequences of contemporary evolution for population dynamics and ecological interactions are likely ubiquitous in time and space.
Fracture neck of femur in haemophilia A – experience from a cohort of 11 patients from a tertiary centre in India
Authors: LEE V. N. , SRIVASTAVA A. , NITHYANANTH M. , KUMAR P. , CHERIAN V. M. , VISWABANDYA A. , MATHEWS V. , GEORGE B. , VENKATESH K , NAIR S. C. , CHANDY M. , SUNDARARAJ G. D. 
Published: May 2007

Summary. We describe here the management of eleven patients with fracture neck of femur. Excepting one patient all had severe haemophilia A. Nine patients were less than 50 years of age. Eight out of eleven patients had fracture after trivial trauma. Nine patients had closed reduction and one patient open reduction. The patient with non union had a Valgus osteotomy. All fractures united. The average time to union was 11 weeks (range:8–16). We followed either a low dose intermittent or a low dose continuous infusion factor support protocol for the management of these patients. The median dose of factor support was 252 u/kg (range: 136–580). The average duration of factor support was 9 days (range: 7–10). Two patients had aggravation of pre existing knee stiffness following post operative immobilisation. No other major complication was observed in this cohort of patients. To conclude, management of fracture neck of femur in patients with haemophilia is no different from general population if an adequate haemostasis is achieved.
Activating and inhibitory receptors on synovial fluid natural killer cells of arthritis patients: role of CD94/NKG2A in control of cytokine secretion
Authors: De Matos Cristina Teixeira , Berg Louise , Michaëlsson Jakob , Felländer‐Tsai Li , Kärre Klas , Söderström Kalle 
Published: May 2007

SummaryNatural killer (NK) cells are activated early during inflammatory events and contribute to the shaping of the ensuing adaptive immune response. To further understand the role for NK cells in inflammation, we investigated the phenotype and function of synovial fluid (SF) NK cells from patients with chronic joint inflammation, as well as from patients with transient inflammation of the knee following trauma. We confirm that synovial NK cells are similar to the well‐characterized CD56bright peripheral blood (PB) NK‐cell subset present in healthy individuals. However, compared to this PB subset the synovial NK cells express a higher degree of activation markers including CD69 and NKp44, the latter being up‐regulated also on CD56bright NK cells in the PB of patients. Activated synovial NK cells produced interferon‐γ and tumour necrosis factor, and the production was further up‐regulated by antibody masking of CD94/NKG2A, and down‐regulated by target cells expressing human leucocyte antigen‐E in complex with peptides known to engage CD94/NKG2A. We conclude that synovial NK cells have an activated phenotype and that CD94/NKG2A is a key regulator of synovial NK‐cell cytokine synthesis.
The delivery site of a monovalent influenza vaccine within the respiratory tract impacts on the immune response
Authors: Minne Antoine , Louahed Jamila , Mehauden Sybille , Baras Benoît , Renauld Jean‐Christophe , Vanbever Rita 
Published: May 2007

SummaryPulmonary vaccination is a promising immunization route. However, there still remains a crucial need to characterize the different parameters affecting the efficacy of inhaled vaccination. This study aimed at assessing the impact of antigen distribution within the respiratory tract on the immune response to a monovalent A/Panama/2007/99 H3N2 influenza split virus vaccine administered to BALB/c mice. Varying the administration technique allowed the targeting of the vaccine to different sites of the mouse respiratory tract, i.e. the nasal cavity, the upper or central airways, or the deep lung. This targeting was verified by using ovalbumin as a tracer compound. The immune responses generated following influenza vaccine administration to the different respiratory tract sites were compared to each other and to those elicited by intramuscular and peroral intragastric immunization. Delivery of the vaccine to the different respiratory regions generated systemic, local and cellular virus‐specific immune responses, which increased with the depth of vaccine deposition, culminating in deep‐lung vaccination. The latter induced virus‐specific serum immunoglobulin G and neutralizing antibody titres as elevated as intramuscular vaccination, whereas the production of mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A was significantly superior in deep‐lung‐vaccinated animals. The analysis of cytokines secreted by mononuclear cells during an in vitro recall response indicated that deep‐lung vaccination induced a local shift of the cellular immune response towards a T helper type 1 phenotype as compared to intramuscular vaccination. In conclusion, antigen distribution within the respiratory tract has a major effect on the immune response, with the deep lung as the best target for inhaled influenza vaccination.
Epigenetic profile of testicular germ cell tumours
Authors: Okamoto Keisei , Kawakami Takahiro 
Published: May 2007

SummaryDNA methylation is the best known and most thoroughly studied epigenetic mechanism. Hypermethylation of CpG islands associated with silencing of tumour suppressor genes or tumour‐related genes is a common hallmark of human cancer. The list of tumour‐related genes with aberrant hypermethylation in their CpG islands has been increasing. There is also the potential for using DNA methylation profile data as markers for various types of human cancer. In this paper, we review the methylation profile of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs). We show that TGCTs have distinctive DNA methylation profiles that differ from those of somatic tissue‐derived cancers or somatic tissues. We also discuss the methylation profile of TGCTs in terms of the DNA reprogramming that occurs in primordial germ cells or pre‐implantation embryos. Finally, we describe the potential clinical utility of this unique methylation phenotype in TGCTs with regard to developing a novel tumour marker. These data suggest that unmethylated DNA fragments in TGCTs may have diagnostic implications. Further elucidation of epigenetic profiles in TGCTs is expected to provide a new insight into the biology of this disease.
User involvement in the development of a research bid: barriers, enablers and impacts1
Authors: Staniszewska Sophie , Jones Nicola , Newburn Mary , Marshall Shanit 
Published: May 2007

AbstractObjective  To involve users in the development of a research bid to examine parents’ experiences of having a pre‐term baby, and to examine the barriers, enablers and impacts of user involvement.Design  A mainly collaborative approach to user involvement was adopted, although different types of involvement were evident at different stages of the project. Users’ experiences and perspectives provided the focus for the regular meetings which underpinned the writing of the research bid. The researcher acted as a facilitator in the development of the bid, with input from users and the wider advisory group.Main outcomes  User involvement had an important impact on the development of the research aims, methods and on ethical aspects. Through careful collaboration a research bid was produced which was rooted in users’ experiences, whilst also addressing key research questions. Key enablers for involvement included good working relationships, funding for the lead researchers time. Barriers included lack of financial support for users, the time‐consuming nature of involvement and the language of research.Conclusions  If user involvement remains an international policy imperative with little if any support at the vital stage of bid development, policy‐makers, service user organizations, researchers, health service providers and commissioners will need to recognize the limited nature of involvement that may result and the impact this would have on the evidence base. Researchers will need to recognize the resource implications of involvement at this point, and user groups will need to decide whether to participate when there is the greatest chance of influencing research but little or no funding.
Allergenic pollen and pollen allergy in Europe
Authors: D’Amato G. , Cecchi L. , Bonini S. , Nunes C. , Annesi‐Maesano I. , Behrendt H. , Liccardi G. , Popov T. , Van Cauwenberge P. 
Published: May 2007

The allergenic content of the atmosphere varies according to climate, geography and vegetation. Data on the presence and prevalence of allergenic airborne pollens, obtained from both aerobiological studies and allergological investigations, make it possible to design pollen calendars with the approximate flowering period of the plants in the sampling area. In this way, even though pollen production and dispersal from year to year depend on the patterns of preseason weather and on the conditions prevailing at the time of anthesis, it is usually possible to forecast the chances of encountering high atmospheric allergenic pollen concentrations in different areas.Aerobiological and allergological studies show that the pollen map of Europe is changing also as a result of cultural factors (for example, importation of plants such as birch and cypress for urban parklands), greater international travel (e.g. colonization by ragweed in France, northern Italy, Austria, Hungary etc.) and climate change. In this regard, the higher frequency of weather extremes, like thunderstorms, and increasing episodes of long range transport of allergenic pollen represent new challenges for researchers.Furthermore, in the last few years, experimental data on pollen and subpollen‐particles structure, the pathogenetic role of pollen and the interaction between pollen and air pollutants, gave new insights into the mechanisms of respiratory allergic diseases.
Molecular and Serological Evidence for Anaplasma platys and Babesia sp. Infection in a Dog, Imported in Belgium, from Southern Spain
Authors: Heyman P. , Duh D. , Van Der Kuylen B. , Cochez C. , Van Esbroeck M. , Vandenvelde C. , Avsic‐Zupanc T. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThis case report describes a dog suffering from a co‐infection with Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Anaplasma platys was found to be responsible for the anaplasmosis by molecular biology techniques, while microscopical and serological evidence was found for a coexistent babesiosis, although this could not be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, the possible risk of import of exotic pathogens is highlighted.
Recurrent Uveitis in Horses: Vitreal Examinations with Ultrastructural Detection of Leptospires
Authors: Brandes K. , Wollanke B. , Niedermaier G. , Brem S. , Gerhards H. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThis study documents the examination of 17 horses (both sexes, 3–18 years old) suffering from spontaneous equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). Vitreal samples obtained by pars plana vitrectomy were examined macroscopically and ultrastructurally, and in most cases also by cultural examination, by microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and by polymerase chain reaction. In 24% (4/17) of the animals, ultrastructural examination by electron microscopy revealed intact leptospiral bacteria in the vitreous. The leptospires were detected freely in the vitreous and also incorporated by a phagocyte. They were surrounded by a rim of proteinaceous material which was reduced around a phagocytosed leptospira. Ninety‐four per cent (16/17) of the vitreal samples presented significant antibody levels in the MAT, mostly against leptospiral serovar Grippotyphosa. Seventy‐five per cent (9/12) of bacterial culture examinations were positive for leptospira. Polymerase chain reaction was positive in all (16/16) examinations performed. Our findings support previous reports suggesting that leptospires play an important role in the pathogenesis of ERU. Interestingly, this study found leptospires after secondary and later acute episodes. A persistent leptospiral infection is therefore suggested as the cause of ERU.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Cyclooxygenase‐2 in Canine Ovarian Carcinomas
Authors: Borzacchiello G. , Russo V. , Russo M. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryOvarian tumours among domestic animals are frequently encountered in bitch. Cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression has been evaluated in different kind of canine primary epithelial neoplasms. Eleven canine ovarian carcinomas and two normal samples were evaluated immunohistochemically for COX‐2 expression. Nine of 11 carcinoma samples (81%) expressed COX‐2 enzyme isoform. The immunoreactivity was intracytoplasmically recorded and the intensity ranged from faint to strong. Our results show that COX‐2 is expressed in canine ovarian carcinoma, suggesting a potential role of COX‐2 in canine ovarian carcinogenesis.
Acclimations of macroalgae as reflected in photosynthetic parameters derived from PAM fluorometry, and possible implications for abundance patterns
Authors: Saroussi Shai , Beer Sven 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe presences of the common macroalgae Ulva sp. and Jania rubens vary between seasons along the Israeli Mediterranean intertidal zone. To reveal some of the potential acclimation mechanisms of these algae, we examined their photosynthetic traits during the year using rapid light curves (RLC) derived from pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry. In addition, the relationships between those photosynthetic traits and the relative abundances of the two algae were investigated. Ulva sp. showed high maximal electron transport rates (ETRmax) (49.7–68.8 μmol electrons m−2 s−1) and onsets of light saturation values (Ek) (75.8–85.6 μmol photons m−2 s−1) in the winter months of December–February, while low values were found in the summer months of June–July (5.2–20.6 μmol electrons m−2 s−1 and 6.0–23.7 μmol photons m−2 s−1, respectively). At noon time (during the highest irradiance of the day), the maximal effective quantum yield (Y0) did not vary significantly during the year. These results indicate that seasonal irradiance influences the number of reaction centres per thallus area. Both algae showed depressions in Y0 at noon (23.8% for Ulva sp. and 20.3% for Jania rubens), indicating an efficient non‐photochemical quenching mechanism. A positive correlation between the relative abundance and the photosynthetic parameter Y0 was found for Jania rubens when Y0 was sampled in the morning or noon, indicating that growth rate and primary production for this alga can be estimated from RLCs. No such correlation was found for Ulva sp., indicating that, in addition to photosynthetic traits, the relative seasonal abundance of this alga is influenced by other factors such as grazing and/or catastrophic events.
Allergy to tea tree oil: Retrospective review of 41 cases with positive patch tests over 4.5 years
Authors: Rutherford Tim , Nixon Rosemary , Tam Mei , Tate Bruce 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYTea tree oil use is increasing, with considerable interest in it being a ‘natural’ antimicrobial. It is found in many commercially available skin and hair care products in Australia. We retrospectively reviewed our patch test data at the Skin and Cancer Foundation Victoria over a 4.5‐year period and identified 41 cases of positive reactions to oxidized tea tree oil of 2320 people patch‐tested, giving a prevalence of 1.8%. The tea tree oil reaction was deemed relevant to the presenting dermatitis in 17 of 41 (41%) patients. Of those with positive reactions, 27 of 41 (66%) recalled prior use of tea tree oil and eight of 41 (20%) specified prior application of neat (100%) tea tree oil. Tea tree oil allergic contact dermatitis is under‐reported in the literature but is sufficiently common in Australia to warrant inclusion of tea tree oil, at a concentration of 10% in petrolatum, in standard patch‐test series. Given tea tree oil from freshly opened tea tree oil products elicits no or weak reactions, oxidized tea tree oil should be used for patch testing.
Cutis verticis gyrata: Three cases with different aetiologies that demonstrate the classification system
Authors: Larsen Fiona , Birchall Nicholas 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYCutis verticis gyrata describes a scalp condition where there are convoluted folds and deep furrows that resemble the surface of the cerebral cortex. We report three cases of cutis verticis gyrata that demonstrate the current classification structure. The first case is the most commonly described primary non‐essential acquired form, appearing in the scalp of an 11‐year‐old girl with mental retardation. The second case is the primary non‐essential congenital form, presenting at birth in a baby with Noonan's syndrome. An association between cutis verticis gyrata and Noonan's syndrome has been rarely described. The third case illustrates secondary cutis verticis gyrata, occurring in a 27‐year‐old man with discoid eczema.
Trichodysplasia spinulosa associated with chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukaemia
Authors: Sadler Genevieve M , Halbert Anne R , Smith Nicholas , Rogers Maureen 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYWe report two boys with trichodysplasia spinulosa associated with chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Trichodysplasia spinulosa is a cutaneous viral infection of immunosuppressed patients that causes abnormal hair follicle maturation. Our patients presented with widespread papules, some extruding a central keratin spicule, which were most prominent on the face. Histopathology demonstrated hair follicles dilated by a proliferation of large eosinophilic cells containing numerous abnormal trichohyaline granules. Electron microscopy in case 1 revealed 30‐nm viral particles in the stratum corneum consistent with a papovavirus. In case 1, the eruption persisted despite topical salicyclic acid 4%, ammonium lactate 17.5%, tretinoin 0.05% and oral acitretin. However, it resolved once the patient's immune function returned to normal (total duration of 2 years). In case 2, the eruption spontaneously resolved after 9 months. This case report discusses the characteristic clinicopathological features of trichodysplasia spinulosa and, for the first time, follows the condition's natural history.