bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Venous incompetence, poverty and lactate dehydrogenase in Jamaica are important predictors of leg ulceration in sickle cell anaemia
Authors: Cumming V. , King L. , Fraser R. , Serjeant G. , Reid M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryClinical features and potential risk factors for chronic leg ulceration (duration >6 months) in homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease were examined in 225 subjects in the Jamaican Cohort Study. Potential risk factors included the number of HBA genes, steady state haematology, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), venous incompetence, and socio‐economic status. Chronic ulcers occurred in 53 subjects with the highest risk of ulcer development at 18 years. The prevalence was 29·5% and cumulative incidence 16·7%. Gender or α‐thalassaemia trait did not affect the incidence of leg ulcer. Ulceration was associated with lower haemoglobin, red cell count, fetal haemoglobin, and socio‐economic status and higher reticulocyte count, platelet count, serum LDH and venous incompetence in univariate analyses. Venous incompetence [Hazard Ratio (HR) 3·0–4·0] and socio‐economic status (HR 0·8) were most consistently associated with leg ulceration on multivariate analysis. Regression models incorporating serum LDH suggested this to be a stronger predictor than haematological indices. The prevalence of ulcers at 30% is less than previous estimates in Jamaica, probably reflecting the lack of ascertainment bias in the Cohort Study, and also a real secular decline. In Jamaica, venous incompetence, low socio‐economic status, and high serum LDH were the strongest predictors of chronic ulceration.
MYC translocation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is associated with increased prolymphocytes and a poor prognosis
Authors: Huh Yang O. , Lin Katherine I‐Chun , Vega Francisco , Schlette Ellen , Yin C. Cameron , Keating Michael J. , Luthra R. , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Abruzzo Lynne V. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryChromosomal translocations that involve MYC, characteristic of Burkitt lymphoma, are rare in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We report the clinical, morphological, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular genetic features of eight CLL cases with MYC rearrangement. The patients, five men and three women (median age, 71 years) had bone marrow involvement and an absolute peripheral blood lymphocytosis; five had lymphadenopathy; seven had splenomegaly. Prolymphocytes were increased (≥10%) in all cases. Six cases were classified as CLL with increased prolymphocytes (CLL/PL; prolymphocytes 10–55%), and two were classified as CLL in prolymphocytic transformation (CLL/PT; prolymphocytes >55%). All cases co‐expressed CD5, CD19, and CD23; five of eight expressed ZAP‐70. Of seven cases tested, four had mutated and three had unmutated IGHV genes. Conventional cytogenetic studies demonstrated t(8;14)(q24·1;q32) in five cases, t(8;22)(q24·1;q11) in two cases, and t(2;8)(p12;q24·1) in one case. Seven cases contained additional chromosomal abnormalities. All patients received combination chemotherapy. Two developed Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL) that were clonally unrelated to the CLL. At follow‐up, two patients are alive, four died of underlying disease, one died of EBV‐associated DLBCL, and one died of an unrelated cancer. In summary, MYC rearrangement, which occurs rarely in CLL patients, is associated with increased prolymphocytes, complex cytogenetic abnormalities, and a poor prognosis.
Hairy cell leukaemia: a heterogeneous disease?
Authors: Dores Graça M. , Matsuno Rayna K. , Weisenburger Dennis D. , Rosenberg Philip S. , Anderson William F. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe US National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program was used to develop aetiological clues for hairy cell leukaemia (HCL). Descriptive techniques (age‐adjusted incidence trends, age‐specific incidence rates (IR), and age distributions‐at‐diagnosis) were supplemented with mathematical models (two‐component mixture, generalized linear regression, and age‐period‐cohort). There were 2856 cases of HCL diagnosed during 1978–2004 (IR 0·32/100 000 person‐years). IRs were nearly 4‐fold greater among men than women and more than 3‐fold higher for Whites than Blacks. Temporal trends were stable over time. Age‐specific IRs increased rapidly until approximately 40 years then rose at a slower pace. The age‐specific IR curves reflected bimodal early‐ and late‐onset age distributions‐at‐diagnosis (or density plots), with some variation by gender. Among both men and women, a two‐component mixture model fitted the data better than a single density or cancer population. Age‐period‐cohort models confirmed statistically significant age‐related effects after full adjustment for temporal trends (calendar‐period and birth‐cohort effects). In summary, age incidence patterns (rates and bimodal densities) suggested that HCL is a heterogeneous disease, consisting of at least two underlying subgroups and/or cancer populations by age‐at‐onset. Distinct early‐ and late‐onset HCL populations may reflect different age‐related causal pathways, risk factor profiles, and/or stem cells of origin.
Blood outgrowth endothelial cells from chronic myeloid leukaemia patients are BCR/ABL1 negative
Authors: Otten Jasmin , Schultze Alexander , Schafhausen Philippe , Otterstetter Svenja , Dierlamm Judith , Bokemeyer Carsten , Brummendorf Tim H. , Fiedler Walter , Loges Sonja 
Published: May 2008

SummaryThe existence of adult haemangioblasts with dual haematopoietic and endothelial developmental potential was confirmed after detection of Ph+ vascular endothelial cells in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients. Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) from CML patients were found not to harbour the Philadelphia translocation and were thus not clonally related to BRC/ABL1+ hematopoietic progenitors, but comprised a distinct subfraction of endothelial cells. Remarkably, the frequency of CML‐derived OECs was 9‐fold higher as compared to healthy donors (n = 19 and n = 300, respectively; P < 0·0001) and these cells showed increased proliferative potential, possibly reflecting the mobilisation of OEC progenitors by pro‐angiogenic cytokines.
CRTH2‐dependent, STAT6‐independent induction of cedar pollen dermatitis
Authors: Oiwa M. , Satoh T. , Watanabe M. , Niwa H. , Hirai H. , Nakamura M. , Yokozeki H. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBackground
Airborne contact dermatitis to cedar pollen is a recently identified disease that generally affects individuals with cedar pollinosis of the nasal and/or ocular symptoms, as well as some patients with atopic dermatitis.Objective
To elucidate the pathological mechanisms of cedar pollen dermatitis.Methods
We established a mouse model of cedar pollen dermatitis by epicutaneous sensitization with Japanese cedar pollen antigen (Ag).Results
Histologically, there was marked dermal cellular infiltrate, including eosinophils and mast cells, with epidermal thickening. The induction of dermatitis was accompanied by production of cedar pollen‐specific IgE. In the lesional skin, IL‐13, IL‐18, eotaxin/chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand (CCL) 11, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted/CCL5, macrophage‐derived chemokine/CCL22 and thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine/CCL17, but not IL‐4 and IFN‐γ, were produced. Mast cell‐deficient WBB6F1‐W/Wv mice failed to develop cedar pollen dermatitis, although regional lymph node cells proliferated in response to Cryptomeria japonica (Cry j) 1 and Cry j2 Ags in vitro. Surprisingly, the induction of dermatitis was independent of STAT6/IgE. In contrast, mice deficient in CRTH2, a receptor for prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), showed diminished inflammation. Consistent with this, ramatroban, a CRTH2 antagonist, significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration.Conclusion
These data suggest that PGD2–CRTH2 signalling contributes to inflammation in cedar pollen dermatitis, and unlike cedar pollinosis of the nasal mucosa, STAT6 is not a therapeutic target for treatment.
Phenotypes of food hypersensitivity and development of allergic diseases during the first 8 years of life
Authors: Östblom E. , Lilja G. , Pershagen G. , Van Hage M. , Wickman M. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBackground
Longitudinal data from population‐based studies on the development and persistence of food hypersensitivity (FHS) during childhood are almost absent.Methods
A population‐based birth cohort was established, and information on various exposures and symptoms of allergic disease were obtained from questionnaires when the children were 2 months, 1, 2, 4 and 8 years of age. Complete data were available on 3104 children. Children with reported FHS and doctor's diagnosis of food allergy (RDFA) were identified and allocated into transient, intermittent, late‐onset and persistent phenotypes. Food allergen‐specific IgE‐antibodies (abs) to a mix of six common food allergens (fx5®) were analysed at 4 and 8 years of age in 1857 children.Results
The overall prevalence of reported FHS in combination with RDFA should be 3.1% at 1 year to 7.6% at 8 years of age. However, reactions to milk, egg, fish and wheat decreased, whereas an increase was seen for peanuts and tree nuts. Reported reactions to egg, peanuts or tree nuts early in life, as well as IgE‐abs to food allergens at the age of 4, increased the risk of FHS at 8 years of age. Furthermore, FHS at young ages increased the risk for asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis at 8 years of age, even when adjustments were made for children with these symptoms during the first 2 years of life.Conclusion
The increasing prevalence of FHS up to the age of 8 years probably reflects an increasing prevalence of allergy to birch pollen and pollen‐related reactions to foods. Reactions to egg, peanuts and tree nuts early in life increase the risk of FHS at 8 years. Furthermore, reported FHS at young ages, even though transient, seems to increase the risk for other allergic diseases at 8 years of age.
Renal FNA‐based typing of renal masses remains a useful adjunctive modality: evaluation of 31 renal masses with correlative histology
Authors: Masoom S. , Venkataraman G. , Jensen J. , Flanigan R. C. , Wojcik E. M. 
Published: May 2008

Objectives:  Given the advances in renal imaging modalities in the recent years, a greater number of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) with tumour size of <3 cm are being detected radiologically. Consequently, there is a pressing need for accurate typing of RCCs which, in turn, will aid in selection of cases of nephron‐sparing surgery.Methods:  A total of 31 cases of renal masses with available fine needle aspiration (FNA) material and concomitant histopathology details were retrieved. They included 27 RCCs (17 clear cells, eight papillary and two chromophobe), one oncocytoma, one liposarcoma and two benign lesions – one xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XPN) and one benign cyst. Two investigators reviewed all FNA material. The degree of concordance between cytological typing and histological typing was assessed.Results:  There was excellent agreement between the FNA typing and the final diagnosis, with correct classification in 28 of 31 cases. Among the three discordant cases, two were RCCs. The first was a papillary RCC (PRCC) that was misdiagnosed on FNA as clear cell RCC. Another case that was typed as a PRCC on final histopathology was diagnosed ‘suspicious cells’ on FNA. The third case was an XPN that was misdiagnosed on FNA as RCC with necrosis.Conclusions:  There is an excellent concordance (90.3%) between the FNA diagnosis and the final histological diagnosis, especially in RCCs. There is a tendency for misdiagnosis with PRCC. Lesions with extensive necrosis and relatively insufficient diagnostic material on FNA specimens must be interpreted with caution. Better concordance might be observed with more extensive sampling.
Cytomorphological changes after ultrasound‐guided percutaneous ethanol injection in benign thyroid nodules
Authors: Song D. E. , Kim Y. M. , Gong G. 
Published: May 2008

Objective:  To characterize the cytomorphological changes after percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in benign thyroid nodules, we compared the cytological features of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples before and after PEI.Methods:  Fifty‐five cases diagnosed with adenomatous goitre (group 1, 35 cases) or cystic changes only (group 2, 20 cases) were included. In all cases, FNACs were performed by the pathologists before and after PEI. PEI was performed in all cases by a diagnostic radiologist according to the ultrasound guidelines. The following cytological features were evaluated by two pathologists: cellularity of follicular epithelial cells, background, cellular pleomorphism, nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio, chromatin pattern, presence of nucleoli, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, and mitosis.Results:  In group 1, 19 cases (54%) showed changes in cellularity after PEI, with reduced cellularity in 13 cases (37%) and increased cellularity in six cases (17%). No necrotic background was observed before PEI; however, 14 cases (40%) developed necrotic background after PEI (P < 0.0001). Multinucleated giant cells were observed in 18 cases (51%) after PEI, which is in contrast to four cases (11%) before PEI (P = 0.001). In group 2, necrotic background was seen in 11 cases (55%, P < 0.0001) and multinucleated giant cells were observed in four cases (20%) after PEI.Conclusions:  Necrotic background and presence of multinucleated giant cells are indicative of tissue damage caused by PEI in the FNAC specimens of benign thyroid nodules. In contrast to other modalities including chemotherapy or radiation treatment for malignant tumour, no unusual cytological change is observed after PEI.
Temporal dynamics of freshwater bacterio‐ and virioplankton along a littoral–pelagic gradient
Authors: FILIPPINI MANUELA , BUESING NANNA , GESSNER MARK O. 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. Viruses have been identified as an important component of plankton communities but their temporal dynamics remain poorly characterized, especially in littoral zones of lakes. Seasonal and diel dynamics of planktonic viruses and their main hosts (i.e. bacteria) were therefore assessed along four parallel transects of a lake, extending from within a littoral reed stand across the littoral shelf to the pelagic zone.2. Viral abundance ranged from 1.9 to 9.7 × 107 virus‐like particles (VLP) mL−1 with distinct seasonal peaks in spring at all locations. Seasonal variation in bacterial abundance varied more than 10‐fold (0.85–12 × 106 cells mL−1) and was synchronized with changes in viral abundance. As a result, the ratio of viruses to bacteria (average of 12.5) varied much less over the year.3. Bacterial production (0.11–0.98 μg C L−1 h−1) and growth rates (0.06–0.85 day−1) also varied seasonally but, in contrast to abundances, high production rates in spring were maintained in mid‐summer, particularly in the reed stand, where growth rates were highest.4. Variation among locations was small in most measured parameters, probably due to extensive exchange between pelagic and littoral water masses. Nevertheless, average bacterial growth and production rates in all seasons were consistently highest in the reed stand.5. In the August of an exceptionally warm summer, viral and bacterial abundance varied little over a diel cycle (1.23–1.75 × 108 VLP mL−1 and 0.78–1.90 × 107 cells mL−1, respectively) in spite of a trend towards higher values at night. Diel changes in bacterial production (0.23–0.69 μg C L−1 h−1) and growth rate (0.02–0.06 day−1) were more pronounced, with higher values also occurring during the night, possibly indicating that bacterio‐ and phytoplankton production were not tightly coupled during our diel study.6. Overall these results indicate that seasonal changes of virio‐ and bacterioplankton were mainly driven by high microbial activity in spring and were more pronounced than either diel changes on a hot summer day or spatial differences at a scale of 10–100 m.
Effects of freshwater and seawater mixing on virio‐ and bacterioplankton in a tropical estuary
Authors: CISSOKO MAÏMOUNA , DESNUES ANNE , BOUVY MARC , SIME‐NGANDO TÉLESPHORE , VERLING EMMA , BETTAREL YVAN 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. Estuaries are interesting sites to examine virus–bacteria interactions since they may vary gradually or abruptly in salinity, which presumably requires physiological, genetic and ecological adaptations. To explore such adjustments in tropical areas, freshwater and seawater samples were collected in the estuarine system of the River Senegal and experimentally subjected to abrupt mixing of seawater with freshwater and vice versa.2. Production rates of freshwater bacteria (measured by the tritiated thymidine incorporation method) and of viruses (measured by the dilution method) sharply declined immediately after seawater addition, which was followed by a spectacular recovery of the surviving bacterial and viral populations within 24 and 48 h, respectively.3. Conversely, neither marine bacteria nor viruses were significantly affected by mixing with freshwater. This suggests that the turbulent front between ascending tidal sea water and outwelling fluvial freshwater is a more favourable environment for marine bacterioplankton, which may take advantage of massive bursts of freshwater cells resulting from osmotic shock.4. In both mixing experiments, the dynamics of virioplankton production followed that of the bacteria within 24 h, suggesting that viruses can rapidly respond to dramatic shifts in the abundance and community composition of bacterial hosts.
Evidence for cyanophages active against bloom‐forming freshwater cyanobacteria
Authors: DENG LI , HAYES PAUL K. 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. A total of 35 putative cyanophages able to infect non‐axenic cultures of bloom‐forming freshwater cyanobacteria in the genera Microcystis, Anabaena and Planktothrix were isolated from Lake Zurich (Switzerland) and lakes in the Cotswold Water Park (U.K.). Eleven lytic cyanophage isolates were isolated on Microcystis and 12 each on Anabaena and Planktothrix. Cyanophage isolation protocols varied when using these different cyanobacterial hosts.2. The collection of putative cyanophage isolates encompassed a variety of morphotypes, including the first filamentous cyanophage from any environment and the second siphocyanophage reported from fresh water.3. PCR primer sets for gp20, gp23 and MCP genes, which have been previously found to be conserved in other cyanophages, were used in an attempt to determine genetic diversity among the phage isolates. The failure to obtain specific amplification products from most isolates suggests that the cyanophages isolated in this study were different from those previously characterized from both marine and freshwater environments.4. Some putative cyanophages within the collection of isolates proved to have a very broad host range and were able to infect Anabaena, Microcystis and Planktothrix. The ability to infect a wide range of host taxa extends the potential reproductive period for lytic propagation, and also has implications for the transfer of genetic information between deeply separated cyanobacterial lineages.
Freshwater and marine virioplankton: a brief overview of commonalities and differences
Authors: WILHELM STEVEN W. , MATTESON AUDREY R. 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. Viruses are a pervasive component of microbial food webs in both marine and freshwater systems. The abundance of viruses in individual aquatic systems appears to be independent of salinity but related to the biomass of primary and secondary producers as well as seasonal effects. Burst size, virus production rate and the percentage of microbial cells carrying a viral burden also appear to be more closely correlated to trophic status than to salinity.2. In marine environments, the roles of planktonic viruses as regulators of carbon and nutrient cycling as well as microbial community structure have been a focus of numerous studies, yet the roles of freshwater virioplankton remain much less studied. Nevertheless, a survey of published freshwater studies demonstrates that virioplankton recycle important quantities of growth‐limiting nutrients from hosts via generation of dead particulate and dissolved organic matter during cell lysis, and suggests that both the chemical speciation and concentration of these organic compounds and nutrients may have important influences on the microbial community.3. Parallel observations on the spatial patterns and dynamics of microbial mortality due to viruses or grazing are more advanced in freshwaters than in marine environments. However, the constraints that determine whether virus‐ or grazer‐mediated mortality dominates are not yet understood in either environment.4. Application of molecular approaches has facilitated the examination of the diversity and ecological dynamics of specific viral populations and entire communities. The depth of detail achieved in marine environments towards characterizing these populations and communities is just beginning to be matched in freshwater systems. The few available data suggest that viruses targeting‐related hosts in freshwater and marine systems may be genetically distinct.5. Although the role of viruses in aquatic systems is complex and remains insufficiently studied, our survey of the literature indicates that, despite some differences, many of the controls on virioplankton activity and diversity are similar in marine and freshwater environments.
Bacteriophage morphotype and genome diversity in Seine River sediment
Authors: LEROY MAGALI , PRIGENT MAGALI , DUTERTRE MURIELLE , CONFALONIERI FABRICE , DUBOW MICHAEL 
Published: May 2008

Summary1. We investigated a sediment sample of the Seine River downstream of Paris for morphotype and genome diversity of bacteriophages using electron microscopy, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis and a metagenomic analysis.2. Short‐term incubations of the sediment in bacterial culture media, with or without addition of mitomycin C, were used to study the influence of pseudolysogens and induced lysis of lysogenic cells.3. Electron microscopy of phages from the sediment revealed five morphotypes, whereas 13 morphotypes were observed after sediment incubation both with and without mitomycin C added. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis yielded seven size‐classes of double‐stranded DNA genomes.4. Representatives of the three common families of tailed bacteriophages (Myoviridae, Siphoviridae or Podoviridae) were observed. Capsid sizes ranged from 85 to 200 nm in diameter and tail sizes from <50 nm to 265 nm in length.5. PCR amplification of eubacterial 16S rDNA sequences from the incubated sediment revealed that the predominant bacteria were members of the Proteobacteria. In line with this result, sample analysis of metagenomic phage DNA libraries showed that phage‐homologous sequences were most similar to temperate phages infecting Proteobacteria. This correspondence supports the idea that temperate phages may play an important role in influencing the dynamics of bacterial hosts in river sediments.