bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observations on Fragilaria longifusiformis comb. nov. et nom. nov. (Bacillariophyceae), a widespread planktic diatom documented from North America and Europe
Authors: Siver Peter A. , Morales Eduardo A. , Van de Vijver Bart , Smits Michiel , Hamilton Paul B. , Lange‐Bertalot Horst , Hains John J. 
Published: September 2006

SUMMARY Synedra planktonica was originally described by Hains and Sebring from a freshwater locality in the south‐eastern USA using light and transmission electron microscopy. The authors placed S. planktonica into the genus Synedra Ehrenberg because of its solitary habit and lack of marginal linking spines. Since the original description of S. planktonica, the concepts of Synedra and the related genus Fragilaria Lyngbye have undergone significant change and debate. Today, details of the areolae, apical pore fields, cingulum and rimoportulae, all lacking in the original description of S. planktonica, are now commonly used to distinguish between taxa in Fragilaria, Synedra and related genera. We provide details of these ultrastructural characters for S. planktonica based on specimens collected from the type locality, along with observations of cells from other sites in North America and Europe. Based on these findings, an emended description is presented for S. planktonica and the taxon is transferred to Fragilaria, as F. longifusiformis comb. nov. et nom. nov. According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the epithet planktonica could not be applied because it was previously used to describe a marine species of Fragilaria. We discuss the relationship of S. planktonica with morphologically similar taxa, including the genus Reimerothrix Prasad.
Serial replacement of a diatom endosymbiont in the marine dinoflagellate Peridinium quinquecorne (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae)
Authors: Horiguchi Takeo , Takano Yoshihito 
Published: September 2006

SUMMARYTo infer the phylogeny of both the host and the endosymbiont of Peridinium quinquecorne Abé, the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from the host and two genes of endosymbiont origin (plastid‐encoded rbcL and nuclear‐encoded SSU rDNA) were determined. The phylogenetic analysis of the host revealed that the marine dinoflagellate P. quinquecorne formed a clade with other diatom‐harbouring dinoflagellates, including Kryptoperidinium foliaceum (Stein) Lindeman, Durinskia baltica (Levander) Carty et Cox and Galeidinium rugatum Tamura et Horiguchi, indicating a single endosymbiotic event for this lineage. Phylogenetic analyses of the endosymbiont in these organisms revealed that the endosymbiont of P. quinquecorne formed a clade with a centric diatom (SSU data indicated it to be closely related to Chaetoceros), whereas the endosymbionts of other three dinoflagellates formed a clade with a pennate diatom. The discrepancy between the host and the endosymbiont phylogenies suggests a secondary replacement of the endosymbiont from a pennate to a centric diatom in P. quinquecorne.
Diversity and evolution of photosynthetic antenna systems in green plants
Authors: Yoshii Yukie 
Published: September 2006

SUMMARYPhotosynthetic antenna systems are mainly involved in the absorption of light energy required for photosynthesis. The typical green plants arrange chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids, including lutein and 9′‐cis neoxanthin, in their antenna systems; such antenna systems have prospered on earth. Therefore, these antenna systems should be highly evolved and should adapt to the photoenvironments in which plants grow. However, little information is available on the diversity and evolution of antenna systems in green plants as a whole. To approach this, the present study focused on the antenna systems in the Prasinophyceae, an assemblage of early diverging lineages of green plants and analyzed their photosynthetic pigments in detail. In the present study, various novel blue–green light‐absorbing siphonaxanthin series were detected in the early diverging species of the Prasinophyceae and the distribution of these carotenoids was revealed. Additionally, to clarify the evolution of antenna systems in the Ulvophyceae, a highly developed green algal group that specializes in inhabiting various aquatic environments, members of the Cladophorales belonging to this class were selected and their carotenoid compositions were determined to compare them with the molecular phylogenetic tree constructed on the basis of the 18S rRNA gene sequences of the Cladophorales. In this review, these data will be summarized and the remarkable variation of photosynthetic pigments will be presented. A possible scenario detailing the evolution of antenna systems in green plants will be elucidated.
Psychosocial impact of amblyopia and its treatment: a multidisciplinary study
Authors: Koklanis Konstandina , Abel Larry A , Aroni Rosalie 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackground:  To explore the meaning of amblyopia from both parents’ and children’s perspectives and to seek correlations between the experiential aspects of the condition and its treatment, the clinical characteristics of amblyopia and any apparent psychopathology.Methods:  Children with amblyopia and their parents were engaged in semistructured in‐depth interviews. Children also underwent a vision assessment and, where applicable, parents and children completed a psychological inventory, the Behaviour Assessment System for Children.Results:  Dealing with stigma and the perceptions and responses of peers were found to be of central significance to the experience of amblyopia therapy. This had adverse consequences for some children’s identity and psychosocial well‐being. The clinical manifestations of amblyopia did not correlate with the social implications of the condition. However, children with strabismus were noted to have significantly greater conduct and externalizing problems.Conclusions:  Given that amblyopia can affect children’s psychosocial well‐being, health outcomes need to integrate both vision and psychosocial implications of treatment. Although treatment should aim to reverse amblyopia and restore visual acuity, efforts to minimise any negative psychosocial consequences of treatment should be made. A way to balance managing amblyopia and ensuring children’s psychosocial well‐being should to be considered by clinicians and included in treatment guidelines.
Outcomes of autoconjunctival grafting for primary pterygia when performed by consultant compared with trainee ophthalmologists
Authors: Farrah Jonathon J , Lee Graham A , Greenrod Edward , Vieira Janice 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPurpose:  To define rates of recurrence and surgical complications of primary pterygia excision with autoconjunctival grafting when the surgery is performed by consultant ophthalmologists compared with trainee ophthalmologists.Methods:  A total of 174 patients with primary pterygia treated by excision and autoconjunctival grafting were included for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether their surgery was performed by a consultant ophthalmologist (group A) or a trainee ophthalmologist (group B). Data were collected with respect to demographics, surgical complications and recurrence. Recurrence rates were analysed utilizing Fisher’s exact test. Additionally, Kaplan–Meier survival curves for interval censored data were constructed. Surgical complications were analysed utilizing Fisher’s exact test.Results:  The recurrence rate in group A was 6.8% and in group B was 19.4%. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.05). The rate of surgical complication occurring in group A was 6.6% and in group B was 23.3% and this was also statistically significant (P = 0.005). No relationship was found between either patient age or the size of pterygium and recurrence or complications in either group A or group B.Conclusion:  Autoconjunctival grafting is regarded as the gold standard for preventing pterygium recurrence following excision. This study suggests that the experience of the surgeon can influence success rates and complications. There is a significant learning curve indicating the need to supervise trainee surgeons.
Cataract and its surgery in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Garap Jambi N , Sheeladevi Sethu , Brian Garry , Shamanna BR , Nirmalan Praveen K , Williams Carmel 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the prevalence of visually significant cataract, unoperated blinding cataract, and cataract surgery for those aged 50 years and over in Papua New Guinea. Also, to determine the characteristics, rate, coverage and outcome of cataract surgery, and barriers to its uptake.Methods:  Using the World Health Organization Rapid Assessment of Cataract Surgical Services protocol, a population‐based cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2005. By two‐stage cluster random sampling, 39 clusters of 30 people were selected. Each eye with a presenting visual acuity worse than 6/18 and/or a history of cataract surgery was examined.Results:  Of the 1191 people enumerated, 98.6% were examined. The 50 years and older age‐gender‐adjusted prevalence of cataract‐induced vision impairment (presenting acuity less than 6/18 in the better eye) was 7.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.4, 10.2, design effect [deff] = 1.3). That for cataract‐caused functional blindness (presenting acuity less than 6/60 in the better eye) was 6.4% (95% CI: 5.1, 7.3, deff = 1.1). The latter was not associated with gender (P = 0.6). For the sample, Cataract Surgical Coverage at 6/60 was 34.5% for Eyes and 45.3% for Persons. The Cataract Surgical Rate for Papua New Guinea was less than 500 per million population per year. The age‐gender‐adjusted prevalence of those having had cataract surgery was 8.3% (95% CI: 6.6, 9.8, deff = 1.3). Vision outcomes of surgery did not meet World Health Organization guidelines. Lack of awareness was the most common reason for not seeking and undergoing surgery.Conclusion:  Increasing the quantity and quality of cataract surgery need to be priorities for Papua New Guinea eye care services.
The pattern of intravenous drug administration during the transfer of critically ill children by a specialist transport team
Authors: SAHA AGNI S. , LANGRIDGE PAUL , PLAYFOR STEPHEN D. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground:  There are few published data on the patterns of intravenous drug administration by specialist pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) transport teams during the transfer of critically ill children between hospitals.Methods:  A retrospective review of retrieval documentation was undertaken for all patients transported by the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital PICU transport team over a period of 1 year.Results:  A total of 257 patients were transported during the study period, 82 patients (32%) were excluded owing to incomplete or absent documentation, leaving a sample of 175 available for analysis. Intravenous drugs were administered to 168 of these patients (96%). In total, 38 different drugs were administered. The four most commonly administered drugs were midazolam (130 patients), morphine (129 patients), atracurium (108 patients), and heparin (53 patients). Ten drugs accounted for 90% of all prescription episodes (total number of infusions and bolus doses administered), whilst 16 drugs were prescribed only once. The mean number of drugs administered per patient was 3.25 with a mean of 1.96 drug infusions and 1.29 bolus drugs administered per patient.Conclusions:  A relatively small number of drugs are used frequently during the retrieval of critically ill children, but the total range of drugs that are used is large. This has implications for the rational carriage of drugs by PICU transport teams, the potential for drug errors and also for the development of advanced nurse practitioners whose prescribing‐like activities may depend on the development of Patient Group Directions.
Risk factors for adverse events in children with colds emerging from anesthesia: a logistic regression
Authors: RACHEL HOMER J. , ELWOOD TOM , PETERSON DO , RAMPERSAD SALLY 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground:  Recent upper respiratory infection (URI) in children increases respiratory adverse events following anesthesia for elective surgery. The increased risk continues weeks after resolution of acute URI symptoms. Few systematic analyses have explored specific risk factors. This logistic regression explores the relationship between preoperative URI symptoms and adverse events during emergence from anesthesia.Methods:  Data were combined from control groups of several prospective observational and interventional studies in elective pediatric anesthesia in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. In each study, a blinded observer, distinct from the anesthesia care team, prospectively recorded the presence of stridor, oxygen desaturations (and their duration), coughing and laryngospasm. Parents were subsequently asked about the presence of 10 cold symptoms during the 6 weeks prior to operation.Results:  Our model, based on a dataset of 335 patients, did not demonstrate an association between any particular symptoms and the rate of respiratory adverse events during emergence from anesthesia, with the exception of low‐grade fever which appeared to be mildly protective. Respiratory adverse events were affected by the airway management technique (device used and timing of extubation), and adverse events were increased if peak URI symptoms had occurred within the preceding 4 weeks.Conclusions:  Specific preoperative symptoms were not useful in predicting respiratory adverse events during emergence from anesthesia.
Ropivacaine spinal anesthesia in neonates: a dose range finding study
Authors: FRAWLEY GEOFF , SKINNER ADAM , THOMAS JASON , SMITH SARAH 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground:  Our primary aim was to determine the minimum local anaesthetic dose (MLAD) defined as the median effective local anesthetic dose for spinal anesthesia in neonates. Secondary aims were to determine the dose–response curve for spinal anesthesia including the clinically relevant ED95 dose and to describe the duration of motor block following ropivacaine spinal anesthesia.Methods:  Fifty neonates less than 55 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) having inguinal hernia repair were enrolled. The study was performed in two stages. The MLAD dose of ropivacaine was determined by up–down sequential allocation. An expanded dose ranging study was then performed with dose escalation to doses predicted to fall in the ED50–95 range dose. Probit and logit analysis on all patients was used to compare ED50 with the value described by the Dixon–Massey method and to determine doses up to the ED95.Results:  Fifty neonates with a mean PMA of 43 weeks and mean weight of 3.7 kg were enrolled. The motor block MLAD (95% confidence interval) determined by the Dixon–Massey method was 0.51 (0.38–0.64) mg·kg−1. A logistic regression analysis of the results of all 50 patients confirmed the Dixon–Massey result. The ED50 (95% CI) was 0.50 (0.39–0.63) mg·kg−1 with an estimated ED95 was 1.08 (0.70–1.67) mg·kg−1. These values were confirmed by probit analysis. Overall the mean duration (95% confidence interval) of lower limb motor blockade was 60.0 min (51.5–68.5 min). The duration of anesthesia far exceeded surgical duration in all successful cases.Conclusions:  Ropivacaine is an effective agent for spinal anesthesia in neonates at a recommended dose of 1.08 mg·kg−1. The motor block duration, however, is significantly shorter than equivalent agents and highly variable in duration.
Analysis of nitrite reductase (nirK and nirS) genes and cultivation reveal depauperate community of denitrifying bacteria in the Black Sea suboxic zone
Authors: Oakley Brian B. , Francis Christopher A. , Roberts Kathryn J. , Fuchsman Clara A. , Srinivasan S. , Staley James T. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryChemical profiles of the Black Sea suboxic zone show a distribution of nitrogen species which is traditionally associated with denitrification, i.e. a secondary nitrite maximum associated with nitrate depletion and a N2 gas peak. To better understand the distribution and diversity of the denitrifier community in the Black Sea suboxic zone, we combined a cultivation approach with cloning and sequencing of PCR‐amplified nitrite reductase (nirS and nirK) genes. The Black Sea suboxic zone appears to harbour a homogeneous community of denitrifiers. For nirK, over 94% of the sequences fell into only three distinct phylogenetic clusters, and for nirS, a single closely related sequence type accounted for 91% of the sequences retrieved. Both nirS and nirK genes showed a dramatic shift in community composition at the bottom of the suboxic zone, but overall, nirK‐based community composition showed much greater variation across depths compared with the highly uniform distribution of nirS sequences throughout the suboxic zone. The dominant nirK and nirS sequences differed at the amino acid level by at least 17% and 8%, respectively, from their nearest database matches. Denitrifying isolates recovered from the suboxic zone shared 97% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Marinobacter maritimus. Analysis of the recently discovered nirS gene from the anammox bacterium Candidatus‘Kuenenia stuttgartiensis’ revealed that mismatches with commonly used primers may have prevented the previous detection of this divergent sequence.
High viral infection rates in Antarctic and Arctic bacterioplankton
Authors: Säwström Christin , Granéli Wilhelm , Laybourn‐Parry Johanna , Anesio Alexandre M. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryThe frequency of visibly phage‐infected bacterial cells (FVIB) and the average number of phages per cell [i.e. burst size (BS)] were determined in Antarctic and Arctic ultra‐oligotrophic freshwater environments. Water samples were collected from two Antarctic freshwater lakes and cryoconite holes from a glacier in the Arctic. Data from this bipolar study show the highest FVIB (average 26.1%, range 5.1% to 66.7%) and the lowest BS (average 4, range 2–15) ever reported in the literature. The bacterial density is low in these ultra‐oligotrophic freshwater environments but a large proportion of the bacteria are visibly infected. Our results suggest that a constant virioplankton population can be maintained in these extreme environments even though host density is low and often slow growing.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED  Tn5530 from Burkholderia cepacia strain 2a encodes a chloride channel protein essential for the catabolism of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
Authors: Sebastianelli Antonio , Bruce Ian J. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryChloride channel proteins (ClC) are found in living systems where they transport chloride ions across cell membranes. Recently, the structure/function of two prokaryotic ClC has been determined but little is known about the role of these proteins in the microbial metabolism of chlorinated compounds. Here we show that transposon Tn5530 from Burkholderia cepacia strain 2a encodes a ClC protein (BcClC) which is responsible for expelling Cl– ions generated during the catabolism of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (a chlorinated herbicide). We found that BcClC has the ability to transport Cl– ions across reconstituted proteoliposome membranes. We created two mutants in which the intrachannel glutamate residue of the protein, known to be responsible for opening and closing the channel (i.e. gating), was changed in order to create constitutively open and closed forms. We observed that cells carrying the closed‐channel protein accumulated Cl– ions intracellularly leading to a decrease in intracellular pH, cell stasis and death. Further, we established that BcClC has the same gating mechanism as that reported for the ClC protein from Salmonella typhimurium. Our results show that the physiological role of ClC is to maintain cellular homeostasis which can be impaired by the catabolism of chlorinated compounds.
Atherosclerosis as a risk factor for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Berger Andreas P. , Bartsch Georg , Deibl Martina , Alber Hannes , Pachinger Otmar , Fritsche Gernot , Rantner Barbara , Fraedrich Gustav , Pallwein Leo , Aigner Fritz , Horninger Wolfgang , Frauscher Ferdinand 
Published: September 2006

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the relationship between clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and atherosclerosis, using colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and symptom scores.PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODSCDUS was used to evaluate prostatic vascularity in four groups of men, comprising young healthy subjects, patients presenting with coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Resistive index (RI) measurements and computer‐assisted quantification of colour pixel density (CPD) were used to objectively evaluate perfusion. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function were used to quantify symptoms.RESULTSIn diabetic patients and men with PAOD, perfusion of the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate was significantly lower (P < 0.001) and the RI of the TZ was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in healthy controls and men with CAD. In diabetics and men with PAOD, the mean prostate volume was greater than in healthy controls and men with CAD. The IPSS in patients with vascular damage (diabetes, PAOD) was significantly worse than in the control group.CONCLUSIONSThe significantly lower CPD and higher RI values of the TZ in patients with vascular disease than in healthy subjects support the hypothesis that an age‐related impairment of blood supply to the prostate has a key role in the development of BPH.
Small interference RNA targeting heat‐shock protein 27 inhibits the growth of prostatic cell lines and induces apoptosis via caspase‐3 activation in vitro
Authors: Rocchi Palma , Jugpal Paul , So Alan , Sinneman Shannon , Ettinger Susan , Fazli Ladan , Nelson Colleen , Gleave Martin 
Published: September 2006

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate synthetic small interference RNA (siRNA) compounds targeting heat‐shock protein 27 (Hsp27) as an alternative approach to Hsp27 ‘knockdown’ in prostate cancer cells, as Hsp27 expression is highly up‐regulated in prostate cancer cells after androgen withdrawal or chemotherapy, to become uniformly highly expressed in androgen‐independent (AI) prostate cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe recently showed that targeting Hsp27 by a 2′‐methoxyethyl modified phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide, OGX‐427, inhibits Hsp27 expression and enhances hormone‐ and chemotherapy in prostate cancer xenograft models. In the present study, a ‘gene walk’ screening different siRNAs was initially used in PC‐3 and LNCaP cells to determine the most potent sequence to down‐regulate Hsp27 mRNA and protein levels. The effects of Hsp27 silencing on in vitro growth rates were studied by tetrazolium‐blue and crystal violet assays. Apoptosis was determined by single‐stranded DNA nuclear and cleaved caspase‐3 immunostaining, as well as flow cytometry. Spotted microarrays with 14000 human oligonucleotides were used to examine changes in gene expression.RESULTSLow concentrations of 1 nm siRNA decreased Hsp27 mRNA levels by 19‐fold and suppressed protein expression to undetectable levels. Silencing of Hsp27 in prostate cancer cells by siRNA♯2 increased apoptotic rates 2.4–4 fold and caused 40–76% inhibition of cell growth in LNCaP and PC‐3 cells. Characteristic cleavage of caspase‐3 occurred after treatment with Hsp27 siRNA (1 nm). cDNA microarray analysis from LNCaP and PC‐3 cell lines revealed differential gene expression profiles after Hsp27 down‐regulation that could be used to identify various survival pathways involved in androgen‐dependent and AI growth.CONCLUSIONSThese findings illustrate the potential utility of Hsp27‐silencing therapy and highlight Hsp27 siRNA strategies as a novel and highly effective tool, with the potential for future targeted therapy in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy in advanced prostate cancer.