bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Within‐population variation in prevalence and lineage distribution of avian malaria in blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus
Authors: WOOD MATTHEW J. , COSGROVE CATHERINE L. , WILKIN TEDDY A. , KNOWLES SARAH C. L. , DAY KAREN P. , SHELDON BEN C. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe development of molecular genetic screening techniques for avian blood parasites has revealed many novel aspects of their ecology, including greatly elevated diversity and complex host–parasite relationships. Many previous studies of malaria in birds have treated single study populations as spatially homogeneous with respect to the likelihood of transmission of malaria to hosts, and we have very little idea whether any spatial heterogeneity influences different malaria lineages similarly. Here, we report an analysis of variation in the prevalence and cytochrome b lineage distribution of avian malaria infection with respect to environmental and host factors, and their interactions, in a single blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) population. Of 11 Plasmodium and Haemoproteus cytochrome b lineages found in 997 breeding individuals, the three most numerous (pSGS1, pTURDUS1 and pBT7) were considered separately, in addition to analyses of all avian malaria lineages pooled. Our analyses revealed marked spatial differences in the prevalence and distribution of these lineages, with local prevalence of malaria within the population ranging from over 60% to less than 10%. In addition, we found several more complex patterns of prevalence with respect to local landscape features, host state, parasite genotype, and their interactions. We discuss the implications of such heterogeneity in parasite infection at a local scale for the study of the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases in natural populations. The increased resolution afforded by the combination of molecular genetic and geographical information systems (GIS) tools has the potential to provide many insights into the epidemiology, evolution and ecology of these parasites in the future.
Evolutionary mechanisms shaping the genetic population structure of marine fishes; lessons from the European flounder (Platichthys flesus L.)
Authors: HEMMER‐HANSEN JAKOB , NIELSEN EINAR EG , GRØNKJÆR PETER , LOESCHCKE VOLKER 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA number of evolutionary mechanisms have been suggested for generating low but significant genetic structuring among marine fish populations. We used nine microsatellite loci and recently developed methods in landscape genetics and coalescence‐based estimation of historical gene flow and effective population sizes to assess temporal and spatial dynamics of the population structure in European flounder (Platichthys flesus L.). We collected 1062 flounders from 13 localities in the northeast Atlantic and Baltic Seas and found temporally stable and highly significant genetic differentiation among samples covering a large part of the species’ range (global FST = 0.024, P < 0.0001). In addition to historical processes, a number of contemporary acting evolutionary mechanisms were associated with genetic structuring. Physical forces, such as oceanographic and bathymetric barriers, were most likely related with the extreme isolation of the island population at the Faroe Islands. A sharp genetic break was associated with a change in life history from pelagic to benthic spawners in the Baltic Sea. Partial Mantel tests showed that geographical distance per se was not related with genetic structuring among Atlantic and western Baltic Sea samples. Alternative factors, such as dispersal potential and/or environmental gradients, could be important for generating genetic divergence in this region. The results show that the magnitude and scale of structuring generated by a specific mechanism depend critically on its interplay with other evolutionary mechanisms, highlighting the importance of investigating species with wide geographical and ecological distributions to increase our understanding of evolution in the marine environment.
A role for type I signal peptidase in Staphylococcus aureus quorum sensing
Authors: Kavanaugh Jeffrey S. , Thoendel Matthew , Horswill Alexander R. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThe Staphylococcus aureus Agr quorum‐sensing system modulates the expression of extracellular virulence factors. The Agr system is controlled by an autoinducing peptide (AIP) molecule that is secreted during growth. In the AIP biosynthetic pathway, two proteolytic events are required to remove the leader and tail segments of AgrD, the peptide precursor of AIP. The only protein known to be involved in this pathway is AgrB, a membrane endopeptidase that removes the AgrD carboxy‐tail. We designed a synthetic peptide substrate and developed an assay to detect peptidases that can remove the N‐terminal leader of AIP. Several peptidase activities were detected in S. aureus extracts and these activities were present in both wild‐type and agr mutant strains. Only one of these peptidases cleaved in the correct position and all properties of this enzyme were consistent with type I signal peptidase. Subsequent cloning and purification of the two known S. aureus signal peptidases, SpsA and SpsB, demonstrated that only SpsB catalysed this activity in vitro. To investigate the role of SpsB in AIP biosynthesis, SpsB peptide inhibitors were designed and characterized. The most effective inhibitor blocked SpsB activity in vitro and showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Importantly, the inhibitor reduced expression of an Agr‐dependent reporter and inhibited AIP production in S. aureus, indicating a role for SpsB in quorum sensing.
Optimal time for therapeutic drug monitoring of cyclosporine microemulsion in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Umezawa Yoshinori , Ozawa Akira 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  The clinical usefulness of cyclosporine in patients with psoriasis has generally been established; however, modification of the dosage on the basis of therapeutic drug monitoring is needed to prevent potential adverse reactions. The area under the drug concentration–time curve from 0 to 4 h after treatment (AUC0−4), used to assess the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine microemulsion, correlates with clinical symptoms and adverse reactions.Methods  In order to evaluate the blood collection times after oral treatment that are most relevant to pharmacokinetics, we examined the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine up to 4 h after treatment in 24 patients with psoriasis vulgaris who received an oral dose of 3.0 mg/kg of cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral®) daily in two divided doses.Results  Our results showed that the blood concentration of cyclosporine 2 h after treatment (C2) correlated with AUC0−4 (r = 0.89, P < 0.001).Conclusions  C
2 should be monitored in patients treated with cyclosporine microemulsion instead of the blood trough level immediately before treatment, which has conventionally been used to monitor cyclosporine concentrations in blood.
Papular follicular eruptions in human immunodeficiency virus‐positive patients in South Africa
Authors: Budavari Judith M. , Grayson Wayne 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Papular and follicular eruptions, such as papulopruritic eruption, eosinophilic folliculitis, and infective folliculitis, are relatively common disorders in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These conditions may show considerable clinical overlap.Objective  To assess the relative proportion of pruritic papular cutaneous eruptions in South Africans with HIV‐associated dermatoses, and to correlate the clinical and histologic features of these lesions.Methods  The clinical and histologic features of papular follicular eruptions were correlated in 40 consecutive black HIV‐positive patients who underwent skin biopsy.Results  The clinical features were similar in all patients and consisted of widespread papules and pustules involving the face, limbs, and trunk. The most common histologic finding was acute suppurative folliculitis, seen in 27 patients (67.5%). In most cases, no cause was found for the suppuration. Papulopruritic eruption of HIV was diagnosed in six patients (15%), HIV‐associated eosinophilic folliculitis in four (10%), Pityrosporum folliculitis in two (5%), and acne in one (2.5%). Concordance between the initial clinical diagnosis and the final histopathologic diagnosis was achieved in only 27.5% of cases.Conclusion  Skin biopsy remains an important adjunct to the correct diagnosis and classification of papular and follicular eruptions in HIV‐positive patients.
Pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia – an unusual reaction following tattoo: report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Cui Wei , McGregor Douglas H. , Stark Steven P. , Ulusarac Ozlem , Mathur Sharad C. 
Published: July 2007

A 59‐year‐old woman presented with an itchy and uncomfortable raised lesion at a tattoo site (Fig. 1) on the lateral aspect of the left leg, just above the ankle. The tattoo had been placed 2 years before her presentation and the tattoo site was sun exposed. Immediately after she had the tattoo, she noticed redness of the skin. After a week, a pruritic and red scaly nodule developed that continued to gradually enlarge until her presentation. The patient had tried topical vitamin A and D ointment with no relief. The patient also had tattoos on the arms without any noticeable skin changes. The patient reported that the tattoo procedure on her leg was more painful than that on her arms, and was performed by a different (and perhaps inexperienced) tattoo artist. The original tattoo contained red, green, and yellow pigments.Raised nodular lesion with irregular marginsimageA diagnosis of tattoo granuloma was considered; squamous cell carcinoma and fungal infection were included in the differential diagnosis. A punch biopsy was performed, followed by complete surgical excision of the lesion with a split‐thickness skin graft from the right thigh.The skin excision specimen showed a 3 × 2.5‐cm granular and pitted pink lesion with well‐demarcated, somewhat irregular borders. The lesion was raised 0.5 cm above the skin surface. The lesion was present in the center of the original tattoo. Portions of the original tattoo with green and blue–green pigmentation were visible on either side of the lesion. No satellite lesions were identified.Microscopically, the raised lesion demonstrated striking pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, with irregular acanthosis of the epidermis and follicular infundibula, hyperkeratosis, and parakeratosis (Fig. 2). Follicular plugging was present with keratin‐filled cystic spaces. There was a brisk mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis, composed primarily of lymphocytes, with admixed plasma cells and histiocytes. Giant cells were occasionally identified. Dermal pigment deposition was noted both within the lesion and in the surrounding skin, corresponding to the original tattoo. Variable dermal fibrosis was noted, with thick collagen bundles in some areas. There was no evidence of epidermal keratinocytic atypia, dyskeratosis, or increased suprabasal mitotic activity. Special stains (periodic acid–Schiff and acid‐fast) for microorganisms were negative.(a) Raised lesion with marked pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and follicular plugging (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification, ×2.5). (b) Irregularly elongated and thickened rete pegs with blunt ends associated with dermal chronic inflammation (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification, ×5). (c) Follicular dilation and plugging with keratin‐filled cystic spaces (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification, ×5). (d) Dermal pigment and fibrosis (hematoxylin and eosin; magnification, ×10)image
Molecular evidence of Pleistocene bidirectional faunal exchange between Europe and the Near East: the case of the bicoloured shrew (Crocidura leucodon, Soricidae)
Authors: DUBEY S. , COSSON J.‐F. , VOHRALÍK V. , KRYŠTUFEK B. , DIKER E. , VOGEL P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe sequenced 1077 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 511 bp of the nuclear Apolipoprotein B gene in bicoloured shrew (Crocidura leucodon, Soricidae) populations ranging from France to Georgia. The aims of the study were to identify the main genetic clades within this species and the influence of Pleistocene climatic variations on the respective clades. The mitochondrial analyses revealed a European clade distributed from France eastwards to north‐western Turkey and a Near East clade distributed from Georgia to Romania; the two clades separated during the Middle Pleistocene. We clearly identified a population expansion after a bottleneck for the European clade based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequencing data; this expansion was not observed for the eastern clade. We hypothesize that the western population was confined to a small Italo‐Balkanic refugium, whereas the eastern population subsisted in several refugia along the southern coast of the Black Sea.
Convergence of cutaneous, musculoskeletal, dural and visceral afferents onto nociceptive neurons in the first cervical dorsal horn
Authors: Mørch C. D. , Hu J. W. , Arendt‐Nielsen L. , Sessle B. J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe convergence of cutaneous, musculoskeletal, dural and visceral afferents onto nociceptive neurons in the first cervical dorsal horn was investigated in urethane/chloralose‐anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation was applied to facial, neck, shoulder and forepaw skin, cornea (COR), dura, second cervical (C2) nerve, hypoglossal nerve, temporomandibular joint, masseter (MAS) muscle and superior laryngeal nerve. In addition, acetic acid was injected intraperitoneally and microinjection of glutamate was applied to the tongue, MAS muscle, splenius cervicis muscle, dura and intrapericardial area. A total of 52 nociceptive neurons classified as wide dynamic range (n = 28) or nociceptive‐specific (n = 24) was studied. All nociceptive neurons received afferent input from the skin and at least one COR, musculoskeletal, dural or visceral afferent source in the trigeminal (V) or cervical area but input from afferent sources caudal to the C2 innervation territory was sparse. The proportion of neurons responding to COR, dural, C2 nerve, hypoglossal nerve, temporomandibular joint, MAS muscle and superior laryngeal nerve stimulations was 87, 54, 85, 52, 73, 64 and 31%, respectively. Electrical stimulation of all tested sites showed a double logarithmic stimulus–response relation, and cluster analysis of the excitability to COR, musculoskeletal, dural and visceral stimulations revealed two groups of neurons, one mainly containing wide dynamic range neurons and one mainly containing nociceptive‐specific neurons. These findings indicate that afferent convergence in first cervical dorsal horn nociceptive neurons may be limited to the craniofacial area and that they may play an important role in the integration of craniofacial and upper cervical nociceptive inputs.
Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor has a negative effect on stroke outcome in a murine model
Authors: Taguchi Akihiko , Wen Zhongmin , Myojin Kazunori , Yoshihara Tomoyuki , Nakagomi Takayuki , Nakayama Daisuke , Tanaka Hidekazu , Soma Toshihiro , Stern David M. , Naritomi Hiroaki , Matsuyama Tomohiro 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe administration of CD34‐positive cells after stroke has been shown to have a beneficial effect on functional recovery by accelerating angiogenesis and neurogenesis in rodent models. Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is known to mobilize CD34‐positive cells from bone marrow and has displayed neuroprotective properties after transient ischemic stress. This led us to investigate the effects of G‐CSF administration after stroke in mouse. We utilized permanent ligation of the M1 distal portion of the left middle cerebral artery to develop a reproducible focal cerebral ischemia model in CB‐17 mice. Animals treated with G‐CSF displayed cortical atrophy and impaired behavioral function compared with controls. The negative effect of G‐CSF on outcome was associated with G‐CSF induction of an exaggerated inflammatory response, based on infiltration of the peri‐infarction area with CD11b‐positive and F4/80‐positive cells. Although clinical trials with G‐CSF have been started for the treatment of myocardial and limb ischemia, our results indicate that caution should be exercised in applying these results to cerebral ischemia.
Enterocele repair by abdominal obliteration of the pelvic inlet: long‐term outcome on obstructed defaecation and symptoms of pelvic discomfort
Authors: Oom D. M. J. , Van Dijl V. R. M. , Gosselink M. P. , Van Wijk J. J. , Schouten W. R. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjective  Enterocele is defined as a herniation of the peritoneal sac between the vagina and the rectum. This may contain either sigmoid colon or small bowel. It has been reported that enterocele is associated with obstructed defaecation and symptoms of pelvic discomfort. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long‐term effect of enterocele repair.Method  In the time period between 1994 and 2003, 54 women (median age 54 years; range: 31–80) with a symptomatic enterocele underwent obliteration of the pelvic inlet with a U‐shaped Mersilene® mesh. All patients underwent evacuation proctography (EP), which was repeated 6 months after the repair. In addition, they were contacted over the telephone to assess the long‐term effect of enterocele repair. Forty‐nine patients were willing to answer questions over the telephone. Five patients were lost to follow‐up (response rate: 91%).Results  Six months after the procedure, EP revealed a recurrent or persistent enterocele in five (9%) patients, which was symptomatic in two, both of whom underwent a second repair. Among the 49 patients without an enterocele after 6 months, 10 (23%) women encountered recurrent symptoms of pelvic discomfort at a median follow‐up of 85 months (range: 3–137). Despite adequate correction of the enterocele, obstructed defaecation persisted in 21 (75%) patients of 28, who presented with this problem before the procedure. De novo dyspareunia occurred in 5% of the women after the procedure.Conclusion  Obliteration of the pelvic inlet with a U‐shaped Mersilene® mesh provides an effective tool for anatomical correction of enteroceles. However, in the long term one of four patients encounters recurrent symptoms of pelvic discomfort. It seems unlikely that enterocele contributes to obstructed defaecation, as evacuation difficulties persist in around three quarters of the patients.
A review of the current status of topical treatments for premature ejaculation
Authors: Morales Alvaro , Barada James , Wyllie Michael G. 
Published: July 2007

The three mini‐reviews this month cover several areas of interest, including premature ejaculation, urological malignancies after renal transplantation and the much‐vexed issue of the relevance of prostate size to prostate disease. Each of these should help to keep the readers up‐to‐date with each of these important topics.We examine the progress that has been made towards the development of topical treatments for premature ejaculation (PE). Although generally regarded as one of the most common male sexual problems, the lack of approved pharmacological agents for PE means that treatment options are limited to behavioural therapy, where available, and the use of drugs ‘off‐label’. There are various theories on the aetiology of PE, but it seems likely that both biological and psychological factors are important. One theory, that men with PE might have a heightened sensory response to penile stimulation, provides the rationale for using topical therapy; reducing the sensitivity of the glans penis with topical desensitizing agents (e.g. local anaesthetics) might improve ejaculatory latency without adversely affecting the sensation of ejaculation. Off‐label topical treatments are now relatively widely used, despite limited supportive efficacy data. There are also new topical treatments in various stages of development, designed specifically for use in PE. Treatments reviewed include TEMPE spray, containing a eutectic mixture of the topical anaesthetics lidocaine and prilocaine, and several creams, including one containing natural products (SS‐cream), and preliminary results from another containing the local anaesthetic dylonine, with alprostadil (prostaglandin E1). Despite wide variations in the methods of clinical trials, it is possible to conclude that all placebo‐controlled studies of topical treatments have reported a significant increase in intravaginal ejaculatory latency time compared to baseline and placebo. Topical treatments for PE are appealing in that they can be applied as needed and only minimal systemic effects are likely. However, without well‐controlled drug delivery there is the theoretical possibility of penile hypoaesthesia and/or transvaginal contamination. Unlike the cream formulations, the TEMPE spray has a well‐controlled delivery system, making it easy to administer locally, and it appears to be well tolerated in early clinical trials. It appears that topical treatments might be able to satisfy many of the requirements of an ideal treatment for PE, and certainly have the potential for use as a first‐line treatment.
Biodiversity and biogeography of southern temperate and polar bryozoans
Authors: Barnes David K. A. , Griffiths Huw J. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTAim To describe the distribution of biodiversity and endemism of bryozoans in southern temperate and polar waters. We hypothesized that we would find: (1) no strong latitudinal richness gradient; (2) striking contrasts in richness and endemism between clades and between regions; and (3) that faunal similarity of regions would cluster geographically around each southern continent.Location South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Southern Ocean.Methods We constructed a data base from known literature, regional data bases and recent finds. We regionalized each southern continent, calculated levels of richness and endemism for each region and continent, and usedprimer5 to perform multivariate statistical analysis.Results A third (1681) of global bryozoan species described occur south of 30° S, of whichc.87% were cheilostomes. In richness we found no latitudinal cline and change across longitude was stronger. New Zealand was richest and had the most (60%) endemic species, followed by Antarctica at 57%. There were striking contrasts in regional richness and endemism between clades but the highest levels of between‐region similarity were around Antarctica. The timing of past continent connectivity was reflected.Main conclusions Bryozoans show strong hemispherical asymmetry in richness and, like molluscs and corals, decrease away from Australasia rather than with latitude. Species endemism is much lower in Antarctic bryozoans than previously thought, and as this taxon is not particularly dispersive and is now amongst the best studied regionally, maybe Antarctic endemism in general is lower and Antarctica less cut‐off to species dispersal than previously thought. However, Antarctic generic endemism is double the level previously calculated and regional faunal similarities are much higher than around other continents – both reflecting long‐term isolation. Bryozoans, in contrast to the paradigm of Antarctic fauna, may be fairly robust to predicted climate change. Paradoxically, they may also be one of the best taxa to monitor to sensitively detect marine benthic responses.
A GRAPHICAL DIAGNOSTIC FOR VARIANCE FUNCTIONS
Authors: Pardoe Iain , Cook R. Dennis 
Published: July 2007

SummaryThis paper proposes diagnostic plots for regression variance functions. It shows how to extend graphical methodology that uses Bayesian sampling for checking the regression mean function to also check the variance function. Plots can be constructed quickly and easily for any model of interest. These plots help to identify model weaknesses and can suggest ways to make improvements. The proposed methodology is illustrated with two examples: a simple linear regression model to fix ideas, and a more complex study involving count data to demonstrate the potential for wide application.