bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Small hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma: limited value of portal and delayed phases on dynamic magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Yu J. S. , Lee J. H. , Chung J. J. , Kim J. H. , Kim K. W. 
Published: May 2008

Background: Characterization of small nodules in the cirrhotic liver is always challenging in clinical practice. In the differential diagnosis of small hypervascular lesions, it has been reported that portal venous or delayed hypointensity is a useful sign to characterize hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) during dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. However, few studies have assessed the diagnostic value of this sign. Purpose: To determine the diagnostic value of portal-phase (PP) and delayed-phase (DP) images for the diagnosis of small hypervascular HCCs during intravenous (IV) contrast-enhanced dynamic MR imaging of cirrhotic liver. Material and Methods: A total of 69 small (6–20 mm) hypervascular HCCs in 53 cirrhotic patients were subjected to a retrospective analysis of the signal intensities (hypo-, iso-, or hyperintense) and rim enhancement on PP and 5-min DP images from three-phased dynamic MR imaging according to the pre-contrast T1- and T2-weighted imaging features. After exclusion of 33 subcapsular wedge-shaped pseudolesions and three hemangiomas by typical imaging features, 74 centrally located small hypervascular benign or pseudolesions were used as a control group for comparative analyses. Results: The sensitivities of PP hypointensity, DP hypointensity, and rim enhancement in the diagnosis were 11%, 29%, and 18%, respectively, for 6–10-mm hypervascular HCCs, and 42%, 63%, and 58%, respectively, for 16–20-mm lesions. After exclusion of the 48 lesions showing T2-weighted hyperintensity (HCCs, n=39; benign lesions, n=9), the overall sensitivity for diagnosis of small hypervascular HCCs decreased (8.3%, 25.0%, and 8.3%, respectively). Conclusion: Although DP provides a better sensitivity than PP, both PP and DP have very limited diagnostic value for diagnosis of small hypervascular HCCs during dynamic MR imaging of the cirrhotic liver.
First Report of Rubus yellow net virus on Rubus idaeus in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Kalischuk M. L. , Kawchuk L. M. , Leggett F. 
Published: May 2008

In North America, Rubus yellow net virus (RYNV), a member of the genus Badnavirus, family Caulimoviridae, is vectored in a semipersistent manner by the large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora agathonica Hottes) and is responsible for producing net-like chlorosis of tissue along the leaf veins (2). Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is commonly grown in Canada and after the dry, hot summer of 2006 in southern Alberta, a group of garden raspberry plants located near Lethbridge, Alberta exhibited interveinal chlorosis resembling viral symptoms. Nonenveloped, 140 × 30 nm, bacilliform particles typical of badnaviruses were observed in infected leaves by transmission electron microscopy. The presence of RYNV was confirmed by immunocapture of virions from extracts of symptomatic leaves using Sugarcane bacilliform virus polycolonal antiserum (Agdia Incorporated, Elkhart, IN) followed by PCR amplification of a 451-bp fragment with RYNV-specific primers based on the highly conserved region of the reverse transcriptase and ribonuclease H genes (5′-ATCCTCAAAGGGTTACGTAGCTGGTT-3′ and 5′-TTCAAGCCACCTTACCCTCGAAGGTTT-3′). Sequence of clones from the PCR product (GenBank Accession No. EU327346) showed 87% identity to a previously sequenced isolate of RYNV (GenBank Accession No. AF468454) (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of RYNV in Alberta, Canada, and as an important component of raspberry veinbanding disease, it poses a new threat to the Alberta raspberry industry. References: (1) A. T. Jones et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 141:1, 2002. (2) R. Stace-Smith. Can. J. Bot. 33:269, 1955.
First Report of Diplodia seriata Causing Shoot Blight and Cankers of Cotoneaster salicifolius in Bulgaria
Authors: Bobev S. G. , Lopes J. , Phillips A. J. L. 
Published: May 2008

Shoot and branch blight was observed on shrubs of Cotoneaster salicifolius in the region of Plovdiv, Bulgaria in autumn and winter surveys during 2005 and 2006. Scattered pycnida were found on the withered branches, which bore sunken cankers with marginal bark cracks. Fungal colonies obtained from affected host tissue developed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 24 to 25°C in the dark. Colonies grew rapidly, were floccose, initially white, becoming grayish brown, and finally went from gray to black. Dark brown, unilocular pycnida formed after 2 to 3 weeks in culture. Conidia that formed at the tips of cylindrical, percurrently, proliferating, conidiogenous cells were ovoid, straight, pale brown to dark brown, internally verruculose, aseptate or occasionally with a single median septum. The mean conidial dimensions were 20 × 12 μm, the extreme range was 15 to 25 × 11 to 15 μm. These characters correspond to Diplodia seriata De Not., which is the anamorph of “Botryosphaeria” obtusa (2). Identity was confirmed from the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) from the rRNA repeat as described elsewhere (1). BLAST searches in GenBank showed 100% identity of isolates with reference sequences of D. seriata including that from the ex-epitype culture. The ITS sequence of a representative isolate (CAP337) has been deposited in GenBank (Accession No. EU483658). Pathogenicity was tested by inserting 3-mm-diameter mycelia plugs from 7-day-old PDA cultures into scalpel-wounded mature apple fruits (cv. Granny Smith) and wounded shoots of C. salicifolius. Sterile PDA plugs were placed into similarly made wounds of control specimens. There were three replicates for each treatment and the inoculated wounds were subsequently covered with Parafilm. Small necrotic lesions occurred on the apple fruits 3 to 5 days after inoculation and after 10 to 12 days on the shoots. Within 4 to 5 weeks, all apple fruits were entirely rotten, shrunken, and covered with pycnida, whereas the shoots withered and typical blight symptoms developed above the inoculation sites. The pathogen was reisolated from all inoculated samples but not from any control treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. seriata on C. salicifolius in Bulgaria. It is likely that this pathogen will be found increasingly more frequently because of the intensive introduction of decorative Rosaceae species into urban districts. References: (1) A. Alves et al. Mycologia 96:598, 2004. (2) A. J. L. Phillips et al. Fungal Divers. 25:141, 2007.
First Report of Bacterial Soft Rot on Vanda Orchids Caused by Dickeya chrysanthemi (Erwinia chrysanthemi) in the United States
Authors: Cating R. A. , Hong J. C. , Palmateer A. J. , Stiles C. M. , Dickstein E. R. 
Published: May 2008

Vanda orchids are epiphytes grown for their attractive flowers by commercial producers and hobbyists throughout Florida. In August 2007, five Vanda hybrids, with an economic value of $150 each, were found at a nursery in central Florida with leaves that were macerated, brown, and water soaked. According to the growers, the plants were normal the previous day but symptoms developed rapidly. The plants were immediately removed from the greenhouse to prevent potential disease spread. Bacteria were isolated according to the method of Schaad et al. (1). Isolated bacteria grew at 37°C, were gram negative, degraded pectate, and produced phosphatase. MIDI (Sherlock version TSBA 4.10; Microbial Identification 16 System, Newark, DE) (SIM 0.906) identified the bacteria as Erwinia chrysanthemi (Dickeya chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. 1953) Samson et al. 2005. PCR was performed on the 16S rRNA gene (GenBank Accession No. EU526397) with primers 27f (5′-GAGAGTTTGATCCTG GCTCAG-3′) and 1495r (5′-TACGGCTACCTTGTTACGA-3′) (2). Subsequent DNA sequencing and GenBank search showed the isolated strain is 99% identical to that of Dickeya chrysanthemi. Four leaves each of six Vanda hybrids were inoculated by injecting approximately 150 μl of a bacteria suspension at 1 × 108 CFU/ml into each leaf. One plant was inoculated with water in each of four leaves. Plants were enclosed in plastic bags and returned to the greenhouse under 50% shade at 29°C day and 17°C night temperatures. Within 24 h, soft rot symptoms appeared on inoculated leaves. The water control appeared normal. D. chrysanthemi was reisolated and identified with the above method, thus Koch's postulates were fulfilled. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a soft rot caused by D. chrysanthemi on Vanda hybrids. Because of the popularity and high value of Vanda orchids, proper identification of this rapidly progressing bacterial disease is of great importance for the commercial producer and homeowner alike. References: (1) N. W. Schaad et al. Erwinia soft rot group. Page 56 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. N. W. Schaad et al., eds. American Phytopathological Society. St. Paul, MN, 2001. (2) W. G. Weisburg. J. Bacteriol. 173:697, 1991.
Blight Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii on Potted Ornamental Citrus in Sicily
Authors: Pane A. , Lio M. Magnano di San , Raudino F. , Cacciola S. O. 
Published: May 2008

Approximately 140,000 container-grown ornamental citrus plants are produced each year in the province of Catania (eastern Sicily). In the spring of 2006, a severe blight was observed in a commercial nursery in Catania on 2-month-old rooted cuttings of lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.) and calamondin (× Citrofortunella mitis (Blanco) J. W. Ingram & H. E. Moore). Approximately 80% of the nursery stock of 2,000 cuttings was affected. Cuttings were grown in 7.5-cm2 pots made with compressed peat and wood pulp at 28 to 30°C with 95 to 100% relative humidity on benches in a greenhouse, The pot mix was composed of peat, perlite, and soil (2:1:2). Cuttings showed a dark brown necrotic lesion at the base of the stem that extended upward, resulting in chlorosis and wilting of the leaves. An invasive, white, cottony mycelium with a fan-like pattern and numerous, small, brown spherical sclerotia (0.5 to 4.0 mm in diameter) developed on infected tissues, in the potting mix as well as on the pot wall. Herbaceous cuttings collapsed within 2 weeks while woody cuttings gradually died. Symptomatic basal stem sections were disinfected for 1 min in 1% NaOCl, rinsed in sterile water, and plated on acidified (pH 4.5) potato dextrose agar (PDA). Isolations consistently yielded a fungus whose morphological characters corresponded to Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. On PDA, it produced a septate mycelium with clamp connections and numerous olive brown-to-clove brown sclerotia (1 to 3 mm in diameter). Pathogenicity of two S. rolfsii isolates (IMI 396204 and IMI 396205) from citrus was confirmed on 3-month-old lemon cuttings grown in 10-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with a sterilized mix of peat moss and vermiculite (3:1) (10 cuttings for each isolate). Each pot was inoculated with 15 sclerotia harvested from 6-week-old cultures on PDA and placed on the soil surface around the base of the cutting. Ten noninoculated cuttings served as the control. Cuttings were kept in a growth chamber at 28°C and relative humidity at >95%. All inoculated cuttings showed wilting, blight, and stem rot within 3 weeks after inoculation. White mycelium and sclerotia were produced on the stem base and soil surface. Noninoculated controls remained symptomless. S. rolfsii was reisolated from infected cuttings. The pathogenicity test was repeated once with calamondin cuttings and the results were similar. Blight caused by S. rolfsii is widespread in nurseries of ornamentals in Italy (1). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of this disease on potted ornamental citrus. Probably high temperature and moisture during rooting were conducive to the disease. References: (1) A. Garibaldi et al. Malattie Delle Piante Ornamentali. Calderini Edagricole, Bologna, Italy, 2000.
Pratylenchus neglectus, P. thornei, and Paratylenchus hamatus Nematodes Causing Yield Reduction to Dryland Peas and Lentils in Idaho
Authors: Riga E. , Porter L. D. , Mojtahedi H. , Erickson D. 
Published: May 2008

In June 2006, stunted and chlorotic plants were observed in large patches in two 40.5-ha fields of dryland peas (Pisum sativum) in Latah County, Idaho, which resulted in 90 and 75% crop loss. In the same region, a 121.4-ha field of dryland lentils (Lens culinaris) also had plants showing poor growth, wilting, and yellowing in large patches, which resulted in 40% crop loss. Two species of lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus neglectus and P. thornei) and one species of pin nematode (Paratylenchus hamatus) were extracted from rhizosphere soil and the roots of symptomatic plants from these fields. In a subsequent survey of seven dryland pea fields, under cv. Columbian, in Latah and Nez Perce counties and one dryland pea field, under cv. Small Sieve, in Latah County, plant samples had means of 551 and 2,178 mixed species of lesion nematodes per gram of dry root, respectively. Plant samples from 12 lentil fields in Latah County, six planted with cv. Red Chief and six with cv. Pardina, had means of 279 and 987 mixed species of lesion nematodes per gram of dry root, respectively. Soil samples from the same fields had a mean of 628 and 671 pin nematodes, Paratylenchus hamatus, per 250 cm3 soil for Red Chief and Pardina, respectively. Lentils cv. Pardina and peas cv. Columbian were planted separately in six pots, five seeds per pot containing 250 g of infested soil brought from the field to the greenhouse. Fumigated sandy loam soil was used as control. These assays were repeated three times. In addition, peas and lentils were planted to pots infested singly with each of the three nematode species. For this assay, nematodes were extracted from field soil, surface sterilized, and used to infest 250 g of fumigated sandy loam soil at two nematodes per gram of soil. Six plants per nematode species and an uninoculated control were used in the greenhouse assays, which were repeated three times. Nematodes in all of the assays reduced plant growth in comparison with controls; an average of 50 to 70% reduction in plant height was noted. The lesion nematode populations increased in all pots. The greenhouse assays verified the negative impact of these nematodes on growth of dryland peas cvs. Columbian and Small Sieve and lentils cvs. Red Chief and Pardina. P. neglectus, P. thornei, and Paratylenchus spp. previously have been reported from the semi-arid Pacific Northwest (1). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report attributing plant growth and yield reduction of certain cultivars of lentils and peas to these two species of lesion nematodes and pin nematodes, identified to species level as Paratylenchus hamatus. Reference: (1) R. W. Smiley et al. J. Nematol. 36:54, 2004.
Genetic polymorphisms associated with cigarette smoking and the risk of Graves’ disease
Authors: Bufalo Natássia E. , Santos Roberto B. , Cury Adriano N. , Andrade Renato A. , Morari Joseane , Morari Elaine C. , Leite Janaína L. , Monte Osmar , Romaldini João H. , Ward Laura S. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryObjective  Cigarette smoking is a well‐recognized risk factor of Graves’ disease and, particularly, Graves’ ophthalmopathy. Hence, germline polymorphisms of detoxification genes and genes belonging to the major DNA repair–apoptosis pathways might have an important role in disease susceptibility. In addition, as some of these genes are regulated by thyroid hormones, they may affect the patients’ outcomes. We aimed to assess the influence of the GST, CYP and TP53 gene polymorphisms in the risk of Graves’ disease and its outcome.Design  Prospective case‐control study.Patients  A PCR‐based strategy was used for GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, CYP1A1 and TP53 codon 72 genotypes in a group of 400 Graves’ disease patients, and to compare them to 574 control individuals with similar environmental exposure features.Results  GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were equally distributed in cases and controls, repectively. However, GSTP1 (P < 0·0001), CYP1A1 (P < 0·0033) and Pro/ProTP53 (P < 0·0035) variants appeared more frequently in Graves’ disease patients than in controls. A multivariate analysis indicated that cigarette smoking and inheritance of GSTP1, CYP1A1 and Pro/ProTP53 variants were important risk factors for Graves’ disease, but only smoking appeared as an independent risk factor for Graves’ ophthalmopathy. There was no association between clinical features, including ophthalmopathy or treatment outcome, and the studied genotypes.Conclusion  We concluded that GSTP1, CYP1A1 and TP53, but not GSTT1 and GSTM1 germline polymorphisms, may be associated with smoking‐related Graves’ disease susceptibility and configure a risk profile for the disease. However, these polymorphisms do not influence the patients’ response to treatment.
Immunohistochemical staining for thyroid peroxidase (TPO) of needle core biopsies in the diagnosis of scintigraphically cold thyroid nodules
Authors: Yousaf U. , Christensen L. H. , Rasmussen Å. K. , Jensen F. , Mollerup C. L. , Kirkegaard J. , Lausen I. , Rank F. , Feldt‐Rasmussen U. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBackground  Cold thyroid nodules are common, in particular in iodine‐deficient areas, but only a minority of them are malignant requiring surgery. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) immunostaining of fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) material has proven helpful in diagnosing cells from malignant lesions, but the procedure has its limitations in a routine setting.Purpose  To improve diagnosis and reduce surgery rate, the FNAC procedure was replaced by needle core biopsy (NCB), which was routinely stained for TPO by the monoclonal antibody mAb 47.Materials and methods  During a 5‐year period 427 consecutive patients with a cold thyroid nodule were evaluated by ultrasound‐guided NCB, which had been routinely stained for TPO in an automated immunostainer. Sensitivity and specificity and predictive values of the TPO immunostaining were estimated, based on the final diagnosis obtained from surgical resection.Results  The majority of nodules with benign NCB diagnosis were not surgically removed, and thus a subgroup of 140 operated nodules formed the basis for the calculations. Sensitivity and specificity for benign and malignant lesions were 100% if the oxyphilic variant of adenomas and minimally invasive follicular carcinomas were excluded. By inclusion of these, the values fell to 89% and 97%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive test was 96% and the predictive value of a negative test was 97%.Conclusion  TPO immunostaining was found to be a valuable adjunct to morphology in the diagnosis of cold thyroid nodules of the nonoxyphilic type.
Pegvisomant‐primed GH stimulation test
Authors: Radetti Giorgio , Wu Zida , Elsedfy Heba H. , El Kholy Mohamed , Bozzola Mauro , Strasburger Christian J. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryObjective  Provocative stimulation tests for GH assessment have poor reproducibility and can often elicit false positive results in normal children. The aim of our study was to evaluate the capability of pegvisomant, as an enhancer of GH secretion, in unmasking false‐positive results in short children undergoing GH testing.Design  A prospective study was conducted between March 2005 and April 2006.Patients  Twenty‐one short children (8 males and 13 females), aged 1·0–14·5 years, with a height of < 2 SD scores below the mean were included in the study.Methods  All subjects underwent an l‐DOPA stimulation test with evaluation of GH. At the end of the test, 1 mg/kg of pegvisomant was given subcutaneously and 3 days later an l‐DOPA stimulation test was repeated.Results  There was a significant decrease of IGF‐I SDS following pegvisomant (–1·75 ± 0·24 vs.–2·65 ± 0·23; P < 0·0001) and a significant increase of the GH‐peak (6·2 ± 0·91 vs. 15·3 ± 2·30 µg/l; P < 0·0001). Among the 21 patients examined, 18 (85·7%) had an insufficient response (< 10 µg/l) at the first stimulation. Ten of them (55·5%) showed normal secretion after priming with pegvisomant, while insufficient secretory reserve was confirmed in the remaining eight.Conclusions  Pegvisomant priming before GH stimulation tests can be used to improve the reliability of the diagnostic work up in GH deficiency. Further studies are required, however, to clarify whether this procedure should be recommended in the routine evaluation of GH status.
Total, free and bound leptin and thyroid function in elderly women with different body weights
Authors: Ruscica Massimiliano , Dozio Elena , Gandini Sara , Gnocchi Pierluigi , Devalle Guya Giuseppina , Motta Marcella , Roti Elio , Magni Paolo 
Published: May 2008

SummaryObjective  The present study was aimed at evaluating the relationship of total leptin, and its free leptin (FL) and bound leptin (BL) fractions with adipose mass in very old euthyroid women, in relationship to thyroid function.Subjects and methods  Twenty‐five older women (age: 73–95 years) were studied. Subjects representing underweight, normal weight and overweight/obese conditions were included. Plasma leptin, TSH, free T4 (FT4) and free T3, (FT3) total and HDL cholesterol were measured. FL and BL were evaluated by Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) analysis.Results  Plasma leptin concentration was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0·64, P = 0·0005) and tricipital skin‐fold thickness (TF) (r = 0·46, P = 0·0187). Leptin was positively correlated with TSH (r = 0·50, P = 0·0116) and inversely with FT3 (r = –0·40, P = 0·0477). TSH correlated with the adiposity indexes BMI (r = 0·40, P = 0·05) and TF (r = 0·42, P = 0·0336). Plasma FT3 was positively correlated with FT4 (r = 0·49, P = 0·012). FL and BL were evaluated in 8 out of 25 subjects. FL positively correlated with BMI (r = 0·81, P = 0·0218) and leptin (r = 0·83, P = 0·0004), whereas BL did not correlate with these parameters.Conclusions  The present results indicate that in very old women, plasma leptin concentrations reflect the extent of adipose mass and suggest that a complex regulatory interaction exists between leptin and thyroid function, possibly taking place at central (hypothalamus–pituitary) and peripheral (deiodinase activity) levels.
Short‐ and long‐term somatostatin analogue treatment in patients with hypoglycaemia related to endogenous hyperinsulinism
Authors: Vezzosi D. , Bennet A. , Courbon F. , Caron P. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBackground  The long‐term efficacy of somatostatin analogues on insulinomas has not been studied.Design  A prospective study to evaluate the response of octreotide in 21 patients with hypoglycaemia related to endogenous hyperinsulinism who were not treated by surgery.Results  Reasons for not undergoing surgery were: refusal (n = 3), old age with multiple diseases (n = 5), unlocalized insulinomas (n = 2), malignant unresectable insulinomas (n = 5), multiple insulinomas (n = 3) and diffuse β‐cell disease (n = 3). Hypoglycaemia was responsive to octreotide in 14 of the 21 patients. A short 100‐µg octreotide test correctly predicted the efficacy of treatment in six patients with benign insulinomas. Octreoscan scintigraphy was positive in 6 of the 16 patients of whom three were responsive and three unresponsive to octreotide. Octreoscan scintigraphy was negative in 10 of the 16 patients, eight of whom were responsive to octreotide. Subcutaneous octreotide treatment was prolonged for > 6 months (7–144 months, 67 ± 47 months) in 11 responsive patients. No tachyphylaxis was observed. However, the octreotide dose had to be increased in two patients after 3 and 18 months, respectively. Only one patient suffered from symptomatic biliary lithiasis after 3 years of treatment.Conclusion  Long‐term octreotide treatment can be used to control hypoglycaemia in patients with endogenous hyperinsulinism who are not eligible for surgery; octreotide efficacy on hypoglycaemia could be predicted by a short 100 µg‐octreotide test in patients with benign insulinomas, but was not correctly predicted by Octreoscan scintigraphy.