bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of Bitter Rot Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on Apple in China
Authors: Zhang R. , Wang S. F. , Cui J. Q. , Sun G. Y. , Gleason M. L. 
Published: September 2008

Bitter rot of apple caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was first reported in China in 1985 (3). In China, apples are grown on approximately 2 million ha, and bitter rot occurs in almost all production areas, with crop damage ranging from 30 to 70%. During the summer of 2007, fungi were isolated from apple fruit exhibiting bitter rot symptoms in 12 and 9 orchards in Shaanxi and Henan provinces, respectively, in China. Symptoms included 2- to 3-cm-diameter, sunken, brown lesions on the fruit surface that contained black, pinhead-size fruiting structures producing orange conidial masses under high humidity, similar to that of C. gloeosporioides. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), colonies were white, pale gray, or pale orange when grown at 25°C. Conidia were 8 to 16 × 2.5 to 4 μm, fusiform, pointed at one or both ends, one celled, thin walled, aseptate, and hyaline. Appressoria were 6.5 to 11 × 4.5 to 7.5 μm, clavate to circular, and light to dark brown. These characteristics matched published descriptions of C. acutatum (2). To confirm pathogenicity, three mature, healthy apples (cv. Fuji) were surface disinfested with 70% ethanol and then wounded with a sterile needle. After being inoculated with a spore suspension (1 × 105 conidia/ml) prepared from a 2-week-old culture on PDA, these apples were sealed in a plastic bag and incubated at 25°C. Symptoms appeared 3 to 5 days after inoculation and began to enlarge 7 days later, forming lesions with fruiting structures. Under high humidity, cream-to-salmon pink spore masses were produced on lesions. As the lesions enlarged, the rot progressed to the core of the fruit in a V-shaped pattern. When the pathogen was reisolated from lesions of inoculated fruit onto PDA and incubated at 25°C, colony and conidial morphology were identical to those of the original isolates. Tests were performed three times with similar results. PCR with species-specific primer pair CaInt2/ITS4 (1) of genomic DNA from the isolates resulted in an amplification product of approximately 490 bp, which is specific for C. acutatum. The sequences exhibited 99% similarity with those of C. acutatum isolates AB273195 from GenBank. Approximately 20 of 103 symptomatic fruit from the field survey yielded fungal cultures whose morphology was consistent with that of C. acutatum, whereas the other cultures were C. gloeosporioides and Botryosphaeria dothidea. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bitter rot of apple caused by Colletotrichum acutatum in China. References: (1) S. Sreenivasaprasad et al. Plant Pathol. 45:650, 1996. (2) B. C. Sutton. Page 523 in: The Coelomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England, 1980. (3) X. M. Wang. M.S. thesis. (In Chinese). College of Northwest Agriculture, Shaanxi Province, China, 1985.
Conserved main‐chain peptide distortions: A proposed role for Ile203 in catalysis by dihydrodipicolinate synthase
Authors: Dobson Renwick C.J. , Griffin Michael D.W. , Devenish Sean R.A. , Pearce F. Grant , Hutton Craig A. , Gerrard Juliet A. , Jameson Geoffrey B. , Perugini Matthew A. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractIn recent years, dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS, E.C. 4.2.1.52) has received considerable attention from a mechanistic and structural viewpoint. DHDPS catalyzes the reaction of (S)‐aspartate‐β‐semialdehyde with pyruvate, which is bound via a Schiff base to a conserved active‐site lysine (Lys161 in the enzyme from Escherichia coli). To probe the mechanism of DHDPS, we have studied the inhibition of E. coli DHDPS by the substrate analog, β‐hydroxypyruvate. The K i was determined to be 0.21 (±0.02) mM, similar to that of the allosteric inhibitor, (S)‐lysine, and β‐hydroxypyruvate was observed to cause time‐dependent inhibition. The inhibitory reaction with β‐hydroxypyruvate could be qualitatively followed by mass spectrometry, which showed initial noncovalent adduct formation, followed by the slow formation of the covalent adduct. It is unclear whether β‐hydroxypyruvate plays a role in regulating the biosynthesis of meso‐diaminopimelate and (S)‐lysine in E. coli, although we note that it is present in vivo. The crystal structure of DHDPS complexed with β‐hydroxypyruvate was solved. The active site clearly showed the presence of the inhibitor covalently bound to the Lys161. Interestingly, the hydroxyl group of β‐hydroxypyruvate was hydrogen‐bonded to the main‐chain carbonyl of Ile203. This provides insight into the possible catalytic role played by this peptide unit, which has a highly strained torsion angle (ω ∼201°). A survey of the known DHDPS structures from other organisms shows this distortion to be a highly conserved feature of the DHDPS active site, and we propose that this peptide unit plays a critical role in catalysis.
Subaqueous hydrochory: open‐channel hydraulic modelling of non‐buoyant seed movement
Authors: MARKWITH SCOTT H. , LEIGH DAVID S. 
Published: September 2008

Summary1. Subaqueous transport may be a significant dispersal and migration mechanism of non‐buoyant seeds of aquatic and riparian plants, and also secondary transport of seeds once they have lost buoyancy, but the efficiency of this difficult to observe process is largely unexamined. This study uses hydraulic modelling to establish the discharges that move the non‐buoyant seeds of Hymenocallis coronaria as bedload or suspended load; uses stream gauge data to examine the frequency of effective discharges from late June to late September, the seed maturation and germination period; and the potential transport distance of the seeds.2. The results show that the majority of non‐buoyant seeds of H. coronaria can be transported as bedload through entire modelled stream reaches of lengths 10.8, 18 and 14.4 km with the 0.5 year return interval flow. Bedload apparently has the ability to move seeds over great distances, and may be a substantial factor determining the genetic structure, demography and dynamics of populations and communities. However, prolonged movement of non‐buoyant seeds in suspension appears to be quite rare.3. Although insect mediated pollination and biochory occur concurrently with bedload transport, bedload transport alone may be sufficient to account for the established gene flow rate of H. coronaria. The potential transport distance of many of the seeds exceed that between populations, and migration may occur more frequently than the species’ generation time.4. This is the first known study to use open‐channel hydraulic modelling and sediment transport analysis to determine the effectiveness of non‐buoyant seed transport. This method of analysis shows promise for application in other contexts, and especially where flow management is a critical issue for maintenance of rare species.
Yeast Yak1 kinase, a bridge between PKA and stress‐responsive transcription factors, Hsf1 and Msn2/Msn4
Authors: Lee Peter , Cho Bo‐Ram , Joo Hwang‐Soo , Hahn Ji‐Sook 
Published: September 2008

SummaryHsf1 and Msn2/Msn4 transcription factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae play important roles in cellular homeostasis by activating gene expression in response to multiple stresses including heat shock, oxidative stress and nutrient starvation. Although it has been known that nuclear import of Msn2 is inhibited by PKA‐dependent phosphorylation, the mechanism for PKA‐dependent regulation of Hsf1 is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that Yak1 kinase, which is under the negative control of PKA, activates both Hsf1 and Msn2 by phosphorylation when PKA activity is lowered by glucose depletion or by overexpressing Pde2 that hydrolyses cAMP. We show that Yak1 directly phosphorylates Hsf1 in vitro, leading to the increase in DNA binding activity of Hsf1. We also demonstrate that Yak1 phosphorylates Msn2 in vitro, but does not affect DNA binding activity of Msn2 or nuclear localization of Msn2 upon glucose depletion. These results suggest a central role for Yak1 in mediating PKA‐dependent inhibition of Hsf1 and Msn2/Msn4.
Molecular typing of Aspergillus species
Authors: De Valk H. A. , Klaassen C. H. W. , Meis J. F. G. M. 
Published: September 2008

Summary Aspergillus species are widely distributed fungi that release large amounts of airborne conidia, which are dispersed in the environment. Several Aspergillus species have been described as human pathogens. Molecular techniques have been developed to investigate the epidemiological relation between environmental and clinical isolates. Several typing methods have been described for Aspergillus species, most of them with reference to Aspergillus fumigatus. Here, we summarise all the different available molecular typing techniques for Aspergillus. The performance of these techniques is evaluated with respect to their practical feasibility, and their interpretation and discriminatory power assessed. For A. fumigatus isolates, a large extent of genetic variability is demonstrated and therefore fingerprinting techniques with high discriminatory power and high reproducibility are required for this species. Afut1‐restriction fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite typing showed the highest discriminatory power. In addition, the microsatellites show excellent reproducibility. Other typing techniques are still useful for smaller epidemiological problems and for less well‐equipped laboratories.
Tinea capitis in southwest Poland
Authors: Jankowska‐Konsur Alina , Dyląg Mariusz , Szepietowski Jacek C. 
Published: September 2008

SummaryTinea capitis in southwest Poland is mainly caused by zoophilic dermatophytes. Microsporum canis is the main pathogen, which was demonstrated in all analysed periods between 1977 and 2006 (50.5%–63.2%). Recently (2002–2006), a significant (P < 0.05) increase of Trichophyton tonsurans isolates was observed, which may be due to increasing migration of Polish population in this period. To sum up, the data on the prevalence of tinea capitis in southwest Poland resemble the epidemiological situation in Poland and bordering countries at large.
Patients with chronic urticaria exhibit increased rates of sensitisation to Candida albicans, but not to common moulds
Authors: Staubach Petra , Vonend Anneke , Burow Gerhard , Metz Martin , Magerl Markus , Maurer Marcus 
Published: September 2008

SummaryPatients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU) frequently exhibit increased levels of total IgE (tIgE). However, sensitisations to relevant allergens are rarely detected in CU patients by standard prick testing suggesting that CU symptoms, at least in some patients, may represent hypersensitivity reactions to less common allergens. The objective of this study was to characterise skin reactivity and serum levels of IgE to Candida albicans (CA) and mould allergens in CU patients. A total of 112 CU patients and 35 healthy control subjects were subjected to intracutaneous skin testing for CA and seven ubiquitous moulds. Allergen specific and tIgE were determined using the Pharmacia CAP System. CU patients exhibited higher levels of tIgE than healthy subjects, but comparable rates of skin reactivity to CA and moulds and similar levels of specific IgE to mould allergens. However, increased IgE‐anti‐CA could only be detected in CU patients (13%). Almost all IgE‐anti‐CA positive CU patients showed high levels of tIgE. These data suggest that IgE‐anti‐CA expression contributes, at least in part, to increased tIgE levels in CU patients. Our findings call for further studies to characterise the relevance of CA hypersensitivity in CU, particularly in IgE‐anti‐CA positive CU patients that exhibit colonisation with Candida albicans.
Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent 8‐year‐old girl
Authors: Yuanjie Zhu , Jianghan Chen , Julin Gu , Hai Wen 
Published: September 2008

SummaryAn immunocompetent 8‐year‐old girl was presented with cryptococcal meningitis. She was cured clinically and mycologically after 6 weeks of amphotericin B plus flucytocin and 2 months of fluconazole, and no relapse and sequelae were observed. Mycological and clinical profile of the patient during treatment was recorded.
Genomics of pyrrolnitrin biosynthetic loci: evidence for conservation and whole‐operon mobility within Gram‐negative bacteria
Authors: Costa Rodrigo , Van Aarle Ingrid M. , Mendes Rodrigo , Van Elsas Jan Dirk 
Published: September 2008

SummaryPyrrolnitrin (PRN) is a tryptophan‐derived secondary metabolite produced by a narrow range of Gram‐negative bacteria. The PRN biosynthesis by rhizobacteria presumably has a key role in their life strategies and in the biocontrol of plant diseases. The biosynthetic operon that encodes the pathway that converts tryptophan to PRN is composed of four genes, prnA through D, whose diversity, genomic context and spread over bacterial genomes are poorly understood. Therefore, we launched an endeavour aimed at retrieving, by in vitro and in silico means, diverse bacteria carrying the prnABCD biosynthetic loci in their genomes. Analysis of polymorphisms of the prnD gene sequences revealed a high level of conservation between Burkholderia, Pseudomonas and Serratia spp. derived sequences. Whole‐operon‐ and prnD‐based phylogeny resulted in tree topologies that are incongruent with the taxonomic status of the evaluated strains as predicted by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. The genomic composition of c. 20 kb DNA fragments containg the PRN operon varied in different strains. Highly conserved and distinct transposase‐encoding genes surrounding the PRN biosynthetic operons of Burkholderia pseudomallei strains were found. A prnABCD‐deprived genomic region in B. pseudomallei strain K96243 contained the same gene composition as, and shared high homology with, the flanking regions of the PRN operon in B. pseudomallei strains 668, 1106a and 1710b. Our results strongly suggest that the PRN biosynthetic operon is mobile. The extent, frequency and promiscuity of this mobility remain to be understood.
Testicular lesions other than germ cell tumours: feasibility of testis‐sparing surgery
Authors: Passman Corey , Urban Donald , Klemm Katrin , Lockhart Mark , Kenney Phillip , Kolettis Peter 
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVETo review all non‐germ‐cell testicular lesions presenting at our institution and to determine the feasibility of testis‐sparing surgery for these patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSAll surgery for testicular masses between June 1995 and June 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with atrophy, germ cell tumours, infection or torsion were excluded. The study comprised men who had radical orchidectomy for suspected germ‐cell tumour but had other final pathology, and those where testis‐sparing surgery was attempted for a presumed benign lesion.RESULTSThirteen patients with lesions appropriate for the study were identified; all but one had a palpable lesion. The lesions could be categorized as inflammatory (three hyalinized fibrosis, two sarcoidosis, one chronic inflammation), cystic (one epidermoid cyst, one unilocular cyst), benign neoplasms (two adenomatoid tumours, one Leydig cell tumour, one capillary haemangioma) or malignant neoplasms (one lymphoma). Based on the preoperative impression, testis‐sparing surgery was attempted in eight of the lesions and was successful in six where it was attempted. In the other five, testis‐sparing surgery was not attempted because the preoperative impression was that of a germ cell tumour. Testis‐sparing surgery was successful in only six of the 13 patients with these lesions.CONCLUSIONTestis‐sparing surgery might be possible if there is significant suspicion of a benign lesion. If frozen‐section analysis is equivocal, a radical orchidectomy is required. Testis‐sparing surgery was feasible in highly selected cases.
Oestrogen receptor expression and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the clitoris and preputial gland structures of mice
Authors: Martin‐Alguacil Nieves , Schober Justine , Kow Lee‐Ming , Pfaff Donald 
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVETo study the presence of oestrogen receptors (ER) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the mouse clitoris.MATERIALS AND METHODSA series of sections of the pelvic area, including the preputial glands and clitoris, of 10 mice were assessed by immunocytochemical studies specific for ER‐α and ‐β, and nNOS; selected sections were also stained with Masson’s trichrome.RESULTSERα was detected in the epithelium of the gland of the clitoris, and in the glandular tissue, preputial and apocrine gland. ERα was detected in the nuclei of stromal cells around the cavernous tissue and near the epithelium of the clitoris. Cytoplasm ERα was detected in a few cells in an area ventral to the clitoral gland. There was also nuclear staining in the connective tissue cells surrounding the clitoris. Very light ERβ immunostaining was detected in the clitoris and in the tissue related to it. There were some cells with nuclear staining in the vessels of the cavernous tissue of the clitoris. nNOS immunostaining was detected in the clitoris, the preputial gland and the connective tissue.CONCLUSIONERα and β isoforms, and nNOS, are present in the clitoris and preputial glands of female mice in different cellular locations and with differing levels of receptivity. Functional studies would further elucidate the role of receptor functions and their relationship to the neuronal expression of NO.
Prospective evaluation of sexual function in patients receiving cryosurgery as a primary radical treatment for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Asterling Susan , Greene Damian R. 
Published: September 2008

OBJECTIVETo evaluate prospectively the sexual function of patients undergoing cryosurgery as a primary radical treatment for localized prostate cancer, as the development of 17 G cryotherapy probes has improved the delivery of this treatment, but one of the side‐effects of cryosurgery is the development of erectile dysfunction (ED).PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween July 2003 and May 2008, 53 patients were treated using an argon‐based third‐generation cryotherapy system (Oncura, Arlington Heights, IL, USA). Prospective data were collected at 6 weeks, 3 months, then 3‐monthly up to 1 year and subsequently 6‐monthly. Patients were followed up for up to 54 months, with a median (mean) follow‐up 36 (30.5) months.RESULTSAll 53 patients were followed after receiving cryosurgery as primary treatment for prostate cancer; 51 (96.3%) had ED at 6 weeks while two (3.7%) were experiencing partial erections. By 9 months one (2.4%) of 42 patients was fully potent using phosphodiesterase type‐5 inhibitors, and six (14.3%) were experiencing partial erections. By 18 months eight (21%) of 39 patients followed up had regained full potency and by 24 months eight (24%) of 33 patients were fully potent and three (9%) experienced partial erections.CONCLUSIONWhile ED is a significant side‐effect of cryotherapy, a considerable proportion of patients who have no ED before treatment (39%) recover full sexual function afterward. Focal nerve‐sparing cryosurgery might be the way forward in an attempt to preserve erectile function in men who had no ED before treatment. Erectile aids should be made available for those patients for whom sexual dysfunction compromises the quality of their life and relationships.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) compared with blood glucose awareness training (BGAT) in poorly controlled Type 1 diabetic patients: long‐term effects on HbA1c moderated by depression. A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Snoek F. J. , Van Der Ven N. C. W. , Twisk J. W. R. , Hogenelst M. H. E. , Tromp‐Wever A. M. E. , Van Der Ploeg H. M. , Heine R. J. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective  To test the effectiveness at 6 and 12 months’ follow‐up of group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) compared with blood glucose awareness training (BGAT) in poorly controlled Type 1 diabetic patients and to explore the moderating effect of baseline depression.Research design and methods  Adults with Type 1 diabetes (n = 86) with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 8% were randomized to CBT or BGAT. Primary outcome was HbA1c control. Secondary outcomes were: self‐care, diabetes‐related distress (Problem Areas in Diabetes scale; PAID), diabetes self‐efficacy (Confidence in Diabetes Self‐care scale; CIDS) and depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiological Studies – Depression scale; CES‐D). Measurements were scheduled before CBT and BGAT, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after. Differential effects were analysed for the subgroup of patients reporting low vs. high baseline levels of depression.Results  Neither CBT nor BGAT had a significant impact on HbA1c at 6 and 12 months’ follow‐up. Both interventions resulted in lower depressive symptoms (CES‐D 15.7–13.3, P = 0.01) up to 12 months, but only CBT was effective in lowering HbA1c in patients with high baseline depression scores (HbA1c 9.5–8.8%) up to 1 year of follow‐up (P = 0.03).Conclusions  Our findings suggest that group CBT can effectively help Type 1 diabetic patients with co‐morbid depression achieve and maintain better glycaemic outcomes.
Education eclipses ethnicity in predicting the development of the metabolic syndrome in different ethnic groups in midlife: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
Authors: Scuteri A. , Vuga M. , Najjar S. S. , Mehta V. , Everson‐Rose S. A. , Sutton‐Tyrrell K. , Matthews K. , Lakatta E. G 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective  To determine the respective roles of socio‐economic status (SES) and ethnicity in the risk of incident metabolic syndrome in middle‐aged women.Design and participants  A total of 3302 pre‐ and peri‐menopausal women, not receiving hormone therapy at baseline, took part in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a multi‐site, community‐based, longitudinal study of the menopausal transition. The main outcome measures were to ascertain the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and the incidence of the metabolic syndrome over 5 years of follow‐up.Results  At baseline, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 21% (n = 673). Among 2512 women without metabolic syndrome at baseline, 12.8% (n = 321) developed the metabolic syndrome during 5 years of follow‐up. Both ethnicity and SES were significant univariate predictors of incident metabolic syndrome. In multivariate logistic regression models that included age at baseline, menopausal status and site, baseline smoking and alcohol consumption at follow‐up visit 1, as well as baseline values of each of the components of the metabolic syndrome, only education was an independent predictor of incident metabolic syndrome.Conclusion  Approximately 13% of peri‐menopausal women developed the metabolic syndrome during the 5‐year follow‐up period. Education, but not ethnicity, was an independent predictor of incident metabolic syndrome risk.