bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phaeochromocytoma, new genes and screening strategies
Authors: Gimenez‐Roqueplo Anne‐Paule , Lehnert Hendrik , Mannelli Massimo , Neumann Hartmut , Opocher Giuseppe , Maher Eamonn R. , Plouin Pierre‐François ,   on behalf of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours (ENS@T) Pheochromocytoma Working Group
Published: November 2006

SummaryFollowing recent advances in the genetics of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas, the members of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumours (ENS@T) Phaeochromocytoma Working Group have decided to share their genotyping data and to propose European recommendations for phaeochromocytoma/functional paraganglioma (PH/FPGL) genetic testing. Germline DNA from 642 patients was analysed by ENS@T teams. In 166 patients (25·9%) the disease was familial and caused by germline mutations in VHL (56), SDHB (34), SDHD (31), RET (31) or NF1 (14), causing von Hippel‐Lindau disease, SDHB‐ or SDHD‐PH/FPGL syndromes, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) and type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), respectively. In almost 60% of inherited cases it was possible to formulate a probable genetic diagnosis based on family history and/or typical syndromic presentation. Genetic testing revealed mutations in 12·7% of cases with an apparently sporadic presentation. Several clinical characteristics, such as young age at onset, the presence of bilateral, extra‐adrenal or multiple tumours or a malignant tumour, should be seen as indications for genetic testing. The ENS@T Phaeochromocytoma Working Group recommends the genetic testing of all patients with PH and FPGL and suggests a practice algorithm for the management of their exploration.
Aspirin reduces anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Ikonomidis I. , Lekakis J. , Vamvakou G. , Loizou S. , Revela I. , Andreotti F. , Kremastinos D. Th. , Nihoyannopoulos P. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground  Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) have been found to be elevated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and have been associated with an adverse outcome owing to their prothrombotic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aspirin treatment on aCL levels in patients with chronic CAD.Materials and methods  Forty patients with chronic CAD scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and 40 healthy controls participated in the study. Patients were treated with 300 mg of aspirin once daily (o.d.) for the first 12 days and placebo for the following 12 days before CABG in a double‐blind, cross‐over trial. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G‐, IgM‐, IgA‐aCL and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in the controls and at the end of each treatment period in the patients with CAD.Results  The IgA‐ and IgG‐aCL levels were greater in patients with CAD than in the controls. Compared with the placebo, IgA, IgG subtypes and CRP levels were reduced after aspirin treatment (P = 0·001, P = 0·02, P = 0·04, respectively). The percentage reduction of IgA‐ and IgG‐aCL was related to the percentage reduction of CRP after aspirin (P < 0·05).Conclusion  Aspirin treatment with 300 mg o.d. reduced the serum levels of IgA and IgG subtypes in patients with chronic CAD in parallel to a reduction in CRP. These findings offer an additional pathophysiological mechanism of the beneficial effects of aspirin in patients with chronic CAD.
Acute effects of caffeine and tobacco on arterial function and wave travel
Authors: Swampillai J. , Rakebrandt F. , Morris K. , Jones C. J. H. , Fraser A. G. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground  Caffeine and tobacco consumption are risk factors for heart failure, but their effects remain controversial. It has been hypothesized that they cause alterations in arterial stiffness and arterial wave travel which may increase ventricular loading. In this study the authors examined the influence of these widely used stimulants on wave intensity and arterial stiffness parameters using carotid wave intensity analysis.Materials and methods  A new Doppler‐based ultrasound method was used to measure the acute effects of caffeine and tobacco on wave intensity in the right common carotid artery. The measurements enabled changes in arterial stiffness parameters to be recorded.Results  In 17 subjects compared with 10 controls, caffeine increased blood pressure, early systolic wave intensity and wave speed, but late‐systolic wave intensity and mid‐systolic reflections were unchanged. In 11 smokers studied before and after smoking one cigarette, blood pressure and arterial stiffness increased but wave intensity was unchanged. No changes were observed in the controls.Conclusions  Increased wave intensity during ejection after caffeine suggested sympathomimetic effects on the left ventricular function. Increased wave speed in the common carotid artery implied augmented central loading after caffeine, but the absence of measurable changes in local arterial stiffness in the carotid artery suggested more complex and regional effects. Cigarette smoking acutely increased local arterial stiffness in the common carotid artery. These changes can be detected using wave intensity analysis.
What is the relationship between changes in canopy leaf area and changes in photosynthetic CO2 flux in arctic ecosystems?
Authors: STREET L. E. , SHAVER G. R. , WILLIAMS M. , VAN WIJK M. T. 
Published: November 2006

Summary

The arctic environment is highly heterogeneous in terms of plant distribution and productivity. If we are to make regional scale predictions of carbon exchange it is necessary to find robust relationships that can simplify this variability. One such potential relationship is that of leaf area to photosynthetic CO2 flux at the canopy scale.
In this paper we assess the effectiveness of canopy leaf area in explaining variation in gross primary productivity (GPP): (i) across different vegetation types; (ii) at various stages of leaf development; and (iii) under enhanced nutrient availability. To do this we measure net CO2 flux light response curves with a 1 × 1 m chamber, and calculate GPP at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 600 µmol m−2 s−1.
At a subarctic site in Sweden, we report 10‐fold variation in GPP among natural vegetation types with leaf area index (LAI) values of 0.05–2.31 m2 m−2. At a site of similar latitude in Alaska we document substantially elevated rates of GPP in fertilized vegetation.
We can explain 80% of the observed variation in GPP in natural vegetation (including vegetation measured before deciduous leaf bud burst) by leaf area alone, when leaf area is predicted from measurements of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI).
In fertilized vegetation the relative increase in leaf area between control and fertilized treatments exceeds the relative increase in GPP. This suggests that higher leaf area causes increased self‐shading, or that lower leaf nitrogen per unit leaf area causes a reduction in the rate of photosynthesis.
The results of this study indicate that canopy leaf area is an excellent predictor of GPP in diverse low arctic tundra, across a wide range of plant functional types.
Adjustment of children who have a sibling with Down syndrome: perspectives of mothers, fathers and children
Authors: Cuskelly M. , Gunn P. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground  A number of methodological weaknesses have contributed to our relatively poor understanding of the impact on children of having a brother or sister with a disability. These include a focus on poor adjustment, using multidiagnostic groups, inadequate matching, and a failure to consider the perspectives of children and parents together.Method  This study compared the adjustment of 53 siblings of a child with Down syndrome with a comparison group of siblings of children who were developing typically. Children were matched on a case‐by‐case basis for gender, age and position in family. Families were matched for family size and father’s occupation. The age range of the target siblings was 7–14 years. Data were gathered from mothers, fathers and siblings.Results  There were no significant differences between the groups on adjustment measures. These included parent perceptions of externalizing and internalizing behaviours, parent perceptions of sibling competence, and sibling perceptions of their own competence and self‐worth. Associations between measures of adjustment and child reports of their contribution to household functioning depended on sex rather than group membership. There was an association between parental reports of externalizing behaviour and sibling relationships with the brother/sister closest in age.Conclusions  Having a brother or sister with Down syndrome does not inevitably lead to poor adjustment. Examination of within‐family processes would appear to be more useful in identifying children at risk than merely group membership.
Transmission electron microscopy studies of microstructure of Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys after ball milling and hot consolidation
Authors: MAZIARZ W. , LEJKOWSKA M. , MICHALSKI A. , DUTKIEWICZ J. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryTwo Ti alloys with compositions Ti−10Ta and Ti−10Nb (at.%) were milled in a high‐energy mill for a maximum of 80 h in an argon atmosphere. A nanocrystalline structure of α‐Ti(X) (X = Ta or Nb) solid solution was formed in both investigated alloys after milling, as shown by X‐ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy observations of powders milled for 80 h revealed chemical inhomogeneity of particles in nanometre‐scale regions and an average crystallite size of about 10 nm. The pulse plasma sintering method was applied for hot consolidation of milled powders. The mean density of pulse plasma sintering compacts of Ti–Nb alloy was about 99.5% of the theoretical value, whereas the density of the Ti−10Ta sample was lower, close to 92% of the theoretical value. Transmission electron microscopy observation of compacted samples showed that the sintering process caused the formation of a two‐phase α + β structure in both investigated alloys, with a mean grain size of 220 nm. The chemical inhomogeneity and high degree of deformation in nanometre‐scale regions of milled powders led to a martensitic transformation, resulting in formation of a 9R martensite structure.
Structural analyses of Nd‐doped CeO2 thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: KOPIA A. , CHMIELOWSKA M. , LEROUX CH. , DALLAS J. P. , GAVARRI J. R. , KUSIŃSKI J. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryCeO2 thin films doped with neodymium oxides for application to gas sensors have been elaborated by the pulsed laser deposition technique. The films were deposited on orientated Si (100) substrates with variable deposition times (t = 90, 180 and 360 s) and molar fractions of Nd2O3 (0, 6.5, 15, 21.5 and 27 at.%). The resulting Nd–CeO2 thin films were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy equipped with EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer) microanalysis. From X‐ray diffraction analyses, it is clearly established that the texture is modified by Nd additions. The preferred (111) orientations of the CeO2 crystals change into the (200) orientation. The morphology of the CeO2 grains changes from triangles, for pure CeO2 thin films, to spherical grains for Nd‐doped films. In addition, cell parameter analyses from X‐ray diffraction data show that a partial chemical substitution of Ce by Nd should occur in the face‐centred cubic lattice of ceria: this should give rise to Ce1‐xNdxO2−z phases with oxygen non‐stoichiometry.
Compensation of the shadowing error in three‐dimensional imaging with a multiple detector scanning electron microscope
Authors: PALUSZYŃSKI J. , SLÓWKO W. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryA method for three‐dimensional quantitative surface characterization for scanning electron microscopy is presented. The method used a quadruple scintillator detector developed by us. A surface reconstruction algorithm was performed by special software, with new algorithms for error compensation. Among these errors, detector shadowing was of particular importance. This was due to the disturbance in integration continuity when one or more detectors was screened from the flow of electrons. Several methods for the reduction of this error have been proposed and tested by us. The methods were based on software processing of complementary information, such as unshadowed detector signals, shadow depth and modified integration schemes.
An experimental investigation of sand–mud suspension settling behaviour: implications for bimodal mud contents of submarine flow deposits
Authors: AMY LAWRENCE A. , TALLING PETER J. , EDMONDS VICTORIA O. , SUMNER ESTHER J. , LESUEUR ANNE 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe settling behaviour of particulate suspensions and their deposits has been documented using a series of settling tube experiments. Suspensions comprised saline solution and noncohesive glass‐ballotini sand of particle size 35·5 μm < d < 250 μm and volume fractions, φs, up to 0·6 and cohesive kaolinite clay of particle size d < 35·5 μm and volume fractions, φm, up to 0·15. Five texturally distinct deposits were found, associated with different settling regimes: (I) clean, graded sand beds produced by incremental deposition under unhindered or hindered settling conditions; (II) partially graded, clean sand beds with an ungraded base and a graded top, produced by incremental deposition under hindered settling conditions; (III) graded muddy sands produced by compaction with significant particle sorting by elutriation; (IV) ungraded clean sand produced by compaction and (V) ungraded muddy sand produced by compaction. A transition from particle size segregation (regime I) to suppressed size segregation (regime II or III) to virtually no size segregation (IV or V) occurred as sediment concentration was increased. In noncohesive particulate suspensions, segregation was initially suppressed at φs ∼ 0·2 and entirely inhibited at φs ≥ 0·6. In noncohesive and cohesive mixtures with low sand concentrations (φs < 0·2), particle segregation was initially suppressed at φm ∼ 0·07 and entirely suppressed at φm ≥ 0·13. The experimental results have a number of implications for the depositional dynamics of submarine sediment gravity flows and other particulate flows that carry sand and mud; because the influence of moving flow is ignored in these experiments, the results will only be applicable to flows in which settling processes, in the depositional boundary, dominate over shear‐flow processes, as might be the case for rapidly decelerating currents with high suspended load fallout rates. The ‘abrupt’ change in settling regimes between regime I and V, over a relatively small change in mud concentration (<5% by volume), favours the development of either mud‐poor, graded sandy deposits or mud‐rich, ungraded sandy deposits. This may explain the bimodality in sediment texture (clean ‘turbidite’ or muddy ‘debrite’ sand or sandstone) found in some turbidite systems. Furthermore, it supports the notion that distal ‘linked’ debrites could form because of a relatively small increase in the mud concentration of turbidity currents, perhaps associated with erosion of a muddy sea floor. Ungraded, clean sand deposits were formed by noncohesive suspensions with concentrations 0·2 ≤ φs ≤ 0·4. Hydrodynamic sorting is interpreted as being suppressed in this case by relatively high bed aggradation rates which could also occur in association with sustained, stratified turbidity currents or noncohesive debris flows with relatively high near‐bed sediment concentrations.
The Arabidopsis cinnamoyl CoA reductase irx4 mutant has a delayed but coherent (normal) program of lignification
Authors: Laskar Dhrubojyoti D. , Jourdes Michaël , Patten Ann M. , Helms Gregory L. , Davin Laurence B. , Lewis Norman G. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryPrevious studies have indicated that the Arabidopsis thalianairregular xylem 4 (irx4) mutant is severely lignin‐deficient, forming abnormal lignin from aberrant monomers. Studies of lignin structure in dwarfed cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR)‐downregulated tobacco were also previously reported to incorporate feruloyl tyramine derivatives. The lignin in the Arabidopsis irx4 mutant was re‐investigated at 6 weeks and at maturation (9 weeks). Application of 1H, 13C, 2D Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Coherence and 2D Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Coherence spectroscopic analyses to the lignin‐enriched isolates from both Arabidopsis wild‐type (Ler) and the CCR‐irx4 mutant at both developmental stages revealed that only typical guaiacyl/syringyl lignins were formed. For the irx4 mutant, the syringyl content at 6 weeks growth was lower, in accordance with a delayed but coherent program of lignification. At maturation, however, the syringyl/guaiacyl ratio of the irx4 mutant approached that of wild‐type. There was no evidence for feruloyl tyramines, or homologues thereof, accumulating as a chemical signature in lignins resulting from CCR mutation. Nor were there any noticeable increases in other phenolic components, such as hydroxycinnamic acids. These findings were further confirmed by application of thioacidolysis, alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation and acetyl bromide analyses. Moreover, in the case of CCR downregulation in tobacco, there were no NMR spectroscopic correlations that demonstrated feruloyl tyramines being incorporated into the lignin biopolymers. This study thus found no evidence that abnormal lignin formation occurs when CCR activity is modulated.
Dog leucocyte antigen class II diversity and relationships among indigenous dogs of the island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea
Authors: Runstadler J. A. , Angles J. M. , Pedersen N. C. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe genetic polymorphism at the dog leucocyte antigen (DLA) class II loci DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 was studied in a large genetically diverse population of feral and wild‐type dogs from the large island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea (Bali street dog, dingo and New Guinea singing dog, respectively). Sequence‐based typing (SBT) of the hypervariable region of DLA‐DRB1, ‐DQA1 and ‐DQB1 alleles was used to determine genetic diversity. No new DQA1 alleles were recognized among the three dog populations, but five novel DLA‐DRB1 and 2 novel DLA‐DQB1 allele sequences were detected. Additional unknown alleles were postulated to exist in Bali street dogs, as indicated by the large percentage of individuals (15%–33%) that had indeterminate DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles by SBT. All three groups of dogs possessed alleles that were relatively uncommon in conventional purebreds. The New Guinea singing dog and dingo shared alleles that were not present in the Bali street dogs. These findings suggested that the dingo was more closely related to indigenous dogs from New Guinea. Feral dog populations, in particular large ones such as that of Bali, show genetic diversity that existed prior to phenotypic selection for breeds originating from their respective regions. This diversity needs to be identified and maintained in the face of progressive Westernization. These populations deserve further study as potential model populations for the evolution of major histocompatibility complex alleles, for the study of canine genetic diversity, for the development of dog breeds and for studies on the comigration of ancestral human and dog populations.
Nutrient digestibility of rabbit does in different stages of reproductive cycle under tropical conditions
Authors: Iyeghe‐Erakpotobor G. T. , Oyedipe E. O. , Eduvie L. O. , Ogwu D. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryEffect of stages of reproductive cycle on body weight, feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of rabbits was investigated. Pregnant/lactating (PL) does increased their feed intake above pregnant lactating does. Dry matter (DM) digestibility was higher in pregnant does than in lactating, PL or open does. Digestibility of crude fibre, crude protein (CP) and nitrogen‐free extractives (NFE) were significantly higher for open and pregnant does than lactating and PL does. Ether extract (EE) digestibility was similar for pregnant, lactating and PL does. Digestible CP requirement of does increased with physiological state from open to PL states. Open and pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while lactating and PL does were not meeting their requirement. Feed intake was higher for first week pregnant, fourth week pregnant, first week lactating, first week pregnant/fourth week lactating and second week pregnant/fourth week lactating does than open does. DM digestibility was higher for first and fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. EE digestibility was similar for all physiological stages. CP digestibility was higher in fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. Fourth week pregnant does had higher NFE digestibility than first and fourth week lactating and the various stages of concurrent pregnant and lactating does. Open does, first and fourth week pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while does in the first and fourth week of lactating and stages of concurrent PL were not meeting their requirement.
In vivo metabolic effects of naringenin in the ethanol consuming rat and the effect of naringenin on adipocytes in vitro
Authors: Szkudelska K. , Nogowski L. , Nowicka E. , Szkudelski T. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryNaringenin is a bioactive flavanone involved in the inhibition of drug metabolism which exhibits antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anticancerogenic properties and which recently appeared to be a factor mitigating the hyperlipidaemic effects in rats and rabbits. In the performed experiment, the effect of naringenin, administered intragastrically (50 mg/kg) for 2 weeks to normal and ethanol drinking rats, on insulin and leptin levels and on some metabolic parameters was investigated. Naringenin did not change the hormone levels in any group of rats. Blood glucose, triglyceride, total, esterified and free cholesterol and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol concentrations were also unaffected by this compound. Only free fatty acids were elevated after the naringenin treatment in the water‐drinking rats. In spite of unchanged glucose and insulin concentrations in blood, the tested flavanone reduced the glucose/insulin ratio in ethanol‐receiving rats. Liver triglycerides, elevated due to ethanol ingestion, were partially normalized by naringenin. Other tested parameters like liver glycogen and cholesterol, muscle triglycerides and glycogen were not altered in any group of rats. The influence of naringenin (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 μm) on basal and insulin‐stimulated glucose conversion to lipids (lipogenesis) as well as on basal and epinephrine‐stimulated glycerol release (lipolysis) in the isolated rat adipocytes was also tested. The basal and the stimulated lipogenesis tended to be decreased in the presence of the flavanone (250 μm). This inhibitory effect intensified and was statistically significant at the highest concentration of naringenin. The tested compound did not evoke any effect on basal lipolysis while the epinephrine‐stimulated process was limited at the highest concentration of the flavanone. Naringenin (62.5, 125, 250 and 500 μm) had no effect on leptin secretion from the isolated rat adipocytes. Results obtained in our studies demonstrate that naringenin exerts a very weak influence on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of normal and ethanol‐consuming rats and on metabolism of isolated rat adipocytes.