bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
P‐2 COMPLETING THE AUDIT CYCLE OF NON‐GYNAECOLOGIC CYTOLOGY TURNAROUND TIMES
Authors: Li C. , Rana D. N. , Desai M. 
Published: August 2006

Objective:  This is the re‐audit to examine whether the guidelines set after the last audit in 2002 have been implemented and followed. The initial audit concluded that the average turnaround time for reporting non‐gynaecologic cytology samples was 7 days and there was a wide variation in turnaround times between pathologists due to the practice of delayed electronic authorisation. It recommended that all cases should be electronically authorised by the reporting pathologist before a hard copy report was issued and guidelines for turnaround times should be set. These guidelines recommend turnaround times to report non‐gynaecologic cytology specimens of 3 days for urgent, 5 days for routine and 10 days for those specimens requiring ancillary tests.Audit method:  Retrospective evaluation was carried out on non‐gynaecologic cytology specimens reported from 1st August to 31st October 2005.Results:  A total of 718 non‐gynaecologic cases were reported during the 3‐month period by two cytopathologists. The largest proportion of the specimens was urine (40%), followed by FNA (24.9%), serous fluids (20.6%), respiratory specimens (7.4%), miscellaneous specimens (4.3%) including external referred cases, bile duct and oesophageal brushings, and peritoneal washings (2.8%). The mean turnaround time was 3.7 calendar days (Saturdays and Sundays were included). Over a quarter (25.2%) of the cases were reported within 1 day, and nearly half (48.6%) were reported within 2 days. Eighty‐four percent of the specimens had a turnaround time of 5 days or less and 95% were reported within 10 calendar days. Urine samples took the shortest time to report (2.6 days), followed by respiratory specimens (3.8 days), peritoneal washings and FNA (both 4 days), miscellaneous cases (4.2 days) and serous fluids (5.2 days). The reasons for the 5% specimens showing turnaround times of over 10 days were multifactoral, such factors included having to request cell blocks and/or immunohistochemical stains, having to contact the clinicians for additional information, having to retrieve prior case material for review, and external referred cases.Conclusions:  These findings have demonstrated the value of completing the audit cycle. The re‐audit has demonstrated the improvement in the reporting time of non‐gynaecologic cytology specimens from 7 days to 3.7 days due to the guidelines produced following the initial audit.
P‐25 DOES THE PRESENCE OF KOILOCYTES IN A BNA SMEAR AFFECT CLINICAL OUTCOMES?
Authors: Alexander L. , Cotton S. C. , Gallager M. E. , Duncan I. , Henderson S. , Reid G. , Robertson A. 
Published: August 2006

Introduction:  There is ongoing debate about the terminology used in the classification of dyskaryosis, including whether BNA smears should be classified according to whether koilocytes are present or not. We explored the effect of koilocytosis in the management experiences and clinical outcomes of women with a single BNA smear.Methods:  This study includes 410 women aged 20–59 years, resident in Tayside who had an ‘baseline’ BNA smear between 31/10/1999 and 31/10/2002 who were eligible for the TOMBOLA trial but who did not participate. Recommended follow‐up for these women was a repeat smear in six months. Up to three‐years follow‐up data was collected on subsequent cytological smears, colposcopy examinations and any related histology. The baseline smear was re‐read for the presence or absence of koilocytes. Women were classified according to their clinical outcomes during their three years.Results:  47% (192/410) of women were classified as having koilocytosis at baseline. The mean age was lower among these women (25 years) compared to those without koilocytosis (35 years). 55% (105/192) of women with koilocytosis at baseline had one or more negative smears and no further abnormal smears, compared to 63% (137/218) of those without koilocytosis, the difference was not statistically significant. 28% (53/192) of women with koilocytosis at baseline were referred to colposcopy after subsequent low‐grade or high‐grade smears compared to 19% (42/218) of those without koilocytosis; the difference was statistically significant. 14% (27/192) of women with koilocytosis at baseline were diagnosed with CIN2/3 or worse during follow‐up compared to 10% (21/218) of women without koilocytosis; the difference was not statistically significant.Discussion:  Our results suggest that the presence or absence of koilocytosis has little impact on the clinical outcomes of women with a BNA smear.
P‐27 ATYPICAL GLANDULAR CELLS ON SMEAR – AGE RELATED IMPLICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT
Authors: Tan L. , McCarthy J. , Lyons D. 
Published: August 2006

Introduction:  Atypical glandular cells on smear constitute 0.05–0.1% of all smears. The incidence appears to be rising and presents a diagnostic dilemma. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of age on disease distribution and management options.Methods:  All patients presenting with atypical glandular cells on smear from January 2000 to December 2004 were analysed. All these smears were conventional smears (none LBC). Smear suggesting borderline changes in glandular cells were not included. We analysed the histopathological outcomes in patients with reference to age. Two groups were taken (a) Patients </= to 35 years old; (b) Patients > 36 years old. These age groups were taken as per BSCCP Guidelines, patients </= 35 years old are treated with conisation differently (1cm above SCJ) to patients >36 years olds (2 cm deep).Results:  A total of 75 women were referred, 49 women > 36 years old, 26 women were </= 35 years old PPV for abnormal glandular cells was much higher in ladies >36 years old. 3/49 patients >36 years old showed no evidence of malignancy on further testing whereas 34% showed no evidence of malignancy in patients </= 35 years old. In women </= 35 years old no endometrial pathology was seen. There is an almost equal distribution of cervical versus extracervical disease women > 36 years old.Conclusions:  This study suggests that ladies > 36 years old should have investigations to exclude extrauterine pathology whereas in ladies </= 35 years old may not require, these as cervical lesions were only identified in this group.
Root canal morphology of mandibular incisors in a Jordanian population
Authors: Al‐Qudah A. A. , Awawdeh L. A. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAim  To investigate the root canal morphology of mandibular incisors in a Jordanian population using a canal staining and tooth‐clearing technique.Methodology  Four hundred and fifty extracted mandibular incisors were collected from dental clinics within north Jordan. Following pulp tissue removal and staining of the canal systems, the teeth were decalcified with 5% nitric acid, dehydrated with ascending concentrations of alcohol and rendered clear by immersion in methyl salicylate. Cleared teeth were examined by eye and the following features were evaluated: (i) number and type of root canals; (ii) presence and location of lateral canals and intercanal communications; (iii) location of apical foramina; and (iv) frequency of apical deltas.Results  The majority of mandibular incisors had a single canal (73.8% of teeth possessed a Type I canal system). Although 26.2% of the roots possessed two canals, only 8.7% had two separate apical foramina.Conclusions  The prevalence of two canals in this group of mandibular incisors was 26.2% and is within the range of previous studies performed on populations of different racial origin.
Microsatellite variation and differentiation in African and non‐African populations of Drosophila simulans
Authors: SCHÖFL GERHARD , SCHLÖTTERER CHRISTIAN 
Published: August 2006

AbstractDrosophila simulans originated in sub‐Saharan Africa or Madagascar and colonized the rest of the world after the last glaciation about 10 000 years ago. Consistent with this demographic history, sub‐Saharan African populations have been shown to harbour higher levels of microsatellite and sequence variation than cosmopolitan populations. Nevertheless, only limited information is available on the population structure of D. simulans. Here, we analysed X‐linked and autosomal microsatellite loci in four sub‐Saharan African, one North African, one Israeli, and two European D. simulans populations. Bayesian clustering algorithms combined the North African, Israeli, and European populations into a single cosmopolitan group. The four sub‐Saharan populations were split into two separate groups. Pairwise FST analysis, however, indicated significant population differentiation between all eight populations surveyed. A significant signal for population reduction in cosmopolitan populations was found only for X‐linked loci.
The response regulator ResD modulates virulence gene expression in response to carbohydrates in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Larsen Marianne H. , Kallipolitis Birgitte H. , Christiansen Janne K. , Olsen John E. , Ingmer Hanne 
Published: August 2006

Summary Listeria monocytogenes is a versatile bacterial pathogen that is able to accommodate to diverse environmental and host conditions. Presently, we have identified a L. monocytogenes two‐component response regulator, ResD that is required for the repression of virulence gene expression known to occur in the presence of easily fermentable carbohydrates not found inside host organisms. Structurally and functionally, ResD resembles the respiration regulator ResD in Bacillus subtilis as deletion of the L. monocytogenes resD reduces respiration and expression of cydA, encoding a subunit of cytochrome bd. The resD mutation also reduces expression of mptA encoding the EIIABman component of a mannose/glucose‐specific PTS system, indicating that ResD controls sugar uptake. This notion was supported by the poor growth of resD mutant cells that was alleviated by excess of selected carbohydrates. Despite the growth deficient phenotype of the mutant in vitro the mutation did not affect intracellular multiplication in epithelial or macrophage cell lines. When examining virulence gene expression we observed traditional induction by charcoal in both mutant and wild‐type cells whereas the repression observed in wild‐type cells by fermentable carbohydrates did not occur in resD mutant cells. Thus, ResD is a central regulator of L. monocytogenes when present in the external environment.
Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the control of Giardia lamblia antigenic variation
Authors: Kulakova Liudmila , Singer Steven M. , Conrad John , Nash Theodore E. 
Published: August 2006

Summary Giardia lamblia, an intestinal dwelling protozoan parasite, undergoes surface antigenic variation where only one of an estimated 150 variant‐specific surface proteins (VSPs) is expressed and present on the surface at any one time. Transcriptional switching between VSPs results in replacement of one VSP by another. The mechanisms that control antigenic variation are poorly understood and difficult to study because there are multiple copies of each VSP and strong similarity with other VSPs. In order to study transcriptional regulation of one specific vsp, a haemagglutinin (HA) epitope‐tagged h7 was integrated into the G. lamblia GS genome. We show that HA‐tagged H7 undergoes antigenic variation in the same manner as native H7, also present in the GS genome. Control of expression of both HA‐tagged H7 and native H7 is independent of each other even though the genes and their surrounding 5′ and 3′ flanking sequences are virtually identical. Analysis of expressing and non‐expressing clones revealed an absence of HA‐tagged h7 gene rearrangements upon switching and acetylation of histone lysine residues within the 167 nucleotides 5′ to the expressed HA‐tagged h7 gene. Lack of vsp rearrangements and acetylation of expressed immediate upstream regions implicates involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in antigenic variation.
Polypeptide binding proteins: what remains to be discovered?
Authors: Fischer Gunter , Wawra Stephan 
Published: August 2006

SummaryMany proteins have developed the potential to sequester a client polypeptide chain in its various folding states as a specific intermolecular ligand and, thus, exhibit the properties of a holding chaperone. The resulting complexes can be of a diverse nature in terms of structure and reaction dynamics and are characterized on the basis of various microscopic properties including formation and decay of encounter and Michaelis complexes as well as reactant and product stability. Interpretation of the functional consequences of complex formation in the cell generally tends to be rather complicated, with notable exceptions including complexes formed during the reaction pathways of proteases, protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Peptide bond cis/trans isomerases take up an intermediate position among the poly(oligo)peptide binding proteins because, although the relationship between chain sequestration and catalysis of isomerization can easily be delineated in vitro, it is sometimes difficult to resolve in the cell. Time‐resolved studies on interactions involving peptide bond cis/trans isomerases have led to the establishment of generally applicable methods for studying protein–poly(oligo)peptide interactions that are capable of identifying new types of biocatalysis.
The role of nutrient regulation and the Gpa2 protein in the mating pheromone response of C. albicans
Authors: Bennett Richard J. , Johnson Alexander D. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryAlthough traditionally classified as asexual, the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans can undergo highly efficient mating. A key component of this mating is the response to pheromone, which is mediated by a conserved kinase cascade that transduces the signal from the pheromone receptor to a transcriptional response in the nucleus. In this paper we show (i) that the detailed response of C. albicans to the alpha pheromone differs among clinical isolates, (ii) that the response depends critically on nutritional conditions, (iii) that the entire response is mediated by the Ste2 receptor, and (iv) that, in terms of genes induced, the response to alpha pheromone in C. albicans shows only marginal overlap with the response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We further investigated the nutritional control of pheromone induction and identify the GPA2 gene as a critical component. We found that Δgpa2/Δgpa2 mutants are hypersensitive to pheromone and, unlike wild‐type strains, show efficient cell cycle arrest (including the formation of characteristic halos on solid medium) in response to mating pheromone. These results indicate that C. albicans, like several other fungal species but unlike S. cerevisiae, integrates signals from a nutrient‐sensing pathway with those of the pheromone response MAP kinase pathway to generate the final transcriptional response.
Ultrasonography in filaria‐infected rodents: detection of adult Litomosoides sigmodontis and Brugia malayi filariae
Authors: Mand S. , Specht S. , Zahner H. , Hoerauf A. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryObjective  To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography (USG) in the detection of adult filariae in rodents. Wuchereria bancrofti are frequently detected using USG in humans, whereas adult Brugia malayi have not been so far.Methods  A Meriones unguiculatus with Litomosoides sigmodontis infection was examined to visualize adult filariae of a similar length as W. bancrofti. Similarly, three Mastomys coucha, infected with B. malayi, were examined using USG to verify whether the adult worms, which are far smaller than W. bancrofti and L. sigmodontis, can be located using USG in the animals.Results  Adult L. sigmodontis were detected using USG in the pleural cavity of M. unguiculatus, and in M. coucha adult B. malayi were visualized in the hearts, lungs, axillary lymph nodes and scrotum. Ultrasound findings were verified by dissection of the rodents.Conclusions  Although adult B. malayi are far smaller than L. sigmodontis and W. bancrofti, they can be detected using USG in rodents. USG may serve as an adjunctive tool to support parasitological examinations and can add information on filarial infections at any time point of an observation period, particularly in cryptic infections and without the need for invasive measures or killing of the rodent. Thus, USG can support the early detection of macrofilaricidal activities of new compounds and can be used to determine the location of adult worms in the animals. It is possible to give a rough estimate of the number of adult worms, but determination of the exact numbers of adult filariae in various locations is impossible with USG.
Species diversity causing human cutaneous leishmaniasis in Rio Branco, state of Acre, Brazil
Authors: Tojal da Silva Anna Christina , Cupolillo Elisa , Volpini Ângela Cristina , Almeida Roque , Sierra Romero Gustavo Adolfo 
Published: August 2006

SummaryObjective  Information on Leishmania species diversity in western Brazilian Amazon and the clinical picture of human cutaneous leishmaniasis it causes is scarce. We describe clinical findings, diagnostic procedures and identification of Leishmania species in patients from that region.Methods  The sample consisted of 50 patients, prospectively evaluated for epidemiological and clinical characteristics by means of a structured questionnaire. Conventional and molecular tools were applied to confirm the parasitological diagnosis and identify the species responsible for the disease.Results  Patients were predominantly male (76.5%) and living in rural areas. Median average age was 18 years and median average disease evolution was 8 weeks. For the diagnostic procedures of leishmanin skin test, direct visualization of amastigotes in dermal scrapings and parasite culture of aspirates of the ulcer border were positive for 98%, 52% and 34%, respectively. Molecular methods applied to DNA extracted from skin biopsies of the 50 patients yielded 100%, 82% and 44% positivity by PCR minicircle kDNA, PCR‐RFLP ITS1rDNA and PCR‐glucose‐6‐phosphate (G6P), respectively. Fourteen samples from 13 patients were successfully isolated and identified. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, PCR‐RFLP ITS1rDNA and PCR‐G6P permitted identification of the Leishmania species responsible for the aetiology of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in 60% of the examined patients: 16 Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, 12 Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni, 1 Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis and 1 putative hybrid of Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi and L. (V.) lainsoni.Conclusion  The clinical and epidemiological behaviour of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Acre, Brazil, is similar to other Amazon scenarios previously described; however Acre's complex parasite diversity may be contributed to the concomitant circulation of at least three distinct Leishmania species. The implementation of control interventions in the studied area must take into consideration the possibility of various expected phlebotomine vectors and reservoirs.
Adaptive changes in serotonin neurons of the raphe nuclei in 5‐HT4 receptor knock‐out mouse
Authors: Conductier Grégory , Dusticier Nicole , Lucas Guillaume , Côté Francine , Debonnel Guy , Daszuta Annie , Dumuis Aline , Nieoullon André , Hen René , Bockaert Joël , Compan Valérie 
Published: August 2006

AbstractDecreased serotonin (5‐HT) transmission is thought to underlie several mental diseases, including depression and feeding disorders. However, whether deficits in genes encoding G protein‐coupled receptors may down‐regulate the activity of 5‐HT neurons is unknown currently. Based on recent evidence that stress‐induced anorexia may involve 5‐HT4receptors (5‐HT4R), we measured various aspects of 5‐HT function in 5‐HT4R knock‐out (KO) mice. When compared to dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) 5‐HT neurons from wild‐type mice, those from 5‐HT4R KO mice exhibited reduced spontaneous electrical activity. This reduced activity was associated with diminished tissue levels of 5‐HT and its main metabolite, 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid (5‐HIAA). Cumulative, systemic doses of the 5‐HT uptake blocker citalopram, that reduced 5‐HT cell firing by 30% in wild‐type animals, completely inhibited 5‐HT neuron firing in the KO mice. This effect was reversed by administration of the 5‐HT1A receptor (5‐HT1AR) antagonist, WAY100635, in mice of both genotypes. Other changes in DRN of the KO mice included increases in the levels of 5‐HT plasma membrane transporter sites and mRNA, as well as a decrease in the density of 5‐HT1AR sites without any change in 5‐HT1A mRNA content. With the exception of increased 5‐HT turnover index in the hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens and a decreased density of 5‐HT1AR sites in the dorsal hippocampus (CA1) and septum, no major changes were detected in 5‐HT territories of projection, suggesting region‐specific adaptive changes. The mechanisms whereby 5‐HT4R mediate a tonic positive influence on the firing activity of DRN 5‐HT neurons and 5‐HT content remain to be determined.
Contribution of spike timing to the information transmitted by HVC neurons
Authors: Huetz Chloé , Del Negro Catherine , Lebas Nicolas , Tarroux Philippe , Edeline Jean‐Marc 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIn many species, neurons with highly selective stimulus‐response properties characterize higher order sensory areas and/or sensory motor areas of the CNS. In the songbird nuclei, the responses of HVC (used as a proper name) neurons during playback of the bird's own song (BOS) are probably one of the most striking examples of selectivity for natural stimuli. We examined here to what extent spike‐timing carries information about natural and time‐reversed versions of the BOS. From a heterogenous population of 107 HVC neurons recorded in long‐day or short‐day conditions, a standard indicator of stimulus preference based on spike‐count (the d′ index) indicates that a limited proportion of cells can be classified as selective for the BOS (20% with a |d′| > 1). In contrast, quantifying the information conveyed by spike trains with the metric‐space of J.D. Victor & K.P Purpura [(1996) J. Neurophysiol., 76, 1310–1326] indicates that 62% of the cells display significant amounts of transmitted information, among which 77% are ‘temporal cells’. ‘Temporal cells’ correspond to cells transmitting significant amounts of information when spike‐timing is considered, whereas no information, or lower amounts of transmitted information, is obtained when only spike‐count is considered. Computing a correlation index between spike trains [S. Schreiber et al. (2003) Neurocomputing, 52–54,925–931] revealed that spike‐timing reliability is higher for the forward than for the reverse BOS, whatever the day length and the cell type are. Cells classified as selective in terms of spike‐counts (d′ index) had greater amounts of transmitted information, but cells classified as non‐selective (d′ < 0.5) can also transmit significant amounts of information. Thus, information theory methods demonstrate that a much larger proportion of neurons than expected based on spike‐count only participate in the discrimination between stimuli.