bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TECHNICAL ADVANCE: Indel arrays: an affordable alternative for genotyping
Authors: Salathia Neeraj , Lee Hana N. , Sangster Todd A. , Morneau Keith , Landry Christian R. , Schellenberg Kurt , Behere Aditi S. , Gunderson Kevin L. , Cavalieri Duccio , Jander Georg , Queitsch Christine 
Published: July 2007

SummaryNatural variation and induced mutations are important resources for gene discovery and the elucidation of genetic circuits. Mapping such polymorphisms requires rapid and cost‐efficient methods for genome‐wide genotyping. Here we report the development of a microarray‐based method that assesses 240 unique markers in a single hybridization experiment at a cost of less than US$50 in materials per line. Our genotyping array is built with 70‐mer oligonucleotide elements representing insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphisms between the Arabidopsis thaliana accessions Columbia‐0 (Col) and Landsberg erecta (Ler). These indel polymorphisms are recognized with great precision by comparative genomic hybridization, eliminating the need for array replicates and complex statistical analysis. Markers are present genome‐wide, with an average spacing of approximately 500 kb. PCR primer information is provided for all array indels, allowing rapid single‐locus inquiries. Multi‐well chips allow groups of 16 lines to be genotyped in a single experiment. We demonstrate the utility of the array for accurately mapping recessive mutations, RIL populations and mixed genetic backgrounds from accessions other than Col and Ler. Given the ease of use of shotgun sequencing to generate partial genomic sequences of unsequenced species, this approach is readily transferable to non‐model organisms.
Intervention program to reduce waiting time of a dermatological visit: Managed overbooking and service centralization as effective management tools
Authors: Bibi Yuval , Cohen Arnon D. , Goldfarb Dan , Rubinshtein Elias , Vardy Daniel A. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Long waiting times are an impediment of dermatological patient care world‐wide, resulting in significant disruption of clinical care and frustration among carers and patients.Objective  To reduce waiting times for dermatological appointments.Methods  A focus group including dermatologists and management personnel reviewed the scheduling process, mapped potential problems and proposed a comprehensive intervention program. The two major approaches taken in the intervention program were revision of the scheduling process by managed overbooking of patient appointments and centralization of the dermatological service into a centralized dermatological clinic.Results  Following the intervention program, the average waiting time for dermatological appointments decreased from 29.3 to 6.8 days. The number of scheduled appointments per 6 months rose from 17,007 to 20,433. Non‐attendance proportion (no‐show) decreased from 33% to 28%. Dermatologist work‐hours were without significant change.Conclusions  Waiting lists for dermatological consultations were substantially shortened by managed overbooking of patient appointments and centralization of the service.
Epidermal nevus syndrome
Authors: Chatproedprai Susheera , Wananukul Siriwan , Prasarnnaem Thanaboon , Noppakun Nopadon 
Published: July 2007

AbstractEpidermal nevus syndrome is a group of congenital neurocutaneous disorders characterized by epidermal nevi in association with cerebral, ocular, skeletal, and sometimes cardiac and renal abnormalities. These nevi have been classified according to their predominant component. We described a child presenting with inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus on the head, which is an uncommon location. He also encountered ocular and central nervous system structural disorders.
Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis recidivans with a combination of allopurinol and meglumine antimoniate: a clinical and histologic study
Authors: Esfandiarpour Iraj , Dabiri Shahriar H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic disease in Iran, particularly in Kerman Province. Leishmaniasis recidivans (LR) is one of the characteristics of this disease with a chronic course. Most patients with LR are resistant to the usual treatments.Methods  Thirty‐two patients (18 females and 14 males), suffering from LR, whose disease had been demonstrated by previous direct smears or skin biopsies, were included in this study in Kerman. The duration of disease in all patients was more than 1.5 years, and they had all previously received various drugs for their disease. All patients were treated with a combination of oral allopurinol (20 mg/kg for 30 days) and intramuscular injection of meglumine antimoniate (50 mg/kg for 15 days) and were followed up for 2 years. Skin biopsies were obtained from the skin lesions of nine cases at the beginning (baseline), during, and end of therapy. All patients were checked for complete blood count (CBC) and liver and kidney function tests on the first and last day of treatment.Results  All patients, except two (87.5%), responded well to treatment within 30 days. No significant side‐effects were observed. The disease of two patients (Cases 24 and 28) recurred 6 and 13 months after treatment, respectively. Histologic examination of nine cases during and at the end of therapy showed a progression to atrophied granulomata, more lymphocytic than histiocytic infiltration, and, finally, fibrosis replacing the granulomata.Conclusions  From the results of this study, a combination of allopurinol plus meglumine antimoniate may be considered as a highly effective treatment for LR.
Preprandial vs. postprandial pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Umezawa Yoshinori , Mabuchi Tomotaka , Ozawa Akira 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground Cyclosporine is usually administered after meals. Preprandial administration of cyclosporine has been shown to enhance drug absorption in patients with nephritic syndrome.Methods We compared the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine after preprandial and postprandial administration in patients with psoriasis. The study group comprised 12 patients (10 men and two women) with psoriasis vulgaris with a mean age of 47.1 years (range, 27–58 years). The subjects received an oral dose of cyclosporine microemulsion (Neoral®) once daily in the morning, either before or after breakfast. The mean dose of cyclosporine was 1.8 mg/kg/day (range, 1.0–2.8 mg/kg/day). Blood samples were collected immediately before and 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after treatment.Results After the postprandial administration of cyclosporine, the mean area under the drug concentration–time curve from 0 to 4 h after treatment (AUC0−4) was 1393.5 ng h/mL and the mean maximum drug concentration (Cmax) was 604.1 ng/mL. After preprandial administration, the mean AUC0−4was 2195.2 ng h/mL and the meanCmaxwas 1054.9 ng/mL. AUC0−4andCmaxwere significantly greater after preprandial administration of oral cyclosporine than after postprandial administration.Conclusions Our results suggest that the preprandial administration of cyclosporine enhances drug absorption in patients with psoriasis, potentially allowing the daily dose of cyclosporine to be reduced when compared with postprandial administration.
Familial keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans associated with woolly hair
Authors: Lacarrubba Francesco , Dall’Oglio Federica , Rossi Alfredo , Schwartz Robert A. , Micali Giuseppe 
Published: July 2007

AbstractKeratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD) is a rare inherited disorder of keratinization clinically characterized by diffuse follicular hyperkeratosis, progressive scarring alopecia of scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes, corneal dystrophy and photophobia. Woolly hair is a hereditary condition, transmitted as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait, usually seen in Caucasians at birth or shortly after, in which there are curly, thick, often heavily pigmented hairs. We report two cases, a son and his mother, in whom KFSD occurred in association with woolly hair. In addition, various dental anomalies, including agenesis, inclusions and teeth malformations, were present in the child. Interestingly, both patients simultaneously developed an inflammatory tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis. To our knowledge, the association of KFSD with woolly hair has not been described. The dental anomalies found in the child are intriguing, as they have never been reported previously in patients with KFSD. Finally, the concomitant onset of inflammatory tinea capitis in both patients may be explained by the enhanced susceptibility to fungal infection in keratinizing disorders.
Skin color measurement in Chinese female population: analysis of 407 cases from 4 major cities of China
Authors: Wei Liu , Xuemin Wang , Wei Lai , Li Li , Ping Zhang , Yanyu Wu , Ying Lu , Yan Li , Yan Tian , Yan Wu , Li Chen 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Color assessment of human skin is an important index both in dermatology and in cosmetology.Methods  Skin color measured in 407 Chinese women selected from four different cities in China is reported in the 1976 Commission International de L’eclairage (CIE)‐color space, according to the skin color typing method proposed by Chardon et al. in 1991. The skin color of buttocks and hands, which represent sun unexposed and exposed sites, respectively, were measured with a Minolta 2500d chromameter. Individual typology angle (ITA°) of each volunteer was calculated based on the measured L* and b* values and her skin complexion was graded accordingly.Results  The results show that most of the volunteers had a “light” skin color at their unexposed sites, namely grade II (65.5%), and then grade III (intermediate, 23.1%), and I (very light, 9.6%). The skin colors at exposed sites of the studied group were mainly grade III (intermediate, 45.7%), followed by grade IV (tan, 42.0%) and II (light, 7.9%). The difference among the investigated cities, the relationship between skin color and ages, and the complexion changes from unexposed site to exposed site were analyzed based on the data from the research.Conclusion  The authors believed that the present results might basically represent the complexion conditions of Chinese women.
Serum lipoprotein (a) levels and Behçet's disease: is there an association?
Authors: Balik Ozgul , Gur Gunes , Lenk Nurdan , Artuz Ferda , Alli Nuran 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder found in individuals with a particular genetic background. Hemostatic studies in BD support an imbalance towards a prothrombotic state at different levels. Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) has atherogenic and thrombogenic properties. It is mostly under genetic regulation. We investigated the possible relationship between Lp(a) and BD.Methods  Forty patients diagnosed with BD and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. The clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Serum total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and Lp(a) levels of the two groups were assessed and compared statistically.Results  All patients (100%) had oral aphthous ulcers. Thirty (75%) had genital ulceration, 37 (92.5%) had either erythema nodosum or papulopustular lesions, and 10 (25%) had eye involvement. Twelve (30%) had a positive pathergy test. Four (10%) had vascular involvement. The Lp(a) level of the patient population was 19.6 ± 18.8 mg/dL. This level was higher than that of the controls, but not statistically significant. The Lp(a) levels of the four patients with vascular complications were within normal limits.Conclusions  Lp(a) is of interest, as it is a genetically determined parameter that was found to be high in BD patients in our study group. The levels were independent of thrombotic complications, perhaps suggesting a different role for this lipoprotein in the etiopathogenesis of BD. Further studies with a larger number of patients are essential to discover the exact role of Lp(a) in BD.
Comparative evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of dermabrasion, dermabrasion combined with topical 5% 5‐fluorouracil cream, and dermabrasion combined with topical placentrex gel in localized stable vitiligo
Authors: Sethi Shweta , Mahajan Bharat Bhushan , Gupta Rajesh Rani , Ohri Ashish 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Vitiligo affects 1% of the world's population with a higher incidence in dark‐skinned individuals. Many medical treatments have been attempted with partial success, but recent focus has been on surgical techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the therapeutic efficacy of dermabrasion, dermabrasion combined with 5% 5‐fluorouracil cream, and dermabrasion combined with topical placentrex gel in the management of localized stable vitiligo.Methods  Thirty patients with localized stable vitiligo (at least three lesions each) were treated. After dermabrasion, a soframycin tulle dressing was placed on the first lesion, a topical 5% 5‐fluorouracil dressing on the second, and a topical placentrex gel dressing on the third for 7 days after the procedure, and the patients were followed up for 6 months.Results  The efficacy of treatment was highest (73.33%) and most rapid in lesions treated with dermabrasion combined with 5‐fluorouracil. Dermabrasion alone and dermabrasion combined with placentrex gel showed similar efficacy in localized stable vitiligo.Conclusion  Dermabrasion combined with 5‐fluorouracil is the most efficacious of the three treatment modalities studied.
Clinical pearl: the evaluation of the surface area of small pigmented lesions
Authors: Patel Asha R. , Vejjabhinanta Voraphol , Nouri Keyvan 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe ability to calculate the surface area of small pigmented lesions is an important assessment tool, especially if one is suspicious for malignancy. Calculation of the surface area can be an arduous task if one does not have a standard technique. This article is in regards to the inexpensive and relatively easy technique of calculating the surface area of small pigmented lesions. This technique is a unique method, not described in the literature before, and may be utilized by any dermatologist at any level of experience. Our method is presented because the calculation of small pigmented lesions is an important tool to utilize, especially in cases of skin carcinoma. This technique can also be modified to calculate the surface area of much larger lesions and therefore may have a broad clinical application in the field of dermatology and cutaneous surgery.
HLA class I and class II frequencies in patients with sarcoidosis from Croatia: role of HLA‐B8, −DRB1*0301, and −DQB1*0201 haplotype in clinical variations of the disease
Authors: Grubić Z. , Žunec R. , Peroš‐Golubičić T. , Tekavec‐Trkanjec J. , Martinez N. , Alilović M. , Smojver‐Ježek S. , Kerhin‐Brkljačić V. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSarcoidosis is an immune‐mediated, multiorgan, granulomatous disease triggered by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Numerous studies have reported about an association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles with sarcoidosis, with variation of alleles in different ethnic groups. Therefore, we investigated 142 Croatian sarcoidosis patients treated at the University Hospital for Lung Diseases ‘Jordanovac’, Zagreb, Croatia. Diagnosis was based on the presence of typical clinical features, chest X‐ray findings and biopsy evidence of granuloma. Patients and control subjects (n = 190) were typed for HLA class I antigens by serology, while for HLA class II, they were tested by the polymerase chain reaction‐sequence specific primers (PCR‐SSP) method. Results indicated that HLA‐B8, −DRB1*0301, and −DQB1*0201 positive patients have a significantly higher risk of acute onset of the disease (AOD), radiological stage I erythema nodosum (EN), Löfgren’s syndrome, no‐medicament therapy, and pulmonary sarcoidosis. On the other hand, the group of non‐treated patients (corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive) showed a significantly lower presence of HLA‐B15 antigen in comparison to controls and treated patients (P = 0.0490 and P = 0.0379, respectively) and for DRB1*04 specificity (P = 0.0078 and P = 0.0065, respectively). In the group of patients with AOD, those who were positive for DRB1*16 specificity have a statistically significant chance to develop EN, as opposed to those who are positive for DRB1*15 specificity.
The costs and benefits of resource sharing: reciprocity requires resource heterogeneity
Authors: WHITLOCK M. C. , DAVIS B. H. , YEAMAN S. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe evolution of resource sharing requires that the fitness benefits to the recipients be much higher than the costs to the giver, which requires heterogeneity among individuals in the fitness value of acquiring additional resources. We develop four models of the evolution of resource sharing by either direct or indirect reciprocity, with equal or unequal partners. Evolution of resource sharing by reciprocity requires differences between interacting individuals in the fitness value of the resource, and these differences must reverse although previous acts of giving are remembered and both participants survive. Moreover, inequality in the expected reproductive value of the interacting individuals makes reciprocity more difficult to evolve, but may still allow evolution of sharing by kin selection. These constraints suggest that resource sharing should evolve much more frequently by kin selection than by reciprocity, a prediction that is well supported by observations in the natural world.
Sexual conflict over care: antagonistic effects of clutch desertion on reproductive success of male and female penduline tits
Authors: SZENTIRMAI I. , SZÉKELY T. , KOMDEUR J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA fundamental tenet of sexual conflict theory is that one sex may increase its reproductive success (RS) even if this harms the other sex. Several studies supported this principle by showing that males benefit from reduced paternal care whereas females suffer from it. By investigating penduline titsRemiz pendulinusin nature, we show that parental conflict may be symmetric between sexes. In this small passerine a single female (or male) cares for the offspring, whereas about 30% of clutches are deserted by both parents. Deserting parents enhance their RS by obtaining multiple mates, and they reduce the RS of their mates due to increased nest failure. Unlike most other species, however, the antagonistic interests are symmetric in penduline tits, because both sexes enhance their own RS by deserting, whilst harming the RS of their mates. We argue that the strong antagonistic interests of sexes explain the high frequency of biparental desertion.
Evolutionary acceleration in the most endangered mammal of Canada: speciation and divergence in the Vancouver Island marmot (Rodentia, Sciuridae)
Authors: CARDINI A. , THORINGTON R. W. , POLLY P. D. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe Vancouver Island marmot is the most endangered mammal of Canada. Factors which have brought this population to the verge of extinction have not yet been fully elucidated, but the effects of deforestation and habitat fragmentation on survival rates, as well as those of variation in rainfall, temperature, snowpack depth and snowmelt strongly suggest that marmots on the island are struggling to keep pace with environmental changes. Genetic analyses, however, seem to indicate that the Vancouver Island marmot may merely represent a melanistic population of its parental species on the mainland. Were it not for its black pelage colour, it is unlikely that it would have attracted much attention as a conservation priority. Our study uses three‐dimensional coordinates of cranial landmarks to further assess phenotypic differentiation of the Vancouver Island marmot. A pattern of strong interspecific divergence and low intraspecific variation was found which is consistent with aspects of drift‐driven models of speciation. However, the magnitude of shape differences relative to the putatively neutral substitutions in synonymous sites of cytochrome b is too large for being compatible with a simple neutral model. A combination of bottlenecks and selective pressures due to natural and human‐induced changes in the environment may offer a parsimonious explanation for the large phenotypic differentiation observed in the species. Our study exemplifies the usefulness of a multidisciplinary approach to the study of biological diversity for a better understanding of evolutionary models and to discover aspects of diversity that may be undetected by using only a few genetic markers to characterize population divergence and uniqueness.
Sex‐specific plasticity of growth and maturation size in a spider: implications for sexual size dimorphism
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ‐MONTRAVETA C. , MOYA‐LARAÑO J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSex‐specific plasticity in body size has been recently proposed to cause intraspecific patterns of variation in sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We reared juvenile male and female Mediterranean tarantulas (Lycosa tarantula) under two feeding regimes and monitored their growth until maturation. Selection gradients calculated across studies show how maturation size is under net stabilizing selection in females and under directional selection in males. This pattern was used to predict that body size should be more canalized in females than in males. As expected, feeding affected male but not female maturation size. The sex‐specific response of maturation size was related to a dramatic divergence between subadult male and female growth pathways. These results demonstrate the existence of sex‐specific canalization and resource allocation to maturation size in this species, which causes variation in SSD depending on developmental conditions consistent with the differential‐plasticity hypothesis explaining Rensch's Rule.
Adaptive divergence within and between ecotypes of the terrestrial garter snake, Thamnophis elegans, assessed with FST‐QST comparisons
Authors: MANIER M. K. , SEYLER C. M. , ARNOLD S. J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractPopulations of the terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) around Eagle Lake in California exhibit dramatic ecotypic differentiation in life history, colouration and morphology across distances as small as a few kilometres. We assayed the role of selection in ecotypic differentiation in T. elegans using FST‐QST analysis and identified selective agents using direct and indirect observations. We extended the conventional implementation of the FST‐QST approach by using three‐level analyses of genetic and phenotypic variance to assess the role of selection in differentiating populations both within and between ecotypes. These results suggest that selection has driven differentiation between as well as within ecotypes, and in the presence of moderate to high gene flow. Our findings are discussed in the context of previous correlational selection analyses which revealed stabilizing and correlational selection for some of the traits examined.