bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CLINICAL STUDY: Abnormalities in cortical and transcallosal inhibitory mechanisms in subjects at high risk for alcohol dependence: a TMS study
Authors: Muralidharan Kesavan , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Pal Pramod K. , Benegal Vivek 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTCentral nervous system (CNS) hyperexcitability and a resulting state of behavioral undercontrol are thought to underlie the vulnerability to early‐onset alcohol dependence (AD). The aim of this study was to explore the differences in the functioning of cortical inhibitory systems, utilizing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in subjects at high risk (HR) and low risk (LR) for AD and to examine the relationship between CNS inhibition and behavioral undercontrol. Right‐handed HR (n = 15) and LR (n = 15) subjects, matched for age, gender, height, weight and education, were assessed for psychopathology and family history of alcoholism using the Semi‐Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism and the Family Interview for Genetic Studies. Following single‐pulse TMS, an electromyogram recorded from the right opponens pollicis muscle was used to measure the silent periods at different stimulus intensities. HR subjects had significantly shorter contralateral and ipsilateral (iSP) silent periods and a relatively higher prevalence of ‘absent’ iSP. They had significantly higher mean externalizing symptoms scores (ESS) than LR subjects, and there was a significant negative correlation between iSP duration and ESS. These preliminary findings suggest that HR subjects have relative impairments in corticocortical and transcallosal inhibitory mechanisms. The consequent state of CNS hyperexcitability may be etiologically linked to the excess of externalizing behaviors observed in this population, which is thought to be a predisposition to a higher risk of developing early‐onset alcoholism.
The endocannabinoid system: emotion, learning and addiction
Authors: Moreira Fabrício A. , Lutz Beat 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe identification of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1 receptor) was the milestone discovery in the elucidation of the behavioural and emotional responses induced by theCannabis sativaconstituent Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol. The subsequent years have established the existence of the endocannabinoid system. The early view relating this system to emotional responses is reflected by the fact thatN‐arachidonoyl ethanolamine, the pioneer endocannabinoid, was named anandamide after the Sanskrit word ‘ananda’, meaning ‘bliss’. However, the emotional responses to cannabinoids are not always pleasant and delightful. Rather, anxiety and panic may also occur after activation of CB1 receptors. The present review discusses three properties of the endocannabinoid system as an attempt to understand these diverse effects. First, this system typically functions ‘on‐demand’, depending on environmental stimuli and on the emotional state of the organism. Second, it has a wide neuro‐anatomical distribution, modulating brain regions with different functions in responses to aversive stimuli. Third, endocannabinoids regulate the release of other neurotransmitters that may have even opposing functions, such as GABA and glutamate. Further understanding of the temporal, spatial and functional characteristics of this system is necessary to clarify its role in emotional responses and will promote advances in its therapeutic exploitation.
New host and country records of the Dothistroma needle blight pathogens from Europe and Asia
Authors: Barnes I. , Kirisits T. , Akulov A. , Chhetri D. B. , Wingfield B. D. , Bulgakov T. S. , Wingfield M. J. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryDothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious disease of pines (Pinus spp.), with a worldwide distribution. It is caused by the ascomycete fungi Dothistroma septosporum (teleomorph: Mycosphaerella pini) and Dothistroma pini (teleomorph unknown). Recently, DNB was found on Pinus peuce in Austria, Pinus pallasiana in Ukraine and the European part of south‐western Russia, as well as on Pinus radiata and Pinus wallichiana in Bhutan. Based on DNA sequence comparisons of the internal transcribed spacer and β‐tubulin gene regions, isolates from Austria and Bhutan were identified as D. septosporum, while isolates from Ukraine and south‐western Russia were identified as D. pini. Additional isolates studied from Pinus mugo in Hungary confirmed the presence of D. septosporum in this country. The record of D. septosporum on exotic P. peuce in Austria represents a new host report of this needle blight pathogen in Europe. Likewise, DNB and the associated pathogen, D. septosporum are reported from Bhutan, eastern Himalayas, for the first time. In addition, D. pini was found in two European countries and on a new host, P. pallasiana. These European records represent the only reports of D. pini from outside the north‐central USA. Morphological examination of selected specimens from different hosts and countries showed that D. septosporum and D. pini overlap in the length of their conidia, while the width is slightly wider in D. pini than in D. septosporum. The differences in conidial width are so small, however, that identification of the two Dothistroma species solely based on morphology is virtually impossible. The new host and country records provided here are consistent with the continuing trend of reports of the DNB pathogens from new hosts and new geographical areas during the last two decades, particularly in the northern hemisphere.
Importance of Cryphonectria parasitica stromata production and intermediate‐pigmented isolates in spread of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 on grafted American chestnut trees
Authors: Hogan E. P. , Griffin G. J. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryLarge, surviving American chestnut trees, grafted in 1980, were inoculated in 1982 and 1983 with four ‘white’ European (French and Italian) hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria parasitica infected with Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1). Spread of Italian CHV1‐Euro7, indicated by nucleotide sequence analysis of CHV1 isolates, and a high level of blight control, occurred on these trees for over 20 years. However, the means by which CHV1 spreads and the possible role of stromata production in that spread are unknown. In this study, 249 C. parasitica isolates were recovered from stromata excised from natural cankers on the grafted trees and plated on an agar medium; 5.2% of the stromata yielded white phenotype isolates, 9.2% yielded intermediate‐pigmented isolates (30–70% pigmentation) and the remainder were normal‐pigmented isolates. For comparison, cankers artificially established on blight‐free, forest‐clear‐cut American chestnut trees, following inoculation with three Italian white hypovirulent strains, were evaluated in a similar manner. Of 241 C. parasitica isolates recovered from stromata, 66.4% had a white colony phenotype, 19.1% had an intermediate‐pigmented phenotype and the remainder were normal‐pigmented isolates. For single conidia collected from stromata and plated, nearly equal frequencies of only white and intermediate‐pigmented colony phenotypes were obtained. Following dsRNA extraction and electrophoresis, 21 of 33 intermediate‐pigmented isolates were positive for CHV1. Some normal pigmented isolates also were positive for CHV1. Single‐sporing a CHV1‐positve, normal‐pigmented, natural‐canker, stroma isolate (Str 1) from the grafts resulted in several deeply red‐orange pigmented (JR) isolates as well as some white isolates. The dsRNA in the JR isolate was extracted and cDNAs made by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for part of a region (p29) in ORF A. Nucleotide sequencing indicated 100% identity to CHV1 present in the inoculated Italian white strain, Ep 47. The results indicate that stromata production on the grafted trees may contribute to CHV1 spread, and the presence of CHV1 in intermediate‐pigmented isolates and some normal pigmented isolates indicates these isolates, often overlooked, may be important in CHV1 spread and the high level of blight control on the grafted trees.
Habitat and management affect genetic structure ofFestuca pratensisbut notLolium multiflorumecotype populations
Authors: Peter‐Schmid M. K. I. , Boller B. , Kölliker R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractGenetic diversity present in permanent grassland may be valuable for broadening gene pools in breeding programmes and for conservation of genetic resources. However, little is known about the amount of genetic diversity present at specific habitats and about site‐related factors affecting it. To identify valuable habitats, genetic diversity of 12 ecotype populations and four reference cultivars of bothFestuca pratensisHuds. andLolium multiflorumLam. was analysed using Simple sequence repeat markers (SSR). Analysis of molecular variance revealed a larger within population variation forL. multiflorum(97.1%) than forF. pratensis(92.6%).F. pratensisecotype populations were clearly separated from cultivars and formed three distinct subclusters according to the geographic regions they were sampled from. Differences betweenL. multiflorumecotype populations and cultivars were small and no grouping of populations was observed. Thus, onlyF. pratensisecotype populations were structured and habitat as well as management had a slight influence on genetic structure. This information may allow the design of individual strategies for targeted utilization of genetic resources in plant breeding programmes.
Chromosome location and microsatellite markers linked to a powdery mildew resistance gene in wheat line ‘Lankao 90(6)’
Authors: Niu J. S. , Wang B. Q. , Wang Y. H. , Cao A. Z. , Qi Z. J. , Shen T. M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWheat lines known as ‘Lankao 90(6)’, derived from the cross ‘Mzalenod Beer’ (hexaploid triticale)/‘Baofeng 7228’//‘90 Xuanxi’, carry a recessive powdery mildew resistance gene temporarily named PmLK906. Gene PmLK906 appears to be different from known wheat powdery mildew resistance genes. PmLK906 was tagged using microsatellite markers in a segregating population derived from the cross ‘Chinese Spring’/‘Lankao 90(6)21‐12’. The dominant microsatellite marker Xgwm265‐2AL was linked in repulsion with PmLK906 at a genetic distance of 3.72 cM, whereas the co‐dominant Xgdm93‐2AL was linked to PmLK906 at a genetic distance of 6.15 cM. Both markers were placed on chromosome arm 2AL using ‘Chinese Spring’ nulli‐tetrasomic lines. The recessive PmLK906 has a different specificity to the dominant resistance alleles located at the Pm4 locus and appeared to be located to a locus different from Pm4.
Genetic diversity in soybean genotypes from north‐eastern China and identification of candidate markers associated with maturity rating
Authors: Li W. , Han Y. , Zhang D. , Yang M. , Teng W. , Jiang Z. , Qiu L. , Sun G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractRandom amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to estimate the genetic relationships among 101 soybean cultivars developed in north‐eastern China. Fifty‐three fragments of the 100 RAPD markers and 35 SSR markers tested were polymorphic across the 101 soybean cultivars. Similarity values among these soybean cultivars ranged from 45.2% to 100% for RAPD data, and ranged from 36.1% to 100% for SSR data. The similarity matrices for SSR data and RAPD data were moderately correlated (r = 0.31, P < 0.05). Cluster analyses indicated that the cultivars released from the same seed company were mostly grouped together. A principal component analysis, based on the combined RAPD and SSR data, yielded a good separation of soybean varieties with different maturity ratings [represented by soybean Heat Unit (HU)]. The varieties with HU < 2200 were well separated from those with HU > 2200. Four RAPD markers and eight SSR markers were significantly associated with the maturity ratings of soybean.
Painful digital infarction in a male smoker treated as Buerger's disease
Authors: Foley Susan , Gibbs Harry , Muir James 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYA 40‐year‐old male smoker presented with a 3‐week history of painful digital infarction involving the hands. Histology was unhelpful, showing lichen simplex chronicus. A provisional diagnosis of a vasculitic disease was made. Treatment included aspirin, azathioprine, iloprost, methylprednisolone, nifedipine and prednisolone. After failure of these treatments an alternative clinical diagnosis of Buerger's disease was made. Treatment was to advise the patient of the importance of continuing to abstain from smoking, to perform bilateral video‐assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomies and to commence folate supplementation. This led to marked improvement of his symptoms and healing of the digital infarction.
Acitretin for lichen amyloidosus
Authors: Choi James YJ , Sippe John , Lee Stephen 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYWe present two cases of lichen amyloidosus treated with retinoids. A 57‐year‐old Vietnamese woman has had extensive generalized recalcitrant lichen amyloidosus for 23 years. Treatment with oral etretinate (25 mg/day) for 3 years, and later oral acitretin (10 mg/day) for the past 10 years, has controlled the pruritus and flattened the hyperkeratotic papules. Whenever the acitretin was ceased her symptoms flared within weeks. On each occasion reintroduction of acitretin was effective within 1–2 months. The second case is that of a 51‐year‐old Australian Aboriginal woman who had a 2‐year history of lichen amyloidosus affecting her lower legs. A 2‐month course of oral acitretin (25 mg b.d.) produced a marked improvement in both the pruritus and hyperkeratotic papules. She was then lost to follow up for 2 years, during which time her symptoms recurred.
Erythroplasia of Queyrat of the glans penis on a background of Zoon's plasma cell balanitis
Authors: Starritt Emma , Lee Stephen 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYErythroplasia of Queyrat of the glans penis developed in a 79‐year‐old uncircumcised man on a background of biopsy proven Zoon's plasma cell balanitis affecting the same site on the glans. The Zoon's plasma cell balanitis had been treated with topical pimecrolimus for 1 month prior to the development of clinically evident erythroplasia of Queyrat. He was subsequently treated with topical 5‐fluorouracil 5% for 2 weeks, which resulted in clinical clearance. He has since been circumcised.
Effect and persistency of botulinum toxin iontophoresis in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis
Authors: Davarian Sanaz , Kalantari Khosro K , Rezasoltani Asghar , Rahimi Abbas 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYThe purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and persistence of the hypohidrosis induced by iontophoresis of botulinum toxin type A in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. Eight patients with severe palmar hyperhidrosis participated in this study. Iontophoresis of botulinum toxin was applied to the patients' dominant (right) hand and the other hand was the control treated with normal saline. Gravimetry and iodine–starch tests were performed to evaluate the rate of sweating. The evaluation sessions were at baseline, 2 and 4 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. The patients were also asked to fill out the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. The mean sweating rate significantly reduced at the first, second, third and fourth week and the second and third month (P < 0.05) after the treatment in the right hand, and the third and fourth week (P < 0.05) after treatment in the left hand. Iontophoresis of botulinum toxin rapidly induced a quick reduction of sweating rate for at least 3 months with no pain, muscle weakness or other side‐effects.
Perceptions of adolescents on overweight and obesity: The weight of opinion study
Authors: Booth Michael L , Wilkenfeld Rachel L , Pagnini Deanna L , Booth Susan L , King Lesley A 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  The incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity are rising around the world. Health promotion planning must be informed by the knowledge, perceptions, motivations and perceived needs of the target population, but little is known about how adolescents perceive overweight and obesity, its causes and solutions.Methods:  A cross‐sectional, non‐representative sample of 12‐ to 17‐year‐old boys and girls (n = 58) attending schools in diverse metropolitan areas and one rural area in NSW, Australia. Focus groups were conducted in 2005 and content analysis was used to identify key themes.Results:  The students were aware that overweight was becoming increasingly common. They perceived the negative consequences primarily in psycho‐social terms, but were also aware of the long‐term physical health consequences. Behaviours, appearance, motivation and self‐esteem were used as criteria to judge if a person was overweight and the students distinguished between ‘healthy’ and ‘ideal’ (physically attractive) weight. The major barriers to maintaining a healthy weight were home, school and community environments in which fatty/high sugar foods were too easily accessible and where opportunities for participating in physical activity were sometimes limited. Student‐identified strategies to address the issue encompassed government policy, advertising and media, schools and home.Conclusions:  The students have a mature and complex understanding of overweight and its potential solutions, making them likely to be creative contributors and responsive to wide‐ranging, multi‐component interventions.
Procalcitonin is a valuable prognostic marker in ARDS caused by community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: TSENG Jeng‐Sen , CHAN Ming‐Cheng , HSU Jeng‐Yuan , KUO Benjamin Ing‐Tiau , WU Chieh‐Liang 
Published: April 2008

Background and objective:  ARDS is life‐threatening acute respiratory failure, and pneumonia is one of the most common causes of direct ARDS. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been evaluated for its utility in determining the aetiology of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP), choice of antibiotics and prediction of outcome. This study evaluated the role of PCT in predicting the outcome of patients with ARDS caused by severe CAP.Methods:  This was a prospective observational study conducted from September 2002 to December 2003. The plasma PCT was analysed at baseline, 24 and 72 h after enrolment and measured by ELISA.Results:  Of the 22 patients with ARDS caused by CAP and enrolled in the study, 17 (77.3%) were alive 14 days after admission and five (22.7%) had died. The survivors had lower APACHE II scores (22.2 ± 4.6 vs 30.6 ± 9.6, P = 0.031), pneumonia severity index (141.9 ± 2.2 vs 195.6 ± 23.8, P = 0.005) and lower plasma PCT at baseline (9.83 ± 3.54 vs 106.70 ± 67.86, P = 0.004), at 24 h (10.51 ± 5.39 vs 81.32 ± 57.68, P = 0.014) and at 72 h (2.03 ± 0.76 vs 19.57 ± 6.67, P = 0.005).Conclusion:  PCT analysed within 72 h of the onset of ARDS predicted mortality of patients with ARDS caused by severe CAP.
Risk of respiratory syncytial virus in survivors with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Masumoto Kouji , Nagata Kouji , Uesugi Toru , Yamada Tomomi , Kinjo Tadamune , Hikino Shunji , Hara Toshiro , Taguchi Tomoaki 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: During the follow‐up period in surviving patients with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), respiratory complications, such as recurrence of CDH or chronic lung disease, have been reported to occur as a late complication. Although some risk factors for deterioration of respiratory condition have been reported in CDH, the risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in postoperative CDH patients has not as yet been reported upon.Methods: In 21 survivors with severe CDH, which had been detected antenatally, and whose lung:thoracic ratio was <0.2, the risk of RSV infection in those patients was investigated.Results: Five survivors with severe CDH had RSV infection and three patients needed hospitalization due to bronchiolitis during the follow‐up period. In two patients the recurrence of CDH after the infection resulted in the need to perform a re‐operation for CDH. All patients often suffered from chronic wheezing requiring medication after the first RSV infection.Conclusion: RSV infection is a risk for deterioration of postoperative respiratory condition in severe CDH survivors. Considering the presence of pulmonary hypoplasia in severe CDH, the routine use of monoclonal antibody for RSV (palivizumab) might be effective for patients with severe CDH in the high season of RSV, similar to the patients with chronic lung disease, although further large multicenter studies are needed to clarify this hypothesis.
Usefulness of single photon emission computed tomography imaging in the detection of lumbar vertebral metastases from prostate cancer
Authors: Nozaki Tetsuo , Yasuda Kenji , Akashi Takuya , Fuse Hideki 
Published: April 2008

Objective:  To determine whether single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is useful in the detection of prostate cancer bone metastases in the lumbar vertebrae.Methods:  Thirty‐nine patients (12 with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 27 with prostate cancer) were considered and submitted to bone SPECT. All of them had increased uptake in lumbar vertebrae on bone scintigraphy. In those with prostate cancer, definitive diagnosis of bone metastases was established by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SPECT axial images were classified into five accumulation patterns: mosaic, large hot, diffuse, peripheral, and articular (or pediculate). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of bone SPECT were calculated.Results:  Overall, 116 vertebral lesions (49 metastatic, 67 degenerative) were studied. Mosaic, large hot and diffuse patterns were more frequently associated with metastatic lesions (84.2%, 70.3%, and 63.1% of the cases, respectively). On the other hand, peripheral and articular (or pediculate) patterns were mostly ascribed to degenerative lesions (100% and 87.5% of the cases, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of bone SPECT were 95.9% (47/49), 73.1% (49/67), 72.3% (47/65), and 96.1% (49/51), respectively.Conclusions:  Bone SPECT provides better accuracy than bone scintigraphy in differential diagnosis of lumbar vertebral lesions from prostate cancer.
Prediction of extraprostatic extension by prostate specific antigen velocity, endorectal MRI, and biopsy Gleason score in clinically localized prostate cancer
Authors: Nishimoto Koshiro , Nakashima Jun , Hashiguchi Akinori , Kikuchi Eiji , Miyajima Akira , Nakagawa Ken , Ohigashi Takashi , Oya Mototsugu , Murai Masaru 
Published: April 2008

Objectives:  To investigate the clinical value of prostate specific antigen velocity (PSAV) in predicting the extraprostatic extension of clinically localized prostate cancer.Methods:  One hundred and three patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer were included in the analysis. The correlation between preoperative parameters, including PSA‐based parameters, clinical stage, and histological biopsy findings, and the pathological findings were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify a significant set of independent predictors for the local extent of the disease.Results:  Sixty‐four (60.2%) patients had organ confined prostate cancer and 39 (39.8%) patients had extraprostatic cancer. The biopsy Gleason score, PSA, PSA density, PSA density of the transition zone, and PSAV were significantly higher in the patients with extraprostatic cancer than in those with organ confined cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the biopsy Gleason score, endorectal magnetic resonance imaging findings, and PSAV were significant predictors of extraprostatic cancer (P < 0.01). Probability curves for extraprostatic cancer were generated using these three preoperative parameters.Conclusions:  The combination of PSAV, endorectal magnetic resonance imaging findings, and biopsy Gleason score can provide additional information for selecting appropriate candidates for radical prostatectomy.