bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple environmental signals required for embryo growth and germination of seeds of Selinum carvifolia (L.) L. and Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae)
Authors: Vandelook Filip , Bolle Nele , Van Assche Jozef A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractGermination and dormancy breaking requirements were studied in Selinum carvifolia (L.) L. and Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae). Seeds of these two species have an underdeveloped embryo and are morpho-physiologically dormant. The embryo does not start to grow until physiological dormancy is broken by cold stratification. Incubating seeds at fluctuating temperatures in the light, after cold stratification, had a stimulating effect on embryo growth and seed germination. Seeds of S. carvifolia and A. sylvestris have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy (MPD), since gibberellic acid (GA3) could substitute for cold stratification. This is the first report of non-deep simple MPD that is broken by cold stratification in the Apiaceae. Under natural conditions, physiological dormancy is broken by low temperature conditions during winter. Embryo growth and germination occur in a short time interval when temperatures start rising in early spring. Due to the fact that multiple environmental signals regulate dormancy, seedling emergence in these species is timed very accurately in spring.
Is operative delivery associated with postnatal back pain at eight weeks and eight months? A cohort study
Authors: PATEL ROSHNI R. , PETERS TIM J. , MURPHY DEIRDRE J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. Back pain is very common during pregnancy and postnatally, and is a serious cause of morbidity. This research investigates the prevalence of antenatal back pain and the associations between mode of delivery and postnatal back pain at 8 weeks and 8 months. Methods. A prospective population‐based cohort based in Avon, UK. Some 14,663 women were recruited antenatally, due between 1 April 1991 and 31 December 1992. Of these, 12,944 women with singleton, liveborn, term fetuses were included. Self‐reported postal questionnaires were used to assess back pain antenatally and postnatally. The main outcome measures were postnatal back pain at 8 weeks and 8 months. Results. Back pain was very common with a prevalence of 80% at 32 weeks antenatally. Postnatally, back pain affected 68% of women at 8 weeks, and 60% at 8 months. Postnatal back pain was not associated with elective or emergency caesarean section (e.g. adjusted 8 weeks OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.70, and OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.22, respectively) nor with assisted versus spontaneous vaginal delivery (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.20). Very similar patterns were observed at 8 months. Conclusions. Antenatal and postnatal back pain are common. Elective caesarean section does not protect against postnatal back pain. Neither emergency caesarean section nor assisted vaginal delivery increases the risk of postnatal back pain compared with spontaneous delivery.
FDG‐PET in cervical cancer: staging, re‐staging and follow‐up
Authors: BJURBERG MARIA , KJELLÉN ELISABETH , OHLSSON TOMAS , RIDDERHEIM MONA , BJURBERG MARIA , KJELLÉN ELISABETH , OHLSSON TOMAS , RIDDERHEIM MONA , BRUN EVA 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. Correctly visualising the extent of the disease in cervical cancer is difficult with today's conventional imaging modalities. This paper presents the interim analysis of an on‐going prospective study to evaluate the potential role of FDG‐PET with software fusion with CT images in 3 different clinical settings of cervical cancer. Methods. In Group 1, 10 patients with early stage cervical cancer underwent FDG‐PET 6 months after surgery. Group 2 consisted of 17 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who underwent FDG‐PET as part of the staging procedure. In Group 3, 12 patients with verified relapse and 3 patients with a strong suspicion thereof underwent FDG‐PET before starting any therapy. The FDG‐PET results were compared with the results of the standard conventional work‐up. All patients had a follow‐up time of at least 6 months. Results. All FDG‐PET scans in Group 1 were true negative. In Group 2, FDG‐PET detected previously unknown locations of metastases in 4 patients, and a synchronous pulmonary carcinoma in 1 patient, resulting in a change in treatment plan for 4 patients. One false negative FDG‐PET result was recorded. In Group 3, FDG‐PET results led to a change in treatment plan for 3 patients. Conclusions. We conclude that FDG‐PET provides crucial information in the pre‐treatment staging procedure in patients with locally advanced or relapsed cervical cancer. However, in the follow‐up of early cervix cancer, FDG‐PET 6 months post‐operatively offered no clinical benefit in this small group of patients.
Vascular endothelial growth factor +936 C/T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis in a Japanese population
Authors: IKUHASHI YOSHIYUKI , YOSHIDA SHIGEKI , KENNEDY STEPHEN , ZONDERVAN KRINA , TAKEMURA NAOYA , DEGUCHI MASASHI , OHARA NORIYUKI , MARUO TAKESHI 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in endometriosis patients is higher than controls, in serum and ascites, suggesting that VEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In this study, we investigated whether polymorphisms in the VEGF gene are associated with endometriosis in a Japanese population. Methods. Genotyping of VEGF −460 C/T, +405 G/C and +936 C/T polymorphisms were performed in 147 endometriosis cases diagnosed by laparotomy or laparoscopy at a university hospital, and 181 controls, by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We compared the genotype distribution and allele frequency of these 3 polymorphisms between endometriosis patients and controls. Results. No significant differences in the frequency and genotype distribution of VEGF −460 C/T, +405 G/C and +936 C/T polymorphisms were found between the endometriosis patients (all disease stages) and controls. However, a positive association was found between stage III–IV disease and the VEGF +936 T allele (p = 0.018). Conclusions. The VEGF +936 T allele is associated with an increased risk of stage III–IV endometriosis in a Japanese population.
First time mothers’ pregnancy and birth experiences varying by age
Authors: ZASLOFF EVA , SCHYTT ERICA , WALDENSTRÖM ULLA 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive picture of the young to the old first time mother as she presents to the clinician in terms of background, expectations, experiences and outcome of labour. Methods. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted, including 1,302 primiparous women recruited at their first booking visit, at 593 antenatal clinics in Sweden (97% of all clinics), during three 1‐week periods, evenly spread over 1 year in 1999 and 2000. Two questionnaires were posted and completed: in the second trimester and 2 months after the birth. Women were divided into 5 age groups, with women aged 26–29 as reference. Results. The very young women, aged 15–20 years, had the most negative expectations of the upcoming birth. During pregnancy they were more worried and a depressive mood was more common than in the reference group, as were social problems such as unemployment and lack of support. After the birth, they remembered being more afraid and experiencing more pain and lack of control during labour. In spite of this, their overall experience of childbirth did not differ from the reference group. In contrast, the oldest women, aged 35–43 years, did not have negative feelings about the upcoming birth during pregnancy, and did not remember being afraid or experiencing more pain than the reference group, but experienced childbirth overall as more difficult. Only 57% of the oldest women had a normal vaginal delivery compared with 77% of the youngest women. In addition, 7% of the newborns in the oldest group were transferred to the neonatal clinic after the birth, which was almost 3 times as often as in the reference group. Conclusion. This study showed that expectations and experiences of childbirth vary by maternal age. Whereas the youngest women were more exposed to social and psychological problems, which may have affected their expectations and experiences during labour, the oldest women may have suffered from the biological disadvantage of high maternal age, which is associated with a more complicated delivery. When looking back at labour and birth, the youngest women probably felt that the total experience was better than expected, whereas the opposite may have been the case for the oldest group.
Vaginal hysterectomy and oophorectomy in women with 12–20 weeks’ size uterus
Authors: SAHIN YILMAZ 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. To compare the surgical outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy and prophylactic oophorectomy in women with a uterine size<12 weeks’ gestation and 12–20 weeks’ gestation, without decensus. Methods. In this prospective comparative study, 241 consecutive vaginal hysterectomies were planned for women with benign disease of the uterus. All hysterectomies were performed by the same surgeon (author), and divided into 2 groups: a uterine weight >280 g (n = 83, 280–1150 g) and a uterine weight <280 g (n = 158). The 2 groups were compared for success rates of hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy vaginally, operative time, change in haemoglobin, haemorrhage, length of hospital stay, operative complications, and febrile morbidity. Results. All 241 hysterectomies were completed successfully vaginally, and no patients required laparotomy or additional procedures in both groups. No significant intra‐ and post‐operative complications requiring admission to the hospital were encountered in either group. Mean operating time was significantly longer in the uteri ≥280‐g group than in the <280‐g group (69.4±24.4 versus 108.2±41.2 min, p<0.0001). The rate of intraoperative haemorrhage (8.43 versus 1.2%) and the change in haemoglobin were significantly higher in the ≥280‐g group compared with the <280‐g group (p<0.01). Significant positive linear correlation between uterine weight and operative time was seen in all 241 hysterectomies (p<0.001). The rate of bilateral oophorectomy was similar between the uteri ≥280‐g group (89.8%) and the <280‐g group (92.9%). The main intraoperative complication of the 241 vaginal hysterectomies was bladder injury that occurred in 1 case (0.4%) in the <280‐g group. There were no statistically significant differences in intra‐ and post‐operative complications, febrile morbidity, and postoperative hospital stay between the groups. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that despite the prolonged operating time and increased intraoperative blood loss, vaginal hysterectomy can be safely performed on a large uterus. Routine bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy can be performed in all patients who have sufficiently long infundibulopelvic ligaments to permit removal of the entire ovary.
Oxidative stress markers in pregnant women who snore and fetal outcome: a case control study
Authors: KÖKEN GÜLENGÜL , KIR SAHIN FIGEN , COSAR EMINE , SAYLAN FILIZ , YILMAZ NIGAR , ALTUNTAS IRFAN , FIDAN FATMA , UNLU MEHMET , YILMAZER MEHMET 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. To determine the levels of oxidative stress markers in pregnant women who snore and compare with non‐snoring pregnant women. Fetal outcome of these 2 groups was also evaluated. Materials and methods. Prospective, case control study. Some 40 pregnant women who snored and 43 non‐snoring pregnant women were evaluated. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels of the 2 groups were studied. Infant birthweight, Apgar scores, and other indicators of fetal outcome were obtained. Results. The mean level of GSH‐Px was significantly lower in the pregnant women who snored (p = 0.005), while the mean level of MDA was significantly higher in this group (p = 0.005). Levels of MPO were comparable between the groups (p > 0.05). The pregnant women who snored did not have infants with evidence of an increase in compromised outcome. Conclusion. Although the pregnant women who snored had high levels of MDA, they did not appear to be at increased risk for delivering infants with fetal compromise.
Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4‐selective antagonist inhibits lipopolysaccharide‐induced cervical ripening in rabbits
Authors: FUKUDA YUKA , SUGIMURA MOTOI , SUZUKI KAZUNAO , KANAYAMA NAOHIRO 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. The purpose of this study was to examine whether EP4 as prostaglandin (PG) E2 receptor is involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cervical ripening. Methods. New Zealand White non‐pregnant rabbits were randomly allocated to 4 equal groups and treated with vaginal suppositories containing LPS with various concentrations of EP4‐selective antagonist once daily for 3 days, and then sacrificed for analysis. Analysis was performed in order to examine the inhibitory effect of EP4 antagonist on LPS‐induced cervical ripening. The expression of EP4 in a cervix treated with LPS was examined immunohistochemically. The percent of cervical extensibility in the segment of cervix as the tensile strength was determined with 5.8 g of constant perpendicular stretching. The ripening area of the cervix with edematous changes in H&E sections was calculated by a microscopic system with a computer‐assisted digital analyser. Type‐1 collagenase activity was determined in cervical tissue using FITC‐labelled type‐1 collagen. Results. Immunohistochemical study shows the positive staining of EP4 at the interstitial cells in the cervix treated with LPS. The extensibility, cervical edematous area and type‐1 collagenase activity are significantly reduced in the cervix treated with LPS in the presence of EP4 antagonist compared with that treated with LPS alone. Conclusions. These data implicates the EP4 as the PGE2 receptor involved in LPS‐induced cervical ripening.
Increased angiogenesis is associated with poor prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva
Authors: NÄYHÄ VEERA V. , STENBÄCK FREJ G. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground. Increased angiogenesis is associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation in many organs. The occurrence, characteristics and significance of angiogenesis in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma are less well known. Methods. In this study, vessel number as well as vessel size, vessel shape and vessel antibody staining intensity were determined in 23,091 vessels in CD34‐stained histological specimens of 42 patients by computer‐assisted quantitative image analysis methods and findings were related to tumor morphology, clinical characteristics and patient survival. Results. The 2‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 81.1 and 64.1%, respectively. High disease stage and high histological grade indicated poor prognosis. In an age‐adjusted multivariate analysis of stage, grade and extent of invasion, these variables compiled a statistically significant prognostic factor (p = 0.001). Tumor histopathological type was a prognostic factor in our study and keratinising tumors did significantly better. Large tumor size, but not depth of invasion, and spray type growth pattern also indicated poor survival. In an age‐adjusted multivariate analysis of stage, grade and extent of invasion, these variables compiled a statistically significant prognostic factor (p = 0.001), but none of these variables alone proved to be an independent prognostic factor. High vessel number and increased vessel size were also significant indicators of poor survival, as were vessel characteristics: vessel number, vessel size, vessel shape and staining intensity together. Conclusion. Increased angiogenesis and altered vessel characteristics were prognostic factors in determining patient survival in this study. Analysis of angiogenesis provided new information on tumor behaviour and provided markers for survival analysis in neoplasms classified by tumor type and growth pattern.
Prosody and its relationship to language in school‐aged children with high‐functioning autism
Authors: McCann Joanne , Peppé Susan , Gibbon Fiona E. , O'Hare Anne , Rutherford Marion 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground: Disordered expressive prosody is a widely reported characteristic of individuals with autism. Despite this, it has received little attention in the literature and the few studies that have addressed it have not described its relationship to other aspects of communication.Aims: To determine the nature and relationship of expressive and receptive language, phonology, pragmatics, and non‐verbal ability in school‐aged children with high‐functioning autism and to determine how prosody relates to these abilities and which aspects of prosody are most affected.Methods & Procedures: A total of 31 children with high‐functioning autism and 72 typically developing children matched for verbal mental age completed a battery of speech, language, and non‐verbal assessments and a procedure for assessing receptive and expressive prosody.Outcomes & Results: Language skills varied, but the majority of children with high‐functioning autism had deficits in at least one aspect of language with expressive language most severely impaired. All of the children with high‐functioning autism had difficulty with at least one aspect of prosody and prosodic ability correlated highly with expressive and receptive language. The children with high‐functioning autism showed significantly poorer prosodic skills than the control group, even after adjusting for verbal mental age.Conclusions: Investigating prosody and its relationship to language in autism is clinically important because expressive prosodic disorders add an additional social and communication barrier for these children and problems are often life‐long even when other areas of language improve. Furthermore, a receptive prosodic impairment may have implications not only for understanding the many functions of prosody but also for general language comprehension.
A Role for F-Actin in Hexokinase-Mediated Glucose Signaling
Authors: Balasubramanian Rajagopal , Karve Abhijit , Kandasamy Muthugapatti , Meagher Richard B. , Moore Brandon d. 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
HEXOKINASE1 (HXK1) from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) has dual roles in glucose (Glc) signaling and in Glc phosphorylation. The cellular context, though, for HXK1 function in either process is not well understood. Here we have shown that within normal experimental detection limits, AtHXK1 is localized continuously to mitochondria. Two mitochondrial porin proteins were identified as capable of binding to overexpressed HXK1 protein, both in vivo and in vitro. We also found that AtHXK1 can be associated with its structural homolog, F-actin, based on their coimmunoprecipitation from transgenic plants that overexpress HXK1-FLAG or from transient expression assays, and based on their localization in leaf cells after cryofixation. This association might be functionally important because Glc signaling in protoplast transient expression assays is compromised by disruption of F-actin. We also demonstrate that Glc treatment of Arabidopsis seedlings rapidly and reversibly disrupts fine mesh actin filaments. The possible roles of actin in HXK-dependent Glc signaling are discussed.
Silencing Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate Synthase inNicotiana attenuataDramatically Impairs Resistance to Tobacco Hornworm
Authors: Jassbi Amir Reza , Gase Klaus , Hettenhausen Christian , Schmidt Axel , Baldwin Ian T. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIn bioassays with artificial diets, the 17-hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpenoid glycosides (HGL-DTGs) of Nicotiana attenuata function as antifeedants for the plant's adapted herbivore, tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta). To determine whether HGL-DTGs have a defensive function in planta, we suppressed HGL-DTG production by silencing the source of the geranylgeranyl diphosphates (GGPPs) required for geranyllinalool biosynthesis, a key intermediate. We used virus-induced gene silencing to suppress transcript levels of GGPP synthase gene (Naggpps) and farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthase gene (Nafpps), northern blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction to quantify transcript accumulations, and radio gas chromatography to analyze prenyltransferase specificity. Silencing Nafpps had no effect on the accumulation of HGL-DTGs but decreased leaf steroid content, demonstrating that DTG-synthesizing enzymes do not use GGPP derived from FPP and confirming FPP's role as a steroid precursor. Unlike plants silenced in the phytoene desaturase gene (Napds), which rapidly bleached, Naggpps-silenced plants had reduced HGL-DTG but not carotenoids or chlorophyll contents, demonstrating that Naggpps supplies substrates for GGPP biosynthesis for HGL-DTGs, but not for phytoene or phytol. Expression of Naggpps in Escherichia coli revealed that the recombinant protein catalyzes the GGPP synthesis from isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate. When fed on silenced plants, hornworm larvae gained up to 3 times more mass than those that fed on empty vector control plants or plants silenced in Nafpps, the trypsin protease inhibitor gene, or the putrescine N-methyltransferase gene. We conclude that HGL-DTGs or other minor undetected diterpenoids derived from GGPP function as direct defenses for N. attenuata and are more potent than nicotine or trypsin protease inhibitors against attack by hornworm larvae.
SALT TOLERANCE HOMOLOG2, a B-Box Protein in Arabidopsis That Activates Transcription and Positively Regulates Light-Mediated Development
Authors: Datta Sourav , Hettiarachchi Chamari , Johansson Henrik , Holm Magnus 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) and ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) are two major regulators of light signaling in plants. Here, we identify SALT TOLERANCE HOMOLOG2 (STH2) as a gene that interacts genetically with both of these key regulators. STH2 encodes a B-box–containing protein that interacts physically with HY5 in yeast and in plant cells. Whereas STH2 is uniformly nuclear by itself, it shows a COP1-dependent localization to speckles when coexpressed with COP1. We identified two independent T-DNA insertion lines in STH2. Both alleles are hyposensitive to blue, red, and far-red light. The sth2 mutant, like hy5, shows an enhanced number of lateral roots and accumulates less anthocyanin. Analysis of double mutants between sth2 and hy5 indicates that STH2 has both HY5-dependent and -independent functions. Furthermore, besides partially suppressing the hypocotyl phenotype of dark-grown cop1 alleles, sth2 also suppresses the reduced number of lateral roots and high anthocyanin levels in light-grown cop1 alleles. Interestingly, we found that STH2 can activate transcription. Transient transfection assays in protoplasts using a LUC reporter driven by the chalcone isomerase promoter show that the B-boxes in STH2 and a functional G-box element in the promoter are required for this activity. In conclusion, we have identified STH2, a B-box protein in Arabidopsis thaliana, as a positive regulator of photomorphogenesis and report that the B-box domain plays a direct role in activating transcription in plants.