bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low testosterone levels and decline in physical performance and muscle strength in older men: findings from two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Schaap Laura A. , Pluijm Saskia M. F. , Deeg Dorly J. H. , Penninx Brenda W. , Nicklas Barbara J. , Lips Paul , Harris Tamara B. , Newman Anne B. , Kritchevsky Steve B. , Cauley Jane A. , Goodpaster Bret H. , Tylavsky Frances A. , Yaffe Kristine , Visser Marjolein ,   for the Health ABC study
Published: July 2007

SummaryObjective  Progressive declines in serum levels of testosterone parallel the decline in physical performance and muscle strength in ageing men, although findings are not conclusive. We examined whether levels of testosterone were associated with 3‐year decline in physical performance and muscle strength in older men.Design  Longitudinal data were available for 486 men (mean age 74·9 years, SD 6·4) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA) and 1071 well‐functioning men (mean age 73·7 years, SD 2·8) from the Health, Ageing and Body Composition (Health ABC) study.Measurements  Three‐year change in physical performance score and grip strength according to categories of total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels.Results  The mean 3‐year change in physical performance was –1·1 (SD 2·7, –13·6%) in LASA and –0·3 (SD 1·5, –2·9%) in Health ABC. The mean 3‐year change in grip strength was –9·7 kg (SD 12·2, –13·2%) in LASA and –4·4 kg (SD 11·4,–5·8%) in Health ABC. Low levels of TT were not associated with decline in physical performance or with decline in muscle strength [e.g. mean change in physical performance –1·09 (SD 0·26) in the lowest quartile (Q1) and –0·88 (0·24) in the highest quartile (Q4) of total testosterone in LASA, and –0·26 (0·07) vs.–0·36 (0·11) in Health ABC]. Similar results were found for FT.Conclusions  Low levels of TT and FT were neither associated with 3‐year decline in physical performance nor with 3‐year decline in muscle strength in two independent samples of older men.
New role for majors in Atta leafcutter ants
Authors: EVISON SOPHIE E. F. , RATNIEKS FRANCIS L. W. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract 1. Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) leafcutter ants display the most polymorphic worker caste system in ants, with different sizes specialising in different tasks. The largest workers (majors) have large, powerful mandibles and are mainly associated with colony defence.2. Majors were observed cutting fallen fruit and this phenomenon was investigated in the field by placing mango fruit near natural Atta laevigata and Atta sexdens colonies in São Paulo State, Brazil.3. Ants cutting the fruit were significantly heavier (mean = 49.1 mg, SD = 11.1 mg, n= 90) than the ants carrying the fruit back to the nest (mean = 20.9 mg, SD = 9.2 mg, n= 90).4. Fruit pieces cut by majors were small (mean = 15.9 mg), approximately half the weight of leaf pieces (mean = 28.5 mg) cut and carried by media foragers. It is hypothesised that it is more difficult to cut large pieces from three‐dimensional objects, like fruit, compared to two‐dimensional objects, like leaves, and that majors, with their longer mandibles, can cut fruit into larger pieces than medias.5. The study shows both a new role for Atta majors in foraging and a new example of task partitioning in the organisation of foraging.
Statins: a perspective for left ventricular hypertrophy treatment
Authors: Simko F. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), despite its adaptive nature, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Achievement of LVH regression is thus considered a principal therapeutic aim. However, regression of LVH induced by various therapeutic means may exhibit differing patterns, with variable biological implications. Inhibitors of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (statins) have been shown to induce prevention or regression of LVH in different models of pathological myocardial growth. In addition to reduction of LV mass, statins were shown to reduce myocardial fibrosis, increase capillary density network and attenuate electrical instability of the hypertrophied heart. Most importantly, statins improved systolic and diastolic LV function and even decreased mortality. The inhibition of hypertrophic growth was only partly achieved by reduction of haemodynamic overload. Direct mechanisms, such as inhibition of neurohumoral activation in the myocardial tissue, attenuated production of growth factors and markers of inflammation and reduction of oxidative stress also seem to participate. The protective effect of statins was associated with the inhibition of expression and activation of small guanosintriphosphate‐binding proteins such as Ras and Rho, which control the intensity of oxidative stress, the production and availability of nitric oxide, and the expression of genes involved in myocardial growth. In addition to reduction of LV mass, statins may also improve the prognosis of LVH independently of their lipid‐lowering effect.
Assessment of the universality and utility of a set of conserved mitochondrial COI primers in insects
Authors: Zhang D. ‐X. , Hewitt G. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA set of mitochondrial COI primers has been studied by genomic PCR and many primer combinations shown to work universally well across Insects. They are able to amplify various amplicons with different variability which enables the selection of a particular amplicon as a suitable DNA marker for a project. The potential usefulness of different amplicons is examined, with analysis on published study cases employing these regions. With respect to their variability, amplicons UEA5/UEA6, UEA7/UEA8 and UEA5/UEA8 could be useful for low‐ to mid‐level phylogenetic analysis, i. e. from species, genus to‐perhaps family level depending on taxa involved. UEA5/UEA6 will be too conserved for intraspecific studies. Amplicons UEA3/UEA4 and UEA9/UEA10 would be better suited to low‐level phylogenetic investigations, such as analysis of relationships among closely related species and population genetic studies. However, these guidelines should not be over‐generalized for the reasons given. Amplification conditions of various primer combinations, and general problems in the use of conserved PCR primers are discussed.
A Drosophila melanogaster hobo‐white+ vector mediates low frequency gene transfer in D. virilis with full interspecific white+ complementation
Authors: Gomez S. P. , Handler A. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTransformation of a Drosophila virilis white mutant host strain was attempted using a hobo vector containing the D. melanogaster mini‐white+ cassette (H[w+, hawN]) and an unmodified or heat shock regulated hobo transposase helper. Two transformant lines were recovered with the unmodified helper (HFL1), one containing only the white+ marked vector, and a sibling line containing the vector as well as an HFL1 helper integration. An approximate total transformation frequency of 1% is deduced. A high frequency of wing and eye morphology mutants were also observed, suggesting that hobo may have mobilized a related element in D. virilis. The data reaffirms a relatively low transformation vector activity for the hobo transposon in D. virilis; however, nearly full interspecific expression of the white+ marker supports its possible function in other species as well.
Phylogeny and potential transmission routes of midgut‐associated endosymbionts of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae)
Authors: Aksoy S. , Chen X. , Hypsa V. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractMany tsetse species (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbour two morphologically different intracellular endosymbiotic microorganisms associated with gut tissue: primary (P) and secondary (S) endosymbionts. The P‐endosymbionts of tsetse (Wigglesworthia glossinidia) are sequestered in specialized epithelial cells, bacteriocytes, which form a structure (bacteriome) in the anterior portion of the gut. Phylogenetic characterization of P‐endosymbionts from the three subgenera of genus Glossina has shown that these organisms constitute a distinct lineage within the γ‐subdivision of Proteobacteria and have evolved concordantly with their insect host species, suggesting an evolutionarily ancient association for this symbiosis. The S‐endosymbiont is a smaller (1–2 μm) gram‐negative rod and is harboured in midgut epithelial cells. Its phylogenetic characterization from Glossina morsitans morsitans had shown that it is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae within the γ‐3 subdivision of the Proteobacteria, closely related to enteric bacteria. Some tsetse species harbour a third bacterium in their reproductive tissue, which was shown phylogenetically to belong to the Wolbachia pipientis assemblage of microorganisms.Here, we show that S‐endosymbionts from five tsetse species, representing all three subgenera, form a cluster of closely related microorganisms, based on their almost identical 16S rRNA gene sequences. This high similarity provides strong evidence of recent independent acquisition of S‐endosymbionts by individual tsetse species, unlike Wigglesworthia which displays concordant evolution with host insect species. A PCR‐based assay and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was developed to localize the S‐endosymbionts and Wigglesworthia in ovary, egg, milk‐gland and spermatheca tissues in order to investigate the potential routes for the vertical transmission of these symbionts to the intrauterine larvae. Only S‐endosymbionts were found to infect milk gland tissue, suggesting that milk gland secretions represent a route of transmission for these symbionts into the developing larva. The ovary tissue was found to harbour only Wolbachia, confirming its transovarial transmission, whereas the mode of transmission of Wigglesworthia remains unknown.
Synchronization of Aedes albopictus mosquito cells using hydroxyurea
Authors: Gerenday A. , Blauwkamp T. Shepard , Fallen A. M. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractWe have established conditions for use of hydroxyurea, a reversible inhibitor of DNA synthesis, to synchronize the division cycle of a continuous cell line from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus. In the range of 0.15‐0.25 mM hydroxyurea, an 18 h treatment, followed by removal of the drug, results in effective synchronization. When combined with the partial synchronization that occurs within 10 h of dilution and plating, more than 80% of cells treated with hydroxyurea could be recovered in the synthesis (S) phase of the cell cycle during the 4 h period after removal of the drug. The degree of synchrony was enhanced when cells were exposed to two consecutive hydroxyurea treatments spaced 10 h apart. Synchronized cells expressed maximal levels of a reporter gene when transfected immediately after removal of hydroxyurea. This is the first description of effective chemical synchronization of an insect cell line using hydroxyurea.
FISH landmarks for Aedes aegypti chromosomes
Authors: Brown S. E. , Knudson D. L. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract Aedes aegypti metaphase chromosome landmarks have been developed so that each chromosome of the haploid genome can be unambiguously identified and oriented by fluorescence In situ hybridization (FISH) and digital imaging microscopy. The FISH tags were derived from three cosmids that contain repetitive Ae. aegypti sequences and their unique FISH tagging characteristics are demonstrated. The sequence of the three chromosomal tags revealed that the chromosome 1 tag is an 18S fragment from the ribosomal cistron, and the other two chromosomal tags are repeats found in Ae, aegypti with no apparent similarity to known sequences. A single plasmid that contains the three chromosome tag sequences has been constructed to simplify future FISH physical mapping.
Biogeography of the world: a case study from cyphophthalmid Opiliones, a globally distributed group of arachnids
Authors: Boyer Sarah L. , Clouse Ronald M. , Benavides Ligia R. , Sharma P. , Schwendinger Peter J. , Karunarathna I. , Giribet G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractAim  To test the hypothesis that continental drift drives diversification of organisms through vicariance, we selected a group of primitive arachnids which originated before the break‐up of Pangaea and currently inhabits all major landmasses with the exception of Antarctica, but lacks the ability to disperse across oceanic barriers.Location  Major continental temperate to tropical landmasses (North America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australia) and continental islands (Bioko, Borneo, Japan, Java, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra).Methods  Five kb of sequence data from five gene regions for more than 100 cyphophthalmid exemplars were analysed phylogenetically using different methods, including direct optimization under parsimony and maximum likelihood under a broad set of analytical parameters. We also used geological calibration points to estimate gross phylogenetic time divergences.Results  Our analyses show that all families except the Laurasian Sironidae are monophyletic and adhere to clear biogeographical patterns. Pettalidae is restricted to temperate Gondwana, Neogoveidae to tropical Gondwana, Stylocellidae to Southeast Asia, and Troglosironidae to New Caledonia. Relationships between the families inhabiting these landmasses indicate that New Caledonia is related to tropical Gondwana instead of to the Australian portion of temperate Gondwana. The results also concur with a Gondwanan origin of Florida, as supported by modern geological data.Main conclusions  By studying a group of organisms with not only an ancient origin, low vagility and restricted habitats, but also a present global distribution, we have been able to test biogeographical hypotheses at a scale rarely attempted. Our results strongly support the presence of a circum‐Antarctic clade of formerly temperate Gondwanan species, a clade restricted to tropical Gondwana and a Southeast Asian clade that originated from a series of early Gondwanan terranes that rifted off northwards from the Devonian to the Triassic and accreted to tropical Laurasia. The relationships among the Laurasian species remain more obscure.
Estimation of the seed dispersal kernel from exact identification of source plants
Authors: ROBLEDO‐ARNUNCIO JUAN J. , GARCÍA CRISTINA 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe exact identification of individual seed sources through genetic analysis of seed tissue of maternal origin has recently brought the full analytical potential of parentage analysis to the study of seed dispersal. No specific statistical methodology has been described so far, however, for estimation of the dispersal kernel function from categorical maternity assignment. In this study, we introduce a maximum‐likelihood procedure to estimate the seed dispersal kernel from exact identification of seed sources. Using numerical simulations, we show that the proposed method, unlike other approaches, is independent of seed fecundity variation, yielding accurate estimates of the shape and range of the seed dispersal kernel under varied sampling and dispersal conditions. We also demonstrate how an obvious estimator of the dispersal kernel, the maximum‐likelihood fit of the observed distribution of dispersal distances to seed traps, can be strongly biased due to the spatial arrangement of seed traps relative to source plants. Finally, we illustrate the use of the proposed method with a previously published empirical example for the animal‐dispersed tree species Prunus mahaleb.
Function and molecular architecture of the Yersinia injectisome tip complex
Authors: Broz Petr , Mueller Catherine A. , Müller Shirley A. , Philippsen Ansgar , Sorg Isabel , Engel Andreas , Cornelis Guy R. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBy quantitative immunoblot analyses and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), we determined that the needle of the Yersinia enterocolitica E40 injectisome consists of 139 ± 19 YscF subunits and that the tip complex is formed by three to five LcrV monomers. A pentamer represented the best fit for an atomic model of this complex. The N‐terminal globular domain of LcrV forms the base of the tip complex, while the central globular domain forms the head. Hybrids between LcrV and its orthologues PcrV (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) or AcrV (Aeromonas salmonicida) were engineered and recombinant Y. enterocolitica expressing the different hybrids were tested for their capacity to form the translocation pore by a haemolysis assay. There was a good correlation between haemolysis, insertion of YopB into erythrocyte membranes and interaction between YopB and the N‐terminal globular domain of the tip complex subunit. Hence, the base of the tip complex appears to be critical for the functional insertion of YopB into the host cell membrane.
Agonistic Anti‐4‐1BB Antibody Promotes the Expansion of Natural Regulatory T Cells While Maintaining Foxp3 Expression
Authors: Zhang P. , Gao F. , Wang Q. , Wang X. , Zhu F. , Ma C. , Sun W. , Zhang L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe engagement of the 4‐1BB (CD137) co‐stimulatory pathway promotes the activation and proliferation of conventional CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, but the role of 4‐1BB co‐stimulation in CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) is less clear. In particular, whether 4‐1BB stimulation affects the expression of Foxp3, a master gene for Treg, is unknown. This study demonstrates that co‐stimulation of 4‐1BB engaged by an agonistic antibody promotes the proliferation of Treg in a dependent manner of low‐concentration interleukin‐2 in vitro. The 4‐1BB‐expanded Treg maintain Foxp3 expression and their ability to suppress conventional CD4+ T cells and their feature to produce no interleukin‐2. However, the 4‐1BB‐expanded Treg produce increased levels of interferon‐γ, whose significance is unknown. Thus, 4‐1BB co‐stimulation plays a role in the expansion of functional CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells without adversely affecting their suppressive activity.
Anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer in dermatological practice
Authors: Herat Asoka , Whitfeld Margot , Hillman Richard 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYAnal intraepithelial neoplasia is considered to be a precursor lesion of invasive anal cancer. It is now increasingly recognized in high‐risk groups, such as men who have sex with men and HIV‐infected patients. Human papillomaviruses are considered to be an important aetiological agent in both anal intraepithelial neoplasia and anal cancer. Dermatologists are likely to encounter these conditions among the differential diagnoses to be considered in high‐risk patients presenting with perianal and anal lesions. Anal cancer rates are also increasing among the HIV‐infected and HIV‐non‐infected population. The successful treatment of anal intraepithelial neoplasia may reduce the risk of subsequent development of anal cancer. However, current therapies for anal intraepithelial neoplasia may be associated with treatment‐related morbidity and are not well validated. It is currently not proven that they reduce the likelihood of the development of anal cancer. Nevertheless, screening for anal intraepithelial neoplasia is being advocated for high‐risk groups and may become standard dermatological care for these patients. In view of recent developments in the understanding of this condition, this article reviews the current understanding of anal intraepithelial neoplasia and its treatment from a dermatological perspective.
Sweet's syndrome in an Australian hospital: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Anavekar Namrata S , Williams Richard , Chong Alvin H 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA retrospective analysis was performed of patients meeting the clinicopathological diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome identified over a 10‐year period, in a metropolitan hospital. Nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Two patients had preceding streptococcal infection, two had associated inflammatory bowel disease, two had idiopathic Sweet's syndrome, and three had an underlying malignancy, one of whom was receiving granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor. Although only three patients were found to have an elevated white cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C‐reactive protein was elevated in all patients when measured. There was a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, with variations in lesion distribution and the presence/absence of systemic symptoms such as fever and arthralgia. Fever was observed in two‐thirds of cases. Seven patients responded to oral corticosteroids, while one patient cleared spontaneously and one patient was lost to follow up. As erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C‐reactive protein was elevated in all cases when measured, it may be a useful diagnostic tool.
Formaldehyde‐induced urticarial vasculitis
Authors: Pellizzari Michael , Marshman Gillian 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA 40‐year‐old male medical student presented with urticarial vasculitis secondary to occupational formaldehyde exposure. Serum sickness and delayed pressure urticaria also featured prominently during his illness. Initial symptom control was achieved with oral prednisolone (25 mg/day tapered to zero over 2 weeks) and oral antihistamine therapy (fexofenadine 180 mg once daily, promethazine 20 mg once daily, ranitidine 150 mg twice daily); however, subsequent exposures to formaldehyde produced transient symptom flares that broke through the prednisolone cover. A complete recovery occurred only after strict elimination of all exposure to formaldehyde, both occupationally and in the home environment, was achieved.
Schnitzler's syndrome: Successful treatment with anakinra
Authors: Crouch Rohan , Akhras Victoria , Sarkany Robert 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA 44‐year‐old man presented with a 2‐year history of an intermittent urticarial rash, malaise, weight loss, night sweats, headaches and bone pains. Initial investigations indicated an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white cell count and a monoclonal immunoglobulin‐M paraprotein. Histological examination revealed a perivascular mixed inflammatory infiltrate with leukocytoclasis, nuclear dust without fibrinoid necrosis and extravasated red blood cells. A diagnosis of Schnitzler's syndrome was made. Over an 8‐year period, the patient was treated with continuous oral prednisone (minimum dose 20 mg/day) combined with multiple systemic agents. He was commenced on anakinra, a recombinant form of human interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist, at a dose of 100 mg injected subcutaneously daily. On review 1 week later, the patient's systemic symptoms had resolved, and his previously elevated white cell count and inflammatory markers had normalized. The use of anakinra in our patient resulted in resolution of symptoms and has enabled cessation of oral prednisone. Our patient remains symptom free on anakinra after 14 months of follow up.
Blue lunulae: Argyria and hypercopprecaemia
Authors: Kalouche Hassan , Watson Alan , Routley Douglas 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA 42‐year‐old woman presented with blue lunulae in association with argyria and hypercopprecaemia. The argyria was caused by the regular ingestion of colloidal silver in water over an extended period of time. The raised copper may have contributed to the nail discolouration, and was believed to be due either to ingestion of copper‐containing multivitamin tablets or as an acute‐phase reactant. We believe that the ease of access to, and lack of stringent regulatory controls over, food supplements and alternative medicines may cause similar cases in the future. We therefore recommend that all patients should be routinely questioned on their use of over‐the‐counter preparations and alternative medicines.
Pruritic eruption with reticular pigmentation: Confluent and reticulate papillomatosis
Authors: Dogan Gursoy 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA 28‐year‐old man presented with a 2‐year history of a pruritic eruption on his neck, chest, back, axillae, and antecubital and pubic areas. The patient had been previously treated with topical and systemic antifungal therapy for a long time, but showed no response. Examination revealed the typical clinical and histological features of confluent and reticulate papillomatosis. The patient responded well to oral doxycycline.