bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Localization of the GoLoco motif carrier regulator of G‐protein signalling 12 and 14 proteins in monkey and rat brain
Authors: López‐Aranda Manuel F. , Acevedo Maria J. , Carballo Francisco J. , Gutiérrez Antonia , Khan Zafar U. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractRegulator of G‐protein signalling (RGS)12 and ‐14 proteins possess the RGS domain, Ras‐binding domains and the GoLoco motif. Emerging evidence suggests that these proteins are involved in several cellular functions in addition to stimulation of GTPase activity of G‐protein α subunits. However, our understanding of the role of the two proteins in brain function remains marginal. Here, we have studied the expression pattern of RGS12 and RGS14 proteins in brain at regional, cellular and subcellular levels. Both proteins were expressed throughout the brain regions, including cortex, hippocampus, striatum, thalamus and substantia nigra. The most intense immunostaining for RGS12 was seen in cortex and that of RGS14 was found in striatum. In cortex, RGS12 and RGS14 proteins were associated with pyramidal and nonpyramidal cell types. Apical dendrites of pyramidal cells were also labelled. RGS12 was found in both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. In contrast to RGS12 protein, RGS14 was localized in astrocytes in addition to neurons. Pyramidal cells in the CA1 area showed labelling for both RGS proteins. The presence of RGS12 was predominantly nuclear in the striatum of rat brain; however, the labelling of this protein was non‐nuclear in adult monkey brain. To our surprise, in 1‐month‐old monkey brain the immunostaining pattern of the same protein was changed to nuclear. Non‐nuclear staining for RGS12 was also evident in thalamus of adult monkey brain; however, in 1‐month‐old monkey brain, it was seen into two different populations, one with nuclear and the other with cytoplasmic staining. Both RGS12 and RGS14 were exclusively localized at postsynaptic sites of excitatory synapses. Our results demonstrate a highly dynamic expression pattern of RGS12 and RGS14 proteins in the central nervous system, and support the view that these proteins may participate not only in G‐protein receptor signalling pathways but also in other cellular activities.
Improved cortical entrainment to infant communication calls in mothers compared with virgin mice
Authors: Liu Robert C. , Linden Jennifer F. , Schreiner Christoph E. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThere is a growing interest in the use of mice as a model system for species‐specific communication. In particular, ultrasonic calls emitted by mouse pups communicate distress, and elicit a search and retrieval response from mothers. Behaviorally, mothers prefer and recognize these calls in two‐alternative choice tests, in contrast to pup‐naïve females that do not have experience with pups. Here, we explored whether one particular acoustic feature that defines these calls − the repetition rate of calls within a bout − is represented differently in the auditory cortex of these two animal groups. Multiunit recordings in anesthetized CBA/CaJ mice revealed that: (i) neural entrainment to repeated stimuli extended up to the natural pup call repetition rate (5 Hz) in mothers; but (ii) neurons in naïve females followed repeated stimuli well only at slower repetition rates; and (iii) entrained responses to repeated pup calls were less sensitive to natural pup call variability in mothers than in pup‐naïve females. In the broader context, our data suggest that auditory cortical responses to communication sounds are plastic, and that communicative significance is correlated with an improved cortical representation.
Selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and formation of Lewy body‐like aggregations in α‐synuclein transgenic fly neuronal cultures
Authors: Park Soon S. , Lee Daewoo 
Published: June 2006

AbstractA key pathological feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons accompanied by the formation of Lewy bodies (LB). Given the complex nature of the disease, it is imperative to develop a model system suitable for molecular and cellular manipulation in order to study the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of PD. Here, we report that a new in vitro model of PD has been developed by using Drosophila melanogaster primary neuronal cultures expressing a human mutant α‐synuclein (α‐Syn; A30P). The selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons was observed when α‐Syn was pan‐neuronally expressed while non‐dopaminergic neurons (e.g. GABAergic) were not influenced. This degeneration was also observed even when α‐Syn was specifically expressed in DA neurons, demonstrating α‐Syn toxicity is DA cell‐autonomous. In all experiments, cultures 5 days or older showed clear degeneration of DA neurons whereas this degeneration was not significant in 3‐day‐old cultures. In addition, there were intracellular aggregations in 5‐day or older α‐Syn neurons that were recognized by anti‐α‐Syn or ubiquitin antibodies, demonstrating the formation of LB‐like inclusions. By contrast, no such aggregations were found in 3‐day‐old neurons. The results demonstrate that mutated human α‐Syn expressed in Drosophila primary neuronal cultures causes the selective loss of DA neurons and the formation of cellular aggregations. Therefore, this is one of the first in vitro models recapitulating two important cellular features of PD and will be useful in examining mechanisms underlying selective neurodegeneration mediated by α‐Syn.
Interaction of LDL receptor‐related protein 4 (LRP4) with postsynaptic scaffold proteins via its C‐terminal PDZ domain‐binding motif, and its regulation by Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II
Authors: Tian Qing‐Bao , Suzuki Tatsuo , Yamauchi Takashi , Sakagami Hiroyuki , Yoshimura Yoshiyuki , Miyazawa Shoko , Nakayama Kohzo , Saitoh Fuminori , Zhang Jing‐Ping , Lu Yonghao , Kondo Hisatake , Endo Shogo 
Published: June 2006

AbstractWe cloned here a full‐length cDNA of Dem26[Tian et al. (1999)Mol. Brain Res., 72, 147–157], a member of the low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene family from the rat brain. We originally named the corresponding protein synaptic LDL receptor‐related protein (synLRP) [Tian et al. (2002) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., 28, 405] and have renamed it LRP4 to accord it systematic nomenclature (GenBankTM accession no. AB073317). LRP4 protein interacted with postsynaptic scaffold proteins such as postsynaptic density (PSD)‐95 via its C‐terminal tail sequence, and associated with N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)‐type glutamate receptor subunit. The mRNA of LRP4 was localized to dendrites, as well as somas, of neuronal cells, and the full‐length protein of 250 kDa was highly concentrated in the brain and localized to various subcellular compartments in the brain, including synaptic fractions. Immunocytochemical study using cultured cortical neurons suggested surface localization in the neuronal cells both in somas and dendrites. Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylated the C‐terminal cytoplasmic region of LRP4 at Ser1887 and Ser1900, and the phosphorylation at the latter site suppressed the interaction of the protein with PSD‐95 and synapse‐associated protein 97 (SAP97). These findings suggest a postsynaptic role for LRP4, a putative endocytic multiligand receptor, and a mechanism in which CaMKII regulates PDZ‐dependent protein–protein interactions and receptor dynamics.
Sequential patterns of colonization of coarse woody debris byIps pini(Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) following a major ice storm in Ontario
Authors: Ryall K. L. , De Groot P. , Smith S. M. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract It is widely known that many bark and wood‐boring beetle species use nonresistant coarse woody debris (CWD) created by disturbances; however, the ability of these secondary species to cause mortality in healthy trees following a build‐up of their populations remains unclear. We characterized the pattern of colonization byIps pini(Say) following a major ice storm that created large amounts of CWD varying in resistance to colonization (i.e. ranging from snapped tops with no resistance to heavily damaged trees with intact root systems). A major question was how the beetles responded to the different types of storm‐damaged material and whether healthy undamaged trees were colonized and killed following increases in beetle populations.Six red pine,Pinus resinosaAit., plantations in eastern Ontario were monitored from 1998 to 2001 inclusive: three with high storm damage (approximately 120 m3/ha CWD) and three with minimal damage (approximately 20 m3/ha CWD). Transects (200 × 2 m) were sampled yearly in each plantation to assess the type and amount of damaged pine brood material colonized by the pine engraver beetle,I. pini.Beetles preferentially infested the most nonresistant material available each year (i.e. all snapped tops in year 1, all standing snags, up‐rooted trees and many bent trees by year 2, but still less than 50% of trees blown over but with intact root systems by year 3). By years 3 and 4, the majority (approximately 75%) of severely damaged trees (with > 50% crown loss) died prior to beetle colonization.The size of the beetle population tracked the abundance of available woody material from year‐to‐year within a plantation; populations were very large in the first 2 years, and declined significantly in the last 2 years.Healthy standing red pines were apparently resistant to colonization by the beetles, despite the significant build‐up in their populations. Hence, the results of the present study suggest that native bark beetle populations will not cause further tree mortality following such a disturbance in this region.
Seasonal changes in the distribution of green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in the canopy of Sitka spruce
Authors: Straw Nigel , Fielding Nick , Green Gill , Price John 
Published: June 2006

Abstract1 Seasonal changes in the distribution of green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) within the canopy of 20–25‐year‐old Sitka spruce are described based on data from two low‐altitude sites (310–420 m above sea‐level), two mid‐altitude sites (500–550 m a.s.l) and one high‐altitude site (610 m a.s.l).2 Aphids were counted throughout the canopy on shoots representative of all needle age‐classes present at each whorl of branches. Counts were made during the middle week of each month from September to July for 4 years (1999–2003), and mean E. abietinum densities at each canopy position were calculated separately for each month and for the low‐, mid‐ and high‐altitude sites.3 During September to November, the highest densities of E. abietinum occurred on 3–4‐year‐old needles on branches low in the canopy. Over the winter and spring, the centre of the aphid’s distribution shifted outward and upward, so that by June of the next year the highest aphid densities occurred on current and 1‐year‐old needles on branches near the top of the tree.4 The aphid distribution was re‐set each year during July, at the time when the nutrient quality of the host was in decline and E. abietinum populations were decreasing. Aphid densities decreased less on 3–4‐year‐old needles than on current and 1‐year‐old needles, suggesting that older needles were a superior food resource at this time of year and in the autumn. However, other factors, such as higher temperatures in the upper canopy during the summer or differential mortality caused by natural enemies, could also have contributed to the change in distribution.5 The outward and upward shift in the aphid distribution over the winter period provided no evidence that aphids at positions lower and deeper in the canopy were better insulated from freezing temperatures and had higher over‐winter survival rates. Mean air temperatures at the top and bottom of the canopy during the winter were also found to differ by only 0.1–0.2 °C.6 The percentage of the total aphids per tree that occurred on current or 1‐year‐old needles varied widely between seasons and between sites. Consequently, sampling programmes designed to estimate total population numbers of E. abietinum have little option but to sample needles throughout the canopy, and at regular intervals during the period when the aphid is abundant.
Cryotherapy in the treatment of pyogenic granuloma
Authors: Mirshams M , Daneshpazhooh M , Mirshekari A , Taheri A , Mansoori P , Hekmat S 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackground  Pyogenic granuloma is a benign, acquired, proliferative vascular lesion of the skin and mucous membranes. Many different treatments have been used for pyogenic granuloma with variable success rates.Objectives  To evaluate the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of pyogenic granuloma.Methods  In a prospective observational study, 135 patients with pyogenic granuloma were treated with cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen. The patients were followed up every 3 weeks until 3 months after disappearance of the lesion.Results  Complete resolution of the pyogenic granuloma was achieved in all patients after a mean of 1.58 treatments (range, 1–4 treatments). At the end of follow‐up period, there was a flat imperceptible scar, smaller than the treated lesion, in 16 patients (11.8%). A hypertrophic scar, 3 mm in diameter, was observed in one patient. Hypopigmentation was observed in seven patients (5.1%). No other complication or side‐effect was recorded in the study.Conclusions  We believe that pyogenic granuloma can be treated simply and effectively with cryotherapy.
Epidermal thickness assessed by optical coherence tomography and routine histology: preliminary results of method comparison
Authors: Gambichler T , Boms S , Stücker M , Kreuter A , Moussa G , Sand M , Altmeyer P , Hoffmann K 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackground  Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising non‐invasive imaging technique for studying the epidermis and upper dermis in vivo. As proposed previously by Welzel et al. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1997; 37: 958–963), distance measurements between the entrance peak and the second peak of the A‐scan seem to correspond to epidermal thickness (ET). However, there is a lack of systematic studies comparing OCT with histology.Methods  Sixteen healthy subjects were included in this pilot study. OCT assessments were conducted on the upper back. To determine ET by OCT, the distance between the entrance peak and the second peak of the A‐scan was calculated (ET‐OCT). After OCT measurement a 4 mm punch biopsy was taken on each subject from the same site previously assessed. The maximum thickness of the epidermis (ET‐Histo) was determined microscopically using routine histological slices (formalin‐paraffin technique, haematoxylin–eosin staining). Correlation and agreement between the two methods were assessed by means of the Pearson correlation procedure and Bland–Altman plots, respectively.Results  ET‐Histo was 79.4 ± 21.9 µm, including a stratum corneum thickness of 20 ± 12.1 µm. OCT measurements resulted in an ET of 106 ± 15.4 µm. No correlation between ET‐Histo and ET‐OCT was observed (r = 0.29, P = 0.27). There was a considerable lack of agreement between histology and OCT measurements as expressed in a high bias of 26.63 µm [95% confidence interval (CI) 14.49–38.77]. Furthermore, the lower 95% limits of agreement were −18.03 µm (95% CI −37.11 to 1.05) and the upper 95% limits of agreement were 71.28 µm (95% CI 52.2–90.36) indicating that ET‐OCT may be 71.28 µm above or 18.03 µm below ET‐Histo.Conclusions  Our preliminary data suggest that the above‐described OCT algorithm is probably not a valid measure for the evaluation of ET. The second peak of the A‐scan seems not to correspond to the dermo‐epidermal junction zone, but rather to fibrous structures in the upper dermis. Nevertheless, further systematic comparison studies between OCT and histology are warranted, using different OCT algorithms for ET determination and cryopreparation, which has a higher reliability than the formalin‐paraffin technique.
Prevalence and predictors of psychosocial morbidity in patients with chronic pruritic skin diseases
Authors: Van Os‐Medendorp H , Eland‐de Kok PCM , Grypdonck M , Bruijnzeel‐Koomen CAFM , Ros WJG 
Published: June 2006

AbstractBackground  Itch is a major symptom of many skin diseases and causes patients considerable distress, adversely affecting quality of life. Feelings of helplessness and lack of control can influence the perceived itch and psychosocial complaints.Objectives  To determine the prevalence of psychosocial morbidity among patients with pruritic skin diseases, and the influence of itch‐related variables, coping strategies, and demographic variables on psychosocial morbidity.Patients and methods  One hundred and sixty‐eight patients with pruritic skin diseases from five hospitals in the Netherlands participated in the study. Skin‐related psychosocial morbidity was measured with the Adjustment to Chronic Skin Diseases questionnaire (ACS); general psychosocial morbidity was measured with the Symptom Checklist‐90 (SCL‐90). The frequency and intensity of itching and scratching was recorded in diaries. Itch‐related coping was measured with the Itching Cognitions Questionnaire (ICQ). Multiple regression analyses were used.Results  Patients with pruritic skin diseases had higher SCL‐90 scores than a healthy Dutch population. All patients had psychosocial complaints as measured with the ACS. Thirty‐nine per cent of the variance in skin‐related psychosocial morbidity was explained by ‘catastrophizing and helpless coping’; another 11% was explained by itching and scratching. Age and sex together explained another 10%. The frequency of itching and scratching (11%), ‘catastrophizing and helpless coping’ (19%) and skin‐related psychosocial morbidity (10%) explained the variance in general psychosocial morbidity.Conclusions  Patients with a pruritic skin disease have a high level of psychosocial morbidity. Catastrophizing and helpless coping are the most important predictors of psychosocial morbidity, with itching, scratching and demographic variables having a limited influence.
Acute neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate in stimulant drug‐naïve boys with ADHD II – broader executive and non‐executive domains
Authors: Rhodes Sinéad M. , Coghill David R. , Matthews Keith 
Published: June 2006

Background:  Accumulating evidence supports methylphenidate‐induced enhancement of neuropsychological functioning in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study was designed to investigate the acute effects of the psychostimulant drug, methylphenidate (MPH), on neuropsychological performance in stimulant naïve boys with ADHD.Methods:  Seventy‐three drug‐naïve boys (age 7–15) with ADHD (combined type) completed neuropsychological tasks from the CANTAB battery under randomised, placebo controlled, double‐blind conditions following an acute challenge with either placebo (n = 24), .3 (n = 25) or .6 (n = 24) mg/kg oral MPH.Results:  MPH did not impair performance on any task. MPH (.6 mg/kg) lengthened response latencies on a task of Spatial Recognition, shortened response times on a Reaction Time task and restored performance on a Delayed Matching to Sample visual, non‐working memory task. Contrary to predictions, MPH did not enhance performance on tasks with a prominent executive component, including Go/NoGo, Spatial Working Memory, Stockings of Cambridge and Attentional Set shifting tasks.Conclusions:  Acute administration of MPH to drug‐naïve boys with ADHD did not impair neuropsychological performance. Acute MPH enhanced performance on some aspects of non‐executive functioning. MPH‐induced slowing of responding on a relatively complex Spatial Recognition memory task and quickened responding on a reaction time task requiring less cognitive resources suggests that MPH may act by improving self‐regulatory ability. MPH may not exert its effects on neuropsychological functioning by enhancing executive processes.
Trajectories of aggression from toddlerhood to age 9 predict academic and social functioning through age 12
Authors: Campbell Susan B. , Spieker Susan , Burchinal Margaret , Poe Michele D. ,   The NICHD Early Child Care Research Network
Published: June 2006

Background:  Using longitudinal data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we examined behavior problems and social and academic outcomes from ages 9 through 12 in children classified into five trajectories of physical aggression, on the basis of maternal ratings obtained from 24 months through 9 years (N = 1195).Methods:  Outcome data were obtained from teacher reports, observations of children's behavior, and children's self‐reports.Results:  Children on the high‐stable aggression trajectory (3% of sample) showed the most severe adjustment problems, including poorer social skills, higher levels of externalizing problems, and more self‐reported peer problems; those on the moderate‐stable aggression trajectory (15%) showed poor regulation and inattention. Although children with moderate levels of early aggression that decreased sharply by school entry (12%) appeared well adjusted at follow‐up, those who showed a low level of stable aggression (25%) evidenced some unanticipated social and behavior problems. Children in the contrast group (45%) were consistently very low in aggression from toddlerhood onward.Conclusions:  Results highlight links between different patterns (stable or decreasing) and levels (high, moderate, low, very low) of aggression across childhood and children's later adjustment. For example, even quite low aggression that is stable appears to be a risk factor for some social problems; in contrast, moderate aggression that decreases sharply to no aggression by school entry is associated with good adjustment at age 12.
Processing emotional facial expressions influences performance on a Go/NoGo task in pediatric anxiety and depression
Authors: Ladouceur Cecile D. , Dahl Ronald E. , Williamson Douglas E. , Birmaher Boris , Axelson David A. , Ryan Neal D. , Casey B.J. 
Published: June 2006

Background:  This study investigated whether processing emotionally salient information such as emotional facial expressions influences the performance on a cognitive control task in pediatric anxiety and depression.Methods:  The sample included 68 participants between 8 and 16 years of age selected into three diagnostic groups: Anxiety Disorder (ANX, n = 23), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD, n = 19), and Low‐Risk Normal Control (LRNC, n = 26). Participants completed an Emotional Go/NoGo task in which participants must either respond to (Go trials) or not respond to (NoGo trials) specific facial expressions (angry, fearful, sad, happy, neutral). In order to manipulate the level of cognitive control needed to perform the task, the probability of occurrence of the Go trials was varied across 3 probability conditions (low, moderate, high).Results:  Analyses showed that the MDD group had significantly faster reaction times to sad face Go trials embedded in neutral face NoGo trials in the moderate probability condition and that the ANX group had significantly slower reaction times to neutral face Go trials embedded in angry face NoGo trials in the low probability condition.Conclusions:  These data demonstrate that processing emotional facial expressions influences the performance on a cognitive control task in children and adolescents diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and major depression.