bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chloroplast parameters differ in wild type and transgenic poplars overexpressing gsh1 in the cytosol
Authors: Ivanova L. A. , Ronzhina D. A. , Ivanov L. A. , Stroukova L. V. , Peuke A. D. , Rennenberg H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPoplar mutants overexpressing the bacterial genes gsh1 or gsh2 encoding the enzymes of glutathione biosynthesis are among the best‐characterised transgenic plants. However, this characterisation originates exclusively from laboratory studies, and the performance of these mutants under field conditions is largely unknown. Here, we report a field experiment in which the wild‐type poplar hybrid Populus tremula × P. alba and a transgenic line overexpressing the bacterial gene gsh1 encoding γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase in the cytosol were grown for 3 years at a relatively clean (control) field site and a field site contaminated with heavy metals. Aboveground biomass accumulation was slightly smaller in transgenic compared to wild‐type plants; soil contamination significantly decreased biomass accumulation in both wild‐type and transgenic plants by more than 40%. Chloroplasts parameters, i.e., maximal diameter, projection area and perimeter, surface area and volume, surface/volume ratio and a two‐dimensional form coefficient, were found to depend on plant type, leaf tissue and soil contamination. The greatest differences between wild and transgenic poplars were observed at the control site. Under these conditions, chloroplast sizes in palisade tissue of transgenic poplar significantly exceeded those of the wild type. In contrast to the wild type, palisade chloroplast volume exceeded that of spongy chloroplasts in transgenic poplars at both field sites. Chlorophyll content per chloroplast was the same in wild and transgenic poplars. Apparently, the increase in chloroplast volume was not connected to changes in the photosynthetic centres. Chloroplasts of transgenic poplar at the control site were more elongated in palisade cells and close to spherical in spongy mesophyll chloroplasts. At the contaminated site, palisade and spongy cell chloroplasts of leaves from transgenic trees and the wild type were the same shape. Transgenic poplars also had a smaller chloroplast surface/volume ratio, both at the control and the contaminated site. Chloroplast number per cell did not differ between wild and transgenic poplars at the control site. Soil contamination led to suppression of chloroplast replication in wild‐type plants. From these results, we assume that overexpressing the bacterial gsh1 gene in the cytosol interacts with processes in the chloroplast and that sequestration of heavy metal phytochelatin complexes into the vacuole may partially counteract this interaction in plants grown at heavy metal‐contaminated field sites. Further experiments are required to test these assumptions.
Identification of Arabidopsis Mutants with Enhanced Resistance to Sclerotinia Stem Rot Disease from an Activation‐tagged Library
Authors: Wang Ai‐Rong , Zhang Chun‐Hua , Zhang Li‐Li , Lin Wen‐Wei , Lin De‐Shu , Lu Guo‐Dong , Zhou Jie , Wang Zong‐Hua 
Published: November 2008

Abstract Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes severe stem rot disease in many crops. Little is known about the genetic mechanism of pathogenesis, making it difficult to breed new, disease‐resistant crop varieties. Here, we report a screen for Arabidopsis mutants with enhanced resistance to S. sclerotiorum through a functional genomics approach. First, an activation‐tagged library of Arabidopsis thaliana Col‐4 was generated, followed by screening of more than 50 000 T1 lines for enhanced resistance by inoculating detached leaves. Second, 50 lines with enhanced resistance were further characterized to identify the responsible genes by analyzing T‐DNA flanking regions via a sequence BLAST analysis against the Arabidopsis genomic database. Third, the expression of candidate genes expression was confirmed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Finally, SALK T‐DNA insertion mutants were generated from Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center, which contain loss‐of‐function mutations for these candidate genes, and inoculated with S. sclerotiorum to determine the effect on infection. Our results suggest that a functional genomics approach is effective in dissecting the molecular mechanism of plant pathosystems that do not show a gene‐for‐gene relationship.
Introgression of reproductive traits from Trifolium nigrescens increases the seed yield of white clover (T. repens)
Authors: Marshall A. H. , Michaelson‐Yeates T. P. T. , Abberton M. T. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractInterspecific hybrids between white clover and the annual, profuse flowering ball clover have been developed as a strategy to improve the potential seed yield of white clover. The seed yield and seed yield components of advanced white clover × ball clover hybrids were compared with white clover in replicated field experiments over two harvest years. The backcross 3 hybrid had more reproductive nodes per stolon than the control variety ‘AberHerald’ which was reflected in more inflorescences per unit area but inflorescences with fewer florets and seeds. The hybrid had a greater potential seed yield than the control variety in 2002 but not 2001. Backcross 3 hybrids have also been produced across the range of leaf size categories. Medium and large leaved hybrids produced significantly more inflorescences and a higher potential seed yield than control varieties of comparable leaf size in both harvest years. The small leaved hybrid was not significantly greater than the control variety ‘AberDale’ in either inflorescence production or seed yield.
Genotypic and environmental variability of yield for cultivars from 30 different crops in German official variety trials
Authors: Laidig F. , Drobek T. , Meyer U. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractGenotypic, environmental and genotype by environmental variability of 30 different crops was evaluated by estimating variance components from trial series in 16 years. Yield data from official German variety trials for cultivation and use (VCU) were analysed over the period from 1991 to 2006. The natural dominant part was pure environmental variation. Genotype, genotype by environment and plot error are smaller and of the same magnitude. Interaction of genotypes with locations is larger than with years. Compared with variance component estimates of crops from a study involving 16 crops from former West German VCU trials between 1975 and 1986 overall variability of yielding performance was lower in the recent study for all components except for location. Precision of variety comparisons over locations and years is higher in recent VCU trial systems when assuming equal dimensioning of testing resources. Lower values for genotype by environmental variances, especially for the genotype by year component lead to lower standard errors for variety comparisons.
Comparison of Oestrous Intensity between Natural Oestrus and Oestrus Induced with Ovsynch Based Treatments in Japanese Black Cows
Authors: Meng Chao Lu , Sato S , Yoshida K , Kawano Y , Kojima T , Kubota C 
Published: November 2008

ContentsThe aim of this study was to examine the possible differences of oestrous intensity between natural oestrus and induced oestrus using the walking activity measuring device. Walking activity was used as an evaluation index of oestrous intensity. A total of 27 Japanese Black cows, more than 40 days after calving and clinically normal, were randomly assigned to three groups. Walking activity was recorded using a commercially available computerized pedometer system. The treatment groups consisted of an Ovsynch (n = 8) and a controlled internal drugs releasing device (CIDR) + Ovsynch (n = 9) group. The control group (n = 10) received no treatment. Walking activity was examined in all groups. Timed artificial insemination (timed AI) was performed at 16 hours after the onset of oestrus in the control group and at 24 h after second administration of GnRH in the treatment groups. Duration of oestrus had a tendency to be shorter in both the Ovsynch and the CIDR + Ovsynch groups when compared with the control group. The time required from the onset of oestrus to the time showing the highest number of steps of walking (the time to peak) showed a tendency to be shorter in CIDR + Ovsynch group. The number of steps of walking at peak and overall walking activities were significantly lower in both treatment groups than in the control group. Both activity and super‐activity periods of time in the treatment groups were shorter than the control group. No difference was observed in the conception rate between the control (50.0%; 10/20), Ovsynch (50.0%; 4/8) and CIDR + Ovsynch groups (66.7%; 6/9). This study demonstrates that the oestrous intensity of cows in oestrus was different between natural oestrus and induced oestrus and also between the methods of the synchronization, but no difference was observed in the conception rate among the three groups.
Clinical evaluation of paroxetine in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 52‐week, non‐comparative open‐label study for clinical use experience
Authors: Kim Yoshiharu , Asukai Nozomu , Konishi Takako , Kato Hiroshi , Hirotsune Hideto , Maeda Masaharu , Inoue Hirotaka , Narita Hiroyasu , Iwasaki Masaru 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  The present study was a 52‐week, non‐comparative, open‐label study of flexible dose paroxetine (20–40 mg) in 52 Japanese post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients in order to obtain clinical experience regarding efficacy and safety in regular clinical practice.Methods:  Efficacy was measured using the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale One Week Symptom Status Version (CAPS‐SX).Results:  The mean change from baseline in CAPS‐SX total score was −19.1, −22.8 and −32.3 at weeks 4, 12 and 52, respectively, and that in the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity of Illness score was −1.1 at week 12 and −1.7 at week 52. A total of 46.9% were CGI responders at week 12, while 67.3% were improved on the CGI at week 52. Of 52 subjects who entered into the drug treatment, 25 completed the study. Only one patient withdrew from the study due to lack of efficacy. In patients who were rated as ‘moderately ill’ or less at baseline, the proportion of CGI responders at end‐point was higher at a dose of 20 mg/day than at higher doses, whereas in patients rated as ‘markedly ill’ or more, it was higher at 30 and 40 mg/day, suggesting that severely ill patients could benefit from higher doses.Conclusion:  Paroxetine appeared generally tolerated in short‐ and long‐term use, and the safety profile in this study was consistent with international trials and other Japanese populations (i.e. patients suffering from depression, panic disorder or obsessive–compulsive disorder). Although the study was not conducted in double‐blind fashion, the current findings suggest that paroxetine may contribute to clinically meaningful improvement that is maintained during long‐term use and is generally well tolerated.
Verbal memory and verbal fluency in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Authors: Landrø Nils Inge , Ueland Torill 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Although impaired verbal memory and verbal fluency are frequently found in adults with schizophrenia, there has been a paucity of studies investigating adolescents with schizophrenia. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the main subcomponents of verbal memory and verbal fluency in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Methods:  Verbal learning and memory and verbal fluency was assessed in 21 adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (mean age, 15.4 years) compared with 28 healthy adolescents (mean age, 15.1 years).Results:  The patient group performed significantly below healthy controls on measures of learning, delayed recall and on a frequency estimation task. No differences between the groups were found for measures of recognition, retention, implicit memory, or susceptibility to interference. Although they had impaired delayed recall the patients remembered most of what they actually learned. The patient group was impaired on phonological and semantic fluency, but there were no differences between the groups with respect to clustering or switching on the fluency tasks, when controlling for total output. There was no disproportionate impairment in semantic, as compared to phonological fluency, in the patient group.Conclusions:  Adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders exhibit impairments in verbal learning and verbal fluency, which might have an impact on the individual's everyday functioning.
Somatization as a predictor of suicidal ideation in dissociative disorders
Authors: Öztürk Erdinç , Sar Vedat 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  This study was concerned with correlates of suicidal ideation among patients with chronic complex dissociative disorders.Method:  Participants were 40 patients diagnosed as having either dissociative identity disorder or dissociative disorder not otherwise specified according to the DSM‐IV. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Somatoform Dissociation and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaires, the Spielberger Trait Anger Inventory, the Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, and the Borderline Personality Disorder section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Personality Disorders were administered to all patients.Results:  Patients with suicidal ideas (n = 15) had concurrent somatization disorder more frequently than the remaining patients. Having significantly high scores on both trait and state dissociation measures, their dissociative disorder was more severe than that of the patients with no suicidal ideation. They had elevated scores for childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse and emotional neglect. Concurrent somatization disorder diagnosis was the only predictor of suicidal ideation when childhood trauma scores and borderline personality disorder diagnosis were controlled.Conclusions:  Among dissociative patients, there is an association between somatization and suicidal ideation. A trauma‐related insecure attachment pattern is considered as a common basis of this symptom cluster.
Insight in social behavioral dysfunction in schizophrenia: Preliminary study
Authors: Yoshizumi Miho , Hirao Kazuyuki , Ueda Keita , Murai Toshiya 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Previous studies have demonstrated attenuated insight among schizophrenia subjects about having a mental disorder and about their psychopathology. Few studies, however, have investigated in detail patients' unconcern for their social behavioral problems.Methods:  Using the subjective and objective versions of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe), the nature of awareness of social behavioral problems was investigated in chronic schizophrenia subjects.Results:  First, schizophrenia subjects were found to have problems in three major domains of social behavior: apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction. Second, awareness, estimated by the difference between the subjective and objective ratings, was not uniformly disturbed in schizophrenia subjects, although it had a significant interaction with the subjects' estimated IQs: subjects with higher IQs had a tendency to overestimate their problems, while those with lower IQs had the opposite tendency. Third, the same pattern of interaction was demonstrated for the retrospective premorbid ratings of FrSBe.Conclusion:  Awareness among schizophrenia subjects of their social behavioral problems is affected by their cognitive capacity, and this applies not only to current behaviors but also to the retrospective estimation of their behaviors in the social domain.
Comparisons of insight in schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and depressive disorders with and without comorbid alcohol use disorder
Authors: Yen Cheng‐Fang , Chen Cheng‐Chung , Cheng Chung‐Ping , Yen Chia‐Nan , Lin Huang‐Chi , Ko Chih‐Hung , Yen Ju‐Yu , Chen Cheng‐Sheng 
Published: November 2008

Aims:  To compare the level of insight among six groups of patients with psychiatric disorders, including those with schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar I disorder (BP), or depressive disorders (DD) who had or did not have comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD).Methods:  A total of 285 outpatients meeting the aforementioned criteria were recruited into the study. The Schedule of Assessment of Insight–Expanded version (SAI‐E) was used to measure subjects' insight. Analysis of covariance (ancova) was used to compare the levels of insight among the six groups of subjects.Results:  Regardless of whether patients had comorbid AUD or not, patients with DD had higher levels of insight than did patients with SZ. Comorbid AUD had independent effects on the differences in the level of insight between patients with DD and BP and between patients with BP and SZ. No statistically significant difference in insight was found between patients with the same psychiatric diagnosis with and without comorbid AUD.Conclusions:  In addition to psychotic features and clinical states, comorbid AUD should be taken into consideration when comparing the level of insight among patients with different psychiatric diagnoses.
Individual versus group cognitive behavioral treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder: Follow up
Authors: Jaurrieta Nuria , Jiménez‐Murcia Susana , Alonso Pino , Granero Roser , Segalàs Cinto , Labad Javier , Menchón José M. 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  To compare the effectiveness of two forms of cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT; group and individual) in a sample of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up.Method:  Thirty‐eight subjects meeting DSM‐IV‐TR OCD criteria completed 20 sessions of individual and group CBT. They were assessed using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales at baseline, after treatment and at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up.Results:  The clinical improvement obtained at the end of the treatment was maintained at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up. The clinical outcome of the individual treatment (IT) and the group treatment (GT) was the same. The dropout rates were significantly higher in women than in men, but were similar for IT and GT.Conclusions:  CBT was effective in a sample of OCD patients. Individual and group CBT had similar results at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Prior transient ischemic attack is independently associated with lesser in‐hospital case fatality in acute stroke
Authors: Zsuga Judit , Gesztelyi Rudolf , Juhasz Bela , Kemeny‐Beke Adam , Fekete Istvan , Csiba Laszlo , Bereczki Daniel 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Ischemic preconditioning has been well established in healthy human hearts, but limited information is available about its occurrence or its integrity in the brain. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether a prior cerebral ischemic episode (stroke or transient ischemic attack [TIA]) is able to confer protection against ischemic stroke, reflected by in‐hospital case fatality.Methods:  A total of 2874 acute stroke patients included in the prospective, hospital‐based Debrecen Stroke Database were studied, of whom 673 had previous stroke and 195 had prior TIA.Results:  Following adjustment for active confounders, TIA but not stroke in the history was associated with decreased odds for in‐hospital case fatality (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.29–0.98; P = 0.041). The fitness of the final multiple regression model was good (Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit χ2 statistic (P = 0.328).Conclusion:  TIA may have an ischemic preconditioning effect in the human brain.
Increased cell‐free DNA concentrations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Shin Chol , Kim Jin K. , Kim Je H. , Jung Ki H. , Cho Kyung J. , Lee Chang K. , Lee Seung G. 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Blood concentrations of cell‐free DNA, which is considered to be released during apoptosis, are elevated under some pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cell‐free DNA concentrations has not been reported so far. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between OSA and plasma DNA concentrations.Methods:  A case–control study was conducted using a total of 164 men aged 39–67 years, who were free of coronary heart disease and cancer. Laboratory‐based overnight polysomnography was performed for all participants.Results:  On the basis of polysomnography, patients with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) = 5–30 events/h were defined as having mild–moderate OSA (n = 33) and those with >30 events/h were defined as having severe OSA (n = 49). All 82 controls had AHI < 5 events/h. Plasma DNA concentrations from all participants were analyzed for the β‐globin gene using fluorescence‐based real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Patients with severe OSA had significantly higher plasma DNA concentrations than persons with mild–moderate OSA and those without OSA (P < 0.05). AHI was significantly associated with body mass index (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), and plasma DNA concentration (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  After taking into account hypertension and other potential risk factors, persons with high plasma DNA concentrations (>8 µg/L) had approximately fourfold higher odds of OSA than those with low DNA levels. Further data are warranted to confirm the association for men and to evaluate the association for women.
Reduced frontopolar activation during verbal fluency task associated with poor social functioning in late‐onset major depression: Multi‐channel near‐infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Pu Shenghong , Matsumura Hiroshi , Yamada Takeshi , Ikezawa Satoru , Mitani Hideaki , Adachi Akiko , Nakagome Kazuyuki 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Functional neuroimaging studies to date have indicated prefrontal dysfunction in late‐onset major depression (LOD). The relationships between prefrontal dysfunction and clinical characteristics including social functioning, however, have been unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate prefrontal hemodynamic response related to an executive task in LOD and to assess the relationship between activation in the prefrontal regions and clinical characteristics including social functioning.Methods:  Twenty‐four subjects with LOD and 30 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy subjects were recruited for the present study. Hemoglobin concentration changes in the prefrontal and superior temporal cortical surface area were measured during verbal fluency task (VFT) using 52‐channel near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which enables real‐time monitoring of cerebral blood volume (CBV) in the cortical surface area.Results:  The two groups had a distinct spatiotemporal pattern of oxy‐hemoglobin concentration change; LOD patients had less activation in a broad area covering both prefrontal and superior temporal cortices than healthy controls. In addition, reduced activation of the frontopolar region had a significant positive correlation with lower self‐assessment of social functioning scores in the patient group.Conclusion:  Reduced frontopolar cortical activation was associated with social functioning impairment in patients with LOD, and NIRS may be an efficient clinical tool for monitoring these characteristics.