bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Similar reproductive cycles and life‐history traits in congeneric limid bivalves with different modes of nutrition
Authors: Järnegren Johanna , Rapp Hans T. , Young Craig M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractWe have studied two congeneric limid bivalves, Acesta species novum and Acesta excavata (Bivalvia: Limidae), that live in similar physical conditions but use different food sources. Acesta sp. nov. live on the giant siboglinid tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi at cold seeps and feed on their eggs, a continuous food source that ultimately is derived from chemosynthesis, whereas A. excavata relies on planktonic food of photosynthetic origin, which varies seasonally. We hypothesized that these two species might show differences in the periodicity of reproduction; specifically, we predicted that A. sp. nov. would breed continuously and that A. excavata would demonstrate an annual reproductive cycle. Our hypothesis was refuted, as both species have a semi‐continuous reproductive cycle. Food quality, quantity or seasonality had no clear effect. Reproductive adults are functionally gonochoristic. Females broadcast buoyant eggs with an average size of 179 μm in A. sp. nov. and 160 μm in A. excavata. Both the size of the larval shell and the size of the spawned eggs are suggestive of pelagic lecithotrophic development. Both species also appear to be protandric hermaphrodites, changing from male to female at approximately 77 and 90 mm shell height, respectively, although not all individuals change sex. In the material investigated in this study there was a biased sex ratio favouring males.
Characterization of bacterial community structure in vestimentiferan tubewormRidgeia piscesaetrophosomes
Authors: Chao Leslie S.‐L. , Davis Richard E. , Moyer Craig L. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTerminal‐restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T‐RFLPs) were used to address the question whether there are multiple phylotypes of bacteria within the trophosome of the vestimentiferan tubewormRidgeia piscesaein addition to the known endosymbiont. Clone libraries were constructed to aid in the identification of the additional bacterial phylotypes. IndividualR. piscesaespecimens were collected from Juan de Fuca Ridge, Axial Caldera and Explorer Ridge, Magic Mountain. Clone library analyses revealed only one bacterial phylotype (expectedR. piscesaeendosymbiont) within the Explorer Ridge trophosomes. However, the Axial Caldera clone library revealed five operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Three of the resulting phylotypes detected (designated RAE) were putative thioautotrophic symbionts within theγ‐Proteobacteriawhich belonged to the anticipated endosymbiont group (RAE OTU 1), theMaorithyas hadalissymbiont II group (RAE OTU 3), and theHalothiobacillusgroup (RAE OTU 4). The remaining two phylotypes were most likely opportunistically derived. RAE OTU 5 was anα‐Proteobacteriumwithin theRoseobactergroup and RAE OTU 2 was within theCytophaga–Flavobacterium–Bacteroidetes. T‐RFLP analyses revealed that all 15 trophosomes evaluated contained at least RAE OTUs 1 and 4. Five of the 15 trophosomes contained at least RAE OTUs 1, 3, and 4 and two of the trophosomes contained at least five RAE OTUs. Cluster analysis of the T‐RFLP data revealed three distinct clusters. The number of taxa within the trophosome may be an indication of the general health of the tubeworm. This study strongly suggests that we have discovered and identified more than one bacterial phylotype within the trophosome of vestimentiferanR. piscesae.
Rapid and sensitive electrophoresis of urinary protein clearly reveals the pathophysiological feature of renal diseases
Authors: SAKATSUME MINORU , KUBOTA RYO , OGAWA ASA , NARITA ICHIEI , MATSUDA TAKEHIDE , SHIBA KIYOKO , GEJYO FUMITAKE 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARY:Aim:  The diagnostic approach for renal diseases with the electrophoretic pattern of urinary protein on cellulose acetate (CA) membrane differentiates the causes of proteinuria. However, this method has not been used routinely because of its difficulty in obtaining a clear image. This study was performed in order to re‐evaluate this method with an improved system.Methods:  Using the newly developed system of CA membrane electrophoresis and its visualization, we examined fresh urine from patients (n = 100) who subsequently underwent renal biopsy and compared the results with the histological findings.Results:  The improved method of urine electrophoresis with CA membrane provided clear images and was sensitive enough for urine samples to be applied without concentration. The profiles of proteinuria were clearly classified into three patterns: glomerular, tubular or mixed. The profiles exhibited a good agreement with the histological findings of renal biopsy.Conclusion:  The recognition of damaged portions in kidney through the profiles of proteinuria by this system could be practically effective for understanding the kidney disease at bedside.
Daily blood pressure control is not sufficient to regress cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction: A bi‐ventricular tissue Doppler echocardiographic study
Authors: BALAL MUSTAFA , KOC MEVLUT , PAYDAS SAIME , DEMIR ERKAN , SERTDEMIR YASAR , ACARTURK ESMERAY 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARY:Background:  Hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular complications leading to death and allograft dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the levels of 24 h blood pressure and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and bi‐ventricular tissue Doppler echocardiographic measurements in renal transplant recipients (RTxr) and dialysis patients.Methods:  In this cross‐sectional study, we evaluated 32 non‐diabetic renal transplant recipients (GI) and 18 patients with end‐stage renal insufficiency who underwent haemodialysis (GII).Results:  The mean follow‐up periods were 49.16 ± 38.02 and 56.83 ± 34.14 months in GI and GII, respectively. There were no differences for age, gender, daytime systolic–diastolic blood pressures and loads among the groups. The mean night‐time systolic–diastolic blood pressures in GI and GII were 119.77 ± 17.41–77.34 ± 14.46 and 120.23 ± 25.53–76.17 ± 18.77 mmHg, respectively (P I–II = 0.453–0.72). The mean night‐time systolic blood pressure loads in GI and GII were 4.92 ± 7.77 and 6.10 ± 8.16%, respectively (P I–II = 0.68). The mean night‐time diastolic blood pressure loads were 7.79 ± 7.83 and 8.02 ± 8.28% in GI and GII, respectively (P I–II = 0.55). The mean levels of LVMI in GI and GII were 115.81 ± 28.07 and 128.06 ± 65.72 g/m2, respectively (P I–II = 0.85). The mean levels of left ventricular Em/Am by tissue Doppler echocardiography were 1.13 ± 0.40 and 0.90 ± 0.29, respectively (P I–II = 0.127), while the mean levels of right ventricular Em/Am were 0.89 ± 0.37 and 0.88 ± 0.26, respectively (P I–II = 0.50).Conclusion:  After renal transplantation, LVMI and bi‐ventricular diastolic dysfunction were not regressed. Daytime and night‐time blood pressures and loads were similar in the two groups. We can say that well‐controlled daytime blood pressure and load is not sufficient to decrease cardiovascular risk in RTxr. Also, it is important to control of night‐time blood pressure and load to reduce cardiovascular risk in RTxr. RTxr should be monitored with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and tissue Doppler echocardiography.
Effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers on insulin resistance in maintenance haemodialysis patients
Authors: SATIRAPOJ BANCHA , YINGWATANADEJ PAIROJ , CHAICHAYANON SOMCHAI , PATUMANOND JAYANTON 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARY:Aim:  Insulin resistance is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with end‐stage renal disease. Although some clinical studies demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) improve insulin action in hypertensive patients, the role of ARB among patients with maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) remains controversial. The aim was to evaluate the effect of the ARB on insulin resistance in patients with MHD.Methods:  The authors examined 10 patients with MHD who regularly underwent haemodialysis at least two visits per week. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment with valsartan, blood pressure monitoring, insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA‐IR), fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin and blood chemistries were measured and compared with baseline values.Results:  Ten patients with MHD aged 16–74 years participated in the study. The causes of end‐stage renal disease included hypertension (four cases), diabetes (three cases), glomerulonephritis (one case) and unknown cause (two cases). Fasting insulin levels significantly reduced from 11.9 ± 5.7 μU/mL to 8.0 ± 6.8 μU/mL (P < 0.001), and HOMA‐IR decreased significantly from 3.6 ± 2.5 to 2.1 ± 1.6 (P = 0.005). Averaged pre‐ and post‐haemodialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not significantly change. The treatment did not significantly change the levels of uric acid, albumin and urea clearance, except for a significant decrease in total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein and intact‐parathyroid hormone.Conclusion:  The insulin resistance in patients with MHD is controlled by valsartan. ARB that ameliorate insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia could also provide effective options for preventing cardiovascular disease in patients with MHD.
Psychosocial well‐being of patients with skin diseases in general practice
Authors: Verhoeven EWM , Kraaimaat FW , Van De Kerkhof PCM , Van Weel C , Duller P , Van Der Valk PGM , Van Den Hoogen HJM , Bor JHJ , Schers HJ , Evers AWM 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBackground  Skin diseases are a substantial part of the problems dealt with by general practitioners. Although the psychosocial consequences of skin diseases in secondary care has been extensively studied, little is known about the psychosocial well‐being of patients with skin diseases in primary care.Objective  To investigate the psychosocial well‐being of patients with skin diseases in primary care.Patients/methods  Questionnaires about the psychosocial consequences of skin diseases were sent to patients with a skin disease who were registered within a research network (continuous morbidity registration) of general practices that continuously have recorded morbidity data since 1971. Questionnaires completed by 532 patients were eventually suitable for analyses.Results  Compared with the general population, patients with skin diseases reported significantly lower scores for psychosocial well‐being. Furthermore, a lower psychosocial wellbeing was significantly related with higher levels of disease‐severity, lower disease‐related quality of life, longer disease duration, more comorbidity and more physical symptoms of itch, pain and fatigue. After demographic variables and comorbidity were controlled for, sequential regression analyses showed that disease duration, disease severity and physical symptoms (itch, pain and fatigue) were significant predictors of psychosocial well‐being.Conclusion  The psychosocial well‐being of patients with skin diseases in primary care is lower than that of the general population. Special attention has to be directed to those patients with lowered psychosocial well‐being who might be at risk of developing severe psychosocial impairments such as clinical depression.
Transforming Conflicts on EU Borders: the Case of Greek‐Turkish Relations*
Authors: RUMELILI BAHAR 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDrawing on the trajectory of Greek‐Turkish conflicts, this article demonstrates how the EU's bordering practices affect the conflict resolution capacity of the EU on its external borders. Close institutional relations and positive identification with outsider states diffuse the logic of the security community. On the other hand, hard EU borders incapacitate the EU from having a positive influence.
Reactive changes in dorsal roots and dorsal root ganglia after C7 dorsal rhizotomy and ventral root avulsion/replantation in rabbits
Authors: Schlegel N. , Asan E. , Hofmann G. O. , Lang E. M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCurrent surgical treatment of spinal root injuries aims at reconnecting ventral roots to the spinal cord while severed dorsal roots are generally left untreated. Reactive changes in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and in injured dorsal roots after such complex lesions have not been analysed in detail. We studied dorsal root remnants and lesioned DRGs 6 months after C7 dorsal rhizotomy, ventral root avulsion and immediate ventral root replantation in adult rabbits. Replanted ventral roots were fixed to the spinal cord with fibrin glue only or with glue containing ciliary neurotrophic factor and/or brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. Varying degrees of degeneration were observed in the deafferented dorsal spinal cord in all experimental groups. In cases with well‐preserved morphology, small myelinated axons extended into central tissue protrusions at the dorsal root entry zone, suggesting sprouting of spinal neuron processes into the central dorsal root remnant. In lesioned DRGs, the density of neurons and myelinated axons was not significantly altered, but a slight decrease in the relative frequency of large neurons and an increase of small myelinated axons was noted (significant for axons). Unexpectedly, differences in the degree of these changes were found between control and neurotrophic factor‐treated animals. Central axons of DRG neurons formed dorsal root stumps of considerable length which were attached to fibrous tissue surrounding the replanted ventral root. In cases where gaps were apparent in dorsal root sheaths, a subgroup of dorsal root axons entered this fibrous tissue. Continuity of sensory axons with the spinal cord was never observed. Some axons coursed ventrally in the direction of the spinal nerve. Although the animal model does not fully represent the situation in human plexus injuries, the present findings provide a basis for devising further experimental approaches in the treatment of combined motor/sensory root lesions.
Chronic neuropathic pain: mechanisms, drug targets and measurement
Authors: Finnerup Nanna B. , Sindrup Søren H. , Jensen Troels S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractNeuropathic pain is common in many diseases or injuries of the peripheral or central nervous system, and has a substantial impact on quality of life and mood. Lesions of the nervous system may lead to potentially irreversible changes and imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory systems. Preclinical research provides several promising targets for treatment such as sodium and calcium channels, glutamate receptors, monoamines and neurotrophic factors; however, treatment is often insufficient. A mechanism‐based treatment approach is suggested to improve treatment. Valid and reliable tools to assess various symptoms and signs in neuropathic pain and knowledge of drug mechanisms are prerequisites for pursuing this approach. The present review summarizes mechanisms of neuropathic pain, targets of currently used drugs, and measures used in neuropathic pain trials.
Skin Basement Membrane Zone: A Depository for Circulating Microbial Antigen Evoking Psoriasis and Autoimmunity
Authors: Noah Patricia W , Handorf Charles R. , Skinner Robert B , Mandrell Timothy D , Rosenberg E. William 
Published: February 2007

Background. Elevated levels of antibody to streptococcal exoenzymes have been found in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Research on the role of streptococcal antigen in psoriasis has been hampered by a potential molecular mimicry between streptococcal epitopes and human epidermal keratin.
Objective and Methods. Evidence of microbial product was sought in skin biopsies of psoriasis patients thought clinically to have either strep‐tococcal` skin. Staining was negative for nonpsoriatic subjects.
Conclusions. The findings support a direct effect of microbial antigen in psoriasis. They also suggest an important role for SBMZ as a very large adhesive surface in the first step of a process of percutaneous epidermal elimination of foreign antigens and microbial toxins. The many autoimmune phenomena seen so often at the SBMZ are probably a physiologic part of this important immune function. Efforts to enhance the adhesive properties of SBMZ should be exploitable for both diagnostic and therapeutic benefit.
Chlorpyrifos Exacerbating Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Preliminary Report and Suggested In Vitro Immunologic Evaluation Model
Authors: Yonit Wohl , Ilan Goldberg , Idit Shirazi , Sarah Brenner 
Published: February 2007

Background. There is accumulating evidence on the role of pesticides in the etiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV).
Objective. To determine whether chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide, is involved in the immunopathology of PV.
Methods. Normal human skin biopsy specimens incubated with progressively diluted chlorpyrifos solutions were used as indirect immunofluorescence substrates for sera from two PV patients previously exposed to the agent and from healthy controls. Involvement of T‐cell lymphocytes was assessed by release of interferon‐y in the presence of chlorpyrifos.Results. In one PV patient, immunofluorescence was strongly positive for the specimen incubated with the pesticide and weakly positive for the specimen incubated with medium alone. Immunofluorescence was negative in the patient under immunosuppression with prednisolone and in all controls. Both patients tested positive on interferon‐y assay; controls tested negative.
Conclusions. Findings suggest an immunopathogenic role of chlorpyrifos in PV. Interferon‐y cytokine assay with the pesticide combined with immunofluorescence tests may provide an in vitro diagnostic tool in suspected pesticide‐induced/exacerbated pemphigus.
Safety and Efficacy of Tretin‐X Compared With Retin‐A in Patients With Mild‐to‐Severe Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Guy F. Webster 
Published: February 2007

Background and Objective. The therapeutic efficacy of the tretinoin products Tretin‐X (Triax Pharmaceuticals, Cranford, NJ) and Retin‐A (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ) in the treatment of acne vulgaris was compared in four bioequivalence studies.
Methods. Four double‐blind, three‐treatment, parallel‐group studies randomly assigned 1642 adolescents and adults, 12–40 years of age, with mild‐to‐severe acne vulgaris to receive topical tretinoin therapy with Tretin‐X, Retin‐A, or placebo (drug vehicle) as 0.1% cream (study 1), 0.025% cream (study 2), 0.025% gel (study 3), and 0.01% gel (study 4) once daily for 84 days. The primary efficacy measures were overall acne severity and the number of inflammatory lesions. The secondary efficacy measure was the total number of lesions.
Results. In each trial, Tretin‐X and Retin‐A were clinically equivalent according to all primary and secondary end points at Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12, a finding also demonstrated by the averaged scores from Weeks 2 through 12. Moreover, each active treatment was significantly more efficacious than placebo at the conclusion of the study ( p≤0.05). Both of the Tretin‐X and Retin‐A formulations compared in each study were well tolerated. The severity of erythema and peeling did not differ significantly among the three groups studied. Conclusions. The four bioequivalence studies demonstrated that Tretin‐X and Retin‐A tretinoin products behaved similarly in patients with mild‐to‐severe acne vulgaris and were thus clinically bioequivalent. Both treatments were well tolerated, and their associated adverse events were similar to those with placebo.
Association of IL12RB1 polymorphisms with susceptibility to and severity of tuberculosis in Japanese: a gene‐based association analysis of 21 candidate genes
Authors: Kusuhara K. , Yamamoto K. , Okada K. , Mizuno Y. , Hara T. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryTuberculosis (TB) is the second commonest cause of death from infectious disease after HIV/AIDS worldwide. Association studies have revealed that host genetic factors, such as human leukocyte antigen and solute carrier family 11 member A1 (NRAMP1), play roles in susceptibility to TB. To identify host genetic factors involved in the susceptibility to TB in Japanese, we performed a gene‐based association analysis of 21 candidate genes on 87 TB patients and 265 controls using marker single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). For the genes with two or more marker SNPs exhibiting significant allele association, we subsequently analysed the association between adjacent coding SNPs (cSNPs) and TB. Among a total of 118 marker SNPs, 3 of IL1B and 2 of IL12RB1 showed association with TB. Non‐synomymous cSNPs were not identified in IL1B. Association studies on four non‐synomymous cSNPs of IL12RB1 (641A/G, 1094T/C, 1132C/G, 1573G/A) in linkage disequilibrium showed that three of them (641A/G, 1094T/C, 1132C/G) were significantly associated with the development of TB. Haplotype analysis on the four cSNPs demonstrated that frequency of ATGG haplotype was significantly lower in TB patients than in controls. When TB patients were divided into two subgroups according to the severity of lung disease, advanced subgroup showed a prominent association with 641A/G, 1094T/C and 1132C/G SNPs. These data suggested that genetic variants of IL12RB1, at least in part, confer genetic susceptibility to TB, and are associated with the progression of the disease, in Japanese.
Analysis of CD28 and CTLA‐4 gene polymorphisms in Turkish patients with Behcet's disease
Authors: Gunesacar R. , Erken E. , Bozkurt B. , Ozer H. T. , Dinkci S. , Erken E. G. , Ozbalkan Z. 
Published: February 2007

SummaryIn this study we aimed to investigate IVS3 +17T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CD28 gene, +49A/G and −318C/T SNPs of CTLA‐4 gene in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and their potential association to the main clinical features of the disease. These polymorphisms were investigated in a Turkish population of 123 patients with BD and 179 healthy controls, by using PCR‐RFLP technique. HLA‐B*51 genotype was also studied in both groups by using PCR‐SSP. The frequency of IVS3 +17TC genotype of the CD28 gene was significantly increased in BD patients compared to controls (43.6% vs. 31.2%, OR = 1.663, 95% CI = 1.033–2.679, P = 0.039). CTLA‐4 +49GG genotype frequency was found to be significantly lower in patients with BD than those of healthy controls (4% vs. 10.6%, OR = 0.357, 95% CI = 0.130–0.983, P = 0.05). Genotype and allele frequencies of the CTLA‐4–318C/T polymorphism between the BD and healthy control groups were not significantly different (12.2% vs. 10.6%, OR = 1.170, 95% CI = 0.570–2.402, P = 0.713). There were no associations between the studied polymorphisms and the main clinical features of BD. The frequencies of HLA‐B*51 were 60.3% and 30.7% in BD and control groups, respectively (OR = 3.429, 95% CI = 2.115–5.559, P = 0.0001). Association between HLA‐B*51 and each studied polymorphism did not reach to significant levels (OR = 0.479, 95% CI = 0.228–1.004, P = 0.064 for CD28 IVS3 +17TT genotype; OR = 2.180, 95% CI = 1.025–4.639, P = 0.061 for TC genotype; OR = 1.570, 95% CI = 0.870–2.836, P = 0.146 for C allele). These results may suggest that CD28 IVS3 +17TC genotype may be a risk factor for the development of BD, on the contrary CTLA‐4 +49GG genotype may be protective in the studied Turkish population.