bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Detection of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira pilosicoli and Lawsonia intracellularis in Porcine Faeces and Tissue Samples by Multiplex‐PCR
Authors: Nathues H. , Oliveira C. J. B. , Wurm M. , Grosse Beilage E. , Givisiez P. E. N. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryDiarrhoea in growing and finishing pigs is usually caused by infectious agents and laboratory diagnosis is a prerequisite for efficient therapy. Cultivation of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae or Brachyspira pilosicoli and detection of Lawsonia intracellularis by means of immunofluorescence tests (IFT) are time‐consuming and in some cases lack sensitivity. A multiplex‐PCR was designed to detect simultaneously these three pathogens in faeces and tissue samples, allowing the differential diagnosis of dysentery, intestinal spirochaetosis and proliferative enteropathy. Detection limits for B. hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli and L. intracellularis were 104, 102 and 103 copies respectively. Agreement between multiplex‐PCR and nested‐PCR or cultivation was considered substantial to almost perfect. Agreement between multiplex‐PCR and IFT in detecting L. intracellularis was only moderate, which was probably related to false‐positive results given by IFT. The multiplex‐PCR described herein is a valuable tool for the rapid and simultaneous detection of three different pathogens in porcine samples causing enteric diseases.
Somatic Cell Count in Milk of Selenium‐supplemented Dairy Cows after an Intramammary Challenge with Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kruze J. , Ceballos A. , Stryhn H. , Mella A. , Matamoros R. , Contreras P. A. , Leyan V. , Wittwer F. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on milk somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows. Twelve multiparous Holstein–Friesian cows were fed a diet containing a suboptimal Se concentration (<0.05 ppm, dry basis) starting 2 months before calving. Supplemented cows (n = 6) received a single s.c. injection of barium selenate (1 ml/50 kg BW) 45 days prior to calving, whereas control group was kept unsupplemented. Twenty weeks after calving, two mammary quarters (right side) of each cow were challenged with 205 000 cfu/ml of Staphylococcus aureus (strain Newbould 305). Blood was collected bi‐weekly until day 150 of lactation for the analysis of blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx1; EC 1.11.1.9) activity. To re‐isolate the challenging pathogen and to evaluate SCC, aseptic milk samples were collected daily starting on the day of challenge, and finishing 7 days after inoculation. Unsupplemented cows had a lower activity of GPx1 through the experiment (P < 0.001). Natural log SCC (lnSCC) was higher in unsupplemented than Se‐supplemented cows (P = 0.04), showing evidence of significance after 5 days. Selenium supplementation of dairy cows fed a diet containing a suboptimal Se concentration, resulted in higher blood activity of GPx1, and lower mean lnSCC after an intramammary challenge with Staph. aureus.
EFFICACY OF SURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY‐RELATED TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS
Authors: Gan Susan S. H. , Talbot Michael L. , Jorgensen John O. 
Published: October 2007

Background:  It is estimated that up to 80% of persons with diabetes mellitus type 2 are overweight and in these patients it is recognized that effective weight control can lead to improvement or even resolution of their diabetes (Colagiuri et al.). All currently carried out operations for morbid obesity have been shown to improve diabetes, but there appears to be a variable response to surgery depending on several surgical and patient factors.Methods:  In this prospective review, we analysed the change in the diabetic status in 72 patients undergoing three different bariatric procedures in a single institution over 30 months. A review of the published work comparing the efficacy of the various procedures in achieving improvement or resolution of diabetes was also carried out and correlated to our findings.Results:  At an average follow up of 13 months, 50% of patients who had placement of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band had an improvement or resolution of their diabetes, compared with 95% of patients who had had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass. Two of 12 (17%) laparoscopic adjustable gastric band patients had normal blood glucose levels off all diabetic medications compared with 7 of 21 (33%) laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and 27 of 39 (69%) Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass patients. There was no significant association between the amount of weight lost and the return to euglycaemia.Conclusion:  Direct comparison has shown a significant difference in the effects of different forms of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes, this is in keeping with evidence that surgery can lead to improvement in diabetes additional to that obtained by weight loss alone.
ORAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER LINGUAL MUCOSAL GRAFT HARVEST FOR URETHROPLASTY
Authors: Kumar Abhay , Goyal Neeraj K. , Das Suren K. , Trivedi Sameer , Dwivedi Udai S. , Singh Pratap B. 
Published: October 2007

Background:  The aim of this study was to assess the complications at donor site after lingual mucosal graft harvesting for urethroplasty.Methods:  From March 2006 to December 2006, 30 patients of anterior urethral stricture underwent lingual mucosal graft urethroplasty. The site of the harvest graft was lateral mucosal lining of the tongue. Donor site complications, that is, pain, slurring of speech, pain during speech, salivatory changes and difficulty in protrusion of tongue were noted.Results:  The mean (range) age of patients was 36.2 years (22–52 years). The mean (range) stricture length was 8.4 cm (4.8–16 cm) and graft length was 8.5 cm (4.2–16.2 cm). Mean duration of follow up was 3.8 months. At the first postoperative day, 90% of the patients experienced pain at donor site and 20% had slurring of speech. Pain was mild to discomforting in 80% and distressing to horrible in 13% of the patients. By third postoperative day, two‐thirds were pain free, one‐thirds had mild pain only and none had slurring of speech. By day 6 of surgery, all patients were pain free. Six per cent of the patients reported numbness over ventral aspect of anterior half of tongue, which persisted in the first follow up and subsided by second follow up. There was no bleeding, haematoma or infection at donor site. All patients were able to resume oral fluid within 24 h, eat soft solid diet in 48–72 h and return to normal diet after 4–5 days of surgery. No patient complained of difficulty in opening the mouth, salivation disturbances, perioral numbness or difficulty in protrusion of tongue. No long‐term functional or aesthetic complications were reported.Conclusion:  Lingual mucosal graft harvesting is feasible, provides a long graft, is easy to carry out and is the least morbid procedure.
ENDOVASCULAR GRAFTING OF THE THORACIC AORTA, AN EVOLVING THERAPY: TEN‐YEAR EXPERIENCE IN A SINGLE CENTRE
Authors: Sandroussi Charbel , Waltham Matthew , Hughes Clifford F. , May James , Harris John P. , Stephen Michael S. , White Geoffrey H. 
Published: October 2007

Background:  Surgical therapy for the thoracic aorta carries a high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular therapy for aneurysms and its adaptation to the thoracic aorta over the past 10 years is an exciting advance. This is a retrospective review of endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta during the past decade at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the outcomes achieved over this period.Methods:  A retrospective review of all patients at our institution who underwent endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta between March 1995 and March 2005 was carried out. Data were analysed using Stata version 8.0 (Stata corporation, College Station, TX, USA).Results:  Sixty‐five patients underwent endovascular stent grafting of the thoracic aorta. The indications were degenerative aneurysm (31), Stanford type B dissection (23) both acute (12) and chronic (11), traumatic transection (9) and penetrating ulcer (2). There were no conversions to open repair. Twenty‐two patients required additional procedures, six of which were unplanned. The median age was 65 (range 18–85), 68% of patients were men. The median procedure time was 115 min (range 55–240 min). Mean hospital stay was 9.8 ± 7.3 days and high dependency/intensive care unit stay 1.5 ± 3.2 days. Thirty‐day mortality was 0 in 41 for elective cases (one patient (2.5%) died 37 days post‐procedure) and 12% (3 of 25) for emergency cases. Complications occurred in 20 of 41 (49%) elective cases and 14 of 24 (58%) emergency cases within the first 30 days. The most frequent major complications were neurological including paraplegia (transient 2 of 65, permanent (2 of 65)) and stroke (4 of 65). Other complications included endoleak (12 of 65), acute renal failure (1 of 65), and brachial artery false aneurysm (1 of 65). The mean length of follow up was 22.5 months (range, 1–97 months). Six patients required further endovascular procedures for persistent endoleak or ongoing perfusion of chronic dissection. Late deaths (>30 days) related to the endovascular treatment occurred in two patients (3%).Conclusion:  Endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta is an evolution in the treatment of thoracic aortic pathology. The results of elective endovascular grafts were acceptable. Emergency procedures had a higher incidence of complications and death. Improvement in graft technology, design and deployment are required.
SECOND OPINIONS IN REMOTE SURGICAL PRACTICE USING EMAIL AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Authors: Stutchfield Ben M. , Jagilly Rooney , Tulloh Bruce R. 
Published: October 2007

Background:  Email offers the opportunity to improve communication between surgeons across the world. This experimental study aimed to assess the feasibility of obtaining clinical opinions by email and digital photography in remote surgical practice.Methods:  Over a 3‐week period, all adult general surgical cases with a visual component to their condition admitted to a remote developing‐world hospital were invited to participate. Clinical details and digital images were emailed to a UK general surgeon who consulted specialist colleagues if required and emailed back a suggested diagnosis and management plan, rating the confidence with which these were made on a five‐point scale. The concordance between diagnoses and management plans from each centre were rated by three independent general surgeons.Results:  In this prospective study of 32 patients, 56% of diagnoses and 78% of management plans were made by the UK surgeons with ‘high’ or ‘total’ confidence. Causes of low diagnostic confidence included vague swellings and low‐resolution X‐ray images. Diagnostic and management concordance between centres was adjudged ‘high’ or ‘total’ in 88 and 43% of cases, respectively.Conclusion:  Obtaining second opinions using email and digital photography is feasible in adult general surgery, but its efficacy is limited in cases where image resolution or non‐visual clues are important.
Small‐conductance Cl– channels contribute to volume regulation and phagocytosis in microglia
Authors: Ducharme Guillaume , Newell Evan W. , Pinto Crystal , Schlichter Lyanne C. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe shape and volume of microglia (brain immune cells) change when they activate during brain inflammation and become migratory and phagocytic. Swollen rat microglia express a large Cl– current (IClswell), whose biophysical properties and functional roles are poorly understood and whose molecular identity is unknown. We constructed a fingerprint of useful biophysical properties for comparison with IClswell in other cell types and with cloned Cl– channels. The microglial IClswell was rapidly activated by cell swelling but not by voltage, and showed no time‐dependence during voltage‐clamp steps. Like IClswell in many cell types, the halide selectivity sequence was I– > Br– > Cl– > F–. However, it differed in lacking inactivation, even at +100 mV with high extracellular Mg2+, and in having a much lower single‐channel conductance: 1–3 pS. Based on these fundamental differences, the microglia channel is apparently a different gene product than the more common intermediate‐conductance IClswell. Microglia express several candidate genes, with relative mRNA expression levels of: CLIC1 > ClC3 > ICln ≥ ClC2 > Best2 > Best1 ≥ Best3 > Best4. Using a pharmacological toolbox, we show that all drugs that reduced the microglia current (NPPB, IAA‐94, flufenamic acid and DIOA) increased the resting cell volume in isotonic solution and inhibited the regulatory volume decrease that followed cell swelling in hypotonic solution. Both channel blockers tested (NPPB and flufenamic acid) dose‐dependently inhibited microglia phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria. Because IClswell is involved in microglia functions that involve shape and volume changes, it is potentially important for controlling their ability to migrate to damage sites and phagocytose dead cells and debris.
‘How compliant do we want to be with the colonoscopy surveillance guidelines?’
Authors: Chivers K. C. , Basnyat P. S. , Taffinder N. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractObjective  To assess the referral practice for surveillance colonoscopy amongst clinicians and to measure whether practice was inline with the current Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines.Method  A questionnaire was sent to members of the ACPGBI.Results  A total of 195 (49%) clinicians responded, providing information on their referral habits with comments on where they deviated from the guidelines.Conclusions  The BSG and ACPGBI guidelines are well established amongst clinicians and generally accepted as best practice, however, the majority of clinicians deviate from the guidelines for particular clinical scenarios. In fact only 18% of respondents followed all recommendations for surveillance colonoscopy for patients with polyps, previous cancers and a family history.
Putting ourselves in a striped snake's shoes: thermal sensitivity of locomotor performance in a melanistic/striped colour‐dimorphic snake
Authors: Tanaka Koji 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIntermorph differences of thermoregulatory abilities in colour‐polymorphic (dimorphic) species have been demonstrated in many ectotherms. Usually, these studies reported slower body warming in pale‐coloured morphs than in dark‐coloured morphs. Under this circumstance, one way in which pale‐coloured individuals can manage their slower body warming is to perform better at lower temperatures than dark‐coloured individuals. If this is the case, the former need not necessarily raise their body temperature to the same level as the latter. Based on this scenario, intermorph differences in thermal sensitivity of performance were examined using the melanistic/striped colour‐dimorphic snake Elaphe quadrivirgata as a model species. As an indication of performance capability, the crawling speed was measured at several temperatures. Although striped individuals exhibited slower body warming than melanistic individuals under experimental conditions, the former did not exhibit faster crawling speed than the latter at lower temperatures. Shape and position of the performance curve were almost identical between melanistic and striped individuals, indicating a highly static nature in thermal sensitivity of crawling. Coupled with the results of field studies, it is suggested that striped individuals manage their slower body warming by efforts of behavioural thermoregulation. The possible significance of ecological performance in the wild was discussed.
SEX SELECTION AND RESTRICTING ABORTION AND SEX DETERMINATION
Authors: ZILBERBERG JULIE 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTSex selection in India and China is fostered by a limiting social structure that disallows women from performing the roles that men perform, and relegates women to a lower status level. Individual parents and individual families benefit concretely from having a son born into the family, while society, and girls and women as a group, are harmed by the widespread practice of sex selection. Sex selection reinforces oppression of women and girls. Sex selection is best addressed by ameliorating the situations of women and girls, increasing their autonomy, and elevating their status in society. One might argue that restricting or prohibiting abortion, prohibiting sex selection, and prohibiting sex determination would eliminate sex selective abortion. But this decreases women's autonomy rather than increases it. Such practices will turn underground. Sex selective infanticide, and slower death by long term neglect, could increase. If abortion is restricted, the burden is placed on women seeking abortions to show that they have a legally acceptable or legitimate reason for a desired abortion, and this seriously limits women's autonomy. Instead of restricting abortion, banning sex selection, and sex determination, it is better to address the practice of sex selection by elevating the status of women and empowering women so that giving birth to a girl is a real and positive option, instead of a detriment to the parents and family as it is currently. But, if a ban on sex selective abortion or a ban on sex determination is indeed instituted, then wider social change promoting women's status in society should be instituted simultaneously.
Correction of protein kinase C activity and macrophage migration in peripheral nerve by pioglitazone, peroxisome proliferator activated‐γ‐ligand, in insulin‐deficient diabetic rats
Authors: Yamagishi Shin‐Ichiro , Ogasawara Saori , Mizukami Hiroki , Yajima Nobuhisa , Wada Ryu‐ichi , Sugawara Akiko , Yagihashi Soroku 
Published: October 2007

AbstractPioglitazone, one of thiazolidinediones, a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ ligand, is known to have beneficial effects on macrovascular complications in diabetes, but the effect on diabetic neuropathy is not well addressed. We demonstrated the expression of PPAR‐γ in Schwann cells and vascular walls in peripheral nerve and then evaluated the effect of pioglitazone treatment for 12 weeks (10 mg/kg/day, orally) on neuropathy in streptozotocin‐diabetic rats. At end, pioglitazone treatment improved nerve conduction delay in diabetic rats without affecting the expression of PPAR‐γ. Diabetic rats showed suppressed protein kinase C (PKC) activity of endoneurial membrane fraction with decreased expression of PKC‐α. These alterations were normalized in the treated group. Enhanced expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase detected in diabetic rats was inhibited by the treatment. Increased numbers of macrophages positive for ED‐1 and 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine‐positive Schwann cells in diabetic rats were also corrected by the treatment. Pioglitazone lowered blood lipid levels of diabetic rats, but blood glucose and nerve sorbitol levels were not affected by the treatment. In conclusion, our study showed that pioglitazone was beneficial for experimental diabetic neuropathy via correction of impaired PKC pathway and proinflammatory process, independent of polyol pathway.
Expression, binding, and signaling properties of CRF2(a)receptors endogenously expressed in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells: passage‐dependent regulation of functional receptors
Authors: Gutknecht Eric , Hauger Richard L. , Van der Linden Ilse , Vauquelin Georges , Dautzenberg Frank M. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractEndogenous expression of the corticotropin‐releasing factor type 2a receptor [CRF2(a)] but not CRF2(b)and CRF2(c)was observed in higher passage cultures of human Y79 retinoblastoma cells. Functional studies further demonstrated an increase in CRF2(a)mRNA and protein levels with higher passage numbers (> 20 passages). Although the CRF1receptor was expressed at higher levels than the CRF2(a)receptor, both receptors were easily distinguishable from one another by selective receptor ligands. CRF1‐preferring or non‐selective agonists such as CRF, urocortin 1 (UCN1), and sauvagine stimulated cAMP production in Y79 to maximal responses of ∼100 pmoles/105cells, whereas the exclusive CRF2receptor‐selective agonists UCN2 and 3 stimulated cAMP production to maximal responses of ∼25–30 pmoles/105cells. UCN2 and 3‐mediated cAMP stimulation was potently blocked by the ∼300‐fold selective CRF2antagonist antisauvagine (IC50 = 6.5 ± 1.6 nmol/L), whereas the CRF1‐selective antagonist NBI27914 only blocked cAMP responses at concentrations > 10 μmol/L. When the CRF1‐preferring agonist ovine CRF was used to activate cAMP signaling, NBI27914 (IC50 = 38.4 ± 3.6 nmol/L) was a more potent inhibitor than antisauvagine (IC50 = 2.04 ± 0.2 μmol/L). Finally, UCN2 and 3 treatment potently and rapidly desensitized the CRF2receptor responses in Y79 cells. These data demonstrate that Y79 cells express functional CRF1and CRF2(a)receptors and that the CRF2(a)receptor protein is up‐regulated during prolonged culture.
Superoxide dismutase 1 mutants related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induce endoplasmic stress in neuro2a cells
Authors: Oh Yeo Kyoung , Shin Ki Soon , Yuan Junying , Kang Shin Jung 
Published: October 2007

AbstractOne of the common features of damaged neurons in many neurodegenerative diseases is the presence of abnormal aggregates of the disease‐related proteins. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) of both sporadic and familial forms, protein aggregates are found in the affected spinal cords. In familial ALS with mutations in copper–zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), the propensity of SOD1 for aggregation is known to increase with the mutation. In the present study, we examined whether the aggregate‐prone SOD1 mutants induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the inhibition of the ER stress protects the cells. The ALS‐related mutant G85R SOD1 and G93A SOD1 formed visible aggregates and caused cell death possibly by apoptosis when over‐expressed in neuro2a cells. Interestingly, the rate of the mutant SOD1‐induced cell death was greater than that of the visible aggregate formation. Expression of the mutant SOD1 caused signs of both early and late ER stress responses, namely, RNA‐dependent protein kinase‐like ER kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor α phosphorylation, Jun amino‐terminal kinase activation, activating transcription factor 6‐translocation, X‐box binding protein 1 mRNA splicing, and caspase 12 activation. The X‐box binding protein 1 mRNA splicing activation was also detected in the mutant SOD1‐expressing cells even without the visible aggregates. The cell death induced by the mutant SOD1 over‐expression looked like apoptosis as evidenced by nuclear morphology and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling. Importantly, an ER stress inhibitor, salubrinal delayed the formation of insoluble aggregates of the mutant SOD1 and suppressed the mutant‐induced cell death. In addition, over‐expression of the ER‐targeted Bcl‐xL protected the cells from the mutant SOD1‐induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the misfolding of ALS‐related mutant SOD1 induces ER stress possibly prior to the formation of visible aggregates, which may contribute to the motor neuron degeneration in ALS pathogenesis.