bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Idiopathic mucosal penile squamous papillomas in dogs
Authors: Cornegliani Luisa , Vercelli Antonella , Abramo Francesca 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA new papillomatous clinical entity is described affecting the penile mucosa of dogs. The animals, 11 male dogs of different breeds, ageing from 6 to 13 years, were presented for genital mass and occasional haematuria. Surgical incision of the prepuce skin of the anaesthetized dogs showed the presence of single pedunculated, soft, pink‐red, cauliflower‐like masses arising from the penile mucosa, with diameter ranging from 2 to 8 cm. In all cases, histopathological examination of the excised masses showed normal epithelial differentiation with digitiform expansion of all the layers and elongated rete ridges slanted towards the periphery of the lesion. Evidence of ballooning degeneration or basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies was not found. Both immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction techniques failed to reveal papillomavirus. According to the histological World Health Organization classification of papillomatous lesions and due to the lack of evidence of a viral origin the masses were identified as idiopathic mucosal penile squamous papillomas. Urinary problems resolved after surgical excision, haematuria was therefore considered secondary to ulceration of the papillated masses.
Use of RAPD and ISSR Markers in Detection of Genetic Variation and Population Structure among Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Isolates on Chickpea in Turkey
Authors: Bayraktar H. , Dolar F. S. , Maden S. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractGenetic variation among the isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris, the causal agent of chickpea wilt worldwide, was analysed using pathogenicity tests and molecular markers – random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) polymorphism. Hundred and eight isolates were obtained from diseased chickpea plants in 13 different provinces of Turkey, out of which 74 isolates were assessed using 30 arbitrary decamer primers and 20 ISSR primers. Unweighted pair‐grouped method by arithmetic average cluster analysis of RAPD, ISSR and RAPD + ISSR datasets provided a substantially similar discrimination among Turkish isolates and divided into three major groups. Group 1, 2 and 3 consisted of 41, 18 and 15 isolates, respectively. These methods revealed a considerable genetic variation among Turkish isolates, but no correlation with regard to the clustering of isolates from different geographic regions. Analysis of molecular variance confirmed that most genetic variability resulted from the differences among isolates within regions. Our results also indicated that the low‐genetic differentiation (FST) and high gene flow (Nm) among populations had a significant effect on the emergence and evolutionary development of F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. This is the first report on genetic diversity and population structure of F. oxysporum isolates on chickpea in Turkey.
Usefulness of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in differential diagnosis and staging of cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: Moon Chang Mo , Bang Seungmin , Chung Jae Bock , Park Seung Woo , Song Si Young , Yun Mijin , Lee Jong Doo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  18F‐Fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose positron emission tomography (18FDG‐PET) is promising for diagnosis and treatment of various malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of 18FDG‐PET in differential diagnosis and staging of cholangiocarcinomas according to the intrahepatic, perihilar and common bile duct lesions and to compare with computerized tomography (CT) scan.Methods:  From January 2000 to September 2003, 54 patients with suspected cholangiocarcinoma underwent abdominal CT scan and 18FDG‐PET within a 2‐week period. The PET images were analyzed visually and semiquantitatively.Results:  The overall accuracy of 18FDG‐PET for discriminating malignant diseases of bile duct from benign conditions was slightly higher than that of CT scan (88.9% vs 81.5%). The sensitivity of 18FDG‐PET in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma was lower than the value of intrahepatic and common bile duct cancers (83.3% vs 91.3%, 90.9%); moreover, in cases of perihilar cancer, the sensitivity of 18FDG‐PET was lower than that of CT scans (83.3% vs 91.7%). 18FDG‐PET detected nine distant metastatic lesions not found by other imaging studies and excluded two patients who potentially had resectable condition in other imaging studies from unnecessary laparotomy.Conclusion:  The clinical usefulness of 18FDG‐PET in differential diagnosis of bile duct cancers is related to the site of primary disease. Although it is a helpful method for differential diagnosis especially in cases of intrahepatic and common bile duct cancers, 18FDG‐PET can not provide confirmative clues in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. 18FDG‐PET may hold promise in the detection of hidden distant metastasis and can play an additional role in the evaluation of resectability. 18FDG‐PET can be complementary to CT scan in diagnosing and staging of cholangiocarcinoma.
Demonstration of an association between detection of IgG antibody reactivity towards the C‐terminal region of the preS1 protein of hepatitis B virus and the capacity to respond to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Hellström Ulla , Lindh Magnus , Krogsgaard Kim , Sylvan Staffan 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains complex, with somewhat unpredictable responses. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of the pretreatment presence of circulatory antibodies towards a synthetic peptide mimicking the amino acids 94–117 of the preS1 protein of HBV and the capacity to respond to alpha‐inteferon (IFN‐alpha) treatment.Methods:  The anti preS1(94–117) antibodies were measured by a peptide‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the response to INF‐alpha therapy was judged by the effect on the viral kinetics as measured by an assay based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction during the treatment and follow up.Results:  We found a significant (P < 0.001) correlation between the pretreatment presence of anti preS1(94–117) antibodies and a decrease in viral levels on follow up after the end of IFN‐alpha therapy. The combined response of HBV DNA suppression (P < 0.001), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss (P < 0.0001), anti‐HBe seroconversion (P < 0.005) and AST aminotransferase normalization (P < 0.01) was also highly associated with the pretreatment presence of anti preS1(94–117) antibodies.Conclusion:  The positive predictive value (PPV) of anti preS1(94–117) in determining a virological response was 83% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%, indicating that in the absence of pretreatment anti preS1 reactivity virtually no patient has the capacity to respond to IFN‐alpha therapy. Our findings may help to improve the efficacy of INF‐alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) by guiding the selection of patients for treatment and optimizing the clinical management of the individual patient.
Autoantibodies in patients with Down Syndrome: Early senescence of the immune system or precocious markers for immunological diseases?
Authors: Da Rosa Utiyama Shirley Ramos , Nisihara Renato Mitsunori , Nass Flávia Raphaela , Oliveira Nanci P , Fiedler Patrícia T , De Messias‐Reason Iara Taborda 
Published: October 2007

Aims:  Down syndrome (DS) patients present several immunological disturbances, with high rates of infections, malignancies and autoimmune phenomena. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of autoantibodies in children and adolescents with DS that are not usually investigated, and to establish possible clinical and laboratory associations.Methods:  One hundred and fifty Caucasoid DS patients from southern Brazil (93M, 57F; median age 4 years) and 105 healthy children (58M, 47F; median age 8 years) were evaluated for the presence of anti‐mitochondrial (AMA), smooth‐muscle (SMA), liver‐kidney microsomal (LKM), nuclear (ANA), gastric parietal cell (GPC) and neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) antibodies, by indirect immunofluorescence, and rheumatoid factor (RF), by turbidimetry.Results:  Forty‐three DS patients (28.6%) showed positivity to at least one autoantibody, in comparison with eight of the controls (7.6%; P < 0.001). RF was detected in 28% of the patients and 6.7% of the controls (P < 0.001). ANCA, SMA and ANA were positive in 0.66% of the patients, while AMA, GPC and LKM were negative in all the samples. Currently, none of the RF positive patients has clinical evidence of rheumatic disease.Conclusions:  Data from the present study suggest that the high incidence of positive RF observed in DS patients might be related to the senescence of the immune system or could be an earlier marker of rheumatic diseases in these patients.
Procalcitonin in the early diagnosis of nosocomial sepsis in preterm neonates
Authors: Fendler Wojciech M , Piotrowski Andrzej J 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  To examine the diagnostic usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT), C‐reactive protein and immature to total neutrophil ratio (I : T) in nosocomial sepsis among neonates treated in an intensive care unit.Methods:  A retrospective analysis and comparison of diagnostic utility performed in preterm neonates using receiver operating characteristic curves for the diagnosis of culture‐proven sepsis.Results:  A total of 78 clinically suspected sepsis episodes in 73 newborns were analysed. The median values of PCT were: 0.56 ng/mL (interquartile range (IQR) 0.33–1.32) in group with aseptic blood culture (n = 15), 2.69 ng/mL (IQR 1.10–5.29) in Gram‐positive (n = 47) and 9.36 ng/mL (IQR 3.11–39.35) in Gram‐negative sepsis (n = 16). Only PCT values were significantly different (P < 0.01) among all groups. This was also true when correction for differences in blood withdrawal time was implemented. The positive and negative predictive values of PCT in the diagnosis of sepsis equalled 97.5% and 88.9%, respectively, for a cut‐off value of 0.99 ng/mL. PCT was significantly better in diagnosis of sepsis than I : T (P = 0.03). No other significant differences in diagnostic efficacy were noted. The diagnostic efficacy was the highest for measurements made two or more hours since the onset of symptoms.Conclusions:  The PCT serum concentration is a valuable tool for early detection of nosocomial sepsis in infants. Highest levels of PCT were observed in Gram‐negative infections.
Sleep problems are associated with poor outcomes in remedial teaching programmes: A preliminary study
Authors: Blunden Sarah L , Chervin Ron D 
Published: October 2007

Aim:  Problematic behaviour and deficient academic performance have been reported in children with sleep problems, but whether sleep problems are common among children presenting with primary behavioural and performance concerns in remedial programmes is not well studied. We studied this possibility in 80 Australian school children aged 6–15 years and then compared 15 of these children from mainstream schools to 15 demographically matched children in specialist behavioural programmes for problematic behaviour and academic difficulties.Methods:  Parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist and the Sleep Disorders Scale for Children. Questionnaires assessed behaviour, academic performance and symptoms of diverse sleep disorders, expressed as T‐scores (mean (SD) = 50 (10)). Teachers rated students' academic performance (A, B, C, D, E).Results:  When compared with the 15 controls, the 15 index children had significantly more sleep problems, in addition to parental concerns about school performance. In the total sample (n = 80), poor sleep including symptoms of daytime sleepiness, parasomnias, behavioural sleep problems and combined sleep problems was associated with poor academic performance and daytime behavioural issues.Conclusions:  This preliminary study suggests that children in remedial school programmes may have poor sleep compared with those in mainstream schools. Sleep problems were associated with problematic behaviour and poor academic performance. If sleep disturbances worsen daytime behaviour, then diagnosis and treatment of underlying sleep disorders could offer a novel therapeutic opportunity.
A checklist for ecological management of landscapes for conservation
Authors: Lindenmayer David , Hobbs Richard J. , Montague‐Drake Rebecca , Alexandra Jason , Bennett Andrew , Burgman Mark , Cale Peter , Calhoun Aram , Cramer Viki , Cullen Peter , Driscoll Don , Fahrig Lenore , Fischer Joern , Franklin Jerry , Haila Yrjo , Hunter Malcolm , Gibbons Philip , Lake Sam , Luck Gary , MacGregor Chris , McIntyre Sue , Nally Ralph Mac , Manning Adrian , Miller James , Mooney Hal , Noss Reed , Possingham Hugh , Saunders Denis , Schmiegelow Fiona , Scott Michael , Simberloff Dan , Sisk Tom , Tabor Gary , Walker Brian , Wiens John , Woinarski John , Zavaleta Erika 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe management of landscapes for biological conservation and ecologically sustainable natural resource use are crucial global issues. Research for over two decades has resulted in a large literature, yet there is little consensus on the applicability or even the existence of general principles or broad considerations that could guide landscape conservation. We assess six major themes in the ecology and conservation of landscapes. We identify 13 important issues that need to be considered in developing approaches to landscape conservation. They include recognizing the importance of landscape mosaics (including the integration of terrestrial and aquatic areas), recognizing interactions between vegetation cover and vegetation configuration, using an appropriate landscape conceptual model, maintaining the capacity to recover from disturbance and managing landscapes in an adaptive framework. These considerations are influenced by landscape context, species assemblages and management goals and do not translate directly into on‐the‐ground management guidelines but they should be recognized by researchers and resource managers when developing guidelines for specific cases. Two crucial overarching issues are: (i) a clearly articulated vision for landscape conservation and (ii) quantifiable objectives that offer unambiguous signposts for measuring progress.
The role of functional traits and trade‐offs in structuring phytoplankton communities: scaling from cellular to ecosystem level
Authors: Litchman Elena , Klausmeier Christopher A. , Schofield Oscar M. , Falkowski Paul G. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractTrait‐based approaches to community structure are increasingly used in terrestrial ecology. We show that such an approach, augmented by a mechanistic analysis of trade‐offs among functional traits, can be successfully used to explain community composition of marine phytoplankton along environmental gradients. Our analysis of literature on major functional traits in phytoplankton, such as parameters of nutrient‐dependent growth and uptake, reveals physiological trade‐offs in species abilities to acquire and utilize resources. These trade‐offs, arising from fundamental relations such as cellular scaling laws and enzyme kinetics, define contrasting ecological strategies of nutrient acquisition. Major groups of marine eukaryotic phytoplankton have adopted distinct strategies with associated traits. These diverse strategies of nutrient utilization can explain the distribution patterns of major functional groups and size classes along nutrient availability gradients.
Place as a site and item of consumption: an exploratory study
Authors: Pettigrew Simone 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWhile places are recognized as sites of consumption within the field of consumer behaviour, they have yet to be generally accepted as forms of consumption. This study investigates the idea of place as a consumption object by comparing conceptions of city and country within a cross‐cultural sample. Thirty‐six consumers living in the US, the UK and Australia were interviewed to explore their thoughts and feelings relating to the cities and countries in which they reside. The findings provide empirical support for key conceptualizations of place in the sociology literature and extend consumer behaviour theory to include considerations of the physical, social and cultural aspects of place that impact upon consumption. In addition, the findings portray places as entities that are assessed, selected and experienced in comparable ways to products.
A study of e‐retailing management: analysing the expectations and perceptions of Spanish consumers
Authors: Fransi Eduard Cristóbal , Viadiu Frederic Marimon 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis article analyses various elements that influence the purchasing behaviour of online consumers. These elements include the aesthetic aspects of a web site and the interactive processes that take place at the time of purchase. The study analyses the expectations and perceptions of a sample of Spanish online customers. On the basis of these attitudes, the sample of respondents is segmented. In addition, the main factors that determine online service satisfaction are identified. The segments of respondents are then positioned with respect to these identified factors in online service quality. The analysis thus allows differentiation of both customers and service quality. The paper concludes with recommendations for online retailers who wish to operate a successful ‘virtual’ retail outlet.
Buying behaviour of rural and urban consumers in India: the impact of packaging
Authors: Sehrawet Mahavir , Kundu Subhash C. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThis study aims to establish whether the residential background of consumers has a varying influence on their buying decisions. A survey of 1090 urban and rural respondents was carried out of which 523 were rural and 567 were urban. The gathered data were analysed by applying counts, percentages, means, and analysis of variance. Rural residents found that packaging is more helpful in buying, that better packaging contains a better product and that they are more influenced by the ease of storing a package than their urban counterparts. Ease of carriage, package weight, simplicity, transparency and similarity of packaging have comparatively less impact on purchase decisions of rural consumers than urban ones. However, rural consumers are more critical about packaging as they strongly consider that it contributes to misleading buyers and is also an environmental hazard.
Lactate uptake contributes to the NAD(P)H biphasic response and tissue oxygen response during synaptic stimulation in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices
Authors: Galeffi Francesca , Foster Kelley A. , Sadgrove Matthew P. , Beaver Christopher J. , Turner Dennis A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractSynaptic train stimulation (10 Hz × 25 s) in hippocampal slices results in a biphasic response of NAD(P)H fluorescence indicating a transient oxidation followed by a prolonged reduction. The response is accompanied by a transient tissue PO2 decrease indicating enhanced oxygen utilization. The activation of mitochondrial metabolism and/or glycolysis may contribute to the secondary NAD(P)H peak. We investigated whether extracellular lactate uptake via monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) contributes to the generation of the NAD(P)H response during neuronal activation. We measured the effect of lactate uptake inhibition [using the MCT inhibitor α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamate (4‐CIN)] on the NAD(P)H biphasic response, tissue PO2 response, and field excitatory post‐synaptic potential in hippocampal slices during synaptic stimulation in area CA1 (stratum radiatum). The application of 4‐CIN (150–250 μmol/L) significantly decreased the reduction phase of the NAD(P)H response. When slices were supplemented with 20 mmol/L lactate in 150–250 μmol/L 4‐CIN, the secondary NAD(P)H peak was restored; whereas 20 mmol/L pyruvate supplementation did not produce a recovery. Similarly, the tissue PO2 response was decreased by MCT inhibition; 20 mmol/L lactate restored this response to control levels at all 4‐CIN concentrations. These results indicate that lactate uptake via MCTs contributes significantly to energy metabolism in brain tissue and to the generation of the delayed NAD(P)H peak after synaptic stimulation.
Sensitive biochemical aggregate detection reveals aggregation onset before symptom development in cellular and murine models of Huntington’s disease
Authors: Weiss Andreas , Klein Corinna , Woodman Ben , Sathasivam Kirupa , Bibel Miriam , Régulier Etienne , Bates Gillian P. , Paganetti Paolo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA CAG‐repeat gene expansion translated into a pathogenic polyglutamine stretch at the N‐terminus of huntingtin triggers Huntington’s Disease. Mutated huntingtin is predicted to adopt toxic properties mainly if aggregation‐prone N‐terminal fragments are released by proteolysis. Huntingtin‐aggregates are indeed a major hallmark of this disorder and could represent useful markers of disease‐onset or progression. We designed a simple method for qualitative and quantitative characterization of aggregates. For this, we analyzed samples from in vitro and in vivo Huntington’s Disease models by agarose gel electrophoresis and showed that in the brain of transgenic mice huntingtin‐aggregates became larger as a function of disease progression. This appears to be a property of cytoplasmic but not nuclear aggregates. In cell cultures, treatment with Congo Red inhibited aggregate growth but not total load. Finally, we showed that in primary striatal neurons and in brains of R6/2 and HdhQ150 mice, the presence of aggregates preceded initiation of any other functional deficits. This observation argues for a pathogenic role of huntingtin‐aggregation in Huntington’s Disease. Our results emphasize that thorough analysis of huntingtin metabolism and aggregation is now feasible, thus significantly improving the power of studies assessing therapies designed to lower huntingtin levels or to interfere with its aggregation.
Post‐synaptic action of morphine on glutamatergic neuronal transmission related to the descending antinociceptive pathway in the rat thalamus
Authors: Narita Minoru , Hashimoto Keisuke , Amano Taku , Narita Michiko , Niikura Keiichi , Nakamura Atsushi , Suzuki Tsutomu 
Published: October 2007

AbstractMorphine is a prototypical μ‐opioid receptor (MOR) agonist, and can directly inhibit pain transmission at both spinal and supraspinal levels. In the present study, we investigated the properties of thalamic neurons in an opioid‐sensitive pain‐modulating circuit. Application of morphine to cultured thalamic neurons evoked a potentiation of glutamate‐induced peak currents, which was blocked by the MOR antagonist. Application of the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine significantly inhibited the morphine‐evoked enhancement of glutamate‐induced currents. Immunoreactivity for MOR was observed with high density in the habenular nucleus (Hb) of the thalamus in rats, which was clearly co‐localized with NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NRI). In this study, we show that microinjection of morphine into the Hb produced a dose‐dependent increase in the tail‐flick latency and enhanced the antinociceptive effect induced by the intra‐Hb injection of glutamate. When fluoro‐gold (FG) was used as a retrograde tracer, we found that FG‐labeled neurons in the Hb after the microinjection of FG into the periaqueductal gray expressed both MOR and NR1. The present data suggest that the stimulation of MOR in the Hb may be involved in activation of the descending antinociceptive pathway through glutamatergic neurotransmission via the NMDA receptor.