bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Variation of Migraine in an Arctic Population
Authors: Lilleng Hallvard , Bekkelund Svein 
Published: October 2008

Objectives.— To investigate seasonal variation of migraine headache in a population residing in an extreme Arctic locale.Background.— Exposure to light may trigger migraine attacks and patients may also be hypersensitive to light between the attacks. In previous studies of migraine in Northern latitudes we have demonstrated that patients with migraine experience more attacks in the summer. In order to confirm this finding and gain more insight into a possible north‐south effect of seasonal migraine variation, we performed a population‐based study in Svalbard, which is one of the northernmost populated areas of the world.Method.— A postal questionnaire was mailed to all inhabitants aged 12 years or older living in Svalbard and the migraine diagnosis made by a structured telephone interview.Results.— Of a total of 1569, 1029 (66%) returned the questionnaire. Of them, 184 (18%) experienced headache within the recent year prior to the study that could not be explained by alcohol, trauma, or viral infections. Eighty‐eight individuals had migraine according to the revised criteria set by the International Headache Society. Nineteen (22%) reported seasonal variation of migraine. Ten (12%) experienced more migraine in the light season, while 9 (10%) got worse in the dark season. No differences in proportions of migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) could be detected. Also, the frequency of MA patients who used sunglasses to avoid migraine headache was nonstatistically increased compared with MO.Conclusion.— There was no indication of more seasonal variation of headache in a population of otherwise healthy people with migraine living in an extreme Arctic area with long periods of midnight sun and polar nights with complete darkness. The strength of conclusion, however, is significantly limited by a low response rate and small sample size.
Diagnostic Delay and Suboptimal Management in a Referral Population With Hemicrania Continua
Authors: Rossi Paolo , Faroni Jessica , Tassorelli Christina , Nappi Giuseppe 
Published: October 2008

Aim of the Study.— To investigate a clinical population of patients with hemicrania continua (HC), looking at the diagnostic problems they have encountered and their use of healthcare resources and at issues relating to the effectiveness of treatments.Materials and Methods.— We directly interviewed 25 patients fulfilling the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition diagnostic criteria for HC selected among 1612 subjects attending the INI Grottaferrata Headache Clinic over a 3‐year period.Results.— No patient had received a correct diagnosis before being seen at our headache clinic. In total, 85% of the patients consulted a physician within 5 months of the onset of the symptoms but mean time to diagnosis was 5 years (SD 4.9). The average number of physicians seen before the condition was properly diagnosed was 4.6 (SD 2.2). General practitioners (100%), neurologists (80%), ear, nose, and throat surgeons (44%), ophthalmologists (40%), and dentists (32%) were the physicians most commonly consulted. All the patients had previously received an incorrect diagnosis. Migraine (52%), CH (28%), sinus headache (20%), and dental pain (20%) were the most common wrong diagnoses reported. Some 36.0% of patients had undergone ineffective invasive treatments. The patients had tried, on average, 3.6 (SD 2.1) classes of drugs. Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (92%), triptans (32%), antidepressants (32%), and antiepileptics (24%) were the most commonly used. Patients rated 73.7% of medications as ineffective, 22.5% (all NSAIDs) as partially effective, and 3.7% (rofecoxib and nimesulide) as effective.Conclusions.— Hemicrania continua may be misdiagnosed and mistreated even by neurologists. There is a need for greater awareness and understanding of this condition.
Single‐Catheter Technique for Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation: Is It Sufficient to Identify and Close the Residual Gaps Without a Circular Mapping Catheter?
Authors: DONG JIANZENG , LIU XINGPENG , LONG DEYONG , YU RONGHUI , TANG RIBO , LÜ FEI , MA CHANGSHENG 
Published: October 2008

Single Catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation.
Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of single ablation catheter for complete circumferential pulmonary vein antrum (PVA) isolation. Background: Complete isolation of pulmonary veins is the mainstay for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. This is usually performed under the guidance of a circular catheter. Methods: One hundred and ten consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF were prospectively randomized into two groups: single‐catheter approach (group 1) and double‐catheter approach (group 2). After performing initial circumferential lesions, residual gaps were mapped and closed with single ablation catheter in group 1 or guided by a circular mapping catheter in group 2 using an electroanatomic mapping system (CARTO™ XP, Biosense‐Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, CA, USA). Results: Complete bilateral PVA isolation was achieved in 22 of the 110 patients after initial ablation. All residual gaps could be correctly identified by activation mapping using single ablation catheter. The distribution of these residual gaps was asymmetric. In group 1, 25 gaps along the right PVA lesions and 49 gaps along the left PVA lesions were identified. All the residual gaps were closed with single‐catheter approach. In group 2, 28 gaps on the right side and 53 gaps on the left side were identified using a circular catheter and closed with further ablations. The procedure data and clinical outcomes between the two groups were comparable. Conclusions: Single ablation catheter technique is feasible and as effective as circular catheter mapping in localizing the residual gaps for PVA isolation during ablation of paroxysmal AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 20, pp. 273‐279, March 2009)
Ventricular Fibrillation with Prominent Early Repolarization Associated with a Rare Variant of KCNJ8/KATP Channel
Authors: HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL , CHATEL STÉPHANIE , SACHER FREDERIC , WEERASOORIYA RUKSHEN , PROBST VINCENT , LOUSSOUARN GILDAS , HORLITZ MARC , LIERSCH RUEDIGE , SCHULZE‐BAHR ERIC , WILDE ARTHUR , KÄÄB STEFAN , KOSTER JOSEPH , RUDY YORAM , MAREC HERVÉ LE , SCHOTT JEAN JACQUES 
Published: October 2008

Background:
Early repolarization in the inferolateral leads has been recently recognized as a frequent syndrome associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF). We report the case of a patient presenting dramatic changes in the ECG in association with recurrent VF in whom a novel genetic variant has been identified.
Case Report:
This young female (14 years) was resuscitated in 2001 following an episode of sudden death due to VF. All examinations including coronary angiogram with ergonovine injection, MRI, and flecainide or isoproterenol infusion were normal. The patient had multiple (>100) recurrences of VF unresponsive to beta‐blockers, lidocaine/mexiletine, verapamil, and amiodarone. Recurrences of VF were associated with massive accentuation of the early repolarization pattern at times mimicking acute myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiography during an episode with 1.2 mV J/ST elevation was normal. Isoproterenol infusion acutely suppressed electrical storms, while quinidine eliminated all recurrences of VF and restored a normal ECG over a follow‐up of 65 months. Genomic DNA sequencing of KATP channel genes showed missense variant in exon 3 (NC_000012) of the KCNJ8 gene, a subunit of the KATP channel, conferring predisposition to dramatic repolarization changes and ventricular vulnerability.
Inhibition of phagocytic activity and nodulation in Galleria mellonella by the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi
Authors: Tseng Y. K. , Tsai Y. W. , Wu M. S. , Hou Roger F. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractChanges in phagocytic activity and nodulation in the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), were examined after treatment with the culture fluid of the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi SH1. When isolated hemocytes of G. mellonella were incubated with the conidia of N. rileyi in vitro, the rates of phagocytosis increased at 4 h after incubation but decreased subsequently. On the contrary, the rates of phagocytosis of isolated hemocytes decreased by 80% after 24 h preincubation with the fungal culture fluid (1/200, 1/100 dilutions). Levels of inhibition of phagocytic activity by the culture fluid depended on dilutions used. Galleria mellonella larvae showed a peak of nodulation at 4 h after injection with conidia. The percentage of nodules in hemolymph did not decrease by preinjection with the culture fluid, whereas the percentage of nodule‐containing conidia decreased, depending on the injected fluid. However, phagocytosis and nodulation in G. mellonella did not change after treatment of the culture fluid with proteinase K, indicating that the culture fluid contained proteinaceous immunosuppressive factors. Electrophoretic analysis of the culture fluid and not the fresh medium without culturing the fungus exhibited protein bands. Therefore, N. rileyi possibly secretes toxic proteins that impair cellular immune responses in G. mellonella larvae.
How do food quality and larval crowding affect performance of the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata?
Authors: Sillanpää Saila 
Published: October 2008

AbstractOutbreak densities of autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), lead to high larval crowding. Phenotypic responses of E. autumnata to larval crowding and to food quality were studied by measuring growth and consumption as well as pupal weight and fecundity. Crowding may trigger increased consumption and faster development to avoid impending food shortage on good quality food. This is suggested by the result that on a good‐quality diet, the growth of crowded larvae was better than that of solitary larvae, though they did not consume more food than solitary larvae. Crowded larvae also completed the last instar earlier than solitary larvae. The fecundity of crowded autumnal moths was not lower than the fecundity of solitarily grown autumnal moths. This may provide conditions for extra rapid population build‐up of E. autumnata. During the population increase phase the crowding effect may facilitate larval performance; however, at peak density the crowding starts to have negative effects on the performance of larvae. On a poor‐quality diet, the performance of crowded and solitary larvae did not differ. The growth of larvae was better on a good‐quality diet than on a poor‐quality diet, due to higher efficiency in food utilization. Larvae feeding on low‐quality diet did not prolong their development time, but pupated at smaller size; this resulted in lower fecundity. A decrease in food quality can be seen as a cue of oncoming food shortage and resource depletion; it may be advantageous to pupate at a smaller size and ensure survival till reproduction, rather than risk prolonging development to achieve larger size and higher fecundity.
An ensemble model for predicting Rhopalosiphum padi abundance
Authors: Lankin‐Vega G. , Worner S. P. , Teulon D. A. J. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA novel modeling method is proposed to predict the abundance of the main vector of barley yellow dwarf virus in autumn sown cereal crops. An ensemble model based on artificial neural networks (ANN) was developed to predict the number of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) caught in traps during the autumn flight period at Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand, over the period 1982–2003. Artificial neural networks were trained using historical weather data and aphid data collected from a suction trap. Model results were compared with those obtained using multiple regression (MR) models using the same independent variables. Both ANN and MR models were validated by leave‐one‐out validation, in other words, by sequentially jackknifing each year out of the data set, fitting a model to the remaining data, then using that model to predict the number of aphids for each jackknifed year. A linear ensemble of ANN models further improved the predictions and represented the trends in the number of aphids over the 22‐year period very well. The r2 between the predicted and observed numbers of aphids for the ANN models changed from 0.68 to 0.83 using the linear ensemble model, but the ensemble approach did not change the prediction for the MR models. The absolute mean error (ABSME) of prediction was much lower for the ANN ensemble predictions compared to that for the MR models. The ABMSE for the ANN models dropped from 109 to 86 aphids compared to an ABMSE reduction from 245 to 220 aphids for the MR models. We discuss the potential for ensemble models for predicting insect abundance when long‐term historical data are available.
Quantifying the effects of host discrimination on egg‐laying decision of the cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus
Authors: Yang R.‐L. , Fushing H. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractMany parasitic and endophagous insect species are capable of discriminating among the quality of their hosts. However, there is no appropriate way to quantify their discrimination performance. In this study, we quantified how oviposition of the cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), was affected by the relative contributions of both egg number and host size discrimination. The effect of egg density and resource heterogeneity on these discrimination performances was also explored. Egg‐distribution predictions were made by combining time‐dependent available resource fitness (egg discrimination) and host weight factors (size discrimination). The χ2 test was then used for goodness‐of‐fit testing. The effects of both egg and size discrimination on oviposition in environments with different levels of resource heterogeneity were compared. It was found that host size, rather than the number of eggs on the host, plays a larger role in the egg‐laying decision for most individual seed beetles, especially when egg density is high. Host size discrimination behavior was reinforced when the beetles experienced increasing resource heterogeneity, but the performance might reach a plateau. This is the first quantitative evaluation of the effect of host discrimination on egg‐laying decisions of seed beetles.
The effect of soil depth and exposure to winter conditions on survival of the potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella
Authors: Doǧramacı Mahmut , Rondon Silvia I. , DeBano Sandra J. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important pest of solanaceous crops including potato [Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae)]. Recent evidence of survival of the pest in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington, USA, is surprising as potato tuberworm is most commonly a pest in tropical and subtropical regions. Potato tuberworm was studied in a manipulative experiment to determine how stage (egg, larva, and pupa) and soil depth affected the potential for winter survival. In early January 2007, eggs, tubers infested with larvae, and pupae were placed in the soil at 6, 10, and 20 cm depths, or left on the soil surface. Each potato tuberworm life stage was sampled at 7–17‐day intervals for 90 days and survival was estimated at each time period. Eggs survived up to 54 days with the greatest survival observed at 6‐cm soil depth and the lowest survival on the soil surface. However, egg survival was significantly reduced after 1 month of exposure to winter conditions. Larvae were able to survive up to 30 days with the greatest survival observed at 20‐cm soil depth. Tubers at the surface and buried at 6 cm were frozen; thus, no larval survival was recorded. The pupal stage showed a greater tolerance to winter conditions than the egg or larval stages, surviving up to 91 days of exposure. These results suggest that the pupal stage is probably the stage most likely to survive winter conditions in the northwestern USA.
Alternative life histories in the water strider Gerris lacustris: time constraint on wing morph and voltinism
Authors: Pfenning Brenda , Gerstner Sabine , Poethke Hans Joachim 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe wing dimorphic water strider Gerris lacustris L. (Heteroptera: Gerridae) switches to a bivoltine life cycle under favorable climatic conditions. The switch in voltinism is accompanied by a reduction of wing development in the directly reproducing midsummer generation, while the diapausing generation has a high fraction of long‐winged individuals. We investigated whether the thermal energy (degree‐days) available in natural habitats constrains the combination of developmental pathway and wing morph. Offspring of G. lacustris were reared under quasi‐natural conditions at two temperature regimes to determine the thermal constant k required to complete adult development in either wing morph. The thermal constant for egg‐to‐adult development of the short‐winged morph was about 20% lower than of the long‐winged morph. Based on the results from the outdoor laboratory experiment, we calculated the total degree‐days necessary to complete the possible combinations of wing morph pattern and voltinism. Comparison of these estimates with the thermal energy actually available during the reproductive season of 2004 for various natural habitats (sun‐exposed field ponds and shaded forest ponds) suggests that voltinism as well as wing morph pattern is strongly limited by the number of degree‐days available in these habitats. On forest ponds, only univoltine life cycles were possible, whereas on field ponds temperature allowed bivoltine life cycles. However, only the eggs laid at the very beginning of the season had the potential to accumulate enough degree‐days to complete a bivoltine life cycle with both generations long‐winged. We conclude that thermal energy is the main environmental constraint limiting voltinism of populations in the two habitat types. Furthermore, the available thermal energy also seems to influence the determination of the seasonal wing pattern in G. lacustris.
Semi‐field evaluation of a granulovirus and Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki for season‐long control of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella
Authors: Arthurs Steven P. , Lacey Lawrence A. , Pruneda Jonathan N. , Rondon Silvia I. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThere are few insecticidal options for potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), control late in the growing season. We evaluated the PTM granulovirus (PoGV) and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner ssp. kurstaki (Btk) for season‐long control of PTM on potato foliage in 2006 and 2007. Compared to untreated controls, 10 weekly applications of PoGV (1013 occlusion bodies/ha) reduced PTM populations in replicated 1‐m3 field cages by 86–96% on pre‐harvest foliage and 90–97% on tubers added to cages shortly before harvest. Infection rates of 82–95% of L4 larvae by PoGV were noted within individual larval cohorts. Equivalently timed Btk treatments (1.12 kg product/ha) were significantly less effective at population suppression, with a 36–76% reduction in larvae recovered from tubers added to cages. A PoGV/Btk alternation was significantly more effective than Btk alone and as effective as PoGV in 2007, but not in 2006. There was some evidence that reduced rate PoGV treatments (10% rate or 50% application frequency) were less effective than the standard program. There were no treatment effects on percentage of tubers growing in the ground that were infested at harvest, which remained comparatively low at ≤8.1%. Bioassays were conducted to evaluate the residual activities of foliar deposits. Early‐season applications were highly effective for the first 24 h (≥93% mortality) with a steady decline in activity over 10 days. A second application, applied later in the season, showed similar patterns, although in this case Btk was less persistent than PoGV, whereas both agents provided significant larval mortality compared with controls over 14 days. Both PoGV and Btk provide alternatives to manage field infestations of PTM prior to harvest, thus reducing the risk of tuber infestations in storage.
The molecular machines that mediate microRNA maturation
Authors: Lau Pick‐Wei , MacRae Ian J. 
Published: October 2008

Introduction
miRNAs originate from primary RNA transcripts
The Microprocessor initiates miRNA processing
Nuclear proteins regulate activity of the Microprocessor
Intronic pre‐miRNAs can bypass the Microprocessor
The Exportin‐5 Complex transports pre‐miRNA to the cytoplasm
The RISC‐Loading Complex completes miRNA maturation
Mature miRNAs silence target genes from within RISC
Discussion and future directions

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNA) are small RNAs that regulate the translation of thousands of message RNAs and play a profound role in mammalian biology. Over the past 5 years, significant advances have been made towards understanding the pathways that generate miRNAs and the mechanisms by which miRNAs exert their regulatory functions. An emerging theme is that miRNAs are both generated by and utilized by large and complex macromolecular assemblies. Here, we review the biology of mammalian miRNAs with a focus on the macromolecular complexes that generate and control the biogenesis of miRNAs.
Stem cells are resistant to TRAIL receptor‐mediated apoptosis
Authors: Szegezdi Eva , O’Reilly Aoife , Davy Yeung , Vawda Reaz , Taylor Deanna L. , Murphy Mary , Samali Afshin , Mehmet Huseyin 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNew therapeutic approaches aim to eradicate tumours by expression of tumouricidal proteins in the tumour stroma. One such anti‐neoplastic protein is tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) because it induces apoptosis in cancerous cells, but not in non‐transformed cells. Stem cells can migrate to, survive and proliferate in tumours. We examined the suitability of bone marrow‐derived adult mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSC), foetal‐MSC and umbilical cord matrix stem cells (Wharton’s Jelly MSCs) as TRAIL‐delivery vehicles. Although all MSC types expressed DR4 and/or DR5, none of them were sensitive to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Selective activation of DR4 or DR5 with agonistic antibodies or DR5‐selective TRAIL‐mutant (D269H/E195R) revealed that the TRAIL receptors are inactive in MSCs. In fMSC DR5 was not fully inactivated, its activity however was minimal in comparison to the colon carcinoma cell, Colo205. The intracellular components of the TRAIL‐apoptotic pathway, such as pro‐caspase‐8 and ‐9 were also expressed at very low; almost undetectable levels in all three MSC types. In conclusion, the MSC species examined are resistant to TRAIL and thus can be suitable tools for TRAIL delivery to tumours.