bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Access to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis treatment under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme: are we on target?
Authors: Lu C. Y. , Williams K. M. , Day R. O. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackground: Access to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFI) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is governed by a set of arrangements, operational from August 2003. Patients must meet strict criteria for both starting and continuing TNFI. Examination of utilization data is important for assessing the broader implications of arrangements for access to expensive pharmaceuticals under schemes such as the PBS.Aim: To examine the uptake of TNFI over the first year of subsidized availability of etanercept under the PBS, and to compare these data to the predicted utilization and expenditure.Methods: Collection and analysis of prescription and expenditure data for the three listed TNFI: etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab processed under the PBS for the period August 2003 to July 2004.Results: A total of 8053 prescriptions for TNFI was reimbursed at a total cost of $15.2m. The total PBS expenditure on etanercept was just over $14 m, 14% of the predicted annual expenditure. The relative per capita uptake of etanercept was highest in the Australian Capital Territory and lowest in the Northern Territory. More than 50% of prescriptions for etanercept were for concessional patients ($7.3m).Conclusion: Prescription rates and expenditure on etanercept were substantially below those forecast over the first year. There are opportunities to adjust the PBS restrictions for subsidized access to TNFI to benefit more patients.
Lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at St Vincent's Hospital
Authors: Güneş A. , Aboyoun C. L. , Morton J. M. , Plit M. , Malouf M. A. , Glanville A. R. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackground: Lung transplantation (LTx) offers selected patients with end‐stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an improved quality of life and possibly enhanced survival.Aim: To determine local outcomes of LTx for COPD we analysed 173 consecutive heart–LTx (n = 8), single LTx (SLTx; n = 99) and bilateral LTx (BLTx; n = 66) carried out at a single institution during 1989–2003 for smoking‐related emphysema (E) (n = 112) and emphysema related to α‐1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) (n = 61).Methods: There were 98 men and 75 women with a mean age of 50 ± 6 years (standard deviation) (range 32–63 years). Median waiting time was 113 days (interquartile range (IQR) 50–230 days), and median inpatient stay was 13 days (IQR 9–21 days).Results: Perioperative survival (30 days) was 95% with deaths from sepsis (n = 5), cerebrovascular accident (n = 3) and multiorgan failure (n = 1). Mean follow‐up period was 1693 ± 1302 days (2–4805 days). The 1‐, 5‐ and 10‐year survivals (%) were similar for patients with E and AATD (P = 0.480 log rank) at 86 ± 5, 57 ± 7 and 31 ± 11, respectively, but 1‐ and 5‐year survivals for E were higher after BLTx than after SLTx (97 ± 2 and 81 ± 8 vs 85 ± 4 and 47 ± 6) (P = 0.015). Pretransplant body mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, PaCO2, PaO2, six‐minute walk distance, home oxygen use, age, sex, cytomegalovirus donor–recipient mismatch, cardiopulmonary bypass use, year of transplant and ischaemic time did not influence survival after LTx. Increasing donor age was a survival risk factor for patients with E but not for those with AATD (hazard ratio 1.043; 95%confidence interval 1.014–1.025).Conclusion: Survival after LTx for COPD is similar to survival for other forms of solid organ transplantation, in part reflecting risk factor management.
High‐rate pulmonary involvement in autoimmune pancreatitis
Authors: Hirano K. , Kawabe T. , Komatsu Y. , Matsubara S. , Togawa O. , Arizumi T. , Yamamoto N. , Nakai Y. , Sasahira N. , Tsujino T. , Toda N. , Isayama H. , Tada M. , Omata M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractAutoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has extrapancreatic complications such as Sjögren's syndrome, retroperitoneal fibrosis and sclerosing cholangitis. We studied 30 patients with AIP. Of these, we identified pulmonary involvement in four patients during follow up. Among them, two patients had respiratory failure. They showed good response to steroid therapy, but a higher dose of prednisolone was necessary to maintain remission than that required in biliary involvement. Elevation of immunoglobulin G4 and Krebs von den Lungen‐6 levels were characteristic of pulmonary involvement. They may be useful for early detection of pulmonary complication.
Removal of selenate from sulfate‐containing media by sulfate‐reducing bacterial biofilms
Authors: Hockin Simon , Gadd Geoffrey M. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryA biofilm‐selected strain of a Desulfomicrobium sp. removed selenate from solution to sub‐micromolar concentrations during growth on lactate (or hydrogen) and sulfate. Under sulfate‐limited growth conditions, selenium was enzymatically reduced to selenide. Under excess sulfate conditions, selenate removal was primarily by enzymatic reduction to elemental selenium. Sequestration by biofilms was greater under the latter condition. Experiments with washed cell suspensions showed that high sulfate concentrations inhibited cell‐specific selenate reduction, but when growing cells were exposed to selenate, the biomass increase achieved during incubations with abundant sulfate resulted in more rapid selenate removal. The addition of small amounts of sulfite, or thiosulfate, ameliorated this inhibition. Nitrate also inhibited selenate reduction in washed cell suspensions, apparently due to a general oxidizing effect. These results suggest that where biofilm‐based sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) bioreactors are considered for the treatment of mixed metalliferous wastes that contain selenium oxyanions, adequate selenate removal should be achievable under a range of environmental conditions. The form and fate of the precipitated product will, however, be influenced by the dominant reduction pathway, which is controlled by environmental variables.
Distribution of the Mycobacterium community and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among different size fractions of a long‐term PAH‐contaminated soil
Authors: Uyttebroek Maarten , Breugelmans Philip , Janssen Mieke , Wattiau Pierre , Joffe Boris , Karlson Ulrich , Ortega‐Calvo Jose‐Julio , Bastiaens Leen , Ryngaert Annemie , Hausner Martina , Springael Dirk 
Published: December 2005

Summary Mycobacterium is often isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)‐contaminated soil as degraders of PAHs. In model systems, Mycobacterium shows attachment to the PAH substrate source, which is considered to be a particular adaptation to low bioavailability as it results into increased substrate flux to the degraders. To examine whether PAH‐degrading Mycobacterium in real PAH‐contaminated soils, in analogy with model systems, are preferentially associated with PAH‐enriched soil particles, the distribution of PAHs, of the PAH‐mineralizing capacity and of Mycobacterium over different fractions of a soil with an aged PAH contamination was investigated. The clay fraction contained the majority of the PAHs and showed immediate pyrene‐ and phenanthrene‐mineralizing activity upon addition of 14C‐labelled pyrene or phenanthrene. In contrast, the sand and silt fractions showed a lag time of 15–26 h for phenanthrene and 3–6 days for pyrene mineralization. The maximum pyrene and phenanthrene mineralization rates of the clay fraction expressed per gram fraction were three to six times higher than those of the sand and silt fractions. Most‐probable‐number (MPN)‐polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that Mycobacterium represented about 10% of the eubacteria in the clay fraction, while this was only about 0.1% in the sand and silt fractions, indicating accumulation of Mycobacterium in the PAH‐enriched clay fraction. The Mycobacterium community composition in the clay fraction represented all dominant Mycobacterium populations of the bulk soil and included especially species related to Mycobacterium pyrenivorans, which was also recovered as one of the dominant species in the eubacterial communities of the bulk soil and the clay fraction. Moreover, Mycobacterium could be identified among the major culturable PAH‐degrading populations in both the bulk soil and the clay fraction. The results demonstrate that PAH‐degrading mycobacteria are mainly associated with the PAH‐enriched clay fraction of the examined PAH‐contaminated soil and hence, that also in the environmental setting of a PAH‐contaminated soil, Mycobacterium might experience advantages connected to substrate source attachment.
Rapid analysis of two food‐borne microbial communities at the species level by Fourier‐transform infrared microspectroscopy
Authors: Wenning Mareike , Theilmann Vera , Scherer Siegfried 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe species composition of microbial communities in natural habitats may be extremely complex and therefore a quantitative analysis of the fraction each species contributes to the consortium has proven to be difficult. During recent years, the identification of bacterial pure cultures based on their infrared spectra has been established. Fourier‐transform infrared microspectroscopy now proceeds a step further and allows identification of microorganisms directly plated from community dilutions. Infrared spectra of microcolonies of 70–250 µm in diameter can be recorded without producing a pure culture of the isolate. We have applied this novel technique for quantitative comparative analysis of two undefined, geographically separated food‐borne smear cheese microbial consortia of limited complexity. Due to the high degree of automation, up to 200 microcolonies could be identified in 1 day and, in total, 3170 infrared spectra of microcolonies were recorded. The results obtained have been verified by Fourier‐transform infrared macrospectroscopy and 16S rDNA sequencing. Interestingly, although the communities were unrelated, Staphylococcus equorum, Corynebacterium casei, Arthrobacter casei and Brevibacterium linens were found to be part of both consortia, however, with different incidence. In addition, Corynebacterium variabile, Microbacterium gubbeenense, Brachybacterium alimentarium, Enterococcus faecalis and an unknown species were detected in either one of the consortia.
Construction of a genetic linkage map of Thlaspi caerulescens and quantitative trait loci analysis of zinc accumulation
Authors: Assunção Ana G. L. , Pieper Bjorn , Vromans Jaap , Lindhout Pim , Aarts Mark G. M. , Schat Henk 
Published: December 2005

Summary

Zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulation seems to be a constitutive species‐level trait in Thlaspi caerulescens. When compared under conditions of equal Zn availability, considerable variation in the degree of hyperaccumulation is observed among accessions originating from different soil types. This variation offers an excellent opportunity for further dissection of the genetics of this trait.
A T. caerulescens intraspecific cross was made between a plant from a nonmetallicolous accession [Lellingen (LE)], characterized by relatively high Zn accumulation, and a plant from a calamine accession [La Calamine (LC)], characterized by relatively low Zn accumulation.
Zinc accumulation in roots and shoots segregated in the F3 population. This population was used to construct an LE/LC amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)‐based genetic linkage map and to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for Zn accumulation. Two QTL were identified for root Zn accumulation, with the trait‐enhancing alleles being derived from each of the parents, and explaining 21.7 and 16.6% of the phenotypic variation observed in the mapping population.
Future development of more markers, based on Arabidopsis orthologous genes localized in the QTL regions, will allow fine‐mapping and map‐based cloning of the genes underlying the QTL.
Comparison of the life history strategies of three Dysdercus true bugs (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), with special reference to their seasonal host plant use
Authors: KOHNO Katsuyuki , BUI THI Ngan 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe life history strategy and seasonal host plant use of three Dysdercus bugs (D. cingulatus, D. poecilus and D. decussatus) were compared based on 2 years of twice monthly observations on Ishigaki‐jima Island (24°N, 124°E) in the southernmost part of Japan. Dysdercus poecilus reproduced almost year round, exclusively on Sida rhombifolia, which bears fruit and/or seeds almost year round. Dysdercus cingulatus reproduced successively on various malvaceous and bombacaceous plant species, according to their seasonal fruiting cycles. Its robust reproduction was observed on Hibiscus makinoi during winter months and on Chorisia speciosa and Bombax ceiba in early summer, whereas small‐scale reproduction was observed on various malvaceous plant species during the summer and autumn months. Dysdercus decussatus reproduced on Hibiscus tiliaceus and Thespesia populnea during the summer months, when these host plants bear abundant fruit and/or seeds, and its adults formed conspicuous aggregations without copulation on the underside of the leaves of those plants from November to the subsequent May. Each Dysdercus species showed a species‐specific life history strategy according to the differences in the phenology of their host plants.
Identification of soldier‐specific genes in the nasute termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Isoptera: Termitidae)
Authors: HOJO Masaru , KOSHIKAWA Shigeyuki , CORNETTE Richard , MATSUMOTO Tadao , MIURA Toru 
Published: December 2005

AbstractIn almost all species of termites (Isoptera), there is a distinct soldier caste that specifically plays a defensive role. In many termite species, soldiers defend the colony mechanically with their mandibles. However, nasute soldiers in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae (family Termitidae) use chemical defense, projecting repellent substances synthesized in frontal glands present within the head. As the nasute soldiers always synthesize a large amount of defensive secretion after soldier differentiation, many genes involved in the biosynthesis of this secretion should always be expressed. To identify and isolate the genes related to chemical defense, we compared the gene expression profiles in the heads of soldiers and workers in a nasute termite, Nasutitermes takasagoensis, by fluorescent differential display (FDD). The ratio of soldier‐specific bands was relatively high (6.9%) compared with that of mandibulate soldiers. The distinct soldier‐specific bands were excised, and 21 sequences of cDNA fragments were cloned. Of these, only seven candidates had homologous sequences to known genes (eukaryotic initiation factor 4A‐I, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase family, alkaline phosphatase homolog, GTP‐binding protein, ribosomal protein S13, family 4 cytochrome P450 and an unknown protein). To exclude false positives of the FDD analysis, semi‐quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was carried out for all 21 candidates. Only eight gene candidates (only one showed sequence homology) showed significantly higher expression levels in soldiers than in workers.
Cryptic species of the subgenusMorphnosomaLutshnik (Coleoptera: Carabidae; genusPterostichus) from Japan
Authors: SASAKAWA Kôji , KUBOTA Kôhei 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPterostichus thunbergiMorawitz and its related species of Japan are revised based on the structure of membranous parts of their genitalia for the first time, under the name of thethunbergispecies group. This species group is monophyletic and is placed in the subgenusMorphnosomaLutshnik. The monotypic subgenusMoritapterusBerlov, erected forP. thunbergi, is synonymized withMorphnosoma. Comparative study of the endophallus revealed thatP. thunbergi michinokuNakane is a junior synonym ofP. habuiand that four species should be recognized in this group. Three of them are sympatric withP. thunbergiand one of them,Pterostichus (Morphnosoma) robustistylis, is described as a new species. Molecular phylogeny based on the COI gene (mitochondrial [mt]DNA) supported its independence as a distinct species. The resultant trees of mtDNA and comparative study of morphology revealed thatP. thunbergiis probably non‐monophyletic. In the present study we suggest the presence of further cryptic species ofMorphnosomain Japan.
Parallel formation of hybrid swarms of ground beetles in the genusCarabus(Coleoptera: Carabidae) in adjacent river basins
Authors: UJIIE Masayuki , KUBOTA Kohei , SOTA Teiji , ISHIKAWA Ryosuke 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPopulations of forms intermediate betweenCarabus (Ohomopterus) insulicolaandCarabus (Ohomopterus) arrowianusoccur at the boundaries between the two species in the Kiso Valley, Nagano Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan. Morphological and mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed that these populations are derived from a hybrid swarm established as a result of secondary contact between the two species. A similar hybrid swarm has been reported in the Ina Valley, an adjacent river basin separated by the Kiso Mountain Range, where the two species are distributed parapatrically. The hybrid swarm individuals in the two valleys show parallelism in the morphological evolution of the male genitalia upon secondary contact and subsequent formation of hybrid swarms between the twoCarabusspecies.
Taiwan experience suggests that RhD typing for blood transfusion is unnecessary in southeast Asian populations
Authors: Lin Marie 
Published: December 2005

BACKGROUND:  The high frequency of RhD (D) antigen among Taiwanese persons (99.67%) often imposes unnecessary risks of undertransfusion on D– patients awaiting D– blood. Also because of the rare occurrence of anti‐D among Taiwanese persons, routine pretransfusion D typing has been discontinued in the Mackay Memorial Hospital since 1988. This report is the retrospective evaluation of the outcome of abolishing RhD typing for Taiwanese.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  More than 10 years of alloantibody data at Mackay Memorial Hospital Blood Bank were reviewed. The cases with anti‐D were further used to analyze the potency of D antigen and to observe whether there were differences in the incidence of anti‐D before and after discontinuation of routine D typing among Taiwanese individuals.RESULTS:  The incidence of anti‐D before and after discontinuation of routine pretransfusion D typing has remained unchanged. The immunogenicity of D and “Mia” in Taiwanese persons is found to be similar. In terms of opportunity for immunization, however, the “Mia” antigen (phenotype frequency 7.3% in Taiwanese persons) has become the most important blood group antigen in Taiwan.CONCLUSION:  The results strongly support the exclusion of D typing from routine compatibility testing for individuals of Taiwanese origin. Because the low incidence of D– and relatively high incidence of “Mia”+ phenotypes are common findings throughout southeast Asia, and because a population genetic study revealed that the Taiwanese people are genetically related to southern Asian populations, it is suggested that RhD typing for blood transfusion is unnecessary among southeast Asian populations.
Sphingosylphosphorylcholine‐induced ERK activation inhibits melanin synthesis in human melanocytes
Authors: Kim Dong‐Seok , Park Seo‐Hyoung , Kwon Sun‐Bang , Park Eun‐Sang , Huh Chang‐Hun , Youn Sang‐Woong , Park Kyoung‐Chan 
Published: December 2005

SummarySphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is emerging as a potent signaling‐lipid mediator. In this study, we investigated the effects of SPC on melanogenesis using cultured human melanocytes. Our results show that SPC significantly inhibits melanin synthesis in a concentration‐dependent manner, and further that it reduces the activity of tyrosinase, the rate‐limiting melanogenic enzyme. SPC treatment was also found to induce short‐thick dendrites in human melanocytes, but not to reduce tyrosinase activity in a cell‐free system, whereas kojic acid directly inhibited tyrosinase. These results suggest that SPC reduces pigmentation by indirectly regulating tyrosinase. In further experiments, SPC was found to downregulate microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase, and Western blotting showed that SPC induces the activations of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK‐1). Moreover, the specific ERK pathway inhibitor, PD98059, blocked the hypopigmentation effect of SPC, and abrogated the SPC‐mediated downregulation of MITF. These results suggest that the ERK pathway is involved in the melanogenic signaling cascade, and that ERK activation by SPC reduces melanin synthesis via MITF downregulation.
A Method for Evaluating Horizontal Well Pumping Tests
Authors: Langseth David E. , Smyth Andrew H. , May James 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPredicting the future performance of horizontal wells under varying pumping conditions requires estimates of basic aquifer parameters, notably transmissivity and storativity. For vertical wells, there are well‐established methods for estimating these parameters, typically based on either the recovery from induced head changes in a well or from the head response in observation wells to pumping in a test well. Comparable aquifer parameter estimation methods for horizontal wells have not been presented in the ground water literature. Formation parameter estimation methods based on measurements of pressure in horizontal wells have been presented in the petroleum industry literature, but these methods have limited applicability for ground water evaluation and are based on pressure measurements in only the horizontal well borehole, rather than in observation wells. This paper presents a simple and versatile method by which pumping test procedures developed for vertical wells can be applied to horizontal well pumping tests. The method presented here uses the principle of superposition to represent the horizontal well as a series of partially penetrating vertical wells. This concept is used to estimate a distance from an observation well at which a vertical well that has the same total pumping rate as the horizontal well will produce the same drawdown as the horizontal well. This equivalent distance may then be associated with an observation well for use in pumping test algorithms and type curves developed for vertical wells. The method is shown to produce good results for confined aquifers and unconfined aquifers in the absence of delayed yield response. For unconfined aquifers, the presence of delayed yield response increases the method error.