bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Barriers for dental treatment of primary teeth in East and West Germany
Authors: SPLIETH CHRISTIAN H. , BÜNGER BIANKA , PINE CYNTHIA 
Published: December 2008

Background.  In many countries, restorative treatment in primary teeth is suboptimal.Aim.  Thus, this study tried to detect barriers for dentists to restore primary teeth in kindergarten children (3–6 years).Design.  For a representative survey, 320 dentists (184 West, 136 East Germany) were randomly selected from the dental associations’ registers and asked to answer a questionnaire on their profile, their view of the National Health System, and possible barriers for restoring primary teeth.Results.  The analysis (response rate 57.7%) showed that the parents were no barrier and the dentists felt the need of restoring primary teeth. In addition to the children's anxiety, the inadequate reimbursement for fillings were perceived as clear barrier. The comparison of West and East German dentists detected statistically significantly higher barriers in West Germany, where – in contrast to the German Democratic Republic – no structured training in paediatric dentistry was compulsory before unification. Only 35% of the East German dentists rated restorative treatment in 3‐ to 6‐year‐olds as stressful in contrast to 65% in West Germany, where especially male dentists found no time to treat children.Conclusion.  This study reveals that dentists can also be a considerable barrier to restorative treatment in small children, especially without adequate training in dental schools.
Relatedness and social organization of coypus in the Argentinean pampas
Authors: TÚNEZ J. I. , GUICHÓN M. L. , CENTRÓN D. , HENDERSON A. P. , CALLAHAN C. , CASSINI M. H. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBehavioural and trapping studies of the social organization of coypus have suggested the occurrence of kin groups and a polygynous mating system. We used 16 microsatellite markers to analyse parentage and relatedness relationships in two populations (Jáuregui and Villa Ruiz) in the Argentinean Pampas. At Jáuregui, a dominant male monopolized most paternities, leading to a high variance in reproductive success between males and a high level of polygyny. At Villa Ruiz, variance in reproductive success was low among resident males and males were the fathers of zero to four offspring each. For females, no significant differences were found. Two different social groups in each study site were used to assess genetic relatedness within and between groups. These groups were neighbouring at Jáuregui but not at Villa Ruiz. At Villa Ruiz, coypus were significantly more related within than between groups, suggesting that behavioural groups were also genetic ones, and adult females were more related within than between groups, as should be expected for kin groups. This relationship was not found at Jáuregui. Our results provide support to previous studies based on behavioural and trapping data, which indicate that coypus form social groups and have a polygynous mating system. However, we found differences in social organization between the two populations. This is the first study to determine parentage and/or relatedness in coypus.
Invasion genetics of the Eurasian round goby in North America: tracing sources and spread patterns
Authors: BROWN JOSHUA E. , STEPIEN CAROL A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe Eurasian round gobyNeogobius melanostomus(Apollonia melanostoma) invaded the North American Great Lakes in 1990 through ballast water, spread rapidly, and now is widely distributed and moving through adjacent tributaries. We analyse its genetic diversity and divergence patterns among 25 North American (N = 744) and 22 Eurasian (N = 414) locations using mitochondrial DNA cytochromebgene sequences and seven nuclear microsatellite loci in order to: (i) identify the invasion's founding source(s), (ii) test for founder effects, (iii) evaluate whether the invasive range is genetically heterogeneous, and (iv) determine whether fringe and central areas differ in genetic diversity. Tests includeFSTanalogues, neighbour‐joining trees, haplotype networks, Bayesian assignment, Monmonier barrier analysis, and three‐dimensional factorial correspondence analysis. We recovered 13 cytochromebhaplotypes and 232 microsatellite alleles in North America and compared these to variation we previously described across Eurasia. Results show: (i) the southern Dnieper River population was the primary Eurasian donor source for the round goby's invasion of North America, likely supplemented by some alleles from the Dniester and Southern Bug rivers, (ii) the overall invasion has high genetic diversity and experienced no founder effect, (iii) there is significant genetic structuring across North America, and (iv) some expansion areas show reduced numbers of alleles, whereas others appear to reflect secondary colonization. Sampling sites in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay and Lake Ontario significantly differ from all others, having unique alleles that apparently originated from separate introductions. Substantial genetic variation, multiple founding sources, large number of propagules, and population structure thus likely aided the goby's ecological success.
Spatio‐temporal variation in the strength and mode of selection acting on major histocompatibility complex diversity in water vole (Arvicola terrestris) metapopulations
Authors: OLIVER MATTHEW K. , LAMBIN XAVIER , CORNULIER THOMAS , PIERTNEY STUART B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPatterns of spatio‐temporal genetic variation at a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus and multiple microsatellite loci were analysed within and between three water vole metapopulations in Scotland, UK. Comparisons of MHC and microsatellite spatial genetic differentiation, based on standardised tests between two demographically asynchronous zones within a metapopulation, suggested that spatial MHC variation was affected by balancing selection, directional selection and random genetic drift, but that the relative effects of these microevolutionary forces vary temporally. At the metapopulation level, between‐year differentiation for MHC loci was significantly correlated with that of microsatellites, signifying that neutral factors such as migration and drift were primarily responsible for overall temporal genetic change at the metapopulation scale. Between metapopulations, patterns of genetic differentiation implied that, at large spatial scales, MHC variation was primarily affected by directional selection and drift. Levels of MHC heterozygosity in excess of Hardy–Weinberg expectations were consistent with overdominant balancing selection operating on MHC variation within metapopulations. However, this effect was not constant among all samples, indicating temporal variation in the strength of selection relative to other factors. The results highlight the benefit of contrasting variation at MHC with neutral markers to separate the effects of stochastic and deterministic microevolutionary forces, and add to a growing body of evidence showing that the mode and relative strength of selection acting on MHC diversity varies both spatially and temporally.
Arabidopsis Chy1 null mutants are deficient in benzoic acid‐containing glucosinolates in the seeds
Authors: Ibdah M. , Pichersky E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe specific set of reactions that lead to the synthesis of benzoic acid in plants is still unclear, and even the subcellular compartment in which these reactions occur is unknown. Biosynthesis of both vegetative tissues and seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana contain a class of defense compounds termed glucosinolates, but only the seeds synthesize and store high levels of two glucosinolate compounds that contain a benzoic acid moiety. To identify genes involved in the synthesis of benzoic acid (directly or via benzaldehyde) in Arabidopsis, we analysed the levels of benzoylated glucosinolates in several lines that carry mutations in genes with homology to Pseudomonas fluorescens feruloyl‐CoA hydratase, an enzyme that converts feruloyl‐CoA to vanillin and acetyl‐CoA, a reaction analogous to the conversion of cinnamoyl‐CoA to benzaldehyde. We show here that mutations in the gene At5g65940, previously shown to encode a peroxisomal protein with β‐hydroxyisobutyryl‐CoA hydrolase activity and designated as Chy1, lead to a deficiency of benzoic acid‐containing glucosinolates in the seeds. Furthermore, Chy1 exhibits cinnamoyl‐CoA hydrolase activity with a Km of 2.9 μm. Our findings suggest that at least a part of benzoic acid biosynthesis occurs in the peroxisomes, although the specific pathway that leads to benzoic acid and the specific biochemical role of Chy1 remain unclear.
Yield QTL affected by heading date in Mediterranean grown barley
Authors: Cuesta‐Marcos A. , Casas A. M. , Hayes P. M. , Gracia M. P. , Lasa J. M. , Ciudad F. , Codesal P. , Molina‐Cano J. L. , Igartua E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractKnowledge regarding quantitative trait loci (QTL) has led to remarkable advances in breeding for a variety of traits, some of which have an effect on yield under particular environmental conditions. However, the same yield QTL are not usually found, even in the same population tested in different environments, as a result of large genotype‐by‐environment interactions. In this study, we aimed at identifying yield QTL in a series of experiments carried out in Spain. We used a barley doubled haploid population derived from a spring by winter cross. The relationship between heading date and yield, and between the principal heading date QTL and yield, changed depending on the environment. Allelic combinations causing early or late heading dates usually did not favour high yield, whereas intermediate heading dates were associated with not only higher variability but also higher yield potential. To identify QTL for grain yield independent of heading date, the population was divided into three classes: Early, Intermediate and Late. We found three new QTL affecting yield only at specific maturity groups. The implications of these findings in relation to barley breeding are discussed.
Effects of l‐Ascorbic Acid, α‐Tocopherol and Co‐culture on In Vitro Developmental Potential of Porcine Cumulus Cells Free Oocytes
Authors: Tao Y , Chen H , Tian NN , Huo DT , Li G , Zhang YH , Liu Y , Fang FG , Ding JP , Zhang XR 
Published: December 2008

ContentsThe maturation and developmental potential on cumulus‐cell‐free oocytes is of great importance theoretically and practically. The present study was to investigate the effects of l‐ascorbic acid, α‐tocopherol and co‐culture on in vitro developmental potential of porcine denuded oocytes (DOs). Porcine DOs were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with vitamin C (0, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 μM) and vitamin E (0, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250 μm), respectively. And they were also co‐cultured with dispersed cumulus cells (group CCscoculture), intact cumulus cells oocyte complexes (COCs) (group COCscoculture), and COCs whose oocytes were removed (group OOXcoculture), respectively. After 44 h incubation, the maturation rates, cleavage rates and blastocyst rates after parthenogenetic activation in three experiments mentioned above were collected and analysed, respectively. L‐Ascorbic acid promoted porcine DOs in vitro maturation and blastocyt development after parthenogenetic activation while α‐tocopherol did not increase the in vitro maturation rates, but improved the blastocyst rate. None of the three co‐culture manner promoted the in vitro maturation and the cleavage of porcine DOs after parthenogenetic activation, but all the co‐culture manners improved the blastocyst rates. Both Vitamin C and E enhance the in vitro developmental potential of porcine DOs. Co‐culture increases the developmental potential of porcine DOs.
NEW OBJECTIVE EVALUATION METHOD FOR FUNCTIONAL BOWEL DISORDER USING VIDEO CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY
Authors: Nakamura Masanao , Niwa Yasumasa , Yagihashi Makoto , Ohmiya Naoki , Miyahara Ryoji , Ando Takafumi , Watanabe Osamu , Kawashima Hiroki , Itoh Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Fujimoto Hideo , Goto Hidemi 
Published: December 2008

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to use video capsule endoscopy (VCE) to objectively evaluate bowel movements in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared with healthy volunteers.Methods:  Subjects were nine healthy volunteers (group A) and five IBS patients (group B) whose VCE reached the cecum within the examination time. As the darkest component in an image of VCE is the lumen, we regarded real movements of the intestine observed in the images as the changes of luminal movement, and analyzed them. We trimmed the luminal edge, counted pixels in the lumen and the low brightness area (LBA), of all VCE images and compared them between the groups.Results:  There was no difference in the frequency observed in the LBA corresponding to the luminal area between the groups. As for the average volume of the LBA found in an image, it was 1702 pixels in healthy persons versus 305 in IBS patients (P = 0.21) and in healthy persons it tends to be larger. We drew a graph of LBA by time–course. A periodic change in the volume of LBA was found in eight of nine (88.9%) healthy persons over time, but in only two of five (40.0%) IBS patients (P = 0.62). Using endoscopy, a difference in the bowel movement between groups A and B could be evaluated objectively.Conclusion:  The present study presents the possibility of a new technique to evaluate functional bowel disorders objectively using an endoscopic procedure.
NOVEL CHROMOENDOSCOPIC METHOD USING AN ACETIC ACID–INDIGOCARMINE MIXTURE FOR DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY IN DELINEATING THE MARGIN OF EARLY GASTRIC CANCERS
Authors: Kawahara Yoshiro , Takenaka Ryuta , Okada Hiroyuki , Kawano Seiji , Inoue Masafumi , Tsuzuki Takao , Tanioka Daisuke , Hori Keisuke , Yamamoto Kazuhide 
Published: December 2008

Background and Aim:  Recent endoscopic imaging techniques for recognition of unclear lesions in the stomach (e.g. narrow band imaging, magnifying endoscopy) require special equipment and therefore are not commonly used. The aim of the present study was to estimate the accuracy of a new chromoendoscopic method using an acetic acid–indigo carmine mixture (AIM) in diagnosing early gastric cancers (EGC).Methods:  Studied were 108 EGC lesions in 104 patients. EGC were initially observed by white light (WL) after which indigo carmine (IC) solution was sprinkled onto the gastric mucosa. Images by WL and IC observation were recorded by a digital filing system. After washing away IC solution with water, AIM solution was sprinkled onto the gastric mucosa and images were recorded. Margin lines of EGC determined by each observation were drawn on recorded images by graphic software for comparison with resected specimens. After lines were similarly drawn on images of resected specimens, the extent of the lesions was compared with that determined by endoscopic images.Results:  Diagnostic accuracy of WL, IC, and AIM observations were 50.0%, 75.9% and 90.7%, respectively. No adverse events occurred with the AIM method.Conclusions:  This chromoendoscopic method can be used to delineate the margin of EGC accurately, easily, safely and inexpensively.
ENDOSCOPIC HEMOSTASIS WITH METALLIC HEMOCLIPS FOR IATROGENIC MALLORY‐WEISS TEAR CAUSED BY ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION
Authors: Shimoda Ryo , Iwakiri Ryuichi , Sakata Hiroyuki , Ogata Shinichi , Ootani Hibiki , Sakata Yasuhisa , Fujise Takehiro , Yamaguchi Kanako , Mannen Kotaro , Arima Seichiro , Shiraishi Ryosuke , Noda Takahiro , Ono Akihiro , Tsunada Seiji , Fujimoto Kazuma 
Published: December 2008

Aim: Applied endoscopic techniques including mucosal resection, sclerotherapy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have been advanced and iatrogenic complications including Mallory‐Weiss tear (MWT) occasionally occur in daily endoscopic procedures. The present study aimed to examine the advantages of clipping for MWT complications that occur during endoscopic examination.Methods: Over 10 years, we experienced 47 patients with bleeding caused by MWT. Metallic hemoclips were applied for 38 patients for hemostasis. These patients were categorized into two groups: 18 patients in group A whose bleeding tear occurred during endoscopic examination in an iatrogenic condition, and 20 patients in group B visited the emergency unit due to other etiology of MWT.Results: The background characteristics, including length of tears, were not different between the two groups. Initial hemostasis was 100% in groups A and B. Rebleeding was 0/18 (0%) in group A and 1/20 (5 %) in group B. Number of patients who received blood transfusion was significantly higher in group B (group A: 0/18, group B: 4/20). Hemoglobin level before hemostasis was 12.5 g/dL in group A which was not different to that in group B, 10.9 g/dL.Conclusion: Application of hemoclips was effective for bleeding MWT during endoscopic procedures, which warranted prophylactic application of hemoclips on MWT during endoscopic examination.
Engineering angiogenesis following spinal cord injury: a coculture of neural progenitor and endothelial cells in a degradable polymer implant leads to an increase in vessel density and formation of the blood–spinal cord barrier
Authors: Rauch Millicent Ford , Hynes Sara Royce , Bertram James , Redmond Andy , Robinson Rebecca , Williams Cicely , Xu Hao , Madri Joseph A. , Lavik Erin B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAngiogenesis precedes recovery following spinal cord injury and its extent correlates with neural regeneration, suggesting that angiogenesis may play a role in repair. An important precondition for studying the role of angiogenesis is the ability to induce it in a controlled manner. Previously, we showed that a coculture of endothelial cells (ECs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) promoted the formation of stable tubes in vitro and stable, functional vascular networks in vivo in a subcutaneous model. We sought to test whether a similar coculture would lead to the formation of stable functional vessels in the spinal cord following injury. We created microvascular networks in a biodegradable two‐component implant system and tested the ability of the coculture or controls (lesion control, implant alone, implant + ECs or implant + NPCs) to promote angiogenesis in a rat hemisection model of spinal cord injury. The coculture implant led to a fourfold increase in functional vessels compared with the lesion control, implant alone or implant + NPCs groups and a twofold increase in functional vessels over the implant + ECs group. Furthermore, half of the vessels in the coculture implant exhibited positive staining for the endothelial barrier antigen, a marker for the formation of the blood–spinal cord barrier. No other groups have shown positive staining for the blood–spinal cord barrier in the injury epicenter. This work provides a novel method to induce angiogenesis following spinal cord injury and a foundation for studying its role in repair.
Role of age, bowel function and parity on anorectocele pathogenesis according to cinedefecography and anal manometry evaluation
Authors: Soares F. A. , Regadas F. S. P. , Murad‐Regadas S. M. , Rodrigues L. V. , Silva F. R. S. , Escalante R. D. , Bezerra R. F. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjective  The study aimed to verify the role of parity, age and bowel function in the pathogenesis of anorectocele.Method  A cross‐sectional study was conducted regarding age, obstetrical history, Cleveland Clinic Constipation Score (CCCS), cinedefecography and anal manometry findings. Forty‐five adult women complaining of obstructed defecation were evaluated; the median age was 46 years and median CCCS, 13. Fifteen patients were nulliparous and 23 multiparous (median parity 2). Eighteen had a history of episiotomy, fourteen delivered large babies and two had forceps‐assisted delivery. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s correlation test and Fisher’s exact test.Results  Anal hypertonia was found in 14 (31.1%) patients, anal hypotonia in eight (17.8%), anismus in 13 (28.9%) and anorectoceles in 34 (75.6%) [median size 2.8 cm (0–6.4)]. There were no correlations between anorectocele and anal hypertonia (P = 0.7171), anismus (P = 0.4666), parity comparing nulliparous and multiparous patients (P = 1.000), episiotomy (P = 1.0000), forceps assistance (P = 1.0000), delivery of a large baby (P = 1.0000) anal resting pressure (P = 0.0883), anal voluntary pressure (P = 0.7327), parity (P = 0.4987) and age (P = 0.8603). There were correlations between anorectocele and the CCCS (P = 0.0082) and anal hypotonia (P = 0.0141).Conclusion  Anorectocele is not correlated with parity, age, episiotomy, delivery of a large baby and anismus. It was more frequent in patients with severe constipation and less common in patients with anal hypotonia.
RBP‐to‐retinol ratio, but not total RBP, is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Erikstrup C. , Mortensen O. H. , Nielsen A. R. , Fischer C. P. , Plomgaard P. , Petersen A. M. , Krogh‐Madsen R. , Lindegaard B. , Erhardt J. G. , Ullum H. , Benn C. S. , Pedersen B. K. 
Published: December 2008

Aim:  It was recently reported that serum retinol‐binding protein (RBP), also known as retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4), was positively associated with systemic insulin resistance. We hypothesized that an imbalance between RBP and retinol might be the underlying cause for this association.Methods:  We studied the ratio between RBP and retinol in 233 humans divided into groups depending on normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and presence or absence of obesity.Results:  Plasma RBP and retinol levels were lower in patients with T2DM than in individuals with NGT (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001 respectively). In contrast, RBP‐to‐retinol ratio was higher in individuals with T2DM (p < 0.0001) and IGT (p < 0.05). Following multivariate adjustment, RBP and retinol correlated positively with low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (p < 0.0001, except retinol and LDL: p < 0.001). RBP‐to‐retinol ratio correlated positively with glucose 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test (p < 0.0001) and with C‐reactive protein (p < 0.001). Retinol, RBP and adipose tissue RBP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels shared an inverse relationship with plasma interleukin‐6, and adipose tissue RBP mRNA levels correlated positively with plasma tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and skeletal muscle TNF‐α mRNA levels.Conclusions:  Our results suggest that the excess of RBP relative to retinol, assessed as the RBP‐to‐retinol ratio, is more indicative of T2DM than RBP itself. Hence, the previously reported insulin resistance in mice induced by overexpression or injection of RBP could be because of higher levels of RBP relative to retinol rather than higher total levels of RBP. Moreover, TNF‐α may have a role in RBP‐mediated adipose to muscle crosstalk.