bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic mapping of the belt pattern in Brown Swiss cattle to BTA3
Authors: Drögemüller C. , Engensteiner M. , Moser S. , Rieder S. , Leeb T. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe white belt pattern of Brown Swiss cattle is characterized by a lack of melanocytes in a stretch of skin around the midsection. This pattern is of variable width and sometimes the belt does not fully circle the body. To identify the gene responsible for this colour variation, we performed linkage mapping of the belted locus using six segregating half‐sib families including 104 informative meioses for the belted character. The pedigree confirmed a monogenic autosomal dominant inheritance of the belted phenotype in Brown Swiss cattle. We performed a genome scan using 186 microsatellite markers in a subset of 88 animals of the six families. Linkage with the belt phenotype was detected at the telomeric region of BTA3. Fine‐mapping and haplotype analysis using 19 additional markers in this region refined the critical region of the belted locus to a 922‐kb interval on BTA3. As the corresponding human and mouse chromosome segments contain no obvious candidate gene for this coat colour trait, the mutation causing the belt pattern in the Brown Swiss cattle might help to identify an unknown gene influencing skin pigmentation.
Do statins protect against upper gastrointestinal bleeding?
Authors: Gulmez Sinem Ezgi , Lassen Annmarie Touborg , Aalykke Claus , Dall Michael , Andries Alin , Andersen Birthe Søgaard , Hansen Jane Møller , Andersen Morten , Hallas Jesper 
Published: January 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • An apparent protective effect of statins against upper gastrointestinal bleeding was postulated in a post hoc analysis of a randomized trial.• We aimed to evaluate the effect of statin use on acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding alone or in combinations with low‐dose aspirin and other antithrombotic drugs. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Our study could not demonstrate an inverse association between use of statins and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.• The lack of effect was consistent across most subgroups, across different cumulative or current doses and different statin substances.• In explorative analyses, there appeared to be protective effect only in users of low‐dose aspirin.• There was no interaction with use of other antithrombotic drugs.AIMS Recently, an apparent protective effect of statins against upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) was postulated in a post hoc analysis of a randomized trial. We aimed to evaluate the effect of statin use on acute nonvariceal UGB alone or in combinations with low‐dose aspirin and other antithrombotic drugs.METHODS A population‐based case–control study was conducted in the County of Funen, Denmark. Cases (n = 3652) were all subjects with a first discharge diagnosis of serious UGB from a hospital during the period 1995 to 2006. Age‐ and gender‐matched controls (10 for each case) (n = 36 502) were selected by a risk set sampling. Data on all subjects' drug exposure and past medical history were retrieved from a prescription database and from the County's patient register. Confounders were controlled by conditional logistic regression.RESULTS The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) associating use of statins with UGB were 0.94 (0.78–1.12) for current use, 1.40 (0.89–2.20) for recent use and 1.42 (0.96–2.10) for past use. The lack of effect was consistent across most patient subgroups, different cumulative or current statin doses and different statin substances. In explorative analyses, a borderline significant protective effect was observed for concurrent users of low‐dose aspirin [OR 0.43 (0.18–1.05)].CONCLUSION Statins do not prevent UGB, except possibly in users of low‐dose aspirin.
Effects of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism on raloxifene pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Authors: Trontelj Jurij , Marc Janja , Zavratnik Andrej , Bogataj Marija , Mrhar Aleš 
Published: January 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT? • Raloxifene exhibits large and unexplained interindividual pharmacokinetic variability (coefficient of variation 30–50%).• There is some evidence that UDP‐glucuronosyltranferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) may play a key role in metabolic clearance of raloxifene.• UGT1A1 has a common genetic polymorphism, UGT1A1*28, that could lead to slower elimination of raloxifene and contribute to the high pharmacokinetic variability. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Subjects with UGT1A1*28/*28 genotype exhibited a twofold higher raloxifene exposure compared with the hetero‐ and homozygotes for the wild‐type allele. This indicates that raloxifene pharmacokinetics may be significantly affected by the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism.• It was also demonstrated that the *28 homozygotes gained a significantly greater increase in hip bone mineral density after 12 months' raloxifene treatment.AIMS Raloxifene concentrations were reported to correlate approximately with serum bilirubin levels. Bilirubin is a typical UGT1A1 substrate. Based on these facts, we postulated a hypothesis that UGT1A1 is the key enzyme for metabolic clearance of raloxifene and that the common UGT1A1*28 polymorphism significantly contributes to the large pharmacokinetic variability of raloxifene.METHODS Serum samples from postmenopausal osteoporotic patients treated with raloxifene were assayed for the concentrations of raloxifene and its glucuronides by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–mass spectrometry. The same samples were also genotyped for the presence of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism by the single‐strand conformation polymorphism method. The pharmacodynamic effect was evaluated by measuring the change in bone mineral density (BMD) in femoral neck, hip and lumbar spine after 12 months' raloxifene therapy.RESULTS Patients homozygous for the *28 allele showed significantly, twofold higher raloxifene glucuronide concentrations compared with the hetero‐ and homozygotes for the wild‐type allele: 558 ± 115 nmol l−1 compared with 295 ± 43 nmol l−1, respectively (P = 0.012). This indicates a higher raloxifene exposure in the *28/*28 group. Consequently, a significantly greater increase in hip BMD was observed in subjects homozygous for the *28 allele compared with the group carrying at least one copy of the wild‐type allele: 4.4 ± 2.4% compared with 0.3 ± 1.4% (P = 0.035).CONCLUSIONS In this study it is shown that a relatively common UGT1A1*28 polymorphism may considerably influence raloxifene pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of our findings are also discussed.
Endometrial carcinoma detected with SurePath liquid‐based cervical cytology: comparison with conventional cytology
Authors: Patel C. , Ullal A. , Roberts M. , Brady J. , Birch P. , Bulmer J. N. , Wadehra V. 
Published: January 2009

Introduction:  Conventional Pap smears (CPS) have little impact on the detection of endometrial carcinoma. Although liquid‐based cytology (LBC) is replacing CPS in the UK, experience with identification of endometrial cancers with this technique is limited.Aim:  To compare the accuracy of the SurePath LBC with that of CPS for detection of endometrial cancers.Methods:  Our study group comprised SurePath LBC samples reported as atypical endometrial cells and endometrial adenocarcinoma (classified respectively as borderline, code 8 and ?glandular neoplasia, code 6 for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme statistics) in 2004–2005. CPS reported as atypical endometrial cells or adenocarcinoma in 1993–1998 comprised the control group. Histological follow‐up was obtained.Results:  Endometrial abnormalities were reported in 95 (0.073%) of 130 352 LBC samples, comprising 75 (0.058%) atypical endometrial cells and 20 (0.015%) endometrial adenocarcinoma reports. Of 409 495 CPS, 117 (0.029%) were diagnosed as endometrial abnormalities, comprising 59 (0.014%) atypical endometrial cells and 58 (0.014%) endometrial adenocarcinoma reports. Thus, the endometrial adenocarcinoma reporting rate was similar in both groups, but that for atypical endometrial cells was higher with LBC (P < 0.001). The positive predictive value for endometrial cancer of endometrial adenocarcinoma and atypical endometrial cell reports in the LBC group was 73.3 and 18.8%, respectively, compared with 42.3 and 6.7% in the CPS group. The endometrial adenocarcinoma patients in CPS group were older (mean age 62.5 years versus 56.5 years) and most (22/25) were symptomatic, whereas most (13/17) patients in the LBC group were asymptomatic at the time of sampling (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  SurePath LBC is at least as accurate a method for detecting endometrial cancer as CPS. SurePath LBC demonstrates enhanced identification of endometrial pathology in asymptomatic women in the cervical screening programme.
Comparative validation of c‐kit exon 11 mutation analysis on cytology samples and corresponding surgical resections of gastrointestinal stromal tumours
Authors: Pang N. K. B. , Chin S. Y. , Nga M. E. , Chang A. R. , Ismail T.‐M. , Omar S.‐S. , Charlton A. , Salto‐Tellez M. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  Studies have shown that c‐kit mutation analysis of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) obtained by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) can be routinely performed. We validated c‐kit exon 11 mutational analysis on cell block material obtained from fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for diagnostic purposes and compared it with the same analysis in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded full sections of the corresponding resection specimens.Methods:  c‐kit mutation analysis was done on cell block material obtained from ten cases encountered in our department from 1999 to 2008 on which FNAC was attempted pre‐operatively. The findings were compared with analysis on full paraffin section of the corresponding resected tumours in seven cases where patients opted for resection. c‐kit exon 11 was examined via bidirectional nucleic acid sequencing.Results:  Our results showed 100% concordance for the presence and type of exon 11 mutation in the resected and aspirated tumours in all seven cases. These mutations had diagnostic value when compared with other neoplasms that are part of the cytomorphological differential diagnosis, such as leiomyosarcoma or gastric adenocarcinomas.Conclusion:  Molecular cytopathology is a powerful tool that can complement morphology and immunohistochemical assessment of cytological material in routine practice for the diagnosis and prognostication of GISTs. We briefly discuss the advantages and limitations of the fine needle method of obtaining tissue for the diagnosis and prognostication of GISTs, and its current therapeutic strategies.
Neo‐ and archaeophytes respond more strongly than natives to socio‐economic mobility and disturbance patterns along an urban–rural gradient
Authors: Brunzel Stefan , Fischer S. F. , Schneider J. , Jetzkowitz J. , Brandl R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAims  To clarify the distribution and abundance of natives, archaeophytes and neophytes in settlements along an urban–rural gradient we investigated the importance of site‐related and socio‐economic factors within settlements in determining the abundance and species richness of these three groups of plant species.Location  The Wetterau region north of Frankfurt/Main, Hesse, Germany.Methods  The occurrence and abundance of plant species were recorded in 2003 along transects in 66 settlements in a region north of Frankfurt/Main (Germany). The transect routes had been established in an earlier study in 1974–81. We used ordinations to analyse species composition, fitting 10 independent variables to explain the main gradient in species composition. Additionally, socio‐economic styles (derived from interviews of 1359 households) were fitted, to analyse the influence of these on plant communities. Finally, we analysed species richness by calculating independent contributions of the variables using hierarchical partitioning.Results  Many species of neophytes have expanded their range since the 1974–81 survey, but this was not associated with a general decline of archaeophytes and natives. The main variation of species composition was along a rural to urban gradient, associated with site conditions and with socio‐economic factors that vary from settlements dominated by households rooted in the local community to settlements characterized by a mobile new middle class. For neophytes, variables describing the connection to Frankfurt (distance or connectivity) were most important in predicting species richness. For archaeophytes, the data showed a positive relationship between species richness and increasing herbicide application.Main conclusions  These results suggest that the occurrence of neophytes within settlements along the urban–rural gradient is triggered by dispersal, related to human mobility patterns. In contrast, the occurrence of archaeophytes in settlements is determined by disturbance‐related factors that predominantly depend on traditional gardening practices and weed control practices associated with farming.
On the emergent spatial structure of size‐structured populations: when does self‐thinning lead to a reduction in clustering?
Authors: Murrell David J. 
Published: January 2009

Summary

It is widely held that if competition is important, adult or mature plants should be less‐clustered than those in smaller size‐classes. Self‐thinning, the competition for limited resources, should remove individuals that are nearby neighbours, restricting recruitment of adults around other adult trees and resulting in a decrease in aggregation with size‐class.
There is good empirical evidence for a reduction in clustering with increase in size‐class, and the pattern is strongest for richly abundant species. However, few dynamical models have been developed to explore the relationship between the emergent spatial pattern of adults and juvenile plants and the underlying processes of neighbourhood competition and dispersal. In particular is it correct to assume that increased clustering with size‐classes is inconsistent with self‐thinning?
The hypothesis that self‐thinning leads to less‐clustered adult trees is assessed by analysing a deterministic approximation to a spatially explicit individual‐based model that incorporates two size‐classes, local dispersal, and neighbourhood competition that increases death rates and retards the growth of the smaller trees.
Analyses show that if recruitment of adults is limited by slow growth rates, low fecundity, or high juvenile–juvenile competition, then adults may well be more clustered than juveniles. This means an increase in aggregation with size‐class is consistent with self‐thinning processes.
The models support previous empirical results in that the numerically dominant species are more likely to show a reduction in clustering with size‐class than species with a lower abundance. The models suggest rare species should show more adult clustering and less of a reduction in aggregation with size‐class due to a numerical decrease in conspecific interactions.
Synthesis. The results show clearly that the Janzen–Connell hypothesis and self‐thinning in general are consistent with adults being more clustered than juveniles, even when competitive interactions are quite strong. The pattern of relative clustering in juveniles and adults may therefore be indicative of adult recruitment rates, with weak decreases in aggregation with size‐class caused by low fecundity, poor dispersal or slow growth, and strong decreases generated by high fecundity, good dispersal and/or fast growth rates.
Non‐native grass alters growth of native tree species via leaf and soil microbes
Authors: Rudgers Jennifer A. , Orr Samuel 
Published: January 2009

Summary

Non‐native plants can alter both native microbe communities and ecosystem processes. These changes may indirectly affect native plant communities. We tested whether an invasive plant influences other plant species through above‐ and below‐ground microbial associations. These factors have received less attention than direct competition for resources in research on plant invasions.
Previous work in the mid‐western US revealed that the above‐ground fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) in non‐native tall fescue grass (Lolium arundinaceum) reduced establishment of native tree species, slowing plant succession from grassland to forest relative to communities lacking the symbiont. Here, we examined potential soil‐mediated mechanisms underlying these negative impacts on trees.
We challenged nine tree species with soil conditioned by tall fescue grass either with (E+) or without (E–) the symbiotic endophyte. We collected field soil from replicated, experimental E+ and E– field plots, sterilized half to eliminate soil microbes, then conditioned the soil in the greenhouse with either E+ or E– tall fescue. Individual tree seeds received one of five soil treatments: E– live, E– sterile, E+ live, E+ sterile, or no tall fescue conditioning (control). Tree survival and biomass were assessed after approximately 80 days.
Soil conditioning by E+ tall fescue reduced the biomass of three tree species (Elaeagnus umbellata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Platanus occidentalis) and the survival of P. occidentalis relative to conditioning by E– tall fescue. However, decreased biomass occurred only in live soil, suggesting indirect effects of the endophyte via altered soil microbes. In addition, two species (F. pennsylvanica, Prunus serotina) grew larger in both unconditioned soils and E– live soil relative to all other soil treatments, and two species (Ailanthus altissima, P. occidentalis) performed poorly in all soil treatments relative to unconditioned soil. Finally, three species did not significantly respond to any soil treatment (Acer negundo, Quercus palustris, Cercis canadensis).
Synthesis. Our results show that negative impacts of a non‐native grass on native trees can depend on both above‐ and below‐ground microbial associations. Because tree species responded divergently to soil conditioning, the endophyte symbiosis has the potential to alter plant succession and the future composition of forest communities.
Pleistocene divergence of Dinaric Drusus endemics (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) in multiple microrefugia within the Balkan Peninsula
Authors: PREVIŠIĆ ANA , WALTON CATHERINE , KUČINIĆ MLADEN , MITRIKESKI PETAR T. , KEROVEC MLADEN 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe Balkan Peninsula is one of three major European refugial areas. It has high biodiversity and endemism, but data on the age and origin of its fauna, especially endemics, are limited. Mitochondrial sequence data (COI and 16S genes) were used to study the population structure and phylogeography of the caddisfly Drusus croaticus and the phylogeny and divergence of seven other Drusus species, mostly range‐restricted endemics of the Dinaric region of the Balkan Peninsula. The divergence of D. croaticus populations in Croatia and allopatric Drusus species in Bosnia dated to the Pleistocene, showing the importance of this time period for the origin and diversification of Balkan endemic taxa. The divergence of more distantly related species dated to the Late Miocene/Early Pliocene. Population genetic and phylogeographic analysis of 115 individuals from 11 populations of D. croaticus revealed a high level of genetic differentiation and absence of gene flow between populations separated by more than 10 km. The existence of allopatrically fragmented lineages in D. croaticus and the endemic Bosnian species is most likely the result of long‐term isolation in multiple microrefugia, probably due to the specific habitat requirements and life‐history traits of Drusinae coupled with the topographic complexity and historical changes in geomorphology of the region. Overall, these findings shed light on the processes generating the high genetic complexity of this refugial region that parallels the ‘refugia within refugia’ pattern widely reported from the Iberian refugium.
Extreme changes to gene expression associated with homoploid hybrid speciation
Authors: HEGARTY MATTHEW J. , BARKER GARY L. , BRENNAN ADRIAN C. , EDWARDS KEITH J. , ABBOTT RICHARD J. , HISCOCK SIMON J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractHybridization is an important cause of abrupt speciation. Hybrid speciation without a change in ploidy (homoploid hybrid speciation) is well‐established in plants but has also been reported in animals and fungi. A notable example of recent homoploid hybrid speciation is Senecio squalidus (Oxford ragwort), which originated in the UK in the 18th Century following introduction of hybrid material from a hybrid zone between S. chrysanthemifolius and S. aethnensis on Mount Etna, Sicily. To investigate genetic divergence between these taxa, we used complementary DNA microarrays to compare patterns of floral gene expression. These analyses revealed major differences in gene expression between the parent species and wild and resynthesized S. squalidus. Comparisons of gene expression between S. aethnensis, S. chrysanthemifolius and natural S. squalidus identified genes potentially involved in local environmental adaptation. The analysis also revealed non‐additive patterns of gene expression in the hybrid relative to its progenitors. These expression changes were more dramatic and widespread in resynthesized hybrids than in natural S. squalidus, suggesting that a unique expression pattern may have been fixed during the allopatric divergence of British S. squalidus. We speculate that hybridization‐induced gene‐expression change may provide an immediate source of novel phenotypic variation upon which selection can act to facilitate homoploid hybrid speciation in plants.
Investigation of the pruritogenic effects of histamine, serotonin, tryptase, substance P and interleukin‐2 in healthy dogs
Authors: Carr Melissa N. , Torres Sheila M. F. , Koch Sandra N. , Reiter Lisa V. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThere are numerous studies of the pruritus‐producing effects of histamine, serotonin, tryptase, substance P and interleukin‐2 in humans and mice, but very little reported in dogs even though a common reason dogs are presented to veterinarians is pruritus. The aim of this study was to determine whether substances known to cause pruritus in humans also cause pruritus in dogs. Twenty‐five clinically healthy research beagle dogs were included in the study. All dogs first received an intradermal injection of 0.05 mL saline as a control substance and were video‐recorded for 20 min before and after the injection. Twenty‐four hours later the dogs were randomly divided into five groups of five dogs each and randomly assigned to receive histamine, serotonin, tryptase, substance P or interleukin‐2 injected intradermally each at the volume of 0.05 mL. On subsequent days, increasing concentrations of each substance were used. Before (baseline) and after the injection of each concentration of the substances, the dogs were video‐recorded for 20 min. The frequency and character of pruritus episodes (scratching, licking, chewing, rubbing or rolling) were noted and these data were used for statistical analysis. The number of pruritus episodes was compared among baseline, saline and the different concentrations of each substance. The results showed that dogs did not have a significant increase in pruritic behaviour above baseline or saline after injection of any of the investigated substances (generalized linear model; P = 0.23).