bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Activation of Human T Lymphocytes by Leishmania Lipophosphoglycan
Authors: KEMP M. , THEANDER T. G. , HANDMAN E. , HEY A. S. , KURTZHALS J. A. L. , HVIID L. , SØRENSEN A. L. , WERE J. O. B. , KOECH D. K. , KHARAZMI A. 
Published: September 2006

This study describes Leishmania antigen‐induced activation of lymphocytes isolated from Kenyan donors, previously treated for visceral leishmaniasis. and from Danish and Kenyan controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cured Kala‐Azar patients proliferated and produced Interferon‐γ in vitro in response lo lipophosphoglycan (LPG) isolated from Leishmania major. The proliferative response was mainly due lo activation of Cn2‐posilive T cells, PBMC from controls did not respond to LPG. hut to sonicates prepared from both L. major and L. donovani promastigotes. The surface glycoprotein GP 63 failed lo activate PBMC from any of the donors tested.These results show that the individuals cured from visceral leishmaniasis had expanded T‐cell clones recognizing LPG. conceivably as a result of Leishmania infection. The LPG preparation was without detectable protein contamination. Thus, the results suggest that human T lymphocytes can respond to glycolipid antigens.
Perioperative intravenous iron preserves iron stores and may hasten the recovery from post‐operative anaemia after knee replacement surgery
Authors: García‐Erce J. A. , Cuenca J. , Martínez F. , Cardona R. , Pérez‐Serrano L. , Muñoz M. 
Published: September 2006

summary In unilateral total knee replacement (TKR), perioperative blood loss, low transfusion thresholds and short hospital stay result in patients being discharged with low haemoglobin (Hb). We assessed the effects of perioperative administration of intravenous iron, with or without erythropoietin, plus a restrictive transfusion threshold (Hb < 80 g L−1) both on transfusion rate and recovery from post‐operative anaemia.TRK patients received iron sucrose (2 × 200 mg per 48 h, iv) (Group IVI, n = 129). Patients with admission Hb < 130 g L−1, also received erythropoietin (1 × 40 000 IU, sc) (Group EPO, n = 19). Perioperative clinical and laboratory data were obtained.Mean Hb loss was 36 g L−1, but only seven patients were transfused (5%). Pre‐operatively, 66 (45%) patients did not have enough stored iron to compensate Hb loss. At post‐operative day 30, only 15% were anaemic, 70% of Hb loss and 92% of pre‐operative Hb were recovered and ferritin increased by 73 μg L−1 (P < 0·01), although erythropoietic response was higher in patients receiving erythropoietin (P < 0·05). No adverse effects of iron sucrose or erythropoietin were witnessed.This protocol seems to reduce allogeneic blood transfusion rate and may hasten the recovery from post‐operative anaemia in TKR patients, without depleting iron stores. Further studies are needed to ascertain which patients may benefit of extended intravenous iron and/or erythropoietin administration.
Malaria control using indoor residual spraying and larvivorous fish: a case study in Betul, central India
Authors: Singh Neeru , Shukla M. M. , Mishra A. K. , Singh M. P. , Paliwal J. C. , Dash A. P. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryObjectives  To assess the impact of intensified malaria control interventions in an ethnic minority community in Betul using existing tools.Methods  Two rounds of indoor residual spraying with synthetic pyrethroid insecticide were applied and larvivorous fish introduced, followed by intensive surveillance for early detection of Plasmodium falciparum with rapid diagnostic tests and prompt treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine.Results  Pre‐intervention surveys revealed a very high fever rate in the community in all age groups with a slide positivity rate of >50% with >90%P. falciparum. The post‐intervention phase showed a sharp steady decline in number of malaria cases (β 0.972; P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.35–0.47). Monitoring of entomological results revealed a significant decline in both Anopheles species and An. culicifacies (P < 0.0001).Conclusion  A combination of indoor residual spraying and early detection and prompt treatment complemented by rapid diagnostic tests and larvivorous fishes successfully brought malaria under control. These approaches could be applied in other regions of different endemicity to control malaria in India.Keywords malaria, tribal
, Plasmodium falciparum,
forest
, Anopheles culicifacies, vector
Epidemiologic survey of pemphigus vulgaris with oral manifestations in northern Greece: Retrospective study of 129 patients
Authors: Michailidou Evangelia Z. , Belazi Maria A. , Markopoulos Anastasios K. , Tsatsos Michael I. , Mourellou Olga N. , Antoniades Demetrios Z. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjective  To evaluate the epidemiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) in a Greek population and to compare it with other countries.Materials and Methods  A retrospective study was conducted based on the records of 129 patients (41 males and 88 females) with PV who visited the Department of the Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and the State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases of Thessaloniki, Greece, between 1985 and 2004. A group of 73 individuals was used as controls.Results  The average annual incidence was found to be eight patients per year. The male to female ratio was 1 : 2.25. The difference in the age of onset between the two genders was statistically significant in marginal levels (P = 0.05). In addition, 86.1% of the patients showed oral lesions only, 13.3% oral and skin lesions and 1.3% manifested oral, skin, and ocular lesions. Twenty‐eight of the 88 females were in the premenopausal period‐of‐life. Additionally, 19 males were farmers who had daily contact with organophosphoric pesticides. Co‐existing pathologic conditions were present in 75 of the 129 patients, and of these 75 patients six (8%) were diabetics, 15 (20%) presented with hypertension, two (2.6%) faced problems from their thyroid gland, and 10 (13.3%) of the patients complained of allergic reactions.Conclusions  The results of this study demonstrated a relatively high incidence of PV in northern Greece compared with that in other countries. The disease most frequently occured in the sixth decade‐of‐life and the majority of the patients manifested oral lesions. Further epidemiological studies are needed to elucidate whether this region is constituted from population groups with high susceptibility to PV.
Large body size in an island‐dwelling bird: a microevolutionary analysis
Authors: FRENTIU F. D. , CLEGG S. M. , BLOWS M. W. , OWENS I. P. F. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractIsland races of passerine birds display repeated evolution towards larger body size compared with their continental ancestors. The Capricorn silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus) has become up to six phenotypic standard deviations bigger in several morphological measures since colonization of an island approximately 4000 years ago. We estimated the genetic variance–covariance (G)matrix using full‐sib and ‘animal model’ analyses, and selection gradients, for six morphological traits under field conditions in three consecutive cohorts of nestlings. Significant levels of genetic variance were found for all traits. Significant directional selection was detected for wing and tail lengths in one year and quadratic selection on culmen depth in another year. Although selection gradients on many traits were negative, the predicted evolutionary response to selection of these traits for all cohorts was uniformly positive. These results indicate that theGmatrix and predicted evolutionary responses are consistent with those of a population evolving in the manner observed in the island passerine trend, that is, towards larger body size.
Stimulation of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seedling Vigour by Smoke‐water and Butenolide
Authors: Kulkarni M. G. , Sparg S. G. , Light M. E. , Van Staden J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe newly identified smoke‐compound butenolide (3‐methyl‐2H‐furo[2,3‐c]pyran‐2‐one) can improve seedling vigour. This study highlights the effects of smoke‐water and butenolide on shoot and root elongation of a local rice variety. Smoke‐water (1 : 500) and butenolide (10−8 m) treatments significantly increased shoot length. A low concentration of butenolide (10−10 m) promoted maximum root length and seedling weight, which were significantly different from the control. Butenolide‐treated (10−8 m) seedlings had a significantly greater number of lateral roots than untreated seedlings. The vigour index of smoke‐water (1 : 500) and butenolide‐treated (10−8 m) rice seeds was significantly higher than that of untreated seeds. These findings suggest the possible use of butenolide for promoting vigorous seedlings in rice.
Effects of Storing Pig Ovaries at 4 or 20°C for Different Periods of Time on the Morphology and Viability of Pre‐Antral Follicles
Authors: Lucci CM , Schreier LL , Machado GM , Amorim CA , Báo SN , Dobrinsky JR 
Published: September 2006

ContentsThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooling ovarian tissue on pig pre‐antral follicles. Ovaries were maintained in saline solution (0.9%) at 4 or 20°C for 6, 12 or 18 h. After storage, pre‐antral follicles were morphologically evaluated. While primordial follicles were not affected by the storage, the percentage of morphologically normal growing follicles was significantly reduced in ovarian tissue stored at 20°C for 12 or 18 h. To test the viability of stored follicles, growing follicles isolated from ovaries stored at 4°C for 18 h and at 20°C for 6 h were cultured for 3 days. Follicles stored in either condition presented the same growth pattern in vitro as fresh follicles. We conclude that storage of pig ovaries at 4°C for up to 18 h or at 20°C for up to 6 h does not affect the morphology of growing follicles or their ability to grow in vitro.
Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cats Using a Rapid, Bench‐top Kit to Detect Relaxin in Urine
Authors: De Haas van Dorsser FJ , Lasano S , Steinetz BG 
Published: September 2006

ContentsRelaxin is a pregnancy‐specific hormone in the queen and is produced by the placenta. Both serum and urinary relaxin levels can be used to diagnose and monitor pregnancy in the cat; however, only serum levels are commonly measured in practice. The present study aimed to assess whether urine could be used for the rapid diagnosis of pregnancy at an early stage in domestic cats using a bench‐top kit to detect relaxin. Paired serum and urine samples were collected during the first month of gestation in six cats. The samples were tested by applying neat serum, urine or urine diluted in non‐pregnant cat serum to the Witness Relaxin kit. Relaxin concentrations in the paired samples were also measured by radioimmunoassay. All undiluted urine samples from pregnant cats tested negative using the bench‐top kit; however, the kit was able to detect relaxin in urine after dilution with non‐pregnant cat serum. Using this as the test sample, the kit was accurate at diagnosing pregnancy from 28 days after mating and some samples tested positive at 21 days after mating. This preliminary work could lead to the development of a home pregnancy test for cats.
Inactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex reduces expression of conditioned fear and impairs subsequent recall of extinction
Authors: Sierra‐Mercado Demetrio , Corcoran Kevin A. , Lebrón‐Milad Kelimer , Quirk Gregory J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAnxiety disorders are thought to reflect deficits in the regulation of fear expression. Evidence from rodent studies implicates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in the regulation of conditioned fear. Lesions of the vmPFC have had differing effects on the acquisition and expression of conditioned fear, as well as on recall of extinction. The use of permanent lesions, however, makes it difficult to assess the phase of training in which the vmPFC is acting and can trigger recruitment of other structures, thereby masking lesion deficits. To overcome these problems, we temporarily inactivated the vmPFC of rats with tetrodotoxin (10 ng in a 0.5‐µl midline infusion) at one of four time points: prior to conditioning, prior to extinction, immediately after extinction or prior to recall of extinction. Consistent with lesion findings, inactivation of the vmPFC prior to acquisition had no effect but inactivation prior to extinction led to impaired recall of extinction the following day. In contrast to lesion findings, inactivation of the vmPFC decreased freezing at all time points, suggesting that some component of the vmPFC facilitates the expression of conditioned fear. These findings suggest that inactivation of the vmPFC can have opposite effects depending on the phase of training. The vmPFC appears to be involved both in stimulating the expression of conditioned fear and in serving as a site of extinction‐related plasticity that inhibits fear during recall of extinction.
Evolutionarily‐conserved role of the NF‐κB transcription factor in neural plasticity and memory
Authors: Romano Arturo , Freudenthal Ramiro , Merlo Emiliano , Routtenberg Aryeh 
Published: September 2006

AbstractNF‐κB is an evolutionarily conserved family of transcription factors (TFs) critically involved in basic cellular mechanisms of the immune response, inflammation, development and apoptosis. In spite of the fact that it is expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in areas involved in memory processing, and is activated by signals such as glutamate and Ca2+, its role in neural plasticity and memory has only recently become apparent. A surprising feature of this molecule is its presence within the synapse. An increasing number of reports have called attention to the role of this TF in processes that require long‐term regulation of the synaptic function underlying memory and neural plasticity. Here we review the evidence regarding a dual role for NF‐κB, as both a signalling molecule after its activation at the synapse and a transcriptional regulator upon reaching the nucleus. The specific role of this signal, as well as the general transcriptional mechanism, in the process of memory formation is discussed. Converging lines of evidence summarized here point to a pivotal role for the NF‐κB transcription factor as a direct signalling mechanism in the regulation of gene expression involved in long‐term memory.
Specialization of the specialized in features of external human brain morphology
Authors: Bangert Marc , Schlaug Gottfried 
Published: September 2006

AbstractRecent studies have shown brain differences between professional musicians and non‐musicians with respect to size, asymmetry or gray matter density of specific cerebral regions. Here we demonstrate: (1) that anatomical differences in the motor cortex can already be detected by coarse visual inspection; and (2) that within musicians, even a discrimination of instruments with different manual dominance is possible on a gross anatomical scale. Multiple raters, blinded for subject identity and hemisphere, investigated within‐musician differences in the Omega Sign (OS), an anatomical landmark of the precentral gyrus associated with hand movement representation. The sample of 64 brains comprised matched groups of 16 expert string‐players, 16 expert pianists and 32 non‐musicians. Ratings were analysed by means of kappa statistics. Intra‐ and interobserver reliabilities were high. Musicians had a more pronounced OS expression than non‐musicians, with keyboard‐players showing a left and string‐players a right hemisphere advantage. This suggests a differential brain adaptation depending on instrument played.
Differential effect of cannabinoid agonists and endocannabinoids on histamine release from distinct regions of the rat brain
Authors: Cenni Gabriele , Blandina Patrizio , Mackie Ken , Nosi Daniele , Formigli Lucia , Giannoni Patrizia , Ballini Chiara , Della Corte Laura , Francesco Mannaioni Pier , Beatrice Passani M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractCannabinoids exert complex actions on neurotransmitter systems involved in cognition, locomotion, appetite, but no information was available so far on the interactions between the endocannabinoid system and histaminergic neurons that command several, similar behavioural states and memory. In this study, we investigated the effect of cannabimimetic compounds on histamine release using the microdialysis technique in the brain of freely moving rats. We found that systemic administration of the cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1‐r) agonist arachidonyl‐2′chloroethylamide/N‐(2chloroethyl)‐5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z‐eicosatetraenamide (ACEA; 3 mg/kg) increased histamine release from the posterior hypothalamus, where the histaminergic tuberomamillary nuclei (TMN) are located. Local infusions of ACEA (150 nm) or R(+)‐methanandamide (mAEA; 1 µm), another CB1‐r agonist, in the TMN augmented histamine release from the TMN, as well as from two histaminergic projection areas, the nucleus basalis magnocellularis and the dorsal striatum. When the endocannabinoid uptake inhibitor AM404 was infused into the TMN, however, increased histamine release was observed only in the TMN. The cannabinoid‐induced effects on histamine release were blocked by co‐administrations with the CB1‐r antagonist AM251. Using double‐immunofluorescence labelling and confocal laser‐scanning microscopy, CB1‐r immunostaining was found in the hypothalamus, but was not localized onto histaminergic cells. The modulatory effect of cannabimimetic compounds on histamine release apparently did not involve inhibition of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission, which provides the main inhibitory input to the histaminergic neurons in the hypothalamus, as local infusions of ACEA did not modify GABA release from the TMN. These profound effects of cannabinoids on histaminergic neurotransmission may partially underlie some of the behavioural changes observed following exposure to cannabinoid‐based drugs.
Functional redundancy of NSCL‐1 and NeuroD during development of the petrosal and vestibulocochlear ganglia
Authors: Krüger Marcus , Schmid Thomas , Krüger Sonja , Bober Eva , Braun Thomas 
Published: September 2006

AbstractTo study the role of different members of the bHLH gene family for sensory organ development we have generated NSCL‐1 and NeuroD compound‐mutant mice. Double homozygous animals were characterized by a more severe reduction of the petrosal and vestibulocochlear ganglia than NeuroD‐knockout mice. The more severe reduction of the petrosal and vestibulocochlear ganglia in double‐knockout mice indicates overlapping functions of the two genes during neuronal development. Interestingly, we also found that the two genes are jointly regulated by thyroid hormone during sensory hair cell development. We further present a detailed expression analysis of NSCL‐1 and NSCL‐2 during sensory neuron development. NSCL‐1 expression was detected in all developing cranial ganglia including the petrosal and vestibulocochlear ganglion, in inner and outer hair cells of the organ of Corti and in hair cells of the vestibular system. Expression domains in other sensory structures include the retina, Merkel cells of the developing skin and sensory cells of the tongue. The expression of NSCL‐2 was restricted to developing cranial ganglia, the retina and the vestibular nerve. Both NSCL‐1 and NSCL‐2 genes are active only in postmitotic neurons, indicating a role for neuronal cell migration and/or differentiation within the sensory system.
Nyctalopin is essential for synaptic transmission in the cone dominated zebrafish retina
Authors: Bahadori Ronja , Biehlmaier Oliver , Zeitz Christina , Labhart Thomas , Makhankov Yuri V. , Forster Ursula , Gesemann Matthias , Berger Wolfgang , Neuhauss Stephan C. F. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe first synapse in the vertebrate visual system is the photoreceptor synapse between rod and cone photoreceptors and the second‐order bipolar cells. Although mutations in the nyctalopin gene (NYX) in humans lead to congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB1), affecting synaptic transmission between both types of photoreceptors and ON‐bipolar cells, the function of nyctalopin in cone‐dominant animal models has not been studied. Because the larval zebrafish retina is cone‐dominant, we isolated the zebrafish nyx ortholog and raised a polyclonal antibody against the protein. Nyctalopin is expressed postsynaptically in both synaptic layers of the retina. Functional disruption via morpholino antisense injection leads to characteristic defects in the electroretinogram and defects in visual contrast sensitivity. We therefore demonstrated that nyctalopin plays a similar role in retinal synapse function in the cone pathway as in the rod pathway, thereby creating a genetic model for CSNB1 and its effects on cone vision.
Competition between glucose and lactate as oxidative energy substrates in both neurons and astrocytes: a comparative NMR study
Authors: Bouzier‐Sore Anne‐Karine , Voisin Pierre , Bouchaud Véronique , Bezancon Eric , Franconi Jean‐Michel , Pellerin Luc 
Published: September 2006

AbstractCompetition between glucose and lactate as oxidative energy substrates was investigated in both primary cultures of astrocytes and neurons using physiological concentrations (1.1 mm for each). Glucose metabolism was distinguished from lactate metabolism by using alternatively labelled substrates in the medium ([1‐13C]glucose + lactate or glucose + [3‐13C]lactate). After 4 h of incubation, 1H and 13C‐NMR spectra were realized on perchloric acid extracts of both cells and culture media. For astrocytic cultures, spectra showed that amino acids (glutamine and alanine) were more labelled in the glucose‐labelled condition, indicating that glucose is a better substrate to support oxidative metabolism in these cells. The opposite was observed on spectra from neuronal cultures, glutamate being much more labelled in the lactate‐labelled condition, confirming that neurons consume lactate preferentially as an oxidative energy substrate. Analysis of glutamine and glutamate peaks (singlets or multiplets) also suggests that astrocytes have a less active oxidative metabolism than neurons. In contrast, they exhibit a stronger glycolytic metabolism than neurons as indicated by their high lactate production yield. Using a mathematical model, we have estimated the relative contribution of exogenous glucose and lactate to neuronal oxidative metabolism. Under the aforementioned conditions, it represents 25% for glucose and 75% for lactate. Altogether, these results obtained on separate astrocytic and neuronal cultures support the idea that lactate, predominantly produced by astrocytes, is used as a supplementary fuel by neurons in vivo already under resting physiological conditions.