bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of chickens on the prevalence of infestation and population density of Triatoma infestans in rural houses of north‐west Argentina
Authors: CECERE MARÍA C. , GÜRTLER RICARDO E. , CHUIT ROBERTO , COHEN JOEL E. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Effects of the presence of chickens on population density of the bug Triatoma infestans, principal vector of Chagas disease, were investigated by standardized sampling (indoors and peridomestically) from sixty‐eight houses of three rural communities in north‐west Argentina, during March 1992.The domiciliary density of T. infestans increased linearly with the percentage of bugs that fed on chickens, as identified by agar double‐diffusion tests. Bug density was significantly higher in houses where hens usually nested indoors than in those where they did not, as determined by concurrent direct observations and interviews of householders. Multiple linear regression analysis of domiciliary bug density on (a) the total number of people, dogs and cats per house; (b) the percentage of domiciliary bugs that fed on chickens, or (c) the indoor‐brooding habit of hens, showed the two variables (b, c) related to chickens as significant predictors in each regression model. Inclusion both variables representing chickens increased the fit significantly. Addition of other potentially confounding factors (domestic insecticide use, type of roof and walls of house) did not affect the significant variables retained in the best‐fitting regression model.Peridomestic infestation was positively associated with the household number of fowls. Chickens were the main bloodmeal source of peridomestic T.infestans populations. Human‐fed bugs were detected in peridomestic sites of sixteen houses, indicating active dispersal of adults and large nymphal instars from bedroom areas.Exclusion of hens from domiciliary areas and promotion of chicken sheds, of an appropriate design that would not harbour bug populations, should limit the triatomine population growth rate and reduce the risk of infestation.
Isozymic and metric variation in the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex
Authors: DUJARDIN JEAN‐PIERRE , TORREZ E. M. , PONT F. LE , HERVAS D. , SOSSA D. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Male Lutzomyia longipalpis of two types from Bolivia were compared using isozyme electrophoresis and wing morphometry. One sample (ex Chiflonkaka Cave, alt. 2800 m at Toro Toro, Charcas Province, Potosi Department) was ‘two‐spot’ phenotype males (i.e. tergites III and IV with paired pale patches of pheromone glands), whereas two other locality samples (Apa Apa and Imanaco, Sud Yungas Province, La Paz Department) were one‐spot male phenotype (only tergite IV with paired pale patches). Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (using ACON, aGPD, GPI, IDH, MDH, ME, 6PGD, PGM, LAP and PEPB) found no difference between samples from adjacent hen houses at Apa Apa. Nei's standard genetic distance between one‐spot samples from Apa Apa and Imanaco (5 km apart, 1500m alt.) was 0.001‐0.002, whereas the two‐spot males from Toro Toro (800 km away) showed a genetic distance of 0.081 from the one‐spot males (Apa Apa and Imanaco). This genetic distance is commensurate with speciation, but may simply be intraspecific differentiation due to ‘isolation by distance’.For comparative wing morphometry, we included additional material of one‐spot males from Bolivia (Guyabal, Sud Yungas, La Paz), Brazil, Colombia and Nicaragua. These three other country samples were assumed to be different sibling species in the complex Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lanzaro et al, 1993). Statistics were based on univariate and multivariate analysis. The comparison between size‐in and size‐free canonical variate analysis (CVA) indicated that the wing morphometric divergence between one‐spot and two‐spot Bolivian phenotypes was not size dependent and could have taxonomic significance.
Dynamic morphology of plastids and stromules in angiosperm plants
Authors: HANSON MAUREEN R. , SATTARZADEH AMIRALI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTLabelling of plastids with fluorescent proteins has revealed the diversity of their sizes and shapes in different tissues of vascular plants. Stromules, stroma‐filled tubules comprising thin extensions of the stroma surrounded by the double envelope membrane, have been observed to emanate from all major types of plastid, though less common on chloroplasts. In some tissue types, stromules are highly dynamic, forming, shrinking, attaching, releasing and fragmenting. Stromule formation is negatively affected by treatment of tissue with cytoskeletal inhibitors. Plastids can be connected by stromules, through which green fluorescent protein (GFP) and fluorescently tagged chloroplast protein complexes have been observed to flow. Within the highly viscous stroma, proteins traffic by diffusion as well as by an active process of directional travel, whose mechanism is unknown. In addition to exchanging materials between plastids, stromules may also serve to increase the surface area of the envelope for import and export, reduce diffusion distance between plastids and other organelles for exchange of materials, and anchor the plastid onto attachment points for proper positioning with the plant cell. Future studies should reveal how these functions may affect plants in adapting to the challenges of a changing environment.
An Arabidopsis homolog of the bacterial peptidoglycan synthesis enzyme MurE has an essential role in chloroplast development
Authors: Garcia Marlon , Myouga Fumiyoshi , Takechi Katsuaki , Sato Hiroshi , Nabeshima Kazuma , Nagata Noriko , Takio Susumu , Shinozaki Kazuo , Takano Hiroyoshi 
Published: March 2008

SummaryEnzymes encoded by bacterial MurE genes catalyze the ATP‐dependent formation of uridine diphosphate‐N‐acetylmuramic acid‐tripeptide in bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome contains one gene with homology to the bacterial MurE:AtMurE. Under normal conditions AtMurE is expressed in leaves and flowers, but not in roots or stems. Sequence‐based predictions and analyses of GFP fusions of the N terminus of AtMurE, as well as the full‐length protein, suggest that AtMurE localizes to plastids. We identified three T‐DNA‐tagged and one Ds‐tagged mutant alleles of AtMurE in A. thaliana. All four alleles show a white phenotype, and A. thaliana antisense AtMurE lines showed a pale‐green phenotype. These results suggest that AtMurE is involved in chloroplast biogenesis. Cells of the mutants were inhibited in thylakoid membrane development. RT‐PCR analysis of the mutant lines suggested that the expression of genes that depend on a multisubunit plastid‐encoded RNA polymerase was decreased. To analyze the functional relationships between the MurE genes of cyanobacteria, the moss Physcomitrella patens and higher plants, a complementation assay was carried out with a P. patens (Pp) MurE knock‐out line, which exhibits a small number of macrochloroplasts per cell. Although the Anabaena MurE, fused with the N‐terminal region of PpMurE, complemented the macrochloroplast phenotype in P. patens, transformation with AtMurE did not complement this phenotype. These results suggest that AtMurE is functionally divergent from the bacterial and moss MurE proteins.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Disposition of Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol in CF1 mice deficient in mdr1a P‐glycoprotein
Authors: Bonhomme‐Faivre Laurence , Benyamina Amine , Reynaud Michel , Farinotti Robert , Abbara Chadi 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTP‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) plays a major role in drug efflux. All the transported substrates are more or less hydrophobic and amphiphatic in nature. Being lipophilic, Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main cannabis component, could be a potential P‐gp substrate. The aim of this project was to determine the contribution of the mdr1a gene product to THC disposition. Therefore, oral THC and digoxin (substrate test for P‐gp) pharmacokinetics have been investigated in the intestinal epithelium and in the brain capillary endothelium of CF1 mdr1a (−/−) mice (mice naturally deficient in P‐gp). These pharmacokinetics were compared to THC and digoxin oral pharmacokinetics in wild type mice mdr1a (+/+) (not P‐gp deficient). The application of Bailer's method showed that THC total exposure measured by the area under the plasma concentration time curve was 2.17‐fold higher in CF1 mice naturally deficient in P‐gp than in wild type mice after oral administration of 25 mg/kg of THC, and 2.4‐fold higher after oral administration of 33 µg/kg of digoxin. As a consequence, the oral bioavailability of THC and digoxin was higher in naturally P‐gp‐deficient mice. We concluded that P‐gp limits THC oral uptake and mediates direct drug excretion from the systemic circulation into the intestinal lumen.
GENETIC STUDY: Smoking status moderates the association of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene VNTR polymorphism with selective processing of smoking‐related cues
Authors: Munafò Marcus R. , Johnstone Elaine C. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTRecently, a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene has been reported to be associated with greater craving and more attention to smoking cues, following a cue‐elicited craving procedure. We investigated whether the DRD4 VNTR 7‐repeat polymorphism is associated with selective processing of smoking‐related stimuli, using a modified Stroop task, and whether smoking status moderates this association. Thirty‐one current smokers and 17 ex‐smokers attended a single testing session and completed the modified Stroop task. The experimental design included two between‐subjects factors of smoking status (current smoker, ex‐smoker) and DRD4 genotype (short, long). The DRD4 VNTR polymorphism was associated with selective processing of smoking‐related stimuli in ex‐smokers but not in current smokers. Our data, therefore, provide partial support for our primary hypothesis and extend on previous work which suggests a role for variation at the DRD4 locus in modulating reactivity to drug‐related cues.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Effects of bupropion, alone or coadministered with nicotine, on social behavior in mice
Authors: Gómez Carmen , Carrasco Carmen , Redolat Rosa 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTBupropion, administered alone or combined with nicotine, is presently used to treat nicotine dependence. Despite experimental evidence of the complex behavioral actions of this drug, there have been little data reported about its effects on social behavior. Our main aim was to investigate the effects of acute administration of bupropion, alone or plus nicotine, on social interaction in mice. OF1 group‐housed male mice were confronted in a neutral cage with an anosmic opponent during a 10 minutes encounter. Time allocated to body care and digging was reduced by administration of bupropion (40 mg/kg) both when administered alone and with nicotine (1 and 0.5 mg/kg). The lowest dose of bupropion (10 mg/kg) also reduced digging when combined with 1 mg/kg of nicotine. Time spent on non‐social exploration and exploration from a distance was significantly higher in mice treated with bupropion (40 mg/kg) alone or combined with nicotine (1 and 0.5 mg/kg). The lowest dose of bupropion (10 mg/kg) increased non‐social exploration when combined with 0.5 mg/kg of nicotine and exploration from a distance when combined with 1 mg/kg of nicotine. Ethopharmacological assessment of the behavior of groups of mice treated with different combinations of the two drugs indicates that nicotine can potentiate some of the behavioral effects of low doses of bupropion. Results also indicate that bupropion, either alone or combined with nicotine, has no significant effects on social investigation, suggesting that this drug does not induce a clear anxiolytic profile in OF1 mice.
PRECLINICAL STUDY: Protracted ‘anti‐addictive’ effects of adolescent phenylpropanolamine exposure in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Penzner Jeffery H. , Thompson Daria L. , Arth Cory , Fowler Jaclyn K. , Ary Alexis W. , Szumlinski Karen K. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTExposure to the once highly prevalent over‐the‐counter (OTC) sympathomimetic phenylpropanolamine (PPA; ±‐norephedrine) during pre‐adolescence alters the developmental trajectory of catecholamine and amino acid neurotransmitter systems in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) that culminate in a ‘pro‐addictive’ phenotype in adulthood. Thus, the present study sought to extend these earlier data by examining the long‐term consequences of repeated PPA treatment during adolescence upon the behavioral and neurochemical responses to cocaine. For this, C57BL/6J mice were pre‐treated with PPA (0–40 mg/kg) during postnatal days 35–44, and the capacity of cocaine (4 × 15 mg/kg) to elicit a conditioned place‐preference, as well as behavioral and neurochemical sensitization within the NAC, were then assessed in adulthood. While adolescent PPA exposure did not influence spontaneous locomotor activity or the motor responses to either acute or repeated cocaine (4 × 15 mg/kg), PPA pre‐exposure dose‐dependently reduced the expression of a conditioned place‐preference. As observed previously for juvenile PPA treatment, adolescent PPA administration blunted the dopamine and norepinephrine response to acute cocaine, prevented the development of catecholamine sensitization but did not influence cocaine‐induced elevations in serotonin. However, unlike juvenile PPA treatment, adolescent PPA also prevented the development of glutamate sensitization within the NAC. These data provide evidence that adolescent exposure to a formerly prevalent OTC sympathomimetic produces protracted effects upon cocaine‐induced changes in NAC glutamate transmission that may reduce vulnerability to cocaine addiction in later life and further the hypothesis that early exposure to sympathomimetic drugs may be an environmental factor contributing to the etiology of addiction.
Survival and recovery of apheresis platelets stored in a polyolefin container with high oxygen permeability
Authors: Ezuki S. , Kanno T. , Ohto H. , Herschel L. , Ito T. , Kawabata K. , Seino O. , Ikeda K. , Nollet K. E. 
Published: March 2008

Background and Objectives  Oxygen permeability is important in platelet storage media. We compared a new polyolefin container with enhanced oxygen permeability (PO‐80; Kawasumi, Tokyo, Japan) to a widely used alternative (PL2410; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL, USA).Materials and Methods  In vitro characteristics of paired platelet concentrates (PCs; mean 4·2 × 1011/250 ml plasma/bag) stored in PO‐80 or PL2410 were assessed through 9 days of storage. In vivo recovery and survival of 7‐day‐old autologous PCs were assessed according to the Murphy method.Results  Laboratory assessment of platelet quality favoured PO‐80 during 9 days of storage with statistically significant differences in glucose consumption (2·75 vs. 4·93 mmol/1012/24 h in the interval 120–168 h), lactate generation (4·37 vs. 8·11 mmol/1012/24 h in the interval 120–168 h), pressure of oxygen (pO2) (59·3 vs. 38·1 mmHg at day 1), and (14·7 vs. 13·4 mmol/l at day 1). Statistically significant differences were not seen in aggregation, hypotonic shock response or pH. In vivo assessment of autologous platelets stored 7 days in the PO‐80 container revealed that recovery was 82·1% and survival was 81·0% of fresh control. Seven‐day stored PCs in PO‐80 were shown in vivo to be non‐inferior to fresh platelets, with upper confidence limits (UCL95) in recovery and survival of stored PCs below the maximum acceptable difference (MAD); 15·3% UCL95 < 20·4% MAD and 2·1 days UCL95 < 2·1 days MAD.Conclusions  The in vitro characteristics of PCs stored in a highly oxygen‐permeable container were stable at least 7 days. The in vivo study supports the suitability of PO‐80 for 7‐day platelet storage.
Root Distribution of Drought‐Resistant Peanut Genotypes in Response to Drought
Authors: Songsri P. , Jogloy S. , Vorasoot N. , Akkasaeng C. , Patanothai A. , Holbrook C. C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe ability of a plant to modify its root distribution to exploit deeper stored soil water may be an important mechanism to avoid drought. This study aimed at assessing root distributions, variations in root length density (RLD) and percentage of root distribution, and the relevance of root traits for yield of drought‐resistant peanut genotypes under different available soil water levels. The experiment was conducted in the dry season during the years 2003/04 and 2004/05. Eleven peanut genotypes (ICGV 98300, ICGV 98303, ICGV 98305, ICGV 98308, ICGV 98324, ICGV 98330, ICGV 98348, ICGV 98353, Tainan 9, KK 60‐3 and Tifton‐8) and three soil moisture levels [field capacity (FC), 2/3 available soil water (AW) and 1/3 AW] were laid out in a split‐plot design with four replications. Roots were sampled by a core sampler at 37, 67 and 97 days after sowing (DAS). Root length was determined by a scanner and the WINRHIZO Pro 2004a software. RLD was calculated as the ratio of root length (cm) and soil volume (cm3). Graphical illustration of root distribution was constructed by merging RLD in the first and second soil layers (0–40 cm) as upper roots and pooling RLD at the third, fourth and fifth layers (40–100 cm) as lower roots. Pod yield, biomass and harvest index (HI) were recorded at harvest. A drought tolerance index (DTI) was calculated for each parameter as the ratio of the parameter under stress treatment to that under well‐watered conditions. Variations in RLD in 40 to 100 cm layer (RLD40 to 100 cm) were found under well‐watered conditions, and the peanut genotypes could be readily identified as high, intermediate and low for this trait. Changes in RLD in the 40 to 100 cm soil layer were found at 2/3 AW and were more evident at 1/3 AW. ICGV 98300, ICGV 98303, ICGV 98305, ICGV 98308 and KK 60‐3 were classified as drought responsive as they increased RLD in the deeper subsoil level in response to drought. In general, RLD under drought conditions was not related to biomass production. The ability to maintain the percentage of RLD (DTI for %RLD) was related to pod yield, DTI for pod yield and DTI for HI. ICGV 98300, ICGV 98303, ICGV 98305 exhibited high DTI (RLD40 to 100 cm) which may explain their high pod yield, DTI (PY) and DTI (HI). Based on these observations we classified them as drought‐avoiding genotypes.
Chlorophyll Stability is an Indicator of Drought Tolerance in Peanut
Authors: Arunyanark A. , Jogloy S. , Akkasaeng C. , Vorasoot N. , Kesmala T. , Nageswara Rao R. C. , Wright G. C. , Patanothai A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractChlorophyll stability during drought might be a promising criterion for selection for drought resistance in peanut. The study describes two field trials conducted at Khon Kaen University, Thailand which investigate genotype × drought interactions in a wide range of peanut germplasm in general and assess the relationship between chlorophyll stability and genotypic performance in particular, under drought. Two field experiments (during 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 dry seasons) were conducted in a split plot design with three water regimes [field capacity, 2/3 available water (AW) and 1/3 AW] as main, and 12 peanut genotypes as subtreatments, replicated four times. Observations on total dry matter (TDM), chlorophyll density (ChlD) (chlorophyll content per unit leaf area), chlorophyll content (chlorophyll content per plant) and SPAD chlorophyll meter readings (SCMR) were recorded at 30, 60 and 90 days after emergence. Transpiration (T) and transpiration efficiency (TE) were computed using the data on amount of water input and TDM. Drought stress significantly reduced TDM, T and chlorophyll content across genotypes but significantly increased TE and ChlD in peanut. However, there were significant differences among genotypes for TE and chlorophyll parameters. The genotype × drought interaction effects for chlorophyll characters (content and density) were not significant suggesting a strong genetic effect. The correlation coefficients between TDM and chlorophyll content (r = 0.51, P = 0.01 to r = 0.91, P = 0.01) and between TE and ChlD (r = 0.46, P = 0.05 to r = 0.77, P = 0.01) were positive and significant. These findings suggest that chlorophyll parameters are strongly linked with drought tolerance in peanut. There were highly significant and positive relationships between ChlD and SCMR (r = 0.67, P = 0.01 to r = 0.93, P = 0.01), between SCMR and TE (r = 0.41, P = 0.05 to r = 0.80, P = 0.01) suggesting that SCMR could be used as a tool for rapid assessment of relative chlorophyll status in peanut genotypes as well as for the indirect selection of drought tolerance in peanut.
Angiotensin II receptor blocker inhibits tumour necrosis factor‐alpha‐induced cell damage in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells
Authors: KAGAWA TORU , TAKAO TOSHIHIRO , HORINO TARO , MATSUMOTO REIKO , INOUE KOUSUKE , MORITA TATSUHITO , HASHIMOTO KOZO 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  We investigated the effect of angiotensin II (AII) type 1 (AT1) and angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor blockers on tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α)‐induced cell damage in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTEC).Methods:  The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and N‐acetyl‐beta‐glucosaminidase (NAG) release into the medium after TNF‐α treatment in RPTEC were determined using modified commercial procedures. In addition, the levels of caspase 3/7 activity in RPTEC were measured after TNF‐α treatment with ΑΤ1 or AT2 receptor blockers. Finally we investigated the change of p22phox protein levels after TNF‐α with ΑΤ1 or AT2 receptor blockers in RPTEC.Results:  Tumour necrosis factor alpha (10−8 mol/L) significantly increased LDH and NAG release into the medium from RPTEC. ΑΤ1 receptor blockers, olmesartan and valsartan (10−9−10−6 mol/L) showed a significant reduction on TNF‐α‐induced LDH and NAG release in RPTEC. AT2 receptor blocker, PD123319 (10−7−10−5 mol/L) also decreased TNF‐α‐induced LDH and NAG release in RPTEC. Blockade of both ΑΤ1 and AT2 receptor indicated additional reduction on TNF‐α‐induced LDH and NAG release. TNF‐α (10−8 mol/L) treatment showed small but significant increases of caspase 3/7 activity in RPTEC, and AT1 and AT2 receptor blockers (10−8 mol/L) comparably decreased TNF‐α‐induced caspase 3/7 activity. Significant increases of p22phox protein levels were observed in TNF‐α‐treated group in RPTEC. However, only ΑΤ1 (10−8 mol/L) but not AT2 (10−5 mol/L) receptor blocker significantly decreased TNF‐α‐induced p22phox protein levels.Conclusion:  The present study demonstrates that TNF‐α induces renal tubular cell damage in RPTEC and AT1/AT2 receptor blockers showed cytoprotective effects probably via at least partly different mechanism.