bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterns of immunoglobulin G responses to egg and peanut allergens are distinct: ovalbumin‐specific immunoglobulin responses are ubiquitous, but peanut‐specific immunoglobulin responses are up‐regulated in peanut allergy
Authors: Tay S. S. , Clark A. T. , Deighton J. , King Y. , Ewan P. W. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBackground
The clinical significance of food‐specific IgG subclasses in food allergy and tolerance remains unclear. Specific IgG titres are often reported in non‐standardized units, which do not allow comparisons between studies or allergens.Objective
To quantify, in absolute units, ovalbumin (OVA)‐ and peanut‐specific IgG levels in children with peanut or egg allergy (active or resolved) and in non‐allergic controls.Methods
Children aged 1–15 years were recruited. Peanut allergy was diagnosed by convincing history and a 95% predictive level of specific IgE; egg allergy or resolution was confirmed by oral challenge. Serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 levels (μg/mL) to OVA and peanut extract were quantified by ELISA.Results
OVA‐ and peanut‐specific IgG was detected in all subjects. In non‐allergic controls (n=18), OVA‐specific IgG levels were significantly higher than peanut‐specific IgG (median μg/mL IgG=15.9 vs. 2.2, IgG1=1.3 vs. 0.6, IgG4=7.9 vs. 0.7; P<0.01). There were no differences in OVA‐specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 between egg‐allergic (n=40), egg‐resolved (n=22) and control (n=18) subjects. In contrast, peanut‐specific IgG (median μg/mL IgG=17.0, IgG1=3.3, IgG4=5.2) were significantly higher in peanut‐allergic subjects (n=59) compared with controls and with non‐peanut‐sensitized but egg‐allergic subjects (n=26). Overall, the range of IgG4 was greater than IgG1, and IgG4 was the dominant subclass in >60% of all subjects.Conclusion
OVA‐specific IgG levels of egg‐allergic, egg‐resolved or control groups are not distinguishable. Higher peanut‐specific IgG levels are associated with clinical allergy, but the range of IgG titres of the allergic and control groups overlapped. Hence, OVA and peanut‐specific IgG measurements do not appear to be of diagnostic value. Strong IgG responses to OVA may be a normal physiological response to a protein frequently ingested from infancy, whereas up‐regulated IgG responses in peanut allergy may be indicative of a dysregulated immune response to peanut allergens.
Sources and transport of algae and nutrients in a Californian river in a semi‐arid climate
Authors: OHTE NOBUHITO , DAHLGREN RANDY A. , SILVA STEVEN R. , KENDALL CAROL , KRATZER CHARLES R. , DOCTOR DANIEL H. 
Published: August 2007

Summary1. To elucidate factors contributing to dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel in the lower San Joaquin River, spatial and temporal changes in algae and nutrient concentrations were investigated in relation to flow regime under the semiarid climate conditions.2. Chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a) concentration and loads indicated that most algal biomass was generated by in‐stream growth in the main stem of the river. The addition of algae from tributaries and drains was small (c.15% of total chl‐a load), even though high concentrations of chl‐a were measured in some source waters.3. Nitrate and soluble‐reactive phosphorus (SRP) were available in excess as a nutrient source for algae. Although nitrate and SRP from upstream tributaries contributed (16.9% of total nitrate load and 10.8% of total SRP load), nutrients derived from agriculture and other sources in the middle and lower river reaches were mostly responsible (20.2% for nitrate and 48.0% for SRP) for maintaining high nitrate and SRP concentrations in the main stem.4. A reduction in nutrient discharge would attenuate the algal blooms that accelerate DO depletion in the Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel. The N : P ratio, in the main stem suggests that SRP reduction would be a more viable option for algae reduction than nitrogen reduction.5. Very high algal growth rates in the main stem suggest that reducing the algal seed source in upstream areas would also be an effective strategy.
Intellectual abilities in a large sample of children with Velo–Cardio–Facial Syndrome: an update
Authors: De Smedt B. , Devriendt K. , Fryns J.‐P. , Vogels A. , Gewillig M. , Swillen A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground  Learning disabilities are one of the most consistently reported features in Velo–Cardio–Facial Syndrome (VCFS). Earlier reports on IQ in children with VCFS were, however, limited by small sample sizes and ascertainment biases. The aim of the present study was therefore to replicate these earlier findings and to investigate intellectual abilities in a large sample of children with VCFS. In addition, we aimed to identify factors that may contribute to within‐syndrome variability in cognitive performance, such as the mode of inheritance of the deletion, sex, the presence of a heart defect and psychiatric morbidity.Method  IQ data of 103 children with VCFS (56 males, 47 females) were collected. Psychiatric diagnosis was additionally recorded.Results  Children with VCFS had a mean full‐scale IQ (FSIQ) of 73.48 (range: 50–109). There were no effects of sex, presence of a heart defect and psychiatric condition on intellectual profile. Inheritance of the deletion affected cognitive performance in VCFS, with children with familial deletions having significant lower FSIQ than children with a de novo deletion.Conclusions  Learning disabilities are very common in children with VCFS, although marked within syndrome variability is noted. One factor contributing to this variability seems to be the mode of inheritance of the deletion.
Validation of the Mood and Anxiety Semi‐structured (MASS) Interview for patients with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Charlot L. , Deutsch C. , Hunt A. , Fletcher K. , Mcllvane W. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground  When assessing people with intellectual disabilities (ID), using the DSM‐IV‐TR can be challenging. Frequently, significant clinical data must be obtained from interviews with key informants. A new semi‐structured interview tool was developed including behavioural descriptions of each DSM‐IV‐TR symptom criterion for a number of mood and anxiety disorders. A goal was to provide mental health clinicians with an instrument easy to use in clinical practice that would increase reliable identification of diagnostically important mood and anxiety symptoms. This is especially important given the fact that many experts believe these ‘internalizing’ clinical syndromes may often be missed in this population, because of characteristic limitations in expressive language skills.Method  To establish validity, the Mood and Anxiety Semi‐structured (MASS) Interview‐derived diagnoses were compared with clinical DSM‐IV diagnoses derived from an extensive inpatient evaluation and classifications based on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for 93 psychiatric inpatients served on a specialized unit for people with ID and major mental health disorders.Results  Agreement with the MASS Interview was high yielding significant kappa coefficients ranging from 0.42 to 0.78.Conclusions  The MASS Interview, a semi‐structured interview containing behavioural descriptions of DSM‐IV symptom criteria, shows promise as a potentially helpful tool in the psychiatric diagnostic evaluation of persons with ID and limited expressive language skills, in the detection of mood and anxiety disorders. The tool also yields a wide breadth of clinical information and is easy for mental health clinicians to use.
Mental health problems in children with intellectual disability: use of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Authors: Kaptein S. , Jansen D. E. M. C. , Vogels A. G. C. , Reijneveld S. A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBackground  The assessment of mental health problems in children with intellectual disability (ID) mostly occurs by filling out long questionnaires that are not always validated for children without ID. The aim of this study is to assess the differences in mental health problems between children with ID and without ID, using a short questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).Methods  We studied 260 children (6–12 years) selected from special education schools for trainable children (response: 57%). Parents completed the extended Dutch version of the SDQ, questions on background characteristics and on the care provided. A non‐ID control group of 707 children (response: 87%) was included to compare mental health problems.Results  In total, 60.9% of children with ID had an elevated score on the SDQ, compared with 9.8% of children without ID. Only 45% of the children with ID and an elevated SDQ score had visited a healthcare professional for these problems in the last 6 months.Discussion  The SDQ or an adapted version could contribute to the early identification of mental health problems in children with ID. Further research is needed to confirm the validity of the SDQ when used in a sample of children with ID.
Influences of gene flow on adaptive speciation in theDubautia arborea–D. ciliolatacomplex
Authors: REMINGTON D. L. , ROBICHAUX R. H. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractMechanisms of reproductive isolation during plant speciation are often unclear because distinct species often experience high levels of gene flow and hybridization. Adaptive radiations such as the Hawaiian silversword alliance (HSA) provide unique opportunities to study the interactions of selection, gene flow and isolating mechanisms during the speciation process. We examined patterns of phenotypic and genetic differentiation inDubautia arboreaandDubautia ciliolata, two parapatric HSA taxa that show marked morphological divergence but evidence of weak molecular differentiation, in order to estimate genome‐wide differentiation and gene flow patterns. We scored 166 amplified fragment length polymorphism markers in a set of 89 plants from two populations each ofD. arboreaandD. ciliolataand phenotypicallyD. arborea‐like andD. ciliolata‐like plants from a natural hybrid zone. Analyses of population subdivision showed low levels of differentiation between the two species (FST = 0.089) and evidence that the phenotypically parental hybrid zone plants were largely of parental species rather than of hybrid origin. A Bayesian analysis of population ancestry identified a number of plants with admixedD. arboreaandD. ciliolataancestry, even in nonhybrid‐zone populations. These results suggest that genome‐wide low levels of differentiation betweenD. arboreaandD. ciliolataare in part due to gene flow, and favour models of genic speciation and collective evolution in which gene flow has different effects on selected loci vs. nonselected genomic regions. We discuss ecological and climatic factors that may have shaped patterns of differentiation in this species complex.
The evolutionary consequences of biological invasions
Authors: SUAREZ ANDREW V. , TSUTSUI NEIL D. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractA major challenge of invasion biology is the development of a predictive framework that prevents new invasions. This is inherently difficult because different biological characteristics are important at the different stages of invasion: opportunity/transport, establishment and spread. Here, we draw from recent research on a variety of taxa to examine the evolutionary causes and consequences of biological invasions. The process of introduction may favour species with characteristics that promote success in highly disturbed, human‐dominated landscapes, thus exerting novel forms of selection on introduced populations. Moreover, evidence is accumulating that multiple introductions can often be critical to the successful establishment and spread of introduced species, as they may be important sources of genetic variation necessary for adaptation in new environments or may permit the introduction of novel traits. Thus, not only should the introduction of new species be prevented, but substantial effort should also be directed to preventing the secondary introduction of previously established species (and even movement of individuals among introduced populations). Modern molecular techniques can take advantage of genetic changes postintroduction to determine the source of introduced populations and their vectors of spread, and to elucidate the mechanisms of success of some invasive species. Moreover, the growing availability of genomic tools will permit the identification of underlying genetic causes of invasive success.
SmeA, a small membrane protein with multiple functions in Streptomyces sporulation including targeting of a SpoIIIE/FtsK‐like protein to cell division septa
Authors: Ausmees Nora , Wahlstedt Helene , Bagchi Sonchita , Elliot Marie A. , Buttner Mark J. , Flärdh Klas 
Published: August 2007

SummarySporulation in aerial hyphae of Streptomyces coelicolor involves profound changes in regulation of fundamental morphogenetic and cell cycle processes to convert the filamentous and multinucleoid cells to small unigenomic spores. Here, a novel sporulation locus consisting of smeA (encoding a small putative membrane protein) and sffA (encoding a SpoIIIE/FtsK‐family protein) is characterized. Deletion of smeA‐sffA gave rise to pleiotropic effects on spore maturation, and influenced the segregation of chromosomes and placement of septa during sporulation. Both smeA and sffA were expressed specifically in apical cells of sporogenic aerial hyphae simultaneously with or slightly after Z‐ring assembly. The presence of smeA‐like genes in streptomycete chromosomes, plasmids and transposons, often paired with a gene for a SpoIIIE/FtsK‐ or Tra‐like protein, indicates that SmeA and SffA functions might be related to DNA transfer. During spore development SffA accumulated specifically at sporulation septa where it colocalized with FtsK. However, sffA did not show redundancy with ftsK, and SffA function appeared distinct from the DNA translocase activity displayed by FtsK during closure of sporulation septa. The septal localization of SffA was dependent on SmeA, suggesting that SmeA may act as an assembly factor for SffA and possibly other proteins required during spore maturation.
Physical activity and the prevention of cancer: a review of recent findings
Authors: Miles L. 
Published: August 2007

Summary  A number of lifestyle characteristics have already been well established as risk factors for cancer; these include tobacco smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and obesity. More recently, attention has been drawn to the potential relationship between physical activity and cancer risk. In 2002, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published volume 6 of Handbooks of Cancer Prevention: Weight Control and Physical Activity. The IARC report concluded that regular physical activity reduces the risk of breast and colon cancers, and suggested that physical activity also possibly reduces the risk of endometrial and prostate cancers. Since 2002, seven additional reviews and 38 original reports from cohort studies have been identified. These papers cover cancers of the colon/colorectum, breast, endometrium, pancreas, prostate, lung and ovary. This review updates the evidence on physical activity and cancer risk based on these new findings.It now appears that the decreased risk of colon cancer associated with physical activity is stronger in men than women, and also that the link between breast cancer and physical activity is stronger in post‐menopausal than pre‐menopausal women. The recent evidence also suggests that risk of cancers of the lung and endometrium, and to a lesser extent prostate, is likely to be decreased by physical activity. Yet, there is little or no suggestion that pancreatic or ovarian cancer risk is modified by physical activity. The biological plausibility of the observed associations between physical activity and cancer are supported by a variety of site‐specific and generic mechanisms which are discussed in this review.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND SURVIVAL PARADOXES IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS: Reverse Epidemiology in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Who Are Not Yet on Dialysis
Authors: Kovesdy Csaba P. , Anderson John E. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractMany traditional risk factors show a seemingly paradoxical, inverse association with mortality in patients on dialysis. In spite of their larger numbers, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are not yet on dialysis are less well studied. Preliminary studies indicate that “reverse epidemiology” is also present in patients with CKD who are not yet on dialysis. Studying patients with CKD offers hope to further our understanding of this phenomenon.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND SURVIVAL PARADOXES IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS: Hypertension Is Harmful to Dialysis Patients and Should Be Controlled
Authors: Foley Robert N. , Agarwal Rajiv 
Published: August 2007

AbstractManaging hypertension is among the commonest and most challenging features of end‐stage renal disease and many clinical trials have shown the benefit of treating hypertension in the general population. If associations between blood pressure levels and cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients mirrored those seen in general population studies, one could argue that dialysis population‐specific antihypertensive trials are unnecessary. Associations between blood pressure levels and outcomes are complex in this population. Naturally, comparisons of observational and experimental findings within intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease often show a surprising degree of disparity. In addition, the possibility of serious unmeasured co‐morbid illnesses masking the true causal relationship between blood pressure and outcomes in this population looms large. Unfortunately, therefore, observational studies appear to be highly unreliable guides to identifying the truth regarding optimal management of hypertension. It appears, then, that controlled trials, alone, can inform appropriate treatment. Of late, intervention trials of antihypertensives in dialysis patients have begun to emerge. Though mostly small, less than definitive, and heterogeneous regarding patient selection, interventions and outcomes, several suggest net benefit and none suggests net harm. As dialysis patients are at vast cardiovascular risk, these findings suggest that aggressive treatment of hypertension should be the default approach, until large clinical trials show otherwise.
Fetal genotyping for the K (Kell) and Rh C, c, and E blood groups on cell‐free fetal DNA in maternal plasma
Authors: Finning Kirstin , Martin Peter , Summers Joanna , Daniels Geoff 
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: When a pregnant woman has an antibody with the potential to cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, it is beneficial to determine whether her fetus has the corresponding antigen to assess risk. In many countries this is now done routinely for RhD, by testing cell‐free fetal DNA in the maternal plasma. Similar tests for K, C, c, and E are reported.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction incorporating an allele‐specific primer was developed for detecting the K allele of KEL and the C, c, and E alleles of RHCE. These methods were used to test DNA isolated from plasma of pregnant women with antibodies to K, C, c, or E. Accuracy of the tests was determined by comparing results with serologic tests performed on cord red blood cells (RBCs) after delivery or by molecular genotyping on DNA obtained from fetal cells.RESULTS: The K test incorporated an allele‐specific primer with two locked nucleic acids and a mismatch. In 70 tests, including 27 K+ fetuses, only one false‐negative and no false‐positive results were obtained. The C, c, and E tests, performed on 13, 44, and 46 samples, respectively, gave rise to no false results.CONCLUSION: Reliable methods have been developed for predicting fetal K, C, c, and E phenotypes, by testing fetal DNA in the plasma samples of pregnant women whose RBCs lack the corresponding antigens. These methods are now being used routinely in a diagnostic service in the United Kingdom.
Expansion of human cytomegalovirus‐specific T lymphocytes from unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells with artificial antigen‐presenting cells
Authors: Paine Ananta , Oelke Mathias , Blasczyk Rainer , Eiz‐Vesper Britta 
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to find a simple and feasible method for ex vivo expansion of human cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐specific cytotoxic T cells from unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Unfractionated PBMNCs from three HLA‐A*0201‐CMV–seropositive donors were stimulated with CMVpp65495‐503 peptide–loaded HLA‐A*0201‐immunoglobulin fusion protein (HLA‐A2‐Ig) based artificial antigen‐presenting cells (aAPCs) on Day 1. Once a week the CMV‐specific T cells were harvested and restimulated with fresh aAPCs. T‐cell cultures were maintained for 28 days and then analyzed.RESULTS: With aAPCs and starting with 1 × 107 freshly isolated PBMNCs that were less than 0.1 percent CMV‐specific, more than 1 × 107 T cells with a CMV‐specific frequency greater than 93 percent in all donors tested were generated. Expanded CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes were functionally active and showed antigen‐specific secretion of interferon‐γ and cytotoxic activity. No alloreactivity against unpulsed HLA‐A*0201–positive cells was detected.CONCLUSION: Herein is reported the successful in vitro expansion of CMV‐specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells from unfractionated PBMNCs of healthy CMV‐seropositive blood donors by the use of HLA‐A2‐Ig–based aAPCs. This study demonstrates that more than 1 × 107 CMV‐specific T cells can be generated from approximately 1 × 107 unfractionated PBMNCs within 1 month under highly reproducible conditions.
Fluid dynamics in three 25‐gauge vitrectomy systems: principles for use in vitreoretinal surgery
Authors: Magalhães Octaviano , Maia Maurício , Maia André , Penha Fernando , Dib Eduardo , Farah Michel Eid , Schor Paulo 
Published: August 2007

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare infusion and extrusion fluid volumes with three 25‐gauge vitrectomy systems.Methods:  The infusion and aspiration rates of 25‐gauge systems from Alcon (Fort Worth, TX, USA), Bausch & Lomb (St Louis, MO, USA), and the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Centre (DORC, Zuidland, the Netherlands) were measured in vitro using balanced saline solution with different heights (40, 60, 80, 100, 120 cm) of infusion bottle, cutter velocities (800, 1100, 1500 cuts/ min) and aspiration powers (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 mmHg).Results:  The infusion flow velocities differed among the systems (p < 0.001 for all comparisons [p‐values 0.0009−0.0001]). The aspiration rates of the Alcon and Bausch & Lomb systems were lower than that of the DORC system (p < 0.02 for all comparisons [p‐values 0.018−0.002]).Conclusions:  Infusion and extrusion fluid rates differ among 25‐gauge vitrectomy systems. These results may help to optimize ideal aspiration and infusion parameters among 25‐gauge vitrectomy systems used to treat vitreoretinal diseases.