bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A proving of parthenium hysterophorus, L
Authors: Shoukat Ali P.K. , Chaghtai S.A. , Khan Gizala , Maishi Arif Ismail 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
Parthenium hysterophorus belongs to the family Asteracaeae (compositae), many plants of which are capable of causing allergic contact dermatitis. Parthenium hysterophorus was introduced to India in the 1950s. Its dermatitis causing tendency was first reported by Ranade and others. Fornias, Duenas and Sleight had earlier undertaken its proving on human beings as well as on a few animals; we have re-proved P. hysterophorus in Indian conditions, particularly those prevailing in the northern part of the country, and have compared our findings with those of Fornias, Duenas and Sleight. Some important characteristic symptoms such as dermatitis, eczema, itching, sides of neck, part of face, “V” of neck, front of elbows and backs of knees (antecubital and popliteal fossae), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), breathlessness (resembling asthma) have not previously been reported. We also found that P. hysterophorus causes some characteristics in mammals other than human beings. We discovered that P. hysterophorus causes diarrhoea, severe papular erythematous eruptions, breathlessness and choking which sometimes causes the death of animals.The non-occurrence of these symptoms outside India may be attributed to the climate differences and also to the susceptibility of persons. P. hysterophorus occurring here belongs to a strain which is more virulent than the form found outside India.
Independent variation of retinal S and M cone photoreceptor topographies: A survey of four families of mammals
Authors: AHNELT PETER KURT , SCHUBERT CHRISTIAN , KÜBBER-HEISS ANNA , SCHIVIZ ALEXANDRA , ANGER ELISABETH 
Published: September 2006

In mammals, cone photoreceptor subtypes are thought to establish topographies that reflect the species-relevant properties of the visual environment. Middle- to long-wavelength-sensitive (M) cones are the dominant population and in most species they form an area centralis at the visual axis. Short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cone topographies do not always match this pattern. We here correlate the interrelationship of S and M cone topographies in representatives of several mammalian orders with different visual ecology, including man, cheetah, cat, Eurasian lynx, African lion, wild hog, roe deer, and red deer. Retinas were labeled with opsin antisera and S and M cone distributions as well as S/M cone ratios were mapped. We find that species inhabiting open environments show M cone horizontal streaks (cheetah, pig, deer). Species living in structured habitats (tiger, lynx, red deer) have increased S cone densities along the retinal margin. In species with active vision (cheetah, bear, tiger, man), S cone distributions are more likely to follow the centripetal M cone gradients. Small species show a ventral bias of peak S cone density which either matches the peak of M cone density in a temporal area centralis (diurnal sciurid rodents, tree shrews) or not (cat, manul, roe deer).Thus, in addition to habitat structure, physical size and specific lifestyle patterns (e.g. food acquisition) appear to underlie the independent variations of M and S cone topographies.
Thoughtful People Thinking About People Thinking About Thinking
People
Authors: Fein Deborah 
Published: September 2006

Social Neuroscience: People Thinking About Thinking People.
John T. Cacioppo, Penny S. Visser, and Cynthia L. Pickett (Eds.). 2006.
Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 328 pp., $45.00 (HB)Perhaps not since the flowering of clinical neuropsychology thirty
years ago have we seen this sense of exhilaration about the emergence of a
new field through the integration of existing disciplines. Clearly, these
authors and thinkers feel the same excitement that could be felt when new
collaborations were being forged among neurologists, psychiatrists,
psychologists, and communication specialists in earlier decades. For the
emerging field of social neuroscience, the parent fields include social
psychology (see, for example, chapters on Race and Emotion, The Social
Neuroscience of Stereotyping and Prejudice, Social and Physical Pain, and
Animal Models of Human Attitudes), clinical neuropsychology (Neurological
Substrates of Emotional and Social Intelligence: Evidence from Patients
with Focal Brain Lesions), social cognition (Neural Substrates of Self
Awareness, and three chapters bearing directly on Theory of Mind) and, of
course, cognitive and basic neuroscience. Each chapter includes
theoretical perspectives from multiple fields and reviews studies that use
diverse techniques (including functional imaging, ERP, behavioral scales,
lesion studies, developmental studies, and animal studies), although the
book is very heavy on functional imaging data. As the editors acknowledge,
animal and patient data are not represented in a thorough way.
A locally adaptive statistical procedure (LAP) to identify differentially expressed chromosomal regions
Authors: Callegaro A. , Basso D. , Bicciato S. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractMotivation: The systematic integration of expression profiles and other types of gene information, such as chromosomal localization, ontological annotations and sequence characteristics, still represents a challenge in the gene expression arena. In particular, the analysis of transcriptional data in context of the physical location of genes in a genome appears promising in detecting chromosomal regions with transcriptional imbalances often characterizing cancer.Results: A computational tool named locally adaptive statistical procedure (LAP), which incorporates transcriptional data and structural information for the identification of differentially expressed chromosomal regions, is described. LAP accounts for variations in the distance between genes and in gene density by smoothing standard statistics on gene position before testing the significance of their differential levels of gene expression. The procedure smoothes parameters and computes p-values locally to account for the complex structure of the genome and to more precisely estimate the differential expression of chromosomal regions. The application of LAP to three independent sets of raw expression data allowed identifying differentially expressed regions that are directly involved in known chromosomal aberrations characteristic of tumors.Availability: Functions in R for implementing the LAP method are available atContact: silvio.bicciato@unipd.itSupplementary Information:
Transformation of Tetrahymena thermophila by Electroporation
Authors: Sweet Melody T. , Allis C. David 
Published: September 2006

INTRODUCTIONThis protocol describes a method for transformation of the Tetrahymena using electroporation. The vector is electroporated into cells after mating, where it is incorporated into the DNA of developing macronuclei. Because T. thermophila can be propagated indefinitely without conjugation, transformation of the macronucleus provides a way to obtain stable somatic transformants. DNA vectors transformed using this protocol include those containing drug-resistant versions of Tetrahymena genes (which replace endogenous genes via homologous recombination) as well as those containing rDNA replication origins. Cotransformation using these two vector types is also possible: Electroporated cells are selected for drug resistance conferred by the replicating vector for 10-15 generations, then screened for the gene replacement using another drug-resistant marker. Usually a few percent of the cells that are transformed by the replicating vector are cotransformed by the gene replacement vector.
Fragmentation of DNA by Nebulization: Figure 1.
Authors: Sambrook Joseph , Russell David W. 
Published: September 2006

INTRODUCTIONDNA fragmentation is often necessary prior to library construction or subcloning for DNA sequencing. This protocol describes a method for DNA fragmentation by nebulization, in which the fine mist created by forcing a DNA solution through a small hole in the nebulizer unit is collected. The size of the fragments obtained by nebulization is determined chiefly by the speed at which the DNA solution passes through the hole, altering the pressure of the gas blowing through the nebulizer, the viscosity of the solution, and the temperature. Nebulization is easy, quick, and requires only small amounts of DNA (0.5-5 μg). The resulting DNA fragments are distributed over a narrow range of sizes (700-1330 bp). It requires ligation of DNA before nebulization and end-repair afterward.
Molecular Identification of an ArabidopsisS-Adenosylmethionine Transporter. Analysis of Organ Distribution, Bacterial Expression, Reconstitution into Liposomes, and Functional Characterization
Authors: Palmieri Luigi , Arrigoni Roberto , Blanco Emanuela , Carrari Fernando , Zanor Maria Ines , Studart-Guimaraes Claudia , Fernie Alisdair R. , Palmieri Ferdinando 
Published: September 2006

AbstractDespite much study of the role of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in the methylation of DNA, RNA, and proteins, and as a cofactor for a wide range of biosynthetic processes, little is known concerning the intracellular transport of this essential metabolite. Screening of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome yielded two potential homologs of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human SAM transporters, designated as SAMC1 and SAMC2, both of which belong to the mitochondrial carrier protein family. The SAMC1 gene is broadly expressed at the organ level, although only in specialized tissues of roots with high rates of cell division, and appears to be up-regulated in response to wounding stress, whereas the SAMC2 gene is very poorly expressed in all organs/tissues analyzed. Direct transport assays with the recombinant and reconstituted SAMC1 were utilized to demonstrate that this protein displays a very narrow substrate specificity confined to SAM and its closest analogs. Further experiments revealed that SAMC1 was able to function in uniport and exchange reactions and characterized the transporter as highly active, but sensitive to physiologically relevant concentrations of S-adenosylhomocysteine, S-adenosylcysteine, and adenosylornithine. Green fluorescent protein-based cell biological analysis demonstrated targeting of SAMC1 to mitochondria. Previous proteomic analyses identified this protein also in the chloroplast inner envelope. In keeping with these results, bioinformatics predicted dual localization for SAMC1. These findings suggest that the provision of cytosolically synthesized SAM to mitochondria and possibly also to plastids is mediated by SAMC1 according to the relative demands for this metabolite in the organelles.
Diacidic Motif Is Required for Efficient Transport of the K+ Channel KAT1 to the Plasma Membrane
Authors: Mikosch Melanie , Hurst Annette C. , Hertel Brigitte , Homann Ulrike 
Published: September 2006

AbstractFor a number of mammalian ion channels, trafficking to the plasma membrane was found to be controlled by intrinsic sequence motifs. Among these sequences are diacidic motifs that function as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) export signals. So far it is unclear if similar motifs also exist in plant ion channels. In this study we analyzed the function of four diacidic DXE/DXD motifs of the plant K+ channel KAT1. Mutation of the first diacidic DXE motif resulted in a strong reduction of the KAT1 conductance in both guard cell protoplasts and HEK293 cells (human embryonic kidney cells). Confocal fluorescence microscopy of guard cells expressing the mutated KAT1 fused to green fluorescent protein revealed localization of the mutated channel only in intracellular structures around the nucleus. These structures could be identified as part of the ER via coexpression of KAT1 fused to yellow fluorescent protein with an ER-retained protein (HDEL) fused to cyan fluorescent protein. Block of vesicle formation from the ER by overexpression of the small GTP-binding protein Sar1 fixed in its GDP-bound form led to retention of wild-type KAT1 in similar parts of the ER. Mutation of the three other diacidic motifs had no effect. Together, the results demonstrate that one diacidic motif of KAT1 is essential for ER export of the functional channel in both guard cell protoplasts and HEK293 cells. This suggests that trafficking of plant plasma membrane ion channels is controlled via a conserved mechanism.
Functional characterization of a novel insulin receptor mutation contributing to Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome
Authors: Tuthill A. , Semple R. K. , Day R. , Soos M. A. , Sweeney E. , Seymour P. J. , Didi M. , O’Rahilly S. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryObjective/Patients  Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is a rare, recessively inherited disorder of extreme insulin resistance due to mutations in the insulin receptor gene. We have identified a pair of siblings with RMS attributable to compound heterozygosity for two insulin receptor mutations, one previously unreported, and have characterized the novel receptor mutation functionally.Measurements  Insulin receptor sequencing was performed to identify the mutations. Expression levels of the mature receptor were determined in lymphoblastoid cells from the affected subjects. Further studies of immortalized cell lines transfected with mutant and wild type (WT) receptors were undertaken to characterize the effects of the novel mutation on [125I]‐labelled insulin binding, proreceptor processing and insulin‐stimulated receptor autophosphorylation.Results  Sequencing of the insulin proreceptor coding sequence revealed both siblings to be compound heterozygotes for the missense mutations Arg209His and Gly359Ser in the mature insulin receptor. The former mutation has been described in homozygous form in Donohue syndrome, while the latter is novel. Insulin receptor expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines was present at only 10–30% of that in control cells; studies of immortalized cells transfected with mutant and WT receptors confirmed the reduced expression of the mutant. The degree of impairment of insulin binding and insulin‐stimulated receptor autophosphorylation were commensurate with the decrease in expression of the mature receptor.Conclusions  Loss of function of the novel insulin receptor (INSR) G359S variant is largely accounted for by aberrant proreceptor processing rather than intrinsically impaired signal transduction by the mutant receptor.
Fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid: a comparison of 5469 cytological and final histological diagnoses
Authors: Sangalli G. , Serio G. , Zampatti C. , Bellotti M. , Lomuscio G. 
Published: September 2006

Objective:  We evaluated the efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid in a series of 5469 lesions with histological control and studied the causes of, and the possibility of reducing the limitations of the method.Methods:  FNAC was always performed by a pathologist under the guidance of a clinician, using a 22‐gauge needle. Generally two aspirations were carried out, and usually four slides were obtained for each nodule; they were then stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa and with Papanicolaou. The cytological diagnoses were classified in four groups: inadequate, benign, suspicious and malignant.Results:  We obtained a complete sensitivity of 93.4%, a positive predictive value of malignancy of 98.6%, and a specificity of 74.9%. At histological control, the cytological diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasm corresponded to a significantly higher incidence of malignant neoplasms than the diagnosis of non‐Hurthle cell follicular neoplasm (32.1% versus 15.5%). There were 66 false‐negative findings, the main cause of diagnostic error (24 cases) being failure to recognize the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma. The number of inadequate FNACs was low (4.2%).Conclusion:  Our study confirmed the great efficacy of thyroid FNAC. A cytological diagnosis of Hurthle cell neoplasm should be considered an indicator of high risk. Awareness that failure to recognize the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma was the main problem in the interpretation of thyroid FNAC should lead to a decrease of false‐negative diagnoses. The inadequate rate was very low, as it was the pathologist personally who performed the needle aspiration.
AW01 Blood Transfusion and Hemorrhage: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Dzik W. 
Published: September 2006

Introduction  In the early years of the 19th century, James Blundell reported in the Lancet the earliest clinical application of blood transfusion for the treatment of hemorrhage. Although his initial experiments may appear to us to have burst upon the medical world, Blundell had in fact done years of pre‐clinical research using animal models to establish principles to be brought to the clinic.Methods/Results  Today, blood transfusion remains the cornerstone of treatment for serious bleeding – not only to restore oxygen carrying capacity but also to improve hemostasis, arrest hemorrhage, and prevent bleeding. However, the indications for transfusion with FFP or Platelets for the prevention of bleeding remain ill‐defined. In particular, despite the enormous volumes of blood components transfused worldwide, the evidence that commonly used coagulation tests are reliable guides to transfusion with FFP is scant. Recent laboratory and clinical studies have provided some insights into the weaknesses of the coagulation testing as a guide to blood management. Carefully performed randomized clinical trials are needed in order to better understand how to use transfusion to arrest and prevent hemorrhage. One such trial has recently begun in the USA. In the future, improved understanding of hemostasis will likely bring about the use of new biotherapies that Blundell could not possibly have imagined. The application of genomics to hemostasis is expected to uncover genetic polymorphisms that will lead to improved diagnostics and more tailored medical therapeutics.Conclusions  While such advances are anticipated, transfusion therapy remains fundamentally important as a life‐saving therapy for bleeding disorders. Moreover, despite our current advanced technologies, hemorrhage during childbirth (which Blundell sought to overcome) remains a devastating problem throughout the world.
SI19 NAT or Not to NAT – This is the Dilemma?
Authors: Reeves I. 
Published: September 2006

The National Blood Service has undertaken a strategic review of Nucleic acid Amplification Technology (NAT) Testing used to screen blood for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) at the request of the Department of Health.Three strategic options have been considered and are presented within this review:Continue testing (which in practice also includes developing this technology further as new automated platforms and multiplex tests become available).Substitute HCV antigen testing for NAT testingStop NAT HCV testingIn essence, this review concludes that NAT HCV testing is an extremely expensive intervention. Now that NAT testing is well developed by Blood Services world‐wide and has been in use to screen the UK population for some time, the consequences of pursuing each of the options presented can be predicted with accuracy.
SI23 Assessment of Bleeding in Patients with Haematological Malignancies and the Association between Platelet Count and Bleeding
Authors: Dyer C. , Casbard A. , Murphy M. , Stanworth S. 
Published: September 2006

Aim  To evaluate methods to collect bleeding outcomes in thrombocytopenic patients, including by patient self‐assessment, and to investigate the association between platelet count and bleeding.Methods  Consecutive patients with haematological malignancies were enrolled in a study of bleeding data collection, platelet counts and transfusions during the period of thrombocytopenia. An educational session and information sheet was designed for patient self‐assessment.Results  A total of 19 patients were included in the study. 410 days of thrombocytopenia were eligible for assessment of bleeds. Self‐assessment was deemed feasible, as self‐assessment was successfully completed on 288/410 (70%) of thrombocytopenic days. There was 86% agreement between bleeding data collected by both self‐assessment and medical examination, using a structured assessment form. Examples of discrepancies included the duration of petechiae/bruises and the reporting of minor bleeding. There was no evidence for an association between patients’ morning platelet count and daily WHO bleeding grade. Bleeding events were compared for platelet counts of ≤10 × 109 L−1, 11–20 × 109 L−1, and >20 × 109 L−1. The incidence of WHO Grade one and two bleeds were similar and did not reveal higher rates of bleeding at lower counts1.Conclusion  Patient self‐assessment can help support comprehensive daily prospective monitoring of bleeding, specifically facilitating data collection following hospital discharge. Exact definitions for bleeding events remains problematic. The association between platelet count, risk of bleeding and role of prophylactic platelet transfusions needs further evaluating in larger prospective trials.Reference  1Stanworth S.J., Dyer C, Casbard A & Murphy M. (2006) Vox Sang. 91 63–9
SI24 Quality Improvements on Transfusion Practice. The Role of a National Blood Use Reporting System
Authors: Stewart A. , McClelland D. B. L. 
Published: September 2006

Introduction and Background  The development of a sustainable system that would provide information about the clinical use of blood was a requirement of the Better Blood Transfusion Programme (BBTP). The system was to be designed to identify variations in practice, encourage clinical review of blood used and contribute to the goal of reducing avoidable transfusions. The system would assist with achieving the target of reducing the population exposure to Red Blood Cells (RBCs) by 10%, this translates to the achievement of a target of 41 RBC units transfused per 1000 population.Study Design  The sustainable system has been developed and named STED (Scottish Transfusion Epidemiology Database). Hospital Blood Bank records are regularly extracted from the majority of hospital blood banks in Scotland. The records are then linked to hospital inpatient and day case records (SMR1) records by probability matching based on patient details (name, address, postcode, date of birth). The linked datasets are available for analysis in an Oracle data warehouse and the Business Objects reporting suite enables NHSS wide access to the datasets.Results  The initial development of STED has been to provide access to a surgical view of RBCs. Surgical blood use reports at a National, Divisional, Hospital and Consultant level has enabled clinical review of blood use across Scotland. The project is in its early stages and evaluation must take account of other initiatives for better transfusion as well as environmental factors over recent years. The programme and results, mainly related to surgical interventions has so far been presented to 21 groups of practitioners (totalling 380 individuals), in 15 hospitals. For most this was the opportunity to view local practice data in the context of other centres in the NHSS. 49 groups of operations likely to be transfused have been identified based on OPCS groups and from 2002/03 to 2004/05 the probability of transfusion for patients in these groups has reduced from 14.3% to 11.2% and the average RBC per operation has reduced from 0.6 to 0.4 during the same time period. New actions and projects can be directly attributable to STED development including a project to explore relationships between transfusion and mortality data in cardiac surgery patients. The reports are supporting business case development for support of cell salvage in Cardiac Surgery and to evaluate the effectiveness of salvage in revision hip surgery. The reports are also being used as a resource for Transfusion Practitioners of the BBTP to support local audit work.Conclusion  The results reflect the combined effect of BBTP interventions and other influences. Further data will be presented on changes in blood use for surgical and nonsurgical patient groups, in addition to current developments in the programme.