bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the impact of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on Bactrocera invadens and five African fruit fly species
Authors: Mohamed S. A. , Ekesi S. , Hanna R. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), a solitary koinobiont larval–prepupal endoparasitoid of fruit flies, was introduced into Kenya for testing and final release against the recently discovered invasive species, Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta and White in Africa. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine host preference, host acceptability for oviposition and physiological suitability of B. invadens and five other indigenous tephritid fruit fly species –Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Ceratitis rosa Karsch, Ceratitis fasciventris (Bezzi) and Ceratitis anonae Graham – for the development of D. longicaudata. Females of D. longicaudata visited all host‐larval patches, and were also attracted to these hosts at comparable levels. Acceptability, successful development of parasitoid progenies and their sex ratio varied widely across hosts. C. capitata yielded the highest parasitoid numbers whereas B. invadens was the only host that yielded a female‐biased sex ratio. Larvae of B. invadens, C. rosa, C. fasciventris and C. anonae mounted differential immune reaction towards D. longicaudata eggs. Although, the parasitoid performed poorly on the target host B. invadens, it was able to form new association with C. cosyra and C. capitata. The prospect of using this parasitoid in biological control of African indigenous fruit flies is discussed.
Effects of the Progesterone Receptor Antagonist Aglepristone on Implantation Administered on Days 6 and 7 after Mating in Rabbits
Authors: Özalp GR , Çalışkan Ç , Seyrek‐İntaş K , Wehrend A 
Published: November 2008

ContentsThere is no safe and accurate method for early termination of pregnancy in the rabbit. So this study was carried out to determine the effect of aglepristone administration in preventing early pregnancy before implantation in this species. Twenty‐two animals (10–12 months old, New Zealand White rabbits) were naturally mated and pregnancies were confirmed in all animals by ultrasonographic examinations on day 6 after mating (5–7.5 MHz linear array transducer Dynamic Imaging Sonostar, UK) and the animals were grouped randomly: Group I & Group III: Aglepristone (Alizin®, Virbac; 10 mg/kg, subcutaneously) was injected twice, 24 h apart, on days 6 and 7 after mating (n = 5; n = 8). Group II & Group IV: The same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution was subcutaneously injected in the same interval and served as controls (n = 5; n = 3). Ultrasonographical examination of the uterus was performed daily from day 7 to day 11 post‐mating to test aglepristone efficiency. Blood samples were collected between days 6 and 30, centrifuged at 3070 g for 10 min and stored at −20°C. The does in aglepristone groups (Group I, III) were not pregnant whereas all animals in control groups were pregnant (Group II, IV). The does in group I & III were examined only clinically and ultrasonographically; however, does in groups III and IV were laparomized on days 6, 7, 9 and 11 post‐mating to control countable implantation sites. No implantation sites were present in group III whereas they were seen obviously in group IV. Side effects were not observed. The mean serum progesterone (P4) concentrations were not significantly different between control and treated does (p > 0.05). The results indicate that aglepristone treatment on days 6 and 7 after mating could prevent pregnancy after unwanted matings without any side effects in the rabbit. Aglepristone treatments are possibly not affecting further fertilities before implantation.
Effect of Different Packages and Freezing/Thawing Protocols on Fertility of Ram Semen
Authors: Nordstoga AB , Söderquist L , Ådnøy T , Paulenz H 
Published: November 2008

ContentsA field trial was performed in order to evaluate the effect on fertility of different straw types, freezing protocols (one‐ or two‐step) and thawing procedures (35°C and 70°C) using frozen–thawed ram semen. A total of 791 Norwegian Crossbred ewes were artificially inseminated during natural oestrus with semen collected from nine mature and proven Norwegian Crossbred rams. A milk‐based extender was used for dilution. The ewes were allocated into one of the following three groups based on the different straw types and thawing temperatures: medium straw (0.5 ml) thawed at 35°C for 20 s (Med35), medium straw thawed at 70°C for 8 s (Med70) and mini straw (0.25 ml) thawed at 35°C for 15 s (Mini35). The semen to be frozen in mini straws was re‐concentrated by centrifugation. Sperm number in each insemination dose was approximately 200 × 106 spermatozoa. The fertility results [as 25‐day non‐return rate (NRR)] for Med35, Med70 and Mini35 were 53.1%, 50.8% and 58.3%, respectively, and the lambing rates 49.8%, 46.8% and 53.8%, respectively. No significant main effects were seen for straw type/thawing temperature (p = 0.17), ram (p = 0.06) or age of the ewe (p = 0.18) on NRR or lambing rates (p = 0.19, p = 0.16 and p = 0.27, respectively). Both NRR and lambing rate differed significantly among farms (p < 0.0001).
Efficiency of RepeatedIn VivoOocyte and Embryo Recovery After rhFSH Treatment in Rabbits
Authors: Cortell C , Vicente JS , Mocé E , Marco‐Jiménez F , Viudes De Castro MP 
Published: November 2008

ContentsThis study aims to assess the efficiency ofin vivooocyte and embryo recovery after a recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) treatment in rabbit does. Females were distributed in two experimental groups: donor does were treated with rhFSH (superovulation group) for 3 days prior to artificial insemination (embryo recovery) or ovulation induction (oocyte recovery) and does without treatment remained as the control group. Mature oocytes or embryos were collected with the laparoscopy technique 16 h after ovulation induction (oocytes) or 72 h after artificial insemination (embryos). Up to four recoveries were performed with each doe. Recovery efficiencies differed significantly between embryos (84%) and oocytes (58%). Yet, the recovery rates for the superovulation and control groups did not differ. The rhFSH group was associated with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of oocytes and embryos recovered in comparison with the control group (10.2 ± 1.0 and 14.3 ± 1.2 vs 6.0 ± 2.7 and 8.4 ± 2.3 for oocytes and embryos, respectively). Results from this study indicate that repeatedin vivooocyte and embryo recovery from rhFSH superovulated does maximizes the number of oocytes or embryos collected from the same female.
Utility of a 13C‐methacetin breath test in evaluating hepatic injury in rats
Authors: Shirin Haim , Aeed Hussein , Shalev Tamar , Sorin Vladimir , Stavinski Svetlana , Shahmurov Mark , Ilan Yaron , Avni Yona 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Methacetin is thought to be a good substrate for the evaluation of different cytochrome P450 enzymatic systems of liver microsomes because of its rapid metabolism and lack of toxicity in small doses. Recent studies indicate that a methacetin breath test may be a non‐invasive alternative for the evaluation of liver function since it correlates well with the severity of liver damage. It may also discriminate between different stages of liver cirrhosis and correlates with the Child–Pugh score. The application of this test in experimental liver damage in animal models has not yet been examined. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the 13C‐methacetin breath test in assessing the extent of hepatic injury in models of acute liver failure, liver cirrhosis, and fatty liver in rats.Methods:  Absorption of methacetin given per os or intraperitoneally in normal rats was evaluated. The association between liver mass and 13C‐methacetin breath test results was assessed in a 70% hepatectomy rat model. Fulminant hepatic failure was induced by three consecutive intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide, 300 mg/kg, at 24 h intervals. For induction of liver cirrhosis, rats were given intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide, 200 mg/kg, twice a week for 12 weeks. A methionine‐choline deficient diet was used for the induction of fatty liver. Rats were analyzed for 13C‐methacetin by BreathID (MBID) using molecular correlation spectrometry. BreathID continuously sampled the animal's breath for 60 min and displayed the results on the BreathID screen in real‐time.Results:  Methacetin was absorbed well irrespective of the administration method in normal rats. Liver mass was associated with peak amplitude, complete percent dose recovery (CPDR) at 30 and 60 min and MBID peak time. A high degree of association was also demonstrated with MBID results in acute hepatitis (peak amplitude, 19.6 ± 3.4 vs 6.3 ± 1.63.4; CPDR30, 6.0 ± 3.3 vs 1.2 ± 0.5; CPDR60, 13.3 ± 4.5 vs 3.2 ± 1.4; and peak time, 31.0 ± 14.9 vs 46.9 ± 10.8 min) and liver cirrhosis (peak amplitude, 24.4 ± 2.3 vs 15.6 ± 6.4; CPDR30, 7.9 ± 1.2 vs 2.7 ± 1.0; CPDR60, 17.8 ± 2.6 vs 8.8 ± 2.1; and peak time, 30.2 ± 1.5 vs 59.6 ± 14.5 min), but not with grade of liver steatosis.Conclusions:  Methacetin is well absorbed and exclusively metabolized in the liver. MBID is a sensitive test and may be a useful tool for the evaluation of functional liver mass in animal models of acute liver failure and cirrhosis. However, MBID could not distinguish between fatty liver and normal liver in rats.
Proteomic identification of biomarkers related to Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastroduodenal disease: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Wu Ming‐Shiang , Chow Lu‐Ping , Lin Jaw‐Town , Chiou Shyh‐Horng 
Published: November 2008

Abstract Helicobacter pylori colonize the stomach of over half the world's population. While 80–90% H. pylori‐infected individuals have clinically asymptomatic gastritis, 10–15% develop peptic ulcer, and 1–2% gastric malignancies. These variable clinical outcomes have led to an interest in prognostic indicators. The current disease paradigm suggests that host genetics and bacterial virulence both play important roles in modulating the final outcome of H. pylori infection. Elucidation of the interaction between host and bacterium is essential to clarify pathogenesis and to develop new strategies for prevention and treatment. Proteomic technology is a powerful tool for simultaneously monitoring proteins and protein variation on a large scale in biological samples. It has provided an unprecedented opportunity to survey a cell's translational landscape comprehensively, and the results may allow in‐depth analyses of host and pathogen interactions. Using this high‐throughput platform and taking advantage of complete sequences for both the H. pylori and the human genome in available databases, we have identified several crucial proteins that have pathogenic and prognostic potential. Among them, antibodies to AhpC and GroEs of H. pylori could be utilized for identification of patients who are at high risk of disease complications after H. pylori infection. Evolving proteomic technologies, together with appropriate clinical phenotyping and genotype information should enhance understanding of disease pathogenesis and lead to more precise prediction of variable disease outcomes. It will also facilitate development of biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of H. pylori infection.
Endotherapy for pain in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Khanna Sudeep , Tandon Rakesh K 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPain is the most distressing symptom of chronic pancreatitis. Although the pathogenesis of pain is still poorly understood, an increase in intraductal pressure may be the dominant factor. The management of pain can involve medical, endoscopic, neurolytic, and surgical therapies. Endotherapy includes pancreatic sphincterotomy, extraction of stones, placement of stent, and dilatation of strictures, sometimes preceded or followed by extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy. Several studies have now shown that endotherapy provides partial or complete relief of pancreatic pain in a majority of patients with an acceptable frequency of early and late complications. Endotherapy should now graduate from an experimental form of treatment to a realistic treatment option in patients with chronic or relapsing pain, particularly in the setting of calcific chronic pancreatitis.
Paediatric melioidosis in North Queensland, Australia
Authors: Kandasamy Yoga , Norton Robert 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  to review admissions to the hospital due to Paediatric Melioidosis over a 10 year period.Methods:  This was a retrospective chart review of all paediatric patients admitted to Townsville Hospital between 1996 and 2006 that were proven to have positive cultures for B. pseudomallei. Details were obtained from the Microbiology Department of Townsville Hospital.Results:  Between 1996 and 2006, there were 150 cases of culture‐confirmed melioidosis in North Queensland. Of these, eight (5.3%) were in children aged under 16 years. There were three deaths in this group. Three patients developed neurological melioidosis and there were no cases of parotid involvement. In our series, neurological melioidosis appeared to be statistically more significant in children compared with adults.Conclusion:  Melioidosis is an uncommon paediatric infection in Australia. In our series, neurological melioidosis appeared to be common in children compared with adults with devastating sequelae. The reasons for this remain unclear.
Management of brain abscess in children
Authors: Gelabert‐González Miguel , Serramito‐García Ramón , García‐Allut Alfredo , Cutrín‐Prieto Juan 
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Brain abscesses continue to pose a problem in paediatric neurosurgery because the associated morbidity and mortality have remained significant throughout the antibiotic and CT era. The objective of this paper is to report the treatment of 28 children with the diagnosis of brain abscess.Methods:  We report our experience with the surgical management of brain abscesses in 28 paediatric patients between 1981 and 2005. The following parameters were assessed: age, gender, clinical manifestations, physical examination, radiological data, aetiological agent, treatment and clinical evolution of the patients.Results:  Patients' age varied from 2 weeks to 16 years (mean 8.6 years); 17 were male. The most notable predisposing factor was contiguous infection in 11 cases, of which six were chronic otitis media. The abscess was supratentorial in 27 children with only one infratentorial case. In all patients, treatment consisted of a combination of surgical evacuation and antibiotics. In two children, the evacuation of pus was via transfontanelar puncture. Positive abscess cultures were obtained from 15 abscesses, and gram‐negative were the main bacteria involved. Nine patients had neurological sequelae (seizure, cognitive impairment and paresis); two deaths occurred.Conclusions:  Brain abscess in children continues to be associated with high rates of neurological impairment and death.
Elevated circulating levels of soluble CD‐40 ligand in haemodialysis patients with symptomatic coronary heart disease
Authors: LIM PAIK‐SEONG , WU MING‐YING , CHIEN SHIAW‐WEN , WU TSAI‐KUN , LIU CHIA‐SHAN , HU CHUEN‐YUH , CHANG HUI‐CHEN , PAI MEI‐AN TSAI 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  The CD40–CD40L system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic complications in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and symptomatic coronary heart disease (CHD) in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance haemodialysis (HD).Methods:  This cross‐sectional study included 57 HD patients, 31 of whom had symptomatic CHD. Lipid profile, markers of endothelial activation such as sCD40L, and both inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were measured and analyzed.Results:  The sCD40L concentration was significantly higher in HD patients than in controls (1.34 ± 0.53 vs 0.86 ± 0.12 ng/mL, P < 0.01). Plasma concentration of sCD40L (P < 0.01), soluble vascular adhesion molecule‐1 (sVCAM‐1; P < 0.01) and high‐sensitivity CRP (hsCRP; P < 0.01) were higher in HD patients with symptomatic CHD than in those without CHD. In addition, we also found that oxidative stress biomarkers such as nitrotyrosine (NT), malonaldehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) were significantly elevated in patients with symptomatic CHD compared to those without. There was a strong overall positive relationship between sCD40L concentration and sVCAM‐1 (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), MDA (r = 0.365, P < 0.01), NT (r = 0.293, r < 0.05) and log‐transformed triglycerides (r = 0.275, P < 0.05).Conclusion:  Circulating concentrations of sCD40L were elevated in HD patients with symptomatic CHD. This study suggests that CD40–CD40L may play a potentially important role in the atherosclerotic complications of HD patients.
Identification and localization of novel genes preferentially expressed in human kidney glomerulus
Authors: CUELLAR LINO MUÑOZ , FUJINAKA HIDEHIKO , YAMAMOTO KEIKO , MIYAMOTO MASAHITO , TASAKI MASAYUKI , ZHAO LINNING , TAMER ISMAIL , YAOITA EISHIN , YOSHIDA YUTAKA , YAMAMOTO TADASHI 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYAim:  To find novel genes abundantly and preferentially expressed in human glomerulus, we constructed a glomerular cDNA library and verified the reliability of our database by comparison with the Stanford Microarray Database (SMD), followed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH).Methods:  RNA was extracted from normal human glomeruli, and the cDNA library was constructed by plasmid cloning. Out of 5 × 103 clones from the library, 91 UniGene clusters of more than three clones were identified as ‘glomerular‐abundant genes’. All these genes were referred to the SMD, and 18 genes were defined as ‘glomerular preferential genes’. Four unknown genes –IFI27, CRHBP, FLJ10154 and SEMA5B– were selected for RT‐PCR to compare expression in the glomerulus with that in the cortex and medulla, and for ISH to examine glomerular localization. Also, three unknown genes that were glomerular abundant but not listed in the SMD –DDX5, HSPC138, and MGC10940– were selected for RT‐PCR and ISH. Finally, a kidney biopsy specimen of crescentic glomerulonephritis was used for ISH to examine glomerular expression for CRHBP mRNA.Results:  Among the selected seven glomerular‐abundant genes, six were confirmed as ‘glomerular preferential genes’ by RT‐PCR. By ISH, all these genes were demonstrated in podocytes. The expression of CRHBP mRNA in a single living podocyte was not changed between normal and crescentic glomerulus.Conclusion:  Glomerular preferential expression and podocyte localization of these novel genes have been demonstrated for the first time. Because some of these genes were not listed in SMD, our database can be a useful tool to find novel human glomerular genes.
Comparison of residual renal function in patients undergoing twice‐weekly versus three‐times‐weekly haemodialysis
Authors: LIN YU‐FENG , HUANG JENG‐WEN , WU MING‐SHIOU , CHU TZONG‐SHINN , LIN SHUEI‐LIONG , CHEN YUNG‐MING , TSAI TUN‐JUN , WU KWAN‐DUN 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYAim:  Patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) often start long‐term haemodialysis (HD) thrice weekly, regardless of the level of residual renal function (RRF). In this study, we investigated whether ESRD patients having sufficient RRF can be maintained on twice‐weekly HD, and how they fare compared to patients without RRF on thrice‐weekly HD.Methods:  We analyzed 74 patients who had undergone long‐term HD and maintained on the same dialysis frequency from February 1998 to July 2005, and followed until December 2005. We compared the clinical variables between twice‐weekly and thrice‐weekly HD patients and a second analysis testing the residual urine output as an independent predictor for twice‐weekly HD.Results:  After a mean follow up of 18 months, twice‐weekly HD patients (n = 23) had lower serum β2‐microglobulin than thrice‐weekly HD patients (n = 51). Moreover, the twice‐weekly group had a slower decline of RRF, as indicated by their higher urine output and creatinine clearance, fewer intradialytic hypotensive episodes, and required less frequent hospitalization. There was no difference between the two groups in cardiothoracic ratio or indices of nutrition and inflammation. Multivariable logistic regression identified age (odds ratio (OR), 1.866; 95% CI, 1.093–3.183), dry body mass index (OR, 0.790; 95% CI, 0.625–0.999), and urine output (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 1.026–1.164) as predictors for maintaining twice‐weekly HD.Conclusion:  Our data suggest that when patients who have sufficient urine output are given twice‐weekly HD, they maintain dialysis adequacy and exhibit better preservation of RRF than patients on thrice‐weekly HD.
Effect of aggregated immunoglobulin A1 from immunoglobulin A nephropathy patients on nephrin expression in podocytes
Authors: WANG CHENG , YE ZENGCHUN , PENG HUI , TANG HUA , LIU XUN , CHEN ZHUJIANG , YU XUEQING , LOU TANQI 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARYAim:  Abnormal immunoglobulin (Ig)A1 is considered to play a pivotal role in IgA nephropathy. We used mouse podocytes as the experimental model to investigate the effect of aggregated IgA1 (aIgA1) isolated from IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients on nephrin expression in podocytes through direct and indirect pathways.Methods:  Jacalin affinity chromatography and Sephacryl S‐200 molecular sieve chromatography were used to isolate IgA1 from blood of IgAN patients which was therefore became aIgA1. Podocytes were incubated with aIgA1 or special mesangial medium. Nephrin expression in podocytes was measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.Results:  Aggregated IgA1 from IgAN patients and healthy controls reduced nephrin expression in podocytes at mRNA and protein levels when compared with podocytes incubated with control medium (RPMI‐1640 with 0.5% foetal bovine serum) (P < 0.05). While medium from mesangial cells incubated with aIgA1 from IgAN inhibited nephrin expression in podocytes at mRNA and protein levels when compared with podocytes incubated with medium from mesangial cells with aIgA1 from healthy controls (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  Our findings implicate that aIgA1 from IgAN patients could inhibit nephrin expression through direct and indirect pathways, although these mechanisms remain to be clarified.
Prevalence of hypouricaemia and SLC22A12 mutations in healthy Korean subjects
Authors: LEE JOO HOON , CHOI HYUN JIN , LEE BEOM HEE , KANG HEE KYUNG , CHIN HO JUN , YOON HYUNG JIN , HA IL SOO , KIM SUHNGGWON , CHOI YONG , CHEONG HAE IL 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  Mutations in the SLC22A12 gene, which encodes a uric acid transporter, URAT1, are associated with renal hypouricaemia. This study was designed to measure serum uric acid (Sua) levels and allele frequencies of two common mutations in SLC22A12, W258X and R90H, in healthy Korean subjects.Methods:  A total of 909 unrelated Korean adults (male : female, 1:1.23; mean age, 48.4 ± 11.0 years) were recruited among those who had taken a routine health check‐up in a health centre in 2003. None of them had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases or liver diseases. Genotyping for W258X and R90H was performed using the TaqMan method.Results:  The prevalences of hyperuricaemia (Sua levels, >416 µmol/L) and hypouricaemia (Sua levels, <178 µmol/L) were 4.6% and 3.3%, respectively. A marked male preponderance in the hyperuricaemic group was noted, and the men revealed higher Sua than the women. The Sua showed a positive correlation with serum creatinine level and blood pressure. In the hypouricaemic group, the allele frequencies of W258X and R90H were 11.7% and 6.7%, respectively, and the proportion of subjects with one or both of the mutant alleles was 33.3%. Hyperuricaemic subjects never had either mutation.Conclusion:  The W258X and/or R90H mutations in the SLC22A12 gene are one of the major factors responsible for hypouricaemia, and one‐third of the hypouricaemic subjects had one or both of the mutant alleles.