bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Burning seeds: germinative response to heat treatments in relation to resprouting ability
Authors: Paula S. , Pausas J. G. 
Published: February 2008

Summary

In Mediterranean fire‐prone ecosystems, plant species persist and regenerate after fire by resprouting, by recruiting new individuals from a seed bank (post‐fire seeding), or by both resprouting and post‐fire seeding. Since species with resprouting ability are already able to persist in fire‐prone ecosystems, we hypothesize that they have been subjected to lower evolutionary pressure to acquire traits allowing or enhancing post‐fire recruitment. Consequently, we predict that the germination of non‐resprouters is more likely to be increased or at least unaffected by heat than the germination of resprouters.
To test this hypothesis we compiled published experiments carried out in Mediterranean Basin species where seeds were exposed to different heat treatments. We compared the probability of heat‐tolerant germination (i.e. heated seeds had greater or equal germination than the control), the probability of heat‐stimulated germination (i.e. heated seeds had greater germination than the control) and the stimulation magnitude (differences in proportion of germination of the heated seeds in relation to the untreated seeds, for heat‐stimulated treatments) between resprouters and non‐resprouters.
Non‐resprouters showed higher probability of heat‐tolerance, higher probability of heat‐stimulation and higher stimulation magnitude even when phylogenetic relatedness was considered. Differences between life‐forms and post‐fire seeding ability do not explain this pattern.
Non‐resprouters appear to have a greater capacity to both (i) persist after fire by means of recruiting (greater heat‐tolerance) and (ii) increase their population after fire (greater heat‐stimulated germination), than resprouters.
Synthesis. Our results contribute to understanding the factors that condition the evolution of fire‐persistence plant traits and support the hypothesis that resprouting and post‐fire recruitment are negatively associated in Mediterranean Basin flora.
Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices as a measure of cognitive functioning in Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Pueyo R. , Junqué C. , Vendrell P. , Narberhaus A. , Segarra D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground  Cognitive dysfunction is frequent in Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP motor impairment and associated speech deficits often hinder cognitive assessment, with the result being that not all CP studies consider cognitive dysfunction. Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices is a simple, rapid test which can be used in persons with severe motor impairment and speech limitations. We studied whether this test can offer a reliable measure of cognitive functioning in CP.Method  Visuoperceptual, language, memory and frontal lobe functions were evaluated in 30 participants with severe motor impaired CP and a variety of speech difficulties. The relationship between Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices and a variety of tests was analysed.Results  Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices performance was associated with visuoperceptual, language, visual and verbal memory but not with frontal functions. Receptive vocabulary and visuospatial measures were the best predictors of Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices raw scores.Conclusions  Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices is a fast, easy‐to‐administer test able to obtain a measure related with linguistic, visuoperceptual, and memory cognitive functioning in persons with CP despite their motor and speech disorders.
Multiple sclerosis in Gypsies from southern Spain: prevalence, mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and HLA class II association
Authors: Fernández O. , Fernández V. , Martinez‐Cabrera V. , Mayorga C. , Alonso A. , León A. , Arnal C. , Hens M. , Luque G. , De Ramón E. , Caballero A. , Leyva L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOccasional reports have mentioned the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) among Gypsies, and no studies have examined to date the prevalence of MS or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetics associations in the Spanish Gypsy population. We decided to study the prevalence, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and HLA class II distribution among gypsies with MS in southern Spain. We searched for Gypsy MS patients and studied HLA class II alleles by polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific oligonucleotide (PCR/SSO) probe hybridization or sequence‐specific primers amplification. An additional study of the mtDNA haplogroups by sequencing of the hypervariable segments of the control region was also performed to provide details of their ethnic origin. Estimated prevalence of MS in the Gypsy population in Malaga was 52/100,000. No significant differences were found in mtDNA between Gypsy MS patients and Gypsy controls. DRB1*1501, DQB1*0602 and DQB1*0608 alleles were the only positive HLA association with MS. The Gypsies in our series have the same anthropological origin as other European gypsy groups, as shown by mtDNA haplogroups. Although interpreted with great caution because of the small sample size, we found that the prevalence of MS in Gypsies in Malaga is not as low as that in Central Europe, although it is significantly less than that found in Caucasians from Spain (75–79/100,000). DQB1*0602 was the strongest positive association found with Gypsy MS patients, and DRB1*1501‐DQB1*0602 was the most frequent haplotype in this group.
Clostridium difficile colitis in lung transplantation
Authors: Gunderson C.C. , Gupta M.R. , Lopez F. , Lombard G.A. , LaPlace S.G. , Taylor D.E. , Dhillon G.S. , Valentine V.G. 
Published: February 2008

Purpose. Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) is the most common nosocomial infection of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with recent antibiotic use or hospitalization. Lung transplant recipients receive aggressive antimicrobial therapy postoperatively for treatment and prophylaxis of respiratory infections. This report describes the epidemiology of CDC in lung recipients from a single center and explores possible associations with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a surrogate marker of chronic rejection.Methods. Patients were divided into those with confirmed disease (CDC+) and those without disease (CDC−) based on positive C. difficile toxin assay. Because of a bimodal distribution in the time to develop CDC, the early postoperative CDC+ group was analyzed separately from the late postoperative CDC+ cohort with respect to BOS development.Results. Between 1990 and 2005, 202 consecutive patients underwent 208 lung transplantation procedures. Of these, 15 lung recipients developed 23 episodes of CDC with a median follow‐up period of 2.7 years (range, 0–13.6). All patients with confirmed disease had at least 1 of the following 3 risk factors: recent antibiotic use, recent hospitalization, or augmentation of steroid dosage. Of the early CDC+ patients, 100% developed BOS, but only 52% of the late CDC+ patients developed BOS, either preceding or following infection.Conclusion. CDC developed in 7.4% of lung transplant patients with identified risk factors, yielding a cumulative incidence of 14.7%. The statistical association of BOS development in early CDC+ patients suggests a relationship between early infections and future chronic lung rejection.
Molecular Detection of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum by Duplex PCR
Authors: Wang W. , Tang J. H. , Wang Y. C. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA duplex PCR technique was developed to detect the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum infection in the tissues of common bean. Based on the differences of 24 internal transcribed spacer, DNA sequences of Colletotrichum spp. retrieved from GeneBank database, one pair of specific primers of CY1/CY2 (CY1: 5′‐CTT TGT GAA CAT ACC TAA CC‐3′; CY2: 5′‐GGT TTT ACG GCA GGA GTG‐3′), was designed. The CY1/CY2 primers amplified a single PCR product of 442 bp only from C. lindemuthianum and Colletotrichum orbiculare, not from any other tested species. By using random amplification of polymorphic DNA technique, a product closely associated with C. lindemuthianum was generated. This product was cloned, sequenced and used for designing a species‐specific primers of CD1/CD2 (CD1: 5′‐ACC TGG ACA CAT AAG TCA AAG‐3′; CD2: 5′‐CAA CAA TGC CAG TAT CAG AG‐3′). The CD1/CD2 primers could distinguish C. lindemuthianum from C. orbiculare by a 638 bp PCR band. A duplex PCR method, combining both primers of CY1/CY2 and CD1/CD2, was used to detect C. lindemuthianum infection. The sensitivity of the detection with this PCR method was 1 pg of pure genomic DNA from the pathogen. Therefore, the PCR‐based methods could be used for accurate and rapid detection of C. lindemuthianum from common bean.
SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF Zn2+DURING THE REPERFUSION PHASE OF TRANSIENT CEREBRAL ISCHAEMIA PROTECTS RAT HIPPOCAMPUS AGAINST IRON‐CATALYSED POSTISCHAEMIC INJURY
Authors: Helal Gouda K 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARYThe aim of the present study was to test the protective role of intravenous Zn2+against iron‐catalysed reperfusion injury in the hippocampus of ischaemic rats.One hundred adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups. Rats in the first group were subjected to surgery (sham operation) without induction of cerebral ischaemia and injected with normal saline (i.v.). The second group of sham‐operated rats were injected with 6 mg/kg, i.v., ZnCl2. In the third group, rats were subjected to cerebral ischaemia for 60 min. Animals in the fourth group were subjected to cerebral ischaemia for 60 min followed by 8 h reperfusion. In the fifth group, rats were subjected to cerebral ischaemia for 60 min, followed by 8 h reperfusion with injection of a single dose of ZnCl2(6 mg/kg, i.v.) during the first 5 min of the reperfusion period. After reperfusion, animals were killed, their brains were dissected out on ice and the two hippocampi from each animal were isolated and analysed.Cerebral ischaemia induced an increase in the iron content, lipidic peroxidation, apoptosis and metallothionein (MT) in the hippocampus. These effects were significantly increased in the hippocampus of ischaemic rats subjected to 8 h reperfusion compared with ischaemic non‐reperfused rats. Intravenous administration of ZnCl2decreased the accumulation of iron, lipidic peroxidation and apoptosis produced by reperfusion, but increased the level of MT.Data from the present study suggest that, after 1 h ischaemia, there is an increase in the permeability of the blood–brain barrier and this allows penetration of i.v. injected ZnCl2, which can induce expression of brain MT, increase the anti‐oxidant capacity and diminish iron‐catalysed lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. This may give new insights as to how to improve the outcome for stroke patients.
DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE STRIP PREPARATION FOR EVALUATION OF GENE THERAPIES IN mdx MICE
Authors: Faulkner John A , Ng Rainer , Davis Carol S , Li Sheng , Chamberlain Jeffrey S 
Published: February 2008

SUMMARY

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle wasting disease of young boys with an incidence of one in every 3000, results from a mutation in the gene that encodes dystrophin. The absence of dystrophin expression in skeletal muscles and heart results in the degeneration of muscle fibres and, consequently, severe muscle weakness and wasting. The mdx mouse discovered in 1984, with some adjustments for differences, has proven to be an invaluable model for scientific investigations of dystrophy.
The development of the diaphagm strip preparation provided an ideal experimental model for investigations of skeletal muscle impairments in structure and function induced by interactions of disease‐ and age‐related factors. Unlike the limb muscles of the mdx mouse, which show adaptive changes in structure and function, the diaphragm strip preparation reflects accurately the deterioration in muscle structure and function observed in boys with DMD.
The advent of sophisticated servo motors and force transducers interfaced with state‐of‐the‐art software packages to drive complex experimental designs during the 1990s greatly enhanced the capability of the mdx mouse and the diaphragm strip preparation to evaluate more accurately the impact of the disease on the structure–function relationships throughout the life span of the mouse.
Finally, during the 1990s and through the early years of the 21st century, many promising, sophisticated genetic techniques have been designed to ameliorate the devastating impact of muscular dystrophy on the structure and function of skeletal muscles. During this period of rapid development of promising genetic therapies, the combination of the mdx mouse and the diaphragm strip preparation has provided an ideal model for the evaluation of the success, or failure, of these genetic techniques to improve dystrophic muscle structure, function or both. With the 2 year life span of the mdx mouse, the impact of age‐related effects can be studied in this model.
Differential activation of PKCδ in the substantia nigra of rats following striatal or nigral 6‐hydroxydopamine lesions
Authors: Hanrott Katharine , Murray Tracey K. , Orfali Zeina , Ward Mark , Finlay Clare , O'Neill Michael J. , Wonnacott Susan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractParkinsonian neurodegeneration is associated with heightened levels of oxidative stress and the activation of apoptotic pathways. In an in vitro cellular model, we reported that 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) induces apoptotic cell death via the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, the activation of caspase 3 and the consequent proteolytic activation of the redox‐sensitive kinase, protein kinase C (PKC)δ, in PC12 cells. Here we have investigated the involvement of PKCδ in 6‐OHDA‐induced cell death in vivo. The nigrostriatal pathway of rats was lesioned by unilateral infusion of 6‐OHDA into either the striatum or substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Infusion into the SNpc resulted in rapid loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive cells (87% decrease after 4 days), consistent with a necrotic‐like mode of cell death. In contrast, striatal infusion initiated a slower, progressive decline in TH immunoreactivity (25% decrease in the SNpc after 4 days); cell appearance was characteristic of apoptosis. This is consistent with a transient increase in active caspase 3 immunoreactivity at 4 days post‐infusion, and a concomitant proteolytic activation of PKCδ in the SNpc of striatal‐lesioned rats. Cleavage of PKCδ did not occur in the striatum or cerebellum of lesioned animals, or in the SNpc of sham‐operated controls. No increase in caspase 3 immunoreactivity or proteolytic activation of PKCδ was detected in nigral‐lesioned rats. These results suggest that after 6‐OHDA infusion into the striatum, retrograde neurotoxicity induces caspase 3‐dependent PKCδ proteolytic activation in the cell bodies of the SNpc, implicating this kinase in the neurodegenerative process.
Risk factors for laryngospasm in children during general anesthesia
Authors: FLICK RANDALL P. , WILDER ROBERT T. , PIEPER STEPHEN F. , VanKOEVERDEN KEVIN , ELLISON KYLE M. , MARIENAU MARY E.S. , HANSON ANDREW C. , SCHROEDER DARRELL R. , SPRUNG JURAJ 
Published: February 2008

SummaryBackground:  Laryngospasm is a common and often serious adverse respiratory event encountered during anesthetic care of children. We examined, in a case control design, the risk factors for laryngospasm in children.Material and Methods:  The records of 130 children identified as having experienced laryngospasm under general anesthesia were examined. Cases were identified from those prospectively entered into the Mayo Clinic performance improvement database between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2005. Potential demographic, patient, surgical and anesthetic related risk factors were determined in a 1 : 2 case–control study.Results:  No individual demographic factors were found to be significantly associated with risk for laryngospasm. However, multivariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between laryngospasm and intercurrent upper respiratory infection (OR 2.03 P = 0.022) and the presence of an airway anomaly (OR = 3.35, P = 0.030). Among those experiencing laryngospasm during maintenance or emergence, the use of a laryngeal mask airway was strongly associated even when adjusted for the presence of upper respiratory infection and airway anomaly (P = 0.019). Ten patients experienced postoperatively one or more complications whereas only three complications were observed among controls (P = 0.008). No child required cardiopulmonary resuscitation and there were no deaths in either study cohort.Conclusions:  In our pediatric population, the risk of laryngospasm was increased in children with upper respiratory tract infection or an airway anomaly. The use of laryngeal mask airway was found to be associated with laryngospasm even when adjusted for the presence of upper respiratory tract infection and airway anomaly.
Repair of sinus venosus defect in a patient with untreated vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation
Authors: AHMAD NARGIS S. , WALKER ISABEAU A. , BREW STEFAN 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThe vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare cerebral arteriovenous shunt, which may be associated with a congenital cardiac defect. Embolisation of the VGAM may be undertaken in the neonatal period if necessary, but is safer in infancy. Recent advances in neuroradiology have changed the prognosis for this group with many patients achieving survival with normal development. This case report describes a patient with a sinus venosus defect (SVD) and a VGAM and considers both the optimal timing of treatment of the two malformations and the conduct of anaesthesia for open repair of the SVD in the presence of an untreated VGAM.
A national survey of propofol infusion use by paediatric anaesthetists in Great Britain and Ireland
Authors: HILL MATTHEW , PEAT WILLIAM , COURTMAN SIMON 
Published: February 2008

SummaryBackground:  Since the introduction of propofol in 1977, it has been widely used for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and for sedation on the intensive care unit. Recently, case reports of suspected propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) following short term infusions have been published. We set out to obtain a picture of the current use of propofol infusions by paediatric anaesthetists in Great Britain and Ireland.Methods:  A questionnaire concerning the use of propofol infusions was sent to 388 paediatric anaesthetists.Results:  A total of 242 (62%) replies were received. 26% of anaesthetists used propofol infusions with at least a monthly frequency. 136 (56%) anaesthetists thought that propofol infusions were of benefit in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting. The majority of anaesthetists did not state a maximum infusion rate or length of infusion. Of those anaesthetists who answered the questions the maximum rate used was 30 mg·kg−1·h−1 and the longest time considered for an infusion was 72 h. Only 5 (2%) anaesthetists regularly used BIS monitoring, although 106 (44%) expressed a desire to use it if it was freely available in their hospitals. Modifications to infusions from 1% to 2% propofol were used by 38 (16%) anaesthetists and 28 (12%) used glucose infusions intra‐operatively.Conclusions:  There is a wide variety in the use of propofol infusions by paediatric anaesthetists. The mechanisms underlying PRIS are poorly understood and require further work to ensure propofol infusions are used appropriately for anaesthesia in children.
The preventative analgesic effect of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of two low doses of ketamine for postoperative pain relief in children following adenotonsillectomy. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: HONARMAND AZIM , SAFAVI MOHAMMAD REZA , JAMSHIDI MAJID 
Published: February 2008

SummaryBackground:  In literature, the use of ketamine for the preventative analgesia in the management of postoperative pain is controversial. The purpose of the present study was the clinical assessment of the efficacy of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of two doses of ketamine on postoperative pain relief compared with peritonsillar saline in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.Methods/materials:  Seventy‐five ASA physical status I and II patients, aged 3–12 years, scheduled for adenotonsillectomy were enrolled in this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Patients were divided into three groups of 25 each and received a local peritonsillar infiltration of 0.9% saline (group S), ketamine 0.5 mg·kg−1 (group K1), or ketamine 1 mg·kg−1 (group K2). All medications were 2 ml in volume which was applied 1 ml per tonsil 3 min prior to tonsillectomy. The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) and Wilson sedation scale were used to evaluate pain levels and sedative conditions, respectively.Results:  Group S had significantly higher CHEOPS scores than group K1 and K2. Both K1 and K2 groups had comparable scores, which were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). During 24 h after surgery, 16 patients in group S and no patients in groups K1 or K2 needed analgesics (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  A 0.5 or 1 mg·kg−1 dose of ketamine given at approximately 3 min before surgery by peritonsillar infiltration provides efficient pain relief during 24 h after surgery without side‐effects in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
Rocuronium‐induced withdrawal movements associated with different Rocuronium injection method
Authors: BAEK SEUNG‐HOON , WOO CHUL‐MIN , LEE HYEON‐JEONG , YOON JI‐YOUNG , KWON JAE‐YOUNG , SHIN SANG‐WOOK 
Published: February 2008

SummaryObjectives:  One hundred and twenty patients (3–15 years old) were randomly enrolled (four groups: each group = 30 patients) in the study.Aim:  The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and intensity of rocuronium‐induced withdrawal movements in children injected with a typical intravenous bolus injection of rocuronium or with an infusion injection of rocuronium.Background:  Intravenous bolus injection of rocuronium produces pain and withdrawal movement.Methods:  Immediately after loss of consciousness by thiopental sodium (5 mg·kg−1), 0.6 mg·kg−1 (B0.6, I0.6) or 0.9 mg·kg−1 rocuronium (B0.9, I0.9) was injected by different method, either a bolus injection over 5 s (B0.6, B0.9) or an infusion injection lasting for 1 min (I0.6, I0.9). The withdrawal movement of the patients to the injection of rocuronium was assessed (four‐grade score: 0–3). Intubating condition was assessed. Rocuronium‐induced muscle relaxation time was measured by single twitch stimulation fade out.Results:  The incidence (group B: 100%, group I: 33.3%) and the intensity of the withdrawal movements were significantly lower in the infusion groups compared with the bolus groups (P < 0.05). The intubating conditions for all groups were clinically acceptable (good to excellent). There was no significant difference in the muscle relaxation time between the different injection groups (I0.6; 105.6 ± 7.7 vs B0.6; 114.6 ± 8.0, I0.9; 69.2 ± 3.6 vs B0.9; 73.4 ± 1/0).Conclusions:  The infusion injection of rocuronium for tracheal intubation significantly reduced the incidence and intensity of withdrawal movement on injection of rocuronium, and it neither delays the onset of muscle relaxation nor deteriorates the intubating condition.