bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Steroid withdrawal five days after renal transplantation allows for the prevention of wound‐healing complications associated with sirolimus therapy
Authors: Sandrini Silvio , Setti Gisella , Bossini Nicola , Maffei Camilla , Iovinella Lucia , Tognazzi Nadia , Maffeis Roberto , Nodari Franco , Portolani Nazario , Cancarini Giovanni 
Published: February 2009

Abstract:  Background:  Sirolimus (SRL) can increase the risk of wound complications. In this study, we investigated the impact of steroids when added to SRL, in this side effect.Methods:  One hundred and forty‐eight patients entered prospective studies comparing early (fifth day) with late (sixth month) steroid withdrawal. All patients were on SRL, added either to Tacrolimus (n = 56) or to cyclosporine (n = 97). At 15th day after transplantation, 68 patients were on steroids (On‐St group) and 80 were not (Off‐St group). Wound complications considered were as follows: dehiscence, lymphocele, wound leakage, hematoma and seromas. Risk factors under analysis were as follows: body mass index, diabetes, rejection, creatininemia, length of dialysis before transplantation, recipient age, being on steroids at 15th day, SRL levels.Results:  The overall incidence of wound complications was significantly lower in Off‐St group than in On‐St group: 18.8% vs. 45.6%, respectively (p < 0.0004). In detail, lymphocele: 5.0% vs. 32.3% (p < 0.0001); dehiscence 0% vs. 10.3% (p < 0.009), leakage 6.2% vs. 8.8% (p = NS), seromas 1.4% vs. 7.5% (NS). At multivariate analysis, the addition of steroids to SRL increases 4.2‐fold the risk for wound complications.Conclusions:  Early steroid withdrawal is effective in preventing both the incidence and the severity of wound‐healing complications because of SRL regime, even when started with a loading dose.
Impact of race and gender on live kidney donation
Authors: Reeves‐Daniel A. , Adams P.L. , Daniel K. , Assimos D. , Westcott C. , Alcorn S.G. , Rogers J. , Farney A.C. , Stratta R.J. , Hartmann E.L. 
Published: February 2009

Abstract:  Background:  African Americans (AA) and women are less likely to receive a live kidney donor (LKD) transplant than Caucasians or men. Reasons for non‐donation are poorly understood.Methods:  A retrospective review of 541 unsuccessful LKD was performed to explore reasons for non‐donation and to assess for racial and/or gender differences.Results:  We identified 138 AA and 385 Caucasian subjects who volunteered but did not successfully donate. Females (58.2%) were more likely to be excluded than males due to reduced renal function (glomerular filtration rate < 85 mL/min, 7.9% vs. 0.9%, p < 0.0001) or failure to complete the evaluation (6.4% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.01). AA were more commonly excluded due to obesity (body mass index ≥ 32 kg/m2; 30.4% AA vs. 16.6% Caucasian, p = 0.0005) or failure to complete the evaluation (12.3% AA vs. 1.8% Caucasian, p < 0.0001) whereas Caucasians were more often excluded due to kidney stones (1.5% AA vs. 7.3% Caucasian, p = 0.01).Conclusions:  Significantly different reasons for exclusion of LKD exist between potential Caucasian and AA LKD, particularly among women. Among the differences that we observed are potentially modifiable barriers to donation including obesity and failure to complete the donor evaluation. A further understanding of these barriers may help point to strategies for more effective recruitment and successful LKD.
Should heart, lung, and liver transplant recipients receive immunosuppression induction for kidney transplantation?
Authors: Ranney D.N. , Englesbe M.J. , Muhammad W. , Al‐Holou S.N. , Park J.M. , Pelletier S.J. , Punch J.D. , Lynch R.J. 
Published: February 2009

Ranney DN, Englesbe MJ, Muhammad W, Al‐Holou SN, Park JM, Pelletier SJ, Punch JD, Lynch RJ. Should heart, lung, and liver transplant recipients receive immunosuppression induction for kidney transplantation? Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 67–72. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  As the outcomes of heart, liver, and lung transplantation continue to improve, more patients will present for subsequent renal transplantation. It remains unclear whether these patients benefit from induction immunosuppression. We retrospectively reviewed induction on solid organ graft recipients who underwent renal transplant at our center from January 1, 1995 to March 30, 2007. Induction and the non‐induction groups were compared by univariate and Kaplan–Meier analyses. There were 21 patients in each group, with mean follow‐up of 4.5–6.0 years. Forty‐seven percent of patients receiving induction had a severe post‐operative infection, compared with 28.6% in the non‐induction group (p = NS). The one yr rejection rate in the induction group was 9.5% compared with 14.3% for non‐induction (p = NS). One‐yr graft survival was 81.0% and 95.2% in the induction and non‐induction group (p = NS). In summary, there is a trend toward lower patient and graft survival among patients undergoing induction. These trends could relate to selection bias in the decision to prescribe induction immunosuppression, but further study is needed to better define the risks and benefits of antibody‐induction regimens in this population.
Hepatic IL‐8 release during graft procurement is associated with impaired graft function after human liver transplantation
Authors: Ilmakunnas Minna , Höckerstedt Krister , Mäkisalo Heikki , Siitonen Sanna , Repo Heikki , Pesonen Eero J. 
Published: February 2009

Ilmakunnas M, Höckerstedt K, Mäkisalo H, Siitonen S, Repo H, Pesonen EJ. Hepatic IL‐8 release during graft procurement is associated with impaired graft function after human liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 29–35. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  In experimental models, brain death induces inflammatory cascades, leading to reduced graft survival. Thus far, factors prior to graft preservation have gained less attention in clinical setting. We studied pre‐preservation inflammatory response and its effects on graft function in 30 brain dead liver donors and the respective recipients. Before donor graft perfusion, portal and hepatic venous blood samples were drawn for phagocyte adhesion molecule expression and plasma cytokine determinations. Donor intensive care unit stay correlated with donor C‐reactive protein (R = 0.472, p = 0.013) and IL‐6 (R = 0.419, p = 0.026) levels, and donor (R = 0.478, p = 0.016) and recipient gamma‐glutamyl transferase (R = 0.432, p = 0.019) levels. During graft procurement, hepatic IL‐8 release was observed in 17/30 donors. Grafts with hepatic IL‐8 release exhibited subsequently higher alkaline phosphatase [319 (213–405) IU/L vs. 175 (149–208) IU/L, p = 0.006] and bilirubin [101 (44–139) μmol/L vs. 30 (23–72) μmol/L, p = 0.029] levels after transplantation. Our findings support the concept that inflammatory response in the brain dead organ donor contributes to the development of graft injury in human liver transplantation.
Artemia cysts as an alternative food for the predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus
Authors: Vandekerkhove B. , Parmentier L. , Van Stappen G. , Grenier S. , Febvay G. , Rey M. , De Clercq P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe suitability of cysts of the brine shrimp Artemia sp. as a factitious food for the predator Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur was investigated. The influence of decapsulation time and hydration of the cysts on the performance of the predator were studied in the absence of plant material. A longer time of decapsulation had a positive influence on the development of the predator. Hydration of cysts had a significant impact on nymphal survival when cysts where non‐decapsulated or poorly decapsulated. An experiment in which nymphs were switched from a diet of hydrated cysts to non‐hydrated cysts showed that in the absence of plant material the relative importance of hydrating the cysts decreased with nymphal age. Especially, the first instar and to a lesser extent the second instar appear to be susceptible to water shortage. Effects of prolonged rearing on development and reproduction on brine shrimp cysts from different origins were tested in the presence of plant material. Rearing M. pygmaeus on Artemia sp. (Jingyu Lake) cysts yielded similar survival, development, adult weight and fecundity in the fourth as in the second generation. In contrast, for Artemia franciscana cysts, an increase in nymphal development was notable. Biochemical analyses showed that total amino acid content and the concentration of the different amino acids did not differ among diets and generations. There were, however, differences in total fatty acid content between the different diets and generations and in the concentration of certain fatty acids, indicating that insects fed brine shrimp cysts may show nutritional deficiencies compared to those reared on a diet of Ephestia kuehniella eggs. Our results indicate that decapsulated brine shrimp cysts are an economically viable alternative food source in at least part of the rearing process for M. pygmaeus.
Effects of injecting cadherin gene dsRNA on growth and development in diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lep.: Plutellidae)
Authors: Yang Z.‐X. , Wen L.‐Z. , Wu Q.‐J. , Wang S.‐L. , Xu B.‐Y. , Chang X.‐L. , Zhu G.‐R. , Zhang Y.‐J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTwo laboratory diamondback moth (DBM) strains were used to study the effects of injecting cadherin gene double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) on the growth and development of Plutella xylostella (L.). Specifically, the susceptible strain named DBM.1Ac‐S and the low resistant strain DBM.1Ac‐R selected with Cry1Ac toxin were studied. The third larvae of the two strains were injected dsRNA of cadherin gene and their corresponding controls, DBM.1Ac‐RH and DBM.1Ac‐SH, were both injected diethypyrocarbonate (DEPC)‐treated water respectively. The basic biological properties such as death rate, hatching ratio, fecundity, weight of pupa and eclosion rate of the strains mentioned above were likewise studied. Meanwhile, the length and width of the egg and pupa were also measured. The results showed that the cadherin gene dsRNA injection resulted in a significant increase of the death rate and sex ratio. On the other hand, hatching ratio, fecundity, weight of pupa, eclosion rate and adult longevity for male and female of treatments decreased compared to their corresponding controls. As such, there was no significant difference on the length of egg and pupa in between treatments and the corresponding controls. However, their width increased inversely with their corresponding controls. Hence, the results suggest that cadherin gene dsRNA injection retarded the larval growth and development of P. xylostella. Also, these results can help reveal the function of cadherin gene through the RNA interference technique.
Variability in the structure of epiphytic assemblages of the Mediterranean seagrassPosidonia oceanicain relation to depth
Authors: Nesti Ugo , Piazzi Luigi , Balata David 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the variability in the structure of the epiphytic assemblages of leaves and rhizomes of the Mediterranean seagrassPosidonia oceanicadiffered between depths at a large spatial scale. A hierarchical sampling design was used to compare epiphytic assemblages at two different depths (10 and 20 m) in terms of both species composition and abundance and patterns of spatial variability in the Tuscan Archipelago (North Western Mediterranean Sea, Italy). Results showed significant differences in the structure of assemblages on rhizomes and leaves at different depths. These differences were related to species composition and abundance; differences were not significant for total biomass, total percentage cover and percentage cover of animals and algae. Whereas the higher variability was observed among shoots in all the studied systems, patterns of spatial variability at the other spatial scales investigated differed between the two studied depths. Moreover, in the present study, analogous patterns between depths resulted for both the assemblages of leaves and rhizomes, suggesting that factors that change with depth can be responsible for the spatial variability of both the assemblages (leaves and rhizomes), and operate regardless of the microclimatic conditions and the structure of assemblages.
Biogenic stalactites in submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE Italy): dating and hypothesis on their formation
Authors: Belmonte Genuario , Ingrosso Gianmarco , Poto Marco , Quarta Gianluca , D’Elia Marisa , Onorato Raffaele , Calcagnile Lucio 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSubmarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE, Italy) host pseudostalactites. Only recently have they been recognised as originating mainly from the marine tube worm Protula tubularia (Serpulidae, Polychaeta). Their formation depends on the adaptability, life history and behaviour of that species in the cave habitat. The dating of calcareous tubes in the pseudostalactite core represents the first attempt to describe the formation of such bio‐construction, and the gregarious behaviour of the species. Calcareous tubes along the core axis of three pseudostalactites removed from the cave lu Lampiùne (Otranto, South East Italy) have been dated using the 14C method. Measures established ages from 2600 to 5000 years for the three structures. This extremely long period (when compared with the life span of each worm) suggests that each tube aggregation is the result of punctuated growth periods alternated with long standstill phases. At the end of a growth period, each tube aggregation was covered with a brownish concretion, completing the pseudostalactite.
Enterococcus faecalis with the gelatinase phenotype regulated by the fsr operon and with biofilm‐forming capacity are common in the agricultural environment
Authors: Macovei Lilia , Ghosh Anuradha , Thomas Vinai C. , Hancock Lynn E. , Mahmood Sajid , Zurek Ludek 
Published: February 2009

SummaryThe prevalence of gelatinase activity and biofilm formation among environmental enterococci was assessed. In total, 396 enterococcal isolates from swine and cattle faeces and house flies from a cattle farm were screened for gelatinase activity. The most prevalent phenotype on Todd–Hewitt agar with 1.5% skim milk was the weak protease (WP) (72.2% of isolates), followed by the strong protease (SP) 18.7%, and no protease (NP) (9.1%). The majority of WP isolates was represented by Enterococcus hirae (56.9%), followed by Enterococcus faecium (25.9%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (10.4%), Enterococcus gallinarum (5.2%) and Enterococcus saccharolyticus (1.7%). All WP isolates were negative for gelE (gelatinase) and sprE (serine protease) as well as the fsrABDC operon that regulates the two proteases, and only four isolates (7.0%) formed biofilms in vitro. All SP isolates were Enterococcus faecalis positive for the fsrABDC, gelE, sprE genes and the majority (91.2%) formed a biofilm. Diversity of NP isolates was relatively evenly distributed among E. hirae, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus, E. gallinarum, Enterococcus durans, E. saccharolyticus and Enterococcus mundtii. All NP isolates were negative for the fsr operon and only four E. hirae (11.1%) formed a biofilm. Of further interest was the loss of the gelatinase phenotype (18.9% of isolates) from SP isolates after 4 month storage at 4–8°C and several passages of subculture. Results of reverse transcription PCR analysis indicated that mRNA was produced for all the genes in the frs operon and sequencing of the gelE gene did not reveal any significant mutations. However, gelatinase was not detectable by Western blot analysis. Our study shows that E. faecalis with the complete fsr operon and the potential to form a biofilm are relatively common in the agricultural environment and may represent a source/reservoir of clinically relevant strains. In addition, many environmental enterococci, especially E. hirae, produce an unknown WP that can hydrolyse casein but does not contribute to biofilm formation. The stability of the gelatinase phenotype in E. faecalis and its regulation will require additional studies.
Long‐term failure and function after restorative proctocolectomy – a multi‐centre study of patients from the UK national ileal pouch registry
Authors: Tekkis P. P. , Lovegrove R. E. , Tilney H. S. , Smith J. J. , Sagar P. M. , Shorthouse A. J. , Mortensen N. J. , Nicholls R. J. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjective  There is little information on the long‐term failure and function after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC). The results of data submitted to a national registry were analysed.Method  The UK National Pouch Registry was established in 2004. By 2006, it comprised data collected from ten centres between 1976 and 2006. The long‐term failure and functional outcome were determined. Trends over time were assessed using the gamma statistic or the Kruskal–Wallis statistic wherever appropriate.Results  In all, 2491 patients underwent primary RPC over a median of 54 months (range 1 month to 28.9 years). Of these, 127 (5.1%) underwent abdominal salvage surgery. The incidence of failure (excision or indefinite diversion) was 7.7% following primary and 27.5% following salvage RPC (P < 0.001). The median frequency of defaecation/24 h was five including one at night. Nocturnal seepage occurred in 8% at 1 year, rising to 15.4% at 20 years (P = 0.037). Urgency was experienced by 5.1% of patients at 1 year rising to 9.1% at 15 years (P = 0.022). Stool frequency and the need for antidiarrhoeal medication were greater following salvage RPC.Conclusion  In patients retaining anal function after RPC, frequency of defaecation was stable over 20 years. Faecal urgency and minor incontinence worsened with time. Function after salvage RPC was significantly worse.
Spermiogenesis and spermatozoon ultrastructure of the davaineid cestode Raillietina micracantha (Fuhrmann, 1909)
Authors: Miquel Jordi , Torres Jordi , Foronda Pilar , Feliu Carlos 
Published: February 2009

AbstractMiquel, J., Torres, J., Foronda, P. and Feliu, C. 2010. Spermiogenesis and spermatozoon ultrastructure of the davaineid cestode Raillietina micracantha. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 212–221The spermiogenesis and the ultrastructural organization of the spermatozoon of the davaineid cestode Raillietina micracantha are described by means of transmission electron microscopy. Spermiogenesis begins with the formation of a zone of differentiation containing two centrioles. One of the centrioles develops a free flagellum that later fuses with a cytoplasmic extension. The nucleus migrates along the spermatid body after the proximodistal fusion of the flagellum and the cytoplasmic extension. During advanced stages of spermiogenesis a periaxonemal sheath and intracytoplasmic walls appear in the spermatids. Spermiogenesis finishes with the appearance of two helicoidal crested bodies at the base of spermatids and, finally, the narrowing of the ring of arched membranes detaches the fully formed spermatozoon. The mature spermatozoon of R. micracantha is a long and filiform cell, tapered at both ends, which lacks mitochondria. It exhibits two crested bodies of different lengths, one axoneme of the 9 + ‘1’ pattern of trepaxonematan Platyhelminthes, twisted cortical microtubules, a periaxonemal sheath, intracytoplasmic walls, granules of glycogen and a spiralled nucleus. The anterior extremity of the spermatozoon is characterized by the presence of an electron‐dense apical cone and two spiralled crested bodies while the posterior extremity of the male gamete exhibits only the axoneme and an electron‐dense posterior tip.
A shortening of the manus precedes the attenuation of other wing‐bone elements in the evolution of flightlessness in birds
Authors: Nudds R. L. , Davidson J. Slove 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNudds, R. L. and Slove Davidson, J. 2010. A shortening of the manus precedes the attenuation of other wing‐bone elements in the evolution of flightlessness in birds. —Acta Zoologica(Stockholm)91: 115–122This is the first study to present evidence for a general pattern of wing‐bone attenuation during the early stages of the evolution of flightlessness. A comparative analysis using phylogenetic independent contrasts showed that in families that contain both flighted (volant) and flightless species, the volant species have shorter wings and total‐arm (humerus + ulna + manus) lengths relative to their body masses than the species within their wholly volant sister families. A shortening of the manus may typify the early stages of the evolution of flightlessness, with the humerus and ulna attenuating later, perhaps because of their role in maintaining the position of the aerodynamically important alula. A shorter wing relative to body mass was not the result of the inverse (i.e. heavier body mass relative to wing length) because mean body masses of volant members of flightless families were similar to or lower than those of their wholly volant sister families. Despite finding a common trend in the wing morphologies of volant members of flightless families, it seems unlikely that a general model of selection pressures driving the evolution of flightlessness exists. At the very least, a dichotomy between those birds that have lost the ability to fly in order to gain the ability to swim and terrestrial forms, may persist.