bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A case of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis
Authors: YAYLI Savaş , UNCU Sibel , ALPAY Köksal , YILDIZ Kadriye , ÇIMŞIT Gülseren , BAHADIR Sevgi 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTJuvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare, autosomally‐recessive disease characterized by papulonodular skin lesions, soft tissue masses, joint contractures, gingival hypertrophy and osteolytic bone lesions. Its onset is in infancy or early childhood. The most commonly affected sites are the nose, chin, ears, scalp, back and knees. The accumulation of an amorphous, hyaline material is typical in the skin and the other organs. Herein, we report a 14‐month‐old boy who presented with confluent pink papules on the paranasal folds and the chin, and nodular lesions on the periauricular and perianal regions. He had gingival hypertrophy and contractures of the shoulders, knees and elbows. He also had third‐degree consanguineous parents. Histopathological studies confirmed the diagnosis of JHF with the presence of increased numbers of fibroblasts embedded in a hyalinized connective tissue stroma.
Immunohistochemical Detection of P‐Glycoprotein (Clone C494) in Canine Mammary Gland Tumours
Authors: Petterino C. , Rossetti E. , Bertoncello D. , Martini M. , Zappulli V. , Bargelloni L. , Castagnaro M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryElevated levels of P‐glycoprotein have been reported in multidrug‐resistant tumours in both humans and dogs. In the present study, we investigated the expression of P‐glycoprotein in 57 canine mammary gland tumours, 10 mammary gland hyperplasia and seven normal mammary glands by immunohistochemistry. Tissue sections were incubated with an anti‐Pgp monoclonal antibody and visualized with En Vision‐DAB polymer. Normal and hyperplastic mammary tissues were negative or showed slight cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. Neoplastic cells in benign mammary tumours showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining, in contrast to malignant tumours that showed mainly a membranous staining pattern for Pgp (C494). We observed statistically significant differences among all the different groups of tissues analysed except for benign tumours versus hyperplasia (P = 0.221). Receiver‐operating characteristic analysis showed that the best cut‐off point to differentiate the threshold to differentiate negative from positive tissue samples was 18.40% of immunostained cells. These results provide a first indication that routine evaluation of Pgp expression in canine mammary gland tumours, taking into consideration a cut‐off point for positivity, may be useful for selecting cases for chemotherapy.
Detection of Salmonella spp. in Stray Dogs in Bursa Province, Turkey: First Isolation of Salmonella Corvallis from Dogs
Authors: Kocabiyik A. L. , Cetin C. , Dedicova D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity of Salmonella spp. in stray dogs in Bursa province, Turkey were determined from a total of 82 faecal samples by bacteriological methods. Of the dogs, nine (11%) were positive for salmonellae‐carrying. All Salmonella isolates were serotyped as S. Corvallis, and were sensitive to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, neomycin, oxytetracycline and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole, while 66.7% of them were resistant to streptomycin. It was concluded that stray dogs could be an important carrier of salmonellae as well as a source of human salmonellosis in Turkey. Additional studies are needed to clarify the epidemiological relationship between S. Corvallis isolated from dogs and humans with regard to public health. This is the first report on the isolation of S. Corvallis from dogs in the country.
Clinical predictors for the detection of community‐acquired pneumonia in adults as a guide to ordering chest radiographs
Authors: OKIMOTO Niro , YAMATO Kenji , KURIHARA Takeyuki , HONDA Yoshihiro , OSAKI Kohichi , ASAOKA Naoko , FUJITA Kazue , OHBA Hideo 
Published: April 2006

Objective:  To identify sensitive clinical predictors for the detection of community‐acquired pneumonia in adults as a guide to when to order a CXR.Methods:  In total, 79 outpatients presenting with at least one of the following clinical features of pneumonia: fever, cough, sputum, chest pain, dyspnoea and coarse crackles and who underwent CXR to detect pneumonia were examined retrospectively. The relationship between these clinical features and the presence of pneumonia on CXR was determined.Results:  A total of 24 patients (30.4%) had radiological evidence of pneumonia. In total, 22 presented with four clinical signs: fever, cough, sputum and coarse crackles. The sensitivity and the specificity of detecting pneumonia based on these four clinical signs mentioned was 91.7% and 92.7%, respectively.Conclusions:  As a diagnostic strategy, the ordering of CXR to confirm a diagnosis of community‐acquired pneumonia in adults is recommended when patients have the following four clinical signs: fever, cough, sputum and coarse crackles.
Visual function following transpupillary thermotherapy with adjusted laser parameters for the treatment of exudative age‐related macular degeneration: a pilot study
Authors: Tranos Paris , Peter Neena M , Nath Remin , Singh Minu V , Wren Siobhan , Dimitrakos S , Rassam Sal , Kon Chee 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPurpose:  To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) using adjusted laser parameters for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age‐related macular degeneration.Methods:  TTT was performed on patients with CNV using a diode laser (810 nm) for 60 s in a subthreshold manner. Power settings were varied between 460 and 1200 mW, depending on lesion size, presence of pigment epithelial detachment and the amount of fundal pigmentation and subretinal fluid. LogMAR visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (Pelli‐Robson) and metamorphopsia (Amsler chart) were assessed prior to and 6 months following treatment. Subjects also self‐administered the National Eye Institute 25‐Item Visual Function Questionnaire.Results:  Thirty occult/minimally classic and eight predominantly classic membranes were treated with TTT. At 6 months, absence or significant reduction of fluorescein leakage was observed in 20 (53%) patients. Stabilization of vision (loss of less than 15 letters) was observed in 25/30 (83%) eyes with occult/minimally classic CNV and 5/8 (63%) eyes with predominantly classic CNV. Improvement of contrast sensitivity was noted in 15 (35%) eyes, in 10 (26%) eyes it remained unchanged and in 13 (34%) eyes it deteriorated. There was no statistically significant effect of TTT on the National Eye Institute 25‐Item Visual Function Questionnaire composite or subscale scores.Conclusions:  TTT using adjusted parameters depending on fundal characteristics appears to be effective in stabilizing subjective and objective visual ability in a considerable number of patients with subfoveal CNV due to age‐related macular degeneration. Larger‐scale studies are required to confirm the benefit of this technique as opposed to the natural history of occult CNV.
Advances in introgression technologies for precision breeding within the Lolium ‐ Festuca complex
Authors: HUMPHREYS M W , CANTER P J , THOMAS H M 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe anticipated complexity of multifunctional grasslands with environment‐friendly and sustainable management practices demands better understanding of traits, their interactions, and their genetic control. Intergeneric hybrids between closely related Lolium and Festuca species are being used to broaden the gene pool and provide the plant breeder with options to combine complementary traits aimed at high quality but more robust grass varieties for the future. New techniques in introgression mapping provide opportunities for precision breeding whereby desirable gene combinations transferred from one species into another are selected preferentially, with the exclusion of deleterious alien genes. The close homology between genomes of Lolium and Festuca species allows high levels of chromosome pairing and recombination. Using genomic in situ hybridisation (GISH) on Lolium/Festuca hybrids and their derivatives, recombination between Lolium and Festuca chromosomes is observed at any point along the chromosome. The system provides unlimited access to any combination of Lolium and Festuca DNA sequence. Moreover, genes transferred between homoeologous chromosome sites are expected to function normally at their new locations. Alien chromosome segments may be reduced in size by further recombination events thereby reducing linkage drag. Molecular markers such as AFLPs, SSRs, SNPs, or RFLPs are being targeted to genes of interest to allow their selection through different generations in plant breeding programmes. Relatively simple PCR‐based marker systems are used for specific traits as breeders' toolkits in plant breeding programmes.
Seasonal differences in mineral content, distribution and leakage of sweet pepper seeds
Authors: XU GUOHUA , KAFKAFI UZI 
Published: April 2006

SummaryPepper seed quality is sensitive to variations in climatic conditions during seed development, which might be associated with accumulation, distribution and leakage of mineral elements from the seeds. This was examined in hybrid seeds of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv.‘Hazera’ 1195) in two experiments during two growing seasons. The mean daily temperature (day/night) and daily total radiation receipt during seed development were 27.9/23.2°C and 8.63 kW m−2 in the summer and 18.3/ 14.9°C and 3.18 kW m−2 in the winter, respectively. Seeds developed in the summer had lower percentage of seedling emergence and leaked a larger portion (45%) of their K content into the water medium than in winter‐developed seeds. Summer seeds accumulated more K and Cl, but less P, Mg, Ca and the weight ratio of linoleic acid to oleic acid was lower than in the winter seeds. The season did not significantly affect N, S and total fatty acids. The most abundant element on the seed coat surface was K in the summer and Ca in the winter seeds. The cotyledon and endosperm of the summer seeds contained relatively higher ratios of K and Ca and lower ratios of P and Mg than the winter seeds. Transportation of mineral nutrients appeared to be involved in the effect of heat and moisture stresses on emergence quality of the pepper seeds.
A 5‐year comparison of overwintering polyphagous predator densities within a beetle bank and two conventional hedgebanks
Authors: COLLINS K L , BOATMAN N D , WILCOX A , HOLLAND J M 
Published: April 2006

SummaryOverwintering polyphagous predator density and composition was compared within a mid‐field overwintering refuge (“beetle bank”) and two conventional hedgebanks over a 5‐year period. During the study predator densities in the beetle bank were similar to or greater than those in the conventional hedgebanks. Whilst predator densities remained relatively stable in both of the hedgebanks over time, densities fluctuated significantly within the beetle bank. Many of the species recorded on the beetle bank are considered to be important predators of cereal aphids. The results are discussed in terms of the implications of creating such a habitat for the biological control of cereal aphids.
SOME ASYMPTOTIC METHODS FOR STRONGLY NONLINEAR EQUATIONS
Authors: HE JI-HUAN 
Published: April 2006

This paper features a survey of some recent developments in asymptotic techniques, which are valid not only for weakly nonlinear equations, but also for strongly ones. Further, the obtained approximate analytical solutions are valid for the whole solution domain. The limitations of traditional perturbation methods are illustrated, various modified perturbation techniques are proposed, and some mathematical tools such as variational theory, homotopy technology, and iteration technique are introduced to overcome the shortcomings. In this paper the following categories of asymptotic methods are emphasized: (1) variational approaches, (2) parameter-expanding methods, (3) parameterized perturbation method, (4) homotopy perturbation method (5) iteration perturbation method, and ancient Chinese methods. The emphasis of this article is put mainly on the developments in this field in China so the references, therefore, are not exhaustive.
In-depth analysis of the membrane and cytosolic proteome of red blood cells
Authors: Pasini Erica M. , Kirkegaard Morten , Mortensen Peter , Lutz Hans U. , Thomas Alan W. , Mann Matthias 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIn addition to transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues, a range of other functions are attributed to red blood cells (RBCs) of vertebrates. Diseases compromising RBC performance in any of these functions warrant in-depth study. Furthermore, the human RBC is a vital host cell for the malaria parasite. Much has been learned from classical biochemical approaches about RBC composition and membrane organization. Here, we use mass spectrometry (MS)–based proteomics to characterize the normal RBC protein profile. The aim of this study was to obtain the most complete and informative human RBC proteome possible by combining high-accuracy, high-sensitivity protein identification technology (quadrupole time of flight and Fourier transform MS) with selected biochemical procedures for sample preparation. A total of 340 membrane proteins and 252 soluble proteins were identified, validated, and categorized in terms of subcellular localization, protein family, and function. Splice isoforms of proteins were identified, and polypeptides that migrated with anomalously high or low apparent molecular weights could be grouped into either ubiquitinylated, partially degraded, or ester-linked complexes. Our data reveal unexpected complexity of the RBC proteome, provide a wealth of data on its composition, shed light on several open issues in RBC biology, and form a departure point for comprehensive understanding of RBC functions.
Neuropilin-2 interacts with VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 and promotes human endothelial cell survival and migration
Authors: Favier Benoit , Alam Antoine , Barron Pauline , Bonnin Jacques , Laboudie Patricia , Fons Pierre , Mandron Marie , Herault Jean-Pascal , Neufeld Gera , Savi Pierre , Herbert Jean-Marc , Bono Françoise 
Published: April 2006

AbstractNeuropilin 2 (NRP2) is a receptor for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the semaphorin (SEMA) families, 2 unrelated ligand families involved in angiogenesis and neuronal guidance. NRP2 specifically binds VEGF-A and VEGF-C, although the biological relevance of these interactions in human endothelial cells is poorly understood. In this study, we show that both VEGF-A and VEGF-C induce the interaction of NRP2 with VEGFR-2. This interaction correlated with an enhancement of the VEGFR-2 phosphorylation threshold. Overexpression of NRP2 in primary human endothelial cells promoted cell survival induced by VEGF-A and VEGF-C. In contrast, SEMA3F, another ligand for NRP2, was able to inhibit human endothelial cell survival and migration induced by VEGF-A and VEGF-C. Moreover, a siRNA targeting specifically NRP2 was a potent inhibitor of human endothelial cell migration induced by VEGF-A and VEGF-C. Thus, our data indicate that NRP2 acts as a coreceptor that enhances human endothelial cell biological responses induced by VEGF-A and VEGF-C.
Periodicity of SNP distribution around transcription start sites
Authors: Higasa Koichiro , Hayashi Kenshi 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Several millions single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have already been collected and deposited in public databases and these are important resources not only for use as markers to identify disease-associated genes, but also to understand the mechanisms that underlie the genome diversification.

Results
A spectrum analysis of SNP density distribution in the genomic regions around transcription start sites (TSSs) revealed a remarkable periodicity of 146 nucleotides. This periodicity was observed in the regions that were associated with CpG islands (CGIs), but not in the regions without CpG islands (nonCGIs). An analysis of the sequence divergence of the same genomic regions between humans and chimpanzees also revealed a similar periodical pattern in CGI. The occurrences of any mono- or di-nucleotide sequences in these regions did not reveal such a periodicity, thus indicating that an interpretation of this periodicity solely based on the sequence-dependent susceptibility to mutation is highly unlikely.

Conclusion
The periodical patterns of nucleotide variability suggest the location of nucleosomes that are phased at TSS, and can be viewed as the genetic footprint of the chromatin state that has been maintained throughout mammalian evolutionary history. The results suggest the possible involvement of the nucleosome structure in the promoter function, and also a fundamental functional/structural difference between the two promoter classes, i.e., those with and without CGIs.
The action of selection on codon bias in the human genome is related to frequency, complexity, and chronology of amino acids
Authors: Kotlar Daniel , Lavner Yizhar 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
The question of whether synonymous codon choice is affected by cellular tRNA abundance has been positively answered in many organisms. In some recent works, concerning the human genome, this relation has been studied, but no conclusive answers have been found. In the human genome, the variation in base composition and the absence of cellular tRNA count data makes the study of the question more complicated. In this work we study the relation between codon choice and tRNA abundance in the human genome by correcting relative codon usage for background base composition and using a measure based on tRNA-gene copy numbers as a rough estimate of tRNA abundance.

Results
We term major codons to be those codons with a relatively large tRNA-gene copy number for their corresponding amino acid. We use two measures of expression: breadth of expression (the number of tissues in which a gene was expressed) and maximum expression level among tissues (the highest value of expression of a gene among tissues). We show that for half the amino acids in the study (8 of 16) the relative major codon usage rises with breadth of expression. We show that these amino acids are significantly more frequent, are smaller and simpler, and are more ancient than the rest of the amino acids. Similar, although weaker, results were obtained for maximum expression level.

Conclusion
There is evidence that codon bias in the human genome is related to selection, although the selection forces acting on codon bias may not be straightforward and may be different for different amino acids. We suggest that, in the first group of amino acids, selection acts to enhance translation efficiency in highly expressed genes by preferring major codons, and acts to reduce translation rate in lowly expressed genes by preferring non-major ones. In the second group of amino acids other selection forces, such as reducing misincorporation rate of expensive amino acids, in terms of their size/complexity, may be in action.
The fact that codon usage is more strongly related to breadth of expression than to maximum expression level supports the notion, presented in a recent study, that codon choice may be related to the tRNA abundance in the tissue in which a gene is expressed.
Prototypical antipsychotic drugs protect hippocampal neuronal cultures against cell death induced by growth medium deprivation
Authors: Bastianetto Stéphane , Danik Marc , Mennicken Françoise , Williams Sylvain , Quirion Rémi 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Several clinical studies suggested that antipsychotic-based medications could ameliorate cognitive functions impaired in certain schizophrenic patients. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of various dopaminergic receptor antagonists – including atypical antipsychotics that are prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia – in a model of toxicity using cultured hippocampal neurons, the hippocampus being a region of particular relevance to cognition.

Results
Hippocampal cell death induced by deprivation of growth medium constituents was strongly blocked by drugs including antipsychotics (10-10-10-6 M) that display nM affinities for D2 and/or D4 receptors (clozapine, haloperidol, (±)-sulpiride, domperidone, clozapine, risperidone, chlorpromazine, (+)-butaclamol and L-741,742). These effects were shared by some caspases inhibitors and were not accompanied by inhibition of reactive oxygen species. In contrast, (-)-raclopride and remoxipride, two drugs that preferentially bind D2 over D4 receptors were ineffective, as well as the selective D3 receptor antagonist U 99194. Interestingly, (-)-raclopride (10-6 M) was able to block the neuroprotective effect of the atypical antipsychotic clozapine (10-6 M).

Conclusion
Taken together, these data suggest that D2-like receptors, particularly the D4 subtype, mediate the neuroprotective effects of antipsychotic drugs possibly through a ROS-independent, caspase-dependent mechanism.
Progressive neurological disease induced by tacrolimus in a renal transplant recipient: Case presentation
Authors: Chegounchi Marjan , Hanna Michael G , Neild Guy H 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

Background
Tacrolimus and cyclosporine, both calcineurin inhibitors, can cause neurological side effects. While mild symptoms such as tremor are well recognised, severe complications including seizures and encephalopathy are poorly documented following renal transplantation.

Case presentation
We report a 42 year old man who received a cadaver renal transplant. He received tacrolimus and prednisolone. The course was uneventful for 6 weeks when he became intermittently confused, with unsteady gait and slurred speech. Following a grand mal convulsion he was admitted. He had no focal neurological signs, cerebrospinal fluid was normal; electroencephalogram was consistent with temporal lobe partial epilepsy. The magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed widespread changes with multiple areas of low signal intensity in brain stem and cerebral hemispheres. He was readmitted 3 weeks later after further fits, despite anti-convulsant therapy. He was psychotic with visual hallucinations, and rapidly became obtunded. Although his tacrolimus blood concentration had been kept in the normal range, his symptoms improved dramatically when the tacrolimus was stopped.

Conclusion
Severe central nervous system toxicity from calcineurin inhibitors has been rarely reported in renal transplantation and we found only one report of tacrolimus-induced toxicity in an adult. We believe the condition is frequently undiagnosed. It is a very important diagnosis not to miss as the remedy is simple and failure may result in unnecessary brain biopsy, as well as irreversible injury.