bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinct light responses of the adaxial and abaxial stomata in intact leaves of Helianthus annuus L.
Authors: WANG YIN , NOGUCHI KO , TERASHIMA ICHIRO 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTUsing a laboratory‐constructed system that can measure the gas exchange rates of two leaf surfaces separately, the light responses of the adaxial and abaxial stomata in intact leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were investigated, keeping the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) at 300 µL L−1. When evenly illuminating both sides of the leaf, the stomatal conductance (gs) of the abaxial surface was higher than that of the adaxial surface at any light intensity. When each surface of the leaf was illuminated separately, both the adaxial and abaxial stomata were more sensitive to the light transmitted through the leaf (self‐transmitted light) than to direct illumination. Relationships between the whole leaf photosynthetic rate (An) and the gs for each side highlighted a strong dependence of stomatal opening on mesophyll photosynthesis. Light transmitted through another leaf was more effective than the direct white light for the abaxial stomata, but not for the adaxial stomata. Moreover, green monochromatic light induced an opening of the abaxial stomata, but not of the adaxial stomata. As the proportion of blue light in the transmitted light is less than that in the white light, there may be some uncharacterized light responses, which are responsible for the opening of the abaxial stomata by the transmitted, green light.
Structural and Immunohistochemical Features of the Epididymal Duct Unit of the Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Authors: Aire T. A. , Ozegbe P. C. , Soley J. T. , Madekurozwa M.‐C. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe epididymal duct unit, comprising the ductus conjugens, ductus epididymidis and ductus deferens, was studied histologically, ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically in five sexually mature and active birds. The main morphological features of the pre‐dominant non‐ciliated (type III) cell of the epithelial lining of this duct unit include, but are not limited to, a moderately abundant smooth or sparsely granulated endoplasmic reticulum, electron‐dense secretory granules and numerous mitochondria in the supranuclear zone of the cytoplasm. A single, large heterogeneous lipid droplet, of unknown function, was characteristically situated immediately proximal to the nucleus. The epithelium is obviously secretory and specifically, of the merocrine, and not apocrine, type of secretion. The epithelium of the epididymal duct unit was only focally and weakly to moderately immunopositive to both actin MF and desmin IF, while the duct unit was immunonegative to cytokeratin and vimentin intermediate filaments. The peritubular muscular layer was moderately to strongly positive to both actin and desmin, and negative to cytokeratins and vimentin.
Endothelin‐positive Mast Cells in Porcine Renal Artery and Vein
Authors: Vodenicharov A. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryFor a first time the endothelin (ET)‐positive mast cells were examined in the wall of kidney renal artery and vein. The specimen’s were collected from six 8‐month‐old Danmark Landrace pigs, immediately after slaughtering. Mast cells immunopositive to ET granules were observed in the wall of both artery and vein. In the renal artery, they were found mostly between the media and the adventitia. Some mast cells were found in the media, next to smooth muscle cells. Relatively few mast cells were found in the intima and between intima and tunica media. In the renal vein a smaller number of mast cells were observed. They showed similar localization as in the renal artery. Immunopositive mast cells were established also close to endothelial cells – mostly between internal elastic membrane and basal membrane of the endothelium. In conclusion, on the basis of obtained results, presumptions for active participation of ET (most probably mainly ET‐1) in the motility of the vessels’ smooth muscle and for stimulation of nitric oxide release from the intimal endothelial cells were made.
Origin of the Infrarenal Part of the Caudal Vena cava in the Pig
Authors: Cornillie P. , Van Den Broeck W. , Simoens P. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe vascular topography in the lumbar region of pig embryos and young fetuses was three‐dimensionally reconstructed to study some controversial aspects of the origin and development of the infrarenal part of the caudal vena cava. Contrary to general belief, it was found that the supracardinal veins, which form the azygos veins in the thorax, do not take part in the construction of the caudal vena cava in the lumbar region. These veins do appear in the abdomen, but they are only involved in the formation of the lumbar and ascending lumbar veins. The infrarenal part of the caudal vena cava arises from the lumbar part of the right caudal cardinal vein. Whilst this venous pattern is established, the lumbar part of the left caudal cardinal vein disappears and its former location is occupied by large lymphatic connections between the cysterna chyli and the retroperitoneal mesenteric lymphatic sac. On the basis of these findings, a number of hypotheses on the development of anatomical variations of the caudal vena cava should be reconsidered.
Influence of Osteopontin in Bovine Uterine Tube Fluid on Sperm Binding and Fertilization in RCA‐1 Lectin‐treated Oocytes
Authors: Gonçalves RF , Wolinetz CG , Barnabe VH , Killian GJ 
Published: June 2008

ContentsThis study was conducted to determine the effect of pre‐exposure of oocytes to Ricinus communis (RCA‐1) lectin and osteopontin (OPN) in uterine tube fluid (UTF) on in vitro sperm–egg binding and fertilization. In vitro‐matured bovine oocytes were incubated (39°C, 5% CO2 in air) for 2 h in the following treatments: (i) 500 μl of fertilization medium (FM); (ii) 250 μl of FM with 0.25 ml of non‐luteal ampullary uterine tube fluid (NLAUTF); (iii) 250 μl of FM with 250 μl of NLAUTF and 4 μl of RCA‐1 lectin; (iv) 250 μl of FM with 250 μl of NLAUTF, a rabbit polyclonal antibody (1:200) against purified bovine milk OPN, and RCA‐1 lectin; (v) 500 μl of FM and RCA‐1 lectin. Following incubation, oocytes were washed, placed in FM with 2 μg heparin, and incubated with 1 × 105 frozen–thawed spermatozoa per 10 oocytes. Oocytes used to assess sperm binding were stained with Hoescht 33342, and the number of sperm bound per zona pellucida counted. The remaining oocytes were fixed in acid alcohol, stained with 1% acetate‐orcein and observed to determine the presence of pronuclei. More sperm bound to the zona pellucida (mean ± SEM) when oocytes were incubated in treatment 3 (59.0 ± 5.5) than in treatments 2 (46.4 ± 5.6), 4 (18.1 ± 5.4), 5 (33.4 ± 5.6) or 1 (32.5 ± 5.6). More oocytes were fertilized when incubated in treatment 3 (91% ± 3.0) than in 2 (84% ± 3.0), 4 (40% ± 3.0), 5 (77% ± 3.0) or 1 (76% ± 3.0). As in previous studies, this study suggests that RCA‐1 lectin enhances binding of UTF‐derived OPN to bovine oocytes, resulting in increased sperm–egg binding and fertilization in vitro and a possible role in fertilization.
Evidence for a direct subthalamo‐cortical loop circuit in the rat
Authors: Degos Bertrand , Deniau Jean‐Michel , Le Cam Julie , Mailly Philippe , Maurice Nicolas 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe subthalamic nucleus (STN), a major component of the basal ganglia (BG), plays a crucial role in motor activity and cognitive functions. In current models of the BG, the STN is considered to act by activating the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons of the BG output nuclei, thus inhibiting their thalamic and brain stem targets. However, in addition to the BG output nuclei, the STN has also been reported to innervate the cerebral cortex and the striatum. Here, the anatomo‐functional organization of STN projections to the cerebral cortex was investigated using anatomical and electrophysiological approaches. First, wheatgerm agglutinin‐conjugated horseradish peroxidase was injected into defined areas of the cerebral cortex to analyse the spatial distribution of retrogradely labelled STN neurons. The mode of cortical innervation by the STN was then determined using extracellular deposits of Phaseolus vulgaris‐leucoagglutinin into the STN. Finally, the functional organization of the cortico‐STN relationships was investigated by extracellularly recording single STN units antidromically driven from the cerebral cortex. Our results indicate that STN innervates the sensory‐motor and prefrontal cortices, the densest projections terminating in cortical layers I–III of the orofacial motor area. The matching between the topographic distribution of subthalamo‐cortical neurons and cortico‐subthalamic projections forms the basis of a functional cortico‐STN loop circuit that is partially opened. In pathological situations such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, the STN‐cortex loop circuit might contribute to propagate pathological oscillations favouring the emergence of abnormal synchronized activities and a loss of functional selectivity in the cortico‐BG network.
Do arthropod assemblages display globally consistent responses to intensified agricultural land use and management?
Authors: Attwood S. J. , Maron M. , House A. P. N. , Zammit C. 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTAim  To determine whether arthropod richness and abundance for combined taxa, feeding guilds and broad taxonomic groups respond in a globally consistent manner to a range of agricultural land‐use and management intensification scenarios.Location  Mixed land‐use agricultural landscapes, globally.Methods  We performed a series of meta‐analyses using arthropod richness and abundance data derived from the published literature. Richness and abundance were compared among land uses that commonly occur in agricultural landscapes and that represent a gradient of increasing intensification. These included land‐use comparisons, such as wooded native vegetation compared with improved pasture, and a management comparison, reduced‐input cropping compared with conventional cropping. Data were analysed using three different meta‐analytical techniques, including a simple vote counting method and a formal fixed‐effects/random‐effects meta‐analysis.Results  Arthropod richness was significantly higher in areas of less intensive land use. The decline in arthropod richness was greater between native vegetation and agricultural land uses than among different agricultural land uses. These patterns were evident for all taxa combined, predators and decomposers, but not herbivorous taxa. Overall, arthropod abundance was greater in native vegetation than in agricultural lands and under reduced‐input cropping compared with conventional cropping. Again, this trend was largely mirrored by predators and decomposers, but not herbivores.Main conclusions  The greater arthropod richness found in native vegetation relative to agricultural land types indicates that in production landscapes still containing considerable native vegetation, retention of that vegetation may well be the most effective method of conserving arthropod biodiversity. Conversely, in highly intensified agricultural landscapes with little remaining native vegetation, the employment of reduced‐input crop management and the provision of relatively low‐intensity agricultural land uses, such as pasture, may prove effective in maintaining arthropod diversity, and potentially in promoting functionally important groups such as predators and decomposers.
Release of nickel from coins and deposition onto skin from coin handling – comparing euro coins and SEK
Authors: Lidén Carola , Skare Lizbet , Vahter Marie 
Published: June 2008

Background:  Nickel exposure is the most common cause of contact allergy. The role of contact with nickel‐containing coins has been controversial.Objectives:  To compare the release of nickel from 1 and 2 EUR coins (both composed of two alloys: Cu 75%, Zn 20%, Ni 5% and Cu 75%, Ni 25%) and Swedish 1 SEK coin (alloy: Cu 75%, Ni 25%) and to assess the deposition of nickel onto skin by coin handling.Methods:  Nickel release was determined by immersion in artificial sweat (2 min, 1 hr, 24 hr, and 1 week). Deposition of nickel onto the skin was assessed in three subjects after 1‐hr handling of 2 EUR and 1 SEK coins. Samples (n = 48) were taken from fingers and palms by acid wipe sampling and analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Results:  Amounts of nickel released by 1 week from 1 SEK, 1 EUR, and 2 EUR coins were 121, 86, and 99 μg/cm2, respectively. Corresponding 2 min values were 0.11, 0.25, and 0.22 μg/cm2. Nickel was deposited onto the skin by 1 hr coin handling (range 0.09–4.1 μg/cm2), the largest amounts were on fingers; similar amounts of nickel were deposited from 1 SEK and 2 EUR coins.Conclusions:  Nickel is released from 1 and 2 EUR and 1 SEK coins at similar amounts. Nickel is deposited onto skin at substantial and similar amounts by coin handling. Acid wipe sampling is suitable for studies of skin exposure to nickel and in risk assessment.
A prospective study comparing PlasmaKnife with bipolar dissection tonsillectomy: a preliminary communication of an emerging technology
Authors: Singh A. , Stephens J. , Ghufoor K. , Sandhu G. 
Published: June 2008

Objective:  To clinically evaluate and compare the PlasmaKnife to bipolar electrocautery in paediatric tonsillectomy.Design:  Prospective comparitive non‐randomised study.Setting:  Central London teaching hospital with tertiary referrals.Participants:  Forty‐three patients aged 3–12 years with recurrent tonsillitis or obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy awaiting a tonsillectomy were recruited into the study.Main outcome measures:  Primary outcome was throat, ear and swallowing pain scores over 2 weeks. Secondary measures included: return to normal diet, return to normal activity, analgesic requirements, operation time and intraoperative blood loss.Results:  Surgical dissection was similar between the two groups with minimal blood loss and comparable overall operative times. Median throat pain scores suggest PlasmaKnife to be less painful in the early postoperative period (at 8 h, P < 0.005) but, overall, did not quite reach statistical significance (Mann–Whitney U‐test). PlasmaKnife was similar to bipolar in all other measured categories. During the study, three secondary bleeds occurred in the PlasmaKnife group and all were managed conservatively.Conclusion:  PlasmaKnife is a safe new technology with similar outcome to the established bipolar technique. This preliminary study finds PlasmaKnife to be an interesting instrument and warrants a larger randomised study to truly evaluate the potential advantages of lowered pain and early recovery attributed to this emerging technology.
The long‐term effect of unilateral t‐tube insertion in patients undergoing cleft palate repair: 20‐year follow‐up of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hornigold R. , Morley A. , Glore R.J. , Boorman J. , Sergeant R. 
Published: June 2008

Objectives:  Between July 1984 and March 1987, all children that underwent repair for primary cleft palate at the Queen Victoria Hospital were enrolled in a clinical trial. Those found to have otitis media with effusion at time of surgery had a t‐tube inserted into one randomised ear, whilst the other ear received no treatment. The object of the study was to reassess the patients from the original trial to discover the impact of the unilateral t‐tube, twenty years later analysed on an intention to treat basis.Design:  Children that underwent primary palatal closure during the study dates were identified from the cleft palate database. Patients that were involved in the original trial were identified, contacted and invited to take part in the follow‐up study.Setting:  Tertiary referral Specialist unit.Participants:  Twenty‐two patients were identified as potential study participants. Of this group, fourteen were contactable and seven participants agreed to take part in our follow‐up study.Main outcome measures:  Persistent symptomatology, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry and tympanometry.Results:  Follow‐up results were compared within the original treatment groups from the primary study, on an intention to treat basis. Otoscopically the ears were normal in 2 of the 7 treated ears compared with four of the seven non‐treated ears. All the other ear ears had various types of chronic otitis media. Four of the seven had hearing of >10 dB in the treated ear compared with the non‐treated ear.Conclusions:  These findings would indicate need for caution in the use of t‐tubes in the cleft population and raises the question of long‐term follow‐up to assess for secondary cholesteatoma.
Sensorineural hearing loss due to Toxoplasma gondii in children: a case–control study
Authors: Noorbakhsh S. , Memari F. , Farhadi M. , Tabatabaei A. 
Published: June 2008

Objective:  Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can follow congenital toxoplasmosis. Treatment in the first year of life is associated with diminished occurrence of this sequel. In various parts of Iran, the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii ranges from 24% to 57.7%. We evaluate the possible role of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the occurrence of SNHL in children.Design and setting:  This case‐control study was performed in a tertiary care center in Tehran between 2002 and 2003. This study was carried out based on diagnostic parameters of the American Academy of Otolaryngology criteria for SNHL and a healthy control group.Main outcome measures:  We compared the specific Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (IgM & IgG) measured by ELISA in 95 blood samples of infants with SNHL and 63 healthy matched infants.Results:  Acute (IgM) and previous (IgG) immunity to Toxoplasma gondii was found in 12 and 21.2% of SNHL children, respectively. Most cases with previous infections (IgG positive) were children aged less than 1 year old (i.e. maternal immunity), but acute infection (IgM positive) was higher in 3–5 year old age group. Acute infection (IgM) was significantly more frequent in the SNHL group, and previous immunity was higher in the controls (CI 95%, P‐value = 0.01; 0.01).Conclusion:  With respect to seropositive children, as we were unable to differentiate congenital from acquired cases, we recommend prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis by treatment of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women and treatment of acquired Toxoplasma gondii infection after birth to minimise the risk of SNHL in children.
Failed voice restoration: closure of the tracheo‐oesophageal fistula
Authors: Judd O. , Bridger M. 
Published: June 2008

Keypoints

Tracheo‐oesophageal fistula and voice prosthesis have revolutionised voice rehabilitation, but are not without their complications.
The most significant problem is widening of the tracheo‐oesophageal fistula relative to the voice prosthesis and subsequent leaking.
Three‐layer surgical closure is a means of permanently closing a problematic fistula.
Use of an interposition in situ muscle graft as a second layer provides an adequate, well vascularised barrier to prevent fistula reformation. Our technique provides a safe, effective method of closing a problematic tracheo‐oesophageal fistula.
We report a five case series in which 100% of patients acquired satisfactory closure of their fistulae and resolution of their symptoms.
The role of nervus intermedius in side specific nasal responses
Authors: Nichani J.R. , Malik V. , Woolford T.J. , Ramsden R.T. , Homer J.J. 
Published: June 2008

Introduction.  Nervus intermedius (NI) dysfunction is common in patients who have had vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery.1 Such patients have a unilateral parasympathetic‐denervated nasal cavity. A number of side‐specific nasal reflexes have been demonstrated in normals, including hand cold water immersion.2 It is not understood whether these reflexes have parasympathetic or sympathic efferent pathways.Objectives.  To evaluate the side specific nasal reflex to cold‐water immersion in post‐operative VS patients with NI dysfunction, in order to determine the nature of the efferent pathway of these reflexes.Method.  The study of Wilde2 was repeated in 10 normal controls. Then a cohort observational study with internal controls was designed to evaluate the role of nasal parasympathetic innervation in patients who had unilateral VS surgery and NI dysfunction (Schirmer's test). Side specific response to cold‐water immersion was tested by acoustic rhinometry.Results.  A consistent pattern of ipsilateral congestion and contralateral decongestion after the cold water immersion was seen in normals (P < 0.001 for both responses.) We found no consistent response in 18 VS patients on testing with stimulus ipsilateral to side of NI dysfunction and contralateral (the internal control).Conclusions.  We confirm the consistent side‐specific nasal reflexes to cold water hand immersion in normals. This is disturbed in individuals following unilateral VS surgery with NI dysfunction. We have also shown that the contralateral side‐specific reflex is disturbed in these patients. These data suggest that the reflex is parasympathetic and crosses the midline.References.1 Irwing R.M., Viani L., Hardy D.G., Baguley D.M. & Moffat D.A. Nervus intermedius function after vestibular schwannoma removal: clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms. Laryngoscope 105, 809–8132 Wilde A.D. (1999) The effect of cold water immersion on the nasal mucosa. Clin. Otolaryngol. 24, 411–413
Is laryngopharyngeal reflux associated with changes in laryngeal mucosal flora?
Authors: Birchenall K.A. , Cogan T.A. , Birchall M.A. , Rees L.E.N. 
Published: June 2008

Objectives.  To determine whether laryngeal reflux (LPR) affects the population size and distribution of laryngeal mucosal flora in humans; and whether LPR alters the integrity of the laryngeal mucosa. Further, to specifically assess whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is present in the laryngeal mucosa and if LPR is associated with this.Methods.  Laryngeal mucosal biopsies were taken from patients diagnosed LPR‐positive or LPR‐negative, none of whom had laryngeal disease. Presence of bacteria and epithelial integrity were determined by: fluorescent in situ hybridisation using oligonucleotide probes specific to all Eubacteria and H. pylori; real‐time PCR specific for H. Pylori and all bacteria; and immunofluorecence using an antibody to occludin.Results.  Helicobacter pylori was discovered in all the biopsies tested – both in those taken from patients who did not have LPR and those that did – with no significant difference in its distribution between the two groups. Helicobacter pylori was found in both the epithelium and lamina propria of the laryngeal mucosa. Further, an increase in the number of total Eubacteria present in the laryngeal mucosa was found to be significantly associated with LPR (LPR mean 58.2 se 19.0 bacteria/field of view, non‐LPR mean 17.3 se 4.7; P = 0.02).Conclusions.  The association between LPR and an increase in total Eubacteria in the laryngeal mucosa presents a possible aetiology for pathological symptoms associated with LPR. The fact that H. pylori was present in all of the laryngeal mucosal biopsies has significant implications for upper airway research.