bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different cytokine production and activation marker profiles in circulating cutaneous‐lymphocyte‐associated antigen+ T cells from patients with acute or chronic atopic dermatitis
Authors: Antúnez C. , Torres M. J. , Mayorga C. , Cornejo‐García J. A. , Santamaría‐Babi L. F. , Blanca M. 
Published: April 2004

SummaryBackground  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease whose lesions can have two stages: acute and chronic. In skin biopsies a biphasic pattern of cytokine expression has been shown, Th2 in acute lesions and Th1 in chronic AD lesions.Objective  We investigated the expression of an activation marker and a homing receptor, as well as cytokine production, in different peripheral blood T cell subpopulations from AD patients with chronic (Group A) and acute lesions (Group B) and controls.Methods  We evaluated 26 adult AD patients (12 Group A, 14 Group B) and 14 non‐atopic controls. IgE was measured by immunoassay. CD4, CD8, cutaneous‐lymphocyte‐associated antigen (CLA) and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR expression, and cytokine production (IL‐2, IL‐13, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐10, IL‐4) were analysed in mononuclear cells by flow cytometry.Results  In Group B there was a significant increase in eosinophil levels and a non‐significant increase in IgE. In Group A we found an increase in CLA+CD4+ cells (8.19±1.84) compared with controls (4.83±0.53) (P<0.05) and CD4+HLA‐DR+ cells in the CLA+ subpopulation (45.54±15.40) compared with controls (30.49±6.07) (P<0.05). In the CLA+CD4+ subpopulation, there was a significant increase in IL‐4, IL‐13 and TNF‐α production in Group B (12.46±7.7, 11.26±5.97, 43.92±15.55) compared with controls (5.34±3.50, 4.54±1.78, 19.29±9.97) with no differences in Group A.Conclusion  Greater immunological differences were detected in peripheral blood from patients with acute compared with chronic lesions, especially in the circulating T cell‐subset with skin tropism that preferentially responded to cutaneous allergens. This is the first demonstration of phenotypic changes in circulating CLA+ T cells between AD patients with acute and chronic lesions.
Burden of allergic disease in the UK: secondary analyses of national databases
Authors: Gupta R. , Sheikh A. , Strachan D. P. , Anderson H. R. 
Published: April 2004

SummaryBackground
Although allergy represents an important source of patient morbidity and healthcare utilization, there is little reliable information on the overall disease burden posed by allergic conditions in the UK.Objectives
Focusing on the following conditions: allergic rhinitis, anaphylaxis, asthma, conjunctivitis, eczema/dermatitis, food allergy and urticaria/angioedema, we sought to (i) describe the prevalence, incidence and outcomes of allergic disorders; (ii) describe the NHS healthcare burden posed by allergic disorders; (iii) estimate the costs of allergic disorders from a healthcare perspective.Methods
Secondary analyses of data from the Health Survey for England, Scottish Health Survey, International Study of Allergies and Asthma in Childhood, European Community Respiratory Health Survey, Morbidity Statistics from General Practice 1991/1992, Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service, Prescribing Analysis and Cost data, Hospital Episodes Statistics and national mortality data.Results
Thirty‐nine percent of children and 30% of adults have been diagnosed with one or more atopic conditions. Six percent of general practice consultations and 0.8% of hospital admissions are for allergic diseases. Treatments for asthma and other allergic disorders currently account for 10% of primary care prescribing costs. Direct NHS costs for managing allergic problems are estimated at over one billion UK pounds per annum.Conclusions
Allergic disorders are common throughout the UK, affecting males and females of all ages and peoples from all social classes and ethnic groups. They currently represent a substantial burden of morbidity and health service cost.
Relationship of airway symptoms from chemicals to capsaicin cough sensitivity in atopic subjects
Authors: Millqvist E. , Johansson Å. , Bende M. 
Published: April 2004

SummaryBackground
It is well known that some patients with allergy complain of airway symptoms from chemicals (ASCs) and strong odours. However, the importance of such information for the treatment of allergic disease is not known. Such symptoms in non‐allergic patients have previously been shown to be related to increased sensory nerve reactivity, which is expressed as increased cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin.Objective
The aim of this study was to examine ASC in atopic patients and relate it to cough reaction to capsaicin inhalation.Materials and methods
Fifty‐seven consecutively chosen, skin prick‐positive patients with symptoms of the upper and/or lower airways completed a questionnaire concerning ASC. The patients were then divided into two groups, those with and those without such symptoms. Both groups were provoked with inhaled capsaicin in three increments and compared with 73 healthy control subjects.Results
Out of 57 atopic patients, 34 reported ASC agents and 23 did not. The patients with ASC were older (P<0.01) and coughed significantly more on capsaicin provocation (P<0.001), but did not differ from them with respect to the allergic disease or its treatment or to smoking habits. Patients with atopy but without ASC did not differ from healthy controls with regard to sensitivity to capsaicin inhalation. The scored degree of ASC was directly related to the number of coughs during the capsaicin provocation.Conclusion
ASC in atopic patients are related to increased airway sensory nerve reactivity. There is still no explanation for this in certain patients with atopy, but age may be a confounding factor.
Potato tuber proteins efficiently inhibit human faecal proteolytic activity: implications for treatment of peri‐anal dermatitis
Authors: Ruseler‐van Embden J. G. H. , Van Lieshout L. M. C. , Smits S. A. , Van Kessel I. , Laman J. D. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground  Frequent diarrhoea after intestinal resections and faecal incontinence in healthy infants may lead to perianal injury. A causative agent may be a high concentration of pancreatic proteases in faeces. The aim of the present study was to assess whether protease inhibitors are applicable for treating and preventing peri‐anal dermatitis by inhibiting the initial cause of the inflammation, the faecal proteases.Design  Proteolytic activity was estimated in faeces of subjects frequently suffering from peri‐anal dermatitis: patients with intestinal resections and healthy infants. The development of perianal dermatitis was studied after the construction of a reservoir with ileoanal anastomosis. The inhibitory effect of crude and partly purified potato juice on proteolytic activity of faecal output from patients with intestinal resections and healthy infants was investigated in vitro and in vivo (skin tests).Results  Faecal protease activity in faeces from patients with intestinal resections and healthy infants was found to be significantly higher than in healthy adults. After the construction of an ileum reservoir, 46 of 48 patients developed a protease‐related peri‐anal dermatitis. The partly purified protein fraction from potatoes inhibited the larger part of faecal proteases in vitro and completely prevented skin irritation by pancreatic proteases dissolved in sterilized faecal fluid, in a 24‐h skin test, on the back of healthy human volunteers.Conclusions  Potato proteins contain protease inhibitors, which suppress almost the complete proteolytic activity in faeces. Topical application of potato protease inhibitors might be a novel approach in preventing protease‐induced peri‐anal dermatitis, and therapeutic studies are needed to confirm our results.
Rat duodenal IRP1 activity and iron absorption in iron deficiency and after H2O2 perfusion
Authors: Schümann K. , Brennan K. , Weiss M. , Pantopoulos K. , Hentze M. W. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBackground  Iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1), a post‐transcriptional regulator of iron metabolism, is activated in the duodenum of iron‐deficient animals, which is associated with increased iron absorption. In cell cultures IRP1 was also activated by iron‐independent signals, such as H2O2. Here we investigate whether luminal perfusion of rat duodenum with H2O2 activates duodenal IRP1 and modulates duodenal iron absorption.Methods  Duodena from iron‐adequate Sprague‐Dawley rats were luminally perfused with H2O2. Iron regulatory protein‐1 activity was determined in duodenal mucosa or in villus and crypt preparations by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Duodenal 59Fe absorption was measured in isolated, perfused duodenal segments ex vivo and in ligated loops in vivo. 59Fe uptake from the blood side was assessed after i.v. injection of 59Fe‐nitrilotriacetic acid.Results  Similar to iron deficiency, the perfusion with 0–50 mM of H2O2 increases duodenal IRP1 activity along the entire crypt villus‐axis in a dose‐dependent manner. After H2O2 treatment, IRP1 remains activated for 12–24 h in the tips and for 72 h in the crypts. In iron‐deficiency, IRP activation correlates with increased 59Fe absorption. However, the H2O2 treatment fails to stimulate any increase in 59Fe uptake, without promoting damage of mucosal architecture or impairing glucose and water transport.Conclusion  Duodenal 59Fe uptake is not affected by the H2O2‐mediated activation of IRP1.
Identification of Enterococcci isolated from canals of root filled teeth with periapical lesions and their antimicrobial susceptibility to different antibiotics
Authors: Pinheiro E. T. , Gomes B. P. F. A. , Drucker D. B. 
Published: April 2004

Aim  The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Enterococcus spp. in root filled teeth with periapical lesions and the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates.Methodology  Sixty teeth with failed root canal treatment were included in the study. During nonsurgical endodontic retreatment, the root filling material was removed and the canals were sampled and microbiologically examined. Enterococcus ssp. isolates were tested for their antibiotic susceptibilities using the E‐test system (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden). The following antibiotics were used: benzylpenicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid, erythromycin, azithromycin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin. The strains were also tested for β‐lactamase production with nitrocefin (Oxoid, Hampshire, England).Results  Microorganisms were recovered from 51 of 60 teeth. Enterococcus faecalis was recovered from 27 of the 51 canals with bacteria, 18 times in pure culture. All strains were susceptible to penicillins; however, the MICs of amoxicillin and amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid (MIC90 = 0.75 µg mL−1) were lower than that for benzylpenicillin (MIC90 = 3.0 µg mL−1). All strains studied were also susceptible to vancomycin and moxifloxacin, while 95.2% were susceptible to chloramphenicol. Among the isolates, 85.7% were susceptible to tetracycline and doxycycline, and 80.9% to ciprofloxacin. The MIC of erythromycin ranged from 0.38 to >256 µg mL−1; only 28.5% of the strains were susceptible (MIC ≤ 0.5 µg mL−1). Limited susceptibility was also observed with azithromycin, which was active against only 14.2% of isolates. No strains produced β‐lactamase.Conclusions  Enterococcus faecalis was present in a large number of canals in teeth with failed root fillings and were completely susceptible, in vitro, to amoxicillin, amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid, vancomycin and moxifloxacin. Most isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, doxycycline or ciprofloxacin. Erythromycin and azithromycin were least effective. (Supported by the Brazilian agencies FAPESP 00/13686‐8, 00/13689‐7; CNPq 520277/99‐6 and CAPES BEX2449/02‐1).
Group‐specific polymerase chain reaction for DNA‐based analysis of species diversity and identity in dietary samples
Authors: Jarman S. N. , Deagle B. E. , Gales N. J. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractUnique DNA sequences are present in all species and can be used as biomarkers for the detection of cells from that species. These DNA sequences can most easily be detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which allows very small quantities of target DNA sequence to be amplified even when the target is mixed with large amounts of nontarget DNA. PCR amplification of DNA markers that are present in a wide range of species has proven very useful for studies of species diversity in environmental samples. The taxonomic range of species to be identified from environmental samples may often need to be restricted to simplify downstream analyses and to ensure that less abundant sequences are amplified. Group‐specific PCR primer sets are one means of specifying the range of taxa that produce an amplicon in a PCR. We have developed a range of group‐specific PCR primers for studying the prey diversity found in predator stomach contents and scats. These primers, their design and their application to studying prey diversity and identity in predator diet are described.
Differentiation in a geographical mosaic of plants coevolving with ants: phylogeny of theLeonardoxa africanacomplex (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae) using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers
Authors: Brouat C. , Mckey D. , Douzery E. J. P. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractComprising four allopatric subspecies that exhibit various grades of ant–plant interactions, from diffuse to obligate and symbiotic associations, theLeonardoxa africanacomplex (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) provides a good opportunity to investigate the evolutionary history of ant–plant mutualisms. A previous study of theL. africanacomplex based on chloroplast DNA noncoding sequences revealed a lack of congruence between clades suggested by morphological and plastid characters. In this study, we analysed phylogenetic relationships within theL. africanacomplex using a Bayesian probability approach on amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. The results reported permit partial validation of the four subspecies ofL. africanapreviously defined by morphological and ecological markers. Incongruences between phylogenies based on chloroplast DNA and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers are discussed in the light of morphological and ecological data, and confronted with hypotheses of convergence, lineage sorting and introgression.
Long‐distance seed dispersal in a metapopulation ofBanksia hookerianainferred from a population allocation analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphism data
Authors: He Tianhua , Krauss Siegfried L. , Lamont Byron B. , Miller Ben P. , Enright Neal J. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThere is currently a poor understanding of the nature and extent of long‐distance seed dispersal, largely due to the inherent difficulty of detection. New statistical approaches and molecular markers offer the potential to accurately address this issue. A log‐likelihood population allocation test (aflpop) was applied to a plant metapopulation to characterize interpopulation seed dispersal.Banksia hookerianais a fire‐killed shrub, restricted to sandy dune crests in fire‐prone shrublands of the Eneabba sandplain, southwest Australia. Population genetic variation was assessed for 221 individuals sampled from 21 adjacent dune‐crest populations ofB. hookerianausing amplified fragment length polymorphism. Genetic diversity was high, with 175 of 183 (96%) amplified fragment length polymorphism markers polymorphic. Of the total genetic diversity, 8% was partitioned among populations byamovaandFST. There was no relationship between genetic diversity within populations and population demographic parameters such as population size and sample size. A population allocation test on these data unambiguously assigned 177 of 221 (80.1%) individuals to a single population. Of these, 171 (77.4% of total) were assigned to the population from which they were sampled and 6 (2.7% of total) were assigned to a known population other than the one from which they were sampled. A further 9 (4.1% of total) were assigned to outside the sampled metapopulation area, and 35 individuals (15.8%) could not be assigned unambiguously to any particular population. These results suggest that both the extent [15 of 221 (6.8%) individuals originating from a population other than the one in which they occur] and distance (1.6 to > 2.5 km), of seed dispersal between dune‐crest populations is greater than expected from previous studies. The extent of long‐distance interpopulation seed dispersal observed provides a basis for explaining the survival of populations of the fire‐killedB. hookerianain a landscape experiencing frequent fire, where local extinctions and recolonizations may be a regular occurrence.
Comparison of different nuclear DNA markers for estimating intraspecific genetic diversity in plants
Authors: Nybom Hilde 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA compilation was made of 307 studies using nuclear DNA markers for evaluating among‐ and within‐population diversity in wild angiosperms and gymnosperms. Estimates derived by the dominantly inherited markers (RAPD, AFLP, ISSR) are very similar and may be directly comparable. STMS analysis yields almost three times higher values for within‐population diversity whereas among‐population diversity estimates are similar to those derived by the dominantly inherited markers. Number of sampled plants per population and number of scored microsatellite DNA alleles are correlated with some of the population genetics parameters. In addition, maximum geographical distance between sampled populations has a strong positive effect on among‐population diversity. As previously verified with allozyme data, RAPD‐ and STMS‐based analyses show that long‐lived, outcrossing, late successional taxa retain most of their genetic variability within populations. By contrast, annual, selfing and/or early successional taxa allocate most of the genetic variability among populations. Estimates for among‐ and within‐population diversity, respectively, were negatively correlated. The only major discrepancy between allozymes and STMS on the one hand, and RAPD on the other hand, concerns geographical range; within‐population diversity was strongly affected when the former methods were used but not so in the RAPD‐based studies. Direct comparisons between the different methods, when applied to the same plant material, indicate large similarities between the dominant markers and somewhat lower similarity with the STMS‐based data, presumably due to insufficient number of analysed microsatellite DNA loci in many studies.
Temporal and spatial genetic structure in Vitellaria paradoxa (shea tree) in an agroforestry system in southern Mali
Authors: Allaye Kelly Bokary , Hardy Olivier , Bouvet Jean‐Marc 
Published: April 2004

AbstractTen microsatellite loci were used to investigate the impact of human activity on the spatial and temporal genetic structure of Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae), a parkland tree species in agroforestry systems in southern Mali. Two stands (forest and fallow) and three cohorts (adults, juveniles and natural regeneration) in each stand were studied to: (i) compare their levels of genetic diversity (gene diversity, HE; allelic richness, Rs; and inbreeding, FIS); (ii) assess their genetic differentiation (FST); and (iii) compare their levels of spatial genetic structuring. Gene diversity parameters did not vary substantially among stands or cohorts, and tests for bottleneck events were nonsignificant. The inbreeding coefficients were not significantly different from zero in most cases (FIS = −0.025 in forest and 0.045 in fallow), suggesting that the species is probably outbreeding. There was a weak decrease in FIS with age, suggesting inbreeding depression. Differentiation of stands within each cohort was weak (FST = 0.026, 0.0005, 0.010 for adults, juveniles and regeneration, respectively), suggesting extensive gene flow. Cohorts within each stand were little differentiated (FST = −0.001 and 0.001 in forest and fallow, respectively). The spatial genetic structure was more pronounced in fallow than in forest where adults showed no spatial structuring. In conclusion, despite the huge influence of human activity on the life cycle of Vitellaria paradoxa growing in parkland systems, the impact on the pattern of genetic variation at microsatellite loci appears rather limited, possibly due to the buffering effect of extensive gene flow between unmanaged and managed populations.
No apparent reduction of gene flow in a hybrid zone between the West and North European karyotypic groups of the common shrew, Sorex araneus
Authors: Andersson A.‐C. , Narain Y. , Tegelström H. , Fredga K. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe common shrew, Sorex araneus, exhibits an unusually high level of karyotypic variation. Populations with identical or similar karyotypes are defined as chromosome races, which are, in turn, grouped into larger evolutionary units, karyotypic groups. Using six microsatellite markers, we investigated the genetic structure of a hybrid zone between the Sidensjö and Abisko chromosome races, representatives of two distinct karyotypic groups believed to have been separated during the last glacial maximum, the West European karyotypic group (western group) and the North European karyotypic group (northern group), respectively. Significant FST values among populations suggest some weak genetic structure. All hierarchical levels show similar levels of genetic differentiation, equivalent to levels of genetic structure in several intraracial studies of common shrew populations from central Europe. Notably, genetic differentiation was of the same order of magnitude between and within karyotypic groups. Although the genetic differentiation was weak, the correlation between genetic and geographical distance was positive and significant, suggesting that the genetic variation observed between populations is a function of geographical distance rather than racial origin. Hence, considerable chromosomal differences do not seem to prevent extensive gene flow.
Genetic diversity andWolbachiainfection of theDrosophilaparasitoidLeptopilina clavipesin western Europe
Authors: Pannebakker Bart A. , Zwaan Bas J. , Beukeboom Leo W. , Van Alphen Jacques J. M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractWolbachiaare maternally transmitted bacteria that alter their arthropod hosts’ reproduction in various ways, including parthenogenesis induction (PI).Wolbachia‐induced parthenogenesis can have drastic effects on the genetic structure of its host because it potentially reduces populations to clones without genetic exchange. However,Wolbachia‐induced parthenogenesis does not inevitably result in a reduction of genetic variation of infected populations vs. uninfected populations, because the parthenogenetic populations are initially derived from uninfected populations and can thus show similar genetic variation. Here we investigate these issues in infected and uninfected populations of theDrosophilaparasitoidLeptopilina clavipesin western Europe. Wasps from 19 sites in the Netherlands, France and northern Spain were screened forWolbachiaand analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. All the populations from the Netherlands and mid‐France were infected with the same two strains ofWolbachia, whereas populations from the Pyrenees were not infected. The infected and uninfected populations show identical levels of genetic variation, but have clearly diverged genetically, indicating the presence of a barrier that prevents gene flow. Within the infected wasps two distinct genotypes were found at multiple localities, indicating the coexistence of multiple clones. The conditions promoting clonal coexistence inL. clavipesare discussed.