bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scrotal temperatures do not differ among young boys wearing disposable or reusable diapers
Authors: Grove G. L. , Grove M. J. , Bates N. T. , Wagman L. M. , Leyden J. J. 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims: This study investigated the effect of specific, commonly used diaper types on scrotal temperatures in normal healthy, young boys. These included both modern disposable and reusable diapers as well as various types of protective outer coverings that are in common use in both North America and EuropeMethods: Scrotal and skin surface temperatures were continuously monitored in healthy, young males using a computerized data‐logging system based on temperature probes specifically designed for paediatric studies. These systems could be used either tethered to the PC or made completely portable depending upon the age and activity of the child being measured. Based on our results from several pilot studies, it became clear that the best way to determine if disposable and reusable diapers differ with regard to their impact on scrotal temperatures is to run these comparisons under controlled laboratory conditions where ‘diaper type’ was the primary variable. A 2‐h time period was chosen to ensure that sufficient time had elapsed for thermal equilibrium to be established under the diapers. We also felt it necessary to study the impact of urination and simulated this condition over the last 15 min using standardized methods. In addition to the skin surface temperatures, we also measured the temperature of the tympanic membrane using an infrared thermometer as an estimate of ‘core’ temperature for each individual at various times during the session.Results and Conclusions: In this study, we have clearly shown that scrotal temperatures are the same whether the child is wearing disposable or reusable cloth diapers with a protective cover. The only situation in which scrotal temperatures were found to be lower is when the cloth diaper is used alone without a protective cover but this is not representative of how these products are actually used. We also found that on average scrotal temperatures are significantly lower than core for each diaper type. Occasionally, we did see individuals in which the maximal scrotal temperatures approached core temperatures but in every case the thermal sensors were soiled by a bowel movement. We also found that skin surface temperatures increased not only when covered by a diaper but also due to the thermal insulation provided by outer garments and blankets.
A non‐invasive tape absorption method for recovery of inflammatory mediators to differentiate normal from compromised scalp conditions
Authors: Perkins M. A. , Cardin C. W. , Osterhues M. A. , Robinson M. K. 
Published: March 2003

Background/aims:
A simple non‐invasive tape (SebutapeTM) adsorption method was used to recover inflammatory proteins from normal and compromised human scalp (i.e. dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis) in order to assess the inflammatory and immunologic changes relevant to these clinical conditions.Methods: The scalps of subjects identified by a dermatologist as having either dandruff (n = 18), seborrheic dermatitis (n = 19) or normal scalp (n = 16) were visually graded to obtain total adherent scalp flaking scores (TASFS). Sebutape samples were then collected from both the high and low TASFS scalp sites using a one‐minute tape application. To recover inflammatory molecules, tapes were extracted in buffered saline with sonication and the tape extracts analysed using commercial immunoassay methods for pro‐inflammatory cytokines [i.e. interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α), IL‐1β, IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra), IL‐8 and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α)] and the immunologic cytokines [i.e. IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐15 and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ)]. Nitric oxide (NO) was also assayed on tape extracts using the Greiss reaction. To account for differences in protein loading on the tapes all cytokine and NO results were normalized using the total protein (TP) amounts recovered in tape extracts.Results: The IL‐1α/TP levels recovered from dandruff and seborrheic scalps were significantly decreased (P = 0.03) compared to normal appearing scalp levels. The scalp levels of IL‐1ra/TP and the ratio of IL‐ra to IL‐1α were significantly (P = 0.002) or directionally (P = 0.07) higher in seborrheic dermatitis scalps and dandruff scalps, respectively, compared to normal scalps. The IL‐1ra and the IL‐1ra/IL‐1α ratio values correlated well with the TASFS. The TNF‐α/TP levels recovered from dandruff scalps were significantly higher (P = 0.02) than levels recovered from seborrheic dermatitis and normal scalp subjects. IL‐2/TP was significantly increased (P = 0.01) and IFN‐γ and NO significantly decreased (P = 0.05) in the seborrheic dermatitis scalp samples compared to normal controls.Conclusion: The Sebutape method has proven useful for distinguishing normal from diseased scalp conditions. The cytokines recovered from the scalp tape samples showed distinct patterns that differentiated dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and normal scalp populations. These methods may also prove useful for monitoring the clinical efficacy of therapeutic actives for treating dandruff and seborrhea.
Prevalence and classification of HIV‐associated oral lesions
Authors: Patton LL , Phelan JA , Ramos‐Gomez FJ , Nittayananta W , Shiboski CH , Mbuguye TL 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVES: An International Workshop addressed the prevalence and classification of HIV/AIDS associated oral lesions.DESIGN: Five questions provided the framework for discussion and literature review. What is the prevalence of oral lesions in children and adults? Should the accepted classification of HIV‐related oral lesions be modified in the light of recent findings? Why is there a gender difference in the prevalence of oral lesions in developed and developing countries? Are there unusual lesions present in developing countries? Is there any association between modes of transmission and the prevalence of oral lesions?RESULTS: Workshop discussion emphasized the urgent need for assistance in the development of expertise to obtain accurate global prevalence data for HIV‐associated oral lesions. Oral candidiasis has been consistently reported as the most prevalent HIV‐associated oral lesion in all ages. Penicilliosis marneffei, a newly described fungal infection, has emerged in South‐east Asia. Oral hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma appear to be associated with male gender and male‐to‐male HIV transmission risk behaviours. These lesions occur only rarely in children.CONCLUSIONS: Additional prevalence data are needed from developing countries prior to substantially altering the 1993 ECC/WHO Classification of oral lesions associated with adult HIV infection. The workshop confirmed current oral disease diagnostic criteria.
IGF‐1 and insulin receptor expression in the minor salivary gland tissues of Sjögren's syndrome and mucoceles – immunohistochemical study
Authors: Katz J , Stavropoulos F , Cohen D , Robledo J , Stewart C , Heft M 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of IGF‐1 receptors and insulin receptors on the minor salivary gland (MSG) tissues of patients diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and normal salivary gland tissue surrounding mucoceles. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five MSG tissue sections from SS and seven from mucocele patients were stained immunohistochemically using antibody to IGF‐1 receptor and insulin receptor in a horse radish peroxidase and DAB system. RESULTS: The expression of the insulin receptor was increased in the SS sections compared with controls, while the insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor was more intensely expressed in the controls. CONCLUSION: The presence of differential expression of receptors for IGF and insulin might suggest a possible role of these growth factors in the pathogenesis of SS.
Hippocampal Serotonin Responses in Short and Long Attack Latency Mice
Authors: Van Riel E. , Meijer O. C. , Veenema A. H. , Joëls M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractShort and long attack latency mice, which are selected based on their offensive behaviour in a resident–intruder model, differ in their neuroendocrine regulation as well as in aspects of their brain serotonin system. Previous studies showed that the binding capacity and expression of serotonin‐1A receptors in the hippocampal CA1 field of long attack latency mice are significantly lower than that found in short attack latency mice. We tested whether the functional responses of CA1 hippocampal cells to serotonin are also reduced in long attack latency mice. To this end, serotonin‐induced changes in the membrane potential and input resistance were recorded in vitro with microelectrodes in CA1 pyramidal neurones of long and short attack latency mice. The data show that in long attack latency mice, along with a reduction of the serotonin‐1A receptor mRNA expression, the serotonin‐induced membrane hyperpolarization and decrease in resistance are attenuated. Basal membrane properties of CA1 neurones in the two mice lines were comparable. Plasma corticosterone levels in response to a novelty stress were elevated in long compared to short attack latency mice and inversely related to the serotonin‐induced responses. We tentatively conclude that long attack latency mice show attenuated functional responses to serotonin in the hippocampus, possibly linked to a chronic perturbation of hormonal levels.
Critical role of divalent cations and Na+ efflux in Arabidopsis thaliana salt tolerance
Authors: Elphick C. H. , Sanders D. , Maathuis F. J. M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractDetrimental effects of salinity on plants are known to be partially alleviated by external Ca2+. Previous work demonstrated that the Arabidopsis SOS3 locus encodes a Ca2+‐binding protein with similarities to CnB, the regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin). In this study, we further characterized the role of SOS3 in salt tolerance. We found that reduced root elongation of sos3 mutants in the presence of high concentrations of either NaCl or LiCl is specifically rescued by Ca2+ and not Mg2+, whereas root growth is rescued by both Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the presence of high concentrations of KCl. Phenocopies of sos3 mutants were obtained in wild‐type plants by the application of calmodulin and calcineurin inhibitors. These data provide further evidence that SOS3 is a calcineurin‐like protein and that calmodulin plays an important role in the signalling pathways involved in plant salt tolerance. The origin of the elevated Na : K ratio in sos3 mutants was investigated by comparing Na+ efflux and influx in both mutant and wild type. No difference in Na+ influx was recorded between wild type and sos3; however, sos3 plants showed a markedly lower Na+ efflux, a property that would contribute to the salt‐oversensitive phenotype of sos3 plants.
Responses to different external light rhythms by the circadian rhythm of Crassulacean acid metabolism in Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Authors: Bohn A. , Geist A. , Rascher U. , Lüttge U. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTime series of net CO2 exchange (JCO2) and leaf conductivity for water vapour (gH2O) were measured and subsequently analysed mathematically in the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Hamet et Perrier de la Bâthie) under constant environmental conditions and under imposed external rhythms of lower and higher light intensity. The time series were analysed by Fourier methods and a correlation analysis considering the first time derivatives of JCO2, gH2Oand photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD). The ratio of internal to external CO2 (ci/ca) was also considered in the analysis, leading to a discussion of the interaction of stomata and carbon assimilation under periodic stimulation. It is suggested that for stimulation with frequencies close to the endogeneous circadian period, stomatal conductance and carbon assimilation oscillate synchronously, guard‐cell movements trailing behind changes in internal CO2 with a delay of 10–15 min. For stimulation frequencies far shorter than the endogeneous period, this synchrony can be disturbed due to independent responses of stomata and assimilation to light pulses, leading to an arrhythmic gas exchange pattern. These results are discussed in the context of understanding circadian oscillations as the output of a multioscillator, multisignalling pathway system on the organismic and metabolic level.
Effects of age and ontogeny on photosynthetic responses of a determinate annual plant to elevated CO2 concentrations
Authors: Lewis J. D. , Wang X. Z. , Griffin K. L. , Tissue D.T. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractPlant responses to elevated CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) may be regulated by both accelerated ontogeny and allocational changes as plants grow. However, isolating ontogeny‐related effects from age‐related effects are difficult because these factors are often confounded. In this study, the roles of age and ontogeny in photosynthetic responses to elevated [CO2] were examined on Xanthium strumarium L. grown at ambient (365 µmol mol−1) and elevated (730 µmol mol−1) [CO2]. To examine age‐related effects, six cohorts were planted at 5‐day intervals. To examine ontogeny‐related effects, all plants were induced to flower at the same time; ontogeny in Xanthium is relatively unaffected by growth in elevated [CO2]. Growth in elevated [CO2] increased net photosynthetic rates by approximately 30% throughout vegetative growth (i.e. active carbohydrate sinks), approximately 10% during flowering (i.e. minimal sink activity), and approximately 20% during fruit production (i.e. active sinks). At the harvest, the ratio of source to sink tissue significantly decreased with increasing plant age and was correlated with leaf soluble sugar concentration. Leaf soluble sugar concentration was negatively correlated with the relative photosynthetic response to elevated [CO2]. These results suggest that age and ontogeny independently affect photosynthetic responses to elevated [CO2] and the effects are mediated by reversible changes in source : sink balance.
Activation of the immune system by bacterial CpG‐DNA
Authors: Häcker Georg , Redecke Vanessa , Häcker Hans 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe past decade has seen a remarkable process of refocusing in immunology. Cells of the innate immune system, especially macrophages and dendritic cells, have been at the centre of this process. These cells had been regarded by some scientists as non‐specific, sometimes perhaps even confined to the menial job of serving T cells by scavenging antigen and presenting it to the sophisticated adaptive immune system. Only over the last few years has it become unequivocally clear that cells of the innate immunity hold, by variation of context and mode of antigen presentation, the power of shaping an adaptive immune response. The innate immune response, in turn, is to a significant degree the result of stimulation by so‐called pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). One compound with high stimulatory potential for the innate immune system is bacterial DNA. Here we will review recent evidence that bacterial DNA should be ranked with other PAMPs such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid. We will further review our present knowledge of DNA recognition and DNA‐dependent signal transduction in cells of the immune system.
Mycobacterial antigens induce apoptosis in human purified protein derivative‐specific αβ T lymphocytes in a concentration‐dependent manner
Authors: Soruri Afsaneh , Schweyer Stefan , Radzun Heinz‐Joachim , Fayyazi Afshin 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe morbidity and lethality of tuberculosis is partially the result of an ineffective delayed‐type hypersensitivity reaction which causes caseating granulomas in the lung and other organs. Recently we showed that during caseation besides macrophages numerous Fas+ FasL+ lymphocytes undergo apoptosis and postulated that this phenomenon may be due to activation‐induced cell death (AICD) as a consequence of T‐lymphocyte reactivation via bacillary antigens. As purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb‐PPD) provokes caseation in tuberculosis patients, the question arose as to whether bacillary antigens are responsible for AICD within caseous areas. In the present study Mtb‐PPD‐specific T helper 1 (Th1)‐differentiated T lymphocytes were generated in vitro. Reactivation of these cells with Mtb‐PPD resulted in a concentration‐dependent hyporesponsiveness, which was due to an increase in apoptosis of γδ+, αβ+ CD4+ as well as αβ+ CD8+ T lymphocytes as assessed by the demonstration of the apoptosis‐associated mitochondrial membrane protein 7A6 and DNA fragmentation. Blocking experiments demonstrated that Mtb‐PPD antigens exploited the Fas/FasL system to induce apoptosis in Mtb‐PPD‐specific T lymphocytes. These results may support the hypothesis that in tubercle granulomas with caseation T lymphocytes undergo AICD following reactivation by bacillary antigens, thus contributing to the persistence of tuberculosis.
Evans Blue Dye as an in vivo marker of myofibre damage: optimising parameters for detecting initial myofibre membrane permeability
Authors: Hamer P. W. , McGeachie J. M. , Davies M. J. , Grounds M. D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractEvans Blue Dye (EBD) is widely used to study cellular membrane permeability and has recently been utilised in mdx mice to identify permeable skeletal myofibres that have become damaged as a result of muscular dystrophy. EBD has the potential to be a useful vital stain of myofibre permeability in other models of skeletal muscle injury and membrane‐associated fragility. The parameters for its use for such purposes were optimised in the present study. Of particular interest is the use of EBD to identify the onset of muscle damage. This study compared intravenous vs. intraperitoneal injection; tissue fixation; volume of EBD; time of availability in tissue; and persistence after injection in mdx mice (with endogenous muscle damage) and control mice. Satisfactory labelling of permeable myofibres was seen in frozen sections viewed with fluorescence microscopy when intraperitoneal injection of a 1% EBD solution injected at 1% volume relative to body mass was administered between 16 and 24 h prior to tissue sampling. EBD labelling was then assessed in three mouse models of experimental injury and repair – cut injury, whole muscle grafts, and exercise‐induced muscle damage. These experiments demonstrated that (i) following a cut injury across myofibres, EBD penetrated up to 150 µm from the injury site over a 20‐h period; (ii) EBD was present throughout myofibres of avascular whole muscle graft by one day after transplantation; and (iii) damaged myofibres were detected within 20 min after controlled lengthening–contraction exercise. This simple and inexpensive technique has sensitivity for the detection of increased myofibre permeability and/or sublethal damage that has advantages over other traditional histological techniques at the light microscopy level.
Ultrastructural analysis of pancreatic acinar cells from mice fed on genetically modified soybean
Authors: Malatesta Manuela , Caporaloni Chiara , Rossi Luigia , Battistelli Serafina , Rocchi Marco B. L. , Tonucci Francesco , Gazzanelli Giancarlo 
Published: March 2003

AbstractNo direct evidence that genetically modified (GM) food may represent a possible danger for health has been reported so far; however, the scientific literature in this field is quite poor. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of a diet containing GM soybean on mouse exocrine pancreas by means of ultrastructural, morphometrical and immunocytochemical analyses. Our observations demonstrate that, although no structural modification occurs in pancreatic acinar cells of mice fed on GM soybean, quantitative changes of some cellular constituents take place in comparison to control animals. In particular, a diet containing significant amount of GM food seems to influence the zymogen synthesis and processing.
Weak cross‐species relationships between body size and trophic level belie powerful size‐based trophic structuring in fish communities
Authors: Jennings Simon , Pinnegar John K. , Polunin Nicholas V. C. , Boon Trevor W. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryBody size determines rates of respiration and production, energy requirements, mortality rates, patterns of predation and vulnerability to mortality. Body size distributions are often used to describe structure and energy flux in communities and ecosystems.If clear relationships can be established between body size and trophic level in fishes, they may provide a basis for integrating community and ecosystem analyses based on size spectra, food webs and life histories.We investigated relationships between the body sizes (weight and length) of north‐east Atlantic fishes and their trophic level. The abundance of15N, as determined by stable isotope analysis, was used as an index of trophic level.Cross‐species and comparative analyses demonstrated that body size was unrelated or weakly related to trophic level. Thus allometric relationships between body size and trophic level could not be used to predict the trophic structure of fish communities.The results of the cross‐species analyses contrasted with patterns in the size and trophic structure of entire fish communities. When fish communities were divided into size classes, there were strong positive relationships between size class and trophic level. The slope suggested a mean predator : prey body mass ratio of 80 : 1.Our results suggest that body size does not provide a useful surrogate of trophic level for individual species, but that body size is an excellent predictor of trophic level within the community, providing an empirical basis for integrating community analyses based on models of trophic structure and body size distributions.