bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of itraconazole as a combined continuous/pulse therapy in feline dermatophytosis: preliminary results in nine cases
Authors: Colombo S. , Cornegliani L. , Vercelli A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThis study evaluated the efficacy of itraconazole as a combined continuous/pulse therapy for feline dermatophytosis. Nine cats with dermatophytosis caused byMicrosporum caniswere treated with itraconazole at 10 mg kg−1orally once daily for 28 days and then on an alternate week regimen (1 week off, 1 week on) at the same dosage. Cats were re‐evaluated by physical examination and fungal culture at days 28, 42, 56 and 70 if necessary. Treatment was stopped when two consecutive negative fungal cultures were obtained. Eight cats were cured after 56 days, with two negative cultures obtained at days 28 and 42. In one case, a positive culture was obtained at day 28, but negative cultures were achieved at days 42 and 56. This protocol appears to be effective in the treatment of feline dermatophytosis, although these preliminary results should be confirmed by a controlled study.
Photosynthesis nuclear genes generally lack TATA‐boxes: a tobacco photosystem I gene responds to light through an initiator
Authors: Nakamura Masayuki , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Obokata Junichi 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe promoter architecture of the nuclear‐encoded photosystem I genes was studied using a tobacco gene, psaDb, as a model case. Linker scanning mutations revealed that the psaDb promoter does not have a TATA box. Instead, pyrimidine‐rich Initiator (Inr) elements that overlap the transcription start sites are essential for light‐responsive transcription of this gene. When the psaDb promoter was mutated to have a TATA‐box but no Inr, light‐responsive transcription was impaired, indicating that the regulatory system of this gene prefers Inr to a TATA box. As very little is known about plant TATA‐less promoters, we subsequently examined whether this promoter architecture is unique to psaDb. Computer analysis of 232 plant promoters revealed surprising features; the majority of photosynthesis nuclear genes lacked TATA boxes, although the frequency of the TATA‐less promoters in non‐photosynthesis genes was less than 10%. These results strongly suggest that TATA‐independent transcription mechanisms play important roles in the regulated expression of photosynthesis nuclear genes.
Selenate‐resistant mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana identify Sultr1;2, a sulfate transporter required for efficient transport of sulfate into roots
Authors: Shibagaki Nakako , Rose Alan , McDermott Jeffrey P. , Fujiwara Toru , Hayashi Hiroaki , Yoneyama Tadakatsu , Davies John P. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryTo investigate how plants acquire and assimilate sulfur from their environment, we isolated and characterized two mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana deficient in sulfate transport. The mutants are resistant to selenate, a toxic analogue of sulfate. They are allelic to each other and to the previously isolated sel1 (selenate‐resistant) mutants, and have been designated sel1‐8 and sel1‐9. Root elongation in these mutants is less sensitive to selenate than in wild‐type plants. Sulfate uptake into the roots is impaired in the mutants under both sulfur‐sufficient and sulfur‐deficient conditions, but transport of sulfate to the shoot is not affected. The sel1 mutants contain lesions in the sulfate transporter gene Sultr1;2 located on the lower arm of chromosome 1. The sel1‐1, sel1‐3 and sel1‐8 mutants contain point mutations in the coding sequences of Sultr1;2, while the sel1‐9 mutant has a T‐DNA insertion in the Sultr1;2 promoter. The Sultr1;2 cDNA derived from wild‐type plants is able to complement Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in sulfate transport, but the Sultr1;2 cDNA from sel1‐8 is not. The Sultr1;2 gene is expressed mainly in roots, and accumulation of transcripts increases during sulfate deprivation. Examination of transgenic plants containing the Sultr1;2 promoter fused to the GUS‐reporter gene indicates that Sultr1;2 is expressed mainly in the root cortex, the root tip and lateral roots. Weaker expression of the reporter gene was observed in hydathodes, guard cells and auxiliary buds of leaves, and in anthers and the basal parts of flowers. The results indicate that Sultr1;2 is primarily involved in importing sulfate from the environment into the root.
Detailed three‐dimensional fetal echocardiography facilitated by an Internet link
Authors: Michailidis G. D. , Simpson J. M. , Karidas C. , Economides D. L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectivesTo assess whether a complete virtual cardiological examination can be achieved in stored three‐dimensional volumes of the fetal heart, transmitted to a tertiary fetal cardiology center via the Internet.MethodsThirty sequential normal singleton pregnancies were included in the study. Four cardiac volumes were acquired using a three‐dimensional ultrasound system. The volumes were sent via the Internet to a tertiary fetal cardiology center, where a detailed fetal cardiac examination was attempted using the three‐dimensional volumetric dataset.ResultsThe median gestational age was 24 (range, 22–28) weeks. A complete heart examination was accomplished in 23 of 30 cases (76.7%; 95% confidence interval, 58–90%). The four‐chamber view and the cardiac situs were seen in all cases. The right ventricular outflow tract was seen in 29 (96.7%) cases and the left ventricular outflow tract in 25 (83.3%) cases. The long‐axis view of the aortic arch, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and pulmonary veins were visualized in more than 80% of cases. The mean time of volume acquisition was 9.5 (standard deviation, 2.3) min and the mean examination time by the fetal cardiologist was 17 (standard deviation, 4.8) min.ConclusionsThese preliminary results demonstrate that a three‐dimensional virtual examination of the fetal heart is possible. There are limitations such as the lack of flow and functional information but complete ascertainment of the main cardiac connections was possible in the majority of cases. The use of an Internet link has major implications, particularly for situations in which the scanning center is geographically remote from the tertiary referral center. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Early prenatal sonographic diagnosis and follow‐up of Jeune syndrome
Authors: Den Hollander N. S. , Robben S. G. F. , Hoogeboom A. J. M. , Niermeijer M. F. , Wladimiroff J. W. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractJeune syndrome or asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia is an autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia. It is one of the six short‐rib (polydactyly) syndromes. The disease has a wide spectrum of manifestations, ranging from a latent to a mild or lethal condition. We describe the prenatal sonographic diagnosis of Jeune syndrome at 14 weeks of gestation in a fetus at risk for this condition, and the development of the syndrome throughout the pregnancy. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Multicenter screening for pre‐eclampsia and fetal growth restriction by transvaginal uterine artery Doppler at 23 weeks of gestation
Authors: Papageorghiou A. T. , Yu C. K. H. , Bindra R. , Pandis G. , Nicolaides K. H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the value of transvaginal color Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries at 23 weeks of gestation in predicting the subsequent development of pre‐eclampsia and fetal growth restriction.Patients and methodsWomen with singleton pregnancies attending for routine ultrasound examination at 23 weeks in any one of seven hospitals underwent Doppler assessment of the uterine arteries. The presence of an early diastolic notch in the waveform was noted, and the mean pulsatility index of the two arteries was calculated. Screening characteristics in the prediction of pre‐eclampsia and the delivery of a low birth‐weight infant were calculated.ResultsDoppler examination of the uterine arteries was attempted in 8335 consecutive singleton pregnancies, satisfactory waveforms were obtained from both vessels in 8202 (98.4%) cases and complete outcome data were available in 7851 (95.7%) of these. The mean gestational age was 23 (range, 22–24) weeks. The mean uterine artery pulsatility index did not change significantly with gestation (r = –0.0078; P = 0.483); the median value was 1.04 and the 95th centile was 1.63. In 9.3% of cases early diastolic notches in the waveform from both uterine arteries were present and in an additional 11.1% of cases there were notches unilaterally. Pre‐eclampsia with fetal growth restriction occurred in 42 (0.5%) cases, pre‐eclampsia without fetal growth restriction in 71 (0.9%) and fetal growth restriction without pre‐eclampsia in 698 (8.9%). The sensitivity of increased pulsatility index above the 95th centile (1.63) for pre‐eclampsia with fetal growth restriction was 69%, for pre‐eclampsia without fetal growth restriction was 24%, for fetal growth restriction without pre‐eclampsia was 13%, for pre‐eclampsia irrespective of fetal growth restriction was 41% and for fetal growth restriction irrespective of pre‐eclampsia was 16%. The sensitivity of fetal growth restriction defined by the 5th rather than the 10th centile was higher (19% vs. 16%). The sensitivity for both pre‐eclampsia and fetal growth restriction was inversely related to the gestational age at delivery; when delivery occurred before 32 weeks, the sensitivity for all cases of pre‐eclampsia with fetal growth restriction, pre‐eclampsia without fetal growth restriction and fetal growth restriction without pre‐eclampsia increased to 93%, 80% and 56%, respectively. The sensitivity of bilateral notches in predicting pre‐eclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction was similar to that of increased pulsatility index but the screen‐positive rate with notches (9.3%) was much higher than that with increased pulsatility index (5.1%).ConclusionsA one‐stage color Doppler screening program at 23 weeks identifies most women who subsequently develop severe pre‐eclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Incidence of major structural cardiac defects associated with increased nuchal translucency but normal karyotype
Authors: Ghi T. , Huggon I. C. , Zosmer N. , Nicolaides K. H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between increased nuchal translucency thickness and major cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses.SettingTertiary referral unit for fetal medicine and fetal cardiology.MethodsDuring a 4‐year period (January 1997 to January 2001), detailed echocardiography was performed in 1319 chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10–14 weeks of gestation. The incidence of major cardiac defects was examined in relation to the fetal NT at the 10–14‐week scan.ResultsMajor cardiac defects were diagnosed in 60 (4.5%) of the 1319 fetuses. In fetuses with a nuchal translucency thickness in the range of 2.5–3.4 mm, the incidence of major cardiac defects was 2.5% (18/722; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–3.9) and in those with a nuchal translucency thickness ≥ 3.5 mm, it was 7% (42/597; 95% confidence interval, 5.1–9.4).ConclusionSpecialist echocardiography is indicated in all fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness because, in such fetuses, the incidence of major cardiac defects is substantially higher than in pregnancies with maternal diabetes, family history and exposure to drugs, where fetal echocardiography is widely considered to be necessary.Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Absence of the ductus venosus: report of 10 new cases and review of the literature
Authors: Contratti G. , Banzi C. , Ghi T. , Perolo A. , Pilu G. , Visentin A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the clinical significance of the absence of the ductus venosus.DesignA retrospective study with a review of the literature.MethodsThe archives of our ultrasound laboratory and the English literature were searched for cases with a prenatal diagnosis of absence of the fetal ductus venosus.ResultsBetween 1985 and 2000, 10 fetuses were diagnosed in our center as having absence of the ductus venosus. The review of the literature revealed 23 cases. Three main patterns of abnormal venous circulation were documented: (1) umbilical vein bypassing the liver and connecting directly to the right atrium (46%); (2) umbilical vein bypassing the liver and connecting to the inferior vena cava mostly through one of the iliac veins (25%); (3) umbilical vein connecting to the portal circulation without giving rise to the ductus venosus (21%). Major anomalies, including chromosomal aberrations, were found in 8/33 (24%) cases. Hydrops developed in 11/33 (33%) cases. Twenty fetuses with isolated absence of the ductus venosus were delivered, and 5 (20%) died. The portal vein was found to be absent in half of the infants examined after birth.ConclusionsOur results and the review of literature suggest that absence of the ductus venosus is associated with a high incidence of fetal anomalies and adverse outcomes, including associated malformations, chromosomal aberrations, in utero heart failure and absence of the portal vein. Heart failure and absence of the portal vein seem particularly frequent when absence of the ductus venosus is associated with a connection of the umbilical vein to either the inferior vena cava or the right atrium.Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Value of sonomorphological criteria of the endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding: a multivariate analysis
Authors: Randelzhofer B. , Prömpeler H. J. , Sauerbrei W. , Madjar H. , Emons G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveThis study was performed to examine whether an improvement in the transvaginal sonographic evaluation of the endometrium is possible by the addition of sonomorphological criteria to the measurement of endometrial thickness in women with postmenopausal bleeding.MethodsVarious sonomorphological criteria were analyzed prospectively in 321 patients with postmenopausal bleeding. In a logistic regression model relevant criteria were selected and a diagnostic formula for differentiation of endometrial sonographic findings was derived.ResultsThe criteria of endometrial structure, endometrial–myometrial border and endometrial thickness were significant for the differentiation of malignancy. These results allowed an estimation of the probability of malignancy for each sonographic endometrial finding. Using the cut‐off point of 0.1 for the probability of malignancy, the sensitivity and specificity were 96.8% and 61.9%, respectively, with an accuracy of 72.3%. In contrast, the differentiation by endometrial thickness as the sole criterion (cut‐off point ≥5 mm) achieved a sensitivity of 97.9% and a specificity of 33.2%, with an accuracy of 52.3%.ConclusionA useful diagnostic formula based on sonomorphological and metric criteria for endometrial differentiation was obtained. The specificity and accuracy increased with a minimal loss of sensitivity. However, estimates for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy may be overoptimistic because they were derived from the same data used for development of the model. Copyright © 2002 ISUOG
Molecular characterization of three gut genes from Glossina morsitans morsitans: cathepsin B, zinc‐metalloprotease and zinc‐carboxypeptidase
Authors: Yan J. , Cheng Q. , Li C.‐B. , Aksoy S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractInsect gut enzymes are involved in digestion of dietary proteins. Additionally, these enzymes have been implicated in the process of pathogen establishment in several insects including the tsetse fly (Diptera:Glossinidae), which is the vector for African trypanosomes. Both the male and female tsetse can transmit trypanosomes and are strict blood feeders during all stages of their development. Here, we describe the molecular characterization of three gut genes: cathepsin B (GmCatB), zinc‐metalloprotease (GmZmp) and zinc‐carboxypeptidase (GmZcp). The cDNA for GmCatB encodes a protein for 340 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 38.2 kDa, while the 854 bp GmZmp cDNA encodes a protein of 254 amino acids with a molecular mass of 29 kDa. The GmZcp cDNA is 1319 bp in length and has a 354 amino acids open reading frame for coding a 40 kDa protein. All three cDNAs have signal peptide sequences associated with their N‐terminal domains and structure analysis indicates that GmCatB and GmZmp are expressed as zymogens with pro‐domains proteolytically removed for activity. The activation domain associated with the carboxypeptidase sequences is lacking in GmZcp. While GmCatB transcription is constitutive, teneral flies express very low levels of transcripts for GmZmp and GmZcp prior to the first bloodmeal. Transcription of all genes is induced and remains high throughout the digestion cycle within a few hours following the first bloodmeal ingestion. Both GmCatB and GmZcp are parasite responsive, with the expression of both genes being higher in trypanosome infected flies.
A high affinity serotonin‐ and histamine‐binding lipocalin from tick saliva
Authors: Sangamnatdej S. , Paesen G. C. , Slovak M. , Nuttall P. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTo overcome the inflammatory response in its host, the cattle‐feeding, brown ear tick secretes histamine‐binding proteins into the feeding site. These proteins are β‐barrels with two internal binding sites: a high‐affinity (H) site for histamine and a site (L) for which the natural ligand is unknown. Here we report a related protein (SHBP), secreted by a rodent‐ and cattle‐feeding tick, that traps both histamine and serotonin. The histamine‐binding H site is well conserved in SHBP, whereas residue changes in the L‐like site are consistent with binding of the bulkier serotonin molecule. As histamine is a key inflammatory mediator in cattle, while serotonin takes on this role in rodents, the diversification of these tick proteins may reflect host adaptation.
Seed dispersal by animals: exact identification of source trees with endocarp DNA microsatellites
Authors: Godoy José A. , Jordano Pedro 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA long‐standing challenge in studies of seed dispersal by animal frugivores has been the characterization of the spatial relationships between dispersed seeds and the maternal plants, i.e. the seed shadow. The difficulties to track unambiguously the origin of frugivore‐dispersed seeds in natural communities has been considered an unavoidable limitation of the research field and precluded a robust analysis of the direct consequences of zoochory. Here we report that the multilocus genotype at simple sequence repeat (SSR; microsatellite) loci of the woody endocarp, a tissue of maternal origin, provides an unequivocal genetic fingerprint of the source tree. By comparing the endocarp genotype against the complete set of genotypes of reproductive trees in the population, we could unambiguously identify the source tree for 82.1% of the seeds collected in seed traps and hypothesize that the remaining 17.9% of sampled seeds come from other populations. Identification of the source tree for Prunus mahaleb seeds dispersed by frugivores revealed a marked heterogeneity in the genetic composition of the seed rain in different microhabitats, with a range of 1–5 distinct maternal trees contributing seeds to a particular landscape patch. Within‐population dispersal distances ranged between 0 and 316 m, with up to 62% of the seeds delivered within 15 m of the source trees. Long distance dispersal events, detected by the exclusion of all reproductive trees in the population, accounted for up to 17.9% of the seeds sampled. Our results indicate strong distance limitation of seed delivery combined with infrequent long‐distance dispersal events, extreme heterogeneity in the landscape pattern of genetic makeup, and a marked mosaic of multiple parentage for the seeds delivered to a particular patch.
Statistical power when testing for genetic differentiation
Authors: Ryman N. , Jorde P. E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA variety of statistical procedures are commonly employed when testing for genetic differentiation. In a typical situation two or more samples of individuals have been genotyped at several gene loci by molecular or biochemical means, and in a first step a statistical test for allele frequency homogeneity is performed at each locus separately, using, e.g. the contingency chi‐square test, Fisher’s exact test, or some modification thereof. In a second step the results from the separate tests are combined for evaluation of the joint null hypothesis that there is no allele frequency difference at any locus, corresponding to the important case where the samples would be regarded as drawn from the same statistical and, hence, biological population. Presently, there are two conceptually different strategies in use for testing the joint null hypothesis of no difference at any locus. One approach is based on the summation of chi‐square statistics over loci. Another method is employed by investigators applying the Bonferroni technique (adjusting the P‐value required for rejection to account for the elevated alpha errors when performing multiple tests simultaneously) to test if the heterogeneity observed at any particular locus can be regarded significant when considered separately. Under this approach the joint null hypothesis is rejected if one or more of the component single locus tests is considered significant under the Bonferroni criterion. We used computer simulations to evaluate the statistical power and realized alpha errors of these strategies when evaluating the joint hypothesis after scoring multiple loci. We find that the ‘extended’ Bonferroni approach generally is associated with low statistical power and should not be applied in the current setting. Further, and contrary to what might be expected, we find that ‘exact’ tests typically behave poorly when combined in existing procedures for joint hypothesis testing. Thus, while exact tests are generally to be preferred over approximate ones when testing each particular locus, approximate tests such as the traditional chi‐square seem preferable when addressing the joint hypothesis.
Secondary predation: quantification of food chain errors in an aphid–spider–carabid system using monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Harwood J. D. , Phillips S. W. , Sunderland K. D. , Symondson W. O. C. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract‘Secondary predation’ occurs when one predator feeds on a second predator, which has in turn eaten a target prey. Detection of prey remains within predators using monoclonal antibodies cannot distinguish between primary and secondary predation, potentially leading to quantitative and qualitative food chain errors. We report the first fully replicated experiments to measure secondary predation effects, using an aphid–spider–carabid system. Aphids, Sitobion avenae, were fed to spiders, Lepthyphantes tenuis, which were allowed to digest their prey for a range of time intervals. The spiders were then fed to carabids, Poecilus (=Pterostichus) cupreus, which were again allowed to digest their prey for set periods. The anti‐aphid monoclonal antibody used to identify S. avenae remains in P. cupreus was one that detected an epitope that increased in availability over the first few hours of digestion, amplifying the signal, extending detection periods and thus increasing the chances of detecting secondary predation. Despite this, and the fact that spiders are known to digest their prey more slowly than many other predators, detection of secondary predation was only possible if the carabids were killed immediately after consuming at least two spiders which were, in turn, eaten immediately after consuming aphids. As this scenario is unlikely to occur frequently in the field it was concluded that secondary predation is unlikely to be a serious source of error during field studies.