bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lymphocyte collection for donor leucocyte infusion from normal donors: estimation of the minimum processed blood volume and safety of the procedure
Authors: Sato H. , Shiobara S. , Yasue S. , Chuhjo T. , Nakao S. 
Published: March 2003

Background and ObjectivesTo estimate the minimum volume of processed blood necessary for the purpose of donor leucocyte infusion (DLI), we determined the number of CD3+ cells harvested by apheresis from normal donors and examined adverse events during the procedure.Materials and MethodsLeukapheresis utilizing the COBE Spectra‘ was performed a total of 24 times from 12 normal donors. Blood counts were obtained and the number of CD3+ cells was evaluated before and after apheresis and in the peripheral blood products. Complications associated with the procedure were documented.ResultsBlood products contained, on average, 51·1% CD3+ cells. A linear correlation was found between the number of CD3+ cells collected and the processed blood volume, up to 12 000 ml (r = 0·930, P < 0·001). Cytoreduction was observed in all donors after apheresis. In particular, the platelet and lymphocyte values decreased to ≈ 70% of the preapheresis value. Two donors reported adverse effects: one was a mild vaso‐vagal reaction and the other was citrate‐related lip paresthesia. These symptoms were mild and disappeared spontaneously.ConclusionsWe found a linear correlation between the number of CD3+ cells collected and the processed blood volume, which enabled us to estimate the minimum volume of processed blood necessary for DLI. The adverse events observed were acceptable.
Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides are eliminated from therapeutic Factor VIII and immunoglobulin concentrates and reduced in albumin by plasma fractionation
Authors: Covaci A. , Laub R. , Di Giambattista M. , Branckaert T. , Hougardy V. , Schepens P. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Persistent organochlorine pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, are found in the general population and tend to accumulate in blood and tissues. Their distribution was examined in the starting plasma pools for fractionation, Cohn plasma fractions and therapeutic concentrates.Materials and Methods In each process fraction, total protein, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured as well as organochlorine pesticides and PCB congeners.Results Organochlorine compounds were undetectable in cryoprecipitate, Cohn fraction I, Factor VIII and immunoglobulin concentrates, and reduced in albumin preparations.Conclusion Cohn plasma fractionation is very efficient for removing pollutants present in the starting material. Biological processing techniques should be analysed for their capacity to eliminate/reduce persistent organochlorine pollutants from the therapeutic proteins.
A novel method using formamide for the elution of antibodies from erythrocytes
Authors: Caruccio L. , Byrne K. , Procter J. , Stroncek D. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Accurate identification of antibodies that sensitize red blood cells (RBCs) involves dissociating them from RBCs using an in vitro elution method that does not alter their antigen‐binding properties, and analysis of the eluates against a panel of RBCs.Materials and Methods A method was developed that allowed efficient RBC antibody elution. Human polyclonal anti‐D was used to sensitize Rh‐positive RBCs, and known antigen–antibody disruptive reagents were tested using these RBCs. The best reagent conditions were optimized. Eluates made were tested and compared to results obtained with a glycine‐acid‐based commercial elution kit to determine efficacy. Patient samples that were positive with direct antiglobulin tests (DATs), and in vitro commercial antisera‐sensitized RBCs representing clinically significant antibodies, were used for evaluating the new method.Results The formamide method was efficient at removing antibodies from RBCs. The patient samples with a positive DAT had antibodies recovered with the same specificity when compared to the acid‐based technique. The length of preparation time was similar for both formamide and acid‐based methods. Results of testing the eluates made from reagent RBCs sensitized with commercial antisera were distinct with antigen‐positive and ‐negative erythrocytes.Conclusions The formamide method compares well with acid techniques and may be an alternative choice of elution method.
Molecular background of Rh D‐positive, D‐negative, Del and weak D phenotypes in Chinese
Authors: Shao C.‐P. , Maas J.‐H. , Su Y.‐Q. , Köhler M. , Legler T. J. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to elucidate the genetic background of D‐negative and Del in the Chinese population.Materials and Methods We investigated nine D‐positive, 76 D‐negative, 26 Del and three weak D Chinese individuals by amplification and sequencing of the complete coding region of the RHD gene from genomic DNA. A new RHD polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific primers (PCR–SSP) method was developed with optimized specificity for typing Chinese individuals.Results In D‐positive samples the RHD sequence was in complete concordance with RHD in other populations. In 12 of 76 (15·8%) D‐negative individuals we detected regions of RHD. Three new alleles were found. All 26 Del, as well as two weak D, individuals carried an RHD 1227A allele. In the remaining weak D sample we identified a weak D type 15.Conclusions It should now be possible to correctly predict the RhD phenotype in Chinese subjects. Del can also be designated as a particular weak D type.
The Blood Stocks Management Scheme, a partnership venture between the National Blood Service of England and North Wales and participating hospitals for maximizing blood supply chain management
Authors: Chapman J. F. , Cook R. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives The Blood Stocks Management Scheme (BSMS) has been established as a joint venture between the National Blood Service (NBS) in England and North Wales and participating hospitals to monitor the blood supply chain.Materials and Methods Stock and wastage data are submitted to a web‐based data‐management system, facilitating continuous and complete red cell data collection and ‘real time’ data extraction.Results The data‐management system enables peer review of performance in respect of stock holding levels and red cell wastage.Conclusions The BSMS has developed an innovative web‐based data‐management system that enables data collection and benchmarking of practice, which should drive changes in stock management practice, therefore optimizing the use of donated blood.
Nanofiltration of single plasma donations: feasibility study
Authors: Burnouf T. , Radosevich M. , El‐Ekiaby M. , Satoh S. , Sato T. , Amin S. N. , Savidge G. F. , Goubran H. A. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Major technical developments have been made in recent years to improve the quality and safety of human plasma for transfusion and fractionation. The present study was performed to assess, for the first time, the feasibility of applying a nanofiltration process, using 75‐nm and 35‐nm mean pore size membranes (Planova® 75N and Planova® 35N), to human plasma.Materials and Methods Ten apheresis plasma units were obtained from 10 plasma donors. Within 4 h of collection, plasma was subjected to leucoreduction and filtration (using 75‐nm and 35‐nm mean pore size membranes) at 35 °C, at less than 1 bar pressure. Aliquots of plasma were taken at all steps of the filtration procedure and numerous plasma quality parameters were measured. In addition, six hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐positive plasma donations were experimentally subjected to the same filtration sequence and subsequently assessed by RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and branched‐chain DNA‐quantification assays.Results Leucoreduced plasma can be reproducibly nanofiltered onto a sequence of 75‐nm and 35‐nm membranes, at a flow rate of 450 ml/h and a temperature of 35 ± 0·5 °C. Some protein dilution, or loss, was found during filtration, but the plasma filtered through membranes with a mean pore size of 75 nm and 35 nm met in vitro specifications for use in transfusion or fractionation. There were no signs of activation of the coagulation system. HCV‐positive plasma donations became negative, as judged by PCR and branched‐chain DNA assay results, after filtration through the 35‐nm membrane.Conclusions It is possible to apply a 75 + 35‐nm filtration process to leucoreduced human plasma. This technology may have important future benefits in improving the quality and safety of plasma, by removing blood cell debris and infectious agents.
Erythema induratum Bazin nach Lungentuberkulose
Authors: Memmel U. , Stücker M. , Altmeyer P. , Jansen T. 
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung: Neben den kutanen Tuberkuloseformen, bei denen Mycobacterium tuberculosis in den Hautveränderungen nachweisbar ist, gibt es sogenannte Tuberkulide. Es handelt sich um kutane Erscheinungsformen bei hyperergischer Abwehrreaktion des Organismus in Form einer

Id‐Reaktion auf Mykobakterien.

Zu den Tuberkuliden werden das Erythema induratum Bazin, das papulonekrotische Tuberkulid und der Lichen scrophulosorum gerechnet. Wir berichten über eine 63‐jährige Patientin mit Erythema induratum nach durchgemachter Lungentuberkulose, erhöhter Tuberkulinschwelle sowie negativer Kultur und PCR auf Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Unter einer tuberkulostatischen Kombinationstherapie mit Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Rifampizin und Pyrazinamid zeigte sich bereits nach acht Wochen eine deutliche Abheilungstendenz. Die Hautveränderungen heilten mit hyperpigmentierten Narben ab.  Ein ätiologischer Zusammenhang zwischen Erythema induratum Bazin und Mykobakterieninfektion wird weiterhin kontrovers diskutiert, da der kulturelle Bakteriennachweis gewöhnlich negativ ausfällt. Neue Erkenntnisse haben sich durch molekularbiologische Verfahren wie die PCR‐Diagnostik ergeben, die in manchen Fällen, nicht jedoch bei unserer Patientin, positiv verlief. Die Abheilung unter tuberkulostatischer Therapie ist ein weiteres Argument für die Mykobakterienätiologie des Erythema induratum Bazin.
Früherkennung eines malignen Melanoms mittels computergestüzt videodokumentierter Auflichtmikroskopie von multiplen Pigmentmalen
Authors: Kowalzick L. , Waldmann T. , Mischke D. , Suckow S. 
Published: March 2003

Zusammenfassung: Wir berichten über einen 34‐jährigen Patienten mit multiplen Pigmentmalen, bei dem computergestützt videodokumentierter Auflichtmikroskopie u. a. ein Pigmentherd an der Wade aufgenommen und dokumentiert wurde. Er maß 10,6 mm2. Mittels des rechnergestützten Tübinger Mole‐Analyzer wurden weitere Parameter für Rand‐ und Binnenstruktur ermittelt. Entsprechend den auflichtmikroskopischen

ABCD‐Kriterien ergab sich ein Dermatoskopie‐Punktwert von 4,0. Nach einem Jahr maß der Herd mehr als 15,6 mm2. Die Werte des Mole‐Analyzers fanden sich zumeist in ungüstiger Weise verändert. Der Dermatoskopie‐Punktwert fand sich jetzt mit 7,5 deutlich erhöht. Der Pigmentherd wurde daraufhin exzidiert. Die histologische Aufarbeitung ergab ein superfiziell spreitendes malignes Melanom mit einem Invasionslevel von II und einer Invasionstiefe von 0,43 mm. Der vorliegende Fall zeigt, daß es mittels computergestützt videodokumentierter Auflichtmikroskopie möglich ist, entstehende maligne Melanome früh zu detektieren und in einem Stadium operativ zu entfernen,  in dem eine Heilung als höchst wahrscheinlich gelten kann.
Site Productivity, the Key to Crop Productivity
Authors: Sauerborn J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIf we call a significant yield increase in single crops a ‘green revolution’, then the first green revolution took place about 10 000–12 000 years ago, when humans started to cultivate land. This was also the beginning of civilization. Since then, humans have increasingly transformed the land and natural vegetation and have risen to be the main creators of the biogeosphere. Today, there is hardly any ecosystem around the globe that has not been influenced by humans. It was only in 1930 that the world population reached 2 billion, and since then it has increased to 6 billion in the year 2000. Because of this rapid increase, the demand for food, feed and industrial crops has grown enormously. Half of the 1.5 billion ha of arable land – 18 % of the biologically productive land area of the earth – was first cultivated only in the 20th Century, and mostly forest was sacrificed to meet this requirement. The second green revolution started only in the late 1960s when high‐yielding varieties of wheat and rice were designed to overcome the predicted hunger crisis. Great achievements were made, especially in relation to irrigated agriculture, while rain‐fed farming was hardly affected by this revolution. World agriculture today faces two major constraints to which not enough attention is paid by scientists and decision makers. First, we increasingly restrict our food basis to a limited number of plant species. Today, 65 % of the world's arable land is reserved for only 21 annual crops. Even more worrying is the fact that 60 % of our food energy and protein comes from only three cereals – wheat, rice and corn. Designing ‘functional’ food using gene technology to improve food quality, for example in rice, will speed up this process of constriction since diversified ingestion is no longer necessary to meet the daily required balance of food types. Secondly, arable land resources are under‐utilized because of poor management. Yields of rice, for example, are below the world average of 3.8 t ha−1 (1998) in 70 countries. If those countries achieved only the average level for their continent, for example 2.2 t ha−1 in Africa, world rice production could be increased by 17 %. There is a need to invest in better management of arable land to prevent further loss in productivity and simultaneously to investigate under‐explored plants to broaden our future food basis.
Accounting for uncertainty in QTL location in marker‐assisted pre‐selection of young bulls prior to progeny test
Authors: STELLA A. , JANSEN G. B , BOETTCHER P. J. , GIBSON J. P. , LOHUIS M. M. , PAGNACCO G. 
Published: March 2003

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the efficacy of marker assisted selection (MAS) could be improved by considering a confidence interval (CI) of QTL position. Specifically, MAS was applied for within‐family selection in a stochastic simulation of a closed nucleus herd. The location and effect of the QTL were estimated by least squares interval mapping with a granddaughter design and marker information was then used in a top down scheme. Three approaches were used to select the best bull within full sibships of 3 or 40 bulls. All three were based on the probability of inheriting the favorable allele from the grandsire (PROB). The first method selected the sib with the highest PROB at the location with the highest F‐ratio (MAX). The other two approaches were based on sums of estimated regression coefficients weighted by PROB at each cM within a 95% CI based on either bootstrapping (BOOT) or approximate LOD scores (LOD).Accounting for CI increased the relative genetic gain in all scenarios. The average breeding value (BV) of the selected bulls was increased by 2.00, 2.60 and 2.59% when MAS was applied using MAX, BOOT and LOD, respectively, compared to random selection (h2=0.30). Selected bulls carried the correct allele in 63.0, 68.5, 67.6 and 50.1% of the cases for MAX, BOOT, LOD and random selection, respectively.
Estimation of variance components due to imprinting effects with DFREML and VCE: results of a simulation study
Authors: ESSL A. , VOITH K. 
Published: March 2003

Treating gametes as homozygous diploid individuals, TIER and SÖLKNER (Theor. Appl. Genet. 85: 868–872, 1993) proposed a method which manages the use of available computer programs with a common animal model to estimate variance components caused by imprinting effects. Despite some relevant model restrictions, this approach has already been used in some field data analyses by an adapted version of the widely used DFREML computer program, subsequently indicated by DFREMLa. The main objective of this study was to ascertain the properties of DFREMLa by computer simulation and to examine other alternative estimation approaches. The most important results may be summarized as follows:(1) Treating gametes as homozygous diploid individuals has the consequence that one‐half of the actually realized gametic effect is totally abstracted in variance component estimation. Thus, an additional adjustment of the phenotypic variance calculated by DFREMLa is necessary to get correct values of estimated variance component ratios.(2) Adjusted DFREMLa estimates yielded correct results when animals were unselected and only maternal or paternal imprinting (not both simultaneously) occurred.(3) When the model did not adequately account for the additive genetic component within a maternal lineage, significant upward biases for the cytoplasmic component were observed.(4) The use of a simple dam and sire model with appropriate relationship matrices can be recommended when only the difference of maternal and paternal imprinting effects is of primary interest and the covariance between maternal halfsibs is not substantially increased by common environmental effects.(5) An adequate estimation of variance components for all possible imprinting situations requires the use of an animal model augmented by both maternal and paternal gametic effects. Unfortunately, a computer program on the basis of such a model does not yet exist.
Allele distributions of two novel SNPs within the sheep Cyp19 gene
Authors: Zsolnai Attila , Anton István , Fésüs László , Estonba Andone , Schwerin Manfred , Vanselow Jens 
Published: March 2003

SummaryOestrogen is an important regulator of reproduction and growth. The key enzyme of oestrogen biosynthesis, aromatase cytochrome P450, is encoded by the Cyp19 gene. In order to generate genetic markers for the sheep Cyp19 gene, two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one located in promoter 2 (P2), the other one in intron 9 (I9), were identified by a comparative sequencing approach. The allele distributions of both SNPs were investigated by means of Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR‐RFLP) in five economically relevant sheep breeds (British Milk Sheep, Carranzana, Latxa Black Face, Latxa White Face, Merino) and three ancient Hungarian breeds kept as gene reserves (Cikta, Racka, Tsigai). In British Milk Sheep, only the intronic SNP was present whereas in Merino, Cikta, Racka, Tsigai, Carranzana, Latxa Black Face and Latxa White Face, both SNPs could be found. This indicates that the newly identified SNPs can be used as markers for the Cyp19 locus in various sheep breeds.
Untersuchungen zum Einfluß einer Xylanaseergänzung in Legehennenrationen auf Weizenbasis 2. Mitteilung: Auswirkungen auf die Leistungsparameter
Authors: Oloffs Von K. , Samli E. , Jeroch H. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe influence of a xylanase supplement on performance of laying hens fed different energy‐graded, wheat‐based rations was tested in a 12‐week trial. Two varieties of wheat with different extraction viscosity were selected. In addition to the control ration, three test rations with reduced energy contents of −3, −6, and −9% were used. Sixteen groups, each consisting of 30 hens were kept in single cages. At the beginning of the experiment hens were 24 weeks old. Single eggmass and daily eggmass production showed a statistically significant difference. This was not caused by the enzyme supplement or the energy content, but by the variety of wheat. Interaction effects between variety of wheat, enzyme supplement and energy content became obvious with regard to the yolk colour. The influence of the enzyme on the yolk colour is positive and statistically highly significant. Thus, the addition of xylanase to wheat‐based rations does not affect the performance parameters of laying hens positively.
Untersuchungen an wachsenden Schweinen zum Futterwert einer neuen Ackerbohnensorte (Vicia faba L.) bei Ergänzung mit DL‐Methionin oder DL‐Methionin‐Hydroxyanalog
Authors: ABEL HJ. , BURGHARD G. 
Published: March 2003

Investigations in growing pigs on the feeding value of a new cultivar of field beans (Vicia faba L.) supplemented with DL‐methionine or DL‐methionine‐hydroxyanalogue A basal control mixture of barley, soy bean meal and soy bean oil was replaced by 25% of the new field bean‐cultivar `Divine' and the resulting two mixtures were supplemented with minerals, trace elements, vitamins and amino acids according to the ideal protein concept. The control diet was adjusted with DL‐methionine (DL‐Met), the field bean mixture either with DL‐Met or DL‐methionine‐hydroxyanalogue (DL‐MHA) assuming biological equivalence on a molar basis for both supplements. The three experimental diets were fed to growing pigs (35–40 kg bwt.). Spontaneous urine samples were analysed separately for determining parameters that characterize the acid‐base status of the pigs. There were no significant differences between experimental groups in nutrient digestibilities. The level of bacterially fermentable substances was increased in the diets containing field beans. The field beans contained 14 mg ME/kg DM. There were no significant (p < 0,05) differences in N‐ and mineral‐retentions (Ca, P, Na, K) between the treatments. The stronger alkalinity found in urine after feeding the field bean mixtures resulted from a higher electrolyte balance of the diet.
Adaptation to the digestion of nutrients of a starch diet or a non‐starch polysaccharide diet in group‐housed pregnant sows
Authors: Van Der Peet‐Schwering C. M. C. , Kemp B. , Den Hartog L. A. , Schrama J. W. , Verstegen M. W. A. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryA trial was conducted with twenty group‐housed pregnant sows to study the adaptation in nutrient digestibility to a starch‐rich diet or a diet with a high level of fermentable non‐starch polysaccharides (NSP) during a time period of 6 weeks. The starch‐rich diet was primarily composed of wheat, peas and tapioca, whereas soya bean hulls and sugar beet pulp, which both are highly fermentable NSP sources, were used to formulate the NSP‐rich diet. The starch‐rich diet and the NSP‐rich diet were formulated to contain different levels of starch (298 vs. 78 g/kg) and fermentable NSP (100 vs. 300 g/kg), but a similar level of net energy (NE) (8.36 MJ/kg). The trial consisted of a 1‐week adaptation period followed by a 5‐week collection period. Weekly apparent faecal digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fat, ash and NSP were measured by using the acid‐insoluble ash marker method. Apparent faecal digestibilities of DM and organic matter (OM) of both diets were similar. Faecal digestibility of CP and crude fat was lower (p < 0.001) whereas that of NSP was higher (p < 0.001) for sows that received the NSP‐rich diet. Calculated NE values of both diets were similar. Sows fed the NSP‐rich diet produced faeces that contained a lower (p < 0.001) DM content compared with sows that were fed with the starch‐rich diet. The quantity of dry faeces was the same on both diets, therefore total faeces production (as‐is basis) was higher (p < 0.01) for the sows fed the NSP‐rich diet. During the 5‐week collection period, no changes were observed in the digestibility of DM, OM and NSP in the NE value of the diets. Digestibilities of CP and fat, however, were lower in week 1 (p < 0.05) compared with weeks 2–5 for both diets. The DM content of the faeces and the quantity of dry faeces did not change from weeks 1–5. Diet by time interaction was not observed for any of the response variables indicating that sows adapt as quickly to a diet with a high level of fermentable NSP as to a starch‐rich diet. The present trial shows that, with regard to digestibility of nutrients, pregnant sows completely adapt to a NSP‐rich diet (i.e., NSP from sugar beet pulp) in 2 weeks and that the time period necessary to adapt to a starch‐rich diet or a diet with a high level of fermentable NSP is similar.