bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of the 5‐HT1 agonist sumatriptan on oesophageal motor pattern in patients with ineffective oesophageal motility
Authors: Grossi L. , Ciccaglione A. F. , Marzio L. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract The 5‐HT1 agonist sumatriptan (SUM) elicits an increase in amplitude of oesophageal motor waves and of lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) tone in healthy subjects. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether such an effect occurs also in patients with ineffective oesophageal motility (IOM). 16 patients (nine males and seven females, age range 34–55 years) with chest pain and mild to moderate dysphagia were studied; all had undergone previous cardiologic, radiologic and upper gastrointestinal endoscopic exams that were normal. An oesophageal manometry was performed using an electronic probe to record swallows, oesophageal, LOS and gastric motility. The patients whose motor pattern were compatible with IOM (>30% of motor waves with amplitude <30 mmHg and/or non‐transmitted) received SUM or placebo 6 mg s.c., injected in the morning and in the afternoon in a random order. The data analysis was limited to 1 h before and 1 h after the drug injections. Ten out of the 16 patients showed an IOM motor pattern. The administration of SUM caused a significant increase in the number of swallows (SUM 99.5 ± 15.4 vs 78.6 ± 16.1 basal, P = 0.03) and of primary oesophageal motor waves (SUM 89.6 ± 13.4 vs 67.2 ± 12.9 basal, P = 0.04) with no significant changes in the percentage of swallows associated with propagation. Placebo was not associated with increase in the number of swallows (80.3 ± 14.6, P = 0.9) or of primary oesophageal motor waves (70.1 ± 12.3, P = 0.7). The amplitude and the percentage of propagated oesophageal motor waves as well as the mean basal LOS tone were unaltered by SUM. There was no change in the symptoms reported after SUM. Although effective in healthy subjects, SUM 6 mg s.c. improves only the numbers but not the amplitude or propagation of oesophageal motility of patients with IOM. The 5‐HT1 pathway and its acute stimulation seem to play only a minor role in the pathogenesis of such a disease.
Expression of excitatory amino acid transporter‐2 (EAAT‐2) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in brain macrophages and microglia of SIVmac251‐infected macaques
Authors: Chrétien F. , Vallat‐Decouvelaere A.‐V. , Bossuet C. , Rimaniol A.‐C. , Le Grand R. , Le Pavec G. , Créminon C. , Dormont D. , Gray F. , Gras G. 
Published: March 2003

Na+‐dependent transporters for glutamate (excitatory amino acid transporters, EAATs) clear extracellular glutamate in the brain and prevent excitotoxic neuronal damage. Glutamine synthetase (GS) provides metabolic support for neurones by producing the neurotrophic amino acid glutamine. EAAT and GS expression has recently been demonstrated in macrophages and microglial cells in vitro, and in two models of acute inflammation in vivo. This observation might modify our current understanding of brain inflammation, which considers activated microglia and brain macrophages as the main neurotoxic cells through their production of a variety of neurotoxins, including glutamate. EAAT and GS expression by these cells would entail neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties, counterbalancing the deleterious consequences of microglial activation.Macaque infection by the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is considered the most relevant model for human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including chronic inflammation of the brain at the early asymptomatic stage of the infection, followed by an AIDS‐like disease where neuronal death occurs. We studied the expression of EAAT‐2 and GS in the brains of three SIVmac251‐infected and two noninfected cynomolgus macaques. We found that both microglia and brain macrophages expressed EAAT‐2 and GS in infected primates, suggesting that these cells might, like astrocytes, clear extracellular glutamate and provide glutamine to neurones. Microglia and macrophages could thus have neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties in addition to their production of neurotoxins. This finding might explain the contrast between early intense microglial activation and the late occurrence of neuronal apoptotic cell death, which is mainly observed at the terminal stage of the disease.
Profound loss of GABAergic interneurons in the PPT1 knockout mouse model of infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis
Authors: Cooper J. D. , Gupta P. , Bible E. , Hofmann S. ,   introduced by, Lantos) P. 
Published: March 2003

Introduction:  The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with onset from infancy to adulthood that are manifested by blindness, seizures and dementia. In infantile NCL (INCL), a mutation in the palmitoyl protein thioesterase (PPT1) gene results in loss of PPT1 activity and lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent proteolipid in the brain and other tissues. We have generated a PPT1 knockout mouse model of INCL (PPT1–/–) and characterized pathological changes in the CNS of these mice, which die by 8 months of age.Results:  7‐month‐old PPT1–/– exhibited NCL‐like pathology with prominent accumulation of autofluorescent lipopigment throughout the CNS, together with pronounced cerebral atrophy. Staining for phenotypic markers normally present in subpopulations of interneurons in the cortex and hippocampus revealed progressive loss of staining in the cortex and hippocampus, with persisting interneurons exhibiting pronounced hypertrophy and abnormal dendritic morphology.Conclusions:  Taken together with our findings in the other mouse models of NCL and preliminary data from NCL patient derived tissue, these results provide further substantive evidence for the involvement of interneurons in the NCLs.Acknowledgements:  Supported by The Batten's Disease Support and Research Association, The Natalie Fund, The Remy Fund; Batten's Disease Family Association.
Characterization of two monoclonal antibodies raised in Btkxid mice that recognize phosphorylcholine‐bearing antigens from Trichinella and other helminths
Authors: Romarís F. , Escalante M. , Valiñas B. , Seoane R. , Wang Z.Q. , Leiro J. , Ubeira F.M. 
Published: March 2003

This study investigated the binding properties of two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs US1 and US2) raised in (CBA/n × BALB/c)F1 (NBF1) Btkxid male mice. Both mAbs show unusual specificity for phosphorylcholine (PC)‐containing TSL4 antigens of Trichinella. Specifically, and in contrast to mAbs raised in normal mice, US1 and US2 mAbs do not bind to artificial PC‐protein conjugates and are not inhibited by either free PC or NPPC, although US2 was partially inhibited by NPPC at high concentration (10−2 m). However, both mAbs completely abrogate the binding to Trichinella antigens of other anti‐PC mAbs (e.g. BH8 and Mab‐2). These results suggest that both US1 and US2 recognize complex PC‐containing epitopes. The patterns of recognition of PC‐bearing antigens from different helminths by US1, US2, Mab‐2 and BH8 were broadly correlated with phylogenetic proximity. The closest similarities were observed between the members of the Trichinelloidea superfamily (Trichinella spiralis and Trichuris muris) and among the ascarids (Toxocara canis, Anisakis simplex, Hysterothylacium aduncum and Ascaris lumbricoides). However, US1 did not react with the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus and reacted only weakly with Onchocerca gibsoni, while US2 reacted only weakly with both species. Only BH8 recognized PC‐bearing antigens from the trematode Fasciola hepatica and the cestode Bothriocephalus scorpii. These results suggest that PC is attached to identical or very similar structures on most different nematode species, although major differences exist with respect to helminth species from groups such as the trematodes and cestodes that are phylogenetically distant from the nematodes.
Identification of an antigen from the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis, homologous with house dust mite group I allergens
Authors: Lee A. J. , Machell J. , Van Den Broek A. H. M. , Nisbet A. J. , Miller H. R. P. , Isaac R. E. , Huntley J. F. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryInfestation of sheep with the ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis, results in a severe allergic dermatitis. Currently, little is known about the allergens/antigens that stimulate the allergic response. We have isolated an 836‐bp cDNA from a P. ovis cDNA library which displays strong homology to cysteine proteases and, in particular, to the group I house dust mite allergens Der p 1, Der f 1 and Eur m 1. The cDNA was expressed in Escherchia coli, fused to a hexahistidine tag and the recombinant protein (Pso o 1) purified using a nickel‐affinity column. The recombinant Pso o 1 was tested for recognition by immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgE in serum from P. ovis naïve and P. ovis infested sheep. Using Western blots, both classes of antibody to Pso o 1 were detected in postinfestation serum. In enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, a pronounced IgG‐antibody response to Pso o 1 was detected in five of five sheep 3 weeks postinfestation. The IgE‐antibody response to whole mite extract was poor in four of five animals. However, a marked IgE response occurred in the fifth animal, and IgE anti Pso o 1 was detected in the serum.
Upwind anemotaxis in response to cue‐lure by the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni
Authors: Meats A. , Hartland C. L. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryMovements of mature male Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) were observed individually in a wind tunnel under conditions of ‘cue‐lure with wind’, ‘cue‐lure with no wind’, ‘wind only’ and ‘no wind or cue‐lure’. Further observations were made using a dense foliage array in the wind tunnel and a structured plume of cue‐lure. Patterns of walking or flying were essentially the same in all of the first four treatments except that in the ‘cue‐lure with wind’ treatment, over half of the flies moved in a consistent track upwind for at least 400 mm at some time during the first 5 min of observation. With clean wind, only 10% of the flies did this. The result was that mean net upwind displacement after 5 min in the ‘cue‐lure with wind’ treatment significantly exceeded that in the other three treatments, the results of which did not differ significantly from each other. The upwind tracks were accomplished by either walking or flying (with or without stops) or by a combination of both. When the wind tunnel was filled with a dense foliage array, the results with cue‐lure laden wind were similar to those obtained with the equivalent treatment without foliage, except that upwind tracks were predominantly in short stages. When flies were exposed to a structured plume of cue‐lure odour (without foliage present), they did not apparently alter their behaviour on leaving or entering the plume, but some did make consistent upwind tracks while they were in the plume.
Copula duration and sperm storage in Mediterranean fruit flies from a wild population
Authors: Taylor P.H.illip W. , Kaspi R.O.Y. , Yuval B.O.A.Z. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryIn the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Weidemann, ‘medfly’), a lekking tephritid, evidence from laboratory studies of flies from laboratory strains suggests that copulation is shorter, and sperm storage more abundant, if males are large or protein‐fed, and that copulation is longer when females are large. In addition, sperm tend to be stored asymmetrically between the female’s two spermathecae and this asymmetry declines with abundance of stored sperm. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether these trends persist in other experimental contexts that bear closer resemblance to nature. Accordingly, we carried out experiments in a field‐cage using males derived as adults from a wild population and virgin females reared from naturally infested fruit. The results of this study were consistent with laboratory studies in that copula duration increased with female size, that sperm were stored asymmetrically between the females’ spermathecae, and that this asymmetry declined with number of sperm stored. However, we also found some previously unreported effects of female size; large females stored more sperm and stored sperm more asymmetrically between their two spermathecae than did small females. Unlike the laboratory studies, copula duration and sperm storage patterns were unaffected by male size and diet. This may be due to overwhelming variation from other sources in the wild‐collected males used, as well as environmental variability in the semi‐natural setting.
Abdominal movements, heartbeats and gas exchange in pupae of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Authors: Tartes Urmas , Kuusik Aare , Hiiesaar KÜlli , Metspalu Luule , Vanatoa Alo 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe rhythms of abdominal movements, heartbeats and gas exchange in the pupae of Leptiontarsa decemlineata (Say) were recorded simultaneously using an electrolytic respirometer and infrared gas analyser, both combined with contact thermography.Abdominal pulsations and heartbeat occurred periodically with little variance among individuals. The abdominal pulsations and heartbeat pauses varied individually within large limits, with the frequency of abdominal pulsations being six to seven times lower than that of the heart pulses.A proportion of the pupae (20%) showed discontinuous gas exchange with large, actively ventilated CO2 bursts, whereas others (≈ 25%) exhibited continuous regular microcycles (flutter) with abrupt intake of air into the tracheae before discrete microbursts of carbon dioxide. The abdominal pulsations exerted only a minor influence on ventilation during the microcycles.More than 90% of the bursts of abdominal movement coincided with a series of forward directed heartbeats, but interspersed between the bouts of abdominal movement commonly two to three heartbeat pulses were observed that were not associated with abdominal movements. A period of abdominal movement associated with a heartbeat pulse was commonly initiated by one or two vigorous strokes of abdominal rotation.
Reverse flow in roots of Sesbania rostrata measured using the constant power heat balance method
Authors: Sakuratani T. , Aoe T. , Higuchi H. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis investigation was performed to examine qualitatively and quantitatively the reverse flow in partially dried roots of Sesbania rostrata using the constant power heat balance method. First, a semi‐empirical technique for estimating sheath conductance of sap‐flow sensors without assuming that sap flow is zero at night was proposed. Sap flow measured with the heat balance method was compared with water uptake as measured by a potometric method. Sap flow was overestimated by 56·1% for a 3·3‐mm‐diameter root, and by 40·0% for 6·1 mm and 33·3% for 8·8 mm roots. However, high correlation coefficients between the rates of water uptake and sap flow demonstrated that calibration would provide reliable values for root sap flow. To detect reverse flow, a split root experiment was conducted using a S. rostrata plant with its root system divided between dry and wet compartments. Daily sap flow of the drying compartment declined whereas that in ‘wet’ root increased, suggesting that the decrease in water uptake by ‘dry’ roots was offset by the ‘wet’ roots. Reverse flow was observed at night in the root on the dry side of the container when the soil water potential was less than –0·30 MPa. The total amount of water released into the soil during the night period was estimated to be 22·5 g.
Expression of C‐assimilating enzymes in pea (Pisum sativum L.) root nodules. In situ localization in effective nodules
Authors: Fedorova M. , Tikhonovich I. A. , Vance C. P. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTFull length cDNAs encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), fructose‐1,6‐biphosphate aldolase (ALD), nodule‐enhanced malate dehydrogenase (neMDH), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and nodule‐enhanced sucrose synthase (neSS) were isolated from a pea (Pisum sativum L.) root nodule cDNA library and characterized. Transcript abundance and cellular expression patterns for each gene were examined at different stages of nodule development. All the genes were expressed prior to the induction of nitrogenase suggesting a developmental signal as the initial trigger for expression. RNA tissue blots demonstrated that all the genes except ALD exhibit enhanced expression in effective nodules. In situ hybridization studies showed contrasting patterns of gene expression within various nodule zones. The highest expression of ADH was observed in interzone. ALD was expressed predominantly in nodule meristem, invasion zone and interzone. The neSS transcripts were found rather uniformly throughout the nodule. Expression of neMDH and PEPC was also detected throughout the nodule, but the highest levels were associated with interzone and N2‐fixing zone.
Leaf rosette closure in the alpine rock species Saxifraga paniculata Mill.: significance for survival of drought and heat under high irradiation
Authors: Neuner G. , Braun V. , Buchner O. , Taschler D. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe significance of leaf rosette closure for survival of drought and heat under high irradiation on alpine rock sites was investigated in the cushion forming rosette plant, Saxifraga paniculata Mill. With decreasing water content the leaves fold over the rosette centre reducing reversibly the evaporative leaf surface area by 80%. Internal water redistribution driven by an osmotic gradient from older to younger leaves occurs. The oldest leaves dry out to promote the survival of the individual. Leaf temperatures above 45 °C (which match heat tolerance limits 45–57 °C; LT50) co‐occurred with low substrate water potentials (less than – 0·5 MPa) on 11·3% of summer days. Shading by leaves can be crucial to surviving high temperatures as it keeps the rosette centre up to 10 °C colder. Mutual shading prevented sustained drought‐induced photoinhibition in upper leaf surfaces at relative water contents below 60%. In exposed lower leaf surfaces restoration of photosystem II took several days. Leaf temperatures above 40 °C (21·3% of summer days) induced photoinhibition in situ. Periods with sufficient water supply can be fully utilized as rehydration is fast (< 12 h) and exposes the upper leaf surfaces that showed only minor photoinhibition. By reversible leaf rosette closure environmental extremes that otherwise could exceed tolerance are efficiently avoided.
Compatibility of glycinebetaine in rice plants: evaluation using transgenic rice plants with a gene for peroxisomal betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase from barley
Authors: Kishitani S. , Takanami T. , Suzuki M. , Oikawa M. , Yokoi S. , Ishitani M. , Alvarez‐Nakase A. M. , Takabe T. , Takabe T. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTGlycinebetaine is synthesized in plants by the two‐step oxidation of choline, with betaine aldehyde as the intermediate. The reactions are catalyzed by choline mono‐oxygenase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Rice plants, which do not accumulate glycinebetaine, possess a gene encoding betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase, whose activity is detectable at low levels. To evaluate the compatibility in rice of glycinebetaine on growth and tolerance to salt, cold and heat, we produced transgenic rice plants by introduction of a cDNA for betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase of barley, which is localized in peroxisomes unlike the chloroplast‐specific localization of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase in spinach and sugar beet. The transgenic rice plants converted high levels of exogenously applied betaine aldehyde (up to 10 mol m–3) to glycinebetaine more efficiently than did wild‐type plants. The elevated level of glycinebetaine in transgenic plants conferred significant tolerance to salt, cold and heat stress. However, very high levels of glycinebetaine, resulting from conversion of applied betaine aldehyde to glycinebetaine or from exogenous application, inhibited increases in length of rice plants but not increases in dry weight. Our results suggested that the benefits of accumulation of glycinebetaine by rice plants might be considerable under high light conditions.
The protein content of tissues in cynipid galls (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae): Similarities between cynipid galls and seeds
Authors: Schönrogge K. , Harper L. J. , Lichtenstein C. P. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTCynipid galls are examples of induced plant development, where the gall inducer is in control of cell differentiation and morphogenesis of a new plant organ. This study concentrates on the tissues of the larval chamber common to all cynipid galls. The protein content of the inner gall tissue was compared to that of non‐gall plant tissues. We investigated three oak and two rose galls and their respective host plants. Total protein signatures of inner gall tissues were different from those of non‐gall plant tissues, and among the five galls. N‐terminal sequences were obtained for two abundant proteins from the inner gall tissues of D. spinosa and A. quercuscalicis, which were common to all galls, at 62 and 43 kDa. Database queries suggest the 62 kDa protein to be homologous to a protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), and the 43 kDa protein to be homologous to NAD‐dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH). A naturally biotinylated protein was detected at 33 kDa during Western analyses with streptavidin. Western analyses revealed the presence of the biotinylated protein and PDI in the inner gall tissues of all five galls, while FDH was only detected in A. quercuscalicis and A. fecundator. PDI was also common to all non‐gall tissues, while FDH was not detected in non‐gall tissues, and the biotinylated protein was only detected in seeds. The proteins identified in the inner gall tissue suggest that (a) inner gall tissues in some galls are under respiratory stress, and (b) cynipid gall formation might involve the ectopic expression of seed‐specific proteins.
Differential effects of mineral and organic N sources, and of ectomycorrhizal infection by Hebeloma cylindrosporum, on growth and N utilization in Pinus pinaster
Authors: Plassard C. , Bonafos B. , Touraine B. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe effect of ectomycorrhizal association of Pinus pinaster with Hebeloma cylindrosporum was investigated in relation to the nitrogen source supplied as mineral (NH4+ or NO3−) or organic N (L‐glutamate) and at 5 mol m−3. Plants were grown for 14 and 16 weeks with mineral and organic N, respectively, and samples were collected during the last 6 weeks of culture. Total fungal biomass was estimated using glucosamine amount and its viability was assessed using the glucosamine to ergosterol ratio. Non‐mycorrhizal plants grew better with NH4+ than with NO3− and grew very slowly when supplied with L‐glutamate. The presence of the fungus decreased the growth of the host plant with mineral N whereas it increased it with L‐glutamate. Whatever the N source, most of the living fungal biomass was associated with the roots, whereas the main part of the total biomass was assayed outside the root. The form of mineral N did not significantly affect N accumulation rates over the 42 d in control plants. In mycorrhizal plants grown on either N source, the fungal tissues developing outside of the root were always the main N sink. The ectomycorrhizal association did not change 15NH4+ uptake rate by roots, suggesting that the growth decrease of the host‐plant was related to the carbon cost for fungal growth and N assimilation rather than to a direct effect on NH4+ acquisition. In contrast, in NO3−‐grown plants, in addition to draining carbon for NO3− reduction the fungus competed with the root for NO3− uptake. With NH4+ or NO3− feeding, although mycorrhizal association improved N accumulation in shoots, we concluded that it was unlikely that the fungus had supplied the plant with N. In L‐glutamate‐grown plants, the presence of the fungus increased the proportion of glutamine in the xylem sap and improved both N nutrition and the growth rate of the host plant.