bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Profound amplification of secretory‐burst mass and anomalous regularity of ACTH secretory process in patients with Nelson's syndrome compared with Cushing's disease
Authors: Van Aken Maarten O. , Pereira Alberto M. , Van Den Berg Gerrit , Romijn Johannes A. , Veldhuis Johannes D. , Roelfsema Ferdinand 
Published: May 2004

Summaryobjective  As described originally, Nelson's syndrome is characterized by grossly elevated ACTH concentrations, a sellar mass and skin hyperpigmentation emerging in the course of Cushing's disease after bilateral adrenalectomy. No detailed studies have defined whether the mechanisms directing ACTH secretion differ in Nelson's syndrome and untreated Cushing's disease.patients and methods  To address this pathophysiological issue, we studied nine patients fulfilling the criteria of Nelson's syndrome receiving glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement; nine patients with untreated pituitary‐dependent Cushing's disease and nine gender‐ and age‐matched controls. ACTH release was appraised by monitoring plasma ACTH concentrations in blood samples collected every 10 min for 24 h. ACTH secretion rates and endogenous decay were quantified by multiparameter deconvolution analysis. The orderliness of the ACTH release process was delineated by the approximate entropy (ApEn) statistic. Diurnal variation in ACTH secretion was appraised by cosinor analysis.results  Basal ACTH secretion was increased sixfold and pulsatile secretion ninefold in patients with Nelson's syndrome compared with Cushing's disease (P ≤ 0·01 and P ≤ 0·001, respectively). The increase in pulsatile secretion was due to an eightfold augmentation of burst mass. Event frequency was comparable in both patient groups (32 ± 1 vs. 28 ± 2 pulses/24 h), and higher than in normal controls (22 ± 1 pulses/24 h, P < 0·0001). Paradoxically, the consistency of subordinate patterns of serial ACTH release, albeit disrupted in active Cushing's disease, was normal in Nelson's syndrome (P = 0·014). Normal ACTH secretory‐process regularity in Nelson's syndrome was attributable to a more reproducible (lower ApEn) succession of ACTH secretory‐burst mass denoting more uniform amplitude evolution over 24 h (P = 0·007, Nelson vs. Cushing). However, the quantifiable regularity of serial interburst intervals (waiting times) was unexpectedly elevated in Nelson's syndrome (P = 0·022). Nelson patients maintained a significant diurnal rhythm in ACTH release, which was marked by a 15‐fold greater amplitude (P = 0·0018 vs. Cushing’s) and a 4‐h acrophase (maximum) delay (P = 0·037 vs. control).conclusion  The present detailed analyses delineate marked ACTH secretory‐burst mass amplification and (amplitude‐independent) anomalous regularity of successive pulse size and timing in Nelson's syndrome compared with Cushing's disease or controls. We postulate that the foregoing novel distinctions are due to unique tumoural secretory properties, concurrently required glucocorticoid replacement and/or hypothalamic injury associated with prior radiotherapy in Nelson's syndrome.
Allelopathic potential of Lolium rigidum Gaud. on the early growth of three associated pasture species
Authors: San Emeterio L. , Arroyo A. , Canals R. M. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractIn Mediterranean areas, the establishment of multi‐species pastures for extensive livestock use is an alternative to the growing of traditional cereal crops. Lolium rigidum Gaud. is one of the most valuable forage grasses adapted to semiarid environments but its performance in mixtures is not fully understood. Field observations suggest that the species exerts allelopathic effects, although there is no evidence in the literature to support this assumption. The objective of the study was to determine whether L. rigidum affects the germination and seedling growth of common forage species by allelopathic means. Two bioassays were conducted to test for the allelopathic potential of seeds and adult (shoot and root) tissues of L. rigidum on two grasses, Lolium multiflorum Lam. and Dactylis glomerata L., and a legume, Medicago sativa L. The three species showed different degrees of sensitivity to L. rigidum with L. multiflorum being particularly sensitive to allelopathy. Positive and negative effects of L. rigidum on seedling development were noted. Shoot extracts of L. rigidum displayed the most consistent negative effects by inhibiting elongation of the radicle of the three target species. The significance of the results is that in drought‐prone environments and where water resources are scarce poor root development decreases the ability of the plants to grow and survive.
Consequences for biodiversity of reducing inputs to upland temperate pastures: effects on beetles (Coleoptera) of cessation of nitrogen fertilizer application and reductions in stocking rates of sheep
Authors: Dennis P. , Doering J. , Stockan J. A. , Jones J. R. , Rees M. E. , Vale J. E. , Sibbald A. R. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractCurrent policies for upland pasture management in the UK encourage the integration of environmental objectives with livestock production through extensification of grazing systems. This study tested the hypothesis that a greater sward height in the summer would increase the diversity and abundance of grassland beetles (Coleoptera) as has been demonstrated for insects of indigenous grasslands.The hypothesis was tested with an experiment on an upland sheep pasture in mid‐Wales. Experimental treatments received different nitrogen fertilizer inputs (0 or 50 kg ha−1), sheep stocking densities (12 or 9 ewes ha−1) and average sward heights in summer were constrained to 3·5 or 5·5 cm by conserving surplus grass for silage in subplots. Five treatments, replicated in three randomized blocks, combined the two stocking densities and two sward heights without nitrogen fertilizer inputs, with the fifth combining the higher stocking density, shortest sward height and the nitrogen fertilizer input. Beetles were sampled with twelve pitfall traps in each of the fifteen plots from June to September in 1993 and 1995.In years 1 (1993) and 3 (1995) of the experiment, more Coleoptera species occurred in the tall sward (an average of nine species in addition to the forty‐one species present in the sward with the conventional sward height). Continuously grazed as opposed to ensiled subplots supported more beetle species but fewer individuals. Species composition of ground (Carabidae) and rove (Staphylinidae) beetles varied between treatments more than the arithmetic differences in species number.The experimental results supported the hypothesis but the benefits of taller swards to species diversity were small in the sown pastures of the study compared with indigenous upland grasslands (c.33% fewer species). Inheritance effects of drainage, fertilizer and lime inputs, and the different species and management of cultivated pastures, may constrain the conservation benefits of altered pasture management compared with indigenous grasslands.
Responses of Leymus chinensis (Poaceae) to long‐term grazing disturbance in the Songnen grasslands of north‐eastern China
Authors: Wang R. Z. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractA field study was conducted to test the responses of Leymus chinensis to long‐term grazing disturbance on a native grassland in the Songnen plain, north‐eastern China. Six grazing intensities were examined using thirty random sample plots in each. Components of biomass, and shoot and tiller densities of L. chinensis decreased significantly (P < 0·05) with increased grazing intensity, especially at the extremely high grazing intensity. Conversely, the proportion of the total biomass as rhizomes increased considerably with increased grazing intensity, and peaked on the extremely high grazing treatment (at 0·91 of the total biomass). Shoot and tiller densities, and the proportion of the total biomass as rhizomes were strongly negatively correlated with soil organic matter content and soil moisture content and negatively correlated with soil pH and soil bulk density along the grazing gradient, indicating that the responses of L. chinensis to the canopy removal by long‐term grazing are likely to have influenced changes in the soil.
Seed‐set and pollen–stigma compatibility in Leymus chinensis
Authors: Zhang W. D. , Chen S. Y. , Liu G. S. , Jan C. C. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractChinese leymus [Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.] is an important forage distributed in East Asia. The seed‐set rates and the pollen–stigma compatibility in six populations were investigated in 2001. Proportionately seed‐set ranged from 0·065 to 0·567 under open pollination and 0·0056 to 0·0426 under self‐pollination. The former is significantly higher than the latter in each population. Microscopic observations showed that proportionately only 0·0551 to 0·1167 of self‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible but most cross‐pollinated pollen grains were compatible. The tubes of most incompatible pollen grains aborted upon entering into the stigmas. Among the six populations, there was a significant correlation between seed‐set under open pollination and the compatible pollen rates under cross‐pollination. These results suggest that Chinese leymus is a self‐incompatible species, and the compatibility of pollen and stigma might be one of the factors influencing seed‐set in natural conditions. This information will be useful for future breeding efforts.
Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing thylakoidal ascorbate peroxidase show increased resistance to Paraquat‐induced photooxidative stress and to nitric oxide‐induced cell death
Authors: Murgia Irene , Tarantino Delia , Vannini Candida , Bracale Marcella , Carravieri Sara , Soave Carlo 
Published: May 2004

SummaryAscorbate peroxidases (APX), localized in the cytosol, peroxisomes, mitochondria and chloroplasts of plant cells, catalyze the reduction of H2O2 to water by using ascorbic acid (ASA) as specific electron donor. The chloroplastic isoenzymes of APX are involved in the water–water cycle, which contributes to the photophosphorylation coupled to the photosynthetic electron transport. In order to better clarify the contribution of thylakoidal APX (tAPX) to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, as well as to the fine modulation of ROS for signaling, we produced Arabidopsis lines overexpressing tAPX. These lines show an increased resistance to treatment with the O2− generating herbicide Paraquat (Pq). However, when challenged with photoinhibitory treatments at high light or low temperature, or with iron (Fe) or copper (Cu) overload, the tAPX‐overexpressing lines show no increased resistance with respect to controls, indicating that in such experimental conditions, tAPX overexpression does not reinforce plant defenses against the oxidative stresses tested. Interestingly, the nitric oxide (NO)–donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) represses accumulation of tAPX transcript; SNP also partially inhibits tAPX enzymatic activity. After treatment with SNP, the tAPX‐overexpressing lines show reduced symptoms of damage with respect to control plants treated with SNP. These transgenic lines confirm that H2O2 acts in partnership with NO in causing cell death and highlight the important role of tAPX in the fine modulation of H2O2 for signaling.
Identification and characterization of a novel anthocyanin malonyltransferase from scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) flowers: an enzyme that is phylogenetically separated from other anthocyanin acyltransferases
Authors: Suzuki Hirokazu , Sawada Shin'ya , Watanabe Kazufumi , Nagae Shiro , Yamaguchi Masa‐atsu , Nakayama Toru , Nishino Tokuzo 
Published: May 2004

SummaryAnthocyanin acyltransferases (AATs) catalyze a regiospecific acyl transfer from acyl‐CoA to the glycosyl moiety of anthocyanins, thus playing an important role in flower coloration. The known AATs are subfamily members of an acyltransferase family, the BAHD family, which play important roles in secondary metabolism in plants. Here, we describe the purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of a novel anthocyanin malonyltransferase from scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) flowers. The purified enzyme (hereafter referred to as Ss5MaT2) is a monomeric 46‐kDa protein that catalyzes the transfer of the malonyl group from malonyl‐CoA to the 4′′′‐hydroxyl group of the 5‐glucosyl moiety of anthocyanins. Thus, it is a malonyl‐CoA:anthocyanin 5‐glucoside 4′′′‐O‐malonyltransferase. On the basis of the partial amino acid sequences of the purified enzyme, we isolated a cDNA that encodes an acyltransferase protein. The steady‐state transcript level of the gene was the highest in recently opened, fully pigmented flowers and was also correlated with the trend observed for an AAT gene responsible for the first malonylation step during salvianin biosynthesis. Immunoprecipitation studies using antibodies against the recombinant acyltransferase protein corroborated the identity of this cDNA as that encoding Ss5MaT2. The deduced amino acid sequence of Ss5MaT2 showed a low similarity (22–24% identity) to those of AATs and lacked the AAT‐specific signature sequence. A phylogenetic analysis suggested that Ss5MaT2 is more related to acetyl‐CoA:benzylalcohol acetyltransferase (BEAT) rather than to AAT. This is another example in which enzymes with similar, although not identical, substrate evolved from different branches of the BAHD family.
Phytocalpain controls the proliferation and differentiation fates of cells in plant organ development
Authors: Ahn Joon‐Woo , Kim Moonil , Lim Jeong Hwa , Kim Gyung‐Tae , Pai Hyun‐Sook 
Published: May 2004

SummaryCalpain, a calcium‐dependent cysteine protease, plays an essential role in basic cellular processes in animal cells, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. NbDEK encodes the calpain homolog of N. benthamiana. In this study, virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) of NbDEK resulted in arrested organ development and hyperplasia in all the major plant organs examined. The epidermal layers of the leaves and stems were covered with hyperproliferating cell masses, and stomata and trichome development was severely inhibited. During flower development, a single dome‐like structure was grown from the flower meristem to generate a large cylinder‐shaped flower lacking any floral organs. At the cellular level, cell division was sustained in tissues that were otherwise already differentiated, and cell differentiation was severely hampered. NbDEK is ubiquitously expressed in all the plant tissues examined. In the abnormal organs of the NbDEK VIGS lines, protein levels of D‐type cyclins (CycD)2, CycD3, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were greatly elevated, and transcription of E2F (E2 promoter binding factor), E2F‐regulated genes, retinoblastoma (Rb), and KNOTTED1 (KN1)‐type homeobox genes was also stimulated. These results suggest that phytocalpain is a key regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation during plant organogenesis, and that it acts partly by controlling the CycD/Rb pathway.
Spontaneous peripelvic extravasation of urine due to an inflammatory aneurysm of the abdominal aorta
Authors: MORI KEN‐ICHI , KOGA SHIGEHIKO , NOGUCHI MITSURU , KANETAKE HIROSHI , SUDA HISAO , YAMASHITA SHUJI 
Published: May 2004

AbstractA 71‐year‐old man presented complaining of severe left flank pain. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen disclosed a left peripelvic extravasation of urine and a 4.0‐cm abdominal aortic aneurysm with a significant amount of perianeurysmal thickening and prominent left hydroureter. The patient was diagnosed as having an inflammatory aneurysm of the abdominal aorta (IAAA) with peripelvic extravasations of urine. We report the results of a patient with IAAA with ureteral obstruction successfully treated with steroid therapy and a ureteral stent.
A rare case of leiomyosarcoma of the penis with a reappraisal of the literature
Authors: DOMINICI ALBERTO , ROSE AUGUSTO DELLE , STOMACI NICETA , PUGLIESE LAVINIA , POSTI ALESSANDRO , NESI GABRIELLA 
Published: May 2004

AbstractPrimary leiomyosarcomas arising in the penis are rare, with only 29 reported cases to date. We review the published records on this entity and describe an additional case of penile leiomyosarcoma occurring in a 53‐year‐old patient who underwent postectomy for a firm nodule in the prepuce. Four years later he experienced local recurrence which was successfully treated with partial penectomy.
Results of the ureteral reimplantation with serous‐lined extramural tunnel in orthotopic ileal W‐neobladder
Authors: TÜRKÖLMEZ KADIR , BALTACI SÜMER , GÖǦÜŞ ÇAǦATAY , BEDÜK YAŞAR , GÖǦÜŞ ORHAN 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: Our experience in uretero‐ileal anastomosis using the serous‐lined extramural tunnel in orthotopic ileal W‐neobladder is presented.Methods: Between June 1998 and November 2001, 42 patients (40 men and two women) underwent radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder for invasive bladder cancer. The ureters were reimplanted into serous‐lined extramural tunnels as described by Abol‐Enein and Ghoneim. However, we made minor modifications during the ureteral reimplantation in cases that necessitated distal ureteral excision and with grossly dilated ureters. Evaluation included clinical and radiographic studies to determine functional and oncological outcomes.Results: There was no operative mortality. The mean follow‐up period was 28 months (range 12–52). Early complications occurred in four patients (9.5%). An endarterectomy for acute popliteal arterial embolism, the excision of the pouchointestinal fistula and a temporary colostomy were performed in two of these four patients. The other two patients were treated conservatively. Late complications occurred in eight patients (19%). Reflux was observed in three renal units (3.7%), ureterointestinal strictures in another three renal units (3.7%) and urethroileal stenosis in two patients (4.8%). In all cases, stabilization or improvement of renal function was achieved. No metabolic complications were observed.Conclusions: Ileal W‐neobladder with a serous‐lined extramural tunnel is a safe, reliable form of lower urinary tract reconstruction. The method can be carried out with equal ease in grossly dilated ureters and in cases that necessitate distal ureteral excision.
Prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in renal cell carcinoma patients
Authors: INOUE KATSUKI , KOHASHIKAWA KEI , SUZUKI SHUNICHI , SHIMADA MAKOTO , YOSHIDA HIDEKI 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: Thrombocytosis has been reported in many types of malignancies and has been studied as a prognostic factor. In the present study, we examined the incidence of thrombocytosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in order to evaluate the prognostic value of thrombocytosis.Methods: One hundred and ninety‐six patients treated by radical nephrectomy for RCC were enrolled in this study. We divided the patients into a normal platelet count group and a thrombocytosis group according to the presurgical platelet count. The two groups were compared pathologically and clinically, including prognosis.Results: Thrombocytosis was present in 16 patients (8.2%). Platelet counts had normalized after nephrectomy in all patients with thrombocytosis. There was no correlation between histological type or grade and thrombocytosis. However, there were correlations between thrombocytosis and tumor size and tumor stage. Patients with thrombocytosis had a worse prognosis than patients without thrombocytosis (P = 0.0028). When adjusted for stage or tumor size, the correlation was limited to low stage (stage 1 + 2: P = 0.0041, stage 3 + 4: P = 0.2983) or small tumors (tumor size: ≤4 cm, P = 0.0021; 4–7 cm, P = 0.0142; >7 cm, P = 0.8158).Conclusion: Thrombocytosis is an inexpensive and easy tool with which to evaluate the prognosis of RCC patients in daily medical practice.
Symptomatic renal metastasis 5 years after the management of a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
Authors: AKDUMAN BULENT , ALTUN REMZI , YESILLI CETIN , YENIDUNYA SIBEL , OZDEMIR HUSEYIN , MUNGAN NECMETTIN AYDIN 
Published: May 2004

AbstractA case of solitary renal metastasis five years after the management of a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lung is presented.
Bulbous urethra involved in perineal extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma in a child
Authors: WON YI JEONG , PARK YONG‐KOO , CHOI YONG‐MOOK , PYO HONG HOON , CHANG SUNG‐GOO 
Published: May 2004

AbstractExtraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma is a rare soft‐tissue sarcoma that usually occurs in deep soft tissues, especially those of the proximal extremities and limb girdles, but is rare in children. We present an unusual case of a tumor arising in the perineum and involving the bulbous urethra in a 21‐month‐old boy. The patient was treated with surgical excision and urethroplasty followed by combination chemotherapy.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor presenting as a scrotal mass
Authors: FROEHNER MICHAEL , OCKERT DETLEF , AUST DANIELA E , WIRTH MANFRED P , SAEGER HANS‐DETLEV 
Published: May 2004

AbstractWe describe a huge abdominal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) extending through the right inguinal canal. The reported case illustrates that the scrotum might be a place of initial presentation of a GIST growing along preformed anatomical structures. Urologists should be aware of this condition that might be mistaken for a primarily testicular malignancy.
Does transrectal ultrasound guided eight‐core prostate biopsy improve cancer detection rates in patients with prostate‐specific antigen levels of 4.1–10 ng/mL?
Authors: YAMAMOTO SHINYA , ITO TAKAAKI , AIZAWA TAKU , NODA KENJIRO , UMEZU KIYOKAZU , OHTSURU NORIHIKO , HATA KENICHI 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: To investigate retrospectively whether the eight‐core biopsy method improves the prostate cancer detection rate when compared with the standard sextant biopsy method in patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels of 4.1–10 ng/mL.Material and methods: Of 437 patients whose PSA levels ranged from 4.1 to 10 ng/mL, 237 underwent a transrectal ultrasound guided sextant biopsy (sextant group), and 200 underwent an eight‐core biopsy (eight‐core group). Eight core samples were obtained from each of the far lateral regions in addition to the standard sextant biopsy cores. None of the patients had a previous history of prostate biopsy.Results: Of the 237 patients in the sextant group, prostate cancer was detected in 47 patients (19.8%) and in 50 of the 200 patients in the eight‐ core group (25.0%). The rates of detection in the two methods were not statistically significant. However, in patients whose PSA density was less than 0.1 ng/mL per cc, the cancer detection rates in the sextant group and the eight‐core group were 4.5% and 18.8%, respectively (P = 0.046). The morbidity and complications of the eight‐core biopsy method were not notable.Conclusions: Only in patients with PSA levels of 4.1–10 ng/mL and density of less than 0.1 ng/mL per cc was the eight‐core biopsy method an improvement on the sextant biopsy method in terms of prostate cancer detection rate. Accordingly, a number of cores greater than eight will be required to improve the cancer detection rates in patients with PSA levels of 4.1–10 ng/mL and PSA densities of more than 0.1 ng/mL per cc.