bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reference values for peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes applicable to the healthy adult population in Switzerland
Authors: Bisset Leslie R. , Lung Thomas L. , Kaelin Matthias , Ludwig Elisabeth , Dubs Rolf W. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:Objectives:  Use of domestic reference values is known to improve the accuracy of flow cytometric analysis by integrating local variation due to race, gender, and age. In the absence of previously published estimates, we now report establishment of reference values for a wide range of peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes applicable to the healthy adult population in Switzerland and other regions with similar demographic characteristics.Methods:  A representative sample population was recruited from among well characterized local blood donors (n = 70) and quantitative multiparametric flow cytometry used to estimate absolute and proportional values for a range of T‐, B‐, and NK‐cell subsets, including those associated with activation and maturity. Distribution‐free methods were then applied to generate 95% reference values and to estimate the significance of gender and age‐related differences.Results:  Reference values were obtained for the absolute and proportional levels of total CD3+ T cells (536–1787 cells/μL, 54.90–84.03%), helper CD4+ T cells (309–1139 cells/μL, 32.53–62.88%), cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (137–823 cells/μL, 11.55–38.60%), activated CD3+ T cells expressing CD25 (7–94 cells/μL, 0.50–5.95%), CD38 (102–554 cells/μL, 5.98–26.80%), HLA‐DR (18–186 cells/μL, 1.25–9.68%) or CD38/HLA‐DR (4–52 cells/μL, 0.30–2.30%), activated CD4+ T cells expressing CD25 (7–52 cells/μL, 0.33–2.80%), CD38 (69–547 cells/μL, 6.13–32.20%), HLA‐DR (11–55 cells/μL, 0.80–4.43%) or CD38/HLA‐DR (4–22 cells/μL, 0.30–1.35%), activated CD8+ T cells expressing CD25 (0–12 cells/μL, 0.00–0.69%), CD38 (13–124 cells/μL, 0.93–7.03%), HLA‐DR (6–108 cells/μL, 0.33–6.38%) or CD38/HLA‐DR (2–47 cells/μL, 0.13–2.68%), naive CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RA+/CD62L+ (84–761 cells/μL, 9.48–41.88%), naive CD8+ T cells expressing CD45RA+/CD62L+ (42–360 cells/μL, 3.68–19.23%), memory CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RO+ (247–807 cells/μL, 16.50–42.15%), memory CD8+ T cells expressing CD45RO+ (72–377 cells/μL, 3.78–22.80%), B‐cells expressing CD19 (72–460 cells/μL, 4.70–19.13%) or CD20 (66–529 cells/μL, 4.63–21.00%), total CD3−/(CD16+/CD56+) NK‐cells (77–427 cells/μL, 5.35–30.93%), and activated NK‐cells expressing CD25 (0–10 cells/μL, 0–0.50%) or HLA‐DR (3–99 cells/μL, 0.20–7.28%).Conclusion:  It is anticipated that availability of localized reference values for an extended range of peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes should supplement previously published reference values and enhance the utility of flow cytometric analysis undertaken in Switzerland.
Successful treatment of oral lesions of chronic lichenoid graft‐vs.‐host disease by the addition of low‐level laser therapy to systemic immunosuppression
Authors: Chor Ana , de Azevedo Alexandre Mello , Maiolino Angelo , Nucci Marcio 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:We report a case of severe oral stomatitis caused by lichenoid chronic graft‐vs.‐host disease in which low‐level laser therapy applied to the oral mucosa, in addition to standard systemic immunosuppressive treatment, resulted in quick healing and symptomatic relief.
The heat shock‐induced cell cycle arrest is attenuated by weak electromagnetic fields
Authors: Tokalov Sergey V. , Gutzeit Herwig O. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.  Stress‐induced effects in human acute leukaemia cells (HL‐60) were studied by flow cytometry using the fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester which allows the analysis of several successive cell generations for up to 10 days. Asynchronously cycling cells subjected to heat shock (30 min at 41 °C) responded in two distinct ways: while one fraction of the cell population (about 15%) re‐entered the cell cycle after a short delay, other cells became arrested at different phases of the cell cycle and remained arrested for up to several days and finally underwent apoptosis. Weak electromagnetic fields (60 µT, 50 Hz) alleviated the heat‐induced block and the fraction of arrested cells was significantly smaller.
Expression of Cathepsin D and pS2 in imprint smears of breast carcinoma
Authors: Athanassiadou P. P. , Athanassiades P. H. , Davaris P. , Petrakakou E. I. , Zerva CH. I. , Kyrkou K. A. 
Published: December 2004

athanassiadou p.p., athanassiades p. h., daffaris p., petrakakou e. i., fflerffa ch. i. and kffirkou k. a. (1998) Cytopathology9, 240–247Expression of Cathepsin D and pS2 in imprint smears of breast carcinomaThe aim of this study was to add to existing information on the effects of certain tumour markers expressed by breast cancers on tumour malignancy as evidenced by size of primary and occurrence of lymph node invasion. One hundred freshly resected breast cancers were examined by immunocytochemical staining of imprint smears for Cathepsin D and pS2. Oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were tested for by dextrose‐coated charcoal (DCC) assay and the results correlated with tumour size, histology and presence or absence of lymph node metastases at the time of surgery using χ2 analysis. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated between Cathepsin D positivity and ER, PR and pS2 positivity. In tumours < 2 cm in diameter at surgery a positive correlation was observed between Cathepsin D positivity and the presence of lymph node metastases. The findings support the hypothesis that Cathepsin D may promote early metastasis, possibly by its proteolytic activity.
The effects of leaf deprivation on leaf‐cutting ants and their mutualistic fungus
Authors: M. BASS  
Published: December 2004

1. When leaf‐cutting ants were deprived of leaves for 5 days, they increased their consumption rates of ‘staphylae’, the nutritive bodies produced by their mutualistic fungus. They also pruned their fungus garden more intensively, presumably stimulating increased staphyla production.2. Depriving fungus gardens of leaves for 5 days led to greater rates of staphyla production compared with control gardens. The rate of substrate exhaustion also increased, possibly because of this increased staphyla production, which led to greater removal of fungal resources by the ants.3. The availability of leaf substrate directly affected staphyla production by the fungus garden. When leaf fragments were inserted into fungus garden samples, staphyla production was depressed, suggesting that the fungus can allocate resources either to hyphal colonization of fresh substrate or to staphyla production.4. Under conditions of leaf deprivation, food production for the ants effectively increased, due to the combined effects of increased pruning by the ants and the response of the fungus to lack of substrate. This will allow nests to survive for long periods in the field when forage availability is reduced.5. Exposing parts of the colony to the stress of leaf deprivation showed that there is a high level of flexibility in the fungus garden’s ability to produce staphylae. This may be important during the cyclic production of broods, when demands for larval food will fluctuate widely. Under normal conditions, the optimal strategy may be for the fungus garden to have a moderate rate of production with a low rate of turnover, unless demand for staphylae increases dramatically.
Preference for protected feeding sites by larvae of the willow‐feeding leaf beetle Galerucella lineola
Authors: LARSSON STIG , HÄGGSTRÖM HÅKAN , DENNO ROBERT 
Published: December 2004

1. Free‐living insects are often thought of as more vulnerable to environmental hazards than concealed insects, such as galling or mining insects. The possibility that larvae of the free‐living leaf beetle Galerucella lineola seek out existing plant structures and thereby become partly concealed was explored.2. Neonate larvae of G. lineola frequently feed in rolled‐in margins of young leaves of their host plant, Salix viminalis. In addition to nutritional benefits from feeding on young leaves, larvae may also gain protection against adverse weather conditions and general predators by feeding in the leaf rolls. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to test these hypotheses.3. Artificial shelters were constructed and cohorts of neonate larvae were placed on experimental plants. In all experiments, larvae preferred to feed in shelters, even when shelters were constructed on mature leaves.4. In one of the experiments, fewer larvae disappeared when shelters were provided. In a predator exclusion experiment, however, no differences in predator‐inflicted mortality on G. lineola were found between shelter‐containing shoots and control shoots.5. A laboratory experiment showed increased protection from desiccation when shelters were present; growth rate was higher for larvae feeding on plants with shelters.6. Thus, free‐living insects may not always be as exposed to environmental hazards as is often assumed. In particular, young larvae may take advantage of preformed structures on their host plant and feed in a concealed microhabitat. Because mortality, in general, is high during early instars, shelter‐seeking behaviour may increase survival significantly. The existence of preformed shelters may therefore be a plant characteristic that should be considered when exploring the environmental risks associated with the free‐living habit.
The consequences of larval aggregation in the butterfly Chlosyne lacinia
Authors: BRIAN R. CLARK  , STANLEY H. FAETH  
Published: December 2004

1. Females of Chlosyne lacinia (Geyer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Melitaenae), the bordered patch butterfly, clump eggs in a few large clusters on their host plant, Helianthus annuus. Resulting larvae form sibling aggregations to at least the third instar.2. The effect of group size on survival and development of C. lacinia larvae was tested experimentally in the field. Larvae developed faster and survived better in larger groups.3. The effects of various predator guilds (ground‐dwelling arthropods, aerial arthropods and avian predators) on survival of larvae was then tested while controlling group size. Ground‐dwelling arthropods, mainly fire ants Solenopsis xyloni, reduced larval survival greatly but other solitary invertebrate and avian predators did not alter survival. Group defences and aposematism of C. lacinia larvae are probably ineffective against predatory ants that attack en masse and recruit other colony members.4. In laboratory experiments, two possible mechanisms underlying faster development of larvae in larger groups were tested: (i) overcoming the physical toughness of host plant leaves, and (ii) social stimulus to feed. Results support the physical toughness hypothesis but not the social stimulus hypothesis.5. Feeding in large groups by C. lacinia larvae confers multiple advantages, including protection from solitary predators and increased feeding efficiency because grouped, early‐instar larvae can initiate feeding wounds on tough sunflower leaves. These advantages of larval gregariousness, coupled with reduced desiccation at the egg stage, apparently outweigh disadvantages of aggregation, such as interference and exploitative competition among larvae.
Sticking to their choice – honey bee subfamilies abandon declining food sources at a slow but uniform rate
Authors: Beekman Madeleine , Oldroyd Benjamin P. , Myerscough Mary R. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. The allocation of honey bee foragers among food patches is a result of decisions made by individual bees that are based on internal and external cues.2. Decision‐making processes are often based on internal thresholds. For example, if the quality of the food source is assessed by a forager as exceeding its internal threshold, the bee will continue foraging on that food source.3. It is often assumed that all individuals have the same threshold and therefore use the same thresholds in decision‐making, but because the honey bee queen mates with 12–30 males, the workers within a colony are genetically heterogeneous. Thus, the thresholds used by individual bees may be genetically variable within a colony.4. Models of colony‐level foraging behaviour of honey bees suggest that the rate of abandoning food sources is a critical parameter affecting foraging success. Moreover, these models show that variance among subfamilies in their abandonment rates may increase the colony's foraging efficiency.5. Experimental data showing the relationship between the probability of abandoning a food source and its profitability are lacking, as is information on any variation in abandonment rates among subfamilies.6. Abandonment rates were determined experimentally for four honey bee families for seven different sucrose concentrations. The results showed that abandonment rates appear to be invariant among (sub)families. The importance of forager fidelity to declining food sources is discussed with respect to foraging efficiency in a changing environment.
The influence of spatial scale on quantifying insect dispersal: an analysis of butterfly data
Authors: Schneider Christine 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.1. A linear relationship between mean movement distances recorded and the size of the study area was found in a comparison of five mark–release–recapture studies of the meadow brown butterfly.2. The scale impact on mean butterfly movement distances was also apparent when comparing the results for different butterfly species reported in 21 mark–release–recapture studies.
Worker demography in the ant Formica neorufibarbis
Authors: Billick Ian 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. Patterns of worker demography in the ant Formica neorufibarbis were documented under natural conditions.2. Some workers lived at least 4 years.3. In 4 of 5 years, colonies were more likely to retain older workers than new workers.4. Workers persisted for more years in colonies lacking queens than in queenright colonies.
Homocysteine during the menstrual cycle in depressive women
Authors: Tallova J. , Bicikova M. , Hill M. , Tomandl J. , Valentova D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Two possible factors that may have a causal relation with both depressive disorder and cardiovascular disease are elevated homocysteine and steroid hormones. Our previous study found significant changes in the plasma homocysteine concentration during the menstrual cycle in healthy women. The purpose of this study therefore was to test homocysteine in depressive women treated with fluoxetine during the menstrual cycle.Materials and methods Thirteen premenopausal women suffering from mixed anxiety‐depressive disorder and a control group of 15 healthy women were enrolled in this study. The homocysteine concentration was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, and estradiol, progesterone and cortisol by RIA methods.Results We found significantly higher plasma homocysteine concentrations in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in both the depressive group (P < 0·003) and the controls (P < 0·0009). Moreover, the patient values of total homocysteine were significantly higher in the follicular phase (P < 0·03) and also in the luteal phase (P < 0·007) than the values of the controls. Estradiol and cortisol were significantly higher in the follicular phase of the patients compared with the control group.Conclusion According to our results, women suffering from mixed anxiety‐depressive disorder have not only significantly different concentrations of homocysteine in the follicular and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle but also higher plasma homocysteine compared with healthy women. More elevated homocysteine in the depressive than in the healthy premenopausal women points to the notion that psychological factors might be important when considering the homocysteine concentration.
Assessment of vitamin D and calcium status in healthy adult Austrians
Authors: Kudlacek S. , Schneider B. , Peterlik M. , Leb G. , Klaushofer K. , Weber K. , Woloszczuk W. , Willvonseder R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Because there is reason to assume that also in Austria calcium and vitamin D malnutrition is wide‐spread, we initiated a comprehensive study on calcium and vitamin D status in relation to bone health in a large group of the normal adult population.Subjects and methods We assessed dietary calcium and vitamin D intake, serum concentrations of Ca2+, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormones and bone mineral density (BMD) by double‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry at five different skeletal sites in 648 females and 400 males (age 21–76 years).Results Mean daily intake of vitamin D (101 IU, range 0·2–320) and calcium (569 mg, range 40–2170) was significantly less than the respective recommended dietary allowances. Two hundred and seventy‐one (26%) individuals had hypovitaminosis D with serum 25(OH)D < 12 ng mL−1, while serum Ca2+ was less than normal in 82 (7·8%) subjects. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant correlations between mean calcium intake and BMD in the femoral region in the men (r = 0·13, P < 0·05) though not in the women. No consistent data could be obtained for associations between BMD and vitamin D status, except for 25(OH)D and BMD at the spine in the men (r = 0·10, P < 0·05). 25(OH)D correlated negatively (P < 0·05) with age in the women (r = −0·11) and with PTH in the women (r = −0·11) and men (r = −0·16). Inversely, a significant (P < 0·001) age‐related increase in PTH was observed in both sexes (men, r = 0·19; women, r = 0·14).Conclusions Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in adult Austrians is an imminent risk for development of secondary hyperparathyroidism with advancing age, and requires timely correction of nutritional deficits.
Normative data of bone mineral density in an unselected adult Austrian population
Authors: Kudlacek S. , Schneider B. , Peterlik M. , Leb G. , Klaushofer K. , Weber K. , Woloszczuk W. , Willvonseder R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground There is increasing evidence that correct interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) requires a population‐specific reference range. We therefore collected data on age‐related BMD in a random sample of the normal adult Austrian population to establish an appropriate normative database.Methods We measured BMD by DEXA at five different skeletal sites in 1089 subjects, i.e. 654 females and 435 males, aged between 21–76 years, who had been recruited by 17 centres across Austria.Results Age‐related bone loss was observed until age 65 years with significant changes at the lumbar spine (r = −0·23), total hip (r = −0·07), trochanter (r = −0·10), femoral neck (r = −0·30) and Ward's triangle (r = −0·40) in the women but only at the femoral neck (r = −0·23) and at Ward's triangle (r = −0·40) in the men. When we calculated T scores from the BMD data of the young normal adult study population and used the T score set points according to the WHO classification of osteopenia and osteoporosis, we found that, depending on the skeletal site measured, 7·6–27·4% of the women and 16–41% of the men in our study group had low bone mass, whereas 0·6–2·7% of the female and 0·2–1·0% of the male study population were osteoporotic. However, osteoporosis was indicated in 4–9‐fold more females and 5–15‐fold more males when we based our estimates on the normative data provided by the manufacturers of the DEXA systems.Conclusion Our data underscore the importance of using a population‐specific reference range for DEXA measurements to avoid overdiagnosis of osteoporosis.
Portal hypertension is associated with increased mRNA levels of vasopressor G‐protein‐coupled receptors in human hepatic arteries
Authors: Neef M. , Biecker E. , Heller J. , Schepke M. , Nischalke H. D. , Wolff M. , Spengler U. , Reichen J. , Sauerbruch T. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground The contractile response of human splanchnic vessels to different vasoconstrictors is attenuated in cirrhosis. Functional studies indicate a cellular signalling defect upstream of the G‐protein level. The aim of the present study was to analyze expression and mRNA levels of the following most relevant vasopressor receptors in the smooth musculature of human hepatic arteries: α1 adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes a, b and d, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1), arginine vasopressin receptor type 1a (V1a), endothelin receptor type A (ETA) and B (ETB).Materials and methods Hepatic arteries were collected from 10 donors (noncirrhotic) and 14 recipients (cirrhotic) at liver transplantations. Real‐time‐PCR was performed to quantify steady‐state levels of receptor mRNAs.Results α1aAR mRNA levels showed no significant difference between the cirrhotic arteries and the controls while the mRNA levels of the other vasoactive receptors were significantly higher in the cirrhotic hepatic arteries (α1bAR: 4‐fold, P = 0·013; AT1: 16‐fold, P = 0·024; V1a: 23‐fold, P = 0·001; ETA: 4‐fold, P = 0·02; ETB: 8‐fold, P = 0·008). No mRNA for the α1dAR was detected either in the donor or recipient hepatic arteries.Conclusion We conclude that vascular hyporeactivity to the most relevant endogenous vasoconstrictors of cirrhotic hepatic arteries is not caused by a receptor down‐regulation at mRNA levels. In contrast they were up‐regulated.
Plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity and small, dense LDL in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tan K. C. B. , Shiu S. W. M. , Wong Y. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) remodel circulating lipoproteins and play a role in the antiatherogenic reverse cholesterol transport pathway. The present study determined whether abnormalities in the LDL subfraction pattern in type 2 diabetic patients were related to changes in lipid transfer proteins.Methods Low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions were measured by density gradient ultracentrifugation and plasma PLTP and CETP activities by radiometric assays in 240 diabetic patients and 136 controls.Results The diabetic patients had lower LDL‐I (P < 0·001) and higher LDL‐III concentrations than the controls (P < 0·001). Plasma PLTP activity was increased (P < 0·001) whereas no significant differences were seen in CETP activity. In the diabetic patients, small, dense LDL‐III correlated with plasma triglyceride (r = 0·18, P < 0·01), HDL (r = −0·14, P < 0·05), PLTP (r = 0·29, P < 0·001) and CETP activity (r = 0·15, P < 0·05). Linear regression analysis showed that plasma PLTP activity, triglyceride and age were the major determinants of LDL‐III concentration (r2 = 28%, P < 0·001). The univariate relationship between CETP and LDL‐III was no longer significant after adjusting for PLTP activity.Conclusions The increase in plasma PLTP activity was independently associated with small, dense LDL concentrations in type 2 diabetes. Hence, elevated PLTP activity might have both antiatherogenic and pro‐atherogenic potential in these patients.