bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Limitations of detection of malignancy in pleural effusions using ELISA‐based TRAP assay: comparison with cytological examination
Authors: Lee W.‐Y. 
Published: September 2005

Objective:  Telomerase is active in almost all cancers from various organs but is not detectable in most normal cells. Thus, telomerase activity might be a universal and specific marker for diagnosing malignancy. The aim was to evaluate the potential use of the ELISA‐based TRAP assay to detect malignancy in pleural effusion, and to compare it with conventional cytological examination.Methods:  Using the ELISA‐based TRAP assay, telomerase activity was examined in 94 consecutive pleural effusions submitted for cytological examination.Results:  According to the results of cytology, the 94 samples were divided into two groups: group I, 79 non‐malignant pleural effusions, including group IA, no association with a malignant tumour, a control group (n = 63), and group IB, associated with a malignant tumour (n = 16); and group II, 15 malignant pleural effusions. Telomerase activity was detected in five of 63 samples in group IA (7.9%), four of 16 samples in group IB (25%), and six of 15 samples in group II (40%). All five false‐positive effusions were from patients with tuberculosis. Comparing group II with group IA, the TRAP assay showed 40% sensitivity, 92.1% specificity, 54.5% positive and 86.6% negative predictive value, and 82.1% accuracy. However, the detection rate of the TRAP assay (88.9%) was higher than that of the cytological examination (66.7%) in lung cancer‐inflicted pleural effusions.Conclusion:  The ELISA‐based TRAP assay is relatively insensitive; therefore, it is unsuitable as a routine diagnostic tool for pleural effusion. False‐positive telomerase activity due to lymphocytic contamination may weaken its diagnostic value for malignant effusions in a tuberculosis‐endemic area.
Cytoplasmic colloid inclusions in thyroid lesions: a cytomorphological study based on fine needle aspiration
Authors: Das D. K. , Pathan S. K. , Francis I. M. , Sheikh Z. A. , AL‐Juwaiser A. , Shaheen A. , Prabha K. , George J. , Kapila K. 
Published: September 2005

Introduction:  Intracytoplasmic lumens (ICL) with or without magenta material and transgressing vessels are features of Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCN). After detection of intracytoplasmic colloid inclusions (CIs) including targetoid (magenta) body‐like structures in the Hürthle cells (HC) in a case of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), we reviewed cases of HT, thyroid neoplasms, hyperplastic nodules (HN) and colloid goitres to determine the frequency of these structures. Further, an attempt was made to find out the significance of CIs.Methods:  FNA smears of 120 HT, 101 colloid goitres, 11 HN, and 76 neoplastic goitres were examined. The presence of CIs and empty ICL were noted in epithelial cells in these lesions. An attempt was made to find out the difference between HT with and without CIs in respect of various cytomorphologic features. The groups were compared using the Fisher's exact test of probability.Results:  The CIs were present in 36 (30.0%) of HT, 26 (34.2%) of neoplastic goitres, 3 (27.3%) of HN, and 4 (4.0%) colloid goitres. As compared to colloid goitres, CIs were present in a significant higher number of cases in HN (P = 0.0202), neoplastic goitres (P < 0.0001), and HT (P < 0.0001). Among neoplasms the frequency of CIs in HCN (75.0%) was significantly higher than that of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (33.3%, P = 0.0466), and follicular neoplasm (14.3%, P = 0.0083). The CIs were more frequent in HC in HT and HCN but in follicular cells (FC) in other lesions. The HT cases with CIs differed significantly from those without CIs in respect of HC and their cellularity, cellularity of reactive lymphoid cells, extracellular colloid and empty ICL.Conclusion:  Care should be taken not to diagnose HT cases with an excessive Hürthle cell component and CIs, and PTC cases with Hürthlization and CIs, as HCN in FNA smears. Based on review of the literature and our findings, it is suggested that the Hürthle cell metaplasia in HT is a survival response of FC and the presence of CIs in Hürthle cell may represent their limited ability to synthesize colloid.
Effect of intensive training on heart rate variability in prepubertal swimmers
Authors: Vinet A. , Beck L. , Nottin S. , Obert P. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackground  In children, there is very limited evidence focusing on the beneficial effect of exercise training on heart rate variability (HRV) during childhood. Despite the fact that more and more children are engaged in intensive training programs, the question arises if such intensive training involves deleterious effects on the cardiac autonomic nervous system during childhood. Thus the aim of the present study was to compare HRV parameters in highly trained swimmer boys and untrained counterparts.Methods  Twenty prepubertal boys, aged 11–12 years old, took part in the study. The children were divided into 11 highly trained prepubertal swimmers (training sessions of 8–10 h weekly for at least 4 years) and 9 age‐matched active boys. HRV analysis was performed on diurnal recordings in the frequency (short‐term recordings 6 min the most ‘vagal’) and time (long‐term recordings 4 h centred on the 6 min most ‘vagal’) domains.Results  No significant differences were obtained between groups for all frequency variables whatever the mode of expression (absolute in ms2, relative in Ln or %). All time‐domain components were not significantly different in swimmers and untrained boys.Conclusions  The results of the present study demonstrate that participating intensively in swimming training does not induce in children changes in HRV indices. Neither time nor domain HRV variables were significantly different between untrained and highly trained prepubertal boys. Thus, intensive training in healthy children does not involve deleterious effects on HRV.
Silent and humming nasal NO measurements in adults aged 18–70 years
Authors: Struben V. M. D. , Wieringa M. H. , Mantingh C. J. , Bruinsma S. M. , De Jongste J. C. , Feenstra L. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackground  The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) measured from the nose is much higher than in the lower airways and increases during humming. We assessed nasal NO (nNO) normal values during breath hold and during humming in healthy adults.Materials and methods  Nasal NO concentrations were measured in healthy adults (ages 18–70). They held their breath for 10 s and thereafter hummed as loud as possible with their mouths closed also for 10 s. During breath hold, air was passively extracted from one nostril with 700 mL min−1. The average NO concentration at the plateau after 7–10 s was recorded and the mean of three consecutive measurements was calculated. During humming, air was extracted with 1200 mL min−1, the peak NO values were recorded.Results  One hundred healthy adults participated (37 men). The nNO concentrations during breath hold were distributed normally (mean: 455 parts per billion (p.p.b.), SD 147). A random subgroup of 40 out of the 100 subjects (15 men) performed nNO measurement during humming. The median peak NO value was 1019 p.p.b. (SD 561) at the first, and 837 p.p.b. (SD 408) at the second measurement. There was a significant difference between the peak NO values of first and second humming.Conclusion  We present normal values for nNO in adults, which can be used to assess the value of nNO in respiratory illnesses. The peak nNO values during humming are variable, and their clinical relevance remains to be shown.
Paradox of simultaneous intestinal ischaemia and hyperaemia in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hatoum O. A. , Binion D. G. , Gutterman D. D. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis review has focused on evidence regarding intestinal perfusion of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Basic investigation has defined an altered microvascular anatomy in the affected IBD bowel, which corresponds with diminished mucosal perfusion in the setting of chronic, long‐standing inflammation. Diminished perfusion is linked to impaired wound healing, and may contribute to the continued refractory mucosal damage, which characterizes IBD. Alterations in vascular anatomy and physiology in IBD suggests additional possible mechanisms by which micro‐vessels may contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of IBD. This begs the following questions: will angiogenesis within the gut lead to sustained inflammation, does the growing vasculature generate factors that transform the surrounding tissue and does angiogenesis generate vascular anastomosis within the gut, with shunting of blood away from the mucosal surface, impairment of metabolism and potentiation of gut damage? Further studies are required to define the mechanisms that underlie the vascular dysfunction and its role in pathophysiology of IBD.
Host‐specific aphid population responses to elevated CO2 and increased N availability
Authors: Sudderth Erika A. , Stinson Kristina A. , Bazzaz F. A. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractSap‐feeding insects such as aphids are the only insect herbivores that show positive responses to elevated CO2. Recent models predict that increased nitrogen will increase aphid population size under elevated CO2, but few experiments have tested this idea empirically. To determine whether soil nitrogen (N) availability modifies aphid responses to elevated CO2, we tested the performance of Macrosiphum euphorbiae feeding on two host plants; a C3 plant (Solanum dulcamara), and a C4 plant (Amaranthus viridis). We expected aphid population size to increase on plants in elevated CO2, with the degree of increase depending on the N availability.We found a significant CO2× N interaction for the response of population size for M. euphorbiae feeding on S. dulcamara: aphids feeding on plants grown in ambient CO2, low N conditions increased in response to either high N availability or elevated CO2. No population size responses were observed for aphids infesting A. viridis. Elevated CO2 increased plant biomass, specific leaf weight, and C : N ratios of the C3 plant, S. dulcamara but did not affect the C4 plant, A. viridis. Increased N fertilization significantly increased plant biomass, leaf area, and the weight : height ratio in both experiments. Elevated CO2 decreased leaf N in S. dulcamara and had no effect on A. viridis, while higher N availability increased leaf N in A. viridis and had no effect in S. dulcamara. Aphid infestation only affected the weight : height ratio of S. dulcamara.We only observed an increase in aphid population size in response to elevated CO2 or increased N availability for aphids feeding on S. dulcamara grown under low N conditions. There appears to be a maximum population growth rate that M. euphorbiae aphids can attain, and we suggest that this response is because of intrinsic limits on development time and fecundity.
Carbon pools in a boreal mixedwood logging chronosequence
Authors: Martin Jennifer L. , Gower Stith T. , Plaut Jennifer , Holmes Bruce 
Published: September 2005

AbstractMixedwood forests are an ecologically and economically important forest type in central Canada, but the ecology of these forests is not as well studied as that of single‐species dominated stands in the boreal forest. Northern boreal mixedwood forests have only recently been harvested and the effects of harvesting on carbon content in these stands are unknown. We quantified the carbon content and aboveground net primary production (NPP) for four different‐aged mixedwood boreal forest stands in northern Manitoba, Canada. The stands included 11‐, 18‐, and 30‐year‐old stands that originated from harvesting and a 65‐year‐old fire‐originated stand that typifies the origin of all northern boreal mixed‐wood forests that are coming under management. Trees included black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Overstory biomass was estimated using species‐specific allometric models that generally explained greater than 95% of the observed variation in biomass. Carbon content of the overstory vegetation was greatest in the 65‐year‐old stand and was 74% larger than the 11‐year‐old stand and showed a positive relationship with stand age (F1, 2=122.62, P=0.0081 R2=0.99). The slope of mineral soil carbon did not differ significantly among stands (F1, 2=0.39, P=0.5956, R2=0.16). Coarse woody debris carbon content followed a U‐shaped pattern among stands. Aboveground NPP differed by 24% between the youngest and oldest stand. Mean annual carbon accumulation and aboveground NPP rates of the mixedwood forests were on average two times greater than nearby relatively pure stands studied during the BOREAS (BOReal Ecosystem Atmospheric Study) project. The trends in the results, along with other field studies, suggest that harvesting does not significantly affect the total soil carbon content. The results of this study suggest that scientists should be cautious about extrapolating results from BOREAS stands to a broader region until more data on other forest types and regions are available.
Estimation of the whole‐plant CO2compensation point of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.)
Authors: Campbell Catherine D. , Sage Rowan F. , Kocacinar Ferit , Way Danielle A. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe whole‐plant CO2compensation point (Γplant) is the minimum atmospheric CO2level required for sustained growth. The minimum CO2requirement for growth is critical to understanding biosphere feedbacks on the carbon cycle during low CO2episodes; however, actual values of Γplantremain difficult to calculate. Here, we have estimated Γplantin tobacco by measuring the relative leaf expansion rate at several low levels of atmospheric CO2, and then extrapolating the leaf growth vs. CO2response to estimate CO2levels where no growth occurs. Plants were grown under three temperature treatments, 19/15, 25/20 and 30/25°C day/night, and at CO2levels of 100, 150, 190 and 270 μmol CO2 mol−1 air. Biomass declined with growth CO2such that Γplantwas estimated to be approximately 65 μmol mol−1for plants grown at 19/15 and 30/25°C. In the first 19 days after germination, plants grown at 100 μmol mol−1had low growth rates, such that most remained as tiny seedlings (canopy size <1 cm2). Most seedlings grown at 150 μmol mol−1and 30/25°C also failed to grow beyond the small seedling size by day 19. Plants in all other treatments grew beyond the small seedling size within 3 weeks of planting. Given sufficient time (16 weeks after planting) plants at 100 μmol mol−1eventually reached a robust size and produced an abundance of viable seed. Photosynthetic acclimation did not increase Rubisco content at low CO2. Instead, Rubisco levels were unchanged except at the 100 and 150 μmol mol−1where they declined. Chlorophyll content and leaf weight per area declined in the same proportion as Rubisco, indicating that leaves became less expensive to produce. From these results, we conclude that the effects of very low CO2are most severe during seedling establishment, in large part because CO2deficiency slows the emergence and expansion of new leaves. Once sufficient leaf area is produced, plants enter the exponential growth phase and acquire sufficient carbon to complete their life cycle, even under warm conditions (30/25°C) and CO2levels as low as 100 μmol mol−1.
The effect of statin therapy on plasma high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels is modified by paraoxonase‐1 in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: VAN HIMBERGEN T. M. , VAN TITS L. J. H. , VOORBIJ H. A. M. , DE GRAAF J. , STALENHOEF A. F. H. , ROEST M. 
Published: September 2005

Abstract.Objectives.  Statins reduce low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and can raise high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C). HDL‐bound paraoxonase‐1 (PON1) is associated with variations in plasma HDL‐C, and may, therefore, contribute to changes of HDL‐C during statin therapy.Design.  The effects of baseline PON1 status to HDL‐C changes because of statin therapy were investigated. PON1 status was determined with (i) PON1 −107C>T and 192Q>R genotype, (ii) PON1 levels and (iii) PON1 paraoxonase, diazoxonase and arylesterase activity.Setting.  Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.Subjects.  A total of 134 familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) patients undergoing atorvastatin or simvastatin therapy.Results.  PON1 levels and activities significantly modified the HDL‐C increment (P = 0.002 for PON1 levels and arylesterase activity and P =0.001 for diazoxonase activity). The effects were even more evident amongst subgroup classifications based on PON1 status and baseline HDL‐C concentrations: the HDL‐C increment was more pronounced in subgroups of −107CT/TT or 192QR/RR genotype combined with low baseline HDL‐C (+13.9%, P < 0.001, respectively +15.4%, P < 0.001). In contrast, the −107CC or 192QQ genotype in combination with high baseline HDL‐C, did not show a significant increase of HDL‐C.Conclusions.  PON1 status in conjunction with baseline HDL‐C levels predicts HDL‐C increment during statin therapy in FH patients.
Islet‐1 Expression and its Colocalisation with Luteinising Hormone, Thyroid‐Stimulating Hormone and Oestrogen Receptor Alpha in the Developing Pituitary Gland of the Sheep Foetus
Authors: Liu J. , Liu Z. , Yi S. , Cui S. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIslet‐1 has been reported to be involved in pituitary development in the early stages of mouse embryogenesis. Oestrogen receptor (ER) and its expression may be involved in regulating pituitary development and its hormone‐secreting function. Islet‐1 expression and its correlations to ER in the developing pituitary gland are unknown. We therefore determined the pituitary cell specific expression of Islet‐1 and its colocalisation with ER alpha (ERα) in sheep foetus by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated that Islet‐1‐immunoreacitive (ir) cells were distributed throughout the pituitary gland from day 60 of gestation until birth. The Islet‐1‐ir cell number was significant higher at day 90 and 120 of gestation compared to that at day 60 and at birth. All of the ERα‐ir cells were colocalised with Islet‐1 at day 60 of gestation, although a few ERα‐ir cells were negative for Islet‐1 in the later stage of gestation. The dominant cell type expressing Islet‐1 is the gonadotroph, although small proportions of thyrotrophs and lactotrophs also express Islet‐1. The proportion of luteinising hormone‐ir gonadotrophs possessing Islet‐1 kept rising from day 60 to day 120 of gestation and persisted until birth. The proportion of thyroid‐stimulating hormone‐ir cells expressing Islet‐1 was at a high level from day 60–120 of the gestation and significantly declined at birth. The percentage of prolactin (PRL)‐ir cells expressing Islet‐1 was about 20% at day 60 of gestation. Very few PRL‐ir cells contained Islet‐1 in later stages of gestation. These data suggest that the development and functional establishment of pituitary gonadotrophs, thyrotrophs and lactotrophs might be regulated by the expressions of Islet‐1 and ERα and by their interactions, although any mechanisms need to be elucidated further.
Variant proteins of Plasmodium vivax are not clonally expressed in natural infections
Authors: Fernandez‐Becerra Carmen , Pein Oliver , de Oliveira Tatiane Rodrigues , Yamamoto Marcio Massao , Cassola Antonio Carlos , Rocha Claudia , Soares Irene S. , de Bragança Pereira Carlos A. , del Portillo Hernando A. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryPlasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed human malaria parasite and responsible for 70–80 million clinical cases each year and a large socio‐economical burden. The sequence of a chromosome end from P. vivax revealed the existence of a multigene superfamily, termed vir (P. vivax variant antigens), that can be subdivided into different subfamilies based on sequence similarity analysis and which represents close to 10–20% of the coding sequences of the parasite. Here we show that there is a vast repertoire of vir genes abundantly expressed in isolates obtained from human patients, that different vir gene subfamilies are transcribed in mature asexual blood stages by individual parasites, that VIR proteins are not clonally expressed and that there is no significant difference in the recognition of VIR‐tags by immune sera of first‐infected patients compared with sera of multiple‐infected patients. These data provide to our knowledge the first comprehensive study of vir genes and their encoding variant proteins in natural infections and thus constitute a baseline for future studies of this multigene superfamily. Moreover, whereas our data are consistent with a major role of vir genes in natural infections, they are inconsistent with a predominant role in the strict sense of antigenic variation.
LexA regulates the bidirectional hydrogenase in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a transcription activator
Authors: Gutekunst Kirstin , Phunpruch Saranya , Schwarz Christoph , Schuchardt Sven , Schulz‐Friedrich Rüdiger , Appel Jens 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe bidirectional NiFe‐hydrogenase of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is encoded by five genes (hoxEFUYH) which are transcribed as one unit. The transcription of the hox‐operon is regulated by a promoter situated upstream of hoxE. The transcription start point was located at −168 by 5′Race. Several promoter probe vectors carrying different promoter fragments revealed two regions to be essential for the promoter activity. One is situated in the untranslated 5′leader region and the other is found −569 to −690 nucleotides upstream of the ATG. The region further upstream was shown to bind a protein. Even though an imperfect NtcA binding site was identified, NtcA did not bind to this region. The protein binding to the DNA was purified and found to be LexA by MALDI‐TOF. The complete LexA and its DNA binding domain were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Both were able to bind to two sites in the examined region in band‐shift‐assays. Accordingly, the hydrogenase activity of a LexA‐depleted mutant was reduced. This is the first report on LexA acting not as a repressor but as a transcriptional activator. Furthermore, LexA is the first transcription factor identified so far for the expression of bidirectional hydrogenases in cyanobacteria.
Hyphal differentiation in the exploring mycelium of Aspergillus niger
Authors: Vinck Arman , Terlou Maarten , Pestman Wiebe R. , Martens Edwin P. , Ram Arthur F. , van den Hondel Cees A. M. J. J. , Wösten Han A. B. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryMycelial fungi play a central role in element cycling in nature by degrading dead organic material such as wood. Fungal colonization of a substrate starts with the invasion of exploring hyphae. These hyphae secrete enzymes that convert the organic material into small molecules that can be taken up by the fungus to serve as nutrients. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter, we show for the first time that exploring hyphae of Aspergillus niger differentiate with respect to enzyme secretion; some strongly express the glucoamylase gene glaA, while others hardly express it at all. When a cytoplasmic GFP was used, 27% of the exploring hyphae of a 5‐day‐old colony belonged to the low expressing hyphae. By fusing GFP to glucoamylase and by introducing an ER retention signal, this number increased to 50%. This difference is due to cytoplasmic streaming of the reporter in the former case, as was shown by using a photo‐activatable GFP. Our findings indicate that a fungal mycelium is highly differentiated, especially when taking into account that hyphae in the exploration zone were exposed to the same nutritional conditions.