bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mucosal immunity: Some historical perspective on host‐pathogen interactions and implications for mucosal vaccines
Authors: Ogra Pearay L 
Published: March 2003

Historical perspectives are defined as synthesis of determining forces as inferred from past events. However, in reality, any historical overview is often fraught with biases underlying the inferences of the historian. History continues to be rewritten on the basis of emerging new facts or biases, and what is often perceived as authentic recorded past may not always be factual. As a result, such perspectives are often criticized for either ignoring or highlighting major or minor events or contributions, respectively, in the recorded history. While recognizing the outstanding contributions of many recent or contemporary investigators, this report is a modest effort to pay tribute largely to our earlier scientific ancestors. This reviewer accepts full responsibility for any errors in facts of past history and any perceived bias in the inclusion or exclusion of some important investigators and their contributions in the recent history of this still evolving field of human biology.During the past century, exciting new information of immense scientific and public health impact has become available concerning the external mucosal surfaces, their role in the modulation of mammalian immune responses, and their usefulness as delivery sites for immunization against infectious diseases and other environmental macromolecules. This presentation will briefly review some of the historical aspects of the evolution of the current concepts of mucosal immunity and their implications to the development of vaccines specifically designed to capitalize on the mucosal immunologic repertoire.
Two cases of dermatophytic pseudomycetoma in the dog: an immunohistochemical study
Authors: Abramo Francesca , Vercelli Antonella , Mancianti Francesca 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTwo cases of canine dermatophytic pseudomycetoma resulting in subcutaneous nodules resembling those previously reported in Persian cats are described. Culture performed from one nodule yielded dark yellow colonies consistent withMicrosporum canis. Immunohistochemistry, using rabbit anti‐M. canis, demonstrated specific binding to fungal elements in paraffin sections. The specificity of the antiserum was further tested by an agar gel immunodiffusion assay using a soluble extract from a feline isolate ofM. canisas antigen. The antiserum did not cross‐react with anAspergillus fumigatusantigen. These are the first two reported cases of canine dermatophytic pseudomycetoma and immunohistochemical staining supported the diagnosis.
A complex and mobile structure forms a distinct subregion within the continuous vacuolar membrane in young cotyledons of Arabidopsis
Authors: Saito Chieko , Ueda Takashi , Abe Hiroshi , Wada Yoh , Kuroiwa Tsuneyoshi , Hisada Akiko , Furuya Masaki , Nakano Akihiko 
Published: March 2003

SummaryThe plant vacuole is a multifunctional organelle which is essential for growth and development. To visualize the dynamics of plant vacuolar membranes, γ‐TIP (tonoplast intrinsic protein) was fused to GFP and expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. The marker molecule was targeted to the vacuolar membranes in most tissues, as expected. In rapidly expanding cells, some additional spherical structures were often observed within the lumen of vacuoles, which emitted strong fluorescence. To confirm their normal presence, we examined wild‐type Arabidopsis cotyledons by transmission electron microscopy. The metal‐contact rapid‐freezing method revealed that the vacuolar lumen of epidermal cells contained many cytoplasmic projections, which often formed spherical structures (1–3 µm diameter) consisting of double membranes. Thus we concluded that these structures are authentic and named them ‘bulbs’. Three‐dimensional reconstruction from serial electron microscopic images demonstrates that bulbs are very intricately folded, but are continuous with the limiting vacuolar membrane. The fluorescence intensity of bulbs is about threefold higher than that of vacuolar membrane. GFP‐AtRab75c, another marker of the vacuole, did not give fluorescent signals of bulbs in transgenic plants, but the existence of bulbs was still confirmed by electron microscopy. These results suggest that bulbs define a subregion in the continuous vacuolar membrane, where some proteins are concentrated and others segregated.
Structural requirements for Arabidopsisβ1,2‐xylosyltransferase activity and targeting to the Golgi
Authors: Pagny S. , Bouissonnie F. , Sarkar M. , Follet‐Gueye M.L. , Driouich A. , Schachter H. , Faye L. , Gomord V. 
Published: March 2003

SummaryCharacterization of a β1,2‐xylosyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtXylT) was carried out by expression in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus vector system. Serial deletions at both the N‐ and C‐terminal ends proved that integrity of a large domain located between amino acid 31 and the C‐terminal lumenal region is required for AtXylT activity expression. The influence of N‐glycosylation on AtXylT activity has been evaluated using either tunicamycin or mutagenesis of potential N‐glycosylation sites. AtXylT is glycosylated on two of its three potential N‐glycosylation sites (Asn51, Asn301, Asn478) and the occupancy of at least one of these two sites (Asn51 and Asn301) is necessary for AtXylT stability and activity. Contribution of the N‐terminal part of AtXylT in targeting and intracellular distribution of this protein was studied by expression of variably truncated, GFP‐tagged AtXylT forms in tobacco cells using confocal and electron microscopy. These studies have shown that the transmembrane domain of AtXylT and its short flanking amino acid sequences are sufficient to specifically localize a reporter protein to the medial Golgi cisternae in tobacco cells. This study is the first detailed characterization of a plant glycosyltransferase at the molecular level.
Doppler ultrasound measurements in the central circulation of anesthetized fetal sheep during obstruction of umbilical–placental blood flow
Authors: Tchirikov M. , Hecher K. , Deprest J. , Zikulnig L. , Devlieger R. , Schröder H. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo establish by Doppler ultrasound the effects of acute blockage of umbilical cord vessels on the fetal central circulation.DesignExperimental study in anesthetized pregnant sheep.MethodsIn 11 anesthetized pregnant sheep (0.66 of gestation), Doppler velocity profiles and/or venous flow rates were recorded in the ductus venosus, the fetal aorta, the umbilical arteries and the umbilical vein. This involved three phases. In Phase 1, the abdominal wall was closed (n = 9); Phase 2 was during fetoscopy after laparotomy (n = 8); Phase 3 was after coagulation of one of the umbilical arteries (n = 10). As an additional intervention in six fetuses, the umbilical cord was clamped for 5–15 s while blood flow velocity changes in the ductus venosus were observed.ResultsThere were no significant differences between Doppler recordings in Phases 1 and 2. During Phase 3, the pulsatiltiy index of the aorta and of the coagulated umbilical artery increased significantly. The umbilical vein blood flow rate was significantly reduced from a median of 408 (range, 243–575) mL/min/kg in Phase 1 to a median of 173 (range, 107–426) mL/min/kg in Phase 3, but the blood flow rate in the ductus venosus (median, 94; range, 56–148 mL/min/kg vs. median, 92; range, 33–237 mL/min/kg) remained unchanged. The ductus venosus/umbilical vein ratio increased from a median of 0.22 (range, 0.13–0.41) to 0.56 (range, 0.17–0.97) (P < 0.05). Compression of the cord (5–15 s) immediately reduced the time averaged maximum velocity in the ductus venosus from a mean of 51 (standard deviation, 11) cm/s to 20 (standard deviation, 6) cm/s (P < 0.001) without significant changes of the velocity profile. However, the pulsatiltiy index increased from a mean of 0.55 (standard deviation, 0.19) to 1.89 (standard deviation, 0.73) (P < 0.001).ConclusionCentral venous flows in anesthetized fetal sheep are unaffected by laparotomy and hysterotomy. Obliteration of one umbilical artery increases the ductus venosus/umbilical vein volume flow (mL/min/kg) ratio. Compression of the umbilical cord shifts down blood flow velocity profiles in the ductus venosus, and the pulsatiltiy index thus increases.Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Freehand three‐dimensional Doppler demonstration of monochorionic vascular anastomoses in vivo: a preliminary report
Authors: Welsh A. W. , Taylor M. J. O. , Cosgrove D. , Fisk N. M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectivesTo demonstrate the three‐dimensional vascular anatomy of monochorionic placental anastomoses in vivo, both arterioarterial and arteriovenous.DesignTwo‐dimensional placental mapping techniques were used to locate arterioarterial and arteriovenous anastomoses. A freehand sweep was performed across the anastomotic site, and multiple images were stored to disk, at 17 Hz. These were then segmented to show only color information (vascular flow) using purpose‐designed software (CQ analysis) and the files reconstructed into a three‐dimensional volume, for multidirectional viewing and movie generation.ResultsBoth arterioarterial and arteriovenous anastomoses could be visualized in detail. Reconstruction of a dual volume of gray‐scale and segmented color images allowed recreation of the vascular anatomy within the placental substance, as well as retention of the original directional flow information.ConclusionsDetailed anastomotic anatomy can be demonstrated three dimensionally in vivo. Given the increasing evidence implicating various anastomotic configurations in pathological intertwin transfusion, this technique may prove useful in the antenatal assessment and treatment of monochorionic twin pregnancies. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Comparison between two‐ and three‐dimensional ultrasound measurements of nuchal translucency
Authors: Clementschitsch G. , Hasenöhrl G. , Schaffer H. , Steiner H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveFetal nuchal translucency measurement has been introduced as a screening test for the calculation of risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate: (1) the feasibility of obtaining nuchal translucency measurements using three‐dimensional ultrasound; (2) whether three‐dimensional ultrasound could improve and facilitate the required repeated measurements of nuchal translucency; (3) the correlation between two‐ and three‐dimensional nuchal translucency measurement values.Subjects and methodsBetween September 1999 and May 2000, in a prospective cohort study, 229 unselected pregnant women with a mean age of 34.6 (range, 20–46) years were examined. The mean fetal crown–rump length was 64.3 (range, 45–84) mm. Nuchal translucency thickness was measured first by two‐ and then by three‐dimensional ultrasound in two planes (three‐dimensional mid‐sagittal and three‐dimensional transverse). An attempt was made to repeat each nuchal translucency measurement three times (totalling nine measurements per patient) and the means of the two‐ and three‐dimensional measurements were compared. The majority (95%) of the measurements were made transabdominally and 5% were made transvaginally. The time limit for each examination was 20 min.ResultsWith the two‐dimensional method, nuchal translucency could be measured in 96.8% of cases. Of these, three measurements could be obtained in 51.7%, two in 23.2% and only one in 25.1%. The three‐dimensional examination was successful in 98.6% of cases. Of these, three measurements could be obtained in 60%, two in 22.8% and one in 17.2%. Transvaginally, all examinations were successful. The main reason for the failure of two‐dimensional ultrasound was the fetal position, which in some cases precluded the distinction between fetal skin and amnion or the uterine wall. Using two‐dimensional ultrasound, 6.3% of the cases of measurement failure were due to an inability to differentiate clearly between fetal skin and amnion, whilst the equivalent value for the three‐dimensional method was only 3.3%. For the three‐dimensional technique, fetal movement was the main reason for failure. The mean time for both methods was similar (9 min and 10 min for two‐ and three‐dimensional ultrasound, respectively) and the correlation between the measurements obtained by the two‐ and three‐dimensional techniques was very high (r = 0.97).ConclusionThe number of fetuses in which nuchal translucency could be measured tended to be higher with three‐dimensional ultrasound, although the difference was not statistically significant. The possibility of rotating a stored volume and inspecting it in three orthogonal planes makes three‐dimensional ultrasound a useful tool for nuchal translucency measurements, especially in doubtful cases. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Diagnosis and management of fetal cardiac anomalies: 10 years of experience at a single institution
Authors: Perolo A. , Prandstraller D. , Ghi T. , Gargiulo G. , Leone O. , Bovicelli L. , Pilu G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic accuracy of fetal echocardiography and the outcome of cardiac malformations diagnosed in utero.DesignA retrospective study.MethodsThe archives of our ultrasound laboratory were searched for fetal cardiac abnormalities in the period 1991–2001.ResultsDiagnosis of a fetal cardiac anomaly was made in 339 pregnancies at a mean gestational age of 26.2 weeks. Pathology or a detailed postnatal follow‐up was available in 260 cases, and the prenatal diagnosis was accurate in 236 cases (91%). Discrepancies included nine false positive diagnoses (six ventricular septal defects and three coarctation of the aorta) and 15 cases in which a cardiac anomaly different from the one suspected in utero was documented. Of the 142 fetuses with isolated cardiac malformations (no extracardiac anomalies, normal chromosomes) that were delivered in our center, 114 were alive (80.2%) at a mean follow‐up of 38 months (range, 1–120 months). In this group of patients, conotruncal anomalies and univentricular lesions were the most frequent types of anomaly, and had a survival rate of 87% and 57%, respectively. Hypoplastic left heart was the most frequent isolated congenital heart defect in infants that were delivered (19 cases) and it was associated with a survival rate of 37%.ConclusionIn expert hands, fetal echocardiography is highly accurate. The long‐term prognosis of cardiac lesions diagnosed in utero is similar to that reported in series of infants diagnosed after birth. The only exception is hypoplastic left heart in which the survival rate is much lower than expected from postnatal studies.Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Maternal pain and anxiety in genetic amniocentesis: expectation versus reality
Authors: Ferber A. , Onyeije C. I. , Zelop C. M. , O'Reilly‐Green C. , Divon M. Y. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate maternal perceptions of both pain and anxiety before and after genetic amniocentesis.Study designThis prospective study of midtrimester, singleton pregnancies was conducted between March 2000 and July 2000. Study variables included patient demographics, medical and obstetric histories, indication for amniocentesis and a description of the source of information used by the patient regarding the procedure and technical degree of difficulty. Maternal pain and anxiety associated with performing amniocentesis were subjectively quantified with the use of the visual analog scale (VAS). Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon signed rank test, anova, and simple and stepwise regression analyses.ResultsOne hundred and eighty‐three women participated in the study. Perception of pain before amniocentesis was significantly higher compared to that expressed immediately after the procedure, with a mean VAS score of 3.7 ± 2.5 vs. 2.1 ± 2.0 (P < 0.0001). Similarly, perception of anxiety was significantly greater prior to the procedure, with a mean VAS score of 4.6 ± 2.8 vs. 2.8 ± 2.4 after the amniocentesis (P < 0.0001). Perceptions of pain and anxiety were significantly and positively correlated to each other both before and after the procedure (P < 0.0001). History of a prior amniocentesis was the only variable associated with reducing expected pain and anxiety (negative correlation, P < 0.001), whereas the technical degree of difficulty was the only significant variable impacting on the actual pain and anxiety (positive correlation, P < 0.005).ConclusionsPreamniocentesis counseling should emphasize the fact that, for most women, the actual pain and anxiety experienced during the procedure are significantly lower than expected. In fact, on a scale of 0–10, the mean level of pain was only 2.1, with a slightly higher mean level of anxiety. Copyright © 2002 ISUOG
Early sonographic detection of a ‘human tail’: a case report
Authors: Efrat Z. , Perri T. , Meizner I. , Chen R. , Ben‐Rafael Z. , Dekel A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe report on a newborn in whom an echogenic protrusion arising in the caudal region was detected at 12 weeks' gestation. Subsequent ultrasound examinations at weeks 15 and 22 failed to demonstrate this finding. After birth, the infant was found to have a pilonidal sinus. The pilonidal sinus may represent a remnant of the embryonic appendage (‘human tail’) that usually disappears by the end of the 8th week of gestation. This case might support the theory of congenital pilonidal sinus origin. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Phylogenetic relationships among fruit flies, Bactrocera (Diptera, Tephritidae), based on the mitochondrial rDNA sequences
Authors: Muraji M. , Nakahara S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractNucleotide sequences of a 1.6 kb long portion of the mitochondrial DNA containing the majority of the 16S rRNA gene, the tRNAval gene, and the 5′ half‐region of the 12S rRNA gene were determined for forty‐eight individuals of nineteen Bactrocera species and one other tephritid taxon, Anastrepha ludens. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the consistently aligned 1.5 kb long sequences, excluding seventeen portions that could not be aligned unambiguously and were aligned inconsistently among analyses using different programs and parameters. Results of phylogenetic analyses were highly congruent among distance, unweighted parsimony, and weighted parsimony methods in terms of topology of resulting trees. Bootstrap analyses supported many of the phylogenetic relationships resolved by these analyses. Although aligned sequences showed apparent biases in nucleotide content and substitutions that differed among sites within the stem/loop structure of rRNA molecules, compensation for such factors did not greatly affect the topology. The results are discussed in relation to the taxonomic positions of species used in this study and in relation to the phylogenetic and diagnostic utility of the mitochondrial rDNA fragment.
Frequency and distribution of t‐haplotypes in the Southeast Asian house mouse (Mus musculus castaneus) in Taiwan
Authors: Huang S.‐W. , Ardlie K. G. , Yu H.‐T. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract t‐haplotypes are a meiotic drive system found on the 17th chromosome of the house mouse (Mus musculus). They can be found in wild populations of all four genetically differentiated subspecies. The drive phenomenon is male‐specific, such that heterozygous males (+/t) show non‐Mendelian transmission and transmit the t‐chromosome to > 90% of their offspring. So far the most comprehensive studies on the frequencies of t‐haplotypes in natural populations have been on just one of the subspecies (M. musculus domesticus). We applied molecular methods to accurately screen t‐haplotypes in a large number of populations of a second subspecies (M. musculus castaneus) distributed in Taiwan. We found that the overall t‐haplotype frequency is low in M. m. castaneus (0.108), and the chromosomes are patchily distributed among its populations, closely resembling the situation found in M. m. domesticus. Further, we found the frequencies of t‐haplotypes in our sample did not differ in relation to the sex or age of mice. This resemblance in the frequency and distribution among populations of the two distinct subspecies suggests that similar general mechanisms might be responsible for the low frequencies in both subspecies.
Identification of interspecific hybrids by amplified fragment length polymorphism: the case of sturgeon
Authors: Congiu L. , Dupanloup I. , Patarnello T. , Fontana F. , Rossi R. , Arlati G. , Zane L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe identification of interspecific hybrids represents an important issue for conservation biology and trade controls. In Italy, the commercial demand for sturgeon is rapidly increasing and interspecific hybrids represent a relevant part of aquacultural production. In this study we tested the suitability of the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique for sturgeon hybrid detection. Multilocus AFLP profiles were analysed by cluster analysis and assignment tests based on observed and simulated samples. Our results show that this approach can easily identify sturgeon hybrids, encouraging its application not only in sturgeon but also in other systematic groups.
Genetic differentiation and phylogeography of gulls in the Larus cachinnans–fuscus group (Aves: Charadriiformes)
Authors: Liebers D. , Helbig A. J. , De Knijff P. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe studied mitochondrial genetic differentiation among nine taxa of large gulls of the Larus cachinnans–fuscus group, which form part of the circumpolar Herring Gull complex. Our primary interest was to see if there were unrecognized gene flow barriers, to what extent mitochondrial genetic population structure conformed to current taxonomic boundaries, and what it might reveal about possible differences in population history. Sequences (430 nucleotides) of the hypervariable control region I (HVR‐I) were obtained from 580 individuals and proved highly informative within this recently diverged group of birds. Contrary to current classification, a basal split was revealed between an Atlantic–Mediterranean clade (atlantis, michahellis, armenicus) and a NW Palearctic–Central Asian clade (cachinnans, barabensis, mongolicus, fuscus‐group). There was almost no mitochondrial gene flow between these two groups, although they are in geographical contact in two areas (eastern North Atlantic, Black Sea). Within each of the two major groups, there was strong phylogeographic structure with gene flow barriers between some neighbouring taxa (e.g. cachinanns vs. barabensis), but also a case of poor genetic differentiation between phenotypically distinct forms (barabensis vs. heuglini). At the subspecies level, current taxonomy corresponded well to molecular genetic structure: over 80% of the molecular genetic variance was partitioned among six (groups of) taxa. This is in sharp contrast to previous studies using allozymes and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, which seemed to indicate extensive nuclear gene flow. Within‐taxon haplotype phylogenies and mismatch distributions revealed contrasting demographic histories: cachinnans (Ponto–Caspian region) and atlantis (NE Atlantic) represent ancient lineages with large long‐term population sizes, inland forms stem from very recent colonization events (barabensis, mongolicus) or passed through a population bottleneck (armenicus).