bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Axillary perifollicular xanthomatosis resembling Fox–Fordyce disease
Authors: Kossard Steven , Dwyer Phillip 
Published: April 2004

SUMMARYA 40‐year‐old woman presented with a 2‐year history of intermittently pruritic pale yellow follicular papules localized to both axillae associated with decreased axillary hair growth and sweating. Skin biopsies revealed an expanded perifollicular adventitial sheath packed with xanthoma cells. There was scant lymphocytic inflammation around the follicles. Vacuolated keratinocytes were present within the infundibular region of the follicles. Serum lipid levels and serum protein electrophoresis were both normal. The features in our case overlap those described recently as a xanthomatous variant of Fox–Fordyce disease. However, in our patient the pruritus was not intense, the lesions were confined to the axillae, and the histopathological features of Fox–Fordyce disease were not confirmed. We prefer to classify our case as an axillary perifollicular xanthomatosis. It is possible that axillary perifollicular xanthomatosis is the follicular counterpart of the epidermal‐based verruciform xanthomas, as both are normolipaemic and are limited to the adventitial tissue close to keratinocytes that may be the source of lipid. The finding of vacuolated keratinocytes in the infundibular region in our case may support this mechanism.
Use of biosynthetic dressings in paraneoplastic pemphigus
Authors: Vun Yin Yin , Lun Karyn , Strutton Geoff 
Published: April 2004

SUMMARYA 77‐year‐old woman with paraneoplastic pemphigus and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma was treated with supportive therapy and oral prednisone. Biobrane®, a biosynthetic dressing, was later applied to the extensive areas of erosion to assist in pain management and to provide a temporary barrier function. She reported an improvement in the pain associated with the areas of erosion. The use of biosynthetic dressings in blistering disorders has not been previously reported. Standard dressings such as silver sulfadiazine are messy and can cause discomfort with frequent changing. We feel that this is an area that warrants further evaluation as it may contribute to the overall treatment and comfort cares of these patients.
Fast Multipath Radiosity using Hierarchical Subscenes
Authors: Castro F. , Sbert M. , Neumann L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis paper presents an efficient acceleration technique for the global line radiosity Multipath method. In this approach, the scene is subdivided in a hierarchy of box bounded subscenes, the boxes subdivided in a grid of virtual patches which store angular information. A new recursive (according to the hierarchy of subscenes) function allows to execute the Multipath algorithm at different levels of the hierarchy. A speed up factor up to 3–4 has been obtained on some of the tested scenes.
Prototype Modeling from Sketched Silhouettes based on Convolution Surfaces
Authors: Tai Chiew‐Lan , Zhang Hongxin , Fong Jacky Chun‐Kin 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis paper presents a hybrid method for creating three‐dimensional shapes by sketching silhouette curves. Given a silhouette curve, we approximate its medial axis as a set of line segments, and convolve a linearly weighted kernel along each segment. By summing the fields of all segments, an analytical convolution surface is obtained. The resulting generic shape has circular cross‐section, but can be conveniently modified via sketched profile or shape parameters of a spatial transform. New components can be similarly designed by sketching on different projection planes. The convolution surface model lends itself to smooth merging between the overlapping components. Our method overcomes several limitations of previous sketched‐based systems, including designing objects of arbitrary genus, objects with semi‐sharp features, and the ability to easily generate variants of shapes.
The influence of Hox genes and three intercellular signalling pathways on enteric neuromuscular development
Authors: Kapur R. P. , Gershon M. D. , Milla P. J. , Pachnis V. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractNormal intestinal motility requires orderly development of the complex nerve plexuses and smooth muscular layers in the gut wall. Organization of these structures results, in part, from cell autonomous programmes directed by transcription factors, which orchestrate appropriate temporal and spatial expression of specific target genes. Hox proteins appear to function in combination to dictate regional codes that establish major structural landmarks in the gut such as sphincters and muscle layers. These codes are translated in part by intercellular signals, which allow populations of cells in the embryonic gut wall to alter the developmental fate of their neighbours. Some of the best characterized intercellular signalling pathways involved in enteric neurodevelopment are mediated by GDNF/GFRa1/RET, EDN3/ENDRB, and NETRINS/DCC. These signals affect enteric neural precursors as they colonize the gut, and perturbations of these molecules are associated with various types of intestinal neuropathology.
Neurodegeneration: a key factor in the ageing gut
Authors: Wade P. R. , Cowen T. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMany individuals experience gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction more frequently as they age, and the segment of the human population that is growing the most rapidly is the ‘oldest old’, who are ≥ 80 years old. There has recently been renewed interest in the age‐related changes intrinsic to the gut, and these investigations may help physicians understand the ‘normal’ aged GI tract, as distinct from disordered bowel function that is the result of comorbid conditions and/or GI side effects of medications used to treat those conditions. In this concise review we summarize recent data that suggest age‐related neurodegenerative changes in the enteric nervous system (ENS) are key to functional changes observed with advanced age. Morphological studies are reviewed that demonstrate clearly the loss of enteric neurones in both submucosal and myenteric plexuses in humans and in rodents. Recent studies that indicate selective preservation of nitrergic, but not cholinergic, neurones are reviewed, as are preliminary findings that intrinsic sensory neurones may be among the most ‘age‐labile’ subpopulations of the ENS. Caloric restriction remains the only intervention known that prevents neurodegeneration of ageing in the ENS, and mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are discussed. The field of ageing research in enteric neurobiology is ripe for rapid progression from phenomenology of age‐related losses of neurones and associated functional changes to discovery of therapeutic approaches that may help ameliorate deterioration of bowel function and thereby contribute significantly to improved quality of life in advanced age.
Enteric glia
Authors: Rühl A. , Nasser Y. , Sharkey K. A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe enteric nervous system is composed of both enteric neurones and enteric glia. Enteric glial cells were first described by Dogiel and are now known to outnumber neurones approximately 4 : 1. In the past, these cells were assumed to subserve a largely supportive role; however, recent evidence indicates that enteric glial cells may play a more active role in the control of gut function. In transgenic mouse models, where enteric glial cells are selectively ablated, the loss of glia results in intestinal inflammation and disruption of the epithelial barrier. Enteric glia are activated specifically by inflammatory insults and may contribute actively to inflammatory pathology via antigen presentation and cytokine synthesis. Enteric glia also express receptors for neurotransmitters and so may serve as intermediaries in enteric neurotransmission. Thus, enteric glia may serve as a link between the nervous and immune systems of the gut and may also have an important role in maintaining the integrity of the mucosal barrier and in other aspects of intestinal homeostasis.
Slow excitatory metabotropic signal transmission in the enteric nervous system
Authors: Wood J. D. , Kirchgessner A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMetabotropic mechanisms of excitatory signalling in enteric neurones underlie both slow synaptic transmission and paracrine transmission from enteric non‐neuronal cells. The type of neurone in which signalling occurs determines the characteristics of synaptic‐ and paracrine‐mediated slow excitatory responses. Slow excitatory responses in neurones with AH‐type electrophysiological behaviour and multipolar Dogiel type II morphology are characterized by membrane depolarization associated with closure of Ca2+‐gated K+ channels that is reflected by increased neuronal input resistance. Slow excitatory responses in neurones with S‐type electrophysiological behaviour and uniaxonal morphology are characterized by membrane depolarization associated with opening of cationic channels and decreased neuronal input resistance. Postreceptor signalling that involves activation of adenylate cyclase, stimulation of cAMP formation and activation protein kinase A generates excitatory responses characterized by increased neuronal input resistance in AH neurones. Postreceptor signalling that involves activation of phospholipase C, release of IP3 and diacylglycerol and activation of protein kinase C and calmodulin kinases generates excitatory responses characterized by decreased neuronal input resistance in S neurones. Slow excitatory responses that are characterized by increased neuronal input resistance are a property of AH‐type neurones that function as interneurones in the neural networks of the ENS. Slow excitatory responses that are characterized by decreased neuronal input resistance are a property of S‐type neurones that function either as interneurones or as musculomotor and secretomotor neurones in the neural networks of the ENS.
Calcium imaging of gut activity
Authors: Tack J. , Smith T. K. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe major cell types regulating gut motility include enteric neurones, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and their effector smooth muscle cells. These cells are arranged conveniently in nested layers through the gut wall. Our knowledge of how many of these cells in each layer are integrated to produce the various patterns of motility is largely unknown. So far, much of our knowledge of gut motility has usually been obtained by examining point sources of activity (e.g. intracellular recordings from enteric neurones, ICC and smooth muscle cells), rather than the spread of activity through these spatially distributed nerve and ICC networks, or smooth muscle syncitia. Our understanding of how these cells are integrated to produce gut movements would be greatly enhanced if we could image the activity in many of these cells in each layer, or many cells in several layers, simultaneously. Calcium (Ca2+) is a major signalling and regulatory molecule in most cells. In fact, electrical excitability in enteric neurones, ICC and smooth muscle is associated with robust rises in intracellular Ca2+ that long outlast the electrical events (e.g. action potentials in neurones and smooth muscle) that gave rise to them. These prolonged Ca2+ responses, together with the development of several high quality Ca2+ indicators, has provided a unique opportunity to image many cells in intact tissues simultaneously using ICCD video‐rate cameras along with conventional microscopy. However, confocal microscopy has also been used, and has several advantages over the above systems. These include reduced photo‐toxicity and bleaching and the elimination of out of focus light from different layers within the tissue. So far, despite some limitations with the calcium imaging techniques, the spread of activity through the two layers of smooth muscle, ICC networks and myenteric neurones in intact preparations, or cultured myenteric neuronal networks, is beginning to yield exciting new data about how these different cells interact and process information.
Regulation of intestinal secretion involved in the interaction between neurotransmitters and prostaglandin E2
Authors: Karaki S.‐I. , Kuwahara A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn this short review, it will be described that neurotransmitter‐induced secretion in the intestine may be influenced by the tissue level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In the normal condition, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and acetylcholine (ACh) are the predominant neurotransmitters of secretomotor neurones. VIP and ACh activate distinct second messenger systems in epithelial cells, i.e. adenosine 3′, 5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium ion (Ca2+), respectively. An increase in intracellular cAMP induces a small amount of chloride (Cl–) secretion in epithelial cells, while simultaneous increases in intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP greatly enhances the cAMP‐induced Cl– secretion. When the concentration of prostaglandins reaches a high level in the intestinal tissue substance P, which is a neurotransmitter of sensory neurones, can also induce a massive Cl– secretion by cross‐potentiation of cAMP and Ca2+ in epithelial cells. In conclusion, it is considered that the concentration of tissue PGE2 may indicate tissue alert level, and when this level elevates, PGE2 enhances ACh and SP‐induced Cl– secretion, thus mediating massive fluid secretion for host defence.
Changes in enteric neural circuitry and smooth muscle in the inflamed and infected gut
Authors: Mawe G. M. , Collins S. M. , Shea‐Donohue T. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMuch of the morbidity associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and infection is caused by disordered gastrointestinal motor and secretory functions. Given that intestinal smooth muscle tone and epithelial cell secretion are regulated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), it is quite likely that inflammation‐induced changes in the enteric neural circuitry contribute to intestinal dysmotility and diarrhoea. Indeed, discoveries over the past decades have demonstrated that gut inflammation and infections are associated with changes in key elements all along the enteric neural circuitry from the sensory transducers, the enterochromaffin (EC) cells, to the terminals of motor neurones.
Use of Quantitative 16S Ribosomal DNA Detection for Diagnosis of Central Vascular Catheter-Associated Bacterial Infection
Authors: Warwick S. , Wilks M. , Hennessy E. , Powell-Tuck J. , Small M. , Sharp J. , Millar M. R. 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACT
Many
central vascular catheters (CVCs) are removed unnecessarily because
current diagnostic methods for CVC-associated infection are unreliable.
A quantitative PCR assay using primers and probe targeted to bacterial
16S ribosomal DNA was used to measure the levels of bacterial DNA in
blood samples drawn through the CVC in a population of patients
receiving intravenous nutrition. Bacterial DNA concentrations were
raised in 16 of 16 blood samples taken during episodes of probable
bacterial CVC-associated infection. Bacterial DNA concentrations were
raised in 4 of 29 episodes in which bacterial CVC-associated infection
was unlikely. The use of this technique has the potential to
substantially reduce the unnecessary removal of
CVCs.
Simultaneous Detection of Marine Fish Pathogens by Using Multiplex PCR and a DNA Microarray
Authors: González Santiago F. , Krug Melissa J. , Nielsen Michael E. , Santos Ysabel , Call Douglas R. 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACT

We coupled multiplex PCR and a DNA microarray to construct an assay suitable for the simultaneous detection of five important marine fish pathogens (
Vibrio vulnificus
,
Listonella anguillarum
,
Photobacterium damselae
subsp.
damselae
,
Aeromonas salmonicida
subsp.
salmonicida
, and
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
). The array was composed of nine short oligonucleotide probes (25-mer) complementary to seven chromosomal loci (
cyt
,
rpoN
,
gyrB
,
toxR
,
ureC
,
dly
, and
vapA
) and two plasmid-borne loci (
fatA
and A.sal). Nine primer sets were designed to amplify short fragments of these loci (100 to 177 bp) in a multiplex PCR. PCR products were subsequently labeled by nick translation and hybridized to the microarray. All strains of the five target species (
n
= 1 to 21) hybridized to at least one species-specific probe. Assay sensitivities ranged from 100% for seven probes to 83 and 67% for the two remaining probes. Multiplex PCR did not produce any nonspecific amplification products when tested against 23 related species of bacteria (
n
= 40 strains; 100% specificity). Using purified genomic DNA, we were able to detect PCR products with <20 fg of genomic DNA per reaction (equivalent to four or five cells), and the array was at least fourfold more sensitive than agarose gel electrophoresis for detecting PCR products. In addition, our method allowed the tentative identification of virulent strains of
L. anguillarum
serotype O1 based on the presence of the
fatA
gene (67% sensitivity and 100% specificity). This assay is a sensitive and specific tool for the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogenic bacteria that cause disease in fish and humans.
Study of Genotypes andvirB4Secretion Gene ofBartonella henselaeStrains from Patients with Clinically Defined Cat Scratch Disease
Authors: Woestyn Sophie , Olivé Nathalie , Bigaignon Geoffroy , Avesani Véronique , Delmée Michel 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACTBartonella henselaeis the causative agent of cat scratch disease (CSD), which usually presents as a self-limiting lymphadenopathy. Occasionally, the bacteria will spread and be responsible for tissue and visceral involvement. TwoB. henselaegenotypes (genotypes I and II) have been described to be responsible for uncomplicated CSD on the basis of 16S rRNA sequence analysis. A type IV secretion system (T4SS) similar to the virulence-associated VirB system ofAgrobacterium tumefacienswas recently identified in theB. henselaeHouston-1 genotype I strain. We studied the correlations of theB. henselaegenotypes with the clinical presentations and with the presence of T4SS. Isolates originated from CSD patients whose lymph nodes were prospectively analyzed.B. henselaegenotype I was identified in 13 of 42 patients (30%). Among these, two teenage twins presented with hepatosplenic CSD and one immunocompetent adult presented with osteomyelitis. Genotype II was detected in 28 of 42 patients (67%), all of whom presented with uncomplicated CSD. The last patient was infected with both genotypes. T4SS was studied by PCR amplification of thevirB4gene. Amplification ofvirB4codons 146 to 256, 273 to 357, and 480 to 537 enabled us to detect 66, 90, and 100% of theB. henselaeisolates, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed sequence variations that correlated with genotype distribution. Our studies suggest thatB. henselaegenotype I strains harborvirB4genes that are different from those harbored by genotype II strains and that genotype I strains might be more pathogenic.
Use of the BD PHOENIX Automated Microbiology System for Direct Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Gram-Negative Rods from Positive Blood Cultures in a Three-Phase Trial
Authors: Funke Guido , Funke-Kissling Pascale 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACT

The present study describes the use of the automated BACTEC 9240 blood culture system, the Serum Separator Tube (SST), and the BD PHOENIX Automated Microbiology System in combination for the direct identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of gram-negative rods (GNRs) from positive blood cultures (BCs) without subculture. The study was conducted in three phases: (i) the recovery yield of
Escherichia coli
ATCC 25922 was determined with the SST between 0 and 8 h after spiked BC bottles turned positive; (ii) the identifications and susceptibility testing results obtained with the PHOENIX system for nine American Type Culture Collection strains of GNRs processed by the SST procedure and for colonies from agar medium were compared; and (iii) the procedure with the BACTEC system, SSTs, and the PHOENIX system was applied to positive cultures of blood from 309 patients during a 3-month period. The SST procedure with
E. coli
yielded sufficient numbers of cells to perform direct inoculation at any time between 0 and 8 h after a BC bottle turned positive. By using the identities obtained from pure cultures with the PHOENIX system and other biochemical identification systems as reference methods, the agreement between the reference methods and the PHOENIX system tested directly by using cultures of blood from patients was 92.9%. The 7.1% discrepant results were due to 6.5% incorrect identifications with the PHOENIX system with BC samples and 0.6% incorrect identifications with the PHOENIX system with samples from agar cultures. By AST the overall categorical accuracy was 99.0%, with 0.1% very major errors, 0.1% major errors, and 0.8% minor errors. In conclusion, use of the combination of the BACTEC system, SSTs, and the PHOENIX system has the potential to allow the agar isolation step to be skipped and the procedures for rapid direct identification and susceptibility testing of GNRs from positive BCs to be improved both in hospital-based and in central non-hospital-based laboratories.
Performance and Cost Evaluation of One Commercial andSix In-House Conventional and Real-Time ReverseTranscription-PCR Assays for Detection of Severe AcuteRespiratory SyndromeCoronavirus
Authors: Mahony James B. , Petrich Astrid , Louie Lisa , Song Xinyu , Chong Sylvia , Smieja Marek , Chernesky Max , Loeb Mark , Richardson Susan 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACT

We
evaluated seven reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays, including
six in-house assays and one commercial assay for the detection of
severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) RNA in
clinical specimens. RT-PCR assays targeted different genomic regions
and included three conventional assays (one nested and two non-nested)
run on a conventional heat block and four real-time assays performed in
a LightCycler (LC; Roche Diagnostics). All in-house assays were
optimized for assay parameters, including MgCl
2
, primer, and
probe concentrations. The commercial assay was the RealArt HPA CoV
RT-PCR assay (Artus), which was run in the LC. Testing serial dilutions
of cultured SARS-CoV showed that the analytical sensitivity of the
assays ranged from 10
−8
to 10
−6
,
corresponding to 1 and 100 copies of viral RNA, respectively.
Significant differences in analytical sensitivities were observed
between assays (
P
< 0.01, probit regression analysis
for 50% sensitivity levels for the top two assays versus the
others). Testing 68 clinical specimens (including 17 respiratory tract
specimens, 29 urine samples, and 22 stools or rectal swabs)
demonstrated that six of the seven assays detected at least 17 of 18
positives (defined as positive in at least two assays), and two of the
assays had a sensitivity of 100%. There were no significant
differences in sensitivity between the assays (
P
= 0.5
[Cochrance Q test, least sensitive 15 of 18 versus 18 of
18]). The specificities of the assays ranged from 94.0 to
100% without significant differences (
P
= 0.25
to 0.5 [McNemar test]). The reagent and technologist cost of
performing the in-house PCR assays ranged from $5.46 to $9.81 Canadian
dollars (CDN) per test. The commercial assay cost was
considerably higher at $40.37 per test. The results demonstrated good
performance for all assays, providing laboratories that need to do SARS
RNA testing with a choice of assay
formats.