bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The fitness correlates of scalation asymmetry in garter snakesThamnophis sirtalis parietalis
Authors: SHINE R. , LANGKILDE T. , WALL M. , MASON R. T. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryIn a field population in Manitoba, about 16% of Red‐Sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) have a different number of ribs on either side of the body, as indicated by anomalous ventral scales. A study on congenerics shows that this asymmetry reflects disruption of embryogenesis by environmental factors, including suboptimal maternal thermoregulation during pregnancy.Correlates of this scalation asymmetry in adult snakes can clarify the degree to which (and pathways by which) the thermal environment that an individual experiences during embryogenesis affects its later fitness.Data on >4000 free‐ranging snakes reveal no significant association between asymmetry and fitness‐related traits such as body size, body condition, locomotor speeds or female ability to resist harassment from males.However, adult male snakes with scale asymmetry dispersed from the den‐based mating aggregations sooner than did symmetric males. In outdoor arenas, asymmetric males were less able to obtain matings than were symmetric males; and if asymmetric males did mate, they consistently used the hemipenis on the side of the body opposite to their extra rib.Our data suggest that careful thermoregulation by a female garter snake during pregnancy provides a fitness benefit to her sons after they mature, via sexual selection.
Effects of gut passage on seed germination: do experiments answer the questions they ask?
Authors: SAMUELS I. A. , LEVEY D. J. 
Published: May 2005

Summary

Frugivorous vertebrates may affect plant fitness by dispersing seeds to sites favourable for establishment and by passing seeds through their gut, thereby altering germination patterns. Although gut passage can inhibit germination, most studies have found that it improves germination rate and/or success.
However, studies that compare seeds passed through a gut to seeds directly removed from a fruit cannot quantify the overall effect of gut passage on seed germination. They address the ecologically narrow question of whether mechanical and/or chemical action in the gut affects germination. They do not address the germination potential of seeds in unconsumed fruits and therefore ignore a common seed fate, deposition in a fruit.
We surveyed 99 studies that included the effect of vertebrate gut passage on germination and found that only 22 included germination from intact fruits. We suggest that the strongest experimental design to evaluate the impact of gut passage should include intact fruits, since release from germination inhibitors and high osmotic pressure are mechanisms that can alter germination.
A multi‐tier approach to identifying environmental stress in altricial nestling birds
Authors: BLAS J. , BAOS R. , BORTOLOTTI G. R. , MARCHANT T. , HIRALDO F. 
Published: May 2005

Summary

Birds respond to unpredictable events in the environment by releasing corticosterone, which triggers alternate responses to overcome stressful situations. However, it has been questioned whether altricial nestlings perceive and respond to ecological stressors. Although some studies show adrenal responsiveness in non‐precocial species, others report a hyporesponsive period postulated to avoid deleterious effects of corticosterone.
To test whether the environmental surroundings of nestlings modulate their stress levels we used a multi‐tier comparative approach of plasma corticosterone: (1) within an individual, (2) among nestlings within a brood hierarchy, (3) among broods within a colony and (4) among individuals from different colonies.
Nestlings reacted to our protocol by elevating their corticosterone. Baseline levels differed between colonies, and were higher in singleton nestlings compared with two‐ and three‐chick broods, but there were no differences related to within‐brood hierarchies, age or condition index.
Acute levels were higher in older birds, suggesting a developmental change in adrenal responsiveness. Body condition also explained acute levels but only in singleton nestlings, with higher concentrations in heavier birds.
Overall our results indicate that altricial nestlings do respond to a variety of environmental stressors, and variation in aspects of environmental quality (e.g. food supply, parental care) may be associated with the differences in stress.
An analysis of trade‐offs in immune function, body size and development time in the Mediterranean Field Cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus
Authors: RANTALA M. J. , ROFF D. A. 
Published: May 2005

Summary

Immune defence has recently been viewed as a life‐history trait that shows trade‐offs with other life‐history traits. However, studies exploring correlations between different components of immune defence and other life‐history traits are scarce.
In this study, two measures of immune function, body size, and development time were studied in the Mediterranean Field Cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus.
We found no differences between the sexes, but differences in the correlation between the measure of immune function, development time, and body size. In both sexes, encapsulation rate was negatively correlated with body size and development time, whereas lytic enzyme activity was positively correlated with these two traits. Furthermore, encapsulation rate and lytic activity were themselves negatively correlated.
These results indicate that there is no single trait that can be termed ‘immunocompetence’ and that an understanding of trade‐offs between the different types of immune function and life‐history traits will require a more detailed analysis of the physiological basis of the traits.
Effects of human oviductal in vitro secretion on spermatozoa and search of sperm–oviductal proteins interactions
Authors: QUINTERO ILEANA , GHERSEVICH SERGIO , CAILLE ADRIANA , MUNUCE MARÍA JOSÉ , DANIELE STELLA MARIS , MORISOLI LIDA 
Published: May 2005

SummaryIt has been suggested that oviductal proteins could be involved in modulating sperm function and fertilizing ability through as yet not well‐known mechanisms. The objective of the study was to investigate the pattern of proteins secreted by human oviductal tissue cultures and the effects of their conditioned media (CM) on sperm function under capacitating conditions and in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). In addition, interactions between spermatozoa and oviductal proteins were examined. The oviductal tissue was obtained from pre‐menopausal patients scheduled for hysterectomies because of uterine fibromyoma. Normozoospermic semen samples were obtained from healthy donors. Cultures of human fallopian tissue were carried out and CM were collected for analysis of the de novo production of [35S]‐methionine‐labelled proteins by SDS‐PAGE. Motile spermatozoa were incubated under capacitating conditions and in PBS, with or without CM, and sperm fertilizing ability was assessed by ionophore‐induced acrosome reaction (AR) and the acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge (ARIC) score. The ionophore‐induced AR was evaluated by thePisum sativumtechnique. Sixteen de novo produced proteins were detected in CM. One of these proteins (molecular weight 79 kDa) was detected in extracts from spermatozoa pre‐incubated with CM. Sperm survival and motility were maintained in the presence of CM, although results showed a significant decrease in ARIC score (p < 0.05), with respect to controls. The presence of CM significantly decreased sperm fertilizing ability, without affecting sperm survival. These results suggest that the oviductal secretion could contribute to preserve sperm viability and motility, and to prevent a premature response of spermatozoa to AR inducers.
The effect of paternal heat stress on protein profiles of pre‐implantation embryos in the mouse
Authors: ZHU B. , MADDOCKS S. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe study was undertaken to compare the protein profiles of [35S]‐methionine‐labelled control‐sired embryos with heat‐sired embryos at 7, 14 or 21 days after mature fertile B6CBF F1 male mice were kept at 36 ± 0.3 °C and 62 ± 2.7% relative humidity for 24 h. One‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiographs were used to examine the protein profiles between the two‐cell embryos and the blastocysts. The results obtained demonstrate that paternal heat stress 7 or 14 days earlier did not apparently affect protein patterns of two‐cell embryos, four‐cell to eight‐cell embryos, morulae or blastocysts. However, 21 days earlier, there were changes in protein patterns of two‐cell embryos and abnormal embryos, but not the morulae. To further support and extend these results, two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and phosphorimaging were employed and the results obtained show that paternal heat stress 21 days before mating affected protein profiles of two‐cell embryos and morulae in the mouse. Together, these findings have indicated that paternal heat stress affects most but not all protein patterns of pre‐implantation embryos, which strongly supports our previous results demonstrating that paternal heat stress significantly reduced the developmental proportion of pre‐implantation embryos in the mouse.
Impact of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation on DNA integrity in the male germline
Authors: AITKEN R. J. , BENNETTS L. E. , SAWYER D. , WIKLENDT A. M. , KING B. V. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryConcern has arisen over human exposures to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation (RFEMR), including a recent report indicating that regular mobile phone use can negatively impact upon human semen quality. These effects would be particularly serious if the biological effects of RFEMR included the induction of DNA damage in male germ cells. In this study, mice were exposed to 900 MHz RFEMR at a specific absorption rate of approximately 90 mW/kg inside a waveguide for 7 days at 12 h per day. Following exposure, DNA damage to caudal epididymal spermatozoa was assessed by quantitative PCR (QPCR) as well as alkaline and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis. The treated mice were overtly normal and all assessment criteria, including sperm number, morphology and vitality were not significantly affected. Gel electrophoresis revealed no gross evidence of increased single‐ or double‐DNA strand breakage in spermatozoa taken from treated animals. However, a detailed analysis of DNA integrity using QPCR revealed statistically significant damage to both the mitochondrial genome (p < 0.05) and the nuclear β‐globin locus (p < 0.01). This study suggests that while RFEMR does not have a dramatic impact on male germ cell development, a significant genotoxic effect on epididymal spermatozoa is evident and deserves further investigation.
Maternal steroid enhancement of fetal rabbit gastrointestinal motility
Authors: Sase Masakatsu , Lee Jeong J. , Ross Michael G. , Buchmiller Terry L. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAim: The purpose of the present study was to determine the potential maturational effects of maternal dexamethasone administration on fetal upper gastrointestinal motility.Methods: Nineteen pregnant rabbits were randomized into two groups (DEX and CONT) and studied on either day 24, 27 or 30 of pregnancy (term 31 days). The DEX group received intramuscular dexamethasone (DEX) 2 days before study and the controls received saline. Under ultrasound guidance, a needle was percutaneously inserted into each fetal stomach and fluorescein, labeled with color‐coded microspheres, was injected. Two hours later, the length of fluorescein travel throughout the small intestine was measured. The percent motility was calculated by dividing the length of fluorescein travel by the total fetal small intestinal length × 100%.Results: All maternal and fetal rabbits survived. On day 24 the length of fluorescein travel and the percent motility of the DEX group were significantly longer than controls. There were no differences on either day 27 or 30. Fetal growth was significantly suppressed by a single course of DEX at all gestational ages.Conclusions: Fetal rabbit gastrointestinal motility is significantly increased after prenatal steroids are given early in the last trimester (day 24 of a 31‐day gestation). Although beneficial in end‐organ maturation, the timing of prenatal steroid administration is crucial to minimize its potential detrimental effects on fetal somatic growth.
Evidence on antibiotic prophylaxis for cesarean section alone is not sufficient to change the practices of doctors in a teaching hospital
Authors: Liabsuetrakul Tippawan , Islam Monir 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAims: To assess the pattern of prophylactic antibiotic use in cesarean sections, identify factors associated with single‐dose prescriptions as evidence‐based best practice, and evaluate the changes in use of single‐dose compared with multiple‐dose regimens and the variation of use between doctors after dissemination of evidence.Methods: An analytical descriptive study was conducted. The medical records of 432 women undergoing cesarean section from April to September 2001 after dissemination of evidence in a teaching hospital in Southern Thailand were reviewed. Use of single‐dose prophylactic antibiotic was the main outcome measure. Patterns of prophylactic antibiotics, and factors associated with pregnant women and doctors, were analyzed and compared with baseline data among 463 women undergoing cesarean section in 1998. Multivariate logistic regression with random effects was used for analysis.Results: After the dissemination of evidence, the rate of single‐dose prescriptions increased from 14.2 to 22.4% (P < 0.01), single‐dose prescriptions decreased for patients who had experienced longer durations of ruptured membranes, and the timing of the administration of antibiotics improved, but multiple‐dose and duration of postoperative prescriptions increased. The variation in prescribing antibiotics between doctors was significant (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Knowledge of evidence alone does not improve practices uniformly. Consequently, other interventions are necessary to improve practices.
Endometrial adenocarcinoma after liver transplantation
Authors: Tanaka Hidenori , Sato Hirokazu , Konishi Yoshitomo , Fujimoto Toshio , Takahashi Osamu , Tanaka Toshinobu 
Published: May 2005

AbstractIn June 1999, a 50‐year‐old Japanese woman underwent a liver transplant and was started on tacrolimus hydrate. A routine gynecologic examination at that time was unremarkable. In December 2001, the patient was found to suffer from endometrial adenocarcinoma and total abdominal hysterectomy with adnexa was carried out. No significant changes in liver function were observed. However, because fever in the patient of up to 38.5°C continued, the volume of the tacrolimus hydrate was reduced, and then stopped completely. The patient's fever decreased to approximately 36.5°C and she was discharged on the 18th postoperative day. The present case is the first report of endometrial adenocarcinoma in a patient after liver transplantation.
Lipoprotein(a) levels in women with pre‐eclampsia and in normotensive pregnant women
Authors: Baksu Basak , Baksu Alparslan , Davas Inci , Akyol Atif , Gülbaba Günay 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAim: To determine if plasma lipoprotein(a) levels are elevated in pre‐eclampsia and if so, their association with the severity of the disease.Methods: Ninety‐one pre‐eclamptic (48 mild, 43 severe) and 40 healthy normotensive pregnant women at more than 32 gestational weeks were recruited into study. Plasma levels of lipoprotein(a), lipids, total protein, albumin and fibrinogen were measured in all subjects.Results: All groups were comparable with respect to maternal age, maternal weight, gravidity and parity. Platelet count, total serum protein and albumin levels were significantly decreased, whereas fibrinogen levels significantly increased in the pre‐eclamptic group. There was no difference between the groups with respect to total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein levels. In the pre‐eclampsic group, triglyceride and very‐low‐density lipoprotein concentrations were significantly higher, whereas high‐density lipoprotein levels were significantly lower. No difference in serum lipoprotein(a) levels was found between the three groups.Conclusions: No statistically significant difference existed between normotensive pregnant, and pre‐eclamptic women, with regard to plasma lipoprotein(a) levels. It is improbable that high serum lipoprotein(a) levels are risk factors for the development of pre‐eclampsia; however, elevated triglyceride‐rich lipoproteins might cause endothelial damage leading to pre‐eclampsia.
Case of iatrogenic dysmenorrhea in non‐communicating rudimentary uterine horn and its laparoscopic resection
Authors: Tanaka Yudai , Asada Hironori , Uchida Hiroshi , Maruyama Tetsuo , Kuji Naoaki , Sueoka Koh , Yoshimura Yasunori 
Published: May 2005

AbstractA case of non‐communicating rudimentary uterine horn is presented and is a characteristic example of the way that surgical treatment can exacerbate dysmenorrhea by blocking retrograde menstruation. There is always some risk of missing the true diagnosis in cases of uterine abnormalities, even by direct inspection, but intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography can be an invaluable tool in defining anatomy. As laparoscopic resection has become the standard procedure for the treatment of unicornuate uterus, laparoscopic ultrasonography can be a useful tool for providing anatomical information to the operating surgeon about the patient.
Is laser conization adequate for therapeutic excision of adenocarcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix?
Authors: Akiba Yasuo , Kubushiro Kaneyuki , Fukuchi Takeshi , Fujii Takuma , Tsukazaki Katsumi , Mukai Makio , Nozawa Shiro 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAims: To determine the safety of uterine‐preserving operations for adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix.Methods: Fifteen cases of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) were diagnosed using neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser conization. The accuracy of preconization histology or cytology was evaluated in 15 AIS cases. In these AIS cases, we investigated how far the tumor was located from the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) and the endocervix. Fourteen cases of the 15 AIS‐affected patients were treated using laser conization alone. These patients were closely followed up.Results: Precise agreement between preconization diagnosis and conization histology was seen in 46.7% (7/15) of the AIS cases. In 14 of the 15 cases of AIS (93.3%), the tumor was adjacent to the transitional zone, within 3 mm of the SCJ, and in the other case (6.7%), the tumor was between 0 and 5 mm away from the SCJ. In all subjects, cone height was 8–18 mm (mean 13.1 mm). None of the 15 patients showed any recurrence of AIS during follow up ranging from 15 to 75 months (43.1 months on average).Conclusions: Women with AIS who want to preserve their fecundity might be treated with laser conization alone.
Sensitivity and specificity of mean corpuscular volume testing for screening for α‐thalassemia‐1 and β‐thalassemia traits
Authors: Sirichotiyakul Supatra , Maneerat Jatuchai , Sa‐nguansermsri Torpong , Dhananjayanonda Pisawat , Tongsong Theera 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAim: To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) testing for screening for both α‐thalassemia‐1 and β‐thalassemia traits.Methods: A diagnostic test was conducted on 439 pregnant women attending the antenatal care (ANC) clinic at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between April 2002 and July 2002. Blood samples were collected from the pregnant women after they were counseled and gave informed consent. The MCV was measured in all samples using an automated hematology analyzer. The hemoglobin (HbA2) level and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were measured in all cases to test for the β‐thalassemia trait and the α‐thalassemia‐1 gene (South‐East Asian [SEA] type), respectively. The data were collected and analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for evaluating the efficacy of MCV testing for screening for both α‐thalassemia‐1 and β‐thalassemia traits.Results: Positive MCV tests (≤80 fl) showed a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 83.9% in screening for α‐thalassemia‐1 and β‐thalassemia traits, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 37.9% and 99.1%, respectively.Conclusion: MCV evaluation is a useful tool for screening for α‐thalassemia‐1 and β‐thalassemia traits during pregnancy because of its simplicity, low cost and high sensitivity.
No association of polymorphisms in the glutathione S‐transferase genes with pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in a Turkish population
Authors: Cetin Meral , Pinarbasi Ergun , Percin Ferda E. , Akgün Egemen , Percin Sibel , Pinarbasi Hatice , Gurlek Fatma , Cetin Ali 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAim: There is substantial evidence that genetic factors play a role in pre‐eclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic variability in the encoding of genes for glutathione S‐transferase M1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S‐transferase T1 (GSTT1) contributes to individual differences in susceptibility to pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP syndrome).Methods: A total of 221 women with pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome and 147 healthy female controls were genotyped for GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical evaluation of differences in polymorphic rates was carried out using χ2 analysis.Results: This study included 140 pre‐eclamptic, 33 eclamptic and 48 HELLP syndrome cases and 147 healthy controls. The frequencies for the GSTM1 null genotype were 58%, 45%, and 60% for pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome, respectively, and in controls it was 55%. The distribution of the GSTT1 null genotype was  22%,  21%,  and  27%  for  pre‐eclampsia,  eclampsia,  and  HELLP  syndrome,  respectively,  and  in  controls  it was 22%. There was no significant association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome.Conclusion: Our data do not support a role for polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in the pathogenesis of pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.
Leiomyoma of the ovary presenting with Meigs’ syndrome
Authors: Kurai Miyuki , Shiozawa Tanri , Noguchi Hiroshi , Konishi Ikuo 
Published: May 2005

AbstractOvarian leiomyoma is a rare tumor. Ovarian leiomyoma accompanied with Meigs’ syndrome is extremely rare. We report a case of ovarian leiomyoma presenting with Meigs’ syndrome, which was first noted as dyspnea in a 79‐year‐old woman. A whole‐body examination revealed a solid mass of the ovary, accumulation of ascites and pleural effusion, and elevated serum carbohydrate antigen 125. Abdominal hysterectomy and salpingo‐oophorectomy were carried out. After the surgery, ascites and pleural effusion disappeared. The pathological diagnosis of the removed tumor was leiomyoma of the left ovary. The patient has been healthy for 24 months after the surgery, with no signs of recurrence. We also review the literature on this disease and the clinicopathologic characteristics of the current case are discussed.
Structural Learning with Time-Varying Components: Tracking the Cross-Section of Financial Time Series
Authors: Talih Makram , Hengartner Nicolas 
Published: May 2005

SummaryWhen modelling multivariate financial data, the problem of structural learning is compounded by the fact that the covariance structure changes with time. Previous work has focused on modelling those changes by using multivariate stochastic volatility models. We present an alternative to these models that focuses instead on the latent graphical structure that is related to the precision matrix. We develop a graphical model for sequences of Gaussian random vectors when changes in the underlying graph occur at random times, and a new block of data is created with the addition or deletion of an edge. We show how a Bayesian hierarchical model incorporates both the uncertainty about that graph and the time variation thereof.