bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renoprotective effect of Hemidesmus indicus, a herbal drug used in gentamicin‐induced renal toxicity
Authors: KOTNIS MANGALA S , PATEL PRATEEK , MENON SASHIKUMAR NARAYAN , SANE RAMESH TRIMBAK 
Published: June 2004

SUMMARY:Background and Aims:  Owing to the global trend towards improved ‘quality of life’, there is considerable evidence of an increase in demand for medicinal plants. The WHO guidelines define basic criteria for the standardization of herbal medicines. The present work is an effort in this direction to prove the safety and efficacy of Hemidesmus indicus Linn. in the management of nephrotoxicity induced by aminoglycosides such as gentamicin.Methods and Results:  Simple, quality control methods using high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) phytochemical fingerprint, proximate analysis, and the stability of the H. indicus root powder were developed. From the toxicity study using albino Swiss mice, it was observed that the drug (H. indicus) was relatively safe up to 7 g/kg bodyweight dose. Efficacy was evaluated against gentamicin‐induced nephrotoxicity in albino Wister rats. The study examined animals from the following groups: no treatment, gentamicin treated, gentamicin treated recovery, and gentamicin and plant treated. Animals from all groups were killed on day 13 of the study; those from gentamicin treated group were killed on the seventh day. Assessment of the drug efficacy drug was conducted by using haematological and histological examination.Conclusion:  The treatment with H. indicus helped in the management of renal impairment, which was induced by gentamicin in rats. This is evident from the results obtained for various kidney function tests for gentamicin, along with the results from the plant treated group, and is in comparison with the results found for the gentamicin recovery group. A histological examination of kidneys also supports the findings from haematological evaluations. The plant shows promise as an adjunct therapy along side aminoglycosides as it reduces nephrotoxicity caused by aminoglycosides.
Relationship of predialytic intact parathyroid hormone on secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic maintenance haemodialysis patients
Authors: ETOH SATOSHI , MURATA TOSHIAKI , HASEGAWA YOSHIYUKI , MIYAHARA YOSHITO , ISHIMURA ATUNORI , ABE YASUHIRO , NODA RITSUYA , OGAHARA SATORU , KANEOKA HIDETOSHI , SAITO TAKAO 
Published: June 2004

SUMMARY:Methods and Results:  In order to clarify the predialytic factors influencing the onset of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in patients on chronic maintenance haemodialysis, the time‐course changes of serum levels of intact‐PTH (i‐PTH) during haemodialysis for 5 years were investigated. The subjects were 69 non‐diabetic patients who had a serum aluminium level of less than 1.85 nmol/L at the end of observation. Patients were divided into two groups based on i‐PTH levels obtained at the start of dialysis; the high group (H group) consisted of patients whose i‐PTH levels were more than 22.00 pmol/L, the low group (L group) had levels less than 22.00 pmol/L. In the H group, i‐PTH was 41.46 ± 2.87 pmol/L at the start of dialysis (vs L group, P < 0.0001) and 15.82 ± 2.85 pmol/L after haemodialysis initiation. In the L group, i‐PTH levels did not significantly change and was 11.69 ± 2.50 pmol/L 12 months after the start of dialysis (at the 12th month). However, at the 60th month, the i‐PTH level was 33.24 ± 5.30 pmol/L in the H group, and 9.85 ± 2.13 pmol/L in the L group (P < 0.005).Conclusion:  It is suggested that control of i‐PTH levels in the predialytic period may be important to suppress SHPT throughout haemodialysis.
Relationship of plasma Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide‐like immunoreactivity and echocardiographic parameters in chronic haemodialysis patients
Authors: LEE SIK , PARK SUNG K , KANG KYUNG P , KANG SUNG K , KIM SUNG Z , KIM WON 
Published: June 2004

SUMMARY:Background and Aims:  The Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), which was recently isolated from the venom of the green Mamba snake, Dendroaspis angusticeps, is a 38 amino acid peptide containing a 17 amino acid disulfide ring structure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of haemodialysis (HD) on the plasma concentration of DNP, and to investigate the relationship between the 2‐D echocardiographic parameters and the changes in the plasma DNP levels during HD.Methods:  Forty‐five haemodialysis patients and 22 healthy individuals underwent a measurement of plasma DNP‐like immunoreactivity, serum creatinine, haematocrit, blood pressure and bodyweight before and after each HD session. Echocardiography was performed before and after HD. The peak early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E), peak late diastolic transmitral flow velocity (A), and E/A ratio were measured by using a pulsed Doppler echocardiogram.Results:  The plasma DNP‐like immunoreactivity of those in the pre‐HD state was significantly higher (235.6 ± 45.8 pg/mL) than those of the healthy subjects (105.3 ± 31.1 pg/mL). In addition, the plasma DNP‐like immunoreactivity was significantly decreased after HD (204.4 ± 55.4 pg/mL). The left atrial diameter, left ventricular diameter at end diastole and end systol, E velocity, A velocity, E/A ratio and inferior vena cava diameter were significantly decreased after HD. There were significant correlations between the changes of plasma DNP‐like immunoreactivity and the changes in the bodyweight and inferior vena cava diameter, respectively.Conclusion:  These results suggest that the plasma DNP‐like immunoreactivity might be involved in the regulation of the blood volume in patients undergoing HD.
Avoidance of direct injury to the peripheral nerve with maxacalcitol (22oxa‐1,25(OH)2D3) in rats
Authors: NAKAMURA MICHIO , FUCHINOUE SHOHEI , TERAOKA SATOSHI 
Published: June 2004

SUMMARY:Background:  Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the most common complications in patients with long‐term end‐stage renal disease. A recent report has stated that high doses of vitamin D derivatives injected directly into the parathyroid glands can reduce serum parathyroid hormone levels and suppress further enlargement of the parathyroid glands without side‐effects. Maxacalcitol (22oxa‐1,25(OH)2D3; OCT) is a new vitamin D derivative that can be administered intravenously, and is available in Japan. Direct injection of OCT into enlarged parathyroid glands is a promising new treatment for moderate renal hyperparathyroidism. It is considered to be safe for surrounding tissues, such as peripheral nerves, but the actual effects of OCT on nerves have not yet been documented.Methods:  We measured nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in 24 rat femoral nerves soaked in saline, ethanol, or OCT at various concentrations. Nerves from each group (saline, ethanol, OCT groups) were also examined by microscopy.Results:  The mean NCV of rat femoral nerves was 33.67 ± 1.39 m/s in the saline group. In the OCT group, the velocities were not changed at any of the concentrations tested, and there were no significant differences in NCVs between the saline and OCT groups. In the 50% ethanol group, the velocity decreased significantly to 8.98 ± 4.78 m/s (P < 0.01). A histological study demonstrated the nerves soaked in OCT at 10 µg/mL to essentially be intact, while those soaked in anhydrous ethanol were damaged.Conclusions:  This study demonstrated that OCT administration does not affect peripheral NCV, indicating that OCT could possibly be used for the treatment of moderate renal hyperparathyroidism safely without nerve damage.
Haemoglobin response to subcutaneous versus intravenous epoetin alfa administration in iron‐replete haemodialysis patients
Authors: LEIKIS MURRAY J , KENT ANNETTE B , BECKER GAVIN J , MCMAHON LAWRENCE P 
Published: June 2004

SUMMARY:Background:  Numerous prior studies have reported that a substantially higher dose of epoetin is required to maintain haemoglobin (Hb) concentration when patients are switched from a subcutaneous (SC) to intravenous (IV) route of administration. Many of the reported trials, however, involved patients who did not have adequate serum iron levels. It was hypothesized that patients with adequate iron stores who are switched from one route of administration to the other without a change in dose will experience substantially less change in their Hb concentration.Methods:  Haemodialysis patients who were iron replete (ferritin 300–800 µg/L, transferrin saturation (TSAT) 25–50%) participated in a prospective, randomized cross‐over trial receiving epoetin for 3 months either by SC or IV injection followed by a further 3 months of epoetin via the other route. The principal aim was to determine changes in Hb concentration without altering the weekly epoetin dose. The secondary aim was to assess whether the frequency of dosing (once, twice or thrice weekly) influenced the Hb concentration response.Results:  Eighty‐one patients (mean age 62 years, 60% male) entered the study and 15 withdrew prior to study completion. Forty‐three patients began SC epoetin alfa administration (group A) and 38 on IV (group B). Median ferritin and TSAT at entry for groups A and B were 409 and 394 µg/L (NS) and 31 and 32% (NS), respectively, which remained within the target range during the study. Median epoetin doses for groups A and B were similar (90 vs 93 IU/kg per week, NS). After 3 months, the mean Hb concentration rose for group A (SC; 118.7–121.9 g/L (P = 0.03)) but it fell for group B (IV; 119.1–116.0 g/L (P = 0.019)). Following the change in route of administration, the Hb concentration for group A (IV) fell by 5.1% over 3 months (121.9–115.4, P < 0.001) and rose by 2.8% for group B (SC) over 3 months (116.0–119.7, P = 0.001). Similar significant changes in the Hb concentration were seen at different dosing frequencies.Conclusion:  Subcutaneuos administration of epoetin produces a significant, although slight clinical change in Hb concentration compared with IV administration in stable, iron replete, haemodialysis patients. A similar effect appears to prevail regardless of the frequency of injections given.
Mycorrhizal networks mediate overstorey‐understorey competition in a temperate forest
Authors: Booth Michael G. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractIn forests, common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) often connect the roots of neighbouring plants. Observations of material flows between hosts connected by CMNs have given rise to the hypothesis that CMNs limit the negative effects of competition by overstorey trees on seedlings recruiting underneath them. I conducted an experiment in a temperate forest dominated by ectomycorrhizal conifers and hardwoods to isolate the effects of CMNs on the growth and survival of four tree species that co‐occur in the understorey. Ectomycorrhizal networks had strong negative effects on the survival of an arbuscular mycorrhizal species, Acer rubrum, and neutral effects on the survival of three ectomycorrhizal species, Betula allegheniensis, Pinus strobus, and Tsuga canadensis. CMNs had positive effects on the growth of at least one ectomycorrhizal species, P. strobus. Interspecific differences in juvenile responses to CMNs may influence forest community development, promoting coexistence of some tree species while limiting the success of others.
Detritus, trophic dynamics and biodiversity
Authors: Moore John C. , Berlow Eric L. , Coleman David C. , de Ruiter Peter C. , Dong Quan , Hastings Alan , Johnson Nancy Collins , McCann Kevin S. , Melville Kim , Morin Peter J. , Nadelhoffer Knute , Rosemond Amy D. , Post David M. , Sabo John L. , Scow Kate M. , Vanni Michael J. , Wall Diana H. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractTraditional approaches to the study of food webs emphasize the transfer of local primary productivity in the form of living plant organic matter across trophic levels. However, dead organic matter, or detritus, a common feature of most ecosystems plays a frequently overlooked role as a dynamic heterogeneous resource and habitat for many species. We develop an integrative framework for understanding the impact of detritus that emphasizes the ontogeny and heterogeneity of detritus and the various ways that explicit inclusion of detrital dynamics alters generalizations about the structure and functioning of food webs. Through its influences on food web composition and dynamics, detritus often increases system stability and persistence, having substantial effects on trophic structure and biodiversity. Inclusion of detrital heterogeneity in models of food web dynamics is an essential new direction for ecological research.
Biodiversity effects increase linearly with biotope space
Authors: Dimitrakopoulos Panayiotis G. , Schmid Bernhard 
Published: June 2004

AbstractUnderstanding the influence of environmental variation on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is of theoretical and practical interest. We predicted that the strength of this relationship should increase with available biotope space (the physical space associated with a species’ niche) due to increased niche complementarity between species. In this study, biotope space specifically refers to soil volume which is associated with the niche dimension of nutrient acquisition. We tested our prediction by growing plant communities on a gradient of increasing soil depth and volume, offering increased rooting space to species. Our results provide support for a linear increase of the magnitude of positive biodiversity effects on above‐ and belowground community biomass with increasing biotope space. This increase was caused by complementarity effects between species. Soil erosion may thus reduce intercropping benefits.
Testing the energetic equivalence rule with helminth endoparasites of vertebrates
Authors: George‐Nascimento Mario , Muñoz Gabriela , Marquet Pablo A. , Poulin Robert 
Published: June 2004

AbstractAs a general test of the energetic equivalence rule, we examined macroecological relationships among abundance, density and host body mass in a comparative analysis of the assemblages of trophically transmitted endoparasitic helminths of 131 species of vertebrate hosts. Both the numbers and total volume of parasites per gram of host decreased allometrically with host body mass, with slopes roughly consistent with those expected from the allometric relationship between host basal metabolic rate and body mass. From an evolutionary perspective, large body size may therefore allow hosts to escape from the deleterious effects of parasitism.
Parasites in the food web: linking amphibian malformations and aquatic eutrophication
Authors: Johnson Pieter T. J. , Chase Jonathan M. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractEmerging diseases are an ever‐growing affliction of both humans and wildlife. By exploring recent increases in amphibian malformations (e.g. extra or missing limbs), we illustrate the importance of food web theory and community ecology for understanding and controlling emerging infections. Evidence points to a native parasite,Ribeiroia ondatrae, as the primary culprit of these malformations, but reasons for the increase have remained conjectural. We suggest that the increase is a consequence of complex changes to aquatic food webs resulting from anthropogenic disturbance. Our results implicate cultural eutrophication as a driver of elevated parasitic infection: (1) eutrophication causes a predator‐mediated shift in snail species composition towardPlanorbellaspp., (2)Planorbellaare the exclusive first intermediate hosts ofR. ondatraeand (3)Ribeiroiainfection is a strong predictor of amphibian malformation levels. Our study illustrates how the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on epidemic disease can be mediated through direct and indirect changes in food web structure.
Intraguild predation: a widespread interaction related to species biology
Authors: Arim Matías , Marquet Pablo A. 
Published: June 2004

AbstractIntraguild predation (IGP), defined as killing and eating among potential competitors, seems to be a ubiquitous interaction, differing from competition or predation. In the present study we assess the frequency of IGP among 763 potential intraguild prey and 599 potential intraguild predators. Our results indicate that IGP is common in nature, reaching frequencies between 58.4 and 86.7%. A null model suggests that IGP in different groups of predators and prey (i.e. carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, detritivores, or top and intermediate species) have different deviations from a chance expectation, indicating these attributes of species biology as main determinants of IGP persistence. We suggest that IGP satisfies two basic requirements to be considered as important to the trophic structuring of communities. First, its occurrence is not random, rather it is associated with well‐defined attributes of species biology, and secondly, it is a widespread interaction.
Limited filling of the potential range in European tree species
Authors: Svenning Jens‐Christian , Skov Flemming 
Published: June 2004

AbstractThe relative roles of environment and history in controlling large‐scale species distributions are important not only theoretically, but also for forecasting range responses to climatic change. Here, we use atlas data to examine the extent to which 55 tree species fill their climatically determined potential ranges in Europe. Quantifying range filling (R/P) as realized/potential range size ratios using bioclimatic envelope modelling we find meanR/P = 38.3% (±30.3% SD). Many European tree species naturalize extensively outside their native ranges, providing support for interpreting the many lowR/Ps as primarily reflecting dispersal limitation.R/Pincreases strongly with latitudinal range centroid and secondarily with hardiness and decreases weakly with longitudinal range centroid. Hence, European tree species ranges appear strongly controlled by geographical dispersal constraints on post‐glacial expansion as well as climate. Consequently, we expect European tree species to show only limited tracking of near‐future climate changes.
Genetic organization of the catabolic plasmid pJP4 from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 (pJP4) reveals mechanisms of adaptation to chloroaromatic pollutants and evolution of specialized chloroaromatic degradation pathways
Authors: Trefault N. , De la Iglesia R. , Molina A. M. , Manzano M. , Ledger T. , Pérez‐Pantoja D. , Sánchez M. A. , Stuardo M. , González B. 
Published: June 2004

Summary Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 (pJP4) is a useful model for the study of bacterial degradation of substituted aromatic pollutants. Several key degrading capabilities, encoded by tfd genes, are located in the 88 kb, self‐transmissible, IncP‐1 β plasmid pJP4. The complete sequence of the 87 688 nucleotides of pJP4, encoding 83 open reading frames (ORFs), is reported. Most of the coding sequence corresponds to a well‐conserved IncP‐1 β backbone and the previously reported tfd genes. In addition, we found hypothetical proteins putatively involved in the transport of aromatic compounds and short‐chain fatty acid oxidation. ORFs related to mobile elements, including the Tn501‐encoded mercury resistance determinants, an IS1071‐based composite transposon and a cryptic class II transposon, are also present in pJP4. These mobile elements are inefficient in transposition and are located in two regions of pJP4 that are rich in remnants of lateral gene transfer events. pJP4 plasmid was able to capture chromosomal genes and form hybrid plasmids with the IncP‐1 α plasmid RP4. These observations are integrated into a model for the evolution of pJP4, which reveals mechanisms of bacterial adaptation to degrade pollutants.
High overall diversity and dominance of microdiverse relationships in salt marsh sulphate‐reducing bacteria
Authors: Klepac‐Ceraj Vanja , Bahr Michele , Crump Byron C. , Teske Andreas P. , Hobbie John E. , Polz Martin F. 
Published: June 2004

SummaryThe biogeochemistry of North Atlantic salt marshes is characterized by the interplay between the marsh grass Spartina and sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB), which mineralize the diverse carbon substrates provided by the plants. It was hypothesized that SRB populations display high diversity within the sediment as a result of the rich spatial and chemical structuring provided by Spartina roots. A 2000‐member 16S rRNA gene library, prepared with delta‐proteobacterial SRB‐selective primers, was analysed for diversity patterns and phylogenetic relationships. Sequence clustering detected 348 16S rRNA sequence types (ribotypes) related to delta‐proteobacterial SRB, and it was estimated that a total of 623 ribotypes were present in the library. Similarity clustering showed that ≈ 46% of these sequences fell into groups with < 1% divergence; thus, microheterogeneity accounts for a large portion of the observable genetic diversity. Phylogenetic comparison revealed that sequences most frequently recovered were associated with the Desulfobacteriaceae and Desulfobulbaceae families. Sequences from the Desulfovibrionaceae family were also observed, but were infrequent. Over 80% of the delta‐proteobacterial ribotypes clustered with cultured representatives of Desulfosarcina, Desulfococcus and Desulfobacterium genera, suggesting that complete oxidizers with high substrate versatility dominate. The large‐scale approach demonstrates the co‐existence of numerous SRB‐like sequences and reveals an unexpected amount of microdiversity.
Occurrence and distribution of Vibrio cholerae in the coastal environment of Peru
Authors: Gil Ana I. , Louis Valérie R. , Rivera Irma N. G. , Lipp Erin , Huq Anwar , Lanata Claudio F. , Taylor David N. , Russek‐Cohen Estelle , Choopun Nipa , Sack R. Bradley , Colwell Rita R. 
Published: June 2004

SummaryThe occurrence and distribution of Vibrio cholerae in sea water and plankton along the coast of Peru were studied from October 1997 to June 2000, and included the 1997–98 El Niño event. Samples were collected at four sites in coastal waters off Peru at monthly intervals. Of 178 samples collected and tested, V. cholerae O1 was cultured from 10 (5.6%) samples, and V. cholerae O1 was detected by direct fluorescent antibody assay in 26 out of 159 samples tested (16.4%). Based on the number of cholera cases reported in Peru from 1997 to 2000, a significant correlation was observed between cholera incidence and elevated sea surface temperature (SST) along the coast of Peru (P < 0.001). From the results of this study, coastal sea water and zooplankton are concluded to be a reservoir for V. cholerae in Peru. The climate–cholera relationship observed for the 1997–98 El Niño year suggests that an early warning system for cholera risk can be established for Peru and neighbouring Latin American countries.