bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic regulation mediated by thiamin pyrophosphate‐binding motif in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Nosaka Kazuto , Onozuka Mari , Konno Hiroyuki , Kawasaki Yuko , Nishimura Hiroshi , Sano Mamoru , Akaji Kenichi 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe expression of genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding the enzymes involved in the metabolism of thiamin (THI genes) is co‐ordinately repressed by exogenous thiamin and induced in the absence of thiamin. In this yeast THI regulatory system acts mainly at the transcriptional level, thiamin pyrophosphate (TDP) seems to serve as a corepressor, and genetic studies have identified three positive regulatory factors (Thi2p, Thi3p and Pdc2p). We found in a DNA microarray analysis that the expression of THI genes increased 10‐ to 90‐fold in response to thiamin deprivation, and likewise, the expression of THI2 and THI3 increased 17‐fold and threefold, respectively. After transfer from repressing to inducing medium, the promoter activity of both THI2 and THI3 increased in parallel with that of PHO3, one of THI genes. The stimulation of THI3 promoter activity was diminished by deletion of THI3, indicative of the autoregulation of THI3. The THI genes were not induced when THI2 was expressed from the yeast GAL1 promoter in a thi3Δ strain or when THI3 was expressed in a thi2Δ strain, suggesting that Thi2p and Thi3p participate simultaneously in the induction. When mutant Thi3p proteins lacking TDP‐binding activity were produced in the thi3Δ strain, THI genes were expressed even under thiamin‐replete conditions. This result supports the hypothesis that Thi3p senses the intracellular signal of the THI regulatory system to exert transcriptional control. Furthermore, Thi2p and Thi3p were demonstrated to bind each other and this interaction was partially diminished by exogenous thiamin, suggesting that Thi2p and Thi3p stimulate the expression as a complex whose function is disturbed by TDP bound to Thi3p. We discuss the possibility that the induction of THI genes is triggered by the activation of the complex attributed to decrease in intracellular TDP and the elevated complex in the autoregulatory fashion further upregulates THI genes. This is the first report of the involvement of the TDP‐binding motif in genetic regulation.
Cell wall integrity is dependent on the PKC1 signal transduction pathway in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Gerik Kimberly J. , Donlin Maureen J. , Soto Carlos E. , Banks Annette M. , Banks Isaac R. , Maligie Marybeth A. , Selitrennikoff Claude P. , Lodge Jennifer K. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryCell wall biogenesis and integrity are crucial for fungal growth, pathogenesis and survival, and are attractive targets for antifungal therapy. In this study, we identify, delete and analyse mutant strains for 10 genes involved in the PKC1 signal transduction pathway and its regulation in Cryptococcus neoformans. The kinases Bck1 and Mkk2 are critical for maintaining integrity, and deletion of each of these causes severe phenotypes different from each other. In stark contrast to results seen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a deletion in LRG1 has severe repercussions for the cell, and one in ROM2 has little effect. Also surprisingly, the phosphatase Ppg1 is crucial for cell integrity. These data indicate that the mechanisms of maintaining cell integrity differ between the two fungi. Deletions in SSD1 and PUF4, potential alternative regulators of cell integrity, also exhibit phenotypes. This is the first comprehensive analysis examining genes involved the maintenance of cell integrity in C. neoformans and sets the foundation for future biochemical and virulence studies.
VqsM, a novel AraC‐type global regulator of quorum‐sensing signalling and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Dong Yi‐Hu , Zhang Xi‐Fen , Xu Jin‐Ling , Tan Ai‐Tee , Zhang Lian‐Hui 
Published: September 2005

SummaryHuman pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses quorum‐sensing (QS) signalling systems to synchronize the production of virulence factors. There are two interrelated QS systems, las and rhl, in P. aeruginosa. In addition to this complexity, a number of transcriptional regulators were shown to have complicated interplays with las and rhl central QS components. Here, we describe a novel virulence and QS modulator (VqsM) that positively regulates the QS systems in P. aeruginosa. Mutation in vqsM resulted in much reduced production of N‐acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) and extracellular enzymes. Sequence analysis revealed that vqsM encodes a transcriptional regulator with an AraC‐type helix–turn–helix DNA binding domain at the C‐terminal of the peptide. Global gene expression profile analysis showed at least a total of 302 genes to be influenced, directly or indirectly, by VqsM. Among the 203 VqsM‐promoted genes, 52.2% were known to be QS upregulated. Several genes encoding the key regulators implicated in QS, such as rhlR, rsaL, vqsR, mvfR, pprB and rpoS, and two AHL synthesis genes, lasI and rhlI, were suppressed in the vqsM mutant. Similar to the ‘AHL‐blind’ phenotype of vqsR and pprB mutants, vqsM mutant did not respond to external addition of N‐3‐oxo‐dodecanoyl‐homoserine lactone signals. Moreover, overexpression of vqsR in vqsM mutant more or less restored the production of both AHL and virulence factors. The results demonstrate that VqsM, largely through modulation of vqsR expression, plays a vital role in regulation of QS signalling in P. aeruginosa.
Tobacco bZIP transcription factor TGA2.2 and related factor TGA2.1 have distinct roles in plant defense responses and plant development
Authors: Thurow Corinna , Schiermeyer Andreas , Krawczyk Stefanie , Butterbrodt Thomas , Nickolov Kaloian , Gatz Christiane 
Published: September 2005

SummarySalicylic acid (SA) is a crucial internal signaling molecule needed for the induction of plant defense responses upon attack of a variety of pathogens. Basic leucine zipper transcription factors of the TGA family bind to activating sequence‐1 (as‐1)‐like elements which are SA‐responsive cis elements found in promoters of ‘immediate early’ and ‘late’ SA‐inducible genes. TGA2.2 constitutes the main component of tobacco as‐1‐binding factor‐1 (ASF‐1). TGA2.1, which differs from TGA2.2 by being able to activate transcription in yeast, constitutes a minor fraction of the complex. Both proteins interact with NPR1, a protein essential for SA inducibility of ‘late’ genes. Here we demonstrate using dsRNAi mediated gene silencing that reducing the amount of TGA2.2 and TGA2.1 correlates with a significant decrease in ASF‐1 activity and with a decreased inducibility of both ‘immediate early’ and ‘late’ genes. In contrast, reducing the amount of TGA2.1 alone had no effect on the expression of these target genes suggesting that TGA2.1 is dispensable for SA‐inducible gene expression from the as‐1 element. Expression of a TGA2.2 mutant unable to form heterodimers with the endogenous pool of TGA factors led to reduced SA‐inducibility of ‘immediate early’ gene Nt103, indicating that the native leucine zipper is important for the protein to act positively on transcription. Plants with reduced amounts of TGA2.1 developed petal like stamens indicating a regulatory role of TGA2.1 in defining organ identity in tobacco flowers. A model is suggested that unifies conflicting results on the function of tobacco TGA factors with respect to activation of the ‘late’PR‐1a promoter.
Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition as a potent strategy in plant biology: identification of SUSIBA2 as a transcriptional activator in plant sugar signalling
Authors: Sun Chuanxin , Höglund Anna‐Stina , Olsson Helena , Mangelsen Elke , Jansson Christer 
Published: September 2005

SummarySugar signalling cascades are important components of regulatory networks in cells. Compared with the situation in bacteria, yeast and animals, participants of the sugar signalling pathways in plants are poorly understood. Several genes involved in starch synthesis are known to be sugar inducible, although the signal transduction pathways remain undisclosed. We reported recently the isolation of SUSIBA2, a transcription factor involved in sugar‐mediated regulation of starch synthesis. Here, we used antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) inhibition, a powerful approach in medical sciences, to block the effects of SUSIBA2 in sugar‐treated barley leaves. The uptake and intracellular trafficking of an 18‐mer susiba2 antisense ODN in leaves were followed by confocal microscopy. Administration of the antisense ODN to the leaves impeded susiba2 expression by RNase H activation. This dramatically diminished the ectopic expression of the iso1 and sbeIIb genes and resulted in altered starch synthesis. This study illustrates the successful exploitation of the antisense ODN technology in plant biology, e.g. as a rapid antecedent to time‐consuming transgenic studies, and identifies SUSIBA2 as a transcriptional activator in plant sugar signalling. Based on our findings, we propose a model for sugar‐signalling control of starch synthesis.
Morphometric Characteristics of the Ophthalmic Rete in the Goose Living at High Altitudes and Cold Climate Conditions
Authors: Aslan K. , Kürtül İ. , ÖZcan S. , Aksoy G. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThis study has aimed at observing in detail the degree of complexity in the formation of the ophthalmic rete in geese living at high altitudes and very cold climate conditions in Kars and its province of Turkey. The 15 adult geese were injected with red and blue coloured latex, dissection was performed, the rete was examined, and the vessels were counted macroscopically and by stereoscopic microscopy. The size and the afferent and efferent vessels of the rete were mostly in parallel with the literature. The numbers of the vessels in the rete of the male and female geese were between 8.3 ± 1.1 and 9.3 ± 1.1 in arteries, and 8.6 ± 1.4 and 10.5 ± 1.3 in veins respectively. The results suggest that the ophthalmic rete in the goose living at high altitudes and very cold conditions may tend to be less complex, which might be the result of the relatively less cooling needs of the brain at cold conditions.
Expression and Localization of Growth Factors and their Receptors in the Mammalian Testis. Part I: Fibroblast Growth Factors and Insulin‐Like Growth Factors
Authors: Abo‐Elmaksoud A. , Sinowatz F. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryIt is now well established that normal development and function of testis are mediated by endocrine and paracrine pathways including hormones, growth factors and cytokines as well as by direct cell‐to‐cell contacts depending on tight, adhering and gap junctions. In the last two decades, several growth factors were identified in the testis of various mammalian species. Growth factors are shown to promote cell proliferation, regulate tissue differentiation, and modulate organogenesis. Interestingly, most of these peptides are expressed not only in the adult mammalian testis during spermatogenesis but also during testicular morphogenesis in prenatal and postnatal life. Our study was launched to provide an overview of the expression, localization, and putative physiological roles of growth factors and their receptors in the mammalian testis. The growth factors considered in this part of our review are fibroblast growth factors and insulin‐like growth factors. These factors are found in testicular cells in prenatal, postnatal, and adult animals and are implicated in the regulation of important testicular activities including testicular cord morphogenesis, modulation of testicular hormone secretion and control of spermatogenesis.
Online technology in rural health: Supporting students to overcome the tyranny of distance
Authors: McLeod Sharynne , Barbara Anita 
Published: September 2005

AbstractObjective:  To determine allied health students’ perceptions of the usefulness of online chat as a support mechanism while on fieldwork. Design:  Questionnaire. Setting:  Fieldwork predominantly in rural allied health settings. Subjects:  Ninety‐seven students studying occupational therapy and speech pathology. Results:  Students indicated that the major advantage of using online chat while on fieldwork placement was getting peer support (59%), gaining advice (22%) and having contact with the lecturer (15%). The majority of students indicated that they would like to have an online chat room for their next fieldwork placement (72%) and to use online chat when they were practising clinicians (57%). Although 95% of the students attempted to access online chat during their fieldwork placement, only 67% were actually able to participate. Students had difficulty accessing online chat through hospital and community health settings, so instead had to access it via local schools, homes, universities and libraries to use the technology. Conclusion:  The use of online chat rooms was seen to be beneficial to encouraging peer support while on fieldwork for allied health students.
Nutrition status of primary school children in Townsville
Authors: Heath Deanne L. , Panaretto Kathryn S. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractObjective:  Much of the ill health of Australian Indigenous populations can be attributed to diet‐related diseases. Many of these diseases and the deleterious dietary choices are thought to begin in early childhood. This project therefore aimed to assess the nutritional health status of children in Townsville. It enabled the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander community to identify and redress nutrition‐related issues considered important in improving the overall health status of their community. Design:  Baseline urinalysis, anthropometrics, general overall health assessment, dietary and exercise histories were collected. This screening was repeated annually. Diet and exercise histories were recorded biannually. Setting:  Based in three Northern Queensland health region (pre)primary schools with a high proportion of Indigenous children. Results:  Baseline results demonstrated that more children are overweight to obese than underweight. There was no significant difference in body mass index between Indigenous and Non‐Indigenous children. Indigenous children were shown to consume less vegetable and dairy products and were significantly more likely to suffer from anaemia, iron depletion and eosinophilia than non‐Indigenous children. Indigenous children were also twice as likely to have runny noses and are more than three times more likely to have skin sores. Conclusion:  These results support that the health status of the Indigenous children is poorer than that of non‐Indigenous children. They demonstrate an immediate need to implement culturally appropriate nutritional and exercise programs within the school environment to improve dietary habits and overall health. Implementation of nutritional, drinking and exercise programs may significantly improve these children's overall awareness and behaviour concerning nutrition and health.
Exploration of the link between conceptual occupational therapy models and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
Authors: Stamm Tanja A. , Cieza Alarcos , Machold Klaus , Smolen Josef S. , Stucki Gerold 
Published: September 2005

Background and Aim:  Because occupational therapy focuses on occupations and activities of daily living in the context of the environment, conceptual occupational therapy models might be closely related to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The purpose of this paper is to explore the link of conceptual occupational therapy models to the ICF. Methods and Results:  A structured literature search was performed. The concepts on which the models are built were linked to the ICF categories and components according to 10 established linking rules. Three conceptual occupational therapy models were identified in the literature: the Model of Human Occupation, the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and the Occupational Performance Model (Australia). The majority of the concepts from the three models could be linked to the ICF. Conclusion:  By applying the conceptual models, occupational therapists might add an additional perspective to multidisciplinary teams that use the ICF.
Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children: Perceived utility in Australian occupational therapy practice
Authors: Rodger Sylvia , Daley Emma , Hughes Kate , Ziviani Jenny 
Published: September 2005

Background and Aim: The Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA‐Ch), recently developed in Israel, assesses the cognitive areas: orientation, spatial perception, praxis, visuomotor construction and thinking operations of 6‐ to 12‐year‐old children. The dynamic aspect, which incorporates mediation and prompting, has been presented as a valuable clinical feature of this new assessment. This study investigated the cultural suitability, dynamic nature and comprehensiveness of the DOTCA‐Ch as a single cognitive assessment for occupational therapy practice in Australia.Methods: Twenty‐three paediatric occupational therapists participated in three tutorial and video demonstrations, which were then followed by a group interview.Results and Conclusion: Thematic analysis of transcripts identified four main themes: appropriateness of assessment tasks, language, mediation and clinical utility. Within each theme, the participants raised both positive and negative features. This paper highlights occupational therapists’ mixed views on the clinical utility of this assessment in Australia. Limitations of this study and areas for further research are suggested.
Is it necessary to separate clinical stage T1c from T2 prostate adenocarcinoma?
Authors: Armatys Sandra A. , Koch Michael O. , Bihrle Richard , Gardner Thomas A. , Cheng Liang 
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis that prostate cancer patients with clinical stage cT1c and cT2 have similar outcomes and clinicopathological features, and should be grouped together.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom a series of men with prostate cancer who had a radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP), we assessed those with cT1c (223) and cT2 (65) adenocarcinoma. All RP specimens were totally embedded and whole‐mounted; tumour volume was measured using the grid method. Clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed.RESULTSPatients with cT2 tumours were more likely to have a higher Gleason score (P = 0.04) and final pathological stage (P = 0.05) than those with cT1c tumours. There was no significant difference in age (P = 0.92), preoperative PSA level (P = 0.17), prostate weight (P = 0.34), tumour volume (P = 0.16), surgical margin status (P = 0.86), multifocality (P = 0.92), the presence of perineural invasion (P = 0.09), or high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.99) between patients with clinical stage cT1c and those with cT2 tumours. There was no difference in PSA recurrence between patients with clinical stage T1c and those with cT2 tumours (P = 0.27).CONCLUSIONSPatients with clinical stage cT2 tumours have a higher Gleason score and advanced pathological stage than tumours detected because of a high serum PSA level (cT1c). These results suggest that clinical stage cT1c tumours should be separated from clinical stage cT2 disease, but the PSA recurrence rate for both tumour stages is similar, indicating a need for further evaluation and refinement of the current clinical staging system.
Defining the minimum hospital case‐load to achieve optimum outcomes in radical cystectomy
Authors: McCabe John E. , Jibawi Abdullah , Javle Pradip 
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVETo define ‘high‐’ and ‘low‐’ volume hospitals for radical cystectomy, and the minimum caseload required for a hospital to achieve optimum outcomes, as a relationship between increasing surgical case volume and improved outcomes in radical urological surgery has been suggested in recent North American studies.METHODSAll cystectomies for urological cancer in England over 5 years were analysed from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. The data were analysed statistically to describe the relationship between each hospital's annual case volume and two outcome measures: in‐hospital mortality rate (MR) and hospital stay.RESULTSIn all, there were 6317 cystectomies in 210 centres, with an overall MR of 5.6%. There was a significant inverse correlation (−0.733, P < 0.01) between hospital case volume and MR. Applying 95% confidence intervals, the minimum caseload required to achieve optimum outcomes was 11 procedures/year. Increasing the caseload beyond this minimum did not produce a significant reduction in MR.CONCLUSIONAnalysis of HES data confirms an inverse relationship between hospital caseload and mortality for radical cystectomy. A caseload of 11 operations/year is associated with the lowest MR.
A 2‐year follow‐up after rotoresection of the prostate: a prospective study
Authors: Wadie Bassem S. , Shehab El‐Dein Ahmed B. , Mosbah Ahmed , Elhalwagy Samer M. , Ghoneim Mohamed A. 
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the success of rotoresection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), after a follow‐up of 24 months.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe 24 patients who were the subject of a previous report were followed for up to 24 months; only one patient was lost to follow‐up.RESULTSThe mean (sd) American Urologic Association‐7 score decreased from 20.5 (3.8) before surgery to 1.12 (1.56) at 24 months; the mean maximum urinary flow rate increased from 8.7 (2.1) to 21.8 (8.5) mL/s, and the mean total prostate volume decreased from 36.5 (12.9) to 21 (7.9) mL. Early complications were urinary tract infection in 10 patients and mild stress urinary incontinence in 11. One patient had a urethral stricture and another had a posterior urethral stone at 6 months; both were treated successfully with good urinary flow rates thereafter. At 24 months, 23 patients had sterile urine and were continent.CONCLUSIONThus far, rotoresection of the prostate is a safe and effective method for treating BPH. The hospital stay was short and the functional results excellent at up to 24 months.
Assessment of bothersomeness and impact on quality of life of urinary incontinence in women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK
Authors: Papanicolaou Sotiria , Hunskaar Steinar , Lose Gunar , Sykes David 
Published: September 2005

OBJECTIVETo assess the bothersomeness and impact on quality of life (QoL) of urinary incontinence in community‐dwelling women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.SUBJECTS AND METHODSA detailed follow‐up questionnaire was mailed to 2960 randomly‐selected women who had reported symptoms of urinary incontinence in an earlier survey of 29 500 representative households in four European countries. In the second questionnaire, women were asked about the severity of their symptoms, the impact of urinary incontinence on their QoL, and how bothersome their incontinence was.RESULTSA total of 1573 women responded to the follow‐up questionnaire, of which >80% reported that their urinary incontinence symptoms were bothersome. The greatest negative effect appeared to be on physical activities, confidence, self‐perception and social activities, with a statistically significant correlation between an increase in bothersomeness and an increase in severity of symptoms. Similarly, a negative impact on QoL was associated with an increase in severity of incontinence. The variables: country, urinary incontinence type, severity, age, number of medical conditions and number of leakages had a statistically significant influence on the bother and the validated incontinence QoL (I‐QoL) questionnaire scores.CONCLUSIONThe extent to which women are bothered by their urinary incontinence and report that their symptoms have a negative impact on their QoL is largely subjective. In determining the most appropriate management, physicians should consider the experience of being incontinent as unique to each individual.