bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health co‐morbidities in ageing persons with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: McCarron M. , Gill M. , McCallion P. , Begley C. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractBackground  Consideration of the relationship between physical and mental health co‐morbidities in ageing persons with Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is of clinical importance both from a care and resource perspective.Aim  To investigate and measure health co‐morbidities in ageing persons with Down syndrome with and without AD.Methods  Recorded physical and mental health needs were ascertained for 124 persons with DS > 35 years through a systematic and detailed search of individual medical and nursing case records. Differences in persons with and without AD were investigated, by stage of dementia and by level of intellectual disability (ID). A summed score for health co‐morbidities was created and compared using t‐tests.Results  Persons with AD had significantly higher co‐morbidity scores than persons without AD (t = −8.992, d.f. = 121, P < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference in summed co‐morbidity scores for persons at end‐stage vs. persons at mid‐stage AD (t = −6.429, d.f. = 56, P < 0.0001). No differences were found by level of ID.Conclusions  Increasing health co‐morbidities in persons with DS and AD have important implications for care and resources. Appropriate environmental supports combined with competent skilled staff are crucial and will have an important impact on the quality of life for this increasingly at risk population.
Diversity of algal endosymbionts (zooxanthellae) in octocorals: the roles of geography and host relationships
Authors: VAN OPPEN M. J. H. , MIEOG J. C. , SÁNCHEZ C. A. , FABRICIUS K. E. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe presence, genetic identity and diversity of algal endosymbionts (Symbiodinium) in 114 species from 69 genera (20 families) of octocorals from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the far eastern Pacific (EP) and the Caribbean was examined, and patterns of the octocoral–algal symbiosis were compared with patterns in the host phylogeny. Genetic analyses of the zooxanthellae were based on ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region. In the GBR samples, Symbiodinium clades A and G were encountered with A and G being rare. Clade B zooxanthellae have been previously reported from a GBR octocoral, but are also rare in octocorals from this region. Symbiodinium G has so far only been found in Foraminifera, but is rare in these organisms. In the Caribbean samples, only Symbiodinium clades B and C are present. Hence, Symbiodinium diversity at the level of phylogenetic clades is lower in octocorals from the Caribbean compared to those from the GBR. However, an unprecedented level of ITS1 diversity was observed within individual colonies of some Caribbean gorgonians, implying either that these simultaneously harbour multiple strains of clade B zooxanthellae, or that ITS1 heterogeneity exists within the genomes of some zooxanthellae. Intracladal diversity based on ITS should therefore be interpreted with caution, especially in cases where no independent evidence exists to support distinctiveness, such as ecological distribution or physiological characteristics. All samples from EP are azooxanthellate. Three unrelated GBR taxa that are described in the literature as azooxanthellate (Junceella fragilis, Euplexaura nuttingi and Stereonephthya sp. 1) contain clade G zooxanthellae, and their symbiotic association with zooxanthellae was confirmed by histology. These corals are pale in colour, whereas related azooxanthellate species are brightly coloured. The evolutionary loss or gain of zooxanthellae may have altered the light sensitivity of the host tissues, requiring the animals to adopt or reduce pigmentation. Finally, we superimposed patterns of the octocoral–algal symbiosis onto a molecular phylogeny of the host. The data show that many losses/gains of endosymbiosis have occurred during the evolution of octocorals. The ancestral state (azooxanthellate or zooxanthellate) in octocorals remains unclear, but the data suggest that on an evolutionary timescale octocorals can switch more easily between mixotrophy and heterotrophy compared to scleractinian corals, which coincides with a low reliance on photosynthetic carbon gain in the former group of organisms.
Field studies on the environmental fate of the Cry1Ab Bt‐toxin produced by transgenic maize (MON810) and its effect on bacterial communities in the maize rhizosphere
Authors: BAUMGARTE SUSANNE , TEBBE CHRISTOPH C. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractField studies were done to assess how much of the transgenic, insecticidal protein, Cry1Ab, encoded by a truncated cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), was released from Bt‐maize MON810 into soil and whether bacterial communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of MON810 maize were different from those of the rhizosphere of nontransgenic maize cultivars. Bacterial community structure was investigated by SSCP (single‐strand conformation polymorphism) of PCR‐amplified 16S rRNA genes from community DNA. Using an improved extraction and detection protocol based on a commercially available ELISA, it was possible to detect Cry1Ab protein extracted from soils to a threshold concentration of 0.07 ng/g soil. From 100 ng of purified Cry1Ab protein added per gram of soil, only an average of 37% was extractable. At both field sites investigated, the amount of Cry1Ab protein in bulk soil of MON810 field plots was always lower than in the rhizosphere, the latter ranging from 0.1 to 10 ng/g soil. Immunoreactive Cry1Ab protein was also detected at 0.21 ng/g bulk soil 7 months after harvesting, i.e. in April of the following year. At this time, however, higher values were found in residues of leaves (21 ng/g) and of roots (183 ng/g), the latter corresponding to 12% of the Cry1Ab protein present in intact roots. A sampling 2 months later indicated further degradation of the protein. Despite the detection of Cry1Ab protein in the rhizosphere of MON810 maize, the bacterial community structure was less affected by the Cry1Ab protein than by other environmental factors, i.e. the age of the plants or field heterogeneities. The persistence of Cry1Ab protein emphasizes the importance of considering post‐harvest effects on nontarget organisms.
Conservation genetics and population history of the threatened European mink Mustela lutreola, with an emphasis on the west European population
Authors: MICHAUX J. R. , HARDY O. J. , JUSTY F. , FOURNIER P. , KRANZ A. , CABRIA M. , DAVISON A. , ROSOUX R. , LIBOIS R. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractIn species of great conservation concern, special attention must be paid to their phylogeography, in particular the origin of animals for captive breeding and reintroduction. The endangered European mink lives now in at least three well‐separated populations in northeast, southeast and west Europe. Our aim is to assess the genetic structure of these populations to identify ‘distinct population segments’ (DPS) and advise captive breeding programmes. First, the mtDNA control region was completely sequenced in 176 minks and 10 polecats. The analysis revealed that the western population is characterized by a single mtDNA haplotype that is closely related to those in eastern regions but nevertheless, not found there to date. The northeast European animals are much more variable (π = 0.012, h = 0.939), with the southeast samples intermediate (π = 0.0012, h = 0.469). Second, 155 European mink were genotyped using six microsatellites. The latter display the same trends of genetic diversity among regions as mtDNA [gene diversity and allelic richness highest in northeast Europe (HE = 0.539, RS = 3.76), lowest in west Europe (HE = 0.379, RS = 2.12)], and provide evidences that the southeast and possibly the west populations have undergone a recent bottleneck. Our results indicate that the western population derives from a few animals which recently colonized this region, possibly after a human introduction. Microsatellite data also reveal that isolation by distance occurs in the western population, causing some inbreeding because related individuals mate. As genetic data indicate that the three populations have not undergone independent evolutionary histories for long (no phylogeographical structure), they should not be considered as distinct DPS. In conclusion, the captive breeding programme should use animals from different parts of the species’ present distribution area.
Testing marker‐based estimates of heritability in the wild
Authors: COLTMAN DAVID W. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractMarker‐based estimates of heritability are an attractive alternative to pedigree‐based methods for estimating quantitative genetic parameters in field studies where it is difficult or impossible to determine relationships and pedigrees. Here I test the ability of the marker‐based method to estimate heritability of a suite of traits in a wild population of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) using marker data from 32 microsatellite loci. I compared marker‐based estimates with estimates obtained using a pedigree and the animal model. Marker‐based estimates of heritability were imprecise and downwardly biased. The high degree of uncertainty in marker‐based estimates suggests that the method may be sufficient to detect the presence of genetic variance for highly heritable traits, but not sufficiently reliable to estimate genetic parameters.
Development of anonymous cDNA microarrays to study changes to theSeneciofloral transcriptome during hybrid speciation
Authors: HEGARTY MATTHEW J. , JONES JOANNA M. , WILSON IAN D. , BARKER GARY L. , COGHILL JANE A. , SANCHEZ‐BARACALDO PATRICIA , LIU GUOQING , BUGGS RICHARD J. A. , ABBOTT RICHARD J. , EDWARDS KEITH J. , HISCOCK SIMON J. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractInterspecific hybridization is an important process through which abrupt speciation can occur. In recent years, genetic changes associated with hybrid speciation have been identified through a variety of techniques, including AFLP/SSR mapping, GISH/FISH and cDNA‐AFLP differential display. However, progress in using microarray technology to analyse whole genome/transcriptome changes associated with hybrid speciation has been limited due to the lack of extensive sequence data for many hybrid species and the difficulties in extrapolating results from commercially available microarrays for model species onto nonmodel hybrid taxa. Increasingly therefore researchers studying nonmodel systems are turning to the development of ‘anonymous’ cDNA microarrays, where the time and cost of producing microarrays is reduced by printing unsequenced cDNA clones, and sequencing only those clones that display interesting expression patterns. Here we describe the creation, testing and preliminary use of anonymous cDNA microarrays to study changes in floral transcriptome associated with allopolyploid speciation in the genusSenecio.We report a comparison of gene expression between the allohexaploid hybrid,Senecio cambrensis, its parental taxaSenecio squalidus(diploid) andSenecio vulgaris(tetraploid), and the intermediate triploid (sterile) hybridSenecio×baxteri. Anonymous microarray analysis revealed dramatic differences in floral gene expression between these four taxa and demonstrates the power of this technique for studies of the genetic impact of hybridization in nonmodel flowering plants.
Regeneration mode affects spatial genetic structure of Nothofagus dombeyi forests
Authors: PREMOLI ANDREA C. , KITZBERGER THOMAS 
Published: June 2005

AbstractDisturbance may generate population bottlenecks by reducing population size and the number of founders establishing a new colony. We tested the hypothesis that the scale of disturbance affects the levels of genetic diversity and the spatial distribution of genotypes in naturally regenerating stands of Nothofagus dombeyi, an evergreen angiosperm tree, in northwestern Patagonia. At similar spatial scales, we predicted that old‐growth stands characterized by fine‐scale gap phase dynamics would be genetically diverse due to restricted gene flow among temporal and spatially isolated gaps. In contrast, young massively regenerated postfire cohorts resulting from coarse‐scale disturbances would be genetically more homogeneous. At each of three paired old‐growth and postfire stands a minimum of 50 trees were mapped and sampled within 1 ha. Fresh tissue was collected for isozyme analysis from a total of 361 trees along with tree cores and diameters. Tree age distributions reflected the dominant modes of regeneration. Six out of nine analysed loci were polymorphic. Mean genetic diversity parameters were greater but not significant in mature stands. Fixation indices suggested significant heterozygous deficit at two‐thirds of possible tests indicating a Wahlund effect due to local recruitment of related seeds. FST indicated moderate between‐stand divergence. Mature stands concentrated half of positively like joins and yielded significant (P < 0.05) autocorrelation coefficients at small distance classes (< 20 m). Fine‐scale patch dynamics within mature stands favours the maintenance of fine‐scale genetic structure as a result of shade intolerance and local seed dispersal. Conversely, postfire stands suffer the effects of genetic drift given that a few reproductive trees produce a somewhat impoverished and genetically uniform progeny. Bottleneck effects will depend upon the density of remnant trees which could also be a function of the severity of fire.
Worm infestation and the negative association with eczema (atopic/nonatopic) and allergic sensitization
Authors: Schäfer T. , Meyer T. , Ring J. , Wichmann H.‐E. , Heinrich J. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Worm infestations may play a role in preventing allergies. There is a lack of epidemiological information from Western countries on the association between worm infestation and eczema.Objective:  To investigate the association between worm infestation and eczema in a proper temporal sequence and under consideration of allergic sensitization.Methods:  Two surveys were performed in East German school children. Questionnaire data included the history of eczema and worm infestation and their time of onset. Specific IgE antibodies to five common aeroallergens were measured and used to define nonatopic and atopic eczema. Logistic regression analyses were performed to control for relevant confounders (age, sex, parental school education and history of allergies). In order to confirm the findings a corresponding conditional regression analysis was applied on cases and controls matched by age and sex.Results:  A total of 4169 children participated (response 75 and 76%) who were, on average, 9.2 years old (47% girls). Overall 17.0% reported a prior worm infestation (Ascaris 44%, Oxyuris 33%) and 18.1% had a history of eczema. Eczema occurred significantly less frequent in children who had a worm infestation (prior to the onset of eczema) compared with children without such a history (8.1%vs 16.5%, ORadj: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.33–0.60). The finding was confirmed by the corresponding matched case–control analysis (ORadj: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41–0.79). Atopic eczema was affected more by a prior worm infestation (ORadj: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18–0.56) than the nonatopic eczema (ORadj: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.40–0.84). A total of 29.1% exhibited specific IgE antibodies to at least one aeroallergen. Sensitized children gave significantly less frequent a history of worm infestation (14.2%vs 18.3%, ORadj: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.60–0.92). Stratified analysis revealed that this effect most pronounced for a sensitization to house dust mite.Conclusions:  A worm infestation is associated with a reduced frequency of subsequent eczema, especially the atopic type. Furthermore allergic sensitization, especially to house dust mite, and worm infestation are negatively associated. The data support the concept that a lack of immune‐stimulation by parasitic infections contributes to the development of allergies.
Development of a functional in vitro assay as a novel tool for the standardization of allergen extracts in the human system
Authors: Vogel L. , Lüttkopf D. , Hatahet L. , Haustein D. , Vieths S. 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Biochemical and immunochemical methods used for batch control of allergen extracts rely on the binding of IgE molecules to allergens. They do not measure the ability of a protein to induce type I allergic reactions. Therefore, a biological assay was established that is based on the cellular mechanisms of allergies in order to assess the cross‐linking capacity of allergens.Methods:  Rat basophilic leukaemia cells were transfected with cDNA coding for the human high affinity IgE receptor chains. The surface expression of the IgE‐binding α‐chain was detected by FACS analysis and the functional integration of the ‘humanized’ receptors into the signal transduction cascade was addressed by intracellular calcium mobilization. Mediator release was measured in response to human IgE and a variety of cross‐linking allergen preparations.Results:  Several clones were obtained that were able to bind allergen‐specific human IgE. The results of the biological assay were compared with those obtained by immunochemical methods. The biological assay was used to determine the potency of allergen extracts, including highly diluted products that cannot be analysed by conventional methods.Conclusion:  A stable ‘humanized’ basophil cell line was established that will be a useful tool for the standardization and batch control of allergen extracts. Because of its high sensitivity, it can also be used to detect minute quantities of potentially allergenic proteins, e.g. in processed foods. In addition, the test may support the development of novel allergy vaccines, such as recombinant hypoallergenic molecules.
Amblyopia due to inflamed chalazion in a 13‐month‐old infant
Authors: Donaldson Mark J , Gole Glen A 
Published: June 2005

AbstractMeibomian gland cysts (chalazia) are very common lesions in childhoodand are not thought of as visually threatening lesions. A case isreported of dense amblyopia and secondary exotropia resulting froman upper eyelid chalazion.
Presumed CMV associated necrotizing retinopathyin a non‐HIV immunocompromised host
Authors: Long Helen M , Dick Andrew 
Published: June 2005

AbstractHerpetic necrotizing retinitis is caused by the herpesvirus groupof viruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV). Reports defining causative viruseshave shown CMV to be a rare cause of acute retinal necrosis. Infact, there is only one report in the literature of CMV associated withprogressive outer retinal necrosis, which is most commonly associatedwith Varicella zoster virus. A case is presented of CMV‐relatednecrotizing retinopathy concurrent with subtle signs of herpeticretinitis in an immunocompromised patient, highlighting the spectrumof response of herpetic retinopathies.
Family history of myopia is not related to the final amount of refractive error in low and moderate myopia
Authors: Iribarren Rafael , Balsa Alejandra , Armesto Alejandro , Chiaradia Pablo , Despontín Leopoldo , Fornaciari Andrea , Pfortner Tomás 
Published: June 2005

AbstractBackground:  Previous research has found an association between family history and presence of myopia. It is possible that family history also could be related to the final amount of refractive error developed. If that were true, then family history of myopia could have predictive value for the amount of refractive error a child or young adult would develop after first lens prescription.Methods:  Consecutive myopic adult outpatients were enrolled during the year 2003. They received a refractive examination and a questionnaire concerning age of onset of lens use, academic achievement, and parental history of myopia.Results:  In the group of 271 mild and moderate myopes (myopia lower than −6 D) there were 157 subjects with at least one myopic parent and 114 subjects without family history. The presence or absence of a family history of myopia was not associated with either the final myopic refractive error (−3.2 ± 1.5 D and −2.9 ± 1.3 D, respectively, P = 0.08) or the age of onset of lens use (17.0 ± 6.2 years vs 18.1 ± 6.7 years, respectively, P = 0.15).Conclusions:  In the present retrospective study of a clinical sample of mild and moderate myopic subjects, family history of myopia did not show predictive value for either the age of first prescription, or the final refractive error developed in adulthood.
Tubulin and CRMP‐2 complex is transported via Kinesin‐1
Authors: Kimura Arimura Fukata Toshihide, Nariko, Yuko , Watanabe Hiroyasu , Iwamatsu Akihiro , Kaibuchi Kozo 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe transport of tubulin and microtubules in a growing axon is essential for axonal growth and maintenance. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the linkage of tubulin and microtubules to motor proteins is not yet clear. Collapsin response mediator protein‐2 (CRMP‐2) is enriched at the distal part of growing axons in primary hippocampal neurons and plays a critical role in axon differentiation through its interaction with tubulin dimer and Numb. In this study, we show that CRMP‐2 regulates tubulin transport by linking tubulin and Kinesin‐1. The C‐terminal region of CRMP‐2 directly binds to the tetratricopeptide repeat domain of kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1). Soluble tubulin binds to the middle of CRMP‐2 and forms a trimeric complex with CRMP‐2/KLC1. Furthermore, the movement of GFP–tubulin in the photobleached area is weakened by knockdown of KLCs or CRMP‐2. These results indicate that the CRMP‐2/Kinesin‐1 complex regulates soluble tubulin transport to the distal part of the growing axon.
Munc18–1 stabilizes syntaxin 1, but is not essential for syntaxin 1 targeting and SNARE complex formation
Authors: Toonen Ruud F. G. , De Vries Klaas Jan , Zalm Robbert , Südhof Thomas C. , Verhage Matthijs 
Published: June 2005

AbstractMunc18–1, a member of the Sec1/Munc18 (SM) protein family, is essential for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Munc18–1 binds tightly to the SNARE protein syntaxin 1, but the physiological significance and functional role of this interaction remain unclear. Here we show that syntaxin 1 levels are reduced by 70% in munc18–1 knockout mice. Pulse‐chase analysis in transfected HEK293 cells revealed that Munc18–1 directly promotes the stability of syntaxin 1, consistent with a chaperone function. However, the residual syntaxin 1 in munc18–1 knockout mice is still correctly targeted to synapses and efficiently forms SDS‐resistant SNARE complexes, demonstrating that Munc18–1 is not required for syntaxin 1 function as such. These data demonstrate that the Munc18–1 interaction with syntaxin 1 is physiologically important, but does not represent a classical chaperone‐substrate relationship. Instead, the presence of SNARE complexes in the absence of membrane fusion in munc18–1 knockout mice indicates that Munc18–1 either controls the spatially correct assembly of core complexes for SNARE‐dependent fusion, or acts as a direct component of the fusion machinery itself.