bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preterm male infants need more initial respiratory support than female infants
Authors: Pollak A , Birnbacher R 
Published: April 2004

Female infants have a significantly greater chance of surviving than male infants at similar birth‐weights and gestational ages, and have an advantage over males for a better outcome with less morbidity.Conclusion: The exact mechanisms responsible for the gender differences, with a better chance of survival of female infants, remain to be determined. The paper by Elsmen et al. provides an important contribution to this most important area of clinical research.
Analysis of leukocyte rolling and migration ‐ using inhibitors in the undisturbed microcirculation of the rat mesentery ‐ on inflammatory stimulation
Authors: Takano-Ishikawa Yuko , Goto Masao , Yamaki Kohji 
Published: April 2004

Aim: Our aim was to develop a method of migration analysis using the undisturbed microcirculation of rat mesentery, and using the new method, analyze leukocyte migration in casein‐induced inflammation.Method: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were injected with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, interleukin (IL)‐1α, or casein intraperitoneally. Following this, the rats were sacrificed and the mesentery tissue removed was fixed and stained with Giemsa. The leukocytes were counted as a rolling index in the venules and as a migration index in the perivascular area.Results: There was no relation between the diameter of venules and leukocyte migration. The time change curves of leukocyte activity in casein inflammation show about a 1 h difference between rolling and migration. From inhibitor experiments of casein‐induced migration at 2 h, it has been suggested that selectin‐related rolling is necessary. Platelet‐activating factor (PAF) also appears partially involved.Conclusion: The improved undisturbed microcirculation method is helpful not only for rolling analysis but also in analysis of leukocyte migration. Casein inflammation analyzed using this method revealed that rolling is necessary and also suggested that partial involvement of PAF is necessary for pathogenesis of leukocyte extravasations.
Arabidopsis Peptide Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase2 Prevents Cellular Oxidative Damage in Long Nights[W]
Authors: Bechtold Ulrike , Murphy Denis J. , Mullineaux Philip M. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase (PMSR) is a ubiquitous enzyme that repairs oxidatively damaged proteins. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), a null mutation in PMSR2 (pmsr2-1), encoding a cytosolic isoform of the enzyme, exhibited reduced growth in short-day conditions. In wild-type plants, a diurnally regulated peak of total PMSR activity occurred at the end of the 16-h dark period that was absent in pmsr2-1 plants. This PMSR activity peak in the wild-type plant coincided with increased oxidative stress late in the dark period in the mutant. In pmsr2-1, the inability to repair proteins resulted in higher levels of their turnover, which in turn placed an increased burden on cellular metabolism. This caused increased respiration rates, leading to the observed higher levels of oxidative stress. In wild-type plants, the repair of damaged proteins by PMSR2 at the end of the night in a short-day diurnal cycle alleviates this potential burden on metabolism. Although PMSR2 is not absolutely required for viability of plants, the observation of increased damage to proteins in these long nights suggests the timing of expression of PMSR2 is an important adaptation for conservation of their resources.
Intrinsic innervation patterns of the smooth muscle in the rumen and reticulum of lambs
Authors: Pfannkuche Helga , Schellhorn Corinna , Schemann Michael , Gäbel Gotthold 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe rumen and reticulum of sheep serve as a fermentation chamber. Both compartments exhibit specific motility patterns. With developmental changes, the size of the reticulorumen dramatically increases when newborn lambs mature to adult sheep. This makes it possible to investigate the intrinsic innervation of the reticuloruminal muscles in lambs by taking the entire reticulum and rumen into account. The aim of the study was to analyse the projections and neurochemistry of myenteric neurons in the rumen and reticulum, which project to the inner or outer muscle layer, respectively. Therefore, we applied retrograde tracing with the fluorescent dye 1,1′‐didodecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethyl‐indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) and subsequent immunohistochemical detection of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In both compartments innervation of both the inner and the outer muscle layer consisted mainly of cholinergic neurons (65–70%). The majority of them co‐localized SP. The non‐cholinergic neurons projecting to the muscle expressed immunoreactivity for VIP. Polarized innervation of the muscle layers was found neither in the rumen nor in the reticulum. Consequently, intrinsic innervation patterns for the smooth muscle layers in the rumen and reticulum differ from all gastrointestinal regions examined thus far.
Baseline characteristics of participants in the oral health component of the Women's Interagency HIV Study
Authors: Mulligan Roseann , Phelan Joan A. , Brunelle Janet , Redford Maryann , Pogoda Janice M. , Nelson Evelyn , Seirawan Hazem , Greenspan John S. , Navazesh Mahvash , Greenspan Deborah , Alves Mario E. A. F. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract  – Objectives:  This study described baseline sociodemographic and oral health characteristics of a subset of HIV sero‐positive and sero‐negative women who participated in the oral health component of the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS).Methods: In 1995–96, 584 HIV sero‐positive and 151 sero‐negative women from five WIHS core sites were enrolled in the oral study. Data on oral mucosa, salivary glands, dentition and periodontium, along with demographics, socioeconomics, and behavioral characteristics, were used to characterize this population.Results:  Mean (SD) age was 37 (8) years for HIV sero‐positive and 36 (8) years for sero‐negative women; 27% of sero‐positive women had CD4 counts ≤200 and 34% had viral loads >50 000 copies/ml. Sero‐positive and sero‐negative women were similar demographically, as well as on plaque index, gingival bleeding, linear gingival banding, and numbers of DMF teeth and surfaces, but sero‐positive women had more abnormal gingival papilla (P = 0.004) and fewer teeth (P = 0.01). Among sero‐positive women, those with <200 CD4 counts had more DMF teeth (P = 0.007), and the number of DMF surfaces increased with decreasing CD4 counts (P = 0.04). Sero‐positive women who fit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) AIDS criteria were also more likely to have more DMF teeth (P = 0.004), DMF surfaces (P = 0.003), and decayed and/or filled (DF) root surfaces (P = 0.0002) compared to sero‐positive women without AIDS.Conclusions:  Dental and periodontal variables showed little difference between HIV sero‐positive and sero‐negative women. Among sero‐positive women, there were significant differences in coronal and root caries by AIDS diagnostic criteria, but no periodontal indicators by either AIDS diagnostic criteria or CD4 status, were observed.
A paired comparison of dental care in Canadians with Down syndrome and their siblings without Down syndrome
Authors: Allison Paul J. , Lawrence Herenia P. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract  – Objective:  To test the hypothesis that, controlling for age, Canadians with Down syndrome (DS) have dental care that is different to that of their siblings without DS.Methods:  A cross‐sectional survey of parents of children with DS among members of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), using a validated questionnaire. Parents were asked to complete two versions of the questionnaire: one for their child with DS and another for the sibling closest in age without DS. A total of 2327 questionnaires were distributed; 1221 questionnaires for people with DS and 950 for siblings without DS were returned. A paired analysis (McNemar test) of dental care indicators was performed on data from 938 family pairs, stratifying for age.Results:  For all the dental care indicators and age groups, many respondents indicated the same behaviours or experiences in their child with DS and a sibling without DS. However, depending on the particular form of dental care and the age group, 0–47% of families reported discordant dental care experiences for their child with DS and a sibling without DS. The greatest differences were observed for yearly consults (P = 0.029), restorations (P < 0.001), fluoride therapy (P = 0.013) and extractions (P = 0.029).Conclusion:  These observations suggest that compared to their siblings without DS, Canadians with DS are receiving different dental care.
Early childhood caries in children aged 6–19 months
Authors: Vachirarojpisan Thongchai , Shinada Kayoko , Kawaguchi Yoko , Laungwechakan Pimolphan , Somkote Tewarit , Detsomboonrat Palinee 
Published: April 2004

Abstract  – Objectives:  To investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors, behaviors and the severity of early childhood caries (ECC) in 6–19 month‐old Thai children. The severity of ECC was estimated using the proportion of ECC teeth to erupted teeth. This was termed the ‘Intensity of ECC’ (I‐ECC) index.Methods:  Cross‐sectional questionnaire survey, dental examinations, and mutans streptococci counts were obtained from children and mothers/caregivers who participated in the ECC prevention program.Results:  The 520 children from rural areas were categorized into four age groups by the mean number of erupted teeth. In the 15–19‐month‐old children, the prevalence of ECC was 82.8% (cavitated caries, 40.8%; noncavitated caries, 42.0%) with a mean ECC teeth score of 4.18 ± 3.19. The mean I‐ECC severity score was 0.45 ± 0.30 in these toddlers. Children from low‐income families, those with low education, and mothers/caregivers with decayed teeth had higher I‐ECC scores (P < 0.05). Children who were breast fed or had high counts of mutans streptococci also had higher I‐ECC scores (P < 0.05). The logistic regression model revealed that only children's mutans streptococci level was a statistically significant predictor of ECC, with an odds ratio = 4.5 (95% CI = 1.8, 11.7).Conclusions:  ECC is not only a public health problem but also a social problem in Thailand, because it relates to family income and education level. The community development approach to assisting disadvantaged Thai children should be combined with an effective preventive program at a very young age. Future longitudinal research should be performed to improve the I‐ECC for measuring the severity of ECC.
Crop colonisation, feeding, and reproduction by the predatory beetle, Hippodamia convergens, as indicated by stable carbon isotope analysis
Authors: Prasifka Jarrad R. , Heinz Kevin M. , Winemiller Kirk O. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  1. Habitat management to enhance natural enemy populations in agricultural systems may help regulate levels of crop pests, but little research addresses the behaviour of immigrating beneficial insects.2. Stable carbon isotopes were used in complementary laboratory and field studies to examine colonisation behaviour of an ephemeral agricultural habitat by the lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guérin‐Méneville.3. Under laboratory conditions, H. convergens carbon isotope ratios, δ13C, changed after its food supply was shifted from a C4‐ to a C3‐based diet of aphids produced on grain sorghum or cotton respectively. Final isotope ratios of adult H. convergens were closer to that of the new C3‐based diet, with most change in δ13C occurring within 3 days after the diet shift.4. The carbon isotope ratios of lady beetle adults collected in cotton fields suggested that grain sorghum was a continuous source for H. convergens until many nearby sorghum fields matured and senesced.5. When cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) prey were absent, carbon isotope ratios of beetle populations did not change over time and virtually no egg production by H. convergens was detected. This indicates that beetles were feeding little on non‐aphid resources originating in cotton.6. With cotton aphids present, beetle isotope ratios decreased towards the carbon isotope ratio of cotton, indicating adult feeding in cotton. As a result, egg masses produced had carbon isotope ratios in the C3 range of values.7. The results suggest that some predator species may be retained in habitats without large prey populations, a quality essential in controlling pests in agricultural systems.
Towards an understanding of the mechanisms of tolerance: compensating for herbivore damage by enhancing a mutualism
Authors: Strauss Sharon Y. , Murch Peter 
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  1. Traditionally, losses in plant fitness or yield resulting from insect damage have been redressed by reducing pest populations using insecticides or biocontrol; these approaches rely on the untested assumption that reduced plant fitness or yield is caused by diminished resources available to damaged plants.2. By experimentally manipulating pollination and damage levels independently, it is shown that pollination, as well as lack of resources, may be limiting to damaged plants in a model insect‐pollinated crop, cantaloupe.3. With enhanced pollination, damaged plants produce as much fruit as undamaged plants, even under high damage levels. In contrast, damaged plants without supplemental pollination produced significantly less fruit than undamaged plants.4. This approach is unique in shifting the focus away from reducing pest populations and toward enhancing mutualistic interactions. It avoids risks posed by insecticides (which also kill pollinators) and by biocontrol agents, known threats to native species.5. Determining the mechanism underlying compensation sheds light on recovery from insect damage in both natural and managed systems. These results have a bearing on managing native plant populations suffering from pollinator declines.6. Finally, it may be predicted that resources could limit tolerance to herbivore damage in resource‐poor or high competition environments, whereas pollination may limit tolerance when resource levels are high.
Do pollen beetles need pollen? The effect of pollen on oviposition, survival, and development of a flower‐feeding herbivore
Authors: Cook Samantha M. , Murray Darren A. , Williams Ingrid H. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  1. Pollen is considered to be an important dietary component for many species of flower‐feeding herbivores. Its influence on oviposition site selection by the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus, and on the development of its larvae was investigated.2. The effects of pollen presence and absence on adult, egg, and larval incidence in the field, and on larval development in the laboratory were compared through the use of Synergy, a composite hybrid oilseed rape Brassica napus variety comprising male‐fertile (with pollen) and male‐sterile (without pollen) plants.3. In the field, adult females were more abundant on male‐fertile plants during flowering, and a greater proportion of male‐fertile than male‐sterile buds were accepted for oviposition. These data indicate a possible role of pollen in oviposition site selection by female pollen beetles.4. The numbers of first instar larvae on the two plant lines did not differ; however, more second instars were found on male‐fertile than on male‐sterile flowers. This suggests a greater larval survival on male‐fertile plants, possibly due to the more readily available food resources and better nutrition afforded by the presence of pollen.5. Laboratory experiments confirmed that a diet which included pollen improved survival to adulthood and resulted in heavier pupae and adults; however, pollen was not obligatory for larval survival and development.6. The pollen beetle, previously thought to be an obligate pollen feeder, is therefore more generalist in its requirements for development. These findings may relate to the nutritional and behavioural ecology of other flower‐feeding herbivores.
The ontogeny of foragwehaviour in desert ants, Cataglyphis bicolor
Authors: Wehner Rüdiger , Meier Christoph , Zollikofer Christoph 
Published: April 2004

Abstract. 1. Individually foraging desert ants, Cataglyphis bicolor, exhibit short foraging lives (half lifetime, i.e. half‐time of the exponential decay function: 4.5 days), in which they perform 3.7 ± 1.9 foraging runs per day.2. During their short lifetime foraging period the ants increase the duration of their foraging round trips (up to 40.0 ± 24.6 min per run), the maximal distance of individual foraging runs (up to 28.2 ± 4.1 m), and their foraging success, i.e. the ratio of successful runs to the total number of runs (up to 0.70).3. The parameter that increases most dramatically during a forager's lifetime is direction fidelity, i.e. the tendency to remain faithful to a particular foraging direction.4. A model based on some simple behavioural rules is used to describe the experimental findings that within an isotropic food environment individual ants develop spatial foraging idiosyncrasies, and do so at a rate that increases with the food densities they encounter.5. Finally, it is argued that in functional terms direction fidelity is related to the navigational benefits resulting from exploiting familiar (route‐based) landmark information, and hence reduces round‐trip time and by this physiological stress and predatory risk.
Does aggregation benefit bark beetles by diluting predation? Links between a group‐colonisation strategy and the absence of emergent multiple predator effects
Authors: Aukema Brian H. , Raffa Kenneth F. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract.  1. Aggregation in bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) aids in mate attraction and resource procurement when colonising well‐defended plants; however, some species colonise primarily poorly defended plants, and intraspecific competition increases mortality. The hypothesis that decreased risk of predation was a potential benefit to aggregation in such circumstances was tested, using the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) and its two major predators Thanasimus dubius (F.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Platysoma cylindrica (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Both single‐ and multiple‐predator effects, across a range of prey densities, were tested.2. Both male and female colonisation events increased with herbivore density, in an asymptotic fashion.3. Predators decreased the number of colonisers in a density‐dependent manner, consistent with a type II functional response.4. The proportional impact of predators decreased with increased herbivore colonisation densities. These findings indicate that predator dilution may be a viable benefit to aggregation.5. Total emergence of the herbivore also increased with density, although the net replacement rate during one generation was independent of initial arrival density. This was likely due to larval predation, which negates potential relationships between per capita reproductive success and establishment density.6. Each predator species decreased I. pini's net replacement rate by approximately 42%, and their combined effect was approximately 70%.7. Overall, these predators modified their prey's establishment and adult mortality relationships in additive manners. This is somewhat surprising, given the potential for emergent effects due to interactions between multiple predators foraging within a common habitat. The persistence of additivity, rather than risk reduction or enhancement to the prey, may increase the predator‐swamping benefit to aggregation for this herbivore.8. The effects of these predators are substitutable, and likely exert equivalent selective pressures to mask signals at the whole‐plant level.
Teprenone, but not H2‐Receptor Blocker or Sucralfate, Suppresses Corpus Helicobacter pylori Colonization and Gastritis in Humans: Teprenone Inhibition of H. pylori‐Induced Interleukin‐8 in MKN28 Gastric Epithelial Cell Lines
Authors: Miyake Kazumasa , Tsukui Taku , Shinji Yoko , Shinoki Kei , Hiratsuka Tetsuro , Nishigaki Hitoshi , Futagami Seiji , Wada Ken , Gudis Katya , Iwakiri Katsuhiko , Yamada Nobutaka , Sakamoto Choitsu 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACTBackground.  The role of teprenone in Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastritis has yet to be determined. To investigate the effect of teprenone on inflammatory cell infiltration, and on H. pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa in H. pylori‐infected patients, we first compared the effect of teprenone with that of both histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2‐RA) and sucralfate on the histological scores of H. pylori gastritis. We then examined its in vitro effect on H. pylori‐induced interleukin (IL)‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells.Materials and Methods.  A total of 68 patients were divided into three groups, each group undergoing a 3‐month treatment with either teprenone (150 mg/day), H2‐RA (nizatidine, 300 mg/day), or sucralfate (3 g/day). All subjects underwent endoscopic examination of the stomach before and after treatment. IL‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results.  Following treatment, the teprenone group showed a significant decrease in both neutrophil infiltration and H. pylori density of the corpus (before vs. after: 2.49 ± 0.22 vs. 2.15 ± 0.23, p = .009; 2.36 ± 0.25 vs. 2.00 ± 0.24, p = .035, respectively), with no significant differences seen in either the sucralfate or H2‐RA groups. Teprenone inhibited H. pylori‐enhanced IL‐8 production in MKN28 gastric epithelial cells in vitro, in a dose‐dependent manner.Conclusions.  Teprenone may modify corpus H. pylori‐associated gastritis through its effect on neutrophil infiltration and H. pylori density, in part by its inhibition of IL‐8 production in the gastric mucosa.
Anti‐Helicobacter pylori Activities of Six Iranian Plants
Authors: Nariman Farahnaz , Eftekhar Fereshteh , Habibi Zohreh , Falsafi Tahereh 
Published: April 2004

ABSTRACTBackground.  Helicobacter pylori is the major worldwide cause of bacterial gastrointestinal infections in adults and children. Antibiotic therapy and a combination of two or three drugs have been widely used to eradicate these infections. However, development of drug resistance in bacteria calls for new sources of drugs, and plants seem to be a logical source of new antibacterial compounds.Methods.  The anti‐H. pylori activities of six native Iranian plants (Glycyrrhiza aspera, Juglans regia, Ligustrum vulgare, Thymus kotschyanus, Trachyspermum copticum and Xanthium brasilicum) and seven antibiotics were determined against 70 clinical isolates from children using the disk susceptibility assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also measured for the biologically active extracts. One extract with the best anti‐H. pylori activity was fractionated by silica gel and thin layer chromatography and the active compounds were identified by hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR) spectroscopy.Results.  All plant extracts showed anti‐H. pylori activity by the disk sensitivity method, but the most active extracts were those from X. brasilicum and T. copticum. In fact, the anti‐H. pylori activities of the two extracts were superior to the disk antibiotic susceptibility profile. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were within the range of 31.25–250 µg/ml. Fractionation and chemical identification of the extract from X. brasilicum showed the presence of two substances, a flavonoid and a xanthanolide.Conclusion.  Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance, new sources of anti‐H. pylori drugs are needed. The use of medicinal plants and/or their chemical components may have potential benefit in eradicating such problems.