bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fungi associated with hair roots of Rhododendron lochiae (Ericaceae) in an Australian tropical cloud forest revealed by culturing and culture‐independent molecular methods
Authors: Bougoure Damian S. , Cairney John W. G. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe culturable fungal assemblage associated with hair roots of Rhododendron lochiae (Ericaceae) from a tropical cloud forest in Queensland, Australia was investigated using rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequence analysis, and the abilities of the fungi to form ericoid mycorrhizas were tested. DNA was further extracted directly from hair roots and partial fungal ITS products compared with those from the cultured isolate assemblage using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A range of ericoid mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal fungi was identified using both approaches, with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi found to be taxonomically similar to those associated with Ericaceae in temperate habitats worldwide. Both approaches identified several unique fungi and, although most of the abundant RFLP types identified in the cultured fungal assemblage were also present in DGGE profiles of DNA extracted directly from roots, one the most commonly isolated RFLP types, a putative Xylariaceae taxon, was absent. The data suggest that a combination of culturing and culture‐independent approaches may be more efficacious than either method individually.
Reproductive condition of Akodon montensis Thomas and Bolomys lasiurus (Lund) (Rodentia, Muridae) based on histological and histometric analyses of testes and external characteristics of gonads
Authors: Couto D. , Talamoni S. A. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe reproductive activity of two species of wild rodents was studied in the Serra do Rola‐Moça State Park (PERM), in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From October 1998 to October 1999 specimens of Akodon montensis (Thomas 1913) were captured in an area of seasonal semi‐deciduous forest, while specimens of Bolomys lasiurus (Lund 1840) were captured in a cerrado area (a savannah‐like grassland). The determination of the reproductive condition was based on histological and histometric analyses of testes and external characteristics of gonads. The volume of the testes, diameter of the seminiferous tubules and depth of the seminiferous epithelium were measured. Akodon montensis showed a seasonal annual reproductive cycle divided into four stages (recrudescence, activity or proliferation, regression and rest) with the reproductive activity mainly occurring during the rainy season. In contrast, B. lasiurus presented reproductive activity during almost the whole year. For both species the volume of the testes was an effective indicator of their reproductive condition. We suggest that the histological and histometric analysis of the gonads of males, together with the observations of external characteristics of gonads of males and females, may assist in identifying the reproductive condition of these animals.
Differentiation of the reproductive tract between dominant and subordinate workers in the Japanese queenless ant Diacamma sp.
Authors: Allard D. , Ito F. , Gobin B. , Tsuji K. , Billen J. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIn queenless ants, gamergates (mated egg‐laying workers) fulfil the reproductive task normally reserved for the queen. Every worker is a potential gamergate, thus we expect pronounced conflicts over sexual reproduction within their colonies. In the queenless ant genus Diacamma, gamergates inhibit nest mates from mating by aggressively removing (‘mutilating’) a pair of small appendages on the thorax, termed gemmae, shortly after eclosion. Dissection and serial sectioning of the reproductive tracts of both mutilated and unmutilated individuals of Diacamma sp. from Japan at different ages revealed that mutilation inhibits the development of the bursa copulatrix and the spermatheca, two structures fundamental for sexual reproduction. The precursor of the bursa copulatrix develops into a fully functional structure in unmutilated individuals, whereas it degenerates irreversibly in mutilated callows. Experimental manipulations showed that the removal of the gemmae is not the sole factor regulating this development. The spermathecal epithelium and accessory spermathecal gland of unmutilated individuals are thicker than that of mutilated individuals, indicating a higher degree of activity in the former. Mutilated females are therefore left incapable of copulating and less competent for long‐time sperm storage.
Knock‐down of POSH expression is neuroprotective through down‐regulating activation of the MLK3–MKK4–JNK pathway following cerebral ischaemia in the rat hippocampal CA1 subfield
Authors: Zhang Quan‐Guang , Wang Rui‐Min , Yin Xiao‐Hui , Pan Jing , Xu Tian‐Le , Zhang Guang‐Yi 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe investigated the expression and subcellular localization of the multidomain protein POSH (plenty of SH3s) by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, as well as its role in the selective activation of mixed‐lineage kinases (MLKs) 3, MAP kinase kinase (MKK) 4, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNKs) and the c‐Jun signalling cascade in the rat hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischaemia. Our results indicated that the cytosol immunoreactivity of POSH was strong in the CA1‐CA3 pyramidal cell but weak in the DG granule cell of the rat hippocampus both in sham control and after reperfusion. Co‐immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the interactions of MLK3, MKK4 and phospho‐JNKs with POSH were persistently enhanced during the early (30 min) and the later reperfusion period (from 1 to 3 days) compared with sham controls. Consistently, MLK3–MKK4–JNK activation was rapidly increased with peaks both at 30 min and 3 days of reperfusion. Intracerebroventricular infusion of POSH antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS‐ODNs) not only significantly reduced the protein level of POSH, markedly decreased its interactions with MLK3, MKK4 and phospho‐JNKs, but also attenuated the activation of the JNK signalling pathway. In addition, infusion of POSH AS‐ODNs significantly increased the neuronal density in the CA1 region at 5 days of reperfusion. Our results suggest that POSH might serve as a scaffold mediating JNK signalling activation in the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischaemia, and POSH AS‐ODNs exerts its protective effects on ischaemic injury through a mechanism of inhibition of the MLK3–MKK4–JNK signalling pathway, involving c‐Jun and caspase 3 activation.
The scaffolding protein PSD‐95 interacts with the glycine transporter GLYT1 and impairs its internalization
Authors: Cubelos Beatriz , González‐González Inmaculada M. , Giménez Cecilio , Zafra Francisco 
Published: September 2005

AbstractRecent evidence indicates that the glycine transporter‐1 (GLYT1) plays a role in regulation of NMDA receptor function through tight control of glycine concentration in its surrounding medium. Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated that, as well as being found in glial cells, GLYT1 is also associated with the pre‐ and postsynaptic aspects of glutamatergic synapses. In this article, we describe the interaction between GLYT1 and PSD‐95 in the rat brain, PSD‐95 being a scaffolding protein that participates in the organization of glutamatergic synapses. Mutational analysis reveals that the C‐terminal sequence of GLYT1 (–SRI) is necessary for the transporter to interact with the PDZ domains I and II of PSD‐95. This C‐terminal tripeptide motif also seems to be involved in the trafficking of GLYT1 to the membrane, although this process does not involve PDZ proteins. GLYT1 is able to recruit PSD‐95 to the plasma membrane, but it does not affect its clustering. However, the interaction stabilizes this transporter at the plasma membrane, blocking its internalization and producing a significant increase in the Vmax of glycine uptake. We hypothesize that PSD‐95 might act as a scaffold for GLYT1 and NMDA receptors, allowing GLYT1 to regulate the concentrations of glycine in the micro‐environment of NMDA receptors.
Dopamine neurons express multiple isoforms of the nuclear receptor nurr1 with diminished transcriptional activity
Authors: Michelhaugh Sharon K. , Vaitkevicius Henrikas , Wang Jun , Bouhamdan Mohamad , Krieg Alexys R. , Walker Jennifer L. , Mendiratta Varsha , Bannon Michael J. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractNurr1 (NR4A2) is an orphan nuclear receptor required for the development and maintenance of the dopaminergic phenotype in neurons of the ventral midbrain. This study demonstrates that multiple splice variants of nurr1 are produced in rat and human dopamine neurons. Formed by alternative RNA splicing in exon 7, nurr1a has a truncated carboxy‐terminus, nurr1b has an internal deletion in the ligand‐binding domain and nurr1c, newly identified in this study, has a novel carboxy‐terminus produced by a frame shift downstream of the splice junction. Alternative RNA splicing in exon 3 produces the isoform known as the transcriptionally‐inducible nuclear receptor (TINUR), lacking the amino‐terminus. Nurr2 and the newly identified nurr2c are produced by utilization of both exon 3 and exon 7 alternative splice sites. In rat midbrain, variants other than full‐length nurr1 constitute 20–35% of NR4A2 transcripts. Transfection studies in dopaminergic SK‐N‐AS cells demonstrate that nurr1a, nurr1b, nurr1c and TINUR have significantly reduced transcriptional activities compared with full‐length nurr1, while nurr2 and nurr2c are inactive. Furthermore, in these experiments, nurr2 and nurr2c both act as dominant negatives. Production of these nurr1 variants in vivo as demonstrated here could represent a novel regulatory mechanism of nurr1 transcriptional activity and therefore, dopaminergic phenotype.
Apparent effect on blood pressure is only partly responsible for the risk reduction due to antihypertensive treatments
Authors: Boissel Jean‐Pierre , Gueyffier François , Boutitie Florent , Pocock Stuart , Fagard Robert 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe mechanism of risk reduction obtained by blood pressure‐lowering pharmacological treatment remains unclear. We explored the amount of risk reduction attributable to the apparent effect of antihypertensive medicines on blood pressure by using the capture approach. Five randomized, placebo or nil controlled trials with a total of 28 997 subjects and 1935 cardiovascular fatal or non‐fatal events from the INDANA database met the eligibility criteria. Computations were performed on the original individual records using multiple Cox's proportional hazard regression models designed for meeting the assumed treatment mode of action and comparing relevant assumptions. For coronary event, the results are inconclusive essentially because the risk reduction is mild. However, for stroke the risk reduction adjusted for baseline risk factors is 34% (P < 0.0001). The part explained by the effect of treatment on systolic blood pressure is 49% of this reduction, with 95% confidence interval not including 100%. This result suggests that the apparent effect on blood pressure is not the only cause of stroke risk reduction in hypertensive subjects submitted to an antihypertensive medicine.
Exercise training protects the renal circulation against high glucose challenge
Authors: De Moraes Roger , Gioseffi Giovanni , Lopes Nuno do Nascimento , Gomes Marilia Brito , Nóbrega Antonio Claudio Lucas , Tibiriçá Eduardo 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIt has been shown previously that high glucose causes direct and acute endothelial dysfunction in non‐diabetic isolated rabbit kidney. This study assessed whether exercise training is able to maintain normal renal vascular endothelial function despite high glucose exposure. Animals were pen confined (SED) or treadmill trained over a 12‐week period (ExT). Kidneys isolated from SED and ExT rabbits were continuously perfused ex vivo during 3 h with Krebs–Henseleit solutions containing normal (5.5 mm) or high (15 mm) concentrations of d‐glucose. In the SED 5.5 group, acetylcholine (ACh) induced dose‐related vasodilator responses, reaching the maximum of 41 ± 2% (n = 10; P < 0.05). In the kidneys perfused with high concentrations of glucose (SED 15), endothelium‐dependent vasodilation was significantly blunted. Maximal relaxation in the presence of 15 mm glucose was of 19 ± 2%, which was significantly different from the SED 5.5 group (41 ± 2%, n = 10, P < 0.01). In the ExT 5.5 group, ACh‐induced vasodilation was significantly enhanced when compared with the SED 5.5 group, reaching the maximum of (52 ± 2%, n = 10, P < 0.05). Moreover, the exposure of the renal circulation of ExT animals to high glucose did not change endothelium‐dependent vasodilation induced by ACh (46 ± 3%, n = 6), when compared with the ExT 5.5 group. Finally, exercise training prevented the deleterious effects of high glucose on endothelial‐dependent renal vasodilation (SED 15: 19 ± 2% vs. ExT 15: 46 ± 3%; P < 0.05). It is concluded that exercise training protects the rabbit renal circulation against endothelial dysfunction elicited by acute exposure to moderately elevated glucose levels, corresponding to the postprandial glycemia of diabetes type 2 patients under treatment. The enhanced renal vasodilator reserve elicited by exercise training turns out to be a response that protects the kidney from the deleterious effects of glycemic peaks.
Investigating the protective effects of aged garlic extract on cyclosporin‐induced nephrotoxicity in rats
Authors: Wongmekiat Orawan , Thamprasert Kamthorn 
Published: September 2005

AbstractCyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity has been described in solid organ recipients and in the patients who were treated for autoimmune diseases. Reactive oxygen species‐induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidations are implicated in the pathophysiology of CsA‐induced renal injury. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been reported to exhibit potent antioxidative and free radical scavenging abilities in various disease conditions. The present study was designed to investigate whether AGE could possibly have a protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by CsA. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with CsA (50 mg/kg/day), CsA + AGE (0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg/day started 3 days before the first dose of CsA), or the vehicle of CsA for a period of 10 days. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and renal histopathological changes were evaluated after 24 h of the last treatment. CsA caused an increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine by 117 and 100%, respectively, whereas it decreased creatinine clearance by 78% compared with the vehicle‐treated rats (all P < 0.001). AGE treatment (0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg) significantly protected animals against CsA‐induced biochemical changes, albeit blood urea nitrogen and creatinine clearance in the 0.5 g/kg AGE treated‐animals were only partially restored. Kidney sections taken from CsA‐treated rats showed severe vacuolations and tubular necrosis. These histopathological changes were markedly improved by pretreatment of rats with AGE at the dose of 0.5–2 g/kg. The results indicate that AGE ameliorates renal dysfunction and morphological changes induced by CsA, and imply that it could be a beneficial remedy for attenuating the CsA nephrotoxicity.
Public Sector Decentralisation: Measurement Concepts and Recent International Trends*
Authors: Stegarescu Dan 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis paper deals with the problems encountered in defining and measuring the degree of fiscal decentralisation. Drawing on a recent analytical framework of the OECD, different measures of tax autonomy and revenue decentralisation are presented which consider the tax‐raising powers of sub‐central governments. Taking account of changes in the assignment of decision‐making competencies over the course of time, new time series of annual data on the degree of fiscal decentralisation are provided for 23 OECD countries over the period between 1965 and 2001. It is shown that common measures usually employed tend to overestimate the extent of fiscal decentralisation considerably. Evidence is also provided of increasing fiscal decentralisation in a majority of OECD countries during the last three decades.
Validity of Measures Is No Simple Matter
Authors: Sechrest Lee 
Published: September 2005

Purpose and Method. This article aims to promote a better understanding of the nature of measurement, the special problems posed by measurement in the social sciences, and the inevitable limitations on inferences in science (so that results are not overinterpreted), by using the measurement of blood pressure as an example. As it is necessary to raise questions about the meaning and extent of the validity of something as common as measured blood pressure, even more serious questions are unavoidable in relation to other commonly used measures in social science. The central issue is the validity of the inferences about the construct rather than the validity of the measure per se.Conclusion. It is important to consider the definition and validity of the construct at issue as well as the adequacy of its representation in the measurement instrument. By considering a particular construct within the context of a conceptual model, researchers and clinicians will improve their understanding of the construct's validity as measured.
Integrating Validity Theory with Use of Measurement Instruments in Clinical Settings
Authors: Adam Kelly P. , O'Malley Kimberly J. , Kallen Michael A. , Ford Marvella E. 
Published: September 2005

Objective. To present validity concepts in a conceptual framework useful for research in clinical settings.Principal Findings. We present a three‐level decision rubric for validating measurement instruments, to guide health services researchers step‐by‐step in gathering and evaluating validity evidence within their specific situation. We address construct precision, the capacity of an instrument to measure constructs it purports to measure and differentiate from other, unrelated constructs; quantification precision, the reliability of the instrument; and translation precision, the ability to generalize scores from an instrument across subjects from the same or similar populations. We illustrate with specific examples, such as an approach to validating a measurement instrument for veterans when prior evidence of instrument validity for this population does not exist.Conclusions. Validity should be viewed as a property of the interpretations and uses of scores from an instrument, not of the instrument itself: how scores are used and the consequences of this use are integral to validity. Our advice is to liken validation to building a court case, including discovering evidence, weighing the evidence, and recognizing when the evidence is weak and more evidence is needed.
Managed Care Market Share and Primary Treatment for Cancer
Authors: Keating Nancy L. , Landrum Mary Beth , Meara Ellen , Ganz Patricia A. , Guadagnoli Edward 
Published: September 2005

Objective. Increases in the market share of managed care are associated with decreases in expenditures in the fee‐for‐service sector. To understand utilization patterns responsible for such savings, we assessed whether increases in managed care market share were related to increases in receipt of equally effective but less costly primary cancer therapies.Data Sources. Cancer registry data linked to Medicare administrative data for a population‐based sample of fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries 66 years and older who were diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer during 1993–1999.Study Design. We used fixed‐effects regression models to assess whether county‐level increases in the market share of managed care were associated with differences in receipt of cancer therapies that are similar in effectiveness but vary in cost.Principal Findings. Increases in the market share of managed care were not associated with differences in the receipt of mastectomy versus breast‐conserving surgery with radiation for women with early stage breast cancer (p=.47) or with the receipt of conservative therapy (versus surgery or radiation therapy) for men with local or regional prostate cancer (p=.30).Conclusions. Increases in the market share of managed care do not appear to influence the receipt of equally effective primary treatments for cancer in the fee‐for‐service sector.
H. pylori Infection Increases Levels of Exhaled Nitrate
Authors: Lechner Matthias , Karlseder Alban , Niederseer David , Lirk Philipp , Neher Andreas , Rieder Josef , Tilg Herbert 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTBackground.  Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide. Despite the existence of a breath test for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, no study has described the composition of volatile compounds, especially the levels of nitrate, in the exhaled air of patients with H. pylori infection.Materials and Methods.  The volatile compounds in the exhaled air of 14 patients suffering from H. pylori gastritis and 11 controls were analyzed using proton transfer reaction –mass spectrometry. Gastric biopsy was used to establish diagnosis of current H. pylori infection.Results.  Comparing mass spectra between groups, Mass 28 (hydrogen cyanide, HCN) and Mass 64 (hydrogen nitrate, H2NO3) were found to be significantly elevated in patients with H. pylori infection.Conclusions.  The main result of the present study is that in H. pylori‐infected patients, levels of exhaled hydrogen nitrate and hydrogen cyanide are found to be significantly elevated. However, further studies are necessary to find out whether the differences in the detected mass spectrum are specific enough to differentiate patients with H. pylori gastritis from healthy controls.
Detection of Non‐pylori Helicobacter Species in “Helicobacter heilmannii”‐Infected Humans
Authors: De Groote Dominic , Van Doorn Leen‐Jan , Van den Bulck Kathleen , Vandamme Peter , Vieth Michael , Stolte Manfred , Debongnie Jean‐Claude , Burette Alain , Haesebrouck Freddy , Ducatelle Richard 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTBackground.  A small proportion of patients suffering from chronic active gastritis are diagnosed with gastric Helicobacter species other than Helicobacter pylori. Circumstantial evidence has suggested that these bacteria, also referred to as “Helicobacter heilmannii”‐like organisms (HHLO), may be transmitted through animals. The isolation of a Helicobacter bizzozeronii strain from a human patient confirmed this hypothesis. It was the aim of the present study to assess the presence of animal Helicobacter species and H. pylori in humans infected with HHLO, as diagnosed by histology.Methods.  Paraffin‐embedded gastric biopsy specimens of 108 HHLO‐infected patients (42 women and 66 men) from three clinical centers were screened for the presence of animal gastric Helicobacter species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using assays targeting the 16S rDNA region of the three known canine and feline helicobacters (H. bizzozeronii, H. salomonis and H. felis), “Candidatus H. suis”, and “Candidatus H. bovis”. In addition, the presence of H. pylori was evaluated by multiplex PCR analysis.Results.  In 63.4% of the stomachs (64/101) classification of the Helicobacter infection into the above mentioned groups was achieved. Non‐pylori Helicobacter species commonly colonizing the stomachs of cats and dogs were found in 48.5% (49/101) of the patients. Fourteen (13.9%) samples tested positive for “Candidatus H. suis”, and “Candidatus H. bovis” was demonstrated in 1 (0.9%) patient. The presence of H. pylori was established in 13 patients (12.9%). Eleven stomachs (10.9%) were infected with at least two different Helicobacter species.Conclusions.  This study identifies animal Helicobacter species in the stomach of a large series of HHLO‐infected patients, which may have clinical implications in a subset of patients with gastric disease.