bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ninety‐six points of light: phototherapy practices of members of The Photomedicine Society
Authors: Evans Colby C. , Cruz Ponciano D. 
Published: December 2004

Background: Phototherapy is an effective and relatively safe treatment for many skin diseases. Recent concern has focused on an apparent decline in phototherapy usage in the US. Objective: To determine the current state of phototherapy as practiced globally. Methods: Cross‐sectional survey of members of the Photomedicine Society. Results: Data derived from responses of 96 members showed all to have been in practice for more than five years, providing phototherapy within two years of completing residency. Usage of narrow‐band ultraviolet B, ultraviolet A‐1 (UVA‐1), bath‐psoralens plus UVA, and photodynamic therapy was markedly greater among phototherapists in Europe compared to their counterparts in North America and Asia. Conclusions: Worldwide, there are fewer younger dermatologists who incorporate phototherapy in their practices. European phototherapists have led the world in usage of the newer phototherapy modalities.
Uniformity of sunscreen product application: a problem in testing, a problem for consumers
Authors: Lott Dennis L. , Stanfield Joseph , Sayre Robert M. , Dowdy John C. 
Published: December 2004

Background/Aims: Testing of sunscreen products requires application of uniform films of product of defined thickness to test volunteers. In spite of the seeming importance of product application to defining sunscreen efficacy, there have been few studies determining how well uniformity is achieved. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the uniformity of sunscreen products of different sun protection factors (SPFs) and vehicles on a variety of substrates by in vitro testing techniques. The results of a variety of testing strategies are reported. Methods: Five commercial sunscreen products of labelled SPF 4–50 were tested using a variety of substrates: Transpore® Tape, Vitro‐Skin™, and lambskin condom. Two experienced sunscreen testers applied the products. In vitro SPFs were determined using an Optometric 290 analyser or an Optronic Laboratories OL754 spectroradiometer configured for this application. Results: SPFs for several locations on each film applied to a substrate were determined and the mean SPF and RSD percentage of the mean calculated. For all substrates and testing techniques the average RSD percentage was 18.6, with a range of 10–40%. Conclusion: The expected uncertainty of SPF due to product application non‐uniformity is 20% when applied under optimal test conditions. Clearly SPF tests reported by different laboratories must exhibit significant variability, because of product application non‐uniformity.
The influence of pre‐irradiation on the predictability of in vivo UVA protection with a new in vitro method
Authors: Wendel V. , Klette E. , Wittern K.‐P. , Gers‐Barlag H. 
Published: December 2004

Background/Purpose: UVA protection of sunscreen formulations is becoming increasingly important especially because of recent investigations on the long‐term skin damage associated with UVA light. The development of a new in vitro method to measure UVA protection performance made it possible to predict reliably the in vivo UVA protection performance of representative sunscreen formulations found presently in the European and US market (1). This study was performed in order to determine the applicability of the method developed by Wendel et al. (1) to photostable and photolabile filter combinations and in order to measure the influence of sample pre‐irradiation on predicting the in vivo performance. This was done by subjecting six photostable and six photolabile filter combinations to a standard irradiation. Then the in vitro UVA protection afforded by each combination was measured and compared with the persistent pigment darkening (PPD) values determined in vivo.Results: The results clearly showed that pre‐irradiation does not affect the in vitro PPD factor of the photostable and photolabile samples in the same way. Almost identical values were determined for the stable filter combinations with and without pre‐irradiation, whereas distinct reductions in the in vitro factors by as much as 93% were observed after irradiation in the group of less stable filter combinations. Comparison of the in vivo and in vitro PPD factors showed that all 12 samples comprise a homogeneous distribution with identical factors before irradiation. After pre‐irradiation only the factors for the six less stable products were selectively reduced. The correlation with the data determined on the skin was clearly poorer for these products after irradiation.Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that pre‐irradiation should not to be used for the assessment of UVA protection using this method. Furthermore, it can be assumed that normalizing the in vitro absorbance curves to the labelled SPF of the sunscreen will adequately take into account the photochemical behaviour of UV filters on the skin during sun exposure.
Calcium and pH patterning at the apical meristem are specifically altered by photoperiodic flower induction in Chenopodium spp.
Authors: ALBRECHTOVÁ J. T. P. , HEILSCHER S. , LESKE L. , WALCZYSKO P. , WAGNER E. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe apical meristem of the short‐day plant Chenopodium rubrum responds to photoperiodic flower induction with specific changes of pH and Ca2+ patterning immediately after the inductive dark span. The red–far‐red reversibility of the pH and Ca2+ patterning in response to night break treatments was measured in order to distinguish between the effect of the prolonged dark span per se and the specific effect of photoperiodic flower induction. In addition, the pH and Ca2+ patterning in C. rubrum was compared with the long‐day plant Chenopodium murale. The pH was visualized using the fluorescent probe carboxy SNARF‐1. Calcium ion concentrations were studied using a combination of Ca2+‐probes Fluo‐3 and Fura Red. It was observed that the specific changes in pH and Ca2+ patterning at the apical meristem of C. rubrum were abolished by the red‐light break. This effect was fully reversed with a subsequent single far‐red treatment. These observations infer the influence of phytochrome on both pH and Ca2+ patterning. Changes in pH and Ca2+ patterning upon flower induction were observed in both long‐day and short‐day plants. These results support the hypothesis that changes of pH and [Ca2+] in cells of the apical meristem are part of the pathway in signal transduction triggering flower initiation.
Lipids in roots of Pinus sylvestris seedlings and in mycelia of Pisolithus tinctorius during ectomycorrhiza formation: changes in fatty acid and sterol composition
Authors: LACZKO E. , BOLLER T. , WIEMKEN V. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe composition of fatty acids and sterols in soil lipid fractions is often used as a global indicator for the status and changes of soil microbial communities. In order to validate such analyses in the context of ectomycorrhizal communities, an experiment was performed in which seedlings of Pinus sylvestris and the fungus Pisolithus tinctorius were grown separately, or combined to form ectomycorrhiza under axenic conditions. Fatty acids of the neutral lipid fraction (NLFAs) and the phospholipid fraction (PLFAs) as well as sterols were identified and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. When grown separately, the two organisms differed strongly with respect to the sterol composition. Sterols had a much higher relative abundance in the fungus in comparison with the plant, and the two main fungal sterols, ergosterol and 24‐ethyllanosta‐8,24(24′)‐diene‐3beta,22zeta‐diol (Et lano 8,24), as well as six minor fungal sterols were not found in the plant. On the other hand, the three sterols found in plant roots were absent from the fungus. With regard to fatty acids, the lipids of both organisms contained the same three major PLFAs, namely n16:0, 18:2–9,12c, and 18:1–9c. However, plant lipids contained, in addition, eight PLFAs and five NLFAs that were not present in the fungus. On the other hand, the fungus contained two PLFAs and two NLFAs that were not present in the plant. When the fungus and the plant were brought together, there was a drastic change in the lipid composition of the root: within a day, all the saturated fatty acids in the NLFA fraction increased very strongly and then slowly decreased but remained at an elevated level throughout the experiment. All these saturated fatty acids also started to appear in the extraradical fungal mycelium; they increased steadily and reached their highest levels at the end of the experiment. These results indicate that in symbiosis, the fungus transports plant lipids from the symbiotic interface to the extraradical mycelium. Concerning sterols, the extraradical mycelium acquired only a small amount of plant‐specific sterols. However, its ergosterol content steadily decreased whereas the content of Et lano 8,24 remained high, causing the ratio of these two sterols to decrease from 1 : 7 to 1 : 20, whereas in the ectomycorrhizal root, the opposite phenomenon occurred, so that the ratio increased to a value of almost 1 : 1. The marked changes in the composition of the extraradical mycelium were well reflected in a principal component analysis of all lipid components. The present results show that a given ectomycorrhizal fungus may display markedly different lipid compositions in its intraradical and extraradical parts. In addition, they highlight a potential role of plant lipid transfer from the root to the fungus in the functioning of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.
Starvation, osmotic stress and desiccation tolerance lead to expression of different genes of the regulatory β and γ subunits of the SnRK1 complex in germinating seeds of Medicago truncatula
Authors: Buitink J. , Thomas M. , Gissot L. , Leprince O. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe SnRK1 complex, a metabolic regulator of nutrient deficit in plants, consists of a catalytic α‐subunit and two regulatory subunits, β and γ that exist as several isoforms. To obtain insight into the developmental and stress conditions that regulate the expression of these regulatory subunits, four β subunits MtAKINβ1‐β4, and three γ subunits MtAKINβγ, MtSNF4b and MtAKINγ were identified and characterized in seeds of M. truncatula. Their transcripts were found to accumulate differentially in vegetative and seed tissues and appear to be differentially modulated during germination and the imposition of stress. MtAKINγ and MtAKINβ3 showed identical patterns of expression upon osmotic shock, whereas transcripts of MtAKINγ and MtAKINβ1 were strongly up‐regulated upon starvation of the radicles. Addition of glucose during the starvation process reversed this effect. MtAKINβ2 and MtSNF4b were specifically induced upon the re‐induction of desiccation tolerance in germinated, desiccation‐sensitive radicles, whereas only MtSNF4b expression was repressed by an inhibitor of abscisic acid synthesis. A second γ subunit, MtAKINβγ, was transiently expressed early during the induction of desiccation tolerance, and its expression could be modulated by blocking the respiratory ATP production by cyanide. The transcriptional regulation of the subunit isoforms showing identical expression profiles in germinating seeds appears to be under the control of different factors.
Effects of salinity, high irradiance, ozone, and ethylene on mode of photosynthesis, oxidative stress and oxidative damage in the C3/CAM intermediate plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.
Authors: HURST A. C. , GRAMS T. E. E. , RATAJCZAK R. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe occurrence of oxidative stress and oxidative damage in the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum during C3/crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) transition evoked by salinity and high irradiance was investigated. The hypothesis tested was that CAM induction will effectively protect M. crystallinum against oxidative damage even under additionally applied oxidative stress via ozone (150 p.p.b.) exposure. Salinity (0.4 m NaCl), high irradiance and ozone induced the cytosolic CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) transcript abundance and activity indicating oxidative stress. However, ozone did not induce CAM. Contrary to the hypothesis, that ethylene may be involved in CAM induction, gassing with ethylene (200 p.p.b.) did not lead to CAM, but revealed that in M. crystallinum ethylene biosynthesis is induced by autostimulation. A putative fragment of the hitherto unknown nu‐cleotide sequence of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate oxidase (ACC; EC 4.4.1.14) was isolated and used as a specific probe against the ACC oxidase transcript to monitor oxidative damage. Ozone exposure increased the ACC oxidase expression only in plants with C3‐photosynthesis which also showed severe necrosis and reduced photosynthetic activity, whereas plants in CAM mode (salt induced) remained unaffected. Natural stressors such as salinity and high irradiance induce CAM and up‐regulate the ARS component CuZn‐SOD very effectively to protect M. crystallinum from oxidative damage even when additional oxidative stress such as ozone is present.
A role for the cuticular waxes in the environmental control of stomatal development
Authors: Holroyd Geoffrey H. , Hetherington Alistair M. , Gray Julie E. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe mechanism of guard cell development is currently attracting much interest. The recent use of Arabidopsis mutant plants has shed new light on the pathways that regulate the development and patterning of specialized cells such as guard cells, trichomes and roots hairs within the plant epidermis. Here, we review this literature focusing on the insights provided into guard cell development. We also discuss our current knowledge of how environmental variables may impact on guard cell development and, in particular, consider whether the composition of the epidermal waxes may be involved in this process.
Cutaneous reactions to pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in pediatric population
Authors: Vega M. L. , Vega J. , Vega J. M. , Moneo I. , Sánchez E. , Miranda A. 
Published: December 2004

Cutaneous lesions caused by pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa, TP) are frequent in pinewood areas. However, no epidemiological studies have been performed so far in the pediatric population. In this study, we evaluated the relevance of reactions to pine processionary caterpillar in the pediatric population of our environment and determined the possible role of an IgE‐mediated mechanism.A questionnaire was developed and given to 1101 children and adolescents ranging from 3 to 17 years of age from rural areas with large pine forests. A total of 653 questionnaires were answered by the children or their parents. The search for immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated cases was based on the presence of a suspected reaction to caterpillar and confirmed by in vivo (skin prick) and in vitro (immunoblotting) tests.Sixty of the 653 people interviewed (9.18%) identified a cutaneous reaction from exposure to the processionary caterpillar. Within this group only four cases (6.7%) were because of an IgE‐mediated mechanism. The predominant clinical feature of these patients with allergy to caterpillar was contact urticaria.We present the first study of cutaneous reactions to pine processionary caterpillar in a large pediatric population. This is a frequent pathology in pinery zones and only in a minority of the cases are because of an IgE‐mediated allergic mechanism. This fact contrasts with studies in adults, where this percentage is much greater.
Quantification of IgE antibodies simplifies the classification of allergic diseases in 4‐year‐old children. A report from the prospective birth cohort study – BAMSE
Authors: Wickman Magnus , Ahlstedt Staffan , Lilja Gunnar , Hamsten Marianne v Hage 
Published: December 2004

Allergic diseases are common among small children, but it is still unclear how immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to ambient allergens are distributed in a population‐based prospective material of children at 4 years of age. The study is based on 75% (n = 4089) of all eligible children from northern Stockholm, born between 1994 and 1996 in pre‐defined geographical areas. Data on exposure and outcome were obtained by parental questionnaires when the child was 3 months and 4 years of age. Of the 92% who responded to the 4 years of age questionnaire, serum was obtained in 88% of these children for analysis of IgE antibodies performed with Pharmacia CAP systemTM (Phadiatop® and food mix fx5®). An antibody level ≥0.35 kUA/l was considered as positive. A positive Phadiatop® or fx5® was found in 24% of the 4 years old children. A rather poor correlation was found between the two tests (r = 0.39). Occurrence of IgE antibodies ≥3.5 kU/l for both Phadiatop® and fx5® in combination could predict any suspected allergic disease [asthma, rhinitis, atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) and allergic reaction to food] to 97.4%. However, the presence of ≥3.5 kUA/l of Phadiatop® or fx5® used as single tests only, was far less efficient to predict any allergic disease. The two mixes of airborne and food allergens were also associated, not only to the severity of the allergic disease in terms of number of organ involved, but also to the severity of recurrent wheeze, in particular in boys with a positive Phadiatop® who exhibited significantly limited peak flows compared to those with a negative test.Already at the age of 4, one child in four is sensitized to an allergen as assessed by Phadiatop® or food mix (fx5®). The presence of IgE antibodies seems not only to predict allergic diseases in this age group, but also relates to severity of such diseases, in particular to asthma. Notable, there was a poor correlation between Phadiatop® and fx5® that needs to be considered when identifying allergic diseases in young children. The study demonstrates that quantification of IgE antibodies in blood may be beneficial, not only to diagnose allergic diseases in young children, but especially to serve as a marker of severity of asthma.
Molecular identification of the Anopheles nili group of African malaria vectors
Authors: Kengne P. , Awono‐Ambene P. , Nkondjio C. Antonio , Simard F. , Fontenille D. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.Distinction between members of the Anopheles nili group of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), including major malaria vectors in riverside villages of tropical Africa, has been based mainly on doubtful morphological characters. Sequence variations of the ribosomal DNA second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and D3 28S region between morphological forms revealed four genetic patterns corresponding to typical An. nili (Theobald), An. carnevalei Brunhes et al., An. somalicus Rivola & Holstein and the newly identified variant provisionally named Oveng form. Primers were designed based on ITS2 fixed nucleotide differences between haplotypes to develop a multiplex PCR for rapid and specific identification of each species or molecular form. Specimens of the An. nili group from Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Senegal were successfully identified to species, demonstrating the general applicability of this technique based on criteria described in this paper.
A comparison of methods of adjusting stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates for birthweight in hospital and geographical populations
Authors: Joyce Rachel , Peacock Janet 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBirthweight‐specific rates can be useful for summarising stillbirth and neonatal mortality in populations but, sometimes, a single summary measure is required to compare several relatively small subpopulations. However, any particular summary has its shortcomings, and various methods have been proposed. We wished to compare mortality between local authorities and between hospitals in the Thames regions and thus required a single summary measure for each subpopulation. It was not obvious in advance which summary to use or whether a single method would work well for both local authorities (a geographical unit) and hospitals.This study compared six methods of calculating a single summary, three using indirect standardisation to adjust (500 g bands, 10‐percentile bands, 10 z‐score bands) and three using regression to adjust (mean birthweight, proportion < 2500 g, proportion < 1500 g). The data used were 570 016 births in the Thames Regions, broken down into its 96 local authorities and 65 hospitals. To investigate how well each adjustment had performed, we calculated the rank correlation between the crude and various adjusted mortality rates and mean birthweight, proportion < 2500 g and proportion < 1500 g. This was done separately in the local authorities and hospitals. If a method of adjustment had worked very well, these correlations should be negligible.For the local authorities, adjustment for proportion < 1500 g gave the lowest correlations. Adjustment for mean birthweight and 500 g‐band standardisation did not appear to work so well but gave moderately low correlations. For hospitals, 500 g standardisation gave the lowest correlations. Adjustment for mean birthweight and proportion < 2500 g worked only moderately well. Percentile and z‐score adjustment did not work well for local authorities or hospitals. We conclude that several methods appear to work reasonably well for local authorities, whereas for hospitals, 500 g indirect standardisation worked best. Percentile and z‐score standardisation did not work well in these subpopulations.
DNA variants in cytokine and NOD2 genes, exposures to infections and risk for Crohn's disease
Authors: Amre Devendra K. , Seidman Ernest G. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe incidence and prevalence of Crohn's disease (CD) among children in developed countries is increasing. Although extensive progress has been made in the elucidation of the pathogenesis of the disease, its mechanism remains unknown. CD is likely to be the result of a complex interplay of both genetic and environmental factors (G × E). However, the specific elements underlying these interactions have not been defined. We propose that the underlying pathology of CD may be related to interactions between infections acquired either during intrauterine life and/or early childhood and DNA variants in the cytokine and the NOD2 genes. DNA variants in the latter could confer susceptibility by altering immune development and response to infectious agents. We present a molecular and epidemiological perspective on possible mechanisms underlying G × E. Investigating these and other pathways will be paramount for the appropriate identification of susceptible populations, so that preventive and/or therapeutic interventions could be adequately targeted.