bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NBQX or Topiramate Treatment after Perinatal Hypoxia‐induced Seizures Prevents Later Increases in Seizure‐induced Neuronal Injury
Authors: Koh Sookyong , Tibayan Felicia D. , Simpson Joelle N. , Jensen Frances E. 
Published: May 2004

Summary:  Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of NBQX (2,3‐dihydroxy‐6‐nitro‐7‐sulfamoylbenzo(f) quinoxaline‐2,3‐dione) and topiramate (TPM) given after hypoxia‐induced seizures in preventing the delayed effect of hypoxia on subsequent susceptibility to seizures and neuronal injury. Methods: We used “two‐hit” rodent seizure model to study the long‐term effect of perinatal hypoxia on later kainate (KA) seizure‐induced neuronal damage and investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a postseizure treatment protocol in reversing the conditioning effect of early‐life seizures. Results: Hypoxia at P10 induces seizures without cell death but causes an increase in susceptibility to second seizures induced by KA as early as 96 h after hypoxia, and this lowered seizure threshold persists to adulthood. Furthermore, perinatal hypoxia increases KA‐induced neuronal injury at postnatal day (P)21 and 28/30. Repeated doses of NBQX (20 mg/kg) or TPM (30 mg/kg) given for 48 h after hypoxia‐induced seizures prevent the increase in susceptibility to KA seizure‐induced hippocampal neuronal injury at P28/30. Conclusions: Our results suggest that α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) receptor blockade after hypoxia prevents the priming effect of perinatal hypoxia‐induced seizures and that this protection occurs independent of its anticonvulsant action.
Dominance and compromise in freshwater phytoplanktonic flagellates: the interaction of behavioural preferences for conflicting environmental gradients
Authors: CLEGG M. R. , MABERLY S. C. , JONES R. I. 
Published: May 2004

Summary

Motile phytoplanktonic flagellates display a suite of sensory‐mediated behavioural preferences to single‐environmental gradients. However, in nature multiple gradients of essential resources are often spatially and temporally conflicting, therefore it is important to understand how flagellate behaviours interact under these conditions.
Five species of these photosynthetic micro‐organisms were exposed to combinations of representative physical and chemical gradients in laboratory preference chambers. Using single‐factor responses as templates, the effects of multiple gradients were investigated and hierarchies of preferences constructed.
Three distinct interaction responses were observed: ‘dominance’ of one of two preferences; bisecting ‘compromise’ interactions, suggesting co‐dominance while potentially optimizing resource acquisition; and an ‘extreme response’ in which preferences appeared more important than avoidance of unfavourable conditions.
In all species, preference for light was dominant over preference for temperature and phosphate. More complex dominance, compromise and extreme interaction responses were induced by combinations of light, oxygen and carbon dioxide gradients.
Construction of a hierarchy of dominant responses demonstrated that, depending on species, response to light generally superseded preferences for CO2, O2 and recessive preferences for temperature and phosphate.
Interaction responses may confer functional ecophysiological advantages, with dominant preferences influencing the spatial and temporal distribution, migration, depth regulation and succession of phytoplanktonic flagellates in freshwater ecosystems.
Competitive relationships ofAndropogon gerardii(Big Bluestem) from remnant and restored native populations and select cultivated varieties
Authors: GUSTAFSON D. J. , GIBSON D. J. , NICKRENT D. L. 
Published: May 2004

SummaryAlthough genetic differentiation among plant populations is well known, its relevance for preserving the integrity of native ecosystems has received little attention. In a series of competition experiments withAndropogon gerardiiVitman, a dominant species of the North American Tallgrass Prairie, plant performance was related to seed provenance and restoration activities.Glasshouse experiments showed plant performance to be a function of seed source. Differential target plant performance relative to competitor identity was observed when plant performance was assessed across a range of competitor densities. Local and non‐local plants were larger when competing against non‐local plants relative to the local and cultivar plants, while cultivar plants were consistently larger than local and non‐local plants regardless of competitor identity or density. The consistency of cultivar performance could reflect directional selection during cultivar development for consistently high fecundity, vigorous vegetative growth and resistance to pathogens.In a field experiment, non‐local plants were half the size of local and cultivar plants, supporting recognition of seed provenances ofA. gerardiibased on differences in plant performance among source populations observed in the glasshouse study, and previous genetic analyses of the same populations.This study establishes that seed provenance and restoration activities influence the competitive ability of a dominant species which, in turn, may affect plant community structure and potential ecosystem function.
On the statistical significance of functional diversity effects
Authors: PETCHEY O. L. 
Published: May 2004

SummaryChanges in biodiversity can affect ecosystem processes through a variety of pathways, such as changes in community structure, loss of a keystone or changes in resource use patterns among species. The latter, also known as resource use complementarity, is an established mechanistic link between species and ecosystems.At present, functional group richness is the dominant measure of the extent of resource use complementarity and has been manipulated in several experiments. These groups are constructeda prioriusing information about differences between species and a statistically significant effect is typically identified by standard parametric tests. These tests implicitly assume that thea priorifunctional groups are correct.Avoiding this assumption requires a randomization (bootstrap) test of statistical significance that accounts for the effects of groupingper se. This test compares the observed test statistic to the distribution of the test statistic resulting from random assignment of species to groups.Re‐analyses of experimental manipulations of plant functional diversity by bootstrapping the critical significance value changed the ecological interpretation of results in nearly half of the experiments. This occurred because random assignment of species to functional groups frequently creates a strong relationship between functional diversity and ecosystem functioning.The significant bootstrapped results that were found perhaps represent some of the most convincing evidence that functional diversity is an important determinant of local‐scale ecosystem functioning.
Transgenerational plasticity for sexual reproduction and diapause in the life cycle of monogonont rotifers: intraclonal, intraspecific and interspecific variation in the response to crowding
Authors: SCHRÖDER T. , GILBERT J. J. 
Published: May 2004

Summary

In monogonont rotifers parthenogenetic reproduction allows population growth, and mictic (sexual) reproduction leads to the production of diapausing eggs. When amictic females are exposed to a mixis stimulus, they produce mictic daughters, whose eggs develop into males or, if fertilized, into diapausing eggs. Experiments showed that mictic offspring production is initiated by crowding in females of Brachionus angularis Gosse 1851, Epiphanes senta (O.F. Müller 1773) and Rhinoglena frontalis Ehrenberg 1853, just as it is in Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas 1766 and B. plicatilis Müller 1786.
In B. calyciflorus, B. angularis, E. senta and R. frontalis, the propensity of amictic females to respond to crowding by producing mictic female offspring is low in the stem female hatching from a diapausing egg, but then increases after some generations. In many cases, only few mictic offspring are produced by crowded females of the second to the fifth generation, but the maximal response occurs only in later generations. Delayed sexual reproduction in early generations from the resting egg may be advantageous, because it first favours rapid population growth and later on maximizes resting egg production. However, it may be disadvantageous, if unpredictable environmental variation causes a population decline when sexual reproduction is still suppressed.
The extent to which sexual reproduction is delayed varies among and within species. When strains from populations in temporary and permanent habitats were compared, sexual reproduction was significantly delayed in strains from temporary habitats in all species, whereas in B. calyciflorus and R. frontalis mixis was not significantly delayed in strains from permanent habitats. In E. senta mixis was significantly delayed in clones from both habitat types.
Within all strains there was significant variation among clones in the propensity to produce mictic offspring, the extent to which sexual reproduction was delayed in the first generations after the stem female hatched, or both.
Evidence‐Based Data for the Hemodialysis Access Surgeon
Authors: Huber Thomas S. , Buhler Amy G. , Seeger James M. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTThe National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Access (DOQI) have defined the access‐related care for patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the standard of care across the country has fallen short of the DOQI targets. One potential explanation for these shortcomings is the lack of compelling evidence in the literature to support the recommendations. This study was designed to compare the DOQI with the best available evidence in the literature for four clinical questions relevant to the hemodialysis access surgeon: the choice of access type (autogenous versus prosthetic), the type of prosthetic graft, management of the “failing” (nonthrombosed) access, and management of the thrombosed access. The electronic literature databases MEDLINE and Evidence‐Based Medicine Reviews were searched and relevant randomized controlled trials or meta‐analyses were identified for review. No randomized controlled trials comparing autogenous to prosthetic accesses were identified. However, a recent systematic review reported that the patency rates for upper extremity autogenous accesses were superior to their polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) counterparts. The identified randomized trials suggested that the patency rates for the different types of commercially available prosthetic grafts used for access appear comparable. They suggested that standard wall PTFE thickness and prosthetic anastomotic cuffs may be associated with better graft patency, while venous cuffs may be associated with worse patency. Furthermore, the trials suggested percutaneous angioplasty of “failing” prosthetic accesses with greater than 50% stenoses did not appear to improve patency and that routine use of intraluminal stents, as an adjunct to angioplasty, was not beneficial. They did suggest that patency after open surgical revision of “failing” prosthetic accesses was superior to that after percutaneous angioplasty. Lastly, the identified trials suggested that the patency rates after open surgical revision of thrombosed prosthetic accesses was better than after endovascular treatment. Despite the magnitude of hemodialysis‐related access problems, the quality of the evidence supporting the clinical decisions relevant to the access surgeon is limited and further clinical trials are justified.
Basic Science and Dialysis: Nitric Oxide and Hemodialysis
Authors: Sarkar Shubho R. , Kaitwatcharachai Charoen , Levin Nathan W. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTNitric oxide (NO), previously thought of as a noxious gas, is now recognized as an important mediator of vascular responsiveness. Soon after its discovery, it was realized that the actions of NO are similar to the previously described endothelium‐derived relaxing factor (EDRF). It is synthesized in the vascular endothelium utilizing the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and diffuses in the adjacent vascular media, where it has a vasodilatory action. Opposing actions of NO and vasoconstrictor agents (such as endothelin‐1, angiotensin ΙΙ, and others) maintain the vascular tone of the renal arteries. The same balance at the level of the macula densa maintains glomerular filtration rate (GFR) during varying levels of salt excretion. Lack of NO can result in disruption of this fine balance, with resultant vasoconstriction and disease progression, hypertension, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In addition, hypertension may result from positive salt balance that occurs when macula densa NOS is inhibited. While most investigators report low levels of NO in uremic subjects, the levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients have not been characterized adequately. This is primarily because HD patients are exposed to both stimulatory and inhibitory factors for NO synthesis. Retention of inhibitors of NOS tends to decrease NO levels, whereas production of NO will be increased by cytokines generated during blood‐dialyzer interaction. There is less disagreement, however, over the finding of elevated levels in those with dialyzer reactions and dialysis‐induced hypotension. Recent developments in the isolation of inducible and constitutive forms of NOS makes understanding of its pathophysiologic effects more complete. Newer treatment directed at inhibiting only the inducible forms of NOS (sparing the constitutive forms) may soon be found useful for the treatment and prevention of hypotension and dialyzer reactions in HD patients.
Cardiac Arrest in Dialysis Patients: Taking a Small Step
Authors: Herzog Charles A. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTDialysis patients are at high risk for death, and cardiac disease accounts for 43% of all‐cause mortality. The single greatest cause of death in dialysis patients is sudden cardiac death. The survival of dialysis patients after cardiac arrest is poor. Clinical strategies for improving the outcomes of dialysis patients should include therapies to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest and the likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest. Defibrillators should be available in all dialysis centers.
Role of Herp in the endoplasmic reticulum stress response
Authors: Hori Osamu , Ichinoda Fusae , Yamaguchi Atsushi , Tamatani Takashi , Taniguchi Manabu , Koyama Yoshihisa , Katayama Taiichi , Tohyama Masaya , Stern David M. , Ozawa Kentaro , Kitao Yasuko , Ogawa Satoshi 
Published: May 2004

Application of differential display to cultured rat astrocytes allowed cloning of Herp cDNA. Although Herp was strongly induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, it decayed rapidly consequent to proteasome‐mediated degradation. To investigate the role of this molecule in terms of the stress response, Herp knockout cells were developed using F9 embryonic carcinoma cells. F9 Herp null cells were more vulnerable to ER stress compared with F9 wild‐type cells. In the early period of ER stress (0–8 h after tunicamycin treatment), Herp null cells displayed enhanced ER stress signalling and stabilization of an endogenous ERAD substrate, compared with wild‐type cells. In the intermediate period (8–20 h after tunicamycin treatment), Herp null cells displayed reduced ER stress signalling, whereas in the late period (20–40 h after tunicamycin treatment), Herp null cells manifested irreversible cellular changes that lead to apoptotic cell death. Transfection analysis revealed that the N‐terminal region, including the ubiquitin‐like domain of Herp, was required for the survival of F9 cells under ER stress. These results indicate that Herp is a short‐lived Ub‐like protein improving the balance of folding capacity and protein loads in the ER and plays crucial roles for the ER stress resistance in F9 cells.
Autoantibodies from primary biliary cirrhosis patients with anti-p95c antibodies bind to recombinant p97/VCP and inhibitin vitronuclear envelope assembly
Authors: MIYACHI K , HIRANO Y , HORIGOME T , MIMORI T , MIYAKAWA H , ONOZUKA Y , SHIBATA M , HIRAKATA M , SUWA A , HOSAKA H , MATSUSHIMA S , KOMATSU T , MATSUSHIMA H , HANKINS R W , FRITZLER M J 
Published: May 2004

SUMMARYWe have reported previously that p95c, a novel 95-kDa cytosolic protein, was the target of autoantibodies in sera of patients with autoimmune hepatic diseases. We studied 30 sera that were shown previously to immunoprecipitate a 95 kDa protein from [35S]-methionine-labelled HeLa lysates and had a specific precipitin band in immunodiffusion. Thirteen sera were available to test the ability of p95c antibodies to inhibit nuclear envelope assembly in an in vitro assay in which confocal fluorescence microscopy was also used to identify the stages at which nuclear assembly was inhibited. The percentage inhibition of nuclear envelope assembly of the 13 sera ranged from 7% to 99% and nuclear envelope assembly and the swelling of nucleus was inhibited at several stages. The percentage inhibition of nuclear assembly was correlated with the titre of anti-p95c as determined by immunodiffusion. To confirm the identity of this autoantigen, we used a full-length cDNA of the p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP) to produce a radiolabelled recombinant protein that was then used in an immunoprecipitation (IP) assay. Our study demonstrated that 12 of the 13 (93%) human sera with antibodies to p95c immunoprecipitated recombinant p97/VCP. Because p95c and p97 have similar molecular masses and cell localization, and because the majority of sera bind recombinant p97/VCP and anti-p95c antibodies inhibit nuclear assembly, this is compelling evidence that p95c and p97/VCP are identical.
Heterogeneity in cellular and humoral immune responses againstToxoplasma gondiiantigen in humans
Authors: FATOOHI A F , COZON G J N , GONZALO P , MAYENCON M , GREENLAND T , PICOT S , PEYRON F 
Published: May 2004

SUMMARYProtection against Toxoplasma gondii in infected patients is mainly attributed to cellular immunity. We here attempt to improve the characterization of the proteins that induce cellular immunity in naturally infected patients. Cellular immunity was evaluated by flow cytometry after 7 days of blood culture from 31 chronically T. gondii infected and 8 noninfected pregnant women, in the presence of soluble T. gondii antigen (ST-Ag) or fractionated proteins from ST-Ag, separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Blood cultures from infected patients with ST-Ag induced 39·5 ± 12·7% of activated (CD25+) CD4+ T cells using flow cytometry. This contrasts with the absence of activated CD4+ T cells after either culture with PBS or in blood cultures from noninfected women. The protein fraction between 21 and 41·9 kD induced the highest response (14·7 ± 10·0%). Blood samples from 20 infected and 5 uninfected women were cultured in presence of 12 protein subfractions of 2–208 kD. The highest frequencies of response among infected patients were seen with fractions (Fr) 26–31·9 kD (C.I. 85–100%) and Fr 32–36·9 kD (C.I. 77–100%). Although we note a good concordance between cellular and humoral response, Western blot analysis of ST-Ag does not completely predict the panel of proteins recognized by cellular immunity. Two-dimensional separation of the ST-Ag revealed more than 200 protein spots in these fractions. However, only two proteins in the 20–40 kD range induced a significant humoral response. Further studies are necessary to determine which proteins in the Fr 26–31·9 kD and 32–36·9 kD are superior immunogens for cellular responses.
A novel and effective approach of developing aggressive experimental autoimmune gastritis in neonatal thymectomized BALB/c mouse by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid
Authors: KOBAYASHI Y , MURAKAMI H , AKBAR S M F , MATSUI H , ONJI M 
Published: May 2004

SUMMARYNeonatal thymectomy induces autoimmune gastritis (AIG) in 40–70% of BALB/c mice. We presumed that induction of autoimmunity by polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) might allow development of a more aggressive model of AIG. A group of BALB/c mice were thymectomized on day 3 after birth. Neonatal thymectomized mice were either injected with poly I:C or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Non thymectomized neonatal BALB/c mice were injected with only poly I:C. All neonatal thymectomized mice injected with poly I:C developed 3 cardinal features of AIG: (1) moderate to severe degree gastritis (2) presence of autoantibody to H+/K+ ATPase and (3) loss of parietal cells. However, only 70% of the PBS-treated neonatal thymectomized BALB/c mice developed some, but not, all features of AIG. A mild degree of AIG was seen in 12 of 31 nonthymectomized BALB/c mice administered with only poly I:C. Administration of poly I:C in neonatal thymectomized BALB/c mice in the first and second week appeared to be the most effective for induction of aggressive AIG. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12p70, interferon-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α were significantly higher in poly I:C-injected thymectomized mice compared to PBS-injected neonatal thymectomized mice (P &lt; 0·05). The frequencies of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in the spleen were significantly decreased in neonatal thymectomized mice administered with poly I:C compared to PBS-treated neonatal thymectomized mice (P &lt; 0·01). Taken together, these results suggest that induction of inflammatory cytokines and reduction of regulatory T cells by poly I:C might contribute to the development of an aggressive model of AIG in neonatal thymectomized BALB/c mice.
Thymic volume is associated independently with the magnitude of short- and long-term repopulation of CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected adults after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
Authors: RUIZ-MATEOS E , RUBIO A , VALLEJO A , DE LA ROSA R , SANCHEZ-QUIJANO A , LISSEN E , LEAL M 
Published: May 2004

SUMMARYAge is one of the main factors involved in the rapidity and the magnitude of CD4+ T cell repopulation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Improved thymic function has been suggested as the main factor associated with CD4+ T cell restoration after HAART. This work was undertaken to determine, among host factors, the predictor variable at baseline involved in the magnitude of short- and long-term recovery of CD4+ T cells after HAART. HIV-RNA levels and CD4+ T cell numbers were determined in 54 HIV-infected adults at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 48 and 96 after HAART. T cell subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry, thymic volume by computed tomography, T cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-bearing cells by quantitative polymerase chian reaction (PCR) and interleukin (IL)-7 levels by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay at baseline. The phenotype of patients’ isolates was determined by infecting GHOST cells expressing CCR5 and CXCR4. The possible interference of phenotype with thymic function was also analysed. Baseline thymic volume was associated independently with the magnitude of short- and long-term recovery of CD4+ T cells after HAART, despite the patients’ viral phenotype. The measurement of thymic volume before therapy may predict the magnitude of T cell increase. This result could have important clinical implications not only in HIV-infected patients, but also in other scenarios of T cell depletion such as bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy.