bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Landscape context of sheetweb spider (Araneae: Linyphiidae) abundance in cereal fields
Authors: Schmidt Martin H. , Tscharntke Teja 
Published: February 2005

AbstractAim  Sheetweb spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae, subfamily Linyphiinae) exemplify a highly mobile group of farmland arthropods with very variable abundances in crops within and between years. Despite their dominance in crops during summer, they overwinter predominantly in perennial non‐crop habitats, and their densities in crops during spring should therefore depend on the amount of favourable overwintering habitat in the surrounding landscape. We tested the effect of landscape composition on sheetweb spider abundance with special attention to the range of their aerial dispersal and weather dependence.Location  The study was carried out in 18 non‐overlapping landscape sectors of 3 km radius around the city of Göttingen (Germany), forming a gradient from structurally simple, with up to 85% arable land, to structurally complex, with high percentages of grassland and other non‐crop habitats.Methods  Sheetweb spider abundances in winter wheat fields were sampled during May and June 2001–2003 with a distance method. They were related to landscape composition at 11 spatial scales between 95 and 3000 m radius around the study sites.Results  In 2001 and 2003, spider abundances were enhanced by high percentages of non‐crop habitats in 1–3 km circumference (e.g. from 18 to 130 m−2 in late May 2001), and multiplied during consecutive sampling periods (e.g. from on average 36 to 131 m−2 between mid‐May and late June 2001). Spider abundances were constantly low and unrelated to the landscape context in 2002. In that year, immigration appeared to be inhibited by factors connected to exceptionally high amounts of rain during May.Main conclusions  Sheetweb spiders responded to landscape composition up to several kilometres away and the effects varied between years, demonstrating the need to consider large space and time‐scales to understand their population dynamics. Semi‐natural habitats should be preserved to enhance these important natural enemies of crop pests in agricultural landscapes.
Evaluation of the Suitability of Monoclonal Antibodies for Flow Cytometric Intracellular Cytokine Detection in Porcine Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes
Authors: Sipos W. , Willheim M. , Hofbauer G. , Pietschmann P. 
Published: February 2005

SummaryPanels of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for porcine interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐12, interferon (IFN)‐γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were evaluated for their applicability in flow cytometric intracellular cytokine detection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were short‐time stimulated in the presence of brefeldin‐A, ionomycin and phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate, fixed and incubated with the respective mAbs as well as phycoerythrin‐conjugated second‐step antibodies. Suitability of mAbs was judged by use of statistical data and by visual control of scattergrams, considering the capability of mAbs to discriminate between cytokine‐positive and cytokine‐negative cell populations. The number of suitable clones differed to a high degree between the investigated cytokines, but at least one mAb fitting for flow cytometric intracellular cytokine detection could be identified within each panel. Monoclonal Abs producing scattergrams with a clear demarcation between positive and negative cell populations were found within the anti‐IL‐2, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ panels, whereas less well defined positive and negative cell populations could be generated by use of mAbs within the anti‐IL‐4 and TNF‐α panels. Only one moderately fitting mAb was identified within the anti‐IL‐12 panel. After having evaluated the best fitting mAbs, these were used to obtain reference levels for the physiological range of porcine lymphocytic cytokine production in a second set of experiments. For that reason, 13 clinically healthy pigs aged between 6 weeks and 6 months were investigated. Data presented are given as mean ± SD of the percentage of positive‐staining lymphocytes: IL‐2, 45.5 ± 27.6; IL‐4, 34.1 ± 21.3; IL‐6, 45.4 ± 23.8; IL‐12, 13.9 ± 8.6; TNF‐α, 43.4 ± 11.3; IFN‐γ, 65.5 ± 14.8.
Morbillivirus Infections in Aquatic Mammals: A Brief Overview
Authors: Guardo G. Di , Marruchella G. , Agrimi U. , Kennedy S. 
Published: February 2005

SummarySince 1987, at least eight morbillivirus infection (MI) epidemics have caused mass mortality of several free‐living pinniped and cetacean populations around the world. The responsible agents, all belonging to the genus Morbillivirus (family Paramyxoviridae), have been characterized as either ‘canine distemper virus’ strains, infecting pinnipeds, or as three new morbilliviruses, namely ‘phocid (phocine) distemper virus’ , ‘porpoise morbillivirus’ and ‘dolphin morbillivirus’ . The last two agents are currently gathered under the common denomination of ‘cetacean morbillivirus’. At post‐mortem examination, a commonly occurring macroscopic lesion is represented by more or less severe bilateral pneumonia, with consolidation, congestion and oedema of both lungs, which fail to collapse. Histologically, a non‐suppurative broncho‐interstitial pneumonia, characterized by type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and by formation of endobronchial, endobronchiolar and endoalveolar ‘Warthin–Finkeldey type’ syncytia, as well as a multifocal, non‐suppurative encephalitis, associated with a severe and generalized lymphoid tissue depletion, are common pathological findings. Furthermore, eosinophilic viral inclusions are often detected, at both the intracytoplasmic and intranuclear level, within bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial, pulmonary syncytial, neuronal and other cell types. These inclusions, along with lymphoid and other cellular elements, are often found to be immunohistochemically positive for morbillivirus antigen. Among the still debated, or even controversial issues regarding MI in sea mammals, the one related to the origin of their causative agents is of particular concern. Another intriguing issue regards the synergistic effects, if any, associated with chronic exposure to a number of environmental pollutants, such as organochlorines and heavy metals. In fact, it is also unknown whether and how these chemicals contribute towards modulating the pathogenic and pathogenetic activity primarily displayed by sea mammal morbilliviruses.
In Vivo Culture of IVM/IVF Embryos in Bovine Oviducts by Transvaginal Endoscopy
Authors: Havlicek V. , Wetscher F. , Huber T. , Brem G. , Mueller M. , Besenfelder U. 
Published: February 2005

SummaryThis study was conducted to establish a new approach for in vivo culture of in vitro produced embryos in the bovine oviduct by transvaginal endoscopy. Embryos were in vitro matured, fertilized and cultured for 1–4 days and assigned to groups consisting of 10–30 embryos. Embryos were transferred unilaterally into oviducts of 24 heifers by the means of transvaginal endoscopy. After 3–6 days of in vivo incubation embryos were re‐collected. Experiment I aimed to evaluate the capability of embryos to migrate to the uterus. The uterine horns of four animals were flushed first, followed by a combined flushing of both oviducts and uterine horns resulting in collection rates of 31 and 34%, respectively. In experiment II, the transfer of embryos into the oviduct close to ovulation (day 1–2 – experiment IIA) or at a more advanced cyclic stage (day 3 – experiment IIB) succeeded in the collection of 46 and 34% of the transferred complexes, of which 13 and 37% showed the blastocyst stage. This is the first report of successful recovery of transferable blastocysts by transvaginal endoscopy after tubal in vivo culture in the homologous species of originally in vitro produced embryos.
Developmental organization of the mushroom bodies of Thermobia domestica (Zygentoma, Lepismatidae): insights into mushroom body evolution from a basal insect
Authors: Farris Sarah M. 
Published: February 2005

SummaryThe mushroom bodies of the insect brain are sensory integration centers best studied for their role in learning and memory. Studies of mushroom body structure and development in neopteran insects have revealed conserved morphogenetic mechanisms. The sequential production of morphologically distinct intrinsic neuron (Kenyon cell) subpopulations by mushroom body neuroblasts and the integration of newborn neurons via a discrete ingrowth tract results in an age‐based organization of modular subunits in the primary output neuropil of the mushroom bodies, the lobes. To determine whether these may represent ancestral characteristics, the present account assesses mushroom body organization and development in the basal wingless insect Thermobia domestica. In this insect, a single calyx supplied by the progeny of two neuroblast clusters, and three perpendicularly oriented lobes are readily identifiable. The lobes are subdivided into 15 globular subdivisions (Trauben). Lifelong neurogenesis is observed, with axons of newborn Kenyon cells entering the lobes via an ingrowth core. The Trauben do not appear progressively during development, indicating that they do not represent the ramifications of sequentially produced subpopulations of Kenyon cells. Instead, a single Kenyon cell population produces highly branched axons that supply all lobe subdivisions. This suggests that although the ground plan for neopteran mushroom bodies existed in early insects, the organization of modular subunits composed of separate Kenyon cell subpopulations is a later innovation. Similarities between the calyx of Thermobia and the highly derived fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster also suggest a correlation between calyx morphology and Kenyon cell number.
Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in public places of European cities
Authors: Nebot M , López M J , Gorini G , Neuberger M , Axelsson S , Pilali M , Fonseca C , Abdennbi K , Hackshaw A , Moshammer H , Laurent A M , Salles J , Georgouli M , Fondelli M C , Serrahima E , Centrich F , Hammond S K 
Published: February 2005

Background:Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has important public health implications. The results of the first European multi-centre study that measured ETS exposure in a range of public places (transport, educational settings, and leisure facilities such as bars and restaurants) are presented.Method:Nicotine vapour phase was measured using ETS passive samplers containing a filter treated with sodium bisulfate.Results:Bars and discos are the places with the highest concentrations of nicotine from ETS, median ranging from 19 to 122 μg/m3. Restaurants had the next highest values. Concentrations of nicotine generally range from 0.1–5 μg/m3in airports, and from 0.5–10 μg/m3in train stations. Nicotine was also found in schools and universities, yet schools tended to have the lowest concentrations compared to all the other public places sampled. In hospitals levels were generally below 5 μg/m3.Conclusions:Although there is some variability between cities, this study shows that tobacco smoke is present in most of the studied public places. The study also showed that in areas where smoking is prohibited, concentrations of nicotine are lower than in areas where smoking is allowed but they are not zero. The results of this study indicate that policies should be implemented that would effectively reduce levels of tobacco smoke in public areas.
Efficacy of two artemisinin combination therapies for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children under 5 years, Malakal, Upper Nile, Sudan
Authors: van den Broek Ingrid , Amsalu Ribka , Balasegaram Manica , Hepple Pamela , Alemu Engudaye , Hussein El Badri , Al-Faith Muhammed , Montgomery Jacqui , Checchi Francesco 
Published: February 2005

Abstract

Background
The treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Sudan has been in process of change since 2003. Preceding the change, this study aimed to determine which artemisinin-based combination therapies is more effective to treat uncomplicated malaria in Malakal, Upper Nile, Sudan.

Methods
Clinical trial to assess the efficacy of 2 antimalarial therapies to treat P. falciparum infections in children aged 6–59 months, in a period of 42 days after treatment.

Results
A total of 269 children were followed up to 42 days. Artesunate plus Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (AS+SP) and Artesunate plus Amodiaquine (AS+AQ) were both found to be efficacious in curing malaria infections by rapid elimination of parasites and clearance of fever, in preventing recrudescence and suppressing gametocytaemia. The combination of AS+SP appeared slightly more efficacious than AS+AQ, with 4.4% (4/116) versus 15% (17/113) of patients returning with malaria during the 6-week period after treatment (RR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.81–0.96). PCR analysis identified only one recrudescence which, together with one other early treatment failure, gave efficacy rates of 99.0% for AS+AQ (96/97) and 99.1% for AS+SP (112/113). However, PCR results were incomplete and assuming part of the indeterminate samples were recrudescent infections leads to an estimated efficacy ranging 97–98% for AS+SP and 88–95% for AS+AQ.

Conclusion
These results lead to the recommendation of ACT, and specifically AS+SP, for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in this area of Sudan. When implemented, ACT efficacy should be monitored in sentinel sites representing different areas of the country.
The cytokine activity of HMGB1
Authors: Yang Huan , Wang Haichao , Czura Christopher J , Tracey Kevin J 
Published: February 2005

AbstractHigh mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a highly conserved, ubiquitous protein present in the nuclei and cytoplasm of nearly all cell types. We recently discovered that HMGB1 is secreted into the extracellular milieu and acts as a proinflammatory cytokine. Administration of HMGB1 to normal animals causes inflammatory responses, including fever, weight loss and anorexia, acute lung injury, epithelial barrier dysfunction, arthritis, and death. Anti-HMGB1 treatment, with antibodies or specific antagonists, rescues mice from lethal endotoxemia or sepsis and ameliorates the severity of collagen-induced arthritis and endotoxin-induced lung injury. Here, we give an abridged review of the cytokine activity of HMGB1, its secretion and release into the extracellular milieu, the putative signal transduction pathways, including interaction with cell-surface receptors and intracellular signaling, and its role in several inflammatory diseases. Finally, the therapeutic potential of blocking HMGB1 in the treatment of inflammatory diseases is discussed.
Preoperative Serum Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Levels in Clinical Decision Making for Patients With Early-Stage Cervical Cancer
Authors: Reesink-Peters Nathalie , van der Velden Jacobus , ten Hoor Klaske A. , Boezen H. Marike , de Vries Elisabeth G.E. , Schilthuis Marten S. , Mourits Marian J.E. , Nijman Hans W. , Aalders Jan G. , Hollema Harry , Pras Elisabeth , Duk Jitze M. , van der Zee Ate G.J. 
Published: February 2005

Purpose To prevent morbidity associated with double modality treatment, early-stage cervical cancer patients should only be offered surgery when there is a low likelihood for adjuvant radiotherapy. We analyzed whether serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-ag) analysis allows better preoperative identification of patients with a low likelihood for adjuvant radiotherapy than currently used clinical parameters. Patients and Methods In a cohort study, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, tumor size, and preoperative serum SCC-ag levels, as determined by enzyme immunoassay, were related to the frequency of postoperative indications for adjuvant radiotherapy in 337 surgically treated, FIGO stage IB/IIA, squamous cell cervical cancer patients. Results In patients with normal preoperative SCC-ag, 16% of IB1 and 29% of IB2/IIA had postoperative indications for adjuvant radiotherapy, in contrast to 57% of IB1 and 74% of IB2/IIA patients with elevated (> 1.9 ng/mL) serum SCC-ag (P < .001). Serum SCC-ag was the only independent predictor for a postoperative indication for radiotherapy (odds ratio, 7.1; P < .001). Furthermore, in IB1 patients that did not have indications for adjuvant radiotherapy, 15% of patients with elevated preoperative serum SCC-ag levels recurred within 2 years, compared with 1.6% of patients with normal serum SCC-ag levels (P = .02). Conclusion In early-stage cervical cancer, determination of serum SCC-ag levels allows more refined preoperative estimation of the likelihood for adjuvant radiotherapy than current clinical parameters, and simultaneously identifies patients at high risk for recurrence when treated with surgery only. The role of preoperative serum SCC-ag in the management of patients with early-stage cervical cancer deserves further investigation.
TP53 Mutations and Outcome in Osteosarcoma: A Prospective, Multicenter Study
Authors: Wunder Jay S. , Gokgoz Nalan , Parkes Robert , Bull Shelley B. , Eskandarian Sasha , Davis Aileen M. , Beauchamp Chris P. , Conrad Ernest U. , Grimer Robert J. , Healey John H. , Malkin David , Mangham D.C. , Rock Michael J. , Bell Robert S. , Andrulis Irene L. 
Published: February 2005

Purpose Mutations of the TP53 gene have been associated with resistance to chemotherapy as well as poor prognosis in many different malignancies. This is the first prospective study of the prognostic value of somatic TP53 mutations in patients with newly diagnosed extremity osteosarcoma. Patients and Methods One hundred ninety-six patients with high-grade, nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of the extremities were enrolled from seven tertiary care institutions and observed prospectively for tumor recurrence (median follow-up duration, 44 months). All patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. Tumors were analyzed for the presence of TP53 mutations by polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing. The association of the status of the TP53 gene with the risk of systemic recurrence was examined using survival analyses with traditional and histologic markers as prognostic factors. Results Patient age was the only factor that varied with TP53 gene status (P = .05). No relationship was identified between TP53 status and systemic relapse (relative risk, 1.24; P = .41). Analyses based on missense or nonsense mutations gave similar results (P > .10). In multivariate analysis, large (> 9 cm) tumor size (relative risk, 1.9; P = .006) and poor histologic response (≤ 90% necrosis) to chemotherapy (relative risk, 2.14; P = .02) were the only significant independent predictors of systemic outcome. Conclusion We found no evidence that TP53 mutations predict for development of metastases in patients with high-grade osteosarcoma. Identification of other genes that influence chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in osteosarcoma is needed to facilitate further improvements in patient outcomes.
Prognostic Significance of Activated Akt Expression in Melanoma: A Clinicopathologic Study of 292 Cases
Authors: Dai Derek L. , Martinka Magdalena , Li Gang 
Published: February 2005

Purpose Akt is a serine/threonine kinase that leads to stimulation of cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and inhibition of apoptosis. To investigate the role of Akt in melanoma pathogenesis, we examined the expression of phospho-Akt (p-Akt; Ser-473) in melanocytic lesions at different stages and analyzed the correlations between the p-Akt expression level and clinicopathologic factors and patient survival. Patients and Methods We evaluated the p-Akt expression in 12 cases of normal nevi, 58 cases of dysplastic nevi, 170 cases of primary melanomas, and 52 cases of melanoma metastases using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. Results Strong p-Akt expression was observed in 17%, 43%, 49%, and 77% of the biopsies in normal nevi, dysplastic nevi, primary melanoma, and melanoma metastases, respectively. Significant differences for p-Akt staining pattern were observed between normal nevi and primary melanomas (P < .05), and between primary melanomas and melanoma metastases (P < .001). Furthermore, our Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that strong p-Akt expression is inversely correlated with both overall and disease-specific 5-year survival of patients with primary melanoma (P < .05 for both). Strikingly, our multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that p-Akt is an independent prognostic factor in low-risk melanomas (thickness ≤ 1.5 mm; relative risk, 6.44; 95% CI, 1.28 to 32.55; P = .018). Conclusion The expression of p-Akt increases dramatically with melanoma invasion and progression and is inversely correlated with patient survival. In addition, p-Akt may serve as an independent prognostic marker and help to identify those patients with low-risk melanomas who are at increased risk of death.
Circulating Tumor Cells: A Novel Prognostic Factor for Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Cristofanilli Massimo , Hayes Daniel F. , Budd G. Thomas , Ellis Mathew J. , Stopeck Alison , Reuben James M. , Doyle Gerald V. , Matera Jeri , Allard W. Jeffrey , Miller M. Craig , Fritsche Herbert A. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Terstappen Leon W.M.M. 
Published: February 2005

Purpose Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is incurable; its treatment is palliative. We investigated whether the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predicts treatment efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with newly diagnosed MBC who were about to start first-line therapy. Patients and Methods One hundred seventy-seven patients with measurable MBC were enrolled onto a prospective study. Eighty-three of the 177 patients were entering first-line treatment, and these patients are the focus of this analysis. CTCs from 7.5 mL of whole blood drawn before treatment initiation (baseline) and monthly thereafter for up to 6 months were isolated and enumerated using immunomagnetics. Results The mean (± standard deviation) follow-up time was 11.1 ± 4.4 months (median, 12.2 months). Forty-three patients (52%) had ≥ five CTCs at baseline. The median PFS was 7.2 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 9.4 months), and the median OS was more than 18 months. Patients with ≥ five CTCs at baseline and at first follow-up (4 weeks) had a worse prognosis than patients with less than five CTCs (baseline: median PFS, 4.9 v 9.5 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0014; median OS, 14.2 v > 18 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0048; first follow-up: median PFS, 2.1 v 8.9 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0070; median OS, 11.1 v > 18 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0029). CTCs before and after the initiation of therapy were strong, independent prognostic factors. Conclusion Detection of CTCs before initiation of first-line therapy in patients with MBC is highly predictive of PFS and OS. This technology can aid in appropriate patient stratification and design of tailored treatments.