bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Survival of very small macropod pouch young followingshort‐term isolation from the pouch at various environmental temperatures
Authors: Taggart David A. , Shimmin Glenn A. , Underwood Geoff , Phillips Kevin 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThere is considerable interest in the use of assisted breeding techniques as a component of conservation programmes for a variety of macropods threatened with extinction. While cross‐fostering is being conducted in some programmes in captivity, little is known about the best techniques for carrying this procedure out from wild populations. In this study we compare the success of various procedures for isolating small tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and brush‐tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) pouch young (0.4 g–410 g) for short periods (6 hours) as a first step towards establishing a methodology for recruiting endangered macropod pouch young directly from the wild for foster‐rearing in captivity. Pouch temperature and humidity were determined. Pouch young from females in experimental groups were weighed, measured and then isolated, at 30°C, 27°C or 23°C, and 100% humidity. After isolation the weight of pouch young maintained at 30°C and 27°C had declined significantly (2–17% of body weight), whereas those held at 23°C and 100% humidity lost less than 0.5% of body weight. All young were reattached to the active teat of their mother following pouch isolation and their survival and growth monitored. Pouch young from the control group and those isolated at 23°C and 100% humidity survived and grew at normal rates. Only the largest pouch young maintained in isolation at either 30°C or 27°C survived to day 7 following reattachment. Data indicated that the proportion of weight lost by pouch young as a result of isolation decreased with increasing size and age of the pouch young. These trials indicate that it would be possible to harvest very small macropod pouch young from a species in the wild with a very high probability that they would survive short‐term isolation from the pouch and reattachment to the teat. The use of this procedure in combination with cross‐fostering techniques will allow small pouch young from threatened macropod species to be recruited directly from the wild into captivity, for captive breeding or to improve genetic diversity in captive colonies. It should also act to reactivate diapause embryos in these animals and hence may accelerate breeding in wild‐based mothers.
New distributional modelling approaches for gap analysis
Authors: Townsend Peterson A. , Kluza Daniel A. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractSynthetic products based on biodiversity information such as gap analysis depend critically on accurate models of species' geographic distributions that simultaneously minimize error in both overprediction and omission. We compared current gap methodologies, as exemplified by the distributional models used in the Maine Gap Analysis project, with an alternative approach, the geographic projections of ecological niche models developed using the Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐Set Prediction (GARP). Point‐occurrence data were used to develop GARP models based on the same environmental data layers as were used in the gap project, and independent occurrence data used to test both methods. Gap models performed better in avoiding omission error, but GARP better avoided errors of overprediction. Advantages of the point‐based approach, and strategies for its incorporation into current gap efforts are discussed.
The biology of impact craters — a review
Authors: COCKELL CHARLES S. , LEE PASCAL 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTImpact craters contain ecosystems that are often very different from the ecosystems that surround them. On Earth over 150 impact craters have been identified in a wide diversity of biomes. All natural events that can cause localized disruption of ecosystems have quite distinct patterns of recovery. Impact events are unique in that they are the only extraterrestrial mechanism capable of disrupting an ecosystem locally in space and time. Thus, elucidating the chronological sequence of change at the sites of impacts is of ecological interest. In this synthetic review we use the existing literature, coupled with our own observations at the Haughton impact structure, Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada to consider the patterns of biological recovery at the site of impact craters and the ecological characteristics of impact craters. Three phases of recovery are suggested. The Phase of Thermal Biology, a phase associated with the localized, ephemeral thermal anomaly generated by an impact event. The Phase of Impact Succession and Climax, a phase marked by multiple primary and secondary succession events both in the aquatic realm (impact crater‐lakes) and terrestrial realm (colonization of paleolacustrine deposits and impact‐generated substrata) that are followed by periods of climax ecology. In the case of large‐scale impact events (>104 Mt), this latter phase may also be influenced by successional changes in the global environment. Finally, during the Phase of Ecological Assimilation, the disappearance of the surface geological expression of an impact structure results in a concomitant loss of ecological distinctiveness. In extreme cases, the impact structure is buried. Impact succession displays similarities and differences to succession following other agents of ecological disturbance, particularly volcanism.
Eat and run? The hunger/satiation hypothesis in vertical migration: history, evidence and consequences
Authors: PEARRE SIFFORD 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTThe study of vertical migrations in aquatic organisms has a long and colourful history, much of it to do with the effects of changing sampling technology on our understanding of the phenomenon. However, the overwhelming majority of such studies carried out today still depend on detecting differences in vertical distribution profiles during some course of time, or acoustic echoes of migrating bands of organisms. These can not distinguish migratory activity of individual organisms, but can only assess net results of mass transfers of populations, which may integrate many individual migrations. This is an important distinction, for without knowing the actual movements of individuals it seems unlikely that we will be able to understand their causes, nor the effects of vertical migrations on the environment or on the migrators themselves. This review examines evidence for individual vertical movements gathered from ‘tracers ‘, mainly gut contents, and reviews the evidence for the hypothesis that such movements are in fact driven by hunger and satiation. The more recently appreciated vertical migrations of phytoplankters and their similarities in form and driving forces to those of zooplankton and nekton are also discussed. Finally, the role of vertical migrators in vertical fluxes of materials is discussed, along with the consequences of satiation‐driven descent for such estimates.
Chloride ATPase pumps in nature: do they exist?
Authors: GERENCSER GEORGE A. , ZHANG JIANLIANG 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTFive widely documented mechanisms for chloride transport across biological membranes are known: anioncoupled antiport, Na+ and H+‐coupled symport, Cl− channels and an electrochemical coupling process. These transport processes for chloride are either secondarily active or are driven by the electrochemical gradient for chloride. Until recently, the evidence in favour of a primary active transport mechanism for chloride has been inconclusive despite numerous reports of cellular Cl−‐stimulated ATPases coexisting, in the same tissue, with uphill ATP‐dependent chloride transport. Cl−‐stimulated ATPase activity is a ubiquitous property of practically all cells with the major location being of mitochondrial origin. It also appears that plasma membranes are sites of Cl−‐stimulated ATPase pump activity. Recent studies of Cl−‐stimulated ATPase activity and ATP‐dependent chloride transport in the same plasma membrane system, including liposomes, strongly suggest a mediation by the ATPase in the net movement of chloride up its electrochemical gradient across the plasma membrane structure. Contemporary evidence points to the existence of Cl−‐ATPase pumps; however, these primary active transporters exist as either P‐, F‐ or V‐type ATPase pumps depending upon the tissue under study.
Women's experiences of the gynecologic examination: factors associated with discomfort
Authors: Hilden Malene , Sidenius Katrine , Langhoff‐Roos Jens , Wijma Barbro , Schei Berit 
Published: October 2003

Background.  The aim of this study was to evaluate how women experience the gynecologic examination and to assess possible factors associated with experiencing discomfort during the gynecologic examination.Methods.  Consecutive patients visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Glostrup County Hospital, Denmark, were invited to participate in the study, and received a postal questionnaire that included questions about the index visit, obstetric and gynecologic history and sexual abuse history. The response rate was 80% (n = 798). The degree of discomfort during the gynecologic examination was indicated on a scale from 0 to 10. Experiencing discomfort was defined as a score of 6 or more, based on the 75th percentile.Results.  Discomfort during the gynecologic examination was strongly associated with a negative emotional contact with the examiner and young age. Additionally, dissatisfaction with present sexual life, a history of sexual abuse and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia were significantly associated with discomfort.Conclusion.  The emotional contact between patient and examiner seemed to have great importance when focusing on discomfort during the gynecologic examination. Furthermore, we found that discomfort was associated with a number of factors that are seldom known to the gynecologists, such as sexual abuse history, mental health problems and patients' sexual life. Gynecologists need to focus on the emotional contact and to reevaluate issues for communication before the examination.
Comparison between bisection/morcellation and myometrial coring for reducing large uteri during vaginal hysterectomy or laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy: results of a randomized prospective study
Authors: Nazah Intissar , Robin François , Philippe Jais Jean , Jeffry Louis , Lelievre Loic , Camatte Sophie , Taurelle Roland , Lecuru Fabrice 
Published: October 2003

Background.  Vaginal hysterectomy (VH) is being performed increasingly by gynecologic surgeons. Thus, enlarged uteri are more frequently removed vaginally, requiring reducing techniques to allow vaginal extraction.Material and methods.  We designed a randomized prospective study to compare bisection–morcellation and myometrial coring. Patients scheduled for VH or laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) were offered entry into the study. Endometrial cancer was an exclusion criterion. Uterine size was not a contraindication for vaginal surgery. We compared data from preoperative workup as well as from the operative and the postoperative course. Data were recorded prospectively. Results were analyzed with nonparametric tests and logistic regression models.Results.  Thirty patients were included in the study. Patients were similar in both groups. No severe peroperative complication occurred in this series. Operating time was comparable in both groups. Uteri weighed more than 280 g in more than 70% of patients in both groups. Myometrial coring failed more often than bisection–morcellation (25% vs. 0%, p = 0.06). Patients and uteri characteristics had no influence on the risk of failure, except for narrow uteri, which were associated with an increased risk of failure in the myometrial coring group only (68.3 vs. 83.9 mm, p = 0.01). Postoperative courses were similar for the two techniques, except for an increased rate of fever in the myometrial coring group (28%, p = 0.03).Conclusion.  Both techniques appeared safe in this trial. Myometrial coring failed more frequently than bisection–morcellation, especially in the case of a narrow uterus. Postoperative fever was significantly more common after myometrial coring. Both techniques should be taught to resident surgeons.
Tension‐free vaginal tape procedure on genuine stress incontinent women with coexisting genital prolapse
Authors: Lo Tsia‐Shu , Chang Ting‐Chang , Chao An‐Shine , Chou Hung‐Hsueh , Tseng Ling‐Hong , Liang Ching‐Chung 
Published: October 2003

Objective.  To study the efficacy of performing the tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure concurrently with vaginal pelvic relaxation surgeries in the management of genuine stress incontinence with genital prolapse.Materials and methods.  Fifty‐eight women were surgically managed. Various vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgeries for prolapses were completed before the TVT procedure. Pre‐operative and postoperative urodynamic studies, 1‐h pad tests and symptom analysis were evaluated 1 year postoperatively. Surgical procedures and patient outcomes are discussed.Results.  Objective data available for 55 patients. Fifty (91%) were dry 1 year postoperatively. The concurrent pelvic surgeries included vaginal total hysterectomies, anterior colporrhaphies, posterior colporrhaphies and sacrospinous ligament fixations. No major surgical complications occurred. The average blood loss was 134 ml, the average operating time for the TVT procedure was 21 min, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.4 days. All patients voided spontaneously with adequate volumes of postvoid residual urine before being discharged. Two patients had a recurrent prolapse. Urodynamic parameters showed no significant differences before and after the surgery, except that the parameters related to voiding dysfunction were improved in the patients with severe cystocele. De nova detrusor instability was observed in one patient.Conclusions.  The tension‐free vaginal tape procedure performed with concurrent vaginal pelvic relaxation surgery is safe and effective for genuine stress incontinence and pelvic prolapse. Concomitant procedures also appear to relieve bladder outlet obstructions caused by severe prolapse.
Fallopian tube sperm perfusion: the impact of sperm count and morphology on pregnancy rates
Authors: Strandell Annika , Bergh Christina , Söderlund Brita , Lundin Kersti , Nilsson Lars 
Published: October 2003

Background and objective.  To evaluate the effect of changed criteria for sperm count and morphology when performing fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP) in unexplained infertility.Patients and methods.  We report on a longitudinal study in which two periods of insemination cycles are compared. One hundred and eighty‐three couples who started 361 stimulation cycles intended for FSP were included in the first period and 190 couples starting 303 cycles in the second period. The sperm requirement in the first study period was at least 7 million sperm in the prepared test sample. The FSP cycle included downregulation, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), ovulation induction and intrauterine and intrafallopian tube insemination using a sperm suspension of 3 mL volume. To avoid high‐order multiple pregnancies, cycles at risk were converted to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Based on the results from the first period, sperm requirements were lowered to a sperm count of 3 million and at least 5% normal morphology according to strict criteria.Results.  FSP was performed in 51% and 60% of started cycles during the two periods with similar pregnancy (24% and 23%) and birth (15% and 19%) rates. Neither sperm count nor morphology above the requirements affected pregnancy rates. IVF‐converted, completed cycles reached equal pregnancy (41%) and delivery (32%) rates in both periods. Multiple pregnancy rates were higher after IVF (38%) than after FSP (24%).Conclusion.  The lowered requirements for sperm count and morphology have not impaired pregnancy results after FSP. Patients who either completed an FSP cycle or had their cycle converted to IVF were all at high risk of multiple pregnancy.
Embryo donation: a review
Authors: Lee Julinda , Yap Christine 
Published: October 2003

Background. Embryo donation is currently an uncommon procedure associated with many ethical, legal and psychosocial implications. It is, however, the only answer to infertility in some patients. This article summarizes the indications for embryo donation as well as the procedure and considerations in the preparation of both the donors and the recipients.Methods. A MEDLINE search was conducted for all English articles using the keywords embryo donation,in vitrofertilization and gamete donation.Conclusion. Embryo donation might indeed be the answer to many infertile couples who would otherwise have to resort to childlessness or adoption. The advent ofin vitrofertilization and cryopreservation of the spare embryos make these embryos a ready source for potential donors. The success rates of both fresh and freeze‐thawed embryo transfers have been encouraging and there do not seem to be any long‐term clinical implications for the offspring. However, there remain many legal and psychosocial issues associated with embryo donation.
Telomere shortening in patients with plasma cell disorders
Authors: Cottliar Alejandra , Pedrazzini Estela , Corrado Claudia , Engelberger María Inés , Narbaitz Marina , Slavutsky Irma 
Published: October 2003

Abstract: Objectives: Telomeres are essential for maintaining chromosomal integrity; their shortening is associated with chromosome instability. The aim of this work was to study telomere length (TL) on bone marrow (BM) cells from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).Methods: Thirty‐one MM patients: 12 at diagnosis (D), 11 at relapse (R) and eight at remission (RE) and two cases with MGUS were studied. TL based on terminal restriction fragment (TRF) assay was evaluated. Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analyses were performed. Telomeric associations (TAs) on BM metaphases were also studied.Results: TRF analysis in total MM patients showed a mean TRF peak value (5.20 ± 0.35 kb) shorter than those observed in controls (8.5 ±  0.5 kb) (P < 0.001). Moreover, TRF at D and R showed a significant telomere shortening (P < 0.001), with TL restored at RE. A strong correlation with the percentage of BM plasma cell infiltration (BMPCI) (rK = −0.540; P = 0.002) was found. Patients with abnormal karyotypes (AK) had significantly shorter TRFs than that observed in MM patients with normal karyotypes (P < 0.05). TRFs in MGUS patients did not differ with respect to controls. TA analysis showed an increased percentage in MM (19.46 ± 1.98%) with respect to MGUS (6.12 ± 1.87%) and normal BM cells (2.00 ± 0.93%) (P < 0.001).Conclusions: MM patients showed a significant reduction in TL (>60% of BMPCI and AK), suggesting a probable association with clinical evolution. Moreover, our findings support the idea that telomere shortening usually leads to increased frequencies of TAs and chromosome instability.
Decreased excretion of antimicrobial proteins and peptides in saliva of patients with oral candidiasis
Authors: Tanida Toyohiro , Okamoto Tetsuro , Okamoto Atsuko , Wang Haiyan , Hamada Toshihiro , Ueta Eisaku , Osaki Tokio 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  Antimicrobial peptides in saliva appear to play a crucial role in the regulation of oral Candida growth, and study on antimicrobial excretion in saliva and oral candidiasis appears useful for the analysis of pathophysiology of oral candidiasis.Methods:  To clarify the role of saliva in the regulation of oral Candida growth, the levels of antimicrobial proteins and peptides and their excretion rates were examined in saliva obtained from 50 patients with oral candidiasis and 35 healthy individuals.Results:  The inhibitory activities of patients' saliva against Candida adhesion with HeLa cells and against Candida growth (radiolabeled glucose incorporation) were lower than those of saliva from the healthy controls. The salivary levels of lactoferrin (Lf; 11 ± 9 µg/ml), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA; 160 ± 37 µg/ml), β‐defensin 1 (375 ± 37 ng/ml), and β‐defensin 2 (412 ± 51 ng/ml) in the patients were largely lower than those in the control group (33 ± 14 µg/ml, 204 ± 51 µg/ml, 452 ± 89 ng/ml, and 530 ± 142 ng/ml, respectively), although the transferrin (Tf) and secretory component (SC) levels were almost same in both groups, and α‐defensin 1 was slightly increased in the patient group (660 ± 115 ng/ml vs. 467 ± 168 ng/ml). In addition, the excretion rates of the proteins and peptides were largely decreased in the patients (Tf: 14 ± 2 µg/10 min vs. 34 ± 7 µg/10 min; Lf: 18 ± 11 µg/10 min vs. 139 ± 43 µg/10 min; sIgA: 300 ± 132 µg/10 min vs. 900 ± 207 µg/10 min; SC: 112 ± 46 µg/10 min vs. 292 ± 64 µg/10 min; α‐defensin 1: 1223 ± 431 ng/10 min vs. 2044 ± 612 ng/10 min; β‐defensin 1: 687 ± 243 ng/10 min vs. 1985 ± 295 ng/10 min; and β‐defensin 2: 784 ± 299 ng/10 min vs. 2288 ± 278 ng/10 min).Conclusion:  These results conclusively suggest that oral candidiasis is associated with salivary gland hypofunction and that decreases of salivary antibacterial proteins induce Candida overgrowth.
The increase of voltage‐gated potassium channel Kv3.4 mRNA expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chang Kuo‐Wei , Yuan Ta‐Chun , Fang Kung‐Ping , Yang Feng‐Shuo , Liu Chung‐Ji , Chang Che‐Shoa , Lin Shu‐Chun 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  Potassium channels have been reported to be involved in the proliferation of many types of cells, including tumor cells. The overexpression of the K+ channel and related channel activity are involved in the neoplastic process.Methods:  We examined the expression of an A‐type voltage‐gated K+ channel, Kv3.4, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) compared with non‐cancerous matched tissue (NCMT) using RT‐PCR analysis. In addition, administration of an A‐type K+ channel blocker, 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP), and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) directed specifically against Kv3.4 were performed to identify the involvement of Kv3.4 in the growth of OSCC cells.Results:  A significantly increase in the frequency of Kv3.4 mRNA expression was identified in OSCC (64%) compared to corresponding NCMT (29%) (P = 0.05). The increase of Kv3.4 mRNA expression was also eminent in ESCC. Growth of OSCC cells was significantly inhibited by 4‐AP in a dose‐dependent manner at different time point of treatment. In OECM‐1 OSCC cells, a significant growth inhibition was noted in antisense ODN‐treated cells compared to control cells.Conclusion:  We provide novel evidences of the increase of Kv3.4 mRNA expression in OSCC. The abrogation of Kv3.4 inhibits the growth of OSCC cells.
Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism and epithelial permeability barrier of skin and oral mucosa in the rat
Authors: Squier Christopher A. , Kremer Mary J. , Wertz Philip W. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractBackground:  Ethanol consumption induces changes in lipid metabolism. This might be reflected locally as an alteration in the epithelial lipid barrier.Methods:  Rats were fed with an isocaloric liquid diet with, or without, ethanol (6.7%) and were sacrificed at 60 or 120 days. Plasma and liver triglycerides, γ‐glutamyl‐transferase (GGTP) levels, and permeability (Kp) of skin and buccal mucosa to tritiated water and the tobacco carcinogen, nitrosonornicotine, were determined.Results:  Significant elevation of GGTP at 120 days and triglycerides at both 60 and 120 days was observed for rats fed with ethanol diet. For this diet, Kp values to both penetrants increased significantly for skin in rats after 120 days compared to all other groups.Conclusion:  The parallel between changes in lipid metabolism and permeability suggests that one effect of ingested alcohol is to alter the lipid‐containing permeability barrier of stratified squamous epithelium.