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Selected AbstractsThe Perception of Time: Basic Research and Some Potential Links to the Study of LanguageLANGUAGE LEARNING, Issue 2008J. H. Wearden The article first discusses some recent work in time perception,in particular the distinction among prospective timing, retrospective timing, and passage of time judgments. The history and application of an "internal clock" model as an explanation of prospective timing performance is reviewed and contrasted with the different mechanisms needed for the other two types of time judgments. The article then discusses two areas suggesting relations between time perception research and language. The first is the idea that disturbances in the perception of duration, usually of very brief auditory stimuli, are associated with some language disorders. Another is the common use of metaphors for time, and the article relates these to the issue of whether a genuine "time sense" exists. [source] SPECIFICITY AND SPECIALIZATION OF CONGENERIC MONOGENEANS PARASITIZING CYPRINID FISHEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2006Andrea, Imková Abstract Patterns and likely processes connected with evolution of host specificity in congeneric monogeneans parasitizing fish species of the Cyprinidae were investigated. A total of 51 Dactylogyrus species was included. We investigated (1) the link between host specificity and parasite phylogeny; (2) the morphometric correlates of host specificity, parasite body size, and variables of attachment organs important for host specificity; (3) the evolution of morphological adaptation, that is, attachment organ; (4) the determinants of host specificity following the hypothesis of specialization on more predictable resources considering maximal body size, maximal longevity, and abundance as measures of host predictability; and (5) the potential link between host specificity and parasite diversification. Host specificity, expressed as an index of host specificity including phylogenetic and taxonomic relatedness of hosts, was partially associated with parasite phylogeny, but no significant contribution of host phylogeny was found. The mapping of host specificity into the phylogenetic tree suggests that being specialist is not a derived condition for Dactylogyrus species. The different morphometric traits of the attachment apparatus seem to be selected in connection with specialization of specialist parasites and other traits favored as adaptations in generalist parasites. Parasites widespread on several host species reach higher abundance within hosts, which supports the hypothesis of ecological specialization. When separating specialists and generalists, we confirmed the hypothesis of specialization on a predictable resource; that is, specialists with larger anchors tend to live on fish species with larger body size and greater longevity, which could be also interpreted as a mechanism for optimizing morphological adaptation. We demonstrated that ecology of host species could also be recognized as an important determinant of host specificity. The mapping of morphological characters of the attachment organ onto the parasite phylogenetic tree reveals that morphological evolution of the attachment organ is connected with host specificity in the context of fish relatedness, especially at the level of host subfamilies. Finally, we did not find that host specificity leads to parasite diversification in congeneric monogeneans. [source] Tooth Loss and Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity: the Newcastle Thousand Families Cohort Study at Age 49,51 YearsHELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2005Mark S. Pearce ABSTRACT Background.,Helicobacter pylori, one of the commonest chronic bacterial infections of humankind, is an important risk factor for gastric carcinoma. It has also been suggested to be present in dental plaque. This study investigated the potential link between the number of teeth lost and H. pylori seropositivity at age 50 years. Methods.,H. pylori seropositivity at age 50 years was investigated among 334 individuals born in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, in May and June 1947 and related to the number of teeth lost, after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Results., The unadjusted risk of being seropositive for H. pylori increased with increasing number of teeth lost (odds ratio per tooth 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01,1.06, p = .019). However, after adjustment for socioeconomic status at birth and at age 50 years, the relationship was no longer significant (p = .36). Conclusions., Our results, obtained using prospectively collected data, suggest that any relationship between poor oral health and seropositivity to H. pylori may be due to both tooth loss and H. pylori colonization being associated with socioeconomic status and related factors. [source] Prevalence and potential link between E. coli O157:H7 isolated from drinking water, meat and vegetables and stools of diarrhoeic confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients in the Amathole District , South AfricaJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008B.O. Abong'o Abstract Aim:, The current study investigated the prevalence and molecular relatedness between Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from water, meat and meat products and vegetables and from stools of confirmed and non-confirmed Human Immune Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients with diarrhoea. Methods and Results:, Culture-based and polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to identify E. coli O157:H7. Thirty-five per cent of meat products, 25·5% of water, 21·7% of vegetables as well as 56·5% and 43·5% of stools of confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients, respectively, were presumptively positive with E. coli O157. Molecular results indicated that 10·3%, 8·6% and 7·8% of the vegetables, water and meat products examined carried E. coli O157:H7, which had homologous fliCH7, rfbEO157 and eaeA genetic loci to the genes of some E. coli O157:H7 isolated from 12·2% and 8·8% of the stools of confirmed and non-confirmed HIV/AIDS patients, respectively. Conclusions:, Water, meat and meat products and vegetables are potential sources of E. coli O157:H7 that are potentially capable of causing diarrhoea in humans especially HIV/AIDS patients. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Great care should be exercised to ensure that water and foods consumed by HIV/AIDS patients are safe, as contaminated water and foods can cause secondary infections in these patients. [source] Ion channels in toxicologyJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Iván Restrepo-Angulo Abstract Ion channels play essential roles in human physiology and toxicology. Cardiac contraction, neural transmission, temperature sensing, insulin release, regulation of apoptosis, cellular pH and oxidative stress, as well as detection of active compounds from chilli, are some of the processes in which ion channels have an important role. Regulation of ion channels by several chemicals including those found in air, water and soil represents an interesting potential link between environmental pollution and human diseases; for instance, de novo expression of ion channels in response to exposure to carcinogens is being considered as a potential tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Non-specific binding of several drugs to ion channels is responsible for a huge number of undesirable side-effects, and testing guidelines for several drugs now require ion channel screening for pharmaceutical safety. Animal toxins targeting human ion channels have serious effects on the population and have also provided a remarkable tool to study the molecular structure and function of ion channels. In this review, we will summarize the participation of ion channels in biological processes extensively used in toxicological studies, including cardiac function, apoptosis and cell proliferation. Major findings on the adverse effects of drugs on ion channels as well as the regulation of these proteins by different chemicals, including some pesticides, are also reviewed. Association of ion channels and toxicology in several biological processes strongly suggests these proteins to be excellent candidates to follow the toxic effects of xenobiotics, and as potential early indicators of life-threatening situations including chronic degenerative diseases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of academic stress on oral hygiene , a potential link between stress and plaque-associated disease?JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Renate Deinzer Abstract Background: While there seems to be a common belief that psychosocial stress affects oral hygiene behavior, this assumption has rarely been proved. The present study thus aims to analyse stress effects on oral hygiene. Material and Methods: 16 matched pairs of medical students each consisting of 1 student participating in a major academic exam and 1 control without current academic stress, were formed on the basis of baseline plaque levels. At baseline, a professional tooth cleaning was performed. On the last day of exams, students answered questionnaires about oral hygiene during the exams and were afterwards asked to attend for a 2nd dental examination, of which they had no prior knowledge. Results: On the last day of exams, approximately 6 weeks after professional tooth cleaning, 20.9±18.3% of control students' sites but only 10.5±9.3% of exam students' sites were found to be free of any plaque (p=0.022). Differences were most obvious at oral, as compared to vestibular, sites. Exam students reported a reduction in thoroughness (p=0.019) but not of frequency of oral hygiene behavior. Conclusion: The study strongly supports the assumption that psychosocial stress may induce neglect of oral hygiene and increase of plaque accumulation. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Obwohl es eine allgemeine Annahme zu sein scheint, daß psycho-sozialer Stress die Mundhygiene beeinflußt, ist diese Annahme bisher selten geprüft worden. Mit der gegenwärtigen Studie sollen deshalb Stresseffekte auf die Mundhygiene analysiert werden. Material und Methoden. 16 gematchte Paare von Medizinstudenten, von denen jedes aus einem Student, der an einem wichtigen akademischen Examen teilnahm, und einer Kontrolle ohne gegenwärtigen akademischen Stress bestand, wurden auf der Basis von Baseline Plaquewerten gebildet. Zur Baseline wurde eine professionelle Zahnreinigung durchgeführt. Zum letzten Tag der Examen beantworteten die Studenten Fragebögen über die Mundhygiene während des Examens und wurde danach zu einer zweiten zahnärztlichen Überprüfung aufgefordert, von der sie zuvor keine Kenntnis hatten. Ergebnisse: Am letzten Tag des Examens ungefähr 6 Wochen nach der professionellen Zahnreinigung waren 20.9%±18.3% der Flächen der Kontrollstudenten, aber nur 10.5%±9.3% der Flächen der Examensstudenten plaquefrei (p=0.022). Die Differenzen waren an den oralen Flächen am deutlichsten, verglichen mit den vestibulären Flächen. Die Examensstudenten berichteten über eine Reduktion in der Gründlichkeit (p=0.019), aber nicht in der Häufigkeit der oralen Hygiene. Schlußfolgerung: Die Studie unterstützt nachhaltig die Annahme, daß psycho-sozialer Stress eine Vernachlässigung der oralen Hygiene und eine Zunahme der Plaqueakkumulation induziert. Résumé Bien que l'idée qu'un psycho-asocial puisse affecter les habitudes d'hygiène buccale, celle-ci n'a que rarement été prouvée. L'étude présente a donc analysé les effets du stress sur l'hygiène buccale. 16 paires d'étudiants en médicine dont l'un des deux participait à un examen académique majeur ont été formés sur base du niveau de plaque dentaire lors de l'examen initial. Lors de cet examen, un nettoyage professionnel a été effectué. Le dernier jour des examens les étudaints répondaient à des questionnaires à propos de leur hygiène buccale durant les examens et ont ensuite été réexaminés, ce dont ils n'avaint pas été informés précédement. Le dernier jour des examens, environ 6 semaines après le nettoyage professionnel, 21±18% des sites contrôles mais aussi 11±9% des sites des étudiants en examen n'avaient pas de trace de plaque dentaire (p=0.022). Les différenes les plus visibles se situaient au niveau lingual comparé aux sites vestibulaires. Chaque étudiant avait une réduction dans la qualité (p=0.019) mais non dans la fréquence de l'habitude d'hygiène buccale. Cette étude soutient grandement l'idée que le stress psychosocial engendre une négligence de l'hygiène buccale et augmente ainsi l'accumulation de plaque dentaire. [source] Changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins and aldolase A in cells exposed to dopamineJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008April A. Dukes Abstract In Parkinson's disease, oxidative stress is implicated in protein misfolding and aggregation, which may activate the unfolded protein response by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Dopamine (DA) can initiate oxidative stress via H2O2 formation by DA metabolism and by oxidation into DA quinone. We have previously shown that DA quinone induces oxidative protein modification, mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro, and dopaminergic cell toxicity in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we used cysteine- and lysine-reactive fluorescent dyes with 2D difference in-gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, and peptide mass fingerprint analysis to identify proteins in PC12 cell mitochondrial-enriched fractions that were altered in abundance following DA exposure (150 ,M, 16 h). Quantitative changes in proteins labeled with fluorescent dyes indicated increases in a subset of proteins after DA exposure: calreticulin, ERp29, ERp99, Grp58, Grp78, Grp94 and Orp150 (149,260%), and decreased levels of aldolase A (39,42%). Changes in levels of several proteins detected by 2D difference in-gel electrophoresis were confirmed by western blot. Using this unbiased proteomics approach, our findings demonstrated that in PC12 cells, DA exposure leads to a cellular response indicative of ER stress prior to the onset of cell death, providing a potential link between DA and the unfolded protein response in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. [source] PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF PSEUDOCHLORODESMIS STRAINS REVEALS CRYPTIC DIVERSITY ABOVE THE FAMILY LEVEL IN THE SIPHONOUS GREEN ALGAE (BRYOPSIDALES, CHLOROPHYTA),JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Heroen Verbruggen The genus Pseudochlorodesmis (Bryopsidales) is composed of diminutive siphons of extreme morphological simplicity. The discovery of Pseudochlorodesmis -like juveniles in more complex Bryopsidales (e.g., the Halimeda microthallus stage) jeopardized the recognition of this genus. Confronted with this uncertainty, taxonomists transferred many simple siphons into a new genus, Siphonogramen. In this study, we used a multimarker approach to clarify the phylogenetic and taxonomic affinities of the Pseudochlorodesmis-Siphonogramen (PS) complex within the more morphologically complex bryopsidalean taxa. Our analyses reveal a new layer of diversity largely distinct from the lineages containing the structurally complex genera. The PS complex shows profound cryptic diversity exceeding the family level. We discuss a potential link between thallus complexity and the prevalence and profundity of cryptic diversity. For taxonomic simplicity and as a first step toward clarifying the taxonomy of these simple siphons, we propose to maintain Pseudochlorodesmis as a form genus and subsume Siphonogramen and Botryodesmis therein. [source] Nonarteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) after 36 h of intake of sildenafil citrate: first Egyptian caseANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2009M. M. El-Domyati Summary Sildenafil citrate is a selective phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor and partial phosphodiesterase 6 inhibitor prescribed for erectile dysfunction. Post-marketing case reports of nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) over the past few years suggest a potential link with PDE-5 inhibitors. We report a case of a 48-year-old male patient who had acute vision loss 36 h after the intake of 50 mg sildenafil citrate. NAION occurred at a period of minimal blood level of sildenafil citrate. So, erectile dysfunction drugs must be strongly considered with NAION even though their users may have neither predisposing nor precipitating factors for NAION and even if occurring at a time of minimal blood level of these drugs. [source] Prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae is higher in aorta and coronary artery than in carotid artery of coronary artery disease patientsAPMIS, Issue 12 2009HEM C. JHA Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a public health problem accounting for an estimated one-third of deaths overall. A potential link between infectious agents and atherosclerosis has been suggested. Data obtained from several seroepidemiological studies have suggested that infection with Chlamydiophila pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus-1 can initiate or maintain the atherosclerotic process. However, there is no single study in which multiple infectious agents have been detected together in different vascular locations in the same population. This would help in determining if there is any leading pathogen in atheromatous plaques of CAD patients. Hence, we screened for C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations of CAD patients using quantitative real-time (RT) PCR. We performed multiplex RT-PCR for detecting pathogens, viz. C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations of CAD patients. Percent positivity scores for C. pneumoniae, H. pylori, CMV and HSV-1 in different vascular locations were as follows: aorta (64.7, 35.3, 11.7 and 11.7 respectively); carotid (27.2, 27.2, 9 and 0 respectively); coronary artery (58.3, 33.3, 16.6 and 8.3 respectively). Combined positivity for C. pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae IgA and RT-PCR for C. pneumoniae) was the highest compared with all other groups. Aorta and coronary artery were more susceptible to these pathogens as compared with carotid artery. Moreover, CAD patients' characteristics were associated with C. pneumoniae positivity (C. pneumoniae IgA and RT-PCR), suggesting thereby that C. pneumoniae may have caused chronic persistent infection in CAD. [source] Benefits and challenges of supervising occupational therapy fieldwork students: Supervisors' perspectivesAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2007Yvonne Thomas Background/aim:,Increased enrolments in occupational therapy education programs, together with changes in the employment patterns of practising occupational therapists, have resulted in a crisis in fieldwork education in Australia. This study aimed to investigate fieldwork supervisors' perspectives regarding the benefits and challenges of providing fieldwork placements, explore the potential link between providing student placements and later workforce recruitment, and document currently employed models of fieldwork supervision. Methods:,Participants included past, present and potential future fieldwork supervisors, sourced from fieldwork coordinators' databases at The University of Queensland and James Cook University. Using an online, purpose-designed questionnaire, descriptive data (frequencies and percentages) were gathered from forced-choice questions. For open-ended questions, content analysis was conducted to identify categories and themes. Results:,One hundred and thirty-two surveys were completed. Benefits of fieldwork placements related to opportunities for later recruitment of fieldwork students, students conducting projects and developing resources, a sense of contributing to the occupational therapy profession, and the development of employee skills. Challenges related to staffing issues, lack of physical resources and prohibitive workload pressures. Multiple models of supervision were employed in supervisors' workplaces, and almost all participants responsible for workplace employment had employed fieldwork students they had previously supervised. Conclusions:The results demonstrate a strong link between supervision and later recruitment of fieldwork students, suggesting that supervision of students is of considerable advantage to the host organisations in the recruitment of appropriately prepared employees. The study also demonstrates additional benefits to be promoted to supervisors and organisations to encourage and support fieldwork placements. [source] Can hormones contained in mothers' milk account for the beneficial effect of breast-feeding on obesity in children?CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Francesco Savino Summary Nutrition and growth during infancy are an emerging issue because of their potential link to metabolic health disorders in later life. Moreover, prolonged breast-feeding appears to be associated with a lower risk of obesity than formula feeding. Human milk is a source of various hormones and growth factors, namely adipokines (leptin and adiponectin), ghrelin, resistin and obestatin, which are involved in food intake regulation and energy balance. These compounds are either not found in commercial milk formulas or their presence is still controversial. Diet-related differences during infancy in serum levels of factors involved in energy metabolism might explain anthropometric differences and also differences in dietary habits between breast-fed (BF) and formula-fed (FF) infants later in life, and may thus have long-term health consequences. In this context, the recent finding of higher leptin levels and lower ghrelin levels in BF than in FF infants suggests that differences in hormonal values together with different protein intake could account for the differences in growth between BF and FF infants both during infancy and later in life. In this review, we examine the data related to hormones contained in mothers' milk and their potential protective effect on subsequent obesity and metabolic-related disorders. [source] Epidemiologic issues in studies of association between apical periodontitis and systemic healthENDODONTIC TOPICS, Issue 1 2004Daniel J. Caplan Perhaps the most exciting issue currently facing the dental research community centers around a hypothesized connection between chronic inflammatory oral infections, most notably periodontal disease, and the development of adverse systemic health conditions. To date, inflammation of endodontic origin (i.e., apical periodontitis (AP)) has not been extensively studied in this regard despite being a commonly found sequel to bacterial infection of the dental pulp space. Although numerous differences exist between chronic inflammatory disease of periodontal and endodontic origins, there are some notable similarities, primarily that: (1) both often are associated with Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, and (2) elevated cytokine levels may be released systemically from acute and chronic manifestations of both disease processes. This article provides a brief review of several important concepts concerning adverse general health outcomes as they relate to periodontal disease, summarizes recent epidemiologic studies of AP and root canal therapy, and reviews some general issues involved in the conduct of epidemiologic studies as well as how these issues apply to investigations that address potential links between endodontic inflammatory disease and adverse systemic health outcomes. [source] Shell disease in crustaceans , just chitin recycling gone wrong?ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Claire L. Vogan Summary The exoskeletons of aquatic crustaceans and other arthropods contain chitin, a biopolymer of ,-(1,4)-linked N -acetylglucosamine together with associated proteins. Despite the vast amounts of chitin within such animals little is found in sediments and open water because microorganisms rapidly degrade this following its loss after moulting or upon the animals' death. Shell disease syndrome is a worldwide disease condition that affects a wide range of crustaceans. It comes about as a result of bacterial degradation of the exoskeleton leading to unsightly lesions and even death if the underlying tissues become infected. There are at least two potential forms of the disease; one that appears to centre around chitin degradation and an additional form termed ,epizootic' shell disease, in which chitin degradation is of less significance. This account reviews our current understanding of the causative agents of this syndrome, assesses the potential economic consequences of the disease, and critically examines whether it is associated with anthropogenic disturbances including pollution. Overall, despite extensive studies during the last few decades, the potential links between faecal, heavy metal and insecticide pollution and shell disease are still unclear. [source] Spermatozoal RNAs: What about their functions?MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 8 2009Jean-Pierre Dadoune Abstract The profound architectural changes that transform spermatids into spermatozoa result in a high degree of DNA packaging within the sperm head. However, the mature sperm chromatin that harbors imprinted genes exhibits a dual nucleoprotamine/nucleohistone structure with DNase-sensitive regions, which could be implicated in the establishment of efficient epigenetic information in the developing embryo. Despite its apparent transcriptionally inert state, the sperm nucleus contains diverse RNA populations, mRNAs, antisense and miRNAs, that have been transcribed throughout spermatogenesis. There is also an endogenous reverse transcriptase that may be activated under certain circumstances. It is now commonly accepted that sperm can deliver some RNAs to the ovocyte at fertilization. This review presents potential links between male-specific genomic imprinting, chromatin organization, and the presence of diverse RNA populations within the sperm nucleus and discusses the functional significance of these RNAs in the spermatozoon itself and in the early embryo following fertilization. Some recent data are provided, supporting the view that analyzing the profile of spermatozoal RNAs could be useful for assessment of male fertility. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] REVIEW ARTICLE: Uterine NK Cells, Spiral Artery Modification and the Regulation of Blood Pressure During Mouse PregnancyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Suzanne D. Burke Citation Burke SD, Barrette VF, Gravel J, Carter ALI, Hatta K, Zhang J, Chen Z, Leno-Durán E, Bianco J, Leonard S, Murrant C, Adams MA, Anne Croy B. Uterine NK cells, spiral artery modification and the regulation of blood pressure during mouse pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Reproductive success in mammals involves coordinated changes in the immune and cardiovascular as well as in the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems. This review addresses studies that identify potential links for NK cells and T cells with the local and systemic cardiovascular adaptations of pregnancy. The studies reviewed have utilized immunohistochemisty and in vivo analyses of vascular parameters by ultrasound, chronic monitoring of hemodynamics via radiotelemetric recording and intravital microscopy. At the uterine level, functional subsets of uterine natural killer cells were identified. These included subsets expressing molecules important for vasoregulation, in addition to those previously identified for angiogenesis. Spiral arteries showed conducted responses that could account for conceptus control of vasoactivity and mouse gestational blood pressure 5-phase pattern. Vascular immunology is an emerging transdisciplinary field, critical for both reproductive immunology and cardiovascular disease. [source] | |||||||||||||