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Showing papers by "University of Turku published in 2007"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An international group of experts in pharmacokinetic modeling recommends a consensus nomenclature to describe in vivo molecular imaging of reversibly binding radioligands.
Abstract: An international group of experts in pharmacokinetic modeling recommends a consensus nomenclature to describe in vivo molecular imaging of reversibly binding radioligands.

1,858 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Cognitive recovery processes seem to be more demanding in partial sleep restriction than in total SD, and studies on its effects on more demanding cognitive functions are lacking.
Abstract: Today, prolonged wakefulness is a widespread phenomenon. Nevertheless, in the field of sleep and wakefulness, several unanswered questions remain. Prolonged wakefulness can be due to acute total sleep deprivation (SD) or to chronic partial sleep restriction. Although the latter is more common in everyday life, the effects of total SD have been examined more thoroughly. Both total and partial SD induce adverse changes in cognitive performance. First and foremost, total SD impairs attention and working memory, but it also affects other functions, such as long-term memory and decision-making. Partial SD is found to influence attention, especially vigilance. Studies on its effects on more demanding cognitive functions are lacking. Coping with SD depends on several factors, especially aging and gender. Also interindividual differences in responses are substantial. In addition to coping with SD, recovering from it also deserves attention. Cognitive recovery processes, although insufficiently studied, seem to be more demanding in partial sleep restriction than in total SD.

704 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The implicated novel vimentin functions have broad ramifications into many different aspects of cell physiology, cellular interactions, and organ homeostasis.

700 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that introduced predators can impose more intense suppression on remnant populations of native species and hold them further from their predator-free densities than do native predators preying upon coexisting prey.
Abstract: Alien predators are widely considered to be more harmful to prey populations than native predators. To evaluate this expectation, we conducted a meta-analysis of the responses of vertebrate prey in 45 replicated and 35 unreplicated field experiments in which the population densities of mammalian and avian predators had been manipulated. Our results showed that predator origin (native versus alien) had a highly significant effect on prey responses, with alien predators having an impact double that of native predators. Also the interaction between location (mainland versus island) and predator origin was significant, revealing the strongest effects with alien predators in mainland areas. Although both these results were mainly influenced by the huge impact of alien predators on the Australian mainland compared with their impact elsewhere, the results demonstrate that introduced predators can impose more intense suppression on remnant populations of native species and hold them further from their predator-free densities than do native predators preying upon coexisting prey.

545 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fluorescence in situ hybridization and real-time PCR analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Akkermansia muciniphila revealed that an A. mucinphila-like bacterium is a common member of the human intestinal tract and its colonization starts in early life and develops within a year to a level close to that observed in adults but decreases in the elderly.
Abstract: Fluorescence in situ hybridization and real-time PCR analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Akkermansia muciniphila were performed to determine its presence in the human intestinal tract. These techniques revealed that an A. muciniphila-like bacterium is a common member of the human intestinal tract and that its colonization starts in early life and develops within a year to a level close to that observed in adults (10(8) cells/g) but decreases (P < 0.05) in the elderly.

536 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results suggest a model for bocavirus infection in which high viral loads are potentially associated with respiratory symptoms and low viral loads indicate asymptomatic shedding, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis may be important for additional studies of human bocvirus.
Abstract: Background. Human bocavirus is a newly discovered parvovirus. It has been detected primarily in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection, but its occurrence, clinical profile, and role as a causative agent of respiratory tract disease are not clear. Methods. We investigated the presence of human bocavirus by quantitative polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens and selected serum samples obtained from 259 children (median age, 1.6 years) who had been hospitalized for acute expiratory wheezing. The samples were analyzed for 16 respiratory viruses by polymerase chain reaction, virus culture, antigen detection, and serological assays. Results. At least 1 potential etiologic agent was detected in 95% of children, and >1 agent was detected in 34% of children. Human bocavirus was detected in 49 children (19%). A large proportion of the cases were mixed infections with other viruses, but human bocavirus was the only virus detected in 12 children (5%). High viral loads of human bocavirus were noted mainly in the absence of other viral agents, suggesting a causative role for acute wheezing. In addition, infections that had uncertain clinical relevance and low viral loads were prevalent. Human bocavirus DNA was frequently detected in serum specimens obtained from patients with acute wheezing, suggesting systemic infection. Conclusions. Human bocavirus is prevalent among children with acute wheezing and can cause systemic infection. Results suggest a model for bocavirus infection in which high viral loads are potentially associated with respiratory symptoms and low viral loads indicate asymptomatic shedding. Therefore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis may be important for additional studies of human bocavirus.

530 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 2007-Ecology
TL;DR: It is emphasized here that social information use is a process consisting of the scenes of event, observation, decision, and consequence, where the initial event is a scene in such a process of another individual, and the potential value of social information is affected by the distance in time, space, and ecology.
Abstract: Decision making can be facilitated by observing other individuals faced with the same or similar problem, and recent research suggests that this social information use is a widespread phenomenon. Implications of this are diverse and profound: for example, social information use may trigger cultural evolution, affect distribution and dispersal of populations, and involve intriguing cognitive traits. We emphasize here that social information use is a process consisting of the scenes of (1) event, (2) observation, (3) decision, and (4) consequence, where the initial event is a scene in such a process of another individual. This helps to construct a sound conceptual framework for measuring and studying social information use. Importantly, the potential value of social information is affected by the distance in time, space, and ecology between the initial observation and eventual consequence of a decision. Because negative interactions between individuals (such as direct and apparent competition) also depend on the distance between individuals along these dimensions, the potential value of information and the negative interactions may form a trade-off situation. Optimal solutions to this trade-off can result in adaptively extended social information use, where using information gathered some time ago, some distance away, and from ecologically different individuals is preferred. Conceivably, using information gathered from a heterospecific individual might often be optimal. Many recent studies demonstrate that social information use does occur between species, and the first review of published cases is provided here. Such interaction between species, especially in habitat selection, has important consequences for community ecology and conservation. Adaptively extended social information use may also be an important evolutionary force in guild formation. Complex coevolutionary patterns may result depending on the effect of information use on the provider of information.

415 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that the full content of the uncertainty principle also includes its positive role as a condition ensuring that mutually exclusive experimental options can be reconciled if an appropriate trade-off is accepted.

398 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Jyrki Heino1
TL;DR: The collagen family of extracellular matrix proteins has played a fundamental role in the evolution of multicellular animals and increasing evidence indicates that the coevolution of collagens and cell adhesion mechanisms has given rise to receptors that bind to specific motifs incollagens.
Abstract: The collagen family of extracellular matrix proteins has played a fundamental role in the evolution of multicellular animals. At the present, 28 triple helical proteins have been named as collagens and they can be divided into several subgroups based on their structural and functional properties. In tissues, the cells are anchored to collagenous structures. Often the interaction is indirect and mediated by matrix glycoproteins, but cells also express receptors, which have the ability to directly bind to the triple helical domains in collagens. Some receptors bind to sites that are abundant in all collagens. However, increasing evidence indicates that the coevolution of collagens and cell adhesion mechanisms has given rise to receptors that bind to specific motifs in collagens. These receptors may also recognize the different members of the large collagen family in a selective manner. This review summarizes the present knowledge about the properties of collagen subtypes as cell adhesion proteins. BioEssays 29:1001–1010, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this material, degenerative changes were seen in a great majority of the tendons, indicating that aspontaneous tendon rupture is a typical clinical end‐state manifestation of a degenerative process in the tendon tissue.
Abstract: Tendon injuries and other tendon disorders represent a common diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in sports medicine, resulting in chronic and long-lasting problems. Tissue degeneration is a common finding in many sports-related tendon complaints. In the great majority of spontaneous tendon ruptures, chronic degenerative changes are seen at the rupture site of the tendon (1). Systemic diseases and diseases specifically deteriorating the normal structure of the tendon (i.e. foreign bodies, and metabolic, inherited and infectious tendon diseases) are only rarely the cause of tendon pathology. Inherited diseases, such as various hereditary diseases with disturbed collagen metabolism and characteristic pathological structural alterations (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfani syndrome, homocystinuria (ochronosis)), represent approximately 1% of the causes of chronic tendon complaints (2), whereas foreign bodies are somewhat more common and are found in less than 10% of all chronic tendon problems (1). Rheumatoid arthritis and sarcoidosis are typical systemic diseases that cause chronic inflammation in tendon and peritendinous tissues. Altogether, these 'specific' disorders represented less than 2% of the pathological alterations found in the histological analysis of more than 1000 spontaneously ruptured tendons (1, 3, 4). In this material, degenerative changes were seen in a great majority of the tendons, indicating that a spontaneous tendon rupture is a typical clinical end-state manifestation of a degenerative process in the tendon tissue. The role of overuse in the pathogenesis of chronic tendon injuries and disorders is not completely understood. It has been speculated that when tendon is overused it becomes fatigued and loses its basal reparative ability, the repetitive microtraumatic processes thus overwhelming the ability of the tendon cells to repair the fiber damage. The intensive repetitive activity, which often is eccentric by nature, may lead to cumulative microtrauma which further weakens the collagen cross-linking, non-collagenous matrix, and vascular elements of the tendon. Overuse has also been speculated to cause chronic tendon problems, by disturbing the micro- and macrovasculature of the tendon and resulting in insufficiency in the local blood circulation. Decreased blood flow simultaneous with an increased activity may result in local tissue hypoxia, impaired nutrition and energy metabolism, and together these factors are likely to play an important role in the sequence of events leading to tendon degeneration (4). A sedentary lifestyle has been proposed as a main reason for poor basal circulation of the tendon, and presumably is at least partly responsible for the high number of tendon problems in people with a sedentary lifestyle who occasionally take part in high physical activity sports events.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the risk of visual failure is greater when the 11778G-->A or 14484T-->C mutations are present in specific subgroups of haplogroup J and when the 3460G -->A mutation is present in haplogroups K and K, and significantly less when 11778g-->A occurs in haplogiroup H.
Abstract: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is due primarily to one of three common point mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but the incomplete penetrance implicates additional genetic or environmental factors in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Both the 11778G→A and 14484T→C LHON mutations are preferentially found on a specific mtDNA genetic background, but 3460G→A is not. However, there is no clear evidence that any background influences clinical penetrance in any of these mutations. By studying 3,613 subjects from 159 LHON-affected pedigrees, we show that the risk of visual failure is greater when the 11778G→A or 14484T→C mutations are present in specific subgroups of haplogroup J (J2 for 11778G→A and J1 for 14484T→C) and when the 3460G→A mutation is present in haplogroup K. By contrast, the risk of visual failure is significantly less when 11778G→A occurs in haplogroup H. Substitutions on MTCYB provide an explanation for these findings, which demonstrate that common genetic variants have a marked effect on the expression of an ostensibly monogenic mtDNA disorder.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: At group level the elevated N-methyl-[11C]2-(4′-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([11C)PIB uptake in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) resembled that seen in Alzheimer disease (AD).
Abstract: Background: Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have increased risk to develop Alzheimer disease (AD). In AD increased brain amyloid burden has been demonstrated in vivo with PET using N -methyl-[ 11 C]2-(4′-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([ 11 C]PIB) as a tracer. Objective: To investigate whether patients with amnestic MCI would show increased [ 11 C]PIB uptake, indicating early AD process. Methods: We studied 13 patients with amnestic MCI and 14 control subjects with PET using [ 11 C]PIB as tracer. Parametric images were computed by calculating the region-to-cerebellum ratio in each voxel over 60 to 90 minutes. Group differences in [ 11 C]PIB uptake were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and automated region-of-interest (ROI) analysis. Results: The SPM analysis showed that patients with MCI had significantly higher [ 11 C]PIB uptake vs control subjects in the frontal, parietal, and lateral temporal cortices as well as in the posterior cingulate showing the most prominent differences. These results were supported by the automated ROI analysis in which MCI patients showed in comparison with healthy control subjects increased [ 11 C]PIB uptake in the frontal cortex (39% increase from the control mean, p p p p p p 11 C]PIB uptake values above 2 SD from the control mean. MCI subjects having at least one APOE e4 allele tended to have higher [ 11 C]PIB uptake than MCI subjects without APOE e4 . Conclusions: At group level the elevated N -methyl-[ 11 C]2-(4′-methylaminophenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole ([ 11 C]PIB) uptake in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) resembled that seen in Alzheimer disease (AD). At the individual level, about half of the MCI patients had [ 11 C]PIB uptake in the AD range, suggestive of early AD process.

Journal ArticleDOI
M. Aguilar, J. Alcaraz, J.V. Allaby1, Behcet Alpat2  +211 moreInstitutions (27)
TL;DR: In this article, a measurement of the cosmic ray positron fraction in the energy range of 1 −30 GeV was presented, based on data taken by the AMS-01 experiment during its 10-day Space Shuttle flight in June 1998.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is reported that the pheromones of dominant (but not subordinate) males stimulate neuronal production in both the olfactory bulb and hippocampus of female mice, which are independently mediated by prolactin and luteinizing hormone, respectively.
Abstract: The regulation of female reproductive behaviors may involve memories of male pheromone signatures, formed in part by neural circuitry involving the olfactory bulb and hippocampus. These neural structures are the principal sites of adult neurogenesis; however, previous studies point to their independent regulation by sensory and physiological stimuli. Here we report that the pheromones of dominant (but not subordinate) males stimulate neuronal production in both the olfactory bulb and hippocampus of female mice, which are independently mediated by prolactin and luteinizing hormone, respectively. Neurogenesis induced by dominant-male pheromones correlates with a female preference for dominant males over subordinate males, whereas blocking neurogenesis with the mitotic inhibitor cytosine arabinoside eliminated this preference. These results suggest that male pheromones are involved in regulating neurogenesis in both the olfactory bulb and hippocampus, which may be important for female reproductive success.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The aim is to reach consensus among specialists from the Nordic countries on the present state‐of‐the‐art in treatment of undescended testicles.
Abstract: Aim: To reach consensus among specialists from the Nordic countries on the present state-of-the-art in treatment of undescended testicles. Methods: A group of specialists in testicular physiology, paediatric surgery/urology, endocrinology, andrology, pathology and anaesthesiology from all the Nordic countries met for two days. Before the meeting, reviews of the literature had been prepared by the participants. Recommendations: The group came to the following unanimous conclusions: (1) In general, hormonal treatment is not recommended, considering the poor immediate results and the possible long term adverse effects on spermatogenesis. Thus, surgery is to be preferred. (2) Orchiopexy should be done between 6 and 12 months of age, or upon diagnosis, if that occurs later. (3) Orchiopexy before age one year should only be done at centres with both paediatric surgeons/urologists and paediatric anaesthesiologists. (4) If a testis is found to be undescended at any age after 6 months, the patient should be referred for surgery—to paediatric rather than general surgeons/urologists if the boy is less than one year old or if he has bilateral or non-palpable testes, or if he has got relapse of cryptorchidism.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that the prognosis is unsatisfactory in warfarin-treated patients irrespective of the drug combination used, and aspirin plus Warfarin combination seems to be inadequate to prevent stent thrombosis.
Abstract: Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the antithrombotic treatment adopted after coronary stenting in patients requiring long-term anticoagulation. Methods and results We analysed retrospectively all consecutive patients on warfarin therapy ( n = 239, mean age 70 years, men 74%) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 2003–04 in six hospitals. An age- and sex-matched control group with similar disease presentation (unstable or stable symptoms) was selected from the study period. Primary endpoint was defined as the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, or stent thrombosis at 12 months. Warfarin treatment was an independent predictor of both primary endpoint (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–3.0, P = 0.05) and major bleeding (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2–9.3, P = 0.02). Triple therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel was the most common (48%) option in stented patients in warfarin group, and there was a significant ( P = 0.004) difference between the drug combinations in stent thrombosis with the highest (15.2%) incidence in patients receiving warfarin plus aspirin combination. Conclusion Our study shows that the prognosis is unsatisfactory in warfarin-treated patients irrespective of the drug combination used. Aspirin plus warfarin combination seems to be inadequate to prevent stent thrombosis.

BookDOI
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: Compounds with Antibacterial Activity, Egg-Protein-Derived Peptides with Antihypertensive Activity, and IgY Antibodies in Human and Veterinary Medicine are studied.
Abstract: Composition and Extraction of Egg Components.- Composition and Structure of Hen Egg Yolk.- Low-density Lipoproteins (LDL) or Lipovitellenin Fraction.- High-density Lipoproteins (HDL) or Lipovitellin Fraction.- Phosvitin.- Livetin Fractions (IgY).- Lysozyme.- Ovotransferrin.- Ovalbumin and Gene-Related Proteins.- Ovomucin.- Riboflavin-Binding Protein (Flavoprotein).- Avidin.- Proteases.- Antiproteases.- Minor Proteins.- Structure and Formation of the Eggshell.- Eggshell Matrix Proteins.- Function of Eggshell Matrix Proteins.- Use of Egg Compounds for Human Nutrition.- Nutritional Evaluation of Egg Compounds.- Concepts of Hypoallergenicity.- Egg Enrichment in Omega-3 Fatty Acids.- Enrichment in Vitamins.- Enrichment in Selenium and Other Trace Elements.- Use of Eggs for Human/Animal Health and Biotechnology.- Compounds with Antibacterial Activity.- Egg-Protein-Derived Peptides with Antihypertensive Activity.- Use of IgY Antibodies in Human and Veterinary Medicine.- Egg Compounds with Antioxidant and Mineral Binding Properties.- Use of Lecithin and Lecithin Fractions.- Extraction of Several Egg Compounds at a Pilot Scale.- Use of Egg Compounds for Cosmetics and Pharmaceutics.- Use of Egg Compounds for Cryoprotection of Spermatozoa.- Egg-Protein-Based Films and Coatings.- Magnetic Particles for Egg Research.- Avidin-Biotin Technology.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study revealed that natal homing of Atlantic salmon within the Teno River system is accurate at least to the tributary level, and shows that despite this species’ high capacity for migration, tributaries foster relatively closed populations with little gene flow which will be important to consider when developing management strategies for the system.
Abstract: Defining populations and identifying ecological and life-history characteristics affecting genetic structure is important for understanding species biology and hence, for managing threatened or endangered species or populations. In this study, populations of the world's largest indigenous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stock were first inferred using model-based clustering methods, following which life-history and habitat variables best predicting the genetic diversity of populations were identified. This study revealed that natal homing of Atlantic salmon within the Teno River system is accurate at least to the tributary level. Generally, defining populations by main tributaries was observed to be a reasonable approach in this large river system, whereas in the mainstem of the river, the number of inferred populations was fewer than the number of distinct sampling sites. Mainstem and headwater populations were genetically more diverse and less diverged, while each tributary fostered a distinct population with high genetic differentiation and lower genetic diversity. Population structure and variation in genetic diversity among populations were poorly explained by geographical distance. In contrast, age-structure, as estimated by the proportion of multisea-winter spawners, was the most predictive variable in explaining the variation in the genetic diversity of the populations. This observation, being in agreement with theoretical predictions, emphasizes the essence of large multisea-winter females in maintaining the genetic diversity of populations. In addition, the unique genetic diversity of populations, as estimated by private allele richness, was affected by the ease of accessibility of a site, with more difficult to access sites having lower unique genetic diversity. Our results show that despite this species' high capacity for migration, tributaries foster relatively closed populations with little gene flow which will be important to consider when developing management strategies for the system.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Assessment and evaluation in vitro of the abilities of commercial probiotic strains derived from fermented milk products and related sources currently marketed in European countries to inhibit, compete and displace the adhesion of selected potential pathogens to immobilized human mucus.
Abstract: Aims: The aims of this study present were to assess and to evaluate in vitro the abilities of commercial probiotic strains derived from fermented milk products and related sources currently marketed in European countries, to inhibit, compete and displace the adhesion of selected potential pathogens to immobilized human mucus. Methods and Results: The adhesion was assessed by measuring the radioactivity of bacteria adhered to the human mucus. We tested 12 probiotic strains against eight selected pathogens. All strains tested were able to adhere to mucus. All probiotic strains tested were able to inhibit and displace (P < 0.05) the adhesion of Bacteroides, Clostridium, Staphylococcus and Enterobacter. In addition, the abilities to inhibit and to displace adhered pathogens depended on both the probiotic and the pathogen strains tested suggesting that several complementary mechanisms are implied in the processes. Conclusions: Our results indicate the need for a case-by-case assessment in order to select strains with the ability to inhibit or displace a specific pathogen. Probiotics could be useful to correct deviations observed in intestinal microbiota associated with specific diseases and also, to prevent pathogen infections. Significance and Impact of the Study: The competitive exclusion properties of probiotics as well as their ability to displace and inhibit pathogens are the most importance for therapeutic manipulation of the enteric microbiota. The application of such strategies could contribute to expand the beneficial properties on human health against pathogen infection.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study highlights the need to understand more fully the role of maternal bacteria in the initial inoculum of the intestinal microflora of newborn infants and its role in the immune response to infection.
Abstract: Summary Background The sources and the impact of maternal bacteria on the initial inoculum of the intestinal microflora of newborn infants remain elusive. Objective To assess the association between maternal breast-milk and fecal bifidobacteria and infants' fecal bifidobacteria. Methods Sixty-one mother–infant pairs were included, special emphasis being placed on the maternal allergic status. Bifidobacteria were analysed by a direct PCR method in fecal samples from mothers at 30–35 weeks of gestation and from infants at 1 month of age and from breast-milk samples 1 month post-partum. Results Fecal Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Bifidobacterium bifidum colonization frequencies and counts among mother–infant pairs correlated significantly (P=0.005 and 0.02 for frequencies, respectively, and P=0.002 and 0.01 for counts, respectively). Only infants of allergic, atopic mothers were colonized with B. adolescentis. Each of the breast-milk samples contained bifidobacteria [median 1.4 × 103 bacterial cells/mL; interquartile range (IQR) 48.7–3.8 × 103]. Bifidobacterium longum was the most frequently detected species in breast-milk. Allergic mothers had significantly lower amounts of bifidobacteria in breast-milk compared with non-allergic mothers [median 1.3 × 103 bacterial cells/mL (IQR 22.4–3.0 × 103) vs. 5.6 × 103 bacterial cells/mL (1.8 × 103–1.8 × 104), respectively, (P=0.004)], and their infants had concurrently lower counts of bifidobacteria in feces [3.9 × 108 bacterial cells/g (IQR 6.5 × 106–1.5 × 109) in infants of allergic mothers, vs. 2.5 × 109 bacterial cells/g (6.5 × 108–3.2 × 1010) in infants of non-allergic mothers, P=0.013]. Conclusions Breast-milk contains significant numbers of bifidobacteria and the maternal allergic status further deranges the counts of bifidobacteria in breast-milk. Maternal fecal and breast-milk bifidobacterial counts impacted on the infants' fecal Bifidobacterium levels. Breast-milk bacteria should thus be considered an important source of bacteria in the establishment of infantile intestinal microbiota.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The chromatoid body, a unique cloud-like structure of male germ cells, moves dynamically in the cytoplasm of haploid spermatids, but its function has remained elusive for decades, until recent findings indicate that microRNA and RNA-decay pathways converge to the chromatoids body.
Abstract: The chromatoid body, a unique cloud-like structure of male germ cells, moves dynamically in the cytoplasm of haploid spermatids, but its function has remained elusive for decades. Recent findings indicate that microRNA and RNA-decay pathways converge to the chromatoid body. This highly specialized structure might function as an intracellular focal domain that organizes and controls RNA processing in male germ cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Efficient methods for performing the computations through Monte Carlo simulation, analyze the complexity, and assess the accuracy of the presented algorithms are presented and the efficiency of these methods empirically are tested.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Breast milk contains bifidobacteria and specific B ifidobacterium species that may promote healthy microbiota development that may predispose to disease later in life.
Abstract: Background: The establishment of gut microbiota is a stepwise process contributing to gut development and maturation of the immune system. Aberrant gut microbiota at an early age ma

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This suggests nutrition-related lifestyle factors play a role in acne pathogenesis, and the role of weight loss in the overall treatment effect is not preclude.
Abstract: Background No previous study has sought to examine the influence of dietary composition on acne vulgaris. Objective We sought to compare the effect of an experimental low glycemic–load diet with a conventional high glycemic–load diet on clinical and endocrine aspects of acne vulgaris. Methods A total of 43 male patients with acne completed a 12-week, parallel, dietary intervention study with investigator-masked dermatology assessments. Primary outcomes measures were changes in lesion counts, sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Results At 12 weeks, total lesion counts had decreased more in the experimental group (−21.9 [95% confidence interval, −26.8 to −19.0]) compared with the control group (−13.8 [−19.1 to −8.5], P = .01). The experimental diet also reduced weight ( P = .001), reduced the free androgen index ( P = .04), and increased insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 ( P = .001) when compared with a high glycemic–load diet. Limitations We could not preclude the role of weight loss in the overall treatment effect. Conclusion This suggests nutrition-related lifestyle factors play a role in acne pathogenesis. However, these preliminary findings should be confirmed by similar studies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Specific lactic acid bacteria were assessed for their ability to remove cadmium and lead from water and found to be metal and bacterial strain specific, and removal was a fast, metabolism-independent surface process.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 2007-Lithos
TL;DR: The Tien Shan orogen formed during Late Palaeozoic collision between the Karakum-Tarim continent and the Paleo-Kazakhstan continent, a Caledonian component of the Altaid Collage as mentioned in this paper.