The distribution of selected localized alien plant species in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Prior to this study, the alien plant control program at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was hampered by the paucity and quality of alien plant distribution maps. A systematic program to map important localized alien plants was conducted 1983-1985 to determine the need and feasibility of controlling key alien plant species, establish a baseline for assessing the spread of these species, infer range expansions, locate all populations of a target species to assure thorough treatment, and assess the effectiveness of control programs. Thirty-six species were mapped, with emphasis given to localized alien plant species and those listed as target species in the 1982 Resources Management Plan (National Park Service 1982). The studies focused on Ainahou Ranch, Kilauea Crater, and the Coastal Lowlands west of the 1%9-1974 Mauna Ulu flows. The species distributions were mapped on topographic maps at 1:24,000, 1:12,000, or 1:6,000 scales, although most species are displayed in this report on smaller scale maps. In addition, species profiles are provided. These characterize importance to management, significance as a pest in native ecosystems, effective treatment methods, and history of management. There were two important findings from the distribution studies. Eleven species, previously not targeted for management, were identified from mapping efforts to be invasive and require control efforts. These are Formosan koa, slash pine, loquat, sisal, orange pittosporum, oleaster, English ivy, paperbark, blackwood acacia, kudzu, and guavasteen. The second finding is that five target species were found to be much more widespread than previously thought. These include silky oak, koa haole, fountain grass, Russian olive, and raspberry. This finding lead to an approach in which control efforts on widespread species were carried out only in intensive management units called Special Ecological Areas. Additional distribution mapping studies are recommended for widespread species.National Park Service Contract No. CA 8004 2 000

A systematic review of high-fibre dietary therapy in diverticular disease

The exact pathogenesis of diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon is not well established. However, the hypothesis that a low-fibre diet may result in diverticulosis and a high-fibre diet will prevent symptoms or complications of diverticular disease is widely accepted. The aim of this review is to assess whether a high-fibre diet can improve symptoms and/or prevent complications of diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon and/or prevent recurrent diverticulitis after a primary episode. Clinical studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed the treatment of diverticular disease or the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis with a high-fibre diet. The following exclusion criteria were used for study selection: studies without comparison of the patient group with a control group. No studies concerning prevention of recurrent diverticulitis with a high-fibre diet met our inclusion criteria. Three randomised controlled trials (RCT) and one case-control study were included in this systematic review. One RCT of moderate quality showed no difference in the primary endpoints. A second RCT of moderate quality and the case-control study found a significant difference in favour of a high-fibre diet in the treatment of symptomatic diverticular disease. The third RCT of moderate quality found a significant difference in favour of methylcellulose (fibre supplement). This study also showed a placebo effect. High-quality evidence for a high-fibre diet in the treatment of diverticular disease is lacking, and most recommendations are based on inconsistent level 2 and mostly level 3 evidence. Nevertheless, high-fibre diet is still recommended in several guideline

Clinicopathologic study associated with long-term survival in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer

This study was undertaken to determine the absolute and relative value of blood vessel invasion (BVI) using both factor VIII-related antigen and elastica van Gieson staining, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, c- erb B-2, and conventional prognostic factors in predicting relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates associated with long-term survival in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer. Two hundred patients with histological node-negative breast cancer were studied. We investigated nine clinicopathological factors, including PCNA, p53, c- erb B-2 using permanent-section immunohistochemistry, clinical tumour size (T), histological grade (HG), mitotic index (MI), tumour necrosis (TN), lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) and BVI, followed for a median of 10 years (range 1–20). Twenty-one patients (10.5%) had recurrence and 15 patients (7.5%) died of breast cancer. Univariate analysis showed that BVI, PCNA, T, HG, MI, p53, c- erb B-2 and LVI were significantly predictive of 20-year RFS or OS. Multivariate analysis showed that BVI (P = 0.0159, P = 0.0368), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (P = 0.0165, P = 0.0001), and T (P = 0.0190, P = 0.0399) were significantly independent prognostic factors for RFS or OS respectively. BVI, PCNA and T were independent prognostic indicators for RFS or OS in Japanese patients with node-negative breast cancer and are useful in selecting high-risk patients who may be eligible to receive strong adjuvant therapies. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

A pilot randomised controlled trial to reduce colorectal cancer risk markers associated with B-vitamin deficiency, insulin resistance and colonic inflammation

Colorectal cancer risk is associated with biochemical markers for B-vitamin deficiency, insulin resistance and colonic inflammation, suggesting that these three conditions are each involved in colon carcinogenesis. We expected that dietary supplements of folic acid, n-3 fatty acids and calcium would reduce the markers and thus possibly cancer risk. We therefore randomised 98 participants, with previous colonic polyps or intramucosal carcinomas, to a combined treatment of supplementary folic acid, fish oil and calcium carbonate, or placebos for 28 days. Blood and faecal samples were obtained prior to and at the conclusion of the intervention and analysed for plasma folate, homocysteine, insulin, free fatty acids, triglycerides and faecal calprotectin. In addition, plasma vitamin B12, thiamin, glucose and C-reactive protein were assessed. Our supplemental strategy modestly affected some of the biomarkers associated with folate metabolism and insulin resistance, but had no effect on those associated with colonic inflammation. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and practicality of clinical trials aimed at reducing diet-related biochemical risk markers for colon cancer. We suggest that long-term intervention studies with tumour-related end points should be undertaken when the intervention agents used are found effective in short-term biochemical risk marker trials

A Portrait of the Transcriptome of the Neglected Trematode, Fasciola gigantica—Biological and Biotechnological Implications

Fasciola gigantica (Digenea) is an important foodborne trematode that causes liver fluke disease (fascioliasis) in mammals, including ungulates and humans, mainly in tropical climatic zones of the world. Despite its socioeconomic impact, almost nothing is known about the molecular biology of this parasite, its interplay with its hosts, and the pathogenesis of fascioliasis. Modern genomic technologies now provide unique opportunities to rapidly tackle these exciting areas. The present study reports the first transcriptome representing the adult stage of F. gigantica (of bovid origin), defined using a massively parallel sequencing-coupled bioinformatic approach. From >20 million raw sequence reads, >30,000 contiguous sequences were assembled, of which most were novel. Relative levels of transcription were determined for individual molecules, which were also characterized (at the inferred amino acid level) based on homology, gene ontology, and/or pathway mapping. Comparisons of the transcriptome of F. gigantica with those of other trematodes, including F. hepatica, revealed similarities in transcription for molecules inferred to have key roles in parasite-host interactions. Overall, the present dataset should provide a solid foundation for future fundamental genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic explorations of F. gigantica, as well as a basis for applied outcomes such as the development of novel methods of intervention against this neglected parasite

A method for the isolation of human gastric mucous epithelial cells for primary cell culture: A comparison of biopsy vs surgical tissue

We have developed a method for the isolation and growth of normal human gastric mucous epithelial cells using biopsies or surgically resected tissues as the source of the cells. The attachment and growth of cells were dependent upon: (1) cell planting density, ∼50,000 cells/cm 2 ; (2) extracellular matrix (fibronectin); and (3) and the use of a porous filter. In all experiments we found better cells attachment and growth of human gastric mucous cells isolated from surgical specimens compared with those gastric mucous cells isolated from gastric biopsies. The initial cell viability (as measured by Trypan-blue) was the same in both populations of gastric mucous epithelial cells isolated from either gastric biopsies or surgical specimens. After 4–5 days in culture one could detect various amounts of mucin in all the cells using either periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining or a specific anti-mucin antibody. A similar pattern of much straining was also found in primary cultures of guinea pig gastric mucous epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical staining for chief cells (anti-pepsinogen) or parietal cells (anti-H + /K + ATPasc) in the gastric mucous cuboidal-like epithelial cells with tight junctions, desmosomes,short microvilli, a filamentous terminal web, mucous granules, and basal lamina-like structure. We could not detect the presence of fibroblasts during the 7–9 days that the primary cells were in culture. This cell culture method will prove useful in the isolation of normal human gastric mucous epithelial cells for in vitro studies of gastric mucosal injury and repair.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43235/1/11022_2004_Article_BF00127904.pd

Haleakala National Park Crater District resources basic inventory: 1976-77

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.This report covers the second and third phases of field work during the summers of 1976 and 1977 for the Resources Basic Inventory of the Crater District of Haleakala National Park. The first phase, covering 23 localities, was reported on as CPSU/UH Technical Report #9, "Haleakala National Park Resources Basic Inventory 1975: Narrative Report." Information is presented for 35 localities in the Crater District, including aspect, total cover, general description, substrate, a description of surrounding areas, climate, and number of specimens collected. Landmarks associated with each study area are identified, with grid references, elevation, and other information provided which will enable one to locate an area within 100 feet. In the future, therefore, it should be possible to revisit particular sites so that species presence and abundance can be compared with the present as reported here. Comparisons of this nature can be used to determine the impact of visitors or to evaluate the effects of specific resource management programs, e.g., attempts to reestablish native ecosystems. The quantitative descriptions of the vegetation in each area can also be used in vegetation community analysis programs. This inventory provides the baseline information for annotated catalogues, to be published separately, for the flowering plants, ferns, bryophytes, lichens, birds, and insects. In addition to the general inventory of the area, special attention has been paid to the identification of natural resource management problems and consideration of their scope. These analyses will be published in a separate technical report at the conclusion of the inventory.National Park Service Contract No. CX 8000 7 000