bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression of a gene encoding β‐ureidopropionase is critical for pollen germination in tomatoes
Authors: Shen Yu‐Hsing , Chen Yu‐Huei , Liu Hao‐Yun , Chiang Fang‐Yi , Wang Yi‐Chieh , Hou Liang‐Yu , Lin Jeng‐Shane , Lin Chih‐Ching , Lin Hsin‐Hung , Lai Hsi‐Mei , Jeng Shih‐Tong
Published: August 2013

Global warming has seriously decreased world crop yield. High temperatures affect development, growth and, particularly, reproductive tissues in plants. A gene encoding β‐ureidopropionase (SlUPB1, EC 3.5.1.6) was isolated from the stamens of a heat‐tolerant tomato (CL5915) using suppression subtractive hybridization. SlUPB1 catalyzes the production of β‐alanine, the only β‐form amino acid in nature. In the anthesis stage, SlUPB1 expression in CL5915 stamens, growing at 35/30°C (day/night), was 2.16 and 2.93 times greater than that in a heat‐sensitive tomato (L4783) cultivated at 30/25°C or 25/20°C, respectively. Transgenic tomatoes, upregulating SlUPB1 in L4783 and downregulating SlUPB1 in CL5915, were constructed, and the amount of β‐alanine measured by liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry in the transgenic overexpression of SlUPB1 was higher than that of L4783. However, the β‐alanine in the transgenics downregulating SlUPB1 was significantly lower than the β‐alanine of CL5915. Pollen germination rates of these transgenics were analyzed under different developmental and germinating temperatures. The results indicated that germination rates of transgenics overexpressing SlUPB1 were higher than germination rates of the background tomato L4783. Germination rates of transgenics downregulating SlUPB1 were significantly lower than germination rates of background tomato CL5915, indicating the necessity of functional SlUPB1 for pollen germination. Pollen germinating in the buffer with the addition of β‐alanine further indicated that β‐alanine effectively enhanced pollen germination in tomatoes with low SlUPB1 expression. Together, these results showed that the expression of SlUPB1 is important for pollen germination, and β‐alanine may play a role in pollen germination under both optimal and high temperatures.
Parsing Macpherson: The Last Rites of Locke the Possessive Individualist
Authors: Breakey Hugh
Published: August 2013

C.B. Macpherson's “Possessive Individualist” reading of Locke is one of the most radical and influential interpretations in the history of exegesis. Despite a substantial critical response over the past five decades, Macpherson's reading remains orthodox in various circles in the humanities generally, particularly in legal studies, and his interpretation of several crucial passages has unwittingly been followed even by his sharpest critics within Lockean scholarship. In order to present the definitive rebuttal to this interpretation, and so finally to lay it to rest, I argue that every one of Macpherson's key pieces of textual evidence can be rejected entirely on its own terms; that is, by reference to no more than its immediate context. In this way I contend that fault of the Possessive Individualist reading lies far deeper than mere cherry‐picking of the Lockean corpus, but centrally involves misreading, misplacing and misrepresenting the very parts of Locke's work Macpherson cites as evidence for his reading.
Russell and Wittgenstein on Logical Form and Judgement: What did Wittgenstein Try that Wouldn't Work?
Authors: Connelly James
Published: August 2013

In this article, I pay special expository attention to two pieces of philosophically relevant Wittgenstein–Russell correspondence from the period leading up to the ultimate demise of Russell's Theory of Knowledge manuscript (in June 1913). This is done in the hopes of shedding light on Wittgenstein's notoriously obscure criticisms of Russell's multiple relation theory of judgement. I argue that these two pieces of correspondence (the first, a letter from Wittgenstein to Russell dated January 1913, and the second, a letter from Russell to Ottoline Morrell, reporting a tense confrontation with Wittgenstein on 26 May 1913) each refer to what is more or less the same approach to problems concerning the unity and well‐formedness of propositions or judgements. However, the view advanced in Wittgenstein's January letter to Russell nevertheless differs in a key respect from the view of Russell's referred to in the May letter to Morrell. The difference involves Wittgenstein's incorporating qualities and relations as unsaturated parts of the copulae of atomic complexes, where these copulae are in turn conceived as logical forms. Because such an approach to logical form (and more specifically, to relations) was philosophically unpalatable to Russell, he undertook an alternative theoretical correction in the context of his 1913 Theory of Knowledge manuscript. This theoretical correction was discussed with Wittgenstein during the tense confrontation on 26 May, and involved deploying a supplemental significance constraint on judgements. It was this significance constraint on judgements, moreover, which was the ‘premiss’ alluded to by Wittgenstein in the context of a June 1913 letter to Russell, wherein he claims to express his objection to Russell's theory ‘exactly.’
Oral DAV131, a Charcoal-Based Adsorbent, Inhibits Intestinal Colonization by β-Lactam-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Cefotaxime-Treated Mice
Authors: Grall Nathalie , Massias Laurent , Nguyen Thu Thuy , Sayah-Jeanne Sakina , Ducrot Nicolas , Chachaty Elisabeth , de Gunzburg Jean , Andremont Antoine
Published: August 2013

Antibiotics excreted into the intestinal tract, such as broad-spectrum cephalosporins, disrupt the indigenous microflora, affect colonization resistance (CR), and promote intestinal colonization by resistant bacteria. We tested whether oral DAV131, a charcoal-based adsorbent, would prevent colonization by a cefotaxime (CTX)-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain (PUG-2) in CTX-treated mice. Mice received CTX, saline, CTX and DAV131, or saline and DAV131 for 3 days before oral challenge with 10
6
CFU of PUG-2. The fecal CTX concentrations and counts of PUG-2 were assayed. Fecal CTX disappeared when DAV131 was given concomitantly with CTX (
P
< 0.05), and the area under the curve of PUG-2 fecal density was significantly reduced (
P
< 0.01). In conclusion, reducing intestinal antibiotic exposure with DAV131 may reduce colonization by resistant strains during treatment compared to treatment with CTX only. This might open new possibilities for decreasing the impact of antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota during treatments.
Molecular Resistance Mechanisms of Macrolide-Resistant Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolates from Alaska, 1986 to 2010
Authors: Rudolph Karen , Bulkow Lisa , Bruce Michael , Zulz Tammy , Reasonover Alisa , Harker-Jones Marcella , Hurlburt Debby , Hennessy Thomas
Published: August 2013

The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains has reduced treatment options. The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial susceptibilities, serotype distributions, and molecular resistance mechanisms among macrolide-resistant invasive pneumococcal isolates in Alaska from 1986 to 2010. We identified cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in Alaska from 1986 to 2010 through statewide population-based laboratory surveillance. All invasive pneumococcal isolates submitted to the Arctic Investigations Program laboratory were confirmed by standard microbiological methods and serotyped by slide agglutination and the Quellung reaction. MICs were determined by the broth microdilution method, and macrolide-resistant genotypes were determined by multiplex PCR. Among 2,923 invasive pneumococcal isolates recovered from 1986 to 2010, 270 (9.2%) were nonsusceptible to erythromycin; 177 (66%) erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates demonstrated coresistance to penicillin, and 167 (62%) were multidrug resistant. The most frequent serotypes among the macrolide-resistant isolates were serotypes 6B (23.3%), 14 (20.7%), 19A (16.7%), 9V (8.9%), 19F (6.3%), 6A (5.6%), and 23F (4.8%).
mef
and
erm
(B) genes were detected in 207 (77%) and 32 (12%) of the isolates, respectively. Nineteen (7%) of the erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates contained both
mef
and
erm
(B) genotypes; 15 were of serotype 19A. There was significant year-to-year variation in the proportion of isolates that were nonsusceptible to erythromycin (
P
< 0.001). Macrolide resistance among pneumococcal isolates from Alaska is mediated predominantly by
mef
genes, and this has not changed significantly over time. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of isolates that possess both
erm
(B) and
mef
, primarily due to serotype 19A isolates.
Kallistatin Modulates Immune Cells and Confers Anti-Inflammatory Response To Protect Mice from Group A Streptococcal Infection
Authors: Lu Shiou-Ling , Tsai Chiau-Yuang , Luo Yueh-Hsia , Kuo Chih-Feng , Lin Wei-Chieh , Chang Yu-Tzu , Wu Jiunn-Jong , Chuang Woei-Jer , Liu Ching-Chuan , Chao Lee , Chao Julie , Lin Yee-Shin
Published: August 2013

Group A streptococcus (GAS) infection may cause severe life-threatening diseases, including necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Despite the availability of effective antimicrobial agents, there has been a worldwide increase in the incidence of invasive GAS infection. Kallistatin (KS), originally found to be a tissue kallikrein-binding protein, has recently been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. However, its efficacy in microbial infection has not been explored. In this study, we transiently expressed the human KS gene by hydrodynamic injection and investigated its anti-inflammatory and protective effects in mice via air pouch inoculation of GAS. The results showed that KS significantly increased the survival rate of GAS-infected mice. KS treatment reduced local skin damage and bacterial counts compared with those in mice infected with GAS and treated with a control plasmid or saline. While there was a decrease in immune cell infiltration of the local infection site, cell viability and antimicrobial factors such as reactive oxygen species actually increased after KS treatment. The efficiency of intracellular bacterial killing in neutrophils was directly enhanced by KS administration. Several inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 6, in local infection sites were reduced by KS. In addition, KS treatment reduced vessel leakage, bacteremia, and liver damage after local infection. Therefore, our study demonstrates that KS provides protection in GAS-infected mice by enhancing bacterial clearance, as well as reducing inflammatory responses and organ damage.
Fosfomycin and Tobramycin in Combination Downregulate Nitrate Reductase Genes
narG
and
narH
, Resulting in Increased Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Anaerobic Conditions
Authors: McCaughey Gerard , Gilpin Deirdre F. , Schneiders Thamarai , Hoffman Lucas R. , McKevitt Matt , Elborn J. Stuart , Tunney Michael M.
Published: August 2013

The activity of aminoglycosides, which are used to treat
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
respiratory infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, is reduced under the anaerobic conditions that reflect the CF lung
in vivo
. In contrast, a 4:1 (wt/wt) combination of fosfomycin and tobramycin (F:T), which is under investigation for use in the treatment of CF lung infection, has increased activity against
P. aeruginosa
under anaerobic conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the increased activity of F:T under anaerobic conditions. Microarray analysis was used to identify the transcriptional basis of increased F:T activity under anaerobic conditions, and key findings were confirmed by microbiological tests, including nitrate utilization assays, growth curves, and susceptibility testing. Notably, growth in subinhibitory concentrations of F:T, but not tobramycin or fosfomycin alone, significantly downregulated (
P
< 0.05) nitrate reductase genes
narG
and
narH
, which are essential for normal anaerobic growth of
P. aeruginosa
. Under anaerobic conditions, F:T significantly decreased (
P
< 0.001) nitrate utilization in
P. aeruginosa
strains PAO1, PA14, and PA14
lasR
::Gm, a mutant known to exhibit increased nitrate utilization. A similar effect was observed with two clinical
P. aeruginosa
isolates. Growth curves indicate that nitrate reductase transposon mutants had reduced growth under anaerobic conditions, with these mutants also having increased susceptibility to F:T compared to the wild type under similar conditions. The results of this study suggest that downregulation of nitrate reductase genes resulting in reduced nitrate utilization is the mechanism underlying the increased activity of F:T under anaerobic conditions.
Impact of
In Vivo
Triazole and Echinocandin Combination Therapy for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: Enhanced Efficacy against
Cyp51
Mutant Isolates
Authors: Lepak Alexander J. , Marchillo Karen , VanHecker Jamie , Andes David R.
Published: August 2013

Previous studies examining combination therapy for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) have revealed conflicting results, including antagonism, indifference, and enhanced effects. The most commonly employed combination for this infection includes a mold-active triazole and echinocandin. Few studies have evaluated combination therapy from a pharmacodynamic (PD) perspective, and even fewer have examined combination therapy against both wild-type and azole-resistant
Cyp51
mutant isolates. The current studies aim to fill this gap in knowledge. Four
Aspergillus fumigatus
isolates were utilized, including a wild-type strain, an
Fks1
mutant (posaconazole susceptible and caspofungin resistant), and two
Cyp51
mutants (posaconazole resistant). A neutropenic murine model of IPA was used for the treatment studies. The dosing design included monotherapy with posaconazole, monotherapy with caspofungin, and combination therapy with both. Efficacy was determined using quantitative PCR, and results were normalized to known quantities of conidia (conidial equivalents [CE]). The static dose, 1-log kill dose, and associated PD target area under the curve (AUC)/MIC ratio were determined for monotherapy and combination therapy. Monotherapy experiments revealed potent activity for posaconazole, with reductions of 3 to 4 log
10
Aspergillus
CE/ml with the two “low”-MIC isolates. Posaconazole alone was less effective for the two isolates with higher MICs. Caspofungin monotherapy did not produce a significant decrease in fungal burden for any strain. Combination therapy with the two antifungals did not enhance efficacy for the two posaconazole-susceptible isolates. However, the drug combination produced synergistic activity against both posaconazole-resistant isolates. Specifically, the combination resulted in a 1- to 2-log
10
decline in burden that would not have been predicted based on the monotherapy results for each drug. This corresponded to a reduction in the free-drug posaconazole AUC/MIC ratio needed for stasis of up to 17-fold. The data suggest that combination therapy using a triazole and an echinocandin may be a beneficial treatment strategy for triazole-resistant isolates.
Clinical Pharmacodynamic Index Identification for Micafungin in Esophageal Candidiasis: Dosing Strategy Optimization
Authors: Andes David R. , Reynolds Daniel K. , Van Wart Scott A. , Lepak Alexander J. , Kovanda Laura L. , Bhavnani Sujata M.
Published: August 2013

Echinocandins exhibit concentration-dependent effects on
Candida
species, and preclinical studies support the administration of large, infrequent doses. The current report examines the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of two multicenter, randomized trials of micafungin dosing regimens that differed in both dose level and dosing interval. Analysis demonstrates the clinical relevance of the dose level and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). Better, although not statistically significant (
P
= 0.056), outcomes were seen with higher maximum concentrations of drug in serum (
C
max
) and large, infrequent doses. The results support further clinical investigation of novel micafungin dosing regimens with large doses but less than daily administration. (These studies have been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT00666185 and NCT00665639.)
Determination of Isavuconazole Susceptibility of Aspergillus and Candida Species by the EUCAST Method
Authors: Howard Susan J. , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Cuenca-Estrella Manuel , Gomez-Lopez Alicia , Arendrup Maiken C.
Published: August 2013

Isavuconazole is a novel expanded-spectrum triazole, which has recently been approved by the FDA as an orphan drug to treat invasive aspergillosis and is currently being studied in phase III clinical trials for invasive candidiasis. The susceptibility of relatively few clinical isolates has been reported. In this study, the isavuconazole susceptibilities of 1,237
Aspergillus
and 2,010
Candida
geographically diverse clinical isolates were determined by EUCAST methodology at four European mycology laboratories, producing the largest multicenter data set thus far for this compound. In addition, a blinded collection of 30
cyp51A
mutant
Aspergillus fumigatus
clinical isolates and 10 wild-type isolates was tested. From these two data sets, the following preliminary epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) values were suggested: 2 mg/liter for
Aspergillus fumigatus
,
Aspergillus terreus
, and
Aspergillus flavus
; 4 mg/liter for
Aspergillus niger
; 0.25 mg/liter for
Aspergillus nidulans
; and 0.03 mg/liter for
Candida albicans
,
Candida parapsilosis
, and
Candida tropicalis
. Unfortunately, ECOFFs could not be determined for
Candida glabrata
or
Candida krusei
due to an unexplained interlaboratory MIC variation. For the blinded collection of
A. fumigatus
isolates, all MICs were ≤2 mg/liter for wild-type isolates. Differential isavuconazole MICs were observed for triazole-resistant
A. fumigatus
isolates with different
cyp51A
alterations: TR
34
/L98H mutants had elevated isavuconazole MICs, whereas isolates with G54 and M220 alterations had MICs in the wild-type range, suggesting that the efficacy of isavuconazole may not be affected by these alterations. This study will be an aid in interpreting isavuconazole MICs for clinical care and an important step in the future process of setting official clinical breakpoints.
In Vitro
Efficacies and Resistance Profiles of Rifampin-Based Combination Regimens for Biofilm-Embedded Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Tang Hung-Jen , Chen Chi-Chung , Cheng Kuo-Chen , Wu Kuan-Ying , Lin Yi-Chung , Zhang Chun-Cheng , Weng Tzu-Chieh , Yu Wen-Liang , Chiu Yu-Hsin , Toh Han-Siong , Chiang Shyh-Ren , Su Bo An , Ko Wen-Chien , Chuang Yin-Ching
Published: August 2013

To compare the
in vitro
antibacterial efficacies and resistance profiles of rifampin-based combinations against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) in a biofilm model, the antibacterial activities of vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin, minocycline, linezolid, fusidic acid, fosfomycin, and tigecycline alone or in combination with rifampin against biofilm-embedded MRSA were measured. The rifampin-resistant mutation frequencies were evaluated. Of the rifampin-based combinations, rifampin enhances the antibacterial activities of and even synergizes with fusidic acid, tigecycline, and, to a lesser extent, linezolid, fosfomycin, and minocycline against biofilm-embedded MRSA. Such combinations with weaker rifampin resistance induction activities may provide a therapeutic advantage in MRSA biofilm-related infections.
Menaquinone Analogs Inhibit Growth of Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Schlievert Patrick M. , Merriman Joseph A. , Salgado-Pabón Wilmara , Mueller Elizabeth A. , Spaulding Adam R. , Vu Bao G. , Chuang-Smith Olivia N. , Kohler Petra L. , Kirby John R.
Published: August 2013

Gram-positive bacteria cause serious human illnesses through combinations of cell surface and secreted virulence factors. We initiated studies with four of these organisms to develop novel topical antibacterial agents that interfere with growth and exotoxin production, focusing on menaquinone analogs. Menadione, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and coenzymes Q1 to Q3 but not menaquinone, phylloquinone, or coenzyme Q10 inhibited the growth and to a greater extent exotoxin production of
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Bacillus anthracis
,
Streptococcus pyogenes
, and
Streptococcus agalactiae
at concentrations of 10 to 200 μg/ml. Coenzyme Q1 reduced the ability of
S. aureus
to cause toxic shock syndrome in a rabbit model, inhibited the growth of four Gram-negative bacteria, and synergized with another antimicrobial agent, glycerol monolaurate, to inhibit
S. aureus
growth. The staphylococcal two-component system SrrA/B was shown to be an antibacterial target of coenzyme Q1. We hypothesize that menaquinone analogs both induce toxic reactive oxygen species and affect bacterial plasma membranes and biosynthetic machinery to interfere with two-component systems, respiration, and macromolecular synthesis. These compounds represent a novel class of potential topical therapeutic agents.
Human and Animal Isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica Show Significant Serotype-Specific Colonization and Host-Specific Immune Defense Properties
Authors: Schaake Julia , Kronshage Malte , Uliczka Frank , Rohde Manfred , Knuuti Tobias , Strauch Eckhard , Fruth Angelika , Wos-Oxley Melissa , Dersch Petra
Published: August 2013

Yersinia enterocolitica
is a human pathogen that is ubiquitous in livestock, especially pigs. The bacteria are able to colonize the intestinal tract of a variety of mammalian hosts, but the severity of induced gut-associated diseases (yersiniosis) differs significantly between hosts. To gain more information about the individual virulence determinants that contribute to colonization and induction of immune responses in different hosts, we analyzed and compared the interactions of different human- and animal-derived isolates of serotypes O:3, O:5,27, O:8, and O:9 with murine, porcine, and human intestinal cells and macrophages. The examined strains exhibited significant serotype-specific cell binding and entry characteristics, but adhesion and uptake into different host cells were not host specific and were independent of the source of the isolate. In contrast, survival and replication within macrophages and the induced proinflammatory response differed between murine, porcine, and human macrophages, suggesting a host-specific immune response. In fact, similar levels of the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) were secreted by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages with all tested isolates, but the equivalent interleukin-8 (IL-8) response of porcine bone marrow-derived macrophages was strongly serotype specific and considerably lower in O:3 than in O:8 strains. In addition, all tested
Y. enterocolitica
strains caused a considerably higher level of secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by porcine than by murine macrophages. This could contribute to limiting the severity of the infection (in particular of serotype O:3 strains) in pigs, which are the primary reservoir of
Y. enterocolitica
strains pathogenic to humans.
IglE Is an Outer Membrane-Associated Lipoprotein Essential for Intracellular Survival and Murine Virulence of Type A Francisella tularensis
Authors: Robertson Gregory T. , Child Robert , Ingle Christine , Celli Jean , Norgard Michael V.
Published: August 2013

IglE is a small, hypothetical protein encoded by the duplicated
Francisella
pathogenicity island (FPI). Inactivation of both copies of
iglE
rendered
Francisella tularensis
subsp.
tularensis
Schu S4 avirulent and incapable of intracellular replication, owing to an inability to escape the phagosome. This defect was fully reversed following single-copy expression of
iglE
in
trans
from
att
Tn
7
under the control of the
Francisella rpsL
promoter, thereby establishing that the loss of
iglE
, and not polar effects on downstream
vgrG
gene expression, was responsible for the defect. IglE is exported to the
Francisella
outer membrane as an ∼13.9-kDa lipoprotein, determined on the basis of a combination of selective Triton X-114 solubilization, radiolabeling with [
3
H]palmitic acid, and sucrose density gradient membrane partitioning studies. Lastly, a genetic screen using the
iglE
-null live vaccine strain resulted in the identification of key regions in the carboxyl terminus of IglE that are required for intracellular replication of
Francisella tularensis
in J774A.1 macrophages. Thus, IglE is essential for
Francisella tularensis
virulence. Our data support a model that likely includes protein-protein interactions at or near the bacterial cell surface that are unknown at present.
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and pseudotumour cerebri
Authors: Panda Akhila Kumar , Mehta Vachan Jayant , Maheshwari Siddharth , Kar Sujit Kumar
Published: August 2013

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic progressive encephalitis of childhood and young adults due to persistent measles virus infection. The usual age of onset is between 5 and 15 years. There are wide varieties of presentations of SSPE described in the literatures. Variable clinical presentations may lead to diagnostic dilemma and unnecessary investigations especially in developing countries, where the measles is quite endemic and vaccination status is not up to the mark because of poor literacy and socioeconomic status. Good clinical correlations, neuroimaging findings, EEG and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) marker for SSPE yield the clue to diagnosis. This case illustrates a 13-year-old boy presented with short history of intellectual decline, headache, papilloedema, cranial nerve palsy, myoclonus with suggestive neuroimaging mimicking acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and pseudotumour cerebri. Subsequently he was diagnosed to be a case of SSPE on the basis of CSF and serum measles antibody titer.
Clarithromycin-induced haemorrhagic colitis
Authors: Miyauchi Ryosuke , Kinoshita Kensuke , Tokuda Yasuharu
Published: August 2013

Haemorrhagic colitis byKlebsiella oxytocahas been described as an antibiotic-associated colitis, particularly with the use of ampicillin. Here we report a patient with haemorrhagic colitis caused byK oxytocaafter the use of clarithromycin. A 67-year-old Japanese woman with diabetes presented with mucobloody diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Stool culture grewK oxytoca.Colonoscopy showed the appearance of haemorrhagic colitis. Further history taking revealed that she had received a course of oral clarithromycin for upper respiratory tract infection. She had recovered by conservative treatment. We should be careful about gastrointestinal symptoms in patients on clarithromycin, which can cause haemorrhagic colitis associated withK oxytoca.
Bilateral transverse sinus stenosis causing intracranial hypertension
Authors: Woodall M Neil , Nguyen Khoi D , Alleyne Cargill H , Macomson S Dion
Published: August 2013

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has been associated with transverse sinus stenosis in a number of cases. Some authors advocate for stent placement when transverse sinus stenosis is responsible for pseudotumor symptoms. A 19-year-old man with IIH, bilateral transverse sinus stenosis was apparent on a CT venography, with reconstitution of the lateral sinus. MRI was then performed, and transverse sinus stenosis was confirmed. An impressive network of dilated collateral veins became apparent on VENBOLD sequences. Treatment options in this case include cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting, optic nerve fenestrations and transverse sinus stenting. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed in this patient, with prompt resolution of pseudotumor symptoms.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula in a low birth weight infant
Authors: Abdul Haium Abdul Alim , Sim Siam Wee , Ong Lin Yin , Rajadurai Victor Samuel
Published: August 2013

The cooccurrence of congenital diaphragmatic hernia and oesophageal atresia with distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula is very rare and carries high mortality. Very few anecdotal case reports and one case series have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a late preterm, low birth weight infant with this rare association who was successfully managed by staged surgical approach and had good outcome.
Lung abscess complicating pneumococcal pneumonia: a causal role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?
Authors: Gibelin Aude , de Prost Nicolas , Brun-Buisson Christian
Published: August 2013

Pulmonary abscess is a distinctly uncommon complication of pneumococcal pneumonia in immunocompetent adults that has recently been reported to occur following administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We report herein the case of a 24-year-old patient with no predisposing risk factor who developed a lung abscess after NSAIDs exposure, further illustrating this potentially severe complication of NSAIDs use, especially in the absence of associated antibiotic therapy.
Malrotation with transverse colon volvulus in early pregnancy: a rare cause for acute intestinal obstruction
Authors: Sharma Digvijoy , Parameshwaran Rajesh , Dani Tushar , Shetty Prashanth
Published: August 2013

Colonic volvulus is a relatively uncommon cause of large bowel obstruction, accounting for 10% of colonic obstructions. Volvulus of the transverse colon is quite rare, accounting for only 4–11% of all reported cases. We report an unusual case of documented volvulus of the transverse colon in a pregnant woman with intestinal malrotation and concomitant acute intestinal obstruction by congenital bands and adhesions.
Delayed onset of vastii muscle activity in response to rapid postural perturbations following eccentric exercise: a mechanism that underpins knee pain after eccentric exercise?
Authors: Hedayatpour Nosratollah , Falla Deborah
Published: August 2013

Background

Appropriate timing of activity of the vastus medialis obliqus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles is a key factor for proper tracking of the patella in the trochlear groove during knee extension. This study investigates the relative timing of activation of the VMO and VL muscles during unexpected perturbations performed before and after eccentric exercise.

Methods

Surface electromyography signals were recorded from the VMO and VL muscles of the right leg in 11 healthy men during rapid postural perturbations performed at baseline, immediately after eccentric exercise of the quadriceps, and at 24 and 48 h after exercise. Participants stood on a moveable platform during which eight randomised postural perturbations were performed (4 repetitions of 2 perturbation types: 8 cm forward slides, 8 cm backward slides).

Results

Before the eccentric exercise, the onset of VMO activity was significantly earlier than the VL muscle (average for both forward and backward perturbations: VMO 39.0±7.1 ms; VL 43.7±7.9 ms). However, the onset of VMO activity was significantly later compared with VL muscle immediately after eccentric exercise and this remained 24 and 48 h after eccentric exercise (average across all postexercise sessions and perturbation directions: VMO 72.3±11.1 ms; VL 56.0±8.2 ms; p<0.05).

Conclusions

The onset of VMO–VL activity in response to rapid destabilising perturbations is altered immediately after eccentric exercise and during eccentric exercise-induced muscle soreness up to 48 h later. These observations may help explain the high prevalence of knee disorders after high intensity eccentric exercise.
Trends in ischaemic heart disease hospitalisation and case fatality in the Hong Kong Chinese population 2000–2009: a secondary analysis
Authors: Chau P H , Wong M , Woo J
Published: August 2013

Objectives

This study examines the recent trends in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) incidence and case fatality in Hong Kong and explores the possible risk factors.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

All public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Outcome measures

Incidence rate was defined as the number of IHD inpatient episodes divided by the size of the corresponding population. Short-term and long-term case fatality rate was defined as deaths from all causes occurring within 30 and 31–365 days, respectively, divided by the number of IHD inpatient episodes among the corresponding population.

Methods

Poisson and logistic regression models were used to examine the IHD incidence and short-term/long-term case fatality trends, respectively, for different age and sex groups.

Results

IHD incidence was stable in most age groups. However, the incidence in men aged 15–24, 35–44 and ≥85 years showed increasing trends, whereas the incidence in men aged 55–64 years and women aged 35–74 years showed decreasing trends. Overall, the short-term/long-term case fatality rates were unchanged over time for both sexes. Short-term case fatality showed increasing trends in women aged 65–74 and ≥85 years, while long-term case fatality in men aged 55–64 and 75–84 years and women aged ≥75 years showed increasing trends.

Conclusions

Hong Kong trends resembled those in the USA, England and Wales, showing stable or slow decline in the IHD rates, while increasing trends were observed for some age groups, particularly young adults. Public health promotion efforts should focus on reducing cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension prevalence.
Surgical Intensive Care Unit Optimal Mobilisation Score (SOMS) trial: a protocol for an international, multicentre, randomised controlled trial focused on goal-directed early mobilisation of surgical ICU patients
Authors: Meyer Matthew J , Stanislaus Anne B , Lee Jarone , Waak Karen , Ryan Cheryl , Saxena Richa , Ball Stephanie , Schmidt Ulrich , Poon Trudy , Piva Simone , Walz Matthias , Talmor Daniel S , Blobner Manfred , Latronico Nicola , Eikermann Matthias
Published: August 2013

Introduction

Immobilisation in the intensive care unit (ICU) leads to muscle weakness and is associated with increased costs and long-term functional disability. Previous studies showed early mobilisation of medical ICU patients improves clinical outcomes. The Surgical ICU Optimal Mobilisation Score (SOMS) trial aims to test whether a budget-neutral intervention to facilitate goal-directed early mobilisation in the surgical ICU improves participant mobilisation and associated clinical outcomes.

Methods and analysis

The SOMS trial is an international, multicentre, randomised clinical study being conducted in the USA and Europe. We are targeting 200 patients. The primary outcome is average daily SOMS level and key secondary outcomes are ICU length of stay until discharge readiness and ‘mini’ modified Functional Independence Measure (mmFIM) at hospital discharge. Additional secondary outcomes include quality of life assessed at 3 months after hospital discharge and global muscle strength at ICU discharge. Exploratory outcomes will include: ventilator-free days, ICU and hospital length of stay and 3-month mortality. We will explore genetic influences on the effectiveness of early mobilisation and centre-specific effects of early mobilisation on outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval in three institutions, we started study recruitment and plan to expand to additional centres in Germany and Italy. Safety monitoring will be the domain of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB). The SOMS trial will also explore the feasibility of a transcontinental study on early mobilisation in the surgical ICU.

Results

The results of this study, along with those of ancillary studies, will be made available in the form of manuscripts and presentations at national and international meetings.

Registration

This study has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01363102).
Protocol for a qualitative study of knowledge translation in a participatory research project
Authors: Lillehagen Ida , Vøllestad Nina , Heggen Kristin , Engebretsen Eivind
Published: August 2013

Introduction

In this article, we present a methodological design for qualitative investigation of knowledge translation (KT) between participants in a participatory research project. In spite of a vast expansion of conceptual models and frameworks for conducting KT between research and practice, few models emphasisehowKTs come about. Better understanding of the actions and activities involved in a KT process is important for promoting diffusion of knowledge and improving patient care. The purpose of this article is to describe a methodological design for investigating how KTs come about in participatory research.

Methods and analysis

The article presents an ethnographic study which investigates meetings between participants in a participatory research project. The participants are researchers and primary healthcare clinicians. Data are collected through observation, interviews and document studies. The material is analysed using the analytical concepts of knowledge objects, knowledge forms and knowledge positions. These concepts represent an analytical framework enabling us to observe knowledge and how it is translated between participants. The main expected outcome of our study is to develop a typology of KT practices relevant to participatory research.

Ethics and dissemination

The project has been evaluated and approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. Informed consent was obtained for all participants. The findings from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and national and international conference presentations.
Design of an instrument to measure alcohol-related psychosocial influences in the development of norms among 13-year-old to 17-year-old adolescents
Authors: Hildebrand Janina , Maycock Bruce , Burns Sharyn , Zhao Yun , Allsop Steve , Howat Peter , Lobo Roanna
Published: August 2013

Introduction

Harmful drinking among young people is common in Australia and many other countries. Social norms and their influence on adolescents’ alcohol consumption behaviours have received much research attention in recent years. However, there is limited understanding of how social norms related to alcohol are developed and transmitted across social networks and a specific tool that measures these constructs has yet to be developed. This paper outlines the rationale and protocol for the design and validation of a multidimensional survey instrument which measures the development and transmission pathways of alcohol-related norms among adolescents. A longer term aim is to apply the instrument in a respondent-driven sampling study with a large adolescent cohort.

Methods and analysis

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and relevant literature will guide the design of the online survey instrument. Feedback from a practitioner-based stakeholder committee, academic expert panel reviews, focus groups and interviews with adolescents aged 13–17 years in Perth, Western Australia (WA) will serve to ascertain content and face validity. A test–retest will be conducted using a purposive sample of students (n=400) at secondary schools in Perth. The instrument's psychometric properties will be analysed, including exploratory factor analyses, discriminant validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability.

Ethics and dissemination

The results of this research will provide public health researchers and practitioners with a comprehensive standardised instrument to explore the characteristics of individual-level and community-level social influences and norms associated with use of alcohol by adolescents and the routes through which these norms are transmitted. The data collected by the instrument is anticipated to inform the design of youth specific interventions with the potential to reduce alcohol-related harms. The Study findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. The study has received approval from the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee.
Using the Clinical Research Network for psychosocial cancer research: lessons learned from two observational studies
Authors: Wright Penny , Fenlon Deborah , Jones Helen , Foster Claire , Ashley Laura , Seymour Kim Chivers , Velikova Galina , Okamoto Ikumi , Brown Julia
Published: August 2013

Background

Patient recruitment to psychosocial oncology research has increased but the many studies have been single-site or small-scale. The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network, supports National Institute for Health Research portfolio studies through provision of research staff for recruitment and follow-up. These studies are usually clinical trials of an investigational medicinal product. Psychosocial researchers have little used this resource.

Process

We report the processes followed and experiences of two psychosocial research teams who recently used the Clinical Research Network, to undertake patient recruitment to two prospective observational studies: electronic Patient-reported Outcomes from Cancer Survivors study (ePOCS) and the ColoREctal Wellbeing study (CREW). Both research groups employed different approaches to using Clinical Research Network support.

Outcomes

ePOCS secured Comprehensive Local Research Networks funding to appoint ePOCS-specific study research nurses. CREW obtained research support through the National Institute for Health Research Cancer Research Network. Recruitment targets were met (ePOCS n=636; CREW n=1055) despite logistical, administrative and bureaucratic challenges in setting up the studies. Research nurses feedback was mainly positive (ePOCS study only). Top tips for establishing and running psychosocial studies with Clinical Research Network staff are provided and suggestions given for advancing multicentre complex psychosocial studies.

Conclusions

Some challenges were similar to those in delivery of clinical trials of an investigational medicinal product. The pros and cons of being involved in ePOCS from the research nurse perspective are also described. Overall the approaches used were successful with both studies reaching their recruitment targets.
STRUCTURE AND PHOTOCATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF N-DOPED TiO2-x FILMS PREPARED BY N-ION IMPLANTATION
Authors: FENG H. , SI P. Z. , SHI Y. C. , JIN C. H. , ZHANG X. L. , LIU J. J. , YU S. J. , ZHANG G. H. , GE H. L.
Published: August 2013

Nitrogen doped TiO 2-x films have been prepared by using N -ion implantation method. X-ray diffraction patterns of the N -doped TiO 2-x films could be indexed with rutile TiO 2 and Ti 7 O 13 in structure. XPS measurements revealed a 2.73 atm.% concentration of N atoms in the N -doped films and two N 1 s photoelectron binding energies at 396.3 and 399.9 eV originating from N -doped TiO 2 and N -doped Ti 7 O 13, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the N -doped films under visible light have been investigated by degradation of methylene blue solution.
MULTIMODAL INFORMATION FUSION OF AUDIO EMOTION RECOGNITION BASED ON KERNEL ENTROPY COMPONENT ANALYSIS
Authors: XIE ZHIBING , GUAN LING
Published: August 2013

This paper focuses on the application of novel information theoretic tools in the area of information fusion. Feature transformation and fusion is critical for the performance of information fusion, however, the majority of the existing works depend on second order statistics, which is only optimal for Gaussian-like distribution. In this paper, the integration of information fusion techniques and kernel entropy component analysis provides a new information theoretic tool. The fusion of features is realized using descriptor of information entropy and is optimized by entropy estimation. A novel multimodal information fusion strategy of audio emotion recognition based on kernel entropy component analysis (KECA) has been presented. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is evaluated through experimentation on two audiovisual emotion databases. Experimental results show that the proposed solution outperforms the existing methods, especially when the dimension of feature space is substantially reduced. The proposed method offers general theoretical analysis which gives us an approach to implement information theory into multimedia research.
SEMANTIC MOTION CONCEPT RETRIEVAL IN NON-STATIC BACKGROUND UTILIZING SPATIAL-TEMPORAL VISUAL INFORMATION
Authors: LIU DIANTING , SHYU MEI-LING
Published: August 2013

Motion concepts mean those concepts containing motion information such as racing car and dancing. In order to achieve high retrieval accuracy comparing with those static concepts such as car or person in semantic retrieval tasks, the temporal information has to be considered. Additionally, if a video sequence is captured by an amateur using a hand-held camera containing significant camera motion, the complexities of the uncontrolled backgrounds would aggravate the difficulty of motion concept retrieval. Therefore, the retrieval of semantic concepts containing motion in non-static background is regarded as one of the most challenging tasks in multimedia semantic analysis and video retrieval. To address such a challenge, this paper proposes a motion concept retrieval framework including a motion region detection model and a concept retrieval model that integrates the spatial and temporal information in video sequences. The motion region detection model uses a new integral density method (adopted from the idea of integral images) to quickly identify the motion regions in an unsupervised way. Specially, key information locations on video frames are first obtained as maxima and minima of the result of Difference of Gaussian (DoG) function. Then a motion map of adjacent frames is generated from the diversity of the outcomes from the Simultaneous Partition and Class Parameter Estimation (SPCPE) framework. The usage of the motion map is to filter key information locations into key motion locations (KMLs) that imply the regions containing motion. The motion map can also indicate the motion direction which guides the proposed "integral density" approach to locate the motion regions quickly and accurately. Based on the motion region detection model, moving object-level information is extracted for semantic retrieval. In the proposed conceptual retrieval model, temporally semantic consistency among the consecutive shots is analyzed and presented into a conditional probability model, which is then used to re-rank the similarity scores to improve the final retrieval results. The results of our proposed novel motion concept retrieval framework are not only illustrated visually demonstrating its robustness in non-static background, but also verified by the promising experimental results demonstrating that the concept retrieval performance can be improved by integrating the spatial and temporal visual information.