bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THERMAL RESISTANCE, SURVIVAL AND INACTIVATION OF ENTEROBACTER SAKAZAKII (CRONOBACTER SPP.) IN POWDERED AND RECONSTITUTED INFANT FORMULA
Authors: AL‐HOLY M.A. , LIN M. , ABU‐GHOUSH M.M. , AL‐QADIRI H.M. , RASCO B.A.
Published: April 2009

Enterobacter sakazakii has recently been recognized as an opportunistic foodborne pathogen, and dry infant formula serves as the mode of transmission. The objectives of this study were to investigate the heat resistance, survival and inactivation under room and refrigeration temperatures storage of dry and reconstituted infant formula milk (IFM). E. sakazakii strains (eight strains) showed a wide variability in heat resistance at different temperatures (55, 60 and 63C). The D‐values at 55C ranged from 1.51 to 14.83 min, at 60C from 0.17 to 2.71 min and at 63C from 0.05 to 0.88 min. The calculated z values for the studied E. sakazakii strains ranged from 3.76–10.11C. Microwave oven heating of 60‐mL portions of reconstituted IFM for 40–50 s was effective in eradicating inoculated E. sakazakii. Storing powdered IFM for 15 days at 4C resulted in at least a 1‐log reduction in E. sakazakii strains, whereas storing reconstituted IFM at 4C for 2 weeks resulted in more than a 2‐log reduction in E. sakazakii.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study shows that E. sakazakii strains differ widely in their heat resistance. No differences were observed between biofilm formers and nonformers in terms of heat‐resistance in thermal inactivation kinetics experiments. Conventional high temperature short‐time pasteurization processes are considered sufficient to inactivate all E. sakazakii strains, and a household microwave oven (40–50 s for 60‐mL portions) can be used to inactivate E. sakazakii if present in reconstituted infant formula milk (IFM). Growth of E. sakazakii can be inhibited in powdered and reconstituted IFM by refrigeration. Also, it is recommended that reconstituted IFM be discarded or refrigerated if not immediately consumed. The probiotic L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 was not effective in inhibiting E. sakazakii in powdered or reconstituted IFM.
Does Multidisciplinary Stroke Care Improve Outcome in A Secondary-Level Hospital in South Africa?
Authors: Villiers Linda de , Kalula Sebastiana Zimba , Burch Vanessa Celeste
Published: April 2009

Background and Purpose

The improved outcome (survival and function) of stroke patients admitted to multidisciplinary stroke units (SU) in developed countries has not been replicated in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study documents the outcome of patients admitted to the first multidisciplinary SU opened at a secondary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

Methods

Patient outcomes including in-hospital mortality, resource utilization (length of hospital stay, CT brain scans performed, and tertiary hospital referral), and access to inpatient rehabilitation were recorded for all patients admitted to the hospital for 3 months before initiating multidisciplinary stroke care and for 3 months after implementing multidisciplinary stroke care.

Results

One hundred and ninety-five patients were studied; 101 of these were managed in the SU. Inpatient mortality decreased from 33% to 16% after initiating multidisciplinary stroke care ( P = 0·005). The length of hospital stay increased from a mean (SD, 95% CI) of 5·1 (6·5, 3·8–6·4) days to 6·8 (4·5, 5·9–7·6) days ( P = 0·01). Referral to inpatient rehabilitation increased from 5% to 19% ( P = 0·04) for those who survived to discharge. The number of CT brain scans performed and the number of referrals to the tertiary academic hospital did not increase significantly.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary stroke care was successfully implemented in a resource-constrained secondary-level hospital in South Africa and despite the limitations of the study, the significant reduction in inpatient mortality and increase in referral for inpatient rehabilitation would suggest an improvement in stroke care. Resource utilization in terms of length of hospital stay increased by a mean of 2 days but the number of CT brain scans performed and referral to a tertiary hospital did not increase significantly.
Systematic Review of Process Indicators: Including Early Rehabilitation Interventions Used to Measure Quality of Acute Stroke Care
Authors: Purvis T. , Cadilhac D. , Donnan G. , Bernhardt J.
Published: April 2009

Background

Stroke is a leading cause of disease burden. The quality of care provided in hospitals can affect outcome. Therefore, examining adherence to clinically important processes of care can help improve care delivery and patient outcomes. However, knowing which process indicators to measure is essential.

Aim

Systematically review process indicators used to evaluate acute stroke services, including early rehabilitation interventions, and assess whether published indicators conform to clinical guidelines.

Methods

Publications (1985-2006) were identified by systematically searching databases (e.g. Medline and Cochrane Library), and the internet using free text terms: ‘stroke unit’, ‘process’, ‘quality’, ‘mobilisation’, ‘acute’, and ‘early rehabilitation’. Publications describing process indicators relating to the first 2 weeks of in-patient stroke care were included. Process indicators were categorised according to six clinical process domains covering the acute stroke admission. Commonly cited indicators (≥6 publications) were then mapped to the 2003 Australian clinical guidelines.

Results

Sixty potential studies were found from title and abstract. Following full text review, 32 publications were retained. Of the 161 process indicators identified, 43 were commonly cited. Seventy-nine per cent of commonly cited indicators were found in the guidelines. The level of evidence underpinning each indicator ranged from low ‘expert opinion’ (59%), to high, ‘level 1’ (12%) evidence. Indicators related to rehabilitation were rare.

Conclusion

Many acute stroke process indicators have been published. However, a quarter did not align with current clinical guidelines. Developing an ‘ideal set’ of process indicators to reflect the evidence base seems sensible and should include rehabilitation interventions.
Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Risk Factors
Authors: Saadatnia Mohammad , Fatehi Farzad , Basiri Keivan , Mousavi Seyed Ali , Mehr Gilda Kinani
Published: April 2009

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is an uncommon disease marked by clotting of blood in cerebral venous, or dural sinuses, and, in rare cases, cortical veins. It is a rare but potentially fatal cause of acute neurological deterioration previously related to otomastoid, orbit, and central face cutaneous infections. After the advent of antibiotics, it is more often related to neoplasm, pregnancy, puerperium, systemic diseases, dehydration, intracranial tumors, oral contraceptives, and coagulopathies are the most common causes, but in 30% of cases no underlying etiology can be identified. It has been found in association with fibrous thyroiditis, jugular thrombosis after catheterization, or idiopathic jugular vein stenosis. Other factors include surgery, head trauma, arteriovenous malformations, infection, paraneoplastic, and autoimmune disease. This article presents a comprehensive review of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis etiologies.
WSO Leadership in Stroke Medicine Award Lecture Vienna, September 26, 2008: Functional Imaging Correlates to Disturbance and Recovery of Language Function
Authors: Heiss Wolf-Dieter
Published: April 2009

Disturbance of neurologic function in disorders of the central nervous system is expressed as an altered activation pattern in functional networks used by specific tasks and can be studied by functional imaging modalities, e.g., positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Language, a complex brain function, is based on the interplay of a distributed network in which partial functions are executed in various centers, the primary language areas. These areas are hierarchically organized and activated according to the complexity of the specific language task. The specialization of different centers and the lateralization of integrative functions into the dominant (usually left) hemisphere are achieved by collateral and transcallosal inhibition of secondary language areas that are not used normally for performance of a specific language task. Changes in the interaction within the functional network of language are important for the recovery from aphasia after stroke. In particular, studies of changes in the activation patterns during speech tasks have demonstrated that patients with favorable recovery predominantly activate structures in the ipsilateral hemisphere, but some activation was also seen in the right hemisphere. Increased activation within the right hemisphere may be a marker of failed or faulty recovery attempts in the sense of maladaptive plasticity or the breakdown of normal interhemispheric control within the distributed neural network. The role of activation in the right hemisphere for residual language performance can be investigated by combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with functional imaging [e.g., positron emission tomography (PET)]. These studies suggested a less effective compensatory potential of right-sided network areas. Overactivation of right language homologues may represent a maladaptive strategy by paradoxical functional facilitation as a result of decreased transcallosal inhibition attributable to damage of specialized and lateralized speech areas. Suppression of this paradoxical activation might therefore improve aphasic deficits.
Can legal reasoning be demystified?
Authors: Samuel Geoffrey
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this paper is to examine a new work on legal reasoning by two American jurists whose aim is to ‘demystify’ it. The paper will not dispute the authors' central thesis that the existence of special forms of reasoning in law is false, but it will argue that a social science epistemologist would find their analysis at best inadequate. It will be argued that legal reasoning is not just reasoning from and about rules; it is also reasoning about facts and about the construction of factual situations. Consequently, it is vital for anyone wishing to have a serious understanding of how lawyers reason to have a familiarity with how social scientists, and indeed natural scientists, reason about fact. Such reasoning certainly involves induction, deduction and analogy but these methods are by no means adequate as an epistemological framework; schemes of intelligibility and paradigm orientations are equally important. If there is one paradigm orientation that is special to certain disciplines like theology and law, it is the authority paradigm, an orientation that must be distinguished from an inquiry paradigm. The problem with works by legal philosophers on legal reasoning is, it will be implied, that they are often conducted from within the authority paradigm and that this, in the end, prevents any demystification.
Feces Production and Ammonia Excretion of Pacific Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, Fed Kelp, Laminaria japonica, in Relation to Water Temperature and Shell Length
Authors: Park Jeonghwan , Kim Hyung‐Bae , Kim Pyong‐Kih , Jo Jae‐Yoon
Published: April 2009

Nitrogen excreted by aquatic animals mainly takes the form of metabolic wastes such as feces and ammonia, which is accumulated in the intensive aquaculture system and causes serious environmental contamination. So it is very important to determine the waste excretion characteristics of aquatic animals for the development of practical and nonpolluting land‐based aquaculture. Abalone has a unique feeding habit and feeding regime, different from those of finfish; abalone gnaw feed seaweed to produce feces and ammonia continuously. In this study, the rates of feces production and ammonia excretion of pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, of three shell lengths (3, 5, and 7 cm) were investigated under three different temperature conditions (12, 16, and 20 C). All experiments were performed in triplicate in a semirecirculating aquaculture system. Feces were collected for 5 d, and ammonia concentrations (total ammonia nitrogen [TAN]) in the tank inlet and outlet were monitored every 4‐h interval for 24 h at the fourth day of the feces collection. The regressions for the weight‐specific feces production rate (g feces/kg abalone/d) and the weight‐specific TAN excretion rate (mg TAN/kg abalone/d) in relation to water temperature (T, C) and shell length (L, cm) were weight‐specific feces production rate = exp(1.575 − 281.2/T2 – 0.142L), r2 = 0.9550, and weight‐specific TAN excretion rate = exp(5.052 − 277.1/T2 − 0.136L), r2 = 0.9598. Pacific abalone produced 108.3–111.7 g feces and excreted 3.83 g TAN/kg seaweed ingested (dry weight).
The Effect of Diet on the Energy Budget of the Brown Sea Cucumber, Stichopus mollis (Hutton)
Authors: Maxwell Kimberley H. , Gardner Jonathan P. A. , Heath Philip L.
Published: April 2009

This study investigated the ability of the brown sea cucumber, Stichopus (Australostichopus) mollis, to grow on diets made from aquaculture waste. Weight‐standardized rates (ingestion, assimilation, respiration, ammonia excretion, and fecal excretion) of small (juvenile), medium (mature), and large (mature) sea cucumbers were measured and energy budgets constructed to quantify their growth rates when offered three different diets at 14, 16, and 18 C. Three types of diet were offered: uneaten abalone food (diet A) and two types of abalone feces, one where abalone were fed 50% Macrocystis pyrifera and 50% Undaria pinnatifida macroalgae (diet B) and the other where abalone were fed 25% M. pyrifera, 25% U. pinnatifida, and 50% Adam & Amos Abalone Food, where the latter is an industry standard diet (diet C). The organic contents of the diets were much higher than natural sediments and varied such that diet A (76.40%) > diet B (54.50%) > diet C (37.00%). Diet had a significant effect on S. mollis ingestion rates, assimilation efficiencies, and consequently energy budgets and growth rates. Greater quantities of organic matter (OM) from diet A and diet B were ingested and assimilated by the sea cucumbers compared with the OM in diet C. The energy budgets indicated that after taking routine metabolism into account, all sizes of sea cucumbers had energy to allocate to growth when offered diet A and diet B, but only juveniles had energy to allocate to growth when offered diet C. Fecal excretion rates when offered diet A and diet C at 14 C were greater than those at 18 C, but neither was significantly different from that at 16 C. Ammonia excretion rates increased nonlinearly with temperature for small and medium sea cucumbers but not for large sea cucumbers. Weight‐standardized respiration rates increased with temperature and unexpectedly with animal size, which may have been because of the narrow weight range of test animals biasing the results. These results suggest that industry standard type abalone waste lacks sufficient energy to meet the metabolic requirements of mature sea cucumbers but that growing juveniles on these wastes appears to be feasible and warrants further investigation.
Effect of Various Dietary Levels of Docosahexaenoic and Arachidonic Acids and Different n‐3/n‐6 Ratios on Biological Performance of Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Raised in Low Salinity
Authors: González‐Félix Mayra L. , Perez‐Velazquez Martin , Quintero‐Alvarez Jesús M. , Davis D. Allen
Published: April 2009

A 3 × 3 factorial study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three fixed levels of docosahexaenoic acid meal (DHAM) and arachidonic acid meal (ARAM), produced by using a meal that had high levels of the desired fatty acid (0.23% DHAM–0.05% ARAM, 0.50% DHAM–0.10% ARAM, and 0.75% DHAM–0.15% ARAM), and three n‐3/n‐6 dietary ratios (0.3, 0.8, and 1.8), as well as their potential interaction on growth, survival, and fatty acid composition of hepatopancreas and muscle tissue of juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, cultured in low salinity. Two additional reference diets with menhaden fish oil or soy and flax oils (n‐3/n‐6 ratios of 1.8 and 1.7, respectively) were tested. No significant differences (at P < 0.05) and no significant interactions were observed among treatments for final weight, weight gain, or survival after 6‐wk feeding. This study confirmed that supplementation of DHA and ARA from alternative sources to fish oil is effective in promoting growth and survival of juvenile L. vannamei. The fatty acid profile and n‐3/n‐6 ratio of shrimp tissue reflected that of dietary lipids, although more studies are required to elucidate how the n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acid balance in the diet relates to shrimp growth.
The Effect of AQUI‐S® Sedation on Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Stress Responses during Salmon Smolt, Salmo salar L., Transport and Transfer to Sea
Authors: Iversen Martin , Eliassen Robert A.
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of AQUI‐S® (5.0 mg/L) sedation compared with nonsedation on the primary (plasma cortisol), secondary (osmoregulation), and tertiary (mortality) stress responses in Atlantic salmon smolts during transport and transfer to sea. AQUI‐S sedation during on‐ and off‐loading sufficiently reduced the primary stress response to lower mortality (2.5%) during transfer to sea compared with unsedated fish, which experienced a mortality rate above 11.5%. The unsedated fish experienced an acute mortality, which only stabilized 16 d after the transport. None of the secondary stress responses measured in this experiment could contribute in explaining this phenomenon, with the possible exception of plasma magnesium. While osmolality and chloride increased in both groups during the experiment, it did not seem to be related to the difference in the primary stress response documented in the sedated and unsedated groups. It instead appeared to be an effect of the salinity change from freshwater to seawater after transport. Plasma magnesium differed between the groups, while plasma magnesium in the AQUI‐S‐sedated group returned to prestress levels 12 h after transport. The unsedated group showed no such recovery even 1 wk after transport, which may indicate a disturbance in hydromineral balance and give plausible explanation for delayed mortality this group experienced. AQUI‐S shows promise as a stress‐reducing sedative for Atlantic salmon smolts and if used properly could improve animal welfare and survivability during and after common aquaculture‐related incidents.
Differential Growth of the Mussels Perna perna and Perna viridis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in Suspended Culture in the Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela
Authors: Acosta Vanessa , Glem María E. , Natera Yolimar , Urbano Trinidad , Himmelman John H. , Rey‐Méndez Manuel , Lodeiros César
Published: April 2009

We evaluated the growth of mussels Perna perna and Perna viridis in suspended culture in the Golfo de Cariaco in Venezuela. Juveniles were cultured for up to 13 mo on cultch strings suspended from longline, with monthly sampling for determination of shell length and dry weights of shell and soft tissues. Water temperature, oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll a, seston, and shell fouling were also monitored. In both species, growth during the first 5 mo (the stratification period in the region) was slow. Subsequently, the onset of the coastal upwelling period (November/December) generated lower temperatures and higher plankton levels, correlated with higher growth rates, particularly in P. perna, which by the end of the experiment had reached a mean length 1.3‐fold greater than that of P. viridis (95.3 ± 7.91 vs. 73.3 ± 6.99 mm) together with a 1.9‐fold greater somatic tissue. Likewise, reproductive activity differed between the two species, P. perna showing a higher gonad development and its reproductive activity starting earlier than that of P. viridis. Our results show that P. perna presents higher growth and survival than P. viridis in suspension culture, a fact related to a greater tolerance to the environmental characteristics of the Golfo de Cariaco.
Supplementation of Chelated Magnesium to Diets of the Pacific White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, Reared in Low‐salinity Waters of West Alabama
Authors: Roy Luke A. , Davis D. Allen , Nguyen Tri N. , Saoud Imad Patrick
Published: April 2009

Shrimp farmers using inland low‐salinity waters in west Alabama have traditionally used agricultural fertilizers (K‐Mag®, muriate of potash) to raise pond water levels of potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) to improve the rearing medium for Litopenaeus vannamei. Laboratory and farm trials were performed to investigate the potential of using dietary supplementation of Mg instead of costly agricultural fertilizers. A 5‐wk laboratory trial was devised to test four diets with varying levels of Mg supplementation (0, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60% Mg chelate) using a magnesium chelate (MgC)–amino acid complex. Juvenile shrimp were stocked into artificial low‐salinity water (5 ppt) designed to contain low levels of Mg. A farm trial was also conducted to test the same diets under field conditions. Although both laboratory and on‐farm trials revealed a trend for increased growth using the diet with the highest Mg supplement, results were not significantly different. The use of magnesium chelates as dietary supplements at levels higher than the requirement level to enhance survival, growth, and osmoregulatory capacity of shrimp reared in inland low‐salinity well waters appeared to have limited potential. Until effective specialized diet formulations are produced, farmers should continue to supplement pond waters with fertilizers containing K and Mg.
Multiple myeloma presenting with an acute bacterial infection
Authors: KALAMBOKIS G. N. , CHRISTOU L. , TSIANOS E. V.
Published: April 2009

Increased susceptibility to bacterial infections is a common manifestation of multiple myeloma (MM), arising mainly from a defect in humoral immunity and is associated with major morbidity and mortality. The propensity to infection is increased in the first months after the initial diagnosis and in patients with renal dysfunction. Gram‐positive infections, mainly pneumonia from Streptococcus pneumoniae, occur more frequently in patients with untreated disease while Gram‐negative infections, mainly of the urinary tract, are more common after chemotherapy. However, an acute bacterial infection is rarely reported as the first manifestation of underlying MM. In this review, we analysed data from 17 such cases reported between 1978 and 2008. Median age was 65.5 years and most patients were females; monoclonal paraprotein was IgG in 92%. In contrast to diagnosed treated or untreated MM, musculoskeletal infections predominated in these early cases (47%) followed by pneumonia (29%). In particular, septic arthritis, mainly of the knee, was the most common infectious complication (35%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in two‐thirds of infections and bacteremia was common (80%). In this early phase, immunodeficiency arised from a decreased synthesis of polyclonal immunoglobulins. White blood cell counts were frequently normal, particularly in musculoskeletal infections. Renal impairment occurred in 67% and correlated with increasing monoclonal paraprotein levels. The outcome was favorable in most cases (79%). MM should be considered in previously asymptomatic middle‐aged patients who present with a major acute bacterial infection, without an apparent predisposing factor. In particular, suspicion should be high in cases of septic arthritis and pneumococcaemia.
Evaluating five dedicated automatic devices for haemoglobinopathy diagnostics in multi‐ethnic populations
Authors: VAN DELFT P. , LENTERS E. , BAKKER‐VERWEIJ M. , De KORTE M. , BAYLAN U. , HARTEVELD C. L. , GIORDANO P. C.
Published: April 2009

We have tested five haemoglobin (Hb) separation apparatuses, dedicated to haemoglobinopathy diagnostics. These are the four high performance liquid chromatography devices: VARIANT II™, HA 8160, G7, Ultra2 and the Capillary Electrophoresis apparatus from Sebia. In the first place, we focussed on the capacity of all apparatuses to detect the most common structural variants relevant for public health, these being HbS, HbC, HbE, HbD‐Punjab and HbO‐Arab. We then compared how the high HbA2β‐thalassaemia carriers were identified. All apparatuses were able to identify carriers of these traits with the expected sensitivity and specificity. With the primary goal of a high degree of conformity in basic diagnostics of haemoglobinopathies, we present the interpretation and the significance of the results on all apparatuses, and we comment on the unavoidable problems and solutions.
The effects of MRI signal intensity changes and clinical manifestations on prognosis after surgical intervention for cervical spondylotic myelopathy
Authors: Zhang Ying‐ze , Wang Lin‐feng , Shen Yong , Ding Wen‐yuan , Xu Jia‐xin , He Jie
Published: April 2009

Objective:  To investigate whether the magnetic resonance (MR) T2 image signal intensity ratio and clinical manifestations can predict the prognosis in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Methods:  A total of 73 patients treated with anterior, posterior, or posterior‐anterior combined surgery for compressive cervical myelopathy were enrolled retrospectively in this study. 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all patients before surgery. T2‐weighted images (T2WI) of sagittal signal intensity were obtained of the cervical spinal cord, and the regions of interest (ROI) were taken by 0.05 cm2. MR T2WI of sagittal normal cord signal at the C7‐T1 disc level were also obtained, and the ROI were taken by 0.3 cm2. Signal value was measured by computer and the signal ratio between regions 0.05 cm2 and 0.3 cm2 calculated. Where no intramedullary high signal intensity was noted on MR T2WI, the ROI were taken by 0.05 cm2 of the region of most severe spinal cord compression. The 73 patients were divided into three groups by hierarchical clustering analysis with signal intensity ratio (group 1: low signal intensity ratio; group 2: middle signal intensity ratio; group 3: high signal intensity ratio). Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 11.0.

Results:  There were significant differences between the three groups according to the recovery rate (P < 0.001), age (P= 0.003), duration of disease (P= 0.001), Babinski sign (P < 0.001), pre‐ and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score (P= 0.006). With increases in both signal intensity ratio grade and age, the recovery rate and pre‐ and postoperative JOA scores gradually decreased, and the incidence of Babinski sign increased. There was no significant difference in sex among the three groups (P= 0.387). Multiple comparison tests further supported the above‐mentioned results.

Conclusion:  Patients with light or no intramedullary signal changes on T2WI had a good surgical outcome. However, increase of signal intensity ratio and occurrence of the pyramidal sign were associated with a poor prognosis after surgery.
Biomechanical research on anterior double‐plate fixation for vertically unstable sacroiliac dislocations
Authors: Chen Wu , Pan Zhi‐jun , Chen Jian‐song
Published: April 2009

Objective:  To determine the best method for anterior internal fixation by comparing the biomechanical characteristics of various anterior fixation methods for vertically unstable sacroiliac dislocations.

Methods:  Eight pelves with Tile C fracture with vertical loading were measured separately. Three‐ and two‐hole anterior double plates were fixed at different angles and compared with sacroiliac screws.

Results:  For two‐hole anterior double plates, with increasing angle, axial stability increases while lateral stability decreases. For three‐hole plates with an angle of 60°, axial stability is clearly better when placed horizontally, while lateral stability shows no obvious differences.

Conclusion:  For fixing sacroiliac dislocations, three‐hole anterior double plates placed at about 60° produce excellent stability, which would be greatly increased if screws were added on the iliac side.
Staggered rhizotomy of anterior and posterior sacral roots for bladder reservoir function in spinal cord injury: a canine experimental study and preliminary clinical report
Authors: Chang Shi‐min , Hou Chun‐lin
Published: April 2009

Objective:  To report an experimental study and preliminary clinical results of staggered anterior and posterior sacral rhizotomy for restoring function of the bladder and preventing reflex incontinence in supra‐conal spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods:  Ten T10 spinal cord transected mongrel dogs were divided into three groups. In group 1 (n= 2), laminectomy only was performed (control). In group 2 (n= 4), all L7‐S3 posterior roots were microsurgically cut (complete deafferentation). And in group 3 (n= 4), the L7, S1, S3 posterior roots and S2 anterior root were cut (staggered deafferentation and deefferentation). Intraoperative electrical stimulation and postoperative cystometrography (CMG) were carried out. In the clinic, three patients with spastic bladder caused by a supra conal complete SCI underwent staggered rhizotomy and were followed up for 6 years.

Results:  In the canine experimental study, resection of the S2 anterior root combined with L7, S1 and S3 posterior rhizotomy, stimulating the S2 posterior root (four dogs) resulted in a minimal rise in pressure in the bladder and urethra, which was only about 10% of that obtained by stimulating the S2 proximal posterior root while its anterior counterpart was intact (eight dogs, Student's t‐test, P < 0.01). The CMG study showed that groups 2 and 3 had similar volume/pressure curves; in both groups the tendency was to develop flaccid bladders. In the clinic, three cases underwent staggered rhizotomy of the anterior and posterior roots in S3 and S4. Good bladder reservoir and compliance was achieved over six years of follow‐up.

Conclusion:  Staggered rhizotomy of the anterior and posterior sacral roots at different spinal cord levels has the same denervation effect as a complete posterior rhizotomy, and good bladder reservoir function can be achieved by this procedure.
Geographic and Phylogenetic Variation in Bacterial Biovolume as Revealed by Protein and Nucleic Acid Staining
Authors: Straza Tiffany R. A. , Cottrell Matthew T. , Ducklow Hugh W. , Kirchman David L.
Published: April 2009

Biovolume is an important characteristic of cells that shapes the contribution of microbes to total biomass and biogeochemical cycling. Most studies of bacterial cell volumes use DAPI (4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole), which stains nucleic acids and therefore only a portion of the cell. We used SYPRO Ruby protein stain combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization to examine biovolumes of bacteria in the total community, as well in phylogenetic subgroups. Protein-based volumes varied more and were consistently larger than DNA-based volumes by 3.3-fold on average. Bacterial cells were ca. 30% larger in the Arctic Ocean and Antarctic coastal waters than in temperate regimes. We hypothesized that geographic differences in the abundance of specific bacterial groups drove the observed patterns in biovolume. In support of this hypothesis, we found that
Gammaproteobacteria
and members of the
Sphingobacteria-Flavobacteria
group were larger in higher-latitude waters and that the mean volumes of both groups were larger than the mean bacterial volume in all environments tested. The mean cell size of SAR11 bacteria was larger than the mean cell size of the total bacterial community on average, although this varied. Protein staining increases the accuracy of biovolume measurements and gives insights into how the biomass of marine microbial communities varies over time and space.
Role of Gluconic Acid Production in the Regulation of Biocontrol Traits of
Pseudomonas fluorescens
CHA0
Authors: de Werra Patrice , Péchy-Tarr Maria , Keel Christoph , Maurhofer Monika
Published: April 2009

The rhizobacterium
Pseudomonas fluorescens
CHA0 promotes the growth of various crop plants and protects them against root diseases caused by pathogenic fungi. The main mechanism of disease suppression by this strain is the production of the antifungal compounds 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) and pyoluteorin (PLT). Direct plant growth promotion can be achieved through solubilization of inorganic phosphates by the production of organic acids, mainly gluconic acid, which is one of the principal acids produced by
Pseudomonas
spp. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of gluconic acid production in CHA0. Therefore, mutants were created with deletions in the genes encoding glucose dehydrogenase (
gcd
) and gluconate dehydrogenase (
gad
), required for the conversion of glucose to gluconic acid and gluconic acid to 2-ketogluconate, respectively. These enzymes should be of predominant importance for rhizosphere-colonizing biocontrol bacteria, as major carbon sources provided by plant root exudates are made up of glucose. Our results show that the ability of strain CHA0 to acidify its environment and to solubilize mineral phosphate is strongly dependent on its ability to produce gluconic acid. Moreover, we provide evidence that the formation of gluconic acid by CHA0 completely inhibits the production of PLT and partially inhibits that of DAPG. In the Δ
gcd
mutant, which does not produce gluconic acid, the enhanced production of antifungal compounds was associated with improved biocontrol activity against take-all disease of wheat, caused by
Gaeumannomyces graminis
var.
tritici
. This study provides new evidence for a close association of gluconic acid metabolism with antifungal compound production and biocontrol activity in
P. fluorescens
CHA0.
Transcriptome and Secretome Analyses ofPhanerochaete chrysosporiumReveal Complex Patterns of Gene Expression
Authors: Vanden Wymelenberg Amber , Gaskell Jill , Mozuch Mike , Kersten Phil , Sabat Grzegorz , Martinez Diego , Cullen Dan
Published: April 2009

The wood decay basidiomycetePhanerochaete chrysosporiumwas grown under standard ligninolytic or cellulolytic conditions and subjected to whole-genome expression microarray analysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of extracellular proteins. A total of 545 genes were flagged on the basis of significant changes in transcript accumulation and/or peptide sequences of the secreted proteins. Under nitrogen or carbon limitation, lignin and manganese peroxidase expression increased relative to nutrient replete medium. Various extracellular oxidases were also secreted in these media, supporting a physiological connection based on peroxide generation. Numerous genes presumed to be involved in mobilizing and recycling nitrogen were expressed under nitrogen limitation, and among these were several secreted glutamic acid proteases not previously observed. In medium containing microcrystalline cellulose as the sole carbon source, numerous genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes were upregulated. Among these were six members of the glycoside hydrolase family 61, as well as several polysaccharide lyases and carbohydrate esterases. Presenting a daunting challenge for future research, more than 190 upregulated genes are predicted to encode proteins of unknown function. Of these hypothetical proteins, approximately one-third featured predicted secretion signals, and 54 encoded proteins detected in extracellular filtrates. Our results affirm the importance of certain oxidative enzymes and, underscoring the complexity of lignocellulose degradation, also support an important role for many new proteins of unknown function.
Rhizosphere Communities of Genetically Modified Zeaxanthin-Accumulating Potato Plants and Their Parent Cultivar Differ Less than Those of Different Potato Cultivars
Authors: Weinert Nicole , Meincke Remo , Gottwald Christine , Heuer Holger , Gomes Newton C. M. , Schloter Michael , Berg Gabriele , Smalla Kornelia
Published: April 2009

The effects of genetically modified (GM), zeaxanthin-accumulating potato plants on microbial communities in the rhizosphere were compared to the effects of different potato cultivars. Two GM lines and their parental cultivar, as well as four other potato cultivars, were grown in randomized field plots at two sites and in different years. Rhizosphere samples were taken at three developmental stages during plant growth and analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprints of
Bacteria
,
Actinobacteria
,
Alpha
- and
Betaproteobacteria
,
Bacillus
,
Streptomycetaceae
,
Pseudomonas
,
gacA
,
Fungi
, and
Ascomycetes
. In the bacterial DGGE gels analyzed, significant differences between the parental cultivar and the two GM lines were detected mainly for
Actinobacteria
but also for
Betaproteobacteria
and
Streptomycetaceae
, yet these differences occurred only at one site and in one year. Significant differences occurred more frequently for
Fungi
, especially
Ascomycetes
, than for bacteria. When all seven plant genotypes were compared, DGGE analysis revealed that different cultivars had a greater effect on both bacterial and fungal communities than genetic modification. The effects of genetic modification were detected mostly at the senescence developmental stage of the plants. The site was the overriding factor affecting microbial community structure compared to the plant genotype. In general, the fingerprints of the two GM lines were more similar to that of the parental cultivar, and the differences observed did not exceed natural cultivar-dependent variability.
Susceptibility of
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to the Entomopathogenic Fungus
Metarhizium anisopliae
when Feeding on
Bacillus thuringiensis
Cry3Bb1-Expressing Maize
Authors: Meissle Michael , Pilz Christina , Romeis Jörg
Published: April 2009

Genetically engineered maize producing the insecticidal protein Cry3Bb1 from
Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt maize) is protected against corn rootworms (
Diabrotica
spp.), which are serious maize pests in North America and Europe. The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction of Bt maize (event MON88017) and the entomopathogenic fungus
Metarhizium anisopliae
for controlling the western corn rootworm,
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
. Exposure to Cry3Bb1 expressed in Bt maize seedlings resulted in decreased weight gain in
D. v. virgifera
larvae but did not influence susceptibility to
M. anisopliae
. Adult beetles were not affected by Cry3Bb1 in their food, but mortality when feeding on maize leaves was higher than when feeding on silk. Adults were more susceptible to the fungus than larvae. The results indicate that the effects of Bt maize and
M. anisopliae
on
D. v. virgifera
are additive and that Bt maize does not interfere with the biological control provided by entomopathogenic fungi.
Ferricrocin, a Siderophore Involved in Intra- and Transcellular Iron Distribution in
Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Wallner Anja , Blatzer Michael , Schrettl Markus , Sarg Bettina , Lindner Herbert , Haas Hubertus
Published: April 2009

Iron is an essential metal for virtually all organisms. Iron acquisition is well characterized for various organisms, whereas intracellular iron distribution is poorly understood. In contrast to bacteria, plants, and animals, most fungi lack ferritin-mediated iron storage but possess an intracellular siderophore shown to be involved in iron storage. Here we demonstrate that deficiency in the intracellular siderophore ferricrocin causes iron starvation in conidia of
Aspergillus fumigatus
, demonstrating that ferricrocin is also involved in intra- and transcellular iron distribution. Thus, ferricrocin represents the first intracellular iron transporter identified in any organism.
Phenol Degradation in the Strictly Anaerobic Iron-Reducing Bacterium
Geobacter metallireducens
GS-15
Authors: Schleinitz Kathleen M. , Schmeling Sirko , Jehmlich Nico , von Bergen Martin , Harms Hauke , Kleinsteuber Sabine , Vogt Carsten , Fuchs Georg
Published: April 2009

Information on anaerobic phenol metabolism by physiological groups of bacteria other than nitrate reducers is scarce. We investigated phenol degradation in the strictly anaerobic iron-reducing deltaproteobacterium
Geobacter metallireducens
GS-15 using metabolite, transcriptome, proteome, and enzyme analyses. The results showed that the initial steps of phenol degradation are accomplished by phenylphosphate synthase (encoded by
pps
genes) and phenylphosphate carboxylase (encoded by
ppc
genes) as known from
Thauera aromatica
, but they also revealed some distinct differences. The
pps
-
ppc
gene cluster identified in the genome is functional, as shown by transcription analysis. In contrast to
T. aromatica
, transcription of the
pps-
and
ppc
-like genes was induced not only during growth on phenol, but also during growth on benzoate. In contrast, proteins were detected only during growth on phenol, suggesting the existence of a posttranscriptional regulation mechanism for these initial steps. Phenylphosphate synthase and phenylphosphate carboxylase activities were detected in cell extracts. The carboxylase does not catalyze an isotope exchange reaction between
14
CO
2
and 4-hydroxybenzoate, which is characteristic of the
T. aromatica
enzyme. Whereas the enzyme of
T. aromatica
is encoded by
ppcABCD
, the
pps
-
ppc
gene cluster of
G. metallireducens
contains only a
ppcB
homologue. Nearby, but oriented in the opposite direction, is a
ppcD
homologue that is transcribed during growth on phenol. Genome analysis did not reveal obvious homologues of
ppcA
and
ppcC
, leaving open the question of whether these genes are dispensable for phenylphosphate carboxylase activity in
G. metallireducens
or are quite different from the
Thauera
counterparts and located elsewhere in the genome.
Bacterial Communities from Shoreline Environments (Costa da Morte, Northwestern Spain) Affected by the
Prestige
Oil Spill
Authors: Alonso-Gutiérrez Jorge , Figueras Antonio , Albaigés Joan , Jiménez Núria , Viñas Marc , Solanas Anna M. , Novoa Beatriz
Published: April 2009

The bacterial communities in two different shoreline matrices, rocks and sand, from the Costa da Morte, northwestern Spain, were investigated 12 months after being affected by the
Prestige
oil spill. Culture-based and culture-independent approaches were used to compare the bacterial diversity present in these environments with that at a nonoiled site. A long-term effect of fuel on the microbial communities in the oiled sand and rock was suggested by the higher proportion of alkane and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders and the differences in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns compared with those of the reference site. Members of the classes
Alphaproteobacteria
and
Actinobacteria
were the prevailing groups of bacteria detected in both matrices, although the sand bacterial community exhibited higher species richness than the rock bacterial community did. Culture-dependent and -independent approaches suggested that the genus
Rhodococcus
could play a key role in the in situ degradation of the alkane fraction of the
Prestige
fuel together with other members of the suborder
Corynebacterineae
. Moreover, other members of this suborder, such as
Mycobacterium
spp., together with
Sphingomonadaceae
bacteria (mainly
Lutibacterium anuloederans
), were related as well to the degradation of the aromatic fraction of the
Prestige
fuel. The multiapproach methodology applied in the present study allowed us to assess the complexity of autochthonous microbial communities related to the degradation of heavy fuel from the
Prestige
and to isolate some of their components for a further physiological study. Since several
Corynebacterineae
members related to the degradation of alkanes and PAHs were frequently detected in this and other supralittoral environments affected by the
Prestige
oil spill along the northwestern Spanish coast, the addition of mycolic acids to bioremediation amendments is proposed to favor the presence of these degraders in long-term fuel pollution-affected areas with similar characteristics.
Induction of Extracellular Hydroxyl Radical Production by White-Rot Fungi through Quinone Redox Cycling
Authors: Gómez-Toribio Víctor , García-Martín Ana B. , Martínez María J. , Martínez Ángel T. , Guillén Francisco
Published: April 2009

A simple strategy for the induction of extracellular hydroxyl radical (OH) production by white-rot fungi is presented. It involves the incubation of mycelium with quinones and Fe
3+
-EDTA. Succinctly, it is based on the establishment of a quinone redox cycle catalyzed by cell-bound dehydrogenase activities and the ligninolytic enzymes (laccase and peroxidases). The semiquinone intermediate produced by the ligninolytic enzymes drives OH production by a Fenton reaction (H
2
O
2
+ Fe
2+
→ OH + OH
−
+ Fe
3+
). H
2
O
2
production, Fe
3+
reduction, and OH generation were initially demonstrated with two
Pleurotus eryngii
mycelia (one producing laccase and versatile peroxidase and the other producing just laccase) and four quinones, 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 2-methoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (MBQ), 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DBQ), and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione [MD]). In all cases, OH radicals were linearly produced, with the highest rate obtained with MD, followed by DBQ, MBQ, and BQ. These rates correlated with both H
2
O
2
levels and Fe
3+
reduction rates observed with the four quinones. Between the two
P. eryngii
mycelia used, the best results were obtained with the one producing only laccase, showing higher OH production rates with added purified enzyme. The strategy was then validated in
Bjerkandera adusta
,
Phanerochaete chrysosporium
,
Phlebia radiata
,
Pycnoporus cinnabarinus
, and
Trametes versicolor
, also showing good correlation between OH production rates and the kinds and levels of the ligninolytic enzymes expressed by these fungi. We propose this strategy as a useful tool to study the effects of OH radicals on lignin and organopollutant degradation, as well as to improve the bioremediation potential of white-rot fungi.
Enhancing the Production of Hydroxyl Radicals byPleurotus eryngiivia Quinone Redox Cycling for Pollutant Removal
Authors: Gómez-Toribio Víctor , García-Martín Ana B. , Martínez María J. , Martínez Ángel T. , Guillén Francisco
Published: April 2009

The induction of hydroxyl radical (OH) production via quinone redox cycling in white-rot fungi was investigated to improve pollutant degradation. In particular, we examined the influence of 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (anisaldehyde), Mn2+, and oxalate onPleurotus eryngiiOH generation. Our standard quinone redox cycling conditions combined mycelium from laccase-producing cultures with 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DBQ) and Fe3+-EDTA. The main reactions involved in OH production under these conditions have been shown to be (i) DBQ reduction to hydroquinone (DBQH2) by cell-bound dehydrogenase activities; (ii) DBQH2oxidation to semiquinone (DBQ−) by laccase; (iii) DBQ−autoxidation, catalyzed by Fe3+-EDTA, producing superoxide (O2−) and Fe2+-EDTA; (iv) O2−dismutation, generating H2O2; and (v) the Fenton reaction. Compared to standard quinone redox cycling conditions, OH production was increased 1.2- and 3.0-fold by the presence of anisaldehyde and Mn2+, respectively, and 3.1-fold by substituting Fe3+-EDTA with Fe3+-oxalate. A 6.3-fold increase was obtained by combining Mn2+and Fe3+-oxalate. These increases were due to enhanced production of H2O2via anisaldehyde redox cycling and O2−reduction by Mn2+. They were also caused by the acceleration of the DBQ redox cycle as a consequence of DBQH2oxidation by both Fe3+-oxalate and the Mn3+generated during O2−reduction. Finally, induction of OH production through quinone redox cycling enabledP. eryngiito oxidize phenol and the dye reactive black 5, obtaining a high correlation between the rates of OH production and pollutant oxidation.