bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Porcine Noroviruses, Molecular Characterization of Emerging Porcine Sapoviruses from Finisher Swine in the United States, and Unified Classification Scheme for Sapoviruses
Authors: Scheuer Kelly A. , Oka Tomoichiro , Hoet Armando E. , Gebreyes Wondwossen A. , Molla Bayleyegn Z. , Saif Linda J. , Wang Qiuhong
Published: May 2013

Noroviruses (NoVs) and sapoviruses (SaVs) are important human pathogens. Although the involvement of porcine NoVs in disease in pigs is unclear, they are genetically and antigenically closely related to human NoVs. Human NoV-like strains have been detected in pigs, raising public health concerns of potential interspecies transmission. Porcine SaVs are highly diverse and emerging in swine populations. Recently, at least three new genogroups of porcine SaVs have been proposed. In this study, we tested 413 pooled fecal samples collected from apparently healthy finisher pigs in North Carolina swine farms during 2009. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR coupled hybridization assays were performed to detect known porcine NoVs. The overall prevalence of porcine NoVs determined was 18.9% based on this method. Samples were then tested by RT-PCR targeting the 5′ end of the capsid region for genogroup II (GII) NoVs, a group which includes human NoVs, followed by sequence analysis. All NoVs identified belonged to typical porcine NoV genotypes, and no human NoV-like strains were detected in specimens from these pigs. Porcine NoV-negative samples (
n
= 335) were subsequently screened using universal calicivirus primers, and 17 SaV strains were confirmed by sequencing. Based on the partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) region, they clustered with GIII, GVII, and GVIII and with currently unclassified SaVs. According to analysis of the complete capsid sequences, 7 representative strains clustered with GVII, GVIII, and GIX? SaVs. We tentatively classified SaVs into 14 genogroups based on the complete capsid protein VP1. In summary, porcine NoVs and highly divergent SaVs were present in North Carolina finisher pigs.
Easily Modified Factors Contribute to Delays in Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection: a Cohort Study and Intervention
Authors: Kundrapu Sirisha , Jury Lucy A. , Sitzlar Brett , Sunkesula Venkata C. K. , Sethi Ajay K. , Donskey Curtis J.
Published: May 2013

Although rapid laboratory tests are available for diagnosis of
Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI), delays in completion of CDI testing are common in clinical practice. We conducted a cohort study of 242 inpatients tested for CDI to determine the timing of different steps involved in diagnostic testing and to identify modifiable factors contributing to delays in diagnosis. The average time from test order to test result was 1.8 days (range, 0.2 to 10.6), with time from order to stool collection accounting for most of the delay (mean, 1.0 day; range, 0 to 10). Several modifiable factors contributed to delays, including not providing stool collection supplies to patients in a timely fashion, rejection of specimens due to incorrect labeling or leaking from the container, and holding samples in the laboratory for batch processing. Delays in testing contributed to delays in initiation of treatment for patients diagnosed with CDI and to frequent prescription of empirical CDI therapy for patients with mild to moderate symptoms whose testing was ultimately negative. An intervention that addressed several easily modified factors contributing to delays resulted in a significant decrease in the time required to complete CDI testing. These findings suggest that health care facilities may benefit from a review of their processes for CDI testing to identify and address modifiable factors that contribute to delays in diagnosis and treatment of CDI.
Sequence Analysis of
In Vivo
Defective Interfering-Like RNA of Influenza A H1N1 Pandemic Virus
Authors: Saira Kazima , Lin Xudong , DePasse Jay V. , Halpin Rebecca , Twaddle Alan , Stockwell Timothy , Angus Brian , Cozzi-Lepri Alessandro , Delfino Marina , Dugan Vivien , Dwyer Dominic E. , Freiberg Matthew , Horban Andrzej , Losso Marcelo , Lynfield Ruth , Wentworth Deborah N. , Holmes Edward C. , Davey Richard , Wentworth David E. , Ghedin Elodie
Published: May 2013

Influenza virus defective interfering (DI) particles are naturally occurring noninfectious virions typically generated during
in vitro
serial passages in cell culture of the virus at a high multiplicity of infection. DI particles are recognized for the role they play in inhibiting viral replication and for the impact they have on the production of infectious virions. To date, influenza virus DI particles have been reported primarily as a phenomenon of cell culture and in experimentally infected embryonated chicken eggs. They have also been isolated from a respiratory infection of chickens. Using a sequencing approach, we characterize several subgenomic viral RNAs from human nasopharyngeal specimens infected with the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. The distribution of these
in vivo
-derived DI-like RNAs was similar to that of
in vitro
DIs, with the majority of the defective RNAs generated from the PB2 (segment 1) of the polymerase complex, followed by PB1 and PA. The lengths of the
in vivo
-derived DI-like segments also are similar to those of known
in vitro
DIs, and the
in vivo
-derived DI-like segments share internal deletions of the same segments. The presence of identical DI-like RNAs in patients linked by direct contact is compatible with transmission between them. The functional role of DI-like RNAs in natural infections remains to be established.
New Insights into the Evolution of Entomopoxvirinae from the Complete Genome Sequences of Four Entomopoxviruses Infecting Adoxophyes honmai, Choristoneura biennis, Choristoneura rosaceana, and Mythimna separata
Authors: Thézé Julien , Takatsuka Jun , Li Zhen , Gallais Julie , Doucet Daniel , Arif Basil , Nakai Madoka , Herniou Elisabeth A.
Published: May 2013

Poxviruses are nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses encompassing two subfamilies, the
Chordopoxvirinae
and the
Entomopoxvirinae
, infecting vertebrates and insects, respectively. While chordopoxvirus genomics have been widely studied, only two entomopoxvirus (EPV) genomes have been entirely sequenced. We report the genome sequences of four EPVs of the
Betaentomopoxvirus
genus infecting the Lepidoptera:
Adoxophyes honmai
EPV (AHEV),
Choristoneura biennis
EPV (CBEV),
Choristoneura rosaceana
EPV (CREV), and
Mythimna separata
EPV (MySEV). The genomes are 80% AT rich, are 228 to 307 kbp long, and contain 247 to 334 open reading frames (ORFs). Most genes are homologous to those of
Amsacta moorei
entomopoxvirus and encode several protein families repeated in tandem in terminal regions. Some genomes also encode proteins of unknown functions with similarity to those of other insect viruses. Comparative genomic analyses highlight a high colinearity among the lepidopteran EPV genomes and little gene order conservation with other poxvirus genomes. As with previously sequenced EPVs, the genomes include a relatively conserved central region flanked by inverted terminal repeats. Protein clustering identified 104 core EPV genes. Among betaentomopoxviruses, 148 core genes were found in relatively high synteny, pointing to low genomic diversity. Whole-genome and spheroidin gene phylogenetic analyses showed that the lepidopteran EPVs group closely in a monophyletic lineage, corroborating their affiliation with the
Betaentomopoxvirus
genus as well as a clear division of the EPVs according to the orders of insect hosts (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera). This suggests an ancient coevolution of EPVs with their insect hosts and the need to revise the current EPV taxonomy to separate orthopteran EPVs from the lepidopteran-specific betaentomopoxviruses so as to form a new genus.
Activation of the B Cell Antigen Receptor Triggers Reactivation of Latent Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus in B Cells
Authors: Kati Semra , Tsao Edward H. , Günther Thomas , Weidner-Glunde Magdalena , Rothämel Thomas , Grundhoff Adam , Kellam Paul , Schulz Thomas F.
Published: May 2013

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic herpesvirus and the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman's disease. Latently infected B cells are the main reservoir of this virus
in vivo
, but the nature of the stimuli that lead to its reactivation in B cells is only partially understood. We established stable BJAB cell lines harboring latent KSHV by cell-free infection with recombinant virus carrying a puromycin resistance marker. Our latently infected B cell lines, termed BrK.219, can be reactivated by triggering the B cell receptor (BCR) with antibodies to surface IgM, a stimulus imitating antigen recognition. Using this B cell model system we studied the mechanisms that mediate the reactivation of KSHV in B cells following the stimulation of the BCR and could identify phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) as proteins that play an important role in the BCR-mediated reactivation of latent KSHV.
The B-Cell-Specific Transcription Factor and Master Regulator Pax5 Promotes Epstein-Barr Virus Latency by Negatively Regulating the Viral Immediate Early Protein BZLF1
Authors: Raver Ryan M. , Panfil Amanda R. , Hagemeier Stacy R. , Kenney Shannon C.
Published: May 2013

The latent-to-lytic switch of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is mediated by the immediate early protein BZLF1 (Z). However, the cellular factors regulating this process remain incompletely characterized. In this report, we show that the B-cell-specific transcription factor Pax5 helps to promote viral latency in B cells by blocking Z function. Although Z was previously shown to directly interact with Pax5 and inhibit its activity, the effect of Pax5 on Z function has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that Pax5 inhibits Z-mediated lytic viral gene expression and the release of infectious viral particles in latently infected epithelial cell lines. Conversely, we found that shRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous Pax5 in a Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line leads to viral reactivation. Furthermore, we show that Pax5 reduces Z activation of early lytic viral promoters in reporter gene assays and inhibits Z binding to lytic viral promoters
in vivo
. We confirm that Pax5 and Z directly interact and show that this interaction requires the carboxy-terminal DNA-binding/dimerization domain of Z and the amino-terminal DNA-binding domain of Pax5. A Pax5 DNA-binding mutant (V26G/P80R) that interacts with Z retains the ability to inhibit Z function, whereas a Pax5 mutant (Δ106-110) that is deficient for interaction with Z does not inhibit Z-mediated lytic viral reactivation. Since the B-cell-specific transcription factor Oct-2 also directly interacts with Z and inhibits its function, these results suggest that EBV uses multiple redundant mechanisms to establish and maintain viral latency in B cells.
Productive Entry of HIV-1 during Cell-to-Cell Transmission via Dynamin-Dependent Endocytosis
Authors: Sloan Richard D. , Kuhl Björn D. , Mesplède Thibault , Münch Jan , Donahue Daniel A. , Wainberg Mark A.
Published: May 2013

HIV-1 can be transmitted as cell-free virus or via cell-to-cell contacts. Cell-to-cell transmission between CD4
+
T cells is the more efficient mode of transmission and is predominant in lymphoid tissue, where the majority of virus resides. Yet the cellular mechanisms underlying productive cell-to-cell transmission in uninfected target cells are unclear. Although it has been demonstrated that target cells can take up virus via endocytosis, definitive links between this process and productive infection remain undefined, and this route of transmission has been proposed to be nonproductive. Here, we report that productive cell-to-cell transmission can occur via endocytosis in a dynamin-dependent manner and is sensitive to clathrin-associated antagonists. These data were obtained in a number of CD4
+
T-cell lines and in primary CD4
+
T cells, using both CXCR4- and CCR5-tropic virus. However, we also found that HIV-1 demonstrated flexibility in its use of such endocytic pathways as certain allogeneic transmissions were seen to occur in a dynamin-dependent manner but were insensitive to clathrin-associated antagonists. Also, depleting cells of the clathrin accessory protein AP180 led to a viral uptake defect associated with enhanced infection. Collectively, these data demonstrate that endosomal uptake of HIV-1 during cell-to-cell transmission leads to productive infection, but they are also indicative of a flexible model of viral entry during cell-to-cell transmission, in which the virus can alter its entry route according to the pressures that it encounters.
Infection of Mice, Ferrets, and Rhesus Macaques with a Clinical Mumps Virus Isolate
Authors: Xu Pei , Huang Zhixiang , Gao Xiudan , Michel Frank J. , Hirsch Gwen , Hogan Robert J. , Sakamoto Kaori , Ho Wenzhe , Wu Jianguo , He Biao
Published: May 2013

In recent years, many mumps outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations worldwide. The reasons for these outbreaks are not clear. Animal models are needed to investigate the causes of outbreaks and to understand the pathogenesis of mumps virus (MuV). In this study, we have examined the infection of three animal models with an isolate of mumps virus from a recent outbreak (MuV-IA). We have found that while both ferrets and mice generated humoral and cellular immune responses to MuV-IA infection, no obvious signs of illness were observed in these animals; rhesus macaques were the most susceptible to MuV-IA infection. Infection of rhesus macaques via both intranasal and intratracheal routes with MuV-IA led to the typical clinical signs of mumps 2 weeks to 4 weeks postinfection. However, none of the infected macaques showed any fever or neurologic signs during the experimental period. Mumps viral antigen was detected in parotid glands by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Rhesus macaques represent the best animal model for the study of mumps virus pathogenesis.
The First Structure of a Mycobacteriophage, the Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii Phage Araucaria
Authors: Sassi Mohamed , Bebeacua Cecilia , Drancourt Michel , Cambillau Christian
Published: May 2013

The unique characteristics of the waxy mycobacterial cell wall raise questions about specific structural features of their bacteriophages. No structure of any mycobacteriophage is available, although ∼3,500 have been described to date. To fill this gap, we embarked in a genomic and structural study of a bacteriophage from
Mycobacterium abscessus
subsp.
bolletii
, a member of the
Mycobacterium abscessus
group. This opportunistic pathogen is responsible for respiratory tract infections in patients with lung disorders, particularly cystic fibrosis.
M. abscessus
subsp.
bolletii
was isolated from respiratory tract specimens, and bacteriophages were observed in the cultures. We report here the genome annotation and characterization of the
M. abscessus
subsp.
bolletii
prophage Araucaria, as well as the first single-particle electron microscopy reconstruction of the whole virion. Araucaria belongs to
Siphoviridae
and possesses a 64-kb genome containing 89 open reading frames (ORFs), among which 27 could be annotated with certainty. Although its capsid and connector share close similarity with those of several phages from Gram-negative (Gram
−
) or Gram
+
bacteria, its most distinctive characteristic is the helical tail decorated by radial spikes, possibly host adhesion devices, according to which the phage name was chosen. Its host adsorption device, at the tail tip, assembles features observed in phages binding to protein receptors, such as phage SPP1. All together, these results suggest that Araucaria may infect its mycobacterial host using a mechanism involving adhesion to cell wall saccharides and protein, a feature that remains to be further explored.
Increased Early RNA Replication by Chimeric West Nile Virus W956IC Leads to IPS-1-Mediated Activation of NF-κB and Insufficient Virus-Mediated Counteraction of the Resulting Canonical Type I Interferon Signaling
Authors: Scherbik S. V. , Pulit-Penaloza J. A. , Basu M. , Courtney S. C. , Brinton M. A.
Published: May 2013

Although infections with “natural” West Nile virus (WNV) and the chimeric W956IC WNV infectious clone virus produce comparable peak virus yields in type I interferon (IFN) response-deficient BHK cells, W956IC infection produces higher levels of “unprotected” viral RNA at early times after infection. Analysis of infections with these two viruses in IFN-competent cells showed that W956IC activated NF-κB, induced higher levels of IFN-β, and produced lower virus yields than WNV strain Eg101. IPS-1 was required for both increased induction of IFN-β and decreased yields of W956IC. In Eg101-infected cells, phospho-STAT1/STAT2 nuclear translocation was blocked at all times analyzed, while some phospho-STAT1/STAT2 nuclear translocation was still detected at 8 h after infection in W956IC-infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), and early viral protein levels were lower in these cells. A set of additional chimeras was made by replacing various W956IC gene regions with the Eg101 equivalents. As reported previously, for three of these chimeras, the low early RNA phenotype of Eg101 was restored in BHK cells. Analysis of infections with two of these chimeric viruses in MEFs detected lower early viral RNA levels, higher early viral protein levels, lower early IFN-β levels, and higher virus yields similar to those seen after Eg101 infection. The data suggest that replicase protein interactions directly or indirectly regulate genome switching between replication and translation at early times in favor of translation to minimize NF-κB activation and IFN induction by decreasing the amount of unprotected viral RNA, to produce sufficient viral protein to block canonical type I IFN signaling, and to efficiently remodel cell membranes for exponential genome amplification.
Intussusception in a 7-week-old baby
Authors: Adiotomre Pauline , Asumang Edna , Godbole Prasad
Published: May 2013

A 7-week-old baby presented to a district general hospital with a history of pallor, lethargy, vomiting and high pitched cry. She had vomited three times at home. It was reported that the last vomitus had a greenish tinge to it. In hospital, she had a non-bilious vomit. There was no history of fever, constipation or diarrhoea. Her birth history and medical history were unremarkable. She was noted to be pale, lethargic and quiet on examination. Her vital signs were unremarkable. She had a soft scaphoid abdomen on examination. No masses were palpable. Investigations for sepsis were done and antibiotics started. Results of all the investigations were normal apart from mildly raised blood glucose and neutrophilia. Later on she passed a small amount of blood per rectum. Examination revealed a palpable mass in the epigastrium. An abdominal x-ray was suggestive of intestinal obstruction. Intussusception was confirmed on ultrasound. The intussusception was successfully reduced following surgery.
Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception with jejunojejunal intussusception (double telescoping)
Authors: Sahoo Manash Ranjan , Bhaskar Ved , Mohapatra Vedavyas
Published: May 2013

A 55-year-old woman presented with features of gastric outlet obstruction not responding to conservative treatment at a peripheral hospital. She had gastric surgery 15 years before. On examination, there was a globular mass palpable in the epigastrium. Ultrasound and endoscopy findings were suggestive of retrograde jejunogastric intussusception. After initial resuscitation, emergency laparotomy was undertaken which revealed a jejunogastric intussusception at the previous retrocolic gastrojejunostomy site. After manual reduction of the intussuscepted loop by gentle traction, another segment of the jejunum was seen to be telescoping within this loop. On reduction, this jejunal loop was seen to measure around 20 cm and the apex of the intussusceptum was found to be gangrenous and perforated. Resection of the involved segment was done followed by a Roux-en-y anastomosis to restore the continuity.
Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous hydropneumothorax: a rare presentation of bilateral malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Fayed Hossam E , Woodcock Victoria K , Grayez Jamal
Published: May 2013

This is a case of a 69-year-old man with a history of asbestos exposure who presented with acute shortness of breath. His chest x-ray showed bilateral hydropneumothorax. Further investigations including CT chest and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery revealed bilateral pleural thickening and histology confirmed epithelioid mesothelioma. This case highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of atypical presentations of malignant pleural mesothelioma as well as the importance of considering underlying secondary causes such as malignancy in the older patient presenting with spontaneous pneumo/hydropneumothorax.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: a rare entity
Authors: Akhtar Kafil , Ray Prasenjit Sen , Sherwani Rana , Siddiqui Shahid
Published: May 2013

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland is a rare aggressive malignancy. It is a rapidly advancing lesion which, if not recognised and treated early, results in high morbidity and mortality. Despite radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, prognosis of this cancer continues to be poor. Careful clinical and histological examination is mandatory to differentiate this tumour from metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and other primary malignancies of the parotid. The authors hereby report the case of a 50-year-old male patient who presented with a progressively increasing, painless mass in parotid region of 6 months duration. An initial fine-needle aspiration cytology and subsequent histopathological examination confirmed that the tumour was squamous cell carcinoma. As no other primary source could be demonstrated in the patient, a final diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of parotid was offered. Currently the patient is on regular follow-up without any signs of recurrence.
Superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula embolisation complicated by bowel ischaemia
Authors: Hussein Maher , Issa Ghada , Muhsen Shirin , Haydar Ali
Published: May 2013

Superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistulas are rare, especially when iatrogenic in origin. Management of these fistulas can be surgical or endovascular. Endovascular embolisation is the preferred modality with a low rate of complications. Among the reported complications, bowel ischaemia is considered an unlikely occurrence. We report a case of a complex iatrogenic arterioportal fistula that was managed by endovascular embolisation and controlled through both its inflow and outflow, and was later complicated by bowel ischaemia.
Unilateral renal artery stenosis with renal atrophy in a patient with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with sorafenib
Authors: Shawa Hassan , Busaidy Naifa L , Schellingerhout Dawid , Habra Mouhammed Amir
Published: May 2013

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been recently introduced for treatment of different malignancies. Various cardiovascular toxicities have been reported with TKIs with hypertension being the most common adverse cardiovascular event. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman who developed left renal artery stenosis associated with renal atrophy in the context of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with sorafenib. Renal atrophy was noticed during serial imaging studies to monitor cancer therapy. Clinically, she was asymptomatic without significant change in blood pressure. The glomerular filtration rate dropped from 88 ml/min/1.73 m2at baseline to 56 ml/min/1.73 ml/min and partially recovered to 71 ml/min/1.73 m2after renal artery stenting. To our knowledge, this will be the first known case of renal artery stenosis associated with TKI use. Physicians may need to investigate the possibility of developing renal artery stenosis in patients with unexplained worsening in kidney functions while on TKIs.
Predictive models to assess risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and comorbidity: machine-learning algorithms and validation using national health data from Kuwait—a cohort study
Authors: Farran Bassam , Channanath Arshad Mohamed , Behbehani Kazem , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse
Published: May 2013

Objective

We build classification models and risk assessment tools for diabetes, hypertension and comorbidity using machine-learning algorithms on data from Kuwait. We model the increased proneness in diabetic patients to develop hypertension and vice versa. We ascertain the importance of ethnicity (and natives vs expatriate migrants) and of using regional data in risk assessment.

Design

Retrospective cohort study. Four machine-learning techniques were used: logistic regression, k-nearest neighbours (k-NN), multifactor dimensionality reduction and support vector machines. The study uses fivefold cross validation to obtain generalisation accuracies and errors.

Setting

Kuwait Health Network (KHN) that integrates data from primary health centres and hospitals in Kuwait.

Participants

270 172 hospital visitors (of which, 89 858 are diabetic, 58 745 hypertensive and 30 522 comorbid) comprising Kuwaiti natives, Asian and Arab expatriates.

Outcome measures

Incident type 2 diabetes, hypertension and comorbidity.

Results

Classification accuracies of >85% (for diabetes) and >90% (for hypertension) are achieved using only simple non-laboratory-based parameters. Risk assessment tools based on k-NN classification models are able to assign ‘high’ risk to 75% of diabetic patients and to 94% of hypertensive patients. Only 5% of diabetic patients are seen assigned ‘low’ risk. Asian-specific models and assessments perform even better. Pathological conditions of diabetes in the general population or in hypertensive population and those of hypertension are modelled. Two-stage aggregate classification models and risk assessment tools, built combining both the component models on diabetes (or on hypertension), perform better than individual models.

Conclusions

Data on diabetes, hypertension and comorbidity from the cosmopolitan State of Kuwait are available for the first time. This enabled us to apply four different case–control models to assess risks. These tools aid in the preliminary non-intrusive assessment of the population. Ethnicity is seen significant to the predictive models. Risk assessments need to be developed using regional data as we demonstrate the applicability of the American Diabetes Association online calculator on data from Kuwait.
Cardiac arrest management in general practice in Ireland: a 5-year cross-sectional study
Authors: Bury G , Headon M , Egan M , Dowling J
Published: May 2013

Objective

To document the involvement of general practitioners (GPs) in cardiac arrests with resuscitation attempts (CARAs) and to describe the outcomes.

Design

A 5-year prospective cross-sectional study of GPs in Ireland equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and immediate care training by the MERIT Project, with data collection every 3 months over the 5-year period. Practices reported CARAs by quarterly survey with an 89% mean response rate (81–97% for the period).

Setting

General practices throughout Ireland.

Participants

495 GP participated: 168 (33.9%) urban, 163 (32.9%) rural and 164 (33.1%) mixed.

Interventions

All participating practices received a standard AED and basic life support kit. Training in immediate care was provided for at least one GP in the practice.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of CARA in participating practices. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and discharge alive from hospital.

Results

36% of practices were involved in a CARA during the 5-year period and 13% were involved in more than one CARA. Of the 272 CARAs reported, ROSC occurred in 32% (87/272) and discharge from hospital in 18.7% (49/262). In 45% of cases, the first AED was brought by the GP and in 65%, the GP arrived before the ambulance service. More cases occurred in rural and mixed settings than urban ones, but the survival rates did not differ between areas. In 65% of cases, the GP was on duty at the time of the incident and 47% of cases occurred in the patient's home.

Conclusions

These outcomes are comparable with more highly structured components of the emergency response system and indicate that GPs have an important role to play in the care of patients in their own communities. GPs experience cardiac arrest cases during the course of their daily work and provide prompt care which results in successful outcomes in urban, mixed and rural settings.
Therapeutic potential of amniotic fluid-derived cells for treating the injured nervous system
Authors: Rennie Kerry , Haukenfrers Julie , Ribecco-Lutkiewicz Maria , Ly Dao , Jezierski Anna , Smith Brandon , Zurakowski Bogdan , Martina Marzia , Gruslin Andrée , Bani-Yaghoub Mahmud
Published: May 2013

There is a need for improved therapy for acquired brain injury, which has proven resistant to treatment by numerous drugs in clinical trials and continues to represent one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Research into cell-based therapies for the treatment of brain injury is growing rapidly, but the ideal cell source has yet to be determined. Subpopulations of cells found in amniotic fluid, which is readily obtained during routine amniocentesis, can be easily expanded in culture, have multipotent differentiation capacity, are non-tumourigenic, and avoid the ethical complications associated with embryonic stem cells, making them a promising cell source for therapeutic purposes. Beneficial effects of amniotic fluid cell transplantation have been reported in various models of nervous system injury. However, evidence that amniotic fluid cells can differentiate into mature, functional neurons in vivo and incorporate into the existing circuitry to replace lost or damaged neurons is lacking. The mechanisms by which amniotic fluid cells improve outcomes after experimental nervous system injury remain unclear. However, studies reporting the expression and release of neurotrophic, angiogenic, and immunomodulatory factors by amniotic fluid cells suggest they may provide neuroprotection and (or) stimulate endogenous repair and remodelling processes in the injured nervous system. In this paper, we address recent research related to the neuronal differentiation of amniotic fluid-derived cells, the therapeutic efficacy of these cells in animal models of nervous system injury, and the possible mechanisms mediating the positive outcomes achieved by amniotic fluid cell transplantation.
Phonon laser effect and Dicke–Hepp–Lieb superradiant phase transition in magnetic cantilever coupled to a Bose–Einstein condensate
Authors: Bhattacherjee Aranya B. , Brandes Tobias
Published: May 2013

We propose the possibility of a phonon laser by coupling a Bose–Einstein condensate to a nanomechanical cantilever with a magnetic tip. Due to the magnetic coupling, atomic spin flips induce cantilever motion, which can be used to produce a phonon laser. The system is described by the equivalent of the Jaynes–Cummings Hamiltonian. By controlling the number of atoms and the population inversion, one can obtain either a continuous wave or transient lasing. The two-body atom–atom interaction is also shown to coherently manipulate the lasing process. We also show that in the strong coupling limit, the same system can undergo a Dicke–Hepp–Lieb superradiant phase transition. Exotic phase diagrams can be obtained by tuning the two body atom–atom interaction.
In situ hybridization analysis indicates that 4AL–5AL–7BS translocation preceded subspecies differentiation ofTriticum turgidum
Authors: Hao Ming , Luo Jiangtao , Zhang Lianquan , Yuan Zhongwei , Zheng Youliang , Zhang Huaigang , Liu Dengcai
Published: May 2013

The important cyclic translocation 4AL–5AL–7BS is an evolutionary signature of polyploidy in wheat. This study aimed to determine its distribution within the subspecies of Triticum turgidum L., using genomic in situ hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization. As it exists in all eight subspecies, this translocation appeared before the differentiation of the subspecies of T. turgidum. This translocation probably first appeared in T. turgidum subsp. dicoccoides and was then transmitted into the other subspecies. Its existence in all of the analyzed subspecies suggests that this translocation may confer an adaptive advantage during the course of evolution.
TABLE OF GROUND STATE PROPERTIES OF NUCLEI IN THE RMF MODEL
Authors: BAYRAM TUNCAY , YILMAZ A. HAKAN
Published: May 2013

The ground state energies, sizes and deformations of 1897 even–even nuclei with 10≤Z ≤110 have been carried out by using the Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) model. In the present calculations, the nonlinear RMF force NL3* recent refitted version of the NL3 force has been used. The BCS (Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer) formalism with constant gap approximation has been taken into account for pairing correlations. The predictions of RMF model for the ground state properties of some nuclei have been discussed in detail.
TRANSVERSE MASS SPECTRA AND RAPIDITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF K+ IN NI–NI COLLISIONS AT 1.93 A GeV
Authors: SRISAWAD PORNRAD , SUKSRI ANANYA , PHOLWIANG SIRICHAI , HARFIELD ANTONY , ZHENG YU-MING , YAN YUPENG , LIMPHIRAT AYUT
Published: May 2013

In heavy-ion collisions, the production of kaon at intermediate energies provides a sensitive probe to study the in-medium properties of hadrons. Properties of kaons in dense hadronic matter are important for a better understanding of both the possible restoration of chiral symmetry in dense hadronic matter and the properties of nuclear matter at high densities. In this paper, the in-medium effects and nuclear equation of state (EOS) are studied by analyzing the transverse mass spectra and rapidity distributions of the produced K+ mesons in [Formula: see text] collisions at 1.93 A GeV using the quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) model. The work reveals that the KaoS data favor a repulsive in-medium K+N potential (its value at saturation density ρ0 is (Uk(ρ0) ≈30 MeV ). It is also found that the transverse mass spectra and rapidity distributions of K+ mesons are sensitive to the nuclear EOS.
CROW INSTABILITY IN UNITARY FERMI GAS
Authors: GAUTAM SANDEEP
Published: May 2013

In this paper, we investigate the initiation and subsequent evolution of Crow instability in an inhomogeneous unitary Fermi gas using zero-temperature Galilei-invariant nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Considering a cigar-shaped unitary Fermi gas, we generate the vortex–antivortex pair either by phase-imprinting or by moving a Gaussian obstacle potential. We observe that the Crow instability in a unitary Fermi gas leads to the decay of the vortex–antivortex pair into multiple vortex rings and ultimately into sound waves.
NUMERICAL MANIFOLD METHOD (NMM) SIMULATION OF STRESS WAVE PROPAGATION THROUGH FRACTURED ROCK MASS
Authors: FAN L. F. , YI X. W. , MA G. W.
Published: May 2013

The present work is devoted to the simulation of stress wave propagation through fractured elastic media, such as rock mass, by using the numerical manifold method (NMM). A single fracture is used to verify the capability and accuracy of the NMM in modeling fractured rock mass. The frequency-dependence on stress wave transmission across a fracture is analyzed. The influence of the fracture specific stiffness on the wave attenuation and effective wave velocity is discussed. The results from the NMM have a good agreement with those obtained from a theoretical displacement discontinuity method (DDM). Taking the advantage that the NMM is able to simulate highly fractured elastic media with a consistent mathematical cover system, a numerical example of stress wave propagation through a fractured rock mass with numerous inherent fractures is presented. It is showed that the results are reasonable and the NMM has a high efficiency in simulating stress wave propagation through highly fractured rock mass. A safety assessment of a tunnel under blast is conducted by using the NMM subsequently. The potential application of the NMM to a more complex fractured rock mass is demonstrated.
ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS OF GENERALIZED THERMOELASTICITY FOR AXISYMMETRIC PLANE STRAIN PROBLEM WITH TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT MATERIAL PROPERTIES
Authors: WANG YINGZE , ZHANG XIAOBING , LIU DONG
Published: May 2013

In this paper, a new formulation for the generalized thermoelasticity in an isotropic elastic medium with temperature-dependent material properties is established. The governing equations for the generalized axisymmetric plane strain problem are derived. The asymptotic solutions for an infinite cylinder with the boundary subjected to the thermal shock are obtained under the linear assumption. Numerical results for the propagation of the thermal and elastic waves and the distributions of the displacement, temperature and stresses are given and illustrated graphically. Using these solutions, some phenomenon involved in the generalized thermoelastic problem are obtained, and the jumps at the wavefronts are observed clearly. The comparison is made with results obtained in the temperature-independent case and the influence of the temperature dependency of material properties on the propagation of thermal and elastic waves are also discussed.
PHOTOELECTRODE WITH LIGHT AND HEAT SYNERGY UTILIZATION BASED ON CdTe/Bi2Te3 NANOROD ARRAYS/NANOLAYER FILM
Authors: DENG YUAN , LUO BINGWEI , WANG YAO , CAO LILI , SHI YONGMING , ZHU WEI
Published: May 2013

Photoelectrode of CdTe / Bi 2 Te 3 nanorod arrays/nanolayer film is designed for light and heat synergy utilization, which is carried out by two-step synthesis route of magnetron sputtering. The composition and microstructure of CdTe / Bi 2 Te 3 nanorod arrays/nanolayer are determined by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Under AM 1.5 G illumination, the power conversion efficiency of CdTe / Bi 2 Te 3 nanorod arrays/nanolayer photoelectrode is 10 times larger than that of CdTe nanorod arrays. It was found that the power conversion efficiency is mainly affected by the thickness of the Bi 2 Te 3 film. These results significantly improve the performance of low-dimension CdTe photoelectrochemical solar cells and also open new possibilities for solar light and heat synergy utilization.
James Parkinson’s ‘system of successive creations’
Authors: Lewis Cherry
Published: May 2013

This paper presents a new look at how the apothecary surgeon, James Parkinson (1755–1824), integrated his geological understanding with his religious ideas. It is only through the intellectual questions raised by the emerging science of geology that we are able to examine his religious beliefs as these were not apparently challenged by, and consequently not discussed in, any of his other published works on politics, medicine or chemistry. Although Parkinson held ‘conventional’ Christian beliefs prevailing at the time, he did not permit these to stand in the way of the geological evidence; his later private views regarding how the Creation story came about were never fully revealed in his publications. By accepting that a ‘system of successive creations’ had occurred, which circumvented certain aspects of the biblical account of Creation, he adapted his faith to accommodate the indisputable facts of geology, concurring with then modern views about how the Earth had formed.
Dr Arthur Conan Doyle’s contribution to the popularity of pterodactyls
Authors: Martill David M. , Pointon Tony
Published: May 2013

Pterodactyls or pterosaurs, well-known flying reptiles of the Mesozoic, were already compared with dragons and vampires well before the discovery of the spectacularly large species from North America with wing spans of over 6 m. First described in 1784, they were not recognized as flying reptiles until 1801, when Baron Cuvier described a specimen that a few years later he called Ptero Dactyle which later became
Pterodactylus
. The name
Pterodactylus
is technically invalid – it is a junior synonym of
Ornithocephalus
Soemmerring 1812
– but it has stuck in the psyche of both palaeontologists and public alike. By the end of the nineteenth century numerous workers had compared pterosaurs with demons, dragons and vampires and life restorations had appeared in books, magazines and as gargoyles on the external architecture of the Natural History Museum, London. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famously the creator of Sherlock Holmes, was a polymath, with interests in science, sport, politics, travel, the occult and of course writing. He trained as, and became, a physician, with an eventually thriving general practice in Southsea, Hampshire from 1882 to 1890. In 1912, first as a series in
Sunday
magazines in the USA and in
Strand Magazine
in the UK, and shortly after as a hardback, he published
The Lost World
, an adventure story about the exploration of a South American tableland with prehistoric creatures that had persisted to the present. Although dinosaurs existed in this anachronistic fictional ecosystem, the ‘star’ animals were pterodactyls. Here we discuss the notoriety of pterodactyls generated by
The Lost World
, and hold Conan Doyle responsible for the widespread popularity of these iconic prehistoric reptiles right up to the present day.
From obstetrics to oryctology: inside the mind of William Hunter (1718–1783)
Authors: Liston J. J.
Published: May 2013

Today William Hunter is remembered mainly for his pioneering work in obstetrics and for our understanding of the lymphatic system, but his interests were wide-ranging, encompassing artworks (the first to collect Chardin), archaeological, numismatic and bibliographical items. As a key figure in the Enlightenment, he was one of the few in the mid-eighteenth century to advocate the concept of extinction as recorded in the fossil record. Of some 400 fossil specimens, written records attest to the presence of over 50 fossil vertebrates in his collection, including fish from ‘Monte’ Bolca as well as specimens reflecting his comparative anatomical writings on the mastodon and ‘Irish elk’. This paper will explore the significance of the presence of these specimens in this particular eighteenth century collector’s collection, using his writings and library as tools to shed light on the mind of this classic Scottish Enlightenment figure.
DIDS inhibits Na-K-ATPase activity in porcine nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells by a Src family kinase-dependent mechanism
Authors: Shahidullah Mohammad , Wei Guojun , Delamere Nicholas A.
Published: May 2013

The anion transport inhibitor DIDS is known to reduce aqueous humor secretion but questions remain about anion dependence of the effect. In some tissues, DIDS is reported to cause Na-K-ATPase inhibition. Here, we report on the ability of DIDS to inhibit Na-K-ATPase activity in nonpigmented ciliary epithelium (NPE) and investigate the underlying mechanism. Porcine NPE cells were cultured to confluence on permeable supports, treated with drugs added to both sides of the membrane, and then used for 86Rb uptake measurements or homogenized to measure Na-K-ATPase activity or to detect protein phosphorylation. DIDS inhibited ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake, activated Src family kinase (SFK), and caused a reduction of Na-K-ATPase activity. PP2, an SFK inhibitor, prevented the DIDS responses. In BCECF-loaded NPE, DIDS was found to reduce cytoplasmic pH (pHi). PP2-sensitive Na-K-ATPase activity inhibition, 86Rb uptake suppression, and SFK activation were observed when a similar reduction of pHi was imposed by low-pH medium or an ammonium chloride withdrawal maneuver. PP2 and the ERK inhibitor U0126 prevented robust ERK1/2 activation in cells exposed to DIDS or subjected to pHi reduction, but U0126 did not prevent SFK activation or the Na-K-ATPase activity response. The evidence points to an inhibitory influence of DIDS on NPE Na-K-ATPase activity by a mechanism that hinges on SFK activation associated with a reduction of cytoplasmic pH.
Claudin-2 pore function requires an intramolecular disulfide bond between two conserved extracellular cysteines
Authors: Li Jiahua , Angelow Susanne , Linge Anna , Zhuo Min , Yu Alan S. L.
Published: May 2013

Claudins constitute a family of tight junction transmembrane proteins whose first extracellular loop (ECL1) determines the paracellular permeability and ion selectivity in epithelia. There are two cysteines in the ECL1 that are conserved among all claudins. We hypothesized that these extracellular cysteines are linked by an intramolecular disulfide bond that is necessary for correct pore folding and function. To test this, we mutated C54 and C64 in claudin-2, either individually or together to alanine or serine, and generated stable Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) I Tet-off cell lines. Immunoblotting showed a higher molecular mass band in the mutants with a single cysteine mutation, consistent with a claudin-2 dimer, suggesting that the two conserved cysteines normally form an intramolecular disulfide bond in wild-type claudin-2. By immunofluorescent staining, the alanine mutants were mislocalized intracellularly, while the serine mutants were expressed at the tight junction. Thus dimerization of both C54A and C64A did not require tight junction expression, suggesting that C54 and C64 are located near an intermolecular interface involved in cis-interaction. The conductance and Na+ permeability of the serine mutants were markedly lower than the wild type, but there was no difference between the single mutants and the double mutant. We conclude that the disulfide bond between the conserved extracellular cysteines in claudin-2 is necessary for pore formation, probably by stabilizing the ECL1 fold, but is not required for correct protein trafficking. We further speculate that this role is generalizable to other claudin family members.
Proton-facilitated ammonia excretion by ionocytes of medaka (Oryzias latipes) acclimated to seawater
Authors: Liu Sian-Tai , Tsung Lin , Horng Jiun-Lin , Lin Li-Yih
Published: May 2013

The proton-facilitated ammonia excretion is critical for a fish's ability to excrete ammonia in freshwater. However, it remains unclear whether that mechanism is also critical for ammonia excretion in seawater (SW). Using a scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) to measure H+gradients, an acidic boundary layer was detected at the yolk-sac surface of SW-acclimated medaka ( Oryzias latipes) larvae. The H+gradient detected at the surface of ionocytes was higher than that of keratinocytes in the yolk sac. Treatment with Tricine buffer or EIPA (a NHE inhibitor) reduced the H+gradient and ammonia excretion of larvae. In situ hybridization and immunochemistry showed that slc9a2 (NHE2) and slc9a3 (NHE3) were expressed in the same SW-type ionocytes. A real-time PCR analysis showed that transfer to SW downregulated branchial mRNA expressions of slc9a3 and Rhesus glycoproteins ( rhcg1, rhcg2, and rhbg) but upregulated that of slc9a2. However, slc9a3, rhcg1, rhcg2, and rhbg expressions were induced by high ammonia in SW. This study suggests that SW-type ionocytes play a role in acid and ammonia excretion and that the Na+/H+exchanger and Rh glycoproteins are involved in the proton-facilitated ammonia excretion mechanism.