bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in Hospitalization for Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in New York City, 1997–2006: Data from New York State's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System
Authors: Farr Amanda M. , Aden Brandon , Weiss Don , Nash Denis , Marx Melissa A.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To describe trends in hospitalizations with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection in New York City over 10 years and to explore the demographics and comorbidities of patients hospitalized with CA-MRSA infections.

Design.

Retrospective analysis of hospital discharges from New York State's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database from 1997 to 2006.

Patients.

All patients greater than 1 year of age admitted to New York hospitals with diagnosis codes indicating MRSA who met the criteria for CA-MRSA on the basis of admission information and comorbidities.

Methods.

We determined hospitalization rates and compared demographics and comorbidities of patients hospitalized with CA-MRSA versus those hospitalized with all other non-MRSA diagnoses by multivariable logistic regression.

Results.

Of 18,226 hospitalizations with an MRSA diagnosis over 10 years, 3,579 (20%) were classified as community-associated. The CA-MRSA hospitalization rate increased from 1.47 to 10.65 per 100,000 people overall from 1997 to 2006. Relative to non-MRSA hospitalizations, men, children, Bronx and Manhattan residents, the homeless, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and persons with diabetes had higher adjusted odds of CA-MRSA hospitalization.

Conclusions.

The CA-MRSA hospitalization rate appeared to increase between 1997 and 2006 in New York City, with residents of the Bronx and Manhattan, men, and persons with HIV infection or diabetes at increased odds of hospitalization with CA-MRSA. Further studies are needed to explore how changes in MRSA incidence, access to care, and other factors may have impacted these rates.
H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Compliance among Hospital- and Non-Hospital-Based Healthcare Personnel
Authors: Rebmann Terri , Iqbal Ayesha , Anthony John , Knaup Richard C. , Wright Kathleen S. , Peters Eleanor B.
Published: June 2012

Background.

The 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine had lower uptake compared to seasonal influenza vaccine, and most studies examining uptake of H1N1 vaccine focused on hospital-based healthcare personnel (HCP). Determinants of H1N1 vaccine uptake among HCP in all work settings need to be identified so that interventions can be developed for use in encouraging uptake of future pandemic or emerging infectious disease vaccines.

Objective.

To identify factors influencing nonhospital HCP H1N1 influenza vaccine compliance.

Design and Setting.

An H1N1 influenza vaccine compliance questionnaire was administered to HCP working in myriad healthcare settings in March-June 2011.

Methods.

Surveys were used to assess H1N1 influenza vaccine compliance and examine factors that predicted H1N1 influenza vaccine uptake.

Results.

In all, 3,188 HCP completed the survey. Hospital-based HCP had higher compliance than did non-hospital-based personnel (x2 = 142.2, P < .001). In logistic regression stratified by hospital setting versus nonhospital setting, determinants of H1N1 vaccination among non-hospital-based HCP included extent to which H1N1 vaccination was mandated or encouraged, perceived importance of vaccination, access to no-cost vaccine provided on-site, no fear of vaccine side effects, and trust in public health officials when they say that the influenza vaccine is safe. Determinants of hospital-based HCP H1N1 vaccine compliance included having a mandatory vaccination policy, perceived importance of vaccination, no fear of vaccine side effects, free vaccine, perceived seriousness of H1N1 influenza, and trust in public health officials.

Conclusions.

Non-hospital-based HCP versus hospital-based HCP reasons for H1N1 vaccine uptake differed. Targeted interventions are needed to increase compliance with pandemic-related vaccines.
Positive Cultures of Organ Preservation Fluid Predict Postoperative Infections in Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients
Authors: Yansouni Cedric P. , Dendukuri Nandini , Liu Guoyuan , Fernandez Myriam , Frenette Charles , Paraskevas Steven , Sheppard Donald C.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

The significance of positive cultures of organ preservation fluid (OPF) in solid organ transplantation is not known. We sought to describe the microbiology and define the clinical impact of positive OPF cultures.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting.

Tertiary care hospital.

Patients.

A consecutive sample of all solid organ transplantations at our center between July 2006 and January 2009 was reviewed. A total of 331 allografts (185 kidneys, 104 livers, 31 pancreases, and 11 hearts) met the inclusion criterion of having OPF cultures taken from the transplanted allograft.

Methods.

Organisms recovered from OPF were classified as high or low risk according to their virulence. Clinical outcomes were compared between recipients of organs with positive OPF cultures and recipients of organs with negative OPF cultures.

Results.

OPF cultures were positive in 62.2% of allografts and yielded high-risk organisms in 17.8%. Normal skin flora constituted the majority of positive OPF cultures, while Enterobacteriaceae spp. andStaphylococcus aureusmade up the majority of high-risk organisms. Recipients of allografts with positive OPF cultures developed more frequent bacterial infections, regardless of allograft type (relative risk, 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61–3.54). Moreover, isolation of a given organism in OPF samples was associated with the development of a clinical infection with the same organism, regardless of allograft type.

Conclusions.

Positive cultures of OPF are common events in solid organ transplantation, frequently involve high-risk organisms, and are associated with the development of postoperative clinical bacterial infections. Further study is required to determine the optimal strategies for their prevention and management.
Results from a Large-Scale Epidemiologic Look-Back Investigation of Improperly Reprocessed Endoscopy Equipment
Authors: Holodniy Mark , Oda Gina , Schirmer Patricia L. , Lucero Cynthia A. , Khudyakov Yury E. , Xia Guoliang , Lin Yulin , Valdiserri Ronald , Duncan William E. , Davey Victoria J. , Cross Gerald M.
Published: June 2012

Objective.

To determine whether improper high-level disinfection practices during endoscopy procedures resulted in bloodborne viral infection transmission.

Design.

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting.

Four Veterans Affairs medical centers (VAMCs).

Patients.

Veterans who underwent colonoscopy and laryngoscopy (ear, nose, and throat [ENT]) procedures from 2003 to 2009.

Methods.

Patients were identified through electronic health record searches and serotested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Newly discovered case patients were linked to a potential source with known identical infection, whose procedure occurred no more than 1 day prior to the case patient's procedure. Viral genetic testing was performed for case/proximate pairs to determine relatedness.

Results.

Of 10,737 veterans who underwent endoscopy at 4 VAMCs, 9,879 patients agreed to viral testing. Of these, 90 patients were newly diagnosed with 1 or more viral bloodborne pathogens (BBPs). There were no case/proximate pairings found for patients with either HIV or HBV; 24 HCV case/proximate pairings were found, of which 7 case patients and 8 proximate patients had sufficient viral load for further genetic testing. Only 2 of these cases, both of whom underwent laryngoscopy, and their 4 proximates agreed to further testing. None of the 4 remaining proximate patients who underwent colonoscopy agreed to further testing. Mean genetic distance between the 2 case patients and 4 proximate patients ranged from 13.5% to 19.1%.

Conclusions.

Our investigation revealed that exposure to improperly reprocessed ENT endoscopes did not result in viral transmission in those patients who had viral genetic analysis performed. Any potential transmission of BBPs from colonoscopy remains unknown.
On Turán type inequalities for modified Bessel functions
Authors: Baricz Árpád , Ponnusamy Saminathan
Published: June 2012

In this note our aim is to point out that certain inequalities for modified Bessel functions of the first and second kind, deduced recently by Laforgia and Natalini, are in fact equivalent to the corresponding Turán type inequalities for these functions. Moreover, we present some new Turán type inequalities for the aforementioned functions and we show that their product is decreasing as a function of the order, which has an application in the study of stability of radially symmetric solutions in a generalized FitzHugh-Nagumo equation in two spatial dimensions. At the end of this note an open problem is posed, which may be of interest for further research.
Bergman completeness is not a quasi-conformal invariant
Authors: Wang Xu
Published: June 2012

We show that Bergman completeness is not a quasi-conformal invariant for general Riemann surfaces.
Completely regular proper reflection of locales over a given locale
Authors: He Wei , Luo MaoKang
Published: June 2012

Let

X
X

be a completely regular locale. We present a construction which shows that every locale

f
:
Y
→
X

f: Y \rightarrow X

over

X
X

has a completely regular proper reflection in the slice category

L
o
c

/

X

Loc/ X

and the reflection map is a dense embedding if and only if

Y
Y

is completely regular.
Indecomposable generalized Cohen-Macaulay modules
Authors: Cipu Mihai , Herzog Jürgen , Popescu Dorin
Published: June 2012

The aim of this paper is to study the indecomposable modules which are Cohen-Macaulay on the punctured spectrum of a local ring, and to describe some of their invariants such as their local cohomology groups and ranks. One of our main concerns is to find indecomposable quasi-Buchsbaum modules of high rank with prescribed cohomology over a regular local ring.
Weights for classical groups
Authors: An Jian Bei
Published: June 2012

This paper proves the Alperin’s weight conjecture for the finite unitary groups when the characteristic r of modular representation is odd. Moreover, this paper proves the conjecture for finite odd dimensional special orthogonal groups and gives a combinatorial way to count the number of weights, block by block, for finite symplectic and even dimensional special orthogonal groups when r and the defining characteristic of the groups are odd.
Second order differentiability of convex functions in Banach spaces
Authors: Borwein Jonathan M. , Noll Dominikus
Published: June 2012

We present a second order differentiability theory for convex functions on Banach spaces.
Abel’s theorem for twisted Jacobians
Authors: Arapura Donu , Oh Kyungho
Published: June 2012

A twisted version of the Abel-Jacobi map, associated to a local system with finite monodromy on a smooth projectve complex curve, is introduced. An analogue of Abel’s theorem characterizing the kernel of this map is proved. The proof, which is new even in the classical case, involves reinterpreting the Abel-Jacobi map in the language of mixed Hodge structures and their extensions.
Vaught’s conjecture for varieties
Authors: Hart Bradd , Starchenko Sergei , Valeriote Matthew
Published: June 2012

We prove that if

V

\mathcal {V}

is a superstable variety or one with few countable models then

V

\mathcal {V}

is the varietal product of an affine variety and a combinatorial variety. Vaught’s conjecture for varieties is an immediate consequence.
Nonlegume Parasponia andersonii Deploys a Broad Rhizobium Host Range Strategy Resulting in Largely Variable Symbiotic Effectiveness
Authors: Op den Camp Rik H. M. , Polone Elisa , Fedorova Elena , Roelofsen Wim , Squartini Andrea , Op den Camp Huub J. M. , Bisseling Ton , Geurts René
Published: June 2012

The non-legume genus Parasponia has evolved the rhizobium symbiosis independent from legumes and has done so only recently. We aim to study the promiscuity of such newly evolved symbiotic engagement and determine the symbiotic effectiveness of infecting rhizobium species. It was found that Parasponia andersonii can be nodulated by a broad range of rhizobia belonging to four different genera, and therefore, we conclude that this non-legume is highly promiscuous for rhizobial engagement. A possible drawback of this high promiscuity is that low-efficient strains can infect nodules as well. The strains identified displayed a range in nitrogen-fixation effectiveness, including a very inefficient rhizobium species, Rhizobium tropici WUR1. Because this species is able to make effective nodules on two different legume species, it suggests that the ineffectiveness of P. andersonii nodules is the result of the incompatibility between both partners. In P. andersonii nodules, rhizobia of this strain become embedded in a dense matrix but remain vital. This suggests that sanctions or genetic control against underperforming microsymbionts may not be effective in Parasponia spp. Therefore, we argue that the Parasponia-rhizobium symbiosis is a delicate balance between mutual benefits and parasitic colonization.
Control of Bacterial Seedling Rot and Seedling Blight of Rice by Bacteriophage
Authors: Adachi Naoto , Tsukamoto Shoichi , Inoue Yasuhiro , Azegami Koji
Published: June 2012

In Japan, rice seed are immersed in pesticide solutions to prevent seedborne diseases that attack greenhouse seedlings. However, disposal of large quantities of waste pesticide solutions after treatment is costly. As an alternative treatment, bacteriophages (phages) that are highly specific to the target bacteria are considered as potential biocontrol agents. Here, we isolated three phage strains that lyse Burkholderia glumae and B. plantarii, the causative pathogens of seedling rot and seedling blight, respectively. Two phages could lyse both bacteria and clearly suppress these diseases. One of these phages (BGPP-Ar) suppressed these diseases more effectively than existing pesticides: the ratio of seedlings exhibiting disease to the total number of seedlings examined after treatment with BGPP-Ar 1.0 × 108 plaque-forming units (PFU)/ml was 0.0 for seedling rot and 2.0 for seedling blight; after treatment with ipconazole/copper (II) hydroxide, the ratios were 14.3 and 15.0, respectively. BGPP-Ar was highly effective in suppressing seedling rot of rice, even at the low concentration of 1.0 × 105 PFU/ml. The best phage treatment effect for sterilizing seed is achieved indoors to avoid phage inactivation by UV irradiation. Treatment effect was demonstrated on seed infected with pathogens. Therefore, we consider that phage treatment was effective in this study.
First Report of Phytophthora palmivora Causing Root Rot of Cassava in China
Authors: Guo H. , Li C.-P. , Shi T. , Fan C.-J. , Huang G.-X.
Published: June 2012

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an economically important crop grown widely in South China. Seventy percent of the cassava grown is used for starch and ethanol production and it has become the foundation of local food and bioenergy systems. In November 2010, a new root rot disease was found on cv. HuaNan205 from a cassava plantation in Danzhou, Hainan Province. Disease occurred on 30% or less of the plants. Initially, the upper leaves wilted at noon and recovered in the evening. Eventually, infected plants no longer recovered and the whole plant wilted and died. Root rot symptoms consisting of irregular brown patches occurred on the tuberous roots. Symptomatic root rot tissue was cut into 1-cm pieces, washed in distilled water, and soaked in a solution of 1% sodium hypochlorite for 3 min. A subsection was cut from each sterilized piece, placed on a plate of V8 agar medium, and incubated at 28°C for 7 days. Pathogenicity was established by following Koch's postulates. In July 2011, 10 plants of cassava cv. HuaNan205 were selected from a disease-free plantation in Danzhou. The pathogen was cultivated on V8 agar at 28°C for 14 days. Four holes were established 15 cm from the base of the cassava plants. Five plants were inoculated with 100 mL of the mycelial suspension in each of the four spots and covered by soil. The other five plants were treated with sterile water as control. Plants were maintained for 4 months. All five of the inoculated plants wilted and two died, while the control plants grew normally. Symptoms similar to the original root lesions were observed on tuberous roots of inoculated plants, while only scars formed on tuberous roots of control plants. The pathogen was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants. Microscopic examination showed the sporangia as papillate and ovoid with the widest part close to the base. They were easily washed off and each detached sporangium contained a short pedicel 1.2 to 6.9 μm long, average 2.9 μm. Chlamydospores were readily observed on diseased roots and observed in pure cultures on V8 agar. Morphological characteristics of the specimen were similar to the descriptions for Phytophthora palmivora (2). Genomic DNA of this isolate was extracted with a cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide protocol (3) from mycelium and used as a template for amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA with primer pair ITS1/ITS4 (1). The sequence (GenBank Accession No. HE580279) exactly matched several sequences (e.g., GenBank Accession Nos. HQ237481.1, AY745750, and AY745751) of P. palmivora. To our knowledge, this is the first report of root rot caused by P. palmivora on cassava in China.

References: (1) D. E. L. Cooke et al. Fungal Genet. Biol. 30:17, 2000. (2) D. C. Erwin and O. K. Ribeiro. Phytophthora Diseases Worldwide. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1996. (3) J. R. Xu et al. Genetics 143:175, 1996.
Grafting Tomato to Manage Bacterial Wilt Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Rivard C. L. , O'Connell S. , Peet M. M. , Welker R. M. , Louws F. J.
Published: June 2012

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, can result in severe losses to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growers in the southeastern United States, and grafting with resistant rootstocks may be an effective strategy for managing this disease. However, R. solanacearum populations maintain considerable diversity, and little information is known regarding the efficacy of commercially available rootstocks to reduce bacterial wilt incidence and subsequent crop loss in the United States. In this study, tomato plants grafted onto ‘Dai Honmei’ and ‘RST-04-105-T’ rootstocks had significantly lower area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values compared with nongrafted plants (P < 0.05). Across three locations in North Carolina, final bacterial wilt incidence for non- and self-grafted plants was 82 ± 14 to 100%. In contrast, bacterial wilt incidence for the grafted plants was 0 to 65 ± 21%. Final bacterial wilt incidence of plants grafted with Dai Honmei rootstock was 0 and 13 ± 3% at two locations in western North Carolina but 50 ± 3% at a third site in eastern North Carolina. Similarly, grafting onto RST-04-105-T rootstock significantly reduced AUDPC values at two of the three locations (P < 0.05) compared with that of the nongrafted plants, but performed poorly at the third site. Total fruit yields were significantly increased by grafting onto resistant rootstocks at all three sites (P < 0.05). Regression analyses indicated that yield was significantly negatively correlated with bacterial wilt AUDPC values (R2 was 0.4048 to 0.8034), and the use of resistant rootstocks enabled economically viable tomato production in soils naturally infested with R. solanacearum.
Identification of a Novel Locus Rmo2 Conditioning Resistance in Barley to Host-Specific Subgroups of Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Nga Nguyen Thi Thanh , Inoue Yoshihiro , Chuma Izumi , Hyon Gang-Su , Okada Kazuma , Vy Trinh Thi Phuong , Kusaba Motoaki , Tosa Yukio
Published: June 2012

Barley cultivars show various patterns of resistance against isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae and M. grisea. Genetic mechanisms of the resistance of five representative barley cultivars were examined using a highly susceptible barley cultivar, ‘Nigrate’, as a common parent of genetic crosses. The resistance of the five cultivars against Setaria, Oryza, Eleusine, and Triticum isolates of M. oryzae was all attributed to a single locus, designated as Rmo2. Nevertheless, the Rmo2 locus in each cultivar was effective against a different range of isolates. Genetic analyses of pathogenicity suggested that each cultivar carries an allele at the Rmo2 locus that recognizes a different range of avirulence genes. One allele, Rmo2.a, corresponded to PWT1, which conditioned the avirulence of Setaria and Oryza isolates on wheat, in a gene-for-gene manner. The other alleles, Rmo2.b, Rmo2.c, and Rmo2.d, corresponded to more than one avirulence gene. On the other hand, the resistance of those cultivars to another species, M. grisea, was conditioned by another locus, designated as Rmo3. These results suggest that Rmo2 is effective against a broad range of blast isolates but is specific to M. oryzae. Molecular mapping revealed that Rmo2 is located on the 7H chromosome.
General Characteristics and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease among Interstate Bus Drivers
Authors: Hirata Raquel Pastréllo , Sampaio Luciana Maria Malosa , Leitão Filho Fernando Sergio Studart , Braghiroli Alberto , Balbi Bruno , Romano Salvatore , Insalaco Giuseppe , Oliveira Luis Vicente Franco de
Published: June 2012

Workers in the transportation industry are at greater risk of an incorrect diet and sedentary behavior. The aim of our study was to characterize a population of professional bus drivers with regard to clinical and demographic variables, lipid profile, and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Data from 659 interstate bus drivers collected retrospectively, including anthropometric characteristics, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, meatoscopy, and audiometry. All participants were male, with a mean age of41.7±6.9years, weight of81.4±3.3 kg, and BMI27.2±3.3 Kg/m2; the mean abdominal and neck circumferences were94.4±8.6 cm and38.9±2.2 cm; 38.2% of the sample was considered hypertensive; mean HDL cholesterol was47.9±9.5 mg/dL, mean triglyceride level was146.3±87.9 mg/dL, and fasting glucose was above 100 mg/dL in 249 subjects (39.1%). Drivers exhibited reduced audiometric hearing at 4–8 kHz, being all sensorineural hearing loss. The clinical characterization of a young male population of interstate bus drivers revealed a high frequency of cardiovascular risk factors, as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, as well as contributing functional characteristics, such as a low-intensity activity, sedentary behavior, long duration in a sitting position, and high-calorie diet, which lead to excessive weight gain and associated comorbidities.
Long-Term Prospective Study of the Influence of Estrone Levels on Events in Postmenopausal Women with or at High Risk for Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Mansur Antonio de Padua , Silva Tereza Cristina B. F. , Takada Julio Yoshio , Avakian Solange Desirée , Strunz Célia Maria C. , César Luiz Antonio Machado , Aldrighi José Mendes , Ramires José Antonio F.
Published: June 2012

Background. The link between endogenous estrogen, coronary artery disease (CAD), and death in postmenopausal women is uncertain. We analyzed the association between death and blood levels of estrone in postmenopausal women with known coronary artery disease (CAD) or with a high-risk factor score for CAD.Methods. 251 postmenopausal women age 50–90 years not on estrogen therapy. Fasting blood for estrone and heart disease risk factors were collected at baseline. Women were grouped according to their estrone levels (<15 and ≥15 pg/mL). Fatal events were recorded after5.8±1.4years of followup.Results. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed a significant trend (P=0.039) of greater all-cause mortality in women with low estrone levels (<15 pg/mL). Cox multivariate regression analysis model adjusted for body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, family history, and estrone showed estrone (OR=0.45;P=0.038) as the only independent variable for all-cause mortality. Multivariate regression model adjusted for age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, family history, and estrone showed that only age (OR=1.06;P=0.017) was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality.Conclusions. Postmenopausal women with known CAD or with a high-risk factor score for CAD and low estrone levels (<15 pg/mL) had increased all-cause mortality.
Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on the Distribution Patterns of Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium in Rabbits Exposed to Prolonged Cadmium Intoxication
Authors: Bulat Zorica , Đukić-Ćosić Danijela , Antonijević Biljana , Bulat Petar , Vujanović Dragana , Buha Aleksandra , Matović Vesna
Published: June 2012

The present study is designed to investigate whether magnesium (Mg) supplementation may prevent Cd-induced alterations in zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) status in rabbits. For this purpose, the concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Mg were estimated in blood, urine, and organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and bone) of rabbits given Cd (10 mg/kg b.w.) and rabbits cotreated with Mg (40 mg/kg b.w.) orally, as aqueous solutions of Cd chloride and Mg acetate every day for 4 weeks. Samples were mineralized with conc. HNO3and HClO4(4:1) and metals concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Magnesium supplementation succeeded to overcome Cd-induced disbalance of investigated bioelements. Beneficial effects of Mg were observed on Zn levels in blood and urine, on Cu levels in urine, and on Mg levels in blood. Magnesium pretreatment also managed to counteract or reduce all Cd-induced changes in levels of Cu and Mg in organs, while it did not exert this effect on Zn levels. These findings suggest that enhanced dietary Mg intake during Cd exposure can have at least partly beneficial effect on Cd-induced alterations in homeostasis of zinc, copper, and magnesium.
EmergingAeromonasSpecies Infections and Their Significance in Public Health
Authors: Igbinosa Isoken H. , Igumbor Ehimario U. , Aghdasi Farhad , Tom Mvuyo , Okoh Anthony I.
Published: June 2012

Aeromonasspecies are ubiquitous bacteria in terrestrial and aquatic milieus. They are becoming renowned as enteric pathogens of serious public health concern as they acquire a number of virulence determinants that are linked with human diseases, such as gastroenteritis, soft-tissue, muscle infections, septicemia, and skin diseases. Proper sanitary procedures are essential in the prevention of the spread ofAeromonasinfections. Oral fluid electrolyte substitution is employed in the prevention of dehydration, and broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in severeAeromonasoutbreaks. This review presents an overview of emergingAeromonasinfections and proposes the need for actions necessary for establishing adequate prevention measures against the infections.
Relation of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Sensitive Reflectance Ratios to Carbon Flux Measurements of Montanne Grassland and Norway Spruce Forest Ecosystems in the Temperate Zone
Authors: Ač Alexander , Malenovský Zbyněk , Urban Otmar , Hanuš Jan , Zitová Martina , Navrátil Martin , Vráblová Martina , Olejníčková Julie , Špunda Vladimír , Marek Michal
Published: June 2012

We explored ability of reflectance vegetation indexes (VIs) related to chlorophyll fluorescence emission (, ) and de-epoxidation state of xanthophyll cycle pigments (PRI, calculated as ) to track changes in the CO2assimilation rate and Light Use Efficiency (LUE) in montane grassland and Norway spruce forest ecosystems, both at leaf and also canopy level. VIs were measured at two research plots using a ground-based high spatial/spectral resolution imaging spectroscopy technique. No significant relationship between VIs and leaf light-saturated CO2assimilation () was detected in instantaneous measurements of grassland under steady-state irradiance conditions. Once the temporal dimension and daily irradiance variation were included into the experimental setup, statistically significant changes in VIs related to tested physiological parameters were revealed. ΔPRI and Δ() of grassland plant leaves under dark-to-full sunlight transition in the scale of minutes were significantly related to (). In the daily course, the variation of VIs measured in one-hour intervals correlated well with the variation of Gross Primary Production (GPP), Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), and LUE estimated via the eddy-covariance flux tower. Statistical results were weaker in the case of the grassland ecosystem, with the strongest statistical relation of the index with NEE and GPP.
Brittle Culm15 Encodes a Membrane-Associated Chitinase-Like Protein Required for Cellulose Biosynthesis in Rice
Authors: Wu Bin , Zhang Baocai , Dai Yan , Zhang Lei , Shang-Guan Keke , Peng Yonggang , Zhou Yihua , Zhu Zhen
Published: June 2012

Plant chitinases, a class of glycosyl hydrolases, participate in various aspects of normal plant growth and development, including cell wall metabolism and disease resistance. The rice (Oryza sativa) genome encodes 37 putative chitinases and chitinase-like proteins. However, none of them has been characterized at the genetic level. In this study, we report the isolation of a brittle culm mutant, bc15, and the map-based cloning of the BC15/OsCTL1 (for chitinase-like1) gene affected in the mutant. The gene encodes the rice chitinase-like protein BC15/OsCTL1. Mutation of BC15/OsCTL1 causes reduced cellulose content and mechanical strength without obvious alterations in plant growth. Bioinformatic analyses indicated that BC15/OsCTL1 is a class II chitinase-like protein that is devoid of both an amino-terminal cysteine-rich domain and the chitinase activity motif H-E-T-T but possesses an amino-terminal transmembrane domain. Biochemical assays demonstrated that BC15/OsCTL1 is a Golgi-localized type II membrane protein that lacks classical chitinase activity. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and β-glucuronidase activity analyses indicated that BC15/OsCTL1 is ubiquitously expressed. Investigation of the global expression profile of wild-type and bc15 plants, using Illumina RNA sequencing, further suggested a possible mechanism by which BC15/OsCTL1 mediates cellulose biosynthesis and cell wall remodeling. Our findings provide genetic evidence of a role for plant chitinases in cellulose biosynthesis in rice, which appears to differ from their roles as revealed by analysis of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).
Becoming a caregiver: new family carers’ experience during the transition from hospital to home
Authors: Plank Angelika , Mazzoni Valentina , Cavada Luisa
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To explore and understand the experience of new informal caregivers in Italy during the transition from hospital to home.

Background.  Frequent patient discharge into the home environment has lead to a significant increase in postdischarge care being provided by family caregivers. The transition period in particular is seen as a period of great significance, as caregivers may be unprepared and concerned as to the amount of care required by the recipient.

Design.  A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to gain a deeper understanding of caregivers’ lived experiences.

Methods.  Data were collected at two points in time using different methodologies: in‐depth interviews were conducted to explore the caregivers’ perspective of the predischarge period; focus groups obtained data after the patients’ re‐entry into the home environment and aimed to validate interview findings.

Results.  Family caregivers reflected on three main themes during the transition period: (1) their newly acquired role; (2) the recipient’s condition; and (3) the support they required. The core concept of ‘being responsible for everything’ seemed to be a recurring theme running through these three subject matters. Fulfilling numerous commitments and different social roles besides the caring activity itself seemed to weigh heavily on caregivers. Carers were referring particularly to their need for hope, confidence and safety during the transition from hospital to home.

Conclusions.  It cannot be assumed a priori that families can cope with the demands of care‐giving. Therefore, healthcare professionals should come to recognise caregivers as persons in need of emotional and practical support.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings of this study can stimulate healthcare professionals to acquire effective communication skills and display an empathic attitude when assessing caregivers’ needs in the particularly challenging phase of transition from hospital to home.
Perceptions of effective self‐care support for children and young people with long‐term conditions
Authors: Kirk Susan , Beatty Susan , Callery Peter , Milnes Linda , Pryjmachuk Steven
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To: (1) Examine children’s/young people’s, parents’ and professionals’/workers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of different models of self‐care support, (2) identify factors that support and inhibit self‐care and (3) explore how different models integrate with self‐care support provided by other organisations.

Background.  Childhood long‐term illness has been largely overlooked in government policy and self‐care support under‐researched when compared with adults. There is a lack of evidence on which are the most appropriate models and methods to engage young people and their parents in self‐care.

Design.  Case study.

Methods.  Case studies of six different models of self‐care support were conducted using multiple methods of data collection in 2009. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 26 young people, 31 parents and 36 self‐care support providers. A sample of self‐care support activities was observed and relevant documents reviewed. Data were analysed using the Framework approach.

Results.  The effectiveness of self‐care support projects was defined in relation to four dimensions – providing a sense of community, promoting independence and confidence, developing knowledge and skills and engaging children/young people. Self‐care support provided by schools appeared to be variable with some participants experiencing barriers to self‐management and inclusion. Participants self‐referred themselves to self‐care support projects, and there was a lack of integration between some projects and other forms self‐care support.

Conclusion.  This study adds to knowledge by identifying four dimensions that are perceived to be central to effective self‐care support and the contextual factors that appear to influence access and experiences of self‐care support.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Study findings can inform the development of self‐care support programmes to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities. In addition, the findings suggest that healthcare professionals need to support schools if young people with long‐term conditions are to have the same educational and social opportunities as their peers.
Factors related to medication non‐adherence for patients with hypertension in Taiwan
Authors: Li Wen‐Wen , Kuo Chi‐Tai , Hwang Shiow‐Li , Hsu Hsin‐Tien
Published: June 2012

Aims and objective.  To characterise a Taiwanese population and to examine the prevalence of antihypertensive medication non‐adherence and how the cultural/clinical factors were associated with non‐adherence in Taiwan.

Background.  Antihypertensive medication non‐adherence is a significant clinical issue in the United States. However, little is known about hypertension (HTN) control and cultural/clinical factors related to non‐adherence in Taiwan.

Design.  A convenience sample survey design was used.

Method.  Data were gathered from a convenience sample of 200 subjects recruited from a large teaching hospital. Medication non‐adherence and cultural/clinical factors were recorded using various self‐administered questionnaires, and blood pressure was taken twice for each participant.

Results.  The mean age of the participants was 60·4 (SD 11·5 years) including 62% men. Two‐thirds had less than a high school education (64·5%), and the majority of them were married (86·0%) and lived with family or close friends (93·5%). The average length of HTN diagnosis was 8·6 years (SD 9·0 years). Medication non‐adherence rate was 47·5%, and uncontrolled HTN rate was 49·0%. Some participants (17·0%) used Chinese herbs for treating their disease (e.g. cough) and promoting health in addition to their regular antihypertensive medications. Two factors were found to be statistically significant for predicting medication non‐adherence: Lower Perceived Susceptibility to Specific Diseases [OR = 1·15 (95%CI, 1·01–1·31)] and Longer Length of HTN Diagnosis [OR = 1·06 (95%CI, 1·01–1·12)].

Conclusions.  Taiwanese at risk of non‐adherence included those who perceived lower susceptibility to specific diseases and had been diagnosed with HTN for a longer time. Those using herbs need to be studied for an impact of herbs on their adherence behaviour.

Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings can help guide the development of culturally sensitive and clinically appropriate nursing interventions for HTN management in Taiwan.
Developing empathy in nursing students: a cohort longitudinal study
Authors: Cunico Laura , Sartori Riccardo , Marognolli Oliva , Meneghini Anna M
Published: June 2012

Aims and objectives.  To determine whether a specific training course will enhance empathic skills in student nurses during a 3‐year degree course. The study considers levels of empathy in student nurses and assesses whether these can be increased.

Background.  Empathy is accepted as a critical component of supportive relationships. Many scholars have argued that empathy provides health professionals with the capacity to improve the health of patients, so it should ideally be taught to make health professionals more responsive to patient needs.

Design.  Cohort longitudinal study.

Methods.  Data were collected using the Italian version of the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES). The study was designed to guarantee repeated measurements of levels of emotional empathy in the pre‐ and postintervention phases. This allowed us to evaluate the development and improvement of empathy and to measure the effects of extra training on the students’ empathy skills. Two groups took part in the study: the Intervention and the Control Groups. Students in the Intervention Group attended additional seminars and laboratories in small groups with tutors to learn and develop communicative and empathic abilities.

Results.  One hundred and three participants (76% women) completed the study. Data showed that the training course was effective, especially for women: BEES scores 31·60 at pre‐intervention phase and 42·91 at the end of the academic course. Results regarding men were less clear, and the study discusses these unexpected, anomalous findings.

Conclusion.  According to literature, men and women have different empathic traits, and we found that they show disparate empathic tendencies. More women than men took advantage of the training course. In any case, our data show that specific training courses are effective.

Relevance to clinical practice.  As our study shows, empathy is a skill that may be taught. So it would be advisable to introduce these into the traditional nursing curriculum.
Main occluding area in partially edentulous patients: changes before and after implant treatment
Authors: GOTO T. , NISHINAKA H. , KASHIWABARA T. , NAGAO K. , ICHIKAWA T.
Published: June 2012

Summary  The ‘main occluding area’, the location where food crushing occurs during the first stroke of mastication, is reported to be an important concept; however, it is currently limited to findings in individuals with normal dentition. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in the location, area and bite force of the main occluding area before and after implant treatments. We enrolled 50 partially edentulous and 22 normally dentate subjects. To identify the location of the main occluding area, each subject was instructed to freely bite once on a dental stopping using the partially edentulous side or the normally dentate area. The location, occluding contact area and bite force of the main occluding area before and after the implant treatments were analysed. The main occluding area was located at a reproducible location in the partially edentulous and normally dentate subjects. This location was principally the first molar region, and for the partially edentulous patients with missing teeth in the molar regions, it moved from the premolar region to the first molar region after treatment. The occluding contact area and bite force for the main occluding area increased (P < 0·05) after the implant treatment in the partially edentulous patients with missing teeth in the molar regions. These results suggest that the main occluding area can be restored to the first molar region after implant treatment and may be an important factor in the assessment of prosthodontic treatment.
Behavioural changes and occlusal splints are effective in the management of masticatory myofascial pain: a short‐term evaluation
Authors: CONTI P. C. R. , De ALENCAR E. N. , Da MOTA CORRÊA A. S. , LAURIS J. R. P. , PORPORATTI A. L. , COSTA Y. M.
Published: June 2012

Summary  The aim of this research was to test the hypothesis that treatment with intra‐oral appliances with different occlusal designs was beneficial in the management of pain of masticatory muscles compared with a control group. A total of 51 patients were analysed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) to obtain the diagnosis of masticatory myofascial pain (MMP). The sample was then randomly divided into three groups: group I (n = 21) wore a full coverage acrylic stabilisation occlusal splint; group II (n = 16) wore an anterior device nociceptive trigeminal inhibitory (NTI) system; and group III (n = 14) only received counselling for behavioural changes and self‐care (the control group). The first two groups also received counselling. Follow‐ups were performed after 2 and 6 weeks and 3 months. In these sessions, patients were evaluated by means of a visual analogue scale (VAS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the masticatory muscles. Possible adverse effects were also recorded, such as discomfort while using the appliance and occlusal changes. The results were analysed with Kruskal–Wallis, anova, Tukey’s and Friedman tests, with a significance level of 5%. Group I showed improvement in the reported pain at the first follow‐up (2 weeks), whereas for groups II and III, this progress was detected only after 6 weeks and 3 months, respectively. The PPT values did not change significantly. It was concluded that behavioural changes are effective in the management of pain in MMP patients. However, the simultaneous use of occlusal devices appears to produce an earlier improvement.
The autonomic response to human esophageal acidification and the development of hyperalgesia
Authors: Sharma A. , Paine P. , Rhodes S. , Warburton F. , Chua Y. C. , Aziz Q.
Published: June 2012

Background  Distal esophageal acidification induces variable hyperalgesia in the non‐acid exposed proximal esophagus. As the autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulates nociception, the aim was to determine whether autonomic reactivity to acid infusion predicted inter‐individual differences in hyperalgesia.

Methods  In 25 healthy volunteers (18 women, age range 22–58, mean 36.5 years), using a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover design, pain thresholds to electrical stimulation were determined in the proximal esophagus and foot (control) pre and post a 30‐min distal esophageal infusion of 0.15 mol L−1 HCl or saline with autonomic monitoring. Sympathetic Cardiac Sympathetic Index and Skin Conductance Response and parasympathetic Cardiac Vagal Tone and Cardiac Sensitivity to Baroreflex measures were derived. Plasma cortisol was measured pre and post infusion as were anxiety and unpleasantness.

Key Results  Acid infusion reduced group pain threshold in the proximal esophagus (adjusted mean change −5.0 mA vs saline +3.4 mA, P < 0.001), and raised sympathetic measures (Cardiac Sympathetic Index, Skin Conduction Response) and cortisol levels, but reduced parasympathetic measures (cardiac vagal tone and cardiac sensitivity to Baroreflex) (all P < 0.05). Acid infusion also increased anxiety and unpleasantness scores (both P < 0.05). In 16 acid‐sensitizers, the degree of hyperalgesia correlated with increasing heart rate (r = −0.66, P = 0.005), and fall in cardiac vagal tone (r = 0.54, P = 0.03) and Cardiac Sensitivity to Baroreflex (r = 0.54, P = 0.03).

Conclusions & Inferences  Acid‐induced esophageal hyperalgesia correlated with reduced parasympathetic tone, suggesting that the parasympathetic nervous system may have anti hyperalgesic properties. Additional studies on the autonomic modulation of esophageal hyperalgesia are required.
Relationship between esophageal contraction patterns and clearance of swallowed liquid and solid boluses in healthy controls and patients with dysphagia
Authors: Bogte A. , Bredenoord A. J. , Oors J. , Siersema P. D. , Smout A. J. P. M.
Published: June 2012

Background  Non‐obstructive dysphagia patients prove to be a difficult category for clinical management. Esophageal high‐resolution manometry (HRM) is a novel method, used to analyze dysphagia. However, it is not yet clear how findings on HRM relate to bolus transport through the esophagus.

Methods  Twenty healthy volunteers and 20 patients with dysphagia underwent HRM and videofluoroscopy in a supine position. Each subject swallowed five liquid and five solid barium boluses. Esophageal contraction parameters and bolus transport were evaluated with HRM and concurrent videofluoroscopy.

Key Results  Stasis of liquid and solid barium boluses occurred in patients and in healthy volunteers in 64% and 41% and in 84% and 82% of the swallows, respectively. Overall, 70% of the liquid and 72% of the solid bolus swallows were followed by a peristaltic contraction, the difference not being statistically significant. Statistically significant associations were found for transition zone length of liquid and solid boluses, and for DCI and distal contraction amplitudes for liquid stasis. No correlation was found between the degree of stasis and other manometric parameters.

Conclusions & Inferences  Stasis of both liquid and solid boluses occurs frequently in patients and in controls and can be regarded as physiological. Motility patterns can predict the effectiveness of bolus transit and level of stasis to some degree but the relationship between esophageal motility and transit is complex and far from perfect. Esophageal manometry is therefore currently deemed unfit to be used for the prediction of bolus transit, and should rather be used for the identification of treatable esophageal motility disorders.