bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogeography and evolution of a fungal–insect association on theTibetanPlateau
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Zhang Shu , Li Yuling , Ma Shaoli , Wang Chengshu , Xiang Meichun , Liu Xin , An Zhiqiang , Xu Jianping , Liu Xingzhong
Published: September 2014

Parasitoidism refers to a major form of interspecies interactions where parasitoids sterilize and/or kill their hosts typically before hosts reach reproductive age. However, relatively little is known about the evolutionary dynamics of parasitoidism. Here, we investigate the spatial patterns of genetic variation of Chinese cordyceps, including both the parasitoidal fungusOphiocordyceps sinensisand its host insects. We sampled broadly from alpine regions on the Tibetan Plateau and obtained sequences on seven fungal and three insectDNAfragments from each of the 125 samples. Seven and five divergent lineages/cryptic species were identified within the fungus and host insects, respectively. Our analyses suggested thatO. sinensisand host insects originated at similar geographic regions in southern Tibet/Yunnan, followed by range expansion to their current distributions. Cophylogenetic analyses revealed a complex evolutionary relationship betweenO. sinensisand its host insects. Significant congruence was found between host and parasite phylogenies and the time estimates of divergence were similar, raising the possibility of the occurrence of cospeciation events, but the incongruences suggested that host shifts were also prevalent. Interestingly, one fungal genotype was broadly distributed, consistent with recent gene flow. In contrast, the high‐frequency insect genotypes showed limited geographic distributions. The dominant genotypes from both the fungus and the insect hosts may represent ideal materials from which to develop artificial cultivation of this important Chinese traditional medicine. Our results demonstrate that both historical and contemporary events have played important roles in the phylogeography and evolution of theO. sinensis–ghost moth parasitoidism on the Tibetan Plateau.
Bead study: a novel method to measure gastrointestinal transit in mice
Authors: Reed D. E. , Pigrau M. , Lu J. , Moayyedi P. , Collins S. M. , Bercik P.
Published: September 2014

Background

Intestinal transit assessment in mice using existing methods requires long recording periods or euthanization of animals to localize a tracer. We have developed a novel in vivo method to assess gastrointestinal (GI) transit in mice based on a clinically used ‘shapes study’.

Methods

Mice (n = 70) were gavaged with 5 steel beads and barium 3 h before, with another dose of barium gavaged 10 min before imaging. Mice were fluoroscoped for 20–60 s, and then most of them were euthanized and the GI tract removed to confirm the localization of the beads fluoroscopically. The in vivo and postmortem recordings were analyzed and each bead was scored depending on its location; a total score was calculated by adding individual bead scores. Total scores obtained from the two methods were compared. A group of mice (n = 10) were examined on three occasions, before and after treatment with loperamide or prucalopride.

Key Results

The stomach and cecum were consistently outlined by barium, serving as reference landmarks. There was an excellent overall correlation between in vivo and postmortem transit scores (r = 0.93). Analysis of scores for individual gut segments revealed high agreement for stomach, cecum, and expelled beads, and moderate agreement for the small bowel and colon. Gastrointestinal transit scores were decreased by loperamide and increased by prucalopride compared with baseline.

Conclusions & Inferences

Metallic beads are reliably localized by videofluoroscopy in vivo within the GI tract. This novel imaging method enables repetitive measurements of GI transit in vivo and detects changes induced by motility‐modifying agents.
The sensitivity of acoustic cough recording relative to intraesophageal pressure recording and patient report during reflux testing
Authors: Rosen R. , Amirault J. , Heinz N. , Litman H. , Khatwa U.
Published: September 2014

Background

One of the primary indications for reflux testing with multichannel intraluminal impedance with pH (pH‐MII) is to correlate reflux events with symptoms such as cough. Adult and pediatric studies have shown, using cough as a model, that patient report of symptoms is inaccurate. Unfortunately, intraesophageal pressure recording (IEPR) to record coughs is more invasive which limits its utility in children. The primary aim of this study was to validate the use of acoustic cough recording (ACR) during pH‐MII testing.

Methods

We recruited children undergoing pH‐MII testing for the evaluation of cough. We simultaneously placed IEPR and pH‐MII catheters and an ACR device in each patient. Each 24 h ACR, pH‐MII, and IEPR tracing was scored by blinded investigators. Sensitivities for each method of symptom recording were calculated.

Key Results

A total of 2698 coughs were detected; 1140 were patient reported PR, 2425 were IEPR detected, and 2400 were ACR detected. The sensitivity of PR relative to ACR was 45.9% and the sensitivity of IEPR relative to ACR was 93.6%. There was strong inter‐rater reliability (κ = 0.78) for the identification of cough by ACR.

Conclusions & Inferences

Acoustic recording is a non‐invasive, sensitive method of recording cough during pH‐MII testing that is well suited for the pediatric population.
Sex Differences in Patients with Chronic Pain Following Whiplash Injury: The Role of Depression, Fear, Somatization, Social Support, and Personality Traits
Authors: Malfliet Anneleen , De Kooning Margot , Inghelbrecht Els , Hachimi‐Idrissi Said , Willems Bert , Bernheim Jan , Nijs Jo
Published: September 2014

Background

Chronic whiplash‐associated disorders (chronic WAD) cover a large variety of clinical manifestations that can occur after a whiplash injury. Women have an increased risk of developing chronic WAD, and it is suggested that psychosocial factors are related to long‐term pain and functioning following whiplash injury and persistence of chronic pain. This leads to the question whether there are sex differences in psychosocial factors in chronic WAD.

Methods

This study included 117 subjects who had experienced a whiplash injury at least 3 months before the start of the study (mean duration of pain: 67.29 ± 63.86 months, range: 297 months). They were selected as chronically symptomatic, by excluding those who had recovered from their whiplash injury. Psychosocial aspects (including depression, fear, somatization, social support, and personality traits) were assessed by validated questionnaires, and sex differences were tested using a univariate analysis of variance (ANCOVA), with age and time from whiplash injury as covariates.

Results

No differences in depression, fear, somatization, discrepancy in social support personality trait, Neck Disability Index scores, physical functioning, bodily pain, or general health were present between women and men with chronic WAD. Women with chronic WAD reported higher levels of emotional support in problem situations and social companionship.

Conclusion

Except for emotional support in problem situations and social companionship, psychosocial factors do not differ between men and women with chronic WAD. These findings imply little to no risk for sex bias in studies investigating psychosocial issues in patients with chronic WAD.
Urea persistence in floodwater and soil used for flooded rice production
Authors: Daigh A. L. , Savin M. C. , Brye K. , Norman R. , Miller D.
Published: September 2014

Urea is a common fertilizer in delayed‐flood rice production in the United States, and its use worldwide has increased dramatically in recent decades. This study aimed to directly quantify urea‐N persistence in floodwater and soil used for rice production. We conducted a set of three laboratory experiments to investigate urea‐N presence in the floodwater and soil. Untreated urea was applied to dry or wet soil and flooded immediately or urea treated with the urease inhibitor N‐(n‐butyl)‐thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), or untreated urea was applied to dry soil and flooded after a 5‐day delay. Urea‐N was analysed colorimetrically (using the microplate‐adapted, diacetyl monoxime method) in the floodwater, and at 2‐cm intervals in soil after 10‐cm long, silt‐loam soil columns were flooded for 12, 24, 48 and 96 h. The only management practice that led to insignificant urea‐N concentrations in floodwaters was the application of urea followed by a 5‐day delay before flooding. Urea‐N can persist in floodwaters for an estimated 98 and 120 h after immediately flooding dry‐soil‐applied or wet‐soil‐applied untreated urea, respectively. Urea‐N concentrations in floodwaters were up to 33 times less when dry‐soil‐applied than wet‐soil‐applied. Average NBPT‐treated urea‐N concentrations in soil ranged up to 63 mg/kg after 24 h of flooding and were <1 mg/kg after 96 h of flooding. The 5‐day delay resulted in ≤1 mg urea‐N/kg soil when untreated urea was applied. Generally, the threat of N entering adjacent waterways in the form of urea is likely to be limited because of its short‐term persistence (≤120 h) in rice floodwater.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase mediates the nitric oxide component of reflex cutaneous vasodilatation during dynamic exercise in humans
Authors: McNamara Tanner C. , Keen Jeremy T. , Simmons Grant H. , Alexander Lacy M. , Wong Brett J.
Published: September 2014

Key points

Increases in skin blood flow and sweating also occur during exercise; however, it is not known if the mechanisms controlling these responses are the same during passive heat stress and exercise.

The prevailing thought has been that mechanisms of cutaneous vasodilatation during passive heat stress and sustained dynamic exercise are the same, or very similar.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be important for increasing skin blood flow during passive heat stress but it is unknown if this molecule is also involved during sustained dynamic exercise.

The findings from our study suggest NO is involved in increasing skin blood flow during sustained dynamic exercise in humans but the NO is produced from a different enzyme compared to passive heat stress.

These findings may help us better understand and aid individuals who have difficulty regulating their body temperature during sustained dynamic exercise (e.g. ageing).

Recent data suggests neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mediates the NO component of reflex cutaneous vasodilatation with passive heat stress. We tested the hypothesis that nNOS inhibition would attenuate reflex cutaneous vasodilatation during sustained dynamic exercise in young healthy humans. All subjects first performed an incremental test to exhaustion on a custom‐built supine cycle ergometer. On a separate day, subjects were instrumented with four intradermal microdialysis fibres on the forearm and each randomly assigned as: (1) lactated Ringer's (control); (2) 20 mm Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (non‐selective NOS inhibitor); (3) 5 mm N‐propyl‐l‐arginine (nNOS inhibitor); and (4) 10 mm N5‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐ornithine dihydrochloride [endothelial NOS (eNOS) inhibitor]. Following microdialysis placement, subjects performed supine cycling with the experimental arm at heart level at 60% for a period sufficient to raise core temperature 0.8°C. At the end of cycling, all microdialysis sites were locally heated to 43°C and sodium nitroprusside was perfused to elicit maximal vasodilatation. Mean arterial pressure, skin blood flow via laser‐Doppler flowmetry and core temperature via ingestible telemetric pill were measured continuously; cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as laser‐Doppler flowmetry/mean arterial pressure and normalized to maximum. There was no significant difference between control (58 ± 2%CVCmax) and nNOS‐inhibited (56 ± 3%CVCmax) sites in response to exercise‐induced hyperthermia. The increase in CVC at eNOS‐inhibited (41 ± 3%CVCmax) and non‐selective NOS‐inhibited (40 ± 4%CVCmax) sites were significantly attenuated compared to control and nNOS‐inhibited (P < 0.001 all conditions) but there was no difference between eNOS‐inhibited and non‐selective NOS‐inhibited sites. These data suggest eNOS, not nNOS, mediate NO synthesis during reflex cutaneous vasodilatation with sustained dynamic exercise.
Modulation of enteric neurons by interleukin‐6 and corticotropin‐releasing factor contributes to visceral hypersensitivity and altered colonic motility in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Buckley Maria M. , O'Halloran Ken D. , Rae Mark G. , Dinan Timothy G. , O'Malley Dervla
Published: September 2014

Key points

Hyperactivity of the stress system and low‐grade immune activation characterize the functional bowel disorder irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

These studies show that interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 and the stress hormone corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), present in IBS plasma, have functional effects on gastrointestinal activity by stimulating myenteric neurons and colonic contractions.

Moreover, in the Wistar Kyoto rat model of IBS, which exhibits altered gastrointestinal motility and visceral pain sensitivity, blocking IL‐6 and/or CRF1 receptors alleviates these IBS‐like symptoms.

Underlying these effects are altered colonic protein expression of tight junction proteins which regulate gut barrier function and the T‐type calcium channel CaV3.2, which has been linked to visceral pain.

These findings demonstrate the importance of the enteric nervous system and intestinal physiology in bowel dysfunction.

The search for effective therapeutic strategies for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is hampered by an incomplete understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. Stress and altered plasma cytokine profiles indicative of immune activation are characteristic of the disorder. The neuromodulatory effects of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and corticotropin‐releasing factor receptor (CRFR) 1 in visceral pain and stress‐induced defecation in the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat model of IBS were investigated. Sprague Dawley and WKY rats were administered anti‐IL‐6 receptor antibodies (xIL‐6R, 0.5 mg kg−1 i.p) with or without the CRFR1 antagonist antalarmin (10 mg kg−1 i.p). Post‐intervention, the pain threshold to colorectal distension and stress‐induced faecal output were compared and changes in colonic mucosal protein expression were investigated. The neuro‐stimulatory effects of IBS plasma on the myenteric plexus is mediated by IL‐6, IL‐8 and CRF. The stimulatory effects of these soluble factors on myenteric neuron excitability and colonic contractility were additive. Moreover, inhibition of IL‐6 and CRF1 receptors in vivo in the WKY IBS rat model normalized stress‐induced defecation (P < 0.01) and visceral pain sensitivity (P < 0.001) with associated changes in protein expression of the tight junction proteins occludin and claudin 2, the visceral pain‐associated T‐type calcium channel CaV3.2 and intracellular signalling molecules STAT3, SOCS3 and ERK1/2. These studies demonstrate the additive effects of immune and stress factors on myenteric neuronal excitability. Moreover, combined targeting of peripheral IL‐6 and CRF1 receptors is effective in alleviating IBS‐like symptoms in the WKY rat. Thus, crosstalk between stress and immune factors during IBS flares may underlie symptom exacerbation.
Charge at the 46th residue of connexin 50 is crucial for the gap‐junctional unitary conductance and transjunctional voltage‐dependent gating
Authors: Tong Xiaoling , Aoyama Hiroshi , Tsukihara Tomitake , Bai Donglin
Published: September 2014

Key points

Gap‐junction (GJ) channels provide direct intercellular communication and are twice the length of most membrane channels, yet they often have high efficiency in permeation of ions, which is reflected by large unitary channel conductance (γj).

To reveal the key factors in determining the γj of a lens GJ channel, we studied connexin 50 mutant GJ channels, where a negatively or positively charged residue was introduced into a pore‐lining domain.

The results indicate that the pore surface electrostatic potential is a dictating factor for the connexin 50 GJ channel γj.

A change in the local resistance of the channel pore associated with these mutant channels is an important factor for their voltage‐dependent gating properties.

The combination of dual patch clamp and homology structure modelling is a powerful approach in revealing molecular mechanisms of GJ gating and ion permeation.

Gap‐junction (GJ) channels are twice the length of most membrane channels, yet they often have large unitary channel conductance (γj). What factors make this possibly the longest channel so efficient in passing ions are not fully clear. Here we studied the lens connexin (Cx) 50 GJs, which display one of the largest γj and the most sensitive transjunctional voltage‐dependent gating (Vj gating) among all GJ channels. Introduction of charged residues into a putative pore‐lining domain (the first transmembrane and the first extracellular loop border) drastically altered the apparent γj. Specifically, G46D and G46E increased the Cx50 γj from 201 to 256 and 293 pS, respectively and the G46K channel showed an apparent γj of only 20 pS. G46K also drastically altered Vj gating properties in homotypic G46K and heterotypic Cx50/G46K channels, causing an apparent loss of fast Vj‐dependent gating transitions and leaving only loop gating transitions at the single channel current records. Both macroscopic and single channel currents of heterotypic Cx50/G46K channels showed a prominent rectification. Our homology structural models indicate that the pore surface electrostatic potentials are a dictating factor in determining the γj. Our data demonstrate, at the whole GJ channel level, a crucial role of the surface charge properties in the first transmembrane/first extracellular border domain in determining the efficiency of ion permeation and the Vj gating of Cx50 and possibly other GJ channels.
An Experimental Study of Smart Waterflooding on Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Awolayo Adedapo , AlSumaiti Ali M. , Sarma Hemanta
Published: September 2014

Wetting state in many fractured carbonate reservoirs exists between mixed-wet to oil-wet. Interaction of negatively charged carboxylic molecules in the crude oil with the rock surface, and high capillary pressure encountered during oil migration into the reservoir rock frequently render the rock oil-wet. Similarly, the existence of fractures solitarily governs the fluid flow dynamics in the porous media. Therefore, oil recovery from oil-wet fractured reservoirs is extremely tasking due to complex mechanisms involved in interactions between the double porosity system and the reservoir fluids.

Waterflooding seems to be an economical technique to recover oil from fractured (water-wet) reservoirs where the rate of oil recovery is controlled by the water imbibition into the matrix from the fracture network. While for oil-wet reservoirs, waterflooding appears feeble and smart waterflooding looks very promising through varying of ions in the injection water. Hence changes the properties of the rock and improves waterflood performance.

Middle East carbonate cores, dead crude oil, and smart water of different salinity were used in both static imbibition cells and centrifuge experiments. In order to gain better understanding of the relative contribution of oil recovery between fracture and matrix, different core configurations were used. The tests were carried out initially with formation brine and followed by different slugs of smart water. Presented in this work are the results obtained from the formation brine-oil imbibition tests and smart water-oil imbibition tests in fractured and unfractured cores. Results showed that waterflood recovery from fractured carbonate cores was about 50% of the OOIC while incremental displacement for smart water imbibition was observed nearly as high as 13%.
Resistance switching behaviors of amorphous (ZrTiNi)Ox films for nonvolatile memory devices
Authors: Yang Hsiao-Ching , Wang Sea-Fue , Chu Jinn P.
Published: September 2014

In this study, the resistive switching characteristics of a multicomponent oxide (ZrTiNi)Ox film with a thickness of 50 nm for resistive random access memory applications are investigated and discussed, and are intended to be used to complement the studies of simple and binary oxides reported in the literature. Analysis reveals that the deposited films are amorphous and highly oxygen-deficient (ZrTiNi)Ox with a chemical formula of (Zr0.74Ti0.15Ni0.11)O1.12□0.78 in which the concentration of the existing oxygen vacancies are found to be 41% of the total oxygen ion sites. The prepared Pt/(ZrTiNi)Ox/Pt device exhibits excellent unipolar switching behavior marked with a substantial resistance ratio (larger than 102), good endurance, and long retention time. The low resistance state exhibits a linear ohmic behavior as a result of the conductive filament of the aligned oxygen vacancies, while the high resistance state conduction contributes to the space-charge-limited current conduction mechanism.
Clinical probe utilizing surface enhanced Raman scattering
Authors: Kim Jeonghwan , Hah Dooyoung , Daniels-Race Theda , Feldman Martin
Published: September 2014

Conventional Raman scattering is a well-known technique for detecting and identifying complex molecular samples. In surface enhanced Raman scattering, a nanorough metallic surface close to the sample enormously enhances the Raman signal. In previous work, the metallic surface was a thin layer of gold deposited on a rough transparent epoxy substrate. The advantage of the clear substrate was that the Raman signal could be obtained by passing light through the substrate, on to opaque samples simply placed against its surface. In this work, a commercially available Raman spectrometer was coupled to a distant probe. Raman signals were obtained from the surface, and from the interior, of a solid specimen located more than 1 m away from the spectrometer. The practical advantage of this arrangement is that it opens up surface enhanced Raman spectrometry to a clinical environment, with a patient simply sitting or lying near the spectrometer.
Performance Comparison of Illumina and Ion Torrent Next-Generation Sequencing Platforms for 16S rRNA-Based Bacterial Community Profiling
Authors: Salipante Stephen J. , Kawashima Toana , Rosenthal Christopher , Hoogestraat Daniel R. , Cummings Lisa A. , Sengupta Dhruba J. , Harkins Timothy T. , Cookson Brad T. , Hoffman Noah G.
Published: September 2014

High-throughput sequencing of the taxonomically informative 16S rRNA gene provides a powerful approach for exploring microbial diversity. Here we compare the performances of two common “benchtop” sequencing platforms, Illumina MiSeq and Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM), for bacterial community profiling by 16S rRNA (V1-V2) amplicon sequencing. We benchmarked performance by using a 20-organism mock bacterial community and a collection of primary human specimens. We observed comparatively higher error rates with the Ion Torrent platform and report a pattern of premature sequence truncation specific to semiconductor sequencing. Read truncation was dependent on both the directionality of sequencing and the target species, resulting in organism-specific biases in community profiles. We found that these sequencing artifacts could be minimized by using bidirectional amplicon sequencing and an optimized flow order on the Ion Torrent platform. Results of bacterial community profiling performed on the mock community and a collection of 18 human-derived microbiological specimens were generally in good agreement for both platforms; however, in some cases, results differed significantly. Disparities could be attributed to the failure to generate full-length reads for particular organisms on the Ion Torrent platform, organism-dependent differences in sequence error rates affecting classification of certain species, or some combination of these factors. This study demonstrates the potential for differential bias in bacterial community profiles resulting from the choice of sequencing platform alone.
Evidence for the Cooccurrence of Nitrite-Dependent Anaerobic Ammonium and Methane Oxidation Processes in a Flooded Paddy Field
Authors: Shen Li-dong , Liu Shuai , Huang Qian , Lian Xu , He Zhan-fei , Geng Sha , Jin Ren-cun , He Yun-feng , Lou Li-ping , Xu Xiang-yang , Zheng Ping , Hu Bao-lan
Published: September 2014

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) are two of the most recent discoveries in the microbial nitrogen cycle. In the present study, we provide direct evidence for the cooccurrence of the anammox and n-damo processes in a flooded paddy field in southeastern China. Stable isotope experiments showed that the potential anammox rates ranged from 5.6 to 22.7 nmol N
2
g
−1
(dry weight) day
−1
and the potential n-damo rates varied from 0.2 to 2.1 nmol CO
2
g
−1
(dry weight) day
−1
in different layers of soil cores. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of anammox bacteria ranged from 1.0 × 10
5
to 2.0 × 10
6
copies g
−1
(dry weight) in different layers of soil cores and the abundance of n-damo bacteria varied from 3.8 × 10
5
to 6.1 × 10
6
copies g
−1
(dry weight). Phylogenetic analyses of the recovered 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that anammox bacteria affiliated with “
Candidatus
Brocadia” and “
Candidatus
Kuenenia” and n-damo bacteria related to “
Candidatus
Methylomirabilis oxyfera” were present in the soil cores. It is estimated that a total loss of 50.7 g N m
−2
per year could be linked to the anammox process, which is at intermediate levels for the nitrogen flux ranges of aerobic ammonium oxidation and denitrification reported in wetland soils. In addition, it is estimated that a total of 0.14 g CH
4
m
−2
per year could be oxidized via the n-damo process, while this rate is at the lower end of the aerobic methane oxidation rates reported in wetland soils.
Hydroxycinnamic Acids Used as External Acceptors of Electrons: an Energetic Advantage for Strictly Heterofermentative Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Filannino Pasquale , Gobbetti Marco , De Angelis Maria , Di Cagno Raffaella
Published: September 2014

The metabolism of hydroxycinnamic acids by strictly heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (19 strains) was investigated as a potential alternative energy route.
Lactobacillus curvatus
PE5 was the most tolerant to hydroxycinnamic acids, followed by strains of
Weissella
spp.,
Lactobacillus brevis
,
Lactobacillus fermentum
, and
Leuconostoc mesenteroides
, for which the MIC values were the same. The highest sensitivity was found for
Lactobacillus rossiae
strains. During growth in MRS broth, lactic acid bacteria reduced caffeic,
p
-coumaric, and ferulic acids into dihydrocaffeic, phloretic, and dihydroferulic acids, respectively, or decarboxylated hydroxycinnamic acids into the corresponding vinyl derivatives and then reduced the latter compounds to ethyl compounds. Reductase activities mainly emerged, and the activities of selected strains were further investigated in chemically defined basal medium (CDM) under anaerobic conditions. The end products of carbon metabolism were quantified, as were the levels of intracellular ATP and the NAD
+
/NADH ratio. Electron and carbon balances and theoretical ATP/glucose yields were also estimated. When CDM was supplemented with hydroxycinnamic acids, the synthesis of ethanol decreased and the concentration of acetic acid increased. The levels of these metabolites reflected on the alcohol dehydrogenase and acetate kinase activities. Overall, some biochemical traits distinguished the common metabolism of strictly heterofermentative strains: main reductase activity toward hydroxycinnamic acids, a shift from alcohol dehydrogenase to acetate kinase activities, an increase in the NAD
+
/NADH ratio, and the accumulation of supplementary intracellular ATP. Taken together, the above-described metabolic responses suggest that strictly heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria mainly use hydroxycinnamic acids as external acceptors of electrons.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Molecular Typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolates from Ducks in South Korea
Authors: Wei Bai , Cha Se-Yeoun , Kang Min , Roh Jae-Hee , Seo Hye-Suk , Yoon Ran-Hee , Jang Hyung-Kwan
Published: September 2014

Campylobacter
is a food-borne zoonotic pathogen that causes human gastroenteritis worldwide.
Campylobacter
bacteria are commensal in the intestines of many food production animals, including ducks and chickens. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of
Campylobacter
species in domestic ducks, and the agar dilution method was used to determine resistance of the isolates to eight antibiotics. In addition, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed to determine the sequence types (STs) of selected
Campylobacter
isolates. Between May and September 2012, 58 duck farms were analyzed, and 56 (96.6%) were positive for
Campylobacter
. Among the isolates, 82.1% were
Campylobacter jejuni
, 16.1% were
C. coli
, and one was unidentified by PCR. Of the 46
C. jejuni
isolates, 87.0%, 10.9%, and 21.7% were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and azithromycin, respectively. Among the
C. coli
isolates, all 9 strains were resistant to ampicillin, and 77.8% and 33.3% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin, respectively. The majority of the
Campylobacter
isolates were classified as multidrug resistant. Twenty-eight STs were identified, including 20 STs for
C. jejuni
and 8 STs for
C. coli
. The most common clonal complexes in
C. jejuni
were the ST-21 complex and the ST-45 complex, while the ST-828 complex predominated in
C. coli
. The majority of isolates were of STs noted in ducks and humans from earlier studies, along with seven STs previously associated only with human disease. These STs overlapped between duck and human isolates, indicating that
Campylobacter
isolates from ducks should be considered potential sources of human infection.
Substrate-Specific Development of Thermophilic Bacterial Consortia by Using Chemically Pretreated Switchgrass
Authors: Eichorst Stephanie A. , Joshua Chijioke , Sathitsuksanoh Noppadon , Singh Seema , Simmons Blake A. , Singer Steven W.
Published: September 2014

Microbial communities that deconstruct plant biomass have broad relevance in biofuel production and global carbon cycling. Biomass pretreatments reduce plant biomass recalcitrance for increased efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. We exploited these chemical pretreatments to study how thermophilic bacterial consortia adapt to deconstruct switchgrass (SG) biomass of various compositions. Microbial communities were adapted to untreated, ammonium fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated, and ionic-liquid (IL)-pretreated SG under aerobic, thermophilic conditions using green waste compost as the inoculum to study biomass deconstruction by microbial consortia. After microbial cultivation, gravimetric analysis of the residual biomass demonstrated that both AFEX and IL pretreatment enhanced the deconstruction of the SG biomass approximately 2-fold. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) experiments and acetyl bromide-reactive-lignin analysis indicated that polysaccharide hydrolysis was the dominant process occurring during microbial biomass deconstruction, and lignin remaining in the residual biomass was largely unmodified. Small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene amplicon libraries revealed that although the dominant taxa across these chemical pretreatments were consistently represented by members of the
Firmicutes
, the
Bacteroidetes
, and
Deinococcus-Thermus
, the abundance of selected operational taxonomic units (OTUs) varied, suggesting adaptations to the different substrates. Combining the observations of differences in the community structure and the chemical and physical structure of the biomass, we hypothesize specific roles for individual community members in biomass deconstruction.
Interpreting trial results following use of different intention-to-treat approaches for preventing attrition bias: a meta-epidemiological study protocol
Authors: Dossing Anna , Tarp Simon , Furst Daniel E , Gluud Christian , Beyene Joseph , Hansen Bjarke B , Bliddal Henning , Christensen Robin
Published: September 2014

Introduction

When participants drop out of randomised clinical trials, as frequently happens, the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle does not apply, potentially leading to attrition bias. Data lost from patient dropout/lack of follow-up are statistically addressed by imputing, a procedure prone to bias. Deviations from the original definition of ITT are referred to as modified intention-to-treat (mITT). As yet, the impact of the potential bias associated with mITT has not been assessed. Our objective is to investigate potential bias and disadvantages of performing mITT and evaluate possible concerns when executing different mITT approaches in meta-analyses.

Methods and analysis

Using meta-epidemiology on randomised trials considered less prone to bias (ie, good internal validity) and assessing biological or targeted agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we will meta-analyse data from 10 biological and targeted drugs based on collections of trials that would correspond to 10 individual meta-analyses.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will enhance transparency for evaluating mITT treatment effects described in meta-analyses. The intended audience will include healthcare researchers, policymakers and clinicians. Results of the study will be disseminated by peer-review publication.

Protocol registration

In PROSPERO CRD42013006702, 11. December 2013.
Pain in patients with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: van Dam van Isselt Eléonore F , Groenewegen-Sipkema Karin H , Spruit-van Eijk Monica , Chavannes Niels H , de Waal Margot W M , Janssen Daisy J A , Achterberg Wilco P
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To systematically investigate the prevalence of pain, factors related with pain and pain management interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources and study eligibility criteria

PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, CINAHL and PsychINFO from 1966 to December 2013. Studies were included if they presented clinical data on pain or symptom burden in patients with COPD, or pain as a domain of quality of life (QoL). All types of study designs were included.

Results

Of the 1571 articles that were identified, 39 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Fourteen studies focused on pain and symptom burden (including pain) in patients with COPD and 25 studies focused on QoL using a questionnaire that included a separate pain domain. Reported pain prevalence in high-quality studies ranged from 32 to 60%. Included studies report that pain is more prevalent in patients with COPD compared to participants from the general population. Comorbidity, nutritional status, QoL and several symptoms were related to pain. None of the included studies reported a significant relationship between lung function and pain prevalence or severity. However, studies investigating pain in patients with moderate COPD reported higher pain prevalence compared to studies in patients with severe of very severe COPD.

Conclusions

Although literature on this topic is limited and shows substantial heterogeneity, pain seems to be a significant problem in patients with COPD and is related to several other symptoms, comorbidity and QoL. Data synthesis suggests that pain is more prevalent in patients with moderate COPD compared to patients with severe or very severe COPD. Further research is needed and should focus on determining a more accurate pain prevalence, investigating the relationship between pain prevalence, disease severity and comorbidity and explore implementation and efficacy of pain management interventions in patients with COPD.
Emergency and urgent care capacity in a resource-limited setting: an assessment of health facilities in western Kenya
Authors: Burke Thomas F , Hines Rosemary , Ahn Roy , Walters Michelle , Young David , Anderson Rachel Eleanor , Tom Sabrina M , Clark Rachel , Obita Walter , Nelson Brett D
Published: September 2014

Objective

Injuries, trauma and non-communicable diseases are responsible for a rising proportion of death and disability in low-income and middle-income countries. Delivering effective emergency and urgent healthcare for these and other conditions in resource-limited settings is challenging. In this study, we sought to examine and characterise emergency and urgent care capacity in a resource-limited setting.

Methods

We conducted an assessment within all 30 primary and secondary hospitals and within a stratified random sampling of 30 dispensaries and health centres in western Kenya. The key informants were the most senior facility healthcare provider and manager available. Emergency physician researchers utilised a semistructured assessment tool, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic coding.

Results

No lower level facilities and 30% of higher level facilities reported having a defined, organised approach to trauma. 43% of higher level facilities had access to an anaesthetist. The majority of lower level facilities had suture and wound care supplies and gloves but typically lacked other basic trauma supplies. For cardiac care, 50% of higher level facilities had morphine, but a minority had functioning ECG, sublingual nitroglycerine or a defibrillator. Only 20% of lower level facilities had glucometers, and only 33% of higher level facilities could care for diabetic emergencies. No facilities had sepsis clinical guidelines.

Conclusions

Large gaps in essential emergency care capabilities were identified at all facility levels in western Kenya. There are great opportunities for a universally deployed basic emergency care package, an advanced emergency care package and facility designation scheme, and a reliable prehospital care transportation and communications system in resource-limited settings.
Three-month outcome of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome using point-of-care cardiac troponin-T testing compared with laboratory-based cardiac troponin-T testing: a randomised trial
Authors: Asha Stephen Edward , Cooke Andrew , Walter Elizabeth , Weaver James
Published: September 2014

Objective

The aim of this randomised trial was to determine clinical outcomes in patients suspected of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who had cardiac troponin-T measured by point-of-care (POC) compared with laboratory-based cardiac troponin-T testing. A secondary aim was to describe the correlation between the two troponin assays.

Methods

Adults suspected of ACS were allocated to have troponin processed by POC or laboratory analyser. The primary outcome was a composite of acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularisation, cardiac arrest and mortality at 3 months. Paired troponins taken on participants allocated to POC were used to determine correlation between troponin values obtained from laboratory and POC analysers.

Results

There were 452 participants. 30 (13.1%) of 229 participants allocated to POC had at least one primary outcome event compared with 29 (13.0%) of 223 allocated to laboratory testing, a difference of 0.1% (95% CI −6.2% to 6.4%, p=0.98). Of 215 available paired troponins results, both analysers gave congruent results in 196 (91%) cases. The POC troponin was negative when the laboratory sample was positive in 16 (7%) cases. The POC troponin was positive when the laboratory sample was negative in 3 (1%) samples. Passing–Bablok regression analysis demonstrated both a constant and proportional difference between the two analytic methods.

Conclusions

Among patients suspected of an ACS, we found no evidence for a difference in adverse outcome when POC troponin was used in comparison with laboratory troponin. Due to the small sample size, an absolute difference of up to 6% in adverse outcome is possible.

Trial registration number

ANZCTR#12612000319875.
Hemorrhagic collision metastasis in a cerebral arteriovenous malformation
Authors: Sundarakumar Dinesh K , Marshall Desiree A , Keene C Dirk , Rockhill Jason K , Margolin Kim A , Kim Louis J
Published: September 2014

A 26-year-old patient with recurrent choriocarcinoma of the testis presented with headache and progressive left homonymous hemianopsia. On initial MRI a grade 4 arteriovenous malformation (AVM) was identified in the right occipital lobe, which was further characterized by catheter angiography. Continued worsening of the headache in the following days prompted a follow-up MRI, which revealed a new T2 hypointense nodule and adjacent vasogenic edema in the periphery of the AVM. A follow-up MRI showed a marked increase in the size of the nodule with intrinsic enhancement and worsening perilesional edema. Based on the imaging evolution, the nodule was diagnosed as a metastasis and the patient was started on chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One week after the MRI he developed a sudden hemorrhage within the mass requiring decompression craniectomy and resection of both AVM and tumor. The histopathology of the resected mass confirmed the diagnosis of choriocarcinoma metastasis to the AVM.
Retrograde access to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in balloon-assisted coiling of posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysms
Authors: Heye Sam , Stracke Christian Paul , Nordmeyer Hannes , Heddier Markus , Stauder Michael , Chapot René
Published: September 2014

Introduction

Balloon-assisted coil embolization of proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms may be limited by the inferiorly oriented, acutely angulated origin of the PICA from the vertebral artery. The aim of this study is to evaluate retrograde access to the PICA via the contralateral vertebral artery or the posterior communicating artery.

Methods

Twenty-nine proximal PICA aneurysms treated by balloon remodeling with navigation of the balloon in the PICA via the contralateral vertebral artery or posterior communicating artery were found in our database between January 2007 and December 2013 and were reviewed.

Results

Access to the PICA was made via the contralateral vertebral artery in 26 patients (90%), six of them (23%) with a hypoplastic V4 segment. In three patients (10%) the retrograde approach was made via the posterior communicating artery. After balloon remodeling, additional stenting was performed in 16 patients (55%). The complication rate was 3% (1 acute stent thrombosis). Grade 0 or 1 occlusion was obtained in all patients at completion angiography. No recurrence was found during follow-up.

Conclusions

Retrograde access to the PICA to perform balloon-assisted coil embolization of proximal PICA aneurysms with or without additional stenting after coiling is safe and effective. Hypoplastic V4 segment of the contralateral vertebral artery is not a contraindication.
Involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in CVB3-induced viral myocarditis
Authors: Wang Yan , Gao Bo , Xiong Sidong
Published: September 2014

Viral myocarditis, which is most prevalently caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection, is a serious clinical condition characterized by cardiac inflammation. Inflammasome plays an essential role in the regulation of diverse inflammatory responses by serving as a platform for caspase-1 activation and caspase-1-dependent proteolytic maturation and secretion of IL-1β. Although inflammasome has been reported to be crucial for the development of many inflammatory diseases, its role in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis is still elusive. The present study aims to investigate whether CVB3 infection activates inflammasome and whether the activation of inflammasome contributes to CVB3-induced myocarditis. Our results showed that CVB3 infection induced inflammasome activation both in vitro and in vivo. With the inhibition of inflammasome activation, the severity of CVB3-induced myocarditis was significantly alleviated as evidenced by less weight loss, decreased serological indexes of creatine kinase and creatinekinase-MB activities, as well as less severe myocardial injury. Of importance, echocardiography results showed that inhibition of inflammasome activation also efficiently improved cardiac function as revealed by enhanced left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fractional shortening. Despite that CVB3 infection significantly increased the expression of both retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) in cardiac myocytes, CVB3-induced inflammasome activation was NLRP3-, but not retinoic acid-inducible gene 1, dependent. Further study showed that reactive oxygen species production and K+efflux were critical for the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome upon CVB3 infection. Collectively, our study demonstrated a crucial role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of CVB3-induced myocarditis, and modulation of inflammasome activation might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for viral myocarditis.
Circulating tetrahydrobiopterin as a novel biomarker for abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Siu Kin Lung , Cai Hua
Published: September 2014

Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unpredictable and lethal. A clinically valid biomarker to monitor the disease has not been available. Based on our recent discoveries that uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency plays a causal role in various models of AAA, the present study examined the relationship between circulating and tissue levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) in angiotensin II-infused hyperphenylalaninemia (hph-1) and apoE null mice. For apoE null mice, tissue and plasma H4B levels decreased time dependently, to 2.69 ± 0.15 and 1.99 ± 0.06 pmol/mg, respectively (from 4.86 ± 0.32 and 3.31 ± 0.13 pmol/mg at baseline) by week 3, when aneurysms developed. For hph-1 mice, tissue and plasma H4B levels decreased significantly to 1.02 ± 0.10 and 0.98 ± 0.09 pmol/mg, respectively (from 1.84 ± 0.18 and 1.48 ± 0.12 pmol/mg at baseline), by week 1, when aneurysms developed. Oral folic acid administration, which has been shown to improve aortic H4B levels to completely prevent or markedly decrease the incidence of AAA, significantly increased tissue and plasma H4B levels in both animal models starting at week 1. The two H4B measurements at all conditions showed significant linear correlation, suggesting that plasma H4B accurately predicts its tissue levels when H4B is either reduced or enhanced. Together, these data demonstrate that H4B levels decrease with AAA development and increase with folic acid treatment in two different murine models of AAA and that plasma H4B levels accurately reflect H4B levels in the tissue, suggesting that circulating H4B levels may be used clinically as a novel and powerful biomarker for the development and response to treatment of AAA.