bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an online education module designed to reduce stillbirth
Authors: Andrews Christine , Meredith Natasha , Seeho Sean , Weller Megan , Griffin Alison , Ellwood David , Middleton Philippa , Jennings Belinda , Flenady Vicki
Published: June 2021

Background

The Safer Baby Bundle (SBB) eLearning is an online education module that addresses practice gaps in stillbirth prevention in Australia. It provides healthcare professionals with evidence‐based resources for: smoking cessation; fetal growth restriction; decreased fetal movements; maternal safe going‐to‐sleep position; and timing of birth for women with risk factors for stillbirth.

Aims

To determine whether participants’ reported knowledge and confidence in providing care designed to reduce stillbirth changed following completion of the module. To assess the module’s suitability and acceptability, and participants’ reported likelihood to change practice.

Materials and methods

In‐built surveys undertaken pre‐ and post‐eLearning module assessed participant knowledge and confidence, module suitability and acceptability, and likelihood of practice change using Likert items. Responses were dichotomised. Differences pre‐ and post‐module were tested using McNemar’s test and differences by profession were examined using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s χ2 test.

Results

Between 15 October 2019 and 2 November 2020, 5223 participants across Australia were included. Most were midwives (82.0%), followed by student midwives (4.6%) and obstetricians (3.3%). Reported knowledge and confidence improved in all areas (P < 0.001). Post‐module 96.7–98.9% ‘agreed’ they had a sound level of knowledge and confidence across all elements of the SBB. Over 95% of participants agreed that the module was helpful and relevant, well organised, and easy to access and use. Eighty‐eight percent reported they were likely to change some aspect of their clinical practice.

Conclusions

The SBB eLearning module is a valuable education program that is well‐received and likely to result in improvements in practice.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of the association between paediatric obesity and telomere length
Authors: Lin Li , Qin Kang , Chen Dezhong , Lu Ciyong , Chen Weiqing , Guo Vivian Yawei
Published: June 2021

Aim

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to assess the association between paediatric obesity and telomere length.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature search for original studies assessing the associations between obesity and telomere length in children. Fixed or random effects with inverse‐variance meta‐analysis were used to estimate the standardised mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) between overweight or obese and normal‐weight children. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic, and meta‐regression analyses were used to evaluate the potential source of heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was further conducted by sex.

Results

A total of 11 studies were included. The meta‐analysis showed that children who were overweight or obese had shorter telomere length than normal‐weight children (SMD: −0.85; 95% CI: −1.42 to −0.28; p < 0.01). However, significant heterogeneity was present (I2 = 97%; p < 0.01). Study design, methods used for measuring telomere length, tissue types, mean age, and percentage of boys were not the source of heterogeneity revealed by meta‐regression analysis. The inverse trend was significant only in boys, but not in girls.

Conclusion

There was a negative association between paediatric obesity and telomere length. Weight control in children might have beneficial effect on telomere length.
Around the world in 500 years: Inter‐regional spread of alien species over recent centuries
Authors: Seebens Hanno , Blackburn Tim M. , Hulme Philip E. , van Kleunen Mark , Liebhold Andrew M. , Orlova‐Bienkowskaja Marina , Pyšek Petr , Schindler Stefan , Essl Franz
Published: June 2021

Aim

The number of alien species has been increasing for centuries world‐wide, but temporal changes in the dynamics of their inter‐regional spread remain unclear. Here, we analyse changes in the rate and extent of inter‐regional spread of alien species over time and how these dynamics vary among major taxonomic groups.

Location

Global.

Time period

1500–2010.

Major taxa studied

Vascular plants, mammals, birds, fishes, arthropods and other invertebrates.

Methods

Our analysis is based on the Alien Species First Record Database, which comprises >60,000 entries describing the year when an alien species was first recorded in a region (mostly countries and large islands) where it later established as an alien species. Based on the number and distribution of first records, we calculated metrics of spread between regions, which we termed “inter‐regional spread”, and conducted statistical analyses to assess variations over time and across taxonomic groups.

Results

Almost all (>90%) species introduced before 1700 are found in more than one region today. Inter‐regional spread often took centuries and is ongoing for many species. The intensity of inter‐regional spread increased over time, with particularly steep increases after 1800. Rates of spread peaked for plants in the late 19th century, for birds and invertebrates in the late 20th century, and remained largely constant for mammals and fishes. Inter‐regional spread for individual species showed hump‐shaped temporal patterns, with the highest rates of spread at intermediate alien range sizes. Approximately 50% of widespread species showed signs of declines in spread rates.

Main conclusions

Our results show that, although rates of spread have declined for many widespread species, for entire taxonomic groups they have tended to increase continuously over time. The large numbers of alien species that are currently observed in only a single region are anticipated to be found in many other regions in the future.
Few changes shown in cancer information‐seeking behaviour among young adults in China between 2012 and 2017
Authors: Jiang Shaohai , Liu Piper Liping
Published: June 2021

Background

The increasing incidence of cancer among young adults (18–40 years old) is of concern in China.

Objectives

This study aims to examine the influence of cancer information‐seeking behaviours (CISB) on young adults’ worries about cancer and participation in screening.

Methods

This study analysed data from two probability sample surveys conducted in 2012 and 2017 in China. The questions in the questionnaire remained the same for better comparison. The sample size was 1212 in the 2012 survey, and 2178 in the 2017 survey.

Results

From 2012 to 2017, among young adults, there was a decline in cancer information seeking, diversity of cancer information sought and cancer worry, while an improvement in cancer information‐seeking experience was found. Also, CISB had significant associations with cancer worry and health screening over the 5 years.

Discussion

The level of young adults’ cancer information seeking remains low in China, and this group is not fully aware of their potential risks of getting cancer.

Conclusion

Although young adults find the experience of looking for cancer information easier in 2017, health campaigns may be necessary to encourage young adults to find out more about their cancer risks, and to participate more in health screening.
Should we be concerned about incomplete taxon sampling when assessing the evolutionary history of regional biotas?
Authors: Molina‐Venegas Rafael , Lima Herlander
Published: June 2021

Region‐specific phylogenies are increasingly used in biogeography and macroecology. However, there is debate as to whether incomplete taxon sampling inherent in these phylogenies can bias divergence time estimations. Here, we draw on a global genus‐level plant phylogeny and 345 regional phylogenies derived from the global tree to fill in this gap of knowledge. Genus ages as obtained from the regional phylogenies were significantly older than those extracted from the global tree across all regions, yet the correlation between both types of ages was overall high, particularly in taxon‐rich regions. Thus, comparing divergence time estimates from taxon‐rich regional phylogenies within regions and in a relative manner seems reasonable. However, comparisons among regional biotas could be misleading if taxon ages are inferred from their respective regional phylogenies because differences in divergence times between the biotas may appear greater than they are regardless of taxon richness.
Shift work sleep disorder is closely associated with an increased risk for periodontal disease
Authors: Park Jung Soo , Jeong Yujin , Jung Junho , Ryu Jae‐Jun , Lim Ho‐Kyung , Jung Seok‐Ki , Song In‐Seok
Published: June 2021

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the association between work patterns and periodontal disease.

Materials and methods

Data were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2012, and data from 22,508 subjects aged ≥19 years were included. An individual's work pattern was classified as either daytime or shift work. Sleep duration was categorized into three ranges: ≤5, 6–8, and ≥9 h/day. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for CPI (Community Periodontal Index) ≥3. The CONTRAST statement was used to show the interaction effect of work patterns and sleep duration.

Results

The adjusted OR of shift work was 2.168 (CI: 1.929–2.438, p < .0001). Participants who sleep ≤5 or ≥9 h/day showed ORs 0.735 and 0.663, respectively (p = .0181). Interaction effect analysis revealed that the work pattern had a strong influence on periodontal condition when combined with the sleep amount. Shift workers with ≤5 or ≥ 9 h of sleep showed significantly increased ORs for CPI ≥3 (2.1406 and 2.3251, respectively, p < .0001). The ORs for daytime workers were comparable to the original values (≤5: 0.7348, p = .0292; ≥9: 0.6633, p = .0428).

Conclusion

Altered sleep patterns caused by shift work have more influence on periodontal disease than sleep duration.
Retrieval of neonatal and paediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Browning Carmo Kathryn A , Liava'a Matthew , Festa Marino , Fa'asalele Thelma A , Roxburgh Jane , Bladwell Wendy , McGeever Jenna , Griffiths Amelia , O'Shaughnessy Killian , Berry Andrew
Published: June 2021

New South Wales has recently added the capability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to the neonatal and paediatric retrieval process and this paper describes the early experiences and protocol development for the first eight cases transported.
Clinical relevance of serum electrolytes in dogs and cats with acute heart failure: A retrospective study
Authors: Roche‐Catholy Marine , Van Cappellen Iris , Locquet Laurent , Broeckx Bart J. G. , Paepe Dominique , Smets Pascale
Published: June 2021

Background

Hypochloremia is a strong negative prognostic factor in humans with congestive heart failure (CHF), but the implications of electrolyte abnormalities in small animals with acute CHF are unclear.

Objectives

To document electrolyte abnormalities present upon admission of small animals with acute CHF, and to assess the relationship between electrolyte concentrations and diuretic dose, duration of hospitalization and survival time.

Animals

Forty‐six dogs and 34 cats with first onset of acute CHF.

Methods

Retrospective study. The associations between electrolyte concentrations and diuretic doses were evaluated with Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Relationship with duration of hospitalization and survival were assessed by simple linear regression and Cox proportional hazard regression, respectively.

Results

The most commonly encountered electrolyte anomaly was hypochloremia observed in 24% (9/46 dogs and 10/34 cats) of cases. In dogs only, a significant negative correlation was identified between serum chloride concentrations at admission (median 113 mmol/L [97‐125]) and furosemide doses both at discharge (median 5.2 mg/kg/day [1.72‐9.57]; r = −0.59; P < .001) and at end‐stage heart failure (median 4.7 mg/kg/day [2.02‐7.28]; r = −0.62; P = .005). No significant hazard ratios were found for duration of hospitalization nor survival time for any of the electrolyte concentrations.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The observed association between serum chloride concentrations and diuretic doses suggests that hypochloremia could serve as a marker of disease severity and therapeutic response in dogs with acute CHF.
Radiographic outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with alveolar clefts
Authors: Stonehouse‐Smith Daniel , Beale Victoria , Bellardie Haydn
Published: June 2021

Objective

To determine the outcome of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) in a series of consecutive patients with clefts involving the alveolus.

Design and Setting

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive operations performed between June 2011 and September 2016 by a single surgeon at a single United Kingdom cleft center.

Participants

A total of 160 patients with a cleft/s involving the alveolus, inclusive of syndromic patients and those with atypical facial clefts.

Interventions

A standard protocol involved an oral hygiene program, pre‐surgical orthodontics where necessary and autologous bone grafting from the iliac crest.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The Kindelan bone‐fill index was used to evaluate success using occlusal radiographs. Weighted Cohen's kappa coefficient was used as a measure of intra‐ and inter‐rater agreement. Fisher's exact test was used to examine the effects of type of cleft, pre‐surgical orthodontics or age at time of SABG on radiographic outcome.

Results

There were 200 SABGs assessed. Mean age at time of SABG was 9.1 years old (SD 1.1) with 99% (n = 198) of grafts deemed successful. There were two failures where re‐graft was performed successfully during the study period. A grade 1 outcome was achieved for 92.5% (n = 185) of grafts and this did not appear to be affected by type of cleft (P = .290), pre‐surgical orthodontics (P = .380) or age at time of SABG (P = .081).

Conclusions

The high success rate reported in this study supports the favorable outcomes of a high‐volume cleft surgeon. These findings can be used for comparative audit with similar units providing cleft care.
Titanium diffusion in Si/Al2O3/Ti/Au metal oxide semiconductor capacitors
Authors: Hawkins Roberta , Jain Anuj , Kulkarni Sohum , Young Chadwin
Published: June 2021

As novel semiconductor and dielectric materials become more prevalent in MOS device technology, MOS capacitors are used to investigate the quality of semiconductor/dielectric, semiconductor/contact, and dielectric/metal gate interfaces, through capacitance-voltage (C-V) and I-V testing along with physical materials characterization. Thermal processes such as implant stabilization, contact annealing, and dielectric postdeposition annealing must be managed to accomplish the desired results while minimizing undesirable side effects such as interdiffusion or dopant migration in devices. This can be done through a combination of device and process design, which prevents these unwanted effects through careful material selection, ordering of process steps, temperature adjustments where possible, and selection of process gases used during thermal treatments. This study focuses on the effects of a 430 °C forming gas anneal, which produced an unusual brown layer on Ti/Au metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor gates. A series of experiments, XPS analysis, and C-V electrical data revealed that the brown layer was not an organic residue but a thin layer of TiO2 on the gold surface, which formed due to Ti diffusion to the Au surface during the forming gas anneal. Oxygen plasma treatment before the furnace anneal enhanced the undesirable diffusion effect. Replacing the Ti/Au gates with Cr/Au gates prevented the brown layer and improved capacitance-voltage characteristics.
Kindlin-3 disrupts an intersubunit association in the integrin LFA1 to trigger positive feedback activation by Rap1 and talin1
Authors: Kondo Naoyuki , Ueda Yoshihiro , Kinashi Tatsuo
Published: June 2021

Kindlin-3 stimulates ligand-induced activation of the integrin LFA1 by promoting a high-affinity conformation.
Plasma from patients with bacterial sepsis or severe COVID-19 induces suppressive myeloid cell production from hematopoietic progenitors in vitro
Authors: Reyes Miguel , Filbin Michael R. , Bhattacharyya Roby P. , Sonny Abraham , Mehta Arnav , Billman Kianna , Kays Kyle R. , Pinilla-Vera Mayra , Benson Maura E. , Cosimi Lisa A. , Hung Deborah T. , Levy Bruce D. , Villani Alexandra-Chloe , Sade-Feldman Moshe , Baron Rebecca M. , Goldberg Marcia B. , Blainey Paul C. , Hacohen Nir
Published: June 2021

Cytokines in plasma from sepsis or severe COVID-19 patients induce production of suppressive myeloid cells from hematopoietic progenitors in vitro.
Different secretory immunoglobulin A antibody responses to cholera vaccination in Swedish and Pakistani women
Authors: Svennerholm A M , Hanson L A , Holmgren J , Lindblad B S , Nilsson B , Quereshi F
Published: June 2021

The capacity of subcutaneous cholera vaccination to induce an antibody response in milk and saliva was studied in lactating Swedish and Pakistani women, since secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibody responses in these secretions may reflect intestinal immunity. Before immunization, most of the Pakistani women had significant titers of specific SIgA antibodies against Vibrio cholerae lipopolysaccharide in milk, whereas only a few of the Swedish women had measurable, low titers. In the Pakistani women a single subcutaneous injection of cholera vaccine gave rise to a significant SIgA titer rise in 70% of the milk and 45% of the saliva samples. The Swedish women, on the other hand, did not respond with a significant antibody response of any immunoglobulin class in milk or saliva, either after a single or after a booster dose 14 days later. In serum, however, the vaccination induced significant titer rises, mainly of IgG antibodies, also in the Swedish women, but these rises were of lower magnitude than those in the Pakistani group. The results suggest a significant difference in the capacity of parenterally administered cholera vaccine to stimulate SIgA antibody formation in naturally primed and nonprimed individuals.
Modulation of mitogenic responsiveness by staphylococcal peptidoglycan
Authors: Dziarski R
Published: June 2021

Staphylococcal peptidoglycan can modulate in vivo and in vitro antibody responses and is a B-cell mitogen. The effect of in vivo peptidoglycan treatment on the subsequent in vitro mitogenic responsiveness of mouse splenocytes to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and lipopolysaccharide was studied by measuring changes in deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. Injection of peptidoglycan caused a 100% increase in responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen and a 45% increase in responsiveness to concanavalin A. Responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide was decreased by 40%. Increased phytohemagglutinin and decreased lipopolysaccharide responses were not due to changes in the kinetics of the response or optimal concentrations of these mitogens. Increased responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin lasted for 2 weeks after peptidoglycan injection. Neither increased background deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis nor changes in the proportion of T cells after peptidoglycan treatment fully accounted for the changes in responsiveness to the mitogens. In vitro costimulation with peptidoglycan and phytohemagglutinin, lipopolysaccharide, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen resulted in interference of the response. Cell separation experiments indicated that peptidoglycan-induced modulation of mitogenic responsiveness was mediated by B lymphocytes.
Effect of piliation on Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in rat bladders
Authors: Fader R C , Davis C P
Published: June 2021

The possible role of pili in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated in a rat model of cystitis by utilizing piliated- and nonpiliated-phase organisms derived from a single parent strain. Bladder surfaces were examined for evidence of infection by scanning electron microscopy. In animals infected with piliated-phase organisms, foci of infection were evident in the majority of bladders examined. Rat bladders associated with nonpiliated-phase bacteria showed little evidence of infection. The ability of methyl-D-mannoside, a known inhibitor of pilus-mediated adherence to mammalian cells, to protect the bladder surface from colonization was also tested. The results showed a significant decrease in the ability of piliated-phase K. pneumoniae to establish infection in bladders. These observations suggest that pili may play an integral role in the ability of K. pneumoniae to cause urinary tract infections by mediating the attachment of the bacteria to the uroepithelial surface.
Identification of the major adherence ligand of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the receptor for coliphage T7 and alteration of Klebsiella adherence properties by lysogenic conversion
Authors: Pruzzo C , Debbia E A , Satta G
Published: June 2021

We have studied the adherence of both laboratory and wild-type Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, isolated from sputum, urine, and stool samples, to human buccal and intestinal and urinary tract epithelial cells. Of 32 unencapsulated strains, 30 adhered to all epithelial cells tested. Four K. pneumoniae strains lysogenic for AP3, a phage which causes conversion to resistance of coliphages T3, T7, and phi I, were all unable to adhere to epithelial cells. One of these strains was cured from phage infection and became capable of adhering, Spontaneous mutants resistant to coliphage T7, as well as K. pneumoniae K59-sensitive cells preadsorbed with inactivated T7 particles, did not adhere to epithelial cells. All strains capable of adhering were able to adsorb coliphage T7 and T3, whereas all nonadhesive strains were not. AP3-like prophages were induced from 7 of 12 nonadhesive Klebsiella strains. A laboratory strain which was able to adhere was lysogenized with 2 of these phages. In both cases, the strain lost its ability to adsorb coliphages T3, T7, and phi I and to adhere to human epithelial cells. All K. pneumoniae adhesive strains agglutinated yeast cells, whereas the nonadhesive strains did not. Competition studies have shown that D-mannose and concanavalin A prevented adherence to human epithelial cells, yeast agglutination, and adsorption of coliphage T7 to K. pneumoniae cells. It is concluded that in K. pneumoniae adherence to epithelial cells is mediated by the receptor for coliphages T7 (and T3), which in turn recognizes D-mannose in the receptors it binds.
Immediate Loss of Cell-Mediated Immunity to Murine Cytomegalovirus upon Treatment with Immunosuppresive Agents
Authors: Mattsson Donald M. , Howard Richard J. , Balfour Henry H.
Published: June 2021

Splenic lymphocytes from cytomegalovirus-infected mice lost their in vitro proliferative responses to cytomegalovirus antigen within 3 h after in vivo treatment with antilymphocyte globulin and prednisolone. The response was inhibited when the agents were administered separately or together, and inhibition persisted through a 2-week course of immunosuppression. Circulating specific antibodies were depressed by multiple injections of antilymphocyte globulin alone or with prednisolone, but not by prednisolone alone. Mitogen-induced blast transformation was immediately depressed by immunosuppression with both agents. Although the response to lipopolysaccharide returned briefly, it declined with continuing treatment. Cytomegalovirus infection augmented the depressive effect of immunosuppression on the lipopolysaccharide proliferative response. Prednisolone treatment of infected animals did not affect the concanavalin A response, and lipopolysaccharide stimulation decreased more slowly and to a lesser extent than it did in mice treated with antilymphocyte globulin or both agents. Loss of specific cell-mediated immunity and simultaneous depression of humoral immunity indicated that immunosuppression immediately created an inability to respond to an active cytomegalovirus infection.
Cryptosporidium
: Evidence for a Single-Species Genus
Authors: Tzipori S. , Angus K. W. , Campbell I. , Gray E. W.
Published: June 2021

Cryptosporidium
, isolated from calves with diarrhea, infected, with or without causing enteritis, seven different species of animals.
Detection of alcohols and volatile fatty acids by head-space gas chromatography in identification of anaerobic bacteria
Authors: Larsson L , Märdh P A , Odham G
Published: June 2021

A head-space gas chromatographic technique for the analysis of volatile bacterial metabolites is described. Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium perfringens, and Propionibacterium acnes, cultured in a glucose-containing peptone yeast extract medium, were studied. The head-space technique was compared with the injection of the complete liquid culture medium, and solvent extracts thereof, into the gas chromatograph. Volatile fatty acids could be detected by all three methods, whereas alcohols produced by C. perfringens and P. acnes were detectable only in the head-space chromatograms. Both FFAP and Porapak Q were used as gas chromatography stationary phase. Porapak Q was found more suitable than FFAP for the separation of alcohols. The head-space technique requires a minimum of preparation before the analysis and is well suited to automation.
Pseudomonas putrefaciens as a cause of bacteremia in humans
Authors: Vandepitte J , Debois J
Published: June 2021

Pseudomonas putrefaciens has been presented as an opportunistic pathogen in a few isolations from humans. This is the first documented report of a local infection of P. putrefaciens complicated by invasion of the blood stream. The organism was twice isolated from the blood culture and once from the wound exudate of a 73-year-old woman hospitalized for extensive ulcerations on the legs. Parenteral ampicillin and gentamicin together with local antiseptic treatment led to an uneventful recovery.
Efficacy of direct Gram stain in differentiating staphylococci from streptococci in blood cultures positive for gram-positive cocci
Authors: Agger W A , Maki D G
Published: June 2021

A preponderance of clusters seen on direct Gram stain of blood cultures positive for gram-positive cocci was 98% sensitive and 100% specific for identification of staphylococcal species or of Peptococcus. A preponderance of chains, pairs, or both was 100% sensitive and 98% specific for identifying streptococci. Further presumptive identification of either staphylococci or streptococci based on microscopic morphology was unreliable. The direct Gram stain is highly reliable for differentiating staphylococci from streptococci and should be of considerable value to clinicians selecting initial antimicrobial therapy.
Rapid plate agglutination procedure for serotyping Pasteurella haemolytica
Authors: Frank G H , Wessman G E
Published: June 2021

A specific, rapid plate agglutination procedure for serotyping Pasteurella haemolytica was performed. The procedure did not require special antigen preparation and yielded essentially the same results as the indirect hemagglutination procedure.
Fermentation of raffinose by lactose-fermenting strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and by sucrose-fermenting strains of Escherichia coli
Authors: Cornelis G , Luke R K , Richmond M H
Published: June 2021

Introduction of plasmids carrying the lacY gene (lactose permease gene) into Yersinia enterocolitica results in cells being able to ferment both lactose and raffinose. Transfer of such plasmids into Escherichia coli C600 (lacY) confers ability to ferment lactose but not raffinose. Derivatives of C600 that ferment both lactose and sucrose (Lac+ Scr+ strains) are able to ferment raffinose, but do not grow well on raffinose minimal medium. Fermentation of raffinose by Lac+ strains of Y. enterocolitica, and by Lac+ Scr+ strains of E. coli, is explained in terms of transport of raffinose via the lac permease and subsequent breakdown catalyzed by invertase.
Hemagglutination by simian rotavirus
Authors: Kalica A R , James J D , Kapikian A Z
Published: June 2021

A simian rotavirus (SA-11) was shown to hemagglutinate human group "O" and guinea pig erythrocytes. The hemagglutinin appeared to be associated with the outer capsid of the SA-11 virus and was inhibited by specific hyperimmune anti-SA-11 guinea pig serum.
Pseudomonas vesicularis from cervical specimens
Authors: Otto L A , Deboo B S , Capers E L , Pickett M J
Published: June 2021

Biochemical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibilities of five strains of Pseudomonas vesicularis isolated from cervical cultures are reported. The organisms were recovered from Thayer-Martin medium, which, because of its inhibitory properties, restricts over-growth by most other species. Our findings agree with those of Kaltenbach and associates (J. Clin. Microbiol., 1:339--344, 1975) on the importance of esculin hydrolysis, maltose oxidation, and pigmentation in the identification of P. vesicularis. Comparative carbohydrate oxidation studies showed agreement in three of four methods (oxidative attack, buffered single substrate, King oxidative/fermentative medium). No oxidation of carbohydrates was observed in commercial oxidative/fermentative medium. In addition to biochemical characteristics, antibiograms can be useful auxiliary aids in the identification of P. vesicularis and in its differentiation from P. diminuta, a closely related species.
Agar-gel immunodiffusion assay for pseudorabies virus antibody
Authors: Smith P C , Stewart W C
Published: June 2021

Soluble antigen prepared from pseudorabies virus-infected embryonic pig kidney cells was used to demonstrate the presence of pseudorabies virus antibodies in sera taken from naturally and experimentally infected swine. Antibody could be detected by agar-gel immunodiffusion as early as 14 days postexposure and was demonstrable at least 3 months after experimental infection (the longest period tested). The reliability of the agar-gel immunodiffusion test was comparable to that of the microtitration serum-virus neutralization test commonly used in diagnostic laboratories. One advantage of the agar-gel immunodiffusion test was that severely hemolyzed and cytotoxic serum samples could be tested with confidence. The test is simple, rapid, and inexpensive and could be easily adopted by diagnostic laboratories that receive requests for pseudorabies virus antibody determinations in swine sera.
Value of acid metabolic products in identification of certain corynebacteria
Authors: Reddy C A , Kao M
Published: June 2021

Acid metabolic products of 23 strains of human and animal pathogenic corynebacteria, representing eight different species, were determined by gas chromatography. The results showed that the species examined were metabolically heterogeneous and could be presumptively identified based on the acid products produced. Corynebacterium equi did not produce any acids; C. renale produced lactate; and C. pyogenes produced major amounts of lactate, variable amounts of acetate, and minor amounts of succinate and pyruvate. C. kutscheri produced propionate and lactate as major products and pyruvate and oxalacetate as minor products. C. diphtheriae and C. pseudotuberculosis produced major amounts of propionate, acetate, and formate. In addition, C. pseudotuberculosis produced major amounts of pyruvate and minor amounts of succinate, lactate, and oxalacetate, whereas C. diphtheriae strains produced minor but variable amounts of lactate, succinate, fumarate, pyruvate, and oxalacetate. C. bovis produced aicd products similar to those of C. pyogenes but was readily distinguishable from the latter by the lack of hemolysis on blood agar, colony morphology, catalase reaction, and biochemicals. C. suis characteristically produced major amounts of ethanol, acetate, and formate and minor amounts of lactate and succinate but no propionate.
Evaluation of the card test for diagnosis of human brucellosis
Authors: Russell A O , Patton C M , Kaufmann A F
Published: June 2021

The relative efficacy of the card test in the diagnosis of human brucellosis was evaluated by comparison with four other tests: the standard tube agglutination test, centrifugation agglutination test, 2-mercaptoethanol degradation technique, and 2-mercaptoethanol centrifugation agglutination test. A total of 1,701 serum specimens from persons with various degrees of potential exposure to brucella organisms or cross-reactive antigens were used in this study. In comparison with standard tube agglutination results, the card test had a sensitivity of 95.3% and a specificity of 84.1%. The card-test antigen was nonreactive with serum specimens from tularemia patients and cholera vaccinees. Our data indicated that this test measures both immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M agglutinins. The value of the card test in the presumptive serological diagnosis of clinical brucellosis in humans appears to be low; however, the card test may be of value in serological surveys to delineate high-risk populations.
Assay method for Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli enterotoxins by automated counting of floating chinese hamster ovary cells in culture medium
Authors: Nozawa R T , Yokota T , Kuwahara S
Published: June 2021

As Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells on plastic proliferate, many cells float off into the medium instead of piling up after they form a monolayer. Fewer cells were floating in the medium when CHO cells were incubated with cholera toxin at a concentration as low as 10 pg/ml. The toxin increased the adhesiveness of the cells forming confluent monolayers so that the floating cells accumulated on the adherent monolayers. On the basis of this finding, a simple, quantitative assay method for cholera and Escherichia coli enterotoxins was devised by cultivating CHO cells in a Linbro multidish and counting the cells in the medium with a Coulter Counter. The method was sensitive enough to detect toxins in 100- to 200-fold-diluted culture media of toxigenic E. coli strains. Little or no activity was detected by this method in the culture medium of nontoxigenic E. coli.
New medium for isolation of Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii from dental plaque
Authors: Kornman K S , Loesche W J
Published: June 2021

Metronidazole (10 microgram/ml) and cadmium sulfate (20 microgram/ml) were added to a gelatin-based medium to select for microaerophilic Actinomyces species from dental plaque samples. The new medium (GMC), when incubated anaerobically, allowed 98% recovery of seven pure cultures of Actinomyces viscosus and 73% recovery of eight pure cultures of Actinomyces naeslundii, while suppressing 76% of the total count of other organisms in dental plaque samples. In 203 plaque samples, recoveries of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii on GMC and another selective medium for oral Actinomyces (CNAC-20) were compared. Recovery of A. viscosus was comparable on the two media. Recovery of A. naeslundii was significantly higher on GMC than CNAC-20 (P is less than 0.001), and GMC allowed a more characteristic cell morphology of both organisms. GMC medium appears to be useful for the isolation and presumptive identification of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii from dental plaque.
Nitrate reductase activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis in the presence of electron donors
Authors: Escoto M L , de Kantor I N
Published: June 2021

The activities of the nitrate reductase enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, and of BCG were assayed with and without addition of electron donors. M. tuberculosis always reduced nitrate; M. bovis did so only in the presence of electron donors, and BCG did not show enzymatic activity.
Team-Based Learning Enhances Long-Term Retention and Critical Thinking in an Undergraduate Microbial Physiology Course
Authors: MCINERNEY MICHAEL J. , FINK L. DEE
Published: June 2021

We used team-based learning to improve comprehension and critical thinking of students in an undergraduate microbial metabolism-physiology course. The course used well-known bacterial pathways to highlight themes of energy conservation and biodegradation. Prior to the introduction of team-based learning, student recall of this information was poor and students had difficulty extrapolating information to new organisms. Initially, individual and group quizzes were added to promote problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. This significantly improved student attitudes about the amount of information they learned and whether the instructor promoted critical thinking. However, retention of the material as judged by final examination scores was still poor. In the next year, two challenging projects were added to the course to complement the above themes: (i) postulating a pathway for the metabolism of a substrate by a bacterium, and (ii) modifying the current model for anaerobic sulfate reduction by incorporating recent genetic information. The inclusion of the team projects significantly improved final examination scores compared to the previous year without team projects. Overall, team-based learning with challenging projects improved the students’ comprehension and retention of information, critical thinking, and attitudes about the course and focused student-instructor interactions on learning rather than grades.
Snapping thumb: a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus tendon
Authors: Lund Andrea , Hanberg Pelle , Foldager-Jensen Anders Ditlev , Stilling Maiken
Published: June 2021

Tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) is rarely reported in patients without rheumatoid arthritis but may lead to thumb snapping as a consequence of EPL stenosing tenosynovitis.

This case presents painful thumb snapping that developed after a wrist trauma and repetitive loading. Ultrasound and MRI were used as diagnostic tools, before surgical release of the EPL in the third extensor compartment was performed. Neither EPL tenosynovitis nor thumb snapping were found at follow-up.
Can18F-FDG PET/CT predict EGFR status in patients with non-small cell lung cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Du Bulin , Wang Shu , Cui Yan , Liu Guanghui , Li Xuena , Li Yaming
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic significance of18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for predicting the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

The PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases were searched from the earliest available date to December 2020.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

The review included primary studies that compared the mean maximum of standard uptake value (SUVmax) between wild-type and mutantEGFR, and evaluated the diagnostic value of18F-FDG PET/CT using SUVmaxfor prediction ofEGFRstatus in patients with NSCLC.

Data extraction and synthesis

The main analysis was to assess the sensitivity and specificity, the positive diagnostic likelihood ratio (DLR+) and DLR−, as well as the diagnostic OR (DOR) of SUVmaxin prediction ofEGFRmutations. Each data point of the summary receiver operator characteristic (SROC) graph was derived from a separate study. A random effects model was used for statistical analysis of the data, and then diagnostic performance for prediction was further assessed.

Results

Across 15 studies (3574 patients), the pooled sensitivity for18F-FDG PET/CT was 0.70 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.79) with a pooled specificity of 0.59 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.66). The overall DLR+ was 1.74 (95% CI 1.49 to 2.03) and DLR− was 0.50 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.65). The pooled DOR was 3.50 (95% CI 2.37 to 5.17). The area under the SROC curve was 0.68 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.72). The likelihood ratio scatter plot based on average sensitivity and specificity was in the lower right quadrant.

Conclusion

Meta-analysis results showed18F-FDG PET/CT had low pooled sensitivity and specificity. The low DOR and the likelihood ratio scatter plot indicated that18F-FDG PET/CT should be used with caution when predictingEGFRmutations in patients with NSCLC.
Effectiveness of meatal cleaning in the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections and bacteriuria: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mitchell Brett , Curryer Cassie , Holliday Elizabeth , Rickard Claire M , Fasugba Oyebola
Published: June 2021

Objective

A systematic review on meatal cleaning prior to urinary catheterisation and post catheterisation and reduces the risk catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and bacteriuria was published in 2017, with further studies undertaken since this time. The objective of this paper is to present an updated systematic review on the effectiveness of antiseptic cleaning of the meatal area for the prevention of CAUTIs and bacteriuria in patients who receive a urinary catheter.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Electronic databases Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline and Academic Search Complete were searched from 1 January 2016 and 29 February 2020.

Eligibility criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies evaluating the use of antiseptic, antibacterial or non-medicated agents for cleaning the meatal, periurethral or perineal areas before indwelling catheter insertion or intermittent catheterisation or during routine meatal care.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data were extracted using the Cochrane Collaboration’s data collection form for RCTs and non-RCTs. Data were extracted by one researcher and then checked for accuracy by a second researcher.

Results

A total of 18 studies were included. Some potential benefit of using antiseptics, compared with non-antiseptics for meatal cleaning to prevent bacteriuria and or CAUTI was identified (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.02; p=0.071). Antiseptics (chlorhexidine or povidine-iodine) may be of value for meatal cleaning on the incidence of CAUTI, compared with comparator agents (saline, soap or antimicrobial cloths) (OR=0.65, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.99; p=0.047).

Conclusion

There is emerging evidence of the role of some specific antiseptics (chlorhexidine) prior to urinary catheterisation, in reducing CAUTIs, and some potential benefit to the role of antiseptics more generally in reducing bacteriuria.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42015023741.
Clinical activity of durvalumab for patients with advanced mismatch repair-deficient and repair-proficient endometrial cancer. A nonrandomized phase 2 clinical trial
Authors: Antill Yoland , Kok Peey-Sei , Robledo Kristy , Yip Sonia , Cummins Michelle , Smith Deborah , Spurdle Amanda , Barnes Elizabeth , Lee Yeh Chen , Friedlander Michael , Baron-Hay Sally , Shannon Catherine , Coward Jermaine , Beale Philip , Goss Geraldine , Meniawy Tarek , Lombard Janine , Andrews John , Stockler Martin R , Mileshkin Linda
Published: June 2021

Background

In this study, we assessed the activity of durvalumab, an antibody to programmed death ligand-1, in two cohorts of women with advanced endometrial cancers (AEC)—mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and mismatch repair deficient (dMMR).

Methods

A multicenter phase two study was performed in women with AEC with pMMR tumor progressing after one to three lines of chemotherapy and women with AEC with dMMR tumor progressing after zero to three lines of chemotherapy. Mismatch repair status was based on immunohistochemistry expression. All women received durvalumab 1500 mg given every 4 weeks until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective tumor response by RECIST V.1.1 modified for immune-based therapeutics.

Results

Seventy-one women were recruited: 35 dMMR and 36 pMMR. Median follow-up was 19 vs 21 months in dMMR versus pMMR, respectively. Median age was 67 years. Histology in dMMR versus pMMR included endometrioid (94% vs 57%) and serous (0% vs 31%) and was high grade in 26% vs 74%. The objective tumor response rate (OTRR) in the dMMR cohort was 47% (17/36, 95% CI 32 to 63), including 6 complete responses and 11 partial responses (PRs)) vs 3% in the pMMR cohort (1/35, 95% CI 1 to 15, PR). In the dMMR cohort, durvalumab was the first-line therapy in 58% (OTRR 57%) and the second-line therapy in 39% (OTRR 38%). Median progression-free survival was 8.3 months in the dMMR cohort vs 1.8 months in the pMMR cohort. The 12-month overall survival (OS) rate was 71% in dMMR vs 51% in pMMR, with median OS not reached for dMMR vs 12 months for pMMR. Immune-related adverse events occurred in 14 women, mostly grades 1–2.

Conclusion

Durvalumab monotherapy showed promising activity and acceptable safety in AEC with dMMR regardless of prior lines of chemotherapy, but activity was limited in AEC with pMMR.

Trial registration numbers

ANZGOG1601, ACTRN12617000106336, and NCT03015129.
Creation and investigation of electronic defects on methylammonium lead iodide (CH$$_3$$NH$$_3$$PbI$$_3$$) films depending on atmospheric conditions
Authors: Gokhan YILMAZ
Published: June 2021

Methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI$$_3$$

3

) (CH$$_3$$

3

NH$$_3$$

3

PbI$$_3$$

3

) is popular material for edge technology application, but it still includes many uncertainties. Particularly, molecular and electronic degradation (electronic defect distribution) and mobility–lifetime product still hold many mysteries. Stemming from the atmospheric or light-induced degradation, mobility–lifetime product changes are still unknown and haven’t been studied up to now. In this study, mobility–lifetime product change was investigated depending on degradation source such as atmospheric and light soaked. MAPbI$$_3$$

3

films were deposited by thermal chemical vapor deposition (thermal CVD). Structural analysis was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Deposited MAPbI$$_3$$

3

films were exposed to laboratory ambient, vacuum atmosphere, deionized water vapor (DIWV) atmosphere and UV light soaking at constant temperature (300K) to define changes on mobility–lifetime product.
Multi-ciliated microswimmers–metachronal coordination and helical swimming
Authors: Rode Sebastian , Elgeti Jens , Gompper Gerhard
Published: June 2021

The dynamics and motion of multi-ciliated microswimmers with a spherical body and a small number N (with $$5< N < 60$$

5
<
N
<
60

) of cilia with length comparable to the body radius, is investigated by mesoscale hydrodynamics simulations. A metachronal wave is imposed for the cilia beat, for which the wave vector has both a longitudinal and a latitudinal component. The dynamics and motion is characterized by the swimming velocity, its variation over the beat cycle, the spinning velocity around the main body axis, as well as the parameters of the helical trajectory. Our simulation results show that the microswimmer motion strongly depends on the latitudinal wave number and the longitudinal phase lag. The microswimmers are found to swim smoothly and usually spin around their own axis. Chirality of the metachronal beat pattern generically generates helical trajectories. In most cases, the helices are thin and stretched, i.e., the helix radius is about an order of magnitude smaller than the pitch. The rotational diffusion of the microswimmer is significantly smaller than the passive rotational diffusion of the body alone, which indicates that the extended cilia contribute strongly to the hydrodynamic radius. The swimming velocity is found to increase with the cilia number N with a slightly sublinear power law, consistent with the behavior expected from the dependence of the transport velocity of planar cilia arrays on the cilia separation.

Graphic abstract