bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sorting out cirrhosis: mechanisms of non‐response to hepatitis C therapy
Authors: Al Marzooqi Saeed H. , Feld Jordan J.
Published: May 2015

Although cirrhosis has long been recognized as an important negative predictor of treatment response for hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy, the mechanisms underlying this association remain relatively poorly understood. Treatment has progressed rapidly with the introduction of highly effective all‐oral therapies, with promising outcomes even in patients with advanced cirrhosis. However, even with the new therapies, it is clear that patients with cirrhosis require special attention. Efficacy continues to be somewhat reduced compared to non‐cirrhotic patients and safety is an important concern. In this review, we explore the reasons for treatment non‐response in patients with cirrhosis. We focus on how cirrhosis impacts on four important areas including drug delivery, drug uptake and metabolism, immune responses and drug toxicity with examples from the clinical and basic literature. Fortunately, as treatment continues to progress, many of the challenges of treating patients with cirrhosis will become less and less problematic.
Major histocompatibility complex similarity and sexual selection: different does not always mean attractive
Authors: Gasparini Clelia , Congiu Leonardo , Pilastro Andrea
Published: May 2015

Females that mate multiply have the possibility to exert postcopulatory choice and select more compatible sperm to fertilize eggs. Prior work suggests that dissimilarity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays an important role in determining genetic compatibility between partners. Favouring a partner with dissimilar MHC alleles would result in offspring with high MHC diversity and therefore with enhanced survival thanks to increased resistance to pathogens and parasites. The high variability of MHC genes may further allow discrimination against the sperm from related males, reducing offspring homozygosity and inbreeding risk. Despite the large body of work conducted at precopulatory level, the role of MHC similarity between partners at postcopulatory level has been rarely investigated. We used an internal fertilizing fish with high level of multiple matings (Poecilia reticulata) to study whether MHC similarity plays a role in determining the outcome of fertilization when sperm from two males compete for the same set of eggs. We also controlled for genomewide similarity by determining similarity at 10 microsatellite loci. Contrary to prediction, we found that the more MHC‐similar male sired more offspring while similarity at the microsatellite loci did not predict the outcome of sperm competition. Our results suggest that MHC discrimination may be involved in avoidance of hybridization or outbreeding rather than inbreeding avoidance. This, coupled with similar findings in salmon, suggests that the preference for MHC‐dissimilar mates is far from being unanimous and that pre‐ and postcopulatory episodes of sexual selection can indeed act in opposite directions.
FROM HARVESTING TO NONHARVESTING UTILITY: AN OPTIMAL CONTROL APPROACH TO SPECIES CONSERVATION
Authors: VASILIEVA* OLGA
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this paper is to retrace the evolution of mathematical models focused on relation and interaction between economic growth, sustainable development, and natural environment conservation. First, generic defensive expenditures are introduced into a common‐property harvesting model in order to favor the species growth. Second, a transition model comprising both harvesting and nonharvesting values of wildlife biological species emerges. The latter gives rise to a group of purely nonharvesting models where anthropic activities and economic growth may have positive or negative impact on the natural evolution of wildlife species. Several scholars have proved that optimal strategies that are relatively good for harvesting purposes are not simply “transferrable” to the context of conservation of wildlife biological species with no harvesting value. In addition, the existence of optimal policies for long‐term conservation of all biological species (with or without harvesting value) cannot be guaranteed without having relatively large species populations at the initial time. Therefore, all such strategies are incapable of enhancing the scarce populations of endangered species and, therefore, cannot save these species from eventual (local) extinction. As an alternative, policymakers may soon be compelled to design and implement short‐term defensive actions aimed at recovery and enhancement of endangered wildlife species.
A direct assessment of realized seed and pollen flow within and between two isolated populations of the food‐deceptive orchid Orchis mascula
Authors: Helsen K. , Meekers T. , Vranckx G. , Roldán‐Ruiz I. , Vandepitte K. , Honnay O.
Published: May 2015

Gene flow can counteract the loss of genetic diversity caused by genetic drift in small populations. For this reason, clearly understanding gene flow patterns is of the highest importance across fragmented landscapes. However, gene flow patterns are not only dependent upon the degree of spatial isolation of fragmented populations, but are also dependent upon the life‐history traits of the species. Indeed, habitat fragmentation effects appear especially unpredictable for food‐deceptive orchid species, because of their highly specialised seed and pollen dispersal mechanisms. In this study we used amplified fragment length polymorphism markers and subsequent parentage and spatial autocorrelation analysis to quantify the extent and the patterns of realized gene flow within and between two adjacent fragmented populations of the food‐deceptive Orchis mascula. We observed considerable gene flow between both populations, occurring mainly through pollen dispersal. Seed dispersal, on the other hand, was mainly limited to the first few meters from the mother plant in both populations, although at least one among‐population seed dispersal event was observed. This, in turn, resulted in a significant spatial genetic structure for both populations. Although genetic diversity was high in both populations and mainly outcrossing occurred, reproductive output was strongly skewed toward a limited number of successful adult plants. These observed patterns are likely due to the different pollinator behaviour associated with food‐deceptive plants. We conclude that these populations can be considered viable under their current fragmented state.
A stable Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli GFP‐tagged strain reveals a new colonization niche in sugarcane tissues
Authors: Quecine M. C. , Silva T. M. , Carvalho G. , Saito S. , Mondin M. , Teixeira‐Silva N. S. , Camargo L. E. A. , Monteiro‐Vitorello C. B.
Published: May 2015

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), caused by the bacterium Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), is one of the most economically important diseases of sugarcane worldwide. Because knowledge on the interaction of Lxx with its host at the microscopic level is limited, the development of tools to monitor Lxx during the colonization process could shed new light on the processes that control disease development. In this investigation, a transformation protocol was optimized and a mutant Lxx strain engineered that stably expressed the gfp gene in sugarcane tissues. In vitro, the growth of the mutant did not differ from that of the wild type. Also, plants inoculated with both strains showed comparable growth and development when analysed 180 days after inoculation (dai). Fluorescence microscopy of roots, stalks, meristems and leaf tissues of Lxx‐GFP‐inoculated plants was performed at 180 dai. In the leaves, Lxx‐tagged cells were observed within the xylem vessels as has been described before but, in addition, they were found in a new niche within the host tissues, in the mesophyll and in the bundle sheath cells surrounding the vascular system. This finding indicates that Lxx is able to move from the xylem to the parenchyma of the leaf cells. This first report of an Lxx mutant expressing a heterologous gene revealed that colonization of sugarcane by this pathogen is not limited to the xylem vessels as commonly reported.
Elucidating steroid alkaloid biosynthesis in Veratrum californicum: production of verazine in Sf9 cells
Authors: Augustin Megan M. , Ruzicka Dan R. , Shukla Ashutosh K. , Augustin Jörg M. , Starks Courtney M. , O'Neil‐Johnson Mark , McKain Michael R. , Evans Bradley S. , Barrett Matt D. , Smithson Ann , Wong Gane Ka‐Shu , Deyholos Michael K. , Edger Patrick P. , Pires J. Chris , Leebens‐Mack James H. , Mann David A. , Kutchan Toni M.
Published: May 2015

Steroid alkaloids have been shown to elicit a wide range of pharmacological effects that include anticancer and antifungal activities. Understanding the biosynthesis of these molecules is essential to bioengineering for sustainable production. Herein, we investigate the biosynthetic pathway to cyclopamine, a steroid alkaloid that shows promising antineoplastic activities. Supply of cyclopamine is limited, as the current source is solely derived from wild collection of the plant Veratrum californicum. To elucidate the early stages of the pathway to cyclopamine, we interrogated a V. californicum RNA‐seq dataset using the cyclopamine accumulation profile as a predefined model for gene expression with the pattern‐matching algorithm Haystack. Refactoring candidate genes in Sf9 insect cells led to discovery of four enzymes that catalyze the first six steps in steroid alkaloid biosynthesis to produce verazine, a predicted precursor to cyclopamine. Three of the enzymes are cytochromes P450 while the fourth is a γ‐aminobutyrate transaminase; together they produce verazine from cholesterol.
Aqueous Modernism
Authors: Pinney Christopher
Published: May 2015

This response to Castaing‐Taylor and Paravel's Leviathan suggests that it triangulates Robert Gardner's filmic practice with David MacDougall's theorization and the dynamic cubist potential of multiple GoPro cameras. While attempting to preserve in language some aspects of Leviathan's “boiling sea,” the commentary also seeks to explore the film's fascination with “submersibility” as a late modernism idiom that insists on the liquidity of the surface of representation.
Senses of HumaNature on Florida's Silver River: Evocative Ethnography to Craft Place
Authors: Concha‐Holmes Amanda
Published: May 2015

The spaces where humans, plants, and animals intermingle are rich junctures of mobility, sensuality, and impressions that together evoke a sense of place. Visual anthropology can help interpret these humaNature events—where dichotomies and divisions are blurred, and lived experiences of multispecies mingling are brought to the fore through emerging practices that apply experiential and experimental devices. Attending to emotional textures of intimacy, soundscapes of multiple species, and embodied, sensuous ways of knowing that do not privilege solely the agency of human actors, nor rely primarily on a linear narrative and didactic logic, the academic‐artistic endeavor that I discuss in this article—and demonstrate in its accompanying short video, Senses of Silver River—is aimed at bringing feminist, decolonial ways of knowing the world to the forefront (cf. Collins; Harrison; Trinh). Toward this effort, I propose a methodological intervention that I call evocative ethnography, which favors a sensorial realm to explore, interpret, and share a sense of place.
Compression‐induced HIF‐1 enhances thrombosis and PAI‐1 expression in mouse skin
Authors: Kaneko Maki , Minematsu Takeo , Yoshida Mikako , Nishijima Yoshimi , Noguchi Hiroshi , Ohta Yasunori , Nakagami Gojiro , Mori Taketoshi , Sanada Hiromi
Published: May 2015

Pressure ulcers result from tissue hypoxia caused by external forces. Thrombosis due to external forces is considered important, and hypoxia inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) is a master regulator of pressure ulcer development. To date, however, their causal relationship has not been determined. This study therefore investigated the mutual relationship between thrombosis and HIF‐1 activation in compressed mouse skin, based on a hypothesis that HIF‐1 regulation by plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) enhances thrombosis. Compression of mouse skin significantly increased the numbers of thrombi and HIF‐1α‐positive cells compared with control skin. A thrombosis inhibitor significantly reduced the numbers of HIF‐1α‐positive cells and an HIF‐1 inhibitor significantly inhibited thrombosis in compressed skin tissue, suggesting a mutual relationship between thrombosis and HIF‐1 activation. Compression of mouse skin also enhanced the level of Pai‐1 messenger RNA expression, but this increase was significantly reduced by treatment with an HIF‐1 inhibitor, whereas a thrombosis inhibitor had no effect. These results suggested the involvement of PAI‐1 in HIF‐1‐enhanced thrombosis and that an additional factor participates in regulating Pai‐1 expression in compressed skin. These findings may suggest new strategies in pressure ulcer management.
Design and Preliminary Evaluation of a Stiff Steerable Cutter for Arthroscopic Procedures
Authors: Horeman T. , Schilder F. , Aguirre M. , Kerkhoffs G. M. M. J. , Tuijthof G. J. M.
Published: May 2015

This article describes a novel and simple shaft actuated tip articulation (SATA) mechanism that allows arthroscopic instruments to articulate while remaining stiff. Since the SATA mechanism requires only independent rotation of two tubes for hinge articulation, cables, gears, or other internal components that are normally found in steerable endoscopic instruments become obsolete. The SATA mechanism was integrated in a new steerable cutter prototype and tested. Early user, mechanical strength and cadaver experiments were performed that indicate that this first prototype withstands an axial and sideways force of 100 N and 20 N, that trained users can (dis)assemble the instrument in less than 1.5 min and that a surgeon is able to reach all important locations on the menisci.
Collapse of the world’s largest herbivores
Authors: Ripple William J. , Newsome Thomas M. , Wolf Christopher , Dirzo Rodolfo , Everatt Kristoffer T. , Galetti Mauro , Hayward Matt W. , Kerley Graham I. H. , Levi Taal , Lindsey Peter A. , Macdonald David W. , Malhi Yadvinder , Painter Luke E. , Sandom Christopher J. , Terborgh John , Van Valkenburgh Blaire
Published: May 2015

The collapsing populations of large herbivores will have extensive ecological and social consequences.
Screening system for drug-induced arrhythmogenic risk combining a patch clamp and heart simulator
Authors: Okada Jun-ichi , Yoshinaga Takashi , Kurokawa Junko , Washio Takumi , Furukawa Tetsushi , Sawada Kohei , Sugiura Seiryo , Hisada Toshiaki
Published: May 2015

Finding the silent skipped beat: Predicting arrhythmia-causing drugs using a high-throughput hybrid heart simulator.
What happens to your brain on the way to Mars
Authors: Parihar Vipan K. , Allen Barrett , Tran Katherine K. , Macaraeg Trisha G. , Chu Esther M. , Kwok Stephanie F. , Chmielewski Nicole N. , Craver Brianna M. , Baulch Janet E. , Acharya Munjal M. , Cucinotta Francis A. , Limoli Charles L.
Published: May 2015

Animal models reveal an unexpected sensitivity of mature neurons in the brain to the charged particles found in space.
Stable-Isotope Probing Identifies Uncultured Planctomycetes as Primary Degraders of a Complex Heteropolysaccharide in Soil
Authors: Wang Xiaoqing , Sharp Christine E. , Jones Gareth M. , Grasby Stephen E. , Brady Allyson L. , Dunfield Peter F.
Published: May 2015

The exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by some bacteria are potential growth substrates for other bacteria in soil. We used stable-isotope probing (SIP) to identify aerobic soil bacteria that assimilated the cellulose produced byGluconacetobacter xylinusor the EPS produced byBeijerinckia indica. The latter is a heteropolysaccharide comprised primarily ofl-guluronic acid,d-glucose, andd-glycero-d-mannoheptose.13C-labeled EPS and13C-labeled cellulose were purified from bacterial cultures grown on [13C]glucose. Two soils were incubated with these substrates, and bacteria actively assimilating them were identified via pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes recovered from13C-labeled DNA. Cellulose C was assimilated primarily by soil bacteria closely related (93 to 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence identities) to known cellulose-degrading bacteria. However,B. indicaEPS was assimilated primarily by bacteria with low identities (80 to 95%) to known species, particularly by different members of the phylumPlanctomycetes. In one incubation, members of thePlanctomycetesmade up >60% of all reads in the labeled DNA and were only distantly related (<85% identity) to any described species. Although it is impossible with SIP to completely distinguish primary polysaccharide hydrolyzers from bacteria growing on produced oligo- or monosaccharides, the predominance ofPlanctomycetessuggested that they were primary degraders of EPS. Other bacteria assimilatingB. indicaEPS included members of theVerrucomicrobia, candidate division OD1, and theArmatimonadetes. The results indicate that some uncultured bacteria in soils may be adapted to using complex heteropolysaccharides for growth and suggest that the use of these substrates may provide a means for culturing new species.
The Intestinal Microbiota Influences Campylobacter jejuni Colonization and Extraintestinal Dissemination in Mice
Authors: O'Loughlin Jason L. , Samuelson Derrick R. , Braundmeier-Fleming Andrea G. , White Bryan A. , Haldorson Gary J. , Stone Jennifer B. , Lessmann Jeremy J. , Eucker Tyson P. , Konkel Michael E.
Published: May 2015

Campylobacter jejuni
is a leading cause of human foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. The interactions between this pathogen and the intestinal microbiome within a host are of interest as endogenous intestinal microbiota mediates a form of resistance to the pathogen. This resistance, termed colonization resistance, is the ability of commensal microbiota to prevent colonization by exogenous pathogens or opportunistic commensals. Although mice normally demonstrate colonization resistance to
C. jejuni
, we found that mice treated with ampicillin are colonized by
C. jejuni
, with recovery of
Campylobacter
from the colon, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in recovery of
C. jejuni
from ampicillin-treated mice inoculated with a
C. jejuni
virulence mutant (Δ
flgL
strain) compared to recovery of mice inoculated with the
C. jejuni
wild-type strain or the
C. jejuni
complemented isolate (Δ
flgL
/
flgL
). Comparative analysis of the microbiota from nontreated and ampicillin-treated CBA/J mice led to the identification of a lactic acid-fermenting isolate of
Enterococcus faecalis
that prevented
C. jejuni
growth
in vitro
and limited
C. jejuni
colonization of mice. Next-generation sequencing of DNA from fecal pellets that were collected from ampicillin-treated CBA/J mice revealed a significant decrease in diversity of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) compared to that in control (nontreated) mice. Taken together, we have demonstrated that treatment of mice with ampicillin alters the intestinal microbiota and permits
C. jejuni
colonization. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers using mice to investigate
C. jejuni
colonization factors, virulence determinants, or the mechanistic basis of probiotics.
LA35 Poultry Fecal Marker Persistence Is Correlated with That of Indicators and Pathogens in Environmental Waters
Authors: Nayak Bina , Weidhaas Jennifer , Harwood Valerie J.
Published: May 2015

Disposal of fecally contaminated poultry litter by land application can deliver pathogens and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) into receiving waters via runoff. While water quality is regulated by FIB enumeration, FIB testing provides inadequate information about contamination source and health risk. This microbial source tracking (MST) study compared the persistence of the
Brevibacterium
sp. strain LA35 16S rRNA gene (marker) for poultry litter with that of pathogens and FIB under outdoor, environmentally relevant conditions in freshwater, marine water, and sediments over 7 days.
Salmonella enterica
,
Campylobacter jejuni
,
Campylobacter coli
,
Bacteroidales
, and LA35 were enumerated by quantitative PCR (qPCR), and
Enterococcus
spp. and
E. coli
were quantified by culture and qPCR. Unlike the other bacteria,
C. jejuni
was not detectable after 48 h. Bacterial levels in the water column consistently declined over time and were highly correlated among species. Survival in sediments ranged from a slow decrease over time to growth, particularly in marine microcosms and for
Bacteroidales. S. enterica
also grew in marine sediments. Linear decay rates in water (
k
) ranged from −0.17 day
−1
for LA35 to −3.12 day
−1
for
C. coli
. LA35 levels correlated well with those of other bacteria in the water column but not in sediments. These observations suggest that, particularly in the water column, the fate of LA35 in aquatic environments is similar to that of FIB,
C. coli
, and
Salmonella
, supporting the hypothesis that the LA35 marker gene can be a useful tool for evaluating the impact of poultry litter on water quality and human health risk.
Meta-Analysis of the Reduction of Norovirus and Male-Specific Coliphage Concentrations in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Pouillot Régis , Van Doren Jane M. , Woods Jacquelina , Plante Daniel , Smith Mark , Goblick Gregory , Roberts Christopher , Locas Annie , Hajen Walter , Stobo Jeffrey , White John , Holtzman Jennifer , Buenaventura Enrico , Burkhardt William , Catford Angela , Edwards Robyn , DePaola Angelo , Calci Kevin R.
Published: May 2015

Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States and Canada. Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents impacting bivalve mollusk-growing areas are potential sources of NoV contamination. We have developed a meta-analysis that evaluates WWTP influent concentrations and log
10
reductions of NoV genotype I (NoV GI; in numbers of genome copies per liter [gc/liter]), NoV genotype II (NoV GII; in gc/liter), and male-specific coliphage (MSC; in number of PFU per liter), a proposed viral surrogate for NoV. The meta-analysis included relevant data (2,943 measurements) reported in the scientific literature through September 2013 and previously unpublished surveillance data from the United States and Canada. Model results indicated that the mean WWTP influent concentration of NoV GII (3.9 log
10
gc/liter; 95% credible interval [CI], 3.5, 4.3 log
10
gc/liter) is larger than the value for NoV GI (1.5 log
10
gc/liter; 95% CI, 0.4, 2.4 log
10
gc/liter), with large variations occurring from one WWTP to another. For WWTPs with mechanical systems and chlorine disinfection, mean log
10
reductions were −2.4 log
10
gc/liter (95% CI, −3.9, −1.1 log
10
gc/liter) for NoV GI, −2.7 log
10
gc/liter (95% CI, −3.6, −1.9 log
10
gc/liter) for NoV GII, and −2.9 log
10
PFU per liter (95% CI, −3.4, −2.4 log
10
PFU per liter) for MSCs. Comparable values for WWTPs with lagoon systems and chlorine disinfection were −1.4 log
10
gc/liter (95% CI, −3.3, 0.5 log
10
gc/liter) for NoV GI, −1.7 log
10
gc/liter (95% CI, −3.1, −0.3 log
10
gc/liter) for NoV GII, and −3.6 log
10
PFU per liter (95% CI, −4.8, −2.4 PFU per liter) for MSCs. Within WWTPs, correlations exist between mean NoV GI and NoV GII influent concentrations and between the mean log
10
reduction in NoV GII and the mean log
10
reduction in MSCs.
Mutual Exclusion between Fungal Species of the Fusarium Head Blight Complex in a Wheat Spike
Authors: Siou Dorothée , Gélisse Sandrine , Laval Valérie , Suffert Frédéric , Lannou Christian
Published: May 2015

Fusarium
head blight (FHB) is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat. FHB is caused by a species complex that includes two genera of Ascomycetes:
Microdochium
and
Fusarium. Fusarium graminearum
,
Fusarium
culmorum
,
Fusarium
poae
, and
Microdochium nivale
are among the most common FHB species in Europe and were chosen for these experiments. Field studies and surveys show that two or more species often coexist within the same field or grain sample. In this study, we investigated the competitiveness of isolates of different species against isolates of
F. graminearum
at the scale of a single spike. By performing point inoculations of a single floret, we ensured that each species was able to establish independent infections and competed for spike colonization only. The fungal colonization was assessed in each spike by quantitative PCR. After establishing that the spike colonization was mainly downwards, we compared the relative colonization of each species in coinoculations. Classical analysis of variance suggested a competitive interaction but remained partly inconclusive because of a large between-spike variance. Further data exploration revealed a clear exclusion of one of the competing species and the complete absence of coexistence at the spike level.
Wolbachia Influences the Production of Octopamine and Affects Drosophila Male Aggression
Authors: Rohrscheib Chelsie E. , Bondy Elizabeth , Josh Peter , Riegler Markus , Eyles Darryl , van Swinderen Bruno , Weible Michael W. , Brownlie Jeremy C.
Published: May 2015

Wolbachia
bacteria are endosymbionts that infect approximately 40% of all insect species and are best known for their ability to manipulate host reproductive systems. Though the effect
Wolbachia
infection has on somatic tissues is less well understood, when present in cells of the adult
Drosophila melanogaster
brain,
Wolbachia
exerts an influence over behaviors related to olfaction. Here, we show that a strain of
Wolbachia
influences male aggression in flies, which is critically important in mate competition. A specific strain of
Wolbachia
was observed to reduce the initiation of aggressive encounters in
Drosophila
males compared to the behavior of their uninfected controls. To determine how
Wolbachia
was able to alter aggressive behavior, we investigated the role of octopamine, a neurotransmitter known to influence male aggressive behavior in many insect species. Transcriptional analysis of the octopamine biosynthesis pathway revealed that two essential genes, the tyrosine decarboxylase and tyramine β-hydroxylase genes, were significantly downregulated in
Wolbachia
-infected flies. Quantitative chemical analysis also showed that total octopamine levels were significantly reduced in the adult heads.
Ruminal Bacterial Community Composition in Dairy Cows Is Dynamic over the Course of Two Lactations and Correlates with Feed Efficiency
Authors: Jewell Kelsea A. , McCormick Caroline A. , Odt Christine L. , Weimer Paul J. , Suen Garret
Published: May 2015

Fourteen Holstein cows of similar ages were monitored through their first two lactation cycles, during which ruminal solids and liquids, milk samples, production data, and feed consumption data were collected for each cow during early (76 to 82 days in milk [DIM]), middle (151 to 157 DIM), and late (251 to 257 DIM) lactation periods. The bacterial community of each ruminal sample was determined by sequencing the region from V6 to V8 of the 16S rRNA gene using 454 pyrosequencing. Gross feed efficiency (GFE) for each cow was calculated by dividing her energy-corrected milk by dry matter intake (ECM/DMI) for each period of both lactation cycles. Four pairs of cows were identified that differed in milk production efficiency, as defined by residual feed intake (RFI), at the same level of ECM production. The most abundant phyla detected for all cows were
Bacteroidetes
(49.42%),
Firmicutes
(39.32%),
Proteobacteria
(5.67%), and
Tenericutes
(2.17%), and the most abundant genera included
Prevotella
(40.15%),
Butyrivibrio
(2.38%),
Ruminococcus
(2.35%),
Coprococcus
(2.29%), and
Succiniclasticum
(2.28%). The bacterial microbiota between the first and second lactation cycles were highly similar, but with a significant correlation between total community composition by ruminal phase and specific bacteria whose relative sequence abundances displayed significant positive or negative correlation with GFE or RFI. These data suggest that the ruminal bacterial community is dynamic in terms of membership and diversity and that specific members are associated with high and low milk production efficiency over two lactation cycles.
Chlamydiaceae in North Atlantic Seabirds Admitted to a Wildlife Rescue Center in Western France
Authors: Aaziz R. , Gourlay P. , Vorimore F. , Sachse K. , Siarkou V. I. , Laroucau K.
Published: May 2015

Birds are the primary hosts of
Chlamydia psittaci
, a bacterium that can cause avian chlamydiosis in birds and psittacosis in humans. Wild seabirds are frequently admitted to wildlife rescue centers (WRC) at European Atlantic coasts, for example, in connection with oil spills. To investigate the extent of chlamydial shedding by these birds and the resulting risk for animals in care and the medical staff, seabirds from a French WRC were sampled from May 2011 to January 2014. By use of a quantitative PCR (qPCR), 195 seabirds belonging to 4 orders, 5 families and 13 species were examined, of which 18.5% proved to be
Chlamydiaceae
positive. The highest prevalence of shedders was found in northern gannets (
Morus bassanus
) (41%), followed by European herring gulls (
Larus argentatus
) (14%) and common murres (
Uria aalge
) (7%). Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of qPCR-positive northern gannet samples revealed two variants of a strain closely related to
C. psittaci
. In European herring gulls and in one common murre, strains showing high sequence similarity to the atypical
Chlamydiaceae
-like C122 previously found in gulls were detected. Our study shows that seabirds from the northeastern Atlantic Ocean carry several chlamydial organisms, including
C. psittaci-
related strains. The staff in WRCs should take protective measures, particularly in the case of mass admissions of seabirds.
Acute Limonene Toxicity in Escherichia coli Is Caused by Limonene Hydroperoxide and Alleviated by a Point Mutation in Alkyl Hydroperoxidase AhpC
Authors: Chubukov Victor , Mingardon Florence , Schackwitz Wendy , Baidoo Edward E. K. , Alonso-Gutierrez Jorge , Hu Qijun , Lee Taek Soon , Keasling Jay D. , Mukhopadhyay Aindrila
Published: May 2015

Limonene, a major component of citrus peel oil, has a number of applications related to microbiology. The antimicrobial properties of limonene make it a popular disinfectant and food preservative, while its potential as a biofuel component has made it the target of renewable production efforts through microbial metabolic engineering. For both applications, an understanding of microbial sensitivity or tolerance to limonene is crucial, but the mechanism of limonene toxicity remains enigmatic. In this study, we characterized a limonene-tolerant strain of
Escherichia coli
and found a mutation in
ahpC
, encoding alkyl hydroperoxidase, which alleviated limonene toxicity. We show that the acute toxicity previously attributed to limonene is largely due to the common oxidation product limonene hydroperoxide, which forms spontaneously in aerobic environments. The mutant AhpC protein with an L-to-Q change at position 177 (AhpC
L177Q
) was able to alleviate this toxicity by reducing the hydroperoxide to a more benign compound. We show that the degree of limonene toxicity is a function of its oxidation level and that nonoxidized limonene has relatively little toxicity to wild-type
E. coli
cells. Our results have implications for both the renewable production of limonene and the applications of limonene as an antimicrobial.
Chitinases Are Essential for Cell Separation in Ustilago maydis
Authors: Langner Thorsten , Öztürk Merve , Hartmann Sarah , Cord-Landwehr Stefan , Moerschbacher Bruno , Walton Jonathan D. , Göhre Vera
Published: May 2015

Chitin is an essential component of the fungal cell wall, providing rigidity and stability. Its degradation is mediated by chitinases and supposedly ensures the dynamic plasticity of the cell wall during growth and morphogenesis. Hence, chitinases should be particularly important for fungi with dramatic morphological changes, such as
Ustilago maydis
. This smut fungus switches from yeast to filamentous growth for plant infection, proliferates as a mycelium
in planta
, and forms teliospores for spreading. Here, we investigate the contribution of its four chitinolytic enzymes to the different morphological changes during the complete life cycle in a comprehensive study of deletion strains combined with biochemical and cell biological approaches. Interestingly, two chitinases act redundantly in cell separation during yeast growth. They mediate the degradation of remnant chitin in the fragmentation zone between mother and daughter cell. In contrast, even the complete lack of chitinolytic activity does not affect formation of the infectious filament, infection, biotrophic growth, or teliospore germination. Thus, unexpectedly we can exclude a major role for chitinolytic enzymes in morphogenesis or pathogenicity of
U. maydis
. Nevertheless, redundant activity of even two chitinases is essential for cell separation during saprophytic growth, possibly to improve nutrient access or spreading of yeast cells by wind or rain.
Laser arytenoidectomy and posterior cordotomy in a patient with bilateral vocal cord paralysis due to multiple system atrophy
Authors: Mahmud Ayesha , Strens Lucy H A , Tedla Miroslav
Published: May 2015

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis leading to stridor is a known but rare complication of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a recognised complication of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Tracheostomy is a commonly offered treatment, leading to substantial adaptations and lifestyle changes for the patient. Patients can struggle to manage a tracheostomy due to the tremor and bradykinesia associated with their parkinsonism. We report a case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis leading to significant stridor in a patient with atypical parkinsonism (probable MSA). To avoid tracheostomy, our patient underwent successful right-sided laser arytenoidectomy and posterior cordotomy as a day-case procedure. At follow-up, he had a weaker voice but complete recovery from the shortness of breath and stridor. He was very satisfied with the outcome. We conclude that, despite resulting in a weaker voice, this procedure offers an option to the patient that improves quality of life.
West Nile virus-associated acute flaccid paralysis
Authors: Alker Ashely
Published: May 2015

A 43-year-old woman presented to George Washington emergency department with 48 h of new-onset inguinal pain. Physical examination revealed a diffuse maculopapular rash involving the palms and soles, as well as inguinal lymphadenopathy. The patient denied recent travel outside of Washington, DC, and had no known sick contacts. She was admitted to the hospital for observation. Within 24 h of admission she developed left lower extremity flaccid paralysis, with loss of left patellar and Achilles reflexes. cerebrospinal fluid was positive for West Nile virus IgG and IgM antibodies, so methylprednisone 125 mg intravenously two times per day was started. On day 7, the patient recovered reflexes and continued to regain strength in the left lower extremity. She was discharged on day 9 on prednisone taper, with outpatient follow-up.
Four tumours including neuroendocrine tumour of the ileum
Authors: Waldon Karen , Abbas Jonathan Raihan , Shakir Savana , Afify Samir
Published: May 2015

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours are associated with development of further primary tumours. Certain conditions give an inherited predisposition to developing neoplasia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to report a patient with neuroendocrine tumour and three other tumours: a further bowel cancer, a brain tumour and a skin cancer. We report a case of a 42-year-old Caucasian man presenting with clinical features of intestinal obstruction who on histopathology of surgical specimen was found to have two distinct tumours of the bowel: a colonic adenocarcinoma at the splenic flexure and a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour of the terminal ileum. His history included a basal cell carcinoma and a benign brain tumour. He had extensive family history of neoplasia suggesting an inherited predisposition. Our case demonstrates the importance of investigating patients with known neuroendocrine tumours for further malignancy and suggests that patients with multiple primary malignancies should be referred for genetic testing.
Corking the WEB and coiling through a jailed microcatheter: WEB assisted coiling, a useful technique avoiding the use of stents in treating wide-necked large intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Leyon Joe Joseph , Chavda Swarupsinh , Lamin Saleh
Published: May 2015

The WEB is an endovascular flow-disrupting device used in treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. Although the device is available in varying sizes, large aneurysms pose a challenge with the need for custom-made devices. We describe the use of coils as an adjunct to the WEB device in successfully treating large aneurysms in two patients, one with an acutely ruptured aneurysm. This novel technique of jailing a microcatheter, deploying the WEB and then coiling the aneurysm saves the need for intracranial stenting, thereby avoiding the need for antiplatelet therapy, which is of benefit in the setting of acute aneurysm rupture.
The tooth, the whole tooth: an unusual fight bite with an unnoticed embedded tooth in the hand
Authors: Vijayan Roshan , Awad Guirgis
Published: May 2015

A 19-year-old man presented to the plastic surgeons with a wound between his fourth and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints, with associated hand swelling and pain. He admitted to accidentally striking his brother in the mouth the previous evening. His brother reportedly made a hasty exit, and the patient dismissed the wound to his hand until waking up the next morning with swelling, pain and ascending lymphangitis. Radiographs revealed the unusual extent of his ‘fight bite’ injury with an entire human tooth embedded in his hand. Removal of the tooth and aggressive debridement was performed in theatre. Establishing an accurate account of events in these injuries can be difficult, with the orientation of the tooth in the soft tissues being more consistent with an uppercut than the reported jab. The patient made a good recovery following elevation, intravenous antibiotics, rigorous surgical debridement and postoperative hand therapy.
5-Fluorouracil cardiotoxicity: reversible left ventricular systolic dysfunction with early detection
Authors: Iskandar Muhammad Zaid , Quasem Wahid , El-Omar Magdi
Published: May 2015

A 33-year-old man presented to hospital with acute shortness of breath and evolving ST segment changes on ECG 3 days following a cycle of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for colon cancer. Despite no cardiac history, subsequent echocardiogram showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The patient was initially treated with heart failure medications and his coronary angiogram was normal. Chemotherapy was stopped and he was started on nitrates and calcium channel blockers. A repeat echocardiogram and cardiac MRI a week later showed complete resolution of his left ventricular dysfunction and he was discharged home. This case report summarises 5-FU cardiotoxicity, and emphasises the importance of early recognition and correct treatment, as left ventricular systolic dysfunction in this context is potentially reversible.
Isolated tuberculosis of scaphoid in the skeletally immature: a rare cause of chronic wrist pain
Authors: Prakash Jatin , Mehtani Anil
Published: May 2015

The hand and wrist are rare sites for tuberculosis and account for less than 1% of all skeletal tuberculosis. Though rare, tuberculosis of the wrist is a cause of major morbidity. A common feature in the available reports on hand and wrist tuberculosis was a delay in diagnosis causing residual stiffness and pain after treatment. Minimal initial symptoms, rarity of the lesion and ability of wrist tuberculosis to mimic more common pathologies account for the delay. No report of isolated scaphoid lesion in the paediatric age group has ever been reported. We present one such case, which was treated with multidrug chemotherapy. At the end of treatment the patient regained complete range of motion was completely pain free. No reactivation of disease was seen over 2-year follow-up.
Initiation of human regular U-500 insulin use is associated with improved glycemic control: a real-world US cohort study
Authors: Eby Elizabeth L , Curtis Bradley H , Gelwicks Steven C , Hood Robert C , Idris Iskandar , Peters Anne L , Bergenstal Richard M , Jackson Jeffrey A
Published: May 2015

Aim

Describe the characteristics of patients initiating human regular U-500 insulin (U-500R) and their subsequent glycemic control in a real-world setting.

Methods

US Humedica electronic health record system data (July 2007–September 2011) were used to identify patients with diabetes aged ≥18 years with ≥1 records for U-500R prescriptions, 6 months of preindex data, 12 months following first use of U-500R, and at least one glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) value in both preindex and postindex periods. Paired t tests were used to measure the change in HbA1c from preindex to postindex periods (last or most recent values) and hypoglycemia.

Results

Among patients initiating U-500R (N=445), 96.9% had type 2 diabetes with mean age 57 years and mean body mass index 40.4 kg/m2. Postindex prescriptions were written for U-500R alone (47.0%, group A) and concomitant U-500R/U-100 insulins (53.0%, group B). Concomitant oral antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs) and non-insulin injectable AHAs were used by 43.4% and 14.6% of patients, respectively. Following initiation of U-500R, mean HbA1c improved 0.68% in all patients (p<0.0001 compared with baseline), but the decrease in HbA1c did not differ significantly between groups (A: 0.78%; B: 0.60%). Overall, hypoglycemic events, largely captured in the outpatient setting, increased in incidence from 6.7% to 11.9% (p≤0.0001) and from 0.23 to 0.39 events/patient/year, an increase of 0.16 (p=0.003), from preindex to postindex.

Conclusions

This real-world outcomes analysis demonstrates that U-500R initiation is associated with a clinically meaningful improvement in glycemic control over the subsequent 12-month period with modest increase in incidence and rate of hypoglycemia.
Why do smokers try to quit without medication or counselling? A qualitative study with ex-smokers
Authors: Smith Andrea L , Carter Stacy M , Chapman Simon , Dunlop Sally M , Freeman Becky
Published: May 2015

Objective

When tobacco smokers quit, between half and two-thirds quit unassisted: that is, they do not consult their general practitioner (GP), use pharmacotherapy (nicotine-replacement therapy, bupropion or varenicline), or phone a quitline. We sought to understand why smokers quit unassisted.

Design

Qualitative grounded theory study (in-depth interviews, theoretical sampling, concurrent data collection and data analysis).

Participants

21 Australian adult ex-smokers (aged 28–68 years; 9 males and 12 females) who quit unassisted within the past 6 months to 2 years. 12 participants had previous experience of using assistance to quit; 9 had never previously used assistance.

Setting

Community, Australia.

Results

Along with previously identified barriers to use of cessation assistance (cost, access, lack of awareness or knowledge of assistance, including misperceptions about effectiveness or safety), our study produced new explanations of why smokers quit unassisted: (1) they prioritise lay knowledge gained directly from personal experiences and indirectly from others over professional or theoretical knowledge; (2) their evaluation of the costs and benefits of quitting unassisted versus those of using assistance favours quitting unassisted; (3) they believe quitting is their personal responsibility; and (4) they perceive quitting unassisted to be the ‘right’ or ‘better’ choice in terms of how this relates to their own self-identity or self-image. Deep-rooted personal and societal values such as independence, strength, autonomy and self-control appear to be influencing smokers’ beliefs and decisions about quitting.

Conclusions

The reasons for smokers’ rejection of the conventional medical model for smoking cessation are complex and go beyond modifiable or correctable problems relating to misperceptions or treatment barriers. These findings suggest that GPs could recognise and respect smokers’ reasons for rejecting assistance, validate and approve their choices, and modify brief interventions to support their preference for quitting unassisted, where preferred. Further research and translation may assist in developing such strategies for use in practice.
Blood and lymphatic vessel invasion in pT1 colorectal cancer: an international concordance study
Authors: Kojima Motohiro , Puppa Giacomo , Kirsch Richard , Basturk Olca , Frankel Wendy L , Vieth Michael , Lugli Alessandro , Sheahan Kieran , Yeh Matthew , Lauwers Greg Y , Risio Mauro , Shimazaki Hideyuki , Iwaya Keiichi , Kage Masayoshi , Akiba Jun , Ohkura Yasuo , Horiguchi Shinichiro , Shomori Kohei , Kushima Ryoji , Nomura Shogo , Ajioka Yoichi , Adsay Volkan , Ochiai Atsushi
Published: May 2015

Aim

This study was performed to evaluate the concordance in pathological assessments of blood and lymphatic vessel invasion (BLI) in pT1 colorectal cancers and to assess the effect of diagnostic criterion on consistency in the assessment of BLI.

Methods

Forty consecutive patients undergoing surgical resection of pT1 colorectal cancers were entered into this study. H&E-stained, D2-40-stained and elastica-stained slides from the tumours were examined by 18 pathologists from seven countries. The 40 cases were divided into two cohorts with 20 cases each. In cohort 1, pathologists diagnosed BLI using criteria familiar to them; all Japanese pathologists used a criterion of BLI from the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR). In cohort 2, all pathologists used the JSCCR diagnostic criterion.

Results

In cohort 1, diagnostic concordance was moderate in the US/Canadian and European pathologists. There were no differences in the consistency compared with results for Japanese pathologists, and no improvement in the diagnostic concordance was found for using the JSCCR criterion. However, in cohort 2, the JSCCR criterion decreased the consistency of BLI diagnosis in the US/Canadian and European pathologists. The level of decreased consistency in the assessment of BLI was different between the US/Canadian and European pathologists.

Conclusions

A uniform criterion strongly influences the diagnostic consistency of BLI but may not always improve the concordance. Further study is required to achieve an objective diagnosis of BLI in colorectal cancer. The varying effects of diagnostic criterion on the pathologists from Japan, the USA/Canada and Europe might reflect varied interpretations of the criterion. Internationally accepted criterion should be developed by participants from around the world.
A novel semi-automated in situ hybridisation protocol for microRNA detection in paraffin embedded tissue sections
Authors: Gualeni Ambra Vittoria , Volpi Chiara Costanza , Carbone Antonino , Gloghini Annunziata
Published: May 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression by binding to complementary sequences on target messenger RNA transcripts. In situ hybridisation (ISH) methods have been applied to the study of miRNA in tissue samples in order to understand which is the source of the miRNA of interest. In this paper, the authors describe a novel semi-automated bright field ISH method to visualise miRNAs in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections. The relevance of this work resides in the use of 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and peroxidase as the detection method, which provides a good defined deposition within tissues This method, which reveals the cells of origin of specific miRNAs, will enable investigators to further explore the biological role of miRNAs.