bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visions of Synthetic Biology
Authors: Reardon Sara
Published: September 2011

Artists are embracing synthetic biology as a tool, but not necessarily as a promising way for the future.
Imaging Cardiac Arrhythmias
Authors: Shivkumar Kalyanam , Narayan Sanjiv M.
Published: September 2011

Electrocardiographic imaging can noninvasively provide an activation map of the heart’s surface to help treat arrhythmias.
Hard on the Heart
Authors: Boxer Rebecca S.
Published: September 2011

Diabetes increases fibrosis and reduces distensibility in hearts with aortic stenosis.
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream?
Authors: Mashour George A.
Published: September 2011

General anesthetics may help to unravel the mysteries of sleep homeostasis.
Multicenter Evaluation of the Elecsys Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Quantitative Assay
Authors: Zacher B. J. , Moriconi F. , Bowden S. , Hammond R. , Louisirirotchanakul S. , Phisalprapa P. , Tanwandee T. , Wursthorn K. , Brunetto M. R. , Wedemeyer H. , Bonino F.
Published: September 2011

The Elecsys hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) II quantitative assay is a new quantitative electrochemiluminescence immunoassay which uses onboard dilution and a simple algorithm to determine HBsAg levels expressed in international units (IU)/ml (standardized against the World Health Organization [WHO] Second International Standard). This study evaluated its performance using routine serum samples from a wide range of HBsAg carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). HBsAg levels were measured in serum samples collected independently by five centers in Europe, Australia, and Asia. Serial dilution analyses were performed to assess the recommended dilution algorithm and determine the assay range free of hook effect. Assay precision was also established. Following assessment of serial dilutions (1:100 to 1:1,000,000) of the 611 samples analyzed, 70.0% and 85.6% of samples tested with analyzers incorporating 1:100 (Elecsys 2010 and cobas e 411) and 1:400 (Modular Analytics E170) onboard dilution, respectively, fell within the linear range of the assay, providing a final result on the first test. No high-dose hook effect was seen up to the maximum HBsAg serum level tested (870,000 IU/ml) using the dilution algorithm. HBsAg levels were reliably determined across all hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, phases of HBV infection, and stages of disease tested. Precision was high across all analyzers (% coefficient of variation [CV], 1.4 to 9.6; HBsAg concentrations, 0.1 to 37,300 IU/ml). The Elecsys HBsAg II quantitative assay accurately and reliably quantifies HBsAg in routine clinical samples. Onboard dilution minimizes retesting and reduces the potential for error.
Utility of IgM/IgG Ratio and IgG Avidity for Distinguishing Primary and Secondary Dengue Virus Infections Using Sera Collected More than 30 Days after Disease Onset
Authors: Prince Harry E. , Yeh Cindy , Lapé-Nixon Mary
Published: September 2011

Dengue virus (DV) IgM/IgG ratio and IgG avidity value (AV) can reliably distinguish between primary and secondary DV infections using sera collected within 30 days of disease onset, but little is known about their efficacies using sera collected >30 days after onset. To investigate this issue, we analyzed specimens submitted to our reference laboratory for DV antibody testing. We first classified patients as having primary (
n
= 55) or secondary (
n
= 58) infections based on seroconversion patterns in a comparison of two sera collected <30 days apart. We then evaluated IgM/IgG ratios and IgG AVs of the second specimens by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The IgM/IgG ratio that best discriminated primary from secondary infection was 1.32; 95% of 55 primary infections exhibited ratios of >1.32, whereas 93% of 58 secondary infections exhibited ratios of ≤1.32. The discriminatory AV was 0.39; 95% of 41 primary infections exhibited AVs of ≤0.39, whereas 95% of 38 secondary infections exhibited AVs of >0.39. We then evaluated the IgM/IgG ratios and AV for primary-infection patients whose second serum samples were collected ≥30 days after the first serum samples; only 56% of 27 sera exhibited ratios of >1.32, whereas 81% of 21 sera exhibited AVs of ≤0.39. Assuming that the first specimens were collected within a week after symptoms appeared, these findings indicate that IgG AV is superior to the IgM/IgG ratio for distinguishing primary from secondary DV infections when using samples collected more than 5 weeks after disease onset.
Evaluation of a Recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi Mucin-Like Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Chagas' Disease
Authors: De Marchi Claudia R. , Di Noia Javier M. , Frasch Alberto C. C. , Amato Neto Vicente , Almeida Igor C. , Buscaglia Carlos A.
Published: September 2011

Chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan parasite
Trypanosoma cruzi
and is one of the most important endemic problems in Latin America. Lately, it has also become a health concern in the United States and Europe. Currently, a diagnosis of Chagas' disease and the screening of blood supplies for antiparasite antibodies are achieved by conventional serological tests that show substantial variation in the reproducibility and reliability of their results. In addition, the specificity of these assays is curtailed by antigenic cross-reactivity with sera from patients affected by other endemic diseases, such as leishmaniasis. Here we used a highly sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CL-ELISA) to evaluate a recombinant protein core of a mucin-like molecule (termed trypomastigote small surface antigen [TSSA]) for the detection of specific serum antibodies in a broad panel of human sera. The same samples were evaluated by CL-ELISA using as the antigen either a mixture of native
T. cruzi
trypomastigote mucins or an epimastigote extract and, for further comparison, by conventional serologic tests, such as an indirect hemagglutination assay and indirect immunofluorescence assay. TSSA showed ∼87% sensitivity among the seropositive Chagasic panel, a value which was increased up to >98% when only parasitologically positive samples were considered. More importantly, TSSA showed a significant increase in specificity (97.4%) compared to those of currently used assays, which averaged 80 to 90%. Overall, our data demonstrate that recombinant TSSA may be a useful antigen for the immunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease.
Nineteen Cases of Buruli Ulcer Diagnosed in Japan from 1980 to 2010
Authors: Nakanaga Kazue , Hoshino Yoshihiko , Yotsu Rie Roselyne , Makino Masahiko , Ishii Norihisa
Published: September 2011

The etiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of 19 sporadic cases of Buruli ulcer (BU) in Japan are described. The cases originated in different regions of Honshu Island, with no evidence of patient contact with an aquatic environment. The majority (73.7%) of cases occurred in females, with an average age of 39.1 years for females and 56.8 years for males. All patients developed ulcers on exposed areas of the skin (e.g., face, extremities). Most ulcers were <5 cm in diameter (category I), except in one severe progressive case (category II). Pain was absent in 10 of the 19 cases. Fourteen ulcers were surgically excised, and nine patients needed skin grafting. All cases were treated with various antibiotic regimens, with no reported recurrences as of March 2011.
Mycobacterium ulcerans
-specific IS
2404
was detected in all cases. Ten isolates had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, which were similar to those of
M. ulcerans
. However, the
rpoB
gene showed a closer resemblance to
Mycobacterium marinum
or
Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii
. PCR identified pMUM001 in all isolates but failed to detect one marker. DNA-DNA hybridization misidentified all isolates as
M. marinum
. The drug susceptibility profile of the isolates also differed from that of
M. ulcerans
. Sequence analysis revealed “
Mycobacterium ulcerans
subsp.
shinshuense
” as the etiologic agent of BU in Japan. Clinical manifestations were comparable to those of
M. ulcerans
but differed as follows: (i) cases were not concentrated in a particular area; (ii) there was no suspected connection to an aquatic environment; (iii) drug susceptibility was different; and (iv) bacteriological features were different.
Evaluation of Luminex xTAG Fungal Analyte-Specific Reagents for Rapid Identification of Clinically Relevant Fungi
Authors: Babady N. Esther , Miranda Edwin , Gilhuley Kathleen A.
Published: September 2011

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a serious threat to immunocompromised hosts. Current diagnostic methods, including fungal culture and antigen detection, are slow and often lack specificity. Rapid diagnostic tools with increased sensitivity and specificity could improve the care of patients with IFI. Recently, Luminex Molecular Diagnostics (Toronto, Canada) developed 23 analyte-specific reagents (ASRs) for the detection of the most common clinically relevant fungi. This study's objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a subset of these ASRs for fungal isolates and clinical specimens. Previously characterized fungal and bacterial isolates (
n
= 110), blood culture specimens (
n
= 34), and respiratory specimens (
n
= 44) were tested using either a
Candida
7-plex panel (
Candida albicans
,
Candida glabrata
,
Candida tropicalis
,
Candida parapsilosis
,
Candida lusitaniae
,
Candida guilliermondii
, and
Candida krusei
) or a mold 11-plex panel (
Aspergillus fumigatus
,
Aspergillus flavus
,
Aspergillus niger
,
Aspergillus terreus
,
Scedosporium prolificans
,
Scedosporium apiospermum
,
Fusarium oxysporum
/
Fusarium solani
,
Rhizopus arrhizus
,
Rhizopus microsporus
,
Mucor indicus
, and
Cunninghamella bertholletiae
). The
Candida
7-plex panel correctly identified all
Candida
isolates as confirmed by fungal culture and biochemical tests, for a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The mold 11-plex panel correctly identified all mold isolates tested except for
A. niger.
Fungal isolates of
Rhizopus
and
Mucor
species were not detected, either, although they could represent species other than those targeted by the ASRs. Further evaluation will be necessary to confirm the sensitivities of some of the mold ASRs. Implementation of these ASRs will allow same-day detection of fungal DNA in clinical specimens.
Accuracy of Carbapenem Nonsusceptibility for Identification of KPC-Possessing Enterobacteriaceae by Use of the Revised CLSI Breakpoints
Authors: Landman David , Salamera Julius , Singh Manisha , Quale John
Published: September 2011

Using the updated 2010 CLSI carbapenem breakpoints for the
Enterobacteriaceae
, nonsusceptibility to ertapenem and imipenem predicted the presence of
bla
KPC
poorly, especially among
Escherichia coli
and
Enterobacter
species. In regions where KPC-producing bacteria are endemic, testing for nonsusceptibility to meropenem may provide improved accuracy in identifying these isolates.
Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay Targeting O-Antigen Modification Genes for Molecular Serotyping of Shigella flexneri
Authors: Sun Qiangzheng , Lan Ruiting , Wang Yiting , Zhao Ailan , Zhang Shaomin , Wang Jianping , Wang Yan , Xia Shengli , Jin Dong , Cui Zhigang , Zhao Hongqing , Li Zhenjun , Ye Changyun , Zhang Shuxia , Jing Huaiqi , Xu Jianguo
Published: September 2011

Shigella flexneri
is the major
Shigella
species that causes diarrheal disease in developing countries. It is further subdivided into 15 serotypes based on O-antigen structure. Serotyping of
S. flexneri
is important for epidemiological purposes. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR assay targeting the O-antigen synthesis gene
wzx
and the O-antigen modification genes
gtrI
,
gtrIC
,
gtrII
,
oac
,
gtrIV
,
gtrV
, and
gtrX
for molecular serotyping of
S. flexneri.
The multiplex PCR assay contained eight sets of specific PCRs in a single tube and can identify 14 of the 15 serotypes (the exception being serotype Xv) of
S. flexneri
recognized thus far. A nearly perfect concordance (97.8%) between multiplex PCR assay and slide agglutination was observed when 358
S. flexneri
strains of various serotypes were analyzed, except that 8 strains were carrying additional cryptic and/or defective serotype-specific genes. The multiplex PCR assay provides a rapid and specific method for the serotype identification of
S. flexneri
.
Xpert MTB/RIF for Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis from Fine-Needle-Aspiration Biopsy Specimens
Authors: Ligthelm Louis J. , Nicol Mark P. , Hoek Kim G. P. , Jacobson Rachael , van Helden Paul D. , Marais Ben J. , Warren Robin M. , Wright Colleen A.
Published: September 2011

This study demonstrates the excellent diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF test in patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The test sensitivity and specificity were 96.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86.6 to 100%) and 88.9% (95% CI, 69.6 to 100%), respectively, and it correctly identified 6/6 (100%) of the cytology smear-negative/culture-positive cases and 1 of 2 (50%) rifampin-resistant cases.
Clinical Validation of the cobas 4800 HPV Test for Cervical Screening Purposes
Authors: Heideman D. A. M. , Hesselink A. T. , Berkhof J. , van Kemenade F. , Melchers W. J. G. , Daalmeijer N. Fransen , Verkuijten M. , Meijer C. J. L. M. , Snijders P. J. F.
Published: September 2011

This study shows that the clinical performance and reproducibility of the cobas 4800 HPV test for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) detection fulfill the criteria as formulated in international guidelines of HPV test requirements for cervical screening purposes. Accordingly, the cobas 4800 HPV test can be considered clinically validated for cervical screening.
Molecular Characterization of the Host Defense Activity of the Barrier to Autointegration Factor against Vaccinia Virus
Authors: Ibrahim Nouhou , Wicklund April , Wiebe Matthew S.
Published: September 2011

The barrier to autointegration factor (BAF) is an essential cellular protein with functions in mitotic nuclear reassembly, retroviral preintegration complex stability, and transcriptional regulation. Molecular properties of BAF include the ability to bind double-stranded DNA in a sequence-independent manner, homodimerize, and bind proteins containing a LEM domain. These capabilities allow BAF to compact DNA and assemble higher-order nucleoprotein complexes, the nature of which is poorly understood. Recently, it was revealed that BAF also acts as a potent host defense against poxviral DNA replication in the cytoplasm. Here, we extend these observations by examining the molecular mechanism through which BAF acts as a host defense against vaccinia virus replication and cytoplasmic DNA in general. Interestingly, BAF rapidly relocalizes to transfected DNA from a variety of sources, demonstrating that BAF's activity as a host defense factor is not limited to poxviral infection. BAF's relocalization to cytoplasmic foreign DNA is highly dependent upon its DNA binding and dimerization properties but does not appear to require its LEM domain binding activity. However, the LEM domain protein emerin is recruited to cytoplasmic DNA in a BAF-dependent manner during both transfection and vaccinia virus infection. Finally, we demonstrate that the DNA binding and dimerization capabilities of BAF are essential for its function as an antipoxviral effector, while the presence of emerin is not required. Together, these data provide further mechanistic insight into which of BAF's molecular properties are employed by cells to impair the replication of poxviruses or respond to foreign DNA in general.
A Mutation in U
L
15 of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 That Reduces Packaging of Cleaved Genomes
Authors: Yang Kui , Wills Elizabeth G. , Baines Joel D.
Published: September 2011

Herpesvirus genomic DNA is cleaved from concatemers that accumulate in infected cell nuclei. Genomic DNA is inserted into preassembled capsids through a unique portal vertex. Extensive analyses of viral mutants have indicated that intact capsids, the portal vertex, and all components of a tripartite terminase enzyme are required to both cleave and package viral DNA, suggesting that DNA cleavage and packaging are inextricably linked. Because the processes have not been functionally separable, it has been difficult to parse the roles of individual proteins in the DNA cleavage/packaging reaction. In the present study, a virus bearing the deletion of codons 400 to 420 of U
L
15, encoding a terminase component, was analyzed. This virus, designated vJB27, failed to replicate on noncomplementing cells but cleaved concatemeric DNA to ca. 35 to 98% of wild-type levels. No DNA cleavage was detected in cells infected with a U
L
15-null virus or a virus lacking U
L
15 codons 383 to 385, comprising a motif proposed to couple ATP hydrolysis to DNA translocation. The amount of vJB27 DNA protected from DNase I digestion was reduced compared to the wild-type virus by 6.5- to 200-fold, depending on the DNA fragment analyzed, thus indicating a profound defect in DNA packaging. Capsids containing viral DNA were not detected in vJB27-infected cells, as determined by electron microscopy. These data suggest that pU
L
15 plays an essential role in DNA translocation into the capsid and indicate that this function is separable from its role in DNA cleavage.
Identification of the Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein as a Cellular Receptor for Rubella Virus
Authors: Cong Haolong , Jiang Yue , Tien Po
Published: September 2011

Rubella virus (RV) is a highly transmissible pathogenic agent that causes the disease rubella. Maternal RV infection during early pregnancy causes the death of the fetus or congenital rubella syndrome in infants. However, the cellular receptor for RV has not yet been identified. In this study, we found that the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) specifically bound to the E1 envelope glycoprotein of RV, and an antibody against MOG could block RV infection. Most importantly, we also showed that ectopic expression of MOG on the cell surface of 293T cells rendered this nonpermissive cell line permissive for RV entry and replication. Thus, this study has identified a cellular receptor for RV and suggests that blocking the MOG attachment site of RV may be a strategy for molecular intervention of RV infection.
The Interferon-Inducible Gene viperin Restricts West Nile Virus Pathogenesis
Authors: Szretter Kristy J. , Brien James D. , Thackray Larissa B. , Virgin Herbert W. , Cresswell Peter , Diamond Michael S.
Published: September 2011

Type I interferon (IFN) signaling coordinates an early antiviral program in infected and uninfected cells by inducing IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that modulate viral entry, replication, and assembly. However, the specific antiviral functions
in vivo
of most ISGs remain unknown. Here, we examined the contribution of the ISG viperin to the control of West Nile virus (WNV) in genetically deficient cells and mice. While modest increases in levels of WNV replication were observed for primary
viperin
−/−
macrophages and dendritic cells, no appreciable differences were detected in deficient embryonic cortical neurons or fibroblasts. In comparison, v

iperin
−/−

adult mice infected with WNV via the subcutaneous or intracranial route showed increased lethality and/or enhanced viral replication in central nervous system (CNS) tissues. In the CNS, viperin expression was induced in both WNV-infected and adjacent uninfected cells, including activated leukocytes at the site of infection. Our experiments suggest that viperin restricts the infection of WNV in a tissue- and cell-type-specific manner and may be an important ISG for controlling viral infections that cause CNS disease.
Tissue Tropism of Swine Influenza Viruses and Reassortants in
Ex Vivo
Cultures of the Human Respiratory Tract and Conjunctiva
Authors: Chan Renee W. Y. , Kang Sara S. R. , Yen Hui-Ling , Li Alan C. L. , Tang Lynsia L. S. , Yu Wendy C. L. , Yuen Kit M. , Chan Icarus W. W. , Wong Diana D. Y. , Lai Wico W. , Kwong Dora L. W. , Sihoe Alan D. L. , Poon Leo L. M. , Guan Yi , Nicholls John M. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Chan Michael C. W.
Published: September 2011

The 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 (H1N1pdm) virus was generated by reassortment of swine influenza viruses of different lineages. This was the first influenza pandemic to emerge in over 4 decades and the first to occur after the realization that influenza pandemics arise from influenza viruses of animals. In order to understand the biological determinants of pandemic emergence, it is relevant to compare the tropism of different lineages of swine influenza viruses and reassortants derived from them with that of 2009 pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm) and seasonal influenza H1N1 viruses in
ex vivo
cultures of the human nasopharynx, bronchus, alveoli, and conjunctiva. We hypothesized that virus which can transmit efficiently between humans replicated well in the human upper airways. As previously reported, H1N1pdm and seasonal H1N1 viruses replicated efficiently in the nasopharyngeal, bronchial, and alveolar epithelium. In contrast, representative viruses from the classical swine (CS) (H1N1) lineage could not infect human respiratory epithelium; Eurasian avian-like swine (EA) (H1N1) viruses only infected alveolar epithelium and North American triple-reassortant (TRIG) viruses only infected the bronchial epithelium albeit inefficiently. Interestingly, a naturally occurring triple-reassortant swine virus, A/SW/HK/915/04 (H1N2), with a matrix gene segment of EA swine derivation (i.e., differing from H1N1pdm only in lacking a neuraminidase [NA] gene of EA derivation) readily infected and replicated in human nasopharyngeal and bronchial epithelia but not in the lung. A recombinant sw915 with the NA from H1N1pdm retained its tropism for the bronchus and acquired additional replication competence for alveolar epithelium. In contrast to H1N1pdm, none of the swine viruses tested nor seasonal H1N1 had tropism in human conjunctiva. Recombinant viruses generated by swapping the surface proteins (hemagglutinin and NA) of H1N1pdm and seasonal H1N1 virus demonstrated that these two gene segments together are key determinants of conjunctival tropism. Overall, these findings suggest that
ex vivo
cultures of the human respiratory tract provide a useful biological model for assessing the human health risk of swine influenza viruses.
The anamorph genusKnufiaand its phylogenetically allied species inConiosporium,Sarcinomyces, andPhaeococcomyces
Authors: Tsuneda A. , Hambleton S. , Currah R.S.
Published: September 2011

Knufia endospora , a species described previously on the basis of cultured material, was found forming distinctive sporodochia on the bark of balsam poplar. Phylogenetic analyses of this fungus and some allied species indicated that (i) it forms a monophyletic group with Knufia cryptophialidica (type species of Knufia ) and with Coniosporium perforans , Coniosporium epidermidis and Phaeococcomyces chersonesos and (ii) P. chersonesos and Sarcinomyces petricola are conspecific. These Coniosporium and Phaeococcomyces species also shared major morphological characteristics with Knufia in culture and were morphologically and phylogenetically distant from the type species of their respective genera. The following new combinations are proposed: Knufia perforans (Sterflinger) Tsuneda, Hambleton & Currah; Knufia epidermidis (D.M. Li, de Hoog, Saunte & X.R. Chen) Tsuneda, Hambleton & Currah; and Knufia chersonesos (Bogom. & Minter) Tsuneda, Hambleton & Currah. Phaeococcomyces catenatus and Phaeococcomyces nigricans (type species of Phaeococcomyces) were morphologically similar but phylogenetically distant from each other and from Knufia.
Wood traits in parental and hybrid species ofSorbus
Authors: Ďurkovič Jaroslav , Kardošová Monika , Kačík František , Masaryková Miroslava
Published: September 2011

The genus Sorbus is an example of taxonomic complexity arising from the combined effects of hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis. In this study, a comparison of the diagnostic microscopic characteristics of wood, together with the quantitative traits of vascular anatomy, fiber morphology, and cell wall constituents in parental ( Sorbus aria , Sorbus aucuparia , Sorbus chamaemespilus ) and hybrid ( Sorbus haljamovae , Sorbus montisalpae , Sorbus zuzanae ) taxa, was undertaken to discriminate each one of the examined taxa from the other and also to examine relatedness among parental and hybrid taxa. Chemical profiles of the degree of polymerization of cellulose were found to be the discriminating chemotaxonomic marker for all taxa. Sorbus haljamovae was determined to be the only taxon distinctively identified microscopically and distinguishable from the other examined taxa. The use of cell wall constituent traits provided a better segregation of hybrid taxa from their putative parental species than did the application of vascular anatomy variables. Sorbus zuzanae and Sorbus haljamovae formed isolated clusters that were distinctively segregated from all the other examined taxa. The results of this study indicate that the majority of wood traits in Sorbus hybrids do not exhibit an intermediate position between the parental taxa.
Effects of nurse-tree crop species and density on nutrient and water availability to underplanted Toona ciliata in northeastern Argentina
Authors: Dordel Julia , Simard Suzanne W. , Bauhus Jürgen , Guy Robert D. , Prescott Cindy E. , Seely Brad , Hampel Hermann , Pozas Luciano J.
Published: September 2011

Cultivation of high-value hardwoods is often more difficult than cultivation of many pioneer species commonly used in fast-growing plantations. On some sites, the facilitative effects of nurse trees can be necessary for initial crop species establishment, but their competitive effects can also reduce juvenile growth rates of the crop species. To improve establishment success in mixed-species plantations, we tested the effects of the nurse-tree species Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R.Br., Pinus elliottii Engelm. × Pinus caribaea Morelet, and Pinus taeda L. and four densities (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of the initial density) on Toona ciliata M.Roem. light, soil water, and soil nutrient availability. Growth of T. ciliata tended to increase with decreasing nurse-tree density and increasing light availability. However, growth was greater under G. robusta than under the pines, even where light conditions were similar, corresponding to mostly higher nutrient availability and higher soil water contents underneath G. robusta. Wood δ13C of T. ciliata was positively correlated with growth, foliar nutrient contents (N, P, K, Mg, Ca), and soil water content at a depth of 20–40 cm. Our results suggest that G. robusta is less competitive for soil nutrients and water than the pine nurse-tree species.
An invasive urban forest pest invades natural environments — Asian longhorned beetle in northeastern US hardwood forests
Authors: Dodds Kevin J. , Orwig David A.
Published: September 2011

An infestation of Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) ( Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky)) was detected in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2008. The discovery of this pest, previously only seen in urban environments of North America, led to the unprecedented establishment of a 243 km2quarantine zone that included urban parks, neighborhoods, and natural forests. Because ALB behavior in forested stands is virtually unknown, two closed-canopied forested stands (Bovenzi and Delaval) infested with ALB within this zone were sampled during 2008–2010 to document stand conditions, assess ALB host selection, and determine ALB impact on tree growth. Thirty-two percent of the Acer sampled in Bovenzi were infested with ALB compared with 63% in Delaval. In Delaval where three maple host species were available, ALB was found more often in Acer rubrum L. than in Acer saccharum Marsh. or Acer platanoides L. Radial growth patterns did not differ between ALB-infested and uninfested Acer trees in Bovenzi. In contrast, ALB-infested trees in Delaval were significantly older and larger than uninfested trees and exhibited slower radial growth and ring width index patterns compared with uninfested trees. Results suggest that if left uncontrolled, ALB can readily disperse into natural forest landscapes and alter the makeup of North America’s hardwood forest region.
TRANSVERSE SELF-ACCELERATION OF NEMATICONS: CAN A SELF-CONFINED BEAM CHANGE ITS OWN PATH?
Authors: ASSANTO GAETANO , ALBERUCCI ALESSANDRO , PICCARDI ARMANDO
Published: September 2011

We report on power-dependent self-transverse acceleration of optical spatial solitons in two settings: pure nematic liquid crystals, where the self-steering is a consequence of all-optical reorientation through nonlinear changes in birefringent walk-off, and dye-doped nematic liquid crystals, where the guest-host interaction amplifies reorientation and enhances the transverse force acting on the soliton, thus changing its trajectory.
QUASI-STATIONARY OPTICAL SOLITONS IN NON-KERR LAW MEDIA WITH FULL NONLINEARITY
Authors: BISWAS ANJAN , TOPKARA ENGIN , JOHNSON STEPHEN , ZERRAD ESSAID , KONAR SWAPAN
Published: September 2011

In this paper, the governing equation for optical solitons, namely the nonlinear Schrödinger's equation, is studied with non-Kerr law nonlinearity in the presence of perturbation terms with full nonlinearity. The quasi-stationary optical soliton is obtained after applying the multiple-scale perturbation analysis. The forms of nonlinearity that are studied in this paper are Kerr law, power law and the log law.
A novel mechanism in maggot debridement therapy: protease in excretion/secretion promotes hepatocyte growth factor production
Authors: Honda Kenjiro , Okamoto Koji , Mochida Yasuhiro , Ishioka Kunihiro , Oka Machiko , Maesato Kyoko , Ikee Ryota , Moriya Hidekazu , Hidaka Sumi , Ohtake Takayasu , Doi Kent , Fujita Toshiro , Kobayashi Shuzo , Noiri Eisei
Published: September 2011

Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is effective for treating intractable wounds, but its precise molecular mechanism, including the association between MDT and growth factors, remains unknown. We administered MDT to nine patients (66.3 ± 11.8 yr, 5 male and 4 female) with intractable wounds of lower extremities because they did not respond to conventional therapies. Significant increases of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels were observed in femoral vein blood during 48 h of MDT ( P < 0.05), but no significant change was found for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). We conducted NIH-3T3 cell stimulation assay to evaluate the relation between HGF and protease activity in excretion/secretion (ES) derived from maggots. Compared with the control group, HGF was significantly higher in the 0.05 μg/ml ES group ( P < 0.01). Furthermore, protease inhibitors suppressed the increase of HGF ( P < 0.05). The HGF expression was increased in proportion to the ES protein concentration of 0.025 to 0.5 μg/ml. In fact, ES showed stronger capability of promoting HGF production and less cytotoxicity than chymotrypsin or bromelain. HGF is an important factor involved in cutaneous wound healing. Therefore, these results suggest that formation of healthy granulation tissue observed during MDT results from the increased HGF. Further investigation to identify molecules enhancing HGF expression by MDT will contribute greatly to drug target discovery for intractable wound healing therapy.
Basolateral LPS inhibits NHE3 and HCO3− absorption through TLR4/MyD88-dependent ERK activation in medullary thick ascending limb
Authors: Watts Bruns A. , George Thampi , Sherwood Edward R. , Good David W.
Published: September 2011

Sepsis is associated with defects in renal tubule function, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Recently, we demonstrated that Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits HCO3− absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here, we examined the mechanisms responsible for inhibition of HCO3− absorption by basolateral LPS. Adding LPS to the bath decreased HCO3− absorption by 30% in rat and mouse MTALs perfused in vitro. The inhibition of HCO3− absorption was eliminated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/ERK inhibitors U0126 and PD98059. LPS induced a rapid (<15 min) and sustained (up to 60 min) increase in ERK phosphorylation in microdissected MTALs that was blocked by PD98059. The effects of basolateral LPS to activate ERK and inhibit HCO3− absorption were eliminated in MTALs from TLR4−/− and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)−/− mice but were preserved in MTALs from TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (Trif)−/− mice. Basolateral LPS decreased apical Na+/H+ exchanger 3 NHE3 activity through a decrease in maximal velocity ( Vmax). The inhibition of NHE3 by LPS was eliminated by MEK/ERK inhibitors. LPS inhibited HCO3− absorption despite the presence of physiological stimuli that activate ERK in the MTAL. We conclude that basolateral LPS inhibits HCO3− absorption in the MTAL through activation of a TLR4/MyD88/MEK/ERK pathway coupled to inhibition of NHE3. These studies identify NHE3 as a target of TLR4 signaling in the MTAL and show that bacterial molecules can impair the absorptive functions of renal tubules through inhibition of this exchanger. The ERK pathway links TLR4 to downstream modulation of ion transport proteins and represents a potential target for treatment of sepsis-induced renal tubule dysfunction.
Phosphorylation of eIF2α via the general control kinase, GCN2, modulates the ability of renal medullary cells to survive high urea stress
Authors: Cai Qi , Brooks Heddwen L.
Published: September 2011

The phosphorylation of the α-subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) occurs under many stress conditions in mammalian cells and is mediated by one of four eIF2α kinases: PERK, PKR, GCN2, and HRI. Cells of the renal medulla are regularly exposed to fluctuating concentrations of urea and sodium, the extracellular solutes responsible for the high osmolality in the renal medulla, and thus the kidneys ability to concentrate the urine in times of dehydration. Urea stress is known to initiate molecular responses that diverge from those seen in response to hypertonic stress (NaCl). We show that urea-inducible GCN2 activation initiates the phosphorylation of eIF2α and the downstream increase of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Loss of GCN2 sensitized cells to urea stress, increasing the expression of activated caspase-3 and decreasing cell survival. Loss of GCN2 ablated urea-induced phosphorylation of eIF2α and reduced the expression of ATF3.
Defining protein expression in the urothelium: a problem of more than transitional interest
Authors: Yu Weiqun , Hill Warren G.
Published: September 2011

The transitional epithelium of the bladder, the urothelium, is a challenging tissue to study due to its fragility, complex cellular makeup, stratified composition, and intimate connections to both neural and connective tissue elements. With the increasing focus on the urothelium as a mechanosensory tissue with complex autocrine and paracrine signaling activities, there have arisen a number of unresolved controversies in the urothelial literature regarding whether certain important sensory and signaling proteins are expressed by the urothelium. Prominent examples of this include the transient receptor potential (TRP) family member TRPV1 and the purinergic receptor P2X3. The problem is more than one of scientific bookkeeping since studies utilizing genetic models (primarily knockout mice) claim additional credibility for urothelial functions when phenotypes are discovered. Furthermore, both of the above-mentioned receptors are important therapeutic targets for various bladder disorders including inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The reasons for the confusion about urothelial expression are manifold, but they likely include low expression levels in some cases, poor specificity of antibodies (sometimes lacking adequate controls), the presence of nonurothelial cells resident within the urothelium, and the fact that the urothelium is particularly prone to aspecific adsorption of antibodies. In this review, we attempt to summarize some of the pitfalls with currently accepted practices in this regard, as well as to describe a set of guidelines which will improve the reliability of conclusions related to urothelial expression. It is hoped that this will be of value to investigators studying the urothelium, to those attempting to interpret conflicts in the literature, and hopefully also those charged with reviewing unpublished work. These recommendations will outline a set of “baseline” and “best practice” guidelines by which both researchers and reviewers will be able to evaluate the evidence presented.
Expression and Immunotherapeutic Targeting of the SSX Family of Cancer–Testis Antigens in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Smith Heath A. , Cronk Robert J. , Lang Joshua M. , McNeel Douglas G.
Published: September 2011

Recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first immunotherapy for prostate cancer encourages efforts to improve immune targeting of this disease. The synovial sarcoma X chromosome breakpoint (SSX) proteins comprise a set of cancer–testis antigens that are upregulated in MHC class I–deficient germline cells and in various types of advanced cancers with a poor prognosis. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to the SSX family member SSX2 can arise spontaneously in prostate cancer patients. Thus, SSX2 and other proteins of the SSX family may offer useful targets for tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the expression of SSX family members in prostate cancer cell lines and tumor biopsies to identify which members might be most appropriate for immune targeting. We found that SSX2 was expressed most frequently in prostate cell lines, but that SSX1 and SSX5 were also expressed after treatment with the DNA demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine. Immunohistochemical analysis of microarrayed tissue biopsies confirmed a differential level of SSX protein expression in human prostate cancers. Notably, SSX expression in patient tumor samples was restricted to metastatic lesions (5/22; 23%) and no expression was detected in primary prostate tumors examined (0/73; P < 0.001). We determined that cross-reactive immune responses to a dominant HLA-A2–specific SSX epitope (p103-111) could be elicited by immunization of A2/DR1 transgenic mice with SSX vaccines. Our findings suggest that multiple SSX family members are expressed in metastatic prostate cancers which are amenable to simultaneous targeting. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6785–95. ©2011 AACR.
Ethanol Promotes Chemically Induced Oral Cancer in Mice through Activation of the 5-Lipoxygenase Pathway of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism
Authors: Guo Yizhu , Wang Xin , Zhang Xinyan , Sun Zheng , Chen Xiaoxin
Published: September 2011

Alcohol drinking is a known risk factor for oral cancer in humans. However, previous animal studies on the promoting effect of ethanol on oral carcinogenesis were inconclusive. It is necessary to develop an animal model with which the molecular mechanism of ethanol-related oral carcinogenesis may be elucidated to develop effective prevention strategies. In this study, mice were first treated with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO, 100 μg/mL in drinking water) for 8 weeks and then given water or ethanol (8%) as the sole drink for another 16 weeks. During the experiment, 8% ethanol was well tolerated by mice. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) increased from 20% (8/41) to 43% (17/40; P < 0.05). Expression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-Lox) and cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) was increased in dysplasia and SCC of 4NQO-treated tongues and further enhanced by ethanol. Using this mouse model, we further showed that fewer cancers were induced in Alox5−/− mice, as were cell proliferation, inflammation, and angiogenesis in the tongue, as compared with Alox5+/+ mice. Interestingly, Cox-2 expression was induced by ethanol in knockout mice, whereas 5-Lox and leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) expression and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) biosynthesis were dramatically reduced. Moreover, ethanol enhanced expression and nuclear localization of 5-Lox and stimulated LTB4 biosynthesis in human tongue SCC cells (SCC-15 and SCC-4) in vitro. In conclusion, this study clearly showed that ethanol promoted 4NQO-induced oral carcinogenesis, at least in part, through further activation of the 5-Lox pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. Cancer Prev Res; 4(11); 1863–72. ©2011 AACR.
Amygdala Regulation of Fear and Emotionality in Fragile X Syndrome
Authors: Olmos-Serrano Jose Luis , Corbin Joshua G.
Published: September 2011

Fear is a universal response to a threat to one’s body or social status. Disruption in the detection and response of the brain’s fear system is commonly observed in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders, including fragile X syndrome (FXS), a brain disorder characterized by variable cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances such as social avoidance and anxiety. The amygdala is highly involved in mediating fear processing, and increasing evidence supports the idea that inhibitory circuits play a key role in regulating the flow of information associated with fear conditioning in the amygdala. Here, we review the known and potential importance of amygdala fear circuits in FXS, and how developmental studies are critical to understand the formation and function of neuronal circuits that modulate amygdala-based behaviors.
A Study on Orbital Volume of Korean People in Their 20s or 40s
Authors: Kim Sung-Phil , Lee Beob-Yi , Lee Su-Jeong , Choi Mi-Hyun , Yeon Hong-Won , Park Jang-Yeon , Jun Jae-Hoon , Chung Soon-Cheol
Published: September 2011

Aims: To measure the orbital volume of normal Korean people in two different age groups (subjects were in their 20s or 40s), and analyze the differences of orbital volume with respect to age and gender. In addition, to analyze correlation between body parameters (height and weight) and the orbital volume. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were acquired for a total of 143 subjects, consisting of 71 subjects in their 20s (32 males and 39 females) and 72 subjects in their 40s (30 males and 42 females). Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze how orbital volume changes with respect to gender and age. A multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between body parameters and the orbital volume. Results: The orbital volume of subjects in their 20s was larger than that of subjects in their 40s, and the volume was larger in men than in women. As age increased, the decrease in the orbital volume of women was greater than that of men. While weight and height showed positive correlations with orbital volume in male and female subjects in their 20s, respectively, weight showed a positive correlation with orbital volume in male and female subjects in their 40s. Conclusions: These results provide basic information about the effect of age, gender, and body parameters on orbital volume of Korean people in their 20s or 40s.
Assessing Epicardial Substrate Using Intracardiac Echocardiography During VT Ablation
Authors: Bala Rupa , Ren Jian-Fang , Hutchinson Mathew D. , Desjardins Benoit , Tschabrunn Cory , Gerstenfeld Edward P. , Deo Rajat , Dixit Sanjay , Garcia Fermin C. , Cooper Joshua , Lin David , Riley Michael P. , Tzou Wendy S. , Verdino Ralph , Epstein Andrew E. , Callans David J. , Marchlinski Francis E.
Published: September 2011

Background—

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has played a limited role in defining the substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT). The purpose of this study was to assess whether ICE could identify abnormal epicardial substrate in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) and VT.

Methods and Results—

We studied 18 patients with NICM and recurrent VT who had abnormal echogenicity identified on ICE imaging. Detailed left ventricular (LV) endocardial and epicardial electroanatomic mapping was performed in all patients. Low-voltage areas (<1.0 mV) in the epicardium were analyzed. ICE imaging in the NICM group was compared to a control group of 30 patients with structurally normal hearts who underwent ICE imaging for other ablation procedures. In 18 patients (age, 53±13 years; 17 men) with NICM (ejection fraction, 37±13%), increased echogenicity was identified in the lateral LV by ICE imaging. LV endocardial electroanatomic mapping identified normal voltage in 9 patients and at least 1 confluent low-voltage area (6.6 cm
2
; minimum-maximum, 2.1–31.7 cm
2
) in 9 patients (5 posterolateral LV, 4 perivalvular LV). Detailed epicardial mapping revealed areas of low voltage (39 cm
2
; minimum-maximum, 18.5–96.3 cm
2
) and abnormal, fractionated electrograms in all 18 patients (15 posterolateral LV, 3 lateral LV). In all patients, the epicardial scar identified by electroanatomic mapping correlated with the echogenic area identified on ICE imaging. ICE imaging identified no areas of increased echogenicity in the control group.

Conclusions—

ICE imaging identified increased echogenicity in the lateral wall of the LV that correlated to abnormal epicardial substrate. These findings suggest that ICE imaging may be useful to identify epicardial substrate in NICM.
A Model for the Interaction between 2-Day Waves and Moist Kelvin Waves*
Authors: Liu Fei , Wang Bin
Published: September 2011

The eastward-propagating tropical low-frequency disturbances, such as the moist Kelvin waves or the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), are often observed to experience convective enhancement when meeting with the westward-propagating 2-day waves. A scale interaction (SI) model is built to understand the nature of the interaction between the 2-day waves and moist Kelvin waves or MJO. In this model, the convective complex of moist Kelvin waves modulates the strength and location of the 2-day waves, which feed back through the upscale eddy transfer. An ageostrophic model describing the 2-day waves is first solved, and the resultant westward-propagating, backward-tilted disturbances are consistent with the observed 2-day waves. An explicit representation of eddy momentum transfer (EMT), eddy heating transfer (EHT), and eddy moisture transfer (EQT) arising from the 2-day waves is then formulated. The SI model shows that the 2-day waves in front of moist Kelvin waves produce an EMT accelerating the low-frequency easterly in the lower troposphere, an EHT cooling down the middle troposphere, and an EQT moistening the middle troposphere. These three transfer terms have comparable magnitude. Although the negative EHT tends to damp the moist Kelvin waves, both the EMT and EQT provide instability sources for the moist Kelvin waves. The 2-day waves also slow down the moist Kelvin waves, mainly through the advective effects of the EMT. So the unstable moist Kelvin waves may exhibit convective enhancement when meeting with the 2-day waves. The theoretical results presented here point to the need to further observe the multiscale structures within the moist Kelvin waves and the MJO.