bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dyssynchrony Indices To Predict Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Miyazaki Chinami , Redfield Margaret M. , Powell Brian D. , Lin Grace M. , Herges Regina M. , Hodge David O. , Olson Lyle J. , Hayes David L. , Espinosa Raul E. , Rea Robert F. , Bruce Charles J. , Nelson Susan M. , Miller Fletcher A. , Oh Jae K.
Published: July 2010

Background—

Whether mechanical dyssynchrony indices predict reverse remodeling (RR) or clinical response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains controversial. This prospective study evaluated whether echocardiographic dyssynchrony indices predict RR or clinical response after CRT.

Methods and Results—

Of 184 patients with heart failure with anticipated CRT who were prospectively enrolled, 131 with wide QRS and left ventricular ejection fraction <35% had 6-month follow-up after CRT implantation. Fourteen dyssynchrony indices (feasibility) by M-mode (94%), tissue velocity (96%), tissue Doppler strain (92%), 2D speckle strain (65% to 86%), 3D echocardiography (79%), and timing intervals (98%) were evaluated. RR (end-systolic volume reduction ≥15%) occurred in 55% and more frequently in patients without (71%) than in patients with (42%) ischemic cardiomyopathy (
P
=0.002). Overall, only M-mode, tissue Doppler strain, and total isovolumic time had a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) greater than the line of no information, but none of these were strongly predictive of RR (AUC, 0.63 to 0.71). In nonischemic cardiomyopathy, no dyssynchrony index predicted RR. In ischemic cardiomyopathy, M-mode (AUC, 0.67), tissue Doppler strain (AUC, 0.79), and isovolumic time (AUC, 0.76) -derived indices predicted RR (
P
<0.05 for all), although the incremental value was modest. No indices predicted clinical response assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, 6-minute walk distance, and peak oxygen consumption.

Conclusions—

These findings are consistent with the Predictors of Response to CRT study and do not support use of these dyssynchrony indices to guide use of CRT.
Clinical and Angiographic Predictors of Short- and Long-Term Ischemic Events in Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Lansky Alexandra J. , Goto Kenji , Cristea Ecaterina , Fahy Martin , Parise Helen , Feit Frederick , Ohman E. Magnus , White Harvey D. , Alexander Karen P. , Bertrand Michel E. , Desmet Walter , Hamon Martial , Mehran Roxana , Moses Jeffrey , Leon Martin , Stone Gregg W.
Published: July 2010

Background—

Contemporary adjunctive pharmacology and revascularization strategies have improved the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). We sought to identify the clinical and angiographic predictors of cardiac ischemic events in patients with ACSs treated with an early invasive strategy.

Methods and Results—

Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relation between baseline characteristics and 30-day and 1-year composite ischemia (death, myocardial infarction, or unplanned revascularization) among the 6921 ACS patients included in the prespecified angiographic substudy of the Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY (ACUITY) trial. Of the 6921 patients, 3826 (55.3%) were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention, 755 (10.9%) with coronary artery bypass grafting, and 2340 (33.8%) with medical therapy. Composite ischemia occurred in 595 (8.6%) patients at 30 days and in 1153 (17.4%) at 1 year. Renal insufficiency, biomarker elevation, ST-segment deviation, nonuse of aspirin or thienopyridine, insulin-treated diabetes, older age, baseline lower hemoglobin value, history of percutaneous coronary intervention, and current smoking were independently associated with 30-day or 1-year ischemic events. Angiographic characteristics predicting ischemic events included number of diseased vessels, moderate/severe calcification, worst percent diameter stenosis, jeopardy score, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, lesion eccentricity, and thrombus. With use of receiver operating characteristic methodology, the c statistic improved for the predictive model by adding angiographic to clinical parameters for the 30-day composite ischemia (from 0.62 to 0.68) and myocardial infarction (from 0.64 to 0.71) and 1-year composite ischemia (from 0.61 to 0.65) and myocardial infarction (from 0.63 to 0.69) end points.

Conclusions—

Among ACS patients managed with an early invasive strategy, baseline angiographic markers of disease burden, calcification, lesion severity, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and morphological characteristics provided important added independent predictive value for 30-day and 1-year ischemic outcomes, beyond the well-recognized clinical risk factors. These findings emphasize the prognostic importance of the diagnostic angiogram in the risk stratification of patients presenting with ACSs.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00093158.
Marital Satisfaction Across Three Cultures: Does the Number of Children Have an Impact After Accounting for Other Marital Demographics?
Authors: Wendorf Craig A. , Lucas Todd , Imamoğlu E. Olcay , Weisfeld Carol C. , Weisfeld Glenn E.
Published: July 2010

U.S. studies indicate that children tend to stabilize marriage but, paradoxically, to reduce marital satisfaction. To explore whether this finding exists in a similar fashion in other cultures, the authors studied the impact of number of children on spousal love in the United States, United Kingdom, and Turkey, while accounting for other marital demographics (such as duration of marriage and the ages of wives and husbands). The number of children predicted diminished marital satisfaction in couples from all three cultures, although this effect arguably was not present in Turkish wives. In addition, marital satisfaction in couples from all three cultures was generally negatively predicted by the duration of marriage. Marital satisfaction was generally unrelated to wife’s age. The effect of husband’s age was important to marital satisfaction in couples from all cultures, although the nature of this effect diverged in relating positively to marital satisfaction for British and American couples but negatively for Turkish couples and especially Turkish wives. The authors identify several potentially important implications of these results.
Dynamic Vulcanization of HDPE/EVA Blend Using Silane
Authors: Bianchi O. , Zattera A.J. , Canto L.B.
Published: July 2010

Dynamic vulcanization of high-density polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate (HDPE/EVA) blends (50/50 wt%) in the mixing chamber of a torque rheometer was investigated. EVA was selectively cross-linked within the HDPE phase by transesterification reaction between ester groups of the EVA and alkoxysilane groups of tetrapropoxysilane, catalyzed by dibutyl tin oxide. Torque level and temperature in the torque rheometer chamber were monitored to follow the evolution of the EVA cross-linking during dynamic vulcanization. The degree of cross-linking of EVA in the HDPE/EVA materials was estimated by the gel content (insoluble EVA fraction). The changes in the HDPE/EVA phase morphology caused by different degrees of EVA cross-linking were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Melt-state linear viscoelastic properties of the materials were investigated by small amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry. For the composition and processing conditions adopted in this study, the HDPE/EVA showed a coarse co-continuous phase morphology, with large EVA domains interconnected with HDPE domains. Following the dynamic vulcanization, this changed to a more refined co-continuous morphology. The linear viscoelastic relaxation behavior of dynamically vulcanized HDPE/EVA materials suggests the existence of a percolated network structure of high viscous and elastic EVA domains interconnected with thermoplastic HDPE domains.
Respect as Experienced by Registered Nurses
Authors: Antoniazzi Clara D.
Published: July 2010

The aims of this study were to ascertain how registered nurses convey and experience respect in their day-to-day work environment with other registered nurses. Nurses generally feel respected when they are acknowledged for a job well done and for what they as individuals bring to the situation, including knowledge, skills, and experience. Findings revealed that communication was a key factor in conveying and experiencing respect, including what is communicated, how it is communicated, and what is not communicated. Experiencing respect was linked to collaboration, acknowledgment, autonomy, support, and fairness. Important findings in this study were barriers to conveying respect. Barriers were described as lack of time, lack of understanding of roles, inability to develop collegial relationships, not being shown respect, and lack of self-awareness.
Confusional migraine is an adult as well as a childhood disease
Authors: Gantenbein Andreas R , Riederer Franz , Mathys Jan , Biethahn Silke , Gossrau Gudrun , Waldvogel Daniel , Sándor Peter S
Published: July 2010

Background: Acute confusional migraine (ACM) is considered a rare migraine variant primarily seen in children and adolescents.

Patients and Methods: We present a series of eight adults and two adolescents suffering from migraine attacks associated with transient confusional states.

Results: Eight patients reported two or more such attacks. One of them reported mild head trauma in the past. One patient reported mild head trauma as a possible trigger. Further investigations were unremarkable in all patients and did not suggest underlying structural abnormalities, epilepsy or cerebrovascular disease. In none of these patients did we find another cause to explain the observed phenomenon.

Conclusions: Based on this series of patients, we suggest expanding the concept of confusional migraine from the paediatric population to adults. The temporal course of the confusion as well as the association with visual and other aura symptoms suggest cortical spreading depression as the underlying pathophysiology.
Flame Tip Propagation with Assisted Flow along Fuel-soaked Ground
Authors: Ishida Hiroki
Published: July 2010

The propagation of a flame tip in an assisted flow along the high-temperature ground soaked with high-volatile liquid fuel was studied experimentally from the point of view of a fundamental study on the fire hazard prevention in many fuel spill accidents. The effects of flow velocity on the flame tip propagation and on the motion of flammable gas layer were investigated experimentally. The study revealed the interesting and characteristic dependence of the propagation velocity of the flame tip on the flow velocity, which is classified into three regions by the ratio of the flow velocity about 1 mm above the ground surface to the flame propagation velocity with no surrounding airflow. The flame tip blows off and no flame propagation occurs when the ratio is over about 1.5, which agrees with the blow-off of spreading flame in an opposed flow, described in detail in our previous study. The flame tip propagation in an assisted flow strongly depends on the formation of a flammable gas mixture downstream of the flow.
Macrodactyly and Fibrous Hamartoma in a Child With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
Authors: Sharma Suvasini , Sankhyan Naveen , Gulati Sheffali , Kumar Atin , Srinivas M. , Shukla Bhaskar , Mathur Sandeep R.
Published: July 2010

A 10-year-old boy with tuberous sclerosis complex and macrodactyly of the right index and middle fingers is described. He also had a fibrous hamartoma at the front of the right wrist. The association of fibrous hamartoma and macrodactyly has not been previously described in tuberous sclerosis complex.
The Benefits of an Interactive, Individualized Online Patient Pathway for Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Radioguided Parathyroidectomy: A Prospective, Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Neary Peter M. , Sung Robert , Corrigan Mark , O'Donovan Maurice , Cahill Ronan A. , Redmond H. Paul
Published: July 2010

Aim. This study determined the usefulness of an interactive, individualized online patient pathway to patients undergoing elective operation for nonmalignant disease. Methods. An exploratory double-blind, prospective randomized controlled trial was established involving consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy (MIRP). A total of 64 patients were randomly assigned to either a standard or an enhanced Web site (interactive with detailed, personalized timeline). Each patient completed validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires preoperatively and pain assessments and questionnaires concerning Web site usefulness postoperatively. Results . All patients found their Web site useful, although patient satisfaction was significantly higher with the enhanced Web site in regard to overall impression as well as ease, organization, usefulness, and specificity of information. There were no significant differences in mean anxiety or pain scores, in analgesia requirements, or adequacy of informed consent. Conclusion. Providing education and information through a tailored Web server is viewed positively by patients.
Performances of highly insulated compact zinc roofs under a humid-moderate climate - part II: corrosion behavior
Authors: Zheng R. , Janssens A. , Carmeliet J. , Bogaerts W. , Hens H.
Published: July 2010

In the first paper (Zheng et al., 2010), the hygrothermal performance of highly insulated flat compact zinc roofs was assessed. This article evaluates the zinc sheeting corrosion behavior of the roofs. After an exposure of 28 months, little corrosion occurred at the sheeting upside. However, serious pitting corrosion developed at the sheeting underside. The maximum pit depths measured in the samples (0.5 × 0.7 m2) collected from each roof were between 124 and 209 μm. The main corrosion products identified were Zn5(CO3) 2(OH)6 and ZnO. It was found that less condensation deposit at the sheeting underside did not guarantee a reduction in underside corrosion. The wetting/drying cycling at the sheeting underside played a very important role in the corrosion process. The results show that, in addition to the reduction of the sheeting underside TOW (time of wetness), the number of wetting/drying cycles should also be decreased.
Inducible expression of human β-defensin 2 by Chlamydophila pneumoniae in brain capillary endothelial cells
Authors: Tiszlavicz Zoltán , Endrész Valéria , Németh Balázs , Megyeri Klára , Orosz László , Seprényi György , Mándi Yvette
Published: July 2010

Defensins are an important family of natural antimicrobial peptides. Chlamydophila pneumoniae, a common cause of acute respiratory infection, has a tendency to cause persistent inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, which may lead to cardiovascular disease or stroke. As endothelial cells are related to the physiopathology of stroke, the effects of in vitro C. pneumoniae infection on the expression of human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) in brain capillary endothelial cells (BB19) was investigated. A time-dependent increase in HBD-2 mRNA was observed by means of real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) in BB19 cells following C. pneumoniae infection, with a maximum increase at 24 h. A gradual induction of HBD-2 protein in the C. pneumoniae-infected endothelial cells was detected by immunoblotting. Immunofluorescence revealed the staining of HBD-2 in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells following C. pneumoniae infection. The secretion of HBD-2 (confirmed by ELISA) was significantly elevated 24 h after C. pneumoniae infection. These novel results indicate that HBD-2 is expressed and produced in the human brain capillary endothelial cells upon infection with C. pneumoniae, and provide evidence that HBD-2 plays a role in the early immune responses to C. pneumoniae and probably in the immunopathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
PDF analysis of ferrihydrite and the violation of Pauling's Principia
Authors: Manceau A.
Published: July 2010

The risk of overfitting pair distribution function (PDF) data for highly defective material (Farrow et al., 2007) is illuminated with the example of the nanocrystalline hydrous ferric oxyhydroxide, ferrihydrite. Two structural models have been published by Michel et al. (2007, 2010) using this method, both of which contradict the standard ‘ferrihydrits’ model established by X-ray diffraction (Drits et al., 1993), and confirmed by single-crystal electron nanodiffraction (Janney et al., 2001) and neutron diffraction (Jansen et al., 2002). Although PDF data are reproduced equally well with the two regression models, neither model is realistic: the first (fhyd6) violates Pauling's 2nd rule, and the second (ferrifh), Pauling's 3rd rule.
Mineralogical and physicochemical characterization of selected Portuguese Mesozoic-Cenozoic muddy/clayey raw materials to be potentially used as healing clays
Authors: Rebelo M. , Rocha F. , Ferreira Da Silva E.
Published: July 2010

The use of pelitic geological materials for the treatment of muscle-bone-skin pathologies, by application of a cataplasm made of clay and mineral water mixture, is currently receiving attention and interest from the general public and scientific community. In Portugal there are several natural occurrences of clays/muds which are used for pelotherapy and/or geotherapy. These are carried out either indoors (thalassotherapy and thermal centres) or outdoors, in natural sites generally located near the seaside. The aim of this study is to assess the mineralogical and physicochemical properties of Portuguese raw materials for therapeutic purposes. These materials were collected from different Portuguese Mesozoic-Cenozoic geological formations located in the neighbourhood of thermal centres or at beaches known from their empirical applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to assess the mineralogical composition of these clays. Physicochemical properties, such as specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, plasticity/abrasiveness indices and heat diffusiveness were also determined. Having distinct geological ages and genesis, the materials examined are mainly illitic. Less abundant kaolinite and smectite are also present. With respect to their physicochemical properties, all samples have good thermal properties which make them potentially suitable for therapeutic or aesthetic purposes.
The synthesis and solubility of the copper hydroxyl nitrates: gerhardtite, rouaite and likasite
Authors: Yoder C. H. , Bushong E. , Liu X. , Weidner V. , McWilliams P. , Martin K. , Lorgunpai J. , Haller J. , Schaeffer R. W.
Published: July 2010

Syntheses for the three members of the copper hydroxyl nitrate family – the polymorphs rouaite and gerhardtite, and likasite – are presented along with powder diffraction data and unit-cell parameters. The solubilities, determined in 0.05 M KNO3 solution after equilibration at 25°C for 10 days were used to calculate activity-based solubility product constants. The Gibbs energies of formation, obtained from the solubility products, are –653.2±0.7 kJ/mol, –655.1±1.2 kJ/mol and –1506.4±1.1 kJ/mol, for rouaite, gerhardtite, and likasite (Cu3NO3(OH)5·2H2O), respectively. The values for the polymorphs rouaite and gerhardtite validate the observations of Oswald that gerhardtite is the most stable polymorph at room temperature and that the preparation of predominantly rouaite in syntheses carried out at room temperature must be due to the metastability and low rate of conversion to the more stable gerhardtite.
Electron backscatter diffraction analysis and orientation mapping of monazite
Authors: Reddy S. M. , Clark C. , Timms N. E. , Eglington B. M.
Published: July 2010

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis of monazite requires a comparison of empirically collected electron backscatter patterns (EBSPs) with theoretical diffraction data, or ‘match units’, derived from known crystallographic parameters. Published crystallographic data derived from compositionally varying natural and synthetic monazite are used to calculate ten different match units for monazite. These match units are used to systematically index EBSPs obtained from four natural monazite samples with different compositions. Analyses of EBSD data, derived from the indexing of five and six diffraction bands using each of the ten match units for 10,000 EBSPs from each of the four samples, indicate a large variation in the ability of the different match units to correctly index the different natural samples. However, the use of match units derived from either synthetic Gd or Eu monazite crystallographic data yield good results for three of the four analysed monazites. Comparison of sample composition with published monazite compositions indicates that these match units are likely to yield good results for the EBSD analysis of metamorphic monazite. The results provide a clear strategy for optimizing the acquisition and analysis of EBSD data from monazite but also indicate the need for the collection of new crystallographic structure data and the subsequent generation of more appropriate match units for natural monazite.
Requirement of the human T-cell leukemia virus p12 and p30 products for infectivity of human dendritic cells and macaques but not rabbits
Authors: Valeri Valerio W. , Hryniewicz Anna , Andresen Vibeke , Jones Kathy , Fenizia Claudio , Bialuk Izabela , Chung Hye Kyung , Fukumoto Risaku , Parks Robyn Washington , Ferrari Maria Grazia , Nicot Christophe , Cecchinato Valentina , Ruscetti Frank , Franchini Genoveffa
Published: July 2010

The identification of the genes necessary for human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) persistence in humans may provide targets for therapeutic approaches. We demonstrate that ablation of the HTLV-1 genes encoding p12, p30, or the HBZ protein, does not affect viral infectivity in rabbits and in this species, only the absence of HBZ is associated with a consistent reduction in virus levels. We observed reversion of the HTLV-1 mutants to the HTLV-1 wild-type genotype in none of the inoculated rabbits. In contrast, in macaques, the absence of HBZ was associated with reversion of the mutant virus to the wild-type genotype in 3 of the 4 animals within weeks from infection. Similarly, reversion to the wild type was observed in 2 of the 4 macaque inoculated with the p30 mutant. The 4 macaques exposed to the p12 knock remained seronegative, and only 2 animals were positive at a single time point for viral DNA in tissues. Interestingly, we found that the p12 and the p30 mutants were also severely impaired in their ability to replicate in human dendritic cells. These data suggest that infection of dendritic cells may be required for the establishment and maintenance of HTLV-1 infection in primate species.
hnRNP A1 interacts with the genomic and subgenomic RNA promoters of Sindbis virus and is required for the synthesis of G and SG RNA
Authors: Gui Hongxing , Lu Chi-Wei , Adams Sandra , Stollar Victor , Li Mei-Ling
Published: July 2010

Background

Sindbis virus (SV) is the prototype of alphaviruses which are a group of widely distributed human and animal pathogens. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 is an RNA-binding protein that shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Our recent studies found that hnRNP A1 relocates from nucleus to cytoplasm in Sindbis virus (SV)-infected cells. hnRNP A1 binds to the 5' UTR of SV RNA and facilitates the viral RNA replication and translation.

Methods

Making use of standard molecular techniques, virology methods and an in vitro system developed by our lab to assess the role of hnRNP A1 in SV positive strand RNA synthesis.

Results

hnRNP A1 interacted with the genomic (G) and subgenomic (SG) RNA promoters. Knockdown of hnRNP A1 resulted in markedly decrease in the synthesis of G and SG RNA both in infected cells and in vitro.

Conclusions

Our study provides the first direct evidence that hnRNP A1 actively participates in viral RNA replication and is required for the synthesis of G and SG RNA.
Maged1, a new regulator of skeletal myogenic differentiation and muscle regeneration
Authors: Nguyen Tuan HN , Bertrand Mathieu JM , Sterpin Christiane , Achouri Younes , De Backer Olivier RY
Published: July 2010

Background

In normal adult skeletal muscle, cell turnover is very slow. However, after an acute lesion or in chronic pathological conditions, such as primary myopathies, muscle stem cells, called satellite cells, are induced to proliferate, then withdraw definitively from the cell cycle and fuse to reconstitute functional myofibers.

Results

We show that Maged1 is expressed at very low levels in normal adult muscle but is strongly induced after injury, during the early phase of myoblast differentiation. By comparing in vitro differentiation of myoblasts derived from wild-type or Maged1 knockout mice, we observed that Maged1 deficiency results in reduced levels of p21CIP1/WAF1, defective cell cycle exit and impaired myotube maturation. In vivo, this defect results in delayed regeneration of injured muscle.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate for the first time that Maged1 is an important factor required for proper skeletal myoblast differentiation and muscle healing.
Genetic variation, population structure and linkage disequilibrium in peach commercial varieties
Authors: Aranzana Maria José , Abbassi El-Kadri , Howad Werner , Arús Pere
Published: July 2010

Background

Peach [Prunus persica(L.) Batsch] is one of the most economically important fruit crops that, due to its genetic and biological characteristics (small genome size, taxonomic proximity to other important species and short juvenile period), has become a model plant in genomic studies of fruit trees. Our aim was an in-depth study of the extent, distribution and structure of peach genetic variation in North American and European commercial varieties as well as old Spanish varieties and several founders used in the early USA peach breeding programmes. For this we genotyped 224 peach cultivars using 50 SSRs evenly distributed along the 8 linkage groups of thePrunusreference map.

Results

Genetic distance analysis based on SSRs divided the peach cultivars in three main groups based mainly on their fruit characteristics: melting flesh peaches, melting flesh nectarines and non-melting varieties. Whereas non-melting flesh peaches had a higher number of alleles than melting peaches and nectarines, they were more homozygous. With some exceptions ('Admiral Dewey', 'Early Crawford' and 'Chinese Cling'), the founder US cultivars clustered together with the commercial melting peaches, indicating that their germplasm is well represented in modern cultivars. Population structure analysis showed a similar subdivision of the sample into subpopulations. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis in three unstructured, or barely structured, subpopulations revealed a high level of LD conservation in peach extending up to 13-15 cM.

Conclusions

Using a much larger set of SSRs, our results confirm previous observations on peach variability and population structure and provide additional tools for breeding and breeders' rights enforcement. SSR data are also used for the estimation of marker mutation rates and allow pedigree inferences, particularly with founder genotypes of the currently grown cultivars, which are useful to understand the evolution of peach as a crop. Results on LD conservation can be explained by the self-pollinating nature of peach cultivated germplasm and by a bottleneck that occurred at the beginning of modern breeding practices. High LD suggests that the development of whole-genome scanning approaches is suitable for genetic studies of agronomically important traits in peach.
Comparison of koala LPCoLN and human strains of Chlamydia pneumoniae highlights extended genetic diversity in the species
Authors: Mitchell Candice M , Hovis Kelley M , Bavoil Patrik M , Myers Garry SA , Carrasco Jose A , Timms Peter
Published: July 2010

Background

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a widespread pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in addition to a range of other diseases in humans and animals. Previous whole genome analyses have focused on four essentially clonal (> 99% identity) C. pneumoniae human genomes (AR39, CWL029, J138 and TW183), providing relatively little insight into strain diversity and evolution of this species.

Results

We performed individual gene-by-gene comparisons of the recently sequenced C. pneumoniae koala genome and four C. pneumoniae human genomes to identify species-specific genes, and more importantly, to gain an insight into the genetic diversity and evolution of the species. We selected genes dispersed throughout the chromosome, representing genes that were specific to C. pneumoniae, genes with a demonstrated role in chlamydial biology and/or pathogenicity (n = 49), genes encoding nucleotide salvage or amino acid biosynthesis proteins (n = 6), and extrachromosomal elements (9 plasmid and 2 bacteriophage genes).

Conclusions

We have identified strain-specific differences and targets for detection of C. pneumoniae isolates from both human and animal origin. Such characterisation is necessary for an improved understanding of disease transmission and intervention.
DNA repair and recombination in higher plants: insights from comparative genomics of arabidopsis and rice
Authors: Singh Sanjay K , Roy Sujit , Choudhury Swarup Roy , Sengupta Dibyendu N
Published: July 2010

Background

The DNA repair and recombination (DRR) proteins protect organisms against genetic damage, caused by environmental agents and other genotoxic agents, by removal of DNA lesions or helping to abide them.

Results

We identified genes potentially involved in DRR mechanisms in Arabidopsis and rice using similarity searches and conserved domain analysis against proteins known to be involved in DRR in human, yeast and E. coli. As expected, many of DRR genes are very similar to those found in other eukaryotes. Beside these eukaryotes specific genes, several prokaryotes specific genes were also found to be well conserved in plants. In Arabidopsis, several functionally important DRR gene duplications are present, which do not occur in rice. Among DRR proteins, we found that proteins belonging to the nucleotide excision repair pathway were relatively more conserved than proteins needed for the other DRR pathways. Sub-cellular localization studies of DRR gene suggests that these proteins are mostly reside in nucleus while gene drain in between nucleus and cell organelles were also found in some cases.

Conclusions

The similarities and dissimilarities in between plants and other organisms' DRR pathways are discussed. The observed differences broaden our knowledge about DRR in the plants world, and raises the potential question of whether differentiated functions have evolved in some cases. These results, altogether, provide a useful framework for further experimental studies in these organisms.
Efficacy and safety of tigecycline monotherapy vs. imipenem/cilastatin in Chinese patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Zhangjing , Wu Jufang , Zhang Yingyuan , Wei Junming , Leng Xisheng , Bi Jianwei , Li Rong , Yan Lunan , Quan Zhiwei , Chen Xiaoping , Yu Yunsong , Wu Zhiyong , Liu Dawei , Ma Xiaochun , Maroko Robert , Cooper Angel
Published: July 2010

Background

Tigecycline, a first-in-class broad-spectrum glycylcycline antibiotic, has broad-spectrum in vitro activity against bacteria commonly encountered in complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs), including aerobic and facultative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and anaerobic bacteria. In the current trial, tigecycline was evaluated for safety and efficacy vs. imipenem/cilastatin in hospitalized Chinese patients with cIAIs.

Methods

In this phase 3, multicenter, open-label study, patients were randomly assigned to receive IV tigecycline or imipenem/cilastatin for ≤2 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were clinical response at the test-of-cure visit (12-37 days after therapy) for the microbiologic modified intent-to-treat and microbiologically evaluable populations. Because the study was not powered to demonstrate non-inferiority between tigecycline and imipenem/cilastatin, no formal statistical analysis was performed. Two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the response rates in each treatment group and for differences between treatment groups for descriptive purposes.

Results

One hundred ninety-nine patients received ≥1 dose of study drug and comprised the modified intent-to-treat population. In the microbiologically evaluable population, 86.5% (45 of 52) of tigecycline- and 97.9% (47 of 48) of imipenem/cilastatin-treated patients were cured at the test-of-cure assessment (12-37 days after therapy); in the microbiologic modified intent-to-treat population, cure rates were 81.7% (49 of 60) and 90.9% (50 of 55), respectively. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was 80.4% for tigecycline vs. 53.9% after imipenem/cilastatin therapy (P < 0.001), primarily due to gastrointestinal-related events, especially nausea (21.6% vs. 3.9%; P < 0.001) and vomiting (12.4% vs. 2.0%; P = 0.005).

Conclusions

Clinical cure rates for tigecycline were consistent with those found in global cIAI studies. The overall safety profile was also consistent with that observed in global studies of tigecycline for treatment of cIAI, as well as that observed in analyses of Chinese patients in those studies; no novel trends were observed.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00136201
Sex difference in the association of metabolic syndrome with high sensitivity C-reactive protein in a Taiwanese population
Authors: Lai Ming-May , Li Chia-Ing , Kardia Sharon LR , Liu Chiu-Shong , Lin Wen-Yuan , Lee Yih-Dar , Chang Pei-Chia , Lin Cheng-Chieh , Li Tsai-Chung
Published: July 2010

Background

Although sex differences have been reported for associations between components of metabolic syndrome and inflammation, the question of whether there is an effect modification by sex in the association between inflammation and metabolic syndrome has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare associations of high sensitivity C-creative protein (hs-CRP) with metabolic syndrome and its components between men and women.

Methods

A total of 1,305 subjects aged 40 years and over were recruited in 2004 in a metropolitan city in Taiwan. The biochemical indices, such as hs-CRP, fasting glucose levels, lipid profiles, urinary albumin, urinary creatinine and anthropometric indices, were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the American Heart Association and the National Heart, lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) definition. The relationship between metabolic syndrome and hs-CRP was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

After adjustment for age and lifestyle factors including smoking, and alcohol intake, elevated concentrations of hs-CRP showed a stronger association with metabolic syndrome in women (odds ratio comparing tertile extremes 4.80 [95% CI: 3.31-6.97]) than in men (2.30 [1.65-3.21]). The p value for the sex interaction was 0.002. All components were more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in women than in men, and all sex interactions were significant except for hypertension.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that inflammatory processes may be of particular importance in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in women.
An antibiotic, heavy metal resistant and halotolerant Bacillus cereus SIU1 and its thermoalkaline protease
Authors: Singh Sanjay K , Tripathi Vinayak R , Jain Rakesh K , Vikram Surendra , Garg Satyendra K
Published: July 2010

Background

Many workers have reported halotolerant bacteria from saline conditions capable of protease production. However, antibiotic resistance and heavy metal tolerance pattern of such organisms is not documented very well. Similarly, only a few researchers have reported the pattern of pH change of fermentation medium during the course of protease production. In this study, we have isolated a halotolerant Bacillus cereus SIU1 strain from a non-saline environment and studied its antibiotic and heavy metal resistance pattern. The isolate produces a thermoalkaline protease and changes the medium pH during the course of fermentation. Thermostability of protease was also studied for 30 min.

Results

Seventy bacterial strains isolated from the soils of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India were screened for protease production. All of them exhibited protease activity. However, 40% bacterial isolates were found good protease producers as observed by caseinolytic zones on milk agar plates. Among them, culture S-4 was adjudged as the best protease producer, and was identified as Bacillus cereus by morphological, biochemical and 16 S rDNA sequence analyses. The isolate was resistant to heavy metals (As2+, Pb2+, Cs1+) and antibiotics (penicillin, lincomycin, cloxacillin, pefloxacin). Its growth behavior and protease production was studied at 45°C and pH 9.0. The protease units of 88 ml-1 were noted in unoptimized modified glucose yeast extract (GYE) medium during early stationary phase at 20 h incubation period. The enzyme was stable in the temperature range of 35°-55°C.

Conclusions

An antibiotic and heavy metal resistant, halotolerant Bacillus cereus isolate is capable of producing thermoalkaline protease, which is active and stable at pH 9.0 and 35°-55°C. This isolate may be useful in several industrial applications owing to its halotolerance and antibiotic and heavy metal resistance characteristics.
A case of gastropericardial fistula of a gastric tube after esophagectomy: a case report and review
Authors: Kato Takehito , Mori Takahiro , Niibori Koki
Published: July 2010

A 65-year-old man who had received an esophagectomy 10 years earlier was admitted to our hospital for right chest pain. Preoperative examinations showed pneumopericardium, a retrosternal gastric tube, and an active gastric tube ulcer. We diagnosed gastropericardial fistula of the gastric tube ulcer. Emergency surgery included lavage and drainage of the pericardial cavity and plombage of the rectus abdominis muscle flap to the posterior space of the gastric tube. Total parental nutrition and/or enteric nutrition were provided. Due to minor leakage from the ulcer, the patient could start oral intake on the postoperative 49th day, and was discharged from the hospital on the postoperative 86th day after physical rehabilitation. He has been free from complications for more than 33 months after surgery. Here, we review the literature and discuss the etiology and treatment of choice for this rare yet lethal complication in the follow-up after esophagectomy.
A plausible mechanism for auxin patterning along the developing root
Authors: Mironova Victoria V , Omelyanchuk Nadezda A , Yosiphon Guy , Fadeev Stanislav I , Kolchanov Nikolai A , Mjolsness Eric , Likhoshvai Vitaly A
Published: July 2010

Background

In plant roots, auxin is critical for patterning and morphogenesis. It regulates cell elongation and division, the development and maintenance of root apical meristems, and other processes. In Arabidopsis, auxin distribution along the central root axis has several maxima: in the root tip, in the basal meristem and at the shoot/root junction. The distal maximum in the root tip maintains the stem cell niche. Proximal maxima may trigger lateral or adventitious root initiation.

Results

We propose a reflected flow mechanism for the formation of the auxin maximum in the root apical meristem. The mechanism is based on auxin's known activation and inhibition of expressed PIN family auxin carriers at low and high auxin levels, respectively. Simulations showed that these regulatory interactions are sufficient for self-organization of the auxin distribution pattern along the central root axis under varying conditions. The mathematical model was extended with rules for discontinuous cell dynamics so that cell divisions were also governed by auxin, and by another morphogen Division Factor which combines the actions of cytokinin and ethylene on cell division in the root. The positional information specified by the gradients of these two morphogens is able to explain root patterning along the central root axis.

Conclusion

We present here a plausible mechanism for auxin patterning along the developing root, that may provide for self-organization of the distal auxin maximum when the reverse fountain has not yet been formed or has been disrupted. In addition, the proximal maxima are formed under the reflected flow mechanism in response to periods of increasing auxin flow from the growing shoot. These events may predetermine lateral root initiation in a rhyzotactic pattern. Another outcome of the reflected flow mechanism - the predominance of lateral or adventitious roots in different plant species - may be based on the different efficiencies with which auxin inhibits its own transport in different species, thereby distinguishing two main types of plant root architecture: taproot vs. fibrous.
Unidirectional signaling triggered through 2B4 (CD244), not CD48, in murine NK cells
Authors: Kim Eun-Ok , Kim Nayoung , Kim Tae-Jin , Kim Kwanghee , Kim Tae Woo , Kumar Vinay , Lee Kyung-Mi
Published: July 2010

2B4 (CD244), not CD48, induces signaling in murine NK cells.

Engagement of 2B4 (CD244) with CD48 results in activation, costimulation, or inhibition of NK cell activities, depending on the cell types and the stage of differentiation. In vivo, 2B4+ NK cells can interact with CD48+ NK cells and also with surrounding CD48+ hematopoietic cells. Similarly, CD48+ NK cells may be triggered by adjacent 2B4+ NK cells or other hematopoietic cells expressing 2B4, e.g., monocytes, basophils, γδ T cells, etc. As CD48 was also shown to function as an activating receptor, 2B4/CD48 binding in the settings of NK-to-NK or NK-to-non-NK cell interactions may generate bidirectional signals. To address this question, we examined the consequence of CD48 or 2B4 ligation using two experimental settings: one with target (syngeneic EL4 and allogeneic P815) cells, ectopically expressing surface 2B4 or CD48, and the other with direct cross-linking with plate-bound mAb. Here, we report that ligation of CD48 with 2B4+ EL4 or 2B4+ P815 targets, in the absence of other receptor engagement, did not alter NK cell cytotoxicity or proliferation significantly. Similarly, cross-linking of NK cells with plate-bound anti-CD48 mAb in the absence or presence of a suboptimal dose of IL-2 did not modulate NK proliferation, cytotoxicity, or cytokine production. Nonetheless, 2B4 cross-linking promoted NK cell proliferation and effector functions consistently in both settings. Therefore, our results demonstrate unequivocally that CD48 on surrounding NK or non-NK cells serves primarily as a ligand to stimulate 2B4 on the adjacent NK cells in mice.
Restoring the balance between disease and repair in multiple sclerosis: insights from mouse models
Authors: Miller Robert H. , Fyffe-Maricich Sharyl L.
Published: July 2010

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease that targets the central nervous system (CNS). Despite considerable research efforts over multiple decades, our understanding of the basic biological processes that are targeted in the disease and the mechanisms of pathogenesis are poorly understood. Consequently, current therapies directed at controlling the progression of the disease are limited in their effectiveness. Historically, the primary focus of MS research has been to define the cellular and molecular basis of the immunological pathogenic mechanisms. Recently, however, it has become clear that long-term functional recovery in MS will require the development of strategies that facilitate myelin repair in lesion areas. The emerging evidence that the adult vertebrate CNS retains the capacity to regenerate neural cells that have been lost to disease or damage has provoked intensive research focused on defining the mechanisms of myelin repair. Unfortunately, the existing animal models of MS are poorly equipped to assess myelin repair, and new validated strategies to identify therapeutics targeted at promoting myelin repair are badly needed. This Commentary will review established murine models of MS, and discuss emerging technologies that promise to provide insights into the mechanisms of myelin repair.
TheDrosophilaSUN protein Spag4 cooperates with the coiled-coil protein Yuri Gagarin to maintain association of the basal body and spermatid nucleus
Authors: Kracklauer Martin P. , Wiora Heather M. , Deery William J. , Chen Xin , Bolival Benjamin , Romanowicz Dwight , Simonette Rebecca A. , Fuller Margaret T. , Fischer Janice A. , Beckingham Kathleen M.
Published: July 2010

Maintaining the proximity of centrosomes to nuclei is important in several cellular contexts, and LINC complexes formed by SUN and KASH proteins are crucial in this process. Here, we characterize the presumed Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian SUN protein, sperm-associated antigen 4 (Spag4, previously named Giacomo), and demonstrate that Spag4 is required for centriole and nuclear attachment during spermatogenesis. Production of spag4 mRNA is limited to the testis, and Spag4 protein shows a dynamic pattern of association with the germline nuclei, including a concentration of protein at the site of attachment of the single spermatid centriole. In the absence of Spag4, nuclei and centrioles or basal bodies (BBs) dissociate from each other after meiosis. This role of Spag4 in centriolar attachment does not involve either of the two KASH proteins of the Drosophila genome (Klarsicht and MSP-300), but does require the coiled-coil protein Yuri Gagarin. Yuri shows an identical pattern of localization at the nuclear surface to Spag4 during spermatogenesis, and epistasis studies show that the activities of Yuri and dynein-dynactin are downstream of spag4 in this centriole attachment pathway. The later defects in spermatogenesis seen for yuri and spag4 mutants are similar, suggesting they could be secondary to initial disruption of events at the nuclear surface.
Tao-1 is a negative regulator of microtubule plus-end growth
Authors: Liu Tao , Rohn Jennifer L. , Picone Remigio , Kunda Patricia , Baum Buzz
Published: July 2010

Microtubule dynamics are dominated by events at microtubule plus ends as they switch between discrete phases of growth and shrinkage. Through their ability to generate force and direct polar cell transport, microtubules help to organise global cell shape and polarity. Conversely, because plus-end binding proteins render the dynamic instability of individual microtubules sensitive to the local intracellular environment, cyto-architecture also affects the overall distribution of microtubules. Despite the importance of plus-end regulation for understanding microtubule cytoskeletal organisation and dynamics, little is known about the signalling mechanisms that trigger changes in their behaviour in space and time. Here, we identify a microtubule-associated kinase, Drosophila Tao-1, as an important regulator of microtubule stability, plus-end dynamics and cell shape. Active Tao-1 kinase leads to the destabilisation of microtubules. Conversely, when Tao-1 function is compromised, rates of cortical-induced microtubule catastrophe are reduced and microtubules contacting the actin cortex continue to elongate, leading to the formation of long microtubule-based protrusions. These data reveal a role for Tao-1 in controlling the dynamic interplay between microtubule plus ends and the actin cortex in the regulation of cell form.