bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ladies who Lounge: Class, Religion and Social Interaction in Seventeenth‐Century Isfahan
Authors: Loosley Emma
Published: November 2011

Western society appears inordinately keen on outdated and stereotypical tropes of Islamic architecture, talking of a ‘hidden world’ of Islam in which women are seen and not heard as they live their lives incarcerated in the harem. This trope of Western Orientalism has become entrenched in our culture through travel accounts, the writings of historical voyeurs such as Sir Richard Burton and the romantic/erotic imagery of nineteenth‐century Orientalist painters.

This paper aims to dispel many of the preconceptions that are held regarding the Iranian harem and the role of women in Safavid society by addressing the status of elite Iranian women, but also placing them in the wider context and considering the evidence for lower‐class women who could simply not afford to live a cloistered life. There is also the case of non‐Muslim women whose religions forbade polygamy and who were therefore immediately placed outside the harem and, although Safavid Iran included significant numbers of Zoroastrians and Jews as well a handful of Hindus, this paper will concentrate on one particular religious minority; the Caucasian Christians who were such an integral part of Abbas’ great project that they were awarded a particular status in the city of Isfahan.
Bodymaps: Sexing Space and Zoning Gender in Ancient Athens
Authors: Davidson James
Published: November 2011

In classical Athenian discourse, there are many examples that can usefully be summarised in terms of an opposition between the private, domestic, interior space of women and the public, civic, exterior space of men. Recently there have been a number of attempts to critique this discourse on several grounds. Some of these arguments are persuasive, but the net effect has been to allow the discourse itself to be neglected as a banal cliché or even as the product of a Liars School of Elite Male Authors. In this paper, I wish to re‐examine the discourse, hoping to demonstrate that, far from being banal, it is complex, resonant and consequential, and worthy of study in itself. The first part examines the gender terms andrōn/gynaikōnitis to refer to parts of houses and the evidence for men's and women's bodies as differently coloured by the spaces in which they spend time. The second part examines space and sexuality, the peculiar ‘spatial subjectivity’ linked to experiences of fear and desire. The third part suggests ways in which the discourse connects with other elements of the dispositif: images, architecture, urban topography and habitual practices.
Recurrent Miller Fisher syndrome: clinical and laboratory features
Authors: Heckmann J. G. , Dütsch M.
Published: November 2011

To present two patients with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) recurrence after 35 and 44 years and review of the literature on recurring MFS. All identified cases with recurrent MFS were evaluated. Age, gender, clinical features of first and recurrent MFS, course of disease, laboratory findings, therapy and outcome were transformed into tables. Twenty‐eight patients (16 men, 12 women; mean age at the first episode 34 years (range 13–57 years); mean age at the latest episode 47 years (range 21–66 years) with a total of 70 MFS episodes were identified. Twenty‐one patients had a single recurrence, five patients had two recurrences, one patient had four recurrences and one patient had seven recurrences. The mean interval between attacks was 9.45 years (3 months to 44 years). In 76% of the initial episodes and in 81% of the recurrent episodes, an infectious disease preceded MFS. Additional facial and bulbar symptoms and autonomic disturbances were frequent findings. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and electrodiagnostic findings were unspecific. If tested, autoantibodies against GQ1b had been positive in all episodes. In about half of the patients, immunotherapy was applied. The outcome was favourable in most patients. Recurrence of MFS is a rare quite uniform condition with a mostly favourable prognosis.
The self‐report Barthel Index: preliminary validation in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Morley D. , Selai C. , Thompson A.
Published: November 2011

Background and purpose:  To make a preliminary assessment of the reliability and validity of the self‐report Barthel Index (SRBI) in people with Parkinson’s (PWP) disease.

Methods:  Thirty‐nine PWP completed the SRBI, the self‐report Schwab & England (S & E) scale and the PDQ‐39. Standard statistical procedures were incorporated to assess the reliability and validity of the SRBI.

Results:  A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.69 was calculated, indicating adequate internal consistency. Reliability was further demonstrated through a Guttman split‐half reliability coefficient of 0.74. Validity was demonstrated through highly significant correlations between the SRBI and the S & E scale (r = 0.64, P < 0.00), the activities of daily living dimension of the PDQ‐39 (r = −0.60, P < 0.00) and mobility dimension of the PDQ‐39 (r = −0.49, P < 0.01).

Conclusions:  Results suggest that the SRBI has the potential to be a reliable and valid indicator of ADL in PWP and utilized in studies that make comparisons across conditions. Further validation is required in a larger sample and through assessment of additional psychometric properties.
A Reappraisal of Karl Barth's Theological Development and his Dialogue with Catholicism
Authors: JOHNSON KEITH L.
Published: November 2011

This article offers a distinct account of Barth's theological development, one that has an eye toward both the historical record and the contemporary debates about the systematic and ecumenical implications of his theology. It establishes that, from the second edition of Romans until the end of his career, Barth's theological development occurs as a series of internal adjustments in four stages along a single christological trajectory. Barth's dialogues with Catholic theologians play a pivotal role in this development, because these dialogues help him arrive at some of his most important insights. Taken together, these conclusions help us push beyond contemporary divisions between historical and systematic readings of Barth's theology and reframe the dialogue between Barth and Catholic theologians.
Masking of the zeitgeber: African wild dogs mitigate persecution by balancing time
Authors: Rasmussen G. S. A. , Macdonald D. W.
Published: November 2011

The African wild dog Lycaon pictus is endangered, with anthropogenic impacts, pack size dynamics and competing predators explaining its decline. Relative to solar and lunar events, analysis of diel activity in two parapatric Zimbabwean populations revealed behavioural plasticity in response to human activity. In Hwange, human presence was low; in Nyamandlovu, human presence and persecution were high. In both populations,
Lycaon frequently hunted by moonlight, with 3–4 lux of light restricting nocturnal hunting to 13 days/lunar month. With diurnal hunts commencing at ‘civil twilight begin’ and ending at ‘astronomical twilight end’, light intensity was confirmed as a limiting factor.

Nyamandlovu dogs exhibited behavioural plasticity, demonstrated by scattered rather than clumped organization when at rest, and masked the zeitgeber by utilizing evenings and moonlight for more days under suboptimal light conditions than did Hwange dogs. Significantly, different allocation of morning, evening and moonlight hunts between Hwange (47%, 36%, 15%) and Nyamandlovu (28%, 31%, 41%), reduced the temporal potential for human encounter by 64%, but increased this potential for hyaena and lion encounters by 70% and 37%, thus highlighting the trade‐off of this switch. Finally, we tentatively conclude that the cue masking the ‘zeitgeber’ is risk, rather than gain related, and could be seen as an evolutionary ‘emergency exit’, the understanding of which is important to conservation in landscapes that are increasingly dominated by people.
Serotonergic modulation of receptor occupancy in rats treated with l‐DOPA after unilateral 6‐OHDA lesioning
Authors: Nahimi Adjmal , Høltzermann Mette , Landau Anne M. , Simonsen Mette , Jakobsen Steen , Alstrup Aage Kristian Olsen , Vang Kim , Møller Arne , Wegener Gregers , Gjedde Albert , Doudet Doris J.
Published: November 2011

J. Neurochem (2012) 120, 806–817.

Recent studies suggest that l‐3,4 dihydroxyphenylalanine (l‐DOPA)‐induced dyskinesia (LID), a severe complication of conventional l‐DOPA therapy of Parkinson’s disease, may be caused by dopamine (DA) release originating in serotonergic neurons. To evaluate the in vivo effect of a 5‐HT1A agonist [(±)‐8‐hydroxy‐2‐(dipropylamino) tetralin hydrobromide, 8‐OHDPAT] on the l‐DOPA‐induced increase in extracellular DA and decrease in [11C]raclopride binding in an animal model of advanced Parkinson’s disease and LID, we measured extracellular DA in response to l‐DOPA or a combination of l‐DOPA and the 5‐HT1A agonist, 8‐OHDPAT, with microdialysis, and determined [11C]raclopride binding to DA receptors, with micro‐positron emission tomography, as the surrogate marker of DA release. Rats with unilateral 6‐hydroxydopamine lesions had micro‐positron emission tomography scans with [11C]raclopride at baseline and after two pharmacological challenges with l‐DOPA + benserazide with or without 8‐OHDPAT co‐treatment. Identical challenge regimens were used with the subsequent microdialysis concomitant with ratings of LID severity. The baseline increase of [11C]raclopride‐binding potential (BPND) in lesioned striatum was eliminated by the l‐DOPA challenge, while the concurrent administration of 8‐OHDPAT prevented this l‐DOPA‐induced displacement of [11C]raclopride significantly in lesioned ventral striatum and near significantly in the dorsal striatum. With microdialysis, the l‐DOPA challenge raised the extracellular DA in parallel with the emergence of strong LID. Co‐treatment with 8‐OHDPAT significantly attenuated the release of extracellular DA and LID. The 8‐OHDPAT co‐treatment reversed the l‐DOPA‐induced decrease of [11C]raclopride binding and increase of extracellular DA and reduced the severity of LID. The reversal of the effect of l‐DOPA on [11C]raclopride binding, extracellular DA and LID by 5‐HT agonist administration is consistent with the notion that part of the DA increase associated with LID originates in serotonergic neurons.
Dystroglycan promotes filopodial formation and process branching in differentiating oligodendroglia
Authors: Eyermann Christopher , Czaplinski Kevin , Colognato Holly
Published: November 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 928–947.

During central nervous system (CNS) development, individual oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple axons, thus requiring the outgrowth and extensive branching of oligodendroglial processes. Laminin (Lm)‐deficient mice have a lower percentage of myelinated axons, which may indicate a defect in the ability to properly extend and branch processes. It remains unclear, however, to what extent extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors contribute to oligodendroglial process remodeling itself. In the current study, we report that the ECM receptor dystroglycan is necessary for Lm enhancement of filopodial formation, process outgrowth, and process branching in differentiating oligodendroglia. During early oligodendroglial differentiation, the disruption of dystroglycan–Lm interactions, via blocking antibodies or dystroglycan small interfering RNA (siRNA), resulted in decreased filopodial number and length, decreased process length, and decreased numbers of primary and secondary processes. Later in oligodendrocyte differentiation, dystroglycan‐deficient cells developed fewer branches, thus producing less complex networks of processes as determined by Sholl analysis. In newly differentiating oligodendroglia, dystroglycan was localized in filopodial tips, whereas, in more mature oligodendrocytes, dystroglycan was enriched in focal adhesion kinase (FAK)‐positive focal adhesion structures. These results suggest that dystroglycan–Lm interactions influence oligodendroglial process dynamics and therefore may regulate the myelination capacity of individual oligodendroglia.
Family caregiver views on patient‐centred care at the end of life
Authors: Brazil Kevin , Bainbridge Daryl , Ploeg Jenny , Krueger Paul , Taniguchi Alan , Marshall Denise
Published: November 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 513–518

Family caregiver views on patient‐centred care at the end of life

Aim:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient‐centredness of community palliative care from the perspective of family members who were responsible for the care of a terminally ill family member.

Method:  A survey questionnaire was mailed to families of a deceased family member who had been designated as palliative and had received formal home care services in the central west region of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Respondents reported on service use in the last four weeks of life; the Client‐Centred Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) was used to evaluate the extent to which care was patient‐centred. The accessibility instrument was used to assess respondent perception of access to care. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analyses.

Results:  Of the 243 potential participants, 111 (46.0%) family caregivers completed the survey questionnaire. On average, respondents reported that they used five different services during the last four weeks of the care recipient’s life. When asked about programme accessibility, care was also perceived as largely accessible and responsive to patients’ changing needs (M = 4.3 (SD = 1.04)]. Most respondents also reported that they knew what service provider to contact if they experienced any problems concerning the care of their family member. However, this service provider was not consistent among respondents. Most respondents were relatively positive about the patient‐centred care they received. There were however considerable differences between some items on the CCCQ. Respondents tended to provide more negative ratings concerning practical arrangement and the organization of care: who was coming, how often and when. They also rated more negatively the observation that service providers were quick to say something was possible when it was not the case. Bivariate analyses found no significant differences in CCCQ or accessibility domain scores by caregiver age, care recipient age, income, education and caregiver sex.

Conclusions:  Patient‐centred care represents a service attribute that should be recognized as an important outcome to assess the quality of service delivery. This study demonstrates how this attribute can be evaluated in the provision of care.
Biofilm formation by bacteria isolated from upper respiratory tract before and after adenotonsillectomy
Authors: DRAGO LORENZO , DE VECCHI ELENA , TORRETTA SARA , MATTINA ROBERTO , MARCHISIO PAOLA , PIGNATARO LORENZO
Published: November 2011

Drago L, De Vecchi E, Torretta S, Mattina R, Marchisio P, Pignataro L. Biofilm formation by bacteria isolated from upper respiratory tract before and after adenotonsillectomy. APMIS 2012; 120: 410–6.

Failure of antibiotics to eradicate the microbial pathogens primarily responsible for otorhinolaryngological diseases has led to the hypothesis that these microorganisms may be structured in a biolfilm. Aim of the study was to evaluate the ability to produce biofilm among bacteria isolated from tonsils and/or adenoids and nasopharynx. Biopsies and swabs were collected during surgery and after 3 and 6 months in 32 children undergoing adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. Production of biofilm by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae was evaluated in vitro by means of spectrophotometry after growth in microplates and staining with crystalviolet. Of the isolates from intraoperative samples, 44.7% were either moderate or strong biofilm producers compared with 27% of isolates at 6 months after surgery. A decrease in biofilm production was observed for H. influenzae and S. aureus. In conclusion, the rate of isolation and ability to form biofilm decreased in bacteria isolated subsequent to adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. This suggests a role for biofilm in pathogenesis of recurrent and chronic pharyngeal diseases and rhinopharingitis.
RCT comparing minimally with moderately rough implants. Part 1: clinical observations
Authors: Van Assche N. , Coucke W. , Teughels W. , Naert I. , Cardoso M. V. , Quirynen M.
Published: November 2011

Aim

This 1‐year prospective RCT compared the outcome of minimally (turned) and moderately rough (TiUnite®) implant surfaces.

Material and methods

Two subgroups of patients were formed; one group (n = 10) where all teeth had been extracted due to severe periodontitis, another group (n = 8) with teeth in the antagonistic jaw with a history of periodontitis and some remaining medium pockets (4–6 mm). Implants (n = 85, 43 turned & 42 TiUnite®) were installed randomly in each patient. After 3–6 months of submerged healing, healing abutments were connected, followed by final abutments 2 weeks later, all with the same surface characteristics as the supporting implant. Peri‐implant parameters and intra‐oral radiographs were recorded up to 1 year after abutment connection.

Results

Two turned implants failed in the partial edentulous group during the initial healing period (CSR: 95%) and none of the TiUnite® (CSR: 100%) surface. No statistically significant differences in clinical parameters could be observed between both surfaces. The partial edentulous subgroup showed more bone loss compared to the full edentulous subgroup.

Conclusion

Moderately rough implants have a similar clinical outcome (at 1 year of loading in periodontitis susceptible patients) compared to minimally rough implants.
Sleeping vs. loaded implants, long‐term observations via a retrospective analysis
Authors: Marcelis K. , Vercruyssen M. , Nicu E. , Naert I. , Quirynen M.
Published: November 2011

Objective

Several theories have been presented to explain initial and secondary marginal bone loss around dental implants (e.g. microbial load, adverse loading, microbial leakage, compromised healing/adaptation of host‐implant interface).

Material and methods

This study compared the long‐term outcome (up to 12 years) of sleeping with loaded implants in the mandible via a split‐mouth concept. Fourteen patients with overdentures were enrolled (10 women, mean age at implant insertion: 56 years [range: 33–71]). They presented with 28 loaded (position 33/43) and 14 sleeping implants (mostly position 31/41). At several follow‐up visits, intra‐oral radiographs (long‐cone principle) were taken to observe marginal bone level changes.

Results

At each observation, compared with abutment connection, the submerged non‐loaded implants showed less bone loss (P‐values: 1st year 0.007, 3 years 0.000, 5 years 0.002, 8 years 0.007, 12 years 0.000) than their neighbouring functional implants. This difference was primarily due to a more significant bone loss during the first year of loading (0.8 vs. 0.1 mm respectively), since afterwards, the bone level changes remained quite similar for both implant types.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the first months of loading have a significant impact on the bone level (initial difference sleeping vs. loaded implants), followed by a more physiological bone level change afterwards. This initial difference might be explained by the adaptation of the surrounding bone to the loaded implant.
7‐Tesla MR imaging of non‐melanoma skin cancer samples: correlation with histopathology
Authors: Aubry Sébastien , Leclerc Olga , Tremblay Luc , Rizcallah Edmond , Croteau Frédéric , Orfali Charles , Lepage Martin
Published: November 2011

Purpose

The aims of this study were to compare in vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of keratinocytic skin cancer assessed by a 7‐tesla (T) MRI with histopathology, and to describe MRI features of skin tumors.

Methods

This prospective study included 30 skin tumors treated by surgery. MR images of skin samples were acquired on a 7‐T MR scanner using a fast spin‐echo T2‐weighted and an isotropic 3D gradient‐echo T1‐weighted sequence. Length, width, Breslow index and margins of the lesions were measured. The presence or absence of the following was noted: healthy margins, ulceration of the dermis, in situ lesions, superficial and deep dermis involvement, subcutaneous involvement, superficial and intratumoral keratin. MR results were compared to histopathology.

Results

Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was very good for the evaluation of the width (ICC = 0.86) and Breslow index (ICC = 0.87). The ICC was good for the evaluation of the margins (ICC = 0.70) but for length, ICC was lower (ICC = 0.67). Mean bias between MRI and histopathology was inferior to 1 mm for width, Breslow index and margin.

Conclusion

In vitro 7‐T MRI of keratinocytic skin cancer allows delineation of lesions with good correlation with histopathology. After in vivo confirmation it could have a diagnostic role regarding the delineation of surgical margins but its actual limitations prevent its practical adoption at this time.
Responsive feeding and child interest in food vary when rural Malawian children are fed lipid‐based nutrient supplements or local complementary food
Authors: Flax Valerie L. , Mäkinen Samppa , Ashorn Ulla , Cheung Yin Bun , Maleta Kenneth , Ashorn Per , Bentley Margaret E.
Published: November 2011

Caregiver and child behaviours during feeding have been used to measure responsiveness, which has been recognised as important for child growth and development. The aims of this study were to understand how caregiver and child behaviours differ when feeding lipid‐based nutrient supplements (LNS) vs. local complementary food and to detect associations between behaviours and child interest in food. Sixteen moderately underweight 6–17‐month‐old Malawian children receiving 50 g/day of supplementary LNS for 12 weeks were videotaped during LNS (n = 32) and local complementary feeding (n = 28) episodes. Behaviours were coded at the level of the intended bite (1674 total bites). The analysis used regression models adjusted for within‐subject correlation. Caregivers were less likely to allow children to self‐feed and more likely to use physical pressure during LNS vs. complementary food bites. Positive caregiver verbalization was infrequent and did not differ by type of food. Higher odds of accepting a bite were associated with the bite containing LNS, odds ratio (OR) 3.05; 90% confidence interval (CI) (1.98, 4.71), the child self‐feeding, OR 5.70; 90% CI (2.77, 11.69), and positive caregiver verbalization, OR 2.46; 90% CI (1.26, 4.80), while lower odds of acceptance were associated with negative child verbalization during feeding, OR 0.27; 90% CI (0.17, 0.42). In this sample, caregivers used more responsive feeding practices during bites of local complementary food and were more controlling when feeding LNS. Responsive caregiver behaviours predicted child acceptance of food. These results could be used to design interventions in Malawi to improve responsive feeding practices in general and during LNS use.
Molecular cloning and characterization of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Authors: Suzuki S. , Konnai S. , Okagawa T. , Githaka N. W. , Kariuki E. , Gakuya F. , Kanduma E. , Shirai T. , Ikebuchi R. , Ikenaka Y. , Ishizuka M. , Murata S. , Ohashi K.
Published: November 2011

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) has been implicated as the reservoir of several bovine infectious agents. However, there is insufficient information on the protective immune responses in the African buffalo, particularly in infected animals. In this study, we analysed Th1 cytokines IL‐2 and IFN‐γ, and Th2 cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐10. The cloned cDNA of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ contained an open reading frame of 468, 501, 408 and 540 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 155, 166, 135 and 179 amino acids, respectively. Nucleotide sequence homology of IL‐2, IFN‐γ and IL‐4 was more than 98% between the African buffalo and cattle, which resulted in identical polypeptides. Meanwhile, IL‐10 gene of African buffalo and cattle had 95% homology in nucleotide sequence, corresponding to thirteen amino acid residues substitution. Cysteine residues and potential glycosylation sites were conserved within the family Bovinae. Phylogenetic analyses including cytokines of the African buffalo placed them within a cluster comprised mainly of species belonging to the order Artiodactyla, including cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and artiodactyl wildlife. A deeper understanding of the structure of these cytokines will shed light on their protective role in the disease‐resistant African buffalo in comparison with other closely related species.
Australian Coastal Management and Climate Change
Authors: HARVEY NICK , CLARKE BEVERLEY , NURSEY‐BRAY MELISSA
Published: November 2011

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) raised public awareness of the need to consider climate change in coastal management and gained international recognition when it received a joint award of a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. The raised awareness of climate change surrounding the work of the IPCC was in large part responsible for the focus of the recent Australian national inquiry into coastal management in the context of potential climate change impacts on the coast, conducted by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts. In the same year the then Minister of Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong, and the Department of Climate Change released a major government report Climate Change Risks to Australia's Coast and set up a national Coasts and Climate Change Council to provide advice to the government. This paper provides a review and analysis of the extent to which climate change issues, within the context of the broader global change debate, have influenced Australian coastal management through its legislation, policies and practice. In particular, the paper focuses on the impact of recent national reports and state government legislative and policy changes and draws conclusions on future directions for Australian coastal management.
Don't fall for weight: A systematic review of weight status and falls
Authors: MOORE Heather , BOLTONG Anna
Published: November 2011

Aim:  To examine the evidence for the contribution of weight status or nutritional status to the incidence of falls.

Methods:  A systematic review was completed to determine if weight status or nutritional status affects incidence of falls. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied to studies published from 2000 which reported weight status and/or nutritional status and falls incidence. Electronic databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, AMED, EMBASE, PUBMED and PsycINFO. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed on studies that met the inclusion criteria.

Results:  Twenty‐seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies found no difference in weight between fallers and non‐fallers. Two studies found an association between low weight or weight loss and falls. Eleven studies found no difference in body mass index between fallers and non‐fallers. One study found body mass index to be lower in fallers. Five studies found fallers had a higher body mass index than non‐fallers or that a higher body mass index was associated with falls. Three studies found malnutrition risk to be statistically significantly higher in fallers. Two descriptive studies identified 45% of a falls population as malnourished or at high risk of malnutrition.

Conclusion:  This review found limited evidence that being either overweight or underweight increases falls incidence. Referrals for nutritional management to decrease falls risk should not be based on weight status alone. Malnutrition screening should be used to identify appropriate patient referrals to dietitians in falls clinics.
Silibinin Is a Potent Sensitizer of UVA Radiation‐induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells†
Authors: Narayanapillai Sreekanth , Agarwal Chapla , Tilley Cynthia , Agarwal Rajesh
Published: November 2011

UVA radiation (315–400 nm), which constitutes ca 95% of the UV irradiation in natural sunlight reaching earth surface, is a major environmental risk factor associated with human skin cancer pathogenesis. UVA is an oxidizing agent that causes significant damage to cellular components through the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and leads to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. Here we investigate the effect of silibinin, the flavonolignan from Silybum marianum, on UVA‐induced ROS and cell death in human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. In addition, the effect of silibinin on UVA‐induced intracellular ROS‐mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was also analyzed. UVA irradiation resulted in ROS production and apoptosis in HaCaT cells in a dose‐dependent manner, and the ROS levels and apoptotic index were found to be elevated significantly when the cells were treated with 75 μmsilibinin for 2 h before UVA exposure. When the cells were pretreated with 10 mmN‐acetyl cysteine, the enhancement of UVA‐induced apoptosis by silibinin was compromised. Furthermore, we found that silibinin enhances ER stress‐mediated apoptosis in HaCaT cells by increasing the expression of CHOP protein. These results suggest that silibinin may be beneficial in the removal of UVA‐damaged cells and the prevention of skin cancer.
1,3‐Propanediol production from glycerol by a newly isolated Trichococcus strain
Authors: van Gelder Antonie H. , Aydin Rozelin , Alves M. Madalena , Stams Alfons J. M.
Published: November 2011

A coccal bacterium (strain ES5) was isolated from methanogenic bioreactor sludge with glycerol as the sole energy and carbon source. Strain ES5 fermented glycerol to 1,3‐propanediol as main product, and lactate, acetate and formate as minor products. The strain was phylogenetically closely related to Trichococcus flocculiformis; the rRNA gene sequence similarity was 99%. However, strain ES5 does not show the typical growth in chains of T. flocculiformis. Moreover, T. flocculiformis does not ferment glycerol. Strain ES5 used a variety of sugars for growth. With these substrates, lactate, acetate and formate were the main products, while 1,3‐propanediol was not formed. The optimum growth temperature of strain ES5 ranges from 30–37°C, but like several other Trichoccoccus strains, strain ES5 is able to grow at low temperature (< 10°C). Therefore, strain ES5 may be an appropriate catalyst for the biotechnological production of 1,3‐propanediol from glycerol at low ambient temperature.
Pleiotropic role of the Sco1/SenC family copper chaperone in the physiology ofStreptomyces
Authors: Fujimoto Masahiro , Yamada Akio , Kurosawa Junpei , Kawata Akihiro , Beppu Teruhiko , Takano Hideaki , Ueda Kenji
Published: November 2011

Antibiotic production and cell differentiation inStreptomycesis stimulated by micromolar levels of Cu2+. Here, we knocked out the Sco1/SenC family copper chaperone (ScoC) encoded in the conserved gene cluster ‘sco’ (theStreptomycescopper utilization) inStreptomyces coelicolorA3(2) andS. griseus. It is known that the Sco1/SenC family incorporates Cu2+into the active centre of cytochrome oxidase (cox). The knockout caused a marked delay in antibiotic production and aerial mycelium formation on solid medium, temporal pH decline in glucose‐containing liquid medium, and significant reduction of cox activity inS. coelicolor. ThescoCmutant produced two‐ to threefold higher cellular mass of the wild type exhibiting a marked cox activity in liquid medium supplied with 10 µM CuSO4, suggesting that ScoC is involved in not only the construction but also the deactivation of cox. ThescoCmutant was defective in the monoamine oxidase activity responsible for cell aggregation and sedimentation. These features were similarly observed with regard to thescoCmutant ofS. griseus. ThescoCmutant ofS. griseuswas also defective in the extracellular activity oxidizingN,N′‐dimethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine sulfate. Addition of 10 µM CuSO4repressed the activity of the conserved promoter precedingscoAand caused phenylalanine auxotrophy in someStreptomycesspp. probably because of the repression ofpheA;pheAencodes prephenate dehydratase, which is located at the 3′ terminus of the putative operon structure. Overall, the evidence indicates that Sco is crucial for the utilization of copper under a low‐copper condition and for the activation of the multiple Cu2+‐containing oxidases that play divergent roles in the complex physiology ofStreptomyces.
NLRP1, a regulator of innate immunity associated with vitiligo
Authors: D’Osualdo Andrea , Reed John C.
Published: November 2011

Some familial forms of the dermatological condition vitiligo have recently been linked to polymorphisms in the innate immunity gene, NLRP1. Here, we review what is currently known about the mechanisms that regulate activation of the NLRP1 protein and the downstream effects of NLRP1 on pathways impacting inflammation and apoptosis. How polymorphic variants of the NLRP1 gene contribute to the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains mysterious, requiring further investigation.
Increased Oxidative Stress Is Responsible for Severer Cerebral Infarction in Stroke‐Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Zhang Xiu‐Hua , Lei Hong , Liu Ai‐Jun , Zou Ying‐Xin , Shen Fu‐Ming , Su Ding‐Feng
Published: November 2011

Aims: To examine the role of increased oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction in stroke in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR‐SP). Methods: The differentially expressed brain protein profile was examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) (control group) and SHR‐SP using two‐dimensional fluorescent difference gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE). In addition, oxidative stress indicators including total antioxidation capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Lastly, SHR‐SP were randomly divided into untreated and treated (vitamins C (200 mg/kg/day) and E (100 mg/kg/day)) groups. After treatment for 4 weeks, half of the animals were sacrificed for detection of TAC, GPx, and MDA. The remaining rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and the infarct areas were measured. Results: Compared with SHR, the infarct area of SHR‐SP was larger (P < 0.01), and the antioxidative proteins including glutathione S‐transferase (GST) Pi2 and GST A5 were lower; TAC and GPx activities were decreased and MDA levels. Treatment with vitamins C and E decreased MDA, and increased TAC and GPx activity significantly in SHR‐SP, while also decreasing the infarct area (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia.
Primary liver tumor associated with Werner syndrome (adult progeria)
Authors: Okano Hiroshi , Isono Yoshiaki , Tanaka Hiroki , Ishihara Yoshiko , Matsusaki Shimpei , Aoki Masatoshi , Sase Tomohiro , Saitou Tomonori , Mukai Katsumi , Nishimura Akira , Takemoto Minoru , Yokote Koutaro
Published: November 2011

A 57‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital with characteristic aging of the face and thin body. Before admission, she had been treated for diabetes mellitus type 2 and had undergone amputation of the right leg due to ischemic disease. Abdominal computed tomography revealed primary liver tumor. Biopsy of the liver mass revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, not hepatocellular carcinoma. Genetic sequencing indicated a homozygous mutation in the Werner syndrome gene (WRN) and she was diagnosed with Werner syndrome with primary liver tumor. She declined medications for the liver tumor and eventually died 6 months after diagnosis. Werner syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with premature aging, and most cases of Werner syndrome have been reported from Japan. The main causes of death with Werner syndrome are malignancy and atherosclerotic vascular disease. With respect to malignancy, non‐epithelial tumors are more common in Werner syndrome patients than in the general population. Some cases also show complications of epithelial tumors, as in the present case. When a liver tumor of unknown etiology is accompanied by characteristic aging of the face, Werner syndrome should be suspected and a comprehensive search for other tumors and complications of metabolic disorders undertaken.
Mouse B-Type Lamins Are Required for Proper Organogenesis But Not by Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Kim Youngjo , Sharov Alexei A. , McDole Katie , Cheng Melody , Hao Haiping , Fan Chen-Ming , Gaiano Nicholas , Ko Minoru S. H. , Zheng Yixian
Published: November 2011

Mice lacking critical structural components of the nucleus, lamin-B intermediate filament proteins, remain viable until birth.
Using the Past to Predict the Future?
Authors: Hegerl Gabriele C. , Russon Tom
Published: November 2011

Reconstructions of climatic conditions on Earth during the Last Glacial Maximum may help to constrain the likely magnitude of global warming.
Newly Isolated but Uncultivated Magnetotactic Bacterium of the Phylum Nitrospirae from Beijing, China
Authors: Lin Wei , Li Jinhua , Pan Yongxin
Published: November 2011

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) in the phylum
Nitrospirae
synthesize up to hundreds of intracellular bullet-shaped magnetite magnetosomes. In the present study, a watermelon-shaped magnetotactic bacterium (designated MWB-1) from Lake Beihai in Beijing, China, was characterized. This uncultivated microbe was identified as a member of the phylum
Nitrospirae
and represents a novel phylogenetic lineage with ≥6% 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence from all currently described MTB. MWB-1 contained 200 to 300 intracellular bullet-shaped magnetite magnetosomes and showed a helical swimming trajectory under homogeneous magnetic fields; its magnetotactic velocity decreased with increasing field strength, and vice versa. A robust phylogenetic framework for MWB-1 and all currently known MTB in the phylum
Nitrospirae
was constructed utilizing maximum-likelihood and Bayesian algorithms, which yielded strong evidence that the
Nitrospirae
MTB could be divided into four well-supported groups. Considering its population densities in sediment and its high numbers of magnetosomes, MWB-1 was estimated to account for more than 10% of the natural remanent magnetization of the surface sediment. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that MTB in the phylum
Nitrospirae
are more diverse than previously realized and can make important contributions to the sedimentary magnetization in particular environments.
Functional Implementation of the Posttranslational SecB-SecA Protein-Targeting Pathway in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Diao Liuyang , Dong Qilei , Xu Zhaohui , Yang Sheng , Zhou Jiahai , Freudl Roland
Published: November 2011

Bacillus subtilis
and its close relatives are widely used in industry for the Sec-dependent secretory production of proteins. Like other Gram-positive bacteria,
B. subtilis
does not possess SecB, a dedicated targeting chaperone that posttranslationally delivers exported proteins to the SecA component of the translocase. In the present study, we have implemented a functional SecB-dependent protein-targeting pathway into
B. subtilis
by coexpressing SecB from
Escherichia coli
together with a SecA hybrid protein in which the carboxyl-terminal 32 amino acids of the
B. subtilis
SecA were replaced by the corresponding part of SecA from
E. coli
.
In vitro
pulldown experiments showed that, in contrast to
B. subtilis
SecA, the hybrid SecA protein gained the ability to efficiently bind to
E. coli
SecB, suggesting that the structural details of the extreme C-terminal region of SecA constitute a crucial SecB binding specificity determinant. Using a poorly exported mutant maltose binding protein (MalE11) and alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) as model proteins, we could demonstrate that the secretion of both proteins by
B. subtilis
was significantly enhanced in the presence of the artificial protein targeting pathway. Mutations in SecB that do not influence its chaperone activity but prevent its interaction with SecA abolished the secretion stimulation of both proteins, demonstrating that the implemented pathway in fact critically depends on the SecB targeting function. From a biotechnological view, our results open up a new strategy for the improvement of Gram-positive bacterial host systems for the secretory production of heterologous proteins.
Spontaneous Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome
mec
Element Excision in Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriers
Authors: Boundy Sam , Zhao Qixun , Fairbanks Carly , Folgosa Lauren , Climo Michael , Archer Gordon L.
Published: November 2011

Among 23 patients carrying methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) in their anterior nares, 6 (26%) also carried methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
(MSSA) as less prevalent flora. In 4 of the 6 patients, the MSSA was unrelated to prevalent MRSA, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing. However, in two patients, the strains were identical except for the absence of spontaneous staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
). We consider this evidence of spontaneous SCC
mec
excision
in vivo
.
Factors Contributing to Variability of Quantitative Viral PCR Results in Proficiency Testing Samples: a Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Hayden R. T. , Yan X. , Wick M. T. , Rodriguez A. B. , Xiong X. , Ginocchio C. C. , Mitchell M. J. , Caliendo A. M.
Published: November 2011

While viral load testing has gained widespread acceptance, a primary limitation remains the variability of results, particularly between different laboratories. While some work has demonstrated the importance of standardized quantitative control material in reducing this variability, little has been done to explore other important factors in the molecular amplification process. Results of 185 laboratories enrolled in the College of American Pathologists (CAP) 2009 viral load proficiency testing (PT) survey (VLS) were examined. This included 165 labs (89.2%) testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV), 99 (53.5%) for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and 64 (34.6%) for BK virus (BKV). At the time of PT, laboratories were asked a series of questions to characterize their testing methods. The responses to these questions were correlated to mean viral load (MVL) and result variability (RV). Contribution of individual factors to RV was estimated through analysis of variance (ANOVA) modeling and the use of backward selection of factors to fit those models. Selection of the quantitative calibrator, commercially prepared primers and probes, and amplification target gene were found most prominently associated with changes in MVL or RV for one or more of the viruses studied. Commercially prepared primers and probes and amplification target gene made the largest contribution to overall variability. Factors contributing to MVL and RV differed among viruses, as did relative contribution of each factor to overall variability. The marked variability seen in clinical quantitative viral load results is associated with multiple aspects of molecular testing design and performance. The reduction of such variability will require a multifaceted approach to improve the accuracy, reliability, and clinical utility of these important tests.
Rapid Genotyping of Cytomegalovirus in Dried Blood Spots by Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assays Targeting the Envelope Glycoprotein gB and gH Genes
Authors: de Vries Jutte J. C. , Wessels Els , Korver Anna M. H. , van der Eijk Annemiek A. , Rusman Lisette G. , Kroes Aloys C. M. , Vossen Ann C. T. M.
Published: November 2011

Genotyping of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is useful to examine potential differences in the pathogenicity of strains and to demonstrate coinfection with multiple strains involved in CMV disease in adults and congenitally infected newborns. Studies on genotyping of CMV in dried blood spots (DBS) are rare and have been hampered by the small amount of dried blood available. In this study, two multiplex real-time PCR assays for rapid gB and gH genotyping of CMV in DBS were developed. Validation of the assays with 39 CMV-positive plasma samples of transplant recipients and 21 urine specimens of congenitally infected newborns was successful in genotyping 100% of the samples, with gB1 and gB3 being the most prevalent genotypes. Multiple gB and gH genotypes were detected in 36% and 33% of the plasma samples, respectively. One urine sample from a newborn with symptomatic congenital CMV was positive for gB1 and gB2. DBS of congenitally infected newborns (
n
= 41) were tested using 9 μl of dried blood, and genotypes were detected in 81% (gB) and 73% (gH) of the samples, with gB3 being the most prevalent genotype. No clear association of specific genotypes with clinical outcome was observed. In conclusion, the CMV gB and gH PCR assays were found to be rapid, sensitive for detecting mixed infections, and suitable for direct usage on DBS. These assays are efficient tools for genotyping of CMV in DBS of congenitally infected newborns.
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Zervos Marcus J. , Freeman Katherine , Vo Lien , Haque Nadia , Pokharna Hiren , Raut Monika , Kim Myoung
Published: November 2011

Complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) are among the most rapidly increasing reasons for hospitalization. To describe inpatients with regard to patient characteristics, cSSTI origin, appropriateness of initial antibiotics, and outcomes, we performed a retrospective cohort study in patients hospitalized for cSSTI. To identify independent predictors of outcomes, we performed multivariate analyses. Of 1,096 eligible patients, 48.7% had health care-associated (HCA) cSSTI and 51.3% had community-acquired (CA) cSSTI. After adjustment for baseline variables, hospital length of stay (LOS) was longer for HCA than for CA cSSTI (difference, 2.1 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8 to 3.5;P< 0.05). Other covariates associated with a longer LOS were need for dialysis (regression coefficient ± standard error, 4.5 ± 1.1) and diabetic wound diagnosis (2.6 ± 1.0) (allP< 0.05). In the subset with culture-positive cSSTI within 24 h of admission, the most common pathogen wasStaphylococcus aureus(298/449 [66.4%]), of which 74.8% (223/298) were methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA). Eighty-three patients (18.5%) received inappropriate initial antibiotics. After adjustment for other variables, the following were associated with inappropriate initial therapy: direct admission to hospital (not via emergency department), cSSTI caused by MRSA or mixed pathogens, and cSSTI caused by pathogens other thanS. aureusor streptococci (allP< 0.05). We did not find an association between inappropriate therapy and outcomes, except in the subset with ulcers (adjusted odds ratio, 11.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 111.1;P= 0.03). More studies are needed to examine the impact of HCA cSSTI and inappropriate initial therapy on outcomes.