bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of a modified (rib ends fixed under transverse process) thoracoplasty for rib hump deformity in adults with severe thoracic scoliosis
Authors: Yu Bin , Zhao Deng , Wang Fei , Hu Zhengjun , Zhong Rui , Zhao Hehong , Liang Yijian 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Razor back deformity is one of the most noticeable problems of severe scoliosis. Thoracoplasty has been reported to be a useful approach to correct the rib hump deformity. However, the outcomes of thoracoplasty in patients with severe, rigid, thoracic scoliosis have not yet been evaluated.
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a modified technique of thoracoplasty (rib ends fixed under transverse process) for rib hump deformity in adults with severe thoracic scoliosis and severe pulmonary dysfunction.
Patients with severe thoracic scoliosis and severe pulmonary dysfunction who underwent staged surgical strategy including halo-pelvic traction, spinal osteotomy combined with the modified thoracoplasty were included. To avoid paradoxical breathing result from multiple rib resections and enlarge the capacity of thoracis, the ends after rib resection were fixed under transverse process compared with conventional thoracoplasty. Patients were excluded on the basis of pulmonary diseases and inadequate follow-up. Data on deformity correction and pulmonary complications were reviewed. A t test was performed on the pre- and postoperative data of pulmonary function, height of the rib hump deformity, and total lung area.
Eighteen patients (5 men and 13 women) with a major thoracic curve of >130° were included. The mean age of patients was 25.3 ± 3.6 years (range, 19–32 years), with an average length of follow-up of 30.2 months. After application of halo-pelvic traction, the mean major thoracic curve decreased from 168.2° ± 14.28° to 97.3° ± 10.75° and the thoracic kyphosis decreased from 159.4° ± 20.60° to 94.8° ± 9.58°. On average, 6.3 (range, 4–8) ribs were resected. The height of the rib hump decreased from 84.6 ± 13.3 to 15.3 ± 3.4 mm. The average predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) before surgery was 37.2 ± 13.30%, indicative of severe pulmonary impairment, with a small but non-significant improvement in the FVC% at the final follow-up. The mean total lung area increased from 2583.2 ± 501.36 to 2890.1 ± 537.30 mL at the last follow-up. No severe pulmonary complications occurred.
Our modified approach to thoracoplasty procedure is effective and safe in correcting a razor back deformity in patients with severe, rigid, scoliosis, and severe pulmonary dysfunction, without causing any significant change in long-term pulmonary function.
Development of a Self-Assessment Tool for the Nontechnical Skills of Hemophilia Teams
Authors: Brondi Sonia , Palareti Laura , Guglielmi Dina 
Published: September 2020

Background and Objectives:
The treatment of chronic illnesses requires health care professionals (HCPs) to master several nontechnical skills to meet patient care needs. This article aims to describe the rationale and the inductive process through which a self-assessment tool for the nontechnical skills of hemophilia teams was conceived, developed, and tested.

Methods:
Starting from an explorative analysis of hemophilia HCP work experiences, the process followed 3 phases: an in-depth analysis of hemophilia HCP skills; the questionnaire development; and a pilot study.

Results:
Using the voice of HCPs as a starting point, the tool proved to be able to identify precise cross-professional and intercultural challenges as well as related required and/or acquired skills in the hemophilia field.

Conclusion:
The proposed tool may contribute to providing HCPs with strategic knowledge to successfully perform everyday practices, to improve the effectiveness of hemophilia teams and the care model adopted by their centers, and to implement intercultural research in this field. It may be used to propose ad hoc training courses targeted by challenge, in order to fill the major gaps reported by the teams, or targeted by medical specialty or country (and therefore health care system) specificity.
Diverse viruses carrying genes for microbial extremotolerance in the Atacama Desert hyperarid soil
Authors: Hwang Yunha , Rahlff Janina , Schulze-Makuch Dirk , Schloter Michael , Probst Alexander J. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractViruses play an essential role in shaping microbial community structures and serve as reservoirs for genetic diversity in many ecosystems. In hyperarid desert environments, where life itself becomes scarce and loses diversity, the interactions between viruses and host populations have remained elusive. Here, we resolved host-virus interactions in the soil metagenomes of the Atacama Desert hyperarid core, one of the harshest terrestrial environments on Earth. We show evidence of diverse viruses infecting a wide range of hosts found in sites up to 205 km apart. Viral genomes carried putative extremotolerance features (i.e. DNA repair proteins, enzymes against oxidative damage, spore formation proteins) and auxiliary metabolic genes, indicating that viruses could mediate the spread of microbial resilience against environmental stress across the desert. We propose a mutualistic model of host-virus interactions in the hyperarid core where viruses seek protection in microbial cells as lysogens or pseudolysogens, while viral extremotolerance genes aid survival of their hosts. Our results suggest that the host-virus interactions in the Atacama Desert soils are dynamic and complex, shaping uniquely adapted microbiomes in this highly selective and hostile environment.ImportanceDeserts are one of the largest and rapidly expanding terrestrial ecosystems characterized by low biodiversity and biomass. The hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, previously thought to be devoid of life, is one of the harshest environments supporting only scant biomass of highly adapted microbes. While there is growing evidence that viruses play essential roles in shaping the diversity and structure of nearly every ecosystem, very little is known about the role of viruses in desert soils, especially where viral contact with viable hosts is significantly reduced. Our results indicate that diverse viruses are widely dispersed across the desert, potentially spreading key stress resilience and metabolic genes to ensure host survival. The desertification accelerated by climate change expands both the ecosystem cover and the ecological significance of the desert virome. This study sheds light on the complex virus-host interplay that shapes the unique microbiome in desert soils.
The rise and the fall of aPseudomonas aeruginosaepidemic lineage in a hospital
Authors: Petitjean Marie , Juarez Paulo , Meunier Alexandre , Daguindau Etienne , Puja Hélène , Bertrand Xavier , Valot Benoit , Hocquet Didier 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe biological features that allow a pathogen to survive in the hospital environment are mostly unknown. The extinction of bacterial epidemics in hospitals is mostly attributed to changes in medical practice, including infection control, but the role of bacterial adaptation has never been documented. We analyzed a collection ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolates belonging to the Besançon Epidemic Strain (BES), responsible for a 12-year nosocomial outbreak, using a genotype-to-phenotype approach. Bayesian analysis estimated the emergence of the clone in the hospital five years before its opening, during the creation of its water distribution network made of copper. BES survived better than the reference strains PAO1 and PA14 in a copper solution due to a genomic island containing 13 metal-resistance genes and was specifically able to proliferate in the ubiquitous amoebaVermamoeba vermiformis. Mutations affecting amino-acid metabolism, antibiotic resistance, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, and regulation were enriched during the spread of BES. Seven distinct regulatory mutations attenuated the overexpression of the genes encoding the efflux pump MexAB-OprM over time. The fitness of BES decreased over time in correlation with its genome size. Overall, the resistance to inhibitors and predators presumably aided the proliferation and propagation of BES in the plumbing system of the hospital. The pathogen further spread among patients via multiple routes of contamination. The decreased prevalence of patients infected by BES mirrored the parallel and convergent genomic evolution and reduction that affected bacterial fitness. Along with infection control measures, this may have participated in the extinction of BES in the hospital setting.ImportanceBacterial pathogens are responsible for nosocomial outbreaks, but the sources of contamination of the hospitals are mostly unclear and the role of bacterial evolution in the extinction of outbreaks has never been considered. Here, we found that an epidemic strain of the pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosacontaminated the drinking water network of a hospital due to its tolerance to copper and predatory amoeba, both present in the water pipes. The extinction of the outbreak occurred concomitantly with parallel and convergent genome evolution and a reduction in the size of the bacterial genome that correlated with the fitness of the pathogen. Our data suggest that pathogen evolution participated in the extinction of an outbreak in a hospital setting.
Correlation of Breast cancer Prognostic and Predictive indicators in Saudi patients: A 20 years retrospective observational study
Authors: Kussaibi Haitham 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIntroductionBreast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Saudi Arabia and the world (WHO 2020). Several studies have been published, worldwide, about the prognostic indicators of breast cancer, many of them showed a characteristic distribution according to certain geographical areasMethodsOver 20 years (1998-2018), the results of 498 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, have been collected from the archive of the pathology department at King Fahd University Hospital (KFHU).ResultsThis study included 498 patients diagnosed with breast cancer at King Fahd University Hospital over 20 years period (1998-2018), 58.4% (n=291) were Saudis. Data analysis showed a wide age distribution of breast cancers among eastern Saudi patients; however, most cases were seen in the 3rd and 4th decades. Luminal B was the most common subtype followed by triple-negative and luminal-A. Statistical analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between Saudi patients’ age at diagnosis and Her2 expression (P= .030), interestingly, this association was not significant in none-Saudi patients (P= .528).Discussion/ConclusionOur data revealed that breast cancer in Eastern Province had similar prognostics to international findings, however, Her2 profile and molecular subtype among Eastern Saudi women showed a minor deviation from worldwide published data.
Low rates of enteric pathogenic bacteria and resistance gene carriage in the sheltered homeless population in Marseille, France
Authors: Ly Tran Duc Anh , Hadjadj Linda , Hoang Van Thuan , Goumbala Ndiaw , Dao Thi Loi , Badiaga Sekene , Tissot-Dupont Herve , Brouqui Philippe , Raoult Didier , Rolain Jean-Marc , Gautret Philippe 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWe aimed to assess the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and resistance genes in rectal samples collected among homeless persons in Marseille, France. In February 2014 we enrolled 114 sheltered homeless adults who completed questionnaires and had rectal samples collected. Eight types of enteric bacteria and 15 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were sought by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) performed directly on rectal samples. ARG-positive samples were further tested by conventional PCR and sequencing. We evidenced a 17.5% prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, a 9.6% DNA-prevalence of enteric bacteria carriage, includingEscherichia colipathotypes (8.7%) andTropheryma whipplei(0.9%). Only 2 persons carriedblaCTX-M-15resistance genes (1.8%), while other genes, including carbapenemase-encoding genes and colistin-resistance genes, (mcr-1 tomcr-6, mcr-8) were not detected. Our results suggest that sheltered homeless persons in Marseille do not have a high risk of harbouring gastrointestinal antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Natural abundance isotope ratios to differentiate sources of carbon used during tumor growth in vivo
Authors: Holland Petter , Hagopian William M. , Jahren A. Hope , Rusten Tor Erik 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundRadioactive or stable isotopic labeling of metabolites is a strategy that is routinely used to map the cellular fate of a selected labeled metabolite after it is added to cell culture or to the circulation of an animal. However, the transformation of the labeled metabolite by cellular metabolism within organs complicates the use of this experimental strategy to quantify and understand metabolite transfer between organs. These methods are also technically demanding, expensive and potentially toxic. To allow quantification of the bulk movement of metabolites between organs, we have developed a novel application of stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (SIRMS).ResultsWe exploit natural differences in13C/12C ratios of plant nutrients for a low-cost and non-toxic carbon labeling, allowing a measurement of bulk carbon transfer between organsin vivo. SIRMS measurements were found to be sufficiently sensitive to measure organs from individualDrosophila melanogasterlarvae, giving robust measurements down to 2.5 µg per sample. We apply the method to determine if carbon incorporated into a growing solid tumor is ultimately derived from food or host tissues.ConclusionMeasuring tumor growth in aD.melanogasterlarvae tumor model reveals that these tumors derive a majority of carbon from host sources. We believe the low cost and non-toxic nature of this methodology gives it broad applicability to study carbon flows between organs also in other animals and for a range of other biological questions.
High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from COVID-19+ households
Authors: Fritz Matthieu , Rosolen Béatrice , Krafft Emilie , Becquart Pierre , Elguero Eric , Vratskikh Oxana , Denolly Solène , Boson Bertrand , Vanhomwegen Jessica , Ar Gouilh Meriadeg , Kodjo Angeli , Chirouze Catherine , Rosolen Serge , Legros Vincent , Leroy Eric M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn a survey of household cats and dogs of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, we found a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, ranging from 21% to 53%, depending on the positivity criteria chosen. Seropositivity was significantly greater among pets from COVID-19+ households compared to those with owners of unknown status. Our results highlight the potential role of pets in the spread of the epidemic.
High congruence of karyotypic and molecular data onHypostomusspecies from the Paraná River basin
Authors: Rocha-Reis Dinaíza Abadia , Pasa Rubens , Kavalco Karine Frehner 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTThe Hypostomini tribe comprises a single genus,Hypostomus, which possibly contains several monophyletic groups because of significant morphological variation and a variety of diploid numbers and karyotype formulas. The objective of this study was to infer evolutionary relationships among some species ofHypostomusfound in the Paraná River basin and subsequently to identify chromosomal synapomorphies in the groupings formed. Two nuclear genes,rag1andrag2, and two mitochondrial genes,mt-co1andmt-cyb, were used to establish evolutionary relationships. Phylogenetic trees were inferred using the maximum likelihood (ML) method formt-co1and Bayesian analysis (BA) for all genes concatenated. Both phylogenetic trees showed two large monophyletic clades withinHypostomus. These clades are based on chromosome number, where haplogroup I contains individuals with 66–68 chromosomes, and haplogroup II contains species with 72–80 chromosomes. A third monophyletic haplogroup was also observed using ML, formed byH. faveolusandH. cochliodon, which present 2n = 64, reinforcing the separation of groups inHypostomusby diploid number. Robertsonian rearrangements were responsible for forming the different diploid numbers and for the diversity of karyotype formulas. The groups based on traditional morphological taxonomy are considered artificial in this study; the staining pattern, which separates the two large groups morphologically and is supported by little chromosomal evidence, was instead determined to show homoplasy. Ag-NORs are predominantly multiple and located on st/a chromosomes, along with 18S rDNA sites; 5S rDNA sites are often seen in an interstitial position, following the trend already described for vertebrates.
Cross-reactive serum and memory B cell responses to spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 and endemic coronavirus infection
Authors: Song Ge , He Wan-ting , Callaghan Sean , Anzanello Fabio , Huang Deli , Ricketts James , Torres Jonathan L. , Beutler Nathan , Peng Linghang , Vargas Sirena , Cassell Jon , Parren Mara , Yang Linlin , Ignacio Caroline , Smith Davey M. , Voss James E. , Nemazee David , Ward Andrew B , Rogers Thomas , Burton Dennis R. , Andrabi Raiees 
Published: September 2020

AbstractPre-existing immune responses to seasonal endemic coronaviruses could have profound consequences for antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, either induced in natural infection or through vaccination. Such consequences are well established in the influenza and flavivirus fields. A first step to establish whether pre-existing responses can impact SARS-CoV-2 infection is to understand the nature and extent of cross-reactivity in humans to coronaviruses. We compared serum antibody and memory B cell responses to coronavirus spike (S) proteins from pre-pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 convalescent donors using a series of binding and functional assays. We found weak evidence of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive serum antibodies in pre-pandemic donors. However, we found stronger evidence of pre-existing cross-reactive memory B cells that were activated on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from the donors showed varying degrees of cross-reactivity with betacoronaviruses, including SARS and endemic coronaviruses. None of the cross-reactive mAbs were neutralizing except for one that targeted the S2 subunit of the S protein. The results suggest that pre-existing immunity to endemic coronaviruses should be considered in evaluating antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2.
The biogeography of Streptomyces in New Zealand enabled by high-throughput sequencing of genus-specific rpoB amplicons
Authors: Higgins S.A. , Panke-Buisse K. , Buckley Daniel H. 
Published: September 2020

SummaryWe evaluated Streptomyces biogeography in soils along a 1,200 km latitudinal transect across New Zealand (NZ). Streptomyces diversity was examined using high-throughput sequencing of rpoB amplicons generated with a Streptomyces specific primer set. We detected 1,287 Streptomyces rpoB operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with 159 ± 92 (average ± s.d.) rpoB OTUs per site. Only 12% (n = 149) of these OTUs matched rpoB sequences from cultured specimens (99% nucleotide identity cutoff). Streptomyces phylogenetic diversity (Faith’s PD) was correlated with soil pH, mean annual temperature, and plant community richness (Spearman’s r: 0.77, 0.64, and −0.79, respectively; p < 0.05), but not with latitude. In addition, soil pH and plant community richness both explained significant variation in Streptomyces beta diversity. Streptomyces communities exhibited both high dissimilarity and strong dominance of one or a few species at each site. Taken together, these results suggest that dispersal limitation due to competitive interactions limits the colonization success of spores that relocate to new sites. Cultivated Streptomyces isolates represent a major source of clinically useful antibiotics, but only a small fraction of extant diversity within the genus have been identified and most species of Streptomyces have yet to be described.
Identification of a Proteomic Signature of Senescence in Primary Human Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Delfarah Alireza , Zheng DongQing , Yang Jesse , Graham Nicholas A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSenescence is a permanent cell cycle arrest that occurs in response to cellular stress. Because senescent cells promote age-related disease, there has been considerable interest in defining the proteomic alterations in senescent cells. Because senescence differs greatly depending on cell type and senescence inducer, continued progress in the characterization of senescent cells is needed. Here, we analyzed primary human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs), a model system for aging, using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. By integrating data from replicative senescence, immortalization by telomerase reactivation, and drug-induced senescence, we identified a robust proteomic signature of HMEC senescence consisting of 77 upregulated and 36 downregulated proteins. This approach identified known biomarkers, such as downregulation of the nuclear lamina protein lamin-B1 (LMNB1), and novel upregulated proteins including the β-galactoside-binding protein galectin-7 (LGALS7). Gene ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that senescent HMECs upregulated lysosomal proteins and downregulated RNA metabolic processes. We additionally integrated our proteomic signature of senescence with transcriptomic data from senescent HMECs to demonstrate that our proteomic signature can discriminate proliferating and senescent HMECs even at the transcriptional level. Taken together, our results demonstrate the power of proteomics to identify cell type-specific signatures of senescence and advance the understanding of senescence in primary HMECs.
Lytic bacteriophages facilitate antibiotic sensitization ofEnterococcus faecium
Authors: Canfield Gregory S. , Chatterjee Anushila , Espinosa Juliel , Mangalea Mihnea R. , Sheriff Emma K. , Keidan Micah , McBride Sara W. , McCollister Bruce D. , Hang Howard C. , Duerkop Breck A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEnterococcus faecium, a commensal of the human intestine, has emerged as a hospital-adapted, multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogen. Bacteriophages (phages), natural predators of bacteria, have regained attention as therapeutics to stem the rise of MDR bacteria. Despite their potential to curtail MDRE. faeciuminfections, the molecular events governingE. faecium-phageinteractions remain largely unknown. Such interactions are important to delineate because phage selective pressure imposed onE. faeciumwill undoubtedly result in phage resistance phenotypes that could threaten the efficacy of phage therapy. In an effort to understand the emergence of phage resistance inE. faecium, three newly isolated lytic phages were used to demonstrate thatE. faeciumphage resistance is conferred through an array of cell wall-associated molecules, including secreted antigen A (SagA), enterococcal polysaccharide antigen (Epa), wall teichoic acids, capsule, and an arginine-aspartate-aspartate (RDD) protein of unknown function. We find that capsule and Epa are important for robust phage adsorption and that phage resistance mutations insagA, epaR, andepaXenhanceE. faeciumsusceptibility to ceftriaxone, an antibiotic normally ineffective due to its low affinity for enterococcal penicillin binding proteins. Consistent with these findings, we provide evidence that phages potently synergize with cell wall (ceftriaxone and ampicillin) and membrane-acting (daptomycin) antimicrobials to slow or completely inhibit the growth ofE. faecium. Our work demonstrates that the evolution of phage resistance comes with fitness defects resulting in drug sensitization and that lytic phages could potentially serve as antimicrobial adjuvants in treatingE. faeciuminfections.