bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors and Impact of Perioperative Prophylaxis on the Risk of Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae–related Infection Among Carriers Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Logre Elsa , Bert Frédéric , Khoy-Ear Linda , Janny Sylvie , Giabicani Mikhaël , Grigoresco Bénédicte , Toussaint Amélie , Dondero Fédérica , Dokmak Safi , Roux Olivier , Francoz Claire , Soubrane Olivier , Durand François , Paugam-Burtz Catherine , Weiss Emmanuel 
Published: March 2020

Background.
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) carriage is frequent among liver transplant (LT) recipients, thereby fostering a large empirical carbapenem prescription. However, ESBL-E infections occur in only 10%–25% of critically ill patients with rectal colonization. Our aim was to identify risk factors for post-LT ESBL-E infection in colonized patients. The effect of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) was also analyzed in patients with prophylaxis lasting <48 hours and without proven intraoperative infection.

Methods.
Retrospective study from a prospective database including patients with a positive ESBL-E rectal screening transplanted between 2010 and 2016.

Results.
Among the 749 patients transplanted, 100 (13.3%) were colonized with an ESBL-E strain. Thirty-nine (39%) patients developed an infection related to the same ESBL-E (10 pulmonary, 11 surgical site, 13 urinary, 5 bloodstream) within 11 postoperative days in median. Klebsiella pneumoniae carriage, model for end-stage liver disease ≥25, preoperative spontaneous bacterial peritonitis prophylaxis, and antimicrobial exposure during the previous month were independent predictors of ESBL-E infection. We propose a colonization to infection risk score built on these variables. The prevalence of infection for colonization to infection score of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3 were 7.4%, 26.3%, 61.9%, and 91.3%, respectively. Of note, the incidence of post-LT ESBL-E infection was lower in case of perioperative AP targeting colonizing ESBL-E (P = 0.04).

Conclusions.
Thirty-nine percentage of ESBL-E carriers develop a related infection after LT. We identified predictors for ESBL-E infection in carriers that may help in rationalizing carbapenem prescription. Perioperative AP targeting colonizing ESBL-E may be associated with a reduced risk of post-LT ESBL-E infections.
The Impact of Portal Vein Thrombosis on Liver Transplant Outcomes: Does Grade or Flow Rate Matter?
Authors: Rizzari Michael D. , Safwan Mohamed , Sobolic Michael , Kitajima Toshihiro , Collins Kelly , Yoshida Atsushi , Abouljoud Marwan , Nagai Shunji 
Published: March 2020

Background.Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) makes the technical aspect of liver transplantation challenging and also affects outcomes. Our aim was to study impact of PVT grade and postreperfusion portal flow on posttransplant outcomes.Methods.Patients who underwent transplantation with PVT between January 2007 and May 2017 were selected (n = 126). Data on grade of PVT and portal vein flow were collected. Patients were classified into 2 groups; low grade (Yerdel Grade I, n = 73) and high grade (Yerdel Grade II or III, n = 53). Using portal flow rate, patients were divided into high flow (≥1000 mL/min, n = 95) and low flow (<1000 mL/min, n = 31). Additional analyses of flow by graft weight and complications were performed.Results.Postoperatively, incidence of biliary strictures were significantly greater in high-grade PVT compared with low grade (P= 0.02). Incidence of postoperative portal vein thrombosis was higher in low flow after reperfusion compared with high flow (P= 0.02), as was bile leak (P= 0.02). On identifying factors associated with graft loss, moderate to severe ascites preoperatively, high PVT grade and bile leak were associated with worse graft survival. Subanalysis performed combining grade and flow showed that low grade, high flow had the highest graft survival while high grade, low flow had the lowest (P= 0.006). High-grade PVT with low flow also appeared to be an independent risk factor for biliary complications (P= 0.01).Conclusions.In conclusion, biliary complications, especially strictures are more common in high-grade PVT and graft survival is worse in high-grade PVT and low portal flow.
Identifying Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviors Following a Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Gibson Allison , Bardach Shoshana H. , Jicha Gregory A. 
Published: March 2020

Introduction:
Individual reactions to a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can vary in a wide range of both adaptive and maladaptive responses. Understanding such reactions to diagnosis is important to maximize adaptive responses that can promote continued independence.

Methods:
In this pilot study, the Aging and Memory Quality of Life survey was developed to facilitate an understanding of adaptive and maladaptive behaviors results from a diagnosis of MCI. The Aging and Memory Quality of Life was administered to 45 individuals diagnosed with MCI and 45 cognitively normal participants serving as control subjects matched for age, sex, and education. Study partners were surveyed to collect corroborating and or discrepant observer responses.

Results:
Inconsistent with study partners’ reporting, MCI subjects may be underreporting physical limitations, and overreporting medication compliance. MCI subjects identified challenges to managing financial affairs.

Discussion:
Developing strategies to circumvent the development of maladaptive behaviors could significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in MCI patients.
Human leukocyte antigen susceptibility map for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Nguyen Austin , David Julianne K. , Maden Sean K. , Wood Mary A. , Weeder Benjamin R. , Nellore Abhinav , Thompson Reid F. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTGenetic variability across the three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes (human leukocyte antigen [HLA] A, B, and C) may affect susceptibility to and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We execute a comprehensive in silico analysis of viral peptide-MHC class I binding affinity across 145 HLA -A, -B, and -C genotypes for all SARS-CoV-2 peptides. We further explore the potential for cross-protective immunity conferred by prior exposure to four common human coronaviruses. The SARS-CoV-2 proteome is successfully sampled and presented by a diversity of HLA alleles. However, we found that HLA-B*46:01 had the fewest predicted binding peptides for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting individuals with this allele may be particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, as they were previously shown to be for SARS (1). Conversely, we found that HLA-B*15:03 showed the greatest capacity to present highly conserved SARS-CoV-2 peptides that are shared among common human coronaviruses, suggesting it could enable cross-protective T-cell based immunity. Finally, we report global distributions of HLA types with potential epidemiological ramifications in the setting of the current pandemic.IMPORTANCEIndividual genetic variation may help to explain different immune responses to a virus across a population. In particular, understanding how variation in HLA may affect the course of COVID-19 could help identify individuals at higher risk from the disease. HLA typing can be fast and inexpensive. Pairing HLA typing with COVID-19 testing where feasible could improve assessment of viral severity in the population. Following the development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, individuals with high-risk HLA types could be prioritized for vaccination.
The formal demography of kinship II: Multistate models, parity, and sibship
Authors: Caswell Hal 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundRecent kinship models focus on the age structures of kin as a function of the age of the focal individual. However, variables in addition to age have important impacts. Generalizing age-specific models to multistate models including other variables is an important and hitherto unsolved problem.ObjectivesOur aim is to develop a multistate kinship model, classifying individuals jointly by age and other criteria (generically, “stages”).MethodsWe use the vec-permutation method to create multistate projection matrices including age- and stage-dependent survival, fertility, and transitions. These matrices operate on block-structured population vectors that describe the age×stage structure of each kind of kin, at each age of a focal individual.ResultsThe new matrix formulation is directly comparable to, and greatly extends, the recent age-classified kinship model of Caswell (2019a). As an application, we derive a model that includes age and parity. We obtain, for all types of kin, the joint age×parity structure, the marginal age and parity structures, and the (normalized) parity distributions, at every age of the focal individual. We show how to use the age×parity distributions to calculate the distributions of sibship sizes of kin.As an example, we apply the model to Slovakia (1960–2014). The results include a dramatic shift in the parity distribution as the frequency of low-parity kin increased and that of high-parity kin decreased.ContributionThe new model extends the formal demographic analysis of kinship to age×stage-classified models. In addition to parity, other stage classifications, including marital status, maternal age effects, and sex are now open to analysis.
The motor neuron-like cell line NSC-34 and its parent cell line N18TG2 have glycogen that is degraded under cellular stress
Authors: Pfeiffer-Guglielmi Brigitte , Jansen Ralf-Peter 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBrain glycogen has a long and versatile history: Primarily regarded as an evolutionary remnant, it was then thought of as an unspecific emergency fuel store. A dynamic role for glycogen in normal brain function has been proposed later but exclusively attributed to astrocytes, its main storage site. Neuronal glycogen had long been neglected, but came into focus when sensitive technical methods allowed quantification of glycogen at low concentration range and the detection of glycogen metabolizing enzymes in cells and cell lysates. Recently, an active role of neuronal glycogen and even its contribution to neuronal survival could be demonstrated. Our studies continue these investigations on the function and regulation of neuronal glycogen metabolism. We demonstrate the presence of an active glycogen metabolism in the neuronal cell lines NSC-34 and N18TG2 and the mobilization of the glycogen stores under hypoxia, oxidative and acidic metabolic stress. The key enzyme in glycogen degradation is glycogen phosphorylase. Neurons express only the brain isoform (GPBB) that is supposed to be activated primarily by the allosteric activator AMP and less by covalent phosphorylation via the cAMP cascade. Our results indicate that neuronal glycogen is not degraded upon hormone action but by factors lowering the energy charge of the cells directly.
Variable expression quantitative trait loci analysis of breast cancer risk variants
Authors: Wiggins George , Black Michael A , Dunbier Anita , Merriman Tony R , Pearson John , Walker Logan C 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTGenome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 180 variants associated with breast cancer risk, however the underlying functional mechanisms and biological pathways which confer disease susceptibility remain largely unknown. As gene expression traits are under genetic regulation we hypothesise that differences in gene expression variability may identify causal breast cancer susceptibility genes. We performed variable expression quantitative trait loci (veQTL) analysis using tissue-specific expression data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Common Fund Project. veQTL analysis identified 70 associations (p< 5×10−8) consisting of 60 genes and 27 breast cancer risk variants, including 55 veQTL that were observed in breast tissue only. Pathway analysis of genes associated with breast-specific veQTL revealed an enrichment of four genes (CYP11B1, CYP17A1 HSD3B2andSTAR) involved in the C21-steroidal biosynthesis pathway that converts cholesterol to breast-related hormones (e.g. oestrogen). Each of these four genes were significantly more variable in individuals homozygous for rs11075995 (A/A) breast cancer risk allele located in theFTOgene, which encodes an RNA demethylase. The A/A allele was also found associated with reduced expression ofFTO, suggesting an epi-transcriptomic mechanism may underlie the dysregulation of genes involved in hormonal biosynthesis leading to an increased risk of breast cancer. These findings provide evidence that genetic variants govern high levels of expression variance in breast tissue, thus building a more comprehensive insight into the underlying biology of breast cancer risk loci.
The length of lipoteichoic acid polymers controlsStaphylococcus aureuscell size and envelope integrity
Authors: Hesser Anthony R. , Matano Leigh M. , Vickery Christopher R. , Wood B. McKay , Santiago Ace George , Morris Heidi G. , Do Truc , Losick Richard , Walker Suzanne 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTThe opportunistic pathogenStaphylococcus aureusis protected by a cell envelope that is crucial for viability. In addition to peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is an especially important component of theS. aureuscell envelope. LTA is an anionic polymer anchored to a glycolipid in the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. It was known that deleting the gene for UgtP, the enzyme that makes this glycolipid anchor, causes cell growth and division defects. InBacillus subtilis, growth abnormalities from the loss ofugtPhave been attributed to the absence of the encoded protein, not to loss of its enzymatic activity. Here, we show that growth defects inS. aureus ugtPdeletion mutants are due to the long, abnormal LTA polymer that is produced when the glycolipid anchor is missing from the outer leaflet of the membrane. Dysregulated cell growth leads to defective cell division, and these phenotypes are corrected by mutations in the LTA polymerase,ltaS, that reduce polymer length. We also show thatS. aureusmutants with long LTA are sensitized to cell wall hydrolases, beta-lactam antibiotics, and compounds that target other cell envelope pathways. We conclude that control of LTA polymer length is important forS. aureusphysiology and promotes survival under stressful conditions, including antibiotic stress.IMPORTANCEMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a common cause of community- and hospital-acquired infections and is responsible for a large fraction of deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.S. aureusis surrounded by a complex cell envelope that protects it from antimicrobial compounds and other stresses. Here we show that controlling the length of an essential cell envelope polymer, lipoteichoic acid, is critical for controllingS. aureuscell size and cell envelope integrity. We also show that genes involved in LTA length regulation are required for resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in MRSA. The proteins encoded by these genes may be targets for combination therapy with an appropriate beta-lactam.
Proteome comparison between natural desiccation-tolerant plants and drought-protectedCaspicum annuumplants byMicrobacteriumsp. 3J1
Authors: García-Fontana C , Vilchez JI , Manzanera M 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTDesiccation-tolerant plants are able to survive for extended periods of time in the absence of water. The molecular understanding of the mechanisms used by these plants to resist droughts can be of great value for the improvement of tolerance of sensitive plants with agricultural interest. This understanding is especially relevant in an environment that tends to increase the number and intensity of droughts. The combination of certain microorganisms with drought-sensitive plants can improve their tolerance to water scarcity. One of these bacteria isMicrobacteriumsp. 3J1, an actinobacteria able to protect pepper plants from drought. In this study we describe the proteome of the interaction ofMicrobacteriumsp. 3J1 with pepper plants during droughts. We also compare this proteome with the proteome found in desiccation-tolerant plants. In addition, we studied the proteome ofMicrobacteriumsp. 3J1 subjected to drought to analyze its contribution to the plant-microbe interaction. We describe those mechanisms shared by desiccation-tolerant plants and sensitive plants protected by microorganisms focusing on protection against oxidative stress, and production of compatible solutes, plant hormones, and other more specific proteins.IMPORTANCEMaintaining agricultural production under greater number and intensity of droughts is one of the main global challenges. Some plants can survive in the absence of water for extended periods of time. The molecular understanding of the mechanisms used by these plants to resist droughts is of great interest for the development of new strategies to face this challenge. Some microorganisms protect sensitive plants to some extent from droughts.Microbacteriumsp. 3J1, is an actinobacteria able to protect pepper plants from drought. In this study we describe the different protein profile under drought used by the plant during the interaction with the microorganism and compare it with the one presented by desiccation-tolerant plants and with the one presented byMicrobacteriumsp. 3J1 to analyze its contribution to the plant-microbe interaction. We describe those mechanisms focusing on protection against oxidative stress, and production of compatible solutes, plant-hormones, and other more specific proteins.
Toxoplasmicidalin vitroeffect of dehydroepiandrosterone on Toxoplasma gondii extracellular tachizoytes
Authors: Muñiz-Hernández Saé , de León Carmen T. Gómez , Nophal Angélica Luna , Domínguez-Ramírez Lenin , Patrón-Soberano Olga-Araceli , Nava-Castro Karen E , Ostoa-Saloma Pedro , Morales-Montor Jorge 
Published: March 2020

AbstractToxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the apicomplexa protozoan parasiteToxoplasma gondii. This disease is a health burden, mainly in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, in whom they can cause death. Despite advances in the medical area, nowadays there are no new drugs to treat toxoplasmosis. The standard therapy to toxoplasmosis has not had progress for last seven decades; it is a combination of sulfadiazine-pyrimethamine (S-P); which is co-administered with folic acid due to the adverse effects of the drug. Several studies have shown that the conventional treatment has limited effectiveness and severe adverse effects. Thus, the search of better treatments with greater efficacy and without the adverse effects becomes relevant. In the current work we demonstrate for the first time the parasiticidal effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone produced by many mammals, on extracellular tachyzoites (the infective stage ofT. gondii). In vitro treatment with DHEA reduces the viability of extracellular tachyzoites, and both the active and passive invasion processes. The ultrastructural analysis of treated parasites showed that DHEA alters the cytoskeleton structures, leading in the lost of the organelle structure and organization, as well as, the lost of the cellular shape. On a molecular level, we observed an important reduction of the expression of several proteins that are essential for the motility and virulence of parasites when they were exposed to DHEA. These results suggest that DHEA could be used as an alternative treatment against toxoplasmosis.
Auditory-Vestibulomotor Temporal Processing and Crossmodal Plasticity for Musical Rhythm in the Early Blind
Authors: Phillips-Silver Jessica , VanMeter John W. , Rauschecker Josef P. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe auditory dorsal stream (ADS) is a cortical brain network responsible for sensorimotor control and integration, including spatiotemporal processing. Although spatiotemporal movement of the head and body involves input from the vestibular system, and despite the wealth of evidence for the strong coupling between the vestibular and visual systems, very little is known about how vestibular information is integrated with auditory-motor inputs in the ADS. There is also no evidence addressing to what extent auditory-vestibulomotor integration is affected by early visual deprivation. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and motion capture technology we show that in a task of sensorimotor temporal processing (‘feeling the beat’), the ADS includes an extension to parietoinsular vestibular cortex (PIVC) and to subcortical regions including basal ganglia and vestibular cerebellum. This circuit is engaged after sensorimotor synchronization training, during beat recognition, and is preserved in the early blind. The strength of activation of PIVC in the early blind correlates with a measure of lifetime physical spatial activity, suggesting that experience with vestibular stimulation via physical spatial activities might compensate for any negative effects of early blindness, and thus reinforcing the potential beneficial effects of mobility training. Finally, rhythmic entrainment provides an effective tool for studying auditory-vestibulomotor integration and music appreciation, and for developing music- and movement-based interventions for early blind individuals.
Activity-dependent tuning of intrinsic excitability in mouse and human neurogliaform cells
Authors: Chittajallu R. , Auville K. , Mahadevan V. , Lai M. , Hunt S. , Calvigioni D. , Pelkey K.A. , Zaghloul K.A. , McBain C.J. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTThe ability to modulate the efficacy of synaptic communication between neurons constitutes an essential property critical for normal brain function. Animal models have proved invaluable in revealing a wealth of diverse cellular mechanisms underlying varied plasticity modes. However, to what extent these processes are mirrored in humans is largely uncharted thus questioning their relevance to human circuit function. In this study, we focus on neurogliaform cells, a specialized form of neuron that possess physiological features enabling them to impart a widespread inhibitory influence on neural activity. We demonstrate that this prominent neuronal subtype, embedded in both mouse and human neural circuits, undergo remarkably similar activity-dependent modulation manifesting as epochs of enhanced intrinsic excitability. In principle, these evolutionary conserved plasticity routes likely tune the extent of neurogliaform cell mediated inhibition thus constituting canonical circuit mechanisms relevant for human cognitive processing and behavior.