bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver abscess: diagnostic and management issues found in the low resource setting
Authors: Khim Gaetan , Em Sokhom , Mo Satdin , Townell Nicola 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Introduction
Liver abscesses are mainly caused by parasitic or bacterial infection and are an important cause of hospitalization in low-middle income countries (LMIC). The pathophysiology of abscesses is different depending on the etiology and requires different strategies for diagnosis and management. This paper discusses pathophysiology and epidemiology, the current diagnostic approach and its limitations and management of liver abscess in low resource settings.

Sources of data
We searched PubMed for relevant reviews by typing the following keywords: ‘amoebic liver abscess’ and ‘pyogenic liver abscess’.

Areas of agreement
Amoebic liver abscess can be treated medically while pyogenic liver abscess usually needs to be percutaneously drained and treated with effective antibiotics.

Areas of controversy
In an LMIC setting, where misuse of antibiotics is a recognized issue, liver abscesses are a therapeutic conundrum, leaving little choices for treatment for physicians in low capacity settings.

Growing points
As antimicrobial resistance awareness and antibiotic stewardship programs are put into place, liver abscess management will likely improve in LMICs provided that systematic adapted guidelines are established and practiced.

Areas timely for developing research
The lack of a quick and reliable diagnostic strategy in the majority of LMIC makes selection of appropriate treatment challenging.
Impaired Fixation-Related Theta Modulation Predicts Reduced Visual Span and Guided Search Deficits in Schizophrenia
Authors: Dias Elisa C , Van Voorhis Abraham C , Braga Filipe , Todd Julianne , Lopez-Calderon Javier , Martinez Antigona , Javitt Daniel C 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
During normal visual behavior, individuals scan the environment through a series of saccades and fixations. At each fixation, the phase of ongoing rhythmic neural oscillations is reset, thereby increasing efficiency of subsequent visual processing. This phase-reset is reflected in the generation of a fixation-related potential (FRP). Here, we evaluate the integrity of theta phase-reset/FRP generation and Guided Visual Search task in schizophrenia. Subjects performed serial and parallel versions of the task. An initial study (15 healthy controls (HC)/15 schizophrenia patients (SCZ)) investigated behavioral performance parametrically across stimulus features and set-sizes. A subsequent study (25-HC/25-SCZ) evaluated integrity of search-related FRP generation relative to search performance and evaluated visual span size as an index of parafoveal processing. Search times were significantly increased for patients versus controls across all conditions. Furthermore, significantly, deficits were observed for fixation-related theta phase-reset across conditions, that fully predicted impaired reduced visual span and search performance and correlated with impaired visual components of neurocognitive processing. By contrast, overall search strategy was similar between groups. Deficits in theta phase-reset mechanisms are increasingly documented across sensory modalities in schizophrenia. Here, we demonstrate that deficits in fixation-related theta phase-reset during naturalistic visual processing underlie impaired efficiency of early visual function in schizophrenia.
Model-Based Meta-analysis of Rifampicin Exposure and Mortality in Indonesian Tuberculous Meningitis Trials
Authors: Svensson Elin M , Dian Sofiati , Te Brake Lindsey , Ganiem Ahmad Rizal , Yunivita Vycke , van Laarhoven Arjan , Van Crevel Reinout , Ruslami Rovina , Aarnoutse Rob E 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIntensified antimicrobial treatment with higher rifampicin doses may improve outcome of tuberculous meningitis, but the desirable exposure and necessary dose are unknown. Our objective was to characterize the relationship between rifampicin exposures and mortality in order to identify optimal dosing for tuberculous meningitis.MethodsAn individual patient meta-analysis was performed on data from 3 Indonesian randomized controlled phase 2 trials comparing oral rifampicin 450 mg (~10 mg/kg) to intensified regimens including 750–1350 mg orally, or a 600-mg intravenous infusion. Pharmacokinetic data from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analyzed with nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Six-month survival was described with parametric time-to-event models.ResultsPharmacokinetic analyses included 133 individuals (1150 concentration measurements, 170 from CSF). The final model featured 2 disposition compartments, saturable clearance, and autoinduction. Rifampicin CSF concentrations were described by a partition coefficient (5.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5%–6.4%) and half-life for distribution plasma to CSF (2.1 hours; 95% CI, 1.3–2.9 hours). Higher CSF protein concentration increased the partition coefficient. Survival of 148 individuals (58 died, 15 dropouts) was well described by an exponentially declining hazard, with lower age, higher baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score, and higher individual rifampicin plasma exposure reducing the hazard. Simulations predicted an increase in 6-month survival from approximately 50% to approximately 70% upon increasing the oral rifampicin dose from 10 to 30 mg/kg, and predicted that even higher doses would further improve survival.ConclusionsHigher rifampicin exposure substantially decreased the risk of death, and the maximal effect was not reached within the studied range. We suggest a rifampicin dose of at least 30 mg/kg to be investigated in phase 3 clinical trials.
Treatment of severe aortic stenosis and left ventricular outflow tract mass with transcutaneous aortic valve implantation: a case report
Authors: Naeim Hesham A , Saeed Waleed , Alharbi Ibraheem , Abuelatta Reda 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundPercutaneous implantation of aortic valve for severe aortic stenosis (AS) in the presence of pedunculated mobile left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) mass not reported before. In this case report, we address the feasibility of this procedure.Case summaryAn 80-year-old patient who presented with presyncope, transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) revealed severe calcific AS and LVOT mass measuring 2.1*1.5 cm. The patient was turned down for surgery. It was decided that transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) be performed because the valve compresses the mass against the proximal part of the interventricular septum. The mass peduncle was 1.4 cm, and it was 4 mm away from the annulus. This meant the valve was needed to be deployed 18 mm below the annulus to cover the mass completely. Gentle manipulation and direct valve deployment without preballoon dilation to decrease the possibility of fragment embolization were necessary. Self-expandable core valve deployed as low as possible, after initial deployment, the distance of LVOT covered by the valve measured by TOE 1.66 cm, the whole mass was covered, then the valve was fully deployed. The patient was extubated in the catheterization room; there was no clinical evidence of embolization. The patient was discharged home after 2 days. A follow-up TTE after 6 months showed a well-functioning valve and the LVOT mass then disappeared.DiscussionPedunculated LVOT mass should be resected surgically. In high-risk surgical patients, direct TAVI to compress the mass is feasible in experienced canters. The safety issues need more research and more cases to judge. Transoesophageal echocardiography during the procedure is mandatory to guide the valve position.
An efficient algorithm based on electrograms characteristics to identify ventricular tachycardia isthmus entrance in post-infarct patients
Authors: Battaglia Alberto , Odille Freddy , Magnin-Poull Isabelle , Sellal Jean-Marc , Hoyland Philip , Hooks Darren , Voilliot Damien , Felblinger Jacques , de Chillou Christian 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Aims
Our study assesses the value of electrograms (EGMs) characteristics to identify a ventricular tachycardia (VT) isthmus entrance in patients with post-infarct VT. Post-infarct VTs are mostly due to a re-entrant circuit. A pacemapping (PM) approach is able to localize the VT isthmus during sinus rhythm. Limited data are available about the role of local EGMs in defining VT isthmus location.

Methods and results
Twenty consecutive patients (70% male) referred for post-infarct VT catheter ablation were included in the present study. The VT isthmus was defined according to the PM method. At each recording site, 10 characteristics of the local EGM were assessed to predict the location of the VT isthmus entrance. In total, 924 EGMs were acquired, of which 127 were located in the VT isthmus entrance. Logistic regression analysis showed that bipolar voltage, number of EGM positive peaks, and sQRS interval were independently associated with VT isthmus entrance location. The ROC curve best fitted the model at the cut-off 0.1641 (sensitivity 72%, specificity 75.2%, positive predictive value 31.3%, negative predictive value 94.4%, area under the curve 0.78, P < 0.001). Based upon these results, we developed an algorithm implemented in an automatic calculator to determine the likelihood that an EGM is located at a VT isthmus entrance.

Conclusion
Our study suggests that three EGM characteristics: bipolar voltage, number of positive peaks, and sQRS interval can successfully identify a VT isthmus entrance in post-infarct patients.
Green infrastructure and atmospheric pollution shape diversity and composition of phyllosphere bacterial communities in an urban landscape
Authors: Wuyts Karen , Smets Wenke , Lebeer Sarah , Samson Roeland 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
The microbial habitat on leaf surfaces, also called the phyllosphere, is a selective environment for bacteria, harbouring specific phyllosphere bacterial communities (PBCs). These communities influence plant health, plant-community diversity, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. Host plants in an urban environment accommodate different PBCs than those in non-urban environments, but previous studies did not address individual urban factors. In this study, the PBC composition and diversity of 55 London plane (Platanus x acerifolia) trees throughout an urban landscape (Antwerp, Belgium) was determined using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. An increasing proportion of green infrastructure in the surrounding of the trees, and subsequently decreasing proportion of anthropogenic land use, was linked with taxa loss, expressed in lower phyllosphere alpha diversity and higher abundances of typical phyllosphere bacteria such as Hymenobacter, Pseudomonas and Beijerinckia. Although air pollution exposure, as assessed by leaf magnetic analysis, did not link with alpha diversity, it correlated with shifts in PBC composition in form of turnover, an equilibrium of taxa gain and taxa loss. We found that both urban landscape composition and air pollution exposure—each in their own unique way—influence bacterial communities in the urban tree phyllosphere.
A European questionnaire-based study on population awareness and risk perception of antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Alexa (Oniciuc) Elena-Alexandra , Likotrafiti Eleni , Garre Alberto , Ruiz Lorena , Prieto Miguel , Alvarez-Ordóñez Avelino 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACT
To tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is of outmost importance for the general population to understand the severity and the relevance of different routes of transmission. Respondents of different age groups, educational and occupational backgrounds, area of living, diet and household composition participated in an online survey with questions concerning socio-demographics, personal use of antibiotics, awareness, general knowledge, sources of information, behavior and attitude toward antibiotics, and risk perception on antibiotics and AMR. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were carried out. A total of 1252 respondents, mainly from EU, participated in the survey. About 57.7% declared they consumed antibiotics in the last year and some misguided behaviors were identified, especially for those not having a food- or health-related background, who more frequently failed in giving the right answer to uncontroversial true/false questions (ANOVA, P &lt; 0.05). The youngest respondents were less confident on the information received from traditional media (OR = 0.425), the national government (OR = 0.462), and consumer organizations (OR = 0.497), while they frequently obtained information from social networks and online media, which could therefore be exploited as a channel for educational campaigns targeting this population group. New measures, strategies and policy agenda at a European level aimed at improving awareness on AMR among targeted community groups must be taken into consideration.
Developing Silvicultural Tools for Managing Mixed Forest Structures in Patagonia
Authors: Caselli Marina , Loguercio Gabriel Ángel , Urretavizcaya María Florencia , Defossé Guillermo Emilio 
Published: October 2019

AbstractLeaf area is an important ecophysiological and silvicultural variable for quantifying the potential production of trees, since it can represent growing space occupancy. At the stand level in mixed forests, productivity is conditioned on how growing space is distributed among different components structure, such as species and strata. In complex structures, traditional forest variables (i.e., basal area) do not allow a good representation of the occupied growing space, whereas leaf area appears as a better indicator. Andean cypress and coihue beech are species of the Andean-Patagonian forests that grow in either pure or mixed stands, presenting high productive potential. The aim of this study was to develop, for each species, leaf area prediction functions through allometric relations and to evaluate the relation between leaf area, volume increment and growing space occupancy. For this purpose, we carried out destructive sampling of individuals of both species in mixed Andean cypress-coihue forests. Results for these species show that leaf area can be reliably estimated by using the models developed in this study. These models, based on sapwood area, tree diameter, and/or height measurements, explain at least 90 percent of variation in leaf area. The functions fitted are a fundamental tool to study the distribution of growth and to formulate management guidelines for mixed forests through the control of growing space occupancy using leaf area index.
The Amount of RNA Editing Sites in Liverwort Organellar Genes Is Correlated with GC Content and Nuclear PPR Protein Diversity
Authors: Dong Shanshan , Zhao Chaoxian , Zhang Shouzhou , Wu Hong , Mu Weixue , Wei Tong , Li Na , Wan Tao , Liu Huan , Cui Jie , Zhu Ruiliang , Goffinet Bernard , Liu Yang 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
RNA editing occurs in the organellar mRNAs of all land plants but the marchantioid liverworts, making liverworts a perfect group for studying the evolution of RNA editing. Here, we profiled the RNA editing of 42 exemplars spanning the ordinal phylogenetic diversity of liverworts, and screened for the nuclear-encoded pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins in the transcriptome assemblies of these taxa. We identified 7,428 RNA editing sites in 128 organellar genes from 31 non-marchantioid liverwort species, and characterized 25,059 PPR protein sequences. The abundance of organellar RNA editing sites varies greatly among liverwort lineages, genes, and codon positions, and shows strong positive correlations with the GC content of protein-coding genes, and the diversity of the PLS class of nuclear PPR proteins.
The consequences of increased 4E-BP1 in polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Holditch Sara J , Brown Carolyn N , Atwood Daniel J , Pokhrel Deepak , Brown Sara E , Lombardi Andrew M , Nguyen Khoa N , Hill Ryan C , Lanaspa Miguel , Hopp Katharina , Weiser-Evans Mary C M , Edelstein Charles L 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary renal disease, characterized by cyst formation and growth. Hyperproliferation is a major contributor to cyst growth. At the nexus of regulating proliferation, is 4E-BP1. We demonstrate that ADPKD mouse and rat models, ADPKD patient renal biopsies and PKD1−/− cells exhibited hyperphosphorylated 4E-BP1, a biomarker of increased translation and proliferation. We hypothesized that expression of constitutively active 4E-BP1 constructs (4E-BP1F113A and 4E-BP1R13AF113A) would decrease proliferation and reduce cyst expansion. Utilizing the Pkd1RC/RC mouse, we determined the effect of 4E-BP1F113A on PKD. Unexpectedly, 4E-BP1F113A resulted in increased cyst burden and suppressed apoptosis markers, increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and increased mitochondrial proteins. Exogenous 4E-BP1 enhanced proliferation, decreased apoptosis, increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, impaired NADPH oxidoreductase activity, increased mitochondrial proteins and increased superoxide production in PKD patient-derived renal epithelial cells. Reduced 4E-BP1 expression suppressed proliferation, restored apoptosis and improved cellular metabolism. These findings provide insight into how cyst-lining cells respond to 4E-BP1.
A non-coding genetic variant associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm alters ERG gene regulation
Authors: Marsman Judith , Gimenez Gregory , Day Robert C , Horsfield Julia A , Jones Gregory T 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a major cause of sudden death in the elderly. While AAA has some overlapping genetic and environmental risk factors with atherosclerosis, there are substantial differences, and AAA-specific medication is lacking. A recent meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies has identified four novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specifically associated with AAA. Here, we investigated the gene regulatory function for one of four non-coding SNPs associated with AAA, rs2836411, which is located in an intron of the ERG gene. Rs2836411 resides within a &gt;70 kb super-enhancer that has high levels of H3K27ac and H3K4me1 in vascular endothelial and haematopoietic cell types. Enhancer luciferase assays in cell lines showed that the risk allele significantly alters enhancer activity. The risk allele also correlates with reduced ERG expression in aortic and other vascular tissues. To identify whether rs2836411 directly contacts the promoters of ERG and/or of genes further away, we performed allele-specific circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing. In vascular endothelial cells, which express ERG, the SNP region interacts highly within the super-enhancer, while in vascular smooth muscle cells, which do not express ERG, the interactions are distributed across a wider region that includes neighbouring genes. Furthermore, the risk allele has fewer interactions within the super-enhancer compared to the protective allele. In conclusion, our results indicate that rs2836411 likely affects ERG expression by altering enhancer activity and changing local chromatin interactions. ERG is involved in vascular development, angiogenesis, and inflammation in atherosclerosis; therefore mechanistically, rs2836411 could contribute to AAA by modulating ERG levels.
Ecological impact of watershed water pollution control on coastal tourist scenic spots
Authors: Sun Qiong , Wang Xiaofang , Wang Li 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of coastal areas has polluted the watershed water, affecting the ecological environment of wetland scenic spots. This paper briefly introduced the constructed wetland, a means of watershed water pollution control, and briefly explained its mechanism of water pollution control. Then, an example of Yancheng Coastal Wetland Natural Reserve in Jiangsu Province was analyzed to analyze water quality ecological changes in the basin before and after the construction of constructed wetland. The results showed that the basin of the natural reserve changed from acidic to alkaline, and ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand decreased significantly and maintained at a relatively low level after the constructed wetland controlled the water pollution in the basin; subsurface constructed wetland had a better effect on reducing ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen and total phosphorus; surface constructed wetland had a better effect on reducing chemical oxygen demand. In conclusion, constructed wetlands as a means of water pollution control in the watershed can effectively improve the water quality ecology of coastal wetland natural reserves.
Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection of Primary Human Spinal Astrocytes Produces Intracellular Amylin, Amyloid-β, and an Amyloidogenic Extracellular Environment
Authors: Bubak Andrew N , Como Christina N , Coughlan Christina M , Johnson Noah R , Hassell James E , Mescher Teresa , Niemeyer Christy S , Mahalingam Ravi , Cohrs Randall J , Boyd Timothy D , Potter Huntington , Russ Holger A , Nagel Maria A 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Herpes zoster is linked to amyloid-associated diseases, including dementia, macular degeneration, and diabetes mellitus, in epidemiological studies. Thus, we examined whether varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected cells produce amyloid.

Methods
Production of intracellular amyloidogenic proteins (amylin, amyloid precursor protein [APP], and amyloid-β [Aβ]) and amyloid, as well as extracellular amylin, Aβ, and amyloid, was compared between mock- and VZV-infected quiescent primary human spinal astrocytes (qHA-sps). The ability of supernatant from infected cells to induce amylin or Aβ42 aggregation was quantitated. Finally, the amyloidogenic activity of viral peptides was examined.

Results
VZV-infected qHA-sps, but not mock-infected qHA-sps, contained intracellular amylin, APP, and/or Aβ, and amyloid. No differences in extracellular amylin, Aβ40, or Aβ42 were detected, yet only supernatant from VZV-infected cells induced amylin aggregation and, to a lesser extent, Aβ42 aggregation into amyloid fibrils. VZV glycoprotein B (gB) peptides assembled into fibrils and catalyzed amylin and Aβ42 aggregation.

Conclusions
VZV-infected qHA-sps produced intracellular amyloid and their extracellular environment promoted aggregation of cellular peptides into amyloid fibrils that may be due, in part, to VZV gB peptides. These findings suggest that together with host and other environmental factors, VZV infection may increase the toxic amyloid burden and contribute to amyloid-associated disease progression.