bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Superior real‐time polymerase chain reaction detection of Babesia microti parasites in whole blood utilizing high‐copy BMN antigens as amplification targets
Authors: Grabias Bryan , Clement Jean , Krause Peter J. , Lepore Timothy , Kumar Sanjai 
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUNDBabesiosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks and caused by apicomplexan parasites, most commonly Babesia microti. Additionally, blood and blood products collected from asymptomatically infected blood donors may cause transfusion‐transmitted infections in recipients. Highly sensitive molecular assays that detect parasite nucleic acid are needed for laboratory diagnosis and to identify and defer clinically silent but parasitemic blood donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSHere we report the development and analytical and clinical characterization of a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR)–based assay for the detection of B. microti genomic DNA in whole blood. We evaluate the detection of Babesia parasites using two separate targets, the traditional18S ribosomal subunit gene (Bm18S) and members of the abundant BMN family of seroreactive antigens (BmBMN).RESULTSAnalytical sensitivity determination using a probit analysis demonstrated an analytical sensitivity of 30.9 parasites/mL for 18S amplification and 10.0 parasites/mL for BMN amplification The BMN primer set also demonstrates superior sensitivity for serial dilution panels prepared from clinically diagnosed Babesia‐infected blood samples, generally detecting 10‐fold more dilute nucleic acid.CONCLUSIONSCumulatively, our data demonstrate that RT‐PCR detection of the BMN family of seroreactive antigens reflects a sensitive and superior assay for the detection of B. microti in whole blood samples.
Primary extracranial nasopharyngeal meningioma in a dog
Authors: Fauchon Emilie , Husson Jean‐Charles , Hernandez Juan , Gomes Eymeric 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAn 8‐year‐old Labrador Retriever was presented for inspiratory efforts with stertor. A rhinoscopy and a magnetic resonance imaging scan were performed and revealed a naso‐pharyngeal mass. The mass was identified in the nasopharynx without meningeal extension. This mass was both T1‐ and T2‐hyperintense, compared to normal brain parenchyma without significant postcontrast enhancement. The mass was surgically removed and the histologic diagnosis was a mesenchymal tumor. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies was conducted and consistent with an extracranial meningioma. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case report documenting a primary extracranial nasopharyngeal meningioma in a dog.
The skin microbiome of wound scars and unaffected skin in patients with moderate to severe burns in the subacute phase
Authors: Liu Su‐Hsun , Huang Yhu‐Chering , Chen Leslie Y , Yu Shu‐Chuan , Yu Hsiao‐Yun , Chuang Shiow‐Shuh 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAlthough studies on skin microbiome of acute and chronic wounds abound, evidence on newly built microbial communities of subacute wounds remains scant. To characterize the skin microbiome of recently healed (scarred) burn wounds in relation to unaffected skin surfaces, we collected weekly swabs from patients with moderate to severe burns in the 3rd postburn month for 4 weeks in 2015. We performed skin type (moist, dry, and oily)‐matched comparisons within six burn patients (43 pairs of swabs) and with 13 skin‐healthy, control patients (22 pairs of samples) using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing results. Results of comparative microbiome analysis showed that, there were no substantial variations in the microbial abundance (all p > 0.05) or composition (all p > 0.01, adjusted for multiple comparisons) between samples obtained from wound scars and those from unaffected surfaces of burn patients. Nor did we find significant temporal dynamics in microbial richness or diversity in burn samples (all p ≥ 0.05). However, samples from burn patients harbored more Firmicutes (median: 25.6%, interquartile range [IQR]: 14.3%–52.8%) than those of control patients (14.9%, IQR: 6.7%–27.0%; p: 0.016), even after adjusting for host age, sex, and skin type‐matching (p: 0.026). The number of observed bacterial operational taxonomic units at the genus level was reduced in burn patients (median: 62, IRQ: 32–85) as compared to control patients (median: 128, IQR: 112–136; age‐, skin type‐adjusted p < 0.01). Meanwhile, estimates of community diversity and evenness for surveyed body sites of burn patients were higher than those of control patients (all adjusted p ≤ 0.05). With a much‐reduced bacterial burden and a relative overgrowth of Staphylococcus spp., the skin microbiota of burn patients remained dysbiotic in the subacute phase as compared to that of skin‐normal patients.
TEILHARD DE CHARDIN, ORIGINAL SIN, AND THE SIX PROPOSITIONS
Authors: Grumett David , Bentley Paul 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn 1925, the French Jesuit geologist, paleontologist, and theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was removed from his teaching position at the Institut Catholique in Paris. He spent most of the next twenty years in China and his major theological writings were not published during his lifetime. We have uncovered major new archival sources on the investigation of Teilhard by the Jesuit curia and the Holy Office of the Roman Catholic Church. These include the Six Propositions to which he was required to subscribe, which are here published and analyzed for the first time, along with his subscription. Associated correspondence, including a letter written by Teilhard to the Jesuit superior general Wlodimir Ledóchowski, enables a fuller understanding of Teilhard's response to the investigation of him. Moreover, comparison with similar investigations into other theologians in the first half of the 1920s allows an assessment of how the complex power dynamics between the Jesuit curia, the Holy Office, and Pope Pius XI shaped the outcome.
Eccentric exercise increases circulating fibroblast activation protein α but not bioactive fibroblast growth factor 21 in healthy humans
Authors: Parmar Biraj , Lewis Jo E. , Samms Ricardo J. , Ebling Francis J. P. , Cheng Christine C. , Adams Andrew C. , Mallinson Joanne , Cooper Scott , Taylor Tariq , Ghasemi Reza , Stephens Francis B. , Tsintzas Kostas 
Published: April 2018

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
The role of FGF21 as an exercise‐induced myokine remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether eccentric exercise would augment the release of FGF21 and/or its regulatory enzyme, fibroblast activation protein α (FAP), from skeletal muscle tissue into the systemic circulation of healthy human volunteers.

What is the main finding and its importance?
Eccentric exercise does not release total or bioactive FGF21 from human skeletal muscle. However, exercise releases its regulatory enzyme, FAP, from tissue(s) other than muscle, which might play a role in the inactivation of FGF21.

AbstractThe primary aim of the investigation was to determine whether eccentric exercise would augment the release of the myokine fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and/or its regulatory enzyme, fibroblast activation protein α (FAP), from skeletal muscle tissue into the systemic circulation of healthy human volunteers. Physically active young healthy male volunteers (age 25.0 ± 10.7 years; body mass index 23.1 ± 7.9 kg m−2) completed three sets of 25 repetitions (with 5 min rest in between) of single‐leg maximal eccentric contractions using their non‐dominant leg, whilst the dominant leg served as a control. Arterialized blood samples from a hand vein and deep venous blood samples from the common femoral vein of the exercised leg, along with blood flow of the superficial femoral artery using Doppler ultrasound, were obtained before and after each exercise bout and every 20 min during the 3 h recovery period. Muscle biopsy samples were taken at baseline, immediately and 3 and 48 h postexercise. The main findings showed that there was no significant increase in total or bioactive FGF21 secreted from skeletal muscle into the systemic circulation in response to exercise. Furthermore, skeletal muscle FGF21 protein content was unchanged in response to exercise. However, there was a significant increase in arterialized and venous FAP concentrations, with no apparent contribution to its release from the exercised leg. These findings raise the possibility that the elevated levels of FAP might play a role in the inactivation of FGF21 during exercise.
Neuroprotection by post‐stroke administration of an oral formulation of angiotensin‐(1–7) in ischaemic stroke
Authors: Bennion Douglas M. , Jones Chad H. , Donnangelo Lauren L. , Graham Justin T. , Isenberg Jacob D. , Dang Alex N. , Rodriguez Vermali , Sinisterra Ruben D. M. , Sousa Frederico B. , Santos Robson A. S. , Sumners Colin 
Published: April 2018

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Angiotensin‐(1–7) decreases cerebral infarct volume and improves neurological function when delivered centrally before and during ischaemic stroke. Here, we assessed the neuroprotective effects of angiotensin‐(1–7) when delivered orally post‐stroke.

What is the main finding and its importance?
We show that oral delivery of angiotensin‐(1–7) attenuates cerebral damage induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats, without affecting blood pressure or cerebral blood flow. Importantly, these treatments begin post‐stroke at times coincident with the treatment window for tissue plasminogen activator, providing supporting evidence for clinical translation of this new therapeutic strategy.

AbstractAs a target for stroke therapies, the angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2–angiotensin‐(1–7)–Mas [ACE2/Ang‐(1–7)/Mas] axis of the renin–angiotensin system can be activated chronically to induce neuroprotective effects, in opposition to the deleterious effects of angiotensin II via its type 1 receptor. However, more clinically relevant treatment protocols with Ang‐(1–7) that involve its systemic administration beginning after the onset of ischaemia have not been tested. In this study, we tested systemic post‐stroke treatments using a molecule where Ang‐(1–7) is included within hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin [HPβCD–Ang‐(1–7)] as an orally bioavailable treatment. In three separate protocols, HPβCD–Ang‐(1–7) was administered orally to Sprague–Dawley rats after induction of ischaemic stroke by endothelin‐1‐induced middle cerebral artery occlusion: (i) to assess its effects on cerebral damage and behavioural deficits; (ii) to determine its effects on cardiovascular parameters; and (iii) to determine whether it altered cerebral blood flow. The results indicate that post‐stroke oral administration of HPβCD–Ang‐(1–7) resulted in 25% reductions in cerebral infarct volumes and improvement in neurological functions (P < 0.05), without inducing any alterations in blood pressure, heart rate or cerebral blood flow. In conclusion, Ang‐(1–7) treatment using an oral formulation after the onset of ischaemia induces significant neuroprotection in stroke and might represent a viable approach for taking advantage of the protective ACE2/Ang‐(1–7)/Mas axis in this disease.
Opciones terapéuticas frente a especies de Candida resistentes a las equinocandinas
Authors: Cortés Hidalgo Andrea Patricia , Roa Dueñas Oscar Hernando , Méndez Fandiño Yardany Rafael , Álvarez Moreno Carlos Arturo 
Published: April 2018

<p><strong>Introducción</strong>: La infección por levaduras del género <em>Candida</em> representa la causa más común de infecciones fúngicas invasivas. Su alta incidencia y la creciente resistencia frente a los azoles y, recientemente, a las equinocandinas ha generado la necesidad de buscar nuevas alternativas farmacológicas. Esta revisión presenta las principales alternativas farmacológicas en estudio frente a <em>Candida</em> resistente a equinocandinas. <strong>Métodos</strong>: Se buscó literatura referente al tema en las bases de datos Bireme, Clinical Key, Embase, Cochrane, Lilacs, Pubmed y Scopus. Se incluyeron 15 artículos en esta revisión. <strong>Resultados</strong>: Se exploran diferentes alternativas, incluyendo el aumento de dosis de las equinocandinas, su combinación con otros medicamentos y nuevos compuestos en estudio. <strong>Conclusión</strong>: A pesar de que las infecciones por <em>Candida</em> resistente a equinocandinas aún representan un desafío, dos alternativas farmacológicas se presentan como promisorias: la combinación con medicamentos existentes como el diclofenaco y nuevos compuestos que se encuentran actualmente en fase II de estudios clínicos.</p><p> </p>
In Vitro
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates of Borrelia miyamotoi
Authors: Koetsveld Joris , Manger Annemijn , Hoornstra Dieuwertje , Draga Ronald O. , Oei Anneke , Kolyasnikova Nadezhda M. , Toporkova Marina G. , Sarksyan Denis S. , Wagemakers Alex , Platonov Alexander E. , Hovius Joppe W. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Borrelia miyamotoi
is an emerging relapsing fever (RF)
Borrelia
species that is reported to cause human disease in regions in which Lyme borreliosis is endemic. We recently showed that
B. miyamotoi
tick isolates are resistant to amoxicillin
in vitro
; however, clinical isolates have not been studied. Therefore, our aim was to show the antimicrobial susceptibility of recently obtained clinical isolates of
B. miyamotoi
. A dilution series of various antibiotics was made in modified Kelly-Pettenkofer medium with 10% fetal calf serum. The susceptibilities of different
B. miyamotoi
clinical,
B. miyamotoi
tick, RF
Borrelia
, and
Borrelia burgdorferi
sensu lato
isolates were tested by measuring MICs through colorimetric changes and by counting motile spirochetes by dark-field microscopy after 72 h of incubation. The ceftriaxone and azithromycin MIC ranges of the six
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates tested were 0.03 to 0.06 mg/liter and 0.0016 to 0.0032 mg/liter, respectively. These values are similar to MICs for RF
Borrelia
strains and
B. miyamotoi
tick isolates. All tested RF
Borrelia
strains were susceptible to doxycycline (microscopic MIC range, 0.0625 to 0.25 mg/liter). In contrast to the MICs of the tested
B. burgdorferi sensu lato
strains and in line with our previous findings, the amoxicillin MICs (range, 8 to 32 mg/liter) of all RF
Borrelia
strains, including
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates, were above the clinical breakpoint for resistance (≤4 mg/liter). Clinical isolates of
B. miyamotoi
are highly susceptible to doxycycline, azithromycin, and ceftriaxone
in vitro
. Interestingly, as described previously for tick isolates, amoxicillin shows poor
in vitro
activity against
B. miyamotoi
clinical isolates.
Food Spoilage-Associated Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, and Lactobacillus Species Display Different Survival Strategies in Response to Competition
Authors: Andreevskaya Margarita , Jääskeläinen Elina , Johansson Per , Ylinen Anne , Paulin Lars , Björkroth Johanna , Auvinen Petri 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

Psychrotrophic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the prevailing spoilage organisms in packaged cold-stored meat products. Species composition and metabolic activities of such LAB spoilage communities are determined by the nature of the meat product, storage conditions, and interspecies interactions. Our knowledge of system level responses of LAB during such interactions is very limited. To expand it, we studied interactions between three common psychrotrophic spoilage LAB (
Leuconostoc gelidum
,
Lactococcus piscium
, and
Lactobacillus oligofermentans
) by comparing their time course transcriptome profiles obtained during their growth in individual, pairwise, and triple cultures. The study revealed how these LAB employed different strategies to cope with the consequences of interspecies competition. The fastest-growing bacterium,
Le. gelidum
, attempted to enhance its nutrient-scavenging and growth capabilities in the presence of other LAB through upregulation of carbohydrate catabolic pathways, pyruvate fermentation enzymes, and ribosomal proteins, whereas the slower-growing
Lc. piscium
and
Lb. oligofermentans
downregulated these functions. These findings may explain the competitive success and predominance of
Le. gelidum
in a variety of spoiled foods. Peculiarly, interspecies interactions induced overexpression of prophage genes and restriction modification systems (mechanisms of DNA exchange and protection against it) in
Lc. piscium
and
Lb. oligofermentans
but not in
Le. gelidum
. Cocultivation induced also overexpression of the numerous putative adhesins in
Lb. oligofermentans
. These adhesins might contribute to the survival of this slowly growing bacterium in actively growing meat spoilage communities.

IMPORTANCE
Despite the apparent relevance of LAB for biotechnology and human health, interactions between members of LAB communities are not well known. Knowledge of such interactions is crucial for understanding how these communities function and, consequently, whether there is any possibility to develop new strategies to interfere with their growth and to postpone spoilage of packaged and refrigerated foods. With the help of controlled experiments, detailed regulation events can be observed. This study gives an insight into the system level interactions and the different competition-induced survival strategies related to enhanced uptake and catabolism of carbon sources, overexpression of adhesins and putative bacteriocins, and the induction of exchange of genetic material. Even though this experiment dealt with only three LAB strains
in vitro
, these findings agreed well with the relative abundance patterns typically reported for these species in natural food microbial communities.
Evolution-Guided Structural and Functional Analyses of the HERC Family Reveal an Ancient Marine Origin and Determinants of Antiviral Activity
Authors: Paparisto Ermela , Woods Matthew W. , Coleman Macon D. , Moghadasi Seyed A. , Kochar Divjyot S. , Tom Sean K. , Kohio Hinissan P. , Gibson Richard M. , Rohringer Taryn J. , Hunt Nina R. , Di Gravio Eric J. , Zhang Jonathan Y. , Tian Meijuan , Gao Yong , Arts Eric J. , Barr Stephen D. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACT

In humans, homologous to the E6-AP carboxyl terminus (HECT) and regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1)-like domain-containing protein 5 (HERC5) is an interferon-induced protein that inhibits replication of evolutionarily diverse viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To better understand the origin, evolution, and function of HERC5, we performed phylogenetic, structural, and functional analyses of the entire human small-HERC family, which includes HERC3, HERC4, HERC5, and HERC6. We demonstrated that the
HERC
family emerged >595 million years ago and has undergone gene duplication and gene loss events throughout its evolution. The structural topology of the RCC1-like domain and HECT domains from all HERC paralogs is highly conserved among evolutionarily diverse vertebrates despite low sequence homology. Functional analyses showed that the human small HERCs exhibit different degrees of antiviral activity toward HIV-1 and that HERC5 provides the strongest inhibition. Notably, coelacanth HERC5 inhibited simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), but not HIV-1, particle production, suggesting that the antiviral activity of HERC5 emerged over 413 million years ago and exhibits species- and virus-specific restriction. In addition, we showed that both HERC5 and HERC6 are evolving under strong positive selection, particularly blade 1 of the RCC1-like domain, which we showed is a key determinant of antiviral activity. These studies provide insight into the origin, evolution, and biological importance of the human restriction factor HERC5 and the other HERC family members.

IMPORTANCE
Intrinsic immunity plays an important role as the first line of defense against viruses. Studying the origins, evolution, and functions of proteins responsible for effecting this defense will provide key information about virus-host relationships that can be exploited for future drug development. We showed that HERC5 is one such antiviral protein that belongs to an evolutionarily conserved family of HERCs with an ancient marine origin. Not all vertebrates possess all HERC members, suggesting that different HERCs emerged at different times during evolution to provide the host with a survival advantage. Consistent with this, two of the more recently emerged HERC members, HERC5 and HERC6, displayed strong signatures of having been involved in an ancient evolutionary battle with viruses. Our findings provide new insights into the evolutionary origin and function of the HERC family in vertebrate evolution, identifying HERC5 and possibly HERC6 as important effectors of intrinsic immunity in vertebrates.
Modified everting sutures: an alternative treatment for mild to moderate epiblepharon
Authors: Young Stephanie M , Kim Yoon-Duck , Woo Kyung In 
Published: April 2018

PurposeTo describe a modified everting suture procedure which can be used in patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon who are undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical correction of coexisting ophthalmic conditions.MethodsA prospective, interventional, non-comparative case series on patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon who underwent the modified everting suture procedure using permanent nylon sutures while under general anaesthesia for other ophthalmic surgery, from May 2014 to May 2016, in a single tertiary institution. Main outcome measures were correction of epiblepharon, recurrence rate and complications.ResultsThere were a total of 29 patients. Mean age was 5.7±4.1 years (range 1.5–20 years). Twenty (69.0%) were male, 31.0% were female. All had concomitant surgery under general anaesthesia for levator resection (75.9%), frontalis sling (17.2%), strabismus surgery (3.4%) and coloboma correction (3.4%). Mean follow-up was 18.1±9.1 months. All patients were well corrected at 1 and 6 months postoperative follow-up. At 1 year after surgery, 28 (96.6%) were well corrected while one patient (3.4%) was undercorrected. At last follow-up, the overall recurrence rate was 6.9%, with a mean time from surgery to recurrence of 20.5 months. There were no complications encountered.ConclusionsThe modified everting suture procedure is a safe, effective, quick and relatively easy procedure for selected patients with mild to moderate epiblepharon, who are undergoing general anaesthesia for surgical correction of their coexisting ophthalmic conditions.