bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E Genotypes, Age, Race, and Cognitive Decline in a Population Sample
Authors: Rajan Kumar B. , Barnes Lisa L. , Wilson Robert S. , Weuve Jennifer , McAninch Elizabeth A. , Evans Denis A. 
Published: December 2018

OBJECTIVESTo examine the effects of age and race on the association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes with cognitive decline in a population sample.DESIGNLongitudinal study of 18 years’ duration.SETTINGBiracial urban US population sample.PARTICIPANTSThere were a total of 5807 participants, 60% African American (AA) and 40% European American (EA).MEASUREMENTSA composite cognitive function based on individual tests of episodic memory, perceptual speed, and the Mini‐Mental State Examination.RESULTSThe frequencies of APOE ε2/ε3 (14% vs 12%), ε2/ε4 (4% vs 2%), ε3/ε4 (29% vs 22%), and ε4/ε4 (4% vs 2%) genotypes were higher among AAs than EAs. After adjusting for demographic factors, the rate of decline in global cognition was twice as high among participants with the APOE ε4/ε4 genotype compared to participants with the APOE ε3/ε3 genotype (0.097 vs 0.048 SD units [SDUs] per year; P < .0001). This doubling was not different between AAs (0.091 vs 0.045 SDUs per year) and EAs (0.118 vs 0.059 SDUs per year) (Pinteraction = .63). The APOE ε3/ε4 genotype was associated with a higher rate of decline with age (Pinteraction = .021), while the APOE ε2/ε4 genotype (Pinteraction = .016) and the APOE ε2/ε3 genotype (Pinteraction = .043) were associated with a lower rate of decline with higher age. The APOE ε2/ε2 genotype was associated with a lower rate of decline in episodic memory, while the APOE ε2/ε4 was associated with a higher rate of decline in episodic memory and perceptual speed.CONCLUSIONSThe association of the APOE genotypes with cognitive decline was not different between AAs and EAs. However, individuals with different APOE genotypes showed a lower or a higher rate of decline with age. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:734–740, 2019.
Pathogenesis and prevention of risk of cardiovascular events in patients with pneumococcal community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Feldman C. , Normark S. , Henriques‐Normark B. , Anderson R. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIt is now well recognized that cardiovascular events (CVE) occur quite commonly, both in the acute phase and in the long‐term, in patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP). CVE have been noted in up to 30% of patients hospitalized with all‐cause CAP. One systematic review and meta‐analysis of hospitalized patients with all‐cause CAP noted that the incidence rates for overall cardiac events were 17.7%, for incident heart failure were 14.1%, for acute coronary syndromes were 5.3% and for incident cardiac arrhythmias were 4.7%. In the case of pneumococcal CAP, almost 20% of patients studied had one or more of these cardiac events. Recent research has provided insights into the pathogenesis of the acute cardiac events occurring in pneumococcal infections. With respect to the former, key involvements of the major pneumococcal protein virulence factor, pneumolysin, are now well documented, whilst systemic platelet‐driven neutrophil activation may also contribute. However, events involved in the pathogenesis of the long‐term cardiovascular sequelae remain largely unexplored. Emerging evidence suggests that persistent antigenaemia may predispose to the development of a systemic pro‐inflammatory/prothrombotic phenotype underpinning the risk of future cardiovascular events. The current manuscript briefly reviews the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients with all‐cause CAP, as well as in pneumococcal and influenza infections. It highlights the close interaction between influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. It also includes a brief discussion of mechanisms of the acute cardiac events in CAP. However, the primary focus is on the prevalence, pathogenesis and prevention of the longer‐term cardiac sequelae of severe pneumococcal disease, particularly in the context of persistent antigenaemia and associated inflammation.
Melatonin protects in vitro matured porcine oocytes from toxicity of Aflatoxin B1
Authors: Cheng Linghua , Qin Yusheng , Hu Xiao , Ren Likun , Zhang Chao , Wang Xiaodong , Wang Wenjuan , Zhang Zhenni , Hao Jin , Guo Min , Wu Zhonghong , Tian Jianhui , An Lei 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a major food and feed contaminant that threaten public health. Previous studies indicate that AFB1 exposure disrupted oocyte maturation. However, an effective and feasible method is unavailable for protecting oocytes against toxicity of AFB1. In the present study, using in vitro matured porcine oocytes and parthenogenetic embryos as model, we confirmed that AFB1 exposure during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) significantly impaired both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. The different concentrations of melatonin were also tested for their protective effects on oocytes against the AFB1‐induced toxicity. Our results showed that supplementation of a relative high concentration of melatonin (10−3mol/L) during IVM efficiently reversed the impaired development rate and blastocyst quality, to the levels comparable to those of the control group. Further analysis indicated that melatonin application efficiently alleviated reactive oxygen species accumulation and initiation of apoptosis induced by AFB1 exposure. In addition, disrupted GSH/GPX system, as well as inhibited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and mitochondrial biogenesis in AFB1‐treated oocytes, can be notably reversed by melatonin application. Furthermore, cumulus cells may be important in mediating the toxicity of AFB1 to oocytes, and the metabolism of AFB1 in cumulus cells can be depressed by melatonin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to confirm that melatonin application can efficiently protect oocytes from AFB1‐induced toxicity. Our study provides a promising and practical strategy for alleviating or reversing AFB1‐induced female reproductive toxicity in both clinical treatment and domestic reproductive management.
Effect of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on rumen fermentation and metabolic profile of dairy cows in early lactation
Authors: Kumprechtová Dana , Illek Josef , Julien Christine , Homolka Petr , Jančík Filip , Auclair Eric 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe study evaluated dietary supplementation with live yeast (LY) Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I‐4407, 1010 CFU/g, Actisaf; Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care, France) on rumen fermentation and serum metabolic profile in lactating dairy cows. Fifty Holstein cows received a total mixed ration with (Live Yeast Diet, LYD, n = 25) or without (Control Diet, CD, n = 25) 5 × 1010 CFU/cow/day of LY from 3 to 19 weeks of lactation. Rumen fermentation and serum metabolic profile were measured in eight cows per treatment at 3, 7, 11, 15, 19 weeks post‐partum. LYD showed an increased daily milk yield (+4%) over CD (p < 0.05). Mean rumen pH at 4 hr after morning meal was higher in LYD (6.59) than CD (6.32) (p < 0.01). Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and acetate molar proportion were higher in LYD (114.24 mM; 25.04%) than CD (106.47 mM; 24.73%) (p < 0.05). Propionate and butyrate molar proportions, acetate to propionate ratio, ammonia levels did not differ between LYD and CD. Ruminal lactate was lower in LYD than CD (9.3 vs. 16.4 mM) (p < 0.001), with a 53% decrease in LYD. During peak lactation, LYD had lower serum NEFA (p < 0.05, 0.40 vs. 0.48 mM) and BHBA (p < 0.01, 0.47 vs. 0.58 mM) than CD, lower liver enzyme activities (AST 1.39 vs. 1.54 ukat/L) (p < 0.05). Serum glucose was higher in LYD at peak lactation (3.22 vs. 3.12 mM, and 3.32 vs. 3.16 mM respectively) (p < 0.05). The results confirmed a reducing effect of LY on lactate accumulation in rumen fluid, associated with an increase in rumen pH. Lower serum levels of lipomobilization markers, liver enzyme activities and higher glucose levels may suggest that live yeast slightly mitigated negative energy balance and had a certain liver protective effect.
Drivers of the beta diversity of aquatic plant communities along a latitudinal gradient in southern Brazilian coastal ponds
Authors: Bertuzzi Tatiane , Marques Pires Mateus , Maltchik Leonardo 
Published: December 2018

AbstractQuestionsIs macrophyte beta diversity in temporary ponds generated mainly by turnover along a latitudinal gradient? Is macrophyte beta diversity more strongly correlated with differences in local environmental conditions and climate than geographical distances? Are hydrophytes and helophytes correlated with distinct environmental drivers?LocationSouthern Brazilian Coastal Plain.MethodsMacrophyte communities were studied in 24 ponds distributed along a latitudinal gradient. Beta diversity was calculated with the Sorensen dissimilarity index (and further partitioned into turnover and nestedness components). We assessed the individual correspondence of macrophyte beta diversity with local (water quality and habitat structure; after pre‐selection procedures on each explanatory matrix) and climatic environmental drivers, as well as with the geographical distances, through Mantel correlation tests. Partial Mantel tests were carried out to assess the correspondence of beta diversity with the climatic drivers and geographical distances while controlling for the effect of each explanatory matrix. Separate assessments were carried out for subsets of hydrophytes and helophytes.ResultsMacrophyte beta diversity was mainly generated by turnover. Mantel tests detected significant correlations of macrophyte beta diversity with climatic rather than with local environmental drivers. Partial Mantel tests detected significant relationships only between macrophyte beta diversity and climate (rather than geographical distances). Helophytes were more strongly correlated with climate than hydrophytes, and geographical distances were significantly correlated to hydrophyte beta diversity only.ConclusionsOur results indicate that macrophyte communities in southern Brazilian coastal temporary ponds are mainly assembled by species sorting processes, although the contribution of each assembly mechanism differed between functional groups (spatial processes were more important for hydrophytes than helophytes). The distinct relationships of hydrophytes and helophytes with climate suggest different sensitivity of each functional group to environmental changes in temporary ponds.
OsHOP2 regulates the maturation of crossovers by promoting homologous pairing and synapsis in rice meiosis
Authors: Shi Wenqing , Tang Ding , Shen Yi , Xue Zhihui , Zhang Fanfan , Zhang Chao , Ren Lijun , Liu Changzhen , Du Guijie , Li Yafei , Yan Changjie , Cheng Zhukuan 
Published: December 2018

Summary

Meiotic recombination is closely linked with homologous pairing and synapsis. Previous studies have shown that HOMOLOGOUS PAIRING PROTEIN2 (HOP2), plays an essential role in homologous pairing and synapsis. However, the mechanism by which HOP2 regulates crossover (CO) formation has not been elucidated. Here, we show that OsHOP2 mediates the maturation of COs by promoting homologous pairing and synapsis in rice (Oryza sativa) meiosis.

We used a combination of genetic analysis, immunolocalization and super‐resolution imaging to analyze the function of OsHOP2 in rice meiosis.

We showed that full‐length pairing, synapsis and CO formation are disturbed in Oshop2 meiocytes. Moreover, structured illumination microscopy showed that OsHOP2 localized to chromatin and displayed considerable co‐localization with axial elements (AEs) and central elements (CEs). Importantly, the interaction between OsHOP2 and a transverse filament protein of synaptonemal complex (ZEP1), provided further evidence that OsHOP2 was involved in assembly or stabilization of the structure of the synaptonemal complex (SC). Although the initiation of recombination and CO designation occur normally in Oshop2 mutants, mature COs were severely reduced, and human enhancer of invasion 10 (HEI10)10 foci were only present on the synapsed region.

Putting the data together, we speculate that OsHOP2 may serve as a global regulator to coordinate homologous pairing, synapsis and meiotic recombination in rice meiosis.
Susceptibility patterns of uropathogens identified in hospitalized children
Authors: Kalaitzidou Ioanna , Ladomenou Fani , Athanasopoulos Emmanouil , Anatoliotaki Maria , Vlachaki Georgia 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundUrinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common serious bacterial infection in childhood. The aim of the present study was therefore to identify the organisms responsible for community‐acquired febrile UTI in children, to investigate their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics, and to identify possible risk factors for antibiotic resistance.MethodsA total of 284 children (male, 38%; female, 62%), who were hospitalized due to a community‐acquired UTI over a 5 year period in a general district hospital of southern Greece, were enrolled in the study.ResultsEscherichia coli was the leading uropathogen followed by Klebsiella spp. (9.15%) and Proteus spp. (5.28%). E. coli isolates were most commonly resistant to ampicillin (41.8%), followed by piperacillin (40.3%), amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid (28.6%) and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (17.8%), while 27 strains (12.6%) were multi‐drug resistant (MDR). Of the E. coli strains, 4.21% were producing extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases. Parenteral second‐ and third‐generation cephalosporins, the most commonly used antibiotic agents (81.3%) in the present cohort, remained highly active against E. coli and other urinary isolates, given that >95% of E. coli strains were susceptible to cefuroxime and cefotaxime. Vesicoureteral reflux was a significant risk factor for MDR (P = 0.04).ConclusionContrary to current local practice, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid may not be the best option for the empirical treatment of community‐acquired UTI in southern Greece.
Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent in a thalassemia‐prevalent area
Authors: Kadegasem Praguywan , Songdej Duantida , Lertthammakiat Surapong , Chuansumrit Ampaiwan , Paisooksantivatana Karan , Mahaklan Lalita , Wongwerawattanakoon Pakawan , Tangbubpha Noppawan , Sirachainan Nongnuch 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBackgroundReticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret‐He), a direct measure of the hemoglobin (Hb) in the young red blood cells, has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) but may have some limitations in thalassemia trait. This study evaluated the differences in Ret‐He in school‐aged children, and assessed the diagnostic value of Ret‐He in identifying IDA in a thalassemia‐prevalent area.MethodsBlood samples underwent complete blood count analysis, including Ret‐He, ferritin, serum iron and total iron binding capacity. Blood samples also underwent Hb typing and a molecular study for α‐thalassemia. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the predictive capacity of Ret‐He in the diagnosis of IDA. ID was defined as serum ferritin <30 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation (TSAT) <16%; IDA was defined as serum ferritin <12 ng/mL and/or TSAT <16% with low Hb for age. Normal healthy children (normal controls: NC) had normal iron study, without the thalassemia trait.ResultsNinety‐eight children with a mean age of 12.9 ± 0.6 years were included. Ret‐He in the thalassemia trait group (26.7 ± 2.4 pg), ID group (29.0 ± 2.9 pg), IDA group (25.4 ± 2.7 pg), ID + thalassemia trait group (26.6 ± 2.8 pg), and the IDA + thalassemia trait group (24.6 ± 2.3 pg) was significantly lower than in the NC group (30.8 ± 1.7 pg; P < 0.001, 0.01, 0.006, 0.002 and <0.001, respectively). Ret‐He had an area under the curve of 0.904 in diagnostic ability for IDA, while a cut‐off ≤27 pg had a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 81%.ConclusionRet‐He was lowest in subjects with IDA + thalassemia trait. A Ret‐He cut‐off ≤27 pg was suggestive of IDA in the present study.
Recent advances in the understanding of transient abnormal myelopoiesis in Down syndrome
Authors: Watanabe Kenichiro 
Published: December 2018

AbstractNeonates with Down syndrome (DS) have a propensity to develop the unique myeloproliferative disorder, transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM). TAM usually resolves spontaneously in ≤3 months, but approximately 10% of patients with TAM die from hepatic or multi‐organ failure. After remission, 20% of patients with TAM develop acute myeloid leukemia associated with Down syndrome (ML‐DS). Blasts in both TAM and ML‐DS have trisomy 21 and GATA binding protein 1 (GATA1) mutations. Recent studies have shown that infants with DS and no clinical signs of TAM or increases in peripheral blood blasts can have minor clones carrying GATA1 mutations, referred to as silent TAM. Low‐dose cytarabine can improve the outcomes of patients with TAM and high white blood cell count. A number of studies using fetal liver cells, mouse models, or induced pluripotent stem cells have elucidated the roles of trisomy 21 and GATA1 mutations in the development of TAM. Next‐generation sequencing of TAM and ML‐DS patient samples identified additional mutations in genes involved in epigenetic regulation. Xenograft models of TAM demonstrate the genetic heterogeneity of TAM blasts and mimic the process of clonal selection and expansion of TAM clones that leads to ML‐DS. DNA methylation analysis suggests that epigenetic dysregulation may be involved in the progression from TAM to ML‐DS. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying leukemogenesis and identification of factors that predict progression to leukemia could assist in development of strategies to prevent progression to ML‐DS. Investigation of TAM, a unique pre‐leukemic condition, will continue to strongly influence basic and clinical research into the development of hematological malignancies.
Dynamics of plant responses to combinations of air pollutants
Authors: Papazian S. , Blande J. D. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe focus of this review is on how plants respond to combinations of multiple air pollutants. Global pollution trends, plant physiological responses and ecological perspectives in natural and agricultural systems are all discussed. In particular, we highlight the importance of studying sequential or simultaneous exposure of plants to pollutants, rather than exposure to individual pollutants in isolation, and explore how these responses may interfere with the way plants interact with their biotic community. Air pollutants can alter the normal physiology and metabolic functioning of plants. Here we describe how the phenotypic and molecular changes in response to multiple pollutants can differ compared to those elicited by single pollutants, and how different responses have been observed between plants in the field and in controlled laboratory conditions and between trees and crop plants. From an ecological perspective, we discuss how air pollution can result in greater susceptibility to biotic stressors and in direct or indirect effects on interactions with organisms that occupy higher trophic levels. Finally, we provide an overview of the potential uses of plants to mitigate air pollution, exploring the feasibility for pollution removalviathe processes of bio‐accumulation and phytoremediation. We conclude by proposing some new directions for future research in the field.
Targeted exome sequencing of unselected heavy‐ion beam‐irradiated populations reveals less‐biased mutation characteristics in the rice genome
Authors: Ichida Hiroyuki , Morita Ryouhei , Shirakawa Yuki , Hayashi Yoriko , Abe Tomoko 
Published: December 2018

SummaryHeavy‐ion beams have been widely utilized as a novel and effective mutagen for mutation breeding in diverse plant species, but the induced mutation spectrum is not fully understood at the genome scale. We describe the development of a multiplexed and cost‐efficient whole‐exome sequencing procedure in rice, and its application to characterize an unselected population of heavy‐ion beam‐induced mutations. The bioinformatics pipeline identified single‐nucleotide mutations as well as small and large (>63 kb) insertions and deletions, and showed good agreement with the results obtained with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analyses. We applied the procedure to analyze the mutation spectrum induced by heavy‐ion beams at the population level. In total, 165 individual M2 lines derived from six irradiation conditions as well as eight pools from non‐irradiated ‘Nipponbare’ controls were sequenced using the newly established target exome sequencing procedure. The characteristics and distribution of carbon‐ion beam‐induced mutations were analyzed in the absence of bias introduced by visual mutant selections. The average (±SE) number of mutations within the target exon regions was 9.06 ± 0.37 induced by 150 Gy irradiation of dry seeds. The mutation frequency changed in parallel to the irradiation dose when dry seeds were irradiated. The total number of mutations detected by sequencing unselected M2 lines was correlated with the conventional mutation frequency determined by the occurrence of morphological mutants. Therefore, mutation frequency may be a good indicator for sequencing‐based determination of the optimal irradiation condition for induction of mutations.
Tick‐borne encephalitis virus in cows and unpasteurized cow milk from Norway
Authors: Paulsen Katrine M. , Stuen Snorre , das Neves Carlos G. , Suhel Faisal , Gurung Deepa , Soleng Arnulf , Stiasny Karin , Vikse Rose , Andreassen Åshild K. , Granquist Erik G. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractTick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is recognized as the most important zoonotic tick‐transmitted virus in Europe. TBEV is mainly transmitted to humans through bites from TBEV‐infected ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus). However, alimentary infection after consumption of unpasteurized milk and cheese from domestic ruminants has been reported. There is little information about TBEV in ruminants in Norway. The objectives of this study were to analyse unpasteurized cow milk for TBEV RNA and to study the presence of IgG antibodies to TBEV in the same animals. A total of 112 milk and blood samples were collected from cows from five different farms spread from southern to northern Norway. The milk samples were analysed by an in‐house reverse transcription (RT) real‐time polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by pyrosequencing. Serum samples were screened by a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and verified by a TBEV‐specific serum neutralization test. We found TBEV RNA in unpasteurized milk collected from farms in the municipalities of Mandal, Skedsmo and Brønnøy in 5.4% of the tested animals. Specific antibodies to TBEV were only detected in Arendal, where 88.2% of the tested animals were positive. Further studies on milk containing TBEV RNA should be performed to conclude if TBEV found in unpasteurized milk in Norway is infectious, which could be of great importance in a One Health perspective.