bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community‐based lymphedema risk reduction programs for cancer survivors: An Internet survey of public health nurses
Authors: Tsuchiya Miyako , Mori Miki , Takahashi Miyako , Masujima Mariko 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAimCurrently, there is no provision for continuous care to monitor lymphedema risk‐reduction behavior for survivors of cancer. The aim was to explore the possibility of community‐based lymphedema education programs by investigating the knowledge, training needs, and intention to organize such programs and barriers among government‐employed public health nurses.MethodsA cross‐sectional Internet survey was conducted among government‐employed public health nurses in Japan. The participants were recruited from 2841 health center and community health centers.ResultsThe final sample included 641 government‐employed public health nurses. The participants’ knowledge about lymphedema risk‐reduction strategies was relatively good, especially on the importance of observation, detection of early signs, and referral to lymphedema clinics. A small proportion of participants indicated an intention to organize community‐based lymphedema education programs. Three determinants for this intention were identified: a general interest in lymphedema education, past experience of undertaking training in lymphedema risk‐reduction strategies, and the perceived difficulty in organizing community‐based lymphedema education programs. The participants’ perceptions of difficulty included not knowing the needs for lymphedema education in their community with survivors of cancer.ConclusionsThe results suggest that working collaboratively with government‐employed public health nurses to organize community‐based lymphedema education programs is possible. Achieving this requires further investigation of the needs of survivors of cancer in the community, communicating these needs to governmental agencies, and organizing and delivering comprehensive training programs about lymphedema risk‐reduction strategies for government‐employed public health nurses.
Structural basis for PDZ domain interactions in the post‐synaptic density scaffolding protein Shank3
Authors: Ponna Srinivas Kumar , Ruskamo Salla , Myllykoski Matti , Keller Corinna , Boeckers Tobias M. , Kursula Petri 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe Shank proteins are crucial scaffolding elements of the post‐synaptic density (PSD). One of the best‐characterized domains in Shank is the PDZ domain, which binds to C‐terminal segments of several other PSD proteins. We carried out a detailed structural analysis of Shank3 PDZ domain‐peptide complexes, to understand determinants of binding affinity towards different ligand proteins. Ligand peptides from four different proteins were cocrystallized with the Shank3 PDZ domain, and binding affinities were determined calorimetrically. In addition to conserved class I interactions between the first and third C‐terminal peptide residue and Shank3, side chain interactions of other residues in the peptide with the PDZ domain are important factors in defining affinity. Structural conservation suggests that the binding specificities of the PDZ domains from different Shanks are similar. Two conserved buried water molecules in PDZ domains may affect correct local folding of ligand recognition determinants. The solution structure of a tandem Shank3 construct containing the SH3 and PDZ domains showed that the two domains are close to each other, which could be of relevance, when recognizing and binding full target proteins. The SH3 domain did not affect the affinity of the PDZ domain towards short target peptides, and the schizophrenia‐linked Shank3 mutation R536W in the linker between the domains had no effect on the structure or peptide interactions of the Shank3 SH3‐PDZ unit. Our data show the spatial arrangement of two adjacent Shank domains and pinpoint affinity determinants for short PDZ domain ligands with limited sequence homology.
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The ageing pancreas: a systematic review of the evidence and analysis of the consequences
Authors: Löhr J.‐M. , Panic N. , Vujasinovic M. , Verbeke C. S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSenior people constitute the fastest growing segment of the population. The elderly are at risk for malnutrition, thought to be caused by reduced food intake or involution of the physiological capacity of the GI tract. Age‐related changes are well known in other secretory organs such as liver, kidney and intestine. The pancreas, representing a metabolically active organ with uptake and breakdown of essential nutritional components, changes its morphology and function with age. During childhood, the volume of the pancreas increases, reaching a plateau between 20 and 60 years, and declines thereafter. This decline involves the pancreatic parenchyma and is associated with decreased perfusion, fibrosis and atrophy. As a consequence of these changes, pancreatic exocrine function is impaired in healthy older individuals without any gastrointestinal disease. Five per cent of people older than 70 years and ten per cent older than 80 years have pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) with a faecal elastase‐1 below 200 μg g−1 stool, and 5% have severe PEI with faecal elastase‐1 below 100 μg g−1 stool. This may lead to maldigestion and malnutrition. Patients may have few symptoms, for example steatorrhoea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Malnutrition consists of deficits of fat‐soluble vitamins and is affecting both patients with PEI and the elderly. Secondary consequences may include decreased bone mineral density and results from impaired absorption of fat‐soluble vitamin D due to impaired pancreatic exocrine function. The unanswered question is whether this age‐related decrease in pancreatic function warrants therapy. Therapeutic intervention, which may consist of supplementation of pancreatic enzymes and/or vitamins in aged individuals with proven exocrine pancreas insufficiency, could contribute to healthy ageing.
Pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of transdermal flunixin meglumine in adult Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Kleinhenz M. D. , Gorden P. J. , Smith J. S. , Schleining J. A. , Kleinhenz K. E. , Wulf L. L. , Sidhu P. K. , Rea D. , Coetzee J. F. 
Published: February 2018

A transdermal formulation of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, flunixin meglumine, has been approved in the United States and Canada for single‐dose administration. Transdermal flunixin meglumine was administered to 10 adult Holstein cows in their second or third lactation at the label dose of 3.33 mg/kg every 24 hr for three total treatments. Plasma flunixin concentrations were determined using high‐pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy (HPLC‐MS). Pharmacokinetic analysis was completed on each individual animal with noncompartmental methods using computer software. The time to maximum drug concentration (Tmax) was 2.81 hr, and the maximum drug concentration was 1.08 μg/ml. The mean terminal half‐life (T½) was determined to be 5.20 hr. Clearance per fraction absorbed (Cl/F) was calculated to be 0.294 L/hr kg−1, and volume of distribution of fraction (Vz/F) absorbed was 2.20 L/kg. The mean accumulation factor was 1.10 after three doses. This indicates changes in dosing may not be required when giving multiple doses of flunixin transdermal. Further work is required to investigate the clinical efficacy of transdermal flunixin after multiple daily doses.
Northwest Africa 6232: Visible–near infrared reflectance spectra variability of an olivine diogenite
Authors: Carli Cristian , Pratesi Giovanni , Moggi‐Cecchi Vanni , Zambon Francesca , Capaccioni Fabrizio , Santoro Simone 
Published: February 2018

AbstractVisible and near‐infrared (VNIR) reflectance is an important spectroscopic technique to identify minerals, and their associations, on planetary body surfaces. Howardites, eucrites, and diogenites (HED) are a class of igneous‐like meteorites whose genetic connection with asteroid 4 Vesta has since long been inferred and recently confirmed by Dawn mission results. Pyroxene and olivine are the two major mafic minerals present in HED which can be identified with VNIR reflectance measurements. Thus, studying the compositional variability of those phases and their mixtures by means of laboratory spectroscopic measurements on different diogenitic or eucritic samples is one of the prime methods to better understand the evolution of 4 Vesta's crust. Here, we report the VNIR reflectance spectral analysis of a harzburgitic olivine diogenite, Northwest Africa 6232 (probably paired with Northwest Africa 5480), containing variable amounts of olivine as small grains or aggregates. We found that the olivine diogenite spectral parameters (e.g., band position) of powdered samples and polished slabs are in agreement. Moreover, the olivine diogenite band position shifts from synthetic orthopyroxene in accordance with the presence of olivine and chromite. In particular, the presence of a large olivine clast permits us to determine a linear variation of the band position from synthetic orthopyroxene and olivine, but underestimates the presence of olivine in the olivine diogenite spot.
Elevated seawater temperature disrupts the microbiome of an ecologically important bioeroding sponge
Authors: Ramsby Blake D. , Hoogenboom Mia O. , Whalan Steve , Webster Nicole S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBioeroding sponges break down calcium carbonate substratum, including coral skeleton, and their capacity for reef erosion is expected to increase in warmer and more acidic oceans. However, elevated temperature can disrupt the functionally important microbial symbionts of some sponge species, often with adverse consequences for host health. Here, we provide the first detailed description of the microbial community of the bioeroding spongeCliona orientalisand assess how the community responds to seawater temperatures incrementally increasing from 23°C to 32°C. The microbiome, identified using 16SrRNAgene sequencing, was dominated byAlphaproteobacteria, including a single operational taxonomic unit (OTU;Rhodothalassiumsp.) that represented 21% of all sequences. The “core” microbial community (taxa present in >80% of samples) included putative nitrogen fixers and ammonia oxidizers, suggesting that symbiotic nitrogen metabolism may be a key function of theC. orientalisholobiont. TheC. orientalismicrobiome was generally stable at temperatures up to 27°C; however, a community shift occurred at 29°C, including changes in the relative abundance and turnover of microbialOTUs. Notably, this microbial shift occurred at a lower temperature than the 32°C threshold that induced sponge bleaching, indicating that changes in the microbiome may play a role in the destabilization of theC. orientalisholobiont.C. orientalisfailed to regainSymbiodiniumor restore its baseline microbial community following bleaching, suggesting that the sponge has limited ability to recover from extreme thermal exposure, at least under aquarium conditions.
Genes affecting progression of bacteriophage P22 infection in Salmonella identified by transposon and single gene deletion screens
Authors: Bohm Kaitlynne , Porwollik Steffen , Chu Weiping , Dover John A. , Gilcrease Eddie B. , Casjens Sherwood R. , McClelland Michael , Parent Kristin N. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryBacteriophages rely on their hosts for replication, and many host genes critically determine either viral progeny production or host success via phage resistance. A random insertion transposon library of 240,000 mutants in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was used to monitor effects of individual bacterial gene disruptions on bacteriophage P22 lytic infection. These experiments revealed candidate host genes that alter the timing of phage P22 propagation. Using a False Discovery Rate of < 0.1, mutations in 235 host genes either blocked or delayed progression of P22 lytic infection, including many genes for which this role was previously unknown. Mutations in 77 genes reduced the survival time of host DNA after infection, including mutations in genes for enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) synthesis and osmoregulated periplasmic glucan (OPG). We also screened over 2000 Salmonella single gene deletion mutants to identify genes that impacted either plaque formation or culture growth rates. The gene encoding the periplasmic membrane protein YajC was newly found to be essential for P22 infection. Targeted mutagenesis of yajC shows that an essentially full‐length protein is required for function, and potassium efflux measurements demonstrated that YajC is critical for phage DNA ejection across the cytoplasmic membrane.
Electron cryotomography of Mycoplasma pneumoniae mutants correlates terminal organelle architectural features and function
Authors: Krause Duncan C. , Chen Songye , Shi Jian , Jensen Ashley J. , Sheppard Edward S. , Jensen Grant J. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryThe Mycoplasma pneumoniae terminal organelle functions in adherence and gliding motility and is comprised of at least eleven substructures. We used electron cryotomography to correlate impaired gliding and adherence function with changes in architecture in diverse terminal organelle mutants. All eleven substructures were accounted for in the prkC, prpC and P200 mutants, and variably so for the HMW3 mutant. Conversely, no terminal organelle substructures were evident in HMW1 and HMW2 mutants. The P41 mutant exhibits a terminal organelle detachment phenotype and lacked the bowl element normally present at the terminal organelle base. Complementation restored this substructure, establishing P41 as either a component of the bowl element or required for its assembly or stability, and that this bowl element is essential to anchor the terminal organelle but not for leverage in gliding. Mutants II‐3, III‐4 and topJ exhibited a visibly lower density of protein knobs on the terminal organelle surface. Mutants II‐3 and III‐4 lack accessory proteins required for a functional adhesin complex, while the topJ mutant lacks a DnaJ‐like co‐chaperone essential for its assembly. Taken together, these observations expand our understanding of the roles of certain terminal organelle proteins in the architecture and function of this complex structure.
Waking the neighbours: disruption of H‐NS repression by overlapping transcription
Authors: Wade Joseph T. , Grainger David C. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryThe histone‐like nucleoid structuring (H‐NS) protein and its analogues bind large stretches of horizontally acquired AT‐rich DNA in a broad range of bacterial species. Binding by H‐NS silences the promoters within such DNA that would otherwise deplete the cellular pool of RNA polymerase. Selective de‐repression can occur when sequence‐specific DNA‐binding proteins locally disrupt H‐NS function; this mechanism is important for the regulation of many virulence genes. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Rangarajan and Schnetz show that when transcription from a neighbouring region invades an H‐NS‐bound locus, it can disrupt local H‐NS repression. Moreover, they show that de‐repression occurs in a dose‐dependent manner, and they demonstrate a natural example of this in Escherichia coli. This finding has important implications for H‐NS function and its impact on genome evolution.
Phenolic root exudate and tissue compounds vary widely among temperate forest tree species and have contrasting effects on soil microbial respiration
Authors: Zwetsloot Marie J. , Kessler André , Bauerle Taryn L. 
Published: February 2018

Summary

Root–soil interactions fundamentally affect the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle and thereby ecosystem feedbacks to climate change. This study addressed the question of whether the secondary metabolism of different temperate forest tree species can affect soil microbial respiration. We hypothesized that phenolics can both increase and decrease respiration depending on their function as food source, mobilizer of other soil resources, signaling compound, or toxin.

We analyzed the phenolic compounds from root exudates and root tissue extracts of six tree species grown in a glasshouse using high‐performance liquid chromatography. We then tested the effect of individual phenolic compounds, representing the major identified phenylpropanoid compound classes, on microbial respiration through a 5‐d soil incubation.

Phenolic root profiles were highly species‐specific. Of the eight classes identified, flavonoids were the most abundant, with flavanols being the predominating sub‐class. Phenolic effects on microbial respiration ranged from a 26% decrease to a 46% increase, with reduced respiration occurring in the presence of compounds possessing a catechol ring.

Tree species variation in root phenolic composition influences the magnitude and direction of root effects on microbial respiration. Our data support the hypothesis that functional group rather than biosynthetic class determines the root phenolic effect on soil C cycling.
Coordination and trade‐offs among hydraulic safety, efficiency and drought avoidance traits in Amazonian rainforest canopy tree species
Authors: Santiago Louis S. , De Guzman Mark E. , Baraloto Christopher , Vogenberg Jacob E. , Brodie Max , Hérault Bruno , Fortunel Claire , Bonal Damien 
Published: February 2018

Summary

Predicting responses of tropical forests to climate change‐type drought is challenging because of high species diversity. Detailed characterization of tropical tree hydraulic physiology is necessary to evaluate community drought vulnerability and improve model parameterization.

Here, we measured xylem hydraulic conductivity (hydraulic efficiency), xylem vulnerability curves (hydraulic safety), sapwood pressure–volume curves (drought avoidance) and wood density on emergent branches of 14 common species of Eastern Amazonian canopy trees in Paracou, French Guiana across species with the densest and lightest wood in the plot. Our objectives were to evaluate relationships among hydraulic traits to identify strategies and test the ability of easy‐to‐measure traits as proxies for hard‐to‐measure hydraulic traits.

Xylem efficiency was related to capacitance, sapwood water content and turgor loss point, and other drought avoidance traits, but not to xylem safety (P50). Wood density was correlated (r = −0.57 to −0.97) with sapwood pressure–volume traits, forming an axis of hydraulic strategy variation.

In contrast to drier sites where hydraulic safety plays a greater role, tropical trees in this humid tropical site varied along an axis with low wood density, high xylem efficiency and high capacitance at one end of the spectrum, and high wood density and low turgor loss point at the other.
The potent pro‐oxidant activity of rhododendrol–eumelanin is enhanced by ultraviolet A radiation
Authors: Ito Shosuke , Agata Misa , Okochi Kotono , Wakamatsu Kazumasa 
Published: February 2018

SummaryRS‐4‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐butanol (rhododendrol, RD), a skin‐whitening agent, is known to induce leukoderma in some consumers. To explore the mechanism underlying this effect, we previously showed that the oxidation of RD with mushroom or human tyrosinase produces cytotoxic quinone oxidation products and RD–eumelanin exerts a potent pro‐oxidant activity. Cellular antioxidants were oxidized by RD–eumelanin with a concomitant production of H2O2. In this study, we examined whether this pro‐oxidant activity of RD–eumelanin is enhanced by ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation because most RD–induced leukoderma lesions are found in sun‐exposed areas. Exposure to a physiological level of UVA (3.5 mW/cm2) induced a two to fourfold increase in the rates of oxidation of GSH, cysteine, ascorbic acid, and NADH. This oxidation was oxygen‐dependent and was accompanied by the production of H2O2. These results suggest that RD–eumelanin is cytotoxic to melanocytes through its potent pro‐oxidant activity that is enhanced by UVA radiation.
Demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral associations with cancer screening among a homeless population
Authors: Williams Lovoria B. , McCall Amber , Looney Stephen W. , Joshua Thomas , Tingen Martha S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundAlthough cancer incidence and mortality is declining, cancer remains among the leading causes of death in the United States. Research shows that cancer morbidity and mortality can be reduced by early detection. Yet, both cancer risks and screening behavior remain understudied in the homeless population.MethodsResearchers conducted a cross‐sectional survey of homeless individuals (n = 201). The analysis describes the demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral associations with cancer screenings and knowledge of the lung cancer screening recommendation.ResultsParticipants’ mean age was 51.7 years (SD 13.6); the group was largely African American (77.3%) and male (67.9%). Among women, the breast and cervical cancer screening rates were 46.5% and 85.1%. Among men the prostate cancer screening rate was 34.2%. Among all participants, the colon cancer screening rate was 44%. Cancer risk behaviors were high. Lung cancer screening knowledge was low (23.0%). Some cancer screening behaviors were associated with age, income, health status, obesity, tobacco use, and physical activity.DiscussionDespite higher cancer risk behaviors, knowledge and general participation rates for cancer screenings were below national benchmarks.ConclusionTo improve cancer survival among disparate populations, sustained community outreach is necessary to increase awareness of screening recommendations, identify high‐risk individuals, and navigate them to resources.
Alternative Th17 and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cell frequencies increase and correlate with worse cardiac function in Chagas cardiomyopathy
Authors: Almeida M. S. , Lorena V. M. B. , Medeiros C. de A. , Junior W. O. , Cavalcanti M. da G. A. M. , Martins S. M. , de Morais C. N. L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractImmune homeostasis has been suggested to play an important role in the clinical evolution of chronic Chagas disease; however, the immunopathologic factors involved have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, our study aimed to analyse the frequency of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells, classic Th17 cells, alternative Th17 cells and IL‐17+ B cells from peripheral blood of chronic cardiac patients after in vitro stimulation with Trypanosoma cruzi soluble EPI antigen. Patients were selected and classified according to clinical evaluation of cardiac involvement: mild, B1 (CARD1) (n = 20) and severe, C (CARD2) (n = 11). Patients with the indeterminate form of CD were included as the control group A (IND) (n = 17). Blood samples were collected and cultured in the presence of EPI antigen. Cells frequency and median fluorescence intensity (MFI) were obtained by flow cytometry. Our results showed that only CD4+CD25+FoxP3+, CD4+CD25highFoxP3+, CD4+IL‐17+IFN‐γ− and CD4+IL‐17+IFN‐γ+ cells are more frequent in patients with severe cardiac disease and correlate with worse global cardiac function. However, while indeterminate patients demonstrated a positive correlation between CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ and CD4+IL‐17+IFN‐γ− Th17 cells, this relationship was not observed in cardiac patients. IL‐17 expression by Th17 cells and B cells correlated with disease progression. Altogether our results suggest that the clinical progression of Chagas cardiomyopathy involves worsening of inflammation and impairment of immunoregulatory mechanisms.