bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vicarious pain responders and emotion: Evidence for distress rather than mimicry
Authors: Young Kurtis A. , Gandevia Simon C. , Giummarra Melita J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractUp to a third of the population experiences pain when seeing another in pain. The mechanisms underlying such vicarious sensory experiences are thought to reflect hyperactive mirror systems (threshold theory) or dysfunctional processing and representation of oneself versus others (self/other theory). This study investigated whether the tendency to experience vicarious pain corresponds to disinhibited physiological reactivity toward other's emotions, and/or greater empathic mimicry of other's physiological state (respiratory behavior) during fear, pain, and positive emotion. Fifty healthy individuals aged 18–55 years (23 vicarious pain responders) completed empathy‐ and anxiety‐related questionnaires, and a film task. Respiration was measured noninvasively with piezoelectric respiration belts while participants viewed emotional film clips depicting three emotions (fear/pain/positive) interspersed with neutral clips. The emotional stimuli depicted scenes in which the characters showed increases or decreases in respiration. The results suggest that vicarious pain responders do not mimic emotional respiratory behavior. Rather, vicarious pain responders had a significantly slower respiration rate for all emotional stimuli (MDiff = 1.40 respiratory cycles, SE = .68), compared to nonresponders. However, this was associated with heightened trait anxiety. The findings suggest vicarious pain is associated with acute distress, rather than empathic mimicry of the emotional states of another.
Hepatitis E virus in wild rabbits and European brown hares in Germany
Authors: Hammerschmidt F. , Schwaiger K. , Dähnert L. , Vina‐Rodriguez A. , Höper D. , Gareis M. , Groschup M. H. , Eiden M. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryRecently, a change of hepatitis E from being a typical travel‐associated disease to an autochthonous zoonosis in Germany was observed. An increasing number of autochthonous infections with the hepatitis E Virus (HEV) have been recognized in developed countries. Venison from wild boar is already known to be a potential source of infection, if not prepared properly by the consumer. In Germany, certain wild animals are known to be a reservoir forHEV. However, current information is missing about European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Thus, a total of 833 hunting‐harvested animals (European brown haresn = 669; wild rabbitsn = 164) were tested for the occurrence ofHEV RNAandHEVantibodies. For this, liver and blood specimens were taken after hunts in six German federal states.HEVantibodies were found byELISAin 2.2% (624/14) of European brown hares, but noHEV RNAwas detectable by nested real‐timeRT‐PCR. In contrast, a seroprevalence of 37.3% (126/47) was observed for wild rabbits, and 17.1% (164/28) of the samples wereHEV RNApositive. Genomic analysis revealed that these partial sequences clustered within the rabbit clade ofHEV‐3 genotype. In addition, one rabbit sequence segregated into subtype 3g ofHEV‐3. Highest seroprevalences for hares and rabbits were detected in the federal states of Bavaria and of Schleswig‐Holstein, respectively. Comparing urban, rural and insular areas, the highest seroprevalence was shown for wild rabbits in rural areas and for European brown hares on the northern island Fehmarn. This study provides evidence that European brown hares and wild rabbits from Germany can be infected withHEV. The different prevalences indicate that wild rabbits are a potential reservoir forHEVin Germany, whereas European brown hares seem to be only of minor importance for the epidemiology ofHEV.
An Azole-Tolerant Endosomal Trafficking Mutant of Candida albicans Is Susceptible to Azole Treatment in a Mouse Model of Vaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Peters Brian M. , Luna-Tapia Arturo , Tournu Hélène , Rybak Jeffrey M. , Rogers P. David , Palmer Glen E. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT

We recently reported that a
Candida albicans
endosomal trafficking mutant continues to grow after treatment with the azole antifungals. Herein, we report that the
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant does not have a survival advantage over wild-type isolates after fluconazole treatment in a mouse model of vaginal candidiasis. Furthermore, loss of
VPS21
does not synergize with established mechanisms of azole resistance, such as overexpression of efflux pumps or of Erg11p, the target enzyme of the azoles. In summary, although loss of
VPS21
function enhances
C. albicans
survival after azole treatment
in vitro
, it does not seem to affect azole susceptibility
in vivo
.
Bile Acid Administration Elicits an Intestinal Antimicrobial Program and Reduces the Bacterial Burden in Two Mouse Models of Enteric Infection
Authors: Tremblay Sarah , Romain Guillaume , Roux Mélisange , Chen Xi-Lin , Brown Kirsty , Gibson Deanna L. , Ramanathan Sheela , Menendez Alfredo 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT

In addition to their chemical antimicrobial nature, bile acids are thought to have other functions in the homeostatic control of gastrointestinal immunity. However, those functions have remained largely undefined. In this work, we used ileal explants and mouse models of bile acid administration to investigate the role of bile acids in the regulation of the intestinal antimicrobial response. Mice fed on a diet supplemented with 0.1% chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) showed an upregulated expression of Paneth cell α-defensins as well as an increased synthesis of the type-C lectins Reg3b and Reg3g by the ileal epithelium. CDCA acted on several epithelial cell types, by a mechanism independent from farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and not involving STAT3 or β-catenin activation. CDCA feeding did not change the relative abundance of major commensal bacterial groups of the ileum, as shown by 16S analyses. However, administration of CDCA increased the expression of ileal
Muc2
and induced a change in the composition of the mucosal immune cell repertoire, decreasing the proportion of Ly6G
+
and CD68
+
cells, while increasing the relative amount of IgGκ
+
B cells. Oral administration of CDCA to mice attenuated infections with the bile-resistant pathogens
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium and
Citrobacter rodentium
, promoting lower systemic colonization and faster bacteria clearance, respectively. Our results demonstrate that bile acid signaling in the ileum triggers an antimicrobial program that can be potentially used as a therapeutic option against intestinal bacterial infections.
Analysis of Shigella flexneri Resistance, Biofilm Formation, and Transcriptional Profile in Response to Bile Salts
Authors: Nickerson Kourtney P. , Chanin Rachael B. , Sistrunk Jeticia R. , Rasko David A. , Fink Peter J. , Barry Eileen M. , Nataro James P. , Faherty Christina S. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT

The
Shigella
species cause millions of cases of watery or bloody diarrhea each year, mostly in children in developing countries. While many aspects of
Shigella
colonic cell invasion are known, crucial gaps in knowledge regarding how the bacteria survive, transit, and regulate gene expression prior to infection remain. In this study, we define mechanisms of resistance to bile salts and build on previous research highlighting induced virulence in
Shigella flexneri
strain 2457T following exposure to bile salts. Typical growth patterns were observed within the physiological range of bile salts; however, growth was inhibited at higher concentrations. Interestingly, extended periods of exposure to bile salts led to biofilm formation, a conserved phenotype that we observed among members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
. Characterization of
S. flexneri
2457T biofilms determined that both bile salts and glucose were required for formation, dispersion was dependent upon bile salts depletion, and recovered bacteria displayed induced adherence to HT-29 cells. RNA-sequencing analysis verified an important bile salt transcriptional profile in
S. flexneri
2457T, including induced drug resistance and virulence gene expression. Finally, functional mutagenesis identified the importance of the AcrAB efflux pump and lipopolysaccharide O-antigen synthesis for bile salt resistance. Our data demonstrate that
S. flexneri
2457T employs multiple mechanisms to survive exposure to bile salts, which may have important implications for multidrug resistance. Furthermore, our work confirms that bile salts are important physiological signals to activate
S. flexneri
2457T virulence. This work provides insights into how exposure to bile likely regulates
Shigella
survival and virulence during host transit and subsequent colonic infection.
Sex differences in coronary heart disease and stroke mortality: a global assessment of the effect of ageing between 1980 and 2010
Authors: Bots Sophie H , Peters Sanne A E , Woodward Mark 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundCardiovascular disease mortality rates are well known to be lower in women than men and to increase with age. Whether these sex and age effects have changed over recent decades, and how much they differ by country, is unclear.MethodFrom the WHO Mortality Database, we obtained age-specific and sex-specific coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality rates for the world's most populous countries with data available between 1980 and 2010. We calculated age-specific, country-specific and period-specific men-to-women CHD and stroke mortality rate ratios for 26 countries and compared the differences between and within countries over time.ResultsCHD and stroke mortality decreased substantially between 1980 and 2010 in most countries, in both sexes. Mostly there was an attenuation of the effect of ageing over calendar time, more so in men than in women. CHD mortality was higher in men than in women throughout adulthood, but the magnitude of the difference varied by age. Men-to-women CHD mortality rate ratios were 4–5 in middle age (30–64 years) and 2 thereafter (65–89 years). Stroke mortality was more similar between sexes, with men-to-women stroke mortality rate ratios of around 1.5–2 until old age.ConclusionsWhile CHD and stroke mortality rates declined considerably between 1980 and 2010 in both sexes, there was some indication for stronger age-specific reductions in CHD in men than women. Mortality from CHD and stroke remains higher among men than women until old age across a range of economically, socially and culturally diverse countries.
Constraint choice in revision knee arthroplasty: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial assessing the effect of level of constraint on postoperative outcome
Authors: Hommel Hagen , Wilke Kai , Kunze Daniel , Hommel Peggy , Fennema Peter 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionThe proper management of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with severe deformities regarding the preferable prosthetic design and the required amount of constraint is a controversial subject. In the absence of any high-level clinical evidence, we designed a randomised clinical trial to investigate if rotating hinged (RTH) and constrained condylar knee (CCK) designs yield similar outcomes.Methods and analysisThis study is a multicentre, randomised clinical trial including two groups of 85 patients. Patients will be randomised to a CCK knee design group or an RTH knee design group. Patients will be followed for 2 years. The study will be designed as an equivalence trial. The primary study outcome will be the postoperative functional outcome as measured by the self-administered Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Secondary outcomes will be postoperative joint awareness during various activities of daily living as measured by the Forgotten Joint Score-12, the Knee Society Score, along with the incidence and location of radiolucent lines using the Knee Society TKA radiographic evaluation system.Ethics and disseminationThis study is approved by the ethics committee of the Landesärztekammer Brandenburg ((S 10(a)/2013) from 27.08.2013, amended on 25.04.2016) and will be conducted according to the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki and the ISO14155:2011.Trial registration numberDRKS00010539.
Smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Borgen Iren , Garnweidner-Holme Lisa Maria , Jacobsen Anne Flem , Bjerkan Kirsti , Fayyad Seraj , Joranger Pål , Lilleengen Anne Marie , Mosdøl Annhild , Noll Josef , Småstuen Milada Cvancarova , Terragni Laura , Torheim Liv Elin , Lukasse Mirjam 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionThe promotion of a healthy diet, physical activity and measurement of blood glucose levels are essential components in the care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Smartphones offer a new way to promote health behaviour. The main aim is to investigate if the use of the Pregnant+ app, in addition to standard care, results in better blood glucose levels compared with current standard care only, for women with GDM.Methods and analysisThis randomised controlled trial will include 230 pregnant women with GDM followed up at 5 outpatient departments (OPD) in the greater Oslo Region. Women with a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) ≥9 mmol/L, who own a smartphone, understand Norwegian, Urdu or Somali and are <33 weeks pregnant, are invited. The intervention group receives the Pregnant+ app and standard care. The control group receives standard care only. Block randomisation is performed electronically. Data are collected using self-reported questionnaires and hospital records. Data will be analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Groups will be compared using linear regression for the main outcome and χ2test for categorical data and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for skewed distribution. The main outcome is the glucose level measured at the 2-hour OGTT 3 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes are a change in health behaviour and knowledge about GDM, quality of life, birth weight, mode of delivery and complications for mother and child.Ethics and disseminationThe study is exempt from regional ethics review due to its nature of quality improvement in patient care. Our study has been approved by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services and the patient privacy protections boards governing over the recruitment sites. Findings will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.Trial registration numberNCT02588729, Post-results.
Surgery for Type B Ankle Fracture Treatment: a Combined Randomised and Observational Study (CROSSBAT)
Authors: Mittal Rajat , Harris Ian A , Adie Sam , Naylor Justine M 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundIsolated type B ankle fractures with no injury to the medial side are the most common type of ankle fracture.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine if surgery is superior to non-surgical management for the treatment of these fractures.MethodsA pragmatic, multicentre, single-blinded, combined randomised controlled trial and observational study. Setting Participants between 18 and 65 years with a type B ankle fracture and minimal talar shift were recruited from 22 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Participants willing to be randomised were randomly allocated to undergo surgical fixation followed by mobilisation in a walking boot for 6 weeks. Those treated non-surgically were managed in a walking boot for 6 weeks. Participants not willing to be randomised formed the observational cohort. Randomisation stratified by site and using permuted variable blocks was administered centrally. Outcome assessors were blinded for the primary outcomes. Primary outcomes Patient-reported ankle function using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle Outcomes Questionnaire (FAOQ) and the physical component score (PCS) of the SF-12v2 General Health Survey at 12 months postinjury. Primary analysis was intention to treat; the randomised and observational cohorts were analysed separately.ResultsFrom August 2010 to October 2013, 160 people were randomised (80 surgical and 80 non-surgical); 139 (71 surgical and 68 non-surgical) were analysed as intention to treat. 276 formed the observational cohort (19 surgical and 257 non-surgical); 220 (18 surgical and 202 non-surgical) were analysed. The randomised cohort demonstrated that surgery was not superior to non-surgery for the FAOQ (49.8 vs 53.0; mean difference 3.2 (95% CI 0.4 to 5.9), p=0.028), or the PCS (53.7 vs 53.2; mean difference 0.6 (−2.9 to 1.8), p=0.63). 23 (32%) and 10 (14%) participants had an adverse event in the surgical and non-surgical groups, respectively. Similar results were found in the observational cohort.ConclusionsSurgery is not superior to non-surgical management for 44-B1 ankle fractures in the short term, and is associated with increased adverse events.Trial registration numberNCT01134094.
Biological rationale and potential clinical use of gabapentin and pregabalin in bipolar disorder, insomnia and anxiety: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Houghton Kerensa T , Forrest Alexandra , Awad Amine , Atkinson Lauren Z , Stockton Sarah , Harrison Paul J , Geddes John R , Cipriani Andrea 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionGabapentin has been extensively prescribed off-label for psychiatric indications, with little established evidence of efficacy. Gabapentin and pregabalin, a very similar drug with the same mechanism of action, bind to a subunit of voltage-dependent calcium channels which are implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of bipolar disorder, anxiety and insomnia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to collect and critically appraise all the available evidence about the efficacy and tolerability of gabapentin and pregabalin in the treatment of bipolar disorder, insomnia and anxiety.Methods and analysisWe will include all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reported as double-blind and comparing gabapentin or pregabalin with placebo or any other active pharmacological treatment (any preparation, dose, frequency, route of delivery or setting) in patients with bipolar disorder, anxiety or insomnia. For consideration of adverse effects (tolerability), single-blind or open-label RCTs and non-randomised evidence will also be summarised. The main outcomes will be efficacy (measured as dichotomous and continuous outcome) and acceptability (proportion of patients who dropped out of the allocated treatment). Published and unpublished studies will be sought through relevant database searches, trial registries and websites; all reference selection and data extraction will be conducted by at least 2 independent reviewers. We will conduct a random-effects meta-analysis to synthesise all evidence for each outcome. Heterogeneity between studies will be investigated by the I2statistic. Data from included studies will be entered into a funnel plot for investigation of small-study effects. No subgroup analysis will be undertaken, but we will carry out sensitivity analyses about combination treatment, psychiatric comorbidity, use of rescue medications and fixed versus random-effects model.Ethics and disseminationThis review does not require ethical approval. This protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42016041802). The results of the systematic review will be disseminated via publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Surveillance Systems from Public Health Institutions and Scientific Societies for Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections in Europe (SUSPIRE): protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Núñez-Núñez María , Navarro María Dolores , Gkolia Panagiota , Babu Rajendran Nithya , del Toro María Dolores , Voss Andreas , Sharland Mike , Sifakis Frangiscos , Tacconelli Evelina , Rodríguez-Baño Jesús 
Published: March 2017

IntroductionThe worldwide spread of antimicrobial resistance is now recognised as a global public health threat. Owing to the geographical heterogeneity, complexity and continuously evolving dynamics of resistant organisms and genes, surveillance is a key tool for understanding, measuring and informing actions in the fight against this problem. To date there is no harmonisation of key indicators or of methodologies used to obtain them.Methods and analysisThe main objective of this project is to systematically review and analyse the current publicly available surveillance activities on antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections in Europe. Eligible activities are those endorsed by regional, national or transnational health organisations and scientific societies providing data on a periodic basis. Grey and peer-reviewed literature will be searched with no language restrictions. Three independent reviewers will perform a two-step selection process using a previously piloted, tailored electronic data extraction form. Descriptive summaries and tables of all relevant findings will be performed and reported according to PRISMA guidelines.Ethics and disseminationWe did not seek ethical approval for this study because the data to be collected are not linked to individuals. Data will be presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberCRD42016033867.
Venous lactate, pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide levels as prognostic indicators in 110 premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Yildiz R. , Aydogdu U. , Guzelbektes H. , Coskun A. , Sen I. 
Published: March 2017

Hyperlactatemia, hypercapnia, low pH and low oxygen saturation (SatO2) are commonly observed in premature calves. These clinical indicators are associated with increased mortality in preterm human newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic importance of venous pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and lactate level and which parameters are related with mortality in premature calves with RDS. All premature calves (52 male/58 female) were admitted to clinic within 12–24 hours after birth and blood samples were also taken into heparinised plastic syringes from the jugular vein within 30 minutes following admission. Diagnosis of RDS was made by both clinical signs and blood gas results. For the evaluation of independent samples, t test was used to compare the venous blood gas indicators of surviving and non‐surviving premature calves. Receiver operating characteristics curves were used to determine a cut‐off value in terms of lactate and pCO2 measurements among non‐surviving and surviving calves. Venous pH, pCO2, SatO2, base deficit, bicarbonate (HCO3) and lactate levels showed a significant variance between surviving and non‐surviving calves. Mean venous pH, pCO2, SatO2, lactate levels in non‐surviving premature calves was 7.05, 78.9 mm Hg, 16.1 per cent and 9.50 mmol/l, respectively. Mean pH, pCO2, SatO2 and lactate levels in surviving premature calves were 7.29, 56.3 mm Hg, 25.5 per cent and 5.1 mmol/l, respectively. The cut‐off values for lactate and pCO2 were 7.5 mmol/l and 63.5 mm Hg, respectively. In conclusion, the results of the study show that venous blood lactate and pCO2 have prognostic importance in premature calves with RDS.