bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Efficacy of Handwashing Agents against Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Faix Roger G. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractConscientious handwashing is often recommended as an important method for limiting transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) from infected individuals to health, education, and child care professionals. To assess the efficacy of handwashing, fingertips of radiation-sterilized latex gloves were inoculated with 0.2 mL of ten different CMV strains. Virus in each inoculum was quantitated by plaque assay. After five minutes, viral inocula were allowed to remain (control), or were washed away by dropwise application of 10 mL of distilled water (DI), 5 mL of 0.08% soap followed by 5 mL of DI, 5 mL of 0.01% Chlorhexidine gluconate followed by 5 mL of DI, or 5 mL of 0.025% povidone-iodine solution followed by 5 mL of DI. Separate glove fingertips were sampled 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes after washing and cultured in duplicate for CMV. Similar studies were performed using human cadaver skin. Ordinary soap was as effective at preventing CMV recovery as other more expensive agents. For inocula with <5 log10pfu CMV/mL, washing with water alone was as effective as other agents. This was confirmed in similar studies with human hands using five CMV stains. Handwashing is probably an effective method for removing CMV from contaminated hands.
Bacterial Colonization in Humidifying Cascade Reservoirs After 24 and 48 Hours of Continuous Mechanical Ventilation
Authors: Goularte Theresa A. , Manning Marie , Craven Donald E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe evaluated levels of bacterial colonization in the humidifying cascade reservoirs of 466 mechanical ventilators; 326 reservoirs were cultured after 24 hours and 140 were cultured after 48 hours of continuous mechanical ventilation. Bacterial colonization was absent in 284 (87.1%) of the humidifier reservoirs sampled at 24 hours and 125 (89.3%) of the reservoirs cultured at 48 hours. Levels of bacterial colonization in the remaining humidifiers were low (<100 organisms/mL). The median temperature recorded in the reservoir fluid of 30 different ventilators was 50°C (range 40° to 60°C). In vitro seeding of reservoir fluid at 50°C with 106 organisms/mL of four different species of nosocomial gram-negative bacilli andStaphylococcus aureusdemonstrated rapid killing of all five strains over a 6-hour incubation period, and no significant bacterial aerosols were detected. Rates and levels of bacteria in heated humidifier reservoirs are low and nosocomial pathogens survive poorly at the median reservoir temperature of 50°C. We conclude that the heated humidifier reservoir on a mechanical ventilator is an unlikely source of colonization or bacterial aerosols, and therefore it can be changed every 48 hours with the ventilator tubing.
Diffusion and Adoption of CDC Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections in US Hospitals
Authors: Celentano David D. , Morlock Laura L. , Malitz Faye E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSince 1981, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been publishing Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections as a useful reference tool in infection control. The extent to which practices recommended by CDC to reduce hospital-acquired infections have been successfully diffused and adopted were evaluated in a stratified random sample of 445 US hospitals that were sent a questionnaire in 1985. The data suggest that over 84% of infection control practitioner respondents (78% response rate) are aware of each guideline, although small hospitals (<50 beds) are least likely to be aware of the guidelines or to have reviewed them thoroughly. Adoption of the recommendations remains far from universal, ranging from 23% to 75% for 16 specific recommendations investigated. Smaller hospitals were significantly less likely than large hospitals to have adopted each suggested policy. Recommendations that carried Category I rankings were more likely to be adopted, as were those procedures that had cost-savings implications.
The Detection of Blood on Nonporous Environmental Surfaces: An Approach for Assessing Factors Contributing to the Risk of Occupational Exposure to Blood in the Autopsy Suite
Authors: Beaumont Lorraine R. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA simple and inexpensive method to assess the contamination of environmental surfaces and the associated potential risk of exposure of autopsy room personnel to potentially hazardous materials is described. Blood was selected as a marker of contamination and HEMASTIX® reagent strips were used to determine its presence on selected surfaces. The surfaces selected for examination typically do not come into direct contact with cadavers or tissues during a routine postmortem examination and thus are not included in routine cleanup. We documented the presence of blood on a variety of environmental surfaces in the autopsy suite and suggest that the contamination resulted from a breakdown in good work practices, most probably the indiscriminate handling or touching of materials and equipment with contaminated gloves. The risk of exposure to blood by the indirect route was deemed significant. The results of this study underscore the importance of establishing and consistently following good work practices and cleanup procedures to minimize the risk of exposure to blood before, during, and after postmortem examinations.
Nosocomial Infection in an Intensive-Care Unit Identification of Risk Factors
Authors: Fernandez-Crehuet Rafael , Diaz-Molina Carmen , de Irala Jokin , Martinez-Concha Diego , Salcedo-Leal Inmaculada , Masa-Calles Josefa 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjective:To identify risk factors predictive of nosocomial infection in an intensive-care unit (ICU) and to identify patients with a higher risk of nosocomial infection using a predictive model of nosocomial infection in our ICU.Design:Prospective study; daily concurrent surveillance of intensive-care-unit patients.Setting/Patients:All patients admitted for at least 24 hours to the ICU of a tertiary-level hospital from February to November 1994 were followed daily.Methods:Variables measuring extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors for nosocomial infection were collected on each patient during their ICU stay, and the Cox Proportional Hazards multivariable technique was used to identify the variables significantly associated with infection.Results:The population studied consisted of 944 patients. The main risk factors identified were intrinsic; the significant extrinsic risk ofactors identified were head of the bed in a horizontal (<30°) position (this variable presented the highest increase of the infection hazard ratio) and the use of sedative medication. Patients presenting the highest risk scores using the predictive model are those with the highest risk of nosocomial infection.Conclusion:The important preventive measures derived from our results are that underlying conditions suffered by the patient at the ICU admission should be corrected promptly, the depression of the patient's level of consciousness with sedatives should be monitored carefully, and the horizontal position of the head of the bed should be avoided totally. Patients with a high risk of infection can be the target of special preventive measures.
Outcomes of Patients with Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia: Worse Disease or Sicker Patients?
Authors: Rothberg Michael B. , Haessler Sarah , Lagu Tara , Lindenauer Peter K. , Pekow Penelope S. , Priya Aruna , Skiest Daniel , Zilberberg Marya D. 
Published: August 2016

Background.Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) is an entity distinct from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). HCAP has a higher case-fatality rate, due either to HCAP organisms or to the health status of HCAP patients. The contribution of HCAP criteria to case-fatality rate is unknown.Methods.We conducted a retrospective review of adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia from July 2007 through November 2011 to 491 US hospitals. HCAP was defined as having at least 1 of the following: prior hospitalization within 90 days, hemodialysis, admission from a skilled nursing facility, or immune suppression. We compared characteristics of patients with CAP and patients with HCAP and explored the contribution of HCAP criteria to case-fatality rate in a hierarchical generalized linear model.Results.Of 436,483 patients hospitalized with pneumonia, 149,963 (34.4%) had HCAP. Compared to CAP patients, HCAP patients were older, had more comorbidities, and were more likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) care. In-hospital case-fatality rate was higher among patients with HCAP, compared to those with CAP (11.1% vs 5.1%, P < .001). After adjustment for demographics, comorbidities, presence of other infections, early ICU admission, chronic and acute medications, early tests and therapies, and length of stay, HCAP remained associated with increased case-fatality rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.35 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-1.39]); odds of death increased for each additional HCAP criterion (OR [95% CI]: 1 criterion, 1.27 [1.23-1.31], 2 criteria, 1.55 [1.49-1.62], and 3 or more criteria, 1.88 [1.72-2.06]).Conclusions.After adjustment for differences in patient characteristics, HCAP was associated with greater case-fatality rate than CAP. This difference may be due to HCAP organisms or to HCAP criteria themselves.
Whole-animal genome-wide RNAi screen identifies networks regulating male germline stem cells in Drosophila
Authors: Liu Ying , Ge Qinglan , Chan Brian , Liu Hanhan , Singh Shree Ram , Manley Jacob , Lee Jae , Weideman Ann Marie , Hou Gerald , Hou Steven X. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractStem cells are regulated both intrinsically and externally, including by signals from the local environment and distant organs. To identify genes and pathways that regulate stem-cell fates in the whole organism, we perform a genome-wide transgenic RNAi screen through ubiquitous gene knockdowns, focusing on regulators of adultDrosophilatestis germline stem cells (GSCs). Here we identify 530 genes that regulate GSC maintenance and differentiation. Of these, we further knock down 113 selected genes using cell-type-specific Gal4s and find that more than half were external regulators, that is, from the local microenvironment or more distal sources. Some genes, for example,versatile(vers), encoding a heterochromatin protein, regulates GSC fates differentially in different cell types and through multiple pathways. We also find that mitosis/cytokinesis proteins are especially important for male GSC maintenance. Our findings provide valuable insights and resources for studying stem cell regulation at the organismal level.
Multivariate analysis of ultrasound-recorded dorsal strain sequences: Investigation of dynamic neck extensions in women with chronic whiplash associated disorders
Authors: Peolsson Anneli , Peterson Gunnel , Trygg Johan , Nilsson David 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWhiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) refers to the multifaceted and chronic burden that is common after a whiplash injury. Tools to assist in the diagnosis of WAD and an increased understanding of neck muscle behaviour are needed. We examined the multilayer dorsal neck muscle behaviour in nine women with chronic WAD versus healthy controls during the entire sequence of a dynamic low-loaded neck extension exercise, which was recorded using real-time ultrasound movies with high frame rates. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares were used to analyse mechanical muscle strain (deformation in elongation and shortening). The WAD group showed more shortening during the neck extension phase in the trapezius muscle and during both the neck extension and the return to neutral phase in the multifidus muscle. For the first time, a novel non-invasive method is presented that is capable of detecting altered dorsal muscle strain in women with WAD during an entire exercise sequence. This method may be a breakthrough for the future diagnosis and treatment of WAD.
Optogenetic and chemogenetic strategies for sustained inhibition of pain
Authors: Iyer Shrivats M. , Vesuna Sam , Ramakrishnan Charu , Huynh Karen , Young Stephanie , Berndt Andre , Lee Soo Yeun , Gorini Christopher J. , Deisseroth Karl , Delp Scott L. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractSpatially targeted, genetically-specific strategies for sustained inhibition of nociceptors may help transform pain science and clinical management. Previous optogenetic strategies to inhibit pain have required constant illumination and chemogenetic approaches in the periphery have not been shown to inhibit pain. Here, we show that the step-function inhibitory channelrhodopsin, SwiChR, can be used to persistently inhibit pain for long periods of time through infrequent transdermally delivered light pulses, reducing required light exposure by >98% and resolving a long-standing limitation in optogenetic inhibition. We demonstrate that the viral expression of the hM4D receptor in small-diameter primary afferent nociceptor enables chemogenetic inhibition of mechanical and thermal nociception thresholds. Finally, we develop optoPAIN, an optogenetic platform to non-invasively assess changes in pain sensitivity and use this technique to examine pharmacological and chemogenetic inhibition of pain.
The sense of body ownership relaxes temporal constraints for multisensory integration
Authors: Maselli Antonella , Kilteni Konstantina , López-Moliner Joan , Slater Mel 
Published: August 2016

AbstractExperimental work on body ownership illusions showed how simple multisensory manipulation can generate the illusory experience of an artificial limb as being part of the own-body. This work highlighted how own-body perception relies on a plastic brain representation emerging from multisensory integration. The flexibility of this representation is reflected in the short-term modulations of physiological states and perceptual processing observed during these illusions. Here, we explore the impact of ownership illusions on the temporal dimension of multisensory integration. We show that, during the illusion, the temporal window for integrating touch on the physical body with touch seen on a virtual body representation, increases with respect to integration with visual events seen close but separated from the virtual body. We show that this effect is mediated by the ownership illusion. Crucially, the temporal window for visuotactile integration was positively correlated with participants’ scores rating the illusory experience of owning the virtual body and touching the object seen in contact with it. Our results corroborate the recently proposed causal inference mechanism for illusory body ownership. As a novelty, they show that the ensuing illusory causal binding between stimuli from the real and fake body relaxes constraints for the integration of bodily signals.
Secreted Isoform of Human Lynx1 (SLURP-2): Spatial Structure and Pharmacology of Interactions with Different Types of Acetylcholine Receptors
Authors: Lyukmanova E. N. , Shulepko M. A. , Shenkarev Z. O. , Bychkov M. L. , Paramonov A. S. , Chugunov A. O. , Kulbatskii D. S. , Arvaniti M. , Dolejsi Eva , Schaer T. , Arseniev A. S. , Efremov R. G. , Thomsen M. S. , Dolezal V. , Bertrand D. , Dolgikh D. A. , Kirpichnikov M. P. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHuman-secreted Ly-6/uPAR-related protein-2 (SLURP-2) regulates the growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. Previously, the auto/paracrine activity of SLURP-2 was considered to be mediated via its interaction with the α3β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, we describe the structure and pharmacology of a recombinant analogue of SLURP-2. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a ‘three-finger’ fold of SLURP-2 with a conserved β-structural core and three protruding loops. Affinity purification using cortical extracts revealed that SLURP-2 could interact with the α3, α4, α5, α7, β2, and β4 nAChR subunits, revealing its broader pharmacological profile. SLURP-2 inhibits acetylcholine-evoked currents at α4β2 and α3β2-nAChRs (IC50 ~0.17 and >3 μM, respectively) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In contrast, at α7-nAChRs, SLURP-2 significantly enhances acetylcholine-evoked currents at concentrations <1 μM but induces inhibition at higher concentrations. SLURP-2 allosterically interacts with human M1 and M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) that are overexpressed in CHO cells. SLURP-2 was found to promote the proliferation of human oral keratinocytes via interactions with α3β2-nAChRs, while it inhibited cell growth via α7-nAChRs. SLURP-2/mAChRs interactions are also probably involved in the control of keratinocyte growth. Computer modeling revealed possible SLURP-2 binding to the ‘classical’ orthosteric agonist/antagonist binding sites at α7 and α3β2-nAChRs.
Incubation of food craving is independent of macronutrient composition
Authors: Darling Rebecca A. , Dingess Paige M. , Schlidt Kevin C. , Smith Erin M. , Brown Travis E. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCues previously paired with rewarding stimuli induce a time-dependent increase in the motivational craving state (incubation of craving). Whether there is an increase in craving for high-fat (HF) food over time, which may contribute to overeating and obesity, has not been determined. We hypothesized that cues paired with HF pellets would elicit a greater incubation of craving effect than those paired with standard chow (SC) pellets. Rats exposed to cues associated with either HF or SC pellets demonstrated equivalent levels of craving over an abstinence period of 30 days. Diet preference tests between SC pellets and LabDiet revealed that SC pellets were preferred over LabDiet. Rats reared on SC pellets exclusively, did not display incubation of craving for SC pellets, suggesting that prior history with the food plays an important role in cue-induced seeking behavior. Results identified cues previously associated with food undergo a comparable magnitude of incubation of craving. When ingestive behavior was measured after 30 days of abstinence, rats significantly increased their consumption of HF pellets. Our results indicate that food cues gain importance over time, trigger increased approach behaviors and increased consumption of HF food following abstinence. This may contribute to overeating and the development of obesity.
Manipulating the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compound Alkaloids for Next-Generation Metabolic Engineering in Opium Poppy Using CRISPR-Cas 9 Genome Editing Technology
Authors: Alagoz Yagiz , Gurkok Tugba , Zhang Baohong , Unver Turgay 
Published: August 2016

AbstractClustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated9 (Cas9) endonuclease system is a powerful RNA-guided genome editing tool. CRISPR/Cas9 has been well studied in model plant species for targeted genome editing. However, few studies have been reported on plant species without whole genome sequence information. Currently, no study has been performed to manipulate metabolic pathways using CRISPR/Cas9. In this study, the type II CRISPR/SpCas9 system was used to knock out, via nonhomologous end-joining genome repair, the 4′OMT2 in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), a gene which regulates the biosythesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). For sgRNA transcription, viral-based TRV and synthetic binary plasmids were designed and delivered into plant cells with a Cas9 encoding-synthetic vector by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. InDels formed by CRISPR/Cas9 were detected by sequence analysis. Our results showed that the biosynthesis of BIAs (e.g. morphine, thebaine) was significantly reduced in the transgenic plants suggesting that 4′OMT2 was efficiently knocked-out by our CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approach. In addition, a novel uncharacterized alkaloid was observed only in CRISPR/Cas9 edited plants. Thus, the applicabilitiy of the CRISPR/Cas9 system was demonstrated for the first time for medicinal aromatic plants by sgRNAs transcribed from both synthetic and viral vectors to regulate BIA metabolism and biosynthesis.
MicroRNA-491 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of CD8+ T cells
Authors: Yu Ting , Zuo Qian-Fei , Gong Li , Wang Li-Na , Zou Quan-Ming , Xiao Bin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractT lymphocyte-mediated immune responses are critical for antitumour immunity; however, T cell function is impaired in the tumour environment. MicroRNAs are involved in regulation of the immune system. While little is known about the function of intrinsic microRNAs in CD8+ T cells in the tumour microenvironment. Here, we found that miR-491 was upregulated in CD8+ T cells from mice with colorectal cancer. Retroviral overexpression of miR-491 in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis and decreased the production of interferon-γ in CD8+ T cells. We found that miR-491 directly targeted cyclin-dependent kinase 4, the transcription factor T cell factor 1 and the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2-like 1 in CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, tumour-derived TGF-β induced miR-491 expression in CD8+ T cells. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-491 can act as a negative regulator of T lymphocytes, especially CD8+ T cells, in the tumour environment; thus, this study provides a novel insight on dysfunctional CD8+ T cells during tumourigenesis and cancer progression. In conclusion, miR-491 may be a new target for antitumour immunotherapy.
Non-monotonic temperature dependence of radiation defect dynamics in silicon carbide
Authors: Bayu Aji L. B. , Wallace J. B. , Shao L. , Kucheyev S. O. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractUnderstanding response of solids to particle irradiation remains a major materials physics challenge. This applies even to SiC, which is a prototypical nuclear ceramic and wide-band-gap semiconductor material. The lack of predictability is largely related to the complex, dynamic nature of radiation defect formation. Here, we use a novel pulsed-ion-beam method to study dynamic annealing in 4H-SiC ion-bombarded in the temperature range of 25–250 °C. We find that, while the defect recombination efficiency shows an expected monotonic increase with increasing temperature, the defect lifetime exhibits a non-monotonic temperature dependence with a maximum at ~100 °C. This finding indicates a change in the dominant defect interaction mechanism at ~100 °C. The understanding of radiation defect dynamics may suggest new paths to designing radiation-resistant materials.