bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What (if Anything) Is Wrong with Capitalism? Dysfunctionality, Exploitation and Alienation: Three Approaches to the Critique of Capitalism
Authors: Jaeggi Rahel 
Published: September 2016

AbstractWhat is the problem with capitalism? Is it wrong, unjust, irrational, or bad? Is it evil or dumb—or is it just not working? While critiques of capitalism have become commonplace—particularly since the most recent global economic crisis—it is often unclear what exactly is being condemned. Likewise, the normative presuppositions and criteria of such criticisms have been left unspecified. In this paper, I distinguish between three approaches to the critique of capitalism, distinguishing a functional, a moral, and an ethical argumentative strategy and paying special attention to the distinctive types of argumentation they mobilize. First, I consider the “functional” critique, typically directed against capitalism's straightforward dysfunctions or crises. We will find, however, that this sort of criticism presupposes a normative criterion that is frequently unarticulated, namely: the implied “purpose” of a well‐functioning economic system. Second, I examine a common “moral” critique, that is, that capitalism is premised on exploitation. Yet, the concept of exploitation, too, introduces certain difficulties, since the kind of moral wrong associated with it—unequal exchange—is hardly obvious to everyday observation and must be derived systematically. Third, I introduce and address the “ethical” critique, broadly, that capitalism constitutes a bad form‐of‐life. However, while I object to some of the forms this criticism has taken—in particular, I argue that much “alienation” diagnosis is tainted by nostalgia and naiveté—I nonetheless recommend developing a critique of capitalism as a form‐of‐life that would include ethical and functional criteria. I conclude with some remarks in this direction.
Preemptive reduction of immunosuppression upon high urinary polyomavirus loads improves patient survival without affecting kidney graft function
Authors: Broeders Emine Nilufer , Hamade Anwar , El Mountahi Fadoua , Racapé Judith , Hougardy Jean‐Michel , Le Moine Alain , Vereerstraeten Pierre 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundPolyomavirus (PV) is a major cause of kidney graft disease. Monitoring by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood is currently recommended. In order to avoid irreversible lesions, we investigated the clinical impact of preemptive reduction of immunosuppression (IS) in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) upon detection of high urinary PV (Upv) load, including BK virus and JC virus.Material and methodsFrom 2000 to 2011, in our single center, 789 consecutive KTR were distributed into 4 groups, according to the maximal Upv levels (by PCR) during the first year and the therapeutic option: (A) Upv <104 copies (cp)/mL (n=573), (B) ≥104 Upv <107 cp/mL (n=100), and (C) Upv ≥107 cp/mL (n=116); in group C, the IS drug doses were reduced in subgroup Ca (n=102) only, as 14 patients (subgroup Cb) were at risk for graft rejection.ResultsThe preemptive reduction of IS (group Ca) increased patient survival as compared with all other groups (P<.05), did not modify graft function, and increased graft survival vs group A (risk ratio: 5.7, confidence interval: 1.8–18.1, P=.003). Differences for risk factors are as follows (groups Ca vs A): incidence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) immunization (>5% panel reactive antibodies): 3% vs 8% (P=.05), number of HLA mismatches: 2.7 vs 2.5 (P=.049), and incidence of acute rejection: 9.8% vs 24.2% (P=.005). PV‐associated nephropathy occurred only in group Ca (2% of total grafts) without effect on patient or graft outcome.ConclusionThe reduction of IS in patients with high Upv loads is beneficial for patient survival and does not affect graft survival or graft function.
In Vitro
Synergistic Activity of Antimicrobial Agents in Combination against Clinical Isolates of Colistin-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Bae Seongman , Kim Min-Chul , Park Su-Jin , Kim Hee Sueng , Sung Heungsup , Kim Mi-Na , Kim Sung-Han , Lee Sang-Oh , Choi Sang-Ho , Woo Jun Hee , Kim Yang Soo , Chong Yong Pil 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

Emerging resistance to colistin in clinical
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates is of growing concern. Since current treatment options for these strains are extremely limited, we investigated the
in vitro
activities of various antimicrobial combinations against colistin-resistant
A. baumannii
. Nine clinical isolates (8 from bacteremia cases and 1 from a pneumonia case) of colistin-resistant
A. baumannii
were collected in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between January 2010 and December 2012. To screen for potential synergistic effects, multiple combinations of two antimicrobials among 12 commercially available agents were tested using the multiple-combination bactericidal test (MCBT). Checkerboard tests were performed to validate these results. Among the 9 colistin-resistant strains, 6 were pandrug resistant and 3 were extensively drug resistant. With MCBT, the most effective combinations were colistin-rifampin and colistin-teicoplanin; both combinations showed synergistic effect against 8 of 9 strains. Colistin-aztreonam, colistin-meropenem, and colistin-vancomycin combinations showed synergy against seven strains. Colistin was the most common constituent of antimicrobial combinations that were active against colistin-resistant
A. baumannii
. Checkerboard tests were then conducted in colistin-based combinations. Notably, colistin-rifampin showed synergism against all nine strains (100%). Both colistin-vancomycin and colistin-teicoplanin showed either synergy or partial synergy. Colistin combined with another β-lactam agent (aztreonam, ceftazidime, or meropenem) showed a relatively moderate effect. Colistin combined with ampicillin-sulbactam, tigecycline, amikacin, azithromycin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole demonstrated limited synergism. Using MCBT and checkerboard tests, we found that only colistin-based combinations, particularly those with rifampin, glycopeptides, or β-lactams, may confer therapeutic benefits against colistin-resistant
A. baumannii
.
Endoperoxide Drug Cross-Resistance Patterns for Plasmodium falciparum Exhibiting an Artemisinin Delayed-Clearance Phenotype
Authors: Siriwardana A. , Iyengar K. , Roepe P. D. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

The ring-stage susceptibility assay was modified to quantify the susceptibilities of multiple strains of control and delayed-clearance phenotype (DCP)
Plasmodium falciparum
strains to seven endoperoxide antimalarial drugs. The susceptibility of all of the DCP lines to six of the drugs was lower than that of the controls. In contrast, DCP parasites did not show reduced susceptibility to the synthetic endoperoxide drug OZ439. These data show that it is possible to circumvent emerging artemisinin resistance with a modified endoperoxide drug.
Evaluation of a Multiplex PCR Assay To Rapidly Detect Enterobacteriaceae with a Broad Range of β-Lactamases Directly from Perianal Swabs
Authors: Chavda Kalyan D. , Satlin Michael J. , Chen Liang , Manca Claudia , Jenkins Stephen G. , Walsh Thomas J. , Kreiswirth Barry N. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

We developed and evaluated multiplexed molecular beacon probes in a real-time PCR assay to identify prominent extended-spectrum-β-lactamase, plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase (pAmpC) and carbapenemase genes directly from perianal swab specimens within 6 h. We evaluated this assay on 158 perianal swabs collected from hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and found that this assay was highly sensitive and specific for detection of CTX-M-, pAmpC-, and KPC-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
compared to culture on chromogenic agar.
Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Enhances Recruitment of Immature Neutrophils to the Liver
Authors: Break Timothy J. , Witter Alexandra R. , Indramohan Mohanalaxmi , Mummert Mark E. , Dory Ladislav , Berg Rance E. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTListeria monocytogenesis a Gram-positive intracellular pathogen that causes spontaneous abortion in pregnant women, as well as septicemia, meningitis, and gastroenteritis, primarily in immunocompromised individuals. AlthoughL. monocytogenescan usually be effectively treated with antibiotics, there is still around a 25% mortality rate with individuals who develop clinical listeriosis. Neutrophils are innate immune cells required for the clearance of pathogenic organisms, includingL. monocytogenes. The diverse roles of neutrophils during both infectious and noninfectious inflammation have recently gained much attention. However, the impact of reactive oxygen species, and the enzymes that control their production, on neutrophil recruitment and function is not well understood. Using congenic mice with varying levels of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) activity, we have recently shown that the presence of ecSOD decreases clearance ofL. monocytogeneswhile increasing the recruitment of neutrophils that are not protective in the liver. The data presented here show that ecSOD activity does not lead to a cell-intrinsic increase in neutrophil-homing potential or a decrease in protection againstL. monocytogenes. Instead, ecSOD activity enhances the production of neutrophil-attracting factors and protects hyaluronic acid (HA) from damage. Furthermore, neutrophils from the livers of ecSOD-expressing mice have decreased intracellular and surface-bound myeloperoxidase, are less capable of killing phagocytosedL. monocytogenes, and have decreased oxidative burst. Collectively, our data reveal that ecSOD activity modulates neutrophil recruitment and function in a cell-extrinsic fashion, highlighting the importance of the enzyme in protecting tissues from oxidative damage.
Genomic Landscape of Intrahost Variation in Group A Streptococcus: Repeated and Abundant Mutational Inactivation of the
fabT
Gene Encoding a Regulator of Fatty Acid Synthesis
Authors: Eraso Jesus M. , Olsen Randall J. , Beres Stephen B. , Kachroo Priyanka , Porter Adeline R. , Nasser Waleed , Bernard Paul E. , DeLeo Frank R. , Musser James M. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

To obtain new information about
Streptococcus pyogenes
intrahost genetic variation during invasive infection, we sequenced the genomes of 2,954 serotype M1 strains recovered from a nonhuman primate experimental model of necrotizing fasciitis. A total of 644 strains (21.8%) acquired polymorphisms relative to the input parental strain. The
fabT
gene, encoding a transcriptional regulator of fatty acid biosynthesis genes, contained 54.5% of these changes. The great majority of polymorphisms were predicted to deleteriously alter FabT function. Transcriptome-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of a wild-type strain and an isogenic
fabT
deletion mutant strain found that between 3.7 and 28.5% of the
S. pyogenes
transcripts were differentially expressed, depending on the growth temperature (35°C or 40°C) and growth phase (mid-exponential or stationary phase). Genes implicated in fatty acid synthesis and lipid metabolism were significantly upregulated in the
fabT
deletion mutant strain. FabT also directly or indirectly regulated central carbon metabolism genes, including pyruvate hub enzymes and fermentation pathways and virulence genes. Deletion of
fabT
decreased virulence in a nonhuman primate model of necrotizing fasciitis. In addition, the
fabT
deletion strain had significantly decreased survival in human whole blood and during phagocytic interaction with polymorphonuclear leukocytes
ex vivo
. We conclude that FabT mutant progeny arise during infection, constitute a metabolically distinct subpopulation, and are less virulent in the experimental models used here.
Zika Virus Is Not Uniquely Stable at Physiological Temperatures Compared to Other Flaviviruses
Authors: Goo Leslie , Dowd Kimberly A. , Smith Alexander R. Y. , Pelc Rebecca S. , DeMaso Christina R. , Pierson Theodore C. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus that has emerged as a global health threat due in part to its association with congenital abnormalities. Other globally relevant flaviviruses include dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). High-resolution structures of ZIKV reveal many similarities to DENV and suggest some differences, including an extended glycan loop (D. Sirohi, Z. Chen, L. Sun, T. Klose, T. C. Pierson, et al., 352:467–470, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf5316) and unique interactions among envelope (E) protein residues that were proposed to confer increased virion stability and contribute mechanistically to the distinctive pathobiology of ZIKV (V. A. Kostyuchenko, E. X. Lim, S. Zhang, G. Fibriansah, T. S. Ng, et al., Nature 533:425–428, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature17994). However, in the latter study, virus stability was inferred by measuring the loss of infectivity following a short incubation period. Here, we rigorously assessed the relative stability of ZIKV, DENV, and WNV by measuring changes in infectivity following prolonged incubation at physiological temperatures. At 37°C, the half-life of ZIKV was approximately twice as long as the half-life of DENV (11.8 and 5.2 h, respectively) but shorter than that of WNV (17.7 h). Incubation at 40°C accelerated the loss of ZIKV infectivity. Increasing virion maturation efficiency modestly increased ZIKV stability, as observed previously with WNV and DENV. Finally, mutations at E residues predicted to confer increased stability to ZIKV did not affect virion half-life. Our results demonstrate that ZIKV is not uniquely stable relative to other flaviviruses, suggesting that its unique pathobiology is explained by an alternative mechanism.

IMPORTANCE
Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the
Flavivirus
genus, which includes other clinically relevant mosquito-borne pathogens such as dengue virus (DENV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Historically, ZIKV infection was characterized by a self-limiting, mild disease, but recent outbreaks have been associated with severe clinical complications, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly, which are atypical of other flavivirus infections. Moreover, ZIKV has been detected in saliva, urine, and semen, and it may be sexually transmitted. Analysis of a high-resolution cryo-electron microscopic reconstruction of ZIKV hypothesized that the unusual stability of this virus contributes to its distinctive pathobiology. Here, we directly compared the stability of ZIKV to that of other flaviviruses following prolonged incubation in solution at physiological temperatures. We found that the stability of multiple ZIKV strains, including those from recent outbreaks, is intermediate between that of DENV and WNV, suggesting an alternative explanation for the unique clinical manifestations of ZIKV infection.
Methodology of AA CRASH: a prospective observational study evaluating the incidence and pathogenesis of adverse post-traumatic sequelae in African-Americans experiencing motor vehicle collision
Authors: Linnstaedt Sarah D , Hu JunMei , Liu Andrea Y , Soward April C , Bollen Kenneth A , Wang Henry E , Hendry Phyllis L , Zimny Erin , Lewandowski Christopher , Velilla Marc-Anthony , Damiron Kathia , Pearson Claire , Domeier Robert , Kaushik Sangeeta , Feldman James , Rosenberg Mark , Jones Jeffrey , Swor Robert , Rathlev Niels , McLean Samuel A 
Published: September 2016

IntroductionA motor vehicle collision (MVC) is one of the most common life-threatening events experienced by individuals living in the USA. While most individuals recover following MVC, a significant proportion of individuals develop adverse post-traumatic sequelae such as post-traumatic stress disorder or persistent musculoskeletal pain. Adverse post-traumatic sequelae are common, morbid and costly public health problems in the USA and other industrialised countries. The pathogenesis of these disorders following MVC remains poorly understood. In the USA, available data suggest that African-Americans experience an increased burden of adverse post-traumatic sequelae after MVC compared to European Americans, but to date no studies examining the pathogenesis of these disorders among African-Americans experiencing MVC have been performed.Methods and analysisThe African-American CRASH (AA CRASH) study is an NIH-funded, multicentre, prospective study that enrols African-Americans (n=900) who present to the emergency department (ED) within 24 hours of MVC. Participants are enrolled at 13 ED sites in the USA. Individuals who are admitted to the hospital or who report a fracture or tissue injury are excluded. Participants complete a detailed ED interview that includes an assessment of crash history, current post-traumatic symptoms and health status prior to the MVC. Blood samples are also collected in the ED using PAXgene DNA and PAXgene RNA tubes. Serial mixed-mode assessments 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after MVC include an assessment of adverse sequelae, general health status and health service utilisation. The results from this study will provide insights into the incidence and pathogenesis of persistent pain and other post-traumatic sequelae in African-Americans experiencing MVC.Ethics and disseminationAA CRASH has ethics approval in the USA, and the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Total ankle replacement versus arthrodesis (TARVA): protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Goldberg Andrew J , Zaidi Razi , Thomson Claire , Doré Caroline J , Skene Simon S , Cro Suzie , Round Jeff , Molloy Andrew , Davies Mark , Karski Michael , Kim Louise , Cooke Paul 
Published: September 2016

IntroductionTotal ankle replacement (TAR) or ankle arthrodesis (fusion) is the main surgical treatments for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA). The popularity of ankle replacement is increasing while ankle fusion rates remain static. Both treatments have efficacy but to date all studies comparing the 2 have been observational without randomisation, and there are no published guidelines as to the most appropriate management. The TAR versus arthrodesis (TARVA) trial aims to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of TAR against ankle arthrodesis in the treatment of end-stage ankle OA in patients aged 50–85 years.Methods and analysisTARVA is a multicentre randomised controlled trial that will randomise 328 patients aged 50–85 years with end-stage ankle arthritis. The 2 arms of the study will be TAR or ankle arthrodesis with 164 patients in each group. Up to 16 UK centres will participate. Patients will have clinical assessments and complete questionnaires before their operation and at 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks after surgery. The primary clinical outcome of the study is a validated patient-reported outcome measure, the Manchester Oxford foot questionnaire, captured preoperatively and 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes include quality-of-life scores, complications, revision, reoperation and a health economic analysis.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol has been approved by the National Research Ethics Service Committee (London, Bloomsbury 14/LO/0807). This manuscript is based on V.5.0 of the protocol. The trial findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Trial registration numberNCT02128555.
Pulmonary artery perfusion versus no pulmonary perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with COPD: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Buggeskov Katrine B , Sundskard Martin M , Jonassen Thomas , Andersen Lars W , Secher Niels H , Ravn Hanne B , Steinbrüchel Daniel A , Jakobsen Janus C , Wetterslev Jørn 
Published: September 2016

IntroductionAbsence of pulmonary perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may be associated with reduced postoperative oxygenation. Effects of active pulmonary artery perfusion were explored in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing cardiac surgery.Methods90 patients were randomised to receive pulmonary artery perfusion during CPB with either oxygenated blood (n=30) or histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution (n=29) compared with no pulmonary perfusion (n=31). The coprimary outcomes were the inverse oxygenation index compared at 21 hours after starting CPB and longitudinally in a mixed-effects model (MEM). Secondary outcomes were tracheal intubation time, serious adverse events, mortality, days alive outside the intensive care unit (ICU) and outside the hospital.Results21 hours after starting CPB patients receiving pulmonary artery perfusion with normothermic oxygenated blood had a higher oxygenation index compared with no pulmonary perfusion (mean difference (MD) 0.94; 95% CI 0.05 to 1.83; p=0.04). The blood group had also a higher oxygenation index both longitudinally (MEM, p=0.009) and at 21 hours (MD 0.99; CI 0.29 to 1.69; p=0.007) compared with the HTK group. The latest result corresponds to a difference in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen of 23 mm Hg with a median fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.32. Yet the blood or HTK groups did not demonstrate a longitudinally higher oxygenation index compared with no pulmonary perfusion (MEM, p=0.57 and 0.17). Similarly, at 21 hours there was no difference in the oxygenation index between the HTK group and those no pulmonary perfusion (MD 0.06; 95% CI −0.73 to 0.86; p=0.87). There were no statistical significant differences between the groups for the secondary outcomes.DiscussionPulmonary artery perfusion with normothermic oxygenated blood during cardiopulmonary bypass appears to improve postoperative oxygenation in patients with COPD undergoing cardiac surgery. Pulmonary artery perfusion with hypothermic HTK solution does not seem to improve postoperative oxygenation.Trial registration numberNCT01614951; Pre-results.
Low eosinophil and low lymphocyte counts and the incidence of 12 cardiovascular diseases: a CALIBER cohort study
Authors: Shah Anoop Dinesh , Denaxas Spiros , Nicholas Owen , Hingorani Aroon D , Hemingway Harry 
Published: September 2016

BackgroundEosinophil and lymphocyte counts are commonly performed in clinical practice. Previous studies provide conflicting evidence of association with cardiovascular diseases.MethodsWe used linked primary care, hospitalisation, disease registry and mortality data in England (the CALIBER (CArdiovascular disease research using LInked Bespoke studies and Electronic health Records) programme). We included people aged 30 or older without cardiovascular disease at baseline, and used Cox models to estimate cause-specific HRs for the association of eosinophil or lymphocyte counts with the first occurrence of cardiovascular disease.ResultsThe cohort comprised 775 231 individuals, of whom 55 004 presented with cardiovascular disease over median follow-up 3.8 years. Over the first 6 months, there was a strong association of low eosinophil counts (<0.05 compared with 0.15–0.25×109/L) with heart failure (adjusted HR 2.05; 95% CI 1.72 to 2.43), unheralded coronary death (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.40 to 2.69), ventricular arrhythmia/sudden cardiac death and subarachnoid haemorrhage, but not angina, non-fatal myocardial infarction, transient ischaemic attack, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage or abdominal aortic aneurysm. Low eosinophil count was inversely associated with peripheral arterial disease (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.89). There were similar associations with low lymphocyte counts (<1.45 vs 1.85–2.15×109/L); adjusted HR over the first 6 months for heart failure was 2.25 (95% CI 1.90 to 2.67). Associations beyond the first 6 months were weaker.ConclusionsLow eosinophil counts and low lymphocyte counts in the general population are associated with increased short-term incidence of heart failure and coronary death.Trial registration numberNCT02014610; results.