bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of positive and false‐positive results in syphilis screening of blood donors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Sandes V. S. , Silva S. G. C. , Motta I. J. F. , Velarde L. G. C. , de Castilho S. R. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTObjectivesWe propose to analyse the positive and false‐positive results of treponemal and nontreponemal tests in blood donors from Brazil and to evaluate possible factors associated with the results of treponemal tests.BackgroundTreponemal tests have been used widely for syphilis screening in blood banks. The introduction of these tests in donor screening has caused an impact and a loss of donors who need to be assessed.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross‐sectional study of syphilis screening and confirmatory test results of blood donors that were obtained before and after adopting a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). A comparative analysis was performed using a second sample drawn from positive donors. The possible factors associated with CLIA‐positive or CLIA‐false‐positive results were investigated in a subgroup. Statistical tests were used to compare the proportions and adjusted estimates of association.ResultsThe reactivity rate increased from 1·01% (N = 28 158) to 2·66% (N = 25 577) after introducing the new test. Among Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)‐ and CLIA‐confirmed results, the false‐positive rates were 40·5% (N = 180) and 37·4% (N = 359), respectively (P = 0·5266). Older donors (OR = 1·04; P = 0·0010) and donors with lower education levels (OR = 6·59; P = 0·0029) were associated with a higher risk of positivity for syphilis.ConclusionsCLIA represents an improvement in blood bank serological screening. However, its use in a healthy population appears to result in high rates of false positives. Identifying which characteristics can predict false positives, however, remains a challenge.
Evaluation of RGM Medium for Isolation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria from Respiratory Samples from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis in the United States
Authors: Plongla Rongpong , Preece Clair L. , Perry John D. , Gilligan Peter H. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

A novel selective agar (RGM medium) has been advocated for the isolation of rapidly growing mycobacteria from the sputa of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to compare RGM medium to
Burkholderia cepacia
selective agar (BCSA) and a standard acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture method for the isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from patients with CF. The applicability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of NTM isolated on RGM medium was also assessed. Respiratory samples (
n
= 869) were collected from 487 CF patients and inoculated directly onto RGM medium and BCSA. Cultures were incubated at 30°C and examined for up to 28 days. A subset of 212 samples (from 172 patients) was also cultured by using a mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) and on Lowenstein-Jensen medium following dual decontamination. By using a combination of all methods, 98 mycobacteria were isolated from 869 samples (11.3%). The sensitivity of RGM medium (96.9%) was significantly higher than that of BCSA (35.7%) for the isolation of mycobacteria (
P
< 0.0001). The sensitivity of RGM medium was also superior to that of standard AFB culture for the isolation of mycobacteria (92.2% versus 47.1%;
P
< 0.0001). MALDI-TOF MS was effective for the identification of mycobacteria in RGM medium. RGM medium offers a simple and highly effective tool for the isolation of NTM from patients with CF. Extended incubation of RGM medium for 28 days facilitates the isolation of slow-growing species, including members of the
Mycobacterium avium
complex (MAVC).
Short-Read Whole-Genome Sequencing for Laboratory-Based Surveillance of Bordetella pertussis
Authors: Marchand-Austin Alex , Tsang Raymond S. W. , Guthrie Jennifer L. , Ma Jennifer H. , Lim Gillian H. , Crowcroft Natasha S. , Deeks Shelley L. , Farrell David J. , Jamieson Frances B. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Bordetella pertussis
is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes respiratory infections in humans. Ongoing molecular surveillance of
B. pertussis
acellular vaccine (aP) antigens is critical for understanding the interaction between evolutionary pressures, disease pathogenesis, and vaccine effectiveness. Methods currently used to characterize aP components are relatively labor-intensive and low throughput. To address this challenge, we sought to derive aP antigen genotypes from minimally processed short-read whole-genome sequencing data generated from 40 clinical
B. pertussis
isolates and analyzed using the SRST2 bioinformatic package. SRST2 was able to identify aP antigen genotypes for all antigens with the exception of pertactin, possibly due to low read coverage in GC-rich low-complexity regions of variation. Two main genotypes were observed in addition to a singular third genotype that contained an 84-bp deletion that was identified by SRST2 despite the issues in allele calling. This method has the potential to generate large pools of
B. pertussis
molecular data that can be linked to clinical and epidemiological information to facilitate research of vaccine effectiveness and disease severity in the context of emerging vaccine antigen-deficient strains.
Capsid Phosphorylation State and Hepadnavirus Virion Secretion
Authors: Ning Xiaojun , Basagoudanavar Suresh H. , Liu Kuancheng , Luckenbaugh Laurie , Wei Duoqian , Wang Chunyan , Wei Bo , Zhao Yingren , Yan Taotao , Delaney William , Hu Jianming 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT
The C-terminal domain (CTD) of hepadnavirus core protein is involved in multiple steps of viral replication. In particular, the CTD is initially phosphorylated at multiple sites to facilitate viral RNA packaging into immature nucleocapsids (NCs) and the early stage of viral DNA synthesis. For the avian hepadnavirus duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), CTD is dephosphorylated subsequently to facilitate the late stage of viral DNA synthesis and to stabilize NCs containing mature viral DNA. The role of CTD phosphorylation in virion secretion, if any, has remained unclear. Here, the CTD from the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) was found to be dephosphorylated in association with NC maturation and secretion of DNA-containing virions, as in DHBV. In contrast, the CTD in empty HBV virions (i.e., enveloped capsids with no RNA or DNA) was found to be phosphorylated. The potential role of CTD dephosphorylation in virion secretion was analyzed through mutagenesis. For secretion of empty HBV virions, which is independent of either viral RNA packaging or DNA synthesis, multiple substitutions in the CTD to mimic either phosphorylation or dephosphorylation showed little detrimental effect. Similarly, phospho-mimetic substitutions in the DHBV CTD did not block the secretion of DNA-containing virions. These results indicate that CTD dephosphorylation, though associated with NC maturation in both HBV and DHBV, is not essential for the subsequent NC-envelope interaction to secrete DNA-containing virions, and the CTD state of phosphorylation also does not play an essential role in the interaction between empty capsids and the envelope for secretion of empty virions.

IMPORTANCE
The phosphorylation state of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core or capsid protein is highly dynamic and plays multiple roles in the viral life cycle. To study the potential role of the state of phosphorylation of CTD in virion secretion, we have analyzed the CTD phosphorylation state in complete (containing the genomic DNA) versus empty (genome-free) HBV virions. Whereas CTD is unphosphorylated in complete virions, it is phosphorylated in empty virions. Mutational analyses indicate that neither phosphorylation nor dephosphorylation of CTD is required for virion secretion. These results demonstrate that while CTD dephosphorylation is associated with HBV DNA synthesis, the CTD state of phosphorylation may not regulate virion secretion.
The B Cell Response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Cattle following Sequential Vaccination with Multiple Serotypes
Authors: Grant Clare F. J. , Carr B. Veronica , Kotecha Abhay , van den Born Erwin , Stuart David I. , Hammond John A. , Charleston Bryan 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious viral disease. Antibodies are pivotal in providing protection against FMDV infection. Serological protection against one FMDV serotype does not confer interserotype protection. However, some historical data have shown that interserotype protection can be induced following sequential FMDV challenge with multiple FMDV serotypes. In this study, we have investigated the kinetics of the FMDV-specific antibody-secreting cell (ASC) response following homologous and heterologous inactivated FMDV vaccination regimes. We have demonstrated that the kinetics of the B cell response are similar for all four FMDV serotypes tested following a homologous FMDV vaccination regime. When a heterologous vaccination regime was used with the sequential inoculation of three different inactivated FMDV serotypes (O, A, and Asia1 serotypes) a B cell response to FMDV SAT1 and serotype C was induced. The studies also revealed that the local lymphoid tissue had detectable FMDV-specific ASCs in the absence of circulating FMDV-specific ASCs, indicating the presence of short-lived ASCs, a hallmark of a T-independent 2 (TI-2) antigenic response to inactivated FMDV capsid.

IMPORTANCE
We have demonstrated the development of intraserotype response following a sequential vaccination regime of four different FMDV serotypes. We have found indication of short-lived ASCs in the local lymphoid tissue, further evidence of a TI-2 response to FMDV.
Gender differences in clinical presentation and 1-year outcomes in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Schnabel Renate B , Pecen Ladislav , Ojeda Francisco M , Lucerna Markus , Rzayeva Nargiz , Blankenberg Stefan , Darius Harald , Kotecha Dipak , Caterina Raffaele De , Kirchhof Paulus 
Published: February 2017

ObjectivesOur objective was to examine gender differences in clinical presentation, management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a contemporary cohort.MethodsIn 6412 patients, 39.7% women, of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events – European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation, we examined gender differences in symptoms, risk factors, therapies and 1-year incidence of adverse outcomes.ResultsMen with AF were on average younger than women (mean±SD: 70.1±10.7 vs 74.1±9.7 years, p<0.0001). Women more frequently had at least one AF-related symptom at least occasionally compared with men (95.4% in women, 89.8% in men, p<0.0001). Prescription of oral anticoagulation was similar, with an increase of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants from 5.9% to 12.6% in women and from 6.2% to 12.6% in men, p<0.0001 for both.Men were more frequently treated with electrical cardioversion and ablation (20.6% and 6.3%, respectively) than women (14.9% and 3.3%, respectively), p<0.0001. Women had 65% (OR: 0.35; 95% CI (0.22 to 0.56)) lower age-adjusted and country-adjusted odds of coronary revascularisation, 40% (OR: 0.60; (0.38 to 0.93)) lower odds of acute coronary syndrome and 20% (OR: 0.80; (0.68 to 0.96)) lower odds of heart failure at 1 year. There were no statistically significant gender differences in 1-year stroke/transient ischaemic attack/arterial thromboembolism and major bleeding events.ConclusionIn a ‘real-world’ European AF registry, women were more symptomatic but less likely to receive invasive rhythm control therapy such as electrical cardioversion or ablation. Further study is needed to confirm that these differences do not disadvantage women with AF.
Health and social exclusion in older age: evidence from Understanding Society, the UK household longitudinal study
Authors: Sacker Amanda , Ross Andy , MacLeod Catherine A , Netuveli Gopal , Windle Gill 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundSocial exclusion of the elderly is a key policy focus but evidence on the processes linking health and social exclusion is hampered by the variety of ways that health is used in social exclusion research. We investigated longitudinal associations between health and social exclusion using an analytical framework that did not conflate them.MethodsData employed in this study came from 4 waves of Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study 2009–2013. The sample comprised all adults who took part in all 4 waves, were 65 years or more in Wave 3, and had complete data on our variables of interest for each analysis. We used linear regression to model the relationship between Wave 2/3 social exclusion and Wave1–2 health transitions (N=4312) and logistic regression to model the relationship between Wave2/3 social exclusion and Wave 4 health states, conditional on Wave 3 health (N=4244).ResultsThere was a dose–response relationship between poor health in Waves 1 and 2 and later social exclusion. Use of a car, mobile phone and the internet moderated the association between poor health and social exclusion. Given the health status in Wave 3, those who were more socially excluded had poorer outcomes on each of the three domains of health in Wave 4.ConclusionsUse of the internet and technology protected older adults in poor health from social exclusion. Age-friendly hardware and software design might have public health benefits.
Dicer-dependent production of microRNA221 in hepatocytes inhibits p27 and is required for liver regeneration in mice
Authors: Oya Yuki , Masuzaki Ryota , Tsugawa Daisuke , Ray Kevin C. , Dou Yongchao , Karp Seth J. 
Published: February 2017

Dicer processes microRNAs (miRs) into active forms in a wide variety of tissues, including the liver. To determine the role of Dicer in liver regeneration, we performed a series of in vivo and in vitro studies in a murine 2/3 hepatectomy model. Dicer was downregulated after 2/3 hepatectomy, and loss of Dicer inhibited liver regeneration associated with decreased cyclin A2 and miR-221, as well as increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p27. In vitro, miR-221 inhibited p27 production in primary hepatocytes and increased hepatocyte proliferation. Specific reconstitution of miR-221 in hepatocyte-specific Dicer-null mice inhibited p27 and restored liver regeneration. In wild type mice, targeted inhibition of miR-221 using a cholesterol-conjugated miR-221 inhibited hepatocyte proliferation after 2/3 hepatectomy. These results identify Dicer production of miR-221 as an essential component of a miRNA-dependent mechanism for suppression of p27 that controls the rate of hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our findings demonstrate a direct role for microRNAs in controlling the rate of liver regeneration after injury. By deleting Dicer, an enzyme responsible for processing microRNAs into mature forms, we determined miR-221 is a critical microRNA in the physiological process of restoration of liver mass after injury. miR-221 suppresses p27, releasing its inhibitory effects on hepatocyte proliferation. Pharmaceuticals based on miR-221 may be useful to modulate hepatocyte proliferation in the setting of liver injury.
Spaceflight-induced synaptic modifications within hair cells of the mammalian utricle
Authors: Sultemeier David R. , Choy Kristel R. , Schweizer Felix E. , Hoffman Larry F. 
Published: February 2017

Exposure to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight alleviates the load normally imposed by the Earth’s gravitational field on the inner ear utricular epithelia. Previous ultrastructural investigations have shown that spaceflight induces an increase in synapse density within hair cells of the rat utricle. However, the utricle exhibits broad physiological heterogeneity across different epithelial regions, and it is unknown whether capabilities for synaptic plasticity generalize to hair cells across its topography. To achieve systematic and broader sampling of the epithelium than was previously conducted, we used immunohistochemistry and volumetric image analyses to quantify synapse distributions across representative utricular regions in specimens from mice exposed to spaceflight (a 15-day mission of the space shuttle Discovery). These measures were compared with similarly sampled Earth-bound controls. Following paraformaldehyde fixation and microdissection, immunohistochemistry was performed on intact specimens to label presynaptic ribbons (anti-CtBP2) and postsynaptic receptor complexes (anti-Shank1A). Synapses were identified as closely apposed pre- and postsynaptic puncta. Epithelia from horizontal semicircular canal cristae served as “within-specimen” controls, whereas utricles and cristae from Earth-bound cohorts served as experimental controls. We found that synapse densities decreased in the medial extrastriolae of microgravity specimens compared with experimental controls, whereas they were unchanged in the striolae and horizontal cristae from the two conditions. These data demonstrate that structural plasticity was topographically localized to the utricular region that encodes very low frequency and static changes in linear acceleration, and illuminates the remarkable capabilities of utricular hair cells for synaptic plasticity in adapting to novel gravitational environments.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Spaceflight imposes a radically different sensory environment from that in which the inner ear utricle normally operates. We investigated synaptic modifications in utricles from mice flown aboard a space shuttle mission. Structural synaptic plasticity was detected in the medial extrastriola, a region associated with encoding static head position, as decreased synapse density. These results are remarkably congruent with a recent report of decreased utricular function in astronauts immediately after returning from the International Space Station.
High cardiorespiratory fitness in early to late middle age preserves the cortical circuitry associated with brain-heart integration during volitional exercise
Authors: Wood Katelyn N. , Luchyshyn Torri A. , Shoemaker J. Kevin 
Published: February 2017

This study tested the hypothesis that high cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake) preserves the cortical circuitry associated with cardiac arousal during exercise in middle- to older-aged individuals. Observations of changes in heart rate (HR) and in cortical blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) images were made in 52 healthy, active individuals (45–73 yr; 16 women, 36 men) across a range of fitness (26–66 ml·kg−1·min−1). Seven repeated bouts of isometric handgrip (IHG) at 40% maximal voluntary contraction force were performed with functional magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T, with each contraction lasting 20 s and separated by 40 s of rest. HR responses to IHG showed high variability across individuals. Linear regression revealed that cardiorespiratory fitness was not a strong predictor of the HR response ( r2 = 0.09). In a region-of-interest analysis both the IHG task and the HR time course correlated with increased cortical activation in the bilateral insula and decreased activation relative to baseline in the anterior and posterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). t-Test results revealed greater deactivation at the MPFC with higher fitness levels beyond that of guideline-based activity. Therefore, whereas high cardiorespiratory fitness failed to affect absolute HR responses to IHG in this age range, a select effect was observed in cortical regions known to be associated with cardiovascular arousal.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our first observation suggests that fitness does not strongly predict the heart rate (HR) response to a volitional handgrip task in middle- to older-aged adults. Second, the BOLD response associated with the handgrip task, and with the HR time course, was associated with response patterns in the cortical autonomic network. Finally, whereas high cardiorespiratory fitness failed to affect absolute HR responses to isometric handgrip in this age range, a select effect was observed in cortical regions known to be associated with cardiovascular arousal, beyond that achieved through healthy active living.
The Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography Prognostic Score for Basilar Artery Occlusion
Authors: Alemseged Fana , Shah Darshan G. , Diomedi Marina , Sallustio Fabrizio , Bivard Andrew , Sharma Gagan , Mitchell Peter J. , Dowling Richard J. , Bush Steven , Yan Bernard , Caltagirone Carlo , Floris Roberto , Parsons Mark W. , Levi Christopher R. , Davis Stephen M. , Campbell Bruce C.V. 
Published: February 2017

Background and Purpose—
Basilar artery occlusion is associated with high risk of disability and mortality. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of a new radiological score: the Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography (BATMAN) score.

Methods—
A retrospective analysis of consecutive stroke patients with basilar artery occlusion diagnosed on computed tomographic angiography was performed. BATMAN score is a 10-point computed tomographic angiography–based grading system which incorporates thrombus burden and the presence of collaterals. Reliability was assessed with intraclass coefficient correlation. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score of ≤3 at 3 months and successful reperfusion as thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b-3. BATMAN score was externally validated and compared with the Posterior Circulation Collateral score.

Results—

The derivation cohort included 83 patients with 41 in the validation cohort. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, BATMAN score had an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7–0.9) in derivation cohort and an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.6–0.9) in validation cohort. In logistic regression adjusted for age and clinical severity, BATMAN score of <7 was associated with poor outcome in derivation cohort (odds ratio, 5.5; 95% CI, 1.4–21;
P
=0.01), in validation cohort (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% CI, 1.4–33;
P
=0.01), and in endovascular patients, after adjustment for recanalization and time to treatment (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.2–18;
P
=0.01). BATMAN score of <7 was not associated with recanalization. Interrater agreement was substantial (intraclass coefficient correlation, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.8–0.9). BATMAN score had greater accuracy compared with Posterior Circulation Collateral score (
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—
The addition of collateral quality to clot burden in BATMAN score seems to improve prognostic accuracy in basilar artery occlusion patients.