bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of IgG and Neutralizing Antibodies against Staphylococcus aureus Alpha-Toxin in Healthy Human Subjects and Diverse Patient Populations
Authors: Wu Yuling , Liu Xu , Akhgar Ahmad , Li Jia J. , Mok Hoyin , Sellman Bret R. , Yu Li , Roskos Lorin K. , Esser Mark T. , Ruzin Alexey 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
causes an array of serious infections resulting in high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study evaluated naturally occurring serum anti-alpha-toxin (anti-AT) antibody levels in human subjects from various age groups, individuals with
S. aureus
dialysis and surgical-site infections, and
S. aureus
-colonized versus noncolonized subjects. Anti-AT immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralizing antibody (NAb) levels in infants (aged ≤1 year) were significantly lower than those in other populations. In comparison to adolescent, adult, and elderly populations, young children (aged 2 to 10 years) had equivalent anti-AT IgG levels but significantly lower anti-AT NAb levels. Therefore, the development of anti-AT NAbs appears to occur later than that of AT-specific IgG, suggesting a maturation of the immune response to AT. Anti-AT IgG levels were slightly higher in
S. aureus
-colonized subjects than in noncolonized subjects. The methicillin susceptibility status of colonizing isolates had no effect on anti-AT antibody levels in
S. aureus
-colonized subjects. The highest anti-AT IgG and NAb levels were observed in dialysis patients with acute
S. aureus
infection. Anti-AT IgG and NAb levels were well correlated in subjects aged >10 years, regardless of colonization or infection status. These data demonstrate that AT elicits a robust IgG humoral response in infants and young children that becomes stable prior to adolescence, matures into higher levels of NAbs in healthy adolescents, and becomes elevated during
S. aureus
infection. These findings may assist in identifying subjects and patient populations that could benefit from vaccination or immunoprophylaxis with anti-AT monoclonal antibodies.
Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluation studies: the development of SUNDAE Checklist
Authors: Sepucha Karen R , Abhyankar Purva , Hoffman Aubri S , Bekker Hilary L , LeBlanc Annie , Levin Carrie A , Ropka Mary , Shaffer Victoria A , Sheridan Stacey L , Stacey Dawn , Stalmeier Peep , Vo Ha , Wills Celia E , Thomson Richard 
Published: December 2017

BackgroundPatient decision aids (PDAs) are evidence-based tools designed to help patients make specific and deliberated choices among healthcare options. The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaboration review papers and Cochrane systematic review of PDAs have found significant gaps in the reporting of evaluations of PDAs, including poor or limited reporting of PDA content, development methods and delivery. This study sought to develop and reach consensus on reporting guidelines to improve the quality of publications evaluating PDAs.MethodsAn international workgroup, consisting of members from IPDAS Collaboration, followed established methods to develop reporting guidelines for PDA evaluation studies. This paper describes the results from three completed phases: (1) planning, (2) drafting and (3) consensus, which included a modified, two-stage, online international Delphi process. The work was conducted over 2 years with bimonthly conference calls and three in-person meetings. The workgroup used input from these phases to produce a final set of recommended items in the form of a checklist.ResultsThe SUNDAE Checklist (Standards for UNiversal reporting of patient Decision Aid Evaluations) includes 26 items recommended for studies reporting evaluations of PDAs. In the two-stage Delphi process, 117/143 (82%) experts from 14 countries completed round 1 and 96/117 (82%) completed round 2. Respondents reached a high level of consensus on the importance of the items and indicated strong willingness to use the items when reporting PDA studies.ConclusionThe SUNDAE Checklist will help ensure that reports of PDA evaluation studies are understandable, transparent and of high quality. A separate Explanation and Elaboration publication provides additional details to support use of the checklist.
Air-propelled abrasive grit can damage the perennial weed quackgrass
Authors: Forcella Frank , Humburg Daniel , Wortman Samuel E. , Clay Sharon A. 
Published: December 2017

New techniques are needed to control quackgrass in organic crops. With ≥2 applications of abrasive air-propelled (800 kPa) corncob grit to 15-cm-tall quackgrass tillers, regrowth was minimal at 5 wk after treatment. Abrasive grits may be effective tools to help manage perennial weeds in organic row crops.
Coronary dilation with carotid chemoreceptor stimulation in cardiac-denervated dogs
Authors: Nagata Masayoshi , Pichet Robert , Lavallee Michel 
Published: December 2017

The coronary vasodilation that is secondary to carotid chemoreceptor stimulation (CCS) was compared in normal (N) and in cardiac-denervated (CD) conscious dogs. Under base-line conditions, CD only differed from N dogs by greater ( P ≤ 0.01) increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) with CCS. Coronary blood flow (CBF) increased similarly in N (146 ± 18%) and CD (126 ± 15%) dogs, and coronary resistance (CR) fell to a similar extent in N (53 ± 3%) and CD (43 ± 5%) dogs. After muscarinic and β-adrenergic blockade, CCS resulted in similar increases in MAP in N and CD dogs; increases in CBF averaged 122 ± 15 and 115 ± 12% in N and CD dogs, respectively. Decreases in CR with CCS averaged 46 ± 3 and 40 ± 5% in N and CD dogs, respectively. α1-Adrenergic blockade prevented the increases in MAP with CCS and resulted in smaller (P < 0.01) increases in CBF, similar in N (77 ± 13%) and in CD (69 ± 10%) dogs. CR fell to the same extent in N (40 ± 4%) and CD (37 ± 5%) dogs. Additional blockade of agr2-adrenergic receptors further limited the increases in CBF with CCS in N (20 ± 5%) and CD (28 ± 7%) dogs; decreases in CR were attenuated similarly in N (13 ± 5%) and CD (21 ± 5%) dogs. Thus, in conscious dogs, cardiac nerves contribute little to the coronary dilation after carotid chemoreceptor stimulation. chemoreflex; α-adrenergic receptors; cardiac denervation Submitted on January 11, 1988 Accepted on July 28, 1988
Control of cardiac energy turnover by cytoplasmic phosphates: 31P-NMR study
Authors: Kupriyanov V. V. , Lakomkin V. L. , Korchazhkina O. V. , Steinschneider A. Ya. , Kapelko V. I. , Saks V. A. 
Published: December 2017

Energy flux, estimated from the cardiac work index (pressure-rate product) and the rate of oxygen consumption, was varied in different ways; and the free concentrations of cytosolic phosphates were detected by the 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance method. A reversible decrease in phosphocreatine (PCr) and concomitant increase in [ADP] at nearly constant Pi were induced by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) treatment and its subsequent washout and were followed by a reversible suppression of pressure-rate product and elevation of end-diastolic pressure. 2-DG treatment also resulted in an irreversible and severe reduction of the cytosolic adenine nucleotide pool (to approximately one-third of control value) that did not recover during 2-DG washout. Reduction of the energy turnover rate, either by suppression of the PCr shuttle with iodoacetamide or by inhibition of the respiratory chain with amytal, was associated with a drop of PCr level, an elevation of both [ADP] and [Pi], and a rise of end-diastolic pressure. In contrast, a decrease in energy flux by reduction of perfusate Ca2+ led to a PCr rise and a fall in [ADP] and [Pi]. Most of these experimental groups were exposed to two types of loads, isoproterenol stimulation and coronary flow (CF) elevation. Iodoacetamide-treated hearts showed a poor mechanical response to both types of loads compared with other groups. The metabolic response to isoproterenol was uniform in all groups and was associated with some decrease in PCr and increase of [ADP] and [Pi], implying limitations in the respiratory chain. In contrast, activation of energy flux by a CF rise in control and amytal-inhibited hearts did not affect the concentrations of PCr, ADP, and Pi. Thus cytosolic phosphates can serve as a feedback signal for energy production and utilization when the single control point is located in oxidative phosphorylation pathway or contractile system. If control of energy metabolism is equally distributed among producing and utilizing systems (CF variation), other regulatory mechanisms seem to be involved, e.g., cytosolic [Ca2+]. contraction-relaxation; creatine kinase; cytosolic phosphates; isolated rat heart; oxygen consumption
Effect of work on intracellular calcium of the intact heart
Authors: Fralix Teresa A. , Heineman Frederick W. , Balaban Robert S. 
Published: December 2017

Intracellular calcium has been proposed to play a key role in the orchestration of metabolic rate with contractile activity in the mammalian heart. Calcium is believed to accomplish this task by modulating the contractile apparatus as well as the metabolic process directly, and perhaps simultaneously, during alterations in cardiac work. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether appropriate changes in intracellular calcium accompany alterations in cardiac work in the intact working rabbit heart. A range of myocardial oxygen consumption was obtained from 0.94 to 6.51 μmol·g LV wt-1·min-1 by changing afterload or -agonist addition. With the increase in work and associated increase in respiration, an increase in intracellular calcium was observed, on the basis of indo-1 fluorescence. These results indicate that intracellular calcium is a valid candidate as a cytosolic transducer contributing to the orchestration of myofibril adenosinetriphosphatase activity and oxidative phosphorylation in the intact heart. oxygen consumption; indo-1; fluorescence; rabbit; afterload; isoproterenol
Cellular adaptation during chronic neonatal hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Stenmark Kurt R. , Aldashev Almas A. , Orton Ernest C. , Durmowicz A. G. , Badesch D. B. , Parks W. C. , Mecham R. P. , Voelkel N. F. , Reeves J. T. 
Published: December 2017

Newborn animals develop more severe hypoxic pulmonary hypertension than do adults, their vascular changes are greater, and both the hypertension and vascular changes occur more rapidly. We hypothesize that this differential developmentally controlled response may arise from either a difference in the type or quantity of endogenously secreted mediators in response to a given injury or a difference in the replicative and/or matrix-producing response of the vascular cells to physical or chemical stimuli. We investigated the effect of chronic hypoxia (14 days) on the proliferative and matrix-producing phenotype of the neonatal (14-day-old) pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (SMC) and examined the heterogeneity and potential mechanisms responsible for this response. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated a remarkable change in the distribution of cells hybridizing with a tropoelastin cRNA probe after 14 days of hypoxia. Studies also demonstrated a population of SMC that did not hybridize with the elastin or collagen probes, indicating that the pulmonary artery contains SMC of multiple phenotypes and that the response to hypoxic and hemodynamic stress is not uniform for the various types. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling experiments indicated a large increase in DNA synthesis in hypertensive vessels, which, again, was not uniform either across or along the arterial wall. In vitro experiments with neonatal SMC suggested that hypoxia alone could not be responsible for the proliferative or matrix changes. These observations were supported by in vivo experiments in which coarctation of the left pulmonary artery, which markedly decreased pressure and flow to the left lung in hypoxic animals (14 days), resulted in significant decreases in collagen and elastin message levels in the left pulmonary artery distal to the coarctation compared with location-matched vessels from the right lung. Finally, we noted marked decreases in B-receptor density and adenyl cyclase activity in right atrial and pulmonary artery tissue from the chronically hypoxic animals. Decreases in the ability of the cell to produce adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate could significantly affect both the proliferative and matrix-producing potential of the SMC. We conclude that in vivo adaptation of the pulmonary artery SMC to chronic hypoxia includes changes in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, receptor expression, and enzyme activity. Further, there is a marked heterogeneity of these responses both across and along the arterial wall., hypoxia; phenotype; signal transductions; smooth muscle cells
Effects of chronic heart failure on skeletal muscle vascular transport capacity of rats
Authors: McAllister Richard M. , Laughlin M. Harold , Musch Timothy I. 
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic heart failure (HF) on the vascular transport capacity of rat skeletal muscle. A large myocardial infarction (MI) was surgically produced in rats by ligating the left main coronary artery (n = 10). Sham operations were performed in control animals (Sham, n = 4). The vascular transport capacity of each animal's hindquarters was determined 8–9 mo post-MI to ensure that each rat was in a chronic state of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and HF. With the use of an isolated, maximally vasodilated hindquarters preparation, we found that perfusion pressures, capillary pressures, capillary filtration coefficients, and precapillary vascular resistances were similar for the two groups under isogravimetric conditions. In contrast, postcapillary resistance was elevated (Sham, 0.9 ± 0.2; MI, 1.5 ± 0.2 mmHg·m−1·min·100 g; P = 0.03), and flow to the hindquarters was reduced for rats in chronic HF compared with controls (Sham, 16.1 ± 2.3; MI, 12.1 ± 0.9 ml·min−1·100 g−1; ,P = 0.07). Vascular flow capacity (VFC) for the hindquarters was similar for control rats and rats with chronic HF across a wide range of perfusion pressures (20–60 mmHg). However, regional flow capacities were reduced in soleus and red gastrocnemius but not in white gastrocnemius muscles of rats in chronic HF compared with controls. These results suggest that the VFC of muscle comprised primarily of high oxidative fibers is selectively reduced in rats with chronic HF. Given the obligatory role for high oxidative muscle fibers in locomotion, these decrements in VFC may contribute to the decreased exercise tolerance commonly found with this disease. blood flow; vascular resistance; radiolabeled microspheres Submitted on May 8, 1992 Accepted on October 16, 1992
Computer model of membrane current and intracellular Ca2+ flux in the isolated guinea pig ventricular myocyte
Authors: Nordin Charles 
Published: December 2017

Pages H2117–H2136: Nordin, Charles. “Computer model of membrane current and intracellular Ca2+ flux in the isolated guinea pig ventricular myocyte.” Figure 13: Units of time in Fig. 13B are seconds (not milliseconds). The output for concentration, using the equations of the appendix, is in units of 10-3 mol/l (millimolar). Equation A29 should read (See PDF) Equations A30a and A31a should read (See PDF) Note: All errors in equations, except for the term with asterisk in Eq. A31a and removal of the term (0.1 x iCa) from Eq. A30a, were made in transcribing the computer program to the set of printed equations and therefore do not involve any simulations of the paper. The other changes are refinements of the program that slightly reduce the rise in [Na+]myo and fall in [K+]myo with increasing stimulation rate (Fig. 5A) but do not affect other aspects of the behavior of the model in any significant way.
Airway pressures in an asymmetrically branched airway model of the dog respiratory system
Authors: Jackson Andrew C. , Tabrizi Mehrdad , Kotlikoff Michael I. , Voss Jon R. 
Published: December 2017

A computer model of the mechanical properties of the dog respiratory system based on the asymmetrically branching airway model of Horsfield et al. (11) is described. The peripheral ends of this airway model were terminated by a lumped-parameter impedance representing gas compression in the alveoli, and lung and chest wall tissue properties were derived from measurements made in this laboratory. Using this model we predicted the respiratory system impedance and the distribution of pressures along the airways in the dog lung. Predicted total respiratory system impedances for frequencies between 4 and 64 Hz at three lung volumes were found to compare quite closely to measured impedances in dogs. Serial pressure distributions were found to be frequency-dependent and to result in higher pressures in the lung periphery than at the airway opening at some frequencies. The implications of this fading for high-frequency ventilation are discussed. impedance; high-frequency ventilation; central airway resistance; respiratory system resistance; airway pressure distribution; distribution of ventilation Submitted on November 14, 1983 Accepted on May 8, 1984
Tumor Side as Model of Integrative Molecular Classification of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Dienstmann Rodrigo 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
It has long since been recognized that colorectal cancer is molecularly heterogeneous and its clinical behavior differs if the primary tumor was located in the right or left side of the colon. Recent studies have shown that part of this heterogeneity is captured by the anatomic location of the tumor. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 989–90. ©2017 AACR.
See related article by Loree et al., p. 1062
Vascular Semaphorin 7A Upregulation by Disturbed Flow Promotes Atherosclerosis Through Endothelial β1 Integrin
Authors: Hu Shuhong , Liu Yifei , You Tao , Heath Jack , Xu Linru , Zheng Xiaowei , Wang Aili , Wang Yinyan , Li Fengchan , Yang Fei , Cao Yiren , Zhang Huayu , van Gils Janine M. , van Zonneveld Anton Jan , Jo Hanjoong , Wu Qingyu , Zhang Yonghong , Tang Chaojun , Zhu Li 
Published: December 2017

Objective—
Accumulating evidence suggests a role of semaphorins in vascular homeostasis. Here, we investigate the role of Sema7A (semaphorin 7A) in atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanism.

Approach and Results—

Using genetically engineered
Sema7A
−/−
ApoE
−/−
mice, we showed that deletion of Sema7A attenuates atherosclerotic plaque formation primarily in the aorta of
ApoE
−/−
mice on a high-fat diet. A higher level of Sema7A in the atheroprone lesser curvature suggests a correlation of Sema7A with disturbed flow. This notion is supported by elevated Sema7A expression in human umbilical venous endothelial cells either subjected to oscillatory shear stress or treated with the PKA (protein kinase A)/CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) inhibitor H89 (
N
-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide·2HCl hydrate). Further studies using the partial carotid artery ligation model showed that disturbed flow in the left carotid artery of
Sema7A
+/+
ApoE
−/−
mice promoted the expression of endothelial Sema7A and cell adhesion molecules, leukocyte adhesion, and plaque formation, whereas such changes were attenuated in
Sema7A
−/−
ApoE
−/−
mice. Further studies showed that blockage of β1 integrin, a known Sema7A receptor, or inhibition of FAK (focal adhesion kinase), MEK1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2), or NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) significantly reduced the expression of cell adhesion molecules and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell line) monocyte adhesion in Sema7A-overexpressing human umbilical venous endothelial cells. Studies using chimeric mice suggest that vascular, most likely endothelial, Sema7A plays a major role in atherogenesis.

Conclusions—
Our findings indicate a significant role of Sema7A in atherosclerosis by mediating endothelial dysfunction in a β1 integrin–dependent manner.
Validation of the trauma mortality prediction scores from a Malaysian population
Authors: Tan Jih Huei , Tan Henry Chor Lip , Noh Nur Azlin Md , Mohamad Yuzaidi , Alwi Rizal Imran 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background
Well-known trauma mortality prediction scores such as New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) have been externally validated from high-income countries with established trauma databases. However, these scores were never used in Malaysian population. In this current study, we attempted to validate these scoring systems using our regional trauma surgery database.

Methods
A retrospective analysis of the regional Malaysian Trauma Surgery Database was performed over a period of 3 years from May 2011 to April 2014. NISS, RTS, Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS)-TRISS, and National Trauma Database (NTrD)-TRISS scores were recorded and calculated. Individual scoring system’s performance in predicting trauma mortality was compared by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve. Youden index and associated optimal cutoff values for each scoring system was calculated to predict mortality. The corresponding positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the cutoff values were calculated.

Results
A total of 2208 trauma patients (2004 blunt and 204 penetrating injuries) with mean age of 36 (SD = 16) years were included. There were 239 deaths with a corresponding mortality rate of 10.8%. The AUC calculated for the NISS, RTS, MTOS-TRISS, and NTrD-TRISS were 0.878, 0.802, 0.812, and 0.848, respectively. The NISS score with a cutoff value of 24, sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 74.3%, outperformed the rest (p &lt; 0.001). Mortality was predicted by NISS with an overall accuracy of 75.6%; its positive predictive value was at 29.02% and negative predictive value at 97.86%.

Conclusion
Amongst the four scores, the NISS score is the best trauma mortality prediction model suited for a local Malaysian trauma population. Further validation with multicentre data in the country may require to ascertain the finding.
Model-assisted measuring method for periodical sub-wavelength nanostructures
Authors: Alexe Gabriela , Tausendfreund Andreas , Stöbener Dirk , Fischer Andreas 
Published: December 2017

This paper describes a scatterometry approach designed by simulations
for the in-line characterization of sub-wavelength sinusoidal
gratings, which are formed on a transparent foil in a roll-to-roll
procedure. Currently used methods are based on series of in
situ measurements of the specular optical response at
different incident angles or wavelengths for acquiring dimensional
information on the gratings. The capability of single measurements of
the first diffraction maxima at a fixed incident angle and wavelength
to accurately measure the height of the sub-wavelength sinusoidal
gratings is investigated in this work. The relation between the
scattered powers of the diffraction maxima and the grating height is
extracted from light scattering simulations, i.e., the inverse problem
is solved. Optimal setup parameters for the measurement of grating
heights ranging from 100 nm to 300 nm are derived from simulations.
Limits of measurability and the measurement uncertainty are evaluated
for different instrumentation and simulation parameters. When using
laser light in the visible wavelength range, the measurement
uncertainty is physically limited by the photon shot noise to the
picometer range, but the systematic contributions dominate the
uncertainty. As a result, the measurement uncertainty for the grating
height is estimated to ≤12  nm , with a potential for
<4  nm . Large-area scanning measurements
performed offline and reference atomic force microscopy measurements
verify the sensitivity of the presented measurement approach for
identifying local variations of the spatial surface properties.
Depending on the chosen detection system, sampling rates up to the MHz
range are feasible, meeting the requirements of in-line process
control of the roll-to-roll production process.