bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of post‐grazing herbage height and concentrate feeding on milk production and major milk fatty acids of dairy cows in mid‐lactation
Authors: Rugoho I. , Cheng L. , Aizimu W. , Bryant R. H. , Edwards G. R. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractMilk fatty acids (FA) were compared in mid‐lactation dairy cows in four feeding systems combining grazing management and supplementation. The four treatments were factorial combinations of compressed herbage grazed to 3·7 or 4·6 cm post‐grazing height, with or without concentrate feeding (3·6 kg cow−1 d−1). Milk yield and composition were measured for four groups of eight Friesian × Jersey dairy cows over 3 weeks in mid‐lactation for cows that had grazed treatments for 64 d from early spring. Milk yield was higher in cows fed concentrate plus herbage (23·9 kg d−1 cow−1) than cows fed herbage only (20·3 kg d−1 cow−1). Milk fat percentage was higher in cows fed herbage only (5·5%) than that fed herbage plus concentrate (5·1%). Milk protein percentage was higher in cows fed herbage plus concentrate (4·0%) than that fed herbage only (3·7%). The concentrations of conjugated linoleic acids c9, t11, C18:0, C18:1 t11 and C18:2 t9, c12 FA were lower where concentrate was fed. The concentrations of C18:1 t10, C18:1 t5, t8 and C18:2 c9, c12 FA were higher where concentrate was fed. The concentrations of C18:1 c6, C18:1 c9, C18:1 t9 and C18:3 c6,9,15 were unaffected by concentrate feeding. Post‐grazing herbage height had no significant effect on milk yield or concentration of milk FA. Provided dairy cows are harvesting leafy material of similar nutrient and FA concentration, post‐grazing herbage height does not appear to alter milk FA and the supply of high energy concentrates is more influential on milk FA profiles.
Characterization of a homologue of mammalian serine racemase from Caenorhabditis elegans: the enzyme is not critical for the metabolism of serine in vivo
Authors: Katane Masumi , Saitoh Yuki , Uchiyama Keita , Nakayama Kazuki , Saitoh Yasuaki , Miyamoto Tetsuya , Sekine Masae , Uda Kouji , Homma Hiroshi 
Published: July 2016

Free d‐serine (d‐Ser) plays a crucial role in regulating brain function in mammals. In various organisms, including mammals, d‐Ser is biosynthesized by Ser racemase, a synthetic enzyme that produces d‐Ser from l‐Ser. Ser racemase also exhibits dehydratase activity toward several hydroxyamino acids. Thus, this enzyme is unique in that it possesses the capability to both synthesize and degrade d‐Ser; however, the physiological significance of its degradative activity remains unclear. In contrast to the physiological roles of d‐Ser in mammals, little is known about the role of this amino acid in lower organisms, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. It is known that a mammalian Ser racemase homologue (T01H8.2) from C. elegans exhibits racemase activity. Here, the enzymatic properties of recombinant T01H8.2 were characterized and compared with those of recombinant human Ser racemase. Furthermore, the levels of several d‐ and l‐amino acids were measured in wild‐type C. elegans and in a mutant in which the T01H8.2 gene is partially deleted and thereby inactivated. The results indicate that T01H8.2 also shows dehydratase activity toward several hydroxyamino acids, although the enzyme is not critical for Ser metabolism in vivo. The possible physiological roles of T01H8.2 are discussed.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy [DBT] with People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Narrative Analysis
Authors: McNair Louisa , Woodrow Ceri , Hare Dougal 
Published: July 2016

BackgroundThere is mixed evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychological therapies for people with intellectual and developmental disorders. Although systematic reviews have supported the use of dialectical behaviour therapy with people with borderline personality disorder, there are no comparable reviews regarding DBT with people with intellectual and development disabilities.MethodsStudies were identified using a systematic approach and were selected if they reported an intervention that included a DBT skills group and then assessed using the Evaluative Method for Determining Evidence Based Practice.ResultsSeven studies reported adaptations and outcomes of DBT for people with intellectual and development disabilities, four of which delivered full DBT programmes with three describing DBT skills groups. All studies were appraised with regard to methodological quality and the adaptations and results examined.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that DBT and DBT skills groups can be adapted for people with intellectual and development disabilities, but further high‐quality research is needed to make conclusions about efficacy and effectiveness.
Altered neural response to rejection‐related words in children exposed to maltreatment
Authors: Puetz Vanessa B. , Viding Essi , Palmer Amy , Kelly Philip A. , Lickley Rachael , Koutoufa Iakovina , Sebastian Catherine L. , McCrory Eamon J. 
Published: July 2016

BackgroundChildren exposed to maltreatment show neural sensitivity to facial cues signalling threat. However, little is known about how maltreatment influences the processing of social threat cues more broadly, and whether atypical processing of social threat cues relates to psychiatric risk.MethodsForty‐one 10‐ to 14‐year‐old children underwent a social rejection‐themed emotional Stroop task during functional magnetic resonance imaging: 21 children with a documented history of maltreatment (11 F) and 19 comparison children with no maltreatment history (11 F). Groups were matched on age, pubertal status, gender, IQ, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and reading ability. Classic colour Stroop stimuli were also administered in the same paradigm to investigate potential differences in general cognitive control.ResultsCompared with their peers, children who had experienced maltreatment showed reduced activation in the Rejection versus Neutral condition, across circuitry previously implicated in abuse‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the left anterior insula, extending into left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex/orbitofrontal cortex; left amygdala; left inferior parietal cortex (STS); and bilateral visual association cortex, encompassing the cuneus and lingual gyrus. No group differences in neural or behavioural responses were found for the classic colour Stroop conditions. Significant negative associations between activity in bilateral cuneus and STS during the rejection‐themed Stroop and higher self‐reported PTSD symptomatology, including dissociation, were observed in children exposed to maltreatment.ConclusionOur findings indicate a pattern of altered neural response to social rejection cues in maltreated children. Compared to their peers, these children displayed relative hypoactivation to rejection cues in regions previously associated with PTSD, potentially reflecting an avoidant coping response. It is suggested that such atypical processing of social threat may index latent vulnerability to future psychopathology in general and PTSD in particular.
Potential of plant polyphenols to combat oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in farm animals
Authors: Gessner D. K. , Ringseis R. , Eder K. 
Published: July 2016

SummaryPolyphenols are secondary plant metabolites which have been shown to exert antioxidative and antiinflamma tory effects in cell culture, rodent and human studies. Based on the fact that conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation are highly relevant in farm animals, polyphenols are considered as promising feed additives in the nutrition of farm animals. However, in contrast to many studies existing with model animals and humans, potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects of polyphenols have been less investigated in farm animals so far. This review aims to give an overview about potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in farm animals. The first part of the review highlights the occurrence and the consequences of oxidative stress and inflammation on animal health and performance. The second part of the review deals with bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols in farm animals. The third and main part of the review presents an overview of the findings from studies which investigated the effects of polyphenols of various plant sources in pigs, poultry and cattle, with particular consideration of effects on the antioxidant system and inflammation.
Less with More: Hospitalization Cost and Event Rates with Quadripolar versus Bipolar CRT‐D System
Authors: CORBISIERO RAFFAELE , KAZEMIAN PEDRAM , BHARMI RUPINDER , SHAH RIDDHI , MULLER DAVID 
Published: July 2016

BackgroundThis is a comparative effectiveness study for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) therapy enabled by quadripolar (QUAD) versus bipolar (BIP) left ventricular (LV) leads. Heart failure (HF) hospitalization (HFH) rates, associated costs, and 30‐day readmissions after index HFH were compared.MethodsPatients with de novo LV leads implanted as part of a CRT‐D system between January 2011 and August 2013 with ≥1‐year follow‐up were included. Medical history, dates, and locations of HFH were collected thereafter. Patients were divided based on LV lead model: QUAD or BIP. Universal billing records (UB‐04) for each HFH and ICD‐9‐CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification) diagnoses/procedure codes were used to classify hospitalizations as HF or non‐HF and calculate concurrent U.S. national‐average medicare reimbursement. Rates, associated payer costs, and 30‐day readmissions were then compared using nonparametric bootstrapping.ResultsBaseline characteristics (N = 69 QUAD and N = 56 BIP) were similar. The inpatient HFH for the QUAD group (0.20/patient‐year) was lower than the BIP group (0.31/patient‐year, incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.62, P = 0.036). The overall HFH rate for the inpatient or outpatient setting for QUAD (0.29/patient‐year) was lower than the BIP group (0.42/patient‐year, IRR = 0.69, P = 0.055). Average cost of HFH in QUAD ($4,428/patient‐year) was lower than BIP ($7,354/patient‐year), a 39.8% cost reduction (P = 0.026). The 30‐day readmission rate was also lower in QUAD compared to BIP (19% vs 28%, IRR = 0.68, P = 0.18).ConclusionThis U.S. economic comparative study demonstrated that QUAD exhibited lower postimplant inpatient HFH rates and reduced healthcare utilization compared to BIP systems.
Genome interrogation for novel salinity tolerant Arabidopsis mutants
Authors: van Tol Niels , Pinas Johan , Schat Henk , Hooykaas Paul J. J. , van der Zaal Bert J. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractSoil salinity is becoming an increasingly large problem in agriculture. In this study, we have investigated whether a capacity to withstand salinity can be induced in the salinity sensitive plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, and whether it can be maintained in subsequent generations. To this end, we have used zinc finger artificial transcription factor (ZF‐ATFs) mediated genome interrogation. Already within a relatively small collection Arabidopsis lines expressing ZF‐ATFs, we found 41 lines that were tolerant to 100 mM NaCl. Furthermore, ZF‐ATF encoding gene constructs rescued from the most strongly salinity tolerant lines were indeed found to act as dominant and heritable agents for salinity tolerance. Altogether, our data provide evidence that a silent capacity to withstand normally lethal levels of salinity exists in Arabidopsis and can be evoked relatively easily by in trans acting transcription factors like ZF‐ATFs.
Single-Dose Primaquine in a Preclinical Model of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Implications for Use in Malaria Transmission-Blocking Programs
Authors: Wickham Kristina S. , Baresel Paul C. , Marcsisin Sean R. , Sousa Jason , Vuong Chau T. , Reichard Gregory A. , Campo Brice , Tekwani Babu L. , Walker Larry A. , Rochford Rosemary 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT
Individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (G6PDd) are at risk for developing hemolytic anemia when given the antimalarial drug primaquine (PQ). The WHO Evidence Review Group released a report suggesting that mass administration of a single dose of PQ at 0.25 mg of base/kg of body weight (mpk) (mouse equivalent of 3.125 mpk) could potentially reduce malaria transmission based on its gametocytocidal activity and could be safely administered to G6PD-deficient individuals, but there are limited safety data available confirming the optimum single dose of PQ. A single-dose administration of PQ was therefore assessed in our huRBC-SCID mouse model used to predict hemolytic toxicity with respect to G6PD deficiency. In this model, nonobese diabetic (NOD)/SCID mice are engrafted with human red blood cells (huRBC) from donors with the African or Mediterranean variant of G6PDd (A-G6PDd or Med-G6PDd, respectively) and demonstrate dose-dependent sensitivity to PQ. In mice engrafted with A-G6PD-deficient huRBC, single-dose PQ at 3.125, 6.25, or 12.5 mpk had no significant loss of huRBC compared to the vehicle control group. In contrast, in mice engrafted with Med-G6PDd huRBC, a single dose of PQ at 3.125, 6.25, or 12.5 mpk resulted in a significant, dose-dependent loss of huRBC compared to the value for the vehicle control group. Our data suggest that administration of a single low dose of 0.25 mpk of PQ could induce hemolytic anemia in Med-G6PDd individuals but that use of single-dose PQ at 0.25 mpk as a gametocytocidal drug to block transmission would be safe in areas where A-G6PDd predominates.
The Antimicrobial Peptides P-113Du and P-113Tri Function against Candida albicans
Authors: Lin Guan-Yu , Chen Hsueh-Fen , Xue Yao-Peng , Yeh Ying-Chieh , Chen Chia-Lu , Liu Ming-Sun , Cheng Wen-Chi , Lan Chung-Yu 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Two antimicrobial P-113 peptide derivatives, P-113Du and P-113Tri, were investigated in this study. Notably, P-113Du and P-113Tri contained significant fractions of α-helix conformation and were less sensitive to high salt and low pH than P-113. Moreover, compared to P-113, these peptides exhibited increased antifungal activity against planktonic cells, biofilm cells, and clinical isolates of
Candida albicans
and non-
albicans Candida
spp. These results suggest that P-113Du and P-113Tri are promising candidates for development as novel antifungal agents.
Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Catheter-Related Biofilm Infections Using ML:8 and Citrox
Authors: Hogan S. , Zapotoczna M. , Stevens N. T. , Humphreys H. , O'Gara J. P. , O'Neill E. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Staphylococci are a leading cause of catheter-related infections (CRIs) due to biofilm formation. CRIs are typically managed by either device removal or systemic antibiotics, often in combination with catheter lock solutions (CLSs). CLSs provide high concentrations of the antimicrobial agent at the site of infection. However, the most effective CLSs against staphylococcal biofilm-associated infections have yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and suitability of two newly described antimicrobial agents, ML:8 and Citrox, as CLSs against
Staphylococcus aureus
biofilms. ML:8 (1% [vol/vol]) and Citrox (1% [vol/vol]), containing caprylic acid and flavonoids, respectively, were used to treat
S. aureus
biofilms grown
in vitro
using newly described static and flow biofilm assays. Both agents reduced biofilm viability >97% after 24 h of treatment. Using a rat model of CRI, ML:8 was shown to inactivate early-stage
S. aureus
biofilms
in vivo
, while Citrox inactivated established, mature
in vivo
biofilms. Cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity of ML:8 and Citrox were equivalent to those of other commercially available CLSs. Neither ML:8 nor Citrox induced a cytokine response in human whole blood, and exposure of
S. aureus
to either agent for 90 days was not associated with any increase in resistance. Taken together, these data reveal the therapeutic potential of these agents for the treatment of
S. aureus
catheter-related biofilm infections.
Identification of Novel Plasmodium falciparum Hexokinase Inhibitors with Antiparasitic Activity
Authors: Davis Mindy I. , Patrick Stephen L. , Blanding Walker M. , Dwivedi Varun , Suryadi Jimmy , Golden Jennifer E. , Coussens Nathan P. , Lee Olivia W. , Shen Min , Boxer Matthew B. , Hall Matthew D. , Sharlow Elizabeth R. , Drew Mark E. , Morris James C. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Plasmodium falciparum
, the deadliest species of malaria parasites, is dependent on glycolysis for the generation of ATP during the pathogenic red blood cell stage. Hexokinase (HK) catalyzes the first step in glycolysis, transferring the γ-phosphoryl group of ATP to glucose to yield glucose-6-phosphate. Here, we describe the validation of a high-throughput assay for screening small-molecule collections to identify inhibitors of the
P. falciparum
HK (PfHK). The assay, which employed an ADP-Glo reporter system in a 1,536-well-plate format, was robust with a signal-to-background ratio of 3.4 ± 1.2, a coefficient of variation of 6.8% ± 2.9%, and a Z′-factor of 0.75 ± 0.08. Using this assay, we screened 57,654 molecules from multiple small-molecule collections. Confirmed hits were resolved into four clusters on the basis of structural relatedness. Multiple singleton hits were also identified. The most potent inhibitors had 50% inhibitory concentrations as low as ∼1 μM, and several were found to have low-micromolar 50% effective concentrations against asexual intraerythrocytic-stage
P. falciparum
parasites. These molecules additionally demonstrated limited toxicity against a panel of mammalian cells. The identification of PfHK inhibitors with antiparasitic activity using this validated screening assay is encouraging, as it justifies additional HTS campaigns with more structurally amenable libraries for the identification of potential leads for future therapeutic development.
Artificial Intelligence and Amikacin Exposures Predictive of Outcomes in Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Modongo Chawangwa , Pasipanodya Jotam G. , Magazi Beki T. , Srivastava Shashikant , Zetola Nicola M. , Williams Scott M. , Sirugo Giorgio , Gumbo Tawanda 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Aminoglycosides such as amikacin continue to be part of the backbone of treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). We measured amikacin concentrations in 28 MDR-TB patients in Botswana receiving amikacin therapy together with oral levofloxacin, ethionamide, cycloserine, and pyrazinamide and calculated areas under the concentration-time curves from 0 to 24 h (AUC
0–24
). The patients were followed monthly for sputum culture conversion based on liquid cultures. The median duration of amikacin therapy was 184 (range, 28 to 866) days, at a median dose of 17.30 (range 11.11 to 19.23) mg/kg. Only 11 (39%) patients had sputum culture conversion during treatment; the rest failed. We utilized classification and regression tree analyses (CART) to examine all potential predictors of failure, including clinical and demographic features, comorbidities, and amikacin peak concentrations (
C
max
), AUC
0–24
, and trough concentrations. The primary node for failure had two competing variables,
C
max
of <67 mg/liter and AUC
0–24
of <568.30 mg · h/L; weight of >41 kg was a secondary node with a score of 35% relative to the primary node. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the CART model was an R
2
= 0.90 on posttest. In patients weighing >41 kg, sputum conversion was 3/3 (100%) in those with an amikacin
C
max
of ≥67 mg/liter versus 3/15 (20%) in those with a
C
max
of <67 mg/liter (relative risk [RR] = 5.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82 to 13.76). In all patients who had both amikacin
C
max
and AUC
0–24
below the threshold, 7/7 (100%) failed, compared to 7/15 (47%) of those who had these parameters above threshold (RR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.25 to 43.68). These amikacin dose-schedule patterns and exposures are virtually the same as those identified in the hollow-fiber system model.
Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mice Impairs Long-Term Fear Memory Consolidation through Dysfunction of the Cortex and Amygdala
Authors: Ihara Fumiaki , Nishimura Maki , Muroi Yoshikage , Mahmoud Motamed Elsayed , Yokoyama Naoaki , Nagamune Kisaburo , Nishikawa Yoshifumi 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Chronic infection with
Toxoplasma gondii
becomes established in tissues of the central nervous system, where parasites may directly or indirectly modulate neuronal function. Epidemiological studies have revealed that chronic infection in humans is a risk factor for developing mental diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying parasite-induced neuronal dysfunction in the brain remain unclear. Here, we examined memory associated with conditioned fear in mice and found that
T. gondii
infection impairs consolidation of conditioned fear memory. To examine the brain pathology induced by
T. gondii
infection, we analyzed the parasite load and histopathological changes.
T. gondii
infects all brain areas, yet the cortex exhibits more severe tissue damage than other regions. We measured neurotransmitter levels in the cortex and amygdala because these regions are involved in fear memory expression. The levels of dopamine metabolites but not those of dopamine were increased in the cortex of infected mice compared with those in the cortex of uninfected mice. In contrast, serotonin levels were decreased in the amygdala and norepinephrine levels were decreased in the cortex and amygdala of infected mice. The levels of cortical dopamine metabolites were associated with the time spent freezing in the fear-conditioning test. These results suggest that
T. gondii
infection affects fear memory through dysfunction of the cortex and amygdala. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the neurological changes seen during
T. gondii
infection.
Salmonella Infection Enhances Erythropoietin Production by the Kidney and Liver, Which Correlates with Elevated Bacterial Burdens
Authors: Li Lin-Xi , Benoun Joseph M. , Weiskopf Kipp , Garcia K. Christopher , McSorley Stephen J. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTSalmonellainfection profoundly affects host erythroid development, but the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain poorly understood. We monitored the impact ofSalmonellainfection on erythroid development and found that systemic infection induced anemia, splenomegaly, elevated erythropoietin (EPO) levels, and extramedullary erythropoiesis in a process independent ofSalmonellapathogenicity island 2 (SPI2) or flagellin. The circulating EPO level was also constitutively higher in mice lacking the expression of signal-regulatory protein α (SIRPα). The expression level of EPO mRNA was elevated in the kidney and liver but not increased in the spleens of infected mice despite the presence of extramedullary erythropoiesis in this tissue. In contrast to data from a previous report, mice lacking EPO receptor (EPOR) expression on nonerythroid cells (EPOR rescued) had bacterial loads similar to those of wild-type mice followingSalmonellainfection. Indeed, treatment to reduce splenic erythroblasts and mature red blood cells correlated with elevated bacterial burdens, implying that extramedullary erythropoiesis benefits the host. Together, these findings emphasize the profound effect ofSalmonellainfection on erythroid development and suggest that the modulation of erythroid development has both positive and negative consequences for host immunity.