bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prospective associations between environmental heavy metal exposure and renal outcomes in adults with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Tsai Chun‐Chieh , Wu Chia‐Lin , Kor Chew‐Teng , Lian Ie‐Bin , Chang Chin‐Hua , Chang Teng‐Hsiang , Chang Chia‐Chu , Chiu Ping‐Fang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimIn Taiwan, Changhua County residents were exposed to high heavy metal pollution and exhibited high heavy metal levels in blood and urine. We examined associations between heavy metals in residential soil and renal outcomes of residents with chronic kidney disease (CKD).MethodFrom 1 January 2003 to 30 June 2015, we retrospectively identified CKD patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at one tertiary care centre. We linked data displaying heavy metal concentrations from farm soil adjacent to the patients' residences to clinical outcomes. We included 2343 CKD patients (533 with progression to end‐stage renal disease [ESRD] and 1810 without]. We followed these patients for 3.49 ± 2.27 years, until death or initiation of maintenance dialysis.ResultsThere were high correlations among the concentrations of the eight metals: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. After factor analysis, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc were grouped and labelled Factor 1. High Factor 1 concentration near the patients' residences was associated with diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cerebral vascular accident. Patients living in areas with high Factor 1 concentrations were at higher risk of ESRD. After multivariate adjustment [adjusted hazard ratio: 1.08, 95% Confidence interval: 1.01–1.14, P = 0.02], only zinc and nickel were risk factors for progression to ESRD.ConclusionPatients with CKD, with long‐term exposure to soil‐based heavy metals, had rapid progression to ESRD. Groups of minerals from the same source of contamination may accumulate and lead to additional harm.
Incidence of episiotomy in Slovenia: The story behind the numbers
Authors: Jug Došler Anita , Mivšek Ana Polona , Verdenik Ivan , Škodič Zakšek Teja , Levec Tina , Petročnik Petra 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEpisiotomy is a surgical cut of the perineum performed in the second stage of labor in order to widen the vaginal opening and thus facilitate the birth of an infant. Despite current recommendations against the routine use of episiotomy, it is one of the most commonly performed surgical interventions during childbirth. This retrospective study explores the number of episiotomies performed in Slovenian maternity hospitals and the differences in episiotomy rates in relation to parity. Data were obtained from the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System and pooled for 2013. A causal and non‐experimental method of empirical research was used. The results of the study show that episiotomy rates vary widely across Slovenian maternity hospitals, ranging from 2.5% to 51.7%. Moreover, the majority of Slovenian maternity hospitals exceed the recommended rate, with an overall incidence of episiotomy as high as 31.3%. Further research is recommended to obtain relevant information from women as well as from midwives and to draw new, evidence‐based conclusions related to the maternal benefits and adverse effects of episiotomy.
Trictide, a tricellulin‐derived peptide to overcome cellular barriers
Authors: Cording Jimmi , Arslan Basak , Staat Christian , Dithmer Sophie , Krug Susanne M. , Krüger Anneliese , Berndt Philipp , Günther Ramona , Winkler Lars , Blasig Ingolf E. , Haseloff Reiner F. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe majority of tight junction (TJ) proteins restrict the paracellular permeation of solutes via their extracellular loops (ECLs). Tricellulin tightens tricellular TJs (tTJs) and regulates bicellular TJ (bTJ) proteins. We demonstrate that the addition of recombinantly produced extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) of tricellulin opens cellular barriers. The peptidomimetic trictide, a synthetic peptide derived from tricellulin ECL2, increases the passage of ions, as well as of small and larger molecules up to 10 kDa, between 16 and 30 h after application to human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line 2. Tricellulin and lipolysis‐stimulated lipoprotein receptor relocate from tTJs toward bTJs, while the TJ proteins claudin‐1 and occludin redistribute from bTJs to the cytosol. Analyzing the opening of the tricellular sealing tube by the peptidomimetic using super‐resolution stimulated‐emission depletion microscopy revealed a tricellulin‐free area at the tricellular region. Cis‐interactions (as measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer) of tricellulin–tricellulin (tTJs), tricellulin–claudin‐1, tricellulin–marvelD3, and occludin–occludin (bTJs) were strongly affected by trictide treatment. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular modeling suggest that trictide adopts a β‐sheet structure, resulting in a peculiar interaction surface for its binding to tricellulin. In conclusion, trictide is a novel and promising tool for overcoming cellular barriers at bTJs and tTJs with the potential to transiently improve drug delivery.
The validity of register data to identify children with atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
Authors: Stensballe Lone Graff , Klansø Lotte , Jensen Andreas , Hærskjold Ann , Thomsen Simon Francis , Simonsen Jacob 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of atopic dermatitis, wheezing, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis has been increasing. Register‐based studies are essential for research in subpopulations with specific diseases and facilitate epidemiological studies to identify causes and evaluate interventions. Algorithms have been developed to identify children with atopic dermatitis, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis using register information on disease‐specific dispensed prescribed medication and hospital contacts, but the validity of the algorithms has not been evaluated. This study validated the algorithms vs gold standard deep telephone interviews with the caretaker about physician‐diagnosed atopic dermatitis, wheezing, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the child.MethodsThe algorithms defined each of the three atopic diseases using register‐based information on disease‐specific hospital contacts and/or filled prescriptions of disease‐specific medication. Confirmative answers to questions about physician‐diagnosed atopic disease were used as the gold standard for the comparison with the algorithms, resulting in sensitivities and specificities and 95% confidence intervals. The interviews with the caretaker of the included 454 Danish children born 1997‐2003 were carried out May‐September 2015; the mean age of the children at the time of the interview being 15.2 years (standard deviation 1.3 years).ResultsFor the algorithm capturing children with atopic dermatitis, the sensitivity was 74.1% (95% confidence interval: 66.9%‐80.2%) and the specificity 73.0% (67.3%‐78.0%). For the algorithm capturing children with asthma, both the sensitivity of 84.1% (78.0%‐88.8%) and the specificity of 81.6% (76.5%‐85.8%) were high compared with physician‐diagnosed asthmatic bronchitis (recurrent wheezing). The sensitivity remained high when capturing physician‐diagnosed asthma: 83.3% (74.3%‐89.6%); however, the specificity declined to 66.0% (60.9%‐70.8%). For allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, the sensitivity was 84.4% (78.0‐89.2) and the specificity 81.6% (75.0‐84.4).ConclusionThe algorithms are valid and valuable tools to identify children with atopic dermatitis, wheezing, asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on a population level using register data.
Psychopathology in pediatric bone marrow transplantation survivors and their mothers
Authors: Sürer Adanir Aslı , Taşkiran Gülseren , Küpesiz Osman Alphan , Özatalay Esin 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundBone marrow transplantation (BMT) is used to treat various hematologic, oncologic and metabolic diseases. While the treatment is lifesaving, it is also associated with anxiety, post‐traumatic stress disorder, depression and psychosocial problems both in children and parents.MethodsThe aim of this study was to investigate the psychopathology in pediatric BMT survivors and their mothers compared with healthy controls. All children were interviewed using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia to assess lifelong psychopathology. For the mothers, the Symptom Checklist‐90‐Revised (SCL‐90‐R) was used.ResultsIn the BMT group, 17 children (63%) had at least one psychiatric disorder, while 15 (53.6%) did in the control group. Although lifelong prevalence of psychopathology in the BMT group did not differ significantly from the control group generally, anxiety disorders were significantly higher in the BMT group. When the SCL‐90‐R scores of the mothers were compared, Anxiety, Obsessive–Compulsive, Interpersonal Sensitivity and Phobic Anxiety were significantly higher in the mothers in the BMT group, indicating more difficulty in these areas.ConclusionsBone marrow transplantation is a significant stressor, especially for mothers. Clinicians should address the child and family as a whole in assessments and be aware of psychiatric symptoms in mothers and children who have had such a life‐threatening condition.
Extreme and extremist geographies: commentary on the revanchist impulse and its consequences for everyday bordering
Authors: Scott James Wesley 
Published: June 2017

As Fassin and Windels (2016) argue, political xenophobia needs to be explained politically. At the same time, while political xenophobia is not a necessary consequence of neoliberalism, the idea of what counts as ‘political’ needs to be expanded. I suggest that one fruitful, non-reductionist strategy for understanding the consequences of identitary bordering consists in exploring links between securitization and the politicization of identity and national belonging. Inspired by the ideas of Henk van Houtum and Rodrigo Lacy, I approach the extreme geographies of identity politics from an ethical and philosophical perspective, arguing that a powerful revanchist and self-referential narrative of authenticity and autonomy is influencing both everyday bordering practices and the way security is discursively framed.
In Vitro
Activity of Aztreonam-Avibactam against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated by Clinical Laboratories in 40 Countries from 2012 to 2015
Authors: Karlowsky James A. , Kazmierczak Krystyna M. , de Jonge Boudewijn L. M. , Hackel Meredith A. , Sahm Daniel F. , Bradford Patricia A. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

The combination of the monobactam aztreonam and the non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam is currently in clinical development for the treatment of serious infections caused by metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
, a difficult-to-treat subtype of carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
for which therapeutic options are currently very limited. The present study tested clinically significant isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
(
n
= 51,352) and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(
n
= 11,842) collected from hospitalized patients in 208 medical center laboratories from 40 countries from 2012 to 2015 for
in vitro
susceptibility to aztreonam-avibactam, aztreonam, and comparator antimicrobial agents using a standard broth microdilution methodology. Avibactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 μg/ml in combination with 2-fold dilutions of aztreonam. The MIC
90
s of aztreonam-avibactam and aztreonam were 0.12 and 64 μg/ml, respectively, for all
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates; >99.9% of all isolates and 99.8% of meropenem-nonsusceptible isolates (
n
= 1,498) were inhibited by aztreonam-avibactam at a concentration of ≤8 μg/ml. PCR and DNA sequencing identified 267
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates positive for MBL genes (NDM, VIM, IMP); all
Enterobacteriaceae
carrying MBLs demonstrated aztreonam-avibactam MICs of ≤8 μg/ml and a MIC
90
of 1 μg/ml. Against all
P. aeruginosa
isolates tested, the MIC
90
of both aztreonam-avibactam and aztreonam was 32 μg/ml; against MBL-positive
P. aeruginosa
isolates (
n
= 452), MIC
90
values for aztreonam-avibactam and aztreonam were 32 and 64 μg/ml, respectively. The current study demonstrated that aztreonam-avibactam possesses potent
in vitro
activity against a recent, sizeable global collection of
Enterobacteriaceae
clinical isolates, including isolates that were meropenem nonsusceptible, and against MBL-positive isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
, for which there are few treatment options.
Occurrence of Clinically Important Lineages, Including the Sequence Type 131 C1-M27 Subclone, among Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Wastewater
Authors: Gomi Ryota , Matsuda Tomonari , Matsumura Yasufumi , Yamamoto Masaki , Tanaka Michio , Ichiyama Satoshi , Yoneda Minoru 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Contamination of environmental waters by extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Escherichia coli
(ESBLEC) is of great concern. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and hospitals release large amounts of ESBLEC into the environment. In the present study, we isolated ESBLEC strains from wastewater collected from a WWTP and a hospital in Japan and performed whole-genome sequencing to characterize these strains. Genomic analysis of 54 strains (32 from the WWTP and 22 from hospital wastewater) revealed the occurrence of clinically important clonal groups with extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
status in the WWTP and hospital wastewater. Fine-scale phylogenetic analysis was performed to further characterize 15 sequence type 131 (ST131) complex strains (11 from the WWTP and 4 from hospital wastewater). These ST131 complex strains were comprised of the following different subgroups: clade A (
n
= 2), C1-M27 (
n
= 8), and C1 (non-C1-M27) (
n
= 1) for strains from the WWTP and clade A (
n
= 2), C1-M27 (
n
= 1), and C1 (non-C1-M27) (
n
= 1) for strains from hospital wastewater. The results indicate that ESBLEC strains belonging to clinically important lineages, including the C1-M27 clade, may disseminate into the environment through wastewater, highlighting the need to monitor for antibiotic resistance in wastewater.
Bactericidal and Sterilizing Activity of a Novel Regimen with Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Moxifloxacin, and Pyrazinamide in a Murine Model of Tuberculosis
Authors: Li Si-Yang , Tasneen Rokeya , Tyagi Sandeep , Soni Heena , Converse Paul J. , Mdluli Khisimuzi , Nuermberger Eric L. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT
New regimens based on 2 or more novel agents are sought to shorten or to simplify treatment of tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant forms. Prior studies showed that the novel combinations of bedaquiline (BDQ) plus pretomanid (PMD) plus pyrazinamide (PZA) and PMD plus moxifloxacin (MXF) plus PZA shortened the treatment duration necessary to prevent relapse by 2 to 3 months and 1 to 2 months, respectively, compared with the current first-line regimen, in a murine TB model. These 3-drug combinations are now being studied in clinical trials. Here, the 4-drug combination of BDQ+PMD+MXF+PZA was compared to its 3-drug component regimens and different treatment durations of PZA and MXF were explored, to identify the optimal regimens and treatment times and to estimate the likelihood of success against drug-resistant strains. BDQ+PMD+MXF+PZA rendered all mice relapse-free after 2 months of treatment. PZA administration could be discontinued after the first month of treatment without worsening outcomes, whereas the absence of MXF, PZA, or BDQ administration from the beginning necessitated approximately 0.5, 1, or 2 months, respectively, of additional treatment to attain the same outcome.
Listeria-Vectored Vaccine Expressing the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 30-Kilodalton Major Secretory Protein via the Constitutively Active
prfA
* Regulon Boosts Mycobacterium bovis BCG Efficacy against Tuberculosis
Authors: Jia Qingmei , Dillon Barbara Jane , Masleša-Galić Saša , Horwitz Marcus A. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

A potent vaccine against tuberculosis, one of the world's deadliest diseases, is needed to enhance the immunity of people worldwide, most of whom have been vaccinated with the partially effective
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG vaccine. Here we investigate novel live attenuated recombinant
Listeria monocytogenes
(rLm) vaccines expressing the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
30-kDa major secretory protein (r30/antigen 85B [Ag85B]) (rLm30) as heterologous booster vaccines in animals primed with BCG. Using three attenuated
L. monocytogenes
vectors,
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA
(LmI),
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA
Δ
inlB
(LmII), and
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA
Δ
inlB prfA
* (LmIII), we constructed five rLm30 vaccine candidates expressing r30 linked in frame to the
L. monocytogenes
listeriolysin O signal sequence and driven by the
hly
promoter (h30) or linked in frame to the ActA N-terminal 100 amino acids and driven by the
actA
promoter (a30). All five rLm30 vaccines secreted r30 in broth and macrophages; while rLm30 expressing r30 via a constitutively active
prfA
* regulon (rLmIII/a30) expressed the largest amount of r30 in broth culture, all five rLm30 vaccines expressed equivalent amounts of r30 in infected macrophages. In comparative studies, boosting of BCG-immunized mice with rLmIII/a30 induced the strongest antigen-specific T-cell responses, including splenic and lung polyfunctional CD4
+
T cells expressing the three cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) (
P
< 0.001) and splenic and lung CD8
+
T cells expressing IFN-γ (
P
< 0.0001). In mice and guinea pigs, the rLmIII/a30 and rLmI/h30 vaccines were generally more potent booster vaccines than r30 with an adjuvant and a recombinant adenovirus vaccine expressing r30. In a setting in which BCG alone was highly immunoprotective, boosting of mice with rLmIII/a30, the most potent of the vaccines, significantly enhanced protection against aerosolized
M. tuberculosis
(
P
< 0.01).
Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP120 Moonlights as a HECT E3 Ligase Involved in Self- and Host Ubiquitination To Influence Protein Interactions and Stability for Intracellular Survival
Authors: Zhu Bing , Das Seema , Mitra Shubhajit , Farris Tierra R. , McBride Jere W. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Ehrlichia chaffeensis
secretes tandem repeat protein (TRP) effectors that are involved in a diverse array of host cell interactions, some of which directly activate cell signaling pathways and reprogram host gene transcription to promote survival in the mononuclear phagocyte. However, the molecular details of these effector-host interactions and roles in pathobiology are incompletely understood. In this study, we determined that the
E. chaffeensis
effector TRP120 is posttranslationally modified by ubiquitin (Ub) and that ubiquitination occurs through intrinsic and host-mediated HECT ligase activity. A functional HECT E3 ligase domain with a conserved catalytic site was identified in the C-terminal region of TRP120, and TRP120 autoubiquitination occurred
in vitro
in the presence of host UbcH5b/c E2 enzymes. TRP120 ubiquitination sites were mapped using a high-density microfluidic peptide array and confirmed by ectopic expression of TRP120 lysine mutants in cells. Moreover, we determined that the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase, Nedd4L, interacts with TRP120 during infection and also mediates TRP120 ubiquitination. Nedd4L knockdown resulted in the reduction of TRP120-Ub, decreased ehrlichial infection, and reduced recruitment of a known TRP120-interacting host protein, PCGF5, to ehrlichial inclusions. TRP120-mediated PCGF5 polyubiquitination was associated with a reduction in PCGF5 levels. Inhibition of ubiquitination with small molecules also significantly decreased ehrlichial infection, indicating that the Ub pathway is critical for ehrlichial intracellular replication and survival. The current study identified a novel
E. chaffeensis
ubiquitin ligase and revealed an important role for the ubiquitin pathway in effector-host interactions and pathogen-mediated host protein stability in order to promote intracellular survival.
Absence of the Polar Organizing Protein PopZ Results in Reduced and Asymmetric Cell Division in Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Howell Matthew , Aliashkevich Alena , Salisbury Anne K. , Cava Felipe , Bowman Grant R. , Brown Pamela J. B. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTAgrobacterium tumefaciensis a rod-shaped bacterium that grows by polar insertion of new peptidoglycan during cell elongation. As the cell cycle progresses, peptidoglycan synthesis at the pole ceases prior to insertion of new peptidoglycan at midcell to enable cell division. TheA. tumefacienshomolog of theCaulobacter crescentuspolar organelle development protein PopZ has been identified as a growth pole marker and a candidate polar growth-promoting factor. Here, we characterize the function of PopZ in cell growth and division ofA. tumefaciens. Consistent with previous observations, we observe that PopZ localizes specifically to the growth pole in wild-type cells. Despite the striking localization pattern of PopZ, we find the absence of the protein does not impair polar elongation or cause major changes in the peptidoglycan composition. Instead, we observe an atypical cell length distribution, including minicells, elongated cells, and cells with ectopic poles. Most minicells lack DNA, suggesting a defect in chromosome segregation. Furthermore, the canonical cell division proteins FtsZ and FtsA are misplaced, leading to asymmetric sites of cell constriction. Together, these data suggest that PopZ plays an important role in the regulation of chromosome segregation and cell division.IMPORTANCEA. tumefaciensis a bacterial plant pathogen and a natural genetic engineer. However, very little is known about the spatial and temporal regulation of cell wall biogenesis that leads to polar growth in this bacterium. Understanding the molecular basis ofA. tumefaciensgrowth may allow for the development of innovations to prevent disease or to promote growth during biotechnology applications. Finally, since many closely related plant and animal pathogens exhibit polar growth, discoveries inA. tumefaciensmay be broadly applicable for devising antimicrobial strategies.
Communal Metabolism of Methane and the Rare Earth Element Switch
Authors: Yu Zheng , Chistoserdova Ludmila 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT
The metabolism of methane is an important part of the biogeochemical cycling of carbon. Methane is also a major contributor to climate change. A specialized group of microbes that consume methane, the methanotrophs, represent a natural filter preventing even faster accumulation of methane in the atmosphere. Methanotrophy can proceed via both anaerobic and aerobic modes. The anaerobic methanotrophs, represented by both archaea and bacteria, all appear to be engaged in syntrophic interdependencies with other species, to overcome the energetic barriers of methane metabolism in the absence of oxygen. In contrast, aerobic methanotrophy can be carried out by pure cultures of bacteria. However, a concept of communal function in aerobic methane oxidation has been gaining momentum, based on data regarding the natural cooccurrence of specific functional guilds and results from laboratory manipulations. The mechanistic details of how and why the methanotrophs share their carbon with other species, and whether and what they gain in return, are still sparse. In this minireview, we highlight recent studies that led to this new concept of community function in aerobic methane oxidation. We first describe stable isotope probing experiments employing heavy-carbon-labeled methane and tracing methane carbon consumption. We then present an analysis of data on microcosm community dynamics. We further discuss the role of a synthetic community approach in elucidating the principles of carbon flow and species cooperation in methane consumption. Finally, we touch on the role of lanthanides, which are rare Earth elements previously thought to be biologically inert, in bacterial metabolism of methane.