bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of MALDI‐TOF MS platforms for fungal identification
Authors: Cassagne Carole , Normand Anne‐Cécile , L'Ollivier Coralie , Ranque Stéphane , Piarroux Renaud 
Published: April 2016

SummaryMatrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) is increasingly used by clinical microbiology laboratories to cope with the need for rapid, cost‐effective and accurate identification of microorganisms. Several research teams have recently succeed in identifying moulds using MALDI‐TOF MS, which was first adapted to bacteria, then to yeast identification. Since 2004, different commercial firms have released several ready‐to‐use MALDI‐TOF MS platforms. This review describes the similarities and differences between the commercially available systems. In two parts, we first describe and compare the preprocessing and identification steps between the platforms and then compare the identification efficacy of yeast, moulds and dermatophytes species.
Molecular epidemiology and in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of 108 clinical Cryptococcus neoformans sensu lato and Cryptococcus gattii sensu lato isolates from Denmark
Authors: Hagen Ferry , Hare Jensen Rasmus , Meis Jacques F. , Arendrup Maiken Cavling 
Published: April 2016

SummaryCryptococcosis is mainly caused by members of the Cryptococcus gattii/Cryptococcus neoformans species complexes. Here, we report the molecular characterisation and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Danish clinical cryptococcal isolates. Species, genotype, serotype and mating type were determined by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting and qPCR. EUCAST E.Def 7.2 MICs were determined for amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, voriconazole and isavuconazole. Most isolates were C. neoformans (serotype A; n = 66) and belonged to genotype AFLP1/VNI (n = 61) or AFLP1B/VNII (n = 5) followed by Cryptococcus deneoformans (serotype D; genotype AFLP2, n = 20), C. neoformans × C. deneoformans hybrids (serotype AD; genotype AFLP3, n = 13) and Cryptococcus curvatus (n = 2). Six isolates were C. gattii sensu lato, and one isolate was a C. deneoformans × C. gattii hybrid (genotype AFLP8). All isolates were amphotericin B susceptible. Flucytosine susceptibility was uniform MIC50 of 4–8 mg l−1 except for C. curvatus (MICs >32 mg l−1). Cryptococcus gattii sensu lato isolates were somewhat less susceptible to the azoles. MICs of fluconazole (>32 mg l−1), voriconazole (≥0.5 mg l−1) and isavuconazole (0.06 and 0.25 mg l−1 respectively) were elevated compared to the wild‐type population for 1/19 C. deneoformans and 1/2 C. curvatus isolates. Flucytosine MIC was elevated for 1/61 C. neoformans (>32 mg l−1). Antifungal susceptibility revealed species‐specific differential susceptibility, but suggested acquired resistance was an infrequent phenomenon.
A cluster of Geotrichum clavatum (Saprochaete clavata) infection in haematological patients: a first Italian report and review of literature
Authors: Del Principe Maria Ilaria , Sarmati Loredana , Cefalo Mariagiovanna , Fontana Carla , De Santis Giovanna , Buccisano Francesco , Maurillo Luca , De Bellis Eleonora , Postorino Massimiliano , Sconocchia Giuseppe , Del Poeta Giovanni , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Amadori Sergio , Pagano Livio , Venditti Adriano 
Published: April 2016

SummaryInvasive fungal infections, usually Aspergillus and Candida, represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with malignant haematological diseases, but in the last years rare fungal infections have more frequently been reported. Here, we report the clinical history of three patients affected with haematological malignancies who developed an infection caused by Geotrichum (G.) clavatum. Two out of three patients were affected by acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and one by mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). All patients received cytarabine‐based chemotherapeutic regimens and developed G. clavatum infection within 3 weeks from therapy initiation. In all cases, G. clavatum was isolated from central venous catheter and peripheral blood cultures. In vitro susceptibility test confirmed an intrinsic resistance to echinocandins and, in all cases, visceral localisations (spleen, liver and lung) were documented by total body computed tomography (CT) scan. A prolonged antifungal therapy with high doses liposomal amphotericin‐B was necessary to obtain fever resolution. Only the patient with MCL died while the other two AML recovered, and one of them after received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We consecutively reviewed all published cases of infection caused by G. clavatum. Our experience and literature review indicate that G. clavatum can cause invasive infection in haematological patients, mainly in those with acute leukaemia.
More Than Just “Blowing off Steam”: The Roles of Anger and Advocacy in Promoting Positive Outcomes at Work
Authors: Stickney Lisa T. , Geddes Deanna 
Published: April 2016

AbstractEmployee anger can be suppressed or quieted so that angry individuals only vent frustrations to supportive colleagues, rather than approach those responsible or in an organizational position to help remedy the problematic situation. The Dual Threshold Model (Geddes & Callister,) argues that although these “muted anger” venting episodes may increase unfavorable organizational outcomes, they also may prompt participants or observers of these displays to engage in advocacy or surrogacy on behalf of an angry colleague. The research reported here empirically tests this proposition and reports that advocating on behalf of one's angry colleague can enhance individual relationships at work as well as organizational functioning. Findings also show that observer felt anger intensity is a primary motivator for prompting anger advocacy and, surprisingly, advocacy is less likely on behalf of close colleagues.
Prevalence, characteristics, and treatment outcomes of reflux hypersensitivity detected on pH‐impedance monitoring
Authors: Patel A. , Sayuk G. S. , Gyawali C. P. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundPositive symptom association probability (SAP) with physiologic esophageal acid exposure time (AET) on pH‐impedance monitoring defines reflux hypersensitivity (RH), a correlate of acid sensitivity on pH monitoring. We evaluated prevalence, clinical characteristics, and symptomatic outcomes of RH in a prospective observational cohort with reflux symptoms undergoing pH‐impedance monitoring.MethodsReflux hypersensitivity was diagnosed when SAP was positive with pH‐ and/or impedance‐detected reflux events with physiologic AET. Symptom burden was assessed using dominant symptom intensity (DSI, product of symptom severity and frequency on 5‐point Likert scales) and global symptom severity (GSS, global esophageal symptoms on 100‐mm visual analog scales) by questionnaire, both at baseline and on prospective follow‐up. Clinical characteristics and predictors of symptomatic improvement were assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses.Key ResultsSeventy‐seven patients (29%) met criteria for RH, of which 53 patients (53.7 ± 1.8 years, 66% F) were contacted after 3.3 ± 0.2 years for follow‐up. Reflux hypersensitivity was detected on pH‐impedance testing both on and off antisecretory therapy; pH alone missed 51% of RH. About 57% reported ≥50% GSS improvement. Sixteen patients undergoing antireflux surgery (ARS) reported better symptom improvement compared to 37 patients treated medically (GSS change: p = 0.005; DSI change: p = 0.04). Hiatus hernia (p = 0.03) and surgical management (p ≤ 0.04) predicted symptom improvement on univariate analysis, while acid sensitivity was a negative predictor for outcome on both univariate (p = 0.02) and multivariate analyses (p ≤ 0.04).Conclusions & InferencesReflux hypersensitivity is a mechanism for persistent reflux symptoms in almost one‐third of patients undergoing pH‐impedance testing. While acid sensitivity predicts suboptimal symptom improvement, antireflux therapy may improve RH in select settings.
Competition between encrusters on marine hard substrates and its fossil record
Authors: Taylor Paul D. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractMany animals and plants that colonize hard surfaces in the sea are sessile and either bore into, or cement themselves permanently to the substrate surface. Because they retain their life positions after fossilization, these sclerobionts offer scope for studying biotic interactions in the fossil record. Encrusting sclerobionts compete actively for living space, with dominant competitors overgrowing the edges of subordinates. In addition to such marginal overgrowths, spatial competition may also occur through fouling in which larvae recruit directly onto the living surfaces of established sclerobionts. Spatial competition has been studied extensively in modern marine communities but there has been little research on competition between encrusters in ancient communities. This reflects poor knowledge of the taxonomy of the sclerobionts involved, as well as problems in distinguishing between overgrowth in vivo and post‐mortem. Nevertheless, if carefully interpreted, the fossil record of sclerobionts can provide an as yet largely unexploited resource for studying the long‐term ecological and evolutionary dynamics of competition.
Outcomes following implementation of a pediatric procedural sedation guide for referral to general anesthesia for magnetic resonance imaging studies
Authors: Grunwell Jocelyn R. , Marupudi Neelima K. , Gupta Rohan V. , Travers Curtis D. , McCracken Courtney E. , Williamson Julie L. , Stockwell Jana A. , Fortenberry James D. , Couloures Kevin , Cravero Joseph , Kamat Pradip P. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryBackground/AimsGuidelines for referral of children to general anesthesia (GA) to completeMRIstudies are lacking. We devised a pediatric procedural sedation guide to determine whether a pediatric procedural sedation guide would decrease serious adverse events and decrease failed sedations requiring rescheduling withGA.MethodsWe constructed a consensus‐based sedation guide by combining a retrospective review of reasons for referral of children toGA(n= 221) with published risk factors associated with the inability to complete theMRIstudy with sedation. An interrupted time series analysis of 11 530 local sedation records from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium between July 2008 and March 2013, adjusted for case‐mix differences in the pre‐ and postsedation guide cohorts, evaluated whether a sedation guide resulted in decreased severe adverse events (SAE) and failed sedation rates.ResultsA significant increase in referrals toGAfollowing implementation of a sedation guide occurred (P< 0.001), and fewer children with anASA‐PSclass ≥IIIwere sedated using procedural sedation (P< 0.001). There was no decrease in SAE (P= 0.874) or in SAE plus airway obstruction with concurrent hypoxia (P= 0.435). There was no change in the percentage of failed sedations (P= 0.169).ConclusionsMore studies are needed to determine the impact of a sedation guide on pediatric procedural sedation services.
FK506 positively regulates the migratory potential of melanocyte‐derived cells by enhancing syndecan‐2 expression
Authors: Jung Hyejung , Oh Eok‐Soo 
Published: April 2016

SummaryAlthough topical tacrolimus (FK506) is known to promote repigmentation by increasing the pigmentation and migration of melanocytes, the mechanism through which FK506 regulates cell migration remains unclear. Here, we report that FK506 treatment enhanced cell spreading on laminin‐332 and increased migration in both melanocytes and melanoma cells. Interestingly, FK506 also increased the expression of syndecan‐2, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan through c‐jun terminal kinase activation. Moreover, siRNA‐mediated reduction of syndecan‐2 expression decreased FK506‐mediated cell spreading and migration in melanoma cells and decreased focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation in both melanocytes and melanoma cells. Consistent with these effects on syndecan‐2 expression, FK506 enhanced the membrane and melanosome localizations of PKCβII, a regulator of tyrosinase activity. This suggests that FK506 may play a dual regulatory role by affecting both melanogenesis and migration in melanocyte‐derived cells. Interestingly, however, FK506 failed to show any synergistic effect on the migration of UVB‐treated melanocyte‐derived cells. Taken together, these data indicate that FK506 regulates cell migration by enhancing syndecan‐2 expression, further suggesting that syndecan‐2 could be a potential target for the treatment of patients with vitiligo.
Hospital volume and mortality due to preterm patent ductus arteriosus
Authors: Michihata Nobuaki , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundPreterm patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) requires neonatal intensive care. The relationship between hospital volume and mortality of PDA remains poorly understood.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study, using a national inpatient database in Japan. We identified patients who were diagnosed with PDA; exclusion criteria were as follows: (i) other cardiac complications; (ii) mild PDA treated without oral/i.v. indomethacin, surgery, or catheter intervention; (iii) age >1 year at admission; (iv) gestational age ≥32 weeks; (v) death within 3 days of admission; and (vi) transferal to other hospitals. Information was collected using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database from July 2010 to March 2013. Hospital volume was defined as the average annual number of neonates with gestational age <32 weeks at each hospital. The outcome measure was in‐hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 2437 eligible patients treated at 199 hospitals were included. Low, medium, and high volume were defined as average annual number of preterm infants <34, 34–65, and >65, respectively. There were no significant differences in in‐hospital mortality according to hospital volume. In‐hospital mortality was identical in patients who received indomethacin alone, surgical or catheter intervention, or both after adjustment for patient background.ConclusionsThere was no significant relationship between hospital volume and in‐hospital mortality due to preterm PDA. Centralization of patients with this condition may not be necessary.
Increased temperature causes protein limitation by reducing the efficiency of nitrogen digestion in the ectothermic herbivore Spodoptera exigua
Authors: Lemoine Nathan P. , Shantz Andrew A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractFor insect herbivores, rising temperatures lead to exponentially higher metabolic rates. As a result, basic nutritional demands for protein and carbohydrates can be altered at high temperatures. It is hypothesized that temperature‐driven increases in metabolic nitrogen turnover will exacerbate protein limitation by increasing metabolic nitrogen demand. To test this hypothesis, the present study examines whether metabolic nitrogen turnover at higher temperatures causes protein limitation of a generalist herbivore, the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). Third‐instar S. exigua larvae were reared at 25 and 30 °C on three artificial diets of varying protein : carbohydrate ratios (23 : 26, 17 : 26 and 6 : 26 %P : %C, respectively) and their growth rates, metabolic nitrogen demand and consumption rates were measured. Warming was found to lead to temperature‐induced protein limitation of the S. exigua larvae by increasing metabolic nitrogen demand at the same time as reducing nitrogen digestion efficiency. Because climate change is increasing atmospheric temperatures rapidly worldwide, it is suggested that a better understanding of how temperature change can influence metabolic demands will provide key information for predicting herbivore growth rates and foraging strategies in the future.
Testing small molecule analogues of the Acanthocheilonema viteae immunomodulator ES‐62 against clinically relevant allergens
Authors: Janicova L. , Rzepecka J. , Rodgers D. T. , Doonan J. , Bell K. S. , Lumb F. E. , Suckling C. J. , Harnett M. M. , Harnett W. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryES‐62 is a glycoprotein secreted by the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae that protects against ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced airway hyper‐responsiveness in mice by virtue of covalently attached anti‐inflammatory phosphorylcholine (PC) residues. We have recently generated a library of small molecule analogues (SMAs) of ES‐62 based around its active PC moiety as a starting point in novel drug development for asthma and identified two compounds – termed 11a and 12b – that mirror ES‐62's protective effects. In this study, we have moved away from OVA, a model allergen, to test the SMAs against two clinically relevant allergens – house dust mite (HDM) and cockroach allergen (CR) extract. We show that both SMAs offer some protection against development of lung allergic responses to CR, in particular reducing eosinophil infiltration, whereas only SMA 12b is effective in protecting against eosinophil‐dependent HDM‐induced allergy. These data therefore suggest that helminth molecule‐induced protection against model allergens may not necessarily translate to clinically relevant allergens. Nevertheless, in this study, we have managed to demonstrate that it is possible to produce synthetic drug‐like molecules based on a parasitic worm product that show therapeutic potential with respect to asthma resulting from known triggers in humans.
High Dimensional Semiparametric Latent Graphical Model for Mixed Data
Authors: Fan Jianqing , Liu Han , Ning Yang , Zou Hui 
Published: April 2016

SummaryWe propose a semiparametric latent Gaussian copula model for modelling mixed multivariate data, which contain a combination of both continuous and binary variables. The model assumes that the observed binary variables are obtained by dichotomizing latent variables that satisfy the Gaussian copula distribution. The goal is to infer the conditional independence relationship between the latent random variables, based on the observed mixed data. Our work has two main contributions: we propose a unified rank-based approach to estimate the correlation matrix of latent variables; we establish the concentration inequality of the proposed rank-based estimator. Consequently, our methods achieve the same rates of convergence for precision matrix estimation and graph recovery, as if the latent variables were observed. The methods proposed are numerically assessed through extensive simulation studies, and real data analysis.
A Stochastic Graphene Growth Kinetics Model
Authors: Sosina Sobambo , Dasgupta Tirthankar , Huang Qiang 
Published: April 2016

SummaryGraphene is an emerging nanomaterial for a wide variety of novel applications. Controlled synthesis of high quality graphene sheets requires analytical understanding of graphene growth kinetics. Graphene growth via chemical vapour deposition starts with randomly nucleated islands that gradually develop into complex shapes, grow in size and eventually connect together to form a graphene sheet. Models proposed for this stochastic process do not, in general, permit assessment of uncertainty. We develop a stochastic framework for the growth process and propose Bayesian inferential models, which account for the data collection mechanism and allow for uncertainty analyses, for learning about the kinetics from experimental data. Furthermore, we link the growth kinetics with controllable experimental factors, thus providing a framework for statistical design and analysis of future experiments.
Vancomycin‐induced thrombocytopenia: a rare adverse effect in a patient ­submitted to bone graft in the jaw
Authors: Danieletto Carolina Ferrairo , Ferreira Gustavo Zanna , Farah Gustavo Jacobucci , Cuman Roberto Kenji Nakamura 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionThrombocytopenia is the reduction in the number of blood ­platelets, which may be caused by ­several different conditions such as sepsis, disseminated intravascular ­clotting, and large blood losses. Additionally, in rare situations, thrombocytopenia may also be induced by the use of medicaments. One of these drugs is the vancomycin, a glycopeptide presently used against ­serious infections involving Gram‐positive bacteria such as the methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin‐resistant Streptococcus.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to report on a case of serious vancomycin‐induced thrombocytopenia in a patient infected with methicillin‐resistant S. aureus after mandibular reconstruction with autogenous bone graft, and to draw attention to the importance of this clinically rare adverse effect.ConclusionVancomycin‐induced thrombocytopenia is a rare condition, which is also a significant disorder that demands attention and the rapid identification and replacement of the antimicrobial agent.
We Use Dialysate Potassium Levels That Are Too Low in Hemodialysis
Authors: Tucker Bryan , Moledina Dennis G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSudden cardiac death accounts for a quarter of all deaths in hemodialysis patients. While this group is at high risk for cardiovascular events, there are certain modifiable factors that have been associated with higher risk of sudden cardiac death. These include short dialysis time, high ultrafiltration rate, and dialysate with a low potassium or calcium concentration. While it is impossible to discern the relative contribution of each of these factors, our review focuses on the role of dialysate potassium concentration in sudden cardiac death. Retrospective studies have identified low potassium dialysate (<2–3 mEq/l) as a risk factor for sudden cardiac death, particularly in patients with predialysis serum potassium concentrations <5 mEq/l. However, patients with predialysis hyperkalemia (≥5.5 mEq/l) may be an exception since a significant association of low potassium dialysate with sudden cardiac death was not observed in this subgroup. Dialysis prescribers must employ alternatives to low dialysate potassium concentrations to achieve potassium control such as increasing dialysis time and frequency, dietary restriction of potassium, prevention and treatment of constipation, discontinuation of medications contributing to hyperkalemia and traditional (or newer, better tolerated) potassium binding resins. Finally, one must also address other factors associated with sudden cardiac death such as short dialysis time, high ultrafiltration rate, and low calcium concentration dialysate.
Membrane‐based Therapeutic Plasma Exchange: A New Frontier for Nephrologists
Authors: Gashti Casey N. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractTherapeutic plasma exchange has long been utilized to manage a variety of immune‐mediated diseases. The underlying principle is the removal of a circulating pathogenic substance from the plasma and substitution with a replacement fluid. Different methodologies of plasma separation include the use of centrifuge, which relies on the variation in the specific gravity of blood components, and membrane‐based separation, which relies on particle size. With advancements in technology and clinical insight into disease pathophysiology, membrane technology has become more biocompatible, safer, and more adaptable to conventional hemodialysis and hemofiltration machines. As such, nephrologists, who are familiar with management of extracorporeal blood purification systems, are increasingly involved with membrane‐based plasma separation. This review aims to highlight the technical aspects of membrane‐based separation, review the prescription for therapy, and draw comparisons with the centrifuge‐based technique when applicable.