bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production of the Streptomyces scabies coronafacoyl phytotoxins involves a novel biosynthetic pathway with an F420‐dependent oxidoreductase and a short‐chain dehydrogenase/reductase
Authors: Bown Luke , Altowairish Mead S. , Fyans Joanna K. , Bignell Dawn R. D. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryCoronafacoyl phytotoxins are secondary metabolites that are produced by various phytopathogenic bacteria, including several pathovars of the Gram‐negative bacterium Pseudomonas syringae as well as the Gram‐positive potato scab pathogen Streptomyces scabies. The phytotoxins are composed of the polyketide coronafacic acid (CFA) linked via an amide bond to amino acids or amino acid derivatives, and their biosynthesis involves the cfa and cfa‐like gene clusters that are found in P. syringae and S. scabies, respectively. The S. scabies cfa‐like gene cluster was previously reported to contain several genes that are absent from the P. syringae cfa gene cluster, including one (oxr) encoding a putative F420—dependent oxidoreductase, and another (sdr) encoding a predicted short‐chain dehydrogenase/reductase. Using gene deletion analysis, we demonstrated that both oxr and sdr are required for normal production of the S. scabies coronafacoyl phytotoxins, and structural analysis of metabolites that accumulated in the Δsdr mutant cultures revealed that Sdr is directly involved in the biosynthesis of the CFA moiety. Our results suggest that S. scabies and P. syringae use distinct biosynthetic pathways for producing coronafacoyl phytotoxins, which are important mediators of host‐pathogen interactions in various plant pathosystems.
The green tea polyphenol EGCG inhibits E. coli biofilm formation by impairing amyloid curli fibre assembly and downregulating the biofilm regulator CsgD via the σE‐dependent sRNA RybB
Authors: Serra Diego O. , Mika Franziska , Richter Anja M. , Hengge Regine 
Published: March 2016

SummaryIn bacterial biofilms, which are often involved in chronic infections, cells are surrounded by a self‐produced extracellular matrix that contains amyloid fibres, exopolysaccharides and other biopolymers. The matrix contributes to the pronounced resistance of biofilms against antibiotics and host immune systems. Being highly inflammatory, matrix amyloids such as curli fibres of Escherichia coli can also play a role in pathogenicity. Using macrocolony biofilms of commensal and pathogenic E. coli as a model system, we demonstrate here that the green tea polyphenol epigallocatachin gallate (EGCG) is a potent antibiofilm agent. EGCG virtually eliminates the biofilm matrix by directly interfering with the assembly of curli subunits into amyloid fibres, and by triggering the σE cell envelope stress response and thereby reducing the expression of CsgD – a crucial activator of curli and cellulose biosynthesis – due to csgD mRNA targeting by the σE‐dependent sRNA RybB. These findings highlight EGCG as a potential adjuvant for antibiotic therapy of biofilm‐associated infections. Moreover, EGCG may support therapies against pathogenic E. coli that produce inflammatory curli fibres along with Shigatoxin.
The role of a cytosolic superoxide dismutase in barley–pathogen interactions
Authors: Lightfoot Damien J. , Mcgrann Graham R. D. , Able Amanda J. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryReactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide (
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) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are differentially produced during resistance responses to biotrophic pathogens and during susceptible responses to necrotrophic and hemi‐biotrophic pathogens. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is responsible for the catalysis of the dismutation of
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to H2O2, regulating the redox status of plant cells. Increased SOD activity has been correlated previously with resistance in barley to the hemi‐biotrophic pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt, the causal agent of the net form of net blotch disease), but the role of individual isoforms of SOD has not been studied. A cytosolic CuZnSOD, HvCSD1, was isolated from barley and characterized as being expressed in tissue from different developmental stages. HvCSD1 was up‐regulated during the interaction with Ptt and to a greater extent during the resistance response. Net blotch disease symptoms and fungal growth were not as pronounced in transgenic HvCSD1 knockdown lines in a susceptible background (cv. Golden Promise), when compared with wild‐type plants, suggesting that cytosolic
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contributes to the signalling required to induce a defence response to Ptt. There was no effect of HvCSD1 knockdown on infection by the hemi‐biotrophic rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae or the biotrophic powdery mildew pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, but HvCSD1 also played a role in the regulation of lesion development by methyl viologen. Together, these results suggest that HvCSD1 could be important in the maintenance of the cytosolic redox status and in the differential regulation of responses to pathogens with different lifestyles.
Differential contribution of Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis virulence factors to systemic and local infection in tomato
Authors: Chalupowicz Laura , Barash Isaac , Reuven Michal , Dror Orit , Sharabani Galit , Gartemann Karl‐Heinz , Eichenlaub Rudolf , Sessa Guido , Manulis‐Sasson Shulamit 
Published: March 2016

SummaryClavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis (Cmm) causes substantial economic losses in tomato production worldwide. The disease symptoms observed in plants infected systemically by Cmm are wilting and canker on the stem, whereas blister‐like spots develop in locally infected leaves. A wide repertoire of serine proteases and cell wall‐degrading enzymes has been implicated in the development of wilt and canker symptoms. However, virulence factors involved in the formation of blister‐like spots, which play an important role in Cmm secondary spread in tomato nurseries, are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Cmm virulence factors play different roles during blister formation relative to wilting. Inoculation with a green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labelled Cmm382 indicates that penetration occurs mainly through trichomes. When spray inoculated on tomato leaves, the wild‐type Cmm382 and Cmm100 (lacking plasmids pCM1 and pCM2) strains form blister‐like spots on leaves, whereas Cmm27 (lacking the chp/tomA pathogenicity island) is non‐pathogenic, indicating that plasmid‐borne genes, which have a crucial role in wilting, are not required for blister formation. Conversely, mutations in chromosomal genes encoding serine proteases (chpC and sbtA), cell wall‐degrading enzymes (pgaA and endX/Y), a transcriptional regulator (vatr2), a putative perforin (perF) and a putative sortase (srtA) significantly affect disease incidence and the severity of blister formation. The transcript levels of these genes, as measured by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction, showed that, during blister formation, they are expressed early at 8–16 h after inoculation, whereas, during wilting, they are expressed after 24–72 h or expressed at low levels. Plant gene expression studies suggest that chpC is involved in the suppression of host defence.
Collagen‐binding proteins of Streptococcus mutans and related streptococci
Authors: Avilés‐Reyes A. , Miller J.H. , Lemos J.A. , Abranches J. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryThe ability of Streptococcus mutans to interact with collagen through the expression of collagen‐binding proteins (CBPs) bestows this oral pathogen with an alternative to the sucrose‐dependent mechanism of colonization classically attributed to caries development. Based on the abundance and distribution of collagen throughout the human body, stringent adherence to this molecule grants S. mutans with the opportunity to establish infection at different host sites. Surface proteins, such as SpaP, WapA, Cnm and Cbm, have been shown to bind collagen in vitro, and it has been suggested that these molecules play a role in colonization of oral and extra‐oral tissues. However, robust collagen binding is not achieved by all strains of S. mutans, particularly those that lack Cnm or Cbm. These observations merit careful dissection of the contribution from these different CBPs towards tissue colonization and virulence. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of mechanisms used by S. mutans and related streptococci to colonize collagenous tissues, and the possible contribution of CBPs to infections in different sites of the host.
Pulmonary aspiration under GA: a 13‐year audit in a tertiary pediatric unit
Authors: Tan Zihui , Lee Shu Ying 
Published: March 2016

SummaryIntroductionPulmonary aspiration is a known risk of general anesthesia. We aim to find out the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of pulmonary aspiration in our pediatric population.MethodsSince 2000, all critical incidents are reported on a standardized audit form. All cases with pulmonary aspiration being reported as a critical incident were identified and their case notes traced to look at the perioperative details.ResultsFrom 2000 to 2013, a total of 102 425 pediatric cases were done in our hospital. Twenty‐two cases were reported to have aspirated during anesthesia giving an incidence of 0.02% (1 in 4655). Majority (59.0%) of the children were between the ages of 3–12 and of ASA 1 (54.5%). None of them had any history of pulmonary aspiration.Of the 22 cases, 12 occurred during induction, three during maintenance, three during emergence, three during recovery, and one occurred preinduction. Twelve cases had intravenous induction while the rest received inhalational induction. The type of induction does not appear to affect the incidence of aspiration (OR1.139 95%CI: 0.457–2.818 P = 0.76).Two cases were found to have a difficult airway during induction and 45.5% were emergency operations. Emergency surgeries put the patient at a higher risk of aspiration (OR4.321 95%CI: 1.735–10.687 P = 0.001).No mortality was reported. Surgery was canceled for one patient, two had unplanned admissions, seven were admitted to high dependency unit or intensive care unit with two requiring postoperative ventilation.ConclusionThe incidence of aspiration under general anesthesia in our hospital is comparable to published reports. Our audit highlights the fact that pulmonary aspiration although rare mostly occur in healthy ASA 1 and 2 children with no prior history. Emergency surgeries put the patient at a higher risk of aspiration. They occurred usually during induction, a process which tends to be variable (in technique and duration) for pediatric patients.
A Comparison of Expectations of Physicians and Patients with Chronic Pain for Pain Clinic Visits
Authors: Calpin Pádraig , Imran Ather , Harmon Dominic 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe patient–physician encounter forms the cornerstone of every health service. However, optimal medical outcomes are often confounded by inadequate patient–physician communication. Chronic pain is estimated to affect over 25% of the population. Its effects are multifaceted with patients at increased risk of experiencing emotional and functional disturbances. Therefore, it is crucial to address all components of the patient's pain experience, including beliefs and expectations. It is our understanding that no other study to date has evaluated the expectations of physicians and compared them to those of patients for pain clinic visits. We sought to describe and compare expectations of chronic pain patients and their physicians during a clinic consultation.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review on patients attending the pain clinic for the first time who were enrolled and completed a questionnaire asking their expectations for their clinic visit as well as outcomes that would satisfy and disappoint them. Pain physicians were also included. We compared physicians' to patients' responses and evaluated relationships between patient responses and age, gender, pain location, Pain Self‐Efficacy, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.ResultsOne hundred chronic pain patients and 10 pain physicians were surveyed. Patients' clinical expectations for visits focused primarily on some pain relief (34%), education on the cause of pain (24%), and a definitive diagnosis (18%). Physician's expectations included formulation and communication of a management plan (70%), patient assessment for cause of pain (50%), and the education of patients on the cause of pain (40%) as important aims. Pain relief would satisfy the majority of patients (74%) and physicians (70%). No improvement would cause greatest dissatisfaction for patients (52%), but causing more harm would be disappointing to physicians (50%). Gender, age, pain location, and sleep quality all significantly influenced patients' expectations and affective pain comorbidities.ConclusionWe found some agreement and some discordance of clinical expectations between pain patients and physicians. Patient factors may also impact on expectations and comorbidities. Findings from this study will help doctors consider patients' expectations in planning pain clinic visits, improve patient–doctor communication and pain management, and may lead to further hypothesis‐driven studies.
Lubiprostone for Opioid‐Induced Constipation Does Not Interfere with Opioid Analgesia in Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain
Authors: Spierings Egilius L. H. , Brewer Randall P. , Rauck Richard L. , Losch‐Beridon Taryn , Mareya Shadreck M. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether lubiprostone 24 μg twice daily (BID), administered to relieve opioid‐induced constipation (OIC), affects opioid analgesia in patients with chronic noncancer pain.MethodsData were pooled from 3 randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials of lubiprostone in adults with chronic noncancer pain receiving stable opioid analgesia and who had documented OIC. In each study, lubiprostone 24 μg BID or placebo was administered for 12 weeks for relief of OIC using a common protocol. The Brief Pain Inventory short form (BPI‐SF) was administered, and opioid use (expressed as morphine‐equivalent daily dose [MEDD]) was recorded at baseline and months 1, 2, and 3. The BPI‐SF provided patient scores for pain severity, the worst pain experienced in the past 24 hours, and pain interference with daily life.ResultsThe pooled patient population (N = 1300) was predominately female (62.5%) and white (82.1%), with a mean age of 50.5 years. The MEDD was 97.5 mg (range, 5 to 3656 mg) in patients receiving placebo and 112.5 mg (range, 4 to 7605 mg) in patients treated with lubiprostone. Lubiprostone 24 μg BID treatment did not appear to affect opioid use or pain scores; changes from baseline were not significantly different with placebo vs. lubiprostone 24 μg BID at months 1, 2, and 3 for MEDD (P ≥ 0.435) and for BPI‐SF scores for pain interference, pain severity, and worst pain (P ≥ 0.402).DiscussionLubiprostone 24 μg BID administered for relief of OIC in patients with chronic noncancer pain does not interfere with opioid analgesia.
Opioid‐Induced Constipation Survey in Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain
Authors: Rauck Richard L. , Hong Kyung‐soo Jason , North James 
Published: March 2016

AbstractChronic pain patients relying on chronic opioid therapy are often challenged with opioid‐induced constipation (OIC), a difficult condition to treat that has a significant psychosocial impact on those who are affected (Bruner et al., J Pain Res, 8, 2015, 289). Unlike other side effects of opioids, OIC does not resolve over time during chronic opioid use, and treatments used for functional constipation often fail to provide adequate symptom relief (Nelson and Camilleri, Therap Adv Gastroenterol, 8, 2015, 206). Estimates of the prevalence of OIC vary. It has been reported that 15% to 90% of opioid users are affected by OIC (Gaertner et al., J Clin Gastroenterol, 49, 2015, 9; Wan et al., Am Health Drug Benefits, 8, 2015, 93; Coyne et al., Clinicoecon Outcomes Res, 6, 2014, 269). In addition, a recent rise in opioid prescriptions by nonpain specialists has contributed to the increase in opioid‐related side effects, such as OIC (Nelson and Camilleri, Therap Adv Gastroenterol, 8, 2015, 206; Tuteja et al., Neurogastroenterol Motil, 22, 2010, 424). We conducted a survey on OIC through PainPathways magazine in fall of 2014 and in spring of 2015. Survey results showed the prevalence of depression and the modification of opioid dosage were higher than previously thought. Additionally, we found that discussions with healthcare workers regarding OIC do not take place regularly. Our results re‐emphasize the need for a consensus on OIC‐specific diagnostic criteria, evidence‐based treatment strategies, outcome metrics, and education about OIC for both prescribers and patients to improve clinical outcome as well as patient satisfaction.
A Robertsonian translocation from Thinopyrum bessarabicum into bread wheat confers high iron and zinc contents
Authors: Ardalani Somayeh , Mirzaghaderi Ghader , Badakhshan Hedyeh 
Published: March 2016

AbstractDevelopment of wheat–alien translocation lines has facilitated practical utilization of alien species in wheat improvement. The production of a compensating Triticum aestivum–Thinopyrum bessarabicum whole‐arm Robertsonian translocation (RobT) involving chromosomes 6D of wheat and 6Eb of Th. bessarabicum (2n = 2x = 14, EbEb) through the mechanism of centric breakage–fusion is reported here. An F2 population was derived from plants double‐monosomic for chromosome 6D and 6Eb from crosses between a DS6Eb(6D) substitution line and bread wheat cultivar ‘Roushan’ (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) as female parent. Eighty F2 genotypes (L1–L80) were screened for chromosome composition. Three PCR‐based Landmark Unique Gene (PLUG) markers specific to chromosomes 6D and 6Eb were used for screening the F2 plants. One plant with a T6EbS.6DL centric fusion (RobT) was identified. A homozygous translocation line with full fertility was recovered among F3 families and verified with genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Grain micronutrient analysis showed that the DS6Eb(6D) substitution line and T6EbS.6DL stock have higher Fe and Zn contents than the recipient wheat cultivar ‘Roushan’.
Oral secretions from Mythimna separata insects specifically induce defence responses in maize as revealed by high‐dimensional biological data
Authors: Qi Jinfeng , Sun Guiling , Wang Lei , Zhao Chunxia , Hettenhausen Christian , Schuman Meredith C. , Baldwin Ian T. , Li Jing , Song Juan , Liu Zhudong , Xu Guowang , Lu Xin , Wu Jianqiang 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAttack from insect herbivores poses a major threat to plant survival, and accordingly, plants have evolved sophisticated defence systems. Maize is cultivated as a staple crop worldwide, and insect feeding causes large production losses. Despite its importance in agriculture, little is known about how maize reacts to insect herbivory. Taking advantage of advances in sequencing and mass spectrometry technology, we studied the response of maize to mechanical wounding and simulated Mythimna separata (a specialist insect) herbivory by applying its oral secretions (OS) to wounds. In comparison to the responses induced by mechanical wounding, OS elicited larger and longer‐lasting changes in the maize transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and phytohormones. Specifically, many genes, proteins and metabolites were uniquely induced or repressed by OS. Nearly 290 transcription factor genes from 39 families were involved in OS‐induced responses, and among these, more transcription factor genes were specifically regulated by OS than by wounding. This study provides a large‐scale omics dataset for understanding maize response to chewing insects and highlights the essential role of OS in plant–insect interactions.
On Continuity: Rush Rhees on Outer and Inner Surfaces of Bodies
Authors: Erbacher Christian , Schirmer Tina 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThis article presents an edited excerpt from a hitherto unknown fragmentary treatise by Rush Rhees. In the treatise, Rhees gives his account of the problem of continuity that he had started elaborating before he became acquainted with Wittgenstein. The excerpt, which contains Rhees' original distinction between outer and inner surfaces of bodies, builds on Brentano's theory of the continuum and his doctrine of plerosis. This treatment of continuity sheds light on Rhees' early philosophical development and confirms that even though he and Wittgenstein discussed the problem of continuity, Rhees' own approach remained distinct from that of Wittgenstein.
Health Disparities and Delayed Health care among Older Adults in California: A Perspective from Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
Authors: Du Yan , Xu Qingwen 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObjectivesTo examine racial/ethnic/immigration disparities in health and to investigate the relationships among race/ethnic/immigration status, delayed health care, and health of the elderly.Design and SampleResponses from 13,508 people aged 65 and above were analyzed based on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2011–2012.MeasuresKey variables include race/ethnicity/immigration status, health outcome, and delayed health care. Age, gender, education, work status, and annual family income are used as covariates.ResultsThe findings indicate that Whites (regardless of country of birth) and U.S.‐born Asians enjoy better health than Latinos, African‐Americans, and Foreign‐born Asians. Foreign‐born Asians and foreign‐born Latinos have the poorest self‐reported health and mental health, respectively. Delayed use of health care is negatively associated with both self‐reported health and mental health status.ConclusionsHealth disparities exist among older adult populations; the combined effects of minority and immigrant status can be approximated from the results in this study. Health care accessibility and the quality of care should be promoted in minority/immigrant populations. Public health nurses have a strong potential to aide in reducing health disparities among an aging American population that continues to exhibit increasing racial/ethnic diversity.
Attentional guidance by relative features: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence
Authors: Schönhammer Josef G. , Grubert Anna , Kerzel Dirk , Becker Stefanie I. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractOur ability to select task‐relevant information from cluttered visual environments is widely believed to be due to our ability to tune attention to the particular elementary feature values of a sought‐after target (e.g., red, orange, yellow). By contrast, recent findings showed that attention is often tuned to feature relationships, that is, features that the target has relative to irrelevant features in the context (e.g., redder, yellower). However, the evidence for such a relational account is so far exclusively based on behavioral measures that do not allow a safe inference about early perceptual processes. The present study provides a critical test of the relational account, by measuring an electrophysiological marker in the EEG of participants (N2pc) in response to briefly presented distractors (cues) that could either match the physical features of the target or its relative features. In a first experiment, the target color and nontarget color were kept constant across trials. In line with a relational account, we found that only cues with the same relative color as the target were attended, regardless of whether the cues had the same physical color as the target. In a second experiment, we demonstrate that attention is biased to the exact target feature value when the target is embedded in a randomly varying context. Taken together, these results provide the first electrophysiological evidence that attention can modulate early perceptual processes differently; in a context‐dependent manner versus a context‐independent manner, resulting in marked differences in the range of colors that can attract attention.