bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical effectiveness of platelets in additive solution treated with two commercial pathogen‐reduction technologies
Authors: Rebulla Paolo , Vaglio Stefania , Beccaria Francesco , Bonfichi Maurizio , Carella Angelo , Chiurazzi Federico , Coluzzi Serelina , Cortelezzi Agostino , Gandini Giorgio , Girelli Gabriella , Graf Maria , Isernia Paola , Marano Giuseppe , Marconi Maurizio , Montemezzi Rachele , Olivero Barbara , Rinaldi Marianna , Salvaneschi Laura , Scarpato Nicola , Strada Paolo , Milani Silvano , Grazzini Giuliano 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDTwo noninferiority, randomized, controlled trials were conducted in parallel comparing the safety and efficacy of platelets treated with Intercept or Mirasol pathogen‐reduction technologies versus standard platelets.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe primary endpoint was the percentage of hematology patients who developed World Health Organization Grade 2 or greater bleeding. A noninferiority margin of 11% was chosen based on expected Grade 2 or greater bleeding in 20% of controls. The study was closed for financial restrictions before reaching the planned sample size of 828 patients, and an intention‐to‐treat analysis was conducted on 424 evaluable patients.RESULTSIn the Intercept trial (113 treated vs. 115 control patients), the absolute risk difference in Grade 2 or greater bleeding was 6.1%, with an upper one‐sided 97.5% confidence limit of 19.2%. The absolute risk difference in the Mirasol trial (99 treated vs. 97 control patients) was 4.1%, and the upper one‐sided 97.5% confidence limit was 18.4%. Neither absolute risk difference was statistically significant. In both trials, posttransfusion platelet count increments were significantly lower in treated versus control patients. Mean blood component use in treated patients versus controls was 54% higher (95% confidence interval, 36%‐74%; Intercept) and 34% higher (95% confidence interval, 16%‐54%; Mirasol) for platelets and 23% higher (95% confidence interval, 8%‐39%; Intercept) and 32% higher (95% confidence interval, 10%‐57%; Mirasol) for red blood cells. Unexpected reactions and adverse events were not reported. Mortality did not differ significantly between treated and control patients.CONCLUSIONAlthough conclusions on noninferiority could not be drawn due to low statistical power, the study provides additional information on the safety and efficacy of pathogen‐reduced platelets treated with two commercial pathogen‐reduction technologies.
Pathogen inactivation treatment of plasma and platelet concentrates and their predicted functionality in massive transfusion protocols
Authors: Arbaeen Ahmad F. , Schubert Peter , Serrano Katherine , Carter Cedric J. , Culibrk Brankica , Devine Dana V. 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDTrauma transfusion packages for hemorrhage control consist of red blood cells, plasma, and platelets at a set ratio. Although pathogen reduction improves the transfusion safety of platelet and plasma units, there is an associated reduction in quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of riboflavin/ultraviolet light‐treated plasma or platelets in transfusion trauma packages composed of red blood cell, plasma, and platelet units in a ratio of 1:1:1 in vitro by modeling transfusion scenarios for trauma patients and assessing function by rotational thromboelastometry.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPathogen‐reduced or untreated plasma and buffy coat platelet concentrate units produced in plasma were used in different combinations with red blood cells in trauma transfusion packages. After reconstitution of these packages with hemodiluted blood, the hemostatic functionality was analyzed by rotational thromboelastometry.RESULTSHemostatic profiles of pathogen‐inactivated buffy coat platelet concentrate and plasma indicated decreased activity compared with their respective controls. Reconstitution of hemodiluted blood (hematocrit = 20%) with packages that contained treated or nontreated components resulted in increased alpha and maximum clot firmness and enhanced clot‐formation time. Simulating transfusion scenarios based on 30% blood replacement with a transfusion trauma package resulted in a nonsignificant difference in rotational thromboelastometry parameters between packages containing treated and nontreated blood components (p ≥ 0.05). Effects of pathogen inactivation treatment were evident when the trauma package percentage was 50% or greater and contained both pathogen inactivation‐treated plasma and buffy coat platelet concentrate.CONCLUSIONRotational thromboelastometry investigations suggest that there is relatively little impact of pathogen inactivation treatment on whole blood clot formation unless large amounts of treated components are used.
Characterization of hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS/S gene mutations in blood donors with occult HBV infection in the Baoji area of North China
Authors: Liao Hao , Liu Yan , Chen Jianhong , Ding Weiping , Li Xiaodong , Xu Zhihui , Yang Yuan , Chen Rongjuan , Si Lanlan , Xu Xiaoyuan , Guo Jianxun , Xu Dongping 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDOccult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) in blood donors was investigated in the Baoji area of North China, and OBI‐related viral mutations in donors were characterized.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn total, 110,843 blood donor samples that were consecutively collected from December 2011 to March 2015 at the Baoji Blood Center were examined. Hepatitis B surface antigen‐negative and HBV DNA‐positive OBI samples were amplified for sequence analysis of OBI‐related mutations in the HBV preS/S region. HBV genomes from 108 adult patients with chronic hepatitis B from North China were used as controls.RESULTSOBI was detected in 60 (1:1847) individual blood donors. All OBI samples were negative for hepatitis B e‐antigen, and 55 were positive for anti‐hepatitis B core antigen. The preS/S genes were successfully sequenced for 43 OBI samples. OBI‐related S gene mutations in the major hydrophilic region were detected more frequently in blood donors with OBI than that in controls (51.16 vs. 12.96%; p < 0.01). Specifically, the incidence of five OBI‐related major hydrophilic region mutations (sS117T, sT118K, sT131N, sT134Y/L, and sD144E) was significantly higher in blood donors with OBI than in controls. In addition, the coexistence of multiple OBI‐related mutations in the major hydrophilic region was detected more frequently in donors than in controls (30.23 vs. 1.85%; p < 0.01), and preS deletions greater than 33 base pairs also were detected more frequently in blood donors with OBI than in controls.CONCLUSIONOBI in blood donors should be addressed attentively in the Baoji area of North China, and HBV preS/S gene mutations may play an important role in OBI prevalence in the area.
Human platelet antigen (HPA)‐specific immunoglobulin M antibodies in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia can inhibit the binding of HPA‐specific immunoglobulin G antibodies
Authors: Hopkins Matthew , Lucas Geoff , Calvert Anthony , Bendukidze Nina , Green Frances , Kotecha Krishna , Poles Anthony 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDA term baby with unexplained thrombocytopenia and a platelet (PLT) count of 14 × 109/L (maternal PLT count was 200 × 109/L) was investigated for neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSSerologic investigations were performed using the PLT immunofluorescence test (PIFT), monoclonal antibody immobilization of PLT antigens (MAIPA), and a bead‐based assay (BBA) with maternal sera taken up to 56 days postdelivery. One serum sample was also separated into “immunoglobulin (Ig)M‐rich” and “IgM‐depleted” fractions and tested for PLT‐specific antibodies. The family was genotyped for HPA.RESULTSHPA‐3a–specific IgM antibodies were detected in the PIFT and confirmed in the BBA. PLT‐specific IgG HPA‐3a antibodies were not detected in the MAIPA assay and BBA in the initial sample but were detected in both techniques in subsequent serum samples. Testing of IgM‐rich and IgM‐depleted fractions in the MAIPA assay revealed that IgG antibody binding of the IgM‐depleted fraction was inhibited by approximately 50% when it was reconstituted with the IgM‐rich fraction suggesting that the IgM antibodies blocked the binding of the IgG antibodies. This effect was not observed when the IgM‐depleted fraction or untreated serum was diluted with elution buffer. Incompatibility for HPA‐3 was identified between the mother and the infant. The infant received one HPA‐1a, −5b negative neonatal PLT transfusion, and one random PLT transfusion, with satisfactory outcomes. Both units were later found to be HPA‐3b3b.CONCLUSIONHPA‐3a IgM antibodies can inhibit PLT‐specific HPA‐3a IgG antibodies in the MAIPA assay.
Rural habitat as risk factor for hepatitis E virus seroconversion in HIV‐infected patients: A prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Rivero‐Juarez A. , Cuenca‐Lopez F. , Martinez‐Peinado A. , Camacho A. , Real L. M. , Frias M. , Gordon A. , Cantisán S. , Torre‐Cisneros J. , Pineda J. A. , Rivero A. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryOur objective was to determine the incidence and clinical manifestations of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) in HIV‐infected patients. A prospective longitudinal study including HIV‐infected HEV‐seronegative patients was conducted; HEV seroconversion (to IgG and/or IgM) was the main outcome variable. All patients were tested for HEV antibodies every 3–6 months. For patients who developed HEV seroconversion, a data collection protocol was followed to identify associated clinical manifestations and analytical alterations. A total of 627 patients (89.9%) were followed during a median of 11.96 months (IQR: 8.52–14.52 months) and formed the study population. Forty‐one patients developed detectable anti‐HEV antibodies (7.2 cases per 100 patients/year). Our study found a high incidence of HEV in HIV‐infected patients in southern Spain strongly associated with a rural habitat.
Determination of an optimal organ set to implement deformations to support four‐dimensional dose calculations in radiation therapy planning
Authors: Soofi Wafa , Starkschall George , Britton Keith , Vedam Sastry 
Published: March 2017

Surface‐based deformable image registration to generate a four‐dimensional (4D) dose calculation in radiation treatment planning requires the selection of a set of organ contours representing a basis set from which to generate anatomic deformation. The purpose of the present work was to determine the optimal set of organs needed to generate a basis set for deformation in treatment planning for thoracic tumors, such that the required computations are minimized, but that dose accuracy is high. Using retrospectively reviewed records and a deformable model algorithm in a research version of a commercial radiation treatment planning system, we calculated 4D dose distributions based on treatment plans for 10 patients with thoracic tumors. Various combinations of organs (total lungs, heart, spinal cord, external body surface) were used to generate the basis set used in the calculations for deformations. The external surface contour did not have a noticeable effect on the dose calculation. Total lung, heart, and spinal cord together provided an adequate set of deformation organs to generate accurate dose deformations. The magnitude of the calculated dose differences had no obvious relationship to tumor parameters, including site, histologic type, disease stage, extent of motion, or degree of centralization.PACS numbers: 87.55.D‐, 87.55.dk, 87.55.kh
Engineering Cyanobacterial Cell Morphology for Enhanced Recovery and Processing of Biomass
Authors: Jordan Adam , Chandler Jenna , MacCready Joshua S. , Huang Jingcheng , Osteryoung Katherine W. , Ducat Daniel C. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Cyanobacteria are emerging as alternative crop species for the production of fuels, chemicals, and biomass. Yet, the success of these microbes depends on the development of cost-effective technologies that permit scaled cultivation and cell harvesting. Here, we investigate the feasibility of engineering cell morphology to improve biomass recovery and decrease energetic costs associated with lysing cyanobacterial cells. Specifically, we modify the levels of Min system proteins in
Synechococcus elongatus
PCC 7942. The Min system has established functions in controlling cell division by regulating the assembly of FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein required for defining the bacterial division plane. We show that altering the expression of two FtsZ-regulatory proteins, MinC and Cdv3, enables control over cell morphology by disrupting FtsZ localization and cell division without preventing continued cell growth. By varying the expression of these proteins, we can tune the lengths of cyanobacterial cells across a broad dynamic range, anywhere from an ∼20% increased length (relative to the wild type) to near-millimeter lengths. Highly elongated cells exhibit increased rates of sedimentation under low centrifugal forces or by gravity-assisted settling. Furthermore, hyperelongated cells are also more susceptible to lysis through the application of mild physical stress. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel approach toward decreasing harvesting and processing costs associated with mass cyanobacterial cultivation by altering morphology at the cellular level.

IMPORTANCE
We show that the cell length of a model cyanobacterial species can be programmed by rationally manipulating the expression of protein factors that suppress cell division. In some instances, we can increase the size of these cells to near-millimeter lengths with this approach. The resulting elongated cells have favorable properties with regard to cell harvesting and lysis. Furthermore, cells treated in this manner continue to grow rapidly at time scales similar to those of uninduced controls. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of engineering the cell morphology of cyanobacteria or algae to make them more compatible with downstream processing steps that present economic barriers to their use as alternative crop species. Therefore, our results are a promising proof-of-principle for the use of morphology engineering to increase the cost-effectiveness of the mass cultivation of cyanobacteria for various sustainability initiatives.
Metatranscriptomic Profiling Reveals Linkages between the Active Rumen Microbiome and Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle
Authors: Li Fuyong , Guan Le Luo 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Exploring compositional and functional characteristics of the rumen microbiome can improve the understanding of its role in rumen function and cattle feed efficiency. In this study, we applied metatranscriptomics to characterize the active rumen microbiomes of beef cattle with different feed efficiencies (efficient,
n
= 10; inefficient,
n
= 10) using total RNA sequencing. Active bacterial and archaeal compositions were estimated based on 16S rRNAs, and active microbial metabolic functions including carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were assessed based on mRNAs from the same metatranscriptomic data sets. In total, six bacterial phyla (
Proteobacteria
,
Firmicutes
,
Bacteroidetes
,
Spirochaetes
,
Cyanobacteria
, and
Synergistetes
), eight bacterial families (
Succinivibrionaceae
,
Prevotellaceae
,
Ruminococcaceae
,
Lachnospiraceae
,
Veillonellaceae
,
Spirochaetaceae
,
Dethiosulfovibrionaceae
, and
Mogibacteriaceae
), four archaeal clades (
Methanomassiliicoccales
,
Methanobrevibacter ruminantium
,
Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii
, and
Methanosphaera
), 112 metabolic pathways, and 126 CAZymes were identified as core components of the active rumen microbiome. As determined by comparative analysis, three bacterial families (
Lachnospiraceae
,
Lactobacillaceae
, and
Veillonellaceae
) tended to be more abundant in low-feed-efficiency (inefficient) animals (
P
< 0.10), and one archaeal taxon (
Methanomassiliicoccales
) tended to be more abundant in high-feed-efficiency (efficient) cattle (
P
< 0.10). Meanwhile, 32 microbial metabolic pathways and 12 CAZymes were differentially abundant (linear discriminant analysis score of >2 with a
P
value of <0.05) between two groups. Among them, 30 metabolic pathways and 11 CAZymes were more abundant in the rumen of inefficient cattle, while 2 metabolic pathways and 1 CAZyme were more abundant in efficient animals. These findings suggest that the rumen microbiomes of inefficient cattle have more diverse activities than those of efficient cattle, which may be related to the host feed efficiency variation.

IMPORTANCE
This study applied total RNA-based metatranscriptomics and showed the linkage between the active rumen microbiome and feed efficiency (residual feed intake) in beef cattle. The data generated from the current study provide fundamental information on active rumen microbiome at both compositional and functional levels, which serve as a foundation to study rumen function and its role in cattle feed efficiency. The findings that the active rumen microbiome may contribute to variations in feed efficiency of beef cattle highlight the possibility of enhancing nutrient utilization and improve cattle feed efficiency through modification of rumen microbial functions.
A Cyanide-Induced 3-Cyanoalanine Nitrilase in the Cyanide-Assimilating Bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes Strain CECT 5344
Authors: Acera Felipe , Carmona María Isabel , Castillo Francisco , Quesada Alberto , Blasco Rafael 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes
CECT 5344 is a bacterium able to assimilate cyanide as a sole nitrogen source. Under this growth condition, a 3-cyanoalanine nitrilase enzymatic activity was induced. This activity was encoded by
nit4
, one of the four nitrilase genes detected in the genome of this bacterium, and its expression in
Escherichia coli
enabled the recombinant strain to fully assimilate 3-cyanoalanine.
P. pseudoalcaligenes
CECT 5344 showed a weak growth level with 3-cyanoalanine as the N source, unless KCN was also added. Moreover, a
nit4
knockout mutant of
P. pseudoalcaligenes
CECT 5344 became severely impaired in its ability to grow with 3-cyanoalanine and cyanide as nitrogen sources. The native enzyme expressed in
E. coli
was purified up to electrophoretic homogeneity and biochemically characterized. Nit4 seems to be specific for 3-cyanoalanine, and the amount of ammonium derived from the enzymatic activity doubled in the presence of exogenously added asparaginase activity, which demonstrated that the Nit4 enzyme had both 3-cyanoalanine nitrilase and hydratase activities. The
nit4
gene is located downstream of the cyanide resistance transcriptional unit containing
cio1
genes, whose expression levels are under the positive control of cyanide. Real-time PCR experiments revealed that
nit4
expression was also positively regulated by cyanide in both minimal and LB media. These results suggest that this gene cluster including
cio1
and
nit4
could be involved both in cyanide resistance and in its assimilation by
P. pseudoalcaligenes
CECT 5344.

IMPORTANCE
Cyanide is a highly toxic molecule present in some industrial wastes due to its application in several manufacturing processes, such as gold mining and the electroplating industry. The biodegradation of cyanide from contaminated wastes could be an attractive alternative to physicochemical treatment.
P. pseudoalcaligenes
CECT 5344 is a bacterial strain able to assimilate cyanide under alkaline conditions, thus avoiding its volatilization as HCN. This paper describes and characterizes an enzyme (Nit4) induced by cyanide that is probably involved in cyanide assimilation. The biochemical characterization of Nit4 provides a segment for building a cyanide assimilation pathway in
P. pseudoalcaligenes
. This information could be useful for understanding, and hopefully improving, the mechanisms involved in bacterial cyanide biodegradation and its application in the treatment of cyanide-containing wastes.
Experimental Manipulation Shows a Greater Influence of Population than Dietary Perturbation on the Microbiome of Tyrophagus putrescentiae
Authors: Erban Tomas , Ledvinka Ondrej , Nesvorna Marta , Hubert Jan 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

Tyrophagus putrescentiae
is inhabited by bacteria that differ among mite populations (strains) and diets. Here, we investigated how the microbiome and fitness of
T
.
putrescentiae
are altered by dietary perturbations and mite populations. Four
T. putrescentiae
populations, referred to as dog, Koppert, laboratory, and Phillips, underwent a perturbation, i.e., a dietary switch from a rearing diet to two experimental diets. The microbiome was investigated by sequencing the V1-V3 portion of the 16S rRNA gene, and selected bacterial taxa were quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) using group/taxon-specific primers. The parameters observed were the changes in mite population growth and nutritional status, i.e., the total glycogen, lipid, saccharide, and protein contents in mites. The effect of diet perturbation on the variability of the microbiome composition and population growth was lower than the effect induced by mite population. In contrast, the diet perturbation showed a greater effect on nutritional status of mites than the mite population. The endosymbionts exhibited high variations among
T. putrescentiae
populations, including
Cardinium
in the laboratory population,
Blattabacterium
-like bacteria in the dog population, and
Wolbachia
in the dog and Phillips populations.
Solitalea
-like and
Bartonella
-like bacteria were present in the dog, Koppert, and Phillips populations in different proportions. The
T. putrescentiae
microbiome is dynamic and varies based on both the mite population and perturbation; however, the mites remain characterized by robust bacterial communities. Bacterial endosymbionts were found in all populations but represented a dominant portion of the microbiome in only some populations.

IMPORTANCE
We addressed the question of whether population origin or perturbation exerts a more significant influence on the bacterial community of the stored product mite
Tyrophagus putrescentiae
. The microbiomes of four populations of
T. putrescentiae
insects subjected to diet perturbation were compared. Based on our results, the bacterial community was more affected by the mite population than by diet perturbation. This result can be interpreted as indicating high stability of the putative intracellular symbionts in response to dietary perturbation. The changes in the absolute and relative numbers of
Wolbachia
,
Blattabacterium
-like,
Solitalea
-like, and
Cardinium
bacteria in the
T. putrescentiae
populations can also be caused by neutral processes other than perturbation. When nutritional status is considered, the effect of population appeared less important than the perturbation. We hypothesize that differences in the proportions of the endosymbiotic bacteria result in changes in mite population growth.