bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitor therapy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in a regional cohort: Auckland, New Zealand from 2006 to 2016
Authors: Hornung Rosalie J , Reed Peter W , Mouat Fran , Jefferies Craig , Gunn Alistair J , Hofman Paul L 
Published: December 2017

AimTo review indications and use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐inhibitor (ACEI) therapy for the treatment of persistent microalbuminuria (MA) and/or hypertension (HTN) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).MethodsRetrospective chart review of adolescent patients with T1DM seen within the paediatric diabetes service in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2006 to 2016. MA, HTN, patient demographic characteristics and ACEI prescribing and monitoring indices were examined.ResultsFive hundred adolescents with T1DM were included. There were 26 patients (5%) with MA and/or HTN. MA alone was present in 16, HTN alone in 3 and both HTN and MA in 7. The 5‐year MA/HTN‐free rate was 98%, and the 10‐year MA/HTN‐free rate was 93%. Longer disease duration and earlier diagnosis were predictors of MA/HTN. There was no significant difference in standard clinical indices between study patients and others. ACEI was prescribed for 17 of 26 patients for either HTN or MA. Within 6 weeks of ACEI commencement, less than half of the subjects had repeat serum creatinine and MA screens and no record of repeat blood pressure measurement. Despite this, all patients had 3‐monthly reviews within outpatient clinics where adjustments of ACEI doses were made.ConclusionIn our regional adolescent population with T1DM, there were low rates of both MA and/or HTN. In those who required treatment with ACEI, clinical monitoring post‐commencement of therapy was inconsistent. Local consensus guidelines for the management of persistent MA in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus were developed in response to this study.
The presence of multiple NS5A RASs is associated with the outcome of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir therapy in NS5A inhibitor‐naïve patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection in a real‐world cohort
Authors: Kozuka R. , Hai H. , Motoyama H. , Hagihara A. , Fujii H. , Uchida‐Kobayashi S. , Morikawa H. , Enomoto M. , Murakami Y. , Kawada N. , Tamori A. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryIt is unclear whether multiple nonstructural (NS) 5A resistance‐associated substitutions (RASs) correlate with the outcome of sofosbuvir (SOF) and ledipasvir (LDV) therapy. We investigated the effects of multiple NS5A RASs in NS5A inhibitor‐naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection treated with SOF/LDV. In 313 patients treated with SOF/LDV, we assessed the effects of multiple NS5A RASs on the sustained virological response (SVR). RASs at L28, R30, L31, Q54, P58, Q62, A92, and Y93 in the NS5A region were examined by direct sequencing. The prevalence of RASs was as follows: 2.6% at L28, 8.7% at R30, 6.1% at L31, 48.7% at Q54, 9.9% at P58, 9.9% at Q62, 5.1% at A92, 13.8% at Y93, and 19.2% at L31 or Y93. A total of 133 patients had no RASs. SVR was achieved in 98.7% of the patients. SVR rates significantly differed between patients with and without the L31 or Y93 RAS (93.0% [53/57] vs 100% [250/250], P = .0011). In addition, among patients with the L31 or Y93 RAS, 29.8%, 45.6% and 24.6% had one, two and three or more NS5A RASs, respectively. The SVR rate was significantly lower in patients with the L31 or Y93 RAS with more than three NS5A RASs compared to those with fewer than three NS5A RASs (71.4% [10/14] vs 100% [43/43], P = .0025). Although the prevalence of multiple NS5A RASs at baseline was low in NS5A inhibitor‐naïve patients, the presence of multiple NS5A RASs was associated with the effectiveness of SOF/LDV therapy.
Landscape attributes governing local transmission of an endemic zoonosis: Rabies virus in domestic dogs
Authors: Brunker Kirstyn , Lemey Philippe , Marston Denise A. , Fooks Anthony R. , Lugelo Ahmed , Ngeleja Chanasa , Hampson Katie , Biek Roman 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLandscape heterogeneity plays an important role in disease spread and persistence, but quantifying landscape influences and their scale dependence is challenging. Studies have focused on how environmental features or global transport networks influence pathogen invasion and spread, but their influence on local transmission dynamics that underpin the persistence of endemic diseases remains unexplored. Bayesian phylogeographic frameworks that incorporate spatial heterogeneities are promising tools for analysing linked epidemiological, environmental and genetic data. Here, we extend these methodological approaches to decipher the relative contribution and scale‐dependent effects of landscape influences on the transmission of endemic rabies virus in Serengeti district, Tanzania (area ~4,900 km2). Utilizing detailed epidemiological data and 152 complete viral genomes collected between 2004 and 2013, we show that the localized presence of dogs but not their density is the most important determinant of diffusion, implying that culling will be ineffective for rabies control. Rivers and roads acted as barriers and facilitators to viral spread, respectively, and vaccination impeded diffusion despite variable annual coverage. Notably, we found that landscape effects were scale‐dependent: rivers were barriers and roads facilitators on larger scales, whereas the distribution of dogs was important for rabies dispersal across multiple scales. This nuanced understanding of the spatial processes that underpin rabies transmission can be exploited for targeted control at the scale where it will have the greatest impact. Moreover, this research demonstrates how current phylogeographic frameworks can be adapted to improve our understanding of endemic disease dynamics at different spatial scales.
Induction of the Spx regulon by cell wall stress reveals novel regulatory mechanisms in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Rojas‐Tapias Daniel F. , Helmann John D. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe transcription factor Spx is the master regulator of the disulfide stress response in Bacillus subtilis. Intriguingly, the activation of Spx by diamide relies entirely on posttranslational regulatory events in spite of the complex transcriptional control of the spx gene. Here, we show that cell wall stress, but not membrane stress, also results in induction of the Spx regulon. Remarkably, two major differences were found regarding the mechanism of induction of Spx under cell wall stress in comparison to disulfide stress. First, transcriptional induction of the spx gene from a σM‐dependent promoter is required for accumulation of Spx in response to cell wall stress. Second, activation of the Spx regulon during cell wall stress is not accompanied by oxidation of the Spx disulfide switch. Finally, we demonstrate that cells lacking Spx have increased sensitivity toward antibiotics inhibiting both early and late steps in peptidoglycan synthesis, suggesting that the Spx regulon plays an important adaptive role in the cell wall stress response. This study expands the functional role of the Spx regulon and reveals novel regulatory mechanisms that result in induction of Spx in B. subtilis.
Case of femoral pseudarthrosis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in an immunocompetent patient with successful conservative treatment and review of literature
Authors: Dinh Aurélien , Demay Olivier , Rottman Martin , Gaudot Fabrice , Bougnoux Marie‐Elisabeth , Bouchand Frédérique , Coignard Hélène , Rouzaud Claire , Davido Benjamin , Duran Clara , Nich Christophe 
Published: December 2017

SummaryScedosporium apiospermum is a ubiquitous filamentous fungus, commonly found in soil, sewage and polluted waters. It is rarely pathogenic but can cause a broad spectrum of clinical diseases, which can be localised or disseminate to distant organs. The disseminated form of the disease is mostly seen among immunocompromised patients. However, some rare cases of disseminated disease have been reported in immunocompetent individuals. Treatment of these infections is challenging because of their natural resistance to many antifungal agents. Here, we report the case of a 57‐year‐old immunocompetent patient diagnosed with femoral pseudarthrosis due to S. apiospermum, despite having no obvious clinical sign of infection. Previously, the patient had undergone four iterative femoral surgeries following a road traffic accident which occurred 20 years before. During its last surgery for pseudarthrosis, no clinical or biological signs of infection were present. Per operative samples tested positive for S. apiospermum. The patient was successfully treated with oral voriconazole during 6 months with an excellent tolerance. We also provide a review of literature on bone and joint infections due to Scedosporium spp. (S. apiospermum, Scedosporium boydii and Scedosporium aurantiacum), discussing the evolution of their management and outcome which seems to improve since the use of voriconazole.
Identical COL71A1 heterozygous mutations resulting in different dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa phenotypes
Authors: Knöpfel Nicole , Noguera‐Morel Lucero , Hernández‐Martin Angela , García‐Martin Adela , García Marta , Mencía Ángeles , Pedrero Rocío Maseda , de Lucas Raúl , Escámez Maria José , Torrelo Antonio 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is a rare blistering condition caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene. Different clinical variants have been described, with dominant and recessive inheritance, but no consistent findings have been elucidated to establish a genotype–phenotype correlation. We present three unrelated patients with two identical pathogenic compound heterozygous mutations in the COL7A1 gene that developed different clinical forms of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa—epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa and mild recessive non‐Hallopeau–Siemens—raising the possibility of other genetic or environmental modifying factors responsible for the phenotype of the disease.
Structural and functional integrity of Sulla carnosa photosynthetic apparatus under iron deficiency conditions
Authors: Elkhouni A. , Rabhi M. , Ivanov A. G. , Krol M. , Zorrig W. , Smaoui A. , Abdelly C. , Huner N. P. A. 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

The abundance of calcareous soils makes bicarbonate‐induced iron (Fe) deficiency a major problem for plant growth and crop yield. Therefore, Fe‐efficient plants may constitute a solution for use on calcareous soils.

We investigated the ability of the forage legume Sulla carnosa (Desf.) to maintain integrity of its photosynthetic apparatus under Fe deficiency conditions. Three treatments were applied: control, direct Fe deficiency and bicarbonate‐induced Fe deficiency.

At harvest, all organs of deficient plants showed severe growth inhibition, the effect being less pronounced under indirect Fe deficiency. Pigment analysis of fully expanded leaves revealed a reduction in concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids under Fe deficiency. Electron transport rate, maximum and effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII), photochemical quenching (qP), non‐photochemical quenching (qN) as well as P700 activity also decreased significantly in plants exposed to direct Fe deficiency, while qN was not affected. The effects of indirect Fe deficiency on the same parameters were less pronounced in bicarbonate‐treated plants. The relative abundances of thylakoid proteins related to PSI (PsaA, Lhca1, Lhca2) and PSII (PsbA, Lhcb1) were also more affected under direct than indirect Fe deficiency.

We conclude that S. carnosa can maintain the integrity of its photosynthetic apparatus under bicarbonate‐induced Fe deficiency, preventing harmful effects to both photosystems under direct Fe deficiency. This suggests a high capacity of this species not only to take up Fe in the presence of bicarbonate (HCO3−) but also to preferentially translocate absorbed Fe towards leaves and prevent its inactivation.
Semi-Supervised Approaches to Efficient Evaluation of Model Prediction Performance
Authors: Gronsbell Jessica L. , Cai Tianxi 
Published: December 2017

SummaryIn many modern machine learning applications, the outcome is expensive or time consuming to collect whereas the predictor information is easy to obtain. Semi-supervised (SS) learning aims at utilizing large amounts of ‘unlabelled’ data along with small amounts of ‘labelled’ data to improve the efficiency of a classical supervised approach. Though numerous SS learning classification and prediction procedures have been proposed in recent years, no methods currently exist to evaluate the prediction performance of a working regression model. In the context of developing phenotyping algorithms derived from electronic medical records, we present an efficient two-step estimation procedure for evaluating a binary classifier based on various prediction performance measures in the SS setting. In step I, the labelled data are used to obtain a non-parametrically calibrated estimate of the conditional risk function. In step II, SS estimates of the prediction accuracy parameters are constructed based on the estimated conditional risk function and the unlabelled data. We demonstrate that, under mild regularity conditions, the estimators proposed are consistent and asymptotically normal. Importantly, the asymptotic variance of the SS estimators is always smaller than that of the supervised counterparts under correct model specification. We also correct for potential overfitting bias in the SS estimators in finite samples with cross-validation and we develop a perturbation resampling procedure to approximate their distributions. Our proposals are evaluated through extensive simulation studies and illustrated with two real electronic medical record studies aiming to develop phenotyping algorithms for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Electoral Institutions, Social Diversity and Fragmentation of Party Systems: A Reassessment
Authors: Flick Witzig Martina , Vatter Adrian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe article examines the determinants of party fragmentation based on electoral district data from the Swiss cantons (2010‐2015). In contrast to previous studies, three different dependent variables are taken into account: firstly, the raw number of parties, secondly, the effective number of parties based on vote shares and, thirdly, the effective number of legislative parties. On all three levels, the exclusion magnitude proves to be the most important factor. Compared to this, other institutional variables contribute little explanatory power. However, apparentments are relevant in the first stage of our analysis as they increase the raw number of parties standing for election. In terms of sociological factors, we only find limited relevance. Denominational and linguistic heterogeneity do not have any impact. This can be explained by the fact that linguistic heterogeneity is only weakly pronounced at district level. The finding emphasises the importance of district‐based data for the analysis of party system fragmentation in general.
Calcium pump epitopes in placental trophoblast basal plasma membranes
Authors: Borke James L. , Caride Ariel , Verma Anil K. , Kelley Lucky K. , Smith Carl H. , Penniston John T. , Kumar Rajiv 
Published: December 2017

The syncytiotrophoblast represents the primary cellular barrier between maternal and fetal circulations in the placenta. Large amounts of Ca2+ are transported across this barrier by mechanisms that are not clearly understood. To further understand this phenomenon, we examined rat and human placenta by immunohistochemical and protein blotting techniques with a monoclonal antibody raised against the human erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. Immunohistochemistry with this antibody showed specific staining in the human placenta of the basal (fetal facing) surface of the syncytiotrophoblast. In the rat placenta, immunohistochemistry also showed specific staining of the innermost (fetal facing) layer of the trophoblast and the basal surface of the endoderm of the intraplacental yolk sac. In Western blots of placental homogenates and membranes, the monoclonal antibody bound to a 140,000-mol wt band, characteristic of Ca2+ pumps in other tissues. Western blots of isolated basal membranes showed more intense staining than isolated microvillous membranes, confirming the results of the immunohistochemistry. In addition, Ca2+ transport in basal membrane vesicles from human placenta was inhibited by polyclonal antibodies prepared against the erythrocyte Ca2+ pump. We conclude that basal (fetal facing) layers of human and rat placentas contain a high-affinity Ca2+ pump situated to transport Ca2+ from the maternal to the fetal circulation. calcium-magnesium-adenosinetriphosphatase; calcium transport; immunohistochemistry; rat and human placenta Submitted on November 14, 1988 Accepted on March 27, 1989
Letters to the Editor
Authors: Cuthbert A. W. 
Published: December 2017

The following is the abstract of the article discussed in the subsequent letter: Blazer-Yost, Bonnie L., and Sandy I. Helman.The amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel: binding sites and channel densities. Am. J. Physiol. 272 ( Cell Physiol. 41): C761–C769, 1997.—The amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel found in many transporting epithelia plays a key role in regulating salt and water homeostasis. Both biochemical and biophysical approaches have been used to identify, characterize, and quantitate this important channel. Among biophysical methods, there is agreement as to the single-channel conductance and gating kinetics of the highly selective Na+ channel found in native epithelia. Amiloride and its analogs inhibit transport through the channel by binding to high-affinity ligand-binding sites. This characteristic of high-affinity binding has been used biochemically to quantitate channel densities and to isolate presumptive channel proteins. Although the goals of biophysical and biochemical experiments are the same in elucidating mechanisms underlying regulation of Na+transport, our review highlights a major quantitative discrepancy between methods in estimation of channel densities involved in transport. Because the density of binding sites measured biochemically is three to four orders of magnitude in excess of channel densities measured biophysically, it is unlikely that high-affinity ligand binding can be used physiologically to quantitate channel densities and characterize the channel proteins.
CALCULATION OF CARDIAC OUTPUT FROM BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS BEFORE AND AFTER MEALS
Authors: Bazett H. C. , Scott J. C. , Maxfield M. E. , Blithe M. D. 
Published: December 2017

Volume 116, No. 3 On page 557, figure 5, the single aberrant value referred to in the text has been obliterated by the printer. The value was obtained by calculation and was 2.78 liters per square meter per minute 24 minutes after the middle of the meal.
Splitting of the locomotor activity rhythm in rats by exposure to continuous light
Authors: Cheung Phyllis W. , McCormack Charles E. 
Published: December 2017

Female rats exposed to low intensities (0.1–1.5 lx) of continuous light (LL), displayed regular estrous cycles and free-running circadian rhythms of locomotor activity. In most rats, as the intensity of LL was increased to >2.0 lx, components within the active portion (α) of the locomotor rhythm remained synchronized as the periodicity of the rhythm lengthened. However, in a few rats agr split into two components; one of which free-ran with a period shorter than 24 h, while the other free-ran with a period longer than 24 h. As soon as the two components became maximally separated they spontaneously rejoined. In most rats, estrous cycles ceased shortly after the intensity of LL was increased to >2.0 lx even though the locomotor activity rhythm retained its unsplit free-running nature. These observations suggest that the multiple oscillators that control the rhythms of locomotor activity and the estrous cycle are normally coupled to one another. In certain intensities of LL, these oscillators uncouple and free-run with different periodicities, a condition which causes estrous cycles to cease and sometimes produces a split locomotor activity rhythm. circadian rhythm; oscillators; estrous cycle Submitted on November 9, 1981 Accepted on October 11, 1982
Cerebral metabolism and electrocortical activity in the chronically hyperglycemic lamb
Authors: Rosenkrantz T. S. , Knox I. , Zalneraitis E. L. , Raye J. R. , Porte P. J. , Cramer R. , Smoloski R. , Philipps A. F. 
Published: December 2017

Pages R1262–R1269: T. S. Rosenkrantz, I. Knox, E. L. Zalneraitis, J. R. Raye, P. J. Porte, R. Cramer, R. Smoloski, and A. F. Philipps. “Cerebral metabolism and electrocortical activity in the chronically hyperglycemic lamb.” Page R1265: Several errors relating to significance of changes in arterial oxygen concentration, cerebral oxygen delivery, and cerebral oxygen uptake were introduced into Table 1 by the publisher. All of the information in the abstract and text are correct as originally printed. A corrected version of the table is reprinted below. Note that there were no changes in the fetal arterial oxygen content during any of the study periods, cerebral oxygen delivery rose during G2 (P = 0.06), and there was a significant increase in cerebral oxygen uptake during G2 (P < 0.05). It is hoped that this clarifies conflicting information in the text and the table concerning the metabolic changes that occur in the brain of the chronically hyperglycemic fetal lamb. (See PDF)
Measurement of blood flow in kidney and isolated segments of intestine
Authors: Neely William A. , Turner M. D. 
Published: December 2017

A method is presented for the determination of blood flow in kidney and isolated intestinal segments. It is essentially a modification of the plethysmographic method of Brodie and Russell ( J. Physiol. 32: xlvii, 1905). The procedure described here avoids the use of anticoagulants or the introduction of devices into the lumen of the vessels concerned. The reproducibility of this procedure is excellent and correlates well with direct cannulation. Submitted on September 2, 1958
Studies of positive radial acceleration on mice
Authors: Chung Sung Jang 
Published: December 2017

One hundred and ninety-one mice were subjected to positive acceleration of from 3 to 85 g, for periods of 5 seconds to 80 minutes. Data on mortality and on pathologic findings are presented. No significant differences were observed in the resistance of male and female mice to positive g. ECG tracings from mice exposed to 8 g for 25 minutes were examined. Formulas are presented to express probability of survival of mice in terms of exposure and magnitude of acceleration stress. Submitted on May 21, 1958
Measurement of blood flow in minute volumes of specific tissues in man
Authors: Stow Richard W. , Schieve James F. 
Published: December 2017

The theory, instrumentation and technique of a thermal method for measuring the blood flow in a small volume of tissue is described. With present instrumentation the volume sampled is about 4 or 5 mm3. The technique has been applied to the relation between tissue temperature and skin blood flow in the calf of the leg. In 25 observations on 3 subjects, values ranging from 1.3 to 82 x 10-4 gm of blood per gm of tissue per second have been obtained. An extension of the technique has led to the measurement of the temperature coefficient of flow, (1/F)(ΔF/ΔT), when flow is influenced by very local temperature changes. A mean value of +39%/° with a range of -57% to +81%/° was found. Periodic fluctuations in tissue temperatures of the frequencies of the heart beat and respiration are described. Submitted on August 29, 1958