bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Total Leishmania antigens with Poly(I:C) induce Th1 protective response
Authors: Sanchez M. V. , Eliçabe R. J. , Di Genaro M. S. , Germanó M. J. , Gea S. , García Bustos M. F. , Salomón M. C. , Scodeller E. A. , Cargnelutti D. E. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryOur proposal was to develop a vaccine based on total Leishmania antigens (TLA) adjuvanted with polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)] able to induce a Th1 response which can provide protection against Leishmania infection. Mice were vaccinated with two doses of TLA‐Poly(I:C) administered by subcutaneous route at 3‐week interval. Humoral and cellular immune responses induced by the immunization were measured. The protective efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated by challenging mice with infective promastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis into the footpad. Mice vaccinated with TLA‐Poly(I:C) showed a high anti‐Leishmania IgG titre, as well as increased IgG1 and IgG2a subclass titres compared with mice vaccinated with the TLA alone. The high IgG2a indicated a Th1 bias response induced by the TLA‐Poly(I:C) immunization. Accordingly, the cellular immune response elicited by the formulation was characterized by an increased production of IFN‐γ and no significant production of IL‐4. The TLA‐Poly(I:C) immunization elicited good protection, which was associated with decreased footpad swelling, a lower parasite load and a reduced histopathological alteration in the footpad. Our findings demonstrate a promising vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis that is relatively economic and easy to develop and which should be taken into account for preventing leishmaniasis in developing countries.
Dyspnea catastrophizing and neural activations during the anticipation and perception of dyspnea
Authors: Stoeckel M. Cornelia , Esser Roland W. , Gamer Matthias , Büchel Christian , von Leupoldt Andreas 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDyspnea is an aversive symptom in various diseases. High levels of negative affectivity are typically associated with increased dyspnea and changes in its neural processing. Recently, more dyspnea‐specific forms of negative affectivity such as dyspnea catastrophizing were suggested to contribute to increased perception of dyspnea beyond effects of rather unspecific negative affectivity such as general anxiety levels. The involved neural mechanisms have not yet been explored. Therefore, the present retrospective analysis examined the associations of dyspnea catastrophizing with neural activations during the anticipation and perception of dyspnea. Sixty‐six healthy volunteers underwent 20 blocks of inspiratory resistive load breathing with parallel acquisition of fMRI data. Loads inducing either severe or mild dyspnea (dyspnea conditions) were presented in alternating order, with each condition being visually cued (anticipation conditions). Dyspnea catastrophizing and general trait anxiety were measured with the Breathlessness Catastrophizing Scale (BCS) and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Correlating the BCS scores with neural activations during the perception of dyspnea yielded no significant results. However, during the anticipation of dyspnea, BCS scores correlated positively with activations of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), even after controlling for general anxiety levels. These activations in the ACC were not related to concurrent respiratory parameters. Results suggest that dyspnea catastrophizing in healthy volunteers is associated with stronger ACC recruitment during dyspnea anticipation. Given the established role of the ACC in processing affective states, affect regulation, and antinociception, this might reflect increased affective and/or top‐down modulatory processing in individuals with higher dyspnea catastrophizing when anticipating dyspnea.
Relative standing and temporary migration: Empirical evidence from the South Caucasus
Authors: Antinyan Armenak , Corazzini Luca 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis paper empirically investigates the relationship between households’ relative deprivation and the intentions of their members to temporarily migrate abroad in three transition economies of the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. To capture respondents’ relative deprivation, we use self‐reported information on respondents’ perception of the relative standing of their household in comparison to those of their neighbors. Controlling for households’ absolute income and other relevant subjective dimensions, we illustrate that households’ relative position vis‐à‐vis their reference groups plays an important role in determining the intentions of their members to migrate abroad. In particular, individuals are more willing to engage in temporary emigration if they perceive themselves to be poorer than the reference group. Our results may have important policy implications. A conjectural suggestion of our empirical exercise is that if migration has to be curbed, reducing absolute poverty alone may not be sufficient. In addition, policy‐makers may need to decrease relative income differentials within the country.
Phylogeny of the rove beetle tribe Gymnusini sensu n. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae): implications for the early branching events of the subfamily
Authors: YAMAMOTO SHÛHEI , MARUYAMA MUNETOSHI 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe rove beetle subfamily Aleocharinae is the largest subfamily of animals known in terms of species richness. Two small aleocharine tribes, Gymnusini and Deinopsini, are believed to be a monophyletic clade, sister to the rest of the Aleocharinae. Although the phylogenetic relationships of the extant lineages have been well investigated, the monophyly of Gymnusini has been questioned due to a series of previous studies and the recent discovery of the aleocharine †Cretodeinopsis Cai & Huang (Deinopsini) from mid‐Cretaceous Burmese amber. Using an additional specimen of †Cretodeinopsis and well‐preserved specimens of †Electrogymnusa Wolf‐Schwenninger from Eocene Baltic amber, we present here two types of morphology‐based phylogenetic analyses, employing all extant/extinct genera of Gymnusini and Deinopsini for the first time. The maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses recovered a monophyletic clade of the two tribes combined, but each analysis suggested nonmonophyly of Gymnusini. In agreement with the results of the present study, we synonymize Deinopsini syn.n. under Gymnusini sensu n., by priority.This published work has been registered in ZooBank, http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F09EB444‐C6CA‐4525‐A986‐3CFC826F5877.
Acute poisonings during pregnancy and in other non‐pregnant women in emergency departments of four government hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 2010‐2015
Authors: Eyasu Mebrahtu , Dida Tolesa , Worku Yoseph , Worku Solomon , Shafie Mensur 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo characterise acute poisonings in pregnant and non‐pregnant women treated at emergency departments of government hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between 2010 and 2015.MethodsAll data for acutely poisoned women were retrospectively collected from patient medical charts at the emergency departments of Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Ras Desta Memorial Hospital, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College and Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Data were collected by extraction questionnaire and analysed using SPSSv. 20 statistical software.ResultsDuring the study period, 998 cases of acutely poisoned women were listed in the hospital registries. Of these, complete data for inclusion in the study were available for 592. 36.3% of the study participants were in the age group of 20–24, with a mean (±SD) age of 23.03 (±6.3) years. 80.9% were from Addis Ababa; 4.6% were pregnant. The mean arrival time of all cases was 4.14 h. 85.5% of all study cases were due to intentional self‐poisoning, of whom 42.1% were discharged without complications. The most common poisons were bleach and organophosphates; 25.9% of pregnant cases and 32.6% of non‐pregnant cases were poisoned by bleach; and 18.5% of pregnant cases and 18.9% of non‐pregnant cases had organophosphate poisoning. 0.7% had a history of poisoning; all were non‐pregnant women. The common route of poison exposure was oral, and the case fatality rate of organophosphate poisoning in pregnant and non‐pregnant women was 20 and 1.87%, respectively. The pre‐hospital intervention for the majority of the women was milk, in 12.0% of cases.ConclusionAcute poisoning remains a public health problem in our community. Bleach is the most common poisons. Our present findings indicate the necessity of educational programmes on preventable reasons of acute poisonings and their outcomes on pregnant and non‐pregnant women.
Application of low‐voltage UVC light and synthetic ZnO nanoparticles to photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin in aqueous sample solutions
Authors: Eskandari Mahboube , Goudarzi Nasser , Moussavi Seyyed Gholamreza 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCiprofloxacin (CIP) is used synthetic therapeutic antibiotic that is not easily biodegradable and is a water pollutant. The advanced oxidation process method is heterogeneous photocatalysis and for the first time, we used the photocatalytic UVC light/ZnO reaction for the degradation of CIP in contaminated water. The ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol‐gel method. We used a 9‐W mercury lamp, which was inserted in the solution to emit UVC light. The optimum conditions for the degradation of CIP in aqueous solution containing 10 mg/L of CIP were a pH of 5.0, 0.15 g/L of ZnO, a stirring speed of 600 rpm and an irradiation time of 140 min. Also the relative standard deviation (RSD) did not exceed 7%. From the kinetic studies, the reactions followed approximately a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic with the rate constant of 0.032 min−1. This method was efficiently used for the degradation of CIP in aqueous solutions.
Persistent aberrant cortical phase–amplitude coupling following seizure treatment in absence epilepsy models
Authors: Maheshwari Atul , Akbar Abraham , Wang Mai , Marks Rachel L. , Yu Katherine , Park Suhyeorn , Foster Brett L. , Noebels Jeffrey L. 
Published: September 2017

Key points
In two monogenic models of absence epilepsy, interictal beta/gamma power is augmented in homozygous stargazer (stg/stg) but not homozygous tottering (tg/tg) mice.
There are distinct gene‐linked patterns of aberrant phase–amplitude coupling in the interictal EEG of both stg/stg and tg/tg mice, compared to +/+ and stg/+ mice.
Treatment with ethosuximide significantly blocks seizures in both genotypes, but the abnormal phase–amplitude coupling remains.
Seizure‐free stg/+ mice have normal power and phase–amplitude coupling, but beta/gamma power is significantly reduced with NMDA receptor blockade, revealing a latent cortical network phenotype that is separable from, and therefore not a result of, seizures.
Altogether, these findings reveal gene‐linked quantitative electrographic biomarkers free from epileptiform activity, and provide a potential network correlate for persistent cognitive deficits in absence epilepsy despite effective treatment.
AbstractIn childhood absence epilepsy, cortical seizures are brief and intermittent; however there are extended periods without behavioural or electrographic ictal events. This genetic disorder is associated with variable degrees of cognitive dysfunction, but no consistent functional biomarkers that might provide insight into interictal cortical function have been described. Previous work in monogenic mouse models of absence epilepsy have shown that the interictal EEG displays augmented beta/gamma power in homozygous stargazer (stg/stg) mice bearing a presynaptic AMPA receptor defect, but not homozygous tottering (tg/tg) mice with a P/Q type calcium channel mutation. To further evaluate the interictal EEG, we quantified phase–amplitude coupling (PAC) in stg/stg, stg/+, tg/tg and wild‐type (+/+) mice. We found distinct gene‐linked patterns of aberrant PAC in stg/stg and tg/tg mice compared to +/+ and stg/+ mice. Treatment with ethosuximide significantly blocks seizures in both stg/stg and tg/tg, but the abnormal PAC remains. Stg/+ mice are seizure free with normal baseline beta/gamma power and normal theta‐gamma PAC, but like stg/stg mice, beta/gamma power is significantly reduced by NMDA receptor blockade, a treatment that paradoxically enhances seizures in stg/stg mice. Stg/+ mice, therefore, have a latent cortical network phenotype that is veiled by NMDA‐mediated neurotransmission. Altogether, these findings reveal gene‐linked quantitative electrographic biomarkers in the absence of epileptiform activity and provide a potential network correlate for persistent cognitive deficits in absence epilepsy despite effective treatment.
The Human Salivary Microbiome Is Shaped by Shared Environment Rather than Genetics: Evidence from a Large Family of Closely Related Individuals
Authors: Shaw Liam , Ribeiro Andre L. R. , Levine Adam P. , Pontikos Nikolas , Balloux Francois , Segal Anthony W. , Roberts Adam P. , Smith Andrew M. 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACT
The human microbiome is affected by multiple factors, including the environment and host genetics. In this study, we analyzed the salivary microbiomes of an extended family of Ashkenazi Jewish individuals living in several cities and investigated associations with both shared household and host genetic similarities. We found that environmental effects dominated over genetic effects. While there was weak evidence of geographical structuring at the level of cities, we observed a large and significant effect of shared household on microbiome composition, supporting the role of the immediate shared environment in dictating the presence or absence of taxa. This effect was also seen when including adults who had grown up in the same household but moved out prior to the time of sampling, suggesting that the establishment of the salivary microbiome earlier in life may affect its long-term composition. We found weak associations between host genetic relatedness and microbiome dissimilarity when using family pedigrees as proxies for genetic similarity. However, this association disappeared when using more-accurate measures of kinship based on genome-wide genetic markers, indicating that the environment rather than host genetics is the dominant factor affecting the composition of the salivary microbiome in closely related individuals. Our results support the concept that there is a consistent core microbiome conserved across global scales but that small-scale effects due to a shared living environment significantly affect microbial community composition.

IMPORTANCE
Previous research shows that the salivary microbiomes of relatives are more similar than those of nonrelatives, but it remains difficult to distinguish the effects of relatedness and shared household environment. Furthermore, pedigree measures may not accurately measure host genetic similarity. In this study, we include genetic relatedness based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rather than pedigree measures) and shared environment in the same analysis. We quantify the relative importance of these factors by studying the salivary microbiomes in members of a large extended Ashkenazi Jewish family living in different locations. We find that host genetics plays no significant role and that the dominant factor is the shared environment at the household level. We also find that this effect appears to persist in individuals who have moved out of the parental household, suggesting that aspects of salivary microbiome composition established during upbringing can persist over a time scale of years.
Multiresistant E. coli urine infections in children: a case–control study
Authors: Raman Gayathri , McMullan Brendan , Taylor Peter , Mallitt Kylie-Ann , Kennedy Sean E 
Published: September 2017

ObjectiveUrinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by resistant organisms are increasing which poses challenges when selecting empirical antimicrobial therapy. The aim of this study is to determine risk factors for multiresistant Escherichia coli UTIs in children.DesignWe included all reported urinary isolates from a children’s hospital collected between January 2010 and June 2013. Patients who had multiresistant E. coli UTIs were identified and a retrospective review of medical records performed. Patient-specific clinical and demographic factors were compared with age-matched and gender-matched controls with non-multiresistant E. coli UTIs. Univariable and multivariable statistical analysis were performed to determine significant risk factors for multiresistant organism E.coli UTIs.ResultsIn total, there were 2692 positive urine cultures, 1676 (62.3%) from 1169 patients were E. coli. Multiresistant E. coli was isolated from 139 (8.3% of all E. coli) cultures in 99 patients. Thirteen incomplete medical records were excluded, leaving 86 patients, matched with 86 controls. In multivariable regression, the only significant risk factor was antibiotic use in the previous month (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 6.2), but not previous hospital admission (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.9), being an inpatient at the time of diagnosis (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 7.4) and previous instrumentation (adjusted OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.4).ConclusionsThis is the first case–control study to examine multiresistant UTI in Australian children. Clinicians should be judicious in the use of antibiotics in treatment and prophylaxis of UTIs. In children presenting with UTI and recent antibiotic exposure, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid appears to be an appropriate empiric antibiotic choice in our population.
Do the stars align? Distribution of high-quality ratings of healthcare sectors across US markets
Authors: Figueroa Jose , Feyman Yevgeniy , Blumenthal Daniel , Jha Ashish 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundThe US government created five-star rating systems to evaluate hospital, nursing homes, home health agency and dialysis centre quality. The degree to which quality is a property of organisations versus geographical markets is unclear.ObjectivesTo determine whether high-quality healthcare service sectors are clustered within US healthcare markets.DesignUsing data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Hospital, Dialysis, Nursing Home and Home Health Compare databases, we calculated the mean star ratings of four healthcare sectors in 304 US hospital referral regions (HRRs). For each sector, we ranked HRRs into terciles by mean star rating. Within each HRR, we assessed concordance of tercile rank across sectors using a multirater kappa. Using t-tests, we compared characteristics of HRRs with three to four top-ranked sectors, one to two top-ranked sectors and zero top-ranked sectors.ResultsSix HRRs (2.0% of HRRs) had four top-ranked healthcare sectors, 38 (12.5%) had three top-ranked health sectors, 71 (23.4%) had two top-ranked sectors, 111 (36.5%) had one top-ranked sector and 78 (25.7%) HRRs had no top-ranked sectors. A multirater kappa across all sectors showed poor to slight agreement (K=0.055). Compared with HRRs with zero top-ranked sectors, those with three to four top-ranked sectors had higher median incomes, fewer black residents, lower mortality rates and were less impoverished. Results were similar for HRRs with one to two top-ranked sectors.ConclusionsFew US healthcare markets exhibit high-quality performance across four distinct healthcare service sectors, suggesting that high-quality care in one sector may not be dependent on or improve care quality in other sectors. Policies that promote accountability for quality across sectors (eg, bundled payments and shared quality metrics) may be needed to systematically improve quality across sectors.
Autopsy interrogation of emergency medicine dispute cases: how often are clinical diagnoses incorrect?
Authors: Liu Danyang , Gan Rongchang , Zhang Weidi , Wang Wei , Saiyin Hexige , Zeng Wenjiao , Liu Guoyuan 
Published: September 2017

AimsEmergency medicine is a ‘high risk’ specialty. Some diseases develop suddenly and progress rapidly, and sudden unexpected deaths in the emergency department (ED) may cause medical disputes. We aimed to assess discrepancies between antemortem clinical diagnoses and postmortem autopsy findings concerning emergency medicine dispute cases and to figure out the most common major missed diagnoses.MethodsClinical files and autopsy reports were retrospectively analysed and interpreted. Discrepancies between clinical diagnoses and autopsy diagnoses were evaluated using modified Goldman classification as major and minor discrepancy. The difference between diagnosis groups was compared with Pearson χ2test.ResultsOf the 117 cases included in this study, 71 of cases (58 class I and 13 class II diagnostic errors) were revealed as major discrepancies (60.7%). The most common major diagnoses were cardiovascular diseases (54 cases), followed by pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases and so on. The difference of major discrepancy between the diagnoses groups was significant (p<0.001). Aortic dissection and myocardial infarction were the most common cause of death (15 cases for each disease) and the most common missed class I diagnoses (80% and 66.7% for each), higher than the average 49.6% of all class I errors of the study patients.ConclusionsHigh major disparities between clinical diagnoses and postmortem examinations exist in emergency medical disputes cases; acute aortic dissection and myocardial infarction are the most frequently major missed diagnoses that ED clinicians should pay special attention to in practice. This study reaffirmed the necessity and usefulness of autopsy in auditing death in EDs.
Clinical performance evaluation of the Idylla NRAS-BRAF mutation test on retrospectively collected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded colorectal cancer tissue
Authors: Johnston Louise , Power Michael , Sloan Philip , Long Anna , Silmon Angela , Chaffey Ben , Lisgo Andrea Jane , Little Liam , Vercauteren Ellen , Steiniche Torben , Meyer Tine , Simpson John 
Published: September 2017

AimsUnderstanding the molecular mechanisms of underlying disease has led to a movement away from the one-drug-fits-all paradigm towards treatment tailored to the genetic profile of the patient. The Biocartis Idylla platform is a novel fully automated, real-time PCR–basedin vitrodiagnostic system. The Idylla NRAS-BRAF mutation test has been developed for the qualitative detection of mutations inNRASandBRAFoncogenes, facilitating genetic profiling of patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to carry out a formal clinical performance evaluation.MethodsTwo-hundred and forty-two formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human malignant colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue samples were identified in departmental archives and tested with both the Idylla NRAS-BRAF mutation test and the Agena Bioscience MassARRAY test.ResultsThe overall concordance between the Idylla NRAS-BRAF mutation test and the MassARRAY comparator reference test result was 241/242 (99.59%, lower bound of one-sided 95% CI=98.1%) forNRASand 242/242 (lower bound of 95% one-sided 95% CI=98.89%) forBRAF. The Idylla NRAS-BRAF test detected oneNRASmutation that had not been reported by the MassARRAY comparator reference test. Reanalysis of this sample by droplet digital PCR confirmed that the mutation was present, but at an allelic frequency below the stated sensitivity level of the MassARRAY system.ConclusionThese results confirm that the Idylla NRAS-BRAF mutation test has high concordance with a widely usedNRAS-BRAFtest, and is therefore suitable for use as anin vitrodiagnostic device for this application.