bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flow Cytometry and Real-Time Quantitative PCR as Tools for Assessing Plasmid Persistence
Authors: Loftie-Eaton Wesley , Tucker Allison , Norton Ann , Top Eva M. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

The maintenance of a plasmid in the absence of selection for plasmid-borne genes is not guaranteed. However, plasmid persistence can evolve under selective conditions. Studying the molecular mechanisms behind the evolution of plasmid persistence is key to understanding how plasmids are maintained under nonselective conditions. Given the current crisis of rapid antibiotic resistance spread by multidrug resistance plasmids, this insight is of high medical relevance. The conventional method for monitoring plasmid persistence (i.e., the fraction of plasmid-containing cells in a population over time) is based on cultivation and involves differentiating colonies of plasmid-containing and plasmid-free cells on agar plates. However, this technique is time-consuming and does not easily lend itself to high-throughput applications. Here, we present flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) as alternative tools for monitoring plasmid persistence. For this, we measured the persistence of a model plasmid, pB10::
gfp
, in three
Pseudomonas
hosts and in known mixtures of plasmid-containing and -free cells. We also compared three performance criteria: dynamic range, resolution, and variance. Although not without exceptions, both techniques generated estimates of overall plasmid loss rates that were rather similar to those generated by the conventional plate count (PC) method. They also were able to resolve differences in loss rates between artificial plasmid persistence assays. Finally, we briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages for each technique and conclude that, overall, both FCM and real-time qPCR are suitable alternatives to cultivation-based methods for routine measurement of plasmid persistence, thereby opening avenues for high-throughput analyses.
Modularity Reveals the Tendency of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi To Interact Differently with Generalist and Specialist Plant Species in Gypsum Soils
Authors: Torrecillas Emma , del Mar Alguacil Maria , Roldán Antonio , Díaz Gisela , Montesinos-Navarro Alicia , Torres Maria Pilar 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACTPatterns in plant–soil biota interactions could be influenced by the spatial distribution of species due to soil conditions or by the functional traits of species. Gypsum environments usually constitute a mosaic of heterogeneous soils where gypsum and nongypsum soils are imbricated at a local scale. A case study of the interactions of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in gypsum environments can be illustrative of patterns in biotic interactions. We hypothesized that (i) soil characteristics might affect the AMF community and (ii) there are differences between the AMF communities (modules) associated with plants exclusive to gypsum soils (gypsophytes) and those associated with plants that show facultative behavior on gypsum and/or marly-limestone soils (gypsovags). We used indicator species and network analyses to test for differences between the AMF communities harbored in gypsophyte and gypsovag plants. We recorded 46 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to nine genera ofGlomeromycota. The indicator species analysis showed two OTUs preferentially associating with gypsum soils and three OTUs preferentially associating with marly-limestone soils. Modularity analysis revealed that soil type can be a major factor shaping AMF communities, and some AMF groups showed a tendency to interact differently with plants that had distinct ecological strategies (gypsophytes and gypsovags). Characterization of ecological networks can be a valuable tool for ascertaining the potential influence of above- and below-ground biotic interactions (plant-AMF) on plant community composition.
Identification of Different Bartonella Species in the Cattle Tail Louse (Haematopinus quadripertusus) and in Cattle Blood
Authors: Gutiérrez Ricardo , Cohen Liron , Morick Danny , Mumcuoglu Kosta Y. , Harrus Shimon , Gottlieb Yuval 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Bartonella
spp. are worldwide-distributed facultative intracellular bacteria that exhibit an immense genomic diversity across mammal and arthropod hosts. The occurrence of cattle-associated
Bartonella
species was investigated in the cattle tail louse
Haematopinus quadripertusus
and in dairy cattle blood from Israel. Lice were collected from cattle from two dairy farms during summer 2011, and both lice and cow blood samples were collected from additional seven farms during the successive winter. The lice were identified morphologically and molecularly using 18S rRNA sequencing. Thereafter, they were screened for
Bartonella
DNA by conventional and real-time PCR assays using four partial genetic loci (
gltA
,
rpoB
,
ssrA
, and internal transcribed spacer [ITS]). A potentially novel
Bartonella
variant, closely related to other ruminant bartonellae, was identified in 11 of 13 louse pools collected in summer. In the cattle blood, the prevalence of
Bartonella
infection was 38%, identified as
B. bovis
and
B. henselae
(24 and 12%, respectively). A third genotype, closely related to
Bartonella
melophagi
and
Bartonella chomelii
(based on the
ssrA
gene) and to
B. bovis
(based on the ITS sequence) was identified in a single cow. The relatively high prevalence of these
Bartonella
species in cattle and the occurrence of phylogenetically diverse
Bartonella
variants in both cattle and their lice suggest the potential role of this animal system in the generation of
Bartonella
species diversity.
Transmission and Retention of Salmonella enterica by Phytophagous Hemipteran Insects
Authors: Soto-Arias José Pablo , Groves Russell L. , Barak Jeri D. 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Several pest insects of human and livestock habitations are known as vectors of
Salmonella enterica
; however, the role of plant-feeding insects as vectors of
S. enterica
to agricultural crops remains unexamined. Using a hemipteran insect pest-lettuce system, we investigated the potential for transmission and retention of
S. enterica
. Specifically,
Macrosteles quadrilineatus
and
Myzus persicae
insects were fed
S. enterica
-inoculated lettuce leaf discs or artificial liquid diets confined in Parafilm sachets to allow physical contact or exclusively oral ingestion of the pathogen, respectively. After a 24-h acquisition access period, insects were moved onto two consecutive noninoculated leaf discs or liquid diets and allowed a 24-h inoculation access period on each of the two discs or sachets. Similar proportions of individuals from both species ingested
S. enterica
after a 24-h acquisition access period from inoculated leaf discs, but a significantly higher proportion of
M. quadrilineatus
retained the pathogen internally after a 48-h inoculation access period.
S. enterica
was also recovered from the honeydew of both species. After a 48-h inoculation access period, bacteria were recovered from a significantly higher proportion of honeydew samples from
M. quadrilineatus
than from
M. persicae
insects. The recovery of
S. enterica
from leaf discs and liquid diets postfeeding demonstrated that both species of insects were capable of transmitting the bacteria in ways that are not limited to mechanical transmission. Overall, these results suggest that phytophagous insects may serve as potential vectors of
S. enterica
in association with plants.
The Strictly Aerobic Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica Tolerates Loss of a Mitochondrial DNA-Packaging Protein
Authors: Bakkaiova Jana , Arata Kosuke , Matsunobu Miki , Ono Bungo , Aoki Tomoyo , Lajdova Dana , Nebohacova Martina , Nosek Jozef , Miyakawa Isamu , Tomaska Lubomir 
Published: June 2014

ABSTRACT

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is highly compacted into DNA-protein structures termed mitochondrial nucleoids (mt-nucleoids). The key mt-nucleoid components responsible for mtDNA condensation are HMG box-containing proteins such as mammalian mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and Abf2p of the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. To gain insight into the function and organization of mt-nucleoids in strictly aerobic organisms, we initiated studies of these DNA-protein structures in
Yarrowia lipolytica
. We identified a principal component of mt-nucleoids in this yeast and termed it
Yl
Mhb1p (

Y
.
l
ipolytica

m
itochondrial
H
MG
b
ox-containing protein 1).
Yl
Mhb1p contains two putative HMG boxes contributing both to DNA binding and to its ability to compact mtDNA
in vitro
. Phenotypic analysis of a Δ
mhb1
strain lacking
Yl
Mhb1p resulted in three interesting findings. First, although the mutant exhibits clear differences in mt-nucleoids accompanied by a large decrease in the mtDNA copy number and the number of mtDNA-derived transcripts, its respiratory characteristics and growth under most of the conditions tested are indistinguishable from those of the wild-type strain. Second, our results indicate that a potential imbalance between subunits of the respiratory chain encoded separately by nuclear DNA and mtDNA is prevented at a (post)translational level. Third, we found that mtDNA in the Δ
mhb1
strain is more prone to mutations, indicating that mtHMG box-containing proteins protect the mitochondrial genome against mutagenic events.
A systematic review of measures of self-reported adherence to unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercise programmes, and their psychometric properties
Authors: Bollen Jessica C , Dean Sarah G , Siegert Richard J , Howe Tracey E , Goodwin Victoria A 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundAdherence is an important factor contributing to the effectiveness of exercise-based rehabilitation. However, there appears to be a lack of reliable, validated measures to assess self-reported adherence to prescribed but unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercises.ObjectivesA systematic review was conducted to establish what measures were available and to evaluate their psychometric properties.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO CINAHL (June 2013) and the Cochrane library were searched (September 2013). Reference lists from articles meeting the inclusion criteria were checked to ensure all relevant papers were included.Study selectionTo be included articles had to be available in English; use a self-report measure of adherence in relation to a prescribed but unsupervised home-based exercise or physical rehabilitation programme; involve participants over the age of 18. All health conditions and clinical populations were included.Data extractionDescriptive data reported were collated on a data extraction sheet. The measures were evaluated in terms of eight psychometric quality criteria.Results58 studies were included, reporting 61 different measures including 29 questionnaires, 29 logs, two visual analogue scales and one tally counter. Only two measures scored positively for one psychometric property (content validity). The majority of measures had no reported validity or reliability testing.ConclusionsThe results expose a gap in the literature for well-developed measures that capture self-reported adherence to prescribed but unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercises.
Clinical, laboratory and health-related quality of life correlates of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Responder Index response: a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 belimumab trials
Authors: Furie Richard , Petri Michelle A , Strand Vibeke , Gladman Dafna D , Zhong Z John , Freimuth William W ,   the BLISS-52 and BLISS-76 Study Groups
Published: June 2014

ObjectiveCorrelates of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index (SRI) response with clinical trial end points were examined using pooled data from the Study of Belimumab in Subjects with SLE (BLISS) trials (N=1684).MethodsChanges in clinical, laboratory and health-related quality of life measures from baseline at 52 weeks were compared between SRI responders (n=761) and non-responders (n=923).ResultsMore SRI responders than non-responders had ≥4-point (100% vs 3.8%) and ≥7-point (40.3% vs 1.3%) Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index reductions, no new British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) A and ≤1 new B scores (91.9% vs 35.9%), and a 25% reduction in corticosteroid dose decrease of 25% from >7.5 mg/d to ≤7.5 mg/d (25.5% vs 13.9%), and fewer had a corticosteroid increase from ≤7.5 mg/d to >7.5 mg/d (4.1% vs 21.3%; all p<0.001). More responders than non-responders had improved organ domains: Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (mean 1.45 vs 0.40), BILAG (2.00 vs 0.39), and greater improvement in Physician's Global Assessment (all p<0.001). Risks for developing any SLE flare or severe flare were reduced in responders by 42% and 87%, respectively (p<0.001). Responders reported greater improvements in Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form version 2 Physical and Mental Components and all domain scores, and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score compared with non-responders (all p<0.001).ConclusionOverall, SRI response in patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE was associated with improvements in clinical, laboratory and patient-reported outcome measures, indicating that SRI response was associated with a global benefit.Trial registration numberNCT00424476;NCT00410384.
Associations of Stressful Life Events and Social Strain With Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Kershaw Kiarri N. , Brenes Gretchen A. , Charles Luenda E. , Coday Mace , Daviglus Martha L. , Denburg Natalie L. , Kroenke Candyce H. , Safford Monika M. , Savla Tina , Tindle Hilary A. , Tinker Lesley F. , Van Horn Linda 
Published: June 2014

Background

Epidemiologic studies have yielded mixed findings on the association of psychosocial stressors with cardiovascular disease (
CVD
) risk. In this study, we examined associations of stressful life events (
SLE
) and social strain with incident coronary heart disease (
CHD
) and stroke (overall, and for hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes) independent of sociodemographic characteristics, and we evaluated whether these relationships were explained by traditional behavioral and biological risk factors.

Methods and Results

Data from approximately 82 000 Women's Health Initiative Observational Study participants were used for the
SLE
and social strain analyses, respectively. Participants were followed for events for up to 18.0 years (median, 14.0). Separate Cox proportional hazards models were generated to estimate associations of each stress measure with incident
CVD
. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms, higher
SLE
and social strain were associated with higher incident
CHD
and stroke (each
P
trend <0.05). Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.12 (1.01, 1.25) for incident
CHD
and 1.14 (1.01, 1.28) for incident stroke among participants reporting high versus low
SLE
. Findings were similar for social strain. Associations were attenuated with further adjustment for mediating behavioral and biological risk factors. Findings were similar for associations of
SLE
with ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, but social strain was only associated with ischemic stroke.

Conclusions

Higher
SLE
and social strain were associated with higher incident
CVD
independent of sociodemographic factors and depressive symptoms, but not behavioral and biological risk factors.
Frequent callers to crisis helplines: Who are they and why do they call?
Authors: Spittal Matthew J , Fedyszyn Izabela , Middleton Aves , Bassilios Bridget , Gunn Jane , Woodward Alan , Pirkis Jane 
Published: June 2014

Objective: Frequent callers present a challenge for crisis helplines, which strive to achieve optimal outcomes for all callers within finite resources. This study aimed to describe frequent callers to Lifeline (the largest crisis helpline in Australia) and compare them with non-frequent callers, with a view to furthering knowledge about models of service delivery that might meet the needs of frequent callers. Method: Lifeline provided an anonymous dataset on calls made between December 2011 and May 2013. We assumed calls from the same (encrypted) phone number were made by the same person, and aggregated call level data up to the person level. Individuals who made 0.667 calls per day in any period from 1 week to the full 549 days for which we had data (i.e. 4.7 calls in 7 days, 20 calls in 30 days, 40 calls in 60 days, etc.) were regarded as frequent callers. Results: Our analysis dataset included 411,725 calls made by 98,174 individuals, 2594 (2.6%) of whom met our definition of frequent callers. We identified a number of predictors of being a frequent caller, including being male or transgender, and never having been married. The odds increased with age until 55–64 years, and then declined. Suicidality, self-harm, mental health issues, crime, child protection and domestic violence issues all predicted being a frequent caller. Conclusions: Collectively, frequent callers have a significant impact on crisis lines, and solutions need to be found for responding to them that are in everybody’s best interests (i.e. the frequent callers themselves, other callers, telephone crisis supporters who staff crisis lines, and those who manage crisis lines). In striking this balance, the complex and multiple needs of frequent callers must be taken into account.
Experience with the Avalon® bicaval double-lumen veno-venous cannula for neonatal respiratory ECMO
Authors: Speggiorin S , Robinson SG , Harvey C , Westrope C , Faulkner GM , Kirkland P , Peek GJ 
Published: June 2014

Objective: We report a single centre experience of neonatal respiratory ECMO using the Avalon® double-lumen venous cannula and compare it with reports in the literature. Results: Between 2008 and 2012, the Avalon® cannula was used in 72 neonates: median age at cannulation was 1.8 days (IQR 1.2-2.8 days) and bodyweight 3.4 Kg (3.0–3.7 Kg). Meconium aspiration syndrome (61.1%), persistent hypertension of the newborn (25%) and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (5.6%) were the most common diagnoses. Complications occurred in 19 patients (26.4%): cannula site bleeding in 6 (8.3%), the cannula perforating the right atrial wall and requiring emergency midline sternotomy in 5 (6.9%) and the cannula needing repositioning in 3 (4.2%). Overall survival at discharge or transfer to the referring hospital was 88.8%. Successful wean off ECMO occurred in 68 patients (94.4%) after a median of 90.5 hours (63.4 – 136.11). ECMO support was withdrawn in 4 patients (5.6%). Conclusions: The Avalon® dual-lumen veno-venous cannula can be used for respiratory ECMO in the neonatal population. However, as the incidence of right atrial perforation is not negligible, we suspended its used in this group of patients.
Altered cortical and subcortical local coherence in PTSD: evidence from resting-state fMRI
Authors: Zhong Yuan , Zhang Ruiting , Li Kai , Qi Rongfeng , Zhang Zhiqiang , Huang Qingling , Lu Guangming 
Published: June 2014

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often characterized by region-specific brain activation/deactivation and functional abnormalities in corticolimbic circuitry, as elucidated by task-dependent functional neuroimaging. However, little is known about the abnormalities in the local coherence of cortical and subcortical activity occurring during the resting state. Purpose To evaluate the functional discrepancy of local coherence between cortical and subcortical regions in PTSD patients using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Material and Methods Resting-state fMRI (RS-fMRI) was performed on 14 outpatients with PTSD, along with 14 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. Regional homogeneity (ReHo), a measurement of the coherence of spontaneous RS-fMRI signal oscillations within spatially neighboring voxels, was examined. Results Compared with the normal controls, PTSD patients showed increased local coherence in subcortical regions, including amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and putamen, and decreased local coherence in cortical regions, including medial prefrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Moreover, a correlation analysis of the ReHo measurement versus the severity of the disorder was performed, and highly positive correlation were observed in the right amygdala. Conclusion The present study identified a functional discrepancy of local coherence between cortical and subcortical regions in PTSD patients compared with normal controls. The findings revealed that resting-state abnormalities might lead to further improvement of the understanding of the neural substrates of cognitive impairment and symptoms in PTSD.
A cross-sectional national questionnaire survey assessing the clinical attitudes of members of the British Menopause Society to the management of women with premature ovarian insufficiency
Authors: Mittal Monica , Savvas Michael , Narvekar Nitish , Panay Nick , Hamoda Haitham 
Published: June 2014

Objective To explore the current clinical attitudes of members of the British Menopause Society to the management of premature ovarian insufficiency. Design An electronic cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Setting Members of the British Menopause Society. Population All members of the British Menopause Society with a valid email address. Method Completion of an electronic survey. Main outcome measures Investigations and treatment options and preferences for the management of women with premature ovarian insufficiency. Results A total of 130 questionnaires were returned and analysed. The majority of responses were from Hospital Consultants ( n = 55/130; 42.3%). A total of 53/124 (42.7%) clinicians routinely performed a bone density scan. A total of 73/130 (56.2%) clinicians would prescribe hormone replacement therapy in preference to combined ethinyl estradiol and progesterone (COC; 27/130, 20.8%). A total of 44/108 (40.7%) routinely prescribed oral estradiol in preference to transdermal administration (62/108, 57.4%). A total of 26/128 (20.3%) prescribed oral micronised progesterone, 31/128 (24.2%) oral progestogens, while 42/128 (32.8%) preferred the intra-uterine system. Fertility concerns remain an important aspect of care, with 33.9% ( n = 39/115) of clinicians indicating that more than 50% of their patients had a concern regarding their fertility. Conclusion The majority of clinicians indicated a preference for hormone replacement therapy instead of the COC as their choice of hormone replacement in women with premature ovarian insufficiency. However, there was a significant variation in practices. This information can be useful in counselling women and in guiding clinical practitioners. The results highlight the need for further research to determine the optimal regimens for the management of women with premature ovarian insufficiency.