bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modified Six Elements Test: Earlier diagnosis of the correlation between motor and executive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease without dementia
Authors: Murakami Hidetomo , Owan Yoshiyuki , Oguchi Tatsunori , Nomoto Shohei , Shozawa Hidenobu , Kubota Satomi , Mori Yukiko , Mizuma Keita , Futamura Akinori , Kobayakawa Mutsutaka , Kezuka Machiko , Midorikawa Akira , Miller Michael W , Kawamura Mitsuru 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundIn patients with Parkinson's disease, executive deficits are known to correlate with motor dysfunctions, such as gait and postural instability. However executive deficits are sometimes difficult to detect using common frontal assessment batteries. Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome includes six subtests to evaluate different aspects of executive function required in daily life. Among these the Modified Six Elements Test examines higher levels of executive function with regard to prospective memory and organization of behavior.AimUsing Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome we examined which types of executive dysfunction correlate with motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease without apparent dementia.MethodsA total of 54 Parkinson's disease patients with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores over 24 were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (total score of parts II and III as general motor function, subscores of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, gait disturbance and postural instability) for motor assessment, and both the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (total raw score of all subtests and subscores of each of the 6 subtests) and Frontal Assessment Battery for executive function. Correlation coefficients for executive and motor assessments were compared.ResultsAmong the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome subtests, the Modified Six Elements Test showed the strongest correlation with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale subscore of gait disturbance, but did not correlate with patient background factors, such as age.ConclusionEven in Parkinson's disease without apparent dementia, deficits in complex executive functions, such as prospective memory and organization of behavior, correlate with motor dysfunctions, especially gait. We believe the Modified Six Elements Test is useful to evaluate early executive deficits.
Whole‐exome sequencing reveals a missense mutation in the KCND3 gene in a patient with SCA19/22
Authors: Wang Ying , Koh Kishin , Namekawa Michito , Takiyama Yoshihisa 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe report a 45‐year‐old Japanese man with SCA19/22. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense mutation (c.1169G>A, p.S390N) in the KCND3 gene. Although this mutation has been reported to cause SCA19 in a Dutch patient, a co‐segregation study of the mutation has not been carried out. In the present family, since the S390M mutation was found in the patient but not in the unaffected siblings, we suspected co‐segregation of this mutation with the disease in our family. Our patient presented with juvenile‐onset pure cerebellar ataxia associated with pes cavus, which has not been previously described in SCA19/22. Thus, our patient would expand the clinical spectrum of SCA19/22. In the case of juvenile‐onset pure cerebellar ataxia with autosomal dominant transmission, SCA19/22 should be considered.
Comparison of reading performance tests concerning difficulty of sentences and paragraphs and their reliability
Authors: Brussee Tamara , van Nispen Ruth M. A. , Klerkx Edwin M. F. J. , Knol Dirk L. , van Rens Ger H. M. B. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPurposeIn research and practice, sentences or paragraphs of reading tests may be randomly chosen to assess reading performance. This means that in addition to test reliability, all sentences or paragraphs should be reliable and equally difficult to read. The sentences and paragraphs of five (un‐) standardised Dutch reading tests were investigated in this regard.MethodsTests were performed with 71 normally sighted persons (mean age 55 [18–86] years). All sentences and paragraphs had equal print size. The relative difficulty of sentences and paragraphs from the five Dutch reading tests was tested with linear mixed models (reading speed) and generalised linear models (mistakes).ResultsReading speed in standard words per min ranged from 179 (Radner) to 142 (De Nederlanders). Reading mistakes per 100 characters ranged from 0.25 (Radner) to 0.40 (Colenbrander). On the Colenbrander charts 7/24 sentences were read significantly faster vs 5/24 read slower (sentence reliability 0.56–0.87); International Reading Speed Texts 3/10 vs 3/10 [0.94–0.97]; Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology 14/55 vs 15/55 [0.64–0.92]; De Nederlanders 2/6 vs 3/6 [0.83–0.94]; Radner 4/24 vs 3/24 [0.73–0.87]. Agreement between tests differed from 1 to 36 standard words per minute and 0.01 to 0.14 mistakes per 100 characters.ConclusionThe Radner, with the highest number of equally difficult sentences, is appropriate to measure reading acuity as well as reading speed in a heterogeneous population; the International Reading Speed Texts, with the highest paragraph reliability, provides long paragraphs to measure reading speed. The Colenbrander and Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology are suitable for daily practice; however, for research or inspection purposes, reliable sentences must be chosen. Although the clinical relevance of the differences between the tests is debatable, use of the De Nederlanders as a reading test remains questionable.
Methodology and reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies of automated perimetry in glaucoma: evaluation using a standardised approach
Authors: Fidalgo Bruno M. R. , Crabb David P. , Lawrenson John G. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate methodological and reporting quality of diagnostic accuracy studies of perimetry in glaucoma and to determine whether there had been any improvement since the publication of the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) guidelines.MethodsA systematic review of English language articles published between 1993 and 2013 reporting the diagnostic accuracy of perimetry in glaucoma. Articles were appraised for methodological quality using the 14‐item Quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) and evaluated for quality of reporting by applying the STARD checklist.ResultsFifty‐eight articles were appraised. Overall methodological quality of these studies was moderate with a median number of QUADAS items rated as ‘yes’ equal to nine (out of a maximum of 14) (IQR 7–10). The studies were often poorly reported; median score of STARD items fully reported was 11 out of 25 (IQR 10–14). A comparison of the studies published in 10‐year periods before and after the publication of the STARD checklist in 2003 found quality of reporting had not substantially improved.ConclusionsMethodological and reporting quality of diagnostic accuracy studies of perimetry is sub‐optimal and appears not to have improved substantially following the development of the STARD reporting guidance. This observation is consistent with previous studies in ophthalmology and in other medical specialities.
Anticoagulation in Chronic Hemodialysis: Progress Toward an Optimal Approach
Authors: Kessler Michèle , Moureau Frédérique , Nguyen Philippe 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAppropriate anticoagulation for hemodialysis (HD) requires a subtle balance between under‐ and over‐heparinization to prevent extracorporeal circuit (ECC) clotting and bleeding, respectively. We discuss five key issues relating to anticoagulation therapy for chronicHDin adults following a review of relevant literature published since 2002: (i) options for standardization of anticoagulation inHDsettings. The major nephrology societies have issued low evidence level recommendations on this subject. Interventional studies have generally investigated novel low‐molecular weight heparins and provided data on safety of dosing regimens that cannot readily be extrapolated to clinical practice; (ii) identification of clinical and biological parameters to aid individualization of anticoagulation treatment. We find that use of clinical and biological monitoring of anticoagulation duringHDsessions is currently not clearly defined in routine clinical practice; (iii) role ofECCelements (dialysis membrane and blood lines), dialysis modalities, and blood flow in clotting development; (iv) options to reduce or suppress systemic heparinization duringHDsessions. Alternative strategies have been investigated, especially when the routine mode of anticoagulation was not suitable in patients at high risk of bleeding or was contraindicated; (v) optimization of anticoagulation therapy for the individual patient. We conclude by proposing a standardized approach to deliver anticoagulation treatment forHDbased on an individualized prescription prepared according to the patient's profile and needs.
PtaRHE1, a Populus tremula × Populus alba RING‐H2 protein of the ATL family, has a regulatory role in secondary phloem fibre development
Authors: Baldacci‐Cresp Fabien , Moussawi Jihad , Leplé Jean‐Charles , Van Acker Rebecca , Kohler Annegret , Candiracci Julie , Twyffels Laure , Spokevicius Antanas V. , Bossinger Gerd , Laurans Françoise , Brunel Nicole , Vermeersch Marjorie , Boerjan Wout , El Jaziri Mondher , Baucher Marie 
Published: April 2015

SummaryREALLY INTERESTING NEW GENE (RING) proteins play important roles in the regulation of many processes by recognizing target proteins for ubiquitination. Previously, we have shown that the expression of PtaRHE1, encoding a Populus tremula × Populus alba RING‐H2 protein with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, is associated with tissues undergoing secondary growth. To further elucidate the role of PtaRHE1 in vascular tissues, we have undertaken a reverse genetic analysis in poplar. Within stem secondary vascular tissues, PtaRHE1 and its corresponding protein are expressed predominantly in the phloem. The downregulation of PtaRHE1 in poplar by artificial miRNA triggers alterations in phloem fibre patterning, characterized by an increased portion of secondary phloem fibres that have a reduced cell wall thickness and a change in lignin composition, with lower levels of syringyl units as compared with wild‐type plants. Following an RNA‐seq analysis, a biological network involving hormone stress signalling, as well as developmental processes, could be delineated. Several candidate genes possibly associated with the altered phloem fibre phenotype observed in amiRPtaRHE1 poplar were identified. Altogether, our data suggest a regulatory role for PtaRHE1 in secondary phloem fibre development.
Efficacy of Mechanical versus Non‐Mechanical Sterile Preoperative Skin Preparation With Chlorhexidine Gluconate 4% Solution
Authors: Davids Benjamin I. , Davidson Megan J. , TenBroeck Saundra H. , Colahan Patrick T. , Oli Monika W. 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of sterile preoperative skin antisepsis using either a 5‐minute mechanical preparation or 5‐minute non‐mechanical preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate 4% solution.Study DesignMatched design, ANOVA.AnimalsHealthy adult Thoroughbred horses (n = 30).MethodsEach horse had both surgical preparation methods randomly assigned to identical sites on the left or right upper thigh. Prepared sites were sampled and cultured for bacteria after each preparation step.ResultsMechanical and non‐mechanical preparation techniques significantly reduced bacteria isolated from surface swab samples compared with samples taken from unprepared skin and after the preliminary rough prepared skin (P < 0.05). No difference in the number of skin‐associated bacteria was detected between the mechanical and non‐mechanical sterile preoperative preparation techniques (P = 0.77). Ten species of bacteria were identified by 16s PCR after final skin preparation.ConclusionsPre‐surgical skin preparation without repeated mechanical scrubbing using chlorhexidine gluconate 4% solution (total contact time, 225 seconds) is effective in reducing bacterial counts.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses T3SS to inhibit diabetic wound healing
Authors: Goldufsky Josef , Wood Stephen J. , Jayaraman Vijayakumar , Majdobeh Omar , Chen Lin , Qin Shanshan , Zhang Chunxiang , DiPietro Luisa A. , Shafikhani Sasha H. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTDiabetic foot ulcers are responsible for more hospitalizations than any other complication of diabetes. Bacterial infection is recognized as an important factor associated with impaired healing in diabetic ulcers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most frequently detected Gram‐negative pathogen in diabetic ulcers. P. aeruginosa infection has been shown to impair healing in diabetic wounds in a manner that correlates with its ability to form biofilm. While the majority of infections in diabetic ulcers are biofilm associated, 33% of infections are nonbiofilm in nature. P. aeruginosa is the most prevalent Gram‐negative pathogen in all diabetic wound types, which suggests that the deleterious impact of P. aeruginosa on healing in diabetic wounds goes beyond its ability to form biofilm and likely involves other factors. The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) virulence structure is required for the pathogenesis of all P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, suggesting that it may also play a role in the inhibition of wound repair in diabetic skin ulcers. We evaluated the role of T3SS in mediating P. aeruginosa–induced tissue damage in the wounds of diabetic mice. Our data demonstrate that P. aeruginosa establishes a robust and persistent infection in diabetic wounds independent of its ability to form biofilm and causes severe wound damage in a manner that primarily depends on its T3SS.
Online updating of context‐aware landmark detectors for prostate localization in daily treatment CT images
Authors: Dai Xiubin , Gao Yaozong , Shen Dinggang 
Published: April 2015

Purpose:In image guided radiation therapy, it is crucial to fast and accurately localize the prostate in the daily treatment images. To this end, the authors propose an online update scheme for landmark‐guided prostate segmentation, which can fully exploit valuable patient‐specific information contained in the previous treatment images and can achieve improved performance in landmark detection and prostate segmentation.Methods:To localize the prostate in the daily treatment images, the authors first automatically detect six anatomical landmarks on the prostate boundary by adopting a context‐aware landmark detection method. Specifically, in this method, a two‐layer regression forest is trained as a detector for each target landmark. Once all the newly detected landmarks from new treatment images are reviewed or adjusted (if necessary) by clinicians, they are further included into the training pool as new patient‐specific information to update all the two‐layer regression forests for the next treatment day. As more and more treatment images of the current patient are acquired, the two‐layer regression forests can be continually updated by incorporating the patient‐specific information into the training procedure. After all target landmarks are detected, a multiatlas random sample consensus (multiatlas RANSAC) method is used to segment the entire prostate by fusing multiple previously segmented prostates of the current patient after they are aligned to the current treatment image. Subsequently, the segmented prostate of the current treatment image is again reviewed (or even adjusted if needed) by clinicians before including it as a new shape example into the prostate shape dataset for helping localize the entire prostate in the next treatment image.Results:The experimental results on 330 images of 24 patients show the effectiveness of the authors’ proposed online update scheme in improving the accuracies of both landmark detection and prostate segmentation. Besides, compared to the other state‐of‐the‐art prostate segmentation methods, the authors’ method achieves the best performance.Conclusions:By appropriate use of valuable patient‐specific information contained in the previous treatment images, the authors’ proposed online update scheme can obtain satisfactory results for both landmark detection and prostate segmentation.
Evaluation of the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine for Gene-Targeted Studies Using Amplicons of the Nitrogenase Gene
nifH
Authors: Zhang Bangzhou , Penton C. Ryan , Xue Chao , Wang Qiong , Zheng Tianling , Tiedje James M. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

The sequencing chips and kits of the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM), which employs semiconductor technology to measure pH changes in polymerization events, have recently been upgraded. The quality of PGM sequences has not been reassessed, and results have not been compared in the context of a gene-targeted microbial ecology study. To address this, we compared sequence profiles across available PGM chips and chemistries and with 454 pyrosequencing data by determining error types and rates and diazotrophic community structures. The PGM was then used to assess differences in
nifH
-harboring bacterial community structure among four corn-based cropping systems. Using our suggested filters from mock community analyses, the overall error rates were 0.62, 0.36, and 0.39% per base for chips 318 and 314 with the 400-bp kit and chip 318 with the Hi-Q chemistry, respectively. Compared with the 400-bp kit, the Hi-Q kit reduced indel rates by 28 to 59% and produced one to seven times more reads acceptable for downstream analyses. The PGM produced higher frameshift rates than pyrosequencing that were corrected by the RDP FrameBot tool. Significant differences among platforms were identified, although the diversity indices and overall site-based conclusions remained similar. For the cropping system analyses, a total of 6,182 unique NifH operational taxonomic units at 5% amino acid dissimilarity were obtained. The current crop type, as well as the crop rotation history, significantly influenced the composition of the soil diazotrophic community detected.
Effects of Colonization of the Roots of Domestic Rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Amaroo) by Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Prasertsincharoen Noppadol , Constantinoiu Constantin , Gardiner Christopher , Warner Jeffrey , Elliman Jennifer 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Burkholderia pseudomallei
is a saprophytic bacterium that causes melioidosis and is often isolated from rice fields in Southeast Asia, where the infection incidence is high among rice field workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between this bacterium and rice through growth experiments where the effect of colonization of domestic rice (
Oryza sativa
L. cv Amaroo) roots by
B. pseudomallei
could be observed. When
B. pseudomallei
was exposed to surface-sterilized seeds, the growth of both the root and the aerosphere was retarded compared to that in controls. The organism was found to localize in the root hairs and endodermis of the plant. A biofilm formed around the root and root structures that were colonized. Growth experiments with a wild rice species (
Oryza meridionalis
) produced similar retardation of growth, while another domestic cultivar (
O. sativa
L. cv Koshihikari) did not show retarded growth. Here we report
B. pseudomallei
infection and inhibition of
O. sativa
L. cv Amaroo, which might provide insights into plant interactions with this important human pathogen.
Recent Emergence of Escherichia coli with Cephalosporin Resistance Conferred by
bla
CTX-M
on Washington State Dairy Farms
Authors: Davis Margaret A. , Sischo William M. , Jones Lisa P. , Moore Dale A. , Ahmed Sara , Short Diana M. , Besser Thomas E. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Enterobacteriaceae
-associated
bla
CTX-M
genes have become globally widespread within the past 30 years. Among isolates from Washington State cattle,
Escherichia coli
strains carrying
bla
CTX-M
(CTX-M
E. coli
strains) were absent from a set of 2008 isolates but present in a set of isolates from 2011. On 30 Washington State dairy farms sampled in 2012, CTX-M
E. coli
prevalence was significantly higher on eastern than on northwestern Washington farms, on farms with more than 3,000 adult cows, and on farms that recently received new animals. The addition of fresh bedding to calf hutches at least weekly and use of residual fly sprays were associated with lower prevalence of CTX-M
E. coli
. In Washington State, the occurrence of human pathogens carrying
bla
CTX-M
genes preceded the emergence of
bla
CTX-M
-associated
E. coli
in cattle, indicating that these resistance determinants and/or their bacterial hosts may have emerged in human populations prior to their dissemination to cattle populations.
Dynamics of Escherichia coli Virulence Factors in Dairy Herds and Farm Environments in a Longitudinal Study in the United States
Authors: Lambertini Elisabetta , Karns Jeffrey S. , Van Kessel Jo Ann S. , Cao Huilin , Schukken Ynte H. , Wolfgang David R. , Smith Julia M. , Pradhan Abani K. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic
Escherichia coli
or its associated virulence factors have been frequently detected in dairy cow manure, milk, and dairy farm environments. However, it is unclear what the long-term dynamics of
E. coli
virulence factors are and which farm compartments act as reservoirs. This study assessed the occurrence and dynamics of four
E. coli
virulence factors (
eae
,
stx
1
,
stx
2
, and the gamma allele of the
tir
gene [γ-
tir
]) on three U.S. dairy farms. Fecal, manure, water, feed, milk, and milk filter samples were collected from 2004 to 2012. Virulence factors were measured by postenrichment quantitative PCR (qPCR). All factors were detected in most compartments on all farms. Fecal and manure samples showed the highest prevalence, up to 53% for
stx
and 21% for γ-
tir
in fecal samples and up to 84% for
stx
and 44% for γ-
tir
in manure. Prevalence was low in milk (up to 1.9% for
stx
and 0.7% for γ-
tir
). However, 35% of milk filters were positive for
stx
and 20% were positive for γ-
tir
. All factors were detected in feed and water. Factor prevalence and levels, expressed as qPCR cycle threshold categories, fluctuated significantly over time, with no clear seasonal signal independent from year-to-year variability. Levels were correlated between fecal and manure samples, and in some cases autocorrelated, but not between manure and milk filters. Shiga toxins were nearly ubiquitous, and 10 to 18% of the lactating cows were potential shedders of
E. coli
O157 at least once during their time in the herds.
E. coli
virulence factors appear to persist in many areas of the farms and therefore contribute to transmission dynamics.