bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
O18.6 Persistence of PharyngealChlamydia TrachomatisFor 1–2 Weeks is Common Among Clients at the Amsterdam STI Clinic
Authors: Rooijen M S van , Loeff M F Schim van der , Dam A P van , Speksnijder A G C L , Vries H J C de 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundPharyngealChlamydia trachomatis(PCt) must persist to contribute to ongoing transmission. We examined the prevalence, persistence and determinants of PCt among STI clinic clients.MethodsAll men having sex with men (MSM) and women with a high risk profile were screened for anogenital and pharyngeal Ct with the APTIMACombo2 assay. After one week, clients with PCt were recalled for treatment, a follow-up pharyngeal swab and a questionnaire. Clients who used antibiotics since first visit were excluded from the analysis.ResultsBetween January 2011 and July 2012, we detected 148 PCt in MSM (13,111 visits; prevalence 1.1%) and 160 PCt in women (6,915 visits; 2.3%). In both groups, PCt was associated with being notified for STI, concurrent urogenital Ct and > 10 partners, but not with pharyngeal symptoms. Women reporting sex work had a lower risk, while women with pharyngeal gonorrhoea and MSM with anorectal Ct had a higher risk for PCt. 53% of MSM and 32% of women with PCt had no concurrent anogenitial Ct.Of 43 (29%) MSM and 55 (34%) women, follow-up swabs and questionnaire data were available. The median time between both visits was 10 days. PCt persisted in 27 (63%) MSM and in 35 (64%) women. In both groups 50% had unprotected active oral sex between first and second visit, but this did not affect persistence.Among MSM no determinants for persistence were detected; among women being notified for STI, younger age and urogenital Ct were significantly associated with persistence in univariate analysis.Among clients (n = 16) whose second visit was more than 3 weeks after the first visit, 11 (69%) had PCt at second visit.DiscussionThe prevalence of PCt is low among STI clinic clients, but persistence is common. Therefore, the pharynx is a potential reservoir for ongoing Ct transmission.
O21.3 Fitness Studies onNeisseria GonorrhoeaeHarboring MosaicpenAAlleles from Ceftriaxone-Resistant Isolates Predict the Spread of Resistance to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporins
Authors: Vincent L R , Unemo M , Duncan M , Nicholas R A , Jerse A E 
Published: July 2013

BackgroundApproximately 106 million cases of gonorrhoea occur worldwide each year. Gonorrhea significantly affects reproductive health and increases transmission of HIV. Antibiotic treatment is a critical control measure; however, this strategy is threatened by the rapid evolution of resistance inNeisseria gonorrhoeae(Gc). Gc susceptibility to ceftriaxone, the last remaining option for antibiotic monotherapy, has decreased globally over the last decade. Recently Gc has been elevated to “superbug” status due to the emergence of ceftriaxone-resistant (CROR) strains. Dual antibiotic therapy is now recommended in the USA and Europe. Ceftriaxone resistance in Gc is conferred primarily by mosaicpenAalleles that encode an altered penicillin-binding protein 2 with up to 70 amino acid substitutions. Whether acquisition of these mosaic alleles is accompanied by a fitness cost is unknown.Methods and ResultsHere we examined the impact of mosaicpenAalleles from two well-characterised CRORclinical isolates, H041 (MIC = 2–4 µg/ml) and F89 (MIC = 1–2 µg/ml), on Gcfitnessin vitroandin vivo. The wild-typepenAallele of laboratory strain FA19 (CROS) was replaced bypenA41orpenA89to create mutants FA19penA41and FA19penA89, respectively. Acquisition of the mosaic alleles increased ceftriaxone resistance ≥ 500-fold. Both mutants grew significantly slower than FA19 in liquid culture. When cultured competitively with the parent strain, FA19penA41and FA19penA89demonstrated a fitness defect, as measured by competitive index. Mutants were attenuated relative to the parent strain during competitive murine infection. However, only CRORbacteria were recovered at later time points from 3 of 7 mice co-inoculated with FA19penA41andFA19, suggesting selection of compensatory mutationsin vivo.ConclusionsAcquisition ofmosaic alleles significantly reduced fitness of Gc, but compensatory mutations can be selectedin vivothat alleviate fitness defects while maintaining resistance. Our studies may be useful in predicting the national and international spread of CRORGc.
Myoferlin Is a Key Regulator of EGFR Activity in Breast Cancer
Authors: Turtoi Andrei , Blomme Arnaud , Bellahcène Akeila , Gilles Christine , Hennequière Vincent , Peixoto Paul , Bianchi Elettra , Noel Agnès , De Pauw Edwin , Lifrange Eric , Delvenne Philippe , Castronovo Vincent 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Myoferlin is a member of the ferlin family of proteins that participate in plasma membrane fusion, repair, and endocytosis. While some reports have implicated myoferlin in cancer, the extent of its expression in and contributions to cancer are not well established. In this study, we show that myoferlin is overexpressed in human breast cancers and that it has a critical role in controlling degradation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) after its activation and internalization in breast cancer cells. Myoferlin depletion blocked EGF-induced cell migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Both effects were induced as a result of impaired degradation of phosphorylated EGFR via dysfunctional plasma membrane caveolae and alteration of caveolin homo-oligomerization. In parallel, myoferlin depletion reduced tumor development in a chicken chorioallantoic membrane xenograft model of human breast cancer. Considering the therapeutic significance of EGFR targeting, our findings identify myoferlin as a novel candidate function to target for future drug development. Cancer Res; 73(17); 5438–48. ©2013 AACR.
Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis of Human Left Atrial Tissue Identifies Gene Modules Associated With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Tan Nicholas , Chung Mina K. , Smith Jonathan D. , Hsu Jeffrey , Serre David , Newton David W. , Castel Laurie , Soltesz Edward , Pettersson Gosta , Gillinov A. Marc , Van Wagoner David R. , Barnard John 
Published: July 2013

Background—
Genetic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) remain incompletely understood. Previous differential expression studies in AF were limited by small sample size and provided limited understanding of global gene networks, prompting the need for larger-scale, network-based analyses.

Methods and Results—

Left atrial tissues from Cleveland Clinic patients who underwent cardiac surgery were assayed using Illumina Human HT-12 mRNA microarrays. The data set included 3 groups based on cardiovascular comorbidities: mitral valve (MV) disease without coronary artery disease (n=64), coronary artery disease without MV disease (n=57), and lone AF (n=35). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was performed in the MV group to detect modules of correlated genes. Module preservation was assessed in the other 2 groups. Module eigengenes were regressed on AF severity or atrial rhythm at surgery. Modules whose eigengenes correlated with either AF phenotype were analyzed for gene content. A total of 14 modules were detected in the MV group; all were preserved in the other 2 groups. One module (124 genes) was associated with AF severity and atrial rhythm across all groups. Its top hub gene,
RCAN1
, is implicated in calcineurin-dependent signaling and cardiac hypertrophy. Another module (679 genes) was associated with atrial rhythm in the MV and coronary artery disease groups. It was enriched with cell signaling genes and contained cardiovascular developmental genes including
TBX5
.

Conclusions—
Our network-based approach found 2 modules strongly associated with AF. Further analysis of these modules may yield insight into AF pathogenesis by providing novel targets for functional studies.
An Overview of Normative Frameworks for the Protection of Development-Induced IDPs in Kenya
Authors: Juma Laurence 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Based on the assumption that development induced displacement brings new challenges that the existing protection frameworks may not be aptly suited to deal with, this article analyses how the existing laws have met this challenge and the prospects for further improvement. While its focus is on Kenya, it evaluates the normative quality of protection and standards offered by regional instruments against the existing, as well emerging, parameters for implementation at the domestic level. In this regard, the article examines the propriety of Kenya’s newly promulgated law on internal displacement in providing for protection for the development induced IDPs, the implementation programme that it establishes and its prospects for furthering the vision of the UN Guiding Principles on Internally Displaced and other regional instruments.
WegenerNet: A Pioneering High-Resolution Network for Monitoring Weather and Climate
Authors: Kirchengast Gottfried , Kabas Thomas , Leuprecht Armin , Bichler Christoph , Truhetz Heimo 
Published: July 2013

The Feldbach region in southeast Austria, characteristic for experiencing a rich variety of weather and climate patterns, has been selected as the focus area for a pioneering weather and climate observation network at very high resolution: The WegenerNet comprises 151 meteorological stations measuring temperature, precipitation, and other parameters, in a tightly spaced grid within an area of about 20 km × 15 km centered near the city of Feldbach (46.93°N, 15.90°E). With its stations about every 2 km2, each with 5-min time sampling, the network provides regular measurements since January 2007, after a pilot phase, until 2010, meanwhile in an operational manner. Quality-controlled station time series and gridded field data (spacing 200 m × 200 m) are available in near–real time (data latency less than 1–2 h) for visualization and download via a data portal (www.wegenernet.org; detailed information is available via www.wegcenter.at/wegenernet).
This paper introduces the WegenerNet from its design and setup via its processing system and data products to showing example results. The latter include extreme weather event examples, climate variability over the 5-yr period from 2007 to 2011, and an example of calibration support to coupled climate–hydrology modeling. The network is set to serve as a long-term monitoring and validation facility for weather and climate research and applications. Uses include validation of nonhydrostatic models operated at 1-km-scale resolution and of statistical downscaling techniques (in particular for precipitation), validation of weather radar and satellite data, study of orography–climate relationships, and many others.
Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) as a novel target in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Yaktapour Niuscha , Übelhart Rudolf , Schüler Julia , Aumann Konrad , Dierks Christine , Burger Meike , Pfeifer Dietmar , Jumaa Hassan , Veelken Hendrik , Brummer Tilman , Zirlik Katja 
Published: July 2013

Key Points
We provide a functional analysis of IGF1R expression in primary human B-CLL. Sorafenib reduces IGF1R expression in B-CLL.
Implications of continued response after autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
Authors: Gonsalves Wilson I. , Gertz Morie A. , Dispenzieri Angela , Lacy Martha Q. , Lin Yi , Singh Preet P. , Gupta Vinay , Hayman Suzanne R. , Buadi Francis K. , Dingli David , Kapoor Prashant , McCurdy Arleigh R. , Kumar Shaji K. 
Published: July 2013

Key Points
A continued monoclonal protein response after ASCT in the absence of further therapy is prognostic in MM patients.
De novo sequencing and transcriptome analysis of the desert shrub, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, during cold acclimation using Illumina/Solexa
Authors: Pang Tao , Ye Chu-Yu , Xia Xinli , Yin Weilun 
Published: July 2013

AbstractBackgroundAmmopiptanthus mongolicus(Maxim. ex Kom.) Cheng f., an evergreen broadleaf legume shrub, is distributed in Mid-Asia where the temperature can be as low as −30°C during the winter. AlthoughA. mongolicusis an ideal model to study the plant response to cold stress, insufficient genomic resources for this species are available in public databases. To identify genes involved in cold acclimation (a phenomenon experienced by plants after low temperature stress), a high-throughput sequencing technology was applied.ResultsWe sequenced cold-treated and control (untreated) samples ofA. mongolicus, and obtained 65,075,656 and 67,287,120 high quality reads, respectively. Afterde novoassembly and quantitative assessment, 82795 all-unigenes were finally generated with an average length of 816 bp. We then obtained functional annotations by aligning all-unigenes with public protein databases including NR, SwissProt, KEGG and COG. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were investigated using the RPKM method. Overall, 9309 up-regulated genes and 23419 down-regulated genes were identified. To increase our understanding of these DEGs, we performed GO enrichment and metabolic pathway enrichment analyses. Based on these results, a series of candidate genes involved in cold responsive pathways were selected and discussed. Moreover, we analyzed transcription factors, and found 720 of them are differentially expressed. Finally, 20 of the candidate genes that were up-regulated and known to be associated with cold stress were examined using qRT-PCR.ConclusionsIn this study, we identified a large set of cDNA unigenes fromA. mongolicus. This is the first transcriptome sequencing of this non-model species under cold-acclimation using Illumina/Solexa, a next-generation sequencing technology. We sequenced cold-treated and control (untreated) samples ofA. mongolicusand obtained large numbers of unigenes annotated to public databases. Studies of differentially expressed genes involved in cold-related metabolic pathways and transcription factors facilitate the discovery of cold-resistance genes.
Molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus in liver disease patients and asymptomatic carriers of the virus in Sudan
Authors: Yousif Mukhlid , Mudawi Hatim , Bakhiet Sahar , Glebe Dieter , Kramvis Anna 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Hepatitis B virus is hyperendemic in Sudan. Our aim was to molecularly characterize hepatitis B virus from Sudanese individuals, with and without liver disease, because genotypes play an important role in clinical manifestation and treatment management.

Methods
Ninety-nine patients - 30 asymptomatic, 42 cirrhotic, 15 with hepatocellular carcinoma, 7 with acute hepatitis and 5 with chronic hepatitis- were enrolled. Sequencing of surface and basic core promoter/precore regions and complete genome were performed.

Results
The mean ± standard deviation, age was 45.7±14.8 years and the male to female ratio 77:22. The median (interquartile range) of hepatitis B virus DNA and alanine aminotransferase levels were 2.8 (2.2-4.2) log IU/ml and 30 (19–49) IU/L, respectively. Using three genotyping methods, 81/99 (82%) could be genotyped. Forty eight percent of the 99 patients were infected with genotype D and 24% with genotype E, 2% with putative D/E recombinants and 7% with genotype A. Patients infected with genotype E had higher frequency of hepatitis B e antigen-positivity and higher viral loads compared to patients infected with genotype D. Basic core promoter/precore region mutations, including the G1896A in 37% of HBeAg-negative individuals, could account for hepatitis B e antigen-negativity. Pre-S deletion mutants were found in genotypes D and E. Three isolates had the vaccine escape mutant sM133T.

Conclusion
Sudanese hepatitis B virus carriers were mainly infected with genotypes D or E, with patients infected with genotype E having higher HBeAg-positivity and higher viral loads. This is the first study to molecularly characterize hepatitis B virus from liver disease patients in Sudan.
Trends in sugar supply and consumption in Australia: is there an Australian Paradox?
Authors: Rikkers Wavne , Lawrence David , Hafekost Katherine , Mitrou Francis , Zubrick Stephen R 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
High consumption of refined carbohydrate, in particular sugar, has been identified as a possible contributory factor in greater risk of excess weight gain. In spite of data limitations, one recent paper suggests that Australian sugar consumption has decreased over the same time period that obesity has increased, a so called ‘Australian Paradox’. Given the significant public health focus on nutrition, we aimed to estimate Australian sugar supply and consumption over recent decades, to determine whether these data could be used to make any conclusions about sugar’s role in obesity.

Methods
Foods high in sugar were identified. Data relating to sugar supply and consumption from 1988 to 2010 were obtained from multiple sources. Using these data we attempted to generate a time series estimate of sugar in Australia’s food supply.

Results
Australia produces and exports sugar from sugar cane and the sugar in imported foods has received little attention. We were unable to produce a reliable and robust estimate of total sugars in the Australian diet due to data limitations and a lack of current data sources. However, available Import data showed large increases in the volume and value of imported sweetened products between 1988 and 2010 to over 30 grams of sugar per person per day. Value estimates of local production of sweetened products also show substantial increases in this period.

Conclusion
The Australian Paradox assertion is based on incomplete data, as it excludes sugar contained in imported processed foods, which have increased markedly. A major Australian public health target is to improve the quality of the food supply, and actions have been set in terms of achieving broader environmental changes. However, evaluation of progress is hampered by lack of high quality data relating to supply and consumption. We recommend the regular collection of comprehensive food supply statistics, which include both local production and imports. This would provide an inexpensive addition to survey data and could assist in monitoring sugar consumption trends in food supply. Such information would also help inform public health policy.
Bee venom effects on ubiquitin proteasome system in hSOD1G85R-expressing NSC34 motor neuron cells
Authors: Kim Seon Hwy , Jung So Young , Lee Kang-Woo , Lee Sun Hwa , Cai MuDan , Choi Sun-Mi , Yang Eun Jin 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that results from a progressive loss of motor neurons. Familial ALS (fALS) is caused by missense mutations in Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) that frequently result in the accumulation of mutant protein aggregates that are associated with impairments in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). UPS impairment has been implicated in many neurological disorders. Bee venom (BV) extracted from honey bees has been used as a traditional medicine for treating inflammatory diseases and has been shown to attenuate the neuroinflammatory events that occur in a symptomatic ALS animal model.

Methods
NSC34 cells were transiently transfected with a WT or G85R hSOD1-GFP construct for 24 hrs and then stimulated with 2.5 μg/ml BV for 24 hrs. To determine whether a SOD1 mutation affects UPS function in NSC34 cells, we examined proteasome activity and performed western blotting and immunofluorescence using specific antibodies, such as anti-misfolded SOD1, anti-ubiquitin, anti-GRP78, anti-LC3, and anti-ISG15 antibodies.

Results
We found that GFP-hSOD1G85R overexpression induced SOD1 inclusions and reduced proteasome activity compared with the overexpression of GFP alone in NSC34 motor neuronal cells. In addition, we also observed that BV treatment restored proteasome activity and reduced the accumulation of ubiquitinated and misfolded SOD1 in GFP-hSOD1G85R-overexpressing NSC34 motor neuronal cells. However, BV treatment did not activate the autophagic pathway in these cells.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that BV may rescue the impairment of the UPS in ALS models.
Late developing mammary tumors and hyperplasia induced by a low-oncogenic variant of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) express genes identical to those induced by canonical MMTV
Authors: Bruno Robert D , Rosenfield Sonia M , Smith Gilbert H 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
The canonical milk-transmitted mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) of C3H mice (C3H-MMTV) rapidly induces tumors in 90% of infected animals by 8 months of age. Pro-viral insertions of C3H-MMTV into genomic DNA results in the overexpression of common core insertion site (CIS) genes, including Wnt1/10b, Rspo2, and Fgf3. Conversely, infection by either the endogenous Mtv-1 virus (in C3Hf) or the exogenous nodule-inducing virus (NIV) (in Balb/c NIV) induces premalignant mammary lesions and tumors with reduced incidence and longer latency than C3H-MMTV. Here, we asked whether Mtv-1/NIV affected the expression of core CIS genes.

Findings
We confirmed the presence of active virus in Mtv-1/NIV infected tissues and using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) found that Mtv-1/NIV induced neoplasms (tumors and hyperplasia) commonly expressed the core CIS genes Wnt1, Wnt10b, Rspo2, Fgf3.

Conclusions
These results underscore the importance of core CIS gene expression in the early events leading to MMTV-induced mammary tumor initiation regardless of the viral variant.
Prognostic analysis of esophageal cancer in elderly patients: metastatic lymph node ratio versus 2010 AJCC classification by lymph nodes
Authors: Feng Ji-Feng , Huang Ying , Chen Lu , Zhao Qiang 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Recent studies have proposed a new prognostic factor (metastatic lymph node ratio, or MLNR) for patients with esophageal cancer (EC). However, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies conducted to date regarding MLNR in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of MLNR staging compared with the 2010 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) N staging in elderly patients with EC.

Methods
From January 2001 to December 2009, a retrospective analysis of 132 consecutive patients older than 70 years of age with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was conducted. Prognostic factors for disease-specific survival were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were also plotted to verify the accuracy of MLNR staging and N staging for survival prediction.

Results
The disease-specific survival rates of N0, N1, N2 and N3 patients according to the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual Seventh Edition N staging were 65.5%, 42.9%, 22.2% and 0, respectively (N0 vs N1, P = 0.017; N1 vsN2, = 0.050; N2 vs N3, P < 0.001). The disease-specific survival rates of MLNR0, MLNR1, MLNR2 and MLNR3 patients were 65.5%, 45.0%, 21.1% and 0, respectively (MLNR0 vsMLNR1, P = 0.026; MLNR1 vs MLNR2, P = 0.033; MLNR2 vs MLNR3, P = 0.015). The areas under the curve were 0.731 for the 2010 AJCC N staging and 0.737 for the MLNR staging.

Conclusion
MLNR is an independent predictor of survival in elderly patients with ESCC. MLNR staging predicts survival after EC similarly to the 2010 AJCC N classifications and should be considered an alternative to current N staging.