bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The validation of a three-stage screening methodology for detecting active convulsive epilepsy in population-based studies in health and demographic surveillance systems
Authors: Ngugi Anthony K , Bottomley Christian , Chengo Eddie , Kombe Martha Z , Kazungu Michael , Bauni Evasius , Mbuba Caroline K , Kleinschmidt Immo , Newton Charles R 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background
There are few studies on the epidemiology of epilepsy in large populations in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Most studies in these regions use two-stage population-based screening surveys, which are time-consuming and costly to implement in large populations required to generate accurate estimates. We examined the sensitivity and specificity of a three-stage cross-sectional screening methodology in detecting active convulsive epilepsy (ACE), which can be embedded within on-going census of demographic surveillance systems.
We validated a three-stage cross-sectional screening methodology on a randomly selected sample of participants of a three-stage prevalence survey of epilepsy. Diagnosis of ACE by an experienced clinician was used as ‘gold standard’. We further compared the expenditure of this method with the standard two-stage methodology.

Results
We screened 4442 subjects in the validation and identified 35 cases of ACE. Of these, 18 were identified as false negatives, most of whom (15/18) were missed in the first stage and a few (3/18) in the second stage of the three-stage screening. Overall, this methodology had a sensitivity of 48.6% and a specificity of 100%. It was 37% cheaper than a two-stage survey.

Conclusion
This was the first study to evaluate the performance of a multi-stage screening methodology used to detect epilepsy in demographic surveillance sites. This method had poor sensitivity attributed mainly to stigma-related non-response in the first stage. This method needs to take into consideration the poor sensitivity and the savings in expenditure and time as well as validation in target populations. Our findings suggest the need for continued efforts to develop and improve case-ascertainment methods in population-based epidemiological studies of epilepsy in LMIC.
The development and application of new crystallization method for tobacco mosaic virus coat protein
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Song Baoan , Hu Deyu , Wang Zhenchao , Zeng Mengjiao , Yu Dandan , Chen Zhuo , Jin Linhong , Yang Song 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Although tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) has been isolated from virus particles and its crystals have grown in ammonium sulfate buffers for many years, to date, no one has reported on the crystallization of recombinant TMV-CP connecting peptides expressed in E. coli.

Methods
In the present papers genetically engineered TMV-CP was expressed, into which hexahistidine (His) tags or glutathione-S-transferase (GST) tags were incorporated. Considering that GST-tags are long peptides and His-tags are short peptides, an attempt was made to grow crystals of TMV-CP cleaved GST-tags (WT-TMV-CP32) and TMV-CP incorporated His-tags (WT-His-TMV-CP12) simultaneously in ammonium sulfate buffers and commercial crystallization reagents. It was found that the 20S disk form of WT-TMV-CP32 and WT-His-TMV-CP12 did not form high resolution crystals by using various crystallization buffers and commercial crystallization reagents. Subsequently, a new experimental method was adopted in which a range of truncated TMV-CP was constructed by removing several amino acids from the N- or the C-terminal, and high resolution crystals were grown in ammonium sulfate buffers and commercial crystallization reagents.

Results
The new crystallization method was developed and 3.0 Å resolution macromolecular crystal was thereby obtained by removing four amino acids at the C-terminal of His-TMV-CP and connecting six His-tags at the N-terminal of His-TMV-CP (TR-His-TMV-CP19). The Four-layer aggregate disk structure of TR-His-TMV-CP19 was solved. This phenomenon showed that peptides at the C-terminus hindered the growth of high resolution crystals and the peptides interactions at the N-terminus were attributed to the quality of TMV-CP crystals.

Conclusion
A 3.0 Å resolution macromolecular crystal of TR-His-TMV-CP19 was obtained and the corresponding structure was solved by removing four amino acids at the C-terminus of TMV-CP and connecting His-tags at the N-terminus of TMV-CP. It indicated that short peptides influenced the resolution of TMV-CP crystals.
Replication kinetics of duck enteritis virus UL16 gene in vitro
Authors: He Qin , Cheng Anchun , Wang Mingshu , Xiang Jun , Zhu Dekang , Zhou Yi , Jia Renyong , Chen Shun , Chen Zhengli , Chen Xiaoyue 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
The function and kinetics of some herpsvirus UL16 gene have been reported. But there was no any report of duck enteritis virus (DEV) UL16 gene.

Findings
The kinetics of DEV UL16 gene was examined in DEV CHv infected duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs) by establishment of real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (qRT-PCR) and western-blotting. In this study, UL16 mRNA was transcript at a low level from 0–18 h post-infection (p.i), and peaked at 36 h p.i. It can’t be detected in the presence of acyclovir (ACV). Besides, western-blotting analysis showed that UL16 gene expressed as an apparent 40-KDa in DEV infected cell lysate from 12 h p.i, and rose to peak level at 48 h p.i consistent with the qRT-PCR result.

Conclusions
These results provided the first evidence of the kinetics of DEV UL16 gene. DEV UL16 gene was a late gene and dependent on viral DNA synthesis.
Practice effects in a longitudinal, multi-center Alzheimer’s disease prevention clinical trial
Authors: Abner Erin L , Dennis Brandon C , Mathews Melissa J , Mendiondo Marta S , Caban-Holt Allison , Kryscio Richard J , Schmitt Frederick A ,   for the PREADViSE Investigators, Crowley John J ,   for the SELECT Investigators
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Practice effects are a known threat to reliability and validity in clinical trials. Few studies have investigated the potential influence of practice on repeated screening measures in longitudinal clinical trials with a focus on dementia prevention. The current study investigates whether practice effects exist on a screening measure commonly used in aging research, the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS).

Methods
The PREADViSE trial is a clinical intervention study evaluating the efficacy of vitamin E and selenium for Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Participants are screened annually for incident dementia with the MIS. Participants with baseline and three consecutive follow-ups who made less than a perfect score at one or more assessments were included in the current analyses (N=1,803). An additional subset of participants with four consecutive assessments but who received the same version of the MIS at baseline and first follow-up (N=301) was also assessed to determine the effects of alternate forms on mitigating practice. We hypothesized that despite efforts to mitigate practice effects with alternate versions, MIS scores would improve with repeated screening. Linear mixed models were used to estimate mean MIS scores over time.

Results
Among men with four visits and alternating MIS versions, although there is little evidence of a significant practice effect at the first follow-up, mean scores clearly improve at the second and third follow-ups for all but the oldest participants. Unlike those who received alternate versions, men given the same version at first follow-up show significant practice effects.

Conclusion
While increases in the overall means were small, they represent a significant number of men whose scores improved with repeated testing. Such improvements could bias case ascertainment if not taken into account.
Characteristics of the Colombian armed conflict and the mental health of civilians living in active conflict zones
Authors: Bell Vaughan , Méndez Fernanda , Martínez Carmen , Palma Pedro Pablo , Bosch Marc 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Despite the fact that the Colombian armed conflict has continued for almost five decades there is still very little information on how it affects the mental health of civilians. Although it is well established in post-conflict populations that experience of organised violence has a negative impact on mental health, little research has been done on those living in active conflict zones. Médecins Sans Frontières provides mental health services in areas of active conflict in Colombia and using data from these services we aimed to establish which characteristics of the conflict are most associated with specific symptoms of mental ill health.

Methods
An analysis of clinical data from patients (N = 6,353), 16 years and over, from 2010–2011, who consulted in the Colombian departments (equivalent to states) of Nariño, Cauca, Putumayo and Caquetá. Risk factors were grouped using a hierarchical cluster analysis and the clusters were included with demographic information as predictors in logistic regressions to discern which risk factor clusters best predicted specific symptoms.

Results
Three clear risk factor clusters emerged which were interpreted as ‘direct conflict related violence’, ‘personal violence not directly conflict-related’ and ‘general hardship’. The regression analyses indicated that conflict related violence was more highly related to anxiety-related psychopathology than other risk factor groupings while non-conflict violence was more related to aggression and substance abuse, which was more common in males. Depression and suicide risk were represented equally across risk factor clusters.

Conclusions
As the largest study of its kind in Colombia it demonstrates a clear impact of the conflict on mental health. Among those who consulted with mental health professionals, specific conflict characteristics could predict symptom profiles. However, some of the highest risk outcomes, like depression, suicide risk and aggression, were more related to factors indirectly related to the conflict. This suggests a need to focus on the systemic affects of armed conflict and not solely on direct exposure to fighting.
Acquired urethral diverticulum in a man with paraplegia presenting with a scrotal mass: a case report
Authors: El Ammari Jalal Eddine , Riyach Omar , Ahsaini Mustapha , Ahallal Youness , El Fassi Mohammed Jamal , Farih My Hassan 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Introduction
Male urethral diverticula are rare. Patients with paraplegia may present with acquired diverticula as a result of prolonged catheterization. Diverticula may be asymptomatic or lead to lower urinary tract symptoms. Rarely, the diverticulum may initially present as a scrotal mass.

Case presentation
We report the case of a male 45-year-old Arab with paraplegia who presented with a mass in the peno-scrotal junction. He had in his medical history iterative prolonged urethral catheterizations associated with urine leakage through the urethral meatus upon applying compression. Diagnosis confirmation of urethral diverticula is obtained by retrograde urethrography. The patient underwent a diverticulectomy with urethroplasty.

Conclusion
Male acquired urethral diverticula can be found in patients who have a spinal cord injury because of prolonged urethral catheterization. Clinical presentations are different and sometimes can be misleading. Retrograde urethrography is the key to diagnosis and open surgery is the treatment of reference.
Application of RNA silencing to plant disease resistance
Authors: Duan Cheng-Guo , Wang Chun-Han , Guo Hui-Shan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTo reduce the losses caused by plant pathogens, plant biologists have adopted numerous methods to engineer resistant plants. Among them, RNA silencing-based resistance has been a powerful tool that has been used to engineer resistant crops during the last two decades. Based on this mechanism, diverse approaches were developed. In this review, we focus on the application of RNA silencing to produce plants that are resistant to plant viruses such as RNA and DNA viruses, viroids, insects, and the recent expansion to fungal pathogens.
Traction esophageal diverticulum: a rare cause of gastro-intestinal bleeding
Authors: Ballehaninna Umashankar K , Shaw Jason P , Brichkov Igor 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Esophageal diverticula are uncommon lesions that are usually classified according to their location (cervical, thoracic, or epiphrenic), or underlying pathogenesis (pulsion or traction), and their morphology (true or false).The majority of esophageal diverticula are acquired lesions that occur predominantly in elderly adults. Pulsion, or false, diverticula are the most commonly encountered type of esophageal diverticula noticed at the level of cricopharyngeus muscle, occur as a localized outpouchings that lacks a muscular coat, and as such their wall is formed entirely by mucosa and submucosa.
True, or traction, esophageal diverticulum (TED) is seen in the middle one third of the thoracic esophagus in a peribronchial location, occurs secondary to mediastinal inflammatory lesions such as tuberculosis or histoplasmosis. The resultant desmoplastic reaction in the paraesophageal tissue causes full thickness pinching on the esophageal wall, producing a conical, broad-mouthed true diverticulum. They often project to the right side because subcarinal lymph nodes in this area are closely associated with the right anterior wall of the esophagus.
TED usually presents with symptoms such as dysphagia, postural regurgitation, belching, retrosternal pain, heartburn, and epigastric pain. As in patients with pharyngoesophageal (Zenker’s) diverticula, pulmonary symptoms are often present but underestimated in TED patients. These symptoms range from mild nocturnal cough to life-threatening massive aspiration. In this particular report we describe a rare case of TED presenting as a symptomatic upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnostic evaluation of TED includes chest X-ray, barium esophagogram and manometry. A significant proportion of lower esophageal diverticula are associated with motility disorders. Management of TED include treating the underlying cause sometimes a surgical resection of diverticulum along with esophageal myotomy is necessitated in symptomatic patients.
Sonar jamming in the field: effectiveness and behavior of a unique prey defense
Authors: Corcoran Aaron J. , Conner William E. 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARYBats and insects provide a model system for integrating our understanding of predator–prey ecology, animal behavior and neurophysiology. Previous field studies of bat–insect interactions have been limited by the technological challenges involved with studying nocturnal, volant animals that use ultrasound and engage in battles that frequently last a fraction of a second. We overcame these challenges using a robust field methodology that included multiple infrared cameras calibrated for three-dimensional reconstruction of bat and moth flight trajectories and four ultrasonic microphones that provided a spatial component to audio recordings. Our objectives were to document bat–moth interactions in a natural setting and to test the effectiveness of a unique prey defense – sonar jamming. We tested the effect of sonar jamming by comparing the results of interactions between bats and Grote’s tiger moth, Bertholdia trigona, with their sound-producing organs either intact or ablated. Jamming was highly effective, with bats capturing more than 10 times as many silenced moths as clicking moths. Moths frequently combined their acoustic defense with two separate evasive maneuvers: flying away from the bat and diving. Diving decreased bat capture success for both clicking and silenced moths, while flying away did not. The diving showed a strong directional component, a first for insect defensive maneuvers. We discuss the timing of B. trigona defensive maneuvers – which differs from that of other moths – in the context of moth auditory neuroethology. Studying bat–insect interactions in their natural environment provides valuable information that complements work conducted in more controlled settings.
Concomitant Use of Ipratropium and Tiotropium in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Cole Jennifer M , Sheehan Amy Heck , Jordan Joseph K 
Published: November 2012

Objective: To describe the current data evaluating the efficacy and safety of ipratropium used in combination with tiotropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data Sources: A literature search using MEDLINE (1966-August 2012) and EMBASE (1973-August 2012) was conducted using the search terms ipratropium, tiotropium, combination drug therapy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. References of identified articles were reviewed for additional relevant citations. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All English-language articles regarding the concomitant use of ipratropium and tiotropium were reviewed. Data Synthesis: Two prospective randomized controlled trials have demonstrated increases in bronchodilation with ipratropium when added to maintenance tiotropium therapy, suggesting potential benefits during short-term, combined use. One study reported significantly higher peak forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV,) responses with both ipratropium (230 mL) and fenoterol (315 mL) compared to placebo (178 mL) when added to maintenance tiotropium. The peak response with fenoterol was significantly higher than with ipratropium (FEV, difference = 84 mL). Another study reported a mean difference in FEV, of 81 mL (95% CI 27 to 136) with albuterol versus placebo and a mean difference in FEV, of 68 mL (95% CI 3 to 132) with ipratropium versus placebo. The difference between albuterol and ipratropium when added to maintenance tiotropium was not significant. One large observational study reported a significantly higher risk of acute urinary retention in individuals receiving combination therapy with a short- and long-acting anticholinergic agent compared to those receiving monotherapy (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.25 to 2.71). Individuals at highest risk were men and those with evidence of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Conclusions: While ipratropium may provide spirometric improvements in lung function for patients receiving tiotropium maintenance therapy, the clinical significance of these improvements has not been documented and the risk of anticholinergic adverse effects is increased with combination therapy. Further studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of concomitant ipratropium and tiotropium are warranted before combination use can be recommended for select patients.
Effectiveness of Palonosetron Versus Other Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists in Triple Antiemetic Regimens During Multiday Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy
Authors: Kim Kyung Im , Lee Dong Eun , Cho Inhye , Yoon Jeong-Hyun , Yoon Sung-Soo , Lee Hye Suk , Oh Jung Mi 
Published: November 2012

Background: The second-generation serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron has shown improved efficacy in the prevention of both acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, there have been no randomized controlled trials supporting the preferential use of palonosetron in triple antiemetic regimens for patients receiving multiday highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). Objective: To compare the effectiveness of palonosetron-based and first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist–based triple antiemetic regimens in cancer patients receiving multiday HEC. Methods: This was a review and analysis of medical record data. A total of 115 patients who had received multiday HEC were included and grouped into a palonosetron-based antiemetic group (n = 73) or a first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist–based antiemetic group (n = 42). Data on CINV were collected in 24-hour intervals for 120 hours after the start of chemotherapy. Results: Complete response rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups during any of the 3 phases: acute (0-24 hours), p = 0.877; overlap (24-120 hours), p = 0.997; and overall (0-120 hours), p = 0.723. The proportion of patients with complete control was similar between the groups during each phase: acute, p = 0.862; overlap, p = 0.838; and overall, p = 0.828. There was also no significant difference in other end points between the 2 groups. Among all patients, females experienced significantly more acute nausea (p = 0.040) and vomiting (p = 0.046) than males. Compared with nondrinkers, patients who consumed alcohol had a lower overall incidence of vomiting (p = 0.020). Conclusions: Within a triple antiemetic regimen, a palonosetron-based antiemetic regimen was not significantly different from regimens based on first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in preventing CINV during multiday HEC.
Prescription-Acquired Acetaminophen Use and the Risk of Asthma in Adults: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Kelkar Mugdha , Cleves Mario A , Foster Howell R , Hogan William R , James Laura P , Martin Bradley C 
Published: November 2012

Background: Studies have examined the association between acetaminophen use and asthma; however, their interpretation is limited by several methodologic issues. Objective: To investigate the association between recent and chronic prescription-acquired acetaminophen use and asthma. Methods: This retrospective case-control study used a 10% random sample of the IMS LifeLink commercial claims data from 1997 to 2009. Cases had to have at least 1 incident claim of asthma; 3:1 controls matched on age, sex, and region were randomly chosen. Acetaminophen exposure, dose, and duration were measured in the 7- and 30-day (recent) and the 1-year (chronic) look-back periods. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of asthma associated with acetaminophen use adjusted for comorbidities, other drugs increasing asthma risk, and health system factors. Results: There were 28,892 cases and 86,676 controls, with mean age of 42.8 years; 37.7% were mates, and 22.6% of cases and 18.2% of controls had acetaminophen exposure in the pre-index year, with mean cumulative doses of 78.7 g and 59.8 g, respectively. There was no significant association between recent prescription acetaminophen exposure and asthma (7 days: OR 1.02, p = 0.74; 30 days: OR 0.97, p = 0.38). Cumulative prescription acetaminophen dose in the year prior increased asthma risk compared to acetaminophen nonusers (≤1 kg: OR 1.09, p < 0.001 and >1 kg: OR = 1.60, p = 0.02). Duration of prescription acetaminophen use greater than 30 days was associated with elevated asthma risk (OR 1.39, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Chronic prescription-acquired acetaminophen use was associated with an increased risk of asthma, while recent use was not. However, over-the-counter acetaminophen use was not captured in this study and further epidemiologic research with complete acetaminophen exposure ascertainment and research on pathophysiologic mechanisms is needed to confirm these relationships.