bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generation and characterization of soluble interleukin-33 receptor fused with immunoglobulin gamma-1 constant domain expressed by P
ichia pastoris yeast
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao , Truong Thi Hoang Dieu , Le Gia Bao , Duong Hoa Xo , Nguyen Quoc Binh , Nguyen Dang Quan 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Objectives
Interleukin (IL)-33 is a novel member of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 family, which plays an important role in the immune response. IL-33 was proved to involve in many inflammatory and allergic diseases, thus the inhibition of this cytokine may be a promising treatment for these diseases. Arms of the study were to generate mouse soluble IL-33 receptor fused with human IgG1 Fc domain (msIL33R-Fc) expressed by Pichia pastoris yeast and to characterize the IL-33 inhibitory activity of this protein.

Methods
Clone of P. pastoris expressing msIL33R-Fc was established and the recombinant protein was harvested from culture supernatant by protein A sepharose beads. Recombinant msIL33R-Fc was analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and activity of the protein was investigated using the immunoprecipitation and the bio-assay on EL-4 cells.

Key findings
P . pastoris-derived msIL33R-Fc was expressed as a glyco-protein and perhaps in dimeric form. The glycosylation of protein expressed by P. pastoris yeast was more intensive and more heterogeneous compared with the counterpart protein expressed from HEK293 cells. Similar to HEK293-derived protein, msIL33R-Fc from P. pastoris was able to capture IL-33 and to interfere with the interaction between IL-33 and IL-33R in in-vitro condition. In IL-33-stimulated EL-4 cell bio-assay, P. pastoris-derived msIL33R-Fc suppressed IL-33 activity similarly as HEK293-derived msIL33R-Fc did.

Conclusions
P . pastoris yeast can express and secrete bio-functional fusion protein sIL33R-Fc IgG1 and this expression system may be beneficial in future studies on the fusion protein.
Glycerol‐3‐phosphate metabolism plays a role in stress response in the red alga Pyropia haitanensis
Authors: Lai Xiao‐Juan , Yang Rui , Luo Qi‐Jun , Chen Juan‐Juan , Chen Hai‐Min , Yan Xiao‐Jun 
Published: January 2015

Glycerol‐3‐phosphate (G3P) has been suggested as a novel regulator of plant defense signaling, however, its role in algal resistance remains largely unknown. The glycerol kinase (also designated as NHO1) and NAD‐dependent G3P dehydrogenase (GPDH) are two key enzymes involved in the G3P biosynthesis. In our study, we cloned the full‐length cDNA of NHO1 (NHO1Ph) and GPDH (GPDHPh) from the red alga Pyropia haitanensis (denoted as NHO1Ph and GPDHPh) and examined their expression level under flagellin peptide 22 (flg22) stimulation or heat stress. We also measured the level of G3P and floridoside (a downstream product of G3P in P. haitanensis) under flg22 stimulation or heat stress. Both NHO1Ph and GPDHPh shared high sequence identity and structural conservation with their orthologs from different species, especially from red algae. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NHO1s and GPDHs from red algae were closely related to those from animals. Under flg22 stimulation or heat stress, the expression levels of NHO1Ph and GPDHPh were up‐regulated, G3P levels increased, and the contents of floridoside decreased. But the floridoside level increased in the recovery period after heat stress. Taken together, we found that G3P metabolism was associated with the flg22‐induced defense response and heat stress response in P. haitanensis, indicating the general conservation of defense response in angiosperms and algae. Furthermore, floridoside might also participate in the stress resistance of P. haitanensis.
Effect of omega 3 fatty acids plus low‐dose aspirin on both clinical and biochemical profiles of patients with chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes: a randomized double blind placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Elwakeel N. M. , Hazaa H. H. 
Published: January 2015

Background and ObjectivesThe aim of this study was, first, to investigate the effect of omega 3 (ω3) fatty acids plus low‐dose aspirin with closed debridement in the treatment of patients with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and second, to estimate the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐3 (MCP‐3) in response to the supposed modulatory therapy.Material and MethodsForty patients with chronic periodontitis and type 2 DM were equally divided into groups 1 (patients received ω3 plus low‐dose aspirin for 6 mo) and 2 (patients received placebo during the same period). Evaluation was done clinically (pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival index and plaque index) and biochemically by estimating levels of interleukin 1β and MCP‐3 in gingival crevicular fluid, plus investigating the effect of treatment on glycemic control by levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c in serum. All data were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 mo after treatment.ResultsSubjects of group 1 showed a highly significant reduction in pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival index (p ≤ 0.01) after 3 and 6 mo compared to group 2. Glycated hemoglobin A1c levels showed a reduction in both groups at the end of the study period, with a non‐significant difference (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the treatment protocol showed a significant reduction in levels of MCP‐3 and interleukin 1β at 3 and 6 mo compared to the placebo group.ConclusionsWithin the limits of the present study, ω3 plus low‐dose aspirin proved effective as an adjunct to closed periodontal therapy in the management of patients with periodontitis and type 2 DM. Moreover, MCP‐3 was proven to be effective both in the pathogenesis of the disease and as a biomarker in evaluating the response to periodontal treatment.
Predictive value of plasma neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin for acute kidney injury in intensive care unit patients after major non‐cardiac surgery
Authors: Shum Hoi‐Ping , Leung Natalie Yuk‐Wah , Chang Li‐Li , Tam Oi‐Yan , Kwan Arthur Ming‐Chit , Chan King‐Chung , Yan Wing‐Wa , Chan Tak Mao 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAimThe performance of plasma neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (pNGAL) for prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) in non‐cardiac surgical patients has not been well described. This study investigates the use of pNGAL for early detection of AKI in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) after major or ultra‐major non‐cardiac surgery.MethodsA total of 151 patients were recruited. Blood samples at 0 h and 6 h post‐ICU admission were collected. Primary outcome was occurrence of AKI within 48 h of ICU admission defined using Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) classification.ResultsForty‐five (29.8%) patients developed AKI within 48 h of ICU admission. Among them, 22, 14, and nine were classified as AKIN Stage 1, 2, and 3 respectively. pNGAL levels at 0 h and 6 h were significantly related to AKI severity. The AUROC for pNGAL at 0 h and 6 h increased with AKI severity (AKIN stage ≥1 0.671 ± 0.048 and 0.691 ± 0.047; stage ≥2 0.737 ± 0.055 and 0.796 ± 0.048; stage 3 0.829 ± 0.072 and 0.860 ± 0.065, respectively) and requirement of renal replacement therapy (0.880 ± 0.059 & 0.837 ± 0.088). Change of pNGAL from 0 h to 6 h showed no advantage in predictive power compared with pNGAL level at 0 h or 6 h alone. The addition of pNGAL into clinical AKI prediction model could only provide marginal benefit.ConclusionpNGAL correlated with severity of AKI and requirement of renal replacement therapy in ICU patients who received major or ultra‐major non‐cardiac surgery. However, the benefit of adding pNGAL into clinical AKI prediction model is marginal.
Assessing assumptions of a combined structure‐function index
Authors: Swanson William H. , Horner Douglas G. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPurposeMedeiros et al. developed a combined structure‐function index for glaucoma by combining two ganglion cell models developed by Harwerth et al. The current study assessed assumptions of the Medeiros combined structure‐function index by evaluating whether the two Harwerth models gave similar distributions of ganglion cells in an independent dataset.MethodsThe Harwerth models were applied to our previously published data for retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness (Stratus OCT 3.4) and visual field sensitivities (24‐2 SITA Standard) from one eye each of 51 patients with glaucoma and 62 age‐similar control subjects free of eye disease. RNFL thicknesses and perimetric sensitivities were converted to ganglion cell numbers using the Harwerth model for perimetry and the Harwerth model for RNFL. These two estimates of ganglion cell number were compared for the inferior temporal (IT) and superior temporal (ST) sectors of the optic disc and the corresponding visual field locations. Comparisons were made with 14 visual field locations per sector (including a point in the macula for the inferior temporal sector) and with 13 locations (no point in the macula). Data for controls and patients were analysed separately, comparing mean values for RNFL perimetry models. Bonferroni correction was applied to control for repeated tests of significance. The difference between mean values for the RNFL and perimetry models was quantified by equating the means for controls through reduction of the assumed axon diameter used by the RNFL model.ResultsFor the control group, the Harwerth RNFL model yielded smaller mean number of retinal ganglion cells than the Harwerth perimetry model, 23–47% lower (t > 13, p < 0.0001). This corresponded to mean axon diameters from 0.48 to 0.69 μm, with the smallest axons when the 14th location in the macula was included. With these new axon diameters, estimates of ganglion cell numbers for patients were still lower than for the RNFL model, by 19–28% (t > 6.5, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe Harwerth RNFL model consistently gave lower ganglion cell numbers than the Harwerth perimetry model, and this discordance persisted in patients even after reducing assumed axon diameter for controls. This finding contradicts the assumptions of the Medeiros structure‐function index.
Life in proto‐Amazonia: Middle Miocene mammals from the Fitzcarrald Arch (Peruvian Amazonia)
Authors: Tejada‐Lara Julia V. , Salas‐Gismondi Rodolfo , Pujos François , Baby Patrice , Benammi Mouloud , Brusset Stéphane , De Franceschi Dario , Espurt Nicolas , Urbina Mario , Antoine Pierre‐Olivier 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe Middle Miocene has been identified as a time of great diversification in modern lineages now distributed in tropical South America, and when basic archetypal traits defining Amazonia appear, including climatic humid conditions, basic floral physiognomy and phylogenetic composition of modern rainforests. Nonetheless, Middle Miocene localities in South America are poorly known, especially at low latitudes where only one species‐rich locality, La Venta in Colombia, has been extensively studied. The present contribution describes the mammal fauna of Fitzcarrald, a new Middle Miocene local fauna from western Amazonia in Peru. Fitzcarrald is correlated with the Laventan South American Land Mammal Age based on the presence of taxa defining the ‘Miocochiliusassemblage zone’ in La Venta. The mammalian fauna of Fitzcarrald comprises 24 taxa among cingulates, folivores, astrapotheres, notoungulates, litopterns, rodents, odontocetes and a possible marsupial. At this time, tropical South America was characterized by the presence of the Pebas megawetland, a huge lacustrine complex that provided unique ecological and environmental conditions most likely isolating northern South America from southern South America. These isolating conditions might have come to an end with its disappearance in the Late Miocene and the establishment of the subsequent Acre system, the predecessor fluvial system of modern Amazonia. Results of faunistic similarity between Fitzcarrald and other Miocene faunas throughout South America support these scenarios. The Fitzcarrald mammal fauna exhibits first appearance datums and last appearance datums of various taxa, showing that tropical South America has played a crucial role in the evolutionary history and biogeography of major clades, and revealing a more complex biological history than previously proposed, based on the record from the southern cone of the continent.
Disseminate and Recurrent Infundibulofolliculitis in Childhood: A Rarely Reported Entity
Authors: Kline Amy , Relic John 
Published: January 2015

AbstractDisseminate and recurrent infundibulofolliculitis (DRIF) is a term used to describe a micropapular skin disorder, most commonly occurring in young men with Fitzpatrick skin type V and VI. We present the case of two young Sudanese brothers with a clinical and histologic picture typical of this condition, which has been infrequently reported in children and has not previously been reported in related individuals. The etiology remains uncertain and there is no clear consensus on treatment.
A Unique Association of Unilateral Idiopathic Calcinosis Cutis with Ipsilateral Porokeratotic Eccrine Ostial and Dermal Duct Nevus
Authors: Vasudevan Biju , Sondhi Vishal , Verma Rajesh , Neema Shekhar 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAn 11‐year‐old boy presented with complaints of multiple skin‐colored hard lumps on the right side of his body and progressive deformity of the right leg of 7‐years duration. His parents had also noticed multiple asymptomatic pits over his right arm, palms, and soles since childhood. Examination revealed skin‐colored nontender nodules on the right half of his body and shortening of his right leg. The multiple hyperpigmented pits over the right arm, palm, and sole raised diagnostic difficulties, but histopathologic, radiologic, and biochemical investigations confirmed the features of idiopathic calcinosis cutis and porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus. Unilateral idiopathic calcinosis cutis has not been previously reported in the literature, and the association with ipsilateral porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus makes this case unique. Diagnostic difficulties and limited options for treatment make this case interesting academically.
Solar Spectral Irradiance and Summary Outputs Using Excel
Authors: Diffey Brian 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe development of an Excel spreadsheet is described that calculates solar spectral irradiance between 290–3000 nm on an unshaded, horizontal surface under a cloudless sky at sea level, together with summary outputs such as global UV index, illuminance and percentage of energy in different wavebands. A deliberate goal of the project was to adopt the principle of Ockham's razor and to develop a model that is as simple as it can be commensurate with delivering results of adequate accuracy. Consequently, just four inputs are required—geographical latitude, month, day of month and time of day—resulting in a spreadsheet that is easily usable by anyone with an interest in sunlight and solar power irrespective of their background. The accuracy of the calculated data is sufficient for many applications where knowledge of the ultraviolet, visible and infrared levels in sunlight is of interest.
Real‐time symptomatic case of transfusion‐transmitted dengue
Authors: Levi José Eduardo , Nishiya Anna , Félix Alvina Clara , Salles Nanci Alves , Sampaio Luciana Ribeiro , Hangai Fátima , Sabino Ester Cerdeira , Mendrone Alfredo 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundDengue virus transmission by blood transfusion is a rarely reported event.Case ReportDuring a dengue outbreak in São Paulo city, a regular plateletpheresis donor informed the blood bank of being diagnosed a few days after donation. The recipient was hospitalized and displayed symptoms and laboratory evidence of dengue after transfusion.ResultsThe donor was immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, and polymerase chain reaction nonreactive on the index sample, seroconverting 20 days later. The platelet units were transfused into two patients. One of them developed fever 3 days after transfusion, with high viral load. His pretransfusion sample was negative for IgG, IgM, and dengue RNA, while the second recipient did not show any symptoms nor laboratory evidence of dengue infection.ConclusionsThis case brings additional evidence that dengue is indeed transmissible by blood transfusion and clinical manifestations, although rare, do occur.
Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus from Human and Animal Origins: Genetic Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Characterization of a Vancomycin-Resistant Calf Isolate Carrying a
vanA
-Tn
1546
-Like Element
Authors: Romero-Hernández Beatriz , Tedim Ana P. , Sánchez-Herrero José Francisco , Librado Pablo , Rozas Julio , Muñoz Gloria , Baquero Fernando , Cantón Rafael , del Campo Rosa 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to characterize the antibiotic susceptibility and genetic diversity of 41
Streptococcus gallolyticus
subsp.
gallolyticus
isolates: 18 isolates obtained from animals and 23 human clinical isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the semiautomatic Wider system and genetic diversity by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with SmaI. Animal isolates grouped separately in the PFGE analysis, but no statistical differences in antimicrobial resistance were found between the two groups. The LMG 17956 sequence type 28 (ST28) strain recovered from the feces of a calf exhibited high levels of resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin (MIC, ≥256 mg/liter). Its glycopeptide resistance mechanism was characterized by Southern blot hybridization and a primer-walking strategy, and finally its genome, determined by whole-genome sequencing, was compared with four closely related
S. gallolyticus
subsp.
gallolyticus
genomes. Hybridization experiments demonstrated that a Tn
1546
-like element was integrated into the bacterial chromosome. In agreement with this finding, whole-genome sequencing confirmed a partial deletion of the
vanY-vanZ
region and partial duplication of the
vanH
gene. The comparative genomic analyses revealed that the LMG 17956 ST28 strain had acquired an unusually high number of transposable elements and had experienced extensive chromosomal rearrangements, as well as gene gain and loss events. In conclusion,
S. gallolyticus
subsp.
gallolyticus
isolates from animals seem to belong to lineages separate from those infecting humans. In addition, we report a glycopeptide-resistant isolate from a calf carrying a Tn
1546
-like element integrated into its chromosome.
Impact of the Combination of Daptomycin and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole on Clinical Outcomes in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Authors: Claeys Kimberly C. , Smith Jordan R. , Casapao Anthony M. , Mynatt Ryan P. , Avery Lisa , Shroff Anjali , Yamamura Deborah , Davis Susan L. , Rybak Michael J. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

Complicated
Staphylococcus aureus
infections, including bacteremia, are often associated with treatment failures, prolonged hospital stays, and the emergence of resistance to primary and even secondary therapies. Daptomycin is commonly used as salvage therapy after vancomycin failure for the treatment of methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA) infections. Unfortunately, the emergence of daptomycin resistance, especially in deep-seated infections, has been reported, prompting the need for alternative or combination therapy. Numerous antibiotic combinations with daptomycin have been investigated clinically and
in vitro
. Of interest, the combination of daptomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) has proved to be rapidly bactericidal
in vitro
to strains that are both susceptible and nonsusceptible to daptomycin. However, to date, there is limited clinical evidence supporting the use of this combination. This was a multicenter, retrospective case series of patients treated with the combination of daptomycin and TMP-SMX for at least 72 h. The objective of this study was to describe the safety and effectiveness of this regimen in clinical practice. The most commonly stated reason that TMP-SMX was added to daptomycin was persistent bacteremia and/or progressive signs and symptoms of infection. After the initiation of combination therapy, the median time to clearance of bacteremia was 2.5 days. Microbiological eradication was demonstrated in 24 out of 28 patients, and
in vitro
synergy was demonstrated in 17 of the 17 recovered isolates. Further research with this combination is necessary to describe the optimal role and its impact on patient outcomes.
Subtle Changes in Endochin-Like Quinolone Structure Alter the Site of Inhibition within the Cytochrome
bc
1
Complex of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Stickles Allison M. , de Almeida Mariana Justino , Morrisey Joanne M. , Sheridan Kayla A. , Forquer Isaac P. , Nilsen Aaron , Winter Rolf W. , Burrows Jeremy N. , Fidock David A. , Vaidya Akhil B. , Riscoe Michael K. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACT

The cytochrome
bc
1
complex (cyt
bc
1
) is the third component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and is the target of several potent antimalarial compounds, including the naphthoquinone atovaquone (ATV) and the 4(1
H
)-quinolone ELQ-300. Mechanistically, cyt
bc
1
facilitates the transfer of electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome
c
and contains both oxidative (Q
o
) and reductive (Q
i
) catalytic sites that are amenable to small-molecule inhibition. Although many antimalarial compounds, including ATV, effectively target the Q
o
site, it has been challenging to design selective Q
i
site inhibitors with the ability to circumvent clinical ATV resistance, and little is known about how chemical structure contributes to site selectivity within cyt
bc
1
. Here, we used the proposed Q
i
site inhibitor ELQ-300 to generate a drug-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum
clone containing an I22L mutation at the Q
i
region of cyt
b
. Using this D1 clone and the Y268S Q
o
mutant strain,
P. falciparum
Tm90-C2B, we created a structure-activity map of Q
i
versus Q
o
site selectivity for a series of endochin-like 4(1
H
)-quinolones (ELQs). We found that Q
i
site inhibition was associated with compounds containing 6-position halogens or aryl 3-position side chains, while Q
o
site inhibition was favored by 5,7-dihalogen groups or 7-position substituents. In addition to identifying ELQ-300 as a preferential Q
i
site inhibitor, our data suggest that the 4(1
H
)-quinolone scaffold is compatible with binding to either site of cyt
bc
1
and that minor chemical changes can influence Q
o
or Q
i
site inhibition by the ELQs.