bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blomia tropicalis Blo t 5 and Blo t 21 recombinant allergens might confer higher specificity to serodiagnostic assays than whole mite extract
Authors: Carvalho Kellyanne dos Anjos , de Melo-Neto Osvaldo Pompílio , Magalhães Franklin Barbalho , Ponte João Carlos Marques , Felipe Filipe Adriano Borba , dos Santos Mariese Conceição Alves , dos Santos Lima Givaneide , Cruz Álvaro Augusto , Pinheiro Carina Silva , Pontes-de-Carvalho Lain Carlos , Alcantara-Neves Neuza Maria 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundBlomia tropicalisis a dust mite and an important source of allergens in tropical regions. Up to now, the assays to diagnose atopy to this mite use whole body extract as antigens. However, anti-B. tropicalisIgE antibodies cross-react withAscaris lumbricoidesantigens, hindering the diagnosis of allergy to this mite. In this study,B. tropicalisrecombinant allergens were evaluated with the purpose of developing an immunodiagnostic assay for allergy to this mite with greater specificity than those commercially available.MethodsTwoB. tropicalisallergens (Blo t 5 and Blo t 21) were cloned into a plasmidial expression vector, expressed inEscherichia coliand purified by affinity chromatography. Sixty-three sera containing anti-B. tropicalisextract (BtE) IgE antibodies were used to investigate IgE reactivity to the recombinant Blot 5 and 21 allergens. Inhibition assays with 20 sera pre-adsorbed withA. lumbricoidesextract were performed using rBlo t 5, rBlo t 21, and BtE as antigens. All the assays were carried using indirect ELISA.ResultsEighty-two point nine percent and 80.0% of the sera with anti-BtE antibodies from 35 children reacted with rBlo t 5 and rBlo t 21, respectively, whereas 92.8% and 89.3% of the 28 sera with anti-BtE antibodies from adult asthma patients reacted with the same allergens, and 96.4% of these sera reacted with a mixture of rBlo t 5 and rBlo t 21. In an inhibition ELISA, the absorption of sera byA. lumbricoidesextract affected less the reaction with rBlo t 5 and rBlo t 21 than with BtE.ConclusionsThe rBlo t 5 and rBlo t 21 allergens contain important epitopes recognized by IgE antibodies of individuals allergic toB. tropicalisantigens. Moreover, the assays using the recombinant allergens had lower IgE cross-reactivity withA. lumbricoidesantigens, a fact which would confers higher specificity to serodiagnostic assays than the crude mite extract. However, additional recombinant allergens should be evaluated in order to reach the same sensitivity of the commercially available assays based on mite extract.
Inferring patient to patient transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosisfrom whole genome sequencing data
Authors: Bryant Josephine M , Schürch Anita C , van Deutekom Henk , Harris Simon R , de Beer Jessica L , de Jager Victor , Kremer Kristin , van Hijum Sacha A F T , Siezen Roland J , Borgdorff Martien , Bentley Stephen D , Parkhill Julian , van Soolingen Dick 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is characterised by limited genomic diversity, which makes the application of whole genome sequencing particularly attractive for clinical and epidemiological investigation. However, in order to confidently infer transmission events, an accurate knowledge of the rate of change in the genome over relevant timescales is required.

Methods
We attempted to estimate a molecular clock by sequencing 199 isolates from epidemiologically linked tuberculosis cases, collected in the Netherlands spanning almost 16 years.

Results
Multiple analyses support an average mutation rate of ~0.3 SNPs per genome per year. However, all analyses revealed a very high degree of variation around this mean, making the confirmation of links proposed by epidemiology, and inference of novel links, difficult. Despite this, in some cases, the phylogenetic context of other strains provided evidence supporting the confident exclusion of previously inferred epidemiological links.

Conclusions
This in-depth analysis of the molecular clock revealed that it is slow and variable over short time scales, which limits its usefulness in transmission studies. However, the superior resolution of whole genome sequencing can provide the phylogenetic context to allow the confident exclusion of possible transmission events previously inferred via traditional DNA fingerprinting techniques and epidemiological cluster investigation. Despite the slow generation of variation even at the whole genome level we conclude that the investigation of tuberculosis transmission will benefit greatly from routine whole genome sequencing.
Impact on quality of life in teachers after educational actions for prevention of voice disorders: a longitudinal study
Authors: Pizolato Raquel Aparecida , Rehder Maria Inês Beltrati Cornacchioni , de Castro Meneghim Marcelo , Ambrosano Glaucia Maria Bovi , Mialhe Fábio Luiz , Pereira Antonio Carlos 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Voice problems are more common in teachers due to intensive voice use during routine at work. There is evidence that occupational disphonia prevention programs are important in improving the quality voice and consequently the quality of subjects’ lives.

Aim
To investigate the impact of educational voice interventions for teachers on quality of life and voice.

Methods
A longitudinal interventional study involving 70 teachers randomly selected from 11 public schools, 30 to receive educational intervention with vocal training exercises and vocal hygiene habits (experimental group) and 40 to receive guidance on vocal hygiene habits (control group control). Before the process of educational activities, the Voice-Related Quality of Life instrument (V-RQOL) was applied, and 3 months after conclusion of the activities, the subjects were interviewed again, using the same instrument. For data analysis, Prox MIXED were applied, with a level of significance α < 0.05. Results: Teachers showed significantly higher domain and overall V-RQOL scores after preventive intervention, in both control and experimental groups. Nevertheless, there was no statistical difference in scores between the groups.

Conclusion
Educational actions for vocal health had a positive impact on the quality of life of the participants, and the incorporation of permanent educational actions at institutional level is suggested.
Structural, electrical, and optical properties of Ti-doped ZnO films fabricated by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Ye Zhi-Yuan , Lu Hong-Liang , Geng Yang , Gu Yu-Zhu , Xie Zhang-Yi , Zhang Yuan , Sun Qing-Qing , Ding Shi-Jin , Zhang David Wei 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
High-quality Ti-doped ZnO films were grown on Si, thermally grown SiO2, and quartz substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 200°C with various Ti doping concentrations. Titanium isopropoxide, diethyl zinc, and deionized water were sources for Ti, Zn, and O, respectively. The Ti doping was then achieved by growing ZnO and TiO2 alternately. A hampered growth mode of ZnO on TiO2 layer was confirmed by comparing the thicknesses measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry with the expected. It was also found that the locations of the (100) diffraction peaks shift towards lower diffraction angles as Ti concentration increased. For all samples, optical transmittance over 80% was obtained in the visible region. The sample with ALD cycle ratio of ZnO/TiO2 being 20 had the lowest resistivity of 8.874 × 10−4 Ω cm. In addition, carrier concentration of the prepared films underwent an evident increase and then decreased with the increase of Ti doping concentration.
Clinical significance of treatment delay in status epilepticus
Authors: Hillman Jonas , Lehtimäki Kai , Peltola Jukka , Liimatainen Suvi 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency that requires immediate action. The clinical and demographic features of SE are known to be highly variable. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of treatment delays on patient recovery and different clinical factors that are important in the determination of the acute prognosis in SE.

Methods
This population-based study included 109 consecutive visits of patients with the diagnosis of SE in the emergency department (ED) of Tampere University Hospital. The clinical features of SE were compared with the discharge condition.

Results
The treatment delays were long; in half of the patients, the delay for paramedic arrival was over 30 min, and in one-third of the cases, the delay was over 24 h. ED patients who had less than 1 h of delay before the administration of an antiepileptic drug (AED) had better outcomes compared to patients with a greater than 1 h delay (p < 0.05). The two major etiologies for the SE were cerebrovascular disease and alcohol misuse. A good immediate outcome was found in 46% of the patients. Epileptiform activity on the EEG, a history of epilepsy or SE, presence of cardiovascular disease, and alcohol misuse were associated with a poor outcome.

Conclusions
The results of this study emphasize the importance of an urgent response by emergency services and proper recognition of atypical phenotypes of SE.
Dexamethasone uptake in the murine organ of Corti with transtympanic versus systemic administration
Authors: Grewal Amandeep S , Nedzelski Julian M , Chen Joseph M , Lin Vincent YW 
Published: February 2013

Objective To investigate glucocorticoid uptake in auditory hair cells following transtympanic versus systemic administration of dexamethasone. Study design Controlled experimental study. Setting Translational science experimental laboratory. Methods Swiss-Webster mice were injected with dexamethasone via transtympanic or systemic administration. At 1, 6, or 12 hours post-injection the temporal bones were harvested. After cryosectioning, immunohistochemical staining was performed using an antibody for dexamethasone. Results Dexamethasone labelling was greatest at 1 hour. Inner hair cells demonstrated much higher steroid uptake than outer hair cells. Both transtympanic injection and high-dose systemic administration resulted in strong dexamethasone labelling of hair cells, and a decreasing basal-to-apical gradient of hair cell fluorescence intensity was observed. Systemically delivered dexamethasone was rapidly eliminated from the inner ear, demonstrating mild labelling after 6 hours and none after 12 hours. In contrast, the mice receiving transtympanic injection had persistent moderate intensity fluorescence at 6 and 12 hours post-injection. Conclusion There is similar uptake of dexamethasone by auditory hair cells after transtympanic and high-dose systemic delivery. Novel findings include the presence of a decreasing basal-apical gradient of steroid uptake, and demonstration of greater affinity of inner hair cells for dexamethasone compared to outer hair cells. In this animal model transtympanic injection resulted in prolonged steroid uptake. These findings help further our understanding of the pharmacokinetics of steroids in the cochlea, with a focus on auditory hair cells.
5,6-Dimethoxybenzofuran-3-one derivatives: a novel series of dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors bearing benzyl pyridinium moiety
Authors: Nadri Hamid , Pirali-Hamedani Morteza , Moradi Alireza , Sakhteman Amirhossein , Vahidi Alireza , Sheibani Vahid , Asadipour Ali , Hosseinzadeh Nouraddin , Abdollahi Mohammad , Shafiee Abbas , Foroumadi Alireza 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have been focused on design and synthesis of multi-target anti Alzheimer compounds. Utilizing of the dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors has gained more interest to treat the Alzheimer’s disease. As a part of a research program to find a novel drug for treating Alzheimer disease, we have previously reported 6-alkoxybenzofuranone derivatives as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. In continuation of our work, we would like to report the synthesis of 5,6-dimethoxy benzofuranone derivatives bearing a benzyl pyridinium moiety as dual Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.MethodsThe synthesis of target compounds was carried out using a conventional method. Bayer-Villiger oxidation of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde furnished 3,4-dimethoxyphenol. The reaction of 3,4-dimethoxyphenol with chloroacetonitrile followed by treatment with HCl solution and then ring closure yielded the 5,6-dimethoxy benzofuranone. Condensation of the later compound with pyridine-4-carboxaldehyde and subsequent reaction with different benzyl halides afforded target compounds. The biological activity was measured using standard Ellman’s method. Docking studies were performed to get better insight into interaction of compounds with receptor.ResultsThe in vitro anti acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase activity of compounds revealed that, all of the target compounds have good inhibitory activity against both Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase enzymes in which compound 5b (IC50 = 52 ± 6.38nM) was the most active compound against acetylcholinesterase. The same binding mode and interactions were observed for the reference drug donepezil and compound 5b in docking study.ConclusionsIn this study, we presented a new series of benzofuranone-based derivatives having pyridinium moiety as potent dual acting Acetylcholinesterase/Butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Characterization of hepatic tumors using [11C]metomidate through positron emission tomography: comparison with [11C]acetate
Authors: Roivainen Anne , Naum Alexandru , Nuutinen Heikki , Leino Rauli , Nurmi Heimo , Någren Kjell , Parkkola Riitta , Virtanen Johanna , Kallajoki Markku , Kujari Harry , Ovaska Jari , Roberts Peter , Seppänen Marko 
Published: February 2013

Abstract

Background
Using positron emission tomography (PET), we compared two tracers, [11C]metomidate ([11C]MTO) and [11C]acetate ([11C]ACE), for the characterization of hepatic tumors.

Methods
Thirty-three patients underwent PET with [11C]MTO and [11C]ACE and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on the histology of the tumor biopsy, 14 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 9 patients had focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), and 10 patients had other types of hepatic tumors. Tumor uptake was evaluated by calculating the maximum and mean standardized uptake value and tumor-to-liver ratio.

Results
Altogether, 120 hepatic lesions (59 HCC, 18 FNH, 30 metastases of different primaries, 9 adenomas, and 4 regenerating nodules of liver cirrhosis) were detected by MRI. The overall tumor detection rate was slightly higher for [11C]MTO (39%) than for [11C]ACE (33%). [11C]ACE was more sensitive for HCC detection (50% versus 43%, respectively), whereas [11C]MTO was more sensitive for FNH detection (78% versus 44%, respectively). In HCC patients, the tumor grade correlated with [11C]ACE, but not with [11C]MTO. All of the patients with liver metastases, from various primary tumors (n = 10), were negative for both tracers.

Conclusions
Due to low sensitivity, [11C]MTO and [11C]ACE PET have only limited value in diagnosing hepatic tumors.
A half doubling dose change in bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a population represents an important difference
Authors: Weatherall Mark , Fingleton James , Eyers Sally , Beasley Richard 
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of asthma has increased over recent decades and the reasons for this are poorly understood. A sensitive tool that can evaluate potential risk factors for asthma is bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), a key physiological characteristic of asthma. However, although the minimum clinically important difference in BHR for an individual is accepted to be around one doubling dose, the minimum important change in a population is not defined. As with surrogate measures of cardiovascular disease risk such as blood pressure and cholesterol, a change that is not clinically important in an individual may be extremely important in public health terms.FindingsTo assess the potential impact of a small absolute change in BHR across a population, we modelled the effect of different changes in BHR on the prevalence rates of moderate and severe BHR in an asthmatic population. We calculate that a one half doubling dose increase in BHR increases the prevalence of moderate and severe BHR by 30%. If this was accompanied by an equivalent increase in the population prevalence of moderate and severe asthma, this would be highly significant in public health terms.ConclusionsWe propose that a one half doubling dose worsening in BHR across a population may represent an important change.
Exercise and obesity in fibromyalgia: beneficial roles of IGF-1 and resistin?
Authors: Bjersing Jan L , Erlandsson Malin , Bokarewa Maria I , Mannerkorpi Kaisa 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Severe fatigue is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM). Obesity is common in FM, but the influence of adipokines and growth factors is not clear. The aim was to examine effects of exercise on fatigue, in lean, overweight and obese FM patients.

Methods
In a longitudinal study, 48 FM patients (median 52 years) exercised for 15 weeks. Nine patients were lean (body mass index, BMI 18.5 to 24.9), 26 overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) and 13 obese. Fatigue was rated on a 0 to 100 mm scale (fibromyalgia impact questionnaire [FIQ] fatigue) and multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) general fatigue (MFIGF). Higher levels in FIQ fatigue and MFIGF indicate greater degree of fatigue. Free and total IGF-1, neuropeptides, adipokines were determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Results
Baseline FIQ fatigue correlated negatively with serum leptin (r = -0.345; P = 0.016) and nerve growth factor (NGF; r = -0.412; P = 0.037). In lean patients, baseline MFIGF associated negatively with serum resistin (r = -0.694; P = 0.038). FIQ Fatigue associated negatively with CSF resistin (r = -0.365; P = 0.073). Similarly, FIQ fatigue (r = -0.444; P = 0.026) and MFIGF correlated negatively with CSF adiponectin (r = -0.508; P = 0.01). In lean patients, FIQ fatigue (P = 0.046) decreased after 15 weeks. After 30 weeks, MFIGF decreased significantly in lean (MFIGF: P = 0.017), overweight (MFIGF: P = 0.001), and obese patients (MFIGF: P = 0.016). After 15 weeks, total IGF-1 increased in lean (P = 0.043) patients. ∆Total IGF-1 differed significantly between lean and obese patients (P = 0.010). ∆Total IGF-1 related negatively with ∆MFIGF after 15 weeks (r = -0.329; P = 0.050). After 30 weeks, ∆FIQ fatigue negatively correlated with ∆NGF (r = -0.463; P = 0.034) and positively with ∆neuropeptide Y (NPY) (r = 0.469; P = 0.032). Resistin increased after 30 weeks (P = 0.034). ∆MFIGF correlated negatively with ∆resistin (r = -0.346; P = 0.031), being strongest in obese patients (r = -0.815; P = 0.007). In obese patients, ∆FIQ fatigue after 30 weeks correlated negatively with ∆free IGF-1 (r = -0.711; P = 0.032).

Conclusions
Exercise reduced fatigue in all FM patients, this effect was achieved earlier in lean patients. Baseline levels of resistin in both serum and CSF associated negatively with fatigue. Resistin was increased after the exercise period which correlated with decreased fatigue. Changes in IGF-1 indicate similar long-term effects in obese patients. This study shows reduced fatigue after moderate exercise in FM and indicates the involvement of IGF-1 and resistin in these beneficial effects.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00643006
Sensorimotor responsiveness and resolution in the giraffe
Authors: More Heather L. , O'Connor Shawn M. , Brøndum Emil , Wang Tobias , Bertelsen Mads F. , Grøndahl Carsten , Kastberg Karin , Hørlyck Arne , Funder Jonas , Donelan J. Maxwell 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARY
The ability of an animal to detect and respond to changes in the environment is crucial to its survival. However, two elements of sensorimotor control – the time required to respond to a stimulus (responsiveness) and the precision of stimulus detection and response production (resolution) – are inherently limited by a competition for space in peripheral nerves and muscles. These limitations only become more acute as animal size increases. In this paper, we investigated whether the physiology of giraffes has found unique solutions for maintaining sensorimotor performance in order to compensate for their extreme size. To examine responsiveness, we quantified three major sources of delay: nerve conduction delay, muscle electromechanical delay and force generation delay. To examine resolution, we quantified the number and size distribution of nerve fibers in the sciatic nerve. Rather than possessing a particularly unique sensorimotor system, we found that our measurements in giraffes were broadly comparable to size-dependent trends seen across other terrestrial mammals. Consequently, both giraffes and other large animals must contend with greater sensorimotor delays and lower innervation density in comparison to smaller animals. Because of their unconventional leg length, giraffes may experience even longer delays compared with other animals of the same mass when sensing distal stimuli. While there are certainly advantages to being tall, there appear to be challenges as well – our results suggest that giraffes are less able to precisely and accurately sense and respond to stimuli using feedback alone, particularly when moving quickly.
Spatial memory and stereotypy of flight paths by big brown bats in cluttered surroundings
Authors: Barchi Jonathan R. , Knowles Jeffrey M. , Simmons James A. 
Published: February 2013

SUMMARY
The big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, uses echolocation for foraging and orientation. The limited operating range of biosonar implies that bats must rely upon spatial memory in familiar spaces with dimensions larger than a few meters. Prior experiments with bats flying in obstacle arrays have revealed differences in flight and acoustic emission patterns depending on the density and spatial extent of the obstacles. Using the same method, combined with acoustic microphone array tracking, we flew big brown bats in an obstacle array that varied in density and distribution in different locations in the flight room. In the initial experiment, six bats learned individually stereotyped flight patterns as they became familiar with the space. After the first day, the repetition rate of sonar broadcasts dropped to a stable level, consistent with low-density clutter. In a second experiment, after acquiring their stable paths, each bat was released from each of two unfamiliar locations in the room. Each bat still followed the same flight path it learned originally. In a third experiment, performed 1 month after the first two experiments, three of the bats were re-flown in the same configuration of obstacles; these three resumed flying in their accustomed path. The other three bats were flown in a mirror-image reconfiguration of the obstacles; these bats quickly found stable flight paths that differed from their originally learned paths. Overall, the flight patterns indicate that the bats perceive the cluttered space as a single scene through which they develop globally organized flight paths.