bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of risperidone and aripiprazole on neurocognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia
Authors: Matsuda Yasuhiro , Sato Sayaka , Iwata Kazuhiko , Furukawa Shunichi , Hatsuse Norifumi , Watanabe Yukako , Anzai Nobuo , Kishimoto Toshifumi , Ikebuchi Emi 
Published: February 2014

AimMethods to improve neurocognitive impairments are of important research interest. This study sought to examine the synergistic effects of neurocognitive rehabilitation and antipsychotics for schizophrenia.MethodsSubjects were 43 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in a randomized trial of the effects of neurocognitive rehabilitation or a quasi‐randomized experimental trial of supported employment with neurocognitive rehabilitation. We compared the effects of risperidone and aripiprazole in neurocognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia. Subjects were divided into the following groups: (i) the control‐risperidone group (CR group) (n = 13); (ii) the rehabilitation‐risperidone group (RR group) (n = 9); (iii) the control‐aripiprazole group (CA group) (n = 10); and (iv) the rehabilitation‐aripiprazole group (RA group) (n = 11). Subjects in the rehabilitation group were engaged in computer‐based cognitive exercises (24 sessions) with bridging group (12 sessions) over 12 weeks. Psychiatric symptoms, neurocognitive functioning and social functioning assessments were evaluated at baseline and at 12 weeks.ResultsA two‐way anova with neurocognitive rehabilitation and antipsychotic medication as factors revealed a significant interaction effect on motor speed. Working memory and motor speed significantly improved in the RA group compared with the CA group. We found no significant improvements between the CR group and the RR group.ConclusionA synergistic effect of neurocognitive rehabilitation and aripiprazole was observed as improvement of motor speed. In patients treated with aripiprazole, neurocognitive rehabilitation appeared to improve working memory and motor speed. Further studies of synergistic effects of neurocognitive rehabilitation and antipsychotic medication are necessary to verify these findings.
Bedside pleural procedures by pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists: a 3‐year safety audit
Authors: See Kay Choong , Ong Venetia , Teoh Chia Meng , Ooi Oon Cheong , Widjaja Louis Sutrisno , Mujumdar Sandhya , Phua Jason , Khoo Kay Leong , Lee Pyng , Lim Tow Keang 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackground and objectivePleural procedures such as tube thoracostomy and chest aspirations are commonly performed and carry potential risks of visceral organ injury, pneumothorax and bleeding. In this context limited information exists on the complication rates when non‐pulmonologists perform ultrasound‐guided bedside pleural procedures. Bedside pleural procedures in our university hospital were audited to compare complication rates between pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists.MethodsA combined safety approach using standardized training, pleural safety checklists and ultrasound‐guidance was initially implemented in a ∼1000‐bed academic medical centre. A prospective audit, over approximately 3.5 years, of all bedside pleural procedures excluding procedures done in operating theatres and radiological suites was then performed.ResultsOverall, 529 procedures (295 by pulmonologists; 234 by non‐pulmonologists) for 443 patients were assessed. There were 16 (3.0%) procedure‐related complications, all in separate patients. These included five iatrogenic pneumothoraces, four dry taps, four malpositioned chest tubes, two significant chest wall bleeds and one iatrogenic hemothorax. There were no differences in complication rates between pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists. Presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) independently increased the risk of complications by nearly sevenfold.ConclusionsResults from this study support pleural procedural practice by both pulmonologists and non‐pulmonologists in an academic medical centre setting. This is possible with a standard training program, pleural safety checklists and relatively high utilization rates of ultrasound guidance for pleural effusions. Nonetheless, additional vigilance is needed when patients with COPD undergo pleural procedures.
Is System Dynamics Modelling of Relevance to Neoclassical Economists?
Authors: Crookes Douglas J. , De Wit Martin P. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractSystem dynamics modelling is a technique that is widely used in business, environmental and ecological applications. In the field of economics, however, it is less frequently used, and those that do use it are usually not professionally trained economists. One of the reasons for this is the perceived ideological differences between system dynamics modelling and neoclassical economics. System dynamics is classified in the literature as a heterodox approach. This article utilises a reputable framework from social theory to compare system dynamics modelling and neoclassical economics on ontological and epistemological grounds. This is the first known study to find congruency between these two approaches on this basis. System dynamics modelling has the potential to increase the range of modelling tools at the disposal of neoclassical economics, so long dominated by econometric and general equilibrium modelling approaches.
Reflectance confocal microscopy vs. standardized skin surface biopsy for measuring the density of Demodex mites
Authors: Turgut Erdemir A. , Gurel M. S. , Koku Aksu A. E. , Bilgin Karahalli F. , Incel P. , Kutlu Haytoğlu N. S. , Falay T. 
Published: February 2014

BackgroundReflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been recently shown to be effective for measuring the Demodex mite density.ObjectivesTo compare and demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of standardized skin surface biopsy (SSSB) and RCM for measuring the density of Demodex mites.Materials and methodsForty‐eight patients (30 female, 18 male) and 47 healthy controls (30 female, 17 male) were enrolled in the study. The patients diagnoses were pityriasis folliculorum (n = 40), papulopustulary rosecea (n = 7) and erythema‐telengiectatic rosacea (n = 1). The area with the most intense erythema on the right cheek was selected for imaging with RCM (VivaScope 3000) and SSSB.ResultsForty‐two patients demonstrated high Demodex density [(Dd) > 5 mites/cm2] with SSSB (85.7%). RCM identified demodicosis in 48 patients (100%). The mean Dd measured with RCM (409.8 ± 209.2) was significantly higher than SSSB (15.33 ± 18.1) (P < 0.001). In the patients, RCM demonstrated the mean number of mites 40.90 ± 20.9 and 4.11 ± 6.4 in the controls per 10 mm2 area. The corresponding mean number of 2.63 ± 0.77 mites was detected in the infested follicles per area of view compared to a mean of 0.77 ± 0.98 mites in the infested follicles in the controls (P < 0.001).ConclusionReflectance confocal microscopy is a fast, direct and noninvasive method for Demodex‐associated diseases and it is superior to SSSB for Demodex mite detection.
Feasibility of actigraphy wristband monitoring of atopic dermatitis in children
Authors: Gustafson C. J. , O'Neill J. , Hix E. , McLaren D. T. , Buxton O. M. , Feldman S. R. 
Published: February 2014

Background/purposeActigraphy monitors are used to monitor sleep and scratching. Previous studies have implemented these monitors to evaluate behavior in adult patients with atopic dermatitis. However, such monitoring devices have been implemented in a paucity of studies involving pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of actigraphy monitoring in children with mild‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis.MethodsA total of six pediatric subjects were recruited. The severity of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area was assessed prior to placement of the wristband monitor. After wearing the wristbands for 7 days, subjects returned to clinic to undergo reassessment of the wrist area to determine if atopic dermatitis was exacerbated by the wrist‐worn device. Data on sleep quality and how often patients wore the wristband monitors were also collected. No subjective data from the subjects or parents/caregivers were collected on tolerability of the monitors.ResultsNone of the subjects exhibited exacerbation of atopic dermatitis at the wrist area after wearing the actigraphy monitors for 7 days. No adverse events were reported. Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis exhibited less total sleep time compared with children evaluated in previous actigraphy studies.ConclusionActigraphy wristband monitoring can be used to continuously assess disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis.
Tricomponent Complex Loaded with a Mosquito-Stage Antigen of the Malaria Parasite Induces Potent Transmission-Blocking Immunity
Authors: Arakawa Takeshi , Tsuboi Takafumi , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Sakao Kozue , Torii Motomi , Miyata Takeshi 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe development of malaria vaccines is challenging, partly because the immunogenicity of recombinant malaria parasite antigens is low. We previously demonstrated that parasite antigens integrated into a tricomponent immunopotentiating complex increase antiparasitic immunity. In this study, the B domains of a group GStreptococcus(SpG) strain andPeptostreptococcus magnus(PpL) were used to evaluate whether vaccine efficacy is influenced by the type of immunoglobulin-binding domain (IBD) in the tricomponent complex. IBDs were fused to a pentameric cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) to increase the binding avidity of the complexes for their targets. The COMP-IBD fusion proteins generated (COMP-SpG and COMP-PpL and the previously constructed COMP-Z) bound a large fraction of splenic B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. These carrier molecules were then loaded with an ookinete surface protein ofPlasmodium vivax, Pvs25, by chemical conjugation. The administration of the tricomponent complexes to mice induced more Pvs25-specific serum IgG than did the unloaded antigen. The PpL complex, which exhibited a broad Ig-binding spectrum, conferred higher vaccine efficacy than did the Z or SpG complexes when evaluated with a membrane feed assay. This study demonstrates that this tricomponent immunopotentiating system, incorporating IBDs as the B-lymphocyte-targeting ligands, is a promising technology for the delivery of malaria vaccines, particularly when combined with an aluminum salt adjuvant.
Vaccination with Leptospiral Outer Membrane Lipoprotein LipL32 Reduces Kidney Invasion of Leptospira interrogans Serovar Canicola in Hamsters
Authors: Humphryes P. C. , Weeks M. E. , AbuOun M. , Thomson G. , Núñez A. , Coldham N. G. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

The
Leptospira interrogans
vaccines currently available are serovar specific and require regular booster immunizations to maintain protection of the host. In addition, a hamster challenge batch potency test is necessary to evaluate these vaccines prior to market release, requiring the use of a large number of animals, which is ethically and financially undesirable. Our previous work showed that the N terminus of the outer membrane protein LipL32 was altered in
Leptospira interrogans
serovar Canicola vaccines that fail the hamster challenge test, suggesting that it may be involved in the protective immune response. The aim of this study was to determine if vaccination with LipL32 protein alone could provide a protective response against challenge with
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola to hamsters. Recombinant LipL32, purified from an
Escherichia coli
expression system, was assessed for protective immunity in five groups of hamsters (
n
= 5) following a challenge with the virulent
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola strain Kito as a challenge strain. However, no significant survival against the
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola challenge was observed compared to that of unvaccinated negative controls. Subsequent histological analysis revealed reduced amounts of
L. interrogans
in the kidneys from the hamsters vaccinated with recombinant LipL32 protein prior to challenge; however, no significant survival against the
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola challenge was observed compared to that of unvaccinated negative controls. This finding corresponded to a noticeably reduced severity of renal lesions. This study provides evidence that LipL32 is involved in the protective response against
L. interrogans
serovar Canicola in hamsters and is the first reported link to LipL32-induced protection against kidney invasion.
Toll-Like Receptor 7 Agonist Imiquimod in Combination with Influenza Vaccine Expedites and Augments Humoral Immune Responses against Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus Infection in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Zhang Anna J. X. , Li Can , To Kelvin K. W. , Zhu Hou-Shun , Lee Andrew C. Y. , Li Chuan-Gen , Chan Jasper F. W. , Hung Ivan F. N. , Yuen Kwok-Yung 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system are known targets for enhancing vaccine efficacy. We investigated whether imiquimod, a synthetic TLR7 agonist, can expedite the immune response against influenza virus infection when combined with influenza vaccine. BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with monovalent A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine combined with imiquimod (VCI) prior to intranasal inoculation with a lethal dose of mouse-adapted A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. For mice immunized 3 days before infection, the survival rates were significantly higher in the VCI group (60%, mean survival time[MST], 11 days) than in the vaccine-alone (30%; MST, 8.8 days), imiquimod-alone (5%; MST, 8.4 days), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0%; MST, 6.2 days) groups (
P
< 0.01). In the VCI group, 45 and 35% of the mice survived even when they were infected 2 days or 1 day after immunization. Virus-specific serum IgM, IgG, and neutralizing antibodies appeared earlier with higher geometric mean titers in the VCI group than in the control groups. The pulmonary viral load was significantly lower at all time points postinfection in the VCI, vaccine-alone, and imiquimod-alone groups than in the PBS control group (
P
< 0.05). The protection induced by VCI was specific for A(H1N1)pdm09 virus but not for A(H5N1) virus. Since imiquimod combined with RNase-treated vaccine is as protective as imiquimod combined with untreated vaccine, mechanisms other than TLR7 may operate in expediting and augmenting immune protection. Moreover, increased gamma interferon mRNA expression and IgG isotype switching, which are markers of the Th1 response induced by imiquimod, were not apparent in our mouse model. The mechanisms of imiquimod-induced immune protection deserve further study.
Campylobacter Prosthetic Joint Infection
Authors: Vasoo Shawn , Schwab Jeramy J. , Cunningham Scott A. , Robinson Trisha J. , Cass Joseph R. , Berbari Elie F. , Walker Randall C. , Osmon Douglas R. , Patel Robin 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTA 75-year-old man was diagnosed with probableCampylobacter jejuniprosthetic knee infection after a diarrheal illness. Joint aspirate and operative cultures were negative, but PCR of prosthesis sonicate fluid was positive, as was stool culture. Nineteen additional cases ofCampylobacterprosthetic joint infection reported in the literature are reviewed.
Cycling Memory CD4+T Cells in HIV Disease Have a Diverse T Cell Receptor Repertoire and a Phenotype Consistent with Bystander Activation
Authors: Jiang Wei , Younes Souheil-Antoine , Funderburg Nicholas T. , Mudd Joseph C. , Espinosa Enrique , Davenport Miles P. , Babineau Denise C. , Sieg Scott F. , Lederman Michael M. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe mechanisms of increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV disease are incompletely understood but have been linked to antigen stimulation, homeostatic signals, or exposure to microbial products and the inflammatory cytokines that they induce. We examined the phenotype and Vβ family distribution in cycling memory CD4+T cells among 52 healthy and 59 HIV-positive (HIV+) donors. Cycling memory CD4+T cells were proportionally more frequent in subjects with HIV infection than in controls, more often expressed CD38 and PD-1, and less frequently expressed OX40 and intracellular CD40L. OX40 expression on memory CD4+T cells was inducedin vitroby anti-CD3, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-7, or IL-15 but not by Toll-like receptor ligands. In HIV+donors, memory CD4+T cell cycling was directly related to plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, to plasma HIV RNA levels, and to memory CD8+T cell cycling and was inversely related to peripheral blood CD4+T cell counts but not to the levels of IL-2, IL-7, or IL-15, while in HIV-negative donors, memory CD4+T cell cycling was related to IL-7 levels and negatively related to the plasma levels of LPS. In both controls and HIV+donors, cycling memory CD4+T cells had a broad distribution of Vβ families comparable to that of noncycling cells. Increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV disease is reflective of generalized immune activation and not driven primarily by cognate peptide stimulation or exposure to common gamma-chain cytokines. This cycling may be a consequence of exposure to microbial products, to plasma viremia, or, otherwise, to proinflammatory cytokines.IMPORTANCEThis work provides evidence that the increased memory CD4+T cell cycling in HIV infection is not a result of cognate peptide recognition but, rather, is more likely related to the inflammatory environment of HIV infection.
Human Papillomavirus Community in Healthy Persons, Defined by Metagenomics Analysis of Human Microbiome Project Shotgun Sequencing Data Sets
Authors: Ma Yingfei , Madupu Ramana , Karaoz Ulas , Nossa Carlos W. , Yang Liying , Yooseph Shibu , Yachimski Patrick S. , Brodie Eoin L. , Nelson Karen E. , Pei Zhiheng 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes a number of neoplastic diseases in humans. Here, we show a complex normal HPV community in a cohort of 103 healthy human subjects, by metagenomics analysis of the shotgun sequencing data generated from the NIH Human Microbiome Project. The overall HPV prevalence was 68.9% and was highest in the skin (61.3%), followed by the vagina (41.5%), mouth (30%), and gut (17.3%). Of the 109 HPV types as well as additional unclassified types detected, most were undetectable by the widely used commercial kits targeting the vaginal/cervical HPV types. These HPVs likely represent true HPV infections rather than transitory exposure because of strong organ tropism and persistence of the same HPV types in repeat samples. Coexistence of multiple HPV types was found in 48.1% of the HPV-positive samples. Networking between HPV types, cooccurrence or exclusion, was detected in vaginal and skin samples. Large contigs assembled from short HPV reads were obtained from several samples, confirming their genuine HPV origin. This first large-scale survey of HPV using a shotgun sequencing approach yielded a comprehensive map of HPV infections among different body sites of healthy human subjects.

IMPORTANCE
This nonbiased survey indicates that the HPV community in healthy humans is much more complex than previously defined by widely used kits that are target selective for only a few high- and low-risk HPV types for cervical cancer. The importance of nononcogenic viruses in a mixed HPV infection could be for stimulating or inhibiting a coexisting oncogenic virus via viral interference or immune cross-reaction. Knowledge gained from this study will be helpful to guide the designing of epidemiological and clinical studies in the future to determine the impact of nononcogenic HPV types on the outcome of HPV infections.
Identification of Amino Acid Changes That May Have Been Critical for the Genesis of A(H7N9) Influenza Viruses
Authors: Neumann Gabriele , Macken Catherine A. , Kawaoka Yoshihiro 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT
Novel influenza A viruses of the H7N9 subtype [A(H7N9)] emerged in the spring of 2013 in China and had infected 163 people as of 10 January 2014; 50 of them died of the severe respiratory infection caused by these viruses. Phylogenetic studies have indicated that the novel A(H7N9) viruses emerged from reassortment of H7, N9, and H9N2 viruses. Inspections of protein sequences from A(H7N9) viruses and their immediate predecessors revealed several amino acid changes in A(H7N9) viruses that may have facilitated transmission and replication in the novel host. Since mutations that occurred more ancestrally may also have contributed to the genesis of A(H7N9) viruses, we inferred historical evolutionary events leading to the novel viruses. We identified a number of amino acid changes on the evolutionary path to A(H7N9) viruses, including substitutions that may be associated with host range, replicative ability, and/or host responses to infection. The biological significance of these amino acid changes can be tested in future studies.

IMPORTANCE
The novel influenza A viruses of the H7N9 subtype [A(H7N9)], which first emerged in the spring of 2013, cause severe respiratory infections in humans. Here, we performed a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the progenitors of A(H7N9) viruses to identify amino acid changes that may have been critical for the emergence of A(H7N9) viruses and their ability to infect humans. We provide a list of potentially important amino acid changes that can be tested for their significance for the influenza virus host range, replicative ability, and/or host responses to infection.
CBFβ Enhances
De Novo
Protein Biosynthesis of Its Binding Partners HIV-1 Vif and RUNX1 and Potentiates the Vif-Induced Degradation of APOBEC3G
Authors: Miyagi Eri , Kao Sandra , Yedavalli Venkat , Strebel Klaus 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACT
Vif is a lentiviral accessory protein that regulates viral infectivity in part by inducing proteasomal degradation of APOBEC3G (A3G). Recently, CBFβ was found to facilitate Vif-dependent degradation of A3G. However, the exact role of CBFβ remains unclear. Several studies noted reduced Vif expression in CBFβ knockdown cells while others saw no significant impact of CBFβ on Vif stability. Here, we confirmed that CBFβ increases Vif steady-state levels. CBFβ affected expression of neither viral Gag nor Vpu protein, indicating that CBFβ regulates Vif expression posttranscriptionally. Kinetic studies revealed effects of CBFβ on both metabolic stability and the rate of Vif biosynthesis. These effects were dependent on the ability of CBFβ to interact with Vif. Importantly, at comparable Vif levels, CBFβ further enhanced A3G degradation, suggesting that CBFβ facilitates A3G degradation by increasing the levels of Vif and by independently augmenting the ability of Vif to target A3G for degradation. CBFβ also increased expression of RUNX1 by enhancing RUNX1 biosynthesis. Unlike Vif, however, CBFβ had no detectable effect on RUNX1 metabolic stability. We propose that CBFβ acts as a chaperone to stabilize Vif during and after synthesis and to facilitate interaction of Vif with cellular cofactors required for the efficient degradation of A3G.

IMPORTANCE
In this study, we show that CBFβ has a profound effect on the expression of the HIV-1 infectivity factor Vif and the cellular transcription factor RUNX1, two proteins that physically interact with CBFβ. Kinetic studies revealed that CBFβ increases the rate of Vif and RUNX1 biosynthesis at the level of translation. Mutants of Vif unable to physically interact with CBFβ were nonresponsive to CBFβ. Our data suggest that CBFβ exerts a chaperone-like activity (i) to minimize the production of defective ribosomal products (DRiPs) by binding to nascent protein to prevent premature termination and (ii) to stabilize mature protein conformation to ensure proper function of Vif and RUNX1. Thus, we identified a novel mechanism of protein regulation that affects both viral and cellular factors and thus has broad implications beyond the immediate HIV field.