bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular Detection of Helicobacter pylori and its Antimicrobial Resistance in Brazzaville, Congo
Authors: Ontsira Ngoyi Esther Nina , Atipo Ibara Blaise Irénée , Moyen Rachelle , Ahoui Apendi Philestine Clausina , Ibara Jean Rosaire , Obengui O. , Ossibi Ibara Roland Bienvenu , Nguimbi Etienne , Niama Rock Fabien , Ouamba Jean Maurille , Yala Fidèle , Abena Ange Antoine , Vadivelu Jamuna , Goh Khean Lee , Menard Armelle , Benejat Lucie , Sifre Elodie , Lehours Philippe , Megraud Francis 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBack groundHelicobacter pylori infection is involved in several gastroduodenal diseases which can be cured by antimicrobial treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its bacterial resistance to clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones, and tetracycline in Brazzaville, Congo, by using molecular methods.Material and MethodsA cross‐ sectional study was carried out between September 2013 and April 2014. Biopsy specimens were obtained from patients scheduled for an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and were sent to the French National Reference Center for Campylobacters and Helicobacters where they were tested by molecular methods for detection of H. pylori and clarithromycin resistance by real‐time PCR using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer‐melting curve analysis (FRET‐MCA) protocol, for detection of tetracycline resistance by real‐time PCR on 16S rRNA genes (rrnA and rrnB), for detection of point mutations in the quinolone resistance‐determining regions (QRDR) of H. pylori gyrA gene, associated with resistance to quinolones, by PCR and sequencing.ResultsThis study showed a high H. pylori prevalence (89%), low rates of clarithromycin and tetracycline resistance (1.7% and 2.5%, respectively), and a high rate of quinolone resistance (50%).ConclusionTherefore, the use of standard clarithromycin‐based triple therapy is still possible as an empiric first‐line treatment as well as prescription of bismuth‐based quadruple therapy, which includes tetracycline, but not a levofloxacin‐based triple therapy because of the high rate of resistance to fluoroquinolones.
Assessment of a new system for primary site assignment in high‐grade serous carcinoma of the fallopian tube, ovary, and peritoneum
Authors: Singh Naveena , Gilks C Blake , Wilkinson Nafisa , McCluggage W Glenn 
Published: January 2015

AimsThe available evidence indicates that most non‐uterine high‐grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) arise from the fallopian tube (FT), but approaches to primary site assignment have not evolved to reflect this. The aim of this study was to assess the application of recently proposed criteria for site assignment.Methods and resultsOne hundred and fifty‐one HGSCs from four centres were reviewed retrospectively. Sixty‐three of 80 (79%) chemonaive (CN) and 45 of 71 (68%) post‐neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) cases were assigned as FT primaries with the new criteria, whereas 58 of 80 (73%) and 45 of 71 (63%) were assigned as ovarian primaries with traditional criteria (P < 0.0001). Of 111 prospectively collected HGSCs, with consistent detailed fimbrial examination, 44 of 53 (83%) CN and 44 of 58 (76%) NACT cases were assigned as FT primaries. The reproducibility of site assignment was tested in a subset of 50 cases: all four reviewing pathologists agreed on the primary site in 48 of 50 (96%) cases, and three of four agreed in 49 of 50 (98%) cases. Of the 53 prospectively studied CN cases, bilateral ovarian involvement (62%) was significantly more frequent than bilateral tubal involvement (12%, P < 0.0001), further supporting a tubal origin and ovarian metastasis in most cases.ConclusionsWith currently accepted protocols, the proposed guidelines are easy to apply and result in consistent site assignment in non‐uterine HGSCs. Most cases of non‐uterine HGSC were considered to be primary FT neoplasms.
Endocannabinoid signalling in innate and adaptive immunity
Authors: Chiurchiù Valerio , Battistini Luca , Maccarrone Mauro 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe immune system can be modulated and regulated not only by foreign antigens but also by other humoral factors and metabolic products, which are able to affect several quantitative and qualitative aspects of immunity. Among these, endocannabinoids are a group of bioactive lipids that might serve as secondary modulators, which when mobilized coincident with or shortly after first‐line immune modulators, increase or decrease many immune functions. Most immune cells express these bioactive lipids, together with their set of receptors and of enzymes regulating their synthesis and degradation. In this review, a synopsis of the manifold immunomodulatory effects of endocannabinoids and their signalling in the different cell populations of innate and adaptive immunity is appointed, with a particular distinction between mice and human immune system compartments.
Chronic ischaemia does not appear to hinder healing with Integra®: implementation at a tibial artery bypass site
Authors: Michot Audrey , Chaput Benoit , Gobel Fabienne , Menez Tiphaine , de Bonnecaze Guillaume , Pelissier Philippe 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWounds with exposed vessels, especially in artery bypass procedures, can pose a barrier to adequate skin healing. Skin grafts or flaps are sometimes difficult to perform in the face of the ischaemia that is often present in such cases. We report a case of a 73‐year‐old man who presented with grade IV peripheral arterial disease necessitating salvage of the lower limb using artery bypass surgery. Immediate exposure of femorotibial artery secondary to skin necrosis following the bypass led us to propose an innovative means of wound coverage using Integra®, a well‐known dermal regeneration template.The wound healed uneventfully with an appearance similar to that of the adjacent skin. Integra® seems to be less demanding in terms of the vascular wound bed and the degree of oxygenation than a conventional skin graft. This finding could support further indications for this dermal regeneration template.
Increased expression of endosomal members of toll‐like receptor family abrogates wound healing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Singh Kanhaiya , Agrawal Neeraj K , Gupta Sanjeev K , Mohan Gyanendra , Chaturvedi Sunanda , Singh Kiran 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe inflammatory phase of wound healing cascade is an important determinant of the fate of the wound. Acute inflammation is necessary to initiate proper wound healing, while chronic inflammation abrogates wound healing. Different endosomal members of toll‐like receptor (TLR) family initiate inflammatory signalling via a range of different inflammatory mediators such as interferons, internal tissue damaged‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and hyperactive effector T cells. Sustained signalling of TLR9 and TLR7 contributes to chronic inflammation by activating the plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Diabetic wounds are also characterised by sustained inflammatory phase. The objective of this study was to analyse the differential expression of endosomal TLRs in human diabetic wounds compared with control wounds. We analysed the differential expression of TLR7 and TLR9 both at transcriptional and translational levels in wounds of 84 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 6 control subjects without diabetes using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), western blot and immunohistochemistry. TLR7 and TLR9 were significantly up‐regulated in wounds of the patients with T2DM compared with the controls and were dependent on the infection status of the diabetic wounds, and wounds with microbial infection exhibited lower expression levels of endosomal TLRs. Altered endosomal TLR expression in T2DM subjects might be associated with wound healing impairment.
Nursing handovers as resilient points of care: linking handover strategies to treatment errors in the patient care in the following shift
Authors: Drach‐Zahavy Anat , Hadid Nadim 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAimTo examine the relation between the strategies the nurses employ during handover and the number and types of treatment errors in patient care in the following shift.BackgroundPatient handover has repeatedly been declared an area of considerable vulnerability to patient safety. This study examined factors that affect treatment errors in patient care, including the use of handover strategies from high reliability organizations.DesignProspective study.MethodData were collected in 2012–2013 from 200 randomly selected handovers in five internal wards. Handover strategies previously adopted from High Reliability Organizations were assessed via observations; treatment errors – dosage discrepancy, order postponed, no documentation – captured from the patient's files and demographical data were collected via questionnaires.FindingsOn average, in nearly one‐fifth of the patient's files, medication dosage given was inaccurate; in nearly one‐third a care order was fulfilled late; and in nearly half, documentation was partially missing. Rate of use of handover strategies previously adopted from high reliability organizations varied substantially. Results of negative binomial regression analysis revealed that face‐to‐face verbal update with interactive questioning, update from practitioners other than the outgoing, topics initiated by incoming and outgoing team, including the latter's stance on care plans and writing a summary prior to handover, were significantly and negatively linked to number of treatment errors (P < 0·05).ConclusionsNursing handover is an opportunity for nurses to prevent errors and unsafe practice by implementing more risk‐aware handover strategies. Implications for facilitating the use of such strategies are discussed.
Role of the Cytosolic Heat Shock Protein 70 Ssa5 in the Ciliate Protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Fukuda Yasuhiro , Akematsu Takahiko , Attiq Rizwan , Tada Chika , Nakai Yutaka , Pearlman Ronald E. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractHeat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a member of a family of conserved chaperone proteins whose function is well investigated in many model organisms. Here we focus on an Hsp70 called Ssa5 in the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila, and reveal that its translation is heat inducible as for general Hsps. Moreover, the protein is abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm during sexual reproduction (conjugation) as well as in response to heat‐stress. Knocking out of SSA5 (ΔSSA5) does not affect the survival of the cell under heat‐stress, likely due to other Hsp70 paralogs compensating for the defect. During conjugation, ΔSSA5 leads to a fertilization defect in which the two pronuclei are in close proximity but never fuse. The unfertilized pronuclei differentiate, resulting in a heterokaryon with developed haploid germline and somatic nuclei. In addition, degeneration of the parental somatic nucleus is not affected. These results suggest a specific involvement of Ssa5 in pronuclear fusion and fertilization.
Regression in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Williams Katrina , Brignell Amanda , Prior Margot , Bartak Lawrence , Roberts Jacqueline 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSince the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health was first published, there has been substantial change in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with an exponential increase in the amount of funded and published research. In this paper, we focus on regression in children with ASD, a phenomenon that remains poorly understood. We discuss the implications of what we know about regression in ASD for the way we think about ASD more broadly and for paediatric practice.
Historical aspects of rheumatic fever
Authors: Steer Andrew C 
Published: January 2015

AbstractFew diseases have experienced such a remarkable change in their epidemiology over the past century, without the influence of a vaccine, than rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever has all but disappeared from industrialised countries after being a frequent problem in the 1940s and 1950s. That the disease still occurs at high incidence in resource limited settings and in Indigenous populations in industrialised countries, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, is an indication of the profound effect of socio‐economic factors on the disease. Although there have been major changes in the epidemiology of rheumatic fever, diagnosis remains reliant on careful clinical judgement and management is remarkably similar to that 50 years ago. Over the past decade, increasing attention has been given to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease as public health issues, including in Australia and particularly in New Zealand, as well as in selected low and middle income countries. Perhaps the greatest hope for public health control of rheumatic fever is the development of a vaccine against Streptococcus pyogenes, and there are encouraging initiatives in this area. However, an effective vaccine is some time away and in the meantime public health efforts need to focus on effective translation of the known evidence around primary and secondary prophylaxis into policy and practice.
In the beginning, there was general paediatrics …
Authors: Gunasekera Hasantha , Kilham Henry 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn this article, we address how general paediatrics has evolved and adapted to change over the past 50 years and speculate on its future directions. We compare the state of general paediatrics with that of general adult medicine. We argue that general paediatrics must continue to have a strong role both in paediatric teaching hospitals and the community.
Visits to primary care physicians among persons who inject drugs at high risk of hepatitis C virus infection: room for improvement
Authors: Artenie A. A. , Jutras‐Aswad D. , Roy É. , Zang G. , Bamvita J.‐M. , Lévesque A. , Bruneau J. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe role of primary care physicians (PCP) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention is increasingly emphasized. Yet, little is known about the patterns of contacts with PCP among persons who inject drugs (PWID). We sought to assess the 6‐month prevalence of PCP visiting among PWID at risk of HCV infection and to explore the associated factors. Baseline data were collected from HCV‐seronegative PWID recruited in HEPCO, an observational Hepatitis Cohort study (2004–2011) in Montreal, Canada. An interviewer‐administered questionnaire elicited information on socio‐demographic factors, drug use patterns and healthcare services utilization. Blood samples were tested for HCV antibodies. Using the Gelberg‐Andersen Behavioral Model, hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predisposing, need and enabling factors associated with PCP visiting. Of the 349 participants (mean age = 34; 80.8% male), 32.1% reported visiting a PCP. In the multivariate model, among predisposing factors, male gender [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.45 (0.25–0.83)], chronic homelessness [AOR = 0.08 (0.01–0.67)], cocaine injection [AOR = 0.46 (0.28–0.76)] and reporting greater illegal or semi‐legal income [AOR = 0.48 (0.27–0.85)] were negatively associated with PCP visits. Markers of need were not associated with the outcome. Among enabling factors, contact with street nurses [AOR = 3.86 (1.49–9.90)] and food banks [AOR = 2.01 (1.20–3.37)] was positively associated with PCP visiting. Only one third of participating PWID reported a recent visit to a PCP. While a host of predisposing factors seems to hamper timely contacts with PCP among high‐risk PWID, community‐based support services may play an important role in initiating dialogue with primary healthcare services in this population.
Explaining within‐community variation in plant biomass allocation: a balance between organ biomass and morphology above vs below ground?
Authors: Freschet Grégoire T. , Kichenin Emilie , Wardle David A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractQuestionsIt remains unresolved why, despite the obvious functional importance of leaves and roots, co‐existing plant species can display highly contrasting biomass distributions of these organs. Building on the ‘functional equilibrium’ hypothesis, we hypothesize that co‐existing species can each achieve balanced resource acquisition above vs below ground by trading off the biomass vs morphology of structures responsible for resource acquisition, i.e. leaves and fine roots.MethodsWe tested this hypothesis in a natural field setting by measuring plant above‐ and below‐ground biomass and morphological traits associated with resource uptake – specific leaf area (SLA) and specific root length (SRL) – of 18 dominant angiosperm species from a sub‐alpine plant community.LocationNew Zealand South Island.ResultsWe found a significant negative relationship between the species leaf mass to fine root mass ratio and the SLA to SRL ratio when we considered eudicot species only. The SLA to SRL ratio and plant size explained 31% and 34% of the total variation in the species leaf to fine root mass ratio respectively, and 45% when used in combination (P < 0.05 in all cases). Within a given plant size, 90% of the variation among species in total leaf area was due to differences in SLA, whereas variation in the fine root mass fraction was responsible for 71% of the variation among species in fine root length.ConclusionsIn support of our hypothesis, part of the difference between co‐occurring species in leaf and fine root biomass distribution could be explained by the variable morphologies of these organs as well as variation in plant size, independent of the plant economic strategy. We expect that this outcome may result from environmental and evolutionary constraints on plant species‐average traits, as well as plastic responses to local environmental conditions. These findings help explain why a diversity of strategies for achieving balanced resource acquisition can co‐exist within a single plant community.
The small regulatory RNA FasX enhances group A Streptococcus virulence and inhibits pilus expression via serotype‐specific targets
Authors: Danger Jessica L. , Cao Tram N. , Cao Tran H. , Sarkar Poulomee , Treviño Jeanette , Pflughoeft Kathryn J. , Sumby Paul 
Published: January 2015

SummaryBacterial pathogens commonly show intra‐species variation in virulence factor expression and often this correlates with pathogenic potential. The group A Streptococcus (GAS) produces a small regulatory RNA (sRNA), FasX, which regulates the expression of pili and the thrombolytic agent streptokinase. As GAS serotypes are polymorphic regarding (a) FasX abundance, (b) the fibronectin, collagen, T‐antigen (FCT) region of the genome, which contains the pilus genes (nine different FCT‐types), and (c) the streptokinase‐encoding gene (ska) sequence (two different alleles), we sought to test whether FasX regulates pilus and streptokinase expression in a serotype‐specific manner. Parental, fasX mutant and complemented derivatives of serotype M1 (ska‐2, FCT‐2), M2 (ska‐1, FCT‐6), M6 (ska‐2, FCT‐1) and M28 (ska‐1, FCT‐4) isolates were compared. While FasX reduced pilus expression in each serotype, the molecular basis differed, as FasX bound, and inhibited the translation of, different FCT‐region mRNAs. FasX enhanced streptokinase expression in each serotype, although the degree of regulation varied. Finally, we established that the regulation afforded by FasX enhances GAS virulence, assessed by a model of bacteremia using human plasminogen‐expressing mice. Our data are the first to identify and characterize serotype‐specific regulation by an sRNA in GAS, and to show an sRNA directly contributes to GAS virulence.
Macrophage recruitment in obese adipose tissue
Authors: Bai Y. , Sun Q. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryObesity is characterized as a chronic state of low‐grade inflammation with progressive immune cell infiltration into adipose tissues. Adipose tissue macrophages play critical roles in the establishment of the chronic inflammatory state and metabolic dysfunctions. The novel discovery that pro‐inflammatory macrophages are recruited to obese adipose tissue prompted an increased interest in the interplay between immune cells and metabolism. Since this discovery, many works have been published investigating the factors that lead to macrophage recruitment, the phenotypic change of adipose tissue macrophages, and metabolic dysfunctions. Adipokines and chemokines are key mediators that play crucial roles in crosstalk between adipocytes and macrophages and in regulating the adipose tissue inflammation. In the present review, we discuss the obesity‐mediated adipose tissue remodelling, and particularly, the role of adipokines/chemokines in macrophage recruitment to obese adipose tissue. This review provides new insights into the physiological role of these factors and identifies a potential therapeutic target for obesity and associated disorders.
A simulation technique for 3D MR‐guided acoustic radiation force imaging
Authors: Payne Allison , de Bever Josh , Farrer Alexis , Coats Brittany , Parker Dennis L. , Christensen Douglas A. 
Published: January 2015

Purpose:In magnetic resonance‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) therapies, the in situ characterization of the focal spot location and quality is critical. MR acoustic radiation force imaging (MR‐ARFI) is a technique that measures the tissue displacement caused by the radiation force exerted by the ultrasound beam. This work presents a new technique to model the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model.Methods:When a steady‐state point‐source force acts internally in an infinite homogeneous medium, the displacement of the material in all directions is given by the Somigliana elastostatic tensor. The radiation force field, which is caused by absorption and reflection of the incident ultrasound intensity pattern, will be spatially distributed, and the tensor formulation takes the form of a convolution of a 3D Green's function with the force field. The dynamic accumulation of MR phase during the ultrasound pulse can be theoretically accounted for through a time‐of‐arrival weighting of the Green's function. This theoretical model was evaluated experimentally in gelatin phantoms of varied stiffness (125‐, 175‐, and 250‐bloom). The acoustic and mechanical properties of the phantoms used as parameters of the model were measured using independent techniques. Displacements at focal depths of 30‐ and 45‐mm in the phantoms were measured by a 3D spin echo MR‐ARFI segmented‐EPI sequence.Results:The simulated displacements agreed with the MR‐ARFI measured displacements for all bloom values and focal depths with a normalized RMS difference of 0.055 (range 0.028–0.12). The displacement magnitude decreased and the displacement pattern broadened with increased bloom value for both focal depths, as predicted by the theory.Conclusions:A new technique that models the displacements caused by the radiation force of an ultrasound beam in a homogeneous tissue model theory has been rigorously validated through comparison with experimentally obtained 3D displacement data in homogeneous gelatin phantoms using a 3D MR‐ARFI sequence. The agreement of the experimentally measured and simulated results demonstrates the potential to use MR‐ARFI displacement data in MRgFUS therapies.