bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathological study of nasal polyps with special reference to mast cells in inflammatory polyps
Authors: Shulbha V. S. , Dayananda B. S. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTBackground and aim: Nasal polyposis is a relatively common condition found in 1–4% of the general population and in high percentages of some groups of patients. Nasal polyps diagnosed clinically are not always of inflammatory origin. A variety of non‐neoplastic and neoplastic conditions can present as nasal polyps. The aim of this study was to determine the various histopathological types, the predominant cells involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory polyps with special reference to mast cells and to correlate them clinicopathologically. Methods: A total of 100 cases clinically diagnosed as nasal polyp, were studied over a period of 18 months. Results: Out of 100 cases studied, 91% of them were non‐neoplastic and 9% were neoplastic. Among the non‐neoplastic conditions, non‐allergic polyps accounted for 70% and allergic polyps accounted for 21% of cases. Among the neoplastic lesions, 6% were benign and 3% malignant. Squamous metaplasia was seen in 16.38% of cases. In stroma, mononuclear cells were predominant in 63.7% of inflammatory polyps, eosinophils in 19.11%, prominent edematous stroma in 26.39%, and vasculature > 2/high power field (hpf) in 20.39% of inflammatory polyps. 0–5 mast cells per 10 hpf were seen in 97.8% of inflammatory polyps in epithelium, whereas 11–20 mast cells in 26.4% of inflammatory polyps were seen in stroma. Conclusions: Nasal polyps diagnosed clinically are not always of inflammatory origin and therefore have to be subjected for histopathology.
The Effects of Strategy–Management Control System Misfits on Firm Performance
Authors: Gani Lindawati , Jermias Johnny 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of misfits between business strategy and management control systems on performance. We address the following research question: Do firms that align their management control systems with the specific requirements of their business strategy perform significantly better than those that do not achieve the required match? We define a misfit as the degree to which management control systems deviate from empirically derived optimal configurations for a given type of business strategy. We use the two‐stage approach proposed by Ittner and Larcker (2001) to measure misfit and to investigate the impacts of misfit on performance. Based on a questionnaire survey of executives from 109 banks, we hypothesize and find that the strategy–control systems misfit has a significantly negative correlation with both self‐rated and publicly available performance measures.
Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose films for the ophthalmic delivery of diclofenac sodium
Authors: El-Sousi Salah , Nácher Amparo , Mura Carla , Catalán-Latorre Ana , Merino Virginia , Merino-Sanjuán Matilde , Díez-Sales Octavio 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Objectives
The aim of this study was to prepare diclofenac/hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and diclofenac-loaded nanoparticles/HPMC films as potential systems for ocular delivery.

Methods
Two different concentration of the polymer were used: 1.5 and 2.0% w/v. Chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles were prepared by the ionotropic gelation technique. Nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, drug encapsulation efficiency and rheological studies. In-vitro drug studies and corneal penetration release studies were carried out. Drug release mechanism was finally evaluated by fitting the Ritger and Peppas equation to data. In addition corneal hydration level was calculated to determine whether films could damage the corneas.

Key findings
Diclofenac HPMC films presented a faster drug release and a higher drug penetration than nanoparticles; on the contrary nanoparticles containing films were able to give a more sustained release of the drug and thus a slower diclofenac permeation through the cornea than HPMC films.

Conclusions
Nanoparticles loaded with diclofenac sodium in HPMC films may be a valuable alternative for the treatment of ocular inflammatory diseases, since these formulations offer the benefit of sustained releasing directly to the site of action.
Characterization of Thielaviopsis paradoxa Isolates from Oil Palms in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil
Authors: Álvarez Elizabeth , Llano Germán A. , Loke John B. , Chacon Maria I. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractCeratocystis paradoxa (Anamorph: Thielaviopsis paradoxa) is parasitic on a range of economic and food crops and is the cause of dry basal rot, a limiting disease in oil palm. The objective of this study was to determinate the pathogenic and genetic diversity of Thielaviopsis isolates from oil palms in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. A total of 164 strains of Thielaviopsis paradoxa were characterized using pathogenicity tests, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and PCR sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of 5.8 S ribosomal DNA. Oil palm seedlings were inoculated by injecting the base of stems in the seedling stage with a fungal suspension and severity scores of disease reactions were evaluated. PCR amplification of the ITS region resulted in a 590 base pair (bp) product. Digestion of the PCR product with two restriction enzymes produced three restriction patterns, which according to ITS sequences could be classified as T. paradoxa. Six RAPD primers gave polymorphic bands in T. paradoxa. Population structure analyses of the RAPD data suggested that most of the isolates obtained in this study belonged to a single population. The genetic diversity of the isolates from South America was intermediate, and therefore, T. paradoxa is likely to be predominantly clonal compared with Ceratocystis species. Sporadic sexual reproduction may occur for T. paradoxa but is secondary to clonal reproduction. Data on pathogen diversity will provide information on breeding strategies and population structures.
Characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients with hepatitis B virus infection: clinicopathologic study of resected tumours
Authors: Wu Z.‐F. , Yang N. , Li D.‐Y. , Zhang H.‐B. , Yang G.‐S. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryRecent efforts suggest an aetiological role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients with HBV‐associated ICC. All patients with chronic HBV infection were identified from a database of patients with ICC that underwent surgical resection between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006. Their clinicopathologic and survival characteristics were compared with ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. The age of the HBV‐associated ICC patients tend to be younger than that of ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. HBV‐associated ICC patients tend to have higher abnormal α‐fetoprotein levels and lower abnormal serum carbohydrate antigen19‐9 (CA19‐9), r‐glutamyltransferase (r‐GT) and alkaline phosphatase levels. The pathologic features of the resected specimens revealed that HBV‐associated ICC patients tended to be of the mass‐forming type have a lower prevalence of lymphatic involvement and poorer tumour differentiation, and a higher prevalence of capsule formation and liver cirrhosis. Patients with HBV‐associated ICC had a significantly better survival than patients without chronic HBV infection. The clinicopathological features of HBV‐associated ICC patients showed significant differences from ICC patients without HBV infection. These tumours are characterized by the mass‐forming growth pattern and appeared to have a more favourable prognosis.
Characterization of the velvet regulators in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Park Hee‐Soo , Bayram Özgür , Braus Gerhard H. , Kim Sun Chang , Yu Jae‐Hyuk 
Published: September 2012

SummaryFungal development and secondary metabolism is intimately associated via activities of the fungi‐specific velvet family proteins. Here we characterize the four velvet regulators in the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The deletion of AfuvosA, AfuveA and AfuvelB causes hyperactive asexual development (conidiation) and precocious and elevated accumulation of AfubrlA during developmental progression. Moreover, the absence of AfuvosA, AfuveA or AfuvelB results in the abundant formation of conidiophores and highly increased AfubrlA mRNA accumulation in liquid submerged culture, suggesting that they act as repressors of conidiation. The deletion of AfuvosA or AfuvelB causes a reduction in conidial trehalose amount, long‐term spore viability, conidial tolerance to oxidative and UV stresses, and accelerated and elevated conidial germination regardless of the presence or absence of an external carbon source, suggesting an interdependent role of them in many aspects of fungal biology. Genetic studies suggest that AfuAbaA activates AfuvosA and AfuvelB expression during the mid to late phase of conidiation. Finally, the AfuveA null mutation can be fully complemented by Aspergillus nidulans VeA, which can physically interact with AfuVelB and AfuLaeA in vivo. A model depicting the similar yet different roles of the velvet regulators governing conidiation and sporogenesis in A. fumigatus is presented.
The basic chromospheres of skin that might not be differentiated visually: observations on aneurysmal fibrous histiocytomas and malignant melanomas
Authors: Oh Ga Na , Kim Jong Yeob , Choi Jae Eun , Seo Soo Hong , Kye Young Chul , Ahn Hyo Hyun 
Published: September 2012

AimAneurysmal fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a variant of fibrous histiocytoma, which has a cleft‐like cavernous blood‐filled space in the tumor. It appears as a single reddish black tumor with variable levels of pain and size from its bleeding. And, it must be differentiated from other similar looking malignant conditions such as malignant melanoma. The visual mimicry of AFH to melanoma was raised by some careful dermatologists, but never be confirmed objectively by colorimetric analysis.Materials, Subjects, and MethodsIn this study, we simply analyzed conventionally photographed digital images of thirty‐seven cases of fibrous histiocytomas, including three AFH cases into colorimetrically useful color space, CIELAB, of which coordinates are L*, a*, and b* representing lightness, red to green, and yellow to blue axis, respectively. In addition, we also analyzed the clinical digital images of seven cases of malignant melanomas. Using statistical package, each coordinates of CIELAB were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test between AFH and melanomas. The CIELAB coordinates of AFH and non‐aneurysmal fibrous histiocytomas were compared statistically as well.ResultsComparing with banal fibrous histiocytomas, the colors of AFH showed significantly smaller a* and b* coordinates (P = 0.008, 0.008, respectively), which implies more green and blue hue of AFH lesion. Rather, they were more like melanomas (P = 0.2839, 0.2040, respectively). As for L*, there were no significant differences for all comparisons.ConclusionsAs a result, more objective analysis of the digital images using colorimetric color space confirmed the visual mimicry of AFH to melanoma.
The late steps of plant nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay
Authors: Mérai Zsuzsanna , Benkovics Anna H. , Nyikó Tünde , Debreczeny Mónika , Hiripi László , Kerényi Zoltán , Kondorosi Éva , Silhavy Dániel 
Published: September 2012

SummaryNonsense‐mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a eukaryotic quality control system that identifies and degrades mRNAs containing premature termination codons (PTCs). If translation terminates at a PTC, the UPF1 NMD factor binds the terminating ribosome and recruits UPF2 and UPF3 to form a functional NMD complex, which triggers the rapid decay of the PTC‐containing transcript. Although NMD deficiency is seedling lethal in plants, the mechanism of plant NMD remains poorly understood. To understand how the formation of the NMD complex leads to transcript decay we functionally mapped the UPF1 and SMG7 plant NMD factors, the putative key players of NMD target degradation. Our data indicate that the cysteine–histidine‐rich (CH) and helicase domains of UPF1 are only essential for the early steps of NMD, whereas the heavily phosphorylated N‐ and C–terminal regions play a redundant but essential role in the target transcript degradation steps of NMD. We also show that both the N‐ and the C–terminal regions of SMG7 are essential for NMD. The N terminus contains a phosphoserine‐binding domain that is required for the early steps of NMD, whereas the C terminus is required to trigger the degradation of NMD target transcripts. Moreover, SMG7 is a P–body component that can also remobilize UPF1 from the cytoplasm into processing bodies (P bodies). We propose that the N‐ and C–terminal phosphorylated regions of UPF1 recruit SMG7 to the functional NMD complex, and then SMG7 transports the PTC‐containing transcripts into P bodies for degradation.
Replication factor C1 (RFC1) is required for double‐strand break repair during meiotic homologous recombination in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liu Yang , Deng Yingtian , Li Gang , Zhao Jie 
Published: September 2012

SummaryReplication factor C1 (RFC1), which is conserved in eukaryotes, is involved in DNA replication and checkpoint control. However, a RFC1 product participating in DNA repair at meiosis has not been reported in Arabidopsis. Here, we report functional characterization of AtRFC1 through analysis of the rfc1–2 mutant. The rfc1–2 mutant displayed normal vegetative growth but showed silique sterility because the male gametophyte was arrested at the uninucleus microspore stage and the female at the functional megaspore stage. Expression of AtRFC1 was concentrated in the reproductive organ primordia, meiocytes and developing gametes. Chromosome spreads showed that pairing and synapsis were normal, and the chromosomes were broken when desynapsis began at late prophase I, and chromosome fragments remained in the subsequent stages. For this reason, homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids segregated unequally, leading to pollen sterility. Immunolocalization revealed that the AtRFC1 protein localized to the chromosomes during zygotene and pachytene in wild‐type but were absent in the spo11–1 mutant. The chromosome fragmentation of rfc1–2 was suppressed by spo11–1, indicating that AtRFC1 acted downstream of AtSPO11‐1. The similar chromosome behavior of rad51 rfc1–2 and rad51 suggests that AtRFC1 may act with AtRAD51 in the same pathway. In summary, AtRFC1 is required for DNA double‐strand break repair during meiotic homologous recombination of Arabidopsis.
Mixed Mucosal Leishmaniasis Infection Caused by Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major
Authors: Shirian Sadegh , Oryan Ahmad , Hatam Gholam Reza , Daneshbod Yahya 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Mixed infections with different
Leishmania
species could explain differences in the clinical courses of these infections. On identification of
Leishmania
parasites from Iranian patients with mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), a patient with both oral and nasal lesions was found to be concomitantly infected with
Leishmania tropica
and
L. major
. Mixed infection was identified by PCR amplification of
Leishmania
kinetoplast DNA on scraping of cytological smears and histopathological sections.
L. major
and
L. tropica
were isolated from the nasal and oral lesions, respectively. These species were also confirmed by immunohistochemistry. This seems to be the first reported case of concurrent ML infection with two
Leishmania
species. It indicates that, at least in this patient, previous infection with one of these
Leishmania
species did not protect against infection with the other. This result has important implications for the development of vaccines against leishmaniases and implies careful attention in the treatment of this infectious disease.
Performance Characteristics of the Cepheid Xpert
vanA
Assay for Rapid Identification of Patients at High Risk for Carriage of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
Authors: Babady N. Esther , Gilhuley Kathleen , Cianciminio-Bordelon Diane , Tang Yi-Wei 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

We compared the performance characteristics of culture and the Cepheid Xpert
vanA
assay for routine surveillance of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) from rectal swabs in patients at high risk for VRE carriage. The Cepheid Xpert
vanA
assay had a limit of detection of 100 CFU/ml and correctly detected 101 well-characterized clinical VRE isolates with no cross-reactivity in 27 non-VRE and related culture isolates. The clinical sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the Xpert
vanA
PCR assay were 100%, 96.9%, 91.3%, and 100%, respectively, when tested on 300 consecutively collected rectal swabs. This assay provides excellent predictive values for prompt identification of VRE-colonized patients in hospitals with relatively high rates of VRE carriage.
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli O78:H10, the Cause of an Outbreak of Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Olesen Bente , Scheutz Flemming , Andersen Rebecca L. , Menard Megan , Boisen Nadia , Johnston Brian , Hansen Dennis S. , Krogfelt Karen A. , Nataro James P. , Johnson James R. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

In 1991, multiresistant
Escherichia coli
O78:H10 strains caused an outbreak of urinary tract infections in Copenhagen, Denmark. The phylogenetic origin, clonal background, and virulence characteristics of the outbreak isolates, and their relationship to nonoutbreak O78:H10 strains according to these traits and resistance profiles, are unknown. Accordingly, we extensively characterized 51 archived
E. coli
O78:H10 isolates (48 human isolates from seven countries, including 19 Copenhagen outbreak isolates, and 1 each of calf, avian, and unknown-source isolates), collected from 1956 through 2000.
E. coli
O78:H10 was clonally heterogeneous, comprising one dominant clonal group (61% of isolates, including all 19 outbreak isolates) from ST10 (phylogenetic group A) plus several minor clonal groups (phylogenetic groups A and D). All ST10 isolates, versus 25% of non-ST10 isolates, were identified by molecular methods as enteroaggregative
E. coli
(EAEC) (
P
< 0.001). Genes present in >90% of outbreak isolates included
fimH
(type 1 fimbriae; ubiquitous in
E. coli
);
fyuA
,
traT
, and
iutA
(associated with extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
[ExPEC]); and
sat
,
pic
,
aatA
,
aggR
,
aggA
, ORF61,
aaiC
,
aap
, and ORF3 (associated with EAEC). An outbreak isolate was lethal in a murine subcutaneous sepsis model and exhibited characteristic EAEC “stacked brick” adherence to cultured epithelial cells. Thus, the 1991 Copenhagen outbreak was caused by a tight, non-animal-associated subset within a broadly disseminated O78:H10 clonal group (ST10; phylogenetic group A), members of which exhibit both ExPEC and EAEC characteristics, whereas O78:H10 isolates overall are phylogenetically diverse. Whether ST10 O78:H10 EAEC strains are both uropathogenic and diarrheagenic warrants further investigation.
The Diagnostic Performance of the GenoType MTBDR
plus
Version 2 Line Probe Assay Is Equivalent to That of the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay
Authors: Barnard M. , Gey van Pittius N. C. , van Helden P. D. , Bosman M. , Coetzee G. , Warren R. M. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Molecular diagnostics for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
have recently been endorsed by the World Health Organization. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay was endorsed for use on patient material, regardless of smear gradation, while the GenoType MTBDR
plus
(version 1) has been limited for use on smear-positive patient material. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Xpert MTB/RIF and GenoType MTBDR
plus
(version 2) assays on smear-positive and smear-negative patient specimens submitted to a high-throughput diagnostic laboratory. A total of 282 consecutive specimens were subjected to the two new molecular assays, and their performance characteristics were assessed relative to the routine diagnostic standard. Both assays showed similar diagnostic performance characteristics. The sensitivities of the GenoType MTBDR
plus
(v2.0) and Xpert MTB/RIF assays for the detection of culture-positive
M. tuberculosis
were 73.1% and 71.2%, respectively, while the specificities of both assays were 100%. Both assays were able to diagnose the presence of
M. tuberculosis
in 57 to 58% of smear-negative cases, suggesting that the performance characteristics were dependent on bacillary load. The detection of
M. tuberculosis
in culture-negative specimens confirmed that molecular assays should not be used for treatment monitoring. The sensitivity and specificity for rifampin resistance detection were 100% in both assays; however, the GenoType MTBDR
plus
(v2.0) assay provided additional information on isoniazid susceptibility. The GenoType MTBDR
plus
(v2.0) assay will complement the Xpert MTB/RIF screening assay by validating rifampin susceptibility and providing information on isoniazid susceptibility. In addition, the GenoType MTBDR
plus
(v2.0) assay will provide pharmacogenetic information that may be critical in guiding appropriate treatment.
Deletion of Specific Immune-Modulatory Genes from Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara-Based HIV Vaccines Engenders Improved Immunogenicity in Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Garber David A. , O'Mara Leigh A. , Gangadhara Sailaja , McQuoid Monica , Zhang Xiugen , Zheng Rui , Gill Kiran , Verma Meena , Yu Tianwei , Johnson Brent , Li Bing , Derdeyn Cynthia A. , Ibegbu Chris , Altman John D. , Hunter Eric , Feinberg Mark B. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a safe, attenuated orthopoxvirus that is being developed as a vaccine vector but has demonstrated limited immunogenicity in several early-phase clinical trials. Our objective was to rationally improve the immunogenicity of MVA-based HIV/AIDS vaccines via the targeted deletion of specific poxvirus immune-modulatory genes. Vaccines expressing codon-optimized HIV subtype C consensus Env and Gag antigens were generated from MVA vector backbones that (i) harbor simultaneous deletions of four viral immune-modulatory genes, encoding an interleukin-18 (IL-18) binding protein, an IL-1β receptor, a dominant negative Toll/IL-1 signaling adapter, and CC-chemokine binding protein (MVAΔ4-HIV); (ii) harbor a deletion of an additional (fifth) viral gene, encoding uracil-DNA glycosylase (MVAΔ5-HIV); or (iii) represent the parental MVA backbone as a control (MVA-HIV). We performed head-to-head comparisons of the cellular and humoral immune responses that were elicited by these vectors during homologous prime-boost immunization regimens utilizing either high-dose (2 × 10
8
PFU) or low-dose (1 × 10
7
PFU) intramuscular immunization of rhesus macaques. At all time points, a majority of the HIV-specific T cell responses, elicited by all vectors, were directed against Env, rather than Gag, determinants, as previously observed with other vector systems. Both modified vectors elicited up to 6-fold-higher frequencies of HIV-specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses and up to 25-fold-higher titers of Env (gp120)-specific binding (nonneutralizing) antibody responses that were relatively transient in nature. While the correlates of protection against HIV infection remain incompletely defined, our results indicate that the rational deletion of specific genes from MVA vectors can positively alter their cellular and humoral immunogenicity profiles in nonhuman primates.