bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Population‐based study of esophageal and small intestinal atresia/stenosis
Authors: Takahashi Daijiro , Hiroma Takehiko , Takamizawa Shigeru , Nakamura Tomohiko 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of esophageal atresia/stenosis and small intestinal atresia/stenosis in Nagano, Japan, together with associated anomalies, prenatal diagnosis and survival.MethodsA population‐based cohort study of the prevalence of esophageal atresia/stenosis and small intestinal atresia/stenosis was conducted in Nagano in January 1993–December 2011. The Mann–Whitney test, χ2 test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsIn total, 74 cases of esophageal atresia/stenosis and 87 cases of small intestinal atresia/stenosis (31 duodenal, 56 jejuno‐ileal) were identified. Prevalences were 1.97 for esophageal atresia/stenosis and 2.23 for small intestinal atresia/stenosis (0.83 for duodenal atresia/stenosis and 1.49 for jejuno‐ileal atresia/stenosis) per 10 000 births, respectively. The prevalence of esophageal atresia/stenosis increased significantly from 1993–2001 to 2002–2011 (relative risk [RR], 1.6), as did the prevalences of duodenal atresia/stenosis (RR, 2.2) and jejuno‐ileal atresia/stenosis (RR, 3.1). Chromosomal anomalies, particularly trisomy 21, were seen significantly more often in association with duodenal atresia/stenosis (55%) than with esophageal atresia/stenosis (28%, P < 0.01) or jejuno‐ileal atresia/stenosis (2%, P < 0.01). The proportion of patients associated with prenatally diagnosed chromosomal anomaly was higher compared to postnatal diagnosis (P < 0.01) in the esophageal atresia/stenosis group.ConclusionThe prevalence of esophageal and small intestinal atresia/stenosis increased significantly from 1993–2001 to 2002–2011. Prenatally diagnosed esophageal atresia/stenosis is associated with multiple anomalies, particularly chromosomal anomalies, compared to other small intestine atresia/stenosis.
Population Health: Modest Glycaemic Improvements in a Pregnant Cohort with Mild Glucose Intolerance Decreased Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Berggren Erica K. , Boggess Kim A. , Jonsson Funk Michele 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundAdverse perinatal outcomes are common with pregnancy‐related mild glucose intolerance. The perinatal impact of improving this population's health, instead of individual health, has not been quantified.MethodsWe estimated this impact among women with mild glucose intolerance, delivered at The University of North Carolina Women's Hospital from April 1996 to May 2010. We compared observed with predicted risks of perinatal outcomes after simulating a cohort with a one standard deviation decrease in each glucose value. We estimated absolute and adjusted risks, relative risks, and risk differences with Poisson regression and bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals [CI].ResultsAmong 3217 women, mean (SD) 1‐h screening result was 157 (16) mg/dL; 3‐h diagnostic results were 81 (10), 154 (28), 130 (25), and 104 (26) mg/dL for fasting, 1‐h, 2‐h, and 3‐h, respectively. Compared with observed, predicted risks decreased for preeclampsia (9.1% vs. 6.6%, risk ratio [RR] 0.73 [95% CI 0.60, 0.88]), caesarean delivery (30.1% vs. 26.4%, RR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81, 0.96]), preterm birth (13.0% vs. 9.8%, RR 0.75 [95% CI 0.64, 0.87]), birthweight >4000 g (13.4% vs. 10.5%, RR 0.78 [95% CI 0.67, 0.90]), and shoulder dystocia (3.5% vs. 2.2%, RR 0.61 [95% CI 0.46, 0.83]).ConclusionsModestly improved population distribution of glucose tolerance in pregnancies affected by mild glucose intolerance translated to meaningful improvements in perinatal outcomes.
Predictors of the pathogenicity of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial pneumonia
Authors: Nagaoka Kentaro , Yanagihara Katsunori , Harada Yosuke , Yamada Koichi , Migiyama Yohei , Morinaga Yoshitomo , Izumikawa Koichi , Kakeya Hiroshi , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Nishimura Masaharu , Kohno Shigeru 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe clinical characteristics of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) associated with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection are not well characterized.MethodsThree hundred and thirty‐seven consecutive patients with MRSA isolation from respiratory specimens who attended our hospital between April 2007 and March 2011 were enrolled. Patients characteristics diagnosed with ‘true’ MRSA‐NP were described with regards to clinical, microbiological features, radiological features and genetic characteristics of the isolates. The diagnosis of ‘true’ MRSA‐NP was confirmed by anti‐MRSA treatment effects, Gram‐staining or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture.ResultsThirty‐six patients were diagnosed with ‘true’ MRSA‐NP, whereas 34 were diagnosed with NP with MRSA colonization. Patients with a MRSA‐NP had a Pneumonia Patient Outcomes Research Team score of 5 (58.3% vs 23.5%), single cultivation of MRSA (83.3% vs 38.2%), MRSA quantitative cultivation yielding more than 106 CFU/mL (80.6% vs 47.1%), radiological findings other than lobar pneumonia (66.7% vs 26.5%), and a history of head, neck, oesophageal or stomach surgery (30.6% vs 11.8%). These factors were shown to be independent predictors of the pathogenicity of ‘true’ MRSA‐NP by multivariate analysis (P < 0.05).Conclusions‘True’ MRSA‐NP shows distinct clinical and radiological features from NP with MRSA colonization.
Socio-Economic Inequalities in Bodily Pain Over the Life Cycle: Longitudinal Evidence from Australia, Britain and Germany
Authors: Schurer Stefanie , Shields Michael A. , Jones Andrew M. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryWe document the extent of socio-economic status (SES) inequalities in bodily pain in Australia, Britain and Germany, with a particular focus on whether such inequalities widen over the life course. Random-effects logistic and kernel regressions are used to estimate odds ratios of experiencing severe pain by income, educational qualification and occupational status, and to graph age–pain profiles, while accounting for individual heterogeneity. Cohort level regression analysis is used to control for cohort effects. Low SES is consistently related to higher levels of bodily pain in each country and inequalities widen with increasing age. The odds of experiencing severe bodily pain for individuals in the lowest, relative to the highest, household income quartile is up to two times higher, whereas the odds for those with minimum relative to university education are up to three times higher. For each country, the odds of experiencing severe pain by machine operators are around three times higher than for professionals. Maximum levels, and maximum SES differences in pain, are both reached at around age 60 years, with the differentials ranging between 0.2 and 0.7 of sample standard deviations. No convergence of pain profiles is observed by age 70 years. Controlling for cohort effects in the Australian data confirms the results from the age group analysis. Taken together these results suggest that low SES and manual work have cumulative health effects over the life cycle.
Time Varying Ratings in Association Football: the All-Time Greatest Team is..
Authors: Baker Rose D. , McHale Ian G. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryWe present a new methodology to estimate time varying team strengths of football teams. Our dynamic model allows for deterministic, rather than stochastic, evolution of team strengths. We use the model to identify the best team in England since the English Football Association was formed and match results were recorded in 1888. Our results suggest that Chelsea in 2007 were stronger than any other team has been but that Manchester United have experienced the period of most dominance.
Changes in N leaching and crop production as a result of measures to reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation
Authors: Myrbeck Å. , Stenberg M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe effects of various measures introduced to increase nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency and reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation (winter wheat, spring barley, green manure, winter wheat, spring barley, spring oilseed rape) were examined with respect to N leaching, soil mineral N (SMN) accumulation and grain yield. An N‐use efficient system (NUE) with delayed tillage until late autumn and spring, direct drilling of winter wheat, earlier sowing of winter and spring crops and use of a catch crop in winter wheat was compared with a conventional system (CON) in a field experiment with six separately tile‐drained plots in south‐western Sweden during the period 1999–2011 (two crop rotation cycles). Total leaching of NO3‐N from the NUE system was significantly 46 and 33% lower than in the CON system during the first and second crop rotation cycle, respectively, with the most pronounced differences apparently related to management strategies for winter wheat. Differences in NO3‐N leaching largely reflected differences in SMN during autumn and winter. There was a tendency for lower yields in the NUE system, probably due to problems with couch grass. Overall, the measures for conserving N, when frequently used within a crop rotation, effectively reduced NO3 concentrations in drainage water and NO3‐N leaching losses, without severely affecting yield.
Virtual dissections through micro‐CT scanning: a method for non‐destructive genitalia ‘dissections’ of valuable Lepidoptera material
Authors: SIMONSEN THOMAS J. , KITCHING IAN J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSince its first application to the field more than 10 years ago, micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) has been a state‐of‐the‐art technology in the study of insect morphology and anatomy. Despite showing great potential for various types of non‐destructive ‘dissections’, the method has, however, seen very limited use in descriptive taxonomy. Here we describe a method for carrying out virtual dissections of the genitalia in male Lepidoptera based on case studies involving the butterfly Argynnis paphia and the hawkmoth Cephonodes hylas. We demonstrate how a standard micro‐CT scanner in conjunction with freely available software can distinguish and illustrate taxonomically important characters, and propose a workflow by which valuable material (such as Linnaean types) can be made available as digital loans, and how users can subsequently carry out ‘virtual dissections’. We emphasize that micro‐CT scanning does not remove the need for real dissections and morphological expertise to confidently evaluate virtual ‘dissections’.
Comparison of Different Commercial Serological Tests for the Detection ofToxoplasma gondiiAntibodies in Serum of Naturally Exposed Pigs
Authors: Steinparzer R. , Reisp K. , Grünberger B. , Köfer J. , Schmoll F. , Sattler T. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryToxoplasma gondiiis the aetiological agent of the zoonotic disease toxoplasmosis and transmitted among other ways by chemically and physically untreated, that is, raw pork to humans. The detection ofToxoplasma gondiiis impossible by currently practiced meat inspection, but serological tests can be used to detectToxoplasma gondiiantibodies in pig herds and can consequently be helpful to identify potentially contaminated pork. Therefore, appropriate serological tests are required. In this study, serum samples of 1368 naturally exposed slaughter pigs from 73 Austrian farms were collected. Serum samples of at least 16 slaughter pigs per farm were tested. The prevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiantibodies in serum was measured by a commercial available modified agglutination test (MAT) and compared to three different commercial available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). TheMATdetected 6.5%,ELISAI 6.7%,ELISA II4.8% andELISA III4.3% of the pigs asToxoplasma gondiiantibody positive. The agreement, according to the kappa coefficient (κ), was substantial between theMATandELISAI (κ = 0.62),II(κ = 0.64) andIII(κ = 0.67). A better agreement was determined betweenELISAI andII(κ = 0.715),ELISAI andIII(κ = 0.747) andELISA IIandIII(κ = 0.865). At least one pig per farm was detectedToxoplasma gondiiantibody positive in 17 (23.3%) farms by theMAT, 26 (35.6%) farms byELISAI, 16 (21.9%) farms byELISA IIand 11 (15.1%) farms byELISA III. Pig farms with a high number ofToxoplasma gondiiantibody‐positive pigs or high antibody titres were identified by all of the four used serological tests. Concerning the occurrence ofToxoplasma gondiiantibodies in Austrian pig farms, a monitoring and surveillance programme would be reasonable to find high‐risk farms.
Pneumocystis jirovecii Rtt109, a Novel Drug Target for Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Immunosuppressed Humans
Authors: Dahlin Jayme L. , Kottom Theodore , Han Junhong , Zhou Hui , Walters Michael A. , Zhang Zhiguo , Limper Andrew H. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Pneumocystis
pneumonia (PcP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In humans, PcP is caused by the opportunistic fungal species
Pneumocystis jirovecii
. Progress in
Pneumocystis
research has been hampered by a lack of viable
in vitro
culture methods, which limits laboratory access to human-derived organisms for drug testing. Consequently, most basic drug discovery research for
P. jirovecii
is performed using related surrogate organisms such as
Pneumocystis carinii
, which is derived from immunosuppressed rodents. While these studies provide useful insights, important questions arise about interspecies variations and the relative utility of identified anti-
Pneumocystis
agents against human
P. jirovecii
. Our recent work has identified the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) Rtt109 in
P. carinii
(i.e., PcRtt109) as a potential therapeutic target for PcP, since Rtt109 HATs are widely conserved in fungi but are absent in humans. To further address the potential utility of this target in human disease, we now demonstrate the presence of a functional Rtt109 orthologue in the clinically relevant fungal pathogen
P. jirovecii
(i.e., PjRtt109). In a fashion similar to that of
Pcrtt109
,
Pjrtt109
restores H3K56 acetylation and genotoxic resistance in
rtt109
-null yeast. Recombinant PjRtt109 is an active HAT
in vitro
, with activity comparable to that of PcRtt109 and yeast Rtt109. PjRtt109 HAT activity is also enhanced by the histone chaperone Asf1
in vitro
. PjRtt109 and PcRtt109 showed similar low micromolar sensitivities to two reported small-molecule HAT inhibitors
in vitro
. Together, these results demonstrate that PjRtt109 is a functional Rtt109 HAT, and they support the development of anti-
Pneumocystis
agents directed at Rtt109-catalyzed histone acetylation as a novel therapeutic target for human PcP.
In Vitro
Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida glabrata to Caspofungin and the Presence of
FKS
Mutations Correlate with Treatment Response in an Immunocompromised Murine Model of Invasive Infection
Authors: Fernández-Silva Fabiola , Lackner Michaela , Capilla Javier , Mayayo Emilio , Sutton Deanna , Castanheira Mariana , Fothergill Annette W. , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Guarro Josep 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

It has been argued that the
in vitro
activity of caspofungin (CSP) is not a good predictor of the outcome of echinocandin treatment
in vivo
. We evaluated the
in vitro
activity of CSP and the presence of
FKS
mutations in the hot spot 1 (HS1) region of the
FKS1
and
FKS2
genes in 17 C
andida glabrata
strains with a wide range of MICs. The efficacy of CSP against systemic infections from each of the 17 strains was evaluated in a murine model. No HS1 mutations were found in the eight strains showing MICs for CSP of ≤0.5 μg/ml, but they were present in eight of the nine strains with MICs of ≥1 μg/ml, i.e., three in the
FKS1
gene and five in the
FKS2
gene. CSP was effective for treating mice infected with strains with MICs of ≤0.5 μg/ml, showed variable efficacy in animals challenged with strains with MICs of 1 μg/ml, and did not work in those with strains with MICs of >1 μg/ml. In addition, mutations, including one reported for the first time, were found outside the HS1 region in the
FKS2
gene of six strains with different MICs, but their presence did not influence drug efficacy. The
in vitro
activity of CSP was compared with that of another echinocandin, anidulafungin, suggesting that the MICs of both drugs, as well as mutations in the HS1 regions of the
FKS1
and
FKS2
genes, are predictive of outcome.
Multiplex PCR for Identification of Two Capsular Types in Epidemic KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 258 Strains
Authors: Chen Liang , Chavda Kalyan D. , Findlay Jacqueline , Peirano Gisele , Hopkins Katie , Pitout Johann D. D. , Bonomo Robert A. , Woodford Neil , DeLeo Frank R. , Kreiswirth Barry N. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

We developed a multiplex PCR assay capable of identifying two capsular polysaccharide synthesis sequence types (sequence type 258 [ST258]
cps-1
and
cps-2
) in epidemic
Klebsiella pneumoniae
ST258 strains. The assay performed with excellent sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) for identifying
cps
types in 60 ST258
K. pneumoniae
sequenced isolates. The screening of 419 ST258 clonal isolates revealed a significant association between
cps
type and
K. pneumoniae
carbapenemase (KPC) variant:
cps-1
is largely associated with KPC-2, while
cps-2
is primarily associated with KPC-3.
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Inhibits Type I Interferon- and RNase L-Mediated Host Defense To Disrupt Intestinal Epithelial Cell Barrier Function
Authors: Long Tiha M. , Nisa Shahista , Donnenberg Michael S. , Hassel Bret A. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(EPEC) primarily infects children in developing countries and causes diarrhea that can be deadly. EPEC pathogenesis occurs through type III secretion system (T3SS)-mediated injection of effectors into intestinal epithelial cells (IECs); these effectors alter actin dynamics, modulate the immune response, and disrupt tight junction (TJ) integrity. The resulting compromised barrier function and increased gastrointestinal (GI) permeability may be responsible for the clinical symptoms of infection. Type I interferon (IFN) mediates anti-inflammatory activities and serves essential functions in intestinal immunity and homeostasis; however, its role in the immune response to enteric pathogens, such as EPEC, and its impact on IEC barrier function have not been examined. Here, we report that IFN-β is induced following EPEC infection and regulates IEC TJ proteins to maintain barrier function. The EPEC T3SS effector NleD counteracts this protective activity by inhibiting IFN-β induction and enhancing tumor necrosis factor alpha to promote barrier disruption. The endoribonuclease RNase L is a key mediator of IFN induction and action that promotes TJ protein expression and IEC barrier integrity. EPEC infection inhibits RNase L in a T3SS-dependent manner, providing a mechanism by which EPEC evades IFN-induced antibacterial activities. This work identifies novel roles for IFN-β and RNase L in IEC barrier functions that are targeted by EPEC effectors to escape host defense mechanisms and promote virulence. The IFN-RNase L axis thus represents a potential therapeutic target for enteric infections and GI diseases involving compromised barrier function.
The Type II Secretion Pathway in Vibrio cholerae Is Characterized by Growth Phase-Dependent Expression of Exoprotein Genes and Is Positively Regulated by σ
E
Authors: Zielke Ryszard A. , Simmons Ryan S. , Park Bo R. , Nonogaki Mariko , Emerson Sarah , Sikora Aleksandra E. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Vibrio cholerae
, an etiological agent of cholera, circulates between aquatic reservoirs and the human gastrointestinal tract. The type II secretion (T2S) system plays a pivotal role in both stages of the lifestyle by exporting multiple proteins, including cholera toxin. Here, we studied the kinetics of expression of genes encoding the T2S system and its cargo proteins. We have found that under laboratory growth conditions, the T2S complex was continuously expressed throughout
V. cholerae
growth, whereas there was growth phase-dependent transcriptional activity of genes encoding different cargo proteins. Moreover, exposure of
V. cholerae
to different environmental cues encountered by the bacterium in its life cycle induced transcriptional expression of T2S. Subsequent screening of a
V. cholerae
genomic library suggested that σ
E
stress response, phosphate metabolism, and the second messenger 3′,5′-cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) are involved in regulating transcriptional expression of T2S. Focusing on σ
E
, we discovered that the upstream region of the T2S operon possesses both the consensus σ
E
and σ
70
signatures, and deletion of the σ
E
binding sequence prevented transcriptional activation of T2S by RpoE. Ectopic overexpression of σ
E
stimulated transcription of T2S in wild-type and isogenic Δ
rpoE
strains of
V. cholerae
, providing additional support for the idea that the T2S complex belongs to the σ
E
regulon. Together, our results suggest that the T2S pathway is characterized by the growth phase-dependent expression of genes encoding cargo proteins and requires a multifactorial regulatory network to ensure appropriate kinetics of the secretory traffic and the fitness of
V. cholerae
in different ecological niches.
A Listeria monocytogenes-Based Vaccine That Secretes Sand Fly Salivary Protein LJM11 Confers Long-Term Protection against Vector-Transmitted Leishmania major
Authors: Abi Abdallah Delbert S. , Pavinski Bitar Alan , Oliveira Fabiano , Meneses Claudio , Park Justin J. , Mendez Susana , Kamhawi Shaden , Valenzuela Jesus G. , Marquis Hélène 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a sand fly-transmitted disease characterized by skin ulcers that carry significant scarring and social stigmatization. Over the past years, there has been cumulative evidence that immunity to specific sand fly salivary proteins confers a significant level of protection against leishmaniasis. In this study, we used an attenuated strain of
Listeria monocytogenes
as a vaccine expression system for LJM11, a sand fly salivary protein identified as a good vaccine candidate. We observed that mice were best protected against an intradermal needle challenge with
Leishmania major
and sand fly saliva when vaccinated intravenously. However, this protection was short-lived. Importantly, groups of vaccinated mice were protected long term when challenged with infected sand flies. Protection correlated with smaller lesion size, fewer scars, and better parasite control between 2 and 6 weeks postchallenge compared to the control group of mice vaccinated with the parent
L. monocytogenes
strain not expressing LJM11. Moreover, protection correlated with high numbers of CD4
+
, gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ
+
), tumor necrosis factor alpha-positive/negative (TNF-α
+/−
), interleukin-10-negative (IL-10
−
) cells and low numbers of CD4
+
IFN-γ
+/−
TNF-α
−
IL-10
+
T cells at 2 weeks postchallenge. Overall, our data indicate that delivery of LJM11 by
Listeria
is a promising vaccination strategy against cutaneous leishmaniasis inducing long-term protection against ulcer formation following a natural challenge with infected sand flies.