bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal pilot‐study of Sustained Attention to Response Task and P300 in manifest and pre‐manifest Huntington's disease
Authors: Hart Ellen P. , Dumas Eve M. , van Zwet Erik W. , van der Hiele Karin , Jurgens Caroline K. , Middelkoop Huub A. M. , van Dijk J. Gert , Roos Raymund A. C. 
Published: October 2013

BackgroundEarlier research has found cross‐sectional attentional control deficits in manifest Huntington's disease (HD) using neuropsychological testing combined with simultaneous P300 registration. In the current pilot‐study, we investigate attentional control in pre‐manifest and manifest HD over a 3‐year follow‐up period.MethodFive manifest HD (MHD), 9 pre‐manifest HD (PMHD), and 12 control subjects were included. Sustained Attention to Response task (SART) and P300 registration resulted in number of errors, reaction time (RT), and P300 amplitude and latency. RT change patterns surrounding No‐go trials were also investigated. Within‐subject differences were tested using paired‐samples t‐tests and between‐group results with ANCOVA on delta scores (follow‐up – baseline scores).ResultsManifest HD made more errors and were slower than controls and PMHD. Longitudinally, MHD showed an overall RT increase and a specific slowing on trials preceding a correct No‐go trial (within‐group effects). The latter was also seen in PMHD. P300 latency prolongation was found for controls on No‐go and for MHD on Go trials. On specific trials surrounding both correct and incorrect No‐go trials, MHD became significantly slower over time than controls and PMHD (between‐group effects).ConclusionsOver 3‐years, MHD subjects became slower on the SART and showed a prolongation of P300 latency on specific SART trials. Specific slowing of performance over time was also seen in PMHD, suggestive of compensatory mechanisms in this group.
Retrospective comparison of two peripheral lumbosacral plexus blocks in dogs undergoing pelvic limb orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Vettorato E. , De Gennaro C. , Okushima S. , Corletto F. 
Published: October 2013

ObjectivesTo compare the lateral pre‐iliac approach to the lumbar plexus combined with lumbar paravertebral sciatic nerve block, and the dorsal paravertebral approach to the lumbar plexus combined with sciatic nerve block in dogs.MethodsRetrospective examination of case records of dogs that received the blocks and underwent pelvic limb orthopaedic surgery between 2010 and 2012. Success rate (intraoperative fentanyl consumption <2·1 µg/kg/hour), type and dose of local anaesthetic used, multiple of minimum alveolar concentration of volatile anaesthetic agent administered, incidence of intraoperative hypotension, postoperative methadone administration, postoperative contralateral limb paralysis and neurological complication at 6 weeks re‐examination were analysed.ResultsNinety‐six and 95 records were retrieved in which lateral pre‐iliac – lumbar paravertebral sciatic nerve and dorsal paravertebral – sciatic nerve were used, respectively. Success rates were 82·3% in lateral pre‐iliac – lumbar paravertebral sciatic nerve and 74·7% in dorsal paravertebral – sciatic nerve groups. Bupivacaine, levobupivacaine and ropivacaine were used. Total local anaesthetic doses, intraoperative hypotension and postoperative methadone administered were similar between groups; minimum alveolar concentration multiple was significantly (P<0·001) lower in lateral pre‐iliac – lumbar paravertebral sciatic nerve group. No neurological complications were noted.Clinical SignificanceAlthough success rates and perioperative analgesic requirements were not significantly different, the different exposure to anaesthetic agents suggests that the two techniques may not be equivalent.
XANES and Mg isotopic analyses of spinels in Ca‐Al‐rich inclusions: Evidence for formation under oxidizing conditions
Authors: Paque J. M. , Sutton S. R. , Simon S. B. , Beckett J. R. , Burnett D. S. , Grossman L. , Yurimoto H. , Itoh S. , Connolly H. C. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractTi valence measurements in MgAl2O4 spinel from calcium‐aluminum‐rich inclusions (CAIs) by X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy show that many spinels have predominantly tetravalent Ti, regardless of host phases. The average spinel in Allende type B1 inclusion TS34 has 87% Ti+4. Most spinels in fluffy type A (FTA) inclusions also have high Ti valence. In contrast, the rims of some spinels in TS34 and spinel grain cores in two Vigarano type B inclusions have larger amounts of trivalent titanium. Spinels from TS34 have approximately equal amounts of divalent and trivalent vanadium. Based on experiments conducted on CAI‐like compositions over a range of redox conditions, both clinopyroxene and spinel should be Ti+3‐rich if they equilibrated with CAI liquids under near‐solar oxygen fugacities. In igneous inclusions, the seeming paradox of high‐valence spinels coexisting with low‐valence clinopyroxene can be explained either by transient oxidizing conditions accompanying low‐pressure evaporation or by equilibration of spinel with relict Ti+4‐rich phases (e.g., perovskite) prior to or during melting. Ion probe analyses of large spinel grains in TS34 show that they are enriched in heavy Mg, with an average Δ25Mg of 4.25 ± 0.028‰, consistent with formation of the spinel from an evaporating liquid. Δ25Mg shows small, but significant, variation, both within individual spinels and between spinel and adjacent melilite hosts. The Δ25Mg data are most simply explained by the low‐pressure evaporation model, but this model has difficulty explaining the high Ti+4 concentrations in spinel.
A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial of Duloxetine for the Treatment of Pain in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Vollmer Timothy L. , Robinson Michael J. , Risser Richard C. , Malcolm Sandra K. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundPatients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often report neuropathic pain (NP‐MS). The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine as treatment for NP‐MS.MethodsIn this study, 239 adults with NP‐MS (duloxetine = 118, placebo = 121) were randomized to duloxetine 60 mg (30 mg for 1 week, then 60 mg for 5 weeks) or placebo once daily for a 6‐week acute therapy phase, followed by a 12‐week open‐label extension phase (duloxetine 30 to 120 mg/day). Eligible patients had MS for ≥ 1 year and a score ≥ 4 on daily average pain intensity (API) ratings for ≥ 4 of 7 days immediately before randomization. Patients rated API daily on an 11‐point numeric scale (0 [no pain] to 10 [worst possible pain]) in an electronic diary. The primary efficacy measure, change in weekly API ratings, was analyzed longitudinally with a mixed‐model repeated‐measures analysis. Completion, reasons for discontinuation, and treatment‐emergent adverse event incidence were compared by Fisher's exact test.ResultsDuloxetine‐treated patients had statistically greater mean improvement in API vs. placebo at Week 6 (−1.83 vs. −1.07, P = 0.001). Treatment completion did not significantly differ between groups. Discontinuation due to adverse events was statistically greater for duloxetine vs. placebo (13.6% vs. 4.1%, P = 0.012). Decreased appetite was reported significantly more often by duloxetine‐treated patients (5.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.007).ConclusionsThis study found analgesic efficacy of duloxetine for NP‐MS. Duloxetine is not approved for treatment of this condition. The duloxetine safety profile of this study was consistent with the known profile in other patient populations.
Criteria for the definition of similarity thresholds for identifying essentially derived varieties
Authors: Noli Enrico , Teriaca Maria Soccorsa , Conti Sergio 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe concept of essential derivation refers to cases where a new variety is obtained from an initial variety (IV), of which it retains the expression of the essential characteristics resulting from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the IV. Protecting plant breeder's rights can be facilitated by identifying a species‐specific threshold level of similarity above which the new variety could be suspected as essentially derived (EDV). Amplified fragment length polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats proved suitable for measuring genetic similarity. Three approaches have been proposed for the definition of thresholds. According to the ‘calibration principle’, the critical level to discriminate EDVs is defined based on similarities among closely related genotypes. Adopting the ‘tail principle’, the threshold is placed at a given percentile of the distribution of the similarities within a reference population of independent genotypes. Finally, with the ‘pedigree principle’, the threshold is set starting from the a priori definition of breeding techniques that lead to EDVs. The tools and the approaches described in this review represent the basis for developing protocols useful in handling disputes of essential derivation.
Association of metabolic syndrome with atypical features of depression in Japanese people
Authors: Takeuchi Takeaki , Nakao Mutsuhiro , Kachi Yuko , Yano Eiji 
Published: October 2013

AimIt has been controversial whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with depression. We aimed to clarify the correlation between MetS and depression, considering atypical features of depression.MethodsParticipants were 1011 Japanese men aged 20–59 years. MetS was diagnosed according to criteria set by the International Diabetes Federation. Clinical interviews for major depressive disorder (MDD) employed the DSM‐IV; MDD was classified into atypical and non‐atypical types. The prevalence of MetS was compared between the groups with no MDD, atypical depression, and non‐atypical depression via trend analyses. Multiple logistic regression analyses examined the association of MetS with atypical depression and the features thereof.ResultsIn total, 141 (14.0%) participants were diagnosed with MetS and 57 (5.6%) were diagnosed with MDD (14 had atypical and 43 had non‐atypicalMDD). The prevalence of MetS was the highest in the group with atypical depression, followed by the non‐atypical depression and no MDD groups, respectively, with a marginally significant trend (P = 0.07). The adjusted odds ratios of MetS associated with depression were 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–13.2) for atypical depression and 1.6 (95%CI 0.7–3.6) for non‐atypical depression. Among the five features of atypical depression, only hyperphagia was significantly related to MetS (odds ratio 2.7, 95%CI 1.8–4.1).ConclusionThere was a positive association between MetS and atypical depression, but not between MetS and non‐atypical depression. Specifically, hyperphagia seems to be an important factor affecting the correlation between MetS and atypical depression.
Formation of low‐magnesium calcite at cold seeps in an aragonite sea
Authors: Feng Dong , Roberts Harry H. , Joye Samantha B. , Heydari Ezat 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis study investigates the conditions of occurrence and petrographic characteristics of low‐Mg calcite (LMC) from cold seeps of the Gulf of Mexico at a water depth of 2340 m. Such LMC mineral phases should precipitate in calcite seas rather than today's aragonite sea. The 13C‐depleted carbonates formed as a consequence of anaerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons in shallow subsurface cold seep environments. The occurrence of LMC may result from brine fluid flows. Brines are relatively Ca2+‐enriched and Mg2+‐depleted (Mg/Ca mole ratio <0.7) relative to seawater, where the Mg/Ca mole ratio is ~5, which drives high‐Mg calcite and aragonite precipitation. The dissolution of aragonitic mollusk shells, grains and cements was observed. Aerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons and H2S is the most likely mechanism to explain carbonate dissolution. These findings have important implications for understanding the occurrence of LMC in deep water marine settings and consequently their counterparts in the geological record.
Diversity of influences on infant feeding strategies in women living with HIV in Cape Town, South Africa: a mixed methods study
Authors: Zulliger Rose , Abrams Elaine J. , Myer Landon 
Published: October 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo explore influences on infant feeding intentions and practices in women living with HIV in South Africa.MethodsStructured questionnaires were completed by 207 pregnant women and 203 post‐partum women in Cape Town, South Africa. Concurrently, 34 semi‐structured, qualitative interviews explored the influences on infant feeding strategies in women living with HIV.ResultsOverall, 50% (104) of pregnant women intended to breastfeed and 22% (45) of post‐partum women ever breastfed. Women who breastfed or intended to breastfeed were significantly more likely to have running water in their homes, to have formal housing and to receive advice in support of breastfeeding. Advice from clinic staff was the strongest predictor of breastfeeding [adjusted relative odds (ARO) in pregnant women: 6.87; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.67, 17.66; ARO in post‐partum women: 4.04; 95% CI: 1.60, 10.19]. Other important influences included previous infant feeding experiences, desires to protect the infant from HIV and involvement of other care providers. Many women also noted that breastfeeding was not feasible due to work commitments and highlighted concerns around the discontinuation of the free provision of infant formula.ConclusionThese results suggest that women living with HIV balance complex influences in deciding on their preferred infant feeding strategies. This underscores the need for extensive provider, patient and community education to ensure consistent messaging, while allowing for adaptation to the circumstances of individual mothers.
First comparative evaluation of a new leukapheresis technology in non‐cytokine‐stimulated donors
Authors: Steininger P. A. , Strasser E. F. , Weiss D. , Achenbach S. , Zimmermann R. , Eckstein R. 
Published: October 2013

Background and ObjectivesLeukapheresis is an important source for mononuclear cells (MNCs) used in adoptive immunotherapies. Differences in the apheresis technology concerning physical conditions during cell separation and the optical detection system can affect the product's cellular content.Materials and MethodsIn a paired analysis, twenty healthy non‐cytokine‐stimulated donors underwent MNC collection at the Spectra Optia (Terumo BCT, Lakewood, CO, USA) and the COM.TEC (Fresenius Kabi, Bad Homburg, Germany) device. In twelve donors, apheresis was additionally performed with the Amicus (Fenwal Inc., Lake Zurich, IL, USA). Donor response to leukapheresis and product composition was compared.ResultsMean yields of CD14+ (CD3+) cells were 1·64 ± 0·70x109 (2·36 ± 0·96 × 109) in the Spectra Optia, 1·45 ± 0·50 × 109 (3·03 ± 1·04 × 109) in the COM.TEC and 1·20 ± 0·37 × 109 (2·80 ± 1·00 × 109) in the Amicus products, respectively. The Spectra Optia collected significantly more CD14+ monocytes than the Amicus and significantly less CD3+ T cells than the COM.TEC (P = 0·002 and P = 0·021). Apheresis products of the Spectra Optia showed the significantly lowest red blood cell yields while the Amicus generated products with the significantly lowest platelet contents.ConclusionsLeukaphereses with the three devices resulted in almost equal total MNC yields. MNC products of the Spectra Optia and the Amicus could be used in preference for the monocyte enrichment by the Elutra system and the leukapheresis procedures could be also favourably applied in patients with low platelet counts. The COM.TEC is more efficient in monocyte and T‐cell collection with the disadvantage of high residual non‐target cell content in the products.
Efficient Activation of Human T Cells of Both CD4 and CD8 Subsets by Urease-Deficient Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG That Produced a Heat Shock Protein 70-M. tuberculosis-Derived Major Membrane Protein II Fusion Protein
Authors: Mukai Tetsu , Tsukamoto Yumiko , Maeda Yumi , Tamura Toshiki , Makino Masahiko 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTFor the purpose of obtainingMycobacterium bovisbacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) capable of activating human naive T cells, urease-deficient BCG expressing a fusion protein composed ofMycobacterium tuberculosis-derived major membrane protein II (MMP-II) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of BCG (BCG-DHTM) was produced. BCG-DHTM secreted the HSP70-MMP-II fusion protein and effectively activated human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) by inducing phenotypic changes and enhanced cytokine production. BCG-DHTM-infected DCs activated naive T cells of both CD4 and naive CD8 subsets, in an antigen (Ag)-dependent manner. The T cell activation induced by BCG-DHTM was inhibited by the pretreatment of DCs with chloroquine. The naive CD8+T cell activation was mediated by the transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP) and the proteosome-dependent cytosolic cross-priming pathway. Memory CD8+T cells and perforin-producing effector CD8+T cells were efficiently produced from the naive T cell population by BCG-DHTM stimulation. Single primary infection with BCG-DHTM in C57BL/6 mice efficiently produced T cells responsive toin vitrosecondary stimulation with HSP70, MMP-II, andM. tuberculosis-derived cytosolic protein and inhibited the multiplication of subsequently aerosol-challengedM. tuberculosismore efficiently than did vector control BCG. These results indicate that the introduction of MMP-II and HSP70 into urease-deficient BCG may be useful for improving BCG for control of tuberculosis.
Comparison of Sputum and Nasopharyngeal Aspirate Samples and of the PCR Gene Targets
lytA
and Spn9802 for Quantitative PCR for Rapid Detection of Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Authors: Strålin Kristoffer , Herrmann Björn , Abdeldaim Guma , Olcén Per , Holmberg Hans , Mölling Paula 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

We aimed to compare sputum and nasopharyngeal aspirate (NpA) samples and the PCR gene targets
lytA
and Spn9802 in quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for rapid detection of pneumococcal etiology in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Seventy-eight adult patients hospitalized for radiologically confirmed CAP had both good-quality sputum and NpA specimens collected at admission. These samples were subjected to
lytA
qPCR and Spn9802 qPCR assays with analytical times of <3 h. Thirty-two patients had CAP with a pneumococcal etiology, according to conventional diagnostic criteria. The following qPCR positivity rates were noted in CAP cases with and without pneumococcal etiology: 96% and 15% (sputum
lytA
assay), 96% and 17% (sputum Spn9802 assay), 81% and 11% (NpA
lytA
assay), and 81% and 20% (NpA Spn9802 assay), respectively. The mean
lytA
and Spn9802 DNA levels were significantly higher in qPCR-positive sputum samples from cases with pneumococcal etiology than in qPCR-positive sputum samples from CAP cases without pneumococcal etiology or qPCR-positive NpA samples from cases with pneumococcal etiology (
P
< 0.02 for all comparisons). For detection of pneumococcal etiology, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that sputum specimens were superior to NpA specimens as the sample type (
P
< 0.02 for both gene targets) and
lytA
tended to be superior to Spn9802 as the gene target. The best-performing test, the sputum
lytA
qPCR assay, showed high sensitivity (94%) and specificity (96%) with a cutoff value of 10
5
DNA copies/ml. In CAP patients with good sputum production, this test has great potential to be used for the rapid detection of pneumococcal etiology and to target penicillin therapy.
Frequency of Susceptibility Testing for Patients with Persistent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: Giltner Carmen L. , Kelesidis Theodoros , Hindler Janet A. , Bobenchik April M. , Humphries Romney M. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

Currently, no standards exist for determining the optimal frequency of repeat antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) when an organism is recurrently isolated from the same specimen source. Although testing every 2 to 5 days is thought sufficient, we present three cases of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) bacteremia where current laboratory protocol for repeating AST every 5 days was inadequate to identify resistant organisms.
Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus Directly from Bactec Blood Culture Broth by the BinaxNOW S. aureus Test
Authors: Qian Qinfang , Eichelberger Karen , Kirby James E. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT

The BinaxNOW
Staphylococcus aureus
testing showed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predicative values of 97.6%, 100%, 100%, and 98.4%, respectively, for identification of
S. aureus
from Bactec blood culture broth. Importantly, the test performed equally well on aerobic and anaerobic culture broth.
Use of Micafungin as a Surrogate Marker To Predict Susceptibility and Resistance to Caspofungin among 3,764 Clinical Isolates of Candida by Use of CLSI Methods and Interpretive Criteria
Authors: Pfaller Michael A. , Messer Shawn A. , Diekema Daniel J. , Jones Ronald N. , Castanheira Mariana 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACTDue to unacceptably high interlaboratory variation in caspofungin MIC values, we evaluated the use of micafungin as a surrogate marker to predict the susceptibility ofCandidaspp. to caspofungin using reference methods and species-specific interpretive criteria. The MIC results for 3,764 strains ofCandida(eight species), including 73 strains withfksmutations, were used. Caspofungin MIC values and species-specific interpretive criteria were compared with those of micafungin to determine the percent categorical agreement (%CA) and very major error (VME), major error (ME), and minor error rates as well as their ability to detectfksmutant strains ofCandida albicans(11 mutants),Candida tropicalis(4 mutants),Candida krusei(3 mutants), andCandida glabrata(55 mutants). Overall, the %CA was 98.8% (0.2% VMEs and MEs, 0.8% minor errors) using micafungin as the surrogate marker. Among the 60 isolates ofC. albicans(9 isolates),C. tropicalis(5 isolates),C. krusei(2 isolates), andC. glabrata(44 isolates) that were nonsusceptible (either intermediate or resistant) to both caspofungin and micafungin, 54 (90.0%) contained a mutation infks1orfks2. An additional 10C. glabratamutants, twoC. albicansmutants, and one mutant each ofC. tropicalisandC. kruseiwere classified as susceptible to both antifungal agents. Using the epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) of 0.12 μg/ml for caspofungin and 0.03 μg/ml for micafungin to differentiate wild-type (WT) from non-WT strains ofC. glabrata, 80% of theC. glabratamutants were non-WT for both agents (96% concordance). Micafungin may serve as an acceptable surrogate marker for the prediction of susceptibility and resistance ofCandidato caspofungin.
Monitoring of Patients Supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Systemic Infections by Broad-Range rRNA Gene PCR Amplification and Sequence Analysis
Authors: Orszag Peter , Disqué Claudia , Keim Sonja , Lorenz Michael G. , Wiesner Olaf , Hadem Johannes , Stiesch Meike , Haverich Axel , Kühn Christian 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
The rRNA gene PCR and sequencing test, SepsiTest, was compared with blood culture (BC) regarding the diagnosis of pathogens in 160 blood samples drawn from 28 patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. With 45% of positive samples, SepsiTest was 13 to 75 h faster than BC. SepsiTest indicated bacteremias in 25% of patients who were BC negative.