bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does a Positive Response to Spermatic Cord Block Predict Response to Microdenervation of the Spermatic Cord for Chronic Scrotal Content Pain?
Authors: Benson Jonas S. , Abern Michael R. , Larsen Stephen , Levine Laurence A. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Microdenervation of the spermatic cord (MDSC) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for men with intractable scrotal content pain.

Aim
This study evaluates the correlation between a positive response to a spermatic cord block with local anesthetic and the subsequent surgical outcome following MDSC.

Main Outcome Measures
Pre- and post-cord block pain and pre- and post-MDSC pain.

Methods
A retrospective review of 74 patients (77 testicular units) who underwent MDSC from 2006 to 2010 was performed. Pre- and post-spermatic cord block pain scores based on a 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS) were compared with pre- and post-MDSC pain scores. A positive response to the block was defined as greater than or equal to 50% temporary reduction of pain based on VAS.

Results
The average patient age was 42 years with a mean follow-up of 10 months. The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 69 months. Mean pre-cord block pain score was 8 with an 89% average decrease in pain following the block. Mean post-MDSC pain score was 2 with an average decrease of 73%. The level of temporary improvement from the cord block appeared to be a useful predictor of sustained improvement with MDSC (P = 0.05). Positive response to spermatic cord block was an independent predictor of MDSC response (P = 0.03).

Conclusions
Men with chronic orchialgia who have a positive response to a spermatic cord block are likely to have durable and complete resolution of symptoms after undergoing MDSC. The amount of pain relief obtained after the cord block correlates with pain relief after undergoing a MDSC. Men with chronic orchialgia who desire surgical correction should undergo a preoperative spermatic cord block as part of their complete evaluation. The result of the cord block can help guide the practitioner and the patient toward definitive surgical management via MDSC.
Aortoenteric fistulas: Is there a place for parenteral nutrition?
Authors: KOTSIKORIS Ioannis , ZYGOMALAS Apollon , MARAS Dimitrios , PAPAS Theofanis , ANDRIKOPOULOU Maria , ALIVIZATOS Vasileios , BESSIAS Nikolaos 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAim:  Aortoenteric fistulas are a rare but often fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Operative repair has been historically associated with extremely high morbidity and mortality. From the literature and our own experience, the mean overall length of stay for patients who are successfully discharged from the hospital appears to be more than 15 days, and oral feeding is frequently delayed. Possibilities of nutritional intervention in vascular surgery patients are important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of parenteral nutrition in patients treated for aortoenteric fistulas.Methods:  The records of all patients admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery with AEFs during the last three years (2007–2009) were reviewed and analysed.Results:  During the last three years, five patients were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery with AEFs. Their mean age was 55.8 years (range 49–67). Four patients were male and one was female. The mean body mass index was 28.6 kg/m2 (range 25 to 33.2). The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool score showed a high risk for malnutrition for all the patients. The mean hospital stay was 25.2 days. All five patients were supported with total PN (four central and one peripheral). There were no complications due to PN.Conclusion:  Provision of PN support in patients with AEFs may be used without complications.
Intracranial botryomycosis in a mature horse
Authors: Johns I. C. , Finding E. J. T. , Ciasca T. , Erles K. , Smith K. , Weller R. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThis case report describes an unusual diagnosis of central nervous system botryomycosis in a horse. A 16‐year‐old Welsh Section D gelding was evaluated for acute onset of hypermetric ataxia, leaning to the left and head tilt to the right. Based on the neurological signs, a cerebellar lesion with accompanying vestibular disease was suspected and supportive therapy consisting of antimicrobial and glucocorticosteroid drugs and hypertonic saline was instituted. This resulted in marked clinical improvement over a 48 h period. Computed tomography performed in the standing, sedated horse following initial stabilisation identified extensive sclerosis and lysis of the right temporal and occipital bones, consistent with an infectious or neoplastic process. Based on the grave prognosis for survival despite the clinical improvement, euthanasia was undertaken. Post mortem magnetic resonance imaging identified a mass lesion impinging on the right cerebellar hemisphere, sclerosis of the temporal and occipital bones lateral and ventral to the mass, as well as destruction of the temporal bone between the inner ear and the cerebellum. These changes corresponded to the presence of a mass within the right dorsal temporal bone, extending into the right lateral temporal bone. The mass extended to compress and adhere to the right lateral hemisphere of the cerebellum. A histopathological diagnosis of botryomycosis was made, affecting the temporal and occipital bones and compressing the cerebellum.
The Prototype/Willingness model, academic versus health‐risk information, and risk cognitions associated with nonmedical prescription stimulant use among college students
Authors: Stock Michelle L. , Litt Dana M. , Arlt Virginia , Peterson Laurel M. , Sommerville Jessica 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesNonmedical prescription stimulant (NPS) use is an important problem among university students. The present studies applied the prototype‐willingness model (Gibbons, Gerrard & Lane, 2003) to academic‐based NPS use and examined the impact of academic versus health information on university students' NPS use cognitions.Design and MethodsStudy 1 used the prototype‐willingness model to examine cognitions associated with academic‐based willingness to use NPS. In Study 2, participants were randomly assigned to a control condition or to read information on the negative academic or negative health effects of NPS use. Beliefs, willingness, and expectation of engaging in future NPS use, prototypes of users, and perceived vulnerability were assessed.ResultsStudents without a prescription for stimulants or a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in each study (Ns = 555; 166). Twenty to thirty per cent reported NPS use, primarily for academic reasons. Controlling for past NPS, alcohol, and marijuana use: friends' NPS use, prototypes, perceived vulnerability, and negative health and positive academic beliefs were associated with willingness to use NPS in Study 1. Study 2 demonstrated that participants in the academic‐information condition reported the lowest willingness and expectations as well as the least favourable prototypes of NPS users. Participants in the health‐information condition reported the highest perceived vulnerability.ConclusionsThese studies highlight: the utility of using a health model framework to examine NPS cognitions, the importance of examining beliefs about the behaviour, and the potential for academic and health information to reduce risky NPS use cognitions.Statement of contributionWhat is already known? Nonmedical prescription stimulant (NPS) use is a common health‐risk behaviour among college students. The most common reasons cited by students for NPS use are related to academics (e.g., increase concentration, stay awake to study).What does this study add? Shows the utility of the prototype‐willingness model to examine NPS use cognitions. Experimentally demonstrates the positive impact of academic and health information on NPS use cognitions. Reveals new relationships among health cognitions (including academic and health beliefs) that predict behaviour and are targets for future interventions.
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide causes resistin release from neutrophils
Authors: Furugen R , Hayashida H , Saito T 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesIt was reported that periodontitis is associated with increased serum resistin levels. We examined whether there was a difference between the release of resistin from neutrophils incubated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis and with LPS from Escherichia coli, and which cell‐surface receptors and intracellular kinases were involved in this process.MethodsSeveral concentrations of P. gingivalis‐LPS and E. coli‐LPS were added to neutrophils, supernatant from cultured neutrophils was collected, and resistin levels were measured by ELISA. To examine signaling pathways, neutrophils were pretreated with monoclonal antibodies against CD14, CD18, TLR2, and TLR4, and specific inhibitors of PI3K and MAPKs.ResultsResistin release from neutrophils was induced both by P. gingivalis‐LPS and E. coli‐LPS, but resistin release by P. gingivalis‐LPS was weaker than E. coli‐LPS in low concentrations. Resistin release was decreased by pretreatment with monoclonal antibodies against CD14, CD18, and TLR4, but not by TLR2. Moreover, it was decreased by inhibitors of PI3K, JNK, and p38 MAPK, but not by ERK1/2.ConclusionsResistin release from neutrophils was induced by both P. gingivalis‐LPS and E. coli‐LPS. This was decreased by CD14, CD18, and TLR4 and was dependent on PI3K, JNK, and p38 MAPK, but not on ERK1/2 in intracellular pathways of neutrophils.
Prevalence of multidrug‐resistant gram‐negative bacilli producing extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases (ESBLs) and ESBL genes in solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Men T.‐Y. , Wang J.‐N. , Li H. , Gu Y. , Xing T.‐H. , Peng Z.‐H. , Zhong L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundMultidrug‐resistant (MDR) gram‐negative bacilli pose a serious and rapidly emerging threat to recipients of solid organ transplants (SOTs). However, extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases (ESBLs), as one of the cardinal mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial agents in SOT recipients, remain obscure. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of strains producing ESBLs in SOT patients with MDR gram‐negative bacilli infections and to identify the ESBL genes carried by them.Materials and methodsIsolates from various clinical specimens of SOT recipients were identified using the VITEK 2 system, and their antibiotic sensitivity was determined by the 2‐fold agar dilution method. Isolates suspected of producing ESBL enzymes were tested by an ESBL phenotypic confirmatory method, and the ESBL genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.ResultsA total of 80 MDR gram‐negative strains were isolated from 350 SOT recipients. Among these strains, 42 (52.5%) had an ESBL‐positive phenotype; 33 (42.3%) patients with ESBL‐positive infection were found. Molecular analysis showed that most of the isolates harbored blaCTX‐M‐9 (78.6%), blaTEM (81.0%), and blaSHV (69.0%) genes. All the ESBL‐producing strains were susceptible to carbapenems.ConclusionsMDR gram‐negative isolates from SOT recipients are frequently ESBL producers. TEM and CTX‐M9 were the predominant ESBL types.
Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza infection in pediatric hemato‐oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients
Authors: Babor F. , Grund S. , Siepermann M. , Oommen P.T. , Kuhlen M. , Schuster F.R. , Laws H.‐J. , Wessalowski R. , Bienemann K. , Janßen G. , Adams O. , Borkhardt A. , Meisel R. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundFor children with hemato‐oncologic diseases, especially after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the risk for developing complications related to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1) infection is largely unknown.MethodsA retrospective chart study was performed of pH1N1 cases diagnosed between October 2009 to January 2010 in the hemato‐oncologic unit of the University Children's Hospital of Düsseldorf, Germany.FindingsIn total, 21 children were diagnosed with laboratory‐confirmed pH1N1; in 16 patients with malignancies (acute leukemia 7, lymphoma 4, solid tumors 2, others 3) and in 5 with benign hematologic disorders. Five patients had undergone prior HSCT, although 1 patient was diagnosed during conditioning therapy with high‐dose chemotherapy in preparation for haploidentical HSCT. Most frequent symptoms were fever (>38.5°C) and cough (in 100%), and rhinorrhea (57%). The 2 patients acquiring pH1N1 infection under high‐dose or intensive chemotherapy did not require intensive care or mechanical ventilation, and both recovered under antiviral therapy. Oseltamivir was administered to 11 patients; in 1 patient, therapy was switched, on a compassionate‐use basis, to intravenous zanamivir because of lack of clinical improvement after oseltamivir therapy. Complications were hospitalization (19%), demand of oxygen supplementation, delay/interruption of antineoplastic therapy, and prolonged administration of antibiotics and antipyretics.ConclusionIn the investigated patient population, pH1N1 was mild in most cases, but was associated with substantial morbidity in a proportion of patients and led to interruption and delay in anticancer treatment.
Galois groups of chromatic polynomials
Authors: Morgan Kerri 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe chromatic polynomialP(G,λ) gives the number of ways a graphGcan be properly coloured in at mostλcolours. This polynomial has been extensively studied in both combinatorics and statistical physics, but there has been little work on its algebraic properties. This paper reports a systematic study of the Galois groups of chromatic polynomials. We give a summary of the Galois groups of all chromatic polynomials of strongly non-clique-separable graphs of order at most 10 and all chromatic polynomials of non-clique-separableθ-graphs of order at most 19. Most of these chromatic polynomials have symmetric Galois groups. We give five infinite families of graphs: one of these families has chromatic polynomials with a dihedral Galois group and two of these families have chromatic polynomials with cyclic Galois groups. This includes the first known infinite family of graphs that have chromatic polynomials with the cyclic Galois group of order 3.
Fluorometric High-Throughput Assay for Measuring Chlamydial Neutralizing Antibody
Authors: Southern Timothy , Bess Leah , Harmon Jillian , Taylor Lacey , Caldwell Harlan 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Chlamydia trachomatis
is an obligate intracellular mucosotropic pathogen that causes human infections of global importance.
C. trachomatis
causes trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, and is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease. Although oculogenital infections are treatable with antibiotics, a vaccine is needed to control
C. trachomatis
infection. Ideally, a vaccine would provide coverage against most, if not all, naturally occurring antigenically distinct serovariants. The development of a subunit vaccine to prevent oculogenital disease could be advanced by identifying chlamydial antigens that elicit pan-neutralizing antibodies, particularly among infected human populations of known risk factors. There is currently no objective high-throughput
in vitro
assay to screen human sera for neutralization to aid in identification of these antigens. This report describes an objective, high-throughput
in vitro
assay that measures
C. trachomatis
-neutralizing antibodies. Antibody-mediated neutralization of chlamydial infection was performed in a 96-well microtiter format, and neutralization was quantified by immunostaining fixed cells followed by automated fluorometric analysis. This report shows that fluorometric analysis of
C. trachomatis
infection directly correlates to labor-intensive manual inclusion counts. Furthermore, this report shows that fluorometry can be used to identify
C. trachomati
s serovar- and serocomplex-specific neutralization. This objective, high-throughput analysis of serum neutralization is amenable to epidemiological studies of human chlamydial infection, human clinical vaccine trials, and preclinical animal model experiments of
Chlamydia
infection.
Evaluation and Characterization of Fasciola hepatica Tegument Protein Extract for Serodiagnosis of Human Fascioliasis
Authors: Morales Adelaida , Espino Ana M. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTTegument protein extract fromFasciola hepaticaadult flukes (FhTA) was obtained and assessed for its potential as a diagnostic agent for the serological detection of human fascioliasis using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In an analysis of sera from 45 patients infected withF. hepatica, sera from 41 patients with other parasitic infections, and sera from 33 healthy controls, the FhTA-ELISA showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 91.1%, 97.3%, and 95%, respectively. Specific IgG1 and IgG4 were the antibody isotypes mainly detected in sera from patients with fascioliasis. Polypeptides of 52, 38, 24 to 26, and 12 to 14 kDa were identified by Western blotting as the most immunoreactive components of the FhTA. A proteomic approach led us to identify enolase, aldolase, glutathioneS-transferase, and fatty acid binding protein as the major immunoreactive components of the FhTA.
Novel Two-Round Phenotypic Assay for Protease Inhibitor Susceptibility Testing of Recombinant and Primary HIV-1 Isolates
Authors: Puertas Maria C. , Buzón Maria J. , Ballestero Mònica , Van Den Eede Peter , Clotet Bonaventura , Prado Julia G. , Martinez-Picado Javier 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTAntiretroviral drug susceptibility tests facilitate therapeutic management of HIV-1-infected patients. Although genotyping systems are affordable, inaccuracy in the interpretation of complex mutational patterns may limit their usefulness. Currently available HIV-1 phenotypic assays are based on the generation of recombinant viruses in which the specific viral gene of interest, derived from a patient plasma sample, is cloned into a susceptible genetic viral backbone prior toin vitrodrug susceptibility evaluation. Nevertheless, in the case of protease inhibitors, not only are mutations in the HIV-1 protease-coding region involved in resistance, but the role of Gag in drug susceptibility has also recently been reported. In order to avoid the inherent limitations resulting from partial cloning of the viral genome, we designed and evaluated a new experimental strategy to test thein vitrosusceptibility of primary viral isolates to protease inhibitors. Our protocol, which is based on a two-round infection protocol using the reporter TZM-bl cell line, showed a good correlation with genotypic resistance prediction and with the Antivirogram phenotypic assay, in both protease-recombinant viruses and primary viral isolates. The protocol is suitable for any HIV-1 subtype and enables rapid in-house measurement of protease inhibitor susceptibility, thus making it possible to evaluate the concomitant effects of both patient-derivedgagand protease-coding regions.
Two Techniques for Simultaneous Identification of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri by Use of the Small-Subunit rRNA Gene
Authors: Fuehrer Hans-Peter , Stadler Marie-Therese , Buczolich Katharina , Bloeschl Ingrid , Noedl Harald 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

The primers traditionally used to detect
Plasmodium ovale
infections are known for not binding all
P. ovale
parasites within the small-subunit rRNA gene when used alone. We describe a simple, cost- and time-efficient multiplex nested PCR and a nested PCR using a novel set of primers for the simultaneous detection of
P. ovale curtisi
and
P. ovale wallikeri
.
Genomic and Phylogenetic Characterization of Brazilian Yellow Fever Virus Strains
Authors: Nunes Marcio R. T. , Palacios Gustavo , Cardoso Jedson F. , Martins Livia C. , Sousa Edivaldo C. , de Lima Clayton P. S. , Medeiros Daniele B. A. , Savji Nazir , Desai Aaloki , Rodrigues Sueli G. , Carvalho Valeria L. , Lipkin W. Ian , Vasconcelos Pedro F. C. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT
Globally, yellow fever virus infects nearly 200,000 people, leading to 30,000 deaths annually. Although the virus is endemic to Latin America, only a single genome from this region has been sequenced. Here, we report 12 Brazilian yellow fever virus complete genomes, their genetic traits, phylogenetic characterization, and phylogeographic dynamics. Variable 3′ noncoding region (3′NCR) patterns and specific mutations throughout the open reading frame altered predicted secondary structures. Our findings suggest that whereas the introduction of yellow fever virus in Brazil led to genotype I-predominant dispersal throughout South and Central Americas, genotype II remained confined to Bolivia, Peru, and the western Brazilian Amazon.
Implication of Bemisia tabaci Heat Shock Protein 70 in Begomovirus-Whitefly Interactions
Authors: Götz Monika , Popovski Smadar , Kollenberg Mario , Gorovits Rena , Brown Judith K. , Cicero Joseph M. , Czosnek Henryk , Winter Stephan , Ghanim Murad 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTThe whiteflyBemisia tabaci(Gennadius) is a major cosmopolitan pest capable of feeding on hundreds of plant species and transmits several major plant viruses. The most important and widespread viruses vectored byB. tabaciare in the genusBegomovirus, an unusual group of plant viruses owing to their small, single-stranded DNA genome and geminate particle morphology.B. tabacitransmits begomoviruses in a persistent circulative nonpropagative manner. Evidence suggests that the whitefly vector encounters deleterious effects followingTomato yellow leaf curl virus(TYLCV) ingestion and retention. However, little is known about the molecular and cellular basis underlying these coevolved begomovirus-whitefly interactions. To elucidate these interactions, we undertook a study usingB. tabacimicroarrays to specifically describe the responses of the transcriptomes of whole insects and dissected midguts following TYLCV acquisition and retention. Microarray, real-time PCR, and Western blot analyses indicated thatB. tabaciheat shock protein 70 (HSP70) specifically responded to the presence of the monopartite TYLCV and the bipartiteSquash leaf curl virus. Immunocapture PCR, protein coimmunoprecipitation, and virus overlay protein binding assays showedin vitrointeraction between TYLCV and HSP70. Fluorescencein situhybridization and immunolocalization showed colocalization of TYLCV and the bipartiteWatermelon chlorotic stunt virusvirions and HSP70 within midgut epithelial cells. Finally, membrane feeding of whiteflies with anti-HSP70 antibodies and TYLCV virions showed an increase in TYLCV transmission, suggesting an inhibitory role for HSP70 in virus transmission, a role that might be related to protection against begomoviruses while translocating in the whitefly.