bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of acute kidney injury in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell recipients
Authors: Didsbury Madeleine S. , Mackie Fiona E. , Kennedy Sean E. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe process of allogeneic HSCT in children is associated with frequent AKI and mortality, but the epidemiology is not widely reported. The aim of this review was to summarize the available evidence on incidence, risk factors, timing, and prognosis of AKI in children following HSCT. We systematically reviewed all observational studies reporting incidence and outcomes of AKI in pediatric allogenic HSCT recipients. The minimum criteria for AKI were defined as an increase in sCr ≥ x1.5 or urine output ≤0.5 mL/kg/min over six h. Medline and Embase were searched until March 2014. From 993 electronic records, five were eligible for inclusion (n = 571 patients). The average incidence of AKI within the first 100 days following HSCT was 21.7% (range 11–42%), and the average time of onset was 4–6 wk post‐transplant. Risk factors for AKI included cyclosporine toxicity, amphotericin B and foscarnet, SOS, and having a mismatched donor. There were conflicting reports on whether AKI was associated with the development of CKD. AKI is a common and potentially life‐threatening complication following HSCT in children. Further quality observational studies are needed to accurately determine the epidemiology and prognosis of AKI in this population.
Sequential Quasi Monte Carlo
Authors: Gerber Mathieu , Chopin Nicolas 
Published: May 2015

SummaryWe derive and study sequential quasi Monte Carlo (SQMC), a class of algorithms obtained by introducing QMC point sets in particle filtering. SQMC is related to, and may be seen as an extension of, the array-RQMC algorithm of L'Ecuyer and his colleagues. The complexity of SQMC is O{Nlog(N)}, where N is the number of simulations at each iteration, and its error rate is smaller than the Monte Carlo rate OP(N−1/2). The only requirement to implement SQMC algorithms is the ability to write the simulation of particle xtn given xt−1n as a deterministic function of xt−1n and a fixed number of uniform variates. We show that SQMC is amenable to the same extensions as standard SMC, such as forward smoothing, backward smoothing and unbiased likelihood evaluation. In particular, SQMC may replace SMC within a particle Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We establish several convergence results. We provide numerical evidence that SQMC may significantly outperform SMC in practical scenarios.
Tuberculosis infection control measures in diabetes clinics in China: a rapid assessment of 10 hospitals
Authors: Lin Yan , Harries Anthony D. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo assess tuberculosis infection control measures in diabetes mellitus (DM) clinics in China.MethodAn evaluation questionnaire was developed based on the measures outlined in the WHO policy on TB infection control in healthcare facilities and congregate settings. Ten selected hospitals were assessed between September 2014 and February 2015.ResultsAll hospitals had an infection control committee, an action plan and training, but there was no focus on activities to prevent airborne transmission of infection, especially from tuberculosis. All DM clinics had natural or artificial ventilation, but at the time of the evaluation half had all windows closed. While all the hospitals provided surgical masks for hospital staff, none had N95‐specific respiratory masks and only three provided masks for patients with a cough. There were no policies on identifying DM patients with TB symptoms, minimising the time spent by these patients in the clinics or developing health educational material on diabetes and tuberculosis.ConclusionInfection control measures to prevent airborne transmission in DM clinics are inadequate. More work is needed to better understand and determine the risk of TB infection in DM clinics and to improve their TB infection control practices.
Medication Adherence Clubs: a potential solution to managing large numbers of stable patients with multiple chronic diseases in informal settlements
Authors: Khabala Kelly B. , Edwards Jeffrey K. , Baruani Bienvenu , Sirengo Martin , Musembi Phylles , Kosgei Rose J. , Walter Kizito , Kibachio Joseph M. , Tondoi Monique , Ritter Helga , Wilkinson Ewan , Reid Tony 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the care of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and/or HIV patients enrolled into Medication Adherence Clubs (MACs).MethodsRetrospective descriptive study was carried out using routinely collected programme data from a primary healthcare clinic at informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. All patients enrolled into MACs were selected for the study. MACs are nurse‐facilitated mixed groups of 25–35 stable hypertension, diabetes mellitus and/or HIV patients who met quarterly to confirm their clinical stability, have brief health discussions and receive medication. Clinical officer reviewed MACs yearly, when a patient developed complications or no longer met stable criteria.ResultsA total of 1432 patients were enrolled into 47 clubs with 109 sessions conducted between August 2013 and August 2014. There were 1020 (71%) HIV and 412 (29%) non‐communicable disease patients. Among those with NCD, 352 (85%) had hypertension and 60 (15%) had DM, while 12 had HIV concurrent with hypertension. A total of 2208 consultations were offloaded from regular clinic. During MAC attendance, blood pressure, weight and laboratory testing were completed correctly in 98–99% of consultations. Only 43 (2%) consultations required referral for clinical officer review before their routine yearly appointment. Loss to follow‐up from the MACs was 3.5%.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility and early efficacy of MACs for mixed chronic disease in a resource‐limited setting. It supports burden reduction and flexibility of regular clinical review for stable patients. Further assessment regarding long‐term outcomes of this model should be completed to increase confidence for deployment in similar contexts.
Traditional vs. non‐traditional healing for minor and major morbidities in India: uses, cost and quality comparisons
Authors: Singh Ashish , Madhavan Harilal 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo examine the uses, cost and quality of care of traditional healing for short‐term morbidities and major morbidities in India and to compare them with the non‐traditional healing.MethodsWe used data from a nationally representative survey, the India Human Development Survey (2004‐2005) and descriptive as well as bivariate analyses for the examination.ResultsUse of traditional healing is much less common than use of non‐traditional healing in both rural and urban areas and across all socio‐economic and demographic characteristics; it is slightly more common in rural than urban areas for short‐term morbidities. Use of traditional healing is relatively more frequent for cataract (especially in rural areas), leprosy, asthma, polio, paralysis, epilepsy and mental illnesses; its total cost of care and mean waiting time (in the health facility) are substantially lower than for non‐traditional healing. Among patients who use both traditional and non‐traditional healing, a relatively higher proportion use traditional healing complemented by non‐traditional healing for short‐term illnesses, but vice versa for major morbidities.ConclusionThis is the first study which has investigated at the national level the uses, complementarities, cost and quality aspects of traditional and non‐traditional healing in India. Traditional healing is more affordable and pro‐poor. Relatively higher use of traditional healing in patients from poorly educated as well as poor households and suffering from diseases, such as, epilepsy and mental illnesses; and higher demand for traditional healing for the above diseases highlight the need for research/policy reorientation in India.
Deep pyoderma caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex associated with ciclosporin administration in dogs: a case series
Authors: Banovic Frane , Koch Sandra , Robson David , Jacob Megan , Olivry Thierry 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundBacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are ubiquitous Gram‐negative bacilli associated with fatal nosocomial infections in humans; multi‐antibiotic resistance makes this organism a serious threat in hospital settings.ObjectiveTo describe the historical, clinicopathological and treatment characteristics of Bcc‐associated deep skin infections in dogs.AnimalsSix dogs with skin infections in which skin bacterial cultures resulted in pure growth of Bcc.MethodsRetrospective study with review of medical records and skin biopsies.ResultsAll dogs were receiving oral ciclosporin at the time of skin infection development. All dogs were castrated males and four of six were West Highland white terriers. Cutaneous lesions consistent with deep pyoderma were confined mainly to the trunk. In all dogs skin cytology revealed a strong inflammatory response, with moderate to abundant numbers of intracellular (neutrophils and macrophages) and extracellular bacilli. In three dogs histopathology showed a multifocal, nodular to coalescing pyogranulomatous dermatitis associated with multifocal folliculitis and furunculosis. Tissue Giemsa and Gram stains identified numerous Gram‐negative rods within macrophages. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed multidrug‐resistant Bcc strains with sensitivity to trimethoprim/sulfonamides in all dogs and to marbofloxacin, piperacillin and ceftazidime in three dogs. Successful treatment was achieved in all dogs using trimethoprim/sulfonamides or quinolones (marbofloxacin, ciprofloxacin) or doxycycline in conjunction with ciclosporin withdrawal.Conclusions and clinical importanceClinicians should be aware of the rare potential for Bcc‐associated deep skin infections in dogs receiving oral ciclosporin. Owners should be made conscious of the potential transmission risk to humans or other animals.
Modelling the Phenological Relationships of Questing Immature Ixodes Ricinus (Ixodidae) Using Temperature and NDVI Data
Authors: Alonso‐Carné J. , García‐Martín A. , Estrada‐Peña A. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryAll active stages of the tick Ixodes ricinus were collected monthly at two sites in northern Spain between the years 2000 and 2007. We used percentile accumulation of the active stage in the environment to evaluate simple and coherent correlations between accumulation of the active stages of larvae and nymphs and medium‐resolution MODIS satellite‐derived information on the climate, including monthly and accumulated temperature and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This framework is not intended to predict the actual abundance of ticks in the field as a measure of the hazard to humans, but to provide a basic structure for addressing the phenology of the tick in its geographic range. We demonstrated that the accumulation of larval ticks in the active stage is a sigmoid function of the accumulated temperature from the beginning of the calendar year. We also demonstrated that the accumulated temperature necessary to recruit nymphs from the questing larval stage is a function of the changes in accumulated larvae and nymphs and the accumulated temperature and NDVI recorded by the Aqua sensor. The low p‐values obtained in the regressions confirmed that such recruitment can be calculated using time intervals to estimate, for example, the beginning of the questing period or the time of the year when a population peak can be expected. The comparison among predicted and actual accumulated temperatures between larvae and nymph recruitment had an averaged error of ±20 days in one complete year. The use of accumulated temperature and NDVI proposed in this study opens up the re‐evaluation of reports on the phenology of the tick in Europe. This framework is intended to evaluate the same correlations along the tick's range and predict its phenological patterns in areas of pathogen transmission risk for humans.
Magnitude of muscle wasting early after on‐pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery and exploration of aetiology
Authors: Hansen Dominique , Linsen Loes , Verboven Kenneth , Hendrikx Marc , Rummens Jean‐Luc , van Erum Monique , Eijnde Bert O. , Dendale Paul 
Published: May 2015

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
It remains uncertain whether significant fat‐free mass wasting occurs early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and the aetiology of this wasting in these particular conditions is unexplored.

What is the main finding and its importance?
Significant fat‐free mass wasting is present after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and this wasting effect is greater in younger patients and in patients with greater increments in blood cortisol‐to‐testosterone ratios after surgery.

The magnitude and aetiology of muscle wasting early after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains unknown. In the present study, we assessed changes in fat‐free mass early after CABG surgery and explored the possible aetiology (relationships with postsurgical changes in blood hormones, insulin resistance, subject characteristics and inflammation) for these changes. Fat‐free mass was assessed before and 23 (range: 25) days after CABG surgery in 25 subjects. Blood testosterone, cortisol, insulin‐like growth factor‐1, growth hormone, sex hormone‐binding globulin, glucose, insulin, C‐peptide and C‐reactive protein concentrations were determined, and free androgen index, cortisol‐to‐testosterone ratio and HOMA‐IR index were all calculated before surgery, during the first 3 days after surgery and at reassessment of body composition. Relationships between changes in fat‐free mass and changes in blood parameters after surgery or subject characteristics were studied. After surgery, free androgen index and blood sex hormone‐binding globulin, testosterone and insulin‐like growth factor‐1 concentrations decreased significantly, while HOMA‐IR index, cortisol‐to‐testosterone ratio, blood growth hormone, insulin and C‐reactive protein concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.0025, observed α > 0.80). Whole‐body fat‐free mass decreased significantly [by −1.9 (range: 9.1) kg, P < 0.0025, observed α = 0.99] after surgery. According to regression analysis, greater absolute loss of fat‐free mass was observed after CABG surgery in subjects who were younger, who experienced a greater increase in blood cortisol‐to‐testosterone ratio after surgery and/or who underwent earlier reassessment of body composition (P < 0.05). Significant decrements in fat‐free mass were observed early after CABG surgery, especially in younger subjects and/or subjects with elevated blood cortisol‐to‐testosterone ratios after surgery. Interventions to preserve fat‐free mass soon after CABG surgery are thus warranted.
Short‐latency crossed responses in the human biceps femoris muscle
Authors: Stevenson Andrew J. T. , Kamavuako Ernest N. , Geertsen Svend S. , Farina Dario , Mrachacz‐Kersting Natalie 
Published: May 2015

Key points
The present study is the first to show short‐latency crossed‐spinal reflexes in the human upper leg muscles following mechanical rotations to the ipsilateral knee (iKnee) joint.
The short‐latency reflex in the contralateral biceps femoris (cBF) was inhibitory following iKnee extension perturbations, and facilitatory following iKnee flexion perturbations. The onset latency was 44 ms, indicating that purely spinal pathways mediate the cBF reflexes.
The short‐latency cBF inhibitory and facilitatory reflexes followed the automatic gain control principle, becoming larger as the level of background contraction in the cBF increased.
The short‐latency cBF reflexes were observed at the motor unit level using i.m. electromyography recordings, and the same population of cBF motor units that was inhibited following iKnee extensions was facilitated following iKnee flexions.
Parallel interneuronal pathways from ipsilateral afferents to common motoneurons in the contralateral leg can therefore probably explain the perturbation direction‐dependent reversal in the sign of the short‐latency cBF reflex.
AbstractInterlimb reflexes contribute to the central neural co‐ordination between different limbs in both humans and animals. Although commissural interneurons have only been directly identified in animals, spinally‐mediated interlimb reflexes have been discovered in a number of human lower limb muscles, indicating their existence in humans. The present study aimed to investigate whether short‐latency crossed‐spinal reflexes are present in the contralateral biceps femoris (cBF) muscle following ipsilateral knee (iKnee) joint rotations during a sitting task, where participants maintained a slight pre‐contraction in the cBF. Following iKnee extension joint rotations, an inhibitory reflex was observed in the surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the cBF, whereas a facilitatory reflex was observed in the cBF following iKnee flexion joint rotations. The onset latency of both cBF reflexes was 44 ms, which is too fast for a transcortical pathway to contribute. The cBF inhibitory and facilitatory reflexes followed the automatic gain control principle, with the size of the response increasing as the level of background pre‐contraction in the cBF muscle increased. In addition to the surface EMG, both short‐latency inhibitory and facilitatory cBF reflexes were recorded directly at the motor unit level by i.m. EMG, and the same population of cBF motor units that were inhibited following iKnee extension joint rotations were facilitated following iKnee flexion joint rotations. Therefore, parallel interneuronal pathways (probably involving commissural interneurons) from ipsilateral afferents to common motoneurons in the contralateral leg can probably explain the perturbation direction‐dependent reversal in the sign of the short‐latency cBF reflex.
Barriers to Physical Activity in a Mass Transit Population: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Das Bhibha M. , Petruzzello Steven J. 
Published: May 2015

Background:The physical inactivity epidemic continues be one of the greatest public health challenges in contemporary society in the United States. The transportation industry is at greater risk of physical inactivity, compared with individuals in other sectors of the workforce. The aim of this study was to use the Nominal Group Technique, a focus group technique, to examine mass transit employees’ perceptions of the barriers to physical activity at their worksite.Methods:Three focus groups (n = 31) were conducted to examine mass transit employees’ perceptions of barriers to physical activity at the worksite.Results:Salient barriers included (1) changing work schedules, (2) poor weather conditions, and (3) lack of scheduled and timely breaks.Conclusions:Findings were consistent with previous research demonstrating shift work, poor weather, and lack of breaks can negatively impact mass transit employees’ ability to be physically active. Although physical activity barriers for this population have been consistent for the last 20 years, public health practice and policy have not changed to address these barriers. Future studies should include conducing focus groups stratified by job classification (eg, operators, maintenance, and clerical) along with implementing and evaluating worksite-based physical activity interventions and policy changes.
Optimization of Methanotrophic Growth and Production of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) in a High-Throughput Microbioreactor System
Authors: Sundstrom Eric R. , Criddle Craig S. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) from methane has economic and environmental advantages over production by agricultural feedstock. Identification of high-productivity strains and optimal growth conditions is critical to efficient conversion of methane to polymer. Current culture conditions, including serum bottles, shake flasks, and agar plates, are labor-intensive and therefore insufficient for systematic screening and isolation. Gas chromatography, the standard method for analysis of P3HB content in bacterial biomass, is also incompatible with high-throughput screening. Growth in aerated microtiter plates coupled with a 96-well Nile red flow-cytometric assay creates an integrated microbioreactor system for high-throughput growth and analysis of P3HB-producing methanotrophic cultures, eliminating the need for individual manipulation of experimental replicates. This system was tested in practice to conduct medium optimization for P3HB production in pure cultures of
Methylocystis parvus
OBBP. Optimization gave insight into unexpected interactions: for example, low calcium concentrations significantly enhanced P3HB production under nitrogen-limited conditions. Optimization of calcium and copper concentrations in the growth medium increased final P3HB content from 18.1% to 49.4% and P3HB concentration from 0.69 g/liter to 3.43 g/liter while reducing doubling time from 10.6 h to 8.6 h. The ability to culture and analyze thousands of replicates with high mass transfer in completely mixed culture promises to streamline medium optimization and allow the detection and isolation of highly productive strains. Applications for this system are numerous, encompassing analysis of biofuels and other lipid inclusions, as well as analysis of heterotrophic and photosynthetic systems.
Yersinia enterocolitica Isolates from Wild Boars Hunted in Lower Saxony, Germany
Authors: von Altrock Alexandra , Seinige Diana , Kehrenberg Corinna 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Yersiniosis is strongly associated with the consumption of pork contaminated with enteropathogenic
Yersinia enterocolitica
, which is harbored by domestic pigs without showing clinical signs of disease. In contrast to data on
Y. enterocolitica
isolated from conventionally reared swine, investigations into the occurrence of
Y. enterocolitica
in wild boars in Germany are rare. The objectives of the study were to get knowledge about these bacteria and their occurrence in wild boars hunted in northern Germany by isolation of the bacteria from the tonsils, identification of the bioserotypes, determination of selected virulence factors, macrorestriction analysis, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and testing of antimicrobial susceptibility. Altogether, tonsils from 17.1% of 111 tested wild boars were positive for
Y. enterocolitica
by culture methods. All but two isolates belonged to biotype (BT) 1A, with the majority of isolates bearing a
ystB
nucleotide sequence which was revealed to have 85% identity to internal regions of
Y. enterocolitica
heat-stable enterotoxin type B genes. The remaining
Y. enterocolitica
isolates were identified to be BT 1B and did not carry the virulence plasmid. However, two BT 1A isolates carried the
ail
gene. Macrorestriction analysis and results from MLST showed a high degree of genetic diversity of the isolates, although the region where the samples were taken was restricted to Lower Saxony, Germany, and wild boars were shot during one hunting season. In conclusion, most
Y. enterocolitica
isolates from wild boars investigated in this study belonged to biotype 1A. Enteropathogenic
Y. enterocolitica
bioserotypes 4/O:3 and 2/O:9, usually harbored by commercially raised pigs in Europe, could not be identified.