bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CHOROIDAL INFARCTION AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY COMBINED WITH BEVACIZUMAB AND TRIAMCINOLONE REVERSED BY TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR
Authors: Chen San-Ni , Lin Chun-Ju , Li Kun-Hsien , Hwang Jiunn-Feng 
Published: August 2012

Purpose:
To present a case of choroidal infarction after combined therapy of photodynamic therapy, intravitreal bevacizumab, and sub-Tenon triamcinolone injection salvaged by tissue plasminogen activator administration.

Methods:
Interventional case report.

Results:
Combined therapy of full-fluence photodynamic therapy, intravitreal bevacizumab, and sub-Tenon triamcinolone injection was given on the same day to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration in an 82-year-old patient. Subsequent acute visual loss and marked macular edema as a result of choroidal infarction were noted. Intravitreal and sub-Tenon administration of tissue plasminogen activator were performed 9 days later to salvage the choroidal infarction, and visual improvement was noted. Fundoscopy and optical coherent tomography showed almost complete resolution of macular edema. Indocyanine green angiography revealed reperfusion of the choroidal vessels.

Conclusion:
Choroidal infarction may happen after combined therapy. Tissue plasminogen activator administration may reverse the infarction and help visual recovery.
Species composition, relative abundance and habitat association of small mammals along the altitudinal gradient of Jiren Mountain, Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Habtamu Tadesse , Bekele Afework 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTo document the species composition, relative abundance and habitat association of small mammals, wet and dry season surveys were conducted along the altitudinal gradient of Jiren Mountain, Jimma area, Ethiopia. Sherman traps were used to capture small mammals from the six habitats: wetland, mixed plantation, open shrub, eucalyptus plantation, montane grassland and coffee plantation. The 393 trap nights, from the six habitat types, yielded 106 individual small mammals of tweleve species. The trapped rodents were Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Stenocephalemys albipes, Desmomys harringtoni, Mus mahomet, Lemniscomys barbarous, L. striatus, Tachyoryctes splendens, Mastomys natalensis and the insectivores Crocidura fumosa and C. turba. Two species of rodents Hystrix cristata and Helioscuirus gambianus were observed. Lophuromys flavopunctatus and S. albipes contributed 83.8% of the total capture. L. flavopunctatus, S. albipes and D. harringtoni were distributed in all habitats and gradients. T. splendens was captured from montane habitat, while the zebra mice were associated with the lower altitude habitats. Lophuromys flavopunctatus and M. natalensis extended their range deep into the coffee plantation habitats. Uncontrolled vegetation exploitation of the mountains for timber production and fire wood collection are the major threats. Conservation of the area to reduce the anthropogenic pressure is essential.
Evolution of innate and adaptive immune systems in jawless vertebrates
Authors: Kasamatsu Jun 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBecause jawless vertebrates are the most primitive vertebrates, they have been studied to gain understanding of the evolutionary processes that gave rise to the innate and adaptive immune systems in vertebrates. Jawless vertebrates have developed lymphocyte‐like cells that morphologically resemble the T and B cells of jawed vertebrates, but they express variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) instead of the T and B cell receptors that specifically recognize antigens in jawed vertebrates. These VLRs act as antigen receptors, diversity being generated in their antigen‐binding sites by assembly of highly diverse leucine‐rich repeat modules. Therefore, jawless vertebrates have developed adaptive immune systems based on the VLRs. Although pattern recognition receptors, including Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and Rig‐like receptors (RLRs), and their adaptor genes are conserved in jawless vertebrates, some transcription factor and inflammatory cytokine genes in the TLR and RLR pathways are not present. However, like jawed vertebrates, the initiation of adaptive immune responses in jawless vertebrates appears to require prior activation of the innate immune system. These observations imply that the innate immune systems of jawless vertebrates have a unique molecular basis that is distinct from that of jawed vertebrates. Altogether, although the molecular details of the innate and adaptive immune systems differ between jawless and jawed vertebrates, jawless vertebrates have developed versions of these immune systems that are similar to those of jawed vertebrates.
Genetic characterization of swine influenza viruses isolated in Japan between 2009 and 2012
Authors: Matsuu Aya , Uchida Yuko , Takemae Nobuhiro , Mawatari Takahiro , Kasai Yoneyama Shuji , Kasai Tomoe , Nakamura Ryoko , Eto Mariko , Saito Takehiko 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTEleven swine influenza viruses (SIVs) isolated from pigs in Japanese institutions between 2009 and 2012 were genetically characterized. Seven H1N1 were shown to have originated from A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Two H1N2 viruses contained H1 and N2 genes of Japanese H1N2 SIV origin together with internal genes of A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses. Two H3N2 viruses isolated during animal quarantine were identified as triple reassortant H3N2 viruses maintained among pigs in North America. This study shows that A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses and their reassortant strains are already present in domestic pigs in Japan and that novel SIVs are possibly being imported from abroad.
Nitrogen uptake and leaching loss of thirteen temperate grass species under high N loading
Authors: Moir J. L. , Edwards G. R. , Berry L. N. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe intensification of grazed pasture systems in New Zealand has resulted in increased nitrate () leaching and associated significant reductions in water quality, resulting from high N loading in the cow urine patch. A glasshouse soil column experiment was conducted at Lincoln University examining the N uptake capacities and leaching losses of sixteen commercial and ‘weed’ pasture grasses, comprising thirteen species. Three dairy cow urine N treatments (N loading rates) were applied in May 2010: 0 (N0), 300 (N300) and 700 (N700) kg N ha−1. Grass was harvested at 21‐d intervals, leachates collected to quantify N leaching losses and root mass measured. Shoot yield, root mass, N uptake and N leaching loss varied significantly between species (P < 0·001) and were strongly driven by N loading rate. The highest yielding species at N700 were Lolium multiflorum ‘Feast 2’ and ‘Tama’ (782 and 743 g DM m−2), while Festuca arundinacea ‘Flecha’ and Lolium perenne ‘Alto' were lowest yielding (375 and 419 g DM m−2). Plant N uptake and root mass followed a similar trend, and only moderate increases in total plant N uptake were observed for most species when urine N application rate was increased from N300 to N700. N leaching loss was highest at N700 for F. arundinacea ‘Flecha’ (378 kg N ha−1) and lowest for L. multiflorum ‘Feast 2’ and ‘Tama’ (134 and 130 kg N ha−1). Strong negative linear relationships were observed between N leaching loss, plant N uptake and root mass. The results indicate that species such as L. multiflorum may play a critical role in reducing pasture N leaching losses, while traditionally sown L. perenne, and also F. arundinacea, may be less suitable.
Gene expression profiling demonstrates differential expression of osteopontin in follicular thyroid carcinomas compared to normal thyroid tissue in dogs
Authors: Metivier K. S. , Deitz K. , Xu W. W. , Conzemius M. , Wilke V. L. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractFollicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is an aggressive tumour in dogs with little known about its molecular pathogenesis. The overall goal of this study was to examine FTC and normal thyroid tissue gene expression. Microarray analysis was performed on a pilot group of five FTC‐affected dogs and four healthy dogs, and then osteopontin validated with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of thyroid tissue from non‐invasive FTC, invasive FTC and healthy dogs. On microarray analysis, 489 transcripts were differentially expressed between FTC and normal thyroid: 242 transcripts were down‐regulated and 247 were up‐regulated. Osteopontin expression was markedly increased in tumour tissue compared to normal thyroid tissue. Quantitative PCR and IHC confirmed differential expression of osteopontin in both tumour types (invasive and non‐invasive) compared to normal thyroid tissue. There is justification for further investigation of osteopontin as a potential molecular marker for screening and monitoring of canine FTC.
Discovery of HLA‐DRB1*03:20 allele in a Taiwanese volunteer hematopoietic stem cell donor and the probable HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C and ‐DRB1 haplotype in association with DRB1*03:20
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lee S. K. , Yang S. Y. , Kao R. H. , Lin C. L. , Lin P. Y. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe allele HLA‐DRB1*03:20, a variant of DRB1*03, was first reported to the IMGT HLA database in April 2001 without indication on the ethnicity of the blood donor (Cell ID: HC 125775). We found a Taiwanese volunteer hematopoietic stem cell donor carries DRB1*03:20 by a sequence‐based typing (SBT) method. The DNA sequence of DRB1*03:20 is identical to the sequence of DRB1*03:01:01 in exon 2, except a nucleotide substitution at position 341(T→C) (GTT→GCT at codon 85). The nucleotide replacement produced an amino acid variation at residue 85 (V→A). We hypothesize that DRB1*03:20 was probably derived from DRB1*03:01:01 via a nucleotide point mutation event. The probable HLA haplotype in association with DRB1*03:20 was deduced as A*11:02‐B*58:01‐C*07:02‐DRB1*03:20. We here report the Taiwanese/Chinese ethnicity of DRB1*03:20.
Importance of Riboflavin Kinase in the Pathogenesis of Stroke
Authors: Zou Ying‐Xin , Zhang Xiu‐Hua , Su Feng‐Yun , Liu Xia 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAimsTo explore risk factors for stroke independent of hypertension and the relationship between riboflavin kinase (RFK) and stroke.MethodsGene expression profiling in the brains of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) was comparatively analyzed by gene chips. The differentially expressed gene RFK was further verified by q‐PCR and Western blot. The protective role of RFK‐regulated flavins (including riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide, and flavin adenine dinucleotide) in stroke was observed in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice. Influence of flavins on apoptosis and death in oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)‐treated neurons was examined by flow cytometry. Bax and Bcl‐2 proteins were detected by Western blot.ResultsOf the 76 differentially expressed genes, 41 genes were upregulated, and 35 genes were downregulated in SHRSP as compared with SHR. RFK was significantly downregulated in SHRSP. Flavins markedly decreased infarct area in MCAO mice, inhibited apoptosis and death in OGD‐treated neurons, and decreased Bax protein expression.ConclusionsPhysiological downregulation of RFK may be a new potential risk factor for stroke, which probably affects the absorbance and utility of riboflavin and further destroys the protective effect of flavins on stroke. RFK might act as a therapeutic target for stroke.
Emerging Hazelnut Cultivation and the Severe Threat of Bacterial Blight in Chile
Authors: Lamichhane Jay Ram , Grau Pablo , Varvaro Leonardo 
Published: August 2012

AbstractSevere attacks of bacterial blight were observed on young plants throughout the hazelnut growing areas in Chile. The incidence of the disease in nurseries and fields ranged from 60–90%. The causal agent was identified as Xanthomonas arboricola pv. corylina, based on phenotypic and genetic tests.
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 Targets and Restrains Mouse B16 Melanoma and 4T1 Breast Tumors through Expression of Azurin Protein
Authors: Zhang Yunlei , Zhang Youming , Xia Liqiu , Zhang Xiangli , Ding Xuezhi , Yan Fu , Wu Feng 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Many studies have demonstrated that intravenously administered bacteria can target and proliferate in solid tumors and then quickly be released from other organs. Here, we employed the tumor-targeting property of
Escherichia coli
Nissle 1917 to inhibit mouse B16 melanoma and 4T1 breast tumors through the expression of azurin protein. For this purpose, recombinant azurin-expressing
E. coli
Nissle 1917 was developed. The levels of
in vitro
and
in vivo
azurin secretion in the engineered bacterium were determined by immunochemistry. Our results demonstrated that B16 melanoma and orthotopic 4T1 breast tumor growth were remarkably restrained and pulmonary metastasis was prevented in immunocompetent mice. It is worth noting that this therapeutic effect partially resulted from the antitumor activity of neutrophils and lymphocytes due to inflammatory responses caused by bacterial infections. No toxicity was observed in the animal during the experiments. This study indicates that
E. coli
Nissle 1917 could be a potential carrier to deliver antitumor drugs effectively for cancer therapy.
Changes in the Gut Microbiome of the Sea Lamprey during Metamorphosis
Authors: Tetlock Amanda , Yost Christopher K. , Stavrinides John , Manzon Richard G. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Vertebrate metamorphosis is often marked by dramatic morphological and physiological changes of the alimentary tract, along with major shifts in diet following development from larva to adult. Little is known about how these developmental changes impact the gut microbiome of the host organism. The metamorphosis of the sea lamprey (
Petromyzon marinus
) from a sedentary filter-feeding larva to a free-swimming sanguivorous parasite is characterized by major physiological and morphological changes to all organ systems. The transformation of the alimentary canal includes closure of the larval esophagus and the physical isolation of the pharynx from the remainder of the gut, which results in a nonfeeding period that can last up to 8 months. To determine how the gut microbiome is affected by metamorphosis, the microbial communities of feeding and nonfeeding larval and parasitic sea lamprey were surveyed using both culture-dependent and -independent methods. Our results show that the gut of the filter-feeding larva contains a greater diversity of bacteria than that of the blood-feeding parasite, with the parasite gut being dominated by
Aeromonas
and, to a lesser extent,
Citrobacter
and
Shewanella
. Phylogenetic analysis of the culturable
Aeromonas
from both the larval and parasitic gut revealed that at least five distinct species were represented. Phenotypic characterization of these isolates revealed that over half were capable of sheep red blood cell hemolysis, but all were capable of trout red blood cell hemolysis. This suggests that the enrichment of
Aeromonas
that accompanies metamorphosis is likely related to the sanguivorous lifestyle of the parasitic sea lamprey.
Prevalence and Population Structure of Vibrio vulnificus on Fishes from the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Tao Zhen , Larsen Andrea M. , Bullard Stephen A. , Wright Anita C. , Arias Covadonga R. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of
Vibrio vulnificus
on the external surfaces of fish from the northern Gulf of Mexico was determined in this study. A collection of 242 fish comprising 28 species was analyzed during the course of 12 sampling trips over a 16-month period. The prevalence of
V. vulnificus
was 37% but increased up to 69% in summer. A positive correlation was found between the percentages of
V. vulnificus
-positive fish and water temperatures, while salinity and
V. vulnificus
-positive fish prevalence were inversely correlated. A general lineal model (percent
V. vulnificus
-positive fish = 0.5930 − 0.02818 × salinity + 0.01406 × water temperature) was applied to best fit the data. Analysis of the population structure was carried out using 244 isolates recovered from fish. Ascription to 16S rRNA gene types indicated that 157 isolates were type A (62%), 72 (29%) were type B, and 22 (9%) were type AB. The percentage of type B isolates, considered to have greater virulence potential, was higher than that previously reported in oyster samples from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to resolve the genetic diversity within the species. One hundred twenty-one unique AFLP profiles were found among all analyzed isolates, resulting in a calculated Simpson's index of diversity of 0.991. AFLP profiles were not grouped on the basis of collection date, fish species, temperature, or salinity, but isolates were clustered into two main groups that correlated precisely with 16S rRNA gene type. The population of
V. vulnificus
associated with fishes from the northern Gulf of Mexico is heterogeneous and includes strains of great virulence potential.
Identification of Cj1051c as a Major Determinant for the Restriction Barrier of Campylobacter jejuni Strain NCTC11168
Authors: Holt Jeffrey P. , Grant Andrew J. , Coward Christopher , Maskell Duncan J. , Quinlan Jennifer J. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTCampylobacter jejuniis a leading cause of human diarrheal illness in the world, and research on it has benefitted greatly by the completion of several genome sequences and the development of molecular biology tools. However, many hurdles remain for a full understanding of this unique bacterial pathogen. One of the most commonly used strains for genetic work withC. jejuniis NCTC11168. While this strain is readily transformable with DNA for genomic recombination, transformation with plasmids is problematic. In this study, we have identified a determinant of this to becj1051c, predicted to encode a restriction-modification type IIG enzyme. Knockout mutagenesis of this gene resulted in a strain with a 1,000-fold-enhanced transformation efficiency with a plasmid purified from aC. jejunihost. Additionally, this mutation conferred the ability to be transformed by plasmids isolated from anEscherichia colihost. Sequence analysis suggested a high level of variability of the specificity domain between strains and that this gene may be subject to phase variation. We provide evidence thatcj1051cis active in NCTC11168 and behaves as expected for a type IIG enzyme. The identification of this determinant provides a greater understanding of the molecular biology ofC. jejunias well as a tool for plasmid work with strain NCTC11168.
Contribution of Spores to the Ability of Clostridium difficile To Adhere to Surfaces
Authors: Joshi Lovleen Tina , Phillips Daniel S. , Williams Catrin F. , Alyousef Abdullah , Baillie Les 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Clostridium difficile
is the commonest cause of hospital-acquired infection in the United Kingdom. We characterized the abilities of 21 clinical isolates to form spores; to adhere to inorganic and organic surfaces, including stainless steel and human adenocarcinoma cells; and to germinate. The composition of culture media had a significant effect on spore formation, as significantly more spores were produced in brain heart infusion broth (Student's
t
test;
P
= 0.018). The spore surface relative hydrophobicity (RH) varied markedly (14 to 77%) and was correlated with the ability to adhere to stainless steel. We observed no correlation between the ribotype and the ability to adhere to steel. When the binding of hydrophobic (DS1813; ribotype 027; RH, 77%) and hydrophilic (DS1748; ribotype 002; RH, 14%) spores to human gut epithelial cells at different stages of cell development was examined, DS1813 spores adhered more strongly, suggesting the presence of surface properties that aid attachment to human cells. Electron microscopy studies revealed the presence of an exosporium surrounding DS1813 spores that was absent from spores of DS1748. Finally, the ability of spores to germinate was found to be strain and medium dependent. While the significance of these findings to the disease process has yet to be determined, this study has highlighted the importance of analyzing multiple isolates when attempting to characterize the behavior of a bacterial species.
Diversity, Physiology, and Niche Differentiation of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea
Authors: Hatzenpichler Roland 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Nitrification, the aerobic oxidation of ammonia to nitrate via nitrite, has been suggested to have been a central part of the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle since the oxygenation of Earth. The cultivation of several ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) as well as the discovery that archaeal ammonia monooxygenase (
amo
)-like gene sequences are nearly ubiquitously distributed in the environment and outnumber their bacterial counterparts in many habitats fundamentally revised our understanding of nitrification. Surprising insights into the physiological distinctiveness of AOA are mirrored by the recognition of the phylogenetic uniqueness of these microbes, which fall within a novel archaeal phylum now known as
Thaumarchaeota
. The relative importance of AOA in nitrification, compared to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), is still under debate. This minireview provides a synopsis of our current knowledge of the diversity and physiology of AOA, the factors controlling their ecology, and their role in carbon cycling as well as their potential involvement in the production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. It emphasizes the importance of activity-based analyses in AOA studies and formulates priorities for future research.
Peptide-Guided Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Probes for Localized Cell Composition Analysis
Authors: Athamneh Ahmad I. M. , Senger Ryan S. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
The ability to control the localization of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticle probes in bacterial cells is critical to the development of analytical techniques that can nondestructively determine cell composition and phenotype. Here, selective localization of SERS probes was achieved at the outer bacterial membrane by using silver nanoparticles functionalized with synthetic hydrophobic peptides.
Enzymatic Glycosylation of Nonbenzoquinone Geldanamycin Analogs via Bacillus UDP-Glycosyltransferase
Authors: Wu Cheng-Zhu , Jang Jae-Hyuk , Woo Mihee , Ahn Jong Seog , Kim Joong Su , Hong Young-Soo 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Geldanamycin (GM) is a naturally occurring anticancer agent isolated from several strains of
Streptomyces hygroscopicus
. However, its potential clinical utility is compromised by its severe toxicity and poor water solubility. For this reason, considerable efforts are under way to make new derivatives that have both good clinical efficacy and high water solubility. On the other hand, glycosylation is often a step that improves the water solubility and/or biological activity in many natural products of biosynthesis. Here, we report the facile production of glucose-conjugated nonbenzoquinone GM analogs using the
Bacillus
UDP-glycosyltransferase BL-C. Five aglycon substrates containing nonbenzoquinone aromatic rings were chosen to validate the
in vitro
glycosylation reaction. Putative glucoside compounds were determined through the presence of a product peak(s) and were also verified using LC/MS analyses. Further, the chemical structures of new glucoside compounds 6 and 7 were elucidated using spectroscopy data. These glucoside compounds showed a dramatic improvement in water solubility compared with that of the original aglycon, nonbenzoquinone GM.
Degradation of the Twin-Arginine Translocation Substrate YwbN by Extracytoplasmic Proteases of Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Krishnappa Laxmi , Monteferrante Carmine G. , van Dijl Jan Maarten 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Bacterial twin-arginine translocases can export fully folded proteins from the cytoplasm. Such proteins are usually resistant to proteolysis. Here we show that multiple extracellular proteases degrade the
B. subtilis
Tat substrate YwbN. This suggests either that secreted YwbN is not fully folded or that folded YwbN exposes protease cleavage sites.