bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Clinical Isolates of Helicobacter pylori in Pakistan Reveals High Degrees of Pathogenicity and High Frequencies of Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Rasheed Faisal , Campbell Barry James , Alfizah Hanafiah , Varro Andrea , Zahra Rabaab , Yamaoka Yoshio , Pritchard David Mark 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundAntibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori contributes to failure in eradicating the infection and is most often due to point and missense mutations in a few key genes.MethodsThe antibiotic susceptibility profiles of H. pylori isolates from 46 Pakistani patients were determined by Etest. Resistance and pathogenicity genes were amplified, and sequences were analyzed to determine the presence of mutations.ResultsA high percentage of isolates (73.9%) were resistant to metronidazole (MTZ), with considerable resistance to clarithromycin (CLR; 47.8%) and amoxicillin (AML; 54.3%) also observed. Relatively few isolates were resistant to tetracycline (TET; 4.3%) or to ciprofloxacin (CIP; 13%). However, most isolates (n = 43) exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics. MTZ‐resistant isolates contained missense mutations in oxygen‐independent NADPH nitroreductase (RdxA; 8 mutations found) and NADH flavin oxidoreductase (FrxA; 4 mutations found). In the 23S rRNA gene, responsible for CLR resistance, a new point mutation (A2181G) and 4 previously reported mutations were identified. Pathogenicity genes cagA, dupA, and vacA s1a/m1 were detected frequently in isolates which were also found to be resistant to MTZ, CLR, and AML. A high percentage of CagA and VacA seropositivity was also observed in these patients. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences showed uniform distribution of the 3′ region of cagA throughout the tree.ConclusionsWe have identified H. pylori isolates in Pakistan which harbor pathogenicity genes and worrying antibiotic resistance profiles as a result of having acquired multiple point and missense mutations. H. pylori eradication regimens should therefore be reevaluated in this setting.
Heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease multimorbidity at hospital discharge transition: a study of patient and carer experience
Authors: Doos Lucy , Bradley Eleanor , Rushton Claire A , Satchithananda Duwarakan , Davies Simon J , Kadam Umesh T 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundCare for patients with multimorbidity represents a major challenge not only for patients and carers but to health‐care systems. Hospital discharge transition is a critical point at which challenges for multimorbidity may amplify.ObjectivesThe main objective of the study was to explore the experiences of heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) multimorbid patients and their carers on hospital discharge. Secondary objectives included identification of gaps in the health care of multimorbidity and optimal solutions from patients and carers' perspectives.DesignMixed methods were applied to collect data using patient self‐completion questionnaire from an adapted version of the American Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey and in‐depth interviews.SettingParticipants were recruited from two cardiology and respiratory wards at a large regional hospital in England, and all had a multimorbidity diagnosis of COPD and HF.Results and conclusionsFindings revealed that patients experienced difficulties in their communication with health‐care professionals and there were specific challenges with information about medication. Qualitative descriptions revealed that experiences fell into two main categories: (i) information transfer to patients with multimorbidity in terms of issues with medication and clarity of information on diagnosis and (ii) communication and continuity of care after discharge. Respondents highlighted gaps in the management of patients with multimorbidity of HF and COPD at the critical time of care transition. They suggested the need for a comprehensive, coordinated and integrated approach to incorporate patients, carers and staff preferences for treatment on discharge from hospital.
Functional characterization of the vitellogenin promoter in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Xu J. , Wang Y. Q. , Li Z. Q. , Ling L. , Zeng B. S. , You L. , Chen Y. Z. , Aslam A. F. M. , Huang Y. P. , Tan A. J. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractGenetic transformation and genome editing technologies have been successfully established in the lepidopteran insect model, the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, providing great potential for functional genomics and practical applications. However, the current lack of cis‐regulatory elements in B. mori gene manipulation research limits further exploitation in functional gene analysis. In the present study, we characterized a B. mori endogenous promoter, Bmvgp, which is a 798‐bp DNA sequence adjacent to the 5′‐end of the vitellogenin gene (Bmvg). PiggyBac‐based transgenic analysis shows that Bmvgp precisely directs expression of a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), in a sex‐, tissue‐ and stage‐specific manner. In transgenic animals, EGFP expression can be detected in the female fat body from larval−pupal ecdysis to the following pupal and adult stage. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that EGFP expression can be activated by 20‐hydroxyecdysone, which is consistent with endogenous Bmvg expression. These data indicate that Bmvgp is an effective endogenous cis‐regulatory element in B. mori.
Electrocardiographic Deep Terminal Negativity of the P Wave in V1 and Risk of Mortality: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III
Authors: TERESHCHENKO LARISA G. , SHAH AMIT J. , LI YABING , SOLIMAN ELSAYED Z. 
Published: May 2014

Terminal PV1 Negativity in NHANES IIIIntroductionDeep terminal negativity of P wave in V1 (DTNPV1), defined as negative P prime larger than one small box (1 mm, or 0.1 mV), could be easily detected by simple visual inspection of the resting 12‐lead ECG. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DTNPV1 and all‐cause‐, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III).Methods and ResultsAfter exclusion of participants with atrial fibrillation and missing data, DTNPV1 was automatically measured from standard 12‐lead ECG in 8,146 participants. Minnesota and Novacode algorithms were used for the determination of major and minor ECG abnormalities. National Death Index was used to identify the date and cause of death. During a median follow‐up of 13.8 years, a total of 2,975 deaths (1,303 CVD and 742 IHD deaths) occurred. After adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, IHD, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, use of antihypertensive and lipid‐lowering medications, and ECG abnormalities, DTNPV1 was associated with significantly increased risk of all‐cause death (HR [95% CI]: 1.30 [1.10, 1.53]; P = 0.002), CVD death (HR [95% CI]: 1.36 [1.08, 1.72]; P = 0.010), and IHD death (HR [95% CI]: 1.36 [1.00, 1.85]; P = 0.047).ConclusionIn a large sample of the adult United States population, DTNPV1 is independently associated with increased risk of death due to all‐cause, CVD, and IHD, findings suggesting its potential usefulness as a simple marker to identify individuals at risk of poor outcomes.
Differences in the expression of chromosome 1 genes between lung telocytes and other cells: mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, alveolar type II cells, airway epithelial cells and lymphocytes
Authors: Sun Xiaoru , Zheng Minghuan , Zhang Miaomiao , Qian Mengjia , Zheng Yonghua , Li Meiyi , Cretoiu Dragos , Chen Chengshui , Chen Luonan , Popescu Laurentiu M. , Wang Xiangdong 
Published: May 2014

AbstractTelocytes (TCs) are a unique type of interstitial cells with specific, extremely long prolongations named telopodes (Tps). Our previous study showed that TCs are distinct from fibroblasts (Fbs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as concerns gene expression and proteomics. The present study explores patterns of mouse TC‐specific gene profiles on chromosome 1. We investigated the network of main genes and the potential functional correlations. We compared gene expression profiles of mouse pulmonary TCs, MSCs, Fbs, alveolar type II cells (ATII), airway basal cells (ABCs), proximal airway cells (PACs), CD8+ T cells from bronchial lymph nodes (T‐BL) and CD8+ T cells from lungs (T‐LL). The functional and feature networks were identified and compared by bioinformatics tools. Our data showed that on TC chromosome 1, there are about 25% up‐regulated and 70% down‐regulated genes (more than onefold) as compared with the other cells respectively. Capn2, Fhl2 and Qsox1 were over‐expressed in TCs compared to the other cells, indicating that biological functions of TCs are mainly associated with morphogenesis and local tissue homoeostasis. TCs seem to have important roles in the prevention of tissue inflammation and fibrogenesis development in lung inflammatory diseases and as modulators of immune cell response. In conclusion, TCs are distinct from the other cell types.
Characteristics of suicidal ideation that predict the transition to future suicide attempts in adolescents
Authors: Miranda Regina , Ortin Ana , Scott Michelle , Shaffer David 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundThe present study sought to examine characteristics of suicidal ideation (SI) that predict a future suicide attempt (SA), beyond psychiatric diagnosis and previous SA history.MethodsParticipants were 506 adolescents (307 female) who completed the Columbia Suicide Screen (CSS) and selected modules from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (C‐DISC 2.3) as part of a two‐stage high school screening and who were followed up 4–6 years later to assess for a SA since baseline. At baseline, participants who endorsed SI on the CSS responded to four questions regarding currency, frequency, seriousness, and duration of their SI. A subsample of 122 adolescents who endorsed SI at baseline also completed a detailed interview about their most recent SI.ResultsThinking about suicide often (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.7–7.2), seriously (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.4–6.7), and for a long time (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.1–5.2) were associated with a future SA, adjusting for sex, the presence of a mood, anxiety, and substance use diagnosis, and baseline SA history. However, only SI frequency was significantly associated with higher odds of a future SA (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.4–9.1) when also adjusting for currency, seriousness, and duration. Among ideators interviewed further about their most recent SI, ideating 1 hr or more (vs. less than 1 hr) was associated with a future SA (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.0–12.7), adjusting for sex, depressive symptoms, previous SA history, and other baseline SI characteristics, and it was also associated with making a future SA earlier.ConclusionsAssessments of SI in adolescents should take special care to inquire about frequency of their SI, along with length of their most recent SI.
Practitioner Review: A critical perspective on gene–environment interaction models – what impact should they have on clinical perceptions and practice?
Authors: Munafò Marcus R. , Zammit Stanley , Flint Jonathan 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundPsychiatric disorders run in families, and early twin, family and adoption studies confirmed that this was due in part to shared genetic inheritance. While candidate gene studies largely failed to reliably identify genetic variants associated with psychiatric disorders, genome‐wide association studies are beginning to do so. However, the proportion of phenotypic variance explained remains well below what would be expected from previous heritability estimates.ScopeWe review possible reasons for this ‘missing heritability’, and whether incorporating gene by environment interactions into our models will substantially improve our understanding of the aetiology of psychiatric disorders, and inform clinical perceptions and practice.FindingsWe discuss potential limitations of the gene by environment interaction approach. In particular, we discuss whether these are likely to be a major contributor to psychiatric disorders at the level of the specific interaction (as opposed to at an aggregate level).ConclusionsGene by environment interaction studies offered initial promise that a far greater proportion of phenotypic variance could be explained by incorporating measures of environmental exposures into genetic studies. However, in our opinion, there are few (if any) clear examples of gene by environment interactions in psychiatry, and their scope for informing either our understanding of disease pathology or clinical practice remains limited at present.
Aberrant resting‐state functional connectivity in limbic and salience networks in treatment‐naïve clinically depressed adolescents
Authors: Pannekoek Justine Nienke , van der Werff S.J.A. , Meens Paul H.F. , van den Bulk Bianca G. , Jolles Dietsje D. , Veer Ilya M. , van Lang Natasja D.J. , Rombouts Serge A.R.B. , van der Wee Nic J.A. , Vermeiren Robert R.J.M. 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundDepression is prevalent and typically has its onset in adolescence. Resting‐state fMRI could help create a better understanding of the underlying neurobiological mechanisms during this critical period. In this study, resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) is examined using seed regions‐of‐interest (ROIs) associated with three networks: the limbic network, the default mode network (DMN) and the salience network.MethodsTwenty‐six treatment‐naïve, clinically depressed adolescents of whom 18 had comorbid anxiety, and 26 pair‐wise matched healthy controls underwent resting‐state fMRI. The three networks were investigated using a seed‐based ROI approach with seeds in the bilateral amygdala (limbic network), bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC; salience network) and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (default mode network).ResultsCompared to healthy controls, clinically depressed adolescents showed increased RSFC of the left amygdala with right parietal cortical areas, and decreased right amygdala RSFC with left frontal cortical areas including the ACC, as well as with right occipito‐parietal areas. The bilateral dACC showed decreased RSFC with the right middle frontal gyrus, frontal pole, and inferior frontal gyrus in clinically depressed adolescents. No abnormalities in DMN RSFC were found, and differences in RSFC did not correlate with clinical measures.ConclusionsThe aberrant RSFC of the amygdala network and the dACC network may be related to altered emotion processing and regulation in depressed adolescents. Our results provide new insights into RSFC in clinically depressed adolescents and future models on adolescent depression may include abnormalities in the connectivity of salience network.
Self‐rated health: patterns in the journeys of patients with multi‐morbidity and frailty
Authors: Martin Carmel Mary 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesSelf‐rated health (SRH) is a single measure predictor of hospital utilization and health outcomes in epidemiological studies. There have been few studies of SRH in patient journeys in clinical settings.Reduced resilience to stressors, reflected by SRH, exposes older people (complex systems) to the risk of hospitalization. It is proposed that SRH reflects rather than predicts deteriorations and hospital use; with low SRH autocorrelation in time series.The aim was to investigate SRH fluctuations in regular outbound telephone calls (average biweekly) to patients by Care Guides.MethodsDescriptive case study using quantitative autoregressive techniques and qualitative case analysis on SRH time series. Fourteen participants were randomly selected from the Patient Journey Record System (PaJR) database. The PaJR database recorded 198 consecutively sampled older multi‐morbid patients journeys in three primary care settings.Analysis consisted of triangulation of SRH (0 very poor – 6 excellent) patterns from three analyses: SRH graduations associations with service utilization; time series modelling (autocorrelation, and step ahead forecast); and qualitative categorization of deteriorations.ResultsFourteen patients reported mean SRH 2.84 (poor‐fair) in 818 calls over 13 ± 6.4 months of follow‐up. In 24% calls, SRH was poor‐fair and significantly associated with hospital use. SRH autocorrelation was low in 14 time series (−0.11 to 0.26) with little difference (χ2 = 6.46, P = 0.91) among them. Fluctuations between better and worse health were very common and poor health was associated with hospital use. It is not clear why some patients continued on a downward trajectory, whereas others who destabilized appeared to completely recover, and even improved over time.ConclusionSRH reflects an individual's complex health trajectory, but as a single measure does not predict when and how deteriorations will occur in this study. Individual patients appear to behave as complex adaptive systems. The dynamics of SRH and its influences in destabilizations warrant further research.
Pain management and pain characteristics in obese and normal weight patients before joint replacement
Authors: Thomazeau Joséphine , Perin Juliette , Nizard Remy , Bouhassira Didier , Collin Elisabeth , Nguyen Eliane , Perrot Serge , Bergmann Jean‐François , Lloret‐Linares Célia 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesThe objective was to compare the extent of pain interference and pain medication among persons who were classified as obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg m−2] and normal weighted (BMI ≤25 kg m−2), before a hip or knee replacement surgery.MethodsPatients candidate for an orthopaedic surgery were successively enrolled, over a 6‐month period, and classified in either the normal weight (BMI ≤25 kg m−2) or the obese (BMI ≥30 kg m−2) categories. Data were collected using self‐administered questionnaires with items concerning pain characteristics, pain medication and pain interference. Two standardized questionnaires were associated: the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD).ResultsFifty‐two obese patients (candidates for 24 hip replacements and 28 knee replacements) and 51 non‐obese (23 hip replacements and 28 knee replacements) were enrolled. Obese patients suffered from a higher rate of acute pain episodes than non‐obese patients (65 versus 44%, P < 0.05). Pain interference on walking distance, sleep and relations with others was higher in obese patients. HAD score showed no significant difference between groups. The use of strong opioids and of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was significantly more important in obese patients (13 versus 0% and 31 versus 14%).ConclusionsObese patients suffer more significantly of unrelieved chronic pain, which lowers considerably their quality of life. Pain relief is more difficult to obtain, as it requires stronger pain medication and NSAIDs.
A high‐resolution large‐scale flood hazard and economic risk model for the property loss insurance in Japan
Authors: Kobayashi K. , Takara K. , Sano H. , Tsumori H. , Sekii K. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper presents the development of a large‐scale (e.g. several thousand km2) high‐resolution (e.g. 250 m) distributed rainfall–runoff/flood inundation simulation (DRR/FI) model and an economic loss estimation model considering the confidence interval within what is called the Kyoto, Kobe University‐SJNK (KKU‐SJNK) model. The DRR/FI model can simulate rainfall–runoff, dike‐breaks, and inland flood inundation processes simultaneously in a seamless/integrated manner with practical accuracy. The river network for the modelling includes most of the catchment main and tributary rivers; thus, DRR/FI can simulate all of the discharge/water levels of the rivers in the catchment. Data processing was carried out with ArcGIS, which handles large data sets as one sees them with a graphical interface. The coordinate system of the model is appropriately set up; thus, the model can interact with other models such as weather, climate, evacuation, vulnerability and financial models. This also makes it possible to use extensive GIS data from all over the world. Moreover a vulnerability model, what we call the KKU‐SJNK model, was developed. The KKU‐SJNK model yields the damage ratios and thus economic loss of buildings due to flooding considering the confidence interval. The models are applied to the Yodogawa River catchment (8240 km2), the 7th largest river catchment in Japan, which crosses six prefectures. Though the catchment size is not necessarily very large compared with continental rivers, there is seldom seen such a detailed high‐resolution large‐scale runoff‐inundation model in Japan. To validate the model, data from 1997 and 2009 floods in the Yodogawa River catchment was used. The results of the model exhibited the potential effectiveness of the DRR/FI + KKU‐SJNK model for risk management toward property loss insurance, though it also identified some difficulties. The paper presents these results.
Sulfur nutrient availability regulates root elongation by affecting root indole‐3‐acetic acid levels and the stem cell niche
Authors: Zhao Qing , Wu Yu , Gao Lei , Ma Jun , Li Chuan‐You , Xiang Cheng‐Bin 
Published: May 2014

AbstractSulfur is an essential macronutrient for plants with numerous biological functions. However, the influence of sulfur nutrient availability on the regulation of root development remains largely unknown. Here, we report the response of Arabidopsis thaliana L. root development and growth to different levels of sulfate, demonstrating that low sulfate levels promote the primary root elongation. By using various reporter lines, we examined in vivo IAA level and distribution, cell division, and root meristem in response to different sulfate levels. Meanwhile the dynamic changes of in vivo cysteine, glutathione, and IAA levels were measured. Root cysteine, glutathione, and IAA levels are positively correlated with external sulfate levels in the physiological range, which eventually affect root system architecture. Low sulfate levels also downregulate the genes involved in auxin biosynthesis and transport, and elevate the accumulation of PLT1 and PLT2. This study suggests that sulfate level affects the primary root elongation by regulating the endogenous auxin level and root stem cell niche maintenance.