bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resistance to Isoniazid and Ethionamide in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
: Genes, Mutations, and Causalities
Authors: Vilchèze Catherine , Jacobs JR. William R. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

Isoniazid (INH) is the cornerstone of tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy, used for both treatment and prophylaxis of TB. The antimycobacterial activity of INH was discovered in 1952, and almost as soon as its activity was published, the first INH-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strains were reported. INH and its structural analog and second-line anti-TB drug ethionamide (ETH) are pro-drugs. INH is activated by the catalase-peroxidase KatG, while ETH is activated by the monooxygenase EthA. The resulting active species reacts with NAD
+
to form an INH-NAD or ETH-NAD adduct, which inhibits the enoyl ACP reductase InhA, leading to mycolic acid biosynthesis inhibition and mycobacterial cell death. The major mechanism of INH resistance is mutation in
katG,
encoding the activator of INH. One specific KatG variant, S315T, is found in 94% of INH-resistant clinical isolates. The second mechanism of INH resistance is a mutation in the promoter region of
inhA
(c-15t), which results in
inhA
overexpression and leads to titration of the drug. Mutations in the
inhA
open reading frame and promoter region are also the major mechanism of resistance to ETH, found more often in ETH-resistant clinical isolates than mutations in the activator of ETH. Other mechanisms of resistance to INH and ETH include expression changes of the drugs’ activators, redox alteration, drug inactivation, and efflux pump activation. In this article, we describe each known mechanism of resistance to INH and ETH and its importance in
M. tuberculosis
clinical isolates.
Mycobacterial Lipidomics
Authors: Layre Emilie , Al-Mubarak Reem , Belisle John T. , Branch Moody D. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTLipidomics is a distinct subspecialty of metabolomics concerned with hydrophobic molecules that organize into membranes. Most of the lipid classes present inMycobacterium tuberculosisare found only inActinobacteriaand show extreme structural diversity. This article highlights the conceptual basis and the practical challenges associated with the mass spectrometry–based lipidomic study ofM. tuberculosisto solve basic questions about the virulence of this lipid-laden organism.
Mobilizable Rolling-Circle Replicating Plasmids from Gram-Positive Bacteria: A Low-Cost Conjugative Transfer
Authors: Fernández-López Cris , Bravo Alicia , Ruiz-Cruz Sofía , Solano-Collado Virtu , Garsin Danielle A. , Lorenzo-Díaz Fabián , Espinosa Manuel 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACT

Conjugation is a key mechanism for horizontal gene transfer in bacteria. Some plasmids are not self-transmissible but can be mobilized by functions encoded
in trans
provided by other auxiliary conjugative elements. Although the transfer efficiency of mobilizable plasmids is usually lower than that of conjugative elements, mobilizable plasmids are more frequently found in nature. In this sense, replication and mobilization can be considered important mechanisms influencing plasmid promiscuity. Here we review the currently available information on two families of small mobilizable plasmids from Gram-positive bacteria that replicate via the rolling-circle mechanism. One of these families, represented by the streptococcal plasmid pMV158, is an interesting model since it contains a specific mobilization module (MOB
V
) that is widely distributed among mobilizable plasmids. We discuss a mechanism in which the promiscuity of the pMV158 replicon is based on the presence of two origins of lagging strand synthesis. The current strategies to assess plasmid transfer efficiency as well as to inhibit conjugative plasmid transfer are presented. Some applications of these plasmids as biotechnological tools are also reviewed.
The effect of maternal age and planned place of birth on intrapartum outcomes in healthy women with straightforward pregnancies: secondary analysis of the Birthplace national prospective cohort study
Authors: Li Yangmei , Townend John , Rowe Rachel , Knight Marian , Brocklehurst Peter , Hollowell Jennifer 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesTo describe the relationship between maternal age and intrapartum outcomes in ‘low-risk’ women; and to evaluate whether the relationship between maternal age and intrapartum interventions and adverse outcomes differs by planned place of birth.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingObstetric units (OUs), midwifery units and planned home births in England.Participants63 371 women aged over 16 without known medical or obstetric risk factors, with singleton pregnancies, planning vaginal birth.MethodsLog Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between maternal age, modelled as a continuous and categorical variable, and risk of intrapartum interventions and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Main outcome measuresIntrapartum caesarean section, instrumental delivery, syntocinon augmentation and a composite measure of maternal interventions/adverse outcomes requiring obstetric care encompassing augmentation, instrumental delivery, intrapartum caesarean section, general anaesthesia, blood transfusion, third-degree/fourth-degree tear, maternal admission; adverse perinatal outcome (encompassing neonatal unit admission or perinatal death).ResultsInterventions and adverse maternal outcomes requiring obstetric care generally increased with age, particularly in nulliparous women. For nulliparous women aged 16–40, the risk of experiencing an intervention or adverse outcome requiring obstetric care increased more steeply with age in planned non-OU births than in planned OU births (adjusted RR 1.21 per 5-year increase in age, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.25 vs adjusted RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.15) but absolute risks were lower in planned non-OU births at all ages. The risk of neonatal unit admission or perinatal death was significantly raised in nulliparous women aged 40+ relative to women aged 25–29 (adjusted RR 2.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 4.09).ConclusionsAt all ages, ‘low-risk’ women who plan birth in a non-OU setting tend to experience lower intervention rates than comparable women who plan birth in an OU. Younger nulliparous women appear to benefit more from this reduction than older nulliparous women.
UK multiple sclerosis risk-sharing scheme: a new natural history dataset and an improved Markov model
Authors: Palace Jacqueline , Bregenzer Thomas , Tremlett Helen , Oger Joel , Zhu Fheng , Boggild Mike , Duddy Martin , Dobson Charles 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesIn 2002, the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence concluded that the multiple sclerosis (MS) disease modifying therapies; interferon-β and glatiramer acetate, were not cost effective over the short term but recognised that reducing disability over the longer term might dramatically improve the cost effectiveness. The UK Risk-sharing Scheme (RSS) was established to ensure cost-effective provision by prospectively collecting disability-related data from UK-treated patients with MS and comparing findings to a natural history (untreated) cohort. However, deficiencies were found in the originally selected untreated cohort and the resulting analytical approach. This study aims to identify a more suitable natural history cohort and to develop a robust analytical approach using the new cohort.DesignThe Scientific Advisory Group, recommended the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis (BCMS) database, Canada, as providing a more suitable natural history comparator cohort. Transition probabilities were derived and different Markov models (discrete and continuous) with and without baseline covariates were applied.SettingMS clinics in Canada and the UK.ParticipantsFrom the BCMS database, 898 ‘untreated’ patients with MS considered eligible for drug treatment based on the UK's Association of British Neurologists criteria.Outcome measureThe predicted Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was collected and assessed for goodness of fit when compared with actual outcome.ResultsThe BCMS untreated cohort contributed 7335 EDSS scores over a median 6.4 years (6357 EDSS ‘transitions’ recorded at consecutive visits) during the period 1980–1995. A continuous Markov model with ‘onset age’ as a binary covariate was deemed the most suitable model for future RSS analysis.ConclusionsA new untreated MS cohort from British Columbia has been selected and will be modelled using a continuous Markov model with onset age as a baseline covariate. This approach will now be applied to the treated UK RSS MS cohort for future price adjustment calculations.
Childhood socioeconomic position, young adult intelligence and fillings of prescribed medicine for prevention of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged men
Authors: Kriegbaum Margit , Kildemoes Helle Wallach , Rasmussen Jeppe Nørgaard , Hendriksen Carsten , Vass Mikkel , Mortensen Erik Lykke , Osler Merete 
Published: October 2014

ObjectivesTo explore the relationship between childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and filling of medicine prescriptions for prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), with young adult intelligence (IQ) as a potential mediator.DesignBirth cohort study with logistic and Cox-proportional hazard regression analyses of associations between childhood SEP, retrieved from birth certificates, and prevalence, initiation of and refill persistency for CVD preventive medicine.SettingDenmark.Participants8736 Danish men born in 1953, who had no CVD at the start of follow-up in 1995, were followed in the Danish National Prescription Register for initiation of and refill persistency for antihypertensives and statins, until the end of 2007 (age 54 years).ResultsLow childhood SEP at age 18 was not associated with prescription fillings of antihypertensives, but was weakly associated with initiation of statins (HR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.00 to1.42)). This estimate was attenuated when IQ was entered into the model (HR=1.10 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.23)). Low childhood SEP was also associated with decreased refill persistency for statins (HR=2.23 (95% CI 1.13 to 4.40)). Thus, the HR for SEP only changed slightly (HR=2.24 (95% CI 1.11 to 4.52)) when IQ was entered into the model, but entering other covariates (education and body mass index in young adulthood and income in midlife) into the model attenuated the HR to 2.04 (95% CI 1.00 to 4.16).ConclusionsLow childhood SEP was related to more frequent initiation of and poorer refill persistency for statins. IQ in young adulthood explained most of the association between childhood SEP and initiation of statins, but had no impact on refill persistency.
Influence of outlying values and variations between sampling days on reference ranges for clinical chemistry in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Authors: Scope A. , Schwendenwein I. , Frommlet F. 
Published: October 2014

Reference ranges for clinical chemistry variables were established for 99 budgerigars sampled monthly for 12 months. The data from the repeated measurements were compiled to obtain the most reliable population‐based reference range defined to be relevant for the population of budgerigars over the whole year. Outlying values were excluded by reference to the population‐based reference range and to previously determined values from the same individual, following the guidelines of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. The exclusion of outliers significantly reduced the calculated reference ranges.
Efficacy of the treatment of dogs with leishmaniosis with a combination of metronidazole and spiramycin
Authors: Pennisi M. G. , De Majo M. , Masucci M. , Britti D. , Vitale F. , Del Maso R. 
Published: October 2014

Twenty‐seven dogs infected naturally with Leishmania infantum were used in a randomised controlled trial to compare the clinical and parasitological efficacy of an oral treatment with a combination of metronidazole and spiramycin (13 dogs) with the efficacy of conventional treatment with meglumine antimonate and allopurinol (14 dogs) as controls. In the test group one dog had to be withdrawn from the treatment because it developed pemphigus foliaceus; 10 of the dogs were clinically responsive but none was cured parasitologically. In the control group four dogs were withdrawn from the treatment because of side effects; eight of the dogs were clinically responsive but none was cured parasitologically. The control group showed signs of improvement after an average of 30 days, whereas the test group did not show signs of improvement until after an average of 45 days.
Effects of diets fed to dairy cows before and after calving on their plasma progesterone profiles after calving
Authors: Fahey J. , McNamara S. , Murphy J. J. , O’Callaghan D. , Mee J. F. 
Published: October 2014

Four weeks before their predicted mean second lactation calving date, 60 spring‐calving Holstein‐Friesian cows were blocked into groups of six on the basis of their predicted calving date and body condition score, and allocated at random to one of six dietary treatments in a factorial design: ad libitum grass silage, ad libitum grass silage plus barley straw or ad libitum grass silage plus 3 kg of concentrates, was offered for four weeks before the expected calving date, and after calving they were offered either 4 kg or 8 kg of concentrates plus ad libitum grass silage for eight weeks. On average, the first luteal activity occurred in all the groups at 29 days after calving. Seventeen of the cows had an atypical first plasma progesterone profile; 12 were anovulatory, three had prolonged luteal phases and two became anovulatory after having been cyclic. The cows offered grass silage only before calving had a significantly shorter mean (se) interval between calving and second luteal activity (44·9 [2·1] days), than the cows offered grass silage and straw (53·5 [1·9] days) or grass silage and concentrates (51·5 [3·2] days) (P<0·05). After calving none of the 28 cows offered grass silage and 4 kg of concentrates started cycling before day 21, whereas five of the 30 cows offered grass silage and 8 kg of concentrates cycled before day 21 (P<0·05).
Linear hoof defects in sheep infected with foot‐and‐mouth disease
Authors: Dekker A. , Moonen P. , Pol J. M. A. 
Published: October 2014

During the epidemic of foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) in the Netherlands in 2001, a sheep farm was identified that had been subclinically infected with the disease. The FMD virus genome was detected in 12 of 16 probang samples collected from the sheep and the virus was isolated from four of these samples. Linear defects were observed, 1 to 3 cm from the coronary band, in the hooves of several of the sheep. The defects were thought to have been caused by the FMD infection. It was thought that the distance of the defects from the coronary band might be an indication of the time since the animals had been infected. To determine the growth rate of the claws of sheep, the growth of the hoof horn of uninfected lambs and ewes was measured; in the lambs the growth rate was 0·44 mm per day and in the ewes it was 0·29 mm per day.
Effects of intravenous infusions of sodium bicarbonate on blood oxygen binding in calves with diarrhoea
Authors: Cambier C. , Clerbaux T. , Detry B. , Marville V. , Frans A. , Gustin P. 
Published: October 2014

Twelve diarrhoeic calves were treated intravenously with an isotonic solution containing sodium bicarbonate, and their oxygen equilibrium curves (OEC s) were calculated under standard conditions and compared with those of a group of healthy calves. The relationships between the OEC s for arterial and venous blood and the oxygen extraction ratio were investigated. In the diarrhoeic calves, the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen, measured under standard conditions, was increased compared with the healthy animals. During the infusion, the standard partial oxygen pressure at 50 per cent saturation of haemoglobin (P50) values stayed below the values recorded in the healthy animals. At the end of the infusion the mean standard P50 of the diarrhoeic calves was lower than before the infusion. The combined effects of all the regulating factors on blood oxygen binding resulted in the OEC s of the arterial and jugular venous blood of the diarrhoeic calves remaining unchanged compared with the healthy calves. However, the administration of the infusion decreased the P50 of both the arterial and venous blood to below the value recorded in the healthy calves. Oxygen extraction by the tissues was impaired in the diarrhoeic calves throughout the infusion, and they remained dehydrated and depressed until 120 minutes after the infusion began.
Prevalence and characterisation ofCryptosporidiumspecies in cattle faeces and on beef carcases at slaughter
Authors: Moriarty E. M. , McEvoy J.M. , Sheridan J. J. , Duffy G. , Lowery C. J. , Thompson H. P. , Finn M. , Blair I. S. , McDowell D. A. 
Published: October 2014

Cattle are known reservoirs and asymptomatic excretors ofCryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite that causes severe and protracted diarrhoea in people. The incidence ofCryptosporidiumwas investigated in 288 matched samples taken from beef carcases of 1 g samples of faeces retrieved immediately after de‐legging, 25 cm2samples of beef excised from the rump of uneviscerated carcases, and 25 cm2 samples of beef excised from the brisket area of eviscerated carcases.Cryptosporidiumspecies were detected in 21 of the faecal samples after salt flotation and immunofluorescent microscopy. The species isolated from the positive samples were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR asCryptosporidiumandersoni (54·5 per cent) andCryptosporidium parvumgenotype 2 (45·5 per cent). In the faecal samples, there was a significantly higher prevalence of the parasite in samples taken in summer (May to July) and winter (November to January) than in spring or autumn. NoCryptosporidiumspecies were recovered from any of the beef samples.
Diurnal variations in the plasma concentration of parathyroid hormone in dogs
Authors: López I. , Aguilera‐Tejero E. , Estepa J. C. , Bas S. , Mayer‐Valor R. , Jiménez A. , Rodríguez M. 
Published: October 2014

The plasma concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH), ionised calcium (Ca2+), total calcium, albumin and inorganic phosphorus, and the pH were measured in blood samples obtained from nine dogs during a period of 26 hours. The plasma PTH levels fluctuated slightly during the day, by about 20 pg/ml, but there was a distinct peak (42·8 [8·8] pg/ml) at 07.00. Plasma Ca2+ showed a diurnal pattern in which two peaks (increases of 0·03 mmol/l) were observed at 05.00 and 17.00, and the plasma concentration of inorganic phosphorus showed a similar pattern. There were no diurnal changes in total calcium or albumin.
Surveillance of suspect animal toxicoses with potential food safety implications in England and Wales between 1990 and 2002
Authors: Sharpe R. T. , Livesey C. T. 
Published: October 2014

The potential chemical contamination incidents investigated by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) between 1990 and 2002 are reviewed. Incidents were identified in the course of the VLA ’s surveillance of food animal disease and further investigations were carried out on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in order to identify and control the contamination of food animals and animal products with chemical hazards. In total 876 incidents were investigated, of which 588 involved the poisoning of cattle with heavy metals. There were 63 incidents involving the exposure of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry to the accidental misuse of veterinary medicines, pesticides or rodenticides, and 50 incidents involving their exposure to microbiological toxins, particularly botulism.
Verminous pneumonia due to Filaroides hirthi in a Scottish terrier in Spain
Authors: Caro‐Vadillo A. , Martínez‐Merlo E. , García‐Real I. , Fermín‐Rodríguez M. L. , Mateo P. 
Published: October 2014

A previously healthy Scottish terrier developed verminous pneumonia due to Filaroides hirthi. The disease was diagnosed on the basis of cytology of a transtracheal wash, which contained 17 per cent eosinophils and a large number of parasite larvae. Treatment with 50 mg/kg bodyweight fenbendazole daily for three weeks eliminated the parasites and improved the clinical condition of the dog.
Epidemiological characteristics of rabies in South Korea from 1993 to 2001
Authors: Kim J‐H. , Hwang E‐K. , Sohn H‐J. , Kim D‐Y. , So B‐J. , Jean Y‐H. 
Published: October 2014

In the nine years from 1993 to 2001, 210 cases of rabies were recorded in domestic animals in South Korea; 115 cattle, 94 dogs and one farmed deer were affected. The annual incidence of rabies cases increased to a peak of 64 in 1998, and then decreased to about 30 cases per year. The cases were confined to the northern part of Kyounggi and Kangwon provinces. One hundred and forty‐six cases (69·5 per cent) occurred in Kyounggi and 64 cases (30·5 per cent) in Kangwon province, and about 82 per cent of them were confined to two counties in Kyounggi province (29 per cent in Paju and 28·1 per cent in Younchun) and to Chulwon county in Kangwon province (25·2 per cent). However, over several years the outbreaks gradually moved south and east in both Kyounggi and Kangwon provinces. There were more rabies cases in cattle than in dogs, suggesting that the disease is transmitted by the sylvatic cycle. To investigate the relationship between rabies in domestic animals and wild animals, 107 wild animals, including Korean raccoon dogs, badgers, weasels and feral cats, were tested for rabies; 21 of the 67 Korean raccoon dogs tested (31 per cent) were infected. The cases in domestic animals were most common in winter, from December to February, and least common in summer, from June to September.
Variability in the eruption of the permanent incisor teeth in sheep
Authors: Cocquyt G. , Driessen B. , Simoens P. 
Published: October 2014

The incisor teeth of 176 sheep of six breeds were inspected every two to three months for a year to record the shedding of the deciduous teeth and the eruption of the permanent teeth. In all the breeds the permanent central incisors erupted at between 12 and 18 months of age. In 96 per cent of the sheep the permanent middle incisors erupted at between 18 and 26 months; and in 92 per cent the permanent lateral incisors erupted at between 24 and 36 months of age. The permanent corner teeth erupted at between 32 and 44 months in 96 per cent of the sheep. The gingival redness and swelling accompanying the eruption of a permanent tooth disappeared within two months. In 14 cases two pairs of incisors erupted during the year, in 18 cases the incisors erupted asymmetrically, and in 22 cases no incisors erupted. Rotation of one incisor was observed in five sheep and was combined with dental deviation in one.
Ultrasonographic assessment of the rate of solid‐phase gastric emptying in dogs
Authors: Chalmers A. F. , Kirton R. , Wyse C. A. , Dickie A. , Cumming D. , Cooper J. M. , Preston T. , Yam P. S. 
Published: October 2014

Twelve healthy dogs were used in an ultrasonographic assessment of the effect of the composition of a solid meal on the rate of gastric emptying. The dogs were fasted for nine hours before they were fed either a standard or a high energy density test meal, in a cross‐over study design. The gastric antrum was visualised with a 6·5 MHz microconvex transducer, and the area inside the elliptical shape defined by the craniocaudal and ventrodorsal diameters of the stomach was measured. Antral images were acquired at regular intervals for six hours after the ingestion of the test meal. Three indices to describe the rate of gastric emptying were computed: the gastric half‐emptying time (t1/2), the time to 50 per cent maximal antral area (t50%), and the time of maximal antral area (tmax). The values of t50% and t1/2 calculated for the high energy density meals were significantly longer than for the standard meals, but there was no significant difference between the tmax values.