bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gomphrena claussenii, a novel metal‐hypertolerant bioindicator species, sequesters cadmium, but not zinc, in vacuolar oxalate crystals
Authors: Villafort Carvalho Mina T. , Pongrac Paula , Mumm Roland , van Arkel Jeroen , van Aelst Adriaan , Jeromel Luka , Vavpetič Primož , Pelicon Primož , Aarts Mark G. M. 
Published: June 2015

Summary

Gomphrena claussenii is a recently described zinc (Zn)‐ and cadmium (Cd)‐hypertolerant Amaranthaceae species displaying a metal bioindicator Zn/Cd accumulation response. We investigated the Zn and Cd distribution in stem and leaf tissues of G. claussenii at the cellular level, and determined metabolite profiles to investigate metabolite involvement in Zn and Cd sequestration.

Gomphrena claussenii plants exposed to high Zn and Cd supply were analysed by scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray (SEM‐EDX) and micro‐proton‐induced X‐ray emission (micro‐PIXE). In addition, gas chromatography‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry (GC‐TOF‐MS) was used to determine metabolite profiles on high Zn and Cd exposure.

Stem and leaf tissues of G. claussenii plants exposed to control and high Cd conditions showed the abundant presence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals, but on high Zn exposure, their abundance was strongly reduced. Ca and Cd co‐localized to the CaOx crystals in Cd‐exposed plants. Citrate, malate and oxalate levels were all higher in shoot tissues of metal‐exposed plants, with oxalate levels induced 2.6‐fold on Zn exposure and 6.4‐fold on Cd exposure.

Sequestration of Cd in vacuolar CaOx crystals of G. claussenii is found to be a novel mechanism to deal with Cd accumulation and tolerance.
Incidence of bradycardia at arrival to the operating room after oral or intravenous premedication with clonidine in children
Authors: Larsson Peter G. , Eksborg Staffan , Lönnqvist Per‐Arne 
Published: June 2015

SummaryBackgroundClonidine has been advocated as a valid alternative for premedication in children but one of the few limitations is its association with reduced heart rate (HR), which thus raises the question of the safety of clonidine as premedication in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of bradycardia in children premedicated with oral or intravenous clonidine as compared to children not receiving pharmacologic premedication.MethodsAn open, nonrandomized, observational study design was used. During the preoperative assessment visit the children were prescribed no premedication, intravenous or oral clonidine. On arrival to the operating room (OR) HR was recorded by connecting the patient to standard monitoring with pulseoximetry and/or Electrocardiogram. The primary outcome measure was the number of patients with a HR below 85% of the lower limit of the normal range (1st centile), which was defined as bradycardia that might need clinical intervention.ResultsOne thousand five hundred and seven patients were included in the analysis. 600 and 85 patients did not receive any premedication (Group 0), 305 patients received iv Clonidine (Group CIV), and 517 patients were given oral Clonidine (Group CPO). One patient in Group 0 (0.15%; 95% CI: 0–0.81%), none in Group CIV (0%; 95% CI: 0.00–0.98%), and 5 patients in Group CPO (0.97%; 95% CI: 0.31–2.24%) were observed to have a HR of <85% of the 1st centile.ConclusionThe incidence of bradycardia following oral or intravenous premedication with clonidine in a pediatric population scheduled for anesthesia is low. Thus, it does not appear rational to refrain from using clonidine as premedication in children only due to fear of bradycardia.
A GRAS‐like gene of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) alters the gibberellin content and axillary meristem outgrowth in transgenic Arabidopsis plants
Authors: Fambrini M. , Mariotti L. , Parlanti S. , Salvini M. , Pugliesi C. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe GRAS proteins belong to a plant transcriptional regulator family that function in the regulation of plant growth and development. Despite their important roles, in sunflower only one GRAS gene (HaDella1) with the DELLA domain has been reported. Here, we provide a functional characterisation of a GRAS‐like gene from Helianthus annuus (Ha‐GRASL) lacking the DELLA motif. The Ha‐GRASL gene contains an intronless open reading frame of 1,743 bp encoding 580 amino acids. Conserved motifs in the GRAS domain are detected, including VHIID, PFYRE, SAW and two LHR motifs. Within the VHII motif, the P‐H‐N‐D‐Q‐L residues are entirely maintained. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Ha‐GRASL belongs to the SCARECROW LIKE4/7 (SCL4/7) subfamily of the GRAS consensus tree. Accumulation of Ha‐GRASL mRNA at the adaxial boundaries from P6/P7 leaf primordia suggests a role of Ha‐GRASL in the initiation of median and basal axillary meristems (AMs) of sunflower. When Ha‐GRASL is over‐expressed in Arabidopsis wild‐type plants, the number of lateral bolts increases differently from untransformed plants. However, Ha‐GRASL slightly affects the lateral suppressor (las‐4‐) mutation. Therefore, we hypothesise that Ha‐GRASL and LAS are not functionally equivalent. The over‐expression of Ha‐GRASL reduces metabolic flow of gibberellins (GAs) in Arabidopsis and this modification could be relevant in AM development. Phylogenetic analysis includes LAS and SCL4/7 in the same major clade, suggesting a more recent separation of these genes with respect to other GRAS members. We propose that some features of their ancestor, as well as AM initiation and outgrowth, are partially retained in both LAS and SCL4/7.
The efficacy of pentoxifylline/tocopherol combination in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis
Authors: Hayashi Marc , Pellecer Monica , Chung Evelyn , Sung Eric 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTBackgroundOsteoradionecrosis (ORN) is an unfortunate complication of radiation therapy to the head and neck. Treatment has historically centered around hyperbaric oxygen therapy and surgical removal of necrotic bone. Recently, a new theory on the pathogenesis of ORN has proposed treatment with pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol/vitamin E. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in the management of patients with ORN.MethodsThe hospital dentistry group managed 13 patients that presented to our service with exposed bone after cancercidal doses of radiation to the head and neck. The patients were prescribed PTX 400 mg bid and tocopherol 1,000 IU QD.ResultsEleven of the 13 patients exhibited improvement and resolution. No adverse events were noted during treatment.ConclusionThis medical modality of treating ORN appears safe and effective, inducing bone and mucosal healing.
The clinical significance of infrared thermography for the prediction of postherpetic neuralgia in acute herpes zoster patients
Authors: Ko E. J. , No Y. A. , Park K. Y. , Li K. , Seo S. J. , Hong C. K. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundInfrared thermography is a non‐invasive diagnostic tool that provides information for damage to the nerve, there was some reports that thermal asymmetry of acute Herpes zoster (HZ) patients was significantly related to development of PHN.ObjectiveTo identify whether infrared thermography is useful as a predictor for the development of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and as an objective assessment tool of subjective pain in acute HZ patients.MethodsInfrared thermography was performed on the affected body regions of 112 patients who had been diagnosed with an acute stage of HZ. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Differences >0.5°C for the mean temperature across the face and trunk were considered abnormal. According to whether PHN developed or not, we analyzed the correlation of risk factors.ResultsThe study consisted of a total of 112 subjects (46 males and 66 females) with an age range of 9–93 years. The following summarizes the analysis results. (1) As pain severity increased, the occurrence of PHN increased significantly. (2) In older patients, the occurrence of PHN was significantly higher. (3) As the temperature difference between the affected and contralateral dermatome (ΔT) increased, the occurrence of PHN increased significantly. (4) There is a statically significant association between diabetes mellitus and the occurrence of PHN. (5) There is no correlation between pain intensity and ΔT.ConclusionIn this study, we showed that infrared thermography is useful as a predictor of PHN development in acute HZ patients but is not useful as an objective assessment tool for indicating subjective pain.
Pilot study of antibodies against varicella zoster virus and human immunodeficiency virus in relation to the risk of developing stroke, nested within a rural cohort in Uganda
Authors: Asiki Gershim , Stockdale Lisa , Kasamba Ivan , Vudriko Tobias , Tumwekwase Grace , Johnston Tom , Kaleebu Pontiano , Kamali Anatoli , Seeley Janet , Newton Robert 
Published: June 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe risk of stroke rises after episodes of herpes zoster and chickenpox, which are caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV). We conducted a pilot case–control study of stroke, nested within a long‐standing cohort in Uganda (the General Population Cohort), to examine antibodies against VZV prior to diagnosis.MethodsWe used stored sera to examine the evolution of IgG and IgM antibodies against VZV among 31 clinically confirmed cases of stroke and 132 matched controls. For each participant, three samples of sera were identified: one each, taken at or near the time of (pseudo)diagnosis, between 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis and at 15 years prior to diagnosis.ResultsAll participants had detectable antibodies against VZV, but there were no significant differences between cases and controls in the 15 years prior to diagnosis. As a secondary finding, 16% (5/31) of cases and 6% (8/132) of controls had HIV (OR 3.0; 95% CI 0.8–10.1; P = 0.06).ConclusionsThis is the first prospective study to examine a biological measure of exposure to VZV prior to diagnosis of stroke and although we identified no significant association, in this small pilot, with limited characterisation of cases, we cannot exclude the possibility that the virus is causal for a subset. The impact of HIV on risk of stroke has not been well characterised and warrants further study.
Stunting is associated with poor outcomes in childhood pneumonia
Authors: Moschovis Peter P. , Addo‐Yobo Emmanuel O. D. , Banajeh Salem , Chisaka Noel , Christiani David C. , Hayden Douglas , Jeena Prakash , MacLeod William B. , Mino Greta , Patel Archana , Qazi Shamim , Santosham Mathuram , Thea Donald M. , Hibberd Patricia L. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractObjectiveStunting affects 26.7% of children worldwide, and little is known about its effects on the outcomes of childhood pneumonia. We evaluated the effect of stunting on the outcomes of pneumonia among children enrolled in two large clinical trials.MethodsWe analysed data from two WHO and USAID‐sponsored inpatient treatment trials, the Severe Pneumonia Evaluation Antimicrobial Research study (n = 958) and the Amoxicillin Penicillin Pneumonia International Study (n = 1702), which enrolled children aged 2–59 months across 16 sites in LMICs. We assessed the effect of stunting (height‐for‐age Z score < −2) on treatment outcome and time to resolution of hypoxaemic pneumonia.ResultsAmong 2542 (96%) children with valid data for height, 28% were stunted and 12.8% failed treatment by 5 days. The failure rate among stunted patients was 16.0% vs. 11.5% among non‐stunted patients [unadjusted RR = 1.24 (95% CI 1.08, 1.41); adjusted RR = 1.28 (95% CI 1.10, 1.48)]. An inverse relationship was observed between height and failure rates, even among non‐stunted children. Among 845 patients with hypoxaemic pneumonia, stunting was associated with a lower probability of normalisation of respiratory rate [HR = 0.63 (95% CI 0.52, 0.75)] and oxygen saturation [HR = 0.74 (95% CI 0.61, 0.89)].ConclusionsStunting increases the risk of treatment failure and is associated with a longer course of recovery in children with pneumonia. Strategies to decrease stunting may decrease the burden of adverse outcomes in childhood pneumonia in low‐resource settings.
Tuberculosis case detection in Nigeria, the unfinished agenda
Authors: Obasanya Joshua , Abdurrahman Saddiq T. , Oladimeji Olanrewaju , Lawson Lovett , Dacombe Russell , Chukwueme Nkem , Abiola Tubi , Mustapha Gidado , Sola Christophe , Dominguez Jose , Cuevas Luis E. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractObjectiveUnderdetection of TB is a major problem in sub‐Saharan Africa. WHO recommends countries should have at least 1 laboratory per 100 000 population. However, this recommendation is not evidence based.MethodsWe analysed surveillance data of the Nigerian National TB Control Programme (2008‐2012) to describe TB case detection rates, their geographical distribution and their association with the density of diagnostic laboratories and HIV prevalence.ResultsThe median CDR was 17.7 (range 4.7–75.8%) in 2008, increasing to 28.6% (range 10.6–72.4%) in 2012 (P < 0.01). The CDR2012 was associated with the 2008 baseline; however, states with CDR2008 < 30% had larger increases than states with CDR2008 > 30. There were 990 laboratories in 2008 and 1453 in 2012 (46.7% increase, range by state −3% to +118). The state CDR2012 could be predicted by the laboratory density (P < 0.001), but was not associated with HIV prevalence or the proportion of smear‐positive cases. CDR2012 and laboratory density were correlated among states having < and > than 1 laboratory per 100 000 population.ConclusionThere are large variations in laboratory density and CDR across the Nigerian states. The CDR is associated with the laboratory density. A much larger number of diagnostic centres are needed. It is likely that a laboratory density above the recommended WHO guideline would result in even higher case detection, and this ratio should be considered a minimum threshold.
Intermittent cycles of remote ischemic preconditioning augment diabetic foot ulcer healing
Authors: Shaked Gad , Czeiger David , Abu Arar Anwar , Katz Tiberiu , Harman‐Boehm Ilana , Sebbag Gilbert 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThe morbidity and mortality caused by diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) are still significant. Conservative treatment of DFU is often ineffective. Treatment modalities using stem cells directly into the DFU or systematically have been introduced recently. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been proved to be a cheap, simple, and safe method which can augment stem cells number in the peripheral blood circulation. This study's purpose was to test whether IPC can improve DFU healing. Forty diabetic patients were enrolled and divided into study and control groups. All patients received their regular treatment. The study group patients received in addition brief, transient cycles of IPC while the control group patients received a sham procedure only. The procedure was repeated every 2 weeks to complete a follow‐up period of 6 weeks. The ulcers were photographed to measure wound area, and the degree of granulation tissue was assessed. No serious adverse events were noted. Twenty‐two patients from the study group and 12 from the control group completed the entire follow‐up. The ratio of patients who reached complete healing of their ulcer was 9/22 (41%) in the study group compared with 0/12 (0%) in the control group, p = 0.01. Furthermore, the mean remaining ulcer area at the end of the follow‐up was significantly smaller in the study group, 25 ± 6% of the initial area vs. 61 ± 10% in the control group, p = 0.007. The degree of granulation increased after one cycle of treatment in 8/24 (33%) study patients compared to 3/16 (19%) in the control group, p = 0.47. Remote, repeated IPC significantly improves the healing of DFU. This simple, safe, inexpensive treatment method should be considered to be routinely applied to diabetic patients with DFU in addition to other regular treatment modalities.
Variation of plantar pressure in Chinese diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yang Chuan , Xiao Huisheng , Wang Chuan , Mai LiFang , Liu Dan , Qi Yiqing , Ren Meng , Yan Li 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTTo investigate dynamic changes in plantar pressure in Chinese diabetes mellitus patients and to provide a basis for further preventing diabetic foot. This is a cross‐sectional investigation including 649 Chinese diabetes mellitus patients (diabetes group) and 808 “normal” Chinese persons (nondiabetes group) with normal blood glucose levels. All the subjects provided a complete medical history and underwent a physical examination and a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. All subjects walked barefoot with their usual gait, and their dynamic plantar forces were measured using the one‐step method with a plantar pressure measurement instrument; 5 measurements were performed for each foot. No significant differences were found in age, height, body weight, or body mass index between the two groups. The fasting blood glucose levels, plantar contact time, maximum force, pressure‐time integrals and force‐time integrals in the diabetes group were significantly higher than those in the nondiabetes group (p < 0.05). However, the maximum pressure was significantly higher in the nondiabetes group than in the diabetes group (p < 0.05). No difference was found in the contact areas between the two groups (p > 0.05). The maximum plantar force distributions were essentially the same, with the highest force found for the medial heel, followed by the medial forefoot and the first toe. The peak plantar pressure was located at the medial forefoot for the nondiabetes group and at the hallucis for the diabetes group. In the diabetes group, the momentum in each plantar region was higher than that in the nondiabetes group; this difference was especially apparent in the heel, the lateral forefoot and the hallucis. The dynamic plantar pressures in diabetic patients differ from those in nondiabetic people with increased maximum force and pressure, a different distribution pattern and significantly increased momentum, which may lead to the formation of foot ulcers.
Covalent Modification of Bacteriophage T4 DNA Inhibits CRISPR-Cas9
Authors: Bryson Alexandra L. , Hwang Young , Sherrill-Mix Scott , Wu Gary D. , Lewis James D. , Black Lindsay , Clark Tyson A. , Bushman Frederic D. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT
The genomic DNAs of tailed bacteriophages are commonly modified by the attachment of chemical groups. Some forms of DNA modification are known to protect phage DNA from cleavage by restriction enzymes, but others are of unknown function. Recently, the CRISPR-Cas nuclease complexes were shown to mediate bacterial adaptive immunity by RNA-guided target recognition, raising the question of whether phage DNA modifications may also block attack by CRISPR-Cas9. We investigated phage T4 as a model system, where cytosine is replaced with glucosyl-hydroxymethylcytosine (glc-HMC). We first quantified the extent and distribution of covalent modifications in T4 DNA by single-molecule DNA sequencing and enzymatic probing. We then designed CRISPR spacer sequences targeting T4 and found that wild-type T4 containing glc-HMC was insensitive to attack by CRISPR-Cas9 but mutants with unmodified cytosine were sensitive. Phage with HMC showed only intermediate sensitivity. While this work was in progress, another group reported examples of heavily engineered CRISRP-Cas9 complexes that could, in fact, overcome the effects of T4 DNA modification, indicating that modifications can inhibit but do not always fully block attack.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria were recently found to have a form of adaptive immunity, the CRISPR-Cas systems, which use nucleic acid pairing to recognize and cleave genomic DNA of invaders such as bacteriophage. Historic work with tailed phages has shown that phage DNA is often modified by covalent attachment of large chemical groups. Here we demonstrate that DNA modification in phage T4 inhibits attack by the CRISPR-Cas9 system. This finding provides insight into mechanisms of host-virus competition and also a new set of tools that may be useful in modulating the activity of CRISPR-Cas9 in genome engineering applications.
Patient and family engagement: a survey of US hospital practices
Authors: Herrin Jeph , Harris Kathleen G , Kenward Kevin , Hines Stephen , Joshi Maulik S , Frosch Dominick L 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundPatient and family engagement (PFE) in healthcare is an important element of the transforming healthcare system; however, the prevalence of various PFE practices in the USA is not known.ObjectiveWe report on a survey of hospitals in the USA regarding their PFE practices during 2013–2014.ResultsThe response rate was 42%, with 1457 acute care hospitals completing the survey. We constructed 25 items to summarise the responses regarding key practices, which fell into three broad categories: (1) organisational practices, (2) bedside practices and (3) access to information and shared decision-making. We found a wide range of scores across hospitals. Selected findings include: 86% of hospitals had a policy for unrestricted visitor access in at least some units; 68% encouraged patients/families to participate in shift-change reports; 67% had formal policies for disclosing and apologising for errors; and 38% had a patient and family advisory council. The most commonly reported barrier to increased PFE was ‘competing organisational priorities’.SummaryOur findings indicate that there is a large variation in hospital implementation of PFE practices, with competing organisational priorities being the most commonly identified barrier to adoption.
Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) records synsedimentary deformation kinematics at Pico del Aguila anticline, Pyrenees, Spain
Authors: Anastasio David , Parés Josep M. , Kodama Kenneth P. , Troy Joanna , Pueyo Emilio L. 
Published: June 2015

Abstract

Pico del Aguila anticline is a transverse décollement fold located at the Pyrenean thrust front. The anticline is a synsedimentary structure buried during growth by delta front mudstones and sands of the Eocene Arguis and Belsué-Atares formations. Both the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measured at 77 K and 294 K and the anisotropy of anhysteretic remanence show that susceptibility is dominated by paramagnetic clay minerals and can be used as a proxy for depositional and tectonic fabric orientations. In general, the maximum and intermediate principal susceptibilities (
k
1
and
k
2
) of the AMS lie in bedding and the minimum principal susceptibility (
k
3
) is oriented nearly normal to bedding. Layer-parallel shortening (LPS) produced a
c.
north–south-trending magnetic intersection lineation in bedding on anticline limbs and in the adjacent Belsué and Arguis synclines by deforming the depositional and diagenetic compaction fabric. The degree of magnetic anisotropy is higher along axial surfaces than on limbs. At the anticline hinge, oblate magnetic ellipsoids with an east–west-aligned lineation and a bedding-parallel magnetic foliation demonstrate the overprinting of the LPS magnetic fabric during the emplacement of the underlying thrust sheet. AMS data record fold kinematics characterized by constant-length limb rotation about pinned hinges and are compatible with kinematics recorded by growth strata geometries. This study emphasizes that AMS is a very sensitive measure of depositional, compaction and tectonic fabrics in marine clastic rocks in the diagenetic realm.

Supplementary material:

Data tables including specimen locations, orientation, and AMS matrix elements for new samples and AMS data from Pueyo
et al.
(1997). Bulk susceptibility at 77 K and 294 K for representative specimens is available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18842