bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta‐Analyses of Factors Associated with Leptospirosis in Domestic Dogs
Authors: Azócar‐Aedo L. , Monti G. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryFactors related with leptospirosis in domestic dogs have been reported worldwide. The aims of this study were to identify factors associated with this disease described in different observational studies and to combine the coinciding factors in at least four studies using meta‐analyses, to obtain a pooled odds ratio (OR) as measure of infection risk. A literature search was performed in electronic databases, electronic databases of specific journals and search engines to find studies published in English, Spanish and Portuguese available from January 1960 to January 2015. Two hundred and eighteen factors were identified in 31 publications including cross‐sectional and case–control studies. Finally, independent meta‐analyses were performed with six different variables, which included between 4 and 8 articles. The pooled OR indicated that the variables ‘mixed‐breed dogs’, ‘flooding occurrence in the habitat of the dog’ and ‘working dogs’ were risk factors for leptospirosis, while ‘being a dog less than 1 year old’ was a protective factor; however, all these associations were not statistically significant. Otherwise, the variables ‘male dog’ and ‘urban dog’ were statistically significant risk factors for infection. This study highlights the need for more formal studies on the epidemiology of canine leptospirosis. Nevertheless, the study revealed that some risk factors for infection coincided in different observational studies. These factors could be considered to raise suspicion about the disease, especially when there is a history of exposure to the bacteria.
Genome Sequence of the Deep-Sea Bacterium Idiomarina abyssalis KMM 227
T
Authors: Rheaume Bruce A. , Mithoefer Scott , MacLea Kyle S. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Idiomarina abyssalis
KMM 227
T
is an aerobic flagellar gammaproteobacterium found at a depth of 4,000 to 5,000 m below sea level in the Pacific Ocean. This paper presents a draft genome sequence for
I. abyssalis
KMM 227
T
, with a predicted composition of 2,684,812 bp (47.15% G+C content) and 2,611 genes, of which 2,508 were predicted coding sequences.
Draft Whole-Genome Sequence of the Marine Bacterium Idiomarina zobellii KMM 231
T
Authors: Mithoefer Scott , Rheaume Bruce A. , MacLea Kyle S. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Idiomarina zobellii
was isolated from the northwest Pacific Ocean at a depth of 4,000 to 5,000 m in 1985. The draft whole-genome shotgun sequence of
I. zobellii
KMM 231
T
described in this paper has a predicted length of 2,602,160 bp, containing 2,570 total genes, 52 tRNAs, and a G+C content of 47.10%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 (DSM 1128), an Important Rhamnolipid Surfactant Producer and Sterility Testing Strain
Authors: Mai-Prochnow Anne , Bradbury Mark , Murphy Anthony B. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
ATCC 9027 (DSM1128) is often used as a quality-control strain for sterility and microbial contamination testing and is an important biosurfactant producer. Here, we present the 6.4-Mb draft genome sequence and highlight some genomic differences to its closest relative,
P. aeruginosa
strain PA7.
Complete Genome Sequence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus schleiferi Strain TSCC54 of Canine Origin
Authors: Sasaki Takashi , Tsubakishita Sae , Kuwahara-Arai Kyoko , Matsuo Miki , Lu Yu Jie , Tanaka Yoshikazu , Hiramatsu Keiichi 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

We report a complete genome sequence of the methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus schleiferi
strain TSCC54, isolated from the skin of a dog in Tokyo, Japan.
Full-Length Genome Characterization of Chinese Porcine Deltacoronavirus Strain CH/SXD1/2015
Authors: Chen Fangzhou , Zhu Yinxing , Wu Meizhou , Ku Xugang , Yao Li , He Qigai 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT
A porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was identified in the Chinese mainland and found to be closely related to Hong Kong strain HKU15-155 but differed from PDCoV strains in the United States and South Korea. The complete genome of PDCoV strain CH/SXD1/201 was sequenced and analyzed to further characterize PDCoV in Chinese swine.
Effects of Acupuncture on Preeclampsia in Chinese Women: A Pilot Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zeng Yingchun , Liu Bing , Luo Taizhen , Chen Yun , Chen Guangen , Chen Dunjin 
Published: October 2015

Objective To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of acupuncture treatment as an adjunct to usual care in Chinese women with preeclampsia. Methods This was a pilot prospective cohort study. Pregnant women with a diagnosis of preeclampsia were offered acupuncture and allocated into groups based on their choice: the acupuncture group (n=11) comprised women electing to receive treatment (up to 10 sessions over 2 weeks). The control group (n=11) was made up of women who declined and was matched for age, gestation at diagnosis, and parity. All women received usual care and underwent measurement of blood pressure (BP) at four time points: at baseline, at the end of the intervention, immediately before delivery, and postpartum (within 24 h). Results Patients in the acupuncture group had significantly lower BP at time of delivery, and postpartum, than patients in the control group (p<0.05). The individual change in BP between baseline and the end of treatment was significantly greater in the acupuncture group versus the control group for both systolic BP (median (IQR) −8 (−3 to −14) vs +1 (−7 to +9) mm Hg, p=0.007) and diastolic BP (−3 (−1 to −3) vs +2 (−2 to +7) mm Hg, p=0.013). There were no significant differences between the groups in perinatal outcomes and no adverse effects of treatment. Conclusions Acupuncture plus usual care was associated with a greater reduction in BP than usual care alone. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of acupuncture in the treatment of preeclampsia.
Intensity of statin therapy and new hospitalizations for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kishimoto Ichiro , Makino Hisashi , Ohata Yoko , Tamanaha Tamiko , Tochiya Mayu , Anzai Toshihisa , Kusano Kengo , Noguchi Teruo , Yasuda Satoshi , Ogawa Hisao 
Published: October 2015

ObjectiveTo examine a relationship between statin intensity and heart failure (HF) incidence in diabetes.Research design and methodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes (n=600; age, 66.3 years; men, 68%). Patients were categorized into three groups by baseline statin treatments—moderate-intensity, low-intensity, or no statin—and the independent association between the statin category and HF hospitalization during follow-up was examined.ResultsOver the course of the median 6-year follow-up, 17.7% of the patients were hospitalized for HF. Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between the baseline statin category and HF incidence (p=0.002), independently of age, sex, hypertension, B-type natriuretic peptide, glycated hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The moderate-intensity statin group had a significantly lower risk for HF than the low-intensity statin group with an adjusted HR of 0.31 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.65, p=0.0014). Interestingly, among patients with prevalent coronary artery diseases (CAD) and with baseline LDL controlled to less than 100 mg/dL, the frequency of HF was still significantly lower in the moderate-intensity group than in the low-intensity group or the no statin group. The effect of baseline statin category on HF was independent of incident CAD events during follow-up.ConclusionsIn type 2 diabetes, moderate-intensity statins, in comparison to low-intensity or no statin, were associated with lower HF incidence independently of LDL levels or of CAD events.
Incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in Australasian intensive care units: use of a consensus-developed clinical surveillance checklist in a multisite prospective audit
Authors: Elliott Doug , Elliott Rosalind , Burrell Anthony , Harrigan Peter , Murgo Margherita , Rolls Kaye , Sibbritt David 
Published: October 2015

ObjectivesWith disagreements on diagnostic criteria for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) hampering efforts to monitor incidence and implement preventative strategies, the study objectives were to develop a checklist for clinical surveillance of VAP, and conduct an audit in Australian/New Zealand intensive care units (ICUs) using the checklist.SettingOnline survey software was used for checklist development. The prospective audit using the checklist was conducted in 10 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand.ParticipantsChecklist development was conducted with members of a bi-national professional society for critical care physicians using a modified Delphi technique and survey. A 30-day audit of adult patients mechanically ventilated for >72 h.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPresence of items on the screening checklist; physician diagnosis of VAP, clinical characteristics, investigations, treatments and patient outcome.ResultsA VAP checklist was developed with five items: decreasing gas exchange, sputum changes, chest X-ray infiltrates, inflammatory response, microbial growth. Of the 169 participants, 17% (n=29) demonstrated characteristics of VAP using the checklist. A similar proportion had an independent physician diagnosis (n=30), but in a different patient subset (only 17% of cases were identified by both methods). The VAP rate per 1000 mechanical ventilator days for the checklist and clinician diagnosis was 25.9 and 26.7, respectively. The item ‘inflammatory response’ was most associated with the first episode of physician-diagnosed VAP.ConclusionsVAP rates using the checklist and physician diagnosis were similar to ranges reported internationally and in Australia. Of note, different patients were identified with VAP by the checklist and physicians. While the checklist items may assist in identifying patients at risk of developing VAP, and demonstrates synergy with the recently developed Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, decision-making processes by physicians when diagnosing VAP requires further exploration.
The impact of brush cytology from endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on patient management at a UK teaching hospital
Authors: Sethi Rajiv , Singh Kaushiki , Warner Ben , Mahadeva Ula , Wilkinson Mark 
Published: October 2015

IntroductionPatients with suspected pancreaticobiliary cancers frequently undergo endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to obtain brush cytology for confirmatory diagnosis. The outcome of this often leads to the management of the patient and can avoid more invasive investigations. There is a wide range of sensitivities and specificities reported in the literature.AimsTo determine the accuracy of the brush cytology obtained at ERCP by performing a retrospective audit of all patients admitted to Guy's and St. Thomas’ Hospital for ERCP during 2008–2013. Also, to evaluate the impact of cytology results on patient care following ERCP.MethodData were collected from 4 January 2008 to 27 December 2013. This involved analysing EndoSoft (the in-house software for endoscopic data entry), Pathnet (the pathology database) and Electronic Patient Records.Results162 patients underwent brush cytology during ERCP. 58 patients had positive cytology. With intention-to-treat analysis, sensitivity was 54.7%, specificity was 100.0% and negative predictive value was 53.9% with a positive predictive value of 100%. Patients with a positive brush cytology result required fewer investigations compared with patients with a negative cytology result.ConclusionsOur results compare favourably with previous studies in the field. Brush cytology has been ignored in recent times due to perceived poor results and efficacy. Our audit shows that it can reduce the number of investigations required to reach a diagnosis of malignancy and so is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary malignancies. However, better guidance on preparation of samples for cytology is needed to reduce the number of insufficient samples.
Are valve clinics a sound investment for the health service? A cost-effectiveness model and an automated tool for cost estimation
Authors: Ionescu Adrian , McKenzie Charlie , Chambers John B 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundValve disease is using up an important, growing proportion of the resources allocated for healthcare. Clinical care is often suboptimal and while multidisciplinary clinics are the ‘gold standard’, their adoption has been patchy and inhomogeneous.MethodsWe hypothesised that adoption of valve clinics can deliver financial savings and set out to estimate differences in cost between a standard model in which the cardiologist sees every case and a multidisciplinary model in which some cases are devolved to sonographer-led or nurse-led clinics, assuming usage of various tests in accordance with practice at our institutions and to published data. We developed a tool that allows the modelling of limitless permutations in order to assess costs.ResultsSeeing 100 new patients in a valve clinic is more expensive than seeing them in the conventional set-up (excess cost £2700, $4252). Follow-up of both patients with native valve disease (maximal savings/100 patients—£5166, $8135) and with operated valves (maximal savings/100 patients—£5090, $8015) is cheaper in a valve clinic than in a general cardiology clinic and the savings offset the increased cost of seeing new patients in the valve clinic.ConclusionsThe costing implications of valve clinics need to be worked out carefully. Our analysis suggests that important savings in healthcare costs could be achieved by their adoption. Clarifying the economic implications of this new model of care should become one of the priorities for the ‘heart valve community’.
Prevalence of antibodies to canine parvovirus and reaction to vaccination in client‐owned, healthy dogs
Authors: Riedl M. , Truyen U. , Reese S. , Hartmann K. 
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this population‐based cohort study was to assess current prevalence of antibodies to canine parvovirus (CPV) in adult, healthy dogs, including risk factors associated with lack of antibodies, and reaction to revaccination with a modified live vaccine (MLV). One hundred dogs routinely presented for vaccination were included in the study and vaccinated with a single dose of a combined MLV. Information was collected on signalment, origin, environment, vaccination history and side effects. Prevaccination and postvaccination antibodies were detected byhaemagglutinationinhibition. Univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression, was used to investigate association between different variables and presence of antibodies as well as titre increase. Protective CPV antibodies were present in 86.0 per cent of dogs. Intervals of more than four years since the last vaccination and rare contacts with other dogs were determined as main risk factors for the absence of antibodies. An increase in titres only occurred in 17.0 per cent of dogs. Dogs without protective titres before vaccination or with bodyweight <10 kg were more likely to have an adequate titre increase. Based on these findings, antibody status should be determined instead of periodic vaccinations to ensure reliable protection without unnecessary vaccinations in adult dogs.
Views on the dialectics between seismology and palaeoseismology with examples from southern Scandinavia
Authors: Mörner Nils-Axel 
Published: October 2015

Abstract

Seismology and palaeoseismology have a mutual goal in the assessment of seismic hazards. They are both needed to make the assessments meaningful. There are, however, some dialectics between the two disciplines. The south Scandinavian situation is highlighted with respect to the questions of seismic continuity versus discontinuity, coincidence versus verification and the application of multiple parameters in palaeoseismology. It is concluded that millennial-scale seismic records are characterized by discontinuities in seismic activity. In southern Scandinavia there is a clear successive increase in the maximum earthquake moment magnitudes back in time from <4.5 today, via >6 to
c.
7 in the Late Holocene to
c.
8 to >8 during times of deglaciation. This paper presents a rather philosophical view of the dialectics and interactions between instrumental seismology and geologically based palaeoseismology. This means that it is strongly based on the author's own material in the field and his mind because it represents his own experiences over a long period of active work in palaeoseismology and neotectonics.
Seismites as indicators for Holocene seismicity in the northeastern Ejina Basin, Inner Mongolia
Authors: Rudersdorf Andreas , Hartmann Kai , Yu Kaifeng , Stauch Georg , Reicherter Klaus 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
This paper contributes to the understanding of palaeoseismology in slowly deforming regions by demonstrating the interpretation of soft-sediment deformation to be a valuable tool in identifying palaeoseismicity where the present-day seismicity is low and the geomorphology initially does not indicate active tectonics by the presence of fault scarps, surface ruptures or diverted rivers. The Ejina Basin (also known as the Gaxun Nur Basin or Juyan Lake Basin) in Inner Mongolia exhibits highly variable endorheic lakes, such as the Late Quaternary Juyanze Palaeolake. We assessed the Holocene tectonic activity of the Western Juyanze Palaeolake Basin, situated within the Ejina Basin, by identifying seismites and a previously unknown normal fault. Deformation mechanisms other than earthquakes, such as landslides or cryoturbation in permafrost, can be excluded. Far-field and near-field seismic sources are considered to have generated the soft-sediment deformation structures. As the occurrence of seismites is restricted to the Western Juyanze Palaeolake Basin and there is Pleistocene–Holocene activity on the Tienehu Fault, a near-field source is most likely.
Lax Theory Morphisms
Authors: Rabe Florian 
Published: October 2015

When relating formal languages, e.g., in logic or type theory, it is often important to establish representation theorems. These interpret one language in terms of another in a way that preserves semantic properties such as provability or typing. Metalanguages for stating representation theorems can be divided into two groups: First, computational languages are very expressive (usually Turing-complete), but verifying the representation theorems is very difficult (often prohibitively so); second, declarative languages are restricted to certain classes of representation theorems (often based on theory morphisms), for which correctness is decidable.

Neither is satisfactory, and this article contributes to the investigation of the trade-off between these two methods. Concretely, we introduce
lax
theory morphisms, which combine some of the advantages of each: they are substantially more expressive than conventional theory morphisms, but they share many of the invariants that make theory morphisms easy to work with.

Specifically, we introduce lax morphisms between theories of a dependently typed logical framework, but our approach and results carry over to most declarative metalanguages.
We demonstrate the usefulness of lax theory morphisms by stating and verifying a type erasure translation from typed to untyped first-order logic. The translation is stated as a single lax theory morphism, and the invariants of the framework guarantee its correctness. This is the first time such a complex translation has be verified in a declarative framework.
A Novel Bioavailable BH3 Mimetic Efficiently Inhibits Colon Cancer via Cascade Effects of Mitochondria
Authors: Wang Xuefeng , Zhang Chen , Yan Xiangming , Lan Bin , Wang Jianyong , Wei Chongyang , Cao Xingxin , Wang Renxiao , Yao Jianhua , Zhou Tao , Zhou Mi , Liu Qiaoling , Jiang Biao , Jiang Pengfei , Kesari Santosh , Lin Xinjian , Guo Fang 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Purpose: Gossypol and its analogs, through their ability to bind to and inactivate BH3 domain-containing antiapoptotic proteins, have been shown to inhibit the growth of various human cancer cells in culture and xenograft models. Here, we evaluated the antitumor efficacy of a novel gossypol derivative and BH3 mimetic ch282-5 (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid sodium-gossypolone) in colon cancer models. Several innovative combination strategies were also explored and elaborated.
Experimental Design: Ch282-5 was synthesized by modifying the active aldehyde groups and R groups of gossypol according to a computer-aided drug design program. The stability of ch282-5 was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and cytotoxic effects of ch282-5 on colon cancer cells were assessed by MTS assay. Activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by ch282-5 was evidenced with a series of molecular biology techniques. In vivo antitumor activity of ch282-5 and its combination with chloroquine, rapamycin, oxaliplatin, and ABT-263 was also evaluated in colon cancer xenograft models and experimental liver metastasis models.
Results: Ch282-5 showed antiproliferative and pro-cell death activity against colon cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, and the response to the drug correlated with inhibition of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, and disruption of mitophagy and mTOR pathway. Ch282-5 also suppressed liver metastasis produced by intrasplenic injection of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, ch282-5 could potentiate the effectiveness of oxaliplatin and rescue ABT-263 efficacy by downregulation of Mcl-1 and elevation of platelet number.
Conclusions: These findings provide a rational basis for clinical investigation of this highly promising BH3 mimetic in colon cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(6); 1445–58. ©2015 AACR.
RAS/MAPK Activation Is Associated with Reduced Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Therapeutic Cooperation Between MEK and PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Loi Sherene , Dushyanthen Sathana , Beavis Paul A. , Salgado Roberto , Denkert Carsten , Savas Peter , Combs Susan , Rimm David L. , Giltnane Jennifer M. , Estrada Monica V. , Sánchez Violeta , Sanders Melinda E. , Cook Rebecca S. , Pilkinton Mark A. , Mallal Simon A. , Wang Kai , Miller Vincent A. , Stephens Phil J. , Yelensky Roman , Doimi Franco D. , Gómez Henry , Ryzhov Sergey V. , Darcy Phillip K. , Arteaga Carlos L. , Balko Justin M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPurpose: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the residual disease (RD) of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) are associated with improved survival, but insight into tumor cell-autonomous molecular pathways affecting these features are lacking.Experimental Design: We analyzed TILs in the RD of clinically and molecularly characterized TNBCs after NAC and explored therapeutic strategies targeting combinations of MEK inhibitors with PD-1/PD-L1–targeted immunotherapy in mouse models of breast cancer.Results: Presence of TILs in the RD was significantly associated with improved prognosis. Genetic or transcriptomic alterations in Ras–MAPK signaling were significantly correlated with lower TILs. MEK inhibition upregulated cell surface MHC expression and PD-L1 in TNBC cells both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, combined MEK and PD-L1/PD-1 inhibition enhanced antitumor immune responses in mouse models of breast cancer.Conclusions: These data suggest the possibility that Ras–MAPK pathway activation promotes immune-evasion in TNBC, and support clinical trials combining MEK- and PD-L1–targeted therapies. Furthermore, Ras/MAPK activation and MHC expression may be predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res; 22(6); 1499–509. ©2015 AACR.