bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Detection ofoqxABin Salmonella spp. Isolated from Food
Authors: Wong Marcus Ho Yin , Chen Sheng 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTFood-borne salmonellosis is an important public health problem worldwide and the second leading cause of food-borne illnesses in Hong Kong. In this study, the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance ofSalmonellain meat products in Hong Kong were determined. Interestingly, a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) gene combination,oqxAB, which mediates resistance to nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, and olaquindox, was for the first time detectable on the chromosomes of twoSalmonella entericaserovar Derby isolates. Further surveillance ofoqxABinSalmonellawill be needed.
Posaconazole Pharmacodynamic Target Determination against Wild-Type and
Cyp51
Mutant Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus in an
In Vivo
Model of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Authors: Lepak Alexander J. , Marchillo Karen , VanHecker Jaimie , Andes David R. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a devastating disease of immunocompromised patients. Pharmacodynamic (PD) examination of antifungal drug therapy in IPA is one strategy that may improve outcomes. The current study explored the PD target of posaconazole in an immunocompromised murine model of IPA against 10
A. fumigatus
isolates, including 4
Cyp51
wild-type isolates and 6 isolates carrying
Cyp51
mutations conferring azole resistance. The posaconazole MIC range was 0.25 to 8 mg/liter. Following infection, mice were given 0.156 to 160 mg/kg of body weight of oral posaconazole daily for 7 days. Efficacy was assessed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) of lung homogenate and survival. At the start of therapy, mice had 5.59 ± 0.19 log
10
Aspergillus
conidial equivalents (CE)/ml of lung homogenate, which increased to 7.11 ± 0.29 log
10
CE/ml of lung homogenate in untreated animals. The infection was uniformly lethal prior to the study endpoint in control mice. A Hill-type dose response function was used to model the relationship between posaconazole free drug area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)/MIC and qPCR lung burden. The static dose range was 1.09 to 51.9 mg/kg/24 h. The free drug AUC/MIC PD target was 1.09 ± 0.63 for the group of strains. The 1-log kill free drug AUC/MIC was 2.07 ± 1.02. The PD target was not significantly different for the wild-type and mutant organism groups. Mortality mirrored qPCR results, with the greatest improvement in survival noted at the same dosing regimens that produced static or cidal activity. Consideration of human pharmacokinetic data and the current static dose PD target would predict a clinical MIC threshold of 0.25 to 0.5 mg/liter.
Azole Susceptibility and Transcriptome Profiling in Candida albicans Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complex I Mutants
Authors: Sun Nuo , Fonzi William , Chen Hui , She Xiaodong , Zhang Lulu , Zhang Lixin , Calderone Richard 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Mitochondrial dysfunction in pathogenic fungi or model yeast causes altered susceptibilities to antifungal drugs. Here we have characterized the role of mitochondrial complex I (CI) of
Candida albicans
in antifungal susceptibility. Inhibitors of CI to CV, except for CII, increased the susceptibility of both patient and lab isolates, even those with a resistance phenotype. In addition, in a
C. albicans
library of 12 CI null mutants, 10 displayed hypersusceptibility to fluconazole and were severely growth inhibited on glycerol, implying a role for each gene in cell respiration. We chose two other hypersusceptible null mutants of
C. albicans
, the
goa1
Δ and
ndh51
Δ mutants, for transcriptional profiling by RNA-Seq. Goa1p is required for CI activity, while Ndh51p is a CI subunit. RNA-Seq revealed that both the
ndh51
Δ mutant and especially the
goa1
Δ mutant had significant downregulation of transporter genes, including
CDR1
and
CDR2
, which encode efflux proteins. In the
goa1
Δ mutant, we noted the downregulation of genes required for the biogenesis and replication of peroxisomes, as well as metabolic pathways assigned to peroxisomes such as β-oxidation of fatty acids, glyoxylate bypass, and acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) transferases that are known to shuttle acetyl-CoA between peroxisomes and mitochondria. The transcriptome profile of the
ndh51
Δ mutant did not include downregulation of peroxisome genes but had, instead, extensive downregulation of the ergosterol synthesis gene family. Our data establish that cell energy is required for azole susceptibility and that downregulation of efflux genes may be an outcome of that dysfunction. However, there are mutant-specific changes that may also increase the susceptibility of both of these
C. albicans
mutants to azoles.
Efficacy of Liposomal Bismuth-Ethanedithiol-Loaded Tobramycin after Intratracheal Administration in Rats with Pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection
Authors: Alhariri Moayad , Omri Abdelwahab 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

We sought to investigate alterations in quorum-sensing signal molecule
N
-acyl homoserine lactone secretion and in the release of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
virulence factors, as well as the
in vivo
antimicrobial activity of bismuth-ethanedithiol incorporated into a liposome-loaded tobramycin formulation (LipoBiEDT-TOB) administered to rats chronically infected with
P. aeruginosa
. The quorum-sensing signal molecule
N
-acyl homoserine lactone was monitored by using a biosensor organism.
P. aeruginosa
virulence factors were assessed spectrophotometrically. An agar beads model of chronic
Pseudomonas
lung infection in rats was used to evaluate the efficacy of the liposomal formulation in the reduction of bacterial count. The levels of active tobramycin in the lungs and the kidneys were evaluated by microbiological assay. LipoBiEDT-TOB was effective in disrupting both quorum-sensing signal molecules
N
-3-oxo-dodeccanoylhomoserine lactone and
N
-butanoylhomoserine lactone, as well as significantly (
P
< 0.05) reducing lipase, chitinase, and protease production. At 24 h after 3 treatments, the CFU counts in lungs of animals treated with LipoBiEDT-TOB were of 3 log
10
CFU/lung, comparated to 7.4 and 4.7 log
10
CFU/lung, respectively, in untreated lungs and in lungs treated with free antibiotic. The antibiotic concentration after the last dose of LipoBiEDT-TOB was 25.1 μg/lung, while no tobramycin was detected in the kidneys. As for the free antibiotic, we found 6.5 μg/kidney but could not detect any tobramycin in the lungs. Taken together, LipoBiEDT-TOB reduced the production of quorum-sensing molecules and virulence factors and could highly improve the management of chronic pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis patients.
Emergence and Spread of Plasmid-Borne
tet
(B)::IS
CR2
in Minocycline-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates
Authors: Vilacoba Elisabet , Almuzara Marisa , Gulone Lucia , Traglia German Matías , Figueroa Silvia A. , Sly Gabriela , Fernández Analia , Centrón Daniela , Ramírez María Soledad 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT

Resistance to minocycline has emerged in multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates from Buenos Aires hospitals. Few reports about the description and dispersion of
tet
genes in this species have been published. We observed the presence of
tet
(B) in all minocycline-resistant isolates. This gene was found to be associated with the IS
CR2
mobile element, which may, in part, explain its dispersion.
Cloning and Characterization of Rainbow Trout Interleukin-17A/F2 (IL-17A/F2) and IL-17 Receptor A: Expression during Infection and Bioactivity of Recombinant IL-17A/F2
Authors: Monte Milena M. , Wang Tiehui , Holland Jason W. , Zou Jun , Secombes Christopher J. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTLower vertebrates have been found to possess genes that have similar homology to both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, which have been termed IL-17A/F. In fish species, several of these genes can be present, but, to date, very little is known about their functional activity. This article describes the discovery and sequence analysis of a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) IL-17A/F2 molecule and an IL-17RA receptor. In addition, the bioactivity of the trout IL-17A/F2 is investigated for the first time in any species. The predicted IL-17A/F2 and IL-17RA proteins consist of 146 and 966 amino acids (aa), respectively, with both molecules containing conserved family motifs. Expression analysis revealed high constitutive expression of trout IL-17A/F2 in mucosal tissues from healthy fish, suggesting a potential role in mucosal immunity. When the modulation of IL-17A/F2 and IL-17RAin vitrowas analyzed, it was observed that the two molecules were similarly affected. The expression of IL-17A/F2 was also induced in head kidney during bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections, revealing a possible function in defense against such pathogens. However, downregulation of IL-17RA was seen in some tissues and infections. The recombinant IL-17A/F2 protein was produced inEscherichia coliand was found to affect the expression of an antimicrobial peptide and the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in splenocytes. Consistent with mammalian IL-17 homologues, our expression and bioactivity results imply that trout IL-17A/F2 plays an important role in promoting inflammatory and host innate immune responses directed against different pathogen groups.
Assessing the limitations of the existing physician directory for measuring electronic health record (EHR) adoption rates among physicians in Connecticut, USA: cross-sectional study
Authors: Tikoo Minakshi 
Published: November 2012

ObjectiveTo assess the limitations of the existing physician directory in measuring electronic health record adoption rates among a cohort of Connecticut physicians.DesignA population-based mailing assessed the number of physicians practising in Connecticut.MeasurementsInformation about practice site, practises pertaining to storing of patient information, sources of revenue and preferred method for receiving survey. Practice status in Connecticut, measured by yes and no. Demographic information was collected on gender, year of birth, race and ethnicity.ResultsThe response rate for the postcard mailing was 19% (3105/16 462). Of the 16 462 unduplicated consumers, 233 (1%) were retired and 5828 (35%) did not practise in Connecticut. Of the 3105 valid postcard responses we received, 2159 were for physicians practising in Connecticut. Nine (0.4%) of these responses did not specify a preferred method for receiving the full physician survey; 91 physicians refused to participate in the survey; 2159 surveys were sent out using each physician's requested method for receiving the survey, that is, web-based, regular mail or telephone. As of August 2012, 898 physicians had returned surveys, resulting in a response rate of 42%.LimitationsThe postcard response rate based on the unduplicated lists adjusted for exclusions, such as death, retired and do not practise in Connecticut, is 30%, which is low. We may be missing physicians’ population which could greatly affect the indicators being used to measure change in electronic health record adoption rates.ConclusionsIt is difficult to obtain an accurate physician count of practising physicians in Connecticut from the existing lists. States that are participating in the projects funded under various Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) initiatives must focus on getting an accurate count of the physicians practising in their state, since their progress is being measured based on this key number.
Could screening participation bias symptom interpretation? An interview study on women's interpretations of and responses to cancer symptoms between mammography screening rounds
Authors: Solbjør Marit , Skolbekken John-Arne , Sætnan Ann Rudinow , Hagen Anne Irene , Forsmo Siri 
Published: November 2012

ObjectivesTo explore how women with negative mammography screening results, but who were later diagnosed with interval breast cancer, reacted when they observed breast symptoms that could indicate malignancy in-between screening rounds.DesignSemistructured individual interviews with women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer during mammography screening intervals.SettingTwo breast diagnostic units covering two counties in Norway.Participants26 women diagnosed with interval breast cancer.ResultsWomen with a screening negative result react in two ways when experiencing a possible symptom of breast cancer. Among 24 women with a self-detected palpable lesion, 14 sought medical advice immediately. Their argument was to dispose of potential cancer as soon as possible. Ten women delayed seeking medical advice, explaining their delay as a result of practical difficulties such as holidays, uncertainty about the symptom, and previous experiences of healthcare services’ ability to handle diffuse symptoms. Also, a recent negative mammography scan led some women to assume that the palpable lesion was benign and wait for the next screening round.ConclusionsParticipating in mammography screening may contribute to a postponed reaction to breast cancer symptoms, although most women acted rapidly when detecting a palpable breast lesion. Furthermore, screening participation does not necessarily increase awareness of breast cancer symptoms.
General practitioner experience and perception of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) care pathways: a multimethod research study
Authors: Hinrichs Saba , Owens Matthew , Dunn Valerie , Goodyer Ian 
Published: November 2012

ObjectivesThis is a pilot study with the objective of investigating general practitioner (GP) perceptions and experiences in the referral of mentally ill and behaviourally disturbed children and adolescents.DesignQuantitative analyses on patient databases were used to ascertain the source of referrals into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and identify the relative contribution from GP practices. Qualitative semistructured interviews were then used to explore challenges faced by GPs in referring to CAMHS.SettingGPs were chosen from the five localities that deliver CAMHS within the local Trust (Peterborough City, Fenland, Huntingdon, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire).ParticipantsFor the quantitative portion, data involving 19 466 separate referrals were used. Seven GPs took part in the qualitative interviews.ResultsThe likelihood of a referral from GPs being rejected by CAMHS was over three times higher compared to all other referral sources combined within the Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Interviews showed that detecting the signs and symptoms of mental illness in young people is a challenge for GPs. Communication with referral agencies varies and depends on individual relationships. GPs determine whether to refer on a mixture of the presenting conditions and their perceived likelihood of acceptance by CAMHS; the criteria for the latter were poorly understood by the interviewed GPs.ConclusionsThere are longstanding structural weaknesses in the services for children and young people in general, reflected in poor multiagency cooperation at the primary care level. GP-friendly guidelines and standards are required that will aid in decision-making and help with understanding the referrals process. We look to managers of both commissioning and providing organisations, as well as future research, to drive forward the development of tools, protocols, and health service structures to help aid the recognition and treatment of mental illness in young people.
An exploratory study on the consequences and contextual factors of intimate partner violence among immigrant and Canadian-born women
Authors: Du Mont Janice , Forte Tonia 
Published: November 2012

ObjectiveTo compare immigrant and Canadian-born women on the physical and psychological consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV), as well as examine important sociodemographic, health and social support and network factors that may shape their experiences of abuse.MethodNational, population-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in 2009.Participants6859 women reported contact with a current or former partner in the previous 5 years, of whom 1480 reported having experienced emotional, financial, physical and/or sexual IPV. Of these women, 218 (15%) were immigrants and 1262 (85%) were Canadian-born.ResultsImmigrant women were less likely than Canadian-born women to report having experienced emotional abuse (15.3% vs 18.2%, p=0.04) and physical and/or sexual violence (5.1% vs 6.9%, p=0.04) from a current or former partner. There were no differences between immigrant and Canadian-born women in the physical and psychological consequences of physical and/or sexual IPV. However, compared with Canadian-born women, immigrant women reported lower levels of trust towards their neighbours (50.7% vs 41.5%, p=0.04) and people they work or go to school with (38.6% vs 27.5%, p=0.02), and were more likely to report having experienced discrimination based on ethnicity or culture (18.8% vs 6.8%, p<0.0001), race or skin colour (p=0.003) and language (10.1% vs 3.2%, p<0.0001). Immigrant women were less likely than Canadian-born women to report activity limitations (p=0.01) and medication use for sleep problems (14.1% vs 20.6%, p=0.05) and depression (11.5% vs 17.6%, p=0.05).ConclusionsOur exploratory study revealed no differences between immigrant and Canadian-born women in the physical and psychological consequences of IPV. Abused immigrant women's lower levels of trust for certain individuals and experiences of discrimination may have important implications for seeking help for IPV and underscores the need for IPV-related intervention and prevention services that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
The setting up and running of a cross-county out-of-hours gastrointestinal bleed service: a possible blueprint for the future
Authors: Shokouhi Bahman N , Khan Mohammad , Carter Martyn J , Khan Nasser Q , Mills Philip , Morris Danielle , Rowlands David E , Samsheer Kote , Sargeant Ian R , McIntyre Peter B , Greenfield Simon M 
Published: November 2012

ObjectiveAcute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) results in 25 000 hospital admissions annually. Patients admitted at weekends with AUGIB have increased mortality, and guidelines advise out-of-hours endoscopy. We present retrospective data from our service involving the interhospital transfer of patients.DesignWe pooled resources of two neighbouring general hospitals, just north of London. Emergency endoscopy is performed at the start of the list followed by elective endoscopy in the endoscopy unit on Saturday and Sunday mornings. From Friday evening to Sunday morning, patients admitted to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (QEII) are medically stabilised and transferred to Lister Hospital by ambulance.Results240 endoscopies were performed out of hours from December 2007 to March 2011. Of these, 54 patients were transferred: nine had emergency endoscopy at QEII as they were medically unstable; eight of the patients transferred required therapeutic intervention for active bleeding. The mean pre-endoscopy Rockall score of those transferred was 2.5. We examined the records of 51 of the 54 patients transferred. There were three deaths within 30 days after endoscopy not associated with the transfer process. 19 (37%) patients had reduced hospitalisation after having their endoscopy at the weekend.ConclusionsThe introduction of the out-of-hours endoscopy service in our trust has had multiple benefits, including patients consistently receiving timely emergency endoscopy, significantly reduced disruption to emergency operating theatres, and participation of endoscopy nurses ensures a better and safer experience for patients, and better endoscopy decontamination. We suggest our model is safe and feasible for other small units wishing to set up their own out-of-hours endoscopy service to adopt.
Fixed-point definability and polynomial time on graphs with excluded minors
Authors: Grohe Martin 
Published: November 2012

We give a logical characterization of the polynomial-time properties of graphs embeddable in some surface. For every surfaceS, a property P of graphs embeddable inSis decidable in polynomial time if and only if it is definable in fixed-point logic with counting. It is a consequence of this result that for every surfaceSthere is aksuch that a simple combinatorial algorithm, namely “thek-dimensional Weisfeiler-Lehman algorithm”, decides isomorphism of graphs embeddable inSin polynomial time.We also present (without proof) generalizations of these results to arbitrary classes of graphs with excluded minors.
Age, Sex, and Hypertension-Related Remodeling Influences Left Ventricular Torsion Assessed by Tagged Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Asymptomatic Individuals
Authors: Yoneyama Kihei , Gjesdal Ola , Choi Eui-Young , Wu Colin O. , Hundley W. Gregory , Gomes Antoinette S. , Liu Chia-Ying , McClelland Robyn L. , Bluemke David A. , Lima Joao A.C. 
Published: November 2012

Background—
The aim of the present study was to evaluate how torsion is influenced by left ventricular (LV) remodeling associated with age, sex, and hypertension in a large community-based population.

Methods and Results—

Myocardial shortening and torsion were assessed by tagged cardiac magnetic resonance in 1478 participants without clinically apparent cardiovascular disease in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Torsion was defined as the difference between apical and basal rotation divided by slice distance. In multivariable linear regression models, older age was associated with lower stroke volume (−3.6 mL per decade;
P
<0.001) and higher LV mass-to-volume ratio (0.03 g/mL per decade;
P
<0.001), along with lower circumferential shortening (−0.17% per decade;
P
<0.05). Torsion, however, was greater at older ages (0.14° per decade;
P
<0.001) and in women (0.37°/cm versus men;
P
<0.001). Hypertensive participants had higher LV mass and LV mass-to-volume ratio (15.5 g and 0.07 g/mL, respectively;
P
<0.001 for both). Circumferential shortening was lower in hypertensive (−0.42%;
P
<0.01), whereas torsion was higher after adjustment for age and sex (0.17°/cm;
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—
Older age is associated with lower LV volumes and greater relative wall thickness and is accompanied by lower circumferential myocardial shortening, whereas torsion is greater with older age. Hypertensive individuals have greater LV volumes and relative wall thickness and lower circumferential shortening. Torsion, however, is greater in hypertension independently of age and sex. Torsion may therefore represent a compensatory mechanism to maintain an adequate stroke volume and cardiac output in the face of the progressively reduced LV volumes and myocardial shortening associated with hypertension and aging.