bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic, Metabolic, and Taxonomic Diversities Shape Mediterranean Fruit Fly Microbiotas during Ontogeny
Authors: Aharon Yael , Pasternak Zohar , Ben Yosef Michael , Behar Adi , Lauzon Carol , Yuval Boaz , Jurkevitch Edouard 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACTThe Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) (Ceratitis capitata) lays eggs in fruits, where larvae subsequently develop, causing large-scale agricultural damage. Within its digestive tract, the fly supports an extended bacterial community that is composed of multiple strains of a variety of enterobacterial species. Most of these bacteria appear to be functionally redundant, with most strains sustaining diazotrophy and/or pectinolysis. At least some of these bacteria were shown to be vertically inherited, but colonization, structural, and metabolic aspects of the community's dynamics have not been investigated. We used fluorescentin situhybridization, metabolic profiling, plate cultures, and pyrosequencing to show that an initial, egg-borne, diverse community expands throughout the fly's life cycle. While keeping “core” diazotrophic and pectinolytic functions, it also harbors diverse and fluctuating populations that express varied metabolic capabilities. We suggest that the metabolic and compositional plasticity of the fly's microbiota provides potential adaptive advantages to the medfly host and that its acquisition and dynamics are affected by mixed processes that include stochastic effects, host behavior, and molecular barriers.
Use of Proteomic Analysis To Elucidate the Role of Calcium in Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol Fermentation by Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
Authors: Han Bei , Ujor Victor , Lai Lien B. , Gopalan Venkat , Ezeji Thaddeus Chukwuemeka 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACTCalcium carbonate increases growth, substrate utilization, and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation byClostridium beijerinckiiNCIMB 8052. Toward an understanding of the basis for these pleiotropic effects, we profiled changes in theC. beijerinckiiNCIMB 8052 proteome that occur in response to the addition of CaCO3. We observed increases in the levels of different heat shock proteins (GrpE and DnaK), sugar transporters, and proteins involved in DNA synthesis, repair, recombination, and replication. We also noted significant decreases in the levels of proteins involved in metabolism, nucleic acid stabilization, sporulation, oxidative and antibiotic stress responses, and signal transduction. We determined that CaCO3enhances ABE fermentation due to both its buffering effects and its ability to influence key cellular processes, such as sugar transport, butanol tolerance, and solventogenesis. Moreover, activity assaysin vitrofor select solventogenic enzymes revealed that part of the underpinning for the CaCO3-mediated increase in the level of ABE fermentation stems from the enhanced activity of these catalysts in the presence of Ca2+. Collectively, these proteomic and biochemical studies provide new insights into the multifactorial basis for the stimulation of ABE fermentation and butanol tolerance in the presence of CaCO3.
Mitochondrial Porin Por1 and Its Homolog Por2 Contribute to the Positive Control of Snf1 Protein Kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Strogolova Vera , Orlova Marianna , Shevade Aishwarya , Kuchin Sergei 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACT

Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Snf1 is a member of the conserved Snf1/AMP-activated protein kinase (Snf1/AMPK) family involved in regulating responses to energy limitation, which is detected by mechanisms that include sensing adenine nucleotides. Mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) proteins, also known as mitochondrial porins, are conserved in eukaryotes from yeast to humans and play key roles in mediating mitochondrial outer membrane permeability to small metabolites, including ATP, ADP, and AMP. We previously recovered the yeast mitochondrial porin Por1 (yVDAC1) from a two-hybrid screen for Snf1-interacting proteins. Here, we present evidence that Snf1 interacts with Por1 and its homolog Por2 (yVDAC2). Cells lacking Por1 and Por2, but not respiratory-deficient
rho
0
cells lacking the mitochondrial genome, exhibit reduced Snf1 activation loop phosphorylation in response to glucose limitation. Thus, Por1 and Por2 contribute to the positive control of Snf1 protein kinase. Physical proximity to the VDAC proteins and mitochondrial surface could facilitate Snf1's ability to sense energy limitation.
Physiologic Expression of the Candida albicans Pescadillo Homolog Is Required for Virulence in a Murine Model of Hematogenously Disseminated Candidiasis
Authors: Uppuluri Priya , Chaturvedi Ashok K. , Jani Niketa , Pukkila-Worley Read , Monteagudo Carlos , Mylonakis Eleftherios , Köhler Julia R. , Lopez Ribot Jose L. 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACT

Morphogenetic conversions contribute to the pathogenesis of
Candida albicans
invasive infections. Many studies to date have convincingly demonstrated a link between filamentation and virulence; however, relatively little is known regarding the role of the filament-to-yeast transition during the pathogenesis of invasive candidiasis. We previously identified the
C. albicans
pescadillo homolog (
PES1
) as essential during yeast growth and growth of lateral yeast on hyphae but not during hyphal growth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that
PES1
is required for virulence
in vivo
in a
Galleria mellonella
larva model of candidiasis. Here, we have used a regulatable
tetO-PES1
/
pes1
strain to assess the contribution of
C. albicans
PES1
to pathogenesis in the commonly used and clinically relevant murine model of hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. Our results indicate that a physiologically controlled level of
PES1
expression is required for full virulence in this animal model, with virulence defects observed both when
PES1
is overexpressed and and when it is depleted. The pathogenetic defect of cells depleted of
PES1
is not due to a general growth defect, as demonstrated by the fact that
PES1
-depleted cells still kill
Caenorhabditis elegans
as efficiently as the wild type due to hyphal outgrowth through worm tissues. Our results suggest a critical role of lateral yeast growth in the ability of
C. albicans
to normally proliferate within tissues, as well as a pivotal role for Pes1 in the normal developmental cycle of
C. albicans
within the mammalian host during infection.
Dsc Orthologs Are Required for Hypoxia Adaptation, Triazole Drug Responses, and Fungal Virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Willger Sven D. , Cornish E. Jean , Chung Dawoon , Fleming Brittany A. , Lehmann Margaret M. , Puttikamonkul Srisombat , Cramer Robert A. 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACT

Hypoxia is an environmental stress encountered by
Aspergillus fumigatus
during invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). The ability of this mold to adapt to hypoxia is important for fungal virulence and genetically regulated in part by the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) SrbA. SrbA is required for fungal growth in the murine lung and to ultimately cause lethal disease in murine models of IPA. Here we identified and partially characterized four genes (
dscA
,
dscB
,
dscC
, and
dscD
, here referred to as
dscA-D
) with previously unknown functions in
A. fumigatus
that are orthologs of the
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
genes
dsc1
,
dsc2
,
dsc3
, and
dsc4
(
dsc1-4
), which encode a Golgi E3 ligase complex critical for SREBP activation by proteolytic cleavage.
A. fumigatus
null
dscA-D
mutants displayed remarkable defects in hypoxic growth and increased susceptibility to triazole antifungal drugs. Consistent with the confirmed role of these genes in
S. pombe
, both Δ
dscA
and Δ
dscC
resulted in reduced cleavage of the SrbA precursor protein in
A. fumigatus
. Inoculation of corticosteroid immunosuppressed mice with Δ
dscA
and Δ
dscC
strains revealed that these genes are critical for
A. fumigatus
virulence. Reintroduction of SrbA amino acids 1 to 425, encompassing the N terminus DNA binding domain, into the Δ
dscA
strain was able to partially restore virulence, further supporting a mechanistic link between DscA and SrbA function. Thus, we have shown for the first time the importance of a previously uncharacterized group of genes in
A. fumigatus
that mediate hypoxia adaptation, fungal virulence, and triazole drug susceptibility and that are likely linked to regulation of SrbA function.
Characterization of a
mazEF
Toxin-Antitoxin Homologue from Staphylococcus equorum
Authors: Schuster Christopher F. , Park Jung-Ho , Prax Marcel , Herbig Alexander , Nieselt Kay , Rosenstein Ralf , Inouye Masayori , Bertram Ralph 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACT

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems encoded in prokaryotic genomes fall into five types, typically composed of two distinct small molecules, an endotoxic protein and a
cis
-encoded antitoxin of ribonucleic or proteinaceous nature.
In silico
analysis revealed seven putative type I and three putative type II TA systems in the genome of the nonpathogenic species strain
Staphylococcus equorum
SE3. Among these, a MazEF system orthologue termed MazEF
seq
was further characterized. 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) revealed the expression and the transcriptional start site of

mazE
seq

, indicating an immediately upstream promoter. Heterologous expression of the putative toxin-encoding

mazF
seq

gene imposed growth cessation but not cell death on
Escherichia coli
.
In vivo
and
in vitro
, MazF
seq
was shown to cleave at UACAU motifs, which are remarkably abundant in a number of putative metabolic and regulatory
S. equorum
gene transcripts. Specific interaction between MazF
seq
and the putative cognate antitoxin MazE
seq
was demonstrated by bacterial two-hybrid analyses. These data strongly suggest that MazEF
seq
represents the first characterized TA system in a nonpathogenic
Staphylococcus
species and indicate that MazEF modules in staphylococci may also control processes beyond pathogenicity.
Use of Acupuncture in Hospices and Palliative Care Services in the Uk
Authors: Leng Graham 
Published: October 2012

Purpose The aim of the present work was to evaluate the availability of acupuncture in UK hospices and specialist palliative care services and to identify any barriers to the use of acupuncture in these settings, to determine the characteristics of available acupuncture services and of practitioners providing acupuncture, and to determine awareness of the evidence base for the use of acupuncture in palliative care. Methods An online questionnaire with an invitation to participate was circulated by email to 263 hospices and specialist palliative care services in the UK. Results A response rate of 54% was obtained. Acupuncture was provided by 59% of services that responded. In general, small numbers of patients receive acupuncture as part of their palliative care treatment as inpatients, day patients or outpatients. Most practitioners were regulated health professionals who had received a Western-style training in acupuncture and used a Western-style medical acupuncture approach. Where acupuncture was not available the commonest reason given was the lack of a suitable practitioner. Most agreed that if funding and a suitable practitioner were available, acupuncture would be a useful addition to their service. The level of awareness of specific types of evidence supporting the use of acupuncture in palliative care was low, but most respondents were aware that some evidence existed. Conclusions There is a need to increase training in acupuncture for healthcare professionals working in palliative care. There is also a need to raise awareness of the potential benefits to patients and the evidence base supporting the use of acupuncture in palliative care.
Health service use in adults 20–64 years with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or pelvic fracture. A cohort study with 9-year follow-up
Authors: Laursen Bjarne , Helweg-Larsen Karin 
Published: October 2012

ObjectivesTo estimate the health service use over 9 years after the injury year for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI) and pelvic fracture (PF), and compare with non-injured.DesignA register-based cohort design with a 9-year follow-up period.SettingThe Danish population.ParticipantsThe study included 434, 100 and 278 hospital-treated incident patients with TBI, SCI and PF, respectively, among 20-year-olds to 64-year-olds identified using the National Patient Register. Controls for each patient group were drawn from the population register, matched by age, sex and health service use during 1995. All were followed during 1996–2005 by linkage to national health registers. The observations were excluded when the patients left Denmark or died.Outcome measuresThe use of hospital treatments, contacts with general practitioners and the use of physiotherapy.ResultsCompared to the controls, more patients with TBI and SCI were hospital admitted all 9 years after the injury year, on average 0.36 and 0.50 times annually, respectively. For patients with PF hospital admissions returned to baseline year 2 after the injury year. For patients with SCI the use of general practitioner services remained at an increased level year 9 after the injury year, while it returned to baseline level year 4 after the injury year for patients with TBI and year 2 for patients with PF. For patients with SCI physiotherapy use remained increased over 9 years after the injury year, while it returned to baseline the fifth year for patients with TBI and the third year after for patients with PF.ConclusionsTBI and SCI increase the use of health services over 9 years after the injury year, while most health service use after PF returned to baseline 2 years after the injury year.
Evaluation of the self-inflating bag-valve-mask and non-rebreather mask as preoxygenation devices in volunteers
Authors: Robinson Amelia , Ercole Ari 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the effectiveness and tolerability of preoxygenation with the self-inflating bag-valve-mask (BVM) and non-rebreather mask (NRM) as are used before emergency anaesthesia.DesignDevice performance evaluation.SettingExperimental study.Participants12 male and 12 female healthy volunteers (age range 24–47) with no history of clinically significant respiratory disease.InterventionsEnd-expiration oxygen measurements (FEO2) after 3 min of preoxygenation with BVM (without mechanical assistance) and NRM devices. Mask pressures were measured and subjective difficulty of breathing was also assessed with a visual analogue score (VAS).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe final FEO2achieved was 58.0% (SD 7.3%) for the NRM compared to 53.1% (SD 13.4%) for the BVM (p=0.072). Preoxygenation was associated with small increases in FECO2that were greater for the BVM (0.50%; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.52) than the NRM (0.29%; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.28); this difference was statistically significant (p=0.028). Both devices were well tolerated on VAS assessment of difficulty of breathing although this was higher for the BVM than the NRM (median VAS 1.85/10 compared to 1.1/10; p=0.041). Inspiratory and expiratory mask pressures were higher for the BVM.ConclusionsIn healthy volunteers, the NRM performs comparably to the BVM in terms of the degree of denitrogenation achieved although neither performed well. Although it was well tolerated, the BVM was subjectively more difficult to breathe through and was associated with greater mask pressures and a small increase in FECO2consistent with hypoventilation or rebreathing. Our results suggest that preoxygenation with the NRM may be a preferable approach in spontaneously breathing patients.
The impact of drug eluting stents availability on the treatment choice among medical therapy, percutaneous or surgical revascularisation and on 4-year clinical outcome in patients with coronary artery disease: a cohort study
Authors: Olivari Zoran , Stritoni Paolo , Burelli Claudio , Scalia Domenico , Brocco Stefano , Fedeli Ugo , Avossa Francesco , Ferlin Dario , Reimers Bernhard , Grassi Giuseppe , Fontanelli Alessandro , Valfrè Carlo 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of the availability of drug eluting stents (DES) on treatment choice (TC) among medical therapy (MT), coronary by-pass surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and the consequent clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised because of coronary artery disease (CAD).DesignObservational study comparing two cohorts hospitalised immediately before, and 3 years after DES availability.SettingThirteen hospitals with cardiology facilities.Patients2131 consecutive patients with at least one coronary stenosis >50% at coronary angiography (CA) after exclusion of those with acute myocardial infarction or previous CABG or associated relevant valvular disease.Main outcome measuresTreatment choice after CA and 4-year clinical outcomes.ResultsTC among MT (27% vs 29.2%), PCI (58.6% vs 55.5%) and CABG (14.5% vs 15.3%) was similar in the DES and bare metal stent (BMS) periods (p = 0.51). At least one DES was implanted in 57% of patients treated with PCI in 2005. After 4 years, no difference in mortality (13.8% vs 13.2%, p = 0.72), hospital admissions for myocardial infarction (6.6% vs 5.2%, p = 0.26), stroke (2.2% vs 1.7%, p = 0.49) and further revascularisations (22.3% vs 19.7%, p = 0.25) were observed in patients enrolled in the DES and BMS periods. Only in patients with Syntax score 23–32 a significant change of TC (p = 0.0002) occurred in the DES versus BMS period: MT in 17.4% vs 31%, PCI in 62.2% vs 35.8%, CABG in 20.3% vs 33.2%, with similar 4-year combined end-point of mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction and further revascularisations (45.3% vs 34.2%, p = 0.087).ConclusionsThree years after DES availability, the TC in patients with CAD has not changed significantly as well as the 4-year incidence of death, myocardial infarction, stroke and further revascularisations. In subgroup with Syntax score 23–32, a significant increase of indications to PCI was observed in the DES period, without any improvement of the 4-year clinical outcome.
Applying the RE-AIM framework to the Alberta's Caring for Diabetes Project: a protocol for a comprehensive evaluation of primary care quality improvement interventions
Authors: Wozniak Lisa , Rees Sandra , Soprovich Allison , Al Sayah Fatima , Johnson Steven T , Majumdar Sumit R , Johnson Jeffrey A 
Published: October 2012

IntroductionDiabetes represents a major public health and health system burden. As part of the Alberta's Caring for Diabetes (ABCD) Project, two quality-improvement interventions are being piloted in four Primary Care Networks in Alberta. Gaps between health research, policy and practice have been documented and the need to evaluate the impact of public health interventions in real-world settings to inform decision-making and clinical practice is paramount. In this article, we describe the application of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the interventions beyond effectiveness.Methods and analysisTwo quality-improvement interventions were implemented, based on previously proven effective models of care and are directed at improving the physical and mental health of patients with type-2 diabetes. Our goal is to adapt and apply the RE-AIM framework, using a mixed-methods approach, to understand the impact of the interventions to inform policy and clinical decision-making. We present the proposed measures, data sources and data management and analysis strategies used to evaluate the interventions by RE-AIM dimension.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for the ABCD Project has been granted from the Health Research Ethics Board (HREB #PRO00012663) at the University of Alberta. The RE-AIM framework will be used to structure our dissemination activities by dimension.ResultsIt will be presented at relevant conferences and prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Various products, such as presentations, briefing reports and webinars, will be developed to inform key stakeholders of the findings. Presentation of findings by RE-AIM dimension will facilitate discussion regarding the public health impact of the two interventions within the primary care context of Alberta and lessons learned to be used in programme planning and care delivery for patients with type-2 diabetes. It will also promote the application of evaluation models to better assess the impact of community-based primary healthcare interventions through our dissemination activities.
Is CDX2 immunostaining useful for delineating anorectal from penile/vulvar squamous cancer in the setting of squamous cell carcinoma with clinically unknown primary site presenting with histologically confirmed inguinal lymph node metastasis?
Authors: Gunia Sven , Koch Stefan , May Matthias 
Published: October 2012

AimsPenile, vulvar and anal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) share histomorphological overlap and are prone to lymphatic dissemination into inguinal nodes. Anal SCCs might derive from the anorectal zone (ARZ), anal transitional zone, squamous zone or from perianal skin. These anatomically distinct zones differ in terms of their embryological development. We sought to investigate the role of caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2), a homeobox gene implicated in the development and anterior/posterior pattern specification from duodenum to rectum including the ARZ, in terms of narrowing the possible sites of origin to be considered in the setting of SCC with unknown primary presenting with histologically confirmed inguinal lymph node metastasis.MethodsBy immunohistochemistry (IHC) employing a panel of antibodies directed against CK5/6, CK7, CK20, p63, p16, CEA and CDX2, we compared 89 penile, 11 vulvar and eight anal SCCs with respect to their staining profiles. Moreover, anal SCCs were subjected to in situ hybridisation (ISH) for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes.ResultsBy IHC, CDX2 expression was observed in 2/8 anal SCCs (25%) while being absent from all penile and vulvar SCCs examined. High-risk HPV subtypes were detected by ISH in all anal SCCs examined, which were uniformly p16-positive by IHC.ConclusionsCDX2 might be valuable in terms of narrowing the possible sites of origin to be considered in the setting of SCC with unknown primary presenting with inguinal lymph node metastasis. However, despite its favourable specificity, the diagnostic benefit achieved by this observation is limited by the low sensitivity.
Presence of Torque teno sus virus in porcine circovirus type 2‐associated disease in Croatia
Authors: Novosel D. , Lipej Z. , Cubric‐Curik V. , Jungic A. 
Published: October 2012

Torque teno virus (TTV) is ubiquitous and species‐specific, and two different TTV species, Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) and Torque teno sus virus 2 (TTSuV2), have been described in domestic pigs and wild boars. Whether these two species are involved in clinical cases of porcine circovirus type 2‐associated disease (PCVDs) remains unknown. This study investigates the presence of TTSuV in 85 fetuses, pigs and wild boars infected by PCV2 and affected by PCVDs other than postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome. It also explores the genetic diversity of identified strains using phylogenetic analysis. The presence or absence of TTSuV was determined in 85 samples of PCV2‐containing organs from 85 infected animals using a specific, one‐step PCR method. A nucleotide distance matrix between sequences was computed to infer phylogeny based on a median‐joining (MJ) network. TTSuV2 showed high prevalence in animals affected by nephropathy and proliferative and necrotising pneumonia (PNP), and both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 showed high prevalence in wild boars affected by PMWS. TTSuV1 showed low prevalence in animals affected by nephropathy and PNP, and both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 showed low prevalence in animals with reproductive disorders. MJ network analysis revealed significant genetic diversity among Croatian isolates.