bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Specificity between Lactobacilli and Hymenopteran Hosts Is the Exception Rather than the Rule
Authors: McFrederick Quinn S. , Cannone Jamie J. , Gutell Robin R. , Kellner Katrin , Plowes Robert M. , Mueller Ulrich G. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT

Lactobacilli (
Lactobacillales
:
Lactobacillaceae
) are well known for their roles in food fermentation, as probiotics, and in human health, but they can also be dominant members of the microbiota of some species of Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). Honey bees and bumble bees associate with host-specific lactobacilli, and some evidence suggests that these lactobacilli are important for bee health. Social transmission helps maintain associations between these bees and their respective microbiota. To determine whether lactobacilli associated with social hymenopteran hosts are generally host specific, we gathered publicly available
Lactobacillus
16S rRNA gene sequences, along with
Lactobacillus
sequences from 454 pyrosequencing surveys of six other hymenopteran species (three sweat bees and three ants). We determined the comparative secondary structural models of 16S rRNA, which allowed us to accurately align the entire 16S rRNA gene, including fast-evolving regions. BLAST searches and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstructions confirmed that honey and bumble bees have host-specific
Lactobacillus
associates. Regardless of colony size or within-colony oral sharing of food (trophallaxis), sweat bees and ants associate with lactobacilli that are closely related to those found in vertebrate hosts or in diverse environments. Why honey and bumble bees associate with host-specific lactobacilli while other social Hymenoptera do not remains an open question. Lactobacilli are known to inhibit the growth of other microbes and can be beneficial whether they are coevolved with their host or are recruited by the host from environmental sources through mechanisms of partner choice.
Characterization of the MSMEG_2631 Gene (
mmp
) Encoding a Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion (MATE) Family Protein in Mycobacterium smegmatis and Exploration of Its Polyspecific Nature Using Biolog Phenotype MicroArray
Authors: Mishra Mukti Nath , Daniels Lacy 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT

In
Mycobacterium
, multidrug efflux pumps can be associated with intrinsic drug resistance. Comparison of putative mycobacterial transport genes revealed a single annotated open reading frame (ORF) for a multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family efflux pump in all sequenced mycobacteria except
Mycobacterium leprae
. Since MATE efflux pumps function as multidrug efflux pumps by conferring resistance to structurally diverse antibiotics and DNA-damaging chemicals, we studied this gene (MSMEG_2631) in
M. smegmatis
mc
2
155 and determined that it encodes a MATE efflux system that contributes to intrinsic resistance of
Mycobacterium
. We propose that the MSMEG_2631 gene be named
mmp
, for
m
ycobacterial
M
ATE
p
rotein. Biolog Phenotype MicroArray data indicated that
mmp
deletion increased susceptibility for phleomycin, bleomycin, capreomycin, amikacin, kanamycin, cetylpyridinium chloride, and several sulfa drugs. MSMEG_2619 (
efpA
) and MSMEG_3563 mask the effect of
mmp
deletion due to overlapping efflux capabilities. We present evidence that
mmp
is a part of an MSMEG_2626-2628-2629-2630-2631 operon regulated by a strong constitutive promoter, initiated from a single transcription start site. All together, our results show that
M. smegmatis
constitutively encodes an Na
+
-dependent MATE multidrug efflux pump from
mmp
in an operon with putative genes encoding proteins for apparently unrelated functions.
Regulatory Twist and Synergistic Role of Metabolic Coinducer- and Response Regulator-Mediated CbbR-

cbb
I

Interactions in Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA010
Authors: Joshi Gauri S. , Zianni Michael , Bobst Cedric E. , Tabita F. Robert 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT

Rhodopseudomonas palustris
assimilates CO
2
by the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) reductive pentose phosphate pathway. Most genes required for a functional CBB pathway are clustered into the

cbb
I

and cbb
II

operons, with the

cbb
I

operon subject to control by a LysR transcriptional activator, CbbR, encoded by
cbbR
, which is divergently transcribed from the
cbbLS
genes (encoding form I RubisCO) of the

cbb
I

operon. Juxtaposed between the genes encoding CbbR and CbbLS are genes that encode a three-protein two-component system (CbbRRS system) that functions to modify the ability of CbbR to regulate
cbbLS
expression. Previous studies indicated that the response regulators, as well as various coinducers (effectors), specifically influence CbbR-promoter interactions. In the current study, it was shown via several experimental approaches that the response regulators and coinducers act synergistically on CbbR to influence
cbbLS
transcription. Synergistic effects on the formation of specific CbbR-DNA complexes were quantified using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) procedures. Gel mobility shift and DNA footprint analyses further indicated structural changes in the DNA arising from the presence of response regulators and coinducer molecules binding to CbbR. Based on previous studies, and especially emphasized by the current investigation, it is clear that protein complexes influence promoter activity and the
cbbLS
transcription machinery.
A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Undergoing Moxibustion
Authors: Son Haeng-Mi , Kim Duck Hee , Kim Eunjeong , Jung So-Young , Kim Ae-Ran , Kim Tae-Hun 
Published: January 2013

Objective To explore and understand how patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) experience moxibustion. Method This qualitative research was conducted as part of a larger clinical trial of the effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of knee OA by qualitative content analysis. Sixteen patients with mild knee OA who participated in a 12-week moxibustion treatment as part of the trial were interviewed using open-ended questions. Results The participants recognised knee OA as a normal ageing process that caused physical and emotional discomfort in daily life. Regardless of any adverse effects of moxibustion, most of the participants were interested in continuous moxibustion treatment as a long-term management strategy and for general health. Conclusions This study suggests that moxibustion can be helpful in managing symptoms related to knee OA. Patients’ attitudes towards moxibustion can affect the treatment result and those who prefer it want to continue the treatment for a long time because they understand that knee OA is a chronic condition which needs continuous care. However, practitioners need to pay more attention to those who are very enthusiastic because they tend to endure treatment-related adverse events in their desire for better effects.
The impact of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake on hospitalisation for respiratory disease in a rapidly aging society: a retrospective descriptive and cross-sectional study at the disaster base hospital in Ishinomaki
Authors: Yamanda Shinsuke , Hanagama Masakazu , Kobayashi Seiichi , Satou Hikari , Tokuda Shinsaku , Niu Kaijun , Yanai Masaru 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact in an aging society of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake on hospitalisation for respiratory disease at the disaster base hospital.DesignDescriptive and cross-sectional study.SettingEmergency care in Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, a regional disaster base hospital in Miyagi, Japan.Participants322 emergency patients who were hospitalised for respiratory disease from 11 March to 9 May 2011, and 99 and 105 emergency patients who were hospitalised in the corresponding periods in 2009 and 2010, respectively.Main outcome measuresDescription and comparison of patient characteristics and disease distribution in terms of age, time after the disaster and activities of daily living (ADL).Results1769 patients were admitted to our hospital during the study period (compared to 850 in 2009 and 1030 in 2010), among whom 322 were hospitalised for respiratory disease (compared to 99 in 2009 and 105 in 2010). Pneumonia (n=190, 59.0%) was the most frequent cause of admission for pulmonary disease, followed by acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) (n=53, 16.5%), asthma attacks (n=27, 8.4%) and progression of lung cancer (n=22, 6.8%). Compared with the corresponding periods in 2009 and 2010, the increase in the absolute numbers of admissions was highest for pneumonia, followed by AE-COPD and asthma attacks. At hospitalisation, 195 patients were ‘dependent’ and 54 patients were ‘partially dependent’. Respiratory admissions accompanied by deterioration of ADL after the disaster were more frequent in elderly and female patients.ConclusionsAfter the Great East Japan Earthquake, admissions for pneumonia and exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease in the elderly increased at the disaster base hospital.
Chronic health problems and health-related quality of life in Chinese children and adolescents: a population-based study in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee S L , Cheung Y F , Wong H S W , Leung T H , Lam T H , Lau Y L 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveWe examined the association of different chronic physical and mental conditions, individually or comorbidly on health-related quality of life (QoL) in Chinese children aged ≤14 years in Hong Kong.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional survey.ParticipantsApproximately 7500 Chinese children aged <14 years in Hong Kong.InterventionsNil.Primary and secondary outcome measuresVarious health concepts of validated Chinese version of Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ), a health-related QoL questionnaire in children.ResultThere was significant association of physical and mental health conditions, either individually or comorbidly, on the various concepts of CHQ. Children with mental health problems were apparently more affected than those with physical health problems. Chronic renal disease and congenital malformation were the physical health conditions associated with the lowest scores in CHQ concepts in children aged 5–10 years and aged 10–14 years, respectively. Behavioural problem was the mental health condition associated with the lowest score in CHQ concepts in both age groups.ConclusionsOur study shows important information concerning the prevalence of different health conditions and its association, either individually or comorbidly on the QoL in a representative sample of Chinese children in HK.
Characteristics of people with low health literacy on coronary heart disease GP registers in South London: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Rowlands Gillian P , Mehay Anita , Hampshire Sally , Phillips Rachel , Williams Paul , Mann Anthony , Steptoe Andrew , Walters Paul , Tylee Andre T 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveTo explore characteristics associated with, and prevalence of, low health literacy in patients recruited to investigate the role of depression in patients on General Practice (GP) Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) registers (the Up-Beat UK study).DesignCross-sectional cohort. The health literacy measure was the Rapid Estimate of Health Literacy in Medicine (REALM). Univariable analyses identified characteristics associated with low health literacy and compared health service use between health literacy statuses. Those variables where there was a statistically significant/borderline significant difference between health literacy statuses were entered into a multivariable model.Setting16 General Practices in South London, UK.ParticipantsInclusion: patients >18 years, registered with a GP and on a GP CHD register. Exclusion: patients temporarily registered.Primary outcome measureREALM.ResultsOf the 803 Up-Beat cohort participants, 687 (85.55%) completed the REALM of whom 106 (15.43%) had low health literacy. Twenty-eight participants could not be included in the multivariable analysis due to missing predictor variable data, leaving a sample of 659. The variables remaining in the final model were age, gender, ethnicity, Indices of Multiple Deprivation score, years of education, employment; body mass index and alcohol intake, and anxiety scores (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Univariable analysis also showed that people with low health literacy may have more, and longer, practice nurse consultations than people with adequate health literacy.ConclusionsThere is a disadvantaged group of people on GP CHD registers with low health literacy. The multivariable model showed that patients with low health literacy have significantly higher anxiety levels than people with adequate health literacy. In addition, the univariable analyses show that such patients have more, and longer, consultations with practice nurses. We will collect 4-year longitudinal cohort data to explore the impact of health literacy in people on GP CHD registers and the impact of health literacy on health service use.
A systematic review of evidence on the links between patient experience and clinical safety and effectiveness
Authors: Doyle Cathal , Lennox Laura , Bell Derek 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveTo explore evidence on the links between patient experience and clinical safety and effectiveness outcomes.DesignSystematic review.SettingA wide range of settings within primary and secondary care including hospitals and primary care centres.ParticipantsA wide range of demographic groups and age groups.Primary and secondary outcome measuresA broad range of patient safety and clinical effectiveness outcomes including mortality, physical symptoms, length of stay and adherence to treatment.ResultsThis study, summarising evidence from 55 studies, indicates consistent positive associations between patient experience, patient safety and clinical effectiveness for a wide range of disease areas, settings, outcome measures and study designs. It demonstrates positive associations between patient experience and self-rated and objectively measured health outcomes; adherence to recommended clinical practice and medication; preventive care (such as health-promoting behaviour, use of screening services and immunisation); and resource use (such as hospitalisation, length of stay and primary-care visits). There is some evidence of positive associations between patient experience and measures of the technical quality of care and adverse events. Overall, it was more common to find positive associations between patient experience and patient safety and clinical effectiveness than no associations.ConclusionsThe data presented display that patient experience is positively associated with clinical effectiveness and patient safety, and support the case for the inclusion of patient experience as one of the central pillars of quality in healthcare. It supports the argument that the three dimensions of quality should be looked at as a group and not in isolation. Clinicians should resist sidelining patient experience as too subjective or mood-oriented, divorced from the ‘real’ clinical work of measuring safety and effectiveness.
Identifying geographical regions serviced by hospitals to assess laboratory-based outcomes
Authors: Gandhi Sonja , Shariff Salimah Z , Beyea Michael M , Weir Matthew A , Hands Theresa , Kearns Glen , Garg Amit X 
Published: January 2013

ObjectiveTo define geographical regions (forward sortation areas; FSAs) in Southwestern Ontario, Canada from which patients would reliably present to a hospital with linked laboratory data if they developed adverse events related to medications dispensed in outpatient pharmacies.DesignDescriptive research.SettingForty-five hospitals in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, from 2003 to 2009.ParticipantsPatients aged 66 years and older who received an outpatient prescription for any drug and presented to the emergency department in the subsequent 120 days.Main outcome measureThe proportion of patients in a given FSA presenting to an emergency department at a hospital with linked laboratory data versus a hospital without linked laboratory data. To be included in the catchment area at least 90% of emergency department visits in an FSA must have occurred at laboratory-linked hospitals in a given year.ResultsOver the study period, there were 649 713 emergency department visits by patients with recent prescription claims from pharmacies in 1 of 118 FSAs. In total, 141 302 of these patients presented to an emergency department at a laboratory-linked hospital. For the year 2003, 12 FSAs met our criteria to be in the catchment area and this number grew to 25 FSAs by the year 2009.ConclusionsThe relevant geographical regions for hospitals with linked laboratory data have been successfully identified. Studies can now be conducted using these well-defined areas to obtain reliable information on the incidence and absolute risk of presenting to hospital with laboratory abnormalities in older adults dispensed commonly prescribed medications in outpatient pharmacies.
Interprofessional education in team communication: working together to improve patient safety
Authors: Brock Douglas , Abu-Rish Erin , Chiu Chia-Ru , Hammer Dana , Wilson Sharon , Vorvick Linda , Blondon Katherine , Schaad Douglas , Liner Debra , Zierler Brenda 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundCommunication failures in healthcare teams are associated with medical errors and negative health outcomes. These findings have increased emphasis on training future health professionals to work effectively within teams. The Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) communication training model, widely employed to train healthcare teams, has been less commonly used to train student interprofessional teams. The present study reports the effectiveness of a simulation-based interprofessional TeamSTEPPS training in impacting student attitudes, knowledge and skills around interprofessional communication.MethodsThree hundred and six fourth-year medical, third-year nursing, second-year pharmacy and second-year physician assistant students took part in a 4 h training that included a 1 h TeamSTEPPS didactic session and   three 1 h team simulation and feedback sessions. Students worked in groups balanced by a professional programme in a self-selected focal area (adult acute, paediatric, obstetrics). Preassessments and postassessments were used for examining attitudes, beliefs and reported opportunities to observe or participate in team communication behaviours.ResultsOne hundred and forty-nine students (48.7%) completed the preassessments and postassessments. Significant differences were found for attitudes toward team communication (p<0.001), motivation (p<0.001), utility of training (p<0.001) and self-efficacy (p=0.005). Significant attitudinal shifts for TeamSTEPPS skills included, team structure (p=0.002), situation monitoring (p<0.001), mutual support (p=0.003) and communication (p=0.002). Significant shifts were reported for knowledge of TeamSTEPPS (p<0.001), advocating for patients (p<0.001) and communicating in interprofessional teams (p<0.001).ConclusionsEffective team communication is important in patient safety. We demonstrate positive attitudinal and knowledge effects in a large-scale interprofessional TeamSTEPPS-based training involving four student professions.
Use of a structured palliative care summary in patients with established cancer is associated with reduced hospital admissions by out-of-hours general practitioners in Grampian
Authors: Ali Asia Andeleeb , Adam Rosalind , Taylor David , Murchie Peter 
Published: January 2013

ObjectivesPalliative care summaries are used by general practices to provide structured anticipatory care information to those providing care during the out-of-hours period. We hypothesised that the availability of a palliative care summary for individuals with established cancer would influence emergency hospital admission during the out-of-hours period.MethodsEach consultation with Grampian Medical Emergency Department (GMED) is recorded on the ADASTRA software system and the nature of the consultation is Read coded. We retrospectively reviewed consultations between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 which had been coded as ‘neoplasm’ or ‘terminal care’. The availability of a palliative care summary on ADASTRA and admission status were recorded. χ2Test of association was performed. Binary logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis exploring the effect of a palliative care summary on admission, while adjusting for important confounders.Results401 patients with established cancer were identified who had presented to GMED in 2011. 35.7% had a palliative care summary available on ADASTRA. Of the 401 contacts, 100 patients were admitted to hospital. Not having a palliative care summary made admission significantly more likely; χ2=12.480, p=0.001. (OR 2.425, 95% CI 1.412 to 4.165).ConclusionsAvailability of a structured palliative care plan can aid decision making in the out-of-hours period and prevent unplanned hospital admissions.
Specific Elimination of CD133+ Tumor Cells with Targeted Oncolytic Measles Virus
Authors: Bach Patricia , Abel Tobias , Hoffmann Christopher , Gal Zoltan , Braun Gundula , Voelker Iris , Ball Claudia R. , Johnston Ian C.D. , Lauer Ulrich M. , Herold-Mende Christel , Mühlebach Michael D. , Glimm Hanno , Buchholz Christian J. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractTumor-initiating cells (TIC) are critical yet evasive targets for the development of more effective antitumoral strategies. The cell surface marker CD133 is frequently used to identify TICs of various tumor entities, including hepatocellular cancer and glioblastoma. Here, we describe oncolytic measles viruses (MV) retargeted to CD133. The viruses, termed MV-141.7 and MV-AC133, infected and selectively lysed CD133+ tumor cells. Both viruses exerted strong antitumoral effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma growing subcutaneously or multifocally in the peritoneal cavity of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. Notably, the CD133-targeted viruses were more effective in prolonging survival than the parental MV-NSe, which is currently assessed as oncolytic agent in clinical trials. Interestingly, target receptor overexpression or increased spreading kinetics through tumor cells were excluded as being causative for the enhanced oncolytic activity of CD133-targeted viruses. MV-141.7 was also effective in mouse models of orthotopic glioma tumor spheres and primary colon cancer. Our results indicate that CD133-targeted measles viruses selectively eliminate CD133+ cells from tumor tissue, offering a key tool for research in tumor biology and cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 73(2); 865–74. ©2013 AACR.