bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antenatal education and breastfeeding in a cohort of primiparas
Authors: Artieta‐Pinedo Isabel , Paz‐Pascual Carmen , Grandes Gonzalo , Bacigalupe Amaia , Payo Janire , Montoya Imanol 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimsTo assess the association between attendance at antenatal education sessions and breastfeeding during the first year of life.BackgroundAlthough there is evidence that antenatal education encourages breastfeeding, the size and duration of its effect remain unclear.DesignA prospective cohort study.MethodsThe study was conducted inBizkaia (North ofSpain) between May 2005–June 2007 with a consecutive sample of 614 primiparas. Women were classified into three groups according to whether they had received antenatal education and, if so, how many classes (0, 1–4, or 5 or more). Telephone interviews at 1·5, 3, 6 and 12 months were used to estimate the risk of cessation of any breastfeeding and to compare the groups with Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for potential confounders.FindingsInitially, 90% of women breastfed their infants, with no differences between the groups. During the first month, the risk of cessation of any breastfeeding was three times as high among non‐attendees and twice as high among women who attended 1–4 classes compared with those who attended 5 or more classes. The risk was, however, similar in the three groups from the end of first month onwards.ConclusionThe results suggest that though antenatal education may be associated with higher rates of breastfeeding in our setting this is only the case for the first month after the birth. Further research is necessary to optimize this beneficial effect to achieve long‐term continuation of breastfeeding.
Evaluation of gustatory function in HIV‐infected subjects with and without HAART
Authors: Raja Jigna V. , Rai Puja , Khan Mubeen , Banu Asima , Bhuthaiah Satish 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundAlteration in gustatory function among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is sparsely studied and provides contradictory findings. The objectives of the study were to evaluate taste perversion in HIV‐infected subjects and compare taste acuity between patients with and without Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Materials and MethodsFifty HIV‐infected subjects aged 25–55 years were selected and divided into two subgroups: patients with HAART and patients without HAART. Control group included 50 healthy, age‐, sex‐, gender‐, and socioeconomic status‐matched individuals. Taste complaints were recorded on a structured questionnaire, and formal taste testing was carried out with triadic forced choice whole‐mouth, above‐threshold taste test for four tastants – sweet, salt, sour, and bitter. Taste identification, detection threshold, and intensity of tastant were recorded.ResultsTwenty‐four (48%) among study group complained of taste perversion when compared to none among the control group (P < 0.001). During taste testing, identification and intensity scores were lower, while detection threshold scores for four tastants were higher in study group than in control group (P < 0.05). Among those patients with taste complaints, 16 were with HAART, while eight were without HAART (P = 0.043). Formal taste testing revealed greater taste perversion for sour and bitter tastants among patients with HAART medication.ConclusionThe results document significant taste losses in HIV‐infected subjects, and HAART contributes considerably to such taste perversion.
Changes in beta‐adrenergic neurotransmission during postoperative ileus in rat circular jejunal muscle
Authors: Goetz B. , Benhaqi P. , Müller M. H. , Kreis M. E. , Kasparek M. S. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackground  To explore postoperative changes in β‐adrenergic neurotransmission that participate in pathophysiology of postoperative ileus.Methods  Contractile activity of circular jejunal muscle strips was studied. Groups (n = 6/group) were: naïve controls, sham controls 1 and 7 days after laparotomy, and rats 12 h, 1, 3, and 7 days after laparotomy with standardized small bowel manipulation (postoperative ileus). Dose‐responses to the β‐agonist isoprenaline (3 × 10−10–10−7 mol L−1) were studied in presence/absence of tetrodotoxin (global neural blockade; 10−6 mol L−1), N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐lysine (inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthesis; 10−4 mol L−1), nimesulide (cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibition; 10−5 mol L−1), or propranolol (β‐blockade; 5 × 10−6 mol L−1). Histochemistry for inflammatory cells and intestinal transit were studied.Key Results  Intramural inflammation and delayed transit (postoperative ileus) occurred only in ileus groups. The inhibitory potential of isoprenaline decreased in all postoperative groups including sham (P < 0.05). Tetrodotoxin enhanced isoprenaline‐induced inhibition in ileus and sham groups (P < 0.05). N6‐(1‐iminoethyl)‐l‐lysine and nimesulide decreased isoprenaline‐induced inhibition in ileus groups 12 h, 1, and 7 days, and in sham controls 7 days postoperatively (P < 0.05). Propranolol prevented isoprenaline effects in all groups (P < 0.05).Conclusions & Inferences  Inhibitory effects of isoprenaline on contractile activity were decreased for 7 days postoperatively. Changes in β‐adrenergic neurotransmission do not induce postoperative ileus and appear to be caused by anesthesia and laparotomy rather than bowel manipulation.
Synergic effect of curcumin or lycopene with irradiation upon oral squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Camacho‐Alonso F , López‐Jornet P , Tudela‐Mulero MR 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveAn in vitro study was carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin, lycopene, and irradiation upon oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Materials and methodsCurcumin and lycopene were administrated at doses of 3, 4.25, 5.50, and 6.75 μM in PE/CA‐PJ15 OSCC cultures irradiated with different doses (1, 2.5, and 5 Gy), followed by evaluation of the effects upon cell viability, apoptosis, and migration after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation.ResultsThe application of curcumin or lycopene to the tumor cells during 24, 48, and 72 h without irradiation exerted an inhibitor effect upon cell viability and increased cell apoptosis. The maximum reduction in cell viability and the peak apoptotic effect was recorded with the 5.50 and 6.75 μM doses, for both curcumin and lycopene. Likewise, curcumin and lycopene exerted a synergic effect upon both variables on applying irradiation. Lastly, the 5.50 and 6.75 μM drug doses, together with 5 Gy of irradiation, yielded the greatest decrease in cell migration capacity with both curcumin and lycopene.ConclusionsCurcumin and lycopene increase cytotoxic activity in the PE/CA‐PJ15 cell line and reduce cell migration capacity, while the combination of curcumin or lycopene with irradiation exerts a synergic effect.
Our Long‐Term Results of Tenckhoff Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters Placement via Laparoscopic Preperitoneal Tunneling Technique
Authors: Gultekin Fatma A. , Cakmak Guldeniz K. , Karakaya Kemal , Emre Ali U. , Tascilar Oge , Oner Muzaffer O. , Comert Mustafa , Kulah Eyup 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPreviously we described the technique to lessen complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to achieve immediate use of the catheter. In this study we evaluated our long‐term results of the technique. A total of 61 procedures were carried out in 58 patients from September 2003 to February 2009. All patients were followed in our hospital CAPD clinic. Demographic, medical, operative, postoperative, and other information regarding complications and continued patient management was obtained retrospectively from the patients’ medical records and entered into a computerized database. There were 33 men and 25 women. The mean age was 58 years. In 29 of the 58 patients indication of catheter placement was end stage renal failure combined with diabetes mellitus. Mean follow‐up time was 33.31 ± 20.11 months. Catheter related complications were outflow obstruction (n = 3, 5.2%) and peritonitis (n = 2, 3.4%). Etiologies of catheter removal were out flow obstruction (n = 2), recovery from renal disease (n = 2), peritonitis (n = 1), and pregnancy (n = 1). The mean catheter survival time was found 5.57 ± 0.17 years. Our long‐term results showed that the method ensured accurate placement, preperitoneal fixation, and immediate use of the catheter for routine peritoneal dialysis. Preperitoneal fixation of the catheter decreased outflow obstruction over long‐term follow‐up.
Analysis of Immune Responses against a Wide Range of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigens in Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Authors: Kassa Desta , Ran Leonie , Geberemeskel Wudneh , Tebeje Mekashaw , Alemu Amelewerk , Selase Alemayehu , Tegbaru Belete , Franken Kees L. M. C. , Friggen Annemieke H. , van Meijgaarden Krista E. , Ottenhoff Tom H. M. , Wolday Dawit , Messele Tsehaynesh , van Baarle Debbie 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTCharacterizing host immune responses to molecular targets ofMycobacterium tuberculosisis essential to develop effective immunodiagnostics and better vaccines. We investigated the immune response against a large series ofM. tuberculosisantigens, including 5 classical and 64 nonclassical (39 DosR regulon-encoded, 4 resuscitation-promoting factor [RPF], and 21 reactivation-associated) antigens in active-pulmonary-tuberculosis (TB) patients. Whole blood from TB patients (n= 34) was stimulatedin vitrowithM. tuberculosisantigens. Gamma interferon (IFN-γ) was measured after 7 days of stimulation, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The majority of the study participants responded to the classicalM. tuberculosisantigens TB10.4 (84.8%), early secreted antigenic target-6 kDa (ESAT-6)/CFP-10 (70.6%), and purified protein derivative (PPD) (55.9%). However, only 26.5% and 24.2% responded to HSP65 and Ag85A/B, respectively. Of the 64 nonclassical antigens, 23 (33.3%) were immunogenic (IFN-γ levels, >62 pg/ml) and 8 were strong inducers of IFN-γ (IFN-γ levels, ≥100 pg/ml). The RPF antigens were the most immunogenic. In addition, we observed distinct cytokine expression profiles in response to severalM. tuberculosisantigens by multiplex immunoassay. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and IL-6 were commonly detected at high levels after stimulation with 4/15 latency antigens (Rv0081, Rv2006, Rv2629, and Rv1733c) and were found especially in supernatants of the three strong IFN-γ inducers (Rv2629, Rv1009, and Rv2389c). IL-8, IL-6, and IL-17 were exclusively detected after stimulation with Rv0574c, Rv2630, Rv1998, Rv054c, and Rv2028c. In conclusion, in active-pulmonary-TB patients, we identified 23 new immunogenicM. tuberculosisantigens. The distinct expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in response to specific subsets ofM. tuberculosisantigens may be promising for the development of immunodiagnostics.
Variable Expression of O:6
1
in Salmonella Group C2
Authors: Mikoleit M. , Van Duyne M. S. , Halpin J. , McGlinchey B. , Fields P. I. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

According to the Kauffmann-White scheme, 39 pairs of serovars in
Salmonella
serogroup C2 differ only by the minor antigen O:6
1
. We characterized strains from 10 serovars representing five
Salmonella
serogroup C2 pairs. All strains demonstrated variable expression of O:6
1
. These results indicate that these pairs are not distinct serovars.
Comparison of Three Statistical Methods for Establishing Tentative Wild-Type Population and Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Echinocandins, Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, and Six Candida Species as Determined by the Colorimetric Sensititre YeastOne Method
Authors: Cantón Emilia , Pemán Javier , Hervás David , Iñiguez Carmen , Navarro David , Echeverría Julia , Martínez-Alarcón José , Fontanals Dionisia , Gomila-Sard Bárbara , Buendía Buenaventura , Torroba Luis , Ayats Josefina , Bratos Angel , Sánchez-Reus Ferran , Fernández-Natal Isabel ,   the FUNGEMYCA Study Group
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

The Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) method is a widely used method to determine the susceptibility of
Candida
spp. to antifungal agents. CLSI clinical breakpoints (CBP) have been reported for antifungals, but not using this method. In the absence of CBP, epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) are useful to separate wild-type (WT) isolates (those without mechanisms of resistance) from non-WT isolates (those that can harbor some resistance mechanisms), which is the goal of any susceptibility test. The ECVs for five agents, obtained using the MIC distributions determined by the SYO test, were calculated and contrasted with those for three statistical methods and the MIC
50
and modal MIC, both plus 2-fold dilutions. The median ECVs (in mg/liter) (% of isolates inhibited by MICs equal to or less than the ECV; number of isolates tested) of the five methods for anidulafungin, micafungin, caspofungin, amphotericin B, and flucytosine, respectively, were as follows: 0.25 (98.5%; 656), 0.06 (95.1%; 659), 0.25 (98.7%; 747), 2 (100%; 923), and 1 (98.5%; 915) for
Candida albicans
; 8 (100%; 352), 4 (99.2%; 392), 2 (99.2%; 480), 1 (99.8%; 603), and 0.5 (97.9%; 635) for
C. parapsilosis
; 1 (99.2%; 123), 0.12 (99.2%; 121), 0.25 (99.2%; 138), 2 (100%; 171), and 0.5 (97.2%; 175) for
C. tropicalis
; 0.12 (96.6%; 174), 0.06 (96%; 176), 0.25 (98.4%; 188), 2 (100%; 209), and 0.25 (97.6%; 208) for
C. glabrata
; 0.25 (97%; 33), 0.5 (93.9%; 33), 1 (91.9%; 37), 4 (100%; 51), and 32 (100%; 53) for
C. krusei
; and 4 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 33), 2 (100%; 54), 1 (100%; 90), and 0.25 (93.4%; 91) for
C. orthopsilosis
. The three statistical methods gave similar ECVs (within one dilution) and included ≥95% of isolates. These tentative ECVs would be useful for monitoring the emergence of isolates with reduced susceptibility by use of the SYO method.
Female Epidemiology of Transcription-Mediated Amplification-Based Trichomonas vaginalis Detection in a Metropolitan Setting with a High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infection
Authors: Munson Erik , Kramme Timothy , Napierala Maureen , Munson Kimber L. , Miller Cheryl , Hryciuk Jeanne E. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Recent literature has reported increased accuracy of
Trichomonas vaginalis
transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)-based analyte-specific reagent (ASR) testing in female populations. A retrospective investigation assessed 7,277 female first-void urine, cervical, or vaginal specimens submitted from a high-prevalence sexually transmitted infection (STI) community to characterize prevalence of disease etiologies. The most common STI phenotype reflected detection of solely
T. vaginalis
(54.2% of all health care encounters that resulted in STI detection). In females with detectable
T. vaginalis
, codetection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
occurred in 7.8% and 2.7% of health care encounters, respectively. The mean age of women with detectable
T. vaginalis
(30.6) was significantly higher than those for women with
C. trachomatis
or
N. gonorrhoeae
(22.3 and 21.6, respectively;
P
< 0.0001).
T. vaginalis
was the predominant sexually transmitted agent in women over the age of 20 (
P
< 0.0002).
C. trachomatis
was the most commonly detected agent in females under the age of 21, particularly from cervical specimens. However, first-void urine detection rates for
T. vaginalis
and
C. trachomatis
within this age demographic demonstrated no difference (
P
= 0.92). While overall and cervical specimen-derived detection of
T. vaginalis
within African American majority geographical locales outweighed that within majority Caucasian geographical regions (
P
≤ 0.004), this difference was not noted with first-void urine screening (
P
= 0.54). Health care professionals can consider TMA-based
T. vaginalis
screening for a wide age range of patients; incorporation of first-void urine specimens into screening algorithms can potentiate novel insight into the epidemiology of trichomoniasis.
Multicenter Clinical Evaluation of the Portrait Toxigenic C. difficile Assay for Detection of Toxigenic Clostridium difficile Strains in Clinical Stool Specimens
Authors: Buchan Blake W. , Mackey Tami-Lea A. , Daly Judy A. , Alger Garrison , Denys Gerald A. , Peterson Lance R. , Kehl Sue C. , Ledeboer Nathan A. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

We compared the Portrait Toxigenic
C. difficile
Assay, a new semiautomated sample-to-result molecular test, to a toxigenic bacterial culture/cell cytotoxin neutralization assay (TBC/CCNA) for the detection of toxigenic
Clostridium difficile
in 549 stool specimens. Stool specimens were also tested by one of three alternative FDA-cleared molecular tests for toxigenic
C. difficile
(Xpert
C. difficile
, Illumigene
C. difficile
, or GeneOhm Cdiff). The sensitivities and specificities of the molecular tests compared to TBC/CCNA were as follows: 98.2% and 92.8% for the Portrait assay, 100% and 91.7% for the Xpert assay, 93.3% and 95.1% for the Illumigene assay, and 97.4% and 98.5% for the GeneOhm assay, respectively. The majority of Portrait false-positive results (20/31; 64.5%) were also positive for
C. difficile
by an alternative molecular test, suggesting an increased sensitivity compared to the culture-based “gold standard” method. The Portrait test detected an assay input of 30 CFU in 100% of spiked samples and detected an input of 10 CFU in 96.7% of samples tested.
Amplification of JNK Signaling Is Necessary To Complete the Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Lytic Replication Cycle
Authors: Stahl James A. , Paden Clinton R. , Chavan Shweta S. , MacLeod Veronica , Edmondson Ricky D. , Speck Samuel H. , Forrest J. Craig 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT
Several studies have previously defined host-derived signaling events capable of driving lytic gammaherpesvirus replication or enhancing immediate-early viral gene expression. Yet signaling pathways that regulate later stages of the productive gammaherpesvirus replication cycle are still poorly defined. In this study, we utilized a mass spectrometric approach to identify c-Jun as an abundant cellular phosphoprotein present in late stages of lytic murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) infection. Kinetically, c-Jun phosphorylation was enhanced as infection progressed, and this correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of the c-Jun amino-terminal kinases JNK1 and JNK2 and activation of AP-1 transcription. These events were dependent on progression beyond viral immediate-early gene expression, but not dependent on viral DNA replication. Both pharmacologic and dominant-negative blockade of JNK1/2 activity inhibited viral replication, and this correlated with inhibition of viral DNA synthesis and reduced viral gene expression. These data suggest a model in which MHV68 by necessity amplifies and usurps JNK/c-Jun signaling as infection progresses in order to facilitate late stages of the MHV68 lytic infection cycle.
Induction of Alternatively Activated Macrophages Enhances Pathogenesis during Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection
Authors: Page Carly , Goicochea Lindsay , Matthews Krystal , Zhang Yong , Klover Peter , Holtzman Michael J. , Hennighausen Lothar , Frieman Matthew 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTInfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) causes acute lung injury (ALI) that often leads to severe lung disease. A mouse model of acute SARS-CoV infection has been helpful in understanding the host response to infection; however, there are still unanswered questions concerning SARS-CoV pathogenesis. We have shown that STAT1 plays an important role in the severity of SARS-CoV pathogenesis and that it is independent of the role of STAT1 in interferon signaling. Mice lacking STAT1 have greater weight loss, severe lung pathology with pre-pulmonary-fibrosis-like lesions, and an altered immune response following infection with SARS-CoV. We hypothesized that STAT1 plays a role in the polarization of the immune response, specifically in macrophages, resulting in a worsened outcome. To test this, we created bone marrow chimeras and cell-type-specific knockouts of STAT1 to identify which cell type(s) is critical to protection from severe lung disease after SARS-CoV infection. Bone marrow chimera experiments demonstrated that hematopoietic cells are responsible for the pathogenesis in STAT1−/−mice, and because of an induction of alternatively activated (AA) macrophages after infection, we hypothesized that the AA macrophages were critical for disease severity. Mice with STAT1 in either monocytes and macrophages (LysM/STAT1) or ciliated lung epithelial cells (FoxJ1/STAT1) deleted were created. Following infection, LysM/STAT1 mice display severe lung pathology, while FoxJ1/STAT1 mice display normal lung pathology. We hypothesized that AA macrophages were responsible for this STAT1-dependent pathology and therefore created STAT1/STAT6−/−double-knockout mice. STAT6 is essential for the development of AA macrophages. Infection of the double-knockout mice displayed a lack of lung disease and prefibrotic lesions, suggesting that AA macrophage production may be the cause of STAT1-dependent lung disease. We propose that the control of AA macrophages by STAT1 is critical to regulating immune pathologies and for protection from long-term progression to fibrotic lung disease in a mouse model of SARS-CoV infection.
Functional Analysis of a Crustacean MicroRNA in Host-Virus Interactions
Authors: Huang Tianzhi , Zhang Xiaobo 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

Growing evidence from mammals suggests that host microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the antiviral immune response. However, the roles of invertebrate miRNAs in response to virus infection remain to be investigated. Based on our previous studies, the shrimp miR-7 was found to be upregulated in response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. In this study, the results showed that shrimp miR-7 could target the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of the WSSV early gene wsv477, implying that miR-7 was involved in viral DNA replication. In insect High Five cells, the synthesized miR-7 significantly decreased the expression level of the fluorescent construct bearing the 3′UTR of wsv477 compared with the expression of the control constructs. When the activity of transfected miR-7 was blocked by locked-nucleic-acid (LNA)-modified anti-miR-7 oligonucleotide (AMO-miR-7), the repression of luciferase gene expression by miR-7 was relieved.
In vivo
, when the synthesized miR-7 was injected into shrimp, the numbers of WSSV genome copies/mg gills were 1,000-fold lower than those of WSSV only at 72 and 96 h postinfection. The results indicated that the blocking of endogenous miR-7 by AMO-miR-7 led to about a 10-fold increase of WSSV genome copies/mg gills in WSSV-infected shrimp compared with the control WSSV only. Further, it was revealed that the host Dicer1 was an important component for the biogenesis of miR-7, which had a large effect on virus infection. Therefore, our study revealed a novel regulatory function for an invertebrate miRNA in host-virus interactions by targeting the viral early gene.