bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bordetella pertussis in infants hospitalized for acute respiratory symptoms remains a concern
Authors: Nicolai Ambra , Nenna Raffaella , Stefanelli Paola , Carannante Anna , Schiavariello Concetta , Pierangeli Alessandra , Scagnolari Carolina , Moretti Corrado , Papoff Paola , Bonci Enea , Ferrara Marianna , Papasso Stefano , Midulla Fabio 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundPreliminary results suggest that pertussis infection might be considered in infants during a seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreak.MethodsIn order to analyze clinical features and laboratory findings in infants with pertussis hospitalized for acute respiratory symptoms during a seasonal RSV outbreak, we conducted a retrospective single-center study on 19 infants with pertussis (6 boys; median age 72 days) and 19 matched controls (RSV-bronchiolitis), hospitalized from October 2008 to April 2010.B. pertussisand RSV were detected from nasopharyngeal washes with Real Time-PCR.ResultsInfants with pertussis were less often breastfeed than infants with RSV bronchiolitis (63.2% vs 89.5%; p <0.06). Clinically, significantly fewer infants with pertussis than controls had more episodes of whooping cough (63.2% vs 0.0%; p < 0.001) and also less frequently fever at admission (15.8% vs 68.4%; p <0.01), apnea (52.6% vs 10.5%; p <0.006), and cyanosis (52.6% vs 10.5%; p < 0.006). Infants with pertussis had more often no abnormal chest sounds on auscultation than infants with RSV bronchiolitis (0% vs 42,1%; p < 0.005). The absolute blood lymphocyte and eosinophil counts were higher in infants withB. pertussisthan in controls with bronchiolitis (23886 ± 16945 vs 10725 ± 4126 cells/mm3, p < 0.0001 and 13.653 ± 10.430 vs 4.730 ± 2.400 cells/mm3, p < 0.001). The molecular analysis of 2B. pertussisisolates forptxA1,ptxP3, andprn2genes showed the presence of gene variants.ConclusionsWhen infants are hospitalized for acute respiratory symptoms, physicians should suspect a pertussis infection, seek for specific clinical symptoms, investigate lymphocyte and eosinophil counts and thus diagnose infection early enough to allow treatment.
Activation of pro-oncogenic pathways in colorectal hyperplastic polyps
Authors: Do Catherine , Bertrand Claudine , Palasse Julien , Delisle Marie-Bernadette , Cohen-Jonathan-Moyal Elizabeth , Seva Catherine 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
In contrast to sessile serrated adenomas and traditional serrated adenomas which are associated with a significant cancer risk, the role of hyperplastic polyps (HP) in colorectal carcinogenesis as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying their development remain controversial and still need to be clarified. Several reports suggest that a subset of HP may represent precursor lesions of some colorectal cancers. However, biomarkers are needed to identify the subset of HP that may have a malignant potential. The hormone precursor, progastrin (PG) has been involved in colon carcinogenesis and is known to activate pro-oncogenic pathways such as the ERK or the STAT3 pathway. We therefore analyzed PG expression and the activation of these signaling factors in HP.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed PG expression as well as the phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3 by immunohistochemistry in HP from 48 patients.

Results
Mean percentages of epithelial cells positive for PG or phospho-ERK were respectively, 31% and 33% in HP and were significantly higher in these lesions compared to normal colon (3%, p = 0.0021 and 7%, p = 0.0008, respectively). We found a significant correlation between PG and phospho-ERK expression in HP with ERK activation significantly stronger in lesions with high progastrin expression (p = 0.015). In contrast, STAT3 was not significantly activated in HP compared to normal colon and we did not observe a significant correlation with PG expression.

Conclusions
HP overexpressing PG that have the highest activation of the ERK pathway might reflect less latent lesions that might have a malignant potential.
CellFateScout – a bioinformatics tool for elucidating small molecule signaling pathways that drive cells in a specific direction
Authors: Siatkowski Marcin , Liebscher Volkmar , Fuellen Georg 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundSmall molecule effects can be represented by active signaling pathways within functional networks. Identifying these can help to design new strategies to utilize known small molecules, e.g. to trigger specific cellular transformations or to reposition known drugs.ResultsWe developedCellFateScoutthat uses the method ofLatent Variablesto turn differential high-throughput expression data and a functional network into a list of active signaling pathways. Applying it toConnectivity Mapdata, i.e., differential expression data describing small molecule effects, we then generated aHuman Small Molecule Mechanisms Database. Finally, using a list of active signaling pathways as query, a similarity search can identify small molecules from the database that may trigger these pathways. We validated our approach systematically, using expression data of small molecule perturbations, yielding better predictions than popular bioinformatics tools.ConclusionsCellFateScoutcan be used to select small molecules for their desired effects. TheCellFateScoutCytoscape plugin, a tutorial and theHuman Small Molecule Mechanisms Databaseare available athttps://sourceforge.net/projects/cellfatescout/under LGPLv2 license.
State-constrained optimal control of phase-field equations with obstacle
Authors: Zheng Jiashan , Liu Junjun , Liu Hao 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
This paper is concerned with an optimal control problem for the phase-fieldtransition system with state constraint and obstacle. After showing the relationshipbetween the control problem and its approximation, we derive Pontryagin’smaximum principle for an optimal control of our original problem by using one of theapproximate problems.

MSC: 49K20, 49J20, 74N25.
Multiple solutions of boundary value problems with ϕ-Laplacian operators and under a Wintner-Nagumo growth condition
Authors: El Khattabi Noha , Frigon Marlene , Ayyadi Nourredine 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
In this paper, we establish the existence of multiple solutions to second-order differential equations with ϕ-Laplacian satisfying periodic, Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. The right-hand side is a Carathéodory function satisfying a growth condition of Wintner-Nagumo type. The existence of upper and lower solutions is assumed. The proofs rely on the fixed point index theory.

MSC: 34B15, 34C25, 47H10, 37C25, 47H11.
Chemokine Expression in Peripheral Tissues from the Monosodium Lodoacetate Model of Chronic Joint Pain
Authors: Dawes John M , Kiesewetter Hannes , Perkins James R , Bennett David LH , McMahon Stephen B 
Published: November 2013

Background Chronic pain arising from degenerative diseases of the joint such as osteoarthritis (OA) has a strong peripheral component which is likely to be mediator driven. Current treatments which reduce the production of such mediators i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help to lessen pain in OA patients. However, this is not always the case and complete pain relief is rarely achieved, suggesting that additional unidentified mediators play a role. Here we have investigated the notion that chemokines might act as such pain mediators in OA. Results Using the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model of chronic joint pain the expression of over 90 different inflammatory mediators, mainly cytokines and chemokines, were measured in tissues taken from the femorotibial joint (cartilage, subchondral bone, fat pad) using custom-made quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) array cards. At both the day 3 and 14 time points, numerous inflammatory mediators were significantly up-regulated in these tissues, although it was clear that the largest transcriptional dysregulation occurred in the cartilage. Using individual qPCR to measure immune cell markers, a significant infiltration of macrophages was measured in the cartilage and fat pad at day 3. Neutrophil infiltration was also measured in the fat pad at the same time point, but no infiltration was observed at day 14. Combination of mRNA expression data from different time points and tissues identified the chemokines, CCL2, 7 and 9 as being consistently up-regulated. The overall increase in CCL2 expression was also measured at the protein level. Conclusion Chemokines in general and CCL2, 7 and 9 in particular, represent promising targets for further studies into the identification of new pain mediators in chronic joint pain.
8q12 microduplication including CHD7: clinical report on a new patient with Duane retraction syndrome type 3
Authors: Baroncini Anna , Bertuzzo Sara , Quarantini Rita , Ricciardelli Paolo , Giorda Roberto , Bonaglia Maria Clara 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
A novel multiple congenital anomalies syndrome has been recently identified in four patients carrying a 8q12 microduplication sharing the smallest region of overlap (SRO, size 1.6 Mb) including five genes CA8, ASPH, RAB2B, CLVS1 and CDH7. The phenotype is mainly characterized by neurodevelopmental delay, heart defects, facial features and Type 1 Duane anomaly. Increasing dosage of CDH7 was proposed to be responsible for the recurrent pattern of MCA.

Results
High resolution array-CGH analysis identified a 4.2 Mb de novo interstitial duplication of the 8q12.1-q12.3 chromosome region in a boy with developmental delay, dysmorphic features, type 3 Duane anomaly. This duplication includes several genes and spans the SRO.

Discussion
The present case represents a further patient with an interstitial duplication of chromosome 8q12 and several shared clinical features. Although more cases are needed to delineate the full-blown phenotype of 8q12 duplication syndrome, published data and present observations suggest that it results in a clinically recognizable phenotype. The presence of Duane anomaly in four out of five described patients with a 8q12 duplication definitely rules against the possibility of its being a chance finding unrelated to the imbalance and points toward a pathogenic role. Gene content analysis of the duplicated region and review of the literature suggest that gain-of-dosage of the CHD7 gene may be a good candidate for the main clinical features of the syndrome.
Respiratory syncytial virus - associated intensive care unit admission in children in Southern China
Authors: Zhang Qingli , Guo Zhongqin , Langley Joanne M , Bai Zhenjiang 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundThere are incomplete data on the global burden of viral lower respiratory tract infection, in particular the role of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, in children requiring health services.FindingsIn this study set in a large urban area of southern China from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2010, children 1 month to 14 years of age with RSV-associated “severe” or “very severe pneumonia” according to World Health Organization definitions, and meeting local criteria for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit, were followed for the course of their admission. The median age was 3 months and 79% (135/171) of children with RSV were under six months of age. All children needed supplemental oxygen, and 22% required mechanical ventilatory support. The mortality rate was 3.5%. In multivariate analysis, congenital heart disease and Trisomy 21 were associated with death.ConclusionsChildren admitted to an intensive care unit with RSV-associated severe/very pneumonia in a large urban setting in southern China were most commonly ≤ six months old and almost one quarter of these had respiratory failure. The overall mortality rate was 3.5%. RSV vaccine strategies that would protect children from early infancy are urgently needed.
Statistics of insect catch within historic properties
Authors: Brimblecombe Peter , Brimblecombe Caroline Truth , Thickett David , Lauder Dee 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Certain species of insect are known to cause damage to historic collections. For more than a decade insects have been identified in traps set out in English Heritage properties, the data from which has been used in this paper. Descriptive statistics have been used to explore the data structure and insect distribution.

Results
About 55% of the traps of the more than 30000 traps examined over that period contained insects that were readily categorised. The rate of catch (insects/trap) was highest in London and the Southeast. Booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila) and silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) were the most frequent catch. Woolly bear (Anthrenus spp.) larvae and crustacean woodlice (Porcellio spinicornis) were also common. A higher frequency of furniture beetles (Anobium punctatum) is notable in the Southeast and West. Despite this overall pattern, catch varied greatly between individual properties. The general view that insects have increased over time was not universal, although the dominant booklouse showed an increased catch over the last decade. The insects did not appear to be randomly distributed, but clustered onto traps in greater numbers than might be expected from a Poisson distribution, which suggested they occurred as infestations. Some insect species appeared in combination with other species at a higher frequency than expected, but the reasons for these associations were not always obvious. Pheromone traps collected more webbing and case bearing clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella, Tinea pellionella) than traps without attractants, much as expected. There are hints that covered traps may collect fewer insects than simple blunder traps.

Conclusions
No obvious drivers of high insect count were identified. Trends over time were not especially clear. The results provide clues to management of insect pests in historic properties. The presence and trapping of insects at a given property is individual in nature, and so mitigation strategies need to be site-specific. Although an insect might occur in low numbers in some periods, the possibility of infestation remains. Future work will examine the trends in catch more carefully and ascertain the importance of various environmental factors.
Temperature of gas delivered from ventilators
Authors: Chikata Yusuke , Onodera Mutsuo , Imanaka Hideaki , Nishimura Masaji 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Background
Although heated humidifiers (HHs) are the most efficient humidifying device for mechanical ventilation, some HHs do not provide sufficient humidification when the inlet temperature to the water chamber is high. Because portable and home-care ventilators use turbines, blowers, pistons, or compressors to inhale in ambient air, they may have higher gas temperature than ventilators with piping systems. We carried out a bench study to investigate the temperature of gas delivered from portable and home-care ventilators, including the effects of distance from ventilator outlet, fraction of inspiratory oxygen (FIO2), and minute volume (MV).

Methods
We evaluated five ventilators equipped with turbine, blower, piston, or compressor system. Ambient air temperature was adjusted to 24°C ± 0.5°C, and ventilation was set at FIO2 0.21, 0.6, and 1.0, at MV 5 and 10 L/min. We analyzed gas temperature at 0, 40, 80, and 120 cm from ventilator outlet and altered ventilator settings.

Results
While temperature varied according to ventilators, the outlet gas temperature of ventilators became stable after, at the most, 5 h. Gas temperature was 34.3°C ± 3.9°C at the ventilator outlet, 29.5°C ± 2.2°C after 40 cm, 25.4°C ± 1.2°C after 80 cm and 25.1°C ± 1.2°C after 120 cm (P < 0.01). FIO2 and MV did not affect gas temperature.

Conclusion
Gas delivered from portable and home-care ventilator was not too hot to induce heated humidifier malfunctioning. Gas soon declined when passing through the limb.
Direct cadaverine production from cellobiose using β-glucosidase displaying Escherichia coli
Authors: Ikeda Naoki , Miyamoto Mari , Adachi Noriko , Nakano Mariko , Tanaka Tsutomu , Kondo Akihiko 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn this study, we demonstrate the one-step production of cadaverine (1,5-diaminopentane) from cellobiose using anEscherichia colistrain displaying β-glucosidase (BGL) on its cell surface. L-lysine decarboxylase (CadA) derived fromE. coliand BGL fromThermobifida fuscaYX (Tfu0937) fused to the anchor protein Blc fromE. coliwere co-expressed usingE. colias a host. The expression of CadA was confirmed by Western blotting and BGL activity on the cell surface was evaluated using pNPG as a substrate. Growth on cellobiose as the sole carbon source was also achieved. The OD600 value of the BGL and CadA co-expressing strain was 8.0 after 48 h cultivation, which is higher than that obtained by growth on glucose (5.4 after 48 h cultivation). The engineered strain produced cadaverine from cellobiose more effectively than from glucose: 6.1 mM after 48 h from 28 g/L of consumed cellobiose, vs. 3.3 mM from 20 g/L of consumed glucose.
A generic and adaptive aggregation service for large-scale decentralized networks
Authors: Pournaras Evangelos , Warnier Martijn , Brazier Frances MT 
Published: November 2013

Abstract

Purpose
Aggregation functions are used in distributed environments to make system-wide information locally available in the nodes of a network. The computation of different aggregation functions, e.g., summation, average, maximum etc., in large-scale distributed systems is challenging and crucial for a wide range of applications. This is especially the case when the input values of these functions dynamically change during system runtime. Related approaches of decentralized aggregation are function-dependent, interaction-dependent, assume static values or cannot always tolerate duplicates and continuously changing information.

Methods
This paper introduces DIAS, the Dynamic Intelligent Aggregation Service. DIAS is an agent-based middleware that addresses these issues with a holistic approach: an efficient availability of the distributed information in every node of the network that enables the simultaneous computation of almost any aggregation function. Such an abstraction initially requires a significant communication and storage cost and has a rather large overhead. These issues are resolved by introducing an implicit local representation and storage of the explicit distributed information: aggregation memberships in bloom filters.

Results
The performance impact of bloom filters in DIAS is critical for its applicability as it compensates and reduces the initial high communication and storage required for such an abstraction.

Conclusions
Experimental evaluation under various aggregation and resource-constrained settings shows that DIAS is an efficient and accurate decentralized aggregation service.
Mast cells exert pro-inflammatory effects of relevance to the pathophyisology of tendinopathy
Authors: Behzad Hayedeh , Sharma Aishwariya , Mousavizadeh Rouhollah , Lu Alex , Scott Alex 
Published: November 2013

Abstract
Introduction
We have previously found an increased mast cell density in tendon biopsies from patients with patellar tendinopathy compared to controls. This study examined the influence of mast cells on basic tenocyte functions, including production of the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), extracellular matrix remodeling and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) gene transcription, and collagen synthesis.

Methods
Primary human tenocytes were stimulated with an established human mast cell line (HMC-1). Extracellular matrix remodeling was studied by culturing tenocytes in a three-dimensional collagen lattice. Survival/proliferation was assessed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt (MTS) assay. Levels of mRNA for COX-2, COL1A1, MMP1, and MMP7 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cox-2 protein level was assessed by Western blot analysis and type I procollagen was detected by immunofluorescent staining. PGE2 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results
Mast cells stimulated tenocytes to produce increased levels of COX-2 and the pro-inflammatory mediator PGE2, which in turn decreased COL1A1 mRNA expression. Additionally, mast cells reduced the type I procollagen protein levels produced by tenocytes. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) was responsible for the induction of Cox-2 and PGE2 by tenocytes. Mast cells increased MMP1 and MMP7 transcription and increased the contraction of a three-dimensional collagen lattice by tenocytes, a phenomenon which was blocked by a pan-MMP inhibitor (Batimastat).

Conclusion
Our data demonstrate that mast cell-derived PGE2 reduces collagen synthesis and enhances expression and activities of MMPs in human tenocytes.
Corpus callosum morphology in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia: combined magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging study of Chinese Singaporean patients
Authors: Collinson Simon L. , Gan Swu Chyi , Woon Puay San , Kuswanto Carissa , Sum Min Yi , Yang Guo Liang , Lui Ji Min , Sitoh Yih Yian , Nowinski Wieslaw L. , Sim Kang 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundAbnormalities in the corpus callosum have been reported in patients with schizophrenia for over 30 years but the influence of inter-individual differences and illness characteristics remains to be fully elucidated.AimsTo examine the influence of individual and illness characteristics on the corpus callosum in Chinese Singaporean patients with schizophrenia.MethodUsing magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging, mean corpus callosum area, volume and fractional anisotropy were investigated in 120 Chinese Singaporean patients (52 with chronic and 68 with first-episode schizophrenia) and compared with data from 75 matched healthy controls.ResultsBoth area and volume were significantly reduced in patients relative to controls but no significant differences in corpus callosum existed between genders in either patients or controls. Differences in area and volume of the corpus callosum were greatest in patients whose condition was chronic relative to patients with a first episode and controls. Anterior callosum in patients, regardless of chronicity, was no different to that of controls.ConclusionsMorphological abnormalities in the corpus callosum may increase with illness progression.
Zebrafish tissue injury causes up-regulation of interleukin-1 and caspase dependent amplification of the inflammatory response
Authors: Ogryzko Nikolay V. , Hoggett Emily E. , Solaymani-Kohal Sara , Tazzyman Simon , Chico Timothy J. A. , Renshaw Stephen A. , Wilson Heather L. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryInterleukin-1, the 'gate-keeper' of inflammation, is the apical cytokine in a signalling cascade that drives the early response to injury or infection. Expression, processing and secretion of IL-1 is tightly controlled, whilst dysregulated IL-1 signalling has been implicated in a number of pathologies ranging from atherosclerosis to complications of infection. Our understanding of these processes comes from in vitro monocytic cell culture models as lines or primary isolates where a range and spectra of IL-1 secretion mechanisms have been described. We therefore investigated whether zebrafish embryos provide a suitable in vivo model for studying IL-1 mediated inflammation. Structurally, zebrafish IL-1β shares a beta-sheet rich trefoil structure with its human counterpart. Functionally, leukocyte expression of IL-1β was detectable only following injury, which activated leukocytes throughout zebrafish embryos. Migration of macrophages and neutrophils was attenuated by caspase-1 and P2X7 inhibitors, which similarly inhibited the activation of NF-κB at the site of injury. Zebrafish offer a new and versatile model to study the IL-1β pathway in inflammatory disease and should offer unique insights into IL-1 biology in vivo.