bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Sexual Dysfunction in Postpartum Australian Women
Authors: Khajehei Marjan , Doherty Maryanne , Tilley P.J. Matt , Sauer Kay 
Published: May 2015

Abstract

Introduction
Female sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent and reportedly has adverse impacts on quality of life. Although it is prevalent after childbirth, women rarely seek advice or treatment from health care professionals.

Aim
The aim of this study was to assess the sexual functioning of Australian women during the first year after childbirth.

Methods
Postpartum women who had given birth during the previous 12 months were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. A multidimensional online questionnaire was designed for this study. This questionnaire included a background section, the Female Sexual Function Index, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and the Relationship Assessment Scale. Responses from 325 women were analyzed.

Results
Almost two-thirds of women (64.3%) reported that they had experienced sexual dysfunction during the first year after childbirth, and almost three-quarters reported they experienced sexual dissatisfaction (70.5 %). The most prevalent types of sexual dysfunction reported by the affected women were sexual desire disorder (81.2%), orgasmic problems (53.5%), and sexual arousal disorder (52.3%). The following were significant risk factors for sexual dysfunction: fortnightly or less frequent sexual activity, not being the initiator of sexual activity with a partner, late resumption of postnatal sexual activity (at 9 or more weeks), the first 5 months after childbirth, primiparity, depression, and relationship dissatisfaction.

Conclusion
Sexual satisfaction is important for maintaining quality of life for postpartum women. Health care providers and postpartum women need to be encouraged to include sexual problems in their discussions.
Are Primary and Secondary Provoked Vestibulodynia Two Different Entities? A Comparison of Pain, Psychosocial, and Sexual Characteristics
Authors: Aerts Leen , Bergeron Sophie , Corsini-Munt Serena , Steben Marc , Pâquet Myriam 
Published: May 2015

Abstract

Introduction
Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is suspected to be the most frequent cause of vulvodynia in premenopausal women. Based on the onset of PVD relative to the start of sexual experience, PVD can be divided into primary (PVD1) and secondary PVD (PVD2). Studies comparing these PVD subgroups are inconclusive as to whether differences exist in sexual and psychosocial functioning.

Aim
The aim of this study was to compare the pain, sexual and psychosocial functioning of a large clinical and community-based sample of premenopausal women with PVD1 and PVD2.

Methods
A total of 269 women (n = 94 PVD1; n = 175 PVD2) completed measures on sociodemographics, pain, sexual, and psychosocial functioning.

Main Outcome Measures
Dependent variables were the 0–10 pain numerical rating scale, McGill–Melzack Pain Questionnaire, Female Sexual Function Index, Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Painful Intercourse Self-Efficacy Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait Subscale, Ambivalence over Emotional Expression Questionnaire, Hurlbert Index of Sexual Assertiveness, Experiences in Close Relationships Scale—Revised, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale-Revised.

Results
At first sexual relationship, women with PVD2 were significantly younger than women with PVD1 (P &lt; 0.01). The average relationship duration was significantly longer in women with PVD2 compared with women with PVD1 (P &lt; 0.01). Although women with PVD1 described a significantly longer duration of pain compared with women with PVD2 (P &lt; 0.01), no significant subtype differences were found in pain intensity during intercourse. When controlling for the sociodemographics mentioned earlier, no significant differences were found in sexual, psychological, and relational functioning between the PVD subgroups. Nevertheless, on average, both groups were in the clinical range of sexual dysfunction and reported impaired psychological functioning.

Conclusions
The findings show that there are no significant differences in the sexual and psychosocial profiles of women with PVD1 and PVD2. Results suggest that similar psychosocial and sex therapy interventions should be offered to both subgroups of PVD.
Mechanical Properties of Tomatoes Subjected to an Induced Compression during Storage
Authors: de Oliveira Gabriel Henrique Horta , Corrêa Paulo Cesar , Botelho Fernando Mendes , de Oliveira Ana Paula Lelis Rodrigues 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this work was to evaluate texture alterations due to compression load on tomatoes stored at 15 and 25C, which simulates transport in type “K” wooden boxes. The following mechanical properties were analyzed during storage: firmness, proportional deformity modulus, energy to deform the product, penetration force of the tomato skin and the energy required for penetration. Structural alterations were noticed solely by a puncture test. The mechanical property values significantly decreased during storage. The weight loss varied significantly among control and treatment tomatoes during storage, and the tomatoes stored at 25C obtained higher weight loss values. These results will aid in generating logistic procedures to prevent mechanical damage to tomatoes when they are transported in wooden boxes, thus increasing producer profitability. Furthermore, if damage to tomatoes does occur, professionals will be able to predict the shelf life of the tomatoes.Practical ApplicationsResults of this manuscript may aid and alert developers of packages to prevent quality loss due to compression loads throughout transport and/or storage. Furthermore, in order to analyze quickly the quality of tomatoes, puncture test can be used, in which its parameters were obtained. The manuscript states clearly that refrigeration is not efficient in order to prevent quality loss if the tomato fruits are submitted to compression loads. Thus, prior to storage temperature, compression of tomatoes stacked on top of one another must be avoided in order to maintain quality and increase shelf life of this product.
Treating cancer with infection: a review on bacterial cancer therapy
Authors: Wong S. , Slavcev R.A. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
There is an increasing need for new cancer therapies. The antitumour effect of bacterial infection has been well observed and practiced throughout history. Bacteria are well-suited to serve as anticancer agents due to their intrinsic mobility, cell toxicity, immunogenicity, and preferential accumulation within the anoxic tumour environment. Furthermore, advances in biotechnology and molecular techniques have made it easier than ever to engineer bacteria as both therapeutic agents themselves and as therapeutic vectors. Here, we review bacteriolytic therapy and immunotherapy strategies, and examine the development of bacteria as vehicles for cell- and tissue-targeted delivery of genetic cancer therapeutics.
Red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio in assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Lee Hye Won , Kang Wonseok , Kim Beom Kyung , Kim Seung Up , Park Jun Yong , Kim Do Young , Ahn Sang Hoon , Park Young Nyun , Han Kwang Hyub 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsPrecise assessment of liver fibrosis is necessary in patients with chronic liver disease. We investigated the performance of red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.MethodsA total of 482 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsy between October 2005 and May 2014 were recruited. Liver stiffness was measured using transient elastography. FIB‐4 score, red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio and the aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index were also assessed.ResultsA total of 271 (56.2%) patients were males. The median age was 44 years. F1, F2, F3 and F4 fibrosis stages were identified in 68 (14.1%), 137 (28.4%), 64 (13.3%) and 213 (44.2%) of the patients respectively. The mean red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio increased with liver fibrosis severity: F1, 0.065; F2, 0.077; F3, 0.097 and F4, 0.121 (P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio for predicting significant fibrosis (≥F2) was 0.747. This result was inferior to transient elastography (0.866, P = 0.004), but comparable to FIB‐4 (0.782, P = 0.427) and aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (0.716, P = 0.507). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio for predicting cirrhosis (F4) was 0.811, which was inferior to liver stiffness (0.915, P < 0.001), but comparable to FIB‐4 (0.804, P = 0.805) and superior to aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (0.680, P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe accuracy of red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio was acceptable for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. When transient elastography is not available, red cell volume distribution width‐to‐platelet ratio assessment is a simple method that can be used to reduce the need for liver biopsy.
Mycorrhizal diversity, seed germination and long‐term changes in population size across nine populations of the terrestrial orchidNeottia ovata
Authors: Jacquemyn Hans , Waud Michael , Merckx Vincent S. F. T. , Lievens Bart , Brys Rein 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIn plant species that rely on mycorrhizal symbioses for germination and seedling establishment, seedling recruitment and temporal changes in abundance can be expected to depend on fungal community composition and local environmental conditions. However, disentangling the precise factors that determine recruitment success in species that critically rely on mycorrhizal fungi represents a major challenge. In this study, we used seed germination experiments, 454 amplicon pyrosequencing and assessment of soil conditions to investigate the factors driving changes in local abundance in 28 populations of the orchidNeottia ovata. Comparison of population sizes measured in 2003 and 2013 showed that nearly 60% of the studied populations had declined in size (average growth rate across all populations: −0.01). Investigation of the mycorrhizal fungi in both the roots and soil revealed a total of 68 species of putatively mycorrhizal fungi, 21 of which occurred exclusively in roots, 25 that occurred solely in soil and 22 that were observed in both the soil and roots. Seed germination was limited and significantly and positively related to soil moisture content and soilpH, but not to fungal community composition. Large populations or populations with high population growth rates showed significantly higher germination than small populations or populations declining in size, but no significant relationships were found between population size or growth and mycorrhizal diversity. Overall, these results indicate that temporal changes in abundance were related to the ability of seeds to germinate, but at the same time they provided limited evidence that variation in fungal communities played an important role in determining population dynamics.
Three‐phase succession of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria to reach a stable ecosystem within 7 days of natural bamboo shoot fermentation as revealed by different molecular approaches
Authors: Romi Wahengbam , Ahmed Giasuddin , Jeyaram Kumaraswamy 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMicrobial community structure and population dynamics during spontaneous bamboo shoot fermentation for production of ‘soidon’ (indigenous fermented food) in North‐east India were studied using cultivation‐dependent and cultivation‐independent molecular approaches. Cultivation‐dependent analyses (PCR‐amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and rRNA gene sequencing) and cultivation‐independent analyses (PCR‐DGGE, qPCR and Illumina amplicon sequencing) were conducted on the time series samples collected from three independent indigenous soidon fermentation batches. The current findings revealed three‐phase succession of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria to attain a stable ecosystem within 7 days natural fermentation of bamboo shoots. Weissella spp. (Weissella cibaria, uncultured Weissella ghanensis) and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris predominated the early phase (1–2 days) which was joined by Leuconostoc citreum during the mid‐phase (3 days), while Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum emerged and became dominant in the late phase (5–7 days) with concurrent disappearance of W. cibaria and L. lactis subsp. cremoris. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and uncultured Lactobacillus acetotolerans were predominantly present throughout the fermentation with no visible dynamics. The above identified dominant bacterial species along with their dynamics can be effectively utilized for designing a starter culture for industrialization of soidon production. Our results showed that a more realistic view on the microbial ecology of soidon fermentation could be obtained by cultivation‐dependent studies complemented with cultivation‐independent molecular approaches. Moreover, the critical issues to be considered for reducing methodological biases while studying the microbial ecology of traditional food fermentation were also highlighted with this soidon fermentation model.
Tomato plant cell death induced by inhibition of HSP90 is alleviated by Tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection
Authors: Moshe Adi , Gorovits Rena , Liu Yule , Czosnek Henryk 
Published: May 2015

SummaryTo ensure a successful long‐term infection cycle, begomoviruses must restrain their destructive effect on host cells and prevent drastic plant responses, at least in the early stages of infection. The monopartite begomovirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) does not induce a hypersensitive response and cell death on whitefly‐mediated infection of virus‐susceptible tomato plants until diseased tomatoes become senescent. The way in which begomoviruses evade plant defences and interfere with cell death pathways is still poorly understood. We show that the chaperone HSP90 (heat shock protein 90) and its co‐chaperone SGT1 (suppressor of the G2 allele of Skp1) are involved in the establishment of TYLCV infection. Inactivation of HSP90, as well as silencing of the Hsp90 and Sgt1 genes, leads to the accumulation of damaged ubiquitinated proteins and to a cell death phenotype. These effects are relieved under TYLCV infection. HSP90‐dependent inactivation of 26S proteasome degradation and the transcriptional activation of the heat shock transcription factors HsfA2 and HsfB1 and of the downstream genes Hsp17 and Apx1/2 are suppressed in TYLCV‐infected tomatoes. Following suppression of the plant stress response, TYLCV can replicate and accumulate in a permissive environment.
Surface polysaccharides and quorum sensing are involved in the attachment and survival ofXanthomonas albilineanson sugarcane leaves
Authors: Mensi Imene , Daugrois Jean‐Heinrich , Pieretti Isabelle , Gargani Daniel , Fleites Laura A. , Noell Julie , Bonnot Francois , Gabriel Dean W. , Rott Philippe 
Published: May 2015

SummaryXanthomonas albilineans, the causal agent of sugarcane leaf scald, is a bacterial plant pathogen that is mainly spread by infected cuttings and contaminated harvesting tools. However, some strains of this pathogen are known to be spread by aerial means and are able to colonize the phyllosphere of sugarcane before entering the host plant and causing disease. The objective of this study was to identify the molecular factors involved in the survival or growth ofX. albilineanson sugarcane leaves. We developed a bioassay to test for the attachment ofX. albilineanson sugarcane leaves using tissue‐cultured plantlets grownin vitro. Six mutants of strainXaFL07‐1 affected in surface polysaccharide production completely lost their capacity to survive on the sugarcane leaf surface. These mutants produced more biofilmin vitroand accumulated more cellular poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate than the wild‐type strain. A mutant affected in the production of small molecules (including potential biosurfactants) synthesized by non‐ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) attached to the sugarcane leaves as well as the wild‐type strain. Surprisingly, the attachment of bacteria on sugarcane leaves varied among mutants of therpfgene cluster involved in bacterial quorum sensing. Therefore, quorum sensing may affect polysaccharide production, or both polysaccharides and quorum sensing may be involved in the survival or growth ofX. albilineanson sugarcane leaves.
Changes to the lateral geniculate nucleus in Alzheimer's disease but not dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Erskine Daniel , Taylor John Paul , Firbank Michael J. , Patterson Lina , Onofrj Marco , O'Brien John T. , McKeith Ian G. , Attems Johannes , Thomas Alan J. , Morris Chris M. , Khundakar Ahmad Adam 
Published: May 2015

AimsComplex visual hallucinations occur in 70% of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) cases and significantly affect patient well‐being. Visuo‐cortical and retinal abnormalities have been recorded in DLB and may play a role in visual hallucinations. The present study aimed to investigate the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a visual relay centre between the retina and visual cortex, to see if changes to this structure underlie visual hallucinations in DLB.MethodsFifty‐one [17 probable DLB, 19 control and 15 probable Alzheimer's disease (AD)] cases were recruited for a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, in which patients' response to a flashing checkerboard stimulus was detected and measured in the LGN, before comparison across experimental groups. Additionally, post mortem LGN tissue was acquired for a cross‐sectional study using 20 (six DLB, seven control and seven AD) cases and analysed using stereology. α‐Synuclein, phosphorylated tau and amyloid‐β pathology was also assessed in all cases.ResultsDLB cases did not significantly differ from controls on neuroimaging, morphometry or pathology. However, a significant increase in amyloid‐β pathology, a reduction in number of parvocellular neurones and magnocellular gliosis was found in AD cases compared with control and DLB cases.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the early visual system is relatively spared in DLB, which implies that upstream visual structures may be largely responsible for the generation of hallucinatory percepts. The significance of the degeneration of the LGN in AD cases is uncertain.
Effect of active vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in predialysis chronic kidney diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Xiao‐Hua , Feng Li , Yang Zhen‐Hua , Liao Yun‐Hua 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimVitamin D deficient patients present an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We conducted this systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the effect of active vitamin D analogue on cardiovascular outcomes in predialysis chronic kidney disease.MethodsPubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, and article reference lists were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared active vitamin D analogues with placebo or no treatment for patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease. A meta‐analysis was conducted using the standard methods consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Reviewer Manager Software, ver. 5.2, was used.ResultsSeven RCTs (five studies with paricalcitol and two studies with calcitriol, 731 patients) were included. Compared with control groups, active vitamin D reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events (RR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.13–0.59), induced an increase in those with proteinuria reduction (RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.34–2.71), but did not alter left ventricular mass index and systolic function (MD, 0.42 g/m2.7; 95% CI, −0.23–1.07 g/m2.7, P = 0.21 for left ventricular mass index and MD, −0.33; 95% CI, −0.74–0.07, P = 0.1 for left ventricular ejection fraction). Neither systolic blood pressure nor diastolic blood pressure was reduced by active vitamin D (MD, 0.3 mmHg; 95% CI, −4.95–5.56 mmHg; MD, −0.24 mmHg; 95% CI: −6.21–5.72 mmHg, respectively). Increased probability of hypercalcaemia after paricalcitol therapy was found (RR, 7.85; 95% CI, 2.92–21.10).ConclusionActive vitamin D reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events and induced a reduction in proteinuria, but its long‐term effect on cardiac structure and function needed further confirmation. Increased probability of hypercalcaemia after paricalcitol therapy was found.
Streptococcus gordoniiDL1 adhesin SspB V‐region mediates coaggregation via receptor polysaccharide of Actinomyces oris T14V
Authors: Back C.R. , Douglas S.K. , Emerson J.E. , Nobbs A.H. , Jenkinson H.F. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryStreptococcus gordonii SspA and SspB proteins, members of the antigen I/II (AgI/II) family of Streptococcus adhesins, mediate adherence to cysteine‐rich scavenger glycoprotein gp340 and cells of other oral microbial species. In this article we investigated further the mechanism of coaggregation between S. gordonii DL1 and Actinomyces oris T14V. Previous mutational analysis of S. gordonii suggested that SspB was necessary for coaggregation with A. oris T14V. We have confirmed this by showing that Lactococcus lactis surrogate host cells expressing SspB coaggregated with A. oris T14V and PK606 cells, while L. lactis cells expressing SspA did not. Coaggregation occurred independently of expression of A. oris type 1 (FimP) or type 2 (FimA) fimbriae. Polysaccharide was prepared from cells of A. oris T14V and found to contain 1,4‐, 4,6‐ and 3,4‐linked glucose, 1,4‐linked mannose, and 2,4‐linked galactose residues. When immobilized onto plastic wells this polysaccharide supported binding of L. lactis expressing SspB, but not binding of L. lactis expressing other AgI/II family proteins. Purified recombinant NAVP region of SspB, comprising amino acid (aa) residues 41–847, bound A. oris polysaccharide but the C‐domain (932–1470 aa residues) did not. A site‐directed deletion of 29 aa residues (Δ691–718) close to the predicted binding cleft within the SspB V‐region ablated binding of the NAVP region to polysaccharide. These results infer that the V‐region head of SspB recognizes an actinomyces polysaccharide ligand, so further characterizing a lectin‐like coaggregation mechanism occurring between two important primary colonizers.