bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Missed Tuberculosis Diagnosis Resulting in Hospital Transmission
Authors: Medrano Belinda A. , Salinas Gloria , Sanchez Connie , Miramontes Roque , Restrepo Blanca I. , Haddad Maryam B. , Lambert Lauren A. 
Published: March 2014

Objective.To find the source of tuberculin skin test conversions among 38 hospital employees on 1 floor during routine testing January–February 2010.Methods.Record review of patients at a private hospital during September-December 2009 and interviews with hospital employees. Names of patients from the state tuberculosis (TB) registry were cross-referenced with hospital records for admissions. Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype results in the county and adjacent counties were examined, and contacts were evaluated for TB infection and disease.Results.One of the 38 employees, a nurse, was diagnosed with pulmonary TB with a matching M. tuberculosis genotype and drug resistance pattern (isoniazid monoresistant) to those of a county jail inmate also recently diagnosed with pulmonary TB. The nurse had no known contact with that inmate; however, another inmate in his 20's from the same jail had been hospitalized under that nurse's care in October 2009. That young man died, and a postmortem examination result subsequently confirmed TB, which had not been suspected. Exposure to this man with undiagnosed TB could explain the transmission: 87 (27%) of the 318 hospital-based contacts without previous positive tuberculin skin test results were infected, and 9 contacts had active TB.Conclusions.This investigation demonstrated M. tuberculosis transmission in a hospital due to a missed diagnosis and nonadherence to national TB infection control guidelines. Routine TB screening of employees allowed early detection of this missed TB diagnosis, facilitating prompt evaluation of contacts. Healthcare providers should suspect TB in symptomatic persons and adhere to TB control policies.
HIGH-RESOLUTION ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FIELDS OF CLASSICAL T TAURI STARS*
Authors: France Kevin , Schindhelm Rebecca N. , Bergin Edwin A. , Roueff Evelyne , Abgrall Hervé 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
The far-ultraviolet (FUV; 912–1700 Å) radiation field from accreting central stars in classical T Tauri systems influences the disk chemistry during the period of giant planet formation. The FUV field may also play a critical role in determining the evolution of the inner disk (r < 10 AU), from a gas- and dust-rich primordial disk to a transitional system where the optically thick warm dust distribution has been depleted. Previous efforts to measure the true stellar+accretion-generated FUV luminosity (both hot gas emission lines and continua) have been complicated by a combination of low-sensitivity and/or low-spectral resolution and did not include the contribution from the bright Lyα emission line. In this work, we present a high-resolution spectroscopic study of the FUV radiation fields of 16 T Tauri stars whose dust disks display a range of evolutionary states. We include reconstructed Lyα line profiles and remove atomic and molecular disk emission (from H2 and CO fluorescence) to provide robust measurements of both the FUV continuum and hot gas lines (e.g., Lyα, N v, C iv, He ii) for an appreciable sample of T Tauri stars for the first time. We find that the flux of the typical classical T Tauri star FUV radiation field at 1 AU from the central star is ∼107 times the average interstellar radiation field. The Lyα emission line contributes an average of 88% of the total FUV flux, with the FUV continuum accounting for an average of 8%. Both the FUV continuum and Lyα flux are strongly correlated with C iv flux, suggesting that accretion processes dominate the production of both of these components. On average, only ∼0.5% of the total FUV flux is emitted between the Lyman limit (912 Å) and the H2 (0–0) absorption band at 1110 Å. The total and component-level high-resolution radiation fields are made publicly available in machine-readable format.
Generation of a Mixolab Profile After the Evaluation of the Functionality of Different Commercial Wheat Flours for Hot‐Press Tortilla Production
Authors: Posner Elieser S. , Chew‐Guevara Ana A. , Mitre‐Dieste Marcelo , Perez‐Carrillo Esther , Heredia‐Olea Erick , Wilson Jeff D. , Serna‐Saldivar Sergio O. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTRefined wheat flours commercially produced by five different U.S. and Mexican wheat blends intended for tortilla production were tested for quality and then processed into tortillas through the hot‐press forming procedure. Tortilla‐making qualities of the flour samples were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, baking, and the first five days on the shelf at room temperature. The predominant variables that affected the flour tortilla performance were wet gluten content, alveograph W (220–303) and P/L (0.70–0.94) parameters, farinograph water absorption (57%) and stability (10.8–18.7 min), starch damage (5.43–6.71%), and size distribution curves (uniform particle distribution). Flours produced from a blend of Dark Northern Spring (80%) and Mexican Rayon (20%) wheat had the highest water absorption, and tortillas obtained from this blend showed the highest diameter and lowest thickness. The whitest and best textured tortillas were obtained from the flour milled from three hard types of Mexican wheat blend. A Mixolab profile was generated from the best tortilla flours, those produced by mills 3 and 4. The Mixolab profile showed that a good flour for hot‐press tortillas had a relatively lower absorption and short dough mix time compared with a bread flour and should have a significantly higher gluten compared with an all‐purpose flour. Compared with bread flour, the tortilla flour had higher retrogradation and viscosity values. The Mixolab profile proved to be a good preliminary test to evaluate flours for hot‐press tortillas.
Distinct structural transitions of chromatin topological domains coordinate hormone-induced gene regulation
Authors: Dily François Le , Baù Davide , Pohl Andy , Vicent Guillermo , Soronellas Daniel , Castellano Giancarlo , Serra François , Wright Roni H. G. , Ballare Cecilia , Filion Guillaume , Marti-Renom Marc A. , Beato Miguel 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe human genome is segmented into Topologically Associating Domains (TADs), but the role of this conserved organization during transient changes in gene expression is not known. Here we described the distribution of Progestin-induced chromatin modifications and changes in transcriptional activity over TADs in T47D breast cancer cells. Using ChIP-Seq, Hi-C and 3D modelling techniques, we found that the borders of the ∼2,000 TADs in these cells are largely maintained after hormone treatment but that some TADs operate as discrete regulatory units in which the majority of the genes are either transcriptionally activated or repressed upon hormone stimulus. The epigenetic signatures of the TADs are coordinately modified by hormone in correlation with the transcriptional changes. Hormone-induced changes in gene activity and chromatin remodeling are accompanied by differential structural changes for activated and repressed TADs. In response to hormone activated TADs exhibit higher density of internal contacts, while repressed TADs show less intra-TAD contacts. Integrative 3D modelling revealed that TADs structurally expanded if activated and compacted when repressed, and that this is accompanied by differential changes in their global accessibility. We thus propose that TADs function as “regulons” to enable spatially proximal genes to be coordinately transcribed in response to hormones.
Evolution of bacterial communities in the wheat crop rhizosphere
Authors: Donn Suzanne , Kirkegaard John A. , Perera Geetha , Richardson Alan E. , Watt Michelle 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe gap between current average global wheat yields and that achievable through best agronomic management and crop genetics is large. This is notable in intensive wheat rotations which are widely used. Expectations are that this gap can be reduced by manipulating soil processes, especially those that involve microbial ecology. Cross‐year analysis of the soil microbiome in an intensive wheat cropping system revealed that rhizosphere bacteria changed much more than the bulk soil community. Dominant factors influencing populations included binding to roots, plant age, site and planting sequence. We demonstrated evolution of bacterial communities within the field rhizosphere. Early in the season, communities tightly bound to the root were simplest. These increased in diversity with plant age and senescence. Loosely bound communities also increased in diversity from vegetative to reproductive plant stages but were more stable than those tightly bound to roots. Planting sequence and, to a lesser extent, wheat genotype also significantly affected rhizosphere bacteria. Plasticity in the rhizosphere generated from crop root system management and genetics offers promise for manipulating the soil ecology of intense cereal systems. Analyses of soil microbiomes for the purpose of developing agronomic benefit should include roots as well as soil loosely adhered to the roots, and the bulk soil.
The efficacy and safety of topical 5% 5‐fluorouracil in renal transplant recipients for the treatment of actinic keratoses
Authors: Ingham Annabel I. , Weightman Warren 
Published: March 2014

AbstractActinic keratoses (AK) occur more commonly and behave more aggressively in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Topical 5% 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) cream is a commonly used agent whose efficacy and safety have never been exclusively studied in the RTR population before. Eight RTR were enrolled and 5% 5‐FU cream applied to AK lesions on their face twice daily for 3 weeks. They were reviewed at 2 and 8 weeks, and 12 months post‐commencement of treatment. Their AK were counted and their cumulative surface areas measured. Patients completed surveys monitoring adverse effects and tolerability. Complete (100%) and partial clearance (≥ 75%) rates were measured, as well as mean percentages of the reduction in AK surface area. Patients had complete clearance rates of 63 and 0% at 8 weeks and 12 months, respectively. All (100%) patients had partial clearance at week 8 and 71% had partial clearance at 12 months. Patients had on average 15 AK at week 0 and 1 and 3 at 8 weeks and 12 months, respectively. The mean AK clearance rate was 98% at week 8 and 79% at 12 months. Common side‐effects were erythema, itch and flaking or scaling, mostly mild in severity. 5‐FU appears to be an efficacious and safe treatment for AK in RTR.
Interactions of antagonists with subtypes of inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) receptor
Authors: Saleem Huma , Tovey Stephen C , Molinski Tadeusz F , Taylor Colin W 
Published: March 2014

Background and PurposeInositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) are intracellular Ca2+ channels. Interactions of the commonly used antagonists of IP3Rs with IP3R subtypes are poorly understood.Experimental ApproachIP3‐evoked Ca2+ release from permeabilized DT40 cells stably expressing single subtypes of mammalian IP3R was measured using a luminal Ca2+ indicator. The effects of commonly used antagonists on IP3‐evoked Ca2+ release and 3H‐IP3 binding were characterized.Key ResultsFunctional analyses showed that heparin was a competitive antagonist of all IP3R subtypes with different affinities for each (IP3R3 > IP3R1 ≥ IP3R2). This sequence did not match the affinities for heparin binding to the isolated N‐terminal from each IP3R subtype. 2‐aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2‐APB) and high concentrations of caffeine selectively inhibited IP3R1 without affecting IP3 binding. Neither Xestospongin C nor Xestospongin D effectively inhibited IP3‐evoked Ca2+ release via any IP3R subtype.Conclusions and ImplicationsHeparin competes with IP3, but its access to the IP3‐binding core is substantially hindered by additional IP3R residues. These interactions may contribute to its modest selectivity for IP3R3. Practicable concentrations of caffeine and 2‐APB inhibit only IP3R1. Xestospongins do not appear to be effective antagonists of IP3Rs.
Activation of the δ‐opioid receptor promotes cutaneous wound healing by affecting keratinocyte intercellular adhesion and migration
Authors: Bigliardi P L , Neumann C , Teo Y L , Pant A , Bigliardi‐Qi M 
Published: March 2014

Background and PurposeIn addition to its analgesic functions, the peripheral opioid receptor system affects skin homeostasis by influencing cell differentiation, migration and adhesion; also, wound healing is altered in δ‐opioid receptor knockout mice (DOPr–/–). Hence, we investigated δ‐opioid receptor effects on the expression of several proteins of the desmosomal junction complex and on the migratory behaviour of keratinocytes.Experimental ApproachExpression levels of desmosomal cadherins in wild‐type and DOPr–/– mice, and the morphology of intercellular adhesion in human keratinocytes were analysed by immunofluorescence. To investigate the δ‐opioid receptor activation pathway, protein expression was studied using Western blot and its effect on cellular migration determined by in vitro live cell migration recordings from human keratinocytes.Key ResultsExpression of the desmosomal cadherins, desmogleins 1 and 4, was up‐regulated in skin from DOPr–/– mice, and down‐regulated in δ‐opioid receptor‐overexpressing human keratinocytes. The localization of desmoplakin expression was rearranged from linear arrays emanating from cell borders to puncta in cell periphery, resulting in less stable intercellular adhesion. Migration and wound recovery were enhanced in human keratinocyte monolayers overexpressing δ‐opioid receptors in vitro. These δ‐opioid receptor effects were antagonized by specific PKCα/β inhibition indicating they were mediated through the PKC signalling pathway. Finally, cells overexpressing δ‐opioid receptors developed characteristically long but undirected protrusions containing filamentous actin and δ‐opioid receptors, indicating an enhanced migratory phenotype.Conclusion and ImplicationsOpioid receptors affect intercellular adhesion and wound healing mechanisms, underlining the importance of a cutaneous neuroendocrine system in wound healing and skin homeostasis.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Opioids: New Pathways to Functional Selectivity. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-2
Varenicline decreases ethanol intake and increases dopamine release via neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nucleus accumbens
Authors: Feduccia A A , Simms J A , Mill D , Yi H Y , Bartlett S E 
Published: March 2014

Background and PurposeVarenicline, a neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulator, decreases ethanol consumption in rodents and humans. The proposed mechanism of action for varenicline to reduce ethanol consumption has been through modulation of dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) via α4*‐containing nAChRs in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, presynaptic nAChRs on dopaminergic terminals in the NAc have been shown to directly modulate dopaminergic signalling independently of neuronal activity from the VTA. In this study, we determined whether nAChRs in the NAc play a role in varenicline's effects on ethanol consumption.Experimental ApproachRats were trained to consume ethanol using the intermittent‐access two‐bottle choice protocol for 10 weeks. Ethanol intake was measured after varenicline or vehicle was microinfused into the NAc (core, shell or core‐shell border) or the VTA (anterior or posterior). The effect of varenicline treatment on DA release in the NAc was measured using both in vivo microdialysis and in vitro fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV).Key ResultsMicroinfusion of varenicline into the NAc core and core‐shell border, but not into the NAc shell or VTA, reduced ethanol intake following long‐term ethanol consumption. During microdialysis, a significant enhancement in accumbal DA release occurred following systemic administration of varenicline and FSCV showed that varenicline also altered the evoked release of DA in the NAc.Conclusion and ImplicationsFollowing long‐term ethanol consumption, varenicline in the NAc reduces ethanol intake, suggesting that presynaptic nAChRs in the NAc are important for mediating varenicline's effects on ethanol consumption.
The straight to test endoscopy service for suspected colorectal cancer: meeting national targets but are we meeting our patients' expectations?
Authors: Hitchins C. R. , Lawn A. , Whitehouse G. , McFall M. R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimThe NHS Cancer Plan describes initiatives to improve patient care in the UK, including the two‐week rule cancer referral pathway. To meet this target a straight to test (STT) endoscopy service was devised to expedite diagnosis of suspected colorectal cancer. Our novel study aimed to determine patient satisfaction with this new approach to rapid access investigation.MethodAn anonymized questionnaire was posted to 300 patients who had undergone STT endoscopy in our unit between January and June 2010. It assessed satisfaction with the service overall, time from referral to investigation, pre‐test information, bowel preparation instructions and time to results as well as preference for a traditional pre‐test or post‐test outpatient appointment and awareness that the referral was for suspected bowel cancer.ResultsIn all, 174 questionnaires were obtained (58% yield; mean age 68.8; 44.8% men). 82.2% of patients were ‘very satisfied’ with the service overall, 82.8% with time from referral to test, 75.2% with time from test to results, 73% with endoscopy information and 69.5% with bowel preparation instructions. Eight per cent would rather have seen a specialist prior to endoscopy, 31.6% would have preferred a post‐test appointment and 68.4% of patients were aware that referral was for suspected bowel cancer.ConclusionStraight to test is popular with patients. It offers a fast and cost effective service in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and meets national targets whilst reducing the volume burden on outpatient clinics. However, its success heavily relies on accurate communication between general practitioner, patient and secondary care.
Treatment of onychomycosis using the 1 064 nm Nd:YAG laser: a clinical pilot study
Authors: Hees Henrik , Jäger Michael W. , Raulin Christian 
Published: March 2014

SummaryBackgroundNd:YAG lasers could be a safe and effective treatment modality for onychomycosis, without the side effects of drugs. Long and short‐pulsed Nd:YAG lasers were used in this clinical study in a side‐comparison manner without removal of onychomycotic nail material before treatment.Patients and MethodsBig toenails of 10 patients were treated twice in a side‐comparison manner with the short‐pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Fungal cultures were taken and a histological examination was performed before treatment and after 9 months. Two independent investigators rated clearance using the “Onychomycosis Severity Index (OSI)” and standardized photographs at 3‐month intervals.ResultsOSI‐Scores decreased for 3.8 (15 %; p = 0.006), 4.8 (19 %; p = 0.0002) and 2.9 points (12 %; p = 0.04) within 3, 6 and 9 months. The positive culture rate at 9 months was significantly reduced to 35 % (p = 0.0003). Classification of severity of onychomycosis showed no change. The difference between the treatment regimens was not significant.ConclusionsThese results suggest that treatment of onychomycosis with the Nd:YAG laser without removing mycotic nail material can lead to a temporary clinical improvement, a reduction of positive fungal cultures and an improvement of the Onychomycosis Severity Index. The treatment regimen should be optimized to be used as an effective antimycotic monotherapy.
Establishing HbA1c–mean blood glucose formulae for patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Zhao C. , Luo Q. , He F. , Peng F. , Xia X. , Huang F. , Yu X. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo determine the relationship between HbA1c and mean blood glucose concentrations by using HbA1c–mean blood glucose formulae for people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.MethodsA total of 305 people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, including 13 people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, 161 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 131 people without diabetes, from a single peritoneal dialysis centre at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University, were enrolled between January 2006 and June 2011. Serum HbA1c concentration was measured quarterly and other laboratory variables, including blood glucose, were measured every month. The formulae were established using regression analysis and adjusted for other factors. The estimated blood glucose level calculated using our formulae was compared with that using previous formulae namely the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and A1c‐Derived Average Glucose formulae for people not on dialysis and the Hoshino formula for people on haemodialysis.ResultsThe HbA1c–mean blood glucose formulae obtained by linear regression analysis were: 1) mBGmmol/l = 0.107 × HbA1c(mmol/mol) + 1.764 [adjusted R2 () = 0.494]; 2) mBGmmol/l = 0.101 × HbA1c (mmol/mol) − 0.001 × Cr (μmol/l) + 2.850 ( = 0.507); 3) mBGmmol/l = 0.102 × HbA1c (mmol/mol) − 0.095 × Alb (g/l) + 5.394 ( = 0.521); and 4) mBGmmol/l = 0.099 × HbA1c (mmol/mol) − 0.001 × Cr (μmol/l)−0.084 × Alb (g/l) + 5.754 ( = 0.526), where mBG is mean blood glucose, Cr is serum creatinine and Alb is serum albumin. These new formulae performed as well as or better than previous formulae.ConclusionsThe relationship between HbA1c and mean blood glucose for people on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis differs from that for people not on dialysis or for those on haemodialysis. Clinicians and patients can determine glycaemic control targets by applying our formulae.
Influences of population density, temperature and latitude on the growth of invasive topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva
Authors: Davies Gareth D. , Britton J. Robert 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPlasticity in life‐history traits provides advantages for introduced fish in overcoming demographic bottlenecks that would otherwise inhibit establishment. Here, the influence of population density, temperature and latitude was tested on the growth increments and growth rates of invasive populations of topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a small Asian cyprinid fish that is invasive across Europe. Aquaria experiments tested the roles of fish number and temperature on growth increments under a fixed food supply, pond experiments tested the role of density on growth increments, and a field study completed in England and Wales tested the influence of density and latitude on growth rates. In aquaria experiments, whilst growth increments were higher at 21 and 23 °C than at 19 and 25 °C, fish number had a greater influence on growth than temperature. Higher growth increments were produced at lower densities. In experimental ponds, growth increments were significantly higher in ponds with low densities of P. parva compared with those at elevated densities. In the field study comprising 10 wild populations across a latitudinal gradient of 4.0°N, a difference in mean air temperatures of approximately 3 °C, and estimated densities between 0.5 and 65.0 m−2, population density was the only significant predictor of growth rates. Whilst populations at very low densities comprised of significantly faster growing individuals, there were no significant differences when densities were between 15 and 65 m−2. Thus, invasive P. parva populations have considerable growth plasticity, especially at low densities, with this likely to be important in their ability to colonise new environments.