bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementation of standardised surveillance for Clostridium difficile infections in Australia: initial report from the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System
Authors: Bull A. L. , Worth L. J. , Richards M. J. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractDetection of a hypervirulent strain of Clostridium difficile in Victoria led to commencement of targeted surveillance for C. difficile infection in 2010. Cases were reported through the Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance System. Between 1 October 2010 and 31 March 2011, 477 cases of C. difficile infection were identified; 11 (2.3%) secondary to a hypervirulent strain. Three hundred and seventy (1.7 per 10 000 occupied bed days) were healthcare associated. Data reflect successful implementation of continuous surveillance for C. difficile infection. With hypervirulent C. difficile infection now reported in other Australian states, development of a national data repository for C. difficile infection is necessary.
Point‐prevalence study of inappropriate antibiotic use at a tertiary Australian hospital
Authors: Ingram P. R. , Seet J. M. , Budgeon C. A. , Murray R. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA point‐prevalence study at a tertiary Australian hospital found 199 of 462 inpatients (43%) to be receiving antibiotic therapy. Forty‐seven per cent of antibiotic use was discordant with guidelines or microbiological results and hence considered inappropriate. Risk factors for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing included bone/joint infections, the absence of infection, creatinine level >120 µmol/L, carbapenem or macrolide use and being under the care of the aged care/rehabilitation team. In the setting of finite antimicrobial stewardship resources, identification of local determinants for inappropriate antibiotic use may enable more targeted interventions.
Delusions of Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease: Study of drug‐naïve patients
Authors: Kwak Yong Tae , Yang YoungSoon , Kwak Soon‐Gu , Koo Min‐Seong 
Published: June 2012

Aim:  Although delusions are one of the most prominent psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD), research on the subtypes, prevalence and associated factors of delusions, especially in drug (psychotropic)‐naïve patients, has been limited.Methods:  Patients (n = 230) with psychotropic‐naïve (drug‐naïve) probable AD were assessed with the Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K‐NPI) delusion subscale at the time of initial presentation. After determining the four delusion subtypes (paranoid, misidentification, mixed and expansive delusion), clinical characteristics and prevalence of each type were compared.Results:  Delusions were present in 63 patients (27.4%). Among those patients, paranoid delusions were the most common type of delusion (38, 60.3%), followed by misidentification delusions (12, 19.0%), then mixed delusions (11, 17.5%). Expansive delusions are rare in drug‐naïve probable AD patients. Compared with paranoid delusions, misidentification and mixed delusions appeared at a later stage, and were associated with greater cognitive impairment. Mixed delusions were associated with hallucinations.Conclusions:  This study showed that delusions are associated with global cognitive dysfunction. Although paranoid delusions are the most common, misidentification and mixed delusions comprised significant portions of delusions in AD patients, and appeared in the later stages of dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 307–313.
Simultaneous application of slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation and theta burst stimulation prolongs continuous theta burst stimulation‐induced suppression of corticomotor excitability in humans
Authors: Doeltgen Sebastian H. , McAllister Suzanne M. , Ridding Michael C. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess whether the simultaneous application of slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation enhances the neuroplastic response to transcranial magnetic theta burst stimulation. Motor evoked potential amplitude was assessed at baseline and at regular intervals up to 60 min following continuous theta burst stimulation, slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation, and the simultaneous application of these paradigms. In addition, the electroencephalographic power spectra of slow and fast delta, and theta frequency bands recorded over the motor cortex were analyzed prior to and up to 5 min following each intervention. There was longer‐lasting motor evoked potential suppression following the simultaneous application of continuous theta burst stimulation and slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation compared with when continuous theta burst stimulation was applied alone. Slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation applied alone did not modulate the motor evoked potential amplitude. No significant changes in spectral power were observed following slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation. Simultaneous application of continuous theta burst stimulation and slow‐oscillation transcranial direct current stimulation may provide an approach to prolong the induction of neuroplastic changes in motor cortical circuits by repetitive transcranial magnetic brain stimulation.
Axonal properties determine somatic firing in a model of in vitro CA1 hippocampal sharp wave/ripples and persistent gamma oscillations
Authors: Traub Roger D. , Schmitz Dietmar , Maier Nikolaus , Whittington Miles A. , Draguhn Andreas 
Published: June 2012

AbstractEvidence has been presented that CA1 pyramidal cells, during spontaneous in vitro sharp wave/ripple (SPW‐R) complexes, generate somatic action potentials that originate in axons. ‘Participating’ (somatically firing) pyramidal cells fire (almost always) at most once during a particular SPW‐R whereas non‐participating cells virtually never fire during an SPW‐R. Somatic spikelets were small or absent, while ripple‐frequency EPSCs and IPSCs occurred during the SPW‐R in pyramidal neurons. These experimental findings could be replicated with a network model in which electrical coupling was present between small pyramidal cell axonal branches. Here, we explore this model in more depth. Factors that influence somatic participation include: (i) the diameter of axonal branches that contain coupling sites to other axons, because firing in larger branches injects more current into the main axon, increasing antidromic firing probability; (ii) axonal K+ currents and (iii) somatic hyperpolarization and shunting. We predict that portions of axons fire at high frequency during SPW‐R, while somata fire much less. In the model, somatic firing can occur by occasional generation of full action potentials in proximal axonal branches, which are excited by high‐frequency spikelets. When the network contains phasic synaptic inhibition, at the axonal gap junction site, gamma oscillations result, again with more frequent axonal firing than somatic firing. Combining the models, so as to generate gamma followed by sharp waves, leads to strong overlap between the population of cells firing during gamma and the population of cells firing during a subsequent sharp wave, as observed in vivo.
Structuring of bacterioplankton communities by specific dissolved organic carbon compounds
Authors: Gómez‐Consarnau Laura , Lindh Markus V. , Gasol Josep M. , Pinhassi Jarone 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe main role of microorganisms in the cycling of the bulk dissolved organic carbon pool in the ocean is well established. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if particular bacteria preferentially utilize specific carbon compounds and whether such compounds have the potential to shape bacterial community composition. Enrichment experiments in the Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea and the North Sea (Skagerrak) showed that different low‐molecular‐weight organic compounds, with a proven importance for the growth of marine bacteria (e.g. amino acids, glucose, dimethylsulphoniopropionate, acetate or pyruvate), in most cases differentially stimulated bacterial growth. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis ‘fingerprints’ and 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that some bacterial phylotypes that became abundant were highly specific to enrichment with specific carbon compounds (e.g. Acinetobacter sp. B1‐A3 with acetate or Psychromonas sp. B3‐U1 with glucose). In contrast, other phylotypes increased in relative abundance in response to enrichment with several, or all, of the investigated carbon compounds (e.g. Neptuniibacter sp. M2‐A4 with acetate, pyruvate and dimethylsulphoniopropionate, and Thalassobacter sp. M3‐A3 with pyruvate and amino acids). Furthermore, different carbon compounds triggered the development of unique combinations of dominant phylotypes in several of the experiments. These results suggest that bacteria differ substantially in their abilities to utilize specific carbon compounds, with some bacteria being specialists and others having a more generalist strategy. Thus, changes in the supply or composition of the dissolved organic carbon pool can act as selective forces structuring bacterioplankton communities.
Inhibition of Bacillus subtilis natural competence by a native, conjugative plasmid‐encoded comK repressor protein
Authors: Singh Praveen K. , Ramachandran Gayetri , Durán‐Alcalde Lucía , Alonso Carlos , Wu Ling Juan , Meijer Wilfried J. J. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryUnder certain growth conditions, Bacillus subtilis can develop natural competence, the state in which it is able to bind, adsorb and incorporate exogenous DNA. Development of competence is a bistable process and is subject to complex regulation. Rok is a repressor of the key transcriptional activator of competence genes, comK, and limits the size of the subpopulation that develops competence. Here we report the finding that the large conjugative B. subtilis plasmid pLS20 harbours a rok homologue rokLS20. Although the deduced product of rokLS20 is considerably shorter than the chromosomally encoded Rok protein, we show that ectopic expression of the plasmid‐encoded RokLS20 leads to inhibition of competence by repressing comK, and that the effects of the plasmid and chromosomally encoded Rok proteins are additive. We also show that pLS20 inhibits competence in a rokLS20‐dependent manner and that purified RokLS20 preferentially binds to the comK promoter. By analysing the available databases we identified several additional rok‐like genes. These putative rok genes can be divided into two groups and we propose that rokLS20 is the prototype of a newly identified subgroup of nine rok genes. Finally, we discuss the possible role of the plasmid‐located rok and its relatedness with other rok genes.
Hypolithic microbial communities: between a rock and a hard place
Authors: Chan Yuki , Lacap Donnabella C. , Lau Maggie C. Y. , Ha Kong Ying , Warren‐Rhodes Kimberley A. , Cockell Charles S. , Cowan Donald A. , McKay Christopher P. , Pointing Stephen B. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryDrylands are the largest terrestrial biome on Earth and a ubiquitous feature is desert pavement terrain, comprising rocks embedded in the mineral soil surface. Quartz and other translucent rocks are common and microbial communities termed hypoliths develop as biofilms on their ventral surfaces. In extreme deserts these represent major concentrations of biomass, and are emerging as key to geobiological processes and soil stabilization. These highly specialized communities are dominated by cyanobacteria that support diverse heterotrophic assemblages. Here we identify global‐scale trends in the ecology of hypoliths that are strongly related to climate, particularly with regard to shifts in cyanobacterial assemblages. A synthesis of available data revealed a linear trend for colonization with regard to climate, and we suggest potential application for hypoliths as ‘biomarkers’ of aridity on a landscape scale. The potential to exploit the soil‐stabilizing properties of hypolithic colonization in environmental engineering on dryland soils is also discussed.
Staging lymphadenectomy in renal cell carcinoma must be extended: a sensitivity curve analysis
Authors: Capitanio Umberto , Suardi Nazareno , Matloob Rayan , Abdollah Firas , Castiglione Fabio , Briganti Alberto , Carenzi Cristina , Roscigno Marco , Montorsi Francesco , Bertini Roberto 
Published: June 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
In renal cell carcinoma the role of lymphadenectomy (LND) is still controversial. Moreover, no firm consensus exists regarding the minimum number of lymph nodes that should be removed to obtain a satisfactory staging LND at the time of surgery.
Our findings demonstrate that, when clinically indicated, staging LND in renal cell carcinoma should be extended. The removal of 15 lymph nodes might represent the lowest threshold to define a staging LND as adequate. More extended LND should be pursued if unfavourable clinical and pathological characteristics are evident at diagnosis and/or during surgery.
Objective
To investigate the staging of lymphadenectomy in renal cell carcinoma. No convincing data exist regarding the minimum number of lymph nodes that should be removed at the time of nephrectomy to ensure an accurate staging.
Methods
Between 1987 and 2011, 850 patients with renal cell carcinoma underwent either partial or radical nephrectomy plus lymph node dissection (LND) at a single tertiary care institution (TanyN0–1Many). Receiver operating characteristic curve coordinates were used to graph the probability of finding lymph node invasion according to the number of removed lymph nodes. Assuming that the likelihood of finding lymph node invasion according to the number of lymph nodes removed may be affected by patient characteristics, analyses were further stratified for clinical and pathological characteristics.
Results
The rate of lymph node metastases strongly correlated with the clinical and pathological characteristics of the patients. Fifteen lymph nodes need to be removed to achieve a 90% probability of detecting at least one metastatic lymph node. Only slight differences were recorded after stratification for clinical nodal status, the presence of metastases at diagnosis and pathological T stage. Finally, 13, 16 and 21 lymph nodes need to be removed to achieve a 90% probability of detecting lymph node invasion, if present, in the low risk (score 0–1), intermediate risk (score 2–3) and high risk (score 4–5) Mayo Clinic classification, respectively.
Conclusion
The removal of 15 lymph nodes represents the lowest threshold for considering a staging LND as adequate. More extended LND should be pursued if unfavourable clinical and pathological characteristics are evident at diagnosis and/or during surgery.
Earning While Learning: When and How Student Employment is Beneficial
Authors: Geel Regula , Backes‐Gellner Uschi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAlthough studies of student employment (‘earning while learning’) mostly find positive wage effects, they do not adequately consider the relation of the employment to the field of study. We investigate how different types of student employment during tertiary education affect short‐ and long‐term labour market returns. Beyond examining differences between non‐working and part‐time working students, we distinguish between student employment related and unrelated to the field of study. Our results show significant positive labour market returns of ‘earning while learning’ only for student employment related to the field of study. These returns consist of a lower unemployment risk, shorter job‐search duration, higher wage effects, and greater job responsibility.
Product Market Regulation and Labor Market Performance around the World
Authors: Feldmann Horst 
Published: June 2012

AbstractUsing annual data on 80 countries for 1980–2007 and a new indicator of product market regulation, this paper studies the effects of product market regulation on labor market performance among the total population as well as among two important groups of labor market outsiders: women and youth. It finds that stricter regulation is likely to both increase the unemployment rate and decrease the employment rate. The magnitude of the estimated effects is substantial. There are above‐average effects on both groups of outsiders, with the effects being particularly strong on youth. The results are robust to variations in specification.
Psoriasis as initiator or amplifier of the systemic inflammatory march: impact on development of severe vascular events and implications for treatment strategy
Authors: Su Y.‐S. , Yu H.‐S. , Li W.‐C. , Ko Y.‐C. , Chen G.‐S. , Wu C.‐S. , Lu Y.‐W. , Yang Y.‐H. , Lan C.‐C.E. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground  Psoriasis is a systemic disease associated with metabolic disorders and vascular complications. Both psoriasis and metabolic disorders are associated with systemic inflammation. We hypothesized that the sequence of events between the onset of psoriasis and metabolic disorder may affect the risk for subsequent development of vascular complications.Methods  Nested case–control study was performed using the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Accordingly, a total of 8180 psoriatic patients and 163 600 controls were included. Psoriasis was considered as the initiator of inflammatory march if metabolic disorder, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, developed after onset of psoriasis. In patients with pre‐existing metabolic disorder, psoriasis was considered as the amplifier of inflammatory march.Results  In patients whose psoriasis served as the disease initiator, a lower risk for developing vascular disease (HR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.11–2.00 and HR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.31–2.05 for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events, respectively) was found compared with patients whose psoriasis served as the disease amplifier (HR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.72–2.97 and HR = 2.78; 95% CI = 2.26–3.42 for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events, respectively) after adjusting for age and gender. In terms of treatment implications, methotrexate was associated with reduced risk for developing cerebrovascular event (HR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.05–0.88) only in patients with psoriasis serving as the disease amplifier.Conclusions  Our results suggested that two scenarios of systemic inflammatory marches are present among psoriatic patients with metabolic disorder and judicious use of methotrexate may reduce the risk of cerebrovascular event, especially when psoriasis served as the disease amplifier of the systemic inflammatory march.
Prevalence of non classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21‐hydroxylase deficiency in Greek women with acne: a hospital‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Trakakis E. , Papadavid E. , Dalamaga M. , Koumaki D , Stavrianeas N. , Rigopoulos D. , Creatsas G. , Kassanos D. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  To determine the prevalence and frequency of non classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC‐CAH) due to 21‐OHD at the time of clinical presentation and at the peripubertal period in a substantial sample of Greek women with acne and to investigate the correlation of serum T, 17‐OHP and DHEA‐S with acne appearance at the time of clinical presentation.Methods  One hundred and twenty‐three unselected women with hyperandrogenemic symptoms were examined. After the ACTH stimulation test, 6 (4.9%) women were diagnosed with NC‐CAH due to 21‐OHD.Results  There was not any statistical significant difference in the frequency of peripubertal acne between NC‐CAH group of patients (6.4%) and patients with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology (93%), mainly ovarian (P = 0.41). However, there was a statistical significant difference in the prevalence of acne at the time of clinical examination between the two groups (P = 0.04). Acne was present in 83.3% of women with NC‐CAH vs. 41.02% of women in the hyperandrogenic group without NC‐CAH. A statistically significant decrease of acne from the peripubertal time to the time of clinical examination in the group of women with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology (−21.37%) was observed compared to women with NC‐CAH (P < 0.001).Conclusion  We have shown that acne persists from peripubertal period to adult life in NC‐CAH women whereas it tends to diminish in women with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology. Acne is a prominent finding in women with NC‐CAH. Serum concentrations of 17‐OHP after ACTH stimulation (17‐OHP6O) should be investigated in women with persistent acne in adult life.
Autoimmune signals in non‐segmental vitiligo patients are associated with distinct clinical parameters and toxic exposures
Authors: Arunachalam M. , Colucci R. , Berti S. , Kline J.A. , Lotti T. , Lotti F. , Dragoni F. , Moretti S. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground  Although non‐segmental vitiligo is commonly considered an autoimmune disease, the possible differences between non‐segmental vitiligo patients with and without autoimmune signals have not been clearly established.Objective  To perform a comparison of non‐segmental vitiligo patients with autoimmune signals (AIS) vs. those without autoimmune signals (NAIS) in regards to clinical characteristics and toxic/drug exposure.Methods  112 vitiligo patients were selected for a sex and age matched (1 : 1) case control study at an university based dermatology outpatient hospital specialized in pigmentary disorders. Medical assessment was performed by dermatologists using the modified Vitiligo European Task Force form and serological and clinical signs of autoimmunity were evaluated.Results  Disease duration, age of onset, patient history of cardiovascular disease, past smoking history, use of drugs, and consummation of goitrogenic foods were all significantly increased in the AIS group using McNemar’s test for matched pairs. In our conditional regression model, the simultaneous presence of disease duration, use of prescription drugs, and consummation of goitrogenic foods were the best predictors of AIS vitiligo patients.Conclusion  The evaluation of non‐segmental vitiligo patients according to the presence vs. the absence of autoimmune signals allows us to correlate patients exhibiting autoimmune phenomenon with certain clinical characteristics, namely long disease duration, use of prescription drugs, and consumption of goitrogenic substances. In the presence of the aforementioned clinical profile, we suggest an evaluation of autoimmune signals.
Three‐dimensional imaging of small intestine morphology using non‐linear optical microscopy and endogenous signals
Authors: Ricard Clément , Vacca Barbara , Weber Pascal 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTwo‐photon microscopy (2PM) has become a gold standard for deep‐tissue observations in the living animal as well as on thick samples. Using 2PM, the endofluorescence properties of biomolecules have shown an interesting potential for the imaging of tissues without any staining. In this short communication, we report a method to observe the different layers of mouse small intestine explants with subcellular resolution and without any staining or clearing. This method allows rapid observations of samples with little to no preparation thanks to the endofluorescence properties of biomolecules such as NAD(P)H or flavins and second‐harmonic generation. Finally, we show different three‐dimensional reconstructions of the mouse small intestine anatomy obtained with this approach to show the potential of this method in morphological studies.