bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct and indirect top‐down effects of previous contact with an enemy on the feeding behavior of blowfly larvae
Authors: Reigada Carolina , Godoy Wesley A. C. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractWe investigated the addition of a trophic level to a simple food web. Direct and indirect effects caused by the presence of a new species in the food web were quantified by estimating survival and consumption rates on the basal resource. We focused on a blowfly intraguild prey–predator system with various ecological interactions taking place during the larval period. The experiments were designed to set Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) as the intraguild prey and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) as the intraguild predator and/or cannibal. The generalist pupal parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was introduced into the system during a non‐susceptible life stage of the interacting blowfly species. The cascading parasitoid effects induced behavioral changes in the blowfly larvae, increasing the impact of intraguild predation and cannibalism on blowfly survival. The results suggest that blowfly larvae can change their feeding behavior in response to the presence of a parasitoid.
The cell envelope‐associated protein, LytR, regulates the cysteine protease SpeB in Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: MINAMI MASAAKI , ICHIKAWA MARIKO , OHTA MICHIO , HASEGAWA TADAO 
Published: December 2011

Minami M, Ichikawa M, Ohta M, Hasegawa T. The cell envelope‐associated protein, LytR, regulates the cysteine protease SpeB in Streptococcus pyogenes. APMIS 2012; 120: 417–26.The LytR family of cell envelope‐associated transcriptional attenuators in bacteria has been brought into focus of scientific interest on the expression of various virulence factors, as well as bacterial cell envelope maintenance. However, this protein of Streptococcus pyogenes has been only described as cell surface‐associated protein, and its function is completely unknown. We created lytR mutant strains from two independent S. pyogenes strains to analyze the function of LytR. The protease assay in culture supernatant showed that lytR mutant had the higher cysteine protease activity than wild‐type. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and western blotting analysis revealed that the amount of cysteine protease, SpeB in lytR mutant was more compared with that in wild‐type. The level of speB mRNA in lytR mutant also increased compared with that of wild‐type. The membrane integrity and potential in lytR mutant also were decreased compared with that of wild‐type. Murine infection model showed that less survival was detected in mice inoculated with lytR mutant than that with wild‐type, and the size of wound lesion of mice with lytR mutant was larger than that with wild‐type. Our data suggest that the lytR regulates the expression of SpeB in S. pyogenes with relation to membrane integrity.
Socio‐behavioural predictors of young adults’ self‐reported oral health: 15 years of follow‐up in the The Norwegian Longitudinal Health Behaviour study
Authors: Åstrøm A. N. , Wold B. 
Published: December 2011

Åstrøm AN, Wold B. Socio‐behavioural predictors of young adults’ self‐reported oral health: 15 years of follow‐up in the The Norwegian Longitudinal Health Behaviour study. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/SAbstract –  Objectives:  Few prospective studies have investigated the impacts of socio‐behavioural position throughout adolescence on self‐reported oral health in young adulthood. This study aimed to describe the development of oral health behaviours between age 15 years (1992) and age 30 years (2007) and to assess how changes in or stability of socio‐behavioural characteristics during that period influences the oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP) and satisfaction with teeth assessed at age 30.Methods:  Self‐administered questionnaires were included as part of a prospective cohort study. In 1992, a representative sample of 963 15‐year‐old adolescents participated in the study; 627 (64%) and 532 (55.2%) remained in the study at ages 23 and 30, respectively. A total of 394 (40.9% of baseline sample) participated at ages 15, 23 and 30.Results:  Cochrane’s Q revealed that the proportions of individuals who were frequent performers regarding flossing, intake of nonsugared mineral water and use of snuff increased whereas the proportions who were frequent performers regarding consumption of sugared mineral water decreased in subjects with low and high parental education and in both sexes across the survey period. Smokers increased in males and decreased in females and in subjects with low parental education. Spearman’s rank‐order correlation ranged from 0.19 (nonsugared mineral water) to 0.36 (smoking). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that participants with a stable advantaged socio‐behavioural position were less likely to report OIDP at age 30. Participants with a stable disadvantaged socio‐behavioural position were more likely to report OIDP at age 30. Participants who were stable satisfied with their health and who changed educational status were more likely to be satisfied with their teeth at age 30.Conclusions:  Oral health behaviours tracked moderately from age 15 to 30. Continuity of an advantaged or disadvantaged socio‐behavioural position across the survey years contributed to differing levels of oral health. Early and contemporary public health policies that target disadvantaged socio‐behavioural groups may help prevent poor oral health perceptions in young adults in Norway.
Comparison of radiation exposure of trauma patients from diagnostic radiology procedures before and after the introduction of a panscan protocol
Authors: Asha Stephen , Curtis Kate Anne , Grant Nicole , Taylor Colman , Lo Serigne , Smart Richard , Compagnoni Katherine 
Published: December 2011

AbstractObjectives: To compare the proportion of patients exposed to a radiation dose in excess of 20 mSv, and to document missed injuries before and after the introduction of a panscan protocol for blunt trauma.Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from our trauma database for 6 months before and after implementation of the protocol. All radiological studies performed during the initial patient assessment were identified. Radiation doses for each patient were calculated. Subgroup analyses were age ≤30 and >30 years, injury severity score (ISS) <16 and ≥16, and patient disposition as discharged from ED or admitted.Results: There were 656 patients before and 624 after the introduction of the protocol. The proportion of patients exposed to a radiation dose >20 mSv increased by 8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4–12), which equated to one extra person being exposed to >20 mSv for every 13 patients treated after the introduction of the protocol. The odds of receiving a radiation dose >20 mSv after the introduction of the protocol compared with the odds before were increased across all subgroups (≤30 years: odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% CI 1.3–5.8, P = 0.008; >30 years: OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.4, P < 0.001; ISS < 16: OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5–3.9, P < 0.001; ISS ≥ 16: OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–3.7, P = 0.04; discharged home: OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.7–6.0, P = 0.17; admitted: OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.3, P < 0.001). There were six missed injuries before and four after.Conclusions: Introduction of a panscan protocol increased the proportion of trauma patients receiving a radiation dose >20 mSv. This increased risk occurred regardless of age or injury severity.
Application of DRASTIC and extension theory in the groundwater vulnerability evaluation
Authors: Bai Liping , Wang Yeyao , Meng Fansheng 
Published: December 2011

AbstractGroundwater vulnerability assessment plays a vital role in the utilization and protection of groundwater resources. DRASTIC is one of the most widely used models for groundwater vulnerability assessment. However, the DRASTIC model should be modified based on the local hydrogeological conditions in order to get a relatively accurate result. In this study, Baotou, China was chosen as a case study. The groundwater vulnerability was assessed using DRASTIC at first, but the evaluation results were not consistent with the groundwater quality. So the DRASTIC model was modified based on extension theory and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The extension theory could be used to divide the groundwater vulnerability grades in the DRASTIC model. It is a new attempt to use extension theory and DRASTIC in the assessment of groundwater vulnerability, and the research results show that this method is better for assessing groundwater vulnerability.
Effects of duration of untreated psychosis on the clinical course and neurocognitive features of schizophrenia
Authors: Kaymak Semra Ulusoy , Altıntas Merih , Unsal Demet , Sevinc Ergun , Gülec Huseyin 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIntroductionProlonged duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is one of the negative factors in the course of schizophrenia. The purpose of our study was to detect the long‐term effects of DUP on the clinical and neurocognitive features of schizophrenia patients.MethodsOne hundred and sixty‐two schizophrenia patients were divided into two groups (short and long‐term DUP) according to the median duration (<6 months). The groups were then stratified according to duration of illness (DI) as short‐term (≤10 years) and long‐term. Psychopathology and clinical signs were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Executive functions were assessed using Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Colour Trail Test (CTT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST).ResultsSymptoms, cigarette consumption, treatment response, CGI, GAF, positive, negative and general subscales of the PANNS and FAB showed significant differences between the short‐ and long‐term DUP groups. These differences were more significant in the long‐term DI group. Positive correlation between DUP and age, cigarette consumption, length of illness, number of hospitalizations, resistance to treatment, compliance, and negative and total scores in PANNS were detected in the whole group of patients. However, the correlation of DUP with CGI and percentage of conceptual level response of WCST were negative.ConclusionLong‐term DUP may have a negative effect on the clinical and neurocognitive features of schizophrenia. This effect more significantly appears in schizophrenia patients with longer DI.
Cognitive behavioural therapy and the psychopathology of schizophrenia: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Newton‐Howes Giles , Wood Rebecca 
Published: December 2011

Purpose. To examine whether cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) reduces psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia more effectively than the use of non‐cognitive psychotherapies.Method. Systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature was performed. All Randomized Controlled Trials meeting the inclusion criteria were analysed using RevMan software. This design was used to maximize power and study efficacy. Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched using free‐text keywords to identify potential papers. Nine were included in the final meta‐analysis. Change in psychopathology at the end of therapy was the end point investigated. A random effects model was used to assess the standard mean difference between the CBT and supportive control groups.Results. Meta‐analysis of CBT versus supportive therapy did not find significant differences between the therapy groups at the end of treatment in respect of psychopathology. There was no evidence of publication bias. Post hoc power analysis using the Z test ruled out type one error.Conclusions. Theoretically based CBT therapies, although proving effective, may not out perform more accessible and simpler forms of therapy for patients with schizophrenia in reducing psychopathology. Consideration of supportive therapy should be made for patients with psychotic mental disorder.Practitioner Points

CBT may not be the psychotherapeutic treatment of choice to alleviate the phenomenology of Schizophrenia.

It may be valuable trialling simple supportive therapies prior to implementing more costly and complex cognitive therapies.

This review, like the Cochrane review and others, does not suggest CBT in psychosis is not effective, simply that it dose not outperform supportive therapy in effecting change in phenomenology.
Identification of Immunogenic and Virulence-Associated Campylobacter jejuni Proteins
Authors: Nielsen Lene N. , Luijkx Thomas A. , Vegge Christina S. , Johnsen Christina Kofoed , Nuijten Piet , Wren Brendan W. , Ingmer Hanne , Krogfelt Karen A. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

With the aim of identifying proteins important for host interaction and virulence, we have screened an expression library of NCTC 11168
Campylobacter jejuni
genes for highly immunogenic proteins. A commercial
C. jejuni
open reading frame (ORF) library consisting of more than 1,600 genes was transformed into the
Escherichia coli
expression strain BL21(DE3), resulting in 2,304 clones. This library was subsequently screened for immunogenic proteins using antibodies raised in rabbit against a clinical isolate of
C. jejuni
; this resulted in 52 highly reactive clones representing 25 different genes after sequencing. Selected candidate genes were inactivated in
C. jejuni
NCTC 11168, and the virulence was examined using INT 407 epithelial cell line and motility, biofilm, autoagglutination, and serum resistance assays. These investigations revealed
C. jejuni
antigen 0034c (Cj0034c) to be a novel virulence factor and support the usefulness of the method. Further, several antigens were tested as vaccine candidates in two mouse models, in which Cj0034c, Cj0404, and Cj0525c resulted in a reduction of invasion in spleen and liver after challenge.
Characterization of an Immunodominant Antigenic Epitope from Trypanosoma cruzi as a Biomarker of Chronic Chagas' Disease Pathology
Authors: Thomas M. Carmen , Fernández-Villegas Ana , Carrilero Bartolomé , Marañón Concepción , Saura Daniel , Noya Oscar , Segovia Manuel , Alarcón de Noya Belkisyolé , Alonso Carlos , López Manuel Carlos 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, the techniques available for chronic Chagas' disease diagnosis are very sensitive; however, they do not allow discrimination of the patient's clinical stages of the disease. The present paper describes that three out of the five different repeats contained in the
Trypanosoma cruzi
TcCA-2 membrane protein (3972-FGQAAAGDKPPP, 6303-FGQAAAGDKPAP, and 3973-FGQAAAGDKPSL) are recognized with high sensitivity (>90%) by sera from chronic Chagas' disease patients and that they are not recognized by sera from patients in the acute phase of the disease. A total of 133 serum samples from chagasic patients and 50 serum samples from healthy donors were tested. In addition, sera from 15 patients with different autoimmune diseases, 43 serum samples from patients suffering an infectious disease other than Chagas' disease, and 38 serum samples from patients with nonchagasic cardiac disorders were also included in this study. The residue 3973 peptide shows a specificity of >98%, as it is not recognized by individuals with autoimmune and inflammatory processes or by patients with a nonchagasic cardiomyopathy. Remarkably, the levels of antibody against the 3973 epitope detected by the sera from Chagas' disease patients in the symptomatic chronic phase, involving cardiac or digestive alterations, are higher than those detected by the sera from Chagas' disease patients in the indeterminate phase of the disease. It is suggested that the diagnostic technique described could also be used to indicate the degree of pathology. The amino acids F, Q, and DKP located in the peptide at positions 1, 3, and 8 to 10, respectively, are essential to conform to the immunodominant antigenic epitope.
Comparison of the MALDI Biotyper System Using Sepsityper Specimen Processing to Routine Microbiological Methods for Identification of Bacteria from Positive Blood Culture Bottles
Authors: Buchan Blake W. , Riebe Katherine M. , Ledeboer Nathan A. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT
Bloodstream infections are a leading cause of admissions to hospital intensive care units and carry a high mortality rate. Clinical outcome can be greatly improved by early effective antibiotic therapy; therefore, broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy is often initiated when there is a clinical suspicion of bloodstream infection. Unfortunately, this method may not always be effective when dealing with inherently resistant organisms and can also result in iatrogenic infection and the development of resistant isolates. Rapid identification of the infecting organism may aid in choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy, thereby reducing these potential adverse events. We compared the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) Biotyper system with Sepsityper specimen processing (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA) to routine methods for the identification of microorganisms from 164 positive blood cultures. The MALDI Biotyper/Sepsityper identified 85.5% of bacterial isolates directly from positive monomicrobial blood cultures with 97.6% concordance to genus and 94.1% concordance to species with routine identification methods. Gram-negative isolates were more likely to produce acceptable confidence scores (97.8%) than Gram-positive isolates (80.0%); however, genus and species concordance with routine identification methods were similar in both groups. Reanalysis of collected spectra using modified blood culture-specific parameters resulted in an improved overall identification rate for Gram-positive bacteria (89.0%). Median times to identification using the MALDI Biotyper/Sepsityper were 23 to 83 h faster than routine methods for Gram-positive isolates and 34 to 51 h faster for Gram-negative isolates.
Effects of Solid-Medium Type on Routine Identification of Bacterial Isolates by Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Anderson Neil W. , Buchan Blake W. , Riebe Katherine M. , Parsons Lauren N. , Gnacinski Stacy , Ledeboer Nathan A. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid method for the identification of bacteria. Factors that may alter protein profiles, including growth conditions and presence of exogenous substances, could hinder identification. Bacterial isolates identified by conventional methods were grown on various media and identified using the MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA) using a direct smear method and an acid extraction method. Specimens included 23
Pseudomonas
isolates grown on blood agar, Pseudocel (CET), and MacConkey agar (MAC); 20
Staphylococcus
isolates grown on blood agar, colistin-nalidixic acid agar (CNA), and mannitol salt agar (MSA); and 25 enteric isolates grown on blood agar, xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLD), Hektoen enteric agar (HE), salmonella-shigella agar (SS), and MAC. For
Pseudomonas
spp., the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 83% from blood, 78% from MAC, and 94% from CET. For
Staphylococcus
isolates, the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 95% from blood, 75% from CNA, and 95% from MSA. For enteric isolates, the identification rate to genus using the direct method was 100% from blood, 100% from MAC, 100% from XLD, 92% from HE, and 87% from SS. Extraction enhanced identification rates. The direct method of MALDI-TOF analysis of bacteria from selective and differential media yields identifications of varied confidence. Notably,
Staphylococci
spp. from CNA exhibit low identification rates. Extraction enhances identification rates and is recommended for colonies from this medium.
Evaluation of Any or Type-Specific Persistence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus for Detecting Cervical Precancer
Authors: Marks Morgan A. , Castle Philip E. , Schiffman Mark , Gravitt Patti E. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing is increasingly important. We therefore examined the impact on accuracy of repeated versus one-time testing, type-specific versus pooled detection, and assay analytic sensitivity. By using a nested case-control design from the ASCUS-LSIL Triage Study, we selected women with incident cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or grade 3 (CIN2/3;
n
= 325) and a random sample of women with <CIN2 as controls (
n
= 401). HPV DNA status was assessed using hybrid capture 2 (HC2), a pooled test for 13 HR-HPV types, and the linear array (LA) and the line blot assay (LBA), two PCR-based HPV genotyping assays, at enrollment and the 6-month follow-up visit. The relative sensitivity and specificity for different permutations of multiple measurements were compared to a single measurement using marginal regression models. We found that repeat detection of any HR-HPV (by HC2, LA, or LBA) and of type-specific persistence (by LA or LBA) were significantly more specific but less sensitive than use of a single time point measurement of any HR-HPV. Sensitivity decreased and specificity increased further when testing intervals were increased from 12 to 24 months. Including detection of borderline carcinogenic/noncarcinogenic HPV types with HR-HPV types decreased specificity for repeat measures of HPV with no impact on sensitivity. Similar patterns were observed when we used a CIN3 end point. We conclude that assay performance for detecting incident CIN2/3 was affected by which types were included, the analytic sensitivity of the assay, and the testing interval. These trade-offs need to be considered when assessing the potential overall clinical utility of repeated testing for HR-HPV DNA to identify women at risk for CIN2/3.
Molecular Epidemiology over an 11-Year Period (2000 to 2010) of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Causing Bacteremia in a Centralized Canadian Region
Authors: Peirano Gisele , van der Bij Akke K. , Gregson Daniel B. , Pitout Johann D. D. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACT

A study was designed to assess the importance of sequence types among extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Escherichia coli
isolates causing bacteremia over an 11-year period (2000 to 2010) in a centralized Canadian region. A total of 197 patients with incident infections were identified; the majority presented with community-onset urosepsis, with a significant increase in the prevalence of ESBL-producing
E. coli
during the later part of the study. The majority of
E. coli
isolates produced either CTX-M-15 or CTX-M-14. We identified 7 different major sequence types among 91% of isolates (i.e., the ST10 clonal complex, ST38, ST131, ST315, ST393, ST405, and ST648) and provided insight into their clinical and molecular characteristics. ST38 was the most antimicrobial-susceptible sequence type and predominated during 2000 to 2004 but disappeared after 2008. ST131 was the most antimicrobial-resistant sequence type, and the influx of a single pulsotype of this sequence type was responsible for the significant increase of ESBL-producing
E. coli
strains since 2007. During 2010, 49/63 (78%) of the ESBL-producing
E. coli
isolates belonged to ST131, and this sequence type had established itself as a major drug-resistant pathogen in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, posing an important new public health threat within our region. We urgently need well-designed epidemiological and molecular studies to understand the dynamics of transmission, risk factors, and reservoirs for
E. coli
ST131. This will provide insight into the emergence and spread of this multiresistant sequence type.