bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heat‐related changes in the velocity and kinetic energy of flowing blood influence the human heart's output during hyperthermia
Authors: Watanabe Kazuhito , Koch Esteves Nuno , Gibson Oliver R. , Akiyama Koichi , Watanabe Sumie , González‐Alonso José 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPassive whole‐body hyperthermia increases limb blood flow and cardiac output (), but the interplay between peripheral and central thermo‐haemodynamic mechanisms remains unclear. Here we tested the hypothesis that local hyperthermia‐induced alterations in peripheral blood flow and blood kinetic energy modulate flow to the heart and . Body temperatures, regional (leg, arm, head) and systemic haemodynamics, and left ventricular (LV) volumes and functions were assessed in eight healthy males during: (1) 3 h control (normothermic condition); (2) 3 h of single‐leg heating; (3) 3 h of two‐leg heating; and (4) 2.5 h of whole‐body heating. Leg, forearm, and extracranial blood flow increased in close association with local rises in temperature while brain perfusion remained unchanged. Increases in blood velocity with small to no changes in the conduit artery diameter underpinned the augmented limb and extracranial perfusion. In all heating conditions, increased in association with proportional elevations in systemic vascular conductance, related to enhanced blood flow, blood velocity, vascular conductance and kinetic energy in the limbs and head (all R2 ≥ 0.803; P < 0.001), but not in the brain. LV systolic (end‐systolic elastance and twist) and diastolic functional profiles (untwisting rate), pulmonary ventilation and systemic aerobic metabolism were only altered in whole‐body heating. These findings substantiate the idea that local hyperthermia‐induced selective alterations in peripheral blood flow modulate the magnitude of flow to the heart and through changes in blood velocity and kinetic energy. Localised heat‐activated events in the peripheral circulation therefore affect the human heart's output.
imageKey points
Local and whole‐body hyperthermia increases limb and systemic perfusion, but the underlying peripheral and central heat‐sensitive mechanisms are not fully established.
Here we investigated the regional (leg, arm and head) and systemic haemodynamics (cardiac output: ) during passive single‐leg, two‐leg and whole‐body hyperthermia to determine the contribution of peripheral and central thermosensitive factors in the control of human circulation.
Single‐leg, two‐leg, and whole‐body hyperthermia induced graded increases in leg blood flow and . Brain blood flow, however, remained unchanged in all conditions. Ventilation, extracranial blood flow and cardiac systolic and diastolic functions only increased during whole‐body hyperthermia.
The augmented with hyperthermia was tightly related to increased limb and head blood velocity, flow and kinetic energy.
The findings indicate that local thermosensitive mechanisms modulate regional blood velocity, flow and kinetic energy, thereby controlling the magnitude of flow to the heart and thus the coupling of peripheral and central circulation during hyperthermia.
Calcium modulation of bacterial wilt disease on potato
Authors: Ferreira María Virginia , Naranjo Eber , Denis Nicol , Cobine Paul , De La Fuente Leonardo , Siri María Inés 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Ralstonia solanacearum
species complex (RSSC) is a phytopathogenic bacterial group that causes bacterial wilt in several crops, being potato (
Solanum tuberosum
) one of the most important hosts. The relationship between the potato plant ionome (mineral and trace elements composition) and the resistance levels to this pathogen has not been addressed until now. Mineral content of xylem sap, roots, stems and leaves of potato genotypes with different levels of resistance to bacterial wilt was assessed in this work, revealing a positive correlation between divalent calcium (Ca) cation concentrations and genotype resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Ca on bacterial wilt resistance, and on the growth and virulence of RSSC. Ca supplementation significantly decreased the growth rate of
Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum
GMI1000 in minimal medium and affected several virulence traits such as biofilm formation and twitching motility. We also incorporate for the first time the use of microfluidic chambers to follow the pathogen growth and biofilm formation in conditions mimicking the plant vascular system. By using this approach, a reduction in biofilm formation was observed when both, rich and minimal media, were supplemented with Ca. Assessment of the effect of Ca amendments on bacterial wilt progress in potato genotypes revealed a significant delay in disease progress, or a complete absence of wilting symptoms in the case of partially resistant genotypes. This work contributes to the understanding of Ca effect on virulence of this important pathogen and provides new strategies for an integrated control of bacterial wilt on potato.

IMPORTANCE

Ralstonia solanacearum
species complex (RSSC) includes a diverse group of bacterial strains that cause bacterial wilt. This disease is difficult to control due to pathogen aggressiveness, persistence, wide range of hosts, and wide geographic distribution in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. RSSC causes considerable losses depending on the pathogen strain, host, soil type, environmental conditions, and cultural practices. In potato, losses of $19 billion per year have been estimated for this pathogen worldwide. In this study, we report for the first time the mineral composition found in xylem sap and plant tissues of potato germplasm with different levels of resistance to bacterial wilt. This study underscores the crucial role of calcium (Ca) concentration in the xylem sap and stem in relation to the resistance of different genotypes. Our in vitro experiments provide evidence of Ca’s inhibitory effect on the growth, biofilm formation, and twitching movement of the model RSSC strain
R
.
pseudosolanacearum
GMI1000. This study introduces a novel element, the Ca concentration, which should be included into the integrated disease control management strategies for bacterial wilt in potatoes.
An updated list of eumycetoma causative agents and their differences in grain formation and treatment response
Authors: van de Sande Wendy W. J. , Fahal Ahmed H. 
Published: May 2024

SUMMARY

In 2023, the World Health Organization designated eumycetoma causative agents as high-priority pathogens on its list of fungal priority pathogens. Despite this recognition, a comprehensive understanding of these causative agents is lacking, and potential variations in clinical manifestations or therapeutic responses remain unclear. In this review, 12,379 eumycetoma cases were reviewed. In total, 69 different fungal species were identified as causative agents. However, some were only identified once, and there was no supporting evidence that they were indeed present in the grain.
Madurella mycetomatis
was by far the most commonly reported fungal causative agent. In most studies, identification of the fungus at the species level was based on culture or histology, which was prone to misidentifications. The newly used molecular identification tools identified new causative agents. Clinically, no differences were reported in the appearance of the lesion, but variations in mycetoma grain formation and antifungal susceptibility were observed. Although attempts were made to explore the differences in clinical outcomes based on antifungal susceptibility, the lack of large clinical trials and the inclusion of surgery as standard treatment posed challenges in drawing definitive conclusions. Limited case series suggested that eumycetoma cases caused by
Fusarium
species were less responsive to treatment than those caused by
Madurella mycetomatis
. However, further research is imperative for a comprehensive understanding.
Mycobacterium immunogenum
acquisition from hospital tap water: a genomic and epidemiologic analysis
Authors: Baker Arthur W. , Nick Sophie E. , Jia Fan , Graves Amanda M. , Warren Bobby G. , Zavala Sofia , Stout Jason E. , Lee Mark J. , Alexander Barbara D. , Davidson Rebecca M. , Anderson Deverick J. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

We identified 23 cases of
Mycobacterium immunogenum
respiratory acquisition linked to a colonized plumbing system at a new hospital addition. We conducted a genomic and epidemiologic investigation to assess for clonal acquisition of
M. immunogenum
from hospital water sources and improve understanding of genetic distances between
M. immunogenum
isolates. We performed whole-genome sequencing on 28
M
.
immunogenum
isolates obtained from August 2013 to July 2021 from patients and water sources on four intensive care and intermediate units at an academic hospital. Study hospital isolates were recovered from 23 patients who experienced
de novo
respiratory isolation of
M. immunogenum
and from biofilms obtained from five tap water outlets. We also analyzed 10
M
.
immunogenum
genomes from previously sequenced clinical (
n
= 7) and environmental (
n
= 3) external control isolates. The 38-isolate cohort clustered into three clades with pairwise single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distances ranging from 0 to 106,697 SNPs. We identified two clusters of study hospital isolates in Clade 1 and one cluster in Clade 2 for which clinical and environmental isolates differed by fewer than 10 SNPs and had less than 0.5% accessory genome variation. A less restrictive combined threshold of 40 SNPs and 5% accessory genes reliably captured additional isolates that met clinical criteria for hospital acquisition, but 12 (4%) of 310 epidemiologically unrelated isolate pairs also met this threshold. Core and accessory genome analyses confirmed respiratory acquisition of multiple clones of
M. immunogenum
from hospital water sources to patients. When combined with epidemiologic investigation, genomic thresholds accurately distinguished hospital acquisition.
Validation of a qualitative real-time PCR assay for the detection of
Candida auris
in hospital inpatient screening
Authors: Franco Lauren C. , Ahmed Mahmoud , Kendra Christopher G. , Sperling R. Matthew , Van Benten Kayla , Lavik John-Paul , Emery Christopher L. , Relich Ryan F. , Gavina Kenneth 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Candida auris
is a multidrug-resistant opportunistic fungal pathogen capable of causing serious infections and healthcare-associated outbreaks. Screening for colonization with
C. auris
has become routine and is recommended in many hospitals and healthcare facilities as an infection control and prevention strategy. Subsequently, and since there are currently no FDA-approved tests for this purpose, clinical microbiology laboratories have become responsible for developing protocols to detect
C. auris
using axial and inguinal screening swabs. In a College of American Pathologists-accredited large academic healthcare center setting, we implemented a laboratory-developed nucleic-acid amplification test for the detection of
C. auris
DNA. Our test validation evaluated the performance of the DiaSorin
C. auris
primer set used in a real-time qualitative PCR assay on the LIAISON MDX thermocycler with the Simplexa Universal Disc. The assay was highly sensitive and specific, with a limit of detection of 1–2 CFU/reaction, with no observed cross-reactivity with other
Candida
spp., bacterial skin commensal organisms or commonly encountered viruses. When run in parallel with a culture-based detection method, the PCR assay was 100% sensitive and specific. The assay was precise, with low variability between replicates within and between runs. Lastly, pre-analytical factors, including swab storage time, temperature, and transport media, were assessed and found to have no significant effect on the detection of
C. auris
at variable concentrations. Taken together, this study expands the available options for nucleic acid detection of
C. auris
and characterizes pre-analytical factors for implementation in both high- and low-volume laboratory settings.

IMPORTANCE

This study overviews the validation and implementation of a molecular screening tool for the detection of
Candida auris
in a College of American Pathologist-accredited clinical laboratory. This molecular laboratory-developed test is both highly sensitive and specific and has significant health-system cost-savings associated with significantly reduced turn-around-time compared to traditional standard-of-care culture-based work up. This method and workflow is of interest to support clinical microbiology diagnostics and to help aid in hospital inpatient, and infection prevention control screening.
Draft genome sequences from 127
Legionella
spp. strains isolated in water systems linked to legionellosis outbreaks
Authors: Colautti Andrea , Civilini Marcello , Franchi Marinella , Felice Antonella , De Martin Stefano , De Paoli Emanuele , Vidotto Michele , Iacumin Lucilla 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by
Legionella
spp. bacteria. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, problems related to this pathogen showed a significant surge in recent years, making its monitoring critical.
Perilipin1 inhibits
Nosema bombycis
proliferation by promoting
Domeless-
and
Hop-
mediated JAK-STAT pathway activation in
Bombyx mori
Authors: Su Yaping , Qu Qingsheng , Li Junling , Han Zhenghao , Fang Yujia , Flavorta Billong Laura , Jia Zhenwei , Yu Qiong , Zhang Yiling , Qian Ping , Tang Xudong 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis inside of cells. LD-associated proteins, also known as perilipins (PLINs), are a family of proteins found on the surface of LDs that regulate lipid metabolism, immunity, and other functions. In silkworms, pébrine disease caused by infection by the microsporidian
Nosema bombycis
(
Nb
) is a severe threat to the sericultural industry. Although we found that
Nb
relies on lipids from silkworms to facilitate its proliferation, the relationship between PLINs and
Nb
proliferation remains unknown. Here, we found
Nb
infection caused the accumulation of LDs in the fat bodies of silkworm larvae. The characterized perilipin1 gene (
plin1
) promotes the accumulation of intracellular LDs and is involved in
Nb
proliferation.
plin1
is similar to
perilipin1
in humans and is conserved in all insects. The expression of
plin1
was mostly enriched in the fat body rather than in other tissues. Knockdown of
plin1
enhanced
Nb
proliferation, whereas overexpression of
plin1
inhibited its proliferation. Furthermore, we confirmed that
plin1
increased the expression of the
Domeless
and
Hop
in the JAK-STAT immune pathway and inhibited
Nb
proliferation. Taken together, our current findings demonstrate that
plin1
inhibits
Nb
proliferation by promoting the JAK-STAT pathway through increased expression of
Domeless
and
Hop
. This study provides new insights into the complicated connections among microsporidia pathogens, LD surface proteins, and insect immunity.

IMPORTANCE

Lipid droplets (LDs) are lipid storage sites in cells and are present in almost all animals. Many studies have found that LDs may play a role in host resistance to pathogens and are closely related to innate immunity. The present study found that a surface protein of insect lipid droplets could not only regulate the morphological changes of lipid droplets but also inhibit the proliferation of a microsporidian pathogen
Nosema bombycis
(
Nb
) by activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This is the first discovery of the relationship between microsporidian pathogen and insect lipid surface protein perilipin and insect immunity.
Shapeshifters: Global South scholars and their tensions in border-crossing to Global North journals
Authors: Naidu Thirusha , Cartmill Carrie , Swanepoel Sunitha , Whitehead Cynthia Ruth 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionGlobal South researchers struggle to publish in Global North journals, including journals dedicated to research on health professions education (HPE). As a consequence, Western perspectives and values dominate the international academic landscape of HPE. This study sought to understand Global South researchers’ motivations and experiences of publishing in Global North journals.MethodsThis study used a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective. Unstructured interviews were conducted with 11 authors from 6 Global South countries. Interview transcripts were analysed through a process of familiarisation, identifying significant statements, formulating meanings, clustering themes, developing exhaustive descriptions, producing a fundamental structure and seeking verification.ResultsParticipants described being motivated by local institutional expectations, to improve reputation, to meet Global North perceptions of quality and to draw attention to their Global South context. Participants described experiences where their work was deemed irrelevant to Global North audiences, they were unable to interpret rejections and had learnt to play the publishing game by attending to both local and global imperatives. These motivations and experiences revealed several practical, academic and transformational tensions that Global South authors faced.ConclusionThe tensions and negotiations encountered by Global South authors who publish in HPE journals reflect a ‘border consciousness’ whereby authors must shift consciousness, or become ‘shapeshifters’, inhabiting two or more worlds as they cross borders between the Global South and Global North conventions. There is an added burden and risk in performing this shapeshifting, as Global South authors stand astride the borders of two worlds without belonging fully to either.
Cost-effectiveness of pessary therapy versus surgery for symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse: an economic evaluation alongside a randomised non-inferiority controlled trial
Authors: Ben Ângela J , van der Vaart Lisa R , E. Bosmans Judith , Roovers Jan-Paul W R , Lagro-Janssen Antoinette L M , van der Vaart Carl H , Vollebregt Astrid 
Published: May 2024

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pessary therapy as an initial treatment option compared with surgery for moderate to severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) symptoms in secondary care from a healthcare and a societal perspective.DesignEconomic evaluation alongside a multicentre randomised controlled non-inferiority trial with a 24-month follow-up.Setting21 hospitals in the Netherlands, recruitment conducted between 2015 and 2022.Participants1605 women referred to secondary care with symptomatic prolapse stage ≥2 were requested to participate. Of them, 440 women gave informed consent and were randomised to pessary therapy (n=218) or to surgery (n=222) in a 1:1 ratio stratified by hospital.InterventionsPessary therapy and surgery.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), a 7-point scale dichotomised into successful versus unsuccessful, with a non-inferiority margin of −10%; quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) measured by the EQ-5D-3L; healthcare and societal costs were based on medical records and the institute for Medical Technology Assessment questionnaires.ResultsFor the PGI-I, the mean difference between pessary therapy and surgery was −0.05 (95% CI −0.14; 0.03) and −0.03 (95% CI −0.07; 0.002) for QALYs. In total, 54.1% women randomised to pessary therapy crossed over to surgery, and 3.6% underwent recurrent surgery. Healthcare and societal costs were significantly lower in the pessary therapy (mean difference=−€1807, 95% CI −€2172; −€1446 and mean difference=−€1850, 95% CI −€2349; −€1341, respectively). The probability that pessary therapy is cost-effective compared with surgery was 1 at willingness-to-pay thresholds between €0 and €20 000/QALY gained from both perspectives.ConclusionsNon-inferiority of pessary therapy regarding the PGI-I could not be shown and no statistically significant differences in QALYs between interventions were found. Due to significantly lower costs, pessary therapy is likely to be cost-effective compared with surgery as an initial treatment option for women with symptomatic POP treated in secondary care.Trial registration numberNTR4883.
Chiropractic spinal manipulation and likelihood of tramadol prescription in adults with radicular low back pain: a retrospective cohort study using US data
Authors: Trager Robert James , Cupler Zachary A , Srinivasan Roshini , Casselberry Regina M , Perez Jaime A , Dusek Jeffery A 
Published: May 2024

ObjectivesPatients receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) for low back pain (LBP) are less likely to receive any opioid prescription for subsequent pain management. However, the likelihood of specifically being prescribed tramadol, a less potent opioid, has not been explored. We hypothesised that adults receiving CSM for newly diagnosed radicular LBP would be less likely to receive a tramadol prescription over 1-year follow-up, compared with those receiving usual medical care.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingUS medical records-based dataset including >115 million patients attending academic health centres (TriNetX, Inc), queried 9 November 2023.ParticipantsOpioid-naive adults aged 18–50 with a new diagnosis of radicular LBP were included. Patients with serious pathology and tramadol use contraindications were excluded. Variables associated with tramadol prescription were controlled via propensity matching.InterventionsPatients were divided into two cohorts dependent on treatment received on the index date of radicular LBP diagnosis (CSM or usual medical care).Primary and secondary outcome measuresRisk ratio (RR) for tramadol prescription (primary); markers of usual medical care utilisation (secondary).ResultsAfter propensity matching, there were 1171 patients per cohort (mean age 35 years). Tramadol prescription was significantly lower in the CSM cohort compared with the usual medical care cohort, with an RR (95% CI) of 0.32 (0.18 to 0.57; p<0.0001). A cumulative incidence graph demonstrated that the reduced incidence of tramadol prescription in the CSM cohort relative to the usual medical care cohort was maintained throughout 1-year follow-up. Utilisation of NSAIDs, physical therapy evaluation and lumbar imaging was similar between cohorts.ConclusionsThis study found that US adults initially receiving CSM for radicular LBP had a reduced likelihood of receiving a tramadol prescription over 1-year follow-up. These findings should be corroborated by a prospective study to minimise residual confounding.