bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid and Easy Identification of Capsular Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Use of Fragment Analysis by Automated Fluorescence-Based Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Selva Laura , del Amo Eva , Brotons Pedro , Muñoz-Almagro Carmen 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to develop a high-throughput method for the identification of pneumococcal capsular types. Multiplex PCR combined with fragment analysis and automated fluorescent capillary electrophoresis (FAF-mPCR) was utilized. FAF-mPCR was composed of only 3 PCRs for the specific detection of serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A/6B, 6C, 7F/7A, 7C/(7B/40), 8, 9V/9A, 9N/9L, 10A, 10F/(10C/33C), 11A/11D/11F, 12F/(12A/44/46), 13, 14, 15A/15F, 15B/15C, 16F, 17F, 18/(18A/18B/18C/18F), 19A, 19F, 20, 21, 22F/22A, 23A, 23B, 23F, 24/(24A/24B/24F), 31, 33F/(33A/37), 34, 35A/(35C/42), 35B, 35F/47F, 38/25F, and 39. In order to evaluate the assay, all invasive pneumococcal isolates (
n
= 394) characterized at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain, from July 2010 to July 2011 were included in this study. The Wallace coefficient was used to evaluate the overall agreement between two typing methods (Quellung reaction versus FAF-mPCR). A high concordance with Quellung was found: 97.2% (383/394) of samples. The Wallace coefficient was 0.981 (range, 0.965 to 0.997). Only 11 results were discordant with the Quellung reaction. However, latex reaction and Quellung results of the second reference laboratory agreed with FAF-mPCR for 9 of these 11 strains (82%). Therefore, we considered that only 2 of 394 strains (0.5%) were not properly characterized by the new assay. The automation of the process allowed the typing of 30 isolates in a few hours with a lower cost than that of the Quellung reaction. These results indicate that FAF-mPCR is a good method to determine the capsular serotype of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Avian-Like H3N2 Swine Influenza Virus Discovered in Southern China
Authors: Su Shuo , Chen Ji-dang , Qi Hai-tao , Zhu Wan-jun , Xie Jie-xiong , Huang Zhen , Tan Li-kai , Qi Wen-bao , Zhang Gui-hong 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
We report here the complete genomic sequence of a novel avian-like H3N2 swine influenza virus containing an H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus segment that was obtained from swine in southern China. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this virus might originate from domestic aquatic birds. The sequence information provided herein suggests that continuing study is required to determine if this virus can be established in the swine population and pose potential threats to public health.
Papilio polyxenes Densovirus Has an Iteravirus-Like Genome Organization
Authors: Yu Qian , Hajek Ann E. , Bergoin Max , Tijssen Peter 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

The genome of
Papilio polyxenes
densovirus was cloned and sequenced and contained 5,053 nucleotides (nt), including inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 271 nt with terminal hairpins of 175 nt. Its DNA sequence and monosense organization with 3 open reading frames (ORFs) are typical of the genus
Iteravirus
in the subfamily
Densovirinae
of the
Parvoviridae
.
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 DNA Is in Unstable Nucleosomes throughout the Lytic Infection Cycle, and the Instability of the Nucleosomes Is Independent of DNA Replication
Authors: Lacasse Jonathan J. , Schang Luis M. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) DNA is chromatinized during latency and consequently regularly digested by micrococcal nuclease (MCN) to nucleosome-size fragments. In contrast, MCN digests HSV-1 DNA in lytically infected cells to mostly heterogeneous sizes. Yet HSV-1 DNA coimmunoprecipitates with histones during lytic infections. We have shown that at 5 h postinfection, most nuclear HSV-1 DNA is in particularly unstable nucleoprotein complexes and consequently is more accessible to MCN than DNA in cellular chromatin. HSV-1 DNA was quantitatively recovered at this time in complexes with the biophysical properties of mono- to polynucleosomes following a modified MCN digestion developed to detect potential unstable intermediates. We proposed that most HSV-1 DNA is in unstable nucleosome-like complexes during lytic infections. Physiologically, nucleosome assembly typically associates with DNA replication, although DNA replication transiently disrupts nucleosomes. It therefore remained unclear whether the instability of the HSV-1 nucleoprotein complexes was related to the ongoing viral DNA replication. Here we tested whether HSV-1 DNA is in unstable nucleosome-like complexes before, during, or after the peak of viral DNA replication or when HSV-1 DNA replication is inhibited. HSV-1 DNA was quantitatively recovered in complexes fractionating as mono- to polynucleosomes from nuclei harvested at 2, 5, 7, or 9 h after infection, even if viral DNA replication was inhibited. Therefore, most HSV-1 DNA is in unstable nucleosome-like complexes throughout the lytic replication cycle, and the instability of these complexes is surprisingly independent of HSV-1 DNA replication. The specific accessibility of nuclear HSV-1 DNA, however, varied at different times after infection.
Elite athletes travelling to international destinations >5 time zone differences from their home country have a 2–3-fold increased risk of illness
Authors: Schwellnus Martin P , Derman Wayne Elton , Jordaan Esme , Page Tony , Lambert Mike Ian , Readhead Clint , Roberts Craig , Kohler Ryan , Collins Robert , Kara Stephen , Morris Michael Ian , Strauss Org , Webb Sandra 
Published: August 2012

BackgroundIllness accounts for a significant proportion of consultations with a team physician travelling with elite athletes.ObjectiveTo determine if international travel increases the incidence of illness in rugby union players participating in a 16-week tournament.Setting2010 Super 14 Rugby Union tournament.Participants259 elite rugby players from eight teams were followed daily over the 16-week competition period (22 676 player-days).AssessmentTeam physicians completed a logbook detailing the daily squad size and illness in any player (system affected, final diagnosis, type and onset of symptoms, training/match days lost and suspected cause) with 100% compliance. Time periods during the tournament were divided as follows: located and playing in the home country before travelling (baseline), located and playing abroad in countries >5 h time zone difference (travel) and located back in the home country following international travel (return).Main outcome measurementIncidence of illness (illness per 1000 player-days) during baseline, travel and return.ResultsThe overall incidence of illness in the cohort was 20.7 (95% CI 18.5 to 23.1). For all teams, the incidence of illness according to location and travelling was significantly higher in the time period following international travel (32.6; 95% CI 19.6 to 53.5) compared with the baseline (15.4; 95% CI 8.7 to 27.0) or after returning to their home country (10.6; 95% CI 6.1 to 18.2).ConclusionsThere is a higher incidence of illness in athletes following international travel to a foreign country that is >5 h time difference and this returns to baseline on return to the home country.
Sulfonated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a new, efficient, and recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the synthesis of amines
Authors: Doroodmand M. M. , Sobhani S. , Ashoori A. 
Published: August 2012

Sulfonated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as a new and facile one-pot method using acetylene (as the CNT precursor), thiophene (as the sulfur precursor), and ferrocene (for in situ liberation of metal nanoparticles as the CNT nanocatalyst). A low catalytic amount of the resulting sulfonated MWCNTs with a turnover number (TON) up to 980 and a turnover frequency (TOF) up to 11 160 h–1 was utilized as a new and recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for the efficient one-pot synthesis of various amines (secondary and tertiary) by direct reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones using NaBH4. The catalyst was easily isolated from the reaction mixture by simple filtration and reused at least five times without significant degradation in activity.
Quantifying Neogene plate-boundary controlled uplift and deformation of the southern Australian margin
Authors: Tassone David R. , Holford Simon P. , Hillis Richard R. , Tuitt Adrian K. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract

Parts of the Australian continent, including the Otway Basin of the southern Australian margin, exhibit unusually high levels of neotectonic deformation for a so-called stable continental region. The onset of deformation in the Otway Basin is marked by a regional Miocene–Pliocene unconformity and inversion and exhumation of the Cretaceous–Cenozoic basin fill by up to
c
. 1 km. While it is generally agreed that this deformation is controlled by a mildly compressional intraplate stress field generated by the interaction of distant plate-boundary forces, it is less clear whether the present-day record of deformation manifested by seismicity is representative of the longer-term geological record of deformation. We present estimates of strain rates in the eastern Otway Basin since 10 Ma based on seismic moment release, geological observations, exhumation measurements and structural restorations. Our results demonstrate significant temporal variation in bulk crustal strain rates, from a peak of
c
. 2×10
−16
s
−1
in the Miocene–Pliocene to
c
. 1.09×10
−17
s
−1
at the present day, and indicate that the observed exhumation can be accounted for solely by crustal shortening. The Miocene–Pliocene peak in tectonic activity, along with the orthogonal alignment of inverted post-Miocene structures to measured and predicted maximum horizontal stress orientations, validates the notion that plate-boundary forces are capable of generating mild but appreciable deformation and uplift within continental interiors.
Soluble CD200 Is Critical to Engraft Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells in Immunocompromised Mice
Authors: Wong Karrie K. , Brenneman Fred , Chesney Alden , Spaner David E. , Gorczynski Reginald M. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
CD200 is a transmembrane molecule with an important immunoregulatory role that is overexpressed on most chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. In this study, we characterized a previously unknown soluble form of this molecule in human plasma termed sCD200. Levels of sCD200 were elevated in the plasma of patients with CLL as compared with healthy controls, and there was a significant correlation with CLL disease stage. Infusion of sCD200hi CLL plasma into severely immunocompromised NOD.SCIDγcnull (NSG) mice enhanced the engraftment of CLL splenocytes as compared with mice receiving sCD200lo normal plasma. CLL cells were detected in both the spleen and peritoneal cavity of animals for up to 75 days. Engraftment of CLL cells did not occur after infusion of CLL plasma depleted of sCD200 and was abolished in mice treated with anti-CD200 or OKT3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), suggesting a role for both sCD200 and T cells in CLL engraftment. Notably, anti-CD200 mAb was as effective as rituximab in eliminating engrafted CLL cells when administered 21 days after engraftment. Taken together, our findings point to sCD200 as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CLL. Furthermore, the humanized mouse model described here may prove valuable to preclinically assess new treatment regimens for CLL. Cancer Res; 72(19); 4931–43. ©2012 AACR.
Abstract 1002: Induced dependency on amino acid metabolism in proliferating cancer cells upon PKM2 activation
Authors: Kung Charles , Jin Shengfang , Hixon Jeff , Gross Stefan , Gao Yi , Cheng Fang , Wang Xiling , Wang Shaohui , Salituro Francesco , Saunders Jeff , Driggers Ed , Marks Kevin , Woo Hin Koon , Murray Stuart , Choe Sung , Yang Hua , Yen Katherine , Su Michael , Dang Lenny 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
It is well recognized that proliferating tumor cells invariably utilize aerobic glycolysis to support their high metabolic demands. Recent studies have further elucidated the paradoxical observation that this increase in glycolysis in proliferating tumor cells is often coupled with a molecular switch from the constitutively high activity PKM1 isoform to the modulated lower activity PKM2 isoform1,2, effectively constraining lower glycolysis at the last pyruvate kinase step. Here, we report an unanticipated link between glucose metabolism and amino-acid metabolic pathways in cancer cells. We characterized the biochemical and cellular effects of a small-molecule allosteric activator of the M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (AGX-257) in various cancer cell types. We demonstrate that activation of PKM2 results in a metabolic rewiring of specific cancer cells that results in a profound dependency on the presence of the normally non-essential amino acid serine for continued cell proliferation. The induced serine auxotrophy by PKM2 activation is concomitant with reduced flux through the endogenous serine biosynthetic pathway and increased levels of high affinity serine transporters. PKM2 activators, possibly in combination with agents that modulate the cellular and extracellular serine pools, could form the basis for a new approach toward developing therapy for treating cancer. References: 1 Christofk, H. R. et al. The M2 splice isoform of pyruvate kinase is important for cancer metabolism and tumour growth. Nature 452, 230-233 (2008). 2 Clower, C. V. et al. The alternative splicing repressors hnRNP A1/A2 and PTB influence pyruvate kinase isoform expression and cell metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107, 1894-1899 (2010).
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1002. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1002
Abstract 1024: Mural cell transdifferentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells drives vasculogenic mimicry in glioblastoma development
Authors: Shao Rong , Scully Steve , Francescone Ralph , Faibish Michael , Bentley Brooke , Taylor Sherry L. , Oh Dennis , Schapiro Robert , Moral Luis , Yan Wei 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBM) are extremely aggressive and have the poorest prognosis among brain tumors. These tumors display extensive microvasculature that presumably originates from endothelial cell angiogenesis. Indeed, many anti-angiogenic therapies have been accepted for glioblastoma treatment based on this premise. Recent evidence has shown that glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) can differentiate into endothelial cells that participate in angiogenesis (Ricci-Vitiani L et al., Nature 2010;468:824-29, Wang et al., Nature 2010;468:829-33, & Soda et al., PNAS 2011; 108:4274-80). However, it remains to be clarified if these GSC-derived endothelial cells make a significant contribution to tumor vasculature. Here, we surveyed eleven GBM cases and found that glioblastomas consisted of 34.1% of endothelial cell-associated vasculature, while 59.7% of microvasculature arose from mural-like tumor cells that co-express mural cell markers smooth muscle alpha actin and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and VEGF receptor 2 (Flk-1), but not CD31, CD34 or VE-cadherin. This pattern of vascularization indicates an alternative microvascular circulation known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM). GSCs derived from patients with GBM displayed the multipotency of neuronal stem cells capable of transdifferentiation into mural-like tumor cells that promoted VM. GSCs developed vigorous mural cell-associated vascular channels but few endothelial cell vessels in orthotopic brain tumor models. Furthermore, the development of these tumor cell-associated channels was dependent on expression of VEGF receptor 2 (Flk-1). Suppression of Flk-1 activity and gene expression by a variety of different inhibitory approaches abrogated GSC transdifferentiation and vascularization in vitro, and inhibited VM in xenografted tumor models in vivo. Collectively, this study establishes a pivotal role for transdifferentiation of GSCs in the development of VM, which contributes to an aggressive phenotype of GBM, and points to Flk-1 as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1024. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1024
Abstract 103: DCPS as a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma susceptibility gene
Authors: Gray Kelsey M. , Dworkin Amy M. , Fleming Jessica L. , Toland Amanda E. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
DCPS is a candidate cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) susceptibility gene as determined by allelic imbalance mapping of over 400 matched SCC and normal DNA samples. DCPS is one of three genes located in a region of 11q24 showing strong evidence of preferential allelic loss. Consistently, by immunohistochemistry it shows no protein expression in 23% of SCCs and decreased expression in 30% of SCCs. There are high levels of protein expression in all of the normal skin tissues assessed. DCPS, a decapping scavenger enzyme, impacts aspects of mRNA metabolism, such as pre-mRNA splicing and decay. The hypothesis driving this research is that DCPS acts as a tumor suppressor and that in humans there are alleles conferring greater resistance to tumors, which are selectively lost during tumorigenesis. To test whether DCPS acts as a tumor suppressor, we studied functional effects of increasing and decreasing expression of DcpS in a mouse keratinocyte cell line. Pre-mRNA splicing was examined by quantitative assessment of different splice forms of mini-gene transcripts between low, endogenous, and overexpression cell lines. Preliminary data suggest that first intron splicing occurs more efficiently in DcpS overexpression cell lines and that there is no change in second intron splicing in DcpS overexpression cell lines. In stable DcpS knockdown cell lines, no differences were observed in first or second intron splicing. Differences in mRNA stability were assessed between the three levels of expression by mRNA stability assays. Preliminary data suggest that DcpS knockdown cell lines have more stable mRNA of the two tested transcripts than endogenous and overexpression cell lines. By MTT assays to measure proliferation, DcpS knockdown lines exhibited more growth than endogenous and overexpression lines between 24 and 48 hours, but there were no differences at later time points. Future studies will examine apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle parameters in these cell lines. This research has the potential to identify a new mechanism of cancer susceptibility involving RNA splicing and stability, improve cancer risk screening, and identify therapeutic and preventative targets.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 103. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-103
Abstract 1031: Estrogen and breast cancer incidence and mortality in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy
Authors: Anderson Garnet L. , Chlebowski Rowan T. , Aragaki Aaron K. , Kuller Lewis , Manson JoAnn , Gass Margery , Bluhm Elizabeth , Connelly Stephanie , Hubbell F Allan , Lane Dorothy , Martin Lisa , Ockene Judith , Rohan Tom , Schenken Robert , Wactawski-Wende Jean 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Background: In contrast to the predominance of observational studies, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial postmenopausal women assigned to estrogen alone had a lower risk of invasive breast cancer than did those assigned placebo (LaCroix JAMA 2011;305:1305-14). Influence of estrogen use on breast cancer mortality has not been previously reported. Methods: We conducted extended follow-up of the WHI randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating conjugated equine estrogen (0.625 mg/d) in 10739 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years with prior hysterectomy, to determine long term effects of estrogen use on non-invasive and invasive breast cancer incidence, invasive breast cancer characteristics and breast cancer mortality. Comprehensive breast cancer risk assessment was conducted at entry. Screening mammography and clinical breast examinations were performed at entry and yearly thereafter. Breast cancers were confirmed by medical record and pathology report review by centrally-trained physician adjudicators blinded to randomization assignment. Analyses were by intention-to-treat. The study is registered with clinical trials CT.govNCT00000611. Findings: After a mean 10.7 years of follow-up, conjugated equine estrogen use for a median of 5.9 years (range &lt;1 to 10 years) was associated with lower invasive breast cancer incidence compared to placebo (151 vs. 199 breast cancers; annualized rates, 0.27% vs. 0.35%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62 to 0.95, P=0.02) with no difference between intervention-phase and post-intervention-phase effects (P=0.76). Sensitivity analyses adjusting for non-adherence yielded a somewhat stronger association (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.49-0.95). Mammogram screening exams were comparable between randomization groups throughout. In the estrogen alone group fewer women died from breast cancer (6 vs. 16 deaths; annualized rates 0.009% vs. 0.024%; HR 0.37; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.91, P=0.03) and fewer women died from all causes after a breast cancer diagnosis (30 vs. 50 deaths; annualized rate 0.046% vs. 0.076%; HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.97, P=0.04).Interpretation: Use of conjugated equine estrogen for a median of 5.9 years in postmenopausal women reduced the incidence of invasive breast cancer and reduced breast cancer mortality.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1031. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1031