bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ability of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides [Munro] Hack.) to spread by stolons: Effects of soil, fertilizer, shade and edging
Authors: Hirata Masahiko , Mizuno Shinnosuke , Tobisa Manabu 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe ability of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides [Munro] Hack.) to spread by stolons was evaluated in two experiments. Circular gaps (1 m diameter) were created in a monoculture of centipedegrass by removing the vegetation, and re‐invasion of the gaps by stolons originating from the surrounding vegetation was monitored for about 14 weeks. The treatments were three types of substrates (−F, river sand; 0F, original soil; +F, original soil + fertilizer) × two levels of light intensities (−L, 50% sunlight; L, full sunlight) in the gaps for Experiment 1, and four heights (0 [no wall], 1, 3 and 5 cm above ground) of walls edging the gaps for Experiment 2. A summer drought provided an opportunity to examine the effect of severe water stress on stolon development. In Experiment 1, the number of stolons re‐invading the gaps did not differ among the treatments. The elongation and branching of the re‐invading stolons were depressed in the −F gaps, showing no significant responses to the fertilizer application (+F) or shading (−L). In Experiment 2, the number, elongation and branching of re‐invading stolons decreased as the height of the edging wall increased. Across the two experiments, none of the treatments was successful in blocking centipedegrass spread by stolons. Even during the drought, the grass spread stolons on a substrate poor in nutrients and moisture, and over an edging of at least a 5 cm height. Such an ability of centipedegrass is favorable to rapid establishment of the grass after seeding or vegetative planting and also to quick self‐restoration of damaged or denuded patches formed in an established sward or turf. At the same time, the ability places a great difficulty in controlling the escape of the grass from planted areas to prevent or minimize naturalization and subsequent environmental impacts.
Transcriptional Factors for Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Are Associated with Mesenchymal Differentiation in Gliosarcoma
Authors: Nagaishi Masaya , Paulus Werner , Brokinkel Benjamin , Vital Anne , Tanaka Yuko , Nakazato Yoichi , Giangaspero Felice , Ohgaki Hiroko 
Published: January 2012

AbstractGliosarcoma is a rare variant of glioblastoma characterized by a biphasic pattern of glial and mesenchymal differentiation. It is unclear whether mesenchymal differentiation in gliosarcomas is because of extensive genomic instability and/or to a mechanism similar to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present study, we assessed 40 gliosarcomas for immunoreactivity of Slug, Twist, matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9), which are involved in EMT in epithelial tumors. Nuclear Slug expression was observed in >50% of neoplastic cells in mesenchymal tumor areas of 33 (83%) gliosarcomas, but not in glial areas (P < 0.0001). Nuclear Twist expression was observed in >50% of neoplastic cells in mesenchymal tumor areas of 35 (88%) gliosarcomas, but glial tumor areas were largely negative except in four cases (P < 0.0001). Expression of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 was also significantly more extensive in mesenchymal than in glial tumor areas. None of 20 ordinary glioblastomas showed Slug or Twist expression in >10% neoplastic cells. Thus, expression of Slug, Twist, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 was characteristic of mesenchymal tumor areas of gliosarcomas, suggesting that mechanisms involved in the EMT in epithelial neoplasms may play roles in mesenchymal differentiation in gliosarcomas.
Clinical analysis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by steroids
Authors: Zhao Feng‐chao , Li Zi‐rong , Guo Kai‐jin 
Published: January 2012

Objective:  To explore the clinical characteristics of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) induced by steroids.Methods:  From January 2000 to October 2009, 497 hips in 270 cases of ONFH induced by steroids were studied. A questionnaire was administered when the patients were admitted; the questions concerned the underlying disease, duration of steroid usage, total dosage of steroid, incubation period (time interval between commencement of steroid therapy and onset of pain), severity of pain, location of initial complaint, primary diagnosis, time lag from onset of pain to final diagnosis and physical signs when admitted. The correlations between pain and Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) stage, bone marrow edema (BME) and lesion size were analyzed.Results:  The median of time between commencing steroid medication and developing ONFH for the 269 cases was 18 months (range, 2–384 months). 78.82% cases presented with pain within three years of steroid initiation, only 10.41% patients first complained of pain six or more years after commencing steroid therapy. Fifty‐six cases (20.82%) were misdiagnosed, lumbar disorders being the most frequent misdiagnoses. 79.29% of symptomatic hips presented with abnormal physical tests. Of 420 symptomatic hips, 166 hips were type C1, 223 hips type C2; 299 hips had collapsed; and there was BME in 209 hips.Conclusion:  Most patients with ONFH induced by steroids complained of pain within 3 years of commencing steroid therapy. Pain was associated with lesion size, collapse and BME. Atypical location of pain, failure to perform a physical examination and MRI findings were the main causes of misdiagnoses.
Emergence of OXA-48-Type Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in German Hospitals
Authors: Pfeifer Yvonne , Schlatterer Kathrin , Engelmann Elisabeth , Schiller Reinhold A. , Frangenberg Hans Reiner , Stiewe Doris , Holfelder Martin , Witte Wolfgang , Nordmann Patrice , Poirel Laurent 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Nine carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
isolates collected from eight patients in five German hospitals were investigated. Six isolates produced the OXA-48 carbapenemase, and three isolates produced OXA-162, which is a point mutant form of OXA-48. Both carbapenemase genes were located on IncL/M-type conjugative plasmids. Insertion sequence IS
1999
(truncated or not by IS
1R
) was located upstream of the
bla
OXA-48
and
bla
OXA-162
genes in all of the isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing indicated the clonal transmission of an OXA-48-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain in two hospitals.
Cethromycin versus Clarithromycin for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Comparative Efficacy and Safety Outcomes from Two Double-Blinded, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Multicenter, Multinational Noninferiority Studies
Authors: English Marci L. , Fredericks Christine E. , Milanesio Nancy A. , Rohowsky Nestor , Xu Ze-Qi , Jenta Tuah R. J. , Flavin Michael T. , Eiznhamer David A. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be a major health challenge in the United States and globally. Factors such as overprescribing of antibiotics and noncompliance with dosing regimens have added to the growing antibacterial resistance problem. In addition, several agents available for the treatment of CAP have been associated with serious side effects. Cethromycin is a new ketolide antibiotic that may provide prescribing physicians with an additional agent to supplement a continually limited armamentarium. Two global phase III noninferiority studies (CL05-001 and CL06-001) to evaluate cethromycin safety and efficacy were designed and conducted in patients with mild to moderate CAP. Study CL05-001 demonstrated an 83.1% clinical cure rate in the cethromycin group compared with 81.1% in the clarithromycin group (95% confidence interval [CI], −4.8%, +8.9%) in the intent to treat (ITT) population and a 94.0% cethromycin clinical cure rate compared with a 93.8% clarithromycin cure rate (95% CI, −4.5%, +5.1%) in the per protocol clinical (PPc) population. Study CL06-001 achieved an 82.9% cethromycin clinical cure rate in the ITT population compared with an 88.5% clarithromycin cure rate (95% CI, −11.9%, +0.6%), whereas the clinical cure rate in the PPc population was 91.5% in cethromycin group compared with 95.9% in clarithromycin group (95% CI, −9.1%, +0.3%). Both studies met the primary endpoints for clinical cure rate based on predefined, sliding-scale noninferiority design. Therefore, in comparison with clarithromycin, these two noninferiority studies demonstrated the efficacy and safety of cethromycin, with encouraging findings of efficacy in subjects with
Streptococcus pneumoniae
bacteremia. No clinically significant adverse events were observed during the studies. Cethromycin may be a potential oral therapy for the outpatient treatment of CAP.
Single- and Multiple-Ascending-Dose Studies of the NS3 Protease Inhibitor Asunaprevir in Subjects with or without Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Pasquinelli Claudio , McPhee Fiona , Eley Timothy , Villegas Criselda , Sandy Katrina , Sheridan Pamela , Persson Anna , Huang Shu-Pang , Hernandez Dennis , Sheaffer Amy K. , Scola Paul , Marbury Thomas , Lawitz Eric , Goldwater Ronald , Rodriguez-Torres Maribel , DeMicco Michael , Wright David , Charlton Michael , Kraft Walter K. , Lopez-Talavera Juan-Carlos , Grasela Dennis M. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors combined with pegylated alfa interferon-ribavirin have demonstrated improved efficacy compared with pegylated alfa interferon-ribavirin alone for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Asunaprevir (BMS-650032), a novel HCV NS3 protease inhibitor in clinical development, was evaluated for safety, antiviral activity, and resistance in four double-blind, placebo-controlled, sequential-panel, single- and multiple-ascending-dose (SAD and MAD) studies in healthy subjects or subjects with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. In SAD studies, subjects (healthy or with chronic HCV infection) were randomized to receive asunaprevir in dose groups of 10 to 1,200 mg or a placebo. In MAD studies, healthy subjects were randomized to receive asunaprevir in dose groups of 10 to 600 mg twice daily or a placebo for 14 days; subjects with HCV infection received asunaprevir in dose groups of 200 to 600 mg twice daily, or a placebo, for 3 days. Across all four studies, headache and diarrhea were the most frequent adverse events in asunaprevir recipients. Asunaprevir at doses of 200 to 600 mg resulted in rapid HCV RNA decreases from the baseline; maximal mean changes in HCV RNA over time were 2.7 and 3.5 log
10
IU/ml in the SAD and MAD studies, respectively. No enrichment of signature asunaprevir-resistant viral variants was detected. In conclusion, the novel NS3 protease inhibitor asunaprevir, when administered at single or multiple doses of 200 to 600 mg twice daily, is generally well tolerated, achieving rapid and substantial decreases in HCV RNA levels in subjects chronically infected with genotype 1 HCV.
Species-Specific Antifungal Susceptibility Patterns of Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria Species
Authors: Lackner Michaela , de Hoog G. Sybren , Verweij Paul E. , Najafzadeh Mohammad J. , Curfs-Breuker Ilse , Klaassen Corné H. , Meis Jacques F. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Since the separation of
Pseudallescheria boydii
and
P. apiosperma
in 2010, limited data on species-specific susceptibility patterns of these and other species of
Pseudallescheria
and its anamorph
Scedosporium
have been reported. This study presents the antifungal susceptibility patterns of members affiliated with both entities. Clinical and environmental isolates (
n
= 332) from a wide range of sources and origins were identified down to species level and tested according to CLSI M38-A2 against eight antifungal compounds. Whereas
P. apiosperma
(geometric mean MIC/minimal effective concentration [MEC] values of 0.9, 2.4, 7.4, 16.2, 0.2, 0.8, 1.5, and 6.8 μg/ml for voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole, micafungin, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and amphotericin B, respectively) and
P. boydii
(geometric mean MIC/MEC values of 0.7, 1.3, 5.7, 13.8, 0.5, 1.4, 2.3, and 11.8 μg/ml for voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole, micafungin, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and amphotericin B, respectively) had similar susceptibility patterns, those for
S. aurantiacum
,
S. prolificans
, and
S. dehoogii
were different from each other. Voriconazole was the only drug with significant activity against
S. aurantiacum
isolates. The MIC distributions of all drugs except voriconazole did not show a normal distribution and often showed two subpopulations, making a species-based prediction of antifungal susceptibility difficult. Therefore, antifungal susceptibility testing of all clinical isolates remains essential for targeted antifungal therapy. Voriconazole was the only compound with low MIC values (MIC
90
of ≤2 μg/ml) for
P. apiosperma
and
P. boydii
. Micafungin and posaconazole showed moderate activity against the majority of
Scedosporium
strains.
Efficacy of Ertapenem for Treatment of Bloodstream Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Collins Vicki L. , Marchaim Dror , Pogue Jason M. , Moshos Judy , Bheemreddy Suchitha , Sunkara Bharath , Shallal Alex , Chugh Neelu , Eiseler Sara , Bhargava Pragati , Blunden Christopher , Lephart Paul R. , Memon Babar Irfan , Hayakawa Kayoko , Abreu-Lanfranco Odaliz , Chopra Teena , Munoz-Price L. Silvia , Carmeli Yehuda , Kaye Keith S. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Ertapenem is active against extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
organisms but inactive against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Acinetobacter baumannii
. Due to a lack of therapeutic data for ertapenem in the treatment of ESBL bloodstream infections (BSIs), group 2 carbapenems (e.g., imipenem or meropenem) are often preferred for treatment of ESBL-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
, although their antipseudomonal activity is unnecessary. From 2005 to 2010, 261 patients with ESBL BSIs were analyzed. Outcomes were equivalent between patients treated with ertapenem and those treated with group 2 carbapenems (mortality rates of 6% and 18%, respectively;
P
= 0.18).
Three-Dimensional Human Skin Equivalent as a Tool To Study Acinetobacter baumannii Colonization
Authors: de Breij Anna , Haisma Elisabeth M. , Rietveld Marion , El Ghalbzouri Abdelouahab , van den Broek Peterhans J. , Dijkshoorn Lenie , Nibbering Peter H. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Acinetobacter baumannii
can colonize body surfaces of hospitalized patients. From these sites, invasion into the host and spread to other patients and the hospital environment may occur. The eradication of the organism from the patient's skin is an important infection control strategy during epidemic and endemic episodes. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D), air-exposed human epidermal skin equivalent was exploited to study
Acinetobacter
skin colonization. We characterized the adherence of
A. baumannii
ATCC 19606
T
and
Acinetobacter junii
RUH2228
T
to and biofilm formation on the skin equivalent and the responses to these bacteria. Furthermore, we assessed the ability of the disinfectant chlorhexidine to decolonize the skin equivalents. The results revealed that both strains replicated on the stratum corneum for up to 72 h but did not invade the epidermis.
A. baumannii
, in contrast to
A. junii
, formed large biofilms on the stratum corneum. Bacterial colonization did not affect keratinocyte activation, proliferation, or differentiation, nor did it induce a strong inflammatory response. Disinfection with chlorhexidine solution resulted in complete eradication of
A. baumannii
from the skin, without detrimental effects. This 3D model is a promising tool to study skin colonization and to evaluate the effects of novel disinfectant and antimicrobial strategies.
Novel Plasmid and Its Variant Harboring both a
bla
NDM-1
Gene and Type IV Secretion System in Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter lwoffii
Authors: Hu Hongyan , Hu Yongfei , Pan Yuanlong , Liang Hui , Wang Haiyan , Wang Xiumei , Hao Qinfang , Yang Xiaoli , Yang Xi , Xiao Xue , Luan Chunguang , Yang Yi , Cui Yujun , Yang Ruifu , Gao George F. , Song Yajun , Zhu Baoli 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

The spread of the
bla
NDM-1
gene is gaining worldwide attentions. This gene is usually carried by large plasmids and has been discovered in diverse bacteria since it was originally found in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. Here we report the complete sequences of a
bla
NDM-1
-bearing plasmid, pNDM-BJ01, and its variant, pNDM-BJ02, isolated from clinical
Acinetobacter lwoffii
strains. The plasmid pNDM-BJ01 is 47.3 kb in size and cannot be classified into any known plasmid incompatibility group, thus representing a novel plasmid with an unknown maintenance mechanism. This plasmid contains both a
bla
NDM-1
gene and a type IV secretion system (T4SS) gene cluster. The T4SS is assigned to the P-type T4SS group, which usually encode a short, rigid pilus, and the
bla
NDM-1
gene is located within a composite transposon flanked by two insertion elements of IS
Aba125
. Plasmid pNDM-BJ02 is nearly identical to pNDM-BJ01 except that one copy of the IS
Aba125
element is missing, and it is therefore regarded as a variant of pNDM-BJ01. Sequence alignment indicated that this
bla
NDM-1
-containing composite transposon, which can also be captured by other mobile elements, was probably a product of multiple recombination events and can move as a whole by transposition.
In Vitro
Activity of TD-1792, a Multivalent Glycopeptide-Cephalosporin Antibiotic, against 377 Strains of Anaerobic Bacteria and 34 Strains of Corynebacterium Species
Authors: Tyrrell Kerin L. , Citron Diane M. , Warren Yumi A. , Goldstein Ellie J. C. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

TD-1792 is a multivalent glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. We tested TD-1792 against 377 anaerobes and 34 strains of
Corynebacterium
species. Against nearly all Gram-positive strains, TD-1792 had an MIC
90
of 0.25 μg/ml and was typically 3 to 7 dilutions more active than vancomycin and daptomycin.
NLRP3 Inflammasome Is a Target for Development of Broad-Spectrum Anti-Infective Drugs
Authors: Thacker James D. , Balin Brian J. , Appelt Denah M. , Sassi-Gaha Sihem , Purohit Mitali , Rest Richard F. , Artlett Carol M. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTWe describe the molecular mode of action and pharmacodynamics of a new molecular entity (NME) that induces the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated innate immune response. This innate response reduces the pathogen load in an experimentally induced methicillin-resistantStaphylococcos aureusinfection, enhances survival in an experimentally induced Gram-negative bacteremia, and overrides the escape mechanism of an obligate intracellular pathogen,viz.Chlamydia pneumoniae. Furthermore, the NME is more effective than standard-of-care antibiotic therapy in a clinically established multifactorial bacterial infection. Analysis of transcriptional regulation of inflammasome signaling genes and innate/adaptive immune genes revealed consistent and significant host changes responsible for the improved outcomes in these infections. These studies pave the way for the development of first-in-class drugs that enhance inflammasome-mediated pathogen clearance and identify the NLRP3 inflammasome as a drug target to address the global problem of emerging new infectious diseases and the reemergence of old diseases in an antibiotic-resistant form.
Optimal Meropenem Concentrations To Treat Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Septic Shock
Authors: Taccone Fabio Silvio , Cotton Frédéric , Roisin Sandrine , Vincent Jean-Louis , Jacobs Frédérique 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

A patient with septic shock due to extensively drug resistant (XDR)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was cured by optimizing the meropenem (MEM) regimen to obtain at least 40% of the time between two administrations in which drug levels were four times higher than the MIC of the pathogen. As the standard drug dose did not achieve these optimal concentrations, the MEM regimen was progressively increased up to 12 g/day (3 g every 6 h in a 3-h extended infusion), which eventually resulted in sepsis resolution. High MEM dosage may represent a valuable therapeutic option for infection due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, and drug monitoring would allow rapid regimen adjustment in clinical practice.
Novel Functions for Glycosyltransferases Jhp0562 and GalT in Lewis Antigen Synthesis and Variation in Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Pohl Mary Ann , Kienesberger Sabine , Blaser Martin J. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT

Lewis (Le) antigens are fucosylated oligosaccharides present in the
Helicobacter pylori
lipopolysaccharide. Expression of these antigens is believed to be important for
H. pylori
colonization, since Le antigens also are expressed on the gastric epithelia in humans. A galactosyltransferase encoded by β-(
1
,
3
)
galT
is essential for production of type 1 (Le
a
and Le
b
) antigens. The upstream gene
jhp0562
, which is present in many but not all
H. pylori
strains, is homologous to β-(
1
,
3
)
galT
but is of unknown function. Because
H. pylori
demonstrates extensive intragenomic recombination, we hypothesized that these two genes could undergo DNA rearrangement. A PCR screen and subsequent sequence analyses revealed that the two genes can recombine at both the 5′ and 3′ ends. Chimeric β-(
1
,
3
)
galT
-like alleles can restore function in a β-(
1
,
3
)
galT
null mutant, but neither native nor recombinant
jhp0562
can. Mutagenesis of
jhp0562
revealed that it is essential for synthesis of both type 1 and type 2 Le antigens. Transcriptional analyses of both loci showed β-(
1
,
3
)
galT
expression in all wild-type (WT) and mutant strains tested, whereas
jhp0562
was not expressed in
jhp0562
null mutants, as expected. Since
jhp0562
unexpectedly displayed functions in both type 1 and type 2 Le synthesis, we asked whether
galT
, part of the type 2 synthesis pathway, had analogous functions in type 1 synthesis. Mutagenesis and complementation analysis confirmed that
galT
is essential for Le
b
production. In total, these results demonstrate that
galT
and
jhp0562
have functions that cross the expected Le synthesis pathways and that
jhp0562
provides a substrate for intragenomic recombination to generate diverse Le synthesis enzymes.