bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel Multitarget Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Bordetella Species in Clinical Specimens
Authors: Tatti Kathleen M. , Sparks Kansas N. , Boney Kathryn O. , Tondella Maria Lucia 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

A novel multitarget real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay for the rapid identification of
Bordetella pertussis
,
B. parapertussis
, and
B. holmesii
was developed using multicopy insertion sequences (ISs) in combination with the pertussis toxin subunit S1 (
ptxS
1
) singleplex assay. The RT-PCR targets for the multiplex assay include IS
481
, commonly found in
B. pertussis
and
B. holmesii
; IS
1001
of
B. parapertussis
; and the IS
1001
-like sequence of
B. holmesii
. Overall, 402
Bordetella
species and 66 non-
Bordetella
species isolates were tested in the multitarget assay. Cross-reactivity was found only with 5
B. bronchiseptica
isolates, which were positive with IS
1001
of
B. parapertussis
. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) of the multiplex assay was similar to the LLOD of each target in an individual assay format, which was approximately 1 genomic equivalent per reaction for all targets. A total of 197 human clinical specimens obtained during cough-illness outbreak investigations were used to evaluate the multitarget RT-PCR assay. The multiplex assay results from 87 clinical specimens were compared to the individual RT-PCR assay and culture results. The multitarget assay is useful as a diagnostic tool to confirm
B. pertussis
infections and to rapidly identify other
Bordetella
species. In conclusion, the use of this multitarget RT-PCR approach increases specificity, while it decreases the amount of time, reagents, and specimen necessary for RT-PCRs used for accurate diagnosis of pertussis-like illness.
Aortic Homograft Endocarditis Caused by Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Dinant Sander , Schurink Carolina A. M. , Deckers Jaap W. , Severin Juliëtte A. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTWe report the first case of homograft endocarditis caused byCampylobacter jejuni, which was treated successfully with antibiotic therapy and valve replacement. To our knowledge, only two other cases ofC. jejuniendocarditis, involving native valves, have been reported in the medical literature.
Species Distribution of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Clinical Isolates from 2007 to 2010 in Turkey: a Prospective Study
Authors: Bayraktar Banu , Bulut Emin , Barış Ayşe Bayrı , Toksoy Buket , Dalgıc Nazan , Celikkan Cigdem , Sevgi Dilek 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) consists of a group of closely related species that differ in their epidemiological profiles, host ranges, pathogenicities, geographic distributions, and drug resistances. Identification of members in the MTBC is essential for monitoring the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) and implementing appropriate public health control measures. In this study, 188 consecutive MTBC clinical isolates from 2007 to 2010 were evaluated to determine the prevalence of MTBC species in Turkey. PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) of the
gyrB
gene were used, and results for species other than
M. tuberculosis
were confirmed using the GenoType MTBC assay (Hain Lifescience, Nehren, Germany). Most of the strains were found to be
M. tuberculosis
(94.1%). The prevalences of
M. bovis
and
M. caprae
were 4.3% and 1.6%, respectively. Only one
M. bovis
BCG strain was identified. Overall, the frequency of bovine tuberculosis in humans was 5.3%. We had assumed that bovine TB infection was under control in animal herds, but primary
M. bovis
infections in humans caused by transmission from infected animals are still an issue in Turkey. Our results indicate that the frequent identification of
M. bovis
in routine mycobacteriological laboratory work has further importance due to the well-known resistance of this species to pyrazinamide.
Autographa californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus GP64 Protein: Roles of Histidine Residues in Triggering Membrane Fusion and Fusion Pore Expansion
Authors: Li Zhaofei , Blissard Gary W. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The
Autographa californica
multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) GP64 protein mediates membrane fusion during entry. Fusion results from a low-pH-triggered conformational change in GP64 and subsequent interactions with the membrane bilayers. The low-pH sensor and trigger of the conformational change are not known, but histidine residues are implicated because the pK
a
of histidine is near the threshold for triggering fusion by GP64. We used alanine substitutions to examine the roles of all individual and selected clusters of GP64 histidine residues in triggering and mediating fusion by GP64. Three histidine residues (H152, H155, and H156), located in fusion loop 2, were identified as important for membrane fusion. These three histidine residues were important for efficient pore expansion but were not required for the pH-triggered conformational change. In contrast, a cluster of three histidine residues (H245, H304, and H430) located near the base of the central coiled coil was identified as a putative sensor for low pH. Three alanine substitutions in cluster H245/H304/H430 resulted in dramatically reduced membrane fusion and the apparent loss of the prefusion conformation at neutral pH. Thus, the H245/H304/H430 cluster of histidines may function or participate as a pH sensor by stabilizing the prefusion structure of GP64.
Residues of the Human Metapneumovirus Fusion (F) Protein Critical for Its Strain-Related Fusion Phenotype: Implications for the Virus Replication Cycle
Authors: Mas Vicente , Herfst Sander , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , Fouchier Ron A. M. , Melero José A. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
The paramyxovirus F protein promotes fusion of the viral and cell membranes for virus entry, as well as cell-cell fusion for syncytium formation. Most paramyxovirus F proteins are triggered at neutral pH to initiate membrane fusion. Previous studies, however, demonstrated that human metapneumovirus (hMPV) F proteins are triggered at neutral or acidic pH in transfected cells, depending on the strain origin of the F sequences (S. Herfst et al., J. Virol. 82:8891–8895, 2008). We now report an extensive mutational analysis which identifies four variable residues (294, 296, 396, and 404) as the main determinants of the different syncytial phenotypes found among hMPV F proteins. These residues lie near two conserved histidines (H368 and H435) in a three-dimensional (3D) model of the pretriggered hMPV F trimer. Mutagenesis of H368 and H435 indicates that protonation of these histidines (particularly His435) is a key event to destabilize the hMPV F proteins that require low pH for cell-cell fusion. The syncytial phenotypes were reproduced in cells infected with the corresponding hMPV strains. However, the low-pH dependency for syncytium formation could not be related with a virus entry pathway dependent on an acidic environment. It is postulated that low pH may be acting for some hMPV strains as certain destabilizing mutations found in unusual strains of other paramyxoviruses. In any case, the results presented here and those reported by Schowalter et al. (J. Virol. 83:1511–1522, 2009) highlight the relevance of certain residues in the linker region and domain II of the pretriggered hMPV F protein for the process of membrane fusion.
The Virion Host Shutoff Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Blocks the Replication-Independent Activation of NF-κB in Dendritic Cells in the Absence of Type I Interferon Signaling
Authors: Cotter Christopher R. , Kim Won-keun , Nguyen Marie L. , Yount Jacob S. , López Carolina B. , Blaho John A. , Moran Thomas M. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Immune evasion is a defining feature of the virus-host relationship. During infection, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) utilizes multiple proteins to manipulate the host immune response. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which the virion host shutoff (vhs) protein blocks the activation of dendritic cells (DCs). Previously, we found that coinfection of wild-type HSV-1 with a panel of RNA viruses resulted in a block to DC activation that was attributable to vhs. These observations led us to hypothesize that the vhs-mediated inhibition was dependent on signaling through the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling pathway. By examining DCs generated from MAVS (IPS-1) knockout (KO) mice, we determined that RLR/MAVS signaling is not essential for the DC response to HSV-1. We also evaluated the requirement for the type I interferon (IFN) signaling pathway in DC activation following infection with HSV-1 and found that stimulation of DCs with wild-type HSV-1 required intact type I IFN signaling for the production of cytokines, whereas the vhs deletion (vhs
−
) mutant virus activated DCs without the need for exogenous IFN signaling. Comparisons of transcription factor activation in DCs infected with wild-type HSV and the vhs
−
mutant virus revealed that NF-κB activation was inhibited by vhs in the early phase of the infection. In contrast, IRF3 activation was not influenced by vhs. In these studies, measurement of proinflammatory cytokines and type I IFN release from the infected DCs reflected the activation status of these transcription factors. Taken together, the work presented here (i) describes a novel role for the vhs protein as an inhibitor of the early activation of NF-κB during HSV-1 infection of DCs and (ii) offers a mechanistic explanation of how this protein interferes with DC activation.
Rotavirus Infection Induces the Unfolded Protein Response of the Cell and Controls It through the Nonstructural Protein NSP3
Authors: Trujillo-Alonso Vicenta , Maruri-Avidal Liliana , Arias Carlos F. , López Susana 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a cellular mechanism that is triggered in order to cope with the stress caused by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This response is initiated by the endoribonuclease inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and PKR-like ER kinase, which increase the expression of the genes involved in the folding and degradation processes and decrease the protein input into the ER by inhibiting translation. It has been shown that viruses both induce and manipulate the UPR in order to protect the host cells from an ER stress-mediated death, thus permitting the translation of viral proteins and the efficient replication of the virus. To understand the cellular events that occur during the rotavirus replication cycle, we examined the activation of the three UPR arms following infection, using luciferase reporters driven by promoters of the ER stress-responsive genes and real-time reverse transcription-PCR to determine the levels of the stress-induced mRNAs. Our findings indicated that during rotavirus infection two of the three arms of the UPR (IRE1 and ATF6) become activated; however, these pathways are interrupted at the translational level by the general inhibition of protein synthesis caused by NSP3. This response seems to be triggered by more than one viral protein synthesized during the replication of the virus, but not by the viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), since cells transfected with psoralen-inactivated virions, or with naked viral dsRNA, did not induce UPR.
A placental chorionic villous mesenchymal core cellular origin for infantile haemangioma
Authors: Itinteang Tinte , Tan Swee T , Guthrie Siobhan , Tan Cherise E S , McIntyre Ben C , Brasch Helen D , Day Darren J 
Published: September 2011

AimsTo investigate the expression of the placental cell-specific associated proteins in infantile haemangioma (IH).MethodsImmunohistochemical staining was used to investigate the expression of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), human leucocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and smooth muscle actin in paraffin-embedded sections of proliferating and involuted IHs.ResultsThe proteins hCG and hPL were expressed by the endothelium but not the pericyte layer of proliferating IH, but these proteins were not detected in involuted lesions. There was no expression of CK7 and HLA-G in IH.ConclusionsThe expression of hCG and hPL, but not CK7 or HLA-G, by the endothelium of proliferating IH supports a placental chorionic villous mesenchymal core cellular origin for IH rather than a trophoblast origin.
RNA Helicase DDX5 Is a p53-Independent Target of ARF That Participates in Ribosome Biogenesis
Authors: Saporita Anthony J. , Chang Hsiang-Chun , Winkeler Crystal L. , Apicelli Anthony J. , Kladney Raleigh D. , Wang Jianbo , Townsend R. Reid , Michel Loren S. , Weber Jason D. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
The p19ARF tumor suppressor limits ribosome biogenesis and responds to hyperproliferative signals to activate the p53 checkpoint response. Although its activation of p53 has been well characterized, the role of ARF in restraining nucleolar ribosome production is poorly understood. Here we report the use of a mass spectroscopic analysis to identify protein changes within the nucleoli of Arf-deficient mouse cells. Through this approach, we discovered that ARF limited the nucleolar localization of the RNA helicase DDX5, which promotes the synthesis and maturation of rRNA, ultimately increasing ribosome output and proliferation. ARF inhibited the interaction between DDX5 and nucleophosmin (NPM), preventing association of DDX5 with the rDNA promoter and nuclear pre-ribosomes. In addition, Arf-deficient cells transformed by oncogenic RasV12 were addicted to DDX5, because reduction of DDX5 was sufficient to impair RasV12-driven colony formation in soft agar and tumor growth in mice. Taken together, our findings indicate that DDX5 is a key p53-independent target of the ARF tumor suppressor and is a novel non-oncogene participant in ribosome biogenesis. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6708–17. ©2011 AACR.
Continuity of care for people with non-psychotic disorders
Authors: Catty Jocelyn , Cowan Naomi , Poole Zoe , Clement Sarah , Ellis Gemma , Geyer Connie , Lissouba Pascale , Molodynski Andrew , White Sarah , Burns Tom 
Published: September 2011

Background: Service users with non-psychotic disorders are rarely studied. How continuity of care functions for this group is unknown. Aims: To compare users of community mental health teams with non-psychotic disorders to those with psychotic disorders in terms of demographic and illness characteristics, continuity of care and clinical and social functioning. Methods: Service users with non-psychotic disorders ( N = 98) were followed up for one year and compared to 180 service users with psychotic disorders. Continuity of care factors were tested for association with user, illness and service variables. Results: Service users with non-psychotic disorders experienced more care transitions, but there were no differences in team practices in relation to these two different groups. Conclusion: The underlying concepts of continuity of care derived from users with psychotic disorders appear to be meaningful for users with non-psychotic disorders. Their greater likelihood of experiencing disruptive and distressing care transitions needs to be addressed.
Patient inclusion in goal setting during early inpatient rehabilitation after acquired brain injury
Authors: Dalton Catherine , Farrell Rachel , De Souza Annette , Wujanto Evelyn , McKenna-Slade Ann , Thompson Sharmen , Liu Clarence , Greenwood Richard 
Published: September 2011

Objective: To investigate the effects of patient participation in multidisciplinary goal setting during early inpatient rehabilitation after acquired brain injury. Design: Case controlled retrospective study. Setting: Regional neurological rehabilitation unit. Subjects: One hundred and five patients with acquired brain injury. Main measures: Numbers of goals set and achieved per patient before and after intervention; Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure. Results: The intervention resulted in a significant increase in the number of goals set per patient (340 versus 411 total goals, mean per patient 6.3 pre versus 8.05 post, P = 0.008). More patients had multiple goals set within each domain ( P = 0.023). There was an increase in the number of patients with sleeping (0 pre, 9 post), continence (3 pre, 17 post) and leisure (15 pre, 35 post) goals set, and leisure goals achieved (60% pre and 68% post, P < 0.001). Correlations between goal achievement and change in activity-related outcome measures (Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure) also improved with the new goal setting process. The proportion of goals achieved remained similar (60% pre and 63% post intervention), suggesting there was no evidence of inappropriate or unachievable goals set when the patient and family were included. Conclusions: Real-time engagement of brain-injured patients in the goal setting process during early inpatient rehabilitation is achievable, but requires a structured multidisciplinary assessment of need. We found it increases the number of domains in which goals are set and includes functional areas not rated by commonly used global measures of outcome during inpatient rehabilitation.
Safety and self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin for adult spasticity in current clinical practice: a prospective observational study
Authors: Muller François , Cugy Emmanuelle , Ducerf Camille , Delleci Claire , Guehl Dominique , Joseph Pierre-Alain , Burbaud Pierre , Dehail Patrick 
Published: September 2011

Objective: To determine the safety and the self-reported efficacy of botulinum toxin injections for adult spasticity in current clinical practice. Design: A prospective observational study. Subjects: A total of 406 adult patients with focal spasticity received of 1136 series botulinum toxin injections at Bordeaux University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2009. Methods: Adverse events following botulinum toxin injections were reported. Their severity and the therapeutic efficacy of botulinum toxin injections were estimated with a four-point self-reporting scale (0 to 3). Latency and duration of adverse events and subjective improvement were also noted. Results: The data of 640 series of injections were analyzed. Forty-six (7.2%) adverse events were reported, of which 36 (78%) were local. There were 18 (39%) cases of local muscular weakness with an average duration of 30.0 (SD 38.2) days, and an average severity score of 1.0 (SD 0.97). Among systemic adverse events, there were 8 (17%) cases of excessive fatigue without global muscular weakness and 2 (4%) cases of transitory generalized muscular weakness. The average subjective improvement score was 1.89 (SD 0.97) and was higher for upper, than for lower, limbs ( P=0.007). Conclusion: Self-reported adverse events following botulinum toxin injections in spasticity are rare, often benign and of short duration in current clinical practice. Botulinum toxin is considered effective by patients in treating spasticity of the upper and lower limbs.
Community-based Yang-style Tai Chi is safe and feasible in chronic stroke: a pilot study
Authors: Taylor-Piliae Ruth E , Coull Bruce M 
Published: September 2011

Objective: Examine the safety and feasibility of a 12-week Tai Chi intervention among stroke survivors. Design: Two-group, prospective pilot study with random allocation. Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation facility. Subjects: Stroke survivors ≥50 years and at ≥three months post-stroke. Interventions: Tai Chi subjects attended group-based Yang Style classes three times/week for 12-weeks, while Usual Care subjects received weekly phone calls along with written materials/resources for participating in community-based physical activity. Main outcome measures: Indicators of study safety and feasibility included recruitment rates, intervention adherence, falls or adverse events, study satisfaction, drop-outs, and adequacy of the outcomes measures. Results: Interested persons pre-screened by phone ( n = 69) were on average 68 years old, (SD = 13) years old, 48% ( n = 33) women, 94% ( n = 65) were at least three months post-stroke. A total of 28 subjects aged 69 (SD = 11) years enrolled in this pilot study. Intervention adherence rates were very high (≥92%). There were no falls or other adverse events. The dose of Tai Chi exercise (≥150 minutes/week) was well tolerated. Overall study satisfaction was high (8.3 (SD = 1.9); 1 = not satisfied, 10 = most satisfied), while drop-outs ( n = 3, 11%) were unrelated to study intervention. Score distributions for the outcome measures were approximately normal, sensitive to change, and seemed to favor the Tai Chi intervention. Conclusions: Tai Chi is a safe, community-based exercise program for stroke survivors. Our data suggest that recruitment and retention of an adequate sample is feasible, and that in a full-scale study 52 subjects/group are needed to detect statistically significant between group differences (alpha = 0.05, power = 0.80).
Study on the mechanical, degradation, and interfacial properties of calcium alginate fiber-reinforced polyethylene oxide composites
Authors: Dey Kamol , Khan Ruhul A. , Chowdhury A. M. Sarwaruddin 
Published: September 2011

Calcium alginate fibers (CAFs) were prepared from sodium alginate, which is a natural polymer extracted from brown seaweeds, by extruding aqueous sodium alginate solution (4% by weight) into a calcium chloride (2% by weight) bath. Water uptake of CAF was determined in deionized water at room temperature (25°C) and it was found that the fibers absorbed 49% of water within a minute and indicated strong hydrophilic nature. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based CAF (as a filler/reinforcing agent) reinforced unidirectional composites (10% fiber by weight) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of the PEO/CAF composite were found to be 11 MPa, 320 MPa, 18 MPa, 565 MPa, and 12 kJ/m2, respectively. Degradation tests of the PEO/CAF composites were performed for 8 weeks in soil medium and it was found that composites retained almost 50% of its original strength. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the PEO/CAF composites was also measured by single fiber fragmentation test. The IFSS was found to be 0.47 MPa that indicated good fiber–matrix adhesion.