bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistent Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus Is Associated with Deficient Induction of Human β-Defensin 3 after Sterile Wounding of Healthy Skin
In Vivo
Authors: Zanger Philipp , Nurjadi Dennis , Vath Bernadette , Kremsner Peter G. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Persistent nasal carriage of
Staphylococcus aureus
is the primary reservoir for this pathogen and a risk factor for infection. The nares of 12 to 30% of healthy individuals are persistently colonized with staphylococci. Elucidating the yet enigmatic determinants of this phenomenon is of major public health interest. We hypothesized that differences in the levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are found in human skin and have pronounced antistaphylococcal activity may contribute to this phenomenon. We compared constitutive and induced mRNA levels of RNase 7 and human β-defensin 3 (HBD-3) in healthy and experimentally wounded gluteal skin of 60 volunteers after ascertaining their carrier status through repeated nasal cultures. We found that levels of HBD-3 expression in skin of persistent nasal carriers of
S. aureus
were lower: induced levels in carriers were 63% (95% confidence interval, 43 to 94%;
P
= 0.02) and constitutive levels were 76% (95% confidence interval, 52 to 110%;
P
= 0.14) of those found in noncarriers. No such associations were present for RNase 7. In conjunction with existing knowledge, these findings suggest that healthy individuals with deficient HBD-3 expression in keratinocytes are more prone to persistent nasal colonization with
S. aureus
.
Discovery of Salmonella Virulence Factors Translocated via Outer Membrane Vesicles to Murine Macrophages
Authors: Yoon Hyunjin , Ansong Charles , Adkins Joshua N. , Heffron Fred 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACT

Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium, an intracellular pathogen and leading cause of food-borne illness, encodes a plethora of virulence effectors.
Salmonella
virulence factors are translocated into host cells and manipulate host cellular activities, providing a more hospitable environment for bacterial proliferation. In this study, we report a new set of virulence factors that is translocated into the host cytoplasm via bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMV). PagK (or PagK1), PagJ, and STM2585A (or PagK2) are small proteins composed of ∼70 amino acids and have high sequence homology to each other (>85% identity).
Salmonella
lacking all three homologues was attenuated for virulence in a mouse infection model, suggesting at least partial functional redundancy among the homologues. While each homologue was translocated into the macrophage cytoplasm, their translocation was independent of all three
Salmonella
gene-encoded type III secretion systems (T3SSs)–
Salmonella
pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) T3SS, SPI-2 T3SS, and the flagellar system. Selected methods, including direct microscopy, demonstrated that the PagK-homologous proteins were secreted through OMV, which were enriched with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins. Vesicles produced by intracellular bacteria also contained lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1), suggesting the possibility of OMV convergence with host cellular components during intracellular trafficking. This study identified novel
Salmonella
virulence factors secreted via OMV and demonstrated that OMV can function as a vehicle to transfer virulence determinants to the cytoplasm of the infected host cell.
Clinical Benefit of Statin Pretreatment in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Patti Giuseppe , Cannon Christopher P. , Murphy Sabina A. , Mega Simona , Pasceri Vincenzo , Briguori Carlo , Colombo Antonio , Yun Kyeong Ho , Jeong Myung Ho , Kim Jung-Sun , Choi Donghoon , Bozbas Huseyin , Kinoshita Masayoshi , Fukuda Keiichi , Jia Xin-Wei , Hara Hidehiko , Cay Serkan , Di Sciascio Germano 
Published: April 2011

Background—
Previous studies suggested that statin pretreatment reduces cardiac events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, most data were observational, and single randomized trials included limited numbers of patients.

Methods and Results—

We performed a collaborative meta-analysis using individual patient data from 13 randomized studies in which 3341 patients received either high-dose statin (n=1692) or no statin/low-dose statin (n=1649) before percutaneous coronary intervention, with all patients receiving statin therapy after intervention. Occurrence of periprocedural myocardial infarction, defined as postintervention creatine kinase–MB increase ≥3 times the upper limit of normal, and 30-day major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization) was evaluated. Incidence of periprocedural myocardial infarction was 7.0% in the high-dose statin versus 11.9% in the control group, which corresponds to a 44% risk reduction in the active-treatment arm (odds ratio by fixed-effects model 0.56, 95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.71,
P
<0.00001). The rate of major adverse cardiac events at 30 days was significantly lower in the high-dose statin group (7.4% versus 12.6%, a 44% risk reduction;
P
<0.00001), and 1-month major adverse cardiac events, excluding periprocedural events, were also reduced (0.6% versus 1.4%;
P
=0.05). The benefit of high-dose statins was realized irrespective of clinical presentation (
P
for interaction=0.43) and was maintained across various subgroups but appeared greater in the subgroup with elevated baseline C-reactive protein levels (n=734; 68% risk reduction for periprocedural myocardial infarction versus 31% in those 1861 patients with normal CRP;
P
for quantitative interaction=0.025).

Conclusions—
High-dose statin pretreatment leads to a significant reduction in periprocedural myocardial infarction and 30-day adverse events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. This strategy should be considered in all patients with planned percutaneous coronary intervention.
Fungal Flora at Solid Waste Storage Centres and Their Potential Allergenic Effects on the Workers
Authors: İşsever Halim , Özyıldırım Bedia , İnce Nurhan , İnce Haluk , Bayraktarlı Recep , Gelincik Aslı , Özşeker Ferhan , Erelel Mustafa , Büyüköztürk Suna , Güngör Günay Yılmaz 
Published: April 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to find out the fungal flora at solid waste storage centres and its potential allergenic effects on the workers. Methods: Air samples from 10 solid waste storage centres were collected and plates were incubated for up to 14 days. The isolated fungi were identified by standard methods. In total, 599 solid waste sanitation workers who worked in those areas were questioned about nasoconjunctival and skin allergic symptoms and then underwent skin prick tests with different mould extracts. Results: Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Trichoderma sp. were isolated in all areas, Aspergillus being the most abundant mould followed by others. According to skin prick tests, positivity to Aspergillus fumigatuswas found to be in the first order by 10.68%. There was a significant correlation between the nasal and conjunctival symptoms and skin test positivity to house dust mites (p = 0.002, p = 0.03). Skin complaints were correlated with skin test positivity to Penicillium notatum ( p = 0.04). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the workers of solid waste storage centres are under a moderate risk of becoming sensitised to some mould species, especially to Aspergillus sp. The environmental measurements and periodical medical check-ups must be taken into account in solid waste storage centres in order to assess the health risks.
Chronic graft-versus-host disease: long-term results from a randomized trial on graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis with or without anti–T-cell globulin ATG-Fresenius
Authors: Socié Gérard , Schmoor Claudia , Bethge Wolfgang A. , Ottinger Hellmut D. , Stelljes Matthias , Zander Axel R. , Volin Liisa , Ruutu Tapani , Heim Dominik A. , Schwerdtfeger Rainer , Kolbe Karin , Mayer Jiri , Maertens Johan A. , Linkesch Werner , Holler Ernst , Koza Vladimir , Bornhäuser Martin , Einsele Hermann , Kolb Hans-Jochem , Bertz Hartmut , Egger Matthias , Grishina Olga , Finke Jürgen ,   for the ATG-Fresenius Trial Group
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Previous randomized graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-prophylaxis trials have failed to demonstrate reduced incidence and severity of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Here we reanalyzed and updated a randomized phase 3 trial comparing standard GVHD prophylaxis with or without pretransplantation ATG-Fresenius (ATG-F) in 201 adult patients receiving myeloablative conditioning before transplantation from unrelated donors. The cumulative incidence of extensive cGVHD after 3 years was 12.2% in the ATG-F group versus 45.0% in the control group (P < .0001). The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse and of nonrelapse mortality was 32.6% and 19.4% in the ATG-F group and 28.2% and 33.5% in the control group (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.21, P = .47, and HR = 0.68, P = .18), respectively. This nonsignificant reduction in nonrelapse mortality without increased relapse risk led to an overall survival rate after 3 years of 55.2% in the ATG-F group and 43.3% in the control group (HR = 0.84, P = .39, nonsignificant). The HR for receiving immunosuppressive therapy (IST) was 0.31 after ATG-F (P < .0001), and the 3-year probability of survival free of IST was 52.9% and 16.9% in the ATG-F versus control, respectively. The addition of ATG-F to standard cyclosporine, methotrexate GVHD prophylaxis lowers the incidence and severity of cGVHD, and the risk of receiving IST without raising the relapse rate. ATG-F prophylaxis reduces cGVHD morbidity.
Rice-Map: a new-generation rice genome browser
Authors: Wang Jun , Kong Lei , Zhao Shuqi , Zhang He , Tang Liang , Li Zhe , Gu Xiaocheng , Luo Jingchu , Gao Ge 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
The concurrent release of rice genome sequences for two subspecies (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica and Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica) facilitates rice studies at the whole genome level. Since the advent of high-throughput analysis, huge amounts of functional genomics data have been delivered rapidly, making an integrated online genome browser indispensable for scientists to visualize and analyze these data. Based on next-generation web technologies and high-throughput experimental data, we have developed Rice-Map, a novel genome browser for researchers to navigate, analyze and annotate rice genome interactively.

Description
More than one hundred annotation tracks (81 for japonica and 82 for indica) have been compiled and loaded into Rice-Map. These pre-computed annotations cover gene models, transcript evidences, expression profiling, epigenetic modifications, inter-species and intra-species homologies, genetic markers and other genomic features. In addition to these pre-computed tracks, registered users can interactively add comments and research notes to Rice-Map as User-Defined Annotation entries. By smoothly scrolling, dragging and zooming, users can browse various genomic features simultaneously at multiple scales. On-the-fly analysis for selected entries could be performed through dedicated bioinformatic analysis platforms such as WebLab and Galaxy. Furthermore, a BioMart-powered data warehouse "Rice Mart" is offered for advanced users to fetch bulk datasets based on complex criteria.

Conclusions
Rice-Map delivers abundant up-to-date japonica and indica annotations, providing a valuable resource for both computational and bench biologists. Rice-Map is publicly accessible at http://www.ricemap.org/, with all data available for free downloading.
RS-SNP: a random-set method for genome-wide association studies
Authors: D'Addabbo Annarita , Palmieri Orazio , Latiano Anna , Annese Vito , Mukherjee Sayan , Ancona Nicola 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background
The typical objective of Genome-wide association (GWA) studies is to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and corresponding genes with the strongest evidence of association (the 'most-significant SNPs/genes' approach). Borrowing ideas from micro-array data analysis, we propose a new method, named RS-SNP, for detecting sets of genes enriched in SNPs moderately associated to the phenotype. RS-SNP assesses whether the number of significant SNPs, with p-value P ≤ α, belonging to a given SNP set "Equation missing" is statistically significant. The rationale of proposed method is that two kinds of null hypotheses are taken into account simultaneously. In the first null model the genotype and the phenotype are assumed to be independent random variables and the null distribution is the probability of the number of significant SNPs in "Equation missing" greater than observed by chance. The second null model assumes the number of significant SNPs in "Equation missing" depends on the size of "Equation missing" and not on the identity of the SNPs in "Equation missing". Statistical significance is assessed using non-parametric permutation tests.

Results
We applied RS-SNP to the Crohn's disease (CD) data set collected by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) and compared the results with GENGEN, an approach recently proposed in literature. The enrichment analysis using RS-SNP and the set of pathways contained in the MSigDB C2 CP pathway collection highlighted 86 pathways rich in SNPs weakly associated to CD. Of these, 47 were also indicated to be significant by GENGEN. Similar results were obtained using the MSigDB C5 pathway collection. Many of the pathways found to be enriched by RS-SNP have a well-known connection to CD and often with inflammatory diseases.

Conclusions
The proposed method is a valuable alternative to other techniques for enrichment analysis of SNP sets. It is well founded from a theoretical and statistical perspective. Moreover, the experimental comparison with GENGEN highlights that it is more robust with respect to false positive findings.
Analysis of BAC-end sequences (BESs) and development of BES-SSR markers for genetic mapping and hybrid purity assessment in pigeonpea (Cajanus spp.)
Authors: Bohra Abhishek , Dubey Anuja , Saxena Rachit K , Penmetsa R Varma , Poornima KN , Kumar Naresh , Farmer Andrew D , Srivani Gudipati , Upadhyaya Hari D , Gothalwal Ragini , Ramesh S , Singh Dhiraj , Saxena Kulbhushan , Kishor PB Kavi , Singh Nagendra K , Town Christopher D , May Gregory D , Cook Douglas R , Varshney Rajeev K 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundPigeonpea [Cajanus cajan(L.) Millsp.] is an important legume crop of rainfed agriculture. Despite of concerted research efforts directed to pigeonpea improvement, stagnated productivity of pigeonpea during last several decades may be accounted to prevalence of various biotic and abiotic constraints and the situation is exacerbated by availability of inadequate genomic resources to undertake any molecular breeding programme for accelerated crop improvement. With the objective of enhancing genomic resources for pigeonpea, this study reports for the first time, large scale development of SSR markers from BAC-end sequences and their subsequent use for genetic mapping and hybridity testing in pigeonpea.ResultsA set of 88,860 BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome)-end sequences (BESs) were generated after constructing two BAC libraries by usingHindIII (34,560 clones) andBamHI (34,560 clones) restriction enzymes. Clustering based on sequence identity of BESs yielded a set of >52K non-redundant sequences, comprising 35 Mbp or >4% of the pigeonpea genome. These sequences were analyzed to develop annotation lists and subdivide the BESs into genome fractions (e.g., genes, retroelements, transpons and non-annotated sequences). Parallel analysis of BESs for microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) identified 18,149 SSRs, from which a set of 6,212 SSRs were selected for further analysis. A total of 3,072 novel SSR primer pairs were synthesized and tested for length polymorphism on a set of 22 parental genotypes of 13 mapping populations segregating for traits of interest. In total, we identified 842 polymorphic SSR markers that will have utility in pigeonpea improvement. Based on these markers, thefirstSSR-based genetic map comprising of 239 loci was developed for this previously uncharacterized genome. Utility of developed SSR markers was also demonstrated by identifying a set of 42 markers each for two hybrids (ICPH 2671 and ICPH 2438) for genetic purity assessment in commercial hybrid breeding programme.ConclusionIn summary, while BAC libraries and BESs should be useful for genomics studies, BES-SSR markers, and the genetic map should be very useful for linking the genetic map with a future physical map as well as for molecular breeding in pigeonpea.
Aging enhances serum cytokine response but not task-induced grip strength declines in a rat model of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: Xin Dong L , Harris Michelle Y , Wade Christine K , Amin Mamta , Barr Ann E , Barbe Mary F 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundWe previously reported early tissue injury, increased serum and tissue inflammatory cytokines and decreased grip in young rats performing a moderate demand repetitive task. The tissue cytokine response was transient, the serum response and decreased grip were still evident by 8 weeks. Thus, here, we examined their levels at 12 weeks in young rats. Since aging is known to enhance serum cytokine levels, we also examined aged rats.MethodsAged and young rats, 14 mo and 2.5 mo of age at onset, respectfully, were trained 15 min/day for 4 weeks, and then performed a high repetition, low force (HRLF) reaching and grasping task for 2 hours/day, for 12 weeks. Serum was assayed for 6 cytokines: IL-1alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, MIP2, IL-10. Grip strength was assayed, since we have previously shown an inverse correlation between grip strength and serum inflammatory cytokines. Results were compared to naïve (grip), and normal, food-restricted and trained-only controls.ResultsSerum cytokines were higher overall in aged than young rats, with increases in IL-1alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-6 in aged Trained and 12-week HRLF rats, compared to young Trained and HRLF rats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively, each). IL-6 was also increased in aged 12-week HRLF versus aged normal controls (p < 0.05). Serum IFN-gamma and MIP2 levels were also increased in young 6-week HRLF rats, but no cytokines were above baseline levels in young 12-week HRLF rats. Grip strength declined in both young and aged 12-week HRLF rats, compared to naïve and normal controls (p < 0.05 each), but these declines correlated only with IL-6 levels in aged rats (r = -0.39).ConclusionAging enhanced a serum cytokine response in general, a response that was even greater with repetitive task performance. Grip strength was adversely affected by task performance in both age groups, but was apparently influenced by factors other than serum cytokine levels in young rats.
Excitonic effects on the second-order nonlinear optical properties of semi-spherical quantum dots
Authors: Flórez Jefferson , Camacho Ángela 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe study the excitonic effects on the second-order nonlinear optical properties of semi-spherical quantum dots considering, on the same footing, the confinement potential of the electron-hole pair and the Coulomb interaction between them. The exciton is confined in a semi-spherical geometry by means of a three-dimensional semi-parabolic potential. We calculate the optical rectification and second harmonic generation coefficients for two different values of the confinement frequency based on the numerically computed energies and wavefunctions of the exciton. We present the results as a function of the incident photon energy for GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots ranging from few nanometers to tens of nanometers. We find that the second-order nonlinear coefficients exhibit not only a blue-shift of the order of meV but also a change of intensity compared with the results obtained ignoring the Coulomb interaction in the so-called strong-confinement limit.
A supervised visual model for finding regions of interest in basal cell carcinoma images
Authors: Gutiérrez Ricardo , Gómez Francisco , Roa-Peña Lucía , Romero Eduardo 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper introduces a supervised learning method for finding diagnostic regions of interest in histopathological images. The method is based on the cognitive process of visual selection of relevant regions that arises during a pathologist's image examination. The proposed strategy emulates the interaction of the visual cortex areasV1,V2 andV4, being theV1 cortex responsible for assigning local levels of relevance to visual inputs while theV2 cortex gathers together these small regions according to some weights modulated by theV4 cortex, which stores some learned rules. This novel strategy can be considered as a complex mix of "bottom-up" and "top-down" mechanisms, integrated by calculating a unique index inside each region. The method was evaluated on a set of 338 images in which an expert pathologist had drawn the Regions of Interest. The proposed method outperforms two state-of-the-art methods devised to determine Regions of Interest (RoIs) in natural images. The quality gain with respect to an adaptated Itti's model which found RoIs was 3.6dBin average, while with respect to the Achanta's proposal was 4.9dB.
In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Intracellular Bioimaging of Dendritic Platinum Nanoparticles by Differential Interference Contrast (DIC)
Authors: Hong Chen-Yu , Yamauchi Yusuke , Wu Kevin C-W 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
We demonstrated the excellent biocompatibility of dendritic platinum nanoparticles (DPNs) in vitro using a cancer cell line (BT-20) and MTT assay. In addition, a successful observation of DPNs within live cells using differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy without labelling fluorescent dyes has been achieved.
Health Professionals or Policemen?; Error with Nonformulary Drug; Adjust Pradaxa Dose for Renal Impairment; Federal Legislation to Address Drug Shortages; Nicotine-Nitroglycerin Patch Mix-up
Authors: Cohen Michael R. , Smetzer Judy L. 
Published: April 2011

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them at your inservice training programs. Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Errors Reporting Program. Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers' names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below. Errors, close calls, or hazardous conditions may be reported directly to ISMP through the ISMP Web site ( www.ismp.org ), by calling 800-FAIL-SAFE, or via e-mail at ismpinfo@ismp.org . ISMP guarantees the confidentiality and security of the information received and respects reporters' wishes as to the level of detail included in publications.
Challenges in the measurement of serum testosterone concentrations as a biomarker of men's health1
Authors: Haring Robin , Spielhagen Christin , Nauck Matthias 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Male testosterone concentrations gained recent attention in the field of andrology. Various epidemiological cohort studies presented associations of low serum testosterone concentrations with incident cardiovascular risk factors and increased mortality risk. Furthermore, low serum testosterone concentrations are integral part for the diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism. Because of their high validity and throughput, mass spectrometry assays have replaced conventional immunoassays for testosterone measurement, and are believed to become the "gold standard" for sex hormone quantitation. This article will focus on challenges in the measurement of serum testosterone concentrations and will provide practical information on the interpretation of serum testosterone measurements.