bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New system for multilocus variable‐number tandem‐repeat analysis of the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains belonging to three major serogroups: O157, O26, and O111
Authors: Izumiya Hidemasa , Pei Yingxin , Terajima Jun , Ohnishi Makoto , Hayashi Tetsuya , Iyoda Sunao , Watanabe Haruo 
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACTEnterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a food‐ and waterborne pathogen, causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and life‐threatening HUS. MLVA is a newly developed and widely accepted genotyping tool. An MLVA system for EHEC O157 involving nine genomic loci has already been established. However, the present study revealed that the above‐mentioned MLVA system cannot analyze EHEC O26 and O111 isolates—the second and third most dominant EHEC serogroups in Japan, respectively. Therefore, with several modifications to the O157 system and the use of nine additional loci, we developed an expanded MLVA system applicable to EHEC O26, O111, and O157. Our MLVA system had a relatively high resolution power for each of the three serogroups: Simpson's index of diversity was 0.991 (95% CI = 0.989–0.993), 0.988 (95% CI, 0.986–0.990), and 0.986 (95% CI, 0.979–0.993) for O26, O111, and O157, respectively. This system also detected outbreak‐related isolates; the isolates collected during each of the 12 O26 and O111 outbreaks formed unique clusters, and most of the repeat copy numbers among the isolates collected during the same outbreak exhibited no or single‐locus variations. These results were comparable to those of cluster analyses based on PFGE profiles. Therefore, our system can complement PFGE analysis—the current golden method. Because EHEC strains of three major serogroups can be rapidly analyzed on a single platform with our expanded MLVA system, this system could be widely used in molecular epidemiological studies of EHEC infections.
Underutilization of gastroprotection for at‐risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Spain compared with the United States
Authors: Casado‐Arroyo R. , Scheiman J. M. , Polo‐Tomas M. , Saini S. D. , Del Rio A. , Guastello E. , Lanas A. 
Published: July 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 689–695SummaryBackground  Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the preferred agents for the prevention of aspirin‐associated upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Data are limited to determine whether PPIs are being used to reduce UGIB risk.Aim  To evaluate the implementation of PPI treatment to reduce the GI risk in two cardiology centres from Europe and the United States.Methods  A retrospective cross‐sectional study was carried out at the University of Michigan and University Hospital‐Zaragoza in 429 consecutive patients hospitalized for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on dual antiplatelet therapy.Results  Admission for PPI co‐therapy was similar (34% vs. 30%) in both centres. At discharge, the proportion of high‐risk patients receiving PPI therapy in the Spanish centre (75.4%) was higher than their American peers (55.6%) (OR: 2.5; 95% CI; 1.3–4.7). No differences in PPI prescription rates were found among Spanish patients with/without GI risk factors. The opportunity to initiate PPI co‐therapy in high‐risk patients was missed in 81.8% (36/44) of those not on PPI at admission in US patients vs. 24.1% (19/79) (P < 0.0001) in Spanish patients.Conclusions  There are important differences concerning PPI prescription and risk stratification in the two centres when managing PCI patients. Efforts to stratify risks and utilize appropriate strategies for UGIB prophylaxis in high‐risk patients are warranted.
Specific effects exerted by B‐lymphoproliferative diseases on peripheral T‐lymphocyte protein expression
Authors: Borro Marina , Gentile Giovanna , De Luca Ottavia , Torre Maria Simona , Aimati Laura , Tatarelli Caterina , Antonietta Aloe Spiriti Maria , Christina Cox Maria , Simmaco Maurizio 
Published: July 2010

SummaryA proteomic approach was applied to study the protein expression profile of peripheral T‐cells derived from patients at the onset of different B‐lymphoproliferative diseases, because a rising interest in specific actions played by T‐cells in such pathologies has emerged. Decreased levels of profilin‐1 and cofilin‐1 and increased levels of coronin1A and prohibitin were found in patients, compared with healthy controls. The protein‐protein interaction network of these proteins was studied using a web‐based bioinformatics tool, highlighting the actin cytoskeleton regulation as the main biological process involved in peripheral T‐cells of such patients. Unsupervised cluster analysis of protein expression data shows that the recorded alteration of T‐cell proteome was specifically induced by B‐cell pathologies.
Increased serum FGF21 levels in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Yilmaz Yusuf , Eren Fatih , Yonal Oya , Kurt Ramazan , Aktas Bilge , Celikel Cigdem Ataizi , Ozdogan Osman , Imeryuz Nese , Kalayci Cem , Avsar Erol 
Published: July 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 887–892AbstractBackground  The fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) hormonal pathway is a metabolic signalling cascade and has been recently identified as the master hormonal regulator of glucose, lipids and overall energy balance. In this observational, case–control study, we assayed serum levels of FGF21 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, and examined their association with clinical, biochemical and histological phenotypes.Materials and methods  Serum levels of FGF21 were assayed by ELISA in 82 patients with biopsy‐proven NAFLD and 77 controls. We analysed associations between FGF21 and the characteristics of patients with NAFLD by multiple linear regression analysis.Results  Levels of FGF21 were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (median 200 pg mL−1; interquartile range: 87–410 pg mL−1) than in healthy controls (median 93 pg mL−1; interquartile range: 70–180 pg mL−1, Mann–Whitney U‐test, P < 0·001). There was a stepwise increase in serum FGF21 levels according to the liver steatosis score (median level in subjects with score 1: 170 pg mL−1; score 2: 220 pg mL−1; score 3: 280 pg mL−1, P for trend < 0·01). After stepwise linear regression analysis, serum FGF21 levels were the only independent predictor of hepatic steatosis scores in patients with NAFLD (β = 0·26; t = 2·659, P < 0·01).Conclusions  Serum FGF21 levels are increased in patients with NAFLD regardless of potential confounders and represent an independent predictor of liver steatosis. These findings support further investigation of this molecule in metabolic liver diseases.
Extremely high prevalence of metabolic syndrome manifestations among Arab youth: a call for early intervention
Authors: Al‐Daghri Nasser M. 
Published: July 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (12): 1063–1066AbstractBackground  Epidemiological studies have suggested an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among adults in the Middle‐East. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MS in a large cohort of Saudi children and adolescents.Materials and methods  In this cross‐sectional observational study, a total of 1231 randomly selected Saudi children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were recruited. Subjects’ information was generated from a database of more than 10 000 Saudi citizens from the existing Biomarkers Screening in Riyadh Program (RIYADH Cohort), Saudi Arabia. Anthropometrics included body mass index, blood pressure, as well as waist and hip circumferences. Fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were determined using routine laboratory procedures. The modified definition of ATP‐III (NHANES III) was used for the diagnosis of MS.Results  Overall prevalence of complete MS was 9·4% [confidence interval (CI) 7·8–11·0]. Age‐adjusted prevalence according to the European standard population is 5·8%. Boys had a comparable MS prevalence with girls [10·3% (CI 8·2–12·4) vs. 8·1% (CI 5·7–10·5), respectively (P = 0·20)]. Low HDL‐cholesterol was the most prevalent of all MS risk factors, affecting 86% (CI 85·0–88·6) and hypertriglyceridemia, the second most prevalent, affecting 33% (CI 30·6–35·8) of the subjects.Conclusions  The prevalence of MS manifestations among Arab children is extremely high, with dyslipidemia being the most common MS abnormality. Screening for dyslipidemia among Saudi children is warranted especially among those most at risk. Scientific inquiry into the molecular causes of these manifestations should be pursued as a first step in the discovery of aetiological therapies.
Influence of rearing and experimental temperatures on predator avoidance behaviour in a freshwater pulmonate snail
Authors: DALESMAN SARAH , RUNDLE SIMON D. 
Published: July 2010

Summary1. Predicted increases in the temperature of freshwaters is likely to affect how prey species respond to predators. We investigated how the predator avoidance behaviour of the freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea stagnalis is influenced by the temperature at which it was reared and that at which behavioural trials were carried out.2. Crawl‐out behaviour of juvenile snails from two populations (high predation risk versus low predation risk) reared at either 15 or 20 °C was assessed in response to predation cues (predatory fish kairomones and conspecific alarm cues) in behavioural trials at both 15 and 20 °C.3. Trial temperature had a significant effect on the time that snails spent in avoidance, regardless of their population of origin. Crawl‐out behaviour was greater during behavioural trials at 15 °C, but there was no effect of trial temperature on the speed with which animals showed avoidance behaviour.4. There was no interactive effect of rearing temperature (RT) and trial temperature, but the effect of RT on avoidance behaviour did differ between populations. For an RT of 15 °C, snails from the South Drain (high risk) population showed a more rapid and longer avoidance response than those from the Chilton Moor (low risk) population. In contrast, for snails reared at 20 °C, there was no difference between populations for the duration of the avoidance response and snails from Chilton Moor crawled out faster than those from South Drain.5. Hence, whilst (predictable) differences relative to natural predation threat in crawl‐out behaviour were apparent at 15 °C, raising the developmental temperature to 20 °C eliminated or, in the case of latency, reversed these differences. This suggests that L. stagnalis populations that cohabit with predatory fish and experience high developmental temperatures may have a reduced ability to respond to fish predation risk.
Effects of aquatic exposure to the insecticide carbaryl are species‐specific across life stages and mediated by heterospecific competitors in anurans
Authors: Distel Christopher A. , Boone Michelle D. 
Published: July 2010

Summary 1. Understanding the direct and indirect mechanisms by which anthropogenic stressors interact with species and communities is central to understanding ecology in a modern world. Pesticides have been implicated in amphibian declines worldwide, but no mechanism has yet been identified. 2. We tested the hypotheses that exposure to the insecticide carbaryl (2 mg/L) would mediate competitive outcomes between larvae of two anuran species (Bufo americanus, American toads and Rana pipiens, northern leopard frogs), and that post‐exposure effects would carry over to affect juveniles in the terrestrial environment. 3. These hypotheses were tested in controlled mesocosm experiments. Toad survival decreased with insecticide exposure and presence of heterospecific competitors, relative to low‐density controls. However, when exposed to the insecticide, toads experienced the greatest survival when leopard frogs were present. Larval period of toads was lengthened by carbaryl exposure and high density of conspecifics. Leopard frog survival was reduced only by high conspecific density, and larval period was shortened by carbaryl exposure. There were no significant effects of the insecticide on periphyton abundance, although phytoplankton abundance increased and zooplankton abundance decreased after exposure. 4. A subset of metamorphs of each species from each aquatic treatment was added to 2 × 2 m terrestrial enclosures to evaluate larval treatment effects on overwinter survival and growth. Despite differences in initial mass of this subset of metamorphs, mass at spring emergence was not significantly affected by any aquatic treatment for either species. However, leopard frog survival to and mass at spring emergence benefited from larger mass at metamorphosis, while toads appeared unaffected. 5. These results suggest that while tadpoles sharing a habitat may experience reduced survival from competition, the presence of multiple amphibian species may ameliorate the effects of pesticide exposure. 6. More generally, maintaining diversity may benefit ecological communities by reducing the impacts of anthropogenic threats to certain taxa.
Effect of herbage mass and allowance on sward characteristics, milk production, intake and rumen volatile fatty acid concentration
Authors: McEvoy M. , Delaby L. , Murphy J. P. , Boland T. M. , O’Donovan M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine the effect of herbage mass and daily herbage allowance (DHA) on sward characteristics and animal performance, dry‐matter intake, rumen pH and volatile fatty acid production of unsupplemented spring‐calving dairy cows throughout the main grazing season. Sixty‐eight Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned across four treatments (n = 17) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Two swards were created with different levels of pre‐grazing herbage mass [allocated above 4 cm (>4 cm); 1700 kg DM ha−1 (medium; M) or 2200 kg DM ha−1 (high; H)] and two levels of DHA (>4 cm; 16 or 20 kg DM per cow d−1). An additional eight lactating ruminally cannulated Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to each treatment in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Sward and animal measurements were collected across four periods each of 1 week duration in April and May (PI) and July and August (PII). Maintaining the medium‐mass sward across the season improved the nutritive value of the sward in the latter part of the grazing season compared with high‐mass swards, thus resulting in increased animal intakes and milk production throughout PII. The higher organic matter digestibility of the medium‐compared with high‐masses during PII indicates that grazing severity and herbage mass in the spring to mid‐summer period will determine sward quality parameters in the late summer period.
Experience‐dependent natal philopatry of breeding greater flamingos
Authors: Balkiz Özge , Béchet Arnaud , Rouan Lauriane , Choquet Rémi , Germain Christophe , Amat Juan A. , Rendón‐Martos Manuel , Baccetti Nicola , Nissardi Sergio , Özesmi Uygar , Pradel Roger 
Published: July 2010

Summary1. Contrary to the generally high level of natal philopatry (i.e. likelihood that individuals breed at their natal colony) found in first‐breeding colonial birds, little is known of natal philopatry later in life. Most hypotheses advanced to explain natal philopatry are valid at all ages. However, for young and inexperienced birds, the benefits of natal philopatry may be counterbalanced by the costs of intraspecific competition at the natal colony making dispersal temporarily advantageous. In turn, experience may increase competitive ability and make natal philopatry advantageous again.2. We evaluated this hypothesis on the large‐scale dispersal of greater flamingosPhoenicopterus roseusbreeding among three colonies comprising >85% of the Western Mediterranean metapopulation. The Camargue (France) and Fuente de Piedra (Spain) are large and saturated colonies while Molentargius (Sardinia) is a recent and growing colony.3. We used a 20‐year capture‐mark‐resighting dataset of 4900 flamingos ringed as chicks in Camargue and Fuente de Piedra and breeding at the three colonies. We assessed the effects of natal colony and breeding experience (first‐time observed breedersversusconfirmed experienced breeders) on dispersal using multistate capture‐recapture models. Dispersal to an unobservable state accounted for temporary emigration.4. Fidelity was higher at the natal colony (>84%) than elsewhere. Fidelity increased with experience in the two large colonies (Camargue and Fuente de Piedra) suggesting a large‐scale experience‐related despotic distribution. Breeding dispersal was significant (up to 61% and 52% for first‐time breeders and experienced breeders, respectively) so that colony dynamics is affected by exchanges with other colonies. Except for Fuente‐born breeders leaving Molentargius, dispersal to the natal colony was higher than to any other colonies.5. Survival was not higher at the natal colony. Inexperienced birds likely had lower breeding success at the Camargue and skipped reproduction after having emigrated to the other large colony but not to Molentargius. Breeding at Molentargius could allow avoiding queuing (and non‐breeding) at the large colonies while gaining experience and competitive ability for future attempts.6 Natal philopatry appears as an important driver of large‐scale breeding dispersal in the Greater flamingo. The fitness advantage of natal philopatry is likely experience‐dependent and mediated by the variations of intraspecific competition.
Synthesizing traditional biogeography with microbial ecology: the importance of dormancy
Authors: Locey Kenneth J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe discovery of biogeographical patterns among microbial communities has led to a focus on the empirical evaluation of the importance of dispersal limitation in microbial biota. As a result, the spatial distribution of microbial diversity has been increasingly studied while the synthesis of biogeographical theory with microbial ecology remains undeveloped. To make biogeographical theory relevant to microbial ecology, microbial traits that potentially affect the distribution of microbial diversity need to be considered. Given that many microorganisms in natural environments are in a state of dormancy and that dormancy is an important microbial fitness trait, I provide a first attempt to account for the effects of dormancy on microbial biogeography by treating dormancy as a fundamental biogeographical response. I discuss the effects of dormancy on the equilibrium theory of island biogeography and on the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography, and suggest how the equilibrium theory of island biogeography can produce predictions approaching those of the Baas‐Becking hypothesis (i.e. everything is everywhere, but the environment selects). In addition, I present a conceptual model of the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography, generalized to account for dormancy, from which a full model can be constructed for species with or without dormant life history stages.
Infection of gill and kidney of Fraser River sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), by Parvicapsula minibicornis and its effect on host physiology
Authors: Bradford M J , Lovy J , Patterson D A 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAdult sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), migrating upstream in the Fraser River, British Columbia, are exposed to the myxozoan parasite Parvicapsula minibicornis when they enter the river from the ocean. Infections are initially localized in the kidney but have recently been associated with branchitis in one population. Adult fish from five locations in the watershed were sampled to determine whether branchitis was widespread. P. minibicornis infections in kidney glomeruli were prevalent in all samples except for a sample of fish that had just entered the Fraser River from the ocean. For fish captured in spawning streams, parasites were observed in the renal tubules and gill, and branchitis was observed in 70% of fish. Plasma osmolality was negatively correlated with the number of parasites in the kidney tubules, which we hypothesize to be caused by the breach of glomerular membranes as the parasite leaves the fish. Plasma lactate values increased with increasing levels of pathology in gills. These findings support the hypothesis that P. minibicornis impacts the physiology of migrating fish, which may in turn affect the likelihood that adults will be able to migrate and spawn successfully.
Lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 activity and mass in relation to vascular disease and nonvascular mortality
Authors:   Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group
Published: July 2010

Abstract.  Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group (Clinical Trial Service Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK) Lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 activity and mass in relation to vascular disease and nonvascular mortality. J Intern Med 2010; 268:348–358.Objectives.  To assess whether associations of circulating lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) with vascular disease are independent of other risk factors.Methods.  Lp‐PLA2 activity and mass, lipids and other characteristics were measured at baseline in 19 037 individuals at high risk of vascular disease in a randomized trial of simvastatin with 5‐year average follow‐up.Results.  Lp‐PLA2 activity and mass were correlated with each other (r = 0.56), lipids and other vascular risk factors. The moderate association of Lp‐PLA2 activity with occlusive coronary events (n = 2531) in analyses adjusted for nonlipid factors (hazard ratio per 1 SD [HR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.06–1.15) became nonsignificant after further adjustment for apolipoproteins (HR 1.02, 0.97–1.06). Such adjustment also attenuated HRs with Lp‐PLA2 mass from 1.08 (1.03–1.12) to 1.05 (1.01–1.09). By contrast, the HR with apolipoprotein‐B100 of 1.15 (1.10–1.19) was only slightly attenuated to 1.14 (1.09–1.19) after further adjustment for apolipoprotein A1 and Lp‐PLA2. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted HRs for other cardiac events (n = 1007) with either Lp‐PLA2 activity or mass were about 1.20, but HRs reduced after adjustment for nonlipid factors (activity: 1.11, 1.04–1.18; mass: 1.08, 1.02–1.15). Adjusted HRs for ischaemic stroke (n = 900) were weak and nonsignificant and for nonvascular mortality (n = 1040) were 1.01 (0.94–1.09) with activity and 1.12 (1.05–1.19) with mass. Simvastatin reduced Lp‐PLA2 levels by about one‐quarter, but simvastatin’s vascular protection did not vary with baseline Lp‐PLA2 concentration.Conclusions.  Associations of Lp‐PLA2 with occlusive coronary events depend considerably on lipid levels, whereas those with other cardiac events appear to reflect confounding from cardiovascular medication and prior vascular disease.