bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder with and without a Distress Criterion: Prevalence and Correlates in a Representative Czech Sample
Authors: Weiss Petr , Brody Stuart 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexual medicine would benefit from large representative surveys examining the prevalence of genital female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) symptoms (with and without the increasingly controversial distress criterion), as well as novel FSAD correlates and potential “protective” factors.

Aims
To examine the extent to which genital FSAD symptoms, with and without a distress criterion, are associated with both historical and current aspects of sexual behavior.

Methods
In a representative sample of the Czech population (aged 15–88), 1,000 women were asked whether they currently have impaired lubrication and vaginal swelling (and if so, if this produces marked distress or interpersonal difficulty). They provided details of vaginal orgasm (induced by penile–vaginal intercourse [PVI] without clitoral masturbation) consistency, feelings during their first PVI, estimates of their typical foreplay and PVI durations, their degree of mental focus on vaginal sensations during PVI, among other factors.

Main Outcome Measures
The current prevalence of FSAD with and without a distress criterion and their associations with current and antecedent sexual behaviors and responses.

Results
The current prevalence of FSAD was 10.3% without, plus 7.5% with a distress criterion (which tended to be associated with more impairments than without distress). History of vaginal orgasm (odds ratio = 2.78), never masturbating (odds ratio = 2.4), not having felt pain and discomfort on first PVI (odds ratio = 2.27), and not having frequent anal intercourse are protective against FSAD with distress, but not without distress. Age (especially over 50) and inadequate focusing of mental attention on vaginal sensations during PVI are associated with increased FSAD risk both with and without distress.

Conclusions
FSAD with and without distress appear to be different entities to some extent, with the distressed group showing more long-term signs of psychosexual impairment. We suggest that FSAD with and without distress be considered two different disorders.
Design and Application of a New Rat-Specific Vacuum Erectile Device for Penile Rehabilitation Research
Authors: Yuan Jiuhong , Westney O. Lenaine , Wang Run 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Radical prostatectomy has a potential negative impact on penile health. The vacuum erection device (VED) has been used to promote the recovery of penile function and to maintain penile length. However, there is skepticism in the urological community due to its elusive mechanisms in penile rehabilitation.

Aim
To design a rat-specific VED and assess its application and safety.

Methods
Based on rat penile measurement and the principle of human VED, the rat-specific VED was designed, and the application for rats was evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures
The vacuum pressure of the rat-specific VED was measured. The VED application on rat penis and its side effects were studied.

Results
The rat-specific VED is a safe and applicable device to study the mechanism of VED in penile rehabilitation.

Conclusions
The newly designed rat-specific VED is a good simulator of the human VED. The application of this device on bilateral cavernous nerve crush rat model will be used to study the mechanisms of the VED in the penile rehabilitation.
Serum α‐1‐acid glycoprotein concentration in clinically healthy puppies and adult dogs and in dogs with various diseases
Authors: Yuki Masashi , Itoh Hiroshi , Takase Katsuaki 
Published: September 2009

Background:α‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) is an acute‐phase protein and a serum marker of inflammation and neoplasia in humans. AGP concentrations in diseased dogs and the potential effects of age, breed, and sex have not been elucidated.Objective:The purpose of this study was to examine differences in AGP concentration based on age, sex, and breed in a large population of clinically healthy dogs and to compare AGP concentrations in dogs with various diseases.Methods:Serum was obtained from clinically healthy puppies (n=74) and adults (n=172) of both sexes, and included mongrels (n=205) and Beagles (n=41). Serum also was obtained from 192 dogs with various diseases, including 8 with pyometra that were sampled before, and 1, 2, 3, and 10 days after surgery. AGP concentration was measured by single radial immunodiffusion. Statistical comparisons were made among age, sex, breed, and disease groups.Results:Serum AGP in healthy adult mongrels was 364±106 mg/L (reference interval, 152–576 mg/L). AGP was lowest in newborns (n=11, 122±54 mg/L) and gradually increased to adult levels by 3 months of age. Median AGP concentration was highest in dogs with parvovirus (n=17, 2100 mg/L), distemper (n=7, 1250 mg/L), and pyometra (n=18, 2480 mg/L) and was also significantly higher in dogs with acute filariasis, renal failure, urolithiasis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, trauma, hyperadrenocorticism, and immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia. Dogs with acute filariasis and acute hepatopathy had significantly higher AGP concentrations than dogs with chronic filariasis and chronic hepatopathy. Serum AGP concentration decreased gradually following surgery for pyometra but remained increased after 10 days (896±175 mg/L).Conclusions:Because of significantly lower AGP in puppies, the age of dogs should be considered when using AGP as a marker of disease. Serum AGP may be a useful marker of inflammatory disease in dogs and may help differentiate acute and chronic stages of disease.
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Screening by Online Immunometric Monitoring of Bacterial Growth under Selective Pressure
Authors: Stenholm Teppo , Hakanen Antti J. , Vaarno Jonne , Pihlasalo Sari , Terho Perttu , Hänninen Pekka E. , Vuopio-Varkila Jaana , Huovinen Pentti , Kotilainen Pirkko 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Rapid, high-throughput screening tools are needed to contain the spread of hospital-acquired methicillin (meticillin)-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) strains. Most techniques used in current clinical practice still require time-consuming culture for primary isolation of the microbe. We present a new phenotypic assay for MRSA screening. The technique employs a two-photon excited fluorescence (TPX) detection technology with
S. aureus
-specific antibodies that allows the online monitoring of bacterial growth in a single separation-free process. Different progressions of fluorescence signals are recorded for methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains when the growth of
S. aureus
is monitored in the presence of cefoxitin. The performance of the new technique was evaluated with 20 MRSA strains, 6 methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
strains, and 7 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains and two different monoclonal
S. aureus
-specific antibodies. When either of these antibodies was used, the sensitivity and the specificity of the TPX assay were 100%. All strains were correctly classified within 8 to 12 h, and up to 70 samples were simultaneously analyzed on a single 96-well microtiter plate. As a phenotypic method, the TPX assay is suited for screening purposes. The final definition of methicillin resistance in any
S. aureus
strain should be based on the presence of the
mecA
gene. The main benefit afforded by the initial use of the TPX methodology lies in its low cost and applicability to high-throughput analysis.
Tn
6060
, a Transposon from a Genomic Island in a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clinical Isolate That Includes Two Class 1 Integrons
Authors: Chowdhury Piklu Roy , Merlino John , Labbate Maurizio , Cheong Elaine Y.-L. , Gottlieb Thomas , Stokes H. W. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

A 25,441-bp transposon was recovered from a
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
clinical isolate. While the transposition module was >99% identical to sequence of Tn
1403
, the element had been subject to rearrangements, with two In70.2-like class 1 integrons inserted into it in an unusual “tail-to-tail” configuration. One cassette array was the same as that in In70.2; however, the second was different, generating a transposon that collectively includes six resistance cassettes.
Phase I Evaluation of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of a Single-Dose Intravenous Injection of a Murine Monoclonal Antibody against Hantaan Virus in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Xu Rong , Yang Xiao Yan , Yang Dao Feng , Zou Chang Yong , Gong Pei Li , Zeng Fan Dian 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT
Anti-Hantaan virus monoclonal antibody (AHM) is a murine monoclonal antibody against Hantaan virus being developed for the treatment of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The purpose of the present study was to describe the tolerance and pharmacokinetics of an intravenously administered single ascending dose of AHM in Chinese healthy volunteers. Four cohorts of 22 healthy subjects received AHM at 2.5 to 20 mg, and the results indicated that AHM was well tolerated. We established a highly sensitive, rapid, and accurate immunoassay for the kinetic analysis of AHM in serum. Serial blood samples were obtained after intravenous administration for up to 17 days. A one-compartment model was determined to best describe the disposition of AHM. The maximal level in serum and the area under the serum concentration-time curve were proportional to the doses. The mean clearance, the half-life, and the volume of distribution were constant, irrespective of the dose. AHM was slowly cleared and had a half-life of approximately 110 h. These data support the use of a treatment regimen in which AHM is given only once intravenously.
Nonclonal Emergence of Colistin-Resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Isolates from Blood Samples in South Korea
Authors: Suh Ji-Yoeun , Son Jun Seong , Chung Doo Ryeon , Peck Kyong Ran , Ko Kwan Soo , Song Jae-Hoon 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

In vitro activities of colistin and other drugs were tested against 221
Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates that were collected between 2006 and 2007 in nine tertiary care South Korean hospitals from patients with bacteremia. The clonality of colistin-resistant
K. pneumoniae
(CRKP) isolates was assessed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We found that 15 isolates (6.8%) were resistant to colistin. MLST showed that CRKP isolates were nonclonal, with colistin resistance in
K. pneumoniae
occurring independently and not by clonal spreading.
Novel Ribosomal Mutations in
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains Identified through Selection with the Oxazolidinones Linezolid and Torezolid (TR-700)
Authors: Locke Jeffrey B. , Hilgers Mark , Shaw Karen Joy 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

TR-700 (torezolid), the active moiety of the novel oxazolidinone phosphate prodrug TR-701, is highly potent against gram-positive pathogens, including strains resistant to linezolid (LZD). Here we investigated the potential of
Staphylococcus aureus
strains ATCC 29213 (methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
[MSSA]) and ATCC 33591 (methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
[MRSA]) to develop resistance to TR-700. The spontaneous frequencies of mutation of MSSA 29213 and MRSA 33591 resulting in reduced susceptibility to TR-700 at 2× the MIC were 1.1 × 10
−10
and 1.9 × 10
−10
, respectively. These values are ∼16-fold lower than the corresponding LZD spontaneous mutation frequencies of both strains. Following 30 serial passages in the presence of TR-700, the MIC for MSSA 29213 remained constant (0.5 μg/ml) while increasing eightfold (0.25 to 2.0 μg/ml) for MRSA 33591. Serial passage of MSSA 29213 and MRSA 33591 in LZD resulted in 64- and 32-fold increases in LZD resistance (2 to 128 μg/ml and 1 to 32 μg/ml, respectively). Domain V 23S rRNA gene mutations (
Escherichia coli
numbering) found in TR-700-selected mutants included T2500A and a novel coupled T2571C/G2576T mutation, while LZD-selected mutants included G2447T, T2500A, and G2576T. We also identified mutations correlating with decreased susceptibility to TR-700 and LZD in the
rplC
and
rplD
genes, encoding the 50S ribosomal proteins L3 and L4, respectively. L3 mutations included Gly152Asp, Gly155Arg, Gly155Arg/Met169Leu, and ΔPhe127-His146. The only L4 mutation detected was Lys68Gln. TR-700 maintained a fourfold or greater potency advantage over LZD against all strains with ribosomal mutations. These data bring to light a variety of novel and less-characterized mutations associated with
S. aureus
resistance to oxazolidinones and demonstrate the low resistance potential of torezolid.
Role of
Plasmodium falciparum
Digestive Vacuole Plasmepsins in the Specificity and Antimalarial Mode of Action of Cysteine and Aspartic Protease Inhibitors
Authors: Moura Pedro A. , Dame John B. , Fidock David A. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Hemoglobin (Hb) degradation is essential for the growth of the intraerythrocytic stages of malarial parasites. This process, which occurs inside an acidic digestive vacuole (DV), is thought to involve the action of four aspartic proteases, termed plasmepsins (PMs). These enzymes have received considerable attention as potential antimalarial drug targets. Leveraging the availability of a set of PM-knockout lines generated in
Plasmodium falciparum
, we report here that a wide range of previously characterized or novel aspartic protease inhibitors exert their antimalarial activities independently of their effect on the DV PMs. We also assayed compounds previously shown to inhibit cysteine proteases residing in the DV. The most striking observation was a ninefold increase in the potency of the calpain inhibitor
N
-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal (ALLN) against parasites lacking all four DV PMs. Genetic ablation of PM III or PM IV also decreased the level of parasite resistance to the β-hematin binding antimalarial chloroquine. On the basis of the findings of drug susceptibility and isobologram assays, as well as the findings of studies of the inhibition of Hb degradation, morphological analyses, and stage specificity, we conclude that the DV PMs and falcipain cysteine proteases act cooperatively in Hb hydrolysis. We also identify several aspartic protease inhibitors, designed to target DV PMs, which appear to act on alternative targets early in the intraerythrocytic life cycle. These include the potent diphenylurea compound GB-III-32, which was found to be fourfold less potent against a
P. falciparum
line overexpressing plasmepsin X than against the parental nontransformed parasite line. The identification of the mode of action of these inhibitors will be important for future antimalarial drug discovery efforts focusing on aspartic proteases.
Pyruvate Formate Lyase Is Required for Pneumococcal Fermentative Metabolism and Virulence
Authors: Yesilkaya Hasan , Spissu Francesca , Carvalho Sandra M. , Terra Vanessa S. , Homer Karen A. , Benisty Rachel , Porat Nurith , Neves Ana R. , Andrew Peter W. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Knowledge of the in vivo physiology and metabolism of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
is limited, even though pneumococci rely on efficient acquisition and metabolism of the host nutrients for growth and survival. Because the nutrient-limited, hypoxic host tissues favor mixed-acid fermentation, we studied the role of the pneumococcal pyruvate formate lyase (PFL), a key enzyme in mixed-acid fermentation, which is activated posttranslationally by PFL-activating enzyme (PFL-AE). Mutations were introduced to two putative
pfl
genes, SPD0235 and SPD0420, and two putative
pfl
A
genes, SPD0229 and SPD1774. End-product analysis showed that there was no formate, the main end product of the reaction catalyzed by PFL, produced by mutants defective in SPD0420 and SPD1774, indicating that SPD0420 codes for PFL and SPD1774 for putative PFL-AE. Expression of SPD0420 was elevated in galactose-containing medium in anaerobiosis compared to growth in glucose, and the mutation of SPD0420 resulted in the upregulation of
fba
and
pyk
, encoding, respectively, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and pyruvate kinase, under the same conditions. In addition, an altered fatty acid composition was detected in SPD0420 and SPD1774 mutants. Mice infected intranasally with the SPD0420 and SPD1774 mutants survived significantly longer than the wild type-infected cohort, and bacteremia developed later in the mutant cohort than in the wild type-infected group. Furthermore, the numbers of CFU of the SPD0420 mutant were lower in the nasopharynx and the lungs after intranasal infection, and fewer numbers of mutant CFU than of wild-type CFU were recovered from blood specimens after intravenous infection. The results demonstrate that there is a direct link between pneumococcal fermentative metabolism and virulence.
Th2 but Not Th1 Immune Bias Results in Altered Lung Functions in a Murine Model of PulmonaryCryptococcus neoformansInfection
Authors: Jain Aditya V. , Zhang Yanmei , Fields W. Bradley , McNamara David A. , Choe Mun Y. , Chen Gwo-hsiao , Erb-Downward John , Osterholzer John J. , Toews Galen B. , Huffnagle Gary B. , Olszewski Michal A. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTChanges in airway dynamics have been reported in the rat model of pulmonary cryptococcosis. However, it is not known ifCryptococcusneoformans-induced changes in lung functions are related to the immunophenotype that develops in response to cryptococcal infection in the lungs. In this study we performed a parallel analysis of the immunophenotype and airway resistance (standard resistance of the airways [SRAW]) in BALB/c mice infected with highly virulentC. neoformansstrain H99 and moderately virulent strain 52D. H99 infection evoked a Th2 response and was associated with increased SRAW, while the SRAW for 52D infection, which resulted in a predominantly Th1-skewed response, did not differ from the SRAW for uninfected mice. We found that an altered SRAW in mice did not positively or negatively correlate with the pulmonary fungal burden, the magnitude of inflammatory response, the numbers of T cells, eosinophils or eosinophil subsets, neutrophils, or monocytes/macrophages, or the levels of cytokines (interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-10, gamma interferon, or IL-13) produced by lung leukocytes. However, the level of a systemic Th2 marker, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), correlated significantly with SRAW, indicating that the changes in lung functions were proportional to the level of Th2 skewing in this model. These data also imply that IgE may contribute to the altered SRAW observed in H99-infected mice. Lung histological analysis revealed severe allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis pathology in H99-infected mice and evidence of protective responses in 52D-infected mice with well-marginalized lesions. Taken together, the data show thatC. neoformanscan significantly affect airflow physiology, particularly in the context of a Th2 immune response with possible involvement of IgE as an important factor.
Frequencies of Region of Difference 1 Antigen-Specific but Not Purified Protein Derivative-Specific Gamma Interferon-Secreting T Cells Correlate with the Presence of Tuberculosis Disease but Do Not Distinguish Recent from Remote Latent Infections
Authors: Hinks Timothy S. C. , Dosanjh Davinder P. S. , Innes John A. , Pasvol Geoffrey , Hackforth Sarah , Varia Hansa , Millington Kerry A. , Liu Xiao-Qing , Bakir Mustafa , Soysal Ahmet , Davidson Robert N. , Gunatheesan Rubamalar , Lalvani Ajit 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTThe majority of individuals infected withMycobacterium tuberculosisachieve lifelong immune containment of the bacillus. What constitutes this effective host immune response is poorly understood. We compared the frequencies of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-secreting T cells specific for five region of difference 1 (RD1)-encoded antigens and one DosR-encoded antigen in 205 individuals either with active disease (n= 167), whose immune responses had failed to contain the bacillus, or with remotely acquired latent infection (n= 38), who had successfully achieved immune control, and a further 149 individuals with recently acquired asymptomatic infection. When subjects with an IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay response to one or more RD1-encoded antigens were analyzed, T cells from subjects with active disease recognized more pools of peptides from these antigens than T cells from subjects with nonrecent latent infection (P= 0.002). The T-cell frequencies for peptide pools were greater for subjects with active infection than for subjects with nonrecent latent infection for summed RD1 peptide pools (P≤ 0.006) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) antigen (P= 0.029). Individuals with recently acquired (<6 months) versus remotely acquired (>6 months) latent infection did not differ in numbers of peptide pools recognized, proportions recognizing any individual antigen or peptide pool, or antigen-specific T-cell frequencies (P≥ 0.11). The hierarchy of immunodominance for different antigens was purified protein derivative (PPD) > CFP-10 > early secretory antigenic target 6 > Rv3879c > Rv3878 > Rv3873 > Acr1, and the hierarchies were very similar for active and remotely acquired latent infections. Responses to the DosR antigen α-crystallin were not associated with latency (P= 0.373). In contrast to the RD1-specific responses, the responses to PPD were not associated with clinical status (P> 0.17) but were strongly associated with positive tuberculin skin test results (≥15-mm induration;P≤ 0.01). Our results suggest that RD1-specific IFN-γ-secreting T-cell frequencies correlate with the presence of disease rather than with protective immunity inM. tuberculosis-infected individuals and do not distinguish recently acquired asymptomatic infection from remotely acquired latent infection.
Electromyographic analysis of knee push up plus variations: what is the influence of the kinetic chain on scapular muscle activity?
Authors: Maenhout A , Van Praet K , Pizzi L , Van Herzeele M , Cools A 
Published: September 2009

ObjectiveFirst, to look for appropriate closed kinetic chain exercises to restore intramuscular imbalance between upper trapezius (UT) and serratus anterior (SA) in overhead athletes. Second, to determine the influence of using diagonal pattern muscle recruitment during knee push up plus (KPP) exercises on scapular electromyographic activity.DesignSingle group repeated-measures design.SettingControlled laboratory study.ParticipantsThirty-two physically active individuals in good general health who did not have a history of neck and/or shoulder injury or surgery nor participated in high-level overhead sports or performed upper limb strength training for more than 5 h/week.InterventionsSubjects performed the standard KPP and six variations.Main outcome measurementsElectromyographic activity of the three trapezius parts and the SA.ResultsFour exercises with a low UT/SA can be selected for rehabilitation of intramuscular balance: standard KPP, KPP with homolateral leg extension, KPP with a wobble board and homolateral leg extension and one-handed KPP. The use of a wobble board during KPP exercises and performance on one hand has no influence on SA electromyographic activity.Heterolateral leg extension during KPP stimulates lower trapezius activity, whereas homolateral leg extension stimulates SA activity.ConclusionsIn case of intramuscular scapular imbalance, some exercises are preferable over others because of their low UT/SA ratio. The use of a kinetic chain approach during KPP exercises influences scapular muscle activity.