bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coagulopathy parameters in patients with Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever and its relation with mortality
Authors: Onguru P. , Dagdas S. , Bodur H. , Yilmaz M. , Akinci E. , Eren S. , Ozet G. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBackground: Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute illness affecting multiple organ systems and characterized by ecchymosis, visceral bleeding, and hepatic dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to investigate the profile of coagulopathy markers (platelet count, activated partial tromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), fibrinogen, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, activated protein C resistance (APCR), and D‐dimer) and their clinical significance in 83 CCHF‐infected patients.Subjects and methods: We studied 83 CCHF patients who were admitted to Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital during the spring and summer of2007. We compared the coagulopathy markers of fatal CCHF patients (n=9) with nonfatal cases (n=74).Results: Platelet count, PT, aPTT, INR, and fibrinogen were prognostic factors associated with mortality for CCHF. Especially, platelet count<20×109 cells/l and aPTT>60 sec were important. Protein C, protein S, APCR, and antithrombin III levels were not associated with mortality.Conclusion: Laboratory tests including classical parameters (platelet count, PT, aPTT, INR, and fibrinogen) of coagulopathy seem to be enough for the followup of CCHF. Protein S, protein C, APCR, and D‐dimer levels were not associated with mortality. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:163–166, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The usefulness of multiplex PCR for the identification of bacteria in joint infection
Authors: Kim Hwanjung , Kim Jimyung , Ihm Chunhwa 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBackground: The diagnosis of septic arthritis (SA) relies on synovial analysis and conventional culture. But, these methods lack of sensitivity and culture is time consuming to establish a definite diagnosis. This study evaluated a new multiplex PCR assay which entailed screening PCR for Gram typing and identification PCR for species identification using two primer mixes. Methods: A total of 80 synovial fluid samples from patients with suspected SA were collected. Culture, multiplex PCR, and 16S rRNA gene PCR were performed. Results: The analytical sensitivity of multiplex PCR assay was 101 CFU/ml for each type of bacteria. There was no cross‐reactivity with common bacterial pathogens. Bacteria were detected in 20, 25, and 26 of 80 samples for culture, multiplex PCR, and 16S rRNA gene PCR, respectively. Nineteen (95%) of 20 culture‐positivesamples and 6 (10%) of 60 culture‐negative samples were positive for the multiplex PCR. Five of six samples which were positive only from multiplex PCR were also positive in 16S rRNA gene PCR. The multiplex PCR showed 2 false‐negative in 27 true‐positive samples but no false‐positive. The sensitivity and specificity of the multiplex PCR were 92.6 and 100%, and the agreement with culture and 16S rRNA gene PCR were 91.3 and 96.3%, respectively. The time to detection for multiplex PCR was a maximum of 6 hr. Conclusion: This multiplex PCR assay offers high sensitivity and improved detection speed relative to culture. The appropriate combination of this new multiplex PCR assay with culture may contribute to the accurate and rapid diagnosis of SA. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:175–181, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of the alkaline wash/lysis procedure for the molecular diagnosis of a positive bacterial blood culture in clinical routine practice
Authors: Hsi Sheng‐Chuan , Sun Jun‐Ren , Chiueh Tzong‐Shi 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBlood culture is commonly used to detect microorganisms in patients with a suspected blood infection. This study evaluated the alkaline wash/lysis procedure to extract DNA of microorganisms in a clinical blood culture. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rDNA (ribosomal DNA) gene and the fungal ITS (internal transcribed spacer) gene was used as a reliable indicator for the presence of microorganism DNA in the extracts. A total of 535BacT/ALERT positive blood culture bottles were evaluated. Multiplex PCR showed positive results in 530 DNA extracts, but 5 DNA extracts gave negative results. We conclude that the alkaline wash/lysis procedure in combination with the multiplex PCR is a simple and sensitive method, which can be used in a standard diagnostic laboratory to detect microorganisms in blood culture material. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:139–144, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automatic evaluation of nickel alloy secondary phases from SEM images
Authors: de Albuquerque Victor Hugo C. , Silva Cleiton Carvalho , Menezes Thiago Ivo de S. , Farias Jesualdo Pereira , Tavares João Manuel R. S. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractQuantitative metallography is a technique to determine and correlate the microstructures of materials with their properties and behavior. Generic commercial image processing and analysis software packages have been used to quantify material phases from metallographic images. However, these all‐purpose solutions also have some drawbacks, particularly when applied to segmentation of material phases. To overcome such limitations, this work presents a new solution to automatically segment and quantify material phases from SEM metallographic images. The solution is based on a neuronal network and in this work was used to identify the secondary phase precipitated in the gamma matrix of a Nickel base alloy. The results obtained by the new solution were validated by visual inspection and compared with the ones obtained by a commonly used commercial software. The conclusion is that the new solution is precise, reliable and more accurate and faster than the commercial software. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74:36‐46, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Texture analysis of TEM micrographs of alginate gels for cell microencapsulation
Authors: Brun Francesco , Accardo Agostino , Marchini Maurizio , Ortolani Fulvia , Turco Gianluca , Paoletti Sergio 
Published: May 2010

AbstractIn this work, the morphological characteristics of a calcium alginate gel and a binary (gel) mixture composed of (calcium) alginate and lactose‐modified chitosan (chitlac) are evaluated and compared to quantify the differences between the two three‐dimensional (3D) structures. A set of textural descriptors based on histogram analysis as well as on gray level co‐occurrence matrix and on fractal dimension is extracted from transmission electron microscopy micrographs to describe the morphological differences that the images present. The obtained results reveal significant quantitative morphological differences between the calcium alginate gel and the binary gel mixture that were already inferred from rheological experiments, so as to provide a structural basis for developing new encapsulation systems based on such mixed polymer gels. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74:58‐66, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
10th international symposium on the synthesis and applications of isotopes and isotopically labelled compounds—applications of isotopes in pharmaceutical research and development, Session 7, Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Authors: Lavey Carolee , Hesk David 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe use of a Na125I‐Iodo‐Gen system for the labelling of oxidation sensitive peptides was discussed. The question was posed as to whether the concern about reactive metabolites was warranted. In addition, the use of tritium labelling in the evaluation of a potential new nucleoside analog was discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selectively weakened binding of methotrexate by human dihydrofolate reductase allows rapid ex vivo selection of mammalian cells
Authors: Volpato Jordan P. , Mayotte Nadine , Fossati Elena , Guerrero Vanessa , Sauvageau Guy , Pelletier Joelle N. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractEx vivo selection of transduced hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with drug‐resistance genes offers the possibility to enrich transduced cells prior to engraftment, toward increased reconstitution in transplant recipients. We evaluated the potential of highly methotrexate (MTX)‐resistant variants of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) for this application. Two subsets of hDHFR variants with reduced affinity for MTX that had been previously identified in a bacterial system were considered: those with substitutions at positions 31, 34, and/or 35, and those with substitutions at position 115. The variants were characterized for their resistance to pemetrexed (PMTX), an antifolate that is related to MTX. We observed a strong correlation between decreased binding to both antifolates, although the identity of specific sequence variations modulated the correlation. We chose a subset of hDHFR variants for tests of ex vivo MTX resistance, taking into consideration their residual specific activity and their decrease in affinity for the related antifolates. Murine myeloid progenitors and other differentiated hematopoietic cells were transduced and exposed to MTX in a nucleotide‐free medium. Bone marrow (BM) cells including 15% cells infected with F31R/Q35E were enriched to 98% transduced cells within 6 days of ex vivo selection. hDHFR variant F31R/Q35E allowed a strong ex vivo enrichment upon a short exposure to MTX relative to a less resistant variant of hDHFR, L22Y. We have thus demonstrated that bacterial selection of highly antifolate‐resistant hDHFR variants can provide selectable markers for rapid ex vivo enrichment of hematopoietic cells. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predicting and monitoring cancer treatment response with diffusion‐weighted MRI
Authors: Thoeny Harriet C. , Ross Brian D. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAn imaging biomarker that would provide for an early quantitative metric of clinical treatment response in cancer patients would provide for a paradigm shift in cancer care. Currently, nonimage based clinical outcome metrics include morphology, clinical, and laboratory parameters, however, these are obtained relatively late following treatment. Diffusion‐weighted MRI (DW‐MRI) holds promise for use as a cancer treatment response biomarker as it is sensitive to macromolecular and microstructural changes which can occur at the cellular level earlier than anatomical changes during therapy. Studies have shown that successful treatment of many tumor types can be detected using DW‐MRI as an early increase in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Additionally, low pretreatment ADC values of various tumors are often predictive of better outcome. These capabilities, once validated, could provide for an important opportunity to individualize therapy thereby minimizing unnecessary systemic toxicity associated with ineffective therapies with the additional advantage of improving overall patient health care and associated costs. In this report, we provide a brief technical overview of DW‐MRI acquisition protocols, quantitative image analysis approaches and review studies which have implemented DW‐MRI for the purpose of early prediction of cancer treatment response. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An APCI LC‐MS/MS method for routine determination of capecitabine and its metabolites in human plasma
Authors: Montange Damien , Bérard Michel , Demarchi Martin , Muret Patrice , Piédoux Sarah , Kantelip Jean Pierre , Royer Bernard 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe anticancer drug capecitabine and its metabolites [including the active metabolite 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)] display high pharmacokinetic inter‐patient variability. Such variability, which may lead to treatment failure or toxicity, could need drug concentration measurement to individualize dosing regimen. However, usual assay methods are often long and fastidious. A simultaneous and cost‐effective method was thus developed for the determination of the concentrations of these compounds in human plasma. Compounds were extracted via a classic liquid–liquid extraction. Chromatographic analysis was performed on a C18 reverse phase column with detection by atmosphere pressure chemical ionization LC‐MS/MS. Our method allows a good chromatographic separation of the compounds and was fully validated following Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations (good selectivity, no carry‐over, linearity of the calibration curves without weighting, deviations from nominal concentrations of standard samples lower than 15%, intra‐ and inter‐assay precision and accuracy lower than 15%). Recovery and stability were also acceptable following the FDA guidelines. A matrix effect impairing the determination of 5‐FU was avoided by using a stable isotopic derivative of 5‐FU as internal standard. Interestingly, this method allows detection of TetraHydroUridine, an inhibitor of ex vivo degradation of metabolites, which is essential for the stability, the adequate conditioning of blood samples and for good laboratory practice, essential in routine determination. This method seems usable to routinely determine concentrations of capecitabine and its metabolites in blood and may be helpful in further studies aiming at performing therapeutic drug monitoring. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling of cylindrical resonators by wave concept iterative process in cylindrical coordinates
Authors: Houaneb Z. , Zairi H. , Gharsallah A. , Baudrand H. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study is the formulation of a wave concept iterative process for the analysis of the microwave planar circuits printed between two dielectric mediums in a cylindrical metallic box. This method is based on the transverse wave formulation. It also uses the Hankel Transform to express the integral relation in a spectral domain. An example of circular patch has been studied and the obtained results validate the new approach. The good agreement between the simulation results and the experimental published data justifies the design procedure and validates the present analysis approach. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physiological studies on endorhizospheric establishment of Azotobacter chroococcum in wheat
Authors: Thekkiniath Jose , Paul Sangeeta , Dureja Prem , Dhar Dolly Wattal 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTen strains of Azotobacter chroococcum were studied for their ability to invade the endorhizosphere of wheat. Strain W‐5 exhibited ability to invade endorhizosphere as shown in the microscopic observations. This strain was compared with the strain OA‐3 which did not invade the endorhizosphere zone. Strain W‐5 showed higher production of cellulase and pectinase than OA‐3. Both the strains induced defense enzymes in the host plant. However, induction of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities (PAL) was higher in OA‐3 than W‐5. Quantitative differences in flavonoid like compounds obtained from root extracts and root exudates of plants inoculated with these strains were observed. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of pfkA chromosomal interruption on growth, sporulation, and production of organic acids in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Muñoz‐Márquez María‐Enriqueta , Ponce‐Rivas Elizabeth 
Published: May 2010

AbstractPhosphofructokinase (Pfk) plays a key role in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Its activity can be used as an indicator of glycolytic flux in a microorganism. We have cloned and characterized the pfkA gene from Bacillus subtilis, which encodes the enzyme phosphofructokinase. This gene was insertionally inactivated at the chromosomal level in a wild type strain and in strains lacking the PEP:sugar phosphotranferase system (PTS). Although the pykA gene is immediately downstream of the pfkA gene, forming a constitutive operon in B. subtilis, the pyruvate kinase activity was not altered in the pfkA mutant. The inactivation of the pfkA gene had a strong impact on the growth of the B. subtilis wild type strain and PTS mutants in Spizizen's minimal media and Schaeffer's sporulation media. Pfk inactivation was also reflected by the timing and percentage of sporulation of the wild type and PTS mutants in sporulation media as well as in the production of organic by‐products (pyruvate, lactate, and acetate). (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ultrastructure of Aphanomyces cochlioides zoospores and changes during their developmental transitions triggered by the host‐specific flavone cochliophilin A
Authors: Tofazzal Islam M. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractAphanomyces cochlioides is a serious damping‐off causing pathogen of sugar beet, spinach and some other members of Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae. The biflagellated motile zoospores of the pathogen locate their host roots by perceiving the host‐specific flavone cochliophilin A (5‐hydroxy‐6,7‐methylenedioxyflavone), transiently modify into cystospores that germinate prior to penetration. This study for the first time illustrated ultrastructure of the zoospores and morphological modification during their developmental transitions triggered by cochliophilin A using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM revealed that zoospores had two heterokont flagella inserted laterally into a ventral groove of their body where each is attached to a kinetosome. In the cross sections of flagellar axonemes, two single and nine peripheral microtubules in doublets were clearly observed. Mitochondria, the Golgi complexes, finger print vesicles, and vesicles with striated electron opaque inclusion and vesicles containing a granular cortex and center were also detected. The latter vesicles disappeared and two flagella were shed when zoospores converted to spherical cystsopores. The shape, size and number of mitochondria were dynamically changed during the encystment of zoospores presumably through fission and fusion processes. The dynamics of mitochondria observed in this study indicated its distinct role in the signal transduction pathway of the zoospore encystment. This study also revealed the transformation of shape of nuclei from pyriform in zoospores to spherical in cystospores and lanceolate in the hyphae. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Diversity of Frankia strains nodulating HippÖphae salicifolia D. Don using FAME profiling as Chemotaxonomic markers
Authors: Mishra Arun Kumar , Singh Anju , Singh Satya Shila 
Published: May 2010

AbstractTwelve Frankia strains isolated from HippÖphae salicifolia D. Don or Alnus glutinosa or Comptonia peregrine, showed the significant variation in fatty acid composition viz. palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2), linolenic acid (18:3), arachidic acid (20:0) and erucic acid (22:1) suggesting the strain specific variability among the Frankia strains. Presence of Erucic acid (22:1), a major component of the oil obtained from the seeds of Brassica sp., albeit in lesser amount in the few studied frankial strains, is the first report. Cluster analysis on the basis of fatty acid composition suggests the presence of two distinct clusters with similitude coefficient ranging from 0.75 to 1.00. Cluster I with HsIi2 showed great divergence from other 11 frankial strains (Cluster II). The two sub groups were distinguished in cluster II: IIa contained five strains isolated from H. salicifolia and these strains are distantly related to the strains of cluster IIb isolated from different host. There is high degree of similarity among the frankial strains of Cluster IIb which suggests that the frankial strains might be evolved from the same ancestor. FAME profiling might be useful tool in the study of polyphasic approach based taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Novel linear megaplasmid from Brevibacterium sp. isolated from extreme environment
Authors: Dib Julián Rafael , Wagenknecht Martin , Hill Russell T. , Farías María Eugenia , Meinhardt Friedhelm 
Published: May 2010

AbstractBrevibacterium sp. Ap13, isolated from flamingo's feces in Laguna Aparejos, a high‐altitude lake located at approximately 4,200 m in the northwest of Argentina was previously found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics, and was therefore screened for plasmids that may be implicated in antibiotic resistance. Brevibacterium sp. Ap13 was found to contain two plasmids of approximately 87 and 436 kb, designated pAP13 and pAP13c, respectively. Only pAP13 was stably maintained and was extensively characterized by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis to reveal that this plasmid is linear and likely has covalently linked terminal proteins associated with its 5′ ends. This is the first report of a linear plasmid in the genus Brevibacterium and may provide a new tool for genetic manipulation of this commercially important genus. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Production of laccase from Pleurotus florida NCIM 1243 using Plackett–Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Palvannan T. , Sathishkumar P. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractStatistically‐based experimental designs were applied to optimize the fermentation for the production of laccase by Pleurotus florida NCIM 1243. Eleven components were screened for their significant effect on laccase production using Plackett–Burman factorial design. Glucose (carbon source), asparagine (nitrogen source), CuSO4(inducer) and incubation period were found to have highest positive influence on the laccase production. The combined effect of these factors on laccase production was studied using central composite design of Response surface methodology. The optimal point of variables for maximum laccase production using Response surface methodology are glucose (15.21 g/l), asparagine (6.40 g/l), CuSO4 (91.78 μM) and incubation period (178.55 h), respectively. The maximum enzyme activity predicted by the model was 5.0 U/ml which was in perfect agreement with the actual experimental value (4.8 U/ml). Further, partially purified laccase from the optimized cultural condition was used for the decolorization of reactive dyes, Reactive Blue 198 and Reactive Red 35. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Morphological and genetic diversity of symbiotic cyanobacteria from cycads
Authors: Thajuddin Nooruddin , Muralitharan Gangatharan , Sundaramoorthy Mariappan , Ramamoorthy Rengasamy , Ramachandran Srinivasan , Akbarsha Mohamed Abdulkadar , Gunasekaran Muthukumaran 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe morphological and genetic diversity of cyanobacteria associated with cycads was examined using PCR amplification techniques and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Eighteen symbiotic cyanobacteria were isolated from different cycad species. One of the symbiotic isolates was a species of Calothrix, a genus not previously reported to form symbioses with Cycadaceae family, and the remainder were Nostoc spp. Axenic cyanobacterial strains were compared by DNA amplification using PCR with either short arbitrary primers or primers specific for the repetitive sequences. Based on fingerprint patterns and phenograms, it was revealed that cyanobacterial symbionts exhibit important genetic diversity among host plants, both within and between cycad populations. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that most of the symbiotic cyanobacterial isolates fell into well‐separated clades. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)