bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
vttR
A
and
vttR
B
Encode ToxR Family Proteins That Mediate Bile-Induced Expression of Type Three Secretion System Genes in a Non-O1/Non-O139
Vibrio cholerae
Strain
Authors: Alam Ashfaqul , Tam Vincent , Hamilton Elaine , Dziejman Michelle 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

Strain AM-19226 is a pathogenic non-O1/non-O139 serogroup
Vibrio cholerae
strain that does not encode the toxin-coregulated pilus or cholera toxin but instead causes disease using a type three secretion system (T3SS). Two genes within the T3SS pathogenicity island, herein named
vttR
A
(locus tag A33_1664) and
vttR
B
(locus tag A33_1675), are predicted to encode proteins that show similarity to the transcriptional regulator ToxR, which is found in all strains of
V. cholerae
. Strains with a deletion of
vttR
A
or
vttR
B
showed attenuated colonization
in vivo
, indicating that the T3SS-encoded regulatory proteins play a role in virulence.
lacZ
transcriptional reporter fusions to intergenic regions upstream of genes encoding the T3SS structural components identified growth in the presence of bile as a condition that modulates gene expression. Under this condition, VttR
A
and VttR
B
were necessary for maximal gene expression. In contrast, growth in bile did not substantially alter the expression of a reporter fusion to the
vopF
gene, which encodes an effector protein. Increased
vttR
B
reporter fusion activity was observed in a Δ
vttR
B
strain background, suggesting that VttR
B
may regulate its own expression. The collective results are consistent with the hypothesis that T3SS-encoded regulatory proteins are essential for pathogenesis and control the expression of selected T3SS genes.
Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody to Edema Toxin and Its Effect on Murine Anthrax
Authors: Winterroth Lisa , Rivera Johanna , Nakouzi Antonio S. , Dadachova Ekaterina , Casadevall Arturo 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACTEdema factor (EF) is a component of an anthrax toxin that functions as an adenylate cyclase. Numerous monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been reported for the otherBacillus anthracistoxin components, but relatively few to EF have been studied. We report the generation of six murine hybridoma lines producing two IgM and four IgG1 MAbs to EF. Of the six MAbs, only one IgM neutralized EF, as assayed by an increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) production by Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Analysis of the variable gene elements revealed that the single neutralizing MAb had a different binding site than the others. There was no competition between the neutralizing IgM and the nonneutralizing IgG MAbs indicative of different specificity. MAb-based capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detected EF in liver lysates from mice infected withB. anthracisSterne 34F2. Administration of the neutralizing IgM MAb to A/JCr mice lethally infected withB. anthracisstrain Sterne had no significant effect on median time to death, but mice treated with the MAb were more likely to survive infection. Combining the neutralizing IgM to EF with a subprotective dose of a neutralizing MAb to protective antigen (PA) prolonged mean time to death of infected mice, suggesting that neutralization of EF and PA could produce synergistic beneficial effects. In summary, the results from our study and literature observations suggest that the majority of Abs to EF are nonneutralizing, but the toxin has some epitopes that can be targeted by the humoral response to generate useful Abs that may contribute to defense against anthrax.
Zinc Uptake Contributes to Motility and Provides a Competitive Advantage to
Proteus mirabilis
during Experimental Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Nielubowicz Greta R. , Smith Sara N. , Mobley Harry L. T. 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

Proteus mirabilis
, a Gram-negative bacterium, represents a common cause of complicated urinary tract infections in catheterized patients or those with functional or anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract. ZnuB, the membrane component of the high-affinity zinc (Zn
2+
) transport system ZnuACB, was previously shown to be recognized by sera from infected mice. Since this system has been shown to contribute to virulence in other pathogens, its role in
Proteus mirabilis
was investigated by constructing a strain with an insertionally interrupted copy of
znuC
. The
znuC
::Kan mutant was more sensitive to zinc limitation than the wild type, was outcompeted by the wild type in minimal medium, displayed reduced swimming and swarming motility, and produced less
flaA
transcript and flagellin protein. The production of flagellin and swarming motility were restored by complementation with
znuCB
in
trans
. Swarming motility was also restored by the addition of Zn
2+
to the agar prior to inoculation; the addition of Fe
2+
to the agar also partially restored the swarming motility of the
znuC
::Kan strain, but the addition of Co
2+
, Cu
2+
, or Ni
2+
did not. ZnuC contributes to but is not required for virulence in the urinary tract; the
znuC
::Kan strain was outcompeted by the wild type during a cochallenge experiment but was able to colonize mice to levels similar to the wild-type level during independent challenge. Since we demonstrated a role for ZnuC in zinc transport, we hypothesize that there is limited zinc present in the urinary tract and
P. mirabilis
must scavenge this ion to colonize and persist in the host.
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor Controls the DNA Damage Response and a Lineage-Specific Senescence Program in Melanomas
Authors: Giuliano Sandy , Cheli Yann , Ohanna Mickaël , Bonet Caroline , Beuret Laurent , Bille Karine , Loubat Agnès , Hofman Véronique , Hofman Paul , Ponzio Gilles , Bahadoran Philippe , Ballotti Robert , Bertolotto Corine 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Apoptosis and senescence are cellular failsafe programs that counteract excessive mitogenic signaling observed in cancer cells. Melanoma is known for its notorious resistance to apoptotic processes; therefore, senescence, which remains poorly understood in melanomas, can be viewed as a therapeutic alternative. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), in which its M transcript is specifically expressed in melanocyte cells, plays a critical role in melanoma proliferation, and its specific inhibition is associated with G0-G1 growth arrest. Interestingly, decreased MITF expression has been described in senescent melanocytes, and we have observed an inhibition of MITF expression in melanoma cells exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs that induce their senescence. All these observations thereby question the role of MITF in controlling senescence in melanoma cells. Here, we report that long-term depletion of MITF in melanoma cells triggers a senescence program characterized by typical morphologic and biochemical changes associated with a sustained growth arrest. Further, we show that MITF-silenced cells engage a DNA damage response (DDR) signaling pathway, leading to p53 upregulation, which is critically required for senescence entry. This study uncovers the existence of a lineage-restricted DDR/p53 signaling pathway that is inhibited by MITF to prevent senescence and favor melanoma cell proliferation. Cancer Res; 70(9); 3813–22. ©2010 AACR.
The Deubiquitinating Enzyme USP17 Is Highly Expressed in Tumor Biopsies, Is Cell Cycle Regulated, and Is Required for G1-S Progression
Authors: McFarlane Cheryl , Kelvin Alyson A. , de la Vega Michelle , Govender Ureshnie , Scott Christopher J. , Burrows James F. , Johnston James A. 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Ubiquitination is a reversible posttranslational modification that is essential for cell cycle control, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the removal of ubiquitin from proteins by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUB) is equally important. In this study, we have identified high levels of the DUB USP17 in several tumor-derived cell lines and primary lung, colon, esophagus, and cervix tumor biopsies. We also report that USP17 is tightly regulated during the cell cycle in all the cells examined, being abundantly evident in G1 and absent in S phase. Moreover, regulated USP17 expression was necessary for cell cycle progression because its depletion significantly impaired G1-S transition and blocked cell proliferation. Previously, we have shown that USP17 regulates the intracellular translocation and activation of the GTPase Ras by controlling Ras-converting enzyme 1 (RCE1) activation. RCE1 also regulates the processing of other proteins with a CAAX motif, including Rho family GTPases. We now show that USP17 depletion blocks Ras and RhoA localization and activation. Moreover, our results confirm that USP17-depleted cells have constitutively elevated levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21cip1 and p27kip1, known downstream targets of Ras and RhoA signaling. These observations clearly show that USP17 is tightly regulated during cell division and that its expression is necessary to coordinate cell cycle progression, and thus, it may be considered a promising novel cancer therapeutic target. Cancer Res; 70(8); 3329–39. ©2010 AACR.
Patients’ Rights in a Technology and Market Driven-Europe
Authors: Abbing Henriette D.C. Roscam 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis article deals with the impact on patients’ rights of medical and technological advances in a market oriented (European) society: what are the advantages and risks, what are the challenges that lay ahead of us? After introducing the subject matter, the first part deals with risks for patients’ rights in the European cross border context (health care, direct to the public screening offers and biomedical research). The second part sketches some of the implications of innovation in health care and medical technology for patients’ rights to autonomy and private life, particularly when third party interests are involved. The article ends with some suggestions on how best to protect patients’ rights in the perspective of innovation in health care and medical research.
Diversity and Harmonisation. Trends and Challenges in European Health Law
Authors: Hartlev Mette 
Published: April 2010

AbstractEuropean countries share a number of fundamental values and ideas, but when it comes to the organisation of health care sectors and attitudes to basic patients’ rights, there are also vast differences. Consequently, at the European level health law has to balance between the aspiration for uniformity and universal respect for fundamental rights on the one hand, and acceptance of national diversity on the other. The aim of the article is to characterise European health law in terms of both divergence and harmonisation, and to explore the tension between these two features in light of current trends and challenges.
Adding Value? EU Governance of Organ Donation and Transplantation
Authors: Farrell Anne-Maree 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis article examines recent developments in EU governance of organ donation and transplantation, focusing on an analysis of the Commission’s action plan and the proposed Directive. While the aims of the plan are laudable, a number of concerns remain with respect to the timetable for the plan and the adoption of the Directive, as well as the management of ethical and risk issues. In the final analysis, the added value of EU governance initiatives in the field is likely to be measured by the extent to which they successfully address the ongoing problem of organ shortage in Member States.
News and Views Managing Novel Reproductive Injuries in the Law of Tort: The Curious Case of Destroyed Sperm
Authors: Priaulx Nicolette 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIn view of developments in reproductive medicine, clinical mishaps in this domain are beginning to give rise to ‘injuries’ not easily accommodated within the English law of negligence. While ‘personal injury’ is typically understood as manifesting a deleterious ‘physical’ dimension, cases involving the negligent destruction of cryopreserved sperm, as recently litigated in Yearworth & Ors v Bristol NHS Trust (2009), and other media reported mishaps in fertility treatment do not straightforwardly possess this quality. Without modification, the traditional tortious conception of ‘personal injury’ in English law will not be able to address novel claims. Critically, however, nor do alternative modes of redress seem to offer ease of application. Focusing upon the controversial Yearworth case and exploring what is seen as an unpromising framing of loss, the note argues that there is now an urgent need to rethink what counts as ‘personal injury’. Arguing for the formal recognition of ‘reproductive injury’ as an independent head of damage in negligence, and illustrating the presence of judicial support for that approach, the comment suggests that in light of the difficult challenges that lie in the wake of Yearworth, such a development may be not only desirable but necessary.
The Development of Health Law as a Way to Change Traditional Attitudes in National Legal Systems. The Influence of International Human Rights Law: What is Left for the National Legislator?
Authors: Birmontienė Toma 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe development of health law as a sovereign subject of law could be seen as a correlative result of the development of international human rights law. From the perspectives of human rights law, health law gives us a unique possibility to change the traditional point of reference — from the regulation of medical procedures, to the protection of human rights as the main objective of law. At the end of the twentieth and the beginning of this century, human rights law and the most influential international instrument — the European Convention on Human Rights (and the jurisprudence of the ECHR) has influenced health care so much that it has became difficult to draw a line between these subjects. Health law sometimes directly influences and even aspires to change the content of Convention rights that are considered to be traditional. However, certain problems of law linked to health law are decided without influencing the essence of rights protected by the Convention, but just by construing the particularities of application of a certain right. In some cases by further developing the requirements of protection of individual rights that are also regulated by the health law, the ECHR even “codifies” some fields of health law (e.g., the rights of persons with mental disorders). The recognition of worthiness and diversity of human rights and the development of their content raise new objectives for national legislators when they regulate the national legal system. Here the national legislator is often put into a quandary whether to implement the standards of human rights that are recognized by the international community, or to refuse to do so, taking account of the interests of a certain group of the electorate.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0679c protein sequences involved in host-cell infection: Potential TB vaccine candidate antigen
Authors: Cifuentes Diana P , Ocampo Marisol , Curtidor Hernando , Vanegas Magnolia , Forero Martha , Patarroyo Manuel E , Patarroyo Manuel A 
Published: April 2010

Abstract

Background
To date, the function of many hypothetical membrane proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still unknown and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions has not been yet clearly defined. In this study, the biological activity of peptides derived from the hypothetical membrane protein Rv0679c of M. tuberculosis and their involvement in pathogen-host interactions was assessed. Transcription of the Rv0679c gene was studied in 26 Mycobacterium spp. Strains. Antibodies raised against putative B-cell epitopes of Rv0679c were used in Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy assays. Synthetic peptides spanning the entire length of the protein were tested for their ability to bind to A549 and U937 cells. High-activity binding peptides (HABPs) identified in Rv0679c were tested for their ability to inhibit mycobacterial invasion into cells.

Results
The gene encoding Rv0679c was detected in all strains of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), but was only transcribed in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, M. tuberculosis H37Ra and M. africanum. Anti-Rv0679c antibodies specifically recognized the protein in M. tuberculosis H37Rv sonicate and showed its localization on mycobacterial surface. Four HABPs inhibited invasion of M. tuberculosis to target cells by up to 75%.

Conclusions
The results indicate that Rv0679c HABPs and in particular HABP 30979 could be playing an important role during M. tuberculosis invasion of host cells, and therefore could be interesting research targets for studies aimed at developing strategies to control tuberculosis.
Incorporating index offence analysis into forensic clinical assessment
Authors: West Adrian G. , Greenall Paul V. 
Published: April 2010

Purpose. Assessment is a core skill of clinical and forensic psychology practice and forms the basis of all ongoing engagements with offender/patients. In forensic settings, assessment involves the systematic gathering of reliable data on the characteristics of offenders and the offences which they have committed in order to develop understanding of the dynamics of offending and relevant intervention strategies. However, whilst the assessment process is aided by various protocols, no such instrument appears to exist for the assessment of an offender/patient's index offence. This paper presents a draft ‘index offence analysis guide’ designed by the present authors for this purpose and which has been piloted on prisoners and patients in secure settings.Argument.  Evidence suggests that for various reasons, many clinicians do not routinely review crime scene data while working with offenders. However, this practice is arguably questionable, because how can decisions about admission, amenability to treatment, risk of reoffending, and discharge be made if there is limited awareness of what the offender/patient has done? The present authors argue that knowledge of the index offence is important to understanding the offender and suggest this can be obtained using a guide such as the one presented here. This is illustrated with an anonymous case.Conclusion. Index offence analysis should be a core task of any forensic clinician engaged in the assessment of offender/patients as it can provide a better understanding of crime scene actions and offence motivations. This can help guide treatment planning and improve risk assessments.
Suicide and Self-Injury Among Children and Youth With Chronic Health Conditions
Authors: Barnes Andrew J. , Eisenberg Marla E. , Resnick Michael D. 
Published: April 2010

OBJECTIVE:Chronic conditions may be associated with suicide risk. This study aimed to specify the extent to which youth chronic conditions are at risk for suicidality and self-harm.METHODS:Logistic regression was used to estimate odds of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in 10- to 19-year-olds with and without chronic physical and/or mental health conditions.RESULTS:Independent of race, socioeconomic status, absent parent, special education status, substance use, and emotional distress, youth with co-occurring chronic physical and mental conditions (n = 4099) had significantly higher odds of self-harm (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5 [99% confidence interval (CI): 2.3–2.8), suicidal ideation (OR: 2.5 [99% CI: 2.3–2.8), and suicide attempts (OR: 3.5 [99% CI: 3.1–3.9]) than healthy peers (n = 106 967), as did those with chronic mental conditions alone (n = 8752). Youth with chronic physical conditions alone (n = 12 554) were at slightly elevated risk for all 3 outcomes. Findings were similar among male and female youth, with a risk gradient by grade.CONCLUSIONS:Chronic physical conditions are associated with a slightly elevated risk for self-harm, suicidal thinking, and attempted suicide; chronic mental conditions are associated with an increased risk for all 3 outcomes. Co-occurring chronic physical and mental conditions are associated with an increased risk for self-harm and suicidal ideation that is similar to the risk in chronic mental conditions and with an attempted suicide risk in excess of that predicted by the chronic mental health conditions alone. Preventive interventions for these youth should be developed and evaluated.
The Effectiveness of Baby Books for Providing Pediatric Anticipatory Guidance to New Mothers
Authors: Reich Stephanie M. , Bickman Leonard , Saville Benjamin R. , Alvarez JoAnn 
Published: April 2010

OBJECTIVE:To assess whether embedding pediatric anticipatory guidance into books read to infants is an effective way to educate low-income, first-time mothers about injury-prevention and health-promotion practices.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Primiparous women (N = 168) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: an educational-book group; a noneducational-book group; or a no-book group. Knowledge of anticipatory-guidance topics regarding children from birth to 12 months of age (eg, injury prevention, parenting, nutrition) was assessed during the third trimester of pregnancy and again when infants were ∼2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months of age.RESULTS:Women in the educational-book group scored consistently higher on knowledge than did those in the other 2 groups. Those in the educational-book group were found to have significantly higher knowledge scores than those in both the noneducational-book group (effect size [ES]: 0.3, P &lt; .001) and the no-book group (ES: 0.3, P &lt; .001) in the longitudinal model.CONCLUSIONS:Books read by mothers to infants seem to be an effective way to provide anticipatory guidance to new mothers. However, future work is needed to determine if increased knowledge translates into safer and more developmentally appropriate parenting practices.
Realizability and automatic realizability of Galois groups of order 32
Authors: Grundman Helen , Smith Tara 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
This article provides necessary and sufficient conditions for each group of order 32 to be realizable as a Galois group over an arbitrary field. These conditions, given in terms of the number of square classes of the field and the triviality of specific elements in related Brauer groups, are used to derive a variety of automatic realizability results.
Basis properties of a fourth order differential operator with spectral parameter in the boundary condition
Authors: Aliyev Ziyatkhan 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
We consider a fourth order eigenvalue problem containing a spectral parameter both in the equation and in the boundary condition. The oscillation properties of eigenfunctions are studied and asymptotic formulae for eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are deduced. The basis properties in L
p(0; l); p ∈ (1;∞); of the system of eigenfunctions are investigated.
Infinite dimensional linear groups with many G — invariant subspaces
Authors: Kurdachenko Leonid , Sadovnichenko Alexey , Subbotin Igor 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Let F be a field, A be a vector space over F, GL(F, A) be the group of all automorphisms of the vector space A. A subspace B of A is called nearly G-invariant, if dimF(BFG/B) is finite. A subspace B is called almost G-invariant, if dim
F(B/Core
G(B)) is finite. In the current article, we study linear groups G such that every subspace of A is either nearly G-invariant or almost G-invariant in the case when G is a soluble p-group where p = char
F.
Topological K-equivalence of analytic function-germs
Authors: Alvarez Sérgio , Birbrair Lev , Costa João , Fernandes Alexandre 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
We study the topological K-equivalence of function-germs (ℝn, 0) → (ℝ, 0). We present some special classes of piece-wise linear functions and prove that they are normal forms for equivalence classes with respect to topological K-equivalence for definable functions-germs. For the case n = 2 we present polynomial models for analytic function-germs.