bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Erectile Function in Elastin Haploinsufficicent Mice
Authors: Hidalgo-Tamola Josephine , Luttrell I.n. , Jiang Xiaogang , Li Dean , Mecham Robert P. , Chitaley Kanchan 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Elastin fibers confer passive recoil to many tissues including the lung, skin, and arteries. In the penis, elastin is present in sinusoids, arterioles, and in the tunica albuginea. Although decreased penile elastin has been reported in men with erectile dysfunction, the exact role of elastin in physiologic processes integral to erection remains speculative.

Aim
The aim of this study was to characterize erectile function in elastin-deficient mice.

Methods
Elastin haploinsufficient mice (Eln+/−) and aged match Eln+/+ (Wt) mice were used. Cavernosum was removed from some mice for quantification of elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle actin. Ex vivo assessment of contractile force generation was performed by myography. In vivo assessment of intracorporal pressure normalized to mean arterial pressure in response to electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve was measured. Veno-occlusive function was determined by cavernosography.

Main Outcome Measures
The main outcome measures of this study were the in vitro and in vivo assessment of cavernosal vasoreactivity, veno-occlusive function and erection in mice deficient in elastin.

Results
Eln +/− mice exhibited ∼33% less penile elastin than Wt mice, with no change in collagen. Cavernosal tissue from Eln+/− mice has a significantly heightened contractile response, explained in part by increased smooth muscle cell content. Veno-occlusive function was significantly altered in Eln+/− mice. Interestingly, erectile function was impaired only at submaximal voltage (1 V) stimulation (there was no impairment during the higher 2-V stimulus).

Conclusion
Eln +/− mice display a cavernosal phenotype consistent with developmental changes attributable to the loss of elastin. These alterations confer a degree of altered erectile function that is able to be overridden by maximal stimulatory input. Altogether, these data suggest that elastin is important for erectile function.
Radio jets from stellar tidal disruptions
Authors: van Velzen Sjoert , Körding Elmar , Falcke Heino 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
A star that passes too close to a massive black hole will be torn apart by tidal forces. The flare of photons emitted during the accretion of the stellar debris is predicted to be observable, and candidates of such events have been observed at optical to X-ray frequencies. If a fraction of the accreted material is fed into a jet, tidal flares should be detectable at radio frequencies too, thus comprising a new class of rare radio transients. Using the well-established scaling between accretion power and jet luminosity and basic synchrotron theory, we construct an empirically rooted model to predict the jet luminosity for a time-dependent accretion rate. We apply this model to stellar tidal disruptions and predict the snapshot rate of these events. For a small angle between the observer and the jet, our model reproduces the observed radio flux of the tidal flare candidate GRB 110328A. We find that future radio surveys will be able to test whether the majority of tidal disruptions are accompanied by a jet.
Alleviation of Adverse Effects of Drought Stress on Growth and Some Potential Physiological Attributes in Maize (Zea mays L.) by Seed Electromagnetic Treatment
Authors: Javed Namra , Ashraf Muhammad , Akram Nudrat Aisha , Al‐Qurainy Fahad 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTEffects of varying preseed magnetic treatments on growth, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, water relation attributes, fluorescence and levels of osmoprotectants in maize plants were tested under normal and drought stress conditions. Seeds of two maize cultivars were treated with different (T0 [0 mT], T1 [100 mT for 5 min], T2 [100 mT for 10 min], T3 [150 mT for 5 min] and T4 [150 mT for 10 min]) electromagnetic treatments. Drought stress considerably suppressed growth, chlorophyll a and b pigments, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs) and substomatal CO2 concentration (Ci), while it increased leaf glycinebetaine and proline accumulation in both maize cultivars. However, pretreated seeds with different magnetic treatments significantly alleviated the drought‐induced adverse effects on growth by improving chlorophyll a, A, E, gs, Ci and photochemical quenching and nonphotochemical quenching, while it had no significant effect on other attributes. However, different magnetic treatments negatively affected the gs and Ci particularly in cv. Agaiti‐2002 under drought stress conditions. Of all magnetic treatments, 100 and 150 mT for 10 min were most effective in alleviating the drought‐induced adverse effects. Overall, preseed electromagnetic treatments could be used to minimize the drought‐induced adverse effects on different crop plants.
Vaccination in the elderly
Authors: Derhovanessian Evelyna , Pawelec Graham 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThere is a general consensus that the elderly do not respond as well to vaccination as the young, but robust studies are few and far between. Most refer to influenza vaccination, but even here, adequate immunological and clinical data are surprisingly thin on the ground. The meta‐analysis by Goodwin et al. from 2006 is still the most comprehensive that we have. They reviewed 31 antibody response studies comparing influenza vaccination efficacy in groups of elderly and younger adults. They reported that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of responses in elderly versus young adults ranged from 0.24 to 0.59 for the three influenza antigens used in the vaccines. They concluded that rather than the estimated 70–90% clinical vaccine efficacy in younger adults, this figure was only 17–53% in the elderly, depending on which viruses were prevalent that year. They stated that ‘this highlights the need for more immunogenic vaccine formulations for the elderly’. How to achieve this? There are three areas where we may consider alterations to increase vaccine efficacy: (i) make the vaccine more potent; (ii) use adjuvants to enhance immunity; and (iii) apply immune modulators or other interventions to alter host immunity generally. We will consider these three options, focusing on influenza vaccination, in this mini‐review.
Identification of activated cytokine pathways in the blood of systemic lupus erythematosus, myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma patients
Authors: HIGGS Brandon W. , ZHU Wei , RICHMAN Laura , FIORENTINO David F. , GREENBERG Steven A. , JALLAL Bahija , YAO Yihong 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Aim:  To develop genomic signatures of seven cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or systemic scleroderma (SSc) that could potentially help identify patients likely to respond to therapies that target these individual cytokines.
Methods:  Over‐expressed transcripts in the whole blood (WB) were identified from 262 SLE, 44 DM, 33 PM, 38 SSc and 89 RA subjects and compared to 24 healthy subjects using Affymetrix arrays. Cytokine‐inducible gene signatures such as type I interferon (IFN), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐17, and granulosyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) were assessed in the WB of these subjects to identify subpopulations showing activation of specific cytokine pathways.
Results:  Significant activation of the type I IFN pathway in a population of five diseases studied was universally observed. The TNF‐α and IL‐1β pathways were activated in subgroups of PM and RA subjects, respectively, with another subgroup of RA subjects showing activation of the IL‐13 pathway. The GM‐CSF pathway was activated in a subgroup of SSc subjects and the IL‐17 pathway was activated in subgroups of all diseases except SLE.
Conclusions:  A novel gene expression measurement of activated cytokines in five different rheumatic diseases is presented. Characterizing the cytokine pathways most activated in specific patient subpopulations has the potential to help target the appropriate patient populations for corresponding anti‐cytokine therapies.
Characterization of reptile‐associated Borrelia sp. in the vector tick, Amblyomma geoemydae, and its association with Lyme disease and relapsing fever Borrelia spp.
Authors: Takano Ai , Fujita Hiromi , Kadosaka Teruki , Konnai Satoru , Tajima Tomoko , Watanabe Haruo , Ohnishi Makoto , Kawabata Hiroki 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe genus Borrelia is arthropod‐borne infectious agents in vertebrates, and is classified into Lyme disease (LD) Borrelia spp. and Relapsing fever (RF) Borrelia spp. In addition to these Borrelia groups, we recently reported reptile‐associated (REP) Borrelia spp. from reptiles and from hard‐bodied ticks, which probably transmitted the REP Borrelia spp. In this study, we investigated the presence of REP Borrelia sp. in moulted ticks, and found that trans‐stadial transmission of REP Borrelia sp. occurred in the midgut, while it was observed that REP Borrelia sp. entered the salivary gland during blood‐feeding. This characteristic is also found in LD Borrelia spp., which are also transmitted by hard‐bodied ticks. Although phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that REP Borrelia spp. are similar to RF Borrelia spp., the ecology of the spirochaetes within the vector ticks is different for REP Borrelia spp. and RF Borrelia spp. Elucidation of the evolutionary history of the genus Borrelia and its adaptation to ticks promises to be of great interest to researchers of vector‐borne microorganisms.
Comparison of a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System with a Portable Blood Glucose Meter to Determine Insulin Dose in Cats with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dietiker‐Moretti S. , Müller C. , Sieber‐Ruckstuhl N. , Tschuor F. , Osto M. , Franchini M. , Ackermann M. , Lutz T.A. , Reusch C.E. , Zini E. 
Published: September 2011

Background:The continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) Guardian REAL‐Time® allows the generation of very detailed glucose profiles in cats. The performance of CGMS to generate short‐term glucose profiles to evaluate treatment response has not been yet evaluated in diabetic cats.Hypothesis:Analysis of glucose profiles generated using the CGMS produces insulin dose recommendations that differ from those of profiles generated using the portable blood glucose meter (PBGM) in diabetic cats.Animals:Thirteen client‐owned diabetic cats.Methods:Prospective, observational study. Simultaneous glucose profiles were generated over an 8‐10 hour period using the CGMS, blood glucose concentration was measured every 2 hours with the PBGM. Profiles were submitted to three internal medicine specialists who used them to determine the insulin dose. Differences between insulin doses deduced from paired profiles were compared. Percentages of nadirs recorded with the CGMS that were lower, higher, or equal to those derived with the PBGM were calculated.Results:Twenty‐one paired glucose profiles were obtained. There was no difference of insulin doses based on CGMS and PBGM profiles (median 0 U; range: −1 to +0.5). Treatment decisions did not differ among investigators. Compared with the observed PBGM nadir, the CGMS nadir was lower, higher, or equal in 17, 2, and 2 of 21 cases, respectively.Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Adjustments in insulin dose based on glucose profiles generated with the CGMS are similar to those based on the PBGM. The common occurrence of lower nadirs recorded with the CGMS suggests that this device detects hypoglycemic periods that are not identified with the PBGM.
The Pharmacokinetics of Mirtazapine in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease and In Age‐Matched Control Cats
Authors: Quimby J.M. , Gustafson D.L. , Lunn K.F. 
Published: September 2011

Background:Cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often experience inappetence, and may benefit from administration of mirtazapine, an appetite stimulant. The pharmacokinetics of mirtazapine inCKDcats is unknown.Hypothesis:CKDdelays the clearance/bioavailability (CL/F) of mirtazapine.Animals:SixCKDcats and 6 age‐matched controls (AMC) were enrolled. TwoCKDcats each fromInternationalRenalInterestSociety (IRIS) stageII,IIIandIVwere included.Methods:Blood samples were collected before and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours after a singlePOdose of 1.88 mg of mirtazapine. Mirtazapine concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Non‐compartmental pharmacokinetic modeling was performed.Results:Mean age was 11 years (CKDcats) and 10.8 years (AMCcats). Mean serum creatinine concentration ± standard deviation (SD) was 3.8 ± 1.6 mg/dL(CKD) and 1.3 ± 0.4 mg/dL(AMC). Mean half‐life ± SDwas 15.2 ± 4.2 hours (CKD) and 12.1 ± 1.1 hours (AMC). Mean area under the curve (AUC) ± SDwas 770.6 ± 225.5 ng/mL•hr (CKD) and 555.5 ± 175.4 ng/mL•hr (AMC). MeanCL/F ± SDwas 0.6 ± 0.1 L/hr/kg (CKD) and 0.8 ± 0.16 L/hr/kg (AMC). A Mann‐Whitney test indicated statistically significant differences inAUC(P = 0.01) andCL/F(P = 0.04) between groups. Calculated accumulation factor for 48‐hour dosing inCKDcats was 1.15.Conclusion:CKDmay delay theCL/Fof mirtazapine. A single low dose of mirtazapine resulted in a half‐life compatible with a 48‐hour dosing interval inCKDcats.
Development of a Poliovirus Neutralization Test with Poliovirus Pseudovirus for Measurement of Neutralizing Antibody Titer in Human Serum
Authors: Arita Minetaro , Iwai Masae , Wakita Takaji , Shimizu Hiroyuki 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
In the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, laboratory diagnosis plays a critical role by isolating and identifying poliovirus (PV) from the stool samples from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases. In recent years, reestablishment of PV circulation in countries where PV was previously eliminated has occurred because of decreased herd immunity, possibly due to poor vaccination coverage. To monitor the vulnerability of countries to PV circulation, surveillance of neutralizing-antibody titers against PV in susceptible populations is essential in the end game of the polio eradication program. In this study, we have developed a PV neutralization test with type 1, 2, and 3 PV pseudoviruses to determine the neutralizing-antibody titer against PV in human serum samples. With this test, the neutralizing-antibody titer against PV could be determined within 2 days by automated interpretation of luciferase signals without using infectious PV strains. We validated the pseudovirus PV neutralization test with 131 human serum samples collected from a wide range of age groups (ages 1 to >60 years) by comparison with a conventional neutralization test. We found good correlation in the neutralizing-antibody titers determined by these tests. These results suggest that a pseudovirus PV neutralization test would serve as a safe and simple procedure for the measurement of the neutralizing-antibody titer against PV.
Utility of Immunoblotting for Early Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Seroconversion in Pregnant Women
Authors: Jost C. , Touafek F. , Fekkar A. , Courtin R. , Ribeiro M. , Mazier D. , Paris L. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Congenital transmission of
Toxoplasma gondii
occurs mainly when a mother acquires the infection for the first time during pregnancy. It was recently shown that although early treatment of the primary infection during pregnancy has little or no impact on the fetomaternal transmission rate, it does reduce the incidence of sequelae in infected infants. Seroconversion is defined by the appearance of IgG. Commercial reagents continue to vary considerably in detecting low concentrations of antibodies, as during early seroconversion. We compared two routinely used immunoassays (IA) (Platelia and Elecsys Toxo IgG) and an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) with a qualitative test based on immunoblot analysis (Toxo II IgG) (IB) to assess their abilities to diagnose seroconversion at its earliest stages. This prospective study was carried out between January and November 2010. It included 39 pregnant women with monthly follow-up who seroconverted during pregnancy. On first sera that were IgM positive but IgG negative (or equivocal) as detected by IA, IB diagnosed seroconversion twice as often as IIF (26/39 [66.7%] versus 13/39 [33.3%];
P
< 0.001; χ
2
test). Serum samples were retaken 2 to 5 weeks later for the other 13 cases (IgG negative by IB on first serum). Seroconversion was demonstrated as follows: IB for 5 cases where IA remained negative or equivocal, IB and IIF for 5 cases where IA remained negative or equivocal, IA for 2 cases, and no method for 1 case (a third sample was necessary). In summary, IB permitted toxoplasmosis seroconversion diagnosis before other means in 92.3% of cases (36/39) and thus earlier therapeutic intervention.
Perirectal Swab Surveillance for Clostridium difficile by Use of Selective Broth Preamplification and Real-Time PCR Detection of
tcdB
Authors: Curry Scott R. , Schlackman Jessica L. , Hamilton Travis M. , Henderson Tatianna K. , Brown Nakita T. , Marsh Jane W. , Shutt Kathleen A. , Brooks Maria M. , Pasculle A. William , Muto Carlene A. , Harrison Lee H. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Active surveillance testing to identify and isolate asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic
Clostridium difficile
has been limited by the lack of a test that is sensitive, specific, and timely enough to serve as an infection control tool. We tested DNA preamplified from perirectal surveillance specimens in a liquid medium selective for
C. difficile
by using a modified commercial real-time PCR assay. All fermenting specimens were subcultured, and isolates were tested for toxigenicity. Culture-positive toxigenic isolates served as the gold standard for comparison with the broth preamplification/PCR assay. The limit of detection for the assay was 1 CFU. Relative to toxigenic anaerobic culture, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this assay were 70/70 (100.0%), 422/426 (99.1%), 70/74 (94.6%), and 422/422 (100.0%), respectively. These data demonstrate that selective broth preamplification and real-time PCR of perirectal swab specimens constitute a practical approach to the detection of asymptomatic
C. difficile
carriage.
Cross-Reactive HIV-1-Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibodies Identified from a Patient with 2F5-Like Antibodies
Authors: Zhu Zhongyu , Qin Haiyan Rebekah , Chen Weizao , Zhao Qi , Shen Xiaoying , Schutte Robert , Wang Yanping , Ofek Gilad , Streaker Emily , Prabakaran Ponraj , Fouda Genevieve G. , Liao Hua-Xin , Owens John , Louder Mark , Yang Yongping , Klaric Kristina-Ana , Moody M. Anthony , Mascola John R. , Scott Jamie K. , Kwong Peter D. , Montefiori David , Haynes Barton F. , Tomaras Georgia D. , Dimitrov Dimiter S. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The genes encoding broadly HIV-1-neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are highly divergent from their germ line counterparts. We have hypothesized that such high levels of somatic hypermutation could pose a challenge for elicitation of the broadly neutralizing (bn) Abs and that identification of less somatically mutated bn Abs may help in the design of effective vaccine immunogens. In a quest for such bn Abs, phage- and yeast-displayed antibody libraries, constructed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a patient with bn serum containing Abs targeting the epitope of the bn MAb 2F5, were panned against peptides containing the 2F5 epitope and against the HIV-1 gp140
JR-FL
. Two MAbs (m66 and m66.6) were identified; the more mutated variant (m66.6) exhibited higher HIV-1-neutralizing activity than m66, although it was weaker than 2F5 in a TZM-bl cell assay. Binding of both MAbs to gp41 alanine substitution mutant peptides required the DKW
664–666
core of the 2F5 epitope and two additional upstream residues (L
660,663
). The MAbs have long (21-residue) heavy-chain third complementarity-determining regions (CDR-H3s), and m66.6 (but not m66) exhibited polyspecific reactivity to self- and non-self-antigens. Both m66 and m66.6 are significantly less divergent from their germ line Ab counterparts than 2F5—they have a total of 11 and 18 amino acid changes, respectively, from the closest VH and Vκ germ line gene products compared to 25 for 2F5. These new MAbs could help explore the complex maturation pathways involved in broad neutralization and its relationship with auto- and polyreactivity and may aid design of vaccine immunogens and development of therapeutics against HIV-1 infection.
Characterization of a Canine Homolog of Human Aichivirus
Authors: Kapoor Amit , Simmonds Peter , Dubovi Edward J. , Qaisar Natasha , Henriquez Jose A. , Medina Jan , Shields Shelly , Lipkin W. Ian 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT
Many of our fatal “civilization” infectious diseases have arisen from domesticated animals. Although picornaviruses infect most mammals, infection of a companion animal is not known. Here we describe the identification and genomic characterization of the first canine picornavirus. Canine kobuvirus (CKoV), identified in stool samples from dogs with diarrhea, has a genomic organization typical of a picornavirus and encodes a 2,469-amino-acid polyprotein flanked by 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions. Comparative phylogenetic analysis using various structural and nonstructural proteins of CKoV confirmed it as the animal virus homolog most closely related to human Aichivirus (AiV). Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis suggests a mean recent divergence time of CKoV and AiV within the past 20 to 50 years, well after the domestication of canines. The discovery of CKoV provides new insights into the origin and evolution of AiV and the species specificity and pathogenesis of kobuviruses.
Host-Soluble Galectin-1 Promotes HIV-1 Replication through a Direct Interaction with Glycans of Viral gp120 and Host CD4
Authors: St-Pierre Christian , Manya Hiroshi , Ouellet Michel , Clark Gary F. , Endo Tamao , Tremblay Michel J. , Sato Sachiko 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTSexual transmission of HIV-1 requires virus adsorption to a target cell, typically a CD4+T lymphocyte residing in the lamina propria, beneath the epithelium. To escape the mucosal clearance system and reach its target cells, HIV-1 has evolved strategies to circumvent deleterious host factors. Galectin-1, a soluble lectin found in the underlayers of the epithelium, increases HIV-1 infectivity by accelerating its binding to susceptible cells. By comparison, galectin-3, a family member expressed by epithelial cells and part of the mucosal clearance system, does not perform similarly. We show here that galectin-1 directly binds to HIV-1 in a β-galactoside-dependent fashion through recognition of clusters of N-linked glycans on the viral envelope gp120. Unexpectedly, this preferential binding of galectin-1 does not rely on the primary sequence of any particular glycans. Instead, glycan clustering arising from the tertiary structure of gp120 hinders its binding by galectin-3. Increased polyvalency of a specific ligand epitope is a common strategy for glycans to increase their avidity for lectins. In this peculiar occurrence, glycan clustering is instead exploited to prevent binding of gp120 by galectin-3, which would lead to a biological dead-end for the virus. Our data also suggest that galectin-1 binds preferentially to CD4, the host receptor for gp120. Together, these results suggest that HIV-1 exploits galectin-1 to enhance gp120-CD4 interactions, thereby promoting virus attachment and infection events. Since viral adhesion is a rate-limiting step for HIV-1 entry, modulation of the gp120 interaction with galectin-1 could thus represent a novel approach for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission.