bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The risks of red cell transfusion for hip fracture surgery in the elderly
Authors: Shokoohi A. , Stanworth S. , Mistry D. , Lamb S. , Staves J. , Murphy M. F. 
Published: April 2012

Background and Objectives  The benefits and indications for blood transfusion among surgical patients are controversial. There is evidence which suggests that blood transfusion is associated with poor clinical outcomes and risks of infection, but there are few data in the elderly population.Materials and Methods  Data were collected on haemoglobin concentrations and transfusions in 919 patients undergoing hip fracture repair at a university hospital over a 2‐year period. 28‐day and 180‐day mortality were specified as primary outcomes. A composite infection outcome (chest infections, urinary tract infections and wound infections) was the main secondary outcome. Preoperative, operative and/or postoperative transfusions were the main exposure variable. Regression analyses were used to explore the associations between transfusion and outcomes, adjusting for pre‐defined preoperative variables.Results  300 patients (32·6%) were transfused at least once during their admission. There was no evidence of a significant difference in either 28‐day survival or 180‐day survival between transfused and non‐transfused hip fracture patients. The transfused group had higher adjusted composite infection rate (HR, 1·91; 95% CI, 1·41–2·59, P < 0·001) and prolonged length of stay in hospital than the non‐transfused group (HR, 1·15; 95% CI, 1·07, 1·23, P < 0·001). Anaemia at the time of admission, extra capsular fracture and using walking aids in an indoor setting were preoperative variables, which predicted the need for transfusion.Conclusion  Among an elderly population with hip fracture, blood transfusion was not associated with changes in mortality, but was associated with an increased rate of postoperative infection. These data add to the wider literature about adverse clinical outcomes in patients receiving blood transfusions and emphasises the need for prospective trials to evaluate the role of transfusion in the elderly.
Reaction norms and genotype‐by‐environment interaction in the German Holstein dairy cattle
Authors: Streit M. , Reinhardt F. , Thaller G. , Bennewitz J. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryReaction norm random regression sire models were used to study genotype‐by‐environment interactions (G × E) in the German Holstein dairy cattle population. Around 2300 sires with a minimum of 50 daughters per sire and seven first‐lactation test day observations per daughter were analysed. Corrected test day records for milk yield, protein yield, fat yield and somatic cell score (SCS) were used. Herd test day solutions for milk traits, milk energy yield or SCS were used as environmental descriptors. Second‐order orthogonal polynomial regressions were applied to the sire effects. The results revealed significant slope variances of the reaction norms, which caused a non‐constant additive genetic variance across the environmental ranges considered. This pointed to the presence of minor G × E effects. The additive genetic variance increased when the environment improved, that is, higher (lower) herd test day solutions for milk traits (SCS). This was also influenced by pure scaling effects, because the non‐genetic variance increased in an improved environment and the heritability was less influenced by the environment. The G × E effects caused very little reranking of the sires for the environmental range considered in this study.
The influence of lupin seed germination on the chemical composition and standardized ileal digestibility of protein and amino acids in pigs
Authors: Chilomer K. , Kasprowicz‐Potocka M. , Gulewicz P. , Frankiewicz A. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe germination process can modify the chemical composition of nutrients in seeds, which can influence the digestibility and utilization of sprouts in animal diets compared to raw seeds. The aims of research were to provide controlled germination process of lupin seeds, monitor the changes in seed composition and determine the influence of the germination on the coefficients of standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of crude protein and amino acids in growing pigs, compared to raw lupin seeds. The seeds of two lupin species were used: yellow (RYL) (Lupinus luteus, cv. Lord) and blue (RBL) (Lupinus angustifolius, cv. Graf). Germination was provided in the dark at 24 °C for 4 days. Nutritional and antinutritional compositions of raw and germinated seeds (GYL and GBL, respectively) were analysed. Digestibility study was performed on pigs with an average body weight of 25 kg, and the pigs were surgically fitted with a T‐cannula in the distal ileum, with chromic oxide as an indicator. Seed germination increased the crude protein and fibre concentrations, but reduced the levels of the ether extract, nitrogen‐free extracts and all amino acids in protein. The content of alkaloids and raffinose family oligosaccharides decreased in both lupin species. Germination had no positive impact (p > 0.05) on the SID of crude protein and amino acids. Germination of lupin seeds negatively influenced the SID of lysine and methionine (p < 0.05). The results of the research revealed a decrease in the concentrations of antinutritional factors in the sprouts of yellow and blue lupins compared to raw seeds; however, no positive effect was observed on the coefficients of the standardized ileal apparent digestibility of protein and amino acids.
Effects of induced energy deficiency on lactoferrin concentration in milk and the lactoferrin reaction of primary bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro
Authors: Danowski K. , Gross J. J. , Meyer H. H. D. , Kliem H. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryA dietary energy restriction to 49% of total energy requirements was conducted with Red Holstein cows for three weeks in mid‐lactation. At the last day of the restriction phase, primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pbMEC) of eight restriction (RF) and seven control‐fed (CF) cows were extracted out of one litre of milk and cultured. In their third passage, an immune challenge with the most prevalent, heat‐inactivated mastitis pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was conducted. Lactoferrin (LF) was determined on gene expression and protein level. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to determine LF in milk samples taken twice weekly throughout the animal trial, beginning on day 20 pp (post‐partum) until day 150 pp, in cell culture total protein and in cell culture supernatant. Milk LF increased throughout the lactation and decreased significantly during the induced energy deficiency in the RF group. At the beginning of realimentation, LF concentration increased immediately in the RF group and reached higher levels than before the induced deficit following the upward trend seen in the CF group. Cell culture data revealed higher levels (up to sevenfold up‐regulation in gene expression) and significant higher LF protein concentration in the RF compared to the CF group cells. A further emphasized effect was found in E. coli compared to S. aureus exposed cells. The general elevated LF levels in the RF pbMEC group and the further increase owing to the immune challenge indicate an unexpected memory ability of milk‐extracted mammary cells that were transposed into in vitro conditions and even displayed in the third passage of cultivation. The study confirms the suitability of the non‐invasive milk‐extracted pbMEC culture model to monitor the influence of feeding experiments on immunological situations in vivo.
Degradation of two soluble proteins – casein and egg protein by a macro in vitro method
Authors: Udén P. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryDegradation of casein and egg protein was studied with whole rumen contents (RC) in a macro in vitro system to elucidate previous findings of initial rapid disappearance of soluble proteins in vitro. Five to 7.5 kg of RC from a dry and/or a lactating cow were incubated with buffer and casein or egg protein for 180 min with frequent sampling. Degradation was measured as loss of trichloroacetic acid precipitable N (TCA‐N) from the inocula. Normal (39 °C) and low (2 °C) temperature incubations were examined in Exp. 1, using 1 g of TCA‐N from casein. Four levels of casein (0–12 g TCA‐N) in Exp. 2 and four levels of egg albumin (0–24 g TCA‐N) in Exp. 3 were fermented at 39 °C. Initial recovery of casein TCA‐N was 106% at 2 °C and 56% at 39 °C (Exp. 1). Casein (TCA‐N) recovered initially increased in Exp. 2 from 21% at 3 g to 86% at 12 g TCA‐N, while absolute loss remained relatively constant at 358 mg TCA‐N/kg RC (SD = 47). Fractional degradation rate was highest (0.03/min) at the intermediate dosage level. In the absence of rumen fluid (Exp. 4), no casein was lost. Initial egg protein recovery was on average 103% (Exp. 3). Recovery seemed unaffected by dosage level, and absolute degradation rate was relatively constant over time and increased with dosage level (p < 0.001) from 1.48 to 2.95 mg TCA‐N/(kg RC × min). Maximum degradation rate [mg TCA‐N/(kg RC × min)] and affinity constant (mg TCA‐N/kg RC) were estimated at 261 and 1650, respectively. It is concluded that a surprisingly constant amount of casein disappears immediately from warm rumen fluid and that this does not occur either with chilled RC, in the absence of rumen fluid, or when replaced with egg protein. The mechanisms for this disappearance are yet to be discovered.
Disinfection of Seeds of Cucurbit Crops Infested with Acidovorax citrulli with Dry Heat Treatment
Authors: Kubota Masaharu , Hagiwara Naoko , Shirakawa Takashi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe Japanese government legally restricts entry of the bacterial fruit blotch disease of cucurbits caused by Acidovorax citrulli. However, the disease has occurred several times in Japan caused by infestations of melon, watermelon and wax gourd seeds with the pathogen. We prepared seeds infested with this pathogen for melon, cucumber, squash, wax gourd and bottle gourd and treated the seeds with dry heat for disinfection from the pathogen, varying the temperature and duration. Percentages of seed infested with the pathogen were determined after the dry heat treatments. The healthy or infested seeds (after the dry heat treatments) were sown in soil and the germination percentage evaluated. Complete disinfection of seeds of melon, cucumber and small‐seeded squash (and without preventing germination) was achieved with some dry heat treatments, with 85°C for 3–5 day being preferable. The large‐seeded squash, wax gourd and bottle gourd were sensitive to dry heat, additionally harsh conditions of ≥90°C and 7 day at 85°C were needed for complete disinfection. Thus, there were no feasible conditions for seed disinfection without affecting germination for the large‐seeded crops.
Action anticipation beyond the action observation network: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in expert basketball players
Authors: Abreu A. M. , Macaluso E. , Azevedo R. T. , Cesari P. , Urgesi C. , Aglioti S. M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe ability to predict the actions of others is quintessential for effective social interactions, particularly in competitive contexts (e.g. in sport) when knowledge about upcoming movements allows anticipating rather than reacting to opponents. Studies suggest that we predict what others are doing by using our own motor system as an internal forward model and that the fronto‐parietal action observation network (AON) is fundamental for this ability. However, multiple‐duty cells dealing with action perception and execution have been found in a variety of cortical regions. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore, in expert basketball athletes and novices, whether the ability to make early predictions about the fate of sport‐specific actions (i.e. free throws) is underpinned by neural regions beyond the classical AON. We found that, although involved in action prediction, the fronto‐parietal AON was similarly activated in novices and experts. Importantly, athletes exhibited relatively greater activity in the extrastriate body area during the prediction task, probably due to their expert reading of the observed action kinematics. Moreover, experts exhibited higher activation in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and in the right anterior insular cortex when producing errors, suggesting that they might become aware of their own errors. Correct action prediction induced higher posterior insular cortex activity in experts and higher orbito‐frontal activity in novices, suggesting that body awareness is important for performance monitoring in experts, whereas novices rely more on higher‐order decision‐making strategies. This functional reorganization highlights the tight relationship between action anticipation, error awareness and motor expertise leading to body‐related processing and differences in decision‐making processes.
CodY, a pleiotropic regulator, influences multicellular behaviour and efficient production of virulence factors in Bacillus cereus
Authors: Lindbäck Toril , Mols Maarten , Basset Coraline , Granum Per Einar , Kuipers Oscar P. , Kovács Ákos T. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryIn response to nutrient limitation in the environment, the global transcriptional regulator CodY modulates various pathways in low G+C Gram‐positive bacteria. In Bacillus subtilis CodY triggers adaptation to starvation by secretion of proteases coupled to the expression of amino acid transporters. Furthermore, it is involved in modulating survival strategies like sporulation, motility, biofilm formation, and CodY is also known to affect virulence factor production in pathogenic bacteria. In this study, the role of CodY in Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, the enterotoxin‐producing type strain, is investigated. A marker‐less deletion mutant of codY (ΔcodY) was generated in B. cereus and the transcriptome changes were surveyed using DNA microarrays. Numerous genes involved in biofilm formation and amino acid transport and metabolism were upregulated and genes associated with motility and virulence were repressed upon deletion of codY. Moreover, we found that CodY is important for efficient production of toxins and for adapting from nutrient‐rich to nutrient‐limited growth conditions of B. cereus. In contrast, biofilm formation is highly induced in the ΔcodY mutant, suggesting that CodY represses biofilm formation. Together, these results indicate that CodY plays a crucial role in the growth and persistence of B. cereus in different environments such as soil, food, insect guts and the human body.
Prostate‐specific antigen vs prostate‐specific antigen density as a predictor of upgrading in men diagnosed with Gleason 6 prostate cancer by contemporary multicore prostate biopsy
Authors: Oh Jong Jin , Hong Sung Kyu , Lee Jung Keun , Lee Byung Ki , Lee Sangchul , Kwon Oh Sung , Byun Seok‐Soo , Lee Sang Eun 
Published: April 2012

Study Type – Diagnostic (validating cohort)Level of Evidence 2aWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Previously, it has been reported that PSA may not perform as accurately as PSA density (PSAD) in predicting outcomes after radical prostatectomy among patients with Gleason score 6 prostate cancer. However, there have been few studies comparing the usefulness of PSA and PSAD in predicting upgrading after surgery. Also, most published studies on the prediction of upgrading included significant proportions of subjects who did not undergo contemporary multicore prostate biopsy. Moreover, most studies from major academic centres on the potential usefulness of PSAD as a preoperative predictor of pathological and/or biochemical outcomes after surgery have not included detailed biopsy core‐related data.Even when accounting for detailed biopsy core data, this study found that PSAD may be a significantly more accurate preoperative predictor of upgrading than PSA in the current era of extended prostate biopsies. This finding supports the inclusion of PSAD into the risk stratification system for patients with prostate cancer seeking less invasive treatment, such as active surveillance.OBJECTIVE
To compare the accuracies of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (PSAD) in predicting Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy (RP) in men who have undergone contemporary multicore prostate biopsy and for whom detailed biopsy core data are available.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We analysed prospectively collected data on 505 patients who were diagnosed with Gleason 6 prostate cancer after multicore (≥12 cores) biopsy and who underwent RP without neoadjuvant treatment.
Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyse the predictive accuracies of multivariate logistic regression models.
RESULTS
When multivariate models were constructed incorporating either PSA or PSAD along with other upgrading predictors, including biopsy core, both PSA and PSAD were observed to be independent predictors of upgrading in all versions of models (all P < 0.05).
When predictive accuracies of multivariate models including PSA and PSAD were compared, the PSAD model was found to have significantly higher accuracy than the PSA model in three out of four versions of models analysed (model 1, P= 0.048; model 2, P= 0.002; model 3, P= 0.201; model 4, P= 0.044).
CONCLUSION
According to our analysis of prospectively collected data, PSAD may be a significantly more accurate preoperative predictor of upgrading than PSA, even when accounting for detailed biopsy core data in the current era of extended prostate biopsies.
Our findings would support the inclusion of PSAD, rather than PSA, into the risk stratification system for patients seeking less invasive treatment for prostate cancer.
Fishing groupers towards extinction: a global assessment of threats and extinction risks in a billion dollar fishery
Authors: Sadovy de Mitcheson Yvonne , Craig Matthew T , Bertoncini Athila A , Carpenter Kent E , Cheung William W L , Choat John H , Cornish Andrew S , Fennessy Sean T , Ferreira Beatrice P , Heemstra Philip C , Liu Min , Myers Robert F , Pollard David A , Rhodes Kevin L , Rocha Luiz A , Russell Barry C , Samoilys Melita A , Sanciangco Jonnell 
Published: April 2012

AbstractGroupers are a valuable fishery resource of reef ecosystems and are among those species most vulnerable to fishing pressure because of life history characteristics including longevity, late sexual maturation and aggregation spawning. Despite their economic importance, few grouper fisheries are regularly monitored or managed at the species level, and many are reported to be undergoing declines. To identify major threats to groupers, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria were applied to all 163 species. Red List assessments show that 20 species (12%) risk extinction if current trends continue, and an additional 22 species (13%) are considered to be Near Threatened. The Caribbean Sea, coastal Brazil and Southeast Asia contain a disproportionate number of Threatened species, while numerous poorly documented and Near Threatened species occur in many regions. In all, 30% of all species are considered to be Data Deficient. Given that the major threat is overfishing, accompanied by a general absence and/or poor application of fishery management, the prognosis for restoration and successful conservation of Threatened species is poor. We believe that few refuges remain for recovery and that key biological processes (e.g. spawning aggregations) continue to be compromised by uncontrolled fishing. Mariculture, through hatchery‐rearing, increases production of a few species and contributes to satisfying high market demand, but many such operations depend heavily on wild‐caught juveniles with resultant growth and recruitment overfishing. Better management of fishing and other conservation efforts are urgently needed, and we provide examples of possible actions and constraints.
Diagnostics, surveillance and management of sexually transmitted infections in Europe have to be improved: lessons from the European Conference of National Strategies for Chlamydia Trachomatis and Human Papillomavirus (NSCP conference) in Latvia, 2011
Authors: Ozolins D. , D’Elios M.M. , Lowndes C.M. , Unemo M. ,   on behalf of the members of the NSCP Conference Scientific Committee
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground  There is an urgent need for the recognition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as a serious public health problem in Europe. The lack of standardization in testing, along with poor reporting and surveillance mechanisms, have resulted in low reported rates of STIs in many European Union (EU) countries, reinforcing the erroneous assumption that STIs are not a major problem. Testing and diagnosis of STIs must therefore be improved and enhanced.Recommendations  Reporting of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, gonorrhoea and syphilis should be mandatory, and an integrated surveillance system for C. trachomatis implemented in all European countries. Implementation of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) surveillance mechanisms for STIs in all EU countries is highly recommended. A necessary component for successful introduction of the HPV vaccine, as with any vaccination programme is a well‐planned and organized information campaign.
Clinical course of drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome treated without systemic corticosteroids
Authors: Uhara H. , Saiki M. , Kawachi S. , Ashida A. , Oguchi S. , Okuyama R. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground /aim  Drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a severe reaction to drugs which characteristically occurs after a long latency period. In addition, human herpes virus 6 (HHV‐6) reactivation is a characteristic finding in DIHS, which has been known to be related to disease severity. Because DIHS has generally been treated by systemic corticosteroids, the natural clinical course is not clear.Methods  Data for patients with both DIHS and HHV‐6 reactivation were retrospectively collected from four hospitals.Results  Data were collected on 12 patients ranging in age from 21 to 76 years (median, 65.5). All cases had been suspected of DIHS at their initial visit, and the elevation of serum anti‐HHV‐6 antibody had been confirmed (4–256 times: median; 32). The culprit drugs were carbamazepine (6), salazosulfapyridine (4), mexiletine (1) and zonisamide (1). The period of latency from the first administration of the drug ranged from 15 to 50 days (median, 30). All patients were treated conservatively for DIHS without systemic corticosteroids. The peaks of the patients’ symptoms and laboratory findings were as follows (days from the onset of skin lesions): fever, 4–16 (median, 10.5); liver abnormality, 3–22 (median, 7.5); leukocytosis, 7–20 (median, 9). All patients recovered without pneumonia, myocarditis, nephritis or other systemic disease, from 7 to 37 days (median, 18) after withdrawal of the drug and from 11 to 44 days (median, 21) after the onset of skin lesions.Conclusion  It might be unnecessary to give systemic corticosteroids immediately to all patients suspected of having DIHS.