bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intestinal Epithelial Cells Modulate Antigen-Presenting Cell Responses to Bacterial DNA
Authors: Campeau J. L. , Salim S. Y. , Albert E. J. , Hotte N. , Madsen K. L. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTIntestinal epithelial cells and antigen-presenting cells orchestrate mucosal innate immunity. This study investigated the role of bacterial DNA in modulating epithelial and bone marrow-derived antigen-presenting cells (BM-APCs) and subsequent T-lymphocyte responses. Murine MODE-K epithelial cells and BM-APCs were treated with DNA from eitherBifidobacterium breveorSalmonella entericaserovar Dublin directly and under coculture conditions with CD4+T cells. Apical stimulation of MODE-K cells withS. Dublin DNA enhanced secretion of cytokines from underlying BM-APCs and induced interleukin-17 (IL-17) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) secretion from CD4+T cells. Bacterial DNA isolated from either strain induced maturation and increased cytokine secretion from BM-APCs. Conditioned medium fromS. Dublin-treated MODE-K cells elicited an increase in cytokine secretion similar to that seen forS. Dublin DNA. Treatment of conditioned medium from MODE-K cells with RNase and protease prevented theS. Dublin-induced increased cytokine secretion. Oral feeding of mice withB. breveDNA resulted in enhanced levels of colonic IL-10 and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) compared with what was seen for mice treated withS. Dublin DNA. In contrast, feeding mice withS. Dublin DNA increased levels of colonic IL-17 and IL-12p70. T cells fromS. Dublin DNA-treated mice secreted high levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ compared to controls andB. breveDNA-treated mice. These results demonstrate that intestinal epithelial cells are able to modulate subsequent antigen-presenting and T-cell responses to bacterial DNA with pathogenic but not commensal bacterial DNA inducing effector CD4+T lymphocytes.
Genome Sequences of Pseudomonas fragi Strains A22 and B25
Authors: Mei Yanzhen , Sun Yu , He Jiarong , Wang Qin , Sun Yijing , Shao Weilan 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas fragi
A22 is a novel isolate that produces bead-like particles (A22B) in its cell wall. To explore the genetic basis for the formation of A22B,
P. fragi
A22 and the type strain of the species,
P. fragi
B25, were subjected to genome sequence analysis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences and automatic annotation of both strains. These data offer a solid base for related studies of
P. fragi
, including comparative genomics, proteomics, and gene mining.
The Genome of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum Strain YAU B9601-Y2 Contains a Gene Cluster for Mersacidin Synthesis
Authors: Hao Kun , He Pengfei , Blom Jochen , Rueckert Christian , Mao Zichao , Wu Yixin , He Yueqiu , Borriss Rainer 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

The genome of rhizobacterium
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
subsp.
plantarum
YAU B9601-Y2 was 4.24 Mb in size and harbored 3,991 coding sequences (CDS). Giant gene clusters were dedicated to nonribosomal synthesis of antimicrobial lipopeptides and polyketides. Remarkably, CAU B946 possessed a gene cluster involved in synthesis of mersacidin.
Mindfulness online: a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of a web-based mindfulness course and the impact on stress
Authors: Krusche Adele , Cyhlarova Eva , King Scott , Williams J Mark G 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesStress has been shown to have a number of negative effects on health over time. Mindfulness interventions have been shown to decrease perceived stress but access to interventions is limited. Therefore, the effectiveness of an online mindfulness course for perceived stress was investigated.DesignA preliminary evaluation of an online mindfulness course.ParticipantsThis sample consisted of 100 self-referrals to the online course. The average age of participants was 48 years and 74% were women.InterventionsThe online programme consisted of modules taken from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and lasted for approximately 6 weeks.Primary and secondary outcome measuresParticipants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before the course, after the course and at 1-month follow-up. Completion of formal (eg, body scan, mindful movement) and informal (eg, mindful meal, noticing) mindfulness activities was self-reported each week.ResultsParticipation in the online mindfulness course significantly reduced perceived stress upon completion and remained stable at follow-up. The pre-post effect size was equivalent to levels found in other class-based mindfulness programmes. Furthermore, people who had higher PSS scores before the course reported engaging in significantly more mindfulness practice, which was in turn associated with greater decreases in PSS.ConclusionsBecause perceived stress significantly decreased with such limited exposure to mindfulness, there are implications for the accessibility of mindfulness therapies online. Future research needs to evaluate other health outcomes for which face-to-face mindfulness therapies have been shown to help, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Inter-rater reliability of self-reported response on foreskin status in questionnaire among Japanese adult men
Authors: Yamagishi Takuya , Imai Hirohisa , Nakao Hiroyuki , Yahata Yuichiro , Iizuka Norio , Onoye Yasuhiko , Koichi Udagawa , Misaki Hiroshi , Takaaki Ohyama 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesTo determine whether foreskin status is a measurable marker for evaluating the effect of the foreskin on sexually transmitted infections.MethodsInter-rater comparison of the responses on foreskin status and circumcision in a self-report questionnaire with the findings of a physical examination by an experienced well-trained urologist was performed for patients who visited a healthcare facility in Kanagawa, Japan. Foreskin status was defined using a five-point graphical scale based on the degree to which the foreskin covers the foreskin and the glans penis in a non-erectile condition: type 1, a fully exposed glans penis; types 2–4, the glans penis partly covered by the foreskin and type 5, phimosis. Linear weighted κ and per cent agreement were used to evaluate the reliability of responses.ResultsAmong 188 participants who were evaluated about their foreskin status, linear weighted κ and per cent agreement were 0.74% and 68.4%, respectively. Linear weighted κ improved from 0.74 to 0.80 when the number of categories was changed to three. All the self-reported responses on circumcision were in agreement with the findings of the physical examination. Seventeen participants (9.0%) had been circumcised, and among them, three (17.6%) had approximately one-half of their glans penis covered by the foreskin. In 90 among the 171 uncircumcised participants (52.6%), the foreskin did not cover the glans penis.ConclusionsThe self-reported response on foreskin status in this questionnaire has sufficient reliability to replace physical examination, and this questionnaire can facilitate further studies about the effect of foreskin on sexually transmitted infections.
Intermediate vaginal flora is associated with HIV prevalence as strongly as bacterial vaginosis in a cross-sectional study of participants screened for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Guédou Fernand Aimé , Van Damme Lut , Mirembe Florence , Solomon Suniti , Becker Marissa , Deese Jennifer , Crucitti Tania , Alary Michel 
Published: May 2012

ObjectiveThe authors analysed data from female sex workers screened prior to participation in a microbicide trial to examine the association between prevalent vaginal flora abnormalities and HIV infection, with special emphasis on the role of the intermediate vaginal flora (IVF) in this association.MethodsData from the Kampala, Cotonou, Chennai and Mudhol/Jamkhandi sites were analysed. Participants were interviewed and provided blood for HIV and syphilis antibody testing, genital samples for the diagnosis of vaginal flora abnormalities (using Nugent score) and other reproductive tract infections. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate the HIV prevalence ratio (PR) in relation to IVF and bacterial vaginosis (BV).ResultsAmong 1367 women, BV, IVF and HIV prevalences were 47.6% (95% CI=45.0% to 50.3%), 19.2% (95% CI=17.1% to 21.2%) and 27.0% (95% CI=24.6% to 29.3%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, adjusting for study site, age, years of education, occupation, female sterilisation, oral sex, past history of sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhoea and candidiasis, IVF was significantly associated with HIV infection with a PR similar to that of BV (adjusted PR=1.56 (95% CI=1.22 to 1.98) and 1.48 (95% CI=1.20 to 1.84), respectively).ConclusionsThough the cross-sectional design of the study precludes directional interpretation of the findings, the data do suggest that IVF may be as important as BV in HIV acquisition. The authors recommend prospective research to better understand the association between IVF and HIV acquisition.
Translational platelet research in patients with coronary artery disease: What are the major knowledge gaps?
Authors: Roe Matthew , Jakubowski Joseph , Shah Svathi , Erlinge David , Goodman Shaun , Huber Kurt , Chan Mark , Cornel Jan , Tantry Udaya , Ohman E. , Gurbel Paul 
Published: May 2012

SummaryTranslational platelet function investigations performed in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-treated population receiving clopidogrel have identified high platelet reactivity to ADP (HPR) as a major risk factor for both acute as well as long-term ischaemic event occurrence, including stent thrombosis. Recent studies have highlighted the relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes involved in clopidogrel absorption and metabolism to reduced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to clopidogrel. CYP 2C19 loss-of-function (LoF) allele carriage has been associated with increased thrombotic risk in the PCI population. However, there is no information regarding the utility of platelet function testing to predict outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease and in medically managed patients with acute coronary syndromes. Additionally, few studies have included longitudinal assessment of platelet function to assess a potential time-dependent relation to ischaemic event occurrence and no phase-III antiplatelet-therapy trial has included a large enough platelet function sub-study to examine the relation between on-treatment platelet reactivity, bleeding, and ischaemic event occurrence. Therefore, futher studies are needed to delineate the role of platelet function testing across the spectrum of symptomatic coronary artery disease.
Lyophilised reconstituted human platelets increase thrombus formation in a clinical ex vivo model of deep arterial injury
Authors: Raftis Jennifer , Lucking Andrew , Hunter Amanda , Millar Mike , Fitzpatrick Mike , Feuerstein Giora , Newby David , Joshi Nikhil 
Published: May 2012

SummaryPlatelets are the principal component of the innate haemostatic system that protect from traumatic bleeding. We investigated whether lyophilised human platelets (LHPs) could enhance clot formation within platelet-free and whole blood environments using an ex vivo model of deep arterial injury. Lyophilised human platelets were produced from stored human platelets and characterised using conventional, fluorescent and electron microscopic techniques. LHPs were resuspended in platelet-free plasma (PFP) obtained from citrated whole human blood to form final concentrations of 0,20 and 200 × 109 LHPs/L. LHPs with recalcified PFP or whole blood were perfused through the chamber at low (212 s-1) and high (1,690 s-1) shear rates with porcine aortic tunica media as thrombogenic substrate. LHPs shared morphological characteristics with native human platelets and were incorporated into clot generated from PFP or whole blood. Histomorphometrically measured mean thrombus area increased in a dose-dependent manner following the addition of LHPs to PFP under conditions of high shear [704 μm2 ± 186 μm2 (mean ± SEM), 1,511 μm2 ± 320 μm2 and 2,378 μm2 ± 315 μm2, for LHPs at 0, 20 and 200 × 109 /l, respectively (p= 0.012)]. Lyophil-ised human platelets retain haemostatic properties when reconstituted in both PFP and whole blood, and enhance thrombus formation in a model of deep arterial injury. These data suggest that LHPs have the potential to serve as a therapeutic intervention during haemorrhage under circumstances of trauma, and platelet depletion or dysfunction.
Duration of QRS Complex in Resting Electrocardiogram Is a Predictor of Sudden Cardiac Death in Men
Authors: Kurl Sudhir , Mäkikallio Timo H. , Rautaharju Pentti , Kiviniemi Vesa , Laukkanen Jari A. 
Published: May 2012

Background—
Previous studies indicate that increased QRS duration in ECG is related to the risk of all-cause death. However, the association of QRS duration with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is not well documented in large population-based studies. Our aim was to examine the relation of QRS duration with SCD in a population-based sample of men.

Methods and Results—

This prospective study was based on a cohort of 2049 men aged 42 to 60 years at baseline with a 19-year follow-up, during which a total of 156 SCDs occurred. As a continuous variable, each 10-ms increase in QRS duration was associated with a 27% higher risk for SCD (relative risk, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.40;
P
<0.001). Subjects with QRS duration of >110 ms (highest quintile) had a 2.50-fold risk for SCD (relative risk, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–4.55;
P
=0.002) compared with those with QRS duration of <96 ms (lowest quintile), after adjustment for established key demographic and clinical risk factors (age, alcohol consumption, previous myocardial infarction, smoking, serum low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, type 2 diabetes mellitus, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness). In addition to QRS duration, smoking, previous myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein were independently associated with the risk of SCD.

Conclusions—
QRS duration is an independent predictor of the risk of SCD and may have utility in estimating SCD risk in the general population.
Trends in Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Steinberg Benjamin A. , Zhao Xin , Heidenreich Paul A. , Peterson Eric D. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Cannon Christopher P. , Hernandez Adrian F. , Fonarow Gregg C. 
Published: May 2012

Background—
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (EF) is a common syndrome, but trends in treatments and outcomes are lacking.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed data from 275 hospitals in Get With the Guidelines–Heart Failure from January 2005 to October 2010. Patients were stratified by EF as reduced EF (EF <40% [HF–reduced EF]), borderline EF (40%≤EF<50% [HF–borderline EF]), or preserved (EF ≥50% [HF–preserved EF]). Using multivariable models, we examined trends in therapies and outcomes. Among 110 621 patients, 50% (55 083) had HF–reduced EF, 14% (15 184) had HF–borderline EF, and 36% (40 354) had HF–preserved EF. From 2005 to 2010, the proportion of hospitalizations for HF–preserved EF increased from 33% to 39% (
P
<0.0001). In multivariable analyses, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers at discharge decreased in all EF groups, and β-blocker use increased. Patients with HF–preserved EF less frequently achieved blood pressure control (adjusted odds ratio, 0.44 versus HF–reduced EF;
P
<0.001) and were more likely discharged to skilled nursing (adjusted odds ratio, 1.16 versus HF–reduced EF;
P
<0.001). In-hospital mortality for HF–preserved EF decreased from 3.32% in 2005 to 2.35% in 2010 (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89 per year;
P
=0.01) but was stable for patients with HF–reduced EF (3.03%–2.83%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.93 per year;
P
=0.10).

Conclusions—
Hospitalization for HF–preserved EF is increasing relative to HF–reduced EF. Although in-hospital mortality for patients with HF–preserved EF declined over the study period, an important opportunity remains for identifying evidence-based therapies in patients with HF–preserved EF.
Long-Term Outcome of Aortic Dissection With Patent False Lumen
Authors: Evangelista Artur , Salas Armando , Ribera Aida , Ferreira-González Ignacio , Cuellar Hug , Pineda Victor , González-Alujas Teresa , Bijnens Bart , Permanyer-Miralda Gaietà , Garcia-Dorado David 
Published: May 2012

Background—
Patent false lumen in aortic dissection has been associated with poor prognosis. We aimed to assess the natural evolution of this condition and predictive factors.

Methods and Results—

One hundred eighty-four consecutive patients, 108 surgically treated type A and 76 medically treated type B, were discharged after an acute aortic dissection with patent false lumen. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed before discharge, and computed tomography was performed at 3 months and yearly thereafter. Median follow-up was 6.42 years (quartile 1 to quartile 3: 3.31–10.49). Forty-nine patients died during follow-up (22 type A, 27 type B), 31 suddenly. Surgical or endovascular treatment was indicated in 10 type A and 25 type B cases. Survival free from sudden death and surgical-endovascular treatment was 0.90, 0.81, and 0.46 (95% CI, 0.36–0.55) at 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified baseline maximum descending aorta diameter (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.32 [1.10–1.59];
P
=0.003), proximal location (HR: 1.84 [1.06–3.19];
P
=0.03), and entry tear size (HR: 1.13 [1.08–1.2];
P
<0.001) as predictors of dissection-related adverse events, whereas mortality was predicted by baseline maximum descending aorta diameter (HR: 1.36 [1.08–1.70];
P
=0.008), entry tear size (HR: 1.1 [1.04–1.16];
P
=0.001), and Marfan syndrome (HR: 3.66 [1.65–8.13];
P
=0.001).

Conclusions—
Aortic dissection with persistent patent false lumen carries a high risk of complications. In addition to Marfan syndrome and aorta diameter, a large entry tear located in the proximal part of the dissection identifies a high-risk subgroup of patients who may benefit from earlier and more aggressive therapy.
When Less Is More: Evidence for a Facilitative Cathodal tDCS Effect in Attentional Abilities
Authors: Weiss Michal , Lavidor Michal 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Many previous studies reported that the hyperpolarization of cortical neurons following cathodal stimulation (in transcranial direct current stimulation) has resulted in cognitive performance degradation. Here, we challenge this assumption by showing that cathodal stimulation will not always degrade cognitive performance. We used an attentional load paradigm in which irrelevant stimuli are processed only under low but not under high attentional load. Thirty healthy participants were randomly allocated into three interventional groups with different brain stimulation parameters (active anodal posterior parietal cortex [PPC], active cathodal PPC, and sham). Cathodal but not anodal stimulation enabled flanker processing even in high-loaded scenes. A second experiment was carried out to assert whether the improved flanker processing under cathodal stimulation is because of altered attention allocation between center and surround or, alternatively, enhanced attentional resources. In this experiment, the flanker was presented centrally. The results of Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1's finding of improved flanker processing. We interpret the results from these two experiments as evidence for the ability of cathodal stimulation to enhance attentional resources rather than simply change attention allocation between center and periphery. Cathodal stimulation in high-loaded scenes can act like a noise filter and may in fact enhance cognitive performance. This study contributes to understanding the way the PPC is engaged with attentional functions and explains the cathodal effects, which thus might lead to more efficient brain stimulation protocols.
Task-relevant and Task-irrelevant Dimensions Are Modulated Independently at a Task-irrelevant Location
Authors: Lustig Audrey G. , Beck Diane M. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Single-cell and fMRI experiments indicate that task-relevant features are enhanced globally across the visual field (VF). Moreover, this global feature-based attention can spread to task-irrelevant features of the attended object. Here we ask whether a task-irrelevant feature, by virtue of being bound to a task-relevant feature, can also be enhanced at a task-irrelevant location. Specifically, we asked whether attending to the color of moving dots in one VF would influence the motion signal to colored moving dots in the other VF. Participants attended to either red or cyan dots, superimposed and moving in opposite directions. Critically, the color and motion of dots present in the opposite VF varied as a function of the attended dots such that they were either the same color/same direction, same color/opposite direction, opposite color/same direction, or opposite color/opposite direction as the attended dots. We found greater activity in ventral visual cortex when either the color or direction of motion matched the color or direction of motion at the attended location. Similar effects were found for direction of motion in human medial temporal/medial superior temporal cortex. Moreover, the color and motion effects did not interact in any region. Together, these results suggest that the coselection of an object's features modulates those features independently beyond the selected object.
Why Is Remote Sensing of Amazon Forest Greenness So Challenging?
Authors: Samanta Arindam , Ganguly Sangram , Vermote Eric , Nemani Ramakrishna R. , Myneni Ranga B. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The prevalence of clouds and aerosols and their impact on satellite-measured greenness levels of forests in southern and central Amazonia are explored in this article using 10 years of NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) greenness data: normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). During the wet season (October–March), cloud contamination of greenness data is pervasive; nearly the entire region lacks uncorrupted observations. Even in the dry season (July–September), nearly 60%–66% of greenness data are corrupted, mainly because of biomass burning aerosol contamination. Under these conditions, spectrally varying residual atmospheric effects in surface reflectance data introduce artifacts into greenness indices; NDVI is known to artificially decrease, whereas EVI, given its formulation and use of blue channel surface reflectance data, shows artificial enhancement, which manifests as large patches of enhanced greenness. These issues render remote sensing of Amazon forest greenness a challenging task.