bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of In Vitro Susceptibility Characteristics of
Candida
Species from Cases of Invasive Candidiasis in Solid Organ and Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Transplant-Associated Infections Surveillance Network (TRANSNET), 2001 to 2006
Authors: Lockhart Shawn R. , Wagner Debra , Iqbal Naureen , Pappas Peter G. , Andes David R. , Kauffman Carol A. , Brumble Lisa M. , Hadley Susan , Walker Randall , Ito James I. , Baddley John W. , Chiller Tom , Park Benjamin J. 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACT

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among both solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients.
Candida
is the most common cause of IFI in SOT recipients and the second most common cause of IFI in HSCT recipients. We determined susceptibilities to fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, and caspofungin for 383 invasive
Candida
sp. isolates from SOT and HSCT recipients enrolled in the Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network and correlated these results to clinical data. Fluconazole resistance in
C. albicans
,
C. tropicalis
, and
C. parapsilosis
isolates was low (1%), but the high percentage of
C. glabrata
and
C. krusei
isolates within this group of patients increased the overall percentage of fluconazole resistance to 16%. Voriconazole resistance was 3% overall but was 8% among
C. glabrata
isolates. On multivariable analysis, among HSCT recipients fluconazole nonsusceptibility was independently associated with
C. glabrata
, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia, diabetes active at the time of the IFI, and any prior amphotericin B use; among SOT recipients, fluconazole nonsusceptibility was independently associated with any fluconazole use in the 3 months prior to the IFI,
C. glabrata
, ganciclovir use in the 3 months prior to the IFI, diabetes acquired since the transplant, and gender.
Structure and Genetic Analysis of the Arterivirus Nonstructural Protein 7α
Authors: Manolaridis Ioannis , Gaudin Cyril , Posthuma Clara C. , Zevenhoven-Dobbe Jessika C. , Imbert Isabelle , Canard Bruno , Kelly Geoff , Tucker Paul A. , Conte Maria R. , Snijder Eric J. 
Published: May 2011

ABSTRACT
Arterivirus replicase polyproteins are cleaved into at least 13 mature nonstructural proteins (nsps), and in particular the nsp5-to-nsp8 region is subject to a complex processing cascade. The function of the largest subunit from this region, nsp7, which is further cleaved into nsp7α and nsp7β, is unknown. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we determined the solution structure of nsp7α of equine arteritis virus, revealing an interesting unique fold for this protein but thereby providing little clue to its possible functions. Nevertheless, structure-based reverse genetics studies established the importance of nsp7/nsp7α for viral RNA synthesis, thus providing a basis for future studies.
Non-compliance with health surveillance is a matter of Biosafety: a survey of latent tuberculosis infection in a highly endemic setting
Authors: da Rocha Sheila Sotelino , Marinho Jamocyr Moura , Oliveira Evelin Santos , Rodrigues Jaqueline Silva , Conceição Elisabete Lopes , Meira Antonio Edson , Almeida Alzira , Mendes Carlos Mauricio Cardeal , Arruda Sérgio , Barbosa Theolis 
Published: May 2011

ObjectiveThis study aimed at identifying demographic, socio-economic and tuberculosis (TB) exposure factors associated with non-compliance with the tuberculin skin test, the management and prevention of non-compliance to the test. It was carried out in the context of a survey of latent TB infection among undergraduate students taking healthcare courses in two universities in Salvador, Brazil, a city highly endemic for TB.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of 1164 volunteers carried out between October 2004 and June 2008. Bivariate analysis followed by logistic regression was used to measure the association between non-compliance and potential risk factors through non-biased estimates of the adjusted OR for confounding variables. A parallel evaluation of occupational risk perception and of knowledge of Biosafety measures was also conducted.ResultsThe non-compliance rate was above 40% even among individuals potentially at higher risk of disease, which included those who had not been vaccinated (OR 3.33; 95% CI 1.50 to 7.93; p=0.0018), those reporting having had contact with TB patients among close relatives or household contacts (p=0.3673), or those whose tuberculin skin test status was shown within the survey to have recently converted (17.3% of those completing the study). In spite of the observed homogeneity in the degree of Biosafety knowledge, and the awareness campaigns developed within the study focussing on TB prevention, the analysis has shown that different groups have different behaviours in relation to the test. Family income was found to have opposite effects in groups studying different courses as well as attending public versus private universities.ConclusionsAlthough the data presented may not be directly generalisable to other situations and cultural settings, this study highlights the need to evaluate factors associated with non-compliance with routine testing, as they may affect the efficacy of Biosafety programs.
A single center comparison of coiling versus stent assisted coiling in 90 consecutive paraophthalmic region aneurysms
Authors: Colby Geoffrey P , Paul Alexandra R , Radvany Martin G , Gandhi Dheeraj , Gailloud Philippe , Huang Judy , Tamargo Rafael J , Coon Alexander L 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionAneurysm recurrence is a principle limitation of endovascular coiling procedures, with recurrence rates reported of >30%. The adjunct use of self-expandable stents has revolutionized the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, especially for complex morphologies, wide necks or unfavorable dome to neck ratios. However, further investigation into the durability and outcomes of stent assisted coiling procedures is required.MethodsThe records of a prospective single center aneurysm database were retrospectively reviewed, and 90 consecutive patients with paraophthalmic aneurysms who underwent coil embolization were identified, 30 of which included stent placement. Patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, coil packing density, angiographic results (initial and follow-up) and complications were analyzed.ResultsComplete aneurysm occlusion was obtained on initial angiography in 13/30 (43.3%) stented and 19/60 (31.7%) non-stented patients. At ≤24 months (mean follow-up 12.8±6.2 months for stented and 12.8±6.6 months for non-stented group), aneurysm recurrence occurred in 3/26 (11.5%) stented and 14/39 (35.9%) non-stented patients (p<0.05). At the longest follow-up (mean 14.5±12.5 months for stented and 37.6±35.3 months for non-stented), aneurysm recurrence occurred in 4/26 (15.4%) stented and 17/41 (41.5%) non-stented patients (p<0.03). There was no statistically significant correlation between recurrence and aneurysm size or coiling packing.ConclusionsFollowing endovascular coil embolization of paraophthalmic region aneurysms, recurrence rates at 2 years were significantly lower in patients who had stent assisted coiling (11.5%) compared with patients who had coiling procedures without the use of a stent (35.9%). Aneurysm size and coiling packing density did not significantly affect recurrence in our study population.
Evaluation of a human generic formulation of ciclosporin in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis with in vitro assessment of the functional capacity of phagocytic cells
Authors: Kovalik M. , Taszkun I. , Pomorski Z. , Kozak M. , Pomorska D. , Szczepanik M. , Wilkolek P. , Palenik L. , Shaw D. J. , van den Broek A. H. M. , Thoday K. L. 
Published: May 2011

To compare the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a generic formulation of ciclosporin for human beings with prednisone in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis), human generic ciclosporin A (hgCsA) (5 mg/kg daily) and prednisone (1 mg/kg daily for seven days, followed by 1 mg/kg every second day) were administered to 13 and seven dogs with atopic dermatitis, respectively, for 42 days. Skin changes were assessed using a modified canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (mCADESI‐01) and a pruritus intensity scale system. The in vitro functional capacity of phagocytic cells was assessed using the tetrazolium reductase activity and zymosan‐stimulated tetrazolium reductase activity tests, as well as measurements of the percentage phagocytic activity and the ingestion capacity of phagocytic cells. Haematological and biochemical parameters were also monitored. There was a greater than or equal to 50 per cent reduction from the baseline in mCADESI‐01 scores in 84.6 and 100 per cent of dogs, and a greater than or equal to 50 per cent reduction from the baseline in pruritus scores in 76.9 and 85.7 per cent of dogs, treated with hgCsA and prednisone, respectively. No important adverse physical, haematological or biochemical effects occurred with either drug and no statistically significant changes were detected in any of the four tests assessing the functional activity of phagocytes. The generic formulation of ciclosporin was effective in reducing the severity of physical signs of canine atopic dermatitis and was well tolerated.
Early gene response of human brain microvascular endothelial cells toListeria monocytogenesinfection
Authors: Wang Chinling , Chou Chung-Hsi , Tseng Charles , Ge Xijin , Pinchuk Lesya M. 
Published: May 2011

The gene expression of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) in response to 4 h of infection by Listeria monocytogenes was analyzed. Four hours after infection, the expression of 456 genes of HBMEC had changed (p < 0.05). We noted that many active genes were involved in the formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine pathway in infected HBMEC. In the upregulated genes, mRNA levels of interleukin-8 and interleukin-15 in infected cells increased according to microarray and real-time reverse transcription – PCR analyses. Since both cytokines are regarded as potent chemotactic factors, the results suggest that HBMEC are capable of recruiting cells of innate and adaptive immune responses during early L. monocytogenes infection.
The Akt Inhibitor ISC-4 Activates Prostate Apoptosis Response Protein-4 and Reduces Colon Tumor Growth in a Nude Mouse Model
Authors: Sharma Arun K. , Kline Christina L. , Berg Arthur , Amin Shantu , Irby Rosalyn B. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Purpose: Prostate apoptosis response protein-4 (Par-4) sensitizes cells to chemotherapy; however, Akt1 inactivates Par-4. Previously we showed that Par-4–overexpressing colon cancer cells responded more readily to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) than their wild-type counterparts. In this study we investigated (i) the effects of the Akt inhibitor, phenylbutyl isoselenocyanate (ISC-4), on tumor growth in nude mice and (ii) bystander effect of Par-4–overexpressing cells on wild-type tumor growth.
Experimental Design: Mice (n = 80) were injected with wild-type HT29 human colon cancer cells in the right flank. Forty of the mice were also injected in the left flank with HT29 cells engineered to overexpress Par-4. The mice were treated with 5-FU, ISC-4, a combination, or vehicle.
Results: ISC-4 reduced tumor growth, with or without 5-FU. When Par-4–overexpressing tumors were present, wild-type tumors grew more slowly compared to when no Par-4–overexpressing tumors were present. The level of Par-4 protein as well as the Par-4 binding protein, GRP78, was increased in wild-type cells growing in the same mouse as Par-4–overexpressing tumors compared with wild-type tumors growing without Par-4–overexpressing tumors.
Conclusions: Par-4–overexpressing tumors exhibited a bystander effect on wild-type tumors growing distally in the same mouse. This suggests that gene therapy need not achieve total penetration to have a positive effect on tumor treatment. Inhibition of Akt with ISC-4 inhibited tumor growth and had a greater effect on cells overexpressing Par-4. The data indicate ISC-4 alone or in combination with Par-4 can greatly reduce tumor growth. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4474–83. ©2011 AACR.
Characterization of Bone Metastases from Rapid Autopsies of Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Mehra Rohit , Kumar-Sinha Chandan , Shankar Sunita , Lonigro Robert J. , Jing Xiaojun , Philips Neena E. , Siddiqui Javed , Han Bo , Cao Xuhong , Smith David C. , Shah Rajal B. , Chinnaiyan Arul M. , Pienta Kenneth J. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Purpose: Bone is the most common metastatic site for prostate cancer, and osseous metastases are the leading cause of morbidity from this disease. Recent autopsy studies prove that 100% of men who die of prostate cancer have bone involvement. Understanding the biology of prostate cancer and its evolution to an incurable androgen-independent phenotype requires an understanding of the genetic and cellular alterations that lead to the seeding and proliferation of tumor foci in bone, as well as the microenvironment in which these metastases arise. No intensive studies, however, have been conducted on osseous metastatic tissues from patients with metastatic prostate cancer due to lack of access to such tissues for profiling and other research.
Experimental Design: We show, for the first time, a reproducible methodology to obtain high quality clinical tumor tissues metastatic to the bone. This technique allowed the procurement of viable metastatic tumor tissue from involved bones in 13 recent autopsies conducted at the University of Michigan and analyzed the gene expression of these tissues using real-time PCR and microarrays.
Results: We present here the discovery of nonossified bone metastases from multiple patients with advanced prostate cancer and their subsequent characterization and comparison to nonosseous metastases from the same patients.
Conclusion: This represents a versatile and practical approach that may be employed to characterize the steps in metastasis and the phenotypic characteristics of osseous metastasis of prostate cancer and to profile RNA, DNA, and cDNA from tumor samples metastatic to the bone. Clin Cancer Res; 17(12); 3924–32. ©2011 AACR.
Ethnic Differences in Out-of-Hospital Fatal Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Tang Yingying , Sampson Barbara , Pack Stephanie , Shah Krunal , Yon Um Sung , Wang Dawei , Wang Tao , Prinz Mechthild 
Published: May 2011

Background—
In-hospital pulmonary embolism (PE) has been extensively studied in large populations; however, out-of-hospital fatal PE studies are rare. Here, we systematically evaluated a large number of decedents who suffered fatal PE outside of hospitals and were subsequently investigated by the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Methods and Results—

A total of 578 consecutive out-of-hospital fatal PE cases were analyzed. All underwent autopsy, toxicology, microbiology, and genetic testing. Incidence rates and baseline characteristics were analyzed. Race-adjusted incidence rates of out-of-hospital fatal PE (per 100 000 people per year) were as follows: blacks, 3.73 (95% confidence interval, 3.31 to 4.11); whites, 1.15 (95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.33); and Hispanics, 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 1.10). Overall, obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m
2
) was 2.5- to 3-fold higher in fatal PE cases than in the New York City population as a whole. Carrier frequencies for prothrombin G20210A in fatal PE were 2- to 10-fold higher than reported frequencies in ethnically matched controls. Cumulative distribution curves showed that compared with whites, blacks and Hispanics died at significantly younger ages (
P
<0.001). Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses showed that in addition to nonwhite ethnicity, heterozygous carriers for factor V Leiden (
P
=0.001) and obesity (
P
=0.002) are significantly associated with younger age at death.

Conclusion—
There are unique epidemiological differences in out-of-hospital fatal PE between ethnic groups in New York City.
Act Quickly, Decide Later: Long-latency Visual Processing Underlies Perceptual Decisions but Not Reflexive Behavior
Authors: Jolij Jacob , Scholte H. Steven , van Gaal Simon , Hodgson Timothy L. , Lamme Victor A. F. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Humans largely guide their behavior by their visual representation of the world. Recent studies have shown that visual information can trigger behavior within 150 msec, suggesting that visually guided responses to external events, in fact, precede conscious awareness of those events. However, is such a view correct? By using a texture discrimination task, we show that the brain relies on long-latency visual processing in order to guide perceptual decisions. Decreasing stimulus saliency leads to selective changes in long-latency visually evoked potential components reflecting scene segmentation. These latency changes are accompanied by almost equal changes in simple RTs and points of subjective simultaneity. Furthermore, we find a strong correlation between individual RTs and the latencies of scene segmentation related components in the visually evoked potentials, showing that the processes underlying these late brain potentials are critical in triggering a response. However, using the same texture stimuli in an antisaccade task, we found that reflexive, but erroneous, prosaccades, but not antisaccades, can be triggered by earlier visual processes. In other words: The brain can act quickly, but decides late. Differences between our study and earlier findings suggesting that action precedes conscious awareness can be explained by assuming that task demands determine whether a fast and unconscious, or a slower and conscious, representation is used to initiate a visually guided response.
Neural Basis of Linearization in Speech Production
Authors: Ye Zheng , Habets Boukje , Jansma Bernadette M. , Münte Thomas F. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAn initial stage of speech production is conceptual planning, where a speaker determines which information to convey first (the linearization problem). This fMRI study investigated the linearization process during the production of “before” and “after” sentences. In “after” sentences, a series of events is expressed in the order of event occurrence. In “before” sentences, however, the order of event mention is achieved by reversing the chronological order. We suggested that the linearization process may be supported by a neural network connecting the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) with the medial superior frontal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left angular gyrus/inferior parietal gyrus. Within this network, regions were more activated and interregional interactions were strongly enhanced for producing “before” than “after” sentences. The left MTG was also functionally connected with the left orbital inferior frontal gyrus, contributing to the retrieval of necessary world knowledge and linguistic knowledge. Connectivity between these two regions was not different between conditions.
Mine and Me: Exploring the Neural Basis of Object Ownership
Authors: Turk David J. , van Bussel Kim , Waiter Gordon D. , Macrae C. Neil 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
Previous research has shown that encoding information in the context of self-evaluation leads to memory enhancement, supported by activation in ventromedial pFC. Recent evidence suggests that similar self-memory advantages can be obtained under nonevaluative encoding conditions, such as when object ownership is used to evoke self-reference. Using fMRI, the current study explored the neural correlates of object ownership. During scanning, participants sorted everyday objects into self-owned or other-owned categories. Replicating previous research, a significant self-memory advantage for the objects was observed (i.e., self-owned &gt; other-owned). In addition, encoding self-owned items was associated with unique activation in posterior dorsomedial pFC (dMPFC), left insula, and bilateral supramarginal gyri (SMG). Subsequent analysis showed that activation in a subset of these regions (dMPFC and left SMG) correlated with the magnitude of the self-memory advantage. Analysis of the time-to-peak data suggested a temporal model for processing ownership in which initial activation of dMPFC spreads to SMG and insula. These results indicate that a self-memory advantage can be elicited by object ownership and that this effect is underpinned by activity in a neural network that supports attentional, reward, and motor processing.
From an Executive Network to Executive Control: A Computational Model of the n-back Task
Authors: Chatham Christopher H. , Herd Seth A. , Brant Angela M. , Hazy Thomas E. , Miyake Akira , O'Reilly Randy , Friedman Naomi P. 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
A paradigmatic test of executive control, the n-back task, is known to recruit a widely distributed parietal, frontal, and striatal “executive network,” and is thought to require an equally wide array of executive functions. The mapping of functions onto substrates in such a complex task presents a significant challenge to any theoretical framework for executive control. To address this challenge, we developed a biologically constrained model of the n-back task that emergently develops the ability to appropriately gate, bind, and maintain information in working memory in the course of learning to perform the task. Furthermore, the model is sensitive to proactive interference in ways that match findings from neuroimaging and shows a U-shaped performance curve after manipulation of prefrontal dopaminergic mechanisms similar to that observed in studies of genetic polymorphisms and pharmacological manipulations. Our model represents a formal computational link between anatomical, functional neuroimaging, genetic, behavioral, and theoretical levels of analysis in the study of executive control. In addition, the model specifies one way in which the pFC, BG, parietal, and sensory cortices may learn to cooperate and give rise to executive control.
Disrupting the Ventral Premotor Cortex Interferes with the Contribution of Action Observation to Use-dependent Plasticity
Authors: Cantarero Gabriela , Galea Joseph M. , Ajagbe Loni , Salas Rachel , Willis Jeff , Celnik Pablo 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAction observation (AO), observing another individual perform an action, has been implicated in several higher cognitive processes including forming basic motor memories. Previous work has shown that physical practice (PP) results in cortical motor representational changes, referred to as use-dependent plasticity (UDP), and that AO combined with PP potentiates UDP in both healthy adults and stroke patients. In humans, AO results in activation of the ventral premotor cortex (PMv), however, whether this PMv activation has a functional contribution to UDP is not known. Here, we studied the effects disruption of PMv has on UDP when subjects performed PP combined with AO (PP + AO). Subjects participated in two randomized crossover sessions measuring the amount of UDP resulting from PP + AO while receiving disruptive (1 Hz) TMS over the fMRI-activated PMv or over frontal cortex (Sham). We found that, unlike the sham session, disruptive TMS over PMv reduced the beneficial contribution of AO to UDP. To ensure that disruption of PMv was specifically interfering with the contribution of AO and not PP, subjects completed two more control sessions where they performed only PP while receiving disruptive TMS over PMv or frontal cortex. We found that the magnitude of UDP for both control sessions was similar to PP + AO with TMS over PMv. These findings suggest that the fMRI activation found in PMv during AO studies is functionally relevant to task performance, at least for the beneficial effects that AO exerts over motor training.