bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenges of Applying the SHEA/HICPAC Metrics for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms to a Real-World Setting
Authors: Furuya E. Yoko , Larson Elaine , Landers Timothy , Jia Haomiao , Ross Barbara , Behta Maryam 
Published: March 2011

Objective.To test in a real-world setting the recommendations for measuring infection with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC).Methods.Using data from 3 hospital settings within a healthcare network, we applied the SHEA/HICPAC recommendations to measure methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and colonization. Data were obtained from the hospitals' electronic surveillance system and were supplemented by manual medical record review as necessary. Additionally, we tested (1) different definitions for nosocomial incidence, (2) the effect of excluding patients not at risk from the denominator for hospital-onset incidence, and (3) the appropriate time period to use when including or excluding patients with a prior history of MRSA infection or colonization from nosocomial rates. Negative binomial regression models were used to test for differences between rate definitions. A rating scale was created for each metric, assessing the extent to which manual or electronic data elements were required.Results.There was no statistically significant difference between using 72 hours or 3 calendar days as the cutoff to define hospital-onset incidence. Excluding patients not at risk from the denominator when calculating hospital-onset incidence led to statistically significant increases in rates. When excluding patients with a prior history of MRSA infection or colonization from nosocomial incidence rates, rates were similar regardless of whether we looked at 1, 2, or 3 years' worth of prior data.Conclusions.The SHEA/HICPAC MDRO metrics are useful but can be challenging to implement. We include in our description of the data sources and processes required to calculate these metrics information that may simplify the process for institutions.
First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe euonymi-japonici on Euonymus japonicus in Central China
Authors: Li C. W. , Zhang Y. , Liu Y. , Kang J. M. , Ma X. M. , Fu L. L. 
Published: March 2011

Euonymus japonicus Thunb. is a popular, woody, ornamental plant in China. From June to September 2010, severe outbreaks of powdery mildew occurred on all investigated E. japonicus plants used for hedges in Zhoukou and Shangqiu cities of Henan province in central China, which is the second largest province in terms of ornamental plant cultivation. A large amount of fungicide was used to prevent the fungal disease, which caused serious environmental pollution and was estimated to result in a 40 to 60% increase in preservation cost of E. japonicus hedges. Gray-white colonies of powdery mildew fungi occurred mainly on the leaves of E. japonicus, on average approximately 50% of the leaves of an individual plant were infected by the fungi. On severely infected leaves, mycelia were amphigenous, thick, forming irregular white patches, and effused to cover the whole surface. Subsequently, these leaves became chlorotic, curled, and withered. The fungus was identified as Erysiphe euonymi-japonici (Vienn.-Bourg.) U. Braun & S. Takam on the basis of the following data of microscopic morphology with scanning electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The fungus had unbranched conidiophores with an average length of 57.3 μm and width of 8.8 μm, which was composed of a cylindrical foot cell, 15 to 40 × 6 to 10 μm and one to three shorter cells or cells of about the same length. Conidia were borne singly, cylindrical, or ellipsoid-cylindrical, with an average length of 27.7 μm and width of 10.4 μm. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples during the whole outbreak period. PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS region was amplified using the universal primers ITS1 and ITS4 (4). The obtained ITS sequence was assigned Accession No. HQ012432 in GenBank, which had a 99 and 98% nt similarity with the ITS sequences (ITS region including the 5.8S rDNA) of two Erysiphe euonymi-japonici isolates from Japan and Argentina in GenBank (Accession Nos. AB250228 and AB250229 (3), respectively). To our knowledge, Erysiphe euonymi-japonici has not been reported previously from central China, although synonymous species, Oidium euonymi-japonici and Microsphaera euonymi-japonici, were reported in southwestern (Sichuan Province) (1) and eastern (Shandong Province) (2) regions. Herbarium specimens are available at the Key Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Breeding, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, China. References: (1) H. Feng. J. Sichuan For. Sci. Technol. 13:57, 1992. (2) S. Z. Li et al. J. Shandong For. Sci. Technol. 46:40, 1995. (3) S. Limkaisang et al. Mycoscience 47:327, 2006. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.
Injury and Liability Associated with Cervical Procedures for Chronic Pain
Authors: Rathmell James P. , Michna Edward , Fitzgibbon Dermot R. , Stephens Linda S. , Posner Karen L. , Domino Karen B. 
Published: March 2011

Background
Prompted by an increase in interventional pain treatments performed at the level of the cervical spine, we investigated the characteristics and patterns of injury in malpractice claims collected from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008.

Methods
We compared claims arising from cervical pain treatments with all other chronic pain claims collected from the American Society of Anesthesiologists' closed claims database between 2005 and 2008. Claims for spinal cord injury underwent in-depth analysis for mechanisms of injury and use of sedation during the procedure.

Results
Claims related to cervical interventions represented 22% (64/294) of chronic pain treatment claims. Patients who underwent cervical procedures were healthier (American Society of Anesthesiologists' score, 1-2; P < 0.001) and were more often women (P = 0.011). Of the patients who underwent a cervical procedure, 59% experienced spinal cord damage compared with 11% of patients with other chronic pain (P < 0.001), with direct needle trauma as the predominant cause (31%). General anesthesia or sedation was used in 67% of cervical procedure claims associated with spinal cord injuries but in only 19% of cervical procedure claims not associated with spinal cord injuries (P < 0.001). Of the patients who underwent cervical procedures and had spinal cord injuries, 25% were nonresponsive during the procedure compared with 5% of the patients who underwent cervical procedures and did not have spinal cord injuries (P < 0.05, κ = 0.52).

Conclusions
Injuries related to cervical interventional pain treatment were often severe and related to direct needle trauma to the spinal cord. Traumatic spinal cord injury was more common in patients who received sedation or general anesthesia and in those who were unresponsive during the procedure. Further studies are crucial to define the usefulness of cervical interventions and to improve their safety.
Altered xanthine oxidase and N‐acetyltransferase activity in obese children
Authors: Chiney Manoj S. , Schwarzenberg Sarah J. , Johnson L'Aurelle A. 
Published: March 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • It has been well established that obese adults exhibit differences in expression and regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes as compared with healthy‐weight adults. However, as obesity is becoming a more prevalent problem in children, little, if any, information is available that specifically addresses the consequences of obesity on drug metabolism in this population. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This is the first study that provides evidence for elevated levels of xanthine oxidase and N‐acetyltransferase 2 enzyme activity in children who are obese. This new knowledge may provide insight into improving dosing strategies in obese children with concomitant diseases who are treated with therapeutic agents that are metabolized by these enzymes.AIMS It is well established that oxidative and conjugative enzyme activity differs between obese and healthy‐weight adults. However, the effect of obesity on drug metabolism in children has not been studied extensively. This study examined whether obese and healthy‐weight children vary with respect to oxidative enzyme activity of CYP1A2, xanthine oxidase (XO) and conjugative enzyme activity of N‐acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2).METHODS In vivo CYP1A2, XO and NAT2 activity was assessed in obese (n= 9) and lean (n= 16) children between the ages of 6–10 years using caffeine (118.3 ml Coca Cola®) as probe. Urine samples were collected in 2‐h increments over 8 h. Caffeine and metabolites were measured using LC/MS, and urinary metabolic ratios were determined based on reported methods.RESULTS Sixteen healthy‐weight and nine obese children were evaluated. XO activity was elevated in paediatric obese volunteers compared with non‐obese paediatric volunteers (XO metabolic ratio of 0.7 ± 0.06 vs. 0.6 ± 0.06, respectively, 95% CI 0.046, 0.154, P < 0.001). NAT2 activity was fivefold higher in the obese (1 ± 0.4) as compared with non‐obese children (0.2 ± 0.1), 95% CI 0.26, 1.34, P < 0.05. However, no difference was observed in CYP1A2 activity between the groups (95% CI −2.72, 0.12, P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that obese children have elevated XO and NAT2 enzyme activity when compared with healthy‐weight controls. Further studies are needed to determine how this may impact the efficacy of therapeutic agents that may undergo metabolism by these enzymes.
Bortezomib interacts synergistically with belinostat in human acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells in association with perturbations in NF‐κB and Bim
Authors: Dai Yun , Chen Shuang , Wang Li , Pei Xin‐Yan , Kramer Lora B. , Dent Paul , Grant Steven 
Published: March 2011

SummaryInteractions between the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib were investigated in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells. Co‐administration of sub‐micromolar concentrations of belinostat with low nanomolar concentrations of bortezomib sharply increased apoptosis in both AML and ALL cell lines and primary blasts. Synergistic interactions were associated with interruption of both canonical and non‐canonical nuclear factor (NF)‐κB signalling pathways, e.g. accumulation of the phosphorylated (S32/S36) form of IκBα, diminished belinostat‐mediated RelA/p65 hyperacetylation (K310), and reduced processing of p100 into p52. These events were accompanied by down‐regulation of NF‐κB‐dependent pro‐survival proteins (e.g. XIAP, Bcl‐xL). Moreover, belinostat/bortezomib co‐exposure induced up‐regulation of the BH3‐only pro‐death protein Bim. Significantly, shRNA knock‐down of Bim substantially reduced the lethality of belinostat/bortezomib regimens. Administration of belinostat ± bortezomib also induced hyperacetylation (K40) of α‐tubulin, indicating histone deacetylase inhibitor 6 inhibition. Finally, in contrast to the pronounced lethality of belinostat/bortezomib toward primary leukaemia blasts, equivalent treatment was relatively non‐toxic to normal CD34+ cells. Together, these findings indicate that belinostat and bortezomib interact synergistically in both cultured and primary AML and ALL cells, and raise the possibilities that up‐regulation of Bim and interference with NF‐κB pathways contribute to this phenomenon. They also suggest that combined belinostat/bortezomib regimens warrant further attention in acute leukaemias.
Unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplants incorporating pre‐transplant in‐vivo Alemtuzumab are not associated with any increased risk of significant acute or chronic graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Shaw Bronwen E. , Apperley Jane F. , Russell Nigel H. , Craddock Charles , Liakopoulou Effie , Potter Michael N. , Wynn Robert , Gibson Brenda , Pearce Rachel M. , Kirkland Keiren , Lee Julia , Madrigal J. Alejandro , Cook Gordon , Byrne Jennifer L. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThere is little information published comparing peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) with bone marrow (BM) as the stem cell source in the long‐term outcome in recipients of T‐cell depleted (TCD) unrelated donor (UD) transplants. We present retrospective outcome data on 306 recipients of myeloablative, human leucocyte antigen‐matched UD allografts using pre‐transplant in‐vivo Alemtuzumab. Transplants were performed between 2000 and 2007 for chronic myeloid leukaemia in first chronic phase and acute leukaemia in first or second complete remission; 184 patients received BM and 122 PBSC. The median age was 28·9 years (<1–58) and the median follow‐up was 48 months. Overall survival at 8 years was 53%. The incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) was significantly higher in PBSC (65%) than BM recipients (49%; P = 0·012). This represented only grade 1 GvHD with no difference in grade II–IV aGvHD (BM 23% PBSC 24%). The incidence of chronic GvHD, either overall (BM 47%, PBSC 49%) or extensive (BM 15%, PBSC 13%) was not increased with PBSC. The incidence of relapse, non‐relapse mortality and survival were not significantly different. Whilst accepting the limitations of retrospective analyses, we suggest the increased risk of GvHD in recipients of PBSC in T‐replete transplants is offset by in‐vivo Alemtuzumab, and that either stem cell source can be used with good outcomes in this setting.
Long‐lasting intracontinental strike‐slip faulting: new evidence from the Karakorum shear zone in the Himalayas
Authors: Leloup Philippe H. , Boutonnet Emmanuelle , Davis William J. , Hattori Keiko 
Published: March 2011

Terra Nova, 23, 92–99, 2011AbstractZircon crystallization ages for a syntectonic granite and an associated dyke along the Tangtse strand of the Karakorum fault are 18.5 ± 0.2 and 18.6 ± 0.2 Ma, respectively. A dyke cross‐cutting the foliation in the Karakorum shear zone (Ksz) yielded an age of 16.0 ± 0.6 Ma. These data show that the Ksz was associated with significant granitic magmatism and was active before 16 Ma, since at least c. 18.5 Ma. Consideration of other data along the Karakorum fault suggests that the fault has most likely been active since c. 22.7–25 Ma at a rate of 8–13 mm a−1. This study conducted in the frontal part of the Himalayan orogen shows that large continental strike‐slip faults can be linked with magmatism and be stable for more than 20 Ma, even in the hottest part of the orogen where strain localization is supposed to be at a minimum.
Early exposure to nonlethal predation risk by size‐selective predators increases somatic growth and decreases size at adulthood in threespined sticklebacks
Authors: BELL A. M. , DINGEMANSE N. J. , HANKISON S. J. , LANGENHOF M. B. W. , ROLLINS K. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPredation has an important influence on life history traits in many organisms, especially when they are young. When cues of trout were present, juvenile sticklebacks grew faster. The increase in body size as a result of exposure to cues of predators was adaptive because larger individuals were more likely to survive predation. However, sticklebacks that had been exposed to cues of predators were smaller at adulthood. This result is consistent with some life history theory. However, these results prompt an alternative hypothesis, which is that the decreased size at adulthood reflects a deferred cost of early rapid growth. Compared to males, females were more likely to survive predation, but female size at adulthood was more affected by cues of predators than male size at adulthood, suggesting that size at adulthood might be more important to male fitness than to female fitness.
Adaptation ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaeto saline stress through laboratory evolution
Authors: DHAR R. , SÄGESSER R. , WEIKERT C. , YUAN J. , WAGNER A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractMost laboratory evolution studies that characterize evolutionary adaptation genomically focus on genetically simple traits that can be altered by one or few mutations. Such traits are important, but they are few compared with complex, polygenic traits influenced by many genes. We know much less about complex traits, and about the changes that occur in the genome and in gene expression during their evolutionary adaptation. Salt stress tolerance is such a trait. It is especially attractive for evolutionary studies, because the physiological response to salt stress is well‐characterized on the molecular and transcriptome level. This provides a unique opportunity to compare evolutionary adaptation and physiological adaptation to salt stress. The yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeis a good model system to study salt stress tolerance, because it contains several highly conserved pathways that mediate the salt stress response. We evolved three replicate lines of yeast under continuous salt (NaCl) stress for 300 generations. All three lines evolved faster growth rate in high salt conditions than their ancestor. In these lines, we studied gene expression changes through microarray analysis and genetic changes through next generation population sequencing. We found two principal kinds of gene expression changes, changes in basal expression (82 genes) and changes in regulation (62 genes). The genes that change their expression involve several well‐known physiological stress‐response genes, includingCTT1, MSN4andHLR1. Next generation sequencing revealed only one high‐frequency single‐nucleotide change, in the geneMOT2, that caused increased fitness when introduced into the ancestral strain. Analysis of DNA content per cell revealed ploidy increases in all the three lines. Our observations suggest that evolutionary adaptation of yeast to salt stress is associated with genome size increase and modest expression changes in several genes.
Endophytic colonisation of Bacillus subtilis in the roots of Robinia pseudoacacia L.
Authors: Huang B. , Lv C. , Zhuang P. , Zhang H. , Fan L. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe endophytic colonisation of Bacillus subtilis strain GXJM08, isolated from roots of Podocarpus imbricatus B1. Enum. P1. Jav., in roots of the leguminous plant Robinia pseudoacacia L. was investigated. Ultrastructure observations showed that B. subtilis caused morphological changes in the root hair and colonised the plant through infected root hairs. The structure of the infection thread was similar to that of rhizobia, but the structure of infected cells was different. B. subtilis is also different from rhizobia and plant pathogens in terms of the formation of a peribacteroid membrane and the mode of penetration through the host cell wall. Our results provide a basis for studying development of the mutualistic symbiotic relationship between B. subtilis and plants, and a basis for studying the mechanism of the B. subtilis–plant interaction.
Molecular Cloning of Sheep and Cashmere Goat Pdia3 and Localization in Sheep Testis
Authors: Lv LX , Ujisguleng B , Orhontana B , Lian WB , Xing WJ 
Published: March 2011

ContentsProtein disulphide isomerase family A3 (PDIA3) is a member of the protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) family and is multifunctional in many processes. Recently, it has been confirmed as a sperm membrane component and is implicated in sperm–egg fusion under which the molecular mechanism is still obscure. Protein disulphide isomerase family A3 cDNA has been cloned in several mammals; however, goat and sheep counterparts have not been identified. To facilitate the studies on the potential function of PDIA3 protein in sperm–egg fusion in sheep and goat, we cloned the cDNA encoding for Pdia3 of sheep (Ovis aries) and cashmere goat (Capra hircus) and studied its transcript and protein localization in sheep testis. The cloned sheep and cashmere goat Pdia3 cDNA are 1660 bp and 1591 bp, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that sheep and goat Pdia3 cDNA both have a coding region of 1518 bp with the same nucleotides encoding the same 505 amino acids. The predicted peptide, with two typical motifs of Trp‐Cys‐Gly‐His‐Cys‐Lys (WCGHCK) which is a hallmark of the PDI family, has high homology to that of bovine (99.21%), human (95.05%), rat (89.50%) and mouse (90.89%). Protein disulphide isomerase family A3 protein was observed in cells of various stages of spermatogenesis, from the primary spermatocyte to spermatozoa phases, as well as in the Leydig cells. It was observed in the entire sheep spermatozoa and mostly at the equatorial segment and the forepart of the flagellum. The Pdia3 mRNA was detected over the seminiferous epithelium in all stages of spermatogenesis.
Calcinosis cutis following contact with calcium chloride solution
Authors: Lim Penny PL , Kossard Steven , Stapleton Karen 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTCalcinosis cutis is the deposition of insoluble calcium in the cutaneous tissue. Calcinosis cutis can be classified as metastatic, dystrophic, idiopathic or exogenous. We report a 48‐year‐old white man who was dismantling a portable ice skating rink when calcium chloride solution from the pipes spilt onto his clothing. Several days later, he started to develop mildly pruritic erythematous papules, some studded with white deposits and some with umbilication over the exposed areas corresponding to the spillage of the calcium chloride solution. Histological features revealed interstitial fibrohistiocytic reaction with calcium‐encrusted degenerated collagen bundles in the dermis which was further confirmed by von Kossa stain. He was commenced on topical corticosteroid cream twice daily and the lesions cleared completely between 6 to 10 weeks.
Octreotide lessens peritoneal injury in experimental encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis model
Authors: ERTILAV MUHITTIN , HUR ENDER , BOZKURT DEVRIM , SIPAHI SAVAS , TIMUR OZGE , SARSIK BANU , AKCICEK FEHMI , DUMAN SONER 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis is characterized by neoangiogenesis and fibrosis. Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue is a well‐known antifibrotic, antiproliferative and anti‐angiogenic agent. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of octreotide in encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis‐induced neoangiogenesis and fibrosis and compare the results with resting.Methods:  Non‐uraemic Wistar‐Albino male rats (n = 35) were divided into four groups. Group I, control rats, received 2 mL isotonic saline i.p. daily for 3 weeks. Group II, received daily i.p. 2 mL/200 g injection of chlorhexidine gluconate (0.1%) and ethanol (%15) dissolved in saline for 3 weeks. Group III, chlorhexidine gluconate for 3 weeks plus an additional 3 weeks without any treatment (rest), to a total of 6 weeks. Group IV, chlorhexidine gluconate for 3 weeks plus an additional 3 weeks octreotide, 50 mcg/kg bodyweight s.c., for a total of 6 weeks.Results:  Octreotide significantly reversed ultrafiltration capacity of peritoneum with decreasing inflammation, neoangiogenesis and fibrosis compared to the resting group. Octreotide also caused inhibition of dialysate transforming growth factor‐β1, vascular endothelial growth factor and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 activity and improved mesothelial cell cytokeratin expression. Peritoneal resting has no beneficial effects on peritoneum.Conclusion:  In conclusion, octreotide may have a therapeutic value in peritoneal dialysis patients who suffer from encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis.