bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential protein expression in response to the phytoalexin brassinin allows the identification of molecular targets in the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola
Authors: PEDRAS M. SOLEDADE C. , MINIC ZORAN 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThe effects of the cruciferous phytoalexin brassinin on the protein expression patterns of the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola were investigated. Cell‐free protein extracts of mycelia of A. brassicicola induced with brassinin at 0.50 and 0.10 mm were fractionated, and the proteins in soluble fractions were separated by two‐dimensional electrophoresis. Spots corresponding to differentially expressed proteins were digested and analysed by liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry. The number of differentially expressed proteins was significantly higher in mycelia treated with brassinin at 0.50 mm (96 protein spots) than in mycelia treated with brassinin at 0.10 mm (18 protein spots). The majority of differentially expressed proteins included proteins involved in metabolism, processing, synthesis and several heat shock proteins (HSPs). Brassinin concentrations below 0.30 mm induced HSP90, a protein involved in the regulation of morphogenetic signalling in fungi, suggesting that 0.30 mm is a minimal concentration of brassinin necessary for the protection of brassicas against A. brassicicola. These results reveal that HSP90 is a potential target for inhibition in stressed A. brassicicola and confirm that brassinin has strong detrimental effects on A. brassicicola, suggesting that its detoxification by the fungus suppresses an important defence layer of the plant.
Host‐induced gene silencing: a tool for understanding fungal host interaction and for developing novel disease control strategies
Authors: NUNES CRISTIANO C. , DEAN RALPH A. 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYRecent discoveries regarding small RNAs and the mechanisms of gene silencing are providing new opportunities to explore fungal pathogen–host interactions and potential strategies for novel disease control. Plant pathogenic fungi are a constant and major threat to global food security; they represent the largest group of disease‐causing agents on crop plants on the planet. An initial understanding of RNA silencing mechanisms and small RNAs was derived from model fungi. Now, new knowledge with practical implications for RNA silencing is beginning to emerge from the study of plant–fungus interactions. Recent studies have shown that the expression of silencing constructs in plants designed on fungal genes can specifically silence their targets in invading pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium verticillioides, Blumeria graminis and Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici. Here, we highlight the important general aspects of RNA silencing mechanisms and emphasize recent findings from plant pathogenic fungi. Strategies to employ RNA silencing to investigate the basis of fungal pathogenesis are discussed. Finally, we address important aspects for the development of fungal‐derived resistance through the expression of silencing constructs in host plants as a powerful strategy to control fungal disease.
Revised guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hairy cell leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia variant*
Authors: Jones Gail , Parry‐Jones Nilima , Wilkins Bridget , Else Monica , Catovsky Daniel 
Published: November 2011

SummaryThe British Committee for Standards in Haematology first produced guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hairy cell leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia variant in 2000. This revision updates those guidelines and covers the areas of diagnosis, treatment and assessment of response to therapy.
The chemokine CCL18 causes maturation of cultured monocytes to macrophages in the M2 spectrum
Authors: Schraufstatter Ingrid U. , Zhao Ming , Khaldoyanidi Sophia K. , DiScipio Richard G. 
Published: November 2011

SummaryThe observation that human monocytes cultured in the presence of the chemokine CCL18 showed increased survival, led us to profile cytokine expression in CCL18‐stimulated versus control cultures. CCL18 caused significantly increased expression of chemokines (CXCL8, CCL2, CCL3 and CCL22), interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and platelet‐derived growth factor, but no up‐regulation of M1 cytokines IL‐1β or IL‐12. CCL18‐stimulated monocytes matured into cells with morphological resemblance to IL‐4‐stimulated macrophages, and expressed the monocyte marker CD14 as well the M2 macrophage markers CD206 and 15‐lipoxygenase, but no mature dendritic cell markers (CD80, CD83 or CD86). Functionally, CCL18‐stimulated macrophages showed a high capacity for unspecific phagocytosis and for pinocytosis, which was not associated with an oxidative burst. These findings suggest that CCL18‐activated macrophages stand at the cross‐roads between inflammation and its resolution. The chemokines that are produced in response to CCL18 are angiogenic and attract various leucocyte populations, which sustain inflammation. However, the capacity of these cells to remove cellular debris without causing oxidative damage and the production of the anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 will initiate termination of the inflammatory response. In summary, CCL18 induces an M2 spectrum macrophage phenotype in the absence of IL‐4.
Herth Hope Index: psychometric testing of the Chinese version
Authors: Chan Keung Sum , Li Ho Cheung William , Chan Sally Wai‐chi , Lopez Violeta 
Published: November 2011

chan k.s., li h.c.w., chan s. w.‐c. & lopez v. (2012) Herth Hope Index: psychometric testing of the Chinese version. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(9), 2079–2085.AbstractAim.  This article is a report on psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index.Background.  The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately measures the level of hope in patients with heart failure is crucial before any hope‐enhancing interventions can be appropriately planned and evaluated. There is no such instrument for Chinese people.Methods.  A test–retest, within‐subjects design was used. A purposive sample of 120 Hong Kong Chinese patients with heart failure between the ages of 60 and 80 years admitted to two medical wards was recruited during an 8‐month period in 2009. Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Rosenberg’s Self‐Esteem Scale. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test–retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index were assessed.Results.  The newly translated scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency, good content validity and appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis added further evidence of the construct validity of the scale.Conclusion.  Results suggest that the newly translated scale can be used as a self‐report assessment tool in assessing the level of hope in Hong Kong Chinese patients with heart failure.
Evaluation of loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays based on 5S rDNA‐IGS2 regions for detecting Meloidogyne enterolobii
Authors: Niu J. H. , Jian H. , Guo Q. X. , Chen C. L. , Wang X. Y. , Liu Q. , Guo Y. D. 
Published: November 2011

A loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Meloidogyne enterolobii (Me‐LAMP) was developed based on the sequences of the 5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA) and intergenic spacer 2 (IGS2) segment. The LAMP amplification was achieved at 65°C isothermal conditions within 1–1·5 h. Its amplicons were confirmed using gel electrophoresis, SacI enzyme analysis, lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay, and visual inspection through SYBR Green I and calcein staining. The results demonstrated that the Me‐LAMP was able to specifically detect M. enterolobii populations from different geographical origins, with a detection limit of about 10 fg M. enterolobii genomic DNA, which was 10–100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. In addition, the applicability of LAMP to field detection was confirmed following its successful performance in detecting the pest on root and soil samples. The Me‐LAMP assay possessed the characteristics of simplicity, sensitivity and specificity, and is a promising and practical molecular tool for M. enterolobii diagnosis in pest quarantine and field surveys.
Patterns of blood product use among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Ramsey S. D. , McCune J. S. , Blough D. K. , McDermott C. L. , Beck S. J. , López J. A. , Joachim Deeg H. 
Published: November 2011

Background and Objectives  Most patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) require blood product support to manage the severe anaemias, which frequently accompany MDS. Our objective was to show the feasibility of linking the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database with records from Puget Sound Blood Center (PSBC) to characterize blood product use over time in successive cohorts of patients with MDS.Materials and Methods  We identified patients with MDS in the SEER registry. The cohort was then linked to PSBC records to discern blood product use.Results  Included in the analysis were 783 patients with MDS entered in the SEER database from 2001 to 2007 for whom data were also available in the PSBC database. Among patients with MDS who received transfusions, 97% received packed red blood cells; 52% received platelets. The proportion of patients with MDS receiving blood products declined from 2001 to 2007.Conclusion  These data show a recent decline in blood product use for patients with MDS. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the reasons for this finding, specifically exploring the impact of newer medications on blood product use in patients with MDS.
Assessment of endothelial function in atrial fibrillation: utility of peripheral arterial tonometry
Authors: Wong Christopher X , Lim Han S , Schultz Carlee D , Sanders Prashanthan , Worthley Matthew I , Willoughby Scott R 
Published: November 2011

Summary1. Endothelial function is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The evaluation of endothelial function via changes in vessel diameter or blood flow may be inaccurate during atrial fibrillation (AF) because of non‐uniform stroke volumes.2. Using peripheral arterial tonometry, 50 patients with AF (25 in AF, 25 in sinus rhythm) had digital pulse amplitudes assessed at baseline and during reactive hyperaemia. Hyperaemic responses were compared over varying measurement durations (5, 10 and 15 beats; 30 s; and 1–10 min) to determine optimal measurement duration.3. Endothelial responses were significantly decreased (indicating endothelial dysfunction) in patients in AF compared with patients in sinus rhythm (1.48 ± 0.60 vs 2.05 ± 1.13, respectively; P = 0.03).4. Beat‐to‐beat pulse amplitude was highly variable during AF; although coefficients of variation (CV) for short measurement durations were large, these decreased with longer measurement durations. Bland–Altman plots revealed that limits of agreement for short measurement durations were poor. Limits of agreement became consistently narrower when measurement durations of at least 1 min were used. In contrast, limits of agreement and CV for short measurement durations during sinus rhythm were significantly narrower and smaller, respectively, than during AF over similar measurement durations.5. Pulse amplitudes are highly variable owing to the non‐uniform stroke volumes in AF. Our results suggest that methods of determining endothelial function via vessel diameters or blood flow during reactive hyperaemia should use measurement durations of at least 1 min to ensure accurate and reproducible results.
Novel inpatient surveillance in tertiary paediatric hospitals in New South Wales illustrates impact of first‐wave pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009) and informs future health service planning
Authors: Elliott Elizabeth J , Zurynski Yvonne A , Walls Tony , Whitehead Bruce , Gilmour Robin , Booy Robert ,   Members of SWINet
Published: November 2011

Aim:  To document the impact of pandemic influenza A H1N1 (2009) in New South Wales (NSW) children's hospitals.Methods:  A novel surveillance system, Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS), identified hospitalised children <15 years with laboratory‐proven influenza (1 June–30 September 2009) in the three children's hospitals in NSW: Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW), Sydney Children's Hospital, John Hunter Children's Hospital. Clinical characteristics, management and complications were documented, and at CHW comparison made with 2007 data.Results:  The 324 children identified represented 1802 hospital bed‐days and 230 PICU bed‐days. Most (73.1%) children had H1N1, one had an oseltamivir‐resistant isolate. Median age was 2.5 years: 65% were <5 years. Although 80.9% had cough, 8.0% had no respiratory symptoms. Complications occurred in 34.6%, of whom 56% were previously healthy. Only 50% received antivirals. Forty children (12.3%) were admitted to PICU: one child with H1N1 died. At CHW, comparison between 2009 and 2007 showed nearly twice the total number of admissions (226 vs. 122) and PICU admissions (22 vs. 13), but no deaths either year. Vomiting was more frequent in 2009 than 2007 (38.5% vs. 13.1%; P = 0.0001) as were neurological complications (11.4% vs. 2.4%; P = 0.0027) but length of hospital and PICU stay were similar.Conclusions:  PAEDS is a valuable surveillance tool that documented the impact of the H1N1 (2009) pandemic in NSW children's hospitals. High numbers of complications, often in previously well children, suggest an important role for early diagnosis, antiviral therapy and influenza vaccination. Observed regional differences identify areas potentially at greater risk in a subsequent wave.
Point‐of‐care glucose monitoring on the neonatal unit
Authors: Makaya Tafadzwa , Memmott Alan , Bustani Porus 
Published: November 2011

Aim:  This study aims to compare the accuracy and precision of the Nova StatStrip glucometer against the Radiometer ABL gas analyser. Based on the results, to establish if the Nova StatStrip glucometer could be adopted as a reliable alternative for near‐patient glucose monitoring on the neonatal unit.Methods:  Seven hundred twenty‐eight paired samples were collected prospectively from babies on a neonatal intensive care unit. Analytical performance of the Nova StatStrip glucometer was assessed based on the ISO 15197 criteria and the American Diabetic Association standards. Its performance compared with the Radiometer ABL gas analyser was assessed statistically using Bland–Altman analysis and clinically by use of an error grid.Results:  A percentage of 98.8 of StatStrip values less than 4.2 mmol/L and 97.9% of values greater than 4.2 mmol/L met the ISO criteria. Bland–Altman analysis showed good correlation between the readings. An error grid showed that most infants would be appropriately managed for hypoglycaemic episodes as per local guidelines.Conclusions:  The Nova StatStrip performed well on statistical analysis compared with the Radiometer. Very few hypoglycaemic patients would be missed using the Nova StatStrip glucometer. We would recommend its use on our unit.
Comparison of the effects of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse versus oral prednisolone therapies on the first attack of minimal‐change nephrotic syndrome in adults
Authors: FUKUDOME KEIICHI , FUJIMOTO SHOUICHI , SATO YUJI , KITAMURA KAZUO 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Minimal‐change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is characterized by a good response to corticosteroid, but a high incidence of relapse. We compared the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse plus oral prednisolone therapy (pulse group) with that of conventional oral prednisolone alone therapy (oral group) on the responsiveness and relapse in the first attack of adult‐onset MCNS patients.Methods:  Eighty‐one adult patients with biopsy‐proven MCNS, who were previously untreated and admitted to our hospital with their first attack of nephrotic syndrome, were analyzed retrospectively. They were arbitrarily assigned to either pulse group (n = 29, 1000 mg of methylprednisolone intravenously for 3 days, and then oral prednisolone 30 to 40 mg daily for 4 to 8 weeks) or oral group (n = 52, oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg daily for 4 to 8 weeks). We compared the time to response and relapse between the two groups.Results:  Time to steroid response was significantly shorter in the pulse group compared with the oral group (15.2 ± 10.2 vs 26.7 ± 17.6 days, P = 0.03). In 74 patients who reached remission within 12 weeks (pulse vs oral groups; 86.2% vs 96.2%, ns), the time to relapse was not different between two groups but the relapse rate was significantly higher in the pulse group (pulse vs oral groups; 60% vs 35%, P = 0.038). Kaplan–Meier analyses revealed that both complete remission rates within 4 weeks of the initial steroid therapy and relapse rate within 12 months after attaining remission were significantly higher in the pulse group than the oral group. In the Cox regression model, intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy had a significant effect on relapse (hazard ratio, 2.39 (95% confidence interval 1.11–5.15), P = 0.026).Conclusion:  Intravenous methylprednisolone pulse followed by oral prednisolone therapy shows an earlier responsiveness but a much more frequent relapse compared with conventional oral prednisolone alone therapy for the first attack of adult‐onset MCNS.
Kawasaki disease patients with six principal symptoms have a high risk of being a non‐responder
Authors: Nomura Yuichi , Arata Michiko , Masuda Kiminori , Koriyama Chihaya , Suruki Nobutaka , Ueno Kentaro , Yoshikawa Hideki , Eguchi Taisuke , Kawano Yoshifumi 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackground:  A diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) is established using six principal symptoms. Because the principal symptoms are deeply connected with KD, it is thus important to investigate the usefulness of the principal symptoms for evaluating the disease severity of KD.Methods:  Patients with definite KD or suspicion of KD were retrospectively examined. Blood test data and the incidence of patients who failed to respond to the initial i.v. immunoglobulin treatment (non‐responders) were compared between patients with six principal symptoms, including fever of ≤4 days, before treatment of KD (six‐symptom patients), and those with five or fewer symptoms (five‐symptom patients).Results:  The study group of 207 patients who were treated with immunoglobulin consisted of 121 six‐symptom patients and 86 five‐symptom patients. The six‐symptom patients were older and had higher neutrophil proportion and total bilirubin, and lower serum sodium at diagnosis than the five‐symptom patients. Although the treatments did not differ between the groups, the six‐symptom patients had a higher incidence of non‐responders than the five‐symptom patients (17% vs 5%; P= 0.008). Logistic regression analysis showed that six‐symptom status was related to the risk of being a non‐responder (odds ratio [OR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.6–17.4). This association was still significant after adjustment for the effect of age, neutrophil proportion, and total bilirubin and sodium (OR, 4.4; 95%CI: 1.4–17.3).Conclusions:  The number of principal symptoms before treatment is a useful guide to KD disease severity. Six‐symptom patients have a higher risk of being a non‐responder than five‐symptom patients.
Neurological manifestations of shigellosis in children in southwestern Iran
Authors: Shamsizadeh Ahmad , Nikfar Roya , Bavarsadian Elham 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackground:  Shigella spp. are important causative agents of acute diarrhea and dysentery. Neurological signs are among the most common extraintestinal manifestation of shigellosis. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of neurological signs in children with shigellosis in southwestern Iran.Methods:  In a retrospective study, the medical records of all children suffering from shigellosis who had been admitted to Abuzar Children's Hospital in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, from March 2006 to March 2009 were reviewed. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical findings, and laboratory data of the patients with shigellosis were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed using spss version 13.0 software.Results:  During the study period, 154 children suffering from shigellosis were admitted. Of the patients studied, 85 (55.2%) were male and 69 (44.8%) female. The majority of patients were in the age group of 1‐4 years. A total of 129 children (83.3%) had fever; dysentery was the presenting complaint of 43 (27.9%) of the patients. Shigella sonnei was isolated from 77 cases (50%), Shigella flexneri from 59 (38.2%), Shigella boydii from 11 (7.1%), and Shigella dysenteriae from seven (4.5%). Neurological manifestations were observed in 106 (68.8%) of the children. There were no statistically significant associations between the presences of neurological manifestations and sex, age, leukocytosis, bandemia, electrolyte imbalance or species of Shigella. The associations between neurological manifestations and the presence of fever and dysentery were statistically significant.Conclusions:  Shigella sonnei was the most common species of Shigella in southwestern Iran. Neurological manifestations were common in the children with shigellosis. Fever and dysentery were significant risk factors for the development of neurological signs.
Transurethral resection of prostate with plasmakinetic energy: 100 months results of a prospective randomized trial
Authors: Muslumanoglu Ahmet Y. , Yuruk Emrah , Binbay Murat , Akman Tolga 
Published: November 2011

Study Type – Therapy (RCT)Level of Evidence 1bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Standard monopolar transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) remains the gold standard surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia‐related lower urinary tract symptoms. Plasmakinetic offers rapid tissue removal and haemostasis during resection with better vision under saline irrigation while eliminating risk of TUR syndrome. Our results show that Plasmakinetic has similar long‐term results to standard TURP.OBJECTIVE
To compare long‐term results of transurethral resection of prostate with PlasmaKinetic® energy (Plasmakinetic) and standard transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
During the 2‐year period between 2001 and 2002, 101 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia were enrolled into the study.
Patients were randomly assigned to either Plasmakinetic or standard TURP groups using computer‐generated simple random tables in a 1:1 ratio.
After the publication of initial results, follow‐up continued until December 2010. Patients were called by phone and invited for control at 60th and 100th months.
An International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) form was completed and uroflowmetry was performed to show the final status of the operation.
RESULTS
Overall, 67 of 101 patients (34 patients in Plasmakinetic group and 33 patients in TURP group) completed the 100th month control.
IPSS increased to 8.5 ± 1.6 and 9.4 ± 0.9 in the Plasmakinetic group and 7.9 ± 1.3 and 8.7 ± 1.2 in the TURP group at 60 and 100 months, respectively.
Mean maximal flow rate increased to 17.2 ± 3.9 mL/s in the Plasmakinetic group and to 16.9 ± 4.1 mL/s at 12 months in the TURP group but decreased to 15.9 ± 2.5 and 15.8 ± 3.0, respectively (P= 0.34) at 100 months.
Reoperation was performed in six patients in the Plasmakinetic group and four patients in the TURP group at the end of 100th month.
CONCLUSION
Our 100 months results suggest that Plasmakinetic technology can be used as a first‐line treatment instead of monopolar TURP.