bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patient Information about Options for Treatment: Methods of a national audit of information provision in chronic kidney disease
Authors: MORTON RACHAEL L , HOWARD KIRSTEN , WEBSTER ANGELA C , SNELLING PAUL 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe new CARI guidelines for ‘Acceptance onto dialysis’ suggest patients with chronic kidney disease are referred to a nephrologist at an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <30ml/min per 1.73 m2, to allow 3–6 months for pre‐dialysis education, creation of dialysis access, and planned initiation of renal replacement therapy or conservative management. Similarly, international guidelines recommend education for patients and their families occurs 6 to 12 months prior to the predicted onset of end stage kidney disease or during Stage 4 or Stage 5 chronic kidney disease. However, some patients commencing treatment may not receive information about their options at a time that facilitates effective and informed decision making or that enables consideration of treatment other than centre‐based haemodialysis. Implementation of chronic kidney disease education guidelines has not been widely reported and there are few published studies that assess the provision and delivery of information about all treatment options. Patient INformation about Options for Treatment (PINOT) is a prospective national audit of the type and timing of information provided by renal units to incident pre‐emptive transplant, dialysis and conservatively managed patients over a 3‐month period. PINOT will assess the patient and unit characteristics associated with timely information provision and highlight any regional variation in treatments offered.
Fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: Mortality is linked to a decline in gas transfer
Authors: PEELEN Linda , WELLS Athol U. , PRIJS Maurice , BLUMENTHAL Judith P. , Van STEENWIJK Reindert P. , JONKERS René E. , PEEK Niels , BRESSER Paul 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective: Baseline clinical and physiological features and changes in these parameters over time are known predictors of survival in patients with fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). Pulmonary hypertension is common in advanced fibrotic IIP, and has a negative impact on survival. Serial pulmonary function profiles, indicative of increasing vascular impairment in patients with IIP, and in particular, selective reductions in gas transfer, have not been studied previously.Methods: Predictors of event‐free survival time were investigated in a cohort of Dutch patients with IPF and fibrotic non‐specific interstitial pneumonia (n = 117). Pulmonary function test data were prospectively collected from November 1993 to December 2005. Multivariate Cox regression models were developed to identify the prognostic relevance to survival of variables related to baseline demographics, histopathology, pulmonary function and the 6‐ and 12‐month changes in pulmonary function parameters.Results: Different survival patterns were observed for patients with different histopathological diagnoses. At baseline, FVC was the most important prognostic factor. At the 6‐month follow up, change in transfer coefficient (KCO, DLCO/VA), and at the 12‐month follow up, age, baseline KCOand 12‐month change in FVC and KCO, were independent predictors of event‐free survival.Conclusions: Apart from histopathology, change in KCOover time appeared to be the most consistent and powerful predictor of survival in these patients. The decline in KCOmay be indicative of increasing vascular impairment, which may have a major impact on survival, in patients with fibrotic IIP.
The Modified Total Body Rotation Test: A Rapid, Reliable Assessment of Physical Function in Older Adults
Authors: Stanziano Damian C. , Signorile Joseph F. , Mow Sara , Davidson Erin E. , Ouslander Joseph G. , Roos Bernard A. 
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVES: To describe a quick, modified measure of total body rotation with performance rankings for elderly persons and to highlight the importance of total body rotational ability for overall physical performance.DESIGN: Scores were collected during the same testing session and were compared with other measures using a Pearson correlation.SETTING: Community‐based senior centers.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty‐five participants aged 79.6±7.2 were recruited using flyers distributed at health fairs, senior centers, and lifelong learning programs.MEASUREMENTS: The modified total body rotation test (MTBR), the back‐scratch test, the modified sit‐and‐reach test, the 30‐second chair‐stand test, the Short Physical Performance Battery, and the short version of the Continuous‐Scale Physical Functional Performance Test.RESULTS: The MBTR significantly correlated to all standard measures of physical performance. Norms are reported for all participants, and reliability analyses were conducted using data from 18 participants. Data were divided into quintiles to create cutoffs for physical performance rankings that can be used when reporting results to the general public.CONCLUSION: Many evaluations measure isolated components of physical performance, but few examine whole body movements that allow all components necessary for independence and function to work in harmony as needed considering the task and the individual's movement strategy. The current study offers the MTBR as a quick, easy, and cost‐effective evaluation method to quantify the degree of impairment or injury and the rate of improvement with treatment or training.
Development and Evaluation of an Undergraduate Training Course for Developing International Council of Nurses Disaster Nursing Competencies in China
Authors: Chan Sunshine S. S. , Chan Wai‐shan , Cheng Yijuan , Fung Olivia W. M. , Lai Timothy K. H. , Leung Amanda W. K. , Leung Kevin L. K. , Li Sijian , Yip Annie L. K. , Pang Samantha M. C. 
Published: September 2010

Abstract Background: Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs. Yet the lack of accepted competencies and gaps in education make it difficult to recruit nurses prepared to respond to a disaster and provide assistance in an effective manner. Design: Based on the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies and Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives, a training course titled “Introduction to Disaster Nursing” was designed and implemented with 150 students. A pre‐post survey design was used to assess changes in participants’ self‐rated disaster nursing competencies. The impact of the training course on participants’ attitudes toward disaster nursing and their learning experience were also assessed. Findings: All participants passed the assessments and examination with an average score of 70%. Pre‐ and posttraining self‐ratings of the disaster nursing competencies increased from 2.09 to 3.71 (p < .001) on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, and the effect size was large, with Cohen's d higher than 0.8. No significant difference in both examination results (60% group assignments; 40% written examination) and self‐rated competencies was noted between the senior year students and graduate nurse participants by Mann‐Whitney U test (p value = .90). The majority of participants indicated their willingness to participate as a helper in disaster relief and saw themselves competent to work under supervision. Conclusions: The ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies was instrumental to guide the training curriculum development. This introductory training course could be incorporated into undergraduate nursing education programs as well as serve as a continuing education program for graduate nurses. Clinical Relevance: The training program can be used for preparing generalist nurses of their nursing competencies in disaster preparedness, response and post‐disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
Faecal microbiota in breast‐fed infants after antibiotic therapy
Authors: Savino F , Roana J , Mandras N , Tarasco V , Locatelli E , Tullio V 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  To evaluate modifications of gut microbiota after antibiotic therapy in breast‐fed infants.Study design:  Twenty‐six exclusively breast‐fed infants younger than 5 months hospitalized for pneumonia treated with ceftriaxone (50 mg per kilo per day administered intramuscularly) were recruited. Intestinal microbiota at day 0 – before starting antibiotic administration – at the end of the therapy (5 days after) and after 15 days after the stop was analysed. Stool samples were collected and immediately diluted and cultured on selective media to detect total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, enterococci and lactobacilli. Statistical analysis was performed by using Wilcoxon test.Results:  After 5 days of antibiotic therapy, we observed a significant reduction in total faecal bacterial count (p = 0.003) in Enterobacteriaceae (p = 0.001) and enterococci (p < 0.001), in comparison with day 0. After 5 days of therapy, lactobacilli are no longer detected. Conversely, bacterial count values for all bacteria detected after 15 days from the end of therapy are significantly increased and similar to day 0.Conclusion:  Our findings showed that gut microbiota was significantly modified after 5 days of antibiotic therapy; exclusively, breast‐feeding may be relevant in promoting the re‐establishment of gut microbiota composition in early infancy.
Evolutionary process of Bos taurus cattle in favourable versus unfavourable environments and its implications for genetic selection
Authors: O’Neill Christopher J. , Swain David L. , Kadarmideen Haja N. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe evolutionary processes that have enabled Bos taurus cattle to establish around the globe are at the core to the future success of livestock production. Our study focuses on the history of cattle domestication including the last 60 years of B. taurus breeding programmes in both favourable and unfavourable environments and its consequences on evolution and fitness of cattle. We discuss the emergence of ‘production diseases’ in temperate production systems and consider the evolutionary genetics of tropical adaptation in cattle and conclude that the Senepol, N’Dama, Adaptaur and Criollo breeds, among others with similar evolutionary trajectories, would possess genes capable of improving the productivity of cattle in challenging environments. Using our own experimental evidence from northern Australia, we review the evolution of the Adaptaur cattle breed which has become resistant to cattle tick. We emphasize that the knowledge of interactions between genotype, environment and management in the livestock systems will be required to generate genotypes for efficient livestock production that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. Livestock producers in the 21st century will have less reliance on infrastructure and veterinary products to alleviate environmental stress and more on the animal’s ability to achieve fitness in a given production environment.
Muramyl Dipeptide Synergizes with
Staphylococcus aureus
Lipoteichoic Acid To Recruit Neutrophils in the Mammary Gland and To Stimulate Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Bougarn Salim , Cunha Patricia , Harmache Abdallah , Fromageau Angélina , Gilbert Florence B. , Rainard Pascal 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus
, a major pathogen for the mammary gland of dairy ruminants, elicits the recruitment of neutrophils into milk during mastitis, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We investigated the response of the bovine mammary gland to muramyl dipeptide (MDP), an elementary constituent of the bacterial peptidoglycan, alone or in combination with lipoteichoic acid (LTA), another staphylococcal microbial-associated molecular pattern (MAMP). MDP induced a prompt and marked influx of neutrophils in milk, and its combination with LTA elicited a more intense and prolonged influx than the responses to either stimulus alone. The concentrations of several chemoattractants for neutrophils (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL8, and C5a) increased in milk after challenge, and the highest increases followed challenge with the combination of MDP and LTA. MDP and LTA were also synergistic in inducing
in vitro
chemokine production by bovine mammary epithelial cells (bMEpC). Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2), a major sensor of MDP, was expressed (mRNA) in bovine mammary tissue and by bMEpC in culture. The production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) following the stimulation of bMEpC by LTA and MDP was dependent on the activation of NF-κB. LTA-induced IL-8 production did not depend on platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR), as the PAFR antagonist WEB2086 was without effect. In contrast, bMEpC and mammary tissue are known to express Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and to respond to TLR2 agonists. Although the levels of expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and IL-1β were increased by LTA and MDP at the mRNA level, no protein could be detected in the bMEpC culture supernatant. The level of induction of IL-6 was low at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results indicate that MDP and LTA exert synergistic effects to induce neutrophilic inflammation in the mammary gland. These results also show that bMEpC could contribute to the inflammatory response by recognizing LTA and MDP and secreting chemokines but not proinflammatory cytokines. Overall, this study indicates that the TLR2 and NOD2 pathways could cooperate to trigger an innate immune response to
S. aureus
mastitis.
The Th1 Immune Response toPlasmodium falciparumCircumsporozoite Protein Is Boosted by Adenovirus Vectors 35 and 26 with a Homologous Insert
Authors: Radošević Katarina , Rodriguez Ariane , Lemckert Angelique A. C. , van der Meer Marjolein , Gillissen Gert , Warnar Carolien , von Eyben Rie , Pau Maria Grazia , Goudsmit Jaap 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThe most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, is comprised of an adjuvant portion of thePlasmodium falciparumcircumsporozoite (CS) protein fused to and admixed with the hepatitis B virus surface antigen. This vaccine confers short-term protection against malaria infection, with an efficacy of about 50%, and induces particularly B-cell and CD4+T-cell responses. In the present study, we tested by the hypothesis that the Th1 immune response to CS protein, in particular the CD8+T-cell response, which is needed for strong and lasting malaria immunity, is boosted to sustainable levels vectors adenovirus and 26 with an homologous insert 35 (Ad35.CS/Ad26.CS). In this study, we evaluated immune responses induced with vaccination regimens based on an adjuvant-containing, yeast-produced complete CS protein followed by two recombinant low-seroprevalence adenoviruses expressingP. falciparumCS antigen, Ad35.CS (subgroup B) and Ad26.CS (subgroup D). Our results show that (i) the yeast (Hansenula polymorpha)produced, adjuvanted full-length CS protein is highly potent in inducing high CS-specific humoral responses in mice but produces poor T-cell responses, (ii) the Ad35.CS vector boosts the gamma interferon-positive (IFN-γ+) CD8+T-cell response induced by the CS protein immunization and shifts the immune response toward the Th1 type, and (iii) a three-component heterologous vaccination comprised of a CS protein prime followed by boosts with Ad35.CS and Ad26.CS elicits an even more robust and sustainable IFN-γ+CD8+T-cell response than one- or two-component regimens. The Ad35.CS/Ad26.CS combination boosted particularly the IFN-γ+and tumor necrosis factor alpha-positive (TNF-α+) T cells, confirming the shift of the immune response from the Th2 type to the Th1 type. These results support the notion of first immunizations of infants with an adjuvanted CS protein vaccine, followed by a booster Ad35.CS/Ad26.CS vaccine at a later age, to induce lasting protection against malaria for which the Th1 response and immune memory is required.
Microarray for Hepatitis B Virus Genotyping and Detection of 994 Mutations along the Genome
Authors: Gauthier Marie , Bonnaud Bertrand , Arsac Maud , Lavocat Fabien , Maisetti Jérôme , Kay Alan , Simon François , Zoulim Fabien , Vernet Guy 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT
Genome analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patient sera is helpful for monitoring treatment. We developed an improved version of a DNA microarray to identify HBV genotypes and to detect mutations of interest in the S, Pol, Core, and X genes. It includes an automated software analysis of fluorescence values for simpler, more robust data interpretation. In this version, probes were added to identify genotype H, to analyze 155 additional positions, and to detect 561 additional polymorphisms. Sequences were added to the alignments to resolve hybridization problems due to natural polymorphisms in the vicinity of important codons. The duplex PCR protocol allowed whole-genome analysis in a single tube. An alternative nested-PCR protocol allowed genotyping and mutations in S and reverse transcriptase (rt) genes in patients with low viral loads, as demonstrated in patients with less than 400 HBV genome copies/ml. Reproducibility was high, with variation coefficients lower than 3%. Only 0.57% of 20,771 codons from 253 samples could not be identified. The concordance with Sanger sequencing for the identification of codons improved from 92.8% to 95.7% with the improved version. Concordance was higher than 91% for codons associated with resistance to lamivudine, emtricitabine, telbivudine, famciclovir, entecavir, and tenofovir with vaccine escape and for pre-Core mutants. Concordance was lower for adefovir resistance mutations (68.6%) and mutations in the basal core promoter (60.3%), probably because hybridization efficiency was affected by the low GC content of the probes. A concordance of 93.7% with sequencing for genotype identification was observed in 190 specimens, lower than that obtained with the first version, possibly due to mixed virus populations.
Detection and Identification of
Mycobacterium
spp. in Clinical Specimens by Combining the Roche Cobas Amplicor
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Assay with
Mycobacterium
Genus Detection and Nucleic Acid Sequencing
Authors: Peter-Getzlaff S. , Lüthy J. , Voit A. , Bloemberg G. V. , Böttger E. C. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

We have recently developed a PCR assay for detection of
Mycobacterium
spp. at the genus level based on the Cobas Amplicor platform. The sensitivities for smear-positive and smear-negative specimens were found to be 100% and 47.9%, respectively. The specificity was 97.7%, the positive predictive value 84.6%, and the negative predictive value 93.1%. In a follow-up study, we have systematically evaluated the
Mycobacterium
genus assay in parallel with the Cobas Amplicor
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
assay on 2,169 clinical specimens, including respiratory and nonrespiratory specimens. Based on the genus assay, nontuberculous mycobacteria were readily detected and identified to the species level by PCR-mediated sequencing. In addition, our data point to a limited specificity of the Cobas Amplicor
M. tuberculosis
assay.
Nationwide Sentinel Surveillance of Bloodstream
Candida
Infections in 40 Tertiary Care Hospitals in Spain
Authors: Cisterna R. , Ezpeleta G. , Telleria O. , Guinea J. , Regueiro B. , Garcia-Rodríguez J. , Esperalba J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

Candidemia studies have documented geographic differences in rates and epidemiology, underscoring the need for surveillance to monitor trends. We conducted prospective candidemia surveillance in Spain to assess the incidence, species distribution, frequency of antifungal resistance, and risk factors for acquiring a
Candida
infection. Prospective laboratory-based surveillance was conducted from June 2008 to June 2009 in 40 medical centers located around the country. A case of candidemia was defined as the isolation of a
Candida
species from a blood culture. Incidence rates were calculated per 1,000 admissions. Antifungal susceptibility tests were performed by using broth microdilution assay according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. We detected 984 cases, for an overall incidence of 1.09 cases per 1,000 admissions. The crude mortality was 20.20%.
Candida
albicans
was the most common species (49.08%), followed by
C
.
parapsilosis
(20.73%),
C. glabrata
(13.61%), and
C. tropicalis
(10.77%). Overall, decreased susceptibility to fluconazole occurred in 69 (7.01%) incident isolates. Antifungal resistance was rare, and a moderate linear correlation between fluconazole and voriconazole MICs was observed. This is the largest multicenter candidemia study conducted to date and shows the substantial morbidity and mortality of candidemia in Spain.
Interlaboratory Evaluation of Different Extraction and Real-Time PCR Methods for Detection ofCoxiella burnetiiDNA in Serum
Authors: Tilburg Jeroen J. H. C. , Melchers Willem J. G. , Pettersson Annika M. , Rossen John W. A. , Hermans Mirjam H. A. , van Hannen Erik J. , Nabuurs-Franssen Marrigje H. , de Vries Maaike C. , Horrevorts Alphons M. , Klaassen Corné H. W. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTIn the Netherlands, there is an ongoing and unparalleled outbreak of Q fever. Rapid and reliable methods to identify patients infected withCoxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, are urgently needed. We evaluated the performance of different DNA extraction methods and real-time PCR assays that are in use in seven diagnostic or reference laboratories in the Netherlands. A low degree of variation in the sensitivities of most of the developed real-time PCR assays was observed. However, PCR assays amplifying short DNA fragments yielded better results than those producing large DNA fragments. With regard to DNA extraction, the automated MagNA Pure Compact system and the manual QIAamp DNA mini kit consistently yielded better results than either the MagNA Pure LC system and NucliSens EasyMag (both automated) or the High Pure viral nucleic acid kit (manual). The present study shows that multiple combinations of DNA extraction kits and real-time PCR assays offer equivalent solutions to detectC. burnetiiDNA in serum samples from patients suspected to have Q fever.
Death by Edible Mushroom: First Report of
Volvariella volvacea
as an Etiologic Agent of Invasive Disease in a Patient following Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Authors: Salit R. B. , Shea Y. R. , Gea-Banacloche J. , Fahle G. A. , Abu-Asab M. , Sugui J. A. , Carpenter A. E. , Quezado M. M. , Bishop M. R. , Kwon-Chung K. J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT

We describe a case of invasive fungal infection caused by
Volvariella volvacea
following double umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). Although infections caused by several mushroom species have been documented, we believe this to be the first published report of invasive infection with
Volvariella volvacea
, an edible mushroom belonging to
Agaricales
.