bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Left Ventricular (LV) Remodeling on Ventricular Arrhythmia in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT‐D) Patients (Antiarrhythmic Effect of CRT)
Authors: SHAHRZAD SHAHAB , SOLEIMAN NOZAD KARIM , TABAN SAMIRA , ALIZADEH ABOLFATH , ASLANI AMIR , TAVOOSI AMIR , EMKANJOO ZAHRA 
Published: March 2012

Background:

In patients with low ejection fraction and ventricular dyssynchrony, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an accepted therapeutic modality. In these patients, CRT can improve the quality of life and exercise tolerance in addition to improved survival. On the other hand, antiarrhythmic effects of CRT is a place of debate.
Method:

In this study, we evaluated the effect of CRT‐induced reverse remodeling on ventricular arrhythmia in heart failure patients. Patients with CRT were divided to two groups of responders and nonresponders. Responders were those with reduction of LVESD of more than 10% or increase in LVEF of more than 5%. They were visited and device analysis was performed during the follow‐up.
Results:

One hundred and nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. Those with reverse remodeling experienced fewer ventricular arrhythmias after two years of follow‐up (N = 2 vs 11, P = 0.001).
Conclusion:

Reverse remodeling associated with CRT implantation can result in decreased frequency of ventricular arrhythmias. (PACE 2012;1–6)
Impact of Impaired Renal Function and Metabolic Syndrome on the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation: A Long Term Follow‐Up
Authors: BERKOWITSCH ALEXANDER , KUNISS MALTE , GREISS HARALD , WÓJCIK MACIEJ , ZALTSBERG SERGEY , LEHINANT STEFAN , ERKAPIC DAMIR , PAJITNEV DIMITRI , PITSCHNER HEINZ‐FRIEDRICH , HAMM CHRISTIAN W. , NEUMANN THOMAS 
Published: March 2012

Background:

The goal of this study was to analyze impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and impaired renal function on long‐term follow‐up after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods and Results:

A total of 702 consecutive patients with AF (age = 58 year, history of AF = 5 year, male = 478, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation = 416, coronary artery disease = 62, hypertension = 487) considered for catheter ablation were enrolled in the study. The MetS was diagnosed at admission in 276 patients. The renal function was estimated by glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed either with cryoballoon technique (n = 260) or circumferential PVI (n = 442) with a 3.5‐mm irrigated tip catheter. A 7‐day‐Holter electrocardiogram was performed at each follow‐up visit. Any episode of documented AF after an initial 3‐month blanking period was considered as clinical endpoint. Out of 702 patients, 370 (52.7%) were free of AF recurrences at median follow‐up of 15 six interquartile range (12.7–42.3) months. The patients with MetS had significantly lower success rate than those without (128/276 (46.4%) vs 242/426 (56.8%), P = 0.006). Among 103 patients with eGFR < 68 mL/min only 35 (34%) were free of recurrences compared with 335/599 (55.9%) in patients with GFR ≥ 68 mL/min (P = 0.001). Both parameters were revealed in multivariate analysis to be independent predictors for outcome after catheter ablation.
Conclusion:

The results of our study clearly demonstrated that outcome after 1st catheter ablation of AF is poor in patients with MetS and/or impaired renal function. This observation has a potential clinical impact for the follow up management of these patients. (PACE 2012;1–12)
PRE‐ AND POST‐TRANSPLANT CARE: NURSING MANAGEMENT OF THE RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: PART 2
Authors: Trevitt Ray , Dunsmore Victoria , Murphy Fiona , Piso Lilibeth , Perriss Charlotte , Englebright Belinda , Chamney Melissa 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYThis is the second article in a three part continuing education series on renal transplantation which addresses the specialised knowledge and skills required in order to prepare a patient admitted to hospital for renal transplantation and then how to care for that patient afterwards. The first article in this series addressed patient health and well‐being while waiting for a renal transplant. The third article will look at the long‐term care of kidney recipients.
EFFECT OF A SELF‐EFFICACY PROMOTION TRAINING PROGRAMME ON THE BODY WEIGHT CHANGES IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAEMODIALYSIS
Authors: Aliasgharpour Mansooreh , Shomali Maryam , Moghaddam Masoumeh Zakeri , Faghihzadeh Sograt 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYIntroduction: Haemodialysis is the most common form of medical management of patients affected by end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). For haemodialysis to be successful, strict fluid and weight control is recommended. Education, in terms of self‐care activities, is an important intervention for improving patients’ outcomes. A self‐efficacy promotion training programme can be an effective strategy to bring about behavioural change. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a self‐efficacy promotion training programme on the body weight changes in patients undergoing haemodialysis.Methods: In this single‐blind quasi‐experimental study, we recruited a convenience sample of 63 patients undergoing haemodialy‐sis from two teaching hospitals and allocated them randomly to the experimental or control group. Patients in the experimental group received a six‐session self‐efficacy promotion training programme while the control group received the routine care of the institute. Mean body weight gain and self‐efficacy were measured before, immediately and two months after the study.Findings: The groups did not differ significantly regarding the study variable before the study. However, immediately and two months after the study, the mean body weight gain and self‐efficacy in the experimental group were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than the control group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Implementing a self‐efficacy promotion training programme is effective in decreasing weight gain and increasing self‐efficacy in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Nurses in haemodialysis units can use self‐efficacy promotion training pro‐grammes as an effective intervention for improving patients’ outcomes.
Antioxidant Status in Hyperthyroid Cats before and after Radioiodine Treatment
Authors: Branter E. , Drescher N. , Padilla M. , Trepanier L.A. 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundReversible antioxidant depletion is found in hyperthyroid humans, and antioxidant depletion increases the risk of methimazole toxicosis in rats.ObjectivesTo determine whether abnormalities in concentrations of blood antioxidants or urinary isoprostanes were present in hyperthyroid cats, and were reversible after radioiodine treatment. To determine whether or not antioxidant abnormalities were associated with idiosyncratic methimazole toxicosis.AnimalsHyperthyroid cats presented for radioiodine treatment (n = 44) and healthy mature adult control cats (n = 37).MethodsProspective, controlled, observational study. Red blood cell glutathione (GSH), plasma ascorbate (AA), plasma free retinol (vitaminA), α‐tocopherol (vitaminE), and urinary free 8‐isoprostanes in hyperthyroid cats were compared to healthy cats and to hyperthyroid cats 2 months after treatment.ResultsBlood antioxidants were not significantly different in hyperthyroid cats (mean GSH 1.6 ± 0.3 mM; AA 12.8 ± 4.9 μM, and vitamin E, 25 ± 14 μg/mL) compared to controls (GSH 1.4 ± 0.4 mM; AA 15.0 ± 6.6 μM, and vitamin E, 25 ± 17 μg/mL). Urinary isoprostanes were increased in hyperthyroid cats (292 ± 211 pg/mg creatinine) compared to controls (169 ± 82 pg/mg;P = .006), particularly in hyperthyroid cats with a USG < 1.035. Plasma free vitamin A was higher in hyperthyroid cats (0.54 ± 0.28 μg/mL versus 0.38 ± 0.21 in controls;P = .007). Both abnormalities normalized after radioiodine treatment. No association was found between oxidative status and prior idiosyncratic methimazole toxicosis.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceIncreased urinary isoprostane could reflect reversible renal oxidative stress induced by hyperthyroidism, and this requires additional evaluation.
Metagenomic Analysis of Streptomyces lividans Reveals Host-Dependent Functional Expression
Authors: McMahon Matthew D. , Guan Changhui , Handelsman Jo , Thomas Michael G. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Most functional metagenomic studies have been limited by the poor expression of many genes derived from metagenomic DNA in
Escherichia coli
, which has been the predominant surrogate host to date. To expand the range of expressed genes, we developed tools for construction and functional screening of metagenomic libraries in
Streptomyces lividans
. We expanded on previously published protocols by constructing a system that enables retrieval and characterization of the metagenomic DNA from biologically active clones. To test the functionality of these methods, we constructed and screened two metagenomic libraries in
S. lividans
. One was constructed with pooled DNA from 14 bacterial isolates cultured from Alaskan soil and the second with DNA directly extracted from the same soil. Functional screening of these libraries identified numerous clones with hemolytic activity, one clone that produces melanin by a previously unknown mechanism, and one that induces the overproduction of a secondary metabolite native to
S. lividans
. All bioactive clones were functional in
S. lividans
but not in
E. coli
, demonstrating the advantages of screening metagenomic libraries in more than one host.
Natural Product Biosynthetic Gene Diversity in Geographically Distinct Soil Microbiomes
Authors: Reddy Boojala Vijay B. , Kallifidas Dimitris , Kim Jeffrey H. , Charlop-Powers Zachary , Feng Zhiyang , Brady Sean F. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT
The number of bacterial species estimated to exist on Earth has increased dramatically in recent years. This newly recognized species diversity has raised the possibility that bacterial natural product biosynthetic diversity has also been significantly underestimated by previous culture-based studies. Here, we compare 454-pyrosequenced nonribosomal peptide adenylation domain, type I polyketide ketosynthase domain, and type II polyketide ketosynthase alpha gene fragments amplified from cosmid libraries constructed using DNA isolated from three different arid soils. While 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicates these cloned metagenomes contain DNA from similar distributions of major bacterial phyla, we found that they contain almost completely distinct collections of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene sequences. When grouped at 85% identity, only 1.5% of the adenylation domain, 1.2% of the ketosynthase, and 9.3% of the ketosynthase alpha sequence clusters contained sequences from all three metagenomes. Although there is unlikely to be a simple correlation between biosynthetic gene sequence diversity and the diversity of metabolites encoded by the gene clusters in which these genes reside, our analysis further suggests that sequences in one soil metagenome are so distantly related to sequences in another metagenome that they are, in many cases, likely to arise from functionally distinct gene clusters. The marked differences observed among collections of biosynthetic genes found in even ecologically similar environments suggest that prokaryotic natural product biosynthesis diversity is, like bacterial species diversity, potentially much larger than appreciated from culture-based studies.
Development of an Engineered Bioluminescent Reporter Phage for Detection of Bacterial Blight of Crucifers
Authors: Schofield David A. , Bull Carolee T. , Rubio Isael , Wechter W. Patrick , Westwater Caroline , Molineux Ian J. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Bacterial blight, caused by the phytopathogen
Pseudomonas cannabina
pv.
alisalensis
, is an emerging disease afflicting important members of the
Brassicaceae
family. The disease is often misdiagnosed as pepper spot, a much less severe disease caused by the related pathogen
Pseudomonas syringae
pv.
maculicola
. We have developed a phage-based diagnostic that can both identify and detect the causative agent of bacterial blight and differentiate the two pathogens. A recombinant “light”-tagged reporter phage was generated by integrating bacterial
luxAB
genes encoding luciferase into the genome of
P. cannabina
pv.
alisalensis
phage PBSPCA1. The PBSPCA1::
luxAB
reporter phage is viable and stable and retains properties similar to those of the wild-type phage. PBSPCA1::
luxAB
rapidly and sensitively detects
P. cannabina
pv.
alisalensis
by conferring a bioluminescent signal response to cultured cells. Detection is dependent on cell viability. Other bacterial pathogens of
Brassica
species such as
P. syringae
pv.
maculicola
,
Pseudomonas marginalis
,
Pectobacterium carotovorum
,
Xanthomonas campestris
pv.
campestris
, and
X. campestris
pv.
raphani
either do not produce a response or produce significantly attenuated signals with the reporter phage. Importantly, the reporter phage detects
P. cannabina
pv.
alisalensis
on diseased plant specimens, indicating its potential for disease diagnosis.
Cytoplasmic pH Response to Acid Stress in Individual Cells of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis Observed by Fluorescence Ratio Imaging Microscopy
Authors: Martinez Keith A. , Kitko Ryan D. , Mershon J. Patrick , Adcox Haley E. , Malek Kotiba A. , Berkmen Melanie B. , Slonczewski Joan L. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

The ability of
Escherichia coli
and
Bacillus subtilis
to regulate their cytoplasmic pH is well studied in cell suspensions but is poorly understood in individual adherent cells and biofilms. We observed the cytoplasmic pH of individual cells using ratiometric pHluorin. A standard curve equating the fluorescence ratio with pH was obtained by perfusion at a range of external pH 5.0 to 9.0, with uncouplers that collapse the transmembrane pH difference. Adherent cells were acid stressed by switching the perfusion medium from pH 7.5 to pH 5.5. The
E. coli
cytoplasmic pH fell to a value that varied among individual cells (range of pH 6.2 to 6.8), but a majority of cells recovered (to pH 7.0 to 7.5) within 2 min. In an
E. coli
biofilm, cells shifted from pH 7.5 to pH 5.5 failed to recover cytoplasmic pH. Following a smaller shift (from pH 7.5 to pH 6.0), most biofilm cells recovered fully, although the pH decreased further than that of isolated adherent cells, and recovery took longer (7 min or longer). Some biofilm cells began to recover pH and then failed, a response not seen in isolated cells.
B. subtilis
cells were acid shifted from pH 7.5 to pH 6.0. In
B. subtilis
, unlike the case with
E. coli
, cytoplasmic pH showed no “overshoot” but fell to a level that was maintained. This level of cytoplasmic pH post-acid shift varied among individual
B. subtilis
cells (range of pH, 7.0 to 7.7). Overall, the cytoplasmic pHs of individual bacteria show important variation in the acid stress response, including novel responses in biofilms.
Quantitative Fluorescence
In Situ
Hybridization Analysis of Microbial Consortia from a Biogenic Gas Field in Alaska's Cook Inlet Basin
Authors: Dawson Katherine S. , Strąpoć Dariusz , Huizinga Brad , Lidstrom Ulrika , Ashby Matt , Macalady Jennifer L. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Filter-collected production water samples from a methane-rich gas field in the Cook Inlet basin of Alaska were investigated using whole-cell rRNA-targeted fluorescence
in situ
hybridization (FISH) and 16S rRNA tag pyrosequencing. Both techniques were consistent in determining the microbial community composition, including the archaeal or bacterial dominance of samples. The archaeal community is dominated by the obligate methylotrophic methanogen genus
Methanolobus
as well as the nutritional generalist methanogen genus
Methanosarcina
, which is capable of utilizing acetate, CO
2
, and methyl-bearing compounds. The most-abundant bacterial groups are
Firmicutes
, notably of the
Acetobacterium
genus, and
Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides
species (CFBs) affiliated with the order
Bacteroidales
. We observed spatial variation among samples in both the percentage of members of
Archaea
compared to that of members of
Bacteria
and the dominant members of the bacterial community, differences which could not be explained with the available geochemical data. Based upon the microbial community composition and the isotopic signature of methane associated with the Cook Inlet basin site, we propose a simplified reaction network beginning with the breakdown of coal macromolecules, followed by fermentation and methylotrophic and acetoclastic methane production.
Markerless Gene Deletion System for Sphingomonads
Authors: Kaczmarczyk Andreas , Vorholt Julia A. , Francez-Charlot Anne 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Here, we suggest that natural streptomycin resistance of many sphingomonads resides within
rpsL
. We constructed a dominant, streptomycin-sensitive
rpsL
allele and demonstrated its use as a counterselection marker in several sphingomonads. An
rpsL
-based markerless gene deletion system was developed and validated by deleting four genes in
Sphingomonas
sp. strain Fr1.
Genomic Sequence of Bacteriophage ATCC 8074-B1 and Activity of Its Endolysin and Engineered Variants against Clostridium sporogenes
Authors: Mayer Melinda J. , Gasson Michael J. , Narbad Arjan 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Lytic bacteriophage ATCC 8074-B1 produces large plaques on its host
Clostridium sporogenes
. Sequencing of the 47,595-bp genome allowed the identification of 82 putative open reading frames, including those encoding proteins for head and tail morphogenesis and lysis. However, sequences commonly associated with lysogeny were absent. ORF 22 encodes an endolysin, CS74L, that shows homology to
N
-acetylmuramoyl-
l
-alanine amidases, and when expressed in
Escherichia coli
, the protein causes effective lysis of
C. sporogenes
cells when added externally. CS74L was also active on
Clostridium tyrobutyricum
and
Clostridium acetobutylicum
. The catalytic domain expressed alone (CS74L
1–177
) exhibited a similar activity and the same host range as the full-length endolysin. A chimeric endolysin consisting of the CS74L catalytic domain fused to the C-terminal domain of endolysin CD27L, derived from
Clostridium difficile
bacteriophage ΦCD27, was produced. This chimera (CSCD) lysed
C. sporogenes
cells with an activity equivalent to that of the catalytic domain alone. In contrast, the CD27L C-terminal domain reduced the efficacy of the CS74L catalytic domain when tested against
C. tyrobutyricum
. The addition of the CD27L C-terminal domain did not enable the lysin to target
C. difficile
or other CD27L-sensitive bacteria.
The β-Arrestin-Like Protein Rim8 Is Hyperphosphorylated and Complexes with Rim21 and Rim101 To Promote Adaptation to Neutral-Alkaline pH
Authors: Gomez-Raja Jonathan , Davis Dana A. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

β-Arrestin proteins are critical for G-protein-coupled receptor desensitization and turnover. However, β-arrestins have recently been shown to play direct roles in nonheterotrimeric G-protein signal transduction. The
Candida albicans
β-arrestin-like protein Rim8 is required for activation of the Rim101 pH-sensing pathway and for pathogenesis. We have found that
C. albicans
Rim8 is posttranslationally modified by phosphorylation and specific phosphorylation states are associated with activation of the pH-sensing pathway. Rim8 associated with both the receptor Rim21 and the transcription factor Rim101, suggesting that Rim8 bridges the signaling and activation steps of the pathway. Finally, upon activation of the Rim101 transcription factor,
C. albicans
Rim8 was transcriptionally repressed and Rim8 protein levels were rapidly reduced. Our studies suggest that Rim8 is taken up into multivesicular bodies and degraded within the vacuole. In total, our results reveal a novel mechanism for tightly regulating the activity of a signal transduction pathway. Although the role of β-arrestin proteins in mammalian signal transduction pathways has been demonstrated, relatively little is known about how β-arrestins contribute to signal transduction. Our analyses provide some insights into potential roles.
Efficient Decoding of the UAG Triplet as a Full-Fledged Sense Codon Enhances the Growth of a
prfA
-Deficient Strain of Escherichia coli
Authors: Ohtake Kazumasa , Sato Aya , Mukai Takahito , Hino Nobumasa , Yokoyama Shigeyuki , Sakamoto Kensaku 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

We previously reassigned the amber UAG stop triplet as a sense codon in
Escherichia coli
by expressing a UAG-decoding tRNA and knocking out the
prfA
gene, encoding release factor 1. UAG triplets were left at the ends of about 300 genes in the genome. In the present study, we showed that the detrimental effect of UAG reassignment could be alleviated by increasing the efficiency of UAG translation instead of reducing the number of UAGs in the genome. We isolated an amber suppressor tRNA
Gln
variant displaying enhanced suppression activity, and we introduced it into the
prfA
knockout strain, RFzero-q, in place of the original suppressor tRNA
Gln
. The resulting strain, RFzero-q3, translated UAG to glutamine almost as efficiently as the glutamine codons, and it proliferated faster than the parent RFzero-q strain. We identified two major factors in this growth enhancement. First, the
sucB
gene, which is involved in energy regeneration and has two successive UAG triplets at the end, was expressed at a higher level in RFzero-q3 than RFzero-q. Second, the ribosome stalling that occurred at UAG in RFzero-q was resolved in RFzero-q3. The results revealed the importance of “backup” stop triplets, UAA or UGA downstream of UAG, to avoid the deleterious impact of UAG reassignment on the proteome.
Usefulness of nefopam in treating pain of severe uncomplicated renal colics in adults admitted to emergency units: a randomised double-blind controlled trial. The ‘INCoNU’ study
Authors: Moustafa Farès , Liotier Jérôme , Mathevon Thierry , Pic Daniel , Perrier Christophe , Schmidt Jeannot 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundRenal colic pain is a frequent cause of emergency department admissions (1–2% of admissions). It is extremely painful, often requiring intravenous morphine titration. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of adding nefopam to ketoprofen upon subsequent morphine consumption and the time needed to achieve adequate analgesia in renal colic.MethodsThe authors undertook a prospective, monocentric, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, using an intent-to-treat analysis. Patients admitted to the emergency department for suspected hyperalgesic (evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS)) renal colic were enrolled in the study. They were administered an initial treatment of ketoprofen before being randomly assigned to either the placebo or nefopam group.ResultsThirty patients admitted to the emergency department were enrolled in the study. Morphine analgesia was necessary for 10 patients (66.6%) (95% CI 40% to 90%) in the nefopam group and 8 (53.3%) (95% CI 30% to 80%) in the placebo group, with no statistically significant difference found (difference 13.3%, 95% CI −51% to 24%). The time needed to achieve adequate analgesia in the case of morphine titration was 8.3 min (95% CI 4.2 to 12.5) in the nefopam group and 9 min (95% CI 2.7 to 15.3) in the placebo group, with no statistically significant difference (difference 0.7, 95% CI 7.25 to 8.58).ConclusionThis study did not reveal any significant difference between nefopam and placebo. This may be due to lack of statistical power or lack of effectiveness.Clinical trial registration numberhttp://ClinicalTrials.govID numberNCT00639574.