bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Upregulation of Angiotensin II Receptor and Connexin 43 in Increased Suburothelial Myofibroblasts in the Rat Inflammatory Bladder
Authors: TOBU Shohei , NOGUCHI Mitsuru , HATADA Teppei , MORI Ken‐ichi , MATSUO Manabu , SAKAI Hideki 
Published: July 2012

Objectives: Signaling pathways in suburothelial layer are involved in the bladder sensory response. The expression of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors and connexin 43 (Cx43) in suburothelial myofibroblasts was investigated in an acute bladder inflammation model.Methods: Adult female Wistar rats underwent urethral catheterization and received 0.2 mL intravesical infusion of 0.4 M HCl to establish acute bladder inflammation model or 0.2 mL of sterile saline as control (n = 10 rats/group). Eight days after treatment, cystometry was performed. Suburothelial myofibroblasts were also collected and subjected to immunohistochemical staining to examine AT1 receptor and Cx43 expression.Results: Eight days after treatment with HCl to induce acute bladder inflammation, the frequency and basal pressure of the bladder was significantly increased compared with those in control rats. The number of suburothelial myofibroblasts was significantly increased in acute bladder inflammation rats, as was the expression of AT1 receptor and Cx43.Conclusion: These results suggest that the increased number of suburothelial myofibroblasts, upregulation of AT1 receptor and Cx43 expression may be associated with the pathogenesis of hyperactivation of bladder sensory signaling pathways in acute inflammatory bladder.
Late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Meng Mao‐Bin , Jiang Chao , Tian Li‐Jun , Liu Chun‐Lei , Zhuang Hong‐Qing , Chen Zhong‐Jie , Song Yong‐Chun , Wang Jun , Pang Qing‐Song , Zhao Lu‐Jun , Yuan Zhi‐Yong , Wang Ping 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgroundLate course accelerated hyperfractionation radiotherapy (LCAHR) is used as a standard treatment option for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LAESCC) in China, but concerns remain regarding its efficacy and safety. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LCAHR. The comparisons examined were as follows: LCAHR versus conventional fractionation radiotherapy (CFR) and LCAHR plus chemotherapy (CT) versus LCAHR alone.MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CBMdisc, and CNKI, as well as employing manual searches. The primary end points were survival and local control. The second end point was toxicities.ResultsBased on search criteria, we found 29 trials involving 3187 patients. Our results showed that LCAHR, compared with CFR, improved the survival and local control, and was, thus, more therapeutically beneficial. Further analysis revealed that LCAHR plus CT proved to be better for patients' survival and local control compared to LCAHR alone. Acute toxicities were increased rather than late toxicities.ConclusionsThere was a significant survival and local control benefit of LCAHR over CFR, as well as LCAHR plus CT over LCAHR alone. Considering the strength of the evidence, the results of this study indicate that this regimen would be a new promising modality worth further investigation.
Bronchomediastinal fistula detected accidently during palliative radiation therapy
Authors: Song Sung Heon , Oh Yoon Jung , Chae Soo‐Min , Lee JungYeon 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBronchomediastinal fistula is an extremely rare complication resulting from diseases such as mediastinitis or mediastinal malignancies. In patients with lung cancer, bronchomediastinal fistula formation has rarely been reported, except during post‐chemotherapy or post‐radiation therapy complications. An 84‐year‐old visited our hospital to receive palliative radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the right main bronchus T4N2M1a. During an early course of radiation therapy, chest computed tomography (CT) scans revealed bronchomediastinal fistula between the right main bronchus and the enlarged sub‐carinal lymph nodes. Radiation therapy was, therefore, discontinued and the patient received only supportive care.
Distribution and Genotypic Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni Isolated from Poultry in Split and Dalmatia County, Croatia
Authors: Kovačić A. , Listeš I. , Vučica C. , Kozačinski L. , Tripković I. , Šiško‐Kraljević K. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryConsumption of poultry contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni has been recognized worldwide as the leading cause of campylobacteriosis. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry meat intended for consumption in Split and Dalmatia County, which is the second biggest County in Croatia. Furthermore, we also wanted to discover possibly stable clones of C. jejuni appearing in different samples and periods of time, which would indicate their ability to persist in or adapt to poultry. In the period from March 2008 until June 2010, 834 samples of poultry from various sources were examined using a surface swab technique. Isolation of C. jejuni was performed by Preston broth and Karmali agar. Identification of the isolates was carried out using biochemical tests. C. jejuni was found in 84 of 574 chicken samples (14.6%) and in nine of 260 samples of turkey (3.5%). Pulse‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to analyse 61 obtained isolates using SmaI and KpnI. Of 22 different macrorestriction profiles (MRP) that were found, five were detected in poultry from both different locations and periods of time. Samples from 11 locations were found to be contaminated with more than two different genotypes of C. jejuni. Interestingly, the same MRP were found both in poultry declared to be of domestic origin and in the poultry imported from abroad. The prevalence of C. jejuni in poultry samples was in accordance with previously reported results. Genotypic analysis indicated that the population of C. jejuni in Split and Dalmatia County was diverse and that multiple strains of C. jejuni could be found in the same poultry samples. Furthermore, the same genotypes were identified from the samples obtained from different locations and periods of time, which could support the theory of a global existence of certain MRP that are able to persist in or adapt to poultry.
Data‐resolution based optimization of the data‐collection strategy for near infrared diffuse optical tomography
Authors: Karkala Deepak , Yalavarthy Phaneendra K. 
Published: July 2012

Purpose:To optimize the data‐collection strategy for diffuse optical tomography and to obtain a set of independent measurements among the total measurements using the model based data‐resolution matrix characteristics.Methods:The data‐resolution matrix is computed based on the sensitivity matrix and the regularization scheme used in the reconstruction procedure by matching the predicted data with the actual one. The diagonal values of data‐resolution matrix show the importance of a particular measurement and the magnitude of off‐diagonal entries shows the dependence among measurements. Based on the closeness of diagonal value magnitude to off‐diagonal entries, the independent measurements choice is made. The reconstruction results obtained using all measurements were compared to the ones obtained using only independent measurements in both numerical and experimental phantom cases. The traditional singular value analysis was also performed to compare the results obtained using the proposed method.Results:The results indicate that choosing only independent measurements based on data‐resolution matrix characteristics for the image reconstruction does not compromise the reconstructed image quality significantly, in turn reduces the data‐collection time associated with the procedure. When the same number of measurements (equivalent to independent ones) are chosen at random, the reconstruction results were having poor quality with major boundary artifacts. The number of independent measurements obtained using data‐resolution matrix analysis is much higher compared to that obtained using the singular value analysis.Conclusions:The data‐resolution matrix analysis is able to provide the high level of optimization needed for effective data‐collection in diffuse optical imaging. The analysis itself is independent of noise characteristics in the data, resulting in an universal framework to characterize and optimize a given data‐collection strategy.
Development and Application of a Double-Antigen Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Antibodies to Porcine Circovirus 2
Authors: Ge Meng , Luo Wei , Jiang Daliang , Li Runcheng , Zhao Wenwei , Chen Guoliang , Yang Xingdong , Yu Xinglong 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT
A double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described for detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) antibodies using the well-characterized recombinant PCV2 capsid protein. In a comparative test of 394 pig sera against an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test and a commercial ELISA kit (also based on the recombinant PCV2 capsid protein), the results showed that the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the assay were, respectively, 90.61, 94.02, and 91.62% compared with IIF and 94.38, 95.28, and 94.67% compared with the commercial ELISA kit. Assay of 12 PCV-free pigs over a 5-week period produced only PCV2-negative titers by all 3 methods. These results and the seroprofiles of 4 pig farms obtained by both the commercial ELISA kit and the double-antigen sandwich ELISA indicate that the sandwich ELISA is a reliable method for detection of antibodies to PCV2. Additionally, the method described here permits the use of undiluted test serum samples simultaneously loaded with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated antigen into the test well, and the complete test procedure can be performed in less than 90 min. This double-antigen sandwich ELISA should be a useful tool to aid swine industry professionals in deciding the intervention strategies for the control of PCV2-associated diseases.
Direct Human Papillomavirus E6 Whole-Cell Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Objective Measurement of E6 Oncoproteins in Cytology Samples
Authors: Yang Yi-Shan , Smith-McCune Karen , Darragh Teresa M. , Lai Yvonne , Lin Ju-Hwa , Chang Ting-Chang , Guo Hsiao-Yun , Kesler Tiea , Carter Alicia , Castle Philip E. , Cheng Shuling 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

A novel, whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a non-type-specific anti-human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 antibody was tested on 182 residual cytological specimens. For samples with a designation of more severe than
c
ervical
i
ntraepithelial
n
eoplasia grade 3 (CIN3+), 83% tested positive for E6; in a subset with paired testing for E6 ELISA and HPV DNA, 72% tested E6 positive and 92% tested high-risk (HR)-HPV DNA positive (
P
= 0.2). Among the women with a less than CIN3 diagnosis, 31% and 47% tested positive for E6 and HR-HPV DNA, respectively (
P
= 0.0006).
Draft Genome Sequence of Treponema sp. Strain JC4, a Novel Spirochete Isolated from the Bovine Rumen
Authors: Rosewarne Carly P. , Cheung Jane L. , Smith Wendy J. M. , Evans Paul N. , Tomkins Nigel W. , Denman Stuart E. , Ó Cuív Páraic , Morrison Mark 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Morphologically and biochemically diverse members of the
Treponema
genus are present in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, yet very little is understood about their functional importance to this microbiome. Here we describe the annotated draft genome sequence of
Treponema
sp. strain JC4, a novel spirochete isolated from a bovine rumen sample.
Genome Sequence of Aerococcus viridans LL1
Authors: Qin Nan , Zheng Beiwen , Yang Fengling , Chen Yanfei , Guo Jing , Hu Xinjun , Li Lanjuan 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Aerococcus viridans
is a catalase-negative Gram-positive bacterium and has been described as an airborne organism widely distributed in the hospital environment or in clinical specimens. We isolated
A. viridans
strain LL1 from indoor dust samples collected by a patient. Here, we prepared a genome sequence for this strain consisting of 31 contigs totaling 1,994,039 bases and a GC content of 39.42%.
Genomic Comparison of Rickettsia honei Strain RB
T
and Other Rickettsia Species
Authors: Xin Dong , El Karkouri Khalid , Robert Catherine , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre-Edouard 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Rickettsia honei
strain RB
T
was isolated from a febrile patient on Flinders Island, Australia, in 1991 and has been demonstrated to be the agent of Flinders Island spotted fever, a disease transmitted to humans by ticks. The comparison of this 1.27-Mb genome with other
Rickettsia
genomes provides additional insight into the mechanisms of evolution in
Rickettsia
species.
Preadmission Screening of Adults Highlights Previously Unrecognized Carriage of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in London: a Cause for Concern?
Authors: Pantelides Nicholas M. , Gopal Rao Guduru , Charlett Andre , Kearns Angela M. 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

In the first study of its kind in the United Kingdom, we describe the colonization rate of ciprofloxacin-sensitive Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(PVL-MRSA) in adult patients who were screened systematically at the time of hospital admission. We also describe the molecular characteristics of PVL-MRSA and antibiotic resistance phenotypes. A total of 55,760 specimens were screened for MRSA between April 2008 and December 2010. MRSA was identified in 1,998 specimens, and ciprofloxacin-susceptible (CSMRSA) isolates (385/1,998, or 19.3%) were subjected to PVL testing. Of these, 70 (18.1%) were identified as PVL-CSMRSA. During the study period, the MRSA colonization rate decreased from 4.6% to 2.8%. In contrast, the colonization rate of PVL-CSMRSA increased over time, rising from 0.075% in 2008 and 0.07% in 2009 to 0.22% in 2010. The mean patient age was 52 years (range, 18 to 90 years); over two-thirds were male. Seven different lineages of PVL-CSMRSA were identified. Over the 3 years, the Southwest Pacific clone (CC30) was dominant in our population. The CC5 clone was detected once in 2008 and not at all in 2009 but accounted for a third of all PVL-CSMRSA strains in 2010. This lineage was commonly associated with clindamycin resistance and, less frequently, tetracycline resistance. We conclude that there is hitherto unrecognized low-level carriage of PVL-CSMRSA among patients being admitted to hospitals in northwest London. We observed the emergence of the CC5 clone in 2010 with associated clindamycin and tetracycline resistance.
Performance of Clinical Laboratories in South African Parasitology Proficiency Testing Surveys between 2004 and 2010
Authors: Poonsamy Bhavani , Dini Leigh , Frean John 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT
Performance in proficiency testing (PT) schemes is an objective measure of a laboratory's best performance. We examined the performance of participants in two parasitology PT schemes in South Africa from 2004 through 2010. The average rates of acceptable scores over the period were 58% and 66% for the stool and blood parasite schemes, respectively. In our setting, participation in PT alone is insufficient to improve performance; a policy that provides additional resources and training seems necessary.
High Metabolic Potential May Contribute to the Success of ST131 Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Gibreel Tarek M. , Dodgson Andrew R. , Cheesbrough John , Bolton Frederick J. , Fox Andrew J. , Upton Mathew 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) is the predominant cause of urinary tract infection in both hospital and community settings. The recent emergence of multidrug-resistant clones like the O25b:H4-ST131 lineage represents a significant threat to health, and numerous studies have explored the virulence potential of these organisms. Members of the ST131 clone have been described as having variable carriage of key virulence factors, and it has been suggested that additional unidentified factors contribute to virulence. Here we demonstrated that ST131 isolates have high metabolic potential and biochemical profiles that distinguish them from isolates of many other sequence types (STs). A collection of 300 UPEC isolates recovered in 2007 and 2009 in the Northwest region of England were subjected to metabolic profiling using the Vitek2 Advanced Expert System (AES). Of the 47 tests carried out, 30 gave a positive result with at least one of the 300 isolates examined. ST131 isolates demonstrated significant association with eight tests, including those for peptidase, decarboxylase, and alkalinization activity. Metabolic activity also correlated with antibiotic susceptibility profiles, with resistant organisms displaying the highest metabolic potential. This is the first comprehensive study of metabolic potential in the ST131 lineage, and we suggest that high metabolic potential may have contributed to the fitness of members of the ST131 clone, which are able to exploit the available nutrients in both the intestinal and urinary tract environments.
Serological Profile of Torque Teno Sus Virus Species 1 (TTSuV1) in Pigs and Antigenic Relationships between Two TTSuV1 Genotypes (1a and 1b), between Two Species (TTSuV1 and -2), and between Porcine and Human Anelloviruses
Authors: Huang Yao-Wei , Harrall Kylie K. , Dryman Barbara A. , Opriessnig Tanja , Vaughn Eric M. , Roof Michael B. , Meng Xiang-Jin 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

The family
Anelloviridae
includes human and animal torque teno viruses (TTVs) with extensive genetic diversity. The antigenic diversity among anelloviruses has never been assessed. Using torque teno sus virus (TTSuV) as a model, we describe here the first investigation of the antigenic relationships among different anelloviruses. Using a TTSuV genotype 1a (TTSuV1a) or TTSuV1b enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the respective putative ORF1 capsid antigen and TTSuV1-specific real-time PCR, the combined serological and virological profile of TTSuV1 infection in pigs was determined and compared with that of TTSuV2. TTSuV1 is likely not associated with porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD), because both the viral loads and antibody levels were not different between affected and unaffected pigs and because there was no synergistic effect of concurrent PCV2/TTSuV1 infections. We did observe a higher correlation of IgG antibody levels between anti-TTSuV1a and -TTSuV1b than between anti-TTSuV1a or -1b and anti-TTSuV2 antibodies in these sera, implying potential antigenic cross-reactivity. To confirm this, rabbit antisera against the putative capsid proteins of TTSuV1a, TTSuV1b, or TTSuV2 were generated, and the antigenic relationships among these TTSuVs were analyzed by an ELISA and by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using PK-15 cells transfected with one of the three TTSuV ORF1 constructs. The results demonstrate antigenic cross-reactivity between the two genotypes TTSuV1a and TTSuV1b but not between the two species TTSuV1a or -1b and TTSuV2. Furthermore, an anti-genogroup 1 human TTV antiserum did not react with any of the three TTSuV antigens. These results have important implications for an understanding of the diversity of anelloviruses as well as for the classification and vaccine development of TTSuVs.
Comparable Fitness and Transmissibility between Oseltamivir-Resistant Pandemic 2009 and Seasonal H1N1 Influenza Viruses with the H275Y Neuraminidase Mutation
Authors: Wong Diana D. Y. , Choy Ka-Tim , Chan Renee W. Y. , Sia Sin Fun , Chiu Hsin-Ping , Cheung Peter P. H. , Chan Michael C. W. , Peiris J. S. Malik , Yen Hui-Ling 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT

Limited antiviral compounds are available for the control of influenza, and the emergence of resistant variants would further narrow the options for defense. The H275Y neuraminidase (NA) mutation, which confers resistance to oseltamivir carboxylate, has been identified among the seasonal H1N1 and 2009 pandemic influenza viruses; however, those H275Y resistant variants demonstrated distinct epidemiological outcomes in humans. Specifically, dominance of the H275Y variant over the oseltamivir-sensitive viruses was only reported for a seasonal H1N1 variant during 2008-2009. Here, we systematically analyze the effect of the H275Y NA mutation on viral fitness and transmissibility of A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal H1N1 influenza viruses. The NA genes from A(H1N1)pdm09 A/California/04/09 (CA04), seasonal H1N1 A/New Caledonia/20/1999 (NewCal), and A/Brisbane/59/2007 (Brisbane) were individually introduced into the genetic background of CA04. The H275Y mutation led to reduced NA enzyme activity, an increased

K
m

for 3′-sialylactose or 6′-sialylactose, and decreased infectivity in mucin-secreting human airway epithelial cells compared to the oseltamivir-sensitive wild-type counterparts. Attenuated pathogenicity in both RG-CA04
NA-H275Y
and RG-CA04 × Brisbane
NA-H275Y
viruses was observed in ferrets compared to RG-CA04 virus, although the transmissibility was minimally affected. In parallel experiments using recombinant Brisbane viruses differing by hemagglutinin and NA, comparable direct contact and respiratory droplet transmissibilities were observed among RG-NewCal
HA,NA
, RG-NewCal
HA,NA-H275Y
, RG-Brisbane
HA,NA-H275Y
, and RG-NewCal
HA
× Brisbane
NA-H275Y
viruses. Our results demonstrate that, despite the H275Y mutation leading to a minor reduction in viral fitness, the transmission potentials of three different antigenic strains carrying this mutation were comparable in the naïve ferret model.
Do we create ecological traps when trying to emulate natural disturbances? A test on songbirds of the northern hardwood forest1This article is one of a selection of papers from the 7th International Conference on Disturbance Dynamics in Boreal Forests.
Authors: Villard Marc-André , D’Astous Émilie , Haché Samuel , Poulin Jean-François , Thériault Stéphane 
Published: July 2012

Forest management inspired from natural disturbances is often claimed to have more benign effects on biodiversity than more traditional approaches but this premise has rarely been tested. In the northern hardwood forest, selection harvesting could be seen as a surrogate for the combined effects of windthrow, moderate ice storms, and senescence. Here, we quantified the response of two focal species of forest birds (Brown Creeper ( Certhia americana (Bonaparte, 1838)) and Ovenbird ( Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus, 1766))) to this treatment (30%–40% basal area removal) in the first 5 years post-harvest using a replicated field experiment. We tested the possibility that selection harvesting creates ecological traps whereby individuals show a preference for a habitat type where their fitness is lower. We found that both focal species actually seemed to prefer control plots, where they reached a higher density than in treated plots. There was no evidence for a treatment effect on per capita productivity in either species. Hence, there was no evidence for an ecological trap. However, large-scale application of selection harvesting may have ecologically significant effects on productivity of the focal species per unit area of habitat. Future studies should test whether selection harvesting creates ecological traps for species naturally associated with canopy gaps.