bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment and assessment of emergency department nausea and vomiting in Australasia: A survey of anti‐emetic management
Authors: Mee Michaela J , Egerton‐Warburton Diana , Meek Robert 
Published: February 2011

AbstractObjective: To describe the treatment and assessment of emergency department nausea and vomiting (EDNV) in Australasia by Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM). To determine the influence of various factors on FACEM anti‐emetic choice. To compare the influence of drug effectiveness, side effects, cost and pharmacy directives on adult EDNV anti‐emetic choice between FACEM choosing the two most common first‐line agents.Methods: A cross‐sectional survey of all FACEM practising in Australasian ED was conducted by mail‐out in February 2009.Results: Of all FACEM surveyed 48.7% (532/1092) responded. The most common first‐line drugs for adult EDNV were metoclopramide (87.3%, 453/519), 5HT3 antagonists (7.9%, 41/519) and prochlorperazine (2.3%, 12/519). For paediatric EDNV, the most common first‐line agents were 5HT3 antagonists (86.2%, 307/356), metoclopramide (6.7%, 24/356) and promethazine (5.1%, 18/356). For most FACEM anti‐emetic choice was highly influenced by perceived drug efficacy (96.1%) and side effects (82.5%), and 32.9% of FACEM were highly influenced by drug cost. Few FACEM reported ED anti‐emetic protocols for adults (13.0%) or children (16.7%) in their ED. FACEM seldom used scales or tools to measure EDNV severity in adult (2.5%) or paediatric (3.4%) patients.Conclusions: Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine anti‐emetic choice in Australasian ED has been described. The main influences on anti‐emetic choice were patient age, perceived drug efficacy and drug side‐effect profiles.
Evolutionary principles and their practical application
Authors: Hendry Andrew P. , Kinnison Michael T. , Heino Mikko , Day Troy , Smith Thomas B. , Fitt Gary , Bergstrom Carl T. , Oakeshott John , Jørgensen Peter S. , Zalucki Myron P. , Gilchrist George , Southerton Simon , Sih Andrew , Strauss Sharon , Denison Robert F. , Carroll Scott P. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractEvolutionary principles are now routinely incorporated into medicine and agriculture. Examples include the design of treatments that slow the evolution of resistance by weeds, pests, and pathogens, and the design of breeding programs that maximize crop yield or quality. Evolutionary principles are also increasingly incorporated into conservation biology, natural resource management, and environmental science. Examples include the protection of small and isolated populations from inbreeding depression, the identification of key traits involved in adaptation to climate change, the design of harvesting regimes that minimize unwanted life‐history evolution, and the setting of conservation priorities based on populations, species, or communities that harbor the greatest evolutionary diversity and potential. The adoption of evolutionary principles has proceeded somewhat independently in these different fields, even though the underlying fundamental concepts are the same. We explore these fundamental concepts under four main themes: variation, selection, connectivity, and eco‐evolutionary dynamics. Within each theme, we present several key evolutionary principles and illustrate their use in addressing applied problems. We hope that the resulting primer of evolutionary concepts and their practical utility helps to advance a unified multidisciplinary field of applied evolutionary biology.
The evolution of new enzyme function: lessons from xenobiotic metabolizing bacteria versus insecticide‐resistant insects
Authors: Russell Robyn J. , Scott Colin , Jackson Colin J. , Pandey Rinku , Pandey Gunjan , Taylor Matthew C. , Coppin Christopher W. , Liu Jian‐Wei , Oakeshott John G. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractHere, we compare the evolutionary routes by which bacteria and insects have evolved enzymatic processes for the degradation of four classes of synthetic chemical insecticide. For insects, the selective advantage of such degradative activities is survival on exposure to the insecticide, whereas for the bacteria the advantage is simply a matter of access to additional sources of nutrients. Nevertheless, bacteria have evolved highly efficient enzymes from a wide variety of enzyme families, whereas insects have relied upon generalist esterase‐, cytochrome P450‐ and glutathione‐S‐transferase‐dependent detoxification systems. Moreover, the mutant insect enzymes are less efficient kinetically and less diverged in sequence from their putative ancestors than their bacterial counterparts. This presumably reflects several advantages that bacteria have over insects in the acquisition of new enzymatic functions, such as a broad biochemical repertoire from which new functions can be evolved, large population sizes, high effective mutation rates, very short generation times and access to genetic diversity through horizontal gene transfer. Both the insect and bacterial systems support recent theory proposing that new biochemical functions often evolve from ‘promiscuous’ activities in existing enzymes, with subsequent mutations then enhancing those activities. Study of the insect enzymes will help in resistance management, while the bacterial enzymes are potential bioremediants of insecticide residues in a range of contaminated environments.
Koebner’s phenomenon in vitiligo: European position paper
Authors: van Geel Nanja , Speeckaert Reinhart , Taieb Alain , Picardo Mauro , Böhm Markus , Gawkrodger David J. , Schallreuter Karin , Bennett Dorothy C. , van der Veen Wietze , Whitton Maxine , Moretti Silvia , Westerhof Wiete , Ezzedine Khaled , Gauthier Yvon ,   on behalf of the other VETF members
Published: February 2011

SummaryKoebner’s phenomenon (KP) has been observed in a number of skin diseases, including vitiligo. Its clinical significance in vitiligo with respect to disease activity and course is still debatable, while its relevance for surgical techniques has been demonstrated in some reports. We present a literature review on the currently known facts about KP in vitiligo, including details of clinical, experimental, and histopathological changes. The consensus view is that there are still no methods to define and assess KP in vitiligo. A new classification is proposed to allow an evaluation of KP in daily practice or in experimental studies. However, many unanswered questions still remain after redefining KP in patients with vitiligo. Active research focusing on KP in vitiligo may not only provide unexpected clues in the pathogenesis of vitiligo but also help to tailor novel therapies against this chronic and often psychologically devastating skin disease.
Fast, Antigen-Saving Multiplex Immunoassay To Determine Levels and Avidity of Mouse Serum Antibodies to Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus Antigens
Authors: Stenger Rachel M. , Smits Mieke , Kuipers Betsy , Kessen Sabine F. M. , Boog Claire J. P. , van Els Cécile A. C. M. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTTo enhance preclinical evaluation of serological immune responses to the individual diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) components of DTP combination vaccines, a fast hexavalent bead-based method was developed. This multiplex immunoassay (MIA) can simultaneously determine levels of specific mouse serum IgG antibodies to P antigens P.69 pertactin (P.69 Prn), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertussis toxin (Ptx), and combined fimbria type 2 and 3 antigens (Fim2/3) and to diphtheria toxin (Dtx) and tetanus toxin (TT) in a single well. The mouse DTP MIA was shown to be specific and sensitive and to correlate with the six single in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for all antigens. Moreover, the MIA was expanded to include avidity measurements of DTP antigens in a multivalent manner. The sensitivities of the mouse DTP avidity MIA per antigen were comparable to those of the six individual in-house avidity ELISAs, and good correlations between IgG concentrations obtained by both methods for all antigens tested were shown. The regular and avidity mouse DTP MIAs were reproducible, with good intra- and interassay coefficients of variability (CV) for all antigens. Finally, the usefulness of the assay was demonstrated in a longitudinal study of the development and avidity maturation of specific IgG antibodies in mice having received different DTP vaccines. We conclude that the hexaplex mouse DTP MIA is a specific, sensitive, and high-throughput alternative for ELISA to investigate the quantity and quality of serological responses to DTP antigens in preclinical vaccine studies.
Nasal Immunity to Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Is Controlled by the Nasopharynx-Associated Lymphoid Tissue
Authors: Fernandez Stefan , Cisney Emily D. , Hall Shannan I. , Ulrich Robert G. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTThe nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) of humans and other mammals is associated with immunity against airborne infections, though it is generally considered to be a secondary component of the mucosa-associated lymphoid system. We found that protective immunity to a virulence factor of nasal mucosa-colonizingStaphylococcus aureus, staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), requires a functional NALT. We examined the role of NALT using intranasal (IN) vaccination with a recombinant SEB vaccine (rSEBv) combined with an adjuvant in a mouse model of SEB-induced toxic shock. The rSEBv was rapidly internalized by NALT cells at the mucosal barrier, and transport into NALT was accelerated by inclusion of a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist. Vaccine-induced germinal centers of B cells formed within NALT, accompanied by elevated levels of IgA+and IgG+cells, and these were further increased by TLR4 activation. The NALT was the site of specific anti-rSEBv IgA and IgG production but was also influenced by intraperitoneal (IP) inoculation and perhaps other isolated lymphoid follicles observed within the nasal cavity. Vaccination by the IN route generated robust levels of anti-rSEBv IgA in saliva, nasal secretions, and blood compared to much lower levels after IP vaccination. IN vaccination also induced secretion of anti-rSEBv IgG in the blood and nasal secretions. Significantly, the efficacy of IN vaccination was dependent on NALT, as surgical removal resulted in greater sensitivity to IN challenge with wild-type SEB. Thus, protective immunity to SEB within the nasal sinuses was elicited by responses originating in NALT.
First Characterization of CTX-M-15-Producing Escherichia coli ST131 and ST405 Clones Causing Community-Onset Infections in South America
Authors: Ruiz Sory J. , Montealegre Maria Camila , Ruiz-Garbajosa Patricia , Correa Adriana , Briceño David F. , Martinez Ernesto , Rosso Fernando , Muñoz Martin , Quinn John P. , Cantón Rafael , Villegas Maria Virginia 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

CTX-M-15-producing
Escherichia coli
has emerged worldwide as an important pathogen associated with community-onset infections, but in South America reports are scarce. We document the presence of CTX-M-15-producing
E. coli
of the international ST131 and ST405 clones in Colombia and present the first molecular characterization of these isolates in South America.
Preferential Deletion Events in the Direct Repeat Locus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Schürch Anita C. , Kremer Kristin , Kiers Albert , Boeree Martin J. , Siezen Roland J. , Soolingen Dick van 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

The “Harlingen” IS
6110
restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) cluster has linked over 100 tuberculosis cases in The Netherlands since 1993. Four
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates that were epidemiologically linked to this cluster had different spoligotype patterns, as well as slightly divergent IS
6110
profiles, compared to the majority of the isolates. Sequencing of the direct repeat (DR) locus revealed sequence polymorphisms at the putative deletion sites. These deletion footprints provided evidence for independent deletions of the central region of the DR locus in three isolates, while the different genotype of the fourth isolate was explained by transmission. Our finding suggests that convergent deletions in the DR locus occur frequently. However, deletion footprints are not suitable to detect convergent deletions in the DR because they seem to be exceptional. Deletion footprints in the DR were not described previously, and we did not observe them in any public
M. tuberculosis
complex sequences. We conclude that preferential deletions in the DR loci of closely related strains are usually an unnoted event that interferes with clustering of closely related strains.
Reevaluating and Optimizing Polyomavirus BK and JC Real-Time PCR Assays To Detect Rare Sequence Polymorphisms
Authors: Dumoulin A. , Hirsch H. H. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT
PCR-based molecular assays have a central role in polyomavirus diagnostics. To assure optimal performance, target sequences should be regularly updated according to newly available sequences. The aim of this study was to review our in-house polyomavirus BK (BKV) and JC (JCV) real-time PCR assays. Database analysis revealed variations in the BKV target region which might affect the assay performance, while no significant changes were found in the JCV target region. We compared two degenerate versions of our BKV primers which accommodated at least 95% of all published genetic variants. Dilutions of cloned viral genomic DNA and probit analysis indicated an analytical sensitivity of the updated BKV assay of 4.15 copies/reaction and that of the JCV assay was 3.37 copies/reaction. The specificity was assessed by testing JCV- and BKV-positive samples that showed no cross-reactivity. The performance of the original and updated BKV assay was compared in 101 urine and 200 plasma samples submitted to our routine diagnostic laboratory revealed similar quantitative results. We conclude that our JCV and updated BKV real-time PCR assays are robust and detect rare variants possibly encountered in the clinical routine.
Fecal Leukocytes in Children Infected with Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Mercado Erik H. , Ochoa Theresa J. , Ecker Lucie , Cabello Martin , Durand David , Barletta Francesca , Molina Margarita , Gil Ana I. , Huicho Luis , Lanata Claudio F. , Cleary Thomas G. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and quantity of fecal leukocytes in children infected with diarrheagenic
Escherichia coli
and to compare these levels between diarrhea and control cases. We analyzed 1,474 stool samples from 935 diarrhea episodes and 539 from healthy controls of a cohort study of children younger than 2 years of age in Lima, Peru. Stools were analyzed for common enteric pathogens, and diarrheagenic
E. coli
isolates were studied by a multiplex real-time PCR. Stool smears were stained with methylene blue and read by a blinded observer to determine the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes per high-power field (L/hpf). Fecal leukocytes at >10 L/hpf were present in 11.8% (110/935) of all diarrheal episodes versus 1.1% (6/539) in controls (
P
< 0.001). Among stool samples with diarrheagenic
E. coli
as the only pathogen isolated (excluding coinfection), fecal leukocytes at >10 L/hpf were present in 8.5% (18/212) of diarrhea versus 1.3% (2/157) of control samples (
P
< 0.01). Ninety-five percent of 99 diarrheagenic
E. coli
diarrhea samples were positive for fecal lactoferrin. Adjusting for the presence of blood in stools, age, sex, undernutrition, and breastfeeding, enterotoxigenic
E. coli
(ETEC) isolation as a single pathogen, excluding coinfections, was highly associated with the presence of fecal leukocytes (>10 L/hpf) with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 15.51;
P
< 0.05). Although diarrheagenic
E. coli
was isolated with similar frequencies in diarrhea and control samples, clearly it was associated with a more inflammatory response during symptomatic infection; however, in general, these pathogens elicited a mild inflammatory response.
Comparison of Clinical Performance of Abbott RealTi
m
e High Risk HPV Test with That of Hybrid Capture 2 Assay in a Screening Setting
Authors: Carozzi F. M. , Burroni E. , Bisanzi S. , Puliti D. , Confortini M. , Giorgi Rossi P. , Sani C. , Scalisi A. , Chini F. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

Randomized trials have produced sound evidence about the efficacy of screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. We evaluated the clinical performance and reproducibility of the Abbott RealTi
m
e High Risk (HR) HPV test compared with that of the HR hybrid capture 2 (HC2) assay as assessed by a noninferiority score test. A random sample of 998 cervical specimens (914 specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia less severe than grade 2 [<CIN2] and 84 specimens of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more severe lesions [≥CIN2]), collected in the Florence and Catania cervical Cancer Screening Programs from women aged 25 to 64 and already tested by HR HC2, were retested with the Abbott RealTi
m
e HR HPV test. Absolute specificity was 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.4 to 94.0) and 92.6% (95% CI, 90.7 to 94.2) for the Abbott RealTi
m
e HR HPV test and the HR HC2, respectively. Absolute sensitivity was 96.4% (95% CI, 89.9 to 99.3) and 97.6% (95% CI, 91.7 to 99.7) for the Abbott RealTi
m
e HR HPV test and the HR HC2, respectively. The noninferiority score test revealed that the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the Abbott RealTi
m
e HR HPV test were not inferior (
P
= 0.004 and 0.009, respectively) to those of HR HC2. Overall agreement between the two assays was 96.5%, with a
k
value of 0.86 (CI 95%, 0.82 to 0.91). We evaluated the intralaboratory reproducibility by retesting 521 samples at least 4 weeks after the first test; the crude agreement between the first and second test was 98.5%, with an overall
k
value of 0.97 (CI 95%, 0.95 to 0.99). This test fully satisfies the requirements of a primary cervical cancer screening test. This assay differentiates between HPV16, HPV18, and non-HPV16/18 types in every specimen, but how to use this information in a screening setting still is unclear.
Characterization of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Specimens with a Positive Hemagglutinin 1 Signal in the Luminex xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel Assay
Authors: McCloskey Cindy B. , Kraft Colleen S. , Ingersoll Jessica M. , Hill Charles E. , Burd Eileen M. , Caliendo Angela M. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT
This retrospective review analyzed Luminex xTAG respiratory viral panel (RVP) results for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus specimens. Comparing median fluorescence intensity (MFI) signals for the influenza A virus and hemagglutinin 1 (H1) reactions for specimens with very low positive (MFI < 1,000) or “no-call” H1 results reliably distinguished 2009 H1N1 from seasonal virus.
Adaptation of Subtype A Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope to Pig-Tailed Macaque Cells
Authors: Humes Daryl , Overbaugh Julie 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

The relevance of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection of macaques to HIV-1 infection in humans depends on how closely SHIVs mimic HIV-1 transmission, pathogenesis, and diversity. Circulating HIV-1 strains are predominantly subtypes C and A and overwhelmingly require CCR5 for entry, yet most SHIVs incorporate CXCR4-using subtype B envelopes (Envs). While pathogenic subtype C-based SHIVs have been constructed, the subtype A-based SHIVs (SHIV-As) constructed to date have been unable to replicate in macaque cells. To understand the barriers to SHIV-A replication in macaque cells, HIVA
Q23
/SIV
vif
was constructed by engineering a CCR5-tropic subtype A provirus to express SIV
vif
, which counters the macaque APOBEC3G restriction. HIVA
Q23
/SIV
vif
replicated poorly in pig-tailed macaque (Ptm) lymphocytes, but viruses were adapted to Ptm lymphocytes. Two independent mutations in gp120, G312V (V3 loop) and A204E (C2 region), were identified that increased peak virus levels by >100-fold. Introduction of G312V and A204E to multiple subtype A Envs and substitution of G312 and A204 with other residues increased entry into Ptm cells by 10- to 100-fold. G312V and A204E Env variants continued to require CCR5 for entry but were up to 50- and 200-fold more sensitive to neutralization by IgG1b12 and soluble CD4 and had a 5- to 50-fold increase in their ability to utilize Ptm CD4 compared to their wild-type counterparts. These findings identify the inefficient use of Ptm CD4 as an unappreciated restriction to subtype A HIV-1 replication in Ptm cells and reveal amino acid changes to gp120 that can overcome this barrier.
Infection, Viral Dissemination, and Antibody Responses of Rhesus Macaques Exposed to the Human Gammaretrovirus XMRV
Authors: Onlamoon Nattawat , Das Gupta Jaydip , Sharma Prachi , Rogers Kenneth , Suppiah Suganthi , Rhea Jeanne , Molinaro Ross J. , Gaughan Christina , Dong Beihua , Klein Eric A. , Qiu Xiaoxing , Devare Sushil , Schochetman Gerald , Hackett John , Silverman Robert H. , Villinger François 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACT

Xenotropic murine leukemia-related virus (XMRV) was identified in association with human prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. To examine the infection potential, kinetics, and tissue distribution of XMRV in an animal model, we inoculated five macaques with XMRV intravenously. XMRV established a persistent, chronic disseminated infection, with low transient viremia and provirus in blood lymphocytes during acute infection. Although undetectable in blood after about a month, XMRV viremia was reactivated at 9 months, confirming the chronicity of the infection. Furthermore, XMRV Gag was detected in tissues throughout, with wide dissemination throughout the period of monitoring. Surprisingly, XMRV infection showed organ-specific cell tropism, infecting CD4 T cells in lymphoid organs including the gastrointestinal lamina propria, alveolar macrophages in lung, and epithelial/interstitial cells in other organs, including the reproductive tract. Of note, in spite of the intravenous inoculation, extensive XMRV replication was noted in prostate during acute but not chronic infection even though infected cells were still detectable by fluorescence
in situ
hybridization (FISH) in prostate at 5 and 9 months postinfection. Marked lymphocyte activation occurred immediately postinfection, but antigen-specific cellular responses were undetectable. Antibody responses were elicited and boosted upon reexposure, but titers decreased rapidly, suggesting low antigen stimulation over time. Our findings establish a nonhuman primate model to study XMRV replication/dissemination, transmission, pathogenesis, immune responses, and potential future therapies.
Asymptotically Pseudocontractions, Banach Operator Pairs and Best Simultaneous Approximations
Authors: Hussain N 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe existence of common fixed points is established for the mappings where "Equation missing" is asymptotically "Equation missing"-pseudo-contraction on a nonempty subset of a Banach space. As applications, the invariant best simultaneous approximation and strong convergence results are proved. Presented results are generalizations of very recent fixed point and approximation theorems of Khan and Akbar (2009), Chen and Li (2007), Pathak and Hussain (2008), and several others.