bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mild anemia is frequent and associated with micro‐ and macroangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ito Hiroyuki , Takeuchi Yuichiro , Ishida Hidenori , Otawa Aya , Shibayama Akane , Antoku Shinichi , Abe Mariko , Mifune Mizuo , Togane Michiko 
Published: August 2010

AbstractAims/Introduction:  The present study investigated the frequency of mild anemia, which is not an indication of intensive therapy using drugs, in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the association of mild anemia with diabetic complications.Materials and Methods:  This is a cross‐sectional study of 1189 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level <13.5 g/dL in men and <12.0 g/dL in women. The patients with anemia were divided into two groups: (i) grade 1 anemia with a hemoglobin level ≥11.0 g/dL; and (ii) grade 2 anemia with a hemoglobin level <11.0 g/dL.Results:  The prevalence of anemia increased with the progression of the stage of diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. The frequencies of diabetic micro‐ and macroangiopathies increased with the progression of anemia among 798 patients without anemia, 300 with grade 1 anemia and 91 with grade 2 anemia. Both grade 1 and grade 2 anemia were associated with diabetic micro‐ and macroangiopathies. They remained independently associated with diabetic retinopathy, coronary heart disease and peripheral arterial disease after adjustment by age, sex, body mass index, use of angiotensin II receptor blocker, estimated glomerular filtration rate and stage of diabetic nephropathy.Conclusions:  Mild anemia is frequent and associated with micro‐ and macroangiopathies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is important to carry out intensive examinations for the detection of diabetic micro‐ and macroangiopathies in addition to evaluating the causes of anemia when mild anemia is found in patients with diabetes mellitus. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2010.00060.x, 2010)
Near‐field radiofrequency thermoacoustic tomography with impulse excitation
Authors: Razansky Daniel , Kellnberger Stephan , Ntziachristos Vasilis 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:Imaging performance of radiofrequency and microwave‐based thermoacoustic tomography systems is mainly determined by the ability to deposit a substantial amount of electromagnetic energy within ultrashort time duration. Pulses of nanosecond‐range duration that can carry hundreds of millijoules energy are ideal for obtaining good signal‐to‐noise and spatial resolution in many biological imaging applications. However, existing implementations are based on modulated‐carrier‐frequency amplification solutions, which are generally costly and cannot achieve ultrahigh‐peak‐power requirements essential for optimal thermoacoustic signal generation.Methods:Herein the authors suggest and experimentally validate a near‐field radiofrequency tomography (NRT) method for high resolution imaging of biological tissues using ultrashort electromagnetic impulses. The solution includes a low‐cost pulsing system while the imaged objects are placed in the near field of the energy‐emitting aperture for improved coupling using nonradiative fields.Results:In the current design, the authors were able to achieve excitation impulse energies of hundreds of millijoules with durations in the order of a few nanoseconds, corresponding to peak power levels of multiple megawatts. The phantom imaging experiments demonstrated image features with characteristic sizes of around, but the impulse durations used herein allow in principle spatial resolutions in the order of a few tens of microns when using an appropriate ultrasonic detection bandwidth.Conclusions:The proposed NRT method makes it possible to attain very high spatial resolution without compromising the thermoacoustic signal strength. This makes the imaging performance to be limited by the available bandwidth of the ultrasonic detector rather than by the microwave pulse duration. It is overall expected that the combination of pulsed near‐field coupling with optimal choice of energy dissipation elements will generate a practical modality that can scale its application to small and larger volumes alike, while optimally adjusting the resolution to match the acoustic resolution possible. Such an approach should find several applications in small animal and clinical imaging.
Improved accuracy of cortical bone mineralization measured by polychromatic microcomputed tomography using a novel high mineral density composite calibration phantom
Authors: Deuerling Justin M. , Rudy David J. , Niebur Glen L. , Roeder Ryan K. 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:Microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) is increasingly used as a nondestructive alternative to ashing for measuring bone mineral content. Phantoms are utilized to calibrate the measured x‐ray attenuation to discrete levels of mineral density, typically including levels up to, which encompasses levels of bone mineral density (BMD) observed in trabecular bone. However, levels of BMD observed in cortical bone and levels of tissue mineral density (TMD) in both cortical and trabecular bone typically exceed , requiring extrapolation of the calibration regression, which may result in error. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the relationship between x‐ray attenuation and an expanded range of hydroxyapatite (HA) density in a less attenuating polymer matrix and (2) the effects of the calibration on the accuracy of subsequent measurements of mineralization in human cortical bone specimens.Methods:A novel HA‐polymer composite phantom was prepared comprising a less attenuating polymer phase (polyethylene) and an expanded range of HA density inclusive of characteristic levels of BMD in cortical bone or TMD in cortical and trabecular bone. The BMD and TMD of cortical bone specimens measured using the new HA‐polymer calibration phantom were compared to measurements using a conventional HA‐polymer phantom comprising and the corresponding ash density measurements on the same specimens.Results:The HA‐polymer composite phantom exhibited a nonlinear relationship between x‐ray attenuation and HA density, rather than the linear relationship typically employeda priori, and obviated the need for extrapolation, when calibrating the measured x‐ray attenuation to high levels of mineral density. The BMD and TMD of cortical bone specimens measured using the conventional phantom was significantly lower than the measured ash density by 19% (, ANCOVA) and 33% (, Tukey's HSD), on average, respectively. The BMD and TMD of cortical bone specimens measured using the HA‐polymer phantom with an expanded range of HA density was significantly lower than the measured ash density by 8% (, ANCOVA) and 10% (, Tukey's HSD), on average, respectively.Conclusions:The new HA‐polymer calibration phantom with a less attenuating polymer and an expanded range of HA density resulted in a more accurate measurement of micro‐CT equivalent BMD and TMD in human cortical bone specimens compared to a conventional phantom, as verified by ash density measurements on the same specimens.
A simple method for estimating the noise level in a signal region of an MR image
Authors: Steckner Michael C. 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:A simple extension to the NEMA MS‐1 “difference of neighboring pixels” SNR method is presented, which can accurately determine the noise level within a signal region over a wide range of noise levels, image nonuniformities, and artifact levels, as demonstrated by simple simulations and experimental phantom images.Methods:The new method computes difference of neighboring pixels in the read, phase, and diagonal directions. The variance of these three sets of pixel differences appear to contain the simple sum of the underlying variance of noise and any additional component unique to the read and phase directions, respectively, while the diagonal set of pixel differences contains all three components. By solving a set of three equations with three unknowns, it is possible to extract the components and isolate the desired noise variance term.Results:Simulations show that the technique produces good results even when various artifact mechanisms present singly or jointly. Experimental results also demonstrate the technique works well but, depending on the severity of the artifact, cannot be guaranteed to always produce accurate results.Conclusions:Simulations and experimental results show the method to be accurate and robust. This method is applicable to multichannel receiver images, but not parallel reconstructed images.
A fast optimization algorithm for multicriteria intensity modulated proton therapy planning
Authors: Chen Wei , Craft David , Madden Thomas M. , Zhang Kewu , Kooy Hanne M. , Herman Gabor T. 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:To describe a fast projection algorithm for optimizing intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans and to describe and demonstrate the use of this algorithm in multicriteria IMPT planning.Methods:The authors develop a projection‐based solver for a class of convex optimization problems and apply it to IMPT treatment planning. The speed of the solver permits its use in multicriteria optimization, where several optimizations are performed which span the space of possible treatment plans. The authors describe a plan database generation procedure which is customized to the requirements of the solver. The optimality precision of the solver can be specified by the user.Results:The authors apply the algorithm to three clinical cases: A pancreas case, an esophagus case, and a tumor along the rib cage case. Detailed analysis of the pancreas case shows that the algorithm is orders of magnitude faster than industry‐standard general purpose algorithms (MOSEK's interior point optimizer, primal simplex optimizer, and dual simplex optimizer). Additionally, the projection solver has almost no memory overhead.Conclusions:The speed and guaranteed accuracy of the algorithm make it suitable for use in multicriteria treatment planning, which requires the computation of several diverse treatment plans. Additionally, given the low memory overhead of the algorithm, the method can be extended to include multiple geometric instances and proton range possibilities, for robust optimization.
Synthesis and Spectrum of the Neoglycoside ACHN-490
Authors: Aggen James B. , Armstrong Eliana S. , Goldblum Adam A. , Dozzo Paola , Linsell Martin S. , Gliedt Micah J. , Hildebrandt Darin J. , Feeney Lee Ann , Kubo Aya , Matias Rowena D. , Lopez Sara , Gomez Marcela , Wlasichuk Kenneth B. , Diokno Raymond , Miller George H. , Moser Heinz E. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

ACHN-490 is a neoglycoside, or “next-generation” aminoglycoside (AG), that has been identified as a potentially useful agent to combat drug-resistant bacteria emerging in hospitals and health care facilities around the world. A focused medicinal chemistry campaign produced a collection of over 400 sisomicin analogs from which ACHN-490 was selected. We tested ACHN-490 against two panels of Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens, many of which harbored AG resistance mechanisms. Unlike legacy AGs, ACHN-490 was active against strains expressing known AG-modifying enzymes, including the three most common such enzymes found in
Enterobacteriaceae
. ACHN-490 inhibited the growth of AG-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
(MIC
90
, ≤4 μg/ml), with the exception of
Proteus mirabilis
and indole-positive
Proteae
(MIC
90
, 8 μg/ml and 16 μg/ml, respectively). ACHN-490 was more active alone
in vitro
against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates with AG-modifying enzymes than against those with altered permeability/efflux. The MIC
90
of ACHN-490 against AG-resistant staphylococci was 2 μg/ml. Due to its promising
in vitro
and
in vivo
profiles, ACHN-490 has been advanced into clinical development as a new antibacterial agent.
A
mec
A
-Negative Strain of Methicillin-Resistant
S
taphylococcus
aureus
with High-Level β-Lactam Resistance Contains Mutations in Three Genes
Authors: Banerjee Ritu , Gretes Michael , Harlem Christopher , Basuino Li , Chambers Henry F. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

We previously generated a ceftobiprole-resistant
S
taphylococcus
aureus
strain after high inoculum serial passage of a
mec
A
-negative variant of strain COL (R. Banerjee, M. Gretes, L. Basuino, N. Strynadka, and H. F. Chambers, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52:2089-2096, 2008). Genome resequencing of this strain, CRB, revealed that it differs from its parent by five single-nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes, specifically, those encoding PBP4, a low-molecular-weight penicillin-binding protein, GdpP, a predicted signaling protein, and AcrB, a cation multidrug efflux transporter. CRB displayed resistance to a variety of β-lactams but was hypersusceptible to cefoxitin.
Comparative Analysis of
Myxococcus
Predation on Soil Bacteria
Authors: Morgan Andrew D. , MacLean R. Craig , Hillesland Kristina L. , Velicer Gregory J. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Predator-prey relationships among prokaryotes have received little attention but are likely to be important determinants of the composition, structure, and dynamics of microbial communities. Many species of the soil-dwelling myxobacteria are predators of other microbes, but their predation range is poorly characterized. To better understand the predatory capabilities of myxobacteria in nature, we analyzed the predation performance of numerous
Myxococcus
isolates across 12 diverse species of bacteria. All predator isolates could utilize most potential prey species to effectively fuel colony expansion, although one species hindered predator swarming relative to a control treatment with no growth substrate. Predator strains varied significantly in their relative performance across prey types, but most variation in predatory performance was determined by prey type, with Gram-negative prey species supporting more
Myxococcus
growth than Gram-positive species. There was evidence for specialized predator performance in some predator-prey combinations. Such specialization may reduce resource competition among sympatric strains in natural habitats. The broad prey range of the
Myxococcus
genus coupled with its ubiquity in the soil suggests that myxobacteria are likely to have very important ecological and evolutionary effects on many species of soil prokaryotes.
Broad Conservation of Milk Utilization Genes inBifidobacterium longumsubsp.infantisas Revealed by Comparative Genomic Hybridization
Authors: LoCascio Riccardo G. , Desai Prerak , Sela David A. , Weimer Bart , Mills David A. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are the third-largest solid component of milk. Their structural complexity renders them nondigestible to the host but liable to hydrolytic enzymes of the infant colonic microbiota. Bifidobacteria and, frequently,Bifidobacterium longumstrains predominate the colonic microbiota of exclusively breast-fed infants. Among the three recognized subspecies ofB. longum,B. longumsubsp.infantisachieves high levels of cell growth on HMOs and is associated with early colonization of the infant gut. TheB. longumsubsp.infantisATCC 15697 genome features five distinct gene clusters with the predicted capacity to bind, cleave, and import milk oligosaccharides. Comparative genomic hybridizations (CGHs) were used to associate genotypic biomarkers among 15B. longumstrains exhibiting various HMO utilization phenotypes and host associations. Multilocus sequence typing provided taxonomic subspecies designations and grouped the strains betweenB. longumsubsp.infantisandB. longumsubsp.longum. CGH analysis determined that HMO utilization gene regions are exclusively conserved across allB. longumsubsp.infantisstrains capable of growth on HMOs and have diverged inB. longumsubsp.longumstrains that cannot grow on HMOs. These regions contain fucosidases, sialidases, glycosyl hydrolases, ABC transporters, and family 1 solute binding proteins and are likely needed for efficient metabolism of HMOs. Urea metabolism genes and their activity were exclusively conserved inB. longumsubsp.infantis. These results imply that theB. longumhas at least two distinct subspecies:B. longumsubsp.infantis, specialized to utilize milk carbon, andB. longumsubsp.longum, specialized for plant-derived carbon metabolism.
Bartonella
Genotypes in Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) Collected from Rodents in the Negev Desert, Israel
Authors: Morick Danny , Krasnov Boris R. , Khokhlova Irina S. , Shenbrot Georgy I. , Kosoy Michael Y. , Harrus Shimon 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

Fleas collected from rodents in the Negev Desert in southern Israel were molecularly screened for
Bartonella
species. A total of 1,148 fleas, collected from 122 rodents belonging to six species, were pooled in 245 pools based on flea species, sex, and rodent host species. Two
Bartonella
gene fragments, corresponding to RNA polymerase B (
rpoB
) and citrate synthase (
gltA
), were targeted, and 94 and 74 flea pools were found positive by PCR, respectively. The
Bartonella
16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was also targeted, and 66 flea pools were found to be positive by PCR. Sixteen different
Bartonella gltA
genotypes were detected in 94 positive flea pools collected from 5 different rodent species, indicating that fleas collected from each rodent species can harbor several
Bartonella
genotypes. Based on
gltA
analysis, identified
Bartonella
genotypes were highly similar or identical to strains previously detected in rodent species from different parts of the world. A
gltA
fragment 100% similar to
Bartonella henselae
was detected in one flea pool. Another 2 flea pools contained
gltA
fragments that were closely related to
B. henselae
(98% similarity). The high sequence similarities to the zoonotic pathogen
B. henselae
warrant further investigation.
Development of a Genetic System for Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Lipopeptides in
Streptomyces fradiae
and Heterologous Expression of the A54145 Biosynthesis Gene Cluster
Authors: Alexander Dylan C. , Rock Jessica , He Xiaowei , Brian Paul , Miao Vivian , Baltz Richard H. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

A54145 factors are calcium-dependent lipopeptide antibiotics produced by
Streptomyces fradiae
NRRL 18160. A54145 is structurally related to the clinically important daptomycin, and as such may be a useful scaffold for the development of a novel lipopeptide antibiotic. We developed methods to genetically manipulate
S. fradiae
by deletion mutagenesis and conjugal transfer of plasmids from
Escherichia coli
. Cloning the complete pathway on a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector and the construction of ectopic
trans
-complementation with plasmids utilizing the φC31 or φBT1 site-specific integration system allowed manipulation of A54145 biosynthesis. The BAC clone pDA2002 was shown to harbor the complete A54145 biosynthesis gene cluster by heterologous expression in
Streptomyces ambofaciens
and
Streptomyces roseosporus
strains in yields of >100 mg/liter.
S. fradiae
mutants defective in LptI methyltransferase function were constructed, and they produced only A54145 factors containing glutamic acid (Glu
12
), at the expense of factors containing 3-methyl-glutamic acid (3mGlu
12
). This provided a practical route to produce high levels of pure Glu
12
-containing lipopeptides. A suite of mutant strains and plasmids was created for combinatorial biosynthesis efforts focused on modifying the A54145 peptide backbone to generate a compound with daptomycin antibacterial activity and activity in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
pulmonary infections.
Link between Phosphate Starvation and Glycogen Metabolism in
Corynebacterium glutamicum
, Revealed by Metabolomics
Authors: Woo Han Min , Noack Stephan , Seibold Gerd M. , Willbold Sabine , Eikmanns Bernhard J. , Bott Michael 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT

In this study, we analyzed the influence of phosphate (P
i
) limitation on the metabolism of
Corynebacterium glutamicum
. Metabolite analysis by gas chromatography-time-of-flight (GC-TOF) mass spectrometry of cells cultivated in glucose minimal medium revealed a greatly increased maltose level under P
i
limitation. As maltose formation could be linked to glycogen metabolism, the cellular glycogen content was determined. Unlike in cells grown under P
i
excess, the glycogen level in P
i
-limited cells remained high in the stationary phase. Surprisingly, even acetate-grown cells, which do not form glycogen under P
i
excess, did so under P
i
limitation and also retained it in stationary phase. Expression of
pgm
and
glgC
, encoding the first two enzymes of glycogen synthesis, phosphoglucomutase and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, was found to be increased 6- and 3-fold under P
i
limitation, respectively. Increased glycogen synthesis together with a decreased glycogen degradation might be responsible for the altered glycogen metabolism. Independent from these experimental results, flux balance analysis suggested that an increased carbon flux to glycogen is a solution for
C. glutamicum
to adapt carbon metabolism to limited P
i
concentrations.
Intentional injuries among Ugandan youth: a trauma registry analysis
Authors: Mutto Milton , Lett Ronald , Lawoko Stephen , Nansamba Catherine , Svanstrom Leif 
Published: August 2010

PurposeTo determine intentional injury burden, incident characteristics, and outcomes among Ugandan youth.MethodsA cross sectional analysis of trauma registry data from accident and emergency units of five regional referral hospitals was conducted. Data had been prospectively collected from all patients accessing injury care at the five sites between July 2004 and June 2005: youth records were analysed.ResultsIntentional injuries among youth victims, especially school-age males, are common in all five regions, constituting 7.3% of their injury burden with a male dominance. Intentional youth victimisation mainly occurred at home, on roads, and in public places; incidents were largely due to blunt force, stabs/cuts, and gunshots in general, although variations in causes were evident depending on age. Intentional injuries among the youth victims often manifested as head, neck, and face injuries: 2% were severe and there were 4%case fatalities at 2 weeks.Conclusions and recommendationsIntentional injuries among youth victims, especially school-age males, are important contributors of injury burden in all five sites. Homes, roads, and public places are unsafe for Ugandan youth. Although guns were used in all five sites, less lethal mechanisms (blunt force, stabs/cuts, and burns) are the most common with variations between locations. Incidents involving teenage housewives could reflect underlying problem of domestic violence. Community based studies could be highly informative. Youth should be prioritised for prevention of injuries both in and out of school.