bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Induced sputum nitrites correlate with FEV1in children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Anil N , Singh M , Rajwanshi A , Vohra H. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractAim: To determine the difference in the levels of nitrites in induced sputum of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and controls. Furthermore, to evaluate the association between induced sputum nitrites and lung function in children with CF.Methods: Nitrites, cell differentials, white blood cell count, were estimated in induced sputum of 20 children with CF and 10 age‐matched healthy controls. Nitrites in induced sputum samples were measured using the Greiss assay. Lung function was ascertained by spirometry.Results: We observed high levels of nitrites in CF (184.8 ± 11.07 μM/L) versus controls (56.4 ± 5.7 μM/L) (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between neturophil percent and nitrites, white blood cell count and nitrites (p < 0.05) in children with CF was observed. Sputum nitrites correlated negatively with FEV1(p < 0.05) in children with CF.Conclusion: Induced sputum nitrite could serve as a useful non invasive marker for assessing the degree of inflammation in the airways of children with CF.
Duration of hospitalization and appetite of HIV‐infected South African children
Authors: Mda Siyazi , van Raaij Joop M.A. , MacIntyre Una E. , de Villiers François P.R. , Kok Frans J. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected children generally show poor growth. Episodes of diarrhoea and pneumonia in HIV‐infected children are thought to be more severe than in HIV‐uninfected children. The objective of this study was to compare duration of hospitalization, appetite and nutritional status of HIV‐infected children with that of uninfected children. A cross‐sectional study was performed on children (2–24 months) admitted with diarrhoea or pneumonia to the university hospital. Children were tested for HIV, and the duration of hospitalization was noted for 189 children. Follow‐up for blood analysis (n = 154) and appetite measurement (n = 48) was performed 4–8 weeks after discharge. Appetite was measured as ad libitum intake of a commercial infant cereal using highly standardized procedures. Hospitalization (in days) was significantly longer in HIV‐infected children; among children admitted with diarrhoea (5.9 ± 1.9 vs. 3.8 ± 1.5) (mean ± standard deviation) and with pneumonia (9.0 ± 2.5 vs. 5.9 ± 1.9). Serum zinc, iron and transferrin concentrations, and haemoglobin levels were significantly lower in HIV‐infected children compared with uninfected children. Appetites [amounts eaten (g) per kg body weight] of HIV‐infected children were significantly poorer than those of HIV‐uninfected children (18.6 ± 5.8 vs. 25.2 ± 7.4). The eating rates (g min−1) of HIV‐infected children were also slower (17.6 ± 6.2 vs. 10.1 ± 3.7) Mean Z‐scores for length‐for‐age were significantly lower among HIV‐infected children compared with HIV‐uninfected children. Weight‐for‐length Z‐scores were not significantly different. In summary, HIV‐infected children had a 55% longer duration of hospitalization and a 21% lower appetite.
Type II-P supernovae as standardized candles: improvements using near-infrared data
Authors: Maguire K. , Kotak R. , Smartt S. J. , Pastorello A. , Hamuy M. , Bufano F. 
Published: January 2010

Abstract
We present the first near-infrared Hubble diagram for Type II-P supernovae (SNe), to further explore their value as distance indicators. We use a modified version of the standardized candle method, which relies on the tight correlation between the absolute magnitudes of Type II-P SNe and their expansion velocities during the plateau phase. Although our sample contains only 12 II-P SNe and they are necessarily local (z &lt; 0.02), we demonstrate using near-infrared JHK photometry that it may be possible to reduce the scatter in the Hubble diagram to 0.1–0.15 mag. While this is potentially similar to the dispersion seen for Type Ia SNe, we caution that this needs to be confirmed with a larger sample of II-P SNe in the Hubble flow.
ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS OF LAB ISOLATED FROM WAKALIM, A TRADITIONAL ETHIOPIAN FERMENTED SAUSAGE
Authors: BACHA KETEMA , MEHARI TETEMKE , ASHENAFI MOGESSIE 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTWakalim is a traditional Ethiopian spiced fermented beef sausage. In this study, 168 lactic acid bacteria strains isolated during the fermentation of wakalim were evaluated for their antimicrobial resistance patterns. All of the isolates tested were sensitive to Amp, Pen, Ery, Cep, Aml, and Tet. Among the Lactobacillus isolates, the most frequent resistance was noted for methicillin (96%), followed by resistance to streptomycin (85%), vancomycin (72%), kanamycin (47%), and gentamycin (38%). The most frequent resistance among Pediococcus isolates was observed for vancomycin and streptomycin (96% each), followed by resistance to kanamycin (84%), gentamicin (55%), and methicillin (30%). A total of 13 multiple drug resistance (MDR) patterns were detected. About 42% of the isolates showed MDR to four drugs, 29% to five drugs, and 2% to six drugs. The most frequent MDR pattern was Van/Str/Kan/Gen/Met and was seen in 42% of the isolates. This pattern was seen in Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella isolates, but was the most frequent pattern in Pediococcus isolates (41%). Our Lactobacillus isolates showed 10 different MDR patterns, with Van/Str/Gen/Met (21%) and Van/Str/Met (19%) being the most frequent patterns. Our isolates were not reservoirs of transferable resistance genes for tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin, penicillin G, cephalothin, and amoxicillin.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONIntrinsic resistance of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to many antibiotics may be considered as advantageous for those with probiotic potential. This would help to sustainably utilize the strains in the intestine to maintain the natural balance of intestinal microflora during antibiotic treatments. However, there is the danger of transferring multiple drug resistance to pathogens in the intestinal environment. The susceptibility of our LAB isolates, on the other hand, to the most frequently used clinically important antimicrobials is beneficial as it minimizes the chances of disseminating resistance genes to pathogens both in the food matrix and/or in the gastrointestinal tract. It could, thus, be concluded that our isolates are not reservoirs of transferable resistance genes for tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin, penicillin G, cephalothin and amoxicillin. This is particularly important because our traditional fermented sausage product, wakalim, is also consumed without any further heat treatment, and some of the LAB isolates exhibited in vitro probiotic potential.
MODELING OF TEXTURE EVOLUTION OF CAKES DURING STORAGE
Authors: GÓMEZ MANUEL , RUIZ‐PARÍS ELENA , OLIETE BONASTRE , PANDO VALENTÍN 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT The aim of this work is to model the variation of texture parameters in cakes during staling. The evolution was studied in layer cakes (cake A) and sponge cakes (cake B). The effect of storage temperature and the addition of fiber, xanthan gum (cake A) and emulsifier (cake B) were also studied. The best model to adjust the texture parameters variation during storage in both kinds of cakes was square root x (y = a + b * x1/2), except for firmness and springiness in cakes B. Firmness and springiness were adjusted the best to the linear model. In the model, y stood for the textural parameters and x for the time. a and b were related to the initial value of the studied parameter and with its change over time respectively. In both kinds of cakes, A and B, the firmness and gumminess increased, and the cohesiveness, springiness and resilience decreased, as the storage time increased. The increase in the storage temperature and the addition of fiber minimized the firmness changes in both kinds of cakes.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis methodology simplifies the study of cake textural parameters during storage and the result interpretation. Moreover, the correlation analysis has demonstrated that the number of textural parameters of cakes to study can be reduced.
Seasonal Variation in Measured Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure of Adults in Subtropical Australia
Authors: Neale Rachel E. , Hamilton Abbey R. , Janda Monika , Gies Peter , Green Adele C. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractGenerating accurate population‐specific public health messages regarding sun protection requires knowledge about seasonal variation in sun exposure in different environments. To address this issue for a subtropical area of Australia, we used polysulphone badges to measure UVR for the township of Nambour (26° latitude) and personal UVR exposure among Nambour residents who were taking part in a skin cancer prevention trial. Badges were worn by participants for two winter and two summer days. The ambient UVR was approximately three times as high in summer as in winter. However, participants received more than twice the proportion of available UVR in winter as in summer (6.5%vs 2.7%, P < 0.05), resulting in an average ratio of summer to winter personal UVR exposure of 1.35. The average absolute difference in daily dose between summer and winter was only one‐seventh of a minimal erythemal dose. Extrapolating from our data, we estimate that ca. 42% of the total exposure received in the 6 months of winter (June–August) and summer (December–February) is received during the three winter months. Our data show that in Queensland a substantial proportion of people’s annual UVR dose is obtained in winter, underscoring the need for dissemination of sun protection messages throughout the year in subtropical and tropical climates.
Does A1c consistently reflect mean plasma glucose?
Authors: SHROM David , SARWAT Samiha , ILAG Liza , BLOOMGARDEN Zachary T. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractBackground:  A1c, a surrogate measure of glycemic control, is known to have a strong linear correlation with mean plasma glucose (MPG) when analyzed in populations of patients. However, clinically significant intersubject variability in this relationship exists, which suggests that A1c measurements may not reflect actual glycemic control in some patients. In the present study we explored the extent to which A1c accurately represents glycemic control, as measured by MPG, for individual patients.Methods:  Data were pooled from randomized clinical trials in which A1c and self‐monitored plasma glucose (SMPG) profiles were collected by patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin analog regimens. MPG levels were calculated from SMPG profiles. Distributions of MPG were analyzed for patients within similar ranges of A1c (<6.5%, 6.5%–<7.5%, 7.5%–<8.5%, 8.5%–<9.5%, and ≥9.5%) and distributions of A1c were analyzed in patients within similar ranges of MPG (<6.1, 6.1–<7.8, 7.8–<9.4, 9.4–<11.1, and ≥11.1 mmol/L).Results:  Substantial proportions of patients had clinically significant differences between A1c and MPG. For example, among 260 patients with A1c between 6.5% and 7.5%, 10% had MPG levels <6.4 mmol/L, whereas 10% had MPG >9.5 mmol/L. Among the 224 patients with MPG levels ≥6.1 mmol/L and <7.8 mmol/L, 10% had A1c <6% and 10% had A1c >8.1%.Conclusions:  In the absence of SMPG, A1c may inadequately represent glycemic control for many diabetic patients.
Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and risk of serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: KATIKIREDDI Veera S. , WHITTLE Samuel L. , HILL Catherine L. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractTumour necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated significant clinical and radiological benefits in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, they have important adverse effects including an association with infection. Results from current studies, including meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials and observational studies, are conflicting regarding the risk of serious infection in RA patients treated with TNF inhibitors. The majority of data suggest an increased risk, in particular of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections, including tuberculosis. This increased risk of tuberculosis is of particular concern in the APLAR region. However, adverse event analysis remains a difficult area to study and decisions regarding initiation of TNF inhibitors must be made on a case‐by‐case basis after carefully considering the risks and benefits.
Interaction between Vibrio mimicus and Acanthamoeba castellanii
Authors: Abd Hadi , Valeru Soni Priya , Sami Susan Marouf , Saeed Amir , Raychaudhuri Saumya , Sandström Gunnar 
Published: January 2010

Summary Vibrio mimicus is a Gram‐negative bacterium, which causes gastroenteritis and is closely related to Vibrio cholerae. The environmental reservoir of this bacterium is far from defined. Acanthamoeba as well as Vibrio species are found in diverse aquatic environments. The present study was aimed to investigate the ability of A. castellanii to host V. mimicus, the role of bacterial protease on interaction with A. castellanii and to disclose the ability of cysts to protect intracellular V. mimicus. Co‐cultivation, viable counts, gentamicin assay, electron microscopy and statistical analysis showed that co‐cultivation of wild type and luxO mutant of V. mimicus strains with A. castellanii did not inhibit growth of the amoeba. On the other hand co‐cultivation enhanced growth and survival of V. mimicus strains. Vibrio mimicus showed intracellular behaviour because bacteria were found to be localized in the cytoplasm of amoeba trophozoites and remain viable for 14 days. The cysts protected intracellular V. mimicus from high level of gentamicin. The intracellular growth of V. mimicus in A. castellanii suggests a role of A. castellanii as a host for V. mimicus.
Uneven frequency of Vibrio alginolyticus‐group isolates among different populations of Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Authors: Thaller Maria C. , Ciambotta Marco , Sapochetti Manuela , Migliore Luciana , Tapia Whashington , Cedeño Virna , Gentile Gabriele 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThe presence of Vibrio isolates was investigated in cloacal swabs from the Galápagos marine iguana (Amblyrhyncus cristatus). Such unique iguana is endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, it is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (2009), and is strictly protected by CITES and Ecuador laws. Our results revealed an uneven isolation frequency of vibrios from animals living in different settings: maximal among the Santa Fe population, scarce at Bahía Tortuga but practically absent in the samples from Puerto Ayora and Plaza Sur. A 16S sequencing confirmed that the isolates belonged to the genus Vibrio, placing them within the V. alginolyticus group; the biochemical identification was, indeed, consistent with V. alginolyticus features. The reason of the observed discrepancy is not clear, but could be either linked to a higher pollution in the inhabited or more touristic places or to differential influence of chemical and physical parameters at a local scale. As V. alginolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen for man and it is known to cause disease in sea‐living animals, the ability of these vibrios to enter and persist to a certain extent in the marine iguana gut should be regarded as a risk for health of both the animals and the human personnel involved in monitoring activities.
Neuropathy induced by exogenously administered advanced glycation end‐products in rats
Authors: Nishizawa Yusuke , Wada Ryu‐ichi , Baba Masayuki , Takeuchi Masayoshi , Hanyu‐Itabashi Chieko , Yagihashi Soroku 
Published: January 2010

AbstractAims/Introduction:  Advanced glycation end‐products (AGE) have been implicated in the development of diabetic neuropathy. It still remains unknown, however, how AGE cause functional and structural changes of the peripheral nerve in diabetes. To explore the role of AGE in diabetic neuropathy, we examined the peripheral nerve by injecting AGE into normal Wistar rats.Materials and Methods:  Young, normal male Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily for 12 weeks with purified AGE prepared by incubating D‐glucose with bovine serum albumin (BSA). A control group received BSA alone. A group of rats given AGE were co‐treated with aminoguanidine (50 mg/kg/day, i.p.). Peripheral nerve function and structure, as well as nerve Na+,K+‐ATPase activity, were examined in these rats. Immunohistochemical expressions of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB)p65 were also examined.Results:  Serum AGE levels were increased two to threefold in the AGE‐treated group compared with those in the BSA‐treated control group. AGE‐treated rats showed a marked slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and decreased nerve Na+,K+‐ATPase activity compared with those in the BSA‐treated group. These changes were accompanied by intensified expressions of 8OHdG and NF‐κBp65 in endothelial cells and Schwann cells. Aminoguanidine treatment corrected MNCV delay, Na+,K+‐ATPase activity, and suppressed the expression of 8OHdG and NF‐κB, despite there being no influence on serum AGE levels.Conclusions:  The results suggest that an elevated concentration of blood AGE might be one of the contributing factors to the development of neuropathic changes in diabetes.
Rules for Biologically Inspired Adaptive Network Design
Authors: Tero Atsushi , Takagi Seiji , Saigusa Tetsu , Ito Kentaro , Bebber Dan P. , Fricker Mark D. , Yumiki Kenji , Kobayashi Ryo , Nakagaki Toshiyuki 
Published: January 2010

Miniature Transport EngineersIn its vegetative phase, the slime moldPhysarum polycephalum“slimes” its way through the world seeking food. As it explores, it links previously found food sources with tubular structures.Teroet al.(p.439) report that if food sources are deposited on a plate in a pattern corresponding in miniature to the positions of the cities that surround Tokyo, the resulting network ofPhysarumtubules that develops is rather similar in structure to the railroad network that connects the Japanese cities. A model was produced that describes the adaptive network development displayed by the slime mold. This biologically inspired model might provide insight into how to implement properties like resistance of transport systems to local failures into similar human-designed systems.
Nasolacrimal Duct Closure Modulates Ocular Mucosal and Systemic CD4+T-Cell Responses Induced following Topical Ocular or Intranasal Immunization
Authors: Chentoufi Aziz Alami , Dasgupta Gargi , Nesburn Anthony B. , Bettahi Ilham , Binder Nicholas R. , Choudhury Zareen S. , Chamberlain Winston D. , Wechsler Steven L. , BenMohamed Lbachir 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTBoth topical ocular and topical intranasal immunizations have been reported to stimulate the ocular mucosal immune system (OMIS) and the systemic immune system. Nasolacrimal ducts (NLDs) are the connecting bridges between the OMIS and nasal cavity-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT). These ducts drain topical ocularly administrated solutions into the inferior meatus of the nose to reach the NALT. Inversely, NLDs also drain intranasally administrated solutions to the mucosal surface of the eye and thus the OMIS. This unique anatomical connection between the OMIS and NALT systems provoked us to test whether the OMIS and NALT are immunologically interdependent. In this report, we show that both topical ocular administration and topical intranasal administration of a mixture of immunodominant CD4+T-cell epitope peptides from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) emulsified with the CpG2007mucosal adjuvant are capable of inducing local (in conjunctiva) as well as systemic (in spleen) HSV-peptide-specific CD4+T-cell responses. Interestingly, surgical closure of NLDs did not significantly alter local ocular mucosal CD4+T-cell responses induced following topical ocular immunization but did significantly enhance systemic CD4+T-cell responses (as measured by both T-cell proliferation and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production;P< 0.005). In contrast, NLD closure significantly decreased ocular mucosal, but not systemic, CD4+T-cell responses following intranasal administration of the same vaccine solution (P< 0.001). The study suggests that NALT and the OMIS are immunologically interconnected.
Expression of Homing Receptors on IgA1 and IgA2 Plasmablasts in Blood Reflects Differential Distribution of IgA1 and IgA2 in Various Body Fluids
Authors: Pakkanen Sari H. , Kantele Jussi M. , Moldoveanu Zina , Hedges Spencer , Häkkinen Miikka , Mestecky Jiri , Kantele Anu 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTAlthough secretory IgA is the most abundantly produced Ig isotype, the mechanisms underlying the differential distribution of IgA subclasses in various body fluids remain unclear. To explore these mechanisms, we examined the distribution of IgA subclasses, the influence of the nature and sites of encounters with antigens, and the correlation between IgA subclass distribution and homing potentials of circulating IgA plasmablasts. IgA1 predominated in serum, tears, nasal wash fluid, and saliva; the levels of IgA1 and IgA2 were comparable in vaginal wash fluid; and IgA2 predominated in intestinal lavage fluids. Seventy-one percent of circulating IgA plasmablasts secreted IgA1. The intestinal homing receptor (HR), α4β7, was expressed more frequently on IgA2 than on IgA1 plasmablasts, with no differences in the expression of other HRs. IgA subclass distribution among circulating antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) was dependent on the nature of the antigen: following vaccination withSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi, unconjugated pneumococcal polysaccharide, orHaemophilus influenzaepolysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugate, the proportions of specific IgA1 ASC were 74%, 47%, 56%, and 80%, respectively. HR expression depended on the route of administration: expression of HRs was different after oral than after parenteral vaccination, while no difference was seen between HR expression of antigen-specific IgA1 and IgA2 ASC induced via the same route. The key factors determining IgA subclass distribution in a given secretion are the nature of the antigens encountered at a particular site and the site-specific homing instructions given to lymphocytes at that site. These two factors are reflected as differences in the homing profiles of the total populations of circulating IgA1 and IgA2 plasmablasts.
Sequence Polymorphism and PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of the Flagellin Gene of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Tay Sun Tee , Cheah Pui Ching , Puthucheary Savithiri D. 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

Four flagellin allelic types (I to IV) of
Burkholderia pseudomallei
were identified based on their sequence variation and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the amplified flagellin gene. Flagellin allelic type I was the most predominantly (75.0%) found among the 100 clinical isolates of
B. pseudomallei
investigated in this study.
Evaluation of a Chromogenic Agar under Development To Screen for VRE Colonization
Authors: Kallstrom George , Doern Christopher D. , Dunne W. Michael 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACT

BBL CHROMagar VanRE (CVRE) was compared with bile esculin azide agar plus vancomycin to screen for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization. CVRE distinguishes
Enterococcus faecalis
(green colonies) from
Enterococcus faecium
(mauve colonies) on the basis of chromogenic substrate use. CVRE sensitivity and specificity were 98.6% and 99.1%. Positive and negative predictive values were 95.9% and 99.7%.