bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colonisation in adult patients with nosocomial candidemia
Authors: Gürcüoğlu Emel , Akalın Halis , Ener Beyza , Gedikoğlu Suna 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe aim of this prospective study was to investigate the association between Candida spp. isolated from blood culture and the colonisation of different anatomical sites of patients with candidemia, and to evaluate the colonisation dynamics and Pittet’s index. Cultures were collected from the different anatomical sites of all the patients within 24 h of diagnosis of candidemia. Molecular similarities between identical species colonised with Candida species were evaluated via karyotyping. The colonisation index, as developed by Pittet et al. was calculated using screening culture results from patients. Among the 40 patients screened for colonisation, 35 (87.5%) had colonisation of at least one anatomical site. Twenty‐six (74.3%) of the 35 patients with colonisation in any of the three anatomical sites (respiratory, rectum and urinary sites) were shown to be colonised with the same species that caused candidemia. When the anatomical sites were compared with each other, no significant difference was observed at the species level in terms of colonisation index. The colonisation index (≥0.5) positivity rate was 74% in patients with candidemia. The investigation of Candida colonisation of at least three anatomical (respiratory, rectum and urinary) sites could help in the selection of empirical antifungal therapy when nosocomial candidemia is suspected.
Heritability and correlations among food‐grade traits in soybean
Authors: Jaureguy Luciano M. , Chen Pengyin , Scaboo Andrew M. 
Published: September 2011

With 5 tablesAbstractSocietal changes towards healthier food have helped uncover the nutritional value and health benefits of soybeans. Hence, the development of food‐grade specialty cultivars has become a niche market for soybean breeders and producers. The objectives of this study were to estimate the heritability and correlations among five food‐grade traits: seed size, protein, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose concentration. We evaluated 98 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between a high protein line and a large‐seeded cultivar with moderate sucrose concentration at two locations in Arkansas for 2 years. Although food‐grade traits were significantly affected by year and location interactions, larger variability was attributed to differences among lines than to the line by location interaction for seed size, protein, sucrose and stachyose. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.46 to 0.86, so selection for genotypes with specific combination of these traits should be reliable. Because of a negative correlation (−0.68), selection for high sucrose will likely be accompanied by a reduction in protein. Our findings will help breeders develop efficient strategies for breeding food‐grade soybean cultivars.
Allelopathic potential of Triticum spp., Secale spp. and Triticosecale spp. and use of chromosome substitutions and translocations to improve weed suppression ability in winter wheat
Authors: Bertholdsson Nils‐Ove , Andersson Staffan C. , Merker Arnulf 
Published: September 2011

With 3 figures and 3 tablesAbstractA search was carried out for allelopathic sources among accessions of Triticum, Secale, Triticosecale and wheat–rye substitution and translocation lines to be used in breeding programmes to improve weed suppression ability of wheat. A bioassay with mustard as target plants was used for the screening. Mustard was chosen among seven tested target plants because it showed a particular high root growth inhibition when grown together with rye compared with wheat. None of the Triticum accessions studied showed potential allelopathic activity of interest for breeding, but most Triticosecale did. Several of the wheat–rye substitution and translocation lines also showed high allelopathic activity. The highest activity was found in lines with a substitution of 1R or 2R. Some multiple substitution lines and lines with only rye chromatin also showed high allelopathic activity. It is suggested that in vitro selection of wheat–rye substitution lines with high allelopathic potential with a bioassay with mustard as target plants could be used to improve weed suppression ability of wheat.
Follicle Formation in the Canine Ovary After Autografting to a Peripheral Site
Authors: Terazono T , Kaedei Y , Tanihara F , Namula Z , Viet VL , Takagi M , Inoue M , Sato Y , Taniguchi M , Otoi T 
Published: September 2011

ContentsThis study reports about follicular development on the surface of canine ovarian tissue after autografting under the fascia of the thoracolumbar muscle and about meiotic resumption of follicle‐derived oocyte after maturation culture. After ovarian excision from a bitch, each ovary of the pairs was cut approximately into half. The hemi‐ovaries were transplanted into the bitch of origin at three different body sites (under the fascia of the quadriceps femoris muscle and the thoracolumbar muscle, and in the deltoid muscle in the scapular region). All grafted ovaries were recovered from the bitch at 35 days post‐transplantation. A visible antral follicle was observed on the surface of the ovary grafted under the thoracolumbar fascia. Histological examination revealed viable follicles at different stages of development irrespective of graft site. Most granulosa cells in the follicles at different stages of development expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). A total of three oocytes were collected from an ovary grafted under the fascia of the thoracolumbar muscle, wherein an oocyte reached metaphase I after maturation culture. This is the first report to demonstrate follicular development and meiotic resumption of oocytes recovered from autografted canine ovarian tissues.
Discrimination between COPD patients with and without alpha 1‐antitrypsin deficiency using an electronic nose
Authors: HATTESOHL AKIRA D.M. , JÖRRES RUDOLF A. , DRESSEL HOLGER , SCHMID SEVERIN , VOGELMEIER CLAUS , GREULICH TIMM , NOESKE SARAH , BALS ROBERT , KOCZULLA ANDREAS REMBERT 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  To compare the volatile organic compound patterns of patients with COPD with and without alpha 1‐antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency using electronic nose technology.Methods:  Exhaled breath condensate and pure exhaled breath of patients with COPD with (n = 10) and without (n = 23) AAT deficiency and healthy controls (n = 10) were analysed. The effect of human recombinant AAT on the volatile organic compound profile of 11 AAT‐deficient patients was also examined. Exhaled breath condensate and pure exhaled breath were measured using the Cyranose 320. Smell prints were analysed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) using Mahalanobis distance (MD) and cross‐validation values (CVVs).Results:  Smell prints of patients with AAT‐deficiency were different from those with COPD in exhaled breath condensate (LDA: P < 0.0001, sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 1.00, CVV 82.0%, MD 2.37) and in pure exhaled breath (LDA: P < 0.0001, sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 1.00, CVV 58.3%, MD 2.27). Smell prints of AAT‐deficient patients before and after human recombinant AAT augmentation were different (LDA: P = 0.001, sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 1.00, CVV 53.3%, MD 1.79).Conclusions:  An electronic nose can detect differences in smell prints of COPD patients with and without AAT deficiency. Augmentation therapy changes the volatile organic compound pattern. The electronic nose may be helpful in the diagnosis of AAT deficiency.
ATP‐binding cassette B1 gene polymorphisms, mRNA expression and chemosensitivity to paclitaxel in non‐small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: MENG XIANGNING , WANG GENG , LIU PENG , HOU JINGMEI , JIN YAN , YU YANG , BAI JING , CHEN FENG , SUN WENJING , FU SONGBIN 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐binding cassette, sub‐family B, member 1 (ABCB1) gene encodes P‐glycoprotein (Pgp), which plays an important role in drug disposition by limiting intracellular uptake of paclitaxel. ABCB1 gene polymorphisms may alter the expression and function of Pgp, thereby influencing the response to chemotherapy. A panel of 17 non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines was used to investigate whether alterations in the ABCB1 gene or its mRNA expression correlated with in vitro chemosensitivity to paclitaxel.Methods:  Polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene were evaluated by direct sequencing. mRNA expression levels were assessed by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription PCR. In vitro chemosensitivity to paclitaxel was expressed as half‐maximal inhibitory concentration values, using a tetrazolium (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide)‐based colorimetric assay.Results:  The variant allele frequencies for four ABCB1 gene polymorphisms were 14.71% for 2677G>T/A, 32.35% for 2734T>C, 23.53% for 3396C>T and 76.47% for 3435C>T. There was a significant positive correlation between ABCB1 mRNA expression and half‐maximal inhibitory concentration values for paclitaxel (r = 0.5322, P = 0.0279). None of the four ABCB1 gene polymorphisms were associated with paclitaxel chemosensitivity or ABCB1 mRNA expression in the 17 cell lines.Conclusions:  These in vitro results suggest that high ABCB1 mRNA expression may be a predictive biomarker for poor chemosensitivity to paclitaxel. The panel of NSCLC cell lines may provide clues and indications for establishing clinically useful relationships between a given polymorphism or level of gene expression and chemosensitivity to an anti‐cancer agent.
Effects of temperature and light on germination and early seedling development of the pine pink orchid (Bletia purpurea)
Authors: JOHNSON TIMOTHY R. , KANE MICHAEL E. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractOrchid seed physiology is a poorly understood phenomenon owing to an emphasis on production and the challenges associated with propagating orchids from minute seed. We investigated the role of simulated south Florida temperatures and illumination (dark and 12 h photoperiod) in regulating germination and seedling development using asymbiotic seed germination assays of Bletia purpurea. Our objectives were to determine whether in situ germination is limited by seasonal temperatures and to determine whether temperature alters responses to illumination. Bletia purpurea seeds were able to germinate to > 90% under all treatments. The greatest germination after 3 weeks was observed at 29/19°C under continual darkness and at 25°C under dark and illuminated conditions. The slowest germination was observed at simulated winter temperatures (22/11°C). Illumination initially inhibited germination and development, but resulted in equal or greater development by week six. Germination under 22/11°C was strongly inhibited by illumination, indicating an interaction between temperature and light sensing systems.
Quality of life in mothers of children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy
Authors: Oskay Deran , Öksüz Çiğdem , Akel Semin , Fırat Tüzün , Leblebicioğlu Gürsel 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground:  The aim of this study was to explore impairment in quality of life (QOL) of the mothers who were primarily responsible for taking care of children with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) and to state its association with the age, sex and functional status of the child with OBPP.Methods:  Ninety‐three mothers of children with OBPP and 88 mothers of children without any health problems were included in the study. Children's demographic characteristics were recorded and the functional status of the upper extremity was determined with the active movement scale. The QOL of the mothers was assessed with the Turkish version of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP).Results:  There were significant differences between mothers of children with OBPP and the control group in total, physical activity, energy expenditure, and pain score of the NHP. A decrease in energy expenditure and physical activity levels were found to be related to children's active movement scale results in elbow flexion and extension, and forearm supination. A statistically meaningful difference was found between mothers of children aged 0–2 and mothers of children aged 2–7 years in emotional reaction, social isolation and total score of NHP.Conclusions:  The results of this study revealed that mothers of children with OBPP have poor QOL compared with mothers of healthy children. The limitation in elbow joint movements was found to be important for the mothers. The strongest impact of the illness is on the emotional reactions and social isolation of the mothers. Professionals involved in the care of children with OBPP should also help parents to cope with the burden of caregiving.
Angiotensin‐converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and essential hypertension in the Chinese population: a meta‐analysis including 21 058 participants
Authors: Li Y. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground:  The angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism has been suggested to influence susceptibility to essential hypertension (EH), but the results of many individual studies are conflicting.Aim and methods:  To explore the relationship between the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and EH in the Chinese population, 67 separated studies were analyzed in a meta‐analysis including 21 058 participants. The electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China Biological Medicine Database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched. The pooled odds ratio (ORs) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval were calculated by the random effects model.Results:  In this ACE I/D gene polymorphism meta‐analysis, the distribution of the D allele frequency was 0.45 for the EH group and 0.40 for the control group. The summary OR for the distribution frequency of D allele was 1.27 (5% confidence interval 1.17–1.37). The heterogeneity among the 67 studies was also significant (P < 0.00001, I2= 71.4%). There was a significant association between distribution frequency of the D allele and EH risk in Han, Kazakh, Tibetan, Zhuang and unclassified nationalities (P < 0.05). In contrast, in the national minorities, such as Mongolian, Uigur, Yi, Dongxiang, Yugu, Korean and Gamel, the association between distribution frequency of the D allele and EH risk was not significant (P > 0.05).Conclusions:  In the whole Chinese population, the D allele was significantly linked with EH susceptibility. However, the relation between the I/D polymorphism and EH is still inconclusive in some national minorities and must await larger scale studies.
General practitioners' knowledge of and attitudes to inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Tan M. , Holloway R. H. , Lange K. , Andrews J. M. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground:  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease requiring long‐term management. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for initial symptoms and flares. Thus we assessed GPs' attitudes to and knowledge of IBD.Methods:  A state‐wide postal survey of GPs was performed collecting demographic details, practice and attitudes in IBD‐specific management and knowledge.Results:  Of 1800 GPs surveyed in South Australia, 409 responded; 58% were male, 80% Australian trained and 73% practised in metropolitan areas. Most GPs (92%) reported seeing zero to five IBD patients per month. Overall, 37% of the GPs reported being generally ‘uncomfortable’ with IBD management. Specifically, they were only somewhat comfortable in providing/using maintenance therapy, steroid therapy or unspecified therapy for an acute flare. They were uncomfortable with the use of immunomodulators and biologicals (71 and 91% respectively). No GP reported never referring, referring sometimes (12%), often (34%) or always (55%). Most (87%) GPs rated their communication with private specialists positively; while only 32% were satisfied with support from public hospitals. Of concern, most (70%) monitored patients on immunosuppression on a case‐by‐case basis rather than by protocol. In multivariable analyses, GPs' IBD‐specific knowledge did not influence comfort with overall management, nor did knowledge influence GP comfort with any particular therapy.Conclusion:  Individual GPs care for few IBD patients and have variable attitudes in their practice. Whether improvement can realistically be achieved given individual GP's paucity of patients is questionable. These data support the provision of better support and specific action plans for IBD patients.
Neonatal revolution – the introduction of PEEP
Authors: Brown T.C.K. 
Published: September 2011

Fifty years ago, a baby born at 24–26 weeks was not considered viable. It was a tragedy for the mother having carried it for so long. I witnessed such an event as a student.The scourge of premature deliveries was the lack of surfactant in many tiny babies. In general, if a premature infant with hyaline membrane disease, as it was called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), could not maintain a pO2 above 60 mmHg in 100% oxygen, it was not expected to survive. In late 1969, two babies with suspected RDS came to ICU and were treated by the author with the buffer (tris hydroxyl amino methane, [THAM] which reduced both metabolic and respiratory acidosis and did not contain sodium) and an isoprenaline infusion (β1 stimulant and pulmonary vasodilator). The X‐ray appearances of RDS disappeared. Unfortunately, one died of portal vein thrombosis because the drugs were administered by umbilical catheter, which were commonly used at the time. The other one recovered but the physicians then said the diagnosis must have been wrong!
Resuscitation strategies from bupivacaine‐induced cardiac arrest
Authors: Mauch Jacqueline , Martin Jurado Olga , Spielmann Nelly , Bettschart‐Wolfensberger Regula , Weiss Markus 
Published: September 2011

SummaryObjectives:  Local anesthetic (LA) intoxication with cardiovascular arrest is a potential fatal complication of regional anesthesia. Lipid resuscitation has been recommended for the treatment of LA‐induced cardiac arrest. Aim of the study was to compare four different rescue regimens using epinephrine and/or lipid emulsion and vasopressin to treat cardiac arrest caused by bupivacaine intoxication.Methods:  Twenty‐eight piglets were randomized into four groups (4 × 7), anesthetized with sevoflurane, intubated, and ventilated. Bupivacaine was infused with a syringe driver via central venous catheter at a rate of 1 mg·kg−1·min−1 until circulatory arrest. Bupivacaine infusion and sevoflurane were then stopped, chest compression was started, and the pigs were ventilated with 100% oxygen. After 1 min, epinephrine 10 μg·kg−1 (group 1), Intralipid® 20% 4 ml·kg−1 (group 2), epinephrine 10 μg·kg−1 +  Intralipid® 4 ml·kg−1 (group 3) or 2 IU vasopressin + Intralipid® 4 ml·kg−1 (group 4) were administered. Secondary epinephrine doses were given after 5 min if required.Results:  Survival was 71%, 29%, 86%, and 57% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4. Return of spontaneous circulation was regained only by initial administration of epinephrine alone or in combination with Intralipid®. Piglets receiving the combination therapy survived without further epinephrine support. In contrast, in groups 2 and 4, return of spontaneous circulation was only achieved after secondary epinephrine rescue.Conclusions:  In cardiac arrest caused by bupivacaine intoxication, first‐line rescue with epinephrine and epinephrine + Intralipid® was more effective with regard to survival than Intralipid® alone and vasopressin + Intralipid® in this pig model.
Identification and analysis of the gene cluster involved in biosynthesis of paenibactin, a catecholate siderophore produced by Paenibacillus elgii B69
Authors: Wen Yanping , Wu Xuechang , Teng Yi , Qian Chaodong , Zhan Zhajun , Zhao Yuhua , Li Ou 
Published: September 2011

SummaryBacteria belonging to the genus Paenibacillus are recognized as rich sources of bioactive natural products. To date, there are few characterized siderophores from this genus. Here, through genome analysis, we identified a non‐ribosomal peptide biosynthetic gene cluster (pae) responsible for siderophore assembly in Paenibacillus elgii B69. The 12.8 kb gene cluster comprises six open reading frames encoding proteins similar to the components of the bacillibactin biosynthetic machinery and bacillibactin esterase. To examine the product of the pae gene cluster, we cultured P. elgii B69 in iron‐deficient medium for siderophore expression. A novel siderophore structurally similar to bacillibactin, designated paenibactin, was purified and characterized. Its structure was determined as a cyclic trimeric lactone of 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoyl‐alanine‐threonine. The involvement of the pae gene cluster in paenibactin biosynthesis was confirmed by the biochemical assay of adenylation domain specificity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the pae gene cluster evolves from an ancestral bacillibactin biosynthetic gene cluster via sequence and phylogenetic analyses. The structural difference between paenibactin and bacillibactin may stem from a mutation‐induced change in the adenylation domain specificity. Based on these findings and published models for bacillibactin, we proposed models for paenibactin biosynthesis, ferric–paenibactin uptake and paenibactin‐bounded iron release.
Colonization of cucumber seeds by bacteria during germination
Authors: Ofek Maya , Hadar Yitzhak , Minz Dror 
Published: September 2011

SummaryDetailed analysis revealed fundamental differences between bacterial association with cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seeds and seedlings roots. Seed colonization by bacteria seems to result from passive encounter between bacteria, conveyed by imbibed soil solution, and the germinating seed. In accordance, the seed‐associated bacterial community composition directly reflected that of the germination medium and was characterized by low dominance. Transition from seed to root was marked by a shift in bacterial community composition and in an increase in dominance values. Furthermore, settlement of bacteria on roots was tightly controlled by the specific properties of each root segment. Size and richness of the seed‐associated bacterial community were clearly determinate by the community in the germination medium. In contrast, for fully developed and active roots, the medium effect on these parameters was negligible. Perturbation of the seed environment by a pathogen (Pythium aphanidermatum) had major consequences on the seed bacterial community. However, those were mostly related to direct pathogen–bacteria rather than seed–bacteria interactions. In conclusion, simple, even passive processes may determine the initial stage of plant–microbe association during seed germination, prior to extension of the primary root. Therefore, seed germination is a unique phase in the plant life cycle, with respect to its interaction with the below‐ground microbiome.
New roles for bacterial siderophores in metal transport and tolerance
Authors: Schalk Isabelle J. , Hannauer Mélissa , Braud Armelle 
Published: September 2011

SummarySiderophores are chelators with extremely strong affinity for ferric iron and are best known for their capacity to feed microorganisms with this metal. Despite their preference for iron, they can also chelate numerous other metals with variable affinities. There is also increasing evidence that metals other than iron can activate the production of siderophores by bacteria, thereby implicating siderophores in the homeostasis of metals other than iron and especially heavy metal tolerance. This article considers this new concept that siderophores play a role in protecting bacteria against metal toxicity and discusses the possible contribution of these chelators to the transport of biological relevant metals in addition to iron.