bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mosaic manifestations of monogenic skin diseases
Authors: Itin Peter , Burger Bettina 
Published: March 2009

SummaryA genetic mosaic is defined as an organism which is composed of genetically different cell lines which originate from a homogeneous zygote. Etiologically, cutaneous mosaics can be divided into two large categories, epigenetic mosaicism and genomic mosaicism. Genomic mosaics which have two or more genetically different cell populations are not inherited with the exception of paradominant inheritance pattern. Epigenetic mosaics have a structurally homogeneous cell population but there are functional differences induced by modifying factors in the form of gene‐steering retroviral elements that can be inherited. We distinguish five different manifestation patterns of mosaicism, including the Blaschko lines pattern, patchy pattern without midline separation, checkerboard pattern, phylloid pattern and lateralization pattern. All forms of epigenetic mosaicism, including the various patterns of X‐inactivation, appear to be caused by the action of retrotransposons. A new concept is functional autosomal mosaicism transmittable through the action of retrotransposons.
Fine Root Distribution in a Lower Montane Rain Forest of Panama
Authors: Hölscher Dirk , Dunker Bianca , Harbusch Marco , Corre Marife 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTIn a Panamanian lower montane rain forest we: (1) analyzed the vertical and horizontal distribution of fine roots; and (2) assessed the relationship of fine root mass to thickness of the soil organic layer, soil pH, and soil‐extractable nitrogen. The soil in the study area has developed on volcanic ash deposits and was classified as Hapludand. In randomly distributed samples, the median fine root mass (biomass and necromass, diam ≤ 2 mm) to a depth of 100 cm mineral soil was 544 g/m2, 41 percent of which was found in the organic layer. Fine root mass was approximately twice as high in the vicinity of stems of the tree species Oreomunnea mexicana (1069 g/m2) and the palm species Colpothrinax aphanopetala (1169 g/m2) and was associated with thick organic layers. The median thickness of the soil organic layer in a larger random sample (N= 64) was 8 cm with a considerable variation (interquartile range: 7 cm). In these samples, the density of fine root biomass was correlated with the concentration of extractable nitrogen (r= 0.33, P= 0.011), and on an areal basis, fine root biomass in the organic layer increased with increasing thickness of the organic layer (r= 0.63, P < 0.001) and decreasing pHKCl (r=−0.33, P < 0.01). Fine root biomass in the upper mineral soil did not show significant correlations with any of the studied parameters.
The outer halo globular clusters of M31
Authors: Alves-Brito Alan , Forbes Duncan A. , Mendel Jon T. , Hau George K. T. , Murphy Michael T. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
We present Keck/HIRES spectra of three globular clusters in the outer halo of M31, at projected distances beyond ≈80 kpc from M31. The measured recession velocities for all three globular clusters confirm their association with the globular cluster system of M31. We find evidence for a declining velocity dispersion with radius for the globular cluster system. Their measured internal velocity dispersions, derived virial masses and mass-to-light ratios are consistent with those for the bulk of the M31 globular cluster system. We derive old ages and metallicities which indicate that all three belong to the metal-poor halo globular cluster subpopulation. We find indications that the radial gradient of the mean metallicity of the globular cluster system interior to 50 kpc flattens in the outer regions, however it is still more metal-poor than the corresponding field stars at the same (projected) radius.
Antiviral resistance in influenza viruses circulating in Central and South America based on the detection of established genetic markers
Authors: García Josefina , Sovero Merly , Torres Alberto L. , Gomez Jorge , Douce Richard , Barrantes Melvin , Sanchez Felix , Jimenez Mirna , Comach Guillermo , De Rivera Ivette , Agudo Roberto , Kochel Tadeusz 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground  Recent influenza antiviral resistance studies reveal an alarming increase in both adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) resistant viral strains worldwide, particularly in Asia, Europe and the United States.Objectives  In this study, we have evaluated influenza virus resistance in Central and South America.Methods  Influenza viruses, isolated from symptomatic patients throughout Central and South America in 2005–2008 were analyzed for inhibitor resistance. The M2 and NA genes of influenza viruses were sequenced and resistance was inferred by comparison with published sequences and known resistant mutations.Results  Our results indicate that: (i) resistance to adamantanes was seen in the majority (95·5%) of the influenza A/H3N2 isolates but only in one isolate of the influenza A/H1N1 viruses; (ii) resistance to NAIs began to be detected in A/H1N1 isolates from Central America in 2008; and (iii) none of the influenza B viruses analyzed were resistant to NAIs.Conclusions  These findings suggest a limited effectiveness of influenza inhibitors due to the detection of resistance among A/H1 and A/H3 viruses.
Managing public health crises: the role of models in pandemic preparedness
Authors: Moghadas Seyed M. , Pizzi Nick J. , Wu Jianhong , Yan Ping 
Published: March 2009

Background  Given the enormity of challenges involved in pandemic preparedness, design and implementation of effective and cost‐effective public health policies is a major task that requires an integrated approach through engagement of scientific, administrative, and political communities across disciplines. There is ample evidence to suggest that modeling may be a viable approach to accomplish this task.Methods  To demonstrate the importance of synergism between modelers, public health experts, and policymakers, the University of Winnipeg organized an interdisciplinary workshop on the role of models in pandemic preparedness in September 2008. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to present outcomes of recent scientific investigations that thoroughly evaluate the merits of preventive, therapeutic, and social distancing mechanisms, where community structures, priority groups, healthcare providers, and responders to emergency situations are given specific consideration.Results  This interactive workshop was clearly successful in strengthening ties between various disciplines and creating venues for modelers to effectively communicate with policymakers. The importance of modeling in pandemic planning was highlighted, and key parameters that affect policy decision‐making were identified. Core assumptions and important activities in Canadian pandemic plans at the provincial and national levels were also discussed.Conclusions  There will be little time for thoughtful and rapid reflection once an influenza pandemic strikes, and therefore preparedness is an unavoidable priority. Modeling and simulations are key resources in pandemic planning to map out interdependencies and support complex decision‐making. Models are most effective in formulating strategies for managing public health crises when there are synergies between modelers, planners, and policymakers.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina
Authors: ANDRAS JASON P. , RYPIEN KRYSTAL L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractHere we report primers for 10 microsatellite loci from the Caribbean sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina. Primers were tested on 237 genomic DNA extracts taken directly from tissue samples of G. ventalina. All loci were polymorphic with allelic richness ranging from 4 to 52. Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.14 to 0.96. Preliminary data suggest that these microsatellites will be useful tools for studies of the population genetics of this important Caribbean coral species.
Isolation and characterization of 16 microsatellite loci in the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Authors: DAVIS C. S. , MOCK K. E. , BENTZ B. J. , BROMILOW S. M. , BARTELL N. V. , MURRAY B. W. , ROE A. D. , COOKE J. E. K. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe isolated 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) and developed conditions for amplifying these markers in four multiplex reactions. Three to 14 alleles were detected per locus across two sampled populations. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.902 and from 0.100 to 0.830, respectively. Three loci deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in one sampled population. One of these loci may be sex linked. These markers will be useful in the study of population structure in this important pest species.
Leader of the pack: faecal pellet deposition order impacts PCR amplification in wombats
Authors: WALKER F. M. , HORSUP A. , TAYLOR A. C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDNA sourced from faeces is notoriously less reliable than that from tissue. Hence, understanding whether faecal pellet quality varies within faecal piles may be important for sample selection. We hypothesized that the order in which faecal pellets are deposited may influence microsatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification success from sampled faeces, more specifically, that first pellets deposited will have signatures of greater success than later ones. In a first test of the hypothesis, first and later‐deposited pellets, as determined from the direction of footprints, were collected from fresh (overnight) faecal piles of northern hairy‐nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus krefftii). DNA extracts were typed for seven microsatellite loci. We found that faecal deposition order significantly affected optical density of bands on autoradiographs (a measure of PCR amplification success) when the first faecal pellet was compared with the last one, but not when the first pellet was only distinguishable from later ones. The absence of a difference in amplification rate between first and later pellets is likely a reflection of the overall high amplification success in this study. That first pellets deposited yield more product suggests they contain more intestinal cells. Although further comparisons are needed, these results may inform sample selection in species for which success of microsatellite PCR amplification of faecal DNA is low. Deposition order may have more of an impact on amplification success and genotyping errors as faecal age increases.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the dace complex: Leuciscus leuciscus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
Authors: DUBUT VINCENT , MARTIN JEAN‐FRANÇOIS , GILLES ANDRÉ , VAN HOUDT JEROEN , CHAPPAZ RÉMI , COSTEDOAT CAROLINE 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTen novel polymorphic microsatellites were isolated from the dace complex (Leuciscus leuciscus), which is a European cyprinid species. Four multiplex polymerase chain reaction sets were optimized in order to genotype 26 polymorphic loci in all, including 16 previously published cyprinid‐specific loci. The level of genetic diversity was assessed in 142 dace individuals. We also successfully applied 26 of the microsatellites to 10 related species. These primers thus will be useful to assess population structure of the dace and other cyprinid species, with application for conservation issues and phylogeographical approaches.
Characterization of dinucleotide microsatellite loci and confirmation of sexing primers for the bush dog (Speothos venaticus)
Authors: DEMATTEO KAREN E. , PARKER PATRICIA G. , EGGERT LORI S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBush dogs (Speothos venaticus) are small, threatened canids from Central and South America. The ability to conduct population‐level studies using noninvasive genetic samples would provide important information on this poorly understood species. We characterized eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci using samples from 15 captive bush dogs. Allelic diversity ranged from 2 to 5 alleles per locus, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.267 to 0.933. All loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and no evidence of genotypic linkage disequilibrium was found. We determined that DBX6 and DBY7, two canid‐specific molecular sexing primers, accurately indicate the sex of individual bush dog samples.
Isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the millipede Antichiropus variabilis Attems (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae)
Authors: WOJCIESZEK JANINE M. , SIMMONS LEIGH W. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractEleven polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the Western Australian millipede Antichiropus variabilis. The number of alleles observed ranged from 2 to 12, with observed heterozygosities ranging from 0.20 to 0.80. All loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and no pairs of loci were in linkage disequilibrium. Many of the loci amplified successfully in eight other Antichiropus species.
Development and optimization of sequence‐tagged microsatellite site markers to detect genetic diversity within Colletotrichum capsici, a causal agent of chilli pepper anthracnose disease
Authors: RANATHUNGE N. P. , FORD R. , TAYLOR P. W. J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractGenomic libraries enriched for microsatellites from Colletotrichum capsici, one of the major causal agents of anthracnose disease in chilli pepper (Capsicum spp.), were developed using a modified hybridization procedure. Twenty‐seven robust primer pairs were designed from microsatellite flanking sequences and were characterized using 52 isolates from three countries India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Highest gene diversity of 0.857 was observed at the CCSSR1 with up to 18 alleles among all the isolates whereas the differentiation ranged from 0.05 to 0.45. The sequence‐tagged microsatellite site markers developed in this study will be useful for genetic analyses of C. capsici populations.
Role for Fks1 in the Intrinsic Echinocandin Resistance of
Fusarium solani
as Evidenced by Hybrid Expression in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Katiyar Santosh K. , Edlind Thomas D. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

The opportunistic mold
Fusarium solani
is intrinsically resistant to cell wall synthesis-inhibiting echinocandins (ECs), including caspofungin and micafungin. Mutations that confer acquired EC resistance in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
and other normally susceptible yeast species have been mapped to the Fks1 gene; among these is the mutation of residue 639 from Phe to Tyr (F639Y) within a region designated hot spot 1. Fks1 sequence analysis identified the equivalent of Y639 in
F. solani
as well as in
Scedosporium prolificans
, another intrinsically EC-resistant mold. To test its role in intrinsic EC resistance, we constructed Fks1 hybrids in
S. cerevisiae
that incorporate
F. solani
hot spot 1 and flanking residues. Hybrid construction was accomplished by a PCR-based method that was validated by studies with Fks1 sequences from EC-susceptible
Aspergillus fumigatus
and paired EC-susceptible and -resistant
Candida glabrata
isolates. In support of our hypothesis, hybrid Fks1 incorporating
F. solani
hot spot 1 conferred significantly reduced EC susceptibility, 4- to 8-fold less than that of wild-type
S. cerevisiae
and 8- to 32-fold less than that of the same hybrid with an F639 mutation. We propose that Fks1 sequences represent determinants of intrinsic EC resistance in
Fusarium
and
Scedosporium
species and, potentially, other fungi.
Comparative In Vitro Susceptibilities of Human Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasmas to a New Investigational Ketolide, CEM-101
Authors: Waites Ken B. , Crabb D. M. , Duffy Lynn B. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

MICs were determined for an investigational ketolide, CEM-101, and azithromycin, telithromycin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, clindamycin, and linezolid against 36
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
, 5
Mycoplasma genitalium
, 13
Mycoplasma hominis
, 15
Mycoplasma fermentans
, and 20
Ureaplasma
isolates. All isolates, including two macrolide-resistant
M. pneumoniae
isolates, were inhibited by CEM-101 at ≤0.5 μg/ml, making CEM-101 the most potent compound tested.
Efflux Unbalance in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Isolates from Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Vettoretti Lucie , Plésiat Patrick , Muller Cédric , El Garch Farid , Phan Gilles , Attrée Inna , Ducruix Arnaud , Llanes Catherine 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

Retrospective analysis of 189 nonredundant strains of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
sequentially recovered from the sputum samples of 46 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients over a 10-year period (1998 to 2007) revealed that 53 out of 189 (28%) samples were hypersusceptible to the β-lactam antibiotic ticarcillin (MIC ≤ 4 μg/ml) (phenotype dubbed Tic
hs
). As evidenced by
trans
-complementation and gene inactivation experiments, the mutational upregulation of the efflux system MexXY was responsible for various degrees of resistance to aminoglycosides in a selection of 11 genotypically distinct strains (gentamicin MICs from 2 to 64 μg/ml). By demonstrating for the first time that the MexXY pump may evolve in CF strains, we found that a mutation leading to an F1018L change in the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) transporter MexY was able to increase pump-promoted resistance to aminoglycosides, cefepime, and fluoroquinolones twofold. The inactivation of the
mexB
gene (which codes for the RND transporter MexB) in the 11 selected strains showed that the Tic
hs
phenotype was due to a mutational or functional loss of function of MexAB-OprM, the multidrug efflux system known to contribute to the natural resistance of
P. aeruginosa
to β-lactams (e.g., ticarcillin and aztreonam), fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, and novobiocin. Two of the selected strains synthesized abnormally low amounts of the MexB protein, and 3 of 11 strains expressed truncated MexB (
n
= 2) or MexA (
n
= 1) polypeptide as a result of mutations in the corresponding genes, while 7 of 11 strains produced wild-type though nonfunctional MexAB-OprM pumps at levels similar to or even higher than that of reference strain PAO1. Overall, our data indicate that while MexXY is necessary for
P. aeruginosa
to adapt to the hostile environment of the CF lung, the MexAB-OprM pump is dispensable and tends to be lost or inactivated in subpopulations of
P. aeruginosa
.
Pharmacokinetics of Intracameral Voriconazole Injection
Authors: Shen Ying-Cheng , Wang Mei-Yen , Wang Chun-Yuan , Tsai Tsun-Chung , Tsai Hin-Yeung , Lee Hsin-Nung , Wei Li-Chen 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT
Elimination of voriconazole after intracameral injection exhibited an exponential decay with a half-life of 22 min. Voriconazole levels in the vitreous humor were below the detectable limit. The aqueous concentrations achieved with a 25-μg dose during the first 2 h were greater than the previously reported MICs of organisms most involved in fungal endophthalmitis. A rapid decline in intracameral concentration suggests that frequent supplementation of intracameral voriconazole may be required in clinical settings.
Continuous versus Intermittent Infusion of Oxacillin for Treatment of Infective Endocarditis Caused by Methicillin-Susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Hughes Darrel W. , Frei Christopher R. , Maxwell Pamela R. , Green Kay , Patterson Jan E. , Crawford George E. , Lewis James S. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

Infective endocarditis (IE) is the fourth leading cause of life-threatening infection in the United States and imposes significant morbidity and mortality. The American Heart Association guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IE do not address continuous-infusion (CI) oxacillin. This retrospective study compares outcomes between CI oxacillin and intermittent-infusion (II) oxacillin in the treatment of IE caused by methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(MSSA). A total of 709 medical records were reviewed for inpatients with definitive IE treated between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2007. Continuous data were analyzed by Student's
t
test or the Wilcoxon rank sum test. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare nominal data. A multivariate logistic model was constructed. One hundred seven patients met eligibility criteria for inclusion into the study. Seventy-eight patients received CI oxacillin, whereas 28 received II oxacillin. CI and II groups were similar with respect to 30-day mortality (8% versus 10%,
P
= 0.7) and length of stay (20 versus 25 days,
P
= 0.4) but differed in 30-day microbiological cure (94% versus 79%,
P
= 0.03). Sixty-three patients received synergistic gentamicin, whereas 44 did not. The gentamicin and no-gentamicin groups were similar with respect to 30-day mortality (11% versus 4%,
P
= 0.2) and 30-day microbiological cure (90% versus 89%,
P
= 0.8); however, times to defervescence (4 versus 2 days,
P
= 0.02) were significantly different. CI oxacillin is an effective alternative to II oxacillin for the treatment of IE caused by MSSA and may improve microbiological cure. This convenient and pharmacodynamically optimized dosing regimen for oxacillin deserves consideration for patients with IE caused by MSSA.
Does the Activity of the Combination of Imipenem and Colistin In Vitro Exceed the Problem of Resistance in Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Isolates?
Authors: Souli Maria , Rekatsina Panagiota Danai , Chryssouli Zoi , Galani Irene , Giamarellou Helen , Kanellakopoulou Kyriaki 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

Using time-kill methodology, we investigated the interactions of an imipenem-colistin combination against 42 genetically distinct
Klebsiella pneumoniae
clinical isolates carrying a
bla
VIM-1
-type gene. Irrespective of the imipenem MIC, the combination was synergistic (50%) or indifferent (50%) against colistin-susceptible strains, while it was antagonistic (55.6%) and rarely synergistic (11%) against non-colistin-susceptible strains (with synergy being observed only against strains with colistin MICs of 3 to 4 μg/ml). The combination showed improved bactericidal activity against isolates susceptible either to both agents or to colistin.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Lopinavir Predict Suboptimal Therapeutic Concentrations in Treatment-Experienced Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Children
Authors: Rakhmanina Natella , van den Anker John , Baghdassarian Aline , Soldin Steven , Williams Keetra , Neely Michael N. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT

In adult protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced patients, a lopinavir (LPV) phenotypic inhibitory quotient (PIQ) of >15 has been associated with a higher likelihood of viral suppression. The aims of this study were to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of LPV in children and to estimate the probability of achieving a PIQ of >15. HIV-infected, PI-experienced children receiving LPV were intensively sampled for 12 h to measure plasma LPV. The data were fitted to candidate PK models (using MM-USCPACK software), and the final model was used to simulate 1,000 children to determine the probability of achieving an LPV PIQ of >15. In 50 patients (4 to 18 years old), the median LPV plasma 12-hour-postdose concentration was 5.9 mg/liter (range, 0.03 to 16.2 mg/liter) lower than that reported in adults. After a delay, LPV was absorbed linearly into a central compartment whose size was dependent on the weight and age of the patient. Elimination was dependent on weight. The regression line of observed versus predicted LPV had an
R
2
of 0.99 and a slope of 1.0. Visual predictive checks against all available measured concentrations showed good predictive ability of the model. The probability of achieving an LPV PIQ of >15 was >90% for wild-type virus but <10% for even moderately resistant virus. The currently recommended dose of LPV/ritonavir appears to be adequate for children infected with wild-type virus but is unlikely to provide adequate inhibitory concentrations for even moderately resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). PI-experienced HIV-infected children will likely benefit from longitudinal, repeated LPV measurement in plasma to ensure that drug exposure is most often near the maximal end of the observed safe range.