bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of a
bla
SHV
Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase in
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Newport MDR-AmpC
Authors: Rankin Shelley C. , Whichard Jean M. , Joyce Kevin , Stephens Lynn , O'Shea Kathleen , Aceto Helen , Munro Donald S. , Benson Charles E. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Salmonella enterica
serovar Newport MDR-AmpC expressing TEM-1b and extended-spectrum β-lactamase SHV-12 was isolated from affected animals during an outbreak of salmonellosis that led to a 3-month closure of one of the largest equine hospitals in the United States.
Increased Rate of DNA Recovery from United Kingdom Epidemic
Clostridium difficile
PCR Ribotype 1 Strains Stored Cryogenically
Authors: Asha N. J. , Fawley W. N. , Freeman J. , Wilcox M. H. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

We noted that some
Clostridium difficile
isolates are nonrecoverable after frozen storage and so used molecular typing analysis to characterize DNA from these strains. The recovery rate of
C. difficile
PCR ribotype 1 was statistically significantly greater than that of other strains. This observation has implications for
C. difficile
epidemiological studies.
Evaluation of a Fully Automated System (RAISUS) for Rapid Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Staphylococci
Authors: Kanemitsu K. , Kunishima H. , Hatta M. , Inden K. , Saga T. , Ouchi H. , Ishizawa K. , Harigae H. , Takemura H. , Kaku M. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

RAISUS is a system for rapid bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RAISUS and VITEK showed 97.8% and 75.9% agreement in identification of 45
Staphylococcus aureus
strains and 58 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), respectively, and RAISUS and CLSI (formerly NCCLS) methods showed 87.2% and 87.9% agreement in the MICs for
S. aureus
and CoNS, respectively. RAISUS provided these data within 3.75 h, suggesting its utility for clinical bacteriological laboratories.
Simulated Relationships between Regional Temperatures and Large-Scale Circulation: 125 kyr BP (Eemian) and the Preindustrial Period
Authors: Groll Nikolaus , Widmann Martin , Jones Julie M. , Kaspar Frank , Lorenz Stephan J. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
To investigate relationships between large-scale circulation and regional-scale temperatures during the last (Eemian) interglacial, a simulation with a general circulation model (GCM) under orbital forcing conditions of 125 kyr BP is compared with a simulation forced with the Late Holocene preindustrial conditions. Consistent with previous GCM simulations for the Eemian, higher northern summer 2-m temperatures are found, which are directly related to the different insolation. Differences in the mean circulation are evident such as, for instance, stronger northern winter westerlies toward Europe, which are associated with warmer temperatures in central and northeastern Europe in the Eemian simulation, while the circulation variability, analyzed by means of a principal component analysis of the sea level pressure (SLP) field, is very similar in both periods.
As a consequence of the differences in the mean circulation the simulated Arctic Oscillation (AO) temperature signal in the northern winter, on interannual-to-multidecadal time scales, is weaker during the Eemian than today over large parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Correlations between the AO index and the central European temperature (CET) decrease by about 0.2. The winter and spring SLP anomalies over the North Atlantic/European domain that are most strongly linearly linked to the CET cover a smaller area and are shifted westward over the North Atlantic during the Eemian. However, the strength of the connection between CET and these SLP anomalies is similar in both simulations.
The simulated differences in the AO temperature signal and in the SLP anomaly, which is linearly linked to the CET, suggest that during the Eemian the link between the large-scale circulation and temperature-sensitive proxy data from Europe may differ from present-day conditions and that this difference should be taken into account when inferring large-scale climate from temperature-sensitive proxy data.
SST-Forced Atmospheric Variability in an Atmospheric General Circulation Model
Authors: Kumar Arun , Zhang Qin , Peng Peitao , Jha Bhaskar 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
From ensembles of 80 AGCM simulations for every December–January–February (DJF) seasonal mean in the 1980–2000 period, interannual variability in atmospheric response to interannual variations in observed sea surface temperature (SST) is analyzed. A unique facet of this study is the use of large ensemble size that allows identification of the atmospheric response to SSTs for each DJF in the analysis period. The motivation of this study was to explore what atmospheric response patterns beyond the canonical response to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) SST anomalies exist, and to which SST forcing such patterns may be related. A practical motivation for this study was to seek sources of atmospheric predictability that may lead to improvements in seasonal predictability efforts.
This analysis was based on the EOF technique applied to the ensemble mean 200-mb height response. The dominant mode of the atmospheric response was indeed the canonical atmospheric response to ENSO; however, this mode only explained 53% of interannual variability of the ensemble means (often referred to as the external variability). The second mode, explaining 19% of external variability, was related to a general increase (decrease) in the 200-mb heights related to a Tropicwide warming (cooling) in SSTs. The third dominant mode, explaining 12% of external variability, was similar to the mode identified as the “nonlinear” response to ENSO in earlier studies.
The realism of different atmospheric response patterns was also assessed from a comparison of anomaly correlations computed between different renditions of AGCM-simulated atmospheric responses and the observed 200-mb height anomalies. For example, the anomaly correlation between the atmospheric response reconstructed from the first mode alone and the observations was compared with the anomaly correlation when the atmospheric response was reconstructed including modes 2 and 3. If the higher-order atmospheric response patterns obtained from the AGCM simulations had observational counterparts, their inclusion in the reconstructed atmospheric response should lead to higher anomaly correlations. Indeed, at some geographical regions, an increase in anomaly correlation with the inclusion of higher modes was found, and it is concluded that the higher-order atmospheric response patterns found in this study may be realistic and may represent additional sources of atmospheric seasonal predictability.
Modeling of Tropical Forcing of Persistent Droughts and Pluvials over Western North America: 1856–2000*
Authors: Seager Richard , Kushnir Yochanan , Herweijer Celine , Naik Naomi , Velez Jennifer 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
The causes of persistent droughts and wet periods, or pluvials, over western North America are examined in model simulations of the period from 1856 to 2000. The simulations used either (i) global sea surface temperature data as a lower boundary condition or (ii) observed data in just the tropical Pacific and computed the surface ocean temperature elsewhere with a simple ocean model. With both arrangements, the model was able to simulate many aspects of the low-frequency (periods greater than 6 yr) variations of precipitation over the Great Plains and in the American Southwest including much of the nineteenth-century variability, the droughts of the 1930s (the “Dust Bowl”) and 1950s, and the very wet period in the 1990s. Results indicate that the persistent droughts and pluvials were ultimately forced by persistent variations of tropical Pacific surface ocean temperatures. It is argued that ocean temperature variations outside of the tropical Pacific, but forced from the tropical Pacific, act to strengthen the droughts and pluvials. The persistent precipitation variations are part of a pattern of global variations that have a strong hemispherically and zonally symmetric component, which is akin to interannual variability, and that can be explained in terms of interactions between tropical ocean temperature variations, the subtropical jets, transient eddies, and the eddy-driven mean meridional circulation. Rossby wave propagation poleward and eastward from the tropical Pacific heating anomalies disrupts the zonal symmetry, intensifying droughts and pluvials over North America. Both mechanisms of tropical driving of extratropical precipitation variations work in summer as well as winter and can explain the year-round nature of the precipitation variations. In addition, land–atmosphere interactions over North America appear important by (i) translating winter precipitation variations into summer evaporation and, hence, precipitation anomalies and (ii) shifting the northward flow of moisture around the North Atlantic subtropical anticyclone eastward from the Plains and Southwest to the eastern seaboard and western Atlantic Ocean.
Observed Atlantic SST Anomaly Impact on the NAO: An Update
Authors: Frankignoul Claude , Kestenare Elodie 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
The Pan-Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern that was found in a previous study to have a significant impact on the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in early winter seemed to reflect the nearly uncorrelated influence of a horseshoe SST anomaly in the North Atlantic and an SST anomaly in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. A lagged rotated maximum covariance analysis of a slightly longer dataset shows that the horseshoe SST anomaly influence is robust, but it deemphasizes the center of action southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. On the other hand, it suggests that the link between equatorial SST and the NAO was artificial and due both to ENSO teleconnections and the orthogonality constraint in the maximum covariance analysis.
Repair of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears in Professional Baseball Players
Authors: Mazoué Christopher G. , Andrews James R. 
Published: November 2005

Background Despite the relative frequency of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears seen in baseball players, full-thickness rotator cuff tears in baseball players are uncommon. Hypothesis Return to competitive baseball is difficult after surgical treatment of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods We evaluated the results of 16 professional baseball players after a mini-open repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Twelve patients were pitchers with injury to their dominant shoulders. Four patients were position players; 2 had injuries involving their dominant shoulders, and 2 had injuries to their nondominant shoulders. Results At a mean follow-up of 66.6 months for the pitchers, only 1 player (8%) was able to return to a high competitive level of baseball with no significant shoulder dysfunction after mini-open repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Of the 2 position players with mini-open repairs of the full-thickness rotator cuff tear of their dominant shoulders, 1 was able to return to professional baseball. Of the 2 position players with mini-open repairs of the full-thickness rotator cuff tear of their nondominant shoulders, both were able to return to professional baseball at the same or higher level. Conclusion It is very difficult for a professional baseball pitcher to return to a competitive level of pitching after a full-thickness rotator cuff repair with a mini-open approach.
Replacement of the Knee Meniscus by a Porous Polymer Implant
Authors: Tienen Tony G. , Heijkants Ralf G. J. C. , de Groot Jacqueline H. , Pennings Albert J. , Schouten Arend Jan , Veth Rene P. H. , Buma Pieter 
Published: November 2005

Background Meniscectomy will lead to articular cartilage degeneration in the long term. Therefore, the authors developed an implant to replace the native meniscus. Hypothesis The porous polymer meniscus implant develops into a neomeniscus and protects the cartilage from degeneration. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods In a dog model, a porous polymer scaffold with optimal properties for tissue infiltration and regeneration of a neomeniscus was implanted and compared with total meniscectomy. The tissue infiltration and redifferentiation in the scaffold, the stiffness of the scaffold, and the articular cartilage degeneration were evaluated. Results Three months after implantation, the implant was completely filled with fibrovascular tissue. After 6 months, the central areas of the implant contained cartilage-like tissue with abundant collagen type II and proteoglycans in their matrix. The foreignbody reaction remained limited to a few giant cells in the implant. The compression modulus of the implant-tissue construct still differed significantly from that of the native meniscus, even at 6 months. Cartilage degeneration was observed both in the meniscectomy group and in the implant group. Conclusion The improved properties of these polymer implants resulted in a faster tissue infiltration and in phenotypical differentiation into tissue resembling that of the native meniscus. However, the material characteristics of the implant need to be improved to prevent degeneration of the articular cartilage. Clinical Relevance The porous polymer implant developed into a polymer-tissue construct that resembled the native meniscus, and with improved gliding characteristics, this prosthesis might be a promising implant for the replacement of the meniscus.
Epidemiological Analysis of Factors Influencing an Episode of Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in High School Students
Authors: Lin Hsingwen , Chie Weichu , Lien Huangchun 
Published: November 2005

Background An episode of rhabdomyolysis occurred after an endurance test in high school students in Taipei County in November 2003. Purpose To determine the incidence, outcome, and risk factors in an episode of exertional rhabdomyolysis in high school students. Study Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods We enrolled all 225 high school students who had performed an endurance test. Using data from retrospective questionnaires, we estimated the incidence and assessed risk factors of exertional rhabdomyolysis among these students. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with exertional rhabdomyolysis. Results The completed questionnaire was returned by 70% (157 of 225) of the students. Of these, 43.3% (68 of 157) were identified as having exertional rhabdomyolysis, and the incidence was not statistically different between male and female students (P= .49). Dark urine was noted in only 25% of the students. None of the students developed acute renal failure. The risk of exertional rhabdomyolysis was significantly higher in those students who had not exercised 1 day before the endurance test (odds ratio [OR], 6.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-18.00) and those who had performed postexercise stretching of the legs (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.28-7.69) or performed complete squats during the test (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.12-10.00). There were no statistically significant differences in gender, body mass index, presence of flulike symptoms, previous exercise routine, and medication history between students with or without exertional rhabdomyolysis. Conclusion Our findings suggest that exertional rhabdomyolysis is not uncommon in strenuous eccentric exercise in both men and women, but the risk of developing acute renal failure is very low. Exercise 1 day before eccentric exercise was significantly associated with a reduced risk of exertional rhabdomyolysis, whereas postexercise stretching of the involved extremities might increase the risk.
dsRNA enhances eotaxin-3 production through interleukin-4 receptor upregulation in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Tsuji K. , Yamamoto S. , Ou W. , Nishi N. , Kobayashi I. , Zaitsu M. , Muro E. , Sadakane Y. , Ichimaru T. , Hamasaki Y. 
Published: November 2005

The exacerbation of asthma during viral infections is mainly explained by neutrophils infiltrating into the airways. However, enhanced functions of eosinophils are also observed. The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanism of how eosinophils are activated during and after viral infection of the airways, using a model of viral infection.A synthetic double-stranded RNA, poly inosinic-cytidyric acid (poly(IC)), was transfected to a human airway epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) and the primary bronchial epithelial cells, to mimic a viral infection. The production of chemokines from the cells was investigated.The transfection of poly(IC), alone, marginally affected the eotaxin-3 production of the cells. However, the transfection of poly(IC) prior to interleukin (IL)-4 stimulation enhanced eotaxin-3 production. Poly(IC) transfection increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-4 receptor (R)α and IL-2Rγ, components of the IL-4R. In BEAS-2B cells, IL-4-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription six was enhanced in poly(IC) transfected cells. This was reversed by the addition of anti-IL-4Rα antibody, suggesting the role of an increased number of IL-4 receptors in enhanced IL-4-induced eotaxin-3 production. Poly(IC)-induced upregulation of IL-4Rα was inhibited by treatment with cycloheximide or dexamethasone.In conclusion, these results suggest that viral airway infection may enhance interleukin-4-induced eotaxin-3 production through upregulation of the interleukin-4 receptor in airway epithelial cells.
Regulatory T-lymphocytes in asthma
Authors: van Oosterhout A. J. M. , Bloksma N. 
Published: November 2005

T-helper cell type (Th)2 lymphocytes play an important role in the initiation, progression and persistence of allergic diseases, including asthma. However, little is known about immunoregulatory mechanisms that determine susceptibility to, severity of, or persistence of asthma. The concept of a disturbed Th1/Th2 balance, although having furthered the present understanding of immunoregulation in asthma, has recently been named a “procrustean paradigm”, because of its failure to adequately explain many (pre)clinical observations.In recent years, the general knowledge regarding the regulation of infectious, autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergen immunotherapy by T-regulatory (Treg) cells, has rapidly increased. Many different Treg subsets have been described, including CD8+ Treg cells, natural killer (NK) cells and several different CD4+ Treg cell subsets.In this review, the authors will focus on two major and well-described CD4+ Treg cell subsets. These consist of naturally occurring CD25+ Treg cells and adaptive Treg cells that are postulated to prevent immune responses against self-antigens and adaptive immune responses, respectively.The adaptive T-regulatory cells are further subdivided into T-regulatory cells type 1 and T-helper cell type 3 that mediate suppression exclusivelyviathe cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β, respectively.
Necrotising sarcoid granulomatosis: clinical, functional, endoscopical and radiographical evaluations
Authors: Quaden C. , Tillie-Leblond I. , Delobbe A. , Delaunois L. , Verstraeten A. , Demedts M. , Wallaert B. 
Published: November 2005

Necrotising sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) is a rare disease diagnosed on the basis of pathological features. The present study reports the characteristics of 14 cases of NSG.The mean age at the appearance of first symptoms was 37 yrs and the mean delay between first symptoms and diagnosis was 1 yr. Extrarespiratory symptoms were more common (12 out of 14) than respiratory symptoms (eight out of 14). Seven patients had inflammatory syndrome. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in eight patients and found to be normal in three cases. Respiratory function was normal in 13 patients, but carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was slightly decreased in eight of the 11 patients tested. A computed tomography scan showed a solitary nodule in four out of 14 cases, bilateral nodules in three and infiltrates in seven.One patient died from neurological complications despite treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Two cases of relapse were observed in patients initially treated with corticosteroids, and there were two cases of relapse after surgery. No relapse occurred in the five untreated patients. During the follow-up, lung cancer was detected at 26 months and 8 yrs, respectively, after NSG diagnosis in two patients.In conclusion, no one treatment is associated with a better outcome than the others, although lung biopsy might be necessary in case of isolated nodule or cavitation. Greater vigilance is required during the follow-up.
Effect of airway clearance techniques on the efficacy of the sputum induction procedure
Authors: Elkins M. R. , Lane T. , Goldberg H. , Pagliuso J. , Garske L. A. , Hector E. , Marchetto L. , Alison J. A. , Bye P. T. P. 
Published: November 2005

Sputum induction is used in the early identification of tuberculosis (TB) and pneumocystis infections of the lung. Although manual physiotherapy techniques to clear the airways are often incorporated in the sputum induction procedure, their efficacy in this setting is unknown.This randomised, crossover trial enrolled adults referred for sputum induction for suspected TB and pneumocystis infections of the lung. All participants underwent two sputum induction procedures, inhaling 3% salineviaultrasonic nebuliser. During one randomly allocated procedure, airway clearance techniques (chest wall percussion, vibration, huffing) were incorporated.In total, 59 participants completed the trial. The airway clearance techniques had no significant effect on how the test was tolerated, the volume expectorated or the quality of the sample obtained (assessed by the presence of alveolar macrophages). The techniques did not significantly affect how often the test identified a suspected organism, nor the sensitivity or specificity of sputum induction.In conclusion, the study was unable to demonstrate any effect of airway clearance techniques on the sputum induction procedure. The results provide some justification for not including airway clearance techniques as part of the sputum induction procedure.
Epidemiological relationships between the common cold and exacerbation frequency in COPD
Authors: Hurst J. R. , Donaldson G. C. , Wilkinson T. M. A. , Perera W. R. , Wedzicha J. A. 
Published: November 2005

Higher exacerbation incidence rates in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with more rapid decline in lung function and poorer quality of life, yet the mechanisms determining susceptibility to exacerbation remain ill-defined. The same viruses responsible for common colds are frequently isolated during exacerbations. The current authors hypothesised that exacerbation frequency may be associated with an increased frequency of colds, and investigated whether increased exacerbation frequency was associated with increased acquisition of colds, or a greater likelihood of exacerbation once a cold has been acquired.A total of 150 patients with COPD completed diary cards recording peak expiratory flow, and respiratory and coryzal symptoms for a median 1,047 days. Annual cold and exacerbation incidence rates (cold and exacerbation frequency) were calculated, and the relationships between these variables were investigated.This analysis is based on 1,005 colds and 1,493 exacerbations. Frequent exacerbators (i.e.those whose exacerbation frequency was greater than the median) experienced significantly more colds than infrequent exacerbators (1.73versus0.94·yr−1). The likelihood of exacerbation during a cold was unaffected by exacerbation frequency. Patients experiencing frequent colds had a significantly higher exposure to cigarette smoke (46versus33 pack-yrs).Exacerbation frequency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with an increased frequency of acquiring the common cold, rather than an increased propensity to exacerbation once a cold has been acquired.