bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral Health in Veterans Affairs Patients Diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Kilbourne Amy M. , Horvitz‐Lennon Marcela , Post Edward P. , McCarthy John F. , Cruz Mario , Welsh Deborah , Blow Frederic C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjectives: We evaluated patient and medication treatment factors associated with self‐reported oral health status in patients diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) in a large, national sample of patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system.Methods: 4,769 patients (mean age = 55, 7.8 percent women) were included from the VA’s 1999 National Psychosis Registry (NPR) for whom the oral health information gathered by the VA’s Large Health Survey of Veterans was available. Current (1999) psychotropic medication data were ascertained from the NPR. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the patient factors (e.g., sociodemographic, enabling, and treatment factors) associated with poor or fair overall dental health, and with having tooth or mouth problems that made it difficult to eat.Results: While 61.0 percent of persons with SMI self‐reported fair to poor dental health, 34.1 percent reported that oral health problems made it difficult for them to eat. Patients who were not employed, experiencing financial strain, who smoked, who were prescribed tricyclic antidepressants, or prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were more likely to report poor or fair dental health. These variables were also associated with having tooth or mouth problems.Conclusions: Suboptimal oral health was self‐reported with substantial pre‐valence among patients with SMI, a problematic finding given its consequences for general health, social functioning, and quality of life. Greater efforts are needed to improve oral health outcomes among patients with SMI by facilitating access to dental care and addressing mutable factors such as smoking and medication side effects.
Periodontal Health Status in a Cohort of Young US Navy Personnel
Authors: Diefenderfer Kim E. , Ahlf Renee L. , Simecek John W. , Levine Michael E. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjectives: Neither the prevalence of periodontal disease nor long‐term trends in periodontal health among US military personnel has been well studied. The authors analyzed dental records to assess the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, characterize changes in periodontal health, and determine the associations of age, race, gender, and tobacco use with periodontal status among US Navy personnel.Methods: Dental records from 1,107 personnel who entered military service in 1997 were gathered from eight US Navy dental treatment facilities. Demographic information, tobacco use status, and periodontal health status, as reflected by the Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) information recorded at each required dental examination during the 4‐year observational period (1997 to 2001), were collected. To improve sensitivity in measuring the extent of periodontal disease, the standard five‐point PSR scale was reexpressed as a “PSR grade.”Results: Over 98 percent of Navy recruits exhibited some level of periodontal disease at initial examination. Most (76 percent) exhibited gingivitis of varying severity. Over a mean observational period of 3.4 years, 91 percent of subjects received at least one oral prophylaxis, and over 60 percent received two to four prophylaxes. Subjects with severe periodontal conditions received as many as 22 appointments for prophylaxis or periodontal therapy. From initial to final examination, periodontal status improved for 29.2 percent of subjects, deteriorated for 31.3 percent, and remained unchanged for 39.5 percent. Subjects presenting initially with healthy periodontia, or gingivitis without evidence of periodontitis, tended to deteriorate or remain unchanged, while those exhibiting periodontitis tended to improve with periodontal therapy. Race (non‐White) and greater age at entry were significantly associated with increased risk for poorer periodontal health at both initial and final examination.Conclusions: Although a needs‐based dental care model appears effective in managing periodontal disease among those receiving active therapy, patients who receive sporadic care may deteriorate over time. To maintain periodontal health in this population, appropriate preventive and periodontal therapies should be provided soon after entry and repeated at intervals specific to individual patient need.
Compliance with Fluoride Supplements Provided by a Dental Hygienist in Homes of Low‐Income Parents of Preschool Children in Quebec
Authors: Gagnon Fabien , Catellier Pierre , Arteau‐Gauthier Isabelle , Simard‐Tremblay Élisabeth , Lepage‐Saucier Marianne , Paradis‐Robert Nina , Michel Julie , Lavallière André 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective: This study aimed to assess the compliance with fluoride supplements provided at home by a dental hygienist to mothers of at‐risk preschool children.Methods: Participants were recruited during pregnancy of low‐income women. On the first visit, the mothers of 60 infants aged 6 to 9 months were handed free fluoride supplements. A questionnaire was administered at that time and after 6 and 12 months to assess compliance during the preceding week.Results: At the beginning of the study, none of the mothers reported having given fluoride supplements, in comparison with 73 percent of mothers of 44 infants who received all three visits at the end of follow‐up; 48 percent reported fluoride supplement use on a daily basis.Conclusions: Removal of financial and physical barriers and personal professional involvement are good strategies to achieve compliance with fluoride supplements. Further assessment regarding the possible application of this intervention to other professional or cultural contexts is warranted.
Comparative Activities of Daptomycin, Linezolid, and Tigecycline against Catheter-Related Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus
Bacteremic Isolates Embedded in Biofilm
Authors: Raad Issam , Hanna Hend , Jiang Ying , Dvorak Tanya , Reitzel Ruth , Chaiban Gassan , Sherertz Robert , Hachem Ray 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

In the setting of catheter-related bloodstream infections, intraluminal antibiotic lock therapy could be useful for the salvage of vascular catheters. In this in vitro study, we investigated the efficacies of the newer antibiotics daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline, in comparison with those of vancomycin, minocycline, and rifampin, against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) embedded in biofilm. We also assessed the emergence of MRSA strains resistant to these antibiotics, alone or in combination with rifampin, after 4-hour daily use for catheter lock therapy. Minocycline, daptomycin, and tigecycline were more efficacious in inhibiting MRSA in biofilm than linezolid, vancomycin, and the negative control (
P
< 0.001) after the first day of exposure to these antibiotics, with minocycline being the most active, followed by daptomycin and then tigecycline, and with vancomycin and linezolid lacking activity, similar to the negative control. After 3 days of 4-hour daily exposures, daptomycin was the fastest in eradicating MRSA from biofilm, followed by minocycline and tigecycline, which were faster than linezolid, rifampin, and vancomycin (
P
< 0.001). When rifampin was used alone, it was the least effective in eradicating MRSA from biofilm after 5 days of 4-hour daily exposures, as it was associated with the emergence of rifampin-resistant MRSA. However, when rifampin was used in combination with other antibiotics, the combination was significantly effective in eliminating MRSA colonization in biofilm more rapidly than each of the antibiotics alone. In summary, daptomycin, minocycline, and tigecycline should be considered further for antibiotic lock therapy, and rifampin should be considered for enhanced antistaphylococcal activity but not as a single agent.
Single-Dose Oral Amoxicillin or Linezolid for Prophylaxis of Experimental Endocarditis Due to Vancomycin-Susceptible and Vancomycin-Resistant
Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Moreillon Philippe , Wilson Walter R. , Leclercq Roland , Entenza José M. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

Endocarditis prophylaxis following genitourinary or gastrointestinal procedures targets
Enterococcus faecalis
. Prophylaxis recommendations advocate oral amoxicillin (2 g in the United States and 3 g in the United Kingdom) in moderate-risk patients and intravenous amoxicillin (2 g) or vancomycin (1 g) plus gentamicin in high-risk patients. While ampicillin-resistant (or amoxicillin-resistant)
E. faecalis
is still rare, there is a concern that these regimens might fail against vancomycin-resistant and/or aminoglycoside-resistant isolates. The present study tested oral linezolid as an alternative. Rats with catheter-induced aortic vegetations were given prophylaxis simulating human pharmacokinetics of oral amoxicillin (2- to 3-g single dose), oral linezolid (600 mg, single or multiple oral doses every 12 h), or intravenous vancomycin (1-g single dose). Rats were then inoculated with the minimum inoculum infecting 90% of the animals (90% infective dose [ID
90
]) or with 10 times the ID
90
of the vancomycin-susceptible
E. faecalis
strain JH2-2 or the vancomycin-resistant (VanA phenotype)
E. faecalis
strain UCN41. Amoxicillin was also tested with two additional vancomycin-susceptible
E. faecalis
strains, 309 and 1209. Animals were sacrificed 3 days later. All the tested bacteria were susceptible to amoxicillin and gentamicin. Single-dose amoxicillin provided 100% protection against all four isolates at both the ID
90
and 10 times the ID
90
. In contrast, linezolid required up to four consecutive doses to provide full protection against the vancomycin-resistant isolate. Vancomycin protected only against the vancomycin-susceptible strain. The high efficacy of single-dose oral amoxicillin suggests that this regimen could be used for prophylaxis in both moderate-risk and high-risk patients without additional aminoglycosides. Linezolid appears to be less reliable, at least against the vancomycin-resistant strain.
Immunomodulatory Effects of Fosfomycin in Experimental Human Endotoxemia
Authors: Sauermann Robert , Marsik Claudia , Steiner Ilka , Seir Katja , Cvitko Tuende , Zeitlinger Markus , Wagner Oswald , Joukhadar Christian 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effect of fosfomycin on proinflammatory cytokines, a bolus of 2 ng of bacterial lipopolysaccharide/kg of body weight was injected intravenously into healthy volunteers. After 2 h, subjects received 8 g of fosfomycin or placebo in a randomized crossover study design. The resulting concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 expressed as protein and mRNA levels were almost identical with and without fosfomycin.
Preclinical Safety Assessments of UC781 Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Topical Microbicide Formulations
Authors: Patton D. L. , Sweeney Y. T. Cosgrove , Balkus J. E. , Rohan L. C. , Moncla B. J. , Parniak M. A. , Hillier S. L. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT
The nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor UC781 is under development as a potential microbicide to prevent sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Two gel formulations of UC781 (0.1% and 1.0%) were evaluated in a range of preclinical safety assessments, including systemic absorption analysis following topical application in the pig-tailed macaque models for vaginally and rectally applied topical microbicides. High-sensitivity high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of serum samples showed that no systemic absorption of UC781 was detected after repeated vaginal or rectal application of either product. However, high levels of UC781 were detectable in the cervicovaginal lavage samples up to 6 h after product exposure. Both formulations were safe to the vaginal microenvironment, even with repeated daily use, as evidenced by colposcopy, cytokine analysis, and lack of impact on vaginal microflora. By contrast, rectal application of the 1.0% UC781 formulation caused an increased expression of numerous cytokines not observed after rectal application of the 0.1% UC781 formulation. These results provide additional support for the continued development of UC781 formulations as anti-HIV microbicides.
Asiatic Acid and Corosolic Acid Enhance the Susceptibility of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Biofilms to Tobramycin
Authors: Garo Eliane , Eldridge Gary R. , Goering Matt G. , Pulcini Elinor DeLancey , Hamilton Martin A. , Costerton John W. , James Garth A. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

Asiatic acid and corosolic acid are two natural products identified as biofilm inhibitors in a biofilm inhibition assay. We evaluated the activities of these two compounds on
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
biofilms grown in rotating disk reactors (RDRs) in combination with tobramycin and ciprofloxacin. To determine the ruggedness of our systems, the antibiotic susceptibilities of these biofilms were assessed with tobramycin and ciprofloxacin. The biofilm bacteria produced in the RDR were shown to display remarkable tolerance to 10 μg/ml of ciprofloxacin, thus mimicking the tolerance observed in recalcitrant bacterial infections. These studies further demonstrate that a nonmucoid strain of
P. aeruginosa
can form a biofilm that tolerates ciprofloxacin at clinically relevant concentrations. Neither asiatic acid nor corosolic acid reduced the viable cell density of
P. aeruginosa
biofilms. However, both compounds increased the susceptibility of biofilm bacteria to subsequent treatment with tobramycin, suggesting asiatic acid and corosolic acid to be compounds that potentiate the activity of antibiotics. A similar statistical interaction was observed between ciprofloxacin and subsequent treatment with tobramycin.
Comparison of the Phosphorylation of 4′-Ethynyl 2′,3′-Dihydro-3′-Deoxythymidine with That of Other Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Thymidine Analogs
Authors: Hsu Chih-Hung , Hu Rong , Dutschman Ginger E. , Yang Guangwei , Krishnan Preethi , Tanaka Hiromichi , Baba Masanori , Cheng Yung-Chi 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTThymidine analogs, including 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-deoxythymidine (D4T), are important antiretroviral agents. To exert antiretroviral activity, these analogs undergo a stepwise phosphorylation intracellularly to the active triphosphate metabolites. We previously reported that 4′-substituted D4T with an ethynyl group (i.e., 4′-ethynyl D4T) increased the anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity and was active against multidrug-resistant HIV strains. 4′-Ethynyl D4T is a better substrate for phosphorylation by human thymidine kinase 1 than D4T is. In this report, we first studied the enzymes involved in the phosphorylation of 4′-ethynyl D4T from monophosphate to triphosphate metabolites. The 4′-ethynyl D4TMP is phosphorylated by recombinant human TMP kinase with aKmof 19 ± 4 μM and akcatof 0.007 ± 0.001 s−1; the relative efficiency is about 9 and 15% of those of D4TMP and AZTMP, respectively. Several enzymes from crude cellular extracts, including nucleoside diphosphate kinase, pyruvate kinase, creatine kinase, and 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, could phosphorylate 4′-ethynyl D4T-diphosphate. The relative phosphorylation efficiencies of 4′-ethynyl D4TDP were about 3 to 25% of those of D4TDP and were generally similar to those of AZTDP. In T-lymphoid cell lines, there was a preponderant accumulation of 4′-ethynyl D4TMP, suggesting that TMP kinase could be the rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism of 4′-ethynyl D4T. Although the same enzymes are involved in the stepwise phosphorylation of thymidine analogs, their behaviors in phosphorylating metabolites of 4′-ethynyl D4T are different from those of D4T and AZT. Qualitatively, the metabolism of 4′-ethynyl D4T is more similar to that of AZT than to that of its progenitor, D4T.
SCO-1, a Novel Plasmid-Mediated Class A β-Lactamase with Carbenicillinase Characteristics from
Escherichia coli
Authors: Papagiannitsis C. C. , Loli A. , Tzouvelekis L. S. , Tzelepi E. , Arlet G. , Miriagou V. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

A novel class A β-lactamase (SCO-1) encoded by an 80-kb self-transferable plasmid from
Escherichia coli
is described. The interaction of SCO-1 with β-lactams was similar to that of the CARB-type enzymes. Also, SCO-1 exhibited a 51% amino acid sequence identity with the RTG subgroup of chromosomal carbenicillinases (RTG-1, CARB-5, and CARB-8).
Covalent Dimer Species of β-Defensin Defr1 Display Potent Antimicrobial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Taylor Karen , McCullough Bryan , Clarke David J. , Langley Ross J. , Pechenick Tali , Hill Adrian , Campopiano Dominic J. , Barran Perdita E. , Dorin Julia R. , Govan John R. W. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

Beta defensins comprise a family of cationic, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides, predominantly expressed at epithelial surfaces. Previously we identified a unique five-cysteine defensin-related peptide (Defr1) that, when synthesized, is a mixture of dimeric isoforms and exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against
Escherichia coli
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Here we report that Defr1 displays antimicrobial activity against an extended panel of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens for which antimicrobial treatment is limited or nonexistent. Defr1 fractions were collected by high-pressure liquid chromatography and analyzed by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial activity was initially investigated with the type strain
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1. All fractions tested displayed equivalent, potent antimicrobial activity levels comparable with that of the unfractionated Defr1. However, use of an oxidized, monomeric six-cysteine analogue (Defr1 Y5C), or of reduced Defr1, gave diminished antimicrobial activity. These results suggest that the covalent dimer structure of Defr1 is crucial to antimicrobial activity; this hypothesis was confirmed by investigation of a synthetic one-cysteine variant (Defr1-1cys). This gave an activity profile similar to that of synthetic Defr1 but only in an oxidized, dimeric form. Thus, we have shown that covalent, dimeric molecules based on the Defr1 β-defensin sequence demonstrate antimicrobial activity even in the absence of the canonical cysteine motif.
Induction of Cell Signaling Events by the Cholera Toxin B Subunit in Antigen-Presenting Cells
Authors: Schnitzler Aletta C. , Burke Jennifer M. , Wetzler Lee M. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTCholera toxin (CT) is one of the most effective and widely studied mucosal adjuvants. Although the ADP-ribosylating A subunit has been implicated in augmenting immune responses, the receptor-binding B subunit (CT-B) has greater immunogenicity and may be a repository of adjuvant activity without potential toxicity. In order to elucidate mechanisms of immune modulation by CT-B alone, primary B cells and macrophages were assessed for responses to CT-B in vitro, as measured by the expression of cell surface markers, cellular signaling events, and cytokine secretion. Increased phosphorylation of multiple signaling molecules, including Erk1/2 and p38, was detected. CT-B also induced transactivation of the transcription elements cyclic AMP-responsive element and NF-κB, the latter of which was inhibited by phosphotyrosine inhibition. While specific inhibition of MEK1/2 did not reduce CT-B induction of cell surface marker expression, it did attenuate CT-B-mediated interleukin-6 secretion. These data show that CT-B induces a set of signaling events related to cellular activation, surface molecule expression, and cytokine production that has potential implications for elucidating CT-B adjuvant activity in the absence of enzymatically active holotoxin.
Questioning in Chinese University EL Classrooms
Authors: Tan Zhi 
Published: March 2007

This paper reports the findings of a study examining classroom questioning behavior and its impacts on students' development. A triangulation was conducted to collect data: observations of nine university English lessons, semi-structured interviews with six teachers and focus group discussions with three groups of students. The data showed that many of the questions asked were lower cognitive questions and that they were mostly answered in chorus or by teacher nomination. The findings revealed that questioning was employed by the teachers to check text comprehension, hold the students' attention on the texts, to enhance and protect teacher's and students' face, to maintain classroom discipline, to establish teacher authority, and to gain student respect and acceptance. The results indicate that the questioning behavior identified is likely to have potential negative impact on the students. Tentative suggestions are made for improving questioning style to fit the Chinese educational reform agenda.
Cytokine-independent growth and clonal expansion of a primary human CD8+ T-cell clone following retroviral transduction with the IL-15 gene
Authors: Hsu Cary , Jones Stephanie A. , Cohen Cyrille J. , Zheng Zhili , Kerstann Keith , Zhou Juhua , Robbins Paul F. , Peng Peter D. , Shen Xinglei , Gomes Theotonius J. , Dunbar Cynthia E. , Munroe David J. , Stewart Claudia , Cornetta Kenneth , Wangsa Danny , Ried Thomas , Rosenberg Steven A. , Morgan Richard A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMalignancies arising from retrovirally transduced hematopoietic stem cells have been reported in animal models and human gene therapy trials. Whether mature lymphocytes are susceptible to insertional mutagenesis is unknown. We have characterized a primary human CD8+ T-cell clone, which exhibited logarithmic ex vivo growth in the absence of exogenous cytokine support for more than 1 year after transduction with a murine leukemia virus–based vector encoding the T-cell growth factor IL-15. Phenotypically, the clone was CD28−, CD45RA−, CD45RO+, and CD62L−, a profile consistent with effector memory T lymphocytes. After gene transfer with tumor-antigen–specific T-cell receptors, the clone secreted IFN-γ upon encountering tumor targets, providing further evidence that they derived from mature lymphocytes. Gene-expression analyses revealed no evidence of insertional activation of genes flanking the retroviral insertion sites. The clone exhibited constitutive telomerase activity, and the presence of autocrine loop was suggested by impaired cell proliferation following knockdown of IL-15Rα expression. The generation of this cell line suggests that nonphysiologic expression of IL-15 can result in the long-term in vitro growth of mature human T lymphocytes. The cytokine-independent growth of this line was a rare event that has not been observed in other IL-15 vector transduction experiments or with any other integrating vector system. It does not appear that the retroviral vector integration sites played a role in the continuous growth of this cell clone, but this remains under investigation.