bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brainstem anaesthesia after retrobulbar block: A rare cause of coma presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Gunja Naren , Varshney Kavita 
Published: February 2006

AbstractLocal anaesthesia, in particular retrobulbar block, is commonly used to perform cataract surgery. Known complications of retrobulbar block include cranial nerve palsies, seizures and cardiorespiratory arrest. We report a case of brainstem anaesthesia causing apnoea and loss of consciousness in a man who received retrobulbar block. The likely mechanism is inadvertent dural puncture of the optic nerve sheath and local anaesthetic injection into the cerebrospinal fluid space. As in this case, the literature reports a short‐lived period of anaesthesia with usually no long‐term sequelae. Although rare, it is a life‐threatening complication if the patient is not appropriately resuscitated. This case highlights the need for trained personnel, with suitable monitoring and adequate resuscitation facilities in order to perform this technique.
When benzodiazepines fail: How effective is second line therapy for status epilepticus in children?
Authors: Lewena Stuart , Young Simon 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectives:  To define the characteristics and management of children presenting to the ED of a major tertiary paediatric hospital with convulsive status epilepticus (CSE). To determine the timing and efficacy of therapeutic interventions in this group and to identify factors that influence the effectiveness of treatment.Method:  A retrospective audit of all children who presented to an ED of a tertiary paediatric hospital in CSE over a 3 year period.Results:  Thirty‐seven cases were identified. Prehospital treatment had been administered in 51%. Uncomplicated seizure control was achieved in 30% with the combination of first and second line therapy. Rapid sequence induction (RSI) of anaesthesia was required in 70% for the control of ongoing seizure activity (21 cases) or to support severe respiratory depression (five cases). This requirement for RSI was increased to 85% in those with seizure duration in excess of 30 min and 89% of those who received prehospital treatment. Of those who required RSI, 35% were treated for periods in excess of 60 min before this intervention was performed.Conclusions:  Standard second line anticonvulsant treatment was relatively ineffective in terminating seizures in children who presented in CSE not responsive to benzodiazepines. Failure to respond to prehospital treatment and prolonged seizure duration at presentation both predict poor therapeutic response. Third line treatment with RSI of anaesthesia is often delayed while waiting for second line treatment to work.
Responding to the Boxing Day tsunami disaster in Aceh, Indonesia: Western and South Australian contributions
Authors: Pearce Andrew , Mark Paul , Gray Norman , Curry Chris 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective:  To describe the Western and South Australian response to the Boxing Day tsunami disaster in Aceh, Indonesia.Method:  Reports from three of the responders.Results:  Comment has been made on organising a response, the first team to Banda Aceh, the second team to Banda Aceh, and lessons learned.Conclusions:  These experiences have identified areas in which we could be better prepared for the next international disaster response.
Early post‐tsunami disaster medical assistance to Banda Aceh: A personal account
Authors: Garner Alan A , Harrison Ken 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe south Asian tsunami on 26 December, 2004, saw Australia deploy civilian teams to an international disaster in large numbers for the first time. The logistics of supporting such teams in both a self sustainability capacity and medical equipment had not previously been planned for or tested. For the first Australian team deployed to Banda Aceh, which arrived on the fourth day after the tsunami, equipment sourced from the New South Wales Fire Brigades Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) cache supplied all food, water, tents, generators and sleeping equipment. The medical equipment was largely sourced from the CareFlight US&R medical cache. There were significant deficits in surgical equipment as the medical cache had not been designed to provide a stand alone surgical capability. This resulted in the need for substantial improvisation by the surgical teams during the deployment. Despite this, the team performed nearly 140 major procedures in austere circumstances and significantly contributed to the early international response to this major humanitarian disaster.
Bioassay for Nisin in Milk, Processed Cheese, Salad Dressings, Canned Tomatoes, and Liquid Egg Products
Authors: Hakovirta J. , Reunanen J. , Saris P. E. J. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTA sensitive nisin quantification bioassay was constructed, based onLactococcus lactischromosomally encoding the nisin regulatory proteins NisK and NisR and a plasmid with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) variantgfpuvgene under the control of the nisin-induciblenisApromoter. This strain, LAC275, was capable of transducing the signal from extracellular nisin into measurable GFPuv fluorescence through the NisRK signal transduction system. The LAC275 cells detected nisin concentrations of 10 pg/ml in culture supernatant, 0.2 ng/ml in milk, 3.6 ng/g in processed cheese, 1 ng/g in salad dressings and crushed, canned tomatoes, and 2 ng/g in liquid egg. This method was up to 1,000 times more sensitive than a previously described GFP-based nisin bioassay. This new assay made it possible to detect significantly smaller amounts of nisin than the presently most sensitive published nisin bioassay based on nisin-induced bioluminescence. The major advantage of this sensitivity was that foods could be extensively diluted prior to the assay, avoiding potential inhibitory and interfering substances present in most food products.
In Vivo Emission of Dinitrogen by Earthworms via Denitrifying Bacteria in the Gut
Authors: Horn Marcus A. , Mertel Ralph , Gehre Matthias , Kästner Matthias , Drake Harold L. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTEarthworms emit the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O), and ingested denitrifiers in the gut appear to be the main source of this N2O. The primary goal of this study was to determine if earthworms also emit dinitrogen (N2), the end product of complete denitrification. When [15N]nitrate was injected into the gut, the earthwormsAporrectodea caliginosaandLumbricus terrestrisemitted labeled N2(and also labeled N2O) under in vivo conditions; emission of N2by these two earthworms was relatively linear and approximated 1.2 and 6.6 nmol N2per h per g (fresh weight), respectively. Isolated gut contents also produced [15N]nitrate-derived N2and N2O under anoxic conditions. N2is formed by N2O reductase, and acetylene, an inhibitor of this enzyme, inhibited the emission of [15N]nitrate-derived N2by living earthworms. Standard gas chromatographic analysis demonstrated that the amount of N2O emitted was relatively linear during initial incubation periods and increased in response to acetylene. The calculated rates for the native emissions of N2(i.e., without added nitrate) byA. caliginosaandL. terrestriswere 1.1 and 1.5 nmol N2per h per g (fresh weight), respectively; these emission rates approximated that of N2O. These collective observations indicate that (i) earthworms emit N2concomitant with the emission of N2O via the in situ activity of denitrifying bacteria in the gut and (ii) N2O is quantitatively an important denitrification-derived end product under in situ conditions.
Differences in Fecal Microbiota in Different European Study Populations in Relation to Age, Gender, and Country: a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mueller Susanne , Saunier Katiana , Hanisch Christiana , Norin Elisabeth , Alm Livia , Midtvedt Tore , Cresci Alberto , Silvi Stefania , Orpianesi Carla , Verdenelli Maria Cristina , Clavel Thomas , Koebnick Corinna , Zunft Hans-Joachim Franz , Doré Joël , Blaut Michael 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTA cross-sectional study on intestinal microbiota composition was performed on 230 healthy subjects at four European locations in France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. The study participants were assigned to two age groups: 20 to 50 years (mean age, 35 years;n= 85) and >60 years (mean age, 75 years;n= 145). A set of 14 group- and species-specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes was applied to the analysis of fecal samples by fluorescence in situ hybridization coupled with flow cytometry. Marked country-age interactions were observed for the German and Italian study groups. These interactions were inverse for the predominant bacterial groupsEubacterium rectale-Clostridium coccoidesandBacteroides-Prevotella. Differences between European populations were observed for theBifidobacteriumgroup only. Proportions of bifidobacteria were two- to threefold higher in the Italian study population than in any other study group, and this effect was independent of age. Higher proportions of enterobacteria were found in all elderly volunteers independent of the location. Gender effects were observed for theBacteroides-Prevotellagroup, with higher levels in males than in females. In summary, age-related differences in the microbiota makeup were detected but differed between the study populations from the four countries, each showing a characteristic colonization pattern.
Biodegradation of 3-Nitrotyrosine byBurkholderiasp. Strain JS165 andVariovorax paradoxusJS171
Authors: Nishino Shirley F. , Spain Jim C. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTThe cascade of reactive nitrogen species generated from nitric oxide causes modification of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids in a wide range of organisms. 3-Nitrotyrosine is one of the most common products of the action of reactive nitrogen species on proteins. Although a great deal is known about the formation of 3-nitrotyrosine, the subsequent metabolism of this compound is a mystery.Variovorax paradoxusJS171 andBurkholderiasp. strain JS165 were isolated from soil slurries when 3-nitrotyrosine was provided as the sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy source. During growth on 3-nitrotyrosine stoichiometric amounts of nitrite were released along with approximately one-half of the theoretically available ammonia. The catabolic pathway involving oxidative denitration is distinct from the pathway for tyrosine metabolism. The facile isolation and the specific, regulated pathway for 3-nitrotyrosine degradation in natural ecosystems suggest that there is a significant flux of 3-nitrotyrosine in such environments.
Molecular Cloning and Expression of Genes Encoding a Novel Dioxygenase Involved in Low- and High-Molecular-Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation inMycobacterium vanbaaleniiPYR-1
Authors: Kim Seong-Jae , Kweon Ohgew , Freeman James P. , Jones Richard C. , Adjei Michael D. , Jhoo Jin-Woo , Edmondson Ricky D. , Cerniglia Carl E. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTMycobacterium vanbaaleniiPYR-1 is able to metabolize a wide range of low- and high-molecular-weight (HMW) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A 20-kDa protein was upregulated in PAH-metabolizingM. vanbaaleniiPYR-1 cells compared to control cultures. The differentially expressed protein was identified as a β subunit of the terminal dioxygenase using mass spectrometry. PCR with degenerate primers designed based on de novo sequenced peptides and a series of plaque hybridizations were done to screen theM. vanbaaleniiPYR-1 genomic library. The genes, designatednidA3B3, encoding the α and β subunits of terminal dioxygenase, were subsequently cloned and sequenced. The deduced enzyme revealed close similarities to the corresponding PAH ring-hydroxylating dioxygenases fromMycobacteriumandRhodococcusspp. but had the highest similarity, 61.9%, to the α subunit fromNocardioidessp. strain KP7. The α subunit also showed 52% sequence homology with the previously reported NidA fromM. vanbaaleniiPYR-1. The genesnidA3B3were subcloned into the expression vector pET-17b, and the enzyme activity inEscherichia colicells was reconstituted through coexpression with the ferredoxin (PhdC) and ferredoxin reductase (PhdD) genes of the phenanthrene dioxygenase fromNocardioidessp. strain KP7. The recombinant PAH dioxygenase appeared to favor the HMW PAH substrates fluoranthene, pyrene, and phenanthrene. Several other PAHs, including naphthalene, anthracene, and benz[a]anthracene, were also converted to their correspondingcis-dihydrodiols. The recombinantE. coli, however, did not show any dioxygenation activity for phthalate and biphenyl. The upregulation ofnidA3B3inM. vanbaaleniiPYR-1 induced by PAHs was confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR analysis.
Identification of Genes Associated with Survival ofSalmonella entericaSerovar Enteritidis in Chicken Egg Albumen
Authors: Clavijo Raul I. , Loui Cindy , Andersen Gary L. , Riley Lee W. , Lu Sangwei 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTSalmonella entericaconsists of over 2,000 serovars that are major causes of morbidity and mortality associated with contaminated food. Despite similarities among serovars ofSalmonella enterica, many demonstrate unique host specificities, epidemiological characteristics, and clinical manifestations. One of the unique epidemiological characteristics of the serovar Enteritidis is that it is the only bacterium routinely transmitted to humans through intact chicken eggs. Therefore,Salmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis must be able to persist inside chicken eggs to be transmitted to humans, and its survival in egg is important for its transmission to the human population. The ability ofSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis to survive in and transmit through eggs may have contributed to its drastically increased prevalence in the 1980s and 1990s. In the present study, using transposon-mediated mutagenesis, we have identified genes important for the association ofSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis with chicken eggs. Our results indicate that genes involved in cell wall structural and functional integrity, and nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism are important forSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis to persist in egg albumen. Two regions unique toSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis were also identified, one of which enhanced the survival of aSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium isolate in egg albumen. The implication of our results to the serovar specificity ofSalmonella entericais also explored in the present study.
Purification, Characterization, and Gene Cloning of a Novel Maltosyltransferase from anArthrobacter globiformisStrain That Produces an Alternating α-1,4- and α-1,6-Cyclic Tetrasaccharide from Starch
Authors: Mukai Kazuhisa , Watanabe Hikaru , Kubota Michio , Chaen Hiroto , Fukuda Shigeharu , Kurimoto Masashi 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTA glycosyltransferase, involved in the synthesis of cyclic maltosylmaltose [CMM;cyclo-{→6)-α-d-Glcp(1→4)-α-d-Glcp(1→6)-α-d-Glcp(1→4)-α-d-Glcp(1→}] from starch, was purified to homogeneity from the culture supernatant ofArthrobacter globiformisM6. The CMM-forming enzyme had a molecular mass of 71.7 kDa and a pI of 3.6. The enzyme was most active at pH 6.0 and 50°C and was stable from pH 5.0 to 9.0 and up to 30°C. The addition of 1 mM Ca2+enhanced the thermal stability of the enzyme up to 45°C. The enzyme acted on maltooligosaccharides that have degrees of polymerization of ≥3, amylose, and soluble starch to produce CMM but failed to act on cyclomaltodextrins, pullulan, and dextran. The mechanism for the synthesis of CMM from maltotetraose was determined as follows: (i) maltotetraose + maltotetraose → 64-O-α-maltosyl-maltotetraose + maltose and (ii) 64-O-α-maltosyl-maltotetraose → CMM + maltose. Thus, the CMM-forming enzyme was found to be a novel maltosyltransferase (6MT) catalyzing both intermolecular and intramolecular α-1,6-maltosyl transfer reactions. The gene for 6MT, designatedcmmA, was isolated from a genomic library ofA. globiformisM6. ThecmmAgene consisted of 1,872 bp encoding a signal peptide of 40 amino acids and a mature protein of 583 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 64,637. The deduced amino acid sequence showed similarities to α-amylase and cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase. The four conserved regions common in the α-amylase family enzymes were also found in 6MT, indicating that 6MT should be assigned to this family.
Pure-Culture Growth of Fermentative Bacteria, Facilitated by H
2
Removal: Bioenergetics and H
2
Production
Authors: Adams Cameron J. , Redmond Molly C. , Valentine David L. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

We used an H
2
-purging culture vessel to replace an H
2
-consuming syntrophic partner, allowing the growth of pure cultures of
Syntrophothermus lipocalidus
on butyrate and
Aminobacterium colombiense
on alanine. By decoupling the syntrophic association, it was possible to manipulate and monitor the single organism's growth environment and determine the change in Gibbs free energy yield (Δ
G
) in response to changes in the concentrations of reactants and products, the purging rate, and the temperature. In each of these situations, H
2
production changed such that Δ
G
remained nearly constant for each organism (−11.1 ± 1.4 kJ mol butyrate
−1
for
S. lipocalidus
and −58.2 ± 1.0 kJ mol alanine
−1
for
A. colombiense
). The cellular maintenance energy, determined from the Δ
G
value and the hydrogen production rate at the point where the cell number was constant, was 4.6 × 10
−13
kJ cell
−1
day
−1
for
S. lipocalidus
at 55°C and 6.2 × 10
−13
kJ cell
−1
day
−1
for
A. colombiense
at 37°C.
S. lipocalidus
, in particular, seems adapted to thrive under conditions of low energy availability.
The Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Cluster Gene,
aflX
, Encodes an Oxidoreductase Involved in Conversion of Versicolorin A to Demethylsterigmatocystin
Authors: Cary Jeffrey W. , Ehrlich Kenneth C. , Bland John M. , Montalbano Beverly G. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Biosynthesis of the toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins by the fungus
Aspergillus flavus
is a complicated process involving more that 27 enzymes and regulatory factors encoded by a clustered group of genes. Previous studies found that three enzymes, encoded by
verA
,
ver-1
, and
aflY
, are required for conversion of versicolorin A (VA), to demethylsterigmatocystin. We now show that a fourth enzyme, encoded by the previously uncharacterized gene,
aflX
(
ordB
), is also required for this conversion. A homolog of this gene,
stcQ
, is present in the
A. nidulans
sterigmatocystin (ST) biosynthesis cluster. Disruption of
aflX
in
Aspergillus flavus
gave transformants that accumulated ∼4-fold more VA and fourfold less aflatoxin than the untransformed strain. Southern and Northern blot analyses confirmed that
aflX
was the only gene disrupted in these transformants. Feeding ST or
O
-methylsterigmatocystin, but not VA or earlier precursor metabolites, restored normal levels of AF production. The protein encoded by
aflX
is predicted to have domains typical of an NADH-dependent oxidoreductase. It has 27% amino acid identity to a protein encoded by the aflatoxin cluster gene,
aflO
(
avfA
). Some of domains in the protein are similar to those of epoxide hydrolases.
Only a Few Fungal Species Dominate Highly Diverse Mycofloras Associated with the Common Reed
Authors: Neubert Karin , Mendgen Kurt , Brinkmann Henner , Wirsel Stefan G. R. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Plants are naturally colonized by many fungal species that produce effects ranging from beneficial to pathogenic. However, how many of these fungi are linked with a single host plant has not been determined. Furthermore, the composition of plant-associated fungal communities has not been rigorously determined. We investigated these essential issues by employing the perennial wetland reed
Phragmites australis
as a model. DNA extracted from roots, rhizomes, stems, and leaves was used for amplification and cloning of internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene fragments originating from reed-associated fungi. A total of 1,991 clones from 15 clone libraries were differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses into 345 operational taxonomical units (OTUs). Nonparametric estimators for total richness (Chao1 and ACE) and also a parametric log normal model predicted a total of about 750 OTUs if the libraries were infinite. Sixty-two percent of the OTUs sequenced were novel at a threshold of 3%. Several of these OTUs represented undocumented fungal species, which also included higher taxonomic levels. In spite of the high diversity of the OTUs, the mycofloras of vegetative organs were dominated by just a few typical fungi, which suggested that competition and niche differentiation influence the composition of plant-associated fungal communities. This suggestion was independently supported by the results of nested PCR assays specifically monitoring two OTUs over 3 years, which revealed significant preferences for host habitat and host organ.
Biocontrol of the Food-Borne Pathogens
Listeria monocytogenes
and
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Poona on Fresh-Cut Apples with Naturally Occurring Bacterial and Yeast Antagonists
Authors: Leverentz Britta , Conway William S. , Janisiewicz Wojciech , Abadias Maribel , Kurtzman Cletus P. , Camp Mary J. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Fresh-cut apples contaminated with either
Listeria monocytogenes
or
Salmonella enterica
serovar Poona, using strains implicated in outbreaks, were treated with one of 17 antagonists originally selected for their ability to inhibit fungal postharvest decay on fruit. While most of the antagonists increased the growth of the food-borne pathogens, four of them, including
Gluconobacter asaii
(T1-D1), a
Candida
sp. (T4-E4),
Discosphaerina fagi
(ST1-C9), and
Metschnikowia pulcherrima
(T1-E2), proved effective in preventing the growth or survival of food-borne human pathogens on fresh-cut apple tissue. The contaminated apple tissue plugs were stored for up to 7 days at two different temperatures. The four antagonists survived or grew on the apple tissue at 10 or 25°C. These four antagonists reduced the
Listeria monocytogenes
populations and except for the
Candida
sp. (T4-E4), also reduced the
S. enterica
serovar Poona populations. The reduction was higher at 25°C than at 10°C, and the growth of the antagonists, as well as pathogens, increased at the higher temperature.
Determination of Essential and Variable Residues in Pediocin PA-1 by NNK Scanning
Authors: Tominaga Tatsuya , Hatakeyama Yoshinori 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Pediocin PA-1 is an antimicrobial peptide (called bacteriocin) that shows inhibitory activity against the food-borne pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
. To elucidate which residue(s) is responsible for this function, the antimicrobial activities of pediocin PA-1 mutants were evaluated and compared. Each of the 44 native codons was replaced with the NNK triplet oligonucleotide in a technique termed NNK scanning, and 35 mutations at each position were examined for antimicrobial activities using a modified colony overlay screening method. As a consequence, the functional responsibility of each residue was estimated by counting the number of active mutants, allowing us to identify candidate essential/variable residues. Activity was abrogated by many of the mutations at residues Y2, G6, C9, C14, C24, W33, G37, and C44, indicating that these residues may be essential. In contrast, activity was retained by almost all versions harboring mutations at K1, T8, G10, S13, G19, N28, and N41, indicating that these are functionally redundant residues. Sequence analysis revealed that only the wild type was active and 14 and 11 substitutions were inactive at G6 and C14, respectively, while 12 and 11 substitutions were active and 2 and 0 substitutions were inactive at T8 and K1, respectively. These findings suggest that NNK scanning is effective for determining essential and variable residues in pediocin PA-1, leading to an elucidation of structure-function relationships and to improvements in the antimicrobial function efficiently by peptide engineering.