bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Biomic V3 Microbiology System for Identification of Selected Species on BBL CHROMagar Orientation Agar and CHROMagar MRSA Medium
Authors: Baron Ellen Jo , D'Souza Holly , Qi Wang Andrew , Gibbs David L. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The Biomic V3 microbiology system identifies bacteria by reading the color of colonies selected by the user. For CHROMagar orientation, Biomic results agreed with conventional methods for 94% of the strains assayed. For CHROMagar MRSA, Biomic correctly identified 100% of the strains tested and did not misidentify two methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
strains growing on the plates.
Amino Acid Preferences of Retroviral Proteases for Amino-Terminal Positions in a Type 1 Cleavage Site
Authors: Eizert Helga , Bander Pálma , Bagossi Péter , Sperka Tamás , Miklóssy Gabriella , Boross Péter , Weber Irene T. , Tözsér József 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

The specificities of the proteases of 11 retroviruses were studied using a series of oligopeptides with amino acid substitutions in the P1, P3, and P4 positions of a naturally occurring type 1 cleavage site (Val-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr↓Pro-Ile-Val-Gln) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Previously, the substrate specificity of the P2 site was studied for the same representative set of retroviral proteases, which included at least one member from each of the seven genera of the family
Retroviridae
(P. Bagossi, T. Sperka, A. Fehér, J. Kádas, G. Zahuczky, G. Miklóssy, P. Boross, and J. Tözsér, J. Virol. 79:4213-4218, 2005). Our enzyme set comprised the proteases of HIV-1, HIV-2, equine infectious anemia virus, avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), Moloney murine leukemia virus, human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, bovine leukemia virus, walleye dermal sarcoma virus, and human foamy virus. Molecular models were used to interpret the similarities and differences in specificity between these retroviral proteases. The results showed that the retroviral proteases had similar preferences (Phe and Tyr) for the P1 position in this sequence context, but differences were found for the P3 and P4 positions. Importantly, the sizes of the P3 and P4 residues appear to be a major contributor for specificity. The substrate specificities correlated well with the phylogenetic tree of the retroviruses. Furthermore, while the specificities of some enzymes belonging to different genera appeared to be very similar (e.g., those of AMV and MMTV), the specificities of the primate lentiviral proteases substantially differed from that observed for a nonprimate lentiviral protease.
Noroviruses Distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 Histo-Blood Group Antigens for Binding
Authors: Shirato Haruko , Ogawa Satoko , Ito Hiromi , Sato Takashi , Kameyama Akihiko , Narimatsu Hisashi , Xiaofan Zheng , Miyamura Tatsuo , Wakita Takaji , Ishii Koji , Takeda Naokazu 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

Norovirus (NoV) is a causative agent of acute gastroenteritis. NoV binds to histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), namely, ABH antigens and Lewis (Le) antigens, in which type 1 and type 2 carbohydrate core structures constitute antigenically distinct variants. Norwalk virus, the prototype strain of norovirus, binds to the gastroduodenal junction, and this binding is correlated with the presence of H type 1 antigen but not with that of H type 2 antigen (S. Marionneau, N. Ruvoen, B. Le Moullac-Vaidye, M. Clement, A. Cailleau-Thomas, G. Ruiz-Palacois, P. Huang, X. Jiang, and J. Le Pendu, Gastroenterology
122
:1967-1977, 2002). It has been unknown whether NoV distinguishes between the type 1 and type 2 chains of A and B antigens. In this study, we synthesized A type 1, A type 2, B type 1, and B type 2 pentasaccharides in vitro and examined the function of the core structures in the binding between NoV virus-like particles (VLPs) and HBGAs. The attachment of five genogroup I (GI) VLPs from 5 genotypes and 11 GII VLPs from 8 genotypes, GI/1, GI/2, GI/3, GI/4, GI/8, GII/1, GII/3, GII/4, GII/5, GII/6, GII/7, GII/12, and GII/14, to ABH and Le HBGAs was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based binding assays and Biacore analyses. GI/1, GI/2, GI/3, GI/4, GI/8, and GII/4 VLPs were more efficiently bound to A type 2 than A type 1, and GI/8 and GII/4 VLPs were more efficiently bound to B type 2 than B type 1, indicating that NoV VLPs distinguish between type 1 and type 2 carbohydrates. The dissociation of GII/4 VLPs from B type 1 was slower than that from B type 2 in the Biacore experiments; moreover, the binding to B type 1 was stronger than that to B type 2 in the ELISA experiments. These results indicated that the type 1 carbohydrates bind more tightly to NoV VLPs than the type 2 carbohydrates. This property may afford NoV tissue specificity. GII/4 is known to be a global epidemic genotype and binds to more HBGAs than other genotypes. This characteristic may be linked with the worldwide transmission of GII/4 strains. GI/2, GI/3, GI/4, GI/8, GII/4, and GII/7 VLPs bound to Le
a
expressed by nonsecretors, suggesting that NoV can infect individuals regardless of secretor phenotype. Overall, our results indicated that HBGAs are important factors in determining tissue specificity and the risk of transmission.
A Viral Noncoding RNA Generated bycis-Element-Mediated Protection against 5′→3′ RNA Decay Represses both Cap-Independent and Cap-Dependent Translation
Authors: Iwakawa Hiro-oki , Mizumoto Hiroyuki , Nagano Hideaki , Imoto Yuka , Takigawa Kazuma , Sarawaneeyaruk Siriruk , Kaido Masanori , Mise Kazuyuki , Okuno Tetsuro 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTPositive-strand RNA viruses use diverse mechanisms to regulate viral and host gene expression for ensuring their efficient proliferation or persistence in the host. We found that a small viral noncoding RNA (0.4 kb), named SR1f, accumulated inRed clover necrotic mosaic virus(RCNMV)-infected plants and protoplasts and was packaged into virions. The genome of RCNMV consists of two positive-strand RNAs, RNA1 and RNA2. SR1f was generated from the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of RNA1, which contains RNA elements essential for both cap-independent translation and negative-strand RNA synthesis. A 58-nucleotide sequence in the 3′ UTR of RNA1 (Seq1f58) was necessary and sufficient for the generation of SR1f. SR1f was neither a subgenomic RNA nor a defective RNA replicon but a stable degradation product generated by Seq1f58-mediated protection against 5′→3′ decay. SR1f efficiently suppressed both cap-independent and cap-dependent translation both in vitro and in vivo. SR1ftransinhibited negative-strand RNA synthesis of RCNMV genomic RNAs via repression of replicase protein production but not via competition of replicase proteins in vitro. RCNMV seems to use cellular enzymes to generate SR1f that might play a regulatory role in RCNMV infection. Our results also suggest that Seq1f58 is an RNA element that protects the 3′-side RNA sequences against 5′→3′ decay in plant cells as reported for the poly(G) tract and stable stem-loop structure inSaccharomyces cerevisiae.
Targeting the Retinoblastoma Protein by MC007L, Gene Product of the Molluscum Contagiosum Virus: Detection of a Novel Virus-Cell Interaction by a Member of the Poxviruses
Authors: Mohr Stefan , Grandemange Stéphanie , Massimi Paola , Darai Gholamreza , Banks Lawrence , Martinou Jean-Claude , Zeier Martin , Muranyi Walter 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT
The human pathogenic poxvirus molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is the causative agent of benign neoplasm, with worldwide incidence, characterized by intraepidermal hyperplasia and hypertrophy of cells. Here, we present evidence that the MC007L protein of MCV targets retinoblastoma protein (pRb) via a conserved LxCxE motif, which is present in many viral oncoproteins. The deregulation of the pRb pathway plays a central role in tumor pathogenesis. The oncoproteins of small DNA viruses contain amino acid sequences that bind to and inactivate pRb. Isolated expression of these oncoproteins induces apoptosis, cell proliferation, and cellular transformation. The MC007L gene displays no homology to other genes within the poxvirus family. The protein anchors into the outer mitochondrial membrane via an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence. Through the LxCxE motifs, MC007L induces a cytosolic sequestration of pRb at mitochondrial membranes, leading to the inactivation of the protein by mislocalization. MC007L precipitates the endogenous pRb/E2F-1 complex. Moreover, MC007L is able to cooperate to transform primary rat kidney cells. The interaction between MC007L and pRb provides a novel mechanism by which a virus can perturb the cell cycle.
Who does not need a statin: too late in end-stage renal disease or heart failure?
Authors: Laufs U , Custodis F , Böhm M 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Current guidelines from large randomised trials recommend that all patients with diabetes type 2 or coronary artery disease after myocardial infarction should be treated with statin drugs. However, the recent 4D and CORONA trials show no improvement in mortality in elderly patients with ischaemic heart failure and patients with diabetes and end-stage renal disease receiving haemodialysis with the onset of statin treatment. The survival benefit from statin treatment appears to stem primarily from the prevention of progression of coronary artery disease. In clinical conditions where coronary artery disease does not significantly contribute to the cause of death statins seem to be less effective. In patients at risk for organ damage, statin treatment, therefore, has to be started early in the course of the disease. The effect of statin withdrawal in ischaemic heart failure or in patients with advanced renal disease is not known. On the basis of the available evidence, current statin treatment should not be stopped in these patients.
FLEXOR DIGITORUM PROFUNDUS AVULSION OF THE LEFT LITTLE FINGER THROUGH ENCHONDROMA OF THE DISTAL PHALANX: PULL-OUT WIRE TECHNIQUE TREATMENT WITHOUT BONE GRAFT
Authors: Yamauchi Toru , Yoshii Takashi , Sempuku Takeo 
Published: August 2008

This case report describes the rare occurrence of a flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) avulsion of the left little finger in association with a pathological fracture of an enchondroma. The enchondroma was treated by simple curettage without bone graft. The FDP tendon was re-attached to the distal phalanx using the pull-out technique with a non-absorbable polyethylene suture. We recommend simple curettage without bone grafting in cases of enchondroma of the distal phalanx in which the bone defect is small.
CLINICAL RESULT OF OPERATIVE TREATMENT FOR SCAPHOID NON-UNION IN THE SKELETALLY IMMATURE: PERCUTANEOUS VERSUS OPEN PROCEDURE
Authors: Jeon In-Ho , Kochhar Hemanshu , Micic Ivan D. , Oh Soo-Hoon , Kim Shin-Yoon , Kim Poong Taek 
Published: August 2008

This article is a retrospective study of 13 cases of scaphoid non-union in skeletally immature patients. For the fracture fixation, three cases of stable fibrous union with minimal sclerosis, without deformity or cystic changes were considered for the percutaneous Herbert screw fixation. Ten cases were managed with the open reduction and internal fixation with or without bone grafting. The average union time was 10.5 weeks post-operatively. The average union time was lesser in percutaneous Herbert screw fixation group (nine weeks) than open procedure group (11.5 weeks). All cases achieved union without any supplemental procedures. According to Cooney's clinical scoring, 12 cases were rated excellent result and one good result. The percutaneous Herbert screw fixation for scaphoid non-union in skeletally immature patients can be a good treatment option when it is fibrous union with no deformity.
Simvastatin-induced endothelial cell detachment and microparticle release are prenylation dependent
Authors: Diamant Michaela , Tushuizen Maarten E. , Abid-Hussein Mohammed N. , Hau Chi M. , Böing Anita N. , Sturk Augueste , Nieuwland Rienk 
Published: August 2008

SummaryStatins reduce cardiovascular disease risk and affect endothelial function by cholesterol-dependent and independent mechanisms. Recently, circulating (detached) endothelial cells and endothelial microparticles (EMP) have been associated with endothelial functioning in vitro and in vivo.We investigated whether simvastatin affects endothelial detachment and release of EMP. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with clinically relevant concentrations of simvastatin (1.0 and 5.0 µM), with or without mevalonic acid (100 µM) or gera-nylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP; 20 µM) for 24 hours, and analyzed by flowcytometry andWe stern blot. Simvastatin at 1.0 and 5.0 µM increased cell detachment from 12.5 ± 4.1% to 26.0 ± 7.6% (p=0.013) and 28.9 ± 2.2% (p=0.002) as well as EMP release (p=0.098 and p=0.041, respectively).The majority of detached cells was apoptotic, although the fraction of detached cells that showed signs of apoptosis (>70%) was unaffected by simvastatin. Detached cells and EMP contained caspase 3 and caspase 8,but not caspase 9. Restoring either cholesterol biosynthesis and prenylation (mevalonate) or prenylation alone (GGPP) reversed all simvastatin-induced effects on cell detachment and EMP release. Adherent cells showed no signs of simvastatin-induced apoptosis. Simvastatin promotes detachment and EMP release by inhibiting prenylation, presumably via a caspase 8-dependent mechanism. We hypothesize that by facilitating detachment and EMP release, statins improve the overall condition of the remaining vascular endothelium.
Hereditary and acquired thrombophilia in patients with upper extremity deep-vein thrombosis
Authors: Meister Florian , Schwonberg Jan , Schindewolf Marc , Zgouras Dimitrios , Lindhoff-Last Edelgard , Linnemann Birgit 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe prevalence of coagulation disorders in patients with upper extremity deep-vein thrombosis (UE-DVT) is unknown due to only a few observational studies of limited size reporting varying results. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of thrombophilia in patients with UE-DVT compared to patients with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE-DVT). One hundred fifty consecutive patients (15 to 91 years of age) with UE-DVT were recruited from the MAISTHRO (MAin-ISar-THROmbosis) registry. Three hundred LE-DVT patients matched for gender and age served as controls. Thrombophilia screening included tests for the factor V Leiden mutation, the prothrombin G20210A mutation, antiphospholipid antibodies and factor VIII (FVIII), protein C, protein S and antithrombin activities. At least one thrombophilia was present in 34.2% of UE-DVT and 39.2% in UE-DVT that was unrelated to venous catheters relative to 55.3% in LE-DVT patients (p<0.001). In particular, a persistently elevated FVIII is less likely to be found in UE-DVT patients than in those with LE-DVT and is the only thrombophilia that is differentially expressed after controlling for established VTE risk factors [OR 0.46, (95% CI 0.25–0.83)]. Although less prevalent than in LE-DVT patients, thrombophilia is a common finding in patients with UE-DVT, especially in those with thrombosis that is unrelated to venous catheters.
ABO(H) blood groups and pre-eclampsia
Authors: Wu Olivia , Clark Peter 
Published: August 2008

Summarypre-eclampsia is associated with both placental thrombosis and thrombophilia. The ABO(H) blood group influences von Willebrand factor, which is a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis. Over many years a number of studies have examined the relationship between ABO(H) and pre-eclampsia, but no consensus exists as to whether there is a true association. Correspondingly, a systematic review of studies reporting an association between ABO(H) blood group and pre-eclampsia syndromes was performed. From the 17 eligible studies there was no consistent link between blood group AB and pre-eclampsia, with a pooled odds ratio of group AB versus the remainder of 1.02 (95%CI 0.86 to 1.22).There was no evidence of heterogeneity and individual study estimates were relatively consistent. Comparing a combined group of non-Os (i.e.AA, AB and BB) with group O gave similar results, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.01 (95%CI 0.91 to 1.12), but with some evidence of heterogeneity (p=0.01) and individual study estimate inconsistency (I2 49%).However, no specific feature (disease definition, disease severity, date of publication, or ABO(H) distribution in controls) distinguished those few studies giving any form of positive association from the remainder. In summary, no clear association between any ABO(H) blood group and pre-eclampsia can be made from available studies. However, existing data does not allow exclusion of an effect limited to those expressing the least O(H) antigen.
Good Vibrations: Cross-frequency Coupling in the Human Nucleus Accumbens during Reward Processing
Authors: Cohen Michael X , Axmacher Nikolai , Lenartz Doris , Elger Christian E. , Sturm Volker , Schlaepfer Thomas E. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
The nucleus accumbens is critical for reward-guided learning and decision-making. It is thought to “gate” the flow of a diverse range of information (e.g., rewarding, aversive, and novel events) from limbic afferents to basal ganglia outputs. Gating and information encoding may be achieved via cross-frequency coupling, in which bursts of high-frequency activity occur preferentially during specific phases of slower oscillations. We examined whether the human nucleus accumbens engages such a mechanism by recording electrophysiological activity directly from the accumbens of human patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery. Oscillatory activity in the gamma (40–80 Hz) frequency range was synchronized with the phase of simultaneous alpha (8–12 Hz) waves. Further, losing and winning small amounts of money elicited relatively increased gamma oscillation power prior to and following alpha troughs, respectively. Gamma–alpha synchronization may reflect an electrophysiological gating mechanism in the human nucleus accumbens, and the phase differences in gamma–alpha coupling may reflect a reward information coding scheme similar to phase coding.
Developmental Increase in Top–Down and Bottom–Up Processing in a Phonological Task: An Effective Connectivity, fMRI Study
Authors: Bitan Tali , Cheon Jimmy , Lu Dong , Burman Douglas D. , Booth James R. 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
We examined age-related changes in the interactions among brain regions in children performing rhyming judgments on visually presented words. The difficulty of the task was manipulated by including a conflict between task-relevant (phonological) information and task-irrelevant (orthographic) information. The conflicting conditions included pairs of words that rhyme despite having different spelling patterns (jazz–has), or words that do not rhyme despite having similar spelling patterns (pint–mint). These were contrasted with nonconflicting pairs that have similar orthography and phonology (dime–lime) or different orthography and phonology (press–list). Using fMRI, we examined effective connectivity among five left hemisphere regions of interest: fusiform gyrus (FG), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), intraparietal sulcus (IPS), lateral temporal cortex (LTC), and medial frontal gyrus (MeFG). Age-related increases were observed in the influence of the IFG and FG on the LTC, but only in conflicting conditions. These results reflect a developmental increase in the convergence of bottom–up and top–down information on the LTC. In older children, top–down control process may selectively enhance the sensitivity of the LTC to bottom–up information from the FG. This may be evident especially in situations that require selective enhancement of task-relevant versus task-irrelevant information. Altogether these results provide a direct evidence for a developmental increase in top–down control processes in language processing. The developmental increase in bottom–up processing may be secondary to the enhancement of top–down processes.
Sentence Syntax and Content in the Human Temporal Lobe: An fMRI Adaptation Study in Auditory and Visual Modalities
Authors: Devauchelle Anne-Dominique , Oppenheim Catherine , Rizzi Luigi , Dehaene Stanislas , Pallier Christophe 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Priming effects have been well documented in behavioral psycholinguistics experiments: The processing of a word or a sentence is typically facilitated when it shares lexico-semantic or syntactic features with a previously encountered stimulus. Here, we used fMRI priming to investigate which brain areas show adaptation to the repetition of a sentence's content or syntax. Participants read or listened to sentences organized in series which could or not share similar syntactic constructions and/or lexico-semantic content. The repetition of lexico-semantic content yielded adaptation in most of the temporal and frontal sentence processing network, both in the visual and the auditory modalities, even when the same lexico-semantic content was expressed using variable syntactic constructions. No fMRI adaptation effect was observed when the same syntactic construction was repeated. Yet behavioral priming was observed at both syntactic and semantic levels in a separate experiment where participants detected sentence endings. We discuss a number of possible explanations for the absence of syntactic priming in the fMRI experiments, including the possibility that the conglomerate of syntactic properties defining “a construction” is not an actual object assembled during parsing.
Dynamic Changes in the Mental Rotation Network Revealed by Pattern Recognition Analysis of fMRI Data
Authors: Mourao-Miranda Janaina , Ecker Christine , Sato Joao R. , Brammer Michael 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
We investigated the temporal dynamics and changes in connectivity in the mental rotation network through the application of spatio-temporal support vector machines (SVMs). The spatio-temporal SVM [Mourao-Miranda, J., Friston, K. J., et al. (2007). Dynamic discrimination analysis: A spatial-temporal SVM. Neuroimage, 36, 88–99] is a pattern recognition approach that is suitable for investigating dynamic changes in the brain network during a complex mental task. It does not require a model describing each component of the task and the precise shape of the BOLD impulse response. By defining a time window including a cognitive event, one can use spatio-temporal fMRI observations from two cognitive states to train the SVM. During the training, the SVM finds the discriminating pattern between the two states and produces a discriminating weight vector encompassing both voxels and time (i.e., spatio-temporal maps). We showed that by applying spatio-temporal SVM to an event-related mental rotation experiment, it is possible to discriminate between different degrees of angular disparity (0° vs. 20°, 0° vs. 60°, and 0° vs. 100°), and the discrimination accuracy is correlated with the difference in angular disparity between the conditions. For the comparison with highest accuracy (0° vs. 100°), we evaluated how the most discriminating areas (visual regions, parietal regions, supplementary, and premotor areas) change their behavior over time. The frontal premotor regions became highly discriminating earlier than the superior parietal cortex. There seems to be a parcellation of the parietal regions with an earlier discrimination of the inferior parietal lobe in the mental rotation in relation to the superior parietal. The SVM also identified a network of regions that had a decrease in BOLD responses during the 100° condition in relation to the 0° condition (posterior cingulate, frontal, and superior temporal gyrus). This network was also highly discriminating between the two conditions. In addition, we investigated changes in functional connectivity between the most discriminating areas identified by the spatio-temporal SVM. We observed an increase in functional connectivity between almost all areas activated during the 100° condition (bilateral inferior and superior parietal lobe, bilateral premotor area, and SMA) but not between the areas that showed a decrease in BOLD response during the 100° condition.