bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral health, dental treatment, and cardiac valve surgery outcomes
Authors: Wu Grace Hsiao , Manzon Steve , Badovinac Rachel , Woo Sook‐Bin 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine whether not treating chronic dental infection during the admission for cardiac valve surgery would increase the morbidity and mortality of patients.Patients were divided into three groups: dentally unhealthy and untreated (Group A), dentally healthy not requiring treatment (Group B), and dentally unhealthy and treated (Group C). Hospital computer records and phone interviews were used to assess morbidity and mortality as assessed through the Social Security Death Index.Ninety‐eight patient charts were reviewed. Patients in Group A (n = 47)were not at a significantly greater risk for developing infective endocarditis (IE) within 6 months of cardiac surgery compared to patients in Groups B (n = 17) and C (n = 34). Also, patients in Group A did not have a significantly higher rate of mortality compared to other groups (p= .09).The results suggest that there is no need to treat chronic oral infections in patients with compromised cardiac function within 24 to 48 hours prior to cardiac valve replacement surgery since this will not lower the risk of IE and death following cardiac valve surgery. Multicenter prospective case‐controlled studies are needed to address this question definitively.
Doxepin rinse for management of mucositis pain in patients with cancer: one week follow‐up of topical therapy
Authors: Epstein Joel B. , Epstein Joshua D. , Epstein Matthew S. , Oien Hal , Truelove Edmond L. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTThis study assessed the effectiveness of oral doxepin rinse for mucositis‐related pain management in patients following 1 week of repeated dosing. Patients with oral mucositis due to head and neck radiation therapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) were recruited to participate in a 1‐week follow‐up study. Subjects who gave informed consent rinsed with doxepin (5 ml) during the initial visit and were then told to use doxepin rinse over the next week as needed, three to six times per day, and return for a follow‐up visit. At each visit, mucositis was scored using the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale and oral pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale before and after rinsing. The use of a systemic analgesic was recorded, and side effects were documented. At the follow‐up visit, subjects were also asked to retrospectively report average pain scores they experienced over the past week, 5 and 15 minutes following rinse. Nine subjects were enrolled in the study. Statistically significant reductions in pain scores were reported for 2 hours following doxepin rinse during the initial visit (p < .05). Patients recalled that their pain significantly dropped within 5 minutes of rinsing over the week of repeated dosing (p < .05). At the follow‐up visit, subjects reported statistically significant pain reduction 5 minutes after doxepin rinsing (p < .05).These results indicate that doxepin rinsing continues to produce reduced intensity of pain levels over a 1‐week span of repeated dosing.
Juvenile Dogs as Potential Sentinels for West Nile Virus Surveillance
Authors: Resnick M. P. , Grunenwald P. , Blackmar D. , Hailey C. , Bueno R. , Murray K. O. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryWe conducted a study to determine whether juvenile stray dogs could be sentinels for West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance. Seroconversion was detected 6 weeks before the first reported human case. Our findings provide evidence that dogs could be useful sentinels for monitoring areas for evidence of WNV during transmission seasons.
Frequencies of PRNP Gene Polymorphisms in Vietnamese Dairy Cattle for Potential Association with BSE
Authors: Muramatsu Y. , Sakemi Y. , Horiuchi M. , Ogawa T. , Suzuki K. , Kanameda M. , Hanh T. T. , Tamura Y. 
Published: April 2008

SummarySince 2004, significant associations between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) susceptibility in cattle and frequencies of insertion/deletion (ins/del; indel) polymorphisms within the bovine prion protein gene (PRNP) have been reported. In this study, we investigated the frequencies of indel polymorphisms within two variable sites, a 23‐bp indel polymorphism in the promoter region (23indel) and a 12‐bp indel polymorphism in intron 1 region (12indel), in the PRNP in 206 Vietnamese dairy cattle and seven Japanese BSE‐affected cattle. In Vietnamese dairy cattle, the frequency distributions of del allele and del/del genotypic polymorphisms in the 23indel site, which are thought to be associated with BSE susceptibility, were significantly higher, whereas the frequencies of del allelic and del/del genotypic polymorphisms in the 12indel site, which have been reported to confer BSE susceptibility, were significantly lower. We have provided evidence that Vietnamese dairy cattle have a unique genetic background in the PRNP gene in comparison with cattle or sires previously reported in other countries.
All Creatures Great and Minute: A Public Policy Primer for Companion Animal Zoonoses
Authors: Reaser J. K. , Clark E. E. , Meyers N. M. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryApproximately 63% of US households have at least one pet, a large percentage of which are considered family members. Pet owners can derive substantial physical and psychological benefits from interaction with companion animals. However, pet ownership is not without risks; zoonotic diseases are increasingly drawing the attention of healthcare professionals, policy makers and the general public. While zoonoses of ‘traditional’ pets are widely recognized and their prevention and treatment factors are generally known, the growing popularity of ‘non‐traditional’ pets has the potential to facilitate human exposure to novel zoonoses. However, the greatest risk of zoonoses probably arises from animals taken directly from the wild to serve as pets. Non‐governmental organizations, state veterinary associations and others have been calling for increased regulation of animal imports, some proposing that all ‘exotics’ be banned from the pet trade. Because zoonotic diseases of companion animals are influenced by interacting factors of ecological, technical, socio‐economic, and political origin, efforts to minimize their impact need be multi‐dimensional, simultaneously addressing both the ecological and socio‐political drivers of disease emergence and transmission. This study is intended to serve as a primer for animal care professionals seeking to engage with policy makers and the pet industry on the prevention of companion animal zoonoses. We provide background on the human–animal bond, risks of zoonoses associated with groups of companion animals, and the public policy context, as well as identify the factors needed to build a comprehensive approach to companion animal zoonoses risk management. Also included are examples of innovative, non‐regulatory initiatives designed to limit the spread and impact of companion animal zoonoses, including a reptile salmonella poster, theNational Reptile Improvement Plan, HabitattitudeTMcampaign, Pet Zoonoses Committee, and a wildlife disease surveillance initiative known as Project TripWire.
Effect of Boiling Water Carcass Immersion on Aerobic Bacteria Counts of Poultry Skin and Processed Ground Poultry Meat
Authors: Tompkins N. M. , Avens J. S. , Kendall P. A. , Salman M. D. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThis study was conducted to determine the relationship between bacteria destruction on poultry carcass skin and bacteria in raw ground poultry meat from the same carcasses. Immersion time in boiling water of broiler chicken whole carcasses required for maximum reduction of naturally occurring aerobic bacterial count on skin was measured. Treatments for chicken carcasses consisted of immersion in boiling water (∼95°C) for 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 min. Four skin samples taken following treatment and three taken from subsequently ground carcass meat were analyzed for total aerobic plate counts (APC). Analysis of the data indicated a linear increase in bacterial destruction on skin with increased boiling water immersion time from 0 to 4 min. Reduction of skin bacteria to less than 1 log10 occurred at 3 min carcass immersion or longer. The analysis also indicated that treatment with boiling water and removal of skin was effective in reducing bacterial counts in ground meat to similar levels at all treatment times from 0.5 to 4.0 min. Findings from this study indicated that a boiling water immersion intervention and removal of skin could reduce subsequent bacteria contamination of ground meat. This intervention could minimize the risk of pathogen‐contaminated primary processed poultry carcasses used in further processing.
Antibody Response to an Anti‐rabies Vaccine in a Dog Population under Field Conditions in Bolivia
Authors: Suzuki K. , González E. T. , Ascarrunz G. , Loza A. , Pérez M. , Ruiz G. , Rojas L. , Mancilla K. , Pereira J. A. C. , Guzman J. A. , Pecoraro M. R. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryRabies remains an important public health issue in Bolivia, South America. Public concern and fears are most focussed on dogs as the source of rabies. The objective of the present study was to assess immunity of an inactivated suckling mouse brain vaccine against canine rabies used for the official vaccination campaigns under field conditions in an endemic area of rabies in Bolivia. A total of 236 vaccinated and 44 unvaccinated dogs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, selected using stratified random sampling, were investigated in order to obtain owned dog characteristics and antibody titres against rabies in April 2007. The proportion of vaccinated dogs with an antibody titre exceeded the protection threshold value of 0.5 EU/ml was 58% [95% confidence intervals (CI): 52–65], indicating that vaccination is likely to elicit an antibody response (odds ratio 6.3, 95% CI: 1.2–11.5). The range of geometric mean of antibody titre for vaccinated dogs (0.89 EU/ml; 95% CI: 0.75–1.04) was considered to meet the minimal acceptable level indicating an adequate immune response to the vaccine. However, the titre level was not satisfactory in comparison with the results from other field investigations with inactivated tissue culture vaccines. It is recommended for public health authorities to (1) consider modernizing their vaccine manufacturing method because the level of immunity induced by the current vaccine is comparably low, (2) conduct frequent vaccination campaigns to maintain high levels of vaccination coverage, and (3) actively manage the domestic dog population in the study area, which is largely responsible for rabies maintenance.
The Probiotic
Lactobacillus johnsonii
NCC 533 Produces High-Molecular-Mass Inulin from Sucrose by Using an Inulosucrase Enzyme
Authors: Anwar Munir A. , Kralj Slavko , van der Maarel Marc J. E. C. , Dijkhuizen Lubbert 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Fructansucrase enzymes polymerize the fructose moiety of sucrose into levan or inulin fructans, with β(2-6) and β(2-1) linkages, respectively. The probiotic bacterium
Lactobacillus johnsonii
strain NCC 533 possesses a single fructansucrase gene (open reading frame AAS08734) annotated as a putative levansucrase precursor. However,
13
C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the fructan product synthesized in situ revealed that this is of the inulin type. The
ftf
gene of
L. johnsonii
was cloned and expressed to elucidate its exact identity. The purified
L. johnsonii
protein was characterized as an inulosucrase enzyme, producing inulin from sucrose, as identified by
13
C NMR analysis. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the reaction products showed that InuJ synthesized, besides the inulin polymer, a broad range of fructose oligosaccharides. Maximum InuJ enzyme activity was observed in a pH range of 4.5 to 7.0, decreasing sharply at pH 7.5. InuJ exhibited the highest enzyme activity at 55°C, with a drastic decrease at 60°C. Calcium ions were found to have an important effect on enzyme activity and stability. Kinetic analysis showed that the transfructosylation reaction of the InuJ enzyme does not obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The non-Michaelian behavior of InuJ may be attributed to the oligosaccharides that were initially formed in the reaction and which may act as better acceptors than the growing polymer chain. This is only the second example of the isolation and characterization of an inulosucrase enzyme and its inulin (oligosaccharide) product from a
Lactobacillus
strain. Furthermore, this is the first
Lactobacillus
strain shown to produce inulin polymer in situ.
Development and Use of an Efficient System for Random
mariner
Transposon Mutagenesis To Identify Novel Genetic Determinants of Biofilm Formation in the Core
Enterococcus faecalis
Genome
Authors: Kristich Christopher J. , Nguyen Vy T. , Le Thinh , Barnes Aaron M. T. , Grindle Suzanne , Dunny Gary M. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Enterococcus faecalis
is a gram-positive commensal bacterium of the gastrointestinal tract and an important opportunistic pathogen. Despite the increasing clinical significance of the enterococci, most of the genetic analysis of these organisms has focused on mobile genetic elements, and existing tools for manipulation and analysis of the core
E. faecalis
chromosome are limited. We are interested in a comprehensive analysis of the genetic determinants for biofilm formation encoded within the core
E. faecalis
genome. To identify such determinants, we developed a substantially improved system for transposon mutagenesis in
E. faecalis
based on a mini-
mariner
transposable element. Mutagenesis of wild-type
E. faecalis
with this element yielded predominantly mutants carrying a single copy of the transposable element, and insertions were distributed around the entire chromosome in an apparently random fashion. We constructed a library of
E. faecalis
transposon insertion mutants and screened this library to identify mutants exhibiting a defect in biofilm formation. Biofilm-defective mutants were found to carry transposon insertions both in genes that were previously known to play a role in biofilm formation and in new genes lacking any known function; for several genes identified in the screen, complementation analysis confirmed a direct role in biofilm formation. These results provide significant new information about the genetics of enterococcal biofilm formation and demonstrate the general utility of our transposon system for functional genomic analysis of
E. faecalis
.
New Aspects of Neotropical Polycystic (
Echinococcus vogeli
) and Unicystic (
Echinococcus oligarthrus
) Echinococcosis
Authors: D'Alessandro Antonio , Rausch Robert L. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARY

Of the four species of the genus
Echinococcus
(Cestoda) distinguished by biological and morphological characteristics, two species,
E. vogeli
and
E. oligarthrus
, occur widely in the Neotropics. Approximately 200 cases of polycystic echinococcosis (PE) have been recorded from 12 countries in South America. Following early proliferation of
E. vogeli
in the human host, typically in the liver, the metacestode usually spreads in the peritoneal and pleural cavities, and numerous organs may be invaded. The clinical characteristics of PE in 81 patients with sufficient information are reviewed. Type I disease consists of polycysts in the liver and abdominal cavity (37% of the patients had this characteristic); type II is similar to type I but also includes hepatic insufficiency (26%); type III consists of cysts in liver and chest (14%); type IV consists of cysts only in the mesenteries (16%); and type V consists of cysts calcified in liver and lung (4%). The percentage of patients with polycysts in the liver was 81%, and the percentage of patients with polycysts in the chest was 14%. PE is most ready diagnosed by geographic origin of the patient and by means of ultrasound or computerized tomography scanning showing cysts and calcifications. The highest mortality was for patients with type II disease, due to hepatic failure and its complications. There were five patients who died due to surgical accidents, whereas 35 cases had uncomplicated surgery. Twenty-three patients died of PE, making the total mortality 29% (23 of 78 cases). None of the 13 patients treated only with albendazole, the most efficacious treatment, was completely cured. PE represents a severe medical problem in South America. A reevaluation of the characteristics of the metacestode of
E. oligarthrus
indicated that it is unicystic. Only three human cases are known (two with infection in the orbit and one with infection in the heart). The metacestode of
E. oligarthrus
, in contrast with that of
E. vogeli
, consists of a spherical, fluid-filled vesicle that enlarges concentrically and is not known to undergo exogenous proliferation.
Cavitary Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Gadkowski L. Beth , Stout Jason E. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYA pulmonary cavity is a gas-filled area of the lung in the center of a nodule or area of consolidation and may be clinically observed by use of plain chest radiography or computed tomography. Cavities are present in a wide variety of infectious and noninfectious processes. This review discusses the differential diagnosis of pathological processes associated with lung cavities, focusing on infections associated with lung cavities. The goal is to provide the clinician and clinical microbiologist with an overview of the diseases most commonly associated with lung cavities, with attention to the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the host.
The Relationship between Leishmaniasis and AIDS: the Second 10 Years
Authors: Alvar Jorge , Aparicio Pilar , Aseffa Abraham , Den Boer Margriet , Cañavate Carmen , Dedet Jean-Pierre , Gradoni Luigi , Ter Horst Rachel , López-Vélez Rogelio , Moreno Javier 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYTo date, most Leishmania and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection cases reported to WHO come from Southern Europe. Up to the year 2001, nearly 2,000 cases of coinfection were identified, of which 90% were from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. However, these figures are misleading because they do not account for the large proportion of cases in many African and Asian countries that are missed due to a lack of diagnostic facilities and poor reporting systems. Most cases of coinfection in the Americas are reported in Brazil, where the incidence of leishmaniasis has spread in recent years due to overlap with major areas of HIV transmission. In some areas of Africa, the number of coinfection cases has increased dramatically due to social phenomena such as mass migration and wars. In northwest Ethiopia, up to 30% of all visceral leishmaniasis patients are also infected with HIV. In Asia, coinfections are increasingly being reported in India, which also has the highest global burden of leishmaniasis and a high rate of resistance to antimonial drugs. Based on the previous experience of 20 years of coinfection in Europe, this review focuses on the management of Leishmania-HIV-coinfected patients in low-income countries where leishmaniasis is endemic.
Identification of Mating Type Genes in the Bipolar Basidiomycetous Yeast
Rhodosporidium toruloides
: First Insight into the
MAT
Locus Structure of the
Sporidiobolales
Authors: Coelho Marco A. , Rosa André , Rodrigues Nádia , Fonseca Álvaro , Gonçalves Paula 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Rhodosporidium toruloides
is a heterothallic, bipolar, red yeast that belongs to the
Sporidiobolales
, an order within a major lineage of basidiomycetes, the
Pucciniomycotina
. In contrast to other basidiomycetes, considerably less is known about the nature of the mating type (
MAT
) loci that control sexual reproduction in this lineage. Three genes (
RHA1, RHA2
, and
RHA3
) encoding precursors of the
MAT A1
pheromone (rhodotorucine
A
) were previously identified and formed the basis for a genome walking approach that led to the identification of additional
MAT
genes in complementary mating strains of
R. toruloides
. Two mating type-specific alleles encoding a p21-activated kinase (PAK; Ste20 homolog) were found between the
RHA2
and
RHA3
genes, and identification in
MAT A2
strains of a gene encoding a presumptive pheromone precursor enabled prediction of the structure of rhodotorucine
a
. In addition, a putative pheromone receptor gene (
STE3
homolog) was identified upstream of
RHA1
. Analyses of genomic data from two closely related species,
Sporobolomyces roseus
and
Sporidiobolus salmonicolor
, identified syntenic regions that contain homologs of all the above-mentioned genes. Notably, six novel pheromone precursor genes were uncovered, which encoded, similarly to the
RHA
genes, multiple tandem copies of the peptide moiety. This suggests that this structure, which is unique among fungal lipopeptide pheromones, seems to be prevalent in red yeasts. Species comparisons provided evidence for a large, multigenic
MAT
locus structure in the
Sporidiobolales
, but no putative homeodomain transcription factor genes (which are present in all basidiomycetous
MAT
loci characterized thus far) could be found in any of the three species in the vicinity of the
MAT
genes identified.
Gait-related intrinsic risk factors for patellofemoral pain in novice recreational runners
Authors: Thijs Y , De Clercq D , Roosen P , Witvrouw E 
Published: April 2008

Objective:To determine prospectively gait-related intrinsic risk factors for patellofemoral pain (PFP) in a population of novice recreational runners.Design:Prospective cohort study.Participants:102 novice recreational runners (89 women) with no history of knee or lower leg complaints.Interventions:The standing foot posture of the subjects was examined and plantar pressure measurements during running were collected. The subjects then participated in a 10-week “start to run” programme. During this period all sports injuries were registered by a sports medicine physician.Main outcome measurements:The relationship between the standing foot posture and PFP was investigated and gait-related intrinsic risk factors for PFP were determined.Results:The 17 runners who developed PFP exerted a significantly higher vertical peak force underneath the lateral heel and metatarsals 2 and 3. Logistic regression analysis showed that a significantly higher vertical peak force underneath the second metatarsal and shorter time to the vertical peak force underneath the lateral heel were predictors for PFP. No significant evidence was found for an association between an excessively pronated or supinated foot posture and the development of PFP.Conclusions:The findings suggest that an excessive impact shock during heel strike and at the propulsion phase of running may contribute to an increased risk of developing PFP. The hypothesis that persons at risk for PFP show an altered static foot posture in comparison with non-afflicted persons is not supported by the results of this study.
The biological roles of exercise-induced cytokines: IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15
Authors: Nielsen Anders Rinnov , Pedersen Bente Klarlund 
Published: April 2008

Skeletal muscle fibers express several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-15. Solid evidence exists that muscular IL-6 and IL-8 are regulated by muscle contractions, at both the mRNA and the protein levels. IL-6 increases insulin-stimulated glucose disposal and fatty acid oxidation in humans in vivo. Both IL-6 and IL-8 are released from working skeletal muscle, but because IL-6 contributes to the systemic circulation only a small transient net release of IL-8 is found from working muscle, suggesting that IL-8 may exert its effects locally in the muscle. IL-15 is a recently discovered growth factor, which is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Interestingly, although IL-15 has been demonstrated as having anabolic effects on skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo, it seems to play a role in reducing adipose tissue mass, and a role for IL-15 in muscle–fat cross-talk has been hypothesized. In conclusion, muscle-derived cytokines appear to have important roles in metabolism, and exercise plays a role in orchestrating the interplay between cytokines and metabolism.