bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta‐analysis of magnetic resonance imaging studies of the corpus callosum in bipolar disorder
Authors: Arnone D. , McIntosh A. M. , Chandra P. , Ebmeier K. P. 
Published: July 2008

Objective:  The corpus callosum (CC) plays a pivotal role in inter‐hemispheric transfer and integration of information and is a relatively understudied structure in bipolar disorder (BD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported callosal abnormalities in this condition but findings have been inconsistent. Structural changes affecting the CC may underlie functional abnormalities in BD and could contribute to, or explain the pathophysiology of, the condition.Method:  A systematic review was carried out to identify, appraise and summarize MRI studies which compared callosal areas in BD with an unrelated control group. The findings were then synthesized using random effects meta‐analysis. Consideration was given to a number of variables to explain heterogeneity.Results:  Five case–control studies were identified. Bipolar patients showed reduced callosal areas in comparison with healthy volunteers with no evidence of heterogeneity or publication bias.Conclusion:  Findings from this study indicate that callosal areas are reduced in BD and suggest that a failure to integrate information across the hemispheres may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Further research is necessary to clarify the underlying cellular changes leading to these morphometric differences.
Effects of Degradation and Replacement of Southern Brazilian Coastal Sandy Vegetation on the Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Vieira Letícia , Louzada Júlio N. C. , Spector Sacha 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTIn this paper we address the effects of anthropogenic disturbance and replacement of Brazilian Coastal sandy vegetation (restingas) on dung beetles communities. We sampled dung beetles in the four main vegetative physiognomies of Guriri Island, Espírito Santo State: forest restinga, restinga Clusia, disturbed restinga (from burning events), and pastures. We placed four sets of two pitfall traps (baited with horse and human dung) in four independent areas of each vegetation type, and collected 14,534 individuals of 13 dung beetle species. Neither log10 of individuals nor log10 of species richness were good predictors of restinga disturbance. However, a significant amount of variation in dung beetle abundance and richness could be explained by bait type. Ordination of these sites using hybrid multidimensional scaling revealed a gradient of habitat disturbance from undisturbed restinga samples to pasture. Dung beetle communities along this gradient demonstrated a complete turnover in species composition, from restinga‐specialists to invasive and generalists species respectively. This complete turnover signals the local extirpation of forest‐adapted species in disturbed and converted areas. Only a single dung beetle species in preserved restingas is protected by Brazilian law (Dichotomius schiffleri). Given the extent of the clearing of restinga habitat, the conservation status of dung beetles associated with restinga forest gives cause for concern.
Urban water demand management: prospects and challenges for the developing countries
Authors: Sharma Saroj K. , Vairavamoorthy Kala 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAs the traditional supply‐driven urban water management is not sustainable, water utilities should embrace water demand management (WDM) measures to meet increasing water demand. Developed countries are using different technological and management measures to reduce urban water demand as a part of their integrated urban water management strategy. However, all these measures might not be directly applicable for the developing countries. Furthermore, the developing countries might not have access to the technologies and skilled manpower as well as institutional set‐up to apply these measures properly. In this context, this paper reviews the different tools, techniques and measures of urban water demand management (UWDM) applied in the developed countries and critically analyses the prerequisites, prospects and constraints likely to be faced in developing countries in adopting these techniques and measures. Furthermore, it outlines a set of activities that will best help the developing countries in attaining the full benefit of UWDM.
The changing face of homozygous sickle cell disease: 102 patients over 60 years
Authors: SERJEANT G. R. , SERJEANT B. E. , MASON K. P. , HAMBLETON I. R. , FISHER C. , HIGGS D. R. 
Published: July 2008

SummaryEarlier reports on homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease have been biased by severely affected cases. The Jamaican clinic which seeks to avoid such bias has 102 patients surviving beyond 60 years. The objective of this study was to examine the features of elderly cases and assess factors determining survival and the behaviour of this disease with advancing age. A retrospective review of all cases and prospective assessment in survivors was conducted at The Sickle Cell Clinic at the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica previously operated by the MRC Laboratories. All patients with SS disease born prior to December 31, 1943 who would, by January 2004, have passed their 60th birthday were traced and their current status ascertained. The molecular and clinical features were assessed and observations on the clinical behaviour of the disease and of haematology and biochemistry are presented. Of the 102 patients, 58 had died, four had emigrated and 40 were alive, resident in Jamaica and aged 60–87 years. Survival was associated with female gender and higher foetal haemoglobin but not with alpha‐thalassaemia or beta‐globin haplotype. A tendency to familial clustering among elderly survivors did not reach statistical significance. Painful crises ameliorated with age and there was a benign course in pregnancy. Mean haemoglobin levels fell with age and were generally associated with rising creatinine levels indicating the importance of renal failure. Elderly survivors present some features of intrinsic mildness but also manifest age‐related amelioration of painful crises and falling haemoglobin levels from progressive renal damage.
Measurement of the Humoral Immune Response following an Incident Human Papillomavirus Type 16 or 18 Infection in Young Women by a Pseudovirion-Based Neutralizing Antibody Assay
Authors: Steele Jane , Collins Stuart , Wen Kaisheng , Ryan Gordon , Constandinou-Williams Christothea , Woodman Ciaran B. J. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
We have evaluated a neutralizing antibody assay which uses human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 (HPV-16) and HPV-18 pseudovirions carrying a secretory alkaline phosphatase reporter gene and which can potentially measure functionally relevant HPV type-specific neutralizing antibodies. The reproducibility of the assay was excellent; for HPV-16, the intra- and interassay kappa values were 0.95 and 0.90, respectively; and for HPV-18, the corresponding values were 0.90 and 0.90. This assay was used to describe the kinetics of the neutralizing antibody response in a cohort of 42 young women who were recruited soon after first intercourse and who first tested positive for HPV-16 DNA or HPV-18 DNA, or both, during follow-up. Most women seroconverted following the first detection of type-specific HPV DNA and remained seropositive until the end of follow-up. Our findings are broadly consistent with those of two other cohort studies which have measured the serological response following an incident infection by using the technically simpler virus-like-particle-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Diagnosis of Central Nervous System Tuberculosis by T-Cell-Based Assays on Peripheral Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Kim Sung-Han , Chu Kon , Choi Su-Jin , Song Kyoung-Ho , Kim Hong-Bin , Kim Nam-Joong , Park Seong-Ho , Yoon Byung-Woo , Oh Myoung-don , Choe Kang-Won 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

In active tuberculosis (TB),
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-specific T cells are compartmentalized more to the site of infection than to the circulating blood. Therefore, an
M. tuberculosis
-specific enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay with samples from the site of infection may permit a more sensitive or specific diagnosis of active central nervous system (CNS) TB than that achieved by the assay with blood alone. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated the usefulness of circulating and compartmentalized mononuclear cell (MC; i.e., peripheral blood mononuclear cell [PBMC] and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] MC)-based ELISPOT assays (i.e., the T-SPOT.TB test) for the diagnosis of active TB in patients with suspected CNS TB. The clinical categories of CNS TB were classified as described previously (G. E. Thwaites, T. T. Chau, K. Stepniewska, N. H. Phu, L. V. Chuong, D. X. Sinh, N. J. White, C. M. Parry, and J. J. Farrar, Lancet 360:1287-1292, 2002). Thirty-seven patients with suspected CNS TB were enrolled over a 12-month period. Of these, 31 (84%) showed clinical manifestations of suspected TB meningitis and 6 (16%) gave indications of intracranial tuberculoma with disseminated TB. The final clinical categories of the 37 patients with suspected CNS TB were as follows: 12 (32%) were classified as having CNS TB (7 with confirmed TB, 3 with probable TB, and 2 with possible TB) and 25 (68%) were classified as not having active TB. The sensitivity and specificity of the PBMC ELISPOT assay were 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59% to 100%) and 63% (95% CI, 41% to 81%), respectively. By comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of the CSF MC ELISPOT assay were 75% (95% CI, 19% to 99%) and 75% (95% CI, 43% to 95%), respectively. When the ratio of the CSF MC ELISPOT assay results to the PBMC ELISPOT results was 2 or more, the sensitivity and specificity were 50% (95% CI, 7% to 93%) and 100% (95% CI, 74% to 100%), respectively. The ELISPOT assay with PBMCs and CSF MCs is a useful adjunct to the current tests for the diagnosis of CNS TB.
Evaluation of CHROMagar KPC for Rapid Detection of Carbapenem-Resistant
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Samra Zmira , Bahar Judi , Madar-Shapiro Liora , Aziz Nazi , Israel Sara , Bishara Jihad 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

A new CHROMagar KPC medium was compared to MacConkey agar with carbapenem discs and PCR for the
bla
KPC
gene for rapid detection of carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. The sensitivity and specificity relative to PCR were 100% and 98.4%, respectively, for CHROMagar KPC and 92.7% and 95.9%, respectively, for MacConkey agar.
Molecular Characterization of Human-Colonizing
Streptococcus agalactiae
Strains Isolated from Throat, Skin, Anal Margin, and Genital Body Sites
Authors: van der Mee-Marquet Nathalie , Fourny Laure , Arnault Laurence , Domelier Anne-Sophie , Salloum Mazen , Lartigue Marie-Frédérique , Quentin Roland 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus agalactiae
carriage was evaluated by sampling four body sites in a group of 249 healthy individuals including both sexes and a wide range of ages; the aims were to study the population structure of colonizing strains by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and to evaluate their diversity by serotyping, SmaI macrorestriction analysis, and PCR screening for genetic markers of highly virulent clones for neonates. The prevalences of carriage were 27% in women and 32% in men. The major positive body site was the genital tract (23% in women and 21% in men); skin, throats, and anal margins were also positive in 2%, 4%, and 14%, respectively. These human-colonizing strains belonged mostly to serotypes III (24%), Ia (21%), V (18%), and Ib (17%). Twenty-three sequence types (STs) were identified. The MLST characteristics of the strains isolated from a single anatomic site—genital (vagina [women] or from a sample of the first urination after arising from a night's sleep [men]), throat, skin, or anal margin—suggest a body site colonization specificity for particular STs: strains of STs 2, 10, 19, and 196 were isolated only from genital sites; strains of STs 1, 8, and 23 were isolated more frequently from throat florae; and strains recovered only from anal margin samples were more closely related to strains isolated from throats than to those from genital sites. Most strains of STs 1, 8, and 23—STs that are increasingly described as being responsible for adult infections—did not carry any markers of strains virulent for neonates, suggesting that the virulence of these strains is probably associated with other genetic determinants. In addition, the genetic diversities of the strains varied between STs: STs 2, 8, 10, 23, and 196 were the most diverse; STs 1 and 19 were more homogeneous; and ST 17 strains formed three distant groups.
Evaluation of Four Selective Agars and Two Enrichment Broths in Screening for Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Böcher S. , Smyth R. , Kahlmeter G. , Kerremans J. , Vos M. C. , Skov R. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

To evaluate methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
detection, we tested in vitro four selective agars and two enrichment broths apart and in combination. Tryptone soya broth with salt, aztreonam, and cefoxitin appeared to be the most sensitive medium. This broth was superior to a phenol red mannitol broth with aztreonam and ceftizoxime.
Trends in Species Distribution and Susceptibility of Bloodstream Isolates of
Candida
Collected in Monterrey, Mexico, to Seven Antifungal Agents: Results of a 3-Year (2004 to 2007) Surveillance Study
Authors: González Gloria M. , Elizondo Mariana , Ayala Jacobo 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT

During a 3-year surveillance program (2004 to 2007) in Monterrey, Mexico, 398 isolates of
Candida
spp. were collected from five hospitals. We established the species distribution and in vitro susceptibilities of these isolates. The species included 127
Candida albicans
strains, 151
C
.
parapsilosis
strains, 59
C
.
tropicalis
strains, 32
C
.
glabrata
strains, 11
C
.
krusei
strains, 5
C
.
guilliermondii
strains, 4
C
.
famata
strains, 2
C
.
utilis
strains, 2
C
.
zeylanoides
strains, 2
C
.
rugosa
strains, 2
C
.
lusitaniae
strains, and 1
C
.
boidinii
strain. The species distribution differed with the age of the patients. The proportion of candidemias caused by
C
.
parapsilosis
was higher among infants ≤1 year old, and the proportion of candidemias caused by
C
.
glabrata
increased with patient age (>45 years old). MICs were calculated following the criteria of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute reference broth macrodilution method. Overall,
C
.
albicans
,
C
.
parapsilosis
, and
C
.
tropicalis
isolates were susceptible to fluconazole and amphotericin B. However, 31.3% of
C
.
glabrata
isolates were resistant to fluconazole (MIC ≥ 64 μg/ml), 43.3% were resistant to itraconazole (MIC ≥ 1 μg/ml), and 12.5% displayed resistance to amphotericin B (MIC ≥ 2 μg/ml). Newer triazoles, namely, voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole, had a notable in vitro activity against all
Candida
species tested. Also, caspofungin was active against
Candida
sp. isolates (MIC
90
≤ 0.5 μg/ml) except
C
.
parapsilosis
(MIC
90
= 2 μg/ml). It is imperative to promote a national-level surveillance program to monitor this important microorganism.
Heart Valves Should Not Be Routinely Cultured
Authors: Muñoz Patricia , Bouza Emilio , Marín Mercedes , Alcalá Luis , Rodríguez Créixems Marta , Valerio Maricela , Pinto Angel ,   on behalf of the Group for the Management of Infective Endocarditis of the Gregorio Marañón Hospital
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
Heart valve (HV) culture is one of the major Duke criteria for the diagnosis of definite infectious endocarditis (IE). However, previous series suggest that heart valve culture does not have good sensitivity (7.8 to 17.6%) and may be contaminated during manipulation. Our goal was to establish the value of routine cultures of heart valves in patients with and without IE. From 2004 to 2006, resected heart valves were systematically cultured according to standard procedures. The definition and etiology of IE were based on the Duke criteria and on valve PCR of specimens from blood culture-negative patients. Bacterial and fungal broad-range PCR was performed. A total of 1,101 heart valves were studied: 1,030 (93.6%) from patients without IE and 71 (6.4%) from patients with IE (42 patients). Overall, 321 (29.2%) cultures were positive (28/71 [39.4%] IE cases and 293/1,030 [28.4%] non-IE). All IE patients with negative heart valve cultures had received antimicrobial therapy. The yield of culture of heart valves for IE diagnosis was as follows: sensitivity, 25.4%; specificity, 71.6%; positive predictive value (PPV), 5.8%; and negative predictive value, 93.3%. Because of its poor sensitivity and PPV, valve cultures should not be performed for patients without a clinical suspicion of IE. For patients with confirmed IE, heart valve cultures should be interpreted with caution.
Crystal Structure of Coxsackievirus B3 3D
pol
Highlights the Functional Importance of Residue 5 in Picornavirus Polymerases
Authors: Campagnola Grace , Weygandt Mark , Scoggin Kirsten , Peersen Olve 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT
The crystal structure of the coxsackievirus B3 polymerase has been solved at 2.25-Å resolution and is shown to be highly homologous to polymerases from poliovirus, rhinovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease viruses. Together, these structures highlight several conserved structural elements in picornaviral polymerases, including a proteolytic activation-dependent N-terminal structure that is essential for full activity. Interestingly, a comparison of all of the picornaviral polymerase structures shows an unusual conformation for residue 5, which is always located at a distortion in the β-strand composed of residues 1 to 8. In our earlier structure of the poliovirus polymerase, we attributed this conformation to a crystal packing artifact, but the observation that this conformation is conserved among picornaviruses led us to examine the role of this residue in further detail. Here we use coxsackievirus polymerase to show that elongation activity correlates with the hydrophobicity of residue 5 and, surprisingly, more hydrophobic residues result in higher activity. Based on structural analysis, we propose that this residue becomes buried during the nucleotide repositioning step that occurs prior to phosphoryl transfer. We present a model in which the buried N terminus observed in all picornaviral polymerases is essential for stabilizing the structure during this conformational change.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Protects against Lethal West Nile Virus Infection by Promoting Trafficking of Mononuclear Leukocytes into the Central Nervous System
Authors: Shrestha Bimmi , Zhang Bo , Purtha Whitney E. , Klein Robyn S. , Diamond Michael S. 
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACTWest Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic flavivirus that has emerged globally as a significant cause of viral encephalitis in humans, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Previous studies have shown essential protective roles for antiviral cytokines (e.g., alpha interferon [IFN-α] and IFN-γ) against WNV in mice. However, studies using cell culture offer conflicting answers regarding whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has an anti-WNV function. To test the biological significance of TNF-α against WNV in vivo, experiments were performed with TNF receptor-1 (TNF-R1)-deficient and TNF-α-depleted C57BL/6 mice. TNF-R1−/−mice had enhanced mortality and decreased survival time after WNV infection compared to congenic wild-type mice. Consistent with this, administration of a neutralizing anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody also decreased survival after WNV infection. Relatively small differences in viral burdens in peripheral tissues of TNF-R1−/−mice were observed, and this occurrence correlated with a modest antiviral effect of TNF-α on primary macrophages but not dendritic cells. In contrast, the viral titers detected in the central nervous systems of TNF-R1−/−mice were significantly increased compared to those of wild-type mice, although TNF-α did not have a direct antiviral effect in primary neuron cultures. Whereas no defect in priming of adaptive B- and T-cell responses in TNF-R1−/−mice was observed, there were significant reductions in accumulations of CD8+T cells and macrophages in the brain. Our data are most consistent with a model in which interaction of TNF-α with TNF-R1 protects against WNV infection by regulating migration of protective inflammatory cells into the brain during acute infection.
Downslope Flows on a Low-Angle Slope and Their Interactions with Valley Inversions. Part I: Observations
Authors: Whiteman C. David , Zhong Shiyuan 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThermally driven downslope flows were investigated on a low-angle (1.6°) slope on the west side of the floor of Utah’s Salt Lake Valley below the Oquirrh Mountains using data from a line of four tethered balloons running down the topographic gradient and separated by about 1 km. The study focused on the evolution of the temperature and wind structure within and above the slope flow layer and its variation with downslope distance. In a typical situation, on clear, undisturbed October nights a 25-m-deep temperature deficit of 7°C and a 100–150-m-deep downslope flow with a jet maximum speed of 5–6 m s−1 at 10–15 m AGL developed over the slope during the first 2 h following sunset. The jet maximum speed and the downslope volume flux increased with downslope distance. The downslope flows weakened in the late evening as the stronger down-valley flows expanded to take up more of the valley atmosphere and as ambient stability increased in the lower valley with the buildup of a nocturnal temperature inversion. Downslope flows over this low-angle slope were deeper and stronger than has been reported previously by other investigators, who generally investigated steeper slopes and, in many cases, slopes on the sidewalls of isolated mountains where the downslope flows are not subject to the influence of nighttime buildup of ambient stability within valleys.
Effects of Future Climate and Biogenic Emissions Changes on Surface Ozone over the United States and China
Authors: Lin Jin-Tai , Patten Kenneth O. , Hayhoe Katharine , Liang Xin-Zhong , Wuebbles Donald J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFuture projections of near-surface ozone concentrations depend on the climate/emissions scenario used to drive future simulations, the direct effects of the changing climate on the atmosphere, and the indirect effects of changing temperatures and CO2 levels on biogenic ozone precursor emissions. The authors investigate the influence of these factors on potential future changes in summertime daily 8-h maximum ozone over the United States and China by comparing Model for Ozone and Related Chemical Tracers, version 2.4, (MOZART-2.4) simulations for the period 1996–2000 with 2095–99, using climate projections from NCAR–Department of Energy Parallel Climate Model simulations driven by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A1fi (higher) and B1 (lower) emission scenarios, with corresponding changes in biogenic emissions. The effect of projected climate changes alone on surface ozone is generally less than 3 ppb over most regions. Regional ozone increases and decreases are driven mainly by local warming and marine air dilution enhancement, respectively. Changes are approximately the same magnitude under both scenarios, although spatial patterns of responses differ. Projected increases in isoprene emissions (32%–94% over both countries), however, result in significantly greater changes in surface ozone. Increases of 1–15 ppb are found under A1fi and of 0–7 ppb are found under B1. These increases not only raise the frequency of “high ozone days,” but are also projected to occur nearly uniformly across the distribution of daily ozone maxima. Thus, projected future ozone changes appear to be more sensitive to changes in biogenic emissions than to direct climate changes, and the spatial patterns and magnitude of future ozone changes depend strongly on the future emissions scenarios used.