bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tobacco prevention in children and cessation in family members
Authors: Tingen Martha S. , Waller Jennifer L. , Smith T. Maria , Baker R. Randall , Reyes Juan , Treiber Frank A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPurpose: To examine the effects of a theory‐driven tobacco prevention program in sixth‐grade children with a family tobacco cessation component implemented by school nurses in conjunction with the initiation of a statewide toll‐free Quit Line.Data sources: Self‐report questionnaires completed by the sixth‐grade children and their parents/guardians (N= 1024) representing largely rural southern school systems from disparate areas with high prevalence rates of tobacco use and lung cancer diagnoses. Pre‐ and posttest measures that evaluated the impact of both student and parent/guardian interventions were obtained over a 10‐week period. Paired t‐tests were used to examine differences between pre‐ and posttest scores for all student and parent/guardian variables. Repeated‐measures analysis of variance was used to examine the effect of parent/guardian smoking on student pre‐ and posttest scores.Conclusions: The student program resulted in significant improvements in drug knowledge, refusal skills, attitudes, normative expectations, assertiveness, and anxiety reduction techniques. In addition, the effectiveness of several components of the tobacco prevention program for the children was impacted by the smoking status of their parents/guardians. Drug‐use intentions and behaviors were lower at posttest for children from homes of nonsmokers versus children from homes of smokers. Parents/guardians consistently reported that smoking was detrimental to themselves, the public, and their children. Of those parents/guardians who identified themselves as smokers (26%) and received cessation materials, 46.4% indicated that the information motivated them to want to quit.Implications for practice: Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with greater than 2000 new youth becoming regular smokers each day. School nurses and nurse practitioners are in various pivotal positions to address tobacco and its related health concerns through delivery of effective family interventions that target children for tobacco prevention and parent/guardian smokers for cessation.
Primary care health issues among men who have sex with men
Authors: Gee Royal 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPurpose: The purpose of the article is to examine “appropriate” health care for men who have sex with men (MSM), which is not to suggest “special” health care. As a group, MSM are at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections, anal cancer, and mental health disorders. Focus areas in this article will address health issues that the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) may encounter in clinical practice: anal carcinoma, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), high‐risk sexual practices, depression, and substance abuse were topics chosen for inclusion in this article. These topics were among those highlighted in the Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for LGBT Health, which served to examine the healthcare disparities and lack of access to needed services related to sexual orientation.Data source: Extensive literature review of research articles, journals, clinical practice guidelines, books, and public health department Internet Web sites.Conclusions: There are unique health disparities that exist for MSM related to social, emotional, and mental health factors, in addition to physical issues such as STDs. There is an increasing need for primary care providers to be aware of these disparities, as well as the factors that influence these disparities, in order to provide multidimensional care and health counseling that is unique to NP practice.Implications for practice: Both the primary care NP and the patient should be aware of the unique healthcare issues among MSM that should be incorporated into the patient's routine health maintenance program. As primary care providers, it is within the standards of practice for NPs to provide culturally competent care, along with health promotion and disease prevention for MSM.
Autosomal dominant mutation causing the dorsal ridge predisposes for dermoid sinus in Rhodesian ridgeback dogs
Authors: Hillbertz N. H. C. Salmon , Andersson G. 
Published: March 2006

Objectives: To define the mode of inheritance of the dorsal ridge and investigate if the ridge predisposes to the congenital abnormality dermoid sinus in the Rhodesian ridgeback. Methods: Segregation analysis was performed, including 87 litters (n=803) produced in Sweden between 1981 and 2002. Data were corrected to avoid bias in the segregation ratio. Chi‐squared analysis was performed including 402 litters (n=3598) for the evaluation of a possible genetic correlation between the ridge and dermoid sinus. Results: The ridge is inherited in an autosomal dominant mode and predisposes for dermoid sinus. The frequency of ridgeless offspring in the Swedish Rhodesian ridgeback population is estimated to be 5·6 per cent. Clinical Significance: Rhodesian ridgeback dogs that carry the ridge trait are predisposed to dermoid sinus.
Cohort study of COX‐1 and COX‐2 expression in canine rectal and bladder tumours
Authors: Knottenbelt C. , Mellor D. , Nixon C. , Thompson H. , Argyle D. J. 
Published: March 2006

Objectives:To determine the role that cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) play in malignant transformation in canine transitional cell carcinoma and rectal tumours.Methods:Histological sections of 21 canine rectal adenocarcinomas and 18 canine transitional cell carcinomas were stained for COX‐1 and COX‐2. Mann‐Whitney non‐parametric tests were applied to determine if there was any relationship between the percentage of cells expressing COX‐1 or COX‐2, and between COX‐1 and COX‐2 staining intensity and age, breed or sex.Results:For rectal adenocarcinomas, 19·0 per cent of the sections were negative for COX‐1 and COX‐2. A further 38·1 per cent of the sections were negative for COX‐2 but positive for COX‐1, and 38·1 per cent of the sections had rare or occasional single cells positive for COX‐2. No significant differences were found in COX staining when compared with age, breed or sex. For transitional cell carcinomas, all of the sections were positive for COX‐1 and COX‐2. For COX‐2 staining, 16·7 per cent had more than 30 per cent positive cells. For COX‐1 staining, 38·9 per cent had more than 30 per cent positive cells. There was a significant increase in the percentage of COX‐1 positive cells in small breed dogs (P = 0·0337).ClinicalSignificance:The variations in COX expression reported in this study may explain the differences in the clinical response of transitional cell carcinomas and rectal adenocarcinomas following treatment with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd edition)
Authors: Reilly Craig 
Published: March 2006

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd edition)
Edited by Edward Hall, James Simpson and David Williams

Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005.

Paperback, 320 pages. Price £75.00
Undercutting and Contact Characteristics of Cylindrical Gears With
Curvilinear Shaped Teeth Generated by Hobbing
Authors: Tseng Jui-Tang , Tsay Chung-Biau 
Published: March 2006

Abstract
Undercutting characteristics of the curvilinear-tooth gear, cut by a hob cutter performing motion with two independent parameters, are investigated. The tooth contact analysis (TCA) and the surface topology method are applied to study the kinematic errors (KE) and contact ellipses of the curvilinear-tooth gear under different assembly conditions. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the influence of the assembly errors and design parameters of the gear on the KEs and contact ellipses of the gear pair.
Structure-Activity Relationships of Aminocoumarin-Type Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV Inhibitors Obtained by Combinatorial Biosynthesis
Authors: Flatman Ruth H. , Eustaquio Alessandra , Li Shu-Ming , Heide Lutz , Maxwell Anthony 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT

Novobiocin and clorobiocin are gyrase inhibitors produced by
Streptomyces
strains. Structurally, the two compounds differ only by substitution at two positions: CH
3
versus Cl at position 8′ of the aminocoumarin ring and carbamoyl versus 5-methyl-pyrrol-2-carbonyl (MePC) at the 3"-OH of noviose. Using genetic engineering, we generated a series of analogs carrying H, CH
3
, or Cl at 8′ and H, carbamoyl, or MePC at 3"-OH. Comparison of the gyrase inhibitory activities of all nine structural permutations confirmed that acylation of 3"-OH is essential for activity, with MePC being more effective than carbamoyl. Substitution at 8′ further enhanced activity, but the effect of CH
3
or Cl depended on the nature of the acyl group at 3": in the presence of carbamoyl at 3", CH
3
resulted in higher activity; in the presence of MePC at 3", Cl resulted in higher activity. This suggests that the structures of both natural compounds are highly evolved for optimal interaction with gyrase. In a second series of experiments, clorobiocin derivatives with and without the methyl group at 4"-OH of noviose, and with different positions of the MePC group of noviose, were tested. Again clorobiocin was superior to all of its analogs. The activities of all compounds were also tested against topoisomerase IV (topo IV). Clorobiocin stood out as a remarkably effective topo IV inhibitor. The relative activities of the different compounds toward topo IV showed a pattern similar to that of the relative gyrase-inhibitory activities. This is the first report of a systematic evaluation of a series of aminocoumarins against both gyrase and topo IV. The results give further insight into the structure-activity relationships of aminocoumarin antibiotics.
Organization of Tn
2610
Containing Two Transposition Modules
Authors: Takaya Akiko , Watanabe Masato , Yamamoto Tomoko 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT

Transposon Tn
2610
, found in a conjugative plasmid from an
Escherichia coli
isolate recovered at a hospital in Chiba, Japan, in 1975, was completely sequenced. Tn
2610
is 23,883 bp long and is bracketed by two transposition modules, a Tn
1721
-like module and a Tn
21
-derived module, which correspond, respectively, to the long inverted repeats IRa and IRb previously described for this transposon. Although both
tnpA
genes are intact, only that in the Tn
21
-derived module (IRb) functions in the transposition, while that in the Tn
1721
-derived module (IRa) cannot recognize the 38-bp imperfect repeat at the end of the IRb element. Both
tnpR
and
res
are present in IRa, while the
tnpR
gene of IRb is interrupted by the insertion of an IS
26
insertion element. The intervening region, between the
res
site of the Tn
1721
module and IS
26
, carries multiple integron-associated resistance genes within a Tn
21
backbone, including a region identical to that found in the genome of
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium DT104. These findings suggest that Tn
2610
originated from Tn
1721
and Tn
21
, with extensive recombination events with other elements which have resulted in a complex mosaic structure.
Overexpression ofCandida albicans CDR1,CDR2, orMDR1Does Not Produce Significant Changes in Echinocandin Susceptibility
Authors: Niimi K. , Maki K. , Ikeda F. , Holmes A. R. , Lamping E. , Niimi M. , Monk B. C. , Cannon R. D. 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTThe micafungin and caspofungin susceptibilities ofCandida albicanslaboratory and clinical isolates and ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrains stably hyperexpressing fungal ATP-binding cassette (ABC) or major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters involved in azole resistance were determined using three separate methods. Yeast strains hyperexpressing individual alleles of ABC transporters or an MFS transporter fromC. albicansgave the expected resistance profiles for the azoles fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole. The strains hyperexpressingCDR2showed slightly decreased susceptibility to caspofungin in agar plate drug resistance assays, as previously reported, but increased susceptibility to micafungin compared with either the strains hyperexpressingCDR1or the null parent deleted of seven ABC transporters. The strains hyperexpressingCDR1showed slightly decreased susceptibility to micafungin in these assays. AC. albicansclinical isolate overexpressing both Cdr1p and Cdr2p relative to its azole-sensitive isogenic progenitor acquired resistance to azole drugs and showed reduced susceptibility to caspofungin and slightly increased susceptibility to micafungin in agar plate drug resistance assays. None of the strains showed significant resistance to micafungin or caspofungin in liquid microdilution susceptibility assays. The antifungal activities of micafungin and caspofungin were similar in agarose diffusion assays, although the shape and size of the caspofungin inhibitory zones were affected by medium composition. The assessment of micafungin and caspofungin potency is therefore assay dependent; the differences seen with agar plate drug resistance assays occur over narrow ranges of echinocandin concentrations and are not of clinical significance.
Distribution of Florfenicol Resistance Genes
fexA
and
cfr
among Chloramphenicol-Resistant
Staphylococcus
Isolates
Authors: Kehrenberg Corinna , Schwarz Stefan 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT

A total of 302 chloramphenicol-resistant
Staphylococcus
isolates were screened for the presence of the florfenicol/chloramphenicol resistance genes
fexA
and
cfr
and their localization on mobile genetic elements. Of the 114 isolates from humans, only a single
Staphylococcus aureus
isolate showed an elevated MIC to florfenicol, but did not carry either of the known resistance genes,
cfr
or
fexA
. In contrast, 11 of the 188 staphylococci from animal sources were considered florfenicol resistant and carried either
cfr
(one isolate),
fexA
(five isolates), or both resistance genes (five isolates). In nine cases we confirmed that these genes were carried on a plasmid. Five different types of plasmids could be differentiated on the basis of their sizes, restriction patterns, and resistance genes. The gene
fexA
, which has previously been shown to be part of the nonconjugative transposon Tn
558
, was identified in 10 of the 11 resistant isolates from animals. PCR assays were developed to detect different parts of this transposon as well as their physical linkage. Complete copies of Tn
558
were found in five different isolates and shown by inverse PCR to be functionally active. Truncated copies of Tn
558
, in which the
tnpA-tnpB
area was in part deleted by the integration of a 4,674-bp segment including the gene
cfr
and a novel 2,446-bp IS
21
-like insertion sequence, were seen in a plasmid present in three staphylococcal isolates.
Comparing Gatifloxacin and Clarithromycin in Pneumonia Symptom Resolution and Process of Care
Authors: Dean Nathan C. , Sperry Paul , Wikler Matthew , Suchyta Mary S. , Hadlock Carol 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT
In looking for outcome differences beyond rates of cure, we prospectively compared the symptom resolution, side effects, and processes of care between the use of clarithromycin and gatifloxacin for the treatment of radiographically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia. We conducted a multicenter, randomized, open-label study comparing gatifloxacin monotherapy to clarithromycin alone or combined with ceftriaxone for patients with multiple risk factors. We measured the return to usual activities and symptoms over seven interviews ending 42 days after randomization. Admission and hospital discharge decision support were provided to treating physicians. We enrolled 266 patients over the age of 18 years between September 2000 and June 2003. The groups were similar in age and gender, with a mean age of 53.5 ± 19.4 years, and were 54% female. Patient severity as determined by the number of risk factors and the Pneumonia Severity Index was similar between groups; 95% of the patients were low risk. A total of 91% of patients completed at least five of seven symptom interviews. In the clarithromycin study arm, 64% received concomitant therapy with ceftriaxone. We found no significant difference in return to usual activities, pneumonia-specific symptom scores, and 12-item short-form health survey scores. Individual symptom scores were similar except for bad taste and injection site soreness, which were higher in clarithromycin patients. The rates of hospital admission and length of stay were similar. The cost of antibiotic was higher in the clarithromycin group: $257 versus $110 for gatifloxacin. We found that gatifloxacin monotherapy is similar to clarithromycin given with or without ceftriaxone for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, except that antibiotic cost, bad taste, and injection site soreness favor the use of gatifloxacin.
Determinants of Rifampin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol Pharmacokinetics in a Cohort of Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: McIlleron Helen , Wash Peter , Burger André , Norman Jennifer , Folb Peter I. , Smith Pete 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT
Evaluation of sources of pharmacokinetic variation can facilitate optimization of tuberculosis treatment regimens by identification of avoidable sources of variation and of risk factors for low or high drug concentrations in patients. Our objective was to describe the pharmacokinetics of rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol in a cohort of tuberculosis patients established on first-line treatment regimens and to evaluate the determinants of pharmacokinetic variation. Plasma concentration-time profiles were determined for each of the drugs in 142 patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 months of daily treatment in hospital. Pharmacokinetic measures were described by noncompartmental analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the patient and the treatment factors associated with variation of the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 h. Several factors independently associated with variations in antituberculosis drug concentrations were identified: human immunodeficiency virus infection was associated with 39% and 27% reductions for rifampin and ethambutol, respectively; formulation factors were determinants of rifampin and isoniazid bioavailability; female patients had increased rifampin and isoniazid concentrations but reduced ethambutol concentrations; older patients had higher levels of isoniazid and ethambutol; patients with a history of previous antituberculosis treatment had lower ethambutol concentrations; and the dose per kilogram of body weight was associated with the concentrations of all four agents. Further studies are required to assess the implications of variations in antituberculosis drug concentrations for efficacy and safety before decisions are made to change the dosing strategy in patients at risk.
qnrB
, Another Plasmid-Mediated Gene for Quinolone Resistance
Authors: Jacoby George A. , Walsh Kelley E. , Mills Debra M. , Walker Victoria J. , Oh Herin , Robicsek Ari , Hooper David C. 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT

A novel plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance gene,
qnrB
, has been discovered in a plasmid encoding the CTX-M-15 β-lactamase from a
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain isolated in South India. It has less than 40% amino acid identity with the original
qnr
(now
qnrA
) gene or with the recently described
qnrS
but, like them, codes for a protein belonging to the pentapeptide repeat family. Strains with
qnrB
demonstrated low-level resistance to all quinolones tested. The gene has been cloned in an expression vector attaching a polyhistidine tag, which facilitated purification to ≥95% homogeneity. As little as 5 pM of QnrB-His
6
protected purified DNA gyrase against inhibition by 2 μg/ml (6 μM) ciprofloxacin. With a PCR assay
qnrB
has been detected in
Citrobacter koseri
,
Enterobacter cloacae
, and
Escherichia coli
isolates from the United States, linked to SHV-12 β-lactamase and coding for a product differing in five amino acids from the Indian (now QnrB1) variety. The
qnrB
gene has been found near Orf1005 in some, but not all, plasmids and in association with open reading frames matching known chromosomal genes, suggesting that it too was acquired by plasmids from an as-yet-unknown bacterial source.
Staphylococcus aureus
CcpA Affects Virulence Determinant Production and Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Seidl Kati , Stucki Martin , Ruegg Martin , Goerke Christiane , Wolz Christiane , Harris Llinos , Berger-Bächi Brigitte , Bischoff Markus 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACT

Carbon catabolite protein A (CcpA) is known to function as a major regulator of gene expression in different gram-positive organisms. Deletion of the
ccpA
homologue (
saCOL1786
) in
Staphylococcus aureus
was found to affect growth, glucose metabolization, and transcription of selected virulence determinants. In liquid culture, deletion of CcpA decreased the growth rate and yield; however, the effect was only transient during the exponential-growth phase as long as glucose was present in the medium. Depletion of glucose and production of lactate was delayed, while the level of excretion of acetate was less affected and was even higher in the mutant culture. On solid medium, in contrast, growth of the Δ
ccpA
mutant resulted in smaller colonies containing a lower number of CFU per colony. Deletion of CcpA had an effect on the expression of important virulence factors of
S. aureus
by down-regulating
RNAIII
, the effector molecule of the
agr
locus, and altering the transcription patterns of
hla
, encoding α-hemolysin, and
spa
, encoding protein A. CcpA inactivation markedly reduced the oxacillin resistance levels in the highly methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
strain COLn and the teicoplanin resistance level in a glycopeptide-intermediate-resistant
S. aureus
strain. The presence of CcpA in the capsular polysaccharide serotype 5 (CP5)-producing strain Newman abolished capsule formation and decreased
cap
operon transcription in the presence of glucose. The staphylococcal CcpA thus not only is involved in the regulation of carbon metabolism but seems to function as a modulator of virulence gene expression as well.