bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Randomized Placebo‐controlled Comparison of 2 Prebiotic/Probiotic Combinations in Preterm Infants: Impact on Weight Gain, Intestinal Microbiota, and Fecal Short‐chain Fatty Acids
Authors: Underwood Mark A , Salzman Nita H , Bennett Stephen H , Barman Melissa , Mills David A , Marcobal Angela , Tancredi Daniel J , Bevins Charles L , Sherman Michael P 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTObjective:To compare the effect of 2 prebiotic/probiotic products on weight gain, stool microbiota, and stool short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) content of premature infants.Patients and Methods:This randomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled trial included 90 premature infants treated with either a dietary supplement containing 2 lactobacillus species plus fructooligosaccharides (CUL, Culturelle, ConAgra, Omaha, NE), a supplement containing several species of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria plus fructooligosaccharides (PBP, ProBioPlus DDS, UAS Laboratories, Eden Prairie, MN), or placebo (a dilute preparation of Pregestamil formula) twice daily for 28 days or until discharge if earlier. The primary outcome was weight gain. Secondary outcomes were stool bacterial analysis by culture and 16S rDNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction and stool SCFA content measured by high performance liquid chromatography.Results:Both prebiotic/probiotic combinations contained more bacterial species than noted on the label. No significant effect on infant growth of either prebiotic/probiotic supplement was observed. By cultures, 64% of infants receiving PBP became colonized with bifidobacteria, compared with 18% of infants receiving CUL and 27% of infants receiving placebo (chi‐square, P = 0.064). No differences were noted between groups in colonization rates for lactobacilli, Gram‐negative enteric bacteria, or staphylococci. By 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction analysis, the bifidobacteria content in the stools of the infants receiving PBP was higher than in the infants receiving CUL or placebo (Kruskal‐Wallis, P = 0.011). No significant differences in stool SCFA content were detected between groups. No adverse reactions were noted.Conclusions:Infants receiving PBP were more likely to become colonized with bifidobacteria. No significant differences in weight gain or stool SCFA content were detected.
Alternative Splicing Studies of the Reactive Oxygen Species Gene Network inPopulusReveal Two Isoforms of High-Isoelectric-Point Superoxide Dismutase
Authors: Srivastava Vaibhav , Srivastava Manoj Kumar , Chibani Kamel , Nilsson Robert , Rouhier Nicolas , Melzer Michael , Wingsle Gunnar 
Published: January 2009

AbstractRecent evidence has shown that alternative splicing (AS) is widely involved in the regulation of gene expression, substantially extending the diversity of numerous proteins. In this study, a subset of expressed sequence tags representing members of the reactive oxygen species gene network was selected from the PopulusDB database to investigate AS mechanisms in Populus. Examples of all known types of AS were detected, but intron retention was the most common. Interestingly, the closest Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homologs of half of the AS genes identified in Populus are not reportedly alternatively spliced. Two genes encoding the protein of most interest in our study (high-isoelectric-point superoxide dismutase [hipI-SOD]) have been found in black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), designated PthipI-SODC1 and PthipI-SODC2. Analysis of the expressed sequence tag libraries has indicated the presence of two transcripts of PthipI-SODC1 (hipI-SODC1b and hipI-SODC1s). Alignment of these sequences with the PthipI-SODC1 gene showed that hipI-SODC1b was 69 bp longer than hipI-SODC1s due to an AS event involving the use of an alternative donor splice site in the sixth intron. Transcript analysis showed that the splice variant hipI-SODC1b was differentially expressed, being clearly expressed in cambial and xylem, but not phloem, regions. In addition, immunolocalization and mass spectrometric data confirmed the presence of hipI-SOD proteins in vascular tissue. The functionalities of the spliced gene products were assessed by expressing recombinant hipI-SOD proteins and in vitro SOD activity assays.
Ethylene Modulates the Role of NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 in Cross Talk between Salicylate and Jasmonate Signaling
Authors: Leon-Reyes Antonio , Spoel Steven H. , De Lange Elvira S. , Abe Hiroshi , Kobayashi Masatomo , Tsuda Shinya , Millenaar Frank F. , Welschen Rob A.M. , Ritsema Tita , Pieterse Corné M.J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe plant hormones salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) play crucial roles in the signaling network that regulates induced defense responses against biotic stresses. Antagonism between SA and JA operates as a mechanism to fine-tune defenses that are activated in response to multiple attackers. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 (NPR1) was demonstrated to be required for SA-mediated suppression of JA-dependent defenses. Because ET is known to enhance SA/NPR1-dependent defense responses, we investigated the role of ET in the SA-JA signal interaction. Pharmacological experiments with gaseous ET and the ET precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid showed that ET potentiated SA/NPR1-dependent PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 transcription, while it rendered the antagonistic effect of SA on methyl jasmonate-induced PDF1.2 and VSP2 expression NPR1 independent. This overriding effect of ET on NPR1 function in SA-JA cross talk was absent in the npr1-1/ein2-1 double mutant, demonstrating that it is mediated via ET signaling. Abiotic and biotic induction of the ET response similarly abolished the NPR1 dependency of the SA-JA signal interaction. Furthermore, JA-dependent resistance against biotic attackers was antagonized by SA in an NPR1-dependent fashion only when the plant-attacker combination did not result in the production of high levels of endogenous ET. Hence, the interaction between ET and NPR1 plays an important modulating role in the fine tuning of the defense signaling network that is activated upon pathogen and insect attack. Our results suggest a model in which ET modulates the NPR1 dependency of SA-JA antagonism, possibly to compensate for enhanced allocation of NPR1 to function in SA-dependent activation of PR genes.
Molecular Modeling and Site-Directed Mutagenesis Reveal Essential Residues for Catalysis in a Prokaryote-Type Aspartate Aminotransferase
Authors: de la Torre Fernando , Moya-García Aurelio A. , Suárez María-Fernanda , Rodríguez-Caso Carlos , Cañas Rafael A. , Sánchez-Jiménez Francisca , Cánovas Francisco M. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
We recently reported that aspartate (Asp) biosynthesis in plant chloroplasts is catalyzed by two different Asp aminotransferases (AAT): a previously characterized eukaryote type and a prokaryote type (PT-AAT) similar to bacterial and archaebacterial enzymes. The available molecular and kinetic data suggest that the eukaryote-type AAT is involved in the shuttling of reducing equivalents through the plastidic membrane, whereas the PT-AAT could be involved in the biosynthesis of the Asp-derived amino acids inside the organelle. In this work, a comparative modeling of the PT-AAT enzyme from Pinus pinaster (PpAAT) was performed using x-ray structures of a bacterial AAT (Thermus thermophilus; Protein Data Bank accession nos. 1BJW and 1BKG) as templates. We computed a three-dimensional folding model of this plant homodimeric enzyme that has been used to investigate the functional importance of key amino acid residues in its active center. The overall structure of the model is similar to the one described for other AAT enzymes, from eukaryotic and prokaryotic sources, with two equivalent active sites each formed by residues of both subunits of the homodimer. Moreover, PpAAT monomers folded into one large and one small domain. However, PpAAT enzyme showed unique structural and functional characteristics that have been specifically described in the AATs from the prokaryotes Phormidium lapideum and T. thermophilus, such as those involved in the recognition of the substrate side chain or the “open-to-closed” transition following substrate binding. These predicted characteristics have been substantiated by site-direct mutagenesis analyses, and several critical residues (valine-206, serine-207, glutamine-346, glutamate-210, and phenylalanine-450) were identified and functionally characterized. The reported data represent a valuable resource to understand the function of this enzyme in plant amino acid metabolism.
Correlated trait responses to multiple selection pressures in larval amphibians reveal conflict avoidance strategies
Authors: GARCIA TIFFANY S. , PAOLETTI DAVID J. , BLAUSTEIN ANDREW R. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract1. Larval amphibians frequently experience simultaneous, conflicting selection pressures from ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation and predation risk, two stressors that can select for opposing defence strategies. When both UV‐B and predators are present, individuals can reconcile potential conflicts by correlating particular trait responses (e.g. combining dark or light body colouration with increased or decreased activity rates to create an appropriate multiple stressor strategy). Optimal combinations of body colour and activity rate are predicted to change across an elevation gradient with increasing UV‐B exposure.2. In this study, we tested how larval amphibians combine changes in body colouration and activity rates to create a correlated response to potentially conflicting selection pressures. We quantified activity and colour response in two amphibian species, the pacific treefrog (Hyla regilla) and the long‐toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum), from both high and low elevation populations, and exposed individuals to both a common predator and naturally relevant levels of UV‐B.3. Hyla regilla and A. macrodactylum individuals from low elevation populations responded with correlated response strategies while high elevation populations did not. Low elevation H. regilla coupled decreased activity rates to reduce predator detection with dark body colouration to screen out UV‐B. Low elevation A. macrodactylum adopted cryptic colouration when predators were present and decreased activity in response to UV‐B. Individuals from high elevation H. regilla and A. macrodactylum populations responded only with changes in activity and not colour change.4. The observed population differences may reflect variation in selection strengths across an elevation gradient. High elevation habitats may require individuals to focus defence efforts on the greatest potential risk. Additionally, pigmentation changes may not be an adequate defence in these UV‐B intense habitats.
Regulation of cell wall morphogenesis in Bacillus subtilis by recruitment of PBP1 to the MreB helix
Authors: Kawai Yoshikazu , Daniel Richard A. , Errington Jeffery 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe bacterial actin homologue MreB plays a key role in cell morphogenesis. In Bacillus subtilis MreB is essential under normal growth conditions and mreB mutants are defective in the control of cell diameter. However, the precise role of MreB is still unclear. Analysis of the lethal phenotypic consequences of mreB disruption revealed an unusual bulging phenotype that precedes cell death. A similar phenotype was seen in wild‐type cells at very low Mg2+ concentrations. We found that inactivation of the major bi‐functional penicillin‐binding protein (PBP) PBP1 of B. subtilis restored the viability of an mreB null mutant as well as preventing bulging in both mutant and wild‐type backgrounds. Bulging was associated with delocalization of PBP1. We show that the normal pattern of localization of PBP1 is dependent on MreB and that the proteins can physically interact using in vivo pull‐down and bacterial two‐hybrid approaches. Interactions between MreB and several other PBPs were also detected. Our results suggest that MreB filaments associate directly with the peptidoglycan biosynthetic machinery in B. subtilis as part of the mechanism that brings about controlled cell elongation.
Infants with severe neonatal jaundice in Lagos, Nigeria: incidence, correlates and hearing screening outcomes
Authors: Olusanya B. O. , Akande A. A. , Emokpae A. , Olowe S. A. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryObjectives  To establish the incidence, correlates and hearing screening outcomes of infants with severe neonatal jaundice in Nigeria.Methods  Community‐based study in which all infants attending Bacille Calmette‐Guérin immunisation clinics in inner‐city Lagos were enrolled into a universal hearing screening programme during which correlates of severe neonatal jaundice (requiring phototherapy and/or exchange blood transfusion) were explored with multivariable logistic regression.Results  Of the 5262 infants enrolled, only 48.7% were born in hospitals although almost all mothers (97.9%) attended antenatal clinics. 6.7% had a history of neonatal jaundice of whom 5.5% (95% CI:4.9–6.2) received phototherapy and 1.9% (95% CI:1.5–2.3) had an exchange blood transfusion. Factors independently associated with severe neonatal jaundice were maternal religion, occupation, use of herbal preparations during pregnancy, infant’s gender, weight at screening, multiple gestation and place of birth. All but two infants with severe neonatal jaundice were exclusively breast‐fed. Of those who failed the hearing tests, 17.3% were treated with phototherapy and 11.3% had an exchange blood transfusion. At least 8.9% of infants requiring phototherapy and 17.3% of those requiring exchange blood transfusion were at risk of sensorineural hearing loss.Conclusions  Severe neonatal jaundice is a significant condition associated with modifiable risk factors in this population. Policy initiatives for prevention, early detection followed by appropriate and timely intervention are urgently needed to reduce the disease burden.
A new approach to characterize populations of Schistosoma mansoni from humans: development and assessment of microsatellite analysis of pooled miracidia
Authors: Hanelt B. , Steinauer M. L. , Mwangi I. N. , Maina G. M. , Agola L. E. , Mkoji G. M. , Loker E. S. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryObjectives  To develop and assess a microsatellite technique to characterize populations of Schistosoma mansoni from humans.Methods  For each of five patients, we calculated the allele count and frequency at 11 loci for several pools of miracidia (50 and 100), and compared these to population values, determined by amplifying microsatellites from 186 to 200 individual miracidia per patient.Results  We were able to detect up to 94.5% of alleles in pools. Allele count and frequency strongly and significantly correlated between singles and pools; marginally significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected for one patient (pools of 50) for allele frequencies and for two patients (pools of 100) for allele counts. Kato–Katz egg counts and number of alleles per pool did not co‐vary, indicating that further direct comparisons of the results from these two techniques are needed.Conclusions  Allele counts and frequency profiles from pooling provide important information about infection intensity and complexity, beyond that obtained from traditional methods. Although we are not advocating use of pooling to replace individual genotyping studies, it can potentially be useful in certain applications as a rapid and cost effective screening method for studies of S. mansoni population genetics, or as a more informative way to quantify and characterize human worm populations.
Cost‐effectiveness of artesunate for the treatment of severe malaria
Authors: Lubell Y. , Yeung S. , Dondorp A. M. , Day N. P. , Nosten F. , Tjitra E. , Abul Faiz Md. , Bin Yunus E. , Anstey N.M. , Mishra S.K. , Mohanty S. , White N.J. , Mills A.J. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryObjective To explore the cost‐effectiveness of artesunate against quinine based principally on the findings of a large multi‐centre trial carried out in Southeast Asia.Methods Trial data were used to compare mortality of patients with severe malaria, treated with either artesunate or quinine. This was combined with retrospectively collected cost data to estimate the incremental cost per death averted with the use of artesunate instead of quinine.Results The incremental cost per death averted using artesunate was approximately 140 USD. Artesunate maintained this high level of cost‐effectiveness also when allowing for the uncertainty surrounding the cost and effectiveness assessments.Conclusion This analysis confirms the vast superiority of artesunate for treatment of severe malaria from an economic as well as a clinical perspective.
Predation mediated population divergence in complex behaviour of nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius)
Authors: HERCZEG G. , GONDA A. , MERILÄ J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe proximate and ultimate explanations for behavioural syndromes (correlated behaviours – a population trait) are poorly understood, and the evolution of behavioural types (configuration of behaviours – an individual trait) has been rarely studied. We investigated population divergence in behavioural syndromes and types using individually reared, completely predator‐ or conspecific‐naïve adult nine‐spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) from two marine and two predatory fish free, isolated pond populations. We found little evidence for the existence of behavioural syndromes, but population divergence in behavioural types was profound: individuals from ponds were quicker in feeding, bolder and more aggressive than individuals from marine environments. Our data reject the hypothesis that behavioural syndromes exist as a result of genetic correlations between behavioural traits, and support the contention that different behavioural types can be predominant in populations differing in predation pressure, most probably as a result of repeated independent evolution of separate behavioural traits.
Sexual selection and ecological generalism are correlated in antbirds
Authors: TOBIAS J. A. , SEDDON N. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractSexual selection is thought to counteract natural selection on the grounds that secondary sexual traits are inherently costly and evolve at the expense of naturally selected traits. It is therefore commonly predicted that increased sexual selection is associated with decreased physiological tolerance or ecological plasticity. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we test this prediction by exploring relationships between traits assumed to be sexually selected (plumage dichromatism and song structure) and traits assumed to be naturally selected (altitudinal range and habitat range) in a diverse family of tropical birds. Contrary to expectations, we find that taxa with higher levels of dichromatism, and lower song pitch, occupy a wider variety of habitats and elevations. In other words, indices of sexual selection are positively related to two standard measures of ecological generalism. One interpretation of this pattern is that sexual selection combines synergistically with natural selection, thereby increasing physiological tolerance or the propensity to adapt to novel environments. An alternative possibility is that ecological generalism increases population density, which in turn promotes sexual selection in the form of greater competition for mates. Overall, our results suggest that a synergism between natural selection and sexual selection may be widespread, but the processes underlying this pattern remain to be investigated.
Predicting transfusions in cardiac surgery: the easier, the better: the Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge score
Authors: Ranucci M. , Castelvecchio S. , Frigiola A. , Scolletta S. , Giomarelli P. , Biagioli B. 
Published: January 2009

Background and Objectives  Allogeneic blood products transfusions are associated with an increased morbidity and mortality risk in cardiac surgery. At present, a few transfusion risk scores have been proposed for cardiac surgery patients. The present study is aimed to develop and validate a risk score based on adequate statistical analyses joint with a clinical selection of a limited (five) number of preoperative predictors.Materials and Methods  The development series was composed of 8989 consecutive adult patients undergone cardiac surgery. Independent predictors of allogeneic blood transfusions were identified. Subsequently, five predictors were extracted as the most clinically relevant based on the judgement of 30 clinicians dealing with transfusions in cardiac surgery. A predictive score was developed and externally validated on a series of 2371 patients operated in another institution. The score was compared to the other existing scores.Results  The following predictors constituted the Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge score: age > 67 years; weight < 60 kg for females and < 85 kg for males preoperative haematocrit; gender – female; and complex surgery. At the external validation, this score demonstrated an acceptable predictive power (area under the curve 0·71) and a good calibration at the Hosmer–Lemeshow test. When compared to the other three existing risk scores, the Transfusion Risk and Clinical Knowledge score had comparable or better predictive power and calibration.Conclusion  A simple risk model based on five predictors only has a similar or better accuracy and calibration in predicting the transfusion rate in cardiac surgery than more complex models.
Conformation and Anatomical Relations of the Liver of Llama (Lama glama)
Authors: Castro A. N. C. , Ghezzi M. D. , Domínguez M. T. , Lupidio M. C. , Gómez S. A. , H Alzola R. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryMorphological studies of the liver of the llama are structural supportive to the clinical practice, surgery and specific diagnostic techniques. The aims of this study were first to determine the location of the organ and the direction of its major axis to project it to the abdominal wall, identifying visible and palpable bony references. Secondly, to characterize and determine anatomical relations of the surfaces, borders and angles of the llama liver, as well as, of its lobulation. Twenty adult llamas of both sexes and two foetuses of 6.5‐ and 7‐month‐old were used. Llama liver is a post‐diaphragmatic organ located in the cranial abdominal region, in the right hypochondrium, in relationship with the last six ribs. Dorsally, it can exceeds the last (twelfth) rib. Its major axis presents a cranio‐ventral bent. Its shape is irregularly triangular. It presents two surfaces (parietal and visceral), three borders (cranial, caudal and ventral) and three angles (dorsal, cranial and caudal).