bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Desire
Authors: Schroeder Tim 
Published: October 2006

AbstractDesires move us to action, give us urges, incline us to joy at their satisfaction, and incline us to sorrow at their frustration. Naturalistic work on desire has focused on distinguishing which of these phenomena are part of the nature of desire, and which are merely normal consequences of desiring. Three main answers have been proposed. The first holds that the central necessary fact about desires is that they lead to action. The second makes pleasure the essence of desire. And the third holds that the central necessary fact about desires is that they open us to reward‐based learning.
Consequences of coronary artery stenting for non‐cardiac surgery
Authors: BUSLEY RAIMUND , DIETRICH WULF 
Published: October 2006

SUMMARYPercutaneous coronary intervention with intracoronary stenting is a routine procedure in the treatment of coronary artery disease today. While complication rates of in‐stent stenosis and thromboembolic complications dropped over the years due to improved stent design, material, coating and consequent antiplatelet medication, major concerns remain relating to non‐cardiac surgery following briefly after coronary artery stent implantation. A mortality rate of almost 5% has to be expected in a mixed surgical and orthopedic population after coronary artery stenting. Data about cardiac surgery briefly after stent implantation are not available. The risk of major bleeding following continued perioperative antiplatelet therapy has to be balanced against the risk of stent thrombosis by discontinuation of antiplatelet medication in these patients. The careless withdrawal of antiplatelet therapy preoperatively must be avoided.
Perovskite Oxides: Materials Science in Catalysis
Authors: Voorhoeve R. J. H. , Johnson D. W. , Remeika J. P. , Gallagher P. K. 
Published: October 2006

In a time of growing need for catalysts, perovskites have been rediscovered as a family of catalysts of such great diversity that a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines have been brought to bear in their study and application. Because of the wide range of ions and valences which this simple structure can accommodate, the perovskites lend themselves to chemical tailoring. It is relatively simple to synthesize perovskites because of the flexibility of the structure to diverse chemistry. Many of the techniques of ceramic powder preparation are applicable to perovskite catalysts. In their own right, they are therefore of interest as a model system for the correlation of solid-state parameters and catalytic mechanisms. Such correlations have recently been found between the rate and selectivity of oxidation-reduction reactions and the thermodynamic and electronic parameters of the solid.For commercial processes such as those mentioned in the introduction, perovskite catalysts have not yet proven to be practical. Much of the initial interest in these catalysts related to their use in automobile exhaust control. Current interest in this field centers on noble metal-substituted perovskites resistant to S poisoning for single-bed, dual-bed, and three-way catalyst configurations. The formulations commercially tested to date have shown considerable promise, but long-term stability has not yet been achieved.A very large fraction of the elements that make up presently used commercial catalysts can be incorporated in the structure of perovskite oxides. Conversely, it is anticipated that perovskite oxides, appropriately formulated, will show catalytic activity for a large variety of chemical conversions. Even though this expectation is by no means a prediction of commercial success in the face of competition by existing catalyst systems, it makes these oxides attractive models in the study of catalytic chemical conversion. By appropriate formulation many desirable properties can be tailored, including the valence state of transition metal ions, the binding energy and diffusion of O in the lattice, the distance between active sites, and the magnetic and conductive properties of the solid.Only a very small fraction of possible perovskite formulations have been explored as catalysts. It is expected that further investigation will greatly expand the scope of perovskite catalysis, extend the understanding of solid-state parameters in catalysis, and contribute to the development of practical catalytic processes.
A Synthetic Congener Modeled on a Microbicidal Domain of Thrombin- Induced Platelet Microbicidal Protein 1 Recapitulates Staphylocidal Mechanisms of the Native Molecule
Authors: Xiong Yan Q. , Bayer Arnold S. , Elazegui Lisa , Yeaman Michael R. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein 1 (tPMP-1) is a staphylocidal peptide released by activated platelets. This peptide initiates its microbicidal activity by membrane permeabilization, with ensuing inhibition of intracellular macromolecular synthesis. RP-1 is a synthetic congener modeled on the C-terminal microbicidal α-helix of tPMP-1. This study compared the staphylocidal mechanisms of RP-1 with those of tPMP-1, focusing on isogenic tPMP-1-susceptible (ISP479C) and -resistant (ISP479R)
Staphylococcus aureus
strains for the following quantitative evaluations: staphylocidal efficacy; comparative MIC; membrane permeabilization (MP) and depolarization; and DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Although the proteins had similar MICs, RP-1 caused significant killing of ISP479C (<50% survival), correlating with extensive MP (>95%) and inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis (>90%), versus substantially reduced killing of ISP479R (>80% survival), with less MP (55%) and less inhibition of DNA or RNA synthesis (70 to 80%). Interestingly, RP-1-induced protein synthesis inhibition was equivalent in both strains. RP-1 did not depolarize the cell membrane and caused a relatively short postexposure growth inhibition. These data closely parallel those previously reported for tPMP-1 against this strain set and exemplify how synthetic molecules can be engineered to reflect structure-activity relationships of functional domains in native host defense effector molecules.
Acquired Gentamicin Resistance by Permeability Impairment in
Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Aslangul Elisabeth , Massias Laurent , Meulemans Alain , Chau Françoise , Andremont Antoine , Courvalin Patrice , Fantin Bruno , Ruimy Raymond 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Enterococci are intrinsically resistant to low levels of aminoglycosides. We previously selected in vitro and in vivo
Enterococcus faecalis
with intermediate-level resistance to gentamicin that did not abolish synergism with a cell-wall-active agent (E. Aslangul et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49:4144-4148, 2005). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of resistance to gentamicin in the 1688-G3 third-step mutant (MIC, 512 μg/ml) of
E. faecalis
JH2-2. No mutations were found in the genes for L6 ribosomal protein and the four copies of 16S rRNA. Production of a known aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme was unlikely due to the distinct resistance phenotype and absence of the corresponding genes. Efflux was also unlikely since ethidium bromide MICs were similar for JH2-2 and 1688-G3 and since the pump inhibitors reserpine and verapamil had no effect on gentamicin resistance in both strains. To study gentamicin accumulation, we developed a nonisotopic method based on a fluorescent polarization immunoassay. Impaired gentamicin accumulation was observed in 1688-G3 compared to JH2-2 and was only partially reversible by the
N
,
N
′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) uncoupler agent. The lower sensitivity of 1688-G3 to DCCD suggested alteration of the F
o
F
1
-ATPase. However, no mutations were detected in the structural genes (
atp
) for the F
o
channel and no difference in transcript levels of
atpB
and
atpE
was found between 1688-G3 and JH2-2. Our data are compatible with acquisition of intermediate-level gentamicin resistance by uptake impairment in
E. faecalis
.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Relationship of Arbekacin for Treatment of Patients Infected with Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Sato Reiko , Tanigawara Yusuke , Kaku Mitsuo , Aikawa Naoki , Shimizu Kihachiro 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Arbekacin is widely used in Japan for the treatment of patients infected with methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). In this study, we have determined the optimal concentration targets of arbekacin for both efficacy and safety. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis was performed to relate exposure to the drug and clinical cure/improvement or nephrotoxicity. Since we have reported the population pharmacokinetic parameters for arbekacin in the preceding paper (Y. Tanigawara, R. Sato, K. Morita, M. Kaku, N. Aikawa, and K. Shimizu, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50:3754-3762, 2006), individual exposure parameters, such as area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), peak concentration (
C
max
), AUC/MIC,
C
max
/MIC, and trough concentration (
C
min
) were estimated by the Bayesian method. Logistic regression was used to describe the relationship between exposure to the drug and the probability of clinical cure/improvement or nephrotoxicity. For the clinical efficacy analysis, 174 patients confirmed to have an MRSA infection were evaluated. The
C
max
,
C
min
, and AUC of arbekacin were associated with the probability of clinical cure/improvement during monotherapy. It was shown that the probability of cure/improvement rose when the
C
max
of arbekacin was increased, with an odds ratio of 6.7 for a change in
C
max
from 7.9 to 12.5 μg/ml (
P
= 0.037). For the nephrotoxic risk analysis, 333 patients were included, regardless of whether a pathogen was identified. Logistic regression analysis revealed
C
min
and AUC as risk factors of nephrotoxicity (
P
< 0.005). The estimated probabilities of arbekacin-induced nephrotoxicity were 2.5, 5.2, and 13.1% when the
C
min
values were 1, 2, and 5 μg/ml, respectively. The present findings are useful for optimizing the individual dose of arbekacin for the treatment of MRSA-infected patients.
Suppression of Gastric Acid Production by Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment Facilitates Colonization of the Large Intestine by Vancomycin-Resistant
Enterococcus
spp. and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
in Clindamycin-Treated Mice
Authors: Stiefel Usha , Rao Agam , Pultz Michael J. , Jump Robin L. P. , Aron David C. , Donskey Curtis J. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Proton pump inhibitor treatment of clindamycin-treated mice elevated the gastric pH and facilitated the establishment of colonization of the large intestine by vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus
spp. (75 to 80%, versus 20 to 25% for saline-treated controls) and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(90%, versus 30% for saline-treated controls). These findings demonstrate a mechanism by which proton pump inhibitor therapy could contribute to the dissemination of nosocomial pathogens.
Inhibition of Multiple Subtypes of Influenza A Virus in Cell Cultures with Morpholino Oligomers
Authors: Ge Qing , Pastey Manoj , Kobasa Darwyn , Puthavathana Piliapan , Lupfer Christopher , Bestwick Richard K. , Iversen Patrick L. , Chen Jianzhu , Stein David A. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT
Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (P-PMO) are single-stranded nucleic acid-like antisense agents that can reduce gene expression by sterically blocking complementary RNA sequence. P-PMO are water soluble and nuclease resistant, and they readily achieve uptake into cells in culture under standard conditions. Eight P-PMO, each 20 to 22 bases in length, were evaluated for their ability to inhibit influenza A virus (FLUAV) A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) replication in cell culture. The P-PMO were designed to base pair with FLUAV RNA sequences that are highly conserved across viral subtypes and considered critical to the FLUAV biological-cycle, such as gene segment termini and mRNA translation start site regions. Several P-PMO were highly efficacious, each reducing viral titer in a dose-responsive and sequence-specific manner in A/PR/8/34-infected cells. Two P-PMO, one designed to target the AUG translation start site region of PB1 mRNA and the other the 3′-terminal region of nucleoprotein viral genome RNA, also proved to be potent against several other FLUAV strains, including A/WSN/33 (H1N1), A/Memphis/8/88 (H3N2), A/Eq/Miami/63 (H3N8), A/Eq/Prague/56 (H7N7), and the highly pathogenic A/Thailand/1(KAN-1)/04 (H5N1). The P-PMO exhibited minimal cytotoxicity in cell viability assays. High efficacy by two of the P-PMO against multiple FLUAV subtypes suggests that these oligomers represent a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach against a high percentage of known FLUAV strains.
Candida albicans
Biofilms Produce Antifungal-Tolerant Persister Cells
Authors: LaFleur Michael D. , Kumamoto Carol A. , Lewis Kim 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Fungal pathogens form biofilms that are highly recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy. The expression of multidrug resistance pumps in young biofilms has been linked to increased resistance to azoles, but this mechanism does not seem to underlie the resistance of mature biofilms that is a model of in vivo infection. The mechanism of drug resistance of mature biofilms remains largely unknown. We report that biofilms formed by the major human pathogen
Candida albicans
exhibited a strikingly biphasic killing pattern in response to two microbicidal agents, amphotericin B, a polyene antifungal, and chlorhexidine, an antiseptic, indicating that a subpopulation of highly tolerant cells, termed persisters, existed. The extent of killing with a combination of amphotericin B and chlorhexidine was similar to that observed with individually added antimicrobials. Thus, surviving persisters form a multidrug-tolerant subpopulation. Interestingly, surviving
C. albicans
persisters were detected only in biofilms and not in exponentially growing or stationary-phase planktonic populations. Reinoculation of cells that survived killing of the biofilm by amphotericin B produced a new biofilm with a new subpopulation of persisters. This suggests that
C. albicans
persisters are not mutants but phenotypic variants of the wild type. Using a stain for dead cells, rare dark cells were visible in a biofilm after amphotericin B treatment, and a bright and a dim population were physically sorted from this biofilm. Only the dim cells produced colonies, showing that this method allows the isolation of yeast persisters. Given that persisters formed only in biofilms, mutants defective in biofilm formation were examined for tolerance of amphotericin B. All of the known mutants affected in biofilm formation were able to produce normal levels of persisters. This finding indicates that attachment rather than formation of a complex biofilm architecture initiates persister formation. Bacteria produce multidrug-tolerant persister cells in both planktonic and biofilm populations, and it appears that yeasts and bacteria have evolved analogous strategies that assign the function of survival to a small part of the population. In bacteria, persisters are dormant cells. It remains to be seen whether attachment initiates dormancy that leads to the formation of fungal persisters. This study suggests that persisters may be largely responsible for the multidrug tolerance of fungal biofilms.
23S rRNA 2058A→G Alteration Mediates Ketolide Resistance in Combination with Deletion in L22
Authors: Berisio Rita , Corti Natascia , Pfister Peter , Yonath Ada , Böttger Erik C. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Resistance to macrolides and ketolides occurs mainly via alterations in RNA moieties of the drug-binding site. Using an A2058G mutant of
Mycobacterium smegmatis
, additional telithromycin resistance was acquired via deletion of 15 residues from protein L22. Molecular modeling, based on the crystal structure of the large ribosomal subunit from
Deinococcus radiodurans
complexed with telithromycin, shows that the telithromycin carbamate group is located in the proximity of the tip of the L22 hairpin-loop, allowing for weak interactions between them. These weak interactions may become more important once the loss of A2058 interactions destabilizes drug binding, presumably resulting in a shift of the drug toward the other side of the tunnel, namely, to the vicinity of L22. Hence, the deletion of 15 residues from L22 may further destabilize telithromycin binding and confer telithromycin resistance. Such deletions may also lead to notable differences in the tunnel outline, as well as to an increase of its diameter to a size, allowing the progression of the nascent chain.
Thymidine Kinase Mutations Conferring Acyclovir Resistance in Herpes Simplex Type 1 Recombinant Viruses
Authors: Sergerie Yan , Boivin Guy 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT
Contributions of thymidine kinase (TK) mutations to acyclovir (ACV) resistance were evaluated in herpes simplex virus type 1 recombinant viruses generated using a set of overlapping cosmids and plasmids. Alterations in both conserved and nonconserved regions of the TK gene were shown to confer high levels of resistance to ACV.
In Vitro Killing of Nosocomial Pathogens by Acid and Acidified Nitrite
Authors: Rao Agam , Jump Robin L. P. , Pultz Nicole J. , Pultz Michael J. , Donskey Curtis J. 
Published: October 2006

ABSTRACT

Exposure to pH 1 or 2 buffers or acidic gastric contents resulted in the killing of vancomycin-resistant
Enterococcus
sp.,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Staphylococcus aureus
, and
Candida glabrata
but not
Clostridium difficile
spores. Nitrite enhanced killing under acidic conditions, but significant killing of
C. difficile
spores required nitrite concentrations above usual physiological levels.
A randomised, controlled study on the effects of a short-term endurance training programme in patients with major depression
Authors: Knubben K , Reischies F M , Adli M , Schlattmann P , Bauer M , Dimeo F 
Published: October 2006

Objective:To evaluate the short-term effects of exercise in patients with major depression.Design:Prospective, randomised, controlled study.Setting:A university hospital.Patients:A consecutive series of 38 inpatients with a major depression episode undergoing standard clinical antidepressant drug treatment.Interventions:Patients were randomly assigned to an exercise (walking, n = 20) or placebo (low-intensity stretching and relaxation exercises, n = 18) group. Training was carried out for 10 days.Main outcome measurements:Severity of depression assessed with the Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholy Scale (BRMS) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D).Results:After 10 days, reduction of depression scores in the exercise group was significantly larger than in the placebo group (BRMS: 36%v18%; CES-D: 41%v21%; p for both  = 0.01); the proportion of patients with a clinical response (reduction in the BRMS scores by more than six points) was also larger for the exercise group (65%v22%, p<0.01).Conclusions:Endurance exercise may help to achieve substantial improvement in the mood of selected patients with major depression in a short time.
Pharmacokinetics of Cetuximab After Administration of Escalating Single Dosing and Weekly Fixed Dosing in Patients with Solid Tumors
Authors: Tan Antoinette R. , Moore Dirk F. , Hidalgo Manuel , Doroshow James H. , Poplin Elizabeth A. , Goodin Susan , Mauro David , Rubin Eric H. 
Published: October 2006

Abstract
Purpose: Previous studies of cetuximab pharmacokinetics did not fully characterize its elimination phase. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cetuximab given as a single dose followed by weekly fixed repeated dosing in patients with solid tumors.
Experimental Design: Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with a single 2-hour infusion of cetuximab at doses of 50, 100, 250, 400, or 500 mg/m2 followed 3 weeks later by weekly 1-hour infusions of cetuximab at a fixed dose of 250 mg/m2. Extended pharmacokinetic sampling was collected through 504 hours after the first drug administration. Trough samples were obtained before each fixed weekly dose. Single and multidose pharmacokinetic variables were correlated with clinical outcomes.
Results: Forty patients were enrolled. Pharmacokinetic analysis confirmed previous reports of nonlinear pharmacokinetics for cetuximab. Modeling studies predicted a 90% saturation of clearance at a dose of 260 mg/m2. Analyses of weekly trough concentrations indicated a slight accumulation of drug concentrations following repeated weekly dosing. Correlative studies indicated a significant association between cetuximab clearance and both body surface area (P = 0.002) and weight (P = 0.002). The occurrence of rash was significantly associated with disease stability (P &lt; 0.002) but not with cetuximab pharmacokinetic variables.
Conclusions: Pharmacokinetic results support using body surface area or weight in calculating individual cetuximab doses. A weekly dose of 250 mg/m2 is predicted to nearly fully saturate cetuximab clearance and, by inference, epidermal growth factor receptors. The association between rash and disease stability supports further prospective studies of this relationship.
The effects of balance training on gait late after stroke: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yavuzer Gunes , Eser Filiz , Karakus Dilek , Karaoglan Belgin , Stam Henk J 
Published: October 2006

Objective: To investigate the effects of balance training, using force platform biofeedback, on quantitative gait characteristics of hemiparetic patients late after stroke. Design: Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial. Setting: Rehabilitation ward and gait laboratory of a university hospital. Subjects: Forty-one patients (mean (standard deviation; SD) age of 60.9 (11.7) years) with hemiparesis late after stroke (median time since stroke six months) were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. Interventions: The control group ( n = 19) participated in a conventional stroke inpatient rehabilitation programme, whereas the experimental group ( n = 22) received 15 sessions of balance training (using force platform biofeedback) in addition to the conventional programme. Main outcome measures: Selected paretic side time-distance, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters in sagittal, frontal and transverse planes were measured using a three-dimensional computerized gait analysis system, one week before and after the experimental treatment programme. Results: The control group did not show any statistically significant difference regarding gait characteristics. Pelvic excursion in frontal plane improved significantly ( P = 0.021) in the experimental group. The difference between before-after change scores of the groups was significant for pelvic excursion in frontal plane ( P = 0.039) and vertical ground reaction force ( P = 0.030) in favour of experimental group. Conclusion: Balance training using force platform biofeedback in addition to a conventional inpatient stroke rehabilitation programme is beneficial in improving postural control and weight-bearing on the paretic side while walking late after stroke.