bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D deficiency: a study of community beliefs among dark skinned and veiled people
Authors: BRAND Caroline A. , ABI Hodan Y. , COUCH Dianne E. , VINDIGNI Angela , WARK John D. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractAim:  Vitamin D is essential for musculoskeletal health. In addition to known high risk for older, housebound or institutionalized people, there are increasing reports of vitamin D deficiency in younger Australian populations, who are dark‐skinned and/or veiled. The aim of this study is to investigate socio‐cultural barriers and enablers to reducing risk of vitamin D deficiency among dark‐skinned and veiled community groups in a Melbourne metropolitan area.Methods:  A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken by an acute and community care partnership group based in the City of Melbourne and City of Moonee Valley areas, Victoria, Australia. Community‐dwelling people 18 years or more who were dark‐skinned or veiled participated. A trained facilitator used semistructured questions to explore awareness of vitamin D deficiency, knowledge about risks and barriers to risk management. Discussion was summarized and dominant themes extracted.Results:  There were gender differences in awareness of risk. Men were unaware or considered themselves not to be at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Cultural issues influenced access to, and sourcing of, health information. In particular, community opinion leaders and use of local media such as radio were considered important avenues for knowledge transfer in addition to health care providers. Relocation from community settings in Africa to the built environment of Melbourne was reported to inhibit safe, comfortable and culturally appropriate access to sun exposure. Access to, and sustained use of vitamin D supplementation was limited by financial constraints.Conclusion:  A comprehensive health promotion response that includes health provider and community partnerships is required to meet the complex needs of these communities.
Amyloidosis: a rheumatological perspective on diagnosis, further investigation and treatment
Authors: LAM S. K. L. , NGIAN G. S. , TRAVERS R. , LIM K. K. T. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this Grand Round, we present a 58‐year‐old man with a presumptive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who was being managed by a plastic surgery unit for a dorsal swelling of his right hand. While awaiting surgery for this lesion, he sustained a pathological fracture of his left neck of femur. This necessitated a total hip joint replacement and pathology revealed amyloidosis. Excision of the hand swelling also revealed amyloidosis as the cause. We discuss the ways in which amyloidosis can mimic musculoskeletal disease as well as the importance and some potential pitfalls of further investigation and management once the diagnosis of amyloidosis has been made.
Rituximab in recalcitrant thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: HALIM A. G. , SOEHARDY Z. , SHAHRIR M. S. , ROZITA M. , LOO C. Y. , RASHIDI S. , NORELLA KONG C. T. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical autoimmune disease with manifestations due to unopposed production of autoantibodies against the patient's own cells. The clinical features are diverse, ranging from musculoskeletal involvement, lupus nephritis to cerebral and even haematological involvement. We report a case of a young woman with known SLE who developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) secondary to SLE resistant to conventional treatment with plasma exchange. She was then treated with rituximab (MabThera®), a CD20 monoclonal antibody, and showed remarkable improvement. To our best knowledge this is the first case reporting the use of rituximab in acute resistant TTP secondary to SLE.
Influence of Water Stress on Endogenous Hormone Contents and Cell Damage of Maize Seedlings
Authors: Wang Chunrong , Yang Aifang , Yin Haiying , Zhang Juren 
Published: April 2008

Abstract Phytohormones play critical roles in regulating plant responses to stress. We investigated the effects of water stress induced by adding 12% (w/v) polyethylene glycol to the root medium on the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), indole‐3‐acid (IAA), zeatin (ZT), and gibberellin3 (GA3) in maize leaves. The results suggested that water stress had significant effects on the four hormone levels. There was a transient increase in the IAA content during the initial stage of adaptation to water stress in maize leaves, but it dropped sharply thereafter in response to water stress. ABA content increased dramatically in maize leaves after 24 h of exposure to water stress, and then the high levels of ABA were maintained to the end. The contents of ZT and GA3 rapidly declined in maize leaves subjected to water stress. The effects of water stress on chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde levels in maize leaves were also studied. The variation of cell damage was negatively correlated with ZT and GA3 levels in maize leaves under water stress. Thus, we explored the roles of ZT and GA3 on the growth of maize seedlings under water stress by exogenous application. It is possible that both ZT and GA3 were effective in protecting maize seedlings from water stress, which would be of great importance for the improvement of drought tolerance in maize by genetic manipulation.
In Vivo Efficacy of β-Cyclodextrin Derivatives against Anthrax Lethal Toxin
Authors: Moayeri Mahtab , Robinson Tanisha M. , Leppla Stephen H. , Karginov Vladimir A. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT
We evaluated the in vivo efficacy of three β-cyclodextrin derivatives that block the anthrax protective antigen pore. These compounds were at least 15-fold more potent than previously described β-cyclodextrins in protecting against anthrax lethal toxin in a rat model. One of the drugs was shown to protect mice from bacterial infection.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Compartmental Pharmacokinetics of Amikacin in Neonates
Authors: Allegaert K. , Scheers I. , Adams E. , Brajanoski G. , Cossey V. , Anderson B. J. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

To describe and investigate the covariate effects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amikacin pharmacokinetics in neonates, CSF samples were prospectively collected from neonates in whom amikacin had been initiated before a diagnostic lumbar puncture was performed. CSF analysis (amikacin concentration, white blood count [WBC], glucose content, and protein concentration) and amikacin therapeutic drug monitoring results (peak and trough concentrations) in serum were recorded. Correlations (Spearman rank) between the CSF amikacin concentration and the CSF WBC and glucose and protein concentration were investigated. There were 44 CSF amikacin concentrations and 83 serum samples available from 43 neonates (mean postmenstrual age, 36 weeks [range, 26 to 41 weeks]; mean weight, 2.43 kg [range, 0.87 to 3.86 kg]). The median time interval between initiation of amikacin administration and CSF sampling was 25 h (range, 2.5 to 93.7 h). The median amikacin concentration in the CSF was 1.08 mg/liter (range, 0.34 to 2.65 mg/liter), and the mean trough and peak amikacin concentrations in serum were 3.8 ± 2.5 mg/liter and 35.7 ± 5.9 mg/liter, respectively. A correlation between CSF amikacin and CSF protein contents (
P
< 0.01,
r
= 0.41, 95% confidence interval = 0.13 to 0.63) but not between CSF WBC and CSF glucose was documented. A two-compartment (central and CSF) linear disposition model was used to estimate population pharmacokinetics. The half time for equilibration (
T
eq
) between serum and CSF compartments was used as a measure of blood-brain barrier permeability. The
T
eq
was 7.58 h (coefficient of variation [CV] = 49.1%) with a partition coefficient of 0.103 (CV = 26.4%). There was no relationship between the
T
eq
and CSF WBC, CSF glucose content, or CSF protein content.
Enrichment of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
: Oscillating Ciprofloxacin Concentrations Simulated at the Upper and Lower Portions of the Mutant Selection Window
Authors: Firsov Alexander A. , Lubenko Irene Y. , Smirnova Maria V. , Strukova Elena N. , Zinner Stephen H. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

The time inside the mutant selection window (MSW),
T
MSW
, appears to be less predictive of the selection of fluoroquinolone-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
than is the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to the MIC. This observation might be attributed to the fact that
T
MSW
does not consider the actual position of simulated antibiotic concentrations inside the MSW, which also might influence the amplification of resistant mutants. To test this hypothesis, the enrichment of ciprofloxacin-resistant
S. aureus
was studied at ciprofloxacin (CIP) concentrations that oscillate near the mutant prevention concentration (MPC), i.e., closer to the top of the MSW (“upper case”), and closer to the MIC, i.e., at the lower limit of the MSW (“lower case”) at the same
T
MSW
. Two methicillin-resistant strains of
S. aureus
, ATCC 6538 and ATCC 43300 (MICs of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/liter, respectively, and MPCs of 4 and 2 mg/liter, respectively), were exposed to twice-daily CIP treatments for three consecutive days. With
S. aureus
ATCC 6538, the simulated ratios of the AUC at 24 h (AUC
24
) to the MIC were 50 and 260 h (
T
MSW
75% of the dosing interval). With
S. aureus
ATCC 43300, the simulated AUC
24
/MICs were 30 and 100 h (
T
MSW
56%). With each organism, mutants resistant to CIP were enriched in an AUC
24
/MIC-dependent manner: the higher the AUC
24
/MIC ratio, the lower the growth on CIP-containing plates. For example, the area under the time-kill curve of mutants resistant to 4× MIC of CIP in the upper case was three times smaller than that in the lower case for both
S. aureus
strains. Similar differences were seen at the higher (8× MIC) and lower (2× MIC) CIP concentrations. These data highlight differences in the selection of resistant
S. aureus
, depending on the position of simulated concentrations inside the MSW at a given
T
MSW
. This explains why
T
MSW
-based predictions of resistance are less accurate than those based on AUC/MIC and AUC/MPC.
Daptomycin Exerts Bactericidal Activity without Lysis of
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cotroneo Nicole , Harris Robert , Perlmutter Nancy , Beveridge Terry , Silverman Jared A. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

The ability of daptomycin to produce bactericidal activity against
Staphylococcus aureus
while causing negligible cell lysis has been demonstrated using electron microscopy and the membrane integrity probes calcein and ToPro3. The formation of aberrant septa on the cell wall, suggestive of impairment of the cell division machinery, was also observed.
Relation between Genetic Markers of Drug Resistance and Susceptibility Profile of Clinical
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Strains
Authors: Ilina Elena N. , Vereshchagin Vladimir A. , Borovskaya Alexandra D. , Malakhova Maja V. , Sidorenko Sergei V. , Al-Khafaji Nazar C. , Kubanova Anna A. , Govorun Vadim M. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

The main goal of this work is to clarify the predictive value of known genetic markers of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones. The correlation between the presence of certain genetic markers and susceptibility of
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates to penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones has been analyzed by means of statistical methods. Susceptibility testing with penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones was performed by the agar dilution method.
N. gonorrhoeae
genomic DNA was isolated. The presence of
bla
TEM-1
and
tet
(
M
) genes was analyzed by PCR. A novel method of polymorphism discovery based on a minisequencing reaction followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied for the analysis of chromosomal
N. gonorrhoeae
genes involved in antimicrobial resistance development. Clinical
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates (
n
= 464) were collected. Susceptibility levels to penicillin, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones were found to be 25.9%, 35.9%, and 54.1%, respectively. Among the 19
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates with penicillin MICs of ≥4 μg/ml, the
bla
TEM-1
gene was detected in 12. The Tet(M) determinant was found in 4 of 12
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates with tetracycline MICs of ≥16 μg/ml. The chromosomal genetic markers of penicillin and tetracycline resistance were detected especially in isolates with penicillin MICs of 0.25 to 2.0 μg/ml and tetracycline MICs of 0.5 to 4 μg/ml. Mutations in GyrA and ParC were found in 208 of 211 quinolone-resistant
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates. This work is the first representative molecular research of the
N. gonorrhoeae
population in Russia. Information about the prevalence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms and the positive predictive value of certain genetic determinants is given. The positive predictive values of the analyzed genetic markers were found to be different for fluoroquinolones (90.3%), penicillin (91.1%), and tetracycline (81.9%).
Induction and Resuscitation of Viable Nonculturable
Arcobacter butzleri
Cells
Authors: Fera M. T. , Maugeri T. L. , Gugliandolo C. , La Camera E. , Lentini V. , Favaloro A. , Bonanno D. , Carbone M. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Two strains of
Arcobacter butzleri
, ATCC 49616 and an environmental isolate, became nonculturable in seawater microcosms at 4°C by 20 days and at room temperature by 14 days. Nonculturable cells were viable for up to 270 days of incubation in microcosms. Resuscitation of
A. butzleri
cells from microcosms at both temperatures was achieved 9 days after nutrient addition.
Shewanella
and
Photobacterium
spp. in Oysters and Seawater from the Delaware Bay
Authors: Richards Gary P. , Watson Michael A. , Crane Edward J. , Burt Iris G. , Bushek David 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Shewanella algae
,
S. putrefaciens
, and
Photobacterium damselae
subsp.
damselae
are indigenous marine bacteria and human pathogens causing cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, abscesses, septicemia, and death. Infections are rare and are most often associated with the immunocompromised host. A study was performed on the microbiological flora of oysters and seawater from commercial oyster harvesting sites in the Delaware Bay, New Jersey. From 276 water and shellfish samples tested, 1,421 bacterial isolates were picked for biochemical identification and 170 (12.0%) of the isolates were presumptively identified as
S. putrefaciens
, 26 (1.8%) were presumptively identified as
P. damselae
subsp.
damselae
, and 665 (46.8%) could not be identified using the API 20E identification database. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of 22
S. putrefaciens
-like isolates identified them as
S. abalonesis
,
S. algae
,
S. baltica
,
S. hafniensis
,
S. marisflavi
,
S. putrefaciens
,
Listonella anguillarum
, and
P. damselae
. Beta-hemolysis was produced by some
S. algae
and
P. damselae
isolates, while isolates of
S. baltica
and
L. anguillarum
, species perceived as nonpathogenic, also exhibited β-hemolysis and growth at 37°C. To our knowledge, this is the first time these beta-hemolytic strains were reported from shellfish or seawater from the Delaware Bay. Pathogenic
Shewanella
and
Photobacterium
species could pose a health threat through the ingestion of contaminated seafood, by cuts or abrasions acquired in the marine environment, or by swimming and other recreational activities.
Shuttle Vector Expression in
Thermococcus kodakaraensis
: Contributions of
cis
Elements to Protein Synthesis in a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon
Authors: Santangelo Thomas J. , Čuboňová L'ubomíra , Reeve John N. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Shuttle vectors that replicate stably and express selectable phenotypes in both
Thermococcus kodakaraensis
and
Escherichia coli
have been constructed. Plasmid pTN1 from
Thermococcus nautilis
was ligated to the commercial vector pCR2.1-TOPO, and selectable markers were added so that
T. kodakaraensis
transformants could be selected by Δ
trpE
complementation and/or mevinolin resistance. Based on Western blot measurements, shuttle vector expression of RpoL-HA, a hemagglutinin (HA) epitope-tagged subunit of
T. kodakaraensis
RNA polymerase (RNAP), was ∼8-fold higher than chromosome expression. An idealized ribosome binding sequence (5′-AGGTGG) was incorporated for RpoL-HA expression, and changes to this sequence reduced expression. Changing the translation initiation codon from AUG to GUG did not reduce RpoL-HA expression, but replacing AUG with UUG dramatically reduced RpoL-HA synthesis. When functioning as translation initiation codons, AUG, GUG, and UUG all directed the incorporation of methionine as the N-terminal residue of RpoL-HA synthesized in
T. kodakaraensis
. Affinity purification confirmed that an HA- plus six-histidine-tagged RpoL subunit (RpoL-HA-his
6
) synthesized ectopically from a shuttle vector was assembled in vivo into RNAP holoenzymes that were active and could be purified directly from
T. kodakaraensis
cell lysates by Ni
2+
binding and imidazole elution.
Biogeochemistry and Community Composition of Iron- and Sulfur-Precipitating Microbial Mats at the Chefren Mud Volcano (Nile Deep Sea Fan, Eastern Mediterranean)
Authors: Omoregie Enoma O. , Mastalerz Vincent , de Lange Gert , Straub Kristina L. , Kappler Andreas , Røy Hans , Stadnitskaia Alina , Foucher Jean-Paul , Boetius Antje 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

In this study we determined the composition and biogeochemistry of novel, brightly colored, white and orange microbial mats at the surface of a brine seep at the outer rim of the Chefren mud volcano. These mats were interspersed with one another, but their underlying sediment biogeochemistries differed considerably. Microscopy revealed that the white mats were granules composed of elemental S filaments, similar to those produced by the sulfide-oxidizing epsilonproteobacterium “
Candidatus
Arcobacter sulfidicus.” Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that microorganisms targeted by a “
Ca
. Arcobacter sulfidicus”-specific oligonucleotide probe constituted up to 24% of the total the cells within these mats. Several 16S rRNA gene sequences from organisms closely related to “
Ca
. Arcobacter sulfidicus” were identified. In contrast, the orange mat consisted mostly of bright orange flakes composed of empty Fe(III) (hydr)oxide-coated microbial sheaths, similar to those produced by the neutrophilic Fe(II)-oxidizing betaproteobacterium
Leptothrix ochracea
. None of the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from these samples were closely related to sequences of known neutrophilic aerobic Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria. The sediments below both types of mats showed relatively high sulfate reduction rates (300 nmol·cm
−3
·day
−1
) partially fueled by the anaerobic oxidation of methane (10 to 20 nmol·cm
−3
·day
−1
). Free sulfide produced below the white mat was depleted by sulfide oxidation within the mat itself. Below the orange mat free Fe(II) reached the surface layer and was depleted in part by microbial Fe(II) oxidation. Both mats and the sediments underneath them hosted very diverse microbial communities and contained mineral precipitates, most likely due to differences in fluid flow patterns.
Biome-Level Biogeography of Streambed Microbiota
Authors: Findlay Robert H. , Yeates Christine , Hullar Meredith A. J. , Stahl David A. , Kaplan Louis A. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT
A field study was conducted to determine the microbial community structures of streambed sediments across diverse geographic and climatic areas. Sediment samples were collected from three adjacent headwater forest streams within three biomes, eastern deciduous (Pennsylvania), southeastern coniferous (New Jersey), and tropical evergreen (Guanacaste, Costa Rica), to assess whether there is biome control of stream microbial community structure. Bacterial abundance, microbial biomass, and bacterial and microbial community structures were determined using classical, biochemical, and molecular methods. Microbial biomass, determined using phospholipid phosphate, was significantly greater in the southeastern coniferous biome, likely due to the smaller grain size, higher organic content, and lower levels of physical disturbance of these sediments. Microbial community structure was determined using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and bacterial community structure from terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and edited (microeukaryotic PLFAs removed) PLFA profiles. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate patterns in total microbial community structure. The first principal component separated streams based on the importance of phototrophic microeukaryotes within the community, while the second separated southeastern coniferous streams from all others based on increased abundance of fungal PLFAs. PCA also indicated that within- and among-stream variations were small for tropical evergreen streams and large for southeastern coniferous streams. A similar analysis of bacterial community structure indicated that streams within biomes had similar community structures, while each biome possessed a unique streambed community, indicating strong within-biome control of stream bacterial community structure.
Use of Murine Norovirus as a Surrogate To Evaluate Resistance of Human Norovirus to Disinfectants
Authors: Belliot Gaël , Lavaux Amandine , Souihel Donya , Agnello Davide , Pothier Pierre 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT
Murine norovirus (MNV) was used as a surrogate to study resistance of human norovirus to disinfectants used in hospitals. MNV was sensitive to alcohol, alcohol hand rubs, bleach, and povidone iodine-based disinfectant. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR results indicated that the presence of viral RNA did not correlate with the presence of infectious virus.
Development of a Cell Surface Display System in a Magnetotactic Bacterium, “
Magnetospirillum magneticum
” AMB-1
Authors: Tanaka Masayoshi , Nakata Yuko , Mori Tetsushi , Okamura Yoshiko , Miyasaka Hitoshi , Takeyama Haruko , Matsunaga Tadashi 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Bacterial cell surface display is a widely used technology for bioadsorption and for the development of a variety of screening systems. Magnetotactic bacteria are unique species of bacteria due to the presence of magnetic nanoparticles within them. These intracellular, nanosized (50 to 100 nm) magnetic nanoparticles enable the cells to migrate and be manipulated by magnetic force. In this work, using this unique characteristic and based on whole-genomic and comprehensive proteomic analyses of these bacteria, a cell surface display system has been developed by expressing hexahistidine residues within the outer coiled loop of the membrane-specific protein (Msp1) of the “
Magnetospirillum magneticum
” (proposed name) AMB-1 bacterium. The optimal display site of the hexahistidine residues was successfully identified via secondary structure prediction, immunofluorescence microscopy, and heavy metal binding assay. The established AMB-1 transformant showed high immunofluorescence response, high Cd
2+
binding, and high recovery efficiency in comparison to those of the negative control when manipulated by magnetic force.
Aspergillus nidulans
Natural Product Biosynthesis Is Regulated by MpkB, a Putative Pheromone Response Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase
Authors: Atoui Ali , Bao Dapeng , Kaur Navgeet , Grayburn W. Scott , Calvo Ana M. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

The
Aspergillus nidulans
putative mitogen-activated protein kinase encoded by
mpkB
has a role in natural product biosynthesis. An
mpkB
mutant exhibited a decrease in sterigmatocystin gene expression and low mycotoxin levels. The mutation also affected the expression of genes involved in penicillin and terrequinone A synthesis.
mpkB
was necessary for normal expression of
laeA
, which has been found to regulate secondary metabolism gene clusters.