bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blood pressure measurements on children in the emergency department
Authors: Gilhotra Yuri , Willis Frank 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  There is no consensus on routine blood pressure (BP) measurement for children presenting to the ED. By contrast, BP measurements are performed routinely in adult ED. With increasing childhood obesity, and the knowledge that elevated BP in childhood correlates with hypertension in adulthood, routine BP measurement in children should be considered.Objective:  To review the current practice of BP measurement in children presenting to the ED of Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, a tertiary referral paediatric centre.Method:  A prospective observational study of 504 children presenting to the ED over a 6 month period in 2003.Results:  In total, 114 children (22.6%) had their BP measured. A total of 35 (30.7%) had a BP above the 95th percentile for age and sex. In total, 19 (54.3%) of 35 with abnormal BP had their BP remeasured. Only one child of 10 with consecutive hypertensive measurements was followed up. BP measurement was more common in children aged 2 years and above, and in higher triage category patients.Conclusions:  The present study demonstrates that BP measurement in the ED is both relatively infrequent and inconsistent. Further research into this area is required to determine the usefulness and feasibility of routine BP measurements in children presenting to the ED. This might improve the quality of health care and positively impact on public health for the future.
ABILITY OF COLICIN V TO CONTROL ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 IN GROUND BEEF
Authors: ABERCROMBIE JOHN G. , PAYNTER MALCOLM J.B. , HAYASAKA STEVEN S. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT Culture counts of Escherichia coli O157:H7 showed that colicin V caused rapid death in buffered (pH 7) cell suspensions at 30C. A decrease in optical density of cell suspensions indicated that colicin V lysed cells. Decreased optical densities were proportional to increased colicin V concentrations. Colicin V was also effective in killing E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef at 4, 20 and 30C. Initial rates of killing were directly proportional to temperature.
INHIBITION OF SALMONELLA SEROVARS, ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 AND LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES DURING DRY‐CURING AND DRYING OF MEAT: A CASE STUDY WITH BASTURMA
Authors: INGHAM STEVEN C. , SEARLS GINA , BUEGE DENNIS R. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT Basturma, a spiced beef product intended to be cooked before consumption, was prepared in three trials by dry‐curing intact surface‐inoculated (6 log cfu per piece with Salmonella serovars, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes) beef eye of round subprimals for 21 days at 6.7C, and then rinsing, pressing and drying for 6–8 days at 21–27C. The finished products had percentage water‐phase salt concentrations of 8.3–18.0 and water activity of 0.84–0.95. In the finished product, no surviving Salmonella serovars and E. coli O157:H7 were detected (<1.0 log cfu) in two trials; in the third trial the reductions were 4.5 and 5.0 log cfu, respectively. L. monocytogenes populations decreased 4.0–4.9 log cfu. Basturma prepared by dry‐curing, rinsing, pressing and drying appears to present little risk of foodborne infection because this process reduces populations of Salmonella serovars, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. Dry‐curing and drying are potentially very important pathogen‐reduction steps.
OspE2 of
Shigella sonnei
Is Required for the Maintenance of Cell Architecture of Bacterium-Infected Cells
Authors: Miura Masashi , Terajima Jun , Izumiya Hidemasa , Mitobe Jiro , Komano Teruya , Watanabe Haruo 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

The OspE2 product of
Shigella
spp., the expression of which is regulated by the
mxiE
gene, is secreted through a type III secretion system into host cells. We investigated the function of OspE2 of
Shigella sonnei
by using cultured epithelial cells. Cells invaded by an
ospE2
deletion mutant altered their morphology into the rounding shape, which was not due to cell death, whereas cells invaded by the wild-type strain kept their cell shape intact. The
ospE2
mutation did not affect initial cell entry and multiplication in cells, but the mutant formed smaller-than-normal plaques on cell monolayers, indicating a deficiency in cell-to-cell spread by the bacteria. An
mxiE
deletion mutant also showed changes in cell morphology and deficiency in bacterial spread to adjacent cells. In cells invaded by the
ospE2
mutant, disturbance of actin stress fibers was prominent at 3 h after invasion. Analysis of OspE2 localization indicated that the OspE2 protein accumulated on focal contact-like structures in the infected host cells. These results suggest that colocalization of the OspE2 protein in the focal contacts of infected cells may function to maintain an intact cell morphology. The morphological change induced by invasion of the
ospE2
mutant may affect secondary bacterial transmission.
A Reduced Risk of Infection with
Plasmodium vivax
and Clinical Protection against Malaria Are Associated with Antibodies against the N Terminus but Not the C Terminus of Merozoite Surface Protein 1
Authors: Nogueira Paulo Afonso , Piovesan Alves Fabiana , Fernandez-Becerra Carmen , Pein Oliver , Rodrigues Santos Neida , Pereira da Silva Luiz Hildebrando , Plessman Camargo Erney , del Portillo Hernando A. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

Progress towards the development of a malaria vaccine against
Plasmodium vivax
, the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, will require a better understanding of the immune responses that confer clinical protection to patients in regions where malaria is endemic. The occurrence of clinical protection in
P. vivax
malaria in Brazil was first reported among residents of the riverine community of Portuchuelo, in Rondônia, western Amazon. We thus analyzed immune sera from this same human population to determine if naturally acquired humoral immune responses against the merozoite surface protein 1 of
P. vivax
, PvMSP1, could be associated with reduced risk of infection and/or clinical protection. Our results demonstrated that this association could be established with anti-PvMSP1 antibodies predominantly of the immunoglobulin G3 subclass directed against the N terminus but not against the C terminus, in spite of the latter being more immunogenic and capable of natural boosting. This is the first report of a prospective study of
P. vivax
malaria demonstrating an association of reduced risk of infection and clinical protection with antibodies against an antigen of this parasite.
Identification and Characterization of a Hemolysin Gene Cluster in
Vibrio anguillarum
Authors: Rock Jessica L. , Nelson David R. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

Vibrio anguillarum
is a causative agent of vibriosis in fish. Hemolytic activity has been suggested as a virulence factor by contributing to hemorrhagic septicemia and diarrhea. In order to identify and characterize the hemolysin genes and examine the role of hemolytic activity in virulence, a mini-Tn
10
Kan mutagenesis clone bank of
V. anguillarum
was screened. While no hemolysin-negative strains were observed, several mutants with two- to threefold-increased hemolytic activity were found. The region containing the insertion mutation was cloned, sequenced, and found to contain the
V. anguillarum
hemolysin (
vah1
) and two other open reading frames, coding for a putative lactonizing lipase (
llpA
) and a putative phospholipase (
plp
). The mini-Tn
10
Kan was inserted into
plp
. Site-directed mutagenesis of each gene revealed that mutations in
vah1
and
llpA
did not affect hemolytic activity, but insertions into
plp
caused a two- to threefold increase in hemolysis. Double mutations in
plp
and either
vah1
or
llpA
resulted in wild-type hemolytic activity. Complementation of
plp
restored hemolytic activity to wild-type levels. Spectrophotometric determination of hemolysin specific activity revealed that activity on a per cell basis peaked during the first 2 h of growth in LB20. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR used to quantitate transcription of the hemolysin genes
plp
and
vah1
in
V. anguillarum
wild-type strains M93Sm and NB10 revealed that transcription of
plp
and
vah1
peaked at 2 h of growth in LB20. Additionally, expression of
vah1
measured in the
plp
mutant strain, JL01, during the first 2 h of growth was >8 times higher than that in M93Sm. Mutations in
plp
and
llpA
did not affect virulence of
V. anguillarum
. The mutation in
vah1
attenuated
V. anguillarum
virulence in fish. These data show that several genes are responsible for hemolytic activity in
V. anguillarum
. At least three genes (
plp
,
llpA
, and
vah1
) are responsible for one hemolytic activity. The data also suggest that
plp
acts as a negative regulator of
vah1
and
llpA
.
Influence of Slc11a1 on the Outcome ofSalmonella entericaSerovar Enteritidis Infection in Mice Is Associated with Th Polarization
Authors: Caron Judith , Larivière Line , Nacache Mayss , Tam Mifong , Stevenson Mary M. , McKerly Colin , Gros Philippe , Malo Danielle 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTGenetic analyses identifiedSes1as a significant quantitative trait locus influencing the carrier state of 129S6 mice following a sublethal challenge withSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis. Previous studies have determined thatSlc11a1was an excellent candidate gene forSes1. Kinetics of infection in 129S6 mice andSlc11a1-deficient (129S6-Slc11a1tm1Mcg) mice demonstrated that the wild-type allele ofSlc11a1contributed to theS. entericaserovar Enteritidis carrier state as early as 7 days postinfection. Gene expression profiling demonstrated that 129S6 mice had a significant up-regulation of proinflammatory genes associated with macrophage activation at day 10 postinfection, followed by a gradual increase in immunoglobulin transcripts, whereas 129S6-Slc11a1tm1Mcgmice had higher levels of immunoglobulins earlier in the infection. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR revealed an increase in Th1 cytokine (IfngandIl12) and Th1-specific transcription factorTbx21expression during infection in both the 129S6 and 129S6-Slc11a1tm1Mcgstrains. However, the expression ofGata3, a transcription factor involved in Th2 polarization,Cd28, andIl4was markedly increased inSlc11a1-deficient mice during infection, suggesting a predominant Th2 phenotype in 129S6-Slc11a1tm1Mcganimals followingS. entericaserovar Enteritidis infection. A strong immunoglobulin G2a response, reflecting Th1 activity, was observed only in 129S6 mice. All together, these results are consistent with an impact ofSlc11a1on Th cell differentiation during chronicS. entericaserovar Enteritidis infection. The presence of a Th2 bias inSlc11a1-deficient mice is associated with improved bacterial clearance.
The
hbhA
Gene of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Is Specifically Upregulated in the Lungs but Not in the Spleens of Aerogenically Infected Mice
Authors: Delogu Giovanni , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Posteraro Brunella , Rocca Stefano , Zanetti Stefania , Fadda Giovanni 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

We report that
hbhA
is differentially regulated during
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection. Upregulation was observed in epithelial cell infection but not in macrophage infection and in the lungs but not in the spleens of infected mice, and it was greater during the early steps of infection, when bacilli disseminate from the site of primary infection.
A Distinct QscR Regulon in the
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Quorum-Sensing Circuit
Authors: Lequette Yannick , Lee Joon-Hee , Ledgham Fouzia , Lazdunski Andrée , Greenberg E. Peter 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACT

The opportunistic pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
possesses two complete acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) signaling systems. One system consists of LasI and LasR, which generate a 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone signal and respond to that signal, respectively. The other system is RhlI and RhlR, which generate butanoyl-homoserine lactone and respond to butanoyl-homoserine lactone, respectively. These quorum-sensing systems control hundreds of genes. There is also an orphan LasR-RhlR homolog, QscR, for which there is no cognate acyl-HSL synthetic enzyme. We previously reported that a
qscR
mutant is hypervirulent and showed that QscR transiently represses a few quorum-sensing-controlled genes. To better understand the role of QscR in
P. aeruginosa
gene regulation and to better understand the relationship between QscR, LasR, and RhlR control of gene expression, we used transcription profiling to identify a QscR-dependent regulon. Our analysis revealed that QscR activates some genes and represses others. Some of the repressed genes are not regulated by the LasR-I or RhlR-I systems, while others are. The LasI-generated 3-oxododecanoyl-homoserine lactone serves as a signal molecule for QscR. Thus, QscR appears to be an integral component of the
P. aeruginosa
quorum-sensing circuitry. QscR uses the LasI-generated acyl-homoserine lactone signal and controls a specific regulon that overlaps with the already overlapping LasR- and RhlR-dependent regulons.
Buccal DNA Collection: Comparison of Buccal Swabs with FTA Cards
Authors: Milne Elizabeth , van Bockxmeer Frank M. , Robertson Laila , Brisbane Joanna M. , Ashton Lesley J. , Scott Rodney J. , Armstrong Bruce K. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Collection and analysis of DNA, most commonly from blood or buccal cells, is becoming more common in epidemiologic studies. Buccal samples, which are painless to take and relatively easily collected, are often the preferred source. There are several buccal cell collection methods: swabs, brushes, mouthwash, and treated cards, such as FTA or IsoCode cards. Few studies have systematically compared methods of buccal cell collection with respect to DNA yield and amplification success under similar conditions. We compared buccal DNA collection and amplification using buccal swabs and FTA cards in 122 control subjects from our Australian case-control study of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Buccal DNA was quantified using a real-time PCR for β-actin and genotyped at the loci of three polymorphisms (MTHFR 677C&gt;T, ACE I/D, and XPD 1012G&gt;A). PCR was successful with DNA from buccal swabs for 62% to 89% of subjects and from FTA cards for 83% to 100% of subjects, depending on the locus. The matched pair odds ratios (95% confidence interval) comparing success of FTA cards with buccal swabs are as follows: MTHFR 677C&gt;T using PCR-RFLP, 12.5 (11.6-13.5) and using real-time PCR, 130.0 (113.1-152.8); ACE I/D using PCR-amplified fragment length polymorphism, 3.36 (3.2-3.5); XPD 1012G&gt;A using real-time PCR, 150.0 (132.7-172.3). FTA cards are a robust DNA collection method and generally produce DNA suitable for PCR more reliably than buccal swabs. There are, however, technical challenges in handling discs punched from FTA cards that intending users should be aware of. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(4):816–9)
Chemokine Receptor CCR6 Expression Level and Liver Metastases in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ghadjar Pirus , Coupland Sarah Ellen , Na Il-Kang , Noutsias Michel , Letsch Anne , Stroux Andrea , Bauer Sandra , Buhr Heinz J. , Thiel Eckhard , Scheibenbogen Carmen , Keilholz Ulrich 
Published: April 2006

Purpose The liver is the primary organ of metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Chemokine receptor CCR6 is expressed on a subset of T cells and is associated with their migration into the liver. This study was performed to analyze a possible association between CCR6 expressed by primary CRC and liver metastases. Patients and Methods CCR6 expression levels were evaluated by immunohistology in 64 CRC primary tumor specimens. Twenty-four of 64 patients had synchronous liver metastases. Evaluation of immunostaining was performed semiquantitatively by visual assessment and quantitatively by digital image analysis (DIA). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess relevant parameters for liver metastases. Results CCR6 expression was verified in all 64 primary tumor specimens with considerable variations in intensity; 21 tumors (33%) demonstrated weak CCR6 staining, 32 (50%) demonstrated intermediate staining, and 11 (17%) demonstrated strong staining. Quantitative assessment by DIA showed an up to 5-log difference in CCR6 values. CCR6 staining was significantly stronger in tumor cells compared with adjacent colon epithelial cells (P < .0005). Multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, tumor stage, nodal status, pathologic grade, and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels, revealed that CCR6 staining in the primary tumor was independently associated with the presence of liver metastases (odds ratio = 2.1; P = .002). Conclusion The association between expression level of CCR6 in primary CRC and synchronous liver metastases suggests that CCR6 and its ligand may be involved in the metastatic spread to the liver. Therefore, CCR6 may be a potential target for specific therapeutic interventions.
Immediate or Deferred Androgen Deprivation for Patients With Prostate Cancer Not Suitable for Local Treatment With Curative Intent: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Trial 30891
Authors: Studer Urs E. , Whelan Peter , Albrecht Walter , Casselman Jacques , de Reijke Theo , Hauri Dieter , Loidl Wolfgang , Isorna Santiago , Sundaram Subramanian K. , Debois Muriel , Collette Laurence 
Published: April 2006

Purpose This study (EORTC 30891) attempted to demonstrate equivalent overall survival in patients with localized prostate cancer not suitable for local curative treatment treated with immediate or deferred androgen ablation. Patients and Methods We randomly assigned 985 patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer T0-4 N0-2 M0 to receive androgen deprivation either immediately (n = 493) or on symptomatic disease progression or occurrence of serious complications (n = 492). Results Baseline characteristics were well balanced in the two groups. Median age was 73 years (range, 52 to 81). At a median follow-up of 7.8 years, 541 of 985 patients had died, mostly of prostate cancer (n = 193) or cardiovascular disease (n = 185). The overall survival hazard ratio was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.48; noninferiority P > .1) favoring immediate treatment, seemingly due to fewer deaths of nonprostatic cancer causes (P = .06). The time from randomization to progression of hormone refractory disease did not differ significantly, nor did prostate-cancer specific survival. The median time to the start of deferred treatment after study entry was 7 years. In this group 126 patients (25.6%) died without ever needing treatment (44% of the deaths in this arm). Conclusion Immediate androgen deprivation resulted in a modest but statistically significant increase in overall survival but no significant difference in prostate cancer mortality or symptom-free survival. This must be weighed on an individual basis against the adverse effects of life-long androgen deprivation, which may be avoided in a substantial number of patients with a deferred treatment policy.
Full-field pulsed magnetophotoelasticity – a description of the instrument
Authors: Gibson S , Jewell G. W , Tomlinson R. A 
Published: April 2006

This paper describes a novel instrument used for the analysis of full-field through-thickness stress distributions using the theory of magnetophotoelasticity (MPE) developed by Aben [1] and developed by Clarke et al. [2, 3]. MPE is an experimental stress analysis technique that involves the application of a magnetic field parallel to an electromagnetic wave propagating through a birefringent model within a polariscope. The effect viewed through the polariscope is then a combination of the model's birefringence and the Faraday rotation created in the model by the magnetic field. Aben developed this technique especially for use in the measurement of stress profiles where the integrated photoelastic pattern alone yields little information. Clarke et al. developed MPE in order to study toughened glass. To date, the technique of MPE has been a single-point measurement, which is of limited utility in the investigation of three-dimensional stress in toughened glasses. The pulsed magnetopolariscope (PMP), described here, enables the full-field application of MPE. This paper contains a description of the novel apparatus and demonstrations used to validate the performance of a proof-of-concept PMP instrument. The paper also highlights improvements in the application of MPE, which are now possible with this new equipment. These improvements include the extension of MPE to larger areas of analysis, three-dimensional stress analysis, and the possibility of analysing a general unknown stress distribution.
Locative alternation and two levels of verb meaning
Authors: Iwata Seizi 
Published: April 2006

AbstractVerbs likeloadorsprayare known to alternate between two variants (John sprayed paint onto the wall / John sprayed the wall with paint ). Both Rappaport and Levin (1988) and Pinker (1989) derive one variant from the other, but these lexical rule approaches have a number of problems. This paper argues for a form-meaning correspondence model which distinguishes between two levels of verb meaning: that of a lexical headsprayon the one hand and that of a phrasal constituentspray paint onto the wallorspray the wall with painton the other. Locative alternation stems from the fact that a frame semantic scene encoded byspraycan be construed in two alternate ways. This proposed model allows us to account for the data straightforwardly without suffering from the problems created by lexical rule approaches. This proposed analysis is fundamentally the same as Goldberg’s (1995) in being a version of Construction Grammar approach. But unlike Goldberg’s Correspondence Principle-based account, my analysis makes the most of the semantic compatibility between verbs and constructions, thereby giving a more straightforward account of locative alternation.
Fishy business: Humor in a Sardinian fish market
Authors: Porcu Leide 
Published: April 2006

AbstractHumor can ease social relations, be exploited to further productivity, and improve the environment and the general well being of the individual. Through humor people negotiate their value as men and demarcate insider/outsiders relations. At the same time, humor often interrupts the flow of work, slowing down productivity, and wasting time and money. Humor can also be exploited ambiguously to further self-interest and justify and re-interpret one's deceitful conduct. In the ambiguously humorous environment, people further their interests, crossing the boundaries of licit and illicit, offensive and acceptable behavior. Humor offers a place to dream a better reality, but it can also actually transform the context. Humorous topics revert around scatology, sex, gender, fish, and value manipulation. These are central fish market themes that define each other relationally. Whatever the practical purpose and the change of context that the jokes are aiming at, jokers construct primarily themselves and in the process they give sense to their life. In this paper I try to draw a picture in which the individual, with his desires and needs, and the culture at large come together.
The masking effects of humor on audience perception of message organization
Authors: Jones John A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractCan use of humor in a disorganized speech mask audience perception of disorganization? Employing a 2 × 2 factorial design, findings reveal that use of humor can cause a disorganized speech to be evaluated as better organized than a serious disorganized speech and as comparable to a serious organized speech. By dividing attention, listeners seem likely to focus on the more attractive alternative. Also ratings of speech humorousness and audience member’s levels of sense of humor influence assessments of speech disorganization.