bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri: factors affecting successful eradication of citrus canker
Authors: Graham James H. , Gottwald Tim R. , Cubero Jaime , Achor Diann S. 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARYTaxonomic status:  Bacteria, Proteobacteria, gamma subdivision, Xanthomodales, Xanthomonas group, axonopodis DNA homology group, X. axonopodis pv. citri (Hasse) Vauterin et al. Microbiological properties:  Gram negative, slender, rod‐shaped, aerobic, motile by a single polar flagellum, produces slow growing, non‐mucoid colonies in culture, ecologically obligate plant parasite. Host range:  Causal agent of Asiatic citrus canker on most Citrus spp. and close relatives of Citrus in the family Rutaceae. Disease symptoms:  Distinctively raised, necrotic lesions on fruits, stems and leaves. Epidemiology:  Bacteria exude from lesions during wet weather and are disseminated by splash dispersal at short range, windblown rain at medium to long range and human assisted movement at all ranges. Crop loss:  Severe infections cause defoliation, blemished fruit, premature fruit drop, die‐back of twigs and general debilitation of the tree. Distribution:  Citrus canker is not present in all subtropical to tropical regions of citriculture in the world, so considerable regulatory efforts are expended to prevent the introduction and spread of X. axonopodis pv. citri into areas in the Americas, Australia and elsewhere, with climates conducive to the disease. Importance:  Limited strategies exist for suppression of citrus canker on more susceptible cultivars. Blemished fruit are unmarketable and exposed fruit are restricted in market access. The economic impact of loss of markets is much greater than that from yield and quality reductions of the crop. Useful websites:  http://doacs.state.fl.us/canker
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http://www.apsnet.org/education/lessonsplantpath/citruscanker/top.htm
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http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/citruscanker/
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http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/php/review/citruscanker/
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http://www.abecitrus.com.br/fundecitrus.html
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http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/PlantContainment/canker.htm
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http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/ccanker/ .
Decisions for Hospice Care in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Chen Hongbin , Haley William E. , Robinson Bruce E. , Schonwetter Ronald S. 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors that may influence the decision of whether to enter a hospice program or to continue with a traditional hospital approach in patients with advanced cancer and to understand their decision‐making process.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional structured interview.SETTING: One community‐based hospice and three university‐based teaching hospitals.PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred thirty‐four adult patients diagnosed with advanced lung, breast, prostate, or colon cancer with a life expectancy of less than 1 year: 173 hospice patients and 61 nonhospice patients receiving traditional hospital care.MEASUREMENTS: Hospice and nonhospice patients' demographic, clinical, and other patient‐related characteristics were compared. Multivariate analysis was then conducted to identify variables associated with the hospice care decision in a logistic regression model. Information sources regarding hospice care and people involved in the hospice decision were identified.RESULTS: Patients receiving hospice care were significantly older (average age 69 vs 65 years, P = .009) and less educated (average 11.9 vs 12.9 years, P = .031) and had more people in their households (average 1.66 vs 1.16 persons, P = .019). Hospice patients had more comorbid conditions (1.30 vs 0.93, P = .035) and worse activities of daily living scores (7.01 vs 6.23, P = .030) than nonhospice patients. Hospice patients were more realistic about their disease course than their nonhospice counterparts. Patients' understanding of their prognoses affected their perceptions of the course of their disease. Hospice patients preferred quality of life to length of life. In the multivariate analysis, lower education level and greater number of people in the household were associated with the decision to enter hospice. A healthcare provider first told most of those who entered hospice about hospice. Families largely made the final decision to enter hospice (42%), followed by patients themselves (28%) and physicians (27%).CONCLUSION: The decision to enter hospice is related to demographic, clinical, and other patient‐related characteristics. This study suggests that the decision‐making process for hospice care in patients with advanced cancer is multidimensional. The healthcare community may better meet the end‐of‐life care needs of advanced cancer patients through enhanced communication with patients and families, including providing accurate prognoses and better understanding of patients' preferences and values.
How Does the Timing of Hospice Referral Influence Hospice Care in the Last Days of Life?
Authors: Miller Susan C. , Kinzbrunner Barry , Pettit Peggy , Williams J. Richard 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with the type of hospice care received in the last days of life and, in particular, how the timing of referral influences the use of continuous hospice home care and inpatient hospice care.DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.SETTING: Twenty‐one hospice programs across seven states under the ownership of one hospice parent provider.PARTICIPANTS: Hospice patients who were cared for and died between October 1, 1998, and September 30, 1999 (N = 28,747).MEASUREMENTS: Patient sociodemographic and clinical data were merged with use data from the provider's centralized information system to examine the factors associated with the differing levels of hospice care in the last week of life. In the last days of life, patients were classified as having received routine hospice home care only, having received continuous hospice home care, or having died in an inpatient hospice bed.RESULTS: Twenty‐three percent of the patients received continuous hospice home care during the last week of life, and 34% died in an inpatient hospice bed. Patients with hospice stays of less than 7 days had a lower likelihood of receiving continuous hospice home care than those who had stays of more than 30 days (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.75–0.87). Patients with hospice stays of 14 days or less had a greater likelihood of dying in an inpatient hospice bed. Furthermore, patients with stays of less than 7 days who were referred from hospitals were six times likelier to die in an inpatient hospice bed than those who were referred from another source (AOR = 6.40, 95% CI = 5.74–7.14). Patients in nursing homes had a 93% lower likelihood of dying in an inpatient hospice bed than patients in the community without a live‐in caregiver (AOR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.03–0.19). Strong independent associations were observed between several other covariates and the study outcomes, particularly the covariates of which state hospice care was provided in and level of pain intensity.CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that continuous hospice home care in the last week of life is less likely to occur when patients have short hospice stays. Also, the probability of dying in an inpatient hospice bed is substantially greater for patients referred from hospitals and referred closer to time of death. Further work to determine the appropriateness of use of the different levels of hospice care is needed.
Functional Status and Health Outcomes in Older Americans with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Blaum Caroline S. , Ofstedal Mary Beth , Langa Kenneth M. , Wray Linda A. 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To determine how baseline functional status affects health outcomes in older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM).DESIGN: Nationally representative cross‐sectional and longitudinal health interview survey.SETTING: Waves I (1993) and II (1995) of the Assets and Health Dynamics of the Oldest Old Survey (AHEAD) in the United States.PARTICIPANTS: AHEAD respondents aged 70 and older (n = 7,447, including 995 with DM).MEASUREMENTS: At baseline, the entire sample was divided into three groups: high‐functioning group, defined as having no physical limitations or instrumental activities of daily living/activities of daily living (IADL/ADL) disabilities (39%); low‐functioning group, having three or more limitations or IADL/ADL disabilities (24%); and intermediate‐functioning group, those in the middle (36%). Older adults with and without DM, within each of the functioning groups, were compared at 2‐year follow‐up with respect to demographic characteristics, weight/body mass index, baseline and incident chronic diseases and conditions, and follow‐up functioning.RESULTS: Of people aged 70 and older, 28% with DM and 41% without were high functioning; 38% with DM and 22% without were low functioning (both P < .001). High‐functioning people with DM remained high functioning at 2 years but had a significantly higher incidence of heart disease and mortality than high‐functioning people without DM. Low‐functioning people with DM were significantly more likely to have vascular comorbidities at baseline than low‐functioning people without DM, but their 2‐year outcomes were similar. The intermediate‐functioning group showed the most differences between those with and without DM; those with DM were significantly (P < .01) more likely to have baseline vascular disease, low cognitive performance, increased incident vascular disease, and significantly worse 2‐year functioning and to have experienced falls (P < .001).CONCLUSION: Differences in baseline functional status in older adults with DM were associated with outcome differences. High‐functioning older people with DM tended to remain high functioning but demonstrated significantly higher incidence of heart disease and mortality than those without DM, whereas low‐functioning people with and without DM had similar outcomes. However, intermediate‐functioning older diabetics had worse health and functioning outcomes than a similarly impaired group without DM. DM management adjusted to functional status can potentially address the most‐relevant outcomes in the heterogeneous older population with DM.
Prevalence of Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth and Its Association with Nutrition Intake in Nonhospitalized Older Adults
Authors: Parlesak Alexandr , Klein Birgit , Schecher Kerstin , Bode J. Christian , Bode Christiane 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) in older adults and to assess whether SBBO is associated with abdominal complaints and nutrient intake.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional survey.SETTING: Eight senior residence sites in Stuttgart, Germany.PARTICIPANTS: Older adults living independently in senior residence houses.MEASUREMENTS: The prevalence of SBBO was measured in 328 subjects, of whom 294 were aged 61 and older, by measuring hydrogen concentration (parts per million; ppm) in exhaled air after ingestion of 50 g glucose. Anthropometric data were obtained and nutritional status was recorded with a computer‐aided diet history.RESULTS: The prevalence of a positive hydrogen breath test (>10 ppm increase) was 15.6% in older adults, compared with 5.9% in subjects aged 24 to 59. The intake of inhibitors of gastric acid production contributed significantly to the high prevalence of a positive breath test in older adults, which was associated with lower body weight, lower body mass index, lower plasma albumin concentration, and higher prevalence of diarrhea. Subjects with a positive hydrogen breath test consumed significantly less fiber, folic acid, and vitamins B2 and B6 than those without. No difference was observed in the intake of energy, protein, fat, or carbohydrates.CONCLUSION: Prevalence of SBBO is associated with reduced body weight, which is paralleled by reduced intake of several micronutrients. Malabsorption resulting from diarrhea might be an aggravating factor contributing to weight loss in these subjects.
Contribution of Informant and Patient Ratings to the Accuracy of the Mini‐Mental State Examination in Predicting Probable Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Tierney Mary C. , Herrmann Nathan , Geslani Daphne M. , Szalai John P. 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the accuracy of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) in predicting future Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be improved by the addition of patient and informant ratings of cognitive difficulties.DESIGN: An inception cohort of nondemented patients followed longitudinally for 2 years.SETTING: Patients referred to a university teaching hospital research investigation by their family physicians because of concerns about memory impairment.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty‐five community‐residing patients were included who did not have dementia or any identifiable cause for memory impairment. After 2 years, 29 met criteria for AD, and 95 were not demented.MEASUREMENTS: Baseline assessments included MMSE, an Informant Rating Scale, and a Patient Rating Scale of cognitive difficulties. After 2 years, patients were diagnosed following the reference standard for probable AD. Diagnosticians were blind to baseline scores.RESULTS: Age and education were included in all analyses as covariates. The best logistic regression model included the Informant Rating Scale and the MMSE (sensitivity = 83%, specificity = 79%). An empirically reduced six‐item model that included two items each from the MMSE, the Patient Rating Scale, and the Informant Rating Scale produced a significantly better model than the one with the full test scores (sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 94%).CONCLUSION: Results indicate that inclusion of informant ratings with the MMSE significantly improved its accuracy in the prediction of probable AD. Replication in a new prospective cohort of nondemented patients is necessary to confirm these findings.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Enhanced Balance Training Program to Improve Mobility and Reduce Falls in Elderly Patients
Authors: Steadman Jayne , Donaldson Nora , Kalra Lalit 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced balance training program in improving mobility and well‐being of elderly people with balance problems.DESIGN: Prospective, single‐blind, randomized, controlled trial.SETTING: District general hospital.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety‐nine patients aged 60 and older with a Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score of less than 45.INTERVENTIONS: Six weeks enhanced balance training consisting of a series of repetitive tasks of increasing difficulty specific to functional balance. The control group received physiotherapy conforming to existing practice in elderly patients with mobility problems.MEASUREMENTS: Ten‐meter timed walk test (TWT), BBS, Frenchay Activities Index (FAI), Falls Handicap Inventory (FHI), and European Quality of Life questionnaire (Euroqol) measured at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after intervention.RESULTS: The mean age ± standard deviation of subjects was 82.7 ± 5.6, and baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. Both groups showed improvements in TWT (intervention: 22.5–16.5 seconds, P = .001; control: 20.5–15.8 seconds, P = .054), BBS (intervention: 33.3–42.7, P = .001; control: 33.4–42.0, P < .0001), FAI (18–21, P = .02 in both groups), FHI score (intervention: 31–17, P = .0001; control: 33–17, P = .0001) and Euroqol score (intervention: 58–65, P = .04; control: 60–65, P = .07). There were no intergroup differences at any time. More patients reported increased confidence in walking indoors (36% vs 28%; P = .04) and outdoors (27% vs 18%; P = .02) in the enhanced balance‐training group.CONCLUSION: Exercise programs significantly improve balance and mobility in patients with balance problems, independent of strategy. Enhanced balance training may, in addition, improve confidence and quality of life but needs further investigation.
A DNA prime‐live vaccine boost strategy in mice can augment IFN‐γ responses to mycobacterial antigens but does not increase the protective efficacy of two attenuated strains of Mycobacterium bovis against bovine tuberculosis
Authors: Skinner M. A. , Ramsay A. J. , Buchan G. S. , Keen D. L. , Ranasinghe C. , Slobbe L. , Collins D. M. , DE Lisle G. W. , Buddle B. M. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine has variable efficacy for both human and bovine tuberculosis. There is a need for improved vaccines or vaccine strategies for control of these diseases. A recently developed prime‐boost strategy was investigated for vaccination against M. bovis infection in mice. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were primed with a DNA vaccine, expressing two mycobacterial antigens, ESAT‐6 and antigen 85 A and boosted with attenuated M. bovis strains, BCG or WAg520, a newly attenuated strain, prior to aerosol challenge. Before challenge, the antigen‐specific production of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) was evaluated by ELISPOT and antibody responses were measured. The prime‐boost stimulated an increase in the numbers of IFN‐γ producing cells compared with DNA or live vaccination alone, but this varied according to the attenuated vaccine strain, time of challenge and the strain of mouse used. Animals vaccinated with DNA alone generated the strongest antibody response to mycobacterial antigens, which was predominantly IgG1. BCG and WAg520 alone generally gave a 1–2 log10 reduction in bacterial load in lungs or spleen, compared to non‐vaccinated or plasmid DNA only control groups. The prime‐boost regimen was not more effective than BCG or WAg520 alone. These observations demonstrate the comparable efficacy of BCG and WAg520 in a mouse model of bovine tuberculosis. However, priming with the DNA vaccine and boosting with an attenuated M. bovis vaccine enhanced IFN‐γ immune responses compared to vaccinating with an attenuated M. bovis vaccine alone, but did not increase protection against a virulent M. bovis infection.
Widespread inosine‐containing mRNA in lymphocytes regulated by ADAR1 in response to inflammation
Authors: Yang Jing‐Hua , Luo Xiaoxing , Nie Yongzhan , Su Yingjun , Zhao Qingchuan , Kabir Koroush , Zhang Dexin , Rabinovici Reuven 
Published: December 2004

SummaryAdenosine‐to‐inosine (A‐to‐I) RNA editing is a post‐transcriptional modification of pre‐mRNA catalysed by an RNA‐specific adenosine deaminase (ADAR). A‐to‐I RNA editing has been previously reported in the pre‐mRNAs of brain glutamate and serotonin receptors and in lung tissue during inflammation. Here we report that systemic inflammation markedly induces inosine‐containing mRNA to approximately 5% of adenosine in total mRNA. Induction was the result of up‐regulation of A‐to‐I RNA editing as both dsRNA editing activity and ADAR1 expression were increased in the spleen, thymus and peripheral lymphocytes from endotoxin‐treated mice. Up‐regulation of ADAR1 was confirmed in vitro in T lymphocytes and macrophages stimulated with a variety of inflammatory mediators including tumour necrosis factor‐α and interferon‐γ. A late induction of RNA editing was detected in concanavalin A‐activated splenocytes stimulated with interleukin‐2 in vitro. Taken together, these data suggest that a large number of inosine‐containing mRNAs are produced during acute inflammation via up‐regulation of ADAR1‐mediated RNA editing. These events may affect the inflammatory and immune response through modulation of protein production.
Divergence of contact hypersensitivity in vivo compared with hapten‐specific lymphocyte proliferation and interferon‐γ production in vitro following ultraviolet B irradiation: the possibility that UVB does not affect the sensitizing phase of contact hypersensitivity
Authors: Suzuki Kayano , Kanamori Sachio , Takada Kaori , Kawana Seiji 
Published: December 2004

SummaryA hapten‐specific lymphocyte proliferation assay, which measures the in vitro stimulation of DNA synthesis (as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation), was used to determine systemic immunization induced by an epicutaneously applied hapten in addition to the more commonly used method which measures ear (or footpad) swelling. 2,4‐Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was painted on the shaved backs of C57BL/6 mice for two consecutive days after ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation (at 1000 J/m2), and DNFB‐sensitized lymph node cells (LNC) were obtained from the regional lymph nodes 4 days later. Although the ear swelling response (ESR) was suppressed by UVB radiation, as previously reported, analysis of LNC culture supernatants showed that the production of interferon‐γ, a Tc1‐type cytokine, was not inhibited by the UVB irradiation. In addition, contact dermatitis was induced (at levels similar to those of non‐irradiated mice) by painting DNFB on the abdomen as a secondary response. We then examined the effect of UVB exposure alone on the ESR by injecting a mast cell degranulator, compound 48/80, 7 days after irradiation. Both the ESR and the percentage of degranulated mast cells were significantly reduced in UVB‐irradiated mice. These results demonstrate that UVB irradiation does not affect the sensitizing phase of contact hypersensitivity, but modulates the elicitation phase and reduces the ESR primarily by suppressing the degranulation of mast cells. Therefore, suppression of the ESR alone cannot always be considered as hapten‐specific immunotolerance.
The p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase regulates interleukin‐1β‐induced IL‐8 expression via an effect on the IL‐8 promoter in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Parhar Kuljit , Ray Andrew , Steinbrecher Urs , Nelson Colleen , Salh Baljinder 
Published: December 2004

SummarySeveral lines of evidence implicate the p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in the proinflammatory response to bacterial agents and cytokines. Equally, the transcription factor, nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, is recognized to be a critical determinant of the inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). However, the precise inter‐relationship between the activation of p38 MAPK and activation of the transcription factor NF‐κB in the intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) system, remains unknown. Here we show that interleukin (IL)‐1β activates all three MAPKs in Caco‐2 cells. The production of IL‐8 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP‐1) was attenuated by 50% when these cells were preincubated with the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB 203580. Further investigation of the NF‐κB signalling system revealed that the inhibitory effect was independent of the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, the binding partner of NF‐κB. This effect was also independent of the DNA binding of the p65 Rel A subunit, as well as transactivation, determined by an NF‐κB luciferase construct, using both SB 203580 and dominant–negative p38 MAPK. Evaluation of IL‐8 and MCP‐1 RNA messages by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) revealed that the inhibitory effect of SB 203580 was associated with a reduction in this parameter. Using an IL‐8–luciferase promoter construct, an effect of p38 upon its activation by both pharmacological and dominant–negative p38 construct co‐transfection was demonstrated. It is concluded that p38 MAPK influences the expression of chemokines in intestinal epithelial cells, through an effect upon the activation of the chemokine promoter, and does not directly involve the activation of the transcription factor NF‐κB.