bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clearance of Human-Pathogenic Viruses from Sludge: Study of Four Stabilization Processes by Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR and Cell Culture
Authors: Monpoeho S. , Maul A. , Bonnin C. , Patria L. , Ranarijaona S. , Billaudel S. , Ferré V. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT
Sludges derived from wastewater treatment are foul-smelling, biologically unstable substances. As well as containing numerous pathogenic microorganisms, they also consist of organic matter that can be used as agricultural fertilizer. Legislation nevertheless requires sludges to be virologically tested prior to spreading by the counting of infectious enterovirus particles. This method, based on culture of enterovirus on BGM cells, is lengthy and not very sensitive. The aim of this study was to propose an alternative method of genome quantification for all enteroviruses that is applicable to verifying the elimination of viruses in complex samples such as sludges. Our complete protocol was compared to the official method, consisting of enterovirus enumeration with the most probable number of cythopathic unit (MPNCU) assay through the study of four stabilization procedures: liming, composting, heat treatment, and mesophile anaerobic digestion. Enterovirus quantities at the start of the stabilization procedures were between 37 and 288 MPNCU/g on the one scale and between 4 and 5 log genome copies/g on the other. It was shown that all procedures except mesophile anaerobic digestion were highly effective in the elimination of enterovirus particles and genomes in wastewater sludges. Reduction of viruses by mesophile anaerobic digestion was by only 1 log (infectious particles and genomes). In conclusion, stabilization processes can indeed be checked by virological quality control of sludges with gene amplification. However, the infectivity of genomes needs to be confirmed with cell culture or a correlation model if the virological risk inherent in the agricultural use of such sludges is to be fully addressed.
Competition between Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria and Benthic Microalgae
Authors: Risgaard-Petersen Nils , Nicolaisen Mette H. , Revsbech Niels Peter , Lomstein Bente Aa 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTThe abundance, activity, and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were studied in prepared microcosms with and without microphytobenthic activity. In the microcosm without alga activity, both AOB abundance, estimated by real-time PCR, and potential nitrification increased during the course of the experiment. AOB present in the oxic zone of these sediments were able to fully exploit their nitrification potential because NH4+did not limit growth. In contrast, AOB in the alga-colonized sediments reached less than 20% of their potential activity, suggesting starvation of cells. Starvation resulted in a decrease with time in the abundance of AOB as well as in nitrification potential. This decrease was correlated with an increase in alga biomass, suggesting competitive exclusion of AOB by microalgae. Induction of N limitation in the oxic zone of the alga-colonized sediments and O2limitation of the majority of AOB in darkness were major mechanisms by which microalgae suppressed the growth and survival of AOB. The competition pressure from the algae seemed to act on the entire population of AOB, as no differences were observed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis ofamoAfragments during the course of the experiment. Enumeration of bacteria based on 16S rRNA gene copies andd-amino acids suggested that the algae also affected other bacterial groups negatively. Our data indicate that direct competitive interaction takes place between algae and AOB and that benthic algae are superior competitors because they have higher N uptake rates and grow faster than AOB.
Lactococcal Plasmid pNP40 Encodes a Novel, Temperature-Sensitive Restriction-Modification System
Authors: O'Driscoll Jonathan , Glynn Frances , Cahalane Oonagh , O'Connell-Motherway Mary , Fitzgerald Gerald F. , van Sinderen Douwe 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

A novel restriction-modification system, designated LlaJI, was identified on pNP40, a naturally occurring 65-kb plasmid from
Lactococcus lactis
. The system comprises four adjacent similarly oriented genes that are predicted to encode two m
5
C methylases and two restriction endonucleases. The LlaJI system, when cloned into a low-copy-number vector, was shown to confer resistance against representatives of the three most common lactococcal phage species. This phage resistance phenotype was found to be strongly temperature dependent, being most effective at 19°C. A functional analysis confirmed that the predicted methylase-encoding genes,
llaJIM1
and
llaJIM2
, were both required to mediate complete methylation, while the assumed restriction enzymes, specified by
llaJIR1
and
llaJIR2
, were both necessary for the complete restriction phenotype. A Northern blot analysis revealed that the four LlaJI genes are part of a 6-kb operon and that the relative abundance of the LlaJI-specific mRNA in the cells does not appear to contribute to the observed temperature-sensitive profile. This was substantiated by use of a LlaJI promoter-
lacZ
fusion, which further revealed that the LlaJI operon appears to be subject to transcriptional regulation by an as yet unidentified element(s) encoded by pNP40.
Isolation and Characterization of a Rolling-Circle-Type Plasmid from
Rhodococcus erythropolis
and Application of the Plasmid to Multiple-Recombinant-Protein Expression
Authors: Nakashima Nobutaka , Tamura Tomohiro 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

We isolated, sequenced, and characterized the cryptic plasmid pRE8424 from
Rhodococcus erythropolis
DSM8424. Plasmid pRE8424 is a 5,987-bp circular plasmid; it carries six open reading frames and also contains
cis
-acting elements, specifically a single-stranded origin and a double-stranded origin, which are characteristic of rolling-circle-replication plasmids. Experiments with pRE8424 derivatives carrying a mutated single-stranded origin sequence showed that single-stranded DNA intermediates accumulated in the cells because of inefficient conversion from single-stranded DNA to double-stranded DNA. This result indicates that pRE8424 belongs to the pIJ101/pJV1 family of rolling-circle-replication plasmids. Expression vectors that are functional in several
Rhodococcus
species were constructed by use of the replication origin from pRE8424. We previously reported a cryptic plasmid, pRE2895, from
R. erythropolis
, which may replicate by a θ-type mechanism, like ColE2 plasmids. The new expression vectors originating from pRE8424 were compatible with those derived from pRE2895. Coexpression experiments with these compatible expression vectors indicated that the plasmids are suitable for the simultaneous expression of multiple recombinant proteins.
Implicating the Glutathione-Gated Potassium Efflux System as a Cause of Electrophile-Induced Activated Sludge Deflocculation
Authors: Bott Charles B. , Love Nancy G. 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACTThe glutathione-gated K+efflux (GGKE) system represents a protective microbial stress response that is activated by electrophilic or thiol-reactive stressors. It was hypothesized that efflux of cytoplasmic K+occurs in activated sludge communities in response to shock loads of industrially relevant electrophilic chemicals and results in significant deflocculation.Novosphingobium capsulatum, a bacterium consistent with others found in activated sludge treatment systems, responded to electrophilic thiol reactants with rapid efflux of up to 80% of its cytoplasmic K+pool. Furthermore,N. capsulatumand activated sludge cultures exhibited dynamic efflux-uptake-efflux responses very similar to those observed by others inEscherichia coliK-12 exposed to the electrophilic stressorsN-ethylmaleimide and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and the reducing agent dithiothreitol. Fluorescent LIVE/DEAD stains were used to show that cell lysis was not the cause of electrophile-induced K+efflux. Nigericin was used to artificially stimulate K+efflux fromN. capsulatumand activated sludge cultures as a comparison to electrophile-induced K+efflux and showed that cytoplasmic K+efflux by both means corresponded with activated sludge deflocculation. These results parallel those of previous studies with pure cultures in which GGKE was shown to cause cytoplasmic K+efflux and implicate the GGKE system as a probable causal mechanism for electrophile-induced, activated sludge deflocculation. Calculations support the notion that shock loads of electrophilic chemicals result in very high K+concentrations within the activated sludge floc structure, and these K+levels are comparable to that which caused deflocculation by external (nonphysiological) KCl addition.
Potential Role for Fish in Transmission of
Mycobacterium ulcerans
Disease (Buruli Ulcer): an Environmental Study
Authors: Eddyani Miriam , Ofori-Adjei David , Teugels Guy , De Weirdt David , Boakye Daniel , Meyers Wayne M. , Portaels Françoise 
Published: September 2004

ABSTRACT

This study reports a potential role that fish may play in the transmission of
Mycobacterium ulcerans
disease (Buruli ulcer). Fish found positive for
M. ulcerans
DNA all appear to feed on insects or plankton and are believed to concentrate
M. ulcerans
from this usual food source. These observations provide additional data supporting our previous hypothesis on sources of
M. ulcerans
and modes of transmission.
Syndromes with congenital brittle bones
Authors: Plotkin Horacio 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
There is no clear definition of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The most widely used classification of OI divides the disease in four types, although it has been suggested that there may be at least 12 forms of OI. These forms have been named with numbers, eponyms or descriptive names. Some of these syndromes can actually be considered congenital forms of brittle bones resembling OI (SROI).

Discussion
A review of different syndromes with congenital brittle bones published in the literature is presented. Syndromes are classified in "OI" (those secondary to mutations in the type I pro-collagen genes), and "syndromes resembling OI" (those secondary to mutations other that the type I pro-collagen genes, identified or not). A definition for OI is proposed as a syndrome of congenital brittle bones secondary to mutations in the genes codifying for pro-collagen genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2).

Summary
A debate about the definition of OI and a possible clinical and prognostic classification are warranted.
Wireless local area network in a prehospital environment
Authors: Chen Dongquan , Soong Seng-jaw , Grimes Gary J , Orthner Helmuth F 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) are considered the next generation of clinical data network. They open the possibility for capturing clinical data in a prehospital setting (e.g., a patient's home) using various devices, such as personal digital assistants, laptops, digital electrocardiogram (EKG) machines, and even cellular phones, and transmitting the captured data to a physician or hospital. The transmission rate is crucial to the applicability of the technology in the prehospital setting.

Methods
We created two separate WLANs to simulate a virtual local are network environment such as in a patient's home or an emergency room (ER). The effects of different methods of data transmission, number of clients, and roaming among different access points on the file transfer rate were determined.

Results
The present results suggest that it is feasible to transfer small files such as patient demographics and EKG data from the patient's home to the ER at a reasonable speed. Encryption, user control, and access control were implemented and results discussed.

Conclusions
Implementing a WLAN in a centrally managed and multiple-layer-controlled access control server is the key to ensuring its security and accessibility. Future studies should focus on product capacity, speed, compatibility, interoperability, and security management.
Role of Fine‐needle Aspiration Biopsy and Frozen Section in the Management of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Subtypes
Authors: Furlan Julio C. , Bedard Yvan C. , Rosen Irving B. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractSince fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was introduced, the value of frozen section (FS) has been questioned. This study compares FNAB and FS sensitivities among the usual form of papillary thyroid cancer (uPTC) and variants of PTC such as tall cell (tcPTC), follicular (fPTC), and Hurthle cell (HcPTC). A total of 257 patients who underwent preoperative FNAB, intraoperative FS, and thyroidectomy for PTC were randomly selected from a database of a university teaching hospital in Toronto. There were 218 females (84.8%) and 39 males (15.2%), from 19 to 89 years of age (mean of 44 years), having uPTC (n = 212), fPTC (n = 24), HcPTC (n = 14), and tcPTC (n = 7). Data were analyzed using χ2 test. Sensitivities were calculated by division of true positives and by the sum of true positives and false negatives. True positives had to reflect a conclusive diagnosis of cancer. The FNAB sensitivities were uPTC (39.2%), fPTC (25%), HcPTC (42.9%), tcPTC (85.7%), similar to FS sensitivities (p = 0.497) for uPTC (44.3%), fPTC (16.7%), HcPTC (42.9%), and tcPTC (71.4%). Use of FS following FNAB increased sensitivities for uPTC to 56.1%, fPTC to 29.2%, and tcPTC to 100%. In addition, FS did not increase FNAB sensitivity in HcPTC. Combination FNAB plus FS failed in 43.9% of uPTC, 70.8% of fPTC, and 57.1% of HcPTC. We concluded that FNAB and FS sensitivity vary with PTC subtype and are still necessary for selection and treatment. The recognition of morphologic subtypes of PTC from the FNAB could optimize the selection of patients for intraoperative FS, enhance the preoperative assessment of prognosis, facilitate the surgical planning, and simplify the preparation of postoperative adjuvant therapy.
Value of Fentanyl in Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Authors: Basu Sanjoy , Krishnamurthy Badri , Walsh Tim H. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractStudies have recorded significant patient discomfort during flexible sigmoidoscopy when it is performed without sedation/analgesia. This study observed whether a single dose of 50 mcg intravenous fentanyl reduces pain, improving compliance, acceptability, and completion rates. In a prospective study, 109 consecutive patients were offered the option of 50 mcg intravenous fentanyl or no analgesia. Patient’s pre‐procedure expectations, objective pain scores, and willingness to undergo a subsequent procedure using the same technique were recorded. Endoscopist recorded the success, complications, and objective pain scores for each patient. Of the 46 patients (42%) choosing fentanyl, 9 (20%) experienced moderate/severe pain as against 26(41%) of the 63 patients (58%) opting for no analgesia (p < 0.05). Further, 52% receiving fentanyl had a significantly better experience compared to their pre‐procedure expectations as against 33% who received no analgesia (p < 0.05). No patient receiving fentanyl expressed unwillingness to undergo the procedure again using the same technique, whereas 16 (25%) of those receiving no analgesia indicated they would not (p < 0.01). Endoscopists recorded moderate/severe pain in 13 patients (12%), whereas 35 patients (32%) recorded moderate/severe pain (p < 0.001). Analgesia for endoscopy should involve patient choice. However, a single dose of 50 mcg fentanyl reduced patient discomfort and improved satisfaction. It appeared safe and likely to improve patient compliance and acceptability for flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Chromogranin A, a Marker of the Therapeutic Success of Resection of Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases: Preliminary Report
Authors: Søndenaa Karl , Sen Jon , Heinle Frank , Fjetland Lars , Gudlaugsson Einar , Syversen Unni 
Published: September 2004

AbstractRecent publications indicate that life may be prolonged by surgical debulking of neuroendocrine tumors. A minimum 90% reduction of liver metastases has been suggested to alleviate symptoms of the carcinoid. We have used the tumor marker chromogranin A (CgA) to assess hepatic resection in patients with neuroendocrine metastatic tumor disease. Since 1998, seven patients (3 men) of median age 73 years (range 64–84 years) with carcinoid primary tumors in the ileum who had solitary (n = 2) or multiple (n = 5) liver metastases underwent hepatic resections. Two patients had synchronous small intestinal and liver resections; the rest had deferred hepatic resections after intestinal resection. Hormonal manifestations in the form of loose stools or diarrhea or flushing were observed in five patients, and five had abdominal symptoms from partial obstruction of the small bowel. The resection was deemed radical in five patients. Two patients with non‐radical resection needed postoperative octreotide treatment, and symptoms were alleviated or improved in the others. All seven patients are alive with an observation period from 6 to 64 months (median 36 months). Median CgA (normal < 30 ng/ml) was 292 ng/ml (range 79‐14,000 ng/ml) before liver surgery. Postoperatively, CgA became normal in three of the radically resected patients, whereas in two others, it decreased to a lowest median level of 79 ng/ml (range 52–105 ng/ml). In two palliatively resected patients, one had a near normalization to 65 ng/ml, and the last patient had a reduction from 14,000 to 2400 ng/ml following debulking surgery. A similar postoperative reduction was noted for 24 hr urinary 5‐HIAA excretion. Postoperative octreotide scintigraphy suggested residual hepatic or extrahepatic tumors in three of the patients thought radically resected, whereas two had no clear sign of disease corresponding to a normal CgA value. The CgA values, however, reflected the extent of positive scintigraphy findings. Serum CgA levels monitored the extent and short‐term course of the disease and corresponded well with scintigraphy findings and 5‐HIAA excretion, but prolonged follow‐up in more patients may be necessary before decisive conclusions are allowed to be drawn.
Surgical Management of Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia before and after Outreach Activities
Authors: Bin Yousef Hussam M. , Al Malik Osama , Kandil Alaa , Chaudhary Mohammed A. , Sorbris Ralph 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWe collected management information from the 1996 referral documents of 100 consecutive patients who came to us for continued treatment of breast cancer. Major deficiencies were noted with regard to clinical assessment, surgery, and pathology. Since 1997 we have intensified our personnel contacts with referring surgeons, and we have performed outreach visits. To measure the effect of our efforts, we repeated the same collection of information between March 2001 and March 2002. Correct performance of TNM (tumor, node metastasis) classification decreased from 36%–16%. The use of mammography increased from 29%–56%, application of fine needle aspiration (FNA) increased from 46%–70%, and use of core needle biopsy (CNB) increased from 0%–6%. The rate of performance of triple assessment (including correct performance of TNM) was 9% and is now 10%. The number of patients who had surgery before referral decreased from 84%–46%. A proper metastatic work‐up in the present study was performed in 10% of patients, and mammography was performed in 33% of the patients who had either modified radical mastectomy (MRM) or breast conserving therapy (BCT). Previously, 78 patients had 98 operations before referral and 75% of those needed additional surgery; now only 9 patients out of 39 who had incisional biopsy or lumpectomy needed further surgery. The median number of lymph nodes now is 10, whereas previously 42% of the axillary dissections yielded < 8 lymph nodes. Pathology reports mentioning both tumor size and surgical margins have increased from 29%–53%. These new data indicate that there is a need to join all hospitals in a national guidelines plan for the management of breast cancer.
Gasless Video‐assisted Total Thyroidectomy in the Treatment of Low Risk Intrathyroid Papillary Carcinoma
Authors: Chao Tzu‐Chieh , Lin Jen‐Der , Chen Miin‐Fu 
Published: September 2004

AbstractVideo‐assisted thyroidectomy, although an increasingly used method to treat benign thyroid nodules, is rarely used to treat thyroid cancer. We performed gasless video‐assisted total thyroidectomy for the treatment of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. The patients were two men and five women with ages ranging from 29 to 52 years (median 35 years). Tumor size ranged from 0.7 to 3.8 cm (median 1.8 cm). The remnants of functional thyroid tissues were ablated with 1110 MBq of 131I following total thyroidectomy. One year after radioiodine ablation uptake of 74 MBq 131I shown by scintigraphy ranged from 0.29% to 0.70% (median 0.57%), and the serum thyroglobulin level was less than 1 µg/L. No perioperative complications occurred. The follow‐up period ranged from 1 year 5 months to 3 years 7 months (median 2 years 10 months). In conclusion, gasless video‐assisted total thyroidectomy is a feasible means for treating relatively small, noninvasive, clinically solitary, differentiated thyroid carcinomas.
Effects of Preinjury Administration of Corticosteroids on Pseudointimal Hyperplasia and Cytokine Response in a Rat Model of Balloon Aortic Injury
Authors: Nagasaki Kazuhito , Matsumoto Kenji , Kaneda Munehisa , Shintani Tsunehiro , Shibutani Shintaro , Murayama Takaya , Wakabayashi Go , Shimazu Motohide , Mukai Makio , Kitajima Masaki 
Published: September 2004

AbstractRestenosis occurs in approximately one‐third of patients with coronary or peripheral vascular disease who undergo balloon angioplasty or a surgical bypass procedure primarily because of the development of pseudointimal hyperplasia (PIH). Corticosteroids were effective in suppressing PIH in several experimental studies, but no clinical studies have been reported. To resolve this discrepancy, we studied the effects of preinjury administration of several doses of methylprednisolone (MP) at targeted times in a rat model of balloon aortic injury. Rats were given either no treatment or an intravenous injection of MP (0.5, 5.0, 50, or 500 mg/kg) 2 hours before aortic injury. Four hours later interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) concentrations in serum and tissue of injured aortas were assessed. Two weeks after injury, damaged aortas were harvested and studied histopathologically. Compared with results in controls, MP at a dose of 5 mg/kg significantly inhibited increases in plasma and tissue levels of IL‐6 and significantly reduced the pseudointimal area, pseudointimal/medial area ratio, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen index in injured vessels. Administration of MP had no significant effect on the IL‐10 or MIF level. Thus in a rat model of balloon aortic injury, preinjury administration of MP 5 mg/kg mitigated the development of PIH and cell proliferation and suppressed the postinjury increase in serum and tissue IL‐6 concentrations. These results suggest that there is an appropriate dosage as well as appropriate timing for MP administration to suppress PIH.