bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
‘Controlled by food’– lived experiences of coeliac disease
Authors: Sverker A. , Hensing G. , Hallert C. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractAim  The aim of this study was to explore the dilemmas experienced by women and men in their everyday lives in relation to their coeliac disease, and to explore the qualities of these dilemmas in relation to specific situations and living conditions.Methods  We interviewed 43 informants, aged 20–40 years, using ‘The Critical Incident Technique’. Interviews focused on situations that gave rise to confusion or discomfort in relation to disease. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively.Results  We found 195 dilemmas, experienced in five arenas: food situation at work, during purchases, when travelling, in relation to meals at home and meals outside the home. Emotions, relationships and the management of daily life were the three main categories of dilemmas that emerged through the analysis. Specific emotions were experienced in relation to the disease, such as isolation, shame, fear of becoming contaminated by gluten and worries about being a bother. In the relationship with other persons the informants experienced a number of complicating dilemmas such as unwanted visibility, neglect, being forgotten, disclosure avoidance and risk taking. Dilemmas related to the management of daily life were restricted product choice, double work and constantly being on call.Conclusions  The lived experiences of coeliac disease were more varied and profound than expected. It is important to take psychological and social aspects into account in the treatment of patients with coeliac disease.
Obesity, dietary pattern and physical activity among children in a suburb with a high proportion of immigrants
Authors: Magnusson M. B. , Hulthén L. , Kjellgren K. I. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground  Obesity among children is a growing problem. Interventions should be planned to meet needs in different cultural settings. The objective of this study was to explore dietary patterns, physical activity and perceptions of relationships between life‐style and health among children in a suburb with low socio‐economic status and a high proportion of immigrants and refugees.Methods  All children (n = 114) in Grades 5 and 6, aged 11 to 12 years, at a local Swedish school were invited, 112 participated. Food and exercise habits and perceptions on health and body image were assessed by a validated questionnaire and an interview. Height and weight were measured and risk for passing BMI 25 and 30 kg/m2, respectively at the age of 18 was calculated.Results  Thirty‐one percent of the children were obese or overweight. Thirty‐four percent spent more than 3 h daily watching TV or using computer, a behaviour, which clustered with excess intake of sweet drinks and habitually skipping breakfast. Only about half of the children believed that their life‐style could affect their health. The results show that low socio‐economic status and migration are proxies for overweight and obesity.Conclusions  Obesity, unhealthy living and a low awareness of relations between life‐style and health call for action, for culturally sensitive prevention and treatment approaches.
Comparison of energy and protein intakes of older people consuming a texture modified diet with a normal hospital diet
Authors: Wright L. , Cotter D. , Hickson M. , Frost G. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground  There are very few studies looking at the energy and protein requirements of patients requiring texture modified diets. Dysphagia is the main indication for people to be recommended texture‐modified diets. Older people post‐stroke are the key group in the hospital setting who consume this type of diet. The diets can be of several consistencies ranging from pureed to soft textures.Objective  To compare the 24‐hour dietary intake of older people consuming a texture modified diet in a clinical setting to older people consuming a normal hospital diet.Method  Weighed food intakes and food record charts were used to quantify the patients’ intakes, which were compared to their individual requirements.Results  The oral intake of 55 patients was measured. Twenty‐five of the patients surveyed were eating a normal diet and acted as controls for 30 patients who were prescribed a texture‐modified diet. The results showed that the texture‐modified group had significantly lower intakes of energy (3877 versus 6115 kJ, P < 0.0001) and protein (40 versus 60 g, P < 0.003) compared to consumption of the normal diet. The energy and protein deficit from estimated requirements was significantly greater in the texture‐modified group (2549 versus 357 kJ, P < 0.0001; 6 versus 22 g, P = 0.013; respectively).Conclusion  These statistically significant results indicate that older people on texture‐modified diets have a lower intake of energy and protein than those consuming a normal hospital diet and it is likely that other nutrients will be inadequate. All patients on texture‐modified diets should be assessed by the dietitian for nutritional support. Evidence based strategies for improving overall nutrient intake should be identified.
The value of empathy in dietetic consultations. A pilot study to investigate its effect on satisfaction, autonomy and agreement
Authors: Goodchild C. E. , Skinner T. C. , Parkin T. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractForty individuals with diabetes and three dietitians completed a questionnaire concerning their consultation. Empathy was examined using the Empathic Communication Coding System (ECCS) (Bylund & Makoul, 2002). The more empathic the professionals’ response to emotional opportunities, the more satisfied patients were with their consultations (r = 0.41, d.f. = 15, P = 0.05). There was a nonsignificant trend that the more empathic opportunities that arise during a consultation, the higher the agreement between patient and dietitian on what was discussed (r = 0.28, P = 0.07). The data also suggest that patients reported more autonomy support when they created more empathic opportunities during their consultation (r = −0.29, P = 0.07). This preliminary study suggests that professionals’ responses to empathic opportunities may be a useful component of dietetic consultations.
Increasing daily fruit and vegetable consumption: what changes do cardiac patients make?
Authors: Jackson C. , Lawton R. , Jenkinson J. , Conner M. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground  Interventions targeting fruit and vegetable consumption report significant increases in consumption but do not detail how increases are achieved. This prospective study explored (i) the changes in daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption of cardiac patients participating in an intervention study and (ii) how participants made these changes.Methods  A total of 120 cardiac patients were asked to increase their daily fruit and vegetable consumption by two portions and to maintain this over 3 months. They were telephoned at 7‐, 28‐ and 90‐day follow‐up to record daily consumption using a dietary questionnaire; 94 participants completed all parts of the study.Results  Mean reported daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption increased by 1.07 (SD = 1.26) and 0.34 (SD = 0.96) portions, respectively, over 3 months. These increases were statistically significant (P < 0.001) and greatest for participants who reported eating low levels of fruit and vegetables at recruitment. Eating fresh fruit as a snack and at mealtimes were preferred choices for participants.Conclusions  Providing information and telephone follow‐up could be used by busy healthcare professionals instead of face‐to‐face contact. Interventions to increase total fruit and vegetable consumption could usefully focus on eating fruit. Interventions to increase vegetable consumption need further investigation.
Copper induction of carotenoid synthesis in the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: Moraleda‐Muñoz Aurelio , Pérez Juana , Fontes Marta , Murillo Francisco J. , Muñoz‐Dorado José 
Published: May 2005

SummaryCopper induces a red pigmentation in cells of the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus when they are incubated in the dark, at suboptimal growth conditions. The colouration results from the accumulation of carotenoids, as demonstrated by chemical analysis, and by the lack of a copper effect on M. xanthus mutants affected in known structural genes for carotenoid synthesis. None of several other metals or oxidative agents can mimic the copper effect on carotenoid synthesis. Until now, blue light was the only environmental agent known to induce carotenogenesis in M. xanthus. As happens for the blue light, copper activates the transcription of the structural genes for carotenoid synthesis through the transcriptional activation of the carQRS operon. This encodes the ECF sigma factor CarQ, directly or indirectly responsible for the activation of the structural genes, and the anti‐sigma factor CarR, which physically interacts with CarQ to blocks its action in the absence of external stimuli. All but one of the other regulatory elements known to participate in the induction of carotenoid synthesis by blue light are required for the response to copper. The exception is CarF, a protein required for the light‐mediated dismantling of the CarR–CarQ complex. In addition to carotenogenesis, copper induces other unknown cellular mechanisms that confer tolerance to the metal.
LmxPK4, a mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase homologue of Leishmania mexicana with a potential role in parasite differentiation
Authors: Kuhn Daniela , Wiese Martin 
Published: May 2005

SummaryMembers of the mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade are important for the establishment of a Leishmania mexicana infection and are involved in flagellar length control, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This  study  reports  the  cloning  and  characterization  of LmxPK4, a MAP kinase kinase homologue of L. mexicanadisplaying putative plant‐like regulatory phosphorylation sites. The recombinant protein has autophosphorylating activity and phosphorylates myelin basic protein. An LmxPK4 gene deletion mutant showed a proliferation defect after infection of macrophages and no or delayed lesion development in mice. Irrespective of the onset of lesion development parasites showed an early and homogeneous lesion development in re‐infection experiments. This is indicative for a compensation of the null mutant phenotype. Additionally, this phenotype could be reverted by reintroduction of the wild‐type gene into the deletion background. Mutants expressing loss‐of‐function or N‐terminally truncated versions of LmxPK4 retained the null mutant phenotype. LmxPK4 is stage‐specifically expressed in promastigotes and during differentiation to amastigotes, but is not detectable in amastigotes isolated from the mammalian host. Moreover, its in vitro kinase activity increases with temperature rise up to 40°C. Our results suggest that LmxPK4 is involved in the differentiation process and affects virulence of Leishmania mexicana.
Genetic, physiological and biochemical characterization of multiple methanol methyltransferase isozymes in Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A
Authors: Pritchett Matthew A. , Metcalf William W. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryBiochemical evidence suggests that methanol catabolism in Methanosarcina species requires the concerted effort of methanol:5‐hydroxybenzimidazolylcobamide methyltransferase (MtaB), a corrinoid‐containing methyl‐accepting protein (MtaC) and Co‐methyl‐5‐hydroxybenzimidazolylcobamide:2‐mercapto‐ethanesulphonic acid methyltransferase (MtaA). Here we show that Methanosarcina acetivorans possesses three operons encoding putative methanol‐specific MtaB and corrinoid proteins: mtaCB1, mtaCB2 and mtaCB3. Deletion mutants lacking the three operons, in all possible combinations, were constructed and characterized. Strains deleted for any two of the operons grew on methanol, whereas strains lacking all three did not. Therefore, each operon encodes a bona fide methanol‐utilizing MtaB/corrinoid protein pair. Most of the mutants were similar to the wild‐type strain, with the exception of the ΔmtaCB1 ΔmtaCB2 double mutant, which grew more slowly and had reduced cell yields on methanol medium. However, all mutants displayed significantly longer lag times when switching from growth on trimethylamine to growth on methanol. This indicates that all three operons are required for wild‐type growth on methanol and suggests that each operon has a distinct role in the metabolism of this substrate. The combined methanol:CoM methyltransferase activity of strains carrying only mtaCB1 was twofold higher than strains carrying only mtaCB2 and fourfold higher than strains carrying only mtaCB3. Interestingly, the presence of the mtaCB2 and mtaCB3 operons, in addition to the mtaCB1 operon, did not increase the overall methyltransferase activity, suggesting that these strains may be limited by MtaA availability. All deletion mutants were unaffected with respect to growth on trimethylamine and acetate corroborating biochemical evidence indicating that each methanogenic substrate has specific methyltransfer enzymes.
Reduced expression of antigenic proteins MPB70 and MPB83 in Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains due to a start codon mutation in sigK
Authors: Charlet Danielle , Mostowy Serge , Alexander David , Sit Louis , Wiker Harald G. , Behr Marcel A. 
Published: May 2005

Summary Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) strains are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous. Expression of the antigenic proteins MPB70 and MPB83 is known to vary considerably across BCG strains; however, the reason for this phenotypic difference has remained unknown. By immunoblot, we separated BCG into high‐ and low‐producing strains. By quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), we determined that transcription of the antigen‐encoding genes, mpb70 and mpb83, follows the same strain pattern with mRNA levels reduced over 50‐fold in low‐producing strains. Transcriptome comparison of the same BCG strains by DNA microarray revealed two gene regions consistently downregulated in low‐producing strains compared with high‐producing strains, one including mpb70 (Rv2875) and mpb83 (Rv2873) and a second that includes the predicted sigma factor, sigK. DNA sequence analysis revealed a point mutation in the start codon of sigK in all low‐producing BCG strains. Complementation of a low‐producing strain, BCG Pasteur, with wild‐type sigK fully restored MPB70 and MPB83 production. Microarray‐based analysis and confirmatory RT‐PCR of the complemented strains revealed an upregulation in gene transcription limited to the sigK and the mpb83/mpb70 gene regions. These data demonstrate that a mutation of sigK is responsible for decreased expression of MPB70 and MPB83 in low‐producing BCG strains and provide clues into the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SigK.
Regulation of purine biosynthesis by a eukaryotic‐type kinase in Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Rajagopal Lakshmi , Vo Anthony , Silvestroni Aurelio , Rubens C. E. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryGroup B streptococci (GBS) are the principal causal agents of human neonatal pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. We had previously described the existence of a eukaryotic‐type serine/threonine kinase (Stk1) and phosphatase (Stp1) in GBS that regulate growth and virulence of the pathogen. Our previous results also demonstrated that these enzymes reversibly phosphorylated an inorganic pyrophosphatase. To understand the role of these eukaryotic‐type enzymes on growth of GBS, we assessed the stk1‐mutants for auxotrophic requirements. In this report, we describe that in the absence of the kinase (Stk1), GBS are attenuated for de novo purine biosynthesis and are consequently growth arrested. During growth in media lacking purines, the intracellular G nucleotide pools (GTP, GDP and GMP) are significantly reduced in the Stk1‐deficient strains, while levels of A nucleotides (ATP, ADP and AMP) are marginally increased when compared with the isogenic wild‐type strain.  We  provide  evidence  that  the  reduced  pools of  G  nucleotides  result  from  altered  activity  of  the IMP utilizing enzymes, adenylosuccinate synthetase (PurA) and IMP dehydrogenase (GuaB) in these strains. We also demonstrate that Stk1 and Stp1 reversibly phosphorylate and consequently regulate PurA activity in GBS. Collectively, these data indicate the novel role of eukaryotic‐type kinases in regulation of metabolic processes such as purine biosynthesis.
MicroReview: Divided genomes: negotiating the cell cycle in prokaryotes with multiple chromosomes
Authors: Egan Elizabeth S. , Fogel Michael A. , Waldor Matthew K. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryHistorically, the prokaryotic genome was assumed to consist of a single circular replicon. However, as more microbial genome sequencing projects are completed, it is becoming clear that multipartite genomes comprised of more than one chromosome are not unusual among prokaryotes. Chromosomes are distinguished from plasmids by the presence of essential genes as well as characteristic cell cycle‐linked replication kinetics; unlike plasmids, chromosomes initiate replication once per cell cycle. The existence of multipartite prokaryotic genomes raises several questions regarding how multiple chromosomes are replicated and segregated during the cell cycle. These divided genomes also introduce questions regarding chromosome evolution and genome stability. In this review, we discuss these and other issues, with particular emphasis on the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae.
The CovR response regulator of group A streptococcus (GAS) acts directly to repress its own promoter
Authors: Gusa Asiya A. , Scott June R. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe CovR/S (CsrR/S) two component system is a global regulator of virulence gene expression in  the group A streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes). The response regulator, CovR, regulates about 15% of the genes of GAS, including its own operon. Using in vitro DNA binding assays with purified CovR protein, we found that CovR binds a DNA fragment including the covR promoter (Pcov). DNaseI footprint analyses showed that phosphorylation of CovR enhanced and extended the protected regions. The proposed CovR consensus binding sequence (ATTARA) was present at most, but not all protected regions. The effect of replacing the two thymine residues in the consensus binding sequence (CB) with guanine residues was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Most, but not all, CB mutations reduced binding of CovR in vitro. Using a transcriptional reporter introduced in single copy into the GAS chromosome, we found that mutations at each CB completely or partially relieved CovR‐mediated repression in vivo. This suggests that CovR regulation of Pcov is direct. Further support for this conclusion comes from use of an in vitro GAS transcription system in which CovR was sufficient to mediate repression of Pcov. This repression was enhanced by phosphorylation of the protein. In addition, we found that the CovR binding region overlapping the promoter was essential for wild type repression of Pcov both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that promoter occlusion is a primary mechanism of Pcov repression by CovR.
An altered‐specificity DNA‐binding mutant of Escherichia coliσ70 facilitates the analysis of σ70 function in vivo
Authors: Gregory Brian D. , Nickels Bryce E. , Darst Seth A. , Hochschild Ann 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe σ subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase is strictly required for promoter recognition. The primary (housekeeping) σ factor of Escherichia coli, σ70, is responsible for most of the gene expression in exponentially growing cells. The fact that σ70 is an essential protein has complicated efforts to genetically dissect the functions of σ70. To facilitate the analysis of σ70 function in vivo, we isolated an altered‐specificity DNA‐binding mutant of σ70, σ70 R584A, which preferentially recognizes a mutant promoter that is not efficiently recognized by wild‐type σ70. Exploiting this σ70 mutant as a genetic tool, we establish an in vivo assay for the inhibitory effect of the bacteriophage T4‐encoded anti‐σ factor AsiA on σ70‐dependent transcription. Our results demonstrate the utility of this altered‐specificity system for genetically dissecting σ70 and its interactions with transcription regulators.
MicroReview: Envelope stress responses and Gram‐negative bacterial pathogenesis
Authors: Raivio Tracy L. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe σE, Cpx and Bae envelope stress responses of Escherichia coli are involved in the maintenance, adaptation and protection of the bacterial envelope in response to a variety of stressors. Recent studies indicate that the Cpx and σE stress responses exist in many Gram‐negative bacterial pathogens. The envelope is of particular importance to these organisms because most virulence determinants reside in, or must transit through, this cellular compartment. The Cpx system has been implicated in expression of pili, type IV secretion systems and key virulence regulators, while the σE pathway has been shown to be critical for protection from oxidative stress and intracellular survival. Homologues of the σE– and Cpx‐regulated protease DegP are essential for full virulence in numerous pathogens, and, like σE, DegP appears to confer resistance to oxidative stress and intracellular survival capacity. Some pathogens contain multiple homologues of the Cpx‐regulated, disulphide bond catalyst DsbA protein, which has been demonstrated to play roles in the expression of secreted virulence determinants, type III secretion systems and pili. This review highlights recent studies that indicate roles for the σE, Cpx and Bae envelope stress responses in Gram‐negative bacterial pathogenesis.
Binding of PhoP to promoters of phosphate‐regulated genes in Streptomyces coelicolor: identification of PHO boxes
Authors: Sola‐Landa Alberto , Rodríguez‐García Antonio , Franco‐Domínguez Etelvina , Martín Juan F. 
Published: May 2005

SummaryThe control of phosphate‐regulated genes in Streptomyces coelicolor is mediated by the two‐component system PhoR–PhoP. When coupled to the reporter xylE gene the pstS, phoRP and phoU promoters were shown to be very sensitive to phosphate regulation. The transcription start points of the pstS, the phoRP and the phoU promoters were identified by primer extension. phoRP showed a leaderless transcript. The response‐regulator (DNA‐binding) PhoP protein was overexpressed and purified in Escherichia coli as a GST–PhoP fused protein. The DNA‐binding domain (DBD) of PhoP was also obtained in a similar manner. Both PhoP and its truncated DBD domain were found to bind with high affinity to an upstream region of the pstS and phoRP–phoU promoters close to the −35 sequence of each of these promoters. DNase I protection studies revealed a 29 bp protected stretch in the sense strand of the pstS promoter that includes two 11 bp direct repeat units. Footprinting of the bidirectional phoRP–phoU promoter region showed a 51 bp protected sequence that encompasses four direct repeat units, two of them with high similarity to the protected sequences in the pstS promoter. PHO boxes have been identified by alignment of the six direct repeat units found in those promoter regions. Each direct repeat unit adjusts to the consensus GG/TTCAYYYRG/CG.