bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Large earthquakes kill coral reefs at the north‐west Gulf of Aqaba
Authors: Shaked Y. , Agnon A. , Lazar B. , Marco S. , Avner U. , Stein M. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractDown‐faulting at the north‐west margins of the Gulf of Aqaba is inferred to have triggered a catastrophic sedimentary event at 2.3 ka that killed the Elat fringing coral reef. Whereas segments of the Holocene reef were perfectly fossilized and preserved beneath a veneer of siliciclastic sediments, other segments were abraded, settled by nomads, and later re‐submerged under 4 m of water. Repeated damage triggered by down‐throwing earthquakes degenerate the fringing reefs of the north‐west end of the gulf. Conversely, on the north‐eastern and southern parts of the gulf, where earthquakes uplift the margins, modern reefs are thriving, attached to uplifted fossil reef terraces. Therefore, coastal subsidence moderates the development of fringing coral reefs during the late Holocene sea‐level stand still.
Scaling laws between seismo‐electric/magnetic fields and earthquake magnitude
Authors: Takeuchi A. , Nagahama H. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe mechanisms generating the charges/potentials and abnormal electromagnetic radiation that accompany earthquakes have been discussed based on observational, theoretical and laboratory studies, in particular over the last few decades. We previously conducted stick‐slip tests using precut granite cores with a contact electrode on the sample side, and proposed that surface charges released from charge trapping centres on sheared asperities are a possible source of the above‐mentioned charges or potentials. Here we discuss seismo‐electric and magnetic fields formed by the surface charges, and derive their scaling laws with the earthquake magnitude at a distance. According to our model, detectability of these fields at a point on the ground surface depends strongly on wet/dry condition at a fault zone (sheared asperities).
The Effectiveness of Intervention Studies to Decrease Alcohol Use in College Undergraduate Students: An Integrative Analysis
Authors: Hunter Fager Judith , Mazurek Melnyk Bernadette 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT Aims: This analysis was performed to critique intervention studies targeted at decreasing alcohol use in college students for the purpose of (1) synthesizing the various types of interventions and outcomes used, (2) evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions, and (3) identifying the strengths and limitations of prior studies to make recommendations for evidence‐based clinical practice and future research. Methods: An exhaustive literature search was performed for experimental studies conducted in the past 10 years. Findings: Analysis using 15 identified studies indicated the following strengths: (1) use of random assignment in many of the studies, (2) use of theoretical frameworks to guide the interventions, (3) replication of previous studies, and (4) inclusion of outcome measures of alcohol use, quantity, and frequency. Limitations included: (1) small convenience samples; (2) use of multiple tools to elicit outcomes, making it difficult to compare results across studies; (3) lack of long‐term follow‐up to assess sustainability of the interventions; (4) use of only self‐report outcome measures, which rely on subject's recall memory; (5) lack of manipulation checks to assure that subjects actually processed the interventions; and (6) a paucity of stress and coping interventions. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Extensive research to address the problem of college alcohol use indicates that while education is an integral part of the approach for this problem, it is ineffective when used alone as an intervention strategy. However, some empirical support exists for the use of brief motivational interventions to reduce alcohol use and harm. A personalized approach addressing expectancies and normative use employing a motivational interviewing style may produce desired outcomes.In addition, theory‐based manualized approaches using stress and coping intervention strategies need to be developed and tested. In the design of future studies, careful attention also should be given to methodological issues such as sampling, measurement issues, and inclusion of more long‐term follow‐up measures.
Effectiveness of Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, or Moxifloxacin for Treatment of Experimental
Staphylococcus aureus
Keratitis
Authors: Dajcs Joseph J. , Thibodeaux Brett A. , Marquart Mary E. , Girgis Dalia O. , Traidej Mullika , O'Callaghan Richard J. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively compare, in a rabbit keratitis model, the levels of effectiveness of moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin for the treatment of
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates of diverse antibiotic susceptibilities. Rabbit eyes were intrastromally injected with approximately 100 CFU of methicillin-sensitive or methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MSSA or MRSA, respectively) organisms that were either sensitive or resistant to ofloxacin. One drop of moxifloxacin (0.5%), levofloxacin (0.5%), or ciprofloxacin (0.3%) was topically applied hourly from 4 to 9 (early) or 10 to 15 (late) h postinfection. At 1 h after cessation of therapy, the corneas were harvested, and the number of CFU per cornea was determined. For the ofloxacin-sensitive strains, early treatment of MSSA or MRSA with moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, or ciprofloxacin produced approximately a 5-log decrease in CFU per cornea relative to that in untreated eyes (
P
≤ 0.0001). For late therapy of ofloxacin-sensitive strains, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin produced approximately 5-, 4-, and 2- to 3-log reductions in CFU per cornea, respectively (
P
≤ 0.0001). Early treatment of the ofloxacin-resistant strains with either moxifloxacin or levofloxacin produced a ≥4-log or ≥3-log decrease, respectively, in the MSSA or MRSA strains (
P
≤ 0.0001), whereas ciprofloxacin treatment produced a 1-log decrease in CFU per cornea relative to that in untreated eyes (
P
= 0.1540). For late treatment of ofloxacin-resistant strains, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin failed to significantly reduce the number of CFU per cornea (
P
≥ 0.3627), whereas moxifloxacin produced a significant reduction in CFU per cornea of approximately 1 log (
P
≤ 0.0194). Therefore, for three of the four treatments tested, moxifloxacin demonstrated greater effectiveness than either levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin.
Candidate Topical Microbicides Bind Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein B and Prevent Viral Entry and Cell-to-Cell Spread
Authors: Cheshenko Natalia , Keller Marla J. , MasCasullo Veronica , Jarvis Gary A. , Cheng Hui , John Minnie , Li Jin-Hua , Hogarty Kathleen , Anderson Robert A. , Waller Donald P. , Zaneveld Lourens J. D. , Profy Albert T. , Klotman Mary E. , Herold Betsy C. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTTopical microbicides designed to prevent acquisition of sexually transmitted infections are urgently needed. Nonoxynol-9, the only commercially available spermicide, damages epithelium and may enhance human immunodeficiency virus transmission. The observation that herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human immunodeficiency virus bind heparan sulfate provided the rationale for the development of sulfated or sulfonated polymers as topical agents. Although several of the polymers have advanced to clinical trials, the spectrum and mechanism of anti-HSV activity and the effects on soluble mediators of inflammation have not been evaluated. The present studies address these gaps. The results indicate that PRO 2000, polystyrene sulfonate, cellulose sulfate, and polymethylenehydroquinone sulfonate inhibit HSV infection 10,000-fold and are active against clinical isolates, including an acyclovir-resistant variant. The compounds formed stable complexes with glycoprotein B and inhibit viral binding, entry, and cell-to-cell spread. The effects may be long lasting due to the high affinity and stability of the sulfated compound-virus complex, as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance studies. The candidate microbicides retained their antiviral activities in the presence of cervical secretions and over a broad pH range. There was little reduction in cell viability following repeated exposure of human endocervical cells to these compounds, although a reduction in secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor levels was observed. These studies support further development and rigorous evaluation of these candidate microbicides.
Tn
2009
, a Tn
916
-Like Element Containing
mef
(E) in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Del Grosso Maria , Scotto d'Abusco Anna , Iannelli Francesco , Pozzi Gianni , Pantosti Annalisa 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

The association between the macrolide efflux gene
mef
(E) and the
tet
(M) gene was studied in two clinical strains of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
that belonged to serotypes 19F and 6A, respectively, and that were resistant to both tetracycline and erythromycin. The
mef
(E)-carrying element mega (macrolide efflux genetic assembly; 5,511 bp) was found to be inserted into a Tn
916
-like genetic element present in the chromosomes of the two pneumococcal strains. In both strains, mega was integrated at the same site, an open reading frame identical to
orf6
of Tn
916
. The new composite element, Tn
2009
, was about 23.5 kb and, with the exception of the
tet
(M)-coding sequence, appeared to be identical in both strains. By sequencing of the junction fragments of Tn
2009
at the site of insertion into the chromosome, it was possible to show that (i) the insertion site was identical in the two clinical strains and (ii) the integration of Tn
2009
caused a 9.5 kb-deletion in the pneumococcal chromosome. It was not possible to detect the conjugal transfer of Tn
2009
to a recipient pneumococcal strain; however, transfer of the whole element by transformation was shown to occur. It is possible to hypothesize that Tn
2009
relies on transformation for its spread among clinical strains of
S. pneumoniae
.
Effects of Growth Phase and Extracellular Slime on Photodynamic Inactivation of Gram-Positive Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Gad Faten , Zahra Touqir , Hasan Tayyaba , Hamblin Michael R. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

The emergence of antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria has led to efforts to find alternative antimicrobial therapeutics to which bacteria will not be easily able to develop resistance. One of these may be the combination of nontoxic dyes (photosensitizers [PS]) and visible light, known as photodynamic therapy, and we have reported its use to treat localized infections in animal models. While it is known that gram-positive species are generally susceptible to photodynamic inactivation (PDI), the factors that govern variation in degrees of killing are unknown. We used isogenic pairs of wild-type and transposon mutants deficient in capsular polysaccharide and slime production generated from
Staphylococcus epidermidis
and
Staphylococcus aureus
to examine the effects of extracellular slime on susceptibility to PDI mediated by two cationic PS (a polylysine-chlorin

e6

conjugate, pL-c

e6

, and methylene blue [MB]) and an anionic molecule, free c

e6

, and subsequent exposure to 665-nm light at 0 to 40 J/cm
2
. Free c

e6

gave more killing of mutant strains than wild type, despite the latter taking up more PS. Log-phase cultures were killed more than stationary-phase cultures, and this correlated with increased uptake. The cationic pL-c

e6

and MB gave similar uptakes and killing despite a 50-fold difference in incubation concentration. Differences in susceptibility between strains and between growth phases observed with free c

e6

largely disappeared with the cationic compounds despite significant differences in uptake. These data suggest that slime production and stationary phase can be obstacles against PDI for gram-positive bacteria but that these obstacles can be overcome by using cationic PS.
Posaconazole Therapy of Disseminated Phaeohyphomycosis in a Murine Model
Authors: Graybill John R. , Najvar Laura K. , Johnson Elizabeth , Bocanegra Rosie , Loebenberg David 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACTImmunocompetent (nu/+) and athymic (nu/nu) BALB/c mice were infected intravenously withWangiella dermatitidisand treated with posaconazole. Posaconazole reduced the counts in tissues and prolonged survival. Of particular interest, posaconazole reduced the counts of this neurotropic pathogen in the brain.
IMP-1 and a Novel Metallo-β-Lactamase, VIM-6, in Fluorescent Pseudomonads Isolated in Singapore
Authors: Koh Tse Hsien , Wang Grace Chee Yeng , Sng Li-Hwei 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

Four carbapenem-resistant
Pseudomonas
spp. were isolated from patients in Singapore. One
Pseudomonas putida
isolate contained a
bla
IMP-1
identical to that first described in Japan. The sequence of a variant
bla
IMP-1
in
Pseudomonas fluorescens
contained four silent mutations compared with the original sequence. The remaining
P. putida
isolates contained
bla
VIM-6
, a novel VIM gene variant.
Local corticosteroid injection in iliotibial band friction syndrome in runners: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Gunter P , Schwellnus M P 
Published: May 2004

Objective:To establish whether a local injection of methylprednisolone acetate (40 mg) is effective in decreasing pain during running in runners with recent onset (less than two weeks) iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS).Methods:Eighteen runners with at least grade 2 ITBFS underwent baseline investigations including a treadmill running test during which pain was recorded on a visual analogue scale every minute. The runners were then randomly assigned to either the experimental (EXP; nine) or a placebo control (CON; nine) group. The EXP group was infiltrated in the area where the iliotibial band crosses the lateral femoral condyle with 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate mixed with a short acting local anaesthetic, and the CON group with short acting local anaesthetic only. The same laboratory based running test was repeated after seven and 14 days. The main measure of outcome was total pain during running (calculated as the area under the pain versus time graph for each running test).Results:There was a tendency (p  =  0.07) for a greater decrease in total pain (mean (SEM)) during the treadmill running in the EXP group than the CON group tests from day 0 (EXP  =  222 (71), CON  =  197 (31)) to day 7 (EXP  =  140 (87), CON  =  178 (76)), but there was a significant decrease in total pain during running (p  =  0.01) from day 7 (EXP  =  140 (87), CON  =  178 (76)) to day 14 (EXP  =  103 (89), CON  =  157 (109)) in the EXP group compared with the CON group.Conclusion:Local corticosteroid infiltration effectively decreases pain during running in the first two weeks of treatment in patients with recent onset ITBFS.
Role of Fomepizole in the Management of Ethylene Glycol Toxicity
Authors: Druteika Deon P. , Zed Peter J. , Ensom Mary H. H. 
Published: May 2004

Objective. To systematically review English‐language articles on fomepizole administration in patients with ethylene glycol poisoning.Data Sources. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents, and PubMed. Search terms were fomepizole, 4‐methylpyrazole, and ethylene glycol. The search was supplemented with a bibliographic review of all relevant articles.Study Selection. All published reports of fomepizole administration in patients with ethylene glycol poisoning were reviewed, irrespective of study design. We identified one clinical trial and subsequent pharmacokinetic study, one case series, and 13 case reports.Results. Fomepizole has been investigated in 70 patients in open, unblinded studies. Most patients received an intravenous loading dose, with subsequent variable maintenance doses every 12 hours until plasma ethylene glycol levels became undetectable. Additional hemodialysis treatment generally was administered when patients had renal insufficiency or ethylene glycol levels above 50 mg/dl. Many patients had detectable ethanol levels either because of coadministration or as a result of adjunctive treatment at a referring center. Poorer patient outcomes, such as death and renal insufficiency, were associated with later clinical presentation time after ingestion. At therapeutic fomepizole levels (> 8.6 mg/ml), the half‐life of ethylene glycol was prolonged to over 19 hours. Fomepizole appeared to be well tolerated by most patients.Conclusion. Fomepizole is an effective alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor that decreases production of ethylene glycol metabolites. Reduced mortality and morbidity are undetermined because of the small number of patients evaluated to date. Data on comparative efficacy of fomepizole versus ethanol and data on administration of fomepizole in children are limited.
Effect of Antibiotics on Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil Apoptosis
Authors: Healy Daniel P. , Silverman Paul A. , Neely Alice N. , Holder Ian Alan , Babcock George F. 
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To evaluate the effects of various antibiotics—direct and indirect as a result of bacterial killing—on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis.Design. In vitro analysis.Setting. Research laboratory.Intervention. Whole blood collected from healthy human subjects was incubated with and without Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.0 × 105 colony‐forming units [cfu]/ml) plus ceftazidime 50 μg/ml, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, trovafloxacin, tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, azithromycin (each 5 μg/ml), or lipopolysaccharide 10 μg/ml. After staining with fluorescein‐conjugated annexin V, red blood cells were lysed, and the remaining white blood cells were assessed by flow cytometry with gating on PMNs.Measurements and Main Results. In the absence of K. pneumoniae infection, antibiotic exposure directly decreased PMN apoptosis by 17.8% (range −25.0% to −13.9%, p=0.008) compared with untreated cells. In the presence of K. pneumoniae, all antibiotic treatments, even those with poor in vitro activity for the bacterial isolate, decreased PMN apoptosis by 26.2% (range ×38.0% to −17.8%, p>0.001) compared with untreated control cells and by 36.6% compared with untreated (no antibiotic) K. pneumoniae‐stimulated cells (range −46.2% to −28.0%, p>0.001).Conclusions. All tested antibiotics in clinically relevant concentrations resulted in modest yet consistent decreases in PMN apoptosis. The magnitude of this change increased slightly in the presence of K. pneumoniae infection. In vivo studies are needed to determine whether antibiotic‐associated prolongation of PMN survival improves host response to infection.
In Vitro Performance Characteristics of Valved Holding Chamber and Spacer Devices with a Fluticasone Metered‐Dose Inhaler
Authors: Asmus Michael J. , Liang Judy , Coowanitwong Intira , Hochhaus Günther 
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To compare the in vitro aerosol deposition characteristics of several commercially available valved holding chamber (VHC) and spacer devices used with a fluticasone metered‐dose inhaler (MDI).Design. In vitro aerosol deposition study.Setting. University‐affiliated research center.Devices. Seven VHC devices: BreatheRite, E‐Z Spacer, EasiVent, AeroChamber, InspirEase, OptiChamber, and Space Chamber. Six spacer devices: OptiHaler, Aerosol Cloud Enhancer (ACE), Gentle‐Haler, MediSpacer, Ellipse, and a 6‐inch tube (1‐inch inside diameter).Intervention. The respirable dose (aerosol particles 1–5 μm) of fluticasone was determined by sampling 10 220‐μg actuations from five runs with each spacer or VHC plus MDI combination, by using a well‐established in vitro cascade impactor method.Measurements and Main Results. Fluticasone aerosol was washed from the impactor with methanol and quantified by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography. Differences among outcomes were determined with analysis‐of‐variance testing. Among spacers, Ellipse had the highest respirable dose (104 μg, p<0.01). Respirable doses for the 6‐inch tube (74.3 μg), Gentle‐Haler (81.7 μg), and MediSpacer (82.6 μg) were no different from that of the MDI (p>0.05), whereas respirable doses of OptiHaler (44.6 μg) and ACE (47.2 μg) were less than those of all other spacers (p<0.001). Among VHC devices, respirable doses from EasiVent (35.6 μg), AeroChamber (47.0 μg), InspirEase (52.7 μg), OptiChamber (53.1 μg), and Space Chamber (58.3 μg) were not different (p>0.05), whereas BreatheRite (13.1 μg) and E‐Z Spacer (27.3 μg) respirable doses were less than those of the other VHC devices (p<0.05).Conclusion. Spacers and VHC devices available in the United States do not demonstrate equivalent in vitro performance with the fluticasone MDI. The difference between highest and lowest respirable doses in each device category would likely lead to clinically relevant differences in the quantity of fluticasone delivered to a patient.
Blood Pressure Control and Factors Predicting Control in a Treatment‐Compliant Male Veteran Population
Authors: Bizien Marcel D. , Jue Sandra G. , Panning Chad , Cusack Barry , Peterson Teri 
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To estimate blood pressure control and identify treatment variables predicting control in treatment‐compliant, hypertensive, male veterans.Setting. Outpatient clinic of a Veterans Affairs medical center.Design. Retrospective review of computerized patient records over a 12‐month period for demographics, comorbidities, patient‐specific blood pressure goals, blood pressure history, antihypertensive therapy, and refill history.Patients. Two hundred fifty hypertensive men aged 39–90 years whose antihypertensive regimen remained unchanged over 12 months.Measurements and Main Results. The proportion of patients with blood pressures below 160/90 mm Hg was 86%; only 34.8% had pressures below 140/90 mm Hg. Blood pressure control was less common with advancing age (42.1%, 33.7%, and 29.4% for patients aged < 60, 60–75, and > 75 yrs, respectively, p=0.057 for trend). Treatment intensity was highest in obese men, those aged 60–75 years, and those with a history of chronic heart failure or angina, and lowest in men older than 75 years or with a history of stroke. Blood pressure control was independently associated with therapy with β‐blockers (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5–10.2, p=0.005), loop diuretics (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.6–12.1, p=0.005), angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2–8.2, p=0.025), and long‐term simvastatin therapy (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.9–7.4, p=0.0001), and with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.35–7.69, p=0.009). The relationship between simvastatin therapy and blood pressure control persisted after controlling for the higher treatment intensity in patients taking the drug. Factors predicting poor control included a history of stroke (OR for control 0.36, 95% CI 0.19–0.69, p=0.002), age over 75 years (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.18–0.98, p=0.046), highest low‐density lipoprotein tertile (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.80, p=0.013), highest body mass index tertile (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21–1.00, p=0.05), and therapy with two or fewer antihypertensives (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04–0.61, p=0.009).Conclusion. In a compliant veteran population, control of blood pressure appeared inadequate but was significantly more likely in those receiving at least three antihypertensive agents. Long‐term therapy with simvastatin was independently associated with increased odds of control.