bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Co‐Infection of Human Metapneumovirus with Adenovirus or Respiratory Syncytial Virus among Children in Japan
Authors: Kaida Atsushi , Kubo Hideyuki , Goto Kaoru , Shiomi Masashi , Kohdera Urara , Iritani Nobuhiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractHuman metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the etiological agents of acute respiratory tract infections. From June 2005 to May 2006, we collected 185 clinical specimens from children in Osaka City, Japan, and detected 41 hMPV RNA. Of the 41 specimens, four (9.8%) also contained other viruses (3 with adenovirus [AdV] and 1 with respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]). The clinical symptoms of patients co‐infected with AdV were indistinct from those of patients mono‐infected with hMPV. The symptoms of the one patient co‐infected with RSV were clinically severe. Further research is needed to clarify the effect of hMPV on other respiratory viruses or vice versa.
Microbiological and Immunological Features of Oral Candidiasis
Authors: de Oliveira Marcos André M. , Carvalho Lucas P. , de S. Gomes Marcele , Bacellar Olívia , Barros Tania F. , Carvalho Edgar M. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractCandida albicans (C. albicans) is the major infectious agent of oral candidiasis, and both innate immunity and cell‐mediated immune response participate in the control of the fungal infections. The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical forms of oral candidiasis with the number of colony forming units (CFU) of C. albicans in saliva and to characterize T cell response in patients with oral candidiasis. Participants included 75 subjects: 36 with lesions of candidiasis and 39 without lesions of oral candidiasis. A 2‐ml sample of saliva was collected from all subjects for microbiological analysis. Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA in supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 25 patients with oral candidiasis, after in vitro stimulation with C. albicans antigens. In 48% of patients, no association was observed with denture use. C. albicans was detected in the saliva of 91.7% of patients with oral candidiasis, and there was an association between the number of CFU and the presence of oral lesions. A type Th1 immune response was observed in supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with C. albicans antigens. In contrast, IL‐5 and IL‐10 levels were very low or undetectable. Together, this study shows an association between clinical forms of oral candidiasis and the number of colonies of C. albicans in saliva, and that a systemic immune response characterized by the production of TNF‐α and IFN‐γ is observed in patients with oral candidiasis.
Identification and Characterization of a Dextranase Gene of Streptococcus criceti
Authors: Tamura Haruki , Yamada Arisa , Kato Hirohisa 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe dextranase gene, dex, was identified in Streptococcus criceti strain E49 by degenerate PCR and sequenced completely by the gene‐walking method. A sequence of 3,960 nucleotides was determined. The dex gene encodes a 1,200‐amino acid protein, which has a calculated molecular mass of 128,129.91 and pI of 4.15 and is predicted to be a cell‐surface protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of dex showed homology to S. downei dextranase (63.9% identity). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the similarity of the deduced amino acid sequence of dextranases in S. criceti, S. sobrinus, and S. downei. A recombinant form of the protein with six histidine residues tagged in the C‐terminus was partially purified and showed dextranase activity on blue‐dextran sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BD‐SDS‐PAGE) followed by renaturation. We also detected dextranase activity in S. criceti cell extracts and culture supernatant by renatured BD‐SDS‐PAGE, whereas no dextranase activity of the cells was observed on blue‐dextran brain heart infusion (BD‐BHI) agar plates. Furthermore, PCR‐based mutations of dextranase indicated that a deletion mutant of the C‐terminal region could hydrolyze blue dextrans and that the D453E mutation, W793L mutation, and double mutations (W793L and deletion of the C‐terminal region) resulted in a loss of dextranase activity. These findings suggest that Asp‐453 and Trp‐793 residues of S. criceti dextranase are critical to the enzyme's activity.
Differential Effect of Listeria monocytogenes Infection on Cytokine Production and Cytotoxicity of CD8 T Cells
Authors: Maruyama Saho , Shen Hua , Kanoh Makoto , Matsumoto Akira , Asano Yoshihiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBacterial infection induces a shift to type 1 CD4 T cell subset in an infected host and this shift is important for protection of the host from disease development. Many researchers think that the shift is antigen‐dependent, but we previously demonstrated an initial induction step for CD4 T cell subsets during Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection is antigen‐independent. Although Listeria is a TLR2 ligand, the immune system of the Lm‐infected host responded to the pathogen to induce expression of CD69 but not CD25 on CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and B cells even in the absence of TLR2 or MyD88. The antigen‐independent activation of type 1 CD4 T cells accelerate the clearance of pathogens by activating innate immune cells with type 1 cytokines. Type 1 CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells also collaborate to protect the host from intracellular Lm infection. Since CD8 T cells function mainly as cytotoxic T cells and CD69‐positive CD8 T cells increase during Lm‐infection, cytotoxic activity of CD8 T cells was evaluated during Lm‐infection. Although CD8 T cells were activated to produce IFN‐γ, the cytotoxic function of CD8 T cells in Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) p14 TCR‐transgenic mouse was not augmented by Lm‐infection. Therefore, Lm‐infection differentially influences on cytokine production and cytotoxicity of CD8 T cells.
Evaluation of a Cytolethal Distending Toxin (cdt) Gene‐Based Species‐Specific Multiplex PCR Assay for the Identification of Campylobacter Strains Isolated from Poultry in Thailand
Authors: Samosornsuk Worada , Asakura Masahiro , Yoshida Emi , Taguchi Takashi , Nishimura Kazuhiko , Eampokalap Boonchuay , Phongsisay Vongsavanh , Chaicumpa Wanpen , Yamasaki Shinji 
Published: November 2013

AbstractWe have recently developed a cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) gene‐based species‐specific multiplex PCR assay for identifying Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. fetus. In the present study, the applicability of this assay was evaluated with 34 Campylobacter‐like organisms isolated from poultry in Thailand for species identification and was compared with other assays including API Campy, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and hippuricase (hipO) gene detection. Of the 34 strains analyzed, 20, 10 and 1 were identified as C. jejuni, C. coli, and Arcobacter cryaerophilus, respectively, and 3 could not be identified by API Campy. However, 16S rRNA gene analysis, showed that all 34 strains are C. jejuni/coli. To discriminate between these 2 species, the hipO gene, which is specifically present in C. jejuni, was examined by PCR and was detected in 20 strains, which were identified as C. jejuni by API Campy but not in the remaining 14 strains. Collective results indicated that 20 strains were C. jejuni whereas the 14 strains were C. coli. When the cdt gene‐based multiplex PCR was employed, however, 19, 20 and 19 strains were identified as C. jejuni while 13, 14 and 13 were identified as C. coli by the cdtA, cdtB and cdtC gene‐based multiplex PCR, respectively. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis revealed that C. jejuni and C. coli strains analyzed are genetically diverse. Taken together, these data suggest that the cdt gene‐based multiplex PCR, particularly cdtB gene‐based multiplex PCR, is a simple, rapid and reliable method for identifying the species of Campylobacter strains.
Study of the Effect of Vaccination on Periodic Structures of Measles Epidemics in Japan
Authors: Sumi Ayako , Kamo Ken‐ichi , Ohtomo Norio , Kobayashi Nobumichi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of vaccination on periodic structures of measles epidemics in Japan. We carried out spectral analysis for time series data of measles notifications collected in Japan. It was confirmed that the interepidemic period, which corresponds to the interval between major epidemics of measles, increases as the vaccination ratio increases. This result was supported by a theory based on a mathematical model for epidemics of infectious diseases. It was suggested that the interepidemic period is useful to estimate the effect of vaccination on measles incidences quantitatively.
Pattern of Macrophage Activation in Yersinia‐Resistant and Yersinia‐Susceptible Strains of Mice
Authors: Tumitan Ana Rita Paladino , Monnazzi Luis Gustavo Silva , Ghiraldi Fabrício Rodrigues , Cilli Eduardo Maffud , de Medeiros Beatriz Maria Machado 
Published: November 2013

AbstractTh1 cells, in cooperation with activated macrophages, are required to overcome Yersinia enterocolitica infection in mice. The pathway macrophages utilize to metabolize arginine can alter the outcome of inflammation in different ways. The objective of this study was to verify the pattern of macrophages activation in Y. enterocolitica infection of BALB/c (Yersinia‐susceptible) and C57BL/6 (Yersinia‐resistant) mice. Both strains of mice were infected with Y. enterocolitica O:8 WA 2707. Peritoneal macrophages and spleen cells were obtained on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day post‐infection. The iNOS and the arginase activities were assayed in supernatants of macrophage cultures, by measuring their NO/citrulline and ornithine products, respectively. TGFP‐1 production was also assayed. The Th1 and Th2 responses were evaluated in supernatants of lymphocyte cultures, by IFN‐γ and IL‐4 production. Our results showed that in the early phase of Y. enterocolitica infection (1st and 3rd day), the macrophages from C57BL/6 mice produced higher levels of NO/citrulline and lower levels of ornithine than macrophages from BALB/c mice. The infection with Y. enterocolitica leads to an increase in the TGF‐β1 and IL‐4 production by BALB/c mice and to an increase in the IFN‐γ levels produced by C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that Y. enterocolitica infection leads to the modulation of M1 macrophages in C57Bl/6 mice, and M2 macrophages in BALB/c mice. The predominant macrophage population (M1 or M2) at the 1st and 3rd day of infection thus seems to be important in determining Y. enterocolitica susceptibility or resistance.
Caspase‐Independent Cell Death by Fas Ligation in Human Thymus‐Derived T Cell Line, HPB‐ALL Cells
Authors: Nakayama Junichi , Ohtsuki Masahiko , Oda Tomiichiro 
Published: November 2013

AbstractIn HPB‐ALL cells, a human thymus‐derived T‐cell line, Fas (CD95)‐mediated cell death was inhibited by about only 50% as a result of treatment with an amount of benzyloxycarbonyl‐Val‐Ala‐Asp‐(O‐methyl)‐CH2F (zVAD‐fmk) sufficient to block the caspase activity. Fas‐mediated caspase‐independent cell death was not observed in other lymphoblast cell lines or mouse activated splenocytes, but this type of cell death was observed in mouse and rat thymocytes, the same as for HPB‐ALL cells. This suggests that Fas‐mediated caspase‐independent cell death is a common feature in thymocytes. The signaling pathway of caspase‐independent cell death has not yet been fully elucidated. In HPB‐ALL cells, DNA fragmentation, one of the features of apoptotic cells, did not occur in the caspase‐independent cell death after Fas ligation. On the other hand, this type of cell death and the surface exposure of phosphatidylserine were recovered by pretreatment with geldanamycin, which brought about a decrease in receptor interacting protein (RIP) kinase expression. These results suggested that HPB‐ALL cells have a caspase‐independent RIP kinase‐dependent pathway for Fas ligation.
Production of Cross‐Reactive Peptide Antibodies against Viral Capsid Proteins of Human Enterovirus B to Apply Diagnostic Reagent
Authors: Jeong Soo‐Young , Ahn Jeonghyun , Cho Young‐Joo , Kim Yeun‐Jung , Kim Dae‐Sun , Jee Youngmee , Lee Heuiran , Nam Jae‐Hwan 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe coxsackievirus group B (CVB) of the genus Enterovirus and the species human enterovirus B is a nonenveloped virus containing a single‐stranded positive‐sense RNA genome. Coxsackievirus has icosahedral symmetry and four capsid proteins, VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4. Specific antibodies against each viral protein are prerequisites for various studies. In this study, we developed seven peptide‐derived antibodies directed against coxsackievirus VP1 (NO1‐NO5), VP2 (B3), and VP3 (GL3). We developed a type‐specific antibody (NO1) and broadly cross‐reactive antibodies (NO3 and NO5) to VP1. Anti‐VP2 and anti‐VP3 antibodies (B3 and GL3, respectively) are also cross‐reactive to human enterovirus B such as CVB and echoviruses. Their sensitivities and reactivities are likely to be better than those of the commercial VP1 monoclonal antibody (MAb). The dot‐blot analysis also showed that NO5 against VP1 is able to detect less than 1 μg [2× 106 plaque‐forming unit (pfu) of CVB3] of viruses, suggesting that it could be used to develop a diagnostic kit that can directly detect human enterovirus B. The antibodies produced here may allow us to undertake several studies, such as those involving viral trafficking, expression kinetics, and the roles of viral proteins in infection, and the development of diagnostic kits.
Dectin‐1 Is Not Required for the Host Defense to Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Nakamura Kiwamu , Kinjo Takeshi , Saijo Shinobu , Miyazato Akiko , Adachi Yoshiyuki , Ohno Naohito , Fujita Jiro , Kaku Mitsuo , Iwakura Yoichiro , Kawakami Kazuyoshi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDectin‐1 is known as a sole receptor for β‐glucan, a major cell wall component of fungal microorganisms. In the current study, we examined the role of this molecule in the host defense to Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen in AIDS patients. There was no significant difference in the clinical course and cytokine production between dectin‐1 gene‐deficient and control mice. These results indicate that dectin‐1 is not likely essential for the development of host protective responses to C. neoformans.
A Potential Blood Test for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies by Detecting Carbohydrate‐Dependent Aggregates of PrPres‐Like Proteins in Scrapie‐Infected Hamster Plasma
Authors: Tsukui Kazuo , Takata Masuhiro , Tadokoro Kenji 
Published: November 2013

AbstractPrPres has rarely been detected in blood (except in leukocytes) even in diseased animal models that are known to contain a large amount of PrPres in infected tissues. It seems likely that PrPres detection in blood is difficult because of the low titer of infectious material within the blood. Here, we demonstrate the detection of proteinase K‐resistant 3F4‐reactive protein in the plasma of scrapie‐infected hamsters but not in the plasma of mock‐infected hamsters by partial purification using a novel method termed “acidic SDS precipitation,” in conjunction with a highly sensitive chemiluminescence detection system used to show the presence of PrP at a concentration equivalent to 1.4 ×10–9 g of brain homogenate or 1.5 × 10–12 g (6.5 ×10–17 mol) of rPrP by conventional Western blotting. The 3F4‐reactive proteins in scrapie‐infected hamster plasma often resulted in multiple Mw protein bands occurring at higher Mw positions than the position of the di‐glycosyl PrP molecule. Mixing scrapie‐infected hamster brain homogenate with mock‐infected hamster plasma resulted in the formation of similar Mw positions for multiple 3F4‐reactive proteins. Predigestion of carbohydrate side chains from the proteins in the plasma or brain homogenate before mixing resulted in failure to obtain these multiple 3F4‐reactive proteins. These observations indicate that PrPres aggregated with other proteins in the plasma through carbohydrate side chains and was successfully detected in the plasma of scrapie‐infected hamsters. Counterparts in these aggregates with PrPres‐like proteins in scHaPl are not known but any that exist should resist the PK digestion.
Reliable Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay Systems for Pathogenic Factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Alkaline Proteinase, Elastase, and Exotoxin A: A Comparison of Methods for Labeling Detection Antibodies with Horseradish Peroxidase
Authors: Shigematsu Takashi , Suda Nao , Okuda Kenji , Fukushima Jun 
Published: November 2013

AbstractSensitive sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems for the quantification of 3 pathogenic factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa—alkaline proteinase (aeruginolysin), elastase (pseudolysin), and exotoxin A—were developed. The maleimide‐pyridyl disulfide method was applied for the labeling of rabbit anti‐each antigen IgG with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the conjugates were used as secondary antibodies (detection antibodies) in the ELISA systems. The EDTA, a chelating agent, was added to the buffers for sample and detection antibody, which inhibited the degradation of IgG by elastase derived from P. aeruginosa for improving the assay precision. The ELISA systems using the HRP‐labeled detection antibodies produced by the maleimide‐pyridyl disulfide method exhibited higher sensitivity than previously reported methods. The detection limits for alkaline proteinase, elastase, and exotoxin A were 18 pg/ml, 34 pg/ml, and 22 pg/ml, respectively. The intra‐assay coefficients of variation for alkaline proteinase, elastase, and exotoxin A were 3.4%–5.0%, 1.9%–3.5%, and 1.3%–5.4%, respectively. These ELISA systems exhibited good inter‐assay precision, non‐cross‐reactivity, dilution linearity, and recovery. Employing these ELISA systems, we revealed that pathogenic factor concentrations were different among the P. aeruginosa strains tested, which may relate to the different pathogenicity of each strain.
Analysis of Risk Epitopes of Anti‐Neutrophil Antibody MPO‐ANCA in Vasculitis in Japanese Population
Authors: Suzuki Kazuo , Kobayashi Shigeto , Yamazaki Kazushige , Gondo Masaaki , Tomizawa Kazuo , Arimura Yoshihiro , Nakabayashi Kimimasa , Ozaki Shoichi , Yoshida Masaharu , Yoshida Toshiharu , Tsusaka Norimasa , Muso Eri , Okazaki Tomio , Hashimoto Hiroshi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAutoantibodies to myeloperoxidase (MPO) are a subset of anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA, MPO‐ANCA) detected in the sera of some patients with primary systemic vasculitis. The titer of MPO‐ANCA does not always reflect disease activity and this inconsistency may be attributable to differences in epitopic specificity by MPO‐ANCA among various patients with vasculitis. Epitope analysis may also explain the occurrence of MPO‐ANCA in different vasculitic syndromes. We screened the sera of 148 MPO‐ANCA positive patients from six vasculitic syndromes: rapidly progressive gromerulonephritis (RPGN), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis (I‐CrGN), classic polyangiitis nodosa (cPAN), Churg‐Strauss syndrome (CSS), Kawasaki disease (KD); and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The sera were collected by the Intractable Vasculitis Research Project Group in Japan. No serum showed epitopes La and Lb of light chain of MPO, and sera with 68.6% of patients showed a positive reaction to one or more epitopes in heavy chain of MPO. Analysis of binding level showed that RPGN, I‐CrGN and MPA sera mainly reacted to the Ha epitope at the N‐termimus of the MPO heavy chain, CSS sera reacted to Ha and the Hf epitope close to the C‐terminus of the MPO heavy chain, KD reacted mainly to Hf, while SLE and RA sera reacted to all epitopes. These results suggest that MPO‐ANCA recognizing specific regions of the N‐terminus of the MPO H‐chain confer an increased risk of vasculitis RPGN, I‐CrGN, MPA and CSS. Furthermore, the epitopic specificity of MPO‐ANCA differentiates vasculitic from non‐vasculitic syndromes associated with MPO‐ANCA positivity and differentiates in the cirtain type of vasculitis from various vasculitic syndromes. In particular, vasculitic syndromes associated with kidney involvement had similar epitopic reactivity which suggests that this pattern confers an increased risk of vasculitis.
Pain: A quality of care issue during patients' admission to hospital
Authors: Carr Eloise C.J. , Meredith Paul , Chumbley Gillian , Killen Roger , Prytherch David R. , Smith Gary B. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimTo determine the extent of clinically significant pain suffered by hospitalized patients during their stay and at discharge.BackgroundThe management of pain in hospitals continues to be problematic, despite long‐standing awareness of the problem and improvements, e.g. acute pain teams and patient‐controlled analgesia, epidural analgesia. Poorly managed pain, especially acute pain, often leads to adverse physical and psychological outcomes including persistent pain and disability. A systems approach may improve the management of pain in hospitals.DesignA descriptive cross‐sectional exploratory design.MethodA large electronic pain score database of vital signs and pain scores was interrogated between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2010 to establish the proportion of hospital inpatient stays with clinically significant pain during the hospital stay and at discharge.FindingsA total of 810,774 pain scores were analysed, representing 38,451 patient stays. Clinically significant pain was present in 38·4% of patient stays. Across surgical categories, 54·0% of emergency admissions experienced clinically significant pain, compared with 48·0% of elective admissions. Medical areas had a summary figure of 26·5%. For 30% patients, clinically significant pain was followed by a consecutive clinically significant pain score. Only 0·2% of pain assessments were made independently of vital signs.ConclusionReducing the risk of long‐term persistent pain should be seen as integral to improving patient safety and can be achieved by harnessing organizational pain management processes with quality improvement initiatives. The assessment of pain alongside vital signs should be reviewed. Setting quality targets for pain are essential for improving the patient's experience.
Dantrolene Suppresses Ventricular Ectopy and Arrhythmogenicity with Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Langendorff‐Perfused Pacing‐Induced Heart Failure Rabbit Model
Authors: CHOU CHUNG‐CHUAN , WEN MING‐SHIEN , LEE HUI‐LING , CHANG PO‐CHENG , WO HUNG‐TA , YEH SAN‐JOU , WU DELON 
Published: November 2013

Dantrolene in Failing Hearts with AMIIntroductionDantrolene prevents arrhythmogenic Ca2+ release during heart failure (HF). However, direct evidence to support its antiarrhythmic effects in failing hearts with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is lacking.Methods and ResultsHF was induced by right ventricular pacing (312 beats/min, 4 weeks) in 19 rabbits. AMI was induced by coronary artery ligation in rabbits surviving chronic pacing (n = 17). The hearts were quickly excised and Langendorff‐perfused for simultaneous membrane potential and intracellular Ca2+ (Cai) optical mapping when ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred or 4 hours after AMI. The VF inducibility was defined as the ability to provoke sustained VF (>2 minutes) by pacing. Dantrolene (10 μM) was administered after baseline studies. Spontaneous VF occurred in 5 rabbits (SVF group). The ventricular premature beat (VPB) burden was significantly higher in the SVF group than the non‐SVF group (P < 0.05). Dantrolene suppressed VPB burden (P = 0.03) and prolonged action potential duration (APD; P < 0.05) to reduce VF inducibility (P < 0.05). However, dantrolene shortened immediate postshock APD50 even if VF storm was suppressed.ConclusionIn failing hearts with AMI, VPB burden plays a pivotal role in SVF occurrence. Dantrolene suppresses VPBs and/or prolongs repolarization to inhibit spontaneous VF and reduce VF inducibility.