bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of cardiac form and function in ectothermic sauropsids
Authors: Crossley Dane A. , Burggren Warren W. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractEvolutionary morphologists and physiologists have long recognized the phylogenetic significance of the ectothermic sauropsids. Sauropids have been classically considered to bridge between early tetrapods, ectotherms, and the evolution of endotherms. This transition has been associated with many modifications in cardiovascular form and function, which have changed dramatically during the course of vertebrate evolution. Most cardiovascular studies have focused upon adults, leaving the development of this critical system largely unexplored. In this essay, we attempt a synthesis of sauropsid cardiovascular development based on the limited literature and indicate fertile regions for future studies. Early morphological cardiovascular development, i.e., the basic formation of the tube heart and the major pulmonary and systemic vessels, is similar across tetrapods. Subsequent cardiac chamber development, however, varies considerably between developing chelonians, squamates, crocodilians, and birds, reflected in the diversity of adult ventricular structure across these taxa. The details of how these differences in morphology develop, including the molecular regulation of cardiac and vascular growth and differentiation, are still poorly understood. In terms of the functional maturation of the cardiovascular system, reflected in physiological mechanisms for regulating heart rate and cardiac output, recent work has illustrated that changes during ontogeny in parameters such as heart rate and arterial blood pressure are somewhat species‐dependent. However, there are commonalities, such as a β‐adrenergic receptor tone on the embryonic heart appearing prior to 60% of development. Differential gross morphological responses to environmental stressors (oxygen, hydration, temperature) have been investigated interspecifically, revealing that cardiac development is relatively plastic, especially, with respect to change in heart growth. Collectively, the data assembled here reflects the current limited morphological and physiological understanding of cardiovascular development in sauropsids and identifies key areas for future studies of this diverse vertebrate lineage. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modified electrophoretic and digestion conditions allow a simplified mass spectrometric evaluation of disulfide bonds
Authors: Pompach Petr , Man Petr , Kavan Daniel , Hofbauerová Kateřina , Kumar Vinay , Bezouška Karel , Havlíček Vladimír , Novák Petr 
Published: June 2009

AbstractProper formation of disulfide bonds in proteins is a prerequisite to their stability and function. Information on disulfide pattern may therefore serve as an indication of the proper folding of recombinant proteins, and can also be used in protein homology modeling for the purpose of structure refinement. Protein handling and digestion at basic pH leads to disulfide bond scrambling. That is why the samples are usually treated and digested at low pH where no scrambling occurs. Unfortunately, the specific proteases used in protein research are active at high pH values. Here, we present a complete sample handling protocol, which allows processing of disulfide containing proteins at basic pH. We modified the standard SDS gel electrophoresis and protein digestion conditions by the addition of an oxidative agent, cystamine. This modification prevented disulfide scrambling, which we otherwise observed in the samples handled according to the general protocol. Lysozyme from hen egg was used as a model protein for the development of the method. We then applied our protocol to human leukocyte antigen CD69, for which the disulfide bonding is known, but only for its monomeric form. In addition, the disulfide arrangement was then ‘de novo’ identified in the recombinant murine leukocyte receptor NKR‐P1A and in the larger glycosylated proteins β‐N‐acetylhexosaminidases fromAspergillus oryzaeandPenicillium oxalicum. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular detection of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and torque teno viruses in drug users in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alzahrani Alhusain J. , Cruz Damian M. Dela , Obeid Obeid E. , Bukhari Huda A. , Al‐Qahtani Ahmed A. , Al‐Ahdal Mohammed N. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractInjecting drug users are at increased risk of infection with hepatitis viruses and blood‐borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to examine HBV, HCV, HDV, and TTV infections in Saudi drug users (N = 344). Extraction of nucleic acid from serum, reverse‐transcription, amplification of viral nucleic acids, and HBV and HCV genotyping were done using established techniques. Of the analyzed samples, 41 (12%) contained detectable HBV DNA, 131 (38%) contained detectable HCV RNA, and 174 (51%) had detectable TTV DNA. The predominant HBV genotype was found to be genotype D and the predominant HCV genotype was found to be genotype 1b. All the samples were negative for HDV. Twelve samples (3.5%) were found to contain mixed HBV and HCV genomes, 24 samples (7%) were found to contain mixed HBV and TTV genomes, 82 samples (24%) were found to contain mixed HCV and TTV genomes, and 9 samples (2.6%) were found to contain mixed HBV, HCV, and TTV genomes. Identification of various infections in drug users will help the control of these infections in this group as well as in the community. J. Med. Virol. 81:1343–1347, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Low rate of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women screened for cervical HPV infection in Southern Italy: A cross‐sectional study of 140 immunocompetent subjects
Authors: Termine Nicoletta , Giovannelli Lucia , Matranga Domenica , Perino Antonio , Panzarella Vera , Ammatuna Pietro , D'Angelo Matteo , Campisi Giuseppina 
Published: June 2009

AbstractEven though the natural history of cervical and oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been investigated intensely, the possibility that HPV may infect both sites in the same subject is not well documented. This study investigated the frequency of concurrent oral and cervical HPV infection in southern Italian women, in the light of some selected socio‐behavioral variables. One hundred forty women (mean age: 36 years), with known cervical HPV status, were analyzed for oral HPV. Age, smoking/drinking habits, clinical and socio‐behavioral history were assessed by personal interviews. Oral mucosal cells were collected by oral brushing and HPV DNA was sought by the use of nested PCR amplification followed by direct DNA sequencing and the commercial assay INNOLiPA HPV Genotyping (Innogenetics N.V., Ghent, Belgium). The data were analyzed by using the chi‐square test and a logistic regression (logit) model (P < 0.05 statistically significant). Oral HPV infection was detected in 2/140 (1.4%) cases, being present in 2/76 (2.6%) women with cervical HPV infection and 0/64 uninfected women (P = 0.19). A lack of type‐specific concordance in the two patients with concurrent infection was observed. In the sample of population examined, HPV cervical infection does not seem to predispose to oral transmission, even in the presence of oral–genital sexual habits, thus suggesting the independence of infection at the two mucosal sites. J. Med. Virol. 81:1438–1443, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genomic mutations of viral protein 1 and BK virus nephropathy in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Boldorini Renzo , Allegrini Sara , Miglio Umberto , Paganotti Alessia , Veggiani Claudia , Mischitelli Monica , Monga Guido , Pietropaolo Valeria 
Published: June 2009

AbstractGenomic variability in the viral protein 1 region of BK polyomavirus (BKV) may change the ability of the virus to replicate. The significance of such changes was studied in clinical samples taken from kidney transplant patients with and without BKV nephropathy. A 94 base‐pair fragment of viral protein 1 was amplified from 68 urine, 28 blood, and 12 renal biopsy samples from eight patients with BKV nephropathy, and from 100 urine samples, 17 blood and three renal biopsy samples from 41 of 218 controls. The DNA was sequenced and the amino acid changes were predicted by the Expert Protein Analysis System program (ExPASy, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland). Single base‐pair mutations were detected more frequently in the samples from the BKV nephropathy patients than in the controls, and this was the only statistically significant finding of the study (P < 0.05), thus suggesting a greater genetic instability in BKV nephropathy associated strains. The amino acid changes were distributed at random in both BKV nephropathy patients and controls. However, one aspartic acid‐to‐asparagine substitution at residue 75 was detected in all samples of the one patient with BKV‐associated nephropathy, who developed disease progression confirmed by histology, and not in any of the other patient or control samples. Whether this specific amino acid change plays a role in disease deserves further study. J. Med. Virol. 81:1385–1393, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shared and persistent asymptomatic cutaneous human papillomavirus infections in healthy skin
Authors: Hsu J.Y.‐C. , Chen A.C.‐H. , Keleher A. , McMillan N.A.J. , Antonsson A. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractCutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) types are commonly found in normal skin, and some of them have been suspected to play a role in the development of non‐melanoma skin cancer. This present study is divided into three sections, the aims of this study were to examine if certain HPV‐types persist over time and if HPV‐types are shared within families. From the first part of the study, swab samples from foreheads were collected for three longitudinal studies from one family with a newborn baby. Five specific HPV‐types were isolated from the family with a newborn, with HPV‐5 and FA67 being found at various time points and prevalence rates in all four members of the family. Part 2 consisted of a followed up study from two families with a 6 years interval. Six of the family members were found to have at least one of the HPV‐types identified in the family 6 years earlier. Many of the HPV‐types identified were shared within the families studied. Part 3 of this study involved weekly samples from four healthy females for 4 months. Among the four healthy individuals, 11%, 65%, and 56% of the weekly samples were HPV‐DNA positive with one individual HPV‐negative. All specimens were tested for HPV‐DNA by PCR using the broad range HPV‐type primer pair FAP59/64. The positive samples were HPV‐type determined by cloning and sequencing. Specific cutaneous HPV‐types persist over long periods of time in healthy skin in most individuals investigated and certain HPVs are shared between family members. J. Med. Virol. 81:1444–1449, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influenza A virus in Taiwan, 1980–2006: Phylogenetic and antigenic characteristics of the hemagglutinin gene
Authors: Wang Sheng‐Fan , Lee Yuan‐Ming , Chan Yu‐Jiun , Liu Hsin‐Fu , Yen Yung‐Fong , Liu Wu‐Tse , Huang Jason C. , Chen Yi‐Ming Arthur 
Published: June 2009

AbstractLimited amount of information is available in Taiwan on the genetic or antigenic characteristics of influenza A virus prior to the establishment of a Taiwan surveillance network in 2000. Isolates of H1N1 and H3N2 viruses in Taiwan between 1980 and 2006 were studied, and part of the hemagglutinin gene was analyzed due to its importance in terms of viral infection and antibody neutralization. Results from a phylogenetic analysis indicate continuous evolutionary topology in H3N2 isolates, and two distinct H1N1 lineages. Many genetic relationships between vaccine strains and epidemic isolates appearing in Taiwan before other global locations were also observed and recorded in addition to a gradual increase in the number of N‐linked glycosylation sites on partial HA1 proteins since 1980. The results from pairwise comparisons of HA1 nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences indicate shared identities within groups organized according to their bootstrap and P‐values of approximately 95.5–100% and 95.7–100% in H1N1 and 94.5–100% and 93.2–100% in H3N2 viruses, respectively. Comparisons of amino acid substitutions in the five antigenic regions reveal highly non‐synonymous changes occurring in the Sb region of H1N1 and in the B region of H3N2. The results of an antigenic analysis using a hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) test indicate the presence of some epidemic strains 1–2 years earlier in Taiwan than in other parts of the world, as well as higher vaccine mismatch rates. This information supports the need for continuous surveillance of emerging influenza viruses in Taiwan, which will be useful for making global vaccine decisions. J. Med. Virol. 81:1457–1470, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel genotype of hepatitis E virus prevalent among farmed rabbits in China
Authors: Zhao Chenyan , Ma Zhongren , Harrison Tim J. , Feng Ruofei , Zhang Chuntao , Qiao Zilin , Fan Jinping , Ma Hongxia , Li Mingsheng , Song Aijing , Wang Youchun 
Published: June 2009

AbstractIn total, 335 serum samples were collected from rabbits from two farms in Gansu province, China, and tested for anti‐hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody using EIA and for HEV RNA using nested RT‐ PCR with ORF2 primers. The overall prevalence of anti‐HEV antibody and HEV RNA was 57.0% (191/335) and 7.5% (25/335), respectively. The positivity rate of HEV RNA in the anti‐HEV antibody negative group (7.6% (11/144)) did not differ significantly from that in the positive group (7.3% (14/191)). The concordance between HEV RNA and anti‐HEV antibody was 43.3% with no significant correlation (P < 0.05). All 25 amplicons from the ORF2 region were cloned and sequenced. On the basis of nucleotide sequence comparison, they had 84–99% identity to each other and 73–77%, 70–76%, 75–82%, 71–77%, and 53–65% with the corresponding regions of genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, and avian HEV, respectively. Samples that were positive with the ORF2 primers were amplified using ORF1 region primers; 17 were positive and shared 71–78%, 73–76%, 74–82%, 72–78%, and 39–58% identity with the corresponding regions of genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, and avian HEV, respectively, at the nucleotide level. Two representative full‐length sequences were determined. These two sequences shared 85% identity with each other and had 74%, 73%, 78–79%, 74–75%, and 46–47% identity to full‐length genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, and avian HEV, respectively. Thus, the sequences isolated from the rabbits represent a novel genotype of HEV. This study provides novel information about HEV genotypes infecting rabbits as well as evidence of a new mammalian genotype of HEV. J. Med. Virol. 81:1371–1379, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular analysis of transmission of hepatitis C virus in a nurse who acquired acute hepatitis C after caring for a viremic patient with epistaxis
Authors: Toda Takayuki , Mitsui Takehiro , Tsukamoto Yukie , Ebara Takeshi , Hirose Akinori , Masuko Kazuo , Nagashima Shigeo , Takahashi Masaharu , Okamoto Hiroaki 
Published: June 2009

AbstractA 23‐year‐old nurse (HC‐IP) developed acute hepatitis C. Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was suspected initially because her parents were carriers of HCV of the same genotype (1b) as that of Patient HC‐IP. However, the HCV isolate from Patient HC‐IP and those from her parents shared identities of only 92.4–92.7% in the 1,087‐nucleotide (nt) sequence within the NS5B region. It was then suspected that she contracted HCV infection during medical practice. Sixteen patients with antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV) were hospitalized 1–3 months before she became positive for anti‐HCV. Upon analysis of stored serum samples, 14 of the 16 patients were found to be positive for HCV RNA, and 9 of the 14 viremic patients had genotype 1b HCV. Although the shared identities between the HCV isolate from Patient HC‐IP and those from eight of the nine patients were merely 90.6–93.9% within the 1,087‐nt NS5B sequence, the HCV isolate from the remaining one patient (HC‐P12) was 99.7% identical to that from Patient HC‐IP. Upon analysis of the E1 and E2 junctional region including hypervariable region 1 (283 nt), there was a close relationship (99.3–100%) between clones obtained from Patients HC‐IP and HC‐P12. Although the nurse HC‐IP had a finger injury, she took care of Patient HC‐P12, a 70‐year‐old man with HCV‐related cirrhosis and recurrent epistaxis, occasionally without wearing protective gloves. This study indicates the occurrence of HCV transmission by exposure of nonintact skin to blood in health care settings. J. Med. Virol. 81:1363–1370, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of real‐time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction methods for human rabies diagnosis
Authors: Nadin‐Davis Susan A. , Sheen Mary , Wandeler Alexander I. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractTo improve timely ante‐mortem human rabies diagnosis, methods to detect viral RNA by TaqMan‐based quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions (qRT‐PCRs) have been developed. Three sets of two primers and one internal dual‐labeled probe for each primer set that target distinct conserved regions of the rabies virus N gene were designed and evaluated. Using a collection of 203 isolates representative of the world‐wide diversity of rabies virus, all three primers/probe sets were shown to detect a wide range of rabies virus strains with very few detection failures; the RABVD1 set in particular was the most broadly reactive. These qRT‐PCR assays were shown to be quantitative over a wide range of viral titer and were 100–1,000 times more sensitive than nested RT‐PCR; however, both the standard and real‐time PCR methods yielded concordant results when used to test a collection of archived human suspect samples. The qRT‐PCR assay was employed to monitor virus load in the saliva of a rabies virus‐infected patient undergoing the Milwaukee treatment protocol. However in this case it would appear that reduction of the viral load in the patient's saliva over time did not appear to correlate well with clearance of viral components from the brain. J. Med. Virol. 81:1484–1497, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation of rhinovirus load in the respiratory tract and clinical symptoms in hospitalized immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients
Authors: Gerna G. , Piralla A. , Rovida F. , Rognoni V. , Marchi A. , Locatelli F. , Meloni F. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWhile human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are well accepted as a major cause of common cold syndromes (rhinitis), their role in the etiology of lower respiratory tract infections is still controversial, and their detection in asymptomatic patients is relatively common. The HRV pathogenic role in four groups of hospitalized patients (pediatric immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, and adult immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients) was investigated by quantifying HRV load in nasopharyngeal aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavage samples by real‐time reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR). Real‐time RT‐PCR was performed in duplicate on all respiratory samples resulting positive by qualitative RT‐PCR. In addition, molecular typing allowed detection of all known HRV species (A, B, and C). In immunocompetent pediatric patients HRVs were mostly associated with lower respiratory tract infections (in the absence of other viral agents) and wheezing, when viral load was ≥106 RNA copies/ml. In young immunocompromised patients (stem cell transplantation recipients), an inverse correlation between HRV persistence over time and time at which the infection occurred after transplantation was observed, whereas in adult immunocompromised patients (lung transplant recipients) HRVs could be detected at a medium–low level (<105 RNA copies/ml) in bronchoalveolar lavage samples taken routinely from asymptomatic patients. In conclusion, when detected at high viral load, HRVs may cause severe upper and lower respiratory tract infections, whereas when detected at a medium–low viral load, an event more frequent in immunocompromised subjects, they may represent only bystander viruses. J. Med. Virol. 81:1498–1507, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus and risk factors in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Fu Bishi , Sun Feng , Li Baolin , Yang Lei , Zeng Yan , Sun Xiulian , Xu Fanhong , Rayner Simon , Guadalupe Moraima , Gao Shou‐Jiang , Wang Linding 
Published: June 2009

AbstractXinjiang, China is an endemic area for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) but the seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and risk factors remain undefined. In this study, antibodies to one KSHV latent protein (ORF73) and two KSHV lytic proteins (ORF65 and ORF‐K8.1) were examined in 2,228 subjects from the general population and 37 subjects infected with HIV‐1 in Xinjiang, and 560 subjects from the general population in Hubei, a low KS incidence region. The serostatus of a serum sample was defined based on positive results in any one of the three serologic assays. The seroprevalence of KSHV in the general population was higher in Xinjiang than in Hubei (19.2% vs. 9.5%; odds ratios [OR], 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.68–3.08; P < 0.001). Among the ethnic groups in Xinjiang, 68 (15.8%) Han, 182 (20.7%) Uygur, 140 (19.9%) Hazakh, 9 (33.3%) Xibo, and 29 (16.8%) Hui were KSHV‐seropositive, respectively. Compared to the Han, the latter groups had an increase in the risk of KSHV of 62.2%, 63.8%, 180.1%, and 30.2% (P = 0.003, 0.004, 0.018, and 0.286, respectively). Subjects aged <20, 20–50, and >50 had a seroprevalence of KSHV of 11.8%, 17.9%, and 24.6%, respectively. Compared to subjects aged <20, the latter groups had an increase in the risk of KSHV of 63.3% and 144.5% (P = 0.009 and <0.001, respectively). Subjects infected with HIV‐1 in Xinjiang had a seroprevalence of KSHV of 43.2%, and a 220% increase in the risk of KSHV compared to the general population (P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when the seroprevalence of KSHV was analyzed with any single or two of the three serologic assays alone. Genotyping identified three unique sequences clustered in the A clade. This study indicates that Xinjiang has a high seroprevalence of KSHV. Geographic location, ethnicity, age and HIV‐1 infection are risk factors. Serologic and genotyping results suggest the introduction of KSHV into Xinjiang by specific ethnic groups. J. Med. Virol. 81:1422–1431, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perceived support in a dual organizational environment: Union participation in a university setting
Authors: Goeddeke Francis Xavier , Kammeyer‐Mueller John Daniel 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThere is extensive research on employee attitudes regarding employers and unions, but these studies have underemphasized social and affective forces. Most studies also examine attitudes toward either the union or the employer without considering how these attitudes might relate to one another. The present study of faculty (N = 306) at a large public research university demonstrated that perceptions of union support were positively related to union participation and perceptions of administration support were negatively related to union participation. Subjective norms and general union attitudes were related to perceptions of union support, and subjective norms were related to perceived organizational support. Taken together, an individual's participation in a union recognition effort depends not only on union instrumentality, but also upon social relationships with the union and administration. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.