bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Approach to Pandemic 2009 influenza: first report from a main referral hospital for Pandemic H1N1 influenza care in Iran
Authors: Dashti-Khavidaki Simin , Khalili Hossein , Gholamalipour Farid , Soudbakhsh Abdolreza , Talasaz Azita Hajhossein , Hajabdolbaghi Mahboobeh , Rasoolinejad Mehrnaz , Mokhtari Azad Talat , Fathi Mehdi , Talebian Mohammad Taghi , Nasiripour Somayeh 
Published: November 2010

Introduction: Pandemic H1N1 influenza A (pdmH1N1) was a major health threat worldwide. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Iran. Cases of suspicious pdmH1N1 patients referred to the emergency ward of the hospital were enrolled in the study, regardless of whether the final location of treatment was the community, the hospital ward, or the intensive care unit. Oseltamivir was administered within three hours of the patient's admission. The median length of stay for hospitalized patients was 3 days. Results: Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea [164/434; 37.8%] and vomiting [98/434; 22.6%]) were the most common adverse reactions to oseltamivir in the study population, followed by dizziness (74/434; 17.1%). Out of 434 patients, 209 (48.2%) were treated in the community, 201 (46.3%) were admitted to the general ward in the hospital, and 24 (5.5%) were admitted to an ICU. Conclusions: This study provided insight on the effectiveness of oseltamivir in treating pandemic influenza A, as well as possible adverse reactions to the drug. The study further drew attention to a variety of pdmH1N1 complications, in particular secondary bacterial pneumonia. We also determined that 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection-related critical illness and mortality affected fewer elderly than younger patients. Additionally, it was shown that our approach to patients with suspected Influenza A/H1N1 virus in our hospital was compatible with World Health Organization pandemic flu guidelines in our country.
Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type-2 among patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic in Jos, Nigeria
Authors: Agabi Yusuf A. , Banwat Edmund B. , Mawak John D , Lar Patricia M , Dashe Nanma , Dashen Michael M , Adoga Moses P , Agabi Felicia Y , Zakari Hashimu 
Published: November 2010

Background: Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) is the primary cause of genital herpes and the most common cause of genital ulcer disease (GUD) worldwide. There is little information on the prevalence of HSV-2 in Nigeria. Methodology: Specimens were collected from 162 volunteers attending Jos University Teaching Hospital and tested for HSV-2 antibodies using HSV-2 Type specific IgG EIA test kit (Globalemed LLC Alexandria VA, USA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. P values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. numbr Results: Out of the 162 individuals tested, 141 (87.0%) were HSV-2 positive. Infected individuals were more likely to be male than female (92.8% versus 86.4%; P > 0.05). There were high rates of infection in all age groups, and the prevalence increased with age. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HSV-2 prevalence was not significantly associated with increasing age, sex, marital status, occupation, educational status, and number of sex partners (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The results highlight the potential public health impact of HSV-2 in Nigeria where anti-HSV-2 testing is not generally performed in all populations, especially considering the risk of neonatal transmission and the attendant complications at birth.
Evaluation of bacterial multiplication in cleaning cloths containing different quantities of organic matter
Authors: Bartz Sabrina , Ritter Ana Carolina , Tondo Eduardo Cesar 
Published: November 2010

Introduction: To determine a proper length of time for cleaning cloth usage, the present work aimed to evaluate bacterial multiplication in artificially contaminated cleaning cloths containing different amounts of organic matter. Methodology: Cloths containing 1%, 5%, and 10% of bovine albumin were contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis 3091/05, Escherichia coli ATCC 25972, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Shigella sonnei CC07. They were incubated for different time periods at 30°C. Microbial multiplication was evaluated by bacterial counts and the ATP bioluminescence increase was monitored at sampling points. An ampicillin-resistant recombinant HSα E. coli strain was used as a pathogen surrogate to investigate the potential of microbial cloth dispersion. Results: None of the strains showed expressive growth up to two hours of incubation. At three hours, the microorganisms demonstrated a slight increase, with E. coli ATCC 25972 showing a significant increase in cells (p < 0.05). The ATP bioluminescence did not increase during the incubation period and confirmed the microbial count results, demonstrating that the amounts of organic matter tested did not interfere with bacterial multiplication during the first three to four hours of incubation. The dispersion experiment indicated that a cleaning cloth contaminated with 104 CFU/cm2 was able to spread 102 CFU/cm2 of recombinant E. coli onto a stainless steel surface. Conclusion: Based on these results, we suggest that an appropriate period of time for using disinfected cleaning cloths is around two hours, not exceeding three hours of usage.
Chronic hepatitis B infection in a hepatology clinic at a university hospital in Jeddah
Authors: Fallatah Hind , Akbar Hisham 
Published: November 2010

Introduction: The outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in a cohort of CHB patients at the hepatology clinics of King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah was studied. Methodology: The results of a complete blood count, prothrombin time, liver function test and hepatitis B virus polymerase chain reaction (HBV-PCR) performed over the previous two to five years of follow-up were reviewed. Results of abdominal ultrasound performed within the last year and the data on the treatment type, duration and resistance were also obtained. Results: The majority of the 109 patients studied were Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg-negative; 87.2%). Male patients had higher serum ALT values compared to females at follow-up. HBeAg-positive patients had higher HBV-PCR levels at diagnosis compared to HBeAg-negative patients. Patients below 40 years of age had higher HBV-PCR compared to those above 40 years. Ultrasound showed liver cirrhosis in 11% of patients. Cirrhotic patients had higher GGT levels compared to non cirrhotic patients. Drug resistance developed in 25% of the 20 Lamivudine-treated patients. The mean duration of treatment was 2.5 ± .47 years. Conclusion: CHB was predominantly HBeAg negative, with a benign long-term outcome in most patients. Therapy may need to be individualized for patients with high risk of progression.
Influence of Childhood Scleroderma on Physical Function and Quality of Life
Authors: BAILDAM EILEEN M. , ENNIS HOLLY , FOSTER HELEN E. , SHAW LINDSAY , CHIENG ALICE S.E. , KELLY JANE , HERRICK ARIANE L. , RICHARDS HELEN L. 
Published: November 2010

Objective.There have been few studies of quality of life in childhood scleroderma and these focused predominantly on self-perception and the influence of skin lesions. Our cross-sectional study aimed to describe the influence of childhood scleroderma on physical function and quality of life in relation to clinical and demographic measures.Methods.Children with either localized scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) attending pediatric rheumatology clinics, together with their parents or guardians, were asked to complete a set of 4 validated measures. Clinical and demographic data were provided by consultant pediatric rheumatologists.Results.In total, 28 children and their parents/guardians participated in the study (68% female, median age 13 yrs; 86% localized scleroderma, 14% SSc). The median Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) score was 0.1 (range 0–3, 0 indicating no impairment), the median Child Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) score was 5 (range 0–30, 0 indicating no impairment), and the median Child Quality of Life Questionnaire (CQOL) function score was 26 (range 0–105, 0 indicating no impairment). Family activity, measured by the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50), was also moderately impaired by scleroderma, with a median score of 83 (0–100, 100 indicating no impairment).Conclusion.Scleroderma had only a moderate effect on quality of life and physical function as measured by the 4 validated instruments. Although a small number of children reported greater impairment, this is an encouraging finding, given its potential disfiguring and debilitating effects.
Effect of Atorvastatin on Inflammation and Modification of Vascular Risk Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: EL-BARBARY AMAL M. , HUSSEIN MANAL S. , RAGEH ELSAYED M. , HAMOUDA HALA E. , WAGIH AYMAN A. , ISMAIL RAGHDA G. 
Published: November 2010

Objective.To investigate the effect of atorvastatin therapy on inflammation, disease activity, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.This study included 30 patients with early RA, randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (n = 15) received methotrexate (MTX; 0.2 mg/kg/week; mean (15.5 ± SD 1.3) plus prednisone (10 mg/day). Group 2 (n = 15) received MTX and prednisone with the same previous doses plus atorvastatin therapy (40 mg/day). Ten healthy individuals of similar age and sex served as controls. Disease activity, lipid profile, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), resistin, adiponectin, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were measured before and after 6 months of treatment.Results.Atorvastatin combined with MTX therapy significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). Disease activity variables, serum MDA, TNF-α, resistin, adiponectin, and FMD were significantly improved by the drug combinations (p < 0.001).Conclusion.Atorvastatin therapy in patients with RA reduced disease activity and conventional and novel vascular risk factors that promote the atheromatous lesion. Therapy was also associated with concomitant improvement in endothelial function.
Thrombin-cleaved Osteopontin Levels in Synovial Fluid Correlate with Disease Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: HASEGAWA MASAHIRO , SEGAWA TATSUYA , MAEDA MASAHIRO , YOSHIDA TOSHIMICHI , SUDO AKIHIRO 
Published: November 2010

Objective.Although osteoarthritis (OA) is generally assessed using standard radiographic images in clinical practice, biochemical markers can be used to detect the disease and determine its severity. Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is a potential inflammatory cytokine. Presence of the thrombin-cleaved form of OPN is well correlated with various inflammatory diseases. We examined whether thrombin-cleaved OPN in synovial fluid (SF) and synovium could be associated with the severity of knee OA.Methods.SF samples were obtained from 139 knees with OA. Thrombin-cleaved OPN product was determined using Western blotting. Levels of thrombin-cleaved and full-length OPN in SF were determined by ELISA. Synovium samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using an antibody specific to the thrombin-cleaved form.Results.Western blotting showed the presence of thrombin-cleaved OPN in SF from patients with advanced OA. Concentrations of OPN full-length in OA knees were not statistically different from those in controls (p = 0.134). In contrast, levels of OPN N-half were significantly higher in OA knees than in controls (p = 0.042). Statistically significant correlation was found between thrombin-cleaved OPN and disease severity by Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 (R = 0.274, p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry of the synovium showed stronger reactivity in samples from subjects with advanced OA.Conclusion.Local generation of thrombin-cleaved OPN was increased with greater OA severity.
Genetic Studies of Ankylosing Spondylitis in Koreans Confirm Associations with ERAP1 and 2p15 Reported in White Patients
Authors: BANG SO-YOUNG , KIM TAE-HWAN , LEE BITNARA , KWON EUNJI , CHOI SANG HYUN , LEE KI SOO , SHIM SEUNG CHEOL , POPE ANGELA , RAHMAN PROTON , REVEILLE JOHN D. , INMAN ROBERT D. 
Published: November 2010

Objective.Investigators from the Australo-Anglo-American Spondyloarthritis Consortium have reported additional genes associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility including IL1R2, ANTXR2, and gene deserts at 2p15 and 21q22. We evaluated these new candidate genes in a large cohort of Korean patients with AS.Methods.A group of 1164 patients with AS and 752 healthy controls were enrolled for our study. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were analyzed to define genetic association with AS by MassARRAY system.Results.Significant positive associations of AS with endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 SNP, rs27037 (p = 1.31 × 10−4), and rs27434 (p = 4.59 × 10−6), were observed. The rs10865331 of gene desert at 2p15 also showed a significant association with AS (p = 4.63 × 10−5).Conclusion.This is the first confirmation in a nonwhite population that genetic polymorphisms of rs27037, rs27434, and rs10865331 are associated with AS, implicating common pathogenetic mechanisms in Korean and white patients with AS.
Beware of Antibodies to Dietary Proteins in “Antigen-specific” Immunoassays! Falsely Positive Anticytokine Antibody Tests Due to Reactivity with Bovine Serum Albumin in Rheumatoid Arthritis (The Swedish TIRA Project)
Authors: SJÖWALL CHRISTOPHER , KASTBOM ALF , ALMROTH GUNNEL , WETTERÖ JONAS , SKOGH THOMAS 
Published: November 2010

Objective.To evaluate (1) to what extent sera from healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) contain antibodies to bovine serum albumin (BSA); and (2) if anti-BSA antibodies interfere with results of enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) containing BSA.Methods.The ELISA used was a previously developed in-house assay of autoantibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Anti-TNF and anti-BSA antibodies were analyzed by ELISA in 189 patients with early RA and 186 healthy blood donors. TNF preparations containing either BSA or human serum albumin (HSA) as carrier proteins were used as antigens in the anti-TNF assay. The presence and levels of antibodies were analyzed in relation to disease course and to the presence/absence of rheumatoid factor (RF).Results.In patients with RA, anti-TNF/BSA levels strongly correlated with anti-BSA levels (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), whereas anti-TNF/HSA did not (r = −0.09). Neither the presence nor the levels of anti-BSA in RA patients were associated with disease progression, and antibody levels were not significantly altered compared to controls (p = 0.11). IgG reactivity with TNF/HSA was neglible. In paired sera, preincubation with BSA abolished the anti-TNF/BSA reactivity. There were no indications of RF interference with anti-BSA or anti-TNF reactivity.Conclusion.Antibodies to BSA are common in patients with RA as well as in healthy individuals. Their presence does not seem to be associated with RA disease activity or disease course, but may severely interfere with ELISA containing BSA. The use of BSA as a “blocking agent” or carrier protein in immunoassays should therefore be avoided.
Ceramide and Ceramide 1-Phosphate Are Negative Regulators of TNF-α Production Induced by Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Józefowski Szczepan , Czerkies Maciej , Łukasik Anna , Bielawska Alicja , Bielawski Jacek , Kwiatkowska Katarzyna , Sobota Andrzej 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
LPS is a constituent of cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria that, acting through the CD14/TLR4 receptor complex, causes strong proinflammatory activation of macrophages. In murine peritoneal macrophages and J774 cells, LPS at 1–2 ng/ml induced maximal TNF-α and MIP-2 release, and higher LPS concentrations were less effective, which suggested a negative control of LPS action. While studying the mechanism of this negative regulation, we found that in J774 cells, LPS activated both acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase and moderately elevated ceramide, ceramide 1-phosphate, and sphingosine levels. Lowering of the acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase activities using inhibitors or gene silencing upregulated TNF-α and MIP-2 production in J774 cells and macrophages. Accordingly, treatment of those cells with exogenous C8-ceramide diminished TNF-α and MIP-2 production after LPS stimulation. Exposure of J774 cells to bacterial sphingomyelinase or interference with ceramide hydrolysis using inhibitors of ceramidases also lowered the LPS-induced TNF-α production. The latter result indicates that ceramide rather than sphingosine suppresses TNF-α and MIP-2 production. Of these two cytokines, only TNF-α was negatively regulated by ceramide 1-phosphate as was indicated by upregulated TNF-α production after silencing of ceramide kinase gene expression. None of the above treatments diminished NO or RANTES production induced by LPS. Together the data indicate that ceramide negatively regulates production of TNF-α and MIP-2 in response to LPS with the former being sensitive to ceramide 1-phosphate as well. We hypothesize that the ceramide-mediated anti-inflammatory pathway may play a role in preventing endotoxic shock and in limiting inflammation.
Blockade of Programmed Death-1 in Young (New Zealand Black × New Zealand White)F1 Mice Promotes the Activity of Suppressive CD8+ T Cells That Protect from Lupus-Like Disease
Authors: Wong Maida , La Cava Antonio , Singh Ram P. , Hahn Bevra H. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway regulates both stimulatory and inhibitory signals. In some conditions, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibits T and B cell activation, induces anergy, and reduces cytotoxicity in CD8+ T cells. In other conditions, PD-l/PD-L1 has costimulatory effects on T cells. We recently showed that induction of suppressive CD8+Foxp3+ T cells by immune tolerance of lupus-prone (New Zealand black × New Zealand white)F1 (BWF1) mice with the anti-DNA Ig-based peptide pConsensus (pCons) is associated with significantly reduced PD-1 expression on those cells. In this study, we tested directly the role of PD-1 by administering in vivo neutralizing Ab to PD-1 to premorbid BWF1 and healthy control mice. Anti–PD-1–treated mice were protected from the onset of lupus nephritis for 10 wk, with significantly improved survival. Although the numbers of T cells declined in aging control mice, they were maintained in anti–PD-1–treated mice, including CD8+Foxp3+ T cells that suppressed syngeneic CD4+CD25− T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production, reduced production of IgG and anti-dsDNA IgG, induced apoptosis in syngeneic B cells, and increased IL-2 and TGF-β production. The administration of anti–PD-1 Ab to BWF1 mice after induction of tolerance with pCons abrogated tolerance; mice developed autoantibodies and nephritis at the same time as control mice, being unable to induce CD8+Foxp3+ T suppressor cells. These data suggest that tightly regulated PD-1 expression is essential for the maintenance of immune tolerance mediated by those CD8+Foxp3+ T cells that suppress both Th cells and pathogenic B cells. PD-1 regulation could represent a target to preserve tolerance and prevent autoimmunity.
CTL Induction of Tumoricidal Nitric Oxide Production by Intratumoral Macrophages Is Critical for Tumor Elimination
Authors: Miguel Rodolfo D. Vicetti , Cherpes Thomas L. , Watson Leah J. , McKenna Kyle C. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
To characterize mechanisms of CTL inhibition within an ocular tumor microenvironment, tumor-specific CTLs were transferred into mice with tumors developing within the anterior chamber of the eye or skin. Ocular tumors were resistant to CTL transfer therapy whereas skin tumors were sensitive. CTLs infiltrated ocular tumors at higher CTL/tumor ratios than in skin tumors and demonstrated comparable ex vivo effector function to CTLs within skin tumors indicating that ocular tumor progression was not due to decreased CTL accumulation or inhibited CTL function within the eye. CD11b+Gr-1+F4/80− cells predominated within ocular tumors, whereas skin tumors were primarily infiltrated by CD11b+Gr-1−F4/80+ macrophages (Mϕs), suggesting that myeloid derived suppressor cells may contribute to ocular tumor growth. However, CD11b+ myeloid cells isolated from either tumor site suppressed CTL activity in vitro via NO production. Paradoxically, the regression of skin tumors by CTL transfer therapy required NO production by intratumoral Mϕs indicating that NO-producing intratumoral myeloid cells did not suppress the effector phase of CTL. Upon CTL transfer, tumoricidal concentrations of NO were only produced by skin tumor-associated Mϕs though ocular tumor-associated Mϕs demonstrated comparable expression of inducible NO synthase protein suggesting that NO synthase enzymatic activity was compromised within the eye. Correspondingly, in vitro-activated Mϕs limited tumor growth when co-injected with tumor cells in the skin but not in the eye. In conclusion, the decreased capacity of Mϕs to produce NO within the ocular microenvironment limits CTL tumoricidal activity allowing ocular tumors to progress.
CIITA Enhances HIV-1 Attachment to CD4+ T Cells Leading to Enhanced Infection and Cell Depletion
Authors: Porter Kristen A. , Kelley Lauren N. , Nekorchuk Michael D. , Jones James H. , Hahn Amy B. , de Noronha Carlos M. C. , Harton Jonathan A. , Duus Karen M. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Activated CD4+ T cells are more susceptible to HIV infection than resting T cells; the reason for this remains unresolved. Induction of CIITA and subsequent expression of the MHC class II isotype HLA-DR are hallmarks of CD4+ T cell activation; therefore, we investigated the role of CIITA expression in T cells during HIV infection. CIITA-expressing SupT1 cells display enhanced virion attachment in a gp160/CD4-dependent manner, which results in increased HIV infection, virus release, and T cell depletion. Although increased attachment and infection of T cells correlated with HLA-DR surface expression, Ab blocking, transient expression of HLA-DR without CIITA, and short hairpin RNA knockdown demonstrate that HLA-DR does not directly enhance susceptibility of CIITA-expressing cells to HIV infection. Further analysis of the remaining MHC class II isotypes, HLA-DP and HLA-DQ, MHC class I isotypes, HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C, and the class II Ag presentation genes, invariant chain and HLA-DM, demonstrate that these proteins likely do not contribute to CIITA enhancement of HIV infection. Finally, we demonstrate that in activated primary CD4+ T cells as HLA-DR/CIITA expression increases there is a corresponding increase in virion attachment. Overall, this work suggests that induction of CIITA expression upon CD4+ T cell activation contributes to enhanced attachment, infection, virus release, and cell death through an undefined CIITA transcription product that may serve as a new antiviral target.