bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Financial Effects of Hydatidosis in Cattle Slaughtered in Birre‐Sheleko and Dangila Abattoirs, Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Kebede N. , Gebre‐Egziabher Z. , Tilahun G. , Wossene A. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryA cross‐sectional survey of bovine hydatidosis was carried out on local zebu cattle slaughtered at Birre‐Sheleko and Dangila Abattoirs from August 2007 to July 2008 to determine the prevalence and to estimate financial loss caused by the disease. Postmortem examination, hydatid cyst characterization and direct and indirect financial loss estimations were conducted. Out of the total of 521 animals examined (255 Birre‐Sheleko and 266 Dangila), 79 (15.2%) were found harbouring one or more hydatid cyst. The prevalence of the disease between the two abattoirs was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The result obtained from postmortem examination indicated that a total of 112 visceral organs were found harbouring one or more hydatid cysts. The involvement of lung, liver, spleen and kidney was found to be 70.5%, 21.4%, 6.3% and 1.8% respectively. From the total of 224 cysts counted, 147 (65.6%), 29 (12.9%), 3 (1.3%) and 45 (20.1%) were small, medium, large and calcified cysts respectively, and 114 (50.9%) and 65 (29%) were sterile and fertile cysts respectively. Viability rate of 47.7%, all from the lungs, and higher liver calcification rate were observed. The annual financial loss from organ condemnation and carcass weight loss due to bovine hydatidosis at Birre‐Sheleko and Dangila abattoirs were estimated to be $18911.6.
Comparative morphometric analysis of recurrent and nonrecurrent canine basal cell carcinomas: a preliminary report
Authors: Simeonov Radostin , Simeonova Galina 
Published: July 2009

Background: Most reports of canine basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) focus on morphologic appearance rather than biologic behavior. Rare recurrences and no metastases have been reported in dogs. Quantitative nuclear morphometry may be useful in predicting tumor recurrence.Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare quantitative nuclear parameters of canine BCCs that did not recur within 60 weeks of excision with those that recurred.Methods: Cytologic specimens obtained from spontaneous BCCs from 11 dogs were analyzed by computerized nuclear morphometry. The dogs were monitored by their owners over a period of 60 weeks to detect local recurrence of the tumor; recurrent tumors were confirmed histologically. For each initial tumor specimen, nuclei of at least 100 neoplastic cells were measured by 2 independent observers, and mean nuclear area (MNA), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP), and mean nuclear diameter (MND) were calculated.Results: Six nonrecurrent and 5 recurrent tumors were analyzed. Neoplastic cells from BCCs that subsequently recurred had higher MNA (102.41 ± 4.57 μm2), MNP (36.27 ± 0.61 μm), and MND (11.21 ± 0.27 μm) than cells from nonrecurrent BCCs (MNA 87.66 ± 4.79 μm2, MNP 33.51 ± 0.78 μm, MND 10.36 ± 0.29 μm) (P<.001; Mann–Whitney U‐test).Conclusion: Based on these preliminary results, nuclear morphometry may be a useful tool to predict local recurrence of BCCs in dogs.
Epidemiology of Enterovirus 71 in The Netherlands, 1963 to 2008
Authors: van der Sanden Sabine , Koopmans Marion , Uslu Gökhan , van der Avoort Harrie 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT
The incidence of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection has greatly increased in the Asian Pacific region since 1997. Several large outbreaks, caused by different subgenogroups of EV71, occurred with high rates of morbidity and a substantial number of deaths. In 2007, 58 cases of EV71 infection requiring hospitalization were reported in The Netherlands after a period of low endemicity of 21 years. These events triggered a study on the epidemiology of EV71 in The Netherlands. Genetic analysis of the VP1 capsid region of 199 EV71 isolates collected from 1963 to 2008 as part of enterovirus surveillance activities revealed a change in the prevailing subgenogroups over time. From 1963 to 1986 infections were caused by three different and successive lineages belonging to subgenogroup B (the novel lineage designated B0, as well as B1 and B2). In 1987, following a major epidemic the previous year, the B genogroup was replaced by genogroup C strains of lineages C1 and, later, C2. Analyses of the clinical data suggested that there were differences between infection with genogroup B and with genogroup C strains in terms of the age groups affected and the severity of illness. From comparative analysis with genomic data available in the public domain, we concluded that EV71 strain evolution shows a global pattern, which leads to the question of whether the recently emerged C4 lineage strains will also spread outside of Asia.
Algorithm Combining Toxin Immunoassay and Stool Culture for Diagnosis of
Clostridium difficile
Infection
Authors: Shin Bo-Moon , Kuak Eun Young , Lee Eun Joo , Songer J. Glenn 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT

Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to detect glutamate dehydrogenase or toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB), a cytotoxicity assay, and bacteriologic culture have disadvantages when applied individually to diagnosis of
Clostridium difficile
infections. Stool specimens (
n
= 1,596) were subjected to toxin detection via an enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFA; Vidas CDAB assay) and bacteriologic culture for toxigenic
C. difficile
in a three-step algorithm with additional toxigenic culture. Isolates (
n
= 163) from ELFA-negative stool specimens were examined via ELFA for toxin production. We amplified
tcdA
and
tcdB
from
C. difficile
isolates and
tcdB
from stool specimens that were ELFA positive or equivocal and culture negative, and we compared the results to those obtained with the three-step algorithm. More than 26% of stool specimens (419/1,596) were culture positive, yielding 248 isolates (59.2%) with both toxin genes (
tcdA
- and
tcdB
-positive isolates), 88 isolates (21.0%) with either
tcdA
or
tcdB
, and 83 (19.8%) that had no toxin genes (
tcdA
- and
tcdB
-negative isolates). Among 49 (culture-negative/ELFA-positive or -equivocal) stool specimens, 53.1% (26/49) represented
tcdB
-positive isolates. Therefore, the total number of PCR-positive cases was 362, and 27.1% (98/362) of these were detected through toxigenic culture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 63.3%, 96.7%, 90.5%, and 92.4% (ELFA alone); 92.8%, 93.3%, 80.2%, and 97.8% (culture); and 70.7%, 91.4%, 95.5%, and 100% (three-step algorithm ELFA and bacterial culture with toxigenic culture), respectively, with culture and PCR for
tcdA
and
tcdB
as the standards. Thus, sensitivity and specificity were highest using culture and ELFA, respectively, but we recommend the three-step algorithm comprising EIA to detect both toxins and toxigenic culture for
C. difficile
as a practical method for achieving better PPV and NPV.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Colonization by Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
among Adults in Community Settings in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Jann-Tay , Liao Chun-Hsing , Fang Chi-Tai , Chie Wei-Chu , Lai Mei-Shu , Lauderdale Tsai-Ling , Lee Wen-Sen , Huang Jeng-Hua , Chang Shan-Chwen 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT

In order to determine the prevalence of methicillin (meticillin)-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) colonization among adults in community settings in Taiwan and identify its risk factors, we conducted the present study. For a 3-month period, we enrolled all adults who attended mandatory health examinations at three medical centers and signed the informed consent. Nasal swabs were taken for the isolation of
S. aureus
. For each MRSA isolate, we performed multilocus sequence typing, identification of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
, tests for the presence of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene, and tests for drug susceptibilities. Risk factors for MRSA colonization were determined. The results indicated that the MRSA colonization rate among adults in the community settings in Taiwan was 3.8% (119/3,098). Most MRSA isolates belonged to sequence type 59 (84.0%). Independent risk factors for MRSA colonization included the presence of household members less than 7 years old (
P
< 0.0001) and the use of antibiotics within the past year (
P
= 0.0031). Smoking appeared to be protective against MRSA colonization (
P
< 0.0001).
BD Phoenix and Vitek 2 Detection of
mecA
-Mediated Resistance in
Staphylococcus aureus
with Cefoxitin
Authors: Junkins Alan D. , Lockhart Shawn R. , Heilmann Kristopher P. , Dohrn Cassie L. , Von Stein Diana L. , Winokur Patricia L. , Doern Gary V. , Richter Sandra S. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT

The BD Phoenix (BD Diagnostics, Sparks, MD) and Vitek 2 (bioMérieux, Durham, NC) automated susceptibility testing systems have implemented the use of cefoxitin to enhance the detection of methicillin (meticillin)-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). To assess the impact of this change, 620 clinically significant
S. aureus
isolates were tested in parallel on Phoenix PMIC/ID-102 panels and Vitek 2 AST-GP66 cards. The results for oxacillin and cefoxitin generated by the automated systems were compared to those generated by two reference methods:
mecA
gene detection and MICs of oxacillin previously determined by broth microdilution according to CLSI guidelines. Testing of isolates with discordant results was repeated to attain a majority or consensus final result. There was 100% final agreement between the results of the two reference methods. For the 448 MRSA and 172 methicillin-susceptible
S
.
aureus
isolates tested, the rates of categorical agreement of the results obtained with the automated systems with those obtained by the reference methods were 99.8% for the Phoenix panels and 99.7% for the Vitek 2 cards. A single very major error occurred on each instrument (0.2%) with different MRSA isolates. The only major error was attributed to the Vitek 2 system overcalling oxacillin resistance. In 16 instances (9 on the Phoenix system, 7 on the Vitek 2 system), an oxacillin MIC in the susceptible range was correctly changed to resistant by the expert system on the basis of the cefoxitin result. The inclusion of cefoxitin in the Phoenix and Vitek 2 panels has optimized the detection of MRSA by both systems.
Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Induces Apoptosis in Human Papillomavirus-Infected Cell Lines but Not in Normal Keratinocytes
Authors: Alam Samina , Meyers Craig 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe results of seroepidemiological studies suggest that infection with adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) is negatively correlated with the incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer. We studied the potential of AAV2 oncosuppression of HPV and showed that HPV/AAV2 coinfection of cells culminated in apoptotic death, as determined by DNA laddering and caspase-3 cleavage. The induction of apoptosis coincided with AAV2 Rep protein expression; increased S-phase progression; upregulated pRb displaying both hyper- and hypophosphorylated forms; increased levels of p21WAF1, p16INK4, and p27KIP1proteins; and diminished levels of E7 oncoprotein. In contrast, normal keratinocytes that were infected with AAV2 or transfected with the cloned full-length AAV2 genome failed to express Rep proteins or undergo apoptosis. The failure of AAV2 to productively infect normal keratinocytes could be clinically advantageous. The delineation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the HPV/AAV2 interaction could be harnessed for developing novel AAV2-derived therapeutics for cervical cancer.
Human Cytomegalovirus UL28 and UL29 Open Reading Frames Encode a Spliced mRNA and Stimulate Accumulation of Immediate-Early RNAs
Authors: Mitchell Dora P. , Savaryn John P. , Moorman Nathaniel J. , Shenk Thomas , Terhune Scott S. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT
We have identified a spliced transcript that contains sequences from the HCMV UL29 and UL28 open reading frames. It contains amino-terminal UL29 sequences followed by UL28 sequences, and it includes a poly(A) signal derived from the 3′-untranslated region following the UL26 open reading frame. UL29/28 RNA is expressed with early kinetics, and a virus containing a FLAG epitope inserted at the amino terminus of UL29 expressed a tagged ∼79-kDa protein, pUL29/28, that was detected at 6 h postinfection. The virus also expressed a less-abundant tagged 41-kDa protein, which corresponds in size to a protein that could be produced by translation of an unspliced UL29/28 transcript. Consistent with this prediction, both unspliced and spliced UL29/28 transcript was present in RNA isolated from polysomes. FLAG-tagged protein from the UL29/28 locus accumulated within nuclear viral replication centers during the early phase of infection. Late after infection it was present in the cytoplasm as well, and the protein was present and resistant to proteinase treatment in partially purified preparations of viral particles. Disruption of the UL29/28 locus by mutation resulted in a 10-fold decrease in the levels of DNA replication along with a similar reduction in virus yield. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed an ∼2-fold decrease in immediate-early gene expression at 4 to 10 h postinfection compared to the wild-type virus, and transient expression of pUL29/28 activated the major immediate-early promoter. Our results argue that the UL29/28 locus contributes to activation of immediate-early gene expression.
Elastase-Dependent Live Attenuated Swine Influenza A Viruses Are Immunogenic and Confer Protection against Swine Influenza A Virus Infection in Pigs
Authors: Masic Aleksandar , Booth Jayaum S. , Mutwiri George K. , Babiuk Lorne A. , Zhou Yan 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTInfluenza A viruses cause significant morbidity in swine, resulting in a substantial economic burden. Swine influenza virus (SIV) infection also poses important human public health concerns. Vaccination is the primary method for the prevention of influenza virus infection. Previously, we generated two elastase-dependent mutant SIVs derived from A/Sw/Saskatchewan/18789/02(H1N1): A/Sw/Sk-R345V (R345V) and A/Sw/Sk-R345A (R345A). These two viruses are highly attenuated in pigs, making them good candidates for a live-virus vaccine. In this study, the immunogenicity and the ability of these candidates to protect against SIV infection were evaluated in pigs. We report that intratracheally administrated R345V and R345A induced antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity characterized by increased production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA antibodies in the serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, high hemagglutination inhibition titers in serum, an enhanced level of lymphocyte proliferation, and higher numbers of gamma interferon-secreting cells at the site of infection. Based on the immunogenicity results, the R345V virus was further tested in a protection trial in which pigs were vaccinated twice with R345V and then challenged with homologous A/Sw/Saskatchewan/18789/02, H1N1 antigenic variant A/Sw/Indiana/1726/88 or heterologous subtypic H3N2 A/Sw/Texas/4199-2/9/98. Our data showed that two vaccinations with R345V provided pigs with complete protection from homologous H1N1 SIV infection and partial protection from heterologous subtypic H3N2 SIV infection. This protection was characterized by significantly reduced macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions, lower virus titers from the respiratory tract, and lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, elastase-dependent SIV mutants can be used as live-virus vaccines against swine influenza in pigs.
Matrix and Envelope Coevolution Revealed in a Patient Monitored since Primary Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
Authors: Beaumont Elodie , Vendrame Daniela , Verrier Bernard , Roch Emmanuelle , Biron François , Barin Françis , Mammano Fabrizio , Brand Denys 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT
Lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), typically encode envelope glycoproteins (Env) with long cytoplasmic tails (CTs). The strong conservation of CT length in primary isolates of HIV-1 suggests that this factor plays a key role in viral replication and persistence in infected patients. However, we report here the emergence and dominance of a primary HIV-1 variant carrying a natural 20-amino-acid truncation of the CT in vivo. We demonstrated that this truncation was deleterious for viral replication in cell culture. We then identified a compensatory amino acid substitution in the matrix protein that reversed the negative effects of CT truncation. The loss or rescue of infectivity depended on the level of Env incorporation into virus particles. Interestingly, we found that a virus mutant with defective Env incorporation was able to spread by cell-to-cell transfer. The effects on viral infectivity of compensation between the CT and the matrix protein have been suggested by in vitro studies based on T-cell laboratory-adapted virus mutants, but we provide here the first demonstration of the natural occurrence of similar mechanisms in an infected patient. Our findings provide insight into the potential of HIV-1 to evolve in vivo and its ability to overcome major structural alterations.
The Choice of Translation Initiation Site of the Rep Proteins from Goose Parvovirus P9-Generated mRNA Is Governed by Splicing and the Nature of the Excised Intron
Authors: Li Long , Qiu Jianming , Pintel David J. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT

The goose parvovirus (GPV) Rep 1 and Rep 2 proteins are encoded by P9-generated mRNAs that are either unspliced or spliced within the
rep
gene region, respectively. These mRNAs are present in an approximately equal ratio. The translation of Rep 1 was initiated from the first AUG in unspliced P9-generated mRNA; however, this AUG was bypassed in spliced P9-generated RNA and Rep 2 translation initiated predominately at the next initiating AUG downstream. We show that the choice of the site of initiation of translation of GPV Rep-encoding mRNAs is governed both by the splicing process itself and by the nature of the excised intron.
Evolution of Teleost Fish Retroviruses: Characterization of New Retroviruses with Cellular Genes
Authors: Basta Holly A. , Cleveland Sean B. , Clinton Rochelle A. , Dimitrov Alexander G. , McClure Marcella A. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT
The interactions between retroviruses and their hosts can be of a beneficial or detrimental nature. Some endogenous retroviruses are involved in development, while others cause disease. The Genome Parsing Suite (GPS) is a software tool to track and trace all Retroid agents in any sequenced genome (M. A. McClure et al., Genomics 85:512-523, 2005). Using the GPS, the retroviral content was assessed in four model teleost fish. Eleven new species of fish retroviruses are identified and characterized. The reverse transcriptase protein sequences were used to reconstruct a fish retrovirus phylogeny, thereby, significantly expanding the epsilonretrovirus family. Most of these novel retroviruses encode additional genes, some of which are homologous to cellular genes that would confer viral advantage. Although the fish divergence is much more ancient, retroviruses began infecting fish genomes approximately 4 million years ago.
THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL ENSEMBLE EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION METHOD
Authors: WU ZHAOHUA , HUANG NORDEN E. , CHEN XIANYAO 
Published: July 2009

A multi-dimensional ensemble empirical mode decomposition (MEEMD) for multi-dimensional data (such as images or solid with variable density) is proposed here. The decomposition is based on the applications of ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) to slices of data in each and every dimension involved. The final reconstruction of the corresponding intrinsic mode function (IMF) is based on a comparable minimal scale combination principle. For two-dimensional spatial data or images, f(x,y), we consider the data (or image) as a collection of one-dimensional series in both x-direction and y-direction. Each of the one-dimensional slices is decomposed through EEMD with the slice of the similar scale reconstructed in resulting two-dimensional pseudo-IMF-like components. This new two-dimensional data is further decomposed, but the data is considered as a collection of one-dimensional series in y-direction along locations in x-direction. In this way, we obtain a collection of two-dimensional components. These directly resulted components are further combined into a reduced set of final components based on a minimal-scale combination strategy. The approach for two-dimensional spatial data can be extended to multi-dimensional data. EEMD is applied in the first dimension, then in the second direction, and then in the third direction, etc., using the almost identical procedure as for the two-dimensional spatial data. A similar comparable minimal-scale combination strategy can be applied to combine all the directly resulted components into a small set of multi-dimensional final components. For multi-dimensional temporal-spatial data, EEMD is applied to time series of each spatial location to obtain IMF-like components of different time scales. All the ith IMF-like components of all the time series of all spatial locations are arranged to obtain ith temporal-spatial multi-dimensional IMF-like component. The same approach to the one used in temporal-spatial data decomposition is used to obtain the resulting two-dimensional IMF-like components. This approach could be extended to any higher dimensional temporal-spatial data.
Brain abnormalities in Sjogren syndrome with recurrent CNS manifestations: association with neuromyelitis optica
Authors: Min JH , Kim HJ , Kim BJ , Lee KW , Sunwoo IN , Kim SM , Kim BJ , Kim SH , Park MS , Waters P , Vincent A , Sung JJ , Lee KH 
Published: July 2009

Background and objectives Optic neuritis or longitudinally extensive myelitis in Sjogren syndrome (SS) suggests a neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, brain abnormalities of SS remain to be elucidated for the association with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Methods Twelve primary SS patients (all women, 42 ± 13.2 years) who had recurrent central nervous system (CNS) manifestations with brain involvement were retrospectively identified. Brain MRI, and neurologic and serologic findings were analyzed with the measurement of anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab). Results All patients showed brain lesions characteristic of NMO as follows: 1) the involved sites adjacent to the third and fourth ventricles and in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, 2) unique configurations, such as the longitudinal course from the internal capsule to the midbrain, large cerebral or cerebellar lesions over 3 cm, and cavity-like formations. AQP4-Ab was positive in six of eight patients tested, and all the seropositive patients showed lesions with increased diffusion, suggestive of vasogenic edema. Four patients met the revised criteria of NMO, and nine had features of NMOSDs. Of the remaining three patients showing only brain involvement, one had AQP4-Ab. Conclusions This study demonstrates that SS patients with recurrent CNS involvement have brain abnormalities characteristic of NMO and AQP4-Ab in Korea. The presence of AQP4-Ab in one SS patient with only brain involvement may suggest that the coexistence of NMO should be explored in SS patients with recurrent CNS manifestations, even without optic neuritis or myelitis.