bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estradiol Ameliorates Diabetes-Induced Changes in Vaginal Structure of db/db Mouse Model
Authors: Cushman Tulay T. , Kim Noel , Hoyt Richard , Traish Abdulmaged 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Women with diabetes experience diminished genital arousal, reduced vaginal lubrication, vaginal atrophy, dyspareunia, and increased infections. Limited studies are available investigating the effects of diabetic complications on the vagina.

Aims
The goals of this study were to investigate type 2 diabetes-induced changes in vaginal structure, and to determine if estradiol treatment ameliorates these changes.

Methods
Eight-week-old female diabetic (db/db) mice (strain BKS.Cg-m+/+Leprdb/J) and age-matched control normoglycemic female littermates were used to investigate the effects of type 2 diabetes on vaginal tissue structural integrity. Diabetic animals were divided into two subgroups: diabetic treated with vehicle only and diabetic treated with pellets containing estradiol. At 16 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the vaginal tissues were excised and analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical methods to assess diabetes-induced changes in vaginal tissue and the extent by which these parameters are restored by estradiol treatment.

Main Outcome Measures
The effects of type 2 diabetes and estradiol supplementation were investigated on vaginal histoarchitecture.

Results
Diabetic animals exhibited high blood glucose levels (&gt;600 mg/dL), increased body weight (43.0 ± 6.0 g vs. 24.4 ± 2.0 g), and reduced plasma estradiol levels (65.5 ± 6.6 pg/mL vs. 80.77 ± 13.2 pg/mL) when compared to control animals. Diabetes resulted in significant thinning of the epithelium (P ≤ 0.05), marked decrease in the muscularis area (P ≤ 0.05), distinct truncation of elastic fibers, and significant reduction of the nitrergic immunoreactive nerve fibers (P ≤ 0.05). Treatment of diabetic animals with estradiol restored epithelial thickness (P ≤ 0.05), muscularis area (P ≤ 0.05), and elastic fiber distribution, and partially restored the density of nitrergic nerve fibers.

Conclusions
The data in this study demonstrate that type 2 diabetes disrupts vaginal structural integrity and that estradiol supplementation ameliorates the diabetes-induced vaginal pathology.
PREDICTION OF HONEY SHELF LIFE
Authors: FALLICO BIAGIO , ARENA ELENA , ZAPPALA MARIO 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT Fourteen commercial honey samples of different botanical origin (acacia, chestnut, citrus, eucalyptus, multifloral) were stored for up to 18 months at room temperature. Both 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and diastase were evaluated and kinetics carried out. The highest HMF increase was in citrus and eucalyptus honeys at 3 mg/kg/month; the lowest in chestnut at 0.256 mg/kg/month. The highest diastase deactivation was in eucalyptus honey at 0.485 DU/kg/month; the lowest was in chestnut at 0.258 DU/kg/month. Honey shelf life was estimated for both indices, HMF and diastase, using a Bayesian approach. The results show that commercial honey shelf life depends on botanical origin as well as processing. Except chestnut, all other honeys showed shorter shelf lives than the declared one (usually 36 months). The shortest values, 15 months, were for citrus and eucalyptus honeys. The longest, 20 months, was for acacia and multifloral honeys. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSBoth kinetic equations and results of simulations can be used to estimate, for quality control purposes as well as regulation requirements, the most probable value of shelf life for a specific honey.
Natality Estimates for the Canadian Indians by Stable Population Models, 1900–1969
Authors: Romaniuk A. , Piché V. 
Published: May 2009

Après avoir démontré que les données officielles sur les taux de naissance de la population indienne avant 1960 sont largement inadéquates, les auteurs utilisent deux méthodes indirectes pour obtenir des estimés fiables de ces taux. La première méthode se sert des donnees disponibles sur la distribution de la population par classe d'âge depuis 1900 tandis que la seconde utilise les données du recensement de 1961 sur l'ensemble des naissances selon l'âge de la mere. On analyse dans les deux cas, les données sous‐jacentes et on déduit les estimés, à partir de modèles qui postulent une population stable.Les meilleurs estimés obtenus permettent de croire que le taux de natalité des Indiens est demeuré relativement stable dans le passé, au niveau de 50 naissances par 1,000 individus. On note cependant, un déclin constant de la fécondité depuis 1960. Ainsi le taux de natalité est passé de 46.0 pour 1000 en 1961 à 36.8 en 1969. Cette tendance peut être interpretee comme une evolution fondamentale dans la démographie de ce groupe ethnique.After having shown that official series of birth rates for the Indian population prior to 1960 suffer from considerable deficiencies, two indirect methods are applied to arrive at some trustworthy estimates of these rates. Use is made, in the one case, of the age distribution data available since 1900, and, in the other case, of 1961 census data on children ever‐born to women by age. In both instances stable population models are used for analysing the underlying data and for deriving the estimates.According to the best obtained estimates, the birth‐rate for the Indian population seems to have remained relatively stable in the past, at a level close to 50 per 1000 persons. A gradual decline in fertility has been taking place since about 1960. Thus the birth‐rate has dropped from 46.0 in 1961 to 36.8 in 1969, the latest available figure. This trend may be regarded as a major development in the demography of this ethnic group which is, in many respects, unique in the Canadian context.
Phylogenetically Distinct
Staphylococcus aureus
Lineage Prevalent among Indigenous Communities in Northern Australia
Authors: Ng Jacklyn W. S. , Holt Deborah C. , Lilliebridge Rachael A. , Stephens Alex J. , Huygens Flavia , Tong Steven Y. C. , Currie Bart J. , Giffard Philip M. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

The aim was to determine the evolutionary position of the
Staphylococcus aureus
clonal complex 75 (CC75) that is prevalent in tropical northern Australia. Sequencing of
gap
,
rpoB
,
sodA
,
tuf
, and
hsp60
and the multilocus sequence typing loci revealed a clear separation between conventional
S
.
aureus
and CC75 and significant diversity within CC75.
Molecular Characterization of a New
Tetratrichomonas
Species in a Patient with Empyema
Authors: Mantini Cléa , Souppart Laetitia , Noël Christophe , Duong Thanh Hai , Mornet Michel , Carroger Guy , Dupont Pierre , Masseret Elodie , Goustille Julien , Capron Monique , Duboucher Christophe , Dei-Cas Eduardo , Viscogliosi Eric 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

A new
Tetratrichomonas
species was identified by molecular and phylogenetic approaches in the pleural fluid from a patient with encysted empyema leading to dyspnea. This observation raised the questions of the real prevalence of pulmonary trichomonosis in humans, the zoonotic potential of trichomonads, and the existence of human-host-adapted strains.
Occurrence, Population Structure, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococci in Marginal and Apical Periodontitis
Authors: Sun Jinglu , Song Xiaobo , Kristiansen Bjørn Erik , Kjæreng Anne , Willems Rob J. L. , Eriksen Harald M. , Sundsfjord Arnfinn , Sollid Johanna E. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Subgingival plaque samples and root canal samples were collected from 2,839 marginal periodontitis (MP) patients and 21 apical periodontitis (AP) patients.
Enterococcus
species were identified by a series of phenotypic and genotypic tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility assays were performed by an agar disk diffusion test. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), eBURST, and minimum spanning tree were used for enterococcal genetic clustering and population analysis.
Enterococcus faecalis
was recovered from 3.7% MP patients and 9.5% AP patients, and
Enterococcus faecium
was recovered from 0.04% MP patients. Enterococci were detected more often in older male patients.
E
.
faecalis
isolates of MP were found resistant to tetracycline (49.1%), erythromycin (8.5%), trimethoprim (2.8%), and gentamicin (1.9%), while one AP isolate was resistant to tetracycline. A total of 40 sequence types (STs) were resolved in 108
E
.
faecalis
isolates. Comparison with
E
.
faecalis
international MLST database revealed that 27 STs were previously found, 13 STs were novel, and several major clonal complexes in the database were also found in MP isolates. The tetracycline-resistant isolates distributed mainly in the major clonal complexes and singletons, whereas the erythromycin-resistant isolates were more dispersed. Although the rate of occurrence of enterococci recovered in the MP and AP samples was low, 50% of these isolates are resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, which is most often tetracycline. This implies that subgingival
E
.
faecalis
might represent a reservoir of resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin. The subgingival
E
.
faecalis
isolates show high genetic diversity but are grouped, in general, with the known isolates from the international database.
Development and Assessment of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 DNA
Authors: Beloukas A. , Paraskevis D. , Haida C. , Sypsa V. , Hatzakis A. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Previous studies showed that high levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA are associated with a faster progression to AIDS, an increased risk of death, and a higher risk of HIV RNA rebound in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Our objective was to develop and assess a highly sensitive real-time multiplex PCR assay for the quantification of HIV-1 DNA (RTMP-HIV) based on molecular beacons. HIV-1 DNA quantification was carried out by RTMP in a LightCycler 2.0 apparatus. HIV-1 DNA was quantified in parallel with CCR5 as a reference gene, and reported values are numbers of HIV-1 DNA copies/10
6
peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The clinical sensitivity of the assay was assessed for 115 newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals. The analytical sensitivity was estimated to be 12.5 copies of HIV-1 DNA per 10
6
PBMCs, while the clinical sensitivity was 100%, with levels ranging from 1.23 to 4.25 log
10
HIV-1 DNA copies/10
6
PBMCs. In conclusion, we developed and assessed a new RTMP-HIV assay based on molecular beacons, using a LightCycler 2.0 instrument. This multiplex assay has comparable sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy to single real-time PCR assays.
Virological Response to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) and in Patients Dually Infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2 in The Gambia and Emergence of Drug-Resistant Variants
Authors: Jallow Sabelle , Alabi Abraham , Sarge-Njie Ramu , Peterson Kevin , Whittle Hilton , Corrah Tumani , Jaye Assan , Cotten Matthew , Vanham Guido , McConkey Samuel J. , Rowland-Jones Sarah , Janssens Wouter 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACTDrug design, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and drug resistance studies have focused almost exclusively on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), resulting in limited information for patients infected with HIV-2 and for those dually infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2. In this study, 20 patients, 12 infected with HIV-2 and 8 dually infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2, all treated with zidovudine (ZDV), lamivudine (3TC), and lopinavir-ritonavir (LPV/r), were followed up longitudinally for about 3 years. For 19/20 patients, viral loads were reduced to undetectable levels; the patient whose viral load remained detectable reported adverse effects associated with LPV/r that had caused him to stop taking all the drugs. HIV-2 strains containing mutations in both the protease and the reverse transcriptase gene that may confer drug resistance were observed in two patients with viral rebound, as early as 130 days (4.3 months) after the initiation of therapy. We conclude that the combination of ZDV, 3TC, and LPV/r is able to provide efficient and durable suppression of HIV-1 and HIV-2 for as long as 3 years in HIV-2-infected and dually infected patients. However, the emergence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains containing drug-resistant mutations can compromise the efficacy of this highly active ART.
Cohort Study of Molecular Identification and Typing of
Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium massiliense
, and
Mycobacterium bolletii
Authors: Zelazny Adrian M. , Root Jeremy M. , Shea Yvonne R. , Colombo Rhonda E. , Shamputa Isdore C. , Stock Frida , Conlan Sean , McNulty Steven , Brown-Elliott Barbara A. , Wallace Richard J. , Olivier Kenneth N. , Holland Steven M. , Sampaio Elizabeth P. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium abscessus
is the most common cause of rapidly growing mycobacterial chronic lung disease. Recently, two new
M. abscessus
-related species,
M. massiliense
and
M. bolletii
, have been described. Health care-associated outbreaks have recently been investigated by the use of molecular identification and typing tools; however, very little is known about the natural epidemiology and pathogenicity of
M. massiliense
or
M. bolletii
outside of outbreak situations. The differentiation of these two species from
M. abscessus
is difficult and relies on the sequencing of one or more housekeeping genes. We performed extensive molecular identification and typing of 42 clinical isolates of
M. abscessus, M. massiliense
, and
M. bolletii
from patients monitored at the NIH between 1999 and 2007. The corresponding clinical data were also examined. Partial sequencing of
rpoB, hsp65
, and
secA
led to the unambiguous identification of 26
M. abscessus
isolates, 7
M. massiliense
isolates, and 2
M. bolletii
isolates. The identification results for seven other isolates were ambiguous and warranted further sequencing and an integrated phylogenetic analysis. Strain relatedness was assessed by repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which showed the characteristic clonal groups for each species. Five isolates with ambiguous species identities as
M. abscessus
-
M. massiliense
by
rpoB, hsp
6
5
, and
secA
sequencing clustered as a distinct group by rep-PCR and PFGE together with the
M. massiliense
type strain. Overall, the clinical manifestations of disease caused by each species were similar. In summary, a multilocus sequencing approach (not just
rpoB
partial sequencing) is required for division of
M. abscessus
and closely related species. Molecular typing complements sequence-based identification and provides information on prevalent clones with possible relevant clinical aspects.
Study Comparing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Real-Time Multiplex PCR and Hybrid Capture II INNO-LiPA v2 HPV Genotyping PCR Assays
Authors: Iftner Thomas , Germ Liesje , Swoyer Ryan , Kjaer Susanne Kruger , Breugelmans J. Gabrielle , Munk Christian , Stubenrauch Frank , Antonello Joseph , Bryan Janine T. , Taddeo Frank J. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT
Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA genotyping is an essential test to establish efficacy in HPV vaccine clinical trials and HPV prevalence in natural history studies. A number of HPV DNA genotyping methods have been cited in the literature, but the comparability of the outcomes from the different methods has not been well characterized. Clinically, cytology is used to establish possible HPV infection. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of HPV multiplex PCR assays compared to those of the testing scheme of the Hybrid Capture II (HCII) assay followed by an HPV PCR/line hybridization assay (HCII-LiPA v2). SurePath residual samples were split into two aliquots. One aliquot was subjected to HCII testing followed by DNA extraction and LiPA v2 genotyping. The second aliquot was shipped to a second laboratory, where DNA was extracted and HPV multiplex PCR testing was performed. Comparisons were evaluated for 15 HPV types common in both assays. A slightly higher proportion of samples tested positive by the HPV multiplex PCR than by the HCII-LiPA v2 assay. The sensitivities of the multiplex PCR assay relative to those of the HCII-LiPA v2 assay for HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, for example, were 0.806, 0.646, 0.920, and 0.860, respectively; the specificities were 0.986, 0.998, 0.960, and 0.986, respectively. The overall comparability of detection of the 15 HPV types was quite high. Analyses of DNA genotype testing compared to cytology results demonstrated a significant discordance between cytology-negative (normal) and HPV DNA-positive results. This demonstrates the challenges of cytological diagnosis and the possibility that a significant number of HPV-infected cells may appear cytologically normal.
Chronic Brucellosis and Persistence of
Brucella melitensis
DNA
Authors: Castaño Maria Jesús , Solera Javier 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

After acute brucellosis infection, symptoms persist in a minority of patients for more than 1 year. Such patients are defined as having chronic brucellosis. Since no objective laboratory methods exist to confirm the presence of chronic disease, these patients suffer delays in both diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the usefulness of quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients. Thirty-five subjects with a well-documented history of brucellosis that had been diagnosed between 2 and 33 years previously were screened by Q-PCR for the presence of
Brucella melitensis
DNA and by serological tests and blood culture. Subjects were divided into three groups: 8 (23%) focal-disease subjects, 9 (26%) nonfocal-disease subjects with subjective complaints, such as fatigue, malaise, arthralgia, and/or myalgia, and 18 (51%) asymptomatic subjects. All (100%) focal-disease patients and symptomatic nonfocal-disease patients had at least one positive Q-PCR sample. Only six (33%) of the asymptomatic subjects had Q-PCR-positive samples (
P
< 0.05). Eleven patients (five focal-disease patients and six nonfocal-disease patients with subjective complaints) received therapy during the study. For those patients who completed treatment, six (60%) still had Q-PCR-positive samples at the posttreatment follow-up. The proportion of individuals with
B. melitensis
DNA was significantly higher for symptomatic nonfocal-disease patients than for asymptomatic subjects. Therefore, Q-PCR appears to be a useful method for identifying chronic brucellosis patients.
Early Upregulation of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome-Associated Cytokines Promotes Lethal Disease in an Aged-Mouse Model of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection
Authors: Rockx Barry , Baas Tracey , Zornetzer Gregory A. , Haagmans Bart , Sheahan Timothy , Frieman Matthew , Dyer Matthew D. , Teal Thomas H. , Proll Sean , van den Brand Judith , Baric Ralph , Katze Michael G. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT
Several respiratory viruses, including influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), produce more severe disease in the elderly, yet the molecular mechanisms governing age-related susceptibility remain poorly studied. Advanced age was significantly associated with increased SARS-related deaths, primarily due to the onset of early- and late-stage acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pulmonary fibrosis. Infection of aged, but not young, mice with recombinant viruses bearing spike glycoproteins derived from early human or palm civet isolates resulted in death accompanied by pathological changes associated with ARDS. In aged mice, a greater number of differentially expressed genes were observed than in young mice, whose responses were significantly delayed. Differences between lethal and nonlethal virus phenotypes in aged mice could be attributed to differences in host response kinetics rather than virus kinetics. SARS-CoV infection induced a range of interferon, cytokine, and pulmonary wound-healing genes, as well as several genes associated with the onset of ARDS. Mice that died also showed unique transcriptional profiles of immune response, apoptosis, cell cycle control, and stress. Cytokines associated with ARDS were significantly upregulated in animals experiencing lung pathology and lethal disease, while the same animals experienced downregulation of the ACE2 receptor. These data suggest that the magnitude and kinetics of a disproportionately strong host innate immune response contributed to severe respiratory stress and lethality. Although the molecular mechanisms governing ARDS pathophysiology remain unknown in aged animals, these studies reveal a strategy for dissecting the genetic pathways by which SARS-CoV infection induces changes in the host response, leading to death.
Identification of In Vivo-Interacting Domains of the Murine Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein
Authors: Hurst Kelley R. , Koetzner Cheri A. , Masters Paul S. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT
The coronavirus nucleocapsid protein (N), together with the large, positive-strand RNA viral genome, forms a helically symmetric nucleocapsid. This ribonucleoprotein structure becomes packaged into virions through association with the carboxy-terminal endodomain of the membrane protein (M), which is the principal constituent of the virion envelope. Previous work with the prototype coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) has shown that a major determinant of the N-M interaction maps to the carboxy-terminal domain 3 of the N protein. To explore other domain interactions of the MHV N protein, we expressed a series of segments of the MHV N protein as fusions with green fluorescent protein (GFP) during the course of viral infection. We found that two of these GFP-N-domain fusion proteins were selectively packaged into virions as the result of tight binding to the N protein in the viral nucleocapsid, in a manner that did not involve association with either M protein or RNA. The nature of each type of binding was further explored through genetic analysis. Our results defined two strongly interacting regions of the N protein. One is the same domain 3 that is critical for M protein recognition during assembly. The other is domain N1b, which corresponds to the N-terminal domain that has been structurally characterized in detail for two other coronaviruses, infectious bronchitis virus and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Induced Activation and Migration of Respiratory Dendritic Cells and Subsequent Antigen Presentation in the Lung-Draining Lymph Node
Authors: Lukens Michaël V. , Kruijsen Debby , Coenjaerts Frank E. J. , Kimpen Jan L. L. , van Bleek Grada M. 
Published: May 2009

ABSTRACT

In the respiratory tract, different dendritic cell (DC) populations guard a tight balance between tolerance and immunity to infectious or harmless materials to which the airways are continuously exposed. For infectious and noninfectious antigens administered via different routes, different subsets of DC might contribute during the induction of T-cell tolerance and immunity. We studied the impact of primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on respiratory DC composition in C57BL/6 mice. We also tracked the migration of respiratory DC to the lymph nodes and studied antigen presentation by lung-derived and lymph node-resident DC to CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells. We observed a massive influx of mainly CD103
−
CD11b
high
CD11c
+
conventional DC (cDC) and plasmacytoid DC during the first 7 days of RSV infection, while CD103
+
CD11b
low
CD11c
+
cDC disappeared from the lung. The two major subsets of lung tissue DC, CD103
+
CD11b
low
CD11c
+
and CD103
−
CD11b
high
CD11c
+
cDC, both transported RSV RNA to the lung-draining lymph node. Furthermore, these lung-derived cDC subsets as well as resident LN DC, which did not contain viral RNA, displayed viral antigen by major histocompatibility complex class I and class II to CD8
+
and CD4
+
T cells. Taken together, our data indicate that during RSV infections, at least three DC subsets might be involved during the activation of lymph node-homing naïve and memory CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells.