bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recombinant Human Thyrotropin Administration Enhances Thyroid Uptake of Radioactive Iodine in Hyperthyroid Cats
Authors: Van Hoek I. , Daminet S. , Vandermeulen E. , Dobbeleir A. , Duchateau L. , Peremans K. 
Published: January 2009

Background:Hyperthyroidism is the most diagnosed endocrine disorder in cats and radioiodine (131I) is the treatment of choice. The dose emission rate and radioactivity in urine, saliva, and on hair and paws are determined by the dose of administered131I. A dose reduction of therapeutic131I could possibly be achieved after recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) administration as in humans with nodular goiter.Hypothesis:rhTSH will increase radioiodine uptake in hyperthyroid cats.Animals:Five hyperthyroid cats.Methods:Twenty‐five micrograms rhTSH (day 1) or 2 mL 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) (day 9) was injected IV. One hour later, 11.4 ± 4.1 (mean ± SD) MBq123I was injected IV. Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) was measured 6, 12, and 24 hours after rhTSH (RAIU‐rhTSH) or NaCl (RAIU‐blanco) injection. Blood samples for measurement of TT4 were taken before injection of rhTSH or NaCl (TT40) and at the time of imaging.Results:Percentages of RAIU‐rhTSH (and RAIU‐blanco) at 6, 12, and 24 hours after administration of rhTSH were 34 ± 18 (31 ± 21), 46 ± 20 (38 ± 18), and 47 ± 15 (36 ± 14). There was a statistically significant effect of rhTSH administration on RAIU (P= .043) but not on serum TT4 concentration. Baseline serum TT40concentration influenced RAIU‐rhTSH significantly at 6 hours (P= .037).Conclusion and Clinical Importance:The increased RAIU observed after rhTSH administration in hyperthyroid cats could lead to a lower therapeutic dose of131I after rhTSH administration in hyperthyroid cats and decreased risk of environmental and owner contamination during and after hospitalization.
Vegetative Endocarditis in Equids (1994–2006)
Authors: Porter S.R. , Saegerman C. , Van Galen G. , Sandersen C. , Delguste C. , Guyot H. , Amory H. 
Published: January 2009

Background:Endocarditis is a rare heart condition with variable clinical expressions in equids. Risk factors for this disease are incompletely understood.Objective:Describe risk factors for endocarditis in equids.Animals:One hundred and fifty‐three equids admitted to Liège University, 9 diagnosed with endocarditis and 144 free from endocarditis but admitted to the hospital with a differential diagnosis including this disease.Methods:Retrospective case‐control study.Results:Equids with endocarditis were significantly younger (mean age = 4.84 ± 5.74 years) than control equids (mean age = 10.8 ± 7.73 years) (P= .01). No sex or breed predisposition was observed. Animals with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR] = 24.4; confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–428), synovial distension (OR = 13.4; CI = 3.00–59.8), lameness (OR = 6.52; CI = 1.63–26.1), hyperglobulinemia (OR = 26.4; CI = 3.03–229), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 11.4; CI = 1.34–96.8), hyperfibrinogenemia (OR = 9.81; CI = 1.16–82.7), or leukocytosis (OR = 7.12; CI = 1.40–36.4) presented a significantly higher risk of having endocarditis than control horses. The presence of two of the clinical signs mentioned above significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis (P≤ .05).Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Age is associated with equine endocarditis. The diagnostic value of certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters in this disease are described.
Efficacy of Vinblastine for Treatment of Canine Mast Cell Tumors
Authors: Rassnick K.M. , Bailey D.B. , Flory A.B. , Balkman C.E. , Kiselow M.A. , Intile J.L. , Autio K. 
Published: January 2009

Background: The optimal dosage and clinical efficacy of vinblastine (VBL) for treatment of mast cell tumors (MCTs) in dogs has not been established.Hypothesis: Single‐agent VBL has antitumor activity against MCTs in dogs.Animals: Fifty‐one dogs with nonresectable grade II or III cutaneous MCTs.Methods: Prospective, open clinical trial. Dogs were systematically allocated (by hospital record number) to receive IV treatment with VBL at a dosage of 2.0 mg/m2 (weekly for 4 treatments then biweekly for 4 treatments; VBL 2.0) or treatment with VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m2 (biweekly for 5 treatments; VBL 3.5). The primary outcome measure was reduction in tumor size.Results: Twenty‐five dogs were allocated to the VBL 2.0 group and 26 were allocated to the VBL 3.5 group. In the VBL 2.0 group, 3 (12%) had a partial response (PR) for a median of 77 days (range, 48–229 days). Overall response rate in the VBL 3.5 group was 27%. One dog (4%) had a complete response for 63 days and 6 dogs (23%) had a PR for a median of 28 days (range, 28–78 days). Toxicoses were uncommon in the VBL 2.0 group. Twelve (46%) dogs in the VBL 3.5 group had <500 neutrophils/μL 7 days after treatment; 2 dogs with neutropenia developed concurrent fevers.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: VBL, when used as a single‐agent, has activity against MCTs in dogs although the response rate is lower than those reported for VBL‐containing combination protocols. Further, findings suggest VBL at a dosage of 3.5 mg/m2 should be considered for use in future phase II/III trials.
Remission of Diabetes Mellitus in Cats with Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Authors: Sieber‐Ruckstuhl N.S. , Kley S. , Tschuor F. , Zini E. , Ohlerth S. , Boretti F.S. , Reusch C.E. 
Published: January 2009

Background:Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has long been considered a key clinical feature of type‐1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans although. An increasing number of cases of ketoacidosis have been reported in people with type‐2 DM.Hypothesis/Objectives:Cats initially diagnosed with DKA can achieve remission from diabetes. Cats with DKA and diabetic remission are more likely to have been administered glucocorticoids before diagnosis.Animals:Twelve cats with DKA and 7 cats with uncomplicated DM.Methods:Retrospective case review. Medical records of cats presenting with DKA or DM were evaluated. Diabetic remission was defined as being clinically unremarkable for at least 1 month after insulin withdrawal. The cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) cats with DKA and diabetic remission; (2) cats with DKA without diabetic remission; and (3) cats with DM and diabetic remission.Results:Seven cats with DKA had remission from diabetes. These cats had significantly higher concentrations of leukocytes and segmented neutrophils, and significantly lower concentrations of eosinophils in blood and had pancreatic disease more often than did cats with uncomplicated DM and diabetic remission. With regard to pretreatment, 3/7 cats in group 1, 1/5 cats in group 2, and 1/7 cats in group 3 had been treated with glucocorticoids.Conclusions and Clinical Importance:Remission of DM in cats presenting with DKA is possible. Cats with DKA and remission have more components of a stress leucogram, pancreatic disease, and seemed to be treated more often with glucocorticoids than cats with uncomplicated DM and diabetic remission.
Amiodarone Destabilizes Intracellular Ca
2+
Homeostasis and Biosynthesis of Sterols in
Leishmania mexicana
Authors: Serrano-Martín Xenón , García-Marchan Yael , Fernandez Alexis , Rodriguez Noris , Rojas Hector , Visbal Gonzalo , Benaim Gustavo 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Leishmaniasis represents a serious public health problem worldwide. The first line of treatment is based on glucantime and pentostan, which generate toxic effects in treated patients. We have recently shown that amiodarone, frequently used as an antiarrhythmic, possesses activity against
Trypanosoma cruzi
through the disruption of mitochondrial Ca
2+
homeostasis and the inhibition of parasite ergosterol biosynthesis, specifically at the level of oxidosqualene cyclase activity (G. Benaim, J. Sanders, Y. Garcia-Marchan, C. Colina, R. Lira, A. Caldera, G. Payares, C. Sanoja, J. Burgos, A. Leon-Rossell, J. Concepcion, A. Schijman, M. Levin, E. Oldfield, and J. Urbina, J. Med. Chem. 49:892-899, 2006). Here we show that at therapeutic concentrations, amiodarone has a profound effect on the viability of
Leishmania mexicana
promastigotes. Additionally, its effect on the viability of the parasite was greater against intracellular amastigotes than against promastigotes, and it did not affect the host cell. Using fluorimetric and confocal microscopy techniques, we also demonstrated that the mechanism of action of amiodarone was related to the disruption of intracellular Ca
2+
homeostasis through a direct action not only on the mitochondria but also on the acidocalcisomes. On the other hand, analysis of the free sterols in promastigotes incubated with amiodarone showed that this drug also affected the biosynthesis of 5-dehydroepisterol, which results in squalene accumulation, thus suggesting that amiodarone inhibits the squalene epoxidase activity of the parasite. Taken together, the results obtained in the present work point to a more general effect of amiodarone in trypanosomatids, opening potential therapeutic possibilities for this infectious disease.
Transcriptional Signature following Inhibition of Early-Stage Cell Wall Biosynthesis in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: O'Neill A. J. , Lindsay J. A. , Gould K. , Hinds J. , Chopra I. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

To facilitate mode of action studies on antibacterial inhibitors of early-stage cell wall biosynthesis (CWB), we determined the transcriptional response of
Staphylococcus aureus
to depletion/inhibition of enzymes in this pathway by DNA microarray analysis. We identified a transcriptional signature distinct from that previously observed following exposure to inhibitors of late-stage CWB.
Temporal Appearance of Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Genes
Authors: Jacoby George A. , Gacharna Nancy , Black Todd A. , Miller George H. , Hooper David C. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

One hundred fifty AAC(6′)-Ib-positive gram-negative isolates collected between 1981 and 1991 were examined by PCR for the presence of the
aac(6
′
)-Ib-cr
variant and other plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes. None had the
aac(6
′
)-Ib-cr
variant,
qnrA
,
qnrS
,
qnrC
, or
qepA
, but two strains collected in 1988 had
qnrB
alleles, making these the earliest known PMQR genes.
Optimization and Validation of a Multiplex, Electrochemiluminescence-Based Detection Assay for the Quantitation of Immunoglobulin G Serotype-Specific Antipneumococcal Antibodies in Human Serum
Authors: Marchese Rocio D. , Puchalski Derek , Miller Pamela , Antonello Joseph , Hammond Olivia , Green Tina , Rubinstein Leonard J. , Caulfield Michael J. , Sikkema Daniel 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Pneumovax 23 consists of a mixture of highly purified capsular polysaccharides (Ps) from 23 of the most prevalent serotypes of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
. Testing of vaccine immunogenicity has been historically performed on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) platform, validated to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to all 23 serotypes included in Pneumovax 23. In order to significantly improve the throughput of this form of testing, we have developed and validated a direct binding electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based multiplex assay that can measure the antibody response in human serum to eight serotypes within a single microtiter well. The pneumococcal (Pn) ECL assay is based on the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) technology which utilizes a Sulfo-Tag-labeled anti-human IgG antibody that emits light upon electrochemical stimulation. The Pn ECL assay exhibits a wide dynamic range and provides the ability to read concentrations down to the minimum reported concentration in the Merck ELISA (0.1 μg/ml). Cross-reactivity assessment using type-specific monoclonal antibodies showed no cross talk between antigen spots within a well. By use of the WHO Pn sample reference panel, the results obtained with the Pn ECL assay were compared to the results obtained with the international Pn ELISA. The results for the Pn ECL assay satisfied the WHO-recommended acceptance criterion for concordance for all seven serotypes with published Pn ELISA values, and the overall correlation (
r
value) across the seven serotypes was 0.994. The MSD methodology has great potential to be extremely useful for simultaneously quantitating IgG responses to several Pn serotypes while conserving serum volumes and laboratory testing time.
Multilocus Sequence Types Associated with Neonatal Group B Streptococcal Sepsis and Meningitis in Canada
Authors: Manning Shannon D. , Springman A. Cody , Lehotzky Erica , Lewis Maggi A. , Whittam Thomas S. , Davies H. Dele 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Group B streptococci (GBS), a leading cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis, are transferred to neonates from colonized mothers during childbirth. Prior studies using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) have found specific GBS clones (e.g., sequence type 17 [ST-17]) to be associated with neonatal disease in several geographic locations. Few population-based studies, however, have been conducted to determine the frequency of disease caused by specific GBS clones. MLST was used to assess the genetic diversity of 192 GBS strains from neonates and young children identified by population-based surveillance in Alberta, Canada, from 1993 to 2002. Comparisons were made to 232 GBS strains collected from colonized pregnant women, and all strains were characterized for one of nine capsule (
cps
) genotypes. A total of 47 STs were identified, and more than 80% of GBS strains were represented by 7 STs that have been shown to predominate in other populations. ST-17 and ST-19 were more prevalent in strains causing early onset disease (EOD) and late onset disease (LOD) than from pregnant women, whereas STs 1, 12, and 23 were more common in pregnant women. In addition, ST-17 strains and close relatives more frequently caused meningitis than sepsis and LOD versus EOD in this population of neonates. Further research is required to better understand why strains belonging to the ST-17 phylogenetic lineage are more likely to cause both LOD and meningitis and may provide clues into the pathogenesis of these conditions.
First Evaluation of the WASP, a New Automated Microbiology Plating Instrument
Authors: Bourbeau Paul P. , Swartz Brandi Lynn 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
Many laboratories are experiencing growing shortages of trained microbiology technologists and technicians. Consequently, there is considerable interest in new automation that could potentially lessen labor demands for specimen processing. In this study, we present the first published evaluation of a new microbiology instrument, the Walk Away Specimen Processor (WASP), manufactured by Copan, Inc., in which we evaluated cross-contamination, the accuracy of plating, and the quality of the results. The absence of cross-contamination was demonstrated by plating a total of 200 alternating inoculated and sterile specimen tubes. The ability of the WASP to subculture enrichment broths was evaluated with 106 Lim broth specimens, with the results being identical to those obtained by testing by routine methods. Plating of urine specimens with the WASP was compared to plating with the Dynacon Inoculab instrument. Three hundred specimens were plated in duplicate on both instruments with 1-μl loops, and 293 specimens were plated in duplicate on both instruments with 10-μl loops. The results of duplicate plating with the same instrument (replicate plating) and of the consensus agreement between the two instruments were compared. The replicate plating results were comparable for both instruments, while the WASP had more specimens with significant results than the Inoculab with the 1-μl loop only. Lastly, for the plating of 113 specimens in ESwab tubes, the manual method and WASP plating each yielded 90 potential pathogens. In summary, we report the first evaluation of a new microbiology specimen-plating instrument, the WASP, which offers opportunities for the automated plating of microbiology specimens to an extent that has not been possible to date.
Demonstration of Sustained Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Lineages Circulating among Treatment-Naïve Individuals
Authors: Hué Stéphane , Gifford Robert J. , Dunn David , Fernhill Esther , Pillay Deenan 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTTransmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance is well-recognized and compromises response to first-line therapy. However, the population dynamics of transmitted resistance remains unclear, although previous models have assumed that such transmission reflects direct infection from treated individuals. We investigated whether population-based phylogenetic analyses would uncover lineages of resistant viruses circulating in untreated individuals. Through the phylogenetic analysis of 14,061 HIV type 1 (HIV-1)polgene sequences generated in the United Kingdom from both treatment-naïve and -experienced individuals, we identified five treatment-independent viral clusters containing mutations conferring cross-resistance to antiretroviral drugs prescribed today in the United Kingdom. These viral lineages represent sustainable reservoirs of resistance among new HIV infections, independent of treatment. Dated phylogenies reconstructed through Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo inference indicated that these reservoirs originated between 1997 and 2003 and have persisted in the HIV-infected population for up to 8 years. Since our cohort does not represent all infected individuals within the United Kingdom, our results are likely to underestimate the number and size of the resistant reservoirs circulating among drug-naïve patients. The existence of sustained reservoirs of resistance in the absence of treatment has the capacity to threaten the long-term efficacy of antiretroviral therapy and suggests there is a limit to the decline of transmitted drug resistance. Given the current decrease in resistance transmitted from treated individuals, a greater proportion of resistance is likely to come from drug-naïve lineages. These findings provide new insights for the planning and management of treatment programs in resource-rich and developing countries.
Dual Roles for an Arginine-Rich Motif in Specific Genome Recognition and Localization of Viral Coat Protein to RNA Replication Sites in Flock House Virus-Infected Cells
Authors: Venter P. Arno , Marshall Dawn , Schneemann Anette 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Assembly of many RNA viruses entails the encapsidation of multiple genome segments into a single virion, and underlying mechanisms for this process are still poorly understood. In the case of the nodavirus
Flock House virus
(FHV), a bipartite positive-strand RNA genome consisting of RNA1 and RNA2 is copackaged into progeny virions. In this study, we investigated whether the specific packaging of FHV RNA is dependent on an arginine-rich motif (ARM) located in the N terminus of the coat protein. Our results demonstrate that the replacement of all arginine residues within this motif with alanines rendered the resultant coat protein unable to package RNA1, suggesting that the ARM represents an important determinant for the encapsidation of this genome segment. In contrast, replacement of all arginines with lysines had no effect on RNA1 packaging. Interestingly, confocal microscopic analysis demonstrated that the RNA1 packaging-deficient mutant did not localize to mitochondrial sites of FHV RNA replication as efficiently as wild-type coat protein. In addition, gain-of-function analyses showed that the ARM by itself was sufficient to target green fluorescent protein to RNA replication sites. These data suggest that the packaging of RNA1 is dependent on trafficking of coat protein to mitochondria, the presumed site of FHV assembly, and that this trafficking requires a high density of positive charge in the N terminus. Our results are compatible with a model in which recognition of RNA1 and RNA2 for encapsidation occurs sequentially and in distinct cellular microenvironments.
Peptidylproline
cis
-
trans
-Isomerase Pin1 Interacts with Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Tax and Modulates Its Activation of NF-κB
Authors: Peloponese Jean-Marie , Yasunaga Junichiro , Kinjo Takao , Watashi Koichi , Jeang Kuan-Teh 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus etiologically causal of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). The virus encodes a Tax oncoprotein that functions in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle control, and transformation. ATL is a highly virulent cancer that is resistant to chemotherapeutic treatments. To understand this disease better, it is important to comprehend how HTLV-1 promotes cellular growth and survival. Tax activation of NF-κB is important for the proliferation and transformation of virus-infected cells. We show here that prolyl isomerase Pin1 is over expressed in HTLV-1 cell lines; Pin1 binds Tax and regulates Tax-induced NF-κB activation.
Differential Neutralization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Replication in Autologous CD4 T Cells by HIV-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
Authors: Chen Huabiao , Piechocka-Trocha Alicja , Miura Toshiyuki , Brockman Mark A. , Julg Boris D. , Baker Brett M. , Rothchild Alissa C. , Block Brian L. , Schneidewind Arne , Koibuchi Tomohiko , Pereyra Florencia , Allen Todd M. , Walker Bruce D. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTDefining the antiviral efficacy of CD8 T cells is important for immunogen design, and yet most current assays do not measure the ability of responses to neutralize infectious virus. Here we show that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clones and cell lines derived from infected persons and targeting diverse epitopes differ by over 1,000-fold in their ability to retard infectious virus replication in autologous CD4 T cells during a 7-day period in vitro, despite comparable activity as assessed by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Cell lines derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated in vitro with peptides representing targeted Gag epitopes consistently neutralized HIV better than Env-specific lines from the same person, although ineffective inhibition of virus replication is not a universal characteristic of Env-specific responses at the clonal level. Gag-specific cell lines were of higher avidity than Env-specific lines, although avidity did not correlate with the ability of Gag- or Env-specific lines to contain HIV replication. The greatest inhibition was observed with cell lines restricted by the protective HLA alleles B*27 and B*57, but stimulation with targeted Gag epitopes resulted in greater inhibition than did stimulation with targeted Env epitopes even in non-B*27/B*57 subjects. These results assessing functional virus neutralization by HIV-specific CD8 T cells indicate that there are marked epitope- and allele-specific differences in virus neutralization by in vitro-expanded CD8 T cells, a finding not revealed by standard IFN-γ ELISPOT assay currently in use in vaccine trials, which may be of critical importance in immunogen design and testing of candidate AIDS vaccines.
Nucleotide Sequence Requirements at the 5′ End of the Influenza A Virus M RNA Segment for Efficient Virus Replication
Authors: Ozawa Makoto , Maeda Junko , Iwatsuki-Horimoto Kiyoko , Watanabe Shinji , Goto Hideo , Horimoto Taisuke , Kawaoka Yoshihiro 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
The mechanism by which the influenza A virus genome is packaged into virions is not fully understood. The coding and noncoding regions necessary for packaging of the viral RNA segments, except for the M segment, have been identified. Here, we delineate the M segment regions by incorporating a reporter viral RNA into virions and by generating viruses possessing mutations in the regions. We found that, like the other segments, the M segment coding regions are essential for virion incorporation and that the nucleotide length rather than the nucleotide sequence of the 5′ end of the coding region is important.