bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of Interleukin-8 Receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR2) in Premenopausal Women with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Smithson Alex , Sarrias Maria Rosa , Barcelo Juanjo , Suarez Belen , Horcajada Juan Pablo , Soto Sara Maria , Soriano Alex , Vila Jordi , Martinez Jose Antonio , Vives Jordi , Mensa Jose , Lozano Francisco 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTThe migration of neutrophils through infected tissues is mediated by the CXC chemokines and its receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR2). It has been proposed that a CXCR1 deficiency could confer susceptibility to acute pyelonephritis in children. The objective of the study is to assess the surface expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 and the existence of polymorphisms in theCXCR1gene in premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections. The study included 20 premenopausal women with recurrent urinary infections, with normal urinary tracts, and without diseases potentially associated with relapsing urinary infections and 30 controls without previous urinary infections. The levels of CXCR1 and CXCR2 expression on neutrophils were measured and analyzed by flow cytometry by measuring the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) channel. The promoter and coding regions of theCXCR1gene were analyzed for the presence of polymorphisms by a sequence-based typing method. Patients with recurrent urinary tract infections exhibited median levels of CXCR1 expression, determined from MFI values, similar to those of the controls. The analysis of CXCR2 showed that patients with recurrent urinary infections had lower median levels of expression, determined from the MFI values, than the controls (P= 0.002, Mann-Whitney U test). No polymorphisms were detected at the promoter or at the exon 1 region of theCXCR1gene either in the patients or in the controls. Polymorphisms were detected at the exon 2 ofCXCR1, but their frequencies did not differ between patients and controls. We have found a low level of CXCR2 expression in patients with recurrent urinary tract infections. These results suggest that a low level of CXCR2 expression may increase the susceptibilities of premenopausal women to urinary tract infections.
Mycoplasma alligatorisInfection Promotes CD95 (FasR) Expression and Apoptosis of Primary Cardiac Fibroblasts
Authors: Hunt M. E. , Brown D. R. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTMycoplasma alligatoriscauses acute lethal primary infection of susceptible hosts. A genome survey implicated sialidase and hyaluronidase, potential promoters of CD95-mediated eukaryotic cell death, as virulence factors ofM. alligatoris. We used immunofluorescence imaging and flow cytometry to examine the effects ofM. alligatorisinfection in vitro on CD95 expression and apoptosis by alligator cardiac fibroblasts, a major cell type of a target organ ofM. alligatorisinfection in vivo. A uniform distribution of CD95 in primary cultured cardiac, skeletal muscle, and embryonic fibroblasts was demonstrated by using polyclonal antibodies against the N or C terminus of mouse or human CD95. Anti-CD95 antibodies reacted on Western blots of fibroblast lysates with a band with the predicted apparent molecular weight of CD95, but soluble CD95 was not detected in plasma from control orM. alligatoris-infected alligators. The proportion of CD95-gated cardiac fibroblasts increased threefold (P< 0.01) 48 h after inoculation withM. alligatoris. Infection induced morphological changes in cardiac fibroblasts, including translocation of CD95 characteristic of apoptosis and an eightfold increase (P< 0.16) in 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation measured in a terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick end-labeling apoptosis assay. The proportion of BrdU-gated controls activated with agonistic immunoglobulin M against human CD95 also increased threefold (P< 0.03 for muscle). Heat-inactivatedM. alligatorisand sterileM. alligatoris-conditioned culture supernatant had no effect. This is the first report of a CD95 homolog in the class Reptilia and establishes a new model that can be used to test the direct bacterial interaction with upstream components of the CD95 signal transduction pathway.
Lactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 AttenuatesHelicobacter pylori-Associated Gastritis and Reduces Levels of Proinflammatory Chemokines in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Sgouras Dionyssios N. , Panayotopoulou Effrosini G. , Martinez-Gonzalez Beatriz , Petraki Kalliopi , Michopoulos Spyros , Mentis Αndreas 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTIn clinical settings,Lactobacillus johnsoniiLa1 administration has been reported to have a favorable effect onHelicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, although the mechanism remains unclear. We administered, continuously through the water supply, live La1 toH. pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice and followed colonization, the development ofH. pylori-associated gastritis in the lamina propria, and the levels of proinflammatory chemokinesmacrophageinflammatoryprotein 2 (MIP-2) andkeratinocyte-derivedcytokine (KC) in the serum and gastric tissue over a period of 3 months. We documented a significant attenuation in both lymphocytic (P= 0.038) and neutrophilic (P= 0.003) inflammatory infiltration in the lamina propria as well as in the circulating levels of anti-H. pyloriimmunoglobulin G antibodies (P= 0.003), although we did not observe a suppressive effect of La1 onH. pyloricolonizing numbers. Other lactobacilli, such asL. amylovorusDCE 471 andL. acidophilusIBB 801, did not attenuateH. pylori-associated gastritis to the same extent. MIP-2 serum levels were distinctly reduced during the early stages ofH. pyloriinfection in the La1-treated animals, as were gastric mucosal levels of MIP-2 and KC. Finally, we also observed a significant reduction (P= 0.046) inH. pylori-induced interleukin-8 secretion by human adenocarcinoma AGS cells in vitro in the presence of neutralized (pH 6.8) La1 spent culture supernatants, without concomitant loss ofH. pyloriviability. These observations suggest that during the early infection stages, administration of La1 can attenuateH. pylori-induced gastritis in vivo, possibly by reducing proinflammatory chemotactic signals responsible for the recruitment of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the lamina propria.
Modulation of Antibody-Mediated Immune Response by Probiotics in Chickens
Authors: Haghighi Hamid R. , Gong Jianhua , Gyles Carlton L. , Hayes M. Anthony , Sanei Babak , Parvizi Payvand , Gisavi Haris , Chambers James R. , Sharif Shayan 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

Probiotic bacteria, including
Lactobacillus acidophilus
and
Bifidobacterium bifidum
, have been shown to enhance antibody responses in mammals. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a probiotic product containing the above bacteria in addition to
Streptococcus faecalis
on the induction of the chicken antibody response to various antigens, both systemically and in the gut. The birds received probiotics via oral gavage and subsequently were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to evaluate antibody responses in serum or with tetanus toxoid (TT) to measure the mucosal antibody response in gut contents. Control groups received phosphate-buffered saline. Overall, BSA and SRBC induced a detectable antibody response as early as week 1 postimmunization (p.i.), which lasted until week 3 p.i. Probiotic-treated birds had significantly (
P
≤ 0.001) more serum antibody (predominantly immunoglobulin M [IgM]) to SRBC than the birds that were not treated with probiotics. However, treatment with probiotics did not enhance the serum IgM and IgG antibody responses to BSA. Immunization with TT resulted in the presence of specific IgA and IgG antibody responses in the gut. Again, treatment with probiotics did not change the level or duration of the antibody response in the gut. In conclusion, probiotics enhance the systemic antibody response to some antigens in chickens, but it remains to be seen whether probiotics have an effect on the generation of the mucosal antibody response.
Local and Systemic Immune and Inflammatory Responses to
Helicobacter pylori
Strains
Authors: Bhat Niranjan , Gaensbauer James , Peek Richard M. , Bloch Karen , Tham Kyi-Toe , Blaser Martin J. , Perez-Perez Guillermo 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

Colonization with
Helicobacter pylori
eventuates in varied clinical outcomes, which relate to both bacterial and host factors. Here we examine the relationships between
cagA
status, serum and gastric juice antibody responses, and gastric inflammation in dyspeptic patients. Serum, gastric juice, and gastric biopsy specimens were obtained from 89 patients undergoing endoscopy.
H. pylori
colonization and
cagA
status were determined by histology, culture, and PCR methods, and acute inflammation and chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa were scored by a single pathologist. Serum and gastric juice antibodies to
H. pylori
whole-cell and CagA antigens were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relationships between variables were sequentially analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Of the 89 subjects, 62 were colonized by
H. pylori
. By univariate analyses, levels of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA and gastric juice IgA antibodies against whole-cell and CagA antigens each were significantly higher in the
H. pylori-
positive group than in the
H. pylori
-negative group (
P
< 0.001).
H. pylori
and CagA seropositivities were both significantly associated with enhanced inflammation in gastric antrum and body (
P
< 0.02). The presence of gastric juice antibodies to
H. pylori
antigens was associated with more severe gastric inflammation. However, in multivariate analyses, only the presence of serum antibodies against CagA and, to a lesser extent, whole-cell antigens remained significantly associated with acute and chronic inflammation in antrum and body (
P
< 0.05). Thus, serum antibody response to CagA correlates with severity of gastric inflammation. Furthermore, given the relationships demonstrated by multivariate analysis, determination of gastric juice antibodies may provide a better representation of serum, rather than secretory, immune response.
Immunoglobulin G1 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Diagnosis of Johne's Disease in Red Deer (
Cervus elaphus
)
Authors: Griffin J. Frank T. , Spittle Evelyn , Rodgers Christie R. , Liggett Simon , Cooper Marc , Bakker Douwe , Bannantine John P. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to develop a customized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serodiagnosis of Johne's disease (JD) in farmed deer. Two antigens were selected on the basis of their superior diagnostic readouts: denatured purified protein derivative (PPDj) and undenatured protoplasmic antigen (PpAg). ELISA development was based on the antigen reactivity of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) isotype, which is a highly specific marker for mycobacterial disease seroreactivity in deer. Sensitivity estimates and test parameters were established using 102
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
-infected animals from more than 10 deer herds, and specificity estimates were determined using 508 uninfected animals from 5 known disease-free herds. A receiver-operated characteristic analysis determined that at a cut point of 50 ELISA units, there was a specificity of 99.5% and sensitivities of 84.0% with PPDj antigen, 88.0% with PpAg, and 91.0% when the antigens were used serially in a composite test. Estimated sensitivity was further improved using recombinant protein antigens unique for
M. paratuberculosis
, which identified infected animals that were unreactive to PPDj or PpAg. While 80% of animals that were seropositive in the IgG1 ELISA had detectable histopathology, the assay could also detect animals with subclinical disease. The test was significantly less sensitive (75%) for animals that were culture positive for
M. paratuberculosis
but with no detectable pathology than for those with pathological evidence of JD (>90%). When the IgG1 ELISA was used annually over a 4-year period in a deer herd with high levels of clinical JD, it eliminated clinical disease, increased production levels, and reduced JD-related mortality.
Application of an Improved Method for the Recombinant K39 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay To Detect Visceral Leishmaniasis Disease and Infection in Bangladesh
Authors: Kurkjian K. M. , Vaz L. E. , Haque R. , Cetre-Sossah C. , Akhter S. , Roy S. , Steurer F. , Amann J. , Ali M. , Chowdhury R. , Wagatsuma Y. , Williamson J. , Crawford S. , Breiman R. F. , Maguire J. H. , Bern C. , Secor W. E. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

Several serology-based immunoassays are used to diagnose visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a chronic protozoan parasitic disease caused by the
Leishmania donovani
complex. These tests are primarily designed to diagnose the most severe clinical form of VL, known as kala-azar. However, leishmanial infection is frequently asymptomatic and may manifest only as a positive serologic response or positive leishmanin skin test. We modified a previously described enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that detects patient antibodies reactive with the recombinant
Leishmania
protein K39 (rK39) to confirm suspected kala-azar and to detect asymptomatic infection in a community study in Bangladesh. With the inclusion of a standard curve on each ELISA plate, the rK39 ELISA was more repeatable (kappa coefficient of agreement = 0.970) and more reliable compared to the original method (kappa = 0.587,
P
< 0.001). The cutoff point for a positive antibody response was chosen based on the 99th percentile of the ELISA distribution for the negative-control sera. However, we found that sera from all patients with active kala-azar yielded values more than twice the magnitude of this cutoff. Using receiver-operator characteristic curves, we determined a second cutoff value predictive of kala-azar. Using these criteria, the sensitivity and specificity of the modified ELISA for kala-azar were 97.0% and 98.9%, respectively, for sera from our study population. We hypothesize that individuals with antibody levels greater than the 99th percentile of the negative controls but less than the cutoff point for kala-azar have asymptomatic leishmanial infections.
Evaluation of a New Single-Parameter Volumetric Flow Cytometer (CyFlow
green
) for Enumeration of Absolute CD4
+
T Lymphocytes in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Thai Patients
Authors: Pattanapanyasat Kovit , Lerdwana Surada , Noulsri Egarit , Chaowanachan Thanyanan , Wasinrapee Punneeporn , Sakulploy Natthaga , Pobkeeree Vallerut , Suksripanich Orapin , Thanprasertsuk Sombat , Spira Thomas J. , Tappero Jordan W. , Levine William C. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

Use of the standard dual-platform flow cytometric method for determination of CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts, which needs both a flow cytometer (FCM) and hematological analyzer, would inevitably lead to increased variability. The development of new single-platform (SP) FCMs that provide direct CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts for improved assay precision and accuracy have recently attracted attention. This study evaluated one of those systems, CyFlow
green
(Partec), a single-parameter SP volumetric FCM. The performance of CyFlow
green
was compared with those of two reference standard SP microbead-based technologies of the three-color TruCOUNT tube with the FACScan FCM and a two-color FACSCount system (Becton Dickinson Biosciences). Absolute CD4
+
and CD8
+
T-lymphocyte counts in 200 human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive blood specimens were determined. Statistical analysis for correlation and agreement were performed. A high correlation of absolute CD4 counts was shown when those obtained with CyFlow
green
were compared with those obtained with the bead-based three-color TruCOUNT system (
R
2
= 0.96; mean bias, −69.1 cells/μl; 95% confidence interval [CI], −225.7 to +87.5 cells/μl) and the FACSCount system (
R
2
= 0.97; mean bias, −40.0 cells/μl; 95% CI, −165.1 to +85.1 cells/μl). The correlation of the CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts obtained by the two bead-based systems was high (
R
2
= 0.98). Interestingly, CyFlow
green
yielded CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts that were 21.8 and 7.2 cells/μl lower than those obtained with the TruCOUNT and the FACSCount systems, respectively, when CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts were <250 CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts/μl range or 17.3 and 5.8 cells/μl less, respectively, when CD4
+
T-lymphocyte counts were <200 cells/μl. The single-parameter CyFlow
green
volumetric technology performed well in comparison with the performance of the standard SP bead-based FCM system. However, a multicenter comparative study is needed before this FCM machine is implemented in resource-limited settings.
Evaluation and Diagnostic Usefulness of Domestic and Imported Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Antibody in India
Authors: Iqbal H. Syed , Solomon Suniti , Murugavel K. G. , Solomon Sunil Suhas , Balakrishnan P. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

Diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is important for patient management and prevention of new infections. The number of test kits available for the detection of HIV antibodies is unprecedented. In order to identify appropriate test kits, we evaluated a variety of commercial kits manufactured abroad as well as in India. The plasma and serum specimens (
n
= 264) were collected from individuals attending the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre at the YRG Centre for AIDS and Education. The specimens were used to evaluate six commercially available HIV test kits: Enzaids HIV 1+2, HIV-CheX, Murex HIV-1.2.0, Genscreen HIV 1/2 version 2, Vironostika HIV Uni-Form II Ag/Ab, and CombAids RS Advantage. High sensitivities and specificities (≥99%) were observed for the Enzaids, Murex, Vironostika, and CombAids assays. HIV-CheX showed the highest number of false-positive and false-negative results. The Genscreen test also gave many false positives. The study indicated that the Enzaids, Murex, and Vironostika enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and the CombAids RS Advantage rapid assay could be used to achieve acceptable results for the detection of HIV antibodies. A combination of two tests is recommended to optimize the efficiency of HIV antibody testing algorithms, especially when evaluation with an HIV Western blot confirmatory test is not possible.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody Levels in Subjects Receiving Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination in Infancy in an Area of Hyperendemicity: Correlation between Radioimmunoassay and Enzyme Immunoassay
Authors: Wang Ching-Wen , Wang Li-Chieh , Chang Mei-Hwei , Ni Yen-Hsuan , Chen Huey-Ling , Hsu Hong-Yuan , Chen Ding-Shin 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT

The aims of the present study were to determine (i) the long-term immunogenicity and the decay rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antibody (anti-HBs) from universal hepatitis B vaccination at infancy for a healthy population in an area of hyperendemicity and (ii) whether the anti-HBs levels measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were closely correlated with those assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods during long-term monitoring. A total of 1,337 apparently healthy children (696 boys and 641 girls) who were vaccinated against HBV at infancy and monitored for anti-HBs annually from 7 to 16 years of age entered the study. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-HBs by RIA at 7 to 15 years of age and were also analyzed by EIA at 13 to 16 years of age. Antibody titers were quantified in mIU/ml by EIA as well as by the ratio of the count in the sample to the count for a negative control (S/N) by RIA. In nonboosted children, the average decay of anti-HBs from 7 to 16 years of ages indicated that approximately 20% of the geometric mean titer decays per year. There was a good correlation between serum anti-HBs levels measured by the RIA and the EIA methods (
r
= 0.91;
P
< 0.0001). An equation for RIA to EIA level conversion was established: log EIA titer = −0.12 + (1.31 · log RIA S/N). The anti-HBs titers measured by EIA correlate well with the S/N assayed by RIA. The annual decay rate of the log anti-HBs level may help in planning booster immunizations for hyporesponders or individuals at risk in adolescence.
Longitudinal Analysis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus-Specific Antibody in SARS Patients
Authors: Chang Shan-Chwen , Wang Jann-Tay , Huang Li-Min , Chen Yee-Chun , Fang Chi-Tai , Sheng Wang-Huei , Wang Jiun-Ling , Yu Chong-Jen , Yang Pan-Chyr 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT
The serum antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus of 18 SARS patients were checked at 1 month and every 3 months after disease onset. All of them except one, who missed blood sampling at 1 month, tested positive for the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody at 1 month. Fifteen out of 17 tested positive for the IgM antibody at 1 month. The serum IgM antibody of most patients became undetectable within 6 months after the onset of SARS. The IgG antibody of all 17 patients, whose serum was checked 1 year after disease onset, remained positive.
A GRAPHEME-TO-PHONEME TRANSLATOR FOR TTS SYNTHESIS IN GREEK
Authors: STATHOPOULOU-ZOIS P. 
Published: December 2005

In this paper is presented the algorithm of an automatic grapheme-to-phoneme translator for the Greek language. The proposed algorithm is designed to collaborate with a high quality Text-to-Speech synthesis system in Greek. The algorithm assimilates the full reading process of written text as realized by a Greek speaking person. A detailed study of the Greek language's operation, led us to the implementation of an automatic integrated system which describes its phonetic behaviour in an exact and natural way. The software that implements the algorithm has the capability to receive written text from any input (keyboard, file, screen reader, OCR system e.t.c.) and transform it to phonetic form. Afterwards the output of the algorithm is directed to the input of a concatenation-based speech synthesizer and the right pronunciation of any written text is achieved in real-time. During the reading process the software locates and distinguishes Greek written text from any foreign language words, specially written symbols, abbreviations e. t. c… and afterwards manages them in order that the flow of the reading process permits the right perception of the produced spoken messages. The most important qualification of the algorithm is the possibility to incorporate it in other Text-to-Speech synthesis systems of different technology. Finally experimental measurements indicate the successful operation of the algorithm.