bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The dual role of p55 tumour necrosis factor-α receptor inActinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-induced experimental periodontitis: host protection and tissue destruction
Authors: Garlet G P , Cardoso C R B , Campanelli A P , Ferreira B R , Avila-Campos M J , Cunha F Q , Silva J S 
Published: November 2006

SummaryInflammatory immune reactions in response to periodontopathogens are thought to protect the host against infection, but may trigger periodontal destruction. Thus, we examined the mechanisms by which the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α modulates the outcome of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-induced periodontal disease in mice. Our results showed that TNF-α receptor p55-deficient mice [p55TNF-knock-out (KO)] developed a less severe periodontitis in response to A. actinomycetemcomitans infection, characterized by significantly less alveolar bone loss and inflammatory reaction. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that levels of chemokines (CXCL1, 3 and 10; CCL3 and 5) and their receptors (CXCR2 and 3, CCR5) were lower in p55TNF-KO mice, as were matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, 2 and 9 and receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL) mRNA levels. However, the absence of the TNF-α p55 results in an impairment of protective immunity to A. actinomycetemcomitans infection, characterized by increased bacterial load and higher levels of C-reactive protein during the course of disease. Such impaired host response may be the result of the reduced chemoattraction of lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages, and reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression (iNOS) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) production in periodontal tissues of p55 TNF-KO mice. Our results demonstrate the mechanisms involved determining periodontal disease severity by TNF-α receptor p55, and its role in providing immune protection to A. actinomycetemcomitans periodontal infection.
Induction of interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 by siRNA
Authors: Pauls E , Senserrich J , Bofill M , Clotet B , Esté J A 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 has been thought a relevant target for small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutics. However, recent findings suggest that siRNA can stimulate innate cytokine responses in mammals. All siRNA agents tested were able to down-regulate the expression of CCR5, albeit with different efficiency (51–74% down-regulation), block HIV-induced syncytia formation between HIV-1 BaL-infected and uninfected CD4+ cells or block single-round HIV-1 infection as measured by a luciferase reporter assay (46–83% inhibition). Conversely, siRNA directed against CCR5 did not affect replication of a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped virus, suggesting that inhibition of HIV replication was specific to CCR5 down-regulation. However, two of four siRNA tested were able to induce the production of interleukin (IL) IL-6 (sixfold induction) and IL-8 (ninefold induction) but no interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, IL-1β, IL-10 or IL-12p70 cytokine induction was noted. In the absence of detectable IFN-α, IL-6 or IL-8 may represent markers of non-specific effects triggered by siRNA.
The involvement of Fc gamma receptor gene polymorphisms in Kawasaki disease
Authors: Biezeveld M , Geissler J , Merkus M , Kuipers I M , Ottenkamp J , Kuijpers T 
Published: November 2006

SummaryKawasaki disease is an acute febrile syndrome in infancy, characterized by vasculitis of medium-sized arteries. Without treatment the disease can lead to coronary artery lesions (CAL) in approximately 25% of the children. Therapy consists of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), leading to a decrease of complications to 5–16%. Little is known about the working mechanisms of IVIG. In this study we evaluated the involvement of Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) in Kawasaki disease by the determination of the frequency of known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes coding for the FcγRs and compared this with frequencies in a cohort of healthy controls. There was no difference in the distribution of the functionally relevant genotypes for FcγRIIa-131H/R, FcγRIIb-232I/T, FcγRIIIa-158 V/F and FcγRIIIb-NA1/NA2 between the patient group and the healthy controls. Furthermore, there were no polymorphisms linked to the disease severity as indicated by the absence or development of CAL during the disease. Altered transcription or expression of FcγR on specific cell types of the immune system may still play a role in susceptibility and treatment success, but at a level different from the functional SNPs in FcγR genes tested in this study.
Morphometry and digital AgNOR analysis in cytological imprints of benign, borderline and malignant serous ovarian tumours
Authors: Štemberger‐Papić S. , Stanković T. , Vrdoljak‐Mozetič D. , Verša‐Ostojić D. , Krašević M. , Štifter S. , Audy‐Jurković S. 
Published: November 2006

Aim:  The aim of the study was to determine values of a quantitative morphometry analysis of nuclear characteristics and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in differential cytodiagnosis of benign, atypically proliferating (borderline) and malignant serous ovarian tumours.Methods:  Cytological imprints of benign (n = 20), borderline (n = 19) and malignant (n = 20) ovarian serous tumours were analysed. A computerized, digital analysis was used to determine morphometric nuclear features, the number and characteristics of single AgNORs, cluster AgNORs, total AgNOR and AgNOR area/nucleus (relative area) ratio. According to their size AgNORs were classified in three categories. A one‐way variance analysis and post hoc test (Scheffé) were used for statistical analysis.Results:  The morphometric nuclear analysis showed that benign, borderline and malignant serous ovarian tumours are statistically different (P < 0.001) according to the area and outline, the values being highest in malignant tumours and lowest in the borderline group. Digital analysis of AgNORs in benign, borderline and malignant groups showed that the total AgNOR number increases with progression of the lesion (meaning tumour malignancy) significantly (P < 0.001) between benign and malignant as well as between borderline and malignant serous ovarian tumours (P < 0.001). The progression of the lesion malignancy was accompanied by a significant (P < 0.001) progressive increase of the total and relative AgNOR area per nucleus. The AgNOR size increases from benign to malignant tumours and a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) was observed in all three groups regarding small and large AgNORs.Conclusion:  Combining different markers of morphometric nuclear characteristics and AgNOR values could improve differential cytodiagnosis of benign, borderline and malignant serous ovarian tumours.
Test characteristics of various screening modalities for cervical cancer: a feasibility study to develop an alternative strategy for resource‐limited settings
Authors: Sodhani P. , Gupta S. , Sharma J. K. , Parashari A. , Halder K. , Singh V. , Sehgal A. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  To determine test characteristics – sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values – of different screening modalities to detect cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions in order to devise an effective alternative strategy for cervical cancer screening in resource‐poor settings.Methods:  A total of 472 women presenting with nonspecific gynecologic symptoms were screened by cytology, visual inspection with acetic acid application (VIA), VIA with magnification (VIAM) and human papillomavirus (HPV)‐DNA testing. Colposcopic examination was performed in all and on‐site biopsy was taken if any grade I and above lesion was detected on colposcopy (230). On histopathological examination, 105 showed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II and above lesions. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for each test were calculated taking colposcopy and or directed biopsy as the gold standard. Comparisons were made with cytology in order to assess the feasibility of alternative strategies in resource‐poor settings.Results:  VIA was less sensitive (86.7% versus 91.4%) but more specific (90.7% versus 86.6%) than cytology at low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) threshold but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.01). HPV testing improved the sensitivity over cytology (97.1% versus 91.4%) but there was a nonsignificant loss of specificity (84.2% versus 86.6%). Results of VIAM were more or less similar to VIA.Conclusion:  VIA can be used as a mass screening tool for cervical cancer in resource‐poor settings.
Improving the NHS cervical screening laboratory performance indicators by making allowance for population age, risk and screening interval
Authors: Blanks R. G. , Moss S. M. , Denton K. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  One of the key performance measures in the monitoring of the NHS cervical screening programme is the targeting of laboratories with very high or low percentages (outside the 10th–90th percentile) of adequate smears that have moderate dyskaryosis or worse. These laboratories are assumed to include those laboratories that may have extremes of sensitivity and specificity. A clear limitation with this methodology is that laboratories do not examine smears from women with the same underlying risk, age distribution or screening interval and adjustment for these factors should considerably improve the method.Methods:  This paper describes a method that allows for these confounding variables and a new age‐risk‐interval adjusted moderate dyskaryosis or worse rate (ARI‐adjusted mod+ rate) can be calculated. The adjusted rate is the rate of moderate or worse dyskaryotic smears that the laboratory would have detected had it been screening women with an English ‘average’ age‐risk‐interval. All laboratories can therefore be compared using this method.Results:  The methodology is illustrated using data from the NHSCSP South West Region. The particularly low percentage of moderate or worse smears detected by one or two laboratories can be shown to be due to a local screened population with a very low risk because of a high mean age, relatively short screening interval and census variables associated with a low risk, rather than any under‐calling by the associated laboratories.Conclusions:  The ARI‐adjusted mod+ rate requires to be calculated for all laboratories in England if it is to be used as a primary performance indicator. Alternatively, it can be used to further examine laboratories that are deemed to be outliers using the current methodology.
Interlaboratory reproducibility of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance: a national survey
Authors: Confortini M. , Di Bonito L. , Carozzi F. , Ghiringhello B. , Montanari G. , Parisio F. , Prandi S. ,   the GISCi Working Group for Cervical Cytology
Published: November 2006

Objective:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter‐laboratory reproducibility for atypical glandular cells (AGC) (The Bethesda System (TBS) 2001) of the laboratories involved in the screening programmes in Italy.Methods:  A set of 35 selected slides were circulated among 167 laboratories involved in local population‐based cervical screening programmes. Each laboratory provided one single diagnosis per smear. The smears were read blind to the original diagnosis and to the diagnoses provided by other laboratories. A ‘majority’ diagnosis was defined for each case and assumed as the reference standard. The diagnosis provided from each laboratory was compared with the majority diagnosis.Results:  According to the majority report the 35 slides in the set were classified as negative in nine cases, AGC in eight, adenocarcinoma in eight, and squamous lesion or squamous + glandular lesion in 10. The crude agreement between all pairs of laboratories was 49.43%. K‐values were 0.46, 0.21, 0.34, 0.36 and 0.32 for negative, AGC/AIS (adenocarcinoma in situ of endocervix), AdenoCa, Sq/Sq + Gl and all reporting categories respectively. Concordance according to overall K was moderate to substantial in 77% of the participating laboratories.Conclusions:  The present study shows that the AGC category is not easily reproducible. The data confirmed the importance, in a screening scenario, of AGC/AIS diagnoses, but also presented difficulties in differentiating between the two diagnoses. In addition to the results obtained from the circulation of the slides, laboratories which had annually a low number of cervical smears were able to gain experience focused on particular morphological pictures.
The quality of smear taking training for hospital medical trainees
Authors: Mokate T. , Abidogun K. , Watson A. J. S. 
Published: November 2006

Introduction:  Training for cervical smear takers in primary care is well established. We aimed to assess the adequacy of training in cervical smear taking among hospital medical trainees.Method:  An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among hospital medical trainees within the North West region of England. The questionnaire assessed the trainees’ level of confidence in their knowledge and skills in the theoretical and practical aspects of cervical smear taking, and the training they had received. The standards used were as stated in the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme Resource Pack for Training Smear Takers (July 1998). These included practical smear taking, pre‐ and post‐test counselling, the background to cervical screening, the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme, the role of the Health Authority and the laboratory, provision for women with special needs, acceptability, accountability and quality assurance.Results:  Seventy‐eight per cent of trainees returned the questionnaires. Although all the trainees were confident about taking smears, a significant percentage was concerned about the theoretical and specific issues associated with smear taking such as the care of women with special needs. Only 60.7% had received formal training in practical smear taking. Furthermore, only 48.3% had been formally trained in the clinical management of smears.Conclusion:  There appears to be an urgent need for formal training in the theory and practice of smear taking and for the standardization of the course content. The introduction of training in liquid‐based cytology provides us with a golden opportunity to address this deficit.
Assessing the wellbeing of cytoscreeners: experience in two NHS cytology laboratories
Authors: Dowie R. , Stoykova B. , Desai M. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  Cervical screening programmes in England are in transition as the liquid‐based cytology (LBC) method replaces conventional Papanicolaou screening and staff in NHS laboratories are trained to analyse LBC smears. Cytoscreeners and biomedical scientists undertake routine microscopy of slides, but the scientists usually have a wider professional role. Attitudinal surveys were carried out in laboratories where LBC was partially introduced.Methods:  Staff in two cytology laboratories in Greater Manchester were surveyed twice over 6 months. The questionnaire assessed work pressures using scales from the Measures of Work Characteristics instrument, work‐related stress using the General Survey version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, job intentions and job satisfaction.Results:  Cytoscreeners, many aged over 50 years, formed over 60% of respondents in both surveys (27/42 in the first survey), and biomedical scientists and doctors, 30%. Both groups were under moderate pressure from work demands in each survey, but cytoscreeners had significantly less autonomy over their working methods (P < 0.001). Although both groups experienced similar levels of exhaustion, cytoscreeners were much more cynical or indifferent towards work in the second survey (P = 0.008) and had lower expectations of being effective (P < 0.001). For the cytoscreeners, there were strong negative correlations in both surveys between cynicism and the work characteristics of influencing decisions and autonomy/control.Conclusions:  The strength of the relationship between work performance and wellbeing serves to emphasize the importance of the new LBC technology in ameliorating low morale where it exists. Further attitudinal research involving larger samples of laboratories is warranted to assess the full impact of this innovation.
Improved endocervical sampling and HPV viral load detection by Cervex‐Brush® Combi
Authors: Depuydt C. E. , Benoy I. H. , Bailleul E. J. , Vandepitte J. , Vereecken A. J. , Bogers J. J. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  Liquid‐based cytology (LBC) for cervical screening is becoming increasingly used. Together with SurePath® LBC, various collecting devices can be utilized, among which the Cervex‐Brush® is the most widely used. The new Rovers® Cervex‐Brush® Combi combines the advantages of the Cervex‐Brush® with the EndoCervex‐Brush® increasing sampling of the endocervical canal. The objective of this study was to analyse and to compare the Cervex‐Brush® Combi with the Cervex‐Brush® for the collection of squamous and endocervical cells, human papillomavirus (HPV) typing/quantification and disease detection in SurePath® LBC.Methods:  Using either the Cervex‐Brush® or the Cervex‐Brush® Combi 100 consecutive SurePath® LBC samples were collected using each brush type. All 200 slides were read by the FocalPointTM and screened by guided screening using slide wizards. The viral load of HPV type 16 E7, 18 E7, 31 E6, 33 L1, 33 E6, 35 E4, 39 E7, 45 E7, 51 E6, 52 L1, 52 E7, 53 E6, 56 E7, 58 L1, 58 E6, 59 E7, 66 E6 and 68 E7 was determined using a TaqMan‐based real‐time quantitative PCR analysis.Results:  The mean number of sampled squamous cells did not differ between the two brush types (54 963 versus 54 595 cells). The use of the Cervex‐Brush® Combi, however, resulted in a two‐ to threefold increase in the number of sampled endocervical cells (P < 0.00001). Using the Cervex‐Brush® Combi slightly more lesions were detected (three versus two low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), and resulted in the detection of more atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (six versus three). In the Cervex‐Brush® group, 60% (3/5) of abnormal smears were positive for oncogenic HPV types, whereas 66.7% (6/9) of abnormal smears in the Cervex‐Brush® Combi group tested positive. The median HPV viral load for samples taken with the Cervex‐Brush® Combi was 0.1825 copies/cell and was significantly higher than in samples taken with the Cervex‐Brush® (0.0042 copies/cell) (P = 0.02).Conclusion:  Sampling with the Cervex‐Brush® Combi resulted in the collection of the same amount of squamous cells, but in a two to threefold harvest of endocervical cells. This led to the detection of a higher viral load for oncogenic HPV and an increase in the number of detected abnormal smears.
Control and monitoring: monitoring and eradication of sharka in south‐east Italy over 15 years
Authors: Myrta A. , Di Terlizzi B. , Savino V. , Martelli G. P. 
Published: November 2006

When the first foci of sharka were discovered in Puglia region (south‐east Italy) in the late 1980s, the regional agricultural authorities launched a programme for Plum pox virus (PPV) monitoring and disease eradication. The infecting virus strain was identified as PPV‐D. From 1989 to 1993, a strong eradication campaign was successfully carried out involving 13 plum and 2 apricot orchards with different levels of infection. During 1994–2000, besides plum, apricot and peach, monitoring was extended to sweet cherry. At that time, surveys and testing did not reveal any new PPV focus, but the eradication of infected trees continued in a couple of orchards. In 2001–05, particular attention was paid to peach, as devastating PPV‐M outbreaks had developed in other areas of the country. A new PPV focus was found in apricot, caused by PPV‐Rec, which was promptly eradicated. In the following two years, surveys in the once infected orchard and surrounding peach plantings did not detect any virus spread. The endeavour has taken 15 years making this PPV monitoring and eradication programme the longest in Italy. Its overall results indicate that the fruit tree industry in Puglia region can now be regarded as essentially PPV‐free.
Breeding for resistance: breeding for Plum pox virus resistant apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) in the Czech Republic
Authors: Krška B. , Salava J. , Polák J. 
Published: November 2006

Plum pox virus (PPV) causes serious damage in apricots grown in the Czech Republic and other countries where it is present. To study PPV resistance in apricot, three backcrosses between apricot cultivars or selection resistant to PPV and apricot cultivars or selections susceptible to PPV (‘LE‐3218’ × ‘Stark Early Orange’, ‘LE‐3241’ × ‘Vestar’ and ‘LE‐3246’ × ‘Vestar’) were performed. The seedlings were repeatedly inoculated with PPV‐M strain by an infected chip. The resistance of the plants was evaluated by visual inspection for symptoms and ELISA in three consecutive growth periods. The Chi‐square (χ2) test was used to analyse the data. It was found that two independent dominant complementary genes conditioned PPV resistance in apricot in the case of the backcrosses. The mode of inheritance for resistance to PPV in cv. Harlayne was determined from F1 progenies. Resistance to PPV in ‘Harlayne’ was controlled by three independent complementary dominant genes. This knowledge will help us in effective planning of apricot breeding programmes.
Managing Phytophthora ramorum in the Netherlands1
Authors: De Gruyter J. , Steeghs M. H. C. G. 
Published: November 2006

Phytophthora ramorum came to the Netherlands in 1993. Despite initially not seeming to pose a high risk, findings in California showed its potential destructive impact on ecosystems. A programme began in the Netherlands to eliminate P. ramorum from nurseries and surveys in the natural environment were held to obtain information to determine a strategy for dealing with the disease. About 1100 nurseries are inspected annually by NAKtuinbouw under the auspices of the Plant Protection Service and measures are taken according to EC directives. The percentage of infected nurseries decreased steadily during recent years, from 4% in 2002/2003 to 0.5% in 2004/2005. Surveys in the natural environment show that P. ramorum occurs on 2% of the sites with Rhododendron and therefore it was concluded that an elimination scenario is not realistic. A programme based on containment measures supported by an extension programme was put into place with its effects being monitored by the Plant Protection Service. 12 years of observing P. ramorum show that the risk for indigenous trees and shrubs in the Netherlands is very limited. Spread from infected rhododendrons to other potential hosts, even at heavily infected Rhododendron sites, hardly takes place although some infected Quercus rubra trees have been found. Recently several new Phytophthora species were found in natural environments in Europe and California, mainly as a result of intensive P. ramorum surveys. As well as P. ramorum, the Phytophthora spp. P. kernoviae, P. numerosa and P. pseudosyringae pose risks, indicating the need for a more general approach against Phytophthora diseases. As a result, a new protocol for detection and identification of Phytophthora spp. both as a group and individually is being developed and workers are asking whether these Phytophthora species could be managed together.