bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐ guided catheter biopsy of the lower urinary tract: technique and results in 12 dogs
Authors: Lamb C. R. , Trower N. D. , Gregory S. P. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTUltrasound‐guided catheter biopsy of lesions affecting the lower urinary tract was attempted in 12 dogs with mucosal lesions affecting the bladder [nine] or urethra (three). Histological biopsies were obtained by catheter biopsy in 10 dogs, enabling diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma in five, papilloma in two, prostatic carcinoma in two and chronic cystitis in one. Cytological samples alone were obtained in two dogs, one of which enabled a diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma; the other contained evidence of haemorrhage and inflammation, but squamous cell carcinoma was found in a subsequent exci‐sional biopsy. Intravesicular haemorrhage after biopsy was observed ultrasonographically in two dogs. Ultrasound guidance enables accurate determination of biopsy catheter position. The size of biopsies obtained by this method may limit the accuracy of histological diagnosis.
Intestinal permeability and function in dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Authors: Rutgers H. C. , Batt R. M. , Proud F. J. , Søorensen S. H. , Elwood C. M. , Petrie G. , Matthewman L. A. , Hijfte M. A. Forster‐van , Boswood A. , Entwistle M. , Fensome R. H. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTSmall intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has been reported to occur commonly in dogs with signs of chronic intestinal disease. There are usually few intestinal histological changes, and it is uncertain to what extent bacteria cause mucosal damage. The aim of this study was to apply a differential sugar absorption test for intestinal permeability and function to the objective assessment of intestinal damage in dogs with SIBO. Studies were performed on 63 dogs with signs of chronic small and, or, large bowel disease, in which SIBO (greater than 105total or greater than 104anaerobic colony forming units/ml) was diagnosed by quantitative culture of duodenal juice obtained endoscopically. None of the dogs had evidence of intestinal pathogens, parasites, systemic disease or pancreatic insufficiency. Differential sugar absorption was performed by determining the ratios of urinary recoveries of lactulose/rhamnose (L/R ratio, which reflects permeability) and D‐xylose/3‐O‐methylglucose (X/G ratio, which reflects intestinal absorptive function) following oral administration. Dogs with SIBO comprised 28 different breeds, including 18 German shepherd dogs. SIBO was aerobic in 18/63 dogs (29 per cent), and anaerobic in 45/63 (71 per cent). Histological examination of duode‐nal biopsies showed no abnormalities in 75 per cent, and mild to moderate lymphocytic infiltrates in 25 per cent of the dogs. The L/R ratio was increased (greater than 0–12) in 52 per cent, and the X/G ratio reduced (less than 0–60) in 33 per cent of the dogs. Differential sugar absorption was repeated in 11 dogs after their four weeks of oral antibiotic therapy. The L/R ratio declined in all 11 dogs (mean ± SD pre: 0–24 ± 0–14; post: 0–16 ± 0–11; P<0–05), but changes in the X/G ratio were more variable. These findings show that SIBO is commonly associated with mucosal damage, not detected on histological examination of intestinal biopsies, and that changes in intestinal permeability following oral antibiotics may be used to monitor response to treatment.
Dose‐sparing effects of romifidine premedication for thiopentone and halothane anaesthesia in the dog
Authors: ENGLAND G. C. W. , HAMMOND* R. 
Published: April 2008

Two intravenous doses of romifldine (40 and 80 μg/kg) and a placebo were compared as premedicants for anaesthesia induced with thiopentone and maintained using halothane in oxygen. Romifldine significantly and linearly reduced the induction dose of thiopentone; placebo‐treated dogs required 15.1 ± 3.6 mg/kg, while dogs treated with 40 μg/kg and 80 μg/kg romifldine required 6.5 ± 1.6 and 3.9 ± 0.3 mg/kg thiopentone, respectively.Romlfldine also significantly and linearly reduced the end tidal halothane concentration necessary to maintain a predetermined level of anaesthesia; piacebetreated dogs required 1.6 ± 0.3 per cent halothane, while dogs treated with 40 μg/kg and 80 μg/kg romifldine required 1.3 ± 0.4 and 0–8 ± 0.2 per cent, respectively.Romifldine produced a significant shortening In the recovery from anaesthesia, and the higher dose of romlfldine significantly improved the overall quality of anaesthesia.
Effect of two dietary regimens on gingivitis in the dog
Authors: RAWLINGS J. M. , GORREL* C. , Markwell P. J. 
Published: April 2008

The effect of two commercially available dietary regimens on the development of gingivitis and the accumulation of dental plaque, calculus and stain in the dog were studied. One regimen consisted of feeding an oral hygiene chew and a standard dry diet.The other was based on a specifically designed oral care dry main meal. The study was conducted using 15 dogs in a two period, parallel cross‐over design. Each period consisted of a one week pretest phase followed by a three week test phase. During the test phase, gingivitis and plaque were measured after one week and gingivitis, calculus, stain and plaque were measured after a further two weeks. Comparison of the two regimens showed that there were equal amounts of gingivitis, plaque and calculus by the end of the study. There was significantly more stain and significant loss in bodyweight when the main meal was fed.The role of dietary modification in the maintenance of periodontal health is discussed.
An Overview of Lexical Phonology
Authors: Rubach Jerzy 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis article reviews Lexical Phonology, a theory of rules and derivations. Rules are of three types: cyclic rules, postcyclic rules, and postlexical rules. Various diagnostic properties of rules are discussed, including the phonological cycle, word vs. phrase domain application, the Strict Cyclicity Constraint, derived environments, the Structure Preservation Constraint, lexical conditioning, and the interaction of phonology and morphology. The data are drawn from English, Dutch, Polish, Russian, and Slovak.
Thermal Recovery of Iodopsin from Photobleaching Intermediates†
Authors: Imamoto Yasushi , Shichida Yoshinori 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe chloride effect on the photobleaching process of iodopsin, a chicken red‐sensitive cone visual pigment, was studied in detail by time‐resolved low‐temperature spectroscopy at −40°C to −10°C. Decay‐associated difference spectra obtained by kinetic analysis using the singular value decomposition method were composed of spectra of BL‐iodopsin, lumiiodopsin, metaiodopsin I, metaiodopsin II and metaiodopsin III, essentially identical to those at room temperature. In each conversion step however, iodopsin was partially regenerated, which is not observed in the bleaching process for other visual pigments or iodopsin at room temperature. Moreover, iodopsin was slowly regenerated from the bleached species. The reverse reactions were completely suppressed by substitution of lyotropic NO3− for Cl−, suggesting that Cl− binding to iodopsin interferes with light‐induced cis–trans isomerization of the chromophore. It is likely that the water molecule hydrating Cl− forms the additional hydrogen bond(s), by which the protein conformational change necessary to release this steric hindrance becomes enthalpic. As progress of the bleaching process is a consequence of protein conformational change, it is suppressed at low temperatures, resulting in thermal back‐isomerization.
Low‐temperature Spectroscopy of Met100Ala Mutant of Photoactive Yellow Protein†‡
Authors: Imamoto Yasushi , Harigai Miki , Morimoto Takashi , Kataoka Mikio 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization of the p‐coumaroyl chromophore of photoactive yellow protein (PYP) triggers the photocycle. Met100, which is located in the vicinity of the chromophore, is a key residue for the cis‐to‐trans back‐isomerization of the chromophore, which is a rate‐determining reaction of the PYP photocycle. Here we characterized the photocycle of the Met100Ala mutant of PYP (M100A) by low temperature UV–visible spectroscopy. Irradiation of M100A at 80 K yielded a 380 nm species (M100ABL), while the corresponding intermediate of wild type (WT; PYPBL) is formed above 90 K. The amounts of redshifted intermediates produced from M100A (M100AB′ and M100AL) were substantially less than those from WT. While the near‐UV intermediate (PYPM) is not formed from WT in glycerol samples at low temperature, M100AM was clearly observed above 190 K. These alterations of the photocycle of M100A were explained by the shift in the equilibrium between the intermediates. The carbonyl oxygen of the thioester linkage of the cis‐chromophore in the photocycle intermediates is close to the phenyl ring of Phe96 (<3.5 Å), which would be displaced by the mutation of Met100. These findings imply that the interaction between chromophore and amino acid residues near Met100 is altered during the early stage of the PYP photocycle.
Chromophore Interaction in Xanthorhodopsin—Retinal Dependence of Salinixanthin Binding†
Authors: Imasheva Eleonora S. , Balashov Sergei P. , Wang Jennifer M. , Smolensky Elena , Sheves Mordechai , Lanyi Janos K. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractXanthorhodopsin is a light‐driven proton pump in the extremely halophilic bacterium Salinibacter ruber. Its unique feature is that besides retinal it has a carotenoid, salinixanthin, with a light harvesting function. Tight and specific binding of the carotenoid antenna is controlled by binding of the retinal. Addition of all‐trans retinal to xanthorhodopsin bleached with hydroxylamine restores not only the retinal chromophore absorption band, but causes sharpening of the salinixanthin bands reflecting its rigid binding by the protein. In this report we examine the correlation of the changes in the two chromophores during bleaching and reconstitution with native all‐trans retinal, artificial retinal analogs and retinol. Bleaching and reconstitution both appear to be multistage processes. The carotenoid absorption changes during bleaching occurred not only upon hydrolysis of the Schiff base but continued while the retinal was leaving its binding site. In the case of reconstitution, the 13‐desmethyl analog formed the protonated Schiff base slower than retinal, and provided the opportunity to observe changes in carotenoid binding at various stages. The characteristic sharpening of the carotenoid bands, indicative of its reduced conformational heterogeneity in the binding site, occurs when the retinal occupies the binding site but the covalent bond to Lys‐240 via a Schiff base is not yet formed. This is confirmed by the results for retinol reconstitution, where the Schiff base does not form but the carotenoid exhibits its characteristic spectral change from the binding.
Rhodopsin Regeneration is Accelerated via Noncovalent 11‐cis Retinal–Opsin Complex—A Role of Retinal Binding Pocket of Opsin†
Authors: Matsumoto Hiroyuki , Yoshizawa Tôru 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe regeneration of bovine rhodopsin from its apoprotein opsin and the prosthetic group 11‐cis retinal involves the formation of a retinylidene Schiff base with the ε‐amino group of the active lysine residue of opsin. The pH dependence of a Schiff base formation in solution follows a typical bell‐shaped profile because of the pH dependence of the formation and the following dehydration of a 1‐aminoethanol intermediate. Unexpectedly, however, we find that the formation of rhodopsin from 11‐cis retinal and opsin does not depend on pH over a wide pH range. These results are interpreted by the Matsumoto and Yoshizawa (Nature258 [1975] 523) model of rhodopsin regeneration in which the 11‐cis retinal chromophore binds first to opsin through the β‐ionone ring, followed by the slow formation of the retinylidene Schiff base in a restricted space. We find the second‐order rate constant of the rhodopsin formation is 6100 ± 300 mol−1 s−1 at 25°C over the pH range 5–10. The second‐order rate constant is much greater than that of a model Schiff base in solution by a factor of more than 107. A previous report by Pajares and Rando (J Biol Chem264 [1989] 6804) suggests that the lysyl ε‐NH2 group of opsin is protonated when the β‐ionone ring binding site is unoccupied. The acceleration of the Schiff base formation in rhodopsin is explained by stabilization of the deprotonated form of the lysyl ε‐NH2 group which might be induced when the β‐ionone ring binding site is occupied through the noncovalent binding of 11‐cis retinal to opsin at the initial stage of rhodopsin regeneration, followed by the proximity and orientation effect rendered by the formation of noncovalent 11‐cis retinal–opsin complex.
Lewis‐acid‐catalyzed Photodimerization of Coumarins and N‐methyl‐2‐quinolone
Authors: Görner Helmut , Wolff Thomas 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe BF3‐catalyzed photodimerization of parent coumarin (1), three 6‐alkylcoumarins (2–4) and N‐methyl‐2‐quinolone (5) in dichloromethane was studied by time‐resolved UV–vis spectroscopy. The lowest triplet state properties in the absence and presence of BF3 were outlined, in particular the effect of self‐quenching which initiates dimerization. The quantum yield of intersystem crossing (Φisc) of 1–4 increases with BF3 concentration, approaching Φisc = 0.3. Φisc and the relative quantum yield of dimerization go along, thereby favoring an overall triplet mechanism in both the direct and BF3‐catalyzed photodimerization. The product ratio of 5 changes strongly with the BF3 concentration from 100%anti‐hh for the free quinolone to 100%syn‐ht for the 1:1 complex.
Differential Immune Responses of Red Deer (
Cervus elaphus
) following Experimental Challenge with
Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
Authors: Robinson Mark , O'Brien Rory , Mackintosh Colin , Griffin Frank 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Immune responses of red deer (
Cervus elaphus
) that presented with different levels of paucibacillary pathology were profiled to detail immune changes during the progression of Johne's disease. Immune responses were monitored using an immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a gamma interferon (IFN-γ) ELISA, and flow cytometry. Animals in the study were divided into outcome groups postmortem according to disease severity. All animals mounted IgG1 antibody and IFN-γ responses to both the vaccination and experimental challenges. The
Mycobacterium avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
-specific IgG1 antibody responses in the challenged group showed marked differences between infected and severely diseased animals. Slightly higher IFN-γ responses were seen in infected animals compared with severely diseased animals. No significant changes were seen in the phenotype of lymphocyte populations investigated. Vaccination with killed
M. avium
subsp.
paratuberculosis
in mineral oil adjuvant reduced the level of severe disease; however, it obscured immunological differences between the infected and severely diseased groups. This suggests protection is not exclusively mediated via the presence of a type 1 response and, furthermore, the presence of a type 2 response is compatible with protection. These profiles provide information on the different immune processes in Johne's disease progression.
Efficient Testing of Large Pools of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
RD1 Peptides and Identification of Major Antigens and Immunodominant Peptides Recognized by Human Th1 Cells
Authors: Mustafa Abu S. , Al-Attiyah Raja'a , Hanif Sumaila N. M. , Shaban Fatema A. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Comparative genomics has identified several regions of difference (RDs) of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
that are deleted or absent in
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG vaccines. To determine their relevance for diagnostic and vaccine applications, it is imperative that efficient methods are developed to test the encoded proteins for immunological reactivity. In this study, we have used 220 synthetic peptides covering sequences of 12 open reading frames (ORFs) of RD1 and tested them as a single pool (RD1
pool
) with peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and
M. bovis
BCG-vaccinated healthy subjects in Th1 cell assays that measure antigen-induced proliferation and IFN-γ secretion. The results showed that RD1
pool
induced strong responses in both TB patients and BCG-vaccinated healthy subjects. The subsequent testing of peptide pools of individual ORFs revealed that all ORFs induced positive responses in a portion of donors, but PPE68, CFP10, and ESAT6 induced strong responses in TB patients and PPE68 induced strong responses in BCG-vaccinated healthy subjects. In addition, HLA-DR and -DQ typing of donors and HLA-DR binding prediction analysis of proteins suggested HLA-promiscuous presentation of PPE68, CFP10, and ESAT6. Further testing of individual peptides showed that a single peptide of PPE68 (121-VLTATNFFGINTIPIALTEMDYFIR-145) was immunodominant. The search for sequence homology revealed that a part of this peptide, 124-ATNFFGINTIPIAL-137, was present in several PPE family proteins of
M. tuberculosis
and
M. bovis
BCG vaccines. Further experiments limited the promiscuous and immunodominant epitope region to the 10-amino-acid cross-reactive sequence 127-FFGINTIPIA-136.
Clinical Phase 1 Testing of the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Epitope-Based DNA Vaccine in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Subjects Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Wilson Cara C. , Newman Mark J. , Livingston Brian D. , MaWhinney Samantha , Forster Jeri E. , Scott Jim , Schooley Robert T. , Benson Constance A. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACTA DNA vaccine encoding sequence-conserved human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from multiple HIV-1 gene products (designated EP HIV-1090) was evaluated in a placebo-controlled, dose escalation phase 1 clinical trial of HIV-1-infected subjects receiving potent combination antiretroviral therapy. Patients received four intramuscular immunizations with EP HIV-1090 over a 4-month period at one of four doses (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 4.0 mg) or received a placebo. The vaccine was determined to be safe and well tolerated at all doses tested. CTL responses were measured from cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells using gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot assays, with and without in vitro peptide stimulation (IVS). Responses to one or more vaccine epitopes were detected throughout the course of vaccination in 37.5% (12/32) and 47% (15/32) of vaccine recipients measured without and with IVS, respectively, indicating possible vaccine-induced priming of epitope-specific T cells. However, differences in rates of response to HIV-1 epitopes between vaccine and placebo recipients did not achieve statistical significance. The HIV-1 epitope-specific CTL responses measured in the peripheral blood after vaccination were often low level and short-lived, and therefore, alternative immunization schedules, routes of delivery, or vaccine formulations may be required to increase vaccine potency.
Evaluation of Three Automated Nucleic Acid Amplification Systems for Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
in First-Void Urine Specimens
Authors: Levett P. N. , Brandt K. , Olenius K. , Brown C. , Montgomery K. , Horsman G. B. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

A total of 500 first-void urine specimens were tested for the presence of
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
nucleic acids using ProbeTec ET reagents on a Viper platform (BD Diagnostics, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), Aptima Combo 2 reagents on a Tigris platform (Gen-Probe, Inc., San Diego, CA), and Abbott RealTime CT/NG reagents on an
m
2000 platform (Abbott Molecular Diagnostics, Des Plaines, IL). The performance of the three assays for detection of
N. gonorrhoeae
was comparable, but detection of
C. trachomatis
by the three assays showed more variation. All three platforms were suitable for the detection of
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
, but additional factors, such as maximum daily specimen throughput, are important in evaluating automated systems for
C. trachomatis
and
N. gonorrhoeae
detection in high-volume laboratories.
Comparison of Immunoblotting, Calculation of the Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient, and Real-Time PCR Using Aqueous Humor Samples for Diagnosis of Ocular Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Fekkar A. , Bodaghi B. , Touafek F. , Le Hoang P. , Mazier D. , Paris L. 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

We compared three biological methods for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT). Paired aqueous humor and serum samples from 34 patients with OT and from 76 patients with other ocular disorders were analyzed by three methods: immunoblotting or Western blotting (WB), the calculation of the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC), and PCR. WB and GWC each revealed the intraocular production of specific anti-
Toxoplasma
immunoglobulin G in 81% of samples (30 of 37). PCR detected toxoplasmic DNA in 38% of samples (13 of 34). Nine of the 13 PCR-positive patients were immunocompetent. Combining the techniques significantly improved the diagnostic sensitivity, to 92% for the GWC-WB combination, 90% for the WB-PCR combination, and 93% for the GWC-PCR combination. The combination of all three techniques improved the sensitivity to 97%.
Field Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Assay for Detection of
Trypanosoma cruzi
Infection by Use of Whole Blood
Authors: Roddy Paul , Goiri Javier , Flevaud Laurence , Palma Pedro Pablo , Morote Silvia , Lima Nines , Villa Luis , Torrico Faustino , Albajar-Viñas Pedro 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Laboratory and clinical diagnostic classification of seropositive individuals, followed by treatment and supportive therapy, is an established component of Chagas' disease control in areas where this disease is endemic. However, most Chagas' disease patients live in remote areas where neither equipped laboratories nor skilled human resources are widely available. Employing a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), when using whole blood samples, is the best option for Chagas' disease control. A high sensitivity and specificity for the Chagas Stat-Pak RDT (Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., Medford, NY) has been reported for assays using serum and plasma, but its validity for the detection of antibodies to
Trypanosoma cruzi
infection in whole blood is unknown. This cross-sectional study measured the sensitivity and specificity of the Chagas Stat-Pak with whole blood, using conventional serological assays for comparison. The interobserver reliability in the interpretation of the Chagas Stat-Pak results and “ease-of-use” criterion needed to perform the Chagas Stat-Pak and conventional assays were also measured. The Chagas Stat-Pak yielded a high specificity (99.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 98.4 to 99.4%) but a relatively low sensitivity (93.4%, 95% CI = 87.4 to 97.1%). The interobserver reliability was excellent (kappa [
n
= 1,913] = 0.999,
P
< 0.0001), and the quantified ease-of-use criterion suggested that the RDT is simple to perform. Despite the attributes of the Chagas Stat-Pak, it is not an ideal diagnostic test for the population investigated in the present study due to its relatively low sensitivity and high cost. The RDT manufacturer is called upon to improve the test if the international community hopes to make progress in controlling Chagas infections in areas where this disease is endemic.