bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased micronucleus frequency in phytohaemagglutinin‐stimulated blood cells of patients with vitiligo
Authors: Donmez‐Altuntas H , Sut Z , Ferahbas A , Hamurcu Z , Demirtas H 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Vitiligo is a relatively common, acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by areas of depigmented skin resulting from loss of melanocytes in the epidermis. Although several hypotheses have been proposed for the aetiology and pathogenesis of vitiligo, the cause of vitiligo remains unclear.Objective  To evaluate spontaneous micronucleus (MN) frequency using the cytokinesis block MN assay to determine damages at the DNA or chromosome level in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)‐stimulated blood cells of patients with vitiligo and healthy control subjects.Methods  Peripheral blood samples were obtained and cultured from 21 patients with vitiligo (mean age: 21.48 ± 9.78 years) and 21 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy control subjects (mean age: 21.52 ± 9.80 years). MN values were scored in binucleated cells obtained from whole‐blood cultures of patients and control subjects.Results  MN frequencies (mean ± SD) in PHA‐stimulated blood cells of patients with vitiligo and control subjects were 0.94 ± 0.58 and 0.58 ± 0.32, respectively. Compared with control subjects, MN frequencies of patients with vitiligo were found significantly higher than those of the control subjects (P = 0.012).Conclusion  Our results indicate unexpectedly some chromosomal/DNA damage in whole‐blood cultures of patients with vitiligo. We do not know, however, if these chromosome/DNA instabilities observed in the cells of vitiligo patients resulted from the cause or from the consequences of the disorder.
The European Surveillance System of Contact Allergies (ESSCA): results of patch testing the standard series, 2004
Authors:   The ESSCA Writing Group
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  The European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA) began in 2001 as project funded by a European Union grant to monitor and evaluate contact sensitization (CS) based on clinical data collected by participating European dermatology departments.Objectives  ESSCA aims to detect trends in CS in an international patch test population, monitoring the frequency of CS to (standard series) allergens, evaluating the effectiveness of intervention (e.g. governmental regulations) and improving standardization of the patch test procedure on an international level.Methods  In 2004, 31 ESSCA dermatology departments in 11 European countries collected patch test results and medical histories of patients tested with the European Standard Series (ESS) or a local standard allergen series using the multilingual Winalldat/ESSCA database, the German Winalldat/Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) database or a locally created database including the items of the ESSCA ‘minimal data set’. Data were sent to the ESSCA data centre where they were imported, pooled, examined for quality and subsequently analysed.Results  The departments patch tested 11 643 patients with a standard series, and 44% of the patients tested positive to one or more substances of the ESS. Nickel sulphate, the fragrance mix, Myroxylon pereirae resin, cobalt chloride, potassium dichromate, methyldibromoglutaronitrile and paraphenylenediamine are (still) the most important allergens detected. Several additional substances tested on consecutive patients in some clinics were also examined. Among these allergens, propolis and Compositae mix had a relatively high CS prevalence.Conclusions  The expanding ESSCA network continues to provide up‐to‐date information regarding the pattern of CS diagnosed in participating departments across Europe.
Effective treatment for dermatophytoses of the foot: effect on restoration of depressed cell‐mediated immunity
Authors: Schmid‐Wendtner M‐H , Korting HC 
Published: July 2007

AbstractSuperficial infections caused by dermatophyte fungi are highly prevalent throughout the world. Modern antimycotic agents like the azole itraconazole or the synthetic allylamine terbinafine greatly improved treatment outcomes in comparison with former therapeutic options with griseofulvin or older azole preparations like ketoconazole or fluconazole. In randomized trials involving patients with dermotophytoses, a great effectiveness has been shown especially for terbinafine. Oral terbinafine in general is well tolerated, has a low potential for drug interactions and, therefore, may be the most often used therapeutic agent for dermatophyte onychomycosis. However, there is a group of patients suffering from chronic dermatophytoses or early reinfections after antifungal therapy. For these patients, a depression of the delayed‐type hypersensitivity reactivity was postulated. Just recently, effective antimycotic treatment, in particular with terbinafine, was shown to enhance and restore cell‐mediated immunity, which potentially improves the therapeutic outcome even for this group of patients.
Artificial and natural ultraviolet radiation exposure: beliefs and behaviour of 7200 French adults
Authors: Ezzedine K , Malvy D , Mauger E , Nageotte O , Galan P , Hercberg S , Guinot C 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground  Despite the increasing use of indoor tanning facilities, little is known regarding the behaviour of adults with respect to artificial and natural ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and the relationship between the two forms of exposure.Objectives  To describe the beliefs and behaviour of French middle‐aged volunteers regarding artificial and natural UV exposure.Methods  Cross‐sectional study of a French national cohort using a self‐completed questionnaire.Results  Participants were identified as ‘indoor UV tanners’ (n= 1076) and as ‘non‐users’ (n= 6124). Predictor factors associated with indoor tanning were gender, age, smoking, phototype, region of residence, sun exposure during hobbies, voluntary sun exposure in particular during the hottest hours of the day, nudism practice, facial sunscreen habits, sunglass use, importance for lying in the sun and the claim ‘ever heard of melanoma’.Limitations  The quality of information may be limited by the data collection method.Conclusion  Whereas indoor tanning should be discouraged, it seems that indoor tanners are also regular sunbathers unconcerned about the risk of photoageing and skin cancer occurrence. Moreover, indoor tanners seem to have more behavioural risk factors for cancer, such as smoking.
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Infection or Colonization Present at Hospital Admission: Multivariable Risk Factor Screening To Increase Efficiency of Surveillance Culturing
Authors: Haley Clinton C. , Mittal Deepa , LaViolette Amanda , Jannapureddy Sai , Parvez Najma , Haley Robert W. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Identifying methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) colonization or infection present at admission has become important in reducing subsequent nosocomial transmission, but the most efficient surveillance methods remain to be defined. We performed anterior nares surveillance cultures of all patients upon admission to and discharge from the general internal medicine floor in our community hospital over a 7-week period, and patients completed a questionnaire on MRSA risk factors. Of the 401 patients, 41 (10.2%) had MRSA upon admission. Of the 48 risk measures analyzed, 10 were significantly associated with admission MRSA, and 7 of these were independently associated in stepwise logistic regression analysis. Factor analysis identified eight latent variables that contained most of the predictive information in the 48 risk measures. Repeat logistic regression analysis including the latent variables revealed three independent risk measures for admission MRSA: a nursing home stay (relative risk [RR], 6.18; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.56 to 10.72;
P
< 0.0001), prior MRSA infection (RR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.94 to 8.12;
P
= 0.0002), and the third latent variable (factor 3; RR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.56 to 6.31;
P
= 0.0013), representing the combined effects of homelessness, jail stay, promiscuity, intravenous drug use, and other drug use. Multivariable models had greater sensitivity at detecting admission MRSA than any single risk measure and allowed detection of 78% to 90% of admission MRSA from admission surveillance cultures on 46% to 58% of admissions. If confirmed in additional studies, multivariable questionnaire screening at admission might identify a subset of admissions for surveillance cultures that would more efficiently identify most admission MRSA.
Detection of Fifteen Species of
Candida
in an Automated Blood Culture System
Authors: Horvath Lynn L. , George Benjamin J. , Hospenthal Duane R. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Candidemia was simulated with 15
Candida
spp. by using an automated blood culture system.
Candida
growth was detected in 479/648 (74%) bottles: 211/216 (98%) aerobic bottles, 58/216 (27%) anaerobic bottles, and 210/216 (97%) mycology bottles. Only the growth of
Candida lipolytica
failed to be detected in all media.
Hantavirus Disease Outbreak in Germany: Limitations of Routine Serological Diagnostics and Clustering of Virus Sequences of Human and Rodent Origin
Authors: Schilling Stefan , Emmerich Petra , Klempa Boris , Auste Brita , Schnaith Ebbo , Schmitz Herbert , Krüger Detlev H. , Günther Stephan , Meisel Helga 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

In Europe, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome results mainly from infection with Puumala virus (PUUV) or Dobrava virus. For 31 patients from a hantavirus disease outbreak in Lower Bavaria, a district in southeast Germany, serodiagnosis was undertaken by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence assay, and immunoblot analysis. In a few of these cases, however, PUUV-specific typing of antibodies by these standard assays failed and a virus neutralization assay under biosafety level 3 conditions was required to verify the infection by this virus type. PUUV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR from acute-phase sera of three patients and was found to be very closely related to virus sequences obtained from bank voles (
Clethrionomys glareolus
) trapped in the same area. These findings link the outbreak with a novel PUUV lineage, “Bavaria,” circulating in the local rodent population. The Bavaria lineage associated with the outbreak is only distantly related to other PUUV lineages from Germany.
Differential Functional Avidity of Dengue Virus-Specific T-Cell Clones for Variant Peptides Representing Heterologous and Previously Encountered Serotypes
Authors: Imrie Allison , Meeks Janet , Gurary Alexandra , Sukhbataar Munkhzul , Kitsutani Paul , Effler Paul , Zhao Zhengshan 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACTProinflammatory cytokines secreted by memory CD8+and CD4+T cells are thought to play a direct role in the pathogenesis of dengue virus infection by increasing vascular permeability and thereby inducing the pathophysiologic events associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Severe disease is frequently observed in the setting of secondary infection with heterologous dengue virus serotypes, suggesting a role for cross-reactive memory T cells in the immunopathogenesis of severe disease. We used a large panel of well-characterized dengue virus-specific CD8+T-cell clones isolated from Pacific Islanders previously infected with dengue virus 1 to examine effector memory function, focusing on a novel dominant HLA-B*5502-restricted NS5329-337epitope, and assessed T-cell responses to stimulation with variant peptides representing heterologous serotypes. Variant peptides were differentially recognized by dengue virus 1-specific effector CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in a heterogeneous and clone-specific manner, in which cytolytic function and cytokine secretion could be enhanced, diminished, or abrogated compared with cognate peptide stimulation. Dengue virus-specific CTL stimulated with cognate and variant peptides demonstrated a cytokine response hierarchy of gamma IFN (IFN-γ) > tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) > interleukin-2 (IL-2), and a subset of clones also produced IL-4 and IL-6. Individual clones demonstrated greater avidity for variant peptides representing heterologous serotypes, including serotypes previously encountered by the subject, and IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion was enhanced by stimulation with these heterologous peptides. Altered antiviral T-cell responses in response to stimulation with heterologous dengue virus serotypes have implications for control of virus replication and for disease pathogenesis.
Type I Interferon Inhibition and Dendritic Cell Activation during Gammaherpesvirus Respiratory Infection
Authors: Weslow-Schmidt Janet L. , Jewell Nancy A. , Mertz Sara E. , Simas J. Pedro , Durbin Joan E. , Flaño Emilio 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT
The respiratory tract is a major mucosal site for microorganism entry into the body, and type I interferon (IFN) and dendritic cells constitute a first line of defense against viral infections. We have analyzed the interaction between a model DNA virus, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and type I IFN during lung infection of mice. Our data show that murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) inhibits type I IFN secretion by dendritic cells and that plasmacytoid dendritic cells are necessary for conventional dendritic cell maturation in response to γHV68. Following γHV68 intranasal inoculation, the local and systemic IFN-α/β response is below detectable levels, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells are activated and recruited into the lung with a tissue distribution that differs from that of conventional dendritic cells. Our results suggest that plasmacytoid dendritic cells and type I IFN have important but independent roles during the early response to a respiratory γHV68 infection. γHV68 infection inhibits type I IFN production by dendritic cells and is a poor inducer of IFN-α/β in vivo, which may serve as an immune evasion strategy.
Brd4-Independent Transcriptional Repression Function of the Papillomavirus E2 Proteins
Authors: Schweiger Michal-Ruth , Ottinger Matthias , You Jianxin , Howley Peter M. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT
The papillomavirus E2 protein is a critical viral regulatory protein with transcription, DNA replication, and genome maintenance functions. We have previously identified the cellular bromodomain protein Brd4 as a major E2-interacting protein and established that it participates in tethering bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 and viral genomes to host cell mitotic chromosomes. We have also shown that Brd4 mediates E2-dependent transcriptional activation, which is strongly inhibited by the disruption of E2/Brd4 binding as well as by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of Brd4 expression levels. Since several mutants harboring single amino acid substitutions within the E2 transactivation domain that are defective for both transcriptional transactivation and Brd4 binding are also defective for transcriptional repression, we examined the role of Brd4 in E2 repression of the human papillomavirus E6/E7 promoter. Surprisingly, in a variety of in vivo assays, including transcription reporter assays, HeLa cell proliferation and colony reduction assays, and Northern blot analyses, neither blocking of the binding of E2 to Brd4 nor shRNA knockdown of Brd4 affected the E2 repression function. Our study provides evidence for a Brd4-independent mechanism of E2-mediated repression and suggests that different cellular factors must be involved in E2-mediated transcriptional activation and repression functions.
An Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus That Binds to a Human-Type Receptor
Authors: Auewarakul Prasert , Suptawiwat Ornpreya , Kongchanagul Alita , Sangma Chak , Suzuki Yasuo , Ungchusak Kumnuan , Louisirirotchanakul Suda , Lerdsamran Hatairat , Pooruk Phisanu , Thitithanyanont Arunee , Pittayawonganon Chakrarat , Guo Chao-Tan , Hiramatsu Hiroaki , Jampangern Wipawee , Chunsutthiwat Supamit , Puthavathana Pilaipan 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

Avian influenza viruses preferentially recognize sialosugar chains terminating in sialic acid-α2,3-galactose (SAα2,3Gal), whereas human influenza viruses preferentially recognize SAα2,6Gal. A conversion to SAα2,6Gal specificity is believed to be one of the changes required for the introduction of new hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes to the human population, which can lead to pandemics. Avian influenza H5N1 virus is a major threat for the emergence of a pandemic virus. As of 12 June 2007, the virus has been reported in 45 countries, and 312 human cases with 190 deaths have been confirmed. We describe here substitutions at position 129 and 134 identified in a virus isolated from a fatal human case that could change the receptor-binding preference of HA of H5N1 virus from SAα2,3Gal to both SAα2,3Gal and SAα2,6Gal. Molecular modeling demonstrated that the mutation may stabilize SAα2,6Gal in its optimal
cis
conformation in the binding pocket. The mutation was found in approximately half of the viral sequences directly amplified from a respiratory specimen of the patient. Our data confirm the presence of H5N1 virus with the ability to bind to a human-type receptor in this patient and suggest the selection and expansion of the mutant with human-type receptor specificity in the human host environment.
Interaction between the Cellular Protein eEF1A and the 3′-Terminal Stem-Loop of West Nile Virus Genomic RNA Facilitates Viral Minus-Strand RNA Synthesis
Authors: Davis William G. , Blackwell Jerry L. , Shi Pei-Yong , Brinton Margo A. 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT
RNase footprinting and nitrocellulose filter binding assays were previously used to map one major and two minor binding sites for the cell protein eEF1A on the 3′(+) stem-loop (SL) RNA of West Nile virus (WNV) (3). Base substitutions in the major eEF1A binding site or adjacent areas of the 3′(+) SL were engineered into a WNV infectious clone. Mutations that decreased, as well as ones that increased, eEF1A binding in in vitro assays had a negative effect on viral growth. None of these mutations affected the efficiency of translation of the viral polyprotein from the genomic RNA, but all of the mutations that decreased in vitro eEF1A binding to the 3′ SL RNA also decreased viral minus-strand RNA synthesis in transfected cells. Also, a mutation that increased the efficiency of eEF1A binding to the 3′ SL RNA increased minus-strand RNA synthesis in transfected cells, which resulted in decreased synthesis of genomic RNA. These results strongly suggest that the interaction between eEF1A and the WNV 3′ SL facilitates viral minus-strand synthesis. eEF1A colocalized with viral replication complexes (RC) in infected cells and antibody to eEF1A coimmunoprecipitated viral RC proteins, suggesting that eEF1A facilitates an interaction between the 3′ end of the genome and the RC. eEF1A bound with similar efficiencies to the 3′-terminal SL RNAs of four divergent flaviviruses, including a tick-borne flavivirus, and colocalized with dengue virus RC in infected cells. These results suggest that eEF1A plays a similar role in RNA replication for all flaviviruses.
cis
Effects in Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Replication
Authors: Ward Peter , Clément Nathalie , Linden R. Michael 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT

We have utilized deletion mutants of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to investigate which elements of the AAV genome are required in
cis
for high yields of the wild-type virus in a plasmid transfection assay and in addition whether these elements affect primarily AAV DNA replication or encapsidation. All tested deletions from within the Rep region demonstrated a modest, approximately threefold, decrease in viral production. Deletions within the
cap
region resulted in markedly less virus. Previous observations suggested that in cells in which recombinant AAV (rAAV) was produced, as in our assay with the helper plasmid pDG, there is a substantial excess of empty capsids. Cotransfections of high- and low-yielding constructs demonstrated that under conditions where Cap is abundant, the constructs with
cap
deletions did not package efficiently. These observation suggest that the lower yields of rAAV cannot be entirely due to lack of capsids but that elements within the
cap
region of the wild-type genome are important for efficient encapsidation. The production of virus by the mutants we tested was, however, not consistent with the disruption of a
cis
-acting packaging signal. Apparently, when Cap is provided “in
trans
,” encapsidation is inefficient. A second observation is that there were equivalent amounts of replicated but unencapsidated viral DNA in cells transfected with each of our constructs. We propose that, in accord with the previously proposed link between DNA replication and encapsidation, the total amount of AAV DNA replication can be limited by the efficiency of encapsidation.
Role of Endocytosis and Low pH in Murine Hepatitis Virus Strain A59 Cell Entry
Authors: Eifart Patricia , Ludwig Kai , Böttcher Christoph , de Haan Cornelis A. M. , Rottier Peter J. M. , Korte Thomas , Herrmann Andreas 
Published: July 2007

ABSTRACT
Infection by the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) requires the release of the viral genome by fusion with the respective target membrane of the host cell. Fusion is mediated by the viral S protein. Here, the entry pathway of MHV-A59 into murine fibroblast cells was studied by independent approaches. Infection of cells assessed by plaque reduction assay was strongly inhibited by lysosomotropic compounds and substances that interfere with clathrin-dependent endocytosis, suggesting that MHV-A59 is taken up via endocytosis and delivered to acidic endosomal compartments. Infection was only slightly reduced in the presence of substances inhibiting proteases of endosomal compartments, precluding that the endocytic uptake is required to activate the fusion potential of the S protein by its cleavage. Fluorescence confocal microscopy of labeled MHV-A59 confirmed that virus is taken up via endocytosis. Bright labeling of intracellular compartments suggests their fusion with the viral envelope. No fusion with the plasma membrane was observed at neutral pH conditions. However, when virus was bound to cells and the pH was lowered to 5.0, we observed a strong labeling of the plasma membrane. Electron microscopy revealed low pH triggered conformational alterations of the S ectodomain. Very likely, these alterations are irreversible because low-pH treatment of viruses in the absence of target membranes caused an irreversible loss of the fusion activity. The results imply that endocytosis plays a major role in MHV-A59 infection and the acidic pH of the endosomal compartment triggers a conformational change of the S protein mediating fusion.