bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of pacemaker implantation in 104 dogs
Authors: Johnson M. S. , Martin M. W. S. , Henley W. 
Published: December 2006

Objectives:To document the outcome, survival and complications involved in pacemaker implantation in dogs in a retrospective study.Methods:Case records for all dogs in which pacemaker implantation was performed were reviewed.Results:A total of 104 dogs underwent pacemaker implantation. Dogs were presented with atrioventricular (AV) block (71), sick sinus syndrome (25) or vasovagal syncope (eight). Age at presentation varied from six months to 13 years with a median age of seven years and two months. The Labrador was the most commonly represented breed (17 cases). All but one dog survived pacemaker implantation, with 93 showing resolution of their clinical signs while 10 dogs showed intermittent residual signs. One‐, three‐ and five‐year survival estimates were 86, 65 and 39 per cent, respectively. Major complications after implantation were documented in 15 dogs and three of these led to fatalities. Minor complications were noted in 23 dogs. Sudden death occurred in six dogs three to 55 months following successful pacemaker implantation.ClinicalSignificance:Transvenous pacemaker implantation was successful in reducing or eliminating clinical signs in over 90 per cent of dogs with third‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block or sick sinus syndrome. In dogs with vasovagal syncope, six of eight dogs had greatly reduced frequency of collapse and two became asymptomatic. Although the procedure was associated with complications, these were rarely life threatening and good survival was documented in the majority of cases.
Quantitative and Functional Differences between Peripheral Blood Myeloid Dendritic Cells from Patients with Pleural and Parenchymal Lung Tuberculosis
Authors: Mendelson Marc , Hanekom Willem A. , Ntutela Siyabulela , Vogt Monica , Steyn Lafras , Maartens Gary , Kaplan Gilla 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTDendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in generating protective host immunity toMycobacterium tuberculosis. Few studies have addressed DC function in the context of active tuberculosis (TB), largely due to technical constraints in obtaining adequate numbers of DC from sick patients. We quantitated peripheral blood myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in the whole blood of patients with active TB and show that blood from patients with pleural TB was characterized by high circulating levels of mDCs. We also developed and optimized a novel whole-blood assay to study mDC production of the Th1-promoting cytokine interleukin 12 (IL-12) and upregulation of the maturation marker CCR7 after incubation with mycobacteria. We found that pleural TB was associated with increased IL-12 production and CCR7 expression compared to lung parenchymal disease. Our findings suggest important differences in innate immunity between patients with different forms of active TB, and this may contribute to the differences in natural history observed between the two groups.
Antibodies Specific for the High-Molecular-Weight Adhesion Proteins of NontypeableHaemophilus influenzaeAre Opsonophagocytic for both Homologous and Heterologous Strains
Authors: Winter Linda E. , Barenkamp Stephen J. 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTThe HMW1/HMW2-like adhesion proteins of nontypeableHaemophilus influenzae(NTHI) are expressed by 75% of NTHI strains. Antibodies directed against these proteins are opsonophagocytic in vitro and are protective in an animal model of infection. The objective of the present study was to determine the opsonophagocytic activity of high-titer anti-HMW1/HMW2 immune sera against both homologous and heterologous NTHI strains. Chinchillas were immunized with purified HMW1/HMW2-like proteins from five prototype NTHI strains. Serum opsonophagocytic activity was monitored in an assay that uses a human promyelocytic cell line, HL-60, as the source of phagocytic cells. Preimmune sera did not demonstrate opsonophagocytic killing of any strains. In contrast, the immune sera demonstrated killing of the five homologous NTHI strains at titers ranging from 1:320 to 1:640. The immune sera also demonstrated killing of eight heterologous NTHI strains that express HMW1/HMW2-like proteins at titers ranging from 0 to 1:640. Killing of heterologous strains sometimes demonstrated a prozone phenomenon. None of the immune sera killed NTHI strains that did not express HMW1/HMW2-like proteins. Adsorption of immune sera with HMW1/HMW2-like proteins purified from either homologous or heterologous NTHI strains eliminated opsonophagocytic killing of homologous strains in most cases. These data demonstrate that antibodies produced following immunization with the HMW1/HMW2-like proteins are opsonophagocytic for both homologous and heterologous NTHI and strongly suggest that common epitopes recognized by functionally active antibodies exist on the HMW1/HMW2-like proteins of unrelated NTHI strains. The results argue for the continued investigation of the HMW1/HMW2-like proteins as potential vaccine candidates for the prevention of NTHI disease.
Community-Based Seroepidemiological Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Buti Maria , Domínguez Àngela , Plans Pere , Jardí Rossend , Schaper Mélani , Espuñes Jordi , Cardeñosa Neus , Rodríguez-Frías Francisco , Esteban Rafael , Plasència Antoni , Salleras Luis 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in a population sample from Catalonia and to analyze the demographic and clinical variables associated with the presence of these antibodies. A total of 1,280 subjects between 15 and 74 years of age were selected randomly from urban and rural areas. Data for sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected by using a questionnaire. IgG antibodies to HEV were determined by an immunoenzymatic method. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for studied variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine which variables were independently associated with the prevalence of HEV infection. Anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 96 (7.3%) of the 1,280 samples analyzed. The prevalence of antibodies was greater among males (7.8%) than among women (7%) and increased with age for both sexes, from 3% among subjects 15 to 24 years of age to 12% among subjects ≥65 years of age. Bivariate analysis of the sociodemographic and clinical variables showed an association between the prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection and minor surgery (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.11), abdominal surgery (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.73), and, for women, being uniparous or multiparous (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.19 to 6.79). The multivariate analysis showed an association with minor surgery only (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.70). In conclusion, anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 7.3% of the Catalan population. The seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies increased with age and was associated with previous minor surgery.
Flow Cytometric Detection of Gamma Interferon Can Effectively DiscriminateMycobacterium bovisBCG-Vaccinated Cattle fromM. bovis-Infected Cattle
Authors: Sopp P. , Howard C. J. , Hope J. C. 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTMycobacterium bovisis the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, a disease that is increasing in incidence in United Kingdom cattle herds. In addition to increasing economic losses, the rise in bovine tuberculosis poses a human health risk. There is an urgent requirement for effective strategies for disease eradication; this will likely involve vaccination in conjunction with current test and slaughter policies. A policy involving vaccination would require an accurate diagnosis ofM. bovis-infected animals and the potential to distinguish these animals from vaccinates. Currently used diagnostic tests, the skin test and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) blood test, have a sensitivity of up to 95%. A further complication is thatM. bovisBCG-vaccinated animals are also scored positive by these tests. We tested the hypothesis that the quantification of IFN-γ-producing lymphocytes by flow cytometric analysis of intracellular IFN-γ expression would provide a more accurate discrimination ofM. bovis-infected animals from BCG vaccinates. Significant numbers of IFN-γ-expressing CD4+T cells were detected following culture of heparinized blood fromM. bovis-infected animals, but not from BCG vaccinates, with purified protein derived fromM. bovis(PPD-B) or live mycobacteria. Only 1 of 17 BCG-vaccinated animals had a significant number of CD4+T lymphocytes expressing IFN-γ, compared with 21/22M. bovis-infected animals. This assay could allow an accurate diagnosis ofM. bovisand allow the discrimination of BCG-vaccinated cattle from infected cattle.
Genotyping of Clinical Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Isolates by Use of Restriction Enzymes
Authors: Norberg Peter , Bergström Tomas , Liljeqvist Jan-Åke 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT
Recently, three distinct genotypes of clinical herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) isolates were identified based on DNA sequence information and phylogenetic analysis of clinical isolates and laboratory strains. We utilized single-nucleotide polymorphism within the genes coding for glycoproteins G and I for rapid genotype classification by PCR and restriction enzyme cleavage. The method is suitable for high-scale genotyping of clinical HSV-1 isolates and for the detection of recombinants.
Establishing Clonal Relationships between VIM-1-Like Metallo-β-Lactamase-ProducingPseudomonas aeruginosaStrains from Four European Countries by Multilocus Sequence Typing
Authors: Giske Christian G. , Libisch Balázs , Colinon Céline , Scoulica Effie , Pagani Laura , Füzi Miklós , Kronvall Göran , Rossolini Gian Maria 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTTen multidrug-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosastrains producing VIM-1-like acquired metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), isolated from four European countries (Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Sweden), were analyzed for genetic relatedness by several methodologies, includingfliCsequence analysis, macrorestriction profiling of genomic DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The four approaches yielded consistent results overall but showed different resolution powers in establishing relatedness between isolates (PFGE > RAPD > MLST >fliCtyping) and could usefully complement each other to address issues in the molecular epidemiology ofP. aeruginosastrains producing acquired MBLs. In particular, the recently developed MLST approach was useful in revealing clonal relatedness between isolates when this was not readily apparent using RAPD and PFGE, and it suggested a common ancestry for some of the VIM-1-like MBL-positiveP. aeruginosastrains currently spreading in Europe. The MBL producers belonged in three clonal complexes/burst groups (BGs). Of these, one corresponded to the previously described BG4 and included serotype O12 strains from Hungary and Sweden, while the other two were novel and included serotype O11 or nonserotypable strains from Greece, Sweden, and/or Italy. Comparison of the integrons carryingblaVIM-1-like cassettes of various isolates revealed a remarkable structural heterogeneity, suggesting the possibility that multiple independent events of acquisition of differentblaVIM-containing integrons had occurred in members of the same clonal lineage, although a contribution of integrase-mediated cassette shuffling or other recombination mechanisms during the evolution of similar strains could also have played a role in determining this variability.
Presence of NewmecAandmph(C) Variants Conferring Antibiotic Resistance inStaphylococcusspp. Isolated from the Skin of Horses before and after Clinic Admission
Authors: Schnellmann Christina , Gerber Vinzenz , Rossano Alexandra , Jaquier Valentine , Panchaud Yann , Doherr Marcus G. , Thomann Andreas , Straub Reto , Perreten Vincent 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTBecause of the frequency of multiple antibiotic resistance,Staphylococcusspecies often represent a challenge in incisional infections of horses undergoing colic surgery. To investigate the evolution of antibiotic resistance patterns before and after preventative peri- and postoperative penicillin treatment, staphylococci were isolated from skin and wound samples at different times during hospitalization. Most staphylococci were normal skin commensals and belonged to the common coagulase-negative group. In some cases they turned out to be opportunistic pathogens present in wound infections. MICs were determined for 12 antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes were detected by microarray. At hospital admission, horses harbored staphylococci that were susceptible to antibiotics or resistant to one group of drugs, mainly due to the presence of new variants of the methicillin and macrolide resistance genesmecAandmph(C), respectively. After 3 days, the percentage ofStaphylococcusisolates displaying antibiotic resistance, as well as the number of resistance genes per isolate, increased moderately in hospitalized horses without surgery or penicillin treatment but dramatically in hospitalized horses after colic surgery as well as penicillin treatment.Staphylococcusspecies displaying multiple resistance were found to harbor mainly genes conferring resistance to β-lactams (mecAandblaZ), aminoglycosides [strandaac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′)-Ia], and trimethoprim [dfr(A) anddfr(D)]. Additional genes conferring resistance to macrolides [mph(C),erm(C), anderm(B)], tetracycline [tet(K) andtet(M)], chloramphenicol [cat(pC221) andcat(pC223)], and streptothricin (sat4) appeared in several strains. Hospitalization and preventive penicillin use were shown to act as selection agents for multidrug-resistant commensal staphylococcal flora.
Use of Noninvasive Markers To Detect
Leishmania
Infection in Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
Authors: García-García José A. , Martín-Sánchez Joaquina , Gállego Montserrat , Rivero-Román Antonio , Camacho Angela , Riera Cristina , Morillas-Márquez Francisco , Vergara Salvador , Macías Juan , Pineda Juan A. 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by
Leishmania infantum
is a common disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people in the Mediterranean basin. However, most such cases are asymptomatic, and little information about the prevalence of these infections in HIV-infected individuals is available. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subclinical infection and the relationship between several
Leishmania
infection markers by noninvasive methods in asymptomatic HIV-infected patients from Southern Spain. Ninety-two HIV-infected patients, who were consecutively attended at the participant hospitals in 2004, were invited to participate in this study. These patients were asymptomatic and without any history of cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis.
Leishmania
kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was amplified from peripheral blood samples from 28 (30.4%) of these HIV-infected subjects. Sera from three (3.5%) patients tested positive for
Leishmania
by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Two patients (2.4%) showed a specific 16-kDa band by Western blotting. In contrast, none of the patients showed a positive agglutination of urine. The leishmanin skin test was positive for four (4.3%) patients. None of the patients with a PCR-positive result showed a positive reaction by enzyme-linked immunoassay or by specific bands in Western blotting or had a positive leishmanin skin test. In conclusion,
L. infantum
kDNA was detected in a large proportion of asymptomatic HIV-infected patients, although a demonstrable cellular or humoral immune response to this parasite was not shown. Conversely,
Leishmania
antigen in urine was not detected in these patients.
Effect of Endocervical-Specimen Adequacy on Detection of
Chlamydia trachomatis
by the APTIMA COMBO 2 Assay
Authors: Rogers C. K. , Wood B. J. , Rizzo P. , Gaydos C. A. 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT

Six hundred one endocervical specimens were analyzed for
Chlamydia trachomatis
by the APTIMA Combo 2 assay and evaluated for columnar epithelial cell adequacy by direct fluorescent-antibody staining. With 5.5% positive adequate and 7.8% positive inadequate specimens (
P
= 0.27), the study suggested no difference in positivity rates due to specimen adequacy when this amplified technology was used.
Evidence Supporting Zoonotic Transmission of
Cryptosporidium
spp. in Wisconsin
Authors: Feltus Dawn C. , Giddings Catherine W. , Schneck Brianna L. , Monson Timothy , Warshauer David , McEvoy John M. 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT

Cryptosporidium hominis
and
Cryptosporidium parvum
are the primary species of
Cryptosporidium
that infect humans.
C. hominis
has an anthroponotic transmission cycle, while
C. parvum
is zoonotic, infecting cattle and other ruminants, in addition to humans. Most cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in the United States have been caused by
C. hominis
, and this species is often reported as the primary cause of cryptosporidiosis in this country. However, outbreaks account for only 10% of the overall cryptosporidiosis cases, and there are few data on the species that cause sporadic cases. The present study identified the species/genotypes and subgenotypes of
Cryptosporidium
in 49 cases of sporadic cryptosporidiosis in Wisconsin during the period from 2003 to 2005. The species/genotype of isolates was determined by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 18S rRNA and
Cryptosporidium
oocyst wall protein genes. The
C. parvum
and
C. hominis
isolates were subgenotyped by sequence analysis of the GP60 gene. Forty-four of 49 isolates were identified as
C. parvum
, and 1 was identified as
C. hominis
. Of the remaining isolates, one was identified as being of the cervine genotype, one was identified as being a cervine genotype variant, and two were identified as being of a novel human genotype, previously reported as W17. Nine different subgenotypes were identified within the
C. parvum
species, and two of these were responsible for 60% of the cases. In this study we found that most sporadic cases of cryptosporidiosis in Wisconsin are caused by zoonotic
Cryptosporidium
species, indicating that zoonotic transmission could be more frequently associated with sporadic cases in the United States.
Longitudinal Study of the Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
at a University Hospital
Authors: Petersdorf Sabine , Oberdorfer Klaus , Wendt Constanze 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACT

Surveillance for methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) at the University Hospital of Heidelberg revealed an increase in the numbers of newly detected MRSA isolates in recent years. We conducted a study to assess the dynamics of the changes in the MRSA population. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing of MRSA isolates from all patients at the University Hospital of Heidelberg collected between 1993 and 2004 was performed. The microbiology database contained 1,807 entries for newly detected MRSA isolates from 1,301 patients. A total of 1,252 isolates were available for PFGE typing. The isolates could be classified into 109 different PFGE types. Most PFGE types (
n
= 70) were detected less than five times and showed no evidence of transmission (sporadic strains). They accounted for 8.7% of all isolates, with few variations in frequency over the time. Thirty-seven PFGE types were clustered by time of detection, and transmission of the strains was likely (local epidemic strains). A total of 37.3% of the isolates belonged to this group of strains. The remaining 54.0% of the isolates belonged to only two further PFGE types (endemic strains). One endemic strain accounted for 5.0% of all isolates in 1994 and 68.2% in 2004. A second endemic strain was detected in 1.1% of all isolates in 1998 but in 12.4% in 2004. Statistical analysis of the associations between the kind of strain (sporadic, local epidemic, or endemic) and the patients' characteristics revealed a significant association for age and mode of acquisition. The remarkable increase in the rate of MRSA detection at the University Hospital of Heidelberg is mainly due to the dissemination of two different strains. Infection control measures seemed sufficient to prevent further transmission of some but not all of the strains.
Molecular Method for Identification ofRickettsiaSpecies in Clinical and Environmental Samples
Authors: Jado Isabel , Escudero Raquel , Gil Horacio , Jiménez-Alonso María Isabel , Sousa Rita , García-Pérez Ana L. , Rodríguez-Vargas Manuela , Lobo Bruno , Anda Pedro 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTWe present a PCR method targeting the 23S-5S internal transcribed spacer coupled with reverse line blotting that allowsRickettsiaspecies detection and identification in a single step. The method is highly sensitive and specific in identifyingRickettsiaspecies from both patient and environmental samples. The generic approach used allowed us to identify new pathogens.
Relationship between Prevalent Oral and Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive and -Negative Women
Authors: Fakhry Carole , D'souza Gypsyamber , Sugar Elizabeth , Weber Kathleen , Goshu Eleni , Minkoff Howard , Wright Rodney , Seaberg Eric , Gillison Maura 
Published: December 2006

ABSTRACTHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is an etiologic agent for both oropharyngeal and cervical cancers, yet little is known about the interrelationship between oral and cervical HPV infections. Therefore, we compared the prevalences and type distributions of oral and cervical HPV infections and evaluated infection concordance in a cross-sectional study within the Women's Interagency HIV Study cohort. Oral rinse and cervical-vaginal lavage samples were concurrently collected from a convenience sample of 172 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 86 HIV-negative women. HPV genomic DNA was detected by PGMY09/11 L1 consensus primer PCR and type specified by reverse line blot hybridization for 37 HPV types and β-globin. Only 26 of the 35 HPV types found to infect the cervix were also found within the oral cavity, and the type distribution for oral HPV infections appeared distinct from that for cervical infections (P< 0.001). Oral HPV infections were less common than cervical infections for both HIV-positive (25.2% versus 76.9%,P< 0.001) and HIV-negative (9.0% versus 44.9%,P< 0.001) women. Oral HPV infections were more common among women with a cervical HPV infection than those without a cervical HPV infection (25.5% versus 7.9%,P= 0.002). The majority of women (207; 93.7%) did not have simultaneous oral and cervical infections by the same HPV type; however, the number of women who did (14; 6.3%) was significantly greater than would be expected by chance (P= 0.0002). Therefore, the oral and cervical reservoirs for HPV infection are likely not entirely independent of one another.