bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Heterologous Neutralizing Antibody Responses of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)- and HIV-2-Infected Senegalese Patients: Distinct Patterns of Breadth and Magnitude Distinguish HIV-1 and HIV-2 Infections
Authors: Rodriguez Shaun K. , Sarr Abdoulaye Dieng , MacNeil Adam , Thakore-Meloni Seema , Gueye-Ndiaye Aissatou , Traoré Ibrahima , Dia Mamadou C. , Mboup Souleymane , Kanki Phyllis J. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Neutralizing antibody responses against heterologous isolates in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 infections were compared, and their relationships with established clinical markers of progression were examined. Neutralizing responses against 7 heterologous primary isolates and 1 laboratory strain were compared between 32 untreated HIV-1-infected subjects and 35 untreated HIV-2-infected subjects using a pseudotyped reporter virus assay. The breadth of the neutralizing response, defined as the proportion of panel viruses positively neutralized by patient plasma, was significantly greater among HIV-2-infected subjects than among HIV-1-infected subjects. Notably, for fully one-third of HIV-2 subjects, all viruses were effectively neutralized in our panel. Magnitudes of responses, defined as reciprocal 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) titers for positive reactions, were significantly greater among HIV-1-infected subjects than among HIV-2-infected subjects. When plasma samples from HIV-1 patients were tested for cross-neutralization of HIV-2 and vice versa, we found that these intertype responses are very rare and their prevalences comparable in both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection. The significantly higher magnitude of heterologous responses for HIV-1 compared to HIV-2 prompted us to examine associations with viremia, which is known to be significantly higher in HIV-1 infection. Importantly, there was a significant positive correlation between the IC
50
titer and viral load within both the HIV-1 and HIV-2 groups, suggesting heterologous antibodies may be driven by viral replication. We conclude that HIV-2 infection is characterized by a broad, low-magnitude intratype neutralization response, while HIV-1 is characterized by a narrower but higher-magnitude intratype response and that a significant positive association between the IC
50
titer and viremia is common to both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.
Interaction of Tsg101 with Marburg Virus VP40 Depends on the PPPY Motif, but Not the PT/SAP Motif as in the Case of Ebola Virus, and Tsg101 Plays a Critical Role in the Budding of Marburg Virus-Like Particles Induced by VP40, NP, and GP
Authors: Urata Shuzo , Noda Takeshi , Kawaoka Yoshihiro , Morikawa Shigeru , Yokosawa Hideyoshi , Yasuda Jiro 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT
Marburg virus (MARV) VP40 is a matrix protein that can be released from mammalian cells in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) and contains the PPPY sequence, which is an L-domain motif. Here, we demonstrate that the PPPY motif is important for VP40-induced VLP budding and that VLP production is significantly enhanced by coexpression of NP and GP. We show that Tsg101 interacts with VP40 depending on the presence of the PPPY motif, but not the PT/SAP motif as in the case of Ebola virus, and plays an important role in VLP budding. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of MARV budding.
Positive Selection of Hepatitis Delta Antigen in Chronic Hepatitis D Patients
Authors: Wang Shen-Yung , Wu Jaw-Ching , Chiang Tzen-Yuh , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Su Chien-Wei , Sheen I-Jane 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTLiver disease may become ameliorated in some patients with chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. We present here a study based on longitudinal sampling to investigate the viral dynamics in chronic HDV infection. We examined the HDV variants from different time points, especially those before and after the elevation of serum aminotransferase levels. The datasets from each patient were tested for positive selection by using maximum-likelihood methods with heterogeneous selective pressures along the nucleotide sequence. An average of 4.9%, ranging from 3.1 to 6.8%, of the entire delta antigen sites was regulated by a diversifying selection. Most of the positively selected sites were associated with immunogenic domains. Likelihood ratio tests revealed a significant fitness of positive selection over neutrality of the hepatitis delta antigen gene in all patients. We further adapted a neural network method to predict potential cytotoxic T ligand epitopes. Among the HLA-A*0201 cytotoxic T ligand epitopes, three consistent epitopes across all three genotypes were identified: amino acids (aa) 43 to 51, 50 to 58, and 114 to 122. Three patients (60%) had sites evolving under positive selection in the epitope from aa 43 to 51, and four patients (80%) had sites evolving under positive selection in the epitope from aa 114 to 122. The discovery of immunogenic epitopes, especially cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte ligands, associated with chronic HDV infection may be crucial for further development of novel treatments or designs in vaccine for HDV superinfection.
Moral Particularism: An Introduction
Authors: Kirchin Simon 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMoral particularism is a contentious position at present and seems likely to be so for the foreseeable future. In this Introduction, I outline and detail its essential claim, which I take to be, roughly, that what can be a reason that helps to make one action right need not be a reason that always helps to make actions right. This claim challenges a central assumption on which most, if not all, normative ethical theories are supposedly based. We owe this way of characterizing moral particularism to Jonathan Dancy, around whose writings much of the present debate revolves.
Particularism and Default Valency
Authors: Kirchin Simon 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn this paper, I concentrate on the notion of default valency, drawing on some of the distinctions made and thoughts given in my Introduction. I motivate why the notion is important for particularists to have up their sleeves by outlining a recent debate between particularists and generalists. I then move to the main aim of the piece which is to discuss how anyone, particularist and generalist alike, might seek to distinguish reason-generating features into different types. My main aim is not to argue for a specific way of dividing such features into types but to present various taxonomical options.
Ethics Without Reasons?
Authors: Crisp Roger 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper is a discussion of Jonathan Dancy's book Ethics Without Principles (2004). Holism about reasons is distinguished into a weak version, which allows for invariant reasons, and a strong, which doesn't. Four problems with Dancy's arguments for strong holism are identified. (1) A plausible particularism based on it will be close to generalism. (2) Dancy rests his case on common-sense morality, without justifying it. (3) His examples are of non-ultimate reasons. (4) There are certain universal principles it is hard not to see as invariant, such as that the fact that some action causes of suffering to a non-rational being always counts against it. The main difficulty with weak holism is that justification can be seen as analogous to explanation, which will give us an atomistic and generalist conception of a normative reason.
Crisp's ‘Ethics Without Reasons?’: A Note on Invariance
Authors: Harcourt Edward 
Published: February 2007

AbstractCrisp is right to detect a clash between Dancy's leading formulation of holism about reasons and the phenomenon of invariance. Replying to Crisp on behalf of the particularist, I suggest a better formulation of holism modelled on a standard treatment in the philosophy of language of context-sensitive expressions.
Practical Reasoning and Normative Relevance: A Reply to McKeever and Ridge
Authors: Thomas Alan 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA putative problem for the moral particularist is that he or she fails to capture the normative relevance of certain considerations that they carry on their face, or the intuitive irrelevance of other considerations. It is argued in response that mastery of certain topic-specific truisms about a subject matter is what it is for a reasonable interlocutor to be engaged in a moral discussion, but the relevance of these truisms has nothing to do with the particularist/generalist dispute. Given that practical reasoning is plausibly a form of abductive reasoning, and is therefore non-monotonic, any arbitrary addition of information can change the degree of support evidence offers for a conclusion. Given this arbitrariness, it is no objection to the particularist if he or she represents the ‘normative landscape as flat’ in a way that does not display the ‘obvious’ relevance of certain considerations. The normative landscape is flat and our best account of practical reasoning represents it precisely as such. Appealing to a distinction between practical reasoning and moral reasoning does not help to resurrect this pseudoproblem for particularism.
Monoclonal TCR-Vβ13.1+/CD4+/NKa+/CD8−/+dim T-LGL lymphocytosis: evidence for an antigen-driven chronic T-cell stimulation origin
Authors: Garrido Pilar , Ruiz-Cabello Francisco , Bárcena Paloma , Sandberg Yorick , Cantón Julia , Lima Margarida , Balanzategui Ana , González Marcos , López-Nevot Miguel Angel , Langerak Anton W. , García-Montero Andrés C. , Almeida Julia , Orfao Alberto 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Monoclonal TCRαβ+/CD4+ T-large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) lymphocytosis is a T-cell disorder with a restricted TCR-Vβ repertoire. In the present study we explored the potential association between the expanded TCR-Vβ families, the CDR3 sequences of the TCR-Vβ gene, and the HLA genotype of patients with monoclonal TCRαβ+/CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis. For that purpose, 36 patients with monoclonal TCRαβ+/CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis (15 TCR-Vβ13.1 versus 21 non–TCR-Vβ13.1) were selected. For each patient, both the HLA (class I and II) genotype and the DNA sequences of the VDJ-rearranged TCR-Vβ were analyzed. Our results show a clear association between the TCR-Vβ repertoire and the HLA genotype, all TCR-Vβ13.1+ cases being HLA-DRB1*0701 (P = .004). Interestingly, the HLA-DR7/TCR-Vβ13.1–restricted T-cell expansions displayed a highly homogeneous and strikingly similar TCR arising from the use of common TCR-Vβ gene segments, which shared (1) unique CDR3 structural features with a constantly short length, (2) similar combinatorial gene rearrangements with frequent usage of the Jβ1.1 gene, and (3) a homolog consensus protein sequence at recombination junctions. Overall, these findings strongly support the existence of a common antigen-driven origin for monoclonal CD4+ T-LGL lymphocytosis, with the identification of the exact peptides presented to the expanded T cells deserving further investigations.
Plasma fatty acids and lipid hydroperoxides increase after antibiotic therapy in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Durieu I. , Abbas-Chorfa F. , Drai J. , Iwaz J. , Steghens J-P. , Puget M. , Ecochard R. , Bellon G. 
Published: February 2007

The present authors investigated whether cystic fibrosis is linked to a defect in fatty acids and assessed the impact of the main patients' characteristics on the levels of several fatty acids, mostly during respiratory exacerbation and after antibiotic therapy.Fatty acid phospholipid and cholesteryl ester levels were measured in stable-state patients and controls. No differences were found concerning either the fractions of palmitic and oleic acids or the cholesteryl esters of α-linolenic and arachidonic acids. However, phospholipids of α-linolenic and arachidonic acids, as well as cholesteryl esters and phospholipids of stearic and linoleic acids, were lower in patients than in controls, but fractions of dihomo-γ-linolenic, docosatetraenoic, docosapentaenoic, palmitoleic and eicosatrienoic acids were higher.Fatty acid levels, oxidative stress markers, nutrients, body mass index and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured in patients before and after antibiotic courses for bronchial exacerbation. After adjustments, palmitic, stearic, α-linolenic, linoleic, arachidonic, palmitoleic and oleic acids generally decreased during exacerbation but almost all increased after antibiotic courses. Nearly all fractions increased along with FEV1and a positive relationship linked fatty acids to lipid hydroperoxides.There was no general drop in fatty acids. Patients' fatty acid profiles depended on the pulmonary function and the inflammation state.
Analysis of the interbeat interval increment to detect obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea
Authors: Roche F. , Celle S. , Pichot V. , Barthélémy J-C. , Sforza E. 
Published: February 2007

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is underestimated and its diagnosis is costly and restricted to specialised sleep laboratories. The frequency component of interbeat interval increment (III) has been proposed as a simple and inexpensive diagnostic tool in OSAHS.In a set of 150 patients with clinically suspected sleep-related breathing disorder, the actual predictive accuracy of the power spectral density of the III of the very low frequencies (%VLFI) was analysed by comparing with the apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI), as assessed by synchronised polysomnography.OSAHS was defined in 100 patients according to an AHI ≥15 events·h−1. Receiver operator characteristic curves built for %VLFI confirmed that this variable was able to separate OSAHS positive from OSAHS negative with statistical significance. Using an appropriate threshold (>4%), %VLFI demonstrated a positive predictive value of 80%. Misclassification of false-positive subjects occurred when the patient presented significant sleep discontinuity and sleep fragmentation (sleep fragmentation index ≥50 events·h−1) related to insomnia or periodic limb movements.A power spectral density of the interbeat interval increment of very low frequencies >4% allowed correct classification of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome when the clinical history suggested sleep-related breathing disorders and when moderate-to-severe cases are considered. Higher power spectral density of the interbeat interval increment of very low frequencies may also indicate disrupted sleep in the absence of clear clinical symptoms of sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome.
Positive effect of CPAP treatment on the control of difficult-to-treat hypertension
Authors: Martínez-García M. A. , Gómez-Aldaraví R. , Soler-Cataluña J-J. , Martínez T. G. , Bernácer-Alpera B. , Román-Sánchez P. 
Published: February 2007

The aim of the present study was to analyse the role of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in patients with difficult-to-control hypertension (DC-HT) and sleep apnoea.An AutosetTM(ResMed, Sydney, Australia) study was performed in 60 patients diagnosed with DC-HT based on two 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitorisation (ABPM) studies. CPAP was offered to patients with an apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥15 events·h−1. After 3 months of treatment, repeat ABPM was performed to evaluate the effect of CPAP upon the blood pressure values.A total of 39 (65%) patients received CPAP treatment, but only 33 completed the study. The mean±sdsystolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively) were 154.8±14 and 90±8.8 mmHg. Patients had a mean±sdAHI of 37.7±18.2 events·h−1. Only three patients presented a dipper nocturnal pressure pattern. CPAP treatment significantly reduced SBP (-5.2 mmHg), and particularly the nocturnal values (-6.1 mmHg), but not DBP. Considering only those patients who tolerated CPAP, the decrease in SBP was greater (-7.3 mmHg). Furthermore, CPAP treatment significantly increased the percentage of patients who recovered the dipper pattern (three (9.1%) out of 33versus12 (36.4%) out of 33).Continuous positive airway pressure treatment significantly reduces systolic blood pressure, particularly at night, and normalises the nocturnal pressure pattern in patients with difficult-to-control hypertension and sleep apnoea.
Montelukast as add-on therapy to β-agonists and late airway response
Authors: Rosewich M. , Rose M. A. , Eickmeier O. , Travaci M. , Kitz R. , Zielen S. 
Published: February 2007

The present study investigated whether single-dose oral leukotriene receptor antagonists as add-on therapy to short-acting β-agonists, immediately after allergen challenge, block the late-phase airway response.In total, 35 mild asthmatics (mean age 24 yrs, 19 males) sensitised for house dust mites underwent two courses of bronchial allergen challenge. After the early allergic response (EAR), subjects received salbutamol once and were randomly assigned to either 10 mg of montelukast or placebo (double-blind crossover). To identify a late allergic response, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was monitored over the following 8 h. Baseline exhaled nitric oxide (NO) was determined ahead of each allergen challenge.Baseline NO levels differed significantly depending on the reaction to allergen challenge. In total, 12 subjects showed no significant response, 11 only showed an EAR, and 12 had a dual response and underwent further analysis. The area under the FEV1time–response curve 3–8 h after bronchial allergen challenge was -0.77±1.68 from the pre-challenge values on montelukast compared with -2.47±1.32 on placebo. The baseline exhaled NO fraction of subjects without an EAR was significantly lower than of those presenting a dual response.The results of the present study demonstrate that single-dose leukotriene receptor antagonists given orally right after the early allergic response can significantly inhibit the late allergic response after bronchial allergen challenge.
Characterisation of asthma among adults with and without childhood farm contact
Authors: Schulze A. , van Strien R. T. , Praml G. , Nowak D. , Radon K. 
Published: February 2007

Childhood farm contact is associated with a lower prevalence of sensitisation and allergic rhinitis. Findings have been contradictory for asthma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between farm and nonfarm subjects using objective measurements.A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed among rural adults aged 18–44 yrs, of which 37% lived on a farm during the first 3 yrs of life and were thus referred to as “farm subjects”. Lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine and sensitisation were measured in a random sample. A total of 1,595 subjects were included in the analyses.Among farm subjects, sensitisation against inhalant allergens (odds ratio (OR) 0.7; 95% confidence interval 0.6–0.9), allergic rhinitis (0.5 (0.4–0.8)) and asthma diagnosis (0.7(0.4–1.1)) were less common than among nonfarm subjects. For BHR and lung function, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. Stratifying for sensitisation, farm subjects had a lower OR of asthma diagnosis (0.5 (0.3–1.0)) and a nonsignificantly reduced OR of BHR with sensitisation (0.8 (0.5–1.1)).The present study confirmed, using objective measurements, that farm subjects have a lower prevalence of symptoms and asthma diagnosis, while the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness does not differ.
Prognostic value of blood gas analyses in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Hoeper M. M. , Pletz M. W. , Golpon H. , Welte T. 
Published: February 2007

Blood gas abnormalities in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) may be related to disease severity and prognosis.The present authors performed a 12-yr retrospective analysis assessing arterialised capillary blood gases, haemodynamics, exercise variables and survival in 101 patients with IPAH.At baseline, arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) and carbon dioxide arterial tension (Pa,CO2) were 9.17±1.86 and 4.25±0.532 kPa, respectively. WhilePa,O2was not associated with survival, a lowPa,CO2was a strong and independent prognostic marker. When patients were divided according to a baselinePa,CO2value above or below 4.25 kPa, a cut-off value determined by receiver operating characteristics analysis, survival rates were 98 and 86% at 1 yr, 82 and 69% at 2 years, 80 and 51% at 3 yrs, 77 and 41% at 5 yrs, and 65 and 12% at 8 yrs, respectively.Pa,CO2after 3 months of medical therapy was strongly associated with survival. Hypocapnia at rest and during exercise correlated with low cardiac output, low peak oxygen uptake and reduced ventilatory efficacy. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 6-min walking distance, right atrial pressure andPa,CO2were independently associated with survival.In patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, hypocapnia (carbon dioxide arterial tension <4.25 kPa) is an independent marker of mortality.
Eosinophilic airway inflammation and exacerbations of COPD: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Siva R. , Green R. H. , Brightling C. E. , Shelley M. , Hargadon B. , McKenna S. , Monteiro W. , Berry M. , Parker D. , Wardlaw A. J. , Pavord I. D. 
Published: February 2007

Evidence suggests that eosinophilic airway inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. The present authors tested the hypothesis that a management strategy that aims to reduce sputum eosinophil counts is associated with a reduction in exacerbations of COPD.A total of 82 patients with COPD were randomised into two groups. One group was treated according to traditional guidelines (British Thoracic Society (BTS) group) and the other (sputum group) was treated with the additional aim of minimising eosinophilic airway inflammation, assessed using the induced sputum eosinophil count. The primary outcome was exacerbations, which were categorised as mild, moderate or severe.The frequency of severe exacerbations per patient per year was 0.5 and 0.2 in the BTS and sputum groups, respectively (mean reduction 62%). The majority of this benefit was confined to patients with eosinophilic airway inflammation. There was no difference in the frequency of mild and moderate exacerbations. The average daily dose of inhaled or oral corticosteroids during the trial did not differ between the groups. Out of 42 patients in the sputum group, 17 required regular oral corticosteroids to minimise eosinophilic airway inflammation.A management strategy that aims to minimise eosinophilic airway inflammation, as well as symptoms, is associated with a reduction in severe exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Effect of anti-PcrV antibody in a murine chronic airwayPseudomonas aeruginosainfection model
Authors: Imamura Y. , Yanagihara K. , Fukuda Y. , Kaneko Y. , Seki M. , Izumikawa K. , Miyazaki Y. , Hirakata Y. , Sawa T. , Wiener-Kronish J. P. , Kohno S. 
Published: February 2007

Pseudomonas aeruginosais one of the most important pathogens in patients with chronic airway conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Type III secretion system-mediated virulence factors contribute to the lung damage in chronicP. aeruginosainfection.The effects of the anti-PcrV immunoglobulin (Ig)G, which blocks the type III secretion system, were evaluated in a mouse model of chronicP. aeruginosainfection. On bacteriological examination, anti-PcrV IgG showed no bactericidal effects. On bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, total cell number and neutrophil ratios in the anti-PcrV IgG-treated groups were lower than those in the control group. In addition, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-β concentrations in BALF were lower in the anti-PcrV IgG-treated groups when compared with controls. Plasma anti-PcrV IgG titre was elevated after administration of anti-PcrV IgG. Although plasma titre decreased gradually, a significant concentration was maintained during the experimental period.These data suggest that anti-PcrV immunoglobulin G reduces the inflammatory reaction caused by chronicPseudomonas aeruginosarespiratory infection and may be useful in treating respiratory diseases.