bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human Metapneumovirus Infection in a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient with Relapsed Multiple Myeloma and Rapidly Progressing Lung Cancer
Authors: Huck B. , Egger M. , Bertz H. , Peyerl-Hoffman G. , Kern W. V. , Neumann-Haefelin D. , Falcone V. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was isolated from a 63-year-old multiple myeloma patient who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and who presented with lower respiratory tract infection several weeks prior to the diagnosis of lung cancer. The isolate was phylogenetically and biologically characterized and compared to HMPV prototypes and recent pediatric isolates. Remarkably, it belonged to the novel genomic subgroup A2b.
Chimeric Antigens ofToxoplasma gondii: Toward Standardization of Toxoplasmosis Serodiagnosis Using Recombinant Products
Authors: Beghetto Elisa , Spadoni Andrea , Bruno Luca , Buffolano Wilma , Gargano Nicola 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTWe have evaluated the diagnostic utility of six antigenic regions of theToxoplasma gondii MIC2,MIC3,M2AP,GRA3,GRA7, andSAG1gene products, assembled in recombinant chimeric antigens by genetic engineering, in order to replace the soluble, whole-cell tachyzoite extract in serological assays. Serum samples from 100 adults with acquiredT. gondiiinfection and from 30 infants born to mothers with primary toxoplasmosis contracted during pregnancy, of whom 20 were congenitally infected, were included. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against epitopes carried by chimeric antigens were measured by performing parallel enzyme immunoassays (recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [Rec-ELISAs]), and the results obtained by standard commercial assays with the whole-cellToxoplasmaantigen and assays with the chimeric antigens were compared. Our results demonstrate that IgG and IgM Rec-ELISAs with individual chimeric antigens have performance characteristics comparable to those of the corresponding commercial assays. Furthermore, we show that IgM-capture assays based on chimeric antigens improve the ability to diagnose congenital toxoplasmosis postnatally compared with the ability to diagnose congenital toxoplasmosis by the use of standard assays. The use of recombinant chimeric antigens is effective in distinguishingT. gondii-infected individuals fromT. gondii-uninfected individuals and shows that immunoassays based on recombinant products could provide the basis for standardized commercial tests for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis.
Comparison of the BACTEC 9240 and BacT/Alert Blood Culture Systems for Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Platelet Concentrates
Authors: Riedel Stefan , Siwek Gregory , Beekmann Susan E. , Richter Sandra S. , Raife Thomas , Doern Gary V. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT
The BACTEC 9240 blood culture system with a standard aerobic medium, Plus Aerobic/F, was compared to the BacT/Alert system with a platelet-specific medium, BPA, as a means for detecting bacterial contamination of platelet preparations. One hundred thirteen platelet units seeded with low levels of different bacteria were examined with both systems. In 93 instances, growth was detected first in the BACTEC system; in 12 cases, growth registered first in the BacT/Alert system. Among all comparisons, growth was detected, on average, 1.7 h sooner with the BACTEC system. The differences in length of time to detection were statistically significant.
Blinded Comparison of Repetitive-Sequence PCR and Multilocus Sequence Typing for Genotyping Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Isolates from a Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri
Authors: Liao Robert S. , Storch Gregory A. , Buller Richard S. , Orscheln Rachel C. , Mardis Elaine R. , Armstrong Jon R. , Dunne W. Michael 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

We performed a blinded study to compare repetitive-sequence PCR and multilocus sequence typing for genotyping hospital- and community-acquired methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). The MRSA strains that were sequence type 8 (ST8), staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) type IV, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive clustered separately from those that were ST5 and SCC
mec
type II.
Geographical Distribution of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 BgK
L
Variant in Japan Suggests Gradual Dispersion of the Virus from Shikoku Island to the Other Islands
Authors: Ozawa Shigeru , Eda Hiroyuki , Hayashi Kozaburo ,   the Cooperation Group for HSV-1 RFLP Variant Study, Yoshino Kamesaburo , Yanagi Kazuo 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Restriction endonuclease fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) is useful for the epidemiological study of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We report here the identification of a major BglII RFLP variant of HSV-1, designated BgK
L
, found in 27.0% of 636 HSV-1 clinical isolates. We have also established its geographic distribution in Japan. BgK
L
has an unusually large BglII K fragment. SalI cleavage analyses showed that 97% of BgK
L
variant isolates lack both the SalI C-J and the F-J cleavage sites and have an unusually large SalI D or E fragment, and 91% of the BgK
L
variants lack both SalI G and H fragments. Furthermore, 96% of BgK
L
isolates have an unusually small KpnI M fragment. Therefore, BgK
L
is a marker for these five mutations in most HSV-1 isolates and is a useful HSV-1 RFLP marker. The BgK
L
variant was found in 59% of HSV-1 isolates from Shikoku Island, 44% of HSV-1 isolates from the Chugoku region of Honshu Island, 31% of HSV-1 isolates from Kyushu Island, 0% of HSV-1 isolates from Okinawa Island, 49% of HSV-1 isolates from Osaka, 27% of HSV-1 isolates from Shiga, 13% of HSV-1 isolates from the Chubu Region, and 9% of HSV-1 isolates from the Tohoku Region of Honshu Island. Differences in the frequency of BgK
L
between the Shikoku-Chugoku-Osaka area (49%) and Kyushu, between Kyushu and Okinawa, between the Shikoku-Chugoku-Osaka area and Shiga, and between Shiga and Tohoku are all statistically significant. The BgK
L
frequency decreases in a geographical gradient suggest that this HSV-1 variant was dispersed from Shikoku to the surrounding regions and then to more distant regions. The BgK
L
frequency in Tokyo was similar to the nationwide average. These are the first data to suggest a geographic and demographic dispersion pattern of HSV-1. Implications for the epidemiology and diversification of HSV-1 are discussed.
Nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
as a Cause of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Authors: Musher Daniel M. , Nichol Aran Cunningham , Rueda Adriana M. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Haemophilus influenzae
rarely causes spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. We describe a typical case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in which the causative organism was identified as nontypeable
H. influenzae
, biotype III. Infection progressed despite the presence of adequate serum bactericidal antibody, probably due to the absence of complement in ascites fluid.
Chronic Q Fever in the United States
Authors: Karakousis Petros C. , Trucksis Michele , Dumler J. Stephen 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Infections due to
Coxiella burnetii
, the causative agent of Q fever, are uncommon in the United States. Cases of chronic Q fever are extremely rare and most often manifest as culture-negative endocarditis in patients with underlying valvular heart disease. We describe a 31-year-old farmer from West Virginia with a history of congenital heart disease and recurrent fevers for 14 months who was diagnosed with Q fever endocarditis based on an extremely high antibody titer against
Coxiella burnetii
phase I antigen. Despite treatment with doxycycline, he continued to have markedly elevated
Coxiella burnetii
phase I antibody titers for 10 years after the initial diagnosis. To our knowledge, this case represents the longest follow-up period for a patient with chronic Q fever in the United States. We review all cases of chronic Q fever reported in the United States and discuss important issues pertaining to epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of this disease.
Molecular Analysis of
Clostridium difficile
PCR Ribotype 027 Isolates from Eastern and Western Canada
Authors: MacCannell Duncan R. , Louie Thomas J. , Gregson Dan B. , Laverdiere Michel , Labbe Annie-Claude , Laing Felicia , Henwick Scott 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

The prevalence and characteristics of PCR ribotype 027 strains of
Clostridium difficile
have come into question following recent outbreaks in Eastern Canada and elsewhere. In order to determine the distribution of this strain in other regions in Canada, we screened a bank of 1,419 isolates recovered from three different Canadian health regions between 2000 and 2004. Among isolates from a Montreal area hospital, PCR ribotype 027 strains represented 115/153 strains (75.2%) from 2003 to 2004, but ribotype 027 strains were absent in 2000 and 2001. In Calgary, by contrast, ribotype 027 rates have remained relatively stable over 4 years of surveillance, representing 51/685 (7.4%) hospital isolates and 62/373 (16.6%) strains from the community (
P
< 0.001). PCR ribotype 027 accounted for 8/135 (5.9%) hospital isolates in the Fraser Health Region in 2004. repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR was used to subtype a random selection of 027 isolates from each region. All 10 of the isolates from Quebec were of a single subtype, which was also dominant among isolates from Alberta (8/10 isolates) and British Columbia (6/8 isolates). Comparative sequencing of the
tcdC
repressor gene confirmed the documented 18-bp deletion and identified a second, single-base-pair deletion at position 117. Both deletions were conserved across all three provinces and were identified in a United Kingdom reference strain. The presence of a frameshift in the early portion of the
tcdC
gene implies serious functional disruption and may contribute to the hypervirulence of the 027 phenotype. PCR ribotype 027 strains appear to be widely distributed, to predate the Montreal outbreak, and to have measurable community presence in Western Canada.
Identification of
Campylobacter fetus
Subspecies by Phenotypic Differentiation and PCR
Authors: Schulze Frank , Bagon Audrey , Müller Wolfgang , Hotzel Helmut 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

The species
Campylobacter fetus
is divided into the subspecies
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
and
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
, which differ in their epidemiologies and clinical importance. The differences between these subspecies make accurate distinction between the two essential. First, the value of seven key tests for the traditional differentiation of
C. fetus
was investigated. Afterwards, the results of the phenotypic differentiation and PCR were compared to address the question of the reliability of this PCR assay. Altogether, 103
C. fetus
isolates were investigated, including the type strains of
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
and
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
. Depending on the result of the glycine tolerance test, the isolates could be separated into 81
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
isolates (glycine intolerant) and 22
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
isolates (glycine tolerant). For all
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
strains tested, the results of the selenite reduction assay and sensitivity to metronidazole and cefoperazone completely agreed with the results of the glycine tolerance test (correspondence, 100%). Seventy-three
C. fetus
subsp.
venerealis
isolates did not grow at 42°C (correspondence, 90.1%), but eight isolates showed a faintly discernible, flat, dark gray growth. For 22
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
isolates, the results of additional phenotypic tests only partly agreed with the results of the glycine tolerance test. For
C. fetus
subsp.
fetus
the results of the glycine tolerance test showed a relatively good correspondence with those of the selenite reduction assay (correspondence, 81.8%), assays for cefoperazone resistance (correspondence, 86.4%), and assays for growth at 42°C (correspondence, 81.8%). The results of the glycine tolerance test and PCR completely agreed for the 103
C. fetus
isolates tested. We conclude that at present the traditional phenotypic characterization of
C. fetus
subspecies under strongly defined conditions remains indispensable, but this PCR assay constitutes a valuable adjunctive technique for the confirmation of phenotypic results.
Efficient Tracing of Global Isolates of
Yersinia pestis
by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis Using Three Insertion Sequences as Probes
Authors: Torrea Gabriela , Chenal-Francisque Viviane , Leclercq Alexandre , Carniel Elisabeth 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Yersinia pestis
is the etiologic agent of plague, a disease that is transmitted from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans by fleabites. Multiple copies of three insertion sequences (IS
100
, IS
285
, and IS
1541
) are scattered over the
Y. pestis
genome. The genomic instability generated by these insertion sequences (IS) creates a polymorphism of the hybridizing restriction fragments (restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP]) which can be used to subtype this relatively clonal species. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare the potential of the three IS-RFLP techniques, individually or in combination, to define clusters of strains according to their focus of origin. The analysis of 61
Y. pestis
isolates of worldwide origin indicated that no satisfactory strain clustering was observed with each IS-RFLP used individually. In contrast, the combination of the three IS-RFLP data (3IS-RFLP) resulted in both an efficient strain discrimination (
D
= 0.999) and a robust clustering of the isolates according to their biovar and geographical origin. This geographical clustering was observed even within the Orientalis group, although these strains had only a short period of time (one century) to diverge from the original clone that spread globally. Therefore, 3IS-RFLP is a technique that may be useful for addressing epidemiological problems and forensic issues. When plague reemerges after several decades of silence in a quiescent focus, it may help in determining whether the disease was reimported or reactivated. It may also be of value to identify the origin of a strain when plague cases appear in a previously plague-free region. Finally, this technique could be useful for the tracing of a
Y. pestis
isolate that has been used as a biological terrorism threat.
Prevalence of Noroviruses and Sapoviruses in Swine of Various Ages Determined by Reverse Transcription-PCR and Microwell Hybridization Assays
Authors: Wang Qiu-Hong , Souza Menira , Funk Julie A. , Zhang Wei , Saif Linda J. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTNoroviruses (NoVs) and sapoviruses (SaVs) are emerging enteric pathogens that cause diarrhea in humans and animals. Porcine genogroup II (GII) NoVs replicate in pigs, but their pathogenesis is undefined. The porcine SaV/GIII/Cowden/80/US strain causes diarrhea and intestinal lesions in pigs. Recently, genetically diverse porcine NoVs (genotypes 11, 18, and 19 within GII) and SaVs comprising at least two genogroups (GIII and GVI?/JJ681-like) and two unclassified strains (G?/QW19 and G?/LL26) were identified; however, their prevalence has not been reported. To investigate the prevalence of porcine NoVs and SaVs, 621 fecal samples were collected from swine of various ages from seven swine farms and one slaughterhouse in three states in the United States. Fecal samples were tested by reverse transcription-PCR and microwell hybridization assays with porcine NoV- and SaV-specific primers and probes, respectively. Porcine GII NoVs were detected exclusively from finisher pigs with an overall prevalence of 20%. Porcine GIII SaVs were detected in 62% of pigs, with the highest prevalence in postweaning pigs and lowest in nursing pigs. Porcine GVI?/JJ681-like SaVs and the G?/QW19-like SaVs were detected infrequently in pigs. The G?/LL26-like SaVs were detected mainly in younger pigs. Because some porcine NoVs and SaVs are genetically or antigenically related to human strains and recombinants within NoVs or SaVs occur for human and pig strains, the high prevalence and subclinical infection rate of these viruses in pigs raise questions of whether pigs may be reservoirs for human strains or for the emergence of new human and porcine recombinants.
Adverse reproductive outcomes among male painters with occupational exposure to organic solvents
Authors: Hooiveld M , Haveman W , Roskes K , Bretveld R , Burstyn I , Roeleveld N 
Published: June 2006

Objectives:To assess the risks of reproductive disorders and birth defects in offspring of male painters with exposure to organic solvents, and to determine the shape of the dose-response relationship.Methods:Random samples of painters and carpenters were drawn from workers affiliated with the Dutch Trade Union for Construction Workers, the Netherlands, 2001. Information on reproductive outcomes, occupational exposures, and lifestyle habits was retrospectively obtained through self-administered questionnaires filled in by 398 painters exposed to organic solvents in paints, thinners, and cleansers in the period of three months before the last pregnancy, and 302 carpenters with little or no exposure to solvents. A statistical model was used to estimate quantitative exposure measures.Results:Workers employed as painters at three months before pregnancy had an increased risk (odds ratio 6.2, 95% CI 1.4 to 27.9) of congenital malformations in offspring compared to carpenters. There was a positive exposure-response trend with increasing exposure to organic solvents based on quantitative model predicted exposure estimates using toluene as a marker. There was some indication of an increased risk of functional developmental disorders in offspring among painters with intermediate and high model predicted exposure. The risk of low birth weight children seemed to be slightly increased among painters as well. Results for other reproductive outcomes (time to pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth) did not show increased risks.Conclusion:This study showed a positive association between paternal occupational exposure to organic solvents and congenital malformations in offspring. However, the small numbers of cases, especially when examining different exposure levels, as well as the self-reported nature of exposure and outcome variables, may hamper interpretation of the results.
Extratropical Atmosphere–Ocean Variability in CCSM3
Authors: Alexander Michael , Yin Jeffrey , Branstator Grant , Capotondi Antonietta , Cassou Christophe , Cullather Richard , Kwon Young-oh , Norris Joel , Scott James , Wainer Ilana 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Extratropical atmosphere–ocean variability over the Northern Hemisphere of the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3) is examined and compared to observations. Results are presented for an extended control integration with a horizontal resolution of T85 (1.4°) for the atmosphere and land and ∼1° for the ocean and sea ice.
Several atmospheric phenomena are investigated including storms, clouds, and patterns of variability, and their relationship to both tropical and extratropical SST anomalies. The mean storm track, the leading modes of storm track variability, and the relationship of the latter to tropical and midlatitude sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are fairly well simulated in CCSM3. The positive correlations between extratropical SST and low-cloud anomalies in summer are reproduced by the model, but there are clear biases in the relationship between clouds and the near-surface meridional wind. The model accurately represents the circulation anomalies associated with the jet stream waveguide, the Pacific–North American (PNA) pattern, and fluctuations associated with the Aleutian low, including how the latter two features are influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). CCSM3 has a reasonable depiction of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), but it is not strongly connected to tropical Pacific SSTs as found in nature. There are biases in the position of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and other Atlantic regimes, as the mean Icelandic low in CCSM3 is stronger and displaced southeastward relative to observations.
Extratropical ocean processes in CCSM3, including upper-ocean mixing, thermocline variability, and extratropical to tropical flow within the thermocline, also influence climate variability. As in observations, the model includes the “reemergence mechanism” where seasonal variability in mixed layer depth (MLD) allows SST anomalies to recur in consecutive winters without persisting through the intervening summer. Remote wind stress curl anomalies drive thermocline variability in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension region, which influences SST, surface heat flux anomalies, and the local wind field. The interior ocean pathways connecting the subtropics to the equator in both the Pacific and Atlantic are less pronounced in CCSM3 than in nature or in ocean-only simulations forced by observed atmospheric conditions, and the flow from the subtropical North Atlantic does not appear to reach the equator through either the western boundary or interior pathways.
Assessing Snow Albedo Feedback in Simulated Climate Change
Authors: Qu Xin , Hall Alex 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
In this paper, the two factors controlling Northern Hemisphere springtime snow albedo feedback in transient climate change are isolated and quantified based on scenario runs of 17 climate models used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. The first factor is the dependence of planetary albedo on surface albedo, representing the atmosphere's attenuation effect on surface albedo anomalies. It is potentially a major source of divergence in simulations of snow albedo feedback because of large differences in simulated cloud fields in Northern Hemisphere land areas. To calculate the dependence, an analytical model governing planetary albedo was developed. Detailed validations of the analytical model for two of the simulations are shown, version 3 of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM3) and the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory global coupled Climate Model 2.0 (CM2.0), demonstrating that it facilitates a highly accurate calculation of the dependence of planetary albedo on surface albedo given readily available simulation output. In all simulations it is found that surface albedo anomalies are attenuated by approximately half in Northern Hemisphere land areas as they are transformed into planetary albedo anomalies. The intermodel standard deviation in the dependence of planetary albedo on surface albedo is surprisingly small, less than 10% of the mean. Moreover, when an observational estimate of this factor is calculated by applying the same method to the satellite-based International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) data, it is found that most simulations agree with ISCCP values to within about 10%, despite further disagreements between observed and simulated cloud fields. This suggests that even large relative errors in simulated cloud fields do not result in significant error in this factor, enhancing confidence in climate models. The second factor, related exclusively to surface processes, is the change in surface albedo associated with an anthropogenically induced temperature change in Northern Hemisphere land areas. It exhibits much more intermodel variability. The standard deviation is about ⅓ of the mean, with the largest value being approximately 3 times larger than the smallest. Therefore this factor is unquestionably the main source of the large divergence in simulations of snow albedo feedback. To reduce the divergence, attention should be focused on differing parameterizations of snow processes, rather than intermodel variations in the attenuation effect of the atmosphere on surface albedo anomalies.