bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a Serological Assay Based on a Synthetic Peptide Selected from the VP0 Capsid Protein for Detection of Human Parechoviruses
Authors: Abed Yacine , Wolf Dana , Dagan Ron , Boivin Guy 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
A serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using a synthetic peptide from the VP0 protein of human parechoviruses (HPeVs). Seroprevalence for HPeVs was 70% in children of ≤5 years of age and 95% in adults. For children from whom serial sera were sampled, seropositivity increased from 22% to 88% between 2 and 24 months of age.
Microtubule-Mediated and Microtubule-Independent Transport of Adenovirus Type 5 in HEK293 Cells
Authors: Yea Carmen , Dembowy Joanna , Pacione Laura , Brown Martha 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
Adenovirus serotypes 2 and 5 are taken into cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, and following release from endosomes, destabilized virions travel along microtubules to accumulate around the nucleus. The entry process culminates in delivery of the viral genome through nuclear pores. This model is based on studies with conventional cell lines, such as HeLa and HEp-2, but in HEK293 cells, which are routinely used in this laboratory because they are permissive for replication of multiple adenovirus serotypes, a different trafficking pattern has been observed. Nuclei of 293 cells have an irregular shape, with an indented region, and virions directly labeled with carboxyfluorescein accumulate in a cluster within that indented region. The clusters, which form in close proximity to the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and to the Golgi apparatus, are remarkably stable; a fluorescent signal can be seen in the MTOC region up to 16 h postinfection. Furthermore, if cells are infected and then undergo mitosis after the cluster is formed, the signal is found at each spindle pole. Despite the sequestration of virions near the MTOC, 293 cells are no less sensitive than other cells to productive infection with adenovirus. Even though cluster formation depends on intact microtubules, infectivity is not compromised by disruption of microtubules with either nocodazole or colchicine, as determined by expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene inserted in the viral genome. These results indicate that virion clusters do not represent the infectious pathway and suggest an alternative route to the nucleus that does not depend on nocodazole-sensitive microtubules.
Hepatitis B Virus Translocates across a Trophoblastic Barrier
Authors: Bhat Purnima , Anderson David A. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTMother-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) accounts for up to 30% of worldwide chronic infections. The mechanism and high-risk period of HBV transmission from mother to infant are unknown. Although largely prevented by neonatal vaccination, significant transmission continues to occur in high-risk populations. It is unclear whether HBV can traverse an intact epithelial barrier to infect a new host. Transplacental transmission of a number of viruses relies on transcytotic pathways across placental cells. We wished to determine whether infectious HBV can traverse a polarized trophoblast monolayer. We used a human placenta-derived cell line, BeWo, cultured on membranes as polarized monolayers, to model the maternal-fetal barrier. We assessed the effects of placental maturity and maternal immunoglobulin on viral transport. Intracellular viral trafficking pathways were investigated by confocal microscopy. Free HBV (and infectious duck hepatitis B virus) transcytosed across trophoblastic cells at a rate of 5% in 30 min. Viral transport occurred in microtubule-dependent endosomal vesicles. Additionally, confocal microscopy showed that the internalized virus traverses a monensin-sensitive endosomal compartment. Differentiation of the cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblasts resulted in a 25% reduction in viral transcytosis, suggesting that placental maturity may protect the fetus. Virus translocation was also reduced in the presence of HBV immunoglobulin. We show for the first time that transcytosis of infectious hepadnavirus can occur across a trophoblastic barrier early in gestation, with the risk of transmission being reduced by placental maturity and specific maternal antibody. This study suggests a mechanism by which mother-infant transmission may occur.
Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Contains Two Functional Lytic Origins of Replication
Authors: Adler Heiko , Steer Beatrix , Freimüller Klaus , Haas Jürgen 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
A 1.25-kbp DNA fragment from the right side of the genome containing the lytic origin of replication (oriLyt) of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) has been identified by a plasmid replication assay. Here we show that a mutant MHV-68 with a deletion of an essential part of this oriLyt, generated by using an MHV-68 bacterial artificial chromosome, was only slightly attenuated and still able to replicate but that a mutant containing an additional deletion on the left side of the genome was replication deficient. The newly identified region was sufficient to support plasmid replication, thus providing evidence for a second oriLyt.
Molecular Behaviors of “CH1641-Like” Sheep Scrapie Isolates in Ovine Transgenic Mice (TgOvPrP4)
Authors: Baron Thierry , Biacabe Anne-Gaëlle 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Molecular analyses of the protease-resistant prion protein (PrP
res
) from a few natural scrapie isolates showed by Western blotting some partial similarities with those observed in experimental ovine bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). They showed a low apparent molecular mass of unglycosylated PrP
res
, although diglycosylated PrP
res
was less abundant than in ovine BSE. The prototype of such cases is the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate. We analyzed PrP
res
molecular features from three French natural “CH1641-like” isolates, in comparison with CH1641 and BSE, after transmission of the disease in ovine transgenic mice (TgOvPrP4). One of these isolates (TR316211) behaved like the CH1641 isolate, with PrP
res
features in mice similar to those in the sheep brain. From two other isolates (O100 and O104), two distinct PrP
res
phenotypes were identified in mouse brains, with either high (h-type) or low (l-type) apparent molecular masses of unglycosylated PrP
res
, the latter being similar to that observed with CH1641, TR316211, or BSE. Both phenotypes could be found in variable proportions in the brains of the individual mice. In contrast with BSE, l-type PrP
res
from “CH1641-like” isolates showed lower levels of diglycosylated PrP
res
. From one of these cases (O104), a second passage in mice was performed for two mice with distinct PrP
res
profiles. This showed a partial selection of the l-type phenotype in mice infected with a mouse brain with predominant l-type PrP
res
, and it was accompanied by a significant increase in the proportions of the diglycosylated band. These results are discussed in relation to the diversity of scrapie and BSE strains.
Viral Translation Is Coupled to Transcription in Sindbis Virus-Infected Cells
Authors: Sanz Miguel A. , Castelló Alfredo , Carrasco Luis 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
During the late phase of Sindbis virus infection, the viral subgenomic mRNA is translated efficiently in BHK cells, whereas host protein synthesis is inhibited. However, transfection of in vitro-generated Sindbis virus subgenomic mRNA leads to efficient translation in uninfected BHK cells, whereas it is a poor substrate in infected cells. Therefore, the structure of the subgenomic mRNA itself is not sufficient to confer its translatability in infected cells. In this regard, translation of the subgenomic mRNA requires synthesis from the viral transcription machinery. The lack of translation of transfected viral mRNAs in infected cells is not due to their degradation nor is it a consequence of competition between viral transcripts and transfected mRNAs, because a replicon that cannot produce subgenomic mRNA also interferes with exogenous mRNA translation. Interestingly, subgenomic mRNA is translated more efficiently when it is transfected into uninfected cells than when it is transcribed from a transfected replicon. Finally, a similar behavior was observed for other RNA viruses, such as vesicular stomatitis virus and encephalomyocarditis virus. These findings support the notion that translation is coupled to transcription in cells infected with different animal viruses.
The challenge of cross-cultural collaborative research: lessons learnt from a pilot case–crossover study of severe occupational hand trauma in the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Jin Kezhi , Lombardi David A , Courtney Theodore K , Sorock Gary S , Perry Melissa J , Chen Hong , Wang Xin , Liang Youxin 
Published: April 2007

Objective:A pilot epidemiologic study was conducted in the People’s Republic of China to assess the feasibility of applying the study protocol from a US case–crossover study on transient work-related exposures and the risk of an acute occupational hand injury.Design:Injured workers were recruited from a hand surgery center in Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China. A structured face-to-face interview questionnaire was administered.Results:156 workers with hand injury completed the study (73% men). The enrollment rate was 91%. Of those who refused participation, most indicated their reluctance was due to the requirement to sign the written consent form. Considerable variability was found among interviewers in ascertaining responses from participants to important exposure questions (21.3%v97%).Conclusions:Recommendations include the following: (1) exploring effective oral-consent protocols that reduce participant concern and still meet human participant protection requirements; (2) using non-physician interviewers; and (3) increasing the intensity and standardization of interviewer training.
Non-fatal injuries among urban and rural residents: The National Health Interview Survey, 1997–2001
Authors: Tiesman Hope , Zwerling Craig , Peek-Asa Corinne , Sprince Nancy , Cavanaugh Joseph E 
Published: April 2007

Objective:Although death rates from injuries are higher in rural areas compared with large metropolitan areas, little is known about how non-fatal injury rates vary by rurality. Data from the 1997–2001 US National Health Interview Surveys were used to explore associations between rurality and non-fatal injury.Design:A nationally representative survey.Methods:The annual injury rates per 1000 adults and 95% CIs were computed for medically attended injuries. Counties of residence were coded according to urban influence codes into four categories: large urban, small urban, suburban and rural. A linear-by-linear trend test was used to determine whether injury rates increase monotonically with county rurality. Logistic regression was used to control potential confounders.Results:Compared with large urban counties, small urban counties experienced 8% higher injury odds (95% CI 1% to 15%); suburban counties 20% higher injury odds (95% CI 10% to 31%); and rural counties 30% higher injury odds (95% CI 17% to 43%) after adjusting for age, gender, marital status, education and health insurance.Conclusions:Rural residents had higher non-fatal injury rates than urban and suburban residents. Exploring this discrepancy can further contribute to new hypotheses regarding rural injury risk and ultimately lead to better suited interventions for rural residents.
Newspaper coverage of residential fires: an opportunity for prevention communication
Authors: Clegg Smith Katherine , Cho Juhee , Gielen Andrea , Vernick Jon S 
Published: April 2007

Background:Worldwide, fire-related burns are a major cause of unintentional injury, morbidity and mortality, with the majority of deaths occurring in developing countries. In the US, as in other countries, most fatal fires occur in the home. Effective prevention strategies for residential fires are, however, currently underutilized. The news media is one available communication channel to promote such strategies, and analyzing current news coverage is a first step towards incorporating media advocacy into injury prevention efforts related to residential fires.Methods:Four daily newspapers circulating widely in Maryland were monitored for 1 year. Articles describing residential fires were coded for measures of prominence, content and frame. Analysis focused on measures of issue newsworthiness, reporting of causation and consequences of fires, and inclusion of public health context and conveyance of prevention messages.Results:The data indicate that fires are newsworthy, with 374 relevant news articles in a 1-year period, 32% of which appear on the first page of a section. Coverage generally concerned recent local fire events. Most articles discussed the consequences of fires (88%), and identified a causal factor (58%). Only 36%, however, included prevention information, and less than one-quarter set residential fires in a public health context.Conclusion:The newsworthiness of residential fires provides a clear opportunity for widespread communication around injury prevention. Improving media advocacy will entail framing discussion of recent fire events in such a way as to support inclusion of prevention strategies and a public health context in news coverage.
Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity in Balanced Random Networks
Authors: Morrison Abigail , Aertsen Ad , Diesmann Markus 
Published: April 2007

The balanced random network model attracts considerable interest because it explains the irregular spiking activity at low rates and large membrane potential fluctuations exhibited by cortical neurons in vivo. In this article, we investigate to what extent this model is also compatible with the experimentally observed phenomenon of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP). Confronted with the plethora of theoretical models for STDP available, we reexamine the experimental data. On this basis, we propose a novel STDP update rule, with a multiplicative dependence on the synaptic weight for depression, and a power law dependence for potentiation. We show that this rule, when implemented in large, balanced networks of realistic connectivity and sparseness, is compatible with the asynchronous irregular activity regime. The resultant equilibrium weight distribution is unimodal with fluctuating individual weight trajectories and does not exhibit development of structure. We investigate the robustness of our results with respect to the relative strength of depression. We introduce synchronous stimulation to a group of neurons and demonstrate that the decoupling of this group from the rest of the network is so severe that it cannot effectively control the spiking of other neurons, even those with the highest convergence from this group.
Genesis xv: Sequence and Unity
Authors: Fidler Ruth 
Published: April 2007

AbstractGenesis xv has puzzled many generations of readers. It exhibits leitmotifs and structural features that suggest unity, but also inconsistencies and doublets that suggest the opposite. Rather than gloss over the latter or play down the former, this investigation tries to account for both. A trans-position of the two major promise themes, offspring and land, reveals a coherent narrative: vss. 1a, 7-18, 3-6. Comparison of complex promise speeches in "P" with their "non-P" counterparts shows that the present offspring-land sequence is a great favourite with "P", while "non-P" uses the land-offspring sequence whenever it suits the context. A P-inspired redactor was probably responsible for moving the offspring-centered dialogue to the beginning of Genesis xv, reworking it as a separate episode (vv. 1-6). is hypothesis is further supported by an examination of transposition and redactional practice elsewhere, particularly in Gen. xxxv 9-12.
Two Laws in the Sotah Passage (Num. v 11-31)
Authors: Jeon Jaeyoung 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe law of the Sotah (Num. v 11-31), which appears to be an ordeal law accompanied by a ritual, was edited from two laws of a suspected adulteress: the water ordeal law (original stratum) and the ritual-oath law (editorial stratum). The water ordeal law stipulates that in the case in which a woman is accused of adultery by the public she must undergo a water ordeal, whereas the ritualoath law stipulates a less severe case in which a husband only doubts his wife and the wife may be released with only an oath as a part of a ritual. The two laws strikingly parallel the Laws of Hammurapi 131 and 132 respectively. A linguistic analysis carried out on the two strata reveals that they exhibit different literary styles, and that this stylistic difference reflects the linguistic contexts of earlier and later periods. Although the water ordeal stratum belongs to P, several distinct features of the editorial ritual-oath stratum are best explained by I. Knohl's theory in relation to the Holiness School.
Steck's Five Stories of the Servant in Isaiah lii 13-liii 12, and Beyond
Authors: Joachimsen Kristin 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBernhard Duhm's Servant Song thesis from 1892 has had a paradigmatic status for more than a century. Gottesknecht has become a technical term, Ebed-Jahwe-Lied a genre, Stellvertretung an established theological concept, and "Servant Song Research" a particular discipline within Old Testament scholarship. is article investigates of Odil Hannes Steck's reading. Steck outlines an intra-Isaianic reception of the songs on five levels dating from 539 to 270 BCE. In the original version, the servant of Isa. liii is identified individually as the prophet. On the remaining four redactional levels, the servant is identified collectively as Zion, as those who have returned from exile, as those who remained at home in Judah, and as the true Israel (which includes other peoples). After a presentation of Steck's reading, features of reading related to historicising, theologising, and textualising are discussed. Finally, a narrative reading of Isa. liii is offered, with a focus on the literary trope of personification.
Antimetabolite therapy for lesser-risk B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood: a report from Children's Oncology Group Study P9201
Authors: Chauvenet Allen R. , Martin Paul L. , Devidas Meenakshi , Linda Stephen B. , Bell Beverly A. , Kurtzberg Joanne , Pullen Jeanette , Pettenati Mark J. , Carroll Andrew J. , Shuster Jonathan J. , Camitta Bruce 
Published: April 2007

AbstractPediatric Oncology Group (POG) protocol 9201 enrolled children with lesser-risk B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) defined by age (1-9), white blood cell count (WBC) less than 50 × 109/L (50 000/μL), DNA findings of trisomies 4 and 10 (or DNA index > 1.16), and lack of overt central nervous system (CNS) leukemia. After vincristine, prednisone, and asparaginase induction, 650 of 653 eligible patients attained remission (3 induction deaths) and received 6 courses of intravenous methotrexate (1 g/m2) with daily mercaptopurine. Weekly intramuscular methotrexate was added during maintenance; pulses of vincristine and prednisone were administered with periodic intrathecal chemotherapy. Treatment duration was 2.5 years. No alkylators, epipodophylotoxins, anthracyclines, or radiation were given. The 6-year event-free survival (EFS) was 86.6% with overall survival (OS) of 97.2%. Patients with less than 5% marrow blasts on induction day 15 had superior EFS. A difference not reaching conventional statistical significance (P = .068) was noted for superior outcomes in patients with trisomies of chromosomes 4 and 10 versus those lacking double trisomies. Sex, ethnicity, CNS status, and WBC were not predictive. This indicates the great majority of children with lesser-risk B-lineage ALL are curable without agents with substantial late effects.
Modulation of dendritic cell maturation and function by the Tax protein of human T cell leukemia virus type 1
Authors: Jain Pooja , Ahuja Jaya , Khan Zafar K , Shimizu Saori , Meucci Olimpia , Jennings Stephen R , Wigdahl Brian 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHuman T cell leukemia virus type 1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is characterized by the generation of an intense CTL cell response directed against the viral transactivator protein Tax. In addition, patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP exhibit rapid activation and maturation of dendritic cells (DC), likely contributing to the robust, Tax-specific CTL response. In this study, extracellular Tax has been shown to induce maturation and functional alterations in human monocyte-derived DC, critical observations being confirmed in freshly isolated myeloid DC. Tax was shown to promote the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines involved in the DC activation process in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, Tax induced the expression of DC activation (CD40, CD80, and CD86) and maturation (CD83) markers and enhanced the T cell proliferation capability of DC. Heat inactivation of Tax resulted in abrogation of these effects, indicating a requirement for the native structure of Tax, which was found to bind efficiently to the DC membrane and was internalized within a few hours, suggesting that extracellular Tax may possess an intracellular mechanism of action subsequent to entry. Finally, inhibitors of cellular signaling pathways, NF-κB, protein kinase, tyrosine kinase, and phospholipase C, were shown to inhibit Tax-mediated DC activation. This is the first study reporting the immunomodulatory effects of extracellular Tax in the DC compartment. These results suggest that DC, once exposed to Tax by uptake from the extracellular environment, can undergo activation, providing constant antigen presentation and costimulation to T cells, leading to the intense T cell proliferation and inflammatory responses underlying HAM/TSP.
Thyroid Dysfunction and Effects on Coagulation and Fibrinolysis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Squizzato A. , Romualdi E. , Büller H. R. , Gerdes V. E. A. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractContext: Various changes in the coagulation-fibrinolytic system have been described in patients with an excess or deficiency of thyroid hormones. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the effects of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on these systems.Evidence Acquisition: All published case-control or interventional cohort studies that evaluated the effects of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on the coagulation-fibrinolytic system in vivo were identified by a computer-assisted search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. A scoring system was used to divide studies into three quality categories: high, medium, and low quality.Evidence Synthesis: A total of 36 papers were included. Because in several papers more than one case-control study or both a case-control and intervention study were described, a total of 39 case-control studies and 24 interventional cohort studies were analyzed. No high-quality study was identified. Three (7.7%) case-control and eight (33.3%) cohort studies were of medium quality. A total of 19 tests were investigated in the medium-quality studies. These tests revealed a hypocoagulable state for overt hypothyroidism and a hypercoagulable state for overt hyperthyroidism.Conclusions: This analysis confirmed that clinically overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism modify the coagulation-fibrinolytic balance, indicating that thyroid hormone excess or deficit is the probable main pathophysiological mechanism. Patients with overt hypothyroidism and overt hyperthyroidism appear to have an increased risk of bleeding and of thrombosis, respectively.