bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Competitive-Inhibition Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Serum Antibodies to Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus: Diagnostic Tool for Successful Eradication
Authors: Herrmann Lynn M. , Cheevers William P. , McGuire Travis C. , Adams D. Scott , Hutton Melinda M. , Gavin William G. , Knowles Donald P. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT

A competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was evaluated for the detection of serum antibodies to the surface envelope (SU) of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) in goats. This assay utilized 96-well microtiter plates containing CAEV-63 SU captured by monoclonal antibody (MAb) F7-299 and measured the competitive displacement of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated MAb GPB 74A binding by undiluted goat sera (F. Özyörük, W. P. Cheevers, G. A. Hullinger, T. C. McGuire, M. Hutton, and D. P. Knowles, Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 8:44-51, 2001). Two hundred serum samples from goats in the United States were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of cELISA based on the immunoprecipitation (IP) of [
35
S]methionine-labeled viral antigens as a standard of comparison. A positive cELISA was defined as >33.2% inhibition of MAb 74A binding based on 2 standard deviations above the mean percent inhibition of 140 IP-negative serum samples. At this cutoff value, there were 0 of 60 false-negative sera (100% sensitivity) and 5 of 140 false-positive sera (96.4% specificity). Additional studies utilized IP-monitored cELISA to establish a CAEV-free herd of 1,640 dairy goats.
Leucotoxic Activities of
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains Isolated from Cows, Ewes, and Goats with Mastitis: Importance of LukM/LukF′-PV Leukotoxin
Authors: Rainard Pascal , Corrales Juan-Carlos , Barrio M. Belén , Cochard Thierry , Poutrel Bernard 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT

Among the toxins that
Staphylococcus aureus
is able to secrete, bi-component toxins named leukotoxins target specifically leukocytes, mainly phagocytic cells. Isolates from cows, goats and ewes with mastitis were selected on the basis of the presence or not of the genes encoding the recently described LukM/LukF′-PV leukotoxin. Of the 128 isolates tested, 126 had moderate to high leukotoxic activity to bovine polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). The supernatants of
lukM
-positive isolates were much more leukotoxic than the supernatants of
lukM
-negative isolates: mean leukotoxic titers were 122 versus 20 and 581 versus 26 for isolates of bovine and caprine origin, respectively. Among
lukM
/
lukF
′-
PV
positive isolates, those of caprine and ovine origins were more leukotoxic than were isolates of bovine origin (
P
< 0.01). The two most abundant proteins in the culture supernatant of a highly toxic isolate were purified and identified as the two components of LukM (LukM and LukF′-PV) on the basis of their molecular mass, N-terminal amino acid sequence, and high synergistic activity. LukM/LukF′-PV induced the flattening of bovine PMN at a concentration as low as 3.6 ng/ml (0.1 nM). A higher concentration (18 ng/ml) was necessary to produce the same effect on caprine or ovine PMN. Affinity-purified antibodies to LukM or to LukF′-PV neutralized the leukotoxic effect of all the culture supernatants. They neutralized with the same efficiency the toxic activity of supernatants from
lukM
/
lukF
′-PV positive or negative isolates. These results establish that LukM/LukF′-PV is very active on PMN of ruminants and suggest that this leukotoxin could be the most active leukotoxin produced by mastitis isolates. They prompt further studies to delineate the contribution of LukM/LukF′-PV to the pathogenesis of mastitis in ruminants and the protective effect of antibodies to this leukotoxin.
Serological Cross-Reactivities between Antibodies to Simian Virus 40, BK Virus, and JC Virus Assessed by Virus-Like-Particle-Based Enzyme Immunoassays
Authors: Viscidi Raphael P. , Rollison Dana E. M. , Viscidi Emma , Clayman Barbara , Rubalcaba Elizabeth , Daniel Richard , Major Eugene O. , Shah Keerti V. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT
Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for detection of serum antibodies to simian virus 40 (SV40), BK virus (BKV), and JC virus (JCV) were developed by using virus-like-particles (VLPs) produced in insect cells from recombinant baculoviruses expressing the VP1 protein of the respective virus. Rhesus macaque sera with neutralizing antibodies to SV40 showed a high level of reactivity in the SV40 VLP-based EIA, and these sera also showed lower levels of reactivity in the BKV and JCV VLP-based EIAs. Rhesus macaque sera negative for neutralizing antibodies to SV40 were negative in all three EIAs. Competitive binding assays showed that SV40 VLPs inhibited BKV reactivity. In rhesus macaque sera, high optical density (OD) values for antibodies to SV40 VLPs were correlated with high OD values for antibodies to BKV but not with high OD values for antibodies to JCV VLPs. Human sera with neutralizing antibodies to SV40 were more reactive to SV40 VLPs than human sera without neutralizing antibodies to SV40. The greater SV40 reactivities of human sera were correlated with greater reactivities to BKV VLPs but not JCV VLPs. These data suggest that cross-reactivity with BKV antibodies may account for part of the low-level SV40 reactivity seen in human sera. With their greater versatility and their suitability for large-scale testing, the VLP-based EIAs for SV40, BKV, and JCV are likely to contribute to a better understanding of the biology of these viruses.
Correlation of Organism Burden and Alveolar Macrophage Counts during Infection withPneumocystis cariniiand Recovery
Authors: Lasbury Mark E. , Durant Pamela J. , Bartlett Marilyn S. , Smith James W. , Lee Chao-Hung 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTChanges in the number of alveolar macrophages were correlated with organism burden duringPneumocystis cariniiinfection. The lungs of healthy, dexamethasone-treated, and dexamethasone-treated andP. carinii-infected rats were lavaged with phosphate-buffered saline. Counting of alveolar macrophages in the lavage fluids revealed thatP. cariniiinfection caused a 58% decrease in the number of alveolar macrophages and that higherP. cariniiorganism burdens caused a more rapid decrease in alveolar macrophage number. As a control, healthy rats were challenged with the same number of organisms as that normally used to generateP. cariniiinfections in dexamethasone-treated rats. Thirteen days after challenge, these rats had a profound (54%) increase in alveolar macrophage number in response to the challenge, while the number of alveolar macrophages in immunosuppressed andP. carinii-infected rats had decreased significantly by this time point. These experiments created the first animal model to mimic human pneumocystis pneumonia in alveolar macrophage number alterations. Reduction ofP. cariniiorganism numbers by treatment of rats with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole brought a slow rebound in alveolar macrophage number, while recovery fromP. cariniiinfection by cessation of immunosuppression brought a rapid rebound in alveolar macrophage number. These results suggest that both the immune state of the host andP. cariniiburden affect alveolar macrophage number.
Diagnosis of Dengue Virus Infection by Detection of Specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA Antibodies in Serum and Saliva
Authors: Balmaseda Angel , Guzmán María G. , Hammond Samantha , Robleto Guillermo , Flores Carolina , Téllez Yolanda , Videa Elsa , Saborio Saira , Pérez Leonel , Sandoval Erick , Rodriguez Yoryelin , Harris Eva 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACT
To evaluate alternative approaches to the serological diagnosis of dengue virus (DEN) infection, the detection of DEN-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA antibodies in serum and saliva specimens was assessed in 147 patients with symptoms of DEN infection seen at the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua. Seventy-two serum samples were determined to be positive for anti-DEN antibodies by IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the routine diagnostic procedure. Serum and saliva specimens were obtained from 50 healthy adults as additional controls. IgM was detected in the saliva of 65 of the 72 serum IgM-positive cases, 6 of the 75 serum IgM-negative cases, and none of the control group, resulting in a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 92.0% and demonstrating that salivary IgM is a useful diagnostic marker for DEN infection. Detection of IgA in serum may be another feasible alternative for the diagnosis of DEN infection, with serum IgA found in 68 (94.4%) of the IgM-positive cases. In contrast, detection of IgA in saliva was not found to be a useful tool for DEN diagnosis in the present study. Further studies of the kinetics of antibody detection in another set of 151 paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples showed that DEN-specific IgA antibodies were detected in more acute-phase samples than were IgM antibodies. Thus, we conclude that DEN-specific IgA in serum is a potential diagnostic target. Furthermore, given that saliva is a readily obtainable, noninvasive specimen, detection of DEN-specific salivary IgM should be considered a useful, cheaper diagnostic modality with similar sensitivity and specificity to IgM detection in serum.
Assessment of Thymic Activity in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Negative and -Positive Adolescents by Real-Time PCR Quantitation of T-Cell Receptor Rearrangement Excision Circles
Authors: Pham Thao , Belzer Marvin , Church Joseph A. , Kitchen Christina , Wilson Craig M. , Douglas Steven D. , Geng Yongzhi , Silva Monica , Mitchell Richard M. , Krogstad Paul 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTCircular DNA molecules known as T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) arise during T-cell development and are present in cells that have recently emigrated from the thymus. In cross-sectional studies, the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing TREC decreases with age, consistent with an anatomically demonstrated loss of thymic epithelial tissue. TREC numbers increase following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and during therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Quantitation of TREC has therefore been proposed as a parameter of thymic activity. In this study, we used real-time PCR to quantify TREC in peripheral blood samples obtained longitudinally from HIV-seronegative adolescents. TREC values in peripheral blood T cells were very stable throughout adolescence, once thought to be a time of rapid involution of the thymus. In addition, in a cross-sectional analysis, we examined TREC values in a cohort of HIV-positive adolescents and found evidence of ongoing thymopoiesis in perinatally infected individuals, despite lifelong infection. These data demonstrate the utility of TREC assessment in adolescents and that HIV infection does not uniformly result in accelerated thymic involution in childhood.
Separation, Identification, and Characterization of Microorganisms by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Desai Meera J. , Armstrong Daniel W. 
Published: March 2003

SUMMARY
The use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the analysis, identification, and characterization of microorganisms has been gaining in popularity. The advantages of CE, such as small sample requirements, minimal sample preparation, rapid and simultaneous analysis, ease of quantitation and identification, and viability assessment, make it an attractive technique for the analysis of microbial analytes. As this instrumental method has evolved, higher peak efficiencies have been achieved by optimizing CE conditions, such as pH, ionic strength, and polymer additive concentration. Experimental improvements have allowed better quantitation and more accurate results. Many practical applications of this technique have been investigated. Viability and identification of microbes can be accomplished in a single analysis. This is useful for evaluation of microbial analytes in consumer products. Diagnosis of microbe-based diseases is now possible, in some cases, without the need for culture methods. Microbe-molecule, virus-antibody, or bacteria-antibiotic interactions can be monitored using CE, allowing for the screening of possible drug candidates. Fermentation can be monitored using this system. This instrumental approach can be adapted to many different applications, including assessing the viability of sperm cells. Progress has been made in the development of microelectrophoresis instrumentation. These advances will eventually allow the development of small, dedicated devices for the rapid, repetitive analyses of specific microbial samples. Although these methods may never fully replace traditional approaches, they are proving to be a valuable addition to the collection of techniques used to analyze, quantitate, and characterize microbes. This review outlines the recent developments in this rapidly growing field.
Two Families of Mechanosensitive Channel Proteins
Authors: Pivetti Christopher D. , Yen Ming-Ren , Miller Samantha , Busch Wolfgang , Tseng Yi-Hsiung , Booth Ian R. , Saier, Milton H. 
Published: March 2003

SUMMARYMechanosensitive (MS) channels that provide protection against hypoosmotic shock are found in the membranes of organisms from the three domains of life: bacteria, archaea, and eucarya. Two families of ubiquitous MS channels are recognized, and these have been designated the MscL and MscS families. A high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure is available for a member of the MscL family, and extensive molecular genetic, biophysical, and biochemical studies conducted in many laboratories have allowed postulation of a gating mechanism allowing the interconversion of a tightly closed state and an open state that controls transmembrane ion and metabolite fluxes. In contrast to the MscL channel proteins, which are of uniform topology, the much larger MscS family includes protein members with topologies that are predicted to vary from 3 to 11 α-helical transmembrane segments (TMSs) per polypeptide chain. Sequence analyses reveal that the three C-terminal TMSs of MscS channel proteins are conserved among family members and that the third of these three TMSs exhibits a 20-residue motif that is shared by the channel-forming TMS (TMS 1) of the MscL proteins. We propose that this C-terminal TMS in MscS family homologues serves as the channel-forming helix in a homooligomeric structure. The presence of a conserved residue pattern for the putative channel-forming TMSs in the MscL and MscS family proteins suggests a common structural organization, gating mechanism, and evolutionary origin.
RASTERSTEREOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE THORACIC SAGITTAL CURVATURE: A RELIABILITY STUDY
Authors: Goh S. , Price R. I. , Leedman P. J. , Singer K. P. 
Published: March 2003

Limitations associated with radiological evaluation of spinal curvature have resulted in the increased application of noninvasive optical imaging systems to define various shape parameters of the spine. There is little information describing the reliability of the measurement of the thoracic spine upright posture using these imaging systems. The objective of this study was to examine the reliability of thoracic kyphosis measurement from noninvasive back surface analysis.Repeated imaging of back shape was performed in 10 volunteers of widely different ages (range 19–64 years), and in a back phantom, utilizing the Jenoptik Formetric video rasterstereography imaging system. Coefficients of variation (CV) for five repeated measurements of the subjects ranged from 2.4% to 3.0% for the kyphosis parameters measured. The reproducible nature of derived angles was further reflected by low standard deviation values (1.2° to 2.0°). Inter-trial CV values for repeated imaging of the back phantom ranged from 0.4% to 1.3%. High intraclass correlation coefficients were noted for all the measurements (0.98 to 0.99). Consistent results were demonstrated across the varying age cohorts.The reliability of rasterstereographic evaluation of thoracic kyphosis is largely influenced by the variability in subject posture, with minimal errors arising from internal system inaccuracies. These results confirm the utility of rasterstereographic back shape imaging in the detection of relatively small curve changes and hence its potential clinical role in monitoring kyphosis progression.
IN THE INTERIM: CIVIL SOCIETY, THE SHAR'Ī JUDICIARY AND PALESTINIAN PERSONAL STATUS LAW IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
Authors: Welchman Lynn 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIn this article I consider the nature and implications of the positions taken on Muslim personal status law by different institutional and civil society actors in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip during the period 1994-2000. The article considers positions taken on the sources and methodologies of reform of personal status law, the jurisdiction of the sharī'a courts, and specific areas of substantive law, with a view to identifying the range of opinions within the bounds of which Palestinian family law might be framed. Areas of convergence and divergence emerge not only between but also within the different sectors, while explicit reference to the legislation of other Arab states underlines a strong regional identification and, less explicitly, an emerging 'normative' status attaching to the diverse codified provisions of national laws.
POLITICAL FACTIONS, IDEOLOGICAL FICTIONS: THE CONTROVERSY OVER FAMILY LAW REFORM IN DEMOCRATIC MALI
Authors: Schulz Dorothea 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe article examines debates surrounding the current family law reform in Mali to account for the way in which broader processes of social change, an international and national context of women's rights activism, as well as various interest groups will shape the ultimate outcome of legislative reform. The article focuses on the five main components of the proposed reform and analyzes the positions of the most important groups participating in the debate: women's rights activists supported by the international women's movement and international donor organizations, protagonists of the two influential wings of the national Muslim organization, and representatives of the state administration. It is argued that although state officials and protagonists of an "Islamic" position hold divergent ideological and normative orientations, they form temporary and shifting alliances around certain issues, often on the basis of pragmatic considerations. Also, while women's rights activists and "Muslim women" claim to represent women tout court, the positions and arguments of the former can be seen as representing particularistic, class-specific interests.
The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in malignant and premalignant conditions of the head and neck
Authors: Rubin J. S. , Benjamin E. , Prior A. , Lavy J. 
Published: March 2003

Helicobacter pylori is an accepted cause of chronic active gastritis and has a major causative role in peptic ulceration. It is a gastric carcinogen. Its role in non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) is less clear; yet 50 per cent of patients with NUD are infected with H pylori. H pylori has been investigated in several other organ systems, but has not been investigated extensively in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, a region which could be directly exposed to the bacterium by gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).In this study 61 patients with severe laryngeal dysplasia or frank carcinoma of the head and neck are striated by age, investigated for the presence of antibodies to H pylori and compared to age and sex matched controls.In the age group of 46–61 years, the presence of H pylori antibodies was marginally greater in the experimental (63.0 per cent) than the control group (40.7 per cent) (Pearson Chi square p = 0.055, Fisher 2-sided exact test p= 0.066). When combining this age group with the younger age group and thereby creating two roughly equal groups (n = 31 and n = 30) there was also a statistical trend towards increased positivity in the experimental group. These findings are discussed in the light of other studies with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
Bilateral parotid and submandibular gland enlargement: rare features of Wegener’s granulomatosis
Authors: Liu S. Y. , Vlantis A. C. , Lee W. C. 
Published: March 2003

Wegener’s granulomatosis is a potentially fatal disease of unknown origin affecting mainly the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidneys. Prompt recognition of the more unusual presentations of the disease is necessary to ensure early treatment. We present a case of a 46-year-old female with bilateral submandibular and parotid gland enlargement.Parotid or submandibular salivary gland enlargement is a rare presenting feature of Wegener’s granulomatosis. Common to 80 per cent of these cases is nasal involvement, while ear pathology or lung lesions may occur in the remaining cases. The diagnosis is both clinical and pathological, biopsy of suspicious tissue, serum c-ANCA levels and a chest X-ray are valuable investigations. Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy is essential, and usually ensures a long-term remission.
Acoustic startle and fear‐potentiated startle in rats selectively bred for fast and slow kindling rates: relation to monoamine activity
Authors: Anisman Hymie , Kelly Owen , Hayley Shawn , Borowski Thomas , Merali Zul , McIntyre Dan C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe acoustic startle response, prepulse inhibition, fear‐potentiated startle and monoamine activity induced by either, a novel stimulus or a cue previously paired with foot‐shock (fear‐conditioning), were assessed in rats selectively bred for differences in amygdala excitability (Fast vs. Slow kindling epileptogenesis). Comorbid differences of anxiety, which were dependent both on the rats' behavioural style and the kind of stressor, also characterized these strains. In the present investigation, Slow rats exhibited a greater startle reflex to noise relative to Fast rats, suggesting differences in generalized anxiety, but similar rates of startle habituation and prepulse inhibition. The fear‐potentiated startle, however, was greater in Fast rats. When movement of the rat was restricted in a new environment, presentation of a novel stimulus (light) increased norepinephrine, dopamine and/or serotonin activity in brain regions typically associated with stressors (e.g. locus coeruleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus). Generally, these effects were more pronounced in Fast rats, and norepinephrine utilization in the central amygdala was particularly highlighted in response to a conditioned fear stimulus. Thus, while generalized anxiety appeared greater in Slow rats, behavioural and central neurochemical reactivity in response to novel stimuli and to fear‐eliciting stimuli, was greater in Fast rats. Similarly, basal dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex was greater in Fast rats, but dopamine utilization elicited by a novel stimulus was more pronounced in Slow rats. This suggested that relative to Slow rats, dopamine neurons in prefrontal cortex of Fast rats do not react normally to environmental stimuli, and this phenomenon could lead to disturbances of attention or impulsivity.