bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution over a 10 year period of the epidemiological profile of 1,726 newly diagnosed HCV patients in Belgium
Authors: Gérard Christiane , Delwaide Jean , Vaira Dolores , Bastens Boris , Servais Benoît , Wain Etienne , Bataille Christian , Daenen Guy , Belaïche Jacques ,   the GLEVHE
Published: June 2005

AbstractIn order to evaluate the future burden of hepatitis C, there is a need to quantify the evolution with time of some crucial parameters such as disease frequency and age, modes of infection and infecting genotypes of patients presenting for the first time at consultation. The yearly evolution of these parameters was analyzed retrospectively in a cohort of 1,726 patients living in Belgium, who were diagnosed as hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between 1992 and 2002. The epidemiological profile of HCV patients showed significant changes during this period. The number of new patients increased with time. The proportion of patients under 50 increased linearly at a rate of 3% per year. The rate of newly presenting patients infected by transfusion before 1990 decreased, but only by 2.7% per year. The proportion of intravenous (IV) drug users increased by 2.5% per year. Patients presenting “undefined” risk factors increased by 2.1% per year. Nosocomial acquisition of HCV infection exhibited a disturbing relative stability in time whereas dialysis tended to disappear as a cause of infection. There was a significant linear annual decrease of 2.3% in the frequency of genotype 1b, which was counterbalanced by a significant increase of 0.7% for genotype 1a and 1.1% for genotype 4. Genotypes 2 and 3 did not vary significantly with time. Such figures are useful for evaluating the epidemiological changes of C virus infection and for anticipating the future economical cost of hepatitis C treatment in the next few years. J. Med. Virol. 76:503–510, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RETRACTED: Small interfering RNA effectively inhibits protein expression and negative strand RNA synthesis from a full‐length hepatitis C virus clone
Authors: Prabhu Ramesh , Vittal Padmaja , Yin Qinyan , Flemington Erik , Garry Robert , Robichaux William H. , Dash Srikanta 
Published: June 2005

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is usually treated with the combination of interferon and ribavirin, but only a small fraction of patients develop a sustained remission. There is need for the development of specific molecular approaches for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. We propose that RNA interference is highly effective antiviral strategy that offers great potential for the treatment of HCV infection. Three plasmid constructs expressing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeted to sequences encoding the structural gene (E2) and non‐structural genes (NS3, NS5B) of HCV1a genome were prepared. Antiviral properties of siRNAs against the HCV1a strain were studied in a transient replication model that involved the use of a transcription plasmid containing the full‐length HCV genome and an adenovirus expressing T7 RNA polymerase. We found that siRNAs targeted to the E2, NS3 and NS5B regions of the HCV genome efficiently inhibited expression of the HCV core and NS5A protein measured by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining. Intracytoplasmic immunization of siRNAs in HCV‐transfected cells efficiently degraded genomic positive strand HCV RNA, as shown by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA). All three siRNAs efficiently inhibited synthesis of replicative negative strand HCV RNA in the transfected cells. A control siRNA plasmid against a Epstein–Barr virus latency gene did not inhibit protein expression and negative strand HCV RNA. These results suggest that RNAi is an effective and alternative approach that can be used to inhibit HCV expression and replication. J. Med. Virol. 76:511–519, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surveillance of acute hepatitis C in Cairo, Egypt
Authors: El Gaafary Maha M. , Rekacewicz Claire , Abdel‐Rahman Amira Gamal , Allam Mohamed Farouk , El Hosseiny Mostafa , Hamid Mohamed Abdel , Colombani Françoise , Sultan Yehia , El‐Aidy Saeed , Fontanet Arnaud , Mohamed Mostafa Kamal 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSurveillance of acute hepatitis has been set up in two fever hospitals in Cairo to diagnose acute hepatitis C. Patients were categorized as definite acute hepatitis C with positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and without anti‐HCV antibody, or probable acute hepatitis C with positive HCV RNA, positive anti‐HCV antibody, alanine aminotransferase ≥4 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and high risk parenteral exposure in the 1–3 months prior to the beginning of symptoms. From May to November 2002, 315 patients were recruited in the study. Of these, 115 (36.5%) had acute hepatitis A, 89 (28.3%) had acute hepatitis B, and 111 (35.2%) had non‐A non‐B acute hepatitis. Of the total with complete data (n = 309), 12 (3.9%, 95% CI = 2.0%–6.7%) had definite acute hepatitis C, and 11 (3.6%, 95% CI = 1.8%–6.3%) had probable acute hepatitis C. In patients with definite acute hepatitis C, dental exposure (n = 5) and intravenous drug use (n = 2), were the only high risk procedures found in the 6 months prior to diagnosis. Five patients had no identifiable parenteral exposure. In conclusion, results from this study suggest that acute hepatitis C can be diagnosed by surveillance of acute hepatitis in hospital settings in Cairo and that minor community exposures contribute substantially to local HCV transmission. J. Med. Virol. 76:520–525, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serological and molecular studies on subclinical hepatitis E virus infection using periodic serum samples obtained from healthy individuals
Authors: Mitsui Takehiro , Tsukamoto Yukie , Suzuki Shigeru , Yamazaki Chikao , Masuko Kazuo , Tsuda Fumio , Takahashi Masaharu , Tsatsralt‐Od Bira , Nishizawa Tsutomu , Okamoto Hiroaki 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSubclinical hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among healthy individuals was studied serologically and molecularly. Serum samples collected at screening between March and April 2004 (or just before retirement) from 266 medical staff members (35 males, 231 females) who had been working for 8.8 ± 8.5 (mean ± standard deviation, range, 0.3–35.1) years in a city hospital in Japan and serum samples that had been collected from these staff members at the start of employment were tested for IgA, IgM, and IgG antibodies to HEV (anti‐HEV) by in‐house enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Overall, six subjects (2.3%) tested positive for anti‐HEV IgG at the screening; among them, four subjects (1.5%) had already been positive for anti‐HEV IgG at the start of employment and two subjects (0.8%) seroconverted after initiation of employment. Periodic serum samples that had been collected from the two seroconverted subjects were tested for HEV antibodies and HEV RNA. The two subjects became positive for anti‐HEV IgG in 1978 or 2003, respectively, with no discernible elevation in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level, and continued to be seropositive up through the screening date. Although anti‐HEV IgM was not detectable in the two subjects, one was infected transiently with Japan‐indigenous HEV strain of genotype 3 and the other was positive transiently for anti‐HEV IgA. The present study indicates that even an individual with subclinical HEV infection had evidence of transient viremia in the absence of ALT elevation and that anti‐HEV IgA detection may be useful for serological diagnosis of recent subclinical HEV infection. J. Med. Virol. 76:526–533, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytomegalovirus and human herpesvirus 8 DNA detection in peripheral blood monocytic cells of AIDS patients: Correlations with the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma and CMV disease
Authors: van der Kuyl Antoinette C. , Polstra Abeltje M. , van den Burg Remco , Jan Weverling Gerrit , Goudsmit Jaap , Cornelissen Marion 
Published: June 2005

AbstractTo establish the effect of the presence in blood cells of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) DNA, two herpesviruses that are activated frequently in AIDS patients, were selected from the Amsterdam Cohort Studies on HIV/AIDS 181 PBMC samples from patients with and without Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and with and without CMV‐related disease. The viral loads of both HHV8 and CMV were determined by real‐time PCR at the time of diagnosis of AIDS. There was no significant difference in prevalence and load for CMV between the KS and non‐KS patients. The variable related most strongly to KS was the presence of HHV8 DNA in PBMCs, whilst CMV DNA was related to the development of CMV disease and shortened survival. The frequency of detection of HHV8 increased when the patient presented with more severe KS symptoms at diagnosis, but detection of HHV8 DNA did not influence survival. Therefore, HHV8 and CMV DNA measured in the blood of AIDS patients, are each related mainly to the associated disease, and have no additional predictive value in these patients. J. Med. Virol. 76:541–546, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Elevated plasma levels of the long pentraxin, pentraxin 3, in severe dengue virus infections
Authors: Mairuhu Albert T.A. , Peri Giuseppe , Setiati Tatty E. , Hack C. Erik , Koraka Penelopie , Soemantri Augustinus , Osterhaus Albert D.M.E. , Brandjes Dees P.M. , van der Meer Jos W.M. , Mantovani Alberto , van Gorp Eric C.M. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractC‐reactive protein is one of the most widely used indicators of the response of acute‐phase proteins. The measurement of C‐reactive protein in dengue, however, is clinically not useful, because of marginally elevated levels and absent association with disease severity. The prototypic long pentraxin, pentraxin 3, is an acute phase protein that is structurally related but distinct from C‐reactive protein which has proven to correlate with the severity of bacterial infection in critically ill patients. The potential involvement of pentraxin 3 in dengue and its aptitude to predict more severe disease or poor clinical outcome has not been studied previously. We therefore measured pentraxin 3 plasma levels in 44 dengue virus infected patients. Pentraxin 3 levels were strikingly higher when compared to C‐reactive protein levels, with highest pentraxin 3 values observed in the first 7 days after the onset of symptoms. Median pentraxin 3 levels at admission and peak levels during follow up were higher in patients suffering from dengue shock syndrome (at admission: 119.3 ng/ml [interquartile range 61.8–188.7], peak values during follow up: 147.9 ng/ml [interquartile range 85.7–204.3]) compared to levels found in patients with dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (at admission: 59.0 ng/ml [interquartile range 28.6–100.3], P = 0.040; peak values during follow up: 80.8 ng/ml [interquartile range 36.1–168.1], P = 0.020). Our results indicate that pentraxin 3 seems to be a marker of infection better than C‐reactive protein in dengue. The role of pentraxin 3 in the pathogenesis of dengue and its potential as an early prognostic indicator of disease severity needs further assessment. J. Med. Virol. 76:547–552, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hantaviruses in Central South America: Phylogenetic analysis of the S segment from HPS cases in Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Raboni Sonia M. , Probst Christian M. , Bordignon Juliano , Zeferino Aurélio , dos Santos Claudia N. Duarte 
Published: June 2005

AbstractWe sequenced the complete S segments of hantaviruses detected from 12 HPS patients living in southern of Brazil. Samples were obtained from patients diagnosed in different years, in distinct areas, and with a broad spectrum of clinical signs. Despite these differences, all the S proteins of hantavirus from Paraná were identical, except for one amino acid substitution. Phylogenetic analyses of the complete S segment nucleotide and amino acid sequences indicated that hantaviruses from Paraná form a distinct clade from those circulating in South and North America. Other hantaviruses from Brazil were not placed in the same clade. The Oligoryzomys nigripes‐associated strains ITA37 and ITA38 from Paraguay were found to belong to the same clade as the hantaviruses from Paraná. Paraguay and Paraná state are located at the same latitude and some ecosystems are similar in both places. The geographic position and common rodent hosts could explain this phylogenetic relationship. J. Med. Virol. 76:553–562, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human herpesvirus type 8 infection in an area of Northern Italy with high incidence of classical Kaposi's sarcoma
Authors: Tanzi Elisabetta , Zappa Alessandra , Caramaschi Fausta , Amendola Antonella , Lasagna Donatella , Gatti Luciana , Ascoli Valeria , Rezza Giovanni , Zanetti Alessandro R. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractPrevious studies have reported a large variation in the incidence of classical Kaposi's sarcoma across different Districts of the province of Mantua (Northern Italy). To assess whether such differences might be explained by different anti‐HHV8 antibody prevalence, a serological study was conducted in 343 healthy elderly individuals resident in two adjacent Districts, at the highest and the lowest classical Kaposi's sarcoma incidence rate, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative determinations of IgG antibodies against both latent and lytic HHV‐8 antigens were performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The assay's sensitivity was studied in 26 patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma. Overall, anti‐HHV8 antibodies were detected in 25 out of 26 patients (96%), confirming the high sensitivity of this assay. The prevalence of anti‐HHV‐8 antibodies was higher among individuals living in the District had a high incidence of classical Kaposi's sarcoma compared to those living in the District with low incidence (19.4% vs 9.8%, and 15.9% vs 8%; P < 0.05, for latent and lytic antibodies, respectively). Anti‐lytic antibody GMT was higher in people living in the District at high incidence rate compared to those of the other area (328.9 vs. 180.4; P < 0.01). A higher prevalence of HHV‐8 infection was found among persons living in municipalities surrounded by watercourses (OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.10–4.32). In conclusion, variation in HHV‐8 prevalence appears to explain differences in the incidence rates of classical Kaposi's sarcoma observed in different areas of the province. J. Med. Virol. 76:571–575, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The impact of high risk human papillomavirus testing in an inner London colposcopy clinic
Authors: Perrons Chris , Brink Nicola , Jalal Hamid , Watts Peter , Jelley Rosanne 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThis is an audit of a new technique to improve the colposcopy service. Samples were tested for high risk HPV DNA using Digene Hybrid Capture II. Sixty‐four percent of the sampled women under 30 had detectable high risk HPV DNA, decreasing to 44% in 30–39 year olds and to 27% in women over 40. High risk HPV prevalence increased with severity of cytology, although 22% with normal colposcopy had detectable high risk HPV. Of those women treated for cervical dysplasia, 83% had detectable high risk HPV prior to treatment, compared to only 32% afterwards. The audit has shown that high risk HPV testing has considerable discriminatory value. It has been integrated successfully into the service, particularly to manage low grade cervical abnormalities and to add valuable information following treatment for cervical dysplasia. Results need to be interpreted alongside colposcopy, cytology, and histology, and care must be taken in the interpretation of a single high risk HPV result. J. Med. Virol. 76:576–582, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Norovirus contamination found in oysters worldwide
Authors: Cheng Peter K.C. , Wong Derek K.K. , Chung Thomas W.H. , Lim Wilina W.L. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractNoroviruses (Norwalk‐like viruses) are recognized as major causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis are often associated with consumption of oysters. In this study, oysters imported into Hong Kong from 11 countries over a 3‐year period were screened by RT‐PCR. Overall, 53 out of 507 (10.5%) samples were positive for norovirus‐RNA, and a wide variety of strains were found. Two novel genetic clusters were detected, which could indicate novel human or animal norovirus strains. However, whether these two new clusters are of human or animal origin is not known. Thirteen outbreaks, in which oysters were implicated as the source of infection were investigated: Norovirus RNA sequences could be detected in oysters from six outbreaks, but only in one outbreak the strains isolated from patients and oysters matched (>98% homology). Therefore, RT‐PCR was of use in detecting norovirus contamination of oysters implicated in an outbreak, but was less useful in demonstrating an actual molecular epidemiological link with human cases. It was shown that contamination by noroviruses could be demonstrated in oysters worldwide, and therefore oysters may serve as an important vehicle for introducing novel norovirus strains. J. Med. Virol. 76:593–597, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evidence of the etiological predominance of norovirus in gastroenteritis outbreaks—emerging new‐variant and recombinant noroviruses in Hungary
Authors: Reuter Gábor , Krisztalovics Katalin , Vennema Harry , Koopmans Marion , Szűcs György 
Published: June 2005

AbstractBetween January 2001 and December 2003, stool specimens from 262 (45%) of 581 reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis were investigated for noroviruses in Hungary. Specimens collected from outbreaks of non‐bacterial gastroenteritis were examined by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay. In 253 (97%) of 262 outbreaks, norovirus was detected and confirmed by sequencing in 211 (81%). Hospitals (35%), day care centers (30%), and elderly homes (27%) were the most common settings. Diversity and frequency of the genotypes changed over time but with predominance (95%) of genogroup (GG) II strains. Strains grouped into 11 genotypes including an epidemic spread of new‐variant GGII4 (Lordsdale virus) and a recently emerged group of natural recombinant strains (GGIIb/Hilversum polymerase) with four capsid types (Hawaii, Mexico, Snow Mountain, and Lordsdale). Clusters of epidemics including food‐borne outbreaks were detected. According to this study, noroviruses are the predominant etiological agents causing gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hungary. J. Med. Virol. 76:598–607, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence and partial sequence analysis of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I in China
Authors: Wang Youchun , Li Xiouhua , Song Aijing , Zhang Chuntao , Chen Ying , Chen Changrong , Lin Yisheng , Shun Liping , Li Luilan , Liu Yanchun , Yang Jian , Yang Bowei , Tang Qiouping , Harrison Tim J. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractA total of 145,293 serum samples were collected from volunteer blood donors in 13 provinces of China and tested for anti‐HTLV antibody using an ELISA licensed in China. Thirty were positive for anti‐HTLV by ELISA and 19 of those 30 samples were confirmed positive using a supplemental immunoblot assay. Anti‐HTLV‐I was detected only in samples from Fujian province (a Southern province) where the positivity rate was approximately 0.05%. The region encoding gp46 from 5 of the 19 antibody positive samples was amplified and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated that these isolates belong to HTLV‐I genotype A. These data suggest that HTLV‐I is not endemic throughout China and the virus may be restricted to a particular region. J. Med. Virol. 76:613–618, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fitness of Japanese encephalitis virus to Neuro‐2a cells is determined by interactions of the viral envelope protein with highly sulfated glycosaminoglycans on the cell surface
Authors: Chiou Shyan‐Song , Liu Hsuan , Chuang Ching‐Kai , Lin Chiou‐Chun , Chen Wei‐June 
Published: June 2005

AbstractGenetically different subpopulations were identified and purified from Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV). Those with small plaques (SPs; <2 mm in diameter), derived from strains of T1P1, CJN, and CC27, were more competent than those with large plaques (LPs; >5 mm in diameter) when passaged in Neuro‐2a cells. Differences in amino acids between SPs and LPs from each strain were shown in the viral envelope (E) protein. The amino acid at E‐306 was Glu in LP but was substituted by Lys in SP in the T1P1 strain. A similar substitution occurred at E‐138 in the CJN strain. However, the amino acid was Asp in LP but was substituted by Asn in SP at E‐389 in the CC27 strain. All SPs were shown to have a higher affinity to the cellular membrane when compared to LPs, and this resulted in more‐efficient infection of Neuro‐2a cells, suggesting that the differential fitness of JEV variants to Neuro‐2a cells appeared in the early phase of infection. In addition, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on the surface of many mammalian cells have been demonstrated to be critical for infection by JEV, especially SP variants. The present results suggest that T1P1‐SP1 viruses infected Neuro‐2a cells more efficiently in spite of the sparse distribution of cell surface GAGs. We conclude that highly sulfated forms of GAGs expressed by Neuro‐2a cells play an important role in selecting JEV variants with specific mutations in the E glycoprotein. J. Med. Virol. 76:583–592, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Derivation of macroscopic equations for individual cell‐based models: a formal approach
Authors: Bodnar M. , Velazquez J. J. L. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractIn this paper we review the theory of cells (particles) that evolve according to a dynamics determined by friction and that interact between themselves by means of suitable potentials. We derive by means of elementary arguments several macroscopic equations that describe the evolution of cell density. Some new results are also obtained—a formal derivation of a limit equation in the case of attractive potential as well as in the case of repulsive potential with a hard‐core part are presented. Finally we discuss the possible relevance of those results within the framework of individual cell‐based models. Several classes of potentials, including hard‐core, repulsive and potentials with attractive parts are discussed. The effect of noise terms in the equation is also considered. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boundary problems with meromorphic symbols in cylindrical domains
Authors: Harutyunyan G. , Schulze B.‐W. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractWe show relative index formulas for boundary value problems in cylindrical domains and Sobolev spaces with different weights at ±∞. The amplitude functions are meromorphic in the axial covariable and take values in the space of boundary value problems on the cross section of the cylinder. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction: Novel therapies in developmental disabilities—Hope, reason, and evidence
Authors: Hyman Susan L. , Levy Susan E. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used both alongside (complementary) and as a substitute for (alternative) conventional therapies. Although CAM use is reported to be high among children with typical development, reported rates for CAM use to address symptoms of children with developmental disabilities may be higher. Increased use in this population may relate to hope for amelioration of symptoms, concerns regarding side effects of conventional treatments, and a need on the part of families to participate in decision making regarding their child's care. Primary health care providers may find that the child's needs are best served when they maintain a dialogue with families to evaluate the evidence supporting novel therapies. Interventions need to be assessed in an evidence based fashion whether or not they are initally preceived as CAM. This issue of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews contains reviews of CAM used to treat several developmental disabilities as well as some broader discussions related to the determinants of CAM use, current efforts to evaluate novel therapies, and how to consider the possibility of placebo effects. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2005;11:107–109.