bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined Administration of Meningococcal Serogroup B Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine and Conjugated Serogroup C Vaccine Indicated for Prevention of Meningococcal Disease Is Safe and Immunogenic
Authors: Aaberge Ingeborg S. , Oster Philipp , Helland Oddveig S. , Kristoffersen Anne-Cathrine , Ypma Ellen , Høiby E. Arne , Feiring Berit , Nøkleby Hanne 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT
MenBvac and Menjugate are safe and efficacious vaccines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of the combination (MenB/C) of the lyophilized active components of the conjugated group C vaccine Menjugate when reconstituted with the full liquid group B outer membrane vesicle vaccine MenBvac compared to MenBvac and Menjugate given separately. At 6-week intervals, healthy adults were given one dose of MenB/C followed by two doses of MenBvac (MenB/C group), three doses of MenBvac (MenB group), or one dose of Menjugate and two doses of placebo (MenC group). Injection site reactions were frequent in all groups. However, most reactions were short lasting and mild or moderate in intensity, and the vaccines were found to be well tolerated, with no vaccine-related serious adverse events. MenB/C was immunogenic with regard to both serogroup B and C meningococci. Both the serum bactericidal assay and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses showed that the immune responses of the combination vaccine were similar to the immune responses of its separate components MenBvac and Menjugate for both serogroup B and C. In conclusion, the combined MenB/C vaccine is safe and immunogenic. The two vaccines do not interact negatively with each other and can easily be administered in the same syringe. The induced immune responses suggest that the combined vaccine is likely to confer protection against systemic group B disease caused by the vaccine strain as well as against group C meningococcal disease.
Deoxycytidyl-Deoxyguanosine Oligonucleotide Classes A, B, and C Induce Distinct Cytokine Gene Expression Patterns in Rhesus Monkey Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Distinct Alpha Interferon Responses in TLR9-Expressing Rhesus Monkey Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Authors: Abel Kristina , Wang Yichuan , Fritts Linda , Sanchez Eleonora , Chung Eugene , Fitzgerald-Bocarsly Patricia , Krieg Arthur M. , Miller Christopher J. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTTo determine if deoxycytidyl-deoxyguanosine oligonucleotides (CpG ODN) can be used effectively as nonspecific inducers of innate immune defenses for preventative or therapeutic interventions in infectious disease models for nonhuman primates, the present study evaluated the response of rhesus monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells to three different synthetic CpG ODN classes by defining the cytokine gene expression patterns and by characterizing IFN-α/β responses. Depending on the type and dose of CpG ODN used for stimulation, distinct gene expression patterns were induced. CpG ODN class A (CpG-A ODN) and CpG-C ODN, but not CpG-B ODN, were potent inducers of alpha interferon (IFN-α), and this response was due to IFN-α production by TLR9-positive plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Importantly, there was a dose-dependent increase in IFN-α responses to CpG-A ODN but a dose-dependent decrease in IFN-α responses by CpG-B ODN. The most sustained IFN-α response was induced by CpG-A ODN and was associated with a stronger induction of interferon regulatory factor 7 and the induction of several interferon-stimulated genes. In contrast, and independent of the dose, CpG-B ODN were the weakest inducers of IFN-α but the most potent inducers of proinflammatory cytokines. CpG-C ODN induced cytokine gene expression patterns that were intermediate between those of CpG-A and CpG-B ODN. Thus, the different types of CpG ODN induce different post-TLR9 signaling pathways that result in distinct cytokine gene expression patterns. Based on these findings, A and C class CpG ODN, but not B class CpG ODN, may be particularly suited for use as therapeutic or prophylactic antiviral interventions.
Association of Selected Phenotypic Markers of Lymphocyte Activation and Differentiation with Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission and Infant Infection
Authors: Lambert John S. , Moye Jack , Plaeger Susan F. , Stiehm E. Richard , Bethel James , Mofenson Lynne M. , Mathieson Bonnie , Kagan Jonathan , Rosenblatt Howard , Paxton Helene , Suter Hildie , Landay Alan 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

This study of a subset of women and infants participating in National Institutes of Health Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 185 evaluated lymphocyte phenotypic markers of immune activation and differentiation to determine their association with the likelihood of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from the women to their infants and the potential for early identification and/or prognosis of infection in the infants. Lymphocytes from 215 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-infected women and 192 of their infants were analyzed by flow cytometry with an extended three-color panel of monoclonal antibodies. Women who did not transmit to their infants tended to have higher CD4
+
T cells. Most notably, levels of total CD8
+
T cells and CD8
+
CD38
+
cells made significant independent contributions to predicting the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Adjusting for HIV-1 RNA level at entry, a one percentage-point increase in these marker combinations was associated with a nine percent increase in the likelihood of maternal transmission. Total as well as naïve CD4
+
T cells were significantly higher in uninfected than infected infants. Total CD8
+
cells, as well as CD8
+
cells positive for HLA-DR
+
, CD45 RA
+
HLA-DR
+
, and CD28
+
HLA-DR
+
were elevated in infected infants. Detailed immunophenotyping may be helpful in predicting which pregnant HIV-infected women are at increased risk of transmitting HIV to their infants. Increasing differences in lymphocyte subsets between infected and uninfected infants became apparent as early as six weeks of age. Detailed immunophenotyping may be useful in supporting the diagnosis of HIV infection in infants with perinatal HIV exposure.
Association of Uterine and Salpingeal Fibrosis with Chlamydial Hsp60 and Hsp10 Antigen-Specific Antibodies inChlamydia-Infected Koalas
Authors: Higgins Damien P. , Hemsley Susan , Canfield Paul J. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTInfection byChlamydia pneumoniaeorChlamydia pecorumcommonly causes chronic, fibrotic disease of the urogenital tracts of female koalas. Studies of humans have associated titers of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) against chlamydial hsp60 and hsp10 antigens with chronic infection, salpingeal fibrosis, and tubal infertility. To determine whether a similar relationship exists inChlamydia-infected koalas, samples were collected opportunistically from 34 wild female koalas and examined by gross pathology and histopathology, PCR, and immunohistochemistry forChlamydiaspp. and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serological responses to chlamydial hsp10 and hsp60 antigens. Greater anti-hsp titers occurred inChlamydia-infected koalas with fibrous occlusion of the uterus or uterine tube than in otherChlamydia-infected koalas (for hsp10 IgG,P= 0.005; for hsp60 IgG,P= 0.001; for hsp10 IgA,P= 0.04; for hsp60 IgA,P= 0.09). However, as in humans, some koalas with tubal occlusion had low titers. AmongChlamydia-infected koalas with tubal occlusion, those with low titers were more likely to have an active component to their ongoing uterine or salpingeal inflammation (P= 0.007), such that the assay predicted, with 79% sensitivity and 92% specificity, tubal occlusion where an active component of inflammation was absent. Findings of this study permit advancement of clinical and epidemiological studies of host-pathogen-environment interactions and pose intriguing questions regarding the significance of the Th1/Th2 paradigm and antigen-presenting and inflammation-regulating capabilities of uterine epithelial cells and the roles of latency and reactivation of chlamydial infections in pathogenesis of upper reproductive tract disease of koalas.
Reliability of CD4 Quantitation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Children: Implications for Definition of Immunologic Response to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Carey Vincent J. , Pahwa Savita , Weinberg Adriana 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT
Our objective was to develop data-based algorithms for definition of immunologic response to AIDS therapies in pediatric patients, taking account of T-cell subset measurement errors. The study design involved cross-protocol analysis of 2,148 enrollees in six completed Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group trials. We used standard quantitation of T-cell subsets; linear modeling with mean-dependent measurement error variance was used to develop 95% tolerance limits for change in CD4%. For individuals with a CD4% of approximately 25%, the measurement error-based 95% tolerance interval ranges from 15% to 35%, whereas for individuals with a CD4% of approximately 5%, the tolerance interval ranges from 3% to 7%. When pairs of CD4% measures taken within a time interval of less than 30 days are averaged to estimate steady-state CD4%, tolerance interval width decreases by approximately 30%. A simple graphical tool that provides a data-based criterion for immunologic response over and above variation ascribable to T-cell measurement error is provided. Variability in CD4% due to measurement error is substantial, increases with level of CD4%, and complicates assessment of immunologic response to therapy. Replicates of CD4% measures could be used to improve precision of interpretation of CD4% measures.
Cytokine Gene Expression in Response to SnSAG1 in Horses with Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
Authors: Spencer Jennifer A. , Deinnocentes Patricia , Moyana Edith M. , Guarino Anthony J. , Ellison Siobhan E. , Bird R. Curtis , Blagburn Byron L. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTEquine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurologic syndrome seen in horses from the Americas and is mainly caused bySarcocystis neurona. Recently, a 29-kDa surface antigen fromS. neuronamerozoites was identified as being highly immunodominant on a Western blot. This antigen has been sequenced and cloned, and the expressed protein has been named SnSAG1. In a previous study, cell-mediated immune responses to SnSAG1 were shown to be statistically significantly reduced in horses with EPM in comparison to EPM-negative control horses. It therefore appears as though the parasite is able to induce immunosuppression towards parasite-derived antigens as parasite-specific responses are decreased. Isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes from 21 EPM (cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] Western blot)-negative horses with no clinical signs and 21 horses with clinical signs of EPM (CSF Western blot positive) were cocultured with SnSAG1 for 48 and 72 h, and the effect on cytokine production was investigated by means of reverse transcriptase PCR. Cytokines assayed include gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-6. β-Actin was used as the housekeeping gene. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test of the findings indicated that there was a statistically significant decrease in IFN-γ production after 48 h in culture for samples from horses with clinical disease. There was also a statistically significant increase in IL-4 production after 72 h in culture for samples from horses with EPM. These results further support the notion that this parasite is able to subvert the immune system in horses with clinical disease.
Prevalence and Persistence of
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Antibodies in Healthy Laboratory Personnel in Finland
Authors: Paldanius Mika , Bloigu Aini , Alho Marianne , Leinonen Maija , Saikku Pekka 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

The rates of
Chlamydia pneumoniae
seroconversions suggesting acute primary infections or reinfections and the prevalences of antibodies were followed up among healthy laboratory workers. Annual serum samples were collected from 47 persons in Helsinki from 1958 to 1990 and from 40 persons in Oulu from 1994 to 1999.
C. pneumoniae
species-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibodies were measured by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) in 407 sera from Helsinki. The 185 sera collected in Oulu were tested both by MIF and by commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA). During the follow-up periods of 31 years in Helsinki and 6 years in Oulu, seroconversions were demonstrated by MIF in 45% and 15% of the study groups, respectively. In Helsinki 9% of the persons seroconverted twice during the follow-up period. By MIF, the total incidence rate per 100 person-years at risk was 6.9 in Helsinki and 4.9 in Oulu, and annual incidence rates varied from 0 to 15.4. By EIA, annual incidence rates in Oulu varied from 0 to 10.8. The seroconversions by MIF were usually not confirmed by EIA and vice versa. Prevalence and persistence rates, respectively, of IgA antibodies were higher in EIA (62% and 26%) than in MIF (26% and 17%), whereas the figures for IgG were quite similar. The prevalence of IgG and IgA antibodies was higher in older persons than in younger ones. The presence of antibodies did not offer protection from reinfection.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Pharmacological Studies Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α
Authors: Formento J. L. , Berra E. , Ferrua B. , Magné N. , Simos G. , Brahimi-Horn C. , Pouysségur J. , Milano G. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTHypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) activates the transcription of a wide range of genes related to oxygen delivery and metabolic adaptation under hypoxic (low-oxygen) conditions. HIF-1 is, in fact, a heterodimer of two subunits, HIF-1α and HIF-1β. The only analytical methods available for measuring HIF-1α levels in tumors are immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry has the advantage of allowing the identification and direct examination of HIF-1α-expressing cells, but has the intrinsic limitation, as for Western blotting, of being nonquantitative. We developed and validated an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach to measure HIF-1α levels in cultured tumor cell lines in vitro. HIF-1α was expressed in thirteen tumor cell lines grown under hypoxic conditions; however, the levels differed strongly between cell lines. These data point to intrinsic differences between cell lines for the induction of HIF-1α under hypoxic conditions. The ELISA developed in the present study is thus an interesting alternative to other analytical methods used to measure HIF-1α protein levels and should be useful in preclinical pharmacological studies targeting HIF-1α.
Persistence of Antibodies to West Nile Virus in Naturally Infected Rock Pigeons (
Columba livia
)
Authors: Gibbs Samantha E. J. , Hoffman Douglas M. , Stark Lillian M. , Marlenee Nicole L. , Blitvich Bradley J. , Beaty Barry J. , Stallknecht David E. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

Wild caught rock pigeons (
Columba livia
) with antibodies to West Nile virus were monitored for 15 months to determine antibody persistence and compare results of three serologic techniques. Antibodies persisted for the entire study as detected by epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and plaque reduction neutralization test. Maternal antibodies in squabs derived from seropositive birds persisted for an average of 27 days.
Evaluation of Commercial Assay Detecting Specific Immunoglobulin G in Oral Fluid for Determining Measles Immunity in Vaccinees
Authors: Kremer Jacques R. , Muller Claude P. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

A commercial assay for detection of measles immunoglobulin G (IgG) in oral fluid was evaluated in a highly vaccinated cohort using serum IgG as gold standard. In contrast to previous studies from cohorts protected by natural immunity, antibody prevalence was significantly underestimated (−7.4%; confidence interval: −1.5 to −13.2%;
P
= 0.01) due to a reduced sensitivity when antibody levels were low.
Multiple Autoantigen Mimotopes of Infectious Agents Induce Autoimmune Arthritis and Uveitis in Lewis Rats
Authors: Wildner Gerhild , Diedrichs-Moehring Maria 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT
We found multimolecular antigenic mimicry of arthritogenic autoantigens and peptides from several other “self” or foreign antigens sharing amino acid sequence homologies. Many of these new mimotopes induced arthritis and/or uveitis upon immunization in Lewis rats, indicating a role for multiple antigens in the initiation of a certain autoimmune disease.
Construction and Expression of Recombinant Streptolysin-O and Preevaluation of Its Use in Immunoassays
Authors: Velázquez Blanca , Massaldi Hugo , Battistoni Julio , Chabalgoity José A. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT
Commercially available immunoassays for assessment of anti-streptolysin-O antibodies use native streptolysin-O obtained by a complex process. We prepared a biologically active recombinant streptolysin-O with higher yield and a simpler purification process. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay developed with this recombinant showed good correlation with a commercial test, suggesting that it could be suitable for immunoassays.
Management of chronic heart failure: perceived needs of general practitioners in light of the new general medical services contract
Authors: Leslie S J , McKee S P , Imray E A , Denvir M A 
Published: May 2005

Abstract

Background
Despite the existence of several chronic heart failure (CHF) guidelines the treatment of patients with CHF is suboptimal. The new general medical services (GMS) contract in primary care has only three specific performance indicators for patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this current questionnaire survey was to assess the views of general practitioners (GPs) on CHF treatments and services in light of the new GMS contract.

Methods and Results
All local GPs (717) were sent a questionnaire. Fifty three per cent were returned. Forty five per cent of GPs had access to a community CHF nurse. Having read a national guideline (SIGN) and having the support of a CHF nurse did not seem to affect the knowledge of GPs in terms of perceived benefits of drug treatments. GPs with access to a specialist CHF nurse service attached more importance to it than those with no specialist nurse (p = 0.003).

Conclusions
Most GPs were aware of the existence of a national guideline but many had not read it. There was little or no difference in the knowledge level for various evidence based treatments between GPs who had or had not read the guideline suggesting that reading guidelines may not be a key factor in determining knowledge. Support for a specialist CHF nurse was higher among GPs who already had this service, suggesting that this service is valued. The new GMS contract may improve identification and diagnosis of patients with CHF but there is a danger that it may fall short of ensuring optimal treatment for patients with CHF.
What caused the Black Death?
Authors: Duncan C J , Scott S 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
For the whole of the 20th century it was believed that the Black Death and all the plagues of Europe (1347–1670) were epidemics of bubonic plague. This review presents evidence that this view is incorrect and that the disease was a viral haemorrhagic fever, characterised by a long incubation period of 32 days, which allowed it to be spread widely even with the limited transport of the Middle Ages. It is suggested that haemorrhagic plague emerged from its animal host in Ethiopia and struck repeatedly at European/Asian civilisations, before appearing as the Black Death. The CCR5-Δ32 mutation confers protection against HIV-1 in an average of 10% of the people of European origin today. It is suggested that all the Δccr5 alleles originated from a single mutation event that occurred before 1000 bc and the subsequent epidemics of haemorrhagic plague gently forced up its frequency to 5×10−5 at the time of the Black Death. Epidemics of haemorrhagic plague over the next three centuries then steadily raised the frequency in Europe (but not elsewhere) to present day values.
Primary prevention of sexually transmitted disease: applying the ABC strategy
Authors: Genuis S J , Genuis S K 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Escalating rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) in many areas of the world necessitate a re-evaluation of current public health STD preventive programmes. Pervasive long term sequelae for many STD afflicted people and the emerging threat, caused by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, to some national infrastructures, suggests that ongoing initiatives focusing primarily on risk reduction through barrier protection have not met their desired objective. Recent strategies to promote non-coital sexual involvement as a means of achieving STD reduction fail to address the transmission of infection that may occur through alternative non-intercourse sexual activities. The demonstrated success of the innovative, comprehensive ABC strategy shows that while risk reduction and treatment of existing infection remain important, the promotion of optimal health may be achieved more effectively through broad based comprehensive and adaptable programmes that include an emphasis on risk avoidance through delayed sexual debut and partner reduction.
Management of epilepsy in women
Authors: O’Brien M D , Gilmour-White S K 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
There are many aspects to the management of epilepsy in women related to their role in reproduction. Some of these need to be considered in adolescents, some are related to pregnancy, concerning both the mother and her infant, and others with the menstrual cycle and the menopause. This review considers contraception, fertility, teratogenicity, and the use of folic acid. It also discusses the special investigations in pregnancy, hyperemesis, the effect of pregnancy on the control of epilepsy, the effect of seizures on the fetus, a first fit in pregnancy, pseudoseizures, seizures during delivery, vitamin K, breast feeding, postpartum maternal epilepsy, hereditary risks, counselling, catamenial epilepsy, the menopause, and bone density.
Criminal Justice and the Future of Civil Liberties
Authors: Zalman Marvin 
Published: May 2005

An earlier forecast that the criminal justice system will be effective in reducing crime and in preserving civil liberties is modified to account for an ambiguous criminal justice system that exhibits both autocratic and democratic policies and procedures. Social surveys confirm that the United States today enjoys a high degree of civil liberties. However, contemporary criminal justice is ambiguous, promoting policies that are autocratic and democratic. This is seen in the prevalence of police brutality at the same time that many police departments have adopted community policing, a democratic approach to police administration and operations. This essay examines four sociopolitical concepts to explain the ambiguous criminal justice system within a liberal democracy: American exceptionalism, moral panics, "governing through crime," and the "great disruption" concept. Next, the construct of the quasi-autocratic state is proposed: a regime this is genuinely democratic and liberal for one part of its population (mostly white middle-class) while a distinct group of people (mostly lower-class people of color) live under autocratic conditions. The conclusion asserts that the criminal justice system is ambiguous and will continue to be so in the next 20 to 40 years. It also poses the lager question, without offering a definite answer, of whether the autocratic elements of criminal justice practice define the contemporary American polity as a quasi-autocratic state.