bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Place, Nature and Migration: Students' Attachment to their Rural Home Places
Authors: Wiborg Agnete 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMobility and migration are central aspect of modern society and challenges rural areas both structurally and culturally and young people, in particular, are described as globally oriented and detached from tradition. Instead of arguing that places have less importance in modern society, the paper discusses how people's attachment to place must be considered as a multidimensional, dynamic and context related phenomenon by using regional university students' stories about their relationship to home place in rural as the empirical point of departure. In addition, migration does not imply local detachment. In their stories, geographical background is in different ways associated with gender, kinship, class and life style. The meaning they ascribe to their home place and how they describe their relationship to their home place can be considered as part of their formation and management of identity.
Investigation of photosensitive disorders
Authors: Murphy Gillian M. 
Published: November 2004

Investigation of photodermatosis is based primarily on the history and clinical findings, histological, immunological and biochemical findings are variably helpful depending on the clinical picture. Formal testing for photosensitivity may be the only definitive test proving photosensitivity on occasion.This article delineates the important features which allow classification of patients which then enables appropriate treatment.
Linkage analysis between BCL3 and nearby genes on 19q13.2 and non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in multigenerational Japanese families
Authors: Fujita H , Nagata M , Ono K , Okubo H , Takagi R 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  To investigate the linkage between candidate genes on chromosome 19 and cleft lip with or without cleft palate in Japanese using a parametric method.Materials and methods:  After informed consent was obtained, blood samples were drawn from 90 individuals in 14 families, 30 of whom were affected, and genomic DNAs were extracted. PCR‐amplified products using four microsatellite markers, D19S178, BCL3, APOC2[007/008] and APOC2[AC1/AC2] located in 19q13.2, were separated by 8% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Linkage analysis was carried out using the MLINK and LINKMAP programs, and logarithm of odds (LOD) scores were calculated for each family.Results:  Before undertaking linkage analysis, we analyzed 74 healthy Japanese subjects and found racial differences in that the observed number of alleles and their heterozygosity were lower in Japanese than in Caucasians, and that both populations tended to show a different allele distribution. In 14 families, two‐point maximum LOD score (Zmax) for BCL3 was 0.341 and multi‐point Zmax was less than −2 excluding linkage. But in 9 families with left and bilateral CL/P, two‐point Zmax for APOC2[AC1/AC2] was 1.701 and multi‐point Zmax at APOC2 locus was 1.909.Conclusion:  The LOD score was relatively high but provided no evidence of linkage for CL/P to BCL3 and nearby genes in Japanese subjects.
Molecular evaluation of residual endodontic microorganisms after instrumentation, irrigation and medication with either calcium hydroxide or Septomixine
Authors: Tang G , Samaranayake LP , Yip H‐K 
Published: November 2004

Background and objective:  The correct choice of antimicrobial agents as inter‐appointment medicaments is as important as the instrumentation and irrigation to remove pathogens from infected root canals. Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and framycetin sulfate (Septomixine) are common endodontic medicaments. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of either calcium hydroxide or Septomixine in eliminating residual intra‐canal bacteria, particularly Actinomyces spp., during inter‐appointment interval in endodontic therapy using molecular methods.Methods:  A total of 31 single‐rooted teeth with primary root canal infections were studied immediately after opening the canals and subsequently after instrumentation, irrigation with sterile saline and 1‐week medication with either Ca(OH)2 (n = 25) or Septomixine (n = 6). Whole bacterial genomic DNA was isolated directly from samples and PCR with universal primers performed to detect total intra‐canal bacteria. The variable regions of 16S rDNA of bacteria were amplified and labeled with digoxigenin for further hybridization to detect Actinomyces spp. A total of seven oligonucleotide probes specific for A. bovis, A. gerencseriae, A. israelii, A. meyeri, catalase‐negative A. naeslundii (genospecies 1 and 2), catalase‐positive A. naeslundii genospecies 2 and A. odontolyticus were used to detect Actinomyces spp. in 22 of 31 medicated root canals [Ca(OH)2: n = 17; Septomixine: n = 5].Results:  The PCR results showed that 25 of 31 examined canals were positively detected with residual microorganisms after instrumentation, irrigation with sterile saline and 1‐week medication with either Ca(OH)2 (n = 20) or Septomixine (n = 5). Thus, only six canals [Ca(OH)2: n = 5, Septomixine: n = 1] were aseptic after treatment. Hybridization results showed higher detection frequency of both A. odontolyticus and A. gerencseriae after treatment. Significant correlation was found between exposed pulp before treatment and positive detection of Actinomyces spp., particularly A. odontolyticus on the second visit (P < 0.05).Conclusion:  The conventional, 1‐week medication of either Ca(OH)2 or Septomixine in endodontic therapy may not effectively inhibit residual bacterial growth in all root canals during inter‐appointment intervals. Further investigations using, for instance quantitative real‐time PCR analyses, are required to substantiate the present findings.
Adverse oral reactions associated with the COX‐2 inhibitor rofecoxib
Authors: Bagán JV , Thongprasom K , Scully C 
Published: November 2004

Rofecoxib is an inhibitor of the enzyme cyclo‐oxygenase 2 (COX‐2) used as an analgesic and anti‐inflammatory agent especially in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The adverse effects are generally less than with other anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and no oral adverse reactions have been reported in the literature.We present three cases of oral lesions caused by rofecoxib. Extensive erosions appeared, which in all cases resolved on withdrawal of the drug.
The prevalence of oral leukoplakia in 138 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Haya‐Fernández MªC , Bagán JV , Murillo‐Cortés J , Poveda‐Roda R , Calabuig C 
Published: November 2004

Objectives:  To determine the relationship between oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to evaluate possible differences between those carcinomas with and without associated leukoplakia.Material and methods:  A total of 138 patients were studied at the Stomatology Service of the University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain. These patients were divided into two groups: group 1, patients with oral cancer and leukoplakia, and group 2, patients with OSCC but with no associated premalignant lesions. The relationship between this precancerous lesion and the OSCC was evaluated, as well as the possible clinical and histological differences between the tumours of the two groups.Results:  Leukoplakia was detected in 27 (19.56%) patients with OSCC. No differences were found between the two groups regarding age and tumour location. However, statistically significant differences were observed with respect to the form, tumour stage and the presence of adenopathies in the cancers with and without leukoplakia; in that the tumours associated with leukoplakia were diagnosed as being at a more initial stage.Conclusions:  Those patients with OL associated with oral cancer presented with tumours at a less advanced stage than those where no associated leukoplakia existed.
T102C polymorphism of the 5‐HT2A receptor gene may be associated with temporomandibular dysfunction
Authors: Mutlu N , Erdal ME , Herken H , Oz G , Bayazıt YA 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  To assess whether a relationship existed between the T102C polymorphism of 5‐HT2A receptor gene and temporomandibular dysfunction.Methods:  Sixty‐three patients with temporomandibular dysfunction, and 54 healthy volunteer controls were included in the study. Molecular analysis of the T102C polymorphism of the 5‐HT2A receptor gene was performed using PCR technique.Results:  The C/C genotype was over represented in the patients whereas T/T genotype was over represented in the controls (P < 0.05). The genotype distribution of the patients who had temporomandibular dysfunction was not different than those who did not have temporomandibular dysfunction (P > 0.05).Conclusion:  The T102C polymorphism may be involved in the etiology of temporomandibular dysfunction. The overrepresentation of the C/C variant of 5‐HT2A receptor gene in temporomandibular dysfunction suggests a possible role of the serotonergic system in this disease, particularly at the receptor level.
MMP‐2 activation by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans supernatant in human PDL cells was corresponded with reduction of TIMP‐2
Authors: Tiranathanagul S , Pattamapun K , Yongchaitrakul T , Pavasant P 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP‐2) has been implicated to play a role in pathogenesis of periodontal disease. We recently reported that Porphyromonas gingivalis supernatant could activate MMP‐2 in human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells. In this study, activation of MMP‐2 by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans supernatant and the mechanism was investigated.Methods:  HPDL cells were treated with either A. actinomycetemcomitans or P. gingivalis supernatant for 48 h. To verify the mechanism, pretreated inhibitors were used. Gelatin zymography, RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect the activation of MMP‐2, expression of MT1‐MMP and TIMP‐2 mRNA and the proteins, respectively.Results:  The supernatant from A. actinomycetemcomitans could activate MMP‐2 in HPDL cells similar to that from P. gingivalis but by a different mechanism. Activation by A. actinomycetemcomitans supernatant was correlated with a reduction of TIMP‐2 secretion without any alteration of MT1‐MMP, while activation by P. gingivalis increased MT1‐MMP but no change of TIMP‐2 was found.Conclusion:  The supernatant from A. actinomycetemcomitans and P. gingivalis could induce the activation of MMP‐2 possibly through the imbalance of MT1‐MMP and TIMP‐2 in HPDL cells but by different mechanisms. The imbalance of MT1‐MMP and TIMP‐2 may be another factor that is involved in the severity of periodontal disease.
Microsatellite Mapping of
Mycobacterium leprae
Populations in Infected Humans
Authors: Young Saroj K. , Taylor G. Michael , Jain Suman , Suneetha Lavanya M. , Suneetha Sujai , Lockwood Diana N. J. , Young Douglas B. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

To investigate genetic diversity in a bacterial population, we measured the copy numbers of simple sequence repeats, or microsatellites, in
Mycobacterium leprae
from patients living in and around Hyderabad, India. Three microsatellite loci containing trinucleotide or dinucleotide repeats were amplified from infected tissues, and the copy numbers were established by sequence analysis. Extensive diversity was observed in a cross-sectional survey of 33 patients, but closely related profiles were found for members of a multicase family likely to share a common transmission source. Sampling of multiple tissues from single individuals demonstrated identical microsatellite profiles in the skin, nasal cavity, and bloodstream but revealed differences at one or more loci for
M. leprae
present in nerves. Microsatellite mapping of
M. leprae
represents a useful tool for tracking short transmission chains. Comparison of skin and nerve lesions suggests that the evolution of disease within an individual involves the expansion of multiple distinct subpopulations of
M. leprae
.
New Quadriplex PCR Assay for Detection of Methicillin and Mupirocin Resistance and Simultaneous Discrimination ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci
Authors: Zhang Kunyan , Sparling Jennifer , Chow Barbara L. , Elsayed Sameer , Hussain Zafar , Church Deirdre L. , Gregson Daniel B. , Louie Thomas , Conly John M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTMajor challenges in diagnostic molecular microbiology are to develop a simple assay to distinguishStaphylococcus aureusfrom the less virulent but clinically important coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and to simultaneously determine their antibiotic resistance profiles. Multiplex PCR assays have been developed for the detection of methicillin- and mupirocin-resistantS. aureusand CoNS but not for the simultaneous discrimination ofS. aureusfrom CoNS. We designed a new set ofStaphylococcusgenus-specific primers and developed a novel quadriplex PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA (Staphylococcusgenus specific),nuc(S. aureusspecies specific),mecA(a determinant of methicillin resistance), andmupA(a determinant of mupirocin resistance) genes to identify most staphylococci, to discriminateS. aureusfrom CoNS and other bacteria, and to simultaneously detect methicillin and mupirocin resistance. Validation of the assay with 96 ATCC control strains and 323 previously characterized clinical isolates, including methicillin- and mupirocin-sensitive and -resistantS. aureusand CoNS isolates and other bacteria, demonstrated 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. This assay represents a simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable approach for the detection of methicillin- and mupirocin-resistant staphylococci and offers the hope of preventing their widespread dissemination through early and reliable detection.
Characterization of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Flea and Tick Specimens from Northern Peru
Authors: Blair Patrick J. , Jiang Ju , Schoeler George B. , Moron Cecilia , Anaya Elizabeth , Cespedes Manuel , Cruz Christopher , Felices Vidal , Guevara Carolina , Mendoza Leonardo , Villaseca Pablo , Sumner John W. , Richards Allen L. , Olson James G. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Evidence of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae was obtained from flea pools and individual ticks collected at three sites in northwestern Peru within the focus of an outbreak of febrile disease in humans attributed, in part, to SFG rickettsia infections. Molecular identification of the etiologic agents from these samples was determined after partial sequencing of the 17-kDa common antigen gene (
htrA
) as well as pairwise nucleotide sequence homology with one or more of the following genes:
gltA
,
ompA
, and
ompB
. Amplification and sequencing of portions of the
htrA
and
ompA
genes in pooled samples (2 of 59) taken from fleas identified the pathogen
Rickettsia felis
. Four tick samples yielded molecular evidence of SFG rickettsiae. Fragments of the
ompA
(540-bp) and
ompB
(2,484-bp) genes were amplified from a single
Amblyomma maculatum
tick (tick 124) and an
Ixodes boliviensis
tick (tick 163). The phylogenetic relationships between the rickettsiae in these samples and other rickettsiae were determined after comparison of their
ompB
sequences by the neighbor-joining method. The dendrograms generated showed that the isolates exhibited close homology (97%) to
R. aeschlimannii
and
R. rhipicephali
. Significant bootstrap values supported clustering adjacent to this nodule of the SFG rickettsiae. While the agents identified in the flea and tick samples have not been linked to human cases in the area, these results demonstrate for the first time that at least two SFG rickettsia agents were circulating in northern Peru at the time of the outbreak. Furthermore, molecular analysis of sequences derived from the two separate species of hard ticks identified a possibly novel member of the SFG rickettsiae.
Development and Evaluation of a Quality-Controlled Ribosomal Sequence Database for 16S Ribosomal DNA-Based Identification of
Staphylococcus
Species
Authors: Becker Karsten , Harmsen Dag , Mellmann Alexander , Meier Christian , Schumann Peter , Peters Georg , von Eiff Christof 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

To establish an improved ribosomal gene sequence database as part of the Ribosomal Differentiation of Microorganisms (RIDOM) project and to overcome the drawbacks of phenotypic identification systems and publicly accessible sequence databases, both strands of the 5′ end of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of 81 type and reference strains comprising all validly described staphylococcal (sub)species were sequenced. Assuming a normal distribution for pairwise distances of all unique staphylococcal sequences and choosing a reporting criterion of ≥98.7% similarity for a “distinct species,” a statistical error probability of 1.0% was calculated. To evaluate this database, a 16S rDNA fragment (corresponding to
Escherichia coli
positions 54 to 510) of 55 clinical
Staphylococcus
isolates (including those of the small-colony variant phenotype) were sequenced and analyzed by the RIDOM approach. Of these isolates, 54 (98.2%) had a similarity score above the proposed threshold using RIDOM; 48 (87.3%) of the sequences gave a perfect match, whereas 83.6% were found by searching National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database entries. In contrast to RIDOM, which showed four ambiguities at the species level (mainly concerning
Staphylococcus intermedius
versus
Staphylococcus delphini
), the NCBI database search yielded 18 taxon-related ambiguities and showed numerous matches exhibiting redundant or unspecified entries. Comparing molecular results with those of biochemical procedures, ID 32 Staph (bioMérieux, Marcy I'Etoile, France) and VITEK 2 (bioMérieux) failed to identify 13 (23.6%) and 19 (34.5%) isolates, respectively, due to incorrect identification and/or categorization below acceptable values. In contrast to phenotypic methods and the NCBI database, the novel high-quality RIDOM sequence database provides excellent identification of staphylococci, including rarely isolated species and phenotypic variants.
Evaluation of a Multiplexed Bead Assay for Assessment of Epstein-Barr Virus Immunologic Status
Authors: Klutts J. S. , Liao R. S. , Dunne W. M. , Gronowski A. M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTCurrently, serological assays using either indirect immunofluorescence assay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are performed to evaluate the status of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in humans. Although these methods are reliable, they are limited to testing an antibody response to a single viral antigen per reaction, thus necessitating a panel of assays to complete the evaluation. In contrast, a new bead-based method (BioPlex 2200; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) can analyze the humoral response to multiple antigens in a single tube. This approach potentially reduces overall cost, turnaround time, and sample volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate the multiplexed EBV serologic assays performed on the BioPlex 2200 platform compared to results of conventional heterophile and ELISA-based assays. A total of 167 nonconsecutive, stored serum samples from adult and pediatric patients submitted for EBV serologic studies were used in the evaluation. Concordance between results generated by the BioPlex 2200 system and conventional assays was calculated. The anti-EA-D assay had the lowest concordance at 91%. The BioPlex 2200 system showed 97% agreement with conventional heterophile and anti-nuclear antigen assays and 92% agreement with the anti-VCA IgG and immunoglobulin M assays. Agreement between the BioPlex 2200 system and conventional testing was 92% with respect to categorization of acute versus nonacute EBV disease. The correlation between these two systems with regard to assignment into one of four categories of EBV status was also good (82%). In summary, there is excellent correlation between contemporary EBV serologic testing and the BioPlex 2200 system.
Application of Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit Typing to Manitoba Tuberculosis Cases: Can Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Be Forgotten?
Authors: Blackwood K. S. , Wolfe J. N. , Kabani A. M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTSince 1993, allMycobacterium tuberculosisisolates recovered in the province of Manitoba, Canada, have been genotyped by the standard IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method for routine surveillance, prevention, and control purposes. To date, our laboratory has collected 1,290 isolates, from which we have identified approximately 390 unique fingerprint patterns or “types.” Although the standard method is well known for being a lengthy and labor-intensive procedure, a more efficient alternative for typing tuberculosis isolates, the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) method, has recently gained acceptance. Consequently, all isolates acquired in 2003 (n= 126) were typed by both methods in order to determine the utility of replacing the RFLP method with MIRU typing for all future isolates. Application of Hunter's discriminatory index to the available study population showed that the MIRU method was close in discriminatory power (D) to the RFLP method (DMIRU= 0.831 to 0.984 versusDRFLP= 0.821 to 0.997). Clustering of isolates by using MIRU data correlated with RFLP-derived clustering, lending useful information for either an investigation or confirmation of an incidence of recent transmission. In addition, it was determined that each predominant RFLP type in Manitoba had a corresponding, recognizable MIRU type. It is conceivable that in the future RFLP typing can be replaced with MIRU for real-time, ongoing tuberculosis surveillance in the province.
Strong Association between Genotype F and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) e Antigen-Negative Variants among HBV-Infected Argentinean Blood Donors
Authors: França Paulo H. C. , González Jorge E. , Munné M. Silvina , Brandão Larissa H. , Gouvea Vera S. , Sablon Erwin , Vanderborght Bart O. M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

A number of reports have indicated an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals carrying HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-negative variants. Although distinct core promoter and precore mutations distributed according to geographical locality and viral genotype have been reported, epidemiological data from South America are still scarce. The prevalences of HBV genotypes and core promoter and precore polymorphisms in 75 HBeAg-negative Argentinean blood donors were surveyed. The observed frequencies of HBV genotypes were 64.0% for genotype F, 17.3% each for genotypes A and D, and 1.3% for genotype C. Genotype F strains were widely distributed and significantly more prevalent in the northern region of the country (
P
< 0.001). An overall high proportion of a stop codon mutation (UAG) at precore codon 28 (66.7%) was observed. Wild-type codon 28 (UGG) was present in 29.3% of the samples, and the remaining 4.0% of samples had mixed variants. The combination of A at nucleotide (nt) 1762 and G at nt 1764 of the core promoter was found in 58.7% of the samples. The variant profiles—T at nt 1762 and A at nt 1764 or A at nt 1762 and A at nt 1764—were detected in 28.0 and 1.3% of the samples, respectively. The observed core promoter polymorphisms could not be related to the ratio of HBeAg to anti-HBeAg antibody, HBV genotype, or precore codon 28 status. Nevertheless, a clear association of genotype F and a precore stop codon mutation was found (
P
< 0.05). In conclusion, HBV genotype F and mutant codon 28 strains predominated and were strongly associated in a geographically broad Argentinean blood donor population.