bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic heterogeneity of the NS3 protease gene in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 from untreated infected patients
Authors: Vallet Sophie , Gouriou Stephanie , Nousbaum Jean‐Baptiste , Legrand‐Quillien Marie‐Christine , Goudeau Alain , Picard Bertrand 
Published: February 2005

AbstractNS3 protease is essential for hepatitis C Virus (HCV) replication, and is one of the most promising targets for specific anti‐HCV therapy. Its natural polymorphism has not been studied at the quasispecies level. In the present work, the genetic heterogeneity of the NS3 protease gene was analyzed in 17 HCV genotype 1 (5 subtypes 1a and 12 subtypes 1b) samples collected from infected patients before anti‐viral therapy. A total of 294 clones were sequenced. Although the protease NS3 is considered to be one of the less variable genes in the HCV genome, variability of both nucleotide and amino acid sequences was found. In variants belonging to 1a and 1b subtypes, 224 and 267 of 543 positions showed one or more nucleotide substitutions, respectively. Forty and 74 of the 181 NS3 amino acid positions showed at least one mutation in HCV‐1a and HCV‐1b isolates, respectively. Most substitutions were conservative. This substantial polymorphism of the NS3 protease produced by HCV‐1a and HCV‐1b suggests that, despite the numerous functional and structural constraints, the enzyme is sufficiently flexible to tolerate substitutions. J. Med. Virol. 75:528–537, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in China: Predominance of closely related subtype 1b isolates and existence of new genotype 6 variants
Authors: Lu Ling , Nakano Tatsunori , He Yunshao , Fu Yongshui , Hagedorn Curt H. , Robertson Betty H. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractTo determine hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype distribution in China, a total of 148 HCV RNA positive serum samples were collected from nine geographic areas and subjected to RT‐PCR followed by direct DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the core, E1, and NS5B regions. HCV was genotyped in 139 (93.9%) samples. Among them subtype 1b was the most predominant [66% (92/139)] followed by 2a [14% (19/139)]. Of 92 subtype 1b isolates, 35 (38%) and 30 (33%) formed two clusters, designated groups A and B. Group A was prevalent throughout China, while group B was predominant in the central and southern regions. In three cities in the Pearl River Delta, subtype 6a replaced 2a as the second most predominant subtype, and in Kunming (southwest) multiple HCV genotypes/subtypes were present. New variants of HCV genotype 6 were discovered in three samples from Kunming and one in Guangzhou in the Pearl River Delta. J. Med. Virol. 75:538–549, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Experimental infection of pigtailed macaques with a simian rotavirus, YK‐1
Authors: Westerman Larry E. , Xu Jin , Jiang Baoming , McClure Harold M. , Glass Roger I. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractExperimental rotavirus infection was investigated in pigtailed macaques to study the infectivity, immunity, and pathogenesis of rotavirus. A challenge virus, YK‐1, was administered intragastrically to four seronegative macaques (age: 11–16 months). Although none of the monkeys developed diarrhea, an active infection occurred with high titers of rotavirus antigen detected in stools 2–10 days after challenge. These animals developed rotavirus‐specific antibody responses similar to those seen following primary exposure to rotavirus. YK‐1 was then inoculated in four seropositive macaques (age: 14–16 months). All animals shed viral antigen in their stool, but the titers and duration were significantly less when compared to seronegative macaques. When rechallenged 28 days after initial YK‐1 challenge, the macaques demonstrated significant protection against reinfection. All seropositive animals developed a rise in rotavirus‐specific serum and fecal antibodies during YK‐1 challenge and rechallenge. To independently assess the role of age and preexisting IgG titers to rotavirus, a 4‐month‐old seronegative and 6‐month‐old seropositive macaque were inoculated with YK‐1. The seronegative macaque shed high titers of virus for 9 days, while the seropositive macaque shed only 3 days and in low titer. These data suggest that a primate model of rotavirus infection using the YK‐1 strain may be useful in examining the immune response and protection from infection in pigtailed macaques and indicate that levels and duration of shedding may provide a good measure of protection from natural infection and from that induced by oral or parenteral vaccines. J. Med. Virol. 75:616–625, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of loop‐mediated isothermal amplification, real‐time PCR, and virus isolation for the detection of herpes simplex virus in genital lesions
Authors: Sugiyama Hiroko , Yoshikawa Tetsushi , Ihira Masaru , Enomoto Yoshihiko , Kawana Takashi , Asano Yoshizo 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThis study compares herpes simplex virus (HSV) type‐specific loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with virus isolation and real‐time PCR. Genital tract specimens were obtained from 25 patients with genital lesions; two swab samples were collected from the vulva and cervix of each patient, for a total of 50 specimens. After culturing, 10 of 50 (20%) samples were positive for HSV‐1 and 12 of 50 (24%) samples were positive for HSV‐2. None of the patients excreted both HSV‐1 and HSV‐2 virus. An original HSV type‐specific LAMP assay (30 min reaction) was compared with virus isolation and HSV type‐specific real‐time PCR. Viral DNA was detected by LAMP in 9 of 10 HSV‐1 isolated samples and 11 of 12 HSV‐2 isolated samples. No viral DNA was detected in samples without virus isolation. Thus, if virus isolation was used as the standard method, the LAMP protocol was highly sensitive and specific. In comparing LAMP to real‐time PCR, viral DNA was detected by the LAMP method in 9 of 12 HSV‐1 DNA positive samples and 11 of 18 HSV‐2 DNA positive samples. If real‐time PCR was used as the standard method, then, sensitivity of the LAMP method (in particular, for HSV‐2) was low. Taking this into consideration, the LAMP reaction was extended to 60 min. This led to an increase in sensitivity, resulting in an additional one and three samples testing positive for HSV‐1 LAMP and HSV‐2 LAMP, respectively, compared to the original LAMP protocol. Therefore, the sensitivity of the LAMP method increased to about 80%. J. Med. Virol. 75:583–587, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased hepatocarcinogenic potential of hepatitis B virus genotype A in Bantu‐speaking sub‐saharan Africans
Authors: Kew Michael C. , Kramvis Anna , Yu Mimi C. , Arakawa Kazuka , Hodkinson John 
Published: February 2005

AbstractGenotypes A, D, and E of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulate in southern Africa, with genotype A predominating. Their hepatocarcinogenic potential in Bantu‐speaking sub‐saharan Africans is, however, unknown. Using a case/control format, we investigated the hepatocarcinogenic potential of these genotypes and subgenotype A1 of genotype A, which accounts for the great majority of genotype A isolates. HBV isolates from 111 unselected Bantu‐speaking sub‐saharan Africans with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 111 matched asymptomatic chronic carriers, serving as controls, were genotyped using the method of [Lindh et al. (1997): J Infect Dis 175:1285–1293]. Subgenotypes of genotype A were determined using an in‐house restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Genotype A was present in 96 (86.5%) of patients with HCC and 76 (68.5%) of the carriers, giving a 4.5‐fold (95% confidence limits: 1.86, 10.90) increased risk of HCC in carriers infected with genotype A compared with those infected with non‐A genotypes. HCC patients infected with genotype A were significantly younger than those infected with non‐A genotypes (P = 0.02). The distributions between these two groups according to sex, geographic background, and tribe were not significantly different. Subgenotype A1 was present in all of the 77 cancer patients and 69 of 70 carriers analyzed, yielding a relative risk of 4.21 (95% confidence limits: 1.73,10.23) of HCC in those infected with subgenotype A1 compared with those infected with non‐A genotypes. Genotype A has a greater hepatocarcinogenic potential than non‐A genotypes in Bantu‐speaking sub‐saharan Africans and this is entirely attributable to subgenotype A1. J. Med. Virol. 75:513–521, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serological markers of hepatitis B, C, and E viruses and human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 infections in pregnant women in Bali, Indonesia
Authors: Surya I Gede Putu , Kornia Karkata , Suwardewa Tjok Gde Agung , Mulyanto  , Tsuda Fumio , Mishiro Shunji 
Published: February 2005

AbstractExcept for hepatitis B virus (HBV), there have been few data on serological markers of hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and E virus (HEV), and human immunodeficiency virus type‐1 (HIV) in Bali, Indonesia. During 5 months from April to August 2003, sera were collected from 2,450 pregnant women at eight jurisdictions in Bali, and they were tested for markers of these viruses. Only one (0.04%) was positive for antibody to HCV, but none for antibody to HIV. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 46 (1.9%) at a prevalence significantly lower than that in 271 of the 10,526 (2.6%) pregnant women in Bali surveyed 10 years previously (P < 0.045). The prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen in pregnant women with HBsAg decreased, also, from 50% to 28% during the 10 years (P < 0.011). Antibody to HEV (anti‐HEV) was examined in 819 pregnant women who had been randomly selected from the 2,450. The overall prevalence of anti‐HEV was 18%, and there were substantial regional differences spanning from 5% at Tabanan district to 32% at Gianyar district. Furthermore, the prevalence of anti‐HEV differed substantially by their religions. In the Sanglah area of Denpasar City, for instance, anti‐HEV was detected in 20 of the 102 (20%) Hindus, significantly more frequently than in only 2 of the 101 (2.0%) Muslims (P < 0.001). Swine that are prohibited to Muslims, therefore, is likely to serve as a reservoir of HEV in Bali. In conclusion, HBV is decreasing, HCV and HIV have not prevailed, as yet, while HEV is endemic probably through zoonotic infection in Bali. J. Med. Virol. 75:499–503, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A cross‐cultural exploration of attitudes toward product expiration dates
Authors: Harcar Talha , Karakaya Fahri 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThis is an exploratory study examining consumer attitudes toward product expiration dates in three different countries, the United States, Canada, and Turkey. In addition, the study investigates the differences in the importance of product expiration dates for three products, yogurt, over‐the‐counter medicine, and camera film, in the three cultures. A total of 687 surveys were gathered in the three countries. The results show that there are, indeed, differences among the consumers in three countries. American and Canadian consumers check product expiration dates before purchasing and before using products more often than Turkish consumers. Although most of the differences observed are between the respondents in Turkey versus the respondents in the United States and Canada, some differences between the U.S. and Canadian respondents are also found, indicating that culture plays an important role in consumer uncertainty avoidance. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Primary epithelial lung malignancies in the pediatric population
Authors: Lal Dave R. , Clark Ian , Shalkow Jaime , Downey Robert J. , Shorter Nicholas A. , Klimstra David S. , Quaglia Michael P. La 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackgroundPrimary epithelial lung malignancies are rare in childhood and adolescence. We reviewed the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center experience with these tumors to better understand their histology, time to diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.ProcedureA retrospective review was performed on all patients 21 years of age or younger at diagnosis, treated for primary epithelial lung malignancies at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center between 1980 and 2001.ResultsWe identified 11 patients with primary epithelial lung malignancy. The median age at diagnosis was 19 (range: 12–21) years. The most common radiographic abnormality was a mass (55%) on chest imaging. Seven patients (64%) were initially diagnosed as having pneumonia which contributed to a delay in diagnosis. Final pathologic diagnoses included adenocarcinoma (four), carcinoid tumor (three typical, one atypical), basaloid carcinoma (two), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (one). A majority of patients presented with advanced disease (two stage III, four stage IV). Patients with localized disease were treated with surgical resection and all but one remains disease free with a median follow‐up of 60 months (range: 13–286). Patients with either advanced locoregional or distant metastatic disease were treated with multimodal therapy and a majority had rapid progression of disease.ConclusionsWhen children and adolescents present with primary epithelial lung malignancy a majority will have advanced disease and experience a delay in diagnosis. The histologic types of tumors encountered are similar to lung tumors occurring in adults, although the frequency of the various types differs. Carcinoid tumors are more frequent, and less common subtypes of bronchogenic carcinoma are also more prevalent in the pediatric age group. Similar to the adult population, the prognosis of these tumors is dependent on histology and stage. Patients with carcinoid tumors seem to have the best prognosis, followed by adenocarcinoma. The highly aggressive basaloid carcinoma has the worst. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long‐term complications in survivors of advanced stage neuroblastoma
Authors: Laverdière Caroline , Cheung Nai‐Kong V. , Kushner Brian H. , Kramer Kim , Modak Shakeel , LaQuaglia Michael P. , Wolden Suzanne , Ness Kirsten K. , Gurney James G. , Sklar Charles A. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackgroundFew studies have assessed late effects in neuroblastoma (NB) survivors, particularly those with advanced stage disease.MethodsRetrospective analysis of a cohort of advanced stage NB survivors followed in a late effect clinic at a single institution. Screening tests to detect late effects were tailored depending on the individual's treatment exposures.ResultsThe study included 63 survivors (31 males). The median age at diagnosis was 3.0 years. The median follow‐up from diagnosis was 7.06 years. All patients had surgery and received chemotherapy, 89% received radiation therapy (RT), 62% immunotherapy, and 56% autologous stem cell transplant. Late complications were detected in 95% of survivors and included: hearing loss (62%), primary hypothyroidism (24%), ovarian failure (41% of females), musculoskeletal (19%), and pulmonary (19%) abnormalities. The majority of complications were moderate, with only 4% being life‐threatening. Survivors who received cisplatin were at greater risk to develop hearing loss compared to those not so treated (OR 9.74; 95% CI: 0.9–101.6). A total dose of cyclophosphamide greater than 7.4 g was associated with ovarian failure (P = 0.02).ConclusionsLate complications occur frequently in survivors of advanced stage NB. The majority of these problems are of mild‐moderate severity. Long‐term follow‐up (LFTU) and screening of this population is essential. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An overview of adverse events reported by participants in CDC's anthrax vaccine and antimicrobial availability program
Authors: Martin Stacey W. , Tierney Bruce C. , Aranas Aaron , Rosenstein Nancy E. , Franzke Laura H. , Apicella Louis , Marano Nina , McNeil Michael M. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractPurposeThe CDC's Anthrax Vaccine and Antibiotic Availability Program was implemented under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to provide additional post‐exposure prophylaxis for individuals potentially exposed to Bacillus anthracis in the fall of 2001. Participants were provided with two options: (1) 40 additional days of antimicrobial prophylaxis (i.e., ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, or amoxicillin); or (2) 40 additional days of antimicrobial prophylaxis plus three doses of anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA).MethodsParticipants were monitored for adverse events (AEs). Participants were asked to complete 2‐week AE diaries for 6 weeks post‐enrollment, and approximately 2 months after enrollment, active surveillance was conducted through telephone interviews with 1113 (64%) participants.ResultsA total of 1727 of approximately 10 000 previously prophylaxed persons enrolled to receive 40 additional days of antibiotics. Of these, 199 opted at enrollment to receive three doses of AVA in addition to the additional 40 days of antibiotic. Overall, 28% of participants reported at least one AE on their diaries. Results varied by surveillance mechanism, the diary data indicated differences in the proportion reporting AEs between participants receiving antibiotic only and participants receiving antibiotic and AVA. However, during the active 2‐month telephone follow‐up, the rates of AEs reported for both the antibiotic only and antibiotic plus AVA treatment regimens were similar. Additionally, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline had similar AE profiles, with only rigors reported significantly more often among ciprofloxacin recipients.ConclusionsOverall, the rates of AEs experienced by all participants were acceptable given the seriousness of potential B. anthracis exposure. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glutathione S‐transferase tissue profiling by reporter peptide monitoring
Authors: Schininà M. Eugenia , Pitari Giuseppina , Paolone Tommaso , Giorgi Alessandra , Ippoliti Rodolfo , Duprè Silvestro , Maras Bruno 
Published: February 2005

AbstractGlutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) form a widespread enzyme superfamily mainly involved in phase II detoxification. Differential expression of the various GST isoforms, differing in catalytic and structural properties, correlates with physiological and pathological states. Fast and simple determination of the GST profile is expected to be an important diagnostic tool in disease analysis. Here we propose a combined approach of high resolution separation techniques and electrospray mass spectrometric analyses for characterizing the spectrum of GSTs in male mouse liver. In this approach, the sensitivity and speed required for tissue GST profiling studies is achieved by tracking the reconstructed ion current of selected reporter peptides following chromatographic separation. This simple procedure, in which an affinity protein bait is followed by a chemical fragmentation and mass spectrometric analysis, could be sufficiently sensitive to detect the qualitative differences between physiological and pathological states.
Sequence tag scanning: A new explorative strategy for recognition of unexpected protein alterations by nanoelectrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Salek Mogjiborahman , Di Bartolo Vincenzo , Cittaro Davide , Borsotti Dario , Wei Junhua , Acuto Oreste , Rappsilber Juri , Lehmann Wolf D. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractProtein analysis by database search engines using tandem mass spectra is limited by the presence of unexpected protein modifications, sequence isoforms which may not be in the protein databases, and poor quality tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of low abundance proteins. The analysis of expected protein modifications can be efficiently addressed by precursor ion scanning. However, it is limited to modifications that show such a characteristic loss in a peptide independent manner. We observed that proline and aspartic acid induced backbone fragmentation is accompanied by a low intensity signal for loss of H3PO4 for several pSer‐ or pThr‐phosphopeptides. We describe here the use of peptide‐specific fragments that can be used after a protein was identified to allow in‐depth characterization of modifications and isoforms. We consider high abundance fragments formed by cleavage at the C‐terminal side of aspartic acid, at the N‐terminal side of proline and low mass ions such as a2, b2, b3, y1, y2, and y3. The MS/MS dataset is filtered for each sequence tag of interest by an in silico precursor ion scan. The resulting extracted ion traces are then combined by multiplication to increase specificity. Since the strategy is based on common peptide segments which are shared by different isoforms of peptides it can be applied to the analysis of any post‐translational modification or sequence variants of a protein. This is demonstrated for the cases of serine and threonine phosphorylation, histone H1 acetylation and the spotting of multiple H1 isoforms.
Controlled release of avermectin from porous hollow silica nanoparticles
Authors: Wen Li‐Xiong , Li Zhu‐Zhu , Zou Hai‐Kui , Liu An‐Qi , Chen Jian‐Feng 
Published: February 2005

AbstractPorous hollow silica nanoparticles (PHSNs) with a diameter of ca 100 nm and a pore size of ca 4.5 nm were synthesized via a sol–gel route using inorganic calcium carbonate nanoparticles as templates. The synthesized PHSNs were subsequently employed as pesticide carriers to study the controlled release behaviour of avermectin. The avermectin‐loaded PHSN (Av‐PHSN) samples were characterized by BET, thermogravimetric analysis and IR, showing that the amount of avermectin encapsulated in the PHSN carrier could reach 58.3% w/w by a simple immersion loading method, and that most of the adsorption of avermectin on the Av‐PHSN carrier might be physical. Avermectin may be loaded on the external surface, the pore channels in the wall and the inner core of the PHSN carriers, thus leading to a multi‐stage sustained‐release pattern from the Av‐PHSN samples. Increasing pH or temperature intensified the avermectin release. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
The effects of intentional weight loss as a latent variable problem
Authors: Coffey Christopher S. , Gadbury Gary L. , Fontaine Kevin R. , Wang Chenxi , Weindruch Richard , Allison David B. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractAlthough obesity is associated with increased mortality rate and short‐term weight loss improves risk factors for mortality, it has not been convincingly shown that weight loss among obese people results in reduced mortality rate. When considering the human literature, it has been pointed out that weight loss is often a sign of illness and that investigators therefore need to separate intentional from unintentional weight loss. It has generally been assumed that among people who state that they do not intend to lose weight, weight change subsequently observed is unintentional. Among such people, weight loss has been consistently associated with increased mortality rate. Complementarily, it has generally been assumed that among people who state that they do intend to lose weight, weight change subsequently observed is intentional. In these people who are intending to lose weight, some studies show apparent benefits of weight loss, some are neutral, and some show deleterious effects. The overall conclusion that some reviewers have drawn from this literature is that intentional weight loss (IWL) is at best not beneficial and may even be harmful with respect to mortality rate.We believe that this conclusion is drawn by inappropriately conflating weight loss (or more generally weight change) among people intending to lose weight with IWL (or change). Herein, under certain assumptions, we: (1) show that the association between mortality rate and weight loss among people intending to lose weight and between mortality rate and IWL are two different things; (2) show that the association between IWL and mortality rate is an inherently unobservable entity; (3) derive a method for estimating the plausible range of true effect of IWL on mortality rate if one is willing to make a number of restrictive, but perhaps reasonable assumptions; and (4) illustrate the method by application to a data set involving middle‐age onset calorie restriction in mice. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.