bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral findings in coeliac disease and Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Patinen P , Aine L , Collin P , Hietanen J , Korpela M , Enckell G , Kautiainen H , Konttinen YT , Reunala T 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  Both coeliac disease (CD) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) have an autoimmune background and increased risk of oral mucosal and dental abnormalities. Individuals suffering concomitantly from CD and SS could even be at a higher risk.Study design:  Oral mucosal and dental abnormalities were examined in 20 patients with CD + SS (mean age 61 years) and compared with age‐ and sex‐matched controls with either CD or SS.Results:  Oral mucosal changes were most common in SS (80%), followed by CD + SS (65%) and CD (40%). Coeliac‐type dental enamel defects were found in 89% in CD + SS and in 88% in CD compared with only 25% in SS (P < 0.001). The median number of teeth was six in the CD + SS, 24 in the CD and 22 in the SS group. The DMF index was higher (P < 0.005) in the CD + SS than in the CD group. CD + SS was characterized by higher salivary flow rate (P < 0.001) and lower inflammatory focus score in the salivary glands (P < 0.01) than SS.Conclusions:  The co‐occurrence of CD and SS should be recognized because of its effects on dental and oral mucosal health. A lower salivary gland inflammatory focus score and higher salivary flow rate in CD + SS than in SS suggests that a gluten‐free diet treatment may alleviate autoimmune inflammation.
The association of tobacco and other factors with recurrent aphthous stomatitis in an US adult population
Authors: Rivera‐Hidalgo F , Shulman JD , Beach MM 
Published: November 2004

Objective:  To determine point and annual prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS).Setting:  Reported prevalence of RAS in textbooks and much of the literature varies according to study location, patient selection and whether point prevalence (presence of lesions at examination) or period prevalence (history of lesions during a specified period) is reported. Many studies are based on non‐probability samples and this may contribute to significant variation in reported prevalence and factors presumed to be associated with RAS.Methods:  We analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994, a large United States probability sample, for RAS and covariates suggested in the literature using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results:  Oral mucosal examinations were performed on 17 235 adults 17 years and older. Of these, 146 (0.89%) had at least one clinically apparent aphthous lesion. For annual (reported) prevalence, Whites (20.87%) and Mexican‐Americans (12.88%) had several fold higher prevalence of RAS than Blacks (4.96%). Adults younger than 40 years of age had almost twice the prevalence (22.54%) of those older than 40 years (13.42%).Conclusion:  Annual prevalence was significantly higher in whites and Mexican‐Americans (compared with blacks), individuals 17–39 years of age, cigarette non‐smokers, and those with recurrent herpes labialis history; while it was lower in males. Point prevalence was significantly higher in whites, Mexican‐American, individuals 17–39 years of age, cigarette non‐smokers, and males.
Molecular Detection of
Coxiella burnetii
in the Sera of Patients with Q Fever Endocarditis or Vascular Infection
Authors: Fenollar F. , Fournier P. E. , Raoult D. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

In the absence of a specific diagnosis based on serology, chronic Q fever is inevitably fatal. However, diagnosis is often delayed because the test is not widely available. To shorten the diagnostic delay, we adapted a nested-PCR assay with serum as a template and the LightCycler as a thermal cycler, termed LCN-PCR. We retrospectively and prospectively applied this method to samples from 48 patients diagnosed with Q fever endocarditis or vascular infection and to samples from 100 controls with endocarditis caused by other microorganisms. We also prospectively applied this technique to samples from 30 patients treated for a Q fever endocarditis and to samples from 13 patients with a convalescent acute Q fever with ambiguous immunoglobulin G (IgG) phase I titer. LCN-PCR had a specificity of 100%. It was positive only in samples from patients with evolutive Q fever, as none of the samples from patients with a treated chronic Q fever or with a convalescent acute Q fever presented positive results. When performed prospectively on recently stored sera, the sensitivity of LCN-PCR is 64% (7 of 11 samples;
P
= 0.004), but the efficiency of LCN-PCR was dramatically altered by the storage of specimens at −20°C. High IgG phase I titers decreased the sensitivity of LCN-PCR. A significant difference was observed among LCN-PCR results for sera with IgG phase I titers of ≥1:25,600 compared to sera with IgG phase I titers of <1:25,600 (0 of 15 samples versus 13 of 33 samples;
P
= 0.004). In patient samples with titers below 1:25,600 tested prospectively, sensitivity was 100% (7 of 7). The LCN-PCR assay may be helpful in establishing an early diagnosis of chronic Q fever.
Development of a PCR Method for Rapid Identification of New
Streptococcus mutans
Serotype
k
Strains
Authors: Nakano Kazuhiko , Nomura Ryota , Shimizu Noriko , Nakagawa Ichiro , Hamada Shigeyuki , Ooshima Takashi 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

In a previous study, we isolated and characterized a new serotype
k
of
Streptococcus mutans
from human blood and oral cavities. Analysis of the genes involved in biosynthesis of the serotype-specific polysaccharide of serotype
k
strains revealed that the serotype
k
-specific nucleotide alignment was commonly present in the 5′ region of the
rgpF
gene (350 bp from the initial sequence) compared to the reference strains, and then a method for rapid identification of serotype
k
strains was developed by use of PCR with primers designed on the basis of the sequence of the variable region. PCR assays with primers specific for amplification of serotype
k
strains showed a negative reaction with serotype
c
,
e
, and
f
strains and a positive reaction with serotype
k
strains, with the sensitivity for identification of the serotype
k
strains shown to range from 5 to 50 cells. Next, the frequency of positive reactions for serotype
k
-specific primers was surveyed with DNA taken from saliva samples from 200 subjects (2 to 18 years of age), and 10 of those showed a positive reaction, which was higher than the frequency in our previous survey with a serological method. In addition, all saliva samples from subjects with serotype
k
strains in our previous study were shown to be positive with the serotype
k
-specific primers. These results indicate that this new PCR method is effective for identification of subjects with
S. mutans
serotype
k
.
Distribution of Putative Adhesins in Different Seropathotypes of Shiga Toxin-Producing
Escherichia coli
Authors: Toma Claudia , Martínez Espinosa Estela , Song Tianyan , Miliwebsky Elizabeth , Chinen Isabel , Iyoda Sunao , Iwanaga Masaaki , Rivas Marta 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

The distribution of eight putative adhesins that are not encoded in the locus for enterocyte effacement (LEE) in 139 Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) of different serotypes was investigated by PCR. Five of the adhesins (Iha, Efa1, LPF
O157/OI-141
, LPF
O157/OI-154
, and LPF
O113
) are encoded in regions corresponding to genomic O islands of
E. coli
EDL933, while the other three adhesins have been reported to be encoded in the STEC megaplasmid of various serotypes (ToxB [O157:H7], Saa [O113:H21], and Sfp [O157:NM]). STEC strains were isolated from humans (
n
= 54), animals (
n
= 52), and food (
n
= 33). They were classified into five seropathotypes (A through E) based on the reported occurrence of STEC serotypes in human disease, in outbreaks, and in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (M. A. Karmali, M. Mascarenhas, S. Shen, K. Ziebell, S. Johnson, R. Reid-Smith, J. Isaac-Renton, C. Clark, K. Rahn, and J. B. Kaper, J. Clin. Microbiol.
41:
4930-4940, 2003). The most prevalent adhesin was that encoded by the
iha
gene (91%; 127 of 139 strains), which was distributed in all seropathotypes.
toxB
and
efa1
were present mainly in strains of seropathotypes A and B, which were LEE positive.
saa
was present only in strains of seropathotypes C, D, and E, which were LEE negative. Two fimbrial genes,
lpfA
O157
/
OI-141
and
lpfA
O157
/
OI-154
, were strongly associated with seropathotype A. The fimbrial gene
lpfA
O113
was present in all seropathotypes except for seropathotype A, while
sfpA
was not present in any of the strains studied. The distribution of STEC adhesins depends mainly on serotypes and not on the source of isolation. Seropathotype A, which is associated with severe disease and frequently is involved in outbreaks, possesses a unique adhesin profile which is not present in the other seropathotypes. The wide distribution of
iha
in STEC strains suggested that it could be a candidate for vaccine development.
Evaluation of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Assay for Identification of
Candida albicans
and
Candida dubliniensis
Authors: Marot-Leblond Agnes , Grimaud Linda , David Sandrine , Sullivan Derek J. , Coleman David C. , Ponton Jose , Robert Raymond 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Candida dubliniensis
was first established as a novel yeast species in 1995. It is particularly associated with recurrent episodes of oral candidosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but it has also been detected at other anatomical sites and at a low incidence level in non-HIV-infected patients. It shares so many phenotypic characteristics with
C. albicans
that it is easily misidentified as such. No rapid, simple, and commercial test that allows differentiation between
C. dubliniensis
and
C. albicans
has been developed, until now. Accurate species identification requires the use of genotype-based techniques that are not routinely available in most clinical microbiology diagnostic laboratories. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of a new test (the immunochromatographic membrane [ICM] albi-dubli test; SR2B, Avrillé, France) to differentiate between
C. albicans
and
C. dubliniensis
. The organisms evaluated were strains whose identities had previously been confirmed by PCR tests and freshly isolated clinical strains and included 58
C. albicans
isolates, 60
C. dubliniensis
isolates, and 82 isolates belonging to other species of yeast. The ICM albi-dubli test is based on the principle of immunochromatographic analysis and involves the use of two distinct monoclonal antibodies that recognize two unrelated epitopes expressed by both species or specific to only one species. The assay requires no complex instrumentation for analysis and can be recommended for routine use in clinical microbiology laboratories. Results are obtained within 2 h and 30 min and are easy to interpret. This evaluation demonstrated the good performance of this immunochromatographic test for
C. albicans
and
C. dubliniensis
isolated on Sabouraud dextrose agar, CHOROMagar Candida, and CandidaSelect, with sensitivities and specificities ranging from 93.1 to 100%. These parameters decreased, however, to 91.4% when the test was performed with yeast isolated with Candida ID.
Genotypic Diversity of
Francisella tularensis
Infecting
Dermacentor variabilis
Ticks on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Authors: Goethert Heidi K. , Shani Inbar , Telford Sam R. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Martha's Vineyard, Mass., has been the site of two outbreaks of tularemia (1978 and 2000). Although most patients from both outbreaks presented with pneumonic disease and although aerosol transmission has been suggested, the bite of a dog tick and exposure to rabbits remain the only proven modes of transmission. The factors that precipitated the tularemia outbreaks or the proximal determinants of human risk remain undescribed. We sought to test the hypothesis that the ongoing outbreak is due to a recent introduction event as opposed to amplification of a cryptic enzootic cycle. From 2001-2003, we collected 4,246 dog ticks and tested them in pools for evidence of tularemia by PCR. We then measured the genetic diversity of
Francisella tularensis
by using multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis. The prevalence of
F. tularensis
in dog ticks averaged 0.7%. From 29 positive pools, we identified 10 unique genotypes, which was an unexpectedly large degree of diversity (Simpson's index = 0.86). This degree of genetic diversity is inconsistent with a recent introduction event. We conclude that there has been long-standing enzootic transmission of tularemia on the island.
Nasopharyngeal versus Oropharyngeal Sampling for Detection of Pneumococcal Carriage in Adults
Authors: Watt James P. , O'Brien Katherine L. , Katz Scott , Bronsdon Melinda A. , Elliott John , Dallas Jean , Perilla Mindy J. , Reid Raymond , Murrow Laurel , Facklam Richard , Santosham Mathuram , Whitney Cynthia G. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Several studies have shown that nasopharyngeal sampling is more sensitive than oropharyngeal sampling for the detection of pneumococcal carriage in children. The data for adults are limited and conflicting. This study was part of a larger study of pneumococcal carriage on the Navajo and White Mountain Apache Reservation following a clinical trial of a seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Persons aged 18 years and older living in households with children enrolled in the vaccine trial were eligible. We collected both nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens by passing a flexible calcium alginate wire swab either nasally to the posterior nasopharynx or orally to the posterior oropharynx. Swabs were placed in skim milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerin medium and frozen at −70°C. Pneumococcal isolation was performed by standard techniques. Analyses were based on specimens collected from 1,994 adults living in 1,054 households. Nasopharyngeal specimens (11.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.8 and 12.6%) were significantly more likely to grow pneumococci than were oropharyngeal specimens (5.8%; 95% CI, 4.8 to 6.9%) (
P
< 0.0001). Few persons had pneumococcal growth from both specimens (1.7%). Therefore, both tests together were more likely to identify pneumococcal carriage (15.2%; 95% CI, 13.7 to 16.9%) than either test alone. Although we found that nasopharyngeal sampling was more sensitive than oropharyngeal sampling, nasopharyngeal sampling alone would have underestimated the prevalence of pneumococcal carriage in this adult population. Sampling both sites may give more accurate results than sampling either site alone in studies of pneumococcal carriage in adults.
Prevalence and Molecular Analysis of Macrolide and Fluoroquinolone Resistance among Isolates of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Collected during the 2000-2001 PROTEKT US Study
Authors: Brown Steven D. , Farrell David J. , Morrissey Ian 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

The PROTEKT US (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin in the United States) surveillance program was established to determine the prevalence and mechanisms of antibacterial resistance among bacterial pathogens from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections. In year 1 of the PROTEKT US study, 10,103 isolates of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, including 3,133 erythromycin-resistant strains and 81 levofloxacin-resistant strains, were collected from 206 centers. We report on the molecular analyses of these resistant strains. The resistance genotypes among the 3,044 typed macrolide-resistant isolates overall were
mef
(A) (
n
= 2,157; 70.9%),
erm
(B) (
n
= 530; 17.4%),
mef
(A)
erm
(B) (
n
= 304; 10.0%), and
erm
(A) subclass
erm
(TR) (
n
= 5; 0.2%). Fifty (1.6%) macrolide-resistant isolates were negative for the
mef
and the
erm
resistance genes. Seventy-eight (96.3%) of the 81 levofloxacin-resistant isolates analyzed possessed multiple mutations in the
gyrA
,
gyrB
,
parC
, and/or
parE
quinolone resistance-determining regions. A total of 43 known multilocus sequence typing (MLST) profiles (or single- or double-locus variants) accounted for 75 of 81 isolates. There was no evidence of dissemination of fluoroquinolone-resistant clones within the United States; however, 12 isolates with the same MLST profile were located in one center in Massachusetts. Almost 90% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates and approximately one-third of the levofloxacin-resistant isolates were multidrug resistant.
Detection and Selection of Microsatellites in the Genome of
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
as Molecular Markers for Clinical and Epidemiological Studies
Authors: Nascimento Érika , Martinez Roberto , Rodrigues Lopes André , de Souza Bernardes Luciano Angelo , Pomponio Barco Carolina , Goldman Maria Helena S. , Taylor John W. , McEwen Juan G. , Pasetto Nobrega Marina , Nobrega Francisco G. , Goldman Gustavo H. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
, a thermodimorphic fungus, is the causative agent of the prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America, paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Here, we describe the microsatellite patterns observed in a collection of
P. brasiliensis
random sequence tags. We identified 1,117 microsatellite patterns in about 3.8 Mb of unique sequences (0.47% of the total DNA used in the analysis). The majority of these microsatellites (87.5%) are found in noncoding sequences. We used two polymorphic microsatellites located on noncoding and coding sequences, as well as two microsatellites located on introns, as molecular markers to discriminate
P. brasiliensis
isolates, to look for relationships between the genetic background of the strains and the types of human disease they cause. We did not observe any correlation between the clinical form of human PCM and four simple sequence repeat patterns analyzed.
Routes of Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Pigs
Authors: Kasorndorkbua C. , Guenette D. K. , Huang F. F. , Thomas P. J. , Meng X.-J. , Halbur P. G. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is believed to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route in pigs. To date, in experiments, HEV has been transmitted successfully only by the intravenous or intrahepatic route. To assess the route of HEV transmission, 27 pigs were separated into nine groups of three pigs. Positive-control pigs were inoculated intravenously with swine HEV and served as the source of HEV for the other groups. Uninoculated contact pigs were placed in the positive-control group. On three consecutive days, naïve pigs were inoculated using samples collected from the positive-control pigs at 9, 10, and 11 days postinoculation. The tonsils and nasal mucosa of each positive-control pig were swabbed and that swab was used to rub the tonsils and nasal and ocular mucosa of naïve pigs. The positive-control pigs were also injected with bacterin, and the same needle was used to immediately inject naïve pigs. Feces were collected from positive controls and fed by oral gavage to naïve pigs. Weekly fecal and serum samples from each pig were tested for anti-HEV antibodies and HEV RNA. All positive-control pigs shed the virus in feces; two pigs were viremic and seroconverted to anti-HEV. All contact control pigs shed the virus in feces; two seroconverted and one became viremic. One of three pigs in the fecal-oral exposure group shed the virus in feces and seroconverted. Pigs exposed to the contaminated needles or the tonsil and nasal secretion swabs remained negative. This is the first report of experimental fecal-oral transmission of HEV in swine.
Development and Evaluation of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Quantifying Antibodies to Japanese Encephalitis Virus Nonstructural 1 Protein To Detect Subclinical Infections in Vaccinated Horses
Authors: Konishi Eiji , Shoda Mizue , Ajiro Naoko , Kondo Takashi 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein constitute a marker of natural JEV infection among populations vaccinated with inactivated JE vaccine. In Japan, with few recent human JE cases, the natural infection rate is critical to evaluate the necessity of continuing JE vaccination. A sensitive immunochemical staining method for detecting NS1 antibodies in individuals naturally and subclinically infected with JEV was previously established. Here, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect NS1 antibodies in equine sera was developed and evaluated as an alternative to immunostaining. By this method, NS1 antigens contained in culture fluids from cells stably transfected with the
NS1
and
NS2A
genes were captured by a rabbit anti-NS1 polyclonal antibody. Three nanograms per well of NS1 antigen, corresponding to 1:2 to 1:8 dilutions of the culture fluid, was sufficient for testing. ELISA values were obtained by a single-serum dilution (1:100), which correlated with ELISA titers obtained by an endpoint method. Under a tentative cutoff value (0.122) statistically calculated from NS1 antibody levels of horses in an area where JEV is not endemic, a high level of qualitative agreement (85.3%) was obtained between the ELISA and immunostaining methods. A significant correlation coefficient (0.799;
P
< 0.001) was also obtained between the two methods. Three experimentally infected horses seroconverted no later than 13 to 23 days postinfection, whereas 4 field horses infected during an epizootic remained positive for NS1 antibodies for at least 40 weeks. Our results indicate that the ELISA used here was sufficiently sensitive to detect subclinical infections in vaccinated equine populations.
Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Producing VIM-8, a Novel Metallo-β-Lactamase, in a Tertiary Care Center in Cali, Colombia
Authors: Crespo M. P. , Woodford N. , Sinclair A. , Kaufmann M. E. , Turton J , Glover J. , Velez J. D. , Castañeda C. R. , Recalde M. , Livermore D. M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of imipenem resistance among
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates at a 195-bed tertiary care medical center in Cali, Colombia, rose from 2% in 1996 to 28% in 1997 and to over 40% in 2003. Many isolates showed high-level multiresistance, and phenotypic characterization suggested the spread of a predominant strain with minor variants. Sixty-six resistant isolates collected between February 1999 and July 2003 from hospitalized patients (
n
= 54) and environmental samples (
n
= 12) were subjected to a fuller analysis. Genetic fingerprints were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SpeI-digested genomic DNA, and
bla
IMP
and
bla
VIM
genes were sought by PCR. PFGE and serotyping indicated that 52 of the 66 isolates belonged to a single strain, with 82% similarity; the PFGE pattern for this organism was designated pattern A. Two further pairs of isolates represented single strains; the remaining nine isolates were unique, and in the case of one isolate, no satisfactory PFGE profile could be obtained. The pattern A isolates were mostly of serotype O12 and were highly resistant to imipenem (MICs, 32 to >256 μg/ml), with this resistance decreased eightfold or more in the presence of EDTA. They yielded amplicons with
bla
VIM
-specific primers, and sequencing of DNA from a representative isolate revealed
bla
VIM-8
, a novel allele with three polymorphisms compared with the sequence of
bla
VIM-2
. Two of these nucleotide changes were silent, but the third determined a Thr139Ala substitution. Only 4 of 13 resistant isolates (2 clinical isolates and 2 environmental isolates) assigned to other PFGE types carried
bla
VIM
alleles, whereas the others were less multiresistant and mostly had lower levels of imipenem resistance (MICs, ≤32 μg/ml) which was not significantly reduced by EDTA. No
bla
IMP
alleles were detected. During 2003, when the environmental study was undertaken, serotype O12 isolates with
bla
VIM
were recovered from sinks and stethoscopes in the most-affected units, although not from the hands of staff; the problem declined once these reservoirs were disinfected and hygienic precautions were reinforced.