bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The allele interaction between apolipoprotein ɛ2 and ɛ4 in Taiwanese Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Lung F.‐W. , Yen Y.‐C. , Chou L.‐J. , Hong C.‐J. , Wu C.‐K. 
Published: January 2005

Objective:  This study aimed to determine the impact of the present of apolipoprotein ɛ (Apoɛ) 2 on the relationship between Apoɛ4 and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Method:  We examined ApoE genotypes in 428 Taiwanese patients with AD and 807 controls; all participants were older than 65 years.Results:  The allele frequency of Apoɛ4 was greater in AD patients than controls, but significantly lower than in Caucasians. The presence of an ɛ2 allele alone was not associated with lower risk for AD, but the presence of an ɛ2 allele was associated with an ɛ4 allele frequency similar to that of controls.Conclusion:  The low allele frequency of ɛ4 in persons with an ɛ2 allele suggests that this may be part of the protective effect of ɛ2 against AD.
Structured assessment of current mental state in clinical practice: an international study of the reliability and validity of the Current Psychiatric State interview, CPS‐50
Authors: Falloon I. R. H. , Mizuno M. , Murakami M. , Roncone R. , Unoka Z. , Harangozo J. , Pullman J. , Gedye R. , Held T. , Hager B. , Erickson D. , Burnett K. ,   the Optimal Treatment Project Collaborators
Published: January 2005

Objective:  To develop a reliable standardized assessment of psychiatric symptoms for use in clinical practice.Method:  A 50‐item interview, the Current Psychiatric State 50 (CPS‐50), was used to assess 237 patients with a range of psychiatric diagnoses. Ratings were made by interviewers after a 2‐day training. Comparisons of inter‐rater reliability on each item and on eight clinical subscales were made across four international centres and between psychiatrists and non‐psychiatrists. A principal components analysis was used to validate these clinical scales.Results:  Acceptable inter‐rater reliability (intra‐class coefficient > 0.80) was found for 46 of the 50 items, and for all eight subscales. There was no difference between centres or between psychiatrists and non‐psychiatrists. The principal components analysis factors were similar to the clinical scales.Conclusion:  The CPS‐50 is a reliable standardized assessment of current mental status that can be used in clinical practice by all mental health professionals after brief training.
Fifteen years of research with the Staff Observation Aggression Scale: a review
Authors: Nijman H. L. I. , Palmstierna T. , Almvik R. , Stolker J. J. 
Published: January 2005

Objective:  Research on the prevalence and causes of in‐patient aggression has been hindered by the use of different methods for measuring aggression. Since Palmstierna and Wistedt presented the Staff Observation Aggression Scale (SOAS) in 1987, this data collection method has been used in various studies, which may make comparisons more useful.Method:  Studies with SOAS aggression data were compiled using MEDLINE, the Internet, and references from SOAS papers.Results:  Reviews of studies on psychometric properties suggest fair to good inter‐rater reliability and validity for SOAS assessments. The number of aggressive incidents per patient per year found on acute admissions wards (n = 38) considerably varied, with a range of 0.4–33.2 incidents (mean = 9.3).Conclusion:  Although the aggression data included in the present review were obtained in highly comparable ways, substantial differences in aggression rates between wards were still found. Some countries (e.g. the Netherlands) appear to have a relatively high incidence of aggression on acute wards.
The prevalence of child‐psychiatric disorders among 8–9‐year‐old children in Danish mainstream schools
Authors: Bilenberg N. , Petersen D. J. , Hoerder K. , Gillberg C. 
Published: January 2005

Objective: Prevalence rates for child psychopathology in Denmark are unknown; and efficient screening and non‐respondent analyses are essential for epidemiological purposes.Method: A multi‐method strategy involving a two‐step design: first screening of 621 children between the ages of 8–9 years attending mainstream education using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Second, screen‐positive probands and a sample of screen‐negative probands were given in‐depth child‐psychiatric assessment. In cases of non‐respondents, children were assessed by teachers.Results: CBCL screening results were compared with case status in clinical assessment. A positive predictive value of 0.25 and a correct classification rate (CCR) of 0.72 were obtained. The teacher interviews, used in cases of non‐respondents, had a CCR of 0.87. According to DSM‐IV criteria, the prevalence rate of psychiatric disorders was 10.l% [95% CI; 7.0–13.2].Conclusions: The CBCL proved an effective screening tool. The brief interview with teachers is a valid assessment of psychiatric disorders among non‐respondents.
Myths and plain truths about schizophrenia epidemiology – the NAPE lecture 2004
Authors: McGrath J. J. 
Published: January 2005

Objective:  Science needs to constantly match research models against the data. With respect to the epidemiology of schizophrenia, the widely held belief that the incidence of schizophrenia shows little variation may no longer be supported by the data. The aims of this paper are (i) to explore data‐vs.‐belief mismatch with respect to the incidence of schizophrenia, and (ii) to speculate on the causes and consequences of such discrepancies.Method:  Based on a recently published systematic review of the incidence of schizophrenia, the distribution of incidence rates around the world was examined. In order to examine if the incidence of schizophrenia differed by sex, male vs. female risk ratios were generated.Results:  The distribution of incidence rates for schizophrenia is asymmetrical with many high rates skewing the distribution. Based on the central 80% of rates, the incidence of schizophrenia varies in a five‐fold range (between 7.7 and 43.0 per 100 000). Males have a significantly higher incidence of schizophrenia compared with females (median male to female risk ratio = 1.4), and this difference could not be accounted for by diagnostic criteria or age range.Conclusion:  The beliefs that (i) the incidence of schizophrenia does not vary between sites and (ii) males and females are equally affected, may have persisted because of an unspoken deeper belief that schizophrenia is an egalitarian and exceptional disorder. Our ability to generate productive hypotheses about the aetiology of schizophrenia rests on an accurate appraisal of the data. Beliefs not supported by data should be identified and relabelled as myths.
Ability of New APTIMA CT and APTIMA GC Assays To Detect
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
in Male Urine and Urethral Swabs
Authors: Chernesky M. A. , Martin D. H. , Hook E. W. , Willis D. , Jordan J. , Wang S. , Lane J. R. , Fuller D. , Schachter J. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

A clinical evaluation was conducted in six North American centers to determine the ability of APTIMA CT (ACT) and APTIMA GC (AGC) nucleic acid amplification assays to detect
Chlamydia trachomatis
and
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
infections in 1,322 men by testing their urethral swabs and first-catch urine (FCU). The results obtained with ACT and AGC assays were compared to an infected patient status determined by testing the specimens with the APTIMA Combo 2 and the BD ProbeTec energy transfer multiplex assays. Symptoms did not influence the values. Positive and negative agreements of the ACT and AGC assays for individual specimens were high, with each comparator assay ranging between 94.3 and 100% for positives and 93.9 and 99.4% for negatives. The ACT and AGC assays performed on noninvasive specimens such as FCU effectively identified
C. trachomatis
or
N. gonorrhoeae
infections in symptomatic and asymptomatic men and should be suitable for screening male populations.
Comparison of
emm
Typing and Ribotyping with Three Restriction Enzymes To Characterize Clinical Isolates of
Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Doktor Stella Z. , Beyer Jill M. , Flamm Robert K. , Shortridge Virginia D. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

A total of 336
Streptococcus pyogenes
isolates recently recovered from patients with pharyngitis from 13 countries were characterized by
emm
typing and riboprinting using an automated Riboprinter (Dupont/Qualicon) based on the patterns produced by three restriction enzymes, EcoRI, PstI, and HindIII. Three enzymes were necessary to increase the discrimination of ribogroups formed by each enzyme. A total of 40 ribogroups and 38
emm
sequences (not counting allelic variations) were identified. Multilocus sequence typing was performed on a sampling of the isolates, and those results were consistent with those of both
emm
typing and ribotyping. Correlations were observed among all three methods.
Detection and Identification of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in Joint Biopsy Specimens by
rpoB
PCR Cloning and Sequencing
Authors: Yun Yeo-Jun , Lee Keun-Hwa , Haihua Lin , Ryu Yoon-Jong , Kim Bum-Joon , Lee Young-Ho , Baek Goo-Hyun , Kim Hee-Joong , Chung Moon-Sang , Lee Myung-Chul , Lee Sang-Hoon , Choi In-Ho , Cho Tae-Jun , Chang Bong-Soon , Kook Yoon-Hoh 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

Osteoarticular tuberculosis (OAT) is an extrapulmonary tuberculosis and accounts for 1 to 3% of all tuberculosis cases. We used an
rpoB
PCR-plasmid TA cloning-sequencing method to detect and identify tubercle bacilli in surgical specimens from patients suspected of having OAT. By comparing the similarities of the
rpoB
sequences determined with those in GenBank,
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
was detected in 23 of 43 samples. Three of the 23 positive samples had mutations at codon 531, which are commonly observed in rifampin-resistant
M. tuberculosis
strains. Our results suggest that the
rpoB
PCR-TA cloning-sequencing method developed, which detects
M. tuberculosis
and which simultaneously determines its rifampin susceptibility, can also be used efficiently for the diagnosis of OAT.
First Report of Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococci Isolated from Healthy Carriers in Brazil
Authors: Palazzo I. C. V. , Araujo M. L. C. , Darini A. L. C. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

Reduced susceptibility or resistance to vancomycin has been reported among clinical isolates of staphylococci in previous studies. In the present study we report on the isolation of four vancomycin-resistant staphylococcal strains from healthy carriers inside and outside the hospital environment. These carriers did not receive treatment with any antibiotic. All coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains showed variable levels of resistance to several antimicrobial agents, including oxacillin, and unstable resistance to vancomycin, with decreased vancomycin MICs (<4 mg/liter) after 10 days of passage in a nonselective medium. However, exposure of these revertants to vancomycin selected staphylococcal strains resistant to vancomycin at very high frequencies (10
−2
and 10
−3
). The vancomycin resistance in these staphylococcal strains was not mediated by the
van
gene. The cell wall of the staphylococcal strains studied became thickest after culture in medium containing vancomycin, and the differences in cell wall thickness were statistically significant (
P
< 0.001). Thus, the thickening of the cell wall in these staphylococcal strains may be an important contributor to vancomycin resistance.
Microbial DNA Typing by Automated Repetitive-Sequence-Based PCR
Authors: Healy Mimi , Huong Joe , Bittner Traci , Lising Maricel , Frye Stacie , Raza Sabeen , Schrock Robert , Manry Janet , Renwick Alex , Nieto Robert , Woods Charles , Versalovic James , Lupski James R. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

Repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) has been recognized as an effective method for bacterial strain typing. Recently, rep-PCR has been commercially adapted to an automated format known as the DiversiLab system to provide a reliable PCR-based typing system for clinical laboratories. We describe the adaptations made to automate rep-PCR and explore the performance and reproducibility of the system as a molecular genotyping tool for bacterial strain typing. The modifications for automation included changes in rep-PCR chemistry and thermal cycling parameters, incorporation of microfluidics-based DNA amplicon fractionation and detection, and Internet-based computer-assisted analysis, reporting, and data storage. The performance and reproducibility of the automated rep-PCR were examined by performing DNA typing and replicate testing with multiple laboratories, personnel, instruments, DNA template concentrations, and culture conditions prior to DNA isolation. Finally, we demonstrated the use of automated rep-PCR for clinical laboratory applications by using isolates from an outbreak of
Neisseria meningitidis
infections.
N. meningitidis
outbreak-related strains were distinguished from other isolates. The DiversiLab system is a highly integrated, convenient, and rapid testing platform that may allow clinical laboratories to realize the potential of microbial DNA typing.
Rapid, High-Throughput, Multiplex, Real-Time PCR for Identification of Mutations in the
cyp51A
Gene of
Aspergillus fumigatus
That Confer Resistance to Itraconazole
Authors: Balashov Sergey V. , Gardiner Rebecca , Park Steven , Perlin David S. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus fumigatus
is an important cause of life-threatening invasive fungal disease in patients with compromised immune systems. Resistance to itraconazole in
A. fumigatus
is closely linked to amino acid substitutions in Cyp51A that replace Gly54. In an effort to develop a new class of molecular diagnostic assay that can rapidly assess drug resistance, a multiplexed assay was established. This assay uses molecular beacons corresponding to the wild-type
cyp51A
gene and seven mutant alleles encoding either Arg54, Lys54, Val54, Trp54, or Glu54. Molecular beacon structure design and real-time PCR conditions were optimized to increase the assay specificity. The multiplex assay was applied to the analysis of chromosomal DNA samples from a collection of 48
A. fumigatus
clinical and laboratory-derived isolates, most with reduced susceptibility to itraconazole. The
cyp51A
allelic identities for codon 54 were established for all of the strains tested, and mutations altering Gly54 in 23 strains were revealed. These mutations included G
54
W (
n
= 1), G
54
E (
n
= 12), G
54
K (
n
= 3), G
54
R (
n
= 3), and G
54
V (
n
= 4). Molecular beacon assay results were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Multiplex real-time PCR with molecular beacons is a powerful technique for allele differentiation and analysis of resistance mutations that is dynamic and suitable for rapid high-throughput assessment of drug resistance.
Molecular Characterization of Diphtheria Toxin Repressor (dtxR) Genes Present in NontoxigenicCorynebacterium diphtheriaeStrains Isolated in the United Kingdom
Authors: De Zoysa Aruni , Efstratiou Androulla , Hawkey Peter M. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTNontoxigenic strains ofCorynebacterium diphtheriaerepresent a potential reservoir for the emergence of toxigenicC. diphtheriaestrains if they possessed functional diphtheria toxin repressor (dtxR) genes. We studied the predominant strain of nontoxigenicC. diphtheriaecirculating in the United Kingdom to see if they possesseddtxRgenes and ascertain whether they were functional. A total of 26 nontoxigenicC. diphtheriaestrains isolated in the United Kingdom during 1995 and 4 nontoxigenic strains isolated in other countries were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing to determine the presence and intactness of thedtxRgenes. The functionality of the DtxR proteins was assayed by testing for the production of siderophore in medium containing high and low concentrations of iron. PCR amplification and sequence analysis of thedtxRgenes revealed four variants of the predicted DtxR protein among the nontoxigenic strains isolated in the United Kingdom. Production of siderophore in medium containing a low concentration of iron and repression of siderophore production in medium containing a high concentration of iron demonstrated that in all the strains thedtxRgenes were functional. These findings demonstrate that, if lysogenised by a bacteriophage, nontoxigenic strains circulating in the United Kingdom could produce toxin and therefore represent a potential reservoir for toxigenicC. diphtheriae.
Comparison ofHelicobacterspp. in Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) with and without Gastritis
Authors: Terio K. A. , Munson L. , Marker L. , Aldridge B. M. , Solnick J. V. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTChronic gastritis causes significant morbidity and mortality in captive cheetahs but is rare in wild cheetahs despite colonization by abundant spiral bacteria. This research aimed to identify theHelicobacterspecies that were associated with gastritis in captive cheetahs but are apparently commensal in wild cheetahs.Helicobacterspecies were characterized by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA, urease, andcagAgenes and by transmission electron microscopy of frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric samples from 33 cheetahs infected withHelicobacterorganisms (10 wild without gastritis and 23 captive with gastritis). Samples were screened for mixed infections by denaturant gel gradient electrophoresis of the 16S rRNA gene and by transmission electron microscopy. There was no association betweenHelicobacterinfection and the presence or severity of gastritis. Eight cheetahs had 16S rRNA sequences that were most similar (98 to 99%) toH. pylori. Twenty-five cheetahs had sequences that were most similar (97 to 99%) to “H. heilmannii”orH. felis. No cheetahs had mixed infections. The ultrastructural morphology of all bacteria was most consistent with “H. heilmannii,” even when 16S rRNA sequences wereH. pylori-like. The urease gene fromH. pylori-like bacteria could not be amplified with primers for either “H. heilmannii”orH. pyloriurease, suggesting that this bacteria is neitherH. pylorinor “H. heilmannii.” ThecagAgene was not identified in any case. These findings question a direct role forHelicobacterinfection in the pathogenesis of gastritis and support the premise that host factors account for the differences in disease between captive and wild cheetah populations.
Identification of Clinically Relevant
Enterococcus
Species by Direct Sequencing of
groES
and Spacer Region
Authors: Tsai Jui-Chang , Hsueh Po-Ren , Lin Hsiao-Mann , Chang Hui-Jen , Ho Shen-Wu , Teng Lee-Jene 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

We determined the
groESL
sequences (
groES
,
groEL
, and the intergenic spacer) of 10 clinically relevant
Enterococcus
species and evaluated the feasibility of identifying
Enterococcus
species on the basis of these sequences. Seven common clinical
Enterococcus
species,
E. faecalis
,
E. faecium
,
E. casseliflavus
,
E. gallinarum
,
E. avium
,
E. raffinosus
, and
E. hirae
, and three less common
Enterococcus
species,
E. cecorum
,
E. durans
, and
E. mundtii
, were examined in this study. We found that the
groES
genes of these enterococcal species are identical in length (285 nucleotides) and contain an unusual putative start codon, GTG. The lengths and sequences of the intergenic regions (spacers between the
groES
and
groEL
genes) are quite variable (17 to 57 bp in length) among
Enterococcus
species but are conserved in strains within each species, with only a few exceptions. Considerable variation of
groES
or
groEL
sequences was also observed. The evolutionary trees of
groES
or
groEL
sequences revealed similarities among
Enterococcus
species. However, the overall intraspecies variation of
groES
was less than that of
groEL
. The high interspecies variation and low intraspecies variation indicate that the
groES
and spacer sequences are more useful than
groEL
for identification of clinically relevant
Enterococcus
species. The sequences of these two genetic traits,
groES
and spacer, can be determined by a single PCR and direct sequencing and may provide important information for the differentiation of closely related species of
Enterococcus
.
High Frequency of Human Enterovirus Species C Circulation in Madagascar
Authors: Rakoto-Andrianarivelo Mala , Rousset Dominique , Razafindratsimandresy Richter , Chevaliez Stéphane , Guillot Sophie , Balanant Jean , Delpeyroux Francis 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT
Four poliomyelitis outbreaks caused by vaccine-derived polioviruses have been reported recently, including one in Madagascar in 2002. In all cases, the viral strains involved were recombinant between poliovirus vaccine strains and nonpoliovirus strains, probably enterovirus species C. Nevertheless, little is known about the circulation and epidemiology of enteroviruses in the regions where these outbreaks occurred. To assess the circulation of enteroviruses (particularly enterovirus species C) in Madagascar, we genetically characterized 55 enterovirus strains isolated between 1994 and 2002. The strains were identified and compared by partially sequencing the region encoding the VP1 capsid protein. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise comparison with prototype enterovirus strains distinguished two different species: 25 isolates belonged to human enterovirus B species, and 30 isolates were identified as coxsackievirus A13, A15, A17, A18, A20, A21, and A24, belonging to the human enterovirus species C. The relatively high frequency and the wide distribution of species C coxsackie A viruses in different regions of Madagascar suggest that they had been silently and widely circulating in the country during the whole study period. The circulation of coxsackie A viruses, combined with the low routine oral polio vaccine coverage, may have played a role in the emergence of the recent outbreak in Madagascar.
Human Cytomegalovirus UL144 Gene Polymorphisms in Congenital Infections
Authors: Picone Olivier , Costa Jean-Marc , Chaix Marie-Laure , Ville Yves , Rouzioux Christine , Leruez-Ville Marianne 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTThe human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL144 gene is a tumor necrosis factor-like receptor with the potential to affect HCMV virulence. HCMV strains display genetic variability in the UL144 region, and the analysis of a potential link between UL144 gene polymorphisms and disease severity has scarcely been studied. However, a correlation between the UL144 genotype and congenital-disease outcome has been reported in one previous study, with the observation that all asymptomatic infants had a single UL144 genotype. In order to confirm or refute this finding, we determined the UL144 polymorphisms of HCMV strains recovered from the amniotic fluids of 38 infected fetuses and compared them to HCMV strains obtained from 30 viremic adult controls. The UL144 sequences were distributed among five genotypes (A, B, C, AC, and AB), as previously described. We observed similar percentages of the three major genotypes A (37%), B (33%), and C (27%) in our population. The UL144 genotype distributions were similar among the group of infected adults and the group of infected fetuses and among symptomatic and asymptomatic fetuses (P< 0.05). In our series, all five UL144 genotypes could be vertically transmitted from mothers to fetuses, and all could cause symptomatic congenital infection. We concluded that determination of UL144 polymorphisms in cases of congenital infection is not relevant, since it is unlikely to help predict the outcome of the infection.